The Exhibitor (1952)

10 EXHIBITOR Fitzgibbons Hits Canadian TV Stand Toronto — An optimistic picture for the motion picture industry was painted at the annual meeting of the Famous Players Canadian Corporation by its president, J. J. Fitzgibbons, last fortnight. He pointed out that “business this year is running ahead of a year ago.” The com¬ pany, he declared, has had at its disposal the best television know-how available, and is not permitted to use it. The position taken on TV by the federal government is unreasonable and unfair, he said. Referring to the state-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s plans to have television, Fitzgibbons said that they were to operate a business completely competi¬ tive with Famous Players. However, despite the threats of television, Fitzgib¬ bons expressed confidence in the future of the moving picture industry, and told the meeting that even in areas of high TV in¬ trusion, good pictures draw record crowds. In an interview, Fitzgibbons explained that TV “is competitive with any kind of entertainment and motion pictures in par¬ ticular.” He pointed out that it was reasonable that the motion picture indus¬ try, “with all the years of experience in entertainment”, should be able to give a public service that would be acceptable and desirable. He said: “We resent the fact that we pay taxes to a government that takes our money to go into com¬ petition with us. They simply get under the blanket of the Massey report for not considering any application from a private system until three years after they get a national system operating.” Fitzgibbons also pointed out that “along the American border, where about twothirds of the Canadian population lives, Canadians are to get American TV, any¬ way. They are already getting it in this area.” Fitzgibbons said he felt that the na¬ tional system or the CBC should stick to providing artistic or cultural programs about industry or agriculture, but, if private enterprise was allowed to enter this field right away, Canadians would get better entertainment service quicker than the government could give it. MGM Ups Dassa In Egypt New York — Morton Spring, first vicepresident, Loew’s International Corpora¬ tion, last week announced the promotion of Maurice Dassa to the general manager¬ ship of MGM Egypt. Robert Schmitt, formerly general man¬ ager of Egypt, now proceeds to Austria to reopen MGM offices there. Canadian Comment E. G. Forsyth has been appointed as¬ sistant general manager, Odeon Theatres (Canada), Limited, it was announced in Toronto by David Greisdorf, directorgeneral manager. Forsyth has been with Odeon since Jan. 4 in an executive capac¬ ity. Forsyth entered the industry in Great Britain in 1934 with British Gaumont Picture Corporation, Limited, and re¬ mained with it until its amalgamation with Odeon Theatres, Limited, in 1948. He then joined Circuits Management Association, Limited, operating company for the Gau¬ mont and Odeon circuits, serving in an executive capacity. Ivor Smith, who has been on loan to Odeon Theatres (Canada), Limited, from the J. Arthur Rank Or¬ ganization of England, will return shortly. He will be assigned to another post. John J. Fitzgibbons, president, Famous Players Canadian Corporation and chair¬ man, Motion Picture Industry Council of Canada, participated with Sidney Smith, president, University of Toronto, in the Canadian Film Awards made in Toronto at the Victoria, FPCC outlet. Top award for the best film in 1951 went to a film on Newfoundland made by Crawley Films, Ottawa. National Film Board’s “Royal Journey” won first prize in the theatrical features, with another NFB production, “Opera School,” picking up first prize in the theatrical shorts section. “Milk Made,” produced by the NFB for the Agriculture Department of the Government of Canada, won first prize in the documentary shorts section. The film awards, started in 1949 by the Canadian Association for Adult Education, is sponsored by that associa¬ tion along with the Canadian Film Insti¬ tute and the Canada Foundation to call attention to Canadian film achievements, and foster higher standards. The annual report of the motion picture censorship and theatre inspection branch, Ontario Treasury Department, reveals that a leading British producer is submitting his scripts before actual production of films. Since the service began in 1946, excisions have declined sharply. In the year before that 270 cuts were made in 37 features. “By comparison in the year just completed, only 36 eliminations were made in the 62 features reviewed, an amazing accomplishment,” the report observes. For the first time in the board’s The facade of the Kino Palaeet, Copenhagen, Denmark, is shown at night in the above photo. Owned by ASA Film Studio, the house, now two years old, replaced the original destroyed in 1944 during the German occupation of the coun¬ try. Two Westrex Master machines are featured. history, it passed the 47-feature program of a major company, MGM, without classification or treatment of any kind. The departmental censors received 461 feature-length subjects made in the United States, 61 feature-length subjects pro¬ duced in Great Britain, and 34 feature subjects in other than the English language. Canadian Stills — Eileen Pratt, secre¬ tary-assistant to Win Barron, advertisingpublicity chief, Paramount in Canada, left her position for an extensive tour of the Continent. Her place is being taken by Kathleen O’Neill, who came out from England last April with Miss Pratt. Barron has taken a trip west to beat the drum for his company, and talk as well to the convention of International Air Transport Association in Victoria. . . . Dewey Bloom, MGM advertising-publicity chief for Can¬ ada, was confined to his home. . . . RKO’s Canadian district under general manager Carl Peppercorn was in first place in the 17th week of the “Ned Depinet Drive.” . . . Roger Manvell, Britain’s leading authority on the film, speaks in Toronto on May 14. ... A 250-seat theatre has been approved for Bryson, Ont. . . . Passe Temps, Joliette, Que., gutted in a recent fire, is being rebuilt at a cost of $50,000. . . . Nick Balia now holds the executive producer spot at National Film Board formerly held by Sydney Newman. . . . Billy Summerville, Jr., takes over as sec (Continued on page 11) Taking time out recently to make some official Canadian presentations, were, left, J. J. Fitzgibbons, president, Famous Players Canadian Corporation, Toronto, presenting the Famous Players trophy for the best goal tender in the East Toronto Hockey League to E. Foster, Warehousing Hockey Team, and, right, J. J. Fitzgibbons, Jr., general manager, Confections limited, and president, East Toronto Hockey League, presenting the Famous Players trophy for league champions in the East Toronto Hockey League to James Lacey, manager, Kingston Road Hockey T ?am. The games were hotly contested throughout. May 7, 1952