The Film Daily (1945)

' W'^ DAILY Wednesday, August 15, 1 ( TRADE PREPARED FOR PEACE CHANCEOVEl Solid Peacetime Economy For Pix Seen By 194 Expanding Foreign Trade May Take Up the Slack in Interim, Experts Assert Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Experts discussing post-V-J Day probabilities declared today that any real crystallization of the national peace-time economy is not likely to develop until 1947, and that the interim period of peace will be one beset with difficulties, but should, nevertheless, be better than pre-war days although less prosperous than the semi-inflated war span. The motion picture industry, it is said, should expect a degree of retrogression, along with other industries, but its economic pains should be less than those of other American businesses, and of shorter duration. It will be more because of filmland's increased interdependence in the national economic picture that it appears likely to suffer in the readjustment days just ahead, although history may well repeat itself and find the movie business (Continued on Page 3) — V-J — Construction Boom In Philly Territory Philadelphia — With V-J Day here, a rush of theater building and redecoration in houses is expected in this territory. Already at least a half dozen new projects have been announced, headed by the 2,00Q-seat house on 15th St., downtown area, for William Goldman Theaters. It is feared, however, that the erection of a few theaters in some areas will result in a competitive situation that may prove a headache after the war boom and post-war boom dies down. Philadelphia is the center of a vast war industry area and while it is expected that the post-war manufacturing may take care of some of the slack, when reconversion becomes 100 (Continued on Page 4) Seattle Houses Open At Police Request Seattle — With V-J Day becoming official, all Seattle theaters stayed open with police protection. The decision to keep the theaters running was made by the exhibitors at the request of the Chief of Police on the theory that closed places of amusement would add to congestion of celebrants in the streets. Business houses close for day following official announcement. industry Chiefs Accept Peace Responsibilities J/ ICTORY statements of leaders of the American motion picture industry, given to THE FILM DAILY as global peace returned with the Japanese surrender to the United Nations, were keyed to two principal thoughts — fervent thanks to Providence and high resolution to press forward in peace-time public service, both at home and abroad. Typical of the expressions received from those qualified to speak for the industry as well as their own organizations were these: WILL H. HAYS, president. Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America: With the rest of the civilized world, the motion picture industry joins in thanksgiving and rejoicing at the prospect of a quick end of fighting. This industry which dedicated itself completely to helping win this war against the forces of tyranny will devote itself as utterly to fostering peace and rehabilitation in the ways of peace. The responsibility of every American in the post-war world is great indeed. As individuals and as a group we of the film industry know that we must accept an extraordinary share of that responsibility and that we must devote our full faculties in discharging it. This we will do. GEORGE J. SCHAEFER, chairman, War Activities Committee: I am glad the war with Japan is finished and over with. It will bring happiness to millions of our people whose sons have been in the Far East and peace and contentment to the whole world. FRANCIS S. HARMON, executive vice-chairman. War Activities Committee: Our gratitude to Almighty God is so deep and profound that we can express it best by a determination to keep the peace and bulwark the ideals that sent us to war. S. H. FABIAN, chairman. Theaters Division, War Activities Committee: In reverence we bow our heads and give thanks to the Almighty for the great victory we have won. And now for the reconversion to peace. The theaters of the United States will take this reconversion in their stride. The theaters will see to it that every returning service man and woman will have his job back. Before the war, year by year, steady progress was made in improving our theaters in giving better facilities for the public, better projection and generally raising the standard of exhibition throughout the country. With the war over this advancement will continue at an accelerated pace. Millions of dollars are ready to be spent on rehabilitation programs so that the theaters of the country will maintain their position as the finest places of amusement the world over. The War Activities Committee can take pride in the job it has done. Every member throughout the country who has participated in all its activities can feel that he has been a part of the team which finally overcame our enemies. I, personally, feel grateful to have had the opportunity to be of some service and each and every one of us can feel the same gratitude. We have won the war and it has been done by sacrifice and teamwork. It would be a shame that the virtues of cooperation and willingness to help in any and every way possible which the war brought to the surface in our industry should now disappear. Why can man only be noble in war? I hope that the peace throughout the world will be an inspiration for our industry so that we, too, can live in peace among ourselves. ED KUYKENDALL. president, MPTOA: Our business will go through the greatest change in its history during the post-war period. No one can truthfully forecast the many changes at this moment. I am sure there will be a tremendous improvement in theater construction and type of entertainment. This industry is composed of opportunists. That is why our industry had made such tremendous strides. The opportunity for showmanship will predominate and those who are slow thinkers will be left at the post. The post-war era will be the most interesting in our history. (Continued on Page 3) Capitulation of Japanese Finds Industry Plans for Reconversion Well in Ha; Capitulation of Japan fou the industry today well pj pared to take up the manif( problems of changing over fr< war to peace time operatioi Preparation for the moment V-J event started as long ago as A Day, with company executive ca nets shaping plans since that tii Events of recent days served to s] efforts in that direction. Chief among top level discus sions were plans to meet the ex pected temporary drop in thea ter attendance; methods of re employing returned war vet erans; rebuilding of staffs t< full efficiency; activation of ex pansion projects by producers distributors and exhibitors; re habilitation of war-worn plant: and theaters and means to tak< quick advantage of the expectet (Continued on Page 3) -V-J — Few Speciai Y-J Day Tiieater Programs E It ■i I III Motion picture houses, acting up experiences attendant upon V-E Di largely decided to take no parti( lar pains in formally celebrati V-J Day on their screens and stag An overwhelming majority of ois ers and their managers had anti pated the termination of the hosti ties against Japan, and had ma plans which were largely negativ Consensus was that meticulc provisions to celebrate the victo over Nazi Germany had not mea much, because, exhibitors contendc the patrons did not come to ce brate the end of the fighting, but (Continued on Page 4) Des Moines Theaters Closed for V-J Bay Des Moines, la. — Theaters here were required to shutter for V-J Day under a city ordinance adopted prior to V-E Day and in effect during that holiday. The city ordinance calls for closing of all taverns and places of amusements for a 24-hour period. Although some discussions had been held of changing the ordinance to permit theaters to open, no official action had been taken.