The Film Daily (1945)

Tuesday, September 4, 19l War Contributions Of Trade 1/2 Billion (Continued from Page 1) two it can offer at least an estimate. "I couldn't attempt to name a figure," said Director Ted Gamble. "The actual out-of-pocket outlay is so high as to be staggering, when all phases of the industry's co-operation are tabulated, that I would be afraid that any figure I might set would be an injustice." The commercial value of production costs and playing time donated to the OWI domestic motion picture program alone is estimated by Director Taylor Mills at $237,653,200 through this year. Playing time accounts for $218,803,200 of this sum. Mills based these figures on the standard of $16 per minute of playing time per theater per week, for bulletins and newsreel clips, and the standard of $16.80 for two-reelers. Mills pointed out that this figure takes no account of house turnover. Since many houses refill two to four times a day, the estimate is obviously a conservative one. Playing time costs for the short subjects was estimated at $218,803,200 and for newsreels at $18,150,000. The industry has made 131 two-reelers and fourminute trailers. This does not include newsreels. $100,000,000 for OIAA The Office of Inter-American Affairs estimated that $100,000,000 worth of commercial entertainment film directed toward better hemisphere relations has been distributed since the inception of the Motion Picture Society for the Americas in Hollywood. These films, of course, are not produced on the same basis as those for OWI which are donated. The films produced under MPSA and OIAA guidance are for commercial distribution and have made money for their producers and exhibitors, as evidenced by the fact that the OIAA has in no instance had to fulfill a guarantee which was made for several productions. When these productions were made, however, they were considered to be somewhat of a speculation and were undertaken in most cases, with the risk of financial loss, as a public service. Valuation of well over $50,000,000 was placed last Spring on the entertainment films turned over by the industry to the oversea branch of OWI, dubbed and shown around the world by OWI, as an instrument of U. S. foreign relations. This figure is considerably higher now — although the pirogram itself is just about concluded, with commercial arrangements replacing the OWI programs. Gift Prints at $30,000,000 Gifts of 36,400 prints of 1,000 features and thousands of shorts for showing overseas were valued at $30,000,000, but a Navy lieutenant who saw service two years overseas, and is now with special services here questioned as to the figure, was very SiMPP Continuing Hands Off Policy, Wont Offer Suggestions for New Consent Decree Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Rumors current in the East to the contrary notwithstanding, the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers is not submitting to the Government either proposals for a new consent decree to terminate the pending New York equity suit or suggestions for inclusion in such a decree should one be formulated. "There has been no change in SIMPP policy as regards the D of J's pending litigation in New York," a spokesman for the Society said. "We're continuing to keep our hands off." Hal Home Resigns; Weighs New Post (Continued from Page 1) Skouras said that "his (Home's) brilliant performance contributed considerably to what has been the three most successful years in the history of the company," adding that "the splendid job he did for our company confirmed the reputation which he has enjoyed for years as one of the top advertising and publicity executives in the business." Home operated his own publicityexploitation organization before joining 20th-Fox. Future plans will be announced by Home early this week. At the week-end he was reported weighing a very attractive offer, but he had i-eached no decision. It was indicated Friday that no" successor to Home would be appointed at this time, with the 20th-Fox department carrying on under its various sub-chiefs. reluctant to have the value of these films expressed in monetary terms. "They were invaluable. No value in dollars and cents can begin to give the picture of what those films meant to us over there, and are still meaning to the men that remain," he said. Universal commendation for the pix industry's magnificent and generous contribution to all phases of the war effort — domestic, military and human relation wise^is voiced by all Government divisions which have dealt with the industry or seen its accomplishments. Bund Surveying Film Situation in Pacific Area Washington — Fred Bund, head of Army Motion Picture Service, is now in Hawaii on the second leg of a trip to survey the film situation in the Pacific theater bases, and in Japan proper for showing of entertainment films to the soldiers and sailors stationed there. Shipment of free 16 mm. prints of commercial pictures, donated by the industry, are still almost the sole source of entertainment in this theater. In the European and Mediterranean theaters it was found that 35 mm. film for which the Army and Navy pay cash, could largely be substituted for these 91-foot prints, by use of civilian theater facilities in occupied areas. A similar situation may develop SEC Report Reveals Jack Warner Trust Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The monthly report of the SEC on stock dealings at the week-end revealed that Jack L. Warner, in February of this year, established a trust with holdings of 2,000 shares of Warners, $5 par common stock, and added another 1,800 shares to this trust fund last month. Warner holds 205,000 shares of the stock directly. Sellout of all 43,759 shares of dollar par capital stock in Decca records by Warner Brothers on July 9 was reported. A correction to the June report revealed the dropping of 8,100 shares of Universal common by Cliff Work, who retained only 1,900. Work disposed of his 8,100 shares in seven different transactions, and retained warrants for 6,000 shares. Preston Davie, who holds 4,000 shares of the common, dropped 1,000 warrants, retaining 1,409 warrants. Fredrick L. Ehrman added 2,000 shares to his holdings of RKO dollar par common, and now has 3,000. Earle G. Hines dropped 4,500 shares of capital no par value in General Precision Equipment, retaining 11,000. Bringing the reports on Consolidated Film Industries up to date, SEC showed Herbert J. Yates holding in June, through Associated Motion Picture Industries, 154,173 shares of dollar par common, plus 3,600 jointly. The joint holdings had been built up from only 1,000 shares, with purchases of 1,600 in March and 1,000 in May. Through AMPI Yates holds 30,050 shares of $2 cumulative part preferred and 2,000 shares of the same stock jointly. Until June, the joint holdings had amounted to 2,900 shares. A correction to the AMPI report showed Jules Brulatour holding 32,646 shares of capital stock and 212,210 three per cent convertible notes. Brulatour dropped 35,369 notes that month. in the East, especially in Japan — a great picture going nation before the war — but other areas, such as the less populous island bases will continue to depend on the 16 mm. prints. In any event, AMPS points out, it will be sometime before az'rangements will be completed for entertainment facilities in Japan. OWI-WAC Program Future Is Question (Continued from Page 1) dent Truman's Friday announceme of the termination of the C^ domestic bureau next week came a surprise, with most observers he expecting the operation to be cv tailed gradually, passing out entii ly about the end of the year. 0 big question left unanswered w the future of the program of the trical pix planned by OWI and W-^ on veterans problems. General b lief here was that these subjects { ready in production will be coi pleted and given wide circulation h fore WAC activities are complete terminated. In addition to the termination the domestic branch of OWI, Tr man also ordered the dissolution the overseas branch by Dec. 30, wi some of its activities to be taken ov by the State Department. The sta department also takes over t' OIAA, but there is no definite wo as to how much of the pix activiti of thees two agencies will be r tained. As revealed here last wee there is a plan for increased p activity by the State Departmei now in the formative stages. With veterans' problems one of tj most important of our national co! cerns, plans for pix operations by tj Veterans Administration are st not clear. A spokesman reveal Friday that there is a vague inte to expand the 16mm. operation the visual education unit directed 1 Capt. Joe Beattie, but the discu, sions have not yet reached the staj of the actual budget planning. The VA has actually not been t happy about the OWI plans for th: atrical release of shorts on veterar rehabilitation. VA officers have fe; that the OWI approach was an 2: tempt to glamourize the problem, a. the same time, they are aware of t'. value of getting a constructive mc sage into the theaters of the natio and are hopeful that they can wo on contract reels to be given wi' theatrical distribution, at least f the immediate future. Since it is expected that the industry will be asked to screen far more Government material than before the war, there was talk here about establishment of an industry office to co-ordinate and clear the requests of the various Govern ment agencies — in effect, an ex tension of an important part of the OWI chore. Nothing definite about such plans was known. Altering "Over 21" Denied Jack Cohn, executive vice-prei! dent of Columbia, has denied pu lished reports that he had agreed correct references to Arkansas "Over 21" to which objection h been taken by the office of Glenn . Green, state publicity director ai other Arkansans.