The Film Daily (1945)

12 Harmon Remains as Volunteer WAC Aide (Continued from Page 1) from the dual positions of coordinator and executive vice-chairman of WAC, a press conference was held yesterday by George J. Schaefer, WAC chairman, who disclosed that while Harmon's service as a paid executive of the Committee has terminated, he would, as declared in a letter to Schaefer, "gladly assist as a volunteer in finishing pending projects and liquidating the war service agency that was set up right after Pearl Harbor." Schaefer told the industry press that Harmon "is certainly the man to supervise the completion of the historical record of the part motion pictures and the motion picture industi-y have played in World War II," and added that Harmon "is anxious also to help finish the job and to complete the changeover from the 16 mm. gift film program to the post war arrangement with the armed services." Genuine Contribution Schaefer added: "I am sure there is no doubt that Mr. Harmon, with his intimate knowledge and experience since 1940, will be able to make a genuine contribution in the same spirit that he manifested these past five years. For his splendid work to date, I am certain everyone joins with me in extending congratulations and best wishes in his new post." Reference by Schaefer to the completion of the historical record of the part motion pictures and the motion picture industry have played in World War II brought the suggestion from THE FILM DAILY at the press conference that arrangements be made by filmland, through the WAC, with the Museum of Modern Art for that institution's Film Library to serve as repository of the historical film records of both the industry's role in the war, and the many films it distributed in behalf of the Government. Unable to be present at the conference, Harmon, however, requested issuance of the following statement: "I regard it as a real privilege to be able to work under the dynamic leadership of Eric Johnston for continued freedom of the screen, further advances in the usefulness of the motion picture and greater prestige for our industry. The statement of his aims and aspirations thrilled me. I am especially glad to be able to work with him in behalf of the organization of a Motion Picture Institute to conserve and extend the large measure of industry unity achieved during the war." Harmon said further, "that it is a great satisfaction to me to join the ranks as a volunteer worker myself in the Victory Loan Drive." Praise His Wartime Work Associates of Harmon on the WAC were lavish in their pi'aise of his U. S., U. K. Host Capital Opening of "True Glory" Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — With the Governments of the United States and Great Britain hosting, top cabinet, diplomatic and Congressional officials last night attended the premiere of General Eisenhower's film "The True Glory" at Warners' Metropolitan. The audience, one of the most distinguished to be seen in a Washington theater for months, witnessed brief ceremonies prior to the screening. Speaking during these ceremonies were Chairman Elbert Thomas, Andrew May of the State and House Military Affairs committees, D. C. Commissioner J. Russell Young, Brig. Gen. Robert N. Young and Col. Kenneth MacKessack, British embassy military attache. Boro Group to See 'True Glory' A group of Brooklyn educators, civic, religious and business leaders, headed by Borough President John Cashmore, will attend a private screening of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower's "The True Glory," in the RKO Theaters projection room tonight. Col. M. V. Brunson, of the Second Service Command will address the group before the screening. Film, released by Columbia, makes its Brooklyn debut at the RKO Albee on Sept. 27. Schwartz and Howard Flying to N'Orleans Sol A. Schwartz, general manager of RKO's out-of-town theaters leaves from LaGuardia Airport Monday morning for New Orleans where he will confer with Division Manager John Redmond and Victor Meyer, manager of the RKO Orpheum. William Howard, Schwartz's assistant, goes along to New Orleans and together they will return to New York via Chicago later in the week. wartime accomplishments. Among the statements were those by Si H. Fabian, theaters division chairman; Arthur Loew, foreign managers' chairman; Jack Alicoate, trade press division chairman; John Cromwell, chairman of the Hollywood division; and Walter Ament, chairman of the newsreel division. Alicoate said: "Frangis Harmon has done an outstanding wartime job as co-ordinator of the WAC. His iexperience and accomplishments were an important factor in the fine work of the Motion Picture Industry during the war." Schaefer, in reply to a Question on the potential nost-war linking of MPPDA and WAC, replied that up to this moment there are no indications of integrating the work of WAC with the Johnston oi'ganization. He added that it would be diflScult, but not impossible, for MPPDA to carry on the work of WAC. He said that the latter is working on a mandate to clear up its work by Dec. 31, and there is no budget beyond that date. Friday, September 21, 1945 Ftlitt Industry in 17. S.'Belgian Ass^n. Brussels (By Air Mail) — An American-Belgian Association has been organized here for the purpose of encouraging economic and cultural relations between the U. S. and Belgium. The motion picture industry is included in the new setup, and American pictures having moral themes are expected to play an important role in the organization's objectives. The new association is under the patronage of the Cardinal of Malines, the U. S. Ambassador, the Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, and the Belgian Ambassador to the U. S. FCC Issues Proposed Tele Allocations VVashUujtun Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Yesterday the FCC issued its proposed allocation of television frequencies among the rural, metropolitan and community telecasters. The Commission called for a hearing on Oct. 4, at which industry representatives will be heard in objection to any of the proposals, which are for the most part little changed from those agreed upon at the engineer conferences held in the Summer. A six-hour minimum operating schedule is proposed, limitation of the number of tele stations to be singly held to five, with no more than one serving a single area; application of the network rules; sharing of antennae sites where necessary, and an allocation plan as outlined last Summer. Use of channels, 1, 12 and 13 for community stations is provided. Channels 2 through 11 are for metropolitan stations, with rural applicants required to demonstrate that they will not interfere with other telecasters. The scheme would provide for six tele stations for Los Angeles, but only four for New York and Northern New Jersey. Five channels would be available in Boston, Chicago and San Francisco. The Commission also invites comment on "the desirability of requiring an appropriate announcement to be made when motion pictures or other mechanical reproductions are used," and on "whether station identification should be by aural means, by video means, or by both and how frequently." SLRB to Hear Managers Guild Petition Next Week A hearing on the petition of the Motion Picture Theater Operating Managers and Assistant Managers Guild for certification as collective bargaining agent for managei's, assistant managers and relief mangers employed by the Cinema Circuit Corp. is scheduled to be held before the State Labor Relations Board on Wednesday. Map Sedionai Zones Fertile Victory Loan (Continued from Page 1) "strategy command" for the drive and Treasury officials. The nation was mapped out into sectional zones, over each of which, will preside a member of the Strategy Command — each being a former/5 national chairman of previous drives.V Sam Pinanski, chairman of the 7th War Loan, will have Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Harry Brandt, of the 6th War Loan, will have New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia, New Jersey. R. J. O'Donnell, of the 5th War Loan drive, will have Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky. Charles Skouras of the 4th War Loan will take California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada. L. C. Griffith of the 3rd War Loan drive will have Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas. John Friedl will have a special zone including Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio. Each state will, of course, have its own organization headed by a chairman. Chairman Si Fabian will announce his list of state chairmen tomorrow; so far there has been over 90 per cent acceptances of those invited to serve as state chairmen. Ted R. Gamble, head of the Treasury War Finance Division, underscored the importance of the industry's full participation in the final drive yesterday. He revealed that the War Finance Committees in all states will be in position to offer the industry committees greater cooperation in this drive than ever before. With Fabian presiding, the following attended: Ted R. Gamble and Ned Shugi-ue of the Treasury; Oscar A. Doob; Francis S. Harmon, Charles P. Skouras, Robert J. O'Donnell, Harry Brandt, Sam Pinanski, Charles M. Reagan, Jay Emanuel, Herman Robbins, Max " A. Cohen, "Chick" Lewis, Si Seadler, Harry C. Arthur, Jr., Marty Mullin, Rick Ricketson, Jerry Zigmond, John Hertz, Jr., Walter Brown, and Herman Gluckman. Loew's Eliminated as Capans Defendant In a stipulation by Monroe Stein, counsel for Capans Amusement Co. of Massachusetts, Loew's has been dismissed from the anti-trust action filed by Capans against the major companies. Action involves a charge that M & P Theaters conspired to force Capans to sell its Strand Theater in Taunton, Mass., through its inability to obtain sufficient product.