International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1937)

News of the Month Brief mention of men and events associated with the motion picture industry of particular interest to projectionists is published here. THE recent M. P. T. 0. A. convention at Miami, three grounds of complaint against the "radio menace" to theatres were brought out as follows: 1. That free professional entertainment brought into the home by radio is direct competition with the theatre, more so when the same talent is used in both radio and screen entertainment; 2. That constant use of a screen star in radio broadcasts damages their boxoffice value, destroys their prestige by familiarity and by inadequate staging; and 3. That excerpts from current pictures and condensed versions of a photoplay given over the air destroys interest in the picture when it plays at the local theatre. The M. P. T. O. A. will welcome ideas and suggestions on the radio problem, will undertake to examine the practical matter of what should be done, how it can be done and what sort of regulation or control would reduce the damage to stars and theatres to a minimum. Dismiss Sherman Indictment Indictment charging Harry Sherman with misappropriation of funds from Local 306, of which he is former president, has been dismissed in General Sessions Court of N. Y. City. Charges were pressed by so-called opposition faction in Union described by Sherman as having been inspired by Sam Kaplan, his predecessor as 306 head. Metro's Television Release Metro will release soon a two-reel short detailing the advances made in television to date, marking the first official attention paid this baby art by picture industry. Short will be accorded "impartial treatment" by Metro, and while attention will be given obstacles ahead of commercial television, no attempt will be made to belittle or begrudge accomplishment in art so far. Emile Pathe, Pioneer Film Worker, Dies in Paris Emile Pathe, pioneer motion picture worker, died in Paris, France, on April 6. Pathe and his brother, Charles, started French production in 1896 when they organized Pathe Freres and issued films with the well-known crowing rooster trade mark. An American branch was established in 1904. Four years later the company, with Emile and Charles in control, opened a studio in Jersey City. In 1914 the company produced "The Perils of Pauline," with Pearl White in the leading role. Five years previous the company had shown the first news film. The brothers started with two Kinetoscopes, an Edison invention. Their venture grew to proportions that included completely equipped coast studios and an imposing list ot star names. In the latter part of 1930 they disposed of their American company and properties to a group of New York bankers. The present company here is now engaged in the printing and developing of negatives, the producing and distributing business having been sold to RKO. Television 'School' Kayoed Mail-order school holding forth hopes of highly-paid jobs in television has run afoul of the Federal Trade Commission. Declaring representations are exaggerated, misleading and untrue, Commish issued complaint charging unfair competition against American Television Institute, Inc. of Chicago. Firm which advertises that big openings are available in picture broadcasting, claims to own a huge laboratory and operate several television stations, also promises to place postage-stamp graduates in handsome spots in the industry. Commish says it's all imaginary, except that promoters are engineers for certain unidentified broadcasting stations in the West. Eastman Hikes Wages 20% A wage increase approximating 20 per cent has been granted by Eastman Kodak Co. coincidentally with the payment of $2,122,555 to employees through the company's 25th annual wage dividend. The increase in wages, effective in the Rochester plant, will increase the payroll by an amount estimated to exceed $1,500,000. The purpose of the wage increase, says the company, is to raise weekly earnings on the average to approximately those prevailing under the 48-hour week formerly worked. The factories are now on a 40-hour schedule. The number of employees eligible for the wage dividend is 23,987. H. M. Warner on Television Harry M. Warner, head of Warner Brothers, on his return from a recent European trip, said that the motion picture industry will control television when it is a "commercial reality". He didn't say how this was to be accomplished. He did say, however, that the much-advertised English television was no better than he had seen in America. Blank & Stoller Whitford Drake, new president of Erpi, with which company he has been associated since its formation in 1927 [26] Acquisition of control of Transamerican Broadcasting and Television Co., newly formed corporation, by Warner Bros., which has 65 per cent voting stock interest, was made known through a report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. According to the report, the new firm will engage primarily in the business of representing radio broadcasting stations as advertising agents and in preparing programs for advertising agents, placing them with broadcasting stations. The company is expected to eventually operate radio stations. Conn. 2-Men Bill Killed Two-men shift bills have again been killed in the Connecticut State Legislature. Judiciary Committee reported the bills unfavorably after a second hearing, and the lower house accepted the report. Exhibitors cited the new 2000-foot reel standard in opposition to bills — in case those projectionists who yelled long and loudly for such reels are interested. Resume RCA Television Tests Field tests of RCA experimental television with the new 441-line definition have been resumed from Empire State Building, in N. Y. C, by the National Broadcasting Company on the largest scale ever undertaken in the United States. The tests will continue throughout the spring and summer months. Film Exec., Star Salaries Louis B. Mayer, Irving Thalberg, deceased, and J. Robert Rubin as co-partners in Louis B. Mayer Pictures, split a $1,220,242 bonus of Loew's Inc., during the corporate fiscal year ending in 1936, according to a S.E.C. report made public recently. Other film salaries disclosed included: