Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1946)

6 MOTION PICTURE DAILY. Tuesday, November 12, 1946 TESMA-TEDPA (Continued from page 1) organization, the executive board of TESMA did express a policy of working closely with TEDPA in the determination of "dealers with a substantial established business and good credit standing" who would merit a manufacturer's recognition as a "legitimate" distributor. With a registered attendance of 457, including 180 representatives of manufacturers, this joint convention of the two organizations far surpassed in size the first one at the end of the war, and had an equipment exhibit whose 53 displays was equally unprecedented. Nearly every basic class of equipment was represented among 60 booths which overflowed the capacious Main ballroom of the Secor Hotel, where all but the social activities of the meeting were held. TESMA continued its incumbent officers, but elected a new board of directors consisting of Harry Strong, Strong Electric Corp., Toledo ; Carl Weber, Weber Machine Corporation, Rochester, N. Y. ; E. J. Vallen, Vallen-Vallen, Inc., Akron ; Robert Engel, Devry Corp., Chicago; and Erwin Wagner, Wagner Sign Service, Chicago. TESMA Officers TESMA officers continued are : Oscar New, Neumade Products, Inc., New York, president ; William A. Gedris, Ideal Seating Co., Grand Rapids, vice-president ; and Roy Boomer, secretary-treasurer. Ray G. Colvin, Exhibitors Supply Co., St. Louis, continues as head of TEDPA. Mrs. Charlotte Boomer was named press representative. Among proposals voted, one by each organization and later jointly affirmed, got the convention notice from the national press services and space in some of the country's leading newspapers. It strongly condemned communistic activities by industry groups and efforts to insinuate propaganda into screen material, citing the movement of Hollywood writers to set up an organization to control the work of American authors. N. D. Golden of the Department of Commerce urged the manufacturers to act promptly to take advantage of post-war conditions in foreign mar: kets. On the social side, the annual banquet at the Commodore Perry Hotel Sunday evening had its position as the principal event of the convention vigorously contested by a party given by Harry Strong Saturday evening at the New Villa night club just over the Michigan line. The final day of the convention opened at the Secor Hotel with a welcoming address delivered by the Mayor and the President of the Chamber of Commerce. Both associations were complimented on bringing such an important body of men to Toledo, and a tribute was paid to the manufacturers located in Toledo making theatre equipment and supplies. Exhibits of equipment by 60 manufacturers brought several maintenance directors and theatre operators from all over ' the country. Jake Elders of Interstate Circuit, Texas ; the Tate Brothers, exhibitors of Pennsylvania and New York ; L. D. Pavis, builder of East Alton, 111. ; Irving Fredericks, theatre architect of Chicago; C. A. Dentlebeck of Famous Players Circuit, Para. Backlog (Continued from page 1) during the year, it is essential that our cash reserves be established and maintained at an adequate level, because such reserves enable us to follow sound, consistent financial policies, to maintain continuity in divident payments, as well as to finance desirable expansions of our foreign operations and to select the most effective and economical means of conforming our theatre operations to the requirements of the decree in the pending anti-trust suit," Balaban said. In the foregoing connection, he continued, "a policy of acquisition of the common stock of the corporation has been approved by the board. The board has not fixed a definite number of shares to be acquired, nor has it set a price, or a time either as a commencement or a termination date, for their acquisition." When, and if, general circumstances, including such factors as the market price of Paramount's common stock and the condition of the company, are favorable to purchases, Balaban said, shares will be acquired from time to time. "Any shares acquired will be available for corporate purposes," he added. Fred Astaire Starts Dancing Studios Fred Astaire Dance Studios Corp., with dancer Astaire as president, has been formed, announces Charles L. Casanave, who will be vice-president and general manager. The first public dance studio, to be located in New York, is scheduled to open about Jan. 15, Casanave said, with other studios to be established in large cities throughout the country and abroad. E-L Buys 'Valianf Hollywood, Nov. 11. — Eagle-Lion Films has purchased screen rights to King Features' adventure strip, "Prince Valiant," it was announced here by Bryan Foy, vice-president in charge of production. At the same time, Foy announced that production reins will be given to Leonard Picker as his initial assignment for the company. Critics To Air Views Archer Winsten, John T. McManus and Eileen Creelman are among the New York motion picture critics who will participate in a panel discussion to be conducted by Professional Film Forum at the BarbizonPlaza, here, tonight. Patricia Smith and Paul Bennard are co-chairmen of the forum. Drop Suit Against 'Time' The $300,000 damage suit filed against March of Time by Hans Engebrigtsen, who charged he was depicted as a Norwegian Nazi in a March of Time subject in 1941, was discontinued in New York District Court on Friday. Canada, were some of the operators. At the Sunday morning meeting Pete Wood and Martin Smith, president of Ohio Exhibitors Association, together wth N. D. Golden, chief of the motion picture division of the Department of Commerce, delivered short addresses to both associations. Johnston, Shorts (Continued from page 1) will very likely force the Disney organization to abandon production of the shorts and devote its facilities' exclusively to making part "live-action" features. Before such a point is arrived at by Disney and other cartoon producers an appeal by the industry's top leaders, such as Johnston, may have to be looked for by the public if film-goers want cartoon shorts entertainment. Whether Johnston and others would step in on behalf of the cartoon shorts (and directly or indirectly, on behalf of the nation's theatregoers) is questionable at this point, of course, but Levy's statement in that regard would make it appear that cartoon-shorts producers are seriously weighing a decision to bring up the matter if and when the situation should so demand. Tri-States Meeting (Continued from page 1) Tri-States organization will be for exhibitors only, J. A. West, president, said. Distributors and other motion picture persons will be guests, however, at the dance and banquet closing the convention on Wednesday. The question of changing the TriStates organization into an ATA (American Theatres Association) chapter by voting to join it as a unit is not expected to be brought before the meeting officially, West said. However, such a question may be brought before the business sessions from the floor. Officers for 1947 will be elected. Matters of taxation and admission prices may come up for discussion and deliberation. W. J. German (Continued from page 1) ■ German studied at the Ontario Business College and joined the Eastman cost accounting department at Kodak Park in 1906. In 1921, he came to New York as manager of G. M. Laboratories, Long Island City, and Paragon and San Jacq Laboratories at Ft. Lee, N. J. German's association with the Brulaiour company began a year later, 10 years after Brulatour had become U. S. distributor of motion picture film for Eastman. In 1944, German was elected to the board of directors of Universal, of which Brulatour had been a founder. Schenck Deal (Continued from page 1) Mexico City. Dan Michalove, head of the 20thFox theatre subsidiary, National Theatres, states here that he is not in a position to confirm or deny the reports, adding that a statement would have to come from Schenck. The company made it clear some time ago that acquisition of additional theatre holdings in Mexico was actively under consideration. A recently promulgated presidential decree in that country prohibits a foreign country from holding more than 49 per cent of any Mexican concern. Col. Signs Goldstone Hollywood, Nov. 11. — Columbia has signed Richard Goldstone, formerly with M-G-M, as a producer under the supervision of Bennie F. Zeidman. Building Decontrol (Continued from page 1) because of the restrictions. Most of the theatre building requests were for necessary repairs, with few exhibitors asking to build new theatres. Republican Party observers, including Congressman Clarence Brown, Ohio, Republican campaign manager, indicated it is entirely possible that the GOP will not favor continued regulation over private building. Meanwhile, powerful real estate I'^bby groups are said to be determirfriaVo see an end to the building co?3i€>l. They are due to start work immediately on the new Congress in a plea to the public for support. Wyatt said that in order to make the veterans' housing program a success, limitations on non-residential .construction must continue. Wyatt will make a report to President Truman within 10 days on the steps necessary to carry out the housing program in the light of material price decontrol on materials. President Truman is expected to recommend continuation of all building barriers, and also production premium payments and priorities. The real fight will start in January, and as time goes on, the lobby wanting immediate elimination of building restrictions will keep talking to the lawmakers in search of relief, it is said. Will Honor 23 (Continued from page 1) Howard C. Holah, David Idzal, Harry Irons, Frank E. Lee, Joseph Lee, A. Lorenzo, H. R. Martin, Edward Murphy, Charles C. Perry, George F. Smith, Jake Sullivan, Edward Westcott, Jack Stewart and William Sturgess. Previous pioneers honored in 1942 were : Ray Branch, E. C. Beatty, J. O. Brooks, Glen Cross, J. R. Dennison, Tom Eland, Edward Kirchner, W. S. McLaren, J. C. Ritter, P. C. Schram and Jacob Stocker. Allied's convention, to run two days, will open tomorrow morning at the Book-Cadillac Hotel, here. Coast Unions Hit (Continued from page 1) be settled by democratic methods. The Senator said that the newly-elected Republican congress, does not intend to "swing too far right," and that the Republican Party does not intend to rule out the rights of labor, but would endeavor to instill a proper sense of responsibility into union leaders and thereby avoid repetition of such controversies as the studio jurisdictional dispute. M-G-M Contract (Continued from page 1) sale of each film was negotiated separately. This is written in in the new form. Designation (of terms) clauses are eliminated in the new form, along with the bracketing schedule. The sliding scale table in the new form jumps percentages in terms of one per cent. The bid table had jumps of two-and-one-half per cent. However, blank forms also could be put to use where one per cent jumps were appropriate. Interstate-Mono. Deal Hollywood, Nov. 11. — Interstate Circuit has booked the Monogram program for 1946-47 season. 1