Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1944)

WASHINGTON PAYS TRIBUTE O HONORED HUNDRED 'inner s of Fourth War Loan Contest Receive Awards and Enlist for the Fifth This week in Washington, the nation's capial, the Honored Hundred of the industry, hampion salesmen of the Fourth Loan, were aid tribute by high Government officials, top anking military officers and leaders of the ndustry. The award ceremonies began on Tuesday and continued through Thursday. Altogether, some two hundred showmen from he 48 states and Alaska were assembled for he two-day sessions, which also marked the •fficial opening of the Fifth War Loan. The only exhibitor winner of the Hon>red Hundred Contest unable to attend was ames Gomez of the Queen theatre, Honoulu, the Hawaiian winner, who was pre■ented from making the trip because of the var. The campaign committee is planning o present Mr. Gomez with a special award o substitute for the journey. It was estinated that about 80 per cent of the winners vere from the nation's smaller towns. Charles P. Skouras. Fourth War Loan indusry chairman, at the Hotel Statler Tuesday. Jmmended the Honored Hundred for their efort under his leadership, then turned them over to R. J. O'Donnll, Fifth War Loan chairman, is "shock troops" for the Fighting Fifth. Mr. Skouras Wednesday said National Theatres, of vhich he is president, would purchase $5,000.)00 in Bonds in the Fifth War Loan and that he vould purchase an "E" Bond for every theatre n the circuit. Fifth War Loan Goal Is $60,000,000,000. ! The Fifth War Loan goal is 20 per cent ibove that of the Fourth, Theodore Gamble, di-ector of the War Finance Division of the Treasury, told the regional Loan committee at uncheon in Washington Wednesdav. He said he Treasury must raise $60,000,000,000 in (Bond sales this year, with the necessity of ■eaching 20 per cent more persons who have not bought Bonds. Among those attending the ceremonies besides the showmen, were Lieut. General A. A. Yandergrift, Commandant of the U. S. Marines; Senators Walter George of Georgia, Robert LaFollette of Wisconsin and MacFarland of Arizona, and Mr. Gamble. Campaign Leaders Are Present at Session Tuesday's session opened at 10 A.M. at the Statler, with F. H. "Rick" Ricketson, Jr., one 'of the industry's heads in the Fourth War Loan, presiding. Mr. Skouras and Mr. Gamble both gave speeches of welcome to the honored exhibitors. On the dais at the morning session were leaders of the previous and forthcoming War Loans; B. V. Sturdivant, who was national campaign director ; Mr. O'Donnell ; Ned E. Depinet, national distributor chairman ; S. H. Fabian, chairman of the WAC theatres division; Major Alan Martini, veteran flyer, r.nd John Friedl and R. M. Kennedy of the Fifth War Loan's high command, Leon Bamberger, Jay Emanuel, Ray Beall, Claude Lee, Fred Stein and Sam Shain. Army Chaplain Lieut. Colonel Daniel J. THE HONORED HUNDRED are welcomed on the steps of the Capital in Washington, above, by Senator Walter F. George of Georgia and Senator Robert M. LaFollette, Jr., of Wisconsin. CHARLES P. SKOURAS presents the certificate of award to Harlan Croy of Frankfort, Ind., who recently was inducted into the Navy. He was given a special furlough to receive his honors. In the foreground are B. V. Sturdivant and Theodore j amble. Wylie, opened the meeting with an invocation. Robert Selig, assistant national campaign director who was in charge of the Honored Hunbeing the winner who came the longest distance, from Ketchikan, Alaska, where he manages the Revilla theatre. The first winner to be presented with an illuminated parchment scroll and medallion, was the exhibitor who traveled the shortest distance : Jack L. Foxe of Loew's Columbia, Washington, D. C. As Mr. Selig called each winner's name he was presented to Mr. Skouras and the dais guests who in turn presented each winner with ' the various honoraria. Luncheon in the hotel followed presentation of the winners who were guests of the Fourth War Loan Committee and the industry's WAC Committee. They were again paid tributes by speakers, among them General Vandegrift. . Tuesday the visitors were guests at a dinner given by the local Variety Club. On Wednesday in a special ceremony Mr. O'Donnell as the industry's leader in the forthcoming drive, inducted the Honored Hundred with Mr. Skouras at their head, into the Fifth War Loan. They will act as a special advisory committee to the national committee in charge of the industry's participation in the drive, and to the Treasury's War Finance Division. The committee in charge of Washington arrangements consisted of Carter Barron, Anthony Muto, John Payette and Frank LaFalce. On Wednesday the Honored Hundred also joined with exhibitors and distributors constituting the high command of the Fifth War Loan in their regional pre-drive campaign meeting in the Hotel Statler. The meeting got underway at 10 :30 A.M. and continued through a luncheon session. Mr. Fabian introduced the national chairman, Mr. O'Donnell, who addressed those assembled. Following Mr. O'Donnell's address the Honored Hundred were officially presented to him by Mr. Skouras. They then heard talks by all the committee heads serving in the Fiftn War Loan drive under Mr. O'Donnell. Sidney Lust, chairman for the District of Columbia area, presided. State chairmen of the area who were present included : Louis Rome, Baltimore, Md.; W. F. Crockett and M. G. Thalheimer, Virginia ; Lewis S. Black, Delaware ; Milton Levine, West Virginia ; Louis Finske, Eastern Pennsylvania, and Ben Amsterdam of New Jersey. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MAY 13, 1944 27