Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1944)

WPB PROJECTOR GREEN LIGHT HITS STOP SIGN ON PARTS Restricted Materials Still Delay Manufacture, in Spite of Relaxation The manufacture of projection equipment jr the war-restricted theatres of the nation i quantities calculated to satisfy an urgent eed, still faces long delays, it appeared this reek. This is true despite last week's anouncement of the relaxing of the War Prouction Board's restrictions on projection aparatus, effective August 15. Authority for this conclusion is Allen G. mith, chief of the WPB theatre equipment action, who pointed out in a letter to the 'heatre Equipment Dealers' Protective Assoiation in Chicago that although restrictions n the manufacturers of projection equipment light be lifted, the supply of component parts f projectors still rested under heavy prohibions. lust Depend on Others ?or Projector Parts Mr. Smith emphasized that many of the critial parts are not produced by the projector lanufacturers, and that they must depend on ther concerns for such parts as ball bearings, mall motors and electronic components. The lanufacturers of such parts, Mr. Smith indiated, would not be in a position to accept reference ratings for some time, since the reuirements of the Army and Navy still must ike precedence over any possible civilian delands, inclusive of theatre equipment. Mr. Smith's letter said, in part : "We can see no relaxation in the comonent situation for many months to come, nd consequently, we must wait until they an be made available for use in the manuacture of our equipment." "Dealers and manufacturers should not iew with too much optimism these proosed changes. The production of some :ems of consumer goods doubtless will be esumed and perhaps substantially expandi, but it will be the manufacturers of those ems which do not require the use of critial components which are so heavily in deland by the Army and Navy." "We are bringing this to your attention d that you may contact the members of our Association and tell them that the proosed new orders cannot at this time mateally benefit them or the manufacturers." The enthusiasm with which the stories of the roposed relaxation on the limitations on the anufacture of projection equipment appearig in both lay and trade press last week is lus found to have been unwarranted in the grit of Mr. Smith's clarification of the diffillties which must be surmounted before the tpected resumption of production in this field Jm be realized. I In addition to the contemplated resumption hd expansion of the production of civilian pods, Mr. Smith cited three other orders 1 hich must not be regarded by the manufacture's of 35mm equipment with the optimism hich the exemptions might engender. They ■e: 1 The release of aluminum and magnesium j make civilian articles. 2. The right of manufacturers to place or ders for machine tool and production machinery. 3. Permission for manufacturers to make experimental models. The WPB orders revising restrictions on the making of experimental models relaxes the provisions of the equipment limitation order No. L. 325 which prohibited manufacturers from engaging in any experimental developments. Under the new arrangement the manufacturers will be permitted to spend up to $5,000 a month in the production of post-war models, although they may not divert manpower or facilities from war work for that purpose and may not advertise, sell, or otherwise dispose of the experimental models which they make. More Than 400 Limitation Orders Now in Effect More than 400 limitation and conservation orders are in effect controlling the output of industry from the largest plants to the smallest shops. They govern not only the number of units which a producer may turn out, but also the size, shape and model of each unit, and the material which should go into them. Equipment manufacturers are prepared to meet the demands of the domestic and foreign markets as soon as the materials needed are made available, it was indicated this week. Most of them have been manufacturing their regular products for the use of the armed services, as well as special equipment. Thus there is little or no conversion problem. Referring to the foreign market, Walter Green, president of National-Simplex-Bludworth, Inc., of which National Theatre Supply is a division, said this week that his company had a backlog of some half million dollars worth of equipment, parts valued at $40,000, and miscellaneous items such as rewinders, also valued at $40,000, ready for export as soon as shipping facilities become available. Exporting has taken place right along, Mr. Green added, but pointed out that its volume naturally had been curtailed by the wartime restrictions on shipping space. Little Reconversion Seen Needed After War The supplying of new parts for projection equipment to motion picture theatres throughout the country has continued relatively smoothly, Mr. Green said, with only those delays to exhibitors occasioned by the wartime requirements of the Army and Navy. Machinery for the production of new equipment after the war will require no reconversion in many instances, Mr. Green indicated — he cited International Projector as an example — the only need being the necessary materials when they can be released for civilian production. Mr. Green pointed out that all the new measures for lifting the limitations on manufacturing are part of the War Production Board's program of gradually reconverting from wartime production to the production of essential civilian goods. He said that the warnings against a too sanguine view of the prospects for immediate resumption of projector and sound equipment manufacture were made simply as a matter of realism and in no sense as a criticism of the admirable efforts of Donald M. Nelson, WPB head, to facilitate the transition from wartime production. Lack of Tires Hits Film Deliveries Washington Bureau With a lack of manpower threatening the production of truck tires, the Office of Defense Transportation last week sharply cut allocations for civilian operations and the War Production Board issued a list of essential services in which the various industries were classified according to their relative importance. . Very few heavy or medium duty truck tires would be available for at least the next three months, it was warned. In the classification by the WPB, film delivery services were placed in Schedule 3 and delivery of other supplies and equipment for places of amusement in Schedule 4, but whether services so far down the list are able to get a'ny tires will depend, of course, upon the requirements of operations in the higher classes. The ratings will be used to control the distribution of heavy and medium-duty tires, but will not affect trucks using light-duty or passenger casings. No heavy or medium-duty tires will be provided for trucks in even the most essential services, it was said, if diversion of the traffic to other carriers is feasible, or recapping or the use of lower grade tires is possible. Lack of Freon Gas Closes Spartanburg Theatre Robert B. Wilby, vice-president of the WilbyKincey circuit, said in New York this week that the circuit's Palmetto theatre in Spartanburg, S. C, had been closed since last week because of the management's inability to obtain Freon gas for the cooling system. The Palmetto, an 800-seat theatre, is three years old and has been serving the soldiers from a nearby camp. Mr. Wilby, who appealed to the War Production Board in Washington this week, said that the board's interpretation of order L. 38, which controls the issuance of the refrigerant for civilian use holds that theatres are not included in its definition of auditoriums and other places of public assembly. It was on this ground that the board refused Mr. Wilby's request for a supply of gas which would carry the Palmetto over until October, when cooling no longer would be necessary for the house. Under the current interpretation of the WPB order, Mr. Wilby said, department stores, restaurants, civic auditoriums and auditoriums infrequently used are allowed limited quantities of Freon, but motion picture houses, which are in frequent use, are not included. At present there is no satisfactory substitute gas available and since war restrictions forbid the installation of fans, the Palmetto must remain closed until October under the WPB interpretation of the order, Mr. Wilby said. New Freon Plant to Be Operated by Kinetic Kinetic Chemicals Company, a subsidiary of DuPont, will operate the new Freon production plant which is scheduled to open in mid-August in Gary, Ind. A full production capacity of about 2,000,000 pounds a month is expected to be reached next winter, topping the production of any competitive plant in the world. The plant's output will be completed under Government control and none of the Freon to be produced is expected to be sold to theatres* before military requirements show a sharp decline. OTION PICTURE HERALD, AUGUST 5, 1944 13