Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1944)

12,000 WHO'S WHO IN NEW ALMANAC 1944 International Edition Reflects Contribution of Industry to War With its Who's Who section of approximately 12,000 biographies containing many new names, the International Motion Picture Almanac, just published, presents upwards of 1,000 pages of facts and figures on industry personnel, structure and activity during 1944. Again, a main division of the volume, which is arranged in 15 sections, is devoted to the farflung, diversified contribution of the organized motion picture business to America at war. A new and prophetic note, reflecting the military developments of the year, is the re-entry in this year's Almanac of U. S. film distribution in the liberated war zones. The invasion of North Africa by the Allies in 1942 and of Sicily and Italy in 1943, returned American motion pictures to people previously denied this product. Resume in North Africa In North Africa, film distribution already has been resumed by the American majors. In Sicily and Italy, as well as in the liberated areas of France, exhibition of American and British pictures is still in the control of the U. S. Army Psychological Warfare Division and the overseas film division of the Office of War Information. More than 1,000 pages of industry statistics, including the indices, are contained in the 1944-45 edition. Upwards of 12,000 biographies are published in the "Who's Who" section. This year, there are 15 separate sections of the Almanac, detailing information pertaining to the United States, Canadian, British and Latin American industries. Changes in addition to revision of the subject matter includes regrouping of some material to facilitate references, while the typographical devices for the same purpose that were instituted in the 194344 and 1942-43 editions have been extended. For Almanac readers who regularly depend on this compilation of important industry data, there is an alphabetical listing of feature pictures for the years 1937 through 1944, with a breakdown by company of the 1943-44 season's features and shorts. Attendance 95,000,000 According to the Almanac, the average weekly attendance at theatres in the U. S. is estimated at 95,000,000. Approximately 16,793 theatres were operating in this country as of December 15, 1943, with about 2,000 houses reported closed. More than 700 theatre circuits in the United States and Canada are listed, with details as to circuit officers and theatres operated. The volume discloses that 193,222 people are employed in the exhibition, distribution and production branches, earning a total of $343,033,763 per year. Capital investment of theatres, studios and distribution facilities amounted to $2,050,000,000. A news digest highlighting the important industry events of 1943-44 comprises one section of the volume. Films which have grossed more than $2,000,000 take their place of honor in the Almanac, headed by the all-time moneymaker, "Gone With the Wind," the David O. Selznick picture released through MGM, which had grossed $32,000,000 as of July 1, 1943. Developments of the Consent Decree negotiations and the renewed interest in television as an early post-war commercial possibility are important sections in this vear's volume. Schenck Names Dimes Committee Nicholas M. Schenck, national chairman of the industry's 1945 March of Dimes drive, announced this week the executive committee to pilot the campaign. Most of the members are the same as served in the drives of 1943 and 1944. The committee, includes : Barney Balaban, Joseph Bernhard, Harry Brandt, Oscar A. Doob, G. S. Eyssell, S. H. Fabian, Harry Kalmine, Malcom Kingsberg, Charles C. Moskowitz, Herman Bobbins, Spyros Skouras, Joseph R. Vogel and Richard Walsh. Ernest Emerling was named public relations chairman ; Tom Connors, exchange committee chairman ; Leonard Goldenson, home office committee chairman ; Walter Vincent, treasurer. A nationwide survey to gather data on the most practicable manner in which to conduct a charity drive in theatres is being made by the national motion picture committee of the 1945 March of Dimes, it was announced this week by Oscar Doob of the campaign committee. Exhibitors are invited to send their comments to the committee. Suite 124, Hotel Astor, New York. Each showman is asked to tell what he did, and how he did it, to get the best results in the 1944 drive. Answers will be quoted in the campaign book now in preparation. Television Boom Rank Buys Odeon Circuit Interest For $5,000,000 by W. M. GLADISH //; Toronto J. Arthur Rank, England's most important in dustry leader, became part-owner of the Odeor Circuit of Canada Tuesday, thereby forging another link in his chain of worldwide distribution exhibition plans. The deal, initiated in August h} John Davis, managing director of Odeon of Eng land, a Rank-controlled circuit, finally was con eluded by Mr. Davis and Thomas J. Bragg, secre tary of General Theatre Corporation, of whicl Odeon is an operating subsidiary. The agreement, to be ratified by Mr. Rank ii England, is of long term duration and include; provision for exhibition of Rank-produced films Purchase price for Mr. Rank's 50 per cent inter est in the Canadian circuit is reported at $5,000,000 Odeon of Canada operates more than 90 theatre; throughout the Dominion. General Theatre Corporation which waformed early in 1941 by Paul L. Nathanson whei his father, the late Nathan L. Nathanson, resigned as president of Famous Players Canadia' Corporation, following a split with Paramount di rectors of the Canadian theatre circuit company over matters of policy. Included in the Nathanson-Canadian group an Empire-Universal-Films, Ltd., Canadian distributor of Universal, Republic and British product , Sovereign Film Distributors, Ltd., distributin;; 16mm product; Associated Treatres, Ltd., a cooper ative theatre organization, and many individuallyincorporated subsidiary units across the Dominion. Canadian Odeon is generally recognized a; owning, controlling and operating approximately , 90 theatres from coast to coast, including variou.' partnerships with exhibitors'. Empire-Universal one of the largest film exchanges in Canada whicl was established 12 year ago by N. L. Nathanson holds the Canadian franchise for an extensive lis( of British features produced in studios controllec by Rank but it has been stated several times thai this tieup was in no way involved in the offer frorr the British film leader. i Seen After War Predicts Building Five years after war restrictions are lifted, the United States will have 5,000,000 television sets worth $750,000,000 based on an approximate schedule of 250,000 receivers in the first full year of production, 500,000 in the second year, 900,000 in the third, 1,500,000 in the fourth, and 2,000,000 in the fifth, Ernest H. Vogel, vice-president in charge of sales of Farnsworth Radio and Television Corporation, said at the American Television Society meeting in New York last week. During those five years, Mr. Vogel predicted, there would be built, installed and operating 500 television transmitters of varying power. He characterized these predictions as "not optimistic," and as evidence, he cited the rise of radio in the years between 1926 and 1930 when $1,500,000,000 worth of radio equipment was sold and a radio set was installed in one out of every two homes. His estimates for television receivers were based on one set for every six homes. In 1930, he recalled, when radio was still technically imperfect, few people would have guessed that 65,000,000 radios would be sold in 1940. Television would arrive more quickly than we could currently appreciate, Mr. Vogel said, but its arrival would depend on how soon manufacturing could start. Contributed $175 to Red Cross C. T. Dusinberre, operator of the Red Bud theatre, Red Bud, 111., has pointed out that the theatre's contribution to the Red Cross theatre collection was $175 instead of the $10 erroneously reported in the book listing all contributions from theatres in the United States. Delay in England John Davis, managing director of Odeon Circuit of England, one of the theatre circuits controlled by J. Arthur Rank, predicted in New York last Thursday that no theatres would be built in England for five years after the war. Mr. Davis, who recently returned to the U. S. to conclude the deal with Odeon of Canada whereby Mr. Rank would assume a 50 per cent interest in the Nathanson theatres observed that labor and building materials would be needed in the British Isles for the construction of homes. This need came first, he said, and the British Government would not authorize construction for any other purpose. The British circuit head said that Mr. Rank was interested in establishing show windows for British product in New York and in the principal European capitals as soon as possible. He denied the report that he was seeking to acquire for Mr. Rank the site at 52nd Street and Sixth Avenue to build a theatre. He admitted Mr. Rank wished to lease, rent or buy a Broadway house, and said he would try to realize this desire. The British leader also is interested in acquiring theatres in the Near East, an objective which E. T. Carr, general manager of Eagle-Lion Films, pursued on his recent trip to that area. It was reported in London Tuesday that Mr. Carr was en route to Paris to arrange bookings for Rank films or control of the Gaumont circuit in France. The possibility of immediate success appears slight. Ownership of theatres as well as other French businesses is still doubtful. 28 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 25, 1944