Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1945)

INDUSTRY CANADA'S BEST BOND SELLER Prepares for Eighth War Loan; Effort Is Lauded by Finance Minister by W. M. GLADISH in Toronto Canadian industry men and women, long in war experience, have become almost automatic in their cooperative support of the Dominion Government's drives for public war financing. Since early in 1940 seven War Bond campaigns have been tucked away and the industry from coast to coast, under the general chairmanship of J. J. Fitzgibbons, president of Famous Players Canadian Corporation, is prepared for the Eighth Canadian Victory Loan. The drive will open April 23 with a quota of $1,600,000,000. The Canadian trade is permanently organized for such wartime projects, all theatre managers and all exchange executives being members of the Canadian Motion Picture War Services Committee, headed by Mr. Fitzgibbons. With an active membership of 1,700, it may well be the world's largest "committee". Official Praises Effort Mr. Fitzgibbons as well is an officer of the Motion Picture Section in the National War Finance Committee of the Federal Government for direct liaison purposes. Official recognition of the effectiveness of industry cooperation was contained in a letter from J. L. Ilsley, Minister of Finance, to Mr. Fitzgibbons, as follows: "The motion picture industry has once more surpassed its previous efforts in plans for support of Canada's Eighth Victory Loan campaign. I regard the help of the motion picture community, both in Canada and Hollywood, as a major element of our appeal. "While I know we all look forward to an early termination of the European conflict, I wish to emphasize the need for intensive application to our task on the home front. Even should our hopes be realized, the need for funds will continue at a high level. The continuance of our effort here in Canada will be an important factor in consolidating the victory. In addition, Canada will share large responsibilities in prosecuting the Asiatic war. "I am sure that members of the Canadian motion picture industry are aware of these circumstances and that, come what may, they will devote all their energy to the successful achievement of the Eighth Victory Loan." Promoted Stamp Sales In one thing at least, the Canadian film industry has shown a united front in supporting the war effort. In addition to the War Bond drives — large in relation to the 11,500,000 population of the country — the 1,400 theatres showed how to sell War Savings Stamps by the combined shows from coast to coast one night in July, 1940, when the admission was the purchase of at least 50 cents worth of stamps. This first big project of the Canadian Motion Picture War Services Committee, then headed by the late N. L. Nathanson, brought $766,000 to the Federal war chest in one evening, without cost to the Government. Subsequent war loans saw theatre managers and distributing executives acting on com JOHN FITZGIBBONS, right, chairman of the Canadian Motion Picture War Services Committee, presents Louis B. Mayer a trophy to mark Canada's gratitude for the short subject, "Tomorrow John Jones", War Bond promotion picture produced in Hollywood by talent from several of the major studios. munity Bond committees, organizing exploitation campaigns along theatre lines, plastering theatre fronts and lobbies with Bond posters, giving screen time to Bond trailers, arranging for stage speakers, opening lobby Bond-selling booths and organizing their own staffs for the 100 per cent purchase of Bonds. They've done it seven times and the eighth time is coming up — with enthusiasm maintained. Bragg Is Vice-Chairman All branches of the film business are represented on the executive board of the Canadian Motion Picture War Services Committee. T. J. Bragg of Canadian Odeon is vice-chairman ; R. W. Bolstad, vice-president of Famous Players, is treasurer ; Ray Lewis, publisher of Canadian Moving Picture Digest, is secretary, and the executive members include : Harry Alexander, Toronto exhibitor; A. W. Perry, president and general manager, Empire-Universal Films. Col. John A. Cooper; L. M. Devaney, general manager, RKO Distributing Corporation of Canada; Henry L. Nathanson, general manager, Regal Films, Ltd. (MGM) ; Louis Rosenfeld, general manager, Columbia Pictures of Canada; Ben Freedman, president, Ontario Council, Independent Exhibitors of Canada; Eugene Beulac of Montreal, Quebec Allied Theatre Industries; Morris Stein, general manager, Famous Players; Ralph Clark, Warner Bros. Pictures Distributing Company; Oscar R. Hanson, president, Monogram Pictures of Canada ; Herb Allen, Premier Operating Circuit; N. A. Taylor, 20th Century Theatres, and S. B. Taube, Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario. The organization is broken down into provincial or regional executive committees with provincial chairmen in key centers. A special 20-minute war loan film, produced in Hollywood through the cooperation of pro ducers, directors, screen celebrities, technicia musicians and writers, has been the cent feature of a number of Canadian War Bo drives. Sufficient prints have been made simultaneous showing in groups of theatres each of three weeks of the campaign — wh means more than 400 prints in circulati Physical distribution is taken care of, with charge, by two film exchanges each time, whl posters and other advertising accessories a handled in like manner. The film industtl absorbs delivery costs, if any, the motor fi| delivery enterprises carrying prints and mat rial for war loans without charge. The picture for the Eighth Loan is call "All Star Bond Rally," with an outstandii cast of stars to emphasize the title. Haskell Masters Warner Canadian Sales Manager Haskell M. Masters has been named Wanf Brothers' Canadian sales manager. He assum) his post Monday at Toronto. He will meet 1 staff in a general convention May 3 and 4 in that city. The announcement of the appointment came this week from Benjamin Kalmenson, general sales manager of the company. Mr. Kalmenson pointed out that Mr. Masters took the post vacated by Wolfe Cohen, when the latter was transferred to the foreign department in New York. The pro-tem Canadian manager, Ralph H. Clark, would return to the New York home office in an executive capacity, the company's announcement saj Mr. Masters resigned recently as general ma| ager of Odeon Theatres, of Canada, and preside of Empire Universal Films there. He had be previously with United Artists as western Unit States and Canadian sales manager. Mr. Masters entered the industry in 1915, w the Boston Photoplay Company. He was a sali man for Fox Film in 1916, and for Select P tures in 1917, was in the Navy, and then in IS rejoined Select, and then went to TV:ted Arti in Toronto, saying with that compai.. ^2 yea Haskell Masters Famous Players Canadian 1944 Profit $1,371,625 The financial statement of Famous Playe Canadian Corporation, Toronto, for 1944 show a net profit of $1,371,625 compared with $1,348,4! for the previous year. The taxes took approjj mately $2,500,000 out of the earned surplus slightly more than $5,000,000, or four times mo than the total dividend of $645,786 on 430,5 outstanding common shares. A significant item in the report was an incre of $400,000 to $6,200,000 in the values of land ai a further increase of $561,000 in buildings. The increases reflect acquisitions of physical assets preparation for a post-war expansion program. Eastern Theatres, Ltd., Toronto, which is subsidiary of Famous Players, in a separate r port, showed net profit of $48,966 in 1944. Earn surplus increased about $50,000 to $180,462. Jj| dividends were paid last year. Columbia Votes Dividend The board of directors of Columbia Picturj Corporation last week declared a quarterly di^j dend of 68% cents per share on the $2.75 coj vertible preferred stock, payable May 15, 1945, stockholders of record May 1. 22 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, APRIL 21. 19