Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1945)

Studios, Strikers Differ on Effects Of Coast Walkout "Close to 95 per cent of the studios' normal complement of employees in all classifications are at work," the producers association in Hollywood said Monday, in the continuing strike by the Conference of Studio Unions. They were answered the same day by Herbert Sorrell, CSU president, who commented : "ridiculous." He added that "an accurate check of the laboratories shows that a very small proportion of the footage normally processed is going through. We haven't lost a man since the strike started, and we have the names of more than a thousand IATSE members who have quit their studio posts during the strike." Meanwhile, efforts at settlement continue, in the FRANK LESMF'5 ILI USTRATFO NEWSPAPER. V I wwm This picture from Leslie's Weekly depicts an 1861 Express van being loaded with war materials. In those days this vehicle was considered a mammoth advance in efficiency. READY Throughout American history when a real need arose, a man or an organization has been ready to cope with it. Express shipping is an organized service originated 106 years ago to meet the demands of those times. Since then, through peace and war, Express has promptly adopted every scientific advance so as to be ready for the nation's changing shipping needs. Today the major part of the unprecedented volume of Express, both by rail and air, is connected with the war effort. This wartime transportation experience and new handling techniques will aid in the nation's postwar commercial shipping needs. BUY MORE. WAR BONDS form of National Labor Relations Board hearings in Washington April 26. Whether the hearings will affect the CSU stand was debated in Hollywood this wek. IATSE spokesmen accused the CSU of using the original cause of the strike, a demand that producers recognize the studio decorator members of the Conference, as merely a method of seizing jurisdiction over a number of other classifications. Mr. Sorrell commented this week, too, that he "didn't start the strike" and "can't stop it,"but that "Richard Walsh can, by just whistling." Mr. Walsh is president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. U. S. Seeks to Invalidate Westinghouse Agreement The Department of Justice last week projected its campaign against international cartels into the field of radio, asking the Federal District Court at Newark, N. J., to invalidate an agreement between Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company and Westinghouse Electric International Company and the two German corporations of Siemens-Schuckertwerke, A. G., and Siemens and Halske A. G., for division of world markets for electrical apparatus. In its complaint, the department charged that the arrangement resulted in substantial and unreasonable restraint of interstate and foreign trade and commerce in the manufacture and sale of electrical equipment, including radio apparatus. The Government seeks to have the agreement outlawed and, in addition, petitioned the court to require the two American companies to grant royalty-free licenses to all applicants under United States patents used in carrying out the alleged arrangement. Gabriel, MGM Booker in Philadelphia, Retires William Gabriel, Metro booker in Philadelphia, retired this week after having been with the company more than 24 years. He has been in the business more than 35 years, and helped move the industry to Vine Street. He plans a short vacation, but his future plans are unknown. David Titleman moves up to Mr. Gabriel's post, with student booker Harry Short taking over Mr. Titleman's duties. At the Universal exchange in Philadelphia, Jeanette Berliner returns to the industry as a booker. Several years ago she was associated with the local independent exchanges. Premiere of "G.I. Joe" Set for Indianapolis The world premiere of Ernie Pyle's "Story of G.I. Joe." will take place early this summer in Indianapolis, George J. Schaefer, chairman of the board of Lester Cowan Productions, producer of the film, has announced. The opening will be followed by a worldwide release of the film through United Artists. The selection of Indianapolis is predicated on the fact that it was the center of Mr. Pyle's early career. Century Circuit Moves Century Circuit, Inc., New York and associated corporations have announced the removal of their offices, to the Century Building, 132 West 43rd Street, New York. Begin Change to Regular Army Houses in Europi The establishment of regular film theatres rear areas in Europe for the showing of 35n entertainment films to American troops aire? has begun and further progress in that direct is being made, the War Activities Committee 1 been informed. In areas in which thev open these theatres replace the showings of 16mm \ films. Joseph H. Seidelman, president of Univer International Films and consultant to the Sec tary of War on motion pictures overseas, is le; ing shortly for Europe to survey the Army's f needs and to assist in the fastest possible chan over from 16mm to 35mm showings. The change is being made gradually, as the Ar opens theatres in towns behind the lines in Eurc Standard 35 mm prints of current films will be us The Army is negotiating individually with vari distributors for product on the basis of a fee termined by attendance, although no admiss charge will be made to the troops. Showings \ be restricted to uniformed personnel. These moves are preliminary to the comp1 conversion from 16mm gift film showings to 35i Army theatre showings which will take place soon as conditions in Europe make it possible. According to information received by the V Activities Committee, 17 former industry men n in service have reported for duty with the Mot Picture Branch of the Special and Informat Services in the European Theatre of Operatic This agency will handle 35mm distribution : exhibition for the Army overseas, just as the U Army Motion Picture Service has operated similar circuit of more than 1,100 Army theal in the United States and Caribbean area. The following officers are among the first Army men to take over the new assignment : C; Paul W. Pine, former executive of Shea Enl prises; Capt Mike Cullen, former western d sion manager for Loew's Theatres; Lt. John Nicholson, for 14 years with Warner Bi Theatres; Lt. Carl L. Dorst, Paramount's Deti exchange; Lt. Joseph L. Lyne, from Columb Dallas exchange, and Lt. Edgar T. Bramw Universal's Portland exchange. The enlisted men are : Sgt. George Gaughan, for 14 years with Paramount in the southwe T/3 Charles R. Ramsey, formerly with Butterfield circuit; Sgt. Victor J. Carlson, 2 Century-Fox, Chicago; T/4 Richard Parks, m^ ager for Warners in Philadelphia; T/4 Andr F. Gorzo, Warner manager in Pennsylvania; 1' Vincent Proctor, RKO projectionist in New Yo T/5 Harold E. Smith, Paramount's Long Isl; laboratory; T/5 J. P. Sylvia, projectionist w Fox West Coast, T/5 Howard T. Clark, War] manager in Milwaukee; T/5 Louis J. Burf Paramount's home office, and T/5 Irving Rier Warner home office. Chicago Rejects PRC Film The police censor board in Chicago has rejec PRC's "Crime, Inc." and has not changed its cla; fication of Monogram's "Dillinger" which was jected earlier this year, according to the Ma' record. A total of 87 films were reviewed dur the month. ROAL & COMPANY, Inc. Announces its Appointment as the North American Representative for the Largest Independent Distributors in Brazil THE BRITISH FILMS do BRASIL Ltda Rio de Janeiro Please address all offers and inquiries to ATT: MR. L. KITCHNER 320 Broadway, New York 7, N. Y Phone WOrth 2-5262 41 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, APRIL 21, 191