Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1945)

Newsreels Find Inauguration an Easy Assignment Washington Bureau Newsreel cameramen and broadcasters found the 1945 inauguration of President Roosevelt the easiest to cover, roughly a 15-minute job all concentrated at one point in contrast with previous inaugurations which began with the swearing in at the Capitol, followed with a big parade down Pennsylvania Avenue and a review by the President before the White House. The war-time inauguration consisted of the taking of the oath of office by Vice-President Harry S. Truman, then by President Roosevelt and the latter's address, lasting five minutes. The entire ceremony was staged on the south portico of the White House, with the invited guests gathered in the inch-deep snow on the White House grounds, and the general public standing far away on the ground leading to the Washington Monument. As in the past, the ceremonies were covered by camera and transmitter. Television has yet to cover its first inauguration. It is understood that television interests sought to depict the occasiop, but were denied the privilege— not too great a loss to television, since cameramen on the job said the murky day would have made good pictures impossible without the use of tremendous batteries of lights. The official reason for barring television is understood to be that it would require too much equipment, interfering with the planned use of the confined space available. On the other hand, the President in recent months has become more particular about the pictures of him that are sent out, and it is possible he did not fancy the pictures which would result from closeup cameras and high-intensity lights. Because of the conditions under which the event was held, newsreel coverage was handled on a pool basis. Because the President wanted a clear viewdown the length of the grounds and toward the Monument, the cameramen were placed over to one side of the portico. That location was all right for all the ceremony except one phase — when the President took his oath of office the cameras could not get Supreme Court Chief Justice Harlan F. Stone, who was partially behind one of the flags that draped the portico. The newsreels also had cameras in the Washington Monument, looking down on the scene from a height of 555 feet and a distance of close to half a mile, and portable cameras working among the crowds in the grounds. All told, according to experienced newsreel men, the inauguration was adequately covered, and was the least hectic and quietest inauguration in the itiemory of those who handled it. Bingley of Phiico Is Named Vice-President of TBA Frank J. Bingley, chief television engineer of Phiico Radio and Television Corporation, was elected vice-president of the Television Broadcasters Association last Friday at a meeting of the board of directors in New York. He succeeds Robert L. Gibson of General Electric, who resigned as an officer and director of TBA. New committee chairmen of the association, appointed by J. R. Poppele, president, are: Publicity, Paul Raibourn, chairman; Douglas Day, co-chairman; membership, Ralph B. Austrian; engineering, F. J. Bingley and Television Station Operations; standards and personnel, O. B. Hanson. "Objective, Burma" Screening Changed to February 5 Due to delay in delivery of final prints resulting from interruption of air express traffic by recent bad weather, the national tradeshowing of Warner's "Objective, Burma," scheduled for January 29, has been postponed to February 5. The film, starring Errol Flynn, was to have its world debut January 26 at the New York Strand. IN NEWSREELS MOVIETONE NEWS— Vol. 27, No. 41— Russians capture Warsaw. . . . Polish Refugees find a haven. . . . Allies smash Japs in Burma to open C3iina supply road. . . . General weather takes a hand in the war. . . . Coast Guard on the job. . . . March of Dimes. MOVIETONE NEWS^Vol. 27, No. 4Z— Roosevelt inaugural. Retreat from U. S. air bases as Japs cut China in two. . . . Meet remarkable Shirley Ross who uses feet as hands. NEWS OF THE DAY— VoL IS, No. 239-Chinese turn tide in Burma. . . . Winter holds U. S. 5th Army in icy grip on Italian front. . . . American carrier rides out furious typhoon in Pacific. . . . Liberty ship named for Alfred E. Smith. . . Coa.st Guard ice breaker opens way for war traffic. . . . U. S. schools open for Jap children on Tinian Island. . . . Margaret O'Brien of MGM in March of Dimes appeal. . . . No cigarette shortage in Guam. NEWS OF THE DAY— Vol. IS, No. 2W— President Roosevelt's 4th term inaugural. . . . Americans bum U. S. airports in China. . . . School for expectant fathers. PARAMOUNT NEWS^-Nou 42— Weather report. ... A medal for Bob Hope. . . . Cigarettes, civilian outlook gloomier. . . . Road to Mandalay. PARAMOUNT NEWS— No. 43— Babies, new course for fathers. . . . Retreat from China. . . . Inauguration. RKO PATHE NEWS— Vol. 16, No. 44r-Chinese troops win key Jap Burma base. . . . Carrier battles tropic typhoon. . . . Breaker clears Great Lakes ice. . . Sonja Henie dances in ice show. . . . Poles find home in New Zealand. . . . Yanks face snow and ice in Italy. . . . Caravan recruits shipyard labor. RKO PATHE NEWS— Voi 18, No. 4S— Fourth Roosevelt inaugural. . . . Retreat in China. UNIVERSAL NEWS— Vol. 18, No. 365— Japs routed in Burma. . . . War in Italy bows to ice. . . . Celebrities launch March of Diities. . . . Polish kids welcomed in New Zealand. . . . War industries need help. . . . Ice pressure opens lakes. . . . 1945 Golden Gloves. UNIVERSAL NEWS— VoL 18, No. 366— Roosevelt inaugurated. . . . Retreating in Kwangsi. . . . Bombing of Palawan Island. . . . Expectant fathers. . . . Mr. Wickel's $1,000. ALL AMERICAN NEWS— VoL 3, No. 118— Horace Cayton's new book off press. . . . Police boys club celebrates anniversary. . . . Mrs. Roosevelt and Sergeant Joe Louis open drive. . . . Provident Hospital leads in dermatology. . . . Harlem women flock to Jersey arsenal. . . . Woman union worker off to survey Britam. . . . Nigerians in action in Burma. Canada Cancels Balkan Subject At the request of the Canadian Government, the National Film Board of Canada has withdrawn from circulation its latest "World in Action" release, "Balkan Powder Keg." The picture had completed its first run at Toronto last week when the decision was reached to withdraw it from subsequent theatres because of its "controversial nature" and in view of the "forthcoming conference of the United Nations." The move also applies to the distribution of the film in the U. S. and England. United Artists distributes the "World in Action" series in America. O. J. Silverthorne, chairman of the Ontario board of censors, said in Toronto Monday he had received only one complaint from the public while the picture was playing in Toronto and that he had called back the short for second viewing but passed it again without further revision. Originally there had been some deletions by Ontario censors, he said, but did not explain what these scenes were. "To my mind the subject was innocuous," he remarked, adding that "it was just a conglomeration of old newsreels" and that "practically all newsreels are controversial." Disney Entertains Soldiers At Burbank Studio Walt Disney entertained 900 Puerto Ricans in the U. S. Army at his Burbank studio theatre last Thursday. The Spanish version of "Three Caballeros" was screened for the guests, and an impromptu show was staged by a group of Latin American artists. Carman Miranda and Ary Barroso, Brazilian composer of several Disney song hits, were among the guests. Newsreels Shift Cameramen in \ War Theatres , A drastic realignment program of the five Ana ican newsreels composing the American news] war pool finally has been completed, with thei signment of seven Free French pre-war newsi veterans to combat zones in the European theS of operations. The six Frenchmen, recently t ployed by the American newsreels, have Mi added to their staffs to operate out of the news! offices in Paris. They are Jules Delalande, GeoE Mejat, Raymond Mejat, Gaston Madru, E| Martelliere and Yves Naintre. | Each of these men is assigned to an individ newsreel with Mr. Naintre of Paramount N| staff, temporarily acting as newsreel pool ml ager for the European area. I The new French contingent has relieved seva .American cameramen who have been cover] combat operations since the beginning of the w Of these, John Bockhorst, News of the Day ; Rf ert Blair, Movietone News ; Jack Lieb, Newsl the Day, and Neil Sullivan, Pathe News, h| been recalled to the United States. All exq Mr. Sullivan are awaiting new assignments as w correspondents. Still remaining in Europe f Thomas A. Priestley of Universal Newsreel, w will be brought back shortly. By this realignment the newsreels expect gr ually to reorganize the staffs of their Paris 5 other European offices in the hope of resuming production of newsreels abroad as soon as cor tions permit. Several other changes recently have been mi in the war staff of the newsreel pool. From Pacific area to the newsreels have recalled E Crotchett and Irving Smith of Universal Ne\ reel, Langdon Senick of Movietone News a Howard Winner of Pathe News. Norman Alley of News of the Day recently turned to the Pacific to replace Mr. Crochi Also being sent to the Pacific for assignment Robert Donahue, Jr., of Pathe, who some mon ago was stricken with jaundice in Italy. Lewis S. Cass of Paramount News, recen! brought back to New York from Rome for cc sultation with editors composing the newsreel po is preparing to return to Italy where he will jc John Dored, also of Paramount I More than a score of newsreel veterans 1 now covering the war in all parts of the world Depinet Drive Meeting Is Held in New York RKO Radio 1945 Ned Depinet Drive capta Robert Folliard Tuesday held the next to li branch meeting at the New York exchange af< completing a 22-day tour of the company's e changes in the United States and Canada, wi the exception of Philadelphia. Mr. Folliard spo; of RKO's forthcoming product and of the recor breaking grosses of "The Princess and the Piral) and other current RKO releases. Attending the New York meetings were RK Radio metropolitan district manager Charles Boa berg; New York branch manager Phil Hode members of the sales staff John J. Dacey, E. ' Carroll, Lou Kutinsky, Charles Penser, Ann Lev; bookers William Hartman, Jean Slade, Doroti Post, Lillian Vallon ; office manager Herman S: verman and a home office delegation includi; Harry Michalson, Mike Poller, William McSh^ Irving Kane, Herb Wappaus, Harry Reiners, Ru gers Neilson, Jack Level and Bob Boehnel. Immediately following the meeting Mr. Folliai and Harry Gittleson left for Philadelphia whe; Wednesday they conferred with representativ from the Philadelphia, Washington and Pittsburj branches. ' RKO Radio Signs Vailee Rudy Vailee has been signed by RKO Rad; for a top role in "Man Alive," a romantic con edy in which Ellen Drew, Pat O'Brien ari, Adolphe Menjou will also appear. ! 32 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JANUARY 27, 19*