Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1946)

THIS WEEK IN THE NEWS 16mm War Note ATTENTION of the authorities to regulations governing exhibition of 16mm film in tax-supported institutions will be encouraged by the board of directors of the KansasMissouri Theatres Association in behalf of its members. The Kansas constitution provides that no entertainment with an admission charge can be held in a tax-supported building. To help an exhibitor who might be embarrassed by personal opposition to such a program, the association's officers will undertake the chore of protesting. The association is on record, however, as approving the use of pictures for any proper educational and community purpose in those tax-supported buildings where admission is not charged. Career Ended THE PROMISING screen career of the whiskey bottle used in "The Lost Weekend" came to an abrupt end last week, the Associated Press reports. The bottle followed "Lost Weekend" by an appearance in the forthcoming "Welcome Stranger." Then, scheduled for a big role in "The Chase," it was dropped on the floor of the Paramount prop room. Kills Tax Plan THE PROPOSAL for a 10 per cent admission tax in Illinois was killed Wednesday in Springfield when Governor Greene ordered that portion of a general revenue measure withdrawn. The money is being raised by the state for a bonus to ex-service men. Industry leaders were relieved by the victory, because they feared passage in Illinois would have proved a precedent for the proposal of similar legislation in other states. No announcement was made about Chicago plans for a tax, held up for the state bill. Sunday Pother London Bureau THE CITIZENS of Torquay, seaside resort in Devonshire, England, have voted more than two to one in favor of Sunday shows. The actual tabulation was 10,548 for and 4,482 against. The day-long poll, held last Tuesday, was preceded by rare and diverting ructions — characteristic of the pother Sunday openings create. Torquay's burgesses have never hitherto exercised their right to demand Sabbath openings of the town's six theatres. During the war, however, the military com SOUTHEASTERN theatre owners vote to affiliate with ATA Page 1 3 WARNERS taught screen to sing in the development of musicals Page 19 NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT— notes and comment across the country Page 20 ON THE MARCH— Red Kann in light and serious trade discussion Page 22 NEW CPA building order hits theatre and studio set construction Page 22 SERVICE DEPARTMENTS Hollywood Scene Page 42 In the Newsreels Page 40 Late Review Page 30 Managers' Round Table Page 49 Picture Grosses Page 57 Short Product at First Runs Page 48 mander under his emergency powers, ordered the cinemas to open Sunday evenings. Since the powers were on the verge of lapsing, the theatre-owners set in motion the peculiar provisions of the Sunday Entertainments Act, 1932, and the poll was held. But not before the local Nonconformist ministers ran a pretty considerable campaign of opposition. Seven hundred people prayed throughout the Saturday night preceding the poll at one of the town's Baptist Chapels that Sunday openings might not be achieved. Tea and cakes were served to the praying congregation at appropriate intervals. The following Sunday the prayers and refreshments were resumed. Tuesday the prayers went unheeded. Said the Reverend Herbert Burgess, who led the prayer: "Torquay has touched hot metal and God alone knows what the burns will be." Anti-Nazi Nazi HELMUT DANTINE, best known on the screen for his portrayal of Nazi gangsters, has revealed that before coming to the U. S. eight years ago he was an anti-Nazi political leader in his native Austria — a leader of the youth movement which represented half a million anti-Nazis. Jailed when his country was invaded May 13, 1938, he managed to obtain his release after five months in prison and came to the United States. He is now an American citizen. Mr. Dantine has just returned to this country from a 10-week tour of Europe as an accredited American correspondent. His findings will appear in Look magazine. . UNIVERSAL closes deal to distribute product of Enterprise Page 24 COMPANIES increase ad expenditure; space no bottleneck Page 26 ROMANTIC drama customer choice, preference survey shows Page 28 COLOR in television and newsreels excites British industry interest Page 32 MOTION PICTURE Associates in New York honor S. H. Fabian Page 33 What the Picture Did for Me Page 46 IN PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION Showmen's Reviews Page 3029 Advance Synopses Page 3030 Release Chart by Companies Page 3032 The Release Chart Page 3034 Film Festival A PROPOSAL for the establishment in Southern California of an international film festival to give recognition to the cultural and commercial aspects of the industry as a whole was proposed to the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce recently by producerdirector Sam Wood, head of Inter-Wood Productions, Inc. He pointed out that while almost the entire production of pictures is centered in Los Angeles and its environs, it has remained for New York City and foreign countries to give prominence to the lasting ef¥ects of pictures, other than through the annual awards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Mr. Wood suggested the Chamber appoint a committee to study the foreign film festivals and the collection of pictures made by New York's Museum of Modem Art, which has perhaps the best collection in the country. School Films THE USE of educational films in Philadelphia classrooms has increased 106 per cent in the past year, and the same rate of increase is expected to continue as new films and projectors become available, local surveys indicate. Dr. John Garman, director of the visual education section of the Philadelphia Board of Education, at the same time announced that 200 reels of film had been purchased by the school district this year, making a total of 1,500 reels of 16mm sound films and 2,500 reels of silent. 8 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JUNE 8, 1946