Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1946)

Raftery^ Again UA President f Sees Big Year "United Artists has just finished the biggest year in its history and is looking forward to an even bigger year for the 1946-47 season," Edward C. , Raftery, president, said last Thursday following his reelection to that office. Mr. Raftery has been company president since 1941. Also reelected by the board of directors at a meeting in New York last Thursday, were : Gradwell L. Sears and George Bagnall, vice presidents ; Loyd Wright, secretary; Harry J. MuUer, treasurer; Paul D. O'Brien, Mr. Muller, Harry D. Buckley and Charles E. Millikan, assistant secretaries, and Herbert E. Weimer, assistant treasurer. In his announcement on current and coming product Mr. Raftery said the company had ready for release 10 completed pictures and 15 others either actually shooting or in preparation, all scheduled for release during the 1946-47 season. Among others, there are such outstanding features, Mr. Raftery said, as "Henry V," "Abie's Irish Rose," "Sin of Harold Diddlebock," "The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber" and "The Chase." Edward C. Raftery Three Named to MPEA Staff in New York Three new aides have been named to the Motion Picture Export Association to work under Irving Maas, general manager, on behalf of the eight member companies. Alfred F. Corwin, formerly with the international publicity department of Twentieth CenturyFox, is publicity and advertising manager. William F. Laffan, formerly controller for Mike Todd, stage producer, is controller in charge of accounting. Irving M. Eckstein is in charge of sales control. He formerly held a similar post in the international department of United Artists. Springfield Admission Tax Under Consideration An amusement tax covering motion picture theatres and other entertainment in Springfield, Mo., is under consideration by the City Council as a possible means of increasing the revenue fund of the city. A levy of five per cent on the price of each admission ticket is being considered as well as a 20 per cent tax on theatres exclusively. Estimates are that the latter would bring in approximately $138,000. W. A. {AD STEFFES. in New York on a visit in 1942. OPA Lifts Lid on Theatre Seats Permanent theatre seating equipment was removed from price control Monday in Washington by the Office of Price Administration, with notifications dispatched to manufacturers warning that the agency intended to keep a close eye to prevent inflation. Only theatre seats which are attached to the floor and are considered permanent have been removed from the control list, the OPA said, and all temporary seating equipment will remain under price regulation for some time. Manufacturers are required, under the new decontrol regulation, to send catalogues and price changes to the OPA. If irregularities are noted by the agency, steps will be taken to correct high prices, it was said. "We are keeping our finger on seating" equipment and if prices shoot up we shall take immediate steps to place seats back under price control," a spokesman for the OPA said. Theatre seating equipment is the last major type of theatre equipment to be exempted from control. Carpeting will remain under price control for several months, according to the OPA. Army Acquires Right to Use Technical Footage A request from the Surgeon General of the Army for clearances of copyrighted scenes and music for eight technical short subjects has been granted by seven member companies of the Motion Picture Association of America and by United Artists. This will permit the films to be shown to medical staffs in Army hospitals and to medical groups assisting in the treatment of wounded veterans. Steffes^ Leader Of Allied^ Dies In Minneapolis W. A. (Al) Steffes, 59, long importantly linked with exhibitor organizations, died Wednesday, June 19, in Minneapolis University Hospital, Minneapolis, Minn. A veteran northwestern independent exhibitor, Mr. StefYes was one of the founders and long-time president of the national Allied States Association of Motion Picture Exhibitors, and was for 25 years president of Northwestern Allied Theatres Association, now Northcentral Allied. Mr. Steffes had been comparatively inactive both in business and in exhibitor affairs since 1940, when he suffered a heart attack. Following that, he spent most of his time in Florida. He did, however, retain ownership of the World theatre in Minneapolis and a partnership with Benjamin Berger in the World at St. Paul. He built another World theatre in Chicago about 10 years ago and sold it shortly thereafter. Known as "Fighting Al," he was most active in the cause of theatre divorcement, and staged attacks via the North Dakota legislature against distributor ownership of theatres. He also took the lead in many other trade discussions. Mr. Steffes was credited with having secured the services of Abram F. Myers, of the Federal Trade Commission, as general counsel of national Allied. As an Allied leader, he participated in the historic conferences on industry trade practice codes, starting with the 5-5-5 conference. He was active in the Minneapolis Variety Club, and was its president for two years. Funeral services were to have been held Saturday in Minneapolis at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church. • Belgium's 983 Theatres Had Gross of $501,538 During the third quarter of 1945 there were 983 theatres operating in Belgium, according to Foreign Commerce Weekly of the U. S. Department of Commerce. Total receipts for that period were 22,797,210 francs (about $501,538). Approximately 65 per cent of the films shown were produced in the U. S., '23 per cent in France, eight per cent in England and four per cent in other countries. There were 104 theatres operating in Brussels during the quarter, and 56 in Antwerp. Brewster to Young America James R. Brewster, formerly a production associate of Encyclopedia Brittanica Films, has been appointed assistant editor of Young American Films, Inc., New York. He will aid Godfrey Elliott, editor, in developing the company's film program for schools. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JUNE 22, 1946 29