Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1946)

Kirsch Warns Allied May Seek Legislative Aid "Unless certain trade practices are amended, national Allied will seek legislation to correct evils in the industry," Jack Kirsch, president of Allied States, told the delegates attending the annual convention of. the ITO of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. The meetings were held last Friday and Saturday at the Schroeder Hotel in Milwaukee. The convention elected William Ainsworth president to succeed John Adler, of Marshfield, who was named a director. Other officers elected were Russell Leddy, secretary; Charles Trampe, vice-president, and George Langheimreich, treasurer. Directors are: F. J. McWilliams, Jack Yeo, Floyd Albert, L. V. Bergtold, George Fischer, Sigmund Goldberg and George Panka. Mr. Kirsch termed a necessity the further building of Allied as a strong national independent organization. He did not elaborate on his threat of "legislation to correct evils," but this is understood to mean a new Allied move against film companies if the final disposition of the New York equity suit does not provide "sufficient relief" for the independents. Sidney E. Samuelson, general manager of Allied of Eastern Pennsylvania, spoke on checking, and said his Pennsylvania unit will rubber-stamp clauses on contracts for percentage engagements to the effect that checking be done openly and by non-locals, that a copy of each checking report, signed by the checker, be given to the. exhibitor and further, in contracts involving more than one picture, although each is negotiated separately, the distributor must license all of the films in the pact or the agreement becomes void. Other speakers at the convention were : Abram Myers, Allied States general counsel, who discussed the New York equity suit; David Palfreyman, of the Motion Picture Association; Leon J. Bamberger, RKO, who discussed how audience research is utilized to determine the best advertising approach and selling elements ; Henderson M. Richey, MGM exhibitor relations chief, who spoke on public relations, and others. "Operation Underground" Shown at Dunkirk, N. Y. '.'Operation Underground," a film record of the French underground's efforts to aid American airmen, had its premiere showing as part of the "Dunkirk to Dunkerque Day" celebration Thanksgiving Day at Dunkirk, N. Y. The picture was produced by Telenews Productions of New York City and will be released beginning December 11 in all Telenews newsreel theatres and Embassy newsreel theatres in New York. IN NEWSREELS MOVIETONE NEWS — VoL 29, No. 25— V-2 rocket camera photographs earth from 66 miles up. . . . U. S. in showdown with Lewis over soft coal strike. . . . Along Broadway : "Razor's Edge" premiere. . . . International Week celebrated in New Orleans. . . . Movietone selects an All-American team. MOVIETONE NEWS— Vol. 29, No. 26— John L. Lewis stands trial for contempt. . . . British leave Egypt. . . . New president of Chile. . . . FDR memorial. . . . Naval observatory observes sun eclipse. . . . St. Mary's dam in Canada. . . . Football: Notre Dame vs. Tulane, Harvard vs. Yale, UCLA vs. Southern California, Northwestern vs. Illinois. NEWS OF THE DAY— Vol. 18, No. 223— Lewis in spotlight in coal tieup. . . . Earth filmed by camera in rocket 65 miles high. . . . Overseas news from Germany. . . . Wingless glider. . . . Weight-lifters in Paris. . . . "Hi-ho, Santa!" NEWS OF THE DAY— Vol. 18, No. 224— Coal crisis — John L. Lewis goes to court. . . . British building FDR memorial. . . . U. S. honors war correspondents. . . . Desert auction. . . . Chile's new president. . . . France rededicated. . . . UCLA vs. Southern California, Illinois vs. Northwestern. PARAMOUNT NEWS — No. 26— Coal crisis. . . . New York says farewell to Jimmy Walker. . . . Tension in India. . . . Nehru in crisis meeting. . . . Moslems pray. . . . Thousands flee riot areas. . . . Gandhi tours riot area. . . . Aviation news. . . . Raymond Duncan comes home. PARAMOUNT NEWS— No. 27— UCLA vs. Southern California. . . . Illinois vs. Northwestern. . . . War on intolerance. . . . The days are flying towards Christmas. RKO PATHE NEWS— VoL 18, No. 28— Coal strike threatens U. S. • . . Amazing films taken of earth from a V-2. . . . Zionist leaders are freed by the British. . . . Last Germans shipped from Czechoslovakia. . . . Aviation groups join in fight against fog. . . . Germans rebuild blasted cities. . . . G. I.'s rest in Japanese alps. RKO PATHE NEWS— Vol. 18, No. 29— UCLA vs. Southern California. . . . Yale vs. Harvard. . . . Gonzalez Videla inaugurated in Chile. . . . British plan memorial to FDR. . . . War correspondents honored by Army. . . . Supplies by plane to Alps weather station. UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL— VoL 19, No. S57— Coal strike on. . . . Earth seen from rocket. . . . Windmill glider flown. . . . Ancient festivals. . . . Wooden Indian. . . . Tropic topics. UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL^Vol. 19, No. 55*Lewis cited for contempt. . . Cattle boat capsizes. . . . Chile's new president inaugurated. . . . Britains plan Roosevelt memorial. . . . Animals in the news. . . . Yale vs. Harvard. Editor Lauds Schine's Jubilee Anniversary Taking note of the recent silver jubilee of the Schine circuit, Tom Underwood, editor of The Lexington Herald, Lexington, Ky., paid tribute to the circuit in particular and the growth of the motion picture industry in general. In an editorial, he wrote." "General attention is being called to the widespread progress that has been made in motion pictures by the participation locally of the theatres in Lexington in the commemoration of Schine's silver jubilee. The Schine brothers, who began with one theatre 25 years ago, now operate the biggest independent circuit in the country. In the case of Lexington this means that all pictures of all producers are available. "Since the movies have mobilized the youth of the country out of the libraries where once the classics were read, we hope that they will do for literature and history what they have done for romantic music. The Wilson picture, 'Henry V, and others indicate this may be done. All this is beside the point intended here, which is to recognize the silver jubilee of the Schine brothers." Hollywood Must Halt Recessions Talk, Says Yates The motion picture through its power over public opinion can assure the peoples of the United States they are "on the threshold of the most bountiful era in our history," Herbert J. Yates, president of Republic Pictures, said this week in Hollywood. If the industry does not appear downcast or discouraged, he said, then "we can turn our people to right rather than wrong thinking." Speaking in the midst of Republic's greatest activity in its 11-year history, Mr. Yates asserted that "as the entertainment leaders of the world, it is the responsibility of the motion picture producers of Hollywood to buoy the spirit of the people and dispel the talk of 'recession' that is beginning to take root in this country. Moulder of Public Opinion The Yates' prescription is centered about his belief that "the war proved that the screen is the greatest molder of public opinion in the world today. By the very content of our motion pictures, by the enthusiasm that we inject into our entertainment, we can virtually turn our people to right rather than wrong thinking, inspire them to make of their lives everything that is rightfully theirs." This can be done, Mr. Yates is sure, because "the public reflects our attitudes. If we are downcast and discouraged, if we are fearful of the future, it is bound to evidence itself in our productions." And then, scornfully : "Anyone, with any degree of common sense should realize that we are on the threshold of the most bountiful era in our history." In applying this philosophy to his own studio, Mr. Yates stated : "The American people have the purchasing power to have continued prosperity. But this is dependent upon continuous work and production. Knowing the soundness of our national economy, Republic, after the first of the year, regardless of any extraneous problems, will embark upon its $2,000,000 building program." Three Budgeted at $4,000,000 Republic currently has three productions in work with a total budget of $4,000,000. They are "Gallant Man," with Don Ameche and Catherine McLeod; an untitled Nelson Eddy-Ilona Massey picture directed by Allan Dwan, and "Wyoming," starring William Elliott, Vera Ralston and John Carroll. In the studio's backlog of 26 pictures completed since May there are "Angel and the Badman," starring John Wayne and Gail Russell ; "Plainsman and the Lady," starring William Elliott and Vera Ralston ; "That Brennan Girl," starring James Dunn and Mona Freeman; "Calendar Girl" and "Hit Parade of 1947," and several Roy Rogers and Gene Autry Westerns. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 30, 1946 99