Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1946)

Four Eagle-Lion Pictures Ready, Meeting Is Told Alfred W. Schwalberg, vice-president and general sales manager of Eagle-Lion Films, announced the product lineup for the coming year at the company's initial sales meeting held Saturday, Sunday and Monday at the Hotel Warwick in New York. Mr. Schwalberg said that the company's first four pictures are completed and ready for release. They are: "Bedelia," by Vera Caspary, starring Margaret Lockwod and Ian Hunter ; "It's a Joke, Son," with Kenny Delmar in the role of Senator Claghorn; "Amy Comes Across," with Franchot Tone and Ann Richards, and "The Adventuress," starring Deborah Kerr. Also in various stages of production or preparation are: "Prelude to Night," with Zachary Scott and Louis Hay ward; Joan Leslie in "Repeat Performance" ; Louis Bromfield's "Kenny" ; "Out of the Blue," by Vera Caspary; "Love From a Stranger," by Agatha Christie; "Prince Valiant," based on the King Features' syndicated adventure story; "Clementine," the Peggy Goodwin novel ; "Montana," a story of the days of the copper barons ; an untitled adventure story in color, with Arturo DeCordova, and "The Man Without a Country." Mr. Schwalberg pointed out that these pictures will be sold separately in accordance with Eagle-Lion's sales policy of individual handling of pictures, and that every film would have the backing of extensive advertising, publicity and exploitation campaigns. Max E. Youngstein, director of advertising and publicity, outlined plans for advertising and publicity on "Bedelia" and "It's a Joke, Son \" as well as others. Sales representatives attending were: Herman Beiersdorf, Dallas ; L. E. Goldhammer, Los Angeles ; R. L. McCoy, Atlanta ; Harry Mandell, Chicago ; Joseph Minsky, Philadelphia ; Mark Raymon, Kansas City ; Henry G. Segal, Boston; William Shartin, Cleveland; and Max J. Weisfeldt, New York. Also, Arthur Jeffrey, exploitation director; Ralph Clark, Ben Shectman, Edmund E. Levy, Emanuel G. Goodman, Martin Friedman, Murray M. Kaplan, J. Harold Roth, Edward E. Lavenberg, David J. McGowan, Jerry Limata, Samuel Greller, John J. Scuoppo. Tuesday the company announced the appointment of Henry G. Segal as sales representative in Boston and New Haven. Motion Picture Bookers In Current Events Forum The Motion Picture Bookers of New York have inaugurated a series of open meetings and forums for the discussion of current events. The initial meeting was held December 2 in the Piccadilly Hotel with the radio commentator, George Hamilton Coombs, as guest speaker. ON THE DAIS, at Eagle-Lion's first safes meeting, at the Warwick Hotel, New York, last weekend. Left to right, Max E. Youngstein, director of advertising and publicity; T. E. Bierce, comptroller, Pathe Industries, Inc.; Alfred W. Schwalberg, Eagle-Lion vice-president and general sales manager; Jerry Edwards, of Phillips, Niier, Benjamin & Krim, law firm, and R. H. Clark, home office. Warners Announce Winners In Shorts Sales Drive Winners in the 1946 Warner Brothers short subject sales drive were announced last weekend in New York by Norman H. Moray, short subject sales manager. They are: eastern district, New Haven, first; Buffalo, second; midAtlantic, Philadelphia; central, Pittsburgh and Cleveland; southeast, Charlotte; southwest, Oklahoma City; midwest, Milwaukee and Chicago ; prairie, St. Louis and Omaha; west coast, Portland, Los Angeles and Denver. Branches receiving special awards for being completely sold out before the end of the drive include Cleveland, Charlotte, New Orleans, Dallas, Kansas City, Los Angeles and Portland. Special awards also were made to the following for individual sales efforts: first, J. Walker, Washington ; second, M. Keller, Portland; third, D. Cooper, Philadelphia; fourth, G. Spear, Seattle; fifth, E. Perkins, Minneapolis. Robinson Elected Barker Of Detroit Variety Club Arthur Robinson has been elected chief barker of the Detroit Variety Club, Tent No. 5, and will officially take over that office in January. Other officers elected were : Robert Dunbar, first assistant chief barker ; Lewis Wisper, second assistant; Jack Zide, secretary; Paul Broder, treasurer; Larry Becker, Carl Burmele, Irving Pollard, Ralph Raskin, Raymond Schreiber and Ed Stuky, canvassmen. Arvid Kantor, current chief barker of the tent, was elected national canvassman. B. & K. Station Aiming at 35 Hours of Television Chicago's Balaban & Katz television station, WBKB, has begun a production schedule which the owners hope will eventually lead to a stabilized weekly operation of 35 air hours. A new studio has been constructed measuring 75 feet by 50 feet and 26 feet from floor to ceiling, permitting greater mobility for technical operations. The station is expanding its sports coverage in Chicago. Use Light Beam For Television A new television development whereby pictures and sound can be transmitted from one point to another over a light beam instead of radio waves, was demonstrated in Washington last week before the American Institute of Electrical Engineers by Dr. T. T. Goldsmith, director of research of the Allen B. Du Mont Laboratories, Inc. The new invention has been named "photovision" by its inventor, Dr. Allen B. Du Mont. The development, it is claimed, not only simplifies the problem of transmitting television programs in short range relays, as from a football field to the main transmitter, but may be used in place of coaxial cable for inter-city relay. The system operates in light or darkness and without interference from static or other interference inherent in radio. It will transmit color pictures as well as black and white images. Dr. Goldsmith said that the invention would be a boon to network television. Lust Charges Majors Hold Back Product Sidney Lust, exhibitor, said in Washington last week that the major companies are "purposely holding back feature product" and creating a serious product shortage, more difficult than any in history. He said he is not in favor of exhibitors entering the producing field, stating that it is "better for us to stay in our own back yard." Pointing to the product shortage in what he called objective terms, Mr. Lust said that production and distribution agencies of the industry are "cooking their own goose" by permitting the shortage to continue. He expressed the belief that the public may become "fed up" with reissues. He said that "there is no reason why we should continue to undergo a product shortage," adding that the more good pictures the more revenue for the distributor. He said that the one thing the industry should fight is "low picture standards." He said patrons may be driven away by too many reissues and low grade product. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 7, 1946 31