Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1946)

Move to Speed IN NEWSREELS $MPE Seeking Organization of New Foundation As a joint group of temporary committee chairmen finished its task of coordinating committee reports submitted at the Motion Picture Foundation meeting in New Orleans last week, attorneys were called in to assist in the drawing up of a charter for the new charity organization. Foundation spokesmen hoped that by speeding legalization of the group they would enable companies intent on contributing towards the proposed $10,000,000 fund to do so within the 1946 fiscal and calendar year. Will Aid Film People Plans for the Foundation were discussed at an all-industry meeting last week. The organization is designed to provide aid, relief and welfare as well as scientific and educational support for men and women employed within the industry. Once all of the special committees have completed their work, a full report on the New Orleans meeting will be sent to regional leaders in the 31 exchange areas throughout the country by the six-man national steering committee. This group includes Barney Balaban, Tom J. Connors, S. H. Fabian, H. A. Cole, Fred Wehrenberg and Edward G. Zorn. The material presented in this report will then serve as an aid in the formation of local steering committees. These local units, in turn, will choose their own representatives who will then form the nucleus of the Foundation's national administrative organization. Although the field leaders present at the New Orleans meeting will be depended on to handle most of the Foundation work in the exchange districts, it is believed that some of the national committeemen or their representatives also will undertake trips in connection with the administration. Comments Favorable There was much favorable comment following the New Orleans meeting. Sidney Lust, head of Sidney Lust Theatres, said in a letter to E. V. Richards, chairman : "I know I speak for every man and woman who attended the conferences when I express to you and your associates our thanks for the outstanding job you did to make this occasion such a memorable one. Your magnificent talent as the presiding officer ; your painstaking attention to every detail; providing for our comfort and enjoyment and your graciousness as a host has made this conference a landmark." Maurice Bergman, Universal's eastern advertising head, said: "The significance of the industry meeting in New Orleans, to establish a motion picture Foundation, can not be measured at the moment. The progressive step connoted by the meeting is the only thing that can be appraised at this time. When the Foundation starts to function, the industry can point with pride." MOVIETONE NEWS— Vol. 29, No. 29— Byrd's Antarctic expedition leaves for South Pole. . . . Lewis and mine workers fined. . . . Massed picketing leads to violence in Milwaukee. . . . German scientists at Wright Field. . . . 4-H Club meets in Chicago. . . . New president of Mexico sworn in. .. . Spectacular plays of grid season's last games. . . . Sports: tennis in Australia, mystery game in mud. MOVIETONE NEWS— Vol. 29, No. 30^Atlanta hotel fire. . . . Coal strike called off. . . . President awards seven medals to hero soldier. . . . Indian leaders in London. . . . Greek Premier in New York. . . . Raid on Italian wheat black market. . . . U. S. Navy visits Lebanon and Syria. . . . Underwater Santa Claus. . . . Dog's beauty shop. . . . Wrestling. NEWS OF THE DAY — Vol. 18, No. 227 — Admiral Byrd heads into Antarctic. . . . Court pronounces sentence on Lewis. . . . Tragic scenes repeated at gates to Palestine. . . . Prize cattle flown to animal show. . . . Mexico hails Aleman. . . . Professional football thriiier. NEWS OF THE DAY — Vol. 18, No. 228— Atlanta fire. . . . Hero extraordinary. . . . Greek envoy in U. S. . . . Food raid in Italy. . . . Lewis calls off coal strike. . . . Submarine Santa. . . . Wrestling in Montreal. PARAMOUNT NEWS — No. 30 — Mexico inaugurates president. . . . New race to Antarctica. . . . Government vs. Lewis. PARAMOUNT NEWS— No. 31— Atlanta hotel fire. . . . India parley fails. . . . Palestine — Return from Cyprus. . . . Lewis backs down. . . . Giants win Eastern pro title. RKO PATHE NEWS — Vol. 18, No. 32— Strike news. . Biggest expedition sails for Antarctic. . . . Court rules Cyprus deportations legal. . . . Mexico inaugurates its new president. . . . Dunkirk, N. Y., aids Dunkerque, France. . . . Search for parents of 30,000 children. RKO PATHE NEWS— Vol. 18, No. 33— UNRRA aids Formosa rice crop. . . . Lewis calls off coal strike. . . . 119 die in Atlanta fire. . . . Bombed Eder dam reopens. . . . Giants whip Redskins. UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL — Vol. 19, No. 5«1 — Byrd ships off for Antarctic. . . . Mexico's president installed. . . . Livestock on parade. . . . Magnificent premiere. . . . Christmas in the air. . . . Basketball season opens. UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL— Vol. 19, No. 562— Atlanta hotel fire. . . . Sgt. Chilson receives his medals. . . . Churchill's birthday. . . . Submarine Santa. . . . Sports: football, wrestling. RKO Pathe News Scores Atlanta Fire Beat Two RKO Pathe News cameramen were the first newsreel representatives to reach the scene of the Atlanta hotel fire, giving RKO Pathe a complete report of the catastrophe with many exclusive scenes. Jesse Edwards and Wilmer Kimberly, covering the story, reached the hotel within minutes after the blaze started and were able to record early phases of the story. Pictures of the fire were shown in theatres the latter part of this week. Frank Named Chairman Of Atlantic SMPE James Frank, Jr., New York manager for National Theatre Supply, has been elected chairman of the Atlantic Coast Section of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers for 1947, succeeding Colonel Frank E. Cahill, Jr., director of sound for Warner Theatres. Other new officers of the section for the coming year are : H. E. White of Eastman Kodak Company, secretary-treasurer, and F. J. Grignon of Twentieth CenturyFox, Theodore Lawrence of MGM International, and W. H. Rivers of Eastman Kodak, managers. All new officers assume their posts January 1. New Revenue For Program To provide finances for many new and essential projects covering technical problems of production, distribution and exhibition, the Society of Motion Picture Engineers is launching a campaign for additional revenue through slight increases in membership dues and subscriptions to the monthly Journal of the Society. Special effort also will be made to obtain a more equitable portion of financial and personnel support from the motion picture industry proper. Spokesmen for the Society say producers, distributors and exhibitors at present contribute only about 25 per cent of the dues collected by the SMPE, although the industry derives the greatest benefits from the research, technical developments, standardization activities and other work done by the engineers. An analysis of operating costs by Don E. Hyndman, who winds up his term as SMPE president December 31 and who will be succeeded by Loren L. Ryder, shows that in the 10 years to 1946 the overhead of the Society has been held down to an average of less than $25,000 a year. Expenses for 1946, due to general increases in costs and the Society's recently expanded operations, will run about $46,000. Starting January 1, 1947, dues for associate members will be increased to $10 annually, while student memberships will cost $5. Subscriptions to the Journal, for nonmembers, is being increased from $8 to $10 annually, with single copies costing $1.25 instead of $1. The SMPE's present membership totals 2,500. Columbia Profit Up to $965,000 Columbia Picture's estimated net profit for the 13 weeks ended September 28, 1946, was $965,000, according to a statement released Tuesday by Harry Cohn, president. This compares with the $544,000 net for the 13 weeks ended September 29, 1945. The operating profit for this year's 13week period is estimated at $1,540,000, compared to $924,000 of a year ago. Estimated provision for Federal taxes is $575,000, compared to last year's $380,000. Earnings per share of common stock is estimated at $1.42 compared with 79 cents for the 13-week period last year. The comparative earnings per share of common stock after preferred stock dividends, are calculated on the increased amount of common stock which was outstanding on September 28, 1946. The number of shares outstanding September 28, 1946, was 622,782, and the number of shares outstanding on September 29, 1945, was 392,987. 56 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 14, 1946