Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1946)

] Confer Honor on Skouras, Berlin And Sherwood Spyros Skouras, president of Twentieth Century-Fox ; Irving Berlin, song writer, and Robert E. Sherwood, playwright, were honored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews last Thursday when the Amusement Industry Division of the Conference held its annual luncheon meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York. The meeting was the initial impetus for a drive to collect a minimum of $100,000 for Conference activities. More than 1,100 watched John G. Winant, American delegate to the United Nations Economic and Social Council, present a plaque to Mr. Skouras for his work in behalf of the American Brotherhood drive earlier in the year. Mr. Winant made the award "for service to humanity and for consistent endeavor to promote wholesome relations." Expressing the wish that David O. Selznick, co-chairman of the Brotherhood campaign, could have been present to share the honor, Mr. Skouras replied that the strengthening of faith in brotherhood would create "a force for good so powerful that it will give new courage and hope to peoples all over the world." Will H. Hays, former head of the Motion Picture. Producers and Distributors of America, presented a plaque to Mr. Sherwood, and James A. Farley, former Democratic national chairman, presented a similar award to Mr. Berlin for their contributions to eliminating religious and racial friction. Among those on the dais were: Barney Balaban, Jack Cohn, Ray Bolger, Harry Brandt, S. H. Fabian, Matthew Fox, William German, Leonard Goldenson, Malcolm Kingsberg, John R. Kilpatrick, Robert Mochrie, Abe Montague, John O'Connor, Charles Reagan, Nathan Spingold, Frederic Ullman, Jr., Jock Whitney and Mrs. Wendell Willkie. Louis Nizer, industry attorney, was chairman of the luncheon meeting. Other speakers were Dr. Everett R. Clinchy, president of the Conference, and John Golden theatrical producer, who read a message from General Eisenhower which paid tribute to Mr. Berlin for his songs and his soldier shows. Melchior Makes Four MGM Records Lauritz Melchior, star of the Metropolitan Opera Company and MGM, has completed four recordings for the MGM Records Division of Loew's, Inc. The four recordings are "Without a Song," "For You Alone," "Yours Is My Heart's Desire" and "Lenz." Names Distributor Film Studios of Chicago has appointed the Capitol Film Exchange as distributor of the studio's one-reel series, "Woman Speaks," for Illinois, Indiana and part of Kentucky. Moon Elected President Of Film Board of Trade Ray Moon of 20th Century-Fox has been elected president of the New York Film Board of Trade. Elected with him were Ralph Pielow of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as vice-president; Jack Ellis of United Artists as second vice-president; David A. Levy of Universal as treasurer; Robert Fannon of Republic as secretary, and William Murphy, also of Repulic, as sergeant-at-arms. Installation of the new officers will take place in January. Reelect Jenkins Head of Circuit William K. Jenkins was reelected president and general manager of the Georgia Theatre Company at the December 2 stockholders meeting in Atlanta. Directors reelected were Mr. Jenkins, Mrs. Arthur Lucas, Leonard H. Goldenson and M. F. Gowthorpe. Frederick G. Storey was elected vice-president and assistant general manager, Mr. Gowthorpe treasurer, and M. A. Barre secretary. Following the directors' meeting, Mr. Jenkins announced the following appointments: John H. Stembler, legal advisor; E. E. Whitaker, operations manager for out-oftown theatres ; T. H. Read, operations manager of Fox Parking Service and the Fox, Paramount, Roxy and Capitol theatres; H. P. Rhodes, bookings and buying manager; E. B. Whitham, purchasing agent; Harry J. Glenn, supervisor of maintenance; Harvey Smith, director of publicity and advertising, and Willis J. Davis, assistant to the president. Mr. Jenkins pointed out that his company had made "unusual progress" during 1946; six new theatres were opened during the year, and extensive repairs and improvements have been made to many others. Children's Poll Picks "Bells of St. Mary's" The Bing Crosby-Ingrid Bergman "Bells of St. Mary's" was chosen as the best feature of 1946 in a poll of children from eight to 18 recently concluded by the National Board of Review. Nine other choices picked were, in order of popularity: "The Green Years," "Smoky," "Anna and the King of Siam," "The Courage of Lassie," "The Bandit of Sherwood Forest," "Night and Day," "The Kid from Brooklyn," "To Each His Own" and "Notorious." The highest rated foreign film was England's "The Seventh Veil." Dalrymple to Artists Alliance Jean Dalrymple, New York stage producer and publicist, has been appointed east coast executive assistant to Lester Cowan for the Artists Alliance Company, recently formed by Mr. Cowan and Mary Pickford. She will supervise the search for production and talent material. FCC Hears the Yes and No of | Color Television The Federal Communications Commission in its hearings in Washington last week was told that color television is and is not ready for the public — the "is" from Columbia i Broadcasting System, the "is not" from Radio Corporation of America. Premature attempts to introduce color television on a commercial basis might deprive the public of all television service now and for some time to come, Dr. C. B. Jolliffe, executive vice-president of RCA, said. "Further developments and improvements in television must and will be made," Dr. Jolliffe declared. "One of these developments will be a color system which can become an integral part of the present blackand-white system." He said extensive work is being conducted by his company to get the electronic system ready for practical use. Efforts of RCA to develop an electronic system have been successful, Ray D. Kell, of RCA Laboratories, testified, urging the CBS color-wheel system not be adopted for television standards. He termed the electronic method free from flicker, with no color fringing. Mr. Kell asserted it would take from four to five years to assure "complete practical development of electronic color television." Television home receivers having a retail value of approximately $65,000,000 are to be manufactured by the RCA Victor Division of RCA during the coming year, George L. Beers, assistant director of engineering, testified, in urging the FCC to deny the CBS petition to start commercial operation of color now. Earlier, Dr. Frank Stanton, president of CBS, testified the CBS color method "is ready for the market." He urged against waiting further color experimentation and said that the public would vote overwhelmingly for color. Dr. Peter Goldmark, director of CBS engineering research, said adoption of the color television standards proposed by CBS would prove "the best possible television for the greatest number of people." This week FCC members came to New York and nearby points to see demonstrations. Illinois Grand Jury Asks For Film Liquor Scene Ban Members of the Federal Grand Jury for the Northern District of Illinois, in a letter dated last Wednesday and sent to Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association, called upon him to eliminate drinking scenes from motion pictures as a means of curbing juvenile delinquency. The appeal cited the extreme youth of many criminals, and the frequency of alcoholic influence in their cases. The jury expressed its belief that drinking scenes in the films exert a strong influence toward the liquor habit. 28 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 21, 1946