Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1947)

Republic in Color CONSOLIDATED Laboratories, owned by Republic, has perfected a three-color process for films and within two years all Republic pictures will be in color, Herbert J. Yates, president of Republic, told the press at a luncheon in Hollywood Wednesday. This new process will supplant Republic's two-color process. The Republic president also announced that he has signed a contract with Loew's International for the foreign distribution of the company's product in 16mm. Concerning the recent discussion of the Gene Autry contract, Mr. Yates said that the matter has been settled and the singing cowboy star will make two pictures for Republic instead of four. On the general business outlook, he said grosses are off between 12 and 15 per cent in this country and between 20 and 25 per cent in England. Outstanding pictures, however, are still grossing as much as they did during the boom days of the war. Trade Week NORMAN E. Dunnavant has been named general chairman of the 1947 Los Angeles county World Trade Week committee, according to an announcement from Donald M. Nelson in his capacity as director of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and chairman of its World Trade committee. Los Angeles will observe its 21st annual celebration during the week of May 18 to 24. The occasion will remind citizens of Southern California about the magnitude and volume of foreign trade passing through its harbors, Mr. Nelson said. New Deal? COULD be there's a different wind blowing over Washington these days. Anyway, the Republican National Committee says newsreels "now" are giving the Grand Old Party proper attention. A "noticeable improvement" was the term used the other day by William Murphy, the Committee's public relations director. Big Money VERA CASPARY, author of such mystery novels as "Bedelia" and "Laura," both of which have been brought to the screen, has signed a contract with Eagle-Lion studios which, it is estimated, will net her at least $2,500,000 in 10 years. Under the terms of the agreement she is to deliver one story annually to Eagle-Lion. For each story she will receive a flat sum and five per cent of the net profit. Eagle-Lion is currently working on Miss Caspary's "Out of the Blue" and is studying "Madeleine." Miss Truman MARGARET TRUMAN, the President's daughter, received numerous offers from motion picture companies and concert managers following her debut as a singer last Sunday night with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. An estimated 15,000,000 heard her sing "Cielito Lindo," "The Last Rose of Summer," and "Charmant Oiseau." Critics' notices ranged from good to fair. Miss Truman has made no announced decision on the picture offers. Similarity HERE is one told by Sam Seidelman, Eagle-Lion and PRC foreign head, on his return from the Far East. Just about the time when David O. Selznick announced his new releasing organization , conveniently called SRO, the Shaw Brothers, Far East distributors, acquired the distribution rights for Sir Alexander Korda's pictures in Singapore and Malaya. Their new initials— SRO, Shaw Releasing Organization. Bored WASHINGTON, which has our judges and our lawmakers, our lobbyists and our administrators; Washington, where centers we're told, they throbbing pulse of America — this Washington bores its citizens. A Washington Post crew went around the other day and found, it reported, that 51 per cent of Washington's inhabitants "believe there are not enough things for entertainment." They asked more theatres. Public Relations HOLLYWOOD may soon show the public its good side with the most important weapon it has : films. Representatives of the producers, Screen Writers Guild, Screen Actors Guild and Screen Directors Guild Tuesday night discussed producing a picture or a series of short subjects which would show graphically Hollywood's "constructive" phases. The discussion was at dinner in Perino's Cafe, Hollywood, with Eric A. Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association, presiding. PEOPLE J. Arthur Rank, British film leader, scheduled to arrive in this country May 7, will be guest of honor at the Motion Picture Association's 25th anniversary dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria, New York, some time in May. Samuel Burger, formerly Loew's International regional director for Latin America, has been appointed sales manager of the company, it was announced Wednesday by Morton A. Spring, first vicepresident. Maurice Silverstein succeeds Mr. Burger in Latin America. Samuel Sobel, west coast exhibitor and formerly Producers Releasing Corporation franchise holder in San Francisco, was appointed west coast sales supervisor for the company Monday, it was announced by Ralph H. Clark, general sales manager. Milton G. Thomas, Altec branch manager in Cincinnati, has been appointed district manager for the company with headquarters in that city. Charles D. Cushman, of the RCA International Division, Wednesday was appointed sales manager of RCA theatre and 16mm equipment, it has been announced by D. W. Lansing, manager of the theatre and sound equipment department. Spyros Skouras, president of 20th Century-Fox, and Murray Silverstone, president of 20th-International and InterAmerica, left New York Tuesday on a tour of the company's Latin American branches. They were accompanied by Mrs, Skouras and Mrs. Silverstone. They will return to New York late in April. George H. Ornstein this week was named assistant to Gradwell L. Sears, vicepresident in charge of United Artists distribution. He has been in the UA foreign department a year. L. A. Chatham this week resigned as director of publicity and advertising for Griffith-Consolidated Theatres, Inc., Oklahoma City. Harold William Auten has been appointed assistant European division manager for United Artists, by Walter Gould, UA foreign manager. Prior to the war he was a member of the Warner sales organization in London. W. T. Keith, United Artists salesman in New Orleans, Monday was appointed branch manager of the UA exchange in that city, succeeding T. L. Daws, named branch manager in Atlanta. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, published every Saturday by Quigley Publishing Company, Rockefeller Center, New York City 20. Telephone Circle 7-3100; Cable address "Quigpubco. New York." Martin Ouigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo. J. Sullivan, Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; Terry Ramsaye, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor; James D. Ivers, News Editor; Charles S. Aaronson, Production Editor; Ray Gallagher, Advertising Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Bureaus: Hollywood, William R. Weaver, editor, Postal Union Life Building; Chicago, 624 South Michigan Avenue; Washington, Jim H. Brady, 215 Atlantic Bldg., 930 F Street, N.W.; London, Hope Williams Burnup, manager, Peter Burnup, editor, 4 Golden Square, W. I; Montreal, Stan Cornthwaite, 265 Vitre St., West; Toronto, W. M. Gladish, 242 Millwood Road; Paris, Maurice Bessy, 2 Avenue Matignon; Dublin, T. J. M. Sheehy, 36 Upper Ormond Quay; Rome, Argeo Santucci, 10 Via Versilia; Lisbon, Joao De Moraes Palmeiro, Avenida Conde Valbom 116; Brussels, Louis Quievreux, 121 Rue Beeckman; Amsterdam, Philip de Schaap, 82 Jekerstraat; Copenhagen, Kris Winther, Bogehoi 25; Stockholm, Gosta Erkell, 15 Brantingsgaten; Basel, Carlo Fedier, Brunnmattstr. 21; Prague, Joseph B. Kanturek, U. Grebovsky No. I; Sydney, Cliff Holt, Box 2608— G. P.O., Derwent House; Johannesburg, R. N. Barrett, 10, Blyth Road, Talboton; Mexico City, Luis Becerra Celis, Dr. Carmona y Valle 6; Havana, Charles B. Garrett, Refugio 168; Buenos Aires, Natalio Bruski, J. E. Uriburi 126; San Juan, Puerto Rico, Reuben D. Sanchez, San Sebastian Street No. 3; Montevideo, Paul Bodo, P.O. Box 664. Member Audit Bureau of Circulations. Other Quigley Publications: Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald, Motion Picture Daily, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MARCH 22, 1947 5