Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1947)

"CAPABLE OF REGISTERING MIGHTILY AT THE BOXOFFICE! Says Variety of S. E. C. Reports Balaban Holding 2,000,000 Notes Barney Balaban, Paramount president, in the report issued in Philadelphia March 11 by the Securities and Exchange Commission for the period from January 11 to February 10, was listed as holding 2,000,000 two and three-quarter per cent conversion notes in Paramount. Other Paramount reports: Mr. Balaban sold 900 shares, Henry Ginsberg sold 300 shares, and Leonard Goldenson sold 300 shares, jointly with his wife, leaving his holdings at 2,100 shares. At RKO, Frederick L. Ehrman disposed of 2,300 shares of common stock, leaving his holdings at 200. At Universal, Daniel M. Schaeffer sold 2,100 shares of common, bringing his total to 18,307. Charles Pmtzman sold 350 shares, leaving his holdings at 20,550. Nate Blumberg sold 200 shares. J. Cheever Cowdin reported holding of 11,637 shares. At Warner Brothers, Jack L. Warner reported holding 429,000 shares of common. His trust acquired 700 additional shares, bringing its total to 20,000. Albert Warner reported holdings of 430,000 shares, with his trust now holding 20,000. Samuel Schneider purchased 500 shares. At Monogram, Norton V. Richey purchased 2,500 shares of common, bringing his holdings to 7,754 shares. J. E. Brulatour, Inc., reported the addition of 17,092 shares of Associated Motion Picture Industries, Inc., in a stock splitup, bringing its holdings to 34,184 shares. Park-In Wins Over Drive-In In Providence Patent Suit Park-In Theatres, Inc., Camden, N. J., won a suit against E. M. Loew's Drive-In Theatre, Inc., over patent rights when the U. S. District Court in Providence ruled March 11 that Drive-In is liable for royalties to Park-In on income derived from the Loew's theatre between June 1, 1938, and 1944. The decision is regarded as of wide importance to drive-in theatres since, under the ruling, all those using the Park-In patent will be subject to royalty payments. At midweek no appeal from the decision had been made. Park-In filed the suit against Loew's April 30, 1941, to recover triple damages for infringement of Patent No. 1,909,537, claiming that it held the patent rights through assignment from Richard M. Hollingsworth, Jr., characterized as the inventor of the drive-in. Park-In claimed that it entered into an agreement with Loew's under which the Drive-In was to make weekly royalty payments and that these payments continued only from July 21, 1937, to November 13, 1937. RKO Pathe Sets Film Deal With State Department Twelve one-reel "news magazine" issues will be produced by RKO Pathe for overseas distribution by the U. S. State Department, under terms of a deal just completed by Hamilton MacFadden, associate chief of the Department's international motion picture division. Short subjects recently completed for the Government agency include "Journey Into Medicine," by Willard Van Dyke's Associated Films, and "Hurricane Circuit," made by Scofield Productions. The latter was made with the cooperation of the Army, Navy and U. S. Weather Bureau. By the end of the fiscal year, July 1, the Department's production program for overseas distribution is expected to pass 100 reels, Mr. MacFadden said, adding that there are now 70 reels in release, playing to a monthly audience of 7,500,000. Portland Theatre Damaged Fire damaged the Twenty-first Street theatre, Portland, Ore., March 9, causing $20,000 damage. The fire burned out the interior of the lobby and destroyed most of the roof. Part of the balcony collapsed. Opc >en Roosevelt Picture In New York April 12 A full-length documentary on the lite and times of Franklin D. Roosevelt, assembled by Tola Productions from more than two million feet of Army, Navy and newsreel film, will have its world premiere at the Globe theatre in New York April 12, second anniversary of the late President's death. The documentary runs 82 minutes and, according to Martin Levine and Oliver Unger, Tola executives, has been approved by Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt. Proceeds from the opening will go to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial Fund. Elliott Roosevelt was editorial consultant in the selection of the reels, Metropolitan Life to Release Film on Cardiac Diseases As part of the company's current radio, newspaper and magazine campaign to enlighten the public on cardiac diseases the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, in cooperation with the American Heart Association, will soon release an 11-minute film entitled "Be Your Age." The film message, told within the framework of a story, is an interesting study of the heart's reaction to strenuous exercise, especially by persons of middle age. Highlighted by several scenes of the heart's function, the picture is available through the Metropolitan Life in 35mm' for theatre showings. Following theatrical distribution it will be made available to interested groups in 16mm. Jam Handy produced. Para-Troupers Perform The Para-Troupers, amateur dramatic group composed of Paramount employees, made their debut Sunday with the presentation of "Night of January 16" at the Barbizon-Plaza Hotel, New York. Released thru MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MARCH 22, 1947 55