Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1948)

British Position Aiding Canada, Says Lawson Toronto Bureau The Canadian industry, hard pressed for U. S. dollars for U. S. pictures, finds the strong position of Britain's industry here a solace, a comfort, and something of a life saver. In his year-end review of the Canadian industry, J. Earl Lawson, president of Odeon Theatres of Canada, pointed out this week that "the position of the motion picture industry in Canada, at a time when purchases from the U. S. must be curtailed, is more fortunate than it would have been at any previous period." And he gives his reasons for this opinion : "Until 1945 virtually all the entertainment which Canadian cinemas offer, came from the U. S. and had therefore to be paid for with U. S. dollars. Now, the British film is already established in the Canadian market and can take an increasing share of theatre playing time. This applies not only to companies such as Odeon, which have a direct British connection, but to all Canadian theatres. Based on the British ability to supply, the same situation applies also, from 1948 on, to theatre equipment." Mr. Lawson also sees Canada helping herself: "As the expansion of the film industry proceeds, the less specialized types of theatre equipment and furnishings can be provided from purely Canadian sources and the present situation may have the effect of stimulating Canadian production in a number of these lines." Earnings of British films set an all-time record in 1947, according to Mr. Lawson. Frank Ryan, Wife, Children Killed in Train Crash Frank M. Ryan, a director, his wife and their three children were among the 14 persons killed in the Missouri train wreck New Year's Day, it was announced in Hollywood last weekend. With Universal, Mr. Ryan began his Hollywood career as a gag man and writer, and began directing in 1942. Among his pictures are "Can't Help Singing," "So Goes My Love-' and "Patrick the Great." Harry Peer Harry E. Peer, 56, a Canadian exhibitor for 30 years, died December 29 in St. Joseph's Hospital, Guelph, Ontario. He had been associated with the Palace theatre, Guelph, for a number of years and was a member of Famous Players' 25-Year Club. Gus Schlesinger Gus Schlesinger, general manager of foreign sales for Warner Brothers until his retirement in 1933, died January 1 at his home in Orange, N. J. IN NEWSREELS MOVIETONE NEWS— Vol. M, No. 1— Highlights of the year in sports. MOVIETONE NEWS— Vol. 31, No. 2— Atomic plant in Canada. . . . Tojo takes stand in war crimes trial in Tokyo. . . . Tornado in Louisiana. . . . French flood. . . . New Year's Eve in New York and London. . . . Message from John Garfield. . . . Rose Bowl. NEWS OF THE DAY— Vol. 19, No. 235— Sports review of the year. NEWS OF THE DAY— Vol. 19, No. 236-The Bowl classics. . . . First films of Canada's atom plant. . . . Tojo on trial. . . . Message from John Garfield. . . . Gay sendoff for 1947. . . . Tournament of Roses. . . . King Orange Jamboree. . . . Chelsea Arts Ball. PARAMOUNT NEWS— No. 38— New York digs out. Miss Truman meets the press. . . . Maharajah of Jaipur honored at jubilee. . . . Football. PARAMOUNT NEWS— No. 39— Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl and Cotton Bowl games. UNIVERSAL NEWS— VoL 30, No. 105— Jap war leaders await trial. . . . Oriental jubilee celebrated. . . . Miami train wreck. . . . French honor Joseph H. Seidelman. . . . Spanish models display new fashions. . . . Twelve puppies in litter. . . . Midget car demonstrated. . . . Football. UNIVERSAL NEWS— Vol. 30, No. 106— Bowl Highlights. . . . Twenty-five die as tornadoes rip South. . . . Mummers parade in Philadelphia. . . . Tournament of Roses at Pasadena. WARNER PATHE NEWS— No. 40— Roundup of 1947. WARNER PATHE NEWS — No. 41 — Tojo on trial. . . . Friendship Food in France. . . . New look centuries old. . . . Cotton and Sugar Bowls. . . . Tournament of Roses and Rose Bowl in color. TELENEWS DIGEST — Vol. 2, No. 1 — German SS chief faces death penalty. . . . Largest whaler in trial run. . . . Elections — South American style. . . . Native children given clothes for Christmas in Indonesia. . . . Amateur woild series draws Latin teams in Colombia. . . . Sports we seldom see : Czechoslovakia. Mexico — bullfighting. Services Held Tuesday For Maxwell Cohn Services were held Tuesday at Riverside Memorial Chapel, New York, for Maxwell Cohn, short subjects producer for Columbia. He was a brother of Harry Cohn, president of Columbia; Jack Cohn, the company's executive vice-president, and Nat Cohn, Columbia's New York division manager. Mr. Cohn died in New York January 3. He is survived by his wife and two daughters in addition to the three brothers. Ray C. Hickman, Co-Owner Of Marietta Theatres Ray C. Hickman, 52, 50 per cent owner of the Washington Theatre Company, owning and operating theatres in Marietta, O.. died January 2 at Marietta, his birthplace. In the industry for about 30 years, Mr. Hickman operated his own Auditorium theatre in Marietta and later formed a partnership with the late Mort Shea, owner of the other 50 per cent of the Washington Company. Services were held in New Philadelphia, Ohio, Monday. He is survived by his widow, a son and a daughter. Louis Johnson Services were held Tuesday for Louis Johnson, in charge of MGM's service department at the New York-New Jersey exchange, who died of a heart attack last Friday at his home in Astoria, L. I., N. Y. Mr. Johnson joined the Goldwyn company 28 years ago and later moved to MGM. M. J. Meehan, 56, Once Key in KA O, Dies in New York Michael J. Meehan, 56, one of the last of the Horatio Algers, a man who fought his way up from clerk in a cigar store to a spectacular position on the New York Stock Exchange, died January 2 of pneumonia at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York. Particularly successful in the late 1920's in manipulating Radio Corporation of America common stock, Mr. Meehan later bought into Keith-Albee-Orpheum, at that time principal subsidiary of RKO, and by 1932 held a controlling interest in the preferred stock of that company and went into active management of RKO Theatres. He held his interests until 1940-41, bringing many new men in, and then sold out. At the height of his career, Mr. Meehan's brokerage firm was one of the largest in the country, holding eight seats on the stock exchange when seats were selling for almost $500,000. He was the first to set up a branch on a trans-Atlantic steamer. According to his former associates, Mr. Meehan survived the 1929 crash with holdings of about $100,000,000. In 1930-31 he felt that single-handedly he could do something to stop the depression and so began buying securities in vast numbers — as much as 300,000 shares of a company in one day. In addition to his vast radio holdings, he owned almost all the stock in Ford of England that was not controlled by Henry Ford and, in the early 30's, bought into Bellanca Aircraft. Tradings in Bellanca resulted in his being expelled from the New York Stock and Curb Exchanges and the Chicago Board of Trade. At the time of his death he also owned a substantial interest, in his wife's name, in the Good Humor Corp., New York. Noted for his expansiveness, Mr. Meehan thought nothing of borrowing money to contribute to a fund for the unemployed when, at the same time, he could not meet his own payroll. He once lent a business associate $500,000 and in a few days could have used a loan himself. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, two sons, and two brothers. Hyman O. Friedland Hyman O. Friedland, projectionist at the Alhambra theatre, Cleveland, died suddenly New Year's Eve of a heart attack. Jack H. Lefton Jack H. Lefton, 59, former Cleveland, O., theatre operator, died December 24 at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, Los Angeles. ' Louis Winkelman Louis Winkelman, 67, assistant manager and treasurer of the Gayety theatre, Cincinnati, died in Cincinnati December 31. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JANUARY 10, l?4«