Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

Resignation JUDGE Thomas D. Thacher, who decided for the Government in one of the earlier governmental anti-trust suits against the industry, resigned last week as Judge of the Court of Appeals, New York. The so-called Thacher decision of 1929 restrained the industry from enforcing the Standard Exhibition Contract and the arbitration clauses which were part of it. The decision was handed down when Judge Thacher was a judge of the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the same court now rehearing the U. S. vs. Paramount et al. anti-trust suit The case which Judge Thacher decided was filed by the Government against the old Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association, Film Boards of Trade in 32 cities, Paramount, First National, MGM, Universal, United Artists, Pathe, FBO, Vitagraph and Educational, all charged with violating the Sherman anti-trust act by adopting and agreeing to a uniform contract containing provisions for determining by arbitration all claims and controversies under the contract. This contract was adopted February 6, 1926. Judge Thacher outlawed it by his decision o£ October 15, 1929. Theatre Bill London Bureau LATEST EVIDENCE of Britain's Socialist Government's avuncular concern for the stage-play theatre is last week's publication of its National Theatre Bill, a bill giving authority for a Treasury grant of up to £1,000,000 ($4,000,000) towards financing a national theatre on the south bank of the Thames between Charing Cross and Waterloo Bridges. General feeling, however, is that lots of water will flow beneath those two bridges before the Exchequer is called upon to draw on the Treasury grant. Even Socialist ministers would have to pay heed to the hub-bub which would be aroused by the building of a play house in the present acute housing shortage here — not to speak of the trouble motion picture men run into when they seek Government licences for the reconstruction of their bomb-damaged theatres. World Screen Washington Bureau PRESIDENT TRUMAN considers it important that American features be shown in all the countries of the world. That was the gist of the statement given to the press by Eric Johnston Wednesday as he emerged from the White House after a 15-minute conference with the President. "I discussed with the President," he said, "the problems of the motion picture industry around the world and my experiences selling film in some of the countries last summer. I outlined the problems the industry faces. . . . The President expressed great interest in our problems. He said he considered motion pictures a very important matter, that it was very important that they should be shown in all countries." U. S. pictures are just about ready to be shown in Russia, the MPAA president indicated. He said the list of 100 film titles from which the USSR is to select the pictures it wants to buy has been submitted to Moscow. The list was not submitted to the State Department for an opinion, he said, but the "State Department was familiar with all the titles on the list." The 100-title list will not be announced ; only the titles of those features which Russia purchases will be made public. "It's & good list," Mr. Johnston stated. "Mostly it's Academy Award winners, good musicals, Americana, historical romances." Russia will select "30 to 40." Quiet Diet THE JAPANESE DIET— Japanese Parliament— is going to permit a motion picture company to take films of the body in action with just one proviso : the camera has to show the Diet members as nice, quiet chaps. According to the Associated Press, the agreement between the Diet and the producer reads this way: "The Diet of Japan is misunderstood as a place for bad manners where fist fights reign or slumbers predominate. If the coming motion picture is to emphasize the Diet as a democratic chamber where good manners are observed, we will allow the company on location in the Diet." Color Inside IF YOU'RE feeling blue and want a little documentary proof that blue is the color you're feeling, you might contact Dr. Lowrain E. McCrea, a professor at Temple University's Medical School and something of a cameraman. This week he was to demonstrate in St. Louis a camera he has invented and developed which can take color pictures of the inside of the human body. The camera, which was to be shown to the U. S. chapter of the International College of Surgeons, has a 13-inch telescopic lens with a small light bulb on the end of that telescope and the camera performs seven automatic operations. PEOPLE Stanton Griffis, chairman of Paramount's executive committee, visited President Truman in Washington Monday. Their talk centered around the recent election and Mr. Griffis' present position as Ambassador to Egypt. G. S. Eyssell, managing director of the Radio City Music Hall in New York, has been named chairman for the motion picture theatres on the New York committee for Brotherhood Week, to be sponsored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews February 20 to 27. Dr. C. E. K. Mees, Eastman Kodak Company vice-president in charge of research with headquarters at Rochester, N. Y., has been awarded the Adelskolds' gold medal of the Photographic Society of Sweden for his contributions to photography. Clarence A. Schultz, president of Commonwealth Theatres, Inc., Kansas City, retired Tuesday as active head of Commonwealth. He is succeeded by Howard E. Jameyson. George W. Horan, Boston branch manager for Warners, has been promoted to New England district manager, with headquarters in Boston. He succeeds F. D. Moore, recently resigned. Frank Smith, RKO Theatres midwest division manager with headquarters in Chicago, resigned that position Wednesday, but will continue with the company in an inactive capacity to handle labor relations. He will be succeeded by Jerry Shinbach, his assistant for the past year. Walter Earl Davis, formerly with Universal, has joined Film Classics as branch manager in Washington. Samuel Goldwyn, film producer, has been named "Humanitarian of the Year" by the United Jewish Appeal, it was announced in Hollywood Monday by Henry Morgenthau, Jr. UJA general chairman. Clair E. Hilgers, formerly Eagle Lion's southern district manager, has joined John L. Franconi, Screen Guild and Realart franchise holder, as head of sales and manager of Realart in Texas. Harold E. Fletcher, manager of Ansco's film plant in Binghamton, N. Y., since 1946, has been promoted to production manager by Allan Williford, Ansco general manager. Harold Freed of the United Artists exchange in New Haven, Conn., has been reelected president of the IATSE Local No. B-41, exchange employees union. Ben Piazza, RKO Radio casting director for the past eight years in Hollywood, has confirmed his resignation from that post next month to join Floyd Odlum in the latter's future industry activities. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, published every Saturday by Ouigley Publishing Company, Rockefeller Center, New York City 20. Telephone Circle 7-3100; Cable address "Quigpubco, New York" Martin Quigley President Red Kann Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; Terry Ramsaye Editor Martin Ouigley Jr. Associate Editor; James D. Ivers, News Editor; Charles S. Aaronson, Production Editor; Roy Gallagher, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager. Bureaus: Hollywood, William R. Weaver, editor, Yucca-Vine Building; Chicago, 120 South LaSalle Street, Telephone Financial 6-3074. James Ascher, editorial representative, Urben Farley, advertising representative; Washington, J. A. Often, National Press Club; London, Hope Williams Burnup, manager, Peter Burnup, editor, 4 Golden Square. Correspondents in the principal capitals of the world. Member Audit Bureau of Circulations. Other Ouigley Publications: Better Theatres and Theatre Sales, each published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Motion Picture Daily, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 4, 1948 9