Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

Agnew to Head Sales Company The Motion Picture Sales Corporation was launched Tuesday by Neil Agnew, its president, and formerly president of the Selznick Releasing Organization and before that for many years vice-president in charge of sales for Paramount ; and Charles L. Casanave, its vice-president and treasurer, and formerly a vice-president of National Screen Service. The new company, the men said in their New York headquarters, will "represent producers, directors, artists, banks, and others having financial interest in motion pictures released through national distributing companies."' Mr. Agnew added: "It will offer them a highly trained group of sales executives who will be in the field in constant touch with theatre chains and key city first runs." The company will open offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Mexico City, and other cities. Kaufman Buys Story Joe Kaufman, associate producer for Roy Del Ruth Productions, has announced the acquistion of a modern adaptation of the famous short story by Frank R. Stockton, "The Lady or the Tiger?" The film will be placed on the 1949 independent production schedule for release through Allied Artists. Action on Building Code Expected by January I The revised New York state building code for theatres and other places of public assembly will be presented to the State Board of Standards and Appeals for action by January 1. If approved, the code cannot become effective until February or March, because time must be allowed for printing and promulgation of the code. Hearings on the code were held in five New York cities in June, 1947, and an additional hearing was held in New York City last summer. Revisions in the code are applicable to the maintenance of theatre stages, projection booths, exits, and to various aspects of drive-in operations. Exhibitors and representatives of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees served on the advisory committee which revised the 25-year-old code. National Film Handling Eagle Lion, Republic National Film Service, Inc., began on Monday to do all the physical handling services for Eagle Lion films, including shipping, inspection, storage and similar services. Beginning December 4, Bonded Film Storage, National Film's New York City representative, instituted a similar service for Republic Pictures. The Eagle Lion agreement, announced by both that company and National Film, has been in operation on a selected-exchange test basis for the past 18 months. The contract, signed November 26, provides for complete service on a national basis. Charles W. Perrine Minnesota Amusement Co. Minneapolis, Minn., says : "ALTEC HAS NEVER LET US DOWN" ?? Through many years of dealing with the representatives of Altec, I have found them most considerate and very fair in their dealings. Bob Schmid, our maintenance-sound-and-construction superintendent, has stated many times that the Altec Service men are most capable and cooperative. It is my opinion that the Altec organization at all times endeavors to pi'otect the exhibitor's interests. Altec has never let us down." JVLTEC 161 Sixth Avenue New York 13, N. Y. THE SERVICE ORGANIZATION OF THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY Rodgers to Hold Sales Sessions A series of sales meeting with MGM's five field sales heads and their territorial and home office assistants will be held by William F. Rodgers, MGM vice-president and general sales manager, at the Hotel Astor, New York, starting December 6, it was announced Tuesday. The meetings will extend through December 11 and will be attended also by home office executives. Attending from the field will be John P. Byrne, eastern sales manager, with headquarters in New York, and his field assistant Herman Ripps, from'Albany; John J. Maloney, central sales head, Pittsburgh, and Frank C. Hensler, Detroit; Rudolph Berger, southern sales chief, Washington, D. C, and John S. Allen, Dallas; Burtus Bishop, Jr., central sales manager, Chicago, and Ralph W. Maw, Minneapolis ; George A. Hickey, western sales head, Los Angeles, and Samuel J. Gardner, San Francisco. Home office assistants to attend will include Paul J. Richrath, aide to Mr. Byrne; Irving Helfont, assistant to Mr. Bishop and Mr. Hickey; Leonard Hirsch, aide to Mr. Berger; and Charles F. Deesen, assistant to Mr. Maloney. Legion of Decency Reviews 27 New Productions The National Legion of Decency has reviewed 27 new productions, approving of all but three. The following were placed in Class A-I, unobjectionable for general patronage; "False Paradise," "The Gay Amigo," "Gunning for Justice," "Hidden Danger," "Indian Agent," "The Mozart Story," 'One Night With You," "Racing Luck," "Sinister Journey," "Strange Gamble," "Trouble Makers," A Valiant Hombre," 'Blondie's Secret," "Dynamite" and "Fighter Squadron." The following were placed in Class A-I I, unobjectionable for adults: "Children on Trial," "Dulcimer Street," "High Fury," "Joe Palooka in the Big Fight," "The Kissing Bandit," "Last of the Badmen," "The Accused," "Every Girl Should Be Married" and "Inner Sanctum." The following were placed in Class B, objectionable in part for all : "Adventures of Don Juan," because it "tends to condone immoral actions, suggestive scenes, dialogue and costume" ; "Let's Live a Little," because of "suggestive sequences," and "That Wonderful Urge," because of "light treatment of marriage; suggestive scenes and dialogue." Plan Texas Circuit Jerry and Sherman Silver, owners and operators of Northwest Silver Theatres in Minnesota, have announced plans for a fourtheatre circuit in Grand Prairie, Texas. They have purchased the Texas and Wings there and vacant property adjacent to the Texas, where they will build a third house. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 4, 1948