Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

THIS WEEK IN THE NEWS Job EIGHTY-FIVE Kansas Citians would like the job of motion picture censor for the city. That many men and women — far more women than men — applied for the position which becomes vacant February 1 when the present censor, Mrs. Eleanore C. Walton, retires. All candidates will receive a written and oral examination. The salary range is from $2,400 to $2,800 a year and the censor's work is subject to review by an appeal board. Too Big REMEMBER when David O. Selznick bad a picture too big for one theatre and played it in dozens and dozens of theatres simultaneously? Well, now lie's got a picture too big for the usual screen. That's "Portrait of Jennie." When the picture has its world premiere Christmas Day at the Carthay Circle in Hollywood, it's going to be projected on an extraordinarily large screen. That's because Mr. Selznick is particularly proud of the finale of his picture — Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten clinching in a hurricane— and wants to give it its just due. Not only does that finale get a big screen, but it gets a green-tinted stock — and a special sound system — a series of loudspeakers rigged all about the auditorium with whirlwind gales coming out of each one of them so you'll think you're right in the middle of the storm. The big screen, the green tints and the sound system are planned for all the important first runs. Youth Month Award WHEN, last summer, Ernest Emerling o£ Loew's developed a special pressbook for "Youth Month" it was decided there should be a special Quigley Award in this competition, to be an annual affair in the future. And this week a special panel of judges, sitting in New York, have selected the campaign submitted by George Atton, now manager of the Fox Turlock theatre, Turlock, Cal., as the best individual effort. A complete story of the judging and the process of selection by elimination appears on page 43 in the Managers' Round Table section. Wilson Visit London Bureau HAROLD WILSON, president of the Board of Trade, is expected to visit the United States next month for trade talks — including discussions on films — with official and quasi-official dignitaries. Mr. Wilson is expected to meet there with Eric A. John MOTION PICTURE HERALD for December 18, 1948 INDUSTRY rolling its sleeves, ready to start things moving Page 12 STILL discuss decrees on eve of resumption of suit hearing Page 14 ARNALL sets aggressive five-point program as new SIMPP head Page 16 JACK BENNY radio champion by vote of nation's editors Page 18 POMMER, resigning Army post, sees new film code for Germany Page 20 HOLIDAY magazine takes a 40-page look at Hollywood life Page 21 NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT— Notes on industry personnel across country Page 26 COMMUNISTS in Saxony plan to grab 400 German theatres Page 32 BROOKINGS Institution study urges closer U. S. watch on screen Page 34 YOUTH MONTH award made by Managers' Round Table Page 43 SERVICE DEPARTMENTS Hollywood Scene Page 31 In the Newsreels Page 34 Managers' Round Table Page 41 Picture Grosses Page 40 Short Product at First Runs Page 36 What the Picture Did for Me Page 37 IN PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION Showmen's Reviews Page 4425 Short Subjects Page 4426 Advance Synopses Page 4426 The Release Chart Page 4428 ston, president of the Motion Picture Association, probably in Washington, and possibly with former Georgia Governor Ellis Gibbs Arnall, new president of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers. Mr. Wilson will make his American visit long in advance of the meeting of the Joint Industry Advisory Council, scheduled for New York March 23-25, thus, perhaps, paving the way for a meeting of minds when the British and U. S. delegates gather at the round table to iron out differences. Protest Washington Bureau SIDNEY LUST, Washington exhibitor, has sent a strong protest to Navy officials asserting that the Navy is not adequately policing civilian admissions to theatres on naval installations. Mr. Lust claims that since the armed services relaxed their policy on admitting civilians early last month, many unqualified civilians have been attending the theatre at trie Bethesda Naval Hospital, to the detriment of his own Bethesda theatre. The Army, Navy and Air Force, on November 4, said that the industry had agreed to allow military personnel to take their civilian guests to post theatres. The agencies promised to police these admissions closely to prevent undue competition with commercial theatres. Mr. Lust claims that his friends and his employees have attended the naval hospital theatre unchallenged. He asserts that attendance at his theatre has slumped far more than the usual seasonal drop during the past month. The New Look "NEXT TIME I'm going to get more — plenty more." The speaker, in Philadelphia this week, was Joe Louis, and he was referring to his fee. for radio and television rights when he enters the ring again in defense of his heavyweight championship crown next June. "I sold myself too cheap in my last fight with Jersey Joe Walcott," the Brown Bomber said. His take from radio and television that time amounted to $40,000 or 40 per cent of the gross of $100,000 paid out by radio and television for the rights. Mr. Louis said Ezzard Charles was the top contender for the championship at present. Reverse Switch HILLARY BROOKE, an American-born actress of Swedish descent, is going to do a reverse switch on the Bergmans and Garbos and go to Sweden to make a picture. They came here, but she's going there. Miss Brooke was out on the lot working hard at the feminine lead in the Abbott and Costello picture, "Africa Screams," when Dr. Sven Munck, the Swedish motion picture executive, came along sight-seeing. When Miss Brooke told the doctor her brother was in Sweden and that she'd like to be in Sweden making a picture, the doctor told her he'd be happy to make all the necessary arrangements. What Hillary has in mind is the role of the ballet dancer-tragedienne of "The Poet," from the book of the same title. 8 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 18, 1948