Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Sep 1953)

THE stiffest defense against Communist infiltration yet adopted by any Hollywood Guild or union was proposed to the Screen Actors’ Guild membership Tuesday in a letter from the board of directors outlining a proposed new by-law. The letter also condemned by name 24 members who have refused to answer the House Un-American Activities Committee’s questions concerning Communist party membership. The proposed by-law would rule ineligible for membership in the Guild any person who “is a member of the Communist party or of any other organization seeking the overthrow of the Government of the United States by force and violence.’’ It also would incorporate in the application for membership a statement to be signed by the applicant reading: “I am not now and will not become a member of the Communist party nor of any other organization which seeks to overthrow the Government of the United States by force and violence.” ► A new plant for the manufacture of a new synthetic base for photographic film will be built at the Du Pont Company’s factory at Parlin, N. J., the company announced Wednesday. Tests have shown that the new base, chemically identified as a polyester, is several times stronger and has much greater dimensional stability than any of the present types of safety film base and has comparable flame resistance. It has the added advantage of a reduction in film thickness, making' possible greater footage per reel. Production in commercial quantities is expected by the middle of 1955. ► Many industry officials feel that the final solution of the theatre television proceedings was the best possible one. If the industry had prosecuted its bid for exclusive frequencies, they say, the Federal Communications Commission might have rejected it, or if the Commission had approved it and no use were made of the frequencies, they would have been taken away. As it is, sharing the common carrier frequencies, the industry can take its time and work up some firm plans. “ The Quigley Award is to Showmanship what the Academy Award is to acting and producing — J. J. Fi+zgibbons, president and managing director of Famous Players Canadian, in a letter to stockholders of the Corporation. ► The defeat may have been a politically wise move, but anyway the New York film publicists were soundly beaten in baseball by the New York newspapermen last weekend. The occasion was the annual get-together of publicists and newsmen at the Wayne Country Club. The score was 18 to 10, and Carl Fishman of Loew’s swears on his press agent’s honor that the game was on the level. Merchandising opportunities were not missed. Midway in the game Columbia’s A1 Rylander called a halt to distribute caps worn by Tommy Rettig in “The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.” Not one to be outdone. United Artists’ never-sleeping publicity director, Mort Nathanson was quick to offer “Melba” toast to the players. ► “It is our best estimate that during the next three years we will have to spend several million dollars for theatre alterations and new equipment . . . we are confident that the expenditures will not cause any serious strain . . .” said Charles P. Skouras, president of National Theatres this week in a letter to stockholders in the company. ► General admission tax collections in May, reflecting April business, were off from April collections but were still the second highest this year. They were also down from May 1952 collections, the Bureau of Internal Revenue reported. The bureau said general admission tax collections in May amounted to $23,410,788, compared with $25,160,355 in April and $25,221,046 in May last year. ► The Mosher bill outlawing the censorship of newsreels in Ohio was overwhelmingly passed by the state House of Representatives in Columbus Tuesday. The vote was 110 to 6. Already approved by the Senate the bill now awaits the Governor’s signature. The bill succeeded a wider measure which would have entirely eliminated the Ohio board of censorship but which died in committee. In BETTER THEATRES Some drive-in operators put no limit on how much their refreshment stands can contribute to total gross; others think they have reached the limit; and there are those who just don’t know . . . that’s how Philip L. Lowe, Boston drive-in owner and concessionaire, classifies attitudes toward snack sale potential. For the benefit of all three groups, he analyzes eight factors by which that potential may be measured, in the lead article of this issue, "In Refreshment Sales What Is Your Potential?" With 20th Century-Fox ostensibly adopting one system of placing magnetic tracks on the film with the picture, and Paramount proposing another, the industry is confronted with a new occasion to make urgent decisions regarding sound. In "Crisis in Sound, 1953," the two systems are compared. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, published every Saturday by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Rockefeller Center, New York City 20. Telephone Cli 5,e p” 0,0' ,C^'e , dB^dv' "Quigpubco, New York", Martin Quigley, President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo. J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Raymond Levy Vice-President, Leo J. Brady, Secretary; Martin Quigley, Jr., Editor; Terry Ramsiye, Consulting Editor; James D. Ivers, News Editor; Char es S. Aaronson, Production Editor; Floyd E. J^^oto Edrtor MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JULY 4, 1953 9