Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

Brotherhood Holliday, Krim, Todd To Receive Awards See Gains in 1957 Award to Jack Warner Jack L. Warner Jack L. Warner, president of Warner Bros. Pic:ures. Inc., has been named recipient of the 1957 Brotherhood Award of the National Con. ference of Christ ians and Jews, it was announced today by William J. Heineman and Spyros P. Skouras, Jr., national cochairmen of the amusement industry’s brotherhood drive. The award is made in recognition of Mr. Warner’s contributions to better understanding among Americans of all faiths. It will be presented to the veteran motion picture executive at the I2th Annual Brotherhood Dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York January 24. William J. Heineman and Spyros S. Skouras, Jr., are national co-chairmen of the 1957 brotherhood drive. The testimonial gathering, which formally launches the national Brotherhood Drive for 1957, will see tribute paid to Mr. Warner by more than 1,000 stars and leaders of the film industry, television, radio and the legitimate theatre. The drive has set as its 1957 goal the most intensive fund-raising campaign in the history of the inter-faith effort. The humanitarian undertaking will be climaxed by the observance of Brotherhood Week, featuring a membership drive and solicitation of funds at more than 15,000 theatres throughout the country. John I. Crabtree Retires from Kodak John I. Crabtree, a well known authority on photographic chemistry, will retire at the end of 1956 after 43 years with Kodak Research Laboratories, Rochester, N. Y. More than 100 friends and associates attended a dinner in his honor December 18 at the Monroe Golf Club, Rochester. The Kodak scientist was recently awarded a scroll by the American Standards Association for his achievements in developing standards in the photographic field. Earlier this year he received the Progress Medal of the Photographic Society of America, the society’s highest award. His medal was inscribed “for outstanding contributions to photographic chemistry and methods of photographic processing.” Three outstanding contributions to motion pictures will receive recognition when awards are presented to Judy Holliday, Arthur Krim and Michael Todd al the annual “Mark of Achievement” luncheon of the Amusement Division of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies January 8 at the Sheraton-Astor. In addition, a posthumous award for service to the motion picture industry will be presented to the family of the late Jack Cohn of Columbia Pictures. Harry Brandt is chairman of the luncheon committee and Oscar Hammerstein II is awards chairman. Pacific Industries Buys General Film Lab. Pacific Industries, Inc., a holding company with interests in a number of diversified industries, has announced the acquisition of the General Film Laboratories Corporation for $2,500,000. General Film is one of the largest producers of motion picture and television film in Hollywood. It will continue as an operating subsidiary under the direction of G. Carleton Hunt and Hans de Schulthess, former owners. The company employs 290 persons. MAN FROM MARS (Continued from page 13) COMPO directing that one, over-all business building program now under discussion.” Etaoin’s forehead began to flicker like a failing Mazda lamp. His voice crackled with static as a distant voice could be heard giving the Boston fish market quotations. Scrod was selling at 12V2 cents. “Drat” said Etaoin. “I fear I’m losing my connection.” He adjusted a dial and continued breathlessly: “I almost forgot the continuing game of musical chairs. Not in five years have there been so many changes and shiftings of top personnel: Buddy Adler’s succession to Darryl Zanuck in March; the retirement of Al Lichtman and the veepee election of Bill Gehring; Jack L. Warner’s elevation; Jerry Wald’s switch to 20thFox; Nicholas Schenck’s retirement, Arthur Loew’s resignation and Joseph Vogel’s election — not to mention Dore Schary’s resignation and Benjamin Thau’s moving up. It was no year to send Christmas cards. . . .” At which point, the whole Etaoin, and not just his forehead, began to fade rapidly. Snapping and popping like an old crystal set, he was heard to say something about “Eidiphor . . . these things we hold to be self-evident . . . swordfish, 23 cents . . . business should ... be great ... if it doesn’t fall off . . .” On his forehead: “Tilt!” Film Sales to Iron Curtain Motion picture theatre business in Continental Europe for the American companies will increase considerably next year due to the sale of product to Iron Curtain countries, Marc Spiegel, overseas representative for the Motion Picture Export Association, said last week in reporting that the official license agreements with Poland and Czechoslovakia should be signed in 15 weeks. Mr. Spiegel, who arrived in New York from his Paris headquarters at midweek, pointed out that picture business in France, Holland, Belgium and West Germany was affected by the Middle EastSuez crisis. “In Paris, business dropped from 25 to 30 per cent in first run theatres at the start of the crisis. The public had no heat, no gasoline, and started hoarding staples. What the trend will be in business for the next few months, it is difficult to foresee,” he said. The MPEA representative added that billings in Holland are now off by five per cent; Belgium, stable; West Germany, about even; and “nothing doing” in Denmark and Spain. American films could considerably help the political scene in Poland especially as that country’s people have a great thirst for Western culture and ideas, Mr. Spiegel believes. He said that when he returns to Europe in late January, he will resume negotiations for the sale of American product to East Germany. Sales to Hungary have been temporarily stymied by the political scene there, he said. “The gross revenue to the nine companies which are currently selling films to Poland and Czechoslovakia depends on the features which they select,” Mr. Spiegel said. An official license agreement will be signed after they finish screening all 60 features in 15 weeks and a flow of dollars will begin to the American companies through the U.S.I.A. money guarantee program. Eric Johnston, MPEA president, at his press conference announcing the decision to sell American product behind the Iron Curtain, estimated that the revenue would be in the neighborhood of $500,000 annualy. Wagner to Honor Durante Mayor Robert F. Wagner will present an official citation of merit to Jimmy Durante, star of stage, screen, radio and television, in ceremonies at City Hall December 26, it is announced by Richard C. Patterson, Jr., commissioner of the Department of Commerce and Public Welfare. 16 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 29, 1956