Movie Makers (Jan-Dec 1952)

JANUARY 1952 This department has been added to Movie Makers because you, the reader, want it. We welcome it to our columns. This is your place to sound off. Send us your comments, complaints or compliments. Address: The Reader Writes, Movie Makers, 420 Lexington Ave., New York 17, N. Y. MOVIE MAKERS DELAYED Gentlemen: I have now been a member of the ACL for three years and have looked forward to receiving Movie Makers each month with pleasure. But now I am a little puzzled and disappointed. During December I received the November issue. Each preceding month I had received the issue for the month before. Why is the magazine so late in coming? While I have registered a complaint in this letter, I still feel that the ACL is tops. Any 8 or 16mm. fan would be foolish to pass up a membership. M. J. Prindl, ACL Chicago, 111. To member Prindl, and to countless other puzzled and wonderfully patient readers, our sincere apologies — and an explanation! The original delay in Movie Makers publication was created early last fall when our editor was hospitalized for an entire month by a simple but time-consuming illness. Then, efforts to catch up during the late fall months were hampered by the eight-week-long pressure of Ten Best contest screenings. Even our request to the postal authorities to permit the combining of two issues under one issue-date was disallowed. However, we sincerely believe we are now getting squared away. Full on-schedule delivery may take only a few months more. Till then, our gratitude for your grand forbearance! MEMORABLE OCCASION Dear Mr. Moore: Your letter of November 26 concerning In Fancy Free was here when I arrived home from school today. I knew when I met Lucille at the door that something was afoot, for she has a way of telling things first with her eyes. In Fancy Free was a lot of fun to make and we had high hopes. But the thrill of the competition and its uncertainties were still another thing. Then your letter arrived — and made one of life's memorable occasions. Glen H. Turner, ACL Springville, Utah. ALWAYS A GOAL Dear Friends: To place in the Ten Best was always a goal I guess I had unconsciously been aiming at but dimly expecting never to achieve. And I had left Cleveland a week ago Sunday thinking my film, Out Of Door Life in Ohio, had not been up to standard. For it had seemed so-o-o long since October 15. But your wonderful letter was here on my return! Emma L. Seely, ACL Cleveland. Ohio HOW DELIGHTED Gentlemen: I can't tell you how delighted I was to receive your letter advising me that From This Day Forward had been chosen among the Ten Best of this year. I am particularly proud of winning this high award for the very first part of my motion picture "that will never end." Part II of this film, entitled Son and Heir, is about completed, and then shall come Part III and IV and so on. You may. therefore, expect to receive many more contest entries from me. Othon Goetz, ACL Chicago, 111. CERTAINLY DELIGHTED Dear ACL: I was certainly delighted and surprised to hear from your letter of November 26 that my film. Colorado Diary, was chosen as one of the Ten Best of 1951. It is an honor of which I am very proud. Lester F. Shaal, ACL Providence, R. I. JUST AS MUCH EXCITEMENT Dear ACL: It was with just as much excitement and pleasure as last year that I read your notification of the success of Bermudiana in the Ten Best contest for 1951. The certificate of award arrived today, and it will be placed proudly with its companion (for Albany's Tulip Festival — Ed.) on the wall of the new cellar room that I have fixed up for pictures. And the award leader is even more glamorous than last year's! I am so happy that Bermudiana has one to wear. Helen C. Welsh, ACL Albany, N. Y. ORIGINAL INTENTION Dear ACL: My wife and I wish to thank the League staff for awarding my picture, Around Lot 34, an Honorable Mention award among the Ten Best of 1951. My original intention was to get about 200 feet of record footage this year, add about the same amount from year to year, and in time call it Trailer Album. But Marie (my wife) convinced me that if I made a lead and end title it would be good enough to enter in the contest. I'm glad now that I did. Henry J. Auger, ACL Toledo. Ohio So are we. There should be more "Maries" in the amateur movie world. UNDERSTATEMENT Dear Friends: To say that I am thrilled again at winning a Ten Best award for Blades and Sails is an understatement. Please accept my very sincere thanks for this recognition and encouragement of my movie work. William Messner, ACL Teaneck, N. J. WILL BE PLEASED Dear Mr. Moore: Thank you very much for your letter and the Honorable Mention certificate re In Trente Mille Pool. I believe my fellow, members of the Hartford Cinema Club will be pleased, as I was, that my film earned a place in this year's awards. Eugene E. Wilson, ACL West Hartford, Conn. NOT MINE ALONE Dear Mr. Moore: It is with great humility that I have received your announcement of the award of Honorable Mention to our film, Prelude to Performance, in connection with the Ten Best Amateur Films of 1951. In thanking you and the judges for this high honor, may I be permitted to point out that this distinction is not mine alone? Although the cinematography was my personal contribution, the finished production required a great many painstaking hours of effort on the part of many here at the London Little Theatre. I feel that they all share in this honor. John W. Jones, ACL Chairman Motion Picture Division London Little Theatre London, Ont., Canada THRILLED Dear Friends: We are thrilled to know that our AACC grand award winner, Othon Goetz, ACL, has made the ACL's Ten Best this year! He is my very good friend and best constructive cinema critic, so we are as happy as he is about his newest honor. Margaret E. Conneely, ACL Secretary Associated Amateur Cinema Clubs Chicago, 111. TEN YEARS AGO Dear ACL: It is ten years ago since you honored me by selecting my film, Christmas At Our House, as one of the Ten Best for 1941 and your story concerning it was printed in December Movie Makers of that year.