Showmen's Trade Review (Jul-Sep 1945)

August 18, 1945 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW 5 Loew^s Forms 16mm. Division to Distribute MGM Films Abroad Show Atom Bomb Blast Scenes of the explosion that occurred in New Mexico when the first experimental atomic bomb was tried out will be shown in newsreel issues which will be released to theatres in the metropolitan areas next Tuesday (Aug. 21). The films were made by Army cameramen and have been released to the newsreels from that source. The explosion, the greatest to be caused by man in all history — up to the time the two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan — makes one of the most spectacular screen scenes of its kind ever filmed. End of Raw Stock Pinch May Aid Small Theatres The WPB will soon put an end to rationing of raw film stock, according to action anticipated by Washington observers, and with the elimination of this factor of "bottleneck" for the smaller theatres' supply of product there may come a decided improvement in the position of the later run houses throughout the country. The shortage of prints was becoming an increasingly great menace to the subsequent runs, where availabilities of newer product were becoming dangerously scarce. Indeed, the shortage of prints has also been hitting at the distributors, and sales organizations were being pressed to liquidate older pictures before starting new season selling. The meeting of the Film Industry Advisory Committee with Stanley Adams, head of WPB's Durable Goods Division originally set for next week was postponed for two weeks when the Japanese war appeared to be approaching its end. Danz Settles Suit Involving $200,000 A $200,000 anti-trust suit charging conspiracy and filed in Seattle by John Danz and Granada Theatre Corp., against major distributors, and two theatre circuits, was settled this week out of court, it was revealed in Portland by Danz. The suit naming RKO, Warners, Universal, Loew's, Paramount, 20th Century-Fox, United Artists, National Theatres, Evergreen Theatres and Fox Pacific Theatres charged conspiracy to fix dates for exhibition, fixing admission prices and restricting and eliminating competition among distributors and theatre operators in Seattle. An injunction was also sought. Local 306 May Strike Unless a New Contract Is Forthcoming Possibility of a strike of members of local 306 of the lATSE in New York loomed this week, as a result of the union's dissatisfaction with the results of negotiations for a new contract between the operators and film companies, covering circuit projectionists and those employed at home offices, exchanges and local studios. Members adopted a resolution withdrawing the "no strike" pledge now that the war is over, and also demanded a vote on a strike, should negotiations for a contract fail to be agreed upon by September 1. First English Actress Arrives in Universal-Rank Star Interchange The first of a series of stars to be interclianged between J. Arthur Rank in London and Universal in the U. S. has arrived here and will be cast in "Canyon Passage," being produced by Walter Wanger. The star is Patricia Roc. The organization by Loew's International Corp., of a division to distribute MGM features and shorts on 16 mm. film overseas was announced this week by Arthur M. Loew, president of the corporation. In announcing the new venture, the head of Loew's international operations pointed out that the move "makes MGM the first major company to take advantage of experience accumulated by the armies of the United Nations in showing motion picture entertainment on 16 mm. film to troops stationed all over the globe." "For several years," the Loew statement continued, "I have observed and studied the increasing use of 16 millimeter film. The war has given tremendous impetus to the improvement of 16 millimeter projectors, sound and film, and today narrow-gauge film approaches 35 millimeter quality when projected before audiences of less than 1,000. "I do not believe that 35 millimeter will be discarded in favor of 16 millimeter ; far from it. What will happen, in my opinion, is that 16 millimeter film will open up a new audience for pictures that 35 millimeter has either never reached or barely touched. Those are the peo Possibilities of the use of lO mm. film in commercial theatres were brought into the spotlight this week by the announcement that Loew's foreign corporation vvill distribute 16 mm. prints of all MGM features and shorts in markets overseas. While the statement by Arthur M. Loew included a reference to a somewhat limited use of the 16 mm. films by "mobile units" abroad, the Loew announcement gave new impetus to discussions among -film men concerning the potentialities of narrow-gauge film for the regular theatre of smaller capacity in this country. Tremendous improvements in the quality of picture and sound that can be obtained with 16 mm. stock today have developed during the war. Well informed on these technical im To Let Money Talk Declaring that "money talks louder than resolutions," the P.C.C.I.T.O. trustees, in session at Portland, Ore., Aug. 14, 15, 16, adopted a plan to set up a special fund to protect members from "unwarranted theatre expansion and invasion; loss of clearance and run; discriminatory sales policies and unfair trade practices." The meeting also condemned the practice of large circuits double-billing two "A" pictures, declaring that while that was going on in the circuit houses, independents cannot obtain terms that would enable them to do likewise. In attendance at the meet were Hugh W. Bruen, George Diamos and R. H. Poole, Los Angeles; Rotus Harvey and Ben Levin, San Francisco; L. O. Lukan, Leroy Johnson and Jim Hone, Seattle; M. W. Mattecheck, WilHam Graeper, Jr., and O. J. Miller, Portland. Following the meeting, Bruen and Poole left for Pittsburgh to attend the Allied Board meetings there beginning Aug. 20. pie who live in isolated communities or in towns too small to support a regular theatre. "Mobile projector units will be used, similar to the mobile units that have followed our soldiers wherever they have gone. By this means no location on the face of the earth is too remote to be reached by 16 millimeter films." In addition to the entertainment subjects, MGM will produce educational and documentary subjects on 16 mm. film for distribution abroad, Loew said. The United States State Department and officials of many other governments, he said, have expressed great interest in the widespread use of such films, and MGM "will cooperate closely with these authorities." Overseas distribution of the 16 mm. films is expected to begin about January 1, at which time every MGM feature and short in 35 mm. will have its 16 mm. counterpart. Loew declared that a separate staff of specialists trained in 16mm. operations has already been created and each foreign manager will be asked to select a man, a college graduate in his own individual country, and send him to the United States for four to six weeks training in New York, Rochester and California in the operation of 16 mm. projectors, the mechanical operations involved in repair and salesmanship. provements is Arthur Loew, wlio served as a major in the U; S. Army and was head of a Signal Corps Photographic Center. One top executive of a major film company, discussing the 16 mm. project set up by MGM, declared that 16 mm. projection and sound quality today is such that the narrow stock can be used in the commercial theatres. "Anj' theatre," this executive said, "with a seating capacity of 1000 or less can show 16 mm. prints and I defy anyone but an c-xpert to know, from the quality of the projection and sound, that narrow-gauge and not 35 mm. film is being projected." Though it has been in use for 40 years, the 16 mm. film has been a sort of stepchild claiming little regard from the motion picture industry. The fact that the narrow film was used in industrial fields, for sales pep talks to field organizations, and for "peep show" type of sub-rosa attraction were factors which added no prestige to the 16 mm. film insofar as the motion picture industry was concerned. However, the vast improvements in quality, and the advantages resulting from economies of stock, ease of projection and handling, may be expected to prove an important factor in bringing the narrow film into commercial use in the industry. Before the war there were many theatre installations of 16 mm. projectors. These, chiefly, were in more progressive small town theatres and were used on certain occasions for the projection' of a home-town picture made by tlie enterprising manager of some important local event — the "big" football game of the season for the high school team, for example. The apparatus required for projection is much more compact and installations are far more economical than 35 mm. equipment. Marx Brothers Try Out Script The Aiarx Brothers, with a comjiany of 20, this week opened a tour of Navy cam])> and vaudeville dates to break in the script for their next film, "A Night in Casablanca," to be produced by David L. Loew for United Artists. Opening date was at Camp Eliott. Narrow -Gauge Film May Find Favor for Domestic Theatres