GOVfR STOIiy Exhibitor Scientist Dr. J. B. Fishman heads a circuit, is president of Allied oF Connecticut, a Foundation trustee—and finds time to carry on important scientific research. By GERTRUDE LANDER New Haven THE familiar words of the perennial MNchali-man, Jack Fishman "needs no introduction to this audience." As secretary-treasurer and general manager of Fishman Theatres, Inc., he has for many years actively headed an important chain of seven neighborhood houses in New Haven, West Haven and Fairfield. • As president for the past decade of Allied Theatres of Connecticut, he has been courageous, ever-watchful, outspoken and effective in fighting the cause of the independent exhibitor, not only in the state, but in the national assemblies and committees. As trustee and member of the executive and scope committees of the Motion Picture Foundation, his vision, deep social sense, and executive ability have won him recognition, to serve with outstanding names in our industry. It is unusual that such business acumen, weighty responsibility in the industry and organizational activity should leave a man energy or disposition for any other major venture, even supposing the rare dual talent. But as "Dr. Fishman," he fulfUls another role, in which years of serious, patient work have brought him deep satisfaction, important achievements still top secret, and more recently, discoveries which have gained him recognition in the scientific world. Science was his first love, and in 1916, when he obtained his B.S. in chemistry at Yale's Sheffield Scientific school, he decided it was only the beginning, and by 1920 he had obtained his degree of doctor of philosophy at Yale in the field of organic chemistry. During World Wax I, he had taken a year away from Yale, successfully engaged in research work with explosives at the Picatinny Arsenal and subsequent to his graduation in 1920, he retui-ned to commercial chemistry as research chemist, then chief chemist at Heyden Chemical Co. of America at Garfield, N. J. In 1925, he was Induced by his older brothers, Zelig, Han7 and the late Ahe Fishman, to join them in the already-established Fishman Theatres at New Haven. The Fishmans were a close-knit family, more firmly bound by a revered widowed mother, whose counsel had not a small part in the harmonious and progressive conduct of their business at that time. Jack responded to the call, and lent his youth and initiative to this new field so successfully that in a short time he was made general manager of the circuit. But the laboratory and the thrill of exploring the unknown were too deep-seated in hun to be easily renounced. He returned to the Yale medical school as research fellow in physiological chemistry under the late Lafayette B. Mendel in 1935, on a volunteer basis, meantime continuing his active, daily conduct of theatre affairs. These scientific pursuits brought rewards from the honorary scientific society, Sigma Xi. From 1943 to 1945, his work was with the Office of Scientific and Research Development of the government, and his results with war gases still remain strategic war department property. Since V-J Day, he has been free to explore the little-known realm of hormone research. The delicate mechanism shown in the picture of Dr. Fishman and his collaborator. Dr. Alfred Wilhelmi (on this week's cover), contains rectangular, colorless, transparent crystals representing a year's concentrated work at the Yale physiological chemistry labs on the growth homione. A simOar and quicker method of concentration has been evolved, effecting a 60 times greater yield than ever obtained before of growth-stimulating power —one-eighth ounce from 1500 beef glands, as ON THE COVER Dr. Fishman with his collaborator, Dr. Alfred Wilhelmi, at work in their laboratory at Yale university, checking results on experiments with growth hormones. (Photo from Yale University News Bureau). compared to 1/5000 oimce hitheito realized. "This new method of approach may lead not only to the purification of growth hormone and much greater yields," says Dr. Fishman, "but also eventually to the discovery of other hormones present in the pituitary; and may prove a better method for the preparation of other pituitary hormones now known but difficult to obtain." When sufficient growth hormone is produced in pure form, it will be safe to inject it into the hrnnan blood stream for experimentation in growth-promotion and possible standardization of treatment, and this is the objective which the Fishman experiments continue to seek. At present, with the hormone substance obtained, a full-grown rat will double its weight in a few weeks on an infinitesimal amount, the weight gain being not fat, but a general growth of all organs and tissues. The first annoimcement of the results obtained by Dr. Fishman, and his collaborators. Dr. Wilhelmi and Dr. Jane A. Russell, appeared in Science late in 1947. Smce that time, they have been flooded w-ith requests from all over the coimtry from people who'd rather try growth hormones than Adler elevators, and would gladly offer themselves as hiunan guinea pigs. More important are the requests and inquii'ies from scientists, who will utilize the new method and build on the foimdations laid by Dr. Fishman. Candid camera shots of Jack Fishman at home would show a genial host, a father keenly interested in daughter Janet and son Michael's hobbies and studies. With Mrs. Fishman, he is continually active in many community and national projects. He is chief of the Forum committee and a member of the board of directors of the Jewish Center, a member of Probus club. Variety, and numerous charitable and welfare organizations. His rise from poor immigrant boy to leading exhibitor, nationally recog- ; nized scientist, industiy spokesman and allaround citizen, is a heart warming American success story. BOXOFFICE :: February 7, 1948 iJ
House On 92nd Street _j3 Rue Madeleine ^ Kiss of Death Boomerang! O/ncC ^ovu.... In 1945 20th Century-Fox startled the nation with " The House ,Mi On 92nd Street" . . . utilizing a technique as unusual as the story it told. Then came " 13 Rue Madeleine'Jj^ and ..n^ 'Kiss of Death filmed-from-life treatment. The inipact of " Boomeran g!" was unprecedented placing the picture on every "Best 10" list for 1947. Now comes "Call Northside 777 ," a story so true, so moving it reaches a climax in new acclaim for their sensational realistic technique and heart-hittin ^ drama! CENTURY-FOX GIVE GENEROUSLY FOR AMERICAN BROTHERHOOD WEEK Screenplay by Jerome Cady and Jay Dratler • Adaptation by Leonard Hoffman and Quentin Reynolds • Based on Articles by James P. McGuire
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