MPAA

, Davis
of expression. Nothing In the code denies
or curtails freedom of expression. Nothing
in the code denies or curtails freedom of expression
on any matter."
Wliat is the indiistr>° doing to foster the
broadest showing: of the best foreign films?
Depinet replied; "Our doors are wide open
for films produced anywhere in the world.
They have succeeded in proportion to the
way the American public accepted them. But
every good foreign picture that stands on
its own has the opportunity to play in 16,000
or 18,000 American theatres. There is no
quota, there is no tax. there is no restriction,
and their money is free to go back to their
own country. I wish we were treated as well
as they are."
Skouras added: "If it were not for the
American motion picture, the majority of the
theatres of the world would be closed.
"There are some foreign pictui-es that are
good and those the public will see. The poor
ones we cannot ram down their throats, because
our own poor motion pictures are also
not accepted by the public."
Does Hollywood make too many picture
cycles, lacking variety and originality?
Breen denies that cycles were common.
"It is not true to say," he continued, "that
they have no new plots and ideas. They do
They may follow a general trend, but there
is nothing extraordinary in that. Book publishing
has fads and phases. So do motion
pictures."
Skouras concluded the discussion by saying:
"England would do everything in the
world to have the advantages we have in
the motion picture industry, and you know
other nations would give everything. I know
Stalin would give everything to have it. There
is only one thing wrong with the motion
picture industry: We do not appreciate its
importance to the people of America."
Two Academy Winners Die
HOLLYWOOI>-Death took two Academy
award winners last week. Charles Gordon
Booth. 51, author and screen writer, died
at his home May 22. He won an Academy
award for the be.st original screen story.
"The House on 92nd Street" and wrote "The
General Died at Dawn" and "Johnny Angel."
Joseph R. Valentine, 48, one of the film industry's
top cameramen, died May 17 of a
heart ailment. He won the Oscar this year
for his color photography in "Joan of Arc"
and previously had been nominated four
times for his camera work.
Albert Mannheimer Dies
NEW YORK—Albert Mannheimer sr., 63,
head of exchange business operations of Film
Classics, Inc., died of a heart attack at his
office in the home office on Wednesday. His
son, Albert Mannheimer jr., screen writer,
flew in from the coast. Funeral services were
held at the Riverside Memorial chapel.
Owen Davis jr. Dead
NEW YORK—Funeral services for Owen
jr.. 42, television producer for NBC
and earlier known as an actor on the screen,
stage and radio, were held at the Little
Church Aroimd the Corner May 25. Davis
was found dead May 21 on the Long Island
Sound shore near Kings Point. L. I., after
disappearing from a yacht owned by Herbert
V. Anderson, NBC sales executive.
FIRST THEATRE TO USE FACSIMILE NEWSPAPER FOR ADS
COLUMBIA, MO.—The Uptown Theatre
here has installed a "Faxsimile" receiver
in its lobby and Rex P. Barrett, the manager,
believes that his is the first theatre
to provide this service for patrons and the
first to utilize a "newspaper of the air" to
advertise its current attractions.
The facsimile broadcasting is a project
of the University of Missouri school of
journalism, and the station is one of two
in the country. Because it is a local undertaking,
Barrett is able to take advantage
of the opportunities offered to advertise
his attractions. Facsimile reports are received
at noon and 2:30 p. m. and cover the
day's headlines, market and weather reports,
sports, features and advertising and
exploitation for current attractions at the
Uptown Theatre, which is a Conmionwealth
circuit operation.
Simultaneously, the facsimile reports are
received at the leading downtown bank
and hotel and at the University of Missouri
student library and journalism school.
In the accompanying photograph, Barrett
(at left) is shown with Miss Jean
Behmer, a university student, and Mayor
Roy Sappington of Columbia inspecting
the receiver and some of the facsimile
broadcasts in the theatre lobby.
Brandt Heads EL Advertising and Publicity
NEW YORK—Leon Brandt has been named
acting director of advertising, publicity and
exploitation for Eagle
Lion, according to Wil
liam J. Heinema
V i c e-p resident in
charge of distribution. ^
.
B r an d t . who had J
\
been assistant director
of the department
since the end of April,
takes over the duties of
Youngstein,
Max E.
who resigned as vicepresident
in charge o!
these activities May 20
to join Paramount. Leon Brandt
Youngstein is director of national advertising,
publicity and exploitation for Paramount.
Brandt joined Eagle Lion in October 1946
as midwestern exploitation representative.
Two years later he was named exploitation
manager, and last month became assistant
director of advertising, puWicity and exploitation,
succeeding Jerry Pickman, who had resigned
to become director of exhibitor relations
for Paramount.
During the mid 1930s Brandt did publicity
work for subsidiaries of National Theatres.
He later resigned to go into business for
himself, and in 1942 joined United Artists
as a home office exploitation representative.
Heineman said that he and Brandt will
continue the close sales-advertising and publicity
association developed during the
Youngstein regime.
Film Classics. Cinecolor
Split Talks Due June 14
NEW YORK—Directors of Film Classics
and Cinecolor will meet June 14 for a discussion
of whether or not the two companies
will be separated. It is expected a decision
will be reached at that time, according to
Joseph Bemhard.
In the meantime it has been officially
stated that S. H, Fabian is not interested
in buying into Film Classics.
BOXOFFICE :
: May
28, 1949
17
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