70th Semiannual
Convention Get-Together Luncheon Remarks by President Mole
All this
is as it should be-a deliberate and successful effort to attract the famous
entertainment dollar. Coast-to-coast
television was initiated with the signing of the Japanese Peace Treaty in
San Francisco. Theater television is developing by leaps and bounds, stimulated
by special showings such as the Robinson-Turpin fight in New York. I believe
that movies and television are now finding a common ground for their mutual
benefit and will complement each other. These
developments should encourage the members of this organization and their
associated companies to continue their scientific research in the belief
that the entertainment business will continue to expand and that production
will need better tools with which to work. I remarked
at the Spring Convention on the lack of unified effort between the engineer,
producer and exhibitor. I see no reason yet to change my views. Nor do I
see reason to alter my belief that a successful future for the producer
and exhibitor depends upon a close alliance with the engineer. In
the past, the production end of our industry has been the recipient of many
technical advances brought about by forward thinking men who had the courage
to spend time and money on the development of new ideas. From these engineers
who carried on their work outside the field of motion pictures came sound
and color. Now, in this time of optimism the producers and exhibitors must
take the initiative. They must push vigorously for new technical developments
and they must be sympathetic to research work in their planning. Although
sound and color came to the motion picture industry from outside interests,
further new developments may not materialize in a finished form unless the
industry shows a willingness to share in the program. Equipment manufacturers
can no longer be expected to do research and development work on speculation.
The exhibitors who plan to use theater television or wide-angle projection
must share at least part of the engineering burden. Producers who wish to
adopt new sound recording methods or improved color processes, must share
in the development as well. It is
our way of business life to risk capital-to produce more business and to
secure greater benefits-and we should continue this practice. The time is
here to complete the cycle on current developments. The capital has been
ventured. It still remains to be recovered through acceptance by the industry
of technical developments already being offered by the engineers. As for
the future: We must go forward-focus our attention on other engineering
advances not yet introduced. And we must concentrate on things that hold
promise of enhancing the entertainment values that are the life-blood of
our industry.