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One day in 1957 Jack Davey looked I had to own up to Sid, who was
in at my office door and I cheekily understanding. He pointed out that after
asked him for a chance to compete on ten years service I could take some
his Dulux Show on 2GB. The prizes long service leave and absent myself
included Australian National Airlines’ for six weeks. My secretary would look
tickets to Australian tourist spots. To a after the prints while I was away.
competitor successful in defeating Sid also provided me with useful
another in a play-off over four weeks, introductions at the Los Angeles
the prize was a first-class Qantas ticket studios, New York Home Office,
to anywhere in the world. London and Rome. My new duties as
statistician, preparing sales information
for the General Sales Manager Arthur
Hill, showed me that figures can be
made to tell almost any story.
Our number of prints for a major
feature was thirteen, and for lesser
films seven or eight. Releases in capital
cities were staggered to accommodate
Good for business: Jean Peters and
long established patterns, and
Richard Todd: A Man Called Peter (1955).
everything worked to a formula.
We discovered that the identical
combat footage was consistently cut
from hired prints of the Gregory Peck
Dean Jagger and Gregory Peck:
film Twelve O’Clock High, and finally
Twelve O’Clock High (1949).
traced the matter to a Chinese
individual. Jack was happy about it, but when I
When I reported the thefts to Sid asked for the international opportunity
Albright he phoned his friend the he said that it was tough competition,
Police Commissioner Col Delany, who and he couldn’t help me win. I went
seconded a top man to the case. into the show and lost on the fourth
Three raids in one night on night, tripped up by not knowing that
premises owned by our suspect, netted the language of Brazil is Portugese.
our evidence. The police also turned up When the Dulux Show moved to
pornography, forged tax stamps and television on Channel 7, I was invited to
evidence of prostitution. On the compete a second time. This time I was Fox MD Sid Albright congratulates film
morning of the trial, the accused successful on the fourth night, correctly repairer M. Drake on 38 years of service.
changed his plea to guilty, and got off answering, “In music, what is an Film Weekly July 1955.
with an 800 pounds fine ($16,00). He arpeggio?” Luckily, I had studied music Arthur recognized that I had a fair
should have been jailed before since the age of five! The prize was a command of the language, so he asked
deportation. first-class ticket to NewYork, which I
me to prepare the ‘work sheets’, the
Sid Albright was an able Managing converted to ‘around the world’, plus
blurb our salesmen used in their
Director who moved well socially. If 100 pounds spending money.
presentations to exhibitors. This
there was a need to meet with the In November 1957 Sid Albright entailed highlighting the strong points
Governor General, the Attorney called me to his office. “Peter, we have of each offering.
General, State Governor, Premier or decided that we want you up here in I also had an input into film hire
Police Commissioner, Sid knew them Head Office with us.” Me ? I had estimates, and attended every screening
all. He was astute in public relations, neither been conceived in the Fox vaults of new product as it was received from
and in all matters relating to publicity, nor been given birth in the Theatrette, the USA.
even to knowing the right colours for a but at 27 I was to join the brass amidst
catalogue or brochure. the polished timber halls of Head My most important contact was the
legendary General Manager of
When approached with an idea, Sid Office. It was an age record at Fox.
Filmcraft (later Colorfilm) Tommy
could instantly see any important point Actually, as HO Statistician and Grieves. Over lunch he told me he
overlooked. Due to his enforced interest print controller, I was the most junior would never let me down with the
in 16mm, I had frequent contact with of executives. I broached Sid about delivery of prints, even if I had
him and came to appreciate his money. “What! I’ve given you an overlooked ordering and had only two
common sense. incredible promotion. How can you talk
days left before release. He cautioned
Sid lived in style, and when he had about money at a time like this?”
me never to lie to him about my time-
to return to New York every three years I was still to oversee 16mm frame.
to renew his contract, he made the trip distribution throughout Australia, which As a junior executive I had other
in style too: six weeks aboard the was now a little inconvenient since my duties. Each Christmas Sid held two
steamships Mariposa or Monterey, with win on the Dulux Show. parties in his spacious office, one for
his wife Madelaine.

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