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A TIME IN THE FILM INDUSTRY by William Gray

orld War II caused a number of titles I remembered
Wrestrictions to be implemented. In my seeing in my younger
case, it meant that I was locked into a job in years. “Where do they
Sydney and, although I had an ambition to keep them?” I asked.
secure a position in the film industry, it was His reply was a shock.
not possible then due to wartime restrictions. “They have probably
The rules prevented those in a secure position been destroyed!” I
from changing jobs, so any chance of entering couldn’t believe it.
the film trade at that time was impossible. Could this be true?
Would I not be able to
World War II had ended, and one morning I find the titles that I
was reading the paper when, by chance, I remembered seeing
looked into the Situations Vacant section and when they were in
th
was excited to find 20 Century Fox release, or others
advertising a position in their film dispatch which I did not have
section. I was able to leave for an early lunch, the opportunity of
and immediately hurried to the Fox Building seeing?
in Brisbane Street. An interview with the
Dispatch Manager brought promise of success, After months of
and a later phone call confirmed that I was service, I was to
successful. A second interview followed, and observe lists of titles
I was introduced to the Branch Manager, who that were marked
gave his approval. “For Destruction”.
Some were favourites
I commenced employment with Fox in and it hurt to
November 1950, and was put in charge of rail understand the
freight charges. I was responsible for handling meaning of it. I had to
the railway stamps and money, and the learn that it was the
invoicing of the rail freight charges to those policy of all
serviced by rail. companies to adhere
to such a procedure.
Having dreamed of working in the film
industry for so many years, I found that I could Cinema owners
quickly and efficiently complete whatever operated under
work was assigned to me. Systematic changes contracts with various
occurred in a roundabout manner, moving my film distributors.
position from one section of Dispatch to Each distributor had a
another, leaving me with time on my hands to yearly schedule of Film storage racks in the despatch department.
pursue other aspects of the operation. some 50 or so releases,
and those films which the theatre owners found The films on the list would be wound from
My first real discovery occurred when I asked extremely profitable could warrant a return on their spools and split into two reels. When this
a long-time fellow employee where all of the the basis of a revival. A number of cinemas work was complete, a clerk from Head Office
films were kept. He escorted me to the back of profited solely from film revivals. This could would supervise the placement of the reels into
the building where there were twelve vaults, result in films staying in circulation for as long 44 gallon drums. The Dispatch Manager would
each with typewritten lists of titles attached to as the condition of the prints allowed them to then call the firm engaged for the destruction
the door. After quick perusal I said to him, be screened. Not all films could measure up to process to collect the drums. The clerk would
“But where are all the others?” I quoted some the profit level necessary for their occupation tick off the list and note the number of reels.
of space and overall When all were accounted for, the drums would
A reel of film about to get the chop. handling expenses. be secured, ready for transport to the place
where they would be destroyed.
The Booking Department
would compile a list of films On one occasion, two features which had been
headed for destruction and put in the drums were the subject of a recall. I
it would then be sent to the was asked to go to the destruction company
Branch Manager who, if he and retrieve them. Whilst there, I was able to
approved, would pass it on view the process they used. They had a long
to the sales team. It was then bath filled with hot caustic soda. The reels of
up to the Sales Managers to film were run on rollers through the bath,
make the decision as to washing the emulsion away from the film. The
whether further revenue film was then taken up at the other end of the
could be obtained from the bath as clear film. I was told that the film
films. Their signatures on emulsion contained a certain amount of silver,
the list was final and it was which was collected and recovered. The reels
then returned to the Branch of the now clear film were sold back to the film
Manager, and thence to companies to be used for splicing on the ends
Dispatch. of reels to identify titles, reel numbers etc.

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