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University Daily Kansan Friday. April 23,1954
Flick New Look Grows But Answer is Quality
The average moviegoer can't help being somewhat confused over the current revolutions now taking place in the motion picture industry, as are the movie men themselves. Hardly a week goes by without at least one new method or process of making motion pictures announced.
The "new look" in motion pictures began late in 1952 when producer Arch Oboler turned out a quickie entitled "Bwana Devil" in 3-dimension. Everyone agreed the picture was an example of Hollywood at its worst, but theaters were jammed wherever the picture played by people eager to see and participate in this wonderful new experience in motion pictures.
The result was that producers and studios began making 3-D films as fast as they could, and not a one of the films was held in high esteem by the film critics, even up to the present.
Somewhere along the line stereophonic sound came into existence, a method of using a separate amplifying machine and several loudspeakers placed around the theater so that sound could overpower the moviegoer from any direction desired.
However, 20th Century-Fox was quick to realize that Cinerama could never be used on a mass basis because of the expense and time involved. The studio seized upon a new anamorphic lens system whereby a wide-angle area of action was "squeezed" by the camera lens on a strip of 35 mm. film and expanded back to normal size by a lens on the projector.
Earlier there was Cinerama, in which three projectors and three cameras were used to film and project three overlapping areas of action side by side, all but encircling the fan with both sight and sound.
Fox technicians developed a new magnetic sound system whereby it was possible to put four separate soundtracks on the film, two on each side of the picture frame, dubbed the entire system Cinema-Scope, and hurriedly began filming "The Robe" as its first venture in the new medium. Shortly after the production began, Fox decided to convert its entire studio to the new process and produce CinemaScope films exclusively.
Being one of the two biggest studios in the world, Fox was able to quickly convince other studios they should use CinemaScope at least partly.
Paramount remained aloof from the process, asserting that the 2.55 to 1 ratio used by CinemaScope was not the most desirable for most films. Recently Paramount announced its own new system of VistaVision, in which the mechanism in a standard camera is arranged so that the film negative passes the lens horizontally instead of vertically, thereby exposing approximately two and one-half times the amount of negative which normally is used to photograph a scene.
The newest of the systems is known as SuperScope, and it employs an amorphic lens on both camera and projector which can be adjusted easily to any size or ratio desired. Another new system is the Todd-AO process, and the first film in this medium, now in production, is Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!"
So the wheels of revolution in Hollywood go around and around, and where they stop nobody knows. The public can only hope that some semblance of standardization comes about soon.
Oddly enough, in respect to CinemaScope, some of its best features have been most apparent in musical prologues and short subjects rather than in feature films. The 4-track magnetic sound system is most appealing when it is used in the performance of a musical composition. The music is both fuller and richer when heard over the high fidelity system.
—Court Ernst
Maybe only stamp collectors care about such things, but something out to be said about the Kansas territorial commemorative that'll be turned loose on the nation following its first day of issue May 31.
Wagons, Oxen Overworked For Stamps
The postage stamp, as illustrated in area newspapers, show a ghastly covered wagon drawn by oxen—sort of a "Ghost Riders in the Sky" theme. Wheat fields and farm houses that arose on the plain occupy the lower portion of the stamp.
Certainly the issue is not as cluttered as some in the past—the Colorado statehood commemorative showed the state capitol in Denver, the state seal, the state flower (columbine), a cowboy, and the Mount of the Holy Cross. But the theme of the covered wagon, we'd say, is getting a bit old. Witness:
1936-Oregon territory commemorative, covered wagon.
1947—Utah territory, covered wagon (rear ends of fat oxen prominently shown).
1948—Another Oregon territory, covered wagon.
1948 - Swedish pioneers, covered wagon.
1945—Fort Kearney, Neb., covered wagon (ghostlike cows, too.)
1949—Minnesota territory, Red River ox cart (looks like covered wagon).
1950—California statehood, covered wagon.
1953-Gadsden purchase, covered wagon.
1953-Washington territory, covered wagon.
Just a suggestion to the stamp designers—why not the Kansas sunflower springing up in the middle of the stamp, flanked by portraits of John Brown and Carry Nation?
-RD
Progressive Politics
If every vote cast Was done honestly
If every
Was done honestly
It would come as a wonder
And surprise to me!
Each man has the right
To face another
But that doesn't mean
Again and again!
John P.
John Barber College Senior
Short Ones
Two tennis players have agree to serve underhanded when playing each other. They might get some campus politicians to do it for them, however, they've had more experience at that sort of thing.
It was once said "in spring a young man's fancy turns to love." It looks like on this campus it turned to politics, and a few young men got too fancy for their own good.
A Kansas headline included two play titles, "Happy Journey" and "No Exit." Who would complain at a deal like that.
Barbara Korn was chosen in the election to represent the University in the College Queen of America contest. But this is the Wheat State!
Daily Hansam
--or March 3, 1879.
EDITORIAL STAFF
University of Kansas Student Newspaper News Room KU 251 Ad Room KU 387
News Room KU 251 Ad Room KU are Member of the Kansas Press Assn. National Editor Assn. Inland Daily Press Assn. Associated Collegiate Press Assn. Represented by the National Advertising Association, Avenue N, Y. City, Mall Subscription interest $4.50 year (add $1 a semester if in Lawrence). Published in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University's annual university holidays and examination periods. Entered second class matter Sept. 17, 1910 at Lawrence, Kan. Post Office under act
Editorial editor ... Don Tice
Assistants ... Letty Lemor.
NEWS STAFF
BUSINESS STAFF
Executive editor  Tom Stewart
Managing editors  Tom Shannon
Sam Tekaford, Ket
Bronenbach, Hamilton
News Editor  Elizabeth Wohlstein
Sports editor  Dana Leibengood
Society editor  Karen Hilmer
Nancy Neville
M. Puckey
News adviser
BUSINESS STAFF
Business mgr. Alainah Meyer
Advertising mgr. Susanne Berry
Nat adv. mgr. Rodney Davis
Classified adv. mgr. Edmond Bartlett
Recruiting mgr. Wendell Sullivan
Publick Occurrences BOTH FORREIGN AND DOMESTICK
Friday, April 23
CAMPUS
Ballot-box stuffers, beware! Something will be done in the runoff All Student Council election to Insure (with a capital I) fair and honest voting. We predict there will be official poll watchers.
STATE
With the recent announcement that Topeka has approved installation of an air raid warning system for the city many other Kansas communities will follow suit in short order.
Now that state elections are nearing, look for Attorney General Harold R. Fatzer's campaign against "loan sharks" to get hotter and hotter.
NATIONAL
Expect other states to follow Texas' lead in declaring the Communist party illegal.
The government, faced with charges that the automobile "glass-pox" in the western states is due to atomic rays, soon will conduct an outright scientific investigation to quell possible panic.
Don't be surprised if Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy (R.-Wis.) campaigns in Illinois for Joseph T. Meek, who is opposing Sen. Paul H. Douglas (D.-III.) in the fall elections.
The defeat of J. Parnell Thomas in Tuesday's bid for a return to Congress on a pro-McCarthy platform is a clue to a probable trend in the fall election. Voters will be likely to discriminate against any candidate who claims to be a "1,000 per cent supporter" of the Wisconsin senator.
INTERNATIONAL
Insiders say the Japanese have found evidence that Russia may have exploded an H-bomb device shortly after the March 1 test by the U.S.
...LETTERS...
Although Vice President Richard Nixon may think it possible, the U.S. will not send ground forces to take an active part in the Indochina fighting unless massive Chinese units also are sent into the war.
We, the undersigned students of the University School of Law, wish to make clear that the "Weakly" columns which have been appearing under the heading "Letters" on the editorial pages of the University Daily Kansan, and which are signed by one who characterizes himself "1st Year Law," do not represent the opinion of the law school as a whole.
(Editor's note: Because of the number and length of the letters received on this topic we are unable to run them all in those entirely. Therefore we are printing excerpts from several letters with the names of the writers included.)
We suspect that said "1st Year Law" student has been employed by those who inhabit Marvin Hall for the purpose of casting discredit upon the School of Law, and we suggest that the University Daily Kansas henceforth and forevermore refuse to be a party to said dastardly conspiracy.
To the editors:
Signed by 39 law Students
To the editor:
After reading the letter by Howard L. Lydick, First Year Law, in the Daily Kansas, I can't help but feel he hasn't yet come to his course in Logic I. Perhaps that comes in Second Year Law. At any rate, he has fallen prey to that ridiculous syllogism:
McCarthy opposes Communism
Carthy opposes Communism Liberals oppose McCarthy Therefore: All liberals are
Communists
Such fallacious logic is the essence of McCarthyism and is a slick way of sidetracking the real issue—McCarthy himself. This, I notice, Mr. Lydick avoids. All he says is that the accusations against McCarthy are false; but he doesn't bother to show us why they are false. As a prospective lawyer, Mr. Lydick should know better.
The next time Mr. Lydick feels the urge to attack those nasty liberals, I suggest, that unlike Senator McCarthy, he come armed with some facts.
Broderick Orrmont KU Alumnus
Because of limitations on my time and a scarcity of space in the Daily
To the editor:
In response to the April 20 article concerning Senator McCarthy which was written by Mr. Lydick of the Law School:
Kansan I shall not endeavor to refute the barrage of charges made by Mr. Lydick. Nor will I condescend to affiliate Mr. Lydick, or Senator McCarthy and his supporters to the neo-Nazi movement.
There is something patently fallacious about calling anti-McCarthy people "communists" or committing them to categorize fallacious to categorize non-communists as "reactionaries" and McCarthy supporters as "Facists."
After reading the letter of Mr. Lydick's (whom I consider to be a friend) I am reminded of Bryce's penetrating words: "Ignorance, apathy, and excessive partisanship are the greatest enemies of democracy."
In closing I want to reiterate a statement made by Adlai Stevenson during the 1952 campaign that seems apropos at this point. "Too often sinister threats to the Bill of Rights, to freedom of the mind, are concealed under the patriotic cloak of anti-companionism."
I venture to add that it takes something more than anti-communism to make a good American.
James P. Johnston 1st year law
To the editor:
It was both with interest and nausea that I read Mr. Lydick's letter. His intense and hysterical praise of the senator caused the other effect. Obviously Mr. Lydick thinks "Joe" is purer than Ivory soap, I and apparently many others disagree.
The senator, too, often hides behind his Senatorial immunity when he utters his "proof-positive" charges. Today the assistant secretary of defense called him a liar (without immunity) and dared the "Great Exposer" to repeat statements without immunity. We all know the reply.
In closing permit me to urge all, whether pro or con in this matter, not to allow a religious bias prejudice their viewpoint. This moment in no way refers to Mr. Lydick, but is prompted by discussions that the writer has witnessed
Gilbert Koff Graduate student