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Fox and RKO were the first companies to ship
all of their features in steel rectangular trunks.
It wasn’t until after the war that other
companies were to follow suit. By this time,
the style of trunks followed those used in the
USA, in that they were not rectangular, but
hexagonal in shape and in sizes much easier to
handle.
RKO released many of their films through the
Hoyts circuit, as well as others. Surprisingly,
there was very little revival of their product,
even the most successful. Being a small
company situated in a building in the city,
maybe they did not have sufficient storage.
Hence their continual use of the limited
numbers of spools and trunks by junking the
older prints.

Fox had so many successful films that a
shortage of trunks took place, and many that
were in service gradually became
unserviceable due to damage. I also discovered 70 mm prints in trunks ready for despatch
that Fox was the only company to have trunks
without a label attached to identify the title of case of Fox, being an American company, there were some independents as well. Carriers
the print. With time to spare, I started to label having to give approval if any extra running returning films from the theatres were required
the trunks to rectify this situation. expenses were incurred in overseas branches). to deliver them to Dispatch by 10.00 am. This
Without hesitation, approval was given and a was a strict rule, because often films would be
In Fox’s case, there was the need to consider workman was brought in to adjust the racks. required to service other theatres. As well there
the connection to Hoyts and the longer were films marked to go by rail to country
retention of those prints which were big During my time with Fox, I gained experience areas. All companies had a carrier available to
successes. I had the task of suggesting that we in all aspects of the shipping operation. I take these shipments to a railway station for
were in need of more trunks. The request was handled the dispatch of film by rail to all dispatch. They would also pick up all rail
accepted and, for the first time, Fox introduced country locations. I was also involved with a returns and deliver them back to the exchange
hexagonal trunks. This created a problem; the number of suburban clients who personally by 10.00 am.
storage vaults had a racking system which collected their films from Dispatch.
provided for the storage of rectangular trunks New films came into circulation by the
only. Since an average feature would be around It was always necessary to check the cards following procedure. A fine grain negative of
five spools, and require two trunks, the new showing the service record of each print to the film would be shipped to Australia, it
trunks would not fit in the racks, as they keep it in a serviceable condition before would then be sent to a local laboratory which
required two spaces. This, of course, would shipping it to other exhibitors. Long service would make a positive print. That print would
result in less storage space, a situation which prints would need to be checked before then be viewed by the Chief Censor (with a
could not be accepted. I took the matter up with dispatch. They were split up between representative of the film company present).
the Dispatch Manager and, some days later, I examiners so that they would not fall behind He would order any necessary cuts be made
was taken by surprise when the Branch in the number of reels serviced each day. Fox before the print was returned. The same cuts
Manager came down and asked me to explain had at least eight girls working as a team, each would then be made to the negative. The next
the problem with the racking system. Shortly keeping a carbon book to record the number step would be for the negative to go back to
after came another surprise. The Branch of reels serviced, and this record went to the the laboratory, where around twelve more
Manager invited me to explain the required Booking Department. positive prints would be made.
changes to the racking system to the chief
representative of Fox in Australia, the Next, I serviced all of the suburban clients. The Occasionally a positive print would be
Managing Director himself. (I think it was a major carrier was Preslands Film Service, but received from overseas. This would be used to
produce a negative, which in turn was used to
Forty four gallon drums of film ready for destruction
to make further positive prints. The negatives
would then go into storage, and were
sometimes shipped to other countries.
Each new film would be viewed in the
distributor’s theatrette before being sent to the
exhibitor selected to screen it. The exhibitor
would then also preview it. The two companies
would then decide on the policy for release,
the suitable theatre, and set the rental terms,
publicity arrangements, etc.
Technicolor prints were shipped to Australia
from the USA or England. These were subject
to a duty fee, based on a rate per foot. Prints
were held in government vaults until the duty
was paid. Companies like Fox often waited
until a film went into general release before
spending the money on any more than a couple
of prints for viewing, or city release.

6 CINEMARECORD # 90