Scanned from the collections of The Library of Congress AUDIO-VISUAL CONSERVATION at The LIBRARY of CONGRESS Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation www.loc.gov/avconservation Motion Picture and Television Reading Room \AAAAA/.loc.gov/rr/mopic Recorded Sound Reference Center wvwv.loc.gov/rr/record J i: FIRST IN FILM \ NEWS MOTION PICTUSL ^Accurate Concise and Impartial WB Seeks to Acquire RKO Theatre Lease Would Dissolve Mutual Interest in Cleve. House An agreement subject to court approval, for the acquisition by Warners of RKO's interest in the lease of the Allen Theatre, Cleve- land, was disclosed yesterday when counsel for RKO filed with the U. S. District court here the company's quarterly report on theatre holdings as required by the tribunal in its de- cree in the industry anti-trust case. Ending of the joint arrangement would be in keeping with opinions ex- pressed by the Supreme Court on joint operations by defendants in its recent Paramount case rulings. According to the report, an appli- cation will be made to the court if the landlord of the property approves the deal. The Allen is leased by RKO and WB from the Bulkley Building Co. RKO asserted that, since it was "not certain" whether any further re- ( Continued on page 6) Court Holds RKO to Jackson Pk. Decree Chicago, June 30. — RKO's motion entered by attorney Miles Seeley ask- ing for exemption from contempt charges in the Jackson Park decree was overruled today by Judge Michael J. Igoe in U. S. District Court here. Judge Igoe said he adopted the opin- ion of April 21 when the motion was filed on the contempt proceedings as his findings of fact and conclusions of law. RKO's motion was based on arguments that the RKO Palace and Grand theatres were not named de- fendants in the original decree but were separate corporations operating under individual corporations. 5th Sl Walnut Jury Saw 'No Monopoly' That the acquittal of the distributor and other defendants in the Fifth and Walnut Amusement Corp. anti-trust case was keyed to the interpretation of what constitutes monopoly was the opinion in industry legal circles here yesterday. Viewed as an indication of this was the_ action of the District Court jury, which interrupted its deliberations late [Continued on page 6) N. J. Allied Favors Conciliation Plan West End, N. J., June 30.- — New Jersey Allied in its final meeting to- day, passed a resolution endorsing the 20th-Fox conciliation plan, but will proceed cautiously until the organiza- tion can satisfy itself that the plan has no "gimmick." The first step in this direction will be the appointment of a committee, so far undesignated, to confer with A. W. Smith, Jr., 20th-Fox general sales manager. Actually Jersey Allied's en- dorsement was made without an op- portunity to fully analyze the plan, so that caution will be the watchword for the organization before finally de- ciding whether or not to accept it. On Tuesday, National Allied, through its president, William Ains- worth, and its Eastern units, through their respective representatives, fully endorsed the local grievance commit- tee plan established by 20th-Fox in Minneapolis in cooperation with North Central Allied. Other matters discussed included [Continued on page 6) MPEA Meet Today On Action on UK The executive committee of the Motion Picture Export Association at a meeting here today will en- deavor to develop a program aimed to counter Britain's 45 per cent ex- hibition quota, with the formulation of an MPEA service organization con- sidered in some quarters as a possible result of the session. Executives here, however, point out (Continued on page 6) "Hamlet" 20th -Fox Files 4th Video Bid; Plans 5th Washington, June 30. — Twentieth Century-Fox of Missouri today asked the Federal Communications Commission for permission to build a television station in Kansas City. This is the fourth application to be filed by a 20th-Fox subsidiary, other subsidiaries having pre- viously applied for stations in Boston, San Francisco and Seattle. It is understood that 20th-Fox will also file shortly for a fifth station at St. Louis through its new subsidiary there. La. Bill to Regulate Films Is Withdrawn New Orleans, June 30. — The Blan- chard bill, providing for state regula- tion of film distribution in a manner based almost identically upon the New York Federal Court order in the Gov- ernment's anti-trust suit against the industry, has been withdrawn by its author, Rep. M. A. Blanchard of this city, who introduced it in 'the House early in the current session of the legislature. The measure, known as House Bill No. 533, was looked upon with as much disfavor by independent exhibi- tors in the state as it was by local distributors. The measure would have required local trade showings in every Parish (county) in the state, prior to ex- hibition, and advertising of the trade showings. Licensing of films would (Continued on page 6) Schary Quits as Head of RKO Production Resignation Follows on Cancellation of 3 Films Hollywood, June 30. — Dore Schary today resigned his post as vice-president in charge of RK.O Radio production, effective immedi- ately. The resignation, which came as a surprise here due to the issuance of a formal statement by Schary two weeks ago saying that he and Howard Hughes were in agreement on pro- duction policies, came as a sequel to the cancellation yesterday of three scheduled productions, presumably at the direction of the new owner of RKO. The pictures cancelled were the Lasky-MacEwen production, "Battle- ground," slated to go before the cam- eras in September, and "Setup" and "Bed of Roses," which were to have started this month. Schary's contract, a five-year pact entered into on Jan. 1, 1947 and calling for an estimated $500,000 annually, (Continued on page 6) TOA,Ampa May Join In Public Relations Robert W. Coyne and Gael Sulli- van, for the Theatre Owners of Amer- ica, and Max Youngstein, president of the Associated Motion Picture Adver- tisers, came to an "agreement in prin- ciple" at a preliminary meeting here yesterday at which Youngstein out- lined his plans for industry public re- lations and asked for TOA coopera- tion. Youngstein said he found both Coyne and Sullivan "receptive" to his ideas and that another meeting is (Continued on page 6) Mochrie to Preside At 5 RKO Meetings Robert Mochrie, RKO Radio dis- tribution vice-president, has set a series of five regional meetings for the discussion of current and forth- coming product. Winners of the 1948 "Ned Depinet Drive" will be an- nounced at the same time. First meeting will be in Buffalo on Monday, July 12 with Mochrie pre- siding. Also from the home office will be Nat Levy, Harry Michalson, A. A. (Continued on page 6) [ Two Cities -U-I ] — Noteworthy, but Shakespeare ANALYSIS of the much-heralded "Hamlet" is not difficult and falls r\ at once into two distinct divisions. One is geared to the nature *■ of this business as a purveyor of mass entertainment. The other, equally as obvious, is what kind of a Hamlet is Laurence Olivier and what is there to say qualitatively about his production of Shakespeare's greatest play. The first answer is readily at hand. Since Shakespeare is not for the rank-and-file, his plays cannot be for them. Warner learned this with "Midsummer Night's Dream," Metro with "Romeo and Juliet," Mary Pickford with "The Taming of the Shrew" and Arthur Rank and UA with "Henry V." Rank and U-I will learn it with "Hamlet" if they should happen to lack the awareness now. It is immediately clear that the tragedy will have its best opportunity in theatres apart from those identified with the normal run of product and on a policy which generally parallels the handling of "Henry V." Because the play has survived the centuries and long since has taken on a timeless equation, "Hamlet" will not be bound by seasons. There is no (Continued on page 6) Motion Picture Daily Phi erfz Thursday, July 1, 1948 Personal Mention LOUIS B. MAYER, M-G-M pro- duction head, flew to the Coast yesterday from New York. • Carter Barron, Loew district man- ager in Washington, is chairman of a special activities committee of the Greater National Capital Committee which will commemorate the 10th an- niversary on Monday of the laying of the Washington Monument corner- stone. • Jack Benny and his wife, Mary Livingstone and their daughter, Joan ; Phil Harris and his wife, Alice Faye; Kay Kyser and Mrs. Kyser and Michael Redgrave are among passengers who sailed for Eu- rope yesterday on the 6"5" Queen Elizabeth. • Robert D. Olson, formerly of the international publicity department of 20th Century-Fox, will leave here Tuesday for England to serve as American liaison publicist for Trans- atlantic Pictures' "Under Capricorn." • Ben Lamo, assistant manager of the Warner Strand in Hartford, who has been a patient at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, has been moved to Hartford Hospital for further con- valescing. • Phillip Lindner, who joined RKO Theatres in 1900 and is currently as- signed to the RKO Albee in Brooklyn, and his wife will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday. • Berxie Rubin, head of Imperial Pictures, Cleveland, and Max Shul- gold, head of Crown Film, Pittsburgh, are in New York for conferences with Astor Pictures executives. • Milton E. Cohen, Eastern divi- sional sales manager for Eagle-Lion, was in Boston yesterday from New York and will be in Gloversville, N. Y., today. • Joseph Bernard, Film Classics president, who was in Washington yesterday from the Coast, is due in New York today. • Darryl F. Zanuck, 20th Century- Fox production vice-president, will leave New York by plane on July 10 for London. • George Margolin, president of Con- tinental Motion Pictures, has returned to New York from Italy. • June E. Dorth of the M-G-M Cleveland booking department, is va- cationing in New York. • Thomas Knight, owner of the Acme Theatre in Riverton, Wyo., has been elected mayor there. • David Horne, Film Classics foreign sales manager, is in London from Brazil. Accused Exhibitors Accuse Distributors Developments in percentage suits brought by RKO and Loew's against Nathan Steinberg, Leonard Finkelstein and Parkway Theatre Corp., which operates the Parkway in Mt. Vernon, N. Y., took an unexpected turn in U. S. District Court here yesterday when the defendants, in an amended answer to the charges, filed a counter- claim of $150,000 against each of the plaintiffs, accusing them of violating the anti-trust laws. The defendants submitted counter- claims for damages after Judge Har- old R. Medina, acting on the consent of all parties involved, granted their motion to amend their answers to the percentage actions. Dismissal of the suits was asked by the defendants. RKO and Loew's were charged with being engaged in a conspiracy with other distributors to fix runs, clearance and playing time with re- spect to films licensed to exhibitors in Westchester County. They were fur- ther accused of "systematically" ex- cluding the Parkway Theatre Corp. from the opportunity of procuring preferred runs of product distributed by the two companies and other ma- jor distributors. It was asserted that the Parkway was relegated to a last run category as a result of the alleged conspiracy. 'Lulu Belle' Banned By Memphis Censor Memphis, June 30. — "Lulu Belle," Columbia picture starring Dorothy Lamour, today was banned from Mem- phis by the city censors, L. T. Bin- ford, chairman, announced. He said the. picture, tentatively scheduled to open August 12 at the Malco Theatre, was banned by unanimous vote. Binford said in part that "Lulu Belle" is "a sensual performance cater- ing to the lowest impulses of its audi- ences" and has the "fatal weakness of presenting no morally decent charac- ters for whom an audience sympathy might flow." Mexican Shutdown Is Expected Today Mexico City, June 30. — Practically all film production here now threatens to be suspended tomorrow with the strike of the National Cinematographic Industry Workers Union, postponed from June 26 at the request of the Federal Board of Conciliation and Arbitration. Unions at the four studios involved want pay hikes of 40 to 60 per cent for most employes, and as high as 150 per cent for others. Stu- dios are Churubusco, Clasa, Azteca and Tepeyac. Wright Flies to Griffith Hearing Washington, June 30. — Rob- ert L. Wright, special assis- tant to the Attorney General, left here by plane today for Oklahoma City to represent the Government in tomor- row's hearing in Oklahoma District Cburt on further proceedings in the Griffith anti-trust suit. The Govern- ment is asking for a tempo- rary ban on further expan- sion by the Southwestern circuit. Siegel Is New Head of Century Ad-Publicity Myron Siegel, assistant to Fred Schwartz, Century Circuit's executive vice-president, will take over as ad- vertising-publicity director today when Ed Schreiber's resignation becomes ef- fective. Siegel held the post previously, leaving it to become Schwartz's aide. Colorado Ready for 'Canon City9 Opening Denver, June 30. — Bryan Foy, pro- ducer of Eagle-Lion's "Canon City" will be honored by Denver University tomorrow for "his contribution to cul- ture," it was announced by Robert W. Selig, president of the university's board, and Dr. Campion Bell, director of the university's school of the the- atre. The film will have its premiere in Canon City on Friday at two Fox Intermountain theatres before an audi- ence which will include Gov. Lee Knous, the governors of six neighbor- ing states and six former governors of this state as well as Rocky Moun- tain industrialists and exhibitors. EC A Board to Probe Progress July 14 Washington, June 30. — Economic Cooperation Administrator Paul G. Hoffman has set July 14 for the first meeting of his 12-man public advisory board, on which Motion Picture As- sociation of America president Eric Johnston serves. The meeting is ex- pected to go over ECA's progress during the first quarter, April through June, and discuss plans and problems for the next quarter. Meanwhile, ECA officials still re- port "hard work but little progress" in working out the application of .the program's convertibility guarantees for films and other information media. Mar key and hoy Are Production Partners Hollywood, June 30. — Writer-pro- ducer Gene Markey and Myrna Loy have formed Charter Films, Inc., to produce .four features independently for undetermined release. Pioneer Sets Second At a Pioneer Pictures' press recep- tion here yesterday at Le Ruban Bleu, Ralph Cohn and Jules Bricken presi- dent and vice-president, respectively, announced that "The Broadway Story" will be the company's second produc- tion to be made in New York follow- ing "Kingsblood Royal." Charles Led- erer will do the screenplay from ma- terial supplied by Broadway column- ists Dorothy Kilgallen, Louis Sobol, Danton Walker and Earl Wilson. Phila. Exhibitor May Appeal Video Ban Philadelphia, June 30. — Henry Friedman, local exhibitor who was prevented from giving an unauthor- ized theatre showing of a telecast of the Joe Louis-Joe Walcott bout last week, has been permitted by Judge Sloane here to appeal the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court ruling for fu- ture events of a similar nature. Friedman said he is attemptu to get a number of exhibitors who are also interested in theatre telecasts to join him in appealing the case. As yet, however, Friedman has taken no formal action. The ruling barring unauthorized re- productions of television programs in theatres and other places which charge admission was handed down when National Broadcasting, Philco, Gil- lette Safety Razor, and others asked for and received an injunction to re- strain Friedman's Lawndale Theatre and the Lanbar Hotel from picking up the telecast. Dignitaries at 20th's Preview in Capital Washington, June 30. — A special preview of 20th-Fox's "The Street with No Name" at the Statler Hotel here last night was attended by 800 Government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, film and theatre ex- ecutives and the press. Spyros P. Skouras, president of 20th- Fox, joined J. Edgar Hoover, FBI director, in greeting guests, among whom were Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Asso- ciation of America, Joyce O'Hara, his executive assistant, and Carter Barron, local Loew. executive. A buffet supper followed the screening. An on-the-spot special events news broadcast of the affair was arranged by NBC. Terms Gov. Dewey a Friend of the Trade Albany, N. Y, June 30.— Gov. Thomas E. Dewey is well aware of the film industry's contributions to the nation and to local communities, ac- cording to John May, treasurer of Schine Theatres, and once a candidate for State Comptroller on the Repub- lican ticket, who said he based this conclusion on conversations he has had with the Presidential nominee. May added that Myer Schine also has had talks with the Governor and is of the same opinion. 20th To Argue Today For 'Frisco Channel Washington, June 30. — Hearings on applications for television stations in San Francisco will go into their last lap here tomorrow with 20th Century- Fox, represented by Spyros and Charles Skouras, slated to be lead-off witnesses. Five firms, including 20th- Fox and Paramount, are applying for three video channels, and all but 20th- Fox have finished their testimony at hearings which have been on since June 21. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address- "Quigpubco' New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary- James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy 'Ascher Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup' Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of 'Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. NEW WARNER EXCITEMENT- A STAR-LOAD OF IT! RANDOLPH SCOTT- ROBE GEORGE "cabby" HAYES Produced by NAT HOLT • Directed by RAY ENRIGHT • Sc M8HIP Day and night excitement kicks off 75-theatre opening beginning with World Premiere at Guthrie July 7. . . Bands, parades, ballyhoo . . . Blanket radio coverage ... Special newspaper and poster campaigns . . . Cow- r boy stars, singers, personalities (in- cluding Jesse James himself (?) . . . Explosive exploitation for THE GREAT BIG ACTION WESTERN OF 1948! RYAN * ANNE JEFFREYS ACQUELINE WHITE by CHARLES O'NEAL • JACK NATTEFORD and LUCI WARD m FROM ALL\OVER THE LAND! First reports from Boston, Miami, Philadel- phia, New York, San Francisco, Cleveland— "Broadway" gets that "Mother Wore Tights" Boxoffice Business! And doing the wonder business of "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" in Los Angeles, Portland, Kansas City, Houston, Milwaukee and Baltimore. Give my Regards to Broadway color by TECHNICOLOR ...st0f&U& from the critics, too! W. WARD MARSH, CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER " Not to be missed . A real and constant delight! ' ' WALTER WINCHELL "A Song-And-Dandy!" KARL KRUG, PITTSBURGH SUN TELEGRAPH "Plenty of kick. A happy hit!" HELEN EAGER, BOSTON TRAVELER ' 'Grand entertainment! ' ' MILDRED MARLIN, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER "Wonderfully winning, happily human!" EILEEN CREELMAN, N. Y. SUN "Best of its kind!" MOTION PICWRf lAILY Accurate Concise and Impartial 64. NO. 2 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, JULY 2, 1948 TEN CENTS Chance of New U.K. Embargo Seems Slight MPEA Control Reported Approved for Britain With apparently all possibilities of a new embargo on American film shipments to Britain ruled out by divergent views and interests of individual companies, the Motion Pic- ture Export Association at a meeting here yesterday reportedly agreed upon the extension of its operations to Britain to achieve controlled film serv- ice to that country. Characteristically, the MPEA would not confirm or deny the report, but a statement which it issued follow- ing the meeting lent credence to the report. In referring to the appoint- ment of F. W. Allport as an Ameri- can industry representative on the Control Committee to administer the agreement in settlement of the British film tax, the MPEA statement de- scribed Allport as "the London repre- sentative of 'the MPEA companies in London." The MPEA, heretofore, has not op- (Continued on page 12) Allport, Chris on Anglo-US Film Unit Fayette W. Allport, London repre- sentative of the Motion Picture Ex- port Association, and T. Chris, Lon- don manager of the Bank of London, have been appointed as the American film industry's representatives on the Control Committee provided for in the Anglo-American film agreement, it was announced yesterday. John McCarthy, who had been serv- ing temporarily on the Control Com- mittee, is to leave London today for the MPEA home office in New York. Chris will leave here for London July 7. Arthur Abeles Seen Succeeding Milder London, July 1. — Resignation of Max Milder as managing director for Warner Brothers in Britain is expect- ed next week, it is understood, prompted by ill health, with Arthur Abeles, Jr., presently Milder's execu- tive assistant, expected to succeed him. C. J. Latta, who was transferred (.Continued on page 12) Video Will Not Hurt Theatres: Chas. Skouras Washington, July 1. — Tele- vision has not proved harmful to theatre box-offices, probably will not cause any noticeable loss of revenue, and may even be of ultimate benefit to the motion picture industry, said Charles P. Skouras, testifying as president of 20th Century-Fox of California at Federal Communication Commission hearings on the five ap- plications pending for the two avail- able San Francisco video channels. The head of 20th-Fox's Na- tional Theatres gave diametri- cally opposed views to those expressed by Paramount vice- president Paul Raibourn when he appeared last week. Raibourn (Continued mi page 11) Peyser to Finalize Video Film Contract Seymour Peyser, of the New York law firm of Phillips, Nizer, Benjamin and Krim, has been retained as coun- sel for the new National Television Film Council, it was announced here yesterday by Melvin L. Gold, NTFC chairman. Selection of Peyser was approved at a meeting yesterday of sub-committee chairmen Robert Pas- kow, television committee ; Myron Mills, distribution ; Sally Perle, press (Continued on page 11) 'U's 6-Month Net Drops to $232,866 Universal Pictures' consoli- dated net profit for the 26 weeks ended May 1, aggre- gated $232,866 after all charges, including Federal taxes. This compares with $2,092,418 for the correspond- ing period of the preceding fiscal year. Court Injunction Pointless: Griffith Oklahoma City, July 1. — As- serting that Griffith Amusement will be responsible for any actions taken in violation of the U. S. Supreme Court ruling, Griffith attor- neys argued before Federal Judge Ed- gar S. Vought today that issuance of an order restraining the company from buying or selling theatres without court permission was purposeless at this time. Following today's hour-long session in connection with Assistant U. S. Attorney Robert Wright's request for an injunction against Griffith, the judge set September 20 for hearing of the request. The long recess is due to summer and the judge's vacation. Griffith attorney C. B. Cochrane told the court that the injunction sought by the Government would "work extreme hardship on the company and ac- complish nothing." On May 3 the Supreme Court, re- versing a "not guilt-y" verdict by Vought, found Griffith circuit and three affiliates guilty of conspiracy to (Continued on page 11) Strike At Mexican Studios Ends Quickly in Truce Pathe Cinema May Produce in U. S. Jacques Chabrier, president of Pathe Cinema of the U. S., will fly to Paris tomorrow to confer with the principals of the French parent company on plans for entering produc- tion and distribution in this country. The company is already in exhibition here, building the first key city "showcase", to be called the Paris, opening in New York in the fall. Mexico City, July 1. — A strike called today by the National Cine- matographic Industry Workers Union ended almost immediately in a truce to enable union leaders and operators of the struck studios to confer on the issues in dispute. The National Cine- matographic Commission was instru- mental in arranging the truce. Struck studios were Churubusco, in which RKO has a half interest ; Az- teca, Clasa and Tepeyac. Production was brought to a virtual standstill when last minute efforts of the Fed- eral Board of Conciliation failed to avert the stoppage. Countering the union's insistence upon wage increases ranging from 60 to 150 per cent, the studio operators (Continued on page 12) Gov't in Move For Theatre Divorce Data Interrogatories on Joint Ownerships Go to "Big 5" First concrete move in its effort to obtain vital information on the theatre interests of the five major defendants in the Paramount anti- trust case was taken by the Govern- ment under the divestiture provisions of the U. S. Supreme Court decision yesterday when counsel for the com- panies here were served with, interro- gatories bearing on the joint owner- ship of theatre properties. Here is some of the data sought by the Department of Justice in its at- tempt to test the legality of each joint theatre interest. 1. — Date of incorporation, state in which incorporated and location of principal office of each joint owner- ship. 2. — Name and address of each shareholder, with amount and class of (Continued on page 11) NLRB Starts Probe At UA Here Today Entry yesterday of a third disputant in the tilt over labor jurisdiction at United Artists' home office resulted in charges by AFL's IATSE Motion Picture Home Office Employes Local No. H-63 that CIO's Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild has established a "front" through which it seeks to circumvent H-63 in the latter's bid for a National Labor Re- (Continued on page 2) Rathvon Runs Studio Pending Board Meet Hollywood, July 1. — RKO presi- dent N. Peter Rathvon has assumed full command of the RKO studio fol- lowing the resignation of Dore Schary as production head yesterday. Schary left the lot immediately. No further changes of personnel are anticipated pending next week's meeting of the (Continued on page 11) No Paper Monday Motion Picture Daily will not be published on Monday, a legal holiday in observance of Independence Day on Sun- day. Motion Picture Daily Friday, July 2, 1948 Personal Mention ANDY SMITH, JR., 20th Cen- tury-Fox general sales manager, and W. C. Gehring, assistant general sales manager, have returned to New York from Coast conferences. Charles Schlaifer, national adver- tising-publicity director, is remaining on the Coast for a few days. • Tracy Barham, vice-president and general manager of Intermountain Theatres, Salt Lake City, was mar- ried last week to Margy Harris of that city. 0 Hank D. Hearn and Max Rein- hardt of Exhibitor's Service, Char- lotte film buying-and-booking organi- zation, will be at the Astor Hotel here for a week, commencing July 11. • Jay Finn of Boston has been named manager of E. M. Loew's Hartford Drive-in, succeeding Vin- cent O'Brien, who was transferred to Boston. • Lou J. Kaufman, Warner theatre executive, has left here for Cleveland ; he is due back on Tuesday. • Spyros P. Skouras, 20th Century- Fox president, was in Washington yesterday. • Franchot Tone is due here today from the Coast. ITOA Urges Support Of Conciliation Plan Support of all exhibitor organiza- tions for 20th-Fox's conciliation plan to mediate exhibitor-distributor dis- putes, is urged by the Independent Theatre Owners Association, president Harry Brandt declared. The ITOA "is anxious to institute this system with 20th-Fox in the New York exchange area," it was said. "With exhibitor-distributor relations deteriorating and the dam to a flood of litigations opened by the Supreme Court, we must prove that we are capable of working out our problems ourselves in a spirit of mutual un- derstanding. There will never be any peaceful or harmonious solution of intra-industry problems by resorting to agitation, litigation or legislation," said Brandt. 15,000 Theatres in Andy Smith Drive More than 15,000 theatres in the United States and Canada took part in the "Andy Smith Anniversary Month" campaign. That result was disclosed yesterday in a final report to president Spyros P. Skouras by the division managers' committee which sponsored the campaign, includ- ing Ray E. Moon, Jack H. Lorentz, Herman Wobber, Harry G. Ballance and Arthur Silverstone. The quarter produced a 13-week revenue 32 per cent in excess of the same period in 1947. Total feature sales for the first six months of 1948 ran 16.4 per cent ahead of the record year of 1946. Bookings for the first half of the year ran more than 40 per cent above the same 1946 period. The drive brings to 873 employees of 29 branches at least one week's extra salary, with 801 of these receiv- ing three weeks for their efforts in the drive. 6IA' Victorious in U-I Election Here $350,000 Ad Budget For Babe Ruth Film A total of $350,000 will be appro- priated by Allied Artists for advertis- ing Roy Del Ruth's "The Babe Ruth Story," it was announced by Steve Broidy, president. Buchanan and Co. will handle the account. Broidy, vice-presidents Harold Mir- isch and Edward Morey, and general sales manager Maurice Goldstein are here to launch the campaign and also sales campaigns for King Brothers' "The Dude Goes West," "16 Fathoms Deep" and "Michael O'Halloran." NBC,CBSEnd'Voice' Broadcasts on Oct. 1 Washington, July 1. — The State Department announced today that National Broadcasting and Columbia Broadcasting will withdraw from par- ticipation in the "Voice of America" programs after October 1. After that date, George V. Allen, Assistant Sec- retary of State, said, the program- ming is to be handled by the depart- ment. The Government will still con- tract with private companies to re- cord the programs, he said, and will still lease transmitting facilities from private firms. Democrats Will See Il l's 'Tap Roots' Philadelphia, July 1. — The Gold- man Theatre, which ran a world pre- miere of "On an Island with You" to coincide with the Republican conven- tion, plans the world premiere of "Tap Roots" on July 14, the week of the Democratic convention. Al Horwits, Universal-International press agent, is in town working on a campaign. Stars of the film, Van Heflin, Julie London, Boris Karloff and Richard Long, will make personal appearances at the opening. New License Dept. Head Until Mayor William O'Dwyer names a successor to former City License Commissioner Benjamin Field- ing, who yesterday took over an ex- ecutive position at Loew's, the New York license department will be head- ed by Deputy Commissioner Patrick Meehan. Several individuals, includ ing S. Jay Kaufman, have been men tioned as possible candidates for the commissionership, which is closely as sociated with industry operations. New 'U' News Quarters Universal Newsreel will start opera- tions from its new headquarters in the Pathe Laboratories Building here on Tuesday, having completed -its re- moval from the Film Center Building during the past week, Tom Mead, edi tor of the reel, reported yesterday. Eighty-five per cent of the 427 "white collar" workers at the Uni- versal-International home office, in- cluding employes of United World and Castle Films, U-I subsidiaries, have voted in favor of being represented by IATSE Motion Picture Home Office Employes Local No. H-63 for collec- tive bargaining purposes, it was re- ported here yesterday by "IA" inter- national organizer James Rogers fol- lowing, a pre-negotiation election re- quired under the Taft-Hartley Law. Only 62 workers voted in favor of "no union," Rogers said. The "collarites" at U-I have been represented by H-63 for a number of years. Russell Moss, H-63 business agent, and U-I officials will begin ne- gotiations soon on a new contract. Moss is said to be seeking cost-of- living and merit increases for the workers. 'H-63' Appoints New Organizer Joseph Conlon, former international representative of CIO's Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, has joined AFL's IATSE Mo- tion Picture Home Office Employes Local No. H-63 here as an organizer, it was announced yesterday by Russell Moss, H-63 business agent. Moss said Conlon will work "exclusively on new organization." NLRB Probe atUA (Continued from page 1) lations Board election among UA. "white collar" workers. NLRB will begin an investigation of the charges today, it was said. SOPEG unexpectedly did not ap- pear at yesterday's conference at the NLRB office here. The conference, at which H-63 and U.A. were repre- sented, was called for the purpose of setting a date for a U.A. workers' election. Also represented at the con- ference, but heretofore not connected directly in the dispute, was Celia Schuman, chapter chairman of the UA. unit of SOPEG with which the company has refused to negotiate be- cause the union has failed to comply with the non-Communist provisions of the Taft-Hartley Law. Attorney Sidney Fox, representing Miss Schuman, requested that her name be placed on the NLRB ballot as an agent of certain U.A. employes Harold Spivak, attorney for H-63, de- clined to agree to the request, charg- ing that the new disputant was "fronting" for SOPEG which, as a non-complying union, cannot appear on the NLRB ballot. Another NLRB meeting is expected to be called early next week following an investigation of charges. Joseph Curtis, ANT A Bid for Belasco Washington, July 1. — Two bids were received today and taken under advisement by the Federal Works Agency for leasing the Government- owned Belasco Theatre. One was from Joseph H. Curtis, son of Co- lumbia vice-president Jack Cohn, the other bid was from the American Na- tional Theatre and Academy, which would use the house as a legitimate theatre. The Curtis bid did not st?, whether he would operate the Belas\ as a legitimate or film theatre, but it" was assumed that it would be legitimate. P.S. Case, Altec Inspector P. S. Case, Altec Service inspector in the New York district, died on June 26, the company announced here yes- terday. Funeral services were held June 29 at the Reformed Church, South Branch, N. J. NEW YORK THEATRES —RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL — s Rockefeller Center BING JOAN CROSBY FONTAINE in "THE EMPEROR WALTZ" Color by TECHNICOLOR A Paramount Picture SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ONICHT F E Alt JOMM.WW ^""2!!* ^MASTERPIECE f/ LENAJjORNE J "FORT paulJwchell J APACHE" if SKIHi!Nlsi COOl CAPITOL B'way A 51.1 St. greatest ttar- and'tong-thowt Released Ihru RK0 Radio Picture* FIGHTING FATHER DUNNE PAT O'BRIEN WlCTORIA a, MIHEI DUNNE DAN DAILEY "Give My Regards To Broadway" A 20th Century-Fox Picture in Technicolor On Variety Stage— THE ANDREWS SISTERS DEAN MARTIN and JERRY LEWIS On Ice Stage — CAROL LYNNE - ARNOLD SHODA p q y 7th Are- & 50th St. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. ith the knowledge of continuous achievement with the assurance born of showmanship supremacy. • • 20th Century-Fox proudly presents the picturization of a great best selling novel ... destined to add more glory to the company already famous for bringing the greatest best-sellers to the sereen ... magnifieently east with four great stars ... produced and directed in the tradition that has made CENTUR URY-FOX the hallmark of outstanding motion picture entertainment here the picturization of a great best- selling novel ... destined to add more glory to the company already famous for bringing the greatest best-sellers to the screen ... magnificently cast with four great stars ... produced and directed in the tradition that has made Emm ... A CENTURY-FOX the hallmark of outstanding motion picture entertainment here the picturization of a great best- selling novel ... destined to add more glory to the company already famous for bringing the greatest best-sellers to the screen ... magnificently cast with four great stars ... produced and directed in the tradition that has made CENTUR RY-FOX the hallmark of outstanding motion picture entertainment Cornel WILDE Linda DARNELL Anne BAXTER Kirk DOUGLAS with ANN DVORAK MARJORIE RAMBEAU • HENRY HULL COLLEEN TOW MS KM) • BARTON MacLANE GRIFF BARNETT • WILLIAM TRACY • ART BAKER Directed by JOHN M. STAHL Produced by LAMAR TROTTI Screen Play by Lamar Trotti • Based on the Novel by Paul W ell man 2a Motion Picture Daily— July 2, 1948 CENTURY-FOX Friday, July 2, 1948 Motion Picture daily 11 Loew's, 20th Report No Theatre Changes There were no changes in their theatre holdings since the March 31 report, Loew's and 20th-Fox said yes- terday in submitting their quarterly accountings to U. S. District Court here as required by the tribunal in its ruling in the Paramount anti-trust case — 3rner Brothers, in filing its report ^Jt the court yesterday, referred to its agreement with RKO for acquisi- tion of the latter's interest in the lease of the Allen Theatre, Cleveland. All three reports expressed the be- lief that the U. S. Supreme Court's decision created doubt whether the de- fendants were required to submit such statements to the court. Skouras on Video (Continued from page 1) had stated that television was already exerting considerable pressure on motion picture the- atre receipts. Enlarging upon his opinion that there is no basic conflict of interests between video and films, Skouras de- clared that thus far television has not hurt box-offices of Fox theatres. "Personally, I don't think it will affect the box-office," he asserted, classify- ing television as just "an added source of entertainment for the public." New Techniques for Video Production of television programs for entertainment purposes will require the adoption of new and different production, direction and technical methods than those used for the pro- duction of films for theatre exhibition, Skouras said. If it is possible to pro- duce good entertainment for pictures, then it should be equally possible to develop good entertainment for televi- sion also, he declared. But since the products would be different, Skouras added, they would not be competitive, nor prove harmful to one another. Although production methods vary, Skouras explained under cross-ex- amination, the mechanics of video and film-making operations were very much the same, and therefore motion picture producers are well qualified to engage in television. On the posi- tive side, Skouras maintained that television can help theatre business through advertising, such as trailers. Would Run Competitors' Ads Under questioning, he said that any 20th-Fox television station would be willing to run trailers of attractions of opposition theatres at regular commer cial rates. These ads would be just that much additional profit for the sta- tion, he declared. He did modify his stand that television would have no visible effect on the theatre box-office by admitting that the Louis-Walcott fight had reduced receipts in Fox thea tres by 20 to 25 per cent. But, he added, any major national event hurts box-office, even though it is only broadcast. This factor, he said, is one of the chief reasons for planning tele- vision shows in theatres. When suf- ficient equipment becomes available Fox will install television in as many of its theatres as possible, Skouras declared. Spyros P. Skouras, 20th-Fox presi- dent and chairman of the board of the newly-formed California Video Corp., will take the stand tomorrow. Rivoli Rockne Case Is Off to August 6 Chicago, July 1. — Hearings on the Rivoli Rockne $900,000 anti-trust suit against the majors and some circuits here, which were scheduled today in Judge Sullivan's and Judge Igoe's U. S. District Courts, were further extend- ed until August 6. Essaness theatres, also a defendant, was given until September 1 for a hearing. Divorce Data (Continued from page 1) stock held and a description of the voting rights of each class of stock. 3. — Names, positions and duties of any shareholders who may be officers, agents or employes of the theatre company. 4— Names of shareholders who owned or operated any film houses now owned and operated by the thea- tre organization. 5. — Names of shareholders, except the defendant, formerly interested in the ownership or operation of any houses other than those listed above. 6. — Date of acquisition of all shares in the theatre company held by the defendant, how they were acquired and the consideration paid for the shares. 7. — Date of sale by the defendant of any shares in the theatre company and the name and address of each purchaser and the consideration in- volved. 8. — Name, location, seating capacity and run of each theatre owned, leased or managed by the theatre company or for which the latter books films. 9. — -The nature and extent of the de- fendant's interest in the theatre com- pany and the date it was acquired, from whom acquired and the consid- eration involved. 10. — The nature and extent of inter- ests held by others. 11. — A list of each acquisition claimed to be the "fortuitous result of bankruptcy or an innocent investment, unrelated to any restraint of trade or monopolistic practice." This information is also sought by the Government in the instance of each joint ownership involving the defend- ants. Griffith Case (Continued from page 1) monopolize exhibition in Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico, and the high court asked the lower court to fashion a decree "which will undo as near as may be the wrongs that were done and prevent their recurrence in the future." Today Vought asked Wright if it is possible that the Supreme Court has reversed its opinion in regard to one phase of the Griffith decision. He referred to a high court decision made after the Griffith ruling, in which a steel company monopoly ruling report edly conflicted with the Griffith decision. He also asked Wright if any action has been taken in the lower courts in meeting the Supreme Court mandate issued in the two other (Paramount and Schine) motion picture anti-trust cases. Wright said neither had been finally settled. Video Film Contract (Continued from page 1) relations ; Jay Williams, program, and Irwin Shane, bylaws. Peyser's first efforts will be directed towards finalizing provisions of a standard exhibition contract for films on television, initial draft of which has been submitted by the distribution committee, and is now under consider- ation of the television committee. Peyser will take steps on Tuesday at a meeting of the bylaws committee to draft bylaws for the organization. Rathvon Runs Studio (Continued from page 1) RKO board, which both Howard Hughes and Floyd Odium will attend. Production aides installed by Schary continued on their jobs today. Schary last night indicated he will take a month's vacation before de- ciding on his future course. Coming on the eve of the three-day shutdown for the holiday, a studio spokesman pointed out, the resignation poses no serious problem with respect to plant operations, pending the directorate's action. 11 'Grid' Stars in Film Hollywood, July 1. — "Triple Threat," gridiron picture to be pro- duced by Sam Katzman for Columbia, with Charles Schneer as associate producer, will have in its cast the following football stars : Sammy Baugh, Charles Trippi, Sid Luckman, Bill Dudley, Bob Waterfield, Paul Governali, Steve Van Buren, Jack Jacobs, Frank Danciewicz, John Cle- ment and Paul Christman. Key City Grosses HOLLOWING are estimated pic- * ture grosses for current engage- ments in key cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily correspond- ents. Estimates omit admission tax. DENVER Rainy weather over the weekend helped downtown first-runs. "Em- peror Waltz" ties the record of "Blue Skies" at the Denham. Estimated re- ceipts for the week ending July 2 : BERLIN EXPRESS (RKO Radio) and ARIZONA RANGER (RKO Radio)— OR - PHEUM (2,660) (35c-74c). Gross: $12,500. (Average: $13,500) BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (RKO Ra- dio)— BROADWAY (1,500) (35c-74c). Gross: $14,000. (Average: $7,000) EMPEROR WALTZ (Para.)— DENHAM (1,750) (35c-70c). Gross: $24,500. (Average: $11,000) FUGITIVE (RKO Radio) and FABULOUS JOE (UA)— RIALTO (878) (35c -74c). After a week at the Paramount. Gross: $3,000. (Average: $3,000) FULLER BRUSH MAN (Col.) and PORT SAID (Col.) — ALADDIN (1,400) (35c-74c) 2nd week, after a week at the Denver, Esquire and Webber. Gross: $5,- 000. (Average: $2,500) LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WO- MAN (U-I) and ARE YOU WITH IT? (U-I)— DENVER (2,525) (35c-74c). Gross: $17,000. (Average: $13,000) LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WO- MAN (U-I) and] ARE YOU WITH IT? (U-I)— WEBBER (750) (35c-74c). Gross: $2,C00. (Average: $2,000) WINTER MEETING (WB) and WOMAN IN WHITE (WB)-ESOUIRE (742) (35c- 74c). Gross: $2,000. (Average: $2,000) WINTER MEETING (WB) and WOMAN IN WHITE (WB)— PARAMOUNT (2,200) (35c-74c). Gross: $10,000. (Average: $10,000) H. C. Arthur, Jr. president, Fanchon & Marco, says: "DO YOU WAIT UNTIL YOUR CAR BREAKS DOWN?" ??It does not make any difference whether you are running a motion picture theatre or you are taking care of your own automobile. There are two, ways to do it. You can let your car run until it breaks down on some important trip caus- ing extreme discomfort to your guests who are with you and caus- ing extreme embarrassment to you or you can keep it serviced and save money in ultimate repairs and replacements as well as wear and tear on your nerves and on those of your guests. "You can run your projection equipment on the same principle until it breaks down. Whether it is your car or your theatre equip- ment, when it does break down, you will wish you had had a regular efficient service that would have saved you all of the trouble and ultimately the greater expense. "Altec's service is assurance against breakdown. It saves against a larger expense in the long run for repairs and replacements and it saves your patrons annoyance and discomfort; both ultimately affect your P. & L. To maintain the goodwill of your patrons and their regular attendance at your thea- tre, don't let your equipment break down. That is my advice. Altec will help you follow it." Altec Service, known for its serv- ice "over and above the contract" is a vital ingredient of your thea- tre's ability to meet successfully the competition of other forms of entertainment. An Altec Service contract is the soundest long term investment an exhibitor can make today. 161 Sixth Avenue New York 13, N.Y. THE SERVICE ORGANIZATION OF THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY .1 12 Motion Picture Daily Friday, July 2, 1948 Reviews "The Black Arrow" (Edward Small-Columbia) CLOAK-AND-SWORD melodrama is played for all it is worth in this Edward Small production based on the Robert Louis Stevenson novel. That means action without stint, heroics of the noblest order and villainy of the deepest hue. While the happenings are pretty obvious and not difficult to fathom in advance of their occurrence, the film does succeed in a fashion in recreating a medieval period with a fine display of excitement. The production provides the exhibitor with an attraction especially made to order for action fans, the young ones in particular. The picture makes some concession to the ladies with one of those genteel, quite romantic affairs between Louis Hay ward, the hero, and Janet Blair, the victim of an injustice righted by her knight in shining armor, literally speaking. Hayward is a warrior returned from the War of the Roses to find his father murdered by his uncle (George Macready) in a conspirary to seize his estate. He is told that Miss Blair's father killed his dad. When the truth strikes home, he defies his uncle and his henchmen, placing himself in peril of his life. In a trial by combat that gives the film a high-powered climax Hayward slays his uncle and claims Miss Blair as his lady. Capably pro- duced by Grant Whytock, the film was vigorously directed by Gordon Douglas. Edgar Buchanan, Rhys Williams, Walter Kingsford, Lowell Gil- more and Paul Cavanaugh lend worthy support. Running time, 76 minutes. General audience classification. Release date not set. P.E.L. "The Timber Trail" {Republic) THIS Monty Hale Western, photographed in Trucolor, combines a variety of lively outdoor action scenes and a group of songs presented by the Riders of the Purple Sage. There are stagecoach holdups and fisticuffs with the hero, Monty Hale, triumphant. Lynne Roberts is the attractive heroine, who employs Hale as a stagecoach driver. The wagons are being attacked as well as the telegraph stations, which are operated by the girl's uncle. Her father and uncle are engaged in a feud and each suspects the other when their businesses are held up by gun- men. The scheming thieves and murderers plan to take over the coach and telegraph companies. Hale discovers the identity of the leader of the gang, played by Roy Barcroft, who is captured. James Burke as the girl's father adds a comic touch. Melville Tucker was associate producer. Philip Ford directed, from Bob Williams' original screenplay. Others in the cast are Roy Barcroft, Francis Ford, Robert Emmett Keane, Fred Graham, Wade Crosby, Eddie Acuff and Foy Willing. Running time, 67 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, June 15. Embargo (Continued from page 1) erated in London. Extension of MPEA's activities to Britain provides a control which could be exercised to the extent of withdrawing member companies from that market. Presum- ably, however, if the report is correct, the MPEA would not function as a sales organization but as a service organization, such as the role it will assume in Holland next fall. Participants in the meeting indicat- ed that further study is to be given to the entire British situation and, mean- while, British reaction to the State Department's expression of "concern" over the new 45 per cent British film quota will be awaited. It was pointed I OF COURSE I "TEXAS, I BROOKLYN and HEAVEN sent from UA out that immediate action is not vital as the new quota does not become ef- fective until next October 1. Johnston Plans Visit To Coast in Mid-July Washington, July 1. — Eric Johns- ton, Motion Picture Association of America president, is planning to visit Hollywood during the latter part of July. He will go to Spokane from New York for a brief vacation with his family and will return here in mid- July for a meeting of the Public Ad- visory Board of the Economic Coop- eration Administration. He hopes to be able to leave for the Coast after that meeting. Meanwhile, Edward • Cheyfitz, Johnston's assistant, left here today by auto for the Coast by way of To- ledo. He is planning to arrive in Hollywood in time for the July 13 meeting on establishment of an indus- try council on public relations. Dallas Keys to Madison Guy Madison, who stars in United Artists' "Texas, Brooklyn and Heav- en," will be the guest of the City of Dallas on July 19 when the Robert S. Golden production will have its world premiere. 100 Theatres Renew RCA Camden, July 1. — Renewal con- tracts for service to 100 theatres in the Southern region have been signed by RCA, including Southern Amuse- ment, Paramount-Richards, United Theatres, and Dixie Theatres. Canada Rejects High Percentage from UK Washington, July 1. — Que- bec censors last year rejected a higher percentage of Brit- ish films than U. S., accord- ing to the U. S. Commerce Department, which cites three British films out of 52 submitted, being rejected in full, and five Hollywood fea- tures turned down out of a total of 293. Chief objection to U. S. films, the report says, are based on divorce scenes, in- fidelity, gangsterism, suicide and murder. Arthur Abeles (Continued from page 1) here by Warner Theatres from his district manager's post in Albany, N. Y., will join ABPC, overseeing theatre operations in view of War- ner's substantial holdings in that com- pany. Up to now Milder had also acted for WB in ABPC. Popkin Names Buchanan Buchanan and Co. has been en- gaged to handle Cardinal Pictures' advertising by Harry Popkin, Cardi- nal president and executive producer. Popkin, who is also a California cir- cuit owner, is in town to shoot ex- teriors for "Impact," second of 10 pictures for United Artists. Warner Shuts Down Teddington Studios London, July 1— Warner Brothers has closed its Teddington studios here owing to its inability to find indepen- dent British producers who want to use the studios' facilities, according to Arthur Abeles, Jr., executive as- sistant to Max Milder, Warner man- aging director in Britain. Teddington will reopen as soon as any indenj^ nt producers seek to use it, he Pointing out that Warner originally planned to produce two or three top- grade pictures for distribution and ex- hibition in America, Abeles asserted that the new British quota indicates that "what is desired is not quality productions, but quickies." Warners own plans to produce at Associated British Pictures' Elstree studios when their reconditioning is completed remains unaffected by the Teddington shutdown. Mexican Strike (Continued from page 1) asserted that progressively poorer business actually demands a wage cut of 40 per cent and a considerable re duction in personnel. The truce is expected to yield per- manent peace, with both sides making concessions. New Giles House in Mass. Boston, July 1. — Giles Circuit's new 1,000-seat theatre in Framingham will be opened shortly, according to John1 S. Giles, circuit operator. All America is discovering and loving LOIS BUTLER in "MICKEY," Eagle Lion's heartwarming kit in Cinecolor ! Paced by record day-and-date openings in Midwest, "MICKEY" is setting sensational grosses' every where ! HEARING IS BELIEVING! We'll send you, absolutely FREE, Lois Butler's latest Capitol recording, "Dreams in My Heart." Write, wire or phone Exploitation Dept., Eagle Lion Films, 165 W.46th St., New York 19, N.Y. r LIRE MOTION VIC IWKB23B. DAILY 1 J- 64. NO. 3 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, JULY 6, 1948 TEN CENTS 18 Telecasters Warn Para. On 'Pick-ups' Advise Against 'Invasion' Of Democrats' Coverage The 18 television stations which joined in a pool to cover the Repub- lican National convention in Phila- delphia last month and will join again in telecasting the Democratic conclave there next week, have served notice on Paramount that they will "take steps" if the film company re- produces the video pictures on the screen of the Paramount Theatre here, using the pool signals, as it did with part of the Republican meeting. Fol- lowing a meeting 'of the telecasters, the "threatening letter" was sent on Friday to George Shupert, Para- mount's director of commercial televi- sion operations, who "would not com- ment. The action was prompted by the Paramount's "unauthorized" pick-up of the Gov. Dewey acceptance speech at the Philadelphia convention, the theatre having taken the position that the convention was a matter of public information, and ignored the pool's re- jection of its bid to join in the pool. Paramount apparently will cling to (Continued on page 5) Video Now on Paying Basis: S. P. Skouras Washington, July 5. — Television has now reached the point where it is both practicable and feasible to operate a station and have a reason- able chance of achieving a profit from the start, according to Spyros P. Skouras. The 20th Century-Fox president, testifying Friday at the Federal Com- munications Commission hearings on his company's application for one of the two San Francisco video channels, {Continued on page 5) M-G-M Sets Program Of Shorts for 1949 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer will have a program of 48 shorts for 1948-49, about the same as 1947-48, among them four two-reel specials, and the following one-reelers : 16 Technicolor cartoons (including the Tom and Jer- ry series) ; four "Gold Medal" reprint (Continued on page 4) F. C. Now Owns 30 Branches; Sets 1st Worldwide Meeting Film Classics now owns 30 ex- changes outright, all acquired in a year - and - a - half, Joseph Bernhard, president, disclosed at the weekend in a joint announcement with B. G. Kranze, distribution vice-president, of the company's first worldwide sales meeting, to be held at the Astor Hotel, New York, July 30- August 1. It will be the first time F. C.'s branch man- agers and division heads will meet as a unit since Kranze assumed his post early this year. Kranze will preside over the meet- ing, which will also be attended by theatre circuit heads, leading inde- pendent exhibitors and officers of Cinecolor Corp., with which Film Classics is affiliated. Company foreign representatives will be on hand. On the agenda will be Kranze's explanation of sales policy on the 34 new pictures scheduled for release during 1948-49. Half of this number will be in Cinecolor. The schedule also includes several reissues. SRO Opens 4 More Key City Branches Four additional branches have been opened in the field by Selznick Re- leasing Organization, Milton S. Ku- sell, distribution vice-president, re- ports. New offices were opened in New Orleans, with W. Shiel, Jr., as sales representative ; in Indianapolis, where H. L. Frost is sales representative, and James H. Kaylor is booker ; in Albany, where Schuyler Beatty, Jr., was named sales representative, as previously reported here, and in Van- couver, B. C. Must End Reich Film Trusts by July 8 Berlin, July 1 (By Airmail). —The British Military Govern- ment has adopted measures taken by the Americans in an effort to end still-existing "motion picture monopolies" by July 8 at the latest. The decree issued by the AMG puts a ban on the formation of new monopolies and pro- vides also that no one can hold a position in more than one branch of the German film industry. The number of theatres that can be owned by one person also is strictly limited, and no company may own, or have an interest in, more than 10 theatres. With the formation of Trizonia, similar measures are expected to be taken by the French. Final Building Code Hearing on July 21 Albany, N. Y., July 5.— What is expected to be the last of the public hearings revolving around the pro- posed new state building code has been scheduled by the State Board of Standards and Appeals for July 21 in the Empire State Building, New York City. The new code provides for a number of changes in theatre construction and theatre maintenance, and, in conse- quence, many invitations to the hear- ing will be mailed to industry repre- sentatives throughout the state. Ac- companying the invitations will be copies of the latest code revisions. Assuming the code will be approved following the July 21 hearing, the be- lief here is that the document will be promulgated in the fall. TOA Will Reconsider Forum at Next Meeting The proposal for a Motion Picture Forum, dropped some time ago be- cause of the industry anti-trust liti- gation, will be up for reconsideration by the Theatre Owners of America at its convention in Chicago in Sep- tember, or at the next board or execu- tive committee meeting, whichever of the three occurs earliest, according to Robert W. Coyne, retiring executive director. Idea for the tribunal, at which intra-industry ills would be aired and remedial efforts made, was first ad- vanced by Fred Wehrenberg, TOA board chairman, late in 1946. Work on plans was suspended shortly after- ward with the intention of reviving it following the U. S. Supreme Court's decision in the industry case, the thought at the time being that when the high court took action it would end the litigation. TOA has yet to schedule its next board or executive committee meet- ings. Rank's Rental Demands May Be Modified He Is 'Surprised, Hurt' At UK Exhibitors' Blast London, July 5. — J. Arthur Rank's announced plan to secure much higher rental percentages from British exhibitors may be altered by the time he meets with the Cinematograph Exhibitors Association general council on July 14. He has manifested surprise and hurt at the unanimous line- up of independents and Ameri- can distributors against him and at the degree of passion and protest which was aroused by his attitude. Rank, who successfully lobbied for a higher quota here for British pic- tures, met at the weekend with CEA general secretary W. R. Fuller and other CEA leaders and discussed with them his new buying terms which have been called onerous by the mass of British exhibitors. Rank insisted that no disclosure be made to the press (Continued on page 6) British Member of Control Unit Named London, July 5. — R. G. Somervell of the British Board of Trade, and P. S. Milner Barry of the Treasury have been named as the British indus- try's representatives on the Control Committee created under the terms of the Anglo-American film agreement. W. O. Newsam of the BOT will serve as secretary of the committee. Appointment of Fayette W. All- port, London representative of the Motion Picture Export Association, and Thorkild Chris, London manager of the Bank of America, as the Amer- ican industry's representatives on the committee was announced last week. Stack Heads WB Sales in Britain Appointment of Charles F. Stack as general sales manager of Warner Brothers Pictures, Ltd., in England, was announced simultaneously in New- York and London at the weekend. He succeeds J. Walton Brown, who has retired after a lengthy illness. Stack (Continued on page 6) 2 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, July 6, 1948 Newsreel Parade J7R1C JOHNSTON protesting the I-j British film quota marks a news- reel highlight. Other items include the Deweys meeting the Warrens, as well as sports, fashions, foreign and local items. Complete contents follow: MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 53— Presi- dent of Venezuela welcomed by President Truman. Governor Dewey and family play host to the Warrens. Eric Johnston says British film quota is unreasonable. King Gustav marks his 90th birthday. Italy: artists "pave" streets with flowers. AFL union show in Milwaukee. Tyrone Power talks to graduating class at Tampa Uni- versity. Sports: swimming, bike racing. Kids hold rodeo. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 287— U. S. planes rush to Berlin siege. What's with Tito. Swedish King marks 90th birthday. Deweys and Warrens "down on the farm. Eric Johnston protests British discrimina- tion. Bathing beauties take summer spot- light. Kid wrestlers. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 90— France's turf classic. Remains of Col. David Marcus brought home for burial. Czechoslo- vakia: first Red president takes over. Fash- ion news: furs look ahead. Kansas City youths have junior government. Mt. Rainier summer skiers beat heat. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. 157— French village adopted by U. S. benefactors. Eric Johnston protests British film quota. U. b. war dead returned from Italy. President Truman presents medals to war heroes. Flower festival in Italy. The Deweys and the Warrens. Water queens in pre-Olympic test. WARNER PAT HE NEWS, No. 92— Jews and Arabs in Rhodes parley. Repub- lican candidates on the farm. Churchill on Berlin crisis. French town adopted by U. S. benefactors. Eric Johnston protests U. K. film quota. New type spectacles for women. AAU women swim stars. Famous Americans: John Paul Jones. Silverstone Promotes 3 in Overseas Posts Three promotions in 20th Century- Fox International's field force have been made by Murray Silverstone, president of the 20th-Fox subsidiary. Joel Hart, for the past two years assigned to the company's Chilean of- fice, becomes manager of Peru, suc- ceeding Charles Matzen who will be transferred to Europe. Thomas Sibert, for the past two years attached to the Mexico City office, becomes manager of Puerto Rico, replacing Andrew Jaeger who is on leave of absence be- cause of illness. Donald McAfee, re- cently attached to the company's Bar- celona office, is now in Mexico City. 20th-International Names Jaffey Herbert Jaffey has joined the ad- vertising-publicity staff of the 20th Century-Fox International Corp., it was announced here at the weekend by Leslie F. Whelan, advertising-pub- licity director of the subsidiary. Jaffey replaces Robert Olson who resigned to become associated with Transatlan- tic Films in England. Para, Appoints Blair To Coast Ad Position Hollywood, July 5. — Robert Blair, 26-year Paramount veteran, has as- sumed the post of West Coast field advertising representative for the com- pany, covering Los Angeles and San Francisco territories. Blair formerly held a similar post in Seattle and Portland. He succeeds Ralph Ravens- croft, resigned. Personal Mention ARTHUR JEFFREY, Eagle-Lion exploitation director, returned here over the weekend from Moline, Des Moines and New Orleans. • Charles Vidor and Mrs. Vidor, the former Doris Warner, daughter of Harry M. Warner, are parents of a second son, born at Cedars of Leb- anon Hospital, Los Angeles. • Jules Schwerin, formerly of Lo- pert Films publicity department here, has joined Film Program Services here as director of television and the- atrical accounts. • Charles Simonelli, Universal-In- ternational Eastern exploitation man- ager, was in Des Moines from New York over the weekend. • F. J. A. McCarthy, Universal-In- ternational Southern and Canadian sales manager, will leave here today for Jacksonville. • Jimmy Bello, Astor Pictures spe- cial representative in Atlanta, and Mrs. Bello have become parents of a son. • Clyde Goodson, Paramount branch manager in Atlanta, and Eddie Fitz- gerald, sales manager, are in Nash- ville. • Jack Sydney, publicity director for Loew's theatres in Baltimore, is vaca- tioning in New York State. • S. R. Kunkis, New York industry attorney, is due here Thursday from Europe on the S\S" America. • Michael Jacobson, manager of the Mayfair Theatre, Bridgeport, is en route to Los Angeles. • Vincent Capuano, manager of the Warner Capitol in Danbury, Conn., is vacationing. • Matt Jennings has been appointed publicity head for Martin Theatres of Columbus, Ga. ERNEST SCHWARTZ, president of the Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitors Association, has been named to head the John D. Kalfat Memorial Fund, organized by industry friends of the late pioneer exhibitor to aid needy students at Western Reserve University. • Ernest Barnes, who has managed theatres in New York and the Mid- west, has taken over operation of the New Hartford Theatre near Utica, N. Y. C. A. Carlucci was the pre- vious operator. • Al Rook, former ' Columbia sales manager in Atlanta, has joined Eagle- Lion as special sales representative in Kansas City. • Albert Lourie, former manager of the M. and P. Oriental Theatre, Bos- ton, has taken over the Adams in that city. • Rudy Berger, M-G-M Southern sales manager, has returned to his Washington headquarters from New York. • Les Peterson, head of M-G-M radio activities at the Culver City studios, will leave Hollywood today for Chicago. • Robert Naify has succeeded Wal- ter Armstrong, retired, as purchas- ing agent for the Golden State Cir- cuit, San Francisco. • Julia Smith, manager of the State Theatre, Waterbury, Conn., has re- sumed duties after a long illness. • William F. Rodgers, M-G-M dis- tribution vice-president, will be in Buffalo Thursday from New York. • Russ Stewart of M-G-M's pub- licity department here has left for a vacation. • Sonya Levien, M-G-M writer, ar- rived here from the Coast over the weekend. Decision on 'Waltz' Extension Held Up Chicago, July 5. — Hearings on Paramount and B. and K.'s motion asking for exception to the two-week Loop ruling on "The Emperor Waltz" were placed in abeyance on Friday by Judge Michael J. Igoe in U. S. Dis- trict Court. Thomas McConnell, Jackson Park theatre attorney, filed a petition Thurs- day asking for dismissal of the mo- tion. McConnell argued Friday that there is no product shortage, while Alfred Teton, representing the defen- dants, asserted there was, the latter basing his arguments on behalf of the "Waltz" extension primarily on those grounds as well as that the film cost in excess of $4,000,000. The matter of jurisdictional rights of the District Court was also an issue. Teton and McConnell were given three and five days, respectively, in which to file affidavits supporting their arguments. RKO Directors Head For Coast Meeting Members of the RKO directorate have started to converge on Holly- wood for a meeting of the board at the weekend. Among those making the trip are Floyd Odium, Ned Depinet, Harry M. Durning, Frederick L. Ehr- man, L. Lawrence Green and George H. Shaw. N. Peter Rathvon is already on the Coast. Among matters expected to be dis- cussed by the board is a possible suc- cessor to Dore Schary, who resigned as the company's production head last Wednesday. Most of the board mem- bers will meet Howard Hughes, now in control of RKO, for the first time. Jones Quits ARl Hollywood, July 5.— Beverly Jones, chief client executive of Audience Re- search, Inc., here for the past two years, has resigned to concentrate on business interests out of the industry. $46,000 Alexander Bonus Colorado Springs, July 5. — Alex- ander Film has paid a $46,000 profit- sharing bonus to its salaried workers in the home-office and sales offices in key cities. NEW YORK THEATRES p — RADIO CITY MUSIC HALM] ■ Rockefeller Center : CROSBY JOAN FONTAINE in "THE EMPEROR WALTZ"3 1 Color by TECHNICOLOR ] A Paramount Picture 1 SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ma JOHN FORD'S MASTERPIECE "FORT APACHE COOl IN PERSON jf LENA HORNE , Special! ft PAUL WINCHELL S Bxlra! Jfi SKINNAY ENNIS If and bis ORCH. CAPITOL™*? greatest tfar- and<-«ong-s/iowf Released thru RKO Radio Picture i JACK UANIS I CARSON. PAIGE • DON DORIS %> RAD IDeFORE^DAYf CROSBY I /fCt*l|\NC^OP|1,fAN0THECt08l5 I^HIGHSCAS? orchestra m wsssi."wsrR/im ;OPENS 9:30 AM tATE FllM « midnight ,!f kATE STAGE SHOW 10:15 PM • B'WAY AT 47tli| by In Person rET*.^« §flos GALA SHOW | |KaMichaei curtiz pboo»j THE DRAMATIC LOVE STORY OF "I, JANE DOE" A Republic Picture STARRING RUTH HUSSEY JOHN CARROLL VERA RALSTON BRANDT'S COOL GOTHAM ^Its MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, Hew York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Hei'ild, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. • should be one of the top grossing pictures of all times! BOB O'DONNELL estic Theatre tiding. Dallas, Texas May 2U, X9U8 EXE CUTWE OFF>CES United** etreet, Dallas, ^ex* opport^ erober. ,nlon it Sa , advised you ^Uures o£ ^\^ere * that U*^ ^ * Evening Port tea one of ^lo^'* Sa^^ picture ^ _d was of pa d upon o£ t» ' houghts £ TeXa«'TSHO* mvyftrsi outstand^a ed story CttI.SH°en beyond «fr ri ture has ictures of mcrea» t thau top gi due to *e one ol up and should ^ your ^UmSS* 4 nts to Howard Ha* attract- organs slncerely. / Red Hot from UA 4 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, July 6, 1948 Dorfmann on Coast To Start Production Hollywood, July 5. — Edmund L. Dorfmann, head of Edmund L. Dorf- mann Productions, is here from New York to begin operations on a wide production program, including 32 reels within the next three years for United World Films, Universal-International subsidiary. In addition, Dorfmann has financial interest in several independent features being produced for 20th Century-Fox and, in association with Laurel Films, he has film rights to "Guilty Bystand- er" and "A Young Man's Fancy," for which negotiations are under way for United Artists distribution. Dorfmann also is planning expansion of produc- tion for television and will make fea- ture documentaries for the Protestant Film Commission. Cohen and Landaiche Are Partners in SGP Atlanta, July 5. — After two years as local branch manager of Mono- gram Southern Exchanges, Babe Cohen has resigned, as of July 30, to return to his home town, New Or- leans, where he will enter partnership with Ed Landaiche, owner of the Screen Guild franchise. UK Fight Film to E-L Eagle-Lion will distribute films of the Gus Lesnevich-Freddie Mills bout to be held in London on July 26 throughout the U. S. and Latin America. The pictures are expected to be in theatres here 36 hours after the fight, the company states. Review "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" ( U niversal-International) TO the usual stock of gags and slapstick hysteria associated with the first two gentlemen of the title there has been added now substantial helpings of the chills and horror which accompany the screen appearances of not only the Frankenstein monster, but (attention, you exploitation-conscious ex- hibitors!) Dracula and the hirsute Wolf Man of London. It all adds up to a field day for promotion men, with better-than-usual A. and C. grosses in the offing in consequence. About half-way through this broad, unmitigated farce, as the stage is being set for a wild melee among the aforementioned principals, and some others in the recesses of a spooky Florida ( !) castle, Bud turns to Lou and observes: "This is ridiculous !" With that remark the audience cannot fail to agree, but dyed-in-the-wool A. and C. fans and some other members of the audience might not agree on a definition for the word "ridiculous." The screenplay, by Robert Lees, Frederic L. Rinaldo and John Grant, centers around Bela (Dracula) Lugosi's efforts to have Costello's "harmless" brain substituted for the destructive one which the Frankenstein monster has. Lon Chaney, who turns into the Wolf Man when the moon rises every night, is out to thwart Lugosi. The usual quota of well-milked A. and C. gags are, of course, sprinkled throughout the "plot." Cast is rounded out with Glenn Strange, Lenore Aubert, Jane Randolph, Frank Ferguson and Charles Brad- street. Robert Arthur produced and Charles T. Barton directed, the latter with tongue in cheek, naturally. Running time, 83 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, not set. Charles L. Franke MGM's Shorts (Continued frotn page 1) cartoons in Technicolor ; 10 "Pete Smith Specialties" ; six "John Nesbitt Passing Parades" ; eight "FitzPatrick Traveltalks," in Technicolor, pjus, of course, the customary 104 issues of News of the Day. The company will continue to utilize its short subjects as a laboratory for the development of new talent and techniques, declared William F. Rodgers, distribution vice-president. Snitz Heads E-L's Kansas City Branch Eugene Snitz has been promoted from the sales staff to manager of Eagle-Lion's Kansas City exchange by William J. Heineman, Eagle-Lion dis- tribution vice-president. Snitz entered the film business in 1929 and had been with Universal and Columbia in various sales capacities before joining E-L in 1946. Previous to joining Eagle-Lion, he was in the army for three years. Short Subject "The Case of Mrs. Conrad" (March of Time — 20th-Fox) With the cooperation of the New York Academy of Medicine, March of Time brings forth an instructive, _jn- teresting and authentic film of theri^H aspects of modern medical procec^^ Taking the case of an ill woman, "Mrs. Conrad," the subject traces her entry into the hospital, the benefits of hospital plans, the exhaustive physical examinations, blood tests and analyses, the detailed preparation for and the successful completion of an operation, and the patient's recovery. In depict- ing modern medicine's thoroughness, which gives patients every possible chance for a successful recovery, the subject's end result will also do much to dispel many of the old-fashioned myths and superstitions of hospital- ization and surgery which are still prevalent today. Running time, 20 minutes. $1,507,000 Set for Canadian Board Film Ottawa, July 5. — Following items were passed by the Canadian Parlia- ment for this year's use of the Na- tional Film Board : General adminis- tration, $181,443 ; technical services administration, $89,467; production of films, $735,000; distribution of films, $772,000 ; production and distribution of other visual materials, $128,000. Picture Story No. 1 of Paramount's romantic comedy of all time that September Liberty Magazine will call "TOPS IN ENTERTAINMENT Tuesday, July 6, 1948 Motion Picture Daily I Skouras to FCC (Continued from page 1) stated that the present stage of prog- ress and the prospects for even great- er advances had brought about the decision that 20th- Fox would get into the field and stay in it, even though it means losing money at first. Skouras said that he now regretted the withdrawal in 1945 and 1946 of the company's applications for tele- vir'ZJ /channels in New York, Boston anc^ds Angeles. He explained that the economic soundness of television had seemed doubtful at that time. He confirmed the statements made the day before by his brother Charles that 20th was planning to expand the- atre video presentations as rapidly as possible. He added that some $250,- 000 were being spent for experimenta- tion work with large-screen television by Fox in conjunction with RCA. He also agreed with Charles that television is not and will not be a serious threat to theatre box-office, but should be classified as a different and non-competitive form of enter- tainment. Features for Video 'Unsound' Questioned about the availability of Fox films for video showing, he said that features would not be released for home consumption under the pres- ent system of distribution until they had run the gamut of theatre exhibi- tion. Any other course would be eco- nomcially unsound, he asserted. He did contend, however, that tele- vision audiences would like features produced for theatre release. On this point he disagreed with the views ex- pressed by Charles and by Paul Rai- bourn, Paramount video head, both of whom had averred that the average film produced for theatre screening is not completely suitable for release to the home via television. Skouras said that 20th-Fox intends to make special television features but pointed out that the cost of production of a motion picture for theatre ex- hibition is much too high for video. Kahn Also Testifies Irving B. Kahn, 20th-Fox radio di- rector, followed Skouras, and, in the course of discussing p'roposed program schedules, declared that 20th already has produced several films for use on its television stations and is planning more. One type he described as a quiz show made up of scenes from well-known 20th-Fox productions; another is a mystery show. The hearings seem certain to drag well into their third week, as two Fox witnesses remain to be heard, and CBS counsel Samuel Rosenman is ex- pected to call a rebuttal witness for his claims. FCC examiner Jack P. Blume de- clined to speculate as to when a de- cision might be expected, but from the volume of testimony which has been taken, it seems safe to assume that some time will elapse before the two channels are assigned. Practices Code for Radio Now in Effect Washington, July 5. — Radio's new standards of practice code is now in effect on all four national networks, National Association of Broadcasters president Justin Miller announced over the weekend. A few changes are still to be made and will be com- pleted by Jan. 1, 1949, he added. 28 Video Stations Are Now Operating Twenty-eight television sta- tions are now in operation in the U. S., according to the Television Broadcasters As- sociation. Construction per- mits granted total 83, while 287 applications are pending before the Federal Communi- cations Commission. 16mm. Industry Gets A 'Code of Ethics1 A "code of business ethics," by which the 16mm. industry may "set its sights," and may be guided in gen- eral business practices, has been issued by the. Allied Non-Theatrical Film Association. The code was discussed and adopted at the recent ANFA convention. Its formulation was the work of a com- mittee headed by E. E. (Jack) Carter, president of ANFA, and William F. Kruse, honorary president. New WABD Department Formation of a sales service depart- ment for DuMont's WABD, New York television station, and the ap- pointment of Halsey Barrett, formerly head of station relations, as its man- ager, is announced here by Leonard Hole, general manager. McDaniel a Sarnoff Aide Glen McDaniel has been elected a vice-president of RCA to serve on president David Sarnoff's staff. T elecasters Will Probe Film Methods A production committee for re- search on problems of motion picture production, technics, practices and ad- vancements most suitable for television has been appointed by Melvin L. Gold, chairman of the National Television Film Council, and advertising director of National Screen Service. The com- mittee, which will be. headed by Jack Glenn of March of Time, will include Gene Martel, president of the Screen Directors Guild ; Joseph Josephson, of Jerry Fairbanks, Inc. ; Nathan Zucker, Sono-Chrome Productions ; Fred Rosen, producer for World Video and Henry Morley, general manager of J. A. Maurer Inc. Gold also announced an addition to the distribution committee of Sam Gershwin, National Screen Service, and of Jose di Donato of Edward Petry Co., to the by-laws committee. The latter committee, headed by Irwin Shane, will meet tonight with legal counsel Seymour Peyser to draft by-laws and set up an organization structure. Video 'Pickups' (Continued from page 1) its original stand when the Demo- cratic session comes, although there has been no official confirmation of this, and the general suspicion is that the theatre's audience will be given glimpses of the telecast. All of which appears to point to a forthcoming con- test before the Federal Communica- tions Commission, or in the courts, or both, on the right of a theatre to pick up telecasts for exhibition on its ARTHUR MARLENZ VIBTRICH JOHN WHO X in • with MILLARD MITCHELL Produced by CHARLES BRACKETT Directed by BILLY WILDER Screenplay by Charles Bracketf, Billy Wilder, and Richard I. Breen • Adaptation by Robert Harari 6 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, July 6, 1948 Japs Get US Films AtRateof7-a-Month Washington, July 5. — U. S. films are now arriving in Japan at the rate of about seven a month, and prints are being made for distribution to some 529 theatres, according to Japan- ese trade reports received in the U. S. Department here. The reports state that receipts are divided on a 50-50 basis between ex- hibitors and the U. S. industry's Mo- tion Picture Export Association, with the MPEA's share accumulating in a yen fund. U. S. films account for the buljc of imports, with a few coming from Britain, France and Russia. UnitetS's DC-6 Mainliner 300 onestop flight Leave New York 12:15 pm, arrive Los Angeles (Lockheed Air Termi- nal) at 8:25 pm. Fares are surprisingly low. Flights operate on Standard Time. UNITED AIR LINES NEW YORK & BROOK- LYN: Call Murray Hill 2-7300. NEWARK: Call Market 2-1122 or an authorized travel agent. MITCHELL MAY, Jr. CO., INC. INSURANCE Specializing in requirements of the Motion Picture Industry 75 Maiden Lane, New York 510 W. 6th St., Los Angeles JOE LOUIS in THE FIGHT NEVER ENDS Now available for booking ALEXANDER RELEASING CORP. 306 Lenox Ave., New York City Reviews "Partners of the Sunset" (Monogram) SEVERAL entertaining Western tunes are sung by Jimmy Wakely, accom- panied by a string trio. Otherwise, "Partners of the Sunset" is a routine Western of murder, retribution and justice. Story concerns a wealthy rancher who unwittingly marries a young girl seeking his money. The rancher's son leaves home and then is suspected of the murder of his father. Wakely, aided by his side-kick, Cannonball Taylor, eventually exposes the operations of the young bride and her partner and they are brought to justice. The son is vindicated. Produced by Louis Gray and directed by Kambert Hillyer, supporting roles are played by Christine Larson as the bride, Steve Darrell, the rancher, and Jay Kirby, his son. Original screenplay was written by J. Benton Cheney. Running time, 53 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, May 6. "Fric-Frac" (Oxford Films) SOME top foreign names, such as Fernadel, Arletty and Michel Simon, head the cast of this French importation. "Fric-Frac," however, is at best only a dreary and unfunny comedy of two thieves of the Parisian under- world who use Fernandel as an innocent dupe in their criminal endeavors. Further, it is a picture which reaches a new high in poor taste for suggestive actions and dialogue, particularly in one scene where the couple loll in the grass. They are so crudely handled as to insult even the broad tastes and acceptances of art theatre audiences. Direction and production by Maurice Lehmann are routine, while the Eng- lish translations of French underworld expressions emerge as colorless and trite American slang. It was adapted to the screen by Michel Duran, from a play by Edouard Bourdet. Running time, 132 minutes. Adult audience classification. Set for June release. "Nais" (Siritzky International. French with English sub-titles) FROM Emile Zola's story "Nais Micoulin," a tale of a simple country-girl loved by two men, a hunchback and a playboy, France's outstanding direc- tor, Marcel Pagnol here has fashioned an absorbing, romantic film. It is strictly aduh fare because of suggestive dialogue and because of the problems with which it deals. Fernandel is both moving and lovable as the hunchbacked simpleton with a golden heart. Jacqueline Pagnol makes a beautiful Nais ; Henry Poupon, the father, conveys the necessary brutality, and Raymond Pellegrin makes a handsome lover. Pagnol directed and produced. Art theatre audiences are certain to appreciate this offering, but it could be improved by cutting, especially towards the end. Performances are all excellent. Running time, 105 minutes. Adult audience classification. "Blind Desire" (La Part De U Ombre) (Discina International — French with English subtitles) STARRING Jean-Louis Barrault, remembered for his excellent portrayal in the French film "Children of Paradise," this is at best only a routine romantic melodrama which has little to offer in the way of entertainment. Barrault is a talented but impoverished violinist, who meets Agnes Noblet, daughter of a prominent musician. When the father discourages the violinist, to protect his daughter, they separate. During the next 20 years they meet several times but something always pops up to interrupt their marriage. Eventually they part for good. Jean Delannoy directed and Michel Safra and Andre Paulve produced. Running time, 88 minutes. General audience classification. Current release. Stack Named (Continued from page 1) was assistant sales manager and was promoted by Arthur S. Abeles, Jr., whose succession to the managing di- rector's post was confirmed at the same time. Abeles succeeds Max Milder, who also resigned because of ill health, as reported here on Friday. Abeles was Milder's assistant. The latter had been with the company for some 25 years. Rank's Demand (Continued from page 1) on what transpired at the weekend parley. It was learned privately, however, that the CEA chiefs "laid on the line" the indignant protests of British showmen, and that's when Rank evinced amazement and hurt. Maas to Tour MPEA Branches in Germany Following distribution negotiations with Monopoly officials in Prague and Budapest, Irving Maas, Motion Pic- ture Export Association vice-presi- dent, has arrived in Munich to begin an inspection tour of German branches with Marian Jordan, general manager of Germany, MPEA reports here. Louis Kanturek, MPEA supervisor of Eastern Europe, participated in the lengthy confabs in Prague and accom- panied Maas to Budapest for pre- liminary discussions with officials of the National Film Bureau, Hungary's newly-created film monopoly. Following his tour of the German branches, Maas will return to Prague for continued talks with Monopoly of- ficials and then proceed to Warsaw for conferences with executives of Film Polski. Production Drops Nine Features, to 34 Hollywood, July 5. — The produc- tion index dipped to 34 from last week's tally of 43. Eleven films were completed while only two were launched. Shooting started on "The Lovers," Columbia and "Little Women," Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer. Shooting finished on "Boston Blackie's Honor" and lenge of the Range," Columbia ;^^an in the Morning" and "Command Deci- sion," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer ; "The Last of the Badmen" (Allied Art- ists) and "Silver Trails," Monogram ; "Grand Canyon Trail," Republic ; "Brothers in the Saddle," RKO Radio ; "Bungalow 13" (Belsam) and "Tuc- son" (Wurtzel), 20th Century-Fox, and "Countess of Monte Cristo" ( Westwood) , Universal-International. John T. Madden, 66, Loew Personnel Head Professor John Thomas Madden, 66, personnel director of Loew's, Inc., since 1943, died at his home here at the weekend. Services will be held to- day with a solemn high requiem Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York, to be followed by burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Morristown, N. J. Born in Worcester, Mass., Madden came to New York in 1909 where he worked during the day and attended evening courses at the New York University School of Commerce. In 1925 he became dean of the NYU School of Commerce, Accounts and Finance. He was internationally re- nowned in the field of accounting. Survivors include the widow, four daughters and two sisters. Leon Leopold, 65 Philadelphia, July 5. — Services were held here yesterday for Leon Leopold, manager of the Walnut Street Theatre here and brother of comedian Ed Wynn. Leopold, who had been in the motion picture business for 25 years, died at the age of 65 on Thurs- day at his home here. He started in the sales department of the Fox Film Exchange, later becoming an auditor for the Shubert interests. He had been manager of the Walnut for the past five years. In addition to Wynn, sur- vivors include the widow and a daugh- ter in Los Angeles. Tax Bill Postponed Washington, July 5. — Theatre owner protests have forced the Har- risonburg, Va., City Council to put off until July 13 a decision on a 10 per cent admission tax. I OF COURSE TIMS, BRO®Kt.YN HEAVEN sent from UA •I IIIIIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIM ■ 3 The First Projector Pictured in 1671 MAGIC SHADOWS The Story of the Origin of Motion Pictures By MARTIN QUICLEY, JR. "An imperative must . . ♦ ♦ " Jesse L. Lasky in The Scientific Monthly "A fascinating story ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ " Henry Moria in The Los Angeles Times MAGIC SHADOWS adventurously explores long forgotten yesterdays in both science and showmanship. It is presented in 191 crisp pages, plus 28 rare illustrations. GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY PRESS QUIGLEY BOOKSHOP 1270 Sixth Avenue Rockefeller Center New York 20, New York Gentlemen: Send copy(ies) of MAGIC SHADOWS— The Story of the Origin of Motion Pictures by Martin Quigley, Jr., at $3.50 per copy postpaid. | | Check enclosed. | | Send a bill. Name Address IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIH COLUMBIA'S SERIAL SCOOP OF SCOOPS... Copyright 1948 National Comics Publications, Inc FOR ANY THEATRE... ANYWHERE* Already booked pre-refen*! FIRST TIME FOR ANY SERIAL! RKO N. Y. CITY CIRCUIT (35 houses) day and date, long half of week! . . . And full week at FABIAN FOX Brooklyn RKO HILLSTREETand PANTAGES LosAngeies RKO ORPHEUM Minneapolis RKO ORPHEUM st Paul i GET ON THE BANDWAGON N-O-W WHILE THE KIDS ARE HOME ON VACATION! FIRST IN FILM NEWS MOTIONPICXjaE ! *»* DAI LY «and 64. NO. 4 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 1948 TEN CENTS See Extension Of Conciliation Plan to Others No Grievances Filed as Yet in NCA Territory Minneapolis, July 6. — North Central Allied has received indica- tions that other major distributors "are interested" in the conciliation plan worked out recently by A. W. Smith for 20th-Fox with NCA, headed by Bennie Berger and Stanley Kane. Under the plan, exhibitor grievances would be adjudicated in conferences between local exchange managers and a special NCA grievance committee. A top executive of one distributing company is understood to have tele- phoned NCA seeking further informa- tion on the working details of the plan, and indicated a willingness to im- mediately enter similar negotiations. The conciliation agreement bans complaints or grievances of a private or personal nature, and the committee will not attempt in any manner to ne- gotiate contracts. Meanwhile, no complaints have been filed as yet with the 20th Century-Fox branch manager by the new grievance board, adding that "it is not known (Continued on page 8) Pa. Allied Is Cool To Conciliation Plan Philadelphia, July 6. — Eastern Pennsylvania Allied "has not and probably will not approve the so- called conciliation plan" effected by 20th Century-Fox and North Central Allied, according to "an official an- nouncement" released here today by Sidney E. Samuelson, general man- ager of the affiliate of National Allied, which favors the plan. _ "Independent exhibitors in this ter- ritory have many deep-seated and (.Continued on page S) 5th-Walnut Will Bid For Reversal Friday Fifth and Walnut Amusement Co. on Friday will make its initial attempt to regain victory from defeat in its anti-trust suit from which a jury of 12 in U. S. District Court dismissed distributor-defendants in a verdict re- turned on June 29. Plaintiff's counsel, Monroe E. Stein, (Continued on page 8) Griffis in Turkish Ambassador's Post Washington, July 6. — Stan- ton Griffis, former Ambassa- dor to Poland, momentarily will be named by the White House as Ambassador to Turkey. Prior to entering the diplo- matic service, Griffis was chairman of the executive committee of Paramount. 113 More Houses in Canada; Total 1,606 Washington, July 6. — ■ Quoting Canadian Film Board of Trade figures, the U. S. Commerce Department here reports that at the beginning of 1948 there were 1,606 film theatres in Canada, an increase of 113 over the number at the same time in 1947. An- other 100 are being constructed. A study made by the Commerce Department's film consultant, Nathan D. Golden, shows that attendance in the Dominion dropped about 15 per (Continued on page 6) 'Babe Ruth Story' At Astor July 26 "The Babe Ruth Story," Allied Artists release, will open its New York run at the Astor Theatre here on July 26. Louis Lifton, advertising- publicity director for AA-Monogram, returned to New York from Holly- wood yesterday to launch the cam- paign. 'Waltz,' 'Parade,' 'Affair' Soar As Grosses Vary Here Business at Broadway's first-runs this week is a matter of extremes. Sunny skies over the extended Inde- pendence Day weekend had New Yorkers thronging to beaches and re- sorts, while out-of-towners who had poured into the city for the holiday gravitated toward the bigger Broad- way houses for entertainment. Hence, with out-of-towners more or less the determining factor this week, where several theatres are enjoying peak business others are in doldrums. At Radio City Music Hall business is sensational in the third week of "The Emperor Waltz," plus a Leoni- doff stage presentation, and on the basis of $116,500 taken in over a weekend embracing five days, a mam- moth $156,000 is expected for seven. Doing very smart business in its first week at the Paramount is "A Foreign Affair," with singer Jo Staf- ford heading a stage bill; $92,000 is due for the week. The Paramount and some of the other larger Broadway houses ran an extra show on Monday to accommodate increased patronage. "Give My Regards to Broadway," plus an ice show on stage, will give the Roxy a big $100,000 for a second week. The Andrews Sisters, who have been heading the Roxy stage bill, were called to the Coast suddenly last Saturday, and until they return to complete their engagement the thea- tre's top price of $1.80 has been cut to $1.50. A healthy $105,000 is in store for (Continued on page 8) Propose a United Front For NY State Theatres A move to bring New York State exhibitors into one group for public relations, legislation and other mutu- ally beneficial programs has been made by the Metropolitan Motion Picture Theatres Association which has plans for a meeting to be held late this month of the state's representative theatremen. The plan, for the most part yet to be fully drawn, is to coordinate the activities of the state's showmen in promoting favorable legislation and combatting possible adverse bills, as well as contributing to the welfare of exhibition in New York. It is understood that D. John Phil- lips, executive secretary of the MMPTA, has sent invitations to ex- hibitors around the state to attend the meeting, with specific date and place to be determined later. Preliminary Meeting Today by RKO Board Hollywood, July 6. — Preliminary meetings of the RKO board of direc- tors are expected to get under way tomorrow following the arrival of Floyd Odium and Ned Depinet to- night. Other members of the board are due tomorrow. It is reported here that Odium, who sold his controlling interest in RKO to Howard Hughes, will retain the board chairmanship, but these reports are unconfirmed. It is understood that Odium and Hughes will confer privately before the meetings start. High on the agenda of the board's deliberations will be the appointment of a successor to Dore Schary, who resigned last week. House Group Will Probe Film Industry Allied and SIMPP Aid Small Business Unit Washington, July 6. — The mo- tion picture industry will definitely be one of the key industries checked into. by the House Small Business Committee's investigation of monop- oly and anti-trust law enforcement, a top committee official said here to- day. Willis J. Ballinger, the com- mittee's economic counsel and with Committee Chairman Ploeser the man doing most of the planning of the inves- tigation, said "we will definite- ly go into films, both from the point of view of the exhibitor and the independent producer." Ballinger declared the committee will "go into everything which the ex- (Continued on page 6) Allvine Named Aide To Candidate Dewey Albany, N. Y., July 6.— Gov. Thomas E. Dewey's Presidential cam- paign team, identified today, includes Glendon Allvine, former New York public relations director for the Mo- tion Picture Association of America, who will work for the candidate in the motion picture, newsreel and television fields. Allvine has toured the country in past weeks with a camera crew filming campaign material for 16mm., 35mm. and television outlets. Allvine has an extensive background (Continued on page 8) Believe Douglas Can Help Ease UK Quota Washington, July 6. — If anyone can ease the British quota situation, it is U. S. Ambassador to London Doug- las, in 1 the opinion of U. S. Govern- ment officials and industry spokesmen here. It is only a matter of Douglas' being free to work on the matter, it was stated. Preoccupation with the tense Berlin situation has prevented the Ambassa- dor from making any substantial progress on the British quota situa- tion, it was believed. 2 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, July 7, 1948 Carole Landis, 29, Dies in Hollywood Hollywood, July 6. — Carole Lan- dis, 29, film actress, was found dead yesterday in her home in Brentwood. Her death was apparently suicide. Miss Landis, who was born in Fairchild, Wis., on Jan. 1, 1919, came to Hollywood in 1934 to appear as a chorus girl in "Varsity Show" and subsequently in "Blondes at Work" and "Hollywood Hotel." Later films in which she appeared were : "Road Show" "Topper Returns," "I Wake Up Screaming," "Manila Calling," "Or- chestra Wives" and "My Gal Sal," and more recently in "Having Won- derful Crime," "It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog," "A Scandal in Paris" and "Behind Green Lights." She rose to stardom in the Hal Roach production, "One Million B. C." During the war she toured overseas camps to enter- tain servicemen as well as aiding in war bond sales in the U. S. Miss Landis also was active with the American Cancer Society. Para.'s P alu g y ay Is Dead in Spain Word of the death in Spain of Nicholas G. Palugyay, Paramount's manager there, was received at the company's home office here yesterday. With Paramount for 23 years, Palug- yay was stricken en route from Ma- drid to Barcelona on business. The company cited Palugyay for his success in protecting Paramount's in- terests during the German occupa- tion of Bulgaria, where he was serv- ing as manager at the time. After the war he joined the Motion Picture Ex- port Association in a similar capacity. He was appointed to the Spanish post in 1946. The widow and two daugh- ters survive. Sam Kaplan, 59 Funeral services were held here Sunday for Sam Kaplan, 59, founder of the Sam Kaplan Manufacturing and Supply Co., which became the Century Projector Corp. in 1923. Kaplan, who was also an executive board member and former president of IATSE Local No. 306, retired as general manager of Century Projector in May, 1945. He died last Thursday at his home in Brooklyn. Survivors include the widow and two sons. Edward F. McClellen Boston, July 6. — Edward F. Mc- Clellen, industry attorney here for many corporations, including Loew's and M. and P. Theatres, New En- gland, died at the Cape Cod Hospital at Hyannis last Friday. /. Frank Mednick, 57 Los Angeles, July 6. — J. Frank Mednick, 57, owner of the Latosca and Troujan theatres, died here yesterday in Cedars of Lebanon Hospital. Sur- vivors include the widow and a son. Personal A NDREW W. SMITH, JR., 20th- A Fox general sales manager ; W. C. Gehring, assistant sales manager ; Murray Silverstone, president of 20th Century-Fox International Corp., and Charles Schlaifer, director of advertising-publicity, have returned to New York from Hollywood studio conferences. • Robert C. McMahon, assistant to Warner studio attorney Roy Obrin- ger, and Mrs. McMahon have be- come the parents of a daughter, born at St. Vincent's Hospital in Los An- geles. • F. W. Allport, Motion Picture As- sociation of America's London repre- sentative, flew to Paris last night to confer with Gerald Mayer, MPAA international division director. • William Z. Porter, Monogram-Al- lied Artists contract department head in the West, left Hollywood yesterday for a Midwest tour. • Frank Flood of Warners Theatres' New Haven zone has been appointed Connecticut adjutant of AMVETS, veterans' organization. • Milton S. Kusell, Selznick Re- leasing Organization distribution vice- president, left here yesterday for the Coast. • Marlyn Knoll, secretary to M-G-M Southern sales manager Rudy Berger, is here from Washing- ton on vacation. • Harry Welsh, publicity director for the Hicks Circuit in Baltimore, is visiting his father in Hollywood. • Robert Pik, president of Inter- World Films here, will leave New York this week for Europe. • Fred Quimby, M-G-M short sub- jects production head, is due here on July 19 from the Coast. Mention T OSEPH HAZEN, president of »■» Hal Wallis Productions, accom- panied by his wife and two daughters, has arrived in Hollywood from New York. • Joan Wobber, daughter of 20th Century-Fox distribution executive Herman Wobber, and Marshall Naify, United California Theatres executive and son of Michael Nai- fy, have become engaged on the Coast. • Jean Hersholt, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, has arrived in London from Denmark. • William O'Brien of M-G-M's ad- vertising production department here returned to his desk yesterday after a lengthy illness. • Perry Lieber, RKO Radio studio publicity director, has returned to the Coast from New York. • Charles Lederer, screenwriter, has returned to Hollywood from New York. • Gradwell Sears, United Artists president, flew to the Coast over the weekend from New York. • Sam Wheeler, Film Classics divi- sion manager, is due in San Francisco this week from Los Angeles. • Charles Samuels, Motion Picture Magazine writer, has, left here for Hollywood. • Bernard Gates, Monogram Latin- America supervisor, is in Panama from Mexico City. • Charles J. McWeeney of Mono- gram International was married re- cently to Claire Bambach. • Sidney A. Franklin, M-G-M pro- ducer, is due here July 21 from the Coast en route to Paris. 7*7" 71 ISewsreel Parade D OPE PIUS addressing workers in ■I Rome, and kids at home setting up a junior government are current news- reel highlights. Events of national and international scope, human interest stories and assorted sports round out the reels. Complete contents follow. MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 54— Latest films of East-West Berlin Crisis. ^ '• Pius hailed by vast throng of wcrke^* Rome. Secretary Royall tells how law will work. Youngsters learn about gov- ernment in "junior city." Sports: racing, fishing, boxing. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 288— Pope warns labor against Red plotters. British royalty goes to the fair. Get ready for the draft. Junior city teaches good govern- ment. Porpoise hunt a deep sea thriller. Racing. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 91— France's turf classic. Hero of Israel brought home for burial. Czechoslovakia: first Red president takes over. Fashion news: furs look ahead. Good government, junior style. Summer skiers beat the heat. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. 158— War- ship joins "mothball fleet." Col. David Marcus' body returned home. Prince of Japan visits U. S. school. Check for $7, 000,000 signed by Secretary Snyder. Mini- ature auto assembly line in Spain. Kids build junior city. Japanese swimmer sets record. Skiers beat summer heat. WARNER PATHE NEWS, No. 93— Warren girls in New York. Greek children evacuated. West Point rites for Haganah hero. Red exiles find U. S. refuge. Kids set up junior city. Meet the duck from down under. Racing. 33 J Per Cent Boost In NBC Video Rates Representing an increase of 33^ per cent, effective Oct. 1, 1948, Na- tional Broadcasting's New York tele- vision station, WNBT, has issued a new rate card providing for a base hour evening time charge of $1,000 to apply during Class A time (six to 10:30 P.M.), compared with the pres- ent rate of $750. Similar boosts will be effected at the same time by NBC television network stations. At WNBT, three-quarters of the base rate will buy Class B time (five to six P.M., Monday through Friday; one to six P.M. Saturday and Sun- day, and 10:30 to 11 P.M., Sunday through Saturday). One-half the base hour rate will apply at all other times. To Examine Sales Heads Charles R. Reagan, Paramount dis- tribution vice-president ; William F. Rodgers, Loew's distribution vice- president, and others, will be examined in U. S. District Court here on July 15 and 16 in connection with the Dip- son Theatres anti-trust action which has been pending in Buffalo against Buffalo Theatres and eight distribu- tors. Brandt Hearing Friday Paramount's motion whereby the company seeks to eliminate eight of the 160-odd defendants from its $563,- 265 percentage action against Brandt Theatres, et al, and which would in- cliirlp eitxhf npw rlpfpndarttc; will hp JLCW U^lLllUCllllJ, Will l-Jv. heard in Supreme Court here on Fri- day. Hearing was postponed from yesterday. NBC Promotes Denny Charles R. Denny has been promot- ed from vice-president and general counsel of National Broadcasting to executive vice-president, by Niles Trammell, president of the network. His successor in the legal post is Gus- tav B. Margraf, attorney, who has represented NBC in Washington since 1942. Maryland Theatre Sold Baltimore, July 6. — The Maryland Theatre, 45-year-old playhouse here, has been sold for $79,500 at public auction to Michael Fox, head of a local realty company. The Maryland was owned by the late C. William Hicks, founder of a Baltimore theatre circuit. Para, Case Figures In Video Hearings Washington, July 6. — Paramount and 20th Century-Fox, along with three other applicants, have settled down to a long wait for the Federal Communications Commission decision on allocation of two remaining tele- vision channels for San Francisco. Hearings ended here last Friday night. A decision is not anticipated before the fall at the earliest. One of the last actions at the hearing on Fri- day was for 20th-Fox to file its ver- sion of the litigation record in the Paramount case. Paramount must still file its version. Both documents were requested by FCC examiner Jack Blume, who presided over the hear- ings. There has been some specula- tion that the Supreme Court's decision in the Paramount case might weight the FCC against the two film compa- nies Other annlicants for the rrian- nels are independent station KROW, Columbia Broadcasting System, and Ed Pauley's Television California. No M.&P. Price Cuts Boston, July 6.— M. and P. Thea- tres is not contemplating any reduc- tions or other changes in admission prices for any of its houses, according to M. and P. executives. Edmunds in KATO Post Louisville, July 6. — John Edmunds has been named contact man for the Kentucky Association of Theatre Owners. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Her&Id, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. &OSH I AN BAST BR MR APS IN c/l/LY / " That's what the cops at 45th Street and Broadway are saying as crowds of people block traffic at Loew's State Theatre to see M-G-M's pre- sentation of Irving Berlin's "EASTER PARADE." New records! New box- office lines never before witnessed in the 2 7- year history of this theatre! THE PARADE THAT WILL SOON SPAN THE NATION! Convention, •nie op-** o£ the °he «orlo . triumph ill falter Wagers II Here's the ad that opened Philadelphia's all-out newspaper campaign . . . with a day-after-day build-up to powerful full- page blasts on world premiere day. J IT • heins *e Convention ^. u. takes pride «>** ng„r -.oy in announe ing 1ust as Ph^'P^htti take P»«,C^ n»ny J—1 umorous wiU soon at»« ° ance « *e S bREATHT^ clirnaXed by ^ W alieady been cal N^S^^INMEN isaaaed*ethriU IN toHs^^'^o^riU-; haven t seei ° J„ly i*that ,h .^.U Never fot9e« r fhis P'"*u*e! On July 14th, Philadelphia will thrill to two great events. Sharing the excitement of the Democratic National Convention, Walter Wanger's Technicolor triumph, "Tap Roots," will have its gala World Premiere at the Goldman Theatre, with day-and-date premieres throughout the territory. Personal appearances by a Hollywood cavalcade, headed by Van Heflin, Julie London, Boris Karloff and Richard Long, will launch Philadelphia's most important motion picture event in many years. A thousand leading correspondents of the nation's press and radio, covering the Convention, will attend a special midnight preview of "Tap Roots" . . .Top national radio programs will salute "Tap Roots" over ABC, CBS and Mutual networks . . . Full page national magazine and newspaper ad tie-ups with Chesterfield, General Electric and Lux have been timed for the premiere. It all adds up to tremendous selling power for "Tap Roots" when it plays your house ! Compared with "G.WT. W." by Trade Press! Front-paged in MOTION PICTURE DAILY: "One for the money — and plenty of it. A big show handled in a big way, this attraction is one of the most ambitious since 'Gone With the Wind.' Handled with scope and sweep . . . to entertain and hold audiences in substantial number." • Featured in FILM DAILY: "Should attract a large audi- ence. Grand scale stuff in fine Technicolor that pulsates with action. Powerf ul . . . told with sweep and vigor. More than fair comparison with 'Gone With the Wind."' • MOTION PICTURE HERALD: "Top grade. Solid mer- chandise, commercially. Excellent. Not since 'Gone With the Wind' has Hollywood dealt with the Civil War theme to such dramatic and pictorial advantage." SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW: '"Tap Roots' is the essence of screen entertainment! One of the biggest pictures of the year. Done on a grand scale... a real spectacle that justly deserves the adjectives 'big.' Audiences will remember it a long time." • BOXOFFICE: "Should result in top takes in all bookings. Sure to please. Plenty of red meat for disciples of both torrid romance and hard-hitting action." • VARIETY: "High romance, color lensing, sex implica- tions and broad action will give it ticket-window attention." THE EXHIBITOR: "Top notch. Should do well at box- offices throughout the country." WALTER WANGER Presents VAN HEFLIN • SUSAN HAYWARD in TAP ROOTS ^tyi^uuc^r with BORIS KARLOFF • JULIE LONDON • WARD BOND • RICHARD LONG And Introducing WHITFIELD CONNOR Screenplay by ALAN LE MAY . • ^Additional Dialogue by LIONEL WIGGAM • From the Novel by JAMES STREET Directed by GEORGE MARSHALL • Produced by WALTER WANGER PICTURES. Inc. A george Marshall production . A UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL RELEASE Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, July 7, 1948 WE Reproducers to 28 Studios Abroad Twenty-eight Western Electric re- producing systems have been delivered to as many studios in 12 foreign coun- tries, reports E. S. Gregg, vice-presi- dent of Westrex Corp., WE's foreign equipment affiliate. The equipment went to the follow- ing studios : England: M-G-M British at Els- tree ; D. and P. at Denham ; London Film, Littleton Park ; Gate, at Els- tree ; British Paramount News, Lon- don, and London and British Movie- tone News, London. France : M-G-M Studio and Studios Cinema, Paris. The Netherlands : Profilti Studio, The Hague, and Polygoon Films, Haarlem. Switzerland : Praesens-Film, Zurich, and Gamma-Film, Lausanne. Also, Italy: M-G-M Studio and Lux Film, Rome. Morocco : Magh- reb Films, Casablanca. Egypt: Misr and N alias studios, Cairo. India : Vauhini Films, Madras ; Central and Rajkamal Kalamandir studios, Bom- bay. China : Rural Films, Nanking ; Young Wha Studios, Hong Kong, and Chinese Film Corp., Shanghai. Ar- gentina : Emelco, Buenos Aires, and Film Andes, Mendoza. Mexico : Cine Sonido, Mexico City. Australia : Commonwealth and Fox Movietone News, Sydney. Joins Blaine-Thompson Charles Stark, former vice-president and general manager of Station WMCA, has been appointed director of radio and television for the Blaine- Thompson agency here. House Group Probe (Continued from page 1) hibitors and independents have been complaining about in all of the court actions and in all of the cases that did not get to court. The economic coun- sel, a former Federal Trade Commis- sion lawyer and economist, met this morning with Allied States general counsel Abram F. Myers and repre- sentatives of independent organizations in other industries. He also revealed that he has had "several conferences" with representatives of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Produc- ers of Hollywood. Both Allied and the SIMPP pledged their support to the committee when its investigation was first announced in May. The committee is still drawing up its plans. It has sent questionnaires to several thousand film and other- in- dependent businessmen, and has tenta- tive schedules for local hearings in about four cities this fall, to be fol- lowed by Washington hearings. The committee will take to the road again early next year, according to the pres- ent schedule. Philadelphia, Minne- apolis and New Orleans are among cities now being mentioned for the fall hearings. Myers, it was understood, today suggested that the committee make recommendations on preventing exces- sive delays in anti-trust actions. A new anti-trust court was suggested by the Allied official, who cited the Para- mount case as a "horrible example" of the delays that large firms can throw up against anti-trust suits, whether brought by the Government or private individuals. In May, Allied's board meeting at Denver told the committee it should check into the possibility of banning vertical integration and also making the Robinson- Patman Act ban on dis- crimination apply to licenses as well as to actual sales. Myers said he had "no doubt" that officials of Allied units would testify at the local hearings wherever pos- sible. He will continue to cooperate directly with the committee staff here. Theatre Building in High Gear in Brazil Sao Paulo, Brazil, July 1 (By Air- mail).— In spite of the difficulties of building and» an almost certain com- mercial depression, theatre building is on the increase here. All over the country new theatres are opening al- most daily, and owners of large and small theatres are making every effort to improve their equipment. A Federal decree now makes it com- pulsory to obtain import licenses be- fore ordering projection equipment. Of some 10,000 requests for licenses, about 100 have been granted. Merger Plans to *4A' Units for Approval Merger plans for the creation of one powerful union in the talent field have been placed before all branches of the Associated Actors and Artistes of America for their consideration. The proposals grew out of an AAAA con- ference held at the Hotel Roosevelt recently. It is understood that if the AAAA branches reject the proposals, the merger drive will be abandoned. If the idea is approved, it is expected that additional conferences will be held to consider the matter further. NLRB Hearing Starts On New U.A. Aspect National Labor Relations Board field examiner Arthur Younger heard arguments here yesterday in connec- tion with an NLRB investigation of charges made by IATSE Home Office Employes Local No. H-63 that entry of a third disputant in the competition for labor jurisdiction at United Art- ists' home office was a maneuver by Screen Office and Professipnal E$8 ployes Guild to circumvent the local in its bid for an NLRB JJJ election among UA home office "white collarites." Younger is expected to decide this week whether the third disputant will be permitted to appear on the elec- tion ballots. Palestinian Film to 20th "Israel Reborn" of Palestine Films will be distributed in the U. S. by 20th Century-Fox, it was announced here by Andy W. Smith, Jr., general sales manager. "Israel Reborn" is a one-reeler containing scenes of the birth of the new State of Israel, pro- duced by Norman Lourie and Joseph Krumgold, heads of Palestine Films. Theatres in Canada (Continued from page 1) cent in the early months of this year. The 20 per cent wartime tax, abol- ished on May 19, continues in some provinces as a local source of revenue. Its abolition for the most part of the country, however, will bring back grosses to previous levels, it is be- lieved by Canadian film executives. Picture Story No. 2 of the bombload of laughs that made The Exhibitor rate it THE BEST SHOW IN MANY A MOON When John-nee has himself a hot time in the "cold" war, "no one will want to miss it" says Show- men's Trade Review. Wednesday, July 7, 1948 Motion Picture daily 7 Top Industry Salaries Listed by U. S. Treasury Washington, July 6. — Charles P. Skouras, president of National Thea- tres Amusement Co. and Fox West Coast Agency Corp., drew $985,300 in salary and bonuses in 1946, to lead ''_ first installment of the Treasury ■ 2>i"tment's ijst Gf top U. S. wage ttts. His income compared with $568,143 for the previous year. Salaries listed are gross and do not give effect to large Fed- eral and state income taxes. Film producer William Wyler drew $432,000 from Samuel Goldwyn Productions to rank second on today's list, while Bing Crosby, with $325,000 from Paramount, ranked eighth. Bet- ty Grable, with $299,300 from 20th Century-Fox, ranked ninth nationally and was top-salaried woman on the current list. Other highly-paid film figures on the list were Hedy Lamarr, with $279,800 from Mars Film Corp. ; Cary Grant, with $278,125 from Goldwyn; Bob Hope, with $275,000 from Para- mount, and Darryl F. Zanuck, with $260,000 from 20th Century-Fox. Four Companies Missing The figures do not cover dividends and other income outside salary, all bonuses and certain extra compensa- tion. The list did not include Metro, Warners, RKO and Universal, which have contributed many top wage earn- ers in past years. Many film figures on the list may also boost their total take when these and other film firms are listed. Skouras received $130,000 from Fox West Coast, and $855,300 from Na- tional. The million-a-year mark has not been cracked since Leo McCarey received $1,113,035 for 1944. Here are the company-by-company listings of their over $75,000 wage- earners : $159,000 for Balaban Paramount: Lewis A. Allen, $79,500; Bar- ney Balaban, $159,000; Edmund Beloin, $85,- 750; Claude Binyon, $122,500; Edward V. Bracken, $96,249; Charles Brackett, $116,791; Frank R. Butler, $102,625; Bing Crosby, $325,000; Roland Culver, $84,270; Marlene Dietrich, $100,000; John V. Farrow, $122,- 791; Y. Frank Freeman, $132,500; Tav Gar- nett, $150,000; Henry Ginsberg, $220,000; Paulette Goddard, $118,589; Leonard H. Goldenson, $85,000; Bob Hope, $275,000; Paul M. Jones, $92,900; Austin C. Keough, $85,000; Milton Krims, $84,708; Alan W. Ladd, $212,000; Dorothy Lamour, $175,083; Sidney Lanfield, $117,812; Mitchell Leisen, $192,737; Kenneth McGowan, $89,416; Fred MacMurray, $150,000; George Marshall, $159,000; Ray Milland, $229,166; Charles M. Reagan, $81,482; Sol C. Siegel, $77,083; Bet- ty Hutton, $164,500; Sonny Tufts, $90,666; Harry Tugend, $153,000; Billy Wilder, $166,- 083; Dwight M. Wiley, $76,416; P. J. Wolf- son, $96,000; Victor Young, $79,500; Adolph Zukor, $136,400. 20th Century-Fox: William Bacher, $91,- 166; Lloyd Bacon, $177,958; Anne Baxter, $86,041; Ronald Colman, $75,824; Thomas J. Connors, $110,400; Linda Darnell, $111,333; Richard W. Day, $78,000; Philip Dunne, $83,810; Mack Gordon, $104,000; Edmund Goulding, $178,333; Betty Grable, $299,333; Rex Harrison, $174,750; Henry Hathaway, $135,666; June Haver, $80,708; Dick Haymes, $95,000; Frederick Herbert, $134.- 125; Samuel Hoffenstein, $92,325; H. Bruce Humberstone, $99,583; Harry James, $100,- Increase in Studio Labor Employment Hollywood, July 6. — The film production employment index rose to 83.3 per cent in May from April's 79.5, according to the California Labor Sta- tistics Bureau, which uses 1940 level as 100. May a year ago hit 101.6. Average weekly earnings for May, 1948, were $97.94, compared with $96.69 in April. 036; George Jessel, $117,666; Henry King, $165,000; Fred Kohlmar, $91,000; Walter R. Lang, $185,000; Louis D. Lighten, $140,000; Ernst Lubitsch, $120,000; Joseph Mankie- wicz, $190,333; Gene Markey, $109,825; Mary C. McCall, Jr., $106,000; William C. Michel. $84,800; Thomas Mitchell, $121,875; George Montgomery, $84,916; Joseph Moskowitz. $104,000; Alfred Newman, $104,333; Lloyd Nolan, $76,300; Maureen O'Hara, $199,333; John Payne, $96,875; William Perlberg, $182,000; Tyrone Power, $189,500; Otto L. Preminger, $206,750; Vincent Price, Jr., $79,400; Gregory Ratoff, $182,000; Cesar Ro- mero, $89,250; Lew Schreiber, $130,000; George E. Seaton, $156,000; Spyros P. Skouras, $201,899; John M. Stahl, $195,000; Gene Tierney, $195,000; Lamar Trotti, $149,- 520; Clifton Webb, $97,000; Cornel L. Wilde, $130,000; Robert G. Young, $100,000; Darryl F. Zanuck, $260,000. _ Samuel Goldwyn Productions : Dana An- drews, $182,233; Sylvia Fine, $133,928; Cary Grant, $278,125; Howard Hawks, $250,000; Danny Kaye, $133,928; Henry Roster, $125,- 000; David Niven, $194,000; Robert E. Sher- wood, $208,000;. Harry Tugend, $100,000; William Wyler, $432,000; Loretta Young, $186,666. $279,800 for Hedy Lamarr Mars Film Corp.: Jack Chertok, $153,- 200; Louis Hayward, $86,250; Hedy La- marr, $279,800; George Sanders, $85,333. The Treasury pointed out that a large part of these individuals' income was not paid in 1946, but will come out of profits of "Dishonored Lady" and "The Strange Woman." Phil Berg-Bert Allenberg, Inc.: Bert Al- lenberg, $112,741; Phil Berg, $112,661. Chaplin Studios, Inc.: Charles Chaplin, $119,000. Empire Productions, Inc.: Hunt Strom- berg, $150,000. (Paid $75,000 in 1946 and $75X00 in 1947 prior to March 15, 1947.) Enterprise Productions, Inc.: S. Charles Einfeld, $78,000. Famous Artists Corp.: Charles K. Feld- man, $126,941. Fox Inter-Mountain Amusement Corp.: F. H. Ricketson, Jr., $119,296. Fox Mid- West Amusement Corp.: Elmer C. Rhoden, $119,445. Lexington Productions, Inc.: Barbara Stanwyck, $100,000. Mark Productions, Inc.: Jules Dassin, $85,000; Barry Fitzgerald, $83,333; Mark Hellinger, $156,000. Cakmont Pictures, Inc.: Charles Coburn, $100,000; George Sanders, $100,000. Hal Roach Studios: William Bendix, $163,811. Andy Russell, Inc.: Andy Russell, $121,437. United States Pictures, Inc.: Gary Coop- er, $199,999; Fritz Lang, $178,124. Vanguard Films, Inc.: Neil F. Agnew, $131,658; Joseph Gotten, $121,103; William Dieterle, $204,375; Mervyn LeRoy, $118,333; Ginger Rogers, $84,478; Allan Scott, $145,- 291; Shirley Temple, $135,541. B. and K. Management Corp.: John Bala- ban, $111,890. Schine Chain Theatres, Inc.: J. M. Schine, $102,200. 20th Century-Fox International Corp.: Murray Silverstone, $91,283. United) Artists Corp.: Gradwell L. Sears, $130,000. Three More Theatres Under Way in Cal. San Francisco, July 6. — Plans for two new theatres, a drive-in on a site recently acquired by Joseph Blumen- feld and Louis Kaliski and the other to be built by T. and D. circuit in Susanville, have been announced here. Meanwhile, construction is under way at Willow Glen on a 1,200-seat house to be operated by J. B. Lima, Walter Preddy and Ben Levin. wmmmmmmmmmmm JEAN ARTHUR VIETRICH JOHN WND MILLARD MITCHELL Produced by CHARLES BRACKETT Directed by BILLY WILDER Screenplay by Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, and Richard L. Breen « Adaptation by Robert Horari A Paramount Picture 'When Miss Phoebe Frost gets de- tfrosted, the N.Y. World-Telegram i says "it stirs up more mirth than nany movie this year." Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, July 7, 1948 New York Grosses (Continued from page 1) "Fort Apache" and Lena Home on stage, for a second week at the Capitol. At LoeWs State, "Easter Parade" is having a rousing first week with a handsome $92,000 expected. "Romance on the High Seas" together with Bob Crosby's band on stage, is satisfactory at the Strand where a second week looks like $42,000. Two houses which have been in a slump lately are enjoying livelier business again this week, although their current grosses are far from sensational. They are the Winter Garden, where "Man-Eater of Ku- maon" is expected to draw $32,000 for a first week, and the Rivoli, where the first week of the re-issued "The Crusades" looks like $30,000. Elsewhere business is shaping up about as follows : "Fighting- Father Dunne," Victoria, second and final week, $12,500 (very mild) ; "Melody Time," Astor, sixth week, $19,000 (fair) ; "The Lady from Shanghai," Criterion, fourth and final week, $12,500 (very disappointing) ; "Arch of Triumph," Globe, 11th week, $10,- 000 (moderate) ; "Time of Your Life," Mayfair, sixth week, $17,500 (mild) ; "Hatter's Castle," Ambassa- dor, first and final week, $5,500 (poor). "Canon City" bows in at the Cri- terion today, and "Raw Deal" will take over at the Victoria tomorrow. 'Frisco DST Ending San Francisco, July 6. — Daylight saving time which went into effect in California January 1 will probably be terminated on September 25, according to a statement issued by Governor Warren. Daylight saving, which has always been vigorously opposed by the film industry, was put into effect by the Governor's proclamation due to a power shortage. Strike Hits Worcester Boston, July 6. — Theatre business in Worcester suffered heavy losses over the holiday weekend due to a strike of 800 operating employes of the Worcester Street Railway. Shut- down of theatres is expected if the strike continues. Merchants have al- ready closed their doors. Reels Aid TO A Drive All five newsreels in their midweek editions out today will carry coverage of activities at two Kansas City chil- dren's camps, this in support of the Theatre Owners of America's Youth Month campaign, of which Charles P. Skouras is chairman. OF COURSE TEXAS, tOGKLYi sent from UA III Review 'Key Largo' (Warner Brothers) DRAWING on the play of the same name by Maxwell Anderson, Warner •kicks in with a corking drama of men and women under emotional and physical stress and how each emerges, or succumbs, according to his or her fortitude. In a number of respects, this attraction more sharply resembles a stage play than a motion picture. Most of the drama is enacted inside the hotel operated by Lionel Barrymore at Key Largo, hurricane-swept pinpoint on the keys off the Florida coast. There, Humphrey Bogart, unencumbered by any objec- tive and not caring about one, drops in to meet the father, Barrymore, and the widow, Lauren Bacall, of a war-time buddy who lost his life in Italy. In possession is Edward G. Robinson, overlord of the Chicago underworld en route to Cuba in a race to outwit the Government. His attaches — a fine lot — include Thomas Gomez, Harry Lewis and Dan Seymour; and Claire Trevor, his girl friend about to pass out of favor. Outside is a speed cruiser to provide the getaway after one more deal in counterfeit money is closed. Robinson and his crew are in command, and the others openly are his prisoners. The cocky underworld leader makes advances to Miss Bacall. He shoots an already wounded deputy police officer dead. Two inoffensive Sem- inoles are killed by another police officer acting on false information callously furnished by him. Initially, Bogart is unaroused, indifferent and unwilling to become a hero at the risk of his own skin. As the tenseness mounts, however, so does the rising fury of a hurricane. Changes occur. Robinson no longer is the bragging and domineering kingpin. All this veneer is torn to shreds by the forces of nature. As he disintegrates, Bogart contrariwise gains strength and conviction until his inherent belief in decency takes over and determines him to work for the elimination of Robinson and his gang. This comes about when the racketeers take off for Cuba with Bogart as their hostage-pilot. He kills two of the henchmen, forces another overboard, and finally pumps Robinson full of lead as mercilessly as Robinson would have shot Bogart and returns the boat to its home port where a romance with Miss Bacall is suggested. These story essentials certainly are not new after the hundreds of gangster films on Hollywood's record. But "Key Largo" obviously relies far more on character study and delineation than on straight melodramatic action of which it has comparatively little. Thus, there was offered a clear opportunity for good performers to show the stuff of which they are made. In the main, the principals come through. Bogart here delivers another of his competent, low-pitched performances. So, too, does Miss Bacall. Robinson is as tough and as craven as ever he was in the days when he was Warners' arch criminal. Lionel Barrymore is up to his standard as the chair-ridden hotel owner. The secondary roles are well done. But reserved for Miss Trevor is a commendation which becomes hers alone. Between love for Robinson and her fear which she seeks to forget in liquor, she gives a performance of superb shadings and sympathy. It can be argued with little fear of substantial contradiction that hers is the best piece of acting in the entire cast. Jerry Wald produced this interesting film with John Huston ("The Trea- sure of the Sierra Madre") directing, from an intelligent script of his own in association with Richard Brooks. Their combination effort deserves praise and a bit of censure. The censure is for allowing "Key Largo" to consume more running time than is best for it. Well-done and exciting as the film now stands, this attraction could have been even more taut if more concise. Running time, 101 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, July 31. Red Kann 'C Rating to 'Nais'; Six Others Listed "Nais" (French) distributed here by Siritzky International, has been placed in Class C by the National Le- gion of Decency in its classification of seven new films this week. Rated as A-I are : "Blazing Across the Pecos," Columbia ; "Deep Waters," 20th Cen- tury-Fox; "Timber Trail," Republic, and "Northwest Stampede," Eagle- Lion. In A-I I are "Abbott and Cos- tello Meet Frankenstein," Universal- International, and "Romance on the High Seas," Warners. Fete Stevenson, Bolton San Francisco, July 6. — Rex O. Stevenson, former San Francisco di- vision manager for the Golden State Theatre Circuit, was guest last week at a midnight supper given by 25 thea- tre managers and other executives of the circuit. Also a guest was David J. Bolton, who, with Stevenson, has formed the new Trans-California The- tre Co. to build and operate theatres in this area. Conciliation Plan (Continued from page 1) when" the first conciliation and medi- ation cases will be brought up. First meeting of the NCA grievance com- mittee has been set for July 12, with regular meetings slated to be held the first Monday of each month there- after. A bulletin will be mailed this week to NCA members and other exhibi- tors in the territory instructing them on procedure in filing complaints against 20th-Fox, and it is expected the bulletin also will seek informa- tion on trade complaints against other companies. 5th-Walnut Bid (Continued from page 1) has submitted to the court a motion for verdict reversal and will argue before Federal Judge Vincent L. Lei- bel on Friday for a ruling in favor of the plaintiff. Should his motion be unsuccessful, Stein said yesterday, the plaintiff will move for a new trial. Third recourse would be an appeal of the jury verdict. Allvine Named Aide (Continued from page 1) in the film industry, having joined Paramount as a publicist in 1920. He was director of advertising and pub- licity for Fox from 1927 to 1932, and for three years, beginning in 1933 pro- duced for RKO. In 1936 he went to Paramount as chairman of the editori- al board at the Coast studio. Before joining the Motion Picture Associa- tion he wrote a play, "Knights "i. Song," and was publicist for the ter Theatre, New York. . The team also includes John t Dulles as advisor on foreign affairs ; James C. Hagerty, who will handle newspapers and magazines ; Rep. Leonard Hall, who will blend the cam- paign with Congressional contests ; James Burton, in charge of a research staff, and Ford Bond, who will super- vise the radio campaign. Pa. Allied (Continued from page 1) legitimate grievances which cannot be righted except by substantial conces- sions from distributors and the affili- ated theatres," it was said. "Wherever and whenever a member of this asso- ciation with legitimate grievance de- sires the support of this organization in litigation or in negotiation with other elements of this industry he will get such support to the fullest extent. "There is no evidence now present in the film rentals being demanded by the distributors, or in their efforts to circumvent the decision of the United States Supreme Court, to create the preliminary confidence absolutely nec- essary for the success of any concilia- tion plan," declared Pennsylvania Allied's statement. FIVE - STAR DC-6 FLAGSHIPS LOS ANGELES 11 hours, 10 minutes CHICAGO 3% hours Phone HAvemeyer 6-5000 or your travel agent Ticket Offices: Airlines Terminal Rockefeller Center • Hotel New Yorker 120 Broadway • Hotel St. George AMERICAN AIRLINES JOE LOUIS in THE FIGHT NEVER ENDS Now available for booking ALEXANDER RELEASING CORP. 306 Lenox Ave., New York City FIRST IN FILM NEWS MOTldKf^RSTURE MOTION PICTURE ASSOC . OF AM £ R : C A , I n C . ( CH AM 3ERS) 28 WEST 44TH ST., NEW YORK 18, H. Y. 64. NO. 5 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, JULY 8, 1948 TEN CENTS UK Exhibitors Threaten To Boycott Rank If He Persists on High Rentals, CEA Will Act London, July 7. — If J. Arthur Rank persists in his plans to secure increased rentals from British ex- hibitors, a boycott of Rank product will be instituted by them, it was in- dicated here today by a ranking Cine- matograph Exhibitors Association spokesman. CEA's board of directors, it was said, is prepared to signal for the boycott by issuing a circular counselling the organi- zation's members to refuse to book any Rank film and to take legal protection in this connec- tion in the escape clauses of the British quota act. Although Rank has not yet officially announced the new terms he is seek- (Continued on page 4) 20th's '21-Day' Plan Scores in Cleveland Cleveland, July 7. — Adoption of the 21 -day test clearance plan by 20th Century-Fox in this area has resulted in consistent increases in weekly rev- enue for the exchange here, according to 20th Century-Fox spokesmen who claim that the policy has been well received. According to sales records, it is said, Cleveland leads all other branch- es of the company in sales on 18 of the past 20 feature releases. Under the new selling, 20th-Fox offers a 21-day availability to selected deluxe sub- urban first-runs which previously were held to a 35-day clearance. 'Amber' in General Release September 15 "Forever Amber" will go into gen- eral release on September 15, accord- ing to 20th Century-Fox, which states the film played 4,992 engagements at advanced prices in the last quarter of 1947 to a theatre gross of $8,000,000. "The Snake Pit," starring Olivia De Havilland, will not be released until next year. Probably it will have its premiere in New York this fall with a campaign along the lines of ^Gen- tleman's Agreement." The company also declares that currently it is re- leasing "more feature product than ever in our history." Rank Allows 'Certain' UK Houses Rate Quota Relief London, July 7. — J. Arthur Rank, today reelected president of the Brit- ish Film Producers Association for the seventh consecutive year, acknowl- edged in his inaugural address that certain British exhibitors are "quite properly entitled to claim relief under Section 4 of the new cinematograph (quota) act." But in addressing the BFPA, Rank eluded any reference to the general exhibitor indignation against the act. However, his statement was his first acknowledgment that any exhibitor has a possible grievance. It also was an about-face in connection with his previous publicly-declared intention to ensure that all play 45 per cent Brit- ish product with no excuses. "We are primarily a show business," (.Continued on page 4) See Industry Council Organizing Swiftly Hollywood, July 7. — Final steps in the establishment of a motion picture industry council to guide public rela- tions are expected to follow swiftly upon the arrival here tomorow of Ed- ward Cheyfitz, Motion Picture Asso- ciation of America executive. He is slated to remain here several weeks. Next formal meeting of the commit- tee, which is headed by Dore Schary, is set for July 13 at which time repre- sentatives of studios, guilds and unions who attended a similar meeting last month are to report on the attitude of their respective units. Although de- nied by Cheyfitz on his previous visit here, the report persists that he will be appointed head of the council. Mason Wins Verdict In Rose Pact Suit British actor James Mason has won his suit against producer David Rose over contractual entanglements, and the latter's counter-claim for more than $1,000,000 damages has been dis- missed in U. S. District Court here. Federal Judge John C. Knox ruled yesterday that the document signed by the two in June, 1946, was not a valid contract, and held that Rose therefore cannot prevent Mason from working for other employers in the U. S. The 28-page decision held that the agreement between Mason and Rose was too incomplete to constitute a binding contract. Mason was represented by Louis D. Frohlich of the New York law firm of Schwartz and Frohlich. Richard Persinger, Rose's attorney, is expect- ed to appeal the decision. Morton Heads U.A. Sales in England Montague C. Morton has been named general sales manager for United Artists in Great Britain, suc- ceeding the late Sidney (Bobby) Du- bow. Morton was assistant sales man- ager and was promoted by David Coplan, U.A.'s managing director. Another promotion in the com- pany's foreign organization is the transfer of Antonio Dos Santos Silva to head U.A.'s office in Porto Alegre, Brazil. He was formerly manager in Sao Salvador, a post to which Manoel Soares Dos Santos, former cashier in the office, has been named. Exports to Spain Will Be Cut 60% United States distributors, most of whom have branches or agents in Spain, "are looking forward to the bleakest season in that country since the Spanish Civil War," with the ab- solute maximum of Hollywood im- ports being estimated at 80 for next season, against 200 this year, it is disclosed in press dispatches reaching here from Barcelona. This would be a cut of 60 per cent. Principal reason given for the forth- coming slump is that the price for im- port permits has almost doubled. For- merly the price was 250,000 pesetas (about $25,000), while now an import permit costs from 400,000 to 500,000 pesetas. Distributors are said to be not so disturbed over the direct result of the impending shortage of American films as over the long-range result that other countries, especially Britain, France and Italy, will take over Amer- ican picture supremacy. The best pic- tures of the latter three countries can be had for an import price of 150,000 pesetas and less, it was said. RKO Board Gathers For Weekend Meet Hollywood, July 7. — RKO Radio board members were guests of RKO president N. Peter Rathvon at a luncheon at the studio today after which they held preliminary confer- ences to map out areas for discussion when the board convenes officially on Saturday and possibly sooner, in a meeting which is expected to last sev- eral days. Neither Howard Hughes, (Continued on page 6) 'Big 5' to Ask More Time in Divorce Quiz Expected to Seek Delay Until Early in the Fall On the grounds of insufficient time in which to provide the exten- sive and detailed information sought by the Government, the "Big Five" are understood to be plan- ning to petition the Department of Justice to push back the deadline for submitting answers to interrogatories on joint theatre ownerships which were served on them' on July 1 under the divestiture provisions of the U. S. Supreme Court's decision in the Para- mount anti-trust case. Although a decision on what action will be taken by the the- atre-holding defendants is not anticipated before tomorrow, expectations are that counsel for the companies will ask that they be given until early fall, (Continued on page 5) N.Y. Owners Meet at Lake Placid July 24 Meeting of New York State thea- tremen designed to effect a closer working basis on public relations and on other matters has been set for July 24-25 at the summer home of Fred J. Schwartz, president of the Metropoli- tan Motion Picture Theatres Associa- tion, at Lake Placid, N. Y. Schwartz indicated yesterday that the session, to be informal, will be devoted to a "mutual exchange of ideas {Continued on page 6) Competition Forces New Cuts in Loop Chicago, July 7. — In the face of heavy competition by the Balaban and Katz Chicago Theatre, which reverted to stage shows and reduced its admis- sion prices two weeks ago, along with other Loop houses, the Essaness Ori- ental will reduce matinee admissions starting tomorrow to the equivalent admission scale of other Loop houses, it was learned here today. New scale at the Oriental, where grosses have fallen off considerably in the past two weeks, will be 50 cents to one P.M., 65 cents to five, and 98 cents there- after. The Woods Theatre, operated by Essaness in the Loop, however, will retain its all-day top price of 98 cents. 2 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, July 8, 1948 Personal Mention Paramount Sets 7 4th Quarter Releases Paramount will release seven fea- tures during the final quarter of 1948, according to Charles M. Reagan, dis- tribution vice-president, who lists the following : "Sorry, Wrong Number," Septem- ber 24, Hal Wallis, producer ; "Isn't It Romantic?," October 8, Daniel Dare, producer ; "Night Has a Thousand Eyes," October 22, John Farrow, di- rector; "Sealed Verdict," November 8, Robert Fellows, producer ; "The Tatlock Millions," November 19, Charles Brackett, producer ; "Disas- ter," December 3, Pine-Thomas ; "The Paleface," December 24, Norman McLeod, director. Lamm, Holland Have Promotional Plan Cleveland, July 7. — Julius Lamm, for the past 17 years manager of War- ners' Uptown Theatre, and Sid Hol- land, manager of the Clinton at Port Clinton, have both severed their affili- ations and left for Los Angeles to open a West Coast branch of Theatri- cal Enterprises, distributor of theatre promotions. William S. Shartin and Jack Gertz, heads of Theatrical Enterprises, state this is the first move in an expansion program to open offices in all key ex- change centers. They now have offices in Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Cin- cinnati. Bonded To Handle National Clients Bonded Film Storage, New York, has been appointed distribution repre- sentative of National Film Service for the New York exchange territory, it was announced by William J. Clark, vice-president of National. Bonded maintains four film warehouses in New York which are serviced by its own trucks. National handles physical distribu- tion for Selznick Releasing Organiza- tion, Eagle-Lion, Film Classics, Re- public, Monogram and numerous in- dependent distributors, the company stated. Levee - Stark Merges With Century Artists Levee- Stark Agency and Century Artists have completed a merger which combines the New York of- fice of Century Artists and their Hol- lywood offices with the Hollywood of- fices of Levee-Stark. Plans are being formulated for construction of a build- ing in Beverly Hills, but both offices will retain their present locations un- til the structure is completed. Small Signs to Make Rank's (Lorna Doone' Hollywood, July 7. — Finalization of a deal with J. Arthur Rank whereby Edward Small will produce "Lorna Doone" in England in Technicolor has been announced here. Small and pro- duction aides will leave for London at the weekend to prepare for filming, which will start in August. American distribution has not yet been arranged. T ROBERT RUBIN, M-G-M gen- *J • eral counsel and vice-president, left here last night for the Coast. • Joseph Angrisanl, assistant to 20th Century-Fox advertising produc- tion manager Abe Goodman, and Ma- rie Ostrandek, secretary to 20th-Fox sales executive William C. Gehring, will be married on Saturday. • Harry M. Kalmine, Warner The- atres president, and Rudolph Weiss, head of the company's real estate de- partment, will leave here today for Washington. • Moe Kerman, Favorite Films pres- ident, will leave here tomorrow for Los Angeles, with a stopover in Chicago. • Jules Lapidus, Warner Eastern and Canadian division sales manager, left New York yesterday for Pitts- burgh. • Nick Mamula, Selznick Releasing Organization press contact, has re- turned to New York from a two-week vacation in Montauk. • Louis K. Sidney, M-G-M produc- tion executive, has returned to the Coast from a vacation. William F. Rodgers, M-G-M dis- tribution vice-president, will be in Buffalo today from New York. William R. Ferguson, M-G-M exploitation head, will fly to Chicago today from New York. Theatres To Offset Radio Giveaways Kansas City, July 7. — Beverly Miller, recently district manager of Eagle-Lion and formerly franchise holder of PRC, is now setting up a giveaway operation for simultaneous participation of several hundred thea- tres, designed principally to combat the big radio giveaways which are believed to be cutting in on theatre attendance. 'Land of Liberty' To Archives Files Washington, July 7.— Eric Johns- ton, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, today pre- sented to the National Archives here an original print of "Land of Liberty." excerpts for which were taken from more than 100 productions and woven together by Cecil B. DeMille into a 14-reel motion picture history of the U. S. Republic Switches Carmichael to 'Frisco San Francisco, July 7.- — R. W. Carmichael, former manager of the Los Angeles branch of Republic Pic- tures, moves in as branch manager of the local exchange. S. C. Martenstein is the new sales manager. BILL KUPPER, JR., former sales representative for Terrytoons, is now active in exhibition in California. • Alex Harrison, assistant to Her- man Wobber, 20th Century-Fox Pa- cific Coast district manager, is acting branch manager at San Francisco in the absence of Joseph M. Podolofp, who is ill. • Louis F. Lifton, Allied Artists- Monogram advertising-publicity direc- tor, who is here from Hollywood, will remain in New York for about four weeks. • Howard Minsky, assistant to 20th Century-Fox Eastern division man- ager, and Dan Houlihan, Albany branch manager, were in Gloversville this week. • Alfred Crown, head of foreign sales for Samuel Goldwyn Produc- tions, has returned to New York from England and the Continent. • Ben Kalmenson, Warner distribu- tion vice-president, and Roy Haines, Western division sales manager, will leave here today for Chicago. • Clarence Hill, 20th Century-Fox home office executive, is visiting Southern exchanges from New York. Irving Shifkrin, Hollywood agen- cy representative, is in New York from the Coast. • Budd Rogers, Realart vice-presi- dent, is in Detroit and Minneapolis from New York. Name Publicity Men For Hospital Drive Si Seadler, M-G-M, and Gilbert Golden, Warner Brothers, yesterday were named co-chairmen of a pub- licity committee to aid the Metropoli- tan New York drive for the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital at Saranac Lake, N. Y. Associated with them under the general chairmanship of Nat Cohn of Columbia, are Burt Cham- pion, Paramount; Ray Murray, Co- lumbia; Meyer Hutner, 20th Century- Fox ; Sid Garfield, Warner ; Charles Simonelli, Universal ; Lou Barasch, United Artists, and Mel Konecoff, The Exhibitor. To Meet on Sanitarium Albany, N. Y., July 7. — Industry leaders of this area will attend a lunch- eon at the Statler Hotel in Buffalo tomorrow to discuss plans for financ- ing the Will Rogers Memorial Sani- tarium at Saranac Lake. They hope to raise $10,000 to $15,000 in the Albany district. NBC, 'Life' Team Up NBC Television and Life Magazine will collaborate in covering the Demo- cratic national convention in Phila- delphia next week, similarly as both joined in reporting the Republican ses- sion last month. Associates, Friends Tribute Jameyson Kansas City, July 7. — Howard E. Jameyson was guest of honor yester- day at a tribute party to him upon his retirement from a district manager- ship of Fox Midwest Circuit, with many industry associates and friends on hand to participate in the affair. Jameyson's career in public relations, advertising and promotion was re- viewed by speakers who included his first employer in Kansas City to gru^ him contacts in the film business JK 1914 as well as Fox Midwest asso- ciates who were trained by him. _ Jameyson, who will retain a close tie with the industry through his in- terest in Commonwealth Theatres of which he is a director, explained that his retirement from Fox Midwest will enable him- to undertake several proj- ects while he still has "time, energy and purpose" and while he is still un- der sixty. Elmer C. Rhoden, Fox Midwest head and toastmaster at the dinner, made the presentation of a typewriter in a special case to Jamey- son. Conrad to London Harold Conrad, former New York - newspaperman, will leave here for England today by air to handle the promotion of J. Arthur Rank's Tech- nicolor feature, "The 1948 Olympic Games," which Eagle-Lion will dis- tribute in the U. S. and Latin Amer- ica, it has been announced by Max E. Youngstein, E-L advertising-publicity vice-president. Saland in 16mm. Field Nat Saland, head of Saland Labora- tories, has entered the 16mm. film de- veloping and printing business. Also, he has closed with Phil Krasne to make prints for the 24 "Cisco Kid" 35mm. series, releasing through United Artists, and will do the prints for 10 Harry Popkin features, and for "Urubu," World Adventures' first, another U.A. release. PROMOTION STICKERS Use Topflight cellophane self-adhesive tape for your next promotion picture. Place in- stantly— anywhere — box office, lobby, stores, phone booths. Lustrous, colorful, rich in ap- pearance. FRANK G. BERG LAS, Dir. Motion Picture Div. TOPFLIGHT TAPE CO. YORK, PENNSYLVANIA MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section ef Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. THE STREET WITH NO NAME IS SMASH BOXOFFICE STREET! — Hollywood Reporter ...IN EVERY OPENING! Fox Theatre -Biggest opening business of the year . . . bar none! Four Theatre World Premiere blasts those terrific "Northside" and "Boomerang!" records! Opened to business hotter than any picture of its kind! 1 With Name* Sensational opening to match tremendous publicity of F B I - sponsored screening! Lines on streets gave "Street" big, big open- ing at big, big Fox Theatre! CENTURY-FOX "THE STREET WITH NO NAME" Starring MARK STEVENS • RICHARD WIDMARK with LLOYD NOLAN BARBARA LAWRENCE -Ed Begley • Donald Buka • Joseph Pevney • John Mclntire • Walter Greaza • Howard Smith Directed by WILLIAM KEIGHLEY • Produced by SAMUEL G. ENGEL- Original Screen Play by Harry Kleiner LI 4 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, July 8, 1948 Threaten Boycott (Continued from page 1) ing, it is generally accepted that the new scale would range from 35 per cent to 55 per cent with the size of gross the influencing factor. It would apply to all Rank pictures, regardless of individual quality. Cite Practice of US Firms The CEA has lashed out strongly against Rank's plan to have the new terms blanket all of his product. The organization points out that American distributors, with years of experience behind them; condition terms on the value of individual films. What Rank would do, the CEA attitude maintains, is treat "all of his geese as swans." Many British ex- hibitors, meanwhile, hold that a high proportion of Rank's current output are merely "lame ducks." CEA says it has exhibitor statistics to prove that recent showings of Rank films resulted in considerable losses to the- atres under the new terms and claims continued showings under these terms would prove catastrophic to the ma- jority of British exhibitors. 'Financial Reputation' Involved It 'is clearly imperative for Rank, for the sake of his financial reputation, to go to all lengths to obtain this year a. satisfactory return on his past and present production ventures, according to observers. CEA strategists be- lieve, therefore, that he is prepared to concede more favorable terms to in- dependent exhibitors rather than to risk a situation in which uncomfort- able facts, comparable to his forced disclosure last year about a 2,000,000 pounds ($8,000,000) deficit in produc- tion, might be brought to light. Review "The Walls of Jericho (20th Century-Fox) IN "The Walls of Jericho" 20th-Fox brings to the screen another best- selling novel. Set in the town of Jericho, Kansas, at the turn of the century, it is a tale that depicts human relationships in the tanglements of romance, jealousy and frustration. It can best be characterized as a "woman's picture," .for it gives the heartstrings a frequent tug and engages in a good deal of well-mannered drawing room palaver. There are many points of solid exploitation for the exhibitor, not the least of which is the cast that producer Lamar Trotti has assembled, including Cornel Wilde, Linda Darnell, Anne Baxter, Kirk Douglas, Ann Dvorak, Marjorie Rambeau and Henry Hull. The action flows at a smooth pace, if slowly, and manages to be engrossing despite characters that are standard Hollywood types. As a local office holder, Wilde seems headed for a top rung of the political ladder until Miss Darnell arrives in town. As the new wife of Jericho's publisher, Miss Darnell has some political ambitions for her husband, at the expense of Wilde. She elbows Wilde out of the Congressional race in order to get her husband elected. Finally, when the two men decide to oppose each other for the Senate, Miss Darnell smears Wilde with a marital scandal when she learns that he has fallen in love with Miss Baxter. A series of half- melodramatic events follow, highlighted by a crucial court trial, before poetic justice triumphs. Performances are generally adequate, with Douglas playing the publisher and Miss Dvorak portraying Wilde's alcoholic wife. John M. Stahl directed. Trotti's screenplay was based on Paul Wellman's novel of the same name. Running time, 106 minutes. Adult audience classification. For August re- lease. Mandel Herbstman Hence the mass meeting of indepen- dent exhibitors scheduled for July 13, the day before Rank will meet with the CEA for formal discussion of the controversial issue. Nearly 3,000 UK Theatres Apply for Quota Relief London, July 7. — An index to Brit- ish exhibitors' concern over what they regard as the impracticability of the new 45 per cent film quota reveals it- self in that applications for relief have been lodged with the Board of Trade in behalf of nearly 3,000 theatres. The quota act provides that the BOT, on the advice of the Films Council, may give relief as it thinks fit to any ex- hibitor in competition with first-run theatres. It is also laid down that any de- fault in quota obligations due "to circumstances beyond the control of the exhibitor" shall be not regarded as an offense against the law. Warners Slates 16 For UK in '48 -'49 London, July 7. — Warner Brothers will release 16 pictures in Britain dur- ing the coming year, Jack L. Warner, WB production head, has announced here. Warner, who has been visiting from the U. S., said the 16 will be chosen from the last two years' in- ventory. Observers here regard the Warrjt move as "shrewd trading" since AsS^P ciated British Cinemas, which releases WB product under contract, cannot absorb all 16. Canadian Ticket Tax Income Dwindles Ottawa, July 7. — Effects of the Canadian government's leveling of the amusement tax are reflected in a re- port which shows that the treasury received only $120,221 in amusement taxes in June, 1948, compared with $1,227,548 in June, 1947, and $1,196,- 811.72 in May, 1948. Rank on Quota (Continued from page 1) Rank told the gathering, "and our financial success or failure depends largely on our ability to gauge public taste and satisfy it. Allowance must be made for creative imaginative as- pects of film-making. Due attention must be given to those intangible qual- ities which are not measurable by the yardstick commonly applied in the manufacturing industry." Picture Story No. 3 introducing the 4-Star cast that Daily Variety says adds up to "BIG MONEY ENTERTAINMENT JEAN ARTHUR is the unawak- ened gal who winds up singing "loway" and getting blanket- tossed to the rafters . . . Thursday, July 8, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 5 Key City Grosses Tp OLLOWING are estimated pic- M. ture grosses for current engage- ments in key cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily correspond- ents. Estimates omit admission tax. PHILADELPHIA ■ Philadelphians as usual headed for seashore resorts during the holiday weekend. However, those who stayed at home showed a strong preference i for "The Street with No Name" and "The Paradine Case." Estimated re- ceipts for the week ending July 6-8 : CORONER CREEK (Col.)— STANTON (1,- 000) (50c-60c-74c-80c-85c-94c). Gross: $12,- 500. (Average: $11,900) EMPEROR WALTZ (Para.) — STANLEY (3,000) (50c-6Oc-74c-80c-85c-94c) 3rd week. Gross: $21,000. (Average: $20,500) GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY (20th-Fox)— KEITH'S (2,200) (50c-60c-74c- 80c-85c-94c) 2nd run. Gross: $4,500. (Av- erage: $6,100) HOMECOMING (M-G-M) — ARCADIA (900) (50c-6Cc-74c-80c-85c-94c) 2nd run. Gross: $4,200. (Average: $6,000) THE NOOSE HANGS HIGH (E-L)— AL- DINE (900) (50c-60c-74c-80c-85c-94c). Gross: $8,000. (Average: $13,200) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M)— GOLDMANN (1,400) (50c-60c-74c-80c-85c- 94c) 3rd week. Gross: $19,000. (Average: $22,400) THE PARADINE CASE (SRO)— BOYD (3,000) (50c-60c-74c-80c-85c-94c). Gross: $28,500. (Average: $23,100) THE PIRATE (M-G-M)— EARLE (3,000) (50c-60c-74c-80c-85c-94c). Gross: $22,500. (Average: $24,300) ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS (WB) — MASTBAUM (4,700) (50c-60c-74c-8Oc-85c- 94c) 2nd week. Gross: $16,300. (Average: $27,800) SUMMER HOLIDAY (M-G-M)— KARL- TON (1,000) (50c-60c-74c-80c-85c-94c) 2nd week. Gross: $5,500. . (Average: $12,000) THE STREET WITH NO NAME (Zttth- F ox)— FOX (3,000) (50c-60c-74c-80c-85c-94c). Gross: $30,000. (Average: $20,400) BUFFALO "Emperor Waltz," "Best Years of Our Lives" were good despite near- record heat all week and heavy com- petition of a 12,000 daily draw at two local horserace tracks. Estimated re- ceipts for the week ending July 10 : ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST (U-I) and DEAR MURDERER (U-I)— LAFAYETTE (3,000) (40c-50c-60c-70c). Gross: $12,200. (Average: $13,000) BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (RKO Radio)— TWENTIETH CENTURY (3,000) (40c-50c-60c-70c). Gross: $14,400. (Average: $13,000) EMPEROR WALTZ (Para.)— GREAT LAKES (3,000) (40c -50c -60c -70c). Gross: $17,000. (Average: $17,000) I WAKE UP SCREAMING (ZOth-Fox) and BLOOD AND SAND (ZOth-Fox)— HIPPO- DROME (2,100) (40c-50c-60c-70c). Reissues. Gross: $7,000. (Average: $10,000) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M) and SECRET SERVICE INVESTIGATOR (Rep.) — BUFFALO' (3,489) (40c-50c-60c-70c). Gross: $13,000. (Average: $17,000) ON OUR MERRY WAY (UA) and MONEY MADNESS' (FC)— TECK (1,500) (40c-50c-60c-70c) 2nd week, on a moveover. Gross: $3,000. (Average: $4,000) BOSTON Warm weather over the holiday weekend kept most grosses below average. Estimated receipts for the week ended July 7 : CORONER CREEK (Col.) and KINGS OF THE OLYMPICS (U-A)— ASTOR (1,300) (44c-80c). Gross: $5,800. 6 days. (Aver- age: None available) EMPEROR WALTZ (Para.) and BIG TOWN SCANDAL (Para.) — METROPOLI- TAN (4,367) (40c-80c). Gross: $25,000. (Av- erage: $27,000). With a personal appear- ance of Dr. I. Q. one night. GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY (ZOth-Fox) and COBRA STRIKES (E-L)— RKO MEMORIAL (3,000) (40c-80c). Gross: $10,000. (Average: $22,000) 4 days. JASSY (U-I) and SPY IN BLACK (For- merly U-BOAT 29) (Col.)— EXETER (1,300) (45c-75c). Gross: $1,800. 3 days. OCTOBER MAN (E-L) and VACATION FROM MARRIAGE (M-G-M). Gross: $2,200. (Average: $5,000) 4 days. ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M) and BEST MAN WINS (Col.)-STATE (3,500) (40c-80c). Gross: $12,000. (Average: $12,000) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M) and BEST MAN WINS (Col.)— ORPHEUM (3,000) (40c-80c). Gross: $25,000. (Average: $27,000) RAW DEAL (E-L) and SONG OF MY HEART (AA)— PARAMOUNT (1,700) (40c- 80c). Gross: $15,000. (Average: $17,000) RAW DEAL (E-L) and SONG OF MY HEART (AA)— FENWAY (1,373) (40c- 80c). Gross: $7,500. (Average: $10,000) TARZAN AND THE MERMAIDS (RKO Radio) and ARGYLE SECRETS (FC)— RKO-BOSTON (3,200) (40c-80c). Gross: $7,500. (Average: none on summer sched- ule) THE SEARCH (M-G-M) — ASTOR (1,300) (44c-80c). Gross: $500 1 day. UP IN CENTRAL PARK (U-I) and STAGE STRUCK (Mono.) — RKO ME- MORIAL (3,000) (40c-80c). Gross: $8,500. 3 days. PITTSBURGH With ideal weather prevailing two newcomers got away to an excellent start, but five holdovers dropped. "On an Island with You" should do better than $21,000, while "The Fuller Brush Man" was headed for a gross of al- most $19,000. Estimated receipts for the week ending July 8 : CORONER CREEK (Col.)— SENATOR (1,- 700) (44c-60c-76c) 2nd week, on a moveover from the Harris. Gross: $3,200. (Average: $3,500) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M)— PENN (3,400) (44c-60c-76c). Gross: $21,000. (Average: $15,000) RIVER LADY (U-I)— FULTON (1,700) (44c-60c-76c). Gross: $7,000. (Average: $9 700) ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS (WB) —STANLEY (3,800) (44c-60c-76c) 2nd week. Gross: $9,500. (Average: $15,000) SUMMER HOLIDAY (M-G-M)— RITZ (1.- 100) (44c-60c-76c) 2nd week, on a moveover from the Penn. Gross: $1,500. (Average: $3,200) THE CRUSADES (Para.) — WARN ER (2,- C00) (44c-60c-76c). Gross: $9,000. (Aver- age: $8,000) THE FULLER BRUSH MAN (Col.)— J. P. HARRIS (2,000) (44c-60c-76c). Gross: $18,- 000. (Average: $11,000) 'Big Five' (Continued from page 1) if possible, to answer the Gov- ernment's questions. The defendants have the right to apply for an extension within 10 days after service of the interrogatories. Were they to file no objection to the limitation of time, they would have to come up with answers to the Govern- ment's questions within 15 days of the date of service — a task considered im- possible in this case because of the extensive nature of the information demanded by the Government. The interrogatories constitute an initial move on the part of the Gov- ernment to obtain vital data on the theatre interests of the major defen- dants in the Paramount trust action. Oregon Theatre Razed Eugene, Ore., July 7. — Victory Theatre at Marcola, Ore., has been razed by fire, with a loss estimated at $50,000. Chester D. Johnson and his wife are owners of the house. MILLARD MITCHELL is the man you're going to hear lots about because "he's perfectly swell " says Motion Picture Daily. AKTHM MARLENG VIBTRICH JOHN WNO with MILLARD MITCHELL Produced by CHARLES BRACKETT Directed by BJLLY WILDER Screenplay by Charles 'Bracket*, BHIy Wilder, and Richard L. Breen ♦ Adaptation by Robert Harari A Paramount Picture 6 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, July 8, 1948 Review "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid" ( U niversal-International) IN bringing to the screen "Peabody's Mermaid," the novel by Guy and Constance Jones, Nunnally Johnson once more has produced a film not only rich in entertainment values but displaying a high degree of intelligence and ingenuity in the treatment of its subject. Johnson has functioned with rare felicity as both producer and _scripter_ in the creation of this fanciful comedy of a man turned 50 who tries to give the lie to his waning romantic powers by falling in love with a lovely mer- maid hooked during a Caribbean holiday with his wife. A finer spoof would be difficult to conceive, and it is questionable whether an exhibitor will come upon a laugh-getter more certain to please patrons of every stripe. The picture represents smart, often touching humor marked by a wealth of bright and clever lines primed with laughter. While the story is purely a figment of the imagination, there has gone into it so much that is human that one is almost inclined to overlook the fact that the object of Mr. Pea- body's affection is half woman and half fish. Most of the fun stems from the fact that Mr. Peabody is unable to con- vince his wife that her rival is merely a mermaid and not the full-scale woman she is believed to be. Resultant misunderstandings are productive of a long chain of hilarious incidents and provocative dialogue, leading to a session with a psychiatrist for Mr. Peabody. Knowing direction was provided by Irving Pichel. Gene Fowler, Jr., was associate producer. William Powell is superb as Mr. Peabody; so are Ann Blyth as the mermaid and Irene Hervey as the wife. Andrea King, Clinton Cundbert and Art Smith are a few of the other excellent performers. Running time, 89 minutes. General audience classification. For August release. P.E.L. Short Subject "Superman" (Columbia Serial) Both literally and figuratively, Co- lumbia's latest serial, "Superman," starts off with a solid wallop. Heard on the air for years, syndicated in newspapers, and published in comic books, the exploitation value of the title is readily evident. If the formula action and excitement of the first three chapters previewed is carried out in the remaining 12, few fans are likely to want to miss a single installment. Heading the cast are Kirk Alyn, Noel Neill, Tommy Bond and Carol For- man. Story opens with Superman arriv- ing on earth by rocket ship from an- other planet that was destroyed by earthquakes. Equipped with X-ray eyes and supersensitive ears, the tale presently recounts Superman's battles against the evils of the underworld. In the course of his exploits, in the first three chapters, Superman flies through space faster than sound, res- cues trapped miners, averts a train crash, frustrates bank robbers, etc. Sam Katzman produced and Spencer Bennet and Thomas Carr directed. The screenplay was written by Ar- thur Hoerl, Lewis Clay and Royal Cole. To Rebuild Ala. House Atlanta, July 7. — The Friendly Theatre, Slocomb, Ala., was recently destroyed by fire and will be rebuilt at once. RKO Meet (Continued from page 1) who holds the controlling interest in RKO, nor Floyd Odium, who are be- lieved to be conferring privately, were at the studio. Meanwhile, a report spread that the company has cancelled production of "The Robe," which producer Frank i Ross has been preparing since 1942 I with an estimated budget of $4,000,000. Studio spokesmen were under instruc- tion to make no comment concerning this report, while Ross could not be reached for a statement. Preparations on "The Robe" have cost the studio about $750,000 to date. SE Projectionists to Meet Atlanta, July 7. — Southeastern meeting of the "Big Five" projection- ists union will be held here on July 15. N.Y. Owners To Meet (Continued from page 1) concerning exhibitor problems in New York." He said he is hopeful it will lead to a "more coordinated exhibi- tors' public relations effort to prove generally beneficial to all New York State exhibitors." Scheduled to represent the MMPTA with Schwartz are Oscar A. Doob, executive chairman ; Murray I. Gur- fein, general counsel, and D. John Phillips, executive director. H^. Brandt, president of the Indepe^^ Theatre Owners Association, Morton Sunshine, executive director, also are on the list, along with Rob- ert W. Coyne, executive director of the Theatre Owners of America, and his successor, Gael Sullivan. Up-state New Yorkers invited in- clude : Harry Lamont, president, and Leonard Rosenthal, general counsel of the TOA of Albany; Merritt A. Kyser, president, Motion Picture The- atre Owners of New York State, Buffalo; Vincent R. McFaul and George J. Gammel, Buffalo ; Saul J. Ullman, Samuel E. Rosenblatt and Charles A. Smakwitz, Albany; Wil- liam C. Smalley, Cooperstown ; Wil- liam Benton, Saratoga, and John W. Gardner, Schenectady. Newman Buys Egyptian Seattle, July 7. — Sale of the Egyp- tian Theatre in Seattle's university district was announced here by T. F. Murphy, who built the theatre 20 years ago. He sold it to the Egyptian Building Corp., the president of which is Frank L. Newman, Sr., head of Evergreen Theatres which has been operating the Egyptian. No sale price was announced but the amount is believed to be around $350,000. FIRST IN FILM I NEWS MOT- Accurate DaI LY ° ^Concise and Impartial 64. NO. 6 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, JULY 9, 1948 TEN CENTS AAA's Validity Sustained By Appeals Court St. Louis, F. and M. Suit Dismissal Is Confirmed St. Louis, July 8.- — The United States Circuit Court of Appeals here has sustained Federal Judge Duncan's dismissal of an anti-trust suit brought by -the St. Louis Amuse- ment Co., Fanchon and Marco Serv- ice Corp., and other exhibition inter- ests, against American Arbitration Association and major film distribu- tors. The opinion, by Appellate Judge Harvey Johnson, parallels the U. S. Supreme Court's recent ruling that the AAA is a valid and legal system of regulation, and was delayed, the . court stated, pending the Supreme Court decision. The original suit, rising out of clearance cases filed by the Apollo Theatre (Joseph Litvag) asked $285,- 000 damages and an injunction against AAA rulings, and was dismissed on a motion for summary judgment for the defendants on August 6, 1945. 'Salesmen Ignorant Of Decision': Niles Anamosa, la., July 8. — "We find in talking to some 75 exhibitors that the sales forces of the film companies are woefully ignorant of the recent Su- preme-Court decision," states Charles Niles, chairman of the Allied Caravan of Iowa and Nebraska, in a bulletin sent to members. Niles cites four cases, as follows : "A Fox salesman refused to sell eight pictures unless the exhibitor bought 'Gentleman's Agreement' and 'Captain from Castile.' The member (Continued on page 5) 315ProducingFirms Netted$109,882,000 Brazil Market Crisis Pends Motion Picture Association of America indicated yesterday that it would avoid taking hasty action in combatting adverse distribution import developments reported from Brazil. A new Brazilian Price Control Board regulation requires that "rentals of films to exhibitors will be regulated on a percentage basis not to exceed 40 per cent for the distributor." The order perplexed foreign department executives here. The regulation was said to have been adopted without giving distribu- tors a chance to express their opinion of it, although exhibitors were heard. The new percentage basis virtually guarantees exhibitors 100 per cent profit on a film since the regulation provides that it will be calculated on receipts after deducting the cost on rentals of any other films which com- plete the program, the cost of all publicity and any other expenses {Continued on page 4) Mexican Industry Is Relieved of Debts Mexico City, July 8.— The film in- dustry here is the beneficiary of two much-needed breaks, the city govern- ment cancelling the industry's debts to the city and exempting the film busi- ness from all municipal taxes. Pardoning of the debts and the tax exemption were announced by Mayor Fernando Casas Aleman as an aid to the film trade. The privileges, how- ever, are only for producers, distribu- tors and studios which are wholly Mexican-owned and which are mem- (Continued on page 4) STUDIO PACT SET, ACTORS' STRIKE OFF Dembow Hits Rank's 'Perfidious Policy' The "perfidious policy" of the J. Arthur Rank Organization in Eng- land in offering the equivalent of only 50 per cent of the standard accepted price for British distribution rights for American product was attacked here yesterday by Sam Dembow, president of Producers Service Corp., which represents Triangle Pictures. "His policy of playing off major motion picture interests against one another in the hope of obtaining out- standing product at ridiculously low prices is jeopardizing the last vestiges of good-will remaining between the British and American film industry," declared Dembow. "Coming on the heels of the latest maneuver in Britain's war of nerves, imposition of the 45 per cent quota, the Rank bid for "Sleep, My Love" has many top American film officials incensed," Dembow said. Dembow reported that he will re- lease the film in the British Isles to independent theatres only. Hersholt Warns UK On Film Legislation London, July 8. — No one can legis- late to make the public attend motion pictures, Jean Hersholt, president of America's Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, told the British in- dustry today in an address which em- bodied a strong plea for ending Anglo- American film controversies. The oc- (Continued on page 4) Hollywood Sees Accord Presaging Sharp Rise In Level of Production By WILLIAM R. WEAVER Hollywood, July 8. — A strike of actors which threatened to halt pro- duction on August 1 faded from the scene today on the heels of a new contract approved late Wednes- day evening by the Screen Actors Guild's board of directors with the Association of Motion Picture Pro- ducers, representing the majors, and the Society of Motion Picture Pro- ducers, representing the principal in- dependent producers. The new pact supplants the current agreement, which expires on July 31. Production, which slipped from 34 to 31 new pictures this week, is ex- pected to rise sharpfy in sequel to the accord, reached despite Universal-In- ternational's announced shutdown dur- (Continued on page 5) Washington, July 8. — Income and excess profits tax returns of film pro- ducing and exhibition firms were be- latedly disclosed here today by the Treasury for the calendar year 1945 and the fiscal years ending between June 1945 and June 1946. Producing firms filed 702 returns, of which 315 showed a net income and 288 a deficit. The Treasury did not (.Continued on page 4) Theatre Cancels 'Spot-News9 Newsreel Received Five Days After Telecast Salt Lake City, July 8. — Charles M. Pincus, manager of the Utah Theatre here, announced cancellation of a 20th Century-Fox Movie- tone newsreel containing mostly pictures of the Republican con- vention because "the same scenes were shown' on television locally five days before they were made available" to his theatre. So far as is known, this is the first action of this type reported. While there are only about 500 sets in homes in the city, down- town stores have the sets in the windows and nightly attract crowds to telecasts. Pincus explained that he is in the habit of "catching" the television shows and said the scenes in question were shown on video two days after the convention was over and were not made available for newsreel "showing in the Utah until five days later or a week after the convention. Pincus declared newsreel companies must make spot pictures available for immediate showing in cases of this type. "Television is a competitor and we must realize it," he declared. RKO Layoffs Pave Way for New Regime Hollywood, July 8. — While mem- bers of the RKO board of directors were preparing for their first formal meeting with Howard Hughes, the studio has initiated substantial layoffs in several departments in a move be- lieved to be prefatory to installation of the new regime. With a majority of the studio's writers instructed to complete scripts or present summaries of incompleted ones by Saturday, the departments affected by the layoffs in- cluded writers, publicity, casting, sec- retarial and technical. The board meeting, which will be convened this weekend, is expected to culminate in a clear-cut definition of company policy under Hughes. Jap Quake Killed 1,500 in Theatres At least 1,500 persons in theatres were killed in last week's earthquake in Japan, a delayed report from Charles Mayer, Motion Picture Ex- port Association director in Japan discloses. Released here yesterday by the MPEA, the report revealed that in Fukui alone, all six of the city's film (Continued on page 4) 2 Motion picture Daily Friday, July 9, 1948 Personal Mention OSCAR A. DOOB, Loew's general theatre executive, left here yester- day for a vacation in Wisconsin. • Dorothea J. Lutjens, personnel manager of the Motion Picture As- sociation of America, will be married tomorrow to Robert W. Little, New York engineer, at Crugers'-on-the- Hudson, N. Y. • Herman Silver of Columbia's spe- cial events and exploitation depart- ment, and Mrs. Silver have become parents of their first child, a son, Al- lan Edward, born at Women's Hos- pital here. • C. J. Feldman, Universal-Interna- tional Western division sales manager, will return to New York this weekend from a tour of Des Moines, Omaha, Milwaukee and Chicago exchanges. • Sam Hinson, Selznick Releasing Organization branch manager in Char- lotte, was in Atlanta this week for a sales meeting with Henry Krumm, Southern district manager. • Ruth Simon of the Authors and Artists Guild and Francine Grad will produce a play on Broadway'this fall. • Clark Gable and Kay Kyser and his wife are among passengers who will sail for Europe today on the Queen Mary. • Burtus Bishop, Jr., Midwestern sales manager for M-G-M, will be in Des Moines today from Chicago and is due in Minneapolis on Monday. • Mel Ballerino, M-G-M assistant casting director, and his wife are in town from the Coast. • Charles C. Moskowitz, Loew's vice-president and treasurer, left here yesterday for the Coast. • I. J. Hoffman, head of Warner Theatres in New England, was in Boston yesterday from Albany, N. Y. • Martin Bennett, RCA district manager of the sound division, was in Boston yesterday from Albany, N. Y. • Noel Meadow, industry publicist, and his wife, Sylvia, are observing their fourth wedding anniversary. Anna N eagle Again Tops UK Fan Poll London, July 8. — Anna Neagle has been selected "Queen of the World's Screen" for the second consecutive year by readers of The Picturegoer, British fan magazine. Miss Neagle's name is at the top of the list this year for the third time in the 16-year his- tory of the poll, making her a mem- ber of the "Select Company of the Screen Elect." Only two others have reached that class : Greer Garson and Sir Laurence Olivier. Insider's Outlook By RED KANN DET on it : There will be no withdrawal from the British market by the American compa- nies. There are reasons. First: Division of interests makes its improbable — and per- haps impossible — to reach a basis of common procedure. Be- cause Paramount faces a kick- ing around in England, Barney Balaban favors forthright ac- tion. Because 20th Century- Fox is part owner of Gaumont British via the Metropolis and Bradford Trust, Spyros Skouras is not quite as discouraged; con- sequently, he counsels modera- tion. And so on. Second: Fifty-five per cent of British playing time remains outside the new quota which will devour the remaining 45 per cent. On the half-loaf-or- better theory, Britain continues an important market for Ameri- can films. Third: Perhaps it is an empty prospect, but much opinion looks toward the State Department for action, not merely cautious half-promise. Now that the European Recovery Program has been accepted formally by the British, attention is being re- directed toward one of the essen- tial planks of that program which makes it clear artificial trade barriers are not to be maintained against American industry. "I am going to take my coat off to see that everybody plays his 45 per cent quota." — J. Ar- thur Rank at a trade press con- ference in London on June 14. "J. Arthur Rank . . . acknowl- edged . . . certain British ex- hibitors are 'quite properly en- titled to claim relief under Sec- tion 4 of the new cinematograph [quota] act'. . . . His statement was his first acknowledgement that any exhibitor had a possible grievance. It also was an about-face in connection with his previously public-declared intention to ensure that all play 45 per cent British product with no excuses." — Motion Picture Daily, July 8, from London. King: O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven— Hamlet, Act III, Scene III. ■ ■ Slightly historical is the cur- rent run of "Fort Apache" at the Capitol. This is the first RKO release to play this New York first run since "Tender Comrade," which had two weeks there beginning June 1, 1944. The reason is not difficult to find. Since RKO converted the Palace into double features, RKO distribution is minus a show window in the Times Square district and must rely on deals with outside interests. Bob Mochrie struck one with Joe Vogel, and "Apache" en- tered the Capitol. ■ ■ On the way, or planned, are further signs that a cycle of war films is brewing. The signs : "Rogue's Regiment," from Uni- versal; "C.I.D. Agent," Colum- bia; "Sands of Iwo Jima," Re- public ; "These Were My Orders," Eagle-Lion. ■ ■ In the American zone of oc- cupied Germany, no person may hold a post in more than one branch of the German film in- dustry. Nor can one person or One company own, or hold an in- terest in, more than 10 theatres. Still think the Supreme Court decision was tough? ■ ■ Insiders who have had oppor- tunity of seeing "Red River" cannot contain their enthusiasm. They agree that when UA places this one from Howard Hawks in the same category as "The Covered Wagon" and "Cimarron" it is not exaggerat- ing. ■ ■ Independent producers, still feeling the urge, are being tempered by these general condi- tions of financing. 1. — Bank loans seldom beyond 45 per cent. 2. — Scarcity of second money. 3. — Unlimited completion bond a requirement. ■ ■ Supreme Court or not, have you noticed how Karl Hoblit- zelle and his Interstate Circuit are dissolving long-standing the- atre partnerships in the sov- ereign state of Texas? Several of them date back 14 years. According to the Treasury Department, Phil Berg, Coast agent, drew $112,661.78, and Bert Allenberg, his partner, $112,741.82 in 1946. What did Bert do to rate the additional $80.04 Griffis in New Ambassador's Post Washington, July 8. — President Truman today named Stanton Griffis Ambassador to Egypt. Griffis, who is chairman of Paramount's executive committee, had been Ambasador to Poland. The appointment is a recess one. It had been expected that Griffis would be appointed Ambassador to Turkey. „v Job, Sobel in FC Post ^ Sam Sobel has been named branch manager of Film Classics' San Fran- cisco exchange, to replace the late Fred Abelson. NEW YORK THEATRES c — RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL- Rockefeller Center BING JOAN CROSBY FONTAINE in "THE EMPEROR WALTZ"! Color by TECHNICOLOR A Paramount Picture SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION JOHN FORD'S MASTERPIECE "FORT APACHE COOL IN PERSON jf LENA HORNE , Special! Ji PAUL WINCHELL B Extra! I) SKINNAY ENNIS If and his ORCH. {[) CAPITOL B'way & 51st St. greatest ctar- andrsong-shewl Released thru RKO Radio Pictures Cast of 10,000 in Cecil B. DeMille's with Loretta Young • Henry Wilcoxon A PARAMOUNT U-U1EASE „ Scidntiflc.il, Air Co~o.iii.id Doors DAN DAILEY "Give My Regards To Broadway" A 20th Century-Fox Picture in Technicolor On Variety Stage— THE ANDREWS SISTERS DEAN CAROL MARTIN and JERRY On Ice Stage — LYNNE ■ ARNOLD LEWIS SHODA ROXY 7th Ave. & 50th St. : MOTION PICTURE DAILY Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwm Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl Hope Burnup Manager Peter Burnup Editor; cable address, Quigpubco, London.' Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N Y. under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies. 10c. On July 26th *"The Babe Ruth joins the list of distinguished motion pictures which have been presented at America's foremost House of Hits . . . The AstOr Theatre NEW YORK CITY World Premiere A ROY DEL RUTH PRODUCTION . Presented by Allied 4 Motion Picture Daily Friday, July 9, 1948 AMPA to Support TOA 'Youth Month' Associated Motion Picture Adver- tisers will support the "Youth Month" campaign sponsored by the Theatre Owners of America. This will be the first project on which the two will work together since a fundamental agreement on cooperating in public relations was made last week. AMPA president Max Youngstein attended yesterday's meeting of the TOA here, with Robert W. Coyne, retiring director of TOA; his succes- sor, Gael Sullivan; Earl Hudson, head of public relations for the organiza- tion, and D. John Phillips of the Met- ropolitan Motion Picture Theatres Association. Thornton Sargent, head of TOA's promotion of Youth Month, is ex- pected here from the Coast today and will work out details of the joint ef- fort with Youngstein next week. Youngstein Outlines AMPA Activities for Next Year Max E. Youngstein, president of Associated Motion Picture „ Adver- tisers, at a meeting of the organiza- tion's board of trustees yesterday out- lined a seven-point program which will set the pattern for AMPA's com- ing year's activities. The program was adopted unanimously by the board. The program consists of the follow- ing : a stepped-up membership drive to double the present membership with the appointment of a membership cap- tain in each film company as well as in allied crafts ; plans for cooperation with exhibitor groups such as Theatre Owners of America ; cooperation with Screen Publicists Guild ; utilization of field exploitation men in industry pub- lic relations for AMPA membership; active recruitment of newspaper, radio and magazine personnel throughout the country who are to form a committee as consultant members of AMPA ; plans for an annual organization din- ner, and inauguration of AMPA awards for the best advertising, pub- licity and exploitation campaigns. Skouras Urges Help For Child Aid Drive An urgent call for aid to child vic- tims of the war was sounded by Spyros P. Skouras, president of 20th-Fox, yesterdays in an address introducing Dwight D. Eisenhower at the United Nations Appeal luncheon at the Wal- dorf-Astoria Hotel. Skouras said that the United Nations Appeal provides "an opportunity through our private efforts to clinch the understanding and support of the world through deeds of kindly good neighborliness in this staggering emer- gency." The Appeal's goal in the New York area is $6,600,000. Aid for Rogers Fund Pledged in Capital Washington, July 8. — Distributors and exhibitors in the Washington area today pledged support to the industry drive to raise funds to prevent closing of the Will Rogers Memorial Hospi- tal at Saranac Lake, N. Y. A deci- sion on the method of raising funds lo- cally was deferred until Monday. The matter was put before the local trade at a luncheon sponsored by the general sales managers of the distribu- tors and was presided over by Charles M. Reagan of Paramount, and Rob- ert Mochrie of RKO Radio. Quake Killed 1,500 (Continued from page 1) theatres collapsed from the violence of the tremors and were reduced to ashes in the ensuing conflagration. The only theatre in the city playing an Ameri- can film, the Chu Eiga Gekijo, was miraculously cleared of 1,300 a few minutes before the quake leveled the building. Prints of "100 Men and a Girl" were destroyed in the flames. Heaviest toll of life was taken at the Toho Theatre where over 1,000 died in the holocaust. Mayer has authorized a series of charity performances for the benefit of the stricken in cooperation with native relief agencies. Hersholt Warns (Continued from page 1) casion was the presentation of awards to five British production technicians. The only ones who can get the pub- lic to see pictures, Hersholt declared, are those who make them and, in the final analysis, he added, the only ar- biter is the public itself, whether in Britain or America. Legislatures or industrial leaders are not the arbiters, he said. British recipients of the academy awards were: John Bryan and Alfred Junge for art direction, Wildred Shin- gleton for interior decoration, and Guy Green and Jack Cardiff for cinema- tography. British pictures involved were "Great Expectations" and "Black Narcissus." Brazil Market Crisis (Continued from page 1) necessary to complete the program. Foreign department executives here hesitated to term the measure "dis- criminatory," since it is yet to be seen whether similar measures will be applied against other imports. MPAA said it is waiting for a report from Joachim D. Rickard, its Rio de Janei- ro representative, before taking any action of its own, and yesterday dis- counted press dispatches from Rio de Janeiro hinting at a boycott of Brazil's theatres. Mexican Industry (Continued from page 1) bers in good standing of the Associa- tion of Mexican Picture Producers and Distributors. Reports are that the Federal Min- istry of Finance is studying proposals to follow the local government's ex- ample and forgive the trade its Fed- eral debts and exempt it from national taxes. Defer EC A Group Meet Washington, July 8. — First meet- ing of. the Economic Corporation Ad- ministration's advisory board, of which Motion Picture Association of America president Eric Johnston is a member, has been postponed from July 14 to July 16. Members will be sworn in at the meeting. Industry Short Ready Hollywood, July 8.— "This Theatre and You," first of the series of the industry's documentary shorts, has been completed by Gordon Hollings- head, Warner shorts department head, and prints have been shipped to Wash- ington and New York. Canam Will Start With Three a Year Canam Film Productions, Ltd., new Canadian production organization, plans to make three pictures a year pending the availability of improved studio facilities in the Dominion, it was disclosed here yesterday by Rob- ert Montgomery, former advertising- publicity executive for 20th-Fox and the J. Arthur Rank Organization, who will function as executive producer. It was indicated by Montgomery, who is in New York from his Toronto headquarters for discussions on a re- leasing deal, that Canam would en- large its program as soon as more space for production is made avail- able. He said Canam's product would be made at no set budget, with the first picture to be "The Gallant Green- horn," which is expected to be put into production in August from a script based on a Canadian Broadcasting Co. radio program. Canam has first call on CBC radio properties in Canada, he said. Montgomery will return to Toronto today. Booking of 'Rebel' Urged by Johnston In mail sent yesterday to the secre- taries of the 2,400 Chambers of Com- merce in the country, Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Asso- ciation of America, called upon them to urge their local theatres to book "Letter to a Rebel," second in the in- dustry's short subject series on Amer- ican democracy in action. The subject was produced by RKO Pathe as part of This is America. Columbia Meeting On Coast Winds Up Hollywood, July 8. — Jack Cohn, A. Schneider, Leo Jaffe, A. Montague, Nate Spingold and Joseph McConville will leave here over the weekend for New York, following a week of con- ferences with Harry Cohn and other executives at the Columbia studio on production plans for the year. 315 Producing Firms (Continued from page 1) account for the others. Those with a net income showed total receipts of $736,387,000 and net income of $109,- 882,000. They paid $42,196,000 in in- come and excess profits taxes and $34,- 999,000 in dividends in cash and assets other than their own stock. Firms showing a deficit had total receipts of $31,902,000, a net deficit of $5,621,000, and paid $33,000 in dividends. In exhibition, 2,852 returns were filed by firms showing a profit and 479 by firms showing a deficit. The plus returns indicated receipts of $870,200,000, net income of $163,559,- 000, income and excess profits taxes of $94,479,000, and dividends of $35,- 856,000. The deficit returns indicated receipts of $31,852,000, deficits of $1,990,000, and dividends of only $17,000. Zanuck to London Darryl F. Zanuck, 20th Century- Fox's production vice-president, ar- rived in New York from the Coast yesterday preparatory to his departure immediately for London. He will then go to Germany. He will be accom- panied by Mrs. Zanuck. Fred E. Pelton, 55, Retired AMPP Aide Los Angeles, July 8. — Fred E. Pel- ton, 55, who retired as labor represen- tative for the Association of Motion Picture Producers last September af- ter nine years in the post, died today. Since his retirement he had devoted himself to perfecting and marketing production efficiency in studio con- struction systems. ^. Born in Denver on Nov. 1, If Joh Pelton was educated at the U.TJf>, Naval Academy and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. From 1922 to 1924 he was general manager of United Studios here, then joined First National Pictures as studio manager from 1925 to 1928. He became asso- ciated with M-G-M in 1929, as studio and executive manager until 1936, then as production executive for M-G-M in London from 1937 to 1939. McPherson Burial To Be in Chicago Funeral services for John R. Mc- Pherson, 45, joint managing director of National Screen Service, Ltd., of Great Britain, will be held in Chicago, his home city. The body is being flown from London. McPherson, an NSS veteran, died in London Wednesday. He was branch manager in Chicago for years, later becoming Western division manager and finally an executive at the home office in New York. His mother and two sisters survive. Harry Fried, Phila. Exhibitor, Succumbs Philadelphia, July 8. — Harry Fried, 58, well-known suburban ex- hibitor, died today after an illness of several weeks in Bryn Mawr Hospital. A native of Russia, Fried came to this country when he was 16. He operated the Anthony Wayne Theatre in Wayne, the Suburban in Ardmore and two houses in Conshohocken. Survivors include the widow, Flor- ence, six children and a brother, Mor- ris. Funeral services will be held tomorrow. Services for Roxy's Brother, Max, 65 Private funeral rites were held yes- terday for Max Rothafel, 65, brother of the late Samuel L. Rothafel. Death came on Tuesday after a heart attack. Among survivors are the widow, a daughter and a son, Robert C. Roth- afel, a district manager of. Fox West Coast Theatres Corp. Rothafel was stricken the day after his return from a trip to Brazil, where he represented the Institute de Caco de Brasil. Mrs. Paul Benjamin Mrs. Lucille Benjamin, wife of Paul Benjamin, National Screen Service executive, died on Wednesday at Miami Shores, Fla., after a year's ill- ness. A son, William, also survives. Republic 28 -Week Net Is $236,832 Republic Pictures and subsidiaries report a net profit after taxes of $236,- 832 for the 26 weeks ended April 26, compared with .earnings of $656,297 for the same period of 1947. Friday, July 9, 1948 Motion Picture daily 5 Key City Grosses FOLLOWING are estimated pic- ture grosses for current engage- ments in key cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily correspond- ents. Estimates omit admission tax. Review ANGELES Weather was too good, beaches and baseball too attractive, and the out-of- doors in general too alluring for box- office welfare generally over the long holiday. Estimated receipts for the week' ended July 7 : BERLIN EXPRESS (RKO' Radio) and STAGE STRUCK (Mono.) — BELMONT (1,600) (5Oc-60c-85c-$l.OO). Gross: $7,000. (Average: $5,750) BERLIN EXPRESS (RKO Radio) and STAGE STRUCK (Mono.)— EL REY (861) (50c -60c- 85c -$1.00). Gross: $8,500. (Aver- age: $5,700) BERLIN EXPRESS (RKO Radio) and STAGE STRUCK (Mono.)— ORPHEUM (2,210) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00). Gross: $18,000. (Average: $14,650) BERLIN EXPRESS (RKO Radio) and STAGE STRUCK (Mono.) — VOGUE (800) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00). Gross: $8,500. (Aver- age: $6,500) THE FULLER BRUSH MAN (Col.) and THUNDERHOOF (Col.) — HILLSTREET (2,700) (50c-60c-80c-$1.00) 3rd week. Gross: $20,000. (Average: $18,950) THE FULLER BRUSH MAN (CoL) and THUNDERHOOF (CoL) — PANTAGES (2,- 000) (50c-60c-80c-$1.00) 3rd week. Gross: $19,000. (Average: $17,150) HAZARD (Para.) and WATERFRONT AT MIDNIGHT (Para.) — PARAMOUNT (Downtown) (.3,595) ( 50c-60c-80c-$1.00 ). Gross: $14,000. (Average: $16,450) HAZARD (Para.) and WATERFRONT AT MIDNIGHT (Para.) — PARAMOUNT (Hoi- lywood) (1,407) (50c-60c-80c-$1.00). Gross: $10,500. (Average: $13,000) ON OUR MERRY WAY (UA-Bogeaus)— MUSIC HALL (Beverly Hills) (900) (65c- 85c-$1.00) 4th week. Gross: $2,500. (Aver- age: $3,150) ON OUR MERRY WAY (UA-Bogeaus)— MUSIC HALL (Downtown) (900) (65c-85c- $1.00) 4th week. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $7,550) ON OUR MERRY WAY (UA-Bogeaus)— MUSIC HALL (Hawaii) (1,000) (65c-85c- $1.00) 4th week. Gross: $2,600. (Average: $3,400) ON OUR MERRY WAY (UA-Bogeaus)— MUSIC HALL (Hollywood) (490) (65c-85c- $1.00) 4th week. Gross: $2,200. (Average: $3,100) THE PIRATE (M-G-M) — EGYPTIAN (1,- 000) (50c -60c -85c -$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $11,500. (Average: $11,900) THE PIRATE (M-G-M) — FOX - WIL- SHIRE (2,303') (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $11,500. (Average: $12,850) THE PiRAIE (M-G-M) — LOS ANGELES (2,096) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $18,000. (Average: $18,100) ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS (WB) —WARNERS (Downtown) (3,400) (50c-60c- 80c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $11,500. (Aver- age: $13,730) ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS (WB) — WARNERS (Hollywood) (3,000) (50c-60c- 80c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $10,000. (Av- erage: $11,650) ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS (WB) —WARNERS (Wiltern) (2,300) (50c-60c-80c- $1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $9,000. (Average: $11,220) THE SEARCH (M-G-M) — FOUR STAR (900) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00). Gross: $10,000. (Average: $7,450) THE STREET WITH NO NAME (20th- Fox) and HERE COMES TROUBLE (UA- Roach)— CARTHAY CIRCLE (1,516) (50c- 60c-85c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $10,000. (Average: $9,500) THE STREET WITH NO NAME (20 th- Fox) and HERE COMES TROUBLE (UA- Roach)— CHINESE (2,300) (50c-60c-85c- $1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $14,500. (Average: $13,000) THE STREET WITH NO NAME (20th- Fox) and' HERE COMES TROUBLE (UA- Roach) — LOEWS SATE (2,500) (50c-60c- 85c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $26,500. (Aver- age: $19,800) THE STREET WITH NO NAME (20th- Fox) and HERE COMES TROUBLE (UA- Roach) — LOYOLA (1,265) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $10,000. (Average: $10,- 000) THE STREET WITH NO NAME (20th- Fox) and HERE COMES TROUBLE (UA- Roach) — UPTOWN (1,716) (50c-60c-85c- The Illegals (Mayer-Burstyn) ONE of the most ruthlessly honest and solemnly engrossing documentary- dramas in many seasons is presented in "The Illegals," depicting the exodus of displaced Jews from Europe to Palestine by way of the under- ground. Made at a relatively modest budget, the picture teems with genuine touches and unadorned simplicity. Even in its repetitiveness the film never loses its dominating power. Within the sphere of selective audiences it should enjoy a whopping popularity, especially since the theme is one that receives daily prominence in newspapers of the nation. Meyer Levin, an author of note in his own right, wrote, directed and pro- duced the production for Americans for Haganah. While all of the material is factual, it is highlighted dramatically through the device of having the cameras center on a young married couple who take the hazardous journey of escape with hundreds of others. The cameras record neutrally the struggles and hardships of the long trek across several countries, followed by a har- rowing sea voyage. No standard Hollywood ending closes the drama. As the beleaguered group reaches its journey's end, it is barred from enter- ing Palestine by British warships. The narration provided by Levin is an admirable job that never once stoops to the irony or sarcasm that easily might have been provoked. The drama is one that is washed with human agony but not without rays of hope. The young couple in the cast are Tereska Torres and Yankel Mikalowitch. "The illegals" are themselves. Running time, 75 minutes. Adult audience classification. Release date, July 12. Mandel Hf.ebstman $1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $10,500. (Average: $10,100) UP IN CENTRAL PARK (U-I) and DEVIL'S CARGO' (FC)-GUILD (965) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $3,500. (Average: $5,450) UP IN CENTRAL PARK (U-I) and DEVIL'S CARGO (FC)-IRIS (708) (50c- 60c-85c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $4,000. (Average: $6,100) UP IN CENTRAL PARK (U-I) and DEVIL'S CARGOi (FC)— RITZ (1,376) (50c- 60c-85c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $5,500. (Average: $9,050) UP IN CENTRAL PARK (U-I) and DEVIL'S CARGO' (FC)— STUDIO (880) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $4,000. (Average: $6,300) UP IN CENTRAL PARK (U-I) and DEVIL'S CARGO (FC)— UNITED ART- ISTS (2,100) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $3,900. (Average: $9,580) CHICAGO Ideal weekend holiday weather catered to the masses who left town, leaving the Loop with modest attend- ance. Arriving conventioneers should perk things up considerably. Best of the lot is "Green Grass of Wyoming," with Peggy Lee in person. Estimated receipts for the week ended July 8 : ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST (U-I)— GRAND (1,150) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $12,000. (Average: $11,500) ARCH OF TRIUMPH (UA)— WOODS (1,- 080) (98c) 3rd week. Gross: $15,000. (Aver- age: $23,000) B. F.'s DAUGHTER (M-G-M)— UNITED ARTISTS (1,700) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $18,- 000. (Average: $20,000) CORONER CREEK (Col.)— ROOSEVELT (1.500) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $13,000. (Av- erage: $18,000) FOUR FACES WEST (UA)— APOLLO (1,200) (50c-65c-98c) 2nd week. Gross: $10,- 000. (Average: $14,000) GREEN GRASS OF WYOMING (20th- Fox)— CHICAGO (3,900) (50c -65c -98c). On stage: Peggy Lee. Gross: $45,000. (Aver- age: $40,000) MR. B LANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE (SRO)— STATE LAKE — (2,700) (50c-65c-98c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $22,000. (Average: $30,000) THUNDER IN THE VALLEY (20th-Fox) —ORIENTAL (3.300) (98c). On stage: Three Stooges. Gross: $40,000. (Average: $40,000) UP IN CENTRAL PARK (U-I)— PAL- ACE (2,500) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $19,000. (Average: $21,000) MMPTA Aid Pledged To NYC Celebration Support of the Metropolitan Mofion Picture Theatres Association for the Golden Jubilee celebration of New York City has been pledged to Mayor William O'Dwyer by the MMPTA executive committee, comprising Fred J. Schwartz, Century Circuit ; Oscar A. Doob, Loew's; Julius Joelson, J. and J. Circuit; Samuel Rinzler, Rand- force Circuit, and Robert M. Weit- man, managing director of the Para- mount. D. John Phillips is executive director of the association. Actors' Strike Off (Continued from page 1) Ignorant of Decision (Continued from page 1) 3 for E-L on Broadway With two Eagle-Lion first-runs hav- ing opened on Broadway this week, the company has still another set for next week. The two that bowed in this week are "Canon City," at Loew's Criterion, and "Raw Deal," at the Victoria. Opening at the Gotham on July 17 is "Mickey." told the salesman he didn't want the two pictures but would buy the bal- ance. The salesman said he couldn't buy any if he didn't take them all." "RKO refused to confirm and ap- prove 'Best Years of Our Lives' be- cause the exhibitor had not and would not buy the two previous Goldwyn pictures 'Mitty' and 'Bishop's Wife.' " "A Warner Brothers salesman re- fused to eliminate two pictures on a deal and told the exhibitor that here- after if they wanted a deal they could come to him." "A Paramount salesman refused to eliminate a picture on a deal and said his office would not stand for it." Continued Niles : "All of these cases are flagrant violations of the decree, that plainly states that the sale of any picture shall not be contingent on the sale of another. We advise the sales forces hereafter to stop, these unlawful selling tactics." ing August, a sharp reduction in activ- ity at RKO Radio due to changes in studio management there and today's persistent reports that M-G-M will enter a temporary period of curtail- ment. However, all studios, except Warner, have been delaying shooting commitments, apprehensive that the SAG-producer negotiations might fail and catch them in mid-stream. Video Talks to Continue The SAG board has approved a contract running to Dec. 1, 1950, with the privilege of reopening negotiations at the end of next year. Approval, moreover, is conditioned on an agree- ment being reached providing for con- tinuation of negotiations on television and other points high on the SAG agenda. However, all parties are con- fident a final agreement will be effect- ed before the close of this year. Fur- thermore, it is anticipated that a con- tract with Independent Motion Picture Producers Association, representing small-budget independents, will be closed in the near future, thereby re- moving the last impediment to produc- tion insofar as actors are concerned. The controversial television issue which had caused a break in negotia- tions early in April was resolved in sub-committee when both sides agreed that acting for video is differ- ent from performing for films designed for regulation motion picture theatres and, therefore, warrants a separate contract which will be worked out. The key point, which is whether ac- tors are to receive additional compen- sation when theatre films are made available for telecasting, was bypassed by a clause reading : 60 Days' Cancellation Clause "If producers should decide to li- cense for television any film made and released after August 1, 1948, and up to December 1, 1950, the Guild may cancel this contract on 60 days' notice. Such cancellation, however, shall not be exercised before January 1, 1949." It is understood negotiators for both sides felt any final decision on this point should await developments in the rapidly changing video situation. Reissues, concerning which the SAG seeks assurance that the num- ber of revivals will be restricted to a small percentage of total theatre playing time, are among secondary is- sues on which negotiations will be continued in weekly meetings. The new contract guarantees a 100 per cent union shop. In a joint statement, all principals stated : "We hope this agreement will be. the go-ahead signal for increased production in Hollywood." Blair on Committee Harry Blair of RKO Radio Pic- tures, has joined the public relations committee of the Motion Picture Asso- ciates. Blair replaces Edward Schrei- ber who has left the industry. Other members of the committee are : Leon J. Bamberger, Myron Siegel and William Ornstein. Raibourn On the Air Paul Raibourn, vice-president in charge of television for Paramount, will be interviewed by Tex McCrary and Jinx Falkenberg on their "Hi ! Jinx" radio program, WNBC, today. I OF COURSE I I I TEXAS, BR00KLYI 1! WEN sent from UA His pen-and-ink people live for laughter. .. BORN on the drawing board, though they are, these little people have the breath of life and laughter that captures hearts the world around — thanks to the creative genius of the animator. His knowing lines belie the fact that they are folk of fantasy ... of pen and ink and paint. For each and every one has the human touch . . . has been fully en- dowed with character and lifelike move- ment, through the animator's artistry. Yet — for all his wit and skill' — the animator could not present his gift of laughter to the moviegoing world with- out the help of film. And this — in types especially adapted to his needs — he finds in the famous Eastman family, whose Fine Grain Master Positive and Back- ground X Negative have been the ani- mator's faithful mediums for many years. EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY ROCHESTER 4, N. Y. J. E. BRULATOUR, INC., DISTRIBUTORS FORT LEE • CHICAGO • HOLLYWOOD - FIRST MOTION PICTJU'JRle oAgeurate IN I IN ▲ "■" Tf T Concise and NEWS JJAlA jli Impartial i'-*^ (.a MO 7 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, JULY 12, 1948 TEN CENTS 'Big 5' to Get More Time On Divorce Data Gov't Expected to Set New Deadline This Week The "Big Five" on Friday were victorious in their efforts to obtain an extension of time from the De- partment of Justice for the submis- sion of answers to interrogatories on joint theatre ownerships and which were served on the defendants on July 1 under the divestiture clauses of the U. S. Supreme Court decision in the industry anti-trust case. Conversations with Robert L. Wright brought assurances from the special assistant to the U. S. Attorney Gen- eral that the deadline for the filing of answers would be moved back. Wright is said to have recognized that the extensive and detailed information sought by the Government could not be gathered by the five defendants in the' 15 days allowed them by the De- partment of Justice when the interro- gatories were served. How much time beyond July 16 the {Continued on page 6) Video Pickup Rights Given To Paramount Precluding the possibility of any legal entanglement, as anticipated in some auarters. the General Tele- vision Committee for Pooled Cover- age of the National Political Conven- tions, reversing its original position, has agreed to permit the Paramount Theatre here to pick up any part of the video account of the Democratic national convention in Philadelphia this week, for reproduction on its large screen in New York. The Paramount will use its special feed-line which directly connects its projection booth, and where a special receiver is located, with the Telephone Building here at which point the tele- vision images of the convention will be received by coaxial cable. Paramount plans to project only {Continued on page 7) Hearing Today on 1st NCA-Fox Plaint Brazil's 40% RuleAttacked Sao Paulo, Brazil, July 11.— Stiff fighting is foreseen here among ex- hibitors and between American film distributors and the Brazilian Price Control Board over the board's new order limiting distributors' film per- centages to 40 per cent. The distribu- tors, moving fast to the attack, have already sought a court order to stay execution of the surprise regulation. Meanwhile, a large segment of the industry here is charging that the Control Board is not constitutional. Thus far, there has been no move {Continued on page 7) 5th-Walnut Loses Bid for New Trial Minneapolis, July 11. — Complaints charging unfair trade practices by 20th-Fox against independent theatre owners in the Minneapolis zone are being compiled by North Central Al lied for presentation to the unit's grievance board, set up in an effort to conciliate complaints and stymie pro- posed court action. First meeting of the NCA grievance committee will be held here tomorrow, and it was believed that only two cases may be brought before the board {Continued on page 6) Ontario Theatres Face New Blackout Toronto, July 11. — The electric-power situation in Ontario commencing next October will again be critical and restrictive regulations will be necessary, warns Chairman R. H. Saunders of the Ontario Hydro-Electric Power Commission. Outdoor theatre and other illumination and displays will be banned, thus bringing back the conditions of last winter for almost all of Ontario. 50% Slash at RKO As Board Convenes Hollywood, July 11. — Approximate- ly half of RKO's permanent studio personnel received dismissal notices on Saturday in what is interpreted as an indication that production activity will be halted, except for films now shoot- ing, ' pending implementation of new policies to be decided upon by the board of directors in the next few days. Board sessions, which are ex- pected to continue for several days, started today with Howard Hughes slated to disclose his plans for the first time to the directorate. Typical of the layoffs in all studio departments, according to reports, the publicity staff lost 14 publicists and five clerks, leaving 15 publicists and nine clerks still on the payroll. The weekend cut of 50 per cent is in addi- tion to a large number of "single pic- ture" personnel and technical workers whose employment was terminated during the past two weeks as a re- sult of the cancellation of three films which were ready for shooting. UA Swings to Bid Selling In Chicago 'Arch' Will Lead Test Prompted by Loop Decree Red River 99 Fifth and Walnut Amusement Co. on Friday was denied motion for a new trial of its anti-trust suit against distributors and for setting aside the June 29 jury verdict in U. S. District Court here dismissing the distributor- defendants. Federal Judge Vincent L. Leibell told the plaintiff's attorney, {Continued on page 6) [Monterey-United Artists] — This One Is BIG UNITED ARTISTS has been going lavish on claims for "Red River." This is to report, and early in this review, that for once there has been no exaggeration. This attraction has a dramatic roar like thunder. It is a big show on all required counts — production know-how and direction, performances, story and background — intelligently and imaginatively packaged for a composite result which projects "Red River" into the august company of titans of the past like "The Covered Wagon" and ''Cimarron." Howard Hawks, who produced and directed, draws the chief credit. He had many assists behind and in front of the camera, of course. But in his dual capacities, he and no one else held the key. John Wayne, Montgomery Gift — watch him in days to come — and Walter Brennan comprised his three principals, with Joanne Dru as the unimportant feminine foil in an interesting enough, but pedestrian, story of the early West. "The Chisholm Trail," Saturday Evening Post yarn by Borden {Continued on page 6) Chicago, July 11. — United Art- ists will sell forthcoming product here on an experimental picture-to- picture basis under competitive bid- ding, thus joining 20th Century-Fox, RKO Radio and M-G-M which have been selling by bids as a result of the Jackson Park decree. First UA release under the plan is "Arch of Triumph" which terminated its Loop run today and will become available for initial subsequent-run dates July 30 under a theatre zoning plan which UA has developed. The distributor has divided Chicago and suburbs, exclusive of Loop first- runs, into 11 major zones. These zones, in turn, are broken down into the first exclusive zone, the exclusive sub-zone and the second sub-zone. For {Continued on page 6) To Probe U.K. Defaulters London, July 11. — Moving to ob- viate the possibility of theatre de- faulters under the new 45 per cent Quota Act, the British Film Pro- ducers' Association has formed a fact- finding division which will look into the programming of every theatre in this country, according to BFPA di- rector general Sir Henry French. The action admittedly imple- ments J. Arthur Rank's asser- tion at the time of the new quota's adoption, to the effect that he was going to prepare {Continued on page 7) Robert Clark Heads ABPC Production London, July 11. — Promotions con- tinue in the top ranks of Associated British Pictures Corp., with the nam- ing of Robert Clark, production ex- ecutive, to be executive director in charge of all production. Clark was an old associate of the late John Max- well and his appointment is considered {Continued on page 7) 2 Motion Picture Daily Monday, July 12, 1948 North Central Allied Calls Two Meetings Minneapolis, July 11. — North Cen- tral Allied will meet on Tuesday, August 3, at Fargo, and again on Wednesday, August 4, at Devil's Lake, to discuss and act on trade practices and exhibitor problems of the day. Two sessions were set up to enable all North Dakota and Northeast Min- nesota theatre operators to attend. Benjamin N. Berger, NCA president, and Stanley D. Kane, executive di- rector, will preside. The board is ex- pected to attend in full. Topping the agenda will be a forum on the U. S. Supreme Court decision in the Paramount anti-trust case "and its present and future effect on the small - town independent exhibitor." Clearance will be taken up, likewise conditioning the sale of one picture on another, film transportation costs and the new NCA-20th Century-Fox conciliation plan. Theatres Hit Penalty On Bakersfield Tax Bakersfield, Cal., July 11. — A new development in the battle between this city and Fox Bakersfield Theatre Corp. and Fox Paradise Theatre Corp., arose with the levying of an assessment on the two companies. Im- mediate protest was voiced by the the- tres against the "excessive" levies and the companies, while filing actual re- turns, included no payments. Last January the theatre corpora- tions refused to pay their January- March installment on the 10 per cent city amusement tax, maintaining that the tax is unconstitutional. The city council was expected to impose a 25 per cent penalty on the companies as a penalty for non-payment as provid- ed in the city ordinance. Industry Council Meet Off a Week Hollywood, July 11. — Scheduled July 13 meeting of studio, guild and union representatives on preparations for setting up an industry council to guide public relations has been post- poned to July 20, with Motion Picture Association of America's Eric Johns- ton expected to preside. Cannella in Fielding Post Commissioner John M. Cannella of the Department of Water Supply, Gas and Electricity, was appointed and sworn in on Friday by Mayor Wil- liam O'Dwyer as the Commissioner of Licenses for New York City. Can- nella succeeds Benjamin Fielding who resigned to join Loew's here. Drive-In for 0. C. Lam Atlanta, July 11. — O. C. Lam, pres- ident of the Lam Amusement Co., Rome, Ga., will start construction of drive-in theatres in Rome and La Grange, Ga. Everett's New Theatre Atlanta, July 11. — The New Er- winton Theatre, owned by Fred Ever- ett, in Erwinton, Ga., will open to the public this week. Personal JOHN JOSEPH, Universal-Inter- national advertising-publicity di- rector, is due here tomorrow from the Coast. Carter Barron, Loew's Eastern di- vision manager and Washington stu- dio representative for M-G-M, is re- covering in Doctors Hospital in the Capital from a knee operation result- ing from an old football injury. • Meyer Levin, producer of "The Il- legals," has been awarded the "Medal of Freedom" by the U. S. Army Air Force for his service as war corre- spondent with the Ninth Air Force. • Leon J. Bamberger, RKO Radio sales promotion manager, and Mrs. Bamberger and their daughter, Lois, will leave here on Thursday for a va- cation in Minnesota. • Ricardo Cortez, who has been here a month negotiating for story proper- ties and discussing video deals, left here yesterday by plane for the Coast. • Ben Wirth, president of Warner Service Corp., and Harold Rodner, vice-president, left here over the week- end for Chicago and Milwaukee. • Monty Shaff, co-producer of "Man-Eater of Kumaon," left here at the weekend for Hollywood. • Charles and Evelyn Lee Jones are on a Caribbean cruise. $4,000,000 Tieup For 'Babe RutK Some $4,000,000 will be spent by national advertisers in tieups publiciz- ing Roy Del Ruth's "The Babe Ruth Story," it was announced here at the weekend by president Steve Broidy of Allied Artists. Sponsors will include Chesterfield, Royal Crown Cola, Tootsie Roll, Ben- rus Watch, General Electric, Cracker Jack, Popsicle, Ford Motors, Quaker Oats, Cigar Institute, Lux, Big Yank, National League, American League, A. G. Spalding, Hillerich and Brads- by, Persona Blades, White Tower Restaurants, General Motors, Jantzen, Owens-Illinois Glass, Wheatland Tubes, Liquinet, Palomino Shirts, and several others. St. Louis Theatre Cave-in, Nine Hurt St. Louis, July 11. — A section of the roof of the Senate Theatre here col- lapsed during a matinee performance when the wall of an adjacent building crashed down on it. A tentative list of nine persons injured was issued af- ter the accident. Some ISO persons were in the theatre, and from 30 to SO were in the balcony, where the avalanche of bricks and plaster de- scended. Marcus Goldman, manager,' request- ed the patrons to leave the balcony after the first signs of the collapse of the adjacent building, and was calling firemen when the roof caved in. Mention EDMUND C. GRAINGER of the Shea Circuit is touring the circuit's houses in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. • Larry Cleland, managing director of the Vee Publishing Co., represent- ing Fawcett Publications in Australia and New Zealand, is in New York from Melbourne. • J. Don Alexander, president of Alexander Film Co. and chairman of the board of General Screen Advertis- ing, is in town from Colorado Springs. • Seymour Eichman, Astor Pictures advertising-publicity director, left here over the weekend with his wife for a vacation in New England. • George D. Burrows, executive vice-president and treasurer of Allied Artists-Monogram, has returned to Hollywood from New York. • Hans Richter, producer-director, left here over the weekend for Los Angeles. • Bernard J. Gates, Latin American supervisor for Monogram, is in Pana- ma, Canal Zone, from Mexico City. • James R. Grainger, Republic dis- tribution vice-president, has left here for Los Angeles and San Francisco. • Arthur Freed, M-G-M producer, is due here this week from Hollywood. IMPPA Approval of SAG Pact This Week Hollywood, July 11. — The Inde- pendent Motion Picture Producers Association will hold a meeting early this week to consider the new Screen Actors Guild contract presented by the latter following the completion of its negotiations with the Association of Motion Picture Producers and the So- ciety of Independent Motion Picture Producers. It is believed that con- firmation will be little more than a formality. Youngstein Heads Eagle - Lion Drive Max E. Youngstein, Eagle-Lion vice-president in charge of advertising- publicity, has been named captain of the company's "Bill Heineman Sales Drive," nationwide campaign in honor of the company's vice-president in charge of distribution, which will run through December 2. Film Rights to Marathon Film rights to "New York Con- fidential" by Jack Lait and Lee Mor- timer have been sold in advanced the book's publication by Ziff-Davis Pub- lishing Co. to Marathon Pictures, new film unit headed by Harry Brandt and Frank Satenstein. Purchase price was said to be $5,000 plus a percentage of the_ film's gross. It will be filmed entirely in New York, with produc- tion scheduled to start in early fall. Newsreel Parade THE earthquake in Japan, and U. S. planes sending food ship- ments into Berlin mark newsreel highlights. Flashes of President Tru- man and General Eisenhower, as well as sports and other items, round out the reels. Complete contents follow : MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 55— Jap cty wiped out by earthquake. U. S. plane* % food shortage in Berlin crisis. < il Eisenhower greets fellow freshmen i. Co- lumbia University. Sports: tennis. Tight- rope dare-devil. Stock car race. Bathing beauty contest. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 28»— Earth- quake in Japan. Political spotlight: Presi- dent Truman, General Eisenhower, William O. Douglas. U. S'. fliers defy Red blockade of Berlin. Chinese glamour girls in bath- ing beauty contest. Mountain iced for midsummer skiing. Tight-rope walk over the Alps. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 92— Earth- quake in Japan. Bavarian Alps tight-rope sensation. Personalities in the news: Gen eral Eisenhower, Jimmy Roosevelt, Harry Truman. Ski jumping. TJNIVER S AE NEWS, No. 159— Berlin supply trains fight food blockade. Earth- quake strikes Japan. Truman lauds Pan- American friendship. Sports: stock-car race, skiing. WARNER PATHE NEWS, No. 94— Earthquake in Japan. People in the news: President Truman, General Eisenhower, Frieda Hennock. German rope-walker. Chinatown beauties. Sports: Rowing, ten- nis, summer skiing. Great Americans: John Quincy Adams. First RKO Regional Will Convene Today Buffalo, July 11. — Final arrange- ments were completed today for the first of five zonal meetings of RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. sales executives, which will start here tomorrow under the direction of Robert Mochrie, dis- tribution vice-president. Mochrie will also preside at the other four gather- ings, spread across the country, in the next fortnight. A review of business matters, product schedule and an- nouncements of winners in the "Ned Depinet Drive" will be on the agenda. A home office delegation will in- clude Eastern division manager Nat Levy, short subject sales manager Harry Michalson, A. A. Schubart, manager of exchange operations and Levy's assistant, Frank Drumm. Ad Film Charges Heard on July 26 Washington, July 11. — Federal Trade Commission has scheduled hear- ings for July 26 at Indianapolis on its "unfair competition" complaint against four producers of advertising films, Ray-Bell Films, Alexander Film Co., United Film Ad Service and Motion Picture Advertising Service Co. Hear- ings have already been held in other cities. Reserves Brandt Ruling New York Supreme Court Justice James B. McNally on Friday reserved decision on motions by Paramount to eliminate eight of the 160-odd defend- ants from the company's $563,265 per- centage action against Brandt Thea- tres, et al, and to add eight new defendants. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herild, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879, Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. JULY^ We're mighty proud of the brand new industry record for activity Universal- International has lined up for July. There'll be four action -packed world premieres of four fine U-l pictures built strictly for box-office — "Tap Roots," "Man-Eater of Kumaon," "Feudfn', Fussin' and A-Fightin'" and "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid." Such activity calls for a maximum of promotion power, so we've built up our staff and put on a special field force to campaign these pictures in a manner that will guarantee you tremendous national publicity penetra- tion as well as pre-tested promotions to cash in on when you play these attractions. There'// be no summer doldrums this year for U-l exhibitors! Just turn the page and you'll find four solid reasons why you always . . . a Starring SABU JOANNE RAG! "NARAIN" AS "LAU" and WENDELL COREY AS THE HUNTER ~* MORRIS CARNOVSKY Based on the Book "MAN EATERS OF KUMAON" by JIM CORBETT Screenplay by JEANNE BARTLETT and LEWIS MEITZER Adaptation by RICHARD G HUBIER and ALOEN NASH Directed by BYRON HASKIN . produced by MONTY SHAFF- In association with FRANK P. ROSENBERG a ummsAi INmNAJIQHAl JKUASE Universal- International presents ■ mm DONALD OCOmOR MA Trt PA KETTLE OF "THE EGG AND f MARJORIE MAIV PERCT KILBRIDE 7bqefher Afainf The Tri-State Circuit gets this one, teeing off in Des Moines and Omaha on July 8 with fun, hilarity and plenty of space- grabbing stunts surrounding personal ap- pearances by Marjorie Main, Penny Ed- wards and Joe Besser. Watch the grosses on this one as it plays the circuit in Sioux City, Waterloo, Grand Rapids, Davenport, Rock Island and Mo- line and then continues on to Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Indianapolis and all around the Mid-West. with PENNY EDWARDS • JOE BESSER Screenplay by D. D. BEAUCHAMP from his Collier's Magazine Story Directed by GEORGE SHERMAN • Produced by LEONARD GOLDSTEIN evu nun" , mntiouoon;^o^ Timed to share headlines with the Demo- cratic National Convention, "Tap Roots" pre- mieres at the Goldman Theatre in spotlighted Philadelphia on July 14* spearheading day- and-date regional kick-offs in Atlantic City, Allentown, Bethlehem, Harrisburg, Reading, Ocean City, Easton, Lancaster, York and Wil- mington. Hollywood stars brought in from the studio for personal appearances! Full page newspaper ads and complete outdoor coverage! National radio hook-ups including ABC's "Go for the House," NBC's "Supper Club" show and Mu- tual's "Heart's Desire" program! Comprehen- sive national magazine and newspaper co- operative ad tie-ups with Chesterfield, General Electric and Lux! More than a thousand newspaper, radio and television reporters and commentators cover- ing the Convention will have their eyes — and their pencils — on "Tap Roots." UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL presents WILLIAM POWELL ANN BLYTH m NUNNALLY JOHNSON'S IRENE HERVEY ANDREA KING CLINTON SUNDBERG Screenplay by NUNNALLY JOHNSON From Hie novet "Peabody's Mermaid" by Guy and Constance Jones Directed I* IRVING PICHEL Associate Producer, Gene Fowler, Jr. Lots of publicity will be garnered in Atlantic City when the judges select the "Mermaid of the Year" as the wind-up of activities for the world premiere of "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid" at the Hollywood Theatre on July 28. Full national network coverage is pre-selling this picture to millions of radio listeners via such programs as the CBS "House Party" show to find the "most unusual fish story"; Mutual's "Bride and Groom4' program to select "the ideal honeymoon couple"; and Mutual's "Queen for a Day" program to crown a "Mer- maid Bathing Queen." Motion Picture Daily Monday, July 12, 1948 Para.TrailerMayAid Public Relations Paramount is working 400 prints of "Magic City," a nine-minute subject, without charge to exhibitors. Pre- dominantly designed as a super- trailer of forthcoming Paramount product, treatment points up Holly- wood at large as a hard-working com- munity dedicating itself to a continued flow of better and better entertain- ment. This may be helpful in a public relations direction. The reel is interesting, profession- ally expert and takes the audience be- hind the scenes of the studio in a quick once-over of what production is all about. Primary interest, no doubt will be among theatremen who play Para- mount product. Those who do not can- not be expected to promote attractions which end up on a competitor's screen. Stanley Shuford, Paramount's ad- vertising manager, launched "Magic City" about four months ago in asso- ciation with the studio and its trailer staff. TOA is understood to have evinced interest for its member the- atres—R. K. UA's. Bid Selling ( Continued from page 1 ) the first run, exclusive zone, all com- parable theatres in each of the 11 major zones may buy a run on com- petitive bids, thus making it possible, for instance, for 11 theatres to play "Arch" day-and-date on the same availability. For the second run, or theatres in the so-called exclusive sub-zone, two houses in each zone may buy a run so that 22 theatres could run a given film day-and-date on the identical basis. The application insofar as the second sub-zone is concerned, is identical, but additional runs in each of the sub- zones are to be licensed on a negotia- tion basis. Theatres bidding for first-run will have a clearance of seven to 14 days over the next run, and so on down the line. In some instances, the seven-day clearance may be reduced to a prior run in order to meet booking situa- tions. "On Our Merry Way," UA's next release in this territory, may be sold along the same lines. The answer de- pends on results with "Arch of Tri- umph." ITOA Party July 22 Mr. and Mrs. Harry Brandt will be hosts at their annual party for the New York Independent Theatre Own- ers Association at their summer home in Portchester, N. Y., on July 22. r OF COURSE {6 Red River 99 { Continued from page 1 ) Chase, provided the narrative base. The author and Charles Schnee furnished the script. Important and essential, these elements, however, do not explain the ex- traordinary values of the picture. The explanation is in the superb ability with which Hawks has electrified the material, in the excellence of the per- formances he has extracted from his players, in the vitality of his directorial touches and in the authority and believability which he has captured. The story of "Red River" may never have happened in real life, but Hawks un qualifiedly makes it appear that it has. IT is a simple enough yarn, getting under way before the Civil War. Wayne and Brennan decide to leave a wagon train heading for California for good grazing land. They select Texas where, years later, Wayne's vast cattle empire develops out of gunplay and hardship. On the way, they pick up the sole survivor of the ambushed wagon train. Wayne adopts the boy who returns at the close of the Civil War as Montgomery Clift. The climax begins to take form out of Wayne's desperate need to find a new market for his herd. Organizing a drive to Kansas City, he pushes his men ruthlessly through storm and strife toward the market place. Food becomes short and tempers frayed until open rebellion is in sight. Clift opposes these iron-hand tactics, finally takes over with the men lining up on his side and succeeds in delivering the cattle to Abilene, thereby open- ing up the famed Chisholm Trail. But Wayne, the dictatorial herder, vows vengeance by swearing Cliffs death. By this time, the latter has met Miss Dru and their romance is on. She attempts unsuccessfully to change Wayne's mind. When the peak of the climax arrives, Clift refuses to draw his gun and Wayne finds it impossible to kill Clift although he lands bullets at his feet and cascades them around Clift's head, shoulders and arms. Ultimately, the strong bond between both men, in many ways so similar, wins out. Their friendship is restored and the romance between the boy and girl sealed. THIS story outline admittedly falters badly alongside that which is on the screen. The solidity and the naturalness of the principal players, the honest comedy contributed by Brennan, the memorable performance of John Ireland as a badman of the plains, the rugged authority of all supporting players, including Harry Carey, clear down the line to the lowliest of super- numeraries— these are among the many assets of which "Red River" may boast. There are many others, like the wagon train attacks, the cattle stam- pedes, the mounting mood of suspense and tenseness which endow this attrac- tion with a raw-boned integrity too seldom noted out of Hollywood. The credits list Arthur Rosson as co-director, Russell Harlan as camera- man, Dimitri Tiomkin at the musical helm and others. There is credit enough for all, listed and unlisted here. Running time, 125 minutes and worth it. General audience classification. Release date, August 27. Red Kann "Night Has a Thousand Eyes" {Paramount) EDWARD G. ROBINSON is a present-day Nostradamus in a thoroughly engaging, oft-times ingenious, mystery that has the unique distinction of being able to deal with mortal man's (Robinson's) power to look into the tragedy-strewn future, without over-taxing our credulity. Or, at least, it is so interestingly and imaginatively done that most any audience will go along with it. Supernormal gifts are not required to foresee a healthy box- office future for "Night Has a Thousand Eyes." Robinson does a crystal-ball act at the start, teamed with Virginia Bruce and Jerome Cowan. "Visions" cross his mental eye. Alarmed, he leaves the two and they marry. Twenty years pass, Cowan has become wealthy, having cashed in on Robinson's foresight in an oil project. Miss Bruce has passed away. The story picks up as Robinson predicts Cowan's death in an air crash, warns the latter's daughter Gail Russell, but too late. Then he sees Miss Russell's death ahead. It gets weird here as the chain of events leading to her demise comes true, as Robinson said they would. The police, particu- larly William Demarest, are baffled, take all precautions, with a few amusing bits thrown in. Miss Russell narrowly escapes death but Robinson is killed, just as he also predicted. There is no explanation for all of this but the picture plays around with the possibility that one does exist, however com- plex, and that suffices. John Farrow's direction apparently has gotten all out of the Cornell Woolrich novel which Barre Lyndon and Jonathat Lati- mer adapted. John Lund and Roman Bohnen are others in prominent support. Endre Bohem produced. Running time, 80 minutes General audience classification. Release date, Oct. 22, 1948. Gene Arneel All KATO Officers Reelected at Meet Louisville, July 11. — All officers of the Kentucky Association of The- atre Owners were reelected at a meeting held here at the weekend. Guthrie Crowe again is president, with Willard Gabhart, vice-president ; C. R. Buechel, treasurer ; Neil G. Borden, assistant treasurer and secre- tary, and Henry J. Stites as general counsel. & Newly-elected directors for \ year terms are Ned Greene, I '. Pickle, Mrs. Gratia Locke, Kenneth Arnold, W. Bruce Aspley, J. Van Snook, Gene Lutes, L. O. Davis, W. T. Cain and Mrs. O. J. Minnix. Di- rectors-at-large for two years are E. R. Orlstein and Lew Hensler, the latter resigning immediately with the announcement that he was resigning as Schine Circuit zone manager in Lex- ington to enter another business in Florida. Bob Cox, who will succeed Hensler in the Schine post, was named to the director's post. A committee was set up to prepare for the KATO convention which will be held some time in October. 1st NCA-Fox Hearing ( Continued from page 1 ) in an attempt to "feel its way" at conciliation. First joint meeting of the committee and the local 20th-Fox branch manager may be held imme- diately following the grievance com- mittee meeting. NCA's committee is comprised of E. L. Peaslee, Stillwater, Minn., chairman, and Henry Greene and Ted Mann, both of Minneapolis. Alternates are Jack Wright, New Prague ; Don Buckley, Redwood Falls, and George Granstrom, St. Paul. 'Big Five' {Continued from page 1) defendants will be granted for the data demanded by the Government had not been agreed upon on Friday. The ex- tent of the additional time to be al- lowed is not expected to be known definitely until the middle of the week. The "Big Five," it was learned, will enter objections to some of the ques- tions propounded by the Department of Justice. Just which questions they will take exception to is yet to be decided. 5th-Walnut Loses {Continued from page 1) "Fighting Back" (20th Century-Fox) EXPECTED complications develop in the story of "Fighting Back" when a convict serves out his term in the army, is honorably discharged, re- turns home to his family, then is unjustly accused of stealing a bracelet from his employer's wife. This is a routine affair with trite dialogue, a cast which few audiences will recognize, artificial dramatics in an attempt to play on the emotions, and an ending which is obvious once the plot is introduced. However, "Daisy," one of the canine stars of the films, is given ample opportunity to display her talents, thus providing dog-lovers with some moments of enter- tainment. It was produced by Sol M. Wurtzel and directed by Mai St. Clair, from a story and screenplay by John Stone. The cast includes Paul Langton and Jean Rogers as the returned army veteran and his wife, Gary Gray as their young son, and Joe Sawyer as a detective. Monroe E. Stein, that he could not grant the motions since the jury was properly charged before it entered into deliberations at the trial's end. Fifth and Walnut's only recourse now is to file for an appeal from the jury verdict. If a motion for an ap- peal should be granted the case would be heard in U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals, probably in the fall. Variety Club To Golf Cleveland, July 11. — Friday, July 30, has been set as the date for the annual golf tournament of the local Variety Club, to be held at the Pine Ridge Country Club. Nat Wolf, Warner zone manager, is general chairman of a committee on arrange- ments consisting of Bert Lefkowich, tournament ; Sam Abrams, prizes ; Ir- win Shenker, house ; Ray Schmertz, television raffle ; Lou Ratener, tickets, and J. Knox Strachan, publicity. Monday, July 12, 1948 Motion Picture daily 7 Studio Space Inquiry in UK London, July 11.— A British Board of Trade committee, regarded in many circles here as a thin end of the wedge of nationalization, has been formed to "consider whether or not to hold for the. use of independent producers Gov- e.'*"j3hnt-owned or centrally-owned stu- pact." BOT president Harold Wilson, however, has repeated his assurances that he is primarily interested in as- sisting the independents and that the formation of the committee is the only course open to him. Several months ago he had indicated the government might subsidize independent producers but nothing has come of that "pledge," and the independents have been re- sentful. Former Permanent Secretary for Colonies, Sir George Henry Gater, has been designated chairman of the com- mittee. Other members are distin- guished public officials also, but no film representative was named. UK Default Probe (Continued from page 1) statistics for the British Board of Trade to prove that British pictures were available for quota defaulters last year. Protesting that formation of the fact-finding unit is no threat, Sir Henry nevertheless admitted that if it finds that exhibitors are allegedly showing more imported films than the quota prescribes, it is possibly because exhibitors get them at a cheaper rate than that paid for British films. The "facts" to be unearthed by the probers will be given to the British Film Council for use by the BOT, Sir Henry said, urging that this plan be supported in preference to the present practice whereby defaulters are not ascertained until the year's end, the latter method being impractical in his opinion. "We shall now know whether an exhibitor is going to default," he said. Sir Henry pleaded that exhibitors should welcome the plan in view of the BFPA's intention to support ex- hibitors' claims to relief under the quota if it is ascertained that such claims are justifiable. He admitted the BOT was not consulted on the plan. Sir Henry's announcement provoked an immediate blaze of anger among exhibitors. Typical reference to the fact-finding unit was "Rank's Ges- tapo." Cinematographers Exhibitors Association general secretary W. R. Fuller declared he will take the mat- ter up forthwith with BOT president Harold Wilson. See Little Gained In New Zealand Quiz By R. A. USMAR Wellington, New Zealand, July 6 (By Airmail).— The New Zealand government's film inquiry has ad- journed hearings after three weeks without having unearthed anything of moment. General opinion in the in- dustry is that the inquiry did not uncover anything new and the govern- ment will find it difficult to effect any momentous improvements in the con- duct of the business here. A summary of the points raised and debated follow : Monopoly of exhibition : There will probably be some legislation to limit the circuits to their present size, pl- at least licensing restrictions of limit- ing joint ownership between circuits and independents. Control : It is practically certain that the control of exhibition will be required to be in the hands of New Zealand or British national licensees. A licensing tribunal most likely will be established to replace the present licensing officer, and no theatre will be permitted to be built or licenses trans- ferred without this tribunal's consent. Narrow-gauge film : 16mm is cer- tain to come under the same rules and regulations as 35mm — meaning that exhibitors' licenses will be required for screening entertainment 16mm films. Film supply: Probably the licens- ing tribunal and the Film Industry Board will have power to regulate the film supply in competitive areas in order to prevent over-buying and unfair restrictive trade practices. Censorship : It was generally recog- nized that New Zealand's censorship is fair and reasonable. Production : Encouragement — pos- sibly financial — will be given to the production of newsreels and shorts, but there was no enthusiasm for locally-produced features unless under American or British auspices. Douglas 'Tied Up'; No Report on Quota Washington, July 11. — Secretary of State Marshall told a press con- ference here on Friday that the De- partment had not yet received any re- port from Ambassador Douglas _ in London on the British quota revision. The Department had instructed Doug- las to' express its "concern" and to make a full report on the situation. Both industry and State Department officials have word, however, that Douglas has been too tied up with the more pressing negotiations on Berlin and the ECA agreement to put in the required time on the film situation. Robert Clark Heads (Continued from page 1) here to be a loosening of the recent tight control of the company by War- ner Brothers, which has a substantial interest in ABPC. Meanwhile, C. J. Latta, formerly Warner Theatres zone manager in Albany, N. Y., who was transferred here by WB to be overseer of ABPC theatre operations in behalf of War- ner, has been nominated by Max Milder to be his alternate director on the company's board during Milder's absence because of illness. Annual ABPC stockholders' meet- ing will be held here on July 29. Canadian Exports Drop Ottawa, July 11. — Canadian film ex- ports dropped in the first five months of 1948 to $1,714,000, compared with $1,338,000 in the corresponding period last year. Brazil Rule Attacked (Continued from page 1) by the distributors to withhold prod- uct from Brazil's theatres. In any event such action would stem not from local American distribution of- fices here, but rather from the Mo- tion Picture Association of America in Washington. Five Units Set Up To Aid Sanitarium Five regional fund-raising committees have been organ- ized among distributors and exhibitor organizations ori behalf of the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital at Saranac Lake, N. Y., Robert Mochrie, chairman of the distributors' committee to aid the sanita- rium, has announced here. Units were set up in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington and Buffalo fol- lowing meetings in those cities. DuMont Asks Rise In Video Channels Washington, July 11. — Allen B. DuMont Laboratories has suggested that the Federal Communications Commission make • eight additional television channels available for com- mercial telecasts, boosting the present 12 to 20 by taking channels away from Government services and other present holders. The firm presented the broad outlines of the plan Friday before the commission's hearings on reallocation of the existing 12 channels. It will fill in the details on July 26, when hearings are to be resumed. The hearings, which have been studying situations in specific locali- ties, recessed late Friday. They will resume for general presentation in two weeks, at which time 20th Cen- tury-Fox of New England, Columbia and American Broadcasting Systems, Westinghouse, Philco and the Tele- vision Broadcasters Association will all testify in addition to DuMont. Miller Heads First U-I Drive Winners Winners of the first prizes in Uni- versal-International's 26-week "Presi- dential Sales Drive" are Dave Miller, district manager for Albany, Buffalo and New Haven ; manager Eugene Vogel of Albany, who led in the East ; manager Carl Ost, winner in the South ; Jack Bannan, Milwaukee man- ager, winner in the West, and sales- men J. H. Parker, Boston, Eastern leader ; Hugh Nesbitt, St. Louis, Southern winner, and Harry Blatt, Se- attle, Western winner. Ohio Meeting To Aid Will Rogers Hospital Cleveland, July 11. — District and branch managers of Cleveland and Cincinnati will meet at luncheon in the Statler Hotel on Tuesday when Andy W. Smith, Jr., 20th-Fox general sales manager, and Charles Reagan, Paramount's general sales manager, will address them on the needs of the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital. Sam Shain, 20th-Fox public relations head, will accompany them to Cleveland. 'Illegals' Opens Wed. World premiere of "The Illegals," documentary drama of the exodus of displaced Jews from Europe to Pales- tine, will be held at the Ambassador Theatre here Wednesday. Mayer-Bur- l styn is distributing. Reels, Video Set for Philadelphia Encore Philadelphia, July 11. — Television and newsreel crews began another week of "abnormal" operations here at the weekend with 30 newsreel cam- eras and the equipment of an 18-sta- tion video pool spotted in and around Convention Hall for the Democrats' national convention which will open officially tomorrow. The newsreel men declare that they will conform to the same policy in effect at the Republican conclave last month, that is, issuing special clips of convention footage when news impor- tance warrants it. Otherwise all ma- terial will be incorporated in the regu- lar midweek and weekend editions. _ J. R. Poppele, president of Televi- sion Broadcasters Association, and co- ordinator of the General Television Committee for pooled coverage, prom- ises an improvement in the video re- porting with errors made at the Re- publican meeting corrected. These will be of a technical nature, it was said. Paramount Video (Continued from page 1) top news developments and these can be determined only when they occur, thus there will be no advance adver- tising. Employing its intermediate, or photographic, process, the theatre will hold the video news film until it can be worked into its regular program. Instead of interrupting the feature the material will be held until a scheduled short or newsreel clip can be elimi- nated. It is in this respect that Para- mount claims an advantage over direct projection of television which must be shown simultaneously with the cov- ered subject matter. Eighteen Eastern television stations are in the convention pool. The amount Paramount has agreed to pay was not disclosed, but it is known the com- pany offered to share cable costs dur- ing the Republican convention last month, its share being estimated then at over $4,000. Video Film Council Sets July 22 Meet Second meeting of the National Tele- vision Film Council will be held here on July 22 at Sardi's for further dis- cussion of a standard exhibition con- tract for films on video, a clearance bureau for exhibition video rights and a catalogue of television films. Melvin L. Gold is NTFC chairman. Kieran to Infl Tele-Film John Kieran, sports writer and of radio's "Information Please," is one of the first "big names" in radio to be signed to an exclusive contract for a series of television film programs. He is to be featured in a weekly series titled "Kieran's Kaleidoscope," pro- duced by International Tele-Film, New York, according to Paul F. Moss, president. Moss announced also that Budd Schulberg, author, has signed an exclusive contract to write and direct a series for the company. Bids for Video Channel Washington, July 11. — Twentieth Century-Fox's road to a Seattle tele- ' vision station has become a little ' rougher with the entry of Edward - Lasker as applicant for a station there, ■ bringing to six the number of indi- ■ viduals and firms seeking three avail- able channels. G^Th THEATRE P °- »OX 1334 June 22, 19*8 ' i ^ited" &t£?*d 1915 Elm aff3 C°rp. Ed: k«Sbt expaain fch t °B- eaotlon of those "«o RED rxver i?' hoveve;erJleWng the at^te? this *he thing ve 11t B,a^lous.Va3 *l«ed to h!*^* — ^ ^££^the- CV;ed ranks with the finest motion pictures ever produced, regardless of type! released thru U A FIRST IN FILM NEWS imi_>I REMOVE MOTION PICTURE DAILY X^i. 64. NO. 8 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, JULY 13, 1948 TEN CENTS 4,729,063 Loew's Profit For 40 Weeks Down from $10,904,821; Equals 92c Per Share Net profit of $4,729,063 for the 40 weeks ended June 3, 1948, equiv- alent to 92 cents per common share, was reported for Loew's Inc., by Charles C. Moskowitz, vice-presi- dent and treasurer, yesterday. Earn- ings for the same period of 1947 were $10,904,821, or $2.12 per share. Comparative earnings state- ment included a report on busi- ness for the 12 weeks ended June 3, 1948 with gross sales and operating revenues for that period estimated at $43,356,000, compared with $43,371,000 for the same period last year, a drop of only $15,000. Operating profit for the 40 weeks this year, including subsidiaries, after the subsidiaries' preferred dividends, (.Continued on page 5) 20th, UP Set Up Video News Service Television stations throughout the country will soon have at their dis- posal a film library covering important world-wide events as a result of a long-term agreement for joint estab- lishment of a television news service signed yesterday by Spyros P. Skou- ras, 20th Century-Fox president, and Hugh Baillie, United Press president. Under the agreement, Fox Movie- tone News will document UP dis- patches with films which will be sent to video stations weekly after a basic (.Continued on page 5) N. Y. Para. Televises Williams- Jack Bout The Paramount Theatre here, step- ping up its television activities, sprung another surprise last night with a large-screen video showing of the Beau Jack-Ike Williams lightweight championship bout at Shibe Park, Philadelphia. The cabled images were picked up, processed on film and pro- jected under the same system em- ployed when the Louis-Walcott fight was telecast. Paramount cleared rights through the promoters of the boxing contest, the television sponsor (Ballantine Beer) American Broadcasting System and its Philadelphia affiliate, WFIL- (Continued on page 5) WeatherMelts B 'wayGrosses Very hot weather continued to melt business at Broadway first-runs gen- erally over the weekend as New Yorkers crowded beaches and resorts. Grossing prospects for the week are only fair in consequence, except at Radio City Music Hall ("Emperor Waltz" and a Leonidoff stage presen- tation) and Loew's State ("Easter Parade") where returns at both con- tinue to be of prosperity-plus pro- portions. The Hall's bill is expected to bring in a spectacular $146,500 in a fourth week on the basis of $86,500 grossed Thursday through Sunday. A solid $72,000 is due for the second week at the State. Only other situations where busi- ness is holding up are the Capitol where the third week of "Fort Apache," plus singer Lena Home on stage, is heading for an estimated $83,000, and the Paramount where "A (Continued on page 4) U.A. Will Not Extend Its Bidding Plan Sale of forthcoming product on an experimental picture-to-picture basis under competitive bidding will be con- fined by United Artists strictly to the Chicago territory, it was said yester- day by a company spokesman. The new Chicago sales policy was adopted by UA as a result of the Jack- son Park decree. Brazil Order Is Ruled Out Rio De Janeiro, July 10 (By Air- mail).— The Brazilian Ministry of Labor has found unconstitutional the Brazilian Price Control Board's regu- lation limiting distributors' film per- centages to 40 per cent, according to government sources. Orders officially cancelling the order are expected mo- mentarily by the industry. When the cancellation announcement comes, it will put an end to consider- able industry turmoil. Opposition to the order broke out in many quarters, and was particularly strong from American distributor representatives here. On the other hand, some ex- hibitors here supported the order since it pointed to larger profits for thea- tres playing foreign pictures. The order also fixed the price of theatre admissions, and under it the highest admission price throughout the country was to be the equivalent of 30 cents. Local price commissions were {Continued on page 5) Silverman to Back Perrin Production Chicago, July 12. — Eddie Silver- man, Essaness Theatres president, will finance with producer Nat Perrin, the independent production of the life story of Van and Schenk. Silverman will remain in Chicago with filming scheduled to roll shortly. No distribu- tion plans have been set as yet, it is reported. Atlas Corp. Still Holds 327,812 Warrants in RKO Washington, July 12. — Atlas Corporation's sale of 929,020 shares of RKO common stock to Howard Hughes on May 18 highlights other- wise routine trading by insiders in film companies' stocks, in the latest report of the Securities and Exchange Com- mission, covering the period from May 11 to June 10. The report shows Atlas still holding warrants for 327,812 shares at the end of the period. Columbia president Harry Cohn re- ceived a stock dividend of 3,473 shares of common on May 11, increasing his holdings to 142,395 shares. Jack Cohn received a dividend of 1,199 shares, to bring his personal holdings to 49,168. His trust accounts sold 2,000 shares and got a dividend of 538, for a net drop of 1,462 shares to 22,157. A. Montague sold 200 shares, drop- ping his holdings to 7,827 shares plus warrants for 10,426 more. Joseph A. McConville got a stock dividend of four shares for a total of 164, while Nate B. Spingold got a dividend of 410 shares through his holding com- pany and three shares on stock jointly- owned. The holding company now has 16,849 shares, and he owns 162 jointly with an undisclosed person. A. Schneider gave a total of 1,200 shares in four separate gifts to the Schneid- er Foundation, dropping his holdings to 10,053. At Monogram, George D. Burrows sold 3,000 shares in three separate transactions, cutting his holdings to 33 shares. W. Ray Johnston sold 4,- 000 in three transactions. As of June 10, he held 12,617 shares of common and options for 12,500. Sam Wolf sold 1,200 shares in five deals, cutting his total to 4,133 shares. Duncan G. Harris of Paramount (Continued on page 5) ERP Program Applies Only To New Films Cost Guarantees W ill Not Cover Old Product Washington, July 12. — The Economic Cooperation Administra- tion has finally set some of the rules and regulations it will use in ad- ministering the Economic Recovery Program's investment guaranty pro- gram, and three points stand out for the film industry : L— Only new film activities or ex- pansion of enterprises already going on will be eligible. Films already abroad or scheduled to go will pre- sumably not be covered. 2. — The programs must be approved by the foreign governments, as well as by the ECA. One of the specific items which applicants must submit is "either evidence of approval by the foreign country of the investment as furthering the joint program for European recovery, or a statement of (Continued on page 5) Lippert, Redwood Circuits Merged Medford, Ore., July 12. — Amalga- mation of the Redwood Circuit of 61 houses and the Robert L. Lippert The- atres into the Affiliated Theatre Ser- vice Circuit marked the visit here of Lippert. Serving with the expanded circuit is George Mann, owner and operator of Redwood Theatres. Meeting with Lippert and Mann here were J. Earl Hinning, Charles J. Maestri, L. L. Lamb, F. L. Woods, James Chapman, Dan Pavich, Harry Spaulding, Joseph Manniachi, Dave (Continued on page 5) RKO Board Session Still on at Coast Hollywood, July 12. — Meeting of the RKO board of directors, which convened yesterday and was resumed this morning at an undisclosed place, was still in session late today in an effort to wind up its business quickly. Meanwhile, dismissal of dispensable personnel was continuing at the studio with some being given to understand that their re-employment is likely when the new production program and policy is decided upon and implement- ed. It is believed here that RKO pro- duction activity will come to a virtual halt when three films now before the cameras are completed. 2 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, July 13, 1948 Theatre Activity Spurts in Nation Activity in new theatre construction is accelerating in several sections of the country, according to Motion Picture Daily field correspondents who report that additional theatres are in planning stages in California, Arkansas and Florida, besides those already reported. In San Francisco, a $100,000 house to seat 750 is underway, Kenneth Wright, head of Fruit Ridge Manor Theatre Corp., announces, while A. D. Hamlin, Jr., is completing plans for an outdoor theatre on the outskirts of San Francisco near Colma. A $35,000 drive-in is to be built in Van Nuys by Paul Glick, and Charles Holtz has scheduled the opening of a new Sacra- mento theatre for October. Bernstein Theatres has announced plans for two theatres, a 900-seater in Little River and an 800-car drive-in, both in Florida. Bob Bernstein, vice- president of the circuit, will be in charge of both projects. West Memphis, Arkansas, seems destined to become a theatre center overnight with three theatres project- ed for that city. M. A. Lightman and Associates, Herbert Kohn and Ed Sapinsley have disclosed the purchase of the Crittenden from J. Jackson Rhodes at a cost of approximately $100,000 and will start extensive re- pairs on the 750-seat house as soon as they take possession on August 1. The house will not be a part of Malco Theatres. In addition, plans are be- ing drawn for a new theatre in West Memphis to be operated by Lightman in addition to the Crittenden. Two weeks previously, W. L. Moxley, vet- eran theatre operator of Blytheville, Ark., announced plans for construction of a 1,000-seat house in West Mem- phis to be built at a cost of $250,000. New theatres opened recently in the New Orleans territory include the Beard in Leakesville, Miss., and the Wayne in Melvin, Ala., the latter operated by Phil Murphy who also has theatres in Quitman, Miss. NCA Grievance Unit Studying Four Cases Minneapolis, July 12. — Four com- plaints against 20th Century-Fox were heard today at the first meeting of North Central Allied's grievance com- mittee, and all cases were taken under advisement for disposition at a com- mittee meeting scheduled for next Monday. The nature of the grievances and the names of complainants were not disclosed, the committee having de- cided upon secrecy to avoid possible embarrassment to the theatre owners, according to Stanley Kane, NCA ex- ecutive secretary and counsel for the grievance board. First Essaness Drive-in Chicago, July 12.— Construction of an outdoor theatre, to be called the Starlight, first to be operated by the Essaness circuit, was started here last week. It will cost $500,000, have facilities for 1,200 cars and is expected to be in operation by mid-September. Personal Mention BG. KRANZE, Film Classics sales •vice-president, left here yesterday for Cleveland and Pittsburgh. He is due back here tomorrow. • Duke Hickey, field coordinator of the Motion Picture Association of America's community relations divi- sion, left New York yesterday for Boston on the first lap of a tour of the country. Jules K. Chapman, Film Classics assistant sales manager, left here over the weekend for a tour of the Port- land, Ore., territory. • William DeMello, manager of Western Electric (Caribbean), is here from his headquarters in Bogota, Co- lombia. • F. W. Hite of the M-G-M studio will leave Hollywood Friday for New York. • James B. Williams of M-G-M studios is due here next Monday en route to England. • William R. Ferguson, M-G-M ex- ploitation head, returned to New York yesterday from Chicago. • William F. Rodgers, M-G-M dis- tribution vice-president, has returned to New York from Buffalo. • Rudy Berger, M-G-M Southern sales manager, left Washington yes- terday for Jacksonville, Fla. • Leo Handel, head of M-G-M's re- search bureau, has left here for the Coast. JOHN CAMPBELL, International Projector Corp. production man- ager, is vacationing in DuBois, Wyo. • Morton Lane of the Paramount home office legal staff and Mrs. Lane have become parents of their second child, Richard Paul, born Saturday at Doctors Hospital here. • James Dixon has resigned as as- sistant manager of the Hippodrome Theatre, Baltimore, to become man: ager of the Elkridge Drive-In in that city. Ten ny Wright, manager of War- ners' Burbank studio, has returned here from England. He will fly to the Coast today. • Messmore Kendall, president of the Capitol Theatre, New York, will return here tomorrow from London and Paris on the 5"5" Queen Elizabeth. • F. J. A. McCarthy, Universal-In- ternational Southern and Canadian sales manager, will leave New York today for Dallas. • Louis T. Stone of the Ascap legal department will fly to Scotland on Saturday from New York. • Fred Quimby, M-G-M short sub- ject production head, will leave the Coast Friday for New York. • Sidney A. Franklin, M-G-M pro- ducer, will leave Hollywood on Sun- day for New York en route to Paris. • Michael Sokol, Warner general manager in Mexico, has returned to Mexico City from the Coast. Must Submit Records In Percentage Action Federal Judge John C. Knox of United States District Court for New York, acting in percentage actions brought by Loew's and RKO, against the Eisenberg and Cohen Theatres, has ordered the circuit to produce for inspection all of its books and records. The decision applies specifically to all entries of flat rental and percentage engagements. Goldwyn Names Agency Samuel Goldwyn has appointed Monroe Greenthal Co. advertising agency for his "A Song Is Born." Conferences on a campaign between Goldwyn, William Hebert and Lynn Farnol, culminating in the choice of the agency have terminated and Far- nol planed for Denver for a two-week vacation before returning here to his post as Eastern advertising-publicity director for the producer. MP A To Survey Drive-ins Motion Picture Association of America has begun a survey of drive- in theatres around the country, aimed at obtaining late information concern- ing the number and types of operation, it was disclosed here yesterday. Trop to Produce And Distribute Jack Trop has opened headquarters here for his new J. D. Trop Films, the officers of which are Trop as presi- dent, Barend Broekman, vice-presi- dent, and Marcel Broekman, secre- tary-treasurer. Barend and Broek- man produced a number of pictures abroad up to World War II. Broekman has left for a three- month survey of production and dis- tribution setups, his first stop being Amsterdam, where he will remain un- til his Cinetone Studios, seized by the Nazis in 1940, are returned to him. Later he will go to Paris, Rome, Brussels and other capitals to study bi-lingual production in behalf of Trop Films. Trop says that Holly- wood and New York studios will be used to produce pictures in this coun- try. Ainsworth and Smith To Attend ATOI Meet Indianapolis, July 12. — William Ainsworth, president of national Al- lied, and A. W. Smith, Jr., general sales manager of 20th Century-Fox, will be guests at the mid-summer meeting of the Associated Theatre Owners of Indiana, July 26-28, at French Lick. NEW YORK THEATRES —RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL— 1 Rockefeller Center ! BING JOAN ! CROSBY FONTAINE : in "THE EMPEROR WALTZ"; Color by TECHNICOLOR ■ A Paramount Picture SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTAT( 1 VJJJAIMm IN PERSON, JOHN FORD'S MASTERPIECE "FORT APACHE coot LENA HORNE , Special1, PAUL WMCHELL 17 skinnay°'ennis and his 0RCM. CAPITOL^ greatest star- ond-song-sfcow! Released ttiru RKO Radio Pictures Cast of 10,000 in Cecil B. DeMille's Loretta Young • Henry Wllcoxon a lummt IE-IREASE SctMtllftenllv Air CndiliMftd DOCTS Open 2?rv-ot.i B-wnv 6. *9ih SI. 9:30; j JACK JAN IS :•: -••-•-•••-•>:•#.> I CARSON* PAIGE I In Person | DON DORIS .* BflD | DeFORE DAY CROSBY I I -^QMANC^ °£..#ano the club is I Ir^JteHlGHStfA^.f ORCHESTRA $ % ^/o.k?TV?MN.«H°'» iflvs GALA SHOW! y/j A MICHAEL CUBTIZ PROO'if iOPENS 9:30 AM ute nlm *t midnight ,f kATE STAGE SHOW 10:15 PM • B'WAY AT 47th! OLD LOS ANGELES Starring William Elliott • John Carroll Catherine McLeod Joseph Schildkraut A Republic Picture NOW PLAYING! Cool GOTHAM 47th St. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, bv Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P Cunningham News Editor- Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative Washington J A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager^ Peter Burnup, Editor- cable address, '-Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938i at the post office at l\ew York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. with JANE WYATT and Raymond Burr • Byron Barr • John Litel Ann Doran ■ Jimmy Hunt • Selmer Jack; C ected by ANDRI D! ! I 'roduced by SAMUEL I Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, July 13, 1948 Key City Grosses I? OLLOWING are estimated pic- M7 ture grosses for current engage- ments in key cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily correspond- ents. Estimates omit admission tax. CINCINNATI Most grosses are several notches over the preceding week, with overall averages the best in many months, de- spite continuance of excessively hot weather and increased competition from outdoor attractions. Estimated receipts for the week ending July 13': THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (RKO Radio)— KEITH'S (1,500) (50c-S5c- 60c-65c-75c) 3rd week. Gross: $6,000. (Av- erage: $7,500) FLOWING GOLD (WB reissue)— RKO GRAND (1,500) (5Oc-55c-60c-65c-70c-75c). Dualed with GOD'S COUNTRY AND THE WOMAN (WB reissue). Gross: $8,500. (Average: $8,000) FOUR FACES WEST (UA)— RKO PAL- ACE (2,700) (50c-55c-60c-65c-70c-75c). Gross: $15,000. (Average: $15,000) MR. B LANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE (SRO)— RKO LYRIC (1,400) (50c- 55c-60c-65c-70c-75c) 4 days, 3rd week, on a moveover from the Shubert, following an initial week at the Albee. GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN (U-I re- issue)—RKO LYRIC (1,400) (50c-55c-60c- 65c-70c-75c) 3 days. Dualed with SON OF DRACULA (U-I reissue). Combined gross: $6,500. (Average, 7 days: $5,000) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M)— RKO CAPITOL (2,000) (50c-55c-6Oc-65c-70c- 75c). Gross: $10,500. (Average: $10,000) UP IN CENTRAL PARK (U-I)— "RKO ALBEE (3,300) (50c-55c-60c-65c-70c-75c). Gross: $16,500. (Average: $15,000) BALTIMORE About half of local first-run thea- tres are showing holdovers and, as a result, business is just about average. Among newcomers, "Easter Parade" is drawing capacity crowds. Week- end business was somewhat off, due to clear weather and outdoor amuse- ments. Estimated receipts for the week ending July 15 : ANTOINE AND ANTOINETTE (Siritsky Int'l) — LITTLE (328) (29c-37c-56c). Gross: $2,750. (Average: $3,000) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M)— CENTURY (3,000) (29c-37c-45c-54c, and 56c weekends). Gross: $21,500. (Average: $14,500) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M) —VALENCIA (1,466) (29c-37c-45c-54c, and 56c weekends) 2nd week. Gross: $5,750. (Average: $5,000) THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (RKO Radio)— TOWN (1,450) (first time here at popular prices: 29c-37c-56c) 3rd week. Gross: $8,750. (Average: $11,000) THE DUDE GOES WEST (Allied Artists) — MAYFAIR (1,000) (21c-29c-S4c) 2nd week. Gross: $4,000. (Average: $4,500) THE EMPEROR WALTZ (Para.)— STAN- LEY (3,280) . (29c-37c-50c-58c) 2nd week. Gross: $13,000. (Average: $14,500) THE FULLER BRUSH MAN (Col.)— HIPPODROME (2,205) (29c-37c-50c-58c) 2nd week. With a stage show. Gross: $17,- 500. (Average: $17,500) STREET WITH NO NAME (Z0th-Fox)— NEW (1,800) (29c-40c-50c-58c). Gross: $12,- 000. (Average: $11,750) UP IN CENTRAL PARK (U-I)- KEITH'S (2,406) (25c-37c-44c-54c, and 56c weekends). Gross: $10,750. (Average: $12,000) TORONTO In spite of heat and the absence of many patrons from the city, there were two holdovers, one for a third week, at Famous Players first-run houses in Toronto, both being in the lighter vein. Most business was around average. Estimated receipts for the week ending July 15 : ANNA KARENINA (ZOth-Fox) — EGLIN - Reviews "Train to Alcatraz" (Republic) FROM simple material Republic has fashioned a compact melodrama suffi- ciently endowed with suspense even though the ultimate outcome of the plot is never too much in doubt. While a good deal of the story incidents are pat and lacking in conviction, the film sustains interest 'more than well, generally speaking. A sort of "Last Mile" on rails, the action is confined primarily to a prison car hauling an assorted bunch of escape-minded criminals across the country to Alcatraz. The drama in which these desperate men are involved is inten- sified by confining the area of activity and simplifying the plot structure as much as possible. Of the men, only one (William Phipps) does not deserve his fate. He is a victim of circumstances who at the end finds justice and love (with Janet Martin). An abortive escape of the convicts is pictured with plenty of ex- citement and blood-curdling violence. The love note was virtually dragged into the story, and while it may add to the happiness of Phipps, it seems strangely out of place. Lou Brock was associate producer, and Philip Ford applied hard-fisted direction to the Gerald Geraghty screenplay. Donald Barry, Roy Barcroft, Juan Storey, Jane Darwell, Milburn Stone and Ralph Dunn are others importantly placed in the cast. Running time, 60 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, June 28. P.E.L. Portrait of Innocence" (Nous Les Gosses) (Siritsky International — French with English subtitles') THIS IS an exceptional and very fine film about children and it deserves to be treated as top A product by exhibitors catering to art audiences. The picture creates a moving and altogether charming whole from what appears on the surface to be a patchwork of very simple incidents. "Portrait of Innocence" makes the most out of the appeal of the children in its story. It is full of humor and the kind of realism that will endear it to any family audience. And, without being tumultuous, there is action a-plenty, with some romance thrown in to boot. Louis Daquin directed this Pathe film. Louise Carletti, Gilbert Gil and Coedel are starred. Running time, 90 minutes. General audience classification. Current release. "They Are Not Angels*' (Battalion Du Ciel) (Siritsky International — French with English subtitles) D RODUCED by Pathe in France, with the co-operation of the British and * French governments and the Royal Air Force, "They Are Not Angels" is one of the few pictures of the war which has reached the screen without any artificial preachments or philosophizing, or embarrassing heroics. Despite its more than two hours' running time, its dialogue, situations and plot develop- ment have been so skillfully woven together, plus the excellent quality of the acting by all players, that the audience will not be aware of the time it takes to tell the story. Opening at a training camp in England where a battalion of French para- troopers await D-Day, the picture shows their jump into France, their opera- tions behind the enemy lines, and, finally, in an impressive scene, the three remaining members of the unit. Starring Pierre Blanchar and Raymond Bussieres, it was directed by Alexandre Esway, from a scenario and dialogue written by Joseph Kessel. Running time, 121 minutes. General audience classification. Current release. TON (1,086) (20c-36c-50c-66c) 6 days. Gross: $6,400. (Average: $6,900) ANNA KARENINA (Z0th-Fox)— TTVOLI (1,434) (20c-36c-50c-66c) 6 days. Gross: $7,- 700. (Average: $8,200) THE FULLER BRUSH MAN (Col.)— SHEA'S (2,480) (20c-36c-50c-66c-90c) 6 days, 3rd week. Gross: $14,100. (Average: $14,- FURY AT FURNACE CREEK (20th-Fox) — NORTOWN (959) (20c-42c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $5,500) FURY AT FURNACE CREEK (ZOth-Fox) —VICTORIA (1,240) (20c-36c-42c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $4,800. (Average: $5,800) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M)— LOEWS (2,074) (20c-36c-50c-66c-78c) 6 days. Gross: $15,200. (Average: $14,200) ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS (WB) —IMPERIAL (3,343) (20c-36c-50c-66c-90c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $14,100. (Average: $14,600) RUTHLESS (EL)— DANFORTH (1,400) (20c-36c-50c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average: $6,500) RUTHLESS (EL)— FAIRLAWN (1,195) (20c-36c-50c-55c) 6 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,500) . ttt, SUMMER HOLIDAY (M-G-M)-UP- TOWN (2,761) (20c-36c-50c-66c-90c) 6 days. Gross: $10,600. (Average: $10,600) ATLANTA Business this week is about average. Weather is fair and cool. Estimated receipts for the week ending July 14: ANNA KARENINA (ZOth-Fox) — PARA- MOUNT (2,446) (12c-50c). Gross: $6,000. (Average: $5,800) ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST (U-I)— ROXY (2,446) (12c-50c). Gross: $5,- 900. (Average: $5,800) THE EMPEROR WALTZ (Para.) — FOX (2nd week). Gross: $14,500. (Average: $15,- 000) ON OUR MERRY WAY (UA)— LOEWS GRAND (2,446) (12c-60c). Gross: $15,000. (Average: $15,000) 'I A' Local Celebrates New Orleans, July 12. — Richard F. _ Walsh, president of IATSE, and William P. Raoul, general secretary- treasurer, were here from New York to celebrate the 35th anniversary of IATSE Local No. 293 at the Roose- velt Hotel last weekend. A highlight of the affair was the presentation of a gold membership card to N. L. Car- ter, assistant general manager of Paramount-Richards Theatres by A. S. Johnstone, international representa- tive and president of Local No. 293. Crescent Fighting Tax Atlanta, July 12. — Circuit Judge Newton B. Powell has upheld the right of the city of Decatur, Ala., to levy an amusement tax. Crescent Amusement Co. of Nashville, owner of theatres there, has appealed the ruling to the Alabama Supreme Court. Production Drops Again, Down to 31 Hollywood, July 12. — The produc- tion index again stood unimpressive at 31, dipping slightly from last week's 34. Four films were started, while seven were completed. Shooting started on "Inner Sanc- tum" (M.R.S. Pictures), Film Clas- sics ; "Interference," RKO Ra-- '. , "The Fan," 20th Century-Fox; A W Gay Amigo" (Philip N. Krasne), United Artists. Shooting was finished on "Wings Westward," Columbia; "Words and Music," Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer ; "The Denver Kid," Republic ; "Indian Scout" (Edward Small), United Artists ; "The O'Flynn" (Fair- banks), Universal-International, and "The Girl from Jones Beach" and "The Younger Brothers," Warner. Walls of Jericho' Rated 'B' by Legion Twentieth Century-Fox's "The Walls of Jericho" and Discina Inter- national's "Blind Desire" (French) have been given "B" ratings by the National Legion of Decency. Mono- gram's "Back Trail" and Eagle-Lion's "The Spiritualist" were rated A-l and Columbia's "Coroner Creek," Para- mount's "So Evil My Love" and United Artists' "Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven" were classified A-II. Broadway Grosses (Continued from page 1) Foreign Affair" and a stage bill headed by Jo Stafford looks like $82,000 in a second week, despite a mild weekend. Unimpressive debuts were made by four new films, with first-week grosses expected as follows : "Canon City," Criterion, $37,000; "Raw Deal," Victoria, $19,000; "Fury at Furnace Creek," Globe, $14,000, and "Old Los Angeles," Gotham, $7,000; "Mickey," will take over at the Gotham on Sat- urday. "Give My Regards to Broadway," plus an ice show on stage, is fair in its third and final week at the Roxy where $74,000 is expected; "Street with No Name" will move in tomor- row. "Romance on the High Seas," together with Bob Crosby's band on stage, is so-so at the Strand, a third and final week due for $30,000; "Key Largo" will be the replacement on Friday. A very modest $15,000 for a seventh week is expected for "Melody Time" at the Astor where "The Babe Ruth Story" will open on July 26. At the Winter Garden, "Man-Eater of Ku- maon" is mild in its second week, with $16,000 expected. "Time of Your Life" is doing modestly in its seventh week at the Mayfair where $14,500 is due. "The Crusaders" re-issue has slumped in its second week at the Rivoli, with a flimsy $17,000 due. "The Illegals" will have its premiere tomorrow at the Ambassador. 'Glory' Opens July 23 World premiere of "Beyond Glory," Alan Ladd-Donna Reed picture, will be staged by Paramount in Radio City Theatre in Minneapolis on July 23, the opening day of that city's annual Aquatennial. Ladd will visit Minne- apolis to attend a press luncheon prior to the opening. Tuesday, July 13, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 5 U.S.FilmsEncounter E.IndiesCompetition Washington, July 12. — The Com- merce Department discounts reports that the Netherlands East Indies may :soon require regular exhibition of Eu- ropean films in all theatres. In a report issue by film chief Na- than D. Golden, the department says jtlgjjjkno official action has been taken f£-^it appears likely that the matter will be held in abeyance in view of I the strong position of U. S. distribu- tors in the Netherlands Indies. The report does note increasing competition for U. S. films, chiefly from the British, but also from French, Chinese, Egyptian, Indian, Swiss and native offerings. Only 39 per cent of the features reviewed dur- ing the last six months of 1947 were American, compared with 48 per cent in the first six months. British films now account for 30 per cent of the to- tal, the report states. Cites Italian Films' Advances In Europe Italian-made pictures are receiving ever-increasing acceptance in all parts of Western Europe and already are offering strong competition for films made elsewhere in Europe, reports New York film attorney S. R. Kun- kis who has returned here from a 10- week survey of production, distribu- tion and exhibition in England, France, Italy, Denmark and Sweden. Kunkis said French and English films' particularly trail Italian pictures in popularity in many European coun- tries, whereas U. S. films seem able to hold their own against all competi- tors. Film Rights Acquires 10 New Foreign Films Ten new French, Italian and Swe- dish films will be distributed in the U. S. by Film Rights International and subsidiaries in 1948-49, it has been announced here by Irvin Shapiro, gen- eral manager. The films are: "Sym- phonie Pastorale," "Gates of the Night," "Rebirth," "The Good Life," "Macadam," "Les Miserables," "The Eternal City," "Naked Paris," "The House of the Hanged Man" and "Anna Lans." In addition, the company will also reissue "Kiss of Fire" and "The Hu- man Beast." Bert Reisman to RKO Post in So. Africa Bert Reisman has been promoted from manager of the RKO Radio of- fice in Venezuela to company repre- sentative in the Union of South Africa with headquarters in Johannesburg. He succeeds Louis Lioni, who will take charge of RKO Radio office in Holland, with headquarters in Amster- dam. Herb E. Fletcher will succeed Reis- man in Venezuela. He formerly was a member of the Warner foreign de- partment. New Exhibitor Service Lasker- Schwartz, buying and book- ing office for foreign films, has in- augurated a new service providing subscriber exhibitors with advertising and promotional data on foreign pro- ductions. Nasser Embracing New Trailer Idea Hollywood, July 12. — James Nasser says he has a new trailer idea in which the pub- lic attending a series of "sneak" previews on "An In- nocent Affair" will be asked their off-the-cuff reactions be- fore camera setups in theatre lobbies here, in San Jose, Po- mona and Fresno. While he does not say positively, he in- dicates the footage will com- prise the final trailer on his film. ERP Program (Continued from page 1) the channel through which negotia- tions are being or will be conducted" to obtain such approval. 3. — ECA will accept Congressional guidance and make the guaranty — as far as information media are con- cerned— apply to the convertibility of foreign currencies earned by the sale or exhibition of films only "to the extent of the dollar cost of production wholly attributable to these specific products." Cover Print Cost, Shipping If a film is distributed in the U. S. and then submitted for distribution abroad under the guaranty provision, convertibility will be guaranteed only for the cost of the actual prints sent overseas, plus the cost of getting them there and showing them. This was the language which the conference committee on the original bill wrote into its conference report, and the ECA statement yesterday said that applications for guarantees from producers and distributors of informa- tional media will "be considered by the administrator in the light of this clearly expressed Congressional in- tention." ERP Funds Cut by $5,000,000 The original ERP legislation au- thorized $15,000,000 for guaranteeing investments in enterprises producing or distributing informational media during the first year of the program, from April 3, 1948. The appropria- tions committees, however, only made $10^000,000 available. The film indus- try had indicated it hoped to get over $4,000,000 from this program. ECA did not make known how the $10,000,000 would be broken down among film firms, book publishers, newspapers and magazines. The pro- gram will become effective tomorrow. ECA said recipients of guaranties would pay annually in advance a fee of one per cent of the amount of the guaranty unless waived by the ECA administrator. Brazil Order (Continued from page 1) instructed to fix prices in their dis- tricts on the basis of "points" of cred- it established for theatre facilities such as seating, quality of sound and projection, exit conveniences. In this way the houses would be classified in five categories of admission. Were the regulations to become operative, the revision of all distribu- tion contracts closed after January 1, 1947, would be required, with flat and I percentage rentals affected equally. 20th-Fox, UP (Continued from page 1) film library is sent to all stations sub- scribing to the service. The service will provide daily coverage, according to Leroy Keller, UP general sales manager. Participating in the negotiations, in addition to Skouras and Baillie were Peter Levathes, 20th-Fox director of television, Keller, Irving B. Kahn of 20th-Fox's television department and Harry Mclntyre and Joseph Fawcett, attorneys for 20th-Fox and UP re- spectively. Irving B. Kahn Promoted to 20th-Fox Television Post Irving B. Kahn, 20th Century-Fox radio manager, has been promoted to an executive position in the company's television department it was announced yesterday by Spyros P. Skouras, president. Kahn will work on tele- vision programming. A successor to Kahn as radio manager will be named shortly. N.Y. Para. Televises (Continued from page 1) TV, operated by the Philadelphia Inquirer. Under the arrangement, the Paramount withheld advertising of the show until six P.M. yesterday, about four hours before fight time. Prior to the fight cast, the theatre showed scenes of Senator Barkley's speech at the Democratic convention. The Broadway house has the rights to the convention telecast. Loew Profit (Continued from page 1) totaled $13,701,312, against $24,166,052 in 1947. Reserve for contingencies was listed at $1,600,000, compared with $2,500,000 for 1947, and reserve for depreciation this year was put at $3,- 419,404, against $3,020,638. The 1948 40-week net before taxes was $8,681,- 908, against $18,645,414 for 1947. Lippert, Redwood (Continued from page 1) Peterson, Harry Langman, Matt Freed. Plans of Screen Guild Productions to make a series of outdoor films in the Rogue River Valley of Oregon were disclosed by Lippert at the meet- ing. The first, to go into work in early August, will be "The Last Wild Horses." Atlas Corp. (Continued from page 1) bought 100 shares, to bring his total holdings to 2,700, while 20th Century- Fox's Murray Silverstone gave 200 shares to his wife, dropping his per- sonal holdings to 1,100 shares, plus options for 1,200 more.' Daniel M. Sheaffer of Universal sold 400 shares in two transactions, leaving him with 12,807. Jack L. War- ner gave 3,000 shares of Warner $5 common to the United Jewish Welfare in three separate gifts. He now holds 420,000 shares of common, and his trust accounts hold 21,500 more. Albert W. Lind bought 200 shares of . Associated Motion Picture Indus- tries capital stock, to increase his holdings to 400 shares, while L. Boyd Hatch acquired warrants for 1,500 shares of Atlas common. He now holds 4,840 shares and warrants for 26,031. Exhibitors to Attend Equipment Meeting Chicago, July 12. — Theatre owners, purchasing agents, theatre supply dealers and equipment manufacturers will assemble at the Jefferson Hotel in St. Louis, on September 27-30 for a meeting and equipment show. Theatre owners will have an all-day session on September 27, including a luncheon, banquet and visit to the exhibits of the trade show of the Theatre Equipment and Supply Manufacturers Associa- tion. It is understood that Ted Gamble will address this group. The manufacturers association and the Theatre Supply Dealers Associa- tion will convene on September 27-30. There will be a get-together luncheon on September 28, a special party and luncheon for ladies accompanying the delegates on September 29, and cock- tail party and banquet September 29. The equipment show will be a dis- play for the conventional type theatre as well as theatre television, drive-in theatre equipment and beverage dis- pensing equipment. Now They're 2-Reelers Hollywood, July 12. — Western location footage in 16mm., collected over the_ past seven years, has been edited into three two-reelers by Harry Sherman and sold to Edwin Stovall, representing Calcamera, Ltd., of London. The two-reelers have had sound and narration added and will be exhibited in the British Empire as scenics. Fabian in UJA Talk Si Fabian will address Loew ex- ecutives at the home office at noon to- morrow in his capacity as Greater New York amusement division chair- man of the United Jewish Appeal. Reade Meeting Today Monthly meeting of district and city managers of the Walter Reade Thea- tres will take place today at Reade's Monte Carlo Beach Club, at Asbury Park, N. J. Shapiro's Father-in-Law Funeral services were held here last Friday for Harry Gemson, 67, father- in-law of Robert K. Shapiro, manager of the New York Paramount Theatre. CBS Promotes Flynn William J. Flynn has been pro- moted from assistant comptroller to assistant treasurer of Columbia Broad- casting. ■ ■■■■■ I TUT DA TP » T ■» ~ 1 x 1 eric johnston, Accurate MR. ERIC MOTION PICTURE ASSOC. OF AMERICA, 28 WEST 44TH ST., 21ST FJL NEW YORK, N . Y. JL JU JL Concise and Impartial t 64. NO. 9 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 1948 TEN CENTS Today's CEA Rank Meeting Seen Crucial Conclusions May Set a Pattern for the Future By PETER BURNUP London, July 13». — At this report- ing the country's motion picture in- dustry stands at the brink of days potentially more momentous than it hitherto has known. Today, the quota relief sub-commit- tee of the Films Council met to con- sider the 2,600 exhibitor applications for relief under the Quota Act. Short- ly, the full council will convene to pass judgment on the applications. It is to be assumed that the council's deliberations will be largely condi- tioned by proceedings at the Cine- matograph Exhibitors' Association's general council session tomorrow, at which J. Arthur Rank will convey his views on the quota situation and his plans for ensuring a good return for his product. Showmen are in no mood to accept (Continued on page 3) More US Films for UK Independents London, July 13. — With much re- lief British exhibitors learn of the developing revision of distribution plans of American film companies which will give independents more product of top calibre. M-G-M has decided to offer at least one major feature per month direct to independents. 20th Century-Fox will have a line-up of six pictures which will be so offered, while Paramount and RKO Radio have similar plans. Subcommittees Will Study UK Defaults London, July 13. — Although no official statement was forthcoming following today's Board of Trade Film Council quota subcommittee meeting called to consider the 2,600 exhibitor quota default appli- cations, it is understood a de- cision was made to form a number of subcommittees conversant with the various geographic conditions and other delicate considerations involved. Theatre Video Scheduling A New Program Problem FCC Weighs Para. Decision for Video Washington, July 13. — The Fed- eral Communications Commission in- dicated today that the Supreme Court's verdict of guilty in the Para- mount case may count heavily against applications of "Big Five" subsidiaries for radio stations, television and other- wise. The commission's position was made known in connection with the appli- cation of Murphy Broadcasting Co. to assign to Tri-States Meredith Broadcasting Co. the license of sta- tions KSO and KSO-FM in Des Moines. Tri-States Meredith is owned (Continued on page 3) RKO Stockholders To Meet August 31 Hollywood, July 13. — Radio-Keith- Orpheum's board of directors at 11 o'clock last night concluded a secret two-day meeting with the meagre dis- closure that August 31 had been set as the date for a board and stockhold- ers' meeting, at Wilmington, Dela- ware, when possible changes in board and executive personnel will be ef- fectuated. It was indicated the studio will con- tinue in status quo until then, with three pictures currently shooting winding up schedules and no new pro- duction started. Directors Ned E. Depinet, George H. Shaw, Frederick L. Ehrman, L. Lawrence. Green and Harry M. Durning flew to New York (Continued on page 3) Moves in 3 Chicago Anti-trust Actions Chicago, July 13. — Jackson Park Theatre, Monroe Theatre and the Liberty Theatre anti-trust actions against distributors and major circuits figured in new moves in Federal Court here today. Distributor defendants were asked to pay $20,000 for court costs and at- torney fees which accrued during the recent Jackson Park contempt hear- ings, in a petition filed by Thomas McConnell, Jackson Park lawyer, in Federal Judge Michael J. Igoe's dis- trict court. Hearings were set for October 7 in Judge Igoe's court for the Jackson (Continued on page 3) By GENE ARNEEL Difficulties involved in scheduling special event telecast pickups in thea- tres, the actual and clearly determin- able value of such telecasts, and just how much of them the motion picture customer desires on the screen — these are coming into clearer focus as rap- idly as the New York Paramount con- tinues its working policy of picking up top news and sports. Scheduling appears to be more of a problem than anticipated, based on the Paramount's experience with the Phil- adelphia Beau Jack-Ike Williams fight on Monday night. The plan was to show the bout immediately before the last performance of the feature with the contest figured to come off shortly after 10 P.M. There was a 45-minute (Continued on page 3) 20th Sold Mexican Stock for Million Twentieth Century-Fox's invest- ments in securities of its Mexican sub- sidiaries, costing $268,360, together with notes receivable from Mexican interests, carried at a cost of $247,360, were sold as a unit to Mexican inter- ests, it is disclosed in financial state- ments which the company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is explained that of the agreed sales price, 5,100,000 pesos ($1,049,- 382), there has been realized in dol- lars some $638,223. Profit realized in dollars totaled $122,231. Remainder of the sales price, 2,000,- 000 pesos, payable in Mexican cur- rency, is carried in the company's ac- (Continued on page 3) No Radical Changes In New Bldg. Code Proposed new New York State Building Code on the construction and maintenance of motion picture thea- tres contains no radical changes over those in the present code, John Cog- geshall, State Industrial Code Officer, revealed here yesterday as the State Board of Standards and Appeals re- leased to theatre owners a 59-page listing of contemplated code revisions. The listing, it is explained, will be subject to alteration following a pub- lic hearing on the new code scheduled for next Wednesday at the Empire State Building here. Since public hearings were held by the board in (Continued on page 3) Procedure on Divorce Quiz Set by 'Big 5' Answers To Be Submitted As They Are Prepared Procedure on the preparation and submission of information on joint theatre ownerships sought by the Government under the U. S. Supreme Court decision in the Para- mount anti-trust case, has been adopt- ed by the "Big Five" defendants. Rather than submit at one time all of the answers to Gov- ernment questions which they consider justified, the defen- dants propose to feed the infor- mation to the Department of Justice piecemeal as they go along. Objections to questions to which exception is taken will be argued in U. S. District Court here. While it still was not known yester- day how generous an extension of (Continued on page 3) MGMCostAlignment Planned at Studio Hollywood, July 13. — Loew presi- dent Nicholas M. Schenck flew East last night following weekend talks with production chief Louis B. Mayer, vice-president arid treasurer Charles Moskowitz, and vice-president and general counsel J. Robert Rubin, who are instituting a checkup of studio op- erations with respect to operational changes to bring production costs into alignment with exhibition revenues. Talks so far have been centered on (Continued on page 3) US Companies File Brazil Injunctions Sao Paulo, Brazil, July 13.— All American distributors represented here have en- tered court injunctions against the Brazilian Price Control Board's regulation limiting distributors' film percentages to 40 per cent. The Americans charge that the regulation is unconstitu- tional. The Brazilian Ministry of Labor is reported already to have found the regulation unconstitutional. 2 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, July 14, 1948 Personal Mention JACK COHN, A. Montague and Joseph McConville have returned to New York from Columbia execu- tive meetings on the Coast. Nate B. Spingold will return here tomorrow and A. Schneider on Monday. Leo Jaffee will remain on the Coast for an extended visit. Jean Hersholt, Raymond Mas- sey, Janis Carte-r, Valentina Cor- tesi, Italian film actress ; Max Mil- lar, publicist, and Christopher Ish- erwood, screenwriter, are among pas- sengers due here today on the .S^ Queen Elizabeth from Europe. • Frank Albertson, screen actor, and Mrs. Albertson have become parents of their third daughter, Mundy, born Sunday in Los Angeles. • Irving Schwartz, secretary-treas- urer of Lasker- Schwartz, will return to New York today from a New Hampshire vacation. • Walter Jancke, city manager of Dent Theatres in Lincoln, Neb., has been hospitalized following an attack of polio. Mrs. Henry Ginsberg, wife of the Paramount studio executive, will leave New York tomorrow for the Coast. • Endre Bohem, Paramount produc- er, will fly back to the Coast tomor- row from New York. • Carroll Puciato and James Har- ris, Realart executives, are in Boston today from New York. • Morey Goldstein, Monogram gen- eral sales manager, is in Boston today from New York. Charlie Moore of Wilson and Moore Enterprises, Atlanta, is in Flo- rida on business. Paul Broder, Realart president, is due here today from Detroit. Backer Deal wit hSRO Bogs Down in Dispute Hollywood, July 13. — Deal under which William Bacher was to produce "If This Be My Harvest" indepen- dently for Selznick Releasing Organ- ization, with stars Valli, Louis Jour- dan and Robert Mitchum borrowed from Vanguard, broke down yester- day, the date scheduled for shooting, when Vanguard instructed the players to disregard the call from Bacher to report for work. Selznick's office ex- plained that it was withholding the stars due to Bacher's failure to re- write the script to conform with criti- cisms by David O. Selznick. Bacher, asserting that "we have met every condition and fulfilled every re- quirement of our agreement with Van- guard and SRO," said the matter has been placed in the hands of his attor- neys. 2 Cases on Studio Strike to NLRB Washington, July 13. — Argument on two complaints arising from the 1945-1946 jurisdictional disputes in Hollywood were aired today before the National Labor Relations Board. There was no indication when a deci- sion will be handed down. In one of the cases, the Interna- tional Association of Machinists charged major studios, independents and the Association of Motion Picture Producers with unfair labor practices. While holding that the producers had lawfully bargained with the union, an NLRB trial examiner found that the companies had discriminated against 10 IAM members and ordered them reinstated. The IAM today asked the board to reverse its finding on bar- gaining, while Robert Gilbert, arguing for IATSE, asked the board not to make any finding which would pre- clude an election now among studio machinists, claiming that the situation has changed completely since the IAM was certified in 1945. In the other case, the board was asked to decide whether the studios had the right to refuse to employ 25 IATSE members who refused to cross picket lines of the Conference of Stu- dio Unions. Attorneys for the produc- ers declared the 25 unionists were aid- ing an illegal strike and were joined by IATSE attorneys Matthew Levy and Michael Luddy, who said they were disloyal union members and, as such, had no rights to studio jobs. George Landis Quits 20th-Fox Branch Post Indianapolis, July 13. — George Landis, 20th Century-Fox branch manager here for 20 years, has re- signed, effective next Saturday, to de- vote his full time to management of Amusement Enterprises, local neigh- borhood group, in which he is a stock- holder. Thomas McCleaster, former office and sales manager of the Indian- apolis branch, is his successor. Landis started as a salesman for World Films in Chicago in 1915, com- ing to Indianapolis in 1921 as a sales- man for Fox. He was Fox branch manager in Washington, D. C, from 1924 to 1926. Capital Owners Will Meet y Eat and Bathe Washington, July 13. — Members of the Motion Picture Theatre Own- ers of Metropolitan Washington have found the ideal way to hold business meetings and still not mind the Wash- ington heat. They will meet this Sun- day at the Patuxenent River farm of president A. Julian Brylawski, and the regular business meeting will be fol- lowed by a beach party. Conn. MPTO Golf Meet New Haven, July 13. — Motion Pic- ture Theatre Owners of Connecticut will hold its annual golf tournament on August 24 at the Racebrook Coun- try Club in Orange, Conn., George H. Wilkinson, Jr., chairman of the ar- rangements committee, has announced. Rites Tomorrow for King Baggott, 69 Los Angeles, July 13. — Funeral services will be held at Pierce Broth- ers Mortuary on Thursday for King Baggott, 69, silent film star and sub- sequently a director, who died Sunday in a sanitarium. He was active in motion pictures from 1909, when he left a stock company to enter films, until illness led to his retirement a year ago. Baggott was born in St. Louis. He attended - the Christian Brothers Col- lege where he became a star soccer and baseball player. He was the first president of the Screen Club, which he helped to organize. A son, Robert King Baggott, survives. Charles G. Deckman, Cleveland Owner Cleveland, July 13. — Charles G. Deckman, 58, with extensive business interests, including theatres and recre- ation centers in Cleveland, Florida and Canada, died suddenly over the week- end of a heart attack while vacation- ing at his Ontario fishing lodge, it was learned here today. Surviving are the widow, Ethel; a daughter, Edith Jones, and a son, Charles G., Jr. Services will be held in Cleveland tomorrow. B. B. Segal To Handle Israel News Review Bernard B. Segal has been placed in charge of 16mm. distribution of the forthcoming monthly news review, "Israel Today," by Norman Lourie, president of Palestine Films, pro- ducers of the series. Segal will han- dle distribution in cooperation with the National Jewish Welfare Board and similar organizations. Under a deal concluded with Spyros P. Skouras, 20th Century-Fox will handle worldwide distribution of "Israel Reborn," first issue of the re- view, Lourie also announced. 'Tap Roots' in World Bow in Phila. Today Philadelphia, July 13. — "Tap Roots," Walter Wanger production for Universal-International, will be given its world premiere tomorrow morning at the Goldman Theatre here. A special screening of the film was held at the theatre at midnight for members of the press and radio as well as delegates to the Democratic convention. Open Three in Monterrey Monterrey, Mexico, July 13. — Opening of three new theatres here brings Monterrey's total to 21. The new houses are the Cines Monterrey, seating 5,200; the Reforma, 5,000, and the Araceli, 2,500. The three are op- erated by the Gabriel Alarcon circuit. Babe Zaharias in Shorts Columbia Pictures has signed Babe Didrikson Zaharias, woman athlete, for a series of three golf shorts, to be part of Columbia's "World of Sports" series with Bill Stern as narrator, for release in the fall. Producer-director is Harry Foster. Newsreel Parade OMINANT in all current news- JL/ reels is the Democratic conven- tion in Philadelphia. In the sports department Olympic track try-outs are featured. Complete contents follow. MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 46 — Demo- cratic convention in Philadelphia. Last of British forces leave Haifa. Gen. MacArthur saluted at Imperial Palace in Tokyo. U Olympic teams prepare for track and try-outs. Swimming and diving- chamijfp^, NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 290—1948 Democratic convention. Israel defies foes as truce ends. Thrills in final Olympic trials. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 93— Demo- cratic convention in Philadelphia. U. S. teams ready for Olympic final track try- outs. Olympic swimming and diving teams picked. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. 160 — Demo- cratic convention opens to choose 1948 tick- et. Final trials for Olympics. WARNER PAT HE NEWS, No. 95— Democratic convention. United Nations dis- cusses Palestine. French seashore fashions. Olympic try-outs. I FIVE-STAR DC-6 FLAGSHIPS LOS ANGELES 11 hours, 10 minutes CHICAGO 3% hours Phone HAvemeyer 6-5000 or your travel agent Ticket Offices: Airlines Terminal Rockefeller Center • Hotel New Yorker 120 Broadway • Hotel St. George AMERICAN AIRLINES MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucc£- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; Internationab.Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Wednesday, July 14, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 3 Review "That Lady in Ermine" (20th Century-Fox) BETTY GRABLE, who still packs 'em in, gets away from period musicals this time. Her legions may find the switch a welcome one and enough recompense for what "That Lady in Ermine" lacks. Where this eye-filling and ofttimes charming and humorous attraction is weak is in its story, which is centered in a mythical duchy called Bergamo somewhere in Southeastern Europe on the high road to Rome about 90 years ago, Miss Grable is its presiding noblewoman just married to Cesar Romero who leaves at the time of decision to resist a conquering column of Hungarian Hussars under command of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. Miss Grable's problem in statesmanship is how to handle the situation. For an answer, she turns back Bergamo's history 300 years to the time when an identical crisis was solved by her facsimile ancestor who made up to the 16th century victor and finally knocked him off with a dagger between the shoul- der blades. Not quite up to the slaughter idea, Miss Grable is relieved of the issue when her ancestor takes over and goes highly romantic with Fairbanks in a dream sequence of such high jinks that both of them finally sail through the roof of the castle. It must have been jet propulsion. The morning after, Fairbanks comes to realize he was earthbound the night before. His love unrequited, he releases the castle and is finally joined by Miss Grable whose never-completed marriage with Romero has gone bust. The track is clear for the disjointed romance to slip into its groove for a happy finish. If this appears confused, the reporting is accurate ; for so, too, is the picture. Moreover, its thin story structure is not completely bridged by incidental pieces of business although there are many passages of charm and humor ingeniously and pleasantly contrived. The Technicolor cameras, as usual, are duck soup for Miss Grable who is always photographed well and often on the breathless side. Her performance is quite competent and the several tinkling song numbers assigned to her are engagingly delivered. As the dashing Hussar, Fairbanks cuts quite a dashing figure and gears his performance neatly to the mood at hand. Other acting chores are well handled by Walter Abel, as Fairbanks' adjutant; Harry Dav- enport, as the major-domo, Reginald Gardiner as Alberto and Romero as Mario. The late Ernst Lubitsch began production and direction of "That Lady in Ermine" prior to his death. Otto Preminger completed the film, without screen credit, at his own request. Samuelson Raphaelson wrote the screen- play and Leo Robin and Frederick Hollander the lyrics and music. Produc- tion values are luscious. So is Miss Grable. Running time, 89 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, August, 1948. Red Kann I Films Now Accepted For Air Mailing* 'j , U. S. Post Office Department has ,, , approved the shipment of film by air- mail, at the request of the Motion Picture Association of America, the ► latter declared here yesterday in dis- ' > closing that it had interceded with J po^al authorities on behalf of news- _ Companies. Heretofore, film ship- n,~^ could be sent by air only by j air express or by private shipment. » Robert S. Burgess, Deputy Second : Assistant Postmaster General, has ad- vised that the Post Office Department • L has nullified the order that prohibited the transmission of films by first-class airmail. Film containers must carry i the regulation yellow caution labels. MGM Studio Talks (Continued from page 1) estimates of potential income from ex- hibition and distribution in the pre- dictable future. Department heads have been instructed to prepare economy proposals for submission to the executive groups during the meet- ing sessions, which will continue for some time. Moskowitz plans to stay here for a month. Among matters discussed by the M-G-M executives was the addition of Dore Schary to the roster of produc- ers. Negotiations were continuing today, reportedly to give the former RKO Radio production vice-president responsibility for three productions annually. Schary, who is known to have other offers of various kinds un- der study, today said none have reached the conclusive stage. RKO Meeting (Continued from page 1) today. Malcolm Kingsberg planes to San Francisco tomorrow to start a tour of key cities. The directorate was sheltered from press inquiries throughout the stay in Hollywood. Meetings were held at the home of N. Peter Rathvon, presi- dent, who took over Dore Schary's executive production duties on the lat- ter's resignation and is expected to continue in command until the Wilm- ington meeting. No appointment of a successor to Schary is expected in the immediate future. Howard Hughes, Floyd Odium and Rathvon will at- tend the Wilmington session. Chicago Suits (Continued from page 1) Park's petition of several months ago which asked distributor defendants for an additional $100,000 damages on the grounds that the theatre suffered that loss during the pendency of the appeal from October 1946 to November 1947. Judge Igoe's original decree was stayed for 13 months while Circuit and Supreme Courts passed on the ap- peal. Appeal bonds were posted by the defendants in that amount. Balaban and Katz filed answers and objections to interrogatories in the Monroe Theatre $1,580,000 anti-trust suit against the majors here. Plain- tiff's attorney is Seymour Simon. Depositions are being taken this week by plaintiff attorney Simon in the Liberty Theatre trust suit of Louis Philon, the plaintiff, and Maurice Ru- ben, Great States Circuit head; Jack Rose of the Manta Rose Circuit, and James Coston, Warner Theatres' head here. New Building Code (Continued from page 1) June of last year, a number of addi- tions and amendments have been made in the proposed revision. Subsequent to the 1947 hearings, the draft was completely reviewed with regard to comments and suggestions made at those hearings,, it is reported in the document released yesterday. Among structural requirements of theatres to be reviewed are exits, projection booth facilities, film storage, seating, and various features relating to drive-ins. Divorce Quiz (Continued from page 1) time the Government would grant for the submission of answers to the in- terrogatories which were served on the "Big Five" on July 1, it was be- lieved a shortage of help due to sum- mer vacations would influence the De- partment of Justice in deciding on a new deadline. Warner Seeks Delay In K-B Theatre Suit Washington, July 13. — Warner Brothers tomorrow will ask Federal District Court here to give it until September 30 to answer the suit of K-B Amusement Co., which is at- tempting to force Warner to give up its joint interest with K-B in the MacArthur Theatre here. K-B has opposed giving so much time, and the motion will probably be set for argu- ment. Truman To Dedicate 'Salute Youth' Stamp President Truman will dedicate a three-cent "Salute to Youth" stamp on August 11 as a preliminary to the national observance of "Youth Month," in September, fostered by the Theatre Owners of America, J. M. Donaldson, Postmaster General, advised the TOA yesterday. CEA - Rank Meeting (Continued from page 1) dictation from Rank. Even the most sober-minded among them discern that decisions taken at tomorrow's meeting will settle the pattern of their opera- tions for years to come. They do not propose that their delegates shall enter into parleys with Rank without proper briefing. And so today a meeting of rank-and-file theatremen was con- vened by John Xavier Prendergast of York and Charles Metcalfe of Leeds. Original intention was that the meet- ing should be a sort of "Rally of Remonstrance," with all welcome. It was later decided that the meeting be held behind closed doors. Exhibitors do not want to disclose their tactics to Rank in advance. But it is clear that all independents will present a united front in combatting the quota order, which they regard as wholly imprac- ticable, and the booking terms which Rank seeks to impose upon them. Climaxing these discussions will be the meeting arranged between presi- dent of the Board of Trade Harold Wilson and a CEA delegation on Monday. FCC Weighs (Continued from page 1) 50 per cent by Tri-States Theatres, a Paramount subsidiary. Today the FCC said it has not yet acted on the application because "cer- tain substantial considerations" have arisen. These "considerations," the FCC made clear, were the Paramount decision. Cite Decision on Trade Practices "That decision," the commission wrote the parties to the application, "predicated on a suit brought by the U. S. to restrain Paramount and others from violating the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, adjudged the defend- ants, including Paramount, in viola- tion of that act and formally enjoined them from pursuing the practices in restraint of trade originally com- plained of. That decision is of inter- est to this commission in considering the assignment before it because of the ownership by Paramount Pic- tures, Inc., of stock in Tri-States The- atres, Inc., which latter organization in turn holds 50 per cent ownership of the instant assignee." The commission also asked the par- ties involved to submit briefs with respect to this issue. 'Heavy' Influence Seen The FCC statement does not, of course, mean that all applications by subsidiaries of the theatre-owning de- fendants will be turned down auto- matically, but it does indicate the FCC is weighing the decision and will consider it heavily in passing on the applications from Paramount sub- sidiaries for television stations. The FCC's pre-occupation with the Paramount case is pointed up by the fact that the record in the Paramount case was included in the hearings on applications for San Francisco stations. Video Scheduling (Continued from page 1) delay and consequently the theatre had to screen three shorts, pick up about 10 minutes of the Democrats' Phila- delphia convention and then offer or- gan music. The audience had become slightly weary. The fight looked good on the big screen but the 45 minutes of fill-ins made for an over-dose. Both the Joe Louis and the Williams fights must be credited to some extent at least with boosting the theatre's revenue. On both occasions the audi- ences were enthusiastic and there was no discernible disappointment. The pick-up of the convention, with Sena- tor Barkley making the keynote ad- dress taking the spotlight, was another story. It was partly enjoyable only because the Senator's gesticulating and oratorical mishaps had an uninten- tionally humorous effect. It was Barkley who caused the delay of the fight pictures because the only avail- able coaxial cable transmission from Philadelphia was given to his over- time talk. 20th Mexican Stocks (Continued from page 1) counts at $400,000, offset by 100 per cent reserve, it is recorded. If and when collections are made thereon, they will constitute additional profit on the transaction, the statement says. The statement confirmed earlier re- ports that 20th-Fox's subsidiary, Na- tional Theatres, disposed during the year of three Mexican subsidiaries in each of which National had a 51 per cent interest. VITAMIN M-G-M FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY! MAY SPENCER TRACY KATHARINE HEPBURN VAN JOHNSON Angela Lansbury Adolphe Menjou, Lewis Stone in FRANK CAPRA's "STATE OF THE UNION." * * * "SUMMER HOLIDAY" (Technico/or). MICKEY ROONEY GLORIA DeHAVEN Walter Huston, Frank Morgan Butch Jenkins, Marilyn Maxwell Agnes Moorehead, Selena Royle. * * * CLARK GABLE LANA TURNER Anne Baxter, John Hodiak in "HOMECOMING" Ray Collins, Gladys Cooper, Cameron Mitchell. JUNE "BIG CITY" Starring Margaret O'Brien Robert Preston, Danny Thomas George Murphy, Karin Booth Edward Arnold, Butch Jenkins Betty Garrett, Lofte Lehmann. * * * JUDY GARLAND, GENE KELLY in "THE PIRATE" (Technicolor). Walter Slezak, Gladys Cooper Reginald Owen. * * ★ ESTHER WILLIAMS, PETER LAWFORD RICARDO MONTALBAN JIMMY DURANTE, CYD CHARISSE XAVIER CUGAT in "ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU" fTec/imco/or)- JULY IRVING BERLIN'S "EASTER PARADE" (Technicolor). Starring JUDY GARLAND, FRED ASTAIRE PETER LAWFORD. ANN MILLER. * * * "A DATE WITH JUDY" (Technicolor). Starring WALLACE BEERY, JANE POWELL, ELIZABETH TAYLOR CARMEN MIRANDA, XAVIER CUGAT ROBERT STACK. AUGUST GREER GARSON WALTER PIDGEON in "JULIA MISBEHAVES" PETER LAWFORD, ELIZABETH TAYLOR CESAR ROMERO, Luclle"Watson Nigel Bruce, Mary Boland Reginald Owen. * * * MONTGOMERY CLIFT ALINE MacMAHON JARMILA NOVOTNA in "THE SEARCH" + * * RED SKELTON, BRIAN DONLEVY in "A SOUTHERN YANKEE" Arlene Dahl, George Coulouris Lloyd Gough, John Ireland Minor Watson. SEPTEMBER "THE THREE MUSKETEERS" (Technicolor). LANA TURNER, GENE KELLY JUNE ALLYSON, VAN HEFLIN ANGELA LANSBURY, Frank Morgan, Vincent Price Keenan Wynn, John Sutton Gig Young. * * * LASSIE in "HILLS OF HOME" (Technicolor). Co-starring EDMUND GWENN, DONALD CRISP TOM DRAKE, JANET LEIGH. uutiV VVTTH S* AN * TUB if Yes? it's GREER TIGHTS! in Wait till you see -Julia Misbehaves" (Garson-Pidgeon). You'll understand why the Coast is raving about it! ■it V. r 9* € aft* I They won't even bother with the dishes when EASTER PARADE7 comes to town!" JJ"o% 44 Oh, what a wonderful sum- mer (when you've got M-G-M Pictures!) Are you taking your Vitamin M-G-M regularly? It's so good for what ails you! It's a pepper-upper for the entire industry! NEW YORK'S CELEBRATED CRITICS DELIVER STRAIGHT-FROM-THE-SHOULDER PRAISE For Paramount^ STRAIGHT-FROM-THE-SHOULDER PICTURE "CRONIN'S MOST HONEST AND SAVAGE NOVEL. Talent of excellent screen performers is evident . . . the acting compelling. The sequence in which Newton discovers his assistant in his mistress's flat and learns that the blackguard has got his daughter with child is a terrifying bit of motion picture melo- drama. Miss Kerr is always right as the unfor- tunate victim; Mason fine as an understanding but thwarted suitor and Emlyn Williams particularly villainous." — Howard Barnes, Herald Tribune • • • "VIOLENT ENTERTAINMENT . . . WELL PLAYED. 'Hatter's Castle' is graphic . . . and it follows Mr. Cronin's book. Newton is probably one of the frankest villains the screen has ever shown. Miss Kerr is most touching. Beatrice Varley is extremely affecting. The production is picturesque." —Bosley Crowther, N. Y. Times • • • "WE RECOMMEND IT. Colder than Scrooge, evil as Hitler, cunning as Machiavelli is the middle- class tradesman whose volcanic life is unfolded in 'Hatter's Castle.' This movie adaptation of A. J. Cronin's best-seller has an excellent cast. Newton portrays the megalomaniac hatter with force, at times injecting a note of pure horror into his characterization. The picture is more or less a one-man performance since every scene is domi- nated by either the hatter's presence or fear of it. This in no way, however, belittles the other per- formers. The picture 'comes off'." — Justin Gilbert, N. Y. Mirror • • • "VIGOROUS EMOTION. EVERYTHING IS THERE. The cast is capable. The settings are interesting, and the atmosphere." • —Eileen Creelman, The Sun STRONGLY FASHIONED ... the performances good. Newton dedicated to por- trayal of hypocritical tyrant, lets go with both barrels of the bravura ac- tor's spirit that is his." — Archer Winsten, Post •A "BURSTING WITH VOLCANIC PERFORMANCES by James Mason, Robert Newton and Emlyn Williams." — Alton Cook, World-Telegram FIRST MOTION KCTURE Accurate IN ATT Concise FILAA and NEWS mJAL JLl Impartial £ ^ 64. NO. 10 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, JULY 15, 1948 TEN CENTS Rank Yields To Irate CEA On Practices Appeals to National Pride In Defending New Quota London, July 14. — J. Arthur Rank today succeeded in appeasing to a considerable degree a meeting of the Cinematograph Exhibitors Association's general council which had assembled in an angry, indignant mood over the new quota law, British Film Producer Association "threats" in behalf of enforcement and reports that Rank was preparing to put on "the squeeze" for higher rentals for his pictures. Asserting that "our business is one of negotiation and mu- tual understanding," Rank said his General Film Distributors does not intend to ask any ex- hibitor to pay more than 50 per cent for any film on its general release. He denied vehemently that he would advocate prose- (Continned on page 6) Rank Proposes GFD Arbitration Setup London, July 14. — J. Arthur Rank proposed at the meeting of the Cine- matograph Exhibitors Association general council here today that an in- dependent tribunal be set up to adju- dicate all claims for adjustments where his General Film Distributors and its exhibitor customers fail to agree. It will be available, he said, as a promise that GFD does not claim to be the sole arbiter of what is fair or what is reasonable in rental terms and other such issues. He proposed that the tribunal be made up of three individuals : one a renter who is a director of a British- (Continued on page 6) Walter W. Irwin, 67, An Industry Pioneer Walter W. Irwin, 67, who organized the Vitagraph - Lubin - Selig - Essanay 1 Co. and later was vice-president of the Famous Players Lasky Corp., died 1 yesterday in New York Hospital after a brief illness. He was prominent in the formation of the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry and was chairman of its executive committee for four years. The widow survives. Sir Alexander Asks The $64 Question London, July 14. — At the conclusion of J. Arthur Rank's remarks in behalf of the new 45 per cent quota at the Cine- matograph Exhibitors Asso- ciation general council meet- ing here today, Sir Alexander King, leading British exhibi- tor, asked the industry leader how he can expect to make 60 successful pictures annually when the Americans, as Rank maintains, cannot. "I'm dead scared of this quota," Sir Alexander de- clared. He told Rank that his (Rank's) "economic fallacy is sowing the seeds of your own destruction." AFM Asks Producer Parley in Chicago James C. Petrillo, president of the American Federation of Musicians, has invited the film producers labor committee in Hollywood to commence negotiations on a new basic studio agreement early next month in Chi- cago, an AFM spokesman reported here yesterday. Present two-year con- tract, covering the 340 musicians em- ployed at eight major studios, will expire on August 31. The AFM spokesman said Petrillo has selected Chicago as the site for this year's negotiations to make it pos- (Continued on page 6) Wallace Convention Next on Television Full television coverage of the three-day convention of the Henry Wallace Third Party in Philadelphia, beginning July 23, is planned by all video networks and independent sta- tions along the Eastern Seaboard. The material will again be pooled. First Share of US Money in England Being Transferred While yesterday was the date for the first remittable share of earnings due U. S. companies from the British market under the dollar-exchange agreement which settled the British 75 per cent import tax, in practical meaning it marked the time the me- chanics of the involved fiscal opera- tion were begun. Executives here faid their London offices merely filed statements on the past month's earn- ings with the Anglo-U. S. control board which governs the operation of the dollar exchange. Next step is for the board to have converted, through the Bank of Eng- land, British pounds to American dol- lars and then transfer the money to American banks for distribution among the American companies quar- terly, on the basis of their earnings in England. The total is not to ex- ceed one month's part, or one-twelfth of the $17,000,000 per annum in re- mittables agreed upon, this totaling to $1,416,000. 4 Top Films, Others For RKO This Year Hollywood, July 14. — Four top- budget pictures, four or five smaller budget features and a steady flow of short subjects will be produced by RKO Radio during the next five months, N. Peter Rathvon, RKO president, announced today in contra- diction of reports that the studio would shut down preparatory to in- ception of Howard Hughes'" regime. Rathvon's statement referred to the present lull in studio activity as a "curtailment." First of the top-budget films named is "Interference," which started shoot- ing last week. The others will be named shortly. "Every Girl Should {Continued on page 4) NY Paramount 1st with Regular Video Policy Paramount yesterday disclosed it has adopted as a regular policy the use of full-screen television at its Paramount Theatre on Broadway. This is the first theatre in the U. S. to attach box-office importance to the new medium to the extent of announc- ing it as a "regular entertainment fea- ture." "Regular" means "as often as we find the right material," it was ex- plained by Paul Raibourn, president of the Television Productions, Para- mount subsidiary. The house will telecast spot news and sporting events for its patrons and when the events are of top interest, such as a heavyweight championship fight, the theatre will consider a tilt in admission scales, Raibourn said. Schary Heads M-G-M Studio Under Mayer Is New V.-P. in Charge Of Production There Hollywood, July 14. — Dore Schary joins M-G-M as vice-presi- dent in charge of production under a long-term contract signed Tues- day, the studio formally declared today. He will super- sede all other production ex- ecutives at Me- tro, will be an- swerable direct- ly to Louis B. Mayer, whose title as produc- tion vice-presi- dent, in fact, Schary now as- sumes. Completion of negotia- tions followed extended conferences between Schary and Nicholas M. Schenck, president of Loew's, who flew here from New York last week for this express purpose, together with resident studio officials. These (Continued on page 4) Dore Schary Majors to Inform US of Quiz Moves A program on time extension for the submission of data on joint thea- tre ownership asked for by the Gov- ernment under the U. S. Supreme Court decision in the Paramount anti- trust case will be worked out by the "Big Five" defendants under an un- derstanding with Robert L. Wright, special assistant to the U. S. attorney general. The companies have agreed to let (Continued on page 6) Specify Data Sought For Monopoly Probe Washington, July 14. — Question- naire being circulated by the House Small Business Committee among "small businessmen" in the film and other industries, preparatory to hold- ing hearings on monopoly and anti- trust law enforcement, requests the following information : Outline in the order of importance the competitive problems of your in- (Continued on page 6)' 2 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, July 15, 1948 Personal Mention T ROBERT RUBIN, M-G-M vice- J • president and general counsel, is due back Coast. New York from th( Louis W. Schine, Schine Circuit vice-president, was in Albany, N. Y., this week from Gloversville. Sey- mour Morris, Schine publicity direc- tor, was in Albany yesterday. • Gerald Mayer, director of the Mo- tion Picture Association of America's international division, who is in Paris, has postponed his return to New York to late this month. • Edward M. Schnitzer, United Artists Eastern and Canadian sales manager, is due back here on Monday from a vacation in Canada. • Jack Odell, United Artists man- ager in Puerto Rico, and Mrs. Odell have become parents of twins, a boy and a girl. • Eugen Sharin, Ambassador Films president, will leave here by plane to- day for visits to Austria, Switzerland, France and Italy. • Melvin Sprinkle of the New York staff of Altec Lansing, and Mrs. Sprinkle, are parents of a daughter, Janet Elaine. • J. Earl Lawson, president of Odeon Theatres of Canada, has been appointed a director of the National General Insurance Co., Toronto. • Rosellex Callahan, United Art- ists syndicate contact, will leave here tomorrow for a vacation. • Alexander Leftwich, Jr., has joined CBS Television here as a pro- ducer-director. • John Lund and his wife are en route to the Coast from New York. European Studios Seek U.S. Equipment European producers are encounter- ing some difficulties in obtaining im- port licenses for American studio and recording equipment, according to E. G. Wagner, Westrex comptroller, who has returned to New York from a seven-week tour of Western Electric's offices in Europe. Misrepresentation An unauthorized person using a Woodside, Long Island, address is soliciting publicity releases and thea- tre tickets on the misrepresentation that he is on the staff of Motion Pic- ture Daily. Staff members carry credentials and receive business mail at the publication office. — The Editor. UA Board Meeting United Artists' board of directors met here yesterday in what was de- scribed by a company spokesman as a routine session. Insider's Outlook By RED KANN T N ten columns of type and ■*■ photos, plus cover, the cur- rent edition of Time magazine sets out to acquaint some mil- lions of the American public with the mechanism and the background of Howard R. [for Robard] Hughes. The profile makes lively read- ing and is of considerable inter- est because it also draws un- familiar word pictures for an industry in which "this tall, gangling, aging, sick-looking man of 42 whose life and eccen- tricities have built a lurid legend" is assuming greater sta- ture. ■ "What did Hughes, the lone wolf, want with RKO ?" asks Time, which proceeds to supply its own answer. "He takes great pains to hide his motive, but no doubt one motive was his hankering for theatre outlets. . . . Hughes had great trouble distributing 'The Outlaw' . . . mainly because of censorship, but partly because independent exhibitors were simply afraid of it. . . . Hughes firmly believes that, if distribution obstacles can be overcome, 'The Outlaw' will bring in one of the fattest yields of all time." Now that he controls RKO, Hughes predicts this future for himself: "My life is not exactly going to be dull for the next two years. I am really cooking at RKO and things are going to pop. . . ." Helping him make them pop will be the successor to Dore Schary, who yesterday became M-G-M's new produc- tion vice-president. Unnamed thus far, Time reports Hughes on his present imponderable : "It will be someone you least suspect, a shocker." ■ Parent base of Hughes' finan- cial resources, of course, is the Hughes Tool Company. The article tells about that, too. "With his partner, Walter Sharp [Hughes, Sr.] struck oil in the Goose Creek [Tex.] field, but the two-edged 'fishail' bits used in those days broke on subterranean rock. Thereupon Hughes designed a conical bit with 166 cutting edges. That tool is the original source and still the main prop of the Hughes fortune, which now amounts to about $145,000,000." ■ In the cause of complete cov- erage, Time's sleuths eventual- ly get around to a collection of paragraphs on the private and commercial characteristics of their subject. "The private life of Howard Hughes might be described as a complete and carefully protected disorder. He has no interest in clothes, only the barest minimum of interest in food and sleep. He owns five suits, of which the newest is five years old; he is rumpled and disheveled most of the time, gets dressed up only for special occasions. He postpones hair- cuts as long as possible." "... the telephone is, by long odds, his favorite channel of communication with other hu- man beings. Since he sleeps only when he is sleepy, he calls up his lieutenants at all hours of the night. Sometimes he identifies himself as 'Mr. Hoyt'." Hughes, this account races on, has no office, seems to prefer business appointments in remote places "usually at night, and he is always 20 minutes to two hours late if he shows up at all." He lives in a house rented from Cary Grant and to it "few male visitors are admitted. . . . He has ... no servants in the ordi- nary sense, but a quartet of aide-de-camps including "Char- lie Guest, his old golf pro, and another man named Barry who might be described as lieuten- ants in charge of odds and ends including admissions and evic- tions ; Johnny Meyers, the man with the telephone numbers ; and Dick Davis, a Carl Byoir associate [high voltage pub- licity]." ■ Only three pictures were in work at RKO last week. Start- ing this week was one "that would be right down Hughes' alley — a virile saga of profes- sional football called "Interfer- ence." Time managed to find someone who is supposed to have said, "Just wait until Junior gets his teeth into that one." In back of all this is an ob- servation which the news maga- zine attributes to Hughes after he had completed his first cycle of pictures — "Hell's Angels," "Scarface" and "The Front Page" : Movies are a cinch. The more you spend the more you make. If he did say this, his biggest opportunity to prove it is ahead, not behind him. It begins Au- gust 31 in Wilmington, Del., when corporate control of RKO officially passes to his hands. Cleveland, Cincinnati To Aid Rogers Fund Cleveland, July 14.— Cleveland and Cincinnati film representatives, head- ed by Martin G. Smith, Ohio Indepen- dent Theatre Owners president; Er- nest Schwartz, Cleveland Motion Pic- ture Exhibitors Association head, and Meyer Fine, president of Associated Theatre Circuit, have agreed to work for a $75,000' quota in each exchange area for the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital at Saranac Lake, N. Y. Pledges were made following^ \ luncheon meeting here yesterday wrtri Charles Reagan, Paramount vice- president, and Andy Smith, Jr., 20th Century-Fox general sales manager. I. J. Schmertz was named chairman of the Cleveland committee and Alan Moritz of the Cincinnati committee. Duff and Weiss in New Selling Posts Cincinnati, July 14.— Donald R. Duff has been made general sales manager of Popular Pictures. With Lee L. Goldberg, he will concentrate on circuits booked out of Cincinnati. Samuel Weiss, formerly manager in the St. Louis office and salesman in Cincinnati for Eagle-Lion, has been engaged to cover Southern Ohio and Eastern Kentucky for Realart. '4-H' Girl at Reception Clara E. Mabee of Lafayette, N. J., one of the four finalists in the search for a 4-H Club girl to play a major role in the Glenn McCarthy-Robert Paige film, "The Green Promise," was guest of honor here yesterday at a press reception in the St. Regis Hotel penthouse. Mrs. Josephine Abrahams Services were held here on Tuesday for Mrs. Josephine Abrahams, 70, mother of Sanford Abrahams, adver- tising manager of Allied Artists and Monogram in Hollywood, who flew here for the funeral. Also surviving are the widower, Maurice, and a daughter, Mrs. Marian Leopold. Burns Rites Tomorrow Funeral services for Harry Burns, 63, screen veteran, will be held in St. Anthony's Church, Bayside, L. I., to- morrow morning, with interment in St. John's Cemetery, Middle Village, Queens. The actor died in Hollywood last Friday. I FULL I HOUSE? I "TEXAS, "~ I BROOKLYN I and - HEAVEN sent from UA SimLv^ =,nH ? A M3.rt^. Qu'g,ey- Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, ^ "XS holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, tU„ p r M.art!n Qui?,ey. President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan. Vice-President and Treasurer- Leo J. Brady, Secretary; v;™ P M^-T.n?m' News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- M°f,/M p S' W,il!?m R- Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farlev, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, rj'!^ xvepresen tati vc. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Ho,,iV t? f c iS' VmSPub?°. London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture V Vfi-o c ? • ' lnternatl0nal Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 18/y. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. "LETTER TO A REBEL' BELONGS ON EVERY SCREEN IN THESE U.S." PHIL M. DALY in Film Daily The most important short in years! >" Folksy, plain -boiled . . . notably interesting/' says Terry Ram say e in M. P. Herald /'Deserving of anyone's screen/' adds M. P. Daily "High entertainment value . . . Presented vividly, forcefully/' reports Film Daily 4 Motion Picture daily Thursday, July 15, 1948 Key City Grosses OLLOWING are estimated pic- 1 ture grosses for current engage- ments in key cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily correspond- ents. Estimates omit admission tax. CHICAGO Hot weather, beaches and outdoor attractions are proving stiff competi- tion to theatres generally, although some are faring excellently. Esti- mated receipts for week ending July 15: ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST (U-I)-GRAND (1,150) (50c-65c-98c) 5 days, 2nd week. Gross: $8,500. (Average: $11,500) B. F.'S DAUGHTER (M-G-M) — UNITED ARTISTS (1,700) (50c-65c-98c) 5 days. 2nd week. ON OUR MERRY WAY (UA) 2 days. Gross: $14,500. (Average: $20,000) CORONER CREEK (Col.) — ROOSEVELT (1,500) (50c-65c-98c) 5 days, 2nd week. MICKEY (EL) 2 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average: $18,000) DANGEROUS YEARS (20th-Fox) — ORI- ENTAL (3,300) (50c-65c-98c) On stage: Dick Haymes. Gross: $55,000. (Average: $40,000) DEEP WATERS (ZOth-Fox) — APOLLO (1,200) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $15,000. (Aver- age: $14,000) GREEN GRASS OF WYOMING (ZOth- Fox) — CHICAGO (3,900) (50c-65c-98c) 2nd week. On stage: Peggy Lee. Gross: $43,- 000. (Average: $40,000) THE PARADINE CASE (SRO)— WOODS (1,080) (98c) 3 days. ARCH OF TRIUMPH (UA) 4 days, 4th week. Gross: $22,000. (Average: $23,000) ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS (War- ners)— STATE LAKE (2,700) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $30,000. (Average: $30,000) UP IN CENTRAL PARK (U-I) PALACE (2,500) 5 days, 2nd week. I REMEMBER MAMA (RKO Radio) 2 days. Gross: $18,- 000. (Average: $21,000) INDIANAPOLIS Hot weather and the summer's peak in outdoor competition put a crimp in first-run grosses here this week. "On Our Merry Way" is the only entry playing to above average. Estimated receipts for the week ended July 13-14 : THE ADVENTURES OF CASANOVA (EL) and THE ENCHANTED VALLEY (EL) — LYRIC (1,600) (44c-65c). Gross: $4,500. (Average: $6,000) CARNEGIE HALL (UA)— KEITH'S (1,300) (44c-65c). Gross: $4,500. (Average: $4,500) THE EMPEROR WALTZ (Para.) — IN- DIANA (3,200) (44c-65c) 2nd week. Gross: $9,500. (Average: $12,000) HAZARD (Para.) and MONEY MADNESS (FC) — CIRCLE (2,800) (44c-65c). Gross: $9,000. (Average: $10,000) ON OUR MERRY WAY (UA) and JASSY (U-I) — LOEWS (2,450) (44c-65c). Gross: $12,000. (Average: $11,000). BOSTON Weather is still warm with a high humidity. Outdoor esplanade concerts and night baseball are keeping grosses down. Estimated receipts for the week ended July 14 : CORONER'S CREEK (Col) and KINGS OF THE OLYMPIC (UA)— ASTOR (1,300) (44c-80c). Gross: $5,700. (Average: None available) DEEP WATERS (20th-Fox) and JINX MONEY (Mono.) — PARAMOUNT (1,700) (40c-80c). Gross: $13,500. (Average: $17,- 000) DEEP WATERS (20th-Fox) and JINX MONEY (Mono.)— FENWAY (1,373) (40c- 80c). Gross: $6,800. (Average: $10,000) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M)— ORPHEUM (3.000) (40c-&0c), Gross: $3,500. 1 day. EASTER PARADE (M-G-M) — STATE (3,500) (40c-80c). Gross: $2,000. 1 day THE EMPEROR WALTZ (Para.) and BIG TOWN SCANDAL (Para.)— METRO- POLITAN f4,367) (40c-80c). Gross: $20,000. 2nd week. With a personal appearance of Dr. I. Q. one night. MR. B LANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE (SRO) and MADONNNA OF THE Review 'Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven" {Golden Productions-United Artists) A WACKY film mostly about wacky people, this attraction with its geographic title is an amusing bit of nonsense astutely held to 76 minutes. "Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven" will never prove memorable in any audience's -alculations, but there seems to be no reason why it will not entertain in an -^consequential way. The story base was "Eddie and the Archangel Mike," a Saturday Evening Post story by Barry Benefield, but all allusions to angels treading this mortal earth are out. James Dunn, as Mike, is just a bartender with a heart of gold and a laudable enough ambition to lend a helping hand if and where he can. It is he who narrates the story of Eddie (Guy Madison) and Perry (Diana Lynn) and their adventures with Florence Bates, the sly old pickpocket who turns over a new leaf under Miss Lynn's wing. There also are the three Cheever spinsters — Margaret Hamilton, Moyna Magill and Irene Ryan — whose icebound interiors and exteriors are melted by friendly associations ; Gaboolian, who runs a fantastic riding academy inhabited by mechanical horses, elephants and parts of ships and the assortment of remarkable and strictly story-book characters who seek a dubious escape there. At any rate, Madison is about the only practical one of the lot. In love with Miss Lynn, he finally keeps her nearby by getting her a job in the Gaboolian emporium and then buying it for her. A screwy Christmas Eve party offers opportunities to capture newspaper attention which, in turn, induces the Cheever gals to take over. With the proceeds, Madison and Miss Lynn return to Texas to raise a family and horses on the ranch of their dreams. Best professional performances come from Miss Bates as the regenerated pickpocket, and Michael Chekhov as the impractical Gaboolian. Supporting roles are in the hands of such old reliables as Clem Bevans, Roscoe Karns, Lionel Stander, William Frawley and Tom Dugan. Audie Murphy, in a bit, plays a newspaper copy boy. The highlight is a funny scene in which the mechanical devices get out of hand. In a theatre and before an audience, the sequence ought to be a roar. William Castle directed for producer Robert S. Golden with Lewis J. Rachmil as his associate. Lewis Meltzer wrote the screenplay. Running time, 76 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, July 16. Red Kann DESERT (Rep.) — RKO1 MEMORIAL (3,000) (40c-80c). Gross: $2,750. 1 day OCTOBER MAN (EL) and VACATION FROM MARRIAGE (M-G-M) — EXETER (1,300) (45c-75c). Gross: $4,000. (Average: $5,000) THE FULLER BRUSH MAN (Col.) and ADVENTURES IN SILVERADO (Col.)— STATE (3,000) (40c-80c). Gross: $10,000. (Average: $12,000). 6 days. THE FULLER BRUSH MAN (Col.) and ADVENTURES IN SILVERADO (Col.)— ORPHEUM (3,000) (40c-80c). Gross: $20,- 000. (Average: $27,000). 6 days. THE MATING OF MILLIE (Col.) and THE STRAWBERRY ROAN (Col.)— RKO BOSTON (3,200) (40c-80c). Gross: $7,000. UP IN CENTRAL PARK (U-I) and STAGE STRUCK (Mono.) — RKO MEMO- RIAL (3,000) (40c-80c). Gross: $13,500. (Average: $22,000). 6 days. BUFFALO Hot weather continues unabated here. "Emperor Waltz" held up fairly well in a second week at the Great Lakes. Estimated receipts for the week ending July 17: BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (RKO Radio) — TWENTIETH CENTURY (3,000) (40c-50c-60c-70c) 2nd week. Gross: $11,400. (Average: $13,000) THE EMPEROR WALTZ (Para.)— GREAT LAKES (3,000) (40c-50c-60c-70c) 2nd week. Gross: $15,000. (Average: $17,000) LITTLE TOUGH GUY (U-I) and LITTLE TOUGH GUYS IN SOCIETY (U-I)— TECK (1,500) (40c- 50c -60c -70c) Reissues. Gross: $3,300. (Average: $4,000) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M) and SECRET SERVICE INVESTIGATOR (Rep.) — HIPPODROME (2,100) (40c-50c- 60c-70c) 2nd week, on a moveover. Gross: $8,000. (Average: $10,000) THE STREET WITH NO NAME (20th- Fox) and! MADONNA OF THE DESERT (Rep.) — BUFFALO (3,489) (40c-50c-60c-70c). Gross: $14,100. (Average: $18,000) MINNEAPOLIS Despite extreme heat, in its second week, theatre business began to show a general improvement. Estimated grosses for the week ending July 15 : BLACK BART (U-I)— STATE (2,300) (50c- 70c) Gross: $10,500. (Average: $10,500) HATTER'S CASTLE (Para.)— CENTURY (1.500) (50c-70c) 2nd week. Gross: $8,000. (Average: $5,500) SIN TOWN and RIO (Realart Reissues)— Schary to M-G-M {Continued from page 1) included Mayer, E. J. Mannix, and Ben Thau. It is understood that Schary's new post will vest in him authority comparable only to that ex- ercised by the late Irving G. Thalberg and by no other Metro studio execu- tive except Mayer since Thalberg's death. It is reported Schary's pact entitles him to participate in company earnings. Schary, who recently resigned as vice-president in charge of production at RKO Radio after policy differences with Howard Hughes, new control- ling factor in that company, now re- turns to the studio where he worked eight of his 15 years in production as writer, producer and executive. Prior to his RKO affiliation, which began in January, 1947, and terminat- ed on June 30, 1948, he was a pro- ducer for Vanguard. In a formal statement, he said in part : "I offer my associates a pro- gram of work dedicated to the produc- tion of good films about a good world." 4 RKO Films {Continued from page 1) Be Married" and "Baltimore Esca- pade" are top-budget features still shooting. "Stagecoach Kid," a West- ern starring Tim Holt, will be first of the smaller budget films and is to start July 26. GOPHER (1,000) (44c-50c). Gross: $3,400. (Average: $3,200) THE EMPEROR WALTZ (Para.)— RADIO CITY (4,000) (50c-70c) 2nd week. Gross: $12,000. (Average: $16,000) THE FULLER BRUSH MAN (Col.)— RKO PAN (1,500) (50c-70c) 4th week. Gross: $7,500. (Average: $8,000) THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI (Col.)— LYRIC (1,100) (50c-70c) 2nd week. Gross: $4,800. (Average: $5,000) UP IN CENTRAL PARK (U-I) — RKO ORPHEUM (2,800) (50c-70c). Gross: $12,- 500. (Average: $12,500) BOI B O'DONNELL an a headline . . . "Ranks with best ...c thrills . . . exploitatio unlimited." ion i Raporfl "Red hot right off the press, packed screen entertainment, "One of best -made most effective 'crime-does-not-pay' pictures in a long time." "Should pay off turnstiles!" "Straight from page one headlines — packs terrific punch." "Eagle Lion has a winner!" "'Canon City' brilliant... told with wallop!" "Plenty of opportunities to cash in!" ► —The Exhibitor "Showmanship . . thenticity-one of the It's five o'clock, Tuesday December 30, 1947. The people of Canon City, Colorado, are preparing for another quiet winter evening. Snow is just beginning to fall. Dusk almost hides the grim silhouette of the State Penitentiary on the edge of town. Suddenly it happens! A siren screams — then another- and another- shattering the air itself with their terrifying wails. Twelve desperate convicts— murderers, kidnappers — armed with crude shotguns, clubs and knives have battered their blood-mad way to freedom in the most spectacular jailbreak of our time! Dragging as hostages four brutally beaten guards, they force their frenzied way into homes at gun point. Thus began in Canon City a three day reign of terror that startled the nation with screaming headlines from coast-to-coast ... a reign of terror broken only when the town fought back! This Is Not Fiction . . .THIS IS THE NAKED FURY OF FACT! low You Can See It On The Screen.. Filmed The Way It Happened I Introducing SCOTT BRADY with Jeff Corey • Whit Bissell • Stanley Clements Charles Russell DeForest Keiley • Ralph Byrd • Mabel Paige and Warden Roy Best, himself A Bryan' Foy Production Produced by Robert T. Kane Written and Directed by Crane Wilbur 6 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, July 15, 1948 Rank Yields (Continued from page 1) cutions whenever exhibitors fail to fulfill the quota. Rank pledged, in effect, a consider- able shakeup of all GFD practices, which is regarded as a major triumph for the exhibitors, following three years of agitation. He declared flatly that British pictures on the average "take more money at the boxoffice than Hollywood pictures whenever they are given continuity of playing time." However, following his ad- dress, the CEA did not permit him to rest on that score. Several delegates assured him that his pictures result in losses. One owner produced certi- fied accounts revealing 71 Rank book- ings as yielding 2,000 pounds ($8,000) for GFD, but a loss to him of 400 pounds ($1,600). Calls Quota Embargo 'Insurance' Rank defended the new 45 per cent quota on the ground that it is, for one thing, insurance against possible future film embargoes such as was levied by U. S. distributors following the imposition a year ago of the Brit- ish government's ad valorem tax. "The next time it might be a complete embargo," he said, adding that that "is an impossible position for any busi- ness to be in." He appealed to the CEA members' national pride in urging them to buy British pictures and thus build up the native film industry. He told them their "one sure shield" is a "sound British production industry, on which exhibitors can rely for a continuous flow of good pictures." British pro- ducers, he said, "need to feel that they have exhibitors behind them, and exhibitors should feel that the pro- ducers realize their great responsibil- ity to them and to their patrons." Rank said he is hoping that Motion Picture Association of America pres- ident Eric Johnston will pursue his suggestion that an Anglo-American joint committee study dollar and film exchange problems. The proposed committee's potential usefulness has not diminished, he added. 'Unseen Quota' by U. S. During the ad valorem tax dead- lock, Rank maintained, an "unseen quota" was exercised by U. S. ex- hibitors against British films, it being what he described as "the expression of a natural resentment against their revenues from England being cut, and on a short view was quite under- standable." It was agreed Rank's proposed "Gestapo," or probe of theatre pro- grams all over the country in order to prove that the quota can be met, will not be pursued, and the general coun- cil is demanding that Rank disown BFPA chief Sir Henry French's an- nouncement of such a probe. First feature quota obligations can be met by- the 1,000 houses in the three top circuits and by approximately 1,- 500 theatres which are in situations where there are not more than two houses, Rank maintained. Notwithstanding the quota, "we all want American films," he said. "When we are playing the 45 per cent quota we shall have the best of the Ameri- can pictures to choose from for the remaining 55 per cent," he stated. "And magnificent the very best un- doubtedly are. None of us would have liked to have missed 'The Best Years of Our Lives' which has had so great a success. Pictures like this are al- ways welcome here. Pictures like this are not affected by the quota. There will be room here for all of the best American pictures — but few of us will complain if we do not see so many of the Hollywood lesser pic- tures which have brought little money to our box-offices. They have, more- over, brought little credit to their producers, and may well have done damage to the Hollywood industry as a whole." Rank Arbitration (Continued from page 1) controlled company distributing Brit- ish films, an exhibitor chosen by GFD, and the third to be an exhibitor chosen by the other two members of the tribunal. GFD, he said, will agree to be bound by the decisions of the tribunal. "I realize," the . British industry leader said, "this could only be an experiment but 1 shall be very happy to give it a trial if the council ap- proves the idea. I do not myself think the tribunal will be called into exis- tence very often, and I hope it will not." Majors To Inform US (Continued from page 1) Wright know when they expect an- swers to acceptable questions to be ready for submission, and the De- partment of Justice will be governed accordingly in the granting of addi- tional time for filing. The "Big Five" will also notify Wright when objections will be ready to questions which they consider unjustified. AFM Calls Parley (Continued from page 1) sible for the AFM negotiators to at- tend conveniently the AFM board meeting which is scheduled to be held in that city early in August. In prior years negotiations between the AFM and the producers' committee were held in either New York or Holly- wood, both of those locations beir~ more convenient for the commit' - which is made up of top st&vy executives. The union refuses to discuss the specific demands it intends to make this year. Motion Picture Daily reported on June 8 that delegates to the AFM convention in Asbury Park, N. J., at that time interpreted remarks made by Petrillo during the reading of his annual report to mean that substantial wage increases will be sought for studio musicians. Monopoly Probe (Continued from page 1) dustry ; indicate suggestions for reme- dying each of these problems ; do anti- trust laws need strengthening, and if so, how ; does any Federal law or regulation restrain fair competition in your industry ; does any state law or municipal ordinance or law restrain fair competition in your industry? Committee chairman Plosser has stated : "We will definitely go into films, both from the point of view of the exhibitor and the independent pro- ducer." Both Allied States and the Society of Independent Motion Picture Pro- ducers have pledged their support to the committee. NOTHING EVER HELD YOU LIKE ALFRED HITCHCOCKS IN FILM NEWS MOTION DAILY Accurate Concise and Impartial 64. NO. 11 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, JULY 16, 1948 TEN CENTS Lobby Telecast Pickups Will iBe Challenged All 'Unauthorized' Public Video Shows Questioned Television's move for injunctions restraining "unauthorized" pickups of its material by theatres, hotels, taverns, and other commercial places charging admission or other consider- ations, is said by telecasters here to be definitely approaching top-level court stages. Video industry attorneys are thinking not only in terms of stopping unauthorized large- screen reproductions, but are leveling their sights on small receivers in theatre lobbies and lounges as well. And they be- lieve they have an assortment of precedents. Indexed and earmarked for antici- pated early legal use are U. S. Su- preme Court and various Federal {Continued on page 3) Slate St. Louis AAA Suit for High Court St. Louis, July 15. — The anti-trust suit brought by St. Louis Amusement and Fanchon and Marco Service Corp. against the American Arbitration As- sociation, which was dismissed on July 8 in U. S. Circuit Court of Ap- peals here, will be taken to the U. S. Supreme Court, Harry C. Arthur, St. Louis Amusement president, said to- day. The appeal, Arthur said, will claim that the lower Federal courts in dis- missing the suit have upheld compul- sory arbitration and that recent Su- preme Court rulings only validate vol- untary arbitration. Appellate Judge Harvey Johnson's {Continued on page 3) Glenn McCarthy Will Make Three Yearly Glenn McCarthy Productions plans to make three pictures annually, bud- geted at around $800,000 each, Robert Paige, co-producer, disclosed here yesterday. The new independent company, which has headquarters at the Gold- wyn studio in Hollywood, will start with "The Green Promise," set for (Continued on page 3) Restricted Imports Basis for Deal on Dollars in France American distributors will have to retain their self-imposed limitation on motion picture imports into France in order to make a deal with the French government on their frozen funds, it is disclosed here in a cable received by the Motion Picture Association of America's international division, from Gerald Mayer, division head, who is in France trying to negotiate a set- tlement of the dollar exchange stale- mate. This voluntary total last year amounted to 125 pictures, but indepen- dent producers shipped in many more, resulting in what the French called a "flooding of the market." Subse- quently, they proposed an alteration in the terms of the Blum-Byrnes accord to increase the playing time for French (Continued on page 3) UK Studio Financing Report Due Shortly London, July 15.— British Board of Trade president Harold Wilson reiter- ated in the House of Commons today that he is persevering in endeavors to remove financial obstacles to putting Britain's studios to their fullest use. He said he hoped to make a more defi- nite statement next week. He was reminded by Commons members that Teddington Studios have been closed for want of a ten- ant, resulting in the discharge of 132 employees. S chary Could Quit If Mayer Leaves Hollywood, July 15. — Dore Schary's contract with M-G-M is understood to include a clause, suggested by him, un- der which his pact would be cancelled automatically if Louis B. Mayer should with- draw from the company while the agreement is in effect. While the contract, which reputedly runs seven years, is in immediate effect, Schary actually will not assume his new post as vice-president in charge of production until August 9. Meanwhile, he will vacation. 20th's New Program Up at Canadian Meet Andy W. Smith, Jr., general sales manager of 20th Century-Fox, will announce the company's 1948-49 fea- ture program at a one-day convention of the Canadian sales organization at the Royal York Hotel, Toronto, next Thursday. Smith will preside at the session which will be attended by president Spyros P. 5kouras and home office executives W. C. Gehring, assistant general sales manager; Charles Schlai- fer, director of advertising-publicity; Martin Moskowitz, executive assistant to Smith; Peter Levathes, short sub- jects sales manager; Clarence A. Hill, (Continued on page 3) Urges Producers Adhere To Film Production Code IMPPA, SAG Agree On Players' Contract Hollywood, July 15. — Agree- ment has been reached be- tween the Independent Motion Picture Producers Association and the Screen Actors Guild on a new contract, reportedly identical in major features with that signed a week ago by the AMPP-SIMPP groups and SAG, but carrying over into effect special concessions granted a year ago to pro- ducers of small-budget films. The IMPPA membership will meet next Wednesday to ap- prove the agreement officially. Columbus, O., July 15.— Crime pic- tures which emphasize gruesome scenes and "too much rough language" are causing most eliminations in films, report Ohio State censors Susannah Warfield and Ruth Hornbeck. In previous years films "which over- stepped the bounds of decency" caused the censorial shears to work most often, they added. "If all film producers followed their own production code, we wouldn't have much trouble," Miss Warfield said. She is supervisor of the board. Mrs. Hornbeck is assistant censor. The Ohio law does not provide for adult and children classifications. So the censors must keep in mind that all pictures may be seen by children. The Ohio censors report that one of their headaches these days is caused by foreign-language films. Discuss Joint Control of British Sales MPEA Would Supervise Overall Policy - Making As a means of combatting the new 45 per cent British exhibition quota, American film company executives have considered, but have yet to act upon, a Motion Pic- ture Export Association control over selling policies in England. Under the system considered, the in- dustry would be united in its dealings with the British, strengthening its po- sition, but each company would still be free to sell independently of each other ; that is, on a competitive basis, but in accord with an overall policy. The idea has not as yet gone beyond the discussion stage, but if no agree- ment is reached between the British and the U. S., in all likelihood it will be considered at the next MPEA meet. Earlier reports had it that the com- panies were thinking in terms of an MPEA service organization. New 8 -Year Deal for Screen Directors Hollywood, July 15. — Negotiating committee of the Association of Mo- tion Picture Producers and the Soci- ety of Independent Motion Picture Producers has approved a new eight- year contract with the Screen Direc- tors Guild replacing the nine-year pact which recently expired. New contract, which may be reopened at two-year intervals, gives directors a 100 per cent guild shop, increased credit recognition in advertising mat- ter, added control over film cutting, and sets up round-table procedure un- der which guild and producer com- mittees shall confer at any time on problems confronting either. No in- crease in wage scales was involved. Para. Publicists Get Pay Increases Wage increases ranging up to $20 have been won by the Screen Pub- licists Guild for Paramount home office publicists in an award handed down by the American Arbitration Association, it was announced here yesterday by the SPG. Increases will be retro- active to Sept. 27, 1947. The Paramount award follows the (Continued on page 3) 2 Motion Picture Daily Friday, July 16, 1948 RKORadio Southern Meeting on Monday New Orleans, July 15. — Sales ex- ecutives of RKO Radio from the South, as well as the company's home office, will converge on this city over the weekend to participate in the third of a series of zonal business and sales meetings, which will open on Mon- day. The conference, under the direction of Robert Mochrie, distribution vice- president, will review the company's product schedule and hear announce- ments of winners in the Ned Depinet drive. The meetings will be attended by North-South division manager Charles Boasberg; Carl Peppercorn, his assis- tant; A. A. Schubart, manager of ex- change operations; Sid Kramer; dis- trict chiefs David Prince and Ben Cammack, and branch managers H. M. Lyons, Atlanta; R. F. Branon, Charlotte; J. R. Lamantia, New Or- leans ; Sol Sachs, Dallas ; R. V. Rea- gin, Memphis ; Ralph Williams, Okla- homa City. Milton E. Cohen Is Feted in Cleveland Cleveland, July 15. — Industry members from Cleveland, Detroit and Cincinnati gathered here at the Stat- ler Hotel this week in honor of Mil- ton E. Cohen, former RKO Radio dis- trict manager and now Eagle-Lion di- vision manager. A delegation of 35 came from Detroit where Cohen spent nine years as RKO Radio salesman and branch manager. Lester Zucker, U-I branch manager, was master of ceremonies. Berish To Book for Trenton-N.Brunswick Archie Berish will become head booker for Trenton-New Brunswick Theatres, Inc., RKO-Walter Reade operation, early in September, when he will resign a similar post with Warner in New York. He will make his offices here. Berish has been with WB for 20 years. Succeeding Berish at WB will be Peter Saglembini, booker for the com- pany here. Robert J. O'Donnell Wed in New Orleans New Orleans, July 15. — Robert J. O'Donnell, general manager of Inter- state Circuit of Texas, international chief barker of Variety Clubs and one of the best-known showmen in the U. S., was married today to Mrs. Vinnie Pierson Decasasus at the Roosevelt Hotel here. Frederick Mercy, 71, Dead in Washington Portland, Ore., July 15. — Freder- ick Mercy, 71, of Yakima, Wash., theatre owner and financier, died at his home following a year's illness. Since 1912 he operated Yakima's Ma- jestic Theatres, opening upwards of 20 theatres in Yakima Valley. Three sons will operate the Mercy houses. Personal Mention CHARLES M. REAGAN, Para- mount distribution vice-president, and Hugh Owen, Eastern and South- ern divisional sales manager, are due back in New York over the weekend from New Orleans. • Jim Partlow, with Universal-In- ternational in Atlanta for the past year, and Leonard Andrews, special home office representative, have re- signed to enter the drive-in field in Florida. • George Ornstein, United Artists special representative in Rome, and Mrs. Ornstein became parents of a son, born yesterday in Switzerland. Mary Pickford, who is Mrs. Orn- stein's aunt, is visiting them. • Al Horwits, Universal-Interna- tional Eastern publicity manager, and Charles Simonelli, Eastern exploi- tation manager, returned here yes- terday from Philadelphia. • Dick Conley, Fox Intermountain Theatres city manager in La Junta, Colo., has been elected president of the La Junta Junior Chamber of Com- merce. Cedric Francis, assistant to War- ner short subjects head Gordon Hol- lingshead, has left here for San Francisco. Ed Hinchy, head of the Warner home office playdate department, left here yesterday for Albany, N. Y. He is due back on Monday. • C. J. Feldman, Universal-Interna- tional Western division sales mana- ger, returned to New York yesterday from a Midwest tour. • J. Maxwell Joice, Paramount representative in Baltimore and Wash- ington, is recovering from a leg op- eration in a Washington hospital. • William F. Rodgers, M-G-M dis- tribution vice-president, will leave here next Thursday for Chicago. • Dick Colbert of the Universal-In- ternational staff in Salt Lake City has been transferred to San Francisco. FRED C. QUIMBY, head of M-G- M short subject production, is due here Monday from the Coast. • William Coovert, former manager of the El Camino Theatre in San Bruno, Calv has been named city man- ager of United California Theatres, succeeding Rex Stevenson, resigned. He will take over his new post July 15. • Berry Greenberg, special Far East- ern sales representative for Samuel Goldwyn Productions and Walt Dis- ney Productions, is en route back to the Orient from New York. • Homer Palmer of Palmer Picture Corp., Montreal, escaped uninjured when his plane was damaged in a forced landing on a farm near On- tario. • Harry Nestler, Interboro Circuit theatre manager here for the past 10 years, has purchased the Florence Theatre building at Florence, N. J., from Martin Fischbein. • Van P. Garrison, formerly Merced district manager, has been named man- ager of the East Bay district for United California Theatres following the resignation of David Bolton. • A. G. Alexander, former head of the Wil-Kin Theatre Supply Co., At- lanta, has been named head of the pur- chasing department, replacing Charlie Moore, resigned. • William Youngclaus, owner of the Island Theatre at Grand Island, Neb., has returned to Nebraska after two and a half years in California and has purchased a home in Nebraska. • Eddie Foster, former Republic sales representative in Atlanta, has taken over the new Drive-In Theatre at Knoxville, Tenn. • Oscar A. Doob, Loew general the- atre executive, is due here Monday from a vacation in Wisconsin. • J. W. Pace, exhibitor of Delta, Utah, will seek the Democratic nomi- nation for state auditor. KMT A Meeting Date Advanced to Sept. Kansas City, July 15. — Kansas- Missouri Theatre Association's an- nual convention has been advanced to September 28 - 29 from Octo- ber 5-6, it was voted here today at a board of directors meeting, in order to make more convenient the at- tendance of Theatre Owners of Amer- ica officers. The KMTA convention will be held a few days after the TOA covention in Chicago. Various committees appointed for the KMTA meeting also met today to get started on plans. Senn Lawler outlined the plans and program of the area representatives on "Youth Month" and materials are being pre- pared for distribution to theatremen. Sliter Named Zone Manager for Schine Albany, N.Y., July '15.— Harold Sliter has been named a Schine cir- cuit zone manager with headquarters in Lexington, Ky., succeeding Lou Hensler, who resigned to enter an- other business. Sliter, one-time pub- licity director for Schine and later a district manager in Ohio, recently has been acting zone manager in Northern New York. His son, Fred Sliter, is a 20th Century-Fox salesman here. Projectionist Burned Boston, July 15.— Frank Hill, Apollo Theatre projectionist, was critically burned when film in the booth ignited. A hundred patrons had to evacuate the balcony. NEW YORK THEATRES -RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL— Rockefeller Center BING JOAN CROSBY FONTAINE Sin "THE EMPEROR WALTZ"! Color by TECHNICOLOR A Paramount Picture t;> SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION .r IN PERSON, ^LENA'HORME* Special! PAUL WINCHELL Extra'. SKINNAY ENNIS and his ORCH. CAPITOL*"?*' "FORT APACHE COOL mm Rv'Mied thnj RKO Radio Pictures greattl iter- anoV»onoj-»newl Cast of 10,000 in Cecil B. DeMille's ■Kb Loretta Young • Henry Wllcoxon a ruutniin imhease Sctoltificollp Air Condiliwwd UOOrS ~_^* Iwerr & 49th St 9. 30 a. M.I MARK STEVENS # RICHARD WIDMARK "THE STREET WITH NO NAME" A 20th Century-Fox Picture ON VARIETY STAGE— CAB CALLOWAY JACKIE MILES • VIVIAN BLAINE ON ICE STAGE— CAROL LYNNE ARNOLD SHODA « THE BRUISES BOXY™*"* 50th St. OLD LOS ANGELES Starring William Elliott • John Carroll Catherine McLeod Joseph Schildkraut A Republic Picture NOW PLAYING! Brandt's Cool GOTHAM Bw°,< 47th St. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. I Friday, July 16, 1948 Motion Picture daily 3 Two from 'U' Get Off to New Highs "Tap Roots" and "Abbott and Cos- tello Meet Frankenstein" are estab- lishing new opening highs for its re- cent releases, Universal reported yes- terday. At the Goldman, Philadelphia, it is understood "Tap Roots" opened to $4,321, compared with $3,263 for "Canyon Passage" at the Stanley with JL800 more seats. Other "Tap Roots" ^^pparisons are : Hollywood, Atlantic f^Srty, $2,646, against $1,451 for "The Egg and I" ; Astor, Reading, Pa., $2,168, against $1,417 for "Egg"; College, Bethlehem, Pa. ; $885, against $752; Surf, Ocean City, N. J.; $1,950 and $1,593; Shore, Wildwood, N. J., $2,339 and $1,220. The Abbott and Costello picture opened at the Strand, Albany, to $2,015 comparing with $1,826 for "Canyon Passage" and to $2,047 at the Paramount, Syracuse, N. Y., against $1,971 for "Slave Girl" and $1,808 for "Naked City." Warner's 1 0 0 - City 'Key Largo' Campaign Warner's home office advertising- publicity department has completed arrangements to launch "Key Largo" in 100 cities in Florida for a total of over 200 simultaneous play- dates during the week of July 22. Rogers Aid Meet Set Albany, N. Y., July 15. — Plans by the Albany exchange district in its drive to raise $10,000 to aid the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital at Saranac Lake, will be charted at a dinner here Monday evening, Ray Smith, Warner branch manager and general chairman of the area's drive, has announced. Charles A. Smakwitz, Warner acting zone manager, is chairman of the drive's theatre committee. $30,000 for 'Canon' Eagle-Lion's "Canon City" grossed more than $30,000 in its first week at the Criterion Theatre here, William J. Heineman, distribution vice-presi- dent reported here yesterday. He also listed $25,000 for a first week in Denver. I OF COURSE I MfIHS I BROOKLYN and HIAVEN" sent irom UA VIRGINIAN 50th STREET JUST WEST OF 6th AVENUE serves - AMERICA'S FAVORITE FOODS Jap Lessees Win Return of Theatre Stockton, Cal., July 15. — Upholding a ruling by a low- er court, the California Su- preme Court has ordered Emil Palmero, owner of the Star Theatre property, to re- turn the theatre to a corpo- ration in which Japanese are major stockholders. Palmero filed suit for declaratory re- lief in 1944 against Stockton Theatres, Inc., to whom he had leased the property in 1930 for 10 years with a 10- year renewal option. Pal- mero's suit was based on alleged violation of the Alien Land law. McCarthy To Make 3 (Continued from page 1) August 15. Next will be "You Can't Do That," which is expected to be put into production on November 1. McCarthy, Houston oil man and in- dustrialist, is president of the company and its principal stockholder. Asso- ciated with him besides Paige, who will also have a role in "The Green Promise," is Monty Collins. The company is wholly financed by Mc- Carthy. Paige is in town on an air tour of the nation in search of a 4-H Club member to play a major feminine role in "The Green Promise." The actor- producer will resume his tour this morning when he flies to Concord, N. H. He is due back on the Coast on July 23. 20th's New Program (Continued from page 1) manager of branch operations ; Frank Carroll, Roger Ferri, and Jack Bloom. The Canadian contingent will in- clude Arthur Silverstone, Canadian division manager, and the following branch managers : V. M. Skorey, Cal- gary; Edward English, Montreal; R. G. March, St. John; H. J. Bailey, Toronto ; J. E. Patterson, Vancouver, and J. H. Huber, Winnipeg; also ex- ploitation representative Sam Glasier and Toronto salesmen and bookers. Censorship Position Is Unfixed; Cannella John M. Cannella, New York City's new commissioner of licenses, has no fixed ideas on theatre censorship, he declares. He succeeds Benjamin Fielding, who has joined Loew's here as an executive. During his term the latter directed city-sponsored cam- paigns against "indecent" film adver- tising. Cannella has asserted, however, that he knew he was taking a post "with a lot of headaches." Kollmyer to China for WE William E. Kollmyer of the head- quarters staff of Westrex Corp. in New York has been assigned to take charge of operations in China of Western Electric. He left New York yesterday stopping en route in Holly- wood to review developments in stu- dio production. He will then fly to Sydney to supervise installation of recording equipment at the Common- wealth and Fox Movietone News studios. Lobby Pickups (Continued from page 1) Court opinions, most prominent among them the ruling by Justice Holmes in the 1917 case of Victor Herbert vs. the Shanley Co., giving the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers the right to collect fees for public use of its members' music. Television lawyers believe that the Holmes opinion is as clear as it is succinct in declaring illegal the use of television receivers in any part of a theatre despite the fact that no spe- cial admission charge is levied nor is the regular admission for the film pro- gram increased. This, too, applies to video-equipped taverns and all other places of public assembly, they hold. Opinion by Justice Holmes Herbert brought action against the Shanley Co. contending the latter used the plaintiff's music in its New York restaurant without permission. Agree- ing with Herbert, Justice Holmes wrote, in part : "It is true that the music is not the sole object but neither is the food which probably could be got cheaper elsewhere. The object is a repast .in surroundings that to people having limited powers of conversation or dis- liking the rival noise give a luxurious pleasure not to be had from eating a silent meal. If music did not pay it would be given up. If it pays, it pays out of the public's pocket. Whether it pays or not the purpose of employing it is profit and that is enough." Apply Phraseology to Video The telecasters' legal experts intend to substitute television for music and obtain affirmation by the courts, hold- ing that theatres use television sets with profit in mind, profit in that tele- vision in a lobby or lounge is an added inducement to the paying customers. Another case likely to be offered as a precedent was that in which Asso- ciated Press won a permanent injunc- tion preventing Station KVOS, Se- attle, from broadcasting AP news. New Video Permit For Allen DuMont Washington, July 15. — The Fed- eral Communications Commission has granted Allen B. DuMont Labora- tories permission to build a new ex- perimental television relay station at Oxford, Conn. FWC Acquires Video Site Mill Valley, Cal., July 15.— One- year option for a 30-year lease has been acquired by Fox West Coast Theatres on a one-and-a-half acre site for a television station on top of Mount Tamalpais. St. Louis AAA Suit (Continued from page 1 ) opinion has been described as parallel- ling the U. S. Supreme Court's recent ruling that the AAA is a valid and legal system of regulation. Johnson said he delayed his ruling pending the Supreme Court decision. Para. Publicists (Continued from page 1) same pattern set at Warner, 20th Cen- tury-Fox, RKO Radio and Eagle- Lion. The E-L negotiations were settled without arbitration, however. Impartial arbitrator in the Para- mount case was Dr. Milton Handler of Columbia University. Broidy to Montreal Studio Conferences Montreal, July 15. — Steve Broidy, president of Allied Artists and Mono- gram, is due here from New York on Sunday for production conferences at the new Renaissance Films Studio as well as talks with Joseph Than and Leonard H. Fields, executive produc- ers of Canadian International Screen Productions. The latter company has contracted to deliver 10 features to Allied Artists-Monogram in the next two years. J. A. DeSeve is president of the studio. Dollars in France (Continued from page 1) films from four to seven weeks each quarter. Little progress has been made in the negotiations looking towards the unfreezing of the considerable Amer- ican earnings now accrued to the in- dustry in France, Mayer reported. Several French suggestions have been turned down. The MPAA executive's report was said not to have contained any reference to a recent French pro- posal to limit the importation of all foreign pictures to 196 a year. Of this total, a little more than 100 would be American. The French also are said to have proposed the setting aside of specific funds for the major companies and the independents, thus setting up an indirect quota system. Only a few weeks ago, the French assembly refused to discuss a con- fiscatory 25 per cent tax on foreign film imports and postponed considera- tion on a footage tax and an increase in French admission prices. $2 - Million Showcase For Rank in Toronto Toronto, July 15.— The $2,000,000 Carlton, under construction for two years, will open on September 9 as Arthur Rank's showcase in Toronto, it is announced by Odeon Theatres pf Canada. W. C. Tyers, formerly of the Capitol, Niagara Falls, Ont., will manage. New Post for OldReld Washington, July 15. — Major Bar- ney Oldfield. assistant to Major-Gen- eral Floyd L. Parks, chief of the Army's public information division here, will check out of the Pentagon on Monday for a new assignment in the Command and General Staff School class starting in September at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. He was film editor of the Nebraska State Journal in Lincoln and Motion Picture Daily's Nebraska correspondent be- fore the war, was with Warner on the Coast after the war and rejoined the Army last August. New Thompson Account Sam Coslow-Noel Clarke Produc- tions, now preparing "Music City," soon to go before the cameras for United Artists release, has retained J. Walter Thompson Co. to prepare a national advertising campaign. An un- usual aspect of the campaign calls for the agency to sit in on all phases of production to assure top exploitation values. Del Ruth Buys Hollywood, July 15. — Producer- director Roy Del Ruth has purchased "Bright Is the Sun," original by Mason Bean, and has scheduled it for 1949 as a William Bendix vehicle. •MSB*8 "" ..-M fo^ And In Current GfZ these issues now and blow up for lobby display! WATCH FOR MORE TOP BREAKS that we're not allowed to tell you about right now . . . SO EVIL MY LOVE continued My Love 3 A true story of gaslit crime and passion is vividly reconstructed in Hal Wallis' So Evil My hove. Boasting a prize-caliber performance by Ann Todd, ably backed by Ray Milland and Geraldine Fitzgerald, this new Paramount film ranks high among melodramas. Victorian court records supplied the plot, from the case of a missionary's widow •whose love for a charming scoundrel led her to black- mail and murder. It was turned into a novel in 1947 by "Joseph Shearing," one of several names under which 6 1 -year -old Mrs. Gabrielle Long has written 140-odd books, among them Mow Hose and Blanche Fury. Following the current trend of filming 3tories in actual locales, Wallis took his stars and Direc- tor Lewis Allen to England to make So Evil. London landmarks and a supporting cast of ex- cellent players give an authentic atmosphere to a handsome romantic thriller. 1 London-bound from Jamaica after the death of her missionary husband, Olivia Harwood nurses a malaria victim, artist Mark Bellis C" F1 Si?th .Av^e! Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address : "Quigpubco, Tarnp P PiinnWiffiiam N Sjf^U R.ed ^nnfcVf^PArSs,d?1 MSt,n Q"1^- fe, Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; BHiljini wSm News Editor ; .Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca^ ^JSfi&rfJESIZ xu W¥±ver' Ed|tori 9;;?a8° 5"r.eau; g0 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farlev, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative :. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope BurrVup, Manager, Peter Burnup Editor; cable address, Quigpubco, London.' Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture ?ei«o S^Z-Stlt ' /"ternat,onal Motion P.cture Almanac Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Monday, July 19, 1948 Motion Picture daily 3 Services Here Today For Jack Pulaski Funeral rites for Jack Pulaski, 65, critic of Variety, will be held at 2 :30 P.M. today at Riverside Memorial Chapel, Manhattan. Cremation will follow at Ferncliff Crematorium in Westchester. He died Friday morning in Jewish Memorial Hospital here following a stroke on July 8. Survivors include Pulaski's widow, Lillian ; a brother and two sisters, ^Sai Pulaski and Mrs. Alice Glazer, f, e. A new quonset theatre is undef^ij i- struction in Sacramento by MacMa- han and Ford and it has been leased to Kenneth Wright of that city. Pollock Pines is the site selected for a new showcase being erected on the road to Yosemite. Wagner Project William Wagner, who has man- aged the theatre in Folsom, is build- ing a new house there. Contract has been let for a new Los Altos theatre, to seat 700 and be jointly owned by Sunnymount Theatres and Menlo Mayfield Amusement Co. A theatre in the Fair-Oaks district in Stockton is under construction by Harvey Amusement Co. A. J. Longtin of Fairoaks has purchased land on the Plaza on which he intends to erect a theatre. Two new theatres are now being completely equipped by Preddy, just below Santa Cruz. One is at Capitola by J. Mayer, and the other at Soquel by Charles Ide. Ralph Dostal has taken a lease on a Brisbane Theatre from R. Micehel and intends to redo the house. A new theatre is under way in San Car- los by Ray Knight, Petaluma Theatre owner. Blumenfeld Circuit will open their El Cerrito Motor Movies on August 15. H. F. Taylor of Fresno is building a new theatre at Highway City. Biola is the locale for a new 400-seat house, being constructed by Mike Esponde. United California Theatres have opened the new Tur- lock theatre. The house cost $120,000 and replaces the old Turlock which burned two years ago. Assign Spade Work A t Mid-Central A Hied St. Louis, July 20— A temporary executive committee headed by Andy Dietz of St. Louis and H. Graham of Webster Groves, Mo., was set up at the first day organization session of the new Mid-Central Allied Indepen- dent Theatre Owners, Inc., to draft a slate of officers and form an organi- zation program. The new affiliate of the Allied or- ganization was addressed in executive session by Abram F. Myers, general counsel and board chairman ; William L. Ainsworth, Milwaukee, national president; Trueman Rembusch, Indi- anapolis, president of Associated The- atres Owners of Indiana, and John Wolf berg, Denver, president of Allied Rocky Mountain Independent Thea- tres. Salesmen Want (Continued from page 1) a full year's salary after 15 years. The salesmen further seek a set ex- pense account scale of $5 per day for hotel, $6 daily for meals and 12 cents per mile for car allowance. The Colosseum has been certified by the National" Labor Relations Board as bargaining representative for the salesmen of 11 distributors. Text of Injunctions (Continued from page 4) §26 are granted to the extent indicated in the Court's Conclusions of Law.a Settle a judgment and decree accordingly. Dated, July 19th, 1948. 2. "XXVII. Plaintiffs are entitled to injunctive relief under Title 15 U. S. C. §26, as follows: — (a) Directing Ascap to divest itself with all reasonable speed of all rights of public performance for profit through the exhibition of motion picture films, of musical compositions which have been synchronized with motion picture films, and to assign said performance rights to the owners of the copyright of said musi- cal compositions; (b) Restraining Ascap from obtaining the right of public performance of any musical composition synchronized with motion picture films when such musical composition is performed publicly for profit in conjunction with the exhibition of such motion picture films; (c) Restraining Ascap's members from refusing to grant to motion picture producers the right to publicly perform for profit through the exhibition of mo- tin picture film, all musical compositions which they allow motion picture pro- ducers to synchronize with motin picture films; (d) Restraining Ascap's members from licensing, except to motion picture producers, the right of public performance for profit through the exhibition of motion picture films, of musical compositions synchronized with motion picture films ; (e) Restraining Ascap and its members from conspiring with motion picture producers for the purpose of including a clause in contracts issued by producers to exhibitors directly or indirectly requiring exhibitors to obtain a license from Ascap as a condition to the exhibition of the licensed pictures." UNIVERSAL - INTERNATIONAL presents BUD LOU ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN WITH THE WOLFMAN - DRACULA - THE MONSTER PLAVfD BT PlAYfD BY PLAYED BY LON CHAHEY BELA LUGOS! GLENN STRANGE Lenore Aube'rt • Jane Randolph Original Screenplay by-ROBERT LEES FREDERIC RINALDO •' JOHN. GRANT Directed by CHARLES T BARTON Produced by ROBERT ARTHUR Smashing U-l house records in first five en- gagements! Topping all previous A&Cs — and even way ahead of top-grossing "Naked City/' "Canyon Passage" and "The Killers" at the Strand, Albany; Paramount, Syracuse; Palace, Huntington, W. Va.; Keith's, Cincinnati, and Warner Theatre, Oklahoma City! fib s Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, July 21, 1948 RKO RADIO PICTURES, Inc. TRADE SHOWINGS of LEO McCAREY'S GOOD SAM 1 J ALBANY Information to come ATLANTA Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St., N. E. BOSTON Keith Memorial Th., 539 Washington St. BUFFALO 20th Century Theatre, 51 1 Main St. CHARLOTTE Fox Projection Rm., 308 S Church St. CHICAGO Centre Theatre, 40-37 Lincoln Ave. CINCINNATI Albee Theatre, 13 East Fifth St. CLEVELAND RKO Allen Theatre, 1407 Euclid Ave. DALLAS Palace Theatre, 1623 Elm Street DENVER Orpheum Theatre, 1537 Welton St. DES MOINES Orpheum Theatre, 412 Eighth St. DETROIT Michi gan Theatre, 238 Bagtey INDIANAPOLIS Indiana Theatre, 1 34 W. Washington St. KANSAS CITY Orpheum Theatre, 1212 Baltimore LOS ANGELES Pantages Thea., 6233 Hollywood Blvd. MEMPHIS Linden Circle Theatre, 311 South Somerville Avenue MILWAUKEE Riverside Thea., 1 1 6 W. Wisconsin Ave. MINNEAPOLIS Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave. NEW HAVEN Roger Sherman Thea., 70 College St. NEW ORLEANS Orpheum Thea., 125 University Place NEW YORK RKO 58th St. Thea., 58th St. & 3rd Ave. OKLAHOMA CITY Center Theatre, Civic Center OMAHA Brandeis Theatre, 206 So. 17th St. PHILADELPHIA State Theatre, 52 and Chestnut Sts. PITTSBURGH Warner Theatre, 336 Fifth Ave. PORTLAND Paramount Thea., 1 037 S. W. Broadway ST. LOUIS Ambassador Theatre, 7th & Locust Sts. SALT LAKE CITY Capitol Theatre. 52 W. Second South St. SAN FRANCISCO Golden Gate Theatre, Taylorand Golden Gate Avenues SEATTLE Music Hall Theatre, Seventh and Olive Way SIOUX FALLS Hollywood Theatre, 21 2 N. Phillips Ave WASHINGTON Keith Theatre, 619 1 5th St., N. W. Wed. 7/28 9:15 P.M. Tues. 7/27 8:00 P.M. Tues. 7/27 9:00 P.M. Tues. 7/27 2:30 P.M. Tues. 7/27 200 P.M. Tues. 7/27 10:00 P.M. Tues. 7/27 8:00 P.M. Tues. 7/27 6:15 P.M. Tues. 7/27 8:00 P.M. Tues. 7/27 8:30 P.M. Tues. 7/27 9:00 P.M. Tues. 7/27 8:30 P.M. Tues. 7/27 8:50 P.M. Tues. 7/27 8:30 P.M. Tues. 7/27 8:45 P.M. Tues. 7/27 10:00 P.M. Tues. 7/27 9:00 P.M. 7/97 ft • 1 "5 0:1 J P KA r ./V\. Tues. 7/27 10:30 P.M. Tues. 7/27 8:45 P.M. Tues. 7/27 8:30 P.M. Tues. 7/27 9:00 P.M. Tues. 7/27 8:30 P.M. Tues. 7/27 8:30 P.M. Wed. 7/28 8:30 P.M. Thurs. 7/29 8:30 P.M. Tues. 7/27 8:00 P.M. Tues. 7/27 8:30 P.M. Tues. 7/27 9:00 P.M. Tues. 7/27 10:30 P.M. Tues. 7/27 9:15 P.M. Review "Lady at Midnight" (Eagle Lion) RICHARD DENNING and Frances Refftery are the foster parents of Lora Lee Michel who figures to inherit the $1,000,000 estate of her murdered mother. Lora Lee is about seven, knows all the answers, is em- barrassingly "cute." Comes much ado about whether Miss Rafferty was legally old enough to take Lora Lee from the adoption institution. Also some underhanded intrigue and more murder. "Lady at Midnight" is a minor offering, hardly ever convincing. Richard Sale is responsible for the screenplay and the original, She^j;^ Scott directed and John Sutherland produced. Ralph Dunn, Nana B^.y,'|(, Jack Searle and Harlan Warde are also in the cast. Running time, 61 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, August 15. Key City Grosses HOLLOWING are estimated pic- r ture grosses for current engage- ments in key cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily correspond- ents. Estimates omit admission tax. CHICAGO Reduced admissions are a boon to downtown houses, especially for "Em- peror Waltz" which will hit a smash $70,000. Surprise business in the Loop, however, are reissues "Four Feathers" and "Drums," which are packing them in. Loop disappointment is "Romance on the High Seas." Es- timated receipts for the week ending July 22: BLACK ARROW (Col.) and ADVEN- TURES IN SILVERADO (Cbl.)— GAR- RICK (1,000) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $10,000. (Average: $10,000) DEEP WATERS (20th-Fox) — APOLLO (1,200) (50c-65c-98c) 2nd week. Gross: $10,- 000. (Average: $14,000) EMPEROR WALTZ (Para.) — CHICAGO (3,900) (50c-65c-98c) On stage: Harmonicats. Gross: $70,000. (Average: $53,500) FOUR FEATHERS (FC) and DRUMS (FC)— GRAND (1,150) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $24,000. (Average: $11,500) 1, JANE DOE (Rep.) — ORIENTAL (3,300) (50c-65c-98c) On stage: Vaughan Monroe. Gross: $60,000. (Average: $45,000) I REMEMBER MAMA (RKO Radio)— PALACE, (2,500) (50c-6Sc-98c). Gross: $27,- 500. (Average: $21,000) MICKEY (E-L) — ROOSEVELT (1,500) (50c -65c -98c). Gross: $16,000. (Average: $18,000) ON OUR MERRY WAY (UA)-UNITED ARTISTS (1,700) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $22,- 000. (Average: $20,000) THE PARADINE CASE (SRO) — WOODS (1.080) (98c). Gross: $37 000. (Average: $23,000). ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS (WB) —STATE LAKE (2,700) (50c-65c-98c) 2nd week. Gross $14,000. (Average: $30,000) PHILADELPHIA Word premiere of "Tap Roots," ac- companied by personal appearances of the stars, almost broke the house record at the Goldman, while other films varied from very good to dis- mal. Estimated receipts for the week ending July 20-22 : ARE YOU WITH IT? (U-I)— STANTON (1,000) (50c-6Oc-74c-80c-85c-9f:). Gross: $8,000. (Average: $11 200) BERLIN EXPRESS (RKO Radio)— KARL- TON (1,000) (50c - 60c -74c -80c -85c -94c). Gross: $15,000. (Average: $11,200) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M) — MAST- BAUM (4,700) (50c -60c -74c -80c -85c -94c) 2nd week. Gross: $32,700. (Average: $22,300) EMPEROR WALTZ (Para.) — STANLEY (3,000) (50c-6Oc-74c-80c-85c-94c) 5th week. Gross: $15,200. (Average: $22,800) LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WO- MAN (U-I)— KEITH (2,200) (50c-60c-74c- 80c-85c-94c) 2nd run. Gross: $5,000. (Av- erage: $6,200), MAN OF EVIL (UA) — ALDINE (900) (50c-6Oc-74c-8Oc-85c-94c). Gross: $7,800. (Average: $13,300) ON OUR MERRY WAY (UA,)— ARCADIA (900) (5Oc-60c-74c-8Oc-85c-94c). Gross: $6 - 200. (Average: $4 700) PARADINE CASE (SRO)— BOYD (3,000) (50c-60c-74c-80c-85c-94c) 3rd week. Gross: $22,000. (Average: $20,300) STREET WITH NO NAME (20th-Fox)— FOX (3,000) (50c-6Oc-74c-8Oc-85c-94c) .3rd week. Gross: $16,000. (Average: $20,800) TAP ROOTS (U-I)-GOLDMAN (1,400) (50c-60c-74c-80c-85c-94c). Gross: $36,000. (Average: $19,400) THE UNCONQUERED (Para.) — EARLE (3,000) (50c-60c-74c-80c-85c-94c) (first time at popular prices). Gross: $15,600. (Av- erage: $22,500) MINNEAPOLIS Business held about average during a week of favorable weather, with "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House" the top draw. Estimated re- ceipts for the week ending July 22 : FEUDIN', FUSSIN' AND A-FIGHTIN' (U-I)— RKO' ORPHEUM (2,800) (50c-70c). Gross: $12,500. (Average: $12,500) HATTER'S CASTLE (Para.) — CENTURY (1 500) (50c-70c) 3rd week. Gross: $5,200. (Average: $5,500) I STOLE A MILLION (U-I) and YOU CAN'T CHEAT AN HONEST MAN (U-I reissues) — GOPHER (1,000) (44c-50c). Gross: $2,900. (Average: $3,200) MR. BLANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE (SRO')— RADIO' CITY (4,000) (50c- 70c). Gross: $17,000. (Average: $16,000) THE FULLER BRUSH MAN (Col.)— RKO PAN (1,500) (50c-70c) 5th week. Gross: $6,500. (Average: $8,000) THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI (Col.)- LYRIC (1,100) (50c-70c) 3rd week. Gross: $4,800. (Average: $5,000) THE NOOSE HANGS HIGH (E-L)- STATE (2,300) (50c-70c). Gross: $10,000. (Average: $10,500) CLEVELAND "The Street With No Name" opened to the biggest business of the season and is heading for a very big $26,000 at Warners' Hippodrome. "Emperor Waltz" held to a high $17,- 500 in its second hold-over week at Loew's, State, and "Anna Karenina" was a success at the Lower Mall, where it will hold a second week. Hot weather continues to affect some pictures, but toppers are unhampered by rising temperatures or summer competition. Estimated receipts for the week ended July 20-21 : ANNA KARENINA (20th- Fox) — LOWER MALL (563) (50c-70c). Gross: $4 500. (Average: $2,500) THE EMPEROR WALTZ (Para.)— LO'EW'S STATE (3,300) (50c-70c) 2nd week on a holdover. Gross: $17,500. (Average: $19,300) LULU BELLE (Col.) — RKO ALLEN (3,- 000) (55c-70c). Gross: $9,000. (Average: $13,800) PANHANDLE (AA-Mono.) — WARNERS' LAKE (714) (S0c-70c) 3 days, 2nd week. BEST YEARS' OF OUR LIVES (RKO Radio) 4 days, moved over from the Allen. Gross: $2,500. (Average: $3,000) THE RETURN OF THE BAD MEN (RKO Radio)— RKO' PALACE (3,300) (55c- (Continued on page 10) UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL presents DONALD O'CONNOR MA *n PA KETTLE OF "THE EGG AND I" MARJOR1E MAIN PERCY KILBRIDE Together Again! feudin; fussin' and a-FIGHTIN' with PENNY EDWARDS - JOE BESSER Screenplay by D. D. BEAUCHAMP from his Collier's Magazine Story • Directed by GEORGE SHERMAN Produced by LEONARD GOLDSTEIN engagements over the RKO and Tn-State circuits proved it! New U-l records every where... stand- up business all day long! Held over in Des Moines and Omaha! Smash business in Minneapolis and St. Paul! Almost double the record "Canyon Pas- sage" gross in Sioux City! First 2 days in Cedar Rapids tops 3-day "The Killers" gross! Wonderful in Waterloo, Tri-Cities . . . everywhere! 10 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, July 21, 1948 Says Some Product Penetrates 'Curtain' Key City Grosses (Continued from page 8) The Vienna performance of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," first U. S. film to be approved by the Soviet authorities for screening in the Rus- sian zone of Austria, has provided an opening wedge for the exhibition of other American pictures in the "Iron Curtain" countries, according to George Bookbinder, Walt Disney representa- tive for Eastern Europe. At an interview here yesterday Bookbinder observed that if American distributors sent representatives to the scene instead of trying to formulate Central European policy from this side they would have a better chance of penetrating the Iron Curtain. It was disclosed that Kiba, Aus- tria's only circuit, which operates more than 50 houses in Vienna, does not intend to renew its agreement with the Motion Picture Export Associa- tion of America because, it charges, the MPEA "follows an arbitrary policy." According to Bookbinder, the Rus- sians have come up with some "very fine" cartoon shorts in color which they are offering in competition to similar product from the U. S. in countries under Russian dominance. He said a German color process taken over by the Soviet is being used. "Texas" Premiere Aug. 4 Warner Brothers has set-up a re- gional territorial campaign to mark the world premiere of "Two Guys from Texas" at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio on August 4, an- nounces Mort Blumenstock, vice-presi- dent in charge of advertising-publicity. The picture's stars, Dennis Morgan and Jack Carson, will appear. Sitter's Son with Schine Albany, N. Y., July 20. — Harold Sliter, son of Fred Sliter, 20th Cen- tury-Fox salesman here, has been ap- pointed zone manager of Schine The- atres. It had been inadvertently re- ported that Harold was the father of Fred. FIVE -STAR DC- 6 FLAGSHIPS LOS ANGELES 11 hours, 10 minutes CHICAGO 3% hours Phone HAvemeyer 6-5000 or your travel agent Ticket Offices: Airlines Terminal Rockefeller Center • Hotel New Yorker 120 Broadway • Hotel St. George AMERICAN AIRLINES 70c). Gross: $16,500. (Average: $16,000) RUTHLESS (E-L)— LOEWS STILLMAN (1,900) (S0c-70c). Gross: $10,000. (Aver- age: $10 500) THE STREET WITH NO NAME (2flth- Fox)— WARNERS' HIPPODROME (3,500) (55c-70c). Gross: $26,000. (Average: $15,- 000). WINGS OVER HONOLULU (Rea'.art) and CORVETTE K-Z25 (Realart) — LOEWS OHIO (1,268) (50c-70c). Gross: $4,000. (Average: $6,200) BOSTON Hot sultry days still prevail. Out- door attractions are still drawing. "Easter Parade" is doing good busi- ness. Estimated receipts for the week ended July 21 : CORONER CREEK (Col.) and KINGS OF THE OLYMPICS (UA)-Astor (1,300) (44c- 80c) Gross: $4 500. (Average: none avail- able) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M)— ORPHEUM (3,000) (40c-80c) Gross: $25,000. (Average: $27,000) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M)— STATE (3,500) (40c-80c) Gross: $15,000. (Average: $12,000) DEEP WATERS (20th-Fox) and JINX MONEY (Mono.) — PARAMOUNT (1,700) (40c-80c) 2nd week. Gross: $13,000. (Av- erage: $17,000) DEEP WATERS (Zflth-Fox) and JINX MONSY (Mono.) — FENWAY (1,373) (40c- 80c) 2nd week. Gross: $5,800. (Average: $10,000) FIGHTING FATHER DUNNE (RKO Ra- dio) and ARIZONA RANGER (RKO Radio) —RKO BOSTON (3,200) (40c -80c) 8 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average: None available on summer schedule) HOLIDAY CAMP (U-I) and CLOUDS OVER EUROPE (F-C) — EXETER (1,300) (45c-75c) 4 days. Gross: $2,400. (Aver- age: $5,000) MR. BLANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE (SRO) and MADONNA OF THE DESERT (Rep.) — RKO! MEMORIAL (3,- 000) (40c-80c). Gross: $19,500. (Average: $22,000) ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS (WB) and THE CHECKERED COAT (2»th-Fox) —METROPOLITAN (4,367) (40c-80c). With a personal appearance of Dr. I. Q. one night. Gross: $20,000. (Average: $27,000) THE OCTOBER MAN (E-L) and VACA- TION FROM MARRIAGE (M-G-M) EXETER (1,300) (45c-85c) 3 days. Gross: $1,400. (Average: $5,000) TORONTO With the exception of the strong showing of "Fort Apache," business was in the doldrums for the main To- ronto theatres this week. There were two holdovers, one for a fourth week, but these were showing patronage weakness along with the new pictures. Estimated receipts for the week end- ing July 22 : THE END OF THE RIVER (EL)— DAN - FORTH (1,400) (20c-36c-50c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average: $6,500) THE END OF THE RIVER (EL)— FAIR - Theatre Guild To Sponsor 'Hamlet' The Theatre Guild here has organ- ized a special film promotion depart- ment to conduct a campaign for a pic- ture under its sponsorship — Univer- sal-International's "Hamlet" — aimed principally at its legitimate theatre contacts and designed to supplement the distributor's operation, it was an- nounced here yesterday by Lawrence Langner and Theresa Helburn, co- administrative directors of the Guild. Dick Weaver, former member of the Guild's press department, will handle the campaign. "Hamlet" is the third film to be presented in this country under spon- sorship of the Guild, the previous two being "Henry V," United Artists, and "Mourning Becomes Electra," RKO Radio. LAWN (1,195) (20c-36c-50c-55c) 6 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,500) FEUDIN', FUSSIN' AND A-FIGHTIN' (U-I) and THE INSIDE STORY (Rep.)- UPTOWN (2,761) (20c-36c-50c-66c-90c) 6 days. Gross: $16,100. (Average: $14,600) FORT APACHE (RKO' Radio)— IMPERIAL (3,343) (20c-36c-50c-66c-90c) 6 days. Gross: $16 100. (Average: $14,600) THE FULLER BRUSH MAN (Col.)— SHEA'S (2,480) (20c-36c-50c-66c-90c) 6 days, 4th week. Gross: $13,700. (Average: $14,700) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M)— LOEWS (2,074) (20c-36c-50c-66c-78c) 6 days. 2nd week. Gross: $15,200. (Average: $14 200) TO THE VICTOR (WB) — EGLINTON (1,086) (20c-36c-50c-66c) 6 davs. Gross: $6,000. (Average: $6,900) TO THE VICTOR (WB) — T1VOLI (1,434) (20c-36c-50c-66c) 6 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average: $8,200). WOMAN IN WHITE (WB)— NORTOWN (950) (20c-42c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $5,000) WOMAN IN WHITE (WB)-VICTORIA (1 240) (20c-36c-42c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,800) ATLANTA Business this week is just above average, with better pictures. Esti- mated receipts for the week ending July 21. EASTER PARADE (M-G-M)— LOEWS GRAND1 (2,446) (12c-60c) Gross: $15,105. (Average: $15,000) GREEN GRASS OF WYOMING (20th- Fox)— FOX (4,446) (12c-50c) Gross: $15,500. (Average: $15,000) THE EMPEROR WALTZ (Para.)— ROXY. Moveover from the Fox. (2,446) (12c-50c) Gross: $6,000. (Average: $5,800). TARZAN AND THE MERMAIDS (RKO Radio— PARAMOUNT (2.446) (12c-50c) Gross: $6,500. (Average: $5,800) INDIANAPOLIS Business is very good here this week — for "Easter Parade." It broke the house record at Loew's opening day and is assured of a hold-over. No other attraction at first-runs here is making average. Estimated receipts for the week ending July 20-21 : ANNA KARENINA (Zflth-Fox) and SONG OF MY HEART (AA) — KEITHS' (1,300) (44c-65c) Gross: $3,000. (Average: $4 500) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M)— LOEWS (2,450) (44c-65c) Gross: $22,000. (Average: $11,000) I, JANE DOE (Rep.) and SECRET SER- VICE INVESTIGATOR (Rep.)-LYRIC (1,600) (44c-65c) Gross: $5,000. (Average: $6,000) LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WOM- AN (UI) and ARE YOU WITH IT? (UI) — CIRCLE (2,800) (44c-65c) Gross: $8,000. (Average: $10,000) ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS (WB) and BLONDE ICE (FC) — INDIANA (3,200) (44c-65c) Gross: $9,000. (Average: $12,000) E - L To Use Video For Film Promotions Television is being integrated into the Eagle-Lion promotion picture, it was announced by Max E. Young- stein, advertising-publicity vice-presi- dent. Example of the television tieups be- ing set by the company are four tele- casts promoting "Canon City" and "Mickey" through appearances of Scott Brady and Lois Butler, stars of the two films, on video shows. Variety To Golf Minneapolis, July 20. — Northwest Variety Club's annual golf meet will be held July 30 at the Oak Ridge Country Club, near suburban Hop- kins, it is announced by Gil Nathan- son, golf committee chairman. Skouras, Smith to 20th Canadian Meet Twentieth Century-Fox executives will leave New York today for Toron- to to attend tomorrow's convention of the Canadian sales organization at which the company's 1948-49 feature program will be announced by Andy W. Smith, Jr., general sales manager. The meeting will take place aLg^e Royal York Hotel, with Smithfp' 1 siding. •U.'" The session will be attended by president Spyros P. Skouras and home office executives W. C. Gehring, assis- tant general sales manager ; Charles Schlaifer, director of advertising-pub- licity; Martin Moskowitz, executive assistant to Smith ; Peter Levathes, short subject sales manager; Clarence A. Hill, manager of branch operations, and Frank Carroll, Roger Ferri and Jack Bloom. The Canadian delegation will include Arthur Silverstone, Canadian division manager, and the following branch managers : V. M. Skorey, Calgary ; Edward English, Montreal ; R. G. March, St. John; H. J. Bailey, Toron- to ; J. E. Patterson, Vancouver ; J. Huber, Winnipeg ; exploitation repre- sentative Sam Glasier and Toronto salesmen and bookers. Roy Alexander, 58, NSS Chicago Chief Chicago, July 20. — Roy Alexander, 58, Chicago salesman for National Screen Service and prominent in the film business for 30 years, died sud- denly this morning at Southtown Hos- pital here of a heart attack. Yester- day he had attended the funeral of Jack McPherson, London manager of National Screen, and had apparently been in good health. He was for- merly branch manager for National Screen in Kansas City and was dis- trict manager for Universal and Co- lumbia prior to 1940. He is survived by the widow, Rina. A. H. Nanton, Exhibitor Montreal, July 20. — A. H. Nanton, operator of the Playhouse, Manches- ter, Vt, died here suddenly last Fri- day. Fine Foto-Nite Winner Toronto, July 20. — Foto-Nite of- ficials in Toronto have been studying the judgment of an Ottawa court which ruled that the Foto-Nite prize stunt at theatres was a lottery scheme and imposed a fine on a winning par- ticipant at the Francais Theatre, Ottawa. B OF COURSE 1% MAN-EATER OF KUMAON starring SABU • JOANNE PAGE AS "NARAIN" AS "IAU" WENDELL COREY AS THE HUNTER w„h MORRIS CARNOVSKY A UNIVERSAL-INTERN AJtONAL RELEASE . Adapta- tion by Richard G. Hubler and Alden Nash • Screen- play by Jeanne Bartlert and Lewis Meltzer • Based on the book "Man-Eaters of Kurnocn" by Jim Corbett Directed by Produced by BYRON HASKIN • MONTY SHAFF ■n association with FRANK P. ROSENBERG The "Exploitation Picture of the Year". . . piling up "A" grosses in "A" houses. Fourth roaring week at the Winter Garden, New York! BIG at Keith's, Baltimore! Terrific in five-theatre Los Angeles pre- miere at the Ritz, U.A., Guild, Iris and Studio City! Everybody's holding that tiger! ★ II • We put "National" projector carbons in the water-cooled jaws of this special mechanism . . . sock them with king-size jolts of elec- tricity . . . try them at different angles . . . experiment with doz- ens of sizes and types — and come up with projector carbons that are tailor made for your theatre. The light from "National" carbons is therefore brighter. It is steadier. It is nearly perfect for bringing out the rich tones of color movies. This experimental arc mecha- nism is only one detail in National Carbon Company's extensive labo- ratory effort to develop better pro- jector carbons. You, the exhibitor, reap the benefits in better screen visibility, satisfied patrons, and bigger box office! The term "National" is a registered trade-mark of NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, INC. Unit of Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation QH3 30 East 42nd Street, New York 17, N. Y. Division Sales Offices: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco 3 64. NO. 15 MOTION PICTl^k NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, JULY 22, 1948 TEN CENTS Reissues Seen Hit by N. Y. Ascap Decision Society Lost Case by Exorbitant Fee Demand The New York Federal District Court decision holding that the blanket licensing of music perform- ing rights to theatres by Ascap is illegal raises serious problems for Film Classics, Astor Pictures and other companies dealing in reissues acquired from other producers, indus- try attorneys said yesterday. They pointed out that, if the New York court decision is sustained, pro- ducers of new pictures may have little difficulty obtaining performing rights to the music in their pictures at the same time that synchronizaton rights are obtained and, thus, will be in a po- sition to extend the performing rights licenses to exhibitors. However, they said, if distributors of reissues are unable to obtain per- forming rights licenses from Ascap, in the event the New York decision is upheld, such distributors would be (Continued on page 3) Performing Rights Payments Stay: TO A In a statement issued here yesterday Herman Levy, counsel for Theatre Owners of America, warned exhibitors that the Federal Court's decision find- ing Ascap guilty of violating the anti- trust laws does not relieve them of ^their statutory obligation to pay per- forming rights. Levy pointed out that the opinion of Judge Vincent L. Leibell does not (Continued on page 3) Harry Katz Is Dead; Chicago Rites Today Chicago, July 21. — Services for Dr. Harry Katz, 54, former owner and president of Monarch Theatres, who died in Chicago yesterday, are to be held at 10 A.M. tomorrow at the Piser Funeral Home, this city. He had been ill for several months. Katz retired from the industry in March, 1947, when he sold his inter ests in Monarch to Ted R. Gamble, who now operates the circuit. His survivors include the widow, Mary Katz ; a brother, Sam Katz, studio vice-president of Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer ; his mother, Conja, and two sisters, Mrs. Lillie Stern and Mrs. Esther Katzman. Discount Foreign Revenue, Heed US Market: Johnston Hollywood, July 21. — Hollywood must design its pictures in such fash- ion as to make them commercially safe on the basis of the domestic mar- ket return alone, Eric A. Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Asso- ciation of America, told a group here planning a public relations council. He warned that the foreign situation as it concerns revenue to the United States is likely to get worse before it im- proves. Johnston urged all phases of pro- duction o buckle down to a firm real- ization of the outlook and govern their activities and inter-relationships accordingly. The public relations group, repre- senting producers, guilds and unions, reportedly made little progress in finalizing industry council plans. An- other meeting is tentatively scheduled for next month. Hit 'Popcorn Clause' In New Bldg. Code Sharp objection to a clause in the proposed revisions to the New York State building code which would pro- hibit the use in theatres of popcorn machines or other vending machines using combustible fluid, was voiced here yesterday. At the final public hearing at the State Board of Standards and Appeals in the Empire State Building, Leon- ard L. Rosenthal, representing Smalley Theatres, Inc., and Upstate Theatres, (Continued on page 3) Warren Will Decide British Money Split London, July 21. — Determination of an equitable system of allocating re- mittable American film money to the U. S. companies has been placed in the hands of John F. Warren, London accountant, who has acted as auditor for various American companies here for a number of years. Britain's Board of Trade, with the approval of the Anglo-U. S. control committee which governs the opera- tion of the dollar exchange agreement which settled the 75 per cent import tax dispute, named Warren to the post. According to the Board's an- nouncement, he is to "determine an equitable basis for the distribution among qualified American claimants for available dollars under the agree- ment and calculate the amounts to which each claimant is entitled." In the event a claimant considers Warren's decision inequitable it will have the right of appeal to the control committee. Otherwise his decision will be final and no dollar transfer will be authorized without his advice. Claims accordingly will be addressed to Warren. Warren's remuneration will be paid by the American companies on a pro- portionate basis. Time when the in- itial distribution of dollars will be made is still uncertain but is prom- ised at the earliest date possible. Ascap Weighs Exit from Theatre Field Says Its Members Might Benefit from Decision Holloway Heads New Mid-Central Allied Edward T. Dickinson Named to EC A Post Washington, July 21. — Edward T. Dickinson, Jr., on leave of absence as vice-president of Universal Pictures Co. in charge of educational films, to- day was appointed director of the new program co-ordination division of the Economic Cooperation Administration, which will be responsible for evaluat- ing and recommending ECA programs for the European countries participat- ing. Dickinson, 37, was a marine in the war and was with Office of Strategic Services. He served as research as- sistant to the chairman of the United States Steel board before he went in- to service, later becoming executive director of the planning committee of the War Production Board. After the war he functioned as one of the U. S. representatives on the Emer- gency Economic Committee for Eu- rope. St. Louis, July 21. — Organization of Mid-Central Allied Independent Theatre Owners, Inc., has been com- pleted here with the election of Henry Holloway of St. Louis County as pres- ident and A. B. Jeffreris, Piedmont, Mo., as vice-president. Hugh Graham of St. Louis is secretary. Board members are Charles Beni- nati, Carlyle, 111. ; Earl Vandever, Kennett, Mo. ; W. T. Zimmerman, Warrenton, Mo. ; Caesar Berutt, Sul- livan, Mo. ; Lee Norton, Sullivan, 111., and Andrew Dietz. Wilby Returns 2 in Tenn. to Crescent Atlanta, July 21. — Wilby Theatres has relinquished operation of the Rialto and Gem, Kingsport, Tenn., and has returned the theatres to Crescent Amusement Co. of Nashville, owner and former operator. Wilby, which had operated the houses for many years past, will continue to operate the State, its own house in Kingsport. Two independent houses, the Center and the recently opened Fox, also are operating in Kingsport. Ascap officials said yesterday that consideration is being given to a withdrawal from the theatre mu- sic licensing field without taking an appeal from the New York Federal court decision of Tuesday enjoining the Society from issuing blanket per- forming rights licenses to theatres and granting other basic injunctive relief to members of the Independent Thea- tre Owners Association of New York, plaintiffs in the action against Ascap. "The decision may be a blessing in disguise for Ascap," one official said. (Continued on page 3) Ascap Decision Seen Vindicating Allied Washington, July 21. — Abram F. Myers, Allied States general counsel, declared today that the New York de- cision ruling out the Ascap seat tax is complete vindication for Allied's posi- tion of last winter in supporting the Lewis bill and refusing to bargain with Ascap. The order, he said, "gives effect to the substance of the Lewis bill," and was no doubt influenced by it. "Quite naturally," said Myers in a statement telephoned to his office from St. Louis, "Allied is gratified that its position in reference to Ascap has re- ceived full judicial sanction. I am happy to congratulate Messrs. Brandt (Continued on page 3) Trinity Sues Selznick In Contract Dispute Hollywood, July 21. — William A. Bacher's Trinity Pictures Corporation has filed a Superior Court suit against David O. Selznick, Vanguard Films and numerous "John Does," asking $2,500,000 for charged viola- tion of a contract covering the pro- duction "If This Be My Harvest," which was stopped on the scheduled starting date when Vanguard-loaned players, Valli, Louis Jourdan and Robert Mitchum failed to report for work. Selznick subsequently issued a state- ment saying the deal had not been completed and players were withheld because Bacher had failed to revise the script to conform with Selznick's requirements. 2 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, July 22, 1948 US Product Regains Position in Ecuador Washington, July 21.— With 1948 business already matching the entire 1947 take, U. S. pictures have re- gained their pre-war dominance in Ecuador, Department of Commerce film chief Nathan D. Golden will re- veal here tomorrow. "Most important factor in this trend," said Golden, "was the unceasing efforts of the local agents of United States film distribu- tors." Golden reported that 390 (74 per cent) of the 524 features released in Ecuador last year were of U. S. origin, with 93 Mexican, 22 Argentine, 7 British, 7 French and 5 Russian films. U. S. product accounted for 75 per cent of the playing time and 62 per cent of the gross. The year before Mexican product had accounted for 50 per cent of the playing time and 60 per cent of the take. Last year those figures were only 20 and 25 per cent. NSS Office in NY To Service Albany Albany, N. Y., July 21.— National Screen Service has transferred its servicing of lobby material to exhibi- tors in the Albany area from its Al- bany branch to its New York office. Herman Robbins, president of NSS, told theatremen here that the com- pany has been sending trailers from New York successfully for a number of years, and that accessories can be handled from New York with equal efficiency. Some mats, stills and press books will be kept here to accommo- date exhibitors with close bookings. Hersholt Names Schary Hollywood, July 21. — Motion. Pic- ture Academy of Arts and Sciences president Jean Hersholt announced to- day the appointment of Dore Schary to the board of governors as represen- tative of the executives branch, filling the vacancy left by Donald Nelson's withdrawal from the industry. N. Peter Rathvon is the other ex- ecutive representative on the board. Switches Film to UA Hollywood, July 21. — Independent producer Jerrold Brandt reports he has obtained a release from his com- mitment to distribute "Command Per- formance" through Columbia and an- nounces United Artists as the dis- tributor. Brandt has the film in pre- paration with a $1,500,000 budget, it is said. Personal Mention UA Film at Capitol The first United Artists release to play the Capitol here in several years, "Pitfall"" has been booked for the house, usually a "showcase" for M-G-M product, to open following "On an Island with You." Samuel Bischoff produced "Pitfall." MAURICE BERGMAN, Univer- sal-International Eastern adver- tising-publicity director, and Mrs. Bergman, returned to New York yes- terday by plane from London. • Harry M. Kalmine, president of Warner Theatres ; Harry Goldberg, director of advertising-publicity, and Harry Rosenquest, executive, will return to New York tomorrow from Albany. • Al Horwits, Eastern publicity man- ager for Universal-International, and Charles Simonelli, Eastern exploi- tation manager, are in Atlantic City from New York. • W. C. Gehring, 20th Century-Fox assistant general sales manager, is in Chicago where he will be a pallbearer today at the funeral of the late Harry Katz. • Paul Richrath, home office assis- tant to John P. Byrne, Eastern sales manager, will leave here today for an up-state vacation. • Edward M. Schnitzer, United Artists' Eastern and Canadian sales manager, is in Cleveland from New York. Herman Ripps, field assistant to John P. Byrne, M-G-M Eastern manager, is here from Albany. Mark Silver, United Artists' Penn- sylvania-Washington district manager, is a visitor here. CHARLES M. REAGAN, Para- mount distribution vice-president, is in Chicago where he will attend the Will Rogers Memorial Fund luncheon today. • Hal Hode, executive assistant to Jack Cohn, Columbia executive vice- president, was married yesterday to Mrs. Dorothy Plehn of Chicago at Forest Hills, L. I. • William A. Scully, Universal- International distribution vice-presi- dent, will sail from France today for New York aboard the S.S. America. • Hugh Owen, Eastern and Southern divisional sales manager for Para- mount, will return to New York at the weekend from Charlotte, N. C. • Lawrence A. Audrain, Prestige Pictures' publicity director, is visiting England from New York. • Alexander Markey, producer-di- rector, will leave New York Saturday for Hollywood. • William Selwyn, talent director for Samuel Goldwyn, is here from the Coast. • J. P. Broderick has purchased the Royal Theatre, Dunlap, la., from Carl Worl. • John Edding has sold his Galva Theatre, Galva, la., to Bradley Grimes. Sues 20th on Contract Mildred (Babe) Didrickson Za- harias filed a $100,000 suit against 20th-Fox in U. S. District Court here yesterday. The woman athlete charged the company broke a contract calling for her services in six shorts for a consideration of $60,000. Alexander Rites Today Chicago, July 21. — Services for Le Roy Alexander, 58, National Screen Service salesman, who died here yes- terday, are to be held here tomorrow. O'Donnell Released Hollywood, July 21. — Samuel Gold- wyn has released Cathy O'Donnell from her contract and will replace her in "Roseanne McCoy," which she was scheduled to start with Farley Gran- ger next month. Miss O'Donnell has been under contract for four years. Strike May Shut Off Theatre Air -Cooling A threatened walkout of air-con- ditioning engineers, which would shut down the cooling systems in most of the large Broadway theatres and RKO and Loew's neighborhoods here, came yesterday as members of Local No. 30 of the International Union of Oper- ating Engineers (AFL) voted yester- day to reject an exhibitors' offer of 10 per cent wage increase. The union refuses to reduce its demands beyond 15 per cent, contending that its mem- bers have had no increase in two years and need the higher wage to offset the rise in living costs. Strike is scheduled for tomorrow, and the temperature has been pressing 90 lately. If the strike occurs the ex- hibitors may keep the theatres open. Donation To Aid Actors Another allocation of $25,000 has been made by the Theatre Authority, Inc., here, to the following theatrical charities for the relief of the indigent of the acting profession : Actors' Fund of America, Stage Relief Fund, Amer- ican Guild of Variety Artists, Screen Actors' Guild, Episcopal Actors' Guild, Jewish Theatrical Guild, Actors' Equity Association. Chorus Equity Association, Negro Actors' Guild, American Guild of Musical Artists, American Federation of Radio Artists, Authors League Fund and League of New York Theatres. Announcement of the allocation was made by Alan Corelli, TA's national executive secre- tary. $31,000 for Film Charity Toronto, July 21. — Assistant chief barker Morris Stein of the Toronto Variety Tent has reported net pro- ceeds of $31,000 from the club's second annual baseball benefit in aid of the fund for Variety Village, a training school for Ontario handicapped chil- dren. The fund now stands at approxi- mately $120,000, all raised by the local tent. $3,306,000 to Mexicans Mexico City, July 21.— -The Mexi- can film industry continues to get con- siderable cash from its own bank, the Banco Nacional Cinematografica here. During the first six months of this year it granted loans, credits and dis- counts totaling $3,306,578. Drive-in Building Beyond Expectation The construction of drive-in theatres in virtually every exchange territory in the country is far surpassing the most optimistic expectations of the blue-printing days of last winter and fall. Realty markets in favored loca- tions are booming. Most favored areas are, naturally, those where r-'M weather predominates most of^£- * year. Equipment manufacturers^of the essentials for drive-in operations and their theatre supply dealer agen- cies are enjoying the splurge of the sponsors of outdoor auto-movie enter- tainment. So are the vendors of pop- corn and refreshments as existing drive-in operators extend their com- mercial operations to circulate "car- hops" among their car customers, and new drive-in exhibitors build candy stands at the outset. Few Rejections In only a comparative few instances have local authorities rejected appli- cations of wouldbe drive-in operators, and in most of these cases rejection was because of local residential zoning restrictions enforced in suburban areas. A few were rejected because of anticipated traffic hazards. Among the newest drive-in projects reported in the field, to be added to the scores launched in recent months, are the following: Louisville reports drive-ins contem- plated by W. H. Hahn and J. F. Bur- nette of Bardstown, and by unnamed operators at Glasgow, Ky., and in Southwest Louisville. Clem Jaunich will spend $100,000 on a 500-car drive-in at Austin, Minn. Three are contemplated by Ralph Green, one each at Racine and Madison, Wis., and at Rochester, Minn. Alva and Edward Taylor and Charles Stein- born have opened at Huron, S. D. Drive-in equipment has been shipped to spots at Clovis, N. Mex., Anderson, S. C, and Laurinburg, N. C. Other Projects H. J. Shelby has plans for Kevil, Ky., while J. W. Lyles of Benton and L. J. Gill of Paducah, both also in Kentucky, are considering construc- tion. Weymouth Drive-in Corp. of Boston is building at West Spring- field, Mass., while E. M. Loew Thea- tres has plans for Montville, Conn. Already operating three in Up-state New York, Fabian-Hellman Drive- in Theatres plan another on the Troy- Albany road. The drive-in list has been further expanded by S. A. F. Co., Charlotte, and Turnpike Theatre Co., Newington, Conn., headed by Robert Gloth and Joseph Dolgin. In Canada, Ontario's largest auto theatre is the Starlite, at Chippewa, managed by Dewey McCourt, who also has the Brock at Niagara-on-the- Lake. W. C. Macon spent $40,000 on a project between Old Fort and Ma- rion, N. C. W. W. Williams' drive- in on the Charlotte-York road cost the same. Burlington, Vt., has a new- drive-in, backed by John Gardner, Improvements have been made by C. O. Kirby at Kansas City, Mo., while the Bristol Livestock Co., headed by Albert Bernstein, has expanded into drive-in field at Bristol, Conn. Vine Building, Willi am R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farlev, Advertising Representative* Jimmy *Ascher Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager Peter Burnup' Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of 'Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y. under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies. 10c. ' ' ' ' Thursday, July 22, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 3 Reissues Hit (Continued from page 1) put to extreme difficulties to locate in- dividual owners of the copyrighted music in their pictures and might in- cur extraordinary costs in acquiring the rights. It was pointed out that in many cases such distributors, if they could identify the copyright owners and locate them, might have to deal trusts, estates, attorneys and (~"~]r representatives and their nego- fOmg position would be disadvan- tageous inasmuch as it would be known the pictures in question could not be sold without performing rights 1 clearance for the music they contained. Industry attorneys and other trade observers were agreed that the most telling factor in Ascap's loss of the ITOA case, where it had been vic- torious in all previous cases of the kind including one brought by the Government which ended in a con- sent decree favorable to Ascap, was the Society's exhorbitant demands made upon exhibitors last August. Unrestrained Demands The New York court decision cited the increases in theatre rates de- manded by Ascap, which averaged about 300 per cent, as evidence of its monopolistic power and latent ability to injure. Thus most industry ob- servers see the decision as one having been courted by Ascap itself through its unrestrained demands. Presently, the Society is seeking even higher rate increases from the- atres with regular stage show poli- cies. The general trade feeling now is that Ascap no longer is in a posi- tion to press those demands. Attorneys also pointed out that the recent U. S. Supreme Court decision in the Paramount case contributed to Ascap's defeat in the ITOA case. The New York court referred to the Su- preme Court decision finding block booking illegal to justify the local court's finding that the pooling of copyrights of Ascap members for the issuance of blanket licenses is equally illegal. To Re-Release "Ape" Jules Levey, independent producer, has concluded a deal with Film Clas- sics for re-release of The Hairy Ape." Allied on Ascap (Continued from page 1) and Weisman on the successful out- come of the litigation. I hope that Judge Nordbye will promptly follow this precedent in deciding the Berger case. . , . "Allied has been fully vindicated in its refusal to appease Ascap by enter- ing into contractual relations with it. In that way Allied avoided becoming a party to an illegal compact. "Allied urges exhibitors not to be affected by propaganda that producers will add to film rentals more than the Ascap charges or will exact a separate public performing charge. Exhibitors can bargain for film ren- tals. They cannot bargain with Ascap. Any attempt by the producers to exact a separate charge will go the same way as the score charge. "This decidedly is a great victory for the independent exhibitors." $40,000,000 Radio Sales Washington, July 19. — Sales of radio and television equipment totalled $40,351,820 during the first quarter of 1948. RKO Meets Monday In San Francisco San Francisco, July 21. — RKO Radio's fifth and final zone meeting will be held here July 26 with Robert Mochrie, vice-president in charge of domestic distribution, presiding. A home office delegation will include Walter E. Branson, Western division sales manager; Harry J. Michalson, short subject sales manager; A. A. Schubart, manager, exchange opera- tions, and Harry Gittleson, assistant to Mr. Branson. J. H. Maclntyre, manager, Western district, and A. L. Kolitz, manager, Rocky Mountain district, will also be on hand as will the following branch managers : J. C. Emerson, Denver ; G. Davidson, Salt Lake City; E. A. Lamb, Seattle : R. H. Lange, Port- land ; H. C. Cohen, Los Angeles ; J. P. Smith, San Francisco, and Ollie Watson, sales manager in the latter exchange. Censor Board Doubles Adult Film Listings Toronto, July 21. — The Ontario Board of Censors has apparently tightened up on its classification of features for adult patronage, accord- ing_ to the report for June during which six pictures were rated as adult entertainment. The list: "Blanche Fury," "Road to the Big House," "Furia," "Dear Murderer," "Mark of Cain" and "Hatter's Castle." The adult list for May had only three pic- tures. Theatre Robbery Ottawa, July 21. — Heavy safe con- taining over 500- dollars in cash was among items stolen from manager's of- fice of Elmdale Theatre here. Au- thorities are investigating. New Bldg. Code (Continued from page 1) Inc., declared that such a provision "would work severe hardships on many smaller theatres." His view was supported by repre- sentatives of Metropolitan Motion Picture Theatres Association. Most of the hearing was devoted to an interpretation of the language of the proposed code as well as comments on its provisions. After reviewing the comments made at these hearings, as well as other suggestions that can be submitted up to Aug. 31, the board is expected to draw up a final draft. Lamont Objects Another source of objection yester- day rose from Harry Lamont. up-state drive-in owner, who saw as "unfair" a provision which would bar walk-in spectators from drive-in theatres. He pointed out that many drive-ins pro- vide annex parking spaces for over- flow cars, with seating accommoda- tions provided for these passengers. He also objected to a provision that drive-in screens and screen structures should be made of incombustible ma- terial. Other Aspects The question of whether resort ho- tels that occasionally show motion pictures should come under provisions for theatres came in for considerable discussion and will be regarded by the board. William H. Roberts, chairman of the board, presided at the meeting, and John Coggeshall, State Industrial Code Officer, was moderator. RCA Has 7-By-9 Ft Television System RCA Victor yesterday reported it has begun initial distribution in tele- vision network areas of new commer- cial equipment which produces video pictures on screens ranging from three-by-four feet to six-by-nine feet. The 63-square-foot image can be ob- tained by placing the projector 17 feet from the screen. A special focusing system permits adjustment for a shorter projection throw, providing a smaller image, it was said. The equip- ment was designed for use by theatres (in lobbies and mezzanines), hotels, clubs, hospitals, schools, etc. UK Studios Install 46 W. E. Recorders Robert J. Engler, recording man- ager of Western Electric Company in England, who has returned to the U. S. for conferences with officials of Westrex in New York and Holly- wood, reports 46 Western Electric recording channels have been installed or are being installed by 12 studios in Britain. Production activity among W. E.'s British licensees, he adds, is on the rise, with some new sound stages being built. .During Engler's absence from Lon- don, his post is being filled by Reeve O. Strock, recording Westrex man- ager. Phila. Combine Will Bid for WB Houses Philadelphia, July 21. — William Ehrenberg, head of a local premium firm which serves Warner and other picture companies, has formed a syn- dicate which is planning to offer Warner Brothers a bid to take over all their theatres in this zone, which includes Philadelphia, New Jersey, Delaware and up-state Pennsylvania. According to Ehrenberg, the syn- dicate is made up of 14 prominent lo- calites who are "definitely" prepared to make a $5,000,000 initial deposit as first payment. Within the next week or 10 days they expect to send a committee of about five persons to California to con- tact Warners. TOA on Decision (Continued from page 1) mean that the owners "of copyrighted musical compositions will be deprived of payments for performing rights, adding that "nothing short of a repeal of that portion of the Federal copy- right law could accomplish that." He asserted that "the court did not intend to infringe on that right." "For those who would negotiate for performing rights with individual copyright owners or would-be pro- ducers of films as part of film cost rather than with Ascap," the TOA statement further said, "the decision represents a great victory. For others it means either the creation of a new, involved and most difficult sys- tem of doing business with the in- dividual copyright owners or a com- pulsory surrender by exhibitors to the producers of motion pictures of their privilege to negotiate with one cen- tral agency concerning the amount which they as exhibitors shall pay for performing rights." The TOA was instrumental in ne- gotiating the current Ascap theatre rate, which represents a huge reduc- tion from the fees originally demanded by the society last August. Ascap Weighs (Continued from page 1) "The Society derives relatively little revenue from theatres and if its members were to negotiate individually for _ the performing rights to their motion picture music they would more than likely obtain more than they do now for those rights and, at the same time, Ascap would be relieved of the labor, costs and taxes of handling theatre licensing." (Ascap collected almost $2,000,000 from theatres last year.) The official pointed out that in states which had enacted anti-Ascap legislation, causing the Society to withdraw, the resultant confusion in- evitably led the users of performing rights to petition the states to repeal or modify the legislation and thereby permit Ascap to resume operations. See No Radio Suits Ascap officials scoffed at the sug- gestion that radio broadcasters, hotels, dance halls, restaurants and other Ascap performing rights licensees might sue for relief similar to that obtained by the ITOA. „ "We think," said one Ascap official, that broadcasters would be genuinely concerned if they thought their exist- ing contracts with the Society would be disturbed." It was pointed out that it would be next to impossible for broadcasters to function without the protection of blanket performing rights licenses in- asmuch as they could be prosecuted for unauthorized performances of mu- sic picked up incidentally by broad- casts from convention halls, at sports events and other program sites. Industry legal quarters discounted the Ascap intimation that an appeal from the New York decision might not be taken by the Society, the gen- eral feeling being that the legality of Ascap's blanket licensing system is too important either to be ignored by the Society or to be left by it in an indeterminate state. Plaintiffs May Appeal ITOA sources intimated that re- gardless of Ascap's action on an ap- peal, plaintiffs in the case might ap- peal on their own from Judge Vincent L. Lejbell's denial of damages to them. It is expected in legal circles that several months will elapse before an order is entered in the ITOA-Ascap case. Thereafter, the litigants have 90 days from the date of entry of a decree, in which to file a notice of appeal with the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals here. Indications are, in view of the importance of the case, that a stay of Judge Leibell's order would be granted pending a final de- cision on appeal. It is regarded as a certainty that the case ultimately would go to the U. S. Supreme Court after the Circuit court has acted. Therefore, attorneys estimate that the case may be in the courts for another 18 months to two years. It was filed in 1942. Trans - Lux Acquires Dobbs Ferry House Trans-Lux Corp. has purchased the Embassy Theatre, Dobbs Ferry, N. Y., for a reported $250,000 as the first step in an expansion move, according to William M. Girden, president. The property originally was built for RKO about 20 years ago at a cost of $500,- 000. Greenfield and Fromme sold the house to Trans-Lux. lionel BARRYMORE clai LAUREN e TREVOR SOCK STARTIN PRODUCED BY ON ■ JERRY WALD Screen Play by Richard Brooks and John Huston • Based on the Play by MAXWELL ANDERSON As Produced on the Spoken Stage, by the Playwrights Company • Music by Max Steiner It Has The Thrills Of TWO Pictu i One of the great productions in screen history is carving out a second history-making, glory- covered career as it not only matches but TOPS new high-budget hits in first 5 test dates: — NEW YORK -first re -release ever to play the Rivoli and it opened to the Rivoli's top business in several months. CHICAGO —first week 60% over its strong predecessor, a new high- budget hit. ROCHESTER -18% over current new release featuring 3 outstanding stars ... and within seven dollars of one of the industry's most sensationally grossing melodramas of 1948. DENVER-beat receipts of new picture released in peak months of 1947. SALT LAKE CITY— first 3 days topped by wide margin 3 important current-season, big-star hits. You Can Do Above-Average New-Picture Business With This Spectacular Reissue from Paramount Cecil B.DeMilles tf TJJE full Saturday opening figures for a pre- vious new show. Write home-office or our local representative for repro art. 8 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, July 22, 1948 Estimates of Key City Grosses OLLOWING are estimated pic- L lurr grosses for current engage- ments in ke\ cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily correspond- ents. Estimates omit admission tax. LOS ANGELES "Key Largo," doing double-average business in the three Warner first- runs, held a monopoly on the good news of an otherwise quiet box office week. Weather was ideal for attend- ance, what with Coastal fogs cutting down the counter-attraction of the beaches, but first-runs, with the bril- liant exception of the Warner group, did not reflect it. Meanwhile, the new hot-rod racing, experiencing a popu- larity likely to sprout nationwide sig- nificance sooner or later, began to be counted in as among the reasons why the younger set is not standing in line at theatre box-offices. (Remember miniature golf?) Estimated receipts for the week ended July 21 : DEEP WATERS (20th-Fox) and THE CHECKERED COAT (2uth-Fox)— CAR- THAY CiRCLE U,516) (50c-6Oc-85c-$1.0O) 6 days. Gross: $9,000. (Average: $5,500) DEEP WATERS (2Gth-Fcx) and THE CHECKERED COAT (20th-Fox)— CHIN- ESE (2,300) (50c-60c-85c-$1.0O) 6 days. Gross: $14,500. (Average: $13,000) DEEP WATERS (2:th-Fox) and THE CHECKERED COAT (2 0th-Fox)- LOEWS STATE (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 6 days. Gross: $25X00. (Average: $19,800) DEEP WATERS (Iflth-Fox) and THE CHECKERED COAT (25th-Fox)— LOY- OLA (1,265) (50c-6Oc-85c-$1.0O) 6 days. Gross: $10,000. (Average: $10,000) DEEP WATERS (2Cth-Fox) and THE CHECKERED COAT (20th-Fox) — UP- TOWN (1.716) (50c-6Cc-85c-$1.00) 6 days. Gross: $10,500. (Average: $10,100) DREAM GIRL (Para.) and SECRET SERVICE INVESTIGATOR (R e p.)- PARAMOUNT (Downtown) (3,595) (50c- 6Oc-S0c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $11,500. < Average: $16,450) DREAM GIRL (Para.) — PARAMOUNT (Hollywood) (1.407) (50c-60c-80c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $7,500. (Average: $13,000) FIGHTING FATHER DUNNE (RKO Ra- c'o) and THE STRAWBERRY ROAN (Cel.)— HILLSTREET (2.700) (50c-60c-80c- $1.0C). Gross: $17,500. (Average: $18,950x FIGHTING FATHER DUNNE (RKO Ra- dio) ar.3 THE STRAWBERRY RO \N (C 1 )— PANTAGES (2.000) (50c-60--80;- $1.00). Gross: $15,200. (Average: $17,1501 KEY LARGO (WB) ard MUSIC MAN (Mo-.-.)— WARNERS (Downtown) (3,403) (5Oc-6Oc-S0c-$1.COl 6 days. Gross: $25,000. (Average: $13,730) KEY LARGO (WB) and MUSIC MAN (Mcti:>.) — WARNERS (Hollywood) (3,000) (50c-60c-80c-$1.0O) 6 days. Gross: $22,000. (Average: $11,650) KEY LARGO (WB) and MUSIC MAN (Mono.) — WARNERS (Wiltern) (2,300) (5Cc-60c-S0c-$1.06) 6 days. Gross: $22,000. (Average: $11,220) MAN-EATER OF KUMAON (U-I) and GUNS OF HATE (RKO Radio) — GUILD (965) (50c-60c-85c-$l.CO). Gross: $5,500. (Average: $5,450) MAN-EATER OF KUMAON (U-I) and GUNS OF HATE (RKO Radio) — IRIS (708) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00). Gross: $6,000. (Average: $6,100) MAN-EATER OF KUMAON (U-I) and GUNS OF HATE (RKO' Radio) — RITZ (1,376) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00). Gross: $8,0C0. (Average: $9,050) MAN-EATER OF KUMAON (U-I) and GUNS OF HATE (RKO' Radio)— STUDIO (880) (50c-60c-S5c-$1.00). Gross: $6,000. (Average: $6,300) MAN-EATER OF KUMAON (U-I) and GUNS OF HATE (RKO Radio) — UNITED ARTISTS (2,100) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00). Gross: $12,500. (Average: $9,580) NEXT TIME WE LOVE (Realart Re- rolease) ani MY MAN GODFREY (Real- ■j-t Re-release)— MUSIC HALL (Beverly Hills) (900) (65c-85c-$l.O0) 6 days. Gross: $2,800. (Average: $3,150) NEXT TIME WE LOVE (Realart Re- reltase) and MY MAN GODFREY (Real- art Re-release) — MUSIC HALL (Down- town) (900) (65c-85c-$l.CO) 6 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average: $7,550) NEXT TIME WE LOVE (Realart Re- rtlease) and MY MAN GODFREY (Real- r.rt Re-release)— MUSIC HALL (Hawaii) (l,0CO) (65c -85c -$1.00) 6 days. Gross: $3,200. (Average: $3,400) NEXT TIME WE LOVE (Realart Re- release) ar.d MY MAN GODFREY (Real- art Re-release) — MUSIC HALL (Holly- wood) (490) (65c-85c-$1.00) 6 days. Gross: $2,300. (Average: $3,100) RUTHLESS (E-L) and SHED NO' TEARS (E-L)— BELMONT (1,600) (50c-60c-85c- $1.00) 5 days, 2nd week. Gross: $3,500. (Average: $5,750) RUTHLESS (E-L) and SHED NO TEARS (E-L)— EL REY (861) (50c-6Oc-85c-$1.0O) 5 days, 2nd week. Gross: $4,000. (Average: $5,700) RUTHLESS (E-L) and SHED NO TEARS (E-L)— ORPHEUM (2,210) (50c-60c-85c- >1.00) 5 days, 2nd week. Gross: $8,000. Average: $14,650) RUTHLESS (E-L) and SHED NO TEARS (E-L) — VOGUE (800) (50c-6Oc-85c-$1.0O) 5 r'ays, 2nd week. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $6,500) THE SEARCH (M-G-M)— FOUR STAR (900) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 3rd week. Gross: $7,C00. (Average: $7,450) JUMMER HOLIDAY (M-G-M) and BIG CITY (M-G-M)— EGYPTIAN (1,000) (50c- .Oc-85c-$1.0O) 2nd week. Gross: $9,000. Average: $11,900) SUMMER HOLIDAY (M-G-M) and BIG c:ty (m-g-m)— fox wilshire (2,300) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $10,000. 'Average: $12,850) SUMMER HOLIDAY (M-G-M) and BIG CITY (M-G-M)— LOS ANGELES (2,096) C5',c-6f,c-85c-$1.0O) 2nd week. Gross: $15,- C00. (Average: $18,100) SAN FRANCISCO DENVER Overall gross business this week was so-so. "Easter Parade" looked particularly strong. Estimated re- ceipts for the week ended July 20: ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST (U-I)-UNITED- ARTISTS (1,465) (85c) 2nd week. Gross: $7,200. (Average: $11,300) EMPEROR WALTZ (Para.)-PARA MOUNT (2,735) (60c-85c) 4th week. Gross: ■i>14,500. (Average: $19,500) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M) and THE WINNER'S CIRCLE (20th-Fox) — FOX (4,- 651) (60;-85c). Gross: $34,500. (Average: $23,000) ELLZAPGPPIN (U-I) and ARGEN- TINE NIGHTS (U-I)— STATE (2,135) (60c-85c). Gross: $6,500. (Average: $8,500) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M) and MONEY MADNESS (FC)— WAR- FIELD (2,672) (60c-85c). Gross: $21,500. (Average: $18,800) THE PARADINE CASE (SRO')— ST. FRANCIS (1,450) (60c-85c) 6th week. Gross: $10,000. (Average: $14,600) RETURN OF THE BAD MEN (RKO Ra- dio) and FRENCH LEAVE (Mono.) — RKO GOLDEN GATE (2,835) (95c). Gross: $17,- 5CO. (Average: $27,000) THE STREET WITH NO NAME (20th- Fox) and BLONDE ICE (FC) — UNITED NATIONS (1,129) (60c-85c) 1st week on a moveover. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $9,900) UP IN CENTRAL PARK (U-I) and BAD SISTER (U-I) — UNITED ARTISTS (1,- 465) (85c). Gross: $7,200. (Average: $11,- 300) UP IN CENTRAL PARK (U-I) and BAD SISTER (U-I)— ESQUIRE (1,C03) (55c-85c). Gross: $6,400. (Average: $9,000) OMAHA First-run business varied. Esti- mated receipts for the week ending July 21-23 : FEUDIN', FUSSIN' AND A-FIGHT1N (U-I) and ARTHUR TAKES OVER (20th- Fox)— OMAHA (2,000) (50c-65c) 2nd week for "Feudin'," on a moveover from Orphe- um. Gross: $5,600. (Average: $8,500) THE FULLER BRUSH MAN (Col.) and PORT SAID (Col.)-RKO-BRANDEIS (1,- 1C0) (50c-65c) 2nd week. Gross: $7,000. (Average: $6,900) HOMECOMING (M-G-M)— STATE (750) (50c-65c) 3rd week. Gross: $5,000. (Aver- age: $4,900) THE MAN FROM TEXAS (E-L)— OR PHEUM (3,000) (55c-85c). Mills Brothers on stage. Gross: $21,100. (Average: $18,- 300) ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS (WB) -PARAMOUNT (2,900) (50c-6Sc). Gross: $10,200. (Average: $11,400) "Homecoming" is in a second big week at the Orpheum after a top opening week. "Emperor Waltz" and "Best Years of Our Lives" ar^vi their fifth weeks at the Denhangf, ) ' Broadway, respectively. Estimatew^'-c* ceipts for the week ending July 21 : BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (RKO Radio) — BROADWAY (1,500) (35c-74c) 4th week. Gross: $8,000. (Average: $9,000) CANON CITY (E-L) and LADY AT MIDNIGHT (E-L) — PARAMOUNT (2,- 200) (35c-74c) 2nd week. Gross: $8,000. (Average: $10,000) EMPEROR WALTZ (Para.) — DENHAM (1,750) (35c-70c) 4th week. Gross: $9,500. (Average: $11,000) HOMECOMING (M-G-M) — ORPHEUM (2,600) (35c-74c). Gross: $21,000. (Aver- age: $13,500) NOOSE HANGS HIGH (E-L) and AS- SIGNED TO DANGER (E-L)— ALADDIN (1,400) (35c-74c). After a week at the Denver and Esquire. Gross: $3,000. (Av- erage: $2,500) ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS (WB) and WINNER'S CIRCLE (ZOth-Fox)— DENVER (2,525) (35c-74c). Gross: $15,500. (Average: $13,000) ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS (WB) and WINNER'S CIRCLE (Z»th-Fox)— WEBBER (750) (35c-74c). Gross: $2,500. (Average: $2,000) KANSAS CITY Rain some days kept public from outdoor sports, caused postponement of ball games and helped most thea- tres. Estimated receipts for the week ending July 20-22: ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST (U-I)— FAIRWAY (700) (45c-65c) 5 days. Gross: $850. (Average, 5 days: $1,350) ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST (U-I)— TOWER (2,100) (45c-65c) 5 days. Gross: $3,750. (Average, 5 days: $5,750) ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST (U-I)— UPTOWN (2,000) (45c-65c) 5 days. Gross: $2,750. (Average, 5 days: $4,250) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M) MIDLAND (3,500) (45c-65c). Gross: $31,000. (Aver- age: $15,000) THE EMPEROR WALTZ (Para.)— PARAMOUNT (1,900) (45c-65c) 3rd week. Gross: $10,003. (Average: $10,000) OLD LOS ANGELES (Rep.) and TIM- BER TRAIL (Rep.)-ESQUIRE (800) (45c- 65c). Gross: $5,000. RETURN OF THE BAD MEN (RKO Ra- dio) and SONG OF MY HEART (AA- Mono.) — ORPHEUM (1,900) (45c-65c). Gross: $10,500. (Average: $10,000) RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. TRADE SHOWINGS of LEO McCAREY'S "GOOD SAM" NEW DATE FOR NEW YORK RKO 58th ST. THEATRE 58th St. and 3rd Ave. MON. JULY 26, 8:45 P.M. ALBANY GRAND THEATRE 1 1 Clinton Avenue TUES. JULY 27, 8:30 P.M. Nyberg Back to Portland SroKANE, July 21. — Oscar F. Ny- berg, one of Evergreen's veteran man- agers and for a number of years man- ager of the Fox Theatre in Spokane, has been named manager of the Or- pheum in Portland, where he was associated some years ago. Nyberg is slated to take over his new duties on August 1. 'Films Not Killing Stage' Knoxville, Tenn., July 21. — "Con- trary to popular opinion, films are not killing the legitimate theatre — there are more stage productions now than there were before motion pictures were introduced," declared Dr. Paul L. Soper, dramatic director at the Uni- versity of Tennessee. Sunday Shows Lose Pulaski, Tenn., July 21. — Sunday films lost by a small vote in a recent election. Those in favor promise to "try again soon" 'Town Meeting' on Video "America's Town Meeting," heard on American Broadcasting on Tues- days, will be shown on ABC televi- sion simultaneously beginning August 10. In addition to the television net- work presentation, "Town Meeting" will be filmed for showing on ABC video stations not served by cable or relay systems. Jack Slocum to NBC Jack Slocum, former radio and pub- licity director of the New York Yan- kees, has joined the press department here of National Broadcasting as magazine editor. Dance Hall - Theatre Elyria, O., July 21. — An open-air dance theatre, combining a dance floor, with name bands and a 30-minute pro- gram of short subjects is scheduled to open here tomorrow, under the super- vision and management of A. W. Jewell, president of Dance Theatre, Inc. New NBC Video Station Signing of Station KDYL-TV, Salt Lake City, as an NBC television af- filiate was announced by Easton C. Woolley, director of NBC's stations department. FIRST IN FILM NEWS MOTION PIC^TURX DAI LY 4. NO. 16 NEW YORK, U. S. A., FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1948 TEN CENTS JOth-Fox Sets 30 'A's for 48-'49 Season Skouras Cites Global Scope of Production Toronto, July 22. — Pointing up he international flavor and authen- icity of locale, along with the part- y documentary, or realistic, char- acter of a large portion of its new program, S p y r o s P. Skouras, presi- dent of 20th Century - Fox, today disclosed production and distribu- tion plans of the company through July, 1949, for 30 "A" features, five of them already delivered. It is under- stood that the company will have, additionally, approximately 19 films from independent producers. The program will be supervised by (Continued on page 6) Spyros P. Skouras Winner of Quigley Award to M. H. Post Charles R. Hacker, district manager af Standard Theatres Management, Milwaukee, and 1948 winner of the Martin Quigley Silver Award for showmanship, yesterday was appointed administrative assistant of the Radio City Music Hall by G. S. Eyssell, executive manager of Rockefeller (Continued on page 3) Table Fire-Guard Bill After Owners Protest Philadelphia, July 22. — City Council's public safety committee to- lay voted to postpone action indefi- nitely on an ordinance that would have required motion picture opera- tors and all operators of places of public assembly to employ special fire guards. The action followed protests by hotel and theatre men. In speaking against the measure, Morris Wax, president of the Phila- delphia Theatre Association, said he felt theatre patrons were amply pro- tected under existing regulations and that every theatre employee now feels (Continued on page 3) NAB, D of J Plan No Legal Action On Ascap Licenses Washington, July 22. — Officials of the National Association of Broad- casters do not intend to attack in the courts Ascap's blanket music licensing of radio. Asked whether the New York court decision holding blanket licensing of theatres illegal might not lead to simi- lar suits by broadcasters, NAB spokes- men declared that "everybody is per- fectly happy and no one is thinking of suing." They pointed out that the industry's present contract with Ascap runs through Dec. 31, 1949, and that all the industry's dealings with Ascap have been on a negotiation, rather than liti- gation, basis. 'We're leaving well enough alone," one official said. Meanwhile, Justice Department of- ficials declared that the New York (Continued on page 3) AFM Now Bids for Pact Talks in N.Y. In a new move to initiate negotia- tions with the industry for a new con- tract covering studio musicians the American Federation of Musicians has invited producers to meet with presi- dent James C. Petrillo and other AFM representatives in New York the week of August 9. A spokesman for the AFM said yesterday that the federa- tion was awaiting a response from producers to the invitation. Originally the AFM had tried to get the producer representatives to hold the negotiations in Chicago start- ing August 2. They rejected the bid on the grounds a Chicago meeting would cause them too much incon- venience. UK FILM LOANS UP TO $20 MILLIONS Ascap Board Weighs U. S. Court Decision The Federal Court opinion holding Ascap in violation of the anti-trust statutes was taken up by the society's board of directors at a ses- sion here yesterday, with no decision reported to have been reached on any problems raised by Judge Vincent L. Leibell's ruling. The meeting was adjourned to Monday afternoon, when the matter will be given further consid- eration by the board. It is believed that a decision on whether to take an appeal to the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals will be made at that time. SAG Board Rejects "One Union" Plan Hollywood, July 22. — The Screen Actors Guild board today unanimous- ly voted down a proposition, promul- gated recently in New York, that would have merged all acting unions into one union. Board based rejection on grounds that the proposed set-up would compel Hollywood actors to rely on repre- sentation of a paid governing body headquartered in New York, instead of its own local body consisting of actors elected by the membership, and would necessitate an increase in dues to meet increased operating expenses. Adult B. O. Prices Steady, Children 's Down, U. S. Says Reliance in U.A. Deal For Two Pictures Contracts for the distribution of two Reliance Pictures productions were closed yesterday with United Artists, it was announced by Arthur W. Kelly, UA executive vice-president, and Ed- ward Small, head of Reliance. The first will be "Indian Scout," now in the editing stage. The second will be "Leather Stocking Tales," from the James Fenimore Cooper novel. Washington, July 22. — Children's prices dropped slightly during the first three months of 1948, while adult admission prices held at the level of late 1947, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics. The Bureau today issued its admis- sion price index figures for March, composed of weighted price figures for 18 large cities. The figures, for- merly issued every month are now on a quarterly basis. The children's admission price in- dex dropped from 161.0 at the end of (Continued on page 3) Gov't Will Guarantee Production Financing: Wilson-Cripps' Proposal By PETER BURNUP London, July 22. — Harold Wilson, president of the Board of Trade, announced to the House of Commons today the government's intention to create a Film Finance Corporation having at its disposal $20,000,000, with powers to make loans on reasonable commercial terms for the financing of film production here. In the initial stages, the loans will be advanced to dis- tributors who, in turn, will pro- vide financing to producers. Wilson's announcement in Commons drew a succession of pungent questions concerning the proposal from Winston Churchill. * After replying to them, Wilson promised a full debate on the subject when the bill providing for creation of the Corporation and sup- plying it with capital is introduced in Commons at a later date. The Corporation will not have pow- (Continued on page 6) Smakwitz Heads WB Theatres Up-State Albany, July 22. — The promotion of Charles A. Smakwitz, Warner Theatres executive in Albany, to zone manager for this territory, was an- nounced today by Harry M. Kalmine, president of the circuit. He succeeds C. J. Latta, who will take charge of Warner theatre operations in England. Smakwitz has been assistant zone manager to Louis Lazar, Moe Silver (Continued on page 3) Phila. Appeals Court Rules Five Conspired Philadelphia, July 22. — The third United States Circuit Court of Ap- peals held today the five major distribu- tors "conspired" to withhold first-run features from the Ball Penn Theatre in Ambridge, Pa. The action reversed a ruling by District Judge Robert M. Gibson in Pittsburgh, who had dis- missed the suit filed on behalf of the theatre on the ground of failure to prove conspiracy. (Continued on page 3) I Motion Picture Daily Friday, July 23, 1948 Personal Mention SIDNEY FRANKLIN, M-G-M producer, is scheduled to sail for Paris, today on the Nienw Amsterdam. • Herbert Steinberg, Eagle Lion newspaper and column contact, and Caroline Doolittle of Houston, Tex., are to be married at the Hamp- shire House here on Sunday. • Rub-y Berger, M-G-M Southern sales manager, and Charles E. Kess- nich, district manager, are due here on Sunday from Washington and Atlanta, respectively. Fred C. Quimby, head of M-G-M short subjects production, has post- poned his visit to New York from the Coast to October. • H. M. Richey, head of exhibitor relations for M-G-M, will leave New York on Monday for French Lick, Ind. Eleanor Paradeis, owner of Pam-0 Films Exchange, Buffalo, was a Glov- ersville, N. Y., visitor this week. • John Cicero, Paramount advertis- ing production manager, is celebrating a birthday today. • Charles Bickford is expected here from Hollywood tomorrow for the premiere of "The Babe Ruth Story." • Bert Claster, general manager of the Hippodrome, Baltimore, is in At- lantic City on vacation. • John Guilfoyle of Paramount's advertising production department will leave on vacation today. « • Edward Dowden of Loew's exploi- tation staff here is vacationing at Nassau Point, Long Island. 'Easter' A Holdover In 35 Opening Runs M-G-M's "Easter Parade" was be- ing held over or moved over in 35 key city openings throughout the country, according to the home office. At least 20 additional engagements are expected to be held over or moved over when they complete first weeks today, it was reported. 'Mickey' Admission Cut at N.Y. Gotham All children under 12 will be ad- mitted to the Gotham Theatre here during the run of Eagle Lion's "Mickey," at a special reduced price of 35c, effective immediately, it was announced yesterday by the manage- ment. $95,000 for 'Key Largo' Warners' "Key Largo" completed its first week at the Strand here last night with a gross estimated at $95,- 000, the highest single week's business in the theatre's history. Count Basie and Billie Holiday are on the stage. Insider's Outlook By RED KANN HP HE American career of *■ "Henry V," chronicled from time to time in this space, con- tinues to rate attention on its own score, but also because it clearly limns the pattern into which "Hamlet" may be expect- ed to fall. This is how it goes with "Henry" : By July 1, United Artists had played and completed 801 en- gagements in all of these broad United States. Total box-office gross was $3,866,499, or if you go for averages, $4,827 per en- gagement. UA has made some fancy, percentage deals for this film, including one chap in Ari- zona, who coughed up 70 per cent and, by some miraculous kind of calculation, came out satisfied. After advertising and expense, the distributor now tal- lies 41.38 per cent of the gross receipts for his end. Or, $1,589,- 957 to share with the producer. Nice going as far as it goes. Yet the end obviously is not yet in sight. "Henry" has consid- erable vitality left. It will take time, probably running into a modest total of years, before its revenue-producing capabilities dry up. A producer has to be patient while he slowly recoups on an investment of "Henry" and "Hamlet" characteristics. He also has to be fortunate enough to be enabled to operate under a financial setup which is pre- pared to wait three, four or more periods beyond the time usually set aside form films to amortize. This is much more rare than commonplace. The history of "Henry," how- ever, tends to prove once more that substantial returns are pos- sible with specialized attractions strung out carefully over long periods of release. No exhibi- tor can keep his, house going with them and no distributor can long stay alive, but there is a market outside the regular picture house which the occa- sional "Henry," or something like it, can tap to advantage. ■ ■ British product today is shown in 95 territories to in- creasing audiences, J. Arthur Rank declared in his "olive branch" speech before the gen- eral council of the Cinemato- graph Exhibitor Association in London a few days ago. "In Australia, in New Zealand, in South Africa, in every country where our product is shown consistently exhibitors are mak- ing money with British films. In Canada in the last two years or so where we have been able to give British films continuity of exhibition in our theatres the percentage of screen time has risen from approximately four per cent to 25 per cent and those theatres are taking no less money," he observed. Rank seemed to place consid- erable emphasis on the Canadian situation because, he continued : "This is important because in America, three years ago, the leaders of the Hollywood indus- try told me time and again that the Canadian market and the American market were virtual- ly the same. Yet in America by last year we were starting, but only starting, to make an im- pression." This sounds painfully and al- most unbelievably naive. It's quite obvious what executives were saying was that the American and Canadian mar- kets were virtually the same from their point of view — an American point of view about American pictures, of course. Canadians like U. S. product, but who ever said it follows that Americans necessarily like what the Canadians like? Worth watching is the re- teaming of Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire in "The Barkleys of Broadway." Metro planned this musical as a follow-up of the already vastly successful "Easter Parade," but Judy Gar- land's illness forced her out of the picture. Not since 1939 and "The Story of Vernon and Irene Cas- tle" have Astaire and Rogers starred together. In back of that one, of course, were their musicals of fond memory and large grosses. Like "Top Hat" and "The Gay Divorcee." ■ ■ The New York Times survey of a declining entertainment world included statements which pointed out film grosses are off from seven to 12 per cent. Seven to 12 per cent off from what? None of the quoted au- thorities thought it important to state grosses were merely reced- ing from 150 per cent of their previously known, pre-war re- corded high. Bien, Ashe on N.S.S., Sales Drive Tour William Bien, National Screen Ser- vice mid-West division manager and Eastern captain of the NSS sales pro- motion drive, is currently on a tour: of the company's Eastern offices to promote branch sales .activities. Bern Ashe, Los Angeles branch manager, is performing in a similar capacity in the West. Bien and Ashe were named cantains of the sales drive at the conW, Vs recent meetings in Atlantic Cr^*fr.i.'d: Los Angeles. NEW YORK THEATRES -RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL— Rockefeller Center BIN6 JOAN CROSBY FONTAINE in "THE EMPEROR WALTZ"3 Color by TECHNICOLOR A Paramount Picture SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ■ <0,cl*tt JOHN FORD'S MASTERPIECE "FORT APACHE" COOL — T^IN PERSON, /LENA HORNE II Special! PAUL WINCHELL , Extra! I SKINNAY ENNIS If and his ORCH. CAPITOL'^,' >£*' Poromount Presents I RAY I MILLAND :! ANN I TODD GERALDINE I FITZGERALD DOORS OPEN SCIENTIFICAUV AIR C0NDIII0NE0 MARK STEVENS • RICHARD WIDMARK "THE STREET WITH NO NAME" A 20th Century-Fox Picture ON VARIETY STAGE— CAB CALLOWAY JACKIE MILES • VIVIAN BLAINE ON ICE STAGE— CAROL LYNNE ARNOLD SHODA • THE BRUISES H q x Y 7th Av*" *• 50th St. : LOIS BUTLER in M ICKEY IN CINECOLOR Brandt's Cool B'way at 47th St. LOIS BUTLER will appear on stage today at 3:27, 7:45, 9:54 New GOTHAM MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 12-70 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of Marc! 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. m Friday, July 23, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 3 Censor Board Asks Status in Video Baltimore, July 22. — The Mary- land State Board of Motion Picture Censoirs has requested a ruling from Maryland's attorney general on the foraner's responsibility in television censorship. The request was made by Helen C, Tingley, chairman of the board, r "*^- receiving a letter from Lauritz \ ^^jian, president of Theatre Own- ers Association of Maryland, which posed the question of television cen- sorship. Garman's letter also stated that exhibitors are concerned about competition from television. Under present Maryland law, a charge of $2 is levied for every 1,000 feet of film reviewed, with the cost paid by the producers. Television, having no such review of its films, incurs no expenses. A questionnaire was sent by Mrs. Tingley to censor boards in neighbor- ing states on television censorship. Most replied that they were doing iiioitViing "as yet." NAB, D of J, Ascap (Continued from page 1) court's action has no effect on the Department's anti-trust suit against Ascap's international ties, and that there is no present intention to try to set aside the present consent decree and revive the original anti-trust pros- ecution on Ascap's domestic negotia- tions. "Most of that decree dealt with broadcasting, anyhow, and wouldn't be affected by this decision," one of- ficial declared. Justice officials were obviously jubi- lant over the decision, declaring that "Ascap has really been dealt quite a blow." Fire Guard Bill (Continued from page 1) responsible for the protection "of the public. Councilman Charles E. O'Hallor- man suggested to Wax that theatre owners show movie trailers cautioning the patrons against smoking, and designating the nearest exist in case of fire. Wax said he felt this was a good suggestion. Eagle Lion Gets 'Blanche' J. Arthur Rank's "Blanche Fury" will be released in the United States by Eagle Lion, William J. Heineman, E-L vice-president in charge of dis- tribution announced. The picture will open to a pre-release engagement here at the Sutton Theatre. Pioneers' Records Because it is desired to have on file a permanent background record of the members of the Picture Pioneers, every member of that organization is being asked by Jack Cohn, president, for a photograph and thumbnail biog- raphy of himself. Calls Drive-In a Hazard Fresno, Cal., July 22. — Application has been denied E. W. Stokes, rep- resenting Lippert Theatres, to build a new drive-in north of the city, the planning Commission stating the de- nial was based on the grounds that open-air theatres create traffic haz- ards. Paul Lazarus, Jr., On Air Show Sunday Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., United Artists executive assistant to the president, will be heard on National Broadcast- ing's radio show, "Author Meets' the Critics," at five P. M. on Sunday with William Cagney's production of "The Time of Your Life" up for discussion. Lazarus made his video debut recently, participating in a similar panel-discus- sion program. Others to appear on the "Life" broadcast are Tom Wenning, film and theatre editor of Newsweek; Wally Butterworth, radio performer, and John Gassner, playwright. Wanger, Goldwyn in 'Joan* Release Deal Hollywood, July 22. — A deal be- tween Walter Wanger and Samuel Goldwyn, under which the latter would distribute the former's "Joan of Arc" on a roadshow basis, with RKO Radio handling it physically, is being negotiated today. Goldwyn Produc- tions president James Mulvey is act- ing for Goldwyn. It is understood that neither Gold- wyn nor Wanger are bound by the U. S. Supreme Court decision in the Paramount case in connection with the ban against roadshowing, as both are independents and were not parties to the suit. Wanger reportedly wishes the picture to be handled by the Gold- wyn sales set-up which marketed "The Best Years of Our Lives" for high grosses. B. O. Prices Steady (Continued from page 1) December to 160.0 at the end of March. At the end of March, 1947, the index was at 162.5, dropped to 158.5 in June, and then rose through the rest of 1947. Adult admissions, which were at 167.7 at the end of December, re- mained there through the first quarter of this year. They are up consider- ably from the March, 1947, level of 165.7 and the June-September level of 164.1. The decline in the children's price index dropped the combined children- adult index by one-tenth of one point, to 166.8, as compared with 166.9 at the end of December. The combined index was 165.4 at the end of March, 1947, and 163.5 at the end of June. The 1935-'39 average is 100. Variety Benefit Sept. 19 Baltimore, July 22. — The Variety Club of Baltimore is joining the Vari- ety Club of Washington in sponsoring a benefit football game at Baltimore Stadium on September 19 when the Washington Redskins will play the Chicago Bears. Proceeds are to be divided among the welfare funds of the two Tents. Rodney Collier and Spaulding Albert are co-chairmen of the benefit. Venice Theatre Fire Venice, 111., July 22.— The Yalta Theatre here has been damaged by fire, with losses estimated at $15,000. A discharged employee is being sought by police on an arson warrant. New Detroit Drive-in Detroit, July 22. — Nicholas George, operator of the Allen Park Theatre, tomorrow will open his new drive-in house on Toledo Highway here. Cooling Engineers Set To Strike This A.M. Barring late developments last night, theatre air-conditioning engineers were set to go on strike here at 9 A.M. today failing th» receipt of a new wage offer from most of the large Broadway houses and the RKO and Loew's circuits by that time. In- volved are some 175 to 200 men. The members of Local 30, Interna- tional Union of Operating Engineers, AFL, on Wednesday turned down a 10 per cent increase offered by the theatres. The union is holding out for 15 per cent. A theatre spokesman said yesterday that the theatres will not curtail oper- ations, strike or no strike. Music Hall Post (Continued from page 1) Center and president of the Radio City Music Hall Corp. Hacker will succeed Jack F. Dailey, who has been promoted to the newly- created post of manager of operations of the Music Hall and Center Thea- tre. Dailey joined the Music Hall staff in 1946 after four years with the Army Air Forces and 14 years with Paramount prior to the war. Hacker, who is 27, had many posts in Milwaukee theatres before becom- ing manager of the Fox there at the age of 19. He later filled the same post at the Palace there. During the war he was a lieutenant in the Army Air Forces and upon his return to the States he rejoined Fox Wiscon- sin, managing theatres in downtown Milwaukee. Last year he left Fox to handle special assignments for Standard Theatres Management, and seven months later was named district manager. Hacker is the 12th Quigley Award winner to climb to a higher executive position in the industry. He sent his first campaign to the Managers' Round Table of Motion Picture Her- ald in 1946. His and Dailey's new appointments will become effective on August 1. 10,000 Houses Have Played "Heritage9' To date, over ten thousand thea- tres have played the pre-"Rededica- tion Week Trailer" and the one-reel documentary, "Our American Heri- tage," during the "Week of Rededi- cation" prior to the visit of the Free- dom Train, it is announced by Ned Shugrue, national director of the American Heritage Foundation, spon- sors of the Freedom Train. . The cooperation of the industry in the first 10 months of the program of the Foundation and the tour of the Freedom Train have been outstanding, Shugrue added. National Screen Service is distributing the trailer and the documentary gratis as a public service. CBS Promotes Connolly Thomas D. Connolly, with Colum- bia Broadcasting since 1939, has been appointed manager of program sales, network division, it is announced by William C. Gittinger, CBS vice-presi- dent in charge of sales. Televise 'Ruth' Opening Opening night ceremonies of Allied Artists' "The Babe Ruth Story" at the Astor Theatre here Monday, will be televised by WPIX. Dignitaries in all walks of life will be among those attending. Trans-Lux Buys 3 Manhattan Houses The purchase of three Manhattan theatres by Trans-Lux Corp. has been announced by William M. Girden, president. The houses are the 900-seat Colony at 79th Street and Second Ave. ; the 2,300-seat Monroe at 1456 First Ave., andt he 450-seat Granada at 346 East 72nd Street. The sellers were Eisen- brand, Inc., Monthecorp, Inc., and Granthecorp, Inc., respectively. Total rentals and cash considera- tion involved are reported at approxi- mately $1,600,000. Substantial im- provements are contemplated. It is expected that a feature policy with shorts will be set for the new houses. With the three new houses, Trans- Lux now has six on Manhattan's east side. The Granada will be renamed Trans-Lux 72nd Street ; the Colony, the Trans-Lux Colony ; and the Mon- roe, the Trans-Lux Monroe. Production Drops To 33 Shooting Hollywood, July 22. — The produc- tion tally fell back to 33 as compared to last week's total of 36. Two pic- tures were started, while five went to the cutting rooms. Shooting started on "Smoky Moun- tain Melody," Columbia, and "Adven- tures of the Cisco Kid" (Krasne), United Artists. Shooting finished on "Triple Threat," Columbia ; "Baltimore Esca- pade," "Every Girl Should Be Mar- ried," RKO Radio; "The Gay Ami- go" (Krasne), UA ; "Black Velvet," Universal-International. "Red River" Italian Rights Bring Big Sum Amerigo Benefico, president of Va- riety Film Distributors, Inc., has bought the Italian rights to "The Red River," Howard Hawks' production for United Artists release. It is un- derstood the deal, made directly with Arthur W. Kelly, executive vice-pres- ident of UA, involved a consideration close to $100,000, said to be one of the top sums to be paid for the Italian rights to an American film since the war. Smakwitz in Albany (Continued from page 1) and Latta. He joined the Strand Theatre, N. Y., in 1917 and was transferred shortly thereafter to the Strand, Syracuse. He later became manager of the Strand, Albany, and in 1927 became district manager for Troy, Albany and Utica, as well as film buyer and booker. Rules in Phila. (Continued from page 1) The Circuit Court's 2-1 ruling held that a conspiracy did exist and that it was in violation of the Sherman and Clayton anti-trust laws. The defendants are Paramount Pic- tures, Inc.; Paramount Film Distrib- uting Corporation ; RKO-Radio Pic- tures, Inc. ; Loew's, Inc., and Twen- tieth Century-Fox Film Corporation. The court ordered the companies to stop discriminating against the Ball group and to pay the family "dam- ages" for all losses sustained through being deprived of first-run features. • • • e comps industry oil and in Boxoff ice Champ presents its first boxoffice^ rati mm Starring MARK STEVENS RICHARD WIDMARK Directed by WILLIAM KEIGHLEY Produced by SAMUEL G. ENGEL Original Screen Play by Harry Kleiner Cornel WILDE Anne BAXTER Linda DARNELL Kirk DOUGLAS in with ANN DVORAK Directed by JOHN M. STAHL Produced by LAMAR TROTTI Screen Play by Lamar Trotti © More Hits Than Any Other Company that led all the le '^RIETY scoreboard s* the first half of 1948... ;-4 for the 2nd half of '48! BETTY GRABLE DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, Jr. in Color by TECHNICOLOR Produced and Directed by ERNST LUBITSCH Screen Play by Samson Raphaelson TYRONE POWER ANNE BAXTER in ran mucus m ran mm wi* CECIL KELLAWAY Directed by HENRY KOSTER Produced by FRED KOHLMAR Screen Play by Philip Dunne * _ Twice As Many As Any Other Company 6 Motion Picture daily Friday, July 23, 194* 20th-Fox Has 49 (Continued from page 1) Darryl F. Zanuck, vice-president in charge of production, and Joseph M. Schenck, production executive. "Lydia Bailey" and "Black Rose," to be made in England, are not included in .the new season's releases. The lineup was announced here at a sales meeting of home office and Canadian executives, marking the company's first such session outside the United Sttaes. The "global-scale" production policy is described' as "strengthening the company's position by affording fluidity through world- wide operations and coincides with the position of the film industry with respect to blocked funds in foreign countries," Skouras said. He reported that complete units of directors, stars and technicians will be sent to locations in Canada, Europe and sections of the U. S. for pictures "whose themes require special authen- ticated backgrounds and locales." The new product was listed by An- drew W. Smith, general sales man- ager, and a completed promotion pro- gram was described by Charles Schlaifer, director of advertising, pub- licity and exploitation. The five pictures completed and de- livered are : "The Walls of Jericho," "That Lady in Ermine," "Escape," "Forever Amber" and "The Law and Martin Rome." Completed and in various stages of editing : • "The Luck of the Irish," Tyrone Power and Anne Baxter ; Fred Kohl- mar, producer ; Henry Koster, di- rector. "Apartment for Peggy," in color, Jeanne Crain, William Holden and Edmund Gwenn ; William Perlberg, producer ; George Seaton, director. "When My Baby Smiles at Me," in color, Betty Grable and Dan Dailey ; George Jessel, producer ; Walter Lang, director ; from the play, "Burlesque." "Unfaithfully Yours," Rex Harri- son and Linda Darnell ; written, pro- duced and directed by Preston Stur- ges. "That Wonderful Urge" (tentative title), Tyrone Power and Gene Tier- ney ; produced in Sun Valley and Hol- lywood by Fred Kohlmar ; directed by Robert Sinclair. "Road House," Cornel Wilde, Ida Lupino ; written and produced by Ed- ward Chodorov; directed by Jean Ne- gulesco. "Yellow Sky," Gregory Peck, Anne Baxter and Richard Widmark ; pro- duced by Lamar Trotti, directed by William A. Wellman. "The Snake Pit," a Darryl F. Zan- uck presentation ; Olivia De Havilland I OF COURSE British Film Finance TEXAS, BROOKLYN AVEN" sent from UA (Continued from page 1) er to own, lease or build theatres or studios, Wilson revealed. "It will naturally conduct its affairs along business lines," he said, "and will have the final decision on whether or not a loan is to be made and, if so, on what terms." The government intends that the corporation shall be active for five years. Wilson, in agreement with Sir Staf- ford Cripps, Chancellor of the Ex- chequer, is drafting an interim mea- sure constituting the company with financing raised by a Treasury guar- antee under the Borrowing Control and Guarantees Act under which the Treasury has power to guarantee a loan if satisfied that it is expedient and in the public interest to do so for the purpose of facilitating the recon- struction or development of an in- dustry. Loans under the interim measure will be limited to $10,000,000, or one- half of the total financing contem- plated. The necessary preparations have been placed in the' hands of an organizing committee, of which J. H. Lawrie, distin- guished City finance authority, is chairman. Wilson emphasized to Commons that the film industry is similar to other competitive industries and must "con- duct its affairs so that it can obtain money on reasonable commercial terms," but that the present position is an abnormal one for the industry arid particularly for independent pro- ducers who have not yet had a chance to establish necessary working capital after the dislocations of the war period. Wilson confessed that difficulties were encountered after his earlier pledge to assist independent producers but added that a solution is urgent and expressed the hope that Commons will support the proposals. He said he hoped that later on it will be prac- ticable for the Corporation to assist with financing of production and dis- tribution by other methods. Wilson said he is confident of secur- ing the cooperation of commercial banks in developing the film industry which is growing in importance in Britain's economy and balance of pay- ments. Churchill, questioning Wilson, asked, first, Is the failure of the City to sub- scribe film financing some sinister scheme of theirs or because they think public money is insufficient to sustain profitable enterprises of film people? Secondly, Is the government pro- posing stepping into this project with- out question of profit-making and in- vesting national funds in what, on its face, is a losing proposition? Thirdly, Isn't this a great departure for something not a necessity of life? Fourthly, Will the govern- ment, now definitely entering the film business with the tax- payers' money, ensure that there will be no attempt to ex- ercise political control of films as is done in Russia? Wilson replied that an emergency has arisen in the industry and that it is absolutely essential to solve the country's balance of payment problem. Hence, this scheme. He said he didn't expect for one minute that it is likely to lose public money under the proposal. He looks forward to a long period of prosper- ity for the film industry here. Wilson assured Churchill there is no question of the new Corporation interfering with the choice of film subjects. The financing provision will be lim- ited purely to the entertain- ment value of the films pro- posed, he said. Replying to other questions, Wilson said his proposals related to indepen- dent producers outside the J. Arthur Rank organization, which hitherto has been able to finance its own produc- tion program, but that the Corpora- tion, at its discretion, could assist Rank if he applies and his propositions are acceptable. A new stirring of hope among dis- tressed independent producers was discernible immediately following Wilson's announcement. Nettlefold Studios, closed since June 14, are to re-open within a matter of days. Para. Ad Promotion Plan Aids TO A Drive In cooperation with Theatre Own- ers of America's current drive tc "sell" the public on forthcoming Hol- lywood product, Paramount is makint available to theatre owners througf company branch managers special ad- vertising mats which can be used tc create lobby display "blow-ups" in ad- dition to regular use for newspaper advertisements. "It is agreeable with us," Ct*— ks M. Reagan, Paramount distrfe> . 1 x vice-president, has informed^ the branch managers, "if theatre owners wish to substitute for some of the Paramount pictures in the ads one or two of the triple 'A' pictures of other companies." UA Omits'MerryWay' From Chicago Bidding Chicago, July 22. — Although Unit ed Artists' new competitive bidding plan in Chicago, which was initiated with "Arch of Triumph" is under stood to be working out favorably, "On Our Merry Way," next UA re- lease here, will not be sold under the bidding-zoning plan, but probably un der the old system of release. Deals for "Triumph" in the first ex elusive zone comprising 11 theatres, have already been closed and will play eight theatres in that zone on either July 30 or August 6. Theatres bid- ding first run have a clearance protec- tion of seven to 14 days. Oppose 20th-Fox Bid For Oakland Station Washington, July 23.— Edwin Pauley's Television California today opposed 20th Century-Fox's request to include plans for an auxiliary station at Oakland, Calif., in its application for a San Francisco television station. Columbia Broadcasting has already told the Federal Communications Com- mission that it opposes allowing 20th- Fox to amend its San Francisco ap- plication. At the same time, 20th Century-Fox of Missouri opposeel KMVC's applica- tion for a Kansas City television sta- tion. 20th-Fox of Missouri has also applied for a Kansas City channel. and Mark Stevens ; from the novel by Mary Jane Ward ; produced by Ana- tole Litvak and Robert Bassler ; di- rected by Anatole Litvak. (Complet- ed, with pre-release runs set for this year) . Currently before the cameras : "The Fan," based on the Oscar Wilde play, "Lady Windermere's Fan" ; Jeanne Crain, Madeleine Car- roll, George Sanders and Richard Greene ; produced and directed by Otto Preminger. "Sand," in color, Mark Stevens, Coleen Gray ; produced by Robert Bassler and directed by Louis King. "Chicken Every Sunday," from the novel by Rosemary Taylor ; Dan Dailey, Celeste Holm ; produced by William Perlberg, directed by George Seaton. "Three Wives," Linda Darnell Jeanne Crain and Ann Sothern ; pro- duced by Sol C. Siegel, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. "The Prince of Foxes," from the novel by Samuel Shellabarger. Cur- rently in production in Rome with Tyrone Power and Wanda Hendrix ; produced by Sol C. Siegel, directed by Henry King. Also: "The Affairs of Adelaide," based on "Britannia Mews," by Margery Sharp ; Maureen O'Hara and Dana Andrews. Under production in En- gland by William Perlberg and di- rected by Jean Negulesco. Scheduled for production within the next two months : "Mr. Belvedere Goes to College," Clifton Webb ; produced . by Samuel G. Engel. "Mother Is a Freshman," produced by Walter Morosco. In preparation : "Come to the Stable," an original by Clare Booth Luce ; produced by Samuel G. Engel. "I Was a Male War Bride," Cary Grant ; produced in Europe by Sol C. Siegel ; directed by Howard Hawks. "Royal Canadian Mounted Police," to be produced in Canada. "Call Me Mister," based on the mu- sical stage play, produced by George Jessel. "Down to the Sea in Ships," pro- duced by Louis D. Lighton ; directed by Henry Hathaway. "The Beautiful Blonde From Bash- ful Bend," Betty Grable; written, pro- duced and directed by Preston Sturges. "Sweet Sue" in color, June Haver. "Beyond Five Fathoms," to be di- rected by Elia Kazan in Florida; screenplay by Richard Murphy. "Cloak of Romance," Richard Wid- mark ; produced and directed by Otto Preminger. Participating in the convention ses- sions today were the following home office executives : W. C. Gehring, as- sistant general sales manager ; Charles Schlaifer, director of adver- tising and publicity; Martin Moskow- itz, executive assistant to Smith ; Peter Levathes, short subjects sales manager ; Clarence A. Hill, manager of branch operations ; Frank Carroll, Roger Ferri and Jack Bloom. The Canadian delegation, headed by Ar- thur Silverstone, division manager, in- cluded the following branch man- agers : V. M. Skorey, Calgary ; Ed- ward English, Montreal ; R. G. March, St. John; H. J. Bailey, To- ronto; J. E. Patterson, Vancouver; and J. H. Huber, Winnipeg; also ex- ploitation representative Sam Glasier, and the Toronto salesmen and bookers. His pen-and-ink people live for laughter... BORN on the drawing board, though they are, these little people have the breath of life and laughter that captures hearts the world around — thanks to the creative genius of the animator. His knowing lines belie the fact that they are folk of fantasy . . . of pen and ink and paint. For each and every one has the human touch . . . has been fully en- dowed with character and lifelike move- ment, through the animator's artistry. Yet — for all his wit and skill — the animator could not present his gift of laughter to the moviegoing world with- out the help of film. And this — in types especially adapted to his needs — he finds in the famous Eastman family, whose Fine Grain Master Positive and Back- ground X Negative have been the ani- mator's faithful mediums for many years. EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY ROCHESTER 4, N. Y. J. E. BRULATOUR, INC., DISTRIBUTORS FORT LEE • CHICAGO • HOLLYWOOD HERE'S THE EXHIBITORS' STORY wm. a TERRIFIC OPENIHC amp a Record-Breaking Ending! ♦ RKO GRAND ohicaco BIGGEST BIZ 1SSSS ★LOEWS NEW HAVEN RECORD BIZ PHW * RKO ROCHESTER L Accurate Concise and Impartial motion pictm jyf first DAILY IN FILM NEWS I 64. NO. 17 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, JULY 26, 1948 TEN CENTS Doubts About Wilson's Plan Spread in U.K. Seen as Device to Get Himself "Off a Spot" London, July 25. — Widespread misgivings concerning the plan of Harold Wilson, president of the Board of Trade, to establish a $20,- 000,000 Film Finance Corp. to make loans to independent producers are be- ing voiced in trade and government circles following disclosure of the plan in the House of Commons last week. The consensus of opinion is that Wilson produced a hur- ried, ill-digested instrument in order to free himself from a self-contrived quandary result- ing from his initial pledge to assist independent producers and his subsequent support of the new 45 per cent film quota, which it is highly unlikely Brit- ish production can support. {Continued on page 5) Jackson to MPAA's Legal Staff in N.Y. Hollywood, July 25. — Judge Ste- phen S. Jackson, member of the Mo- tion Picture Association of America's Production Code Administration, has been appointed to the legal department of the MPAA New York office, Eric A. Johnston, president, announced today. Here since April, 1947, Jackson had acted as Production Code Administra- tor during the absence of Joseph I. Breen, who had been ill. Breen, recov- ered, has resumed his administrative duties. Berger May Employ N. Y. Ascap Decision Minneapolis, July 25. — Ben Berger, independent circuit operator and president of North Central Allied, indi- cates the likelihood of his at- torneys making an effort to reopen his own case for re- fusal to comply with Ascap's music seat licensing, now un- der advisement in Federal Court here, to incorporate the ruling and judgment of the New York court which last week held the society's theatre levies to be illegal. Rathvon Will Leave RKO On August 31 N. Peter Rathvon, president of RKO since 1942, resigned on Fri- day. His resignation was submitted by letter to a meeting of the RKO board in New York and, subsequent to re- ceipt of the letter, Howard Hughes asked Rathvon to continue as presi- dent until the scheduled meeting of the RKO stockholders on August 31. A widely-circulated report in the trade is that Ned E. De- pinet, executive vice-president of RKO, will be named to suc- ceed Rathvon. However, no confirmation of the report or (Continued on page 5) Rites For Griffith On Coast Tomorrow Hollywood, July 25. — David Wark Griffith, 73, one of the earliest pioneers in production, died at eight o'clock »Friday morning in Temple Hospital, to where he had been removed following a cerebral hemor- rhage sustained We d nesday night in his apartment in the Hotel Knicker- bocker here. He had been in fine health and only a few hours pre- vious had a long chat with Mar- shall N e i 1 a n . Ruth and Wil- 1 a r d Griffith, neice and nephew of Griffith, were (Continued on page 5) D. W. Griffith TO A Albany Survey On Building Code Albany, N. Y., July 25.— The Al- bany unit of the Theatre Owners of America will canvass its members by questionnaire to ascertain opinions of the latest revised New York building code on which the State Board of Standards and Appeals held a final meeting in New York on Wednesday. TOA is particularly concerned with whether objections should be raised against the code's ban on popcorn ma- chines using combustible liquids in lobbies. Extend Withholding Tax Payment Dates Washington, July 25.— The Treasury has given employers more time to turn in taxes withheld from workers' pay- checks. Taxes withheld in March, June, September and December may now be depos- ited in banks to the Govern- ment's credit as late as the final day of the following month, while taxes withheld in the other eight months need not be deposited until 15 days after the month's end, instead of the present 10 days. 3 Changes Proposed In Taft-Hartley Law Washington, July 25.— House La- bor Committee Chairman Hartley has come out for three changes in the Taft-Hartley law, all of interest to the film industry. Hartley is not a candidate for re- election, and no action on the Taft- Hartley Act is likely at the special session, so his opinions are held to be chiefly of interest as indicating the thinking of Republican Congressional leaders. Changes suggested by the New Jer- sey Republican would : Require employers to sign affidavits that they are not Communists before they can seek National Labor Rela- tions Board aid in a labor dispute ; at present only union officers must sign such affidavits. Eliminate the requirement for NLRB elections before a union shop can be granted — Hollywood unions have opposed the election provision. Forbid the use of force or intimida- tion to keep non-striking workers from their jobs during a strike — to protect the worker's "right to work," as re- quested in hearings by Hollywood pro- ducer Cecil B. DeMille. MPAA May Survey Theatre Revenues A survey to determine box-office re- ceipts around the country to provide a more exact insight on business fluc- tuations is contemplated by the Mo- tion Picture Association of America as part of its research program. While the new quest for data is said to be only in the conversational stage at this time, it is considered likely that the association will get started on it sometime following the completion of its surveys on drive-in theatres and advertising; expenditures, now being conducted. '47 Industry Profits Were $161 Millions Under 1946, But Over The Two Prior Years Washington, July 25. — Corpo- rate profits after taxes in the U. S. motion picture industry totaled $161,000,000 in 1947, off sharply from the record $202,000,000 re- ported for 1946, according' to the Commerce Department. . It compares with profits of $104,000,000 after taxes in 1945, and $102,000,000 in 1944. Commerce officials said the report covered all segments of the industry. In addition to giving the 1947 figures for the first time, the report made (Continued on page 5) FGC Denies 20th's Video Application Washington, July 25. — Federal Communications Commissioner George E. Sterling has turned clown 20th Cen- tury-Fox's request to amend its ap- plication for a San Francisco televi- sion station to include plans for an auxiliary station at Oakland. The company will appeal the decision t-j (Continued on page 5) Loew, deRochemont To Produce 'Digest' RD-DR Corp., a new mo- tion picture company, has closed with The Reader's Di- gest Association for a series of factual films based on ar- ticles appearing in The Di- gest, it was revealed today in a joint weekend announce- ment by A. L. Cole, general business manager of The Di- gest, and Borden Mace, pres- ident of RD-DR. The films will be prepared under supervision of Louis de Rochemont, M-G-M pro- ducer, and will be known as "Dramas of Real Life." Loew- M-G-M will produce and dis- tribute the first group in the series. Editors of The Digest will actively collaborate with Rochemont and M-G-M in lo- cating and developing factual stories. Motion PETErE DAIly Monday, July 26, 1948 Personal Mention Newsreel Parade THE arrest of local Communist leaders and Gen. Clay's arrival in Washington mark current newsreel highlights. In other sequences, Gen. Hcrshev explains the draft, college c/irls sport fashions, and B-29's arrive in England. Complete contents follow: MOVIETONE NEWS. No. 5»— Gen- eral Clay arrives in Washington. Ameri- can B-29's fly to England. British jets cross Atlantic. Anti-Communist rally in Berlin. Gen. Hershey explains new draft law. France decorates U. S. Lieutenant Murphy. ew York Communists seized by FBI. Sports: Olympic torch starts trip to London. Skiing. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 293— Berlin crisis holds world spotlight. FBI roundup of Red leaders. College girl fashions. London set for 1948 Olympics. Czechs hold Sokol gymnastic carnival. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 96 — Gym- nastic eyeful: 20,000 women in Sokol drill. Yanport, Ore.: Flood city lifts head above water. Master's voice saves dog. Berlin crisis: Clay recalled from Berlin. FBI arrests top Reds. Draft plans announced. B-29's in England. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. 163— Red crisis in Berlin. American superforts ar- rive in England. Gen. Clay in Washing- ton. Gen. Hershey gives draft instructions. Reds on trial. Turkey gets U. S. sub- marines. Farmer Brown's "magic" cell. Bastile Day. Stork busy at Bronx zoo. WARNER PAT HE NEWS, No. 98— U. S. Reds arrested. Two U. S. soldiers honored. Gen. Clay reports on Berlin. Gen. Hershey takes over new draft. Tiny tigers. Sculpturing in ice. Sky sailing in the Alps. Great Events: Fulton's Steam- boat. Frangooles, Wis per In New Albany Posts Albany, N. Y., July 25. — James Frangooles, former assistant booker at the Paramount exchange here, has been appointed head booker and office manager at RKO Radio, succeeding William Murray, resigned. Helen Wisper, formerly secretary to Dan Holihan, manager of the 20th Cen- tury-Fox branch, has been named head booker for that company, succeeding Stanely Yentes, resigned. New Firm Will Deal In Advertising Films Theatre Audience Advertising has been formed here to represent both exhibitors and sponsors of advertising film in contracts for bookings. The organization plans to handle all ar- rangements and servicing with the ac- tual contract negotiated directly be- tween theatreman and advertiser. U. S. Video Study Washington, July 25. — The Agri- culture Department is studying the use of television as a means of bring- ing the benefits of agriculture and home economics research to farm and city people. One phase of the study will seek to determine the adaptability of movies, still pictures and other tech- niques to television. Quiz Show on Films "Movieland Quiz," new television program concerning films and stars, made its debut on American Broad- casting's Eastern network last night. Some Houses Sign With Engineers Some of the large houses involved in a wage dispute with Local No. 30, International Union of Operating En- gineers, AFL, reached tentative agree- ments with the union on Friday pend- ing final action to be taken by the ojher houses affected by the contro- versy. Among the theatres that came to an accord with the air-conditioning engineers were the Roxy, Radio City Music Hall, Astor and Centre. The agreements, retroactive to April 1, are understood to be for one year. The union went on strike at other houses in the Metropolitan area that refused to meet demands for a 15 per cent wage boost. Picketing activities were started fol- lowing a meeting at which the union members confirmed a strike vote taken on Thursday. The struck houses, pressing into service every available cooling device, reported business little affected by the shutting down of air-conditioning sys- tems. IMPPA Signs Pact With Actors Guild Hollywood, July 25. — As antici- pated, the Independent Motion Picture Producers Association at the weekend approved a new contract with the Screen Actors Guild, which parallels the recently-negotiated SAG contract with the Association of Motion Pic- ture Producers and the Society of In- dependent Motion Picture Producers in all details save the special conces- sions equivalent to those granted a year ago, to producers making features budgeted under $100,000, or Westerns under $50,000. $75,000 Pledged to Will Rogers Fund Chicago, July 25. — District and branch sales managers here endorsed a plan to raise approximately $75,000 in the Illinois territory on behalf ot the Will Rogers Memorial Fund, at a luncheon-meeting held at the Black- stone Hotel. Spearheading the meet- ing were William F. Rodgers, Robert Mochrie and Charles M. Regan, gen- eral sales heads of Loew's RKO Ra- dio and Paramount, respectively. Harold Stevens Paramount branch manager in Chicago, was appointed general chairman here representing distributors and Jack Kirsch, Illinois Allied president, and Edward Zorn. UTOI president, were made co-chair- men for exhibitors. Henigson to Vanguard Hollywood, July 25. — Henry Hen- igson has joined Vanguard Films in an "executive capacity," the company announces here. Henigson's most re- cent position here was representing RKO Radio interests in Walter Wan- ger's filming of "Joan of Arc." New ABC Video Unit Television station WSEE, St. Petersburg-Tampa, Fla., has become an affiliate of American Broadcasting. Contest Baltimore Radio Censor Rule Baltimore, July 25. — Supreme Bench contempt citations naming five radio stations and a news commenta- tor here are expected to lead to a test of the court's power of censorship where crime reporting on radio L concerned, it is said here. The court had charged the defendants wich vio- lating its rules on news when they broadcast some details of a murder case provided by a news service. Charles A. Roeder, program direc- tor and assistant general manager of station WCBM, cited by the court, charges here that the court's action affects the freedom of press and radio and is national in scope. He explained that news of Baltimore can be heard on Baltimore stations from a network point of origin outside the city. ATOI Three -Day Meet Starts Today French Lick, Ind., July 25. — A. W. Smith, 20th Century-Fox general sales manager ; Henderson Richey, in charge of exhibitor relations for M-G-M, and Ben Berger, president of North Cen- tral Allied, are among those who will address the Associated Theatre Own- ers of Indiana's summer convention, which opens here tomorrow, and will run through Wednesday. Smith and Berger will present the conciliation plan effected in Minne- apolis by both, and Richey will ex- plain how to get the most out of trailers. New Film Company Headed by Marks Formation of Jewish Film Distribu- tors, a releasing company headed by Elias Marks, has been announced here. The organization's efforts will be de- voted exclusively to foreign films, with emphasis on Jewish and Pales- tinian films. ' The company's first release is "Wt Live Again," a documentary sched- uled for an August premiere here. Prints Are Moving In Flooded Kansas Kansas City, July 25. — Further rains accentuated flood conditions in Southeastern Kansas, overflowing rivers in some locations being as much as three miles wide. In several areas waters are in city streets. No flood- ing of theacres have been reported and no reports were heard of prints having failed to arrive in time or failed to get back to exchanges. Delay K-B Arguments Washington, July 25. — Argument has been set for August 2 on the War- ner motion to put off until September 30 further proceedings in the suit by K-B Amusement Co. to force Warner out of the jointly-owned MacArthur Theatre. Warner asked for the post- ponement to allow its lawyer, Philip Amram, to return from Europe, but K-B opposed any delay. TAMES MULVEY, president of •J Samuel Goldwyn Productions, was en route to New York from Holly- wood at the weekend. • Floyd K. Horton, manager of the Rose Theatre, Dublin, Ga., and Jk Horton, recently became parentS^_a i son, Floyd Kendall Horton, Jr."-* • William Hartley has been named managing editor, and William Jeffers has been named story editor of Modern Screen magazine. • Richard Walsh, IATSE president, left New York over the weekend for a business stay in Hollywood of in- definite duration. • Arthur Hornblow, Jr., M-G-M producer, arrived here over the week- \ end from the Coast en route to Port- land, Me. • C. J. Feldman, Western division sales manager for Universal-Inter- ! national, left here at the weekend for Chicago. • Milton Livingston, of Universal- International's home office publicity staff, will begin a week's vacation to- day. Frederick Brisson, Independent Artists' executive producer, is due back here from Europe on Thursday. • Max E. Youngstein, Eagle-Lion advertising-publicity director, is tour- ing the Midwest from New York. Tom Waller, MPAA's New York public relations director, will begin a week's vacation today. • Frank Rogers, president of Florida State Theatres, is due here on Wednes- day from Jacksonville. • Edwin Knopf, M-G-M producer, will arrive here Wednesday from Lon- don. Hollywood Searching For New Material Hollywood is engaged in a search for new material, "something that will give what might be called 'beiieveabil- ity' to films," declared Mrs. Alice Evans Field, director of the studio and public service department of the Mo- i tion Picture Association of America's ! community relations division, as she left here at the weekend by plane o i her return to Hollywood. Mrs. Field ' is the studio liaison with 14 preview- ing groups. Schwartz, Frohlich Move The law offices of Schwartz and Frohlich, industry attorneys, will be located at 19 East 70th Street, begin- ning today. Forced to move because of the unavailability of additional space needed at its former location, the law firm purchased the building at that address. Moving was completed over ' the weekend. MOTION PICTL'RE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-310U. Cable aridress: ' ( 'mapuD^o. New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kami, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation. Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, EditDrial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. eat c^coVOtf es cut ,atuv? 1 £< : C3 IE~ o o " I- iS < 4> 1 « C3 aoc Ale s < 5 zLu o)' I -= *So 5 ? or> z < >< — Q ~ °=S s — i s~ d}« .o « . jo o — 2^ o^£Sl "£?a2 z?S°° items' go- I S3" IS az p— u. P < eta ir i— <=> E a00 p 2>1 (0-5 E-H »)< se « a = iuo.:» °» £ «6 z > Z 3 o ! "5 ►a ■5 2§-p« ;£ 1 1 Si Sum LU O . lfl« >• = LU E =m•- I- -R« i±j ^> = lr OS a" .oo > o J a7 >• u ° eo£ or-1 gH« fl X O P3 5>5° 3 * u< 5 T^"p ug^S 5-| a= UJ Q3 p ^ _1CE B »S z°*p S=5 "Era | > >03=iPrt Q « — < o a) ui g.; k = s gSs 2° IS CO P 111 — LU '"l zQ-fl a1" cc ODY (Colo iy Fe min. v. 5/S = m b ==> £ IJ «™M s < Is E Q ~ cc o ££•=00^ 111 £ C %H l--a I K £0" -11 IS n IS 0= >Q o _l 0L LU Of x „SS — +- Li. « «o .2 ooJ lil=c-^ J. £ag- x?g= P o z o 2 <2* 5 1iu i = SRd "q. Si. 2 ID 6=5 d! LJ ™ (D I > Jg^RM << «s E«g z f 5z» c 0<-o = z O < 5* = ma-- cc S ° c 3il rtRtf ceu. — 2 _l o o >>6 — . cr co lu E | 5,1.2 ,sS» S*£ CO " . <«£.= O — c ^ IT) be < be be IT) 5? 000, 000 For 1947 (Continued from page 1). Wilson Plan (Continued from page 1) Wilson also is on record as having said at one stage that the government could not con- template a subsidy of public money for film production. Saddled with his pledge to the in- dependents, however, he came up with the present proposal after he had im- portuned orthodox financial sources [ render assistance, without avail, ^-jse sources are aware, from bitter expereince, of the hazardous condi- tions of film financing. Following British exhibitors' forth- right declarations that it will be im- possible for them to fulfill the unex- pectedly high quota with the picture output of J. Arthur Rank and other production combines, Wilson was compelled to eat his own words and improvise any device which could pos- sibly bolster British production. An indication of the lameness of Wilson's position was seen in his un- easiness under the cross-examination to which he was put by Winston Churchill, minority leader of Com- mons, when Wilson broached his plan last Thursday. The tenor of Churchill's questioning of Wilson then was the opposition's protest to what they feel is Wilson's evasion of proper Parliamentary consideration before- attempting to hurry his face-saving proposal through Commons. The trade generally criticizes the Wilson plan on the grounds that it is not desirable that the financing be administered through established distribu- tors, there- being no guarantee that pictures suitable for effec- tive exhibition will thereby ma- terialize. It is being commonly suggested that Wilson ulti- mately will be driven to estab- lish state-controlled distribu- tion for his own protection. This lends point to a considerable demand being heard that the govern- ment enact legislation to divorce pro- duction from exhibition. National newspapers reflect much of the foregoing in varying degree in their comments on the Wilson financing plan. Lord Beaverbrook's Daily Express, naturally, is leading the agitation for the dissolution of film combines, par- ticularly Rank's. The Daily Express acidly comments : "Wilson proposes to give a blood transfusion to the wrong patient. Surgery is needed." It is significant that Wilson, as jus- tification for his proposal, repeatedly emphasized to the House of Com- mons his view that the British film industry can look forward to a long period of prosperity. Moreover, he insisted that "the industry is abso- lutely necessary to Britain's solving of her long term balance of payments problem." Clearly, Wilson regards his proj- ect as the latest essential ingredient in the pattern of his plan to restrict, insofar as possible, American film screenings here. Nevertheless, preliminary analysis of Britain's film production potential suggests that even with the new Wil- son aid plan, exhibitors inevitably will suffer quota troubles. However implicit, it is nevertheless a devastating criticism of the Wilson proposal that efficient independent pro- ducers, such as Herbert Wilcox, are never without financial support. Wil- cox's latest productions are still set- ting new box-office highs wherever they are played. public today also revised the figures previously released for 1944, 1945 and 1946. Previously, for instance, 1946 profits after taxes had been reported at a record $190,000,000 but later in- formation caused this figure to be re- vised upward to $202,000,000. The report revealed for the first time that U. S. filmgoers paid a rec- ord $1,472,000,000 in theatre admis- sions in 1946. This figure was not available when the other 1946 figures were issued 'last year. Motion picture admissions in 1947 were off consider- ably, to $1,380,000,000. The revised figures for 1945 and 1944 are $1,259,- 000,000 and $1,175,000,000 respectively. Corporate profits before taxes in the industry totaled $269,- 009.000 in 1947, compared with revised figures of $336,000,000 for 1946, $255,000,000 for 1945, and $258,000,000 for 1944. The industry paid $108,000,000 in Federal and state corporate income and excess profits taxes, compared with $134,000,000 in 1946, $151,000,000 in 1945, and $156,000,000 in 1944. Net corporate dividend payments of motion picture firms totaled a record $76,000,000 in 1947, compared with $65,000,000 in 1946, $35,000,000 in 1945, and $33,000,000 in 1944, new high. Undistributed corporate prof- its last year were put at $85,- 000 000, compared with a rec- with him at the end. He was born in Kentucky, in 1875. Funeral services were tentatively set for Tuesday. Griffith, who was a founder of United Artists, in 1919, with Mary Pickford, Charles Chaplin and Doug- las Fairbanks, was the producer of many motion picture milestones, the first outstanding one being "The Birth of a Nation," which, unknown to many, cost only $100,000, and which grossed upwards of an estimated $20,000,000. He had been in virtual retirement in- sofar as motion picture activities were concerned since his last production, "The Struggle," in the early 1930's. Griffith started as an actor, with the old Meffert Stock Company in Louisville. As David Braytington, he took to the road with John Griffith's Strolling Players. He subsequently acted in pictures, and then became an assistant director. Marv and Jack Pickford, Henry B. Walthall and others appeared in some of the first Rathvon, RKO (Continued from page 1) official comment on it was ob- tainable at the weekend. Rathvon has said he will remain as president until the stockholders' meet- ing, in accordance with Hughes' re- quest, declaring that "I have only the highest regard for Howard Hughes and I am hanpy to comply with his request to continue for a reasonable period of time." Rathvon's resigna+ion was the sec- ond among the ranking RKO execu- tives since Hughes acquired control of the company two months ago, the ord $137,000,000 in 1946, and $69,- 030,000 in 1944 and 1945. The motion picture industry con- tributed $1,046,000,000 to the national income last year, compared with $l',-< 115,000,000 in 1946, $889,000,000 in 1945, and $851,000,000 in 1944. Wages and salaries paid by the industry hit a new high of $683,000,000 in 1947, compared with $680,000,000 in 1946, $552,000,000 in 1945, and $509,000,000 in 1944. Unincorporated enterprises in the industry had a $62,000,000 income last year, well below the $70,000,000 record set in 1946. The 1945 figure was $57,- 000,000 and the 1944 figure $58,000,000. The industry paid out $10,000,000 more interest than it took in, a new high. It compares with $8,000,000 in 1946 and $6,000,000 in each of the two previous years. Interest fell pretty steadily from 1930 through 1944, but is apparently again on the upswing. The average number of full-time and part-time employes in the industry in 1947 was 251,000, abo.ut 3,000 be- low the 1946 peak, but above all other previous years. Average annual earn- ings for each full-time employe was $3,022, an all-time high. The 1946 figure was $2,969, while the 1945 fig- ure was $2,567. Corporate sales in 1947 were listed at $1,790,000,000— slightly above the revised 1946 record figure of $1,779,- 000,000. The 1946 figure released last year was $1,804,000,000. The revised figures for 1945 and 1944 were $1,- 574,000,000 and $1,483,000,000. pictures which he produced. He is credited with developing the "flash- back," "closeup," "fade-out," "mist- photography" and other production practices, and was one of the first di- rectors to extend a picture beyond the one-reel length. Following "The Birth of a Nation," some of Griffith's outstanding produc- tions included "Intolerance," "Hearts of the World," "The Love Flower" — his first for UA — "Way Down East," "Dream Street," "Orphans of the Storm," "One Exciting Night," "America," "Broken Blossoms," "Abraham Lincoln," his first all-talk- ing production, and others. He left UA in the mid-1920's, produced two for Paramount and returned to UA after three years. Griffith sold his part- nership in United Artists in 1933. As starmaker, Griffith is credited with developing or discovering Miss Pickford, Dorothy and Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, Lionel Barrymore, Doug- las Fairbanks. Mabel Normand. first having been that of Dore Schary, who was RKO production vice-presi- dent, and who has since become head of production at M-G-M under Louis B. Mayer. In addition to holding the presiden- cy of parent company RKO, Rathvon is chairman of the board and presi- dent of RKO Radio, and chairman of the board of RKO Theatres, Inc. Be- fore joining the company in the late 1930's, he was associated with Floyd Odium in Atlas Corp., from which organization Hi.'ghes purchased con- trol of RKO. When he was with At- las, as vice-president, Rathvon was ac- tive in the 77-B reorganization of RKO under bankruptcy procedure. Says Allied Units Will Adopt NCAPlan Minneapolis, July 25. — Despite the apparent lack of certified local com- plaints against 20th Century-Fox by North Central Allied's grievance com- mittee, as set up under the NCA-Andy Smith plan, NCA president Ben Ber- ger says that he is completely satis- fied with progress made in "cleaning up a bad situation" and predicted the plan would be adopted by every Allied unit as soon as it can be "properly presented." He disclosed that the Louisiana state unit has written him praising the plan and that reac- tion from the majority of other Allied units is favorable. Berger also an- nounced that he and Smith, 20th- Fox's general sales manager, would attend the Indiana Allied convention tomorrow through Wednesday to pre- sent the plan to that group. Some Al- lied state affiliates have evidenced skepticism over the plan. ) Two Meetings Berger and Stan Kane, NCA ex- ecutive director, will outline the trade practice formula at two regional meetings slated for North Dakota. First session will be held at the Grav- er Hotel, Fargo, August 4, and the second will be held August 5 at the Greater Northern Hotel, Devils Lake. Berger said the existence of a griev- ance board serves as a sharp warn- ing to local branch managers and salesmen that they can no longer in- dulge in loose talk and loose tricks without facing the risk of being haled before the "police court." 20th's Video (Continued from page 1 ) the full commission. At the same time, the FCC made public Warner Brothers' application to buy the Thackery radio interests in San Francisco and Los Angeles, in- cluding the firm's Los Angeles tele- vision station. Warners already has applied for a station in Chicago. The proposal may give the FCC an opportunity to state its policy on new stations for the "big five" theatre firms. The Commission indicated it would do this in connection with the sale of station KSO in Des Moines to a Paramount subsidiary, but the Paramount firm withdrew from the transaction. Pickford Victor in LaCava Damage Suit Hollywood, July 25. — Superior Judge Elmer Heald, who has had the case under advisement since trial six months ago, ruled today in favor of defendant Mary Pickford in a $1,- 653,750 breach . of contract suit brought by Gregory LaCava on grounds that she had orally contracted to give him full charge of production of "One Touch of Venus." Court found complainant was entitled to no damages.. House Opening Delayed St. Louis, July 25. — The scheduled opening of the 1,100-seat Crest Thea- tre here has been postponed indefinite- ly following a disagreement between Crest Amusement Co. and IATSE over the employment of a stand-by stagehand. D. W. Griffith Dies on Coast (Continued from page 1) Accurate Concise and Impartial MOTION PICTURE, DAILY 64. NO. 18 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, JULY 27, 1948 TEN CENTS Says TO A May Aid Ascap in Appeal Action This If Prompted By A Study of Court's Ruling That the Theatre Owners of America might come to a court- room defense of the American So- ciety of Composers, Authors and Publishers if and when the New York Federal Court's decision against the society comes up for appeal was acknowledged as a possibility yester- day by Gael Sullivan, TOA executive secretary. Sullivan said that a definite deci- sion on this must of course await complete determination of the impli- cations of the court's ruling. He add- ed, however, that the Ascap matter will come up for consideration at the next TOA board meeting and said a "militant stand" might be voted— such as appearing as intervenor in appeal arguments. This would be con- tingent also on the absence of any new system of paying for music which would be more desirable than dealing with Ascap, he said. Committee of 3 to Rule RKO Studio Hollywood, July 26. — A three-man executive committee consisting of Sid Rogell, Bicknell Lockhart and C. J. Tevlin has been named by N. Peter Rathvon to govern RKO Radio's mod- ified production program pending the meeting of the company's stockholders on August 31, when a new president will be chosen to succeed him. Rathvon, who resigned as president of RKO on Friday, made the appoint- ments with the approval of Floyd B. {Continued on page 4) Richardson, Levy and Davis in Mgr. Posts William M. Levy has been ap- pointed United Artists branch mana- ger in Cleveland, succeeding Harris Dudelson, resigned, it was announced here yesterday by Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., executive assistant to the presi- dent. Prior to his Cleveland appointment, Levy was foreign division manager for United Artists in Europe and the Near East from 1945 to 1947 when he resigned to take up sales duties in the home office. Robert R. Richardson has been (Continued on page 4) Further Study of Decision by Ascap Further study of the sub- ject before taking official ac- tion on the Federal Court decision declaring Ascap guilty of violating the anti- trust laws was voted yester- day at a meeting of the soci- ety's board. Conducting the study will be Ascap directors and counsel. No date was set for the next meeting of the board for consideration of the matter. The MPEA copyright com- mittee scheduled to meet here today on the decision. Goldwyn May Guide Others' Key Sales Samuel Goldwyn Productions is understood to be considering the role of supervisor of first-run sales of oth- er independent producers' top budget films with Howard Hawks' "Red Riv- er" as the second mentioned as a pos- sibility for the special handling. The company already is slated to act for Walter Wanger in such a super- visory capacity for his "Joan of Arc" to be given the key-run treatment af- forded Goldwyn's "Best Years of Our Lives." James Mulvey, president of the company, returned to New York from the Coast yesterday but was not available for comment. The Goldwyn firm is said to feel (Continued on page 4) 'Ruth' Debut Tops NY 4Babe Ruth Day' Mayor Wiiliam O'Dwyer headed a large group of civic dignitaries, screen, stage and radio luminaries and prominent figures in the sports world who attended the world premiere of Allied Artists' "The Babe Ruth Story" at the Astor Theatre here last night. The film will begin its regu- lar performance, extended engage- ment at the theatre this morning. Yesterday had been proclaimed "Babe Ruth Day" for New York City by the Mayor, who visited Ruth in Memorial Hospital here on Sunday and received and accepted from him an invitation to attend last night's pre- miere. Entire proceeds of the pre- miere will be turned over to the Babe Ruth Foundation. The Broadway block on which the theatre fronts was roped off last night and filled with expectant thousands, drawn by the celebrities attending and by ads announcing that 200 souvenir (Continued on page 4) Dividends Off 11%, To $23,349,000 Washington, July 26. — Publicly reported cash dividend payments by motion picture firms during the first six months of 1948 were more than 11 per cent below the payments during the first half of 1947, commerce de- partment figures revealed today. The 1948 six months total was $23,- 349,000, a drop of $3,048,000 from the comparable 1947 figure of $26,397,000. Commerce estimates that publicly re- ported cash dividend payments repre- sents 60 per cent of all dividends. June payments were reported at $7,- 478,000, off slightly from the $7,959,- 000 reported last June. Commerce officials said that the reason for the drop was that 20th Century-Fox paid a smaller dividend this June than in June 1947. In only one month this year — February — were payments larger than in 1947, and then only by $9,000. In most 1948 months, payments have been substantially below 1947 levels. N. Y. Owners Agree On Promotion Plan Agreement in principle on a "united front of New York State exhibitors in public relations and other matters" was reached at a weekend meeting in Lake Placid of theatremen of the state, it was reported yesterday by Fred J. Schwartz, president of the Metropoli- tan Motion Picture Theatres Associa- tion, who was host at the session. The meeting was attended by repre- sentatives of Theatre Owners of Amer- ica ; Motion Picture Theatre Owners of New York, Buffalo and the Albany Chapter of TOA. Harry Brandt, president of Independent Theatre Owners Association, said he was un- able to attend but reportedly expressed his agreement with the policy. Other meetings are planned. Jersey May Approve Local Ticket Taxes Washington, July 26. — A bill to give all New Jersey municipalities the right to levy theatre admission taxes may be introduced when the state legislature reconvenes in the last week in August, according to Jack Bryson, legislative representative of the Mo- tion Picture Association of America. Bryson said various Jersey State legislators are consulting on a tax measure now. A bill empowering re- sort towns to levy such taxes was passed last year and, according to Bryson, the clamor from other muni- cipalities for similar power has been increasing since then. Johnston Sees Foreign Take Rising In 1949 Says UK Quota Violates Geneva, Havana Pacts Hollywood, July 26. — The in- dustry's revenue from the foreign market will hit the lowest point next year and start to rise in autumn, 1949, Eric A. Johnston, presi- dent of the Motion Picture Associa- tion of America, declared today, citing- statistics for the past three years. He said the foreign market yielded $120,000,000 in 1946, $90,000,000 in 1947, and will yield an estimated $70,000,000 in 1948. It is expected, he said, to dip to between $50,000,000 and $60,- 000,000 in 1949. Pointing out that 1946's $120,000,000 was included in the industry's total net earnings of $144,000,000 that year, Johnston said "we've got to get down to the domestic market as soon as we can." Johnston said the decline in foreign (Continued on page 4) Key Houses Sign With Coolers Union All the large local houses yesterday had reached a tentative agreement with striking Local No. 30, Interna- tional Union of Operating Engineers. AFL. Only RKO and Loew houses were still affected by the strike of air- conditioning engineers as a conference at the office of Theodore Kheel, the (Continued on page 4) Picket Is True to Cause and Himself His duty was on the picket line, but his heart must have kept on reminding him of the stock he owned. Therefore, they narrate at Loew's, this picket, assigned to Loew's Delancey Theatre, where the air conditioning unit was battened down as a conse- quence of the current strike, met both impulses by repeat- ing: "Don't patronize this the- atre. But go to Loew's Ave- nue B or the Apollo where there are no pickets." 2 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, July 27, 1948 Extend Zenith Suit To Include Video Wilmington, July 26. — Ruling of United States District Court Judge Paul Leahy here will permit Zenith Radio Corp. to include television pa- tents in a supplemental complaint against RCA, General Electric and Western Electric in its suit against what its original complaint character- izes as a radio patent "monopoly." The court action came after months of legal strategic moves on both sides, in which RCA attorneys sought to prove that Zenith was not in the tele- vision business at all. Zenith's policy on video has been to make test sets of two models of receivers, then loan them to dealers for demonstration. Zenith officials had previously an- nounced that they would not begin mass production of television sets un- til an agreement with motion picture companies whereby some policy for a coordinated television showing of first- run films could be made, thus insur- ing entertainment value of video. Dangers of early obsolescense was also cited by Zenith for its reason in delaying mass video production. Judge Leahy's new ruling applies to the second of three civil actions filed by Zenith against RCA and the others here. The first suit has been held pending for some time. The latest action deals with television only and was filed by Zenith attorneys to make certain that Zenith would be able to include video circuits in thousands of patents which it contends RCA holds as a monopoly in restraint of trade. The court has ruled that Zenith may consolidate these actions when RCA answers the complaint of the latest case. By virtue of a prior stipulation between attorneys concerned, RCA is to have 30 days in which to move to answer or plead with respect to the supplemental complaint. Selznick Video Films Start in 60 Days Hollywood, July 26. — David O. Selz- nick Television Corp. will start pro- duction of television shorts on an ex- perimental basis within 60 days, with Cecil Barker and Arthur Fellows, both 15-year veterans of the Selznick organization, in charge. To Air Documentary Show on Hollywood "The Hollywood Story," one-hour documentary program analyzing the film industry, will be heard over Co- lumbia Broadcasting during the week of September 19. The exact day has not been determined. The analysis will depict the social, economic and artistic factors which go into the choice and eventual pro- duction of a Class "A" picture, and other aspects of the industry. 'Rope' Premiere Aug. 26 Warner's world premiere of Alfred Hitchcock's "Rope," starring James Stewart, has been set at Brandt's Globe Theatre, New York, for Thurs- day, August 26. "Rope," Transatlan- tic Pictures' first for WB release, will be nationally distributed as of Sept. 25. Personal Mention LEO JONES, manager of the Star Theatre, Upper Sandusky, O., is visiting here. • Seymour Eichman, Astor Pictures' advertising manager, and Mrs. Eich- man have returned here from a 15- day honeymoon trip in New England and Canada. Meyer Mishkin has resigned from 20th-Fox's New York casting depart- ment to join the Hartford Talent Agency as head of its Coast office. • Lynn Farnol, Samuel Goldwyn Productions' publicity director, re- turned here yesterday from a Colorado vacation. • David D. Horne, Film Classics' foreign sales manager, has returned here from a tour of Europe and South America. TAMES NASSER, United Artists «J producer, is here from the Coast. • George Brown, Paramount's direc- tor of studio advertising-publicity, will arrive here Friday from the Coast for a 10-day stay. • Herb Crooker, M-G-M publicity manager, is vacationing on his sloop, cruising the waters adjacent to New York. • Charles C. Moskowitz, Loew's vice-president and treasurer, will leave the Coast for New York on Thurs- day. • Hugh Owen, Paramount's Eastern and Southern sales manager, is tour- ing the South from New York. • William F. Rodgers, M-G-M dis- tribution vice-president, returned here from Chicago yesterday. Geo. Marshall Heads Coast Charity Group Hollywood, July 26. — The indus- try's permanent Charities Committee has elected George Marshall president, succeeding M. C. Levee, who remains on the board, and has appointed IATSE International representative Roy M. Brewer chairman of the com- mittee's fourth annual United Appeal. Ballantyne Co. Buys Gardner Projector Omaha, July 26. — Ballantyne Co. has purchased the patents, tools, dies, etc. for the manufacture of the pro- jector heretofore manufactured by the L. J. Gardiner Co. of Columbus, Ohio. All of the tools and dies have been transferred to the Ballantyne plants in Omaha and Creighton. Ballantyne intends to make the Gardiner pro- jector under the Royal Soundmaster trademark. Ballantyne manufactures sound sys- tems, bases, projection arc lamps and rectifiers. $85,000 for Far East Convertibility Washington, July 26. — The Army has earmarked about $85,000 to pay U. S. film firms for out-of-pocket expenses in sending films to Japan. Korea and the Ryukyus during the next 12 months. The funds will be used in a convert- ibility-guaranty program similar to that now being administered by the Economic Cooperation Administration for Marshall Plan countries. Beale Is Out Washington, July 26— W. T. M. Beale, current State Department film expert, leaves his post at the end of this week, and as yet no replacement has been chosen. Beale, who is the third official to fill the job this year, will go on vacation, and then report to the Army War College. An expert on British relations, he won wide respect from officials of the Motion Picture Association. Recommends Tighter Monopoly Control Washington, July 26. — The Fed- eral Trade Commission has again rec- ommended to Congress that it amend the anti-trust laws to prevent one firm from- acquiring the physical assets of another where the result is to promote monopoly and eliminate Competition. The laws at present only prevent acquisition of one company's stock by another, but leaves the loophole of acquiring the physical assets. The FTC has been recommending that this loophole be plugged for many years. Legislation has been pending since 1945, but has never reached either the House or Senate floors. M-G-M Wins Appeal In UK Slander Case London, July 26. — The British High Court has ruled in favor of M- G-M in its appeal against the judg- ment which it lost a year ago in the libel and slander suit filed by Mrs. E. Arnot Robertson, former film critic for British Broadcasting Corp. In the course of his judgment, Lord Justice Asquith, one of the three jur- ists hearing the appeal, said there was "no evidence of malice on M-G-M's part. (Sam) Eckman (M-G-M's rep- resentative here) and his officials gave honest evidence. The whole alleged libel was expressions of opinion." Griffith Tribute Today Hollywood, July 26. — All Holly- wood studios will observe a three- minute silence at two o'clock tomor- row afternoon in tribute to the memory of David Wark Griffith, who died last Friday morning. 7th Week for 'Waltz' Paramount's production, "The Em- peror Kaltz," starring Bing Crosby and Joan Fontaine, will play a sev- enth week at the New York Music Hall, commencing Thursday. This is the first picture to play the Hall seven weeks in a year, and is one of only 15 to play there that long in the entire 15 year history of the house. Campaign Book Set For TO A Youth Mo. A 15-page campaign book has been prepared by M-G-M's Ernie Emerling for the Charles P. Skouras committee on the "Youth Month" drive of the Theatre Owners of America. Copies will be sent to theatres enrolled in the drive, which will be conducted during September throughout the country. Made up in two colors, red and blue, the campaign book provides vari- ous suggestions for exploitation, licity and lobby and screen advert^J ^ for the drive. NEW YORK THEATRES t — RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL- Rockefeller Center BING CROSBY JOAN FONTAINE in "THE EMPEROR WALTZ"! Color by TECHNICOLOR A Paramount Picture SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION JOHN FORD'S MASTERPIECE "FORT ft APACHE" (I 7i COOL IN PERSON jr LENA HORNE , Special.' L PAUL WINCHELL ft Extra! /« SKINNAY ENNIS it 1RCH. #1 CAPITOL^ Paramount Presents RAY MILLAND ANN TODD GERALDINE FITZGERALD SCIENTIFICALLY AIR CONDITIONED DOORS OPEN fyi' B'woy & *30*«. /CTVOTjI 49.hwi . ROY DEL RUTH'S "THE BABE RUTH SIORV'-iffli-nlii CMAH.EI I Cont P»rformance»»Pop Price* LOIS BUTLER in M ICKEY IN CINECOLOR Brandt's Cool B'way at 47th St. New GOTHAM LOIS BUTLER will appear on stage today at 3:27, 7:45, 9:54 MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quisley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, N*v York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Packs a terrific boxoffice wallop. One of the best of the year. By all means buy it! 4 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, July 27, 1948 Johnston, Foreign Market {Continued from page 1) revenues is foremost among the three reasons for the economy policy insti- tuted in Hollywood production, the second being "dollar hamburger and dollar butter," and the third, "other forms of entertainment, such as night baseball and dog racing." He said television has not yet exerted box- office influence except in the biggest cities. Assailing the British quota as "a violation of the spirit and probably the letter of the Gen- eva and Havana agreements signed by the British," he said he expects the State Depart- ment to make formal protest and believes the delay in doing so is due to preoccupation with the Russian situation. He attacked the quota as doomed to force British producers into a quantity instead of quality basis and, declaring "you can't legislate people into thea- tres," forecast a situation in which the British producer will find a gov- ernmen tofficial "looking over his shoulder" and telling him ,what kind of pictures to make and what to put in them, in an effort to recoup the government's investment in produc- tion. Johnston revised his esti- mate, made here last March, that the American industry would realize five to seven mil- lions of dollars this year from exhibition of British films in this country, saying he now ex- pects amount to be less than one million and added, in re- sponse to questioning, that he does not think the industry has or will attempt retaliatory measures, and he would op- pose such policy. He said the current lag in Holly- wood production and employment will continue until fall, because "Holly- wood companies are having trouble," but should begin improving then. Motion Picture Industry Council, which he addressed last week, is "making progress, but still is in an informal state," he said. 12 Foreign Films From Distinguished Twelve new foreign firms are sched- uled for distribution in the United States in the coming year by Dis- tinguished Films, the list embracing nine French productions, one Hun- garian, one Italian and one British. Product includes the following films : "Dangerous," French, due in February, and described as the key production ; "Four Steps in the Clouds," Italian ; "An Only Love," French, September ; "Passionate Spring," 'Hungarian, October ; "W'ra,th of God," French, October ; "Hoboes in Paradise," French, December ; "Vautrin," French, January ; "The Wicked Duchess," French, March ; "Quiet Weekend," British, May ; "Fury in the Desert," French, June ; "Confessions of a Rogue," French ; "Passionnelle," French, and "Lysis- trata," in German, made in Austria. t/itc Go® itt& t/wfisefyf AND YOUR COMMUNITY TO SEE WSHOW... Produced by RKO Pathe See your nearest RKO Radio Exchange Building Continues In Northern Cal. San Francisco, July 26. — North- ern California is the locale for the construction of additional new thea- tres, including drive-ins, and the re- equipping and remodeling of many old ones. T. and D., Jr. Enterprises has opened the El Rey at Chico, the sec- ond house in that city. Bob Coffman has been appointed manager, moving over from the Redding. D. Dicker- man, president of Highland Theatre Co., announced that construction has begun on a new $180,000 drive-in at Highland, to be completed in Novem- ber. Mason Shaw, formerly operator of two theatres in Texas, is building a theatre at Saratoga for $70,000. The house will seat 475. Opening of the new Turlock Theatre was held last week with George Atton supervising management of that house and the Fox Theatre. Salvador Alvarey and Phillipe Serna are building a $70,000 theatre in Monterey. Bert Kennerson is manager of the new Gay Theatre, San Jose, built at a cost of $55,000. Five Field Changes Listed by Rodgers Five more promotions in the M-G-M field sales and branch personnel were announced here yesterday by William F. Rodgers, distribution vice-president, as follows : John W. Coyne, former office man- ager at San Francisco, to salesman in the same territory ; Melvin Turner, head booker at Minneapolis, to sales- man, same branch ; Clarence Keim, head booker at Chicago, to salesman, same office ; Raymond Haberland, booker at Minneapolis to head booker, same branch ; Jesse H. Owens, booker at Chicago, to chief booker, same ex- change. Key Houses Sign {Continued from page 1) mayor's labor conciliator, failed to produce a complete settlement. Beyond announcing that a full set- tlement had not been reached at the meeting, Kheel refused to comment. Officials of RKO and Loew report- ed that the strike had not affected business noticeably, although a union spokesman said that many persons had demanded their money back when they learned that air-conditioning sys- tems were not operating. The cir- cuits were using every available sub- stitute means of cooling their theatres. The union is asking for a 15 per cent wage boost, against the circuit's offer of 10 per cent. Richardson, et al {Continued from page 1) named Eagle-Lion's Cleveland branch manager, replacing Mark Goldman, who has resigned, it was announced by William J. Heineman, distribution vice-president. Richardson, who entered the indus- try 10 years ago, has served in the Cleveland territory since that time for RKO Radio, where he held various sales posts. Merritt Davis has been appointed branch manager of Republic's Atlanta branch and will assume his post on Monday. Davis succeeds James E. Hobbs, who has resigned. 500 Will Pass on Video Film Pact A standard exhibition contract em- bodying a series of recommendations for some 500 television stations, film producers, distributors, advertising agencies and others to pass on is being mailed out by the National Television Film Council, it is announced by Mel- vin L. Gold, NTFC chairman. NTFC attorney Seymour 1» er has explained that the various prac- tices and procedures covered in the contract, emphasizing the fact that the new agreement would in no way at- tempt to negotiate for the television station or the film distributor. He pointed out that the contract's func- tion would be to standardize the meth- ods of doing business, the physical handling of each print, and to clearly define the obligations of the distribu- tor and the telecaster in the matter of exhibiting films on television. Committee of 3 {Continued from page 1) Odium, chairman of the Radio-Keith- Orpheum board; Ned Depinet, execu- tive vice-president, and Howard Hughes, who holds the controlling in- terest in the company. Rogell is the studio's executive pro- ducer, while Lockhart and Tevlin are members of the Hughes organization. _ Rathvon said that Depinet will con- tinue as vice-chairman of the board and executive vice-president in charge of all company operations out of New York. He asserted that until the stockholders meet he will function with the board's approval primarily in an advisory capacity. 'Ruth' Premiere ( Continued from page 1 ) gifts would be distributed among spec- tators. The event was covered by television station WPIX, radio station WNYC, by CBS, newsreels and the Armed Forces Radio and Press Ser- vices. Steve Broidy, Allied Artists presi- dent, was presented with an award of merit by Parents Magazine in recognition of the Babe Ruth pro- duction. Goldwyn May Guide {Continued from page 1) that through its experience in han- dling "Best Years" which brought phenomenal rentals (taking up to 65 per cent of the theatre gross in some deals) it is equipped to represent other producers of high-budget product. Video Okays Rise Washington, July 26. — As of June 30, 1948, 109 television stations were authorized in the U. S., an increase of 43 over the number authorized at the end of June, 1947, according to the Federal Communications Commission. An additional 124 experimental video stations had been okayed, compared with 81 a year earlier. Authorizations were also outstanding for 1,020 FM stations and 2,034 standard broadcast stations. The comparable figures for June 30, 1947 were 918 and 1,795. Sunday Film Fee Cut PittsfielDj Mass., July 26. — Effec- tive August 1, the city fee for Sunday shows will be cut about 25 per cent. THAT BIG BOOM IN THE MIDWEST IS "THE DUDE'S" 100 THEATRE DAY & DATE BLOW-OFF IN THE IOWA AND NEBRASKA AREAS! THE PECOS KID £ACTUS SAM ALLIED ARTISTS presents A KING BROS. PRODUCTION Starring e T O D hA * 1AMES UUN ' WK U MB • • ^ „ — uProorioos/y fOflnyl" y WB«U PAMONJ , Cos,nopo/;fo„ Pacfced vw,f, ,a"9fis" foys J(*i*iy fiou d Z2To" N'°oZ PRODUCING PRESENTS ZACHARY SCOTT * LOUIS HAYWARD DIANA LYNN *SYDNEY 6REENSTREET LUCILLE BREMER*MARTHA VICKERS with Dennis Hoey • Edith Barrett * Raymond Burr Produced by ARTHUR S. LYONS • Directed by EDGAR 6. ULMER Screenplay by S. K. Lauren and Gordon Kohn • Based on a novel "Prelude to Night" by Dayton Stoddort An EAGLE LION FILMS Release ho relied on lor steady drawl" tollection ot — exhibitor should be "Boxoff.ce in its cast names • . • .|rtng,;. JET* copWoHxe with ease n*^ ^ Doily , audiences and espe- Shooid please drama-hungry' well names •YJell Pr° duced tiaily the women'." . . may "Scott 9Wes , directed and P^|nHIfi. be ,emembered at the next ^ .„„line'" -Ho..y-o«dKep«r.er »Hrs,rate down the hne. unusual story. «» ..fascinating drama . . • ^ picture st«sl" goQd enter- ..Fine performances, f^^.'**. ma *^ 'S " "Arresting drama . • 'Engrossing. Vlbrant and convincing. I" _8o»o ALL REVIEWS TELL STORY OF BOX-OFFICE POWER! Accurate Concise and Impartial ^3. 64. NO. 19 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 1948 TEN CENTS Bids Canceling Adjustments To Exhibitors Distributors Rule Them Out As Legal Safeguard Exhibitor applications for ad- justments of rental terms where product falls below expectations at the box-office are decreasing in direct proportion to the increase of competitive bidding and negotiation of run, according to home office sales executives. Selling, generally, is gradually be- coming slower and more cautious as the distributors are guarding against legal entanglements, and are frankly out for maximum revenue in keeping with the peak production costs and foreign market losses, the reports in- dicate. Aside from clearance reductions and the more prominent of changes that stemmed directly from the industry anti-trust suit, the film companies are (Continued on page 4) Heat Hurting N.Y. 1st Runs Again Summer heat is affecting business at several Broadway first- runs and this week the rising mer- cury is not only outside, but in. "Sev- eral hundred" refunds were reported at the State where an engineers' strike has halted "the air conditioning. The Capitol and Criterion are sim- ilarly without cooling systems. To what extent overall business was im- paired could hardly be determined, it was said. "The Babe Ruth Story" got off to a big start at the Astor yesterday. "Key Largo" with Count Basie and Billie Holiday is still riding high at (Continued on page 4) Insist Hollywood Hearings to Resume Washington, July 27. — Members of the House Committee on Un-American Activities, 'back for the special session, are sticking to the story that the Hol- lywood hearings will resume here late this summer. One high-ranking member of the committee said that a formal announce- (Continucd on page 4) Sch ineNamed In Trust Suit Chicago, July 27. — Continuing in the succession of film anti-trust suits is a new one filed today by Emerson W. Long, Cadiz, Ohio, theatre op- erator, against the Schine circuit for treble damages of $345,000 claimed by him for the period from Jan. 1, 1935, to Jan. 1, 1941. The suit involves Long's operation of the Memorial Theatre, Mount Vernon, Ohio, during that period. Complaint alleges that because of exertion of buying power by Schine, the Memorial Theatre was prevented from licensing suitable first and second run product. It is also charged that Schine reopened a closed house, the Lyric, when Long began operation of (Continued on page 4) U. S. Film Quality Better: Steinhardt Quality of American films released in Czechoslovakia in the past two years has shown sharp improvement, Laurence A. Steinhardt, U. S. Am- bassador to that country declared here yesterday at a luncheon given him by company and foreign depart- ment heads at the Harvard Club. The Ambassador, who was introduced by Francis S. Harmon, Motion Picture Export Association vice-president, de- clared that Hollywood must continue to send over its best pictures if it would retain the high degree of popu- larity now enjoyed in that country. Present at the luncheon were : Barney Balaban, Norton V. Ritchey, William Satori, Joseph A. McCon- ville, Abe Schneider, Leo Samuels, James Mulvey and other film leaders. See Ascap Decree By End of August Work will be started soon by Ascap and ITOA counsel on the preparation of a de- cree to conform with the findings of fact made by Fed- eral Judge Vincent L. Leibell in handing down his decision holding the society in viola- tion of U. S. anti-trust stat- utes. The decree is expected to be ready for presentation to the court for its approval by the end of August. MPAA Begins Series Of Parleys on Ascap First Motion Picture Association of America meeting on the New York Federal Court's decision enjoining Ascap was held here yesterday. The meeting group, the MPAA's copyright Hollywood, July 27.— The Pa- cific Coast Conference of Inde- pendent Theatre Owners, which had filed an amicus curiae brief supporting the position of the plaintiffs in the New York As- cap case will participate simi- larly in any appeal from Federal Judge Vincent L. Leibell's re- cent decision, PCCITO's trustees announced today. committee, was forced to limit itself to merely exploratory discussions. It was explained that until the court or- der is handed down, probably late next month, no definitive action could be taken. Edwin Kilroe, 20th Century-Fox, is chairman of the committee, which includes five other executives. Conciliation Vital, Smith Tells Indiana ATOI Meet Floods Hamper Some Kansas Operations Kansas City, July 27. — Further rains have aggravated the flood crisis in parts of Southeastern Kansas, while waters continue to subside else- where in previously flooded districts. The Plaza of the Dickinson circuit in Burlington, Kansas, has reopened after being closed a week. Water had been above the stage. Seats were removed when the flood threatened, and restored when the waters re- ceded. Seats were removed from the (Continued on page 4) French Lick, Ind., July 27. — The importance of conciliation in advanc- ing exhibitor-distributor harmony to the profit of the entire industry was stressed by Andy W. Smith, Jr., 20th Century-Fox-'s general sales manager, in an address delivered this evening at the annual convention of the Associ- ated Theatre Owners of Indiana at the French Lick Springs Hotel here. Hen- derson M. Richey, Loew-M-G-M di- rector of exhibitor relations, who also was scheduled to speak on concilia- tion, cancelled his prepared speech at the last minute and spoke generally. About 100 exhibitors are attending (Continued on page 4) UK Exhibitors Wary About Finance Plan See Wilson Forced Into State Distribution Next London, July 27. — Exhibitors here share the misgivings expressed in political and financial circles concerning President of the Board of Trade Harold Wilson's $20,000,000 government Film Finance Corp. They remember Wilson's naive, much derided declaration at the Ex- hibitors' Association dinner to Eric Johnston last spring that what they must show in their theatres is "more documentaries." They distrust the suggestion that the films they must show will be selected by a still-to- be-announced "committee." They maintain, despite the prom- ised flow of films from the govern- ment's beneficence, that they will not (Continued on page 4) 19 Films in 'U' Backlog Universal Pictures has the largest backlog of completed productions in its history, shooting schedules on 19 top productions having been finished, J. Cheever Cowdin, board chairman, and N. J. Blumberg, president, an- nounced yesterday as the company prepared to shut down its Coast studio on Friday for a five-week consolidated vacation period. The company's an- nual production schedule calls for 24 pictures. The management had planned the vacation shutdown many months ago and had arranged its production schedule so as to complete shooting (Continued on page 4) Truman Telecast on Paramount's Screen Evidently determined to establish itself as top television theatre among Broadway showhouses, the Paramount yesterday gave an unexpected full- screen telecast of President Truman's address before Congress, running about 25 minutes and fitting in smooth- ly at the end of the newsreel. Yesterday's special was adequately (Continued on page 4) Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, July 28, 1948 Personal Mention CTEVE BROIDY, president of ^ Monogram- Allied Artists, an ' Louis F. Lifton, director of adver tising-publicity, will leave New York for the Coast tomorrow. • Samuel Schneider, Warner vice' president; W. Steward . McDonald vice-president of Warner Theatres and their wives, returned to New York yesterday from England aboard the S. S. Queen Mary. • Maria Vincenza Trotta, daughter of Vincent Trotta, National Screen art director, has become engaged to Harold Douglas Hall of Rossville Ga. • William A. Scully, Universal International distribution vice-presi- dent, will return here tomorrow from England aboard the 5". S. America. • Jules Lapidus, Warner Eastern and Canadian sales manager, will return here over the weekend from Buffalo and Cleveland. • Eric A. Johnston, Motion Picture Association of America president, flew from Hollywood to Spokane yester- day. • Rudolph Weiss, Warner real estate department chief, is in Springfield, O., from New York. • Sidney Kulick of Bell Pictures has been visiting Albany from New York. Reach No Accord in Strike of 'Coolers' The strike of Local No. 30, Inter- national Union of Operating Engi- neers, AFL, against Loew and RKO houses in the New York Metropoli- tan area was no nearer to a settle- ment yesterday as the circuits held firm in their refusal to accede to the union's demand for a 15 per cent wage hike. The air-conditioning men have been offered a 10 per cent raise. S chin e Promotes Hart and Slither Albany, N. Y., July 27.— Lou Hart has been promoted by the Schine cir- cuit from district manager at Glovers- ville to Northern New York zone manager at Watertown, to succeed Harold Slither who has been ad- vanced to zone manager at Lexing- ton, Ky. Seech, Fire Victim San Francisco, July 27. — Funeral services will be held at Halsted's Funeral Parlor here tomorrow for George Robert Seech, 62, RKO Radio salesman for 27 years, who died Mon- day afternoon at St. Luke's Hospital here from burns sustained while he was attempting to repair an automo- bile. Survivors include a son, a daughter, four sisters and two brothers. Tradewise . By SHERWIN KANE "^EW YORK independent ex- ^ hibitors won a legal "vic- tory" over the American Socie- ty of Composers, Authors and Publishers last week. It remains to be seen how much the "victory" will cost them. The New York Federal Dis- trict Court found Ascap's meth- od of licensing the performing rights of its music to theatres to be in violation of the anti-trust laws and enjoined the Society from further issuing blanket mu- sic licenses, among other things. The court suggested as an al- ternative to the present method of licensing that producers ac- quire the performing rights to the music in their pictures at the same time that synchronization, or recording, rights are ob- tained. That, in effect, is what exhibi- tor sponsors and supporters of the Lewis Bill in the last session of Congress wanted. Many exhibitors and this col- umn saw nothing more in the Lewis Bill than an instrument by which the Ascap music tax could be transformed into a hid- den tax. As a hidden tax, add- ed to film rental, as it most cer- tainly would be, the exhibitor could be required to pay more for the music in the films he licensed than he paid to Ascap. His only balm would be that he wouldn't know about it when he did it. The New York court's Ascap decision promises to bring about the same result. • Allied States, sponsor of the Lewis Bill, contends that the ex- hibitor need not pay more, and possibly might pay less, for mu- sic performing rights obtained from the producer rather than from Ascap. The New York court found that exhibitors not only did ne- gotiate with Ascap in 1933 and 1934, as the trade knows, but that the result of the negotia- tions was a '"schedule of rates which were very reasonable." It was on this ground and in the absence of any showing by the New York exhibitor plain- tiffs that their business had been injured by the Ascap levy, that the New York court denied damages to the plaintiffs against Ascap. The court observed that "The exhibitor got something of value (from Ascap) and received what he paid for." Newsreel Parade That means, of course, that if the exhibitor is to continue get- ting that "something of value," i.e., music performing rights, he will continue paying for it, whether he pays Ascap, the pro- ducers or the individual copy- right owners. • How much the exhibitor will pay for that "something of value" in the future remains to be seen. The court left the way open for Ascap to continue licensing theatres on a per-piece basis. No exhibitor ever has applied to Ascap for a per-piece license, even though the Society is re- quired by its consent decree with the Government to make such licenses available upon request. The reasons are obvious. The time and cost involved in obtain- ing a license for each piece of music in every film played by a theatre, for every exhibition of the picture in that theatre, elimi- nate the method from all practi- cal considerations. Unless As- cap cooperates by devising a more practicable and economical per-piece licensing system than it has offered up to now. If the exhibitor were to at- tempt to clear the rights through the individual copyright owners, assuming Ascap gets out of the theatre licensing field complete- ly, he would find the task even more impossible than attempting to do it through Ascap. The producer may find some of the same difficulties in at- tempting to acquire the perform- ing rights himself because, if it is illegal for Ascap to issue blanket licenses then it is reas- onable to assume that it will be equally illegal for any other agency which might supplant Ascap to do so. Thus, the pro- ducer would be put to increased expense in negotiating with in- dividual copyright owners, ex- pense which would be reflected ultimately in film rentals. • In the final analysis, of course, it was not the exhibitors who defeated Ascap in the New York ease. Ascap, by its greed or ar- rogance in demanding the ex- orbitant fees of exhibitors it did last August, defeated itself. The decision makes that clear. Ascap had a similar experi- ence in its 1941 fight with the broadcasters. Apparently, it learned nothing from that ex- perience. 60 Gen.^lay A REPORT from Gen. Clay as well SI as the Third Party convention mark current newsreel highlights. Other items include people in the news, a plane crash and sports. The confession of Robert Daniels, youthful killer, is claimed as an exclusive by] Movietone News. Complete contents follow. MOVIETONE NEWS, No Party nominates Wallace. Gen. "nay reports on crisis in Berlin. Gov. Dewey holds conference on foreign affairs. Giant 180-passenger plane joins TJ. S. navy. Klu Klux Klan initiates new members. Exclusive confession of Robert Daniels. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 294— Pro- gressives name Wallace for President., Report by Gen. Clay. Klu Klux Klan. Refugees from Soviet terror flee to the: U. S. Greatest airship in first flight. TJ. S. Olympic team hailed in London. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 97—1948 Olympiad: London host to top-flight athletes. Weekend at Pawling: Gov. Dewey keeps pace with world issues. Minneapolis stages water spectacle. Wallace Party states policy. UNIVERSAL NEWS. No. 164— Gen Clay sees no war despite blockade of Berlin. Third Party nominates Wal- lace. Abbott and Costello meet radio program contest winners. War-muti- lated kids meet the Pope. Refugees' ship arrives in Boston. New 180-pas- senger plane. WARNEK PAT HE NEWS, No. 99— Ku Klux Klan rears its head again. Third party convention. Air news : B-25 crashes; Navy giant; jets on parade. People in the news : General Clay ; Andre Marie. Refugees from Red-domi- nated countries. Dewey and Eisenhower discuss Berlin crisis. Minneapolis Aqua- tennial. Albany Paper Cites Smakwitz Promotion Albany, N. Y., July 27.— The Al- bany Knickerbocker News has greeted with editorial praise the promotion of Charles A. Smakwitz from assistant to zone manager of Warner Theatres here, succeeding C. J. Latta who will head Warner theatre operations in England. Smakwitz "has a well-deserved reputation in Albany for being a tire- less worker," the editorial said. "He is a dynamo of energy in his business as a theatre man and in all public- spirited movements. During the war he was the spark in many events in behalf of various war bond drives." Mason Is Signed By Enterprise Hollywood, July 27. — James Ma- son has been signed by Enterprise Studios for his first production in America, "Wild Calendar." M-G-M will distribute. The British actor, No. 1 in the Motion Picture Herald- Fame British "Money Making Stars" poll for four years (1944-47), will check in at the Enterprise lot this week. The deal was made by Charles Ein- feld, Enterprise president, and David Loew, board chairman. Lufkin Enters Video Washington, July 27. — Lufkin Amusement Co. of Beaumont, Texas, which last week applied for a tele- vision station, is half owner of East Texas Theatres, it is learned. Sundiy^an^hoS? ^O^fv^S^W^i^'f^i-irl ?uuhlisher' SDh™ „KanS: Editor; Martin Q^ey, Jr., Associate Editor.' Published daily, except Saturdays, New York." ^ Mart^ O,,^ Rockefeller Center New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address : "Quigpubco, gley, Jr., Vice-Presiden^ - ' ' " ' ~ ' Gus H. Fausel, Produc lie Street, Editorial an ishington, D. C. London {' Th»ai^~«£lZ, f-;a"""rj> TM"'C' iruuncauons: motion Picture Herald, Be1 3, 1879. SuTs'c?^ ropfeTloc^55 ^ ^ *» ^ °^ * ^er"^^^ M-C-M DIDN'T WRITE THIS AD! ( The reports below on "Easter Parade" come from Variety, July 21st issue) PARADE WHAM! Indianapolis PARADE MIGHTY! Boston PARADE SOCK! Philadelphia PARADE HOTTER THAN HOT!' St. Louis PARADE STANDOUT!' San Francisco PARADE STOUT!" Detroit PARADE GIANT! Kansas City PARADE BIG COIN!' New York PARADE TERRIFIC!' Louisville PARADE SOCKEROO! Wash., D.C. PARADE TOPPER! Providence a/* Screen Play by Sidney Sheldon, Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett • Original Story by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett • Lyrics and Music by Irving Berlin • Musical numbers directed by Robert Alton • Directed by CHARLES WALTERS • Produced by ARTHUR FREED A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, July 28, 1948 'Ruth9 Starts Off at Record Astor Pace "The Babe Ruth Story" is heading for about $70,000 in its first week at the Astor, according to the manage- ment. If this gross develops, it will top the $66,965 rolled up by "The Kid from Brooklyn" which holds the latter- day record for an opening week at the house. The Danny Kaye film opened dur- ing an Easter Week at $1.40 up to five P.M., compared with 95 cents to the same hour for "Babe Ruth." Top for the Ruth film is $1.50, but, as an experiment, the Astor will go to $1.80 from seven to ten P.M. Saturday night. If this policy clicks, it will be maintained. If not, prices will return to $1.50. New York Grosses (Continued from page 1) the Strand with a second week's gross estimated at $83,000. The house is charging $1.75, up from $1.50, on Sat- urdays and Sundays. "The Emperor Waltz" and a 'stage presentation at the Music Hall should provide an attractive $123,000 in its sixth week. The show holds for a seventh, making an exceptionally long run for this time of the year. "Easter Parade" lost ground in its fourth week at the State, estimated $41,000; it is still good, however. "Deep Water" is slow in its opening week at the Globe, at $14,000. "Street With No Name" with Cab Calloway and an ice show at the Roxy should get a lofty $100,000 in a second week. Less impressive figures come from other spots : Paramount, "A Foreign Affair," Jo Stafford on stage, $60,000 (but fair enough for a fourth week) ; Gotham, "Mickey," second week (six days), $7,400, mediocre; Mayfair, "Time of Your Life," ninth week, $10,000, fair; Victoria, "Raw Deal," third week, $10,000, passable; Cri- terion, "Canon City," third week, $12,000, room for improvement ; Cap- itol, "Fort Apache," Lena Home on stage, fifth week, $5,000, good enough as the run nears its end. RKO J-P Appeal Chicago, July 27. — RKO, repre- sented by attorney Miles Seeley, to- day filed an appeal in U. S. District Court in opposition to Judge Michael Igoe's recent refusal to grant exemp- tion of contempt charges in the recent Jackson Park hearing. Seeley's grounds were based - on . arguments that the RKO Palace and Grand the- atres are separate corporations. Hear- ings on the anti-trust suit case against the majors here have been extended to September 10 in U. S. District Court. Plaintiff's attorney is Abe Brussels. UK Exhibitors (Continued from page 1) be able to meet the 45 per cent quota. Exhibitors, too, are worried about he composition of that "committee." To the very last minute before his declaration in the House of Com- mons concerning the film financing plan, Wilson contemplated appointing Lord Portal as chairman of his Film Finance Corp. Lord Portal is chief- ly remembered in the trade as one of J. Arthur Rank's financial associ- ates in his first film operations. Discussion currently revolves around the question as to who will get the public's money. Wilson's plan is that the funds will be made avail- able to distribution companies which in turn will finance producers. In- formed persons believe this means that a distributor who has studio space available will give security to the Film Finance Corp. for an advance which it will pay over to the producers. The distributor's security would consist of such unpledged assets as he pos- sessed plus the film to be made. A select list of distributors is in course of preparation and applicant producers will be permitted to deal only with the chosen few. Also, so that the risk may be spread, a pro- ducer will receive only a part of the required financing from the corpora- tion. The distributor will be called upon to pay the balance. Hollywood Hearings (Continued from page 1) ment will be made shortly, possibly next week if committee chairman Thomas returns here by then. Industry officials point out that sim- ilar forecasts of resumption of the hearings have been made before, and have not panned out. The committee member cited above said that the rest of the 19 "unfriendly film witnesses". would be called to tes- tify and "probably a good many oth- ers." He declared that present plans are to hold brief hearings on possible Communist affiliations of Dr. Edward Condon, head of the U. S. Bureau of Standards, and then swing into the second phase of the Hollywood probe. Floods Hamper (Continued from page 1) Kaw at Marion, also a Dickinson house, but waters did not rise into the theatre, and the seats were reset after a day's closing. There is no report of any theatre missing out on prints, although Ex- hibitors Film Delivery has made wide detours to reach some towns. A boat- man was sent from the Osa at Osa- watomie over flooded fields to meet a print truck from Paola. New York Representative, 44 Wall St. Foreign Branches: London, Manila, and Tokyo l&mtk of MEMBER F.D.I.C. AviNCs ASSOCIATION i's Statewide Bank Conciliation (Continued from page 1) the meeting. There was no general meeting yesterday, but the board met last night and voted to muster 50 ATOI delegates to attend national Allied's convention in New Orleans, Nov. 30 to Dec. 2. First general ses- sion was held tonight, when William Ainsworth, head of the national or- ganization, as well as Smith and Richey, was heard. The sessions will close tomorrow night with a banquet. On the dais besides Smith, Richey and Ainsworth will be Ben Berger, president of North Central Allied ; Dave Palfreyman of the Motion Pic- ture Association of America ; Pete Wood, Ohio exhibitor leader, and Trueman Rembusch, ATOI president. In explaining the NCA-Berger- Smith Minneapolis concilation plan, Smith asserted, that "the failure of conciliation and mediation plans in the past has been due to the fact that they were conceived on a national basis." He said the Minneapolis plan "is promised on a local-level basis," adding that it is founded on "the good faith of both exhibitor and distributor and has no direct re- lationship to national viewpoints one way or another." Smith appealed to all "to be con- siderate of each others' problems sin- cerely and honestly." He held that "liberation from court attacks and other agitation could enhance the value and purpose of the screen," saying that "we have got to find a peaceful, practical and fair method by which every individual can seek to establish his right to a fair and hon- est existence in our business." Schine Named (Continued from page 1) the Memorial, and later attempted to secure the lease on the Memorial away from Long for the purpose of closing the theatre. The complaint further al- leges that efforts to stifle competition in Mount Vernon were all part of a scheme by Schine to monopolize ex- hibition in all towns in which Schine operated. The suit was filed in Federal Dis- trict Court at Columbus. Plaintiff's attorneys are Birney Pettay of Cadiz, and Seymour Simon, Chicago. Prior to the war, Simon, who was special assistant to the U. S. Attorney Gen- eral, participated in the Federal Gov- ernment's prosecution of the Schine circuit. TT Backlog (Continued from page 1) on the 19 pictures by August 1, with editing of half a dozen of these 'to be continued during the vacation pe- riod, Cowdin and Blumberg stated. They emphasized that "these plans have nothing to do with British film quota restrictions. The shutdown was planned months before the quota was enacted." Referring to a statement attributed to Eric Johnston, head of the Motion Picture Producers Asso- ciation, linking the shutdown with the British move to limit exhibition of American films, they said that John- ston was either misquoted or mis- informed." It was recalled in trade circles that Universal's decision to shut down its studio in August was made at the time that the first threats were heard of an August strike by the Screen Actors Guild. Screen Actors Start Vote on 'Open Shop' Hollywood, July 27. — Screen Actors Guild has mailed notifications to its entire membership for voting in an NLRB election, with a deadline of August 16, to determine whether a majority favor the retention of an open shop. SAG's notification de- scribes the election as the "most im- portant in SAG history." Adjustments Out Qt fr (Continued from page 1) !tf Is r said to be exerting every effort to avert theatremen's charges of discrimi nation in licensing the small indepen dent and a similarly-situated circuit or buying-combine house. The distribu- tors are carefully seeing to it that the independent gets the product at the same price despite the buying power of the group-theatre licensee. As for adjustments, the companies feel that they must rule them out in any instance of bidding or else place themselves vulnerable to other attacks. They take the position that the ex- hibitor who obtains product by bid- ding must be held to the terms of the agreement lest his competitor who lost out on the bidding charge collusion, or favoring an. old customer. The loser could charge that the top bidder actu- ally never intended the terms offered in that there was knowledge afore- hand that they would be reduced after the run of the picture. Truman Telecast (Continued from page 1) clear in picture and flawless in sound, making an impressive news scoop, even scoring over radio and newspapers. Apparent over-lighting in profile shots proved the only shortcoming, technically. Excepting children and a few others, the audience gave the Presi- dent its full attention. There were no signs of enthusiastic approval, or any degree of disapproval. The only before-hand knowledge the customers had of the telecast was imparted by a "barker" at the box-office. FIVE -STAR DC-6 FLAGSHIPS LOS ANGELES 11 hours, 10 minutes CHICAGO Zh hours Phone HAvemeyer 6-5000 or your travel agent Ticket Offices: Airlines Terminal Rockefeller Center • Hotel New Yorker 120 Broadway • Hotel St. George AMERICAN AIRLINES Accurate Concise and Impartial MOTION PICTURE DAILY 64. NO. 20 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, JULY 29, 1948 TEN CENTS Mediation Plan Is Up to Each rOA Affiliate Organization Will Not Act Nationally: Coyne While the Theatre Owners of America has steadfastly sought to pro- mote the mediation of distributor-ex- hibitor differences, according to Robert .iW. Coyne, the organization has no im- .ymediate plans to recommend the new D20th Century-Fox conciliation system nationally. Instead TOA units around the country will determine the merits of the plan for each local area. The TOA policy conforms with the practice to be followed by 20th-Fox on the NCA-Ber- ger-Smith Minneapolis plan for local adoption by exhibitors. In explaining the plan to the As- sociated Theatre Owners of Indiana convention at French Lick Tuesday night, 20th-Fox general sales manager A. W. Smith, Jr., said, "The failure of (Continued on page 6) Extra Loop Time to Be Sought for 'Ruth' Chicago, Tuly 28. — More Loop playing time for Allied Artists' "The Babe Ruth Story" will shortly be asked of Judge Michael Igoe in U. S. District Court here by the com- pany's Ne- York attorneys, it is un- derstood. The film opens at the B. and K. State Lake on September 1. Although Allied Artists and Mono- gram, which is distributing the film, are non-defendants in the Jackson Park decree, the film nevertheless is (Continued on page 6) Regular Scales If Goldwyn Gets 'Joan' Walter ' Wanger's "Joan of Arc" and Hov->rd Hawks' "Red River" will be sold at regular admission prices in the event Samuel Goldwyn represents the producers in the sale of those pictures, James Mulvey, presi- dent of Goldwyn Pictures, declared here yesterday. Mulvey is presently nesrotiating deals for both. Exceptions to this would be the roadshowing of "Arc" in four-wall deals, where the distributor actually leases the theatre for the exhibition (Continued on page 6) ATOI Defers Action on Smith-Berger Peace Plan French Lick, Ind., July 28. — As- sociated Theatre Owners of Indiana, in convention here, adopted a motion to give further study to the plan of conciliation of local grievances devel- oped by A W. Smith, Jr., 20th Cen- tury-Fox general sales manager, and Bennie Berger, head of North Central Allied. No action will be taken on the plan until the next ATOI meet- ing. The convention heard both Smith and Berger on the conciliation plan, the latter reporting that no com- plaints had been filed since promulga- tion of the plan. Berger likened the Minneapolis grievance committee to a crime prevention force rather than a board set up to mete out punishment to offenders. Smith, whose remarks on the plan were reported yesterday, received and answered all general complaints against his company's policy in In- diana. It was felt that the resultant discussion had been constructive and would improve distributor-exhibitor relationships. W. A. Carroll, ATOI executive secretary, warned Indiana exhibitors (Continued on page 6) 4 New Variety Clubs Are Being Organized Four new Variety Clubs are in the process of formulation, in Houston, Portland, Seattle and London. The Variety Club, Houston branch of Dallas Tent No. 17 has applied for a charter in accordance with the decision of the last convention in Miami that no tent operate any branch. The new Tent, No. 34, will be known as the Variety Club of Hous- ton. It's Chief Barker will be John Paul Goodwin. The other petitioners for the charter are : Lou C. Baxley, W. E. Bremer, Fred Cannata, Robert Z. Glass, Jack Groves, Al Lever, Mitchell Lewis, Al Mortensen, B. F. Orr, Sid Suhler and Frank Wilkie. Headquarters for the new tent will be (Continued on page 6) Goldwyn - Astor Deal Renewed for 1 Year Samuel Goldwyn Productions has renewed for another year its lease on the Astor on Broadway. Present ar- rangement expires in February. Un- der the deal, Goldwyn gives the own- er, City Investing Co., a flat guaran- tee against a percentage on a sliding- scale basis. James Mulvey, president of the Goldwyn company, and Mau- rice Maurer, house's operator, signed. U. S. Distributors Granted Argentine Import Certificates By NATALIO BRUSKI Buenos Aires, July 25 (By Air- mail)— The Argentine government has granted to American distribu- tors here import permits which will be in force for nine months. In order to obtain permits, the U. S. companies were made to relinquish the right to export the dollar currency which would be equivalent to the print costs of the pictures to be im- ported here. However, in spite of the loss of the currency export privi- lege, granting of the permits has been some relief to U. S. distributors, who were threat- ened with the possibility of having to close down here due (Continued on page 6) See up to 30 Films Under Wilson Plan London, July 28. — British Board of Trade president Harold Wilson's ad- visors believe that up to 30 features will be produced under his $20,000,000 government Film Finance Corp., legislation for which is expected to be introduced shortly after Parliament convenes in mid-September. However, exhibitors are skeptical of any such production total emanating from it. Likely to figure importantly in the plan is Hugh Quennell's British Lion Film Corp., which is Sir Alexander Korda's distribution affiliate. British Lion is the distributor also of Her- bert Wilcox's singularly successful pictures, Wilcox being one of the in- dependent producers who is clearly (Continued on page 6) Lowell Calvert To Represent Nasser Lowell Calvert has been named Eastern representative for James Nasser Productions. He will imme- diately join Nasser in discussions here with United Artists executives on dis- tribution plans for "An Innocent Af- fair," which will be released by U. A. shortly. Calvert also represents Samuel Bischoff 's Regal Films. : TOA Warns on Non-Payment Of Ascap Fees A Violation, Subject to Big Fines, Says Sullivan In a special bulletin to its mem- bers on the Federal Court's de- cision holding Ascap guilty of vio- lating the anti-trust laws, the Thea- tre Owners of America warns ex- hibitors that they "should not stop paying Ascap until such time as Ascap is finally enjoined from the col- lection of license fees or until the judgment becomes final, unless, of course, the particular theatre oper- ator wishes to and is able to negotiate individual, separate contracts with composers, authors and publishers." The bulletin was sent to all TOA members yesterday over the signature ot Uael Sullivan, executive director . Sullivan points out that "the play- ing of musical compositions on your screen without a license is a violation of the Federal Copyright Law," re- (Continued on page 6) Avoid Signing New Ascap Pacts: ITOA In the wake of the Federal Court decision adjudging Ascap to be op- erating m violation of the anti-trust laws the Independent Theatre Own- ers Association of New York, which was the victor in the case, has advised its members not to sign new contracts with the society pending further in- structions from ITOA counsel. Most agreements with Ascap held by ITOA members will begin to expire Septem- ber 15. In March, ITOA members signed (Continued on page 6) TBA Asks Hearings On Video Channels Washington, July 28.— The Tele- vision Broadcasters Association has asked the Federal Communications Commission to order hearings as soon as possible to provide additional chan- nels for telecasters. DuMont has also outlined for the commission its plan to give telecasters eight additional channels. Dr. Thomas T. Goldsmith, for Du- Mont, suggested that eight new chan- (Continued on page 6) Motion Picture Daily Thursday, July 29, 1948 Forrestal Approves USO Reactivation Washington, July 28.— Sec- retary of Defense Forrestal has approved a Civilian Ad- visory Committee's recom- mendation to reactivate the USO, and the USO has agreed to his request that it be reorganized in light of the expanded peacetime armed forces. Wartime USO Chair- man Lindsley F. Kimball told Forrestal that the reorgani- zation would be accomplished probably by the end of 1948. Hollywood talent was wide- ly represented in the USO's ranks in World War II. $300,000 'New Look' For Victoria Here City Investing Co. will spend 000 in remodeling its Victoria The- atre, Broadway first-run, with the pro- ject to include the addition of 400 seats to make a total of 1,100, ac- cording to Maurice Maurer, who op- erates the house for the investment firm. The house will be closed on Sunday, ending the "Raw Deal" run, and is scheduled for November 5 re- opening. Maurer said one of "Hollywood's biggest" will be the curtain-raiser when the theatre reopens. This was reported to be "Red River," but Mau- rer would not say so. A deal that would have given David O. Selznick priority of booking at the Victoria, in a sub-leasing arrange- ment, discussed for some time, will not be consummated, Maurer said. Griffis To Promote U.S. Films in Egypt Washington, July 28. — Stanton Griffis, chairman of Paramount's ex- ecutive committee, and newly ap- pointed Ambassador to Egypt, said here today that while in Cairo he would do "everything possible to en- courage circulation of American mo- tion pictures throughout the Arab world." Griffic made t^p statement after bidding a brief farewell to Pres- ident Truman. He left for New York tonight, and will sail for Egypt tomor- row. Boston Approves 'Hamlet Contrary to reports, "Hamlet" will not be censored in Boston, says Uni- versal-International. The film has been approved by both the Massachu- setts State Police, which has censor- ship powers over Sunday showings, and the Boston City Censor. Set Four 'Carmen' Dates Columbia has set four of six pre- release openings for "The Loves of Carmen," to be released nationally later in the year. The film will open in Cincinnati at the Palace or Albee on September 15 or 22; Los Angeles, Hill Street and Pantages, September IS or 22 ; Buffalo, Lafayette, Septem- ber 22, and Houston, Metropolitan, September 23. Personal Mention RICHARD DE ROCHEMONT March of Time producer, and Edward Small, producer, will sail for Europe today on the SS Queen Mary. • Robert Goldstein, Universal-Inter- national executive; Bonnie Cashin, 20th Century-Fox designer, and Lou- ella Parsons, Hollywood columnist, are due to arrive here today on the SS America. • A. Pam Blumenthal and Joseph Bern hard, Film Classics executives, are here from Hollywood. • George Brown, Paramount studio publicity director, is en route here from Hollywood. Jack Odell, United Artists' Puerto Rico manager, is visiting in New York. JOHN JOSEPH, Universal-Inter- national advertising-publicity di- rector, left here for the Coast yester- day. • Andy W. Smith, Jr., 20th Century- Fox's general sales manager, will re- turn to New York today from French Lick, Ind., accompanied by Sam Shain, exhibitor-public relations liai- son. H. M. Bessey, executive vice-pres- ident of Altec Service, and E. O. Wilschke, operations manager, have returned here from Chicago. • Charles E. Kessnich, M-G-M district manager, will return to At- lanta at the weekend from New York. • Ed Hinchy, head of Warner's home office playdate department, is in Cleve- land. Vetluguin,MacKenna In New MGM Posts Hollywood, July 28. — Voldemar Vetluguin has been elevated from the M-G-M editorial board to producer. At the same time, Kenneth MacKen- na was named to supervise the studio's story department in addition to his duties as executive editorial assistant to L. B. Mayer and Dore Schary. Arnold Jacobs Heads Siritzky Theatres Arnold Jacobs, in charge of Siritzky International's New York offices, has been named general manager of Sir- itzy Theatres, the Majestic in Brook- lyn, the Ambassador, Elysee, and the Golden in New York City and the Old South in Boston. "Takes" Hit Slightly By "Coolers" Strike Business at Loew and RKO thea- tres in the New York Metropolitan area was reported slightly off yester- day as the strike of Local 30, Inter- national Union of Operating Engi- neers, AFL, against the circuits neared the end of its first week, with both sides no nearer to a settlement over wages. Air-conditioning equip- ment has been idle at the Loew and RKO houses since Saturday. 'Ruth' Big in Baltimore Baltimore, July 28. — Allied Art- ists' "The Babe Ruth Story" was headed for a new opening day's record at the Town Theatre here today, with an indicated gross in excess of $3,000 for the first day. Baltimore is Ruth's home city and it figures prominently in the picture's early sequences. "Ruth" Chicago Meet Chicago, July 28. — Steve Broidy, Monogram president, will preside at a one-day meeting at the Drake Hotel here August 7 on sales policies for "The Babe Ruth Story." Attending will be franchise holders and branch managers. Dave Flexer Resumes Buying for Four Memphis, July 28. — Dave Flexer, owner of Flexer Theaters, reports his Memphis office has resumed booking and buying of films for his theaters in Memphis, Amory, New Albany and Sardis, Miss. Last January, M. A. Lightman and associates acquired a minor interest in the Flexer houses whereby they handled booking and buying for the four theaters. The arrangement has been terminated August 1. 'Lady in Ermine' Is Rated 'B' by Legion Twentieth Century-Fox's "That Lady in Ermine" has been given a B classification by the National Legion of Decency. Classified A-l are Col- umbia's "The Arkansas Swing," United Artists' "Silent Conflict" and Columbia's "The Strawberry Roan." In Class A-II are : Republic's "Eyes of Texas," RKO Radio's "Good Sam," Universal-International's "Mr. Pea- body and the Mermaid," Republic's "Moonrise," and Columbia's "Thun- derhoof." Final RKO Regional Ends on the Coast San Francisco, July 28. — Fifth and final in a series of RKO Radio zone meetings was concluded here today at the St. Frances Hotel, distribution presided over by Robert Modhrie, distribution vice-president. Harry J. Michalson, short subject sales manager, spoke of the increasing need of short subjects as part of the present day theatre program. Walter E. Branson, Western division sales manager, also spoke. Suspend Milland Hollywood, July 28. — Paramount has placed Ray Milland on suspension following his refusal to appear in "A Mask for Lucretia," scheduled to start in August. No announcement as to who will replace Milland has been made. New Financing for German Industry Washington, July 28. — The Ger- man motion picture industry has re- ceived a vital boost with the organ- ization of a new film financing com- pany in Hamburg, the U. S. Com- merce Department announced today. In a report issued by film chief Na- than D. Golden, the Department states that nine prominent Hamburg b nessmen have contributed to for: new company, the Filmfinanzrin'__ m. b. N. As yet no public announce ment of the new firm has been made. It will finance production as well as other film industry transactions. Golden points out that lack of capi- tal has been a retarding factor on German film production since the end of the war, with producers having to wait for the returns from one film be- fore commencing another. Now, he declares, the financing problem will be partly licked and the German indus- try resume a more normal develop- ment. West Pointers Honor Zukor and Paramount West Point, N. Y., July 28.— Adolph Zukor, Paramount board chairman, accepted from the Dialectic Society of the U. S. Military Acade- my tonight a plaque symbolizing "honorary membership of our friends from Paramount in the Dialectic So- ciety of the U. S. Military Academy in gratitude for their portrayal of life at West Point in the motion picture, 'Beyond Glory'." The occasion was a dinner in the Academy Mess Hall, commemorating the making of the picture here. Pres- ent were representatives of the press, radio and magazines, and the follow- ing from Paramount, in addition to Zukor : Charles Reagan, Paul Rai- bourn, Russell Holman, E. K. O'Shea, and others. Screen Guild Will Hold Five Meetings Screen Guild Productions will hold a series of weekend sales meetings starting tomorrow at the Warwick Hotel, New York. Meetings on suc- cessive weekends will be held at the William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh ; Blackstone Hotel, Chicago; Peabody, Memphis, and a final session in San Francisco. Arthur Greenblatt, sales executive, will preside, announcing product and policy for the new season. U.K. Critic Vs. M-G-M London, July 28. — The critics' cir- cle here is launching a fund to help Mrs. E. Arnot Robertson, former film critic for British Broadcasting Corp., raise the money necessary for her to pursue an appeal' to the House of Lords of her slander and libel suit against M-G-M. The distributor won on Monday its appeal against a prior judgment favoring Mrs. Robertson, who will require an estimated 3,000 pounds ($12,000) additional to press the case further. MOTIOX PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor: Chicago Bureau, 1-20 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac. Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. $16 WARNER BROS. V DOROTHY MALONE * PENNY EDWARDS and Louis Pelletier • Orchestral Arrangements by Ray Heindorf D!rec,ed by JQT ALEX 'gOTTLI EB by Jule Styne * Lyri" by Sammy C°hn DAV,D BUTLER We's f" 'r-X- That root"1 carrot c"c westerner , BUGS BUN**- Warner Screening Room 79 N. Pearl St. • 12:30 P.M. ATLANTA 20th Century-Fox Screening Room 197 Walton St. N.W. • 2:30 P.M. BOSTON RKO Screening Room 122 Arlington St. • 2:30 P.M. BUFFALO Paramount Screening Room 464 Franklin St. • 2:00 P.M. CHARLOTTE 20th Century-Fox Screening Room 308 S. Church St. • 10:00 A.M. CHICAGO Warner Screening Room 1307 So. Wabash Ave. • 1:30 P.M. CINCINNATI RKO Screening Room Palace Th. Bldg. E. 6th • 8:00 P.M. CLEVELAND Warner Screening Room 2300 Payne Ave. • 2:00 P.M. DALLAS 20th Century-Fox Screening Room 1803 Wood St. • 2:00 P.M. DENVER Paramount Screening Room 2100 Stout St. • 2:00 P.M. DES MOINES 20th Century-Fox Screening Room 1300 High St. • 12:45 P.M. DETROIT Film Exchange Building 2310 Cass Ave. • 2:00 P.M. INDIANAPOLIS Universal Screening Room 517 No. Illinois St. • 1:00 P.M KANSAS CITY 20th Century-Fox Screening Room 1720 Wyandotte St. • 1:30 P.M. LOS ANGELES Warner Screening Room 2025 S. Vermont Ave. • 2:00 P.M. MEMPHIS 20th Century-Fox Screening Room 151 Vance Ave. • 10:00 A.M. MILWAUKEE Warner Theatre Screening Room 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. • 2:00 P.M. MINNEAPOLIS Warner Screening Room 1000 Currie Ave. • 2:00 P.M. NEW HAVEN Warner Theatre Projection Room 70 College St. • 2:00 P.M. NEW ORLEANS 20th Century-Fox Screening Room 200 S. Liberty St. • 1:30 P.M. NEW YORK Home Office 321 W. 44th St. • 2:30 P.M. OKLAHOMA 20th Century-Fox Screening Room 10 North Lee St. • 1:30 P.M. OMAHA 20th Century-Fox Screening Room 1502 Davenport St. • 1:00 P.M. PHILADELPHIA Warner Screening Room 230 No. 13th St. • 2:30 P.M. PITTSBURGH 20th Century-Fox Screening Room 1715 Blvd. of Allies • 1:30 P.M. PORTLAND Jewel Box Screening Room 1947 N.W. Kearney St. • 2:00 P.M. SALT LAKE 20th Century-Fox Screening Room 216 East 1st South • 2:00 P.M. SAN FRANCISCO Paramount Screening Room 205 Golden Gate Ave. • 1:30 P.M SEATTLE Jewel Box Screening Room 2318 Second Ave. • 10:30 A.M. ST. LOUIS S'renco Screening Room 3143 Olive St. • 1:00 P.M. WASHINGTON Warner Theatre Building 13th & E Sts. N.W. • 10:30 A.M. New York critics follow their "Emperor Waltz" and "Foreign Affair" raves with high praise for ... . PARAMOUNT! T"'°" MMUUANEOU (3*5 AW \JB0 ,0^ From First Out-Of- Town Dates It's topping Para- mount's previous top- suspense drama of 1948 in Atlantic City and Cincinnati . BOOK "THE MAGIC CITY"— FREI AD WAY HIT! /// So Evil My Love' scores hit. Fascinating.. .story of a dash- ing cad who entices a weak woman to her destruction/1 i# m — Alton Cook, World -Telegram "Loaded with boxoffice ingredients . . • Destined for a long stay at the Rivoli . . . Odds-on winner/' -tee Mortimer, Minor • • J • "No better acting can be found in town than on the Rivoli screen. Women. ..delight in melodramas of this sort." m — Wanda Hale, Daily News "Suspenseful... ingenious. ..chiller. ..with inventive plot twists and spectacularly good performances." -cece//a Ager, n. y. star 'Strange, always interesting melodrama. ..piling evil on evil ...Hal WalHs knOWS hoW tO make them." -Eileen Creelman, Sun "Few movie descents into murder have been acted as perfectly. All performances excellent." — Archer Winsten, Post "A walloping amount of suspense. Boiling passion, black- mail and murder... splendidly dished up by all hands." — lew Sheaffer, Brooklyn Eagle 6 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, July 29, 1948 Reviews "Good Sam" (Rainbow-RKO Radio) AN UNUSUAL fund of warmth and humor enriches "Good Sam," a comedy-drama showing how charity towards others can be exercised to the point of a fault. Producer-director Leo McCarey has shown some adroit showmanship, from both merchandising and histrionic viewpoints, in teaming Gary Cooper and Ann Sheridan. They complement one another smartly. The screenplay provided the pair is an easy-going affair that meanders almost plotlessly in and out of situations, turning up chuckles and cracker- barrel wisdom. Emphasis is on characterization — rather than dramatic in- volvements— and some superb ones come up. The one weakness is its running time of close to two hours, tending to put the proceedings in a prolonged and fitful mood. Cooper, as a small city family man who believes in being everybody's friend, develops into an oddly memorable character as he stumbles in and out of the predicaments that are the consequences of his beliefs. As Miss Sheridan, his wife, says succinctly, the trouble with Cooper is that "he's his brother's keeper and he has too many brothers." The pungent truth of this observation is demonstrated in the Ken Englund screenplay by a parade of incidents, such as the generous offering of the family car to the neighbors, only to have it returned smashed, or the offering of sanctuary in the Cooper home to every passing friend and stranger. As is inevitable, events finally take an unfortunate turn for Cooper. He not only is robbed of a charity collection, but finds he may forever lose his new "dream-home" because debtors are a little sluggish in their repayments. A joyous finale ends the drama, however, in which Cooper discovers that his generosities of the past were really bread upon the water. A Rainbow film, the story centers mostly around the two principals, but fine assistance in sup- porting roles are offered by Ray Collins, Edmund Lowe, Joan Lorring and Clinton Sundberg. Running time, 114 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, September 1. Mandel Herbstman "Sorry, Wrong Number" (Paramount) A LOT of melodramatic suspense, mingled with touches of irony, is con- tained in Paramount's "Sorry, Wrong Number." The combined talents of Hal Wallis and Anatole Litvak went into the production which at once tries to oblige the tastes of gangster thriller and psychological drama fans. Good production treatment and a reliable cast headed by Barbara Stanwyck and Burt Lancaster are the feature's primary boxoffice merits. On the other side is a story whose development is often obscure, and dialogue that fre- quently lacks freshness. The suspenseful element derives from Miss Stanwyck's predicament. An invalid wife of Lancaster, she chances to hear on a crossed telephone wire two men plotting a murder that night. After a series of frantic happenings, the realization grips her that she is to be the victim. Through flashbacks there unfolds the story of how Miss Stanwyck met Lancaster and their subsequent marriage which developed into a contest of wills leading to Miss Stanwyck's psychological malady. In time, her husband, hard-pressed by rival thieves is forced to make a deal with them entailing his wife's murder for the insurance. No doubt underworld films portraying malignant characters have a mass appeal. This one however seems weakened by events that lack the authority of credibility. An unorthodox finale terminates the film. In a desperate last-minute effort to save his wife, Lancaster phones her, only to hear the killer's laconic reply, "Sorry, wrong number." A Wallis production, directed by Litvak ; its cast is rounded out by Ann Richards, Wendell Corey and Harold Vermilyea. Lucille Fletcher wrote the screenplay. Running time, 89 minutes. Adult audience classification. Release date, September 24. M. H. ATOI Defers Action (Continued from page 1) of the likelihood of permissive legis- lation for the levying of admission taxes at the local level being intro- duced at the bi-annual session of the state legislature, which convenes next Jan. 1. William Ainsworth, president of Allied States, spoke on organizational matters and the Allied national con- vention at New Orleans, Nov. 30- Dec. 2. Trueman Rembusch, ATOI presi- dent, reported that the board of di- rectors had negotiated a 25 per cent reduction in film haulage rates with Indiana Film Transit, effective imme- diately. The new rates will also ap- ply to Louisville, served out of the Indianapolis exchanges. The ATOI board voted unanimous- ly to invite national Allied and its Caravan Committee to establish head- auarter^ in Indianapolis, a more cen- tral location since the recent forma- tion of new Allied units in Western Central and Southern areas. Cara- van presently is handled by Eastern Pennsylvania Allied, with Sidney Samuelson of that organization, chair- man. Change of Caravan headquar- ters would involve no change of its policy or administrative personnel, it was stated. Mediation Plan (Continued from page 1) conciliation and mediation plans in the past has been due to the fact that they were conceived on a national basis." Smith declared that the Minne- apolis plan, "promised on a local-level basis, is founded on the good faith of both exhibitor and distributor and has no direct relationship to national viewpoints one way or another." Coyne stated here that national sup- port would require board approval be- cause of the intra-industry nature of the program, as being apart from such matters as 16mm. competition and tele- vision which originate outside the film business. Predict 30 Features (Continued from page 1) not in need of governmental aid. Trade experts anticipate that Wil- son ultimately will be obliged to es- tablish a State distribution organiza- tion as a corollary to his production plans. James H. Lawrie, nominee as chairman of the Wilson Plan's organ- izing committee, is clearly a stop- gap. Eventually he will become chair- man of Film Finance Corp., of which members of the organizing committee will be directors. Lawrie admits he has no illusions regarding his new job. "The Gity," (he says, "evidently doesn't think film production now is a sound investment. The govern- ment has had to come along and pro- vide money. I am determined it shall be a commercial proposition." Extra Time (Continued from page 1) restricted under the decree to a two- week Loop run because it is booked into a defendant theatre. Allied Art- ists, however, it was learned, may ask for the extension through unoffi- cial channel rather than through le- gal --tion. Argentine Imports (Continued from page 1) to a product shortage. During the first six months of this year, 238 features were released in Buenos Aires. A breakdown of their origin shows that 120 came from the U. S. ; 26 from Italy ; 28 from Mex- ico: 15 from England; eight each from Spain and France ; two from Chile ; one each from Sweden, Uru- guay and Cuba, and 28 were produced in Argentina. Two Notable Aspects Most notable aspect of this survey is the increase of Italian films at the exnense of Hollywood product which, however, 'still accounts for over 50 per cent of the total. Also notable i- th complete absence of films from the Soviet which, in the corresponding period of last year, re- leased f ' - pictures here. TBA Asks Hearings (Continued from page 1) nels be obtained from Government services, giving telecasters a total of 20 channels and thus relieving the present tight situation. He proposed that three additional frequencies be used to relieve stations that are poor- ly spaced and five additional channels be used in communities where more channels are needed to give proper competition. The commission's hearings on re- allocating existing television channels recessed this morning until August 16, when oral argument will be heard on the proposals. Mrs. Edward Rogers, 70 Funeral services will be held in Phoenix, Ariz., tomorrow for Mrs. Edward Rogers, 70, mother of Tom Rogers, radio contact for Metro-Gold- wyn-Mayer. TOA Warns on Ascap (Continued from page 1) minding exhibitors that "the money penalty for such violations can be great." "Exhibitors," says the bulletin, "must take no comfort in the falla- cious premise that individual copyright owners, on their own, or through Ascap, or through some other organi- zation, will not police for copyright violations and will, if detected, do nothing about them. The amount t»rvv paid is comparatively small andS|f/ dangers of non-payment may be v^y substantial." Members are advised to continue meeting their Ascap obligations until notified to the contrary. "The case does not eliminate the requirement of theatre operators' paying for per- formance rights," they are warned. Asserting that "the ultimate value of this decision will be in how much time and money can be saved the ex- hibitor," the bulletin contends that Judge Vincent L. Leibell's ruling "promises neither," but rather "changes the method of collection that in the long pull can be more costly than the current method of paying for performance rights." Sullivan concludes that "the end re- sult for the exhibitor can be stated simply — Ascap, by any other name, will cost the same — or more." Avoid Ascap Pacts (Continued from page 1) six-month contracts with Ascap. In pressing the suit the plaintiffs won an understanding that fees due the soci- ety be held in escrow in a special fund. The question now is what is to be done with that money. The feeling in some quarters is that Judge Vincent L. Leibell, who sat on the case, will order that it be turned back to the plaintiffs. New Variety Clubs (Continued from page 1) in the Texas State Hotel. International Chief Barker R. J. O'Donnell, expects to visit Portland and Seattle in August where he will talk with film men in those cities who are anxious to start local Variety Clubs. Bill McCraw, executive di- rector of the clubs is expected to join O'Donnell for the trip to the North- west. Second Assistant international chief barker, C. J. Latta, now located in London for Warner Brothers, reports progrerss in the formation of a Vari- ety. Club in that country. Widespread interest is reported among British industry men in Gerat Britain for a tent and international officers here ex- pect an application for a charter be- fore the end of the year. Regular 'Joan' Scales (Continued from page 1) of the picture, following the "Best Years of Our Lives" selling pattern. These would not involve admission price-fixing as outlawed by the U. S. Supreme Court. Negative costs in the neighborhood of $3,000,000 for each of the films gave rise to the belief that tilted ad- mission prices would be asked for both in rental contracts. Roadshowing of any type for "Red River" has been ruled out. United Artists, distributor, already has more than 300 signed contracts for it, it is said. A/ Accurate Concise and Impartial MOTION PICTURE DAILY — JK4. NO. 21 1, NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, JULY 30, 1948 TEN CENTS 3elieve Quota Relief Is Up To State Dep't Industry Sees No Other Likelihood of Action Having abandoned ideas on a direct and concerted action against the British 45 per cent exhibitor quota, U. S. film companies now pin their hopes for relief on U. S. State Department intervention based on the quota's possible violation of in- ternational trade agreements. Reporting this, one top official close to the situation said yesterday that the companies believe that there is "little we can do as an industry" if the quota persists as the law of England. If the quota can be found in violation of the international trade agreements, however, its repeal would be looked for through the U. S. State Depart- ment, it was said. Additionally, it is felt here that British exhibitors will not have avail- able native pictures sufficient in num- ber to make the quota law workable. Film companies chiefs had dis- cussed an assortment of anti-quota (Continued on page 4) Quota Is Too High, Says ABPC Chief London, July 29. — Sir Philip War- ter, chairman of Associated British Pictures' Corp., told the company^ annual stockholders meeting that he is unable to foresee a sufficient supply of British films to fulfill the new 45 per cent quota. Emphasizing, however, that (.Continued on page 7) Cost-of -Living Raise Sought at Studios Hollywood, July 29.— IATSE president Richard Walsh will return to New York over the weekend after a week of pre- liminary negotiations with producers for a cost-of-living increase for hundreds in "IA" studio locals. It is understood the de- mand was opposed by produc- ers on the ground that the industry is in no condition to warrant raises. It will be left in abeyance until after the IATSE convention in Cleve- land, starting August 16. Rename Johnston to EC A Advisory Board Washington, July 29. — Appoint- ments of three industry officials to top Government jobs were included in a long list that President Truman re- submitted today to the Senate for con- firmation. • Included are the nomination of Mo- tion Picture Association of America president Eric A. Johnston as a mem- ber of the Economic Cooperation Ad- ministration advisory board, Para- mount executive committee chairman Stanton Griffis as Ambassador to Egypt, and Frank Capra as an alter- nate delegate to the third session of the United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organization. These appointments were submitted first during the closing days of the regular session. The Senate ad- journed without acting on them, and they were given interim appointments. The Senate Republican policy com- mittee has already indicated it will not approve any major nominations at the special session, indicating that these officials will continue to hold only in- terim appointments. Urge Regulation of Rank Theatre Clubs London, July 29. — The London County Council, the government of Britain's capital, today received from its general purposes committee a re- port recommending the appointment of an advisory committee to supervise the organization and control of J. Arthur Rank's Children's Saturday Morning Cinema Clubs. Allowing that Rank's intentions are commendable, the Council committee recommends, however, an attempt to "improve the Saturday morning shows by seeking to raise the standard of the films and the behavior of the au dience." The committee suggests also that the British Board of Film Censors extend its code of film classification (Continued on page 7) New Drive-Ins Are Mushrooming in US In addition to the listing in Motion Picture Daily on July 22 of new drive-in building — which is far sur- passing the most optimistic expecta- tions of the blue-printing days of last winter and fall — are the following projects, which also represent only a partial tally: Airdrome Amusement Co.'s project at Milldale, Conn., cost $100,000, with (Continued on page 7) Argentine Tax Bill To Aid Film Scribes Buenos Aires, July 27 (By Airmail). — Under a bill intro- duced in the Argentine legis- lature, exhibitors are re- quired to pay three per cent of their box-office returns to the government, which would distribute the tax among all who participated in the prep- aration of native screen- plays as well as the authors of original books or stories which had been transformed to the screen. The proposed legislation provides also for such pay- ments to authors of imported films if their countries of origin accord equal treatment to Argentine film writers. Para. Theatre Video In Chicago and Coast Paramount has on order full-screen television equipment for installation as soon as possible at one of its affiliated theatres in Chicago and Los Angeles, Paul Raibourn, president of Para- mount Television Productions, said yesterday. Delivery of the equipment already is overdue, he added. He would not identify the theatres but presumably the Coast house will either be the Hollywood or the Downtown. The veil of mystery that has sur- rounded Paramount's theatre television system was lifted slightly by Raibourn although a thorough description of its intermediate process remains a secret. Raibourn stated that only standard equipment is used, including receiver tube, camera apparatus and regular theatre projector. The difference lies in Paramount's "unique system" of assembling the component parts of the machinery, and nothing else, he said. The Paramount method receives television images on a receiver in the projection booth, rapidly processes film taken direct from the tube, and projects that film on the large screen. Film Classics Will Convene Here Today Film Classics' first worldwide sales meeting will open here today in the Hotel Astor, to run three days. Delegates will gather first at the Preview Theatre to see "Sofia" and "Miraculous Journey," Film Classics' first two new Cinecolor specials. The group will then go to the Astbr for lunch, after which B. G. Kranze, sales vice-president, will call the meeting to (Continued on page 7) Ascap Decision Perils Theatre Video: TO A Tough Performing Rights Job Seen for Exhibitors Theatre presentation of television programs other than televised films will face a serious threat should the Federal Court ban on Ascap's issu- ance of blanket licenses stand, accord- ing to an analysis by Herman M. Levy, Theatre Owners of America general counsel, of Judge Vincent L. Leibell's decision holding the society guilty in the anti-trust action brought against it by 164 members of the In- dependent Theatre Owners Associa- tion of New York. The analysis expresses the view that if the decision is not appealed from or is affirmed on (Continued on page 7) Canadian Liaison to Aid U. S. Producers Appointment of A. H. Newman of the Department of Trade and Com- merce in Ottawa as the Canadian gov- ernment's central liaison for all Amer- ican film production in the Dominion was reported here yesterday by the Motion Picture Association of Amer- ica. The Ottawa office of Newman will serve as a clearing house for all U. S. producers planning production in Canada. (Continued on page 7) AFM Now Seeks to Open Talks Aug. 18 A further bid for the start of negotiations with producers for a new contract covering studio musicians has been made by the American Fed- eration of Musicians, which now offers August 18 as a date for initial conferences between representatives of both sides. The place sug- gested for the talks is New York. Chicago had previously been suggested as the locale. The AFM board is sched- uled to meet in Chicago the week of August 9. Producers have declined an invitation to confer with the union at the same time. 2 Motion Picture Daily Friday, July 30, 1941 Personal Mention JAMES R. GRAINGER, executive vice-president of Republic, is back in New York after three weeks on the Coast. • Charles Crowley, manager of Warner's Grand and Globe, Vineland, N. J., has returned to his desk after "vacationing" at Pine Camp, N. Y., with the National Guard in which he holds the rank of captain. • William B. Gulette of the Pre- view Theatre here, a'nd Mrs. Gulette, are parents of a second daughter, Charlene Ann, born at- Harkness Pavillion here. • Lon T. Fidler, Monogram fran- chise holder in Salt Lake City, has been released from the hospital there where he spent three weeks following a heart attack. • Lully Seeberg, secretary .to Eman- uel Silverstone of 20th Century- Fox,, will return to the home office on Mon- day from a Hollywood vacation. • Belle Meyer, secretary to Sam Seidelman, Eagle-Lion's foreign operations chief, is vacationing at Livingston Manor, N. Y. • G. L. Carrington, president of Al- tec, is en route back to the Coast from New York, with a stopover scheduled for Chicago. • May Helabian of Columbia's ex- ploitation department will be married to Harry Chakmakian on Sunday. • Paul Hollister, RKO Radio pub- licity director, is in Hollywood from here. Rosenfeld Tops SRO So. American Sales Isidro Rosenfeld ' has been named supervisor for the Selznick Releasing Organization in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile with headquarters in Buenos Aires, by Mil- ton A. Kramer, SRO board chairman. He will work under the direction of Manny Reiner, managing director in Latin America. Rosenfeld recently was supervisor for Samuel Goldwyn and Walt Disney in Mexico and part of South America. Prior to that he was with Warner Brothers for 18 years in South America. Dudelson Becomes Eagle-Lion Manager Ha rris Dudelson has been named Cincinnati branch manager for Eagle- Lion by William J. Heineman, distri- bution vice-president. Dudelson, who entered the industry in 1925 as United Artists booker in Cleveland, has continued with that company in more important posts ever since. He was appointed Cleveland branch manager this year, which post he resigned to join Eagle-Lion. Insider's Outlook By RED KANN DAGGERS, and in North-to-South reverse, are punc- turing the atmosphere between Paramount in New York and E. V. Richards, Jr., in New Or- leans. The feeling in both di- rections runs pretty high at the moment and the outcome is not yet in sight. "Rich," of course, is a Para- mount theatre partner and as dominant a figure in his terri- tory today as he has been for all these many years. The dis- pute is over film rentals about which distributors, with no known exception, have been beefing practically from time immemorial. ■ The inside is that, Paramount long patient, finally decided on the leap by informing Richards he no longer could buy its prod- uct for sub- runs at about IS per cent of the gross when com- petitive subs paid as much as 35 per cent; that after Paramount product already booked — and probably not going beyond "The Emperor Waltz" — had played, terms had to be re-cast up- wards. Now Richards, who can be as tough as steel and is known to have proven it often, replied "No dice" or some picturesque words to the same effect; that he had gotten along without Metro and Universal and would manage to survive . without Paramount. He also is under- stood to have observed some- what acidly that any sharp in- crease in percentage terms, ob- viously, would cut into his profits, thereby reduce his net and affect the value of his stock — the latter a highly important equation in the event theatre di- vorcement is made mandatory by the New York circuit court re-appraising the Government suit against the majors. It's a standoff at present with unknown chapters yet to be filled in. They could be very exciting. ■ a Nick Communique Schenck : 1. — He's delighted with the appointment of Dore Schary as V. P. in charge of production. 2. — He's tickled over the way "Easter Parade" is zooming. 3. — He's delighted and tickled because his health is sharply im- proved. And he's not relying on his own opinion. His doc- tor is the authority. About "The Emperor Waltz" here in New York. The attrac- tion leaves the Music Hall at the close of business next Wednesday night, at which time it will have rounded out seven weeks to these estimated grosses : Week of June 17 $160,000 June 24 152,000 July 1 156,000 July 8 145,000 July 15 135,000 July 22 123,000 July 29 [Final] 115,000 Seven Weeks $986,000 No other show played the Hall as long this year. Only one, "The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer," matched it for length of run in calendar 1947 and nothing outdistanced it in that year. Long-termers in '46 were "The Jolson Story," "No- torious" and "Anna and the King of Siam," each one run- ning eight weeks. Not since that year has Paramount been in the theatre. The film then was "To Each His Own," which remained four weeks. ■ ■ Add Hollywood stories : The one about the self-inflated producer gathering sidewalk comment after the preview of his latest. Spying one of the studio office boys, he asked: "And how did you like the picture ?" Office Boy: "To tell you the truth, I didn't." Producer: "You didn't? And who are you not to like it?" O. B.— "And who do I have to be not to like it?" ■ ■ There is a very harried sales manager around the town. His product has been ranging from nervous "A's" to the pediculous, but now he actually has a very first-rate attraction on his hands. "I'm not sure whether it's bet- ter to have a lot of stinkers. At least, no one bothers to come near you and the phones are pretty quiet. With a clicker in the house, everyone wants to get into the act and make the deals. There's simply no peace and quiet if it." ■ ■ Remember those exhibitors who have been saying, "There'll be no advertising on my screen." They haven't raised a peep about "The Fuller Brush Man." Accord Ends Strih Of Cooling Men Here Air-conditioning systems were back in operation yesterday at all RKO and Loew houses in the Metropolitan area following settlement late Wednes- day night of the five-day strike called against the circuits by Local No. 30' International Union of Operating En- gineers, AFL, over a wage dispute. The settlement provides for a 15 per cent wage increase in theatres in the Broadway sector and 10 per ^gnt in the neighborhoods. The sc«JjrP»' r the second year of the two-yeli1"" ^ tract is open to further negotiation. The agreement is retroactive to last April 1. The union had asked for one-year contract with a straight IS per cent hike. The big Broadway houses, which also were involved in the dispute, reached an early settlement with the union with the understanding they would abide by the terms agreed upon by the circuits and Local 30. NEW YORK THEATRES c — RADIO CITY MUSIC HAIL- Rockefeller Center BING JOAN : CROSBY FONTAINE !in "THE EMPEROR WALTZ"! Color by TECHNICOLOR A Paramount Picture SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION M0^HWip &f ' Paramount Presents % RAY 1 MILLAND | ANN 1 TODD I GERALDINE 1 FITZGERALD COHDIIIOKED B'way & 49th Street ROY DEL RUTH'S BABE RUTH STORY - Conl t*rf ormancet" Pop Prices' MARK STEVENS • RICHARD Wl DM ARK "THE STREET WITH NO NAME" A 20th Century-Fox Picture ON VARIETY STAGE— CAB CALLOWAY JACKIE MILES • VIVIAN BLAINE ON ICE STAGE— CAROL LYNNE ARNOLD SHODA • THE BRUISES ROXY 7th Ave. & 50th St. : MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 1'20 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Tiorn c Latre- ^ales! International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. , ^"BOXOFFICE WINNER '...»„,„ ^"POTENT BOXOFFICE HIT"... OUTSTANDING MUSICAL... FILM DAILY BOXOFFICE iy in Ermine is ready for NATION-WIDE DAY-&-DATE PREMIERE AUGUST Ik! jIetty GRABLE- douglas FAIRBANKS, jl^- ^Lady in Ermine . COLOR BY TECHNICOLOR CENTURY-FOX -CESAR ROMERO - Walter Abel • Reginald Gardiner ^ Harry Davenport • Virginia Campbell • Whit Bissell • Produced and Directed by ERNST LUBITSCH^ Screen Play by Samson Raphaeljon • Lyrics and Music by Leo Robin and Frederick Hollander • Da/ces Staged by Hermes Pan I Raphaelson • •A. • Da/ces St 7-^ 4 Motion Picture daily Friday, July 30, 1948 'Youth Month' Drive Goes Into High Gear "Youth Month" has received fresh impetus from several quarters, Charles P. Skouras, national chairman of the -Theatre Owners of America's youth month committee, has announced. Advertising Council, Inc. is prepar- ing advertisements for newspapers throughout the country and it will fur- ther its radio support. It will also be stressed in the "Dr. I.Q." and the Ted Malone radio programs. Sammy Kaye and his orchestra have volunteered to score the youth month song "I Am the YOU in the U.S.A." for the "Salute to Youth" trailer, 2,000 prints of which will be distributed free by National Screen Service on booking arrangements set up between exhibi- tors and their state chairmen. All NSS service exchanges will have cam- paign books on hand and lobby hang- ers will reach exchanges August 9. British Quota (Continued from page 1) joint stands, including a control board under the Motion Picture Export As- sociation which would govern overall sales policies in Britain. Also dis- cussed was a full MPEA operation in England, as well as the establishment of an MPEA service organization in that country. A boycott of all of Eng- land and a cessation of dealings with the J. Arthur Rank exhibitor interests reportedly were mentioned, too, but were not given serious attention, it was said. Meanwhile, reports have it that the MPEA might be extended to other countries where monetary restrictions and other barriers to free trade are threatening. Seven U. S. Features In Venice Festival American film companies have en- tered seven features in the 1948 Ven- ice Film Festival, according to word received yesterday from Paris by the Motion Picture Association of Amer- ica. The pictures are Walt Disney's "Melody Time," M-G-M's "National Velvet," Paramount's "The Big Clock," RKO Radio's "The Fugitive," 20th Century-Fox's "Gentleman's Agreement," Universal-International's "A Double Life," and Warner Broth- ers' "Treasure of Sierra Madre." The festival will be held August 19 to September 4. Sales Drive Chiefs Set by Young stein Indianapolis, July 29. — Five branch managers have been named deputy captains in the Eagle-Lion William Heineman saks drive by Max Young- stein, advertising-publicity vice-presi- dent. They are C. W. Phillips, Chi- cago; Joe Imhoff, Milwaukee; A. M. Schwartz, Minneapolis ; Clair Town- send, Detroit, and J. C. Craddock, Indianapolis. Each will function di- rectly under Youngstein. Youngstein left here tonight for the home-office after completing the third leg of a nationwide tour of 31 ex- change cities as captain of the drive. $55,000 for 'Apache' This fifth and final week of "Fort Apache," with Lena Home on stage, brought an estimated $55,000 to the Capitol. A typographical error was responsible for the previous report of a $5,000 gross in th^se columns on Wednesday. H. C. Arthur, Jr. president, Fanchon & Marco, says: DO YOU WAIT UNTIL YOUR CAR BREAKS DOWN?" ¥?It does not make any difference whether you are running a motion picture theatre or you are taking care of your own automobile. There are two ways to do it. You can let your car run until it breaks down on some important trip caus- ing extreme discomfort to your guests who are with you and caus- ing extreme embarrassment to you or you can keep it serviced and save money in ultimate repairs and replacements as well as wear and tear on your nerves and on those of your guests. "You can run your projection equipment on the same principle -until it breaks down. Whether it is your car or your theatre equip- ment, when it does break down, you will wish you had had a regular efficient service that would have saved you all of the trouble and ultimately the greater expense. "Altec's service is assurance against breakdown. It saves against a larger expense in the long run for repairs and replacements and it saves your patrons annoyance and discomfort; both ultimately affect your P. & L. To maintain the goodwill of your patrons and their regular attendance at your thea- tre, don't let your equipment break down. That is my advice. Altec will help you follow it." Altec Service, known for its serv- ice "over and above the contract" is a vital ingredient of your thea- tre's ability to meet successfully the competition of other forms of entertainment. An Altec Service contract is the soundest long term investment an exhibitor can make today. MM 161 Sixth Avenue yew York 13, N.Y. THE SERVICE ORGANIZATION OF THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY Reviews "Embraceable You" {Warner Brothers) ' Hollywood, July 25 DANE CLARK's is the chief name at hand with which to bill this item in the series of Warner films launched some months ago for the declared purpose of giving minor players an opportunity to demonstrate their talents in principal roles, and thereby build toward stardom more rapidly than other- wise. Veterans S. Z. Sakall and Wallace Ford are set into this number to , counter-balance the less experienced performers, and a commonplace type of crime subject is undertaken. It is not to be compared with the tortjffj ,1 crime pictures which the Warner studio turns out so expertly, but gives/x" ^.'i accounting of its 77 minutes. Clark plays a New York sharpie eaking out a living by doing small favors J for big shots, including Richard Rober, a gangster who commits a murder J in the opening flash and is driven from the scene by Clark. Clark's car] strikes Geraldine Brooks, an unemployed show girl who pretends greater 1 injury than she sustains in hope of collecting big damages from the insurancei|i company, but the hit-and-run getaway is successful. Reading of the girl's ji hospitalization, Clark visits her and comes under suspicion of Detective Ford, jj who cannot prove Clark's connection with the murder or the hit-and-run but bulldozes him into providing shelter for the girl, whom the doctors have doomed to die of an inoperable anheurism about which they tell Clark but not the girl. It gets quite complicated from there on, alternating' between incidents of romance and violence, and ends with the detective killing the murderer and agreeing with Clark to withold the news of .his hit-and-run guilt until the lat- ter shall have given the now invalided girl, whom he marries, whatever hap- piness may remain in store for her. Saul Elkins produced, and Felix Jacoves directed, from a script by Edna Athalt, based on a story by Dietrich W. Han- nekin and Aleck Block. The picture is not, as the title might suggest to some, a musical. Running time, 77 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, not set. William R. Weaver. "Adventures of Gallant Bess" (Eagle-Lion) IN "Adventures of Gallant Bess" the wonder-horse does an encore in a film that, in showing off the animal's versatility, is assured of a warm audience reception. The story is trite, but it serves its purpose well. It is a tale of a man who captures a wild horse and becomes so attached to the animal that he refuses to part with it. Shot in good Cinecolor and featuring capable performers, it follows an old and proven formula. There is not too much action, but there are some colorful scenes shot at a rodeo. A Crestview Production, the pic ture was produced by Jerry Briskin and Matthew Rapf. Lew Landers directed, from a screenplay by Rapf. Cameron Mitchell and Audrey Long appear in the main parts as the one who loves his horse and the girl who is waiting for him. James Milligan is adequate as the villain. Mitchell lassoes a beautiful wild horse and decides to keep and train it. Milligan, owner of a rodeo, also wants the horse. Mitchell wins a rodeo prize, but breaks his leg because of Milligan's trickery. The rodeo moves on and Bess is auctioned off to Milligan. Meanwhile Mitchell falls in love with his doctor's daughter. As soon as he is well enough, Mitchell pursues Bess and his prize money. He fights with Milligan and takes off with his pal Fuzzy Knight. Bess follows them and the police send out an alarm for them. Realizing that he cannot escape the law and Milligan forever, Mitchell decides to set Bess free and to marry Miss Long. Running time, 73 minutes. General audience classification. Release unset. ft Triggerman (Columbia) THIS production packs enough adventure to please Western enthusiasts once the slow pace of the opening sequences is overcome. The footage hums with action and excitement as soon as Johnny Mack Brown, as a Wells Fargo agent assigned to find a chest of gold swiped from a stage, tangles with the villains in a demonstration of violence that gives the hero ample oppor tunity to test his skill with gun and fists. A young girl, played by Virginia Carroll, owns a ranch where it is believed the gold is hidden. Raymond Hatton is her foreman. They are trying to find the treasure because it contains a paper which will clear her father, suspected of being involved in the robbery. The gang has one-half of the map which indicates the location of the chest. In its attempt to acquire the other half, it kidnaps the girl. In the finale Brown rescues her and recovers the gold for his company and captures the gangsters. Barney A. Sarecky produced and Howard Bretherton directed. Ronald Davidson wrote the original screenplay Running time, 56 minutes. General audience classification. Swarthout Video Films Washington, July 29. — Gladys Swarthout and husband Frank Chap- man have formed a company to pro- duce films for television, the singer disclosed here today. The company, which has, a modern studio at New- town, Conn., plans 13 fifteen-minute shorts. 20th Appeals FCC Denial Washington, July 29. — Twentieth Century-Fox has filed formal notic of its appeal from Federal Communi cations Commissioner George Ster ling's refusal to allow the company to amend its application for a San Fran cisco television station. The compan wanted to include plans for an auxil iary studio at Oakland, Calif. BABE HITS HOME RUN! Biggest World Premiere Turnout In Broadway History Sends "The Babe Ruth Story" Off To A Slam-hang Start With A Terrific First Bay! >0:k By The Thousands And Thousands They Come To See ROY DEL RUTH'S WE HH ROTH Si 5F An Allied Artists Production starring WILLIAM BENDIX CLAIRE TREVOR CHARLES B1CKF0RD .SAM LEVENE • WILLIAM FBAWLEY • GERTRUDE NIESEN • MATT BRIGGS • «r ROY DEL RUTH JOE KAUFMAN • screenplay 6y BOB CONSIOINE ano GEORGE CALLAHAN ASSOCIATE PRODUCER 6 Motion Picture Daily Friday, July 30; 1948 MOTION PICTURE HERALD on September 25, 1948 will present an edi- tion marking that constructive Third of A Century of this industry in which Martin Quigley has served as editor and publisher. QUIGLEY PUBLICATIONS Rockefeller Center New York City 1915—1948 ' St' mm MOTION PICTURE HERALD MOTION PICTURE DAILY FAME MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC Friday, July 30, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 7 Ascap Decision (Continued from page 1) appeal, "the theatre operator may have to negotiate for per- formance rights with all of the composers, authors and pub- lishers whose compositions are used in such television pro- grams." As for televised films, it is pointed out that the prob- lems are the same as in the case of regular films. rTiis problem of television, to- ^ at- , things and haa it doesn't _ rum^ ^ ,t v.,u,. • - „ :rW-e need ^oie Vft It was ;0ved .„ have to v>rv ttw ^ouid^^^Wonderiui- ^ "It's a like this, * -o comeo-y > °*e , ^air Class „ °uS' i reaUy enjoy eu scream- i Golden Productions Presents. GUY MADISON, DIANA LYNN in "TEXAS, BROOKLYN AND HEAVEN" with JAMES DUNN, MICHAEL CHEKHOV, FLORENCE BATES, LIONEL STANDER. Screenplay by Lewis Meltzer based on the Saturday Evening Post Story by Barry Benefield. Produced by Robert S. Golden. Directed by William Castle. released thru UA paper . . . a great I tribute to a peach of a comedy... a wacky story about wacky people! o Accurate Concise Impartial MQltaN PICTURE DAILY —JM. NO. 22 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 1948 TEN CENTS Para.Examines Capital Plans On Divestiture Complexity of Problem Spurs Early Studies Paramount executives have be- gun a study of possible methods of reducing the company's capital structure to compensate for loss of assets and earning power in the event divestiture of its theatre properties ultimately is ordered by the court. Charting the course, Barney Bala- ban, Paramount president, told the company's stockholders at their an- nual meeting last June that "it is our aim to design a program through which any proceeds from the disposi- tion of assets will be applied to a con- traction of our capital so that the end structure will be adapted to the assets and earning power left." While a definite program of con- traction must await the final court de- (Contimied on page 4) MPEA Seeks ECA Dollars Washington, Aug. 1. — Motion Picture Export Association has sub- mitted the first request for the dollar guaranty of film distribution abroad with the Economic Cooperation Ad- ministration, an ECA spokesman dis- closed at the weekend. The request was made in behalf of all MPEA companies and would cover Germany for the year beginning last April, it was said. Under the legislation which ap- proved the ECA convertibility pro- gram, a total of $10,000,000 was prom- ised all information media, including motion pictures. Davison, Salt Lake, Wins Depinet Drive Winners of the 11th annual "Ned Depinet Drive" were disclosed at the weekend by Robert Mochrie, RKO Radio distribution vice-president, as follows : Salt Lake City : Giff Davison, man- ager, won first place in the top prize group. Oklahoma City : Ralph Wil- liams, manager, took second place, with Denver, Joseph Emerson, man- (Continued on page 4) U. S. Government Official Links Theatres to Gin Mills, Poolrooms ,Bef ore Congress Washington, Aug. 1. — Theatres were classed by an Administra- tion spokesman with "pool halls and gin mills" as the type of con- struction that would be choked off in favor of more essential home-building if President Truman were granted the broad alloca- tion and other control powers he has asked of Congress. The Administration's point of view was expressed Friday by the President's anti-inflation adviser, Paul Porter, in testimony before the House Banking Committee. Congress has made it perfectly plain that it does not intend voting these powers. Porter was being questioned by Rep. Smith (R., O.) as to whether the housing legislation sought by the President was not actually inflationary. Wouldn't the housing bill take materials from other construction, create further shortages, and bid up prices for con- struction materials, Smith asked. Porter replied that if the Administration got the allocation and other powers it asked for, "I think you can stop enough gin mills, pool halls and theatres to get the materials for housing." 55 Listed by Screen Guild A Screen Guild Productions release program of 55 new pictures and re- issues was announced by Robert L. Lippert, president, for the 1948-1949 season at a sales meeting here at the weekend. The line-up will consist of "The Mozart Story"; two "Exploitation Specials" : "Harpoon" and "I Killed Jesse James" ; six "Box Office Win- ners r "The Return of Wildfire," "Grand Canyon," "Last of the Wild Horses," "Police Force," "The Black- mailers" and "The Ravagers" ; eight {Continued on page 4) FC to Adopt Bonus Plan Adoption of a permanent bonus plan by Film Classics, effective Jan. 1, 1949, was announced at the weekend by Joseph Bernhard, president, at the first international sales meeting of the company, held at the Hotel Astor here. Under the bonus system all personnel will share in the company's profits, independent of special sales drives. B. G. Kranze, general sales man- ager, listed 26 pictures among those to be released before the end of 1949. They include "Sofia," "Miraculous Journey," "Unknown Island," "Babes {Continued on page 4) Shorter Clearance Plans Are Making Headway Minneapolis, August 1. — Plans of 20th Century-Fox and Metro-Gold- wyn-Mayer to advance availability to 28 days in a number of situations in the Twin Cities is reportedly making progress as wrinkles in the new for- mula are being ironed out both by the distributors and. the theatres involved. And this despite outward opposition and under-the-table pressure from va- rious exhibition quarters. The Volk Brothers, Nate and Sol Fisher and Marty Lebedoff, of the Nile, Varsity and Homewood, respec- tively, in Minneapolis, are said to have expressed agreement in principle to go along with the experiment if a majority of the major companies grant the same run. Warners alone among the majors is said to have agreed to participate along with 20th-Fox and M-G-M, the former having offered to negotiate terms on "Life With Father," "Two Guys From Texas" and "Key Largo" for the Varsity. Also, RKO Radio and Universal are understood to have submitted the 28-day plan to their home offices. Of the remaining dis- tributors, only United Artists has agreed to negotiate 28-day runs with the designated theatres. Metro is offering to negotiate terms on "Easter Parade" for the 28-day run houses, with the picture breaking September 19. 20th-Fox will have "Street With No Name" ready for the runs either September 16 or 23, but Volk, of the Nile, is not satisfied with the picture as a kickoff film on such an important change of policy until he can determine its value. Ascap Appeal Decision Is up ToNewCounsel Full - Time Attorneys Are Sought for Case Decision as to whether or not Ascap will appeal from the New York District Court decision hold- ing most of its theatre licensing ac- tivities to be in violation of the anti- trust laws will be left to special coun- sel to be retained by the society soon to handle the case exclusively, Ascap officials assert. At a recent meeting the Ascap board of directors approved the reten- tion of special outside counsel to take over all future phases of the case. No choice of counsel has been made yet. Ascap's regular counsel, Schwartz and Frohlich, may continue to act in the case in an advisory capacity, it was indicated, but the aim in retaining outside counsel is to get some one who {Continued on page 4) $4,000,000 Tax Increase Washington, August 1. — General admission tax collections in June, re- flecting May box-office business, were close to $4,000,000 above the June 1947 collections, the U. S. Bureau of Internal Revenue reports. This is the first time in three months that 1948 figures exceeded comparable 1947 col- lections. The June 1948 figure was $31,639,- 479, compared with $27,829,982 in June 1947. General admission figures include collections from ■sports parks, legiti- mate theatres and other amusements {Continued on page 4) Senary and Hughes 'Just Did Not Agree' Boulder, Colo., August 1. — Dore Schary, vice-president of M-G-M in charge of production, proved the head- liner of the Writer's Conference, now in session here, when he talked to the group Friday. Vacationing near Den- ver for three weeks, Schary re- marked, concerning his leaving the job as RKO production head, that he left "before Hughes and I got to the {Continued on page 4) 2 Motion Picture daily Monday, August 2, 1948 Personal Mention CHARLES D. PRUTZMAN, Uni- versal vice-president and general counsel, is scheduled to leave here for the Coast on Thursday for a studio visit of several weeks. • Hugh Owen, Paramount' s Eastern and Southern Sales Manager, will re- turn to his desk in the home office to- day from conferences in Paramount s branches in Atlanta and Jacksonville. • James Mulvey, Samuel Goldwyn Productions president, left New York at the weekend for two weeks in Maine. Harry Goldberg, Warner Theatres' advertising-publicity director, left here yesterday for the Coast. Leon Bamberger, RKO Radio sales promotion manager, will return here today from a Minnesota vacation. Max Youngstein, Eagle-Lion ad- vertising-publicity vice-president, is m Cincinnati from New York. • H. M. Richey, M-G-M exhibitor relations chief, is due back here today from French Lick, Ind. • Milton S. Kusell, Selznick Re- leasing's distribution vice-president, is here from the Coast. • Sam Shain, 20th-Fox exhibitor re- lations director, left for Chicago over the weekend. Tradewise . Coast Variety to Cite C. P. Skouras Aug. 16 Hollywood, August 1.— Charles P. Skouras, president of Fox-West Coast and National Theatres, will be pre- sented with the Great Heart Award by the Variety Club of Southern Cali- fornia on August 16 at a banquet in the Ambassador Hotel here, with some 900 civic, governmental, social, scholastic, institutional and industry leaders to be in attendance. National Variety Clubs president Robert O'Donnell will make the pres- entation. The Great Heart Award, made this year for the first time, is for "unselfish contributions to commu- nity betterment, patriotic endeavors, and leadership in public welfare proj- ects." $1,860,000 Loan to France's Producers The French Assembly has voted a 400,000,000 franc loan (about $1,860,- 000) to the French motion-picture in- dustry to help it over its present eco- nomic doldrums, according to press dispatches reaching here at the week- end. The same law also calls for an ap- proximately 20 per cent tax on movie theatre tickets to cover the loan, which must be paid by the end of 1949. The law planned originally was to call for additional taxes to be imposed on foreign films dubbed in French. By SHERWIN KANE A UNIQUE and individual attack upon the Federal admission tax is being carefully prepared by E. R. Holtz, De- troit theatre operator and economist (University of Michi- gan, '25). Confident that Congress will give serious consideration to changes in the excise tax struc- ture next year, Holtz has begun marshaling facts and figures for presentation to hearing commit- tees and, if his interesting theo- ry eventually is supported by evidence which he now is seek- ing, his story promises to carry far more weight with Federal legislators than do the custom- ary briefs and prepared state- ments which exhibition fre- quently presents at such hear- ings. Holtz's theory, in brief, is that the Government is not being realistic, nor alive to the best revenue-producing tax method in maintaining the 20 per cent admission tax in the face of de- clining theatre attendance. What he proposes to do is to show the legislators that elimi- nation or reduction of the 20 per cent admission tax is likely to increase theatre attendance and, therefore, corporate profits, to a point at which the Govern- ment would derive more revenue from the 38 per cent corporate tax than it could hope to receive from the 20 per cent admission tax. • It is Holtz's theory that each $1,000,000 of admission tax in today's theatre market costs the Government $1,900,000 of in- come tax. His prescription : Remove the admission tax and attendance will climb, swelling corporate profits, taxable at 38 per cent, and thereby increasing the Government's "take." To back up his arguments, Holtz is seeking the experience of other exhibitors who have been subjected to local taxes re- cently. He wants to know what percentage of decrease in attend- ance followed imposition of a local tax, compared with at- tendance for the previous month or with an. equivalent month in the preceding year. Exhibitors who can furnish such information to Holtz will help bolster what may be a formidable assault on the admis- sion tax next year. In Hollywood last week Eric Johnston told reporters he had revised his estimate of 1948 British film earnings in this country downward from the $7,- 000,000 he predicted on his re- turn following conclusion of the film tax settlement agreement in Britain last spring to current estimate of less than $1,000,000. Few of those in a position to know what British pictures are doing here and what they are likely to do in the immediate future will take issue with Johnston's revised estimate. The factors which have brought about that lessening of earnings potential of British films here are well known. They began with the hamstringing in- terpretations of the tax settle- ment agreement in London which removed much of the in- centive for the American indus- try to push and play all British films sent here in order to add to the $17,000,000 minimum re- mittances of the settlement agreement. Secondly, the British quota, generally viewed as being so impractical and unreasonable on this side as to constitute an af- front to the American industry, has caused many American ex- hibitors who previously were in- clined, often against their better judgment, to give British films a trial, to change their minds. Again, the high British quota accompanied by outright state- ments from British producers that they would endeavor to sat- isfy the home market first, rath- er than meet world market film tastes, put all exhibitors here on notice that the forthcoming product from Britain is not like- ly to be distinguished by quality. The recently announced govern- ment plan to subsidize British production adds to that impres- sion. Good producers don't need subsidies and subsidized produc- tion will be only incidentally, or accidentally, box-office produc- tion. A final factor which figures in the lesser earnings possibili- ties here of British product is consumer resistance because of Britain's record on Palestine. Add to all of that the fact that patronage for even some good Hollywood films and for many mediocre ones is off here and it becomes evident why the earn- ings of British films in this market will not approach this year the something more than $2,000,000 they are estimated to have garnered last vear. Newsreel Parade THE special session of Congress marks a newsreel highlight in the current reels. Other items are the grasshopper plague in Argentina zvhale hunting, sports and hmnan in- terest events. Complete contents fol- low. MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 61— Presi dent Truman demands action of C «s: in special session. Senator Taft spt Ai Republicans. Canadian ship runs aijijiind. Weapons used by Army demonstrated Whaling revived. Grasshopper plague in Argentina. Chicago celebrates railroad cen tennial. Dog show. Skiing. Racing. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 295— Ber- lin report. Grasshopper plague in South America. Calgary stampede. Rodeo thriller.' Ship on reef has amazing escape. Military magic. Horsemanship hurdle test. New cure for hot weather. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 99— Can- adian ship crash. Railroad fair in Chicago. West Point goes Hollywood. President calls special session of Congress. Stymie retires. Rodeo. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. 165— Presi- dent Truman calls special session of Con gress. Pneumatic weapons demonstrated at Fort Bragg. Grasshopper plague in Argen- tina^ Whale hunting in Canada. Calis- thenics. Horse jumping tournament. Calgary stampede. WARNER PATHE NEWS, No. 100— Congress opens. Fake weapons demonstrated by Army. Palestine in the news. Trygve Lee! looks over Paris site of UN meet. British Royal Family attends Earl of Derby wed- ding. Jet-fighters land in Germany. Calgary rodeo. Great events: Panama Canal. SOPEG and SPG Ask For New Contracts United Office and Professional Workers, CIO's film industry locals the Screen Office and Professiona Employees Guild . Local 109 and the Screen Publicists Guild Local 114,; have sent letters to the companies with whom they have contracts ask- ing them to negotiate new ones. The SPG contracts will terminate September 26, and the SOPEG con- tracts on September 27. The unions are in the process of completing their contract proposals and electing nego- tiating committees. The contracts affected in SPG are with Columbia, Loew, Paramount, Republic, RKO, 20th Century-Fox, United Artists, Warner and Universal. The contracts affected in SOPEG are with Columbia, Loew, NSS, Para- mount, Republic, RKO, 20th-Fox. UK Film Financing Blueprint Is Begun London, Aug. 1. — Procedure under which the organizing committee for the $20,000,000 British Film Finance Corp. will operate was agreed upon at the weekend at a Board of Trade meeting here. James H. Lawrie is chairman of the organizing group. Details of the committee's course of action were not made public. However, its goal is to establish ways and means whereby BOT presi- dent Harold Wilson's plan for financing independent pro- duction here can be set in motion. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. BUSINESS IS GREAT on the STREET! f NEW YORK ^ One of the 10 top grossers in 10 -year Roxy history! flONGRUNS!) 5th week 4th week 3rd week San Francisco! Long Beach! Pittsburgh! Cleveland! Seattle! THE LEAD-OFF BOXOFFICE SENSATION FOR THE SECOND HALF OF '48 . . . From the company that led all the industry in Boxoffice cham- pions and Variety scoreboard hits the first six months of '48! ( HOLDOVERS! Running apace of record run figures in DETROIT • CHICAGO • BALTIMORE • CINCINNATI • PORTLAND • PHOENIX • SPOKANE • DAYTON • OAKLAND • ALLENTOWN! CENTURY-FOX From the files of the FBI! THE STREET WITH NO NAME Starring MARK STEVENS - RICHARD WIDMARK with LLOYD NOLAN - BARBARA LAWRENCE Ed Begley. Donald Buka- Joseph Pevney .John Mel ntire . Walter Greaza • Howard Smith Directed by WILLIAM KEIGHLEY • Produced by SAMUEL G. ENGEL Original Screen Play by Harry Kleiner 4 Motion Picture Daily Monday, August 2, 1948 Young in Rosen Post WithFabian-Hellman Davison Wins Drive (Continued from page 1) ager, third, and Charlotte, Rovy Branon, manager, fourth. Toronto: Jack Bernstein, manager, won first place in Canada, with Mon- treal, Murray Devaney, manager, second. The three group division prize win- ners, with two winners in each group are as follows : Group one : first, At- lanta, Hubert Lyons, manager; sec- ond, Dallas, Sol Sachs, manager ; group two: first, Pittsburgh, Dave Silverman, manager ; second, Minne- apolis, Fay Dressell, manager ; group three: first, Sioux Falls, Sherman Fitch, manager; second, Des Moines, Max Rosenblatt, manager. District managers' prizes: first, Al Kolitz, Rocky Mountain; second, Leo Devaney, Canadian; third, Dave Prince, Southeastern. Best salesmen: R. Richardson, East Cen- tral; Earl Dyson, Frairie; Harry Levinson, Western; Maurice Basse, Southwestern; Morris Anderson, Midwestern; William Canelli, Northeastern; Tom Watson, South- eastern; Herman Silverman, Metropolitan; James Rea, Canada; David Silverman, Eastern. Home office representatives: first, Frank Duffy; second, Paul Back-Milton Yeoman; third, George Jacoby. Field supervisors: first, Robert Hickey; second, David Cantor; third, Harry Reiners. Field exploitation winners: T. B. ,Mc- Cormick, Denver; Ed Terhune, Dallas; William Prager, Washington; Gene Gaud- ette, Minneapolis; Charles Kinney, Atlan- ta; Ed Holland, Des Moines; Alan Wieder, Pittsburgh; George Degnon, Toronto; Fred Calvin, Los Angeles; Hugh MacKenzie, Cincinnati; Wally Heim, Chicago; Doug Beck, Philadelphia; Lloyd Muir, Vancou- ver; Joe Longo, San Francisco. New Foreign Film Company in N. Y. Joseph Green, Michael Hyams aad Alexander Parkson have formed Gramercy Films, Inc., here. First re- lease will be "Marriage in the Shadows," recently completed in Berlin. It will open at the Little Met in September, with English titles. Green and Hyams, owners of the Little Met, the Hopkinson, the City and Irving Place theatres, have also acquired for distribution here the Ital- ian film, "The Wandering Jew," and a new Swedish picture, "Waiting Room for Death," which they will dis- tribute through their own organiza- tion, Globe Film Distributors. Tax Increase (Continued from page 1) as well as motion picture theatres, but do not include night club taxes and taxes on various brokers' sales and overcharges. June collections for all of these categories amounted to $36,- 262,679, compared with $32,417,990 last year. Biggest Campaign Ever for 'Joan9 S. Barret McCormick, national di- rector of advertising for RKO Radio, reports that the national campaign for "Joan of Arc" will be "the biggest effort ever made to presell a motion picture to the world." There will, in fact, be two campaigns. The presell- ing schedule, just starting, and the general release campaign to follow. Form E-L Club Albany, N. Y., Aug. 1. — Eagle Lion Family Club, Inc., E-L home office employes group, has been char- tered here. WB Latin Chiefs Meet Here Today Wolfe Cohen, vice-president of Warner International, will preside at a two-week sales meeting of Warner Latin American heads starting today at the company's home office. Arriv- ing over the weekend for the meet- ings were Ary Lima from Rio de Janeiro, Peter Colli from Havana and Mike Sokol, general manager of Mexico. In addition to Cohen, home office executives attending will be : Karl Macdonald, vice-president of Warner International ; John J. Glynn, vice- president and treasurer ; Gerry Key- ser, in charge of foreign publicity and advertising, and John Maraio of the contract department. FC Bonus Plan (Continued from page 1) in Toyland," "Return to Treasure Island," "Daughter of Ramona," "Fatima," "Pocahontas," "Hellfire," "Bar Mothers," "Shark Man," "Ap- pointment for Murder," "Hellgate," "Strange Case of Malcolm Craig," "God's Children," "Florentine Chest," "Capri Magic," "Gay Street," "Satur- day's Odds," "Anyone Can Enter," "Woman of One Hundred Faces," "The Judge," an untitled State De- partment story and three Inner Sanc- tum mysteries. An increase of 70 per cent in terri- torial business since mid-February was reported by Kranze. Eight promotions were announced by Kranze, as follows : Jake Lutzer, from Dallas exchange manager to Southern division manager ; Jules K. Chapman, from assistant general man- ager to assistant general sales man- ager ; Ralph Peckham, from Atlanta branch manager to be Lutzer's suc- cessor; George Lefko, from Indianap- olis branch manager to Detroit man- ager ; John McKenna, from New York salesman to head of the same office; Louis Bernhard, formerly sales- man in St. Louis and New Haven, to head of the home office playdate and liquidation department; Ed Spiers, from branch manager of the Milwau- kee exchange to branch manager of the Chicago exchange ; Bob Bernhard, from salesman in the New York ex- change to assistant to David Home, foreign sales manager. Besides Bernhard and Kranze, speakers at the meeting included Jules K. Chapman ; Al Zimbalist, advertis- ing-publicity head ; Eugene Arnstein, executive assistant treasurer ; David Home ; Ted Birnbaum, assistant to Kranze; Herbert S. Stern, general counsel ; Albert Mannheimer, head of exchange operations, and William Markert, print department head. Para. Examines (Continued from page 1) cision on theatre holdings, a Para- mount spokesman pointed to the com- plexities involved in any financial pro- gram of the type as reason for the present study of systems of shrinking capitalization. One of many programs in mind, it was said, would be the surrender to the company of half of the outstand- ing common shares by holders who, in turn, would receive preferred se- curities of equal value. These would be redeemable on call, that is, when Paramount is forced to sell theatres, and with the extent of the redemption being commensurate with the loss of earning power of theatres divested. Ascap Appeal (Continued from page 1) can give full time and exclusive atten- tion to the case. All future conduct of the case, as well as a decision on an appeal, will be left to the special counsel, Ascap officials said. An order giving effect to Judge Vincent Leibell's decision in the case against Ascap brought by members of the Independent Theatre Owners of New York is not expected to be en- tered by the court before September. Indications are that Ascap will apply for a stay of judgment immediately thereafter and the society will have 90 days from the date of entry of the order in which to take an appeal to the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals here. Thus, Ascap has until approximate- ly the end of the year in which to make its decision on an appeal. If the society decides to appeal, the Circuit Court might decide the case by next summer and appeals could be taken to the U. S. Supreme Court thereafter. Final disposition of the case, therefore, could be at least 18 months away and,- meanwhile, no change in Ascap's theatre licensing procedure would occur, providing, of course, the lower court's judgment is stayed. Sacks Will Produce, Distribute for Video Dallas, Aug. 1. — Sack Television Enterprises has been formed here by the Sack brothers, Alfred, Lester and Julius M. Sack, to operate in the television film field on a long-range program of production and distribu- tion. Julius Sack, former sales pro- motion manager for Schenley distil- leries and one-time theater executive, has joined the new venture with his brothers who have operated Sack Amusement Enterprises since 1919. Julius will be sales manager and East- ern head. Robert M. Moscow will continue as production manager with headquarters in Dallas. Schary and Hughes (Continued from page 1) point of being mad at each other." He emphasized, however, that they parted good friends. Schary said the reason for the parting was that he and Hughes "just did not agree on basic things at the studio." . Schary discussed "Hollywood and the Writer" and he left the impression that any writer who goes to Holly- wood with something good would re- ceive mighty fine pay in return. Schary revealed that more than $6,- 500,000 was paid for stories by Holly- wood in 1946, with salaries running from junior writers at $75 to others at $7,500 a week. But he pointed out that the latter figure is achieved in- frequently, and not over a long period. In hitting at criticism of Hollywood Schary said, "I believe that anyone who has worked hard and long in Hollywood has a right to criticize it. I believe people who have made a contribution have a right to demand further reforms and changes in atti- tudes and technique, but people who come out to take money and dine in the best restaurants and live in the peripheral social life of Hollywood arid then damn it, these people I have no patience with and they have no right to damn." Albany, N. Y., Aug. 1. — Leo j Rosen has resigned as assistant gen- f eral manager of Fabian-Hellman Drive-in Theatres. Leo Young, form- j erly RKO exploiteer in Buffalo, Al- '] \ bany, Philadelphia and other cities and a district manager with Snider circuit in Maine, succeeds him. Rosen quit as manager of Warners' ; Strand in March, 1947, after 19 years with that circuit to go to Fa t - Hellman. He enters a local hoi^J* \] tomorrow for an operation. Screen Guild "Showman's Group" : "The Prairie," j i "SOS Submarine," "Shep Comes Home," "Jungle Goddess," "Redwood ! t Empire," "Sky Liner," "The Return of the Saint" and "City Hospital" ; eight "Anniversary Group" : "Rim- fire," "Police Woman," "The Great : Truck Mystery," "Trail's End," "No || I Escape," "The Woman in Black," and two untitled films; Six Lash La Rue westerns; two "specials" : "Son of Jesse James" and "Son of Billy the Kid"; four "Regulars," to be an- nounced ; six "Proven Pictures" : "Runaway Daughter," "King of the Turf," "Little Annie Rooney," "Duke of West Point," "That's My Boy" and "Flirting With Fate"; 12 Hopa- long Cassidys. 8 Westerns to Savini R. M. Savini, president of Astor Pictures, has signed a reissue distri- bution deal for eight "Wild Bill" Elliott Western features. The con- tract, covering both 35mm. and 16mm. rights, is for seven years. fly | Uni fed's DC-6 Mainliner 300 onestop flight Leave New York 12:15 pm, arrive in Los An- geles at 8:25 pm. Fares are surprisingly low Flights operate on Standard time. UNITED U AIR LINES NEW YORK & BROOK- IS LYN: Call Murray Hill 1 2-7300. 1 NEWARK: Call Market p| 2-1122 or an authorized |§t travel agent. Screen Guild (Continued from page 1) MOT PICTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 1948 64. NO. 23 TEN CENTS Theatre Takes Showing Some Improvement Weekly Average Rose to $14,210 During June Theatre grosses showed some im- provement during June, according to reports on some 170 key situations received from Motion Picture Daily correspondents in the field. Although it was of very modest pro- portions, the improvement pointed to the possibility that theatre business generally would continue to hold its own through the summer. Weekly average gross per theatre in June rose to $14,210, from the previous month's $14,- 163, which was the low point of this year. Weekly average for June, 1947, was $15,279. "Homecoming" took the box-office lead. Tied for second place, but con- siderably behind the leader, were "The Pirate" and "The Fuller Brush Man." Following closely in third spot was "Arch of Triumph." Other films which appeared fre- (Continued on page 5) Milder and Payette, WB Officials, Die Death on Sunday took two promi- nent Warner executives : Max Milder, in England, after a long illness, and John J. Payette, of heart and kidney ailments, in Washington. Milder resigned as Warner manag- ing director in England last month, but remained as managing director of Associated British Pictures Corp., a large interest in which is owned by Warners. He had been in the indus- try 36 years, the last 17 of them in the top W'arner post in England. C. J. Latta, formerly Albany zone man- (Continued on page 4) P. A. Powers, Film Veteran, Dies at 79 Funeral services for P. A. Powers, industry veteran who died of coronary thrombosis at Doctors Hospital here late on Friday, were scheduled to be held today in Buffalo. Burial is to be in his native upstate village of Lime- stone. Powers was 79. Survivors are an adopted daughter, (Continued on page 4) Illinois Theatre May Sue to Get Bidding Chicago, August 2. — Weldon Al- len, operator of the 390-seat Grove theatre, at Galesburg, 111., has re- tained attorney Seymour Simon, for- mer assistant U. S. Attorney General, to file an action against major dis- tributors to enforce his right to com- petitive bidding and for past damages, which may run over $100,000. Prior to 1947, Allen operated the Grove on a second-run policy, but since has alternated with first-run United Artists product and second- run product. Although competing against houses operated by Great States, Allen claims that by playing extended runs he can pay the equi- valent or higher film rental than com- peting houses. On a second-run, the Grove grosses from $600 to $700 a week, while first-run grosses have reached $2,500. His fight against af- filiated circuit competition is told in Fortune Magazine for August, ■ in which he disclosed that he had con- sidered court action. Canadian Theatres Get 24% Tax Rebate Toronto, August 2. — Ontario thea tres gained two concessions from the provincial government in connection with the 20 per cent amusement tax which was effected last April. Be- cause of vigorous complaints from ex- hibitors throughout the province the government has announced the adop- tion of a simplified form of tax re- ports to accompany monthly remit- tances to the Treasury Department, and has granted a commission of 2z/2 per cent on tax payments to theatres for acting as collecting agency, retro- active to last spring. AFM -Producers Meet In Chicago tAug. 9 Hollywood, August 2. — Pro- ducers and their labor rep- resentatives will open new contract negotiations with James C. Petrillo, American Federation of Musicians pres- ident, in Chicago on August 9, for pacts for studio mu- sicians. The AFM board of directors is also scheduled to hold its meeting in Chicago starting on the same date. Balaban Heads TOA Convention Group Ted R. Gamble, president of the Theatre Owners of America, has ap- pointed John Balaban, secretary-treas- urer of Balaban and Katz, Chicago, as general chairman, and Edward G. Zorn, president of the United Theatre Owners of Illinois, vice-chairman, of the TOA convention committee. The convention will be held at the Drake Hotel, Chicago, September 24-25, with some preliminary meetings on Sep- tember 23. Stanley W. Prenosil, assistant to Gael Sullivan, executive director of the TOA, has left here for Chicago to confer with Balaban and Zorn on convention plans and the setting up of convention committees. "Many small exhibitors have al- ready written for reservations, and most of the circuit heads on the as- sociation's membership list also have signified their intention to attend," said the TOA. Gamble, Robert W. Coyne, TOA executive and Sullivan, are now lining up speakers. Germany's First-Runs Devastated, Says Maas Continue Music Tax, Okla. Group Urges Oklahoma City, August 2. — The- atre Owners of Oklahoma, in an or- ganizational bulletin, expresses the opinion that the only ultimate effect of the Ascap injunction in New York probably will be a new method of pay- ing for music, and advises its mem- bers not to halt payments for music at this time. The organization expressed doubt as to whether the Ascap ruling is to be considered a victory for exhibitors, although it is so heralded by some. In the four top British-zone Ger- man cities just visited by Irving Maas, vice-president and general manager of the Motion Picture Export Associa- tion, one thing was found in common : the devastating toll of first-run thea- tres taken by World War II. Visited were Dusseldorf, Cologne, Bremen and Hamburg, reports Maas from Germany to the MPEA here. Dusseldorf, which in prewar days was, second to Berlin, the most im- portant revenue-producing city in Ger- many, is a complete shambles. Left standing are only three secondary houses. In a little better condition is (Continued on page 5) RKO Weighing Purchase of Music Rights Plan Said to Hinge on Result of Ascap Appeal Purchase of performing as well as recording rights to musical com- positions as a future policy is un- derstood to be under consideration by RKO Radio as result of the Fed- eral Court decision finding Ascap guilty of violating the anti-trust laws in the action brought against the so- ciety by 164 members of the Indepen- dent Theatre Owners Association of New York. Adoption of the policy is said to be contingent upon the final outcome of the case on appeal. The opinion of Judge Vincent L. Leibell places RKO Radio in a differ- ent position than other members of the "Big Five" in that the company ex- ercises no interest in the music pub- lishing field. A basis for the company's proposed policy of buying both rights to music is found in the court's ruling in the case. In his decision Judge Leibell enjoined Ascap from collecting music performing rights fees from exhibitors and suggested that the music copy- (Continued on page 2) 20th-Fox Files for N.Y. Video Permit Washington, August 2. — Twentieth Century-Fox today asked the Federal Communications Commission for per- mission to operate an experimental television station in New York. Fox, which has applications pending for five commercial video stations, said the New York station would be used to test television transmitters in very high frequencies for possible eventual use in theatre television. Brazil Suspends All Film Price Controls Central Price Commission order No. 78 suspending all price controls on both theatre admissions and film rentals throughout Brazil is now in effect, according to a cablegram re- ceived yesterday from Rio de Janeiro by the Motion Picture Association of America. The order provides that the suspen- sion will continue in effect until a (Continued on page 2) 2 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, August 3, 1948 Personal Mention V/ FRANK FREEMAN. Para- Y , mount vice-president in charge of studio operations, arrived here yes- terday from Hollywood. He will re- main in New York for several weeks. • William A. Scully, Universal-In- ternational vice-president and general sales manager, and Maurice Berg- max. Eastern advertising-publicity manager, will leave here by plane Fri- dav for the Coast. • Johx H. Rugge, assistant to War- ner personnel director Ralph W. Bubd. and Mrs. Rugge have become parents of a son, John H., Jr., born on Saturday at Hackensack Hospital, N. J. Carol Reed, director, and Gra- ham Greene, author, are due here tomorrow from England en route to Hollywood for conferences with David O. Selzxick. • George Spires of the Motion Pic- ture Herald staff and Mrs. Spires have become parents of a son, born Sunday at Bay Ridge Hospital, Brooklyn. • Ted R. Gamble, head of Monarch Theatres and president of Theatre Owners of America, is expected here August 11 from his home in Portland, Ore. Mort Blumex stock, Warner ad- vertising-publicity vice-president, will fly to San Antonio today from New York. • Steve Broidy, Allied Artists-Mono- gram president, arrived on the Coast vesterday after six weeks in New York. • Fred Meyers, Universal-Interna- tional Eastern division sales manager, is due back here tomorrow from Bos- ton. • Max E. Youxgsteix, Eagle-Lion advertising-publicity vice-president, has arrived in Cincinnati. • George Sussmax of Astor Pictures' Pamo Film Exchange, Buffalo, was in New York last weekend. • Hugh Owex, Paramount home of- fice sales executive, is in Jacksonville, Fla. • Joseph Burstyx of Mayer and Bur- styn has left here for a European tour. Ross McLean to England Ottawa, August 2. — Ross McLean, commissioner of the Canadian Film Board, has left here for England and the Continent to promote the distribu- tion of Canadian government films. He will confer with his former chief, John Grierson in England. Grierson is pro- ducing documentaries for the British government and an interchange of prints with Canada is promised. Olympics Coverage Dispute Resolved Loxdox, August 2. — Settlement of the controversy over J. Arthur Rank's deal with the 14th Olympiad commit- tee for exclusive film rights to the festival under way here has been re- solved by reserving for Rank exclu- siveness only as to the special Techni- color film, "NIYth Olympiad — The Glory of Sport," which is being pre- pared under the direction of Castleton Knight. Rank paid £25,000 ($100,- 000) for the film rights. All newsreels will be represented in the arrangements, each having paid Rank £2,000 (S8.000). Their black- and-white "takes" will go into a com- mon pool available to each of the reels. Laboratory resources also have been pooled. Technicolor is reportedly supplying Rank with 800,000 feet of negative along with 19 specially adapted cam- eras. The Olympiad will finish Au- gust 14. ' The film will be given its London screening on September 2. Meanwhile, British Broadcasting has been training all of its manpower and equipment at Wembley for tele- vision coverage of hitherto untried di- mensions. BBC, hoping to score a tri- umph over the newsreels, is putting its greatest reliance on its new C.P.S. Emitron cameras specially designed and made for it by Electrical and Mu- sical Industries. Chief merit of the cameras, according to BBC experts, is that a minimum amount of light is needed in their operation. MPEA Board Meets On French Proposal Re-negotiation of the Blum-Byrnes film accord, now current in Paris, was taken up by the board of direc- tors of the Motion Picture Export Association at a meeting here yester- day. This statement was issued after the session : "After receiving additional reports by telephone from Paris and after considering the various aspects of the negotiations, the board of the MPEA agreed that the latest proposal from Paris should be referred to Eric A. Johnston, MPEA president, now on the Pacific Coast." Gerald Mayer, manager of the in- ternational division of the Motion Picture Association, is now in Paris acting as technical adviser to U. S. State Department officials dealing with the French. The film companies reportedly have $9,000,000 in blocked currency now in France. O'Brien Will Confer With Eric Johnston Loxdox, August 2. — Tom O'Brien, general secretary of the National As- sociation of Theatrical and Kine Em- ployees will leave for New York on the S. S. Queen Mary on August 7. While the ostensible purpose of the trip is to attend the forthcoming in- ternational convention of the IATSE, he declares privately that he hopes to. have "highly important conver- sations" in Washington with Eric Johnston, Motion Picture Association of America president. C an ad a Removes 25% Projector Tax Toronto, August 2. — Can- adian theatre companies se- cured relief in a decision ef- fective immediately by the Dominion government to re- move the 25 per cent austerity excise tax on a long list of articles including film projec- tors, oil burners, refrigera- tion units, musical instru- ments and electrical goods. The tax was reduced from 25 to 10 per cent on radios, tubes and record players. Personal Touch in Europe Sales Urged Importance of the personal ap- proach in the independent producer's effort to find a market for his product in Europe was stressed here yesterday by Frederick Brisson of Independent Artists following his return from a two-month European visit. Brisson said that if a producer has the right product for European tastes and is willing to offer it for sale at a reasonable price he can create a mar- ket for himself by working on the scene with his representatives and dealing with exhibitors personally. Brisson asserted that frozen funds in Europe could encourage production by American producers there to the betterment of world relations. He said that vhile he was in Europe the sug- gestion was made that all indepen- dents put their frozen funds into a pool into which they could dip for European production. On his trip Brisson appointed David E. Griffith and Raoul Levy his com- pany's representatives in London and Paris, respectively. New Censorship Code For Mexican Industry Mexico City, August 2. — A new film censorship code is being written by Antonio Castro Leal, chief censor who also heads the National Cine- matographic Commission, and Celes- tino Gorostize, dramatist and scenarist. The code will be presented to pro- ducers and exhibitors and such organ- izations as the Mexican Legion of Decency for their opinions which will be incorporated in the final draft of the code that will go to the Ministry of the Interior, principal government department with jurisdiction over censorship. Brazil Suspends (Continued from page 1) final decision has been handed down on the application of American mo- tion picture companies for judicial relief. The American companies have in- structed their branches to resume normal operations in Brazil. Joaquin Rickard, MPAA repres- entative in South America, will leave Rio by plane tomorrow for New York. WB Splits Up Its Latin Territory Wolfe Cohen, vice-president of Warner International, realigned the company's sales supervisory staff at the opening session yesterday of a two-week sales meeting of Latin American heads in the home office. The entire territory will be divided into three divisions, Atlantic, Pacific and Caribbean, with a division n/ Vi ager in charge of each. Ary Lima will be district manager for the Atlantic division ; Peter Colli will be manager of the Caribbean di- vision. New appointee, James V. O'Gara, until recently Eastern sales manager for Republic, has been named manager of the Pacific division. RKO Weighing (Continued from page 1) right owner might negotiate directly with the producer as an alternative to the present system of having exhibi- tors pay music fees to the society. The plan is in such a nebulous state at the moment that RKO officials were unable to say how much it would cost to acquire the performing rights to musical compositions from copyright owners. They could not even conjecture whether it would cost the exhibitor more or less than his license fees under his Ascap contract. NEW YORK THEATRES —RADIO CITY MOSIC HALL— Rockefeller Center BING JOAN CROSBY FONTAINE gin "THE EMPEROR WALTZ"! Color by TECHNICOLOR A Paramount Picture "SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION &f ' Paramount Pras*nti Is RAY I MILLAND % ANN I TODD $ GERALDINE I FITZGERALD 6' way & is OMM C~W~% _ B w°y * ROY DEL RUTH'S THE BABE RUTH ( ■^■■^^k. a^kYmv " WILLIAM Cl AIM £3 STORY — BENDIX-TREVOR I Com Performonw Pep Brt MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, bundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, Aew York Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture , eHr,n; o ,atre- S.ales: International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. bubscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. ITH THEATRE MEN WHO KNOW BEST- IT'S "CANON CITY"._ EAST AND WEST! An EAGLE LION FILMS Picture Introducing SCOTT BRADY with Jeff Corey Whit Bis: Warden Roy Best, himself A Bryan Poy Pi lley Clements ■ Char Produced by Robert 4 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, August 3, 1948 Review "Rachel and the Stranger" (RKO Radio) THE ability of Loretta Young, Robert Mitchum and William Holden to sell tickets must be relied upon to attract substantial support to "Rachel and the Stranger." The film about the Ohio frontier early in the 1800's is interesting in point of locale and background as well as story and perform- ance. But it lacks the driving emotional force required to send it skyrocket- ing toward a concentrated climax despite the closing sequence dealing with an Indian attack on the Holden homestead. In the face of its historic period when the settlers were courageously ex- tending their boundaries Westward from the Eastern seaboard and when the going certainly was rugged and primitive, the treatment fails to sustain the bite which presumably was inherent in the basic material — a story by Howard Fast titled "Rachel." Holden laboriously carving a home out of the wilderness, loses his wife and comes to realize shortly after her death his need for a woman to raise his young son, Gary Gray. Loretta Young, bondwoman, is the only likely pros- pect at the stockade. He buys her, but also marries her at the preacher's insistence. The main stream of the story deals with the relationship of father, son and now the new wife and how Miss Young, patient and plodding, even- tually wins Holden's respect and then his love. The conflict to these ends is set up by Holden and the boy and is hastened toward surrender by the friendly and sly campaign launched by Mitchum, woodsman and Indian scout who presumably falls in love with Miss Young himself. "Rachel and the Stranger" has flavor. It appears to be an authentic re- flection of its period. Yet while it is homey, it does not hum. Waldo Salt prepared the screenplay for producer Richard H. Berger whose director was Norman Foster. Jack J. Gross served as executive producer. The six musical numbers, with an air of genuine Americana, were written by Roy Webb and Waldo Scott. Running time 93 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, October 2. Red Kann Withhold Payments to Ascap, Advises NCA Minneapolis, August 2. — North Central Allied urges independent exhibitors to sign no more contracts with Ascap or to "pay them any money," in a bulletin issued by Stanley Kane, executive di- rector. The NCA director warned that while Ascap is down "it will not go out without a lot of bluster and fight," and said exhibitors should guard against being influenced by Ascap action. Contrariwise, the Theatre Owners of America, among others, warns exhibitors that non-payment is a violation of Federal law until such time as Ascap is finally enjoined. WB Must Answer KB Suit by August 16 Washington^ August 2. — Judge Edward M. Curran today turned down a request of Warner Brothers that it be given until September 30 to answer a suit by K-B Amusement Co. to force Warner out of the jointly- owned MacArthur Theatre. Curran said the September request was un- reasonably long, and gave Warner two weeks, until August 16, to answer. KATO Convention Is Set for Oct 27-28 Falls City, Ky., August 2. — The convention committee of the Kentucky Association of Theatre Owners met here to formulate plans for the annual KATO convention, set for Oct. 27th- 28, in Louisville's Seelbach Hotel. Committee members include Guthrie F. Crowe, Henry J. Stiles, Mrs. Nell Borden, John T. Edmunds, Jr., E. L. Ornstein, C. D. Arnold and Gene Lutes. N. J. Allied Meet Members of Allied of New Jersey will meet here next Monday to hear George Gold, legislative chairman. Gold also will be given final instruc- tions before he meets with Assembly- men Reiffen, Walter H. Jones and Bernard Vogel, members of the com- mittee studying bingo legislation. Four Conventions in One Chicago, August 2. — The Midwest Forum, Educational Film Library Association, Film' Council of America, and National Audio-Visual Dealers Association will hold their combined conventions at the Sherman Hotel here August 6-11. MITCHELL MAY, Jr. CO., INC. INSURANCE • Specializing in requirements of the Motion Picture Industry 75 Maiden Lane, New York 510 W. 6th St., Los Angeles P. A. Powers (Continued from page 1) Mrs. Roscoe M. George, San Fernan- do, Cal., and a sister, Mary Ellen Powers of Buffalo. Powers, familiarly known among older persons in the industry as "Pat," had been intermittently active in the industry for some 35 years. He was one of the organizers of Uni- versal Film Manufacturing Co., and at one time was head of Film Booking Offices of America, a predecessor company to RKO. He played a part in introducing "Mickey Mouse" and "Silly Symphony" cartoons. He de- veloped Powers Cinephone, one of the early sound recording and reproducing devices. He was formerly president of Powers Film Products Co. of Rochester, N. Y., which he organized to compete in the film raw stock mar- ket. He was treasurer of The Na- tional Association of the Motion Pic- ture Industry, early industry trade association. In recent years he developed a country club resort at Westport, Conn., which he recently disposed of. He had been living at the Metropoli- tan Club here and maintained a Con- necticut country home. Kearney Rites Today; Burial in Vermont Funeral services for Alexander (Dick) Kearney, 69, assistant general manager of the M. A. Shea Circuit, will be held in the Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church here this morning. Interment will be in Lud- low, Vt. Kearney died of lukemia at the Medical Arts Hospital on Satur- day after a long illness. Surviving Shea is the widow, Sara. Arthur Fisher Dead Arthur Fisher, head of the talent booking agency bearing his name, died here on Friday. His survivors include the widow, Florence ; a daughter, Frances, and a son, Trueman. Milder and Payette (Continued from page 1) ager for Warners, was assigned to a theatre post in London when illness forced Milder to relinquish some of his duties last month. His widow, Madelaine, survives. Payette, general zone manager of Warner Theatres in the Washington territory, was a founder and first barker of Variety Tent No. 11 there. He was 56. He had been associated with the industry since 1904, holding various theatre posts, leading to his appointment as general manager of the 45 Warner houses in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and part of Pennsylvania. Services for Payette are to be held at his Washington home and at the Sacred Heart Church, also Washing- ton, tomorrow at 10 A.M. His sur- vivors include the widow, Dorothy, and four children. Pallbearers, all of whom were as- sociated with Payette at the Warner office here, will be George A. Crouch, Frank La Fake, Harry E. Lohmeyer, Charles V. Grimes, J. Alton Pratt and Louis F. Ribnitzki. Honorary pallbearers are: Harry Kal- mine, W. Stuart McDonald, Joseph Ber- nard, Carter Barron, Nelson B. Bell, Rudy Berger, W. F. Beiersdorf, Ralph Binns, A. Julian Brylawski, Jay Carmody, Jake Flax, Robert J. Folliard, J. Edward Fon- taine, Sam Galanty, Nat Glasser, Frank Harman. Garfield Kass, C. E. McGowan, Joseph P. Morgan, I. J. Rappaport, Rob- ert Smeltzer and L. T. Souder. W. J. McDonald, 78 Boston, August 2. — William J. McDonald, 78, well-known real estate man and theatre owner, died today. He was connected with the late Na- than H. Gordon as a partner and built the Metropolitan Theatre in Boston. Harry Martin, 27 Chicago, August 2. — Harry Martin, 27, manager of the Atom Theatre, Chicago, operated by the Gallos Cir- cuit, was found dead on Thursday at Calumet Park. Coast to Explore Retirement Plans Hollywood, August 2 — Roy Brewer, IATSE international representative, disclosed here at the weekend that the union's pension committee which has been working on a retirement plan for studio craftsmen will conduct ex- ploratory conferences with a producer committee on th( subject pending the return here of "IA" president Rich- ard F. Walsh. Hartley Says Film Job Offered Him Washington, August 2. — House Labor Committee Chairman Hartley, who is retiring at the end of this year, admitted he has been approached to act as legislative representative of a major motion picture organization. Hartley said he had received an informal offer from an industry of- ficial, but refused to name him. Asked whether the job involved representing exhibitors or distributors, the New Jersey Republican said it was his im- pression that if he accepted, he would "represent the industry as a whole." _ He did not accept nor turn down the bid, Hartley said, but outlined certain conditions for taking the job. "I'm not getting too excited until a more formal offer is made," he declared. Motion Picture Association of America officials claim they have made Hartley no offer. SDG, Majors Await Ruling, Halt Talks Hollywood, August 2. — Screen Di- rectors Guild and major producers to- day announced postponement of con- tract negotiations for assistant direc- tors pending the outcome of a petition by both parties for a job evaluation survey by the U. S. Department of Labor to determine whether the assis- tant directors are to be exempted from the Fair Labor Standards Act. Ex- emption is sought in order to secure similar conditions for first and second assistants. Extras' Pact Extended Hollywood, August 2. — Major stu- dios and the Screen Extras Guild have agreed to extend their contract, which expired Saturday night, 30 days to permit conclusion of negotiations now in progress. Mrs. Stanley Williams, 58 Toronto, August 2. — The death has occurred at her home in Cornwall, Ont., of Mrs. Stanley G. Williams, 58, wife of the manager of the Capitol Theatre there and a member of a prominent theatre family. She was the daughter of the late James Whit- ham who opened the first theatre in Cornwall. PROMOTION STICKERS Use Topflight cellophane self-adhesive tape for your next promotion picture. Place in- stantly— anywhere— box office, lobby, stores, phone booths. Lustrous, colorful, rich in ap- pearance. FRANK G. B ERG LAS. Dir. Motion Picture Div. TOPFLIGHT TAPE CO. YORK, PENNSYLVANIA Tuesday, August 3, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 5 Three Openings Lift NY lst-run Grosses Continuing heat wave is less severe on New York first-runs this week. Holdover business declined only nor- mally and three openings brightened the overall picture considerably. Broadway theatremen credit the Lions International convention with an as- " t. It brought 25,000 members and r families to town, he stage version of the "Stop the Music" radio show has stirred box- office commotion aplenty at the Capitol where "On an Island with You" is on the screen. The combination figures to take $103,000 in its first week. Saturday Night Price Up at Astor "The Babe Ruth Story" is scoring very well at the Astor where $38,000 is indicated for its initial week. The house charged $1.80, up from $1.50, from 7 :30 to 10 :30 on Saturday eve- ning and intends to repeat the boost on future Saturdays until too much re- sistance is felt. "Abbott and Costello Meet Frank- enstein" is going beyond expectations in drawing power at the Criterion. First week's gross is estimated at §42,000, the best business the house has had in several months. About $12,000 is likely for the first week of "Brute Force" and "The Killers," both re- issues, at the Winter Garden ; this is fair enough. "Street with No Name" with an ice revue and Cab Calloway on stage should complete its third and final week at the Roxy in the neighborhood of $98,000, which is very strong, after drawing $107,000 in a second week. "Walls of Jericho" bows tomorrow. "Emperor Waltz will leave the Music Hall tomorrow night after seven weeks to make way for "Date with Judy." "Waltz" took $71,000 Thurs- day through Sunday, pointing to $115,- 000, a good gross for the final seven days. "Easter Parade" is still strong at the State with $45,000 expected for the fifth week. $72,000 Seen for 'Key Largo' At the Strand, "Key Largo," teamed with Count Basie and Billie Holliday on stage, is still grossing top money. The third week's gross should hit $72,000. "A Foreign Affair," with Jo Stafford in person, is down to $53,000 in a fifth and final week at the Para- mount, less a half day. "Beyond Glory" will open tonight with 300 West Point cadets scheduled to attend. The second week of "So Evil My Love" at the Rivoli is fairly healthy at $25,000. "Four Faces West" opens today at the Globe, replacing "Deep Waters," which was weak with $7,500 for five days of a second week. "Return of the Badmen" will make its debut at the Mayfair tomorrow, following "Time of Your Life" which will finish its 10th and final week, less one day, at about $9,000, also fair. Censors in Chicago Reject Two Films Chicago, August 2. — The local Cen- sor Board rejected two pictures last month: "Body Beautiful," (Road- show Attractions ) , and "Betrayed," (Michenaux). Two were classified for adults only, "Blonde Ice, (Film Classics) and "The King's Jester" (Italian). The board looked at 86 pictures and made 30 cuts. Simultaneously, Roy G. Harris, 67, retired after 36 years as police cen- sorship board clerk. Theatre Takes Improving (Continued from page 1) quently as box-office leaders were "Silver River," "The Emperor Waltz," "On Our Merry Way," "Give My Regards to Broadway" and "The Best Years of Our Lives." Following with better-than-average grosses from time to time were : "I Remember Mama," "The Sainted Sis- ters," "The Bride Goes Wild," "Berlin Express," "The Outlaw," "Green Grass of Wyoming," "All My Sons," "The Lady from Shanghai," "Mourn- ing Becomes Electra," "To the Ends of the Earth," "The Iron Curtain," "Anna Karenina." Also, "Duel in the Sun," "Another Part of the Forest," "Love from a Stranger," "Three Daring Daugh- ters," "Sitting Pretty," "The Naked City," "Fury at Eurnace Creek," "Hazard," "Miracle of the Bells," "Fanny," "The Big Clock," "Letter from an Unknown Woman,". "Raw Deal," "Call Northside 777," "Bring 'em Back Alive," "Coroner Creek," "On an Island with You," "Paradine Case," "Winter Meeting," "The Noose Hangs High," "Romance on the High Seas," "The Street with No Name," "Fighting Father Dunne" and "Tar- zan and the Mermaids." Composite key city box-office re- ports for 1948 to date, compared with corresponding weeks of 1947, follow : 1*43 Week Ending No. of Total Theatres Gross Tan. 2-3 179 $3,406,600 Jan. 9-H) Jan. 16-17 168 168 Jan. 23-24 166 Jan. 30-31 166 Feb. 6-7 167 Feb. 13-14 166 Feb. 20-21 164 Feb. 27-28 167 Mar. 5-6 165 Mar. 12-13 165 Mar. 19-20 175 Mar. 26-27 162 April 2-3 171 April 9-10 169 April 16-17 175 April 23-24 167 April 30-May 1.... 159 May 7-8 167 May 14-15 167 May 21-22 149 May 28-29 158 June 4-5 166 June 11-12 172 June 18-19 176 Jane 25-26 170 July 2-3 167 3,112,700 2,473,300 2,419,000 2,341,900 2,537,800 2,381,500 2,316,500 2,734,100 2,372,700 2,441,800 2,626,800 2,356,800 2,953,500 2,740,000 2,493,600 2,284,000 2,232,300 2,416,500 2,301,200 2,118,300 2,241,100 2,577,400 2,287,800 2,340,300 2,396,500 2,476,300 Average Per Theatre $19,031 18,528 14,722 14,572 14,108 15,196 14,546 14,125 16,372 14,380 14,799 15,010 14,548 17,272 16,213 14,249 13,677 14,040 14,470 13,780 14,217 14,184 15,527 13,301 13,297 14,097 14,828 173 181 177 177 182 166 178 1*47 Week Ending Jan. 3-4 ... Jan. 10-11 . Jan. 17-18 173 Jan. 24-25 176 Jan. 3-Feb. 1 Feb 7-8 Feb. 14-15 Feb. 21-22 Feb. 28- Mar. 1.... Mar. 7-8 Mar. 14-15 174 Mar. 21-22 173 Mar. 28-29 178 April 4-5 179 April 11-12 184 April 18-19 177 April 25-26 183 May 2-3 177 May 9-10 175 May 16-17 176 May 23-24 169 May 30-31 173 178 165 June 6-7 June 13-14 June 20-21 170 June 27-28 174 July 4-5 Average No. of Total Per Theatres Gross Theatre .. 167 $3,678,100 $22,024 3,363,200 19,400 3,007,300 17,383 3,043,700 17,294 2,293,600 18,197 3,089,600 17,495 2,767,900 15,638 3,042,700 16,718 2,800,300 16,869 2,906,400 16,328 2,890,300 16,610 2,922,900 16,895 3,069,500 17,245 2,838,800 15,859 2,239,500 17,606 2,973,400 16,798 2,917,900 15,945 2,699,800 15,253 2,578,100 15,732 2,650,400 15,059 2,369,100 14,018 2,590,100 14,972 2,834,800 15,926 2,511,700 15,222 2,579,400 15,173 2,557,000 14,695 2,507,300 15,382 163 Germany's 1st - Runs (Continued from page 1) Cologne where all big theatres were either levelled ,or heavily damaged. Only two houses remain there which qualify as first-run outlets. In Bremen, the story is much the same, with destruction of the best houses well nigh complete. Three theatres are be- ing reconstructed there, however, and by the end of the year, the acute shortage in release outlets should be considerably eased. Of the four cities, Hamburg, Maas reported, is making the best recovery. Even though it was one of the hardest hit cities of the war, there was more building activity observed there than in any other city. Still intact are three pre-war first-run houses, two of which have been requisitioned for British troops. For release outlets, MPEA has been obliged to convert two suburban houses into first-runs. This has not proved too serious a handicap com- mercially because, with downtown Hamburg thoroughly bombed out, there has been a considerable shift of population to suburban areas. MPEA now has branch offices in seven key cities of Germany, includ- ing three in British-occupied territory, and all are now in full operation. Office quarters in most cases are meagre. Army Names Horton Washington, August 2.— Lt. Col. John E. Horton has been assigned as chief of the motion picture unit in the pictorial section of the Army's public information division. His duties are directed to aiding the film industry on all matters pertaining to the Army. The post was recently vacated by Major Stuart Palmer. Johnston To Aid UN -Day Washington, August 2. — Eric Johnston, Motion Picture Association of America president, will serve as chairman of the film committee for United Nations Day, the Department of State said today. The MPAA presi- dent will work with other civilian committees and the Department in planning the role of films in the na- tional celebration on October 24. Cite C. P. Skouras on TO A 'Youth' Work Hollywood, August 2. — Charles P. Skouras, national chairman of Theatre Owners of America's "Youth Month" campaign, was commended at the weekend by church and civic leaders at a luncheon-meeting at Fox-West Coast's executive dining room. The gathering, which included club, press and radio leaders, pledged cooperation in connection with the campaign. TOA president Ted R. Gamble, guest speaker, traced for those present the course of the "Youth Month" drive from its conception two years ago. Smith Heads 'Youth Drive' Distributors Charles P. Skouras, national chair- man of the "Youth Month" commit- tee of the Theatre Owners of Amer- ica, has named Andy W. Smith, Jr., general sales manager of 20th-Fox, as distribution chairman of the drive. Smith is in charge of the distribu- tion of the two-reel subject "Report for Action" and arrangements for co- operation of national distributors and film exchange groups with local state and theatre chairmen participating. Convertible Theatre For General Service Hollywood, August 2. — Architects' plans for making stage No. 4, General Service Studio's largest, convertible into a 550-seat auditorium for pre- views and other special events have been approved by James Nasser who with his brothers heads the lot. Project is part of an expansion pro- gram under way at General under the direction of Theodore Nasser. 'Velvet' to the Rivoli "The Velvet Touch," which ushers into the Hollywood producing field the new Independent Artists, will have its world premiere at New York's Rivoli following the current "So Evil My Love." t+V^ It's for you! Paramount saying that Hal Wallis has made its greatest suspense-drama since "The Lost Weekend" WORLD-FAMOUS NOVE) OF SWASHBUCKLING ADVENTURE BRINGS A TREMENDOUS NEW THRILL TO THE SCREEN! and f&ahjring GEORGE MAOREADY - EDGAR BUCHANAN Screenplay by Richard Seiuyar, David P. Sheppard and Thomas Seller Directed by GORDON DOUGLAS • Produced by GRANT WHYTOCK AN EDWARD SMALL PRODUCTION F2L£ COPY MOTION PICTURE DAILY 64. NO. 24 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1948 . TEN CENTS Johnston Seen Headed for Paris on Pact Report French Offer to Unfreeze Nine Millions Eric A. Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, now on the Coast, is like- ly to make an early trip to Paris to confer with U. S. State Department officials now there negotiating a new U. S. -French film agreement, accord- ing to reports here. The entire French matter as it con- cerns the American film industry was placed in Johnston's hands on Mon- day by the board of the Motion Pic- ture Export Association. The group had been in session when Gerald May- (Continued on page 3) Remittable Dollars Are Due This Month First of the remittable dollars due U. S. film companies from England under the exchange agreement with that country are expected this month, according to executives here. While last July 14 actually was the date for the currency transfer, it was pointed out . that the mechanics of the entire operation had to be worked out for the initial payment. Subsequent in- stallments will be simplified, conform- ing to the pattern. The companies are allowed to draw a total of $17,000,000 annually (12 payments of $1,416,000 each) plus the equivalent of the dollar earnings of British pictures in the U. S. and the Philippines. The latter is to be com- puted on a quarterly basis. Wometco Drive - Ins To Encircle Miami Miami, August 3. — Wometco Theatres, operating 20 thea- tres in this area, has com- pleted plans to build a series of drive-ins around the city of Miami and environs, Mitchell Wolfson and Sidney Meyer, co-owners, report. Unique is their new Boule- vard Drive-in, which, besides a supervised playground for the use of youngsters during the exhibition of pictures not suitable for children, will have a refreshment stand and shopping facilities. Decision Reserved On N.T. Settlement Arguments on the proposed settle- ment of 20th-Fox minority stockhold- ers' suits involving more than $6,- 850,000, representing sale of 40,000 shares of National Theatres' Class B stock and salaries and bonuses of N.T. officers, were heard in New York State Supreme Court here yesterday. Justice Ferdinand Pecora reserved de- cision and gave counsel until August 16 to submit briefs to the court. A highlight of the hearing was the disclosure that Universal was a bidder for the N.T. stock before it was re- purchased by 20th-Fox, the parent company, from Charles P. Skouras, Elmer Rhoden, Frank H. Ricketson and H. J. Fitzgerald. Judge Samuel Rosenman, counsel for the directors of 20th-Fox and N.T., pointed out that if the stock had not been sold back to 20th-Fox and had come into the possession of a com- petitor, the result would have been "disastrous" to 20th-Fox. In urging the court to accept the proposed settlement of $3,550,000, Rosenman, Robert P. Patterson as (Continued on page 8) $10,000,000 u. s. Income in Sweden Washington, August 3. — U. S. companies' film income from Sweden is running about $10,000,000 annually, based on last year's revenue from the 183 films marketed in that country last year, it is indicated in a Com- merce Department report on Sweden and Norway issued here today by Na- than D. Golden, department film chief. Roughly this is about the same as the income from the 43 Swedish films shown. In his report, Golden says that U. S. films are "occasionally more brutal" than the Swedish censors will allow. Of 318 films submitted last (Continued on page 3) SIMPP Ready With Suits vs. Circuits Robert J. Rubin, counsel for the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, will return to the Coast to- day from New York where it is be- lieved he completed work preliminary to filing anti-trust actions in behalf of the society against theatre circuits and film-buying combines. Basis of the suits will be the allegation that the group theatres arbitrarily set booking terms and refuse to play independent producers' films unless the circuits' terms are agreed to. Ascap Board Weighs Theatre Case Today Board of directors of Ascap will meet here today for fur- ther consideration of future action in consequence of the recent Federal District Court decision holding Ascap's the- atre licensing methods to be in violation of the anti-trust laws. Indications are that the board may approve appoint- ment of special counsel to handle the case at today's meeting. Prepare N.Y. Ascap Ruling for Berger Minneapolis, August 3. — Ben Berg- er, president of North Central Allied, acting as an independent theatre op- erator, is going ahead with plans to inject Judge Vincent L. Leibell's anti- Ascap New York Federal Court deci- sion into the pending Berger test case of the legality of Ascap theatre col- lections for music copyright perform- ances. Minneapolis film attorneys Louis B. Schwartz and Samuel Halpern, Berg- er's counsel in his test case, are pre- paring for presentation to Federal Court here the text of Judge Leibell's decision which declared Ascap a monopoly in an injunctive order. Judge Gunnar Nordbye has had the Berger case under advisement for several months. It involves four Berger houses and Mrs. Jessie Jen- sen's Avalon Theatre at White Bear. Reject Profits Tax Bill Before It's Filed Washington, August 3. — The Ad- ministration today unveiled the excess profits tax bill it would like Congress to pass, and the Republicans made it plain immediately they had no plans whatsoever to pass it. "There'll be no tax legislation at the special session," said Ways and Means Committee chairman Knutson. The bill, which would affect about 25,000 out of 360,000 corporations, is more lenient than the wartime bill. It would allow a credit of 140 per cent of the 1936-39 invested capital return on average profits, then give another $50,000 exemption, and then graduate the rates from 50 per cent to 80 per cent. Wartime rates went up to 90 per cent, had smaller credits and exemptions. It will be intro- duced in the House tomorrow by Rep. Dingell (R., Mich.). Ceilings on Film Budgets As Costs Soar U-I May Place $1 Million Limit on Some Pictures Ceilings on production costs, flex- ible to a limited extent, are con- templated by a majority of film companies, according to executives here who report such action must be taken in order to balance studio ex- penditures, which have been skyrock- eting, with distribution earnings. Paramount reportedly already has limited itself to a maximum of $1,500,- 000 for each production and similar action appears to have become one of the top subjects on the agenda of the annual studio meeting of Universal- International executives starting in Hollywood next Monday. Executives here state they have hit upon the realization that a profit on distribution is too often beyond reach (Continued on page 3) Scully Sets Policy On U-Fs Rank Films Universal-International has adopted a new marketing policy for the J. Arthur Rank product in the U. S. with the subject matter of each of the Brit- ish pictures determining which of three selling approaches will be taken, ac- cording to William A. Scully, vice- president and general sales manager. Films of the type which. met resis- tance in the smaller towns and other areas henceforth will be earmarked for specialized handling with selling to be concentrated in certain theatres around the country which have yielded top returns in the past on a long-run basis, .Scully said. Further information was given by Maurice Bergman, Eastern advertis- ( Continued on page 3) Studio Employment Is Up 3 Per Cent Hollywood, August 3. — Studio employment increased slightly during June, rising to 86.4 per cent on California Labor Bureau's index scale, from May's 83.3. The index a year ago was 106.9 per cent The bureau index is based on 1940 representing 100 per cent. 2 Motion Picture daily Wednesday, August 4, 19 Insider's Outlook By RED KANN Personal Mention NED DEPINET, RKO Radio ^ex- ecutive vice-president, left here yesterday by plane for Los Angeles. • Robert Mochrie, RKO Radio dis- tribution vice-president, accompanied by Walter E. Branson, Western di- vision sales manager and Harry J. Michalson, short subject sales man- ager, will return to New York to- morrow from Hollywood. • Frank Buck, accompanied by RKO Radio Eastern field supervisor Harby Reiners, will be in Washing- ton today from New York' on the first stop of a personal appearance tour. • Duke Ellington, Kay Kyser and Mrs. Kyser, Jack Robbins, head of Robbins Music ; and Robert Morley are among passengers arriving here today from Europe on the SS Queen Elizabeth. • Rafael Ramos Cobian, president of Cobian Theatres of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Juan Menendez, vice-president of Compania Cinemato- grafica Cubana, are in New York. • Ben Kalmenson, Warner distribu- tion vice-president, is due in Chicago today on a tour of the company's Western exchanges. • Lew Kerner, former executive tal- ent director for Samuel Goldwyn Pro- ductions, has returned to- New York from Europe. • Max Wilkinson, Samuel Goldwyn Productions story editor, arrived here yesterday en route to Europe for con- ferences with Sir Alexander Korda. • Howard Strickling, M-G-M stu- dio publicity head, and his wife will sail from England on Saturday on the SS Queen Mary for New York. • Joseph H. Seidelman, head of for- eign operations for Universal-Inter- national, will fly to the Coast for stu- dio conferences this weekend. • Ed Hinchy, head of the Warner playdate department, will leave here today for New Haven and Boston. • Norton V. Ritchey, Monogram International president, will sail for Europe today on the 5\y America, Bernard J. Gates, Monogram In- ternational Latin American supervisor, is in Rio de Janeiro. 5th & Walnut Appeal Notice Filed Here Notice of appeal to the Second Cir- cuit Court of Appeals in New York was filed yesterday by Monroe Stein on behalf of his client, Fifth and Wal- nut Amusement Co., in its anti-trust action against major distributors. A jury verdict handed down on June 29 in U. S. District Court here dismissed the distributor-defendants. CPYROS SKOURAS spared ^ no verbal horses in a reveal- ing address before 20th Century- Fox's sales convention in Toron- to a handful of days ago. He described 1947 as a year of "heart-breaking experience" and linked it to the side of the "nightmarish." Eighteen pictures released in that period averaged more than $2,300,000 apiece to turn out, but the disappointment entered, as Skouras put it, because: "While these pictures made money for our customers, they did not bring us the return expected and, on many of them, we ac- tually lost money because as high as were the rentals earned, these receipts in ratio to the high cost of production effected losses to the company." ■ The consequence, he observed, not only was "shocking, but in- credible because we had taken every precaution in preparing and making these pictures." The pinch entered in that "we just didn't get enough to pay for them." The final result, it was further and frankly explained, was a loss of $6,000,000 on the produc- tion side, although the company did show a net of $3,000,000 at the close of last year. "What saved us," explained Skouras, "was earnings on pictures of previous years and the earnings of our theatre subsidiaries.''' The production-distribution loss traced to the conclusion the pic- tures were not sold "in ratio to actual production cost." ■ The story of the budget goes like this : The 1946-47 lineup of 18 at- tractions costing $41,400,000 at an average of $2,300,000, com- pared with the 1947-48 schedule of 24 releases costing $45,600,- 000 at an average of $1,900,000. The 30 pictures planned for the forthcoming season, how- ever, are estimated at $48,000,- 000 to $50,000,000 at an antici- pated average of $1,600,000. According to this analysis, therefore, 20th-Fox is linking its operations to the times by cutting its per-picture budget from $2,300,000 to $1,600,000. The difference of $700,000 per attraction in a two-year span is whale of a difference on any- body's adding machine. ■ Poking an obvious poke at in- dividuals unnamed, Skouras also had this to remark: "We have no sympathy with those people in our industry who view the future with such pessimism. We approach the future with great- est confidence." On television, he practically blueprinted his company's ob- jective when he pointed out the policy is long-range. "We have gone deep into this subject of television. We have been work- ing on it for the past several years. We intend to march with the progress of television because we know that it will add to the popularity and widen the market of motion pictures." The measure of popularity he forecasts is Skouras' conviction that video will build new audi- ences for picture houses ; in fact, he foresees millions of them by 1953. Perhaps it will be encour- aging for theatremen to learn this, too: "I believe that television will bring about results that will, in time, enable the motion picture theatres to earn twice as much as they are earning today. With the large television screen, we can supplement programs with entertainment and subjects that the small home sets cannot fur- nish. We will be able to tele- visualize {this may be one for future dictionaries] for our au- diences all of the important do- ings of the day — and when they are actually happening." On a broader level, finally this : "We believe goodwill and best public relations come from the quality of motion pictures we make. But I believe it should be an intelligent product, too. It should be a courageous product." Directors normally meet in board rooms designated for the purpose. Circumstances, how- ever, occasionally dictate other- wise. Examples: The board of a wholly-owned Paramount thea- tre subsidiary which met in a corridor of the Paramount Building. The board of another 100 per cent-owned theatre com- pany which got together in a washroom. Unprecedented, perhaps, was a recent UA board conclave held in the quarters of Grad Sears at New York Hospital. Newsreel Parade OPENING of Idlewild Airport an the start of the Olympic game are current newsreel highlights. Othc items are the blast in Germany's Far ben chemical plant, and Congres. probe of the Red spy ring. Complet contents follow : MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 62— World' greatest airport opened. Congress probe- Communist spy ring in U. S. The \ I, killed and injured in German blast.v^' it. pic games. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 296 — Olym; pic games. U. S. woman spy for Reds tell, her story. Blast disaster wrecks town ii Germany. Greatest airport inaugurated. i PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 9»— Aeria cross-roads of the world. Israel salute: heroes on "Nation Day." Blast wrecki' chemical plant in Germany. Olympic games. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. 166— Mam moth air show opens- New York airport German explosion kills 200, injures over 3,000. First post-war Olympic games held in London. WARNER PAT HE NEAVS, No. 101— Truman and Dewey open airport. Explo- sion in Germany. Israel army on parade. Ex-Red testifies. Olympic games begin. $50,000 for Cancer From 'Power' Short Warner yesterday turned over $50,- 000 to Walter Winchell, secretary- treasurer of the Damon Runyon Me- morial Fund, representing the profits from its two-reel Technicolor film "Power Behind the Nation." The film, which was produced by Warner and sponsored in distribution by the Mo- tion Picture Association of America, played over 10,000 theatres in the U. S. S.D.G. Establishes Quarterly Awards Hollywood, August 3. — Screen Di^ rectors Guild has inaugurated a self- contained balloting system by which it will make quarterly and annual awards to members for the best direc- tion. Move does not affect the Aca- demy's annual awards machinery. PCCITO Trustees To Meet September 14-16 Hollywood, August 3. — Annual meeting of Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners trustees will be held here on September 14-16 at the Ambassador Hotel, executive secretary Robert H. Poole announces. Resigns SRO Post Cincinnati, August 3. — Jack Keat- ing has resigned as manager of the local Selznick Releasing Organization branch. His future plans have not been announced, nor his successor named. Tulipan, Frick Switch Ira Tulipan, 20th Century-Fox trade press contact here, and Lou Frick, press book editor, have switched po- sitions, Charles Schlaifer, director of advertising-publicity, announces. Republic Board Meeting Republic Pictures' board of direc- tors is scheduled to meet here on August 26. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c, I) (Wednesday, August 4, 1948 Motion Picture daily 3 High Ticket Taxes Attacked in Sweden Washington, August 3. — Protests {(,iiof Swedish theatre owners against the Hi increased admission tax are not ex- pected to produce "any noticeable ef- 't; feet," according to a Commerce De- partment report prepared by motion U ,picture chief Nathan D. Golden, h At the annual congress of theatre I qj ^jte' association a protest against tfi Y-^breased tax was adopted and , submitted to the government. The pro- test stated that the new tax unjusti- « fiably burdened a large part of the population for whom motion pictures ' are the only kind of amusement, that Lithe high standards of the theatres and " the large domestic production were attained by large attendance, and that 1 J attendance is now declining and may „ J soon not be sufficient to keep up do- H'mestic production. The report says that a new labor agreement for studio technical person- nel has been signed, clearing the way for resumption of production, which had been at a standstill since late De- cember. Equipment Demand Is High in Europe Fred H. Hotchkiss, Continental European manager of the Westrex n Corp., Western Electric foreign dis- tributor, has returned to New York tfrom 10 weeks in Europe, and reports ■ that the demand for film equipment for both studios and theatres continues ■1 high. Availability of funds, he adds, has not yet been markedly affected by the ERP plan, except in Switzerland and Belgium. Highest anticipation for improvement of conditions as a result of American aid was in Italy, he re- ports. $10,000,000 to U.S. (Continued from page 1) year, about 30 per cent were altered, usually by deletions. The Norwegian government is ex- l pected to become a stockholder in ; Norsk Film, the Commerce Depart- ment film chief reported. An additional loan will be used to establish a special division in the com- pany to produce educational films. Another loan will be to develop the studio at Jar. This loan will be se- cured by the decision of many muni- cipalities to make one per cent of the gross of their municipally-owned thea- tres available if necessary. Municipally-owned theatres in Nor- way suffered an 11 per cent drop in earnings last year, Golden reports. He states that latest figures list 364 thea- tres in Norway, of which 160 are mu- nicipally owned. Exhibition in' Norway during the past six months of "several excellent U.' S. films has considerably tempered the former adverse tone of most Nor- wegian critics towards films produced in the U. S.," according to the report. At the same time, the import of some British "B" films has cut the popu- larity of British pictures. ^| Newman To Visit U.S. Ottawa, August 3. — A. H. New- man, newly appointed Canadian gov- ernment central liaison for all Ameri- can film production in Canada, has left here for a series of engagements with American film interests, includ- ing Hollywood, in connection with his new duties. Budget Ceilings ( Continued from page 1 ) because of huge production costs and the tight situation of foreign markets. The only answer, they say, is cutting production outlay and at the same time, through greater efficiency of operation, actually enhance the qual- ity of product. Eric A. Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of Amer- ica, recently voiced the conviction of most executives that producers can no longer rely on foreign market earn- ings and should figure their budgets on the potential revenue from the U. S. almost exclusively. 'More Earthy' Films for Masses Universal officials are said to have in mind a new policy of holding bud- gets to between $700,000 and $1,000,- 000 and the production of more earthy, "solid" entertainment for mass ap- peal. "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein," currently doing excep- tionally big business, was given as an example of the type of product in mind, and as evidence that the policy can work. It is said that the company has its sights on distribution revenue of be- tween $2,000,000 and $3,000,000 on its $700,000-to-$l, 000,000 product. This would mean a profit on each picture of $500,000 to $1,000,000 after distribu- tion costs, advertising and print charges. r4 Would Not Bar High Cost Films Under the plan, the lower-budget product would be the backbone of its entire program but occasional films costing perhaps $2,000,000 or $3,000,- 000 would not be eliminated. Slated to participate in Universal's annual production conclave are : J. Cheever Cowdin, chairman of the board ; Nate J. Blumberg, president ; William Goetz and Leo Spitz, produc- tion executives ; Charles D, Prutzman, vice-president and general counsel ; Joseph H. Seidelman, vice-president in charge of foreign distribution ; William A. Scully, vice-president and general sales manager; Maurice Berg-S1 man, Eastern advertising-publicity manager; John Joseph, national direc- tor of advertising, publicity and ex- ploitation, and Robert Goldstein, East- ern studio representative. Scully Sets Policy (Continued from page 1) ing-publicity manager, who said that top-grade product such as "Hamlet" and "Christopher Columbus" will be consigned to the top showcases and given road-show treatment. The stand- ard type of fare from England — films figured to appeal to the masses — will be sold in the regular fashion, Berg- man said.. : Scully pointed .to : Xew York's Sut- ton Theatre and the Stage Door in San Francisco as examples ofcthe type of house figured in the nev^Jfolicy on certain new British pictures. "Such im- ports as "I Know Where I'm Going" hav.e played the Sutton three months at consistently good business, v Universal's own experieflBe^jjyll be trie yardstick in determining in which of the, three selling categories fffture Rank-* pictures will '" be placed, ;-^|ully said. Decisions^vil| be made froth the point of subject matter of the product, not the budget, Bergman emphasized. Scully and Bergman returned to New York last week from London where the new policy was set with the Rank organization. See Mexican Trade Aided by Peso Cut Mexico City, August 3. — Recovery of the Mexican industry from the slump into which it has fallen since the war's end is seen in some trade quarters here as a result of the new devaluation of the peso. Increased theatre patronage is ex- pected because those who depend on exports and the tourist trade for their livelihood will have more money to spend on entertainment. This is good news to exhibitors, who complain that business this summer is 40 per cent below what it was this time last year. The devaluation has one disadvan- tage for U. S. and other foreign dis- tributors. They will get less money out of Mexico because it will cost 6.5 pesos instead of 4.85 to buy a dollar. Canada Seeks Video Channels from U. S. Ottawa, August 3. — Canada is nego- tiating with the United States for tel- evision broadcasting channels covering a belt 250 miles deep on each side of the boundary and practically including all major Canadian cities. Canadian Broadcasting Corp.'s first meeting after Oct. 1 will consider applications by private business for the right to open television stations in Canada and it is expected the first Canadian tele- vision station will be operating within 18 months. ABC Shares Listed On Stock Exchange Stock of American Broadcasting Co. has been placed on the New York Stock Exchange. Some 1,689,017 shares of common, one dollar par value, are selling at close to nine points. Edward J. Noble, now ABC board chairman, purchased the network in 1943 for $8,000,000. Its 1947 net earn- ings were $1,520,756. Memphis Manager Dies Memphis, August 3. — Ab Morrison, dean of Memphis theatre managers, died at his home here yesterday after- noon at the age of 77. He had been an invalid for about six years follow- ing a hip injury which resulted in his retirement in 1942 as manager of the Warner after 10 years in the post. Schine Station Ready Albany, N. Y., August 3.— WPTR, 10,000-watt Schine station, will open here Frjday night with a program from the ballroom of the Ten Eyck Hotel. Louis W. Schine is expected to head circuit officials attending this first Schine radio operation. Witherell to Video Films & William Witherell, film producer Snd radio-television copyrighter for Batten, Barton, Durstine and Osborn, will leave that ad agency on Friday to handle spot film commercials for Video Films in Detroit. Satori Moved to N. Y. William Satori, Monogram's Con- tinental European representative, will now make his headquarters at the Monogram International home office here. He heretofore made his head- quarters in London. Johnston to Paris (Continued from page 1) er, head of the MPAA international division, now in Paris, reported by telephone that the French Government had changed its proposals on the uses by the U. S. companies of their blocked money in that country. It is understood that the French have offered to convert to American dollars all French francs owned by the U. S. companies, reportedly total- ing $9,000,000, to be remitted to the U. S. over a four-year period. In addition, a part of future earnings would be remittable with the balance blocked. It is said that the French apparently are patterning their dollar-exchange system after that adopted by England where that government established various "permitted uses," such as in- vestment in production of blocked funds. Inquiry revealed that Johnston has been considering a European trip but that no definite plans have been made yet. C, R. Reagan, 56, Head of 16mm. Group C. R. Reagan, president of the new- ly formed Film Control Council of America and former associate head of the bureau of motion pictures of the Office of War Information, died last Saturday in Paris, according to re- ports reaching here. .He was 56 years old. Reagan, accompanied by his wife, was in Paris to attend a UNESCO meeting. After a career in education, he left the teaching profession in 1925 to become a dealer in the old Acme portable projectors. Later, he operated a circuit of theatres near Bryson, N. C. He was an organizer and first pres- ident of the National Association of Visual Education Dealers. In 1942 he aided in the setting up of the OWI 16mm. advisory committee. He was named associate chief of the OWI Domestic Motion Picture Bureau in 1944. ' Services in Buffalo For P. A. Powers Buffalo, August 3. — The Right Reverend Monsignor Edmund J. Britt officiated at a Solemn Requiem High Mass for P. A. Powers at 10 o'clock this morning in St. Joseph's Old Cathedral. Powers, 79, industry vete- ran, died in New York last Friday evening of coronary thrombosis. In- terment was in his native New York village of Limestone. Milder Interment To Be in This Country London, August 3. — Private serv- ices were held here in his home for the late Max Milder, formerly War- ner managing director in the United Kingdom, who died on Sunday fol- lowing a lengthy illness. The remains cvill be returned to America, but a date is uncertain at this time. He had been in London for 20 years, from the U. S. New UK Censor Official London, August 3. — Arthur Wat- kins has been appointed secretary of the British Board of Film Censors, succeeding the late Brooke Wilkinson. Watkins was assistant secretary to the Board. i WARNERS' WIDE-OPEN ALL-TEXAS PREMIERE TODAY ! 'N COLOR 9 I t / J TEXAS' TOP SHOW EVENT COVERED COAST TO COAST! The stars will be there! Gov- ernors, mayors, Indian chiefs! j And the newsreels will be there; the networks will be §| there; plus news reporters, wire services, photo syndi- cates, top magazines! and directed by produced by DOROTHY MALONE • PENNY EDWARDS • OAVIO BUTLER • ALEX GOTTLIEB Screen Play by I. A.L. Diamond and Allen Boreti • Suggested by a Play by Robert Sloane and Louis Pelletier • Orchestral Arrangements by Ray Heindorf • Music by Jute Styne • Lyrics by Sammy Cahn ACTION Big-scale western. Well-stocked with a tionful moments. - HARRISON S REPOR Head-and-shoulders above routine westen Production, camera, acting, story, directi unquestionably superior. - MOTION PICTURE HERAL Sufficiently impressive to easily earn desk nation of super-western. Highly-competer cast. Spectacular production values. Hai trigger direction. - BOXOFFIC ACTIOI Good western. Generous helping of sue pense. — THE EXHIBITO first C/ass More men, more horses, more shooting, al help make this western more effective than usual. First class production. - SHOWMEN S TRADE REVIEW with ANDY DEVINE ■ JACK HOLT and grant wither: Screen Play by Gerald Adams Original Story by John K. Butler and Gerald Geraghty Asso A REPUBLIC PI} flk "W § INI Well plotted western. Top production. High satisfaction. - FILM DAILY ACTION! Tightly-woven story. Tense and credible outdoor drama. Will bring strong boxoffice results. High above average appeal for en- tire family. Sure bet. - INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL KTIOli Big brawling western that will stand up in any situation. Solidly based story. Director has given a wallop that spells sturdy en- tertainment. - DAILY VARIETY CTIO Slam-bang oater. Will be big hit with action fans and all who like good entertainment. Lots of suspense. - HOLLYWOOD REPORTER IE MARA • JAMES BROWN cer-Director JOSEPH KANE J R E 8 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, August 4, 194P N. T. Settlement (Continued from page 1) counsel for the four N.T. executives, and Milton Pollack, representing the plaintiffs favoring the agreement, took issue with the contentions of attorneys for objectors that the accord was noth- ing more than a "paper settlement" offered in questionable faith, that the shares were given to the N.T. officers as compensation and not for the pur- pose of capital gains, that the con- tract under which Skouras acquired the stock was illegal, and that the stock transaction was a waste of cor- porate assets. Proponents of the settlement char- acterized it variously as "fair" and "generous," and the stock transaction was defended as "valid" and "un- assailable." 'Proprietary, Not Compensatory' In arguing that the transfer of the stock to the N.T. executives "was not a compensatory but a proprietary transaction," Rosenman said that the idea of giving Charles Skouras and the other N.T. officials a proprietary interest in N.T. was born eight years before Spyros P. Skouras became president of 20th-Fox. He denied that the idea was conceived following Spy- ros Skouras' ascendency to the film company's presidency. Counsel for stockholders opposed to the settlement plan contended that Charles Skouras made a prdfit of $4,- 281,000 in the stock deal. They voiced considerable objection to the Skouras earnings, which they termed "exces- sive." Especially cited was the big jump in his income from 1942 onward. The ceiling of $360,000 placed on Skouras' earnings in the proposed set- tlement was objected to as still too high. Rosenman informed the court that the profits of N.T. would have to rise- above $6,400,000 before Skou- ras and the other three N.T. execu- tives could realize earnings above the ceilings suggested under the settle- ment. Four Bought Stock in 1944 The stock under dispute was sold to Skouras, Ricketson, Rhoden and Fitz- gerald in 1*)44, being repurchased by 20th-Fox two years later. The suits were filed in 1946. The proposed settlement is said to make it possible for 20th-Fox to re- cover approximately $1,800,000, while amendments to the employment con- tract of Charles Skouras, head, of N.T., extending over the next seven years, would make it possible to save the company a total of $1,750,000 addi- tional at current earnings and tax levels. At the same time 20th-Fox would obtain from executives calls ex- piring Dec. 31, 1949, at $22.50 per share on 18,500 shares of 20th-Fox common stock. Reviews 'Two Guys from Texas' (Warner Brothers) DENNIS MORGAN and Jack Carson, song-and-patter team, go on a merry-go-round down in Texas where they stir up a minor tempest of excitement. Their doings provide a lot of lightweight fun, sometimes silly, but never monotonous. Many of the pleasantries are routine, but filmed in Technicolor and loaded with easy-going songs, the film's popular appeal seems natural. On the distaff side are two pretty charmers, Dorothy Malone and Penny Edwards. No sooner do Morgan and Carson land at a Texas dude ranch than two shady city characters execute a robbery and plant the blame on the former pair. Morgan and Carson spend a major part of their time eluding the sheriff and trying to clear themselves. Between flight and frolic, the boys also find time to pursue romantic ambitions, and thus Miss Malone and Miss Edwards come in for a fair measure of the footage. A good deal of the plot's comedy arises from an unusual fear of animals that Carson has. Upon hasty psycho- analysis, it is learned that behind Carson's fear of animals is a fear of girls. As treatment, Carson is advised to win over the affections of Morgan's girl, thereby bringing more slapstick comedy into the I. A. L. Diamond and Allen Boretz screenplay. Morgan and Carson work together with effective appeal. Alex Gottlieb produced and David Butler directed. Running time, 86 minutes. General audience classification. Release date September 4. ■ M.H National Theatres Meet Hollywood, August 3. — National Theatres division presidents will con- vene here tomorrow for their annual summer business sessions, with presi- dent Charles Skouras presiding. The meetings are expected to run three days. FULLY EQUIPPED PROJEC- TION ROOM FOR LEASE. WESTERN ELECTRIC SOUND. 630 9th AVENUE. Circle 6-6660 "Pitfall" (Regal Films-United Artists) MANY exploitable attributes are contained in "Pitfall," story of a home loving family man who becomes fascinated by another woman and finds himself lured into a maelstrom of troubles. The cast is a good one, headed by Dick Powell, Lizabeth Scott and Jane Wyatt; the story is one that makes the plight of the central figure human and believable; and direction by Andre de Toth draws full measure of tension out of the narrative. It is reliable fare for adult audiences. Powell, an insurance company investigator, is happily married to Miss Wyatt, but longs to escape the monotony of "average" living. He meets Miss Scott while investigating some gifts purchased for her by a boy friend with embezzled funds. Powell soon becomes infatuated, but breaks off in time to save his marriage from disintegration. By this time, however, Miss Scott's boy friend is released from jail, and through the instigation of a jealous private detective, sets out to "get" Powell. In self-defense, Powell kills the boy friend and after a good deal of soul-searching and remorse con fesses to his wife the mistake of his past. Powell and Miss Wyman are proficient and credible in their roles. As the hulking private detective, Raymond Burr handles his slickly-styled role with easy competence. Miss Scott, as the "other woman" who finally shoots the mettlesome detective, has a vibrant quality, even though her role is occasion ally burdened with trite dialogue. A Regal Films production released through United Artists, Samuel Bischoff produced. The Karl Kamb screenplay was based on the Jay Dratler novel. Running' time, 85 minutes. Adult audience classification. Release date August 18. M.H. Memphis Censor Ban On 'Lulu Belle9 Eased Memphis, August 3. — Columbia's "Lulu Belle," which the Memphis board of censors voted unanimously on June 29 to ban here, will open at the Malco Theatre on August 12, as origi- nally scheduled, following a revision of the board's ruling. The board changed its position after deletions suggested by Columbia, according to Lloyd T. Binford, chairman of the censor board. Binford said the board has restricted showing of the film to the Malco and added that "it will not be shown at any suburban theatre, where most of the children go." He also said the Malco showing would not be restricted to adults because "that would just make some youngsters lie about their age to get in." $7,500 Capitol 'Jackpof New York Capitol Theatre's first "jackpof" in the current "Mystery Melody — Stop the Music" stage show was won yesterday by a patron, one J. M. Hughes of Long Island. It totaled $5,000 in prizes and will "be followed today by a second, of $7,500. On the screen is "On an Island with You." The house is playing five per- formances daily, opening at nine A.M. Clearance Changes Asked in Newington Hartford, August 3. — The Ameri- can Arbitration Association here has received an arbitration demand against the five major distributors from Nick Kounaris and Apostolis Tolis, oper- ators of the Newington Theatre in Newington. A revision of clearances of New Britain houses over Newington is sought. Warner's Strand and Em- bassy, both in New Britain, have 30- day clearance over Newington for Warner product and 21 days in re- spect to other product, it is asserted, and a reduction to one day is asked. Para. Screen Tests Cadets for Premiere In a novel use of its theatre tele- vision process, Paramount last night gave screen tests to West Point cadets and later, as a curtain-raiser to the New York premiere of Paramount's "Beyond Glory," showed a film record of the tests, as televised to the Para- mount Theatre projection booth. The 400 West Point cadets were dinner guests at Tavern-on-the-Green and at the premiere. The tests were televised from Tavern-on-the-Green. Short Subjects "White-Collar Girls" (March of Time — 20th-Fox) Women today are successfully climb- ing the heights of American industry this latest March of Time points out In formula fashion, the subject exam- ines that new sociological phenorrj,enon — the career girl, and brings tj hi some interesting statistics — 16, 8 "', ' jobholders today are women, etc., etc' The film highlights typical career girls, showing their hopes, ambitions activities and disappointments. Much of the subject's material seems morel obvious than revealing, and, while ade- quate, seems, as a whole, a bit below the par of others in the series. Run- ning time, 17 minutes. "Sporfs Golden Age" (RKO Pathe—This Is America) The sporting habits of the U. S. population, both as spectator and par- ticipant, are examined in "Sport's, Golden Age," an appealing subject that stands up well in the series. Along its course the subject offers glimpses of such past idols in action as Jack Dempsey, Knute Rockne, Johnny Weissmuller, Bobby Jones and Babe Ruth. The subject also comes up with a fistful of interesting statis- tics such as the disclosure that sport is a $4,000,000,000-a-year institution. Jay Bonafield produced and Phil Reis- man, Jr. supervised. Running time, 17: minutes. Variety of Reasons For Kentucky Drop Louisville, August 3. — A survey through the state indicates low re- ceipts at box-offices, with some blam- ing the low quality of product and re- issues, and others blaming the ex- tremely hot and humid weather throughout most of the state. Still others blame the increase in the num- ber of theatres, as well as the new drive-ins which are dividing up poten- tial customers. FIVE -STAR DC-6 FLAGSHIPS LOS ANGELES 11 hours, 10 minutes CHICAGO 3k hours Phone HAvemeyer 6-5000 or your travel agent Ticket Offices: Airlines Terminal Rockefeller Center • Hotel New Yorker 120 Broadway • Hotel St. George AMERICAN AIRLINES [■ ~~ — y , — . , Accurate MOTTOK PICTURE FIRST Concise ATT ^L7^ IN and JJA1 L Y FILM Impartial JBLSrjL jm»JL> .IB # JL v.. VC-£jj4. NO. 25 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 1948 TEN CENTS Potential Film Fire Loss Is Reduced to 2% 5 Months of Tests to Reduce Fire Hazards Washington, August 4. — Indus- try and Federal Government fire [ prevention specialists have con- cluded nearly three months of com- paratively secretive experiments which are claimed to have reduced losses in film fires from 38 per cent on the first test, made on May 19, to less than two per cent. Factors involved in the tests and fire reduction embrace a new combination of rack and shelf equipment, insulation, 1 thickness of vault walls, pres- sure, vent areas, and sprinkler 1 and deluge systems, for use in hundreds of film vaults in ex- changes, theatres, studios, film . storages, distribution offices, and elsewhere. The experimenters had met each Wednesday since mid-May at a spe- cially-constructed vault on the U. S. {Continued on page 2) Allied Studies 20th Conciliation: Myers Washington, August 4. — Action by the Allied States board for or against the A. W. Smith 20th Century-Fox conciliation plan may be taken at its next meeting, according to Allied counsel Abram Myers, who said that no date has been set for the session but it will not take place before Sep- tember. Like most Allied leaders, Myers said, he is watching the plan with "an open mind." "If we can get some good guinea pig testimony by the time the board meets, that'll be one thing. If we don't have that testimony, that'll (Continued on page 3) Test for N. Y. Censor Slated for Sept. 18 Albany, N. Y., August 4. — The State Civil Service Commission has set September 18 as the date for a written examination for head censor. The post, director of the motion pic- ture division of the State Education Department, has been filled on a tem- porary basis since Irving Esmond re- tired in 1945, with Dr. Ward Bowen currently handling the duties. Re- (Continued on page 3) Max Cohen Suit vs. Three Is Settled Suit filed in U. S. District Court here last May by Max A. Cohen En- terprises which asked for $1,800,000 in triple damages for alleged anti- trust law violations has been settled and the action is scheduled to be with- drawn within the next few days. - A major part of the settlement is an agreement by which Cohen's New Amsterdam Theatre will play product of the defendants, RKO Radio, War- ners and 20,th Century-Fox, day-and- date with the RKO Palace. This con- stituted one of the principal items of relief sought in the suit 'which was filed shortly after the Palace was changed to a subsequent-run, double feature policy last spring. A spokesman for one of the defen- dants said that the agreement by which the New Amsterdam and Pal- ace will play-day-and-date actually was put into effect in June with "The Iron Curtain." Other phases of the settlement were not disclosed pending court action terminating the litigation. SOPEG Signs New Contract With E-L A new two-and-a-half-year contract effective August 8 was signed here yesterday by Eagle-Lion and the Screen Office and Professional Em- ployes Guild, UOPWA, CIO. Under the agreement some 65 white-collar workers of the film company will get an immediate 7j4 per cent wage in- crease, with subsequent boosts of per- cent or 3% per cent every six months, depending on the company's condition, until a total of 15 per cent has been reached. All salaries are subject to a cost-of- living adjustment at six-month inter- vals. The company will review sal- aries every six months. Eagle-Lion agreed to dues checkoff for employes desiring it. The contract provides for arbitra- tion of disputes, three weeks' vacations after 10 years' service, increase in (Continued on page 3) $297,952 3 -Months Profit for G.P.E. General Precision Equipment Corp. and subsidiaries report that the con- solidated net profit for the three months ended June 30, after provision for Federal income taxes, was $297,- 952, subject to year-end adjustments. Net for the same quarter one year ago was $417,218. Directors of GPE have declared a dividend of 25 cents per share on capi- tal stock outstanding, payable Septem- ber 15 to stockholders of record on August 25. Canadians Expect Upturn in the Fall Ottawa, August 4. — Theatre managers here state that they expect business to be good this fall. Reports that theatre at- tendance is being affected ad- versely by the rising cost of living in Canada are not backed by inquiries here, the information being that at- tendance this summer has on- ly suffered the usual seasonal decline in most houses. There has been no drastic or un- expected drop in attendance, it is emphasized. Expect Court Will Clarify Arbitration American Arbitration Association will continue to receive and administer voluntary arbitration complaints with- in the industry pending eventual clari- fication of the system's status by the New York Federal Court next fall, officials of the association said here yesterday. Several complaints have been re- ceived from exhibitors since the Su- preme Court decision in the Para- mount case was handed down and ar- rangements are being made to process them, and others which may be filed (Continued on page 3) Keller Heads Sales Union's Pact Group Melvin Keller of the Warner branch in Portland, Ore., has been named chairman of the Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen's committee which has begun negotiations here for the first national salesmen's union employ- ment contract with distributors. Pat Scollard, Paramount's labor relations chief, heads the distributors' group, which includes Harry Buckley, United Artists ; Charles O'Brien, Loew's ; Joseph McMahon, Republic, and Bur- ton A. Zorn, counsel. The salesmen's group also includes Frank Flaherty, Columbia, Chicago; N. M. Proventure, United Artists, Milwaukee, and David Beznor, counsel. F. C. Sales Drive To Honor Bernhard A sales drive in honor of Film Classics' president, named the "Joseph Bernhard Drive," was announced here yesterday by B. G. Kranze, distribu- tion vice-president. It will run to December 4. Payments To Ascap Halted By Affiliates Pending Clarification of Whom to Pay and How Affiliated theatres have decided to withhold payments for public performance rights to music from the American Society of Compos- ers, Authors and Publishers, the cir- cuits including Paramount, Warners, RKO, and probably Loew's and 20th- Fox's National Theatres. It was stressed by all that the payments were ordered stopped only until a clear-cut determination is made on which agency the rights must be cleared through and by what method. Theatre executives readily acknowledged that they are prepared, and fully intend, to pay for music, none of them (Continued on page 2) Don't Pay Ascap, Urges Jack Kirsch Chicago, August 4.— Members of Allied Theatres of Illinois were ad- vised today by Jack Kirsch, president, to withhold future payments of fees to Ascap on the basis of an opinion submitted to Allied by its counsel, Thomas C. McConnell. "Agreements with theatres," said McConnell, "are illegal and cannot be used by Ascap to collect license fees from theatre owners who have signed such agreements. It would seem to be clearly indicated that Allied members should not make any further payments to Ascap because such payments are illegal and do not afford any protec- tion under the copyright laws. In (Continued on page 2) A A -Monogram Policy Meet on Saturday Discussion of current sales, the sell- ing policy for "The Babe Ruth Story" and the charting of policy for 1948- 1949 will highlight the agenda of a meeting of Allied Artists-Monogram branch managers and franchise hold- ers to be held Saturday and Sunday at the Drake Hotel in Chicago. Among the New York contingent will be Morey Goldstein, general sales manager, who will preside ; vice-presi- dents Edward Morey and Charles Mirisch ; Lloyd Lind, supervisor of branch operations, and Sol Francis, Midwest district manager. 2 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, August 5, 1948 Personal Mention ROBERT M. GILLHAM, Selz- nick Releasing Organization Eastern advertising-publicity chief, left the Coast yesterday for New York. • Iris Davis, daughter of Jack Da- vis, head of Monseigneur News Thea- tres, London, is gravely ill at Nation- al Hospital there, according 'to word received from Davis, who formerly operated theatres here. His daughter was educated in the U. S. and has many friends here. • Marcel Gentel, RKO Radio gen- eral manager for France, has been awared the Medaille Militaire by the French government for "action above and beyond the call of duty during time of war." • Arthur Goldstein has resigned as city manager, Portland, Me., for the Snider Circuit of Boston. William A. Fields has become ad-publicity representative in Portland. • Charles Kurtzman, Loew Thea- tres division manager in Boston, is substituting for managers in his divi- sion during the vacation period. • Martin Levine, Brandt Theatres general manager and president of Dis- tinguished Films, has returned to New York from a Lake George vacation. • James Tuffy, associated with Com- erford Theatres in Scranton, Pa., for 16 years, has been named manager of the Crown Theatre, Hartford. • E. R. Zorgniotti, president of Lux Film of U. S., will sail for France and Italy tomorrow on the 5\S* Queen Elizabeth from New York. • Jack Schwartz, owner of the Black Rock and West End theatres, Bridge- port, Conn., and Mrs. Schwartz, are touring the Great Lakes. • Homer Jaeggers, co-owner and manager of the Bonn Theatre, Bon- nieville, Ky., is confined to his home due to illness. • Jules Lapidus, Warner Eastern and Canadian sales manager, is due back in New York over the weekend from Toronto. • James Tobin, manager of the War- ner Theatre, Bridgeport, and his fam- ily are vacationing in New Hamp- shire. • Noel Meadow, vice-president of Vog Films, has returned to New York from a vacation. Harold L. Schilz, industry attor- ney in Washington, is a candidate for the Arlington, Va., county board. • . Lou Cohen, manager of Loew's Poli, Hartford, and Mrs. Cohen are vacationing at Middletown, Conn. Jonie Taps, Columbia studio execu- tive, is a New York visitor. Census Bureau Busy On Industry Data Washington, August 4. — Census Bureau officials are busily at work to get their first motion picture industry statistics since 1939. Questionnaires went out this spring to some 700 producers, for information based on operations last year. The bureau is now working with the industry to draw up questionnaires to submit to distributors and exhibitors next year, based on 1948 business. Studios are covered by the census of manufacturers. Distributors and theatres come under the census of business. Neither has been taken since 1940, which was based on 1939 busi- ness. The census of manufacturers is being taken this year, and the business census next year. Under a law passed by Congress this year, both censuses will next be taken in 1954, and every five years after that. AFM-Studio Meeting Now Set for Aug. 18 Meeting date of James C. Petrillo, American Federation of Musicians president, and his contract negotiating aides, with producers, which has been see-sawing between August 2, 9 and 18, supposedly in Chicago, has now been definitely set for August 18 in Petrillo's AFM headquarters in New York. A new contract for Hollywood studio musicians is to be discussed. The organization's executive board meeting will be held as originally scheduled on August 9 in Chicago, at a hotel to be selected by AFM officers in that city. Mutual Broadcast To Salute Youth Month "Youth Month — Saluting Young America," will be given a send-off Tuesday night, August 31 — the eve of the September celebration — with a Coast-to-Coast broadcast over the Mutual network, it was announced yesterday by Charles P. Skouras, na- tional chairman of the committee. Originating in Hollywood, stars of screen and radio will participate. House Hollywood Probe Off Again Washington, August 4. — Reopen- ing of the House Un-American Activ- ities Committee's Hollywood investi- gation, which some committee mem- bers said would take place late this month, has been put off again, pos- sibly until after the Presidential elec- tions, according to committee officials. Charles C. Perry, 52, Para. Field Aide Cincinnati, August 4. — Charles C. Perry, 52, special representative for Paramount here, died this morning at Jewish Hospital. He is survived by a son, Jay S. Perry; two sisters and three brothers. Funeral services will be held Fri- day at two P.M. at Riverside Memori- al Chapel in New York, with inter- ment at Pinelawn National Cemetery. Affiliates Halt {Continued from page 1) having taken the position that charges of some kind are un- necessary. Paramount is understood to have advised at least some of its fully- owned ■ circuits to cease the Ascap payments until the entire issue is clari- fied. Its partnership circuit, M & P Theatres, Boston, is suspending pay- ments. Malcolm Kingsberg, president of RKO Theatres, reported yesterday that that circuit's checks to Ascap have been halted and the company is now awaiting a decision by its legal department. New WB-Ascap Pact Stopped Miles Alben, head of the legal de- partment for Warner Theatres, said yesterday that "everything is frozen," referring to the circuit's dealings with Ascap. He said Warners and Ascap were about to sign a new long-term agreement when the New York Fed- eral Court handed down its decision enjoining Ascap from collecting from theatres. Loew's legal department is now weighing the matter, an executive re- ported, expressing doubt as to the wis- dom of paying Ascap until and if fu- ture court decisions so direct. Suggest Bases for Fees Meanwhile, from other sources it has been reported that the Warner- owned music publishing companies — all Ascap members — have expressed the opinion that the public performing rights to a composition should be equal in value to the recording, or synchronization rights. Other publish- ing firms reportedly feel they should collect public performance charges of from one-third to one-half the amount paid by the producer for the recording privilege. Ascap Board Retains Patterson as Counsel Engagement of Robert P. Patter- son, former Secretary of War and one-time U. S. Circuit Court of Ap- peals judge, as counsel for Ascap to take charge of problems arising from the Federal Court decision holding it guilty of anti-trust violation was an- nounced here yesterday following a meeting of its board of directors. Jack Kirsch {Continued from page 1) other words, Allied members receive nothing for their money by continuing such payments and are now clearly on notice that such payments are il- legal exactions. "I am of the opinion that Allied members can safely refuse to pay any further monies under Ascap agree- ments and that the Allied organiza- tion can safely recommend such course of action to its members," McConnell said. 3 French Films to Vog Three new French films have been acquired for American distribution by Vog Film Co. They are "Eagle with Two Heads," Jean Cocteau play, "Dedee D'Anvers" and "Manon." New Paris Theatre Here Opens Sept. 13 Five French charities will sponsor the opening of the new Paris Theatre here and its initial presentation, "Sym- phonic Pastorale," which will have its American premiere September 13 for the benefit of American Friends of France, Committee of French-Amer- ican Wives, Funds for France, La- fayette Preventorium and the Society of Free French in the United States. The agencies will share joint1-*:, in the proceeds of this premiere 1 - of all subsequent ones at this tiC^rtre, constructed for Pathe Cinema, French film company which now has a branch in this country. Monogram To Make Three Films Abroad Hollywood, August 4. — Three of Monogram's next four Bowery Boys pictures, starring Leo Gorcey with Huntz Hall, will be filmed in Europe, by producer Jan Grippo. First of the group, "The Bowery Boys Invade London," is set for England, and the pair to follow will be produced in France and Italy. Fire Loss Reduced {Continued from page 1) Agricultural Experimental Farm at Beltsville, Md. Their tests resulted in film-flames dying out in less than two-and-a-half minutes without the use of a drop of water. Some 500-odd cans of nitrate film were employed, donated by the distributing companies. Eleven different combinations in the use of vault equipment were tried be- fore selecting the one to be applied eventually, probably in the fall when details will be disclosed publicly for the first time at the Society of Mo- tion Picture Engineers' semi-annual convention, to be held here. The Government-industry test com- mittee expects that new film vaults will hereafter be constructed in line with its findings, and that existing vaults will be converted to conform to the new safety conditions. Industry representatives participat- ing in the experiments included John McCullough of the Motion Picture Association of America, Paramount's Henry Anderson, Eastman Kodak's Alan Cobb and DuPont's Charles Miner. Others included E. W. Fow- ler of the National Board of Fire Underwriters, and James Cummings of the U. S. National Archives, com- mittee chairman, and representatives of the Army, Navy and several other Federal departments. Freu To Manage for Universal in Atlanta Atlanta, August 4. — James Freu, branch manager of Universal-Inter- national in Charlotte, has been trans- ferred to the Atlanta office to replace James Partlow who recently resigned. Phila. Variety Affair Philadelphia, August 4. — Local Variety Club will hold its annual golf tournament and dinner-dance at the Whitemarsh Valley Country Club on September 24, it is announced by Max R. Leven, chairman of the event. MOTION PICTURE DAILY Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York Martm Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus. H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre bales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. 151 (Thursday, August 5, 1948 Motion Picture Daily ^Production Rises, With 34 in Work Hollywood, August 4. — The pro- duction tally moved upi one, to a total of 34. Eight pictures went before the cameras, while seven were moved to the cutting rooms. Shooting started on "Law of the Bar- bary Coast," Columbia; Take Me Out to the Ball Game" and "The Barkleys of jF^adway," M-G-M ; "The Rangers R^T~iJ Monogram; "Far Frontier," Republic ; "Gun Runners," RKO Radio ; "Outlaw Country," Screen Guild; "The House Across the Street," Warner. Shooting was completed on "Smoky Mountain Melody," Columbia ; "Bow- ery Comeback," "Sheriff of Medicine Bow," Monogram ; "Tarzan and the Arrow of Death" and "Enchantment," RKO Radio; "Miss Mink of 1949," 20th- Fox; "Criss-Cross," Universal- International. Test for N.Y. Censor (Continued from page 1) suits of the test, which is open only to persons who have a minimum of a year's experience in state service, is expected by December 18. The ban on persons with previous film industry connections, established when the de- partment was given censorship powers in 1927, will continue. Civil Service has also announced an examination will be held on October 2 for a director for the motion picture unit of the Department of Commerce. The position is provisionally held by Glen Allvine, former public relations director of the Motion Picture Asso- ciation of America and currently ad- visor to Governor Dewey on films for the latter's Presidential campaign. Applications for the test must be filed by August 21. Minimum quali- fications include "six years of pro- gressively responsible experience in directing and/or producing motion pictures for promotional or publicity purposes for public or private organ- izations." SOPEG, E - L Sign (Continued from page 1) minimum hiring rates from $7 to $10. It requires that all promotions and discharges be governed by ability, ex- perience and seniority. William C. MacMillen, Jr., vice- president of E-L in charge of opera- tions, signed for the company, and Sidney Young, SOPEG head, and James Durkin, international president of the UOPWA, for the union. Reviews SOPEG Launches Drive to Boycott United Artists Films Screen Office and Professional Em- ployes Guild yesterday announced it had launched a campaign among com- munity and fraternal organizations in the New York metropolitan area to boycott United Artists product be- cause of the company's refusal to ne- gotiate a new contract with SOPEG on the grounds the union is opposed to signing the anti-Communist affi- davits required under the Taft-Hartley Seek Amusement Tax St. Louis, August 4. — A bill seeking a five per cent admission tax has been introduced in suburban Richmond Heights. If passed, it would affect two theatres. "Larceny" (Universal-International) Hollyzvood, August 4 EVERYBODY connected with this smartly conceived and brilliantly executed melodrama rates bows from exhibitors hard pressed for sure- fire entertainment with which to win back lagging customers. It opens fast, rushes on like wildfire and ends without a letdown after holding interest as taut as bowstrings through a swift succession of unexpected but always plausible and exciting twists and turns. With John Payne, Joan Caulfield, Dan Duryea and Shelly Winters spearheading an all-around excellent cast, the attraction is sure to spell success in dollar signs. Payne plays a confidence man, in the employ of racketeer Duryea, and is sent to a California town to set up a phony war memorial for a local hero whose widow, Miss Caulfield, accepts him as the dead man's buddy. Miss Winters portrays Duryea's sweetheart, rebelliously in love with Payne, who secretly follows the latter West and endangers the grafters' project by her emotional demands upon his time. Payne romances both women, and others, to further the swindle enterprise, and complications become too intricate and swift for an adequate synopsis after the arrival of the suspicious Duryea and his men on the scene. The conclusion is terrific. The picture has an intimate timeliness due to the use of the war memorial as the basis of the swindle, and differs from most films in kind in that the racketeers are credible smoothies rather than stereotyped thugs. It also has its intimate moments in the amorous category, with Miss Winters establishing a new high in the abandoned woman department, and thrives on dialogue clipped to sheerest essentials. Leonard Goldstein produced and George Sherman directed, from a script by Herbert F. Margolis, Louis Morheim and William Bowers, from the novel, "Velvet Fleece," by Lois Eby and John Fleming. Aaron Rosenberg was associate producer. All acquitted themselves with distinction. Running time, 89 minutes. Adult audience classification. Release date, not set. William R. Weaver Short Subject Miraculous Journey (Film Classics) SOME fine showmanship opportunities are offered exploitation-minded exhibitors in "Miraculous Journey," Film Classics' first in Cinecolor. The film is an adventure thriller taking place in the Belgium Congo where an airliner is forced down. The story is told on a mass-appeal level, with some of its formula thrills having a spectacular quality. For example there is a man caught in the jaws of a crocodile, a woman sinking into a tomb of quicksand, and a gorilla attacking a woman. Heading the cast are Rory Calhoun, Audrey Long and Virginia Grey. Also present are an assortment of birds and animals which display some interesting talents. The film rates well in its category. There is no action shortage in Fred Myton's screenplay. One of the plane's passengers is a fugitive gangster, and once recognized he goes gun-crazy, shoots a co-pilot, and wrecks the plane's equipment. The plane thereupon makes a forced landing. At this point, the story, on a simple level, becomes a parable of modern man, with greed, jealousy and special interest constantly setting one passenger against another. Calhoun generally takes command of setting up the marooned passengers, but is constantly harassed by the gangster, Jim Bannon. As a result there are some hard- swinging fistic sessions. And by way of surprise, a hermit enters the scene and teaches his "civilized" brethren the wisdom of the jungle. After a series of events, Calhoun makes his way alone to civilization and brings back a rescuing helicopter. The main romantic interest centers around Calhoun and Miss Long, who has the role of a blind girl. The Cinecolor is especially effective in catching the wild beauty of jungle scenes. Sigmund Neufeld produced, and Peter Stewart directed. Running time, 83 minutes. General audience classification. For August release. Mandel Herbstman Legion Classifies Five In A-I, Four in A-II Five pictures have been classified A-I by the National Legion of De- cency. They are : Allied Artists- Monogram's "The Babe Ruth Story," Republic's "Daredevils of the Clouds," Monogram's "Frontier Agent" and "Partners Over Sunset," and Casino Film Exchange's "Das Maedchen Irene" (German). Classified in A-II are : Columbia's "The Black Arrow," 20th Century-Fox's "The Gay In- truders," RKO Radio's "Rachel and the Stranger" and "Paramount's "Sorry, Wrong Number. Philco Promotes Blodget Philadelphia, August 4. — Robert Blodget, formerly manager of product design of the Philco Corp. accessory division, has been appointed television product manager, by Larry F. Handy, vice-president of the television and radio division. Three New Theatres For Denver Area Denver, August 4. — C. U. Yaeger, president of Atlas Theatres, is having plans drawn for a second theatre at Monte Vista, where the company al- ready operates the Granada. The new house will be a $250,000, 1,000-seat job. Dan Thyne is building a quonset- type theatre at Cheyenne Wells, Colo. It is a 400-seat, $55,000 job, to be opened about August 15 as the Wells, with Ross Bluck as manager. Amando Roybal is opening Penasco, N. M., to films by way of a remodeled building. Revoke Video License Miami, August 4. — Television Sta- tion WTVJ here has been given until August 20 to make application for a hearing on the Federal Communica- tions Commission's order revoking its license. "Neighbor to the North" (Paramount) This subject endeavors by use of live action, cartoons, scenics, and in- dustrial clips, to explain to the Ameri- can public the Canadian situation summed up as a lack of dollars, which caused the Canadian government last winter to cut imports from the United States. It is explained that Canadians hope to build their dollar reserve by less spending, by resumption of Euro- pean trading, aided by the Marshall Plan; that they hope to build up in- dustry, and that they welcome spend- ing tourists. Actor Ralph Forbes does the explaining, both in dialogue with Walter Abel, and in off-screen narration. The result is somewhat more documentary than entertaining. The short is proof of the American motion picture industry's good will and a recognition of the forebearance of the Canadian government, which might have hampered the industry as other countries have done, Francis S. Harmon, Motion Picture Association of America vice-president, declared at the trade screening of the subject. Oscar Morgan, Paramount short sub- ject manager, said the short is a forerunner of additional service ex- planation by the industry of events troubling the world. Running time, 13 minutes. Expect Court (Continued from page 1) in the near future, on a voluntary basis in compliance with the high court decision. Robert Wright, assistant to the U. S. Attorney General, went on rec- ord recently as notifying the AAA that arbitration in the industry no longer is under the Paramount case consent decree. That means that the system now is voluntary for distributor respondents, who formerly were re- lieved of contempt liability for com- plaints submitted to arbitration. Distributor defendants no longer have that protection and, where bur- den of proof for alleged unfair clear- ance formerly was upon the exhibitor complainant in industry arbitration, it is now up to the distributor to justify clearance schedules. Allied Studies (Continued from page 1) be another. There'll be no stampede one way or the other." Myers recalled that he had initiated a similar plan with all film distribu- tors in 1941 but that it had "come to grief because the distributors wouldn't give." The Allied counsel also admitted that there has been some discussion of a plan for Allied to acquire distribu- tion rights to reissues, but "it has not been submitted as a national issue." Any such plan, he emphasized, would be undertaken as a method of supply- ing theatres with films and not, he added, as a fund-raising technique. Set Golf Tourney Date Hartford,, August 4. — Annual golf tournament of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Connecticut will be held at the Racebrook Country Club, Orange, Conn., on August 24. THIS IS NOT NECESSARY I EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT THIS LINE-UP! MAY SPENCER TRACY KATHARINE HEPBURN VAN JOHNSON Angela Lansbury Adolphe Menjou, Lewis Stone in FRANK CAPRA's "STATE OF THE UNION." * * ■*■ "SUMMER HOLIDAY" (Technicolor). MICKEY ROONEY GLORIA DeHAVEN Walter Huston, Frank Morgan Butch Jenkins, Marilyn Maxwell Agnes Moorehead, Selena Royle. * * * CLARK GABLE LANA TURNER Anne Baxter, John Hodiak in "HOMECOMING" Ray Collins, Gladys Cooper, Cameron Mitchell. JUNE "BIG CITY" Starring Margaret O'Brien Robert Preston, Danny Thomas George Murphy, Karin Booth Edward Arnold, Butch Jenkins Betty Garrett, Lotte Lehmann. * * * JUDY GARLAND, GENE KELLY in "THE PIRATE" (Techmco/orJ. Walter Slezak, Gladys Cooper Reginald Owen. * * * ESTHER WILLIAMS, PETER LAWFORD RICARDO MONTALBAN JIMMY DURANTE, CYD CHARISSE XAVIER CUGAT in "ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU" (Tec/imco/or). DON'* HAve yOU ft JULY IRVING BERLIN'S "EASTER PARADE" (Technicolor). Starring JUDY GARLAND, FRED ASTAIRE PETER LAWFORD, ANN MILLER. ★ * * • "A DATE WITH JUDY" (Technicolor). Starring WALLACE BEERY, JANE POWELL, ELIZABETH TAYLOR CARMEN MIRANDA, XAVIER CUGAT ROBERT STACK. AUGUST GREER GARSON WALTER PIDGEON in "JULIA MISBEHAVES" PETER LAWFORD, ELIZABETH TAYLOR CESAR ROMERO, Lucile Watson Nigel Bruce, Mary Boland Reginald Owen. * * * MONTGOMERY CLIFT ALINE MacMAHON JARMILA NOVOTNA in "THE SEARCH" * * •* RED SKELTON, BRIAN DONLEVY in "A SOUTHERN YANKEE" Arlene Dahl, George Coulouris Lloyd Gough, John Ireland Minor Watson. SEPTEMBER "THE THREE MUSKETEERS" (Technicolor). LANA TURNER, GENE KELLY JUNE ALLYSON, VAN HEFLIN ANGELA LANSBURY, Frank Morgan, Vincent Price Keenan Wynn, John Sutton Gig Young. * * * "HILLS OF HOME" (Technicolor). Co-starring EDMUND GWENN, DONALD CRISP, TOM DRAKE, JANET LEIGH and LASSIE. aTHE trade press is jumping? Everybody's got that Vitamin M-G-M enthusiasm! Now read what Publisher Jay Emanuel says in THE EXHIBITOR: The M-G-M studio has hit its stride. 'Homecoming' is in the front line of the boxoffice leaders. 'State of the Union' brings lustre to any marquee. Another which is accounting for itself nicely is 'On an Island With You', while 'Easter Parade', in its first engagements, is living up to everything promised for it. Both of these shows place the accent on entertainment rather than messages, which seems to be exactly what the paying patrons desire these days. Leo the Lion has reason to be optimistic about the future, too. 'A Date With Judy', 'Julia Misbehaves', 'The Three Musketeers', and 'Hills of Home' are all coming up, with the preview cards said to be very complimentary. It appears as if the company is now in for a succession of films which are aimed for peak audience entertainment. This is a healthy sign. When a leader is hitting things right on the ball, it is encouraging not only to its accounts but it also makes for healthier competition, and serves as an impetus to the others. With the boxoffices needing solid merchandise more than ever, this is encouraging, j J IRVIM* it COLOR 8V _ a\ ATechnicOwO'*' COOLING THOUGHT! Many exhibitors have gone out of their way to praise M-G-M for releasing "EASTER PARADE" at the toughest time of the yearl Thank you, gentlemen. It's an old M-G-M custom to give our customers Big Ones when they need them most. "EASTER PARADE" is the biggest M-G-M success in years! In cool Technicolor! 6 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, August 5, 1948 Key City Grosses FOLLOWING are estimated pic- ture grosses for current engage- ments in key cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily correspond- ents. Estimates omit admission tax. LOS ANGELES "Melody Time" got off to a nice start at the Pantages and Hillstreet in a week which brought little cheer to other sectors of the first-run front. With weather excellent and counter- attractions about normal, explanation of the general letdown was not con- spicuous. Estimated receipts for the week ended August 4 : ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (U-I) and KINGS OF THE OLYMPICS (UA)— GUILD (965) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,450) ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (U-I) and KINGS OF THE OLYMPICS (UA)— IRIS (708) (50c- 60c-85c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $5,000. (Average: S6.100) ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (U-I) and KINGS OF THE OLYMPICS (UA) — RITZ (1,376) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $8,- 000. (Average: $9,050) ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (U-I) and KINGS OF THE OLYMPICS (UA) — STUDIO (880) (5Oc-60c-85c-Sl.OO) 2nd week. Gross: $5,000 (Average: $6,300) ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (U-I) and KINGS OF THE OLYMPICS (UA) — UNITED ART- ISTS (2,100) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $12,500. (Average: $9,580) CANON CITY (E-L) and LADY AT MID- NIGHT (E-L)— BELMONT (1,600) (50c- 60c-85c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $5,750) CANON CITY (E-L) and LADY AT MID- NIGHT (E-L)— EL REY (861) (50c-60c-85c- $1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $4,700) CANON CITY (E-L) and LADY AT MID- NIGHT (E-L)— ORPHEUM (2,210) (50c- 60c-85c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $13,000. (Average: $14,650) CANON CITY (E-L) and LADY AT MID- NIGHT (E-L) — VOGUE (800) (50c-60c-85c- $1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $5,500. (Average: $6,500) ESCAPE (ZOth-Fox) and FIGHTING BACK (ZOth-Fox)— CARTHAY CIRCLE (1,516) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00). Gross: $8,000. (Average: $9,500) ESCAPE (Zth-Fox) and FIGHTING BACK (ZGth-Fox)— CHINESE (2,300) (50c-60c-85c- $1.00). Gross: $13,000. (Average: $13,000) ESCAPE (ZOth-Fox) and FIGHT- ING BACK (ZCth-Fox) — LOEWS STATE (2.500) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00). Gross: $21,500. (Average: $19,800) ESCAPE (ZOth-Fox) and FIGHT- ING BACK (20th-Fox) — LOYOLA (1,265) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00). Gross: $9,500. (Aver- age: $10,000) ESCAPE ZOth-Fox) and FIGHT- ING BACK (ZOth-Fox) — UPTOWN (1,716) (50c-6Oc-85c-$l.OO). Gross: $9,500. (Aver- age: $10,000) A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.) and BIG TOWN SCANDAL (Par a.) — PARA- MOUNT (Downtown) (3,595) (50c-60c-80c- $1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $14,000. (Average: $16,450) A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.)— PARA- MOUNT (Hollywood) (1,407) (50c-60c-80c- $1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $14,000. (Aver- age: $13,000) KEY LARGO (WB) and MUSIC MAN (Mono.)— WARNERS (Downtown) (3,400) (50c-60c-80c-$1.0O) 3rd week. Gross: $14,- 000. (Average: $13,730) KEY LARGO (WB) and1 MUSIC MAN (Mono.)— WARNERS (Hollywood) (3,000) (50c-60c-80c-$1.00) 3rd week. Gross: $9,500. (Average: $11,650) KEY LARGO (WB) and MUSIC MAN (Mono.) — WARNERS (Wiltern) (2,300) (50c-60c-80c-$1.00) 3rd week. Gross: $9,500. (Average: $11,220) MELODY TIME (Disney-RKO Radio) and MYSTERY IN MEXICO (RKO Radio)— HILLSTREET (2,700) (50c-60c-80c-$1.00). Gross: $21,000. (Average: $18,950) MELODY TIME (Disney-RKO Radio) and MYSTERY IN MEXICO (RKO Radio) — PANTAGES (2,000) (SOc-60c-80c-$1.0O). Gross: $18,000. (Average: $17,150) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M) —EGYPTIAN (1,000) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $11,000. (Average: $11,900) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M) — FOX-WILSHIRE (2,300) (50c-60c-85c- 51.00) 2nd week. Gross: $10,000. (Average: $12,850) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M)— LOS ANGELES (2,096) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $16,000. (Average: $18,- 100) THE SEARCH (M-G-M)— FOUR STAR (900) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 5th week. Gross: $6,000. (Average: $7,450) THE SEA SPOILERS (Realart re-release) and THE STORM (Realart re-release)— MUSIC HALL (Beverly Hills) (900) (65c- 85c -$1.00). Gross: $3,000. (Average: $3,150) THE SEA SPOILERS (Realart re-release) and THE STORM (Realart re-release)— MUSIC HALL (Downtown) (900) (65c-85c- $1.00). Gross: $6,500. (Average: $7,550) THE SEA SPOILERS (Realart re-release) and THE STORM (Realart re-release)— MUSIC HALL (Hawaii) (1,000) (65c-85c- $1.00). Gross: $3,000. (Average: $3,400) THE SEA SPOILERS (Realart re-release) and THE STORM (Realart re-release)— MUSIC HALL (Hollywood (490) (65c-85c- $1.00). Gross: $2,500. (Average: $3,100) PHILADELPHIA The big news this week is "Key Largo" at the Stanley, grossing near- ly double the theatre's average. Also opening strong are "A Date with Judy" at the Fox, and "So Evil My Love" at the Karlton. Other returns are spotty. Estimated receipts for the week ending August 3-5 : A DATE WITH JUDY (M-G-M)— FOX (3,000) (50c-60c-74c-80c-85c-94c). Gross: $30,000. (Average: $20,800) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M) — MAST- BAUM (4,700) (50c-60c-74c-80c-85c-94c) 4th week. Gross: $18,500. (Average: $22,300) IN OLD LOS ANGELES and I, JANE DOE (Rep.) — EARLE (3,000) (50c-60c-74c- 80c-85c-94c). Gross: $12,500. (Average: $22,500) INTERMEZZO (SRO) — ALDINE (900) (50c-6Oc-74c-8Oc-85c-94c). Gross: $13,500. (Average: $13,300) KEY LARGO (WB)— STANLEY (3,000) (50c-60c-74c-80c-85c-94c). Gross: $42,500. (Average: $22,800) MAN-EATER OF KUMAON (U-I)— STANTON (1,000) (50c-60c-74c-80c-85c-94c). Gross: $8,000. (Average: $11,200) PARADINE CASE, (SRO1)— BOYD (3,000) (50c-60c-74c-80c-85c-94c) 5th week. Gross: $13,600. (Average: $20,300) SO EVIL MY LOVE (Para.) — KARLTON (1,000) (50c-60c-74c-80c-85c-94c). Gross: $16,000. (Average: $11,200) STREET WITH NO1 NAME (ZOth-Fox)— KEITH (2,200) (50c-60c-74c-80c-85c-94c). Gross: $5,000. (Average: $6,200) TAP ROOTS (U-I)— GOLDMAN (1,400) (50c-60c-74c-80c-85c-94c) 3rd week. Gross: $20,000. (Average: $19,400) THE PIRATE (M-G-M)— ARCADIA (900) (50c-60c-74c-80c-85c-94c) 2nd run. Gross: $6,200. (Average: $4,700) CHICAGO Some 400,000 visitors are expected here during August, which partially accounts for the upswing in attend- ance. New coin-getters are "Melody Time" and "So Evil My Love," while "Key Largo" and "Emperor Waltz" continue a steady gait. Dis- appointing is the popular price run of "Best Years." Estimated receipts for the week ending August 5 : THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (RKO Radio)— ROOSEVELT (1,500) (50c- 65c-98c). Gross: $16,500. (Average: $18,- CO0) THE BIG CITY (M-G-M)— GRAND (1,- 150) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $11,000. (Aver- age: $11,500) THE DUDE GOES WEST (AA-Mono.) and I WOULDN'T BE IN YOUR SHOES (Mono.)— APOLLO' (1,200) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $10,000. (Average: $14,000) THE EMPEROR WALTZ (Para.)— CHI- CAGO (3,900) (50c-65c-98c) 3rd week. On stage: Harmonicats. Gross: $54,000. (Av- erage: $53,500) KEY LARGO (WB)— STATE LAKE (2,- 700) (50c-65c-98c) 2nd week. Gross: $24,- 000. (Average: $25,000) MELODY TIME (RKO Radio) — PALACE (2,500) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $33,00. (Av- erage: $21,000) NEXT TIME WE LOVE (Realart) and HIGH SEAS (Realart)— GARRICK (1,000) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $8,000. (Average: $10,000) THE PARADINE CASE (SRO)— WOODS (1,080) (98c) 3rd week. Gross: $20,000. (Average: $23,000) SO EVIL MY LOVE (Para.)— UNITED ARTISTS (1.700) (50c-6Sc-98c). Gross: $20,- 000. (Average: $20,000) THE STREET WITH NO NAME (ZOth- Fox) — ORIENTAL (3,300) (50c-65c-98c). On stage: Keenan Wynn. Gross: $48,000. (Av- erage: $45,000) TORONTO Exhibitors here partially benefited from Civic Holiday. There were two holdovers, including a sixth week of "The Fuller Brush Man" at Shea's. Estimated receipts for the week end- ing August 5 : ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (U-I)— UPTOWN (2,- 761) (20c-36c-50c-66c-90c) 6 days. Gross: $10,600. (Average: $10,600) THE FULLER BRUSH MAN (Col.)— SHEA'S (2,480) (20c -36c -50c -66c -90c) 6 days, 6th week. Gross: $13,200. (Average: $14,- 700) MR. B LANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE (SRO)— LOEWS (2,074) (20c-36c- 50c-66c-78c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $13,- 700. (Average: $14,200) NORTHWEST STAMPEDE (Intl.) — IM- PERIAL (3.343) (20c-36c-50c-66c-90c) 6 days. Gross: $15,100. (Average: $14,600) ONE NIGHT WITH YOU (E-L)— DAN - FORTH (1,40Q) (20c-36c-50c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average: $6,500) ONE NIGHT WITH DOLORES (E-L)— FAIRLAWN (1.195) (20c-36c-50c-55c) 6 days. Gross: $5,300. (Average: $5,500) SO EVIL MY LOVE (Para.)— NORTOWN (950) (20c-42c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $5,000) SO EVIL MY LOVE (Para.) — VICTORIA (1,240) (20c-36c-42c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $5,- 000. (Average: $5,800) THE STREET WITH NO NAME (ZOth- Fox) — EGLINTON (1,086) (20c-36c-50c-66c) 6 days. Gross: $6,000. (Average: $6,900) THE STREET WITH NO' NAME (ZOth- Fox)— TIVOLI (1,434) (20c-36c-50c-66c) 6 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average: $8,200) Harry Pertner Returns Detroit, August 4. — Harry Pertner, a projectionist 15 years ago and manager of an auto shop ever since, has taken over the Rose Theatre. His official opening will be Sunday. One of Pertner's beliefs is that folks would like to see vaudeville revived, so he will have that plus films. 'Waltz' in Record $225,000 Loop Run , Paramount's "Emperor Waltz" is expected to break all attendance re- cords at the Balaban and Katz Chi- cago Theatre when it concludes a four-week run on August 12. Total gross is expected to reach $225,000 or more. "Waltz" will play 12 outlying houses day-and-date on August 13 im- mediately following the Loop run. O'Dwyer Guest of Eyssell Mayor William O'Dwyer am - d- ver A. Whalen, chairman c . ■ ' the Mayor's Golden Jubilee Committee, will visit the Music Hall tonight for the opening performance of "Jubilee," the theatre's new stage revue by Leonidoff saluting New York's 50th anniversary. G. S. Eysseli, executive manager of Rockefeller Center and president and managing director of the Music Hall, will be host. $19,250 Opening at Roxy Opening day of 20th Century- Fox's "The Walls of Jericho" at the Roxy Theatre here yesterday grossed $15,050 by _ eight P.M., according to executive director A. J. Balaban, who estimated that the first day's figure would hit $19,250. This would make it the biggest opening-day grosser of the year for the theatre, he said. Conn. Tax Off Slightly Hartford, August 4. — Connecticut tax commissioner Walter W. Walsh reports state amusement taxes in 1947- 1948 amounted to $104,422, compared to the 1946-1947 figure of $104,876. Television in Louisville WAVE-TV, Louisville, Ky.( tele- vision station, will begin operations on October 15 as an NBC affiliate. A beautiful woman is frozen with terror as she overhears plans for her own murder in Hal Wallis' thriller for Paramount — rn Accurate Concise and Impartial MOTION PICTU ,E DAILY ' p?9t$- NO- 26 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 1948 TEN CENTS lore Trouble from Mexican Devaluation bme {/S Companies Are Withholding Remittances Mexico City, August 5. — Con- ary to earlier expectations of orients accruing to the economical- 1 plagued film industry in Mexico om the devaluation of the peso, ad- srse conditions have arisen which >se a serious threat to both Ameri- in and Mexican film interests in this mntry. The unsettled monetary situ- ation resulting from the gov- ernment's decision to devaluate i has induced most American dis- tributors here to suspend mak- ing remittances to their home offices until the situation set- tles. However, a few are buying dollars at 6.25 to 6.50 pesos per (Continued on page 4) )G in Minneapolis ind NCA in Deal Strike Closes MGM Studio at Ellstree London, August 5. — An un- expected walkout of 70 mem- bers of the Electrical Trades Union today closed Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer's Ellstree Studio. The strike occurred at the expiration of a one- hour ultimatum given to the management at lunch time, the men refusing to utilize the conciliation machinery of the film industry's trade un- ion agreement. Subject of the argument was the recent dis- charge of two ETU members. Some Settle Rockne Suit Minneapolis, August 5. — Local kreen Guild exchange and the board ,f directors of North Central Allied lave approved in principle a six-month rial arrangement whereby NCA will -eceive a percentage of film rental :ollections for all SG product, new ind old, played by NCA members. \ctual percentage has yet to be deter- nined. The move was motivated by 3G here. Abram F. Myers, national Alfred's general counsel, admitted in Washing- ion on Wednesday that there has been some discussion of a plan for Allied ;o acquire distribution rights to reis- sues, but "it has not been submitted as a national issue." Some defendants in the Rivoli- Rockne $900,000 treble damage suit here have made an out-of-court set- tlement, it was disclosed today. Under terms of the agreement, handled by the plaintiff's attorney, Aaron Stein, both houses have been granted opportunity for preferred playing time against competing houses in addition to pay- ment of attorney fees. Settlement was made with Paramount, 20th Century- Fox and Universal. Warner Brothers and United Art- ists, both defendants, are expected to make settlements shortly pending preparation of papers. It is understood the suit may con- tinue against Essaness, defendants in the Rivoli case only, and Columbia, defendants in both suits. Chicago Operators Win 10% Increase Chicago, August 5. — Operators union Local No. 110 (AFL) today signed a five-year contract with all Chicago area houses which provides for a 10 per cent increase in wages. Eugene Atkinson, business manager of the local, said the increase will not go into pay envelopes but into a fund which will provide disability benefits, retirement pensions of not less than $100 a month for life, a vacation fund with two weeks' pay for each member and increased sick and death benefits. Negotiations were conducted by Atkinson and Clarence Jalas, secre- tary-treasurer, representing the union, and by Eddie Silverman, Essaness president, and Morris Leonard, B. and K. official, representing theatre owners. Ray Johnston Sells 8,000 Mono. Shares Washington, August 5. — Stock transactions by officers and directors of motion picture companies was ex- ceptionally light during the month ending July 10, according to the Se- curities and Exchange Commission's monthly report on such trading (re- leased here today.) Monogram's W. Ray Johnston sold 8,000 shares of common in five trans actions, dropping his total holdings to 4,617 shares. Johnston also holds op- tions for 12,500 shares of common William B. Hurlbut sold 1,000 shares of Monogram common, leaving 3,029. Howard Hughes, listed for the first time since he took over RKO, showed (Continued on page 4) it NCA Hails Ascap Ruling, Hits TOA Fargo, N. D., August 5.— North Central Allied praised New York Federal Court Judge Vincent L. Lei- bell's decision in the Ascap case and :ondemned the society for failing to comply with North Dakota law re- quiring registration of its copyrighted properties, during a regional meeting held here today. Ben Berger, NCA president, urged exhibitors to refuse to pay license fees to Ascap pending final (Continued on page 5) 'A Southern Yankee 9 [M-G-M] — Red Skelton Raises the Roof Hollywood, August 5 IF YOU thought Red Skelton was a boon to tired theatregoers in "The Fuller Brush Man" (and if you didn't you were out of sync with the present generation of paying customers) you'll be as pleased as the Hollywood preview crowd was, unanimously, to discover that you ain't seen nothin' yet. These hard-bitten minions of the press, starving of late on a steady diet of grim melodrama, and remembering unhappily M-G-M's handling of the Skelton talent in "The Show-Off" and "Merton of the Movies,"* arrived the other evening at the Academy Awards Theatre hoping for the best but prepared for anything — anything, that is, but the fastest, funniest comedy of this or any recent year. When it was over they picked themselves up out of the aisles, pounded each other on the back like school kids who've just won a ball game, and were still talking about nothing much else for days. Happy days are here again, and they'll be back at your place when you play "A Southern Yankee." It takes digging back into the yesteryears to find comparison, as to kind, for this all-purpose, all-level comedy. When it's slapstick, which is much of the time, it summons up memories of Harold Lloyd at his peak. (Continued on page 4) 10,321,000 Warner Profit For 9 Months Equals $1.41 Per Share; $7,400,000 for U.S. Taxes Warner Brothers Pictures and subsidiaries report for the nine months ending May 2, a net profit of $10,321,000 after provision of $7,400,000 for Federal income taxes. Net for the nine months ending May 31, 1947, amounted to $19,134,000, after provision of $11,900,000 for Federal taxes. Net for the 1948 period is equiva- lent to $1.41 per share on 7,295,000 shares of common stock outstanding. Net for the corresponding period last year was equivalent to $2.60 per share on 7,341,680 shares then outstanding. Film rentals, theatre admissions, sales, etc., after eliminating inter- company transactions for the nine months ending May 29, 1948, amount- ed to $112,415,000, compared with $125,078,000 for the corresponding period in the previous year. Gross income for the 1948 period amounted to $117,592,222, as against costs and expenses of $99,374,722, leaving a profit before charges of $18,- (Continued on page 4) $18 Million WB Backlog Warner productions completed but not yet released total $17,909,125 in negative costs, it is disclosed in the company's consolidated balance sheet released here yesterday by the - home office. Also listed among the inventories are productions in progress and charges to future productions, at a cost of $8,738,967. Fred Jack Reported In UA Division Post Realignment of a part of United Artists' top sales personnel structure is anticipated in some quarters here, with Fred Jack, Southwestern dis- trict manager, reportedly slated for the post of Western division manager, vacated by the recent resignation of Maury Orr. Jack is in New York at present and is understood to be unoffi- cially handling the Western post. 2 Motion Picture daily Friday, August 6, 1948 Personal Mention MAX E. YOUNGSTEIN, Eagle- Lion advertising-publicity vice- president, is due back in New York Monday from visits to E-L exchanges. • Victor Meyer, city manager for RKO Radio in New Orleans, has re- tired after 44 years in show business. John Dostal, former assistant man- ager of RKO in New Orleans, will return from Davenport, Iowa, to suc- ceed Meyer. • Martha Loeffler of National Theatre Supply in Cleveland for the past four years, has resigned follow- ing her recent marriage to Charles C Diether of Pittsburgh. Her suc- cessor at NTS is Teresa Motwick. • Ann Reagan, daughter of Para- mount distribution vice-president Charles M. Reagan and Mrs. Reagan, has become engaged to John J Hafer, Jr., of New Hyde Park, L. I. George Ayotte of the National Film Board of Canada has been awarded a fellowship by the French Embassy in Ottawa to enable him to study in France during 1948-1949. • Peter Niland, Columbia salesman in Cincinnati, is resigning because of ill health. He will continue to operate his suburban Fairmount Theatre in that city. • Marylin Marder, who has resigned her post with Paramount in Des Moines, has married Herman Schuchman of Iowa City. • A. Capman, manager of the Selwyn Theatre, New York, has returned here from a vacation. • Norman Lourie, president of Pal- estine Films, will fly to Tel Aviv to- day from New York. • Jack M. Warner and his wife will sail today on the SS Queen Elisabeth for Europe. • Robert Mochrie, RKO Radio dis- tribution vice-president, planed for New York from Hollywood last night. • Spyros P. Skouras, president of 20th Century-Fox, left here last night by plane for the Coast. • George E. Freeman, manager of Loew's Poli in Springfield, Mass., is vacationing at Hampton Beach, N. H. Hyde Resigns Post With U.S. Pictures Hollywood, August 5. — Resignation of Donald Hyde, vice-president and general manager of United States Pictures, was disclosed here today by Milton Sperling, president of the com- pany. Hyde occupied his post for the past two years, and an option was recently exercised, to run another 18 months. A. S. Abeles Weighs British Production London, August 5. — Arthur S. Abeles, Jr., recently appointed Warner London managing director, is probing the possibility of forming his owji pro- duction team to turn out six pictures a year at an average maximum cost of £60,000 ($240,000) at Warner's re- cently shuttered Teddington Studios. A long-term production program would be financed by Warner and Abeles is of the opinion that the pic- tures could earn comfortable profits by British distribution. Reputedly disturbed not only at the high cost of British production, but at the methods employed, Abeles, under present conditions, does not look for an American outlet for Brit- ish productions. He believes that there is an economic return in the domestic market for an economically made British film — but not if it is made under present conditions in many studios here. Rank Has Theatre Size Television London, August 5. — J. Arthur Rank's Cinema Television has given a highly secret demonstration of theatre television on the screen of a theatre in Bromley, Kent, and the result was said to have been highly satisfactory with the definition of the image better than that of the normal newsreel on this occasion. The showing, under the supervision of A. G. D. West, Rank's principal television aide, used a BBC program which was re-transmitted from a central reception station at Crystal Palace. It is hoped that some arrangement may now be arrived at with the gov- ernment's advisory committee, en- abling Rank to give big-screen tele- vision to paying customers. The gov- ernment does not permit television re- ception in any place charging admis- sions. 27 Groups on Board Of 'Vet' Camp Shows All 27 sponsoring organizations of Veterans Hospital Camp Shows have been given representation on the or- ganization's board of directors. Among the entertainment industry groups rep- resented are : Actors Equity, Ascap, Association of Motion Picture Pro- ducers, Hollywood Coordinating Com- mittee, IATSE, Screen Actors Guild, Screen Directors Guild, Screen Writers Guild, Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers and Thea- tre Owners of America. 'Hamlet' Here in Oct., At Park Ave. House Laurence OHvier's "Hamlet" will open in New York at the Park Ave- nue Theatre about October 1, it was announced here yesterday by Univer- sal-International, distributor of the film. All seats will be reserved during the entire engagement, with matinee and evening showings held daily, in- cluding Sundays, plus an additional matinee on Saturdays. Theatre Cited for Civic Improvement Unusual recognition for its contribution to the physical attractiveness of the neigh- borhood, has been accorded the Hamilton Theatre of Trenton, winner of a "Cita- tion for Civic Improvement" from the Garden Club of New Jersey, in what is believed to be the first time a theatre has been singled out for such an award. The house is oper- ated by Trenton-New Bruns- wick Theatre. James McAllis- ter is manager. U. N. Film Survey Covers 12 Markets Results of a survey of the technical needs of films, radio and the press in 12 countries were received at United Nations headquarters at Lake Success. The data were compiled by field teams sent out by the UN's Educational, Scientific and Cultural organization. The complete survey covers 19 coun- tries, but statistics received from Paris include only Pakistan, Austria, Hungary, Italy, India, Cuba, Mexico, Ecuador, Haiti, Peru, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic. A similar survey last year covered middle-Euro- pean countries, the Balkans, China and the Philippines. Film needs of each country are divided into categories such as film laws, exhibition, distribution, produc- tion, educational films, raw materials, equipment, professional training, etc. IATSE Group to Cleveland Today IATSE international president Richard F. Walsh, and other top of- ficials of the union, will leave here today for Cleveland to prepare for the "IA" convention at Public Auditorium during the Week of August 16. Other officials leaving for Cleveland are William P. Raoul, gen- eral secretary-treasurer ; Thomas J. Shea, assistant international president ; James J. Brennan, vice-president; Joseph D. Basson, international rep- resentative, and virtually the entire staff of the general office here. On Monday at the Hollender Hotel the semi-annual meeting of the general executive board will begin. This meeting is expected to last sev- eral days, clearing the way for the convention. M. C. Gay in State Dept. Film Post Washington, August 5. — The State Department's new film expert, its fourth this year, took office today. He is Merrill C. Gay, who has been with the department's commercial policy division since 1943 and who headed two negotiating teams at last year's Geneva trade conference. Gay says he has had contact with films on and off since joining the de- partment. His predecessor was W. T. M. Beale who left the film post on Friday. Hughes, Depinet in Talks on Operations Hollywood, August 5. — Howard Hughes, RKO majority stockholder, and Ned E. Depinet, executive vice- president, began a series of confer- ences here yesterday believed to em- brace the company's overall opera- tions, new directorate and executive line-up. Depinet is expected to remain here several weeks. New slate of directors is tentatively scheduled to be put before comwe>y stockholders at a meeting August. NT Heads Outline Policies Los Angeles, August 5. — Regional presidents of National Theatres, meet- ing here with Charles Skouras, com- pany president, yesterday canvassed box-office potentials for fall and win- ter. Operations policies were shaped and plans for participation in "Youth Month" outlined. The meetings will continue through tomorrow. NEW YORK THEATRES T- RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL— w Rockefeller Center "A DATE WITH JUDY" Wallace BEERY . Jane POWELL i Elizabeth TAYLOR . Carmen MIRANDA i Xavier C U GAT . Robert STACK A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ALAN DONNA LADD REED RAY MILLAND ANN TODD GER ALDINE 1 FITZGERALD SCIENTIFICALLY AJR COMIlTlOftCO 000*1 omm C~W% 6' way & «° * «■ .Acrvo TjL 4»*st-* ROY DEI RUTH'S THE BABE RUTH ^^^M^^fc. B^mv a wtluam claim STORY — BENDIX 'TREVOR I CoMFfff mowwPop MoT Cornel Linda Anne Kirk WILDE - DARNELL BAXTER DOUGLAS "THE WALLS of JERICHO" A 20th Century-Fox Picture ON VARIETY STAGE— DICK HAYMES ON ICE STAGE— CAROL LYNNE ARNOLD SHODA - FRITZ DIETL =ROXYthA9& 50th St. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. EXCEPTIONAL EXPLOITATION PACKAGE ^ TO PACK 'EM IN! TWICE AS THRILLING BECAUSE IPS TRUE/ pronounced: OOR SEE: Jungle warfare as poison arrows and venomous darts battle man's most modern weapons! SEE: The horrible fate of a python's prey ... the crushing coils of a slith- ering monster! SEE: The most awful death that stalks at night ... the blood-mad black panther! Undoubtedly the greatest sport picture ever filmed !" —Avery Brundage, President American Olympic Committee 4 Motion Picture Daily Friday, August 6, 1948 Key City Grosses HOLLOWING are estimated pic- M. ture grosses for current engage- ments in key cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily" correspond- ents. Estimates omit admission tax. BOSTON Warm, sunny weather with humid- ity continues unabated. Beaches and summer resorts crowded over the weekend. Night baseball still doing big business. Theatre business along the main stem was rather quiet. Es- timated receipts for the week ending August 4: A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.) and SHAG- GY (Para.) — METROPOLITAN (4,367) (40c-80c) 2nd week. With personal appear- ance of Dr. I. Q. one night. Gross: $19,000. (Average: $27,000) CANON CITY (E-L) and LADY AT MID- NIGHT (E-L)— PARAMOUNT (1.700) (40c-80c). Gross: $14,000. (Average: $17,- 000) CANON CITY (E-L) and LADY AT MID- NIGHT (E-L) — FENWAY (1,373) (40c-80c). Gross: $5,500. (Average: $10,000) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M)— ORPHE- UM (3,000) (40c-80c) 3rd week. Gross: $19,000. (Average: $27,000) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M)— STATE (3,- 500) (40c-80c) 3rd week. Gross: $7,500. (Average: $12,000) MAN-EATER OF KUMAON (U-I) and KING OF THE GAMBLERS (Rep.) — RKO BOSTON (3,200) (40c-80c). Gross: $6,500. (Average: None available on summer schedule) MELODY TIME (RKO Radio) and MYSTERY IN MEXICO (RKO Radio)— RKO MEMORIAL (3,000) (40c-80c). Gross: $17,500. (Average: $22,000) SAN FRANCISCO (M-G-M)— ASTOR (1,- 300) (44c-80c) 2nd week. Gross: $4,200. (Average: None available) TAKE MY LIFE (E-L) and THE GREAT WALTZ (M-G-M)— EXETER (1,300) (45c- 85c). Gross: $4,200. (Average: $5,000) *A Southern Yankee 99 (Continued from page 1) Mexican Devaluation (Continued from page 1) SAN FRANCISCO Vacation time took its toll this week with lower grosses in most instances. Top business was done at the Orphe- um with "Frankenstein." Estimated receipts for the week ended August 4: A DATE WITH JUDY (M-G-M)— WAR- FIELD (2,672) (60c-85c) 1st week. Gross: $21,000. (Average: $18,800) A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.) — ST. FRANCIS (1,430) (60c-8Sc) 1st week. Gross: $17,000. (Average: $14,600) THE BLACK ARROW (Col.) and THE STRAWBERRY ROAN (Col.)— ESQUIRE (1,008) (55c-85c) 1st week on a moveover. Gross: $7,000. (Average: $9,000) DREAM GIRL (Para.) and WATER- FRONT AT MIDNIGHT (Para.) — PARA - MOUNT (2,735) (60c-85c) 1st week. Gross: $16,000. (Average: $19,500) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M) and THE WINNER'S CIRCLE (20th-Fox)— FOX (4,- 651) (60c-85c) 3rd week. Gross: $16,000. (Average: $23,000) FRANKENSTEIN (U-I) and TAKE MY LIFE (E-L) — ORPHEUM (2.440) (55c-85c) 1st week. Gross: $21,000. (Average,: $14,- 700) FOUR FACES WEST (UA)-UXITED ARTISTS (1,465) (85c) 2nd week. Gross: $8,500. (Average: $11,300) MELODY TIME (RKO Radio).- RKO GOLDEX GATE (2,835) (95c) 1st week. Gross: $21,000. (Average: $27,000) ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS (WB) and THE KNOCKOUT (Mono.) — STATE (2,135) (60c-85c) 1st week on a moveover. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $8,500) THE STREET WITH NO NAME (20th- Fox) and BLONDE ICE (FC)— UNITED NATIONS (1,129) (60c-85c) 3rd week on a moveover. Gross: $3,000. (Average: $9,900) . When it's brainy as well as physical, it eases regrets about Charlie Chaplin having gone serious. In retrospect it recalls the Wallace Beery-Raymond Hatton "Behind the Front" of World War I and the Abbott-Costello "Buck Privates" of World War II. BUT these comparisons, arrived at here in laborious substitution for direct description which couldn't do justice, are strictly generic in nature, and strictly post mortem, because there isn't time for comparisons, or anything else but laughing, during the picture. The picture opens in St. Louis in 1865, with Skelton as a bungling bell-hop, steadfastly devoted to the Union cause and Union Army personnel which tenants the hostelry, who blunders into capturing a famous but unknown Confederate spy known as the Gray Spider. He turns him over to the Union commandant, who perforce commissions Skelton to cross over into Con- federate territory with important papers for Union spies, and that's about enough of the story for present uses. It's all handled for laughs, although containing battle sequences staged as lavishly as those in "The Birth of a Nation." It rocks the auditorium with laughter from the opening flash to the final inch. TT IS Skelton's picture all the way, with Arlene Dahl in charming part-time company as a Southern belle, Brian Donlevy present as a sort of Civil War smoothie working both sides of the street, George Coulouris as the Confederate spy, and Lloyd Gough, John Ireland, Minor Watson, Charles Dingle, Art Baker, Reed Hadley Arthur Space and Joyce Dobson in other castings. Paul Jones produced the picture and Edward Sedgwick directed, from a script by Harry Tugend, based on an original by Melvin Frank and Norman Panama. How they managed to do it without laughing themselves to death is a mystery. Running time, 91 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, not set. William R. Weaver "The Spiritualist" (Eagle-Lion) A STORY of fakers who prey on the rich through spiritualism, this film with Turhan Bey, Lynn Bari and Cathy O'Donnell, stacks up as an interesting subject despite emphasis on the morbid. Played against a plush background, the film employs trick camera work to enhance the yarn's eerie and sinister qualities, aiding director Bernard Vorhaus in sustaining suspense throughout. Based on an original by Crane Wilbur and written for the screen by Muriel Roy Bolton and Ian Hunter, it concerns Miss Bari, two years a widow but still living in the past in her search for happiness. She meets Bey, a spiritualist, who promises to make contact with her late husband despite the objections of Richard Carlson to whom Miss Bari is now engaged. During a seance her husband returns briefly. Later Bey finds that he is still alive after having murdered at least one previous wife, and the two enter into a pact to deprive Miss Bari and her sister, Miss O'Donnell, of the family fortune. Eventually they fail and both men are killed. Since it is a story of death and a plan for murder, there is little to lighten the mood, while the romantic element of the picture plays but a minor part. However, in telling the story, the methods and operations of quacks are exposed and provide an interesting aspect of the picture. Ben Stoloff produced and George J. Teague handled the photographic effects. Running time, 78 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, July 7. dollar to get that money home. The pre-devaluation rate was 4.85 pesos per dollar. Those American distributors which are buying dollars at the higher rate are understood to feel that it is better to take the present loss now instead of withholding remittances and taking a greater loss if the peso is further devaluated later. Devaluation has hurt theatre (- D ness throughout Mexico because oKie general uncertainties and price hikes on not only imported goods but on a number of Mexican items as well, de- spite official efforts to prevent price rises of Mexican products. Devaluation provoked the first thea- tre strike in Mexico for that reason, at San Martin Texmelucan in Pueblo State. Employes demanded a 100 per cent pay hike, contending that their pay is far short of meeting living ex- penses caused by the money devalua- tion. Exhibitors say operating costs take 95 per cent of income, and wages take 67 per cent of those costs. When devaluation was first effected it was expected that it would bring recovery of the Mexican industry from the slump into which it has fallen since the war's end. Increased theatre patronage was al- so expected. Ray Johnston Sells (Continued from page 1) CLEVELAND Baseball at home and on the air has cut into weekend theatre attendance with lower grosses reported at all first-runs. "Deep Waters" was the only new picture with drawing power, taking in $14,500 at the RKO Allen. "The Street With No Name" held strong in its third week. Estimated receipts for the week ended August 3-4: THE CRUSADES (Para.) — LOEW'S STILLMAN (1,900) (50c-70c). Gross: $8,500. (Average: $10,500) DEEP WATERS (20th-Fox) — RKO AL- LEN (3,000) (5Sc-70c). Gross: $14,500. (Average: $13,800) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M)— LOEW'S STATE (3.300) (50c-70c) 2nd week, on a holdover. Gross: $17,500. (Average: $19,- 300) IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (Col.) and ONE NIGHT OF LOVE (Col.)— LOWER MALL (563) (50c-70c). Gross: $3,000. (Av- erage: $2,500) MELODY TIME (RKO Radio) — RKO PALACE (3,300) (55c-70c). Gross: $15,500. (Average: $16,000) ON OUR MERRY WAY (UA)— WAR- NERS' HIPPODROME (3,500) (55c-70c). Gross: $15,000. (Average: $15,000) THE SEARCH (M-G-M)— LOEW'S OHIO (1,268) (50c-70c). Gross: $6,500. (Average: $6,200) THE STREET WITH NO NAME (20th- Fox)— WARNERS' LAKE (714) (55c-70c) 3rd week, on a moveover after two weeks at the Hippodrome. Gross: $5,000. (Av- erage: $3,000) Take D.S.T. Fight to Michigan Court Detroit, August 5. — Michigan Su- preme Court has been asked to enjoin the City of Detroit from presenting the question of Daylight Saving Time to the voters at the September 14 elec- tion, in an action brought by Indepen- dent Theatre Owners Association of Michigan, Greater Detroit Theatres, Inc., Oliver Amusement Corp., and other independent theatre owners. It is contended that Eastern Stand- ard Time was fixed by the legislature as the legal time for Michigan. Thea- tremen here maintain that they are ad- versely affected by the continuation of daylight time. ownership of 929,020 shares of com- mon. At Paramount, the F. K. Griffis trust is listed for the sale of 2,500 shares of common, with 3,500 remain- ing. Stanton Griffis is listed for 9,000 shares of common, the Nixon Griffis trust for 5,000, the W. E. Griffis trust for 2,800, and the T. G. Latouche trust for 4,500. Paramount's Henry Ginsberg bought 500 shares of common, bringing his holdings to 1,000. His sons hold 400 shares. At Columbia, A Schneider sold 25 shares; he has 10,028. Albert W. Lind bought 100 shares of Associated Motion Picture Industries, Inc., capi- tal stock, making his total holdings 500 shares. Albert Warner gave 400 shares of Warner common to philan- thropies. He has 428,000 shares. The Albert Warner trust shows a total of 21,000 shares. Jack L. Warner gave 2,000 shares to the United Jewish Welfare Fund, leaving 418,000. The Jack L. Warner trust is listed with 21,500 shares. Warner Profit (Continued from page 1) Mrs. Ida F. Giroux, 81 Hollywood, August 5. — Funeral ser- vices were held this morning in the chapel of Hollenbeck Home for Mrs. Ida F. Giroux, 81, who died Monday following a long illness. George R. Giroux, Technicolor field representa- tive, is the sole survivor. Interment will be in Chicago, former home of the deceased. 217,500. Dividends of $7,275,016 are reported. Current and working assets as of May 29, 1948, are listed at $67,455,- 726, against current liabilities of $27,- 599,037. Warner Dividend Warner Brothers' board of directors yesterday declared a dividend of 25 cents per share, payable October 4 holders of record on September 3. to Salt Lake Grosses Up Salt Lake City, August 5.— De- spite hot weather, theatre grosses are above normal for this time of year, according to reports from showmen. ^Friday, August 6, 1948 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 5 Review "Variety Time" (RKO Radio) ii\ T ARIETY TIME" is virtually a vaudeville bill of odds and ends, some V new, some segments from old films, including a number of items from the Flicker Flashbacks series of shorts released by RKO. The effect is intended solely for the benefit of those whose tastes in entertainment are easily satisfied, for this is extremely commonplace stuff. The film makes no pretense of offering anything more than an hour of fun to be quickly forgotten. Emphasis is on comedy of the simplest sort, often descending to unabashed, old-fashioned slapstick as in the case of a painful sketch detailing the trials of Edgar Kennedy in trying to build an extension to his home. In addition to the Kennedy and Flicker Flashbacks clips the entertainment includes acts featuring Frankie Carle and his orchestra, Pat Rooney in a soft-shoe dance, Jesse and James in a blackface routine, Leon Errol in a comedy of marital entanglement, Lynn, Royce and Vanya in a comedy dance routine, Hans Conreid and Jack Paar in a French song burlesque and Miguel- ito Valdes in a "Babalu" number. George Bilson produced. Hal Yates directed the Kennedy and Errol numbers. Running time, 59 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, not set. P. E. L. Additional Drive-ins Sprout Across Nation jFCC Charting Rules ITo Bar Quiz Shows Washington, August 5.— The Fed- eral Communications Commission to- day leveled several strong blows which may eventually rule most radio "give- away" shows off the air and, in the eyes of some observers, be of some indirect aid to sinking theatre receipts. The Commission invited comments K^September 10 on proposed rules 1 — ~)g forth what programs violate the lottery section of the radio act. : The FCC said it planned to consider a program in violation if any mone- tary or other type of prize were con- ditioned on the winner furnishing money or having a certain product of the show's sponsor ; if he must be listening to the show ; if he must an- swer correctly a question, the answer to which is given on a program broad- cast by the station ; or if he must an- swer the phone or write a letter and the conversation or letter is broadcast. Covered by the rules would be stand- ard, FM and television stations and practically all quiz programs, except those with no awards, would be af- fected, observers believe. $2,288,237 Net for Columbia Network . Net income of $2,288,237, equal to $1.33 per share, is reported by Colum- bia Broadcasting for the six months ended July 3,, compared with $2,919,- 507, and $1.70 per share, for the cor- responding period in 1947. Gross 1948 income totaled $48,816,- 986, or $34,763,526 after deductions for time discount, agency commis- sions, allowances and other discounts. Comparable 1947 figures were: $51,- 411,368 gross income, less $13,202,644 for discount and commissions, leaving a gross of $38,208,724. WHN, Loew Station, Changed to WMGM WHN, Loew's radio station in New York, will become WMGM on Sep- tember 15, the change in call letters having been approved by the Federal Communications Commission. On that date the station will move to new studios. The move presages a closer working alliance with the M-G-M Coast studios from where some pro- grams will emanate. Loew's frequency modulation station, WHN-FM, will become WMGM-FM, also on Sep- tember 15. FCC Approves 7 New Television Stations Washington, August 5. — Federal Communications Commission has ap- proved seven new television stations. They include: WSAZ, Huntington, W. Va. ; WHIN, Lansing; Peoria Broadcasting Co., Peoria, 111.; Fetzer Broadcasting Co., Kalamazoo; WSM, Nashville; Radio Service Corp. of Utah, Salt Lake City; Leonard A. Versluis, Grand Rapids. Industry Broadcast Set Columbia Broadcasting has set Sep- tember 19 as the broadcast date for "The Hollywood Stpry," a program which will assay the social, economic and other factors which go into the selection and production of a major film. Drive-in theatres under construc- tion or planned in addition to those previously reported in Motion Pic- ture Daily follow : Joseph A. Cremisino and H. E. Clark are sponsors of new projects at Rochester, Minn., and Sioux Falls, S. D., and have plans for St. Cloud, Minn. Nat Williams, head of Inter- state Amusement Co., has opened the Hi-Wa Drive-In, costing $75,000, at Thomasville, Ga. Toronto has a new drive-in, its second, at nearby Malton, site of the city's air terminal. New in the business, F. Chase Hathaway has opened near Hoosick Falls, N. Y., and Harry Lamont has opened at Mayfield, N. Y. The latter operates drive-ins at Middletown and Lake George, both in New York. $200,000 Project for Downey One of the costliest drive-ins in the country is the $200,000 job of E. R. Cummings, head of Exhibition En- terprises, at Downey, Cal., served out of San Francisco. Joseph Blumenfeld Theatres opened two projects, at Stockton, and Marin, Cal. The old Riverside Racetrack near Kansas City is the site of that area's newest drive- in, operated by Commonwealth Thea- tres. That circuit has engaged Jack D. Braunagle to handle its drive-in projects. The new Duwamish Drive- in between Seattle and Tacoma is jointly operated by John Danz and William Forman. One of the most extensive drive-in programs contemplated is the 27 drive-ins planned by Walter Reade Theatres to be opened in 1948 and 1949, in the Mid-Atlantic States, principally in New York and New Jersey, as previously reported. A corporation headed by Eugene Bora- gine, Henry J. Rehault and Dr. Do- minico Santoro is operating at Cas- cades, Me. Mrs. Rose Chilypian and her son-in-law, Sarkes Arakelian, have a new drive-in, the Riverview, on the Haverhill-Lawrence, Mass., Boulevard, with accommodations for 500 cars, on Route 110. Negro Drive-in in Charlotte Additional Simplex Projector equipment orders have been serviced for drive-ins at Great Bend., Kans. ; South Glenns Falls, N. Y., and Rus- sels Point, O. Philip C. Cahill of Wethersfield, Conn., and Louis B. Rogow of Hartford are the backers of a new project at Wolcott, Conn. Nashville's first car-theatre is operated by Crescent Amusement Co., at nearby Murfreesboro. R. E. Baluch is presi- dent. Charlotte Negroes have a new $40,000 drive-in for 400 cars. The Gulfport-Biloxi, Miss., territory is the locale for another of the South's many drive-ins. Ralph Trathen is general manager of Associated Amusement Co. which recently opened offices on Salt Lake City's Film Row out of which it will operate an expanded drive-in program in the mountain area, where it already manages several. Samuel Slotnick and Sam Gandel are partners in the Parkway, new Rochester, N. Y., drive-in at nearby Canandaigua, with a capacity for 700 cars, expandable to 1,500. Newest Ezell Drive-In Thea- tre Co. property is the Buckner Boule- vard, Dallas, which has a play beach for children, a snack bar, etc. Additional new drive-in installations are located at Peoria, 111. ; Weather- ford, Tex. ; Victoria, Tex. ; Lamesa, Tex. ; New Castle, Pa. ; Elkhart, Ind. ; Wallingford, Conn. ; Stony Hill, Mass. ; Atlanta ; New Orleans ; Ba- ton Rouge, La. ; Cumberland, Md. ; Whitfield, Ga. ; Salisbury, N. C. Ochs Expands Drive-ins Toronto, August 5. — Herb Ochs of Toronto and Cleveland has opened the third automobile theatre in Ontario of Skyway Drive-In Theatres, Ltd. The latest unit, under the management of Gordon White, is located at Britannia Bay in Eastern Ontario. The com- pany is constructing other theatres at Oshawa and Peterboro. Loukos Acquires Two Lima, O., August 5. — Allen and Majestic Theatres, for a long time owned and operated by George Ritzier, have been acquired by Don F. Loukos, formerly with Warners and more re- cently manager of the two houses. Plan Film on Railway Story of the construction of the Ca- nadian Pacific Railway will be dram- atized in "Canadian Pacific," a $1,- 000,000 production starring Randolph Scott, to be a Nat Holt production released through 20th Century-Fox. 8,000 Philco Video Sets Due Weekly Philadelphia August 5. — Current production of television sets by Philco exceeds 4,000 per week and by the fourth quarter they will exceed 8,000 per week, or 400,000 a year, accord- ing to William Balderston, president, who reports that Philco's dollar out- put in television will go beyond its radio production by the end of the year. Total sales of all Philco products for the first half of 1948 were at $124,- 617,000, compared with $107,941,000 last year. Earnings for the six months amounted to $4,215,000. Earn- ings for the same 1947 period were $2,237,000. Building Materials Increased Sharply Washington, August 5— Produc- tion of major construction materials increased sharply in May — latest month for which figures are available — to bring the physical volume of pro- duction to the highest point this year, according to the U. S. Commerce De- partment. Production of 10 materials actually declined, but the output of major items such as lumber, cement, brick and selected iron and steel prod- ucts all increased. Hails Ascap Ruling (Continued from page 1) decision in the New York and Berger cases against Ascap. Thirty-eight exhibitors present also scored the Theatre Owners of Amer- ica for what they called its "weak- kneed and reactionary" failure to rec- ommend halting further Ascap pay- ments. Berger was also authorized to name a committee to appear at the January meeting of the state legislature to com- bat the municipal admission tax "craze" in this state. NCA executive director Stanley Kane addressed the meeting on the re- cent Supreme Court decision in the Paramount case. Neben on 'Photoplay' Ads Jacqueline Neben has been appointed promotion manager of Photoplay magazine, by Fred R. Sammis, edi- torial director. Mis.s Neben will han- dle both advertising and editorial promotion of Photoplay and Photoplay Fashions, as well as the magazine's publicity. With Macfadden Publica- tions for the past six years, she was previously a copywriter and assistant to Herbert G. Drake, director of promotion. 4 Premieres for WB Film Dallas, August 5. — Local premiere of Warners' "Two Guys from Texas" will be held tomorrow night at the Majestic Theatre. Dennis Morgan, Jack Carson and Dorothy Malone, who star in the film, are on hand for the opening. The picture opened at the Majestic in Houston tonight at the second of a four-city Southwest premiere. 'Duel' at Venice Exhibit On invitation of the Italian govern- ment, David O. Selznick's "Duel in the Sun" has been entered along with other American films in the Venice Festival which takes place August 14- September 4. His "Since You Went Away" and his production of Alfred Hitchcock's "Rebecca" will be entered in the special division of the exhibit. Artist with chintz and Chippendale. .. WHEN this room says "home, sweet home" to movie-goers, it also speaks in praise of its creator — the man who dressed the set so understandingly. For his was the feeling for fabrics and furniture that gave the set its "lived-in" look . . . that made it so truly convey time and place, and catch the spirit of the actors' roles. Whether an interior is modern or medieval, penthouse or "poverty row," the set dresser's artistry makes its atmosphere authentic. An important contribution, this — and one that is reflected to the full by faith- ful photographic reproduction . . . un- failingly provided by Eastman's famous family of motion picture films. EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY ROCHESTER 4, N. Y. J. E. BRULATOUR, INC., DISTRIBUTORS FORT LEE • CHICAGO • HOLLYWOOD .*. Accurate MOTION P1€?IS£&E FIRST Concise ▲ T T "^K 7" IN and 1 ■ A 1 1 FILM Impartial JLX/Vl JLI j NEWS 64. NO. 27 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 1948 TEN CENTS AFL Invades ClO's Ranks At Paramount Move Follows IATSE's Drive at United Artists A deeper drive into the ranks of CIO's Screen Office and Profes- sional Employes Guild at home of- fices was launched at the weekend at Paramount by AFL's IATSE Mo- tion Picture Home Office Employes Local No. H-63, thus marking the sec- ond invasion of SOPEG's territory since H-63's campaign at United Art- ists. Spearheading the H-63 drive at Paramount is a committee of 20 em- ployes, composed of SOPEG members as well as non-SOPEG members. Ac- cording to Russell Moss, H-63 busi- ness agent, "a gratifying number of cards were signed by employes" on the first day of the H-63 drive on Friday. Application to the National Labor Re- lations Board for a representation election will be made as soon as H-63 has a substantial majority, Moss de- clared. One reason given for the switch to "IA" has been SOPEG's refusal to {Continued on page 3) 38 Named to TOA Convention Group John Balaban and Eddie Zorn, chairman and vice-chairman,_ respec- tively, of the general convention com- mittee of the Theatre Owners of America, have named 38 members to the reception committee for the two- day session which will be held Sep- tember 24-25 in the Drake Hotel, Chicago. From exhibitor ranks in the Chicago area the following were appointed : W. K. Hollander, N. M. Piatt, D. B. Wallerstein, Frank Smith, Aaron Jones, Edwin Silverman, James Cost- ton, Jack Rose, Arthur Schoenstadt, (Continued on page 3) Ploeser Maps Slate For 'Monopoly' Quiz Washington, August 8. — Rep. Ploeser, chairman of a House Small Business Committee investigating monopolistic and unfair trade prac- tices, has tentatively approved a schedule of road hearings this fall which will go into practically every (Continued on page 3) 'IA' Meet Will Highlight Taft Bill Attack Cleveland, August 8. — Impetus to the IATSE's drive for repeal of the Taft-Hartley labor law will be stressed at the organization's week- long general executive board meeting which will open here tomorrow at the Hollenden Hotel, and at its 39th con- vention which will start one week from tomorrow at Cleveland's Public Auditorium. William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor ; Eric A. Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, and Thomas J. Herbert, Governor of Ohio, top the list of labor leaders, industry executives and public officials sched- uled to attend the convention, with International president Richard F. Walsh presiding. Throughout the week, more than 1,100 delegates will arrive. They are (Continued on page 3) Report on Studio Strike Due Today Washington, August 8. — The House Labor Committee tomorrow may write "finis" to the work of the Kearns sub-committee investigating the Hollywood jurisdictional strike. Rep. Kearns has been working fe- verishly over the weekend, it was learned, to have a report ready to present to the committee at a meeting tentatively set for tomorrow. According to the plans of committee chairman Hartley (R., N. J.) ap- proval of the report by the full com- mittee will end the investigation with- out further hearings on any other pro- ceedings. Kearns has been holding out lor further hearings. Empire -U to Amend Writ in Rank Suit Toronto, August 8.— Gordon D. Conant, senior Master-in-Chambers at Osgoode Hall, has granted permission to Empire-Universal Films, Toronto, and other plaintiffs, to amend their writ and statement of claim against J. Arthur Rank and others in their prolonged action for $2,000,000 in damages. The order was issued providing the plaintiffs pay all costs of defendant Rank arising- out of the previous or- der of the court, dated March 12, 1947. (Continued on page 3) Canada's Admissions Are on the Decline Ottawa, August 8.— The Ca- nadian government reports that a nationwide survey shows theatre admission prices in this country dropped from 134.5 per cent in May to 130.9 per cent in June, on the basis of the period of 1935-39 being equal to 100 per cent. The decline in part is attrib- utable to tax cuts in some re- gions where provincial gov- ernments did not replace the national tax abandoned by the Dominion some weeks ago. From other sources it is learned that admission scales may show a further decline for July. British May Expand In Canadian Market Ottawa, August 8. — Some interest- ing developments are expected to re- sult for the motion picture industry in Canada following the disclosure that the United Kingdom will allow Brit- ish companies to invest in establishing branches in Canada provided that it "can be shown to be advantageous in relation to our (British) dollar posi- tion." As far as the film business is con- cerned, it is believed here that British film interests may organize operations on Canadian soil to increase their busi- ness in the Dominion. It is known that Canadian financial institutions are now ready to aid such schemes. Popcorn Crop Is 51% Above 1947 Washington, August 8. — The U. S. Agriculture Department reports that present indications are that the 1948 acreage of popcorn planted in the 12 commercial producing states will be about 51 per cent larger than the 1947 acreage. Motion picture theatres are among the biggest purchasers of popcorn. The increase follows two successive years of decrease, the department points out. Weather since planting has been favorable for good growth and de- velopment, the department reports. Estimated plantings of 126,700 acres this year compare with 83,700 in 1947 and the 10-year 1937-46 average of 125,960. More acres were planted in all major producing states except Iowa. United Artists Realigns Top Selling Force Two Division Managers Under Paul Lazarus, Jr. A realignment of top sales posts at United Artists was indicated at the weekend with Joseph J. Unger said to be resigning as sales man- ager. That post is to be eliminated and sales will be directed jointly by Edward Schnitzer, continuing as East- ern division manager, and Fred Jack promoted to Western division head. Unger could not be reached for. com- ment. Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., executive as- sistant to Gradwell Sears, UA's presi- dent, will function as liaison between Sears and the two divisions. Addi- tionally, Lazarus still will continue an active interest in the advertising-pub- licity department of which he had been director until his recent promo- tion. Howard LeSieur now is adver- tising-publicity director. Jack will continue to maintain his headquarters in Dallas where he has been Southwest district manager. Both (Continued on page 3) Long Files Second Suit Against Schine Cleveland, August 8. — An anti- trust action was filed here at the week- end against the Schine circuit by Lock- wood Thompson, co-counsel with Sey- mour Simon of Chicago, representing Emerson W. Long of Mt. Vernon, and Cadiz, Ohio. Suit is practically identical with the one recently filed in Columbus by Long against Schine, both charging that the latter's buying power prevents Long from securing suitable product. Latest suit seeks treble damages of $345,000 plus costs. Urges Non-payment Of Ascap Seat-tax Boston, August 8. — Ray Feeley, executive secretary of the Independent Theatres of New England, states that all members have been noti- fied to cease payments to Ascap until the position of exhibitors is cleared in the situation arising from Feder- al Judge Vincent L. Leibell's New York decision declaring Ascap's collections illegal. 2 Motion Picture Daily Monday, August 9, 194! Personal Mention Tradewise By SHERWIN KANE CHARLES SKOURAS, National Theatres president, is due here today from the Coast en route to Washington to participate in cere- monies on Wednesday in connection with President Truman's proclama- tion of September as "Youth Month." • Sam Cohen, United Artists foreign publicity manager, and Mrs. Cohen, accompanied by their youngest son, Michael, will observe their 25th wad- ding anniversary with a two-week visit to Canada and Niagara Falls. • William A. Scully, Universal-In- ternational vice-president and general sales manager, and Maurice A. Berg- man, Eastern advertising-publicity director, left here on Friday for Hollywood. • Ed Morey, Jr., and Mrs. Morey are parents of a daughter, Kathleen, born at St. Joseph's Hospital in Bur- bank, Cal. Morey, an assistant direc- tor at Monogram, is the son of the company's vice-president. • Thomas E. Breen, son of Produc- tion Code administrator Joseph I. Breen, appears in the role of "Denis Mulvy" in M-G-M's "Luxury Liner," soon to be released. • Hugh Owen, Paramount Eastern and Southern division sales manager, will be in Boston today for branch conferences. • Charles Schlaifer, 20th Century- Fox advertising-publicity director, has left here for Omaha due to the illness of his father. • William B. Levy, worldwide sales supervisor for Walt Disney Produc- tions, has returned to New York from the Coast. • F. W. Duval, Motion Picture As- sociation of America treasurer, begins a one-week vacation today at Sea Girt, N. J. e Loretta McGarrity of the Motion Picture Herald editorial staff has be- come engaged to Frank Dixon. • Leo M. Brody, Eagle-Lion publicity manager, will leave here today for a vacation in the South. • Edward A. Golden flew to Chicago from New York at the weekend en route to Dallas. Fadiman Heads RKO Story Department Hollywood, August 8. — Under a realignment effected by the executive committee managing the RKO studio pending the August 31 board meeting, William J. Fadiman, who had been functioning as editorial assistant to Dore Schary, has been named story editor, and Edgar Peterson, who had been Schary's production assistant, has been given a writer status. OUR colleague, "Insider" Red Kann, told you the other day of the difference in views between Paramount and E. V. Richards of Paramount- Richards Theatres, New Or- leans, over what constitutes a proper rental for Paramount product. It is in the same vein with disputes which Richards had earlier with M-G-M and Universal, with the result that neither sells to Richards. Now, if you can believe the stories, it's RKO's turn with Richards. RKO, so the story goes, felt that competitive bid- ding would be the best way to sell in Richard's territory. Rich- ards is supposed to have replied, maybe some places but not all. RKO is adamant and no deal was struck. Lucky for Richards they don't double-feature in the South. After more than 20 years in the Times Square area, the in- dustry law firm of Schwartz & Frohlich has moved uptown — not to Radio City or the upper 50's, but to 19 East 70th, select residential neighborhood. Sterling Drug Co. bought the building in which the law firm formerly occupied a tower floor, and refused to renew leases. Unable to find suitable quarters anywhere in mid-town, Charlie Schwartz and Louis Frohlich started looking afield and ulti- mately purchased the 70th Street building. The six-story and penthouse building is the former residence of David H. Morris, Ambassa- dor to Belgium during the Roosevelt administration. Al- though re-decorated and re- furnished, the residence has un- dergone a minimum of remodel- ling and is pretty much in its original state. The first floor dining room is now the firm's law library. On the second floor, front, the former library of the residence has become Schwartz's office, and to the rear, the former drawing room is now occupied by Frohlich's office. Crystal chandeliers, hand-carved ceil- ings, Italian marble fireplaces, marble window and door frames distinguish the rooms. On the upper floors are the offices of other members of the law firm, and the clerical, business and fil- ing rooms. Most of the offices have private baths (there are 12 baths, in all) and most have fireplaces. Quite a few have terraces. In addition to solving the housing problem for the law firm, the new quarters are like- ly to remain unique in the busi- ness for a long time to come. Zoning ordinances protect the primarily residential character of the area. Reports were around last week that in addition to the loss of patronage and refunds during the recent cooling system engi- neers' strike, due to theatre pick- eting and higher temperatures inside, the five-day lay-off was costly to metropolitan neighbor- hood theatre circuits in other ways. Large blower fans were purchased in quantities and many theatres had the foresight to purchase seat covers. Those that didn't, according to the re- ports, were confronted with claims for soiled clothing by pa- trons who said the finish on seats in some theatres came off in the hot auditoriums. Some estimates place the five- day losses at approximately the amount of the increase in dis- pute. Operating Engineers Local 30, which figured in the strike, is known among industry labor negotiators as one of the fairest and most restrained in the in- dustry. For example, it didn't even call upon brother AFL theatre unions, such as the pro- jectionists, to respect its picket lines while on strike. • • Visitors from the Coast as- sert that Judge Stephen S. Jack- son, former member of the Pro- duction Code Administration in Hollywood, is planning to open his own office for the practice of law there, and is not thinking of coming to the MPA New York office in a legal advisory capacity, as announced at the time of his resignation two weeks ago. • • The trade interprets Ascap's retention of Robert P. Patter- son, former Secretary of War, former U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge, and president of the New York Bar Association, as special counsel to handle the theatre collections case as ample evidence, if any were needed, that Ascap will appeal from Judge Vincent Leibell's decision holding its theatre collection method to be in violation of the anti-trust laws. Newsreel Parade THE "Red" hearings in Washing- ton and the Olympic Games domi- nate current newsreels. Complete con- tents follozv : MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 63— Hear ings in Washington on Red spies in U. S. U. S. athletic stars shine in London Olym pic Games. Univis strike in Dayton. Dock fire at Long View, Wash. President Tru- man votes. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 297— munists in the U. S. exposed by fcfw Red. Olympic story: victories for U. S. stars. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 100— Teen- age statesmen: boys visit Washington. America dominates Olympics. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. 167— Official pictures of Olympic Games: Yanks gain in track and swimming. WARNER PATHE NEWS, No. 102— Youth forum meets. Birthday fashions for the young. U. S. Olympic teams smash to victory. Great events: Lincoln-Douglas de- bate. Senate Group Sets Broadcasters Probe Washington, August 8. — A study of every aspect of the broadcasting industry from alleged lobbying activi- ties to patent controls and frequency allocations was listed today on the ex- tensive agenda of a special Senate committee charged with investigating communications. Committee chairman Tobey (R., N. H.) said that the group would give "particular attention" to deciding whether the National Association of Broadcasters actually represents the 2,000 stations in the U. S. when it takes a stand on legislative matters, and whether NAB spokesmen should be registered as lobbyists. The agenda also includes a survey of the powers and policies of the Federal Communi- cations Commission. NAB Video Group To Convene on Friday Washington, August 8. — A televi- sion advisory committee of the Na- tional Association of Broadcasters' board of directors has been appointed by Justin Miller, NAB president. The new committee will hold its first meet- ing on Friday at the Palmer House in Chicago. The meeting will follow by two days a gathering, also in Chicago, of NAB television broadcaster members. $3 - Million IhiMont Stock Issue Offered Allen B. DuMont Laboratories on Friday offered to the public 150,000 shares of five per cent cumulative convertible preferred stock, $20 par, the $3,000,000 to be used for the com- pany's expansion in television. Van Alstyne Noel Corp. and Gearhart and Co. head the underwriting group. INS Service to Don Lee Expansion of the International News Service spot news and feature photo packages to service television clients on the West Coast has been completed with the signing of KTSL, Don Lee television station in Los Angeles. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, ^undays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubcb, New York Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Builaing, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. IJrben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, 'Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 18/9. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c - 194 Monday, August 9, 1948 Motion Picture Daily Seized 16mm. Prints Arrive in New York More than 10 16mm. prints of some 66 features recovered from a merchant seaman in San Francisco by the FBI ;and the U. S. attorney in that city ,have been received here from the Coast by the Army Motion Picture Service. Features of all major com- yaa^es were among the seized pictures. "vV^he films were recovered as a result of an investigation by the FBI in co- operation with the industry's Copy- right Protection Bureau. They were from among the thousands turned over by the film companies to the armed services as the industry's contribution to the war effort. Sargoy and Stein, special counsel to the industry in Copyright Protection Bureau matters, played a part in the recovery. Warner Holds Four 'Texas' Premieres Mort Blumenstock, Warner vice- president in charge of advertising- publicity, will return to New York today from the four-city world pre- miere engagements of the company's "Two Guys from Texas," in San An- tonio, Houston, Dallas and Oklahoma City. Each opening was preceded by an extensive campaign covering a radius of over 80 miles of each city. Dennis Morgan, Jack Carson and Dorothy Malone made personal appearances. Newspaper correspondents from over SO outlying cities covered the events. Wants Cleanliness, Humor in Film Fare Washington, August 8. — Rep. Clare Hoffman, Michigan Republican, inserted into the Congressional Record on Friday a long plea for "cleaner and more amusing pictures," declaring that the industry would be rewarded for such a program by larger box-office receipts. Hoffman commented on an article by Roy Norr, public relations coun- sel formerly with the Motion Picture Association of America, in Salute magazine entitled "The Man in Hollywood's Hottest Seat." Kirsch Heads Drive Chicago, August 8.— Jack Kirsch, Illinois Allied president, has accepted the post of chairman of the theatre and entertainment • division of the Community Fund Drive. Assisting him will be A. J. Shumow, Warner branch manager in Chicago. Appoint- ments of sub-chairmen will be an- nounced shortly. Citywide quota for the 1948 drive is $8,679,000. Review TOA Convention (Continued from page 1) Jack Kirsch, and George Kerasotes. Named from distributing companies were the following: James Donahue, J. Harold Stevens, Jack Lorentz, Tom Gilliam, H. Greenblatt, S. Gorelick, Bill Bishop, W. E. Banford, W. Devaney, R. Cramblet, N. Nathanson, Sam Horowitz, Harry Mandel, Ben Lowery, Harry Seed, A. J. Shumow, Irving Mandel, Ben Eisenberg, Ed Heiber, Clarence Phillips, Max Roth, Ed Spiers, M. Gottlieb, L. Berman, W. Baker, A. Fischer, and Henri Elman. A Friend Will Come Tonight (Lopert Films) THIS is definitely one of the lesser of the French films to come to the United States since the war's end. A worthy cast topped by Michel Simon, that sterling French thespian, proves impotent in raising the level of "A Friend Will Come Tonight" as entertainment. The picture runs much too long and is so full of glaring mistakes and illogical story developments that the considerable promise inherent in its basic plot is immediately lost. It is a strange tale of a group of maquis — French fighters of the underground — -who sought refuge in a lunatic asylum. Among them is the leader for the district. A young doctor turns out to be a German spy. The girl he is in love with and who does not suspect his identity revenges herself by revealing herself to be Jewish. Through it all, the underground fighters do their best to confuse the audience by acting most convincingly as lunatics. Simon is the only bright spot in the picture and even he is given dialogue that would stump the best actor. An A. C. G. C. (Paris) Production, the film was directed by Raymond Bernard, who in many instances threw continuity to the wind. Running time, 93 minutes. Adult audience classification. Current release. 'Monopoly' Quiz (Continued from page 1) part of the country, it was learned to- day. Several of the hearings will be in Allied States strongholds such as Minneapolis, Detroit and Kansas City. Allied has been working closely with the House group, pressing for a thor- ough investigation of the practices of the "big five." No hearings have been scheduled yet on the West Coast, so that the Society of Motion Picture Producers, which has also been working with the committee, may have to come to Washington to get the committee's ear. The schedule follows : September 3, Butte, Mont.; 8, Casper, Wyo. ; 11, Salt Lake City; IS, Kansas City, Mo.; 17, Omaha; 20-21, Minneapolis; 23, Madison, Wise. ; 27, South Bend. ; Oc- tober 1-2, Detroit ; 5, Louisville ; 8, Oklahoma City ; and 12, Houston. Hearings in Chicago, Philadelphia, New York and Washington will be off until after the elections, it was understood. No witness list has yet been drawn up for any of the hearings, which will be conducted by a sub-committee headed by Rep. Stevenson (R., Wis.) Empire-U Writ (Continued from page 1) Otherwise the application to amend the writ is dismissed. The original action claimed $1,000,- 000 damages for alleged breach of con- tract and an additional $1,000,000 against nine defendants for allegedly inducing breach of contract and for conspiracy. Defendants comprise Rank, J. Ar- thur Rank Organization, General Cinema Finance Corp., Universal Pic- tures, International Pictures, United World Pictures of New York, Eagle- Lion Films, Inc., Eagle-Lion Films of Canada and Canadian Monogram. Plaintiffs Empire-Universal Films and United World Pictures of Canada claim diversion of a group of Holly- wood pictures to other companies for distribution in Canada and Newfound- land. U. A. Realignment (Continued from page 1) he and Sears left for Chicago on Fri- day for conferences at the UA office in that city, after which they will leave for the Coast for negotiations with Fox West Coast on deals for "Red River," "Pitfall" and "Time of Your Life." Mark N. Silver, who had been Pittsburgh, Washington and Philadel- phia district manager, has been named assistant to Eastern division manager Schnitzer. Jack Wrege, formerly assistant to Maury Orr who resigned recently as Western division manager, will be- come assistant to Jack, and act as his representative at the home office. Clayton Eastman has resigned as district manager for Boston, New Ha- ven and Buffalo. Kaufman Quits U-I Hollywood, August 8. — J. L. (Les) Kaufman, advertising director of In- ternational Pictures prior to its mer- ger with Universal, resigned this weekend from his post with Univer- sal-International. He was previously associated with Republic and Fanchon and Marco. Must Open Books in Percentage Actions Judge John C. Knox on Friday granted Loew's and RKO Radio the right to inspect books and records of Rhinehook Theatres and Millerton Amusement Corp. in the percentage suits brought here by the two dis- tributors. The period covered is Jan- uary, 1942, to January, 1948. The court also granted a similar motion to Loew's in a percentage suit against the Stern-Levy circuit. Silberberg Signs Hoffman Nathan Silberberg, Palestine film distributor who is entering production in Palestine, has concluded a contract with Julian Roffman to direct his first feature to be filmed in Palestine, using all Palestinian acting talent. It will be bi-lingual using English and Hebrew. Production is scheduled to begin early in the fall. Silberberg will leave New York late this month for Tel-Aviv. 'Carmen' Promotion Set A pattern has been devised for pro- moting Columbia's "The Loves of Carmen," with leaders in many fields not associated with motion pictures to be identified with various phases of the campaign, principally in merchan- dise tieups with manufacturers. Walkout Is Halted at MGM Elstree Studio London, August 8. — Operations at M-G-M's> Elstree Studio have re- sumed fo'llowing last week's unex- pected walkout of 70 members of the Electrical Trades Union. The strike was called off after union officials con- ferred with the strikers and then with the studio management. Normal negotiations between union officials and management have been resumed with the latter insisting that two ETU members over whom the dispute arose were justifiably dis- missed because of their continued re- fractory behavior. Suspend Sales Pact Talks for 10 Days Negotiations for the first national salesmen's contract with 11 distribu- tors have been suspended to allow the Colosseum of Motion Picture Sales- men - and the distributors commit- tees to give an interim report to their respective organizations. Meetings on the pact will be continued in about 10 days. IATSE Meeting (Continued from page 1) scheduled to hold 14 district conven- tions at the Hollenden on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, prior to the start of the International gathering. ; Walsh, pointing out that sponsors of the Taft-Hartley Act gave a dis- torted picture as to the power of labor leaders in America, has publicly in- vited members of the 80th Congress to attend the convention. "They will find," he said, "that the duly-elected delegates are our supreme govern- ment." Joseph D. Keenan, head of Labor's League for Political Educa- tion, will be among the speakers for repeal of the law. Problems facing labor on an inter- national scale will be brought into focus through the presence of Tom O'Brien, member of the British Par- liament and general secretary of that country's National Association of The- atrical and Kine Employes. Along with Walsh, who visited England last summer, he will report on the inter- change of British and American tech- nical workers. New Italian Film Here American and Canadian rights to "The Spirit and the Flesh," described as the first post-war romantic Italian picture, has been purchased by Vari- ety Film Distributors, New York. AFL Invades CIO (Continued from page 1) file with the NLRB an affidavit certi- fying, as required by the Taft-Hartley Law, that none of its officers are Com- munists. This has deprived the union of access to NLRB advantages. Involved in the Paramount unit are approximately 600 employes. Included are employes of Famous Music Co. and Long Island Laboratories, both Paramount subsidiaries. Aiding Moss in the Paramount or- ganizational drive are Joe Conlon, H-63 organizer, and James Rogers, "IA" international organizer. I.C. Oes Art in Exhibition George Jensen's Fifth Avenue art gallery in New York is currently ex- hibiting a display of paintings by Ing- vald C. Oes, film industry pioneer of 40 years, starting in 1908 with Nor- disk Film Co. in Copenhagen. He opened Paramount's offices in the Scandinavian countries and for years was that company's Scandinavian pub- licity director. He has since retired to paint. THE SOUTHWEST? MIGHTIEST EVENT! Montetetj fixoductioni present -^j- "^"S^s^g^S HOWARD HAWKS' Production RED RIVER JOHN WAYNE -MONTGOMERY CLIFT 400 theatre day-and-date FOUR-STATE WORLD PREMIERE AUG. 26 th ... ./ engagements! th,u is a MO/EV Affa/r Arf/sf Hirschfeld recreates the up- ^^V^^ roarious rough-house when the - x G/'s throw discretion to the wind — and Jean Arthur to the ceiling—' IDS ANGELES and HOLWOOD, where neat figures go up and business is "Excellent" says Variety and where every review is a rave with Los Angeles Examiner's Ruth Waterbury reporting that with "Such gay laughter . . . such sizzling romance . . . such superb acting, I wouldn't be surprised if it sticks around until Christmas/' MAN ARTHUR MARLM DIETRICH JOHN LUNO B 0 r> m / o in o o Accurate Concise and MOTION PICFUR DAILY yJ\RSl IN FILM NEWS vCT,. 64. NO. 28 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1948 TEN CENTS British Gov't Finance Plan Includes Rank Report Money Not Just For Hard-Pressed Firms London, August 9. — Board of Trade president Harold Wilson's planned Films Finance Corp. which had been proclaimed as being dedi- cated to the assistance of hard-pressed independent producers will have deal- ings with all top-scale distributors, in- cluding J. Arthur Rank's General Film Distributors, it is indicated here. It is expected that the independents will strenously object to the govern- ment's financing being made available to Rank, who doubtless requires no help. Others in the industry also fear that this new move is aimed to give the government an even more active role in the business. Further cause for concern is the re- (Continued on page 2) 2,600 Seek Quota Relief in England London, August 9. — Sub-committee of the British Board of Trade has al- ready received 2,600 exhibitor appli- cations for relief under the Quota Act which directs that they reserve 45 per cent of their top-picture playing time for British product, according to a BOT spokesman. The act prescribes certain relief for theatres competing with circuits. It was reported that 1,600 of the applications have been examined with 900 of these found to qualify for re- lief. The remaining 700 can still appeal to the Board's film council. IA Restrained on Debut of WJZ-TV A five-day stay to prevent IATSE Local No. 1, stagehands, from inter- fering with tonight's debut of WJZ- TV with a televised program of en- tertainment from the stage of the Pal- ace Theatre was granted here yester- day by Federal Judge Samuel Kauf- man to Charles T. Dowds, regional director of the National Labor Rela- tions Board. Argument on the re- straining order will be heard on Thursday. American Broadcasting filed charges of unfair labor practices with the (Continued on page 2) Withhold Ascap Fee, 2 More Units Urge Associated Theatre Owners of Indiana, Indianapolis, and Allied Rocky Mountain Inde- pendent Theatres, Denver, have joined the growing ros- ter of exhibitor organizations urging members to stop pay- ing Ascap for music produc- tion rights. Says ATOI in a bulletin to members: "Until such time as there is further clarifica- tion of this situation, espe- cially as to appeal, it is un- wise for exhibitors to enter into any further contracts or make any further payments to Ascap." N. J. Allied to Meet Smith on Peace Plan A committee to act on the Berger- North Central Allied-20th-Fox con- cilation plan was appointed here yes- terday at a meeting of members of Allied of New Jersey. Named by Ed Lachman, president, were Irving Dollinger, chairman, Wilber Snaper and Lou Gold. This trio was instructed to get together with Andy W. Smith, Jr., 20th-Fox's distribution chief, to discuss the conciliation plan with the idea of its possible adoption by Jersey Allied. A recommendation was made at the meeting to have members withhold payment of fees to Ascap and decline to sign new contracts with the society pending clarification of the situation resulting from the Federal Court de- cision finding Ascap guilty of violat- ing the anti-trust laws. George Gold, legislative chairman of Jersey Allied, was given instruc- tions on his appearance today before the Trenton hearing on bingo legisla- tion to voice opposition to the bill. Plans for Jersey Allied's annual outing at West End Casino, West End, N. J., on August 24, also were taken up at the meeting. New U.A. Sales Posts to Jack And Schnitzer Edward M. Schnitzer and Fred Jack have been raised to the newly- created posts of Eastern and West- ern general sales managers, re- spectively, of United Artists, follow- ing the resignation yesterday of Jo- seph J. Unger. Announcement of the complete re- organization of the U. A. sales struc- ture was made by Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., who, as executive assistant to Gradwell L. Sears, president, will maintain policy and administrative su- pervision of the distributing firm's sales operations. This move will free Sears for greater concentration on corporate affairs and the securing of product, the company said. Jack, former Southern district man- ager, will maintain headquarters in (Continued on page 3) H-63 Reports Gains; SOPEGDeniesThem Gains were reported here yesterday by IATSE Motion Picture Home Of- fice Employes Local No. H-63, in its drive into the ranks of the Screen Of- fice and Professional Employes Guild at ' Paramount's home office. According to Joe Conlon, H-63 or- ganizer, application cards were "com- ing in encouragingly" from employes. I Conlon reiterated that an application ' to the National Labor Relations Board for a representation election would not be made until H-63 has a substan- tial majority. Meanwhile Sidney Young, SOPEG president, discounted reports of H-63 progress and asserted that "they will never be able to get sufficient cards to represent the employes." Corwin and Lesser Buy 4 Coast Houses Hollywood, August 9. — Sherrill Corwin and Sol Lesser have com- pleted a deal, which bogged down some months ago, for the purchase of controlling interest in the four Music Hall theatres. Deal represents the acquisition of Joe Blumenfield's half interest and one-half of United Art- ists' interest, the latter retaining 25 per cent. Properties are set to change hands on Friday. Opposes Loop Runs Of Over Two Weeks Chicago, August 9. — Thomas Mc- Connell, attorney for the Jackson Park Theatre here, filed an appeal today in U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals from Judge Michael Igoe's order permitting Paramount's "The Emperor Waltz" to remain four weeks at the Chicago Theatre instead of the two-week limit imposed by the Jackson Park decree. Although "Waltz" will complete its four-week run at the theatre on Thurs- day, McConnell said he hopes by the appeal to prevent future exceptions to the decree being made. He charged the District Court lacked jurisdiction to grant the exception. Secrecy of Bidding Aided By MGM Plan Bids to Be Kept Sealed Until After Deadline M-G-M branch managers have been instructed by the home office to keep all competitive bids re- ceived for the company's product sealed until the day following the deadline for their receipt, at which time they are to be opened in the presence of of- fice associates. The new in- .g^f. ~~s^tKm structions for Wk handling bids pBBiti A ' HHH w ere revealed mam m,Wm by wmiam f. HMMHk ' IWm flH Rodgers, vice- ^ „ „ president William F. Rodgers ■ i r in charge of distribution, at a luncheon attended by trade press representatives here yesterday. Rodgers said the new method, pat- terned after procedure used by the (Continued on page 3) MGM Field Men to Visit Home Office M-G-M is extending its policy of bringing its men in from the field for familiarization with company opera- tions and policies at the home office, W. F. Rodgers, vice-president in charge of- distribution, announced here yesterday. Heretofore, district managers have been spending a month at the home office, in rotation. Now the home office indoctrination course is to be extended to branch managers, book- (Continued on page 3) ToreignLossesNeed Not Affect US Prof if Chicago, August 9. — Loss of rev- enue from the foreign market need not seriously affect profits in the domestic market, declared Dore Schary, Metro's new vice-president in charge of production, during a stopover here enroute to New York for conferences with Nicholas Schenck, the Loew president. Schary affirmed that good .XCojitinued on page 3) 2 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, August 10, 1948 Personal Mention ROBERT MOCHRIE, RKO Radio distribution vice-president, has re- turned to New York from the Coast. • Dore Schary, M-G-M production vice-president, who arrived in New York at the weekend, was guest at a home office executive luncheon yester- day. He is scheduled to meet the trade press today and will leave for the Coast tomorrow. • Jose A. Cordero, son of Trans-Con- tinental Films president J. A. Cordero, and his bride, the former Ruth Rei- man of Vienna and New York, are honeymooning in England and France. Sidney Franklin, M-G-M produc- er, and his wife are due here tomor- row from the Coast. They will sail for South America on Friday. • Jayne Meadows, Samuel Goldwyn actress, has flown to Rome from New York where she will be married to screenwriter Milton Krims. • J. Myer Schine, his wife and their son, David, and Donald Schine and his son, Louis, will arrive here tomor- row from Europe. • Eric Johnston, Motion Picture As- sociation of America president, is due back in Washington Thursday from the Coast. • Max E. Youngstein, Eagle-Lion advertising - publicity vice - president, will leave here today for New Or- leans. • Richard Powers, head of the M- G-M studio music department, is here from the Coast. • Norman Elson, Trans-Lux vice- president, left here yesterday for Chi- cago. Charles Bryant, 67 Mount Kisco, N. Y., August 9. — Charles Bryant, 67, retired film and stage actor, died here Saturday at Northern Westchester Hospital. Born in England, he came to this country in 1912 and appeared on the stage, fol- lowing which he acted in films. He produced and appeared in "Dagmar" in 1923 and produced "The Right to Kill" in 1927. Survivors include the widow, a son and a daughter. Bob Murphy Is Dead Hollywood, August 9. — Bob Mur- phy, 59, former vaudeville and screen performer, who operated the filmland restaurant known as the House of Murphy, is dead here of pneumonia. Second Capitol Jackpot Second jackpot of $7,500 in the "Stop the Music" quiz show at the Capitol theatre here was won by Rob- ert M. Singer of New York. This makes two jackpot winners amounting to $12,500 at the Capitol in one week. Phila. Syndicate to See Warner on Offer Philadelphia, August 9. — The re- cently formed local syndicate headed by William Ehrenberg has oversub- scribed the $5,000,000 initial deposit which it plans to offer Warner Broth- ers for its theatres in this area, it was disclosed here. A decision is expected by the end of the month. Meanwhile, the committee of seven which has scheduled a trip to Cali- fornia to confer with Harry M. War- ner, Warner president, has been held up awaiting the return of several of its attorneys who are presently in Europe for the Olympics. Among members of the syndicate of 14 are James R. Cromwell, David Demany, president of a large fur chain, and Mrs. Robert Irwin Brown, prominent society matron, according to Ehrenberg. If the deal goes through no large- scale changes are expected to be made in the local organization. Steinberg Winner Of Reisman Drive Winners of the Phil Reisman sales drive of RKO Radio follow : First prize, Peru, Erich Steinberg, man- ager ; second : Egypt, Gregory Geor- goussy ; third : Siam, William Palmer. Special "Top Men" prizes went to T. S. Ananth, India; John M. Eddy, Venezuela ; Jose M. Henridques, Bra- zil; Austin Levy, Australia; C. E. McGuinness, Belfast ; Armand Pali- voda, Switzerland; Michael Drachous- soff, Belgium ; Goesta Friberg, Stock- holm ; L. R. File, London ; Don Jellie, Brisbane ; C. P. Lee, Hong Kong ; Ricardo Madrigal, Cuba. In the 16mm. class, Ned Seckler, Brazil, and Wil- liam Palmer, Siam, shared honors. The competition, which covered 31 foreign branches, was for the period starting April 4 and ending July 3, 1948. Robert Hawkinson served as chairman and Marc Spiegel as drive chairman. Texas Independent Sues 11 Companies Dallas, August 9. — Twelve cir- cuits and distributors are up against another Federal Court suit involving their methods of distributing to Dallas theatres, damages of $41,000 being asked by the H. and B. Theatres, Inc. of Temple, Texas. Listed as defendants are Interstate Circuit, Loew's, Paramount, RKO Radio, 20th Century- Fox; 20th Cen- tury of Texas, Warner Brothers Pic- tures and Warner Brothers Distribut- ing Corp., Columbia, Universal Corp., United Artists and Robb and Rowley. Dinner for Niland Cincinnati, August 9. — Peter Niland, who is resigning as Columbia city salesman because of impaired health, was guest of honor tonight at a testimonial dinner given by the Cin- cinnati Variety Club, Tent No. 3. Niland, who is president of the Cinema Club of Cincinnati, which he was in- strumental in organizing, entered the industry 33 years ago. Attempted Film Ban Disturbs British London, August 9. — Produc- ers here are disturbed at the reported attempt of the anti- British U. S. Sons of Liberty to prevent British screenings in New York. Producer Herb- ert Wilcox has declared that "this open warfare will in- evitably lead to serious situa- tions unless stopped." Wilcox added that "if the sabotaging continues, a re- sentful reaction to American films is almost certain in England." 5 to Advise US on Foreign Program Washington, August 9. — President Truman today named the members of the five-man advisory commission set up under the Smith-Mundt Act to advise the State Department on its foreign information program, including motion pictures, newsreels, radio and publications. Chairman will be Mark Etheridge, publisher of the LouisznUe Journal. Members include National Association of Broadcasters president Justin Miller, General Electric chairman Philip D. Reed, Christian Science Monitor editor Erwin D. Canham, and Mark A. May, director of the Yale Institute of Human Relations. U. K. Finance Plan {Continued from page 1) port that a Board of Trade committee is investigating the desirability of the government's requisition of film stu- dios or the construction of them. The committee's report is anticipated next month. The corporation which the govern- ment intends to create will have $20,- 000,000 available to distributors who in turn would finance production in part. It is understood that J. H. Lawrie, head of the corporation's organizing committee, has been directed to exact full security from the distributors. Receiving Licenses Are Up in Britain London, August 9. — Number of pub- licly-held broadcast receiving licenses in force in Great Britain and North- ern Ireland at the end of June was 11,260,350, according to the Post- master General. This number includes 54,850 tele- vision licenses, an increase of 2,350 over the previous month. Rank Aide Coming Here London, August 9. — Sydney Wynne, personal assistant to J. Arthur Rank, will leave here on the Queen Mary, August 25, on his first visit to America. The trip will be mainly a vacation. Jock Lawrence, vice-presi- dent of the J. Arthur Rank Organiza- tion in the U. S., will accompany Wynne to New York. E-L Answers SPG Contract Notice Eagle-Lion has notified the Screen Publicists Guild of its readiness to ne gotiate a new contract, becoming the first company to respond to the notices sent out by SPG a week ago. The SPG contracts with the companies will expire on September 26. Meanwhile the SPG will hold a meeting here Thursday evening to formulate new contract demands, all companies. a IA Restrained {Continued front page 1) NLRB on the grounds that since July 15 the union had sought to have em- ployes of the Palace and of the New York Telephone Co. deny their ser- vices for the occasion. The IA assertedly demanded that half of the technical help used in con- nection with the telecast be from that union's ranks. Films Aid Canada Ottawa, August 9. — The Canadian National Film Board is understood to be co-operating closely with govern- ment departments and industries to sell Canadian trade outside this coun- try through the use of films. These films are now being shown to an an- nual audience estimated at 70,000,000 in 60 different countries. ' NEW YORK THEATRES — RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL— a Rockefeller Center "A DATE WITH JUDY" Wallace BEERY . Jane POWELL ■ Elizabeth TAYLOR . Carmen MIRANDA Xavier CU GAT . Robert STACK A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION A Of cof Lov* Story Thai Comai Sfuning Through t ALAN DONNA LADDREED/fp£sfc> ROY DEL RUTH'S THE BABE RUTH STORY — BENDIX-TREVOR Con* Performances* Pop Pricos ">&"' Paramount Presents I RAY I MILLAND 4 ANN | TODD % GERALDINE 1 FITZGERALD MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. fuesday, August 10, 1948 Motion Picture Daily MGM Bidding (Continued from page 1) Review -Government and other industries : which use bidding processes, is de- signed to eliminate the chance of : "leaks" occurring before a bidding deadline has expired. The company, he said, has no knowledge that "leaks" have occurred, but the new procedure is expected to eliminate the possibility tjSbthey might. Bidding in 150 Situations Rodgers reported that M-G-M is now receiving bids in approximately 150 situations and the number is in- creasing steadily. He said the com- pany is not seeking competitive bids but will consider them wherever they are received. Bidding, he said, has solved some problems of product sup- ply which could not have been handled satisfactorily otherwise, and he be- lieves it has averted some litigation. On the other hand, he pointed out, there is no product security for ex- hibitors in bidding and occasional hardships result, both from loss of product and from unwise bidding. The company has endeavored to discourage the latter, Rodgers said. Occasionally, he said, competitors who have indulged in over-zealous bid- ding will get together and agree on a split of the product, whereas prior to bidding, a division of the product was a rare occurrence among competi- tors. Rodgers said the company is study- ing all clearance complaints received from exhibitors as well as those re- ported by branch managers as being "out of line." Conciliation System Is Effective He said the company's conciliation system is working well and he sees no need of changing to another concilia- tion method. Exhibitor leaders, he said, may take up any complaint, in- cluding film rentals, with M-G-M branch managers on behalf of exhibi- tors and meritorious complaints will be adjusted. Rodgers said he preferred the old industry arbitration system, which utilized men experienced in the indus- try as arbiters, and said he believed the system would be beneficial in han- dling and solving the many new prob- lems which confront exhibitor and dis- tributor today. 'Hollow Triumph" (Eagle-Lion) PAUL HEXREID becomes the victim of his own ingenious scheming in "Hollow Triumph," a well-told melodrama to which Eagle-Lion has given a full scale production treatment. Joan Bennett takes the feminine lead, with others in the cast including Leslie Brooks, Eduard Franz and John Qualen. For a film in its category, it has easily exploitable virtues. The story builds up suspensefully, the sequences are briskly paced, and the direction and camerawork are workmanlike and competent. It will not please those looking for high-brow entertainment, but it does have mass appeal. After being released from prison, Henreid and his gang muscle into rival territory, only to find that the underworld now has them marked for revenge. Henreid takes flight and conceals himself in honest jobs. One day, however, he discovers that he resembles a successful psychiatrist, and in a flash, sees his escape from the underworld's pursuing revenge. Henreid kills the psychia- trist and assumes his identity. He is quite successful at first, but •soon finds the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. In an ironic ending, Henreid is murdered for a crime committed by the psychiatrist. Henreid assumes the dual role, with Miss Bennett playing the secretary to the psychiatrist as well as lover to the undisguised Henreid. Acting is adequate all around. There are many fine, little touches in the screenplay by Daniel Fuchs. Henreid also produced ; Steve Sekely directed. Running time. 83 minutes. Adult audience classification. For August release Maxdel Herbstmax MGM to Handle Film On Negro Problems Chicago, August 9. — Louis de Rochemont, addressing the annual con- vention of the National Association of Visual Education here today, dis- closed that his new documentary film, "Lost Boundaries," will go into pro- duction soon for release by M-G-M, and will be the first film of its kind to deal with problems of the Negro. De Rochemont said there is a lack of good films for school use and affirmed that the basic plan for each educational film should be conceived by teachers rather than producers. The Film Council of America, Edu- cational Film Library Association and the Midwest Forum are also holding meetings in conjunction with the NAYED convention. Schary (Continued from page 1) pictures can still gross domestically $4,000,000 and more. "Good pictures have an audience any place, any where," he said. Schary said it would be "premature" at this stage to regard television as a potential threat to the film industry. He said he would like to make more pictures like "Joe Smith, Amer- ican" which he produced for Metro several vears ago for $160,000 and which grossed $1,000,000. "Star value in a picture," he said, of course is im- portant. Had "Joe Smith" had box- office names it would have grossed an additional million, he observed. Schary will spend three or four weeks in conferences with Schenck and Louis B. Mayer on the Coast be- fore he makes any definite production plans. He is now reading a batch of story properties that have been on Metro's shelves for a number of years with an eye to future production. He said, however, that the company will con- tinue to look for new story buys. According to the new studio chief- tain Metro will not affiliate itself on any regular plan for releasing product by independent producers although, he added, the company will not be averse to another "State of the Union," pro- duced by Liberty Films which Metro released. Hollywood's recent economy wave would not necessarily end M-G-M's plans for future $3'000.000 produc- tions, according to Schary. The com- pany he said, had the resources to make million-dollar productions pro- viding market conditions and the story property warrants it. MGM Field Men (Continued from page 1) First Capital Price Cut Made in a Year Washixgtox, August 9. — First ad mission price cut here in a year was announced by Sidney Lust's Hippo drome. Evening adult prices, Mon- day through Sunday, were dropped from 85 cents to 65, Saturday matinees from 85 cents to 40, and Sunday mati nees from 85 cents to 65. Weekday matinees remain at 40. Amend Cincinnati Arbitration Award An award by the American Arbitra- tion Association, on appeal by Loew's. has been modified to give Cincinnati first-runs and the Emery Theatre in Reading, O., a clearance maximum of 35 days after conclusion of first-runs over the Vogue Theatre. YVvoming, O. The original ruling directed that neither the Vogue, complainant in the case, nor the Emery should have clearance over the other and avail- ability to both should be 29 days af- ter first-runs. Loew's was the only distributor named. UA Sales Posts (Continued from page 1) Dallas. Schnitzer will continue to op- crate from the home office. Schnitzer's added responsibilities in- clude a projected series of field meet- ings with U. A. sales personnel. Lazarus stated that under the new- sales set-up greater autonomy will be given to individual branch and dis- trict managers. Dinner for Richardson Clevelaxd, August 9. — Robert Richardson, recently named local Eagle-Lion branch manager, will be guest at a testimonial dinner to be held here on Friday. Richardson was formerly connected with the' local RKO Radio sales force. Claim $20,000 for 'Canon' "Canon City" grossed $20,000 at the Boston Paramount Theatre, Eagle- Lion stated yesterday, and not $14,000 as estimated here on Friday. ers, salesmen and others. They will spend a week or two at the home office. The first contingent to be called in under the new policy consists of Louis Formato, Philadelphia branch manager ; Ansley B. Padgett, assist- ant branch manager at Atlanta ; Phil- ip F. Gravitz, office manager and head booker at New Haven, and salesmen Michael J. Ford, Chicago ; H. Russell Gaus, Oklahoma City : Louis Marks. Cleveland, and Louis J. Weber, Dal- las. Millions will remember the spine-tingling radio play that set an all-time record when it was brought back 7 times for network rebroadcasting Now this vast audience awaits Hal Wallis' production for Paramount— Now 1 ...in the intimate story of Broadway's most excit- ing actress, who played her most enticing scenes OFF STAGE! LEON AMES • FRANK McHUGH WALTER KINGSFORD • DAN TOBIN Directed by JOHN GAGE • Screenplay by LEO ROSTEN An INDEPENDENT ARTISTS Picture • Released by RKO RADIO PICTURES g INDEPENDENT ARTISTS PICTURE OPENS AT BROADWAY'S FAMOUS RIVOLI THEATRE, SO&A/ COST LESS ^ MORE nnnonni 1 SERVICE OF M€MOUSTRY .. J . Accurate Concise and Impartial MOTION PKmf&£ 64. NO. 29 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1948 TEN CENTS Many Courses Weighed on Music Rights Varying Interests Bar Single Approach by All Because of divergent interests and differing problems involved, the producer - distributors are under- stood to be pursuing no single line in considering the action to be taken on paying for performing rights to musical compositions as a result of the Federal Court's decision finding Ascap in violation of the anti-trust laws. The companies are assertedly handicapped in making any clearcut plans on what to do about performing rights by the confusion created by Judge Vincent L. Leibell's opinion and the uncertainty of the final outcome of the case. The fact that a decree has not yet been entered in the case was said to add to the difficulty of the companies in reaching any decision on steps to be taken in acquiring performing rights. The attitude of 20th-Fox reportedly is that it feels it may have no choice but to acquire performing as well as (.Continued on page 5) Mark Silver Moves Into New UA Post Mark Silver has been appointed as- sistant Eastern general sales manager of United Artists as expected, it was announced here yesterday by Paul N. Lazarus, executive assistant to UA president Gradwell Sears. Silver will assume his new duties immediately, acting as field represen- tative for Edward M. Schnitzer, East- ern general sales manager. His im- mediate agenda includes a trip to all exchanges in the Eastern and Canadian orbit to conduct sales meetings. With UA since 1934, Silver has suc- (Continued on page 5) 600 Expected at TOA Convention Cardinal Stritch of Chicago has ac- cepted the invitation of Gael Sullivan, executive director of the Theatre Owners of America, to open the TOA convention to be held September 24-25 in the Drake Hotel, Chicago. It is estimated that more than 600 TOA members will be in attendance when the first session is convened. During the two-day meeting dis- (Covtinned on page 2) Sam Katz Is Leaving MGM Hollywood, August 10. — Sam Katz has resigned as studio executive for Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer, effective March 1, 1949, after 12 years with the company. His contract was not to ex- pire until March 1, 1954. Katz intends to return to Chicago where, about 1915, he and Barney Balaban, now president of Paramount, began the development of Balaban and Katz Theatres, one of the largest cir- cuits in the Midwest. Prominent in exhibition as well as production, it was at the age of 16 (he is now 56) {.Continued on page 5) MPEA to Continue Holland Operations At a meeting here yesterday, the directors of the Motion Picture Export Association voted to continue MPEA operation in the Netherlands. Chair- man of the meeting was Francis S. Harmon, M.P.E.A. vice-president. Others present were : William Satori, Allied Artists; Jo- seph A. McConville, Columbia; Mor- ton A. Spring and David Lewis, Loew's ; George Weltner and William Piper, Paramount ; R. K. Hawkinson and B. D. Lion, RKO ; Emanuel Sil- verstone, 20th Century- Fox ; Walter Gould, United Artists; Al Daff and C. A. Kirby, Universal; Wolfe Cohen and John J. Glynn, Warner; and, (Continued on page 2) Another Promotion For C. J. Latta London, August 10. — C. J. Latta, who was promoted several weeks ago from Al- bany, N. Y., zone manager of Warner Theatres, to super- vise the company's interests in Associated British Cine- mas, has been named manag- ing director of the ABC-re- lated Associated British Pic- ture Corp. The post had been held by the late Max Milder. Also, D. J. Goodlatte has been named managing direc- tor of Associated British Cin- emas. New Shows Clicking At N.Y. First Runs Flock of new shows and an assort ment of sturdy holdovers are giving New York first-runs a week of gener- ally substantial business. Summer slump is still in evidence at a few of the situations, however. Huge number of visitors to the city is a definite asset, with the Music Hall particu- larly benefiting. August rates as one of the top months of the year at the Hall which is known to be on the itinerary of a large segment of tour- ists. At a glance, estimated grosses for the current week follow : Music Hall, "Date with Judy" with a stage show, first week, $153,000, ex- (Continued on page 4) Jackson Park Decision Brings Buying Phenomena First Large Video In NY Neighborhood Large-screen television, be- lieved to be the first in a New York neighborhood house and second only to the Para- mount, in this area, will be one of the features of the 2,800-seat Audubon Theatre when it reopens on Septem- ber 1. The theatre, located on Broadway at 166th Street, has been leased by Moe Gold- man and Gilbert Josephson from Broadway-St. Nicholas, Inc., lessor corporation headed by Jack Schechter, under a deal arranged by Berk and Krumgold. By JIMMY ASCHER Chicago, August 10. — Adoption of competitive bidding in this territory by 20th Century-Fox, Metro-Gold- wyn-Mayer, RKO Radio, and, now, by United Artists has resulted in a booking phenomena here among some neighborhood theatres which prior to the Jackson Park decree was un- heard of in the area. The 1,600-seat independent Ridge Theatre, for example, located on the far Northside of Chicago, operated by the Bartelstein Circuit, which owns seven other theatres, recently outbid Balaban and Katz's Uptown, a 4,300- seater, for Metro's "The Bride Goes Wild." Ridge formerly had played repeat on the Uptown as well as three other B. and K. houses in that vicinity, namely the Granada, Nor- town and Norshore. "Bride" played (Continued on page 5) M-G-M to Step UpProduction, Including 'B's Schary Estimates 'About Six' More for This Year _ M-G-M contemplates an imme- diate expanded production program to build up the company's backlog of pictures, Dore Schary, who takes over as vice-president in charge of production on Monday, disclosed yes- terday upon his arrival in New York to confer with president Nicholas M. Schenck. It was estimated the increase for the current fiscal year would amount to "about six" pictures. Schary also revealed that the company intends to add to the schedule a group of smaller-budget pictures. He said that the new program would call for a budget larger than last year's, with no set policy on the amount to be (Continued on page 5) May Tie House Quiz To Allied Meeting Washington, August 10. — The House Small Business Committee in- vestigating monopoly may hold hear- ings in New Orleans at the end of November to coincide with the board meeting and convention of Allied States Association. Idea would be to provide a handy forum for all Allied members to air their complaints. At the same time, the committee may hold hearings in Los Angeles in December and January, at which the Society of Independent Motion Pic- ture Producers could tell of monop- oly troubles in production. The committee, which has displayed extraordinary interest in the film in- (Continued on page 4) Columbia Plans to Produce in England London, August 10. — Columbia is the latest of American film companies to undertake production here. With plans to lease the Nettlefold Studios for the purpose, Columbia has begun negotiations for story properties and personnel. Nettlefold Studios has been closed since June 14 because of the lack of production activity. Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, August n, 1941 Personal Mention 2 11 Companies Get Argentine Permits Eleven American film companies have been granted import permits by the Argentine government under the recent agreement, Joaquin Rickard, Latin American representative for the Motion Picture Association of Amer- ica, disclosed here yesterday. Rickard has just returned from a 10-month trip to Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Peru. He expressed satisfaction with the new pact, pointing out that the government had not granted import permits for a year. Rickard urged patience with South American countries, saying that their currency problem is more critical than people realize. In Brazil all regulations on the con- trol of admission prices have been suspended until a definite decision is handed down by the courts, Rickard revealed. A decision is expected in about three weeks, whereupon an ap- peal is likely from either side. Also in the courts, Rickard said, is the Brazilian Central Price Committee's recent order limiting distributors' film percentages to 40 per cent of a thea- tre's income, after expenses. Rickard observed that when this regulation was put into effect, early last month, American distributors were practically out of business for 10 days. With the control lifted by a court injunction, "conditions now look better," Rickard declared. He stressed that restrictions against American films are not due to any hostile attitude but only to the eco- nomic situation. All countries in South America are eager to make their own pictures, he said. Mexican Film Firms Exempted from Tax Washington, August 10. — Pro- ducers and distributors of Mexican films have been exempted from the mercantile income tax in the Federal District, according to Commerce De- partment film chief Nathan D. Golden. Golden states that only Mexican enterprises established and registered with the Association of Producers and Distributors of Mexican Motion Pic- tures will benefit. New film enter- prises will not be exempt, and com- panies claiming exemption must prove solvency. It is not yet known how U. S. com- panies will be affected, says the report. MPEA in Holland (Continued from page 1) Theodore S. Hope, Jr., John G. Mc- Carthy, Ted Smith, James Murphy, Joe C. Goltz and Bernard Mazer of the MPEA and MPA. Guest at the meeting was John B. Nathan, Conti- nental manager for Paramount. Services for Milder Today London, August 10. — Memorial ser- vices will be held here tomorrow for Max Milder, who died on August 1, at the West London Synagogue. A private service was held last Friday, attended by the family and close busi- ness associates. The remains will be sent to the U. S. HARRY M. KALMINE, president and general manager of Warner Theatres, and Rudolph Weiss, head of the Warner real estate department here, are in Washington today from New York. Graham McInnes, formerly with the National Film Board of Canada, has been appointed to the information division of the Department of Ex- ternal Affairs of Canada. • Sarah Krivitsky, secretary to Ed- ward Cuddy, division manager of M. and P. Theatres, Boston, has been confined to her home for the past two weeks because of illness. • Ed Hinchey, head of the Warner playdate department, who left here vesterday for Pittsburgh, is due back in New York at the end of the week. • Max E. Youngstein, Eagle-Lion advertising-publicity vice-president, is due in Atlanta today from New Or- leans. • Art O'Toole, former Chicago sales- man with M-G-M and RKO Radio, has joined the Paramount sales force in that city. • Louis W. Schine, Schine Circuit vice-president, was in town yesterday from Gloversville, N. Y. RKO New York Sales Meeting Tomorrow RKO Radio Pictures will hold its sixth zone meeting covering the Met- ropolitan New York district, tomor- row, in the Hotel Astor, with Robert Mochrie, distribution vice-president, presiding. Also attending from the home office will be Harry J. Michalson, short sub- ject sales manager; Charles Boasberg, North- South division manager ; his assistant, Carl Peppercorn and A. A. Schubart, manager of exchange oper- ations. Present from the New York exchange will be Len S. Gruenberg, district manager; Phil Hodes, branch manager ; Herman Silverman, sales manager ; William Hartman, office manager, and salesmen : John Dacey, Charles Penzer and Lou Kutinsky. Legion Rates Five; One Classified as 'B' Monogram's "The Shanghai Chest" and RKO Radio's "Station West" have been classified A-I by the Na- tional Legion of Decency. "The Rope," Warner, and "Stage Struck," Mono- gram, were placed in A-II, while Uni- versal-International's "The Saxon Charm" was classified B. John U. Lefebre Grand Rapids, August 10. — John U. Lefebre, who came to Grand Rapids from Detroit three months ago to manage the Grand Rapids Fox Thea- tre, was found dead in his hotel bed here yesterday. Dr. Simeon Lerovm, coroner, said Lefebre took his own life. A note left by him told of illness. ROBERT S. WOLFF, British managing director for RKO Radio, has arrived in New York from London. • Lew Barasch, United Artists spe- cial events coordinator, who returned to New York yesterday from a two- week vacation, has announced his en- gagement to Beta Asmoe of the Copa- cabana chorus. • George E. Landers, Hartford divi- sion manager of E. M. Loew The- atres, and his son, Richard, accompa- nied by Ira Loew of the circuit home office, will leave that city Saturday for an automobile trip to Los Angeles. • J. J. Fitzgibbons, president of Fa- mous Players-Canadian, visited Ot- tawa from Toronto for a meeting with Paul Nathanson, former director of Odeon Theatres of Canada. • Joseph Harris, Realart board chairman and treasurer, accompanied by Martin Ross, president of Film Highlights, will sail on the SS Queen Mary Saturday for London. • Francis W. McManus, M. and P. Theatres division manager, has left Boston for a vacation in Maine. • Edward P. Daley has been elected president of IATSE Local No. 232 in Northampton, Mass. Zoellner to Conduct Four Field Meetings William B. Zoellner, head of M-G-M's short subject sales, reprints and imports, left here yesterday for Chicago for the first of a series of meetings with four field sales man- agers. Each meeting will last a week. First meeting, starting in Chicago today, will be held with Burtus Bish- op, Jr., Midwestern sales head. Next will be with George A. Hickey, West- ern sales manager, in Los Angeles, starting August 19, to be followed by conferences with John J. Maloney, Central sales head, in Pittsburgh, be- ginning August 27, and with Rudy Berger, Southern sales manager, in Washington, for the week of Septem- ber 3. Joins Allentown Theatres Allentown, Pa., August 10. — John J. Scully, Jr., son of the Universal- International district manager and nephew of U-I vice-president William A. Scully, will take up residence here to head Allentown Theatres in the operation of the Transit and Midway theatres, after a wedding trip to Can- ada, having been married in Lans- downe, Pa., last Saturday to Frances Muir Marks of Montgomery, Ala. Seeks London Play Hollywood, August 10.— Producer- director Roy Del Ruth disclosed on his return from New York that he had dispatched Harry Ponetz, his Eastern representative, to London in an air shuttle bid for rights to the Wyndham Theatre's "People Like Us," by the late Frank Vosper. Newsreel Parade OLYMPIC Games films and Holly- wood stars in a U.N. charity benefit in Paris are current newsreel highlights. Other items range from the Red spy hearings in Washington to a man who stands on one finger. Complete contents follow: MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 64 — Red spy hearings reveal Russia received U. S. A- bomb material. England releases firsj^pt tures of atomic plant. Hollywood sta^^; ) U.N. charity show in Paris. High ..e walker celebrates his 82nd birthday. Amer- icans in clean sweep of Olympic events. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 298— Latest films of Olympics. Ballet school for tod- dlers. U. S. giant bombers called back to duty. Film stars in U.N. charity show in Paris. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 101— Greek army advances. Canada: St. Laurent to succeed Mackenzie King. Olympic films. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. 168 — Super- forts make ready for action. Housing proj- ect in Puerto Rico. Tall-gal contest. Olym- pics. WARNER PATHE NEWS, No. 103— B-29 "depickled." Danube conference. "Two Guys from Texas"; Dennis Morgan and Jack Carson in Texas for premiere. Man stands on one finger. Huge project aids Puerto Rico housing. Olympics. Truman to Preside At Stamp Ceremony Washington, August 10. — Charles Skouras and Ted Gamble are due here tomorrow morning to attend White House ceremonies marking the first-day sale of the "Youth Month" stamp. President Truman and Post- master General Donaldson head the official list for the ceremony. Also present will be a group of local and New York film executives and trade press representatives. The New York group will fly here in the morning. Skouras and Gamble head the Theatre Owners of America's "Youth Month" drive, set for September. 600 at TOA Meet (Continued from page 1) cussions and open forums will be held on such industry subjects as television, 16mm. competition, Ascap, admission taxes, public relations and the prob- able effects of the Supreme Court de- cision in the Paramount case. There will be a panel of guest speakers throughout all sessions. Committees are being set up under the direction of John Balaban, Chi- cago, as general chairman, and Ed- ward Zorn of Pontiac, as vice-chair- man. Among the chairmen are Nathan H. Piatt, entertainment; David Wal- lerstein, registration ; William Hollan- der and Thornton Sargent, publicity ; Jack Conway, transportation ; and Mrs. John Balaban, women's activities. C. L. Burndahl has been named con- vention treasurer. Partin Will Manage FC's Portland Office Jack Partin has been named branch manager of Film Classics' Portland exchange, effective immediately, by B. G. Kranze, distribution vice-presi- dent. Partin was formerly a salesman at Portland and has been with Film Classics for two years. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Which is the twin that takes The talk of New York's Film Row is the Preview of "JULIA MISBEHAVES" held last week at Loew's 72nd Street Theatre. Everything you've heard about Greer Garson's new picture is true. {What a cast! Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon, Peter Lawford, Elizabeth Taylor, Cesar Romero.) The audience was in hysterics from beginning to end. Nothing like it has been seen on the screen. A survey of the patrons by Motion Picture Research Bureau following the Preview yielded a new high in audience reaction. "JULIA MISBEHAVES" joins M-G-M's non-stop hit parade: "HOMECOMING", Frank Capra's "STATE OF THE UNION", Irving Berlin's "EASTER PARADE" {Technicolor), "A DATE WITH JUDY" {Technicolor), "ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU" {Technicolor), and soon "THREE MUSKETEERS" (Technicolor), "HILLS OF HOME" {Technicolor). PLENTY MORE VITAMIN M-G-M COMING! Extra at Press Time! "A Date With Judy" first 5 days at Music Hall sets new M-G-M all-time high! It's so good for what ails you! Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, August 11, 1948 § Video Injunction Scored by Walsh Cleveland, August 10. — While IATSE will comply with a Federal Court order issued in New York to restrain it from interfering with to- night's debut of WJZ-TV in that city, the union will appeal the injunction in court, including the U.S. Supreme Court, Richard F. Walsh, IATSE president, declared here today. Walsh is here for executive board meetings of the union and for next week's convention. Attacking the order as "vague and general," Walsh scored the Taft-Hart- ley law for "making the Federal courts the injunction Reno of America." The order was issued without warning to IATSE and without a hearing, he said, adding that it was based on state- ments by American Broadcasting and an "unofficial" group, National Asso- ciation of Broadcast Engineers and Technicians. ABC obtained the order after it charged the "IA" with unfair labor practices on the grounds that since July IS the union had sought to have employes of the Palace Theatre, where WJZ-TV picked up its premiere show, and of the New York Telephone Co. deny their services for tonight's program. He also charged that NABET had threatened to strike over the entire ABC network if a "peaceful and satis- factory arrangement" were made with IATSE. ABC offered to pay "IA" members stand-by time "in violation of the law," Walsh reported, adding that the union, which has "always opposed stand-by compensation," rejected this proposal. Schlaifer Sets Tieup An extensive radio tieup starting with "Cinderella Weekend," a daily audience participation show in 10 Eastern cities, has been set by Charles Schlaifer, director of advertising-pub- licity for 20th Centurv-Fox. The pro- motion also will provide daily air men- tion for other current 20th Century- Fox pictures. Weekly winners from each city will receive a trip to New York, where they will visit the Roxy. FIVE-STAR DC- 6 FLAGSHIPS LOS ANGELES 11 hours, 10 minutes CHICAGO 3k hours Phone HAvemeyer 6-5000 or your travel agent Ticket Offices: Airlines Terminal Rockefeller Center • Hotel New Yorker 120 Broadway • Hotel St. George AMERICAN AIRLINES WJZ-TV Premiere Revives Vaudeville WJZ-TV, New York, owned and operated by American Broadcasting Co., moved into full-swing operations at seven o'clock last night with a blare of horns and an extensive pro- gram which had as its highpoint a vaudeville show emanating from the Palace Theatre here and featuring entertainment stars of today and yes- teryear. Fears of possible disruption of the Palace show were allayed when Fed- eral Judge Samuel H. Kaufman re- strained the IATSE from striking in a jurisdictional dispute over the em- ployment of technicians. As scheduled, the Palace had a two- hour, star-studded parade of person- alities passing before the television cameras. Included were Ray Bolger, James Barton, Buck and Bubbles, Carlton Emmy, Ella Logan, Beatrice Lillie, Mary Raye, Naldi, Pat Rooney, Willie West and McGinty, and Paul Whiteman. House Quiz (Continued from page 1) dustry, has released a schedule of hearings in September and October in 12 cities. Several are in allied strongholds, such as Minneapolis, De- troit, and Kansas City, but should the plan for the New Orleans hearings solidify, Allied members in the other cities might choose to wait for the New Orleans hearings and follow whatever line is laid down there by top Allied leaders. Asked to comment on the report of plans for New Orleans hearings, Al- lied States counsel Abram F. Myers said ' any announcement must come from the committee, but "New Or- leans certainly would be a natural," he added. Allied's board will meet in New Orleans November 27-28, followed by the Allied convention November 29- December 1. There were no West Coast hearings on the list released, but a committee member revealed that the group plans to travel to Los Angeles, San Fran- cisco and Seattle in December or Jan- uary. Motion pictures will get star billing at the "L. A." hearings, he de- clared. Rooney , Stiefel Form New Company Hollywood, August 10. — Mickey Rooney has formed a new company in association with Sam H. Stiefel to produce in four different fields ■ — motion pictures, the stage, radio and television. Stiefel, a former Philadel- phia exhibitor, has been Rooney's business manager for six years. With this project in mind, Rooney recently signed a new agreement at M-G-M not to exceed five films, under the terms of which he is permitted to operate independently as well. Campaign Ushers 'Ruth' into Boston Boston, August 10. — Allied Artists' "The Babe Ruth Story" had its New England premiere here tonight at RKO's Keith Memorial. Among high- lights of the advance campaign are tie-ups with Boston papers, and a city- wide letter-writing campaign for the formation of a rooters section of Ruth admirers. New York Grosses Dr. Bradley Retires Washington, August 10. — Dr. John Bradley, former head of the motion picture unit of the Library of Con- gress has retired. The film unit was abolished by Congress last year, and since then Bradley had been retained in an advisory capacity. Bradley served in various other Government posts be- fore joining the Library staff in 1945. (Continued from page 1) cellent ; Paramount, "Beyond Glory," with Peggy Lee, Jan Murray, Ray Eberle's orchestra and others on stage, first week, $100,000, very strong ; Roxy, "Walls of Jericho," Dick Hay- mes and an ice revue on stage, first week, $116,000, big business; Globe, "Four Faces West," first week, $14,500, moderately good ("Escape" follows on Saturday) ; Mayfair "Re- turn of the Bad Men," first week, $25,000, no complaints ; Rialto, "Gung Ho" and "Eagle Squadron," re-issues, first week, $15,000, solid. Capitol Gross Is $85,000 Second week of "Stop the Music" on stage and "On An Island with You" on the screen will give the Capitol about $85,000, a big figure, but a little less impressive in the light of the cost of the give-away show, said to be running around $30,000 per week. The Strand is next with prizes for audiences with "Winner Take All," also from radio, scheduled to begin on August 27, along with "Two Guys from Texas." Box-office performance of "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" at the Criterion here (and top situations elsewhere) is the talk of the trade ; second week's gross at the Criterion is estimated at $30,000, under the first week's take by about $10,000, but still plenty strong. It will go a third week and probably a fourth. 'Easter Parade' Slips Slightly "Easter Parade" at the State still is healthy but slipped a little, the sixth week's gross being figured at $38,000. "Key Largo" with Count Basie and Billie Holliday at the Strand has a handsome fourth week's income of $58,000 .in view. "The Babe Ruth Story" is still on the plus side at the Astor with $24,000 in sight for a second week. "So Evil My Love" probably will give the Rivoli a fairish $23,000 in its third week. Second week of "Brute Force" and "The Killers" will likely provide the Winter Garden with $8,000, hardly overwhelming. Suitable first-run prod- uct not available, the Gotham is offer- ing combinations of re-issues on a split-week basis with grosses running between $7,500 and $9,000, meeting requirements. Third Jackpot at Capitol in Week For the third time in a week, a pa- tron of the Capitol Theatre's "Stop the Music" has hit the jackpot and will collect $7,500 in merchandise prizes. The third is Elmer Leighton, New York. Dayton Collects $64,000 Dayton, O., August 10.- — Collections of the local three per cent admission tax for the first six months of 1948, totaled $64,015. The Gity Commission has estimated the full year's collection at $140,000. Key City Grosses FOLLOWING are estimated pic- ture grosses for current engage- ments in key cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily correspond- ents. Estimates omit admission tax. INDIANAPOLIS Rain and cold drove theatregoers indoors again this week, most first- run film houses profiting with gen- erally sizable grosses. "Key Largo" is nearly 50 per cent over average. Estimated receipts for the week end- ing August 10-13 : FULLER BRUSH MAN (Coll) and ADVENTURES IN SILVERADO1 (Col.) — LOEWS (2.4SC) (44c-65c)— 2nd week. Gross: $10,000. (Average: $11,000) KEY LARGO (WB) — INDIANA (3,200) (44c-65c). Gross: $17,000. (Average: $12,- 000) GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY (ZOth-Fox) and COUNTERFEITERS (20th- Fok) — KEITH'S (1,300) (44c-65c) On a moveover from the Indiana. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $4,500) SMART WOMAN (AA-Moru) and JINX MONEY (Mono.)— LYRIC (1,600) (44c-65c). Gross: $4,500. (Average: $6,000) UP IN CENTRAL, PARK (U-I) and DEAR MURDERER (U-I) — CIRCLE (2,800) (44c-65c). Gross: $10,000. (Average: $10,000). ATLANTA Business is a little above the aver- age this week. Weather is a little cool. Estimated receipts for the week end- ing August 1 1 : BUCK PRIVATES and THE STORM (Realart) — TOWER (1,865) (17c-50c). Gross: $5,900. (Average: $5,800) HATTER'S CASTLE (Para.) — ROXY (2,446) (12c-50c). Gross: $5,900. (Average: $5,800). LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WO- MAN (U-I) — LOEWS GRAND (2,446) (12c-54c). Gross: $13,500. (Average: $15,000) UP IN CENTRAL PARK (U-I) — PARA- MOUNT (2,446) (12c-50c). Gross: $6,100. (Average: $5,800) THE WALLS OF JERICHO (ZOth-Fox)— FOX (4,446) (12c-S0c). Gross: $15,500. (Aver- age: $15,000) Krushen to Dallas Mori Krushen, exploitation man- ager for United Artists, left for Dal- las yesterday to complete details for the four-state exploitation and pub- licity campaigns for day-and-date openings of Howard Hawks' "Red River" in more than 300 situations on August 26. ■ Public Relations Series Completion of a series of 13 one- minute shorts which stress the com- munity role of the theatre has been announced by W. H. Hendren, Jr. United Film Service president, and Carl Mabry, Motion Picture Adver- tising Service president. OFFICE SPACE in FILM BUILDING 1225 Vine St., Philadelphia Two units available — 2500 sq. ft. and 1035 sq. ft. In same building as Clark Film Distr. Co., Republic Film, Eagle- Lion Films, and Film Censor Board of Penna. Albert M. Greenfield & Co. Walnut & Juniper Sts. Phila. 7, Pa. Wednesday, August 11, 1948 Motion Picture Daily HGM Production (Continued from page 1) spent on individual productions. Each picture will be budgeted at whatever it may be worth, ■ he said. Schary asserted that under his pro- luction administration M-G-M pro- osed to make a number of "experi- nental" pictures and more of what he jbed as "progressive" films. "We oing to make some challenging iicxrfres," he announced. He said the !^-G-M production program "could tibsorb five to 10 experimental pic- tures." Stresses 'Responsibility' of Films In explaining the production ideas le hoped to put into effect at M-G-M, Schary voiced the opinion that pic- tures must carry a responsibility be- sides seeking to entertain. He said ;hat by calling for mature pictures he did not mean films resorting to license. 'Art," he observed, "doesn't mean four-letter words scribbled on fences." Schary took a poke at "long-haired" critics' views on Hollywood, indicat- ing they are prejudiced. Schary said that more care in the ipreparation of scripts would be used by the studio to help cut production , costs, which, he reported, are con- tinuing their downward trend. According to Schary, the proper thing to do in making pictures is "to aim at the domestic market," although there are still some remnants of the foreign market left to American dis- tributors. Schary disclosed that his M-G-M contract, about the term of which there has been some confusion, is for 14 years. No MGM Plans for Video The new M-G-M production chief said that the company has no specific plans to make films for video. It was conceded that many pictures are too long. Although he held that a film should be no longer than the story dictated, Schary could not say whether M-G-M planned to adopt a hard-and-fast policy on running time. He said he intends to "add some manpower" at the M-G-M studio, "as I go along." Schary said he will have an interest in every picture made at M-G-M, although the studio's productions will not carry his name "for quite a while" — maybe never. He will leave New York for the Coast tonight. Katz Quits MGM (Continued from page 1) that he opened his first theatre after having been employed by the late Carl Laemmle. The growth of Balaban and Katz led to an association with Paramount, the management of the latter's theatres being taken over by B. and K. Katz became vice-president of Paramount Publix in 1925 and resigned seven years later. He joined M-G-M in 1936. Katz also had an interest in Mon arch Theatres which until last year was headed by his brother, the late Harry Katz. Monarch was sold to Ted Gamble about one year ago. Curtis Seeks DC Theatre Joseph H. Curtis, son of. Columbia vice-president Jack Cohn, will be in Washington today for conferences with Marcus Notes, owner and oper- ator of the Strand Theatre there, con- cerning the former's bid to take over the house as a legitimate theatre. The National Theatre, the Capital's only legitimate house, closed on July 31 as the result of a deadlock in a contro- versy with Actors Equity over the ex- clusion of Negroes. Curtis, who is seeking to buy or lease the Strand, would operate under a non-discrimi- nation policy. Music Rights (Continued from page 1) High Tax in Salt Lake Salt Lake City, August 10.— Thea- tres here will have to pay the maxi- mum tax of 19.5 mills for property when the new city budget is prepared. recording rights should Judge Leibell's opinion be sustained on appeal. A Columbia spokesman said the company was "wrestling with the problem" and was busy exploring vari- ous courses of action. The firm was said to be considering ideas on the matter that would "make the music people happy." Same License Form for Para. Paramount was represented as giv- ing no thought to the subject at this time. It was pointed out that, pending- final clarification of the issue, the company would not know where or how to get performing rights from copyright owners. A spokesman said that "for the time being we will con- tinue to take the same form of license as in the past." M-G-M was reported keenly inter- ested in the subject of performing rights while watching closely develop- ments growing out of the court's de- cision in the Ascap case. A Universal spokesman asserted that until "further clarification of the entire situation," the company pro- posed to hold up any decision on per- forming rights. The company's views on the subject were termed "indef- inite." No Decision by Republic At Republic it was reported that no decision had been reached pending- final adjudication of the case. While in his decision Judge Leibell suggested that copyright owners might deal directly with the producer, War- ner Brothers is inclined to take the position that there are other possibili- ties in solving the performing rights problem. Early last week RKO Radio was reported in Motion Picture Daily as weighing the idea of purchasing per- forming as well as synchronization rights as one means of meeting the difficulty posed by Judge Leibell's de- cision. Jackson Park Silver's UA Post (Continued from- page 1) cessively held the posts of salesman, office manager, branch manager in New York and Washington and dis- trict manager of the Pennsylvania- Washington area. Abe Dickstein will continue in his present post as executive assistant to Schnitzer. (Continued from page 1) the Ridge on a two-week run as against the normal one-week run at the Uptown, in order to meet Metro's film rental. Successful results at the box-office for the engagement, con- sequently resulted in the Ridge's out- bidding the four B. and K. houses for Metro's "The Search," for two weeks. Ridge Theatre Is Unhappy On the other hand the Ridge is not altogether happy with a number of Other major distributors who, it claims, continue to sell under the old Chicago system of release. The chief complaint is that Warner, Para- mount, Universal and Columbia would prefer to sell films on a double-feature basis first to the Uptown and other large seaters, rather than split the bookings, thus enabling the Ridge and other small seaters to book the second half of a bill, usually a top bracket picture. The management says that the double featuring of films coming out of the Loop playing "A" houses first dissipates top product before it can get a crack at it. The Ridge claims it tried to book "Winter Meeting," a Warner film, when it came out of the Loop, and was will- ing to pay Warners' asking price, but it was booked first into the Uptown as the lower half of a bill. As a result, the Ridge claims it is in the peculiar playing position of running an alternate policy — some weeks of playing RKO Radio, Metro and 20th-Fox product at first-run neighborhood showing, and in other weeks, playing repeat on B. and K. houses. The booking situation is not alto- gether the same on the Northside of Chicago as it is on the Southside. In this case, Warner, which owns South- side theatres, and Paramount, which controls B. and K. houses, located all over Chicago, are privileged to book into their own houses first, while Uni- versal and Columbia can sell as they see fit, being non-defendants in the Jackson Park decree. The Jackson Park Theatre won for itself and other Southside houses, the opportunity to compete with Warner and B. and K. houses for top product. Majority of Houses Benefit While the majority of theatres throughout Chicago have generally benefited from the decree, being able to play films with greater rapidity than ever before and doing better business than ever before, the booking situation has not altogether worked itself out to the complete satisfaction of some of the smaller houses, such as the Ridge, which is willing to pay for the product if it can get it. The dis- tributors are gradually working the decree out with careful and slow deliberation in the hope that a happy conclusion for all houses will one day be reached. Generalis in New Post George A. Generalis has been ap- pointed general advertising and pub- licity manager of National Herald, Greek-American daily newspaper, by B. Marketos, publisher. Generalis was formerly in charge of foreign language publicity for 20th Century- Fox. It will be people everywhere telling their friends about the Paramount thrill-picture produced by Hal Wallis, for which Film Daily predicts "Top grosses." ar *From the Company that leads the Industry in '48 Boxoffice Champions m5 * ^esl Coast » ^eatte tot CW\on marts. fo Broadway; iirHalW i r Accurate MOTION PICTtJRl and ImpartiJ Wn. JOTCB O'HARA, MOTION PICTURE ASSOC. A!f ERICA, 38 *EST 44TH ST., 21ST »E« IOtK« H. *. jj JL JL 64. NO. 30 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 1948 TEN CENTS Col. Acquires Dual Rights To Film Music Seen Setting Pattern for Interim in Ascap Ruling Hollywood, August 11. — Setting a pattern which is expected to be adopted by other companies, Colum- bia will acquire performing as well as synchronization rights to music used in its productions, Jonie Taps, Columbia studio music executive, dis- ! closed here today. The company has already acquired j both the exhibition and recording i rights to the score for its sequel to ; "The Jolson Story," and will follow I the same policy for all other pictures , pending final decision in the New | York Federal Court ruling which held [ the music society to be in violation of [ the anti-trust laws, Taps said. Deals for the projected Jolson fol- I low-up, which will include music from ! almost all principal publishing firms, {Continued on page 3) Knutson Cautious in Excise Cut Pledge Washington, August 11. — Addi- tional evidence that top Republican leaders are hedging on pledges to cut excise taxes next year was contained in a statement issued today by House Ways and Means Committee Chair- man Knutson. The Minnesota Republican said his committee is studying the entire excise picture and that undoubtedly some of the war taxes will have to be repealed or reduced at the next session of Con- gress— "if the revenues of the Govern- (Continued on page 3) U. S. Asks Delay in Griffith Re-hearing Oklahoma City, August 11. — -Judge Edgar S. Vaught of U. S. District Court here has set September 7 as the date for hearing a Justice Department motion to postpone until November 1 the hearing in the Griffith anti-trust case, originally scheduled for Septem- ber 20. The Justice Department has asked for the delay because a new spe- cial assistant Attorney General has been assigned to the case. The hearing was ordered by the Supreme Court in the Government's anti-trust suit against the circuit, and is to reconsider the question of divesti- ture as well as other phases of the high court's ruling. B. & K. Advised to Halt Ascap Payment Chicago, August 11. — Para- mount has advised Baiaban and Katz, circuit affiliate, to cease making payments to Ascap for music reproduction rights, pending further de- cision by company attorneys in the situation growing out of Judge LeibelPs decision in New York declaring Ascap's collections to be illegal. Famous Music Publishers, a key Ascap member, is own- ed by Paramount. Action Delayed on AscapNon-payments The question of what action Ascap will take on the decision of affiliated and other theatres to halt payments for public performance rights is ex- pected to remain unanswered until the return of Robert P. Patterson, special counsel for the society, who has left the city for a month's vacation. The former Secretary of War was retained by Ascap last week to handle problems arising from the Federal Court decision holding the society in violation of the anti-trust laws. The affiliated circuits, including Paramount, Warner, RKO and prob- ably Loew's and National Theatres, were understood to have acted against further payment of fees to Ascap pending clarification of the question of what agency the performing rights must be cleared through and by what method. Urge 'Protection' by Ascap Pact Clause Louisville, August 11. — The Ken- tucky Association of Theatre Owners advises members to insert a 60-day cancellation clause in any 10-year con- tracts submitted by Ascap. This ad- vice from Henry J. Stites, general counsel for the KATO, comes after a trip to New York and a study of the problem in the light of the July 20 decision of U. S. District Judge Vincent Leibell halting the collections of license fees from the- atres. Stites concludes that in those in- stances where theatre owners have received contracts from Ascap and have accepted them with an inserted cancellation clause, the fact that Ascap has mailed back such contracts unaccepted will protect the individual theatre owner from any serious in- volvement. There are several in- (Continued on page 3) Odium 's Film [Holdings Off Film company security holdings of Floyd Odium's Atlas and Ogden cor- porations are the lowest in years, listed at $2,642,052, compared to the multi-millions previously held, the an- nual Atlas stockholders' statement dis- closed yesterday. Values of the secur- ities reflect market prices of June 30, 1948, date of the financial statement. After having sold the entire Atlas holdings of 929,020 RKO common shares to Howard Hughes, Odium re- tained an interest in that company through 327,812 option warrants, valued at $737,577; these, however, have no voting rights. Largest film company holdings of Atlas were 50,000 shares of Para- mount common, listed at $1,150,000. Also held were 6,000 shares of Para- mount, by Ogden, valued at $138,000. Atlas held $234,460 of Walt Disney bonds and 91,700 shares of Disney common, valued at $298,025. In 20th Century-Fox, Ogden held 4,000 shares of common, valued at $84,000. Truman Launches TOA's Youth Month Washington, August 11. — Presi- dent Truman today launched the The- atre Owners of America's Youth Month drive in a White House cere- mony marking the issuance of the first sheets of the new three-cent "Salute to Youth" commemorative stamp. The ceremony was attended by more than 500, including many prominent in the film industry. In accepting the first portfolio of stamps from Postmaster General Jesse M. Donaldson, President Truman de- clared that "the welfare of the world is wrapped up in the youth of this nation." On the platform with the President (.Continued on page 3) House Hollywood Labor Group 'Alive' Washington, August 11. — The House Labor sub-committee investi- gating Hollywood labor disputes got a last minute reprieve when Congress quit ahead of schedule. House Labor Committee chairman Hartley had called a meeting for Mon- day at which sub-committee chairman Carroll D. Kearns was to submit a re- port on the group's work. The full committee was to ratify it, and that was to be the end of the investigation, with no further hearings or further (.Continued on page 3) MPAA to Map New Foreign Market Action Johnston Visit to Paris, London Soon Is Likely Future policy with respect to the industry's top-ranking foreign mar- ket problems, including the new British 45 per cent film quota law and a new financial agreement with France, is scheduled to be decided at a meeting of the Motion Picture Asso- ciation board of directors here early next week, probably on Monday. Indications are that Eric Johnston. MPAA president, and Joyce O'Hara, his assistant, will leave for Europe within a few days after the meeting to carry out the board's directions. The industry protested the new British quota law to the U. S. State Department in June. Expressing its "concern" over the matter at the time, the State Department asked the Lon- don Embassy for a full report on the quota. So far as can be learned, noth- ing has happened since. It is consid- ered likely in the trade that the MPAA board may request Johnston to go to London to confer on the mat- (Coutinucd on page 3) WB Faces Threat to L. A. Video Plans Washington, August 11. — The Southern California Television Co. to- day moved to block Warner Brothers from acquiring a Los Angeles tele- vision station. Warner has asked the Federal Com- munications Commission to approve its plans to buy from Dorothy Thack- rey her San Francisco standard broad- cast station, her Los Angeles standard station and her Los Angeles television (Continued on page 3) Heart Award to NT Head Monday Los Angeles, August 11. — Louis B. Mayer, Joseph M. Schenck, Ted Gamble and Mayor Fletcher Bowron will be principal speakers at the Variety Club banquet to be held at the Cocoanut Grove Monday night in honor of Charles Skouras, National Theatres president, who will be presented with the "Great Heart Award." motion Picture Daily Thursday, August 12, 19 Personal Mention DORE SCHARY, M-G-M produc- tion vice-president, left here yes- terday for the Coast. • Howard Strickling, M-G-M stu- dio publicity head, and his wife ; Paul Terry, Terrytoons producer, and his wife ; Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Charles Boyer and Tom O'Brien, general secretary of the British Na- tional Association of Theatrical and Kine Employes, are among passengers arriving in New York today on the SS" Queen Marx. • Paul Kamy of M-G-M's exploita- tion department will spend his vaca- tion, starting next Wednesday, at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference at Middlebury, Vt. • Leonard Hirsch, home office as- sistant to M-G-M Southern sales man- ager Rudy Berger, will leave here tomorrow for a vacation at Beechaven, N. J. • James Mulvey, president of Sam- uel Goldwyn Productions, will return to New York Monday from a Maine vacation. • Morey Goldstein, Allied Artists- Monogram general sales manager, will return to New York tomorrow from Boston. • David Horne, Film Classics for- eign sales manager, has left New York for a two-week tour of the Caribbean territory. • Jim Harris, assistant to Realart vice-president Budd Rogers, is visit- ing the company's Denver and Los Angeles exchange this week. • Russell Moss, IATSE Local No. H-63 business agent, will leave here today for the union's convention in Cleveland. • Max E. Youngstein, Eagle-Lion advertising-publicity vice-president, is expected back in Ne/w York this weekend from Charlotte. • Howard Dietz, M-G-M advertis- ing-publicity vice-president, will fly to Paris on Saturday from New York. • Sherm Harris, Allied Artists pro- duction aide, has entered Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles. Harold Mirisch, Allied Artists vice-president, has returned to the Coast from New York. Delay Seen in RKO Stockholders* Meet Delay in preparing the RKO proxy statement is expected to set back the company's annual stockholders' meet- ing from August 31 to sometime in September. Originally the statement was due for mailing to stockholders by mid-August. Insider's Outlook By RED KANN "^TOTICE how Metro's lineup -L^ has been running since the first of the year ? Twenty at- tractions, omitting reissues, have been spotted for release on an even split between straight- away comedies and/or musicals and dramas. Several in the lat- ter category have been gener- ously interlarded with both com- edy and music, to boot. It comes about through no ac- cident, moreover. While appre- ciating that any program must seek to establish a balance, the trend has been toward the light- er side in the belief that is what the public wants more of in these days of national and inter- national uncertainties. This is how it has been going : Hand-running with nary an in- terruption in June-July were "The Pirate," "On an Island with You," "Easter Parade" and "A Date with Judy." The com- edy-and-musical cycle interrupts itself with "The Search." Then, eschewing any breaks again, will be "Luxury Liner," "A South- ern Yankee," "Julia Misbe- haves" and "No More Vices," in September-October. After "The Three Musket- eers" gets moving at Loew's State here, where it will suc- ceed "Easter Parade," its gen- eral release will be set thereby adding still another to the light- and-happy score card. In production are "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" and "The Barkleys of Broadway," another brace. ■ ■ Jimmy Nasser, a producer who persists in remembering he also is an exhibitor, is one in- dependent, at least, who has learned what Metro already has. Checking key city theatremen and a number of critics for their approach on current public tastes, Nasser has made his de- cision : Heavy stress on comedy in his lineup following "An Inno- cent Affair," itself a comedy. He won't forego dramatic over- tones or touches, but comedy "as an escape from the war-threat- ened, inflation-shadowed world" will be his ticket. ■ ■ What with headache of studio overhead, which runs on if in somewhat reduced degree even when cameras stop grinding, and the desirability of maintain- ing a safe and reasonable inven- tory, the tendency toward back- logs remains essentially unal- tered. At Paramount, where Henry Ginsberg is maestro, for in- stance, the shelf has been con- sistently stocked for some years now. Now comes a studio recap to prove things will stay that way. Eleven films will be released during the balance of '48. Eight of them ready. Eight others have been pol- ished off awaiting distribution's signal. Three are in production now and five more go before the end of the year. Six or seven are to be launched early in '49. By spring, at the latest, Paramount will be virtually set for all of next year. ■ ■ One of Dore Schary's first at- tentions as V. P. in charge of Metro production will be di- rected toward product reserves. The company's position in that regard needs strengthening, he told reporters on Tuesday. On a general question about the executive lineup at Culver City, he indicated clearly there'd be some changes made. A couple of hours later one developed. Sam Katz's contract, dated March 1, 1954, washes up five years ahead of expiration. ■ ■ Note for Howard Hughes of RKO and the Hughes Tool Co. : "The mounting demand for oil will be met by the drilling of 40,000 new wells in the United States during the current year, a goal which six months ago would have been considered im- possible, if not ridiculous." — The New York Times. ■ ■ Exhibitors concerned over night baseball and nervous "A's" ought to become less concerned. The U. S. Department of Agri- culture foresees a 1948 popcorn crop approximately 51 per cent greater than last year's when plantings totaled 83,700 acres. This year's: 126,700. ■ ■ Sad commentary on the dear public, or enough of it, is to be found in Paramount's need to advertise "A Foreign Affair" as "A Foreign Affair Is a Funny Affair." ■ ■ Buried in the news: That Universal was bidding for the stock of National Theatres be- fore 20th-Fox repurchased it from Charlie Skouras, Rick Ricketson, Harold Fitzgerald and Elmer Rhoden. Coming Events Aug. 16-21 — International Allianc of Theatrical Stage Employes b annual convention, Public Aud torium, Cleveland. Aug. 24 — Motion Picture Theatr Owners of Connecticut p-olf tnm nament, Racetrack Countr Orange, Conn. Sept. 14-15 — Independent Theat Owners of Ohio conventioi Deshler-Wallick Hotel, Columbu Sept. 14-16 — Pacific Coast Confe: ence of Independent Theatr Owners' trustees annual meetinj Ambassador Hotel, Los Angele Sept. 16-18 — International Variet Clubs' mid-year convention, Stat ler Hotel, Washington. Sept. 24-25— Theatre Owners America convention, Drake Hotel Chicago. Sept. 27-301 — Theatre Equipment and and Supply Manufacturers Asso ciation national trade show and convention, Jefferson Hotel, St Louis. Sept. 28-29— Kansas-Missouri Thea- tre Association annual convention Kansas City. Oct. 14-15 — Independent Theatre Owners of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan annual convention, Schroeder Hotel, Milwaukee ?;.; pel c h r:,a i Air Force to Cite Wartime Performers Washington, August 11. — The U. S. Air Force will award scrolls to screen, stage and radio stars who en- tertained Air Force personnel overseas during the war at an Air Force re- union to be held on September 25 in Madison Square Garden, New York. Producer Hal Roach has been asked to serve as chairman of the committee to nominate the entertainers to receive the scrolls. Other members of the committee, all members of the Air Force Association which is sponsoring the reunion, include Jack L. Warner, James Stewart, Clark Gable, Merian Cooper, Tex McCreary, and New York financier J. H. (Jock) Whitney. P Mid - Central Allied Regional August 18 St. Louis, August 11. — The new Mid-Central Allied Independent The- atre Owners Association will start activating its field activities on Au- gust 18 when it will hold its first re- gional meeting, in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Henry Halloway is president of the organization. Eastern Directors Of Allied Meet Here Eastern regional directors of nation- al Allied met here yesterday. Meyer Leventhal of Baltimore, Eastern re- gional vice-president, presided. Others in attendance included Sidney Samuel- son, Jules Rivkin, Irving Dolhnger, Wilbur Snaper, George Gold and Ed Lachman. ¥,2J}2 ,J h i ? n ■ i prt^ SmS^V' Edlt°>"-in-Chief and Publisher, Sherw.n Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays by Quigley Pub.shing Company, Inc., 2/0 Sixth Avenue Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, £ew M.art!n Qui5ley. Pres.dent^ Red Kann^ Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., ^Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; "Bureau, Yucca- Jimmy Ascher, Peter Burnup, Motion Picture . „he act of March $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Thursday, August 12, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 3 WJZ-TV Debut Not Entirely Faultless Tuesday night's inaugural program of WJZ-TV, American Broadcasting's New York television station, had some shortcomings, Frank Marx, the net- work's viceJpresident in charge of en- gineering, admitted here yesterday. He added, however, that those imperfec- jtLp^i which did materialize had been cVCAted and were not serious. "^me station made its debut with an elaborate program originating at the Palace Theatre on Broadway. Home receiver sets had to be adjusted in or- der to allow for maximum quality re- , ception on the new Channel No. 7. I The fact that some receivers were not , properly serviced accounted for some- what distorted and indistinct figures on the screens, Marx said. Also adding to the difficulty, he added, was the fact that the station ! had insufficient time for satisfactory preparation of the show at the Palace because the theatre was not made : available until the same day of the i telecast. Another factor, Marx said, i was the use of remote equipment, ob- i viously inferior to regular equipment. Marx concluded that reaction to the I show was generally favorable. WB Faces Threat (Continued from page 1) Film-Video Group to Name New Officers Officers of the recently-formed Na- tional Television Film Council are to be nominated at a meeting on August 19 at Sardi's here, with elections scheduled for next September. The right to perform music on tele- vision will be discussed at the August 19 meeting by Sidney Kaye, vice-pres- ident of Broadcast Music, Inc. Also on the agenda is a proposed standard exhibition contract for films on tele- vision. Melvin L. Gold is chairman of the organization and Robert W. Wormhoudt is secretary-treasurer. CBS Television in 80 Cities Planned Paramount Bid for Station Withdrawn Washington, August 11. — The Fed- eral Communications Commission has let Tri-State Meredith Co., SO per cent owned by Paramount subsidiary Tri-State Theatres, withdraw its ap- plication to buy station KSO in Des Moines. Tri-State asked to be let out of the deal when the FCC asked for long opinions on what effect Paramount's interest in the station should have in light of the Supreme Court's Para- mount trust suit decision. A four-year expansion program in- tended to give the' network affiliated or wholly-owned television stations in 80 cities was announced by Herbert V. Akerberg, vice-president in charge of station relations for Columbia Broad- casting. Five new CBS television out- lets are scheduled to begin operation this year, in Toledo, Cleveland, De- troit, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. CBS has its own video station in New York, WCBS-TV, and has ap- plications pending for others in Bos- ton, Chicago and San Francisco. Aker- berg reported that programs on film will be supplied to the CBS affiliates which require that service until coax- ial cable or micro-wave relay systems are developed. station. Warner said it would pay $1,045,000 for the package. Today Southern California Tele- vision asked the FCC to make War- ner specify how much it planned to pay for each of the three stations, since it wanted to bid on the television station. FCC officials said that as far as they could recall, this was the first attempt by any firm to force other parties to break up a package deal. Twentieth Century-Fox of St. Louis, meanwhile, finally filed with the FCC for a television station in St. Louis. This move, promised some weeks ago, brings to five the number of applica- tions for commercial television stations by 20th-Fox firms. Others are pending for Boston, Kansas City, Seattle and San Francisco. 20th-Fox Forms New Film-Video Firm Albany, N. Y., August 11. — Twen- tieth Century-Fox Television Produc- tions, Inc., has been chartered here to produce films for television. TOA's Youth Month (Continued from page 1) and Donaldson were Charles P. Skou- ras, national chairman of the TOA Youth Committee ; Ted R. Gamble and Gael Sullivan, president and executive director, respectively, of TOA. Other Government figures included Senator Alben Barkley, Attorney General Tom Clark, and Treasury Secretary John Snyder. Among other industry figures pres- ent were : Leon Bamberger, Sidney Lust, Lewen F. Pizor, Sam Shain, George P. Skouras, Spyros P. Skou- ras, Stanley W. Prenosil, Henry Mur- dock, Harry Lowenstein, Albert Pin- cus, and Kermit Stengel. Newsreel cameras took pictures of the proceedings. "Youth Month will be launched nationally in September." Endorsement by 111. Allied Chicago, August 11.- — -Endorsement of National Youth Month, which will be observed throughout the nation in September, has been approved by Allied Theatres of Illinois, Jack Kirsch, president, announces. Local Allied members are being urged to make their screens available for special trailers as well as aiding through com munity projects. Norman B. Steinberg, 20th-Fox at- torney who represented the company in the incorporation of the new tele- vision firm, said here yesterday that no further action, other than actual incorporation, has been taken by the new unit. To Judge NAB Contest Washington, August 11. — Motion Picture Association of America presi- dent Eric Johnston and film actor James Stewart are among the eight judges in the National Association of Broadcasters' second annual "Voice of Democracy" contest in which scholarships are awarded to the four high school students delivering the best five-minute broadcasts on "I Speak for Democracy." Urge 'Protection' (Continued from page 1) King George Honors Col. 'Jock' Lawrence London, August 11. — J. B. L. (Jock) Lawrence, executive vice-pres- ident of the J. Arthur Rank Organ- ization in the U. S., who was a Colo- nel in the last war, has been made an honorary officer of the military divi- sion of the Order of the British Em- pire by King George. Lawrence was cited for his work under Lord Louis Mountbatten when the latter was chief of combined army operations in the ETO in World War II. The award also was in recognition for his service with the Commandoes, with the ETO Services of Supply and as chief public relations officer of the American Forces in the ETO. He will return to New York in two weeks. stances where Ascap has returned contracts to theatre owners because of the cancellation clause being in- serted. He recalled the 60-day can- cellation clause was provided for in the agreement between TOA and Ascap reached last February 6. The KATO further stated the deci- sion of Judge Leibell does not elimi- nate the payment for performing rights to Ascap by theatres. It would take the repeal of the Federal Copy- right Law to do that, it added. Judge Leibell's decision was in an anti-trust case and if sustained on appeal means only that copyright owners will be paid for performing rights in a way other than through Ascap, KATO re- minds. Where contracts are returned unac- cepted by Ascap, theatre owners are told that they should keep the enve- lope containing the post office stamp with the returned contract enclosed, and not sign the new contract. John Ford Cited in Film Festival Award John Ford was cited as best director of the year at the annual International Film Festival at Locarno, Switzer- land. Other awards were conferred on 20th Century-Fox's "Miracle on 34th Street" as the best screen adaptation and Richard Widmark as best sup- porting actor. In addition, Hildegarde Neff, 22- year-old starlet who is now in Holly- wood under contract to David O. Selznick, was cited for her acting in 'Film Without Title," produced last year in the American zone in Berlin, it was reported here yesterday by the Selznick Releasing Organization. Columbus to Get Video Columbus, O., August 11. — First local television station to begin con- struction is WBNT-TV, owned by the Columbus Dispatch, which an- nounced start of work on or about August IS. It will be affiliated with CBS. Rogers Fund Meet Set Cleveland, August 11. — Plans for raising the local quota of $75,000 for the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital will be discussed at a luncheon meet- ing on Monday of Cleveland exhib- itors. The affair is being held by a committee headed by I. J. Schmertz. House Labor Group (Continued from page 1) testimony from Conference of Studio Unions head Herbert K. Sorrell. But when Congress quit all mem- bers of the committee left town, and Hartley had to call the meeting off. There will probably not be another meeting until after the elections. Col. Acquires (Continued from page 1) are strictly "if and when" in charac ter, Taps said, adding that prices for performing rights are agreed upon but no payment will be made until and unless Judge Vincent Leibell's decision is upheld. Amplifying on the deal he concluded after policy conferences with Colum bia's legal counsel in New York, Taps said the terms for performing rights varied from one-third to 100 per cent of prices paid for recording rights. Recording rights for the average musical picture run as high as $200, 000. Thus, under Columbia's arrange ment, cost of performing rights for such a picture would range from $70, 000 to $200,000. Omaha Services for Schlaifer' s Father Omaha, August 11. — Funeral ser- vices were held here today for A. Schlaifer, pioneer Omahan and father of Charles Schlaifer, director of ad- vertising-publicity for 20th Century- Fox. Schlaifer passed away when complications developed following fall which resulted in a fractured hip last Wednesday. A leader in the business, civic and cultural life of Omaha, Schlaifer, who recently observed his 56th wedding an- niversary, is survived by the widow, Ziril, and four other sons, Israel, Leo, Nathan and Morrie. MPAA to Map (Continued from page 1) ter with Ambassador Lewis Douglas and perhaps with British officials in an effort to speed action before the quota becomes effective October 1. As reported August 4 in Motion Picture Daily, it is regarded as ex- tremely likely that Johnston also will be asked to go to Paris to effect a new film agreement with France in view of the fact that all recent efforts to settle the problem of payment of some $9,- 000,000 in blocked funds of the indus- try there and to agree upon a new schedule of remittances have been un- successful. An MPAA spokesman here yester- day denied a published report that Johnston would be accompanied to Europe by a squadron of 14 industry executives, all leaving from here Tuesday on the same plane. "Any such mass excursion would be the worst possible strategy for han- dling the European problems at this time," the spokesman said. "If and when it is decided that it would be advisable for Johnston to make the trip he would be accompanied by O'Hara alone," the spokesman added. Knutson Cautious (Continued from page 1) ment permit." Moreover, Knutson said, he "would be the last one to rec- ommend a repeal of the great mass of these excise taxes, leaving the bulk of the Federal revenue to be derived from the income tax." Knutson said the income tax must be coupled with "a broad excise tax base" in order to carry on "the cost of government." Excises which will be cut first— when and if there are cuts — are those where "the rates in effect are operat- ing as a resistance to the purchase of articles on the part of the consumer," Knutson declared. He did not specify which these might be. 2 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, August 12, 194! flm Personal Mention DORE SCHARY, M-G-M produc- tion vice-president, left here yes- terday for the Coast. • Howard Strickling, M-G-M stu- dio publicity head, and his wife ; Paul Terry, Terrytoons producer, and his wife ; Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, Charles Boyer and Tom O'Brien, general secretary of the British Na- tional Association of Theatrical and Kine Employes, are among passengers arriving in New York today on the •SS Queen Mary. • Paul Kamy of M-G-M's exploita- tion department will spend his vaca- tion, starting next Wednesday, at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference at Middlebury, Vt. • Leonard Hirsch, home office as- sistant to M-G-M Southern sales man- ager Rudy Berger, will leave here tomorrow for a vacation at Beechaven, N. J. • James Mulvey, president of Sam- uel Goldwyn Productions, will return to New York Monday from a Maine vacation. • Morey Goldstein, Allied Artists- Monogram general sales manager, will return to New York tomorrow from Boston. • David Horne, Film Classics for- eign sales manager, has left New York for a two-week tour of the Caribbean territory. • Jim Harris, assistant to Realart vice-president Budd Rogers, is visit- ing the company's Denver and Los Angeles exchange this week. • Russell Moss, IATSE Local No. H-63 business agent, will leave here today for the union's convention in Cleveland. • Max E. Youngstein, Eagle-Lion advertising-publicity vice-president, is expected back in Ne/w Yoirk this weekend from Charlotte. • Howard Dietz, M-G-M advertis- ing-publicity vice-president, will fly to Paris on Saturday from New York. • Sherm Harris, Allied Artists pro- duction aide, has entered Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles. Harold Mirisch, Allied Artists vice-president, has returned to the Coast from New York. Insider's Outlook By RED KANN Delay Seen in RKO Stockholders' Meet Delay in preparing the RKO proxy statement is expected to set back the company's annual stockholders' meet- ing from August 31 to sometime in September. Originally the statement was due for mailing to stockholders by mid-August. ^[OTICE how Metro's lineup has been running since the first of the year ? Twenty at- tractions, omitting reissues, have been spotted for release on an even split between straight- away comedies and/or musicals and dramas. Several in the lat- ter category have been gener- ously interlarded with both com- edy and music, to boot. It comes about through no ac- cident, moreover. While appre- ciating that any program must seek to establish a balance, the trend has been toward the light- er side in the belief that is what the public wants more of in these days of national and inter- national uncertainties. This is how it has been going : Hand-running with nary an in- terruption in June-July were "The Pirate," "On an Island with You," "Easter Parade" and "A Date with Judy." The com- edy-and-musical cycle interrupts itself with "The Search." Then, eschewing any breaks again, will be "Luxury Liner," "A South- ern Yankee," "Julia Misbe- haves" and "No More Vices," in September-October. After "The Three Musket- eers" gets moving at Loew's State here, where it will suc- ceed "Easter Parade," its gen- eral release will be set thereby adding still another to the light- and-happy score card. In production are "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" and "The Barkleys of Broadway," another brace. ■ ■ Jimmy Nasser, a producer who persists in remembering he also is an exhibitor, is one in- dependent, at least, who has learned what Metro already has. Checking key city theatremen and a number of critics for their approach on current public tastes, Nasser has made his de- cision : Heavy stress on comedy in his lineup following "An Inno- cent Affair," itself a comedy. He won't forego dramatic over- tones or touches, but comedy "as an escape from the war-threat- ened, inflation-shadowed world" will be his ticket. ■ ■ What with headache of studio overhead, which runs on if in somewhat reduced degree even when cameras stop grinding, and the desirability of maintain- ing a safe and reasonable inven- tory, the tendency toward back- logs remains essentially unal- tered. At Paramount, where Henry Ginsberg is maestro, for in- stance, the shelf has been con- sistently stocked for some years now. Now comes a studio recap to prove things will stay that way. Eleven films wall be released during the balance of '48. Eight of them ready. Eight others have been pol- ished off awaiting distribution's signal. Three are in production now and five more go before the end of the year. Six or seven are to be launched early in '49. By spring, at the latest, Paramount will be virtually set for all of next year. ■ ■ One of Dore Schary's first at- tentions as V. P. in charge of Metro production will be di- rected toward product reserves. The company's position in that regard needs strengthening, he told reporters on Tuesday. On a general question about the executive lineup at Culver City, he indicated clearly there'd be some changes made. A couple of hours later one developed. Sam Katz's contract, dated March 1, 1954, washes up five years ahead of expiration. ■ ■ Note for Howard Hughes of RKO and the Hughes Tool Co. : "The mounting demand for oil will be met by the drilling of 40,000 new wells in the United States during the current year, a goal which six months ago would have been considered im- possible, if not ridiculous." — The New York Times. ■ ■ Exhibitors concerned over night baseball and nervous "A's" ought to become less concerned. The U. S. Department of Agri- culture foresees a 1948 popcorn crop approximately 51 per cent greater than last year's when plantings totaled 83,700 acres. This vear's: 126,700. ■ ■ Sad commentary on the dear public, or enough of it, is to be found in Paramount's need to advertise "A Foreign Affair" as "A Foreign Affair Is a Funny Affair." ■ ■ Buried in the news: That Universal was bidding for the stock of National Theatres be- fore 20th-Fox repurchased it from Charlie Skouras, Rick Ricketson, Harold Fitzgerald and Elmer Rhoden. If Coming Events Aug. 16-21 — International Alliano of Theatrical Stage Employes bi annual convention, Public Audi torium, Cleveland. Aug. 24 — Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Connecticut golf^Icur nament, Racetrack Country Orange, Conn. Sept. 14-15 — Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio convention Deshler-Wallick Hotel, Columbus Sept. 14-16 — Pacific Coast Confer- ence of Independent Theatre; Owners' trustees annual meeting, Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles. Sept. 16-18 — International Variety Clubs' mid-year convention, Stat- ler Hotel, Washington. Sept. 24-25 — Theatre Owners ot America convention, Drake Hotel, Chicago. Sept. 27-30^Theatre Equipment and1 and Supply Manufacturers Asso- ciation national trade show and convention, Jefferson Hotel, St. Louis. Sept. 28-29— -Kansas-Missouri Thea-i tre Association annual convention, Kansas City. Oct. 14-15 — Independent Theatre Owners of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan annual convention, Schroeder Hotel, Milwaukee. Air Force to Cite Wartime Performers Washington, August 11. — The U. S. Air Force will award scrolls to screen, stage and radio stars who en- tertained Air Force personnel overseas during the war at an Air Force re- union to be held on September 25 in Madison Square Garden, New York. Producer Hal Roach has been asked to serve as chairman of the committee to nominate the entertainers to receive the scrolls. Other members of the committee, all members of the Air Force Association which is sponsoring the reunion, include Jack L. Warner, James Stewart, Clark Gable, Merian Cooper, Tex McCreary, and New York financier J. H. (Jock) Whitney. Mid - Central Allied Regional August 18 St. Louis, August 11. — The new Mid-Central Allied Independent The- atre Owners Association will start activating its field activities on Au- gust 18 when it will hold its first re- gional meeting, in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Henry Halloway is president of the organization. Eastern Directors Of Allied Meet Here Eastern regional directors of nation- al Allied met here yesterday. Meyer Leventhal of Baltimore, Eastern re- gional vice-president, presided. Others in attendance included Sidney Samuel- son, Jules Rivkin, Irving Dolhnger, Wilbur Snaper, George Gold and Ed Lachman. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York. Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vme Buikling, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 m the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. !, 11 i 'hursday, August 12, 1948 Motion Picture Daily WJZ-TV Debut Not Entirely Faultless Tuesday night's inaugural program Df WJZ-TV, American Broadcasting's New York television station, had some shortcomings, Frank Marx, the net- work's viceJpresident in charge of en- gineering, admitted here yesterday. He added, however, that those imperfec- which did materialize had been rted and were not serious, e station made its debut with an elaborate program originating at the Palace Theatre on Broadway. Home receiver sets had to be adjusted in or- der to allow for maximum quality re- ception on the new Channel No. 7. The fact that some receivers were not properly serviced accounted for some- what distorted and indistinct figures on the screens, Marx said. Also adding to the difficulty, he added, was the fact that the station had insufficient time for satisfactory preparation of the show at the Palace because the theatre was not made available until the same day of the telecast. Another factor, Marx said, was the use of remote equipment, ob- viously inferior to regular equipment. Marx concluded that reaction to the show was generally favorable. WB Faces Threat (Continued from page 1) Film-Video Group to Name New Officers Officers of the recently-formed Na- tional Television Film Council are to be nominated at a meeting on August 19 at Sardi's here, with elections scheduled for next September. The right to perform music on tele- vision will be discussed at the August 19 meeting by Sidney Kaye, vice-pres- ident of Broadcast Music, Inc. Also on the agenda is a proposed standard exhibition contract for films on tele- vision. Melvin L. Gold is chairman of the organization and Robert W. Wormhoudt is secretary-treasurer. CBS Television in 80 Cities Planned Paramount Bid for Station Withdrawn Washington, August 11. — The Fed- eral Communications Commission has let Tri-State Meredith Co., SO per cent owned by Paramount subsidiary Tri-State Theatres, withdraw its ap- plication to buy station KSO in Des Moines. Tri-State asked to be let out of the deal when the FCC asked for long opinions on what effect Paramount's interest in the station should have in light of the Supreme Court's Para- mount trust suit decision. A four-year expansion program in- tended to give the' network affiliated or wholly-owned television stations in 80 cities was announced by Herbert V. Akerberg, vice-president in charge of station relations for Columbia Broad- casting. Five new CBS television out- lets are scheduled to begin operation this year, in Toledo, Cleveland, De- troit, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. CBS has its own video station in New York, WCBS-TV, and has ap- plications pending for others in Bos- ton, Chicago and San Francisco. Aker- berg reported that programs on film will be supplied to the CBS affiliates which require that service until coax- ial cable or micro-wave relay systems are developed. Urge 'Protection' (Continued from page 1) King George Honors Col. 'Jock9 Lawrence London, August 11. — J. B. L. (Jock) Lawrence, executive vice-pres- ident of the J. Arthur Rank Organ- ization in the U. S., who was a Colo- nel in the last war, has been made an honorary officer of the military divi- sion of the Order of the British Em- pire by King George. Lawrence was cited for his work under Lord Louis Mountbatten when the latter was chief of combined army operations in the ETO in World War II. The award also was in recognition for his service with the Commandoes, with the ETO Services of Supply and as chief public relations officer of the American Forces in the ETO. He will return to New York in two weeks. station. Warner said it would pay $1,045,000 for the package. Today Southern California Tele- vision asked the FCC to make War- ner specify how much it planned to pay for each of the three stations, since it wanted to bid on the television station. FCC officials said that as far as they could recall, this was the first attempt by any firm to force other parties to break up a package deal._ Twentieth Century-Fox of St. Louis, meanwhile, finally filed with the FCC for a television station in St. Louis. This move, promised some weeks ago, brings to five the number of applica- tions for commercial television stations by 20th-Fox firms. Others are pending for Boston, Kansas City, Seattle and San Francisco. 20th-Fox Forms New Film-Video Firm Albany, N. Y., August 11. — Twen- tieth Century-Fox Television Produc- tions, Inc., has been chartered here to produce films for television. TOA's Youth Month (Continued from page 1) and Donaldson were Charles P. Skou- ras, national chairman of the TOA Youth Committee; Ted R. Gamble and Gael Sullivan, president and executive director, respectively, of TOA. Other Government figures included Senator Alben Barkley, Attorney General Tom Clark, and Treasury Secretary John Snyder. Among other industry figures pres- ent were : Leon Bamberger, Sidney Lust, Lewen F. Pizor, Sam Shain, George P. Skouras, Spyros P. Skou- ras, Stanley W. Prenosil, Henry Mur- dock, Harry Lowenstein, Albert Pin- cus, and Kermit Stengel. Newsreel cameras took pictures of the proceedings. "Youth Month will be launched nationally in September." Endorsement by 111. Allied Chicago, August 11. — Endorsement of National Youth Month, which will be observed throughout the nation in September, has been approved by Allied Theatres of Illinois, Jack Kirsch, president, announces. Local Allied members are being urged to make their screens available for special trailers as well as aiding through com munity projects. Norman B. Steinberg, 20th-Fox at- torney who represented the company in the incorporation of the new tele- vision firm, said here yesterday that no further action, other than actual incorporation, has been taken by the new unit. To Judge NAB Contest Washington, August 11. — Motion Picture Association of America presi- dent Eric Johnston and film actor James Stewart are among the eight judges in the National Association of Broadcasters' second annual "Voice of Democracy" contest in which scholarships are awarded to the four high school students delivering the best five-minute broadcasts on "I Speak for Democracy." stances where Ascap has returned contracts to theatre owners because of the cancellation clause being in serted. He recalled the 60-day can- cellation clause was provided for in the agreement between TOA and Ascap reached last February 6. The KATO further stated the deci- sion of Judge Leibell does not elimi- nate the payment for performing rights to Ascap by theatres. It would take the repeal of the Federal Copy- right Law to do that, it added. Judge LeibelPs decision was in an anti-trust case and if sustained on appeal means only that copyright owners will be paid for performing rights in a way other than through Ascap, KATO re- minds. Where contracts are returned unac- cepted by Ascap, theatre owners are told that they should keep the enve- lope containing the post office stamp with the returned contract enclosed, and not sign the new contract. John Ford Cited in Film Festival Award John Ford was cited as best director of the year at the annual International Film Festival at Locarno, Switzer- land. Other awards were conferred on 20th Century-Fox's "Miracle on 34th Street" as the best screen adaptation and Richard Widmark as best sup- porting actor. In addition, Hildegarde Neff, 22- year-old starlet who is now in Holly- wood under contract to David O. Selznick, was cited for her acting in "Film Without Title," produced last year in the American zone in Berlin, it was reported here yesterday by the Selznick Releasing Organization. Columbus to Get Video Columbus, O., August 11. — -First local television station to begin con- struction is WBNT-TV, owned by the Columbus Dispatch, which an- nounced start of work on or about August IS. It will be affiliated with CBS. Rogers Fund Meet Set Cleveland, August 11. — Plans for raising the local quota of $75,000 for the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital will be discussed at a luncheon meet- ing on Monday of Cleveland exhib- itors. The affair is being held by a committee headed by I. J. Schmertz. House Labor Group (Continued from page 1) testimony from Conference of Studio Unions head Herbert K. Sorrell. But when Congress quit all mem- bers of the committee left town, and Hartley had to call the meeting off. There will probably not be another meeting until after the elections. Col. Acquires (Continued from page 1) are strictly "if and when" in charac- ter, Taps said, adding that prices for performing rights are agreed upon but no payment will be made until and unless Judge Vincent Leibell's decision is upheld. Amplifying on the deal he concluded after policy conferences with Colum- bia's legal counsel in New York, Taps said the terms for performing rights varied from one-third to 100 per cent of prices paid for recording rights. Recording rights for the average musical picture run as high as $200,- 000. Thus, under Columbia's arrange- ment, cost of performing rights for such a picture would range from $70,- 000 to $200,000. Omaha Services for Schlaifer's Father Omaha, August 11. — Funeral ser- vices were held here today for A. Schlaifer, pioneer Omahan and father of Charles Schlaifer, director of ad- vertising-publicity for 20th Century- Fox. Schlaifer passed away when complications developed following a fall which resulted in a fractured hip last Wednesday. A leader in the business, civic and cultural life of Omaha, Schlaifer, who recently observed his 56th wedding an- niversary, is survived by the widow, Ziril, and four other sons, Israel, Leo, Nathan and Morrie. MPAA to Map (Continued from page 1) ter with Ambassador Lewis Douglas and perhaps with British officials in an effort to speed action before the quota becomes effective October 1. As reported August 4 in Motion Picture Daily, it is regarded as ex- tremely likely that Johnston also will be asked to go to Paris to effect a new film agreement with France in view of the fact that all recent efforts to settle the problem of payment of some $9,- 000,000 in blocked funds of the indus- try there and to agree upon a new schedule of remittances have been un- successful. An MPAA spokesman here yester- day denied a published report that Johnston would be accompanied to Europe by a squadron of 14 industry executives, all leaving from here Tuesday on the same plane. "Any such mass excursion would be the worst possible strategy for han- dling the European problems at this time," the spokesman said. "If and when it is decided that it would be advisable for Johnston to make the trip he would be accompanied by O'Hara alone," the spokesman added. Knutson Cautious (Continued from page 1) ment permit." Moreover, Knutson said, he "would be the last one to rec- ommend a repeal of the great mass of these excise taxes, leaving the bulk of the Federal revenue to be derived from the income tax." Knutson said the income tax must be coupled with "a broad excise tax base" in order to carry on "the cost of government." Excises which will be cut first — • when and if there are cuts — are those where "the rates in effect are operat- ing as a resistance to the purchase of articles on the part of the consumer," Knutson declared. He did not specify which these might be. 6 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, August 12, 194ij Estimates of Key City Grosses E1 OLLOWING are estimated pic- *■ ture grosses for current engage- ments in key cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily correspond- ents. Estimates omit admission tax. LOS ANGELES "Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin' ' took the laugh-hungry town in stride, closely followed by the novelty-slanted "16 Fathoms Deep," in a week of gen erally improved business. "Walls of Jericho" did very well. Weather was ideal, and counter attractions normal Estimated receipts for the week ending August 11 : FEUDIN', FUSSIN' AND A-FIGHTIN (U-I) and BAD SISTER (UI-Rank) - GUILD (965) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 5 days Gross: $7,000. (Average: $5,450) FEUDIN', FUSSIN' AND A-FIGHTIN (U-I) and BAD SISTER (UI-Rank) IRIS (708) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 5 days Gross $S,5C0. (Average: $6,100) FEUDIN', FUSSIN' AND A-FIGHTIN (U-I) arid BAD SISTER (UI-Rank) RITZ (1,376) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 5 days Gross: $9,500. (Average: $9,050) FEUDIN', FUSSIN' AND A-FIGHTIN (U-I) and BAD SISTER (UI-Rank) STUDIO (880) (50c-60c-85c-$1.0O) 5 days Gross: $8,000. (Average: $6,300). FEUDIN', FUSSIN' AND A-FIGHTIN (U-I) and BAD SISTER (UI-Rank) - UNITED ARTISTS (2.100) (50c-60c-8Sc $1.00) 5 days. Gross: $14,500. (Average $9,580) A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.) and BIG TOWN SCANDAL (Para.)-PARAMOUNT (Downtown) (3,595) (50c-60c-80c-$1.00) 3rd week. Gross: $11,500. (Average: $13,000) A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.) - PARA MOUNT (Hollywood) (1,407) (50c-60c-80c $1.00) 3rd week. Gross: $12,500. (Average $ 13 ,000} KEY LARGO (WB) and MUSIC MAN (Mono.) — WARNERS (Downtown) (3,400) (30c-60c-80c-$1.00) 5 days, 4th week. Gross- $10,000. (Average: $13,730) KEY LARGO (WB) and MUSIC MAN (Mono.) — WARNERS (Hollywood) (3,000) (50c-60c-80c-$1.00) 5 days, 4th week. Gross $8,000. (Average: $11,650) KEY LARGO (WB) and MUSIC MAN (Mono.) — WARNERS (Wiltern) (2,300) (5Cc-60c-80c-$1.00) 5 days, 4th week. Gross $7,500. (Average: $11,220) MELODY TIME (RKO Radio-Disney) and MYSTERY IN MEXICO (RKO Radio) HILLSTREET (2,700) (50c-60c-80c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $14,000. (Average: $18 950) MELODY TIME (RKO Radio-Disney) and MYSTERY IN MEXICO (RKO Radio) PANTAGES (2.000) (50c-60c-80c-$1.00) 2nd week. Gross: $13,000. (Average: $17,150) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M) EGYPTIAN (1,000) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) days, 3rd week. Gross: $6,500. (Average $11,900) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M)- POX WILSHIRE (2,300) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 4 days, 3rd week. Gross: $5,500 (Aver age: $12,850) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M)— LOS ANGELES (2,096) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 4 days, 3rd week. Gross: $8,500. (Aver age: $18,100) THE SEARCH (M-G-M) - FOUR STAR (900) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 6th week. Gross S;6.50O. (Average: $7:450) SIXTEEN FATHOMS DEEP (Mono.) and MICHAEL O'HALLORAN (Mono.)-BEL- MONT (1,600) (5 (50c-65c-98c) 5 days, 2nd week. ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (U-I), 2 days. Gross: $20,000. (Average: $21,000) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M)— STATE LAKE (50c-65c-98c) (2,700). Gross- $25,000. (Average: $25,000) THE PARADINE CASE (SRO<)— WOODS (1.080) (98c)— 5 days, 4th week. EASTER PARADE (M-G-M), 2 days. Gross: $23- 000. (Average: $23,000) SO EVIL MY LOVE (Para.) — UNITED ARTISTS (1,700) (50c-65c-98c) 5 days 2nd week. SUMMER HOLIDAY (M-G-M) 2 days. Gross: $17,000. (Average: $20,000) THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE (UA) — ORIENTAL (3,300) (50c-65c-98c). On stage- Horace Heidt. Gross: $70,000. (Average- $45,000) 1 B • ON OUR MERRY WAY (UA) and CODI ?ZJC^7l^D 7**° -ESQUIRE $2 000) S: $3,50°- (AveraSe RIVER LADY (U-I) and DEVIL" CARGO (FC) — PARAMOUNT (2,200) (35c o.C,);c-orOSTS:»il2'500-1 Average: $10,000) RIVER LADY (U-I) and DEVIL" CARGO (FC)- WEBBER (750) (35c-74c) Gross: $2,500. (Average: $2,000) n°7 JVJh ^ L,°yE 4™> (44c-60c-76c) 2nd week. Gross: $19,000. (Average: $15,000) LIFE. WITH FATHER (WB) _ STAN- LEY (3,800) (44c-60c-76c). Gross: $12 000 (Average: $15,000) ROSE OF WASHINGTON SQUARE M>tn-Fox reissue) and SLAVE SHIP (20th- Fox reissue)— SENATOR (1,700) (44c-60c- 76c). Gross: $4,500. (Average: $3,500) THE WALLS OF JERICHO (20th-Fox)- HAR*IS(2000) (44c-60c-76c). Gross: $13,000 (Average: $11,000) SAN FRANCISCO OMAHA Omaha theatres averaged a little below par in a week that saw tem- peratures unseasonably cool with several showers. Estimated receipts for the week ending August 11-12: rS? £FX (M-^> *"* OLD LOS AN- GELES■ (Rep.)-STATE (750) (50c-65c) 2nd week. Gross: $4,700. (Average: $4,900) THE FIGHTING SIXTY-NINTH (WB) and VALLEY OF THE GIANTS (WB)- OMAHA (2,000) (50c-65c). Gross: $7 600 (Average: $8,500) KEY LARGO (WB) - KRO BRANDEIS (1,100) (50c-65c). Gross: $10,000. (Average: $6,900) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M) «^RAAfOUNT (2'm) (50c-65c). Gross: $8,600. (Average: $11,400) WALLFLOWER (WB) and SHAGGY (Para.) - ORPHEUM (3,000) (50c-65c). Gross: $8,600. (Average: $9,900) DENVER "Best Years of Our Lives" will get an eighth week at the Broadway, with the fifth, sixth and seventh tying for money. Other business is fair to good. Receipts for the week ended August 6-7 : BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (RKO Radio)— BROADWAY (1.500) (35c-74c) 7th S«ee^Gro": $7-°°0- (Average: $7,000). f££rf? PARADE (M-G-M) and DEAR MURDERER (U-I) - ORPHEUM (2.6C0) (35c-74c) 2nd week. Gross: $12,000. (Aver- age: $13,500) v £»YLAR£° (WB> and STAGE STRUCK (Mono.)— RIALTO (878) (35c-74c) After a week at the Denver. Esquire, Webber and Xi, il\ Gross: H00O (Average: $3,000) °N OUR MERRY WAY (UA) and CODE OF SCOTLAND YARD (Rep.) — DENVER &2*L (35c"74c)- Gr°ss: $15,000. (Average: Key Largo" at the Fox chalked up a smash week. Other business was average. Estimated San Francisco grosses for the week ending August 11 : r^T^T^T^^1™ JUDY (M-G-M)-WAR- £1™° H'672) (60c-85c) 2nd week- Gross: $14,000. (Average: $18,800) « fOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.) — S'l CRANClh ^1A?2 (60c-85c' 2nd week. Gross: $15,500. (Average: $14,600) ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET Ff^IF!:lys,TEIN TAKE MY LIFE (E-L)-ORPHEUM (2,440) (55c-85c) 2nd week. Gross: $14,500. Average: $14 700) THE JOLSON STORY (Col.) and SHE COULDN'T TAKE IT (Col.) ^STATE $8 500) (60c"85c)- Gross: S8'000- (Average: KEY LARGO (WB) and THE BIG ?UNCtU(ZB),7FC* (4'651> <«te-85° Gross: $35,000. (Average: $23,000) KEY LARGO (WB) and THE BIG PUNCH (WB) — UNITED NATIONS $9 900) (60c"8Sc)- Gross: $7,200. (Average: LIFE WITH FATHER (WB) and KING OF THE GAMBLERS (Rep.) - PARA- MOUNT (2,735) (60c-85c). Gross: $15,500. (Average: $19,500) MELODY TIME (RKO' Radio) — RKO Golden Gate (2,835) (95c) 2nd week. Gross: $15,000. (Average: $27,000) SO THIS IS NEW YORK (UA) and COURAGEOUS MR. PENN (Hoffberg) - KJSrJ^AARTISTS 0'465) (85C)- Gr°SS: $16.0CO. (Average: $11,300) YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU (Col.) and PENNIES FROM HEAVEN (Col.)— ESQUIRE (1,008) (55c-85c). Gross: $6,400 (Average: $9,000) 'River' for Capitol United Artists' "Red River" will go into the Capitol here after the engage- ment of the company's "Pitfall," which opens on August 19. 'Ruthless' Opening Eagle-Lion's "Ruthless," starring Zachary Scott and Diana Lynn, will open at the Gotham Theatre here September 3. 'Carmen' for State Columbia's "The Loves of Carmen" will open at Loew's State here fol- lowing the engagment of "Easter Parade." Accurate Concise and Impartial MOT JOTCTE 0*HV v ■A PICT' 64. NO. 31 NEW YORK, U. S. A., FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1948 TEN CENTS O'Brien Asks Joint US-UK Film Council NATKE Official Insists Cooperation Imperative Formation of a joint organiza- tion by the British and American industries to deal with mutual prob- lems was again urged by Tom O'Brien, member of Parliament, and general secretary of the National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employes, as he arrived here yester- day from England on the SS Queen M ary. O'Brien, who made such a proposal while here some time ago, said he would take up this and other matters with Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of Amer- ica, when they confer the week after (Continued on page 5) Full Remittances Seen from Brazil Although U. S. distributors can now take about 75 per cent of their money out of Brazil, they will be in a position to remit all of their earnings there as soon as enough dollars are available, it was said here yesterday by Ned Seckler, RKO Radio's Brazilian man- ager. It was estimated that U. S. com- panies earned from $7,000,000 to $8,- 000,000 in Brazil last year._ Seckler reported that, while film business cur- rently shows a decline in Brazil, RKO is doing 35 per cent better there this year than last, on the basis of figures for the first half of 1948. He at- tributed this to an improvement in playing time. According to Seckler, the high cost of building and scarcity of materials are hampering the construction of new theatres in Brazil. Interviewed at the same time, Pedro (Continued on page 5) Jackpot Game for Theatres Being Set "Puzzle-Bank," a new theatre audi- ence participation game, will shortly be introduced to theatres by Curtis Mitchell, former advertising-publicity director of Paramount, and his asso- ciates in Enterprise House, Inc., the New York sponsoring company. ' Mitchell, who demonstrated the (Continued on page 5) Drive-in Exhibitors to Form Own Association Charlotte, Aug. 12. — A third na- tional and unique exhibitor organiza- tion is a potentiality. Owners and operators of 120 drive- in theatres in this part of the South, principally in the Carolinas, have been invited by R. O. Jeffress of this city to meet here on Aug. 29 to organize the Drive-in Theatre Association for their mutual benefit and protection. It is the first move of its kind in the South, says Jeffress, and, so far as is known, the first in the country. It might spread nationally. Chief among the many complaints of potential and operating drive-in ex- hibitors are local restrictions and in- ability in many cases to get new top product, except in those situations which involve projects conducted by exhibitors who have the buying power of a string of regular theatres. The average drive-in can accommo- date 600 cars, which, with an average capacity of four persons, represents an audience of 2,400. That could mean a $1,200 gross for a single performance at an average admission of 50 cents. Jeffress operates the Ford-Rock Drive-in, between Fort Mill and Rock- hill, S. C. 4 Latin Countries In Reciprocal Deal By PEDRO GONZALES Madrid, Aug. 9 (By Airmail) — Argentina, Mexican, Cuban and Span- ish delegates to the Congreso His- pano Americano de Cinematografia have agreed to have permanent head- quarters in Madrid with branches in the other countries, to work for har- mony between the countries on such matters as duties and taxes, and to promote Spanish-language features. The Congreso urges that dubbing in Spanish be curtailed, that only the best foreign features be allowed to be dubbed. U.A. to Distribute Series on Israel A worldwide distribution deal has been closed by United Artists with Palestine Films, Inc., for the latter's news-review series titled "Israel To- day," short subject documentaries on Israel, to be released once monthly. First issue to go through U.A. will be "Israel in Action." Introductory re- lease of the series, "Israel Reborn," was distributed by 20th Century-Fox. Deal was negotiated by Arthur W. Kelly, United Artists vice-president, and Norman Lourie, president of Palestine Films Essaness Halts Its Payments to Ascap Chieago, Aug. 12. — Essaness has joined the list of circuits which is withholding pay- ments to Ascap for music license fees as a result of the New York Federal Court rul- ing holding the society in violation of anti-trust laws. U-I Lists 24, Six in Color Universal-International's production, distribution and home office executives yesterday concluded a series of Coast studio meetings where the company's annual production program was set to include 24 "top-budget" pictures, in- cluding six in Technicolor, the home office announces. Details of the program were out- lined by Leo Spitz and William Goetz, U-I's production chiefs. The Techni- color films will include "Bloomer Girl," "Adventures of Sam Bass," "Bagdad," "Tomahawk," "Sierra" and "Streets of Cairo." Among the others are "Harvey," "Night Watch," "Am- boy Dukes," "Come Be My Love," "Paradise Lost— 1948," "Air Crash," "Life of Riley," "The Gay Goddess," "Illegal Entry," "The Fatal Step," "It Gives Me Great Pleasure," "Ma and Pa Kettle," "Arctic Manhunt," "The Western Story," "Shoplifter," "Salem Frigate," and "Homicide Squad." RKO Radio Sets 18 Through Early '49 RKO Radio has 12 pictures ready for release between now and the end of the year, Robert Mochrie, distribu- tion vice-president, told a meeting of home office and Metropolitan area sales executives at the Hotel Astor here yesterday. Additionally, six new productions, screened for him during his recent visit to the Coast, have been scheduled for early release in 1949, including : Walter Wanger's "Joan of Arc," "Every Girl Should Be Married," "Baltimore Escape," "Interference," Walt Disney's "So Dear to My (Continued on page 2) Agne w Leaving SRO,Vanguard Posts Sept. 1 Plans Retirement ; No Successor Decided Upon Neil F. Agnew has resigned as president of Selznick Releasing Or- ganization, effective Sept. 1, the company announced in Hollywood yesterday. Ag- new has no plans for future activity in the industry and close associates of his said yes- terday that he plans to reside about half of each year in France and the other half at his Southbury, Conn., farm. Mrs. Agnew is a native of France. SRO officials said in Hollywood yesterday that no decision has been made yet on the appointment of a (Continued on -page 2) Neil F. Agnew MPEA to Consider Blum-ByrnesAccord Washington*, Aug. 12. — Meeting of the Motion Picture Export Asso- ciation which had been set for Mon- day and may be pushed back to Tues- day will consider details of the pro- posed revision of the Blum-Byrnes accord, it was disclosed today. An official State Department text of the proposed changes in the French ac- cord is being circulated among top industry officials, but neither State (Continued on page 5) US Increases Films For 65 Countries Washington, Aug. 12. — Increased appropriations will allow the film division of the U. S. State De- partment's overseas information pro- gram to show more pictures to more people in 1948-49, according to divi- sion chief Herbert T. Edwards, who anticipates an audience of 10,000,000 persons monthly in 65 countries. The film section, like the rest of (Continued on page 5) 2 Motion Picture Daily Friday, August 13, 1948 Personal Mention HERBERT J. YATES, Republic president, is due here from Eu- rope next Friday. • Jules Lapidus, Warner Eastern di- vision manager ; "Dinty" Moore, dis- trict manager, and Ray Smith, Al- bany manager, were at the Schine circuit office in Gloversville, N. Y., yesterday. Moore is due next in Buf- falo. • Capt. Harold Auten of United Artists was host at a dinner at the Lotos Club here last night to Paul Lazarus, Jr., Chester Bahn, James Jerauld, Sherwin Kane and Mike Wear. • Hugh Owen, Paramount's Eastern- Southern division sales manager, left here yesterday on a trip to the Al- bany and Buffalo branches. He is due back Monday. • Harry M. Kalmine, Warner The- atres president and general manager, and W. Stewart McDonald, vice- president, will return to New York Monday from Washington. • Frank N. Phelps, Warner The- atres head of labor relations, will leave New York tonight to attend the IATSE convention in Cleveland. • Robert Wolff, managing director of RKO Radio in Britain, will sail for London tonight on the SS Queen Mary. • Caswell Adams, United Artists New York newspaper contact, will start a two-week vacation today. • Harry Goldberg, Warner Theatres advertising-publicity director, re- turned here yesterday from the Coast. Rites Tomorrow for Robert C. Bruce, 61 Hollywood, Aug. 12. — Funeral ser- vices will be held Saturday at Wee Kirk of the Heather, Forest Lawn, for Robert C. Bruce, 61, pioneer travelogue producer, and his one-day- old daughter, Roberta, who died on the same day and at the same hospital, Queen of Angels, shortly before her father. Bruce succumbed to pneu- monia. A double burial will be held at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Survivors include the widow, Rob- erta's twin sister, two sons, Robert C, Jr., and Douglas ; a sister and a brother. Bruce, who was inactive in pictures for several years, recently formed a new company, Locations Un- limited, to make available to produc- ers his vast collection of stock shots of remote areas filmed for his trav- elogues. Harry Foster's Father Funeral services will be held here today at the Schwartz Funeral Home for Nathan Foster, father of Columbia short subject director Harry Foster. Midwest Exhibitors Spark 'YouthMomth' Kansas City, Aug. 12. — Common- wealth Theatres has made 'Youth Month" activities a feature of its man- agers' meeting to be held Sept. 14-15. At that time managers will report on their specific efforts and the sup- port garnered among local groups. Meanwhile, on another front of the September observance, a committee including local theatremen, following a recent meeting of the Kansas City theatre committee with the welfare board and other youth agencies, is be- ing set up to carry out the public re- lations aspect of the Youth Month activities in Kansas City. E. C. Rhoden, Missouri, and Homer Strowig, Kansas, co-chairmen of the Youth Month program in this area, have pointed out that plans for assist- ing local groups in celebrating Youth Month should, wherever possible, also be geared to year-round assistance in the development of activities in behalf of youth, this program to embrace not only 'teen-agers but also those in their early 'twenties. Skouras, Gamble Discuss Aid Of Radio and Sports Writers Charles P. Skouras, national chair- man of the Youth Month Committee, and Ted R. Gamble, president of the Theatre Owners of America, were hosts to radio representatives at a luncheon and to sports writers at a dinner here yesterday to discuss co- operation in the campaign. Screen Plays in Deal For Stillman Backing Hollywood, Aug. 12. — Completion of a deal under which the John Still- man financial interests of New York will supply $2,000,000 backing for its next five features, with banks to fur- nish the remainder, was announced today by Screen Plays, Inc. The first film, Ring Lardner's "Champion," will go into production in 60 days. All five pictures are for United Artists re- lease. 2 Technicolor Dividends Two dividends each of 25 cents a share, one payable Sept. 10 to stock- holders of record on Aug. 24, and the other payable on Oct. 8 to stockhold- ers of record on Sept. 20, were de- clared yesterday by the Technicolor board of directors. Variety Club Outing Baltimore, Aug. 12. — The Variety Club, Baltimore Tent, No. 19, will hold its annual outing Tuesday at Camp Ritchie, Md., near the Pennsyl- vania line. Governor Lane of Mary- land and Mayor D'Alasandro of Bal- timore will be guests. Sam Tabor is chairman of the committee in charge. Patterson Quits 'U' Hollywood, Aug. 12. — Pat Pat- terson, columnist and trade paper con- tact at the Universal studio for the past six years, has resigned, effective Aug. 21. Patterson entered studio publicity here after posts with Coast theatre circuits. Agnew Resigns (Continued from page 1) successor to Agnew who, in addition to being president of SRO, was also vice-president and general sales man- ager of David O. Selznick's Van- guard Films. He relinquishes that post also. It is understood that Ag- new's desire to reside in France a large part of each year led to his resignation after he had been unable to work out a mutually agreeable arrangement with Selznick which would permit that. Milton S. Kusell is second in com- mand at SRO and Vanguard sales headquarters in New York, being gen- eral sales manager of the former and sales manager of the latter. Agnew entered the industry as a booker in the Paramount exchange in Chicago in 1920. He advanced to salesman, to branch manager at Mil- waukee, branch manager at Chicago, and then to district manager, with headquarters in Chicago, all for Para- mount. In 1932 he was appointed Paramount Western division manager ; in 1933, assistant sales manager, and in 1934 was named general sales man- ager of Paramount. In 1935 he was named vice-president in charge of dis- tribution and a director of Para- mount. He resigned that post in April, 1944, to join Vanguard and was elected to the United Artists board as Selznick's representative in that year. He retired from the U. A. board when Selznick disposed of his U. A. stock interest. Greenblatt to Hold 3 Screen Guild Meets Three Screen Guild sales meetings will be held in the next two weeks, the first in Chicago starting tomorrow and ending Monday. Arthur Green- blatt, Eastern sales manager, has left New York for Chicago and then will go to Memphis for an Aug. 19-21 par- ley. He will then fly to San Francisco for the final meeting on Aug. 27-29 and for talks with Screen Guild presi- dent Robert L. Lippert to set adver- tising campaigns for several releases. Greenblatt will return here on Sept. 10. 2 New Opening Day Records in Chicago Chicago, Aug. 12. — RKO Palace and Essaness' Woods theatres in the Loop both established new opening day figures on Wednesday with Universal- International's "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" and M-G-M's "Easter Parade," respectively. The former hit $7,500, the latter $6,400. RKO Radio Sets 18 (Continued from page 1) Heart" and Samuel Goldwyn's "En- chantment." The 12 for the remainder of this year listed by Mochrie include : "The Pearl," "Mystery in Mexico," "Vari- ety Time," "The Velvet Touch," "Good Sam," "Race Street," "Rachel and the Stranger," "Mourning Be- comes Electra," "Station West," "A Song Is Born," "The Twisted Road" and "The Boy with the Green Hair." E-L Luncheon for Milton E. Cohen Circuit executives and exhibitors of the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Mary- land areas will attend a luncheon at the Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia on Tuesday to meet Milton E. Cohen, Eagle-Lion's new Eastern division manager. Also present will be Paul Henreid, E-L star-producer; William J. Heineman, distribution vice-presi- dent; Max E. Youngstein, advertising- publicity vice-president; L. J. Scbf4 fer, sales executive, and Harry f ^ man, Philadelphia branch manager. Following the luncheon, Cohen will leave with Henreid for Reading to at- tend the world premiere of "Hollow Triumph" on Aug. 18. 20th Promotes Birnbaum Hollywood, Aug. 12. — Leon Birn- baum has been promoted to head the 20th Century-Fox studio music-cutting department, replacing Cliff Ransom, who has resigned. Birnbaum was pre- viously a music cutter at the studio. NEW YORK THEATRES IE— RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL- Rockefeller Center £"A DATE WITH JUDY" Wallace BEERY . Jane POWELL • Elizabeth TAYLOR . Carmen MIRANDA Xavier CU GAT . Robert STACK A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture i SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ALAN OONNA ROY DEL RUTH'S THE BABE RUTH STORY r-HB-lN |Cont!Ptrf©rmonce»»Pop Pr!c«i SCIENTIFICALLY AIR COMDITIQNf.0 " ' OPEN t~W~% B woy & 833^8 Cornel WILDE Linda Anne Kirk DARNELL BAXTER DOUGLAS "THE WALLS of JERICHO" A 20th Century-Fox Picture ON VARIETY STAGE— DICK HAYMES ON ICE STAGE— CAROL LYNNE ARNOLD SHODA - FRITZ DIETL ROXY 7hAV6& 50th St. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. Londen Bmeau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture- Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. ot G>4,CT 3*lt t5s 94S ^OT< yes 1M9 fte 01° VO.e f0T r3-s Co*?' in* GO 3ne at >tne?E \\ Co op tna-' t tie to $e •0re me tioti oo; .CO Lte a1^ 1 It 'mi? tne to a^ Laa^-- &0' Me Viae o^*; dual ; s»4 c tow, eac^ tel* lt^>l£ Yjia' jas el ae tne. .-o?e tn3-fc t an tn® of. te tne? 5 en -ftac in tn*- tr ate "'rjYie ^^t 3^ <£0> t^® aO° ioT„ onlt ut ma a© in tjla' an<- it^a als D - a«^ Bit fe el e*t fe al ar anc ,tfter< en' a? ■3l£ 3o HO1 3.4 MlO *e tM" aP? te' 13 .ricvec op aic as on tr>e t t t^e' in tf ult >>te ^taA o^ no^- 3.a .nn^c .tvae^ al f ot tne t i0' gar as. jonn TECHNICOLOR MOTION PICTURE CORPORATION HERBERT T. KALMUS, PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER 4 Motion Picture Daily Friday, August 13, 1948 Key City Grosses FOLLOWING are estimated pic- ture grosses for current engage- ments in key cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily correspond- ents. Estimates omit admission tax. BOSTON Cool weather over the weekend helped after several weeks of hot weather. Only six night baseball games to be played this month, then theatres will not have any night com- petition. Estimated receipts for the week ended August 11 : CANON CITY (E-L) and LADY AT MID- NIGHT (E-L) — PARAMOUNT (1.700) (40c -SCO 2nd week. Gross: $12,500. (Aver- age: $17,000) CANON CITY (E-L) and LADY AT MID- NIGHT (E-L)— FENWAY (1,373) (40c-80c). Gross: $4,900. (Average: $10,000) HUNGRY HILL (U-I) and SMART WOMAN (AA-Mono.) — EXETER (1,300) (45c-75c) 4 cinvs. Gross: $1,800. (Average: $5,000) KEY LARGO (WB) and THE SHANGHAI CHEST (Mono.)— METROPOLITAN (4,367) (40c-80c). Gross : $24,000. (Average: $27,000). Dr. IQ persona] appearance one night. MELODY TIME (RKOi Radio) and MYS- TERY IN MEXICO (RKO Radio) 5 days. RKO -MEMORIAL (3,000) (40c-80c). Gross: $12,500. (Average: $22,000) TAKE MY LIFE (E-L) and THE GREAT WALTZ (M-G-M) — EXETER (1,300) (45c-75c) 3 days. (Gloss: $1,500. (Average: $5,000) THE FULLER BRUSH MAN (Col.) and ADVENTURES IN SILVERADO (Col.)— A ST OR (1,300) (44e-80c). Gross: $3,800. (Average: None available) THE BABE RUTH STORY (AA-Mono) and DEVIL'S CARGO (F-C) — RKO- MEMORIAL (3.0C0) (40c-80c) 2 days. Gross: $5,000. THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE (UA) and THUNDERHOOF (Col.) — ORPHEUM (3,000) (40c-80c). Gross: $22,000. (Average: $27,000) THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE (UA) and THUNDERHOOF (Col.) — STATE (3,500) (40c-80c). Cross: $12,500. (Average: $12,000) THE STREET WITH NO NAME (2flth- Fcx) and FRENCH LEAVE (Mono.)— RKO BOSTON— (3.200) (40c-80c). Gross: $9,500. (Average: None on summer schedule) SIXTEEN FATHOMS DEEP (Mono.)— MODERN (800) (45c-S5c). Gross: $500. 1 MINNEAPOLIS "Easter Parade" was a strong draw in a week which saw theatre business in a general improvement. Estimated receipts for the week ended August 12: EASTER PARADE (M-G-M) — RADIO CITY (4,000) (50c-70c). Gross: $18,500. (Average: J16.000-) KEY LARGO (WB) — RKO ORPHEUM (2.80O) (50c-70c). Gross: $13,000. (Average: $12,500) ■ MR. BLANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE (SRO) — LYRIC (1.1CG0 (50c-70c) 4th week. Gross: $5,200. (Average: $5,000) RETURN OF THE BAD MEN (RKO Radio) -RKO PAN (1,500) (50c-70t) 5 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,000. (Average: for 7 days: $8,000) SHAGGY (Para.) and BILL AND COO (Rep.)- CENTURY (1,500) (50c-70c) 5 days. Gross: $4,000. (Average for 7 days: $5,500) TARZAN'S SECRET TREASURE (M-G-M) and TARZAN'S NEW YORK ADVENTURE (M-G-M-Reissues) — GO- PHER (1.000) (J4c-50c) 8 days. Gross: $4,200. (Average for 7 days: $3,200) THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (RKO Radio) — STATE (2,300) (50c-70c) Gross: $11,000. (Average: $10,500) Reviews BALTIMORE Cooler weather and the arrival of several substantial pictures are helping this week's business. Openings were "Shed No Tears" (Eagle-Lion) A HUSBAND and wife team up to defraud an insurance company out of $50,000 in "Shed No Tears," a routine melodrama based on the novel by Don Martin. Starring Wallace Ford and June Vincent as the married couple the plot progresses smoothly if not swiftly. Opening with a hotel fire in which an unidentified body is found, the picture relates how the wife identifies the body as her husband while he flees to another city under an assumed name. Wait- ing for her to join him with the insurance money he becomes suspicious and returns to murder her lover. Blackmail enters the picture as a private detec- tive stumbles on the case. Eventually all suffer for their crimes. In supporting roles are Robert Scott, the lover ; Johnstone White as the unethical detective, Dick Hogan as Wallace Ford's son, and Frank Albertson, the detective investigating the case. Jean Yarbrough directed and Robert Frost produced for Equity Pictures. Running time, 70 minutes. Adult audience classification. Release date, August 21. "Miracle in Harlem" (Screen Guild) THIS murder mystery can be credited with better production techniques besides being able to stand comparison with other Negro features from Herald Pictures. The picture was shot in sepia and it employs extensively combination sets making it possible for the story to gravitate from scene to scene with a continuous flow of action. Not to be overlooked is the fact that a couple of musical items have been neatly dovetailed into the yarn without getting into the way of the plot development. Heading the cast are Sheila Guyse and Hilda Offley as operators of a candy shop. A wealthy business man, Lawrence Criner, and his wayward son, Kenneth Freeman, swindle the women out of their store. Eventually Criner is found murdered and there are numerous suspects. At the end, however, it is revealed that the murder was committed by Criner's secretary, who stands to inherit his business and fortune. In supporting roles are Stepin Fetchit, providing comedy relief, Creighton Thompson as a minister, William Greaves as Miss Guyse's romantic counterpart, and Jack Carter as the blackmailing criminal. Musical numbers include several Negro spirituals and the songs "I Want to Be Loved," sung by Savannah Churchill, "Patience and Fortitude" and others. Jack Goldberg produced, Jack Kemp directed and Vincent Valentini wrote the original story and screenplay. Running time, 70 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, August 6. 'Champagne Charlie" (Belt Pictures) SET in London in the latter period of the last century, "Champagne Charlie" is a musical into which has been woven a plot concerning, first- ly, a feud between competitive music halls, and later their joint effort to keep from being closed by municipal authorities. Made in England and appearing somewhat dated, the picture at best is only mildly entertaining for it has Tommy Trinder and Stanley Holloway singing one song after another until mid-way in the picture when the plot finally starts to appear. Some of their songs were popular during -the period in which the story takes place while others are fairly recent. They include "Come On Algernon," "Hit Him on the Boke," "Strolling in the Park," "The Man on the Flying Trapeze," "Hunting After Dark" and a half dozen on the effects of alcoholic beverages. Supporting the two singers are Betty Warren, as the owner of one of the music halls; Jean Kent as her daughter in love with a nobleman, and Harry Fowler as a backstage assistant. Michael Balcon produced and Cavalcanti directed. Austin Melford, John Dighton and Angus Macphail wrote the original. Running time, 72 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, August 6. better than any recently and weekend crowds gave a box-office boost. "Key Largo" is doing excellent business. Estimated receipts for the week ended August 12: ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (U-I)— KEITH'S (2,404) (25c-37c-44c-54c and 56c weekends). Gross: $10,750. (Average: $12,000) BRING 'EM BACK ALIVE (RKO Radio reissue) — HIPPODROME (2,205) (29c-37c- 50c-58c) With a stage show. Gross: $18,500. (Average: $17,500) ESCAPE (2Cth-Fox) — NEW (1,800) (29c-40c- 50c -58c). Gross: $12,000. (Average: $11,750) FANNY (Siritzky International) — LITTLE (328) (29c-37c-56c). Gross: $3,000. (Average: $3,(X») KEY LARGO' (WB) — STANLEY (3,280) (29c-37c-50c-58c). Gross: $20,000. (Average: $14,000) MR. BLANDING BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE (SRO)— VALENCIA (1,466) (29c- 37c-45c-54c- and 56c weekends) 2nd week. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,000) THE BABE RUTH STORY (AA-Mono.)— TOWN (1.450) (29c-37c-56c) 2nd week. Gross: $12,200. (Average: $11,000) THE BIG CITY (M-G-M) — MAYFAIR (1.000) (21c-29c-54c). Gross: $6,250. (Aver- age: $5,000) THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE (UA)— CENTURY (3,000) (29c-37c-45c-54c and 56c w°~kends). Gross: $15,5CO. (Average- $14,- 500) TORONTO With cooler weather helping the trend, there was a strengthening of patronage at ace houses, top attrac- tion of the week being _ "Easter Pa- rade." There were holdovers at three theatres. Estimated receipts for the week ended August 12: ABBOTT AJVD COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (U-I)-UPTOWN (2,761) ^0c"3ec:r*:^6c-90c) 6 days. 2nd week. Gross: $9,100. (Average: $10,600) BERLIN EXPRESS (RKO Radio) - SHEA'S (2,480) (20c-36c-50c-66c-90c) 6 SfUfS.-n Gross: $15,700. (Average: $14,700) DEEP WATERS (20th-Fox)-NORTOWN (950! (20c-42c-60c) 6 days. Gross $4^00. (Average: $5,000) Production Remains Unchanged on Coast Hollywood, August 12. — The pro- duction tally, standing at 34, remained unchanged from last week. Eight new films were started, while an equal number were sent to the cutters. Shooting started on "Knock on Any Door" and "Jungle Jim," Columbia; "A Date with Murder" (Falcon). Film Classics; "Incident," Monogra^ "One Woman," Paramount ; "I\ . , * of the Yukon," Republic ; "Frontier Phantom" (Western Adventure), Screen Guild; "Somewhere in the City," Warner. Shooting finished on "Law of the Barbary Coast" and "The Lovers," Columbia ; "The Rangers Ride," Mon- ogram ; "Outlaw Country," Screen Guild ; "Adventures of the Cisco Kid" (Krasne), United Artists; "Family Honeymoon," Universal-International ; "June Bride" and "Fighter Squad- ron," Warner. Contemplate Eight Actions on Drive-ins Los Angeles, August 12. — President C. A. Caballero of Pacific Drive-in Theatres, Inc., has announced his in- tention to file suits against eight ex- hibitor interests operating on building drive-ins within the territory licensed to Pacific under Hollingshead patent No. 1,909,537. Alleged infringers are described as operating under Josserand improve- ment patent, which is called an in- fringement of the Hollingshead patent. Area claimed by Pacific embraces most of Southern California. DEEP WATERS (20th-Fox) — VICTORIA (1,240) (20c-36c-42c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $5,300. (Average: $5.8000 EASTER PARADE. (M-G-M) — LOEW'S (2,C'74) (20c-36c-50c-66c-78c) 6 days. Gross: $16,700'. (Average: $14,200) KEY LARGO' (WB)— IMPERIAL (3,343) (20c-35c-5Oc-6fic-90c) 6 davs. Gross: $15,- 600. (Average: $14,600) THE STREET WITH NO NAME (20th- Fcx) — EGLINTON (1,086) (20c-36c-50c-66c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,900. (Average: $6,900) THE STREET WITH NO NAME (20th- Fox)— TIVOLI (1.434) (2Oc-36c-50c-66c) 6 davs, 2nd week. Gross: $6,700. (Average: *8,200) THE WHITE UNICORN (E-L)— DAN- FORTH (1.400) (20c-36c-50c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $6,200'. (Average: $6,500) THE WHITE UNICORN (E-L)— FAIR- LAWN (1.195) (2Oc-36c-50c-55c) 6 days. Gross: $5,300). (Average: $5,500) CINCINNATI Current box-office figures, while not sensational, are somewhat over the preceding week on practically ■ all fronts. Cooler weather is helping to some extent. Estimated receipts for the week ended August 10 : BLACK ARROW (Col.)-RKO SHUBERT (2,150) (50c-55c-60c-65c-70c-75c) 2nd week, on a moveover from the Albee. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $5,000) CANON CITY (E-L) — RKO' PALACE (2.700) (50c-55c-6Oc-65c-70c-75c). Gross: $15,- 500. (Average: $15,000) DEEP WATERS (ZOth-Fox) — RKO GRAND (1,500) (50c-55c-6Oc-65c-70c-75c). Gross: $11,- 000. (Average: $5.0C0). EASTER PARADE (M-G-M) — RKO CAP- ITOL (2,000) (50c-55c-60c-65c-70c-75c) 3rd week. Gross: $11,000. (Average: $10,000) MAN-EATER OF KUMAON (U-I)— — KEITH'S (1,500) (50c-55c-60c-65c-75c). Gross: $7,500. (Average: $7,500) MELODY TIME (RKO' Radio) — RKO LYRIC (1,400) (50c-55c-60t-65c-70c-75c) 3rd week, following an initial week at the Albee and a first moveover week at the Shubert. Gross: $5,500. (Average: $5,000) RETURN OF THE BAD MEN (RKO Radio)-RKO ALBEE (3.300) (50c-55c-60c- (>5c-70c-75c). Gross: $16,000. (Average: $15.- 000) Friday, August 13, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 5 Review "Julia Misbehaves" (M-G-M) THOSE who remember Greer Garson as Mrs. Miniver, Madame Curie and Mrs. Parkington in attractions of those titles are heading for a pleasant and agreeable surprise when they meet Miss G. as Julia Packett in "Julia Misbehaves." It is a complete switch from the heroic and the tragic to the gay and the hoydenish. On Greer, it's decidedly becoming. Based on Margery Sharp's novel, "The Nutmeg Tree," her current vehicle ^-(^rictly story-book material. It may not always be entirely believable, but a lot of fun and duck soup for any audience. This time, circumstances compel Miss Garson to rely almost entirely on her wits. She's from show business and long separated from high-toned Walter Pidgeon who never fell out of love with her but only thought so at the behest of his mother, the socially-conscious Lucille Watson. When the lovely and fresh Elizabeth Tay- lor, however, is about to be married, Miss Garson decides to journey from London to the South of France in order to see her daughter. Miss Watson seeks to block this and other matters, but fails on practically all counts. Chief among them is the realization on the part of Miss Taylor of what Miss Garson means to her. This is established in a touching and dramatic sequence which brings mother and daughter together. Pidgeon finds his original attraction for Miss Garson is undiminished despite their years apart and in the face of her slightly risque escapades involving what Cesar Romero thinks is a love match and what Nigel Bruce believes a gentleman is entitled to for aiding a lady, in financial distress. The fact is Miss Garson, who is rarely off the screen, is pretty busy in all kinds of directions ; not the least is a motherly conspiracy which finds Miss Taylor walking out on her engagement for an elopement with Peter Lawford. The directions are varied enough to include an acrobatic act in which the new-style Miss Garson wears tights and sings. While this is Miss Garson's show — and her first with Pidgeon since "Mrs. Parkington," almost four years ago — performances of the other principals are highly competent, as might be expected from such experienced performers. Their support, including reliables like Mary Boland, Reginald Owen, Henry Stephenson, Fritz Feld and Veda Ann Borg, renders a valuable assist. Everett Riskin produced with that old and sure hand, Jack Conway, direct- ing. The lively screenplay is credited to William Ludwig, Harry Ruskin and Arthur Wimperis working off an adaptation of the original novel by Gina Kaus and Monckton Hoffe. Running time, a happy 99 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, Oct. 8. Red Kann Jackpot Game (Continued from page 1 ) game to trade press representatives at a luncheon here yesterday, claims that all elements of chance have been elim- inated from the game. Preliminary opinions obtained by the sponsors from the Post Office Department, the De- partment of Justice, Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communica- tions Commission indicate that it will pass all tests of a game of skill, Mitch- ell said. Held To Comply With Law In addition, counsel for the spon- sors of the game have certified that it complies with all state laws on pub- lic contests. Contestants obtain a puzzle picture from participating theatres and tell in 25 words or less why they like motion pictures. Their entries are filed with the theatre and on the specified weekly prize night the best entries are an- nounced and the winners participate in an elimination contest at the theatre, consisting of supplying the answers, also on motion picture subjects, to questions put to them on the stage of the theatre. Contestants are not required to pay an admission to obtain an entry puzzle and winners are not required to be in the theatre when the initial entries are judged. Such contestants have their names announced outside as well as inside the theatre and are admitted free within three minutes of the an- nouncement to participate. National Jackpot of $5,000 Winner of individual theatres' puzzle question receives a prize of at least $25 to be posted by the theatre and quali- fies to try for a national jackpot ques- tion worth a minimum of $5,000 in prizes, the national jackpot to be pro- vided by the game's sponsor, Enter- prise House. The national jackpot question is asked,- and answers »are given, over a telephone hook-up with Enterprise's New York headquarters and the participating theatre's stage.' As soon as a jackpot is won, Enter- prise posts another so that a national prize always is on hand. If a jackpot is not won by the weekly deadline, additional prizes are added to it. Cost to theatres is on a basis of four cents, per seat. A trailer is provided at a rental of $1 weekly and press books, contest materials and other es- sentials are provided without charge. Initial tryout of the game will be held in New England in the near fu- ture, Mitchell said. The game's spon- sors view it as the theatres' answer to' radio giveaway competition, as well as a box-office stimulant. US Increases Films (Continued from page 1) the program, was badly crippled by- budget cuts during the past 18 months. But the last Congress raised the ap- propriation for the entire program for the current fiscal year from $10,500,- 000 to $28,000,000. The film section, which was cut last year from $2,- 700,000 to $339,000, will have about $2,000,000 to spend. As a result, it will triple its staff — the section had about 87 people on Jan. 1, 1947, gradually trimmed this to 22, and now it hopes to employ about 70 persons. Also, it will ac- quire 100 new reels to show abroad. Prints of each will be made in 14 languages. At least half will be acquired from private firms ; as few as possible will be produced by the De- partment. During 1946-1947, the divi- sion acquired about 130 new reels, but last year it got none. O'Brien Asks (Continued from page 1) next. O'Brien will attend the IATSE's international convention which will start in Cleveland on Mon- day.- "I think the time has come when the American and British industries should get together and cooperate more closely and form a permanent joint council for the purpose of deal- ing with problems of mutual interest," O'Brien declared. "Unless they do that," he continued, "the British gov- ernment, and sooner or later the U. S. government, will show an increasing interest and control over affairs with- in the industry." This, he asserted, "in many respects would be undesir- able." O'Brien labeled the boycotting of British films here by Sons of Liberty and other groups as "crass stupidity" that could lead to serious conse- quences. He appealed to the boycot- ters "not to take it out on the indus- try" but to express their grievances with British policy through proper po- litical channels. He observed that the U. S. indus- try could be "paralyzed" if groups in England instituted boycotts. He said that our need for the British mar- ket is far greater than the British industry's need for the United States market. Full Remittances (Continued from page 1) Saenz, the company's Cuban manager, said that U. S. distributors stand to take $2,000,000 out of his territory this year. He asserted that this is the second biggest year for the U. S. in- dustry in Cuba, 1947 being tops. Saenz said that although grosses generally are lower in Cuba this year than last, RKO's are larger. Since there are still no restrictions on theatre building in Cuba, many new houses have been erected there, Saenz reported, seven having been built in Havana alone in the past two years. Other theatres throughout Cuba are undergoing modernization, he said. Blum-Byrnes Accord (Continued from page 1) Department nor industry officials would discuss any details of its con- tents. Date of the meeting may be set tomorrow when Motion Picture Ex- port Association president Eric John- ston is due back at his desk here after a month on the Coast. In addi- tion to action on the French and British markets, the MPEA session will probably give instructions to Johnston on his anticipated trip to Paris and London. Your excited customers will be asking: "When will you be playing the picture that Hollywood Reporter says 'holds the spectator spell- bound for its dynamic 89 minutes'?" Produced by Hal Wallis for Paramount says, "Happy showmen today are playing these lucky-at-the-boxoffice 20th Century-Fox hits": THE WALLS OF JERICHO THAT LADY IN ERMINE TECHNICOLOR "THE STREET WITH NO NAME" • "GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADW, TECHNICOLOR El MOTION PIGt*IM[mST ,and,r Slf^---H I W F,LM Impartic ^ ' ' JtLmd JL NEWS 54. NO. 32 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 1948 .v. j J — Studio Unions Campaign to Boost Grosses Appeal to AFL Crafts To Patronize Theatres Hollywood, Aug. 15. — In the first national undertaking by or- ganized labor to stimulate motion picture box-offices, on which it de- pends for a livelihood, the Hollywood American Federation of Labor Film Council, comprising 22 studio unions and guilds, tomorrow will mail letters to 5,000 AFL organizations in the U.S. urging increased theatre atten- dance. Letter reads, in part, "We, AFL unions and guilds representing 26,000 Hollywood studio workers, want you to know every picture made in Hollywood is produced under AFL union shop conditions and contracts. And when you have a few quarters to spend for entertainment, we hope you (Continued on page 6) Studio Group Due For AFM Confabs Studio representatives were on their way at the weekend to New York to take part in negotiations with the American Federation of Musicians on a new contract for musicians employed in film production. Conferences will get under way on Wednesday. The group includes Charles Boren, vice-president of the Association of Motion Picture Producers in charge of industrial relations ; Al Chamie, his assistant; Robert Newman, Republic; Fred S. Meyer, of 20th-Fox ; A. H. McCausland, Universal; Richard J. Powers, M-G-M ; Lou Lipstone, Par- amount. Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount vice- president and chairman of the AMPP board, another studio spokesman at the negotiations, arrived in New York last week. Technicolor Cuts Delivery Time 334% Hollywood, Aug. 15. — Technicolor reports it has reduced the interval be- tween the completion of shooting of a picture and the start of delivery of release prints from an average of about nine and a half months as of a year ago to six and a half months at present, with the time expected to be (Continued on page 6) SRO Sales Set-up Will Not be Changed, Selznick Indicates Executive sales structure of Selz- nick Releasing Organization will con- tinue to operate as heretofore, follow- ing the resignation of Neil Agnew as president, David O. Selznick reported in a statement released by the New York office at the weekend. SRO gen- eral sales manager Milton Kramer, Selznick said, "has been gradually as- suming many of the executive func- tions of Mr. Agnew." Thus, no changes are in prospect, he said in effect. Selznick stressed that he and Agnew parted on a completely amicable basis, adding that Agnew's retirement was long anticipated. He said he has no immediate plans to name a new SRO president. Cohen Heads W. B. International Unit Wolfe Cohen has been named presi- dent of Warner Brothers International Corp., succeeding the late Max Milder, who died in London two weeks ago. Until now Cohen has been vice-presi- dent of Warner International. Cohen has been in the industry since 1918, starting in Toronto. On the opening of Warner offices in Canada nationally, he took charge of the St. John branch in 1925. Later he was transferred to Winnipeg as branch manager, with supervision over the Calgary branch. In 1936 Cohen be- came Canadian district manager. He was appointed vice-president of WB's Vitagraph in 1941. In 1944 he was made vice-president of Warner Inter- national. Toronto, Aug. 15. — The "gentle- men's agreement" between the Ameri- can film industry and Canada under which Hollywood producers agreed to give the Dominion considerable pro- motional attention in both features and shorts is attributed in large measure to American tourist trade increasing as much as 25 per cent in this U.S. sister country to the North. The agreement was arrived at as a means of precluding restrictions on Hollywood films in order to conserve American dollars, and is cited by of- ficials here as "a valuable lesson" for N. J. Allied to Call On Smith This Week A committee representing Allied of New Jersey is sched- uled to call on A. W. Smith, Jr., 20th-Fox's distribution head, this week for confer- ences on the Berger-North Central Allied-20th-Fox con- ciliation plan looking to its possible adoption by the Jer- sey exhibitor group. Commit- teemen will include Irving Dollinger, as chairman, Wil- bur Snaper and Lou Gold. The trio was instructed to meet with Smith at a Jersey Allied meeting here on Mon- day. OnlyOne Application For EC A Guarantee Washington, Aug. 15. — The mo- tion picture industry is not deluging the Economic Cooperation Adminis- tration with applications for Govern- ment guarantees of converting costs of distributing films in Marshall Plan nations. In fact, only one application has been received to date, from the Motion Picture Export Association, to cover distribution activities in Ger- many alone. ECA officials say they have had many conversations with MPEA of- ficials, but none with representatives of individual film firms. They express surprise that the number of inquiries from the film industry has been so much less than from book, magazine and newspaper publishers. Meanwhile, ECA funds were ear- marked for the first time for film equipment with the listing of an au- thorization of $10,000 to buy projectors and equipment for Greece. other countries which have established restrictions on U. S. films because of currency difficulties. Specifically cited as aids-to-Canada is the increased footage on Canadian backgrounds in U.S. newsreels and backgrounds in several features, among them "The Iron Curtain," "The Em- peror Waltz" and "Calgary Stam- pede." Success of the agreement, officials say, "are beyond expectations," point- ing to a gain of 20 per cent in Ameri- can tourist trade in New Brunswick, and of 25 per cent in Quebec. TEN CENTS Report French Offer to Free $9,000,000 Proposal Goes to MPEA Board Session This Week Directorate of the Motion Pic- ture Export Association will con- vene here within the next day or two to consider a French govern- ment-proposed film agreement which would allow the conversion and re- mittance to the U. S. of $9,000,000 in frozen funds owned by American com- panies, over a four-year period. This provision of the proposed agree- ment has been the principal factor in the negotiations begun in France about a month ago. At the weekend the companies here were in receipt of full details of the French proposal, cabled by Paris branch offices. Copies also were sent to the U. S. State Department in Washington and to Washington head- quarters of the Motion Picture Asso- ciation of America. Earnings both here and abroad of (Continued on page 3) IATSE Convention In Cleveland Today Cleveland. Aug. 15. — The 29th bi- ennial convention of the IATSE will open at the Cleveland Public Audito- rium tomorrow morning with sched- uled speakers for the first day includ- ing William Green. AFL president ; Gov. Thomas J. Herbert and Mayor Thomas H. Burke of Cleveland. The gathering of 1.100 delegates will be called to order by John B. Fitz- gerald, president. Local No. 27, Cleve- land. Temporary chairman will be In- ternational first vice-president Harland Holmden. Among those welcoming the delegates is Ernest Schwartz, presi- (Continued on page 6) Bar Para. Move on 'Frisco Video Bids Washington. Aug. 15. — The Fed- eral Communications Commission on Friday blocked a move by Paramount to increase its chances for getting a San Francisco television station. The Commission turned down mo- tions by Paramount subsidiary Tele- vision Productions, Inc.. and Ed Paul- ey's Television California to throw ' (Continued on page 3) US Canadian Agreement Aiding Dominion Trade 2 Motion Picture Daily Monday, August 16, 1948 Personal Mention Tradewise By SHERWIN KANE CECIL B. DeMILLE and Mrs. DeMille are observing- their 46th wedding anniversary today. DeMille also observed his 67th birthday last Thursdav. • Harry Simons, assistant manager of the RKO Palace in Columbus, O., has been promoted to manager of the RKO Grand, succeeding Larry Cap- lane, who has been promoted to man- ager of the RKO Brandeis in Omaha. Herman Stofle, Grand assistant manager, is the new assistant mana- ger at the Palace. • William T. Powell, former mana- ger, division publicity director and district manager for Public Theatres, Hartford, has taken over operation of the Kameo in Pittsfield, Mass. • Norman H. Moray, president of Warner Pathe News and short sub- jects sales 'manager, will return to New York today from Albany and Gloversville, N. Y. • Walter I. Lasker, president of Lasker- Schwartz, Inc., will leave New York today on a week's business trip to the Columbus, O, area. • Irving Helfont, home office assis- tant to M-G-M Midwest sales man- ager Burtus Bishop, Jr., left here yesterday for Chicago. • Andrew Freeman, former manager of the Rockland Theatre, Philadelphia, has been named district manager for the A. M. Ellis circuit. • J. C. Shanklin, president of Mo- tion Picture Theatre Owners of West Yirginia, is confined to his home as a result of a leg injury. • Frank H. Durkee, head of Durkee Enterprises, Baltimore, and Maryland circuit, is confined to his home by a broken collar bone. • William McCauley is replacing Harry Thompson as manager of the Rialto in Wyandotte, Mich., during the latter's illness. • Walter Gould, United Artists foreign manager, left here at the week- end for a Coast vacation. • Jerry Hoffman, Independent Art- ists publicity director, has returned to the Coast from New York. B. G. Rranze, Film Classics vice- president and general sales chief, is in Philadelphia from New York. • Hy Fine, Connecticut district man- ager for M. and P. Theatres, has re- turned from a vacation in Canada. • Ernie Grecula, assistant to Hart- ford Theatres Circuit general manager Al Schuman, is on vacation. • Chauncey Wolf, part owner of the Uptown Theatre, Baltimore, is vaca- tioning at Atlantic City. A FIRST inkling of what music performing rights could cost under the method of clearing such rights prescribed bv Federal Judge Vincent Lei- bell in the ITOA of New York suit against Ascap is provided by the deal with copyright owners made recently by Colum- bia Pictures. Jonie Taps, Columbia studio music executive, in clearing the recording rights to music to be used in the film sequel to "The Jolson Story," made provisional arrangements at the same time for obtaining the performing rights in the event Judge Lei- bell's decision against Ascap is sustained on appeal. It is estimated that the per- forming rights for the music to be used in the new Jolson picture would cost Columbia approxi- mately $90,000. A Jolson picture will have lots of music in it, and valuable music. Pictures no doubt will be made which will carry a greater cost for music performing rights than will the Jolson picture but, the over-all average will be much less. • Harry Fox of Music Publish- ers Protective Association, who clears the recording rights to music with producers, estimates that performing rights will cost . producers about as much as re- cording rights. In the trial of the ITOA vs. Ascap suit, testimony showed that recording rights cost pro- ducers anywhere from a few hundred dollars per composition up to $25,000. It was also shown that virtually every picture made uses some Ascap music, varying in number from one or a very few compositions to 15 or more. On the other hand, some music publishers, themselves copyright owners, estimate the cost of per- forming rights, sold directly to producers, at anywhere from one-third to 100 per cent of the cost of recording rights. Supposing the average film's music performing rights' cost is one-third that of the Jolson pic- ture (bearing in mind that some high budget musicals could run as high as $200,000 for such rights). For 350 new pictures per year at $30,000, the cost of performing rights would be $10,- 500,000, or approximately 10 times what exhibitors paid Ascap for the rights last year. • Who will pay those millions of dollars in performing rights costs, whether more or less than the rough estimate above? One answer may be found in a brief filed during the House committee hearing on the Lewis Bill last March by Adolph Schimel, secretary and attorney of Universal Pictures. (The Lewis Bill, it will be remembered, would have re- quired producers to obtain the performing rights to music con- tained in their films.) Said the Universal brief: "Clearly, if the producer of a motion picture is required to negotiate for a license to per- form the music contained there- in, the producer is warranted in requiring the exhibitor in whose theatre the picture is shown to pay his proper share of the ag- gregate amount paid by the producer to the owner of the performing rights of the music contained in the picture. This the producer would have to do." And again, in the same brief: "There is no warrant for the assumption that the producer of motion pictures could absorb the costs of procuring performing rights. There is every reason to believe that these costs would have to be allocated and ulti- mately paid for by the exhibitor of the motion pictures." Further: "Its effect (the Lewis Bill) would be to shift the responsibility for negotiation and collection from the exhibitor to the producer, but ultimately the exhibitor can and will be asked to pay these charges. If the producer is compelled to do the negotiating and do the col- lecting, we are convinced that the ultimate costs for such per- forming rights will be much higher than they are today, and if these costs are passed on to the ultimate consumer, namely: the patron at the box office, the ultimate consumer will suffer." In the memorandum on the Lewis Bill submitted by the Mo- tion Picture Association of America last March, there ap- pears the following : "If performing rights must be acquired by producers and/or distributors, those rights will be- come much more costly. This cost will have to be passed along to the exhibitor and, in the final analysis, to the ultimate con- sumer, namely, the public." The memorandum was signed by all major producers and nu- merous independents. Newsreel Parade THE Red espionage inquiry and the Olympic games mark current nezvsrecl highlights. Other sports and human interest topics round out the reels. Complete contents follow: MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 65— U. S. Government officials deny Red espionage charges. Violence marks flight of Soviet teachers in New York. Sports: Olympics, trotting, golf, racing. NEWS OK THE DAY, No. n- sation in Red drama. Olympic stont PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 1W! — Strange case of the Soviet teachers. Films of Olympics. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. 16» — One hundred years of friendship between U. S. and Canada. Swiss scouts commemorate In- dependence Day. Orphans on outing. Hoover birthplace. Mermaid exhibition for "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid" opening. Olympics. WARNER PATHE NEWS, No. 104— Red inquiry. Hambletonian. Olympics. Great Events: Tokyo Bay. Eastern Allied Hits 'Easter' Percentages Spokesman for the Eastern regional directors of national Allied reports that that group, at its recent meeting here, "strongly condemned" M-G-M's sales policy on "Easter Parade." Rep- resentatives of the Baltimore, Con- necticut, Eastern Pennsylvania, Massa- chusetts and New Jersey Allied units, who attended the meeting, argue that "Leo has decided to grab more than the lion's share on this production by taking it out of regular release in many instances for special deals" which call for increased percent- ages. Members of the units involved will be urged to demand that "Easter Parade" be sold on regular terms. An M-G-M sales executive said that William F. Rodgers, company distri- bution head, was the only one who could make a statement on the com- plaint of Allied's Eastern directors. Rodgers could not be reached for comment on Friday. Nicholson in Army Film Post in N. Y. Gordon McFarland, connected with Army motion picture activities since 1940, resigned as New York represen- tative of the Army and Air Force Mo- tion Picture Service on Friday after two years in that post, it was an- nounced at the weekend by Fred Bund, chief of that unit. John J. Nicholson, chief of the overseas branch and at one time connected with Warner Theatres, has absorbed McFarland's duties. McFarland will engage in real estate in Arlington, Va. /. P. Uvick Dissolves Anti-Ascap Group Detroit, Aug. 15. — Joseph P. Uvick is dissolving the Michigan Ascap committee which he headed. He is re- turning $4,000 of the $6,000 collected from the 153 individual exhibitors who formed it. He reported that the com- mittee which was among those taking national leadership in the fight against Ascap fees, has served its purposes. MOTION PICTLRE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-m-Chief and Publisher, Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, .New iork. Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Curmirtgham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Budding, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, tditor; cable address, Quigpubco, London. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture , efr,n; V"?tre. S.ales: International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Monday, August 16, 1948 Motion Picture daily 3 Eagle -Lion Sets 14 Releases to Nov. 1 Eagle-Lion will release 14 films be- tween now and Nov. 1, it was an- nounced at the weekend by William J. Heineman, distribution vice-presi- dent. Listed for August are "The Spir- itualist," "Lady at Midnight," and two re-issues, "Hold That Ghost" and "Hir^d Wife." September releases in- clv'^yj'Northwest Stampede," Cine- col?lf7"In This Corner" and "The Olympic Games of 1948" in Techni- color,* and two Edward Small reissues, "My Son, My Son" and "International Lady." Listed for October are "Hol- low Triumph," "Behind Locked Doors" and "Adventures of Gallant Bess," in Cinecolor, plus two other Small reissues, "The Count of Monte Cristo" and "The Son of Monte Cristo." Video Film Council Expands Committees Jose di Dinato, television station representative for Edward Petry Co., has been named to the television com- mittee of the National Television Film Council. Additions to the production committee are Jay A. Maurer, presi- dent of J. A. Maurer and vice-presi- dent of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers, and Bertrand Keane and Brian Calhoun, both of Keaneleigh and Calhoun. A membership drive committee is being selected by Robt. W. Wormhoudt, secretary-treasurer of the council. New Production Unit Is Formed by Martin Hollywood, Aug. IS. — Charles Mar- tin, formed Charles Martin Produc- tions, with Paul Zieffren, Nathan Wallach and John McDermott. The company, it is reported, will lead off with five comedies, budgeted at $1,- 000,000 each. Distribution arrange- ments have not been set. 1st under Hughes Regime Hollywood, Aug. 15. — First RKO Radio film to get under way since Howard Hughes acquired control of the company will start on Wednesday. It is "Follow Me Quietly," with Her- man Schlom as producer, Richard O Fleischer as director and William Lundigan in the male lead. 1st Westchester Drive-In Westchester County will get its first drive-in theatre Wednesday when the Starlight Drive-in on Route No. 9, Croton-on-Hudson, will open. Jerome Britchey will operate the theatre which can accommodate 500 autos. To Handle Young America Loew's International has arranged for worldwide distribution outside of U. S. and Canada of pictures pro duced by Young America Films for its library of classroom and audi torium films. French Proposal (Continued from page 1) India Centralizing Film Censorship BBC Will Televise European Product London, Aug. 15. — In the face of a blunt refusal by distributors and the film trade in general to help British Broadcasting through its present ex- perimental phase in television by loan- ing of films, particularly newsreels, BBC has concluded a deal with Sir Alexander Korda's Paris affiliates for permission to televise a select batch of Continental pictures for which they hold British distribution rights. Bar Para. Move (Continued from page 1) Don Lee Broadcasting's application for a San Francisco video spot into the general San Francisco hearings which concluded some weeks ago. Paramount, 20th Century-Fox, Pauley, Columbia Broadcasting and Station KROW were fighting in those hear- ings for two San Francisco vacancies. Several months ago FCC ordered separate proceedings on the Don Lee application, indicating the company would get a channel. The move by Pauley and Paramount would have placed the Don Lee bid on the same par as the others, thereby making three video spots available among the six applicants. Meanwhile, KROW filed a state- ment with the FCC urging that 20th- Fox be denied a chance to amend its San Francisco application to include plans for an auxiliary station in Oak- land. Pauley and CBS already are on record against the 20th-Fox petition, leaving only Paramount as unopposed now. U.S. companies having hit a new low since the war, one top film executive said here at the weekend, "We are anxious to get the money into the till and so probably will accept." He said he was speaking only for his own company. The French reportedly made further concessions in the matter of super- imposing French titles on prints, offer- ing to permit twice the number pre- viously allowed. Would Bar Theatre Acquisition American-owned francs not remit- table could be used- for certain types of investments in France, in real es- tate, film production and other proj- ects, and, additionally for print dupli- cates, it was said. Acquisition of thea- tres in France with blocked funds will not be allowed. It is indicated that French exhibi- tors will be required to reserve five weeks out of each 13 for French prod- uct. It is understood that the Franco- American agreement would probably become effective within 30 days of its ratification. Actual remittances, how- ever, could not begin until much later. Seek to Limit Convertibility The "peace" terms as offered by the French are said to place a ceiling on the amount of earnings convertible in the future. These remittable profits would be in addition to the $9,000,000 which will be freed if an agreement is reached. While it is considered highly likely that MPEA president Eric A. John- ston will leave shortly for Paris, and probably London, at the behest of the MPEA, this continues as a matter to be determined definitely at the meeting this week. Foreign department company heads met here on Friday at the MPAA offices presumably to study the French proposal in advance of this week's session. South American markets also came up for discussion. Washington, Aug. 15. — The Bombay government will set up a single film censorship board for all of India, to replace the present three separate boards in Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras, the U. S. Commerce De- partment declares. A report prepared by film chief Nathan D. Golden states that the ap- pointment of a central board is con- sidered necessary in view of the diverse standards adopted by the three boards. Some 13 foreign films, "most of which were of U. S. origin" were banned in Bombay last year, Golden reports. Another 86 had scenes deleted, mostly drinking scenes from U. S. features. "Perhaps for the first time" a kissing scene was asked to be cut from a U. S. feature, Golden says. The report says the Bombay Chron- icle "highly commended" the Motion Picture Association of America for restricting crime and gangster pic- tures. Edwin Maxwell, 58, Associate of DeMille Hyannis, Mass., Aug. 15. — Edwin Maxwell, 58, associate of Cecil B DeMille for the past 10 years, died here Friday at Cape Cod Hospital. Born in Dublin, Maxwell came to the U. S. 52 years ago. He played his first stage role at the age of seven. After a career on Broadway he went to Hollywood where one of his best known successes was as director and for a character role in "The Jazz Singer." He also appeared in such films as "All Quiet on the Western Front," "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," "You Can't Take It With You" and "President Wilson. British Equity Asks Voice in Film Posts London, Aug. 15. — British Equity has strongly protested the exclusion of actors from governmental motion pic- ture groups. The actors' trades-union decried the fact that actors are denied representation on the British Film Production Council, headed by Har- old Wilson. Equity also proposed much closer control of the "importation of Holly- wood artists." Henreid Intends to Make Two in Canada Paul Henreid said here at the week- end that he intends to star in and co- produce two features next year at the Canada International Studios, Mon- treal, to which he is committed, and beyond that he has no contracts. Hen- reid said he is now negotiating dis- tribution of the two with 20th Cen- tury-Fox. He said he believes that Class "A" production can be made on a budget of $600,000, but, he added, "End to Violence," which he is now making on the Coast will cost more than that. Henreid produced "Hollow Triumph" which Eagle-Lion is now releasing. Ask 'Paradise' Boycott Toronto, Aug. 15. — Archbishop Alexandre Vanchon has requested Communicants to refrain from attend- ing performances of "Children of Par- adise" which was made in France and is being shown with English subtitles in Ontario. The picture has been banned in Que- bec but was approved as adult enter- tainment by Ontario censors. Johnston, EC A Head Hoffman Hold Parley Washington, Aug. 15. — Motion Picture Association of America presi- dent Eric Johnston, who is a member of the Economic Cooperation Admin- istration advisory board, lunched on Friday with ECA Administrator Paul Hoffman, but aides of both officials refused to say whether films, general ECA business or purely personal mat- ters were on the menu. British Seek Spanish Films for England Washington, Aug. 15. — British film officials have been visiting Madrid to get Spanish films for the U. K. market, while French film representa- tives have been there to work out joint Franco-Spanish film production, according to a Commerce Department report by film chief Nathan D. Golden. U. S. films accounted for about 77 per cent of all gross receipts in Spain during Ma}' — slightly less than earlier in the year. New Manila Film Here Nathan Cy Braunstein, New York, has been engaged by the Reconstruc- tion Trading Corp. to edit "Fort San- tiago," first post-war Philippine pro- duction to be released in the U.S. The film was produced by Louis F. Nolasco. Building in Canada Declines Sharply Ottawa, Aug. 15. — Construction contracts for theatres in Canada have declined steadily since April, with the total of such contracts for the first half of 1948 running far behind a sim- ilar period last year. Contracts for theatres in June were valued at $200,- 000, as compared with $430,000 in May, and $340,000 in April. The decline is attributed to the high costs of building and the shortages of materials and skilled labor. Canadian Exports Reach $2,100,000 Ottawa, Aug. 15. — Exports of all films from Canada increased to $386,- 000 in June, compared with $300,000 in June a year ago and reached a total of $2,100,000 in the first six months of 1948, against $1,639,000 in the corre- sponding 1947 period. BROADWAY ENGAGEMENT AT BRANDT'S MAY Ft Bookie King tagged for rubout! . . . Homicide Ace on the murder spot! . . . Dark-Haired Dish the decoy in "buy or die" ultimatum by "protection" racketeers! — Rough, rugged action to make your blood run hot — and cold! 6 Motion Picture Daily Monday, August 16, 1948 Review "Sofia" {Film Classics) FILM CLASSICS makes a fairly impressive show of strength with respect to production scope in "Sofia." Had it made itself clearer on some points of the narrative, this relatively expensive Cinecolor expedition into the big- time undoubtedly would have resulted in something to talk about even louder. It is a melodrama about international opportunists in the Balkans that is deprived of maximum effect by an insistence on covering too much' geography and focusing on too many characters with too many diversified motives. Gene Raymond, Sigrid Gurie and others on view perform with adequate efficiency against a backdrop of elaborate sets in Turkey, Bulgaria, Athens, and an OSS jumping-off base not identified. The coloring job is commendable beyond question, likewise the ambitiousness of the entire production. Miss Gurie is a brilliant scientist loaded with information about the atom bomb and consequently held captive by shady characters "behind the iron curtain." Raymond is the American who comes to her rescue. Patricia Morison, Mischa Auer, John Wengraf and George Baxter are in support. John Rein- hardt directed from an original by Frederick Stephanie. Reinhardt and Robert R. Presnell, Sr., produced. Running time, 83 minutes. General audience classification. For September release. Gene Arneel Studios Sign 5 -Year Pact with 5 Locals Hollywood, Aug. 15. — Negotiations for a five-year contract covering stu- dio workers in the teamsters, plaster- ers, janitors, electricians and laborers locals were completed, on Friday by the major studios. The pact allows for reopening in 1949 and 1951 for read- justment if intervening developments warrant it. Studio Unions (Continued from page 1) will spend some of them where they will help provide work for AFL craftsmen ; that is, spend them to see fine American pictures ..." Letter continues, "The great decline in income earned by American movies in foreign countries has caused a de- crease in the production of American pictures. This has reduced drastically the employment of AFL workmen in Hollywood studios. While there are a few pictures which may be below average, there are many excellent ones which are top entertainment for the entire family. We ask you to remem- ber that every dime paid into the box- office to see an American picture helps employ a brother member of the AFL. And, just as important, 65 per cent of the money taken in at the box- office in your town remains in your town and helps employ other AFL craftsmen, for theatres themselves em- ploy AFL workmen under AFL union shop conditions." IATSE Convention (Continued from page 1) dent of the Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitors Association. "IA" presi- dent Richard F. Walsh will preside. Walsh's report is scheduled for Tuesday, along with reports of secre- tary-treasurer William P. Raoul and the board of trustees. Eric Johnston, president of the Mo- tion Picture Association of America, is scheduled to be a guest speaker Wednesday. Committee reports will continue on Thursday. The schedule for that day also includes an address by Tom O'Brien, MP, secretary of the British National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employees. Nom- ination of officers will conclude the day's business, with the election and installation to take place on Friday. There is no known opposition to Walsh for reelection. Mortician Sues RKO Philadelphia, Aug. 15. — Luzerne County funeral director has entered a $500,000 suit against RKO Radio in which he charges that "Miracle of the Bells" exposed him to "public scorn, ridicule and shame." The mortician, Raymond Polniaszek of Glen Lyon, Pa., claims the film portrayed him as a "hateful money-grabbing" under- taker and adds that the character of "Nick Orloff" was meant to be a por- trayal of him. Columbus Warns on Tax Columbus, O., Aug. 15— The State Tax Commissioner C. Emory Glander advised theatremen and other busi- nesses to keep records of sales under 41 cents for the purpose of tax assess- ments, despite the fact that the state sales tax on items under 41 cents has been lifted. He said that the "burden of proof" on what sales are tax ex- empt would be upon the merchant. Candy, popcorn, soft drinks and other items are included. Rocky ML Golf Tourney Denver, Aug. 15. — Robert Hill, president of Rocky Mountain Screen Club has selected Aug. 30 as the date for the club's annual golf tournament and picnic to be held at the Park Hill Country Club. Tom Bailey will be general chairman of the affair. Salt Lake Golf Event Salt Lake City, Aug. 15.— Fall golf tournament of the Salt Lake Mo- tion Picture Club will be held Sept 8-9 at Forest Dale with Harold Ches- ter, Bingham theatre operator, in charge. To Rebuild Burned House Bridgewater, S. D., Aug 15 The new Virginia Theatre liere will replace the Nancy, which was burned down. Technicolor Cuts (Continued from page 1) cut down to about rive months by the end ot the vear. A year ago the lapsed time, according to the company amounted to as much as a year or more in some instances. The company discloses that the aver- erage number of release prints ordered per picture stands at 415 so far this RKO RADIO PICTURES, Inc. TRADE SHOWINGS of SAMUEL GOLDWYN'S A SONG IS BORN ALBANY Madison Theatre, 1032 Madison Ave. Mon. 8/23 8:15 P.M. ATLANTA Buckhead Theatre, 310 Roswell Road Mon. 8/23 9:00 P.M. BOSTON Coolidge Corner Th., 290 Harvard St, Mon. 8/23 8:00 P.M. BUFFALO Shea's Elmwood Theatre, 539 Elmwood Avenue Mon. 8/23 9:00 P.M. CHARLOTTE Manor Theatre, 607 Providence Rd. Mon. 8/23 9:00 P.M. CHICAGO Vogue Theatre, 3810 N. Broadway Mon. 8/23 2:00 P.M. CINCINNATI Forest Theatre, 671 Forest Ave. Tues. 8/24 8:50 P.M. CLEVELAND Shaker Theatre, Shaker Heights Mon. 8/23 8:15 P.M. DALLAS Tower Theatre, 1913 Elm St. Mon. 8/23 6:15 P.M. DENVER Jewel Theatre, 1912 S. Broadway Mon. 8/23 8:00 P.M. DES MOINES Varsity Theatre, 1207 25th St. Mon. 8/23 8:30 P.M. DETROIT Varsity Theatre, 17121 Livernois Ave. Mon. 8/23 9:00 P.M. INDIANAPOLIS Zaring Egyptian Theatre, 2741 Central Avenue Mon. 8/23 8:30 P.M. KANSAS CITY Rockhill Theatre, 4608 Troost Ave. Mon. 8/23 9:00 P.M. LOS ANGELES Wilshire Theatre, 1314 Wilshire Blvd. Mon. 8/23 8:30 P.M. MILWAUKEE Tosa Theatre, 6825 West North Ave. Mon. 8/23 8:00 P.M. MINNEAPOLIS St. Louis Park Theatre, 4829 Minneatonka Blvd. Mon. 8/23 9:00 P.M. NEW HAVEN Whitney Theatre, 1220 Whitney Ave. Wed. 8/25 8:00 P.M. NEW ORLEANS Fox Th., Elysian Fields & Gentilly Ave. Mon. 8/23 9:00 P.M. NEW YORK Colonial Theatre, 1887 Broadway Mon. 8/23 8:45 P.M. OKLAHOMA CITY Uptown Theatre, 1212 North Hudson Mon. 8/23 8:30 P.M. OMAHA Brandeis Theatre, 206 S. 17th St. Mon. 8/23 9:00 P.M. PHILADELPHIA Logan Theatre, 4732 N. Broad St. Mon. 8/23 8:30 P.M. PITTSBURGH Fulton Theatre, 101 6th Street Mon. 8/23 8:45 P.M. PORTLAND Bagdad Th., 3708 S. E. Hawthorne Mon. 8/23 8:30 P.M. ST. LOUIS Shubert Theatre, 318 North Grand Mon. 8/23 8:30 P.M. SALT LAKE CITY Uptown Theatre, 53 S. Main Street Mon. 8/23 8:30 P.M. SAN FRANCISCO Alhambra Theatre, 2330 Polk St. Mon. 8/23 8:30 P.M. SEATTLE Egyptian Th., 4543 University Way Mon. 8/23 8:30 P.M. SIOUX FALLS Hollywood Th., 212 N. Philips Ave. Mon. 8/23 9:30 P.M. WASHINGTON Keith Th., 619-15 North St., N.W. Mon. 8/23 9:37 P.M. Accurate Concise and Impartial MOTIC * PICTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1948 TEN CENTS Income on the Upgrade At Key-City Runs Weekly July Average Was $14,771; In June, $14,210 Business at about 170 first-runs in key cities continued impaired some by the heat during July but nevertheless there was an improve- ment over the previous month, it is indicated in reports from Motion Picture Daily correspondents in the field. Average income for July climbed to $14,771 weekly at the key houses, compared with $14,- 210 in June. Average revenue reported from the same sources for July, 1947, amounted to $15,- 772. Average for the week ended on July 9 was $15,522, the first week to reach that figure since the week ended on June 4, which was the first $15,000 average week since early April. A variety of new product on the national scene is generally credited (Continued on page 6) MPAA to Move for SWG Suit Dismissal Motion Picture Association of America and member companies on Sept. 14 will ask the New York Federal Court to dismiss the suit filed against them by the Screen Writers' Guild which seeks a court order en- joining the defendants from adhering to their announced policy of non-em- ployment of Communists. Notice of the dismissal motion was filed with the court here at the weekend. The defendants charge that the (Continued on page 3) 19 Named to TO A Convention Group Chicago, Aug. 16. — William K. Hollander of Balaban and Katz, who is publicity co-chairman with Thorn- ton Sargent for the national Theatre Owners Association convention to be held here in the Drake Hotel, Sept. 24-25, today listed Chicago aides who will serve on his committee, as fol- lows : W. B. Bishop, M-G-M ; Eddie Solo- (Continued on page 2) Harford Trust Suit Settled with Seven Washington, Aug. 16.— A settle- ment has been reached with seven of the eight major distributors — all but United Artists — in a treble damage anti-trust suit launched over two years ago by Harford Theatre Co. of Bal- timore against the majors and the Durkee and Rome circuits in Balti- more. Under the settlement Harford gets a better break on playing time, but no damages. Now Harford will have an availability of seven days from the opening date of the first neighbor- hood run in Baltimore, without regard to whether or when the Durkee and Rome theatres play the pictures.^ The Durkee and Rome circuits were dismissed from the case in Dec, 1946 when Judge Letts ruled _ they could not be sued in the District of Columbia because they did not trans- (Continued on page 3) $1,620,000 Trust Suit Filed Here Six distributors and New England Theatres, Inc., have been named de- fendants in a $1,620,000 anti-trust suit filed in U. S. District Court here by Prudential Theatres Co., Inc., and Playhouse of New Canaan, Inc., own- ers and operators of theatres in New Canaan and Darien, Conn. Charges allege fixing of a uniform and unreasonable system of clearance in restraint of trade and commerce, conspiracy among defendant compa- nies, unlawful and unreasonable pre- ferred playing time, and unlawful "double clearance." Distributors named (Continued on page 3) Six Are Named in Percentage Actions Baltimore, Aug. 16. — Six distribu- tors have filed separate percentage suits in U. S. District Court here. Actions were filed by Universal, 20th Century-Fox, RKO Radio, Columbia, Warner Brothers and United Artists. Defendants in one or another of the suits are Windsor Theatre Co., Mon- roe Theatre Corp., Victory Theatre Corp., Fremont Amusement Corp., Morton H. Rosen and Morris R. Olet- sky. Theatres named are the Wind- sor, Monroe, Fremont and Victory in Baltimore. ■ R. Dorsey Watkins of the Baltimore law firm of Piper, Watkins, Avirett and Egerton is attorney for each plaintiff with Sargoy and Stein of New York of counsel. . Hold Strategy Talks For AFM Meeting Producer representatives will get together here this afternoon to discuss strategy to be followed in negotiating a new contract for studio in- strumentalists with the American Federation of Mu- sicians. At the same time the AFM's negotiating group will meet for a final discussion of demands to be made upon the companies. Talks between both sides are scheduled to get under way tomorrow at the New York headquarters of the AFM. MPEA Meets Today On French Proposal Board meeting of the Motion Pic- ture Export Association will be held here today to decide on the accept- ability of the French government's proposal to free more than $9,000,000 now blocked in France. Under the French-offered terms the money would be remitted to motion picture com- panies in the United States over a four-year period. James Mulvey, president of Samuel Goldwyn Productions, will represent the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers at the meeting and presumably will accompany MPEA president Eric A. Johnston to Paris if the board today deems such a trip advisable. Mulvey and Johnston repre- sented the industry in negotiating the British-American film agreement last March. Johnston was in Chicago yesterday to attend a meeting of the board of directors of United Airlines, while Joyce O'Hara and Kenneth Clark of the Motion Picture Association of America's Washington office left the Capital yesterday en route to New York. Still Working on First U.K. Payment London, Aug. 16. — John F. War- ren, accountant appointed by the Films Agreement Control committee to ad- minister division of American film companies' remittable balances here, has not yet made the first monthly allocation under the agreement. Allo- cations will be based on the monthly business of each company. Compila- tion of the business figures has not yet been completed. The Board of Trade reports that no application has yet been received from Americans planning to utilize their unremittable sterling under Schedule B of the agreement. Showdown In lA-Sopeg Tilt Is Due Aug. 27 NLRB Orders Election At IJ A; Inter venor Out August 27 was set yesterday by the National Labor Relations Board here for the holding of a shop elec- tion among United Artists' home office white collar workers to deter- mine their future collective bargaining representation. NLRB's setting of the date climaxed three months of bitter jurisdictional controversy between AFL and CIO industry units, with UA's refusal to negotiate with CIO's Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild heightening the clash and marking the first time since adoption of the Taft- Hartley Law that a film company turned down a union which had not complied with the non-Communist affi- davit provisions of the law. As a non- complying union, SOPEG may not ap- pear on the ballot Meanwhile, NLRB regional director Charles T. Douds has disqualified (Continued on page 3) C. P. Skouras Given Variety Club Award - Los Angeles, Aug. 16.— Charles P. Skouras, president of National The- atres, exemplifies "our great American system," Robert O'Donnell, chief barker of Variety Clubs International, declared tonight in presenting Skouras with the "Great Heart Award" from Variety Club of Southern California. Speaking before 900 civic, business and industry leaders at banquet cere- monies at the Cocoanut Grove of the Ambassador Hotel, O'Donnell de- clared that Skouras' "rise from humble, immigrant Greek youth to (Continued on page 6) Question Shortage Of Prints in Omaha Omaha, Aug. 16. — Members of the Allied Independent Theatre Owners of Iowa and Nebraska have called upon the organization's board of di- rectors to investigate the availability of prints in the Omaha and Des Moines areas. At a regional meeting in Red Oaks, la., a resolution was passed ex- pressing the feeling "that there is a definite attempt to set up illegal clear- ances by a print shortage." 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, August 17, 1948 Rank Studios Shut Down for 2 Weeks London, Aug. 16. — More than half of Britain's film production came to a stand- still today when the J. Arthur Rank studios closed for two weeks vacation. The studios concerned are at Denham, Pinewood, Shepherd's Bush, Islington and Ealing and in- volve nearly 4,000 employes. U.K. Films Council Members Completed London, Aug. 16. — President of the Board of Trade Harold Wilson has completed his Cinematograph Films Council with the appointment_ of two members representative of "indepen- dent persons." They are Prof. K. C. Wheare of All Souls College, Oxford, and John Brannigan, a Scottish trades- union executive. For the first time, no Americans were appointed to the Films Council. Second MP A A Ascap Meeting Here Today Second of a series of meetings to consider the Federal Court's decision holding Ascap in violation of the anti- trust laws will be held here this after- noon by the copyright committee of the Motion Picture Association of America. Chairman of the conference will be Edwin P. Kilroe of 20th-Fox. Howard Heads New Firm Television has added a new cor- porate member to its fold with the incorporation of Special Purpose Films, producer of commercial films for screen and television. Hampton W. Howard is president of the new corporation, and John Fox, former account executive with LaRoche and Ellis and more recently with CBS, is head of the sales service department. Hammerstein Services Hollywood, Aug. 16. — Private fu- neral services will be held here to- morrow for Mrs. James Walter Kays, former Elaine Hammerstein, silent film star, and her husband, who were among five motorists killed in a crash Saturday near Tiajuana. Her father, Arthur Hammerstein, flew here from Chicago. Herbert Kneller, 50 Lancaster, O., Aug. 16. — Herbert C. Kneller, 50, theatre manager here for the past 34 years, died unexpected- ly following a heart attack at his home. He was manager of the Broad at the time of his death. Previously he had managed the Palace and Lyric. Sunday Ban Upheld Zion, 111., Aug. 16. — Zion's law ban- ning Sunday shows has been upheld in Circuit Court at Waukegan in a test case involving the Zion Theatre Corp. Attorneys for the circuit said they will take the case to the Illinois Supreme Court and were given '45 days to file a bill of exceptions. Personal Mention WILLIAM A. SCULLY, Univer- sal - International distribution vice-president, and Maurice Berg- man, Eastern advertising-publicity di- rector, have returned to New York from the Coast. Vice-president Charles Prutzman is expected to remain in Hollywood for a few more weeks, while J. Cheever Cowdin, board chairman, and Joseph H. Sei- delman, foreign sales chief, are due back in New York this week. • Huldy McGinn, California The- atres Association public relations di- rector, is representing the industry at Stanford University's Workshop Conference on Leadership and Youth Problems, which opens tomorrow at the university. • Richard Lesnick, former Film Classics booker in Cleveland and son of Mike Lesnick, accountant for As- sociated Theatre Circuit in that city, will be married to Bernice Cassell of East Orange, N. J., at the Hamp- shire House here on Aug. 28. • Leslie E. Thompson, RKO labor relations head, has been named chair- man of the motion picture division in the 1948 fund drive for the Travelers Aid Society of New York. • Daniel Schuman, son of Leon Schuman of Hartford Theatres Cir- cuit, has become engaged to Bella Katz of Colchester, Conn. • Irving Sherman, Columbia assist- ant manager of branch operations, was in Cleveland last week from New York. • Frank Phelps, Warner labor re- lations head, is in Cleveland from New York attending the IATSE con- vention. • James Van Horne, 20th Century- Fox salesman in New Haven, has re- signed. • Ted Galanter, M-G-M exploited- in San Francisco, was married last week to Mildred Black. • Peter Thorne has been named RKO Radio salesman in San Fran- Louis B. Mayer w.as at Stanford Hospital in San Francisco last week for a checkup. HARRY M. KALMINE, Warner circuit president and general manager, and Harry Goldberg, ad- vertising-publicity director, left here last night for Washington and are due back at the end of the week. • Earl J. Hudson, president of United Detroit Theatres, and Leo Fitzpatrick, television director for the circuit, have returned to Detroit from New York. • Wallace Dale MacDonald, son of Warner International vice-president Karl MacDonald, will be married to Phyllis Ann Pearson in Salt Lake City on Thursday. • Rufus Shepherd, manager of the Broadway Capitol Theatre, Detroit, recently underwent an appendectomy at the Women's Hospital in that city. • F. J. A. McCarthy, Universal-In- ternational Southern and Canadian sales manager, left here yesterday for Charlotte. • C. J. Feldman, Universal-Interna- tional Western division sales mana- ger, is back at his desk here from a vacation. • I. E. Lopert, president of Lopert Films, and Mrs. Lopert will sail for Italy and France next Tuesday on the America. • Henry Hammond, Memphis repre- sentative for Monogram Southern Exchanges, has entered the hospital in that city for a check-up. • Jack Barrett, Monogram sales representative in Florida, is in the hospital at Fort Myers, Fla., follow- ing a heart attack. • John W. Mangham, president of Screen Guild of Georgia, will leave Atlanta this week for a sales meeting in Memphis. • Andy W. Smith, Jr., 20th Century- Fox distribution chief, is on a Nan- tucket vacation. • Thelma Huglund has been ap- pointed head booker for Universal- International in Atlanta. • George Cappers has sold his State Theatre in Hurley, S. D., to Vincent Van Eren. Story of Green Bay Packers in Films Hollywood, Aug. 16. — Steve Broidy, president of Allied Artists, has closed a producing-releasing deal with Tony Owen that will bring the story of "The Green Bay Packers," national professional football team, to the screen. Picture will be handled in a docu- mentary manner, according to Owen, who was a former co-owner of the Detroit Lions football team. All foot- age filmed by the Packers of their football games will be made available. Production is slated to start in late fall at Green Bay, Wis. 19 in TOA Group (Continued from page 1) mon, 20th Century-Fox; Lucia Per- rigo and Al Weinberg, Warner; Bob Hickey, Wally Heim and Lou Mayer, RKO ; Leon Brandt, Eagle-Lion ; E. G. Fitzgibbons, Paramount ; Ben Katz, Universal-International ; Norman Kas- sell, Essaness Theatres ; Jim Ascher, Motion Picture Daily and Motion Picture Herald; Jerry Baxter and Leo Zablin, Variety; Jonas Perl berg, Boxoffice; Joe Essler, Film Daily; Harris Silverberg, National Screen Service ; Irving Mack, Fil- mack Trailer Co., and Jack Garber, Balaban and Katz. S chary and Deutsch Start at MGM Studio Hollywood, Aug. 16. — Re- marking, "I am anxious to put on a uniform and start playing with the team," Dore Schary started his new M-G-M studio executive du- ties today. Producer Armand Deutsch, who left RKO Radh following Schary's resigiJ^' tion at that studio, al*-'. started as M-G-M producer. Fabian Acquires WB Strand in Brooklyn Sale of the Strand, Brooklyn first- run, by Warners to Fabian Theatres was finalized here yesterday, it was announced jointly by Warners and S. H. Fabian. Fabian will take over ac- tual operation of the house on Sept. 1. The latter's circuit also operates the Fox, another Brooklyn first-run. Correction Milton Kramer was inadvertently mentioned here yesterday as being general sales manager of Selznick Re- leasing Organization. He is chairman of the board. Milton Kussell is SRO sales manager. NEW YORK THEATRES p — RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL — r Rockefeller Center "A DATE WITH JUDY" Wallace BEERY . Jane POWELL Elizabeth TAYLOR . Carmen MIRANDA i Xavier CUGAT . Robert STACK A Metro- Goldwyn- Mayer Picture SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION mmmmt. ROY DEL RUTH'S "THE BABE RUTH Mom * w?uiam claim STOR1T. ~ BEHDIX-TREVOR Co** Performance* ■ Pop Prlei MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York. Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vme Budding, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. 15^ Tuesday, August 17, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 3 WB Seeks Dismissal Of 'Divorce' Suit Washington, Aug. 16. — Stanley Co., Warner subsidiary, today asked the U. S. District Court here to dis- miss a suit by K-B Amusement Co. to force Stanley out of the jointly- owned MacArthur Theatre on the < md that as yet there has been no ■' ^'uiient in the Paramount case re- q._jg Warner or any other defend- ant ^o dispose of any theatre. K-B claimed that Stanley should be forced out of the MacArthur because the Supreme Court said it was illegal for any of the "Big Five" to own a theatre jointly with an independent where the independent would other- wise be sole owner. Stanley's motion today was based on the legal point that when a case is remanded by a reviewing court for further proceedings, as was the Para- mount case, there is no judgment until the lower court enters its judg- ment in conformity with the opinion of the reviewing court. The opin- ion of a court is not a judgment, Stanley claimed, and therefore there is no final judgment against Warner in the Paramount case. Accordingly, the K-B suit is premature, Stanley said, and should be dismissed. Attorneys for K-B said they would oppose the Stanley motion. Wright to Stay on The Paramount Case Washington, Aug. 16. — "Trust- buster" Robert L. Wright will stay with the Department of Justice until the Paramount trust case is finished, even if it takes several years. Wright was reported last spring to be ready to enter private practice. Friends declare he is determined to see the Paramount case through, and is working feverish- ly to prepare for the October hearings. Meanwhile, George W. Wise, a member of the Justice Department's anti-trust division since 1938, has been assigned to handle and argue the Grif- fith case in Oklahoma City. Wise has been working on cases in the clothing, housing and building materials fields, and this is his first theatre case. Philip Marcus will handle the fur- ther Schine proceedings. Salesmen Ask Trust Action Dismissal Washington, Aug. 16. — Charles Wingfield and F. B. Klein, film sales- men who also operate theatres and who are among defendants in a treble damage anti-trust suit pending here have asked the court to dismiss the charges against them on the ground that the complaint does not state a cause of action under the anti-trust laws. Wingfield of Columbia, and Klein of 20th-Fox, who own theatres in Church Hill and Chestertown, Md., were named on June 2 in a $150,000 suit filed by the Center Theatre of Cen- treville. The Center claims their position as salesmen enabled them to get better pictures. Other defendants are Paramount, 20th-Fox, RKO Radio and Columbia. Attorneys for Wingfield and Klein have told the court they did nothing to violate the anti-trust laws and that the Center suit should be thrown out. The motion will probably be set for argument this fall. Harford Trust Suit {Continued from page 1) act business here within the terms of the anti-trust laws. The Harford claimed that it was required to play pictures 14 days be- hind the Boulevard and Waverly the- atres of the Durkee circuit and the Apollo of the Rome circuit. It de- clared that it was not competitive with these theatres, and the unfavorable terms were due solely to the buying power of the chains. It asked $30,- 000 damages, trebled to $90,000. Attorneys for the Harford said they were pleased with the settlement, which will cut their delay from a min- imum of three weeks — and often more — after opening neighborhood date to a minimum of seven days. Stipula- tions to dismiss the suit with respect to the seven settling distributors were filed here today. Robert Sher, of Miller, Sher and Oppenheim, here, and J. Purdon Wright of Baltimore, attorneys for the Harford, said they expected to go to trial against United Artists this fall. Granville Whittlesey, of Dono- van, Leisure, Newton, and Irving, represented distributors in the nego- tiations. MPAA, SWG Suit {Continued from page 1) SWG complaint "does not set forth a short and plain statement of the claims alleged therein and the grounds upon which this court's jurisdiction depends ; and that the averments of said complaint are not simple, concise and direct." If the motion is denied, the MPAA and the companies ask as an alterna- tive a court order directing the Guild to file an amended complaint deleting much of the text of the original al- leged to be "redundant, immaterial and impertinent." MPAA, Paramount, Loew's, RKO Radio, Warner, .20th Century-Fox, Universal and the Eric Johnston of- fice are represented by Rosenman, Goldmark, Colin and Kaye. Colum- bia's counsel is Schwartz and Froh- lich. Attorneys for the SWG are Monahan, Goldberg and Bredin. IA-SOPEG Tilt {Continued, from page 1) Cecilia Schuman as an intervenor in the dispute, informing her attorney, Sidney Fox, that an NLRB investiga- tion disclosed that Miss Schuman was acting in behalf of SO PEG in seeking to have her name included on the elec- tion ballot. Hence, on Aug. 27 UA "collarites" will vote on whether they want to be represented by AFL's IATSE Motion Picture Home Office Employes Local No. H-63, which claims to have won "an overwhelming majority" away from SOPEG, or whether they want no union repre- sentation. Workers Without Contract Following a meeting yesterday at NLRB offices here among representa- tives of UA and H-63, Joseph Conlon, H-63 organizer, said, "we hope that there will be no more delays," and he again assailed SOPEG for deterring "democratic processes" by opposing the holding of an election. Meanwhile, the employes have been without a union contract for several weeks fol- lowing the expiration of SOPEG's, but the company, when it rejected SOPEG, informed the workers in writing that union gains would not be endangered pending the settlement of the jurisdictional dispute. Green Blasts Congress in 'IA' Convention Keynote Cleveland, Aug. 16. — William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, today delivered the keynote speech at the opening of the 29th biennial IATSE convention here, with a blast at the 80th Congress for what he termed its failure to raise the 40 cents minimum hourly wage, meet the problems of high prices and housing, social security benefits, health insurance and protection of civil rights. Denounces Taft-Hartley Law Stressing that the Government should consider the conditions that make for Communism, Green lashed out at the Taft-Hartley Law and ap- pealed to the 1,200 delegates to vote in the fall election against any Con- gressman who voted for the act. Other speakers today were Mayor Thomas Burke, William J. Rogers, state industrial director, who substi- tuted for Gov. Thomas Herbert ; Michael Lynden, president of the Ohio Federation of Labor, State Congress- man Michael Feighan and John F. Burns, president of the Cleveland fed- eration. IATSE president Richard F. Walsh announced the appointment of com- mittees. Edward Arnold is due here tonight from Hollywood to address tomor- row's session. $1,620,000 Trust Suit {Continued from page 1) are Paramount, United Artists, Uni- versal, Columbia, Monogram and Eagle-Lion. Damages sought are spe- cifically $1,170,000 straight triple dam- ages plus $450,000 triple damages for "damage to properties" of plaintiffs. Complaint states that New England Theatres operates houses in which Paramount has a 50 per cent interest or more. In addition to monetary dam- ages, the plaintiffs are seeking elimina- tion of all allegedly unlawful clear- ances for Darien, New Canaan, Nor- walk and South Norwalk, Conn: 20th-Fox Will Hold Four Sales Meetings General sales manager A. W. Smith, Jr., of 20th Century-Fox has set dates for four divisional sales meetings to be held next month. The Eastern divisional meeting will be held in New York on Sept. 8 and 9. The Southern sessions will be held at Dal- las on Sept. 11 and 12. A two-day meeting with Central branch mana- gers is slated for Chicago on Sept. 14 and 15, and the Western regional will be held in San Francisco on Sept. 17 and 18. Williams in New Post Ottawa, Aug. 16.— C. E. Williams has been appointed comptroller and general office manager of the Film Laboratories of Canada, Ltd. ►Guess I have the kind of job that every girl dreams about — stew- ardess on United's glamorous flight, "the Hollywood," the flight so many Hollywood stars and other famous people take! ► This is the super de luxe DC-6 Main- liner 300 flight that leaves New York at 12:15 p.m., and arrives in Los Angeles at 8:25 p.m. In other words, just 11 hours, 10 mln., coast to coast! >Everything on "the Hollywood" is tops in luxury. Thick carpets. Deep, soft seats. Powder room for the ladies. "Stroll-about spacious- ness." Pressurized cabin. An observation lounge. And those m-m-m Mainliner steak dinners! ►Even if you're not a celebrity, travel- ing on "the Hollywood" makes you feel like one! United Air Lines Stewardess on "WW*- 6 Motion Picture daily Tuesday, August 17, 1948 Bergman and Aides To Promote 'Venus' A "flying squadron" of Universal- International advertising, publicity and exploitation executives will visit 20 key cities beginning next week on ad- vance promotion plans for "One Touch of Venus," Maurice A. Bergman, U-I Eastern advertising-publicity director, announces. The group will consist of Bergman, Al Horwits, Eastern publicity man- ager, and Charles Simonelli, Eastern exploitation manager. Republic in First Deal for Trucolor Hollywood, Aug. 16. — First outside deal for the use of Trucolor process, recently made generally available by Republic, has been negotiated by How- ard Welch and Walter Colmes, who will independently produce "Montana Belle," using Republic studio space. Fined on Violation Detroit, Aug. 16. — Hyman Bloom, manager of the Mercury Theatre, was fined $100 and placed on six months' probation for permitting 300 more per- sons than are allowed by fire regula- tions to enter the theatre. Review Luxury Liner (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer') Hollywood, Aug. 16 LIGHT, brisk, pleasantly humorous and musically noteworthy, this Joe Pasternak confection in Technicolor takes good care of its audience Lauritz Melchior and Marina Koshetz give the addicts of top-drawer music plenty of the best to listen to, but devote most of their time and talent to comedy which is within the appreciation-range of everybody. Jane Powell works out in the grand-opera tradition, too, but also in the topical and swing divisions. And Xavier Cugat pilots his bandsmen through typical musical interludes to excellent advantage. George Brent and Frances Gifford share the principal romantic complication, and Miss Powell shares a secondary one with Thomas E. Breen, the son of Production Code Administrator Joseph I Breen, who makes an auspicious screen debut in this picture. The produc- tion, directed by Richard Whorf, from a script by Gladys Lehman and Rich- ard Connell, plays a good deal beter than it looks .on paper, and figures to build as it runs. Miss Powell, as the daughter of ship captain Brent, is the central character in the lightly told story. Against her father's instructions, she runs away from a fashionable school and stows away on his boat, the luxury liner of the title, as it heads out for Brazil. He undertakes to teach her discipline by making her work for her passage, but Miss Gifford, a young widow flee ing an unwelcome suitor, befriends her, as does Melchior, Breen and the others aboard. Thwarted in his disciplinary objective, Brent relents, and before the voyage ends he has wooed and won Miss Gifford, and his daughter has agreed to see things Breen's way. The shipboard setting is ideal for the smooth handling of a diversity of musical sequences which offer at least one- number for every variety of taste. Running time, 99 minutes. General audience classification. Release date not set. William R. Weaver Reade Drive-in Opening Walter Reade's Drive-In Theatre located near Woodbridge, N. J., and first of 27 planned by the circuit in the next few years, will open Satur day night. It has a capacity of 950 cars and has provision for enlarge- ment for 100 others. Julius Daniels. Reade city manager for Perth Amboy, will supervise and Samuel Shumer, manager of the Strand in Perth Am boy, has been transferred to the drive in as manager. Edward Moroz, for mer assistant manager at the Majestic, succeeds Shumer at the Strand. Mono. Southern Meet Atlanta, Aug. 16. — In Atlanta for a sales meeting with Arthur C. Bromberg, president of Monogram Southern Exchanges, were the fol- lowing branch managers ; Henry Glover, New Orleans ; Hal Jordan, Charlotte, and Bailey Prichard, Mem- phis, with sales representatives from Atlanta and Charlotte. WB Circuit Zone Meet Hartford, Aug. 16. — Annual meet- ing of Warner Theatres' New Eng- land zone will be held on Aug. 31 at the Racebrook Country Club, Orange, Conn., with Harry Kalmine, president and general manager; I. J. Hoffman, zone manager, and Henry L. Needles, Hartford district manager, among ex- ecutives who will attend. C. P. Skouras (Continued from page 1) become one of the country's most suc- cessful business leaders and outstand- ing citizens is a story in the best American tradition. Presentation of of the Great Heart Award to him is further proof that he has not forgotten his early beginnings and has continued, to this day, to lend his active support to the betterment of mankind." Louis B. Mayer lauded the NT head for_ his "leadership in every worth- while cause." Other speakers introduced by toast- master George Jessel included Mayor Fletcher Bowron, Joseph M. Schenck, Ted Gamble and Willard Keith. Many NY Key Spots Are Off; 'Judy' and 'Walls' Beat the Heat S.R.O. shingles gathered dust at several New York first-runs this week as film attractions, in competition with beaches and other summer resorts, came out second best. Showshops vaudeville are doing the best busA The weekend's intense heat di* help. Two new films are running mild: "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid" probably will take in $24,000 in its opening week at the Winter Garden, while "Escape" is figured to take $15,000 in a first week at the Globe. The Music Hall's "Date with Judy" with a stage show is tops with a sec- ond week's gross estimated at $152,000. Close second is "Walls of Jericho," with Dick Haymes, an ice revue and others on stage likely to bring the Roxy a big $105,000. "Beyond Glory," with Peggy Lee, Jan Murray and Ray Eberle's orchestra in person all stack up as successfully at the Paramount where $90,000 is apparent for a sec- ond week. The Strand's "Key Largo," with Count Basie and Billie Holliday on stage is good for $52,000 in a fifth week; the show will continue, making an unusually long run for the house at this time. "On an Island with You" with the "Stop the Music" give-away show is down to $62,000 in a third and final week at the Capitol. "Pitfall" will follow on Thursday. At the Rivoli, "So Evil My Love" is growing weak with less than $20,000 in sight for a fourth week. "Velvet Touch" will fol- low on Aug. 25. "Easter Parade," too, is showing signs of fatigue with an estimated $35,000 likely for the seventh week at the State. This is still im- pressive in view of the length of the run, however. "Return of the Bad Men" is about fair with $15,000 probable for a sec- ond week at the Mayfair. "Babe Ruth Story" should do a moderate $20,000 in a third week at the Astor. A strong second week's gross of $12,000 is in- dicated at the Rialto, playing "Gung Ho" and "Eagle Squadron," reissues. The Gotham is continuing with reissue combinations and frequent changes and taking about $8,000 per week. Key City Income (Continued from page 1) with the upward trend. Films mostly cited were "Emperor Waltz," "Easter Parade" and "On an Island With You." Toward the end of the month "Key Largo" and "Abbott and Cos- tello Meet Frankenstein" came in for a good share of top money. "A Foreign Affair" and "Canon City" fig- ured importantly in- late openings. "Street With No Name" was well above average in several situations, while "Fuller Brush Man," one of the winners in June, continued to have good returns in July. "Return of the Bad Men" scored in Cleveland, Pitts- burgh and Kansas City, while "Tap Roots" opened at a record-breaking pace in Philadelphia. "Fort Apache" was especially big in Toronto and some other locations. "The Paradine Case" did nicely in Chicago and Phil- adelphia. "The Search" commanded attention in Los Angeles, ditto "Ruth- less." "Summer Holiday" was above average in Kansas City and Los An- geles. MR. EXHIBITOR Remember in September to Join in Promoting . . . WHAT TO DO 1. Order FREE accessories from Na- tional Screen— Campaign Book,Lobby Hangers, and "A Salute To Youth" trailer, featuring Sammy Kaye's or- chestra and Youth Month song, "I'm the You in the U.S.A." 2. Decorate marquee and theater. 3. Run all Youth newsreel shots. 4. Book all possible Youth s'hort sub- jects. See local exchange managers. 5. Put Youth Month slugs in ads. 6. Enlist support of newspapers and radio stations. 7. Interest civic and church groups, also Rotary, Kiwanis, Community Chest, American Legion, VFW, Lions clubs, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Campfire Girls, and youth serving agencies in Youth Month activities. 8. Conduct all possible Youth activity in and out of theater with at least four BIG community events. 9. Consult your state chairman. Work with your fellow Exhibitor in making your community YOUTH conscious. A Public Service Program Undertaken by Theatres, radio, press, and civic organizations at the request of Attorney General Tom Clark to combat juvenile del inquencyl YOUTH MONTH COMMITTEE CHARLES P. SKOURAS • HARRY LOWENSTEIN National Chairman Vice Chairman SPONSORED BY THEATRE OWNERS OF AMERICA TED R. GAMBLE, President JAMES CAGNEY • WILLIAM BENDIX • WAYNE MORRIS • JEANNE CAGNEY in "THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE" • From William Saroyan's Multiple-Prize Play with Broderick Crawford • Ward Bond • James Barton • Paul Draper • Gale Page • James Lydon • Richard Erdman Produced by WILLIAM CAGNEY * Directed by H. C. POTTER • Adapted for the Screen by Nathaniel Curtis motion picyiu, DAIL\ FIRST; IN FILM 1 IM 1— VV «J NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 1948 I Accurate i Concise | and Impartial Li ^ V V/,^64. NO. 34 jlA' to Fight For Television Jurisdiction Walsh Tells Locals to Admit 16mm. Operators Cleveland, O., Aug. 17. — The IATSE will fight to a finish for jurisdiction over television in the- atres, in line with its oft-repeated claim of jurisdiction over everything within a theatre's four walls, "IA" president Richard F. Walsh declared here today in his report to the 29th biennial convention of the Interna- tional which opened yesterday and will continue all week. Walsh admits there exists a great problem in organizing the television theatre field due to the Federal Taft-Hartley Act and also to the reluctance of technical-college-trained techni- cians to join unions. Referring to the 16mm. field, Walsh advises "IA" locals to admit 16mm. operators on separate wage-scale rates (Continued on page 3) Four Majors Settle Prudential Dispute Warner, Loew's, RKO Radio, 20th-Fox and Selznick Releasing Or- ganization have settled their clearance dispute with Prudential Theatres Co., Inc., and Playhouse of New Canaan, Inc., owners and operators of theatres in New Canaan and Darien, Conn. The complainants charged the dis- tributors with fixing uniform and un- reasonable clearances in restraint of trade, unlawful preferred playing time and illegal "double clearance." Loew, 20th-Fox and SRO agreed to eliminate South Norwalk and New (Continued on page 3) Overwhelming SAG Vote for Closed Shop Hollywood, Aug. 17. — By the over- whelming tally of 3,828 to 29 in a mail referendum conducted by the Na- tional Labor Relations Board the membership of the Screen Actors Guild has voted for the continuation of a union shop for film actors. The balloting continues contract arrange- ments in effect since 1937 under which any person who obtains acting work (Continued on page 3) Para. Television To Include Canada Toronto, Aug. 17.— With the first demonstration of tele- vision reception in a Can- adian theatre having taken place in the foyer of the Odeon Danforth here, Para- mount announces that, when the Dominion government authorizes televised broad- casting in this country, To- ronto will be included in a United States network for full-screen presentations in local theatres. 14 New Theatres for FP-C This Year Toronto, Aug. 17. — The Dominion- wide theatre expansion plan decided upon last year by Famous Players- Canadian Corp. is proceeding on sched- ule. This largest circuit in Canada has already opened six this year and eight others are expected to be in operation by the end of the year. Among the eight being constructed are projects in Halifax, St. John, Port Arthur and Windsor, and three in To- ronto. Work has also been started on theatres in Kelowna and Moncton. Meanwhile Famous Players has purchased control of Skyway Drive-in Theatres, Ltd., and reportedly now owns approximately 90 per cent of the outstanding common stock of the cir- cuit. AFM and Producers Open Talks Today Negotiations between producer rep- resentatives and the American Federa- tion of Musicians for a new agree- ment covering studio instrumentalists will get under way this afternoon at the New York offices of the AFM. What new demands will be made by the AFM will be disclosed to the com- panies for the first time at today's meeting with a Federation delegation headed by president James Caesar Petrillo of the American Federation of Musicians. Company negotiators will be led by Charles Boren, vice-president of the Association of Motion Picture Pro- ducers in charge of industrial rela- tions, and Y. Frank Freeman, Para- mount vice-president and AMPP board chairman. . MPEA Approves Dollar Agreement With French Gov't Board of directors of the Motion Picture Export Association yester- day in effect approved a French gov- ernment-proposed film agreement un- blocking U. S. film company earnings in that country. Eric A. Johnston, MPEA president, following the meeting, said that the board's action means the conversion and remittance of American-owned francs totalling $9,800,000, the remit- tances to be made over a four-year period, computed quarterly. An MPEA announcement said that the board "indicated it would approve the agreement with certain modifica- tions which have been sent to the U. S. State Department for transmittal (Continued on page 3) Monogram Post to Nicky Goldhammer Nicky Goldhammer, former West- ern sales manager for Eagle-Lion, has been appointed Allied Artists- Monogram Western sales manager by Morey Goldstein, general sales mana- ger for AA-Monogram. A former district manager for RKO Radio be- fore his association with Eagle-Lion, Goldhammer will make his headquar- ers in Chicago. St. Louis, Aug. 17. — The next 60 days are expected to see the signing of a permanent management pact be- tween the Skouras theatre properties in St. Louis and Fanchon and Marco. The pact, it is understood, will set up a permanent F. and M. management in the Skouras-owned Missouri and Ambassador theatres and St. Louis Amusement Co. The Ambassador and Missouri are 3,600-seat first-run houses in the downtown and midtown amusement centers, respectively. Besides the Am- bassador Theatre and office building, the Skouras' Ambassador Building Corp., through its wholly-owned Am- bassador Investment Co., holds 52 per cent of St. Louis Amusement, owner or operator of 28 smaller theatres, with Fanchon and Marco the minority stockholder. All of the theatre properties are (Continued on page 3) TEN CENTS To Press for Concessions On U. K. Quota Johnston, Mulvey Leave Here for London Friday An effort to ease the effect of the British 45 per cent exhibitor quota will be made by Eric A. Johnston, president of the Motion Picture As- sociation of America, and James Mul- vey, representing the Society of Inde- pendent Motion Picture Producers, upon their arrival in London on Satur- day. They are scheduled to leave here by plane Friday. Decision to make the trip was made at a board meeting of the Motion Picture Export Associa- tion which considered this and other matters at a full-day ses- sion here yesterday. While the quota has been enacted into law by the British Parliament, effective Oct. 1, Johnston and Mulvey, (Continued on page 3) Limit Prints Under Greek Govt. Decree By D. PAPADOPOULOS Athens, Aug. 12. (By Airmail).. — The Greek Ministry of National Economy has issued a new decree re- quiring government approval of all imported films, except newsreels, and limiting imported features and short subjects to four prints each. The Ministry will be the approving agency. The Bank of Greece, the decree stipulates, will furnish the necessary exchange for newsreels on the presen- tation of an invoice of the consignor, the invoice to be duly ratified by the proper Greek consular authority. The exchange to be granted is not to ex- (Continued on page 3) Ascap, ITOA Will Confer on a Decree Lawyers for Ascap and the ITOA are expected to confer in two weeks on the presentation of a decree to con- form with the findings of fact made by Federal Court Judge Vincent L. Leibell in his decision finding the So- ciety guilty of violating anti-trust laws. The ITOA's draft already has been completed and is awaiting discussions (Continued on page 3) Skouras, Fanchon & Marco Expected to Sign New Pact 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, August 18, 1948 Production Off 4; 30 Now in Work Hollywood, Aug. 17— The produc- tion index dipped to 30 from last week's 34. Six new films were started while 10 were completed. Shooting started on "Mr. Soft Touch" and "The Lone Wolf and His Lady," Columbia; "Parole" (Orbit), Eagle-Lion; "Call of the Cactus," Monogram; "Prejudice," Protestant Film Commission; "Canadian Pacific" (Nat Holt Production), 20th Century- Fox. Shooting finished on "Strike It Rich" (Wrather), Allied Artists; "The Big Cat," Eagle-Lion; "The Numbers Racket: the Story of Tuck- er's People," Enterprise; "A Date with Murder" (Falcon), Film Clas- sics ; "Rose of the Yukon," Republic ; "Gun Runners," RKO Radio; "Fron- tier Phantom" (Western Adventure), Screen Guild; "Three Wives,'.' 20th Century-Fox ; "Mexican Hayride," Universal-International ; "South of St. Louis" (U. S. Pictures), Warner. E-L Holds Luncheon For Milton E. Cohen Philadelphia, Aug. 17. — Some 100 theatre owners and motion picture ex- ecutives from this area attended a luncheon here today at the Hotel War- wick to introduce Milton E. Cohen, newly appointed Eastern division sales manager for Eagle-Lion. Jay Emanuel acted as toastmaster and William J. Heineman, Eagle-Lion distribution vice-president, addressed the gathering. Among those who extended greet- ings to Cohen were: Sidney Samuel- son, Ted Schlanger, Mrs. Edna Car- roll, chairman of the Pennsylvania Board of Censors; Lewen Pizor and Harry Berman. Paul Henreid, star and producer of the company's "Hol- low Triumph," which will have its world premiere tomorrow in Reading, was also on hand. Eastman Six-Month Net Increased 25% Rochester, N. Y., Aug. 17. — East- man Kodak today reported 1948 semi- annual sales of $192,480,338, a 25 per cent increase over the $153,581,750 gross for the same period last year. Net earnings during the half were $28,017,724, or $2.24 per common share, compared with $20,299,661, or $1.62 a share for the corresponding period in 1947. Current assets were $217,708,802 and total assets were about $300,000,- 000. Personal IRVING MAAS, Motion Picture Export Association vice-president and general manager, will return to New York today by plane from Eu- rope. • J. B. Cronk, vice-president of Ca- nadian Picture Pioneers and recently retired as Empire-Universal Film pro- motion manager, and his wife will vacation at Long Beach, Cal., after, which they will spend a year in Ari- zona. • William B. Zoellner, head of M- G-M's short subject sales, will be in Los Angeles tomorrow from New York for conferences with George A. Hickey, Western sales manager. • Edward L. Hyman, Paramount Theatres Service Corp. vice-president and Max Fellerman, theatre execu- tive, will leave here today for con- ferences in Upstate New York. • Mrs. Christopher Buckley of the General Stark Theatre in Bennington, Vt, has returned to that city from a business trip to New York and Al- bany. • George E. Freeman, manager of Loew's Poli, Springfield, Mass., has returned to his desk from a vacation at Hampton Beach, N. H. • Guthrie F. Crowe, president of the Kentucky Association of Theatre Owners, has been elected commander of the Kentucky American Legion. • Richard Powers, head of the M- G-M studio music department, is here from the Coast. Edwin W. Aaron, M-G-M assist- ant general sales manager, will be in Philadelphia today from New York. • Herb Pettey, head of M-G-M's radio station activities, is on the Coast from here. • Harry Kurnitz, Warner producer, is due here today from Los Angeles and will fly to London Aug. 29. • Robert J. Weitman, managing di- rector of the Paramount Theatre, New York, is celebrating a birthday today. • James P. Cunningham, news edi- tor of Motion Picture Daily, is celebrating a birthday today. Enterprise Aims to Rent Studio Space Hollywood, Aug. 17. — The fact that studio space here is now available for leasing is understood to have prompted Enterprise Productions not to exercise its option for a new lease on its studio. The lease will expire on Feb. 14, 1949, when the studio will be turned back to Harry Sherman. The company is said to feel it would be better business today to rent studio space rather than operate a full plant of its own. Johnson Back to 20th Hollywood, Aug. 17. — Nunnally Johnson, who recently terminated a Universal-International contract, will rejoin 20th-Fox studio, which he left in 1943 after an eight-year tenure un- der a long term writer-producer con- tract next month. New Premium Outfit Cleveland, Aug. 17. — M. M. Ja- cobs is head of the newly-organized National Enterprises which has set up offices here to distribute theatre pre- miums and handle promotions. Mention MARK SILVER, United Artists assistant Eastern general sales manager, was in Boston yesterday from New York. • Jacques Chabrier, American rep- resentative of Pathe Cinema and pres- ident of its U. S. subsidiary, will re- turn to New York tomorrow from France on the SS Queen Elizabeth Also aboard are David MacDonald, J. Arthur Rank director, and Julie Harris, costume designer for Rank's Gainsborough Studios. • Dorothy Barko of Century The- atres' legal staff is attending the Sec- ond International Conference of the Bar Association being held this week at The Hague. She is presenting a paper on "Modern Trends in the Law of Succession" to the conference. • Jack Daut, son of Frank Daut, credit manager of Altec's New York district, has been awarded a four-year scholarship at Notre Dame University, starting this fall. • Stanley Sinski, associated with Glacklin and LeWitt Theatres in New Britain, Conn., for the past 22 years, has been named manager of the cir- cuits' Strand in Plainville, Conn. • Eddie Christiansen, formerly on the staff of the Warner Theatre in Torrington, Conn., has been named as- sistant manager of the Arch Street Theatre in New Britain. • Herbert J. Yates, Republic presi- dent ; Eddie Cantor, Edward G. Robinson and Vera Ralston are among passengers due here tomorrow from Europe on the America. James Benton, who is associated with his father, William Benton, in the Benton Circuit of Saratoga, N. Y., and his wife, have become parents of twin sons. Bill Rose, former partner in Con- rose Enterprises, Hartford, has left Hartford for Long Beach, Cal., where he will make his home. S. J. Gardner, M-G-M assistant Western sales manager, has left San Francisco for a three-week trip to Portland and Seattle. • Henry Strauss, Columbia column- ist contact, will leave here Friday by plane for Hollywood. RKO, Nichols End Four-picture Pact Hollywood, Aug. 17. — RKO Radio and Dudley Nichols today annulled a contract, made during the N. Peter Rathvon-Dore Schary regime, under which Nichols was to have written, produced and directed four pictures, dividing his time between RKO and his interest in Independent Artists. Nichols will now devote full time to the latter, a partnership with Rosalind Russell and Frederick Brisson which produces independently for RKO re- lease. Newsreel Parade ABE RUTH'S passing gives a sol-j emn note to all current newsreels. \ Other events include the Russian spy . exposures, President Truman hails "YouttK Month," the 1948 soap-box\ derby, and the return of America's \ Olympic stars. Full synopses follow: \ MOVIETOSE NEWS, No. 66— Babe Ruth passes. U. S. orders Russian t""'|? - : ers to testify before committee. OpeA | . ! "splash!" President Truman hails "V-iAm Month." Tyrone Power visits Madrid. Soap-box derby. Water skiing. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 300 — Base ball's idol, Babe Ruth, is dead. Operation "splash!" Injured teacher finds safety against Reds. New clashes menace truce in Palestine. -Salute to "Youth Month" by President Truman. Soap-box derby. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 103— Ac- cent on young America. Babe Ruth. Hiro- shima, three years after. Incidents in Pales- tine's no-man's land. Operation "splash!" Greatest woman athlete comes home. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. 170— Babe Ruth dies. Bumper wheat crop at peak. President Truman presents new youth stamp for young America. Palestine truce allows Jews to retrieve bodies from no-man's land. Olympic stars return from England. Joust- ing in France. Soap-box derby. WARNER PATHE NEWS, No. 1— Babe Ruth. Parachute boat. Un-American Activities Committee's hearings in Wash- ington. Youth stamp. Women golfers. Soap-box derby. Will Rogers Drive Started in Cleveland Cleveland, Aug. 17. — The local Will Rogers Memorial Hospital drive for $75,000 got off to a flying start yesterday at a luncheon-meeting at the Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitors Association clubrooms, attended by 200. It was announced by I. J. Schmertz, general chairman of the drive, that an all-star performance will be given Dec. 22 for the benefit of the hospital. Ernest Schwartz, CMPEA presi- dent, presided. Meyer Fine, head of the Associated Circuit, and other large circuit operators pledged cooperation. $750,000 Local Ad Campaign for 'Song' A $750,000 local assist campaign, to cover 74 key-city runs, has been set for Samuel Goldwyn's new Techni- color production, "A Song Is Born," starring Danny Kaye. The campaign, to include radio tie-ups, will be han- dled by the Monroe Greenthal Agency, the Goldwyn office here reports. Edward Hill Amet, 87 Los Angeles, Aug. 17. — Edward Hill Amet, 87, inventor of motion picture equipment who perfected the magnagraph in 1895, died yesterday at his home at Redondo Beach, Cal. Sur- vivors include the widow, two daugh- ters and two brothers. Rites for Gable's Father Hollywood, Aug. 17. — Clark Gable arrived today for the funeral of his father, William H. Gable. The latter, 78, died Aug. 4 while Gable was on a tour of Europe. B MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq.p London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Pster Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Wednesday, August 18, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 3 Fighting 18% Levy On Turkish Income Washington, Aug. 17— Distribu- tors in Turkey are trying to get the ll government to remove a special 18 ] per cent tax on film royalties, accord- ' ing to a Commerce Department report by film chief Nathan D. Golden. Golden says that motion pictures are 1 ^^Mtct t0 an 18 per cent "transaction ^ 7" along with all the regular cus- "torns and other levies. Up to March 3, 1948, the 18 per cent tax was levied only on the actual cost of the film , being imported, but on that date, the ( i government ruled that the tax should apply to the royalties on the film as well. Importers have objected to this ruling, and are trying to get the courts to rule to the contrary. Rumors are current that the dollar shortage may cause import licensing in the near future, the report declares, but "to date, no difficulty has been encountered in obtaining dollars to pay for imported films." French Agreement (Continued from page 1) to the French government." This was regarded in trade quarters here as merely a formality. Johnston said : "We were mainly interested in remitting our past earn- ings and continuing the flow of our films into France in the future." Johnston and James Mulvey, repre- senting the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, will leave for London on Friday, and after a stay in that country Johnston will visit other parts of Europe on indus- try matters. Mulvey will return to New York from London. Johnston will be accompanied by Joyce O'Hara, his assistant. U. K. Quota (Continued from page 1) it is understood, will seek to have re- laxed those provisions under which British exhibitors are given relief. The MPEA here merely announced that the two executives who negotiated the British dollar-exchange agreement last March will "meet with London repre- sentatives of American companies to consider the situation created by the British film quota." Strong feeling here is that the quota violates the spirit and intent of that agreement. While the U. S. State Department has expressed its concern, it has yet to take formal action beyond instruct- ing its Embassy in London to investi- gate, so far as is known. Newman Back to Canada Ottawa, Aug. 17. — A. H. Newman, Canadian government central liaison for all American film production in Canada, has returned to Ottawa from a series of meetings with film inter- ests in the U. S., including Hollywood. He will report directly to the Minis- ter of Trade and Commerce, C. D. Howe. Warner, Jr., in Britain London, Aug. 17. — Jack Warner, Jr. has arrived here from the U. S. to investigate a plan for Warner Brothers to produce a series of moderate- priced features. He is scheduled to act as liaison between the company and a British producer, as yet un- selected. Greek Govt. Decree (Continued from page 1) ceed $50 for black-and-white news films and $100 for color news films. For approved features there is to be allowed an exchange equalling the value of the prints, transportation charges and the value of the accom- panying advertising material. Profits accruing to the imported features and shorts, limited to 60 per cent of the total rights of exploitation, are to be deposited in the Bank of Greece as unremittable earnings. The new de- crease will remain in force until June 30, 1949. Some $500,000 has been set aside for the import of American pictures under the decree. The Ministry will later issue another decree applying to the importation of films from other countries. About 60 Italian-made pic- tures were contracted for here recent- ly, and they are expected to arrive in Athens within the next few days. British 'Week End' at Park Theatre Here "Quiet Week End," produced in England by Associated British-Pathe in 1946 and distributed now in the U. S. by Distinguished Films, will have its American premiere at the Park Avenue Theatre here, tomorrow. Reviewing the film from London in the May 24, 1946, issue of Motion Picture Daily, Peter Burnup, Lon- don editor, said in part : "Despite the absence of star names, discriminating showmen should make rich play with this piece of diverting comedy non- sense, as should their American coun- terparts." The cast includes Derek Farr, Marjorie Fielding, Barbara White and Frank Cellier. Expect Resignations In Rank Circuit Posts London, Aug. 17. — Several execu- tive resignations are due to follow the formation of J. Arthur Rank's Circuit Management Association to control Odeon and Gaumont-British. Already, Arthur Brown is slated to leave the booking managership of G-B at the end of September with Richard Haul- er, Odeon booking manager currently controlling bookings of both circuits. Meanwhile, William Thornton, Odeon manager, has been appointed controller of all of Rank's London West End theatres. Selznick Signs Clouzot Henri-Georges Clouzot, director of the French film "Jenny Lamour" who is now completing "Manon" in Join- ville, France, has been signed by David O. Selznick to direct at least one film in Hollywood, it is announced here by Vog Film Co., principal distribu- tor of Clouzot's pictures in this coun- try. New Irish Film Here "My Hands Are Clay," a new Irish feature, is to be released here by Hoff- berg Productions through arrange- ments within Dublin Films, Ltd., pro- ducer of the picture. Desmond Leslie, Irish novelist, is chairman of Dublin. 'Mermaid' Air Promotion More than 450 radio stations in the U. S. have requested copies of the special 13-minute recording made by Universal-International featuring Jack Pearl as a special promotion feature for "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid," U-I reports. Operators Close Operator's Theatre Memphis, Aug. 17. — The De Soto Theatre here closed last night after 22 days of picketing by the local operators union. Walter L. Sawner, who bought the theatre and opened it July 24, is a licensed operator and ran the projection machines himself, asserting he could not afford to em- ploy an operator. Sawner said he will attempt to get an injunction to stop the picketing. TA' to Fight (Continued from page 1) so as to compete with non-union oper- ators. He touched upon exhibitor resistance to unionism, which he attributes to a box-office drop. Walsh also reported an agreement with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad for train film operation. He advises extended activities to in- clude summer stock, repertory com- panies and alleged non-profit enter- prises. Walsh called for a Social Security increase, reduction of retirement age to 60 and study of a pension plan. His report shows the addition since the last convention of 29 locals making a total of 940. Because of the Taft-Hartley Act, he says, the League for Political Educa- tion must be extended, adding "the time has come when we must enter politics." Walsh announced the appointment of the following committee chairmen : Resolutions, Harland Holmden ; presi- dent's report, William B. Covert ; spe- cial committee, Floyd M. Billingsley ; finance, Michael Kennedy ; grievance, James J. Brennan. SAG Vote (Continued from page 1) in pictures is entitled to and must join the SAG within 30 days after the first day's work. Referendum was' required under the Taft-Hartley Law. Screen Extras Guild is preparing for a similar ref- erendum, with a similar result antici- pated. K.C. Censor Retiring Kansas City, Aug. 17. — Mrs. Eleanore C. Walton, Kansas City censor since 1939 after joining as as- sistant film censor in 1933, will retire on Feb. 1, 1949, she has announced. Prior to the censorship post, Mrs. Walton was active in the Federation of Women's Clubs, was vice-president of motion pictures in that organization and chairman of the motion picture committee of the Women's City Club of Kansas City. Americanism Short "America the Beautiful," described as "a restatement of faith in the fu- ture of this country," is now available for distribution by Teaching Film Custodians, affiliate of the Motion Pic- ture Association of America. The film, a two-reeler in Technicolor, was pro- duced as a public service by Warner Brothers for the Treasury Depart- ment. UA to Screen 'Pitfall' United Artists will be host today to a group of jurists and sociologists at a special screening of "Pitfall," due to open tomorrow at the Capitol. Guests will include Justices Matthew J. Di- serio and I. Montefiore Levy. Skouras-F.&M. Pact (Continued from page 1) now operated by Fanchon and Marco or F. and M. subsidiaries under leases and management contracts which orig- inally expired in 1946, and which have been extended from time to time while Skouras interests have been as- sembling ownership. The brief period of the last extension, from Aug. 3 to Sept. 7, lends color to the report that a permanent management agreement has been reached. Meanwhile, Charles P. Skouras and George Skouras have made an official tender for all outstanding stock and bond issues in the Ambassador Build- ing Corp. and Missouri Theatre Build- ing Corp. which dominate the setup, and of which Charles Skouras and Clarence Turley secured control last year. Voting trustees are said to have agreed to a deal which can only be stopped by written dissent of one-third of the stockholders and is expected to be consummated in October, giving the Skouras brothers all of 'the two companies. Stockholders have until Sept. 10 to approve or reject the offer. Prudential Dispute (Continued from page 1) Canaan clearances, while RKO and WB consented to end Stamford and New Canaan clearances. Before the settlement was reached Stamford enjoyed a clearance of 30 days over Darien and 14 over New Canaan. New Canaan had 14 days over Darien and South Norwalk 14 days over New Canaan and Darien. It was also stipulated that when a production runs more than seven days there shall be no clearance. The charges that were made against the five companies are the basis of an anti-trust action filed by Prudential in U. S. District Court here against Paramount, United Artists, Univer- sal, Columbia, Monogram, Eagle- Lion, and New England Theatres, a Paramount affiliate. Third MPAA Ascap Meeting Is Planned A third meeting was decided upon here yesterday by the Motion Picture Association of America's copyright committee to discuss the Federal Court's opinion holding Ascap guilty of violating the anti-trust statutes. The meeting will take place in about a week. The committee met for the second time yesterday at the MPAA offices here to consider Judge Vincent L. Leibell's decision in the case. Ascap, ITOA (Continued from page 1) with Ascap counsel. It is understood that Ascap's draft has not been pre- pared. Should both sides be unable to reach an agreement on a common decree, each may submit one of its own to the court for consideration. There is no specific date for the presentation of a degree to Judge Leibell for his ap- proval. 'Polio' Bars Youngsters Louisville, Aug. 17. — Mayor Ar- thur C. Jones of Frankfort, Ky., says "there's going to be some padlocking" if theatres do not strictly enforce the "polio" ban against children. An order against those under 18 attending pub- lic gatherings was issued by the mayor several weeks ago, CLARK GABLE IANA TURNER Anne Baxter, John Hodiak in "HOMECOMING" Ray Collins, Gladys Cooper, Cameron Mitchell. * ★ * SPENCER TRACY KATHARINE HEPBURN VAN JOHNSON Angela Lansbury Adolphe Menjou, Lewis Stone in FRANK CAPRA's "STATE OF THE UNION." * ★ ★ "SUMMER HOLIDAY" (Technicolor). MICKEY ROONEY GLORIA DeHAVEN Walter Huston, Frank Morgan Butch Jenkins, Marilyn Maxwell Agnes Moorehead, Selena Royle. * ★ ★ "BIG CITY" Stowing Margaret O'Brien Robert Preston, Danny Thomas George Murphy, Karin Booth , Edward Arnold, Butch Jenkins Betty Garrett, lotte Lehmann. * ★ ★ JUDY GARLAND, GENE KELLY in "THE PIRATE" (Technicolor). Walter Slezak, Gladys Cooper Reginald Owen. * ★ ★ ESTHER WILLIAMS, PETER LAWFORD RICARDO MONTALBAN JIMMY DURANTE, CYD CHARISSE XAVIER CUGAT in "ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU" (Technicolor). * ★ ★ "A DATE WITH JUDY" (Technicolor) Starring WALLACE BERRY JANE POWELL, ELIZABETH TAYLOR CARMEN MIRANDA, XAVIER CUGAT ROBERT STACK. * ★ ★ GREER GARSON WALTER PIDGEON in "JULIA MISBEHAVES" PETER LAWFORD, ELIZABETH TAYLOR CESAR ROMERO, Lucile Watson Nigel Bruce, Mary Boland Reginald Owen. * * * MONTGOMERY CLIFT ALINE MacMAHON JARMILA NOVOTNA in "THE SEARCH" "LUXURY LINER" (Technicolor). Starring GEORGE BRENT, JANE POWELL LAURITZ MELCHIOR, FRANCES GIFFORD MARINA KOCHETZ, XAVIER CUGAT. ,* * + RED SKELTON, BRIAN DONLEVY in "A SOUTHERN YANKEE" Arlene Dahl, George Coulouris Lloyd Gough, John Ireland Minor Watson. . * ★ * "NO MINOR VICES" DANA ANDREWS, LILLI PALMER LOUIS JOURDAN * ★ ★ "THE THREE MUSKETEERS" (Tecnnico/or). LANA TURNER, GENE KELLY JUNE ALLYSON, VAN HEFLIN ANGELA LANSBURY Frank Morgan, Vincent Price Keenan Wynn, John Sutton Gig Young. ★ * + "HILLS OF HOME" (Technicolor). starring EDMUND GWENN DONALD CRISP, TOM DRAKE JANET LEIGH and LASSIE. - IRVING BERLIN'S "EASTER PARADE" (Technicolor). Starring JUDY GARLAND, FRED ASTAIRE PETER LAWFORD. ANN MILLER. ■HAVE A VITAMIN BEATS VACATION r6 ** SH0T-IN-TWEARM! New Music Hall Record! "A DATE WITH JUDY'^ (Technicolor) Biggest M-G-M first week in Radio City Music Hall history! Every new^play-date with Judy"terrific ! For Happy Box-Off ices! "ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU" Just what the fans want in romance and music! Swell biz from Coast to Coast ! ) -VITAMIN J***, IRVING BERLIN'S (Technicolor) "EASTER PARADE7' Hold overs! Extended runs! It's getting bigger and! bigger" as its fame and its song hits sweep the nation! Read the Reviews on "A SOUTHERN YANKEE" Here's a typical review from M. P. Daily: "Red Skelton raises the roof. If you thought he was a boon to tired theatre-goers in Tuller Brush Man' you'll be as pleased as the preview crowd was, unanimously, to discover that you ain't seen nothin' yet. It's the fastest, funniest comedy of this or any recent year!" Ain't it the dog-gone truth! M-G-M GREAT IN '48! 6 Motion Picture daily Wednesday, August 18, 19' Key City Grosses FOLLOWING are estimated pic- ture grosses for current engage- ments in key cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily correspond- ents. Estimates omit admission tax. CHICAGO Peak business normally expected in August is holding up exceptionally well. On the sensational side is "Easter Parade," "Abbott and Cos- tello Meet Frankenstein" and "Give My Regards to Broadway" with a strong stage show. Exception is "Lulu Belle" hitting a new low. Estimated receipts for the week ending Aug. 19: ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (U-I) — PALACE (2,500) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $40,000. (Average: $21 000) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M) — WOODS (1,080) (98c). Gross: $42,000. (Average: $23,000) FEUDIN', FUSSIN' AND A-FIGHTIN' (U-I)— GRAND (1,150) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $8,500. (Average: $11,500) GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY (20th-Fox) — CHICAGO (3,900) (50c-65c-98c). On stage: Disc Jockeys and Sara Vaughn. Gross: $70,000. (Average: $53,500) LIFE WITH FATHER (WB)— ROOSE- VELT (1,500) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $18,000 (Average: $18,000) LULU BELLE (Col.) — APOLLO (1,200) (50c-65c-98c). 2nd week. Gross: $4,500. (Av- erage: $14,000) ON AN ISLAND WITH YOU (M-G-M)— STATE LAKE (2,700) (S0c-65c-98c). 2nd week. Gross: $20,000. (Average: $25,000). SIXTEEN FATHOMS DEEP (Mono.) and THUNDERHOOF (Mono.) — GARRICK (1,000) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $11,000. (Aver- age: $10,000) SUMMER HOLIDAY (M-G-M) — UNITED ARTISTS (1,700) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $18,000. (Average: $20,000) THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE (UA) - ORIENTAL (3,300) (50c-65c-98c) 6 days, 2nd week. On stage: Horace Heidt's Stars. Gross: $50,000. (Average: $45,000) BOSTON Weather is still fine during the day, with the evenings cool. Business is still fair. Estimated receipts for the week ending Aug. 18 : A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.) and! OUT OF THE STORM (Rep.) — PARAMOUNT (1,700) (40c-80c). Gross: $14,500. (Average: $17 000) A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.) and OUT OF THE STORM (Rep.) — FENWAY (1,373) (40c-80c). Gross: $5,900. (Average: $10,000). ANTOINE AND ANTOINETTE (Siritzky) and THE SEARCH (M-G-M)— EXETER Watch For Review "Isn't It Romantic?" {Paramount) WHILE "Isn't It Romantic?" falls considerably short of the mark, it possesses a breezy quality and a fast tempo that will make it possible to gloss over some of its inadequacies. The picture's shortcomings are made to seem less apparent by a spendthrift production hardly warranted by so inconsequential and so commonplace a yarn. It is fortunate that every last sound of laughter has been wrung from the Theodore Strauss-Joseph Mischel- Richard L. Breen screenplay by director Norman S. McLeod and a hard- working cast. The film is a sort of hybrid, teetering between straight comedy and musical. It is the light treatment of the story of an old Southern diehard still living in the past who is drawn innocently into a swindle affecting the fortunes of many of the townspeople. The fact one of the daughters is in love with a city slicker swindler creates complications. But all is straightened out in routine fashion. There are interpolated numbers that seem strangely out of place, serving merely to pad out the footage. De Wolfe participates prominently in several of them, not to 'best advantage, however. Roland Culver is the transplanted Southern gentleman; Veronica Lake, the straying daughter; Patric Knowles, the charming swindler, and De Wolfe, Miss Lake's fiance. Other players include Mona Freeman, Mary Hatcher and Richard Webb. Daniel Dare produced. _ i j I ■• I *1 Running time, 87 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, Oct. 8. P.E.L. (1,300) (45c-75c). Gross: $2,600. 4 days. HUNGRY HILL (U-I) and SMART WOMAN (AA-Mono)— EXETER (1,300) (45c-75c). Gross: $1,500. 3 days. KEY LARGO (WB) and THE SHANG- HAI CHEST (Mono.)— METROPOLITAN (4,367) (40c-80c). Gross: $19,750. (Average: $27,000.) 2nd week. THE BABE RUTH STORY (AA-Mono) and DEVIL'S CARGO' (FC) — RKO- MEM- ORIAL (3,000) (40c-80c). Gross: $25,000. (Average: $22,000). THE FULLER BRUSH MAN (Col.) and ADVENTURES IN SILVERADO (Col.)— ASTOR (1,300) (44c-80c). Gross: $5,800. (Average: None available). THE PARADINE CASE (SRO<) and MY DOG RUSTY (Col.)— STATE (3,500) (40c- 80c). Gross: $14,000. (Average: $12,000). THE PARADINE CASE (SRO) and MY DOG RUSTY (Col.)— ORPHEUM (3,000) (40c-80c). Gross: $25,000. (Average: $27,000). THE STREET WITH NO NAME (2»th- Fox) and FRENCH LEAVE (Mono.)— RKO BOSTON (3,200) (40c-80c). 2nd week. Gross: $8,000. (Average: None on summer schedule). SIXTEEN FATHOMS DEEP (Mono.)— MODERN (800) (45c-85c). Gross: $4,500. (Average: None available.) PITTSBURGH Paramount's "A Foreign Affair," which received an excellent reception from local critics, easily exceeded the house average by attracting $21,000 in its first week at the Stanley. M-G-M's "Easter Parade" was held over for a third week at the Ritz on a moveover from the Penn. Estimated receipts for the week ending Aug. 19: A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.) — STANLEY (3,800) (44c-60c-76c). Gross: $21,000. (Aver- age: $15,000) DEEP WATERS (20th-Fo«) — FULTON (1,700) (44c-60c-76c) 2nd week. Gross: $6,500. (Average: $9,700) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M) — RITZ (1,100) (44c-60c-76c) 3rd week on a moveover from the Penn. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $3,500) EMBRACEABLE YOU (WB) and THE DUDE GOES WEST (AA-Mono.)— WAR- NER (2,000) (44c-60c-76c). Gross: $8,500. (Average: $8,000) THE BLACK ARROW (Col.)— J. P. HAR- RIS (2,000) (44c-60c-76c). Gross: $12,000. (Average: $11,000) THE WALLS OF JERICHO (20th-Fox)— SENATOR (1,700) (44c-60c-76c) 2nd week on a moveover from the J. P. Harris. Gross: $3,000. (Average: $3,500) TIME OF YOUR LIFE (UA) — PENN (3,400) (44c -60c -76c). Gross: $17,000. (Aver- age: $15,000) hot weather. Estimated receipts for the week ended Aug. 17: CANON CITY (E-L) - RKO S HUBERT (2,150) (50c-S5c-60c-65c-70c-75c) 2nd week, on a moveover from the Palace. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,000) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M)— RKO CAPI- TOL (2,000) (50c-55c-60c-65c-70c-75c) 4th week. Gross: $9,000. (Average: $10,000) A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.)-RKO PAL- ACE (2,700) (50c-55c-65c-70c-75c). Gross: $14,000. (Average: $15,000) MR. PEABODY AND THE MERMAID (U-I) — KEITH'S (1,500) (50c-55c-60c-65c- 75c). Gross: $10,000. (Average: $7,500) RAW DEAL (E-L)— RKO GRAND (1,500) (50c-55c-6Oc-65c-70c-75c). Gross: $10 000. (Average: $8,000) RETURN OF THE BAD MEN (RKO- Radio)— RKO LYRIC (1,400) (50c-55c-60c- 65c-70c-75c) 3 days. 2nd week, on a move- over from the Albee. DEEP WATERS (ZOth-Fox) — RKO LYRIC (1,400) (50c-55c- 60c-65c-70c-75c) 3 days, 2nd week, on a moveover from the Grand. Combined gross: $6,000. (Average for 7 days: $5,000) THAT LADY IN ERMINE (20th-Fox)— RKO ALBEE (3,300) (50c-55c-60c-65c-70c- 75c). Gross: $17,500. (Average: $15,000) ATLANTA CINCINNATI "That Lady in Ermine" is heading for an expected $17,500 at the RKO Albee, one of the best weeks at that house in some time. Other returns are on a satisfactory level, despite the proverbial "dog days" and extremely Business is above average in all the- atres. Weather is hot and dry; esti- mated receipts for the week ending Aug. 18. GUNG HO (FC) and TOUGH GUYS (Realart) — TOWER (1,865) (17c-50c). Gross: $6,000. (Average: $5,800). FOUR FACES WEST (UA)-PARA- MOUNT (2,446) (12c-S0c). Gross: $6,200. (Average: $5,800). LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WOM- F-U-LOEWS GRAND (Holdover) (2,446) (12c-54c). Gross: $12,000. (Average: $15,000). TAP ROOTS. (U-I)-FOX (4,446) (12c-50c). Gross: $15,250. (Average: $15,000). WALLS OF JERICHO (ZOTh-Fox)-ROXY (holdover from FOX). (2,446) (12c-50c). Gross: $6,000. (Average: $5,800). BALTIMORE Continued cool weather continues to help first-runs. Newcomers are doing better now than earlier in the summer. "The Pirate," with a strong opening and substantial weekend crowds is keeping the box-office busy. "Lulu Belle" with a stage show also is big. Estimated receipts for the week ending Aug. 19: S ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (U-I)-KEITH'S (2,404) (25c-37c-44c-54c). 2nd week. Gross: $9,750 (Average: $12,000). FANNY (Siritzky International) — LITTI E (328) (29c-37c-56c) 2nd week. Gross: $2,500. (Average: $3,000). GALLANT LEGION (Rep.)— MAYFAIR (1,000) (21c-29c-54c). Gross: $4,500. (Avi age: $5,000). KEY LARGO (WB) — STANLEY (3,2l| (29c-37c-50c-58c). 2nd week. Gross: $10,51; (Average: $14,000). LULU BELLE (Col.) — HIPPODROW (2,205) (29c-37c-50c-58c). With a stage sh. Gross: $20,000. (Average: $17,500). THE BABE RUTH STORY (AA-Monc -TOWN (1,450) (29c-37c-56c). 3rd Gross: $10,500. (Average: $11,000). THE PIRATE (M-G-M) — CENTUR (3,000) (29c-37c-45c-54c) Gross: $19,500. (A' erage: $14,500). THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE (UA) VALENCIA (1,466) (29c-37c-45c-54c). 2r week. Gross: $6,500. ($5,000). WALLS OF JERICHO (Z0th-Fox)-Jg£\ (1,800) (29c-40c-50c-54c) Gross: $13,i erage: $11,750). MINNEAPOLIS "The Street with No Name" toppei a week of mediocre theatre busines that was featured mainly by holdovers Estimated receipts for the week ending Aug. 19: EASTER PARADE, (M-G-M) — RADIC CITY (4,000) (50c-70c) 2nd week. Gross $11,500. (Average: $16,000) FOUR FEATHERS and DRUMS (FC Re- issues)— RKO1 PAN (1,500) (50c-70c). Gross $8,500. (Average: $8,000) JASSY (U-I)-CENTURY (1,500) (50c-70c) 6 days. Gross: $3,000. (Average for 7 days: $5 500) KEY LARGO (WB) — RKO ORPHEUM (2,800) (50c-70c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $10,000. (Average for 7 days: $12,500). OLD LOS ANGELES (Rep.) and JINX MONEY (Mono.)-GOPHER (1,000) (44c- 50c). Gross: $3,500. (Average: $3,200). THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (RKQi Radio)— LYRIC (1,100) 2nd week. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,000) THE STREET WITH NO NAME (20th- Fox)— STATE (2,300) (50c-70c). Gross: $14,- 000. (Average: $10,500) U-I's 'Saxon Charm' Rated (B9 by Legion Universal-International's "The Sax- on Charm" was given a "B" rating by the National Legion of Decency in classifying nine pictures. In addition, the Legion has changed the classifica- tion of Distinguished Films' "Passion- elle" (French) from "C" to "B". Columbia's "Man from Colorado" and Warners' "Smart Girls Don't Talk" were rated A-II. Classified as A-I were: "Cowboy Cavalier," "Fighting Ranger" and "Music Man," all Mono- gram; "Luxury Liner," M-G-M; "Marshal of Amarillo," Republic; "Miraculous Journey," Film Classics. FIVE -STAR DC-6 FLAGSHIPS LOS ANGELES 11 hours, 10 minutes CHICAGO 3h hours Phone HAvemeyer 6-5000 or your travel agent Ticket Offices: Airlines Terminal Rockefeller Center • Hotel New Yorker 120 Broadway • Hotel St. George AMERICAN AIRLINES ( THE BRILLIANT white light from the crater of a "National" high-intensity, posi- tive projector carbon is just about the best box-office insurance you can get. Why? 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SERVICE CO., INC. 2449 CHARLOTTE ST., KANSAS CITY 8, MISSOURI 1032 CARONDELET ST., NEW ORLEANS 13, LOUISIANA Theatre:, Send me your free booklet describing ... 7 Address: your Theatre Public Relations Cam- paign and an order blank. City: State:. F - * Accurate MOTION PICoT«*B?E, vfFIRST 1 Loncise n ait IN ana CII A, A r I LM Impartial JIAl .Li NEWS 1 64. NO. 35 NEW YORK, U. S. A., THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1948 TEN CENTS Petrillo Seen Making Bid to AddManpower Move Hinted at Opening Of Talks With Producers That Hollywood studios will be faced with a demand for the em- ployment of more instrumentalists was indicated here yesterday as representatives of the American Fed- eration of Musicians and producers assembled at the New York headquar- ters of the AFM to initiate negotia- tions for a new contract for musicians in film production. The hint that the studios would be asked to hire more musicians came in an informal exchange of views by both sides when James C. Petrillo, presi- dent of the AFM, made reference to the unemployment existing among mu- sicians on the Coast and observed that they could very well do with more {Continued on page 3) Ascap, Taxes Up at Three NC A Meetings Minneapolis, Aug. 18. — Three more regional meetings outstate will be held by North Central Allied in the next six weeks, it was announced by Stanley Kane, executive director for the exhibitor unit. The meetings will be held at Sioux Falls, S. D. ; Bis- marck, N. D., and Duluth. Discussions at the meetings will center on Ascap, legislation, municipal and state taxation, organization and {Continued on page 2) Fear Disturbances In Mexican Houses Mexico City, Aug. 18. — Some Federal Congressmen have asked the government to in- crease police vigilance in theatres here and in some cities in the provinces be- cause, it is understood, they learn "on good authority" that agitators plan disturb- ances in film houses and other amusement places. An organization called "The Campaign Committee Against Murmuring" is using full page newspaper ads to urge Mexi- cans not to utter seditious remarks in theatres and else- where. Urges 'I A' Attack on Taft-Hartley Act Cleveland, Aug. 18. — Joseph Keenan, national director of the Labor League for Politi- cal Education, addressing the 29th biennial convention of the IATSE here today, urged a 100 per cent registration and vote for the repeal of the Taft-Hartley Act. Today's session was de- voted mainly to reports on general executive committee meetings. Silent prayers for Babe Ruth marked the open- ing, and a wire was read from MPAA president Eric Johnston withdrawing as a speaker today because of business pressure. IA' Hears O'Brien Co-operation Bid Cleveland, Aug. 18. — Tom O'Brien, secretary of Britain's National As- sociation of Kinematograph Employes, today hailed as a magnificent compro- mise job the British tax settlement agreement arrived at by Motion Pic- ture Association of America president Eric A. Johnston and British Board of Trade president Harold Wilson. Speaking before the biennial conven- tion of IATSE in Municipal Audi- torium here, O'Brien, a member of the House of Commons, reiterated his advocacy of a joint international {Continued on page 3) MPEA Meets Again On UK Quota Action Pressing nature of preparation for the new marketing conditions for U. S. films in England which will arise when that country's new 45 per cent exhibitor quota becomes effective on Oct. 1 was stressed anew when Eric A. Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Export Association, and presidents of the film companies met yesterday for the second consecutive day on Johnston's agenda in London, where he will arrive at the weekend. He and James Mulvey, representing the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, will leave New York by plane tomorrow for the Brit- ish capital. The two executives plan an on-the- spot analysis of the probable effects of the quota with the object of strengthening the U. S. companies' position. While it is understood they will endeavor to have modified some of the provisions of the British Quota Act, some sort of positive action also is seen as a possible outcome. An ex- ample, it was said, could be the in- {Continued on page 3) UA Offers 'Life' in Chicago for Bidding Chicago, Aug. 18. — United Artists' "The Time of Your Life" will be sold here on a bidding basis. This is the third U.A. film released in this terri tory since the company adopted com- petitive bidding, although its "On Our Merry Way" was sold under the old system. Crescent Asks Court to Approve 8-City Expansion Nashville, Aug. 18. — In the largest expansion move to date planned by a circuit operating under existing Fed- eral Court consent decrees, Crescent Amusement Co. has filed a petition with Judge Elmer D. Davies in U. S. Circuit Court here for the right to expand into eight towns in Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky, the petition seeking to meet the requirements of the decree in the U. S. -Crescent anti- trust suit. New houses are proposed for Cleve- land, Greeneville, Morristown, Union City and Columbia, Tenn., and drive- ins are proposed for Clarksville, Tenn., Hopkinsville, Ky., and Deca- tur, Ala. Pointing out that some of the pro- posed construction will replace Cres- cent theatres now in operation, the petition states : "The proposed build- ing program would have been the nor mal expansion of the petitioner's hold ings because of population increases and stimulated public interest in mo- tion pictures had it not been for the war and consequent restrictions and shortages of materials and labor." The building program proposes the following construction : At Cleveland, a new house to replace the Princess and the Bohemia ; at Greeneville, a third house with the Capitol and Pal- ace ; at Morristown, a third house with the Princess and Ritz ; at Colum- bia, a third house with the Princess and Lyric. The proposed drive-ins near Clarksville, Hopkinsville and De- catur would all be new. The petition was signed by R. E. Baulch, presi- dent of Crescent. There is no indication of how soon Judge Davies will act. Ask Clearance Reductions in New York Area Skouras, Century Want Break with Loew's, RKO Demands for clearance reductions are being put to distributors by Skouras Theatres, Fox Metropoli- tan Playhouses and Century Circuit in widespread sections of the Metro- politan New York area. Involved are playing situations in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Westchester and Long Island where existing clearance is held by Loew's and RKO theatres over petitioners' houses. Demands, for the most part, are for the complete elimination of clearance between houses of the three circuits and zone first-runs, which in most cases are either Loew's or RKO houses. Distributor and circuit spokesmen said yesterday the demands have been under discussion for some time but that no action has been taken yet by way of clearance reductions. On the distribution end, several spokesmen in- timated they were not averse to (Continued on page 2) Anti-UK Film Drive Hits E-L Schedule Assailing as "unfair and unauthor- ized" the organized boycotting of Brit- ish pictures which has spread rapidly in New York during the past month, William J. Heineman, Eagle-Lion's distribution vice-president, said here yesterday that he has decided to with- hold from release, temporarily, J. Arthur Rank's "Oliver Twist" until the impetus of the boycott dies down. The company prefers to be cautious with "Oliver Twist" under the cir- cumstances because of its "import- ance," he said, adding that E-L does not expect to exercise similar caution {Continued on page 3) FP-C Earnings Are Riding High Toronto, Aug. 18. — Earnings of Famous Players-Canadian Corp. were higher in the first half of this year than they were in the first half of 1947, and went higher in July and again in August, to-date. Spe- cific figures will be made available later. 2 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, August 19, 1948 Personal Mention WILLIAM L. AINSWORTH, president of Allied States, is a New York visitor. • Phil Harris and his wife, Alice Faye; Harry Richman and his wife, Marilyn Maxwell; Sophie Tucker and Jacques Chabrier, pres- ident of Pathe Cinema's U. S. sub- sidiary, and Mrs. Chabrier are among passengers who will arrive here today on the Qmen Elisa- beth. • Mitchell Wolfson, Wometco Theatre executive, and his wife- and their two children, will return to Mi- ami tomorrow from Montego Bay, Jamaica, via Pan American World Airways Clipper following a trip to Latin America. • Rube Joiner, former Warner booker in Atlanta, has become Repub- lic sales representatives in that city. W. G. Baynard replaces ihim at Warner. • Joseph Bernhard, president of Film Classics and Cinecolor, will leave New York today by plane for Hollywood. • Herman Rifkin, Allied Artists and Mongram franchise holder for the New England states, is in Hollywood from Boston. • Jack Stevenson is the new sales- man at Paramount in San Francisco, succeeding Gil Sessler, who is leav- ing for Salt Lake City. • Morris Rosenthal, manager of Loew's Poli in New Haven, and Mrs. Rosenthal are vacationing at West- brook, Conn. • Herman Ripps, M-G-M assistant Eastern sales manager, is due here today from Albany, N. Y. • William Bendix is due here by plane today from the Coast .to attend the funeral of Babe Ruth. Louis J. Kaufman, Warner the- atre department executive, left here last night for Pittsburgh. George Bloch-Simon, head of the Publicolor Co., producer of short sub- jects, is here from Paris. James Stewart and Ward Bond are in Detroit from Hollywood. Modesto Tax Is Legal Sacramento, Cal, Aug. 18. — The Court of Appeals here has upheld the Stanislaus Superior Court ruling that Modesto's city tax on amusement ad- missions is legal. A court action had been filed by Redwood Theatres, Inc., to seek an injunction to prevent the collection of a three-cent per ticket tax, on the grounds that the tax was discriminatory, unreasonable and un- constitutional. Redwood Theatres operates four houses in Modesto. E-L's 'Triumph' Bows At Reading Fete Reading, Pa., Aug. 18. — Eagle- Lion's "Hollow Triumph" grossed $2,100 at its world premiere today, breaking all opening day records at the Astor Theatre here for the past three years, company spokesmen re- ported. Held as a highlight of this city's bi-centennial celebration, the pre- miere was touched off by a proclama- tion by Mayor John F. Davis declar- ing this week "Hollow Triumph Week" in Reading. Paul Henreid, the pictures' star-producer, actress Audrey Long and comedian Benny Rubin were among a contingent which made "in-person" appearances. Local exploitation set by the staff of E-L advertising-publicity vice- president Max E. Youngstein in col- laboration with Astor Theatre mana- ger Lester Stallman included elabo- rate theatre-front displays, large- scale distribution of printed material, "lucky number" contests, etc. Radio spot announcements heralded the pre- miere for three days prior to the open- ing. Representing the company at the event were Milton E. Cohen, East- ern division sales manager, and Jerry Pickman, assistant director of adver- tising-publicity-exploitation. Gehring to Address Chicago Luncheon Chicago, Aug. 18. — Twentieth Cen- tury-Fox general sales manager Wil- liam Gehring will be the principal speaker at the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital drive luncheon to be held here on Aug. 23 at the Warner recre- ation room. Attending will be branch managers, sales heads and exchange employes, headed by Harold Stevens, Paramount manager. Cancel New Jersey Allied Outing Allied Theatre Owners of New Jer- sey has cancelled its summer outing scheduled for next Tuesday in defer- ence to the Will Rogers Memorial luncheon which will be held on that day in New York, Edward Lachman, president, has announced. United Overruled In Detroit Video Plea Washington, Aug. 18. — The Fed- eral Communications Commission to- day turned down — again and for the last time — a petition of United Detroit Theatre Corp. against giving King Trendle Broadcasting Corp. additional time to complete its Detroit television station. At the same time, the FCC gave Paramount an additional 20 days, un- til Sept. 7, to file its proposed findings in connection with the recently-con- cluded hearings on applications for San Francisco television stations. W anger Signs Gar bo Hollywood, Aug. 18. — Walter Wanger has signed Greta Garbo for a picture to be made abroad, prin- cipally in Paris and Rome, it was an- nounced today. To go into production next spring, the film, title and subject matter of which are undisclosed, will be her first in seven years. Releasing arrangements have not been set. N. Y. Clearance (Continued from page 1) changes being made, implying that re- duced clearances would command higher rentals from the houses bene- fiting and would make possible faster product play-off in the Metropolitan area. Inspired by Cohen Settlement The Metropolitan clearance situa- tion reportedly was stirred into life by the recent settlement of the anti- trust suit brought here by Max A. Cohen against 20th Century-Fox, Warners and RKO Radio. Under the settlement Cohen's New Amsterdam Theatre plays day-and-date with the RKO Palace and clearance formerly held by RKO 23rd Street also was eliminated. With that as a precedent, other cir- cuits are said to have insisted that a like clearance principle be applied to their situations. If they are successful in their demands, indications are that still others, farther down the line, will eventually move for corresponding ad- justments. Sales Officials Are 'Sympathetic' Not only are some distribution of- ficials sympathetic to the present de- mands for the reasons given but others are giving serious consideration to them because of the explicit denuncia- tion of clearance unreasonable either to time or area contained in the U. S. Supreme Court decision in the Para- mount case. The decision places the burden of proof of reasonableness of existing clearances on distributors and many prefer clearance adjustments when complaints are made to defend- ing clearances about which there may be some question. Situations in which adjustments are being sought, in addition to the Bronx and Brooklyn, include Bronxville, Portchester and Ossining, Glen Cove, Lynbrook and Great Neck. Three NCA Meetings (Continued from page 1) the consent decree, as patterned by the meetings last week at Fargo and Devils Lake, N. D. In announcing the new slate of meetings, Kane warned pending tax legislation will require a solid front of exhibitor opposition "if we are to es- cape being taxed out of business." He pointed to the program adopted by the League of Minnesota Municipalities at its recent convention at Faribault, Minn., approving legislation to give municipalities the right to impose the Federal admission tax if Congress should end the tax, and enabling legis- lation to permit increased admission taxation in larger cities without a referendum. Video 'Clinic' Set Up J. A. Maurer, president of J. A. Maurer, Inc., and vice-president of the Society of Motion Picture Engi- neers, has been appointed head of the National Television Film Council "production clinic" by Jack Glenn, chairman of the NTFC production committee. The "clinic" will handle production problems arising from films for television, according to Glenn. Psychologists See, Analyze 'Nigh? Here Some 125 scientists, lawyers, in- dustrialists, psychiatrists, doctors, psychologists and others, including Paramount executives, were guests last night at a dinner in the Waldorf- Astoria Hotel here in conjunction with a pre-release screening of Para- mount's "Night Has a Thousand Eyes." The dinner was arranged by John W. Darr, president of the Insti- tute of Public Relations, and fr\ addressed by Dr. J. B. Rhine, DlJ| University psychologist, who discusMf the film's story. Among those invited were Herbert Bayard Swope, Mark Woods, Barney Balaban, Y. Frank Freeman, Paul Raibourn, Charles Marcus, Messmore Kendall, Charles Reagan, Ben Wash- er, Stanley Shuford, Mort Nathan- son, John Krimsky, Francis Hackett, Lawrence Spivak, Gifford A. Coch- ran, and others. Judge Coxe Is Named To Para. Case Court Judge Alfred C. Coxe of U. S. Dis- trict Court here has been named by Judge Learned Hand, senior justice of the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals here, as the third judge for the ex- pediting court which will hear future proceedings in the Government's anti- trust suit against the industry when they are resumed Oct. 13. Judge Coxe is not without knowl- edge of the industry, having presided throughout the Paramount reorgani- zation proceedings, 1932-1935. He suc- ceeds the late Judge John Bright in the anti-trust case proceedings. Other memers of the court are Circuit Judge Augustus Hand and District Judge Henry W. Goddard. E. H. Amet Services Hollywood, Aug. 18. — Funeral ser- vices were held today at Redondo Beach for Edwin Hill Amet, 88, who succumbed to a heart attack at his home there Monday. A pioneer of the industry, Amet invented the Mag- nagraph, a forerunner of the modern motion picture camera. The widow and two daughters survive. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Poter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3. 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Thursday, August 19, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 3 Ontario Blackout Will Start Sept. 15 Toronto, Aug. 18. — The promised blackout in Ontario, scheduled to start on Sept. IS to undertake power econ- omy, will be longer but more moder- ate than the dimout of last winter, it is indicated by the Ontario Hydro- Electric Commission. Because of protests against the ban on advertising illumination last winter, the commission promises to allow a ,t"^in use of electricity for window vjJI theatre-front displays providing overall consumption is reduced by savings on interior lighting. Last season the lighting restrictions were in effect from November to April. Anti-UK Film Drive (Continued from page 1) in releasing Rank films of lesser stat- ure here. The Charles Dickens story, previ- ously scheduled for release this month, was the only Rank film in E-L's new season's batch for which a national re- lease was set. It is likely now that some of the "lesser" Rank imports will precede it from E-L. "Why Single Out Films?" "Why," Heineman asked rhetoric- ally, "don't the boycotters picket de- partment stores that sell British goods, merchants who sell British whiskeys, clothiers who sell British- made clothes? Why do they single out British motion pictures?" He said that in his opinion the boycott organi- zation, The Sons of Liberty, a non- sectarian group opposed to the British Palestine policy and "British imperial- ism in any form," is "not an author- ized group," although he admitted it has made' its weight felt among many New York exhibitors. Heineman said he has not heard of any similar boy- cotts taking place in other U. S. cities, and explained that the company is holding "Oliver Twist" from national release because of the New York boy- cott. The company, he said, would not want to release the picture elsewhere and have it come to New York later as an "old picture." U-I to Observe on 'Hamlet' Universal-International, which also releases Rank pictures in the U. S., is reportedly going to "wait and see what happens to 'Hamlet' " in connec- tion with the boycott before it gives any consideration to "holding back" on Rank releases. Reviews UK Quota Action (Continued from page 1) sistence that English exhibitors would not be given American films to be played with British-made product on double bills. Thus the British the- atreman, in meeting the quota require- ments of giving 45 per cent of his playing time to British pictures, would have only other British product for his second feature. The idea is to emphasize the importance of Ameri- can films to British exhibition. New FP-C Theatre Toronto, Aug. 18. — Twentieth Cen- tury Theatres, affiliated with Famous Players-Canadian, is rushing the com- pletion of its Downtown Theatre at Yonge Street and Dundas Square, only SO yards from the big Famous Players' Imperial and the independent Biltmore. The latter was opened by Ben Okun and associates only a few months ago. 'One Touch of Venus ( Universal-International) « PRODUCER Lester Cowan's screen version of the Elia Kazan-S. J. Perel- man-Ogden Nash Broadway musical-comedy fantasy of a few seasons back is a light, airy confection, brightly packaged and earmarked for a gratifying grossing career beginning with the deluxe houses. Strong on marquee talent— Robert Walker, Ava Gardner, Dick Haymes, Eve Arden, Olga San Juan, Tom Conway — "One Touch of Venus" is richly whimsical. However, its stature as sophisticated comedy could have been of larger dimensions, it seems, if its writing, direction and acting (with the notable exception of Haymes') were a little more effortless. This slight failing is evident mainly in the timing given to gags and witticisms. But the laughs are hardly less big. Walker plays the young confused department store aide who plants a kiss on the lips of the statue of the famed Anatolian Venus, an acquisition of store-owner Conway, and thereby brings her to life in the form of an eye- filling, temperature-raising Ava Gardner. Disappearance of the statue puts a few vaguely competent detectives in constant pursuit of Walker for 24 hours, and the persistent amorousness of Miss Gardner toward the young man keeps him in constant hot water as far as his girl friend, Miss San Juan, is concerned. Haymes, Walker's pal, is occupied constantly trying to be just that, but finds it a hard job as romance kindles between him and Olga. Supporting the proceedings with characteristic competence, Miss Arden assuages her dis- pair at finding her love for boss Conway unreturned by taking refuge in a laugh-provoking array of wise-cracks and Conway gets his ego burned when he finds it impossible to lure Miss Gardner away from Walker, who ultimate- ly goes overboard for the live "goddess." But, her 24 hours up, Miss Gardner is compelled to return to her pedestal, leaving Walker a pretty sad boy — until he finds a new store employee is the image of the goddess with whom he had been cavorting. The picture's song sequences are solid entertainment. Customers will cer- tainly leave the theatre whistling or humming "That's Him," "Speak Low" and "Don't Look Now, But My Heart Is Showing." The play was suggested by the novel, "The Tinted Venus," and the screenplay was authored by Harry Kurnitz and Frank Tashlin. William A. Seiter directed. Running time, 81 minutes. Adult audience classification. For September release. Charles L. Franke Key City Grosses EpOLLOWING are estimated pic- l hire grosses for current engage- ments in key cities as reporte'd by Motion Picture Daily correspond- ents. Estimates omit admission tax. Urubu" (UA-World Adventure Pictures) EXHIBITORS who are looking for a film easy to exploit will find it in "Urubu," a record of Brazilian jungle adventure that follows the pattern long established for pictures of this genre. All the melodramatics, all the tricks designed to catch interest and stir excitement are in evidence in a picture dealing with the experiences of the producers, George Breakston and Yorke Coplen, war veterans, on an expedition into forbidden areas of Brazil. While the film lays claim to being authentic, it is hard to escape the im- pression that the more harrowing sequences have been staged, although there can be no denying the fact that these scenes of jungle thrills carry enough vividness to arouse adventure hounds, especially those who do not propound too many questions. Patrons who care little where fact ends and fiction be- gins should find a fair amount of entertainment in "Urubu." The story purports to be the search for a white leader of the hair-raising Urubu Indians of Brazil. Our heroes undergo grave dangers and hardships in their quest. On the side they occupy themselves with the rescue of a white girl carried away by the Urubus. Running time, 65 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, Aug. 13. P.E.L. TORONTO AFM Talks (Continued from page 1) work. Demands were not formally placed before the producer spokesmen at the initial conference. Their pres- entation was deferred to the next meet- ing of the negotiators, which is sched- uled for tomorrow afternoon. Wage increases to meet the jump in the cost of living and the question of additional compensation for musicians working on pictures made for theatre exhibition which may find their way into television channels are among other matters expected to be brought up by the AFM negotiating committee. The number of musicians covered by the present contract, which runs out on Aug. 31, totals some 300. Musi- cians are now getting $13.30 per hour for a minimum of call of three hours. They are guaranteed 520 hours of work per year. Present from the home offices at the opening of negotiations with the AFM were Spyros P. Skouras and W. C. Michel, representing 20th- Fox ; Nich- olas M. Schenck and Joseph R. Vogel, M-G-M; Barney Balaban, Paramount; Albert Warner, Warner Brothers ; J. J. O'Connor, Universal-International ; Joseph E. McMahon, Republic ; A. Schneider, Columbia. Studio spokesmen present were Y. Frank Freeman and Lou Lipstone, Paramount ; Charles Boren, vice-presi- dent of the Association of Motion Pic- ture Producers in charge of industrial relations; Al Chamie, his assistant; Robert Newman, Republic; Fred S. Meyer, 20th-Fox ; A. H. McCausland, Universal-International ; Richard J. Powers, M-G-M; Carroll Sax, War- ner. Petrillo headed the AFM negoti- ators. Other AFM representatives were Joseph N. Weber, honorary president; C. L. Bagley, vice-presi- dent; J. W. Parks, Oscar F. Hild, Herman D. Kenin, George V. Clancy and Walter M. Murdock, all five mem- bers of the international executive board, and C. W. Gillette, studio rep- resentative. Six Toronto theatres had holdovers during the week as business took a mid-August brace and more popular pictures hit screens. The season's recordholder run of "The Mating of Millie," was in its 11th week at the Biltmore. Estimated receipts for the week ending Aug. 19 : ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (U-I) — UPTOWN (2,70> (20c-36c-50c-66c-90c) 6 days, 3rd week. Gross: $8,600. (Average: $10,600) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M) — LOEWS (2,074) (20c-36c-50c-66c-78c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $14,200. (Average: $14,200) A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.) — EGLIN- TON (1,086) (20c-36c-50c-66c) 6 days. Gross: $6,400. (Average: $6,500) A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.) — TIVOLI (1,434) (20c-36c-50c-66c) 6 days. Gross: £7,200. (.Average: $8,200) KEY LARGO (WB)— IMPERIAL (3,343) (20c-36c-50c-66c-90c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $14,100. (Average: $14,600) THE MATING OF MILLIE (Col.) — BILT- MORE (938) (15c-30c-36c-55c) 6 days, 11th week. Gross: $4,700. (Average: $6,000) MELODY TIME (RKO Radio)— SHEA'S (2,480) (20c-36c-50c-66c-9Oc) 6 days. Gross: $16,7000. (Average: $14,700) MICKEY (IntL)— NORTOWN (950) (20c- 42c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $5,000) MICKEY (IntI.)-VICTORIA (1,240) (20c- 36c-42c-60c) days. Gross: $5,500. (Average: $5,800) THE WHITE UNICORN (E-L) — DAN- FORTH (1,400) (20c-36c-50c-60c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $6,000. (Average: $6,500) THE WHITE UNICORN (E-L) — FAIR- LAWN (1,195) (20c-36c-50c-55c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,500) 1,400-Car Drive-in To Open on Sept. 7 Chicago, Aug. 18. — An $850,000 drive-in with a capacity of 1,400 cars as part of a $3,500,000 amusement and recreational center, is scheduled to open in this area on Sept. 7. The drive- in, to be known as the Starlite, will be operated by a group which includes Edward Silverman, president of Es- saness Theatres; Frank W. Schaffer, who will operate the concession; Ar- thur Rubloff, realtor, and Edward A. Cooper, attorney, who is president of Starlite Drive-in, Inc. Covering an 80-acre tract, the cen- ter is believed to be the largest of its kind in the country. O'Brien at IATSE (Continued from page 1) council wherein members of all indus- try levels in Britain and America will be able to examine mutual problems. The film industries of both coun- tries must get together as equal part- ners, he said, to preserve liberty and justice. IATSE international president Richard F. Walsh resumed today for the convention his account of the Hollywood jurisdictional dispute at the point where he left off at the previous convention, and said he will bring the story up-to-date with a third report at the next convention. Actor Edward Arnold will address the convention tomorrow. Thereafter, resolutions and elections will conclude convention business. siviiiiuu titn llbkl/ ivu iiviniiiv Liin iikbi/ ivv iiwiiimw kvkii iikbv iw nviimiw bibn iilw ivv it LIKE ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S LIKE ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S LIKE ALFRED HITCHCOCKS LIKE ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S Ll NOTHING EVER HELD YOU LIKE ALFRED HITCHCOCKS NOTHING EVER HELD YOU LIKE ALFRED HITCHCOCKS NOTHING LIKE ALFRED YOU COCKS NOTHING EVER HELD YOU LIKE ALFRED HITCHCOCKS T mm NOTHING EVER HELD YOU LIKE ALFRED HITCHCOCKS " 7 Tig NOTHING EVER HELD YOU LIKE ALFRED HITCHCOCKS THE TRADE SHOW Wl August 30 JAMES STEW IN ALFRED HITCHCOC WITH u SCREEN PLAY BY ARTHUR LAURENTS FROM THE PlAY BY PATRICK HAMILTON DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY JOSEPH VALENTINE, A.S.C aTRANSATL NOTHING EVER HELD YOU LIKE ALFRED HITCHCOCKS ROPE ROPE NOTHING EVER HELD YOU LIKE ALFRED HITCHCOCKS NOTHING EVER HELD YOU LIKE ALFRED HITCHCOCKS NO LIK NOTHING EVER HELD Y0 LIKE ALFRED HITCHCOC NOTHING e! LIKE ALr NOTHING EVER HELD YOU HE ALFRED HITCHCOCKS ING EVER HELD YOU ALFRED HITCHCOCKS CITY PLACE OF SHOWING ADDRESS TIME ALBANY Warner Screening Room 79 N. Pearl St. 12:30 P.M. ATLANTA 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. 197 Walton St. N.W. 2:30 P.M. BOSTON RKO Screening Room 122 Arlington St. 2:30 P.M. BUFFALO Paramount Sc. Room 464 Franklin Street 2:00 P.M. CHARLOTTE 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. 308 S. Church St. 10:00 A.M. CHICAGO Warner Screening Room 1307 So. Wabash Ave. 1:30 P.M. CINCINNATI RKO Screening Room Palace Th. BIdg. E. 6th 2:00 P.M. CLEVELAND Warner Screening Room 2300 Payne Ave. 2:00 P.M. DALLAS 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. 1803 Wood St. 2:00 P.M. lUBVcn ntiv ruu minim tvtK hclu ruu nwmm$ ED HITCHCOCK'S LIKE ALFRED HITCHCOCKS LIKE A" * ^ ' 3 = : ' BE HELD ITIC PICTURE EVER HELD YOU NOTHING EVER HELD YOU )[ED HITCHCOCKS LIKE ALFRED HITCHCOCKS i^pi ^1^ WmSmBtm CITY DENVER DES MOINES DETROIT INDIANAPOLIS KANSAS CITY LOS ANGELES MEMPHIS MILWAUKEE MINNEAPOLIS NEW HAVEN NEW ORLEANS PLACE OF SHOWING Paramount Sc. Room 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. Film Exchange Bldg. Universal Sc. Room 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. Warner Screening Room 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. Warner Th. Sc. Rm. Warner Screening Room Warner Th. Proj. Rm. 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. ADDRESS 2100 Stout St. 1300 High St. 2310 Cass Ave. 517 No. Illinois St. 1720 Wyandotte St. 2025 S. Vermont Ave. 151 Vance Ave. 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. 1000 Currie Ave. 70 College St 200 S. Liberty St 2:00 P.M. 12:45 P.M. 2:00 P.M. 1:00 P.M. 1:30 P.M. 2:00 P.M. 10:00 A.M. 2:00 P.M. 2:00 P.M. 2:00 P.M. 1:30 P.M. NEW YORK OKLAHOMA OMAHA PHILADELPHIA PITTSBURGH PORTLAND SALT LAKE SAN FRANCISCO SEATTLE ST. LOUIS WASHINGTON Home Office 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. Warner Screening Room 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. Jewel Box Sc. Room 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. Paramount Sc. Room Jewel Box Sc. Room S'renco Sc. Room Warner Th. Bldg, 321 W. 44th St. 10 North Lee St. 1502 Davenport St. 230 No. 13th St. 1715 Blvd. of Allies 1947 N.W. Kearney St. 216 East 1st South 205 Golden Gate Ave. 2318 Second Ave. 3143 Olive St. 13th & E. Sts. N.W. 2:30 P.M. 1:30 P.M. 1:00 P.M. 2:30 P.M. 1:30 P.M. 2:00 P.M. 2:00 P.M. 1:30 P.M. 10:30 A.M. 1:00 P.M. 10:30 A.M. Artist with chintz and Chippendale ... WHEN this room says "home, sweet home" to movie-goers, it also speaks in praise of its creator — the man who dressed the set so understandingly. For his was the feeling for fabrics and furniture that gave the set its "lived-in" look . . . that made it so truly convey time and place, and catch the spirit of the actors' roles. Whether an interior is modern or medieval, penthouse or "poverty row," the set dresser's artistry makes its atmosphere authentic. An important contribution, this — and one that is reflected to the full by faith- ful photographic reproduction . . . un- failingly provided by Eastman's famous family of motion picture films. EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY ROCHESTER 4, N. Y. J. E. BRULATOUR, INC., DISTRIBUTORS FORT LEE • CHICAGO • HOLLYWOOD Aecura Concis and Impartial MOTION PICTUR 5r.MT,44TH ST. , 21ST UE« YORK* N. X. JL JLs JL FIRST IN FILM NEWS V'v'*»v?64. NO. 36 NEW YORK, U. S. A., FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 1948 TEN CENTS 'IA' Given an Arbitration Plan Proposal Walsh and All IATSE Officers Are Reelected Cleveland, Aug. 19. — The 29th biennial convention of the IATSE, in session here since last Monday, today was pondering a proposal made by Holly- wood actor Ed- ward Arnold, for the estab- lishment of an industry - wide arbitration board for the use of all unions, crafts and guilds to settle juris- dictional dis- putes. Arnold, who is president of the Motion Picture Relief Fund and has long been (i active in talent guild affairs, speaking as an invited guest, predicted that he, old-line "IA" delegates and the Screen (.Continued on page 3) Richard F. Walsh CrouchNamedtoWB Circuit Post in D. C. Washington, Aug. 19. — George A. Crouch has been appointed zone man- ager for Warner theatres in the Wash- ington territory to succeed the late John J. Payette, it was announced to- day by Harry Kalmine, president and general manager of the Warner circuit, following a meeting of home office and Washington theatre executives. Crouch, who is 55, will supervise 45 theatres in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. He was chief book- er and assistant to Payette. Single Convention For 20th Sept. 8-11 Disregarding an earlier plan to hold four regional meetings, 20th Century- Fox will hold a national sales con- vention at the Hotel Drake, Chicago, Sept. 8-11, for discussions on product and policy for 1948-49. Andy - W. Smith, Jr., general sales manager, will (Continued on page 6) SIMPP and AFM to Dicker Separately Negotiations for a new contract for instrumentalists engaged in independent pro- duction will be conducted separately with the Society of Independent Motion Pic- ture Producers by the Ameri- can Federation of Musicians. Talks with representatives of the SIMPP will take place following the completion of negotiations between the AFM and major producers which are under way here. Comedies Least Hit By Gross Drop: U-I A study of current box-office re- turns of top pictures in key cities indicates that comedies have been least affected by the downward trend in theatre grosses, Universal-Internation- al's home office reports, and accord- ingly, U-I will place its greatest sell- ing emphasis on this type of production during coming months. This decision was made following dis- cussions at the recent conferences of company executives with studio heads on the Coast, William A. Scully, U-I distribution vice-president dis- closed yesterday. Scully cited six feature comedies coming up for extra sales effort : "Family Honeymoon," "You Gotta Stay Happy," "One Touch of Venus," "For the Love of Mary," "The Count- ess of Monte Cristo" and "Mexican Hayride." 20th Quarter Profit Rises ^, 040,975 Twentieth Century-Fox and sub- sidiaries, including National The- atres and Roxy Theatre, Inc., re- ported a consolidated net profit of $3,967,817 after all charges for the second quarter ended June 26, an in- crease of §1,040,975 over the $2,926,842 reported for the same quarter of last year. After deducting dividends on prior preferred and convertible preferred stock, this year's second quarter fig- ure amounted to $1.37 per share of common stock while 1947's was equal to 84 cents per share. Profit for the first quarter of this year was $2,926,- 842. For the half-year ended June 26, the company reports a consolidated net profit of $6,894,659. After deduct- ing dividends on prior preferred and {Continued on page 6) Mono. Halts Plan to Seek 'Loop' Extension Chicago, Aug. 19. — Monogram is understood to have dropped its plans to ask for an extension on Allied Art- ists' "The Babe Ruth Story" when it opens at the Balaban and Katz State Lake on Sept. 2. Although reasons were not disclosed, one of the motivat- ing factors is believed to be the fact that Judge Michael Igoe is on vacation. Under the Jackson Park decree, films of defendant distributors are limited to a two-week "Loop" run. FCC to Set New Rules On Video Station Limit Washington, Aug. 19. — The Fed- eral Communications Commission to- day announced it will clarify its rules on limiting the number of television stations which anv one firm can con- trol or own an interest in. At present, the FCC limits any one firm or person to five stations. It has never made clear how much of an interest the firm can have in any one station before it counts against the limit — that is, whether it can control four, have a large but not controlling interest in a fifth, and a very small interest in a sixth. Paramount, which owns consider- able but not controlling interests in Du Mont, and other film companies in the television field are especially (Continued on page 6) Universal to Drop Winter Garden Here Universal-International will discon- tinue operation of the Winter Garden, New York first-run, upon expiration of the lease on Sept. 30. The company acquired the house upon the suggestion of J. Arthur Rank three years ago and has been paying $1,000 per day rental since to Shubert theatrical in- terests, the owners. United Artists originally had taken the lease with the intention of showing "Anthony and Cleopatra" and "Henry V," but when United Artists decided to book the two pictures elsewhere in New York, Rank urged Universal to liquidate the lease. SIMPP Splits With MP AA on British Policy Mulvey Not Going to London with Johnston The Society of Independent Mo- tion Picture Producers and the Motion Picture Association of America are at odds on policies and methods to be followed in countering the new British 45 per cent film quota with the result that the SIMPP yes- terday withdrew from joint action with MPAA on the subject. As a result, James A. Mulvey, president of Samuel Goldwyn Productions and SIMPP's rep- resentative in the Anglo- American trade negotiations, has canceled his projected trip to London. Mulvey was to have left here by plane today, accom- panying Eric A. Johnston, MPAA president. Johnston had not changed his plans up to a late hour yesterday. He will (Continued on page 6) Frank McCarthy to Quit MPAA Jan. 1 Frank McCarthy, Continental mana- ger of the Motion Picture Association of America, has submitted his resig- nation, to become effective on Jan. 1, 1949, according to top industry sources here. A previous report of McCarthy's resignation had been de- nied earlier in the week by an ex- ecutive of the MPAA's international department here through the organi- zation's press department. McCarthy is said to be slated for an executive position with 20th Cen- tury-Fox on the Coast. He now is at his Paris headquarters, it is under- stood. Peron Fines 8 US Firms $450,000 Buenos Aires, Aug. 19. — Eight American distribution companies in Argentina were fined more than 2,175,000 pesos ($450,000) in a series of executive decrees handed down by President Juan Peron and Ramon Cereijo, Minister of Finance, who al- leged the companies violated old ex- change laws. The companies were charged with having declared only the (.Continued on page 6) 2 motion Picture Daily Friday, August 20, 1048 Personal Mention WILLIAM SAAL, Republic stu- dio executive, returned here yesterday from Europe on the America. • Leonard J. Hirsch, home office as- sistant to M-G-M Southern sales man- ager Rudy Berger, will return to New York over the weekend from a Beechaven, N. J., vacation. • Peter Colli, Warner manager of the Caribbean division, and Michael Sokol, manager in Mexico, have re- turned to their respective headquar- ters from conferences in New York. • Marie Antoinette Raftery, daugh- ter of Edward C. Raftery, will be married tomorrow to Matthew Leon Coneys at Our Lady Queen of Mar- tyrs Church in Forest Hills, N. Y. Herman Ripps, field assistant to M-G-M Eastern sales manager John P. Byrne, is due back in Albany to- day from here. Charles Simonelli, Universal-In- ternational Eastern exploitation man- ager, is in Pittsburgh from New York. • Arthur Kelly, executive vice-pres- ident of United Artists, is scheduled to leave New York for London over the weekend. • Russell Stewart of M-G-M's home office publicity staff will return to New York today from Washing- ton. • Milton Harris, sales promotion manager of Filmack's New York plant, has resigned. • Phil Cowan, United Artists home office trade press contact, will start a two-week vacation tomorrow. Insider's Outlook Tokyo Communists Seize Film Studios Communist-led sitdown strikers agreed to leave the grounds of Toho studios after United States tanks and troops were called out in the first serious labor demonstration since Gen. Douglas MacArthur banned strikes, according to press dispatches from Tokyo. The strike began Aug. 9 when dis- charged workers returned to the stu- dio, seized control of the main offices and began a sitdown on properties near the gates. Picket 'Hamlef Boston, Aug. 19. — The British-made "Hamlet" was picketed at its opening last night at the Astor here by New York members of the Sons of Liberty which is promoting a boycott of all British products. UA Board Meeting United Artists' board of directors met here, yesterday for a routine ses- sion. By RED KANN IF anyone is suprised, he should not be at the move of Fox Metropolitan, Skouras The- atres and Century Circuit to end clearances now held by Loew and RKO zonal first-runs in areas where the three de- manding circuits also operate. The influences behind the deci- sion which found film buyers and lawyers calling- on distribu- tors last week were two: 1. — The clear-cut assault on unreasonable clearances in the U. S. Supreme Court decision in the Paramount, et al case. Since it is up to the distributor to prove existing clearances are reasonable, the tendency is to adjust troublesome or disputed situations before compulsion through legal channels compels it. While this voluntary proce- dure is in effect in a number of exchange territories, it has not been in Metropolitan New York. 2. — The anti-trust suit filed in May by Max Cohen of the Cinema Circuit against 20th-Fox and Warner on behalf of his New Amsterdam Theatre on West 42nd St. He sought $1,- 800,000 in triple damages al- legedly growing out of the refusal of the defendant dis- tributors to allow the New Amsterdam to run day-and-date with the RKO circuit and, in particular, the Palace on Broad- way which had swung from first to subsequent-runs, double fea- ture. Cohen won at out-of-court settlement. ■ His legal course stemmed primarily from the Supreme Court's views so that Reasons 1 and 2 may be neatly com- bined into just one if anyone prefers. At the same time, it was inevitable that Cohen's victory could not pass unnoticed by other circuits here. There seems to have been a quiet period following the settle- ment in the New Amsterdam case during which plans were being mulled. The outcome, and it is only the forerunner, is to be found in the move now inau- gurated by Fox Metropolitan, Skouras and Century. We say this triumvirate comprises only the forerunner because again it is apparent that the theatres be- hind their theatres which are behind the Loew and RKO in every likelihood will seek to move closer to release if these three circuits gain their point. Thus, it is within the realms of reasonable probability that the exceedingly well-entrenched sys- tem of clearance so long estab- lished in the greater city will be stepped up. This would mean product will filter through the various layers of theatres faster, thereby reach- ing the public when it is fresher. It would place independent theatre operation on a basis of parity, or practically so, with the two major New York cir- cuits, which will not like it. It would mean higher rentals for distributors who will like it. But if the boys are not care- ful or reasonable, it may mean higher admissions, which the public not only will not like, but will not support. ■ ■ That's quite a brass ring — "good for one free ride on the Washington Merry-Go-Round" — which Drew Pearson is hand- ing Charlie Skouras in his syn- dicated column around the na- tion. In the form of a tribute to Skouras for his championship of "Youth Month" in Septem- ber, Pearson is conveying to millions of his readers salient background information about Spyros and George, too. On the anecdotal side, and perhaps new to you, as to us, is a bit of history about the early days in St. Louis where the three brothers got their start. "The bartender who em- ployed Spyros," Pearson nar- rates, "made him recite 'The Star-Spangled Banner,' from beginning to end, every morn- ing before he began work, which is probably more than most native-born Americans can do at any time. Spyros can still recite it, all the verses, and later gave the bartender an in- terest in the Shaw Theatre in St. Louis." ■ ■ Universal, undeterred by spo- radic boycotts against British films, is sticking to its course on "Hamlet." Already rolling on its first date at the Astor, Bos- ton, the attraction is sold out eight weeks in advance. Boston critics, according to the Associ- ated Press, employed such lan- guage as "a monumental achievement" and "the master- piece of motion pictures." Booked to open on Sept. 26 at the Park Avenue Theatre here in New York, the time has not yet arrived for news- paper advertising. Nevertheless, the house has chalked up over 600 telephone calls for tickets. Variety May Operate Will Rogers Hospital Action upon a recommendation that Variety Clubs International take over operation of the Will Rogers Hospital at Saranac Lake, N. Y., and under- write a percentage of its operating costs along with the support of film companies, circuits and individual Variety units, will be taken at '' annual mid-year conference of V^TV ety which will be held in Washing ton Sept. 16-19, Robert J. O'Donnell, international chief barker, announces. The name of the hospital would be changed to Variety Club Sanitarium under the proposal. Also to be acted upon is a recom- mendation by John H. Harris for the erection of a statue to the late Father Edward J. Flanagan in Boys- town, Neb. Mrs. Looram to Venice Mrs. Mary Looram, chairman of the motion picture department of the In- ternational Federation of Catholic Alumnae, will leave New York on Sunday by plane for Venice to attend the International Film Conference Aug. 28-Sept. 1. Mrs. Looram may be abroad for a month, visiting a daugh- ter in Munich, and later visiting Rome. NEW YORK THEATRES 1 — RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL— a Rockefeller Center "A DATE WITH JUDY" Wallace BEERY . Jane POWELL ■ Elizabeth TAYLOR . Carmen MIRANDA i Xavler CU GAT . Robert STACK A Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer Picture SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ROY DEL RUTH'S THE BABE RUTH STOmr — BENDIX-TREVOR Cornel WILDE Linda DARNELL Anne BAXTER Kirk DOUGLAS "THE WALLS of JERICHO" A 20th Century-Fox Picture ON VARIETY STAGE — DICK HAYMES ON ICE STAGE— CAROL LYNNE ARNOLD SHODA - FRITZ DIETL :ROXY 7th Ave. & 50th St. : MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-P-resident and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, ^"f^' Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascner, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Pirttire Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Friday, August 20, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 3 Review "An Act of Murder" {Universal-International) STARRING Fredric March, Edmond O'Brien and Florence Eldridge, and superbly presented, "An Act of Murder" has only one disadvantage, a weightiness of theme that might run counter to the public's preference, at the moment, for what is commonly called "escapism." The picture deserves maximum sales effort all down the line. The story is rich in substance and genuineness, and is devoid of theatrical devices. It concerns a Pennsylvania county judge, played by March, whose fairness is slightly shaded by his rigid adherence to the letter of the law without regard for natural emotions sometimes responsible for infractions of it. March becomes a defendant in his own court. His wife, Miss Eldridge, in the throes of an agonizing illness, faces inescapable death. He succumbs to the idea of euthanasia, attempts her mercy death and his own suicide by crashing his automobile. He survives, she is found dead. He pleads guilty to the mercy killing, asks to pay the full penalty. O'Brien, i young lawyer, represents him at the trial. An investigation shows that Miss Eldridge had died from a self-administered over-dose of sedatives. March is declared legally innocent, morally guilty, and is introduced to the logic of considering uncontrollable emotions that can motivate crime. Interworked in the yarn is a slight romance involving O'Brien and March's daughter, Ger- aldine Brooks. Director Michael Gordon has endowed the screenplay with an unhalting motion that is greatly responsible for its gripping interest. His was an expert job throughout. March's and Miss Eldridge's competence could not be over- stressed, and supporting players are uniformly good, including Stanley Ridges, John Mclntyre, Frederic Tozere, Will Wright, Virginia Brissac and Clarence Muse. Jerry Bresler produced. Michael Blankfort and Robert Thoeren wrote the screenplay, from a novel, "The Mills of God," by Ernst Lothar. Running time, 91 minutes. General audience classification. For September release. Gene Arneel House Group Will Investigate AGVA Washington, Aug. 19. — A House labor sub-committee will hold hearings for three days starting Monday in Philadelphia on a complaint against the American Guild of Variety Artists and the "Four A's." Dick Jones, former head of. the ^^^delphia AGVA local, has pro- J T?*5~d a recent decision of the AGVA convention abolishing locals, it was understood, and the House group will decide if the complaint is valid and whether any amendment of the labor law is needed to handle such situations. ' Top officials of AGVA and the "Four A's" have been subpoenaed to testify. Rep. Kearns heads the sub-commit- tee. The hearings have no connection whatsoever with Kearns' Hollywood labor investigations. Arbitration Proposal (Continued from page 1) Actors Guild would be the first to approve such a plan. He termed motion picture industry craft-overlapping — which is in wide existence — stupid and a waste of time. The convention today reelected Rich- ard F. Walsh president for his fourth consecutive two-year term. Also re- elected unanimously was Walsh's en- tire slate of International officers. James B. McNabb of Seattle Local No. 154 replaces Eugene Atkinson as delegate to the AFL, and Oliver M. Lynn of Edmonton, Alberta, replaces D. B. McKenzie as Dominion dele- gate. Reelected with Walsh were : Wil- liam P. Raoul, general secretary- treasurer ; Thomas J. Shea, assistant international president, and Harland Holmden, William P. Covert, Floyd M. Billingsley, James J. Brennan, Roger M. Kennedy, Felix D. Snow, Carl G. Cooper, William C. Barrett and Miss Louise Wright, reelected first to ninth vice-presidents, respec- tively. Reelected trustees were : R. E. Morris, William C. Scanlan and George W. Brayfield. Realart Adds 2 Salesmen San Francisco, Aug. 19. — Jack Klepper, former sales representative for Screen Classics in the Northwest, is now handling Realart sales for Washington and Oregon, Harry Price, Realart franchise holder, announces. Jack Bettencourt will handle Northern California. Trumbo, Lawson Seek More Time for Appeal 'Washington, Aug. 19. — Attorneys for Dalton Trumbo and John Howard Lawson, both of whom were convicted in District Court here for contempt of Congress, have asked for an extension until Sept. 30 to file their appeal briefs in the U. S. Court of Appeals. The briefs were due originally at the end of this month. Granting of the extension motion would also defer until the end of Oc- tober, instead of the end of September, the date for filing of the District At- torney's answer. The request for delay claimed that the record to be included in the briefs is voluminous, that the attorneys have been busy on other cases and that the matter at issue is one of "tremendous importance never before presented in an appellate court." Film Golf Date Changed Denver, Aug. 19. — Date of the an- nual picnic and golf tournament of the Rocky Mountain Screen Club, to be held at Park Hill Country Club, has been changed to next Tuesday. Colorfilm Corp. Files Bankruptcy Petition Hollywood, Aug. 19. — Listing as- sets of $678,573 and liabilities of $21,- 866, Hollywood Colorfilm Corp., Burbank, today filed a voluntary peti- tion of bankruptcy. Receiver Walter C. Durst, who said the business would be put up for sale, explained the dis- crepancy between assets and liabilities on the ground that a contract to process a major Western for a rank- ing studio had created financial prob- lems deemed insurmountable. Loew May See Books In Percentage Suit Granting a motion made by Loew's in its percentage action in U. S. Dis- trict Court here against Jesse Stern, Abraham H. Levy and their circuit corporations. Federal Judge Sylvester J. Ryan yesterday directed the defen- dants to produce, and permit Loew's to inspect books, records and accounts for the period Dec, 1941, through Dec, 1947. Defendants' theatres in- volved are the Park West and Wash- ington in Manhattan, and Howard in Brooklyn. Actress Appeals to High Court on Pact Washington, Aug. 19. — Joan Les- lie today appealed to the Supreme Court a California Supreme Court de- cision upholding a Warner Brothers suit against her for breach of contract. The appeal maintained that the 1947 California law, which bars minors in the motion picture industry from dis- affirming their contracts and which was the basis for the decision in favor of Warners, is unconstitutional. Paula Seligman on Air Paula Seligman, formerly with Re- public and other film companies, will appear on station WEVD, New York, on Sunday to discuss the marketing of film scripts. Foreign Markets a By-product: Freuler "The foreign market for motion pic- tures should be and always should have been considered an order of by- product exploitation by the American industry," observed producer-distribu- tor-exhibitor pioneer John R. Freuler of Milwaukee, visiting New York on business concerning his exhibition operations in Wisconsin. "A structure has been built up, espe- (Continued on page 6) cially with reference to costs in pro- duction, which is unsound because it reaches out beyond the sound basis of the great market of the United States. That is big enough to support the American industry in a state of health. "There has been uncertainty and all kinds of problems in the foreign mar- ket ever since there has been a foreign market. Its profits are always specu- lative," he added. Freuler entered exhibition in 1905, and rose in production with the serials "Million Dollar Mystery," "Diamond from the Sky," and others. He was a founder and a president of Mutual Film Corp., _ and various independent production-distribution enterprises. eU' Seeks Injunction On 16mm. Showings Los Angeles, Aug. 19.— Universal is seeking a Federal Court injunction to prevent Donald Reed, 16mm. dis- tributor who operates the Beverly Hills Alotion Picture Club, from fur- ther handling 16mm. prints of 75 Uni- versal features and to compel destruc- tion of the prints. The suit also asks payment of damages based on Reed's proceeds from the films. The complaint says Reed acquired the prints by an unknown means and that he ^operates the club on the basis of a $25 monthly membership fee en- titling members to four features plus short subjects per month. Federal Judge Ben Harrison signed an order for seizure of the prints to impound them pending a ruling on the injunc- tion plea. Reed asserted that he had acquired the prints from a well-known screen comedian to whom proceeds were to be paid for charitable uses. He added that he had not used the prints com- mercially. US Board Sued on Parole Revocations Chicago, Aug. 19.— For the first time in history, the U. S. Board of Paroles was sued for damages when attorney William Scott Stewart today filed a U. S. Federal Court suit here on a charge that the board's revoca- tion of paroles to Louis Campagna, Charles Goie and Paul Ricca was il- legal. Campagna and Goie, who were pa- roled earlier this spring and later sent back to prison, were convicted four years ago of extorting $1,000,000 from major Hollywood producers. Damages sought were the lowest possible under the law— $1. Back of the suit, according to Federal officials, is the second of a series of actions designed to free Campagna and Goie and to keep Ricca out of prison. Equity to Meet Sept. 17 Actors' Equity will hold a quarterly meeting here on Sept. 17 at the Hotel Astor. THE LATEST WORD ON ROPE; The picture that "Racked up by far in one week sine REGULAR Color by TECHNIC ^ Reprinted from Variety, October, 1947! "FOREVER AMBER" • Color by TECHNICOLOR • Starring LINDA DARNELL • CORNEL WILDE • RICHARD GREENE and GEORGE SANDERS with GLENN LANGAN, RICHARD HAYDN, JESSICA TANDY, ANNE REVERE, John Russell, Jane Ball, Robert Coote, Leo G. Carroll, Natalie Draper, Margaret Wycherly, Alma Kruger, Edmond Breon, Alan Napier • Directed by OTTO PREMINGER • Produced by WILLIAM PERLBERG • From the Novel by KATHLEEN WINSOR • Screen Play by Philip Dunne and Ring Lardner, Jr. • Adaptation by Jerome Cady SEPTEMBER IS YOUTH MONTH — SALUTING YOUNG AMERICA*, le greatest amount off money Variety began tabulating >er first-run dates first-time at PRICES September is LUCKY month from CENTURY-FOX THE LUCK m THAT LADY . THE WALLS OF THE IRISH IN ERMINE OF JERICHO TECHNICOLOR 6 Motion Picture Daily Friday, August 20, 1048 20th-Fox Profit (Continued from page 1) convertible preferred stocks, this amounted to $2.37 per share on the 2,769,097 shares of common outstand- ing. Consolidated net profit after all charges reported by the corporation for the comparable period of 1947 was $8,401,778, which, after deducting pre- ferred dividends amounted to $2.91 a share. A comparison of the first 26 weeks of 1948 with those of 1947 shows re- t spective total gross incomes of $90,- 216,305 and $96,096,871, respectively. Amortization of film costs was $26,- 026,229 this year and $25,753,837 last ; film distribution, theatre operations and administration expenses were $44,172,178 and $48,463,541 ; total ex- penses were $77,749,112 and $80,275,- 111. Provision for taxes for the 1948 half-year were $4,900,000, against $6,200,000 for the 1947 half. 20th Board Declares Dividends On Preferred and Common Shares Board of directors of 20th-Fox yes- terday declared the following quarter- ly cash dividends : $1.12^4 per share on prior preferred stock, payable Sept. 15 to stockholders of record on Sept. 1 ; 37y2 cents per share on convertible preferred, payable Sept. 25 to holders of record on Sept. 3 ; 50 cents per share on common, payable Sept. 25 to holders of record on Sept. 3. 20th-Fox Meeting (Continued from page 1) Review "The Loves of Carmen" (B cckivorth-C olumbia) REUNITED on the screen for the first time since their explosive team- work in "Gilda," Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford emerge again in "The Loves of Carmen" an equally volatile pair of cinematic lovers whose impact on the box-office should be a foregone conclusion. Produced in lavish Technicolor by The Beckworth Corporation, with producer-director Charles Yidor at the helm, this latest film version of Prosper Merimee's story about the beautiful, turbulent 19th Century Spanish gypsy maid provides Hayworth and Ford with a broad, demanding canvas for the measuring_ of their acting talents. From an artistic standpoint, however, the demand is left wanting, principally because it is quite apparent that neither of the principals is completely at home in this period piece. Both, and particularly Miss Hay- worth, are much too much 1948 personalities to be able to lose them- selves fully in a story such as this. Regardless, this should bother their more ardent fans but little — the main consideration being that Hayworth and Ford are together again. Since the story, in addition to having been immortalized as an opera, has been bought to the screen 26 times previously (with U. S. producers taking credit for 13 versions), there is little need to synopsize here. Let it be said, however, that this version is faithful to the original. It is apparent from the beginning that tragedy is stalking the lovers, and the climactic scene wherein they meet death together clasped in each other's arms is genuinely overpowering. Ford makes a scowling, bitter Don Jose and Miss Hayworth is, alternatingly, a "sizzling" and metallic Carmen — it being difficult to accept her generally as other than Rita Hayworth. Adequate support is contributed by Ron Randell, Victor Jory, Luther Adler, John Baragrey and others. Baragrey plays Lucas, the bullfighter, whom Carmen loves also, but his role is a minor one. Actual bullfighting scenes are absent, and so is the opera's familiar Toreador song where the otherwise impressive background music is concerned. Helen Deutsch wrote the screenplay. Running time, 95 minutes. Adult audience classification. Release date, not set. Charles L. Franke SIMPP Splits preside and Spyros P. Skouras, com- pany president, will address various sessions. The convention will be attended by all U. S. branch managers, the com- pany's five division managers and their divisional assistants, as well as cor- porate executives and domestic dis- tribution department heads. Darryl F. Zanuck, vice-president in charge of production, now in Europe, is ex- pected to attend. Originally, it had been planned to hold regionals in New York, Dallas, Chicago and San Francisco. This plan was discarded in favor of a na- tional convention in Chicago. Canadian 20th-Fox managers will not participate in the Chicago meet- ings in view of their having held a di- visional convention in Toronto sev- eral weeks ago. (Continued from page Y) be accompanied to London by Joyce O'Hara, his assistant. Both SIMPP and MPAA officials were chary about comment on their differences. It was learned, however, that SIMPP does not see eye to eye with MPAA on the proposed policy for obtaining quota relief and safe- guards, particularly' should such policy involve, as reportedly it might, changes in the agreement reached last spring in settlement of the British ad valorem film tax. Mulvey and Johnston negotiated the settlement with British officials. Would Sever Link to Outcome SIMPP's action in withdrawing from joint participation, with MPAA on the current British market prob- lems means that the organization and its members are serving notice that they will not be bound by any agree- ments which may be reached by Johnston during his impending Lon- don visit, an SIMPP spokesman said. Whether SIMPP will endeavor later to negotiate quota relief inde- pendently in Britain has not yet been decided, it was indicated. Expect Mulvey to Go Without explanation an MPAA spokesman here late yesterday issued the following statement : "We expect Mr. Mulvey to be on the plane with Mr. Johnston tomor- row night (Friday). Mr. Mulvey has been active with Mr. Johnston on every step of the negotiations leading to the withdrawal of the ad valorem tax as well as all subsequent activities per- taining to the agreement. During the past week Mr. Mulvey has affixed his signature to that of Mr. Johnston to cables concerning the implementation of the agreement and he has actively participated in several meetings con- cerning the British situation." Kaye Addresses NTFC Clearance of music in television was discussed by Sidney Kaye, vice-presi- dent and general counsel of Broadcast Music, Inc., at a meeting of the Na- tional Television Film Council at Sardi's here last night. FCC to Set Rules (Continued from page 1) concerned about the final FCC deci- sion on holdings. Under rules proposed today, no firm could control more than five stations. If it controls five, it could not have an interest less than control in any other station. If it controls four, it could have a less-than-control interest in one or two others ; if it controls three, it could have an interc vn three or four others ; if it ccf / ~f^s two, in five or six others ; if it \ an- trols one, in seven or eight others ; and if it doesn't control any station, it could have a less than controlling interest in nine or 10 other video sta- tions. Briefs and statements in connection with these rules can be filed up to Sept. 27. The changes under consider- ation would not become effective until Jan. 1, 1953. Peron Fines (Continued from page 1) value of celluloid without accounting for earnings from the films. At the same time, the Central Bank has apportioned $500,000 worth of per- mits— estimated to be a nine-months' supply — to the U. S. companies which, in turn, are understood to have waived the right to immediate pay- ment in dollars. The import-permit accord was reached through the ef- forts here of Joaquin Rickard of the Motion Picture Association of Amer- ica. Disclosure of the fines, which re- late back to the 1930's when companies declared all incoming film at a cent and a half per foot, was made in the Government's bulletin. more than 3 U.S. thea ,000 major tres use "Voice of the Theatre" SPEAKER SYSTEMS Only the best in sound is a sound in- p »>■■■*■■-•:■- vestment today. The best is "Voice of \ the Theatre" — proved superior to all I other speaker systems by impartial acous- ; tical measurement tests— witnessed by the leading scientists of the motion picture I industry. * * * * 6 i!r ft j . H| There is a "Voice of the Theatre" speaker f system for every size theatre. Ask your ! supply dealer for information about mod- j ernizing your present system with "Voice of the Theatre". "Voice of the Theatre" speaker systems are supplied as standard equipment by most leading theatre sound ' system manufacturers. 161 Sixth Ave., New York 13, N. Y. 1161 N. Vine St., Hollywood 38, Calif. deci- j firm L1 *s, ; have b any1 f> it :rest ml w HI). : r— y Arrurate MOTION PICTURE FIRST VA/llvldC IN UIIU FN M r 1 l#v\ Impartial m H , — ----^i ilAl JLI j NEWS „" ' ' ' ■ . NEW YORK, U. S. A., MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 1948 TEN CENTS Start Ending Clearance in New York Ar ea Additional Adjustments Seen for Independents What is indicated as an extensive overhauling of clearance in the New York area, and possibly else- where, already has begun here with changes made in at least four situa- tions. Distributors have served notice on RKO Theatres that the clearance which the circuit has had over four theatres in The Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Beach and Lynbrook, L. I., is to be eliminated entirely with the four to get day-and-date availability with RKO houses in their respective zones. The four are the Earl, Bronx, oper- (Continued on page 4) 1st -Run Product to Towne After Suit Chicago, Aug. 22. — Since instigation of the $1,050,000 anti-trust suit filed by the Towne Theatre, Milwaukee, against the majors and theatre circuits, and which also asked for a divestiture of defendant -owned first run theatres, the Towne has been given the oppor- tunity to bid for M-G-M and Para- mount product, which prior to the suit had played the Fox Wisconsin and Palace theatres on first-run. Towne has subsequently played M-G-M's "The Pirate'' and "Easter Parade" and has won bids for Metro's "A Date with Judy" and Paramount's "A Foreign Affair" and "Dream Girl." Other defendant distributors have not as yet offered the Towne first-run product, it was said. Hughes Withdraws 'Red River9 Action Howard Hughes has withdrawn his action to enjoin United Artists from releasing "Red River" following an agreement with Howard Hawks, pro- ducer of the film. It is understood that Hawks has consented to delete about IS feet from the film and strike out one line of dialogue. Hughes had sought the injunction in Dallas Federal Court on the grounds that one "Red River" scene too closely resembled a part of his production, "The Outlaw." The set- tlement paves the way for the opening of the film on Aug. 26 in 375 situa- tions in the Southwest. U. K. Industry Is Closer to Socialization London, Aug. 22. — Additional evidence of the government's move toward nationalization of the mo- tion picture industry is seen in the earmarking of 1,000,000 pounds ($4,- 000,000) for the production of four series of documentaries by the British Central Office of Information's film division, plus its decision to produce features, its new increased and more coordinated production schedule and its current drastic overhauling of the COI's' film division. Several other circumstances are pointed to as evidence of the intention to eventually socialize the film busi- ness here, among them : the $20,000,- 000 Film Finance Corp. being pushed by Harold Wilson, president of the Board of Trade; Wilson's committee currently inquiring into the desirabil- ity of a government-owned studio ; Wilson's pending full-dress probe into (Continued on page 4) Big 'Song' Campaign Sets New Pattern Decision of the Samuel Goldwyn office to concentrate the bulk of its $750,000 advertising campaign in sup- port of the new Danny Kaye starrer, "A Song Is Born," on Sunday supple- ment advertising such as American Weekly, This Week and the comics, with ads appearing three or four (Continued cm page 5) Rank's Sales Force Warned on Tactics London, Aug. 22. — Question- able tactics on the part of General Film Distributors salesmen, such as those com- plained of by Cinematograph Exhibitors Association offi- cials at recent meetings with J. Arthur Rank, will not be tolerated in the future, Rank is reliably reported to have told GFD salesmen at a gen- eral meeting here on Friday. Rank, however, issued no statement following the meet- ing other than to say that a "most useful discussion" took place. Rank's MacDonald Sees Film Economies Economies are under way in Brit- ish film production costs, according to David MacDonald, J. Arthur Rank di- rector who is putting finishing touches on the $2,225,000 production of "Chris- topher Columbus." Fredric March and Florence Eldridge star in the Techni- color film which will be released in this country by Universal-Internation- al, possibly in May. The picture may be roadshown in this country, opening here simultane- ously with the British engagement, MacDonald disclosed here at a trade press interview on Friday. Pointing out that use of best-sellers and popular plays for the screen is one of the insurmountable sources of high production expenses, the British direc- tor suggested that encouragement of new, young writers would be a tech- nique for controlling such costs. MPF Goal Seen Firm, Despite N. Y. Decision Financial goal of the Motion Pic- ture Foundation, reported unofficially to be in the neighborhood of $10,000,- 000, will remain unchanged regardless of the outcome of the forthcoming de- liberations by the U. S. District Court here on industry anti-trust suit ques- tions raised by the Supreme Court decision, it is believed in MPF circles here. It was the impact of the Supreme Court's decision which caused a "post- ponement" of MPF activity across the country and is holding up the second MPF trustees convention. The big anti-trust suit question, of course, relates to theatre divorcement, and the New York court's answer to it will bear directly on the theatre- owning distributors' future ability to supply MPF financial backing. It is reasoned, however, that even if di- vorcement becomes an accomplished fact, the only changes which are likely to evolve in connection with the indus- try-wide philanthropic organization's financing would pertain to the paying abilities of the financing sources. In other words, if properties changed hands, buyers presumably would fall heir to the responsibilities resting on the shoulders of MPF. Meanwhile, it was said, the MPF's operating fund, or that portion of it already deposited in banks, remains in- tact pending resumption of organiza- tional activity. Johnston Says SIMPP Rank Split on U.K. Cites Tilt for Mulvey's Cancellation of Trip Conflicting opinions within the ranks of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers has caused the withdrawal of James Mulvey from planned conferences with the British on U. S. film trade mat- ters,* Eric A. Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, said before his departure for London at LaGuardia airfield here on Friday. It had been announced originally that Mulvey, as SIMPP representa- tive, would accompany Johnston on the trip. Johnston said that David O. Selznick, Samuel Goldwyn and Walter Wanger agreed that Mulvey should continue as SIMPP representative and join Johnston in dealing with "the new British problems that face us." He added that other independent pro- (Continued on page 4) Roy Disney Hits French Agreement Hollywood, Aug. 22.— Terming the agreement on the French proposal for unfreezing blocked funds tentatively approved by the Motion Picture Ex- port Association last Tuesday as "highly discriminatory" and "unfair" to independent producers, Roy O. Dis- ney yesterday asked Secretary of State George Marshall to delay finalization of any accord with the French govern- ment until the independents have been consulted. "Arbitrary quota accords practically all meager benefits provided in this agreement to the so-called major com- panies and only a few crumbs to the independents and less powerful ele- ments in the business," Disney asserted (Continued on page 4) Petrillo Discusses Basis for Demands Arguing the need for increased pay and more employment of musicians in film production, James C. Petrillo, president of the American Federation of Musicians, on Friday sketched the background of demands to be made upon the companies at an informal dis- cussion at the AFM headquarters here (Continued on page 4) 2 Motion Picture Daily Monday. August 23, 1948 Personal Mention BG. KRAXZE, Film Classics dis- • tribution vice-president, will leave New York today for Chicago. • Tom O'Brien, general secretary of Britain's National Association of Kinematograph Employes, will sail for England on Saturday. He attend- ed the IATSE convention in Cleveland last week. • Harry M. Kalmine, Warner The- atres president and general manager ; W. Stewart McDonald, vice-presi- dent, and Harry Goldberg, advertis- ing-publicity director, will return to New York today from Washington. • Irving Stacel, who formerly oper- ated several independent theatres in Chicago, has joined National Screen Service as salesman in that city. He succeeds the late Roy Alexander. • Edward Weber has been named manager of the Santa Clara Theatre in Santa Clara, Cal., succeeding Fred Frechette, who has resigned to en- ter another business. • Robert L. Schaefer, former mana- ger of the Globe Theatre, Holyoke. Mass.. has been named manager of E. M. Loew's Thompson Square The- atre in Boston. • Ary Lima, manager of Warners' Atlantic division for Latin America, left New York over the weekend for his headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. • Mrs. Louis Staxcer, widow of a former Toronto neighborhood theatre owner, has leased the Hudson The- atre in Toronto. • A. Kaplax, district manager o\ Brandt Theatres, has returned to New York from a vacation. • David D. Horxe, Film Classics for- eign sales manager, returned here at the weekend from a Caribbean tour. • Walter Lasker president of Las- ker-Schwartz, will return here today from a Midwestern trip. William Blair Dies, Kansas Exhibitor Kaxsas City, Aug. 22. — Funeral services were held at Osborne, Kan., yesterday for William Blair, owner of the Blair Theatre in that city, who died in a hospital in Neodesha after a heart attack. He was visiting in that town with his two young sons. Booking and other operations of the theatre are being handled temporarily by Dan Blair, manager of the Blair at Smith Center for Sam Blair, his father and uncle to the deceased. The widow also survives. Mrs. Louis Schlussel, 71 Detroit, Aug. 22. — Mrs. Louis Schlussel. wife of the owner of the Farnum Theatre, died Friday afternoon at her home here. She was 71 years old. Funeral services were held today. Tradewise Newsreel Parade By SHERWIN KANE AN anti-trust action which ■will be of wide interest throughout the industry, and which has been in preparation for several months, is about ready for filing. You will be reading about it in the news col- umns any day now. The action will name an inde- pendent film buying combine, one of the first of its kind if not the daddy of them all. It will allege illegal use of buying pow- er, combination in restraint of trade and other practices held to be illegal in the U. S. Supreme Court decision in the Paramount case, all boldly highlighted in the decision. When this publication last May quoted legal opinions to the effect that the U. S. Supreme Court's decision concerning com- binations of buying power was applicable to independent film buying combines as well as to circuits, spokesmen for combines rejected such opinions as being "obviously inspired," adding that the court had found in the Grif- fith case that combinations of buying power were not illegal if not used to "hurt anyone." That cleared the independent com- bines, they concluded. Now here come plaintiffs who believe they have been "hurt" by an independent buying com- bine and who are prepared to attempt to prove it in court. Not unrelated to the com- plaint against- the independent buying combine will be another against an affiliated circuit, to be filed by the same plaintiffs. That case, however, lacks the precedential possibilities inher- ent in the action against the in- dependent combine. Attorneys for intervenors in one of the industry arbitration cases which was filed subsequent to the Supreme Court decision in the Paramount case have in- dicated their willingness to ac- cept voluntary arbitration of the complaint. Efforts are being made to de- vise a form of voluntary sub- mission which will be acceptable to all parties and to the Depart- ment of Justice. The Depart- ment, of course, cannot stand in the way of voluntary arbitration but its cooperation with the pro- cedure is felt to be desirable, re- gardless, and therefore is being sought. At this stage it appears quite likelv that voluntarv arbitration will be effectively provided, if only until such time as the New York Federal Court has its final say on the form of industry ar- bitration which it can or cannot support. William F. Rodgers. Loew's vice-president and general sales manager, recently expressed to a trade press audience his pref- erence for an industry arbitra- tion system such as the one in existence a number of years ago and which was characterized by arbitrators having industry ex- perience. Many exhibitors favor such a system. The former Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America championed it for years following entry of the consent decree in the Paramount case. On the other hand, many exhib- itors are dubious about or indif- ferent to arbitration boards com- prised of industry members. Should the New York Federal Court when it resumes hearings in the industry case in the fall, decide to exercise its discretion- ary support of an industry arbi- tration system, it would' seem that both preferences might be satisfied by adding to the Amer- ican Arbitration Association's panels men with industry experi- ence. Whenever such men were preferred as arbitrators they then would be available. J. Arthur Rank reportedly still is finding it difficult to under- stand why his pictures meet with so much sales resistance over here, both from exhibitors and the public. On the other hand, at least two major American companies find it equally difficult to under- stand why Rank's circuits can't find some playing time for their pictures. They do all right everywhere else. Rank wants free and open markets for his pictures around the world. He wants the deep- est international penetration possible — for Rank's pictures. Yet his own circuits remain closed to much good product from here and elsewhere, and Rank is at the forefront of the arbitrarily and unreasonably re- stricted British film market as a whole. One day it may occur to him that trade, whether at home or around the world, is simply giv- ing the customer what he wants, not what a few think he should have. rHE funeral of Babe Ruth in New York is covered in all current nensreels, along with the proclama- tion of the new Korean Republic and the historic oil well strike in Canada. Also highlighted are closing Olympic ez'ents in London, beauty contests and high-dizing . Complete synopses fol- law: 0* MOVIETONE NEWS. No. V^11! Throngs pay homage to the late Babe Ruth. MacArthur visits new Republic of Korea. Canadian oil well on a rampage. Beauty contest for grandmothers in Chi- cago. High-diving dare-devil. Olympic games' closing highlights. NEWS OF THE DAT, No. 301— Inde- pendent Korea hails MacArthur. Farewell to Babe Ruth. Canadian oil well strike. Olympic finale. High-diving champion. Perfect legs win beauty acclaim. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 104 — Great- est oil discovery in Canada. Babe Ruth at rest. Korea Republic proclaimed. Olympic fade-out. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. 171— Babe Ruth laid to rest; honored by millions. Korean independence. Oil development in Canada. Beautiful legs contest. High- diving. Olympics' final events. WARNER PATHE NEWS, No. 2^- Farewell to Babe Ruth. Korean Republic proclaimed. "Little sisters" beauty contest, Canadian oil discovered. Olympics finale. Great Events: Battle of Lake Erie. K-MTA Parley to Study Video, Ascap Kansas City, Aug. 22. — Television will be among the principal subjects discussed when the Kansas-Missouri Theatre Association holds its annual convention here Sept. 28-29. Plans for the convention were discussed by K-MTA directors at a meeting here last week. Also prominent on the agenda of the annual parley will be the New York Federal Court decision holding Ascap's collection of music licensing fees illegal and public rela- tions. The convention will hear reports on the observance of Youth Month dur- ing September and will study propo- sals for continuing suoport of exhibi- tors for local projects in behalf of youth throughout the year. New Theatre Firm Acquires 2 Houses Community Amusement Corp., new- corporation with offices at Hartford, has leased and will operate the Daily Theatre in Hartford, and the Plain- field, in Plainfield, Conn. Dimitris Petrou is president of the corporation, John Calvocoressi is trea- surer and Bernie Menschell is secre- tary. Both Calvocoressi and Menschell were associated with Skouras Theatres in Queens. Boston Exhibitors Halt Ascap Payments Bostox, Aug. 22. — Some 50 inde- pendent theatre owners in this terri- tory will stop further music reproduc- tion payments to Ascap as a result of Federal Judge Vincent L. Leibell's decision in New York which ruled that the society's collections are ille- gal. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc.. 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N*. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann. Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris. Circulation Director: Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau. 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farlev. Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau. 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address. 'Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published even- fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Not Since "Lost Weekend" Has There Been So Much Advance w "II n About Any Motion Picture! YEARS "I've listened to * SORRY, WRONG NUMBER' on the radio — I've read it as a novel — now I've just seen it on the screen — and it's left me breath- less. It's truly an electrifying experience, and in my opinion Barbara Stanwyck's performance de- serves a nomination for the Academy Award." —JOAN CRAWFORD 'SORRY, WRONG NUMBER' is without a doubt one of the best suspense dramas I've seen. Burt Lancaster gives a great performance, and Barbara Stanwyck is positively magnifi- cent. It won't surprise me in the least if Barbara wins herself the Oscar which she has so well deserved." —ray mill and say "In her career, Barbara Stanwyck has given performance after performance of Academy Award caliber. In 4 SORRY, WRONG NUM BER,' how- ever, as the pathetic, terror- ridden Leona, she surpasses even herself." —LORETTA YOUNG No. 1 4 Motion Picture Daily Monday, August 23, 1948 Boy cotters By-pass US-Owned UK Films Organized boycotters of British pic- tures in New York demonstrated at the weekend that they have a yard- stick whereby they judge whether a particular English-made film is to be picketed. If a British production is owned outright by a U. S. distributor, it is apparently not subject to boycott action in the estimation of The Sons of Liberty, boycotting group opposed to Britain's Palestine policy. When the British-made "Quiet Week End" opened at the Park Ave- nue Theatre here at the weekend, picketing of the house by the organ- ization began, but was halted at once, according to the theatre management, when the picketers were informed that the picture's distributor here, Distin- guished Films, purchased the picture outright from its English producer. Kelly Off to London On Odeon Bookings A general inspection of United Artists affairs in England will be un- dertaken by Arthur Kelly, executive vice-president, upon his arrival in London. He left New York at the weekend. Kelly will concern himself with, among other things, UA bookings by the Odeon circuit, controlled by J. Arthur Rank. UA has an interest in the circuit of about 25 per cent, it is understood, but still often runs into problems on playing time. Gluck Leaves Park Ave. For UW Post Norman E. Gluck has left the house managership of the Park Avenue Theatre here to join United World Films in an executive capacity. UW is the 16mm. subsidiary of Universal- International which is the lessee of the Park Avenue. Mrs. M. Esberg, formerly assistant manager, has suc- ceeded Gluck at the theatre. She has been succeeded by Albert Fisher. Mexico Film Bank Report Mexico City, Aug. 22. — Mexico's film industry has received loans, dis- counts and credits totaling $3,504,278 to date from its own bank, the Banco Nacional Cinematografico, SA. Johnston Says (Continued from page 1) ducer members of the organization, all of them distributing through United Artists, had expressed opposing views. Johnston said he did not know why the other independents were in dis- agreement on the possible advantages of Mulvey's presence in England. Add- ing a personal note, Johnston said he was in receipt of a "cordial" commu- nication from Mulvey. Has 'Broad Power' to Deal Asked if he were hopeful of a re- duction of England's' 45 per cent ex- hibitor quota, Johnston answered that the quota and "other reasons" have prompted his trip. He said he has "broad powers" in dealing with the British. He said he intends to confer with Sir Stafford Cripps, Chancellor of the Exchequer; Harold Wilson, president of the British Board of Trade, and J. Arthur Rank and Alexander Korda. He said he will see Rank either today or tomorrow and said he was aware of a report that Rank intends to give American pictures only secondary sta- tus in his playing time. He again expressed doubt that the British production will be sufficient to make the quota workable. To Enter 'Curtain' Area Johnston said he expects that the American companies' new film and dollar agreement with the French government will be signed at any time in the near future. He intends to visit France and possibly four other countries, he said, adding that "be- hind the iron curtain" is on his itin- erary. Johnston was accompanied by Joyce O'Hara, his assistant; Merrie Smith, his secretary, and his daughter. He said he intends to return to the U. S. about Oct. 1 and probably will limit his stay in England to about 10 days. U. K. Industry (Continued from page 1) distribution and exhibition, and the governmentally - appointed standing committees controlling in varying de- gree every phase of the country's pro- duction. The COI is being supplied with product by 20 commercially-owned firms and by a state-controlled studio. The film division's one-reelers are al- ready shown regularly, and for noth- ing, in upwards of 3,000 theatres and will continue to be shown in them, according to a pledge by the Cine- matograph Exhibitors Asociation. The government itself operates 150 mobile theatres. John Grierson has been brought in as coordinator-in-chief of COI produc- tion. There are plenty of showmen-wit- nesses prepared to offer their opinions that these moves are only a step from the status of senior partner to that of, sole owner. Unconnected with Wilson's studio inquiry, but under COI's aegis, is the state-controlled Beaconsfield plant, once run by the late Samuel Woolf Smith for his British Lion. It has now been taken over by the Crown Film Unit, an offshoot of COI. Although it is not yet officially an- nounced, Crown Film will shortly em- bark on an ambitious program of fea- ture production^ Donald Taylor, one of the more active documentarians, is producer-in-chief. He aims at pro- ducing up to six features annually. SAG, 'IA> Smoking Peace Pipe: Arnold Cleveland, Aug. 22.— "Old- time animosities" in Holly- wood between the IATSE and the Screen Actors Guild have ended, actor Edward Arnold disclosed here at the week- end at the conclusion of the "IA's" 29th biennial conven- tion, to which he proposed the establishment of an in- dustry-wide arbitration board for film labor disputes. Arnold assured SAG's coop- eration to "clean up" the Hollywood labor situation with "IA" president Richard F. Walsh. 4IA' Representatives Get 15% Pay Raise Cleveland, Aug. 22. — Resolutions offered and approved at the concluding session of the IATSE convention in- cluded a 15 per cent salary boost for International representatives, wage in- creases for road men, a request to re- duce their seven-day work schedule to six with the same pay, and graduating vacation periods up to a maximum of four weeks with pay for 10-year em- ployes. Also, the convention went on record for increased Social Security and for an 85-cent hourly minimum for un- skilled labor. It endorsed an effort for employer-particiption in a pension plan and referred to the executive board a resolution for a retirement plan. It also plans to give "I A" jurisdiction over all laboratory screenings. Tom O'Brien, secretary of Britain's National Association of Kinemato- graph Employes, was presented with a gold life membership card. Disney Hits (Continued from page 1) in a telegram to Secretary Marshall. Independent and smaller producers are either frozen out or made com- pletely dependent upon the 10 com- panies among whom the over-all quota of 110 pictures would be divided, Dis- ney declared, adding : "This, no doubt, will lead to a black market in the peddling of permits by some of the favored 10, many of whom do not have much, if any product that would war- rant the dollar expense necessary for dubbing into the French language, or for the dollar cost of prints." Thus, he continued, "we firmly be- lieve [the agreement] will not only prove "very unfair" to the "lesser" companies in the American industry, "but will also prove very unsatisfac- tory to the French motion picture pub- lic because they will be sent not the best films from the American output but only the' numerical selection based on possession of permits." Petrillo (Continued- from page 1) with producer representatives nego- tiating a new contract for studio in- strumentalists. While the payment of extra wages to musicians in films used in television was not discussed at the meeting, this and other demands of the AFM are expected to be formally submitted to the producer spokesmen tomorrow. Ask Divestiture Now In Wash. Trust Suit Washington, Aug. 22. — The K-B Amusement Co. told a Federal District Court here on Saturday that no final judgment in the Paramount case is necessary before "Big Five" defendants can be ordered to dispose of theatres which the Supreme Court said it was illegal for them to own. K-B has a suit pending to force^*" Stanley Co., Warner subsidiary, _n-\ of the jointly-owned MacArthur The- atre. It claimed that the Supreme Court ruled against joint ownership where theatres are owned with inde- pendents that otherwise would be sole owners. In reply, Stanley moved to dismiss the suit, claiming there was no final judgment in the Paramout case and that no "Big Five" firm was required to dispose of any theatre un- til the further proceedings ordered by the Supreme Court are terminated. Million Dollar Libel Suit Filed by Gosch Los Angeles, Aug. 22. — Producer Martin A. Gosch filed suit in Superior Court at the weekend for $1,000,000 in damages as a result of what he claims were libelous and slanderous state- ments made against him on a Town Hall broadcast over the American Broadcasting network during a discus- sion on Communist influence in Holly- wood. In addition to Town Hall, Inc., and ABC, defendants named included Mrs. Leila Rogers, Sam Wood, Mor- ris Ryskind, Robert Arthur and others. The complaint asserts he was sub- jected to contempt, hatred, obloquy and prejudice following the program last Sept. 2, and it adds he was prevented from producing the Emmet Lavery play, "A Gentleman from Athens," for which he said he held a contract. A separate suit against Lavery was filed several months ago. Colosseum Pact Talk Expected This Week Spokesmen here for the Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen of Amer- ica and 11 distributors indicated yes- terday that negotiations for the first national union contract for film sales- men will be resumed in the near fu- ture, perhaps this week. However, one Colosseum representative said he expected it would be two weeks yet before a resumption of talks, suspended early this month, takes place. The suspension was agreed upon by both sides to allow the negotiators time to prepare and submit to their respective organizations an interim re- port on the status of negotiations. Ending Clearance (Continued from page 1) ated by the Julius Joelson circuits ; the Walker, Brooklyn, a Randforce house; Century's Lynbrook Theatre in Lynbrook, and a second Century house in Long Beach. Century, Metropolitan Playhouses and Skouras Theatres have asked dis- tributors to end seven-day clearances now held by RKO and Loew houses in those areas in which the three oper- ate. Their bid for simultaneous avail- ability was prompted by the settle- ment with Max Cohen of his anti- trust suit against 20th Century-Fox and Warner which gave Cohen day- and-date runs for his New Amsterdam house with the RKO circuit. ' Monday, August 23,' 1948 Motion Picture Daily 5 Review "The Dead Don't Dream" (United Artists) MOVEMENT and suspense are present in abundance in this Western in which mystery is an important factor in drawing attention. Aided by Andy Clyde, William Boyd again assists the cause of good entertainment in a Hopalong Cassidy role. Boyd once more is the wily, hard-hitting man of the range who brings the villains to book after a furious give-and-take. Although there is a Western setting and background with cowboys, fisticuffs and outdoor action scenes, the plot centers about mysterious murders. Cassidy arrives in the town to attend a wedding, which is postponed when the girl's uncle is slain. The body is discovered in a gold mine. Then another gold prospector mysteriously disappears, and lastly the sheriff vanishes. Boyd sets a trap for the murderers. Finally the killers are revealed as partners who coveted the possessions of their victims. Lewis J. Rachmil produced and George Archainbaud directed. The screenplay is based on characters created by Clarence E. Mulford. Running time, 68 minutes. General audience classification. 1948-49 E-L Film Confabs on Coast Hollywood, Aug. 22. — William J. Heineman, Eagle-Lion distribution vice-president, has arrived here for conferences on the company's 1948-49 product with E-L president Arthur B. Krim; Max E. Youngstein, advertis- ing-publicity vice-president, and studio ^^aWicity director Sam Israel. t»$r3^hile at the studio Heineman will ul termine national sales policies on major 1948-49 product, and will screen completed or currently shooting films including- "Let's Live a Little," Walter Wanger's Technicolor "Tulsa," "29 'Clues," "The Big Cat," in Technicol- or, and "Adventures of Gallant Bess," in Cinecolor. Following the conferences, Young- stein begins the final lap of his na- tionwide tour of exchange cities with a Los Angeles branch sales meeting tomorrow. At the meeting, Youngstein will set up machinery for the com- pany's current "Bill Heineman Sales Drive," of which he is captain, and will appoint branch manager Sam Milner deputy captain. During the balance of the week, Youngstein will visit exchanges in San Francisco, Portland, Seattle and Salt Lake City. In New York he will conduct the 31st and final meeting next Monday. 'Song' Campaign [Continued from page 1) weeks before November playdates in a carefully worked out schedule, sets a new pattern for industry advertis- ing. James A. Mulvey, Goldwyn chief, claims that it is the most direct pro- ducer support of a playdate ever pro- vided for an exhibitor. In addition, Mulvey points out that the "hot" music and musicians featured in the picture have been used to provide the most varied and comprehensive radio campaign yet devised. Some 16,000 transcriptions and records, varying in length from IS minutes to 20 seconds, have been shipped to the RKO Radio field staff under Terry Turner's di- rection. Exploitation accessories include a specially designed wallpaper, jewelry, silk and cotton fabric, handkerchiefs, neckties and toys, all with music de- signs or themes. Nine phonograph companies and six music publishers are issuing special numbers tied up with "A Song Is Born." Special Brochure for WB's 'Rope9 As part of its campaign planned by Mort Blumenstock, advertising-pub- licity vice-president, for the promotion of Alfred Hitchcock's "Rope," Warner Brothers is distributing a "photo- graphic production notebook." In addition to statements by Jack L. Warner and Hitchcock, it contains articles of narrative technique, back- grounds and lighting, still photogra- phy and a discussion of color by Natalie Kalmus. The brochure is be- ing distributed to colleges, libraries and community groups. Donahue & Coe Expand Donahue and Coe, advertising agency handling a number of film in- dustry accounts, has opened a branch in Washington, with J. Raymond Bell in charge. Form First Video Investment Firm Chicago, Aug. 22. — Organization of Television Fund, Inc., said to be the first "open-end" investment company specializing in securities in the field of video, electronics and radio was an- nounced here on Friday by a business and financial group headed by Chester D. Tripp. The Fund is said to be reg- istered with the Securities and Ex- change Commission and shares will be available for public offering through investment dealers shortly. The company was conceived as a "logical medium for participation in the, future of the television industry," according to Tripp, president, who also is head of Consolidated Copper Mines and Grip Nut Co. and chairman of Economic Trend Line Studies. Other directors are William Pope, Charles D. James, Russell Matthias and Herbert H. Taylor. Irving Trust Co., New York, is cus- todian of the Fund. Gold Named to Head Video Film Council Melvin Gold, director of advertising- publicity for National Screen Service, has been nominated for the presidency of the National Television Film Coun- cil, which concerns itself with the use of motion pictures in video. Other officers nominated were : Burt Balaban, film director of Paramount Television, for vice-president ; Robert M. Paskow, film director of WATV, Newark, treasurer, and Robert W. Wormhoudt, executive vice-president of Telecast Films, Inc., secretary. Elec- tions are scheduled for September. 'Largo' Runs Extended Some 300 of 400 engagements of Warner's "Key Largo" played to date have been extended runs, the company reports. In normal one-week stands, the picture has been held for from two to six weeks and from 10 to 12 days in split-week situations, the company adds, with the latter practically unani- mously holding over the film to at least a full week. Heads Studio Video Unit Hollywood, Aug. 22. — Les Peter- son of M-G-M has been elected chair- man of a subcommittee in charge of radio and television by the Studio Pub- licity Directors Committee. He suc- ceeds William Winter of 20th Cen- | tury-Fox. Production Drops Sharply, Down 7 Hollywood, Aug. 22. — The produc- tion index fell sharply to 23 from a previous 30. Seven new films were launched while 14 were sent to cut- ting rooms. Shooting started on "Joe Palooka in the Big Fight," Monogram ; "Follow Me Quietly," (RKO Radio; ''Last of the Wild Horses" (Lippert), Screen Guild ; "Mother Is a Freshman," "Down to the Sea in Ships" and "Rose of Cimarron" (Alson), 20th Century-Fox ; "Outpost in Morocco" (Moroccan), United Artists. Shooting was finished on "The Lone Wolf and His Lady" and "Jungle Jim," Columbia ; "Red Stallion in the Rockies," "Tulsa" (Wanger) and "Parole" (Orbit), Eagle-Lion; "The Bribe," M-G-M ; "Incident" and "Call of the Cactus," Monogram; "Preju- dice," Protestant Film Commission ; "Far Frontier," Republic ; "Interfer- ence," RKO Radio ; "The Fan" and "Chicken Every Sunday," 20th-Fox ; "The Lucky Stiff" (Amusement En- terprises), United Artists. N. Y. Area Luncheon For Rogers Hospital Local exhibitors, both independent and circuit, will meet here tomorrow for luncheon at the Hotel Astor, to discuss plans for the current fund- raising drive for the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital. Meeting with the exhibitors will be members of the New York committee in charge of the drive. Short Subject "Families First" (20th Century-Fox) In "Families First" the New York State Youth Commission once more has turned to the screen to deliver a resounding blow in the fight to rescue youths from the ways of transgression. With juvenile delinquency today a matter of grave public concern, it be- comes nothing less than the solemn duty of exhibitors to give this the widest possible showing. Dealing with the importance of family life in shaping the social behavior of the young, the film is a significant con- tribution to the subject of parent- child relationship. How the happy home, ruled by understanding parents, makes better citizens is illustrated with human warmth in an interesting account of parental shortcomings that help promote delinquency. The film brings home vividly a vexing problem with a simplicity that is commendable. The picture, excellently produced by RKO Pathe, will be released gratis to theatres in New York State through 20th-Fox on Aug. 30 in a 10-minute version as part of the Sep- tember Youth Month program spon- sored by the Theatre Owners of America. A sequel to "Children in Trouble," the picture is also available in a 17-minute 16mm. version for non- theatrical purposes. Edward Montague directed and Dwight Weist narrated-. Columbia Field Men Meet Here Tomorrow Columbia field exploitation repre- sentatives from East of the Rocky Mountains will be in the home office tomorrow for a one-day meeting, called by Arthur A. Schmidt, director of advertising-publicity, to discuss pro- motion plans for "The Loves of Car- men." Those attending will include Sid Zins, Milton Young, Harry Bernstein, Ed Rosenbaum, Jules Serkowtch and William Shirley. U-I Trio to Coast Al Horwits, Universal-International's Eastern publicity manager ; Charles Simonelli, Eastern exploitation man- ager, and Philip Gerard of the com- pany's publicity staff flew to the stu- dio at the weekend to set details of advance campaigns for two films. THE LATEST WORD ON I 66 It will keep you dangling from beginning to end! — REDBOOK MAGAZINE Accurate Concise and Impartial MOTION us* *oRK> £ ~ 1 FIRST IN FILM NEWS J 4. NO. 38 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1948 TEN CENTS Fix Sept. 15th Deadline in Divorce Quiz 'Big 5' Strive to Submit Data to D. of J. by Then The "Big Five" defendants in the Paramount anti-trust litigation are working with a Sept. 15 dead- line in mind for the submission of the last of the information on joint theatre ownerships sought by the De- partment of Justice, it was learned here yesterday. The Government in- terrogatories were served on the com- panies on July 1 under the divestiture clauses of the U. S. Supreme Court's decision in the case. The deadline was fixed in an under- standing with Robert L. Wright, spe- cial assistant to the U. S. Attorney General. Although the defendants will bend every effort to make all the ma- terial wanted by the Government avail- able by Sept. 15, it is understood they will be allowed to go beyond that date should it prove humanly impossible for them to have the information ready by then. The time originally allowed for sub- mitting answers to the interrogatories was extended by the Department of (Continued on page 5) Grosses Up at N. Y. 1st Runs; $100,000 Likely for 'Pitfall' Business is taking a turn for the better at some New York situations this week with the improvement main- ly at the larger houses with stage shows. "Pitfall" with Dick Powell in per- son at the Capitol is a powerful new- comer which is headed for an initial week's gross of $100,000, strictly top- notch. "Race Street" is good in its opening week' at the Mayfair, esti- mated at $30,000. All other programs are holdovers. The Music Hall show comprising "Date with Judy" and the elaborate stage presentation is doing phenomenal business. Gross for the third week is likely to hit $152,000. The house (Continued on page 5) Study FCC Right To Ban Giveaways Washington, Aug. 23— Federal Communications Commission lawyers, admittedly in a quandary, were busy today "studying" whether the FCC has legal authority to institute its pro- posed crackdown on radio giveaway shows. Early this month the FCC an- nounced its proposed rules doing away with most of these programs. On Fri- day counsel Don Petty of the National Association of Broadcasters claimed (Continued on page 5) TO A Will Hear Coy On Video Problems Many of the problems now facing exhibitors as a result of television are expected to be clarified by Wayne Coy, chairman of the Federal Com- munications Commission, in an address before the national convention of the Theatre Owners of America in the Drake Hotel, Chicago, on Sept. 25. Coy has been asked to speak as part of the TOA's drive to present figures of national prominence to its members during the convention. SPG to Ask 25% Pay Rise in New Pacts Salary increases of 25 per cent, as well as other benefits, will be asked by the Screen Publicists Guild in ne- gotiations with the major companies which may begin next month. SPG's contracts with the companies termi- nate Sept. 26. Letters informing the companies of SPG's readiness to ne- gotiate the new contracts were sent out recently. Other demands, approved by the membership and now in the hands of the strategy committee include a gen- eral tightening of security clauses, more liberal severance pay, the estab- lishment of the 35-hour, five-day week (Continued on page 5) Hit Distributors on Neglect of Territory Denver, Aug. 23. — Asserting that "there are too many branch managers who haven't been over the territory for years," Allied Rocky Moun- tain Independent Theatres in its current bulletin is re- minding distribution execu- tives that "a lot of business is lost to a lot of companies through the downright lazi- ness of its sales organiza- tion in the field." "There are too many theatre accounts . . . that just plainly haven't been solicited in months" in the Rocky Mountain terri- tory, the bulletin says, adding that sales executives should "concentrate on a little old- fashioned salesmanship." SIMPP Group Wary Of Tie with MPAA Independent producers have taken the position -that alignment with the Motion Picture Association of Ameri- ca in dealings in England on new trade problems might result in a joint program to which they would be com- mitted and which, they suspect, might encroach on their earning power as individuals in that country. Producers' representatives here state that any new project, such as a Motion Picture Export Association in England, might leave them on the short end of future remittable earn ings. Also cited was a traditional disinclination of joining hands with (Continued on page 4) Europe Hedging in U. S. Film Distribution: Maas Irving Maas, Motion Picture Export Association vice-president and gen- eral manager, who recently returned to New York from a 10-week tour of the European market, expressed only a minimum of optimism at a press conference yesterday regarding the future prospects for U. S. pictures in Europe in general and in the MPEA territory in particular. Eu- rope is leaning more and more toward "hedging" in the distribution of Amer- ican pictures, he said. The principal reasons for this, Maas said, are monetary and political — but largely political. Soviet-influ- enced countries like Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Hungary and Rumania serve up the biggest problems for the MPEA, he indicated. For example, he disclosed, the MPEA has discontinued all distribution activities in Ru- mania following an edict by that government that only "progressive and realistic pic- tures" can be permitted on Ru- manian screens. U. S. pictures, in the opinion of Rumanian of- ficialdom, do not conform to that standard. He expressed confidence that MPEA would arrive at a deal soon with the Czechs for distribution of (Continued on page 4) Johnston Gets Opinions on MPEA for UK Meets U. S. Managers; Will See Rank Tonight London, August 23. — The advis- ability of establishing a Motion Pic- ture Export Association operation here was discussed by Eric A. Johnston, MPEA president, at a six- hour meeting with American managers following a luncheon for Johnston here today. The discussion will be re- resumed at a second meeting on Wednesday. Under the MPEA plan, controlled and limited film releases could be es- tablished by the American companies to counter some effects of the new British 45 per cent quota. Johnston has virtually plenipotentiary powers on his current mission, insofar as mrking such a decision is concerned, he in- dicated on his arrival here from New York on Saturday. However, he said he wished to have the advice of the men on the spot before taking such action. Johnston is scheduled to dine with J. Arthur Rank at Claridge's tonight and it is believed certain that reports that Rank plans to relegate American (Continued on page 4) 20th to Represent RKO in So. Africa Twentieth Century-Fox has ac- quired exclusive distribution rights to RKO Radio product in the Union of South Africa in a 10-year deal which becomes effective Sept. 1, both com- panies announced here yesterday. The deal was closed by Spyros Skou- ras, president, and Murray Silver- stone, foreign head, of 20th-Fox, and by Ned E. Depinet, executive vice- (Continued on page 4) SRO Names Hoare to Studio Post Abroad The appointment of Victor J. Hoare as executive director of Selznick Stu- dio, Ltd., effective immediately, was announced yesterday by Louis Lewis, Selznick Releasing Organization's European director. Hoare will act as supervisor of all releasing arrange- ments for SRO pictures in Great Brit- ain and Continental Europe. Hoare has held industry positions for the past 17 years. Among the companies he has been associated with are United Artists and Eagle-Lion. 2 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, August 24, 1948 Army Theatres May Admit Civilians Washington, Aug. 23— The Army is considering again allowing civilians to go to theatres on Army posts, it was learned today. If such a policy is adopted, it would be accompanied by a promise that the Army will restrict admissions care- fully and see that the civilians are really accompanying soldiers. Major exhibitor organizations and distribu- tors are now being asked for their reaction to the proposal, and it is ex- pected that it will be a month or more before a final decision is announced. The return to the war policy is be- ing studied as a result of the new draft law and as part of the Army's cam- paign to make the switch-over from civilian T:o Army life as easy as pos- sible for the draftees. 'Youth Month' Plans Set in Kansas City Kansas City, Mo., Aug. 23. — The Kansas City Theatre Committee is ready for the promotion of "Youth Month" in cooperation with local wel- fare groups. M. D. Cohn of the Paramount is co- ordinating chairman of the four com- mittees designated to handle various parts of the program. Senn Lawler, Fox Midwest Theatres, heads the group assigned to the Sept. 1-7 "Edu- cation" week; Joe Redmond, Esquire Theatre, is chairman of the committee on health and physical protection which will be stressed Sept. 8-14; Jay Means, Oak Park Theatres, will di- rect the "citizen and character build- ing" campaign Sept. 15-21, and in the final week Ted Winn, Orpheum, will act as chairman of the group on recre- ation. Theatre-Building Is Weighed by Coyne Theatre Owners of America execu- tive Robert W. Coyne, who returned to New York yesterday from a New England vacation to make preparations for the forthcoming TOA convention, reports that he has "two or three deals" pending, one a theatre-building deal, as part of his plans for the future. Coyne, whose former TOA execu- tive director post has been taken over by Gael Sullivan, said he will make a definite announcement regarding his future plans "within the next 30 days." When Coyne resigned as executive di- rector a month or so ago he indicated he intended to remain in the industry. Name Contest Winners The three winners in the contest for the best exploitation campaigns in the Philadelphia area for Walter Wan- ger's "Tap Roots" are Leon Korr, Earle Theatre, Allentown; Robert Sidman, Senate Theatre, Harrisburg, and Lew Black, Warner Theatre, Wil- mington. The trio will be guests of Universal-International for weekends in Xew York. Roland Winters' Father Brookline, Mass., Aug. 23. — Felix Winternitz, father of Roland Winters, star of "Charlie Chan" pictures, died here late Friday night. Personal Mention NEIL AGNEW will be tendered a farewell party at Gay 90's to- morrow night by SRO associates here. He leaves the organization Sept. 1. • Fred Schanberger, an owner of Keith's, Baltimore, will be host at a press and radio cocktail party at the Lord Baltimore Hotel on Thursday, preceding a preview of "One Touch of Venus" at the theatre. • William Jay Hamborsky, mana- ger of Fabian's Capitol, Staten Island, who was married July 16 to Helen Elizabeth Steinmeyer, has returned from a Canadian wedding trip. • Nat Levy, RKO Radio Eastern division manager, will be in Detroit today and tomorrow from New York, and in Cleveland on Thursday and Friday. • Tim O'Toole, former New Haven branch manager for Columbia, will make his permanent home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. • Estelle O'Toole, secretary to Warners' Hartford district manager Henry L. Needles, is vacationing at Virginia Beach, Va. • Howard K. Richardson, partner in the State Theatre, New Britain, Conn., will leave this weekend on a Cape Cod vacation. • Howard Dietz, M-G-M vice-presi- dent in charge of advertising-publicity, is due to return to New York tomor- row by plane from Paris. o Leo Broidy, Eagle-Lion publicity manager, returned to New York yes- terday from a Southern vacation. HM. RICHEY, M-G-M exhibit- • tor relations head, will leave here on Friday for Detroit, going to Toronto from there. • Bobby Mirisch, 10-year-old son of Allied Artists' vice-president Harold Mirisch, has been signed for his first screen role in Monogram's "Joe Pa- looka in the Big Fight." • John Collins, former assistant manager of the Central Square, Cam- bridge, Mass., has been named mana- ger of the Paramount, Newton, Mass., succeeding George Van Buskirk. • Ernest Grecula, assistant to Hart- ford Theatres general manager Al Schuman, is vacationing at Westport, Conn. • Irving Helfont, assistant to M- G-M's Midwestern sales manager Burtus Bishop, Jr., returned here yesterday from Chicago. • Charles Deesen, assistant to M- G-M's Central sales manager John J. Maloney, has returned from an up- state vacation. • Mitchell Rawson of M-G-M's publicity department returned from a Saratoga Springs vacation yesterday. • Russell Stewart, M-G-M pub- licist, left here yesterday for Wash- ington. • Maurice Goldstein, Monogram general sales manager, was in Boston over the weekend. • Julia Eaton has been appointed assistant manager at the Warner The- atre, Lynn, Mass. E. M. Loew's Halts Payments to Ascap Boston, Aug. 23. — E. M. Loew's Theatres, independent circuit of some SO theatres in New England, has stopped payment of music licensing fees to Ascap as a result of Federal Judge Vincent L. Leibell's decision in New York holding that the society's collection of such fees are illegal. Among, the circuits in this area which are continuing to pay Ascap are Interstate, Gordon and Lockwood and the Maine and New Hampshire Thea- tres Corp. Some fifty independent theatre owners in the Boston territory have halted further payments, as re- ported in Motion Picture Daily yesterday. MGM Blind Checking, Allied Unit Asserts Denver, Aug. 23. — M-G-M is using blind checkers at neighborhood thea- tres in Denver, it is asserted by the Allied Rocky Mountain Independent Theatres in its current bulletin. A man who subsequently identified him- self as a checker for M-G-M, the bul- letin asserts, was recently questioned by Denver police as a "suspicious character," when observed in the vicinity of a local theatre. Ohio ITO Convention Set for Sept 14-15 Columbus, O., Aug. 23. — Film rent- als, television, Ascap and state and municipal taxes are among the topics which will be discussed at the Inde- pendent Theatre Owners of Ohio con- vention to be held here Sept. 14-15 at the Deshler-Wallick Hotel, according to P. J. Wood, secretary of the organ- ization. NJ. Allied To Weigh Sales Plans Tomorrow A general discussion of the M-G-M selling plan, the Andy W. Smith, Jr., conciliation plan, and film prices and terms in general will take place here tomorrow at a special emergency meeting of Allied Theatre Owners of New Jersey. Edward Lachman, pres- ident of the organization, issued the call for the meeting yesterday. Alvin Gross Promoted Milwaukee, Aug. 23.— Alvin W. Gross, office manager for M-G-M in Milwaukee, has been promoted to the sales department of the same branch. William Schwartz, up to now booker in Detroit, succeeds Gross as office manager here. 3 More Productions Scheduled by Regal Plans for three more pictures to fol- low its initial production, "Pitfall," now in release, have been made by Regal Films, Dick Powell, the inde- pendent company's vice-president, dis- closed here yesterday. "Pitfall," of which Powell is star as well as co-producer, will be followed on the production schedule by "Mrs. Mike," based on the novel of the same name. The film, down for a Novejr^ " start, will be budgeted at about $lj^,n-, 000, according to Powell, who again will serve as co-producer. No release deal has been set. "Cry Danger" and "Breakaway," both originals, are other films on Re- gal's program. Powell will be starred in both. Springer Advises on Advertising Values "A manager's most important job is to see that he receives full dollar value on any advertising he places," J. R. Springer, general theatre manager of Century Theatres here, advises in a bulletin to the circuit's managers. Make certain the proper media is used, he further states, and he urges that the cooperative advertising be stressed. "Good taste" in promotion also was emphasized by Springer. NEW YORK THEATRES 1 — RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL — Rockefeller Center E"A DATE WITH JUDY" | Wallace BEERY . Jane POWELL Elizabeth TAYLOR . Carmen MIRANDA I ! Xavler CUGAT . Robert STACK A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ALAN DONNA LADDREED ROY DEL RUTH'S THE BABE RUTH AM^bb>ah«J«> & WILLIAM STORY ~ BENDIX-TREVOR BICKFORD |CoM>*rfocmanat-PopPrlc An AIR«d Arfhtt RKO Presents GEORGE WILLIAM MARILYN RAFT BENDIX MAXWELL "RACE STREET" BRANDT'S Cool MAYFAIR 7th Ave. & 47th St. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. FBI TEAMS UP WITH il 1 SCOTLAND YARD TO AVENGE True-to-life... on-the-spot.. , heart-in-mouth realism ! starring creen Louis HAYWARD • Dennis O'KEEFE -* LOUISE ALLBRITTON CARL ESMOND An EDWARD SMALL Production play by George Bruce • Directed by GORDON DOUGLAS * Produced by GRANT WHYTOCK YOUTH MONTH SALUTING YOUNG AMERICA 4 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, August 24, 1948 British Jews Assail Boycott of Films London, Aug. 23. — Attempts by the Sons of Liberty in the U. S. to con- duct a boycott of British goods, in- cluding motion pictures, have been termed "ineffectual" and "irresponsi- ble" by spokesmen for Britain's most representative Jewish organizations. Zionists- here maintain that the boy- cott is hampering them in their efforts to obtain recognition of the Israeli government by Britain, while officials of other Jewish groups, such as the Anglo-Jewish Association and the Board of Deputies of British Jews, along with the Jewish Chronicle, in- sist that the campaign is resented by this country's Jews and is damaging Anglo-American relations. Meanwhile, Sir Alexander Korda has announced that he is withholding th ree September releases and that no more films will be sent by his London Film Productions to the U. S. until "the trouble blows over." He indi- cated he may bring the matter up for discussion with Eric Johnston, Motion Picture Association of America presi- dent, who is here for conferences on the quota. U.S. Firms to Appeal Fines in Argentina The eight American film companies charged with having violated Argen- tina's rules on declaring earnings and values of prints will take an appeal from that country's executive order fining them $450,000, it was reported at the offices here of the Motion Pic- ture Association of America. The companies intend to charge that the decrees issued by Argentine President Juan Peron and Ramon Careijo, Min- ister of Finance, are "discriminatory and excessive." In 20th Toronto Post Peter Myers has been appointed manager of the 20th Century-Fox Toronto exchange, it was announced here yesterday by Andy W. Smith, Jr., general sales manager. He suc- ceeds Harry J. Bailey, resigned. Myers, 32, was formerly branch man- ager for Eagle-Lion and Monogram in Canada. Halts Political Newsreels Mexico City, Aug. 23.— Complaint that Alexican newsreels are giving certain government officers too much footage has prompted the government to order the elimination of such per- sonal "advertising." Johnston Gets (Continued from page 1) features to the second half of double bill programs in his theatres, at arbi- trarily stated playing terms, will come up for discussion. Under such an ar- rangement, Rank's theatres could go far toward complying with the new quota by pairing weak British product, as first features, with strong Ameri- can releases on the lower half of the bills drawing the customers. To Seek Joint Action on French Johnston also will discuss with Rank the possibilities of joint action with respect to the new French tax. John Davis, Rank's chief aide; Joyce O'Hara Johnston's assistant, and F. W. Allport of the MPAA here, will attend the dinner. Johnston described his visit here as "purely exploratory" and said he hopes to meet with industry leaders and Cabinet members. He plans to be here about a week, going on to the Con- tinent thereafter. Despite widespread rumors to the contrary, Johnston is satisfied that it will be impossible to get changes in the new quota law, which will become effective Oct. 1. However, it is obvi- ous that he will attempt, at least, to prepare the groundwork for a reduc- tion in the quota at the end of its first year, October, 1949. His position is Propose New Salary Scale in Argentina American film companies in Argen- tina have offered to revise wage scales in that country so that they would be on the same level with salaries paid by native Argentine producers and distributors or those paid by the gov- ernment to its employes, according to the Motion Picture Association of America here. Labor organizations in Argentina had asked a 25 per cent boost. The U. S. companies have 1,000 full-time employes and 1,500 on part time. 20th To Represent (Continued from page 1) president of RKO, and Phil Reisman, foreign chief. The agreement covers all RKO films, including product from indepen- dent producers releasing through the company, as well as pictures made in England. RKO heretofore released in South Africa through franchise holders. strengthened by the British exhibitor view that the present quota will prove impracticable. Johnston's plane arrived here five hours late due to an engine fire at Gander, Newfoundland. He repeated the statement he made prior to his de- parture from New York last Friday that James A. Mulvey of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Pro- ducers was unable to accompany him on this trip because of a difference in viewpoint among SIMPP members on adoption of the MPEA plan for Brit- ain. He said that Samuel Goldwyn, David Selznick and Walter Wanger were in favor of the plan but that United Artists' producers were vio- lently opposed to it. Johnston has arranged to meet with Harold Wilson, president of the Board of Trade, at Oxford next Sunday. Yesterday he met with Lionel Curtiss and later with Lord Vansittart. Says Boycotts Are 'Disgusting' Johnston told reporters that he knew little of the activities of the Sons of Liberty and that, in any event, he is strenuously opposed to all boycotts which in his view are "disgusting." The Sons of Liberty have championed boycotts of British pictures playing in the United States. Johnston denied reports here that Hollywood members of the Anglo- American Joint Films Council had re- fused to meet with British members of the Council. SIMPP Group Wary (Continued from page 1) the MPAA. The independents feel, it is said, that an MPEA in England would mean additional channels through which money from England must flow and they fear, because of the limited output of their individual companies, they would realize little profit when earnings for the major companies' films come into account. Such collective bargaining was re- jected by a majority of members of the SIMPP at three meetings on the Coast last week. It was following the third one that James Mulvey, who represents SIMPP in such matters, was advised not to join Eric A. Johnston, MPAA president, on the latter's current trip to London. Mul- vey declined to comment. It is known that some of the inde- pendents believe they are not ade- quately protected in the new agree- ment with France, which has yet to be finalized, and which has been protest- ed by Walt Disney Prod. Feeling here is that the quota of 110 pictures for the French market will mean bene- fits for the principal companies, with the independents slighted. The independents were agreeable to the_ British pact of last March to which they were a party, but in this instance no limit was placed on the number of pictures allowed in the British market. Film 'Third Man' Abroad . Hollywood, Aug. 23.— Filming of "The Third Man," starring Joseph Cotten and Valli, will begin in Vienna in the latter part of September, it vyas announced today by Carol Reed and Graham Greene, British producer-di- rector and author, respectively, of the film, before they planed back to Lon- don following script and production conferences with David O. , Selznick here. It is the first of four pictures to be made jointly in Europe by Selz- nick and Sir Alexander Korda. Europe Hedging (Continued from page 1) U. S. pictures in their country, but admitted that he was unable to final- ize an arrangement during his trip. Negotiations with the Hungarian Film Bureau are still going on, Maas reported, and he is hopeful that an agreement will be reached shortly. Maas assailed as discriminatory and a violation of international agreements to which Holland was a signatory, that country's 40-week playing Jm^ - stipulation for U. S. pictures. UT^n. it, he said, MPEA could not establish a much-desired show-case in The Hague, while the British, who are guaranteed 12 weeks and have "a shot" at many more, could. MPEA's outlook in Austria is "good," Maas said. Queried on recent press dispatches from Washington that the late Father Flanagan (of "Boys Town" in Nebraska) told the U. S. Army that a bad influence on Austrian youth had been exercised by crime, detective and adventure films from Hollywood, Maas said that if it is true, the Army must share the blame since it passed on all pictures shown in Austria. Father Flanagan Memorial Fund Discussion Set by Albany Variety Albany, N. Y., Aug. 23. — Albany Variety Club will discuss at its first autumn meeting, in September, the contribution it will make toward a memorial statue which the Variety Clubs of America will erect for the late Father Flanagan at Boys Town, Neb. Albany chief barker Harry La- mont has received from the national organization headquarters notification that it plans an "enduring memorial" for the priest who received Variety's "Humanitarian Award." World Scope for 'Thumb" Hollywood, Aug. 23.; — In the midst of all the pessimism about the world market situation George Pal has an- nounced that "The Adventures of Tom Thumb," his forthcoming Technicolor initial feature for United Artists re- lease, will get full international atten- tion. Film will be given a saturation servicing in 14 world-girdling lan- guage versions, he said. New Mexican Film Firm Mexico City, Aug. 23. — Fernando Soler, veteran picture star, and Jaime Menache have founded a film produc- tion company which will start its first picture in October. THE LATEST WORD ON JJQPJ] C 66 It rates rounds of applause!79 — LOUIS SOBOL Tuesday, August 24, 1948 MOTION PICTURE DAILY 5 WB, Thackrey Ask FCC Bar on Motion Washington, Aug. 23.— Warners and Dorothy S. Thackrey asked the Federal Communications Commission today to turn down a motion of the Southern California Television Co. for a breakdown of the price Warner proposes to pay for three Thackrey radio properties on the West Coast. Warner has asked FCC approval ts acquisition from Thackrey for 15,000 of a standard broadcasting ion in San Francisco, a standard station in Los Angeles and a television construction permit in Los Angeles. Southern California said it wanted a breakdown since it wanted to bid 'for the television permit. Warner and Thackrey said today all negotiations had been on an "all or none" basis and that they could not break down the price. They declared that Southern California had not dis- closed its principals, and pointed out that discussions on an "all or none" basis had been held with representa- tives of Ed Pauley, assumed to be the chief stockholder of Southern California. New York Grosses (Continued from page 1) Poll S.P.G. Members On Taft-Hartley Law A referendum of the members of the Screen Publicists Guild was held here last night on the question of whether the union's present position of non- compliance with the voluntary provi- sions of the Taft-Hartley Law should be maintained. Results will be an- nounced next month. In calling for the referendum, the general executive board of the United Office and Professional Workers of America declared that compliance "would seriously weaken our fight with the major companies to secure salary and contract gains." chalked up $92,000 Thursday through Sunday, actually exceeding the take over the previous weekend by about $150. "Beyond Glory" is holding up well at the Paramount where $70,000 is indicated for the third week. Peggy Lee and Ray Eberle's orchestra are among those on the stage. At the Roxy, "Walls of Jericho" with Dick Haymes and an ice revue took a substantial $82,000 in its final six days, one day short of a full third week. The show bowed out last night to make way for "Lady in Ermine" which will be accompanied on stage by Frances Langford, Jon Hall, Jerry Colonna and another ice show. "Easter Parade" continues as a profitable tenant at the State. Business is down to $32,000 but good for the eighth week. "Loves of Carmen" is to follow on Sept. 2. Fifth and final week of "So Evil My Love" should give the Rivoli a fair $20,000. "Velvet Touch" is next, bowing in tomorrow. "Gung Ho" and "Eagle Squadron," reissue combination, still is great at the Rialto which figures on $12,500 for a third week. The show holds for a fourth. "Key Largo" is slipping but still good at $45,000 for a sixth week at the Strand. Court Basie and Billie Holliday are in person there. "Tap Roots" will make its debut at the Criterion tomorrow following "Abbott and Costello Meet Franken- stein." The latter winds up its fourth and final week tonight with a fairish $17,000 in view. "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid" is mild at the Winter Garden with $15,000 apparent for a second week. "Babe Ruth Story" looks like $20,000, adequate, for a fourth week at the Astor. "Escape" probably will give the Globe a poor $6,500 in its last five days, second week. "The Rope" will open there on Thursday. HOLLOW TRIUMPH BREAKS 6 -YEAR BOX-OFFICE RECORD! Study FCC Right (Continued from page 1) that the Commission would be without authority after Sept. 1 to lay down such rules, since the legal authoriza- tion on which the rules are based was transferred by the last Congress from the Communications Act to the Criminal Code, effective Sept. 1. Un- der the Criminal Code, enforcement will be up to the Justice Department, not the FCC, Petty said. This contention was immediately picked up by a special House com- mittee investigating the FCC, and the committee's counsel asked the FCC what it proposed to do about this. SPG To Ask (Continued from page 1) with overtime pay for all hours be- yond seven in one day, and improved merit-review machinery. Among the factors held by SPG to merit the increases is the more diffi- cult selling job publicists and advertis- ing men will have in the face of de- clining box-office revenue, SPG says. Other factors are the rise in cost of living and increased experience of publicists. Louisville Price Rise Louisville, Aug. 23. — Several Louisville neighborhood theatres re- cently increased their admission prices from 26 cents for adults and 12 cents for children, to 30 and 15 cents, re- spectively. Cutting Clearance In Salt Lake City Salt Lake City, Aug. 23/ — Clear- ance between first and second-run situ- ations have been cut in half by at least one distributor in the Salt Lake City area, while others have slashed the time to some extent. RKO Radio, 20th Century-Fox and M-G-M have reduced clearance between downtown and neighborhood houses and between first and second-run theatres downtown by at least 30 days. Paramount is follow- ing its nationwide policy of reducing clearances where warranted. Drive-ins are also receiving more favorable attention. Fix Deadline (Continued from page 1) Justice because of the job involved in accumulating the extensive and de- tailed information required by the Government. The companies have been feeding the information to the Department of Justice piecemeal. Such questions as the "Big Five" object to will be argued in U. S. Dis- trict Court here. The interrogatories are an initial move by the Government to secure vital data on the theatre interests of the defendants in the Paramount case. Hearings on the anti-trust case are scheduled to be resumed Oct. 13. nil unffl • " Walsh Leaves Warners Everett Walsh, director of Warners home office art department, has re- signed, effective Sept. 10, to free-lance, after three years with the company. EDUARD FRANZ -LESLIE BROOKS • JOHN QUALEN MABEL PAIGE • HERBERT RUDLEY Produced by PAUL HENREID • Directed by STEVE SEKELY Screenplay by DANIEL FUCHS • Based Upon a Novel by MURflAY FORBES An EAGLE LION FILMS Picture "Will TWICE AS THRILLING AS THE BOOK THAT WON A MILLION HEARTS! * ,AD PRODUCTION AW.NDSOR"° -0T« Showmen know that today's public wants wholesome entertainment for the entire family... AND HERE IT IS! . „i ■'iheJolsonStotY Vow d*covery °< ™ew jSi iSsl -* FRANK MELFORO Based on *he novel by Gene SUatton Porter It's a MONEY HIT from MONOGRAM! ■V T MOTI DA FILE COPY MR. ERIC JOHNSTON MOTION PICTURE ASSOC OF AMERTCA, OF 28 IV EST 44TH ST NE» YORK, N. Y." 21ST JL A 64. NO. 39 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1948 TEN CENTS Yates Favors 'Pulling Out' Of UK Market Holds 1949 Remittances Won't Exceed $20 Million Convinced that in 1949 the U. S. industry will not take out of Britain more than $20,000,000, or 25 per cent of 1947 remittances, Herbert J. Yates, presi- dent of Repub- lic said yester- day that he would favor the American indus- try's "pulling out" of the British market at once in light of the recently- enacted 45 per cent film quota law. Acknowledg- ing that he did not believe the presidents of the other U. S. companies shared his un- {Continued on page 4) Herbert 3. Yates Exports Declined In 1st Half of '48 Washington, Aug. 24. — Exports of motion picture films and equipment during the first six months of 1948 were off considerably from the record levels of the first half of 1947, accord- ing to a report by Commerce Depart- ment film chief Nathan D. Golden. Raw stock exports registered the {Continued on page 4) Johnston Sees Rank; Visits U.S. Embassy London, Aug. 24. — The din- ner meeting here last night of Eric A. Johnston, Motion Picture Association of Amer- ica president, and J. Arthur Rank was described by both parties today as having re- sulted in discussions which were extremely useful in clearing the air on several questions. However, no de- tailed statement was issued by either. Johnston had conferences today with American Embassy officials here. Yates Says Republic Stock Not For Sale Denying reports that po- tential buyers are making specific attempts to acquire from him the controlling in- terest in Republic, company president Herbert J. Yates declared yesterday that he and his family would not sell their holdings for $5,000,000, a figure he admitted was out of all proportion to the true worth of the securities. Yates said he has "no de- sire" to sell now but that in "two or three years, when prices are right," he might be willing to sell. Will Rogers Hospital Drive Starts Here The industry drive to save the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital got under way in New York yesterday at a luncheon in the Hotel Astor at which local exhibitor leaders and distributor spokesmen pledged all-out cooperation to raise funds to keep the institution alive. The desperate need of financial sup- port to keep the hospital from going under was stressed by the speakers, who included A. Montague of Colum- bia; Hank Hearn, operator of a Char- lotte booking and buying service who {Continued on page 5) BUYING COMBINE IS SUED BY SIMPP 1 ,653 Films Licensed In State Last Year Albany, N. Y., Aug. 24. — A record- breaking collection of $360,180 in fees and a total of 1,781 pictures reviewed, representing an increase of 120 above the previous year's total, was reported today by Dr. Ward Bowen, acting di- rector of the New York State Edu- cation Department's division of motion pictures, which reviews and licenses films for exhibition in the state. Five films were rejected, elimina- tions made in 123 and 1,653 approved in the fiscal year ended last March 31, according to Dr. Bowen. Combined footage of pictures reviewed was 6,- 845,104, compared with 5,966,168 feet for the 1946-47 period, while the num- ber of prints licensed was 28,763 dur- ing 1947-48, as against 30,578 in the previous year, he said. Fees, based on footage, increased by $10,420. Leading the list of 23 countries rep- resented in 482 foreign pictures re- viewed was Mexico with 135. France was second with 52, England third with 50 and Italy fourth with 47. WB Gives Up Lease On Cleveland Lake Cleveland, Aug. 24. — Negotiations to renew the lease on the theatre hav- ing fallen through, Warner Bros, bowed out of the 714-seat Lake to- day after 15 years' operation. The future of the house is undetermined. U. A. Board Meet on Hughes' Pictures A special meeting of the United Artists board of directors has been called for tomorrow to consider a proposed agreement for the relinquish- ment by U. A. of its distribution rights to Howard Hughes' "The Outlaw," "Vendetta'' and "Mad Wednesday," in return for undisclosed considerations from Hughes and RKO Radio, which would get the distribution rights. "A Song Is Born 91 [ Samuel Goldwyn-RKO Radio ] — Streamlined Ball of Fire THEY say it's entertainment the customers are wanting these days — nothing weighty, ponderous, morose or overly mindful of the manifold disturbances of a troubled world. If that's the case, Samuel Goldwyn stands ready with this Danny Kaye and music laden offering in Technicolor to fill the prescription. It's undiluted entertainment, practically guaranteed not to provoke a serious thought in the entire 113 minutes of its slightly more than ample running time. "A Song Is Born" actually is a streamlined version, jazz style, of Goldwyn's 1941 production "Ball of Fire." Even to the detail that Howard Hawks, director of the first, also is the director of the picture at hand. The story switch is that the professorial research in the ivory tower which was so rudely interrupted by the worldly Barbara Stanwyck {Continued on page 5) M ich. Cooperative Linked With United Detroit In $8,750,000 Action Dissolution of both the Para- mount-controlled United Detroit Theatres and Cooperative Theatres of Michigan, independent buying- booking combine, is demanded by the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers and several of its individual members in an anti-trust suit filed in Federal Court, Detroit, yesterday which charges the defend- ants with conspiring to effect illegal control over the terms and conditions under which product must be licensed in the Detroit area. The action is claimed to be without precedent in the industry and through it the SIMPP serves notice on other circuits and combines throughout the country that it may not be the last of {Continued on page 5) AFM Again Delays Presenting Terms A third meeting of company and union representatives yesterday still failed to produce a formal list of de- mands to be made upon the employers by the American Federation of Musi- cians in negotiations for a new agree- ment covering studio instrumentalists. Expectations are that the proposals of the AFM will be placed in the hands of the company spokesmen at a meet- {Continued on page 2) Sees No Remittances From U.K. Until '49 London, Aug. 24. — John Warren, accountant appoint- ed by the Film Agreement Control Committee, is finding it so difficult to apportion the remittable proportion of American earnings here among the companies that he is unable to foresee the pos- sibility of any such remit- tances until well into 1949. Meanwhile, discussions con- cerned with definitions of the agreement are proceeding be- tween American and British representatives with what is described as perfect amiabil- ity. 2 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, August 25, 1948 Personal Mention WILLIAM F. RODGERS, M-G- M distribution vice-president, left here last night for Toronto for conferences with Henry L. Nathan- SON, head of M-G-M Films of Can- ada. • Robert B. Spafford, Jr., former U. S. Navy training films supervisor, has joined RKO Pathe here as assistant to Phillips Brooks Nichols, manager of the commercial and television de- partment. • Max E. Youngstein, Eagle-Lion advertising - publicity vice - president, will visit the San Francisco, Port- land, Seattle and Salt Lake City ex- changes this week. He is due back in New York by the end of the week. • William B. Zoellner, M-G-M short subject sales head, left Los An- geles yesterday for Pittsburgh to con- fer with John J. Maloney, Central sales manager. • Ed Hinchy, head of the Warner home office playdate department, will leave here today for Washington.. • Ralph Cohn, Pioneer Pictures president, left New York last night for the Coast. • Gradwell Sears, president of United Artists, returned to New York from the Coast yesterday. • H. M. Bessey, Altec executive vice- president, has returned tc New York from a vacation at Nova Scotia. 'Youth Staff' To Run Rivoli for a Day As part of its observance of Youth Month, from Sept. 1 to 30, the Rivoli Theatre here is to be operated by a "Youth Theatre Staff for a Day." An essay competition is to be held from which selections for the complete staff of to be made. The competition is open to any boy or girl who writes an essay of 100 words or less on "How I Would Run a Movie The- atre," addressed to Montague Salmon, managing director of the Rivoli. Members of the "staff" will receive "payment" in the form of bonds and other awards. Ohio Governor Urges 'Youth Month9 Aid Governor Thomas J. Herbert of Ohio this week sent a letter bearing the "Youth Month" stamp on its en- velope to all exhibitors in Ohio call- ing on their active support for "Youth Month" in September, Theatre Own- ers of America reported here yester- day. The governor also called attention to "Report for Action," the documen- tary film financed by TOA as one of the steps in the campaign, and advised its widespread showing to local groups during non-theatrical hours. Sopeg Forces NLRB To Delay UA Poll New York regional office of the Na- tional Labor Relations Board has been forced to cancel, for the time being at least, the shop election which it had previously scheduled for this Friday among United Artists' home office white collar workers, it was dis- closed here yesterday following a new move by the Screen Office and Pro- fessional Employes Guild in its three- month-old jurisdictional controversy with IATSE Home Office Employes Local No. H-63. The SOPEG action causing cancel- lation of the election, which was ar- ranged to give some ISO "collarites" the opportunity to vote whether they want to be represented by H-63 or "no union," was an appeal to the NLRB in Washington to overrule re- gional NLRB director Charles T. Douds' ruling disqualifying UA em- ploye Cecilia Schuman as a candidate on the ballot. Douds had held that Miss Schuman, in seeking ballot rec- ognition, was acting in behalf of SOPEG, which cannot appear on the ballot because it has not complied with the non-Communist affidavit pro- visions of the Taft-Hartley Law. SOPEG's complaint against Douds must be ruled on by the NLRB in a judicial capacity at Washington, it was explained. H-63 spokesmen were known to have feared "another de- laying move" by SOPEG, and actu- ally had looked for it in the form of an application for a court injunction against the holding of the election. Commenting on the latest SOPEG move, Russell Moss, H-63 business agent, observed yesterday : "For an outfit that claims to hate the Taft- Hartley Law so much, SOPEG cer- tainly has used every 'out' it could find in the act to prevent a decent, democratic election among the em- ployes of UA." H-63, Pathe Industries Begin New Contract Talks Today Wage increases, shorter hours and improved working conditions will be sought for Pathe Industries white col- lar employes at Bound Brook, N. J., and New York by IATSE Motion Picture Home Office Employes Local No. H-63 in new contract negotiations which will begin with company offi- cials today, it was disclosed here yes- terday by Russell Moss, H-63 busi- ness agent. Moss will head the H-63 negotiations contingent and Nick Tro- nolone, Pathe Laboratories vice-presi- dent, will head the company group. Poll Sopeg Members On New Contract Tonight The membership of the Screen Of- fice and Professional Employes Guild will vote here tonight on new con- tract demands and also on the ques- tion of whether the union's present position of non-compliance with the voluntary provisions of the Taft-Hart- ley Law should be continued. One of the main contract issues to be voted upon is whether demands should be for 20 or 25 per cent in- creases. Other issues to be polled cover merit reviews, job classifications and grievance machinery. J. F. Chalmers Dead; M. P. World Publisher Greenwich, Conn., Aug. 24. — John F. Chalmers, for many years publisher of the Mov- ing Picture World, prior to its merger with Exhibitors Herald in 1928, died here Aug. 20 after a six months' illness. He was 79 years old. Private funeral services were held yesterday. Interment was at Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla, N. Y. The Moving Picture World was founded by the deceased's brother, the late James P. Chalmers, Jr., in 1907. Winners in Second Lap of U-I Drive M. M. Gottlieb of Chicago topped district managers in the second round of the Universal-International Presi- dential Sales Drive. Eugene Vogel, Albany, led branch managers in the East ; Irving Sochin, Cincinnati, in the South ; L. R. Berman, Chicago, in the West. Winning salesmen were Arthur Rose, Buffalo, in the Eastern divi- sion ; Harry Hynes, Jr., St. Louis, in the South; Ted Reisch, Chicago, in the West. SPG Members Reject T-H Law Compliance The membership of the Screen Pub- licists Guild has voted 125 to 44 against complying with the voluntary provisions of the Taft-Hartley Law, it was announced here yesterday. The vote was part of a national referendum now being conducted by the United Office and Professional Workers of America. AFM Delays (Continued from page 1) ing this afternoon at the New York headquarters of the union. Most of the time since the start of negotiations a week ago is understood to have been devoted to a discussion of living problems faced by Coast musi- cians. These discussions have been spearheaded by James C. Petrillo, AFM president. Doubt as to legality of certain AFM demands under the Taft-Hartley law is suggested as a possible reason for Petrillo's delay in presenting his pro- posals to the companies. Moss Name Changed Albany, N. Y, Aug. 24.— The Paul F. Moss Associates, Inc., New York, has changed its corporate name to International Tele-film Productions. Howard E. Reinhammer was the attorney. Another Video Applicant Detroit, Aug. 24. — The Grandwood Broadcasting Co. has applied to the Federal Communications Commission for permission to establish a commer- I cial television station in Grand Rapids. Newsreel Parade THE recall of Consul General Lo- makin and the arrival of Axis Sally mark current newsreel high- lights. Human interest stories and sports are among the other items that round out the reels. Complete con- tents follow. MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 68— Tregrn trials face Axis Sally and Tokyo U. S. demands recall of Lomakin in iV.i' er case. Australia supports U.N. appeal to aid orphans. Invasion tactics shown in landing on Virginia coast. Football: pro- fessional Chicago Cardinals defeat college All-Stars. U. S. defeats France in swim meet. Expert maneuvers displayed in sail- ing regatta. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 302 — De- fense chiefs meet. TJ. S. takes stern ac- tion in case of Red teacher. Treason trials for Axis Sally and Tokyo Rose. China sets up Boys' Town. Fur fashions pre- view. Sports thrills. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 105— Mid- dies, cadets in amphibious test. Cologne Cathedral reopens for 70Oth anniversary. Secretary Forrestal talks defense. Axis Sally arrives. Grid preview. Seattle sail classic. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. 172 — Joint chiefs of staffs in hush-hush meeting. Re- call of Russian Consul General demanded. Axis Sally arrives here. Outstanding daughters chosen. Miss Canada crowned. Fall fur fashions. All-Star football game. Motorcycle hill climb. Rodeo. WARNER PATHE NEWS, No. 3— Army-Navy war games. People in the news: U. S. top brass; Arab commander; Tokyo Rose; Axis Sally; Miss Canada. German crowds protest prices. Shanghai Boys' Town. Fur fashions for '49. Sports: All-Star game; Paris swim meet. NBC to Open Midwest Video Web Sept. 20 Detroit, Aug. 24. — National Broad- casting Midwest Television network, comprising Station WWJ-TV, The Detroit News, and four other televi- vision stations, will begin regular pro- gram operations Sept. 20, I. E. Show- erman, NBC vice-president, announced today. 1 In addition to WWJ-TV, the orig- inal members of the Midwest network will be KSD-TV. St. Louis ; WTMJ- TV, Milwaukee ; WSFD-TV, Toledo, and WBEN-TV, Buffalo. Para. Wins Grant of Video Relay at L. A. Washington, Aug. 24. — The Fed- eral Communications Commission to- day granted Paramount Television Productions, Inc., a license and con- struction permit for a new experimen- tal television relay broadcast station in the Los Angeles area. The relay station will be used in connection with Paramount's Los Angeles video station. Two Cited Win Delay Washington, Aug. 24. — -The U. S. Court of Appeals has given attorneys for film writers Dalton Trumbo and John Howard Lawson until Sept. 30 to file their briefs appealing the writ- ers' conviction in District Court here for contempt of Congress. Defense lawyers had asked an extra 30 days. This gives the Government until Oct. 30 to file its answering brief. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Qaigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. CASTER / PARADE Tech nicolor ( 10 THB Bid vmV Yes, it's really wonderful the way M-G-Ms "A DATE WITH JUDY" is coming along in the "Easter Parade" manner in all its first engagements. The phenomenal run at Radio City Music Hall, where its FIRST 2 WEEKS ARE A NEW ALL-TIME M-G-M HIGH, parallels its rousing nationwide box- office reception. Have you had your Vitamin M-G-M today? M-G-M presents "A DATE WITH JUDY'" starring WALLACE BEERY, JANE POWELL, ELIZABETH TAYLOR, CARMEN MIRANDA, XAVIER CUGAT and his Orchestra, ROBERT 'STACK • Color by TECHNICOLOR • Screen Play by Dorothy Cooper and Dorothy Kingsley • Based on the Characters Created by Aleen Leslie • Directed by RICHARD THORPE • Produced by JOE PASTERNAK. 4 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, August 25, 1948 'Hamlet' To Open at Park Ave. on Sept. 29 Basing its decision on the "tremendous" business being done by J. Arthur Rank's "Hamlet" in Boston, Univer- sal-International has set the release for a roadshow en- gagement at the Park Avenue Theatre here beginning Sept. 29, William A. Scully, U-I dis- tribution vice-president, an- nounced here yesterday. Earlier, Scully indicated the company would set its policy on the film after the Boston opening. Reviews Yates on UK (Continued from page 1) qualifiedly "get tough" attitude, Yates expressed the opinion that within the "next week or 10 daysT the Motion Picture Association "will toss a 'bomb' at the British" in the form of a declaration by MPAA president Eric A. Johnston, who is now con- ferring with UK officials in London. Yates, who late last week returned from a nine-week tour of England, France and Italy, emphasized that "something has got to be done," and complained that the presidents of the American film companies "just can't sit back here and disagree." He de- scribed as "disastrous" to U. S. films the foreseeable results of the British quota and an alleged plan of J. Ar- thur Rank and the British government to relegate U. S. product, regardless of quality, to the under half of double bills and to only 20 per cent of the profits. Ninety per cent of British film- goers, Yates held, prefer American, to British pictures. So do Britain's ex- hibitors, he added, excepting Rank. "It is unfortunate," he deplored, "that we don't have the U. S. Government back of us, and that therefore it is the U. S. industry pitted against the Brit- ish government." Eventually, Yates predicted, the British government will be in control of industry finances in that country and then there will have been brought about nationalization of the film industry there. "We had them licked last time," Yates said, referring to the U. S. com- panies' embargo of the British market following the imposition of the British "The Secret Land" (MGM) Hollywood, Aug. 24 ALTHOUGHT theatrical potentialities of this historically important docu- mentary in Technicolor are open to conjecture, it is unquestionably a fine pictorial record of Admiral Richard E. Byrd's 1946-47 exploration of Antarctica. And the fact that Robert Montgomery, Robert Taylor and Van Heflin speak, unseen, the narrative which accompanies and explains the action filmed by Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Coast Guard cameramen on the expedition doubtless warrants appropriate use of those names by exhibitors in billing the attraction. Cooperative exploitation with schools, veteran organizations and civic groups, as well as local newspapers, also may be utilized without fear of disappointing the thus interested parties. The Byrd expedition is covered photographically, and in careful detail, from the date of its authorization by Secretary Forrestal to completion of the mission. The outfitting of the ships, their voyages to the three points of convergence upon Antarctica, the triumphs over iceberg, polar, gale and frigid temperature, and the exploits of the planes which carried on from where the ships left off, are vividly and sometimes dramatically shown. For a strictly factual film, it works up remarkable interest. Orville O. Dull is given the production credit, and the commentary was written by Capt. Harvey S. Haislip, U.S.N., retired, and Comdr. William C. Park, U.S.N.R. Bronislau Kaper provided the music score. Running time, 72 minutes. General audience classification. Release date not set. William R. Weaver 'Night Wind" (lVurtzel-20th Century-Fox) THE LATEST vehicle from Sol M. Wurtzel chronicles the efforts of an ex-paratroop dog to avenge the murder of its master by a wartime spy who posed as a brother soldier. The film is tailored along formula lines, but stirs up sufficient action and excitement to make it especially attractive for the juvenile trade. Returned from the wars, the dog finds a new master in young Gary Gray, and lives contentedly in the country. One day, however, the dog picks up the scent of the enemy agent who killed its previous master. There follow some night forays by the animal which result in it being branded a killer by the community, and a consequent posse set on its trail. The dog is finally captured and is about to be shot when a nick-of-time occurrence reveals the true pur- pose of its nocturnal prowls. As an added bit of melodrama, the routine screenplay by Arnold Belgard and Robert G. North tosses in an angle about former enemy intelligence officers snooping about one of our rocket plants with no good in mind. For sentimental touches, Deanna Woodruff is on hand as Gary's younger sister ; the boy's parents are portrayed by Virginia Christine and Charles Russell ; the canine chores are held up by Flame. James Tinling's direction contrives to keep things moving steadily. Running time, 68 minutes. General audience classification. Set for October release. Mandel Herbstman ad valorem tax. "If we had only held out four months longer," he added, "we really would have had them where we wanted them." He forecast that no matter what steps the U. S. industry takes now to improve its position in England, the British government will hold out and fight back for a long time. "Britain is in too deep not to retaliate," he said. Republic distributes in Britain through British-Lion, hence has no overhead there, Yates pointed out in admitting that his company's experi- ence in Britain has not been as severe as those of other U. S. distributors. He said he disagrees with Sir Alex- ander Korda's statements that U. S. distributors are involved to a degree in the boycott of British films here. He said Republic plans to open dis- tribution offices in Paris and Rome by the first of next year and will use blocked funds for the purpose. Republic Will Make 50 Pictures in 1949 Republic will produce 50 pictures next year, the same number as this year, Herbert J. Yates, company president, said yesterday. Twenty- two of next year's total will be West- erns and four will be serials. Twenty of the SO will be filmed in Trucolor, Yates predicted. He also said Republic will start producing films for television shortly. FP-C Buys Drive-ins Toronto, Aug. 24. — Acquisition of the two drive-in, theatres in the To- ronto area from Herb Ochs of Tri- angle Theatres, Cleveland, by Famous Players-Canadian places the Canadian circuit in the open-air theatre business. Ochs recently opened other drive-ins near Ottawa and at Peterborough. New Delancey Sold Joseph Schapiro and Morris Gold- man have leased from Lanroc Oper- ating Corp. the 1,800-seat New Delan- cey Theatre here, it is reported by Berk and Krumgold, realty special- ists, who consummated the deal. Short Subject "Glamour Street" (This Is America — RKO Radio) Picturesque, fashionable, glamorous Fifth Avenue in New York, a thor- oughfare whose fame exceeds that of Paris' Champs Elysee, is the sub^gt of this entertaining, enlightening ' ^ ; Is America short. New Yorkers "as well as audiences in other parts of the country should delight in viewing the mansions, decorous mercantile estab- lishments, Radio City, Washington Square, Central Park and other scenes, including historic parades, which are a part of this street that divides the East Side of town from the West. Topping off this eye-treat is an ef- fective narration that throws consider- able light on the historic and business factors which have made the avenue what it is. Running time, 16 minutes. French Film Is (B' As Legion Rates 4 Discina International's "The Damned" (French) has been placed in Class B by the National Legion of Decency in its rating of four pictures this week. Paramount's "Isn't It Romantic?" and M-G-M's "A Southern Yankee" were classified A-I, while Columbia's "The Gentleman from Nowhere" was rated A-II. Exports Declined (Continued from page 1) largest drop, amounting to 194,570,637 linear feet valued at $3,374,642 for the January-June period this year, com- pared with 257,270,358 linear feet valued at $3,748,890 during the like 1947 period. Shipments of exposed feature films totaled 153,774,676 linear feet, valued at $4,389,103, in the first six months this year, compared with 160,435,301 linear feet valued at $4,261,264 last year. Equipment exports dropped from $7,764,717 last year to $7,001,325 this year. A sharp drop in exports of 35mm. positive raw stock accounted for most of the decline in the rawstock cate- gory. The 35mm. positive shipments dropped to 124,661,251 linear feet valued at $1,593,894, in the 1948 first half from 190,865,453 linear feet valued at $2,047,278 in the 1947 period. Ex- ports of 35mm. negative rawstock were practically unchanged, and small gains were recorded in the exports of l6mm. positive and negative unexposed film. New York Representative, 44 Wall St. Foreign Branches: London, Manila, and Tokyo ISank of America NATIONAL JmmngS ASSOCIATION California's Statewide'Bank Wis BANK OF THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY A MEMBER f.O.I.C. Wednesday, August 25, 1948 Motion Picture Daily Combine Sued (Continued from page 1) such proceedings, according to Robert J. Rubin, general counsel of the society. "The society is exercising external vigilance as to other tight conditions and reserves and intends to exercise the right to take similar action," he seated here yesterday. r~_Vnultaneous with the filing of the c plaint in Detroit, copies were made available to the press in New York and Hollywood. In New York, Rubin conducted a press conference on the subject in company of James Mul- vey, Eastern distribution chairman of the SIMPP, and Joseph Alvin, direc- tor of public relations. Hudson, Sharkey Named Combined treble damages of $8,- 750,000 are asked. Also named as defendants are Earl J. Hudson, head of United Detroit, and James F. Shar- key, manager of Cooperative Theatres of Michigan. Joined with the society as plaintiffs are the companies of Walt Disney, Samuel Goldwyn, Benedict Bogeaus, Seymour Nebenzal, Edward Small, Hunt Stromberg, David O. Selznick, William and James Cagney and Wal- ter Wanger. United and Cooperative are accused of determining among themselves the terms and conditions under which they will license product and are alleged to agree that neither will compete against the other to raise the rental. The basis of the complaint is an al- leged agreement between the defend- ants in violation of the Sherman and Clayton Acts under which United ac- quired the best first-run houses in the Detroit area ; United allegedly obtains first-run product on a non-competitive FIVE -STAR DC-6 FLAGSHIPS LOS ANGELES 11 hours, 10 minutes CHICAGO 3% hours Phone HAvemeyer 6-5000 or your travel agent Ticket Offices: Airlines Terminal Rockefeller Center • Hotel New Yorker 120 Broadway • Hotel St. George AMERICAN AIRLINES PUZZLE-BANK A game to be played by theater audiences Enterprise House, Inc., 198 Broadway New York City DIgby 9-1278 "A Song Is Born r (Continued from page 1) in the first, had to do with the compilation of an encyclopedic history of American slang, whereas in this offering, it is Virginia Mayo who sidetracks a history of music. In his pursuit of the lowdown on jazz and its modern offshoots, the professorial Kaye comes upon such exponents of tricky rhythms as Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Charlie Barnet, Mel Powell, Buck & Bubbles, the Page Cavanaugh Trio, the Golden Gate Quartet and Russo and the Samba Kings. He also comes upon Miss Mayo, night club singer, who happens to be dodging the cops who want to question her in connection with a gangland murder of which her boy friend is suspected. She uses the professorial study house as a hideout and completely captivates Kaye to ensure her being per- mitted to remain there. Her duplicity is uncovered when Steve Cochran, as the suspected murderer, attempts to marry her because- a wife can't be made to testify against her husband. By then, Miss Mayo is genuinely in love with Kaye and considerable farcical melodramatics are required to bring the two together despite gangland guns. KAYE, bereft of his familiar zany dancing and singing specialties, plays the guileless professor in a way that may make the changeover popular with those who were about sated with his earlier roles. It is quite a departure, too, from the way Gary Cooper played the same role in "Ball of Fire." Miss Mayo is excellent as the night club singer and supporting roles are ably filled by Hugh Herbert, J. Edward Bromberg, Ludwig Stossel, Felix Bressart, O. Z. Whitehead and Esther Dale. The music and songs are top notch and sure to account for a big boost to ticket sales. The picture is replete with exploitation possibilities. It may even be banned in Memphis. The Technicolor points up the rich production, traditional with Goldwyn. Thomas Monroe and Billy Wilder get the story credit. Fault may be found with several sequences toward the ending which tend to lag. It may also be regretted that several lines and situations are not what parents would order for all the teen-agers who will be drawn by the picture's musical bait. Running time, 113 minutes. Adult classification, Release date, Nov. 6. Sherwin Kane basis; United and Cooperative control 95 per cent of the principal subsequent theatres in the area; United and Co- operative "combine and pool their li- censing power and consult, collaborate and act in concert in the negotiation for the licensing of motion pictures to be shown in their theatres." By these alleged restraints of trade the independent producers assert that they have been deprived of their rightful share of domestic returns. They charge further that as a result of the alleged agreement on combined booking power, the two defendants can oppose any licensing deal not agree- able to them and can compel distribu- tors to accept flat rather than per- centage licensing contracts. It is alleged that double-feature programs, predominant in the Detroit area, are played off in United Detroit houses in the same manner as in Co- operative houses. The result is that in Detroit's 64 subsequent runs only four different programs are offered to the public, according to the plaintiffs. It is charged, moreover, that while clearance between first and second run is generally held to four to six weeks there have been instances where the second run followed the first by as much as eight months. Such a maneuver was described as one to en- able the defendants to get licensing terms which they dictated. Say United Controls 1st Runs The independents charge that Unit- ed Detroit controls the first-run situa- tion in downtown Detroit so thorough- ly that the distributors of independent pictures cannot deal with other first- run houses without obtaining specific permission from the management of United. Distributors who attempt to license pictures outside the United first-runs are met with reprisals from both United and Cooperative in the form of less advantageous deals in subsequent engagements of the prod- uct, the society charges. The SIMPP charges that Michigan Cooperative caused separate member theatres to surrender their rights to negotiate for pictures and states that Cooperative holds options to purchase the._ theatres of members desirous of selling. The plaintiffs declare that United Detroit operates 16 theatres in the De- troit area, four of them first-runs, and aver that the circuit is 75 per cent- owned and fully controlled by Para- mount. The plaintiffs declare that Cooperative comprises 130 houses in the Detroit area. The defendants ask : Ask Receivership, Dissolution An injunction restraining the de- fendants from further monopolistic practices ; receivership for United De- troit and sale of the theatres to inde- pendent exhibitors ; dissolution of Michigan Cooperative and treble dam- ages said to have been incurred as follows : Goldwvn Productions, $1,521,000; Disney, $974,220; Selznick, $836,817; Flat Rental for Crescent Prexy Nashville, Aug. 24. — R. E. (Elmer) Baulch, president of the Crescent Amusement Co., chalked up a new experience as a theatre operator when he was called upon to change a flat tire for two women patrons of his company's new Murfreesboro drive-in. There was no other theatre hand around at the time. Will Rogers Hospital (Continued from page 1) was a patient at the hospital; Jack Ellis of United Artists and Clarence Eiseman, president of the Film Board of Trade, who heads the industry drive in New York. Eiseman served as toastmaster. Montague said that the business has a duty to save the hospital because ''it is an institution that belongs to the industry." The Columbia distribution chief added that "we must not risk losing the one institution that belongs to us." Montague said that the success of the drive must be established by No- vember if the industry hopes to have the hospital continue as an institution ministering to 'the tubercular in show business in need of treatment. He indicated that the prestige of the in- dustry was at stake in the drive to make the hospital financially solvent. In pleading for financial support for the hospital Hearn described his ex- periences as a patient there. Ellis warned that should the hospital be allowed to cease operation because of lack of financial support, "it will be to our everlasting discredit." Herman Gelber, president of IATSE Local 306, operators, pledged the drive the full cooperation of the union. On the dais in addition to the speak- ers were Herman Robbins, Charles M. Reagan, Ed Morey, Edmund C. Grain- ger, Harold Rodner, Robert Mochrie, William Scully, Gus Eyssell, William F. Rodgers, James R. Grainger. Bogeaus, §808,896 ; Cagney, $704,748 Wanger, $637,500; Small, $746,844 Reliance Pictures (Small), $375,000 Empire Productions (Stromberg) $695,880; Mars Film Corp. (Strom- berg), $403,443; Oakmont Pictures ( Stromberg) , $332,968 ; SIMPP, $724,500. THE LATEST WORD ON ROPE: It's a Magnificent Thriller!" _ PHOTOPLAY Timelg As To dag's Headlines! AccicUmed HOLLYWOOD REPORTER Quote: "Arpi-FUm Classics up with a winner 'SOFIA'' strong spy melodrama — Balkan intrigue." • VARIETY . . . Quote: "Enterprising exhibs can make hay with 'SOFIA'!" FILM DAILY . . . Quote: "Should bolster box office potential. Rates in the top bracket! Cinecolor at best!" MOTION PICTURE DAILY f)i Quote: "F.C. Makes impressive show of strength!" nnauncitt t STARTLING NEW PICTURE! ILMED ON A TREMENDOUS SCALE IN COLO BY CINECOLOR . . . AND SPARING NOTHING IN TH FURY OF ITS TELLING—HERE IS THE REMARKABLE STORY OF A CITY OF SPIES AND SABOTAGE, OF BEAUTIFUL WOMEN AND RUTHLESS MEN . . . THE STORY THAT RIPS THE CURTAIN FROM THE EX PLOSIVE SECRETS HIDDEN DEEP IN TODAY'S POWDER KEG OF EUROPE! geneRAYMOND sigridGUME Patricia MORISON • Mischa AUER • John WENGRAF ^JohnREINHAROT^f6" RobertPRESNELL.sr. - John REINHARDT Scwu,!, FREDERICK STEPHANI £e«*w 4, Film Classics", Inc". Accurate Concise and Impartial MOTION PICTURE, DAI LY FIRST OVs1N FILM NEWS 64. NO. 40 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 1948 TEN CENTS Ascap Decides To Appeal on Trust Ruling First Will Seek To Have Some of Language Eased Ascap has reached a definite de- cision to appeal the Federal Court ruling holding the society guilty of violating the anti-trust statutes, it was learned here yesterday. Before the fight is taken to the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals, however, Ascap will seek to have Robert P. Patterson, former Secretary of War serving as special counsel for the so- ciety, press for modification of some of the stronger and more sweeping language of Judge Vincent L. Lei- bell's opinion. Such a move would ecessitate conferences with Judge eibell. Another development in the Ascap case yesterday was the disclosure that the copyright committee of the Motion Picture Association of America plans to schedule no more meeting discus- sions of the decision until Judge Lei- bell has approved a decree based on is findings of fact. A decree is not expected to be en- tered for a number of weeks at least. Judge Leibell is not due back from va- (Continued on page 3) RKO 2nd Quarter Profit: $556,536 Consolidated net profit of Radio- eith-Orpheum and subsidiaries for he second quarter of 1948 was $556,- 36, after taxes 'and all other charges, quivalent to approximately 14 .cents er share on the 3,899,914 shares of ommon stock outstanding. This compares with profit for the econd quarter of 1947 of $2,836,663 (including profit of $1,603,243 on sale f capital assets, before taxes). Consolidated net profit for the first (Continued on page 3) KO Board Starts >-day Coast Meet Hollywood, Aug. 25. — Final de- cisions on policy and the program to e presented at the impending annual tockholders' meeting are expected to esult from the RKO board meeting hich started at the Beverly Hills otel today. The meeting, which was (.Continued on page 3) Ticket Taxes Off $2 Million Washington, Aug. 25. — General admission tax collections in July, re- flecting June box-office business, were close to $2,000,000 below July, 1947, collections, according to figures re- leased today by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. t Only in. March and June of this year have 1948 collections exceeded 1947. This year's July general admissions collection total was $33,054,712, com- pared with $34,972,435 last July. The general admissions tax figures cover legitimate theatres, sports events, and other admissions as well as film admissions, but do not include roof garden and cabaret tax collec- tions and taxes on various over- charges. The total for all admission tax collections in July, 1948, was $37,- 853,846, compared with $40,233,348 last July. Colosseum Contract Talks Resume Mon. Representatives of 11 distributors and the Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen of America on Monday will pick up where they left off two weeks ago in negotiations here on the first wages-and-hours contract for the newly-unionized salesmen of the in- dustry. Colosseum attorney David Beznor and others on the Colosseum bargain- (Continucd on page 3) NSS Sales Drive To Honor Dembow With the need for "getting back to showmanship" as its theme, a "George Dembow Tribute Drive" will be launched by National Screen Service in a salute to its dis- tribution vice-president, it was announced yesterday by Herman Robbins, NSS presi- dent. The sales drive will start Sept. *13 and will con- tinue through Dec. 31. Eliminate Prutzman In U-I Stock Suit Universal-International vice-presi- dent and general counsel Charles D. Prutzman yesterday was absolved by Federal Judge Harold R. Medina in U. S. District Court here of charges of improper stock transactions brought against him and four other U-I execu- tives by minority stockholder Stephen Truncale. Dismissing the suit against Prutz- man on motion of defendants' counsel, Mudge, Stern, Williams and Tucker, the jurist held that it was "not to the best interests of Universal that action be maintained" against Prutzman. The other U-I executives who are charged by Truncale with having vio- lated the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 are N. J. Blumberg, J. Cheever Cowdin, William A. Scully and Clifford Work. Defense attor- neys reportedly are scheduling motions for dismissal of charges against them also. Goldwyn and Disney Predict More SIMPP Theatre Suits Samuel Goldwyn yesterday lashed out at circuits which allegedly have tightened competition in restraint of trade and threatened further court ac- tion of the type launched in Detroit on Tuesday by the Society of Inde- pendent Motion Picture Producers against Cooperative Theatres of Mich- igan and United Detroit Theatres. Goldwyn asserted in a press state- ment released in New York that "in- dependents are the heart of motion nicture production but monopolies like the Detroit combination, large or small, all over the country, have de- prived the independent producers of a free and open market for their pic- tures. We do not propose to let these illegal practices go unchallenged." He added, there will be "no compro- mise on the issues." Walt Disney, joined with Goldwyn in the SIMPP action, in a companion statement expressed the hope that the Government would strike no compro- mise in its anti-trust action against the film companies. And in referring to the independent producers' "fight for a free screen," Disney further observed : "Our primary job is to make motion pictures, not to market them. Unfor- tunately, no matter how much we in- vest in making the finest pictures, it does not do us or the movie-going public any good so long as we cannot get them shown in the theatres on a fair and just basis. In one place after another we are being discriminated against by competitors who have man- aged to gain control over whole chains (Continued on page 3) U. S. Managers In* London at Odds on Plans Johnston's Efforts at Unanimity Strike Snag London, -Aug. 25.— Wide differ- ences of opinion on the methods of approaching the problems of United States companies in this market were brought into the open at an all- day meeting today of Eric A. John- ston, Motion Picture Association of America president, with resident man- agers of the American companies here. The outcome of the meeting was not made known but it was ■ doubtful whether agreement was had in view of the diversity of viewpoints and inter- ests at the meeting. Johnston had met with the American managers for six ho urs on Monday with equally inde- cisive results indicated. In addition, the absence from the current parleys of James A. Mulvey, representative of the Society of Inde- pendent Motion Picture Producers, appears to be creating growing em- (Continued on page 3) AFM Pact Talks Reach Impasse An impasse was reached yesterday in the negotiations of producers and James C. Petrillo, president of the American Federation of Musicians, for a new contract covering musicians, arrangers and music copyists employed in Hollywood. While Petrillo is yet to outline the terms he seeks, it is understood he looks with favor upon a cost-of-living increase which the producers' commit- tee yesterday advised him was "not in the cards." Since the current contract expires Aug. 31, efforts at an accord will be speeded up at a meeting to- night in Petrillo's office. N. J. Allied, Smith To Meet Next Week A committee of Allied Theatre Own- ers of New Jersey consisting of Irv- ing Dollinger, George Gold and Wil- bur Snaper will confer here with 20th Century-Fox general sales manager Andy W. Smith, Jr., next week on the latter's plan for" conciliation of ex- hibitor-distributor differences, Edward (.Continued on page 3) 2 Motion Picture Daily Personal Mention TED R. GAMBLE, Theatre Own- ers of America president, is sched- uled to leave here today for Portland, Ore. • Maria Vincenza Trotta, daughter of Vincent Trotta, National Screen Service art director, will be married in the Dutch Reformed Church, Flushing', on Saturday to Harold Douglas Hall. • Al Rackin of A. L. Rackin As- sociates will leave Hollywood for the East Tuesday as advance man for the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans annual rodeo tour which opens in Philadel- phia Sept. 2. • Mark N. Silvers, United Artists assistant Eastern sales manager, and Abe Dickstein of home office sales will return to New York .from Albany and Gloversville on Monday. • William F. Rodgers, Lo'ew's vice- president in charge of distribution, will return to the home office tomorrow from Toronto. • Eddie Cantor will begin a speaking tour of 14 major cities this Sunday on behalf of the United Jewish Ap- peal. Al Horwits, Universal-Interna- tional Eastern publicity manager, leaves New York today for Baltimore, Philadelphia and Atlantic City. Ernest Mattson, president of Scandia Films, Inc., a 35-year veteran in the film import field, will celebrate his 60th birthday today. • Jules K. Chapman, Film Classics assistant general sales manager, cele- brates his 25th year in distribution this week. J. Miller Walker, RKO corpora- tion secretary, will leave New York today for a short visit with relatives in Buffalo. James Sharkey, general manager of Cooperative Theatres of Michigan, has returned to Detroit from New York. • C. E. O'Brien, manager of the Ri- viera Theatre, Detroit, has returned to that city from a Canadian vaca- tion. Harold Brown, United Detroit Theatres head booker, has returned to Oetroit from a vacation in North- ern Michigan. William J. Heineman, Eagle-Lion sales chief, is expected back in New York today from the Coast. New Iowa Drive-In Carroll, la., Aug. 25. — The Carroll Drive-in, operated by Cecil Crouse, is scheduled to open here this week. Capacity is 300 autos. Insider's Outlook By RED KANN """pHE man is biting the dog," *• is how Gunther Lessing, chairman of the executive com- mittee of SIMPP, describes that association's anti-trust suit seek- ing receivership for United De- troit Theatres, dissolution of Cooperative Theatres of Michi- gan [long-operating booking combine] and $8,750,000 in treble damages. The description is apt. Producers like the majors and producers like the independents joined in SIMPP have been, and now are, defendants in a number of trust actions institut- ed by exhibitors. There have been legal involvements precipi- tated by the Department of Jus- tice as well. But for a group of producers to reverse what has been the norm by seeking relief from monopolistic tactics charged to theatremen is some- thing new, even under the bright and flashing celluloid sun. SIMPP'S move, long herald- ed, nevertheless is arousing great interest, even excitement. The courts will decide, of course, yet the Detroit step can- not be placed in balance if its evaluation is to be confined within its own boundaries. We believe it reaches beyond and must be appraised in relation to the whole pattern of litigation now pending. Far and away, obviously, is the parent suit - of them all — the Government ver- sus Paramount, et al — and the sweep of the Supreme Court de- cision. SIMPP seeks to have United Detroit dissolved through re- ceivership and a court-ordered sale of its 16 theatres. There- fore, it becomes immediately ap- parent that Paramount must be drawn into the situation since United Detroit is part of its ex- hibition family. Since SIMPP claims United Detroit and Co- operative are joined in monopol- istic practices, Paramount un- doubtedly will be found defend- ing its subsidiary on this count as well. Thus, while Paramount is not a defendant in the SIMPP suit, it would appear to be inextri- cably involved, through its re- lationship with United Detroit. If this assumption ' is borne out by succeeding events, one of the major targets in the Govern- ment suit will be drawn into the line of fire of the Detroit suit. This, then, would become one way through which the litigation localized in Detroit would im- Nasser Buys Story Hollywood, Aug. 25. — Independent producer James Nasser has bought "You Made Me Love You," original story by Lou Breslow and Joseph Hoffman for $100,000, with the inten- tion of again co-starring Madeleine Carroll and Fred MacMurray, leads in his unreleased "Innocent Affair." MOTION"- PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley Tr Associate Editor Published dailv exrent Saturday Sundays and hohdajs by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20 N Y Telephone Circle ''7-3100 addSS • "oSiroubS' New York." Martin Quigley, Prudent; Red Kann. Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice President and Treasurer- Leo J Brady Secretary' YineVuild^nTwi^ ^ ^TJnT ^nager ; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director' ' Holly wood Bureau, Yu^ca- Vine Building, William R Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley Advertising Representative- Timmv Ascher Fdi or '• cabl?addTesr-'bu ^ftnngt0Tn^HJn »' O^"' rf*' ^P *™ Club. Washington, D C. London Bureau, 4 Golden So,. London Wl Hope^urnup Tanlger/ Peter Bumup. Herald'- TW~ <£L Pni^nir^^M^"' p° , QaV* CX Pu|1,catl0»s: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture \ iB7o' 1 tInternatl0nal. M?t10" p'ctur<: Almanac- Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. pinge on the litigation so long contested on the national level and a meshing of issues effected. Rather colorful phrases are punctuating the scene. States Lessing: "Up to now, the ex- hibitors have done all the talk- ing about the damage done to them by distributors and the big circuits. We're going to do some talking about the damage being done to the independent producer by the individual ex- hibitor hooked up into illegal buying combines and tied up with the big circuits as well. . . . You can't have competition where normally competing thea- tres and circuits form a club and set up 'armchair exhibition'." "An 'armchair' exhibitor," by Lessing's definition, "is a fellow who signs away his responsibil- ity to pick and choose pictures for his patrons and forgets all about the theatre until it's time to bank the receipts. He's also the fellow who yells the loudest when people get tired of his as- sembly line pictures and start go- ing to night ball games or look- ing at the television screen for amusement." Detroit, SIMPP avers, is op- erating under a "feed bin" sys- tem. Thanks to it, it is claimed, United Detroit and Cooperative control 90 per cent of box-office receipts of the theatres in the al- leged system and 90 per cent of all revenue of all Detroit area theatres other than first run. Additionally, it is maintained United Detroit exercises a first run monopoly. SIMPP and its independent producer member- ship thinks this is wrong and should be broken up. ■ ■ A Third of a Century Ago : Paramount was giving away for free a 24-sheet plugging its product. . . . Majestic was mak- ing noise about "Three Broth- ers," featuring Wallace Reid. In two parts yet. . . . Pathe News was crowing. . . . Universal was advertising for highclass come- dy directors. . . . Famous Play- ers viewed 1915 as "the year of realization." . . . Cecil B. De Mille had just finished "The Girl of the Golden West" for Jesse Lasky. . . . United Film Service [Warner's Features, Inc.] was releasing 200 "big feature films" through 43 ex- changes. . . . Lewis J. Selznick was preparing to offer World Film stock to exhibitors at $5 a share. Coming Events Aug. 30-Sept. 1— Allied Theatres of Michigan annual convention, Book Cadillac Hotel, Detroit. Sept. 14-15 — Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio conven' Deshler-Wallick Hotel, Columy Ohio. Sept. 14-16 — Pacific Coast Confer- ence of Independent Theatre Owners' trustees annual meeting, Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles. Sept. 16 - 18 — International Variety Clubs' mid-year convention, Stat- ler Hotel, Washington. Sept. 24-25 — Theatre Owners of America convention, Drake Ho- tel, Chicago. Sept. 27 - 30— Theatre Equipment and Supply Manufacturers Asso- ciation national trade show and convention, Jeffer€on Hotel, St. Louis. Sept. 28 - 29— Kansas-Missouri The- atre Association annual conven- tion, Kansas City. Oct. 14 - 15 — Independent Theatre Owners of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan annual convention, Schroeder Hotel, Milwaukee. Oct. 25 - 29 — Society of Motion Pic- ture Engineers semi-annual con- vention, Statler Hotel, Washing- ton. Para. Is Buying Its Stock at High Tempo Paramount last month resumed the purchase of its own common stock on the open market at a sharpened tempo, following the pronounced drop-off in this activity shown by the company in May and June after the U. S. Su- preme Court ruled in the industry anti-trust suit. Last month's purchases amounted to 31,000 shares to bring the total in the company's treasury to 611,133. In May 8,700 shares were bought, and in June, 2,700. 500 'Ruth Story' Prints Hollywood, Aug. 25. — To meet the "unprecedented demand" for early bookings of Roy Del Ruth's "The Babe Ruth Story," Steve Broidy, Monogram-Allied Artists president; has authorized the making of 200 ad- ditional prints, bringing the total to 500, the company said. F. C. Names Sullivan Matt Sullivan, United Artists branch manager in Buffalo, N. Y., for more than 18 years, has been appointed Film Classics branch manager in Milwau- kee, it was announced here yesterday by B. G. Kranze, Film Classics dis- tribution head. Sullivan succeeds Max Mazur, resigned. ♦ Xlty ^Thursday, August 26, 1948 Motion Picture Daily RKO Board Meet (Continued from page 1) res 0' Boon tain r called abruptly and with a minimum quorum of board members attending, will probably continue for two or three days. Today's session was reportedly de- voted to a checkup on the progress made by the studio in implementing interim policies ratified by the board its June meetings here. N. Peter [■■hvon, who has since tendered his >-~»3gnation as president to become effective as of the stockholders' meet- ing; Floyd Odium, Howard Hughes and Ned Depinet were present. Among matters on the agenda, it is understood, was consideration of a proposed partnership between Rathvon and Odium in an independent produc- ing company which would release through RKO. RKO Profit (Continued from page 1) half of 1948 was $1,901,863, after taxes and all other charges, equivalent to approximately 49 cents per share on the common, as compared with profit for the first half of 1947 of $5,- 107,347 (including profit of $1,605,852 on sale of capital assets, before taxes). 15c RKO Dividend Set Radio-Keith-Orpheum board of di- rectors yesterday declared a dividend of 15 cents per share on the common stock, payable Oct. 1 to holders of record on Sept. 15. Ascap to Appeal (Continued from page 1) cation until after Labor Day, nor is Patterson. Ascap will take no ac- tion on the preparation of a decree for the court until Patterson's return to the city. The MPAA copyright committee already has held two meetings at which the Ascap decision was dis- cussed, with no conclusive results. It is felt that further talks on the sub- ject would be of little use as matters stand at present. The committee would "just be shooting in the dark," a spokesman for the group said. It was made clear, however, that should an emergency arise before approval of a decree, discussions on the decision would be resumed by the committee. N. J. Allied, Smith (Continued from page 1) Lachman, Jersey Allied president, said yesterday. Lachman said that following a com- mittee report on its talks with Smith a "survey of complaints" will be made among Jersey Allied members. Until the committee reports, Lachman said, the organization will be non-committal on the Smith plan. The same committee, Lachman said, will confer at an unspecified future date with M-G-M distribution vice- president William F. Rodgers or other M-G-M executives on the possible application of company sales plans to the needs of individual Jersey Allied members. Named WB Art Manager Harold Kornheiser, a member of the iVarner art department for the past nine years, has been promoted to art manager, it has been announced by Mort Blumenstock, Warner advertis- ing-publicity vice-president. Reviews "The Rope" (Warners-Trans- Atlantic Films) Hollywood, Aug. 25 ALFRED HITCHCOCK has turned for the subject matter of this picture to an inhuman thrill-murder by two abnormal young men. In point of artistry and craftsmanship it is a shining milestone in the distinguished career of the producer and in the development of production technique. In theme, it is a film of extremely questionable appropriateness for entertainment purposes. Hitchcock's camera follows the players from start of the story to finish without blinking, thus giving the effect of the whole production having been filmed in one continuous take. The scene is a New York apartment and the period during which the story takes place is exactly the 83 minutes of the running time. The result is to make the observer feel, to far greater extent than ordinarily, that he is personally present in the apartment and virtually a party to what goes on there. This technological aspect of the picture is highly exploitable in its own right. The story used is a screenplay by Arthur Laurents based on an adaptation by Hume Cronyn of a stage play, "Rope's End," by Patrick Hamilton. It opens on John Dall and Farley Granger, wealthy college-age intellectuals whose master-slave relationship is clearly indicated and whose deeds vividly recall the Loeb-Leppold murder case, in the act of strangling to death a young man whom they consider intellectually inferior and placing his body in an ornate chest pending removal after nightfall. Exulting in the emotional exhilaration derived from the killing, their only motive for it, they tFansfer the buffet-dinner setup from the dining room table to the top of the chest and await the arrival of invited guests selected in advance of the murder for purposes of prolonging the thrill. These include James Stewart, as their former college instructor who inculcated in them their belief in the right of superior intellects to dispose of inferiors at will; Sir Cedric Hardwicke as the murdered boy's father and Constance Collier as his aunt. Through cocktails and dinner Dall keeps the conversation centered on the intellectual-superiority theme, rejoicing in the knowledge that only he and Granger know why the anxiously awaited boy who is dead in the chest does not arrive to share the party. But Granger gradually cracks under the strain and Stewart starts putting vague hints together, coming to the conclusion that Dall and Granger have done just about what they have done. All the guests leave, and the murderers relax, but Stewart returns, extracts the truth from them by artful means, and finally, following utterances of regret about having given the boys this kind of ideas, fires a pistol out the window to attract the police. The picture ends as they await their arrival. (Joan Chandler, Douglas Dick, Edith Evanson and Dick Hogan are the others in the well matched, smoothly per- forming cast). In simplest terms, the story is an account of a thrill-killing. As handled, it is a profound and protracted probing of the psychological abnormalities responsible for the killing, which is probably the only, instance of murder- for-murder's-sake in screen history. As a text-film for university classes in psychology the production has manifest usefulness. As pastime it compares directly with a re-reading of the newspaper accounts of the Loeb-Leopold case in Chicago from which playwright Hamilton obviously borrowed his char- acters and theme. It is the first production by Transatlantic Pictures, a partnership of Hitchcock and Sidney L. Bernstein, and it is in Technicolor. Running time, 83 minutes. Adult audience classification. Release date not set. William R. Weaver << Winner Take All (Monogram) PRODUCER Hal E. Chester's Joe Palooka pictures get better and better as the series stretches out into what promises to be a perpetual source of profit to exhibitors. Joe Kirkwood is getting so he lives the Palooka role, and his cast com- panions here — Elyse Knox, William Frawley, Stanley Clements, Sheldon Leonard, John Shelton, Mary Beth Hughes and Frank Jenks in particular — do about the same with theirs. The script by Stanley Rubin and direction by Reginald Le Borg are tip-top and topical, wasting none of the 64 minutes. Bernard W. Burton is down as associate producer, and William Sickner's photography catches the ring battles better than a ringside seat. Joe's troubles herein begin with receipt of an anonymous note by his manager, from a racket group intent upon lowering the odds on Joe in his impending defense of his title, and are multiplied by a misunderstanding which leads him to believe that a youngster he's befriended, played by Clements, has turned against him without reason. That happens to be the case, al- though Clements doesn't realize it until almost too late to undo the damage to Joe's morale. He clears up the issue, however, just in time to give Joe the final lift he needs to win the title bout. Running time, 64 minutes. General audience classification. Release date not set. Byrd Film Previews Some 80 simultaneous preview showings of M-G-M's Technicolor re- lease, "The Secret Land," about Ad- miral Richard E. Byrd's expedition to Antarctica, will be sponsored by the U. S. Navy at every naval base in the country. The film is set for release Oct. 22, with simultaneous theatre premieres to coincide with Navy Day, Oct. 27. To Aid Pa. Observance Philadelphia, Aug. 25. — Plans for industry participation in the observ- ance of "Pennsylvania Week," Sept. 26-Oct. 2, are in full swing here. In addition to the cooperation of exhibi- tors, wide newsreel coverage is ex- pected, with David O. Selznick, a na- tive of this state, slated to appear it! news issues of Sept. 7-9. Mrs. Edna R. Carroll heads the film group. U. S., British Films Drop in Argentina Washington, Aug. 25. — The num- ber of U" S., British and French films released in Argentina during the first six months of this year was less than during the same 1947 period, Com- merce Department film chief Nathan D. Golden reports. Totals were not disclosed. At the same time, there was a nota- ble increase in Italian, Spanish and Mexican films in Argentina. Soviet films were completely absent. U. S. Managers (Continued from page 1) barrassment for the Americans with its implication that they are unable to present a united front, particularly on their differences with J. Arthur Rank and their manner of dealing with them. Johnston is scheduled to continue his discussions with Rank later this week at which time he is expected to renew his protests against Rank's proposed booking practices as being unfair and detrimental to the already seriously embarrassed American interests here. Rank has indicated that his theatres will play American films on the lower half of double bill programs where they not only will command low rent- als but in many instances will carry weak British pictures on the top half of the bills. The practice would help to make it possible for Rank's theatres to meet the new 45 per cent quota. News dispatches that Herbert J. Yates, president of Republic, had ad- vocated withdrawal of the American companies from this market during a press conference in New York yester- day, came as a bombshell to the course which Johnston has in preparation here. Although Yates' statement is generally discounted in the local trade, it is obvious that Johnston is endeav- oring to promote unity in the Ameri- can ranks here in order to make a joint forthright declaration to Rank on his indicated policies. Goldwyn, Disney (Continued from page 1) of theatres and used that power for their own business advantage." Goldwyn listed 60 pictures produced by the SIMPP plaintiffs in the De- troit suit in the past 10 years which, he said, had been affected by booking practices in that city. Claims for the $8,750,000 triple damages in the action are based in large part on the De- troit playing experience of those pic- tures. Colosseum Talks (Continued from page 1) ing committee are due to leave Mil- waukee and Chicago at the weekend for the second round in the New York conferences. C. J. (Pat) Scollard of Paramount heads the companies' con- tingent of negotiators. Negotiations were suspended two weeks ago to give the negotiators for both sides time to prepare and submit to their respective organizations an in- terim report on the status of the col- lective bargaining. Sopeg Asks Pact Talks Letters will be sent to film compa- nies_ here by Screen Office and Pro- fessional Employes Guild this week- end outlining new contract provisions and requesting a date for the opening of negotiations. The present contract expires Sept. 27. NOTHING EVER HELD WALTER WINCHELL LIKE ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S " ROPE ?f It ties you into knots! Hitchcock at his big-time best! 99 NOTHING EVER HELD J. EDGAR HOOVER .F.B.I. CHIEF LIKE ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S ROPE ?f Never saw anything like it! Terrific suspense! Leaves you breathless! 99 NOTHING EVER HELD DOROTHY KILGALLEN FAMEI LIKE ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S FAMED COLUMNIST ROPE Nerve-racking from the opening until the end! Audiences will remain cemented to their seats! The fan who doesn't hurry to see ROPE is cheating himself of screen history!" r Motion picture Daily Thursday, August 26, 194! Key City Grosses FOLLOWING are estimated pic- ture grosses for current engage- ments in key cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily correspond- ents. Estimates omit admission tax. BOSTON Weather continues warm and hu- mid. Holdovers are "Paradine Case," "Babe Ruth Story," "Sixteen Fathoms Deep" and "Antoine and Antoinette." Estimates for week ended Aug. 25 : ANTCXNE AND ANTOINETTE (Siritsky) and THE SEARCH (M-G-M) — EXETER (1,300) (40c-80c). Gross: $4,300. (Average, $5 000) HAMLET (U-I-Rank)-ASTOR (1,300) (90c -$2 40) 8 days. Gross: $28,500. KEY LARGO (WB) and THE SHANGHAI CHEST (Mono.)— PARAMOUNT (1,700) (40c-80c.) Gross: $15,000. (Average: $17,- I00> KEY LARGO (WB) and THE SHANGHAI CHEST (Mono.)— FENWAY (1,373) (40c- SOc) Gross: $6,000. (Average: $10,000) RETURN OF THE B ADM EN (RKO Radio) and CAMPUS SLEUTH (Mono.)— RKOV BOSTON (3,200) (40c-80c). Gross: $7,900. SIXTEEN FATHOMS DEEP (Mono.)— MODERN (800) (45c-85c), 2nd week. Gross: |54 000 THE BABE RUTH STORY (AA-Mono.) and DEVIL'S CARGO (FC)— RKO1- MEM- ORIAL (3,000) (40c-80c), 2nd week. Gross: $24 000. (Average: $22,000) THE PARADINE CASE (SRO) and MY DOG RUSTY (Col.)— STATE (3,500) (40c- 80c). '2nd week. Gross: $12,000. (Average: $12,0CO) THE PARADINE CASE (SRO) andl MY DOG RUSTY (Col.)— ORPHEUM (3,000) (40c-80c), 2nd week. Gross: $20,000. (A- erage: $27,000) THE WALLS OF JERICHO (20th-Fox) and MICHAEL O'HALLORAN (Mono.)— METROPOLITAN (4,367) (40c-80c). Gross: $24,000. (Average: $27,000) CINCINNATI The high figures of the week go to "Key Largo" and "Tap Roots" at the RKO Capitol and Palace, respectively. Other releases, for the most part, are giving satisfactory returns. Weekend BIG NEWS! Now you can enjoy fast, comfortable flagship SKYSLEEPERS to LosAnge/esi EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1 American is First Again with the Only Coast-to-Coast Skysieepers . .. Luxurious DC-6 Accommodations Now, American provides spa- cious Skyberths aboard the famous DC-6 "Mercury" flight to Los Angeles! Eight roomy Skyberths supplement 36 com- fortable seat accommodations. Here's your first opportunity to sleep your way West in a DC-6 Skysleeper, over Ameri- can's Southern Transconti- nental Route. It's the fast, comfortable way to go ... a real rest cure aloft! THE MERCURY departs daily at midnight EDT — arrives Los Angeles 8:10 a.m. PDT. Sleeper passengers may board an hour before departure. Phone HAvemeyer 6-5000 or your travel agent Ticket Offices.- Airlines Terminal • Rockefeller Center • Hotel New Yorker 120 Broadway • Hotel St. George AMERICAN AIRLINES weather was unusually hot. Estimated receipts for the week ended Aug. 24 : A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.)— RKO (1,400) (50c-55c-60c-65c-70c-7S) 7 days, 2nd week, on a moveover from the Palace. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $5,000) KEY LARGO (WB) — RKO CAPITOL (2,- 000) (5Oc-55c-6Oc-65c-70c-75c) 7 days. Gross: $18,000. (Average, $10,000) MR. PEABODY AND THE MERMAID (U-I) — KEITH'S (1,500) (50c-55c-6Oc-65c- 76c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,000. (Av- erage. $7,500) A NIGHT AT THE OPERA (M-G-M re- issue)—RKO GRAND (1,500) (50c-55c-60c- S5c-70c-7Sc) 7 days. Dualed with THE SEARCH (M-G-M). Gross: $9,000. (Aver- age, $8,000) TAP ROOTS (U-I)— RKO PALACE (2,- 700) (50c-55c-6Oc-65c-7Oc-75c) 7 days. Gross: $18,000. (Average, $15,000) THAT LADY IN ERMINE (20ith-Fox)— RKO SHUBERT (2,150) (50e-55c-60c-65c- 70c-75) 7 days, 2nd week, on a moveover from the Albee. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $5,000) THE VELVET TOUCH (RKO Radio)— RKO ALBEE (3,300) (50c-55c-60c-65c-70c- 75c) 7 days. Gross: $12,500. (Average, f 15, 000) TORONTO Approximately half of Toronto's ace houses had holdovers, notably the in- dependent Biltmore which was play- ing "The Mating of Millie" for a 12th week, seven performances daily, for a probable Canadian long-distance record. "Easter Parade" was in its third week at Loew's Theatre. Esti- mated receipts for the week ending Aug. 26 : EASTER PARADE (M-G-M) — LOEWS (2,074) (20c-36c-50c-66c-78c) 6 days, 3rd week. Gross: $13,700. (Average: $14,200) A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.) — EGLIN- TON (1,086) (20c-36c-50c-66c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $6,400. (Average: $6,900) A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.) — T1VOLI (1,443) (20c-36c-50c-66c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,700. (Average: $8,200) THE MATING OF MILLIE (CoL) — BILTMORE (938) (15c-30c-36c-55c) 6 days, 12th week. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $5 500) MELODY TIME (RKO-Radio)— SHEA's (2,490) (20c-36c-50c-66c-90c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $14,100. (Average: $14,700) "MICKEY (Intl.)— NORTOWN (950) (20c- 42c-60c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $4,000. (Average: $5,000) MICKEY (Intl.)— VICTORIA (1,240) (20c- 36c-42c-60c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,800) MR. PEABODY AND THE MERMAID (U-I)— UPTOWN (2,761) (20c-36c-50c-66c- 90c) 6 days. Gross: $10,100. (Average: $10,600) WALLFLOWER (WB) — DAN FORTH (1,400) (2Oc-36c-S0c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $6,0(10. (Average: $6,500) WALLFLOWER (WB) - FAIRLAWN (1,195) (2Oc-36c-50c-55c) 6 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,000) THE WALLS OF JERICHO (Z«th-Fox)— IMPERIAL (3,343) (2Oc-36c-50c-66c-90) 6 days. Gross: $15,100. (Average: $14,600) ATLANTA Business at all theatres is above average. Weather hot and dry. Esti- mated receipts for week ended Aug. 25: FLYING TIGERS (Rep.) and BLONDE ICE (FC)-TOWER (1,865) (17c-50c). Gross: $6,100. (Average: $5,800) FOUR FEATHERS (FC) and DRUMS (FC) — ROXY (2,446) (12c-50c). Gross: V;.1D0. (Average: $5,800) LIFE WITH FATHER (WB) — PARA- MOUNT (2,446) (12c-50c). Gross: $6,300. (Average: $5,800) TIME OF YOUR LIFE (UA) — LOEW'S GRAND (2,446) (12c-54c). Gross: . $15,000. (Average: $15,000) TAP ROOTS (U-I) FOX-(4,446) (12c-50c) 2nd week. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $15,- BALTIMORE Several major attractions arriving at local first-run theatres are doing better than average business. Open- ings were strong and weekend figures maintained that pace. Holdovers, however, and even the less important Detroit Theatre in 'Youth Month' Fete Detroit, Aug. 25. — Moving in ahead of the opening of Youth Month, Septi 1-to 30, the Century Theatre here will entertain some 400 youngsters Friday evening. H. R. Munz, manager ot the house, will donate ice cream, candy and balloons to the children. The en- tertainment will be held in a blocked off street. 'Youth Month' Ad to Some 17,000 Showmen Advertising Council, Inc., in behalf of Youth Month, this week is sending to some 17,000 exhibitors as well as national and local advertisers, copy for a 1,000-line advertisement to-be sponsored in local communities on an individual or cooperative basis. The ad is contained in a four-page brochure which also carries last-min- ute news on Youth Month activities. 'Red River* Opens Today in Southwest Dallas, Aug. 25. — Statewide cele- brations in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico today will launch the world premiere of Howard Hawks' "Red River" at openings at more than 300 theatres. Gov. Beauford Jester will start the celebrations on a nation- wide hook-up as the guest of Nancy Craig, American Broadcasting com- mentator. pictures are getting below average returns. Estimated receipts for the week ending Aug. 26: ANGEL AND SINNER (Filto Rights In- tern'l) — LITTLE (328) (29c-37c-56c). Gross: $3,250. (Average: $3,000) LIFE WITH FATHER (WBJ — STANLEY (3,280) (1st time at regular prices of 29c- 37c-SOc-58c). Gross: $15,000. (Average: $14,000) MR. PEABODY AND THE MERMAID (U-I) — KEITH'S (2,404) (25c-37c-44c-54c). Gross: $8,500. (Average: $12,000) RETURN OF THE BAD MEN (RKOi- Radio) — HIPPODROME (2,205) (29c-38c- 50c-58c) With stage show. Gross: $18,750. (Average: $17,000) ROSE OF WASHINGTON SQUARE (20th- Fcx Reissue)— MAYFAIR (1,000) (21c-29c- 54c) Gross: $4,750. (Average: $5,000.) THE BABE RUTH STORY ( AA-Mono. )- TOWN (1,450) (29c-37c-56c) 4th week. Gross: $8,000. (Average: $11,000) THE PARADINE CASE (SRO)— CEN- TURY (3,000) (29c-37c-45c-54c). Gross: $17,- 500. (Average: $14,500) THE PIRATE (M-G-M) — VALENCIA (1,466) (29c-37c-45c-54c) 2nd week. Gross: $7,000. (Average: $5,000) WALLS OF JERICHO1 (20th- Fox) — N E W (1,800) (29c-40c-5Oc-54c) 2nd week: Gross: $10,250. (Average: $11,750) To EXHIBITORS, PROJECTIONISTS, THEATRE ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS- Theatre Equipment & Supply Manufacturers' Association, Inc. extends to you a> very personal invitation to attend the Third Annual Tesma Trade Show to be held at the Jefferson Hotel, St. Louis, Mo. on September 28-29-30, 1948 where you may inspect the latest developments in large screen theatre television, materials, furnishings, equipment and supplies for the modern theatre and drive-ins and meet with and discuss your mechanical problems and requirements with the men whose business it is to serve you. cxa^ c\a^ •\a^ For hotel accommodations address Miss Jeanette Riordan Reservation Dept. Jefferson Hotel, St. Louis, Mo. Convention Committee Theatre Equipment & Supply Manufacturers Association Theatre Equipment Dealers Protective Association In a year of great boxof fice attractions from color OPENED TO THE BIGGEST BOXOFFICE LINES OF 1948 AT THE ROXY THEATRE, N. Y. MATCHING THE RECORDS OF 20th's TOP TECHNICOLOR MUSICALS IN CINCINNATI, PORTLAND, SEATTLE, LOS ANGELES, CHICAGO! Accurate Concise and Impartial , ' "^64. NO. 41 MOTIOl ISO FILM NEWS NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1948 TEN CENTS $13,570,000 Is Para. Net For Half Year Excludes Foreign Funds Not Actually Received Paramount's profit for the six months ended July 3 was $13,570,- 000, including $3,312,000 share of undistributed earnings of partially- owned non-consolidated subsidiaries and approximately $650,000 of non- recurring income, the company esti- mated yesterday. For the same period last year profit was estimated at $17,- 407,000, including $3,189,000 share' of undistributed earnings. The company noted that effective with the beginning of the fiscal year 1948 it has excluded the earnings of all subsidiaries operating outside of the U. S. and Canada, except to the extent that dividends have been re- ceived from such subsidiaries. _ The company has continued its practice of taking up film revenues from subsidi- aries operating outside of the U. S. and Canada, it was explained, only to the extent that such revenues have been received in dollars or are remit- (Continued on page 4) ITOA Will Appeal | Ascap Decision on Damages; Hits TO A Exhibitor plaintiffs who won their first round in the U. S. District Court anti-trust suit against the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers last month intend to appeal from the portion of the decision deny- ing them damages from Ascap and in order to attempt to obtain "even far more sweeping relief," Milton C Weisman, attorney for exhibitor plain- tiffs in the case, said yesterday. The additional relief to be sought was not disclosed. Weisman said the plaintiffs' appeals will be taken regard- less of whether or not Ascap appeals from Judge Vincent L. Leibell's deci- sion of July 19. It was disclosed yesterday that As- cap also has decided to appeal but first will endeavor to have its special (Continued on page 4) Anti-Taft Law Film Is Planned by IA First recommendation to the IATSE membership by international president Richard F. Walsh, follow- ing his reelection at last week's con vention in Cleveland is for the pro duction by "IA" of a motion picture which would lend impetus to the American Federation of Labor's cam- paign for repeal of the Taft-Hartley Law. A convention resolution called for an allocation of $25,000 from the campaign fund for financing the film. Such a film, an "IA" spokesman explained here yesterday, would be (Continued on page 2) W. B. Theatre Staff Changes in Capitol Washington, Aug. 26. — George A. Crouch, newly appointed Washington zone manager for Warner Brothers Theatres, has announced several changes in his staff. Advertising and publicity director Frank La Fake will in the future also have charge of the two key downtown theatres, the Warner and the Metro- politan. Louis F. Ribnitzki has been named film buyer and George Warner, head booker. James W. Root will be assistant feature booker as well as short subject booker, and Charles Grimes will assume supervision of the (Continued on page 4) Talks on Consent Decree Status Quo There have been no mate- rial developments in conse- quence of occasional discus- sons pertaining to proposals for a consent decree in the Paramount case since the subject was first broached late in June, a top executive of a major company said yes- terday. While declaring that fur- ther discussions will be held from time to time, he indi- cated that there is at present no rapprochement between the known views of the At- torney General's office and those of the theatre-owning defendants on an acceptable decree. It was also indicated that views among the five major defendants themselves are at variance on some basic 'Cooperate or War,' Johnstojn Tells Rank Ask Judgment In W.B. 'Divorce' Suit Warns U. K. Restrictions May Become World Ills London, Aug. 26. — Eric A. Johnston, Motion Picture Associa- tion of America president, warned J. Arthur Rank at a meeting of the two here today that the British industry leader cannot have a closed market here and an open market else- where. Britain's restrictive measures, Johnston told Rank, inevitably will become an international infection. This already is obvi- ous in France and elsewhere, he said. The third of Johnston's talks with Rank since the MPAA president's ar- rival here last Saturday took place at a luncheon today. Their discussions will be continued either before Johns- ton leaves for the Continent next (Continued on page 4) Washington, Aug. 26. — K-B Amusement Co. today asked Federal Court here for summary judgment in its suit to force Stanley Co. out of the jointly-owned Mac Arthur Theatre. K-B said there was no difference between' the parties over the facts, and that the matter could be disposed of speedily on legal grounds. Stanley has moved to dismiss the suit on the ground that a final judg- ment in the Paramount case is neces- sary before the action can go for- ward. K-B holds this is not so, and that it can win on the basis of the Supreme Court Paramount decision. RKO Stockholders Meet Set for Oct 1 Hollywood, Aug. 26. — Annual stockholders' meeting of RKO re- portedly has' been set for Oct. 1 at the board meeting which started at the Beverly Hills Hotel yesterday. The meeting, which was expected to continue for the rest of the week, is understood to have limited its official action to declaring a regular quarterly dividend. Ned Depinet, executive vice- president, will leave here by plane Saturday for New York. Film 'Red 9 Hearings to Be Resumed in Sept.: Thomas Washington, Aug. 26. — House Un-American Activities Committee hearings on Communism in Holly- wood will be resumed next month, committee chairman J. Parnell Thomas said today. He said 26 film figures for whom the committee had "Communist records" 'would be subpoenaed. There have been repeated reports of resumption of the Hollywood hear- ings, but this is the first to come from Thomas himself, and the most definite. Even with the announcement from Thomas, however, it is very possible that any one of a number of other hearings scheduled next month may send the committee off on another tangent and shove the Hollywood hearings back again. Thomas said the Hollywood hear- ings would be one of a group on which the committee will work in rapid-fire order starting Sept. 7. They will deal with "a new espionage case," report- ed harboring of known Communists in the country, reports of Communist infiltration into Negro organizations, the case of Dr. Edward U. Condon, head of the Bureau of Standards, and Communist infiltration in educational institutions and newspapers and peri- odicals, as well as the Hollywood probe. 20th's Bid for Video Amendment Denied Washington, Aug. 26. — The Fed- eral Communications Commission to- day gave a final "no" to a request of 20th Century-Fox to amend its appli- cation for a San Francisco television station to include plans for an auxil- iary station at Oakland. The commission turned down an ap- peal by 20th-Fox from a similar de- cision of commissioner George Sterl- ing. The company based its petition in part on the claim that the FCC had allowed Paramount to amend its San Francisco video application under similar circumstances. The FCC said Paramount had sought to amend its application well before the San Fran- cisco television hearings ended. Hudson Claims No Detroit 'Monopoly' Detroit, Aug. 26. — Denying charges of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers that a monopoly in Detroit interferes with the right of the patron to see pictures he wants, Earl J. Hudson manager of the United De- troit Theatres, said : "Pictures of all producers have an equal chance in Detroit Theatres. We show the same (Continued on page 2) 2 Motion Picture Daily Friday, August 27, 194 Personal Mention PAUL MacNAMARA, Selznick Re- leasing Organization's public re- lations vice-president, arrived here yesterday from the Coast. • J. L. (Les) Kaufman, former Uni- versal-International studio publicity director, will return to the Coast by plane at the weekend, following a 10- day business trip to Detroit and New York. • G. L. Carrington, president of Al- tec, has returned to Hollywood after attending the wedding, in Lincoln, 111., of his eldest son, G. L. Carrington, Jr., to Harriett Clare Perry. • Charles Simonelli, Universal-In- ternational Eastern exploitation man- ager, and Philip Gerard, publicist, have returned here from the Coast. • Mrs. Betty Sepanik has returned to her publicity post at the Fox Thea- tre, Detroit, after a six-month absence. • Joe Alvin, public relations direc- tor for the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, left here yesterday for Detroit. • Charles P. Skouras, National Theatres president, left New York yesterday via United Airlines for Hol- lywood. • Kenneth Clarjc, Motion Picture Association of America public rela- tions director, was in New York yes- terday from Washington. • Thomas Turner Cooke, Universal special counsel, is vacationing in Maine, from where he will return to New York after Labor Day. • B. G. Kranze, Film Classics' dis- tribution vice-president, is recuperat- ing at his home here from a virus attack. IATSE Plans Film {Continued from page 1) shown principally at labor meetings, there being little likelihood, he said, that the film would reach theatres for public consumption. Plans are to have the film ready for showings long be- fore the current political campaign is ended. Production of it would proba- bly be handled by the AFL Film Council on the Coast, which, under the supervision of "IA" representativ Roy Brewer, has already made and released documentaries touching on labor's achievements, the spokesman said. Walsh has been in Chicago this week attending a meeting of AFL's League for Political Education admin- istrative committee, of which he is a member. Legal Session Attorneys for the film companies met here yesterday to assign counsel to various anti-trust actions around the country. Challenges Sopeg in Poll 'Delay' at UA Following a reassessment yesterday of its strength among United Artists' home office white collar workers, IATSE Motion Picture Home Office Employes Local No. H-63 voiced the opinion that "the Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild could avail itself of all possible means under the Taft-Hartley Law to delay a shop election at UA without succeeding in preventing an ultimate victory there for H-63." The two unions are en- gaged in a three-months-old jurisdic- tional dispute at UA. An election had been scheduled by the regional office of the National Labor Relations Board at UA today, but was cancelled earlier this week following an appeal by attorney for intervenor Cecilia Schuman to the NLRB in Washington, against re- gional NLRB director Charles T. Douds' ruling that Miss Schuman was acting in behalf of SOPEG, itself dis- qualified on non-Communist affidavit non-compliance grounds, in seeking ballot recognition. Russell Moss, H-63 business agent, disclosed yesterday that "90 per cent of UA employe "eligibles" has appealed in a wire to NLRB chief Paul Herzog in Washington protesting the "election stoppage" and offering to testify, re- gardless of personal expense, at a Washington hearing if it will hasten the holding of a shop election. A num- ber of the telegram's signers, Moss said, are former supporters of Miss Schuman's candidacy. "IA" attorney Matthew M. Levy, Moss said, has asked the NLRB in Washington for "immediate action" on the appeal against Douds' ruling. AFM and Firms Meet To Break Impasse Representatives of the American Federation of Musicians and the com- panies met again last night in their negotiations for a new contract cover- ing studio instrumentalists. The ses- sion was still in progress at a late hour, with no indications that the im- passe in the negotiations reached on Wednesday had been broken. Video for Seattle Seen by Christmas Seattle, Aug. 26. — The possibility of Seattle having television by Christ- mas is seen here as radio station KRSC announced it will begin tests next month. P. L. Leberman, presi- dent of the Radio Sales Corp., said the station is expected to begin regu- lar commercial services about 30 days after the tests. Chicago's WGN - TV Signs With DuMont Chicago, Aug. 26.— WGN-TV to- day signed an agreement with the DuMont television network to be the exclusive Chicago outlet for network- originated programs. This will give Chicago televiewers the first regular Coast-to-Coast network programming in this area. Heat Forces Some To Close Early The record-breaking heat wave had various effects on the home offices of the major film companies yesterday. RKO and Warner Brothers closed at 3:00 p.m., Paramount at 3:30 and Monogram at 4:00. Republic reported regu- lar closing time and air-con- ditioned offices brought no change in closing time for M-G-M, 20th Century-Fox, Universal-International, Co- lumbia and United Artists. Dembow Drive Chiefs Here for Planning William Bein, Central district man- ager for National Screen Service, and Ben Ashe, Los Angeles branch man- ager, arrived here yesterday for pre- liminary meetings with George F. Dembow, vice-president in charge of sales, regarding the George Dembow Tribute Drive, starting Sept. 13. Bein and Ashe have been appointed Eastern and Western drive captains by Herman Robbins, president. Talks will cover the concentration of sales force efforts on a "Get Back to Show- manship" theme. Popkin Plays Host Harry Popkin, independent producer releasing through United Artists, was host to sales and advertising-publicity executives of the film company at a Sherry Netherlands luncheon here yes- terday prior to his return to the Coast. Among those present were Edward Schnitzer, Paul Lazarus, Jr., Howard LeSieur, Al Tamarin, Jack Wregge, Frances Winikus and Ed- ward Peskay. Eyssell Dines Newman Frank L. Newman, Sr., pioneer ex- hibitor and president of the Evergreen State Amusement Corp., Seattle, for whom G. S. Eyssell, president of Ra- dio City Music Hall and executive manager of Rockefeller Center, Inc., first worked in show business in Kan- sas City, Mo., was entertained at luncheon yesterday by Eyssell in the Music Hall's studio apartment. U.A. Board Meeting Special meeting of the United Art- ists board of directors was held here yesterday to consider a deal for re- linquishing distribution rights to three pictures produced by Howard Hughes who now wants them for RKO Radio release. The company declined to comment following the meeting. Hudson Claims (Continued from page 1) double bills in all sections of the city but not for any deep, dark reason. The theatre business here is more competitive than in any other city in the country." The producers sued United and Co- operative Theatres of Michigan, inde- pendent buying combine, for $8,750,000 in damages for alleged monopoly. Wright, Myers Calm About SIMPP Suit Washington, Aug. 26. — Justice Da partment attorney Robert L. Wriglij refused to make any comment on tin Society of Independent Motion Pictur Producers' suit against United Detroi: Theatres and Cooperative Theatres q Michigan, independent buying conn bine, beyond the laconic statement tha "presumably treble-damage suits an one method of enforcing the antiafcru.-i laws." Wright pointed out t / injunctive relief asked against "•vjmtet might be taken care of by the NevJ York Court's disposition of the Par mount case but that the damage claim would still remain. Allied counsel Abram F. Myers saic he wanted it made clear that then was no similarity at all between tin activities of Cooperative Theatres ano Allied Caravan. Caravan does nc buying, he stated, but "merely ex changes information on closed trans actions." NEW YORK THEATRES t — RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL — Rockefeller Center "A DATE WITH JUDY" Wallace BEERY . Jane POWELL i Elizabeth TAYLOR . Carmen MIRANDA I Xavler CU GAT . Robert STACK A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ALAN DONNA LADDREED, A Gnat low Story Thai Com»i Shining Through I 2BWsf» ROY DEL RUTH'S "THE BABE RUTH AM^^flnt^ " WILLI** STORY — BEND! I CoM P«rformoncos'Pop PrlM1 RKO Presents GEORGE WILLIAM MARILYN RAFT BENDIX MAXWELL "RACE STREET" BRANDT'S Cool MAYFAIR 7th Ave. & Betty Grable - Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. "THAT LADY IN ERMINE" A 20th Century-Fox Picture — TECHNICOLOR On Variety Stage — FRANCES LANGFORD & JON HALL - HARMONICATS JERRY COLONNA On Ice Stage— "THE MERRY WIDOW" Starring CAROL LYNNE - FRITZ DIETL ROXY 7th Ave. & 50th St. : MOTION PICTURE DAILY Martin Qu.gley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays by Qu.gley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York.' Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr Vice-President; Thee J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; #.me%P--,j>n,r,?.1;?.m' BeWwEd't0rV?trbertr^- FeCrf' Adveronincg MvaTC ,9ai H" Fause1' Production Manager; David Harris Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Budding, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative Washington, J. A. Otten National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup. Editor; cable address, Qu.gpuoco, London. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture ^ i ' 1 tInternat,onal Motion Picture Almanac Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 m the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. ' ' To that memorable list of superb comedies "LADY FOR A DAY WW 4 "IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT" J "THE AWFUL TRUTH" P "YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU" "THE PHILADELPHIA STORY" Now Add... nresentation of s pres< that delightful. •justrign"ul' ... Directed by BaC°" 4 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, August 27, 1948 Review "For the Love of Mary" {Universal-International) WAIT till the patrons get a look at the farcical complications official Washington is thrown into by the romantic involvements of Deanna Durbin. As a switchboard operator in the White House, she has everyone from the President and Supreme Court Justices — down to the more humble folks concerned with her emotional life. The affair turns out to be a merry romp, the kind that customers generally find easy to take. The plot is one that frequently gives plausibility a strenuous tug, but the mood of mischiev- ousness becomes so contagious that one is disinclined to judge its shortcomings. The vehicle is almost exclusively Miss Durbin's, and when not involved in the entanglements caused by her three suitors, and the well-meaning inter- ference of the President, she finds time for an impressive number of songs. Some of them are "Moonlight Bay," 'Til Take You Home Again, Kathleen," "On the Wings of Song," and a score from "The Barber of Seville." Among those who vie for Miss Durbin's hand in the Oscar Brodney screenplay are Jeffrey Lynn, a lawyer; Edmond O'Brien, a naval aide to the White House; and Don Taylor, owner of a little Pacific island, on which the Navy,, through some error, has built a base. This turns out to be the trump card by which Taylor disposes of the romantic competition. When the Navy negotiates for the purchase of the island, Taylor agrees to sell it on condition that the lawyer is made a judge far, far away, and the lieutenant is given sea duty. As an off-screen character, the President contributes a lot of bungling mirth, but in an election year, this may not seem so hilarious to some party leaders. Robert Arthur produced; Frederick De Cordova directed. Running time, 90 minutes. General audience classification. Set for September release. Mandel Herbstman Johnston -Rank {Continued from page 1) Wednesday or, more likely, on his re- turn here before departing for Amer- ica Sept. 25. Today's talk between the two was described as friendly but almost brutally frank. The gist of the mes- sage Johnston gave to Rank was : Cooperation or warfare. 'Full Catalogue of Affronts' Johnston presented a full catalogue of occasions of affronts to the Ameri- can industry, including the ad valorem film tax, the 45 per cent quota law, the uncalled for rebuff in the exclu- sion of Americans from the Films Council, the continued "smear" attacks on American pictures in the newspa- pers and elsewhere here and a princi- pal grievance, Rank's suggested inten- tion of running choice American pic- tures as second features in his thea- tres. Laying his cards on the table, Johnston told Rank he would be the first to suffer if he endeavors to meet the quota with a series of cheaply- made "quickies." Bad pictures could set back the whole British industry, Rank was reminded. Sees Both Sides Hurt In a fight between the two indus- tries both sides would be hurt, but possibly Rank wouW be hurt more, Johnston said. . Rank was obviously impressed by the interchange and expressed the wish to discuss Johnston's indictments with associates before meeting with Johnston again. Most Americans here feel that un- der no circumstances should they agree to the playing of their choicer product as second features. They de- mand the right, to sell complete American programs, both first and second features. Johnston also met again today with American company managers here for a further discussion of ways and means of protecting American inter- ests. The discussions are likely to be continued in view of the continuing divergence of views and interests in the American camp, which was again apparent after Johnston had left to- day's meeting. Will Meet Fuller Monday The views of independent British exhibitors also will be sought by •Johnston, probably on Monday, when he hopes to meet with W. R. Fuller, general secretary of Cinematograph Exhibitors Association, and others. Several Americans here advocate im- mediate withdrawal from Rank's cir- cuits in the event he refuses to agree to more satisfactory film playing terms. Johnston visited Lady Astor at her country home late today. His itine- rary on leaving here now includes Paris, Berlin, Rome, Madrid and Bel- grade, Yugoslavia. He still hopes to get a visa to visit Russia, but this appears unlikely. He plans to contact Marshal Tito while in Belgrade. Paramount Profit {Continued from page 1) table under existing restrictions on remittances. Profit reported for the second quar- ter of this year was $5,810,000, after all charges, including taxes. The amount includes $1,466,000 represent- ing Paramount's direct and indirect net interest as a stockholder in the combined undistributed earnings for the quarter of partially-owned non- consolidated subsidiaries. Profit for the corresponding quarter of last year was estimated at $7,885,000, includ- ing $1,489,000 share of undistributed earnings of subsidiaries. Profit for this year's quarter was equal to 84 cents a share of' common, compared with $1.11 per share for the corresponding quarter of 1947. Profit for the, first half of this year represents $1.96 per share, as against $2.45 per share for the first six months of last year. The company's board yesterday de- clared the regular quarterly dividend of 50 'cents per share on the common stock, payable Sept. 24 to stockhold- ers of record Sept. 7. PUZZLE-BANK A game to be played by theater audiences Enterprise House, Inc., 198 Broadway New York City DIgby 9-1278 British Lion Sets 26 Films Through '49 London, Aug. 26. — Sir Arthur Jar- ratt, managing director of British Lion, distribution affiliate of Sir Alex- ander Korda, has announced that the company plans to release 26 features between now and the end of 1949. The number is three times greater than the company delivered last year. W. B. Theatre (Continued from page 1) Stanley Theatre in Baltimore as well as Virginia district theatres. Harry E. Lohmeyer and Nat Glassner con- tinue as managers, respectively, of the Washington neighborhood houses and Maryland district theatres. E-K Promotes Barr To Managerial Post Rochester, N. Y., Aug. 26. — East- man Kodak has advanced William E. Barr to assistant general manager of its sensitized goods sales division. He will continue to function as manager of the company's industrial photo- graphic sales division. ITOA To Appeal {Continued from page 1) counsel, former Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson, petition Judge Leibell for a modification of some of the more sweeping phraseology in the decision. In the 13-page statement he released yesterday, Weisman scored Theatre Owners of America's advice to exhibi- tors to continue payments to Ascap. Weisman countered with this : "My advice to every exhibit; 'Don't pay Ascap for music pei ing rights. If you must part with your good money, give it to a poor relative or give it to a worthy charity'." Weisman said "The effect of the decision is so apparent that virtually all informed exhibitors and exhibitor associations are discontinuing the making of any payments to Ascap." He contends that producers will not have to pay exorbitant prices for the performing rights to copyrighted mu- sic "since they will be able to pur- chase them in an open and free mar- ket where competition among copy- right owners exists." He added that, in his opinion, the cost of the performing rights borne by the producers could not very well be passed along to exhibitors because the latter already are paying for film "all that the traffic will bear." Herman Levy, general counsel of Theatre Owners of America, made the following comment yesterday on the Weisman statement: "We shall be glad to argue _ with anybody, at any time, the merits of the two existing positions with regard to payments to Ascap for performing rights under current licenses and prior to the entry of a decree by Judge Leibell. "The mud-slinging at personalities by Weisman, however, does not de- serve or warrant any response." 'Games' Opens Sept. 1 The print of "The Olympic Games of 1948," to be released by Eagle-Lion, will be received from England on Sept. 1. The film is due to open at the Apollo, Chicago, Sept. 10; Exeter, Boston, Sept. 12 ; Gotham, New York, Sept. 15.' $9,500 for 'Rope' Here Alfred Hitchcock's "Rope" grossed approximately $9,500 in its opening- day, yesterday, at the Globe here. This represents top business for the house, despite yesterday's record heat here. THE LATEST WORD ON •Rope is Another Hitchcock-A-Docdle-ooF —WALTER WINCHELL FIRST IN FILM j NEWS 64. NO. 42 MOTION PICTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 1948 Some By-pass 1st Runs as Profits Wane Earlier Neighborhood Play-offs Are Favored As the trend continues away from the fixed selling pattern adhered to over the past several years, some distributors are now considering by-passing first-run outlets in three of the country's top cities, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, distribution executives here reveal. United Artists, for one, has found that lesser-caliber product in New York and Los Angeles fares commer- cially better with an earlier play-off in the neighborhood situations through the elimination of first-run engage- ments. First-run rentals, it is said, are offset by the cost of advertising such product. At UA it was reported that the same holds true to a lesser extent in Chicago. Meanwhile, in the New York area, adjustments of the clearances now held by the RKO and Loew's circuits still are being discussed by distribu- tion executives, according to informed sources. As yet few changes have been made. One film company sales (Continued on page 4) ECA Action Due on Converting Marks Washington, Aug. 29. — The Eco- nomic Cooperation Administration hopes to announce in the very near future — possibly this week — a contract with the Motion Picture Export Asso- ciation guaranteeing the convertibility from marks into dollars of costs of sending films into occupied Germany. This will be the first convertibility guarantee contract for a film firm, and (Continued on page 4) $3,000,000 Budget for 12 Films by Equity Hollywood, Aug.' 29. — A produc- tion program calling for the expendi- ture of $3,000,000 on 12 pictures dur- ing the 10-month period starting in September was announced here at the weekend by Harry H. Thomas, presi- dent of Equity Pictures. Eagle-Lion will release. Equity, which furnishes its own financing for independent producers, was organized by Thomas following his retirement as president of Pro- ducers Releasing" Corp. RKO Gets 3 Hughes Films Three films produced by Howard Hughes for United Artists release which became a subject of negotia- tion when Hughes acquired control of RKO are now slated for RKO release, according to informed sources. The UA board last week agreed to part with the product in consideration of a financial arrangement with RKO. Reports of exact nature of the deal are in apparent conflict, one being that a cash settlement is involved and the other that RKO has agreed to provide second-money financing for three UA pictures. The finalization of the transaction is expected shortly and Grad Sears, UA president, is ex- pected to make an announcement on the matter today. The three films are "The Outlaw," "Vendetta" and "Mad Wednesday." At its meeting last week, the UA board had rejected other proposed settlements including one under which UA would have taken distribution rights to three other RKO radio films in exchange for those made by Hughes. Petrillo Demands Postponed for Year The impasse reached last week in talks between representatives of the American Federation of Musicians and companies bearing on a new contract covering studio instrumentalists re- sulted in a compromise late Thursday night to extend the existing agreement one year, subject to reopening by the AFM at any time on 60 days' notice. The conferences came to an end when James C. Petrillo, president of the AFM, yielded to the companies' request that he hold up his demand for wage adjustments and more em- ployment for musicians in production on the grounds of a decline in film business. At the same time he re- served the right to reopen negotia- tions at "a more appropriate time," (Continued on page 4) 'Electra9 Ready for Popular Priced Runs A specially-edited version of ., the Theatre Guild-RKO Radio production of "Mourning Becomes Electra" has been finished and will be released soon for popular-priced engagements, it has been announced by Robert Mochrie, RKO distribution vice-president. Run- ning time, of the edited version has been reduced to a little . under two hours. 20th-Fox to Produce 12 Films in France Paris, Aug. 29. — Production of 12 films during the first year of full European pro- duction, .entailing expendi- ture of $24,000,000 during the next year, will be launched here by 20th Century-Fox, Darryl F. Zanuck announced here at the weekend. The plan is aimed at utilizing $12,000,000 in frozen currency of foreign countries. Zanuck also indicated that the Euro- pean production program would involve a curtailment of the 22 films scheduled to be made in Hollywood. Favor Direct Sale Of Foreign Rights Substantial increase in outright sale of distribution rights to U. S. product abroad is anticipated in trade circles here, particularly where the product of independent producers is concerned. One independent producer's repre- sentative said at the weekend that out- right sale of pictures to foreign dis- tributors is rapidly becoming more advantageous as marketing problems abroad continue to increase. Costs of dubbing and imposing titles, adverse playing time quotas and dollar-conversion difficulties are said to be making spot deals more attractive where possible. Independ- ent producers particularly are eager for a quicker return on investments, it is said, and this, too, can be ac- complished by outright deals. So peg's 25% Increase Bid to 9 Companies New contract demands calling for a 25 per cent general increase in wages, upward revision of all minimum sal- aries, a 35-hour work week and other benefits were sent at the weekend by Screen Office and Professional Em- ployes Guild to presidents or vice-pres- idents of Columbia, Loew's, National Screen, Paramount, Republic, RKO Radio, RKO Service Corp., 20th Cen- tury-Fox and Confidential Reports. Sidney Young, SOPEG president, who signed the communication, asked the companies to set an early date to begin negotiations. SOPEG's pres- ent contracts with the nine companies expire on Sept. 27. Earlier demands put to United Artists by SOPEG were followed by the compan}f's re- fusal to negotiate with the union be- cause of its non-compliance with the non-Communist affidavit provisions of the Taft-Hartley Law. TEN CENTS MPAA's Trade Deal Unblocks Europe Funds 'Definite Results,' Says World Commerce Corp. The so-called "compensation deal" between the Motion Picture Association of America and World Commerce Corp., international trading organization with offices in principal cities of the globe, is now producing "definite results" in terms of unblocking U. S. film earnings in Europe, it is disclosed here by WCC executive vice-president John A. R. Pepper. The deal, negotiated early this year, had not produced any tangible results until recently. Pepper's disclosure marked the first indication that the plan may hold substantial advantages for the U. S. industry. Pepper said the plan, reportedly conceived by Gerald M. Mayer, man- aging director of the MPAA interna- tional division, has succeeded in un- (Continued on page 4) Yates Takes Half Pay; Pass Dividend Herbert J- Yates, Republic Pictures president, voluntarily reduced his sal- ary 50 per cent, the company an- nounced following a board of directors meeting here on Friday. The action was concurrent with a statement from Yates that "further substantial economies" are contem- plated by the company during the next 60 days, in addition to "many econo- mies already in effect." The quarterly dividend on the com- pany's preferred stock, usually de- (Continued on page 4) Foley Will Address TO A on 'Excise Tax' "The Excise Tax" will be discussed at the Sept. 24 session of the Theatre Owners of America convention in Chicago by Undersecretary of the Treasury Edward H. Foley, Jr., it is reported by TOA executive director Gael Sullivan. Foley is the second Washington figure scheduled to ad- dress the convention, it having been previously reported that Federal Com- munications Commissioner Wayne Coy will speak Sept. 25. TOA has been campaigning since its inception about two years ago for a reduction in the 20 per cent Federal admissions (excise) tax. 2 Motion Picture Daily Monday, August 30, 1948 Personal Mention MR. and Mrs. Jack Warner, Gen. William J. Donovan, Jock Lawrence, Sydney Wynne. Jack Benny, Mary Livingston and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Boxall are due in New York today on the Queen Mary from England. • Georges Ayotte of the National Film Board of Canada will leave Ot- tawa shortly for Paris to study deco- rative art at the Institute des Hautes Etudes Cinematographiques. • Charles Laughton and Robert Hutton are among the passengers on the Mauretania which left New York for England on Saturday. • Sid Reams has been appointed spe- cial sales representative for Republic in Atlanta by Merritt Davis, branch manager there. • Russell Stewart, M-G-M home office publicist, is expected back in Nev York today from Washington. • C. J. Briant, New Orleans branch manager for M-G-M, has returned to his headquarters from New York. • Abe Colman, .general manager of the M-G-M music publishing compa- nies, is on the Coast from New York. • Richard Powers, M-G-M music executive, will return to the Coast from Boston tomorrow. • Lily Whalen of the Famous Play- ers-Shea Theatre, Toronto, is begin- ning her 50th year in show business. • Jerome J. Cohen, motion picture insurance specialist, is on a Caribbean cruise. • Larry Mackey, manager of the Ar- cadia Theatre in Philadelphia, is va- cationing in Texas. • Helen Grabbow of Eagle-Lion's foreign department is vacationing in the Lake George region. • Major Hugh Martin, Jr., general manager of M & M Theatres in Flor- ida, has been called to Army duty. Ansco Aide to Europe Binghamton, N. Y., Aug. 29. — Alan W. Cook, head of the Eastern technical service department of Ansco's professional motion picture sales divi- sion, sailed for France on Saturday to assist Irving Allen, producer, as tech- nical adviser on "The Man in the Eiffel Tower." Before returning to the U.S. in November, Cook plans to visit other film capitals in Europe for conferences on the use of Ansco Color Film. Early Closings Friday Many company home offices closed early on Friday, for the second con- secutive day, due to New York's rec- ord-breaking heat wave. FCC to Use License Power on Give-aways Washington, Aug. 29. — The Fed- eral Communications Commission on Friday announced it planned to go ahead with its proposed crack-down on radio give-away shows, but under a different portion of the Federal Communications Act than announced earlier. About three weeks ago, the FCC an- nounced proposed rules which would have ruled off almost all current quiz programs except "Information Please" and "Quiz Kids." But the National Association of Broadcasters and a Congressional investigating committee pointed out that the section it was using as its authority had been re- pealed- On Friday, the FCC said it didn't need that section. It would go ahead with its rules under its general power to issue radio licenses in the public interest. Anyone who wants to op- pose the rules still has until Sept. 10 to file a brief. FCC Sets Conference Washington, Aug. 29— The Fed- eral Communications Commission will hold a conference with the television industry on Sept. 13 on the commis- sion's television allocation procedures. Distribution Deals Announced by Astor Astor Pictures has completed a deal with Films, Inc., whereby the latter will distribute on a non-exclusive basis, Astor's 16mm. product in the U. S. The deal is for a five-year pe- riod, according to Jacques Kopfstein, executive vice-president of Astor. In another deal, John Jenkins, pres- ident of Astor Pictures Co. of Dallas has acquired distribution for eight "Wild Bill" Elliott reissues controlled by Astor Pictures Corp. The agree- ment covers the Atlanta, Memphis and New Orleans territories. Astor Acquires Westerns Hollywood, Aug. 29. — Closing of a three-state deal for a series of eight "Wild Bill" Elliott reissues with Har- old Schwartz, head of Tower Pictures of Dallas, has been announced by R. M. Savini, Astor Pictures president, who is here from New York for prod- uct talks. The states are Texas, Okla- homa and New Mexico. Louisville Video Bid Louisville, Aug. 29. — Mid-America Broadcasting Cor"p., which plans to have this city's sixth broadcasting sta- tion in operation by Nov. 1, has ap- plied to the Federal Communications Commission for permission to set up a television station. If granted, it will be the city's third video outlet. Mean- while, another new radio station, WLOU, is expected to start broad- casting on Sept. 30. NBC Video Reel Moving NBC Television Newsreel will move into new quarters in the RKO Pathe Studios here on Oct. 1 according to Sidney N. Strotz, the network's ad- ministrative vice-president in charge of television. L.A. Tops Quota in Jewish Fund Drive Hollywood, Aug. 29. — The Los Angeles area has topped its $10,000,000 quota for the United Jewish Welfare Fund, Samuel Goldwyn, president of the drive here, announced at the weekend. It is believed to be the largest amount ever subscribed in this community for a humanitarian cause. Broadway Houses Get 'Youth' Short Today "Families First," 10-minute short subject which is the second in a series on youth being produced by RKO Pathe for the New York State Youth Commission, will open today in New York's Broadway first-run theatres for a special engagement. The picture, which has been en- dorsed by the Metropolitan Motion Picture Theatres Association, is being distributed gratis upon availability by 20th Century-Fox. It will move into second and subsequent runs following its Broadway engagements. Over 250 MMPTA member theatres in the Metropolitan area will exhibit the film which, following its regular theatre run, will be made available free in New York State to schools, agencies and other interested groups in 16mm. Chouinard Named to UA Milwaukee Post Caspar J. Chouinard has been ap- pointed Milwaukee branch -manager for United Artists, it is announced by Fred M. Jack, Western division mana- ger. Chouinard, who joined U. A. as booker and office manager in Minne- apolis in 1934, and was promoted to salesman in 1936, succeeds Robert Allen, resigned. For a brief inter- val last year Chouinard served as buyer for Associated Theatres . of Minneapolis. Jack, accompanied by W. E. Call- away, Western district manager, is due here today for home office con- ferences. $380,000 for 'Largo' Sets Strand Record "Key Largo" brought the Strand here an estimated $380,000 in a six- week record-making run which ended last Thursday night. Billie Holliday and Count Basie were on the stage. Gross for the run is the highest in the 34-year history of the house. VFW Film Service Set Washington, Aug. 29. — Film ren- tal library for the Veterans of For- eign Wars Film Distribution Service through the Sherman Plan, Inc. and the Film Center of Washington, D. C, Inc., has been set here. WB Promotes Gold William Gold has been promoted to head of the Warner Bros, poster art department here as successor to Joe Tisman. He has been a member of the department for seven years. Newsreel Parade RS. KASENKINA talking and the Red hearings in Washington mark current newsreel highlights. Other items include the Berlin crisis, the heat ivave and varied sports. Com- plete contents follow : MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 69— Soviet- U.S. crisis: Russia shuts its consulates. Mrs. Kasenkina exposes Red lie. Red in- quiry in Washington. West guards z- — in Berlin against Russian inroads. Sv kids' baseball, five-year-old water star,- '> boxing. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 303— Hiss vs. Chambers in Washington hearings. Mrs. Kasenkina's own story. Yanks block Red raids in Berlin zone. Soil conservation ex- hibit. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 2— Soviet rejects U.S. note. Back to school fashions. Hiss vs. Chambers at hearings. Heat wave. UNIVERSAL, NEWS, No. 173— Reds unmasked ; consulates closed as teacher talks. News in brief: Donald O'Connor in South Africa; fire in Montreal. Five-year old water star. U.S. Red probe: Hiss and Chambers clash at hearing. WARNER PATHE NEWS, No. 4-r- Russian teacher talks. Farm face-lifting. Red hearings in Washington. Suicide horse race in India. Great Americans: Gen. Pershing. Bailey Quits 20th in Ont.; Stevens Moves Toronto, Aug. 29. — Harry J. Bailey has resigned as Ontario branch man- ager for 20th Century-Fox after many years in the post, and has been succeeded by Peter Myers, it has been announced by Arthur S. Silverstone, Canadian district manager. 'Myers, who was with the Royal Canadian Air Force during most of the war, was formerly with Eagle-Lion Films of Canada where lie held a similar position. Larry Stevens has resigned as pub- licity director of United Artists of Canada to become executive assistant to Frank H. Fisher, general manager of Eagle-Lion here. Grainger to Conduct 'Frisco Sales Meet James R. Grainger, Republic execu- tive vice-president in charge of dis- tribution, will conduct a sales meeting in San Francisco during his stay on the Coast. He left here at the week- end for San Francisco to attend the wedding of Marie Wobber, daughter of Herman Wobber, to Marshall Naify, son of "Mike" Naify. Grainger will go to Los Angeles from San Francisco. Scully Forms May fair Hollywood, Aug. 29. — Mayfair Pictures has been formed here by Peter Scully, former actor and film editor. It will release through Mono- gram. The company's first will be "The Rainmaker," slated to go into production Sept. 21. Frank Goodale, 61 Frank Goodale, 61, for many years manager of Loew's State in White Plains, N. Y., died last Thursday in St. Petersburg, Fla., after a year's illness, it was reported here at the weekend by Loew's Theatres. M MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer ; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; Tames P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Famous Authors Help Make It The Most most g Picture Since "Lost Weekend" "In our opinion, 'SORRY, WRONG NUMBER' sets a new high in suspense films. It has not only the elements of terror and mystery, but also valid human characterizations. It is a masterly treatment of convincing human situations, building to new peaks of suspense." —EDWARD S. SULLIVAN, Vice-President oj the Mystery Writers of America, Inc "'SORRY, WRONG NUMBER' is packed with suspense from the first to the last scene." —Lawrence goldman, Noted mystery author "It has a mood as eerie as a deserted house at mid- night; a story that climbs into the chill, black at- mosphere of terror." —JONATHAN LATIMER, Noted mystery author No. 3 Of A Series ith Month — Saluiing Young America - 4 Motion picture Daily Monday, August 30, 1948 Switch 20th' s Sales Meet to West Coast Twentieth Century-Fox will hold its domestic sales con- vention, originally scheduled for Chicago beginning Sept. 11, at National Theatres head- quarters in Los Angeles, Sept. 14-17, instead, Andy W. Smith, Jr., general sales manager, announced on Friday. Spyros P. Skouras, president, and Darryl F. Zanuck, production vice-president, will address the parley, which will be at- tended by all branch and di- vision managers and home office executives. By-pass First Runs {Continued from page 1) official said that efforts to make clear a*ice revisions are somewhat hampered by the complexities in New York marketing of product. RKO's seven-day clearance over in dependent houses, one each in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Lynbrook and Long Beach, has been eliminated, as previ ously reported. While RKO has houses near the locations of the four to what extent they are competitive is not easily "discernible, Malcolm Kings- berg, president of RKO Theatres, said. Evidence of the advantages of the clearance elimination for the independ- ent can be only in the form- of in- creased revenue for the independent in proportion to decreased earnings for the RKO situation, he explained. Even this formula cannot be too ac- curate, he added, because population in a given area and other more com- plex considerations must be made. Petrillo {Continued from page 1) according to a joint statement issued by the AFM and the companies. The AFM head made it clear to the producer representatives that "the union was taking cognizance tempo- rarily of existing economic conditions, both at home and abroad, in the mo- tion picture industry." The old contract was to have ex- pired tomorrow. Independent producers are scheduled to begin separate talks this week with Petrillo in Hollywood. Yates Takes Half {Continued from page 1) clared at this time, was passed by the board "due to unsettled conditions in the industry throughout the world." All of the company's available cash above operational requirements will be used to further reduce the company's bank loans, it was stated. Weiner Quits Classics Sidney Weiner has resigned from the Film Classics sales department here. A new affiliation will be an- nounced on his return from a vacation. PUZZLE-BANK The Big Money Movie Game for Movie Theatres Enterprise House, Inc. New York City 198 Broadway DIgby 9-1278 Reviews "An Innocent Affair" {Nasser- U nited Artists) AS a bright comedy of marital errors, "An Innocent Affair" is suffused generously with wit and substance. It is strictly an adult refreshment, and offers the assurance that there is nothing wrong with the wife-suspecting- her-husband formula that an adroit treatment cannot cure. The presentation has been given a resourceful production treatment by James Nasser, with Fred MacMurray and Madeleine Carroll handling the leads, and good assis- tance coming from Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Rita Johnson and Louise All- britton. When Miss Carroll learns that her advertising husband is spending his evenings with an attractive young lady, she is scarcely inclined to believe his story that it is all part of an attempt to get a new cosmetic account. Miss Carroll decides that the best strategy for a wife that is taken for granted is to make the spouse jealous. She hits upon the unconventional idea of hiring a man to flirt with her. The only trouble is that through a mistaken identity the one hired for the part is not the one that flirts with her. Thus the story merry-go-rounds into more and more complications. Of course there is noth- ing really morally wrong with the conduct of either, and so a happy reunion is inevitable, but not before some unused railroad tickets are bought for Reno- Miss Carroll, back after too long an absence from the screen, interprets her role with great charm and talent. MacMurray is ably cast as the harassed husband who becomes ensnared in his own innocent little lies. As a tobacco tycoon who is unwittingly drawn into the triangle, Rogers offers another touch of farce to the adult proceedings. Lloyd Bacon has done a neat job of direction from the original screenplay by Lou Breslow and Joseph Hoffman. Running time, 90 minutes. Adult audience classification. Set for November release. Mandel Herbstman "Out of the Storm" {Republic) <*^SUT OF THE STORM" puts itself across as a pleasing hour's enter- \J tainment principally by virtue of its winning unpretentiousness. Mod- estly produced and peopled with not-too-well-known but competent actors, it chronicles a rather familiar tale about an obscure payroll clerk who couldn't resist the temptation of fleecing his company at an opportune moment and who thereafter finds it pretty difficult to live with his conscience. Lending strong emphasis to the "crime does not pay" theme, a neat, workmanlike directorial job by' R. G. Springsteen has saved it from being too preachy, and the overall effect is one of satisfactory understatement. During a hold-up at his place of business, James Lydon steals $100,000 which was overlooked by gangster Marc Lawrence and his henchmen. Lydon's act, unsuspected by all connected with the company except insurance detective Richard Travis, grieves his sweetheart, Lois Collier, but she resigns herself to his attempt to get away with the deed since it means they will be finan- cially able to marry. Conscience and girl friend win out over Lydon's in- sistence finally, after the young man, constantly haunted for the money by Lawrence, defeats the gangster in a showdown fist fight. Sidney Picker was associate producer. John K. Butler's tidy screenplay was based on a story by Gordon Rigby. Obviously, the title is unrelated to the story. Running time, 61 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, Aug. 25. Charles L. Franke Five-day Week Hurts Canadian Business . Toronto, Aug. 29.— General adop- tion of a five-day week by industries, offices and many large stores is ad- versely affecting theatre business on Saturdays, particularly in the down- town section of Toronto, and managers are starting to complain. Neighborhood theatres are also feel- ing a difference because people are taking on two-day trips. Other large" Canadian cities are also noting trend. 400 New Pictures in Berlin Since V-E Day Berlin, Aug. 22 (By Airmail).— A total of 400 new films, only 21 of them German, have been exhibited in all four zones of Berlin since the close of the war. The number of production companies in Berlin has grown to 11 " since V-E Day. MPAA's Trade Deal {Continued from page 1) 'Olympic Cavalcade" {United Artists) ALL the fervor and excitement of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin are re- captured in this adroitly-photographed documentary. The film has an especial appropriateness in the light of the current Olympics. Showmen, how- ever, should take care to acquaint their audiences with the fact that these are the 1936 and not the 1948 games. The film has been edited to present the highlights of American victories, but there is an abundance of footage in which foreign stars figure. Athletes from 51 nations participated in the games with some 600 cameramen photo- graphing the results. Among the winners are such well-remembered giants of the sport world as Jesse Owens, Glenn Morris, Ralph Metcalfe, Frank Wycoffe and Jack Parker. All are seen in vibrant moments. Bill Slater has provided a brisk and informative commentary for this Westport-International film. Running time, 56 minutes. General audience classification. Set for August release. To Handle Importations Geritone Company has been estab- lished here to distribute Hungarian, Rumanian and German films in the U. S. Bernard Garay, Arnold Salge and Sigmund Miko head the new or- ganization. First release will be 'Young Hearts," Hungarian musical. Inter mountain to Build Salt Lake City, Aug. 29. — Fox- Intermountain Theatres has bought property in Missoula, Mont., to build a 1,200-seat theatre, work to begin within 60 days. Mel Glatz of Fox in Denver is in charge of construction. 'Stations West Debut Chicago, Aug. 29. — RKO Radio will have its third premiere here this year when it launches "Stations West" in a territorial premiere simultaneously here and in Milwaukee in October. A contingent of stars from Hollywood is expected to attend. Begin Salt Lake Bldg. Salt Lake City, Aug. 29. — Con- struction has been started on Inter- mountain Theatre Supply's new two- story office building on Film Row. The building will also contain a 100- seat screening room and other offices. blocking American film earnings in a number of Western European coun- tries during the last three months with as much as $100,000 having been released in one unspecified country. He declined to reveal the total amount already freed in Europe under the MPAA-WCC deal or to disclose the sums gained in individual countries, indicating that he preferred to await the return to New York of Mayer, who has been in Paris on MPAA business for more than a month. Pepper did say, however, that he believes as much as $200,000 will be unblocked in Italy for the industry by WCC before the end of this year. Queried on the possibilities in France, he said he doubted whether it would ever be possible for WCC efforts to unfreeze American earnings in that country in light of conditions there. The plan, as explained by an MPAA spokesman in May, calls for WCC to allot dollars for the increas- ing of an individual country's com- modities export business, on the pro^ vision that the country release an equal amount of blocked American film earnings. Part of WCCs profit under the arrangement comes in the form of "commissions", from U. S. companies, through MPAA. ECA Action Due {Continued from page 1) quite possibly the first contract issued to any industry under the $300',00O.0OO guarantee section of the ECA act. Of the $300,000,000, $10,000,000 is ear- marked for books, newspapers, films, and magazines. ECA officials said that a report from Gen. Clay in Berlin that the first contract with MPEA had been signed was "premature." They explained that guarantee contracts must be agreed to first by the participating country, and that the report from Berlin merely should have said that Gen. Clay ap- proved his end of the agreement and that the matter now is before the ECA for action here. The amount in the MPEA contract has not been announced. Buys Spokane House Spokane, Aug. 29.— W. K. Beck- with has purchased the Liberty Thea- tre here from Gamble Theatres. Beck- with also has an interest in the Ritz here, and a theatre in Moses Lake, Wash. NOW- IN DISTRIBUTION 1948-49 EDITION x mm Edited by Terry Ramsaye WORLD-WIDE REFERENCE BOOK OF THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY 1000 PAGES OF FACTS AND FIGURES ORDER YOUR COPY NOW! PRICE $ 5 00 A COPY SHIPPING CHARCES INCLUDED QUIGLEY PUBLICATIONS ROCKEFELLER CENTER, NEW YORK (20) \ THIS IS ENTERTAINMENT! Filmed amid the breathtaking grandeur of the migl peaks of our continent... acted magnificently by a trio of top stars —Joan Leslie, James Craig and Jack Oakie... jam-packed with all the thundering action of the wildest rodeo on earth— the fabulous "Calgary Stampede". . . »C,NCHT0H«<««GR0 PICTURE : o s7^f| MOTION PlCtO^ ^ TRA0E REVIEW E -JAMES CRAIG -JACK OAKIE ,n"NORTHWEST STAMPEDE" .1 WILLS-VICTOR KILIAN and The Dog, "FLAME" in CINECOLOR vid Hersh • Produced and Directed by Albert S. Rogell • Story and Screenplay by Art Arthur and Lilli Hayw ig Post Article "Wild Horse Roundup" by Jean Muir • An EAGLE LION FILMS Production Accurate Concise and Impartial 2:J WEST 44TH ST., £13T FL. NEW YORK, N . Y. (3 COPIES) ICTURE V"^64. NO. 43 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1948 TEN CENTS State Taxes On Admissions Show Increase 33 States Collect New High of $17,159,000 Washington, Aug. 30. — State governments collected $17,159,000 in taxes on admissions and amuse- ments in the year ending June 30, the Census Bureau estimates. This was a sharp increase over the $14,- 216,000 reported last year, which in turn was up sharply over earlier years. The Bureau reported 33 states had admissions and amusement taxes dur- ing the last fiscal year, compared with only 28 during the 1947 fiscal year. No breakdown was available as to how much of the receipts came from motion picture theatres. On the other hand, a few states included their re- ceipts from film admission taxes not in the admissions and amusement brackets but rather along with pari- mutuel receipts, so that the two fac- tors might balance out, census officials said. State collections from licenses on amusements and race tracks continued (Continued on page 3) RKO Schedule Near Completion: Depinet RKO's 1949 production schedule is practically complete, according to Ned E. Depinet, executive vice-president, who returned to New York yesterday following four weeks at meetings with studio executives and Howard Hughes, principal stockholder. "Eighteen of the 20 to 24 top-brack- et pictures that RKO customarily dis- tributes each year are either finished and ready for release or undergoing (Continued on page 3) 3 Percentage Suits Settled Out of Court Los Angeles, Aug. 30. — Three per- centage suits brought by Paramount, Loew's, and 20th Century-Fox against the Forum Theatre, Barstow, Cal., have been settled. The suits were pending in the U. S. District court here. In each suit a stipulation has been filed by the defendant stating that it has accounted to the respective plaintiff for the amount found to be due. The stipulation further provides that the suits were dismissed by agreement between the respective parties. Heat Withers N. Y. Runs But 'Rope' Heads for $60,000 Grosses dropped with the heat at several New York first runs over the weekend, but in spite of the ther- mometer reading some new attractions in town are running up top returns. "The Rope" is a standout performer at the Globe, where $60,000 is expect- ed for a first week. "The Lady in Ermine" gave the Roxy a very healthy $105,000 in its first six days. The Roxy's stage bill includes Fran- ces Langford, Jon Hall, Jerry Colon- na and a nice revue. The Strand's "Two Guys from Texas," with "Win- (Continued on page 3) FCC Defers Rule on Para. Video Status Washington, Aug. 30. — The Fed- eral Communications Commission to- day turned down a Paramount peti- tion for an immediate determination of whether Paramount controls Allen B. DuMont Laboratories and thus con- trols five television stations, the max- imum allowed any one firm by the Commission. The Commission pointed out that hearings on applications by Para- mount, 20th Century-Fox and three other firms for two San Francisco video channels have been concluded. It is said it thought it "conducive to more orderly administrative proce- dure" if the Paramount-DuMont issue were determined as part of the deci- sion on the San Francisco applica- tions rather than separately and immediately. Mexican Censors Bar 'Disparaging' Films Mexico City, Aug. 30.— The National Cinematographic Commission has ordered the Mexican censors to delete from pictures for exhibition in this country any footage which in any way disparages any country with which Mex- ico is friendly. Exhibitors Asked to Rate Distributors Columbus, O., Aug. 30. — Poll on the standing of 13 film companies with Ohio exhibitors is being taken by P. J. Wood, secretary of the Independ- ent Theatre Owners of Ohio, and will be used as a basis for discussion at the ITO convention here, Sept. 14 and IS. The questionnaire asks ratings on the following distributors : Columbia, 20th Century-Fox, M-G-M, Para- mount, RKO, Warners, United Art- ists, Republic, Monogram, Eagle- Lion, Film Classics, Universal and SRO. Included are queries on frequency of salesmen's visits, last time the branch manager visited the account, check on product the exhibitor is not using now but would like to use if satisfactory terms could be arranged, length of time since a salesman of companies the exhibitor does not buy from has called on the exhibitor, com- pany with most valuable product for the exhibitor, company with least valu- able product, company with fairest sales policy and company most diffi- cult to deal with. Johnston Optimistic About Getting Results in U. K. London, Aug. 30. — Eric A. Johns- ton, Motion Picture Association of America president, indicated here to- day that he still has hopes of report- ing definite achievement before he leaves for the Continent on Wednes- day. His statement was made de- spite an ineffectual visit with Harold Wilson, president of the Board of Trade, at the Mitre Hotel, Oxford, yesterday. His optimism is not shared in trade circles here. Johnston seized the opportunity provided by his visit with Wilson to catalogue for the latter the affronts which have been handed the American film companies, exactly as he did dur- ing his visit with J. Arthur Rank here on Thursday. For his part, however, Wilson con- tented himself with waxing nostalgic over his undergraduate days at Oxford. Nevertheless, Wilson later confided to others that he was impressed with Johnston's obvious ultimatum that the British industry either must cooperate or fight with the American industry. Johnston had made the same state- ment to Rank last week and, at a trade press conference here today, re- iterated this stand and other views re- (Continucd on page 2) UA Has Films For 8 Months, Sears Reports Future Bright; Hughes To Finance 3 New Ones United Artists is stocked with product for the next . six to eight months with films already on hand or slated for early availability from its producers, and all indica- tions point to a smooth course of operation be- yond that peri- od, Grad Sears, president, told the press yes- terday. He spoke at length about Howard H a w k s' "Red River," which he said, figures to wind up as the company's greatest money-maker, surpassing "Spellbound," which holds the record now at about $5,000,000 in domestic rentals. UA pictures moving into national (Continued on page 2) Grad Sears British Film Boycott Assailed by Warner The boycotting of British pictures by organized groups here was called "ridiculous" by Jack L. Warner, vice- president and executive producer of Warner Brothers, who arrived here from England yesterday on the 6"6" Queen Mary. Other arrivals includ- ed Gen. William J. Donovan, of the law firm of Donovan, Leisure, New- ton, Lombard and Irvine, attorneys for RKO Radio ; Kay Harrison, man- (Continned on page 2) Morris /. Siegel, 47; Helped Form Republic Hollywood, Aug. 30. — Funeral ser- vices will be held at noon tomorrow at Groman Mortuary for Morris J. Siegel, 47, who died Saturday night following a heart attack while return- ing here by train from New York. Siegel, who was with his brother Sol. 20th Century-Fox producer, at the- time, resigned last January as an. M-G-M production executive. Siegel was associated with Selznick (Continncd on page 3) 2 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, August 31, 1948 Personal Mention HERBERT J. YATES, Republic president, will leave New York today for the Coast. • Maurice A. Bergman, Universal- International Eastern advertising-pub- licity director, accompanied by Charles Simonelli, Eastern exploi- tation manager, will leave here today for Chicago and Cincinnati. • LeRoy Prinz, Warner dance direc- tor, became a grandfather last week when his daughter, Mrs. J. Allan Montei, gave birth to a daughter. The child's father is associated with Technicolor. • Jack Ellis, New York district manager for United Artists, has re- turned to New York from Albany and Gloversville. • Lou J. Kaufman, Warner theatre executive, will be in Cleveland today from New York and will go from there to Pittsburgh. • James E. Scoville, retired mem- ber of the Scoville, Essick and Reif circuit, Cleveland, is visiting that city from Tucson. • Edward A. Golden, producer, has returned to New York from Holly- wood. H. Ted Routson, manager of the Little Theatre, Baltimore, is vacation- ing in the Pennsylvania mountains. • J. Myer Schine, Schine Circuit ex- ecutive, was in town yesterday from Gloversville, N. Y. • Walter Wanger is due here to- morrow from the Coast. • Jules Levey, producer, is due in New York from Hollywood today. RKO Exchange Fire A fire of undetermined origin which broke out in the RKO exchange on the eighth floor of the Film Center Bldg., here, early Sunday morning, re- sulted in the damage of film, reel cases and two rugs. Thirteen firemen were felled by smoke fumes while fighting the blaze. Opens with New Screen Tacoma, Aug. 30. — The Temple Theatre here reopened today equipped with the new Pan-a-VVE screen, curved to eliminate side-view distor- tion. It is the invention of William Ramstad, professor at the Pacific Lutheran College here. Mystery Solved For eight weeks the "Phantom Voice" on Columbia Broadcasting's "Sing It Again" show remained un- identified. Then at the weekend a con- testant guessed right and collected $24,000 in prizes. Louis B. Mayer was the "Phantom." UA Product (Continued from page 1) release, or due shortly, include : "Time of Your Life" (Cagney), "So This Is New York" (Enterprise), "Texas, Brooklyn and Heaven" (Golden), "Pitfall" (Sam Bischoff), "Vicious Circle" (W. Lee Wilder), "Innocent Affair" (James Nasser), "My Dear Secretary" (Harry Pop- kin), "Girl from Manhattan" (Bene- dict Bogeaus) and "High Fury" (Buddy Rogers-Ralph Cohn). Sears announced a new releasing deal had been made with Morris Sie- gel for a picture to star Shirley Tem- ple just before Siegel's death last Sat- urday. Sears listed other forthcoming product from 14 additional producers. 3 to Replace Hughes' 3 Sears said that Howard Hughes has agreed to "finance and cause to be delivered" three pictures by inde- pendent producers to UA in the agree- ment under which Hughes Tool Co. takes full possession of "The Outlaw," "Vendetta" and "Mad Wednesday." The three were made for UA dis- tribution originally but when Hughes acquired control of RKO he asked for release from the UA commitment. Sears said that the full responsibility of getting the three new ones for UA rests on Hughes and added the sec- ond-money financing might involve $600,000 to $750,000. Quality of the three pictures, their producers and the subject matter will be up to Sears to approve and until he is satisfied on all counts UA will not relinquish the Hughes films, Sears said. Hughes' role in financing the new films can give him a profit as an investor, Sears explained. He said he will leave here from the Coast today or tomorrow to close the deal. Snag on 'River' Bookings Returning to "Red River," Sears admitted that negotiations with Charles Skouras for bookings in Fox West Coast theatres have hit a snag and there is a possibility the picture will be sold away from the circuit. He said final action in this regard will be determined at a meeting with James Mulvey, president of Goldwyn Pro- ductions, which is representing pro- ducer Hawks, .and others. W. E. Cal- laway, UA's Los Angeles district manager, is here to join in the dis- cussions. Sears said he expects other suits here such as the action by the Society of Independent Motion Picture Pro- ducers against United Detroit Thea- tres and Cooperative Theatres of Michigan. He said that UA is in- volved in this suit in that the com- pany figures to collect its share, as a distributor, in any damages award- ed the producer plaintiffs which re- lease through UA. Financing of independent produc- tion is brighter with "several new banks" having moved into the field, Sears reported. Heads NAB Video Unit Washington, Aug. 30. — Harry Bannister has been elected chairman of the television advisory committee of the National Association of Broad- casters. Warner Assails (Continued from page 1) aging director of Technicolor, Ltd. ; Jock Lawrence, executive vice-presi- dent of the J. Arthur Rank organi- zation ; and Sydney Wynne, head of publicity for the Rank organization. Explaining his viewpoint on the boycott, Warner declared that the public would respond to quality films irrespective of where they were made. He said that his company intends to make several films in London and that it now has underway there "Under Capricorn," which stars Ingrid Berg- man and Joseph Cotten, with Alfred Hitchcock directing. Plans for pro- duction in other parts of Europe were termed "incomplete." Harrison declared that in nine months Technicolor in England ex- pects to handle 18 features a year, compared to four before the war. He asserted the company now has four cameras in England and is building more. He predicted the bottlenecks would be broken in nine months. Plans for the construction of Technicolor laboratories in France are not ready yet, he said. Lawrence declared that there is very little knowledge in England of a boy- cott of their films. He said the mat- ter was too indefinite to assess results. Discussing new Rank product, he said the company now has 10 films equal in box-office stature to "Hamlet." Wynne announced that he was here for the opening of the Odeon-Carlton Theatre in Toronto on Sept. 9. new house is the 12th of an anticipr.;' ? 40 new theatres. Odeon Circuit now has 112 houses in Canada. Wynne expressed surprise when told that "Oliver Twist" has been condemned in certain circles here as intolerant. He said there was no such reaction in Britain to the film. The Odeon- Carlton is to open with "Oliver Twist." Donovan declined to discuss indus- try matters, declaring he was "far removed" from the situation. K. C. Testimonial for Eyssell on Oct. 14 Kansas City, Aug. 30. — Gus Eys- sell, executive manager of New York's Rockefeller Center and presi- dent of Radio City Music Hall, will be given a testimonial dinner at the Muehlebach Hotel here on Oct. 14 by the motion picture industry of Kan- sas City. An all-industry affair with executives from all segments of the business expected to participate, the testimonial will mark Eyssell's career from the time he began as an usher at the Isis Theatre here in 1918 while he was still attending high school. Elmer C. Rhoden, president of Fox Midwest, is general chairman, and Ben Shlyen, Arthur Cole and Senn Lawler are co-chairmen of the ar- rangements committee for the dinner. Cole Leaves Franconi Dallas, Aug. 30. — Severing his con- nection with the John L. Franconi en- terprises, Don Cole has resigned as special representative in Texas for Screen Guild and Oklahoma manager for Favorite Films. At the same time he has disposed of his stock interests in some affiliated companies in the Franconi set-up. Cole recently under- went an operation and will recuperate at his home in Oklahoma before he announces new business connections. 'Youth Month' Credit Support of Ohio's Governor Her- bert in promoting "Youth Month" was enlisted by the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio, P. J. Wood, secre- tary of the organization, advises. A Theatre Owners of America spokes- man here said yesterday that TOA's assuming credit for the gubernatorial assist presumably was the result of a misunderstanding. SDG Cites Zinneman Hollywood, Aug. 30. — First of the Screen Directors Guild's quarterly awards for best directorial achieve- ment has been conferred on Fred Zin- neman for M-G-M's "The Search." The citations, established recently, are conferred by a vote of the SDG membership. Johnston (Continued from page 1) ported in Motion Picture Daily on Friday. Johnston said he may call a conference of the whole press tomorrow if American man- agers here can agTee on a unit- ed campaign to deal with the industry's problems here, par- ticularly should there be an agreement on joint action against Rank, such as a refusal to permit Rank's theatres to book top American product for the lower half of double bills. Johnston will meef with W. R. Fuller, general secretary of the Cine- matograph Exhibitors Association, who returned from France today. He will have further talks with British ex- hibitors on his return here from the Continent toward the end of Septem- ber. Johnston had lunch today with a few editors of national newspapers to whom he also explained the American industry's grievances. NEW YORK THEATRES —RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL- Rockefeller Center \uk DATE WITH JUDY" \ Wallace BEERY . Jane POWELL Elizabeth TAYLOR . Carmen MIRANDA ■ Xavler CUGAT . Robert STACK I A Metro- Goldwyn. Mayer Picture SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION • ROY DEI RUTH'S THE BABE RUTH MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Tjeasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup. Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Tuesday, August 31, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 29 in Production As Eight Films Start Hollywood, Aug. 30. — The produc- tion index rose to 29 from last week's tally of 23. Eight new films were started while only two were sent to the cutters. Shooting started on "The Crime Doctor's Diary," Columbia ; "Reign of Terror" (Wanger), Eagle-Lion; "The Green Promise" (Glenn Mc- Carthy) ; "Gunning for Justice," Mon- "The Missourians" and fighter of the Jungle," Republic ; "Happy Times" and "Two Guys and a Gal," Warner Brothers. Shooting finished on "Sand," 20th Century-Fox and "Love Happy" (Artists Alliance) (formerly /'Blondes Up"), United Artists. Phila. V.C. Golf Tourney Philadelphia, Aug. 30. — Max R. Leven has been named chairman of the committee in charge of arrange- ments for the local Variety Club's annual golf tournament and dinner- dance at the Whitemarsh Country Club Saturday. State Taxes {Continued from page 1) to drop. The 33 states having such levies took in only $3,501,000 during the fiscal year just ended, compared with $4,010,000 collected by 34 states the previous year, and collections of $4,201,000 in fiscal 1946. New general sales taxes were levied in four states during the period cov- ered by the report, and this, along with rising prices and increased busi- ness activity, boosted general sales tax collections by 25 per cent over fiscal 1947 to $1,500,000. This is three times the 1940 yield. State tax collections of all types totaled $7,900,000,000, an increase of more than $1,100,000,000 from 1947. Harry McClure Kansas City, Aug. 30. — Harry McClure, who retired several years ago because of illness after 20 years with Fox Midwest as a district man- ager, died in an Emporia hospital on Friday. Funeral services will be held tomorrow. He is survived by the widow and two sons. BIG NEWS! _ Now you can enjoy fast, comfortable TSfi/) to LosAnge/es! EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1 American is First Again with the Only Coast-to-Coast Skysleepers . .. Luxurious DC-6 Accommodations Now, American provides spa- cious Skyberths aboard the famous DC-6 "Mercury" flight to Los Angeles! Eight roomy Skyberths supplement 36 com- fortable seat accommodations. Here's your first opportunity - to sleep your way West in a DC-6 Skysleeper, over Ameri- can's Southern Transconti- nental Route. It's the fast, comfortable way to go ... a real rest cure aloft! THE MERCURY departs daily at midnight EDT — arrives Los Angeles 8:10 a.m. PDT. Sleeper passengers may board an hour before departure. Phone HAvemeyer 6-5000 or your travel agent Ticket Offices-. Airlines Terminal • Rockefeller Center • Hotel New Yorker 120 Broadway • Hotel St. George AMERICAN AIRLINES H. E. Sullivan Wichita, Kan., Aug. 30. — H. E. Sullivan, former exhibitor at Newkirk, Okla., and associated with his brother, O. F. Sullivan, in drive-in operations in that state, died here today follow- ing a heart attack while visiting a sis- ter who is ill in a hospital here. He retired from active theatre operations last Jan. 1. His brother, who has several theatres here, is president of the Kansas-Missouri Allied unit. Morris Siegel (Continued from page 1) Pictures, then joined Consolidated Film Industries and subsequently was president of American Record Co., Consolidated subsidiary. He partici- pated in the formation of Republic Pictures of which he was president from 1937 to 1944. He joined M-G-M studios as a production executive in March, 1944. In addition to his brother, Sol C, he leaves the widow, three other broth- ers, two sisters and two daughters. New York Grosses (Continued- from page 1) RKO Schedule (Continued from page 1) final steps of editing and scoring," Depinet said. "The additional features which will complete the year's pro- gram are now being readied," he added. Depinet said that it was a "source of great satisfaction to see how well the studio was functioning under the production committee consisting of Sid Rogell, C. J. Tevlin and Bicknell Lockhart. New House for Utah Salt Lake City, Aug. 30. — Con- struction is scheduled to get under way here early in September on a $350,000 theatre to be operated by D. K. Edwards and Joseph L. Lawrence. The house will seat 1,300. ner Take All," a give-away show, on stage, should complete a first week with $40,000, good enough. "Tap Roots" figures to give the Criterion a hefty $45,000 in an initial week. "Pitfall," with Dick Powell in per- son, probably will wind up a second week at the Capitol with $72,000, as against the first week's take of $98,- 500. "Date With Judy" with the stage presentation slipped a little in its fourth week at the Music Hall, estimated at $140,000, but stays for a fifth. "Beyond Glory," with Peggy Lee and Ray Eberle on stage at the Paramount, is down to $60,000 in its fourth week, and will be replaced to- morrow by "Sorry, Wrong Number," with Carmen Cavallaro on stage. "Loves of Carmen" will bow in at the State on Thursday, following "Easter Parade." The latter will con- clude its ninth and final week with $27,000, about fair. "Race Street" is adequate in a second week at the May- fair, estimated at $25,000. The Gotham, which has been playing reis- sue combinations, will bring in a new one, "Ruthless," on Friday. The fifth week of "Babe Ruth Story" should provide the Astor with an unimpres- sive $18,000. "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid" will complete a third and final week at the Winter Garden with only $9,000, estimated, and will be suc- ceeded on Friday by "Larceny." Spy Reports Boost 'Curtain* Revenue Current headlines have been respon- sible for a substantial increase in busi- ness done by "The Iron Curtain," 20th Century-Fox reports. Disclosures of spy activities and other phases of the national situation have brought the picture a total of more than 10,000 contracts, the company said. MR. EXHIBITOR! 1 I I I I BAUD • • • TO AVENGE O^Pff COLUMBIA PICTURES presents 4 Mkouis hatwaku • uennis w,,k LOUISE ALLBRITTON CARL ESMOND An EDWARD SMALL Production Screenplay by George Bruce • Directed by GORDON DOUGLAS • Produced by GRANT WHYTOCK JL The Most Famous She Subject Ever Made! Sensational return of the best loved, biggest-money short on record! Booked for pre-release showing in RADIO CITY MUSIC HAIL and already set for 200 other major first runs in its first release week! . . . Bigger boxoffice today than ever — with new and old audiences to attract! ... Sell it like a top feature attraction and CASH IN! YOUTH MONTH SALUTING YOUNG AMERICA Re -Released by RKO RADIO PICTURES, Inc. Accurate Concise and Impartial MOTIQN,J>ICTURE first DAILY IN FILM NEWS NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1948 TEN CENTS Ask Gov't, to Tell Its Facts In Para. Case E-L Sets 1 7 REFUSE TOP FILMS For 8MonthsiFQR RANK'S DUALS Paramount, RKO Want Details of Evidence Legal skirmishes in the industry anti-trust suit continue with the newest maneuver in the form of searching interrogatories which have been served on the Department of Justice by defendants Paramount and RKO. , , In two separate documents closely alike in phraseology, the fifm compa- nies ask the Government to tell all about the evidence upon which it in- tends to rely to establish that the de- fendants are guilty of conspiracy, monopoly and trade restraints in ex- hibition. The Department is asked to identify theatres illegally acquired and in what specific manner; to identify theatres utilized as part of a conspiracy to eliminate or suppress competition and how the conspiracy works ; to tell where joint ownerships exist and where theatres would be operated by independents if it were not for such partnerships. Paramount and RKO accompany (Continued on page 5) Seventeen features carrying a total production cost of $22,950,000 have been scheduled for release by Eagle- Lion during the next six or eight months, E-L, advertising-publicity vice- president Max Youngstein said yester- day following his return from Coast production conferences with E-L presi- dent Arthur B. Krim, distribution vice-president William J. Heineman, production executive Bryan Foy and others. Youngstein listed the films as fol- lows : "Hollow Triumph," "Northwest Stampede," "He Walked by Night," "The Big Cat" (first E-L Technicolor release), Walter Wanger's "Tulsa," "Red Stallion in the Rockies" (Cine- color), Wanger's "Reign of Terror." Also "Twelve Against the Under- world," starring Robert Young ; "Border Patrol," a sequel to "T-Men" ; (Continued on page 4) DeMille's Radio Job Revives AFRA Test Hollywood, Aug. 31. — Cecil B. De- Mille's announced return to radio as producer-narrator on a one-hour week- ly dramatic show over the Mutual net- work next winter revives the question whether or not he will be required to pay the $1 assessment to American Federation of Radio Artists. DeMille has been off the air for four years as a result of his refusal to pay the assessment. Indications are that DeMille would fortify his arguments for a strong right-to-work law in the event AFRA (Continued on page 5) AFM-Independents Pact Meet Friday Hollywood, Aug. 31. — Negotiations between independent producers and the American Federation of Musicians for a new contract to supplant the pact which expires at midnight tonight will get under way Friday afternoon at headquarters of the Society of In- dependent Motion Picture Producers in Beverly Hills. All Hollywood inde- pendents, including SIMPP and Inde- pendent Motion Picture Producers As- sociation members together with others who belong to neither of these organ- (Continued on page 5) Anglo-U.S. Film Unit To Meet Here in Nov. London, Aug. 31. — A meet- ing of the Anglo-American Film Committee was arranged for early in November in New York by Eric Johnston, Mo- tion Picture Association of America president, today. British members of the com- mittee, J. Arthur Rank, Sir Henry French and Sir Alex- ander Korda, will travel to New York for the meeting. American members of the committee are Johnston, Nich- olas M. Schenck and Barney Balaban. Eliminate Dubbing, Latins Recommend Washington, Aug. 31. — The Span- ish-American Motion Picture Con- gress, which closed in Madrid early in July, recommended the gradual elimination of dubbing pictures made in languages other than Spanish, with the exception of certain films of "ex- ceptional interest" which could con- tinue to be dubbed. This was reported by Commerce Department film chief Nathan D. Golden today. He said the resolution was offered in even more extreme (Continued on page 4) Johnston Says Can't Use Best U.S. Pictures to Carry Weak U. K. Films London, Aug. 31. — American film companies will not tolerate the use of better American product to bolster British films on double fea- ture programs in J. Arthur Rank's theatres, Eric A. Johnston, presi- dent of the Motion Picture Association of America, told a press conference here today. Johnston said he had advised Rank of this decision by the American com- panies, informing the British leader that the Americans are determined to take bookings for a complete program or nothing. Apparently there is agree- ment among American managers here on this. It was learned privately that Johnston visited both U. S. Ambassador Lewis Douglas and Britain's Foreign Minister Ernest Bevin, acquainted them with the situation and found them in implicit agreement with his views. At his press conference today, Johnston repeated that it is up to Rank to make his choice of future procedure (Continued on page 4) Companies' Proposals To Colosseum Today Distributors' proposals are sched- uled to be offered today to the nego- tiating committee of the Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen of America, a Colosseum spokesman indicated yes- terday. The second series of confer- ences on a wages-and-hours contract for the newly-unionized salesmen of the industry were resumed here on Monday. Paramount Answers U. S. on Some Points, Rejects Others Interrogatories which the Depart- ment of Justice served on defendants in the industry anti-trust case have been answered in part by Paramount but the information imparted has, to a large extent, been a matter of court record for some time. Paramount reported on its theatre holdings in Texas, Arkansas and New England, giving dates of incorpora- tions, stockholders and voting shares, and terms of partnership agreements. Much of it was told before in Para- mount's first report on its theatre in- terests submitted to the New York Federal Court more than a year ago. Paramount declined to answer Gov- ernment queries Nos. 4, 5 and 6. In (Continued on page 5) Goldwyn Firm May Represent Wanger Goldwyn Productions still figures as possible producer's representative in the selling of Walter Wanger's "Joan of Arc" with negotiations expected to be resumed here upon Wanger's ar- rival today from the Coast. The fact that discussions began sev- eral weeks ago with no agreement reached had been considered an indi- cation that the deal had fallen through. The Goldwyn company, of which James Mulvey is president, recently closed with Howard Hawks to repre- sent the latter in distribution of his "Red River," a United Artists release. U. A. Closes Dutch Distribution Deal Arthur W. Kelly, executive vice- president of United Artists, has con- cluded a five-year franchise agreement with F. L. D. Strengholt, head of N. V. Film-Verhuurkantoor Neder- land, under which the latter will dis- tribute UA product in Holland, start- ing Friday. Announcement of the deal was cabled from London to the home office by Kelly yesterday. Kelly has been surveying the com- (Continued on page 4) Agnew Leaves SRO; To France Friday Neil F. Agnew officially withdrew as president of Selznick Releasing Or- ganization yesterday, his resignation, made public several weeks ago, be- coming effective today. Agnew will leave here for Paris on Friday to join his wife. He plans to spend five or six months annually in France hereafter, and the remainder of his time at his Connecticut farm. 2 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, September 1, 1948 Bingo Bill Defeated In NJ Legislature Legislation designed to legalize Bingo playing in New Jersey churches for charity purposes has been de- feated in the state senate by a vote of 32 to 13, it was reported here yes- terday by George Gold, chairman of the New Jersey Allied legislative com- mittee. Jersey Allied had been in the forefront of a concerted attack against the measure, regarding it as a threat to theatre business in New Jersey, Gold said the bill is "as good as dead for the present," explaining that it will be possible for sponsors to revive the measure at the special ses- sion of the New Jersey legislature scheduled for this month and Jersey Allied, therefore, has not given up its vigil since it would be possible to pass the hill with softening amend- ments. Personal Mention 80 Phila. Exhibitors To Aid Hospital Drive Philadelphia, Aug. 31. — Some 80 local exhibitors pledged support to the current Will Rogers Memorial Hospital drive at a luncheon meeting at the Broadwood Hotel here yester- day. Sentiment was also voiced fa- voring showing of a trailer to be fur- nished' by National Screen Service and to take up .theatre collections. Earle Sweigert, Paramount Eastern division manager, was chairman of the meet- ing, while A. Montague, chairman of the district committee ; William Scully and Sam Shain attended from New York. 'Youth Month' Gets Under Way in Mich. Detro'it, Aug. 31. — Statements by Gov. Kim Sigler and Mayor Eugene Van Antwerp officially recognize Sep- tember as Youth Month here. More than 500 theatres in Michigan are cooperating in the campaign, some of them offering special matinee pro- grams/with proceeds to go to a special youth .fund. James F. Sharkey, gen- eral manager of Cooperative Theatres of Michigan, is chairman of the drive here. GRAD SEARS, United Artists president, will leave here today for the Coast. • Morris Wolf, M-G-M home office publicist, will address the Kiwanis Clubs of Albany, Schenectady, Utica, Binghamton, Glens Falls and Amster- dam this month. Floyd Fitzsim- mons, M-G-M exploiteer in Albany and Buffalo, will accompany him on the trip. • Charles Boasberg, RKO Radio North-South division manager, is in Canada and, following his return here, will leave for Oklahoma City. • Carroll Puciato and James Har- ris, Realart executives, have returned to New York from Minneapolis and Chicago. • Oscar Gorelick, owner of the Car- men Theatre in Dearborn is a candi- date for Michigan State representa- tive on the Republican ticket. • George Sidney, M-G-M director, and his wife arrived here yesterday from Hollywood. • Edwin W. Aaron, M-G-M assist- ant general sales manager, is due back in New York today from New Haven. • William F. Rodgers, M-G-M dis- tribution vice-president, left here yes- terday for Hollywood. • Bob Sokoler, Lasker- Schwartz ex- ecutive, and Sara Katz will announce their engagement here on Friday. • Charles Collins has been named manager of the Times Square Theatre in Detroit. Chi. Railroad Fair To Observe 'TO A Day9 Chicago, Aug. 31. — Sept. 24 will be celebrated as "Theatre Owners of America Day" at Chicago's current Railroad Fair, in connection with the TO A .convention at the Drake Hotel on Sept. 24-25, Meanwhile, Dave Wallerstein chairman of : the convention registra- tion committee, has named the follow- ing Chicago theatremen to his com mittee : Tom Gilliam, Sam Gorelick, Herb Wheeler and William Holden Perlman to Filmack Chicago, Aug. 31. — Harold Perl- man, formerly advertising and pub- licity director for RKO Theatres in New Orleans, has rejoined the Film- ack Trailer Corp. of Chicago in charge of advertising. CHARLES D. PRUTZMAN, Uni- versal vice-president and general counsel, is due here Tuesday from the Coast. • Harry Rosenblatt, M-G-M branch manager in New Haven, and Mrs. Rosenblatt have become grandpar- ents with the birth of a son to their daughter-in-law in San Francisco. • Rutgers Neilson, RKO Radio publicity manager, is back at his desk here after a vacation at Atlantic City and Saratoga. Al Adams, in charge of motion pic- ture advertising in the New York of- fice of J. Walter Thompson Co., has resigned, effective Sept. 15. • Jim Partlow, former Universal- International branch manager in At- lanta, has opened his new drive-in theatre in Orlando, Fla. • E. S. Coatsworth has resigned as Toronto manager of the National Film Board of Canada to join Eagle-Lion of Canada in an exploitation capacity. • Margaret McCarthy has become assistant manager of the Center The- atre, Hartford, succeeding Margaret Tilley, resigned. • Fred Raphael, Walt Disney Pro- ductions music exploitation director, is here from the Coast. L. E. Whitespoon is planning to open a new theatre in Belle Grades, Fla., about Nov. 1. • John J. O'Connor, Universal vice- president, is on vacation this week. RKO to Distribute 1st McCarthy Film Hollywood, Aug. 31. — "Green Promise," first production of the new- ly formed Glenn McCarthy Produc- tions, which went before the cameras last week, will be released by RKO under a one-picture deal negotiated with Howard Hughes, McCarthy has announced. McCarthy, Texas oil millionaire, expects to produce two more this year, and three annually thereafter. Dis- cussion concerning RKO release for all is expected to continue between McCarthy and Hughes. Rialto Shutting for Day To inaugurate the changeover to first run Film Classics product, the Rialto Theatre here will be closed to- morrow in preparation for the world premiere on Friday of "Sofia — City of Intrigue." Public officials and the- atrical personalities are expected to attend the premiere. Allied of Michigan Convenes in Detroit Detroit, Aug. 31. — The important role the theatre plays in the commu- nity was the subject of an address by Ray Branch, president of Allied The- atres of Michigan, today on the second day of the organization's 29th annual convention which is being held at the Book Cadillac Hotel. Branch was in- troduced by Charles W. Snyder, ex- ecutive secretary of Michigan Allied. Trueman Rembusch, president of Associated Theatre Owners of Indi- ana, spoke on television operation. The convention will close tomorrow. Newsreel Parade To Continue with Films Washington, Aug. 31.— The board of directors of the Alexandria Amuse- ment Corp., which had been consider- ing "several offers" to convert its Vir- ginia Theatre in Alexandria into a legitimate theatre, has decided to con- tinue to operate the Virginia as a film house. Goldwyn Accepts Post Hollywood, Aug. 31. — Samuel Goldwyn has accepted the West Coast chairmanship of the Urban League for the second year, it was announced here. Edith Mandel Services Chicago, Aug. 31.— Funeral serv- ices for Edith Mandel, 82, mother of Irving Mandel, Monogram franchise holder in this territory, were held here yesterday. THE World Council of Churches meeting in Amsterdam and the de- parture of Lomakin mark newsreel highlights. The peacetime draft, re- turn of Olympic stars and sports events round out the reels. Complete contents follow : MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 70 — Worli. conference of churches held in Amsterdanyy^ Nation mourns Justice Hughes. Comm* /* nists march on Berlin city hall. The 25- year-olds register in peacetime draft. Presi- dent Truman has vacation. John A. Cos- tello, premier of Eire, in New York. Jacob Lomakin leaves New York. Winston Churchill visits France. Darryl Zanuck in Italy. Citation wins again. Ice spectacle in Atlantic City. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 200 — First World Council of Churches. Marching Reds seize city hall. Lomakin sails for home. The 25-year-olds answer draft call. Olympic champs come home. Ice-Capades of 1949. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 3— Ice spectacle. World churchmen meet at Am- sterdam. Draft call induction set for No- vember. Soviet consul sails from New York. U. S. Olympic stars come home. Red hot football. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. 174^Draft begins. Lomakin packs up and leaves. Christians meet: 44 countries send leaders to Holland. Olympic team returns. Ice- Capades of 1949. American Derby. WARNER PAT HE NEWS, No. 5— Berlin city hall stormed by Reds. People in the news: Gen. Eichelberger; American youths register; Lomakin sails from New York. Olympic team returns. First World Council of Churches meet. Ice-Capades of 1949. Zoo hails baby elephant. Heat wave football. Citation wins again. 2 UA Films Rated 'B' As Legion Reviews 10 "An Innocent Affair" and "My Dear Secretary," both United Artists, have been classified in the "B" cate- gory by the National Legion of De- cency in its rating of 10 pictures this week. Given A-I ratings were : UA's "The Girl from Manhattan," 20th- Century-Fox's "Night Wind," M- G-M's "The Secret Land" and Vari- ety Film Distributors' "The Spirit and the Flesh" (Italian). RKO Radio's "Bodyguard," 20th- Fox's "The Creeper," Warners' "Em- braceable You" and Columbia's "The Loves of Carmen" were classified as A-II. Joseph A. DiPesa Boston, Aug. 31. — Joseph A. Di- Pesa, advertising-publicity director for Loew's Boston theatres, died here suddenly after a heart attack. Asso- ciated with the theatre business for 40 years, he was the dean of Boston press agents. Surviving are the wi- dow, Louise, and a daughter, Betty, a local newspaper reporter. Services will be held Thursday in St. Ignatius Chapel of Boston College. Interment will be at Evergreen Ceme- tery, Brighton. Mrs. Golda Finestone Hollywood, Aug. 31. — Al Fine- stone, Paramount studio publicist, flew to St. Joseph, Mo., today to attend the funeral of his mother, Mrs. Golda Donde Finestone, 82, who died in Brooklyn, N. Y., yesterday after a two-year illness. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann. Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup. Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c "Everybody went to see 'DATE WITH JUDY' but him. It's a family picture for folks from 6 to 60 and he didn't quite make it." 71 "This 'DATE WITH JUDY' line has been at Radio City Music Hall for 3 weeks and each week is a new M-G-M high! 4th week going strong!" ^l%*?^O iAUSIC HALL * Block away/ lihb circles "It's got the joy of youth! That's why it's so popular from coast c^^^^^/ to coast." 1 M-G-M presents "A DATE WITH JUDY" starring WALLACE BEERY, JANE POWELL, ELIZABETH TAYLOR, CARMEN MIRANDA, XAVIER CUGAT and his Orchestra, ROBERT STACK • Color by TECH- NICOLOR • Screen Play by Dorothy Cooper and Dorothy Kingsley • Based on the Characters Created by Aleen Leslie • Directed by RICHARD THORPE • Produced by JOE PASTERNAK 'DATE WITH JUDY FAMILY PICTURE IS AMERICA'S NO. 1 HIT / This is Ben "Nostradamus" Shlyen, who pre- dicted the success of "A DATE WITH JUDY" in an editorial "The Family Touch" in Boxoffice Magazine. M-G-M's joyous Technicolor hit proves that 140 million Americans want entertainment for Mom, Pop and all the Kids! -4 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, September 1, 1948 Gains for German Films Seen by U. S. Washington, Aug. 31. — The Ger- man film industry is making "a slow but sure come-back from the low ebb reached at the. end of the war," ac- cording to a report by Commerce De- partment film head Nathan D. Golden. In the past 16 months, Golden says, 24 films have been produced,— three in the U.S. zone, nine in the British, and 12 in the Russian. Biggest ob- stacle to increased production is lack of studio space, with rawstock short- ages another high hurdle. TJ. S. and British officials differ over exchanging films with the Rus- sians, according to the report, and as yet no films produced in the U. S. zone have been offered in the Russian zone. The British favor exqhanging the films. Report of Portuguese Film Quota Persists Washington, Aug. 31. — Rumor persists that the Portuguese govern- ment plans to establish an import-dis- tribution quota system, but no action has yet been taken, the Commerce De- partment reports. Licenses for film imports have been required since February 9, the De- partment states, but as yet distribu- tors have had no difficulty in getting licenses or dollar remittances. Film Finance C oncer n Set Up in Hamburg Hamburg, Aug. 31. — A company which will provide financing for Ger- man production, distribution and ex- hibition has been founded here. It is the Deutsches Film Kontor, G.M.B.H., and describes itself as undertaking the export and import of films in addition. Eliminate Dubbing {Continued from page 1) form by the Mexican delegation, but was toned down by the Spanish repre- sentatives. Spain has a very profitable local dubbing industry, Golden pointed out. Other resolutions adopted by the Congress were of a general nature, Golden reported. Argentina, Mexico, Cuba and Spanish representatives at- tended the Congress. Mexican Circuit To Open 6 in February Mexico City, Aug. 31. — Six the- atres, each with a seating capacity of 3,500, are expected to be ready for opening next February, according to Manuel Espinosa Iglesias, president of Operadora de Teatros, S.A., while Marie Conesa, film comedienne, is selling several theatres she owns here to finance the building of a new house. Reviews "The Luck of the Irish" (20th Century-Fox) THAT rich mine of humor, Irish folklore, is given another working in this modern-dress fantasy. The story is one of modest charm, wit and novelty ; and its title is highly suggestive for exploitation angles. With Tyrone Power and Anne Baxter in the lead, and Cecil Kellaway providing a note of visual curiosity as a mischievous leprechaun, the film shapes up as reliable merchandise. The locale of the comedy shifts from Ireland to New York and back again to the land of the shamrock. After a meandering start, the story builds up its dramatic force by focusing on the romantic dilemma faced by Power, a free- lance writer on foreign affairs. Should he marry a publisher's sophisticated daughter, Jayne Meadows, and thereby gain control of a publishing empire, or should he marry Miss Baxter, a pure-in-heart colleen he met in his travels in Ireland? Surely 'tis a problem that demands a Solomon's wisdom. But into the scene bounces Kellaway, the leprechaun Power encountered overseas. Now serving Power as a valet, Kellaway proceeds in his charmed way to set his master on the right road. En route there are some obstacles, but they provide the basis for a good deal of mirth and innocent mischief. Along with winning Miss Baxter, Power regains his editorial integrity, even though the pay isn't as good. Lee Cobb provides a. gruff and effective caricature as the Senate- aspiring publisher, for whom the unregenerated Power writes campaign speeches. The deft directorial hand of Henry Koster is apparent in many scenes. A novel touch is provided by having all sequences which take place in Ireland tinted green. Fred Kohlmar produced. Philip Dunne did the screenplay from a novel by Guy and Constance Jones. Running time, 99 minutes. General audience classification. Set for September release Mandel Herbstman Code of Scotland Yard if M Beck in Two Deals Irvin Shapiro, manager of Film Rights International, has retained Myer P. Beck to handle promotion on 10 films to be released in the coming season. An additional agreement has been reached by Beck and the Paris Theatre here for a promotion cam- paign on the new house which opens Sept. 12 -with Film Rights' "Symphonie Pastorale." (Republic) ADE in England, "Code of Scotland Yard" is a standard melodrama, highlighted by good acting by Oscar Homolka and Kenneth Griffith. Produced and directed by George King, it concerns a loveable, old antique dealer (Homolka) who has a lucrative sideline in buying stolen jewels. When this is discovered by his clerk (Griffith) he is blackmailed. Taking most of the old man's money the blackmailer finally demands the antique dealer's daughter in marriage and for this request is murdered. From there Scotland Yard takes over the case and eventually solves it, but not until after Homolka has conveniently died of a heart attack, thus preventing the disgrace from falling upon his daughter. Woven throughout the story is a thread of romance betwen Derek Farr, a Navy doctor, and Muriel Pavlow, as the musically talented daughter. The screenplay was written by Katherine Strueby. Running time, 60 minutes. Adult audience classification. Release date, Aug. 30. "Blanche Fury" (Eagle-Lion) T F this Technicolored period drama tries to make any point at all, it appears 1 to be that fate often plays strange tricks on people. The film has some fine performances by Stewart Granger and Valerie Hobson as well as by Walter Fitzgerald, Michael Gough and Maurice Denham. Photography is outstand- ing and captures the magnificence of the English countryside. "Blanche Fury" was produced by Anthony Havelock-Allan and directed by Marc Allegret. A Cineguild Production, it was made from a screenplay by Audrey Lindop and Cecil McGivern. Fate, as conveniently twisted to suit the film's needs, looms large in this story of a man who loved the house he thought his own so much, he com- mitted murder to get it. Miss Hobson as the woman Granger loves — she is married to one of the men he murders — undergoes a strange and not very well explained change of heart after the murder and gives him up to the police. Inevitably, as the noose is put around Stewart's neck, the child for whom she has given him up, jumps to her death and Miss Hobson dies after giving birth to a son by Stewart. Some of the actions are effective and exciting, but on the whole there is little in this Rank production to greatly excite American audiences. Running time, 93 minutes. Adult classification. Release date, Sept. 11. Rank's Duals (Continued from page 1) Murderers Among Us (Art kino) THIS film has excellent prospects of taking its place among the best of German pictures. Tautly and intensely the production makes a strong: case against the German "superman" knocked down to the status of a civilian and again enjoying freedom from the consequences of his crimes. The picture tells its story with the assistance of superlative acting and photography. "Murderers Among Us" is a picture art theatres should not pass up, for it unfolds the whole drab hopelessness of the Germans of today ; its types are true to life. Made in the Russian zone of Germany, "Murderers Among Us" is the only German film to play all four sectors of Berlin. It is rare in that it speaks out frankly on the question of war guilt and war atrocities, and it sensitively treats the horrible dilemma of the German anti-Nazi who fought in the Wehrmacht and whose conscience is awake to the realization that he too is guilty. Hildegard Knef, Ernst Borchert and all others give top-notch performances Direction and dialogue by Wolfgang Staudte is beyond reproach. A few of the scenes are too gaudy for U. S. consumption and should be cut. Running time, 84 minutes. General audience classification. and that the choice is either coopera- tion or warfare with the American in- dustry. In the event he chooses the latter, Rank is likely to be hurt more than the American companies, John- ston observed. It was disclosed that Rank was suf- ficiently impressed with Johnston's ultimatum to request the MPAA pres- ident to meet with him again as soon as Johnston returns to London fror#\\ his European tour, which is scheduled?/* to start tomorrow. Despite the firmness of his stand, however, Johnston today made a plea for reasonableness in the present situ- ation. 'We've scratched each other's faces enough," was the way he put it. "Now it's time we started scratching each other's backs." Bookers for Rank's circuits had in- dicated earlier that they proposed to spot top American product on the low- er half of double bills with British films playing the top half. Such an arrangement would help Rank meet the new 45 per cent quota and would restrict American earnings. Johnston still hopes to obtain a visa to visit Russia during his tour of the Continent. He said, "If we can't solve Russian- American governmental troubles, maybe we can sell pictures there." E-L Sets 17 (Continued from page 1) "The World and Little Willie," star- ring Young and June Lockhart ; Bryan Foy's "These Were My Orders," a sequel to "Mickey"; "Let's Live a Little," starring Hedy Lamarr; "Alice In Wonderland," produced in France with American players. Also the following J. Arthur Rank productions : "Red Shoes," which will be roadshown ; "1948 Olympic Games" and "Scott of the Antarctic," all three in Technicolor. Youngstein said company executives will meet in New York next week to determine releasing arrangements for Rank's "Oliver Twist." It is under- stood that the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith has been preparing a report on the picture for examination by E-L executives. Current boycotting of British films in New York by "The Sons of Liberty" was disparaged by Youngstein, who said E-L is determined to release its Rank pictures here as planned, not- withstanding. UA Dutch Deal (Continued from page 1) pany's operations in Great Britain and Continental Europe for the past 10 days. The agreement with Strengholt, Kel- ly said, guarantees UA's independent producers an assured outlet for their product, with increased playing time in some of Holland's important first- run and circuit houses which are owned and operated by Strengholt. Release French Film More than a year after its arrival here, the French film "Le Diable Au Corps" has now been approved by the New York State censor board and is being readied for release within the next two or three months. The Paul Graetz production was originally re- jected by the board, whereupon it was sent back to France for revisions. A. F. E. Corp. will distribute it in the U. S. Wednesday, September 1, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 5 Reviews "Walk A Crooked Mile" (Edzvard Small — Columbia) THE title has its origin in a nursery rhyme ("There was a crooked man who walked a crooked mile . . .") but as here used refers specifically to the "work" of the agents of foreign governments seeking U. S. nuclear physics secrets. This being another Edward Small presentation having to do with the activities of U. S. Government investigators (we have in mind his previous "T-Men") comparisons are in order, and shape up thus: except that this time it's the F. B. I., rather than Treasury agents, whose energies are pitted against subversive forces, "Crooked Mile" is substantially like "T-Men." Like its predecessor it is threaded neatly with the oft-used quasi-documentary tech- nique, and even has the same star, Dennis O'Keefe. Incidentally, if the public's taste for "cops and robbers" fare of this order has remained unchanged since "T-Men" struck a box-office bonanza last year, "Crooked Mile" should have a splendid commercial future. Of course, the if is important. Exhibitors will have to rely on their individual experience. George Bruce's screenplay, adapted from a story by Bertram Millhauser, puts F.B.I, man O'Keefe and Scotland Yard's Louis Hayward on the trail of a Communist spy ring which has succeeded in penetrating the information sources of a U.S. atomic energy plant. At the outset there is much talking and explaining for the audience's benefit, and the camera and narrator follow step by step the investigators' probings. The action is therefore slow up to the half-way point when suspense takes over en route to a tumultuous climax marked with displays of brutality on the part of the foreign agents. Gordon Douglas's direction is admirably muted throughout. Rounding out the cast are Louise Allbritton, Carl Esmond, Onslow Stevens, Raymond Burr, Art Baker, Lowell Gilmore and a host of others. Grant Whytock's production is polished and supports a goodly number of effective San Francisco location shots. Running time, 91 minutes. General audience classification. For September release. Charles L. Franke "Bodyguard" (RKO Radio) LAWRENCE TIERNEY has a pretty rough and tumble time of it trying to prove his innocence of a murder charge in "Bodyguard." The picture is a routine melodrama but has the virtue of action that keeps it constantly moving. Sharing the lead with Tierney is Priscilla Lane, with others in the cast including Philip Reed and June Clayworth. Quitting the police force after a quarrel with his lieutenant, Tierney finds himself hired as a bodyguard to an elderly lady who heads a meat-packing plant. Shortly thereafter, Tierney gets mysteriously clouted on the head, and wakes up to find himself beside the body of the murdered lieutenant. Tierney is now confronted with the double task of eluding the police and finding the murderer. The task is marked by brawls, tough-talk, escapes and some more brawls. Eventually the old lady's nephew is found to be at the source of the skullduggery as well as some crooked meat deals. The screen- play by Fred Niblo, Jr., and Harry Essex, has Tierney make this discovery just in time to save his sweetheart, Miss Lane, from the fury of the killer who is running amok in the meat plant. Sid Rogell produced ; Richard O. Fleischer directed. The story was by George W. George and Robert B. Altman. Running time, 62 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, not set. M. H. "The Creeper" (20th Century-Fox) AS A hair-raising chiller, "The Creeper" gets in some telling melodramatic strokes, with people clawed to death left and right. It takes a weird story to produce the desired effects and this one provides it, along with a dash of romance. It is quite well acted and the photography has a dark quality that blends with the general atmosphere. It's certainly not a picture youngsters should see, but it makes a fine horror show for adults who like chillers. A Reliance Picture, it was produced by Bernard Small. Ben Pivar was executive producer and Jean Yarbrough directed with a good hand for effect. Maurice Tombragel wrote the screenplay. Janis Wilson does a fine job as the girl scared by cats. Eduardo Ciannelli is his usual mysterious self. Onslow Stevens is in the romantic lead and Ralph Morgan and John Baragrey do well. Miss Wilson has a hysterical fear of cats, brought on when she and her father went to the West Indies to collect serum. She regularly wakes up screaming at night because she sees cats clawing at her. Morgan Is killed. So are others, including June Vincent and David Hoffman. Cats' claws figure in all of the deaths. Stevens, a young doctor, has fallen love with Miss Wilson. She shoots him by mistake when he follows someone to her house. Then he shoots the intruder, a doctor who has injected himself with the serum. His hand turns into a cat's paw. Running time, 64 minutes. Adult audience classification. Set for September release. Memphis House, Shut By Pickets, Re-opens Memphis, Aug. 31. — Closed since Aug. 16 because of union difficulties, the DeSoto Theatre here re-opened tonight, although the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lee Sawner, were warned that the house will be picketed. Source of the dispute is the insistence by IATSE Local No. 144 that the Saw- ners employ two union men — a chief aperator and a helper, while the Saw- 'ners contend that tbey do not need and cannot afford to hire these employes. Sawner operates the projector and Mrs. Sawner sells tickets. AFM-Independents (Continued from page 1) izations, will be included in the nego- tiations. Anthony G. O'Rourke, SIMPP la- bor co-ordinator, will be chairman of the first session at which the AFM will be represented by Herman Kee- nan, J. W. Gillette and C. L. Bagley. Terms of the expiring contract will be observed during the negotiations with the understanding that any changes effected will be retroactive to the expiration. Although it is generally felt that independents will follow the example set by the majors last week in virtual- ly continuing the provisions of the old contract, it is understood the AFM will be asked to pare down its require- ment for a permanent orchestra. The independents maintain that they lost heavily during the past year on this provision due to curtailed production. DeMille Radio Job (Continued from page 1) refuses to reinstate him or makes it impossible for him to fulfill his pact with Mutual. A test of the Taft-Hart- ley law's protection of employers' right to hire also is indicated. DeMille carried his fight with AFRA to the U. S. Supreme Court and lost. Last spring he testified before the House Labor Committee on behalf of the inclusion of strong right-to-work provisions in new labor legislation. He was expelled from AFRA in 1944 for refusal to pay the $1 assessment for a fund to oppose a proposed amendment to the California constitution which would have declared the closed shop illegal. Columbus, O., Has 55 Theatres Now Open Columbus, O., Aug. 31. — Recent opening of the 1,200-seat Old Trail of the Academy circuit has boosted to 55 the number of indoor theatres in this city. _ The houses have a combined capacity of 45,500 seats, or one seat for every nine persons in the metro- politan area, according to figures compiled by Justin Henley, financial editor of the Ohio State Journal. In addition, Columbus has six drive-ins with a total capacity of 3,000 cars. PUZZLE-BANK Tops in Salesmanship and Showmanship Enterprise House, Inc., 198 Broadway New York City DIgby 9-1278 New Lindquist Post Chicago, Aug. 31. — Malcolm-How- ard Advertising Agency of this city has appointed Norman C. Lindquist, former vice-president of Television Advertising Productions, Inc., as its television director. DuMont Gets License Washington, Aug. 31. — The Fed- eral Communications Commission to- day granted the Allen B. DuMont Laboratories, Inc., a license for a new experimental television relay broad- cast station at Oxford, Conn. ABC Midwest Video Net Starts Sept. 20 Detroit, Aug. 31. — Another Mid- west television network will be launched on Sept. 20 when American Broadcasting begins operation of a Chicago - Toledo - Cleveland - Buffalo hookup that will take in two other cities, probably St. Louis and Milwau- kee. Final link in the network, accord- ing to Paul V. Mowrey, ABC national television director, will be the ABC outlet in Detroit, WXYZ-TV, which will begin sending test patterns on Sept. 15. National Broadcasting announced last week that its Midwest television network will open on Sept. 20. Ask Gov't, to Tell (Continued from page 1) their basic questions with some ap- parently all-inclusive phraseology : "State the facts including each sepa- rate incident, transaction, occurence or event, together with the dates of same." They ask the Government to pro- duce evidence supporting charges of all forms of monopoly, including first- run, large city and local. They con- clude by seeking the facts which plain- tiff will offer to establish that the court decree as modified by the U. S. Supreme Court's mandate is inade- quate to dissipate unlawful practices complained of. Meanwhile, all five theatre-owning defendants in the case are at work on answers to the interrogatories with the aim of completing the task by Sept. 15, date now agreed upon. Paramount Answers (Continued from page 1) these the plaintiff wanted to know if any theatre partners operated theatres outside the partnership ; which thea- tres now operated by partnership formerly were operated by the partner alone ; which theatres did the partner have which he did not turn into the partnership. Building Idaho House Ashton, Idaho, Aug. 31. — George C. Harrigfeld and Sons is building a 500-seater here for opening in the fall. FIVE-STAR DC-6 FLAGSHIPS LOS ANGELES 11 hours, 10 minutes CHICAGO Z\ hours Phone HAvemeyer 6-5000 or your travel agent Ticket Offices: Airlines Terminal Rockefeller Center • Hotel New Yorker 120 Broadway • Hotel St. George AMERICAN AIRLINES She owes her "ripe old age" to him . . HOWEVER skillfully she might play her part, this young actress would still seem more girl than grandmother — save for the creative ingenuity of the make-up man. By deft application of grease paint and putty, he has added years to her ap- pearance... and conviction to her role. This is but one instance of the magic at the make-up man's command. He does as much and more for film folk who must be transformed to Jekyll, Cyrano, gnome, or Manchu. When these characterizations reach audiences successfully, it is because the make-up man combines cosmetic artist- ry with full knowledge of his medium. And, in knowing films, he is aware of what is done to help his work by the versatile members of the Eastman mo- tion picture family, famous films for more than fifty years. EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY ROCHESTER 4, N. Y. J. E. BRULATOUR, INC., DISTRIBUTORS FORT LEE • CHICAGO • HOLLYWOOD Accurate Concise and Impartial 0? i M j^fc. - v-;(^, A st.. ' a ^ -IRST; IN FILM NEWS 64. NO. 45 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1948 TEN CENTS U.S. Plans New Injunction Plea Oct. 13 Will Ask Court to Bar Theatre Selling, Buying Washington, Sept. 1. — Robert L. Wright, Government prosecutor in the industry anti-trust case, has disclosed he will press for a tem- porary writ restraining the defendants from acquiring or selling any theatres and for other temporary injunctions pending entry of a further order when the case comes before the New York Federal Court on Oct. 13. Wright sought such immediate re- lief at a hearing here on June 15, but the New York Court rejected the re- quest on the ground that it lacked jurisdiction pending the appointment of a third judge. Judge Alfred C. Coxe has since been designated to suc- ceed the late John Bright. Wright will seek injunctions re- straining the film companies from making franchise deals with theatres (Continued on page 3) Wash. Ascap Ruling May Be Academic Rank Studio Goes to BBC London, Sept. 1. — Bearing signifi- cant witness to the rigorously exer- cised economy program in production ordered by J. Arthur Rank is the dis- closure today that his Highbury stu- dio, now closed, has been leased _ to British Broadcasting Co. for television productions. The Highbury studio hitherto had been used by Rank for production of B pictures. It is widely reported, but uncon- firmed, that Rank now contemplates production of 55 features in 1949 in- stead of the 60 promised earlier, this despite the new 45 per cent quota law's encouragement of increased production here. If the New York Federal court de- cision holding Ascap to be in violation of the anti-trust laws is upheld on appeal, a recent opinion by State of Washington Attorney General Smith Troy, that Society material filed with the state secretary last April "is a rea- sonable compliance" with a 1947 state law which calls for filing with the sec- retary a list of copyrighted works plus supporting data for each title, may be- come an academic ruling. Under the state attorney-general's opinion Ascap has, in effect, won the (Continued on page 3) DeMille's AFRA Fee Will Remain Unpaid Hollywood, Sept. 1. — A condition of the agreement by which Cecil B. DeMille will produce and narrate a radio program for the Mutual Broad- casting System next winter is that the $1 assessment which he has re- fused to pay to the American Federa- tion of Radio Artists will not be paid by DeMille or by anyone else on his behalf, it is learned. If AFRA refuses reinstatement of DeMille or otherwise makes it impos- sible for him to fulfill the terms of his MBS employment agreement, it is regarded as certain that DeMille will use the case as additional evidence in his continuing efforts to obtain strong right-to-work legislation. DeMille refused to pay the AFRA (Continued on page 3) Wonderful Weather, And Grosses Ditto The return of cool, clear weather to the Eastern sea- board revived grosses that had withered with the excess- sive heat of last Thursday through Sunday, reports from key Eastern cities yesterday disclosed. Broadway houses all re- ported business up with yes- terday's ideal weather. Busi- ness was at capacity in lead- ing Main Stem houses throughout the day and con- tinued strong into last night. Some managers reported the last two days' business had about made up for weekend losses due to the heat. Ask Bar on 20th's Deal in Balto. Suit Wright Passes on All Crescent Deals Nashville, Sept. 1. — That all peti tions to the U. S. District Court here for construction or acquisitions of new theatres by Crescent Amusement Co. are being cleared through Robert L, Wright, special assistant to the U. S. Attorney General, is revealed in the court's recent action in permitting Crescent to abandon the Ritz Theatre in Lebanon and erect a new house in its stead and to acquire the Old Hick- ory Theatre in Old Hickory. In addition to Crescent's petition to build new theatres, some of them re- (Continued on page 3) Washington, Sept. 1. — The Wal- brook Theatre of Baltimore has asked Federal District court here for a pre- liminary injunction against 20th Cen- tury-Fox to keep it from giving the Windsor, also of Baltimore, half of its films, as provided by an out-of- court settlement reached some weeks ago with 20th-Fox in the Windsor's anti-trust suit against six major dis- tributors. The Windsor filed a $600,000 suit against 20th-Fox, M-G-M, Paramount, United Artists, Universal and War- ners. Also named in the suit, which was filed last Feb. 15, were the Wal- brook; Thomas D. Goldberg, owner of the house, and the Hilton Theatre, also owned by Goldberg. The suit charged (Continued on page 3) UK Exhibitors Favor MPAA Booking Plan Korda, However, Is Acid; Calls It 'Very Silly' London, Sept. 1. — Britain's in- dependent exhibitors today ex- pressed approval of the all-Ameri- can program booking policy announced yesterday by Eric Johnston, Motion Picture Association of Ameri- ca president, but Sir Alexander Korda sounded a lone discordant reaction. The independent exhibitors, concur- ring with Johnston's plan of booking a complete American double feature program or nothing, regard it as a shrewd stroke in the American com- panies' battle with J. Arthur Rank. The latter's circuits had indicated their intention of booking top Ameri- can product on the lower half of double bills, with weaker British films in the first position, thus contributing to Rank's ability to meet the new 45 per cent quota and, at the same time, (Continued on page 3) The Saxon Charm 9? [ Universal-International ] — Slickly Commercial IN bringing to the screen Frederic ("The Hucksters") Wakeman's second novel about the exploits of a monstrous heel, producer Joseph Sistrom and director-scripter Claude Binyon have turned out a beautifully lacquered production which is well worth shouting about and well worth merchandising efforts of the highest order. "The Saxon Charm" should pay off at the box-office in direct proportion to the quantity and quality of showmanship treatment it is accorded. Too, it is a "natural" from a word-of-mouth standpoint. Also qualifying for a substantial share of credit for a singularly fine entertainment are the cameramen, decorators, editors and all the other behind-the-scenes technicians, as well, of course, as a superb cast headed by Robert Montgomery, Susan Hayward, John Payne and Audrey Totter. New York stage producer Matt Saxon is a thoroughly destestable character. Montgomery's handling of the role is no less than magnificent, and lends to the characterization a case-history quality that is utterly absorbing. Saxon is an intellectual snob of the first order, vitriolic of tongue and temperament, an anti-social who engages in lofty mouthings (Continued on page 8) Disney Now Favors French Film Pact Assistance of the U. S. State De- partment in film trade matters abroad was characterized as indispensable yes- terday by William Levy, Eastern rep- resentative for Disney Productions, which recently withdrew its protest to the State Dept. over the new French film agreement. Levy cited the new French-U.S. film accord as an example of favorable re- sults of Government intervention in deals with foreign countries. While the new French pact does not mean maximum gains for the U. S. com- (Continued on page 3) Film Carriers Not in N. Y. Truck Strike The strike launched here yesterday by Local 807 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (AFL) will leave film deliveries unaffected, since film carrier drivers and helpers in New York are not members of that local. However, it was expected that other teamster locals here would fol- low either today or tomorrow the ex- ample of Local 807, and therefore there remained last night some possi- bility of film carriers becoming in- volved, even if only on the level of registering sympathy with the strikers in the form of a temporary cessation of work. 2 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, September 2, 1948 Personal Mention HENRY GINSBERG, Paramount studio head, is due here Tuesday by plane from Hollywood. • Fred L. Lynch, advertising-public- ity director for Radio City Music Hall, returned to his desk here yester- day from a vacation at East Hamp- ton, L. I. Americo Aboaf, Universal-Interna- tional's Latin American supervisor, is scheduled to leave New York Sunday en route to Mexico and Central and South America. • Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., executive assistant to the president of United Artists, left New York yesterday for Chicago and Milwaukee. • Oscar Morgan, Paramount short subjects sales manager, is recuperat- ing at Mt. Sinai Hospital here after a minor operation. • W. E. Callaway, United Artists Los Angeles district manager, re- turned to his headquarters from New York yesterday. • Bert Sanford, Altec Lansing theatrical sales manager, has returned to New York from a trip through the Midwest. • Verne Caldwell, Disney studio executive, will return to the Coast over the weekend from New York. • Harry Hellman, Upstate exhibitor, is at Albany, N. Y., Hospital follow- ing an operation Tuesday. • George Burgess has been named manager of the Imperial Theatre, De- troit, succeeding Gerald Hunt. Meyer Post at U. A. Circuit Unfilled Duties of Stanley Meyer, who re- signed as vice-president in charge of theatre operations of the United Art- ists Circuit Corp. here have been di- vided among several of the company's executives, and it is indicated that Meyer's former post will not be filled. Meyer has returned to the West Coast. 'Red Ryder' Conferences Stephen Slesinger, New York pub- lisher and owner of the comic strip character "Red Ryder," is due in Hol- lywood today from New York for conferences with Harry Thomas, pres- ident of Equity Pictures, on selection of the actor to play the title role in the forthcoming "Red Ryder" series to be produced by Equity for Eagle- Lion release. Loew's Sets Dividend Directors of Loew's, Inc., yesterday declared a regular quarterly dividend of 37^2 cents per share on common stock, payable Sept. 30 to stockholders of record Sept. 10. Insider's Outlook By RED KANN TAKE it as reliable that Eric Johnston went to London with full authority, and also in- struction, to tell J. Arthur Rank a few things. Here are some of the points he was commissioned to make and which he has done : 1. — The American industry holds Rank to be the chief archi- tect of the 45 per cent quota plan, this in face of his publicly uttered opposition to quotas in all forms. 2. — The American industry does not view with enthusiasm any plan whereby its top product would trail British product on any given show in any given Rank theatre. In London on Tuesday, this view became a policy. 3. — The American industry maintains that, while Rank talks about hands-across-the-sea in friendly, if competitive, clasp, his announced policies don't match his lofty phrasings. 4. — The American industry is angry at unwarranted and far- flung attacks appearing as if by pattern in the British press and thinks Rank was in a position to reduce or eliminate much of this had he so desired. The point of explosion, how- ever, arrived when Johnston told Rank th.e leaders here regard this combination of factors as an undeclared declaration of war ; that, if Rank wants to fight, the American industry will oblige — not only in Britain, but wher- ever Rank operates around the world unless the present state of affairs is relieved. ■ Open warfare, if it develops, may be expected to take the form of a refusal to sell Rank American product beyond what- ever contractual agreements are in existence at the time. This would place Rank in the position of depending entirely on his own films plus whatever else of value he can piece together from other than American sources. It also would feed his opposition houses in England and elsewhere American product of sufficient strength to develop new first funs. In this country, the ma- jor circuits on whom Rank must depend preponderantly for the success of his program would lock the door and toss away the key. ■ It's up to Rank to decide into what maelstrom he proposes tossing himself : The resolve of the American industry to battle its way to a conclusion or na- tionalistic pride and/or stub- bornness and, perhaps govern- mental, wrath at home. On the diplomatic side, of course, Johnston has been tell- ing Rank the situation is unfor- tunate, that warfare would be harmful to both industries and more so to the British and that some middle ground is much to be desired. As a visitor, even with a mission, he could do no less. But here in New York where the guards are down, not up, one would be hard put to find a friendly word for Rank or the British. General opinion solid- ly maintains the American in- dustry has been taken for a beautiful ride. Joe Skeptic, that hard-bitten philosopher, was contemplating the embroilment yesterday with his usual jaundiced eye. Some- one asked, "If Eric Johnston de- clares war on Arthur Rank, what happens to all those air crews we're basing in England? Will they be imprisoned, or what ?" To which, Joe replied : "Nope. The British will make 'em look at British films. That would be a fate worse than death in the air." The upper crust at UA is having a fine old time checking off early "Red River" takes on those 235 day-and-date runs in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. They're so good, the figures are being re-checked for error. Eor instance and no wonder : Tyler, Tex., four days, $3,410; Port Arthur, two days, $2,300. Odessa [Texas, not Russia], opening day, $1,358; San Antonio, five days, $18,100; El Paso, six days, $10,500; Wichita Falls, five days, $5,000 ; holdovers in all Intersate Cir- cuit situations except two. ■ A picture largely about Texas, "Red River'' tackled the soft under-belly of exhibition first by invading the Southwest. UA concedes this, but contends an $8,000,000 domestic gross is in line if the initial pace is maintained. They'd settle for several millions less. Dembow Drive Chiefs Set Regional Meets Regional meetings of all sales per sonnel will be held next week by captains of the "George Dembow Tribute," National Screen Service sales drive honoring Dembow, vice- president in charge of sales. William Bein, Eastern drive captain, and Ben Ashe, Western drive captain, will( make a flying tour of the regional meetings. Meetings will be held by Beif^ Chicago, Sept. 7; Pittsburgh, Sep.. Kansas City, Sept. 11; and Dallas, Sept. 13. Ashe will hold meetings in Los Angeles, Sept. 7; Denver, Sept. 9; Kansas City, Sept. 11, and Dallas, Sept. 13. E-L Expands Scope Of Donaldson Post Two Eagle-Lion branches, Buffalo and Albany, have been added to those now handled by Tom Donaldson, E-L New England district manager, in a move explained by E-L distribution vice-president William J. Heineman as being "in accordance with the com- pany's policy of promoting its person- nel whenever possible." In his new post, which is effective immediately, Donaldson will continue to supervise the Boston and New Haven ex- changes from his headquarters in Boston. Youth Month Parade Set for Sept 7 Here A youth parade of 5,000 New York children will be staged next Tuesday morning under the joint auspices of the National Youth Month Committee and the New York Youth Board. The parade will form at 8:30 at Cooper Union Park and will proceed to the Skouras Academy of Music at West 14th Street to see a premiere of "A Friendly Story," a short subject with a youth theme. A stage show also will be held in which figures of stage and screen will participate. To Co-produce in Paris Conclusion of a deal with the Com- pagnie Continentale Cinematographique of France for joint production in Paris of "Miss Condon" from the nov- el by Aline Bernstein in both French and English with a combined budget of 105,000,000 francs has been an- nounced here by Peter Cusick, presi- dent of Cusick International Films. $2,250,000 RKO Suit Writer Joseph Anthony filed in U.S. District Court here yesterday a $2,250,- 000 damage action against RKO Radio and Radio - Keith - Orpheum Corp., charging that his film story, "Sister Eve" was pirated and appropriated by RKO Radio in producing "The Bach- elor and the Bobby Soxer." Goldwyn-Arc' Deal Off Negotiation of a deal by which Gold- wyn Productions would have become producer's representative in the sell- ing of Walter Wanger's "Joan of Arc" has been cancelled and the deal is completely off, it was disclosed here yesterday. Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor: Chicago Bureau. 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farlev. Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sa., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup. Editor; cable address. 'Quigpubco. London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter. Sept. 23, 1938. at the post office at New York. N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year. $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c Thursday, September 2, 1948 Motion Picture Daily Soviet Power Cuts Hit Berlin Houses Theatres in the American and Bri- tish sectors of Berlin, most of which .depend on electric power generated in the Soviet sector, have had to cut down the number of shows to one and two a day, according to a report re- ceived by the Motion Picture Export Association here from Marian F. Jor- ^Vi^MPEA general manager in Ger- ' "oince the early days of the block- ade, the Russians, Jordan observes, have been piping over only about half of the current actually needed to keep all film wheels rolling on a normal ' basis. As a result of the acute power shortage, Jordan says that 34 of the 70 theatres in the American sector are running a single performance a day, 35 are on a two-a-day basis, and only one theatre is playing three-a-day. The British sector's 41 houses have been almost as severely hit, with 19 playing one-a-day, 17, two-a-day, four running three shows and one house meeting its pre-blockade schedule of four shows a day. Review U. S. Films Blacking Out in Yugoslavia Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Aug. 24 (By Airmail). — In 1947 Yugoslavia im- ported 137 Soviet features and docu- mentaries, representing about 47 per cent of the total number brought into the country. Only 38 were imported from the U. S. These figures com- pare with 45 from the Soviet and 102. or '45 per cent of the total, from the U. S. in 1945. In the first half of this year only seven. American features en- tered the country as against 188 from Russia. Disney Favors (Continued from page 1) panies, Levy indicated it is as good as could be hoped for at the present." Levy reported that Roy Disney's protest to the State Department con- cerning the French pact took excep- tion only to the allocation of films un- der the new quota. The major com- panies are permitted to send 110 pic- tures into France per annum as against only 11 for the independents. Disney's protest called attention to the position of the independents, and in so doing had served its purpose, Levy said, and has been withdrawn. It is understood that David O. Selz- nick also expressed dissatisfaction with the new French pact. Withdrawal of the Disney protest is expected to speed finalization of the agreement which frees over $9,000,000 from France over a four-year period. That Disney would get any special concessions from the major companies because of the protest withdrawal was denied by Levy. Crescent Deals (Continued from page 1) placements, in eight Tennessee, Ala- bama and Kentucky towns, which is still to be reviewed by Wright, the Government attorney also is studying a bid by Rockwood Amusement Co. of Rockwood for permission to build a new house in that town. Kermit Stengel, general manager of Rockwood Amusement and Crescent executive vice-president, was one of the defen- dants in the Crescent anti-trust suits. "Station West" (RKO Radio) THIS RKO Radio production stands at the top of its class. As a high, though not colossal, budget Western it is another proof — if one be needed — that well-made stories of the West result in excellent motion picture entertainment. For the most part this is Dick Powell's picture and he does well indeed in a straight dramatic role. Robert Sparks, the producer, surrounded Powell with a fine cast, led by Jane Greer. The direction by Sidney Lanfield made for a natural film, avoiding both the extremes of artificiality and exaggerated realism. On analysis, the story, from the novel by Luke Short with the screen play by Frank Fenton and Winston Miller, is not strikingly different from many other Westerns. However, the presentation is fresh and there is plenty of suspense and excitement to please audiences without exhausting them. Powell turns up in a small Western town after two soldiers had been murdered transporting gold. For a while it is not clear what his connection with the matter is ; then the audience learns that he is an Army intelligence officer sent, under cover, to investigate. At the end he has the desired informa- tion and all the culprits are dead. Meanwhile he has several meetings with the beautiful but sinister head of a gambling house and gang ring-leader, Tane Greer; a fierce fist fight with Guinn "Big Boy" Williams; several gun battles ; and assorted complications with the captain in charge of the local army station, Tom Powers, and his lady friend, Agnes Moorehead. Other supporting roles include a singing hotel clerk, effectively played by Burl Ives, and Gordon Oliver and Steve Brodie, associates in the crimes, and Raymond Burr, a weak lawyer. The photography, both of the beautiful exterior country and the realistic interiors, is very good. Most of the action takes place in a relatively small number of settings and this contributes to the over-all effectiveness of this film. Running time, 92 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, Oct.. 23. M. Q. Jr. U. K. Exhibitors (Continued from page 1) Cleveland Lake to Community Circuit Cleveland, Sept. 1. — Community Circuit Theatres has acquired the lease for the Lake Theatre here. Extensive remodeling is planned, following which the house's name may be changed, ac- cording to Henry Greenberger, presi- dent of the circuit. For the past 18 years the Lake was operated by Warner Brothers whose lease expired recently and was not re- newed. The Lake is the sixth down- town house operated by the circuit. Balto. Suit Deal (Continued from page 1) a conspiracy to deprive the Windsor of neighborhood run films, with the plain- tiff claiming it obtained product any- where from 14 days to six months be- hind the competitive Walbrook. While negotiations are understood to be under way with the other distrib- utor-defendants for a settlement simi- lar to that reached with 20th-Fox, the Walbrook, in seeking its injunction, claims that a contract made in July, 1945, with 20th- Fox promised the Walbrook the same films as the Dur- kee-owned Ambassador. Argument on the request for an injunction is ex- pected within 10 days. Wash. Ascap Ruling (Continued from page 1) right to collect fees for public per- formances of its members' musical compositions in the state. Several years ago Ascap was similarly sus- tained in Florida, the only other state having such copyright regulation. Troy's opinion followed a state su- preme court ruling of last January that Ascap had not complied with the law, and holding that the Ascap list filed contained musical compositions in the public domain. In July Judge Vincent L. Leibell ruled in U. S. District Court here that Ascap had violated the anti-trust laws by taxing theatres playing pictures containing Ascap music and granted injunctive relief to 164 independent New York exhibitors in their suit against Ascap. Ascap is expected to appeal Leibell's decision. restricting the earnings of the Ameri- can companies here. Johnston's meeting with W. R. Fuller, general secretary of the Cine- matograph Exhibitors Ass'n, and with other exhibitor leaders here assured the independents of being able to ob- tain proper alternate programs at fair rentals. The independents, though concerned only with running their theatres profitably, welcome the opportunity to settle, once and for all, the question of which pays better, American or British pictures? Korda called the Johnston plan "very silly." 'Americans Fight Customers' "Americans are fighting their best customers," he said, "but I don't think the new proposal matters one little bit. British pictures don't need the support of American films in the Brit- ish market. Johnston is under the mis- taken impression that British people don't like British films. It's absolute- ly wonderful how ill informed people can be about the tastes of people of another country." Rank is on vacation and his office withheld comment on Johnston's plan. Johnston has made definite arrange- ments to meet Rank again when the MPAA president returns here from the Continent toward the end of Sep- tember. Johnston left here today for Paris. 'U,' E-L Committed to Rank Universal and Eagle-Lion are pre- vented by their contractual commit- ments with Rank from participating in the Johnston ail-American program booking plan and United Artists can- not commit its independent producers without their approval. The plan_ is scheduled to be placed in operation Oct. 1, when Britain's new quota law becomes effective but, because of con- tracts already made, its full effect is not likely to be felt in Britain until the first of next year. U. S. in New Plea (Continued from page 1) affiliated with any of the defendants and from discriminating against thea- tres in competition with any of the affiliated houses. Wright said he contemplates no Government request for postponement of the Oct. 13 hearing, nor has he heard of any to be made by the in- dustry. Seek Sunday Films Vote Cambridge, O., Sept. 1. — Signa- tures are being solicited here to put the issue of Sunday shows on the bal- lot in the November election. Similar efforts in the past have been voted down. DeMille's AFRA Fee (Continued from page 1) assessment when it was levied in 1944 to finance a campaign against Cali- fornia legislation to outlaw the closed shop in that state. He was suspended from AFRA and has been unable to appear on the air since. He carried his case to the U. S: Supreme Court and lost, and is now pressing for new Fed- eral labor legislation guaranteeing the right to work. Eases Sunday Ban Toronto, Sept. 1. — Exhibitors in many Canadian cities other than To- ronto Will be permitted to run Sun- day midnight shows on Oct. 10, run- ning into Canada's Thanksgiving Day. scheduled to be held on Monday, Oct. 11. Murphy Sails for U.K. James Murphy sailed on the .9.9 Queen Mary for England yesterday where he will start his duties as assis- tant to Fayette Allport, representative in London of the Motion Picture As- sociation of America. Some Independents Wary Of Johnston Booking Plan One producer's representative said in New York yesterday that he would refuse to sell his top product to sup- port British pictures on any theatre program. He added, however, that he was not inclined to believe that refusal to license his films as first features in England, supported by British prod- uct, would be advantageous. The producer's representative said that top U. S. features in England draw in the neighborhood of $500,000, while second features take from $100,- 000 to $150,000. He expressed fear that some independent product might be forced into secondary spots on pro- grams if the independents become a party to the new MPAA policy. Canadian Imvorts Up in First Half Ottawa, Sept. 1.— The External Trade Branch of the Canadian gov- ernment here reveals in its latest re- port that, while imports of films slumped in June to $251,000 as com- pared with $266,000 in the same month last year, they increased to $1,664,000 in the first six months of 1948, as against $1,409,000 in the corresponding period of 1947. Hum . The N.Y. Globe nrst theatre to show it is playing to the greates attendance ever seen here at any time! Thi record in the face of ecord heat! Hu-lun-nan AN ALLIED ARTISTS PRODUCTION m LEVENE- william FRAWLEY-gertrude NIESEN-matt BRIBE-Kf RDY DEL RUTH-ssr joe KAUFMAN-^ bob considine ^ geqrge.callauan V\vsv\— "" — ' o 5 - « , zj» 1 « - — 7rrf'/.\ V X /! 3 "The Babe Ruth Story" is now in its 6th WEEK at the Astor Theatre. N.Y... In Boston it has played 3 WEEKS to giant grosses at Keith's Memorial... For 4 WEEKS in Baltimore it has smashed records at the Town Theatre... In Philadelphia it has drawn great crowds to the Mastbaum for 3 WEEKS,. . \ In Cheyenne, Waterbury, Asbury Park, Hartford, Jamestown, Lancaster... in cities and towns of every size, this warm-hearted picture of a beloved American is drawing record throngs. Today, the industry's big boxoffice story is THE BABE RUTH STORY. S5 \ 8 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, September 2, 1948 "The Saxon Charm" (Continued from page 1) • about collectivist advantages, a bitter financial failure whose incompetence as a producer spells financial headaches for unwary entrepreneurs. Payne, a successful novelist who had taken a crack at writing- a play, is taken in by Saxon's ostensible worth and prestige, and almost too late finds that this ruthless parasite has ruined his script, and has nearly irreparably wrecked his married happiness to boot. Miss Hayward, Payne's wife, becomes wise to Saxon's "charm" at the outset, having been tipped off on the producer's char- acter by Miss Totter, a night club singer, who loves him deeply nonetheless. ITS serious overtones notwithstanding, this picture is a rollicking sophisti- cated comedy in its unfolding, with sophisticated funnybones due to receive almost uninterrupted titillation in consequence of Saxon's utter unpredictability, his contemptuous wit, and his capacity for ignoring the implications of finan- cial adversity and ultimate desertion by all whom he double-crossed. This calls to mind a word of caution for exhibitors whose patrons have heretofore shied away from "sophisticated comedies" — we refer particularly to theatre operators in strictly rural communities. "The Saxon Charm" is first and foremost fare of a type that is certain to thoroughly please the more sophisti- cated metropolitan audiences. Very much to the picture's credit, of course, is the fact that the sexiness embodied in the novel was by-passed completely in the transformation. Suffice it to say that performances are crackerjack from top to bottom in a cast that is rounded out with Henry Morgan (not the radio comedian), Harry Von Zell, Cara Williams, Chill Wills and Heather Angel. Miss Totter at two points serves up mellow vocal renditions of the oldie, "I'm in the Mood for Love." Running time, 88 minutes. Adult audience classification. For September release. Charles L. Franke Key City Grosses FOLLOWING are estimated pic- ture grosses for current engage- ments in key cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily correspond- ents. Estimates omit admission tax. LOS ANGELES "Pitfall," "Two Guys from Texas" and "Beyond Glory" led grosses to high ground in a fine final week of August weather, warmish days and coolish nights, which seemed to make everybody picture-minded. Estimated receipts for the week ended Sept. 1 : BEYOND GLORY (Para.) and EYES OF TEXAS (Rep.) — PARAMOUNT (Downtown) (3,595) (50c-60c-80c-$1.00) 7 days. Gross: $21,000. (Average: $16,450) BEYOND GLORY (Para.) — PARAMOUNT (Hollywood) (1,407) (5Oc-6Oc-8Oc-$1.0O) 7 days. Gross: $10,500. (Average: $13,000) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M)— EGYPTIAN (1,000) (S0c-60c-85c-$1.00) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $11,000. (Average: $11,900) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M)— FOX-WIL- SHIRE (2,300) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $11,000. (Average: $12,850) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M) — LOS AN- GELES (2,096) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $15,000. (Average: $18,100) MICKEY (E-L) and HANGMAN'S NOOSE (E-L)— BELMONT (1,600) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 6 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,750) MICKEY (E-L) and HANGMAN'S NOOSE (E-L)— EL REY (861) (50c-60c-85c-$l-00) 6 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $ ) MICKEY (E-L) and HANGMAN'S NOOSE (E-L)— ORPHEUM (2,210) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 6 days. Gross: $12,000. (Average: $14,650) MICKEY (E-L) and HANGMAN'S NOOSE (E-L)— VOGUE (800) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 6 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $6,500) MR. PEABODY AND THE MERMAID (U-1) and DAREDEVILS Of THE CLOUDS (Rep.) — GUILD (965) (50c-60c-85c- $1.00) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,000. (Av- erage: $5,450) MR. PEABODY AND THE MERMAID (U-I) and DAREDEVILS OF THE CLOUDS (Rep.)— IRIS (708) (50c-60c-85c- $1.00) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,000. (Av- erage: $6,100) MR. PEABODY AND THE MERMAID (U-I) and DAREDEVILS OF THE CLOUDS (Rep.)— RITZ (1,376) (50c-60c-85c- $1.00) 7 days. 2nd week. Gross: $8,000. Av- erage: $9,050) MR. PEABODY AND THE MERMAID (U-D and DAREDEVILS OF THE CLOUDS (Rep.)— STUDIO1 (880) (50c -60c- 85c-$1.0O) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,500. (Average: $6,300) MR. PEABODY AND THE MERMAID (U-I) and DAREDEVILS OF THE CLOUDS (Rep.) — UNITED ARTISTS (2,100) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 7 days. 2nd week. Gross: $7,500. (Average: $9,580) THE PEARL (RKO Radio)— FOUR STAR (900) (S0c-60c-85c-$1.00) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,500. (Average: $7,450) THE PEARL (RKO Radio) — PALACE (1,237) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $11,000. (Average: $15,000) PITFALL (UA-Regal) — MUSIC HALL (Beverly Hills) (900) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average: $3,150) PITFALL (UA-Regal) — MUSIC HALL (Downtown) (900) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 7 days. Gross: $17,000. (Average: $7,550) PITFALL (UA-Regal) — MUSIC HALL (Hawaii) (1,000) (5Oc-6Oc-85c-$1.0O) 7 days. Gross: $8,000. (Average: $3,400) PITFALL (UA-Regal) -MUSIC HALL (Hollywood)— (490) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 7 days. Gross: $7,000. (Average: $3,100) RETURN OF THE BAD MEN (RKO) Radio) and I SURRENDER DEAR (Col.) — HILLSTR EET (2,700) (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 7 days. 2nd week. Gross: $13,000. (Aver- age: $18,950) RETURN OF THE BAD MEN (RKO Radio) and I SURRENDER DEAR (Col.) — PANTAGES (2,000) (5Oc-6Oc-8Oc-$1.00) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $9,000. (Average: $17,150) THAT LADY IN ERMINE (2ftth-Fox) and KING OF THE GAMBLERS (Rep.) — CARTHAY CIRCLE (1.516) (50c-60c-85c- $1.00) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $6,000. (Av- erage: $9,500) THAT LADY IN ERMINE (20th-Fox) and KING OF THE GAMBLERS (Rep.)— CHI- NESE (2.300) (5Oc-60c-85c-$1.0O) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $10,000. (Averaee: $13,000) THAT LADY IN ERMINE (20th-Fox) and KING OF THE GAMBLERS (Rep.) — LOEWS STATE (2,500) (50c-6Oc-85c-$l.O0) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $13,000. (Aver- age: $19,800) THAT LADY IN ERMINE (2yffmo«w Pop Prk Barbara Stanwyck Burt Lancaster "SORRY, WRONG NUMBER' A Paramount Release » Pers Betty Grable - Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. "THAT LADY IN ERMINE" A 20th Century-Fox Picture — - TECHNICOLOR On Variety Stage — FRANCES LANGFORD & JON HALL - HARMONICA TS JERRY COLONNA On Ice Stage— "THE MERRY WIDOW" Starring CAROL LYNNE - FRITZ DIETL ROXY 7th Ave. & 50th St. : ROSALIND RUSSELL in "THE VELVET TOUCH" A FREDERICK BRISSON PRODUCTION Released through RKO R I VOL I Bwav&49thst MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief I and Publisher; Sherwm Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farlev. Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup. Editor; cable address, QuigpuDco, London. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published everv fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York N Y under t^e act of March 3, 1879. SuLscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c Friday, September 3, 1948 Motion Picture. Daily ■ Army Moves Its Film Unit Out of Berlin Washington, Sept. 2. — The film branch of the U. S. Military Govern- ment in Germany transferred on July 31 from Berlin to Geiselgasteig, in Bavaria, the Department of the Army announced. Policy and administration of the branch will continue to be directed from Berlin and documentary films will continue to be produced in the Berlin-Tempelhof studios, but actual editing, writing, distributing and other film activities are now concentrated in Bavaria. Allocation of sufficient electric cur- rent enabled the documentary unit to continue full production, the Army- said. Special films dealing with the Berlin crisis were produced. Wanger Plans (Continued from page 1) Gen. McClure (Continued from page 1) MUSIC TOO! rides lack of education ... it interests those people while at the same time it instructs them and makes a lasting impression." MPEA Supplied 250 Features Since the beginning of the occupa tion, Gen. McClure reports, the Mo tion Picture Export Association ha: supplied approximately 250 different feature films and about 40 documen taries. Nearly all of these have been shown in Japan, while approximately 100 titles have been shown in Austria and Korea and slightly fewer in Ger many. In Germany, however, about 20 to 30 prints of each film are circu- lated, while Austria prints about four Japan usually processes about 12 prints of each film, of which three go to Korea. At the moment, another 100 features are being procured or processed by MPEA for the Army, the report said. 'The objective of the Army motion picture program," the report stated, "continues to be to expose to audiences in the four countries the essential falsity of police state ideology, the catastrophic results of this ideology to all mankind, and to rekindle a sense of moral responsibility in the people of the occupied areas." 3,500,000 Expected Weekly- Gen. McClure declares that more than 2,000.000 Japanese saw our documentary films the last week in July, and estimates that this soon will increase to 3,500,000 weekly. In South Korea, one documentarv alone — "The People Vote"— drew 3,000,000. and close to 96,000,000 Germans saw U. S. factuals in the first quarter of 1948. Gen. McClure said that the Army's ■1 arrangement with the five major U, S. I newsreel companies has provided the I occupied areas with over 110.000 feet I of selected news film. In return, news- I reel and television companies have I gotten news footage shot by the Army H in occupied areas. for litigation. Wanger repeated that the matter is "under investigation," when questioned further. RKO Radio, immediately bound by the Supreme Court's decision, is the distributor of "Joan" but Wanger in- dicated that he is negotiating a deal with other interests to represent him in the selling. If Wanger goes through with pres- ent plans, it would be the first in- stance of selling a picture at tilted scales since the high court's decision, except by the four-wall deal method. Will Open Here in November The producer said "Joan" will open in New York in November with the booking now being discussed. He neither confirmed nor denied a report that the film likely will tenant the newly modernized, 1,200-seat Victoria here. He indicated he ultimately might use some "four-wall" theatre-leasing deals in which case he would be free to set his own admission scales. Wanger said that he, Victor Flem- ing, director; and Ingrid Bergman, star, of "Joan," participated in the second-money financing. Bankers Trust put up $3,500,000 in first-money loans, he said. The picture, in Technicolor, totaled $4,600,000 in negative costs and this increases to about $6,000,000 when advertising and prints are taken into account, he said. It follows that the distributor's share will bring the break- even figure to over $7,000,000. Key City Grosses FOLLOWING are estimated pic- ture grosses for current engage- ments in key cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily correspond- ents. Estimates omit admission tax. KANSAS CITY $350,000 for Advance Ads Wanger said that $350,000 will be spent in advertising in advance of the New York opening, including national insertions. Wanger, veering to other subjects, questioned the wisdom of the Ameri- can film companys' boycott of the Brit- ish market in consequence of the 75 per cent ad valorem duty last winter. Temperatures mostly in high nine- ties ; humid. Hot weather encouraged many to attend cooled theatres but not to the extent expected ; subsequent runs generally continued below so- called normal except for outstanding features. Estimated receipts for the week ended Aug. 31-Sept. 2: THE BABE RUTH STORY (AA-Mono.) FAIRWAY (700) (4Sc-65c) 7 days. Gross- $2,100. (Average: $1,750) THE BABE RUTH STORY (AA-Mono)— TOWER (2,100) (45c-65c) 7 days. Gross: THE BABE RUTH STORY (AA-Mono.)- UPTOWX (2.000) (45c-65c) 7 dars. Gross - $7,200. (Average: $6,000) FEUDIN', FUSSIN' AND A-FIGHTING' (U-I)-ESQUIRE (800) (45c-65c) 7 days. 2nd week, moveover after 1 week at Fair- way, Tower, Uptown. Gross: $3,750. (Av- erage: S5.00O) A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.)— PARA- MOUNT (1.900) (45c-65c) 7 days. 2nd week, dross: $10,500. (Average: $10,000) THE PARADINE CASE (SRO)-MLD- LAXD (3.500) (45c-65c) 2 davs, 2nd week Gross: $3,000. (Average. 2 days- $3,500) THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE (UA) Ld FRIEDA (U-I) — MIDLAND (3,500) (45c- $is}ooo) days" Gross: $17,50°- (Avera^e: ??^Y5LVET TOUCH (RKO Radio) and EXPOSED (Rep.) — ORPHEUM (1 900) $10^000)^ 7 dayS' Gross: 511'000- (Average: New M. P. Almanac (Continued from page 1) graphical Who's Who, Corporations, Theatre Circuits, Pictures, Services, Codes and Censorship, Theatre Equip- ment and Materials, Organizations, the Government suit, Motion Pictures in Industry and Education, the Industry in Great Britain, the World Market, the Press, Television and Radio. While most of its contents are brief, sharp facts, it presents the full texts of such important current documents as the Supreme Court decision in the industry case, texts of the Production Code and Advertising Code, and a list of 100 films produced from 1903 to the present selected by Red Kann as the all-time greats. Buy Ohio Theatre Cleveland, Sept. 2. — Nate and Sam Schultz and Nate and Dave Mar- cus, who own and operate five theatres in this area, have purchased the Ohio Theatre, Marion, O., from John J. Huebner, who owned the house for 20 years. Lockwood Jennings, man- ager of their Quilna Theatre in Lima, has been appointed by the new owners as district manager in charge of both the Lima and Marion houses. The Ohio will be remodeled at an esti- mated cost of $50,000. Albany Variety Outing Albany, Sept. 2. — An outing will be held by Variety Club here at^Picards Grove on Sept. 13. On the committee are Charles Smaltwitz, Warner zone manager; Harry Lamont of Lamont Theatres; Jack Bulliwinkle, Columbia manager; Ray Smith, Warner man- ager; and Joseph Weinstein, Warner short subject booker. Carbon Projection Short Designed to explain the "briliance and color value" of a new technique of carbon arc projection which con- centrates a light intensity of 8,500,000 foot candles on an aperture the size of a single frame of film, "Carbon Arc Projection," a 15-minute short in Technicolor, will be shown to the press on Sept. 15 at RCA Exhibit Hall here under the auspices of Na- tional Carbon Co. The film will have its "premiere" on Sept. 30 Jefferson Hotel, St. Louis. 16mm. Film Program Advances in Mexico Mexico City, Sept. 2. — While de- valuation of the peso has hit the Mexi- can 16mm. film program hard, Pelicu- las Nacionales. distributor for Mexi- co's five largest producers, points out that theatre circuits for sub-standard films have been established in the provinces. The weakened peso has nearly doubled the cost of 16mm. films but, indicative of Peliculas Nacionales' confidence that no 16mm. depression is in sight, the company has some 300 at the i films, both Mexican and foreign, for distribution in narrow-gauge form. PUZZLE-BANK The Game That Insures A Box Office Boom Inc Enterprise House, New York City 198 Broadway DIgby 9-1278 WANTED TALKING DOG, BEAR or HORSE to narrate animal film for well known documentary series. Must have good voice. No birds or cows. Call PL. 9-3600, ext. 6. the Luck OF THE IBJSH EVERYONE IS SAYING YOU CAN'T BEAT IT! TYRONE POWER • ANNE BAXTER in "THE LUCK OF THE IRISH" with CECIL KELLAWAY, LEE J. COBB, James Todd, Jayne Meadows, J. M. Kerrigan, Phil Brown, Charles Irwin • Directed by HENRY KOSTER • Produced by FRED KOHLMAR • Screen Play by Philip Dunne Based on a Novel by Guy and Constance Jones ■ ■ : IN SP*TACU' FOREVER MBER (01 TECHNICOLOR FIRST FIRST-RUN DATES FOR AMBER -FIRST TIME AT REGULAR PRICES! DENVER ST. LOUIS SPOKANE LINCOLN OMAHA ATLANTA PORTLAND SEATTLE BIRMINGHAM LOUISVILLE KNOXVILLE MONTGOMERY DES MOINES NASHVILLE BALTIMORE INDIANAPOLIS BUTTE TACOMA RICHMOND TERRE HAUTE LAFAYETTE TORONTO GREAT FALLS TULSA "FOREVER AMBER" • Color by TECHNICOLOR • Star- ring LINDA DARNELL • CORNEL WILDE • RICHARD GREENE and GEORGE SANDERS with GLENN LANGAN, RICHARD HAYDN, JESSICA TANDY, ANNE REVERE Directed by OTTO PREMINGER • Produced by WILLIAM PERLBERG • From the Novel by KATHLEEN WINSOR • Screen Play by Philip Dunne and Ring Lardner, Jr. • Adaptation by Jerome Cady It's LUCKY MONTH at y FOR SHOWMEN EVERYWHERE Lady in Ermine TECHNICOLOR EVERYONE IS SINGING ABOUT yfat BUSINESS! BETTY GRABLE • DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, Jr. in "THAT LADY IN ERMINE" • Color by TECHNICOLOR with CESAR ROMERO, WALTER ABEL, REGINALD GARDINER Produced and Directed by ERNST LUBITSCH • Screen Play by Samson Raphaelson • Lyrics and Music by Leo Robin and Frederick Hollander • Dances Staged by Hermes Pan rOUTH THE WALLS OF JERICHO THE ROMANTIC DRAMA THAT'S PACKING THEM TO THE WALLS! CORNEL WILDE * LINDA DARNELL • ANNE BAXTER KIRK DOUGLAS-m "THE WALLS OF JERICHO" with ANN DVORAK, Mdrjorie Rambeau, Henry Hull, Colleen Townsend, Barton MacLane, Griff Barnett, William Tracy, Art Baker • Directed by JOHN M. STAHL • Produced by LAMAR TROTTI • Screen Play by Lamar Trotti • Based on the Novel by Paul Wellman . . . when that picture is doing the same record-breaking business in San Francisco, Atlantic City, Philadelphia and Washington! w/, Regal Films presents DICK POWELL and LIZABETH SCOTT in "PITFALL" with JANE WYATT and Raymond Burr • Byron Barr • John Litel Ann Doran • Jimmy Hunt • Selmer Jackson • Based on the Novel "The Pitfall" by Jay Dratler Screenplay by Karl Kamb • Directed by Andre de Toth • Produced by Samuel Bischoff Accurate Concise and Impartial MOTION PICXgp& DAILY V( NO. 47 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1948 TEN CENTS Tax Receipts Show Grosses Off Only 2.8% Put Take for First Half Of 1948 at $765,093,610 Washington, Sept. 6. — Box- office receipts haven't been nose- diving nearly as sharply as some exhibitors report, at least, not ac- cording to the tax collection figures of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. They indicate that business during the first six months of this year was less than three percent below 1947 first half receipts. This means an even greater cut in profits, however, since costs have been rising steadily. But most industry es- timates have held that box-office grosses are off 10 per cent or better from 1947 levels. Not so, say the tax collection re- ports. General admission tax collec- tions for the months from February through July, reflecting box-office business January through June, total $180,022,027, compared with $185,- 102,674 in record-breaking 1947. This is a drop of just slightly over (Continued on page 2) Studio Employment Index Down to 77.2 Hollywood, Sept. 6. — Losing the moderate recoveries it showed during May and June, studio employment dropped during July to 77.2 on the California Labor Statistics Bureau's monthly employment index. Reports are based on the 1940 aver- age, which is rated 100. The studios' employment index for June was at 86.4. In July, 1947, the index was 102.6, compared with this July's 77.2. Heineman Sees 50% Revenue Rise for E-L This Season Eagle-Lion's distribution revenue will increase by a minimum of 50 per cent for the 1948-49 selling season, over the 1947-48 season, William J. Heineman, distribution vice president, pre- dicted at the weekend at a press conference marking the completion of his first half year with the company. Heineman said his forecast is based upon con- clusions drawn from a company survey of cur- rent business trends. The in- crease foreseen, he said, will stem from better grosses generally, higher rentals and an increased number of bookings. Theatre business is definitely on the (Continued on page 2) Wm. J. Heineman Colosseum Pact Talks Continue This Week Distributors' negotiating representa- tives and those of the Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen of America are expected to continue well into this week their discussions on a proposed wages-and-hours contract for the newly-unionized salesmen of the in- dustry, David Beznor, Colosseum at- torney, indicated here at the weekend. It is understood that when the talks are resumed "here this morning, dis- cussion will center around counter- proposals submitted by the 11 com- panies involved. Negotiations were conducted throughout last week. Smith Plan Up to N. J. Allied Board The film committee of Allied The- atre Owners of New Jersey, consist- ing of Wilbur Snaper, Irving Dol- linger and George Gold, will present to the next board of directors' meet- ing for adoption the so-called Berger- Smith exhibitor-distributor concilia- tion plan, it was reported following a meeting here of the committee with Andy W. Smith, Jr., 20th-Fox's gen- eral sales manager, on Friday. The (Continued on page 2) SIMPP Is Undecided On U.K. Booking Plan Hollywood, Sept. 6. — Mem- bers of the Society of Inde- pendent M. P. Producers are awaiting the receipt of de- tailed information concerning Eric Johnston's program of booking all-American pro- grams in Britain starting Oct. 1, before committing themselves to the plan. It is likely that a meeting of the executive committee or mem- bership of SIMPP will be called after details of the plan are received, at which time the organization will de- cide whether or not to be- come a party to it. In formu- lating his plan of action in London Johnston was not au- thorized to commit SIMPP. Warners Sell Two Theatres In Milwaukee Charges of 'Forcing' Are Sent to D. of J. Eldora, la., Sept. 6. — Data on spe- cific cases of alleged picture forcing by conditioning the licensing of one film on the licensing of another or others has been forwarded to the De- partment of Justice in Washington by Allied Theatre Owners of Iowa- Nebraska, Leo F. Wolcott, chairman of the board, reports in a current membership bulletin. No details of the complaints or the companies or theatres involved are disclosed. Conditioning the licensing of one picture on that of another is explicitly prohibited by the U. S. Su- preme Court decision in the industry anti-trust case and top sales execu- tives have repeatedly warned their sales forces against the practice. Link to Divestiture Seen; Gamble May Be Buyer Chicago, Sept. 6.— Sale of the Tower and Oriental theatres, Mil- waukee neighborhood houses, by Warners to undisclosed purchasers was revealed here at the weekend. Local speculation centered on the possibility that Ted R. Gamble might be identified with the purchasers. Gamble reportedly has been engaged in negotiations here recently with James Coston, Warner division the- atre head for this area, which includes the circuit's Milwaukee operations. Gamble acquired the Monarch Cir- cuit from the late Harry Katz some time ago and, according to reports, he plans to dispose of his Pacific North- west theatres and concentrate on the expansion of his operations in the Middle West. Equally spirited speculation centered on the possible extent to which War- ners plan to go in divesting theatre holdings. Besides the sale of the two (Continued on page 2) Government Aid to U. K. Industry Seen Ineffectual London, Sept. 6. — The authorita- tive Westminster Bank Review in a discussion of the British film situation in its latest number declares that in the past legislative efforts by the gov- ernment to stimulate the industry had failed and it appears unlikely that the 1948 Act will prove any more effec- tive. "The problems facing the industry are as difficult now as they have ever been," the Review states. "The pro- duction of sufficient first feature films of adequate entertainment value to en- able exhibitors to meet the 45 per cent quota will be possible only if there is a very great increase in output here. "In 1946, 18 per cent of long films shown were British ; in 1947, the per- centage was 20 per cent." The Reveizv gives a plain warning that, if the industry fails in its ability to entertain, the people of this country will have to learn to find amusement in some other way because for at least some years we will be unable to spend large sums on American films. "War-time dislocation of the indus- try has left independent producers with inadequate working capital," the Re- view declares, "and the uncertainties with which the industry is faced have discouraged the flow of private capi- tal." Warners Relinquish Another Theatre Warner Bros. Theatres, following a pattern set earlier in riot renewing ex- piring theatre leases in Cleveland and elsewhere, relinquished operation of the Lincoln theatre, Kearney, N. J., with the expiration of the lease on the 1,267-seat house last week. A 21 -year lease on the house was taken by Skouras Theatres in partner- ship with Murray Stahl. The new les- sors also operate the 1,500-seat Regent in Kearny and the Rivoli and Rex in Rutherford, N. J. Berk and Krum- gold were brokers on the new Lincoln lease. 5,000 RKO Shares Sold by N. P. Rathvon Washington, Sept. 6. — N. Peter Rathvon, former RKO president, sold 5,000 shares of RKO common in three transactions on July 26, 27, and 28, according to the latest Securities and Exchange Commission report on trad- ing from July 11 to Aug. 10. Rathvon was left with 15,000 shares at the end of that period. Universal director Daniel M. Sheaf- fer sold a total of 7,500 shares of Uni- (Continued on page 2) 2 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, September 7, 1948 Personal Mention WALTER WANGER returned to the Coast from New York at the weekend. • Harold Marshall, M-G-M exploi- tation representative in the Indian- apolis territory, has resigned, effec- tive Sept. 11. His activities will be absorbed by J. E. Watson, Cincinnati exploiteer. • Louis Blumberg, assistant sales manager of Prestige Pictures, and Fred Meyers, Eastern division sales manager of Universal Pictures, are on a sales trip to Albany, N. Y., and Cooperstown. • Arthur Greenblatt, Screen Guild Eastern sales manager, is in Holly- wood for conferences with Robert L. Lippert, president and Francis A. Bateman, general sales manager. He returns to New York this week. • Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., United Art- ists executive assistant to the presi- dent, will return here today from Chi- cago and Milwaukee. • John Healy, assistant to George Bowser, Fox West Coast general manager, and Mrs. Healy, are the parents of a nine-and-a-half-pound Edward Finney, Screen Guild pro- ducer, and Mrs. Finney are the par- ents of a new six-and-a-half-pound daughter. J. D. Trop left here for Hollywood yesterday for production conferences. AFM, Independents Meet Again Today Hollywood, Sept. 6. — Another ne- gotiating session between representa- tives of the American Federation of Musicians and independent producers for a new contract to cover studio musicians will be held tomorrow after- noon at Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers headquarters here. The first session was adjourned short- ly after it was convened on Friday when it appeared that the talks could not be concluded at the one session. Reade Opens Drive-In After several delays due to adverse weather conditions, the Walter Reade Drive-In Theatre No. 1, near Wood- bridge, N. J., was opened last Satur- day night. It is the first drive-in in Middlesex County and one of the largest in the East, having an initial capacity of 950 cars. Gets Loew's Boston Post Boston, Sept. 6. — James L. Shana- han has been appointed advertising and publicity director of Loew's Boston theatres by Charles E. Kurtzman, Loew's Northeastern division man- ager. Shanahan succeeds the late Joe A. Di Pesa. Rathvon Sells Stock {Continued from page 1) versal common in 16 separate trans- actions during July, dropping his hold- ings to 5,307 shares. Preston Davie sold 200 shares of Universal common. At Monogram, W. Ray Johnston continued to sell heavily, disposing of 2,000 shares on Aug. 8, leaving him with 2,617 shares. The previous month's report showed Johnston sold 8,000 shares. He still holds options for 12,500 shares. Norton V. Ritchey also sold 2,000 shares, leaving him with 3,954. Albert Warner bought 6,500 shares of his firm's $5 par common, boosting his holdings to 434,500 shares. In another announcement stemming from the acquisition of RKO control by Howard Hughes, it was reported that Dore Schary held no Loew's stock when he became an officer of that company. Loew's picked up another 75 shares of Loew's Boston Theatres, $25 par common, increasing its holdings to 123,179 shares. Harry Brandt bought another 100 shares of Trans Lux Corp. common, increasing his personal holdings to 88,665 shares. His wife owns 14,700 shares. Holdings listed by new Trans Lux directors were as follows : Jay Eman- uel, 6,000, Lee Shubert, 3,500, per- sonally, while Lee and J. J. Shubert hold another 3,000, and Jacob Starr, 2,000. Warners Sell (Continued from page 1) Milwaukee houses, Warners recently relinquished the Lake, Cleveland, and proposes to withdraw from operation of the Allen in that city, which it has shared with RKO. It disposed of the Warner, New York ; a suburban the- atre in New Jersey and has been re- ported to be interested in giving up several of its Philadelphia houses. Warner Theatres' home office offi- cials could not be reached for com- ment at the weekend. N. J. Allied, Smith (Continued from page 1) Jersey Allied board is expected to meet in about two weeks. Formal approval by the board would be followed by the appointment by Jersey Allied president Edward Lachman of a grievance committee of six members. Heads Screening Unit Des Moines, Sept. 6. — J. P. Lan- nan, exhibitor of West Point, Neb., has been appointed chairman of the Allied Independent Theatre Owners of Iowa and Nebraska screening commit- tee by A. C. Myrick, president of the AITO. Others on the committee are Frank Good of Red Oak, la., and Oscar Hanson, Omaha. Open New Drive-In Philadelphia, Sept. 6. — Theatre of Tomorrow, a new drive-in on the Ridge Pike here, opened at the week- end. Operated by Wintner Brothers of Cleveland, it occupies 40 acres and holds about 1,100 cars. Production Index Down Three to 26 Hollywood, Sept. 6. — The produc- tion tally stood at 26, dropping three from last week's index. Three new films were launched while six were completed. Shooting started on "Rough Sketch" (Horizon), Columbia; "A Mask for Lucretia," Paramount ; and "Mon- tana," Warner Brothers. Shooting finished on "The Crime Doctor's Diary," Columbia ; "Caught," Enterprise ; "Gunning for Justice," Monogram ; "Last of the Wild Horses" (Lippert), Screen Guild; "Belle Starr's Daughter" (Alson) (formerly "Rose of Cimarron"), 20th Century-Fox; and "The House Across the Street," Warner Brothers. Dembow Drive Meets In Chicago and L.A. National Screen Service regional sales meetings are to be held today in Chicago and Los Angeles to lay plans for the "George Dembow Tribute" drive which is to begin next Monday. Dembow is vice-president in charge of sales. District and branch managers and salesmen will participate in the sessions today, with William Bein act- ing as captain of the campaign in the East and Ben Ashe captain in the West. Heineman (Continued from page 1) upgrade, Heineman said, adding that he believes Aug. 15 saw the end of the so-called "summer slump." He hesi- tated to say whether, in his opinion, there stands a possibility that the 10 to 12 per cent drop-off in grosses, which had been evidenced since last Jan. 1, would be compensated for be- fore the end of the year. He did feel, however, that a good part of that slack would be taken up by Dec. 31. E-L, he said, will lease theatres in New York, Boston, Washington, Phil- adelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco, for "roadshowing" on a "four-wall deal" basis J. Arthur Rank's Technicolor film, "Red Shoes." Top prices will be $1.20 for matinee and $2.40 evenings, Heineman said, in- dicating that plans are to show the film nowhere at lower admissions for at least a year. In addition to the 17 "top budget" pictures already an- nounced for the next eight months, Heineman said, there will be one "program" picture a month released by E-L. Tax Receipts (Continued from page 1) $5,000,000, or not quite 2.8 per cent. In two months, in fact, 1948 collec- tions exceeded 1947. These were March and June, reflecting box-office business in February and May. Motion picture theatres are general- ly considered to account for 80 per cent to 85 per cent of the general admission tax collections. Using the 85 per cent figure, and assuming col- lections are about 20 per cent of the box-office take, 1948 first half grosses were about $765,093,610, compared with $786,686,360 in the first half of last year. Newsreel Parade -Uueen Gov- THE 50th anniversary of Queen Wilhelmina and the spy investi- gations in Washington are highlighted in the current newsreels. Other items include the Greek fighting, sports, fashion and a baby parade. Complete contents follow : MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 71— Queen Wilhelmina feted at end of 50-year Chief communist in U. S. identified bM mer Red. World events: Greek war,' lin plane crash, Lourdes pilgrimage, ernor Green hails national youth month. Sports: Navy, Notre Dame football training. Gen. Eisenhower fishing. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 201— Ex- communist puts finger on mysterious spy chief. Greek rebels routed in Mt. Gramos battle. Navy's Hawaii-to-Chicago flight sets record. Sports: tennis, football. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 4^Ship news: celebrities sail aboard the Queen Mary. Tribute to Queen Wilhelmina. Football. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. 176 — Shang- hai fights inflation. Canadian national ex- position. Gen. Eisenhower dedicates hos- pital. Gala Belgium festival. Asbury Park baby parade. Spanish ax-chopping contest. Tiny swimmer takes bow. WARNER PAT HE NEWS, No. 6— Chambers identifies Red spy boss. Latest news from Berlin. Queen Wilhelmina golden jubilee. Tennis. Coats in the news. Great Americans: Washington's farewell address. NEW YORK THEATRES —RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL — Rockefeller Center "A DATE WITH JUDY" Wallace BEERY . Jane POWELL 'Elizabeth TAYLOR . Carmen MIRANDA! Xavler CUGAT . Robert STACK A Metro-Goldwvn-Mayer Picture SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ROY DEI RUTH'S BABE RUTH STORY Coft49eriormooc«»*Pop WILLIAM CLAIM Barbara Stanwyck Burt Lancaster SORRY, WRONG NUMBER A Paramount Release ROSALIND RUSSELL in "THE VELVET TOUCH" A FREDERICK BRISSON PRODUCTION Released through RKO B'way & 49th St. RIV0LI. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "'Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. V., under the act of March 3, 1879. SuLscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c Tuesday, September 7, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 3 Short Subject "Life With Grandpa" (March of Time — 20th-Fox) There being some 10,000,000 people in the U. S. who are over 60 years old, most of whom have progeny, this ' Vn of Time subject has a substan- — — f ntential patronage. It deals with problems confronting America's old- sters. The film contains shots of happy and contented old folks and of those aged who are left to the mercy of charity. It editorializes with mild forcefulness in behalf of adequate so- cial security and old age pensions, and examines the Townsend Plan and operations of agencies which seek em- ployment for those over 60, and points out the accomplishments of many fa- mous oldsters who are active today — George Bernard Shaw, for example. Running time, 17 minutes. Coast to coast and overseas, fly world-proved TWA One airline, TWA, takes you to principal U.S. cities or to Ireland , Paris , Egypt and other key points in Europe, Africa and Asia. When you go, fly by dependable TWA Skyliner with crews seasoned by mil- lions of trans-world miles. For reservations, call your TWA office or your travel agent MITCHELL MAY, Jr. CO., INC. INSURANCE Specializing in requirements of the Motion Picture Industry 75 Maiden Lane, New York 510 W. 6th St., Los Angeles PUZZLE-BANK For Any Theatre of Any Size Anywhere Enterprise House, Inc., 198 Broadway New York City DIgby 9-1278 Reviews 'My Dear Secretary' (Popkin-Unitcd Artists) LIFE proves an endless whirl of unforeseen excitements for lovely Laraine Day once she lands a job as secretary to a popular young novelist. Many a tedium-bound secretary is likely to muse wistfully : "It should only happen to me." Kirk Douglas is the writer, and a dashing rogue he makes in this Harry M. Popkin production. The film is a high-speed comedy, light and inconsequential in story content, but full of mirthful complications and popular-flavored corn. For an additional measure of antics, Keenan Wynn and Rudy Vallee are added to the cast. At an upper Manhattan theatre where it was "sneaked" the other night, the audience rollicked with continuous laughter. It is an uplifting and intellectual atmosphere that Miss Day expects once she goes to work for Douglas, but instead she finds his working apartment a disordered menagerie of oddly intruding characters, and most of the atmosphere is of the racetrack and gambling center variety. It isn't long before Miss Day quits, but she really loves the guy and so they are married. But now there follows the nuisance of Douglas' reckless debts, not to mention those mink coats he was in the habit of giving his previous sec- retaries. Complications develop, Douglas' writing talent wanes, and worse, he suspects Miss Day of being in love with her ex-boss, Vallee. A separation follows, punctuated by some flurries and chases, but things finally turn out right, after a fashion. That is, the two are reunited, but only after Miss Day writes a sensational best-seller and Douglas winds up as her secretary. Many a tedium-bound novelist is likely to muse wistfully : "It should only happen to me." Some of the picture's more memorable touches are provided by Wynn during his interminable exits and entrances. Charles Martin directed and did the screenplay; Popkin produced. Running time, 94 minutes. General audience classification. Set for Novem- ber release. Mandel Herbstman "Symphonie Pastorale" (Films International) "OYMPHONIE PASTORALE" ranks among the finest French films to O reach these shores. It represents first-rate film making, and should find the widest appeal here. In a sense, it has everything one can — and generally does — ask of an intelligent French film. Its story, about a blind girl who ruins the lives of the two people she loves most, comes from the pen of Andre Gide and has all the drama and emotion an audience could expect. Its actors, Michele Morgan and Pierre Blanchar, give outstanding performances and the film itself was honored with several prizes at the Cannes festival. Jean Dellancy was the director. The picture was photographed partly in the Alps and its scenery con- tributes materially to the overall effect. Blanchar portrays a pastor in the Swiss Alps. He finds Michele, a little blind girl, and brings her up. She grows up to be a beautiful woman and Blanchar is in love with her without admitting it. Complications arise when his son, Jean Desailly, comes home. Finally, the girl is operated on and can see again, but this is her undoing. Loving Jean and loved by Pierre, she commits suicide. Running time, 105 minutes. General audience classification. Set for Sep- tember release. Building Plans for Three Dixie Houses Nashville, Sept. 6. — Plans for the construction of three Southern houses are underway. In Atlanta, Ga., Pos- ner Enterprises plans a combined thea- tre and store building. Another house is planned at Madison, Ga., with F. Arthur Hazard the architect. In New Orleans, Joy Theatres, Inc., has awarded a contract for a 1,000- seat house in Bayville, La., at an esti- mated cost of $100,000. New Sioux City Drive-In Sioux City, la., Sept. 6. — Con- struction will begin soon on a $225,000 drive-in theatre at Riverside Park, Roy M. Warfield announces. With a capacity of 1,000 autos, it will be the city's second drive-in. "Behind Locked Doors" (Eagle-Lion) WITH considerable attention being focused at present on the abuses and neglects of many mental institutions, Eagle-Lion's "Behind Locked Doors" has a timeliness that's all to its exploitation favor. Unpretentiously made, the film has an engrossing quality. Heading the cast are Lucille Bremer and Richard Carlson. Eugene Ling produced and Oscar Boetticher directed. Basically, it is a story of a newspaperwoman and a private detective seeking to uncover the hideout of a renegade judge wanted by the police. Miss Bremer, as the journalist, has Carlson, the detective, committed to a mental institution where she suspects the judge is hiding. The cruelties of one attendant and the sympathetic actions of another ; the barred windows and padded rooms ; the actions of the criminally insane, and finally, an expose of the whole opera- tion constitute the balance of the story. In bringing the story by Malvin Wald and the screenplay by Wald and Ling to the screen, Boetticher has maintained the element of suspense through- out. Over the whole story there hangs an eerie and sinister air as the tortures and abuses by the sanitarium personnel are shown. Running time, 61 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, not set. Canadian B.O. Scales In Downward Trend Ottawa, Sept. 6. — Theatre admis- sion prices declined slightly between June and July, according to figures released by the Prices Branch of the Canadian Government. This drop is seen stemming from the fact that Quebec, Alberta, Sas- katchewan, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have so far. not added any provincial tax to replace the removal of the Federal admission tax. 2 Join III. Allied Combine Chicago, Sept. 6. — The Montclare Theatre, this city, and the Elm, Elm- wood Park, 111., owned by B. Charu- has, a director of Allied Theatres of Illinois, have joined Allied's buying and booking organization, Jack Kirsch, president, announces. Can't Make Up His Mind • Manilla, Ia., Sept. 6. — Last month L. R. Howarth sold the Manilla Theatre to M. H. Noragon. This month Howarth is buying it back. UNITED >Want a box seat for the greatest show on earth — in Technicolor? I'm just the man who can ar- range it. I'm the pilot of "the Hollywood," United Air Lines' famous onestop flight from New York to Los Angeles in 11 hours and 10 minutes. >We leave New York at 12 noon. We arrive in Los Angeles at 8:10 P.M. But we time our flight to arrive over the Grand Canyon just at sunset — that's the great Technicolor Show I mentioned! You see Hoover Dam and the Southwest desert country too. It's really beautiful. ►Of course we have many luxurious at- tractions on "the Hollywood." Like air conditioning. A spacious cabin, so you can stroll around. A lounge, with perfect observa- tion. Deep soft seats. Delicious meals. »But my special pride and joy is the sunset show in Technicolor! United Air Lines Pilot on Laye PRESOLD by Full Page, Full Color National Magazine and Newspaper Campaign Reaching Over 150,000,000 Readers! ATIONAI LAUGH HOLIDAY Released thru RKO RADIO PICTURES, INC. Hear I Wond' rin' When" Help Promote YOUTH MONTH— Saluting Young Americal lohcise and Impartial W'.^jU. NO. 48 MOTION PICKUSI& DAILY NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1948 TEN CENTS Depinet Seen Elected RKO Head Today Board Meeting Here ; Floyd Odium May Resign Hollywood, Sept. 7. — Election of Ned E. Depinet to the presiden- cy of RKO is expected in the very near future and may take place at a special meeting of the company's board of directors, which is scheduled to be held in New York tomorrow. The meeting originally was scheduled for today but was postponed. Depinet, who has been executive vice-president of RKO, would suc- ceed N. Peter Rathvon, who tendered his resignation as RKO president on July 23. Indications are that Floyd B. Od- ium, head of Atlas Corp., which sold its controlling stock interest in RKO to Howard Hughes last June, may tender his resignation as chairman of the RKO board at either tomorrow's meeting or at a subsequent one to be held in the near future. Reports linking Rathvon and Od- (Continued on page 4) 624^ Minimum for Mass. Theatre Help Boston, Sept. 7. — The Massachu- setts Wage Commission has approved the highest minimum wage schedule ever set in the Commonwealth, affect- ing more than 10,000 employes of the- atre, amusement and recreation occu- pations. Effective as a directive on Oct. 1, and becoming mandatory next New Year's Day, the new wage sched- (Continued on page 4) Hollister to Leave RKO Publicity Post Paul Hollister has resigned as na- tional publicity director and Eastern studio representative of RKO Radio to engage in public relations work, ac- cording to an announcement made yes- terday by Ned E. Depinet, executive vice-president of RKO. Neither post will be filled, Perry Lieber continuing as studio publicity director in Holly- wood and Rutgers Neilson as New \ork publicity manager. Hollister joined RKO Radio on Feb. 8, 1946, going to the company from a Columbia Broadcasting vice- presidency. He was publicity vice- president of R. H. Macy Co. for eight vears. Score Rank Tribunal Bid London, Sept. 7. — Cinematograph Exhibitor's general purposes commit- tee today expressed unqualified objec- tion to J. Arthur Rank's proposal for a tribunal to review British distribu- tor-exhibitor differences. Viewing the proposal as implying reviewal of contract terms after pictures have been screened, the committee took the stand that the trade practice hitherto prevailing has been entirely satisfac- tory. Under it the respective parties to a film contract are deemed quali- fied to negotiate an assumedly equi- table deal prior to screenings. Other proposals by Rank along similar lines were opposed by the (.Continued on page 5) 2 Milwaukee Houses To St. Cloud Amuse. Milwaukee, Sept. 7. — The St. Cloud Amusement Corp. of New Jersey and Washington, D. C, was revealed to- day as the purchaser of the Tower and Oriental theatres here, formerly oper- ated by Warners. Theatres were owned by the Annen- berg Estate of Philadelphia and had been operated by Warners under a management contract which expired on Aug. 31. Harvey B. Newins is president of St. Cloud and Frank Fowler is general manager. It had been reported earlier that Ted R. Gamble might have been the purchaser. A spokesman for Gamble said today that while he is interested (Continued on pane 4) Holiday Raises NY Ist-Run Grosses; 3 Records Claimed Prosperity definitely was in evidence throughout almost the entire New York first-run belt over the holiday weekend with grosses reportedly hit- ting record levels at three situations. "Sorry, Wrong Number," with Car- men Cavallero on stage at the Para- mount, is on its way to a first week's take of $120,000, unusually high. The Roxy, too, has $120,000 in view for a second week of "That Lady in Er- mine" and a stage show, including Frances Langford, Jon Hall, Jerry Colonna and an ice revue. The State also is taking a full share of top mon- ey with "Loves of Carmen" expected (Continued on page 5) List Large Para. Holdings in DuMont Washington, Sept. 7. — Paramount Pictures is the second largest holder of Allen B. DuMont class A common, in addition to owning all of the class B common, according to a report sub- mitted to the Federal Communications Commission. The report is required in connec- tion with the FCC's hearings to deter- mine whether Paramount controls Du- Mont. Paramount nominee Clarence W. Alexander was listed with 38,200 shares, second to the 81,800 shares held by Allen B. DuMont. FCC ex- aminer Jack Blume said that holdings of another Paramount nominee bring (Continued on page 4) Anglo-American Amity Bid Stirs U. K. Hopes London, Sept. 7. — A lengthy exami- nation of the U.K.-U.S. film situation here was made by the London Times in a leading article today, embodying the inferential demand that the British and American sides get together. It is believed in industry circles that the article was "inspired by leading poli- ticians who are anxious to end the present deadlock." The article states in part : "The British government to their disadvan- tage are limiting unreasonably their ability to produce films here. The Americans are prepared to lose money during the dollar crisis so long as their market is preserved, but the 45 per cent quota cuts across this. If the quota is progressively raised the (Continued on page 5) China Raises Duties From $250 to $1,200 China has increased its customs duty on the importation of films from $250 to approximately $1,200 per fea- ture, it was disclosed here yesterday by John G. McCarthy, associate man- aging director of the international di- vision of the Motion Picture Associa- tion of America. McCarthy was also advised that U. S. film companies have suspended further shipments to China pending clarification of the situation. An immediate protest was lodged with the U. S. State Department, which has requested conferences with Chinese authorities. US Willing to Talk Decree, Clark Admits But Doubts Companies Would Submit Proposals Washington, Sept. 7. — U. S. Attorney General Tom Clark ad- mitted today that he had told in- quiring defense attorneys in the Paramount anti-trust case that the Government was willing to discuss a consent decree, but added that he did not think the distributor defendants would ever get around to submitting a proposal. "I think it's just talk," he declared. "We construe the U. S. Supreme Court's decision directly opposite from the at- torneys for the motion picture companies. They would have to reverse their entire thinking to make a proposal which we would consider. I don't believe they are going to submit a proposal." The Attorney General, who person- ally opened the Government's case in (Continued on page 4) Al Lichtman Leaves M-G-M Studio Post Hollywood, Sept. 7. — Al Lichtman today announced the weekend settle- ment of his Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio contract effective immediately. Lichtman became an M-G-M execu- tive in 1935, after relinquishing the presidency of United Artists. He was assistant to Nicholas Schenck in New- York until 1937, when he transferred to the studio, where he since has been regarded as Schenck's liaison. Terms of the settlement were undisclosed. Lichtman's resignation is the second of an M-G-M top studio executive since Dore Schary became production head recently, Sam Katz having re- signed a few weeks ago. $130,030 Is Cinecolor Profit for 32 Weeks Hollywood, Sept. 7. — Taking cog- nizance of a loss of $254,274 from operations of Film Classics, unaudited consolidated net profit of $130,030 be- fore taxes for the 32 weeks ended last June 5 is reported by Cinecolor to its stockholders. The interim report also disclosed that gross sales increased more than 25 per cent over the first nine months of 1947. m 2 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, September 8, 194! Seek Building Code Waiver for Popcorn Albany, N. Y., Sept. 7.— The New York State Board of Standards and Appeals is expected- to adopt amend- ments suggested by exhibitors to the section of the proposed revised state building code relating to the operation of popcorn machines in theatres. The provision against which ex- hibitors objected at a hearing in New York last month bans the use "of any combustible or volatile fluid." Ex- hibitors have meanwhile advanced the proposition that a line of demarcation be drawn — this barring fluids "with a flash point less than 400." Gasoline, kerosene and other such fluids have a flash point under 400 and are be- lieved to be potentially dangerous to public safety. Over 400 is considered safe. Organized exhibitors maintain that the popcorn ban as now written might be very costly. New York City's ultra-strict code is said to have no provision banning the use oi jiny com- bustible or volatile fluid, it is pointed out. Revision on Building Code Compliance Is Sought Albany, N. Y., Sept. 7.— Holding in a brief filed with the State Board of Standards and Appeals that "there is some confusion" among exhibitors as to how strict two-year limitation on a certificate of compliancy would oper- ate practically under the proposed new state building code, Leonard Rosen- thal, attorney for Smalley Theatres, has appealed to the board for revision in the language of the appropriate sec- tion of the proposed code. He also sought revisions in the definition of the word "stage." Harry Hellman, 65, Partner of Fabian Albany, N. Y., Sept. 7. — Harry Hellman, theatre owner, died today at the age of 65 at Albany Hospital after a brief illness. He was celebrating his 40th anniversary in show business. Hellman opened his first film thea- tre in Albany in 1908. He was a pioneer in the drive-in theatre field and was interested with Fabian The- atres in four drive-ins, two located in Albany, one in Binghamton and one in Philadelphia. He also owned the Paramount and Royal in Albany and the Palace in Troy. Hellman is survived by the widow, Nettie Brower Hellman and a son, Neil. The funeral will be held tomorrow from Silberg's Funeral Home and services will be at Mount Hebron Cemetery, Long Island. S. T. Manghon, Exhibitor Atlanta, Sept. 7. — S. T. Manghon, theatre owner in Patterson and Scriven, Georgia, passed away at his home in Patterson, last Friday. William H. Rice William Herbert Rice, 71, veteran screenplay writer, died here at the weekend in Flushing Hospital of euremic poisoning. Personal MAURICE A. BERGMAN, Uni- versal-International Eastern ad- vertising - publicity director, and Charles Simonelli, Eastern exploi- tation manager, have returned to New York from Cincinnati. • Darryl F. Zanuck, production vice-president for 20th Century-Fox, planed out of New York yesterday for Hollywood, after a six-week trip through Italy and France. He was accompanied by Mrs. Zanuck and their daughter, Susan. • Don Steinkamp of the French Lick Amusement Co., French Lick, Ind., is accompanying his father to the Mayo Clinic where the latter is undergoing observation. • Fred Curd, Paramount booker in Memphis, has become RKO office manager in that city, replacing Glenn Calvert, who has been promoted to salesman. M. A. Lightman, Sr., Malco The- atres president, is serving on the bridge committee of the Bear Creek Lake Bridge Tournament Sept. 24- 26 at Marianna, Ark. • David Skvirsky, 20th-Fox booker- salesman in Boston, has returned from a leave of absence spent in Europe. He will report to the New Haven office as a salesman. • Wayne Hartman has been named sales manager in charge of the indus- trial department lor Academy Film Service, Cleveland, by Gilbert Lef- ton, president. • Jules Lapidus, Warner Eastern and Canadian division sales manager, left here yesterday for Cleveland and Pittsburgh. • Al Horwits, U-I Eastern publicity manager, and Phil Gerard, publicist, are in Philadelphia from New York. • Alex Schimel, U-I salesman, was in New York last weekend from Cleveland. Matthew Rapf to Form Own Company Hollywood, Sept. 7. — Matthew Rapf, writer-producer, plans to form his own independent film company. Its first picture will be "Silhouette," of which he is the author. Rapf, who is a son of Harry Rapf, was formerly a scenarist at the M-G-M studio. He and Gerald Bris- kin, son of Samuel J. Briskin, presi- dent of Liberty Films, recently pro- duced "The Adventures of Gallant Bess." 'True Name Law' Due Boston, Sept. 7. — The Massachu- setts' "True Name Law" will go in- to effect on Thursday. All actors, film and otherwise, will have to regis- ter their true names with the Depart- ment of Public Safety. Failure to com- ply may mean a fine of $100. Mention FREDERICK BRISSON of Inde- dependent Artists is due here to- day from the Coast. • Stephen Crane, producer ; Cor- nel Wilde, and his wife and Norma Shearer, her children and her hus- band, Martin Arrouge, are among passengers who will sail for Europe today on the 5*5" Queen Elizabeth. Among arrivals when the ship docked here yesterday were Rita Hayworth, Jack Buchanan and Mrs. Alfred Hitchcock. • J. Raymond Bell, manager of the Donahue and Coe Washington branch, has been appointed chairman of the publicity advisory committee for the economic mobilization course for re- serve officers. • Frank J. Alford, assistant treas- urer of the Motion Picture Export Association, and Mrs. Alford became parents of a second son, born on Labor Day at the Lenox Hill Hos- pital here. • John P. Byrne, M-G-M Eastern sales manager, will move his head- quarters to the home office building in a few days from the New York ex- change. • John A. Schwalm, manager of the Northio Rialto Theatre in Hamilton, O., has returned home following an eye operation at Christ Hospital, Cin- cinnati. • George Mann, co-owner of Red- wood Theatres Circuit, San Fran- cisco, has purchased a newspaper in Fort Bragg. He writes a column en- titled "From Mann to Man." • Bill Porter, head of Allied Artists- Monogram West Coast contract de- partment, has returned to the Coast from a tour of Midwest exchanges. ■ • Joseph Harris, Realart treasurer, has returned to New York from a month's trip to Europe. Arthur Greenblatt left the Coast yesterday by plane for New York. 74', 200 Detroit Theatres Stalemated Detroit, Sept. 7. — About 200 local theatres are operating without a con- tract with the IATSE covering pro- jectionists as the result of failure to arrive at settlement on wage increases in a preliminary conference. Pact Talks Continue Hollywood, Sept. 7. — Independent producers and negotiators for the American Federation of Musicians will hold another session tomorrow to ne- gotiate a contract to replace the pact which expired last month. House Changes Hands Hebron, Neb., Sept. 7. — E. H. Kassebaum, formerly of Hebron, has purchased the Hebron Theatre from Clarence Wright. Change was effec- tive Sunday. Newsreel Parade CHINA, France, Palestine, Canada and the Belgian Congo provide backgrounds for newsreel highlights in current issues. Items in a differenl vein cover sports, fashions and human interest. Complete contents follow: MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 72— Krav-'j chenko tells about Red teacher case. World's! smallest republic run by boys and>*j-ls. Automatic garage. New Chinese (t'''4v-, National AAU long distance swim rri ▼ NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 202 — Re- port from China. Israel builds as truce quiets Palestine. Good news for car own- ers. Soccer. Something new in headgear. | PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 5— UN moves to France. School daze — twirlersl learn tricks with sticks. Aid for Greece. ;! Novelties in fashion. China fights inflation, a UNIVERSAL, NEWS, No. 176— China: I inflation rampant. News in brief: Gen.l Eisenhower dedicates hospital; Belgium fes-l tival; baby parade; ax-chopping champion- [ ship. Three-year-old swimmer. Mountbat- ten opens Canadian exposition. WARNER PATHE NEWS, No. 7— China's _ worst inflation. French govern- ment crisis. Mountbatten in Canada. Bel- gium Congo volcano. Railroad news, junior grade. Fall evening gowns. Vienna wres- tling. Ruder and Finn Are Promotion Partners William Ruder has resigned from Samuel Goldwyn Productions to form his own publicity-exploitation organi- zation in association with David Finn, with headquarters at the Hotel Lom- bardy, New York. Ruder had been associated with Lynn Farnol, at Gold- wyn since 1941, and for the past sev- eral years has been head of exploita- tion. The new organization will have field representatives in 30 key cities. Among clients represented by Ruder and Finn are Perry Como, Pioneer Pictures, Pioneer Telefilms and Tele- spots, Inc. To Honor Bromhead, Co-Founder of G. B. London, Sept. 7. — A. C. Bromhead, co-founder on Sept. 13, 1898, of the Gaumont Company, which afterwards operated as Gaumont-British, will be guest of honor at a luncheon celebra- tion here on Monday of the 50th anni- versary of the company's founding. Old associates of Col. Bromhead will give the luncheon. May Move 'Caravan' To Indianapolis Philadelphia Sept. 7. — Leaders of Allied States will meet here tomorrow and Thursday to consider transferring the headquarters of the organization's product "Caravan" from this city to Indianapolis. They will also probably decide whether there will be a board meeting this month. Bowes Left $3,641,112 The late Major Edward J. Bowes left a gross estate of $3,641,112, it was disclosed in papers filed in Sur- rogate's Court here at the weekend. The estate shrunk to a net of $648,304 after 61 separate charitable bequests. The papers revealed he left $2,874,765 to St. Patrick's Cathedral here. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New Yorkc" Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. necklace Luxury Liner / brace/et 'stand W»h y0u'< WAS IT JUST A SUMMER ROMANCE? Don't worry, Miss Box- Office. Your sugar daddy Leo will love you in December as he did in May. He's just had another shot of Vitamin M-G-M and he's rarin' to go. Look what's coming from your all-year-'round Santa Claus: GREER GARSON WALTER PIDGEON in "JULIA MISBEHAVES" PETER LAWFORD, ELIZABETH TAYLOR CESAR ROMERO, Lucile Watson, Nigel Bruce, Mary Boland, Reginald Owen The Enterprise Studies present DANA ANDREWS, LILLI PALMER and LOUIS JOURDAN in "NO MINOR VICES" with Jane Wyatt "THE SECRET LAND" (Technicolor) Starring MEN AND SHIPS Of The U. S. NAVY Narration By Comdr. ROBERT MONTGOMERY, U.S.N.R. Lt. ROBERT TAYLOR, U.S.N.R. Lt. VAN HEFLIN, A.A.F. (Ret.) "HILLS OF HOME" (Technicolor) Starring EDMUND- GWENN DONALD CRISP, TOM DRAKE JANET LEIGH and LASSIE Alexandre Dumas' "THE THREE MUSKETEERS" (Technico/or) Starring LANA TURNER, GENE KELLY JUNE ALLYSON, VAN HEFLIN ANGELA LANSBURY Frank Morgan, Vincent Price, Keenan Wynn, John Sutton, Gig Young ★ ★ ★ "ACT OF VIOLENCE" Starring VAN HEFLIN, ROBERT RYAN with Janet Leigh, Mary Astor Phyllis Thaxter ★ ★ ★ FRANK SINATRA, KATHRYN GRAYSON in "THE KISSING BANDIT (Technicolor) J. Carrol Naish, Mildred Natwick Mikhail Rasumny, Billy Gilbert Sono Osato with Dance Specialties By Ricardo Moritalban, Ann Miller, Cyd Charisse ★ * ★ John Ford's "3 GODFATHERS" (Tec/inico/or) Presented by John Ford & Merian C. Cooper Starring JOHN WAYNE, PEDRO ARMENDARIZ And Introducing HARRY CAREY, Jr. with Ward Bond, Mae Marsh Jane Darwell, Ben Johnson ROBERT TAYLOR AVA GARDNER' CHARLES LAUGHTON VINCENT PRICE JOHN HODIAK in "THE BRIBE" "LITTLE WOMEN" (Technicolor) Starring JUNE ALLYSON, PETER LAWFORD MARGARET O'BRIEN, ELIZABETH TAYLOR JANET LEIGH, ROSSANO BRAZZI MARY ASTOR with Lucile Watson, C. Aubrey Smith CLARK GABLE, WALTER PIDGEON VAN JOHNSON, BRIAN DONLEVY Charles Bickford, John Hodiak Edward Arnold in "COMMAND DECISION" "SUN IN THE MORNING" (Technicolor) Starring JEANETTE MacDONALD LLOYD NOLAN, CLAUDE JARMAN, Jr. and LASSIE with Lewis Stone, Percy Kilbride "WORDS AND MUSIC" (Technicolor) Starring MICKEY ROONEY, JUDY GARLAND GENE KELLY, JUNE ALLYSON PERRY COMO, ANN SOTHERN with Tom Drake, Cyd Charisse, Betty Garrett, Lena Home, Janet Leigh, Marshall Thompson, Mel Torme, Vera-Ellen ★ ★ ★ SPENCER TRACY, DEBORAH KERR in "EDWARD, MY SON" with Ian Hunter ★ ★ ★ JOHN GARFIELD in The Roberts Production "FORCE OF EVIL" An Enterprise Picture with Thomas Gomez and Marie Windsor And Introducing BEATRICE PEARSON ★ ★ ★ FRED ASTAIRE, GINGER ROGERS in "THE BARKLEYS OF BROADWAY" (Technico/or) with Oscar Levant, Billie Burke Gail Robbins, Jacques Francois ★ * * GENE KELLY, ESTHER WILLIAMS FRANK SINATRA in "TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME" (Technicolor) with Betty Garrett Jules Munshin, Edward Arnold WHEN LEO KISSES MISS BOX-OFFICE SHE STAYS KISSEDI ' (Help Promote YOUTH MONTH — Saluting Young America I) 4 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, September 8, 19 Approve New Board For Mich. Allied Detroit, Sept. 7. — Charles W. Sny- der, executive secretary of Allied The- atres of Michigan, has proposed a new plan for the election of officers for the ATM's board, and it has been approved unanimously. His plan consists of having an of- ficer represent each Congressional district of Michigan, an alternate and three delegates-at-large. There are 17 Congressional districts in the state. These officers in turn would elect a president and vice-president. The board now consists of IS mem- bers, five of which are replaced each year. The new plan, Snyder said, will enable each member to better acquaint himself with legislators from his dis- trict and to give them full particulars on any legislation concerning the in- dustry. Also, instead of having any group from one area holding positions on the board, all areas would be equally represented. Depinet (Continued from page 1) lum with the formation of an inde- pendent production company could not be confirmed here. Depinet's initial election to the RKO presidency is expected to be for the period between the present and the holding of a regular election of of- ficers by a reconstituted RKO board, at which time it is expected he would be reelected. The board will be re- constituted on Oct. 18 when a meet- ing of RKO stockholders is scheduled to be held. Regular election of officers by the new board would follow. Replaces Rathvon on AMPP Board Hollywood, Sept. 7. — Leon Gold- berg, RKO studio manager, today was elected to the board of directors of the Association of Motion Picture Pro- ducers, replacing N. Peter Rathvon as RKO representative on the board. FIVE-STAR DC- 6 FLAGSHIPS LOS ANGELES 11 hours, 10 minutes CHICAGO 3k hours Phone HAvemeyer 6-5000 or your travel agent Ticket Off/ces: Airlines Terminal Rockefeller Center • Hotel New Yorker 120 Broadway • Hotel St. George AMERICAN AIRLINES Car Heaters for Year 'Round Drive-ins Memphis, Sept. 7— While it appears drive-in theatres are staying open a little longer each year, it looks as though many will be a year-round proposition, with exhibitors in this area considering the possibilities of installing in- dividual in-a-car heaters dur- ing the frosty season. Ains worth, Berger, Myers at ITO Meet Columbus, O., Sept. 7. — Speakers at the convention of the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio, to be held at the Deshler-Wallick Hotel here on Sept. 14-15, will include William Ainsworth, president of national Al- lied ; Abram F. Myers, national_ Al- lied counsel ; Benny Berger, president of North Central Allied; Trueman Rembusch, president of Allied of In- diana, who will discuss impact of tele- vision on theatres ; H. M. Richey, exhibitor relations head of Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer, and David Palfrey- man of the Motion Picture Associa- tion of America. In addition, J. W. Spiselman, vice-president of Air Purification Service, will speak on "Advantages of Air Sterilization in the Theatre." Gov. Thomas J. Herbert and Dr. Clyde Hissong, chief Ohio film cen- sor, have accepted invitations to at- tend the banquet to be held Tuesday. P. J. Wood, ITO secretary, is ex- pecting a large turnout at the special meeting for small-town exhibitors, an innovation this year. This meeting will be held on Monday, preceding the opening of the convention. MGM's Seven Start Training Sept. 16 Training for the first seven M- G-M sales personnel selected for a training course will begin here Sept. 16, a delay of two days caused by the fact that William F. Rodgers, dis- tribution vice-president, will not re- turn from the Coast until that day. Scheduled to arrive are Michael J. Ford, salesman, Chicago ; Louis For- mato, branch manager, Philadelphia ; Philip F. Gravitz, office manager- head booker, New Haven ; H. Rus- sell Gaws, salesman, Oklahoma City ; Louis Marks, salesman, Cleveland ; Ansley B. Padgett, assistant branch manager, Atlanta ; Louis J. Weber, Dallas salesman. 621/2-Cent Minimum (Continued from page 1) ule will give regular employes 62y2 cents an hour as a minimum, and "casual" employes 55c an hour. The commission, because of com- plaints from theatre owners that ush- ers are a "special and transitory" type of worker, ruled that they will be con- sidered casual employes. Grossman in New Post Henry Grossman has been named director of broadcast operations for Columbia Broadcasting, including tele- vision, AM and FM technical opera- tions, by James M. Seward, CBS vice-president in charge of operations. Milwaukee Houses (Continued from page 1) in expanding his theatre operations in the Midwest he has no connection whatever with the purchasers of the Tower and Oriental. The spokesman also denied another report that Gamble planned to dispose of his theatre hold- ings in the Pacific Northwest area to concentrate on the Midwest expansion. Gamble will retain his present holdings in Oregon, it was stated. Warners Replacing Theatres In New Jersey and Mass. A new Warner theatre is being built in Harrison, N. J., to replace the Lin- coln in nearby Kearny, N. J., on which the Warner lease expired recently and was not renewed. In addition, Warners is constructing a new theatre at Newburyport, Mass., to replace another on which the lease was not renewed recently. In both instances, the leases were not renewed for strictly business reasons and the re- placements are being undertaken under the Federal Court ruling in the indus- try anti-trust case permitting defen- dants to replace theatres which have been relinquished or lost under speci- fied conditions. Para.-DuMont (Continued from page 1) the company's class A ownership up over 42,000. Among other holders are Leo Spitz, 16,310 shares and Abe Lastfogel, 11,885. Meanwhile, it was revealed that a final decision in FCC proceedings on San Francisco television applications, including those from Paramount and 20th Century-Fox, may be snarled by an action filed here Thursday by Ed Pauley's Television California, which seeks to require the FCC to include a San Francisco television application by Don Lee Broadcasting Co. in the general hearings in which Pauley, Paramount, CBS, Fox, and independ- ent station KROW are vying for two open channels. This would mean that another channel would be available in the consolidated proceedings, since one has been tentatively set aside for Don Lee. US Willing (Continued from page 1) the Supreme Court Paramount pro- ceedings was emphatic in declaring that no formal talks have been held with defense company attorneys, and no proposal of any kind has as yet been submitted to the Government. "All they did was ask me if I'd talk a consent decree," Clark stated. "I said yes. If they want to talk, we'd be bull-headed to refuse. But I'm certainly not saying I'd agree to what- ever they submit." The Attorney General would not say who had approached him on be- half of the defendants, but one indus- try source revealed that it was former Secretary of State James F. Byrnes, now representing 20th Century-Fox. If a proposal is submitted, Clark said, he will turn it over to his anti- trust experts, including Robert L. Wright, for advice, then make a de- cision on that basis. Albee on Split Policy Cincinnati, Sept. 7.— The 3,300- seat Albee, flagship of the local RKO chain, playing straight films, will in- augurate a stage show and film policy beginning Sept. 30. Phila. Prepares ft Youth Fete Sept. I Philadelphia, Sept. 7. — Gael Si If livan, executive director of Theat Owners of America, and Lewen Pizc president of United Motion Pictu Theatre Owners of Eastern Penns>! vania, Southern New Jersey and Del ware, were principal speakers today a special meeting held at the office i Mayor Bernard Samuel to discu ways and means of promoting You< Month. Some 100 of Philadjg}*|ju leading citizens were invited tar V.i the meeting of which Judge Noche: S. Winnet was general chairman. Today's session served as a spring board for staging the Youth Mont celebration to be held here on Sep, 25. It will start with a mammot youth parade. Mayor Samuel and h:; committee of 100 will be on hanc while mayors of neighboring cities an theatre owners and managers fror; Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern Ne\ Jersey and Delaware will be guests. 5,0 0 0 Parade Here In 'Salute to Youth' With Eagle-Lion's 17-year-old star let Lois Butler as grand marshal o a parade of some 5,000 children, thi first New York City "Salute t< Youth" ceremony was held here yes: terday morning at the Skouras Acad emy of Music Theatre. In addition to a showing of Eagle- Lion's "Mickey," which stars Mis; Butler, the children were greeted by John M. Cannella, Commissioner oi Water Supply, Gas and Electricity, who represented Mayor O'Dwyer ; Lou Little, Columbia University foot- ball coach, and Bud Collyer, radio's "Superman." Mel Allen, sportscast- er, was master of ceremonies. Tarwater Is Named E-L Atlanta Chief Atlanta, Sept. 7.— Norman J. Cal- quhoun, branch manager of Eagle- Lion, has resigned from the company, and district "manager Grover Parsons has named Bob Tarwater, former Alabama sales representative, to suc- ceed. Lewis with McCarey Hollywood, Sept. 7.— Sinclair Lewis and producer-director Leo Mc- Carey's Rainbow Productions have reached an agreement under which the novelist will work on a screen story idea suggested by McCarey, ac- cording to announcement by Earl Ret- tig, secretary-treasurer for Rainbow. The yarn may serve as the vehicle for McCarey's last for RKO Radio release. PUZZLE-BANK Laughs ! A Fortune in a Minute ! Laughs ! Enterprise House, Inc., 198 Broadway New York City DIgby 9-1278 PROMOTION STICKERS Use Topflight cellophane self-adhesive tape for your next promotion picture. Place in- stantly— anywhere — box office, lobby, stores, phone booths. Lustrous, colorful, rich in ap- pearance. FRANK G. BERGLAS, Dir. Motion Picture Div. TOPFLIGHT TAPE CO. YORK, PENNSYLVANIA MOTION PICTURE DAILY Reviews "Sealed Verdict" (Paramount) RAY MILLAND shares the principal roles here with an alluring newcomer to the American screen, Florence Marly, formerly a star in her native Czechoslovakia. Her debut in "Sealed Verdict," a serious drama focussing on the nagging conscience of a U. S. prosecutor of Nazi war criminals, is suggestive of exploitation possibilities. However, it is Milland's picture, and he handles with characteristic competence the role of the prosecutor in Ger- many of one of Hitler's lesser generals, a Junker whose alleged atrocities are without documentary evidence but whose doom is sealed by virtue of Milland's eloquence as a prosecuting attorney. After the prisoner, played with icy rigidity by John Hoyt, is sentenced, Milland's conscience awakens within him misgiv- ings and doubts as to whether the condemned general really is guilty. Attracted by the beauty of the chief defense witness, an aristocratic French girl (Miss Marley) who, meanwhile, is wanted in France on charges of col- laborating with the enemy, Milland joins with her in endeavoring to unearth evidence bearing on Hoyt's case. The climactic outcome carries an element of mild surprise, but the story leans from time to time on coincidences and implausibilities and is unrelieved by humor. However, there is compensation in the suspense generated in the screenplay by Jonathan Latimer, based on a novel by Lionel Shapiro, and the overall effect is favorable. Supporting roles are well performed by Broderick Crawford, John Ridgely, Ludwig Donath, Paul Lees, Celia Lovsky, and others. Lewis Allen's direction is smooth. Exterior scenes for this Robert Fellows production were filmed in Europe. Running time, 83 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, Nov. S. Charles L. Franke "In This Corner" {Eagle-Lion) ANOTHER excursion into the world of pugilism is made in Eagle-Lion's "In This Corner." The film is briskly paced and has adequate story and production values. Scott Brady handles the top assignment as a Navy veteran who wants to become a champion fighter. Brady at first is handicapped by a fear of using his right hand because in the Navy he accidentally killed a man with that hand. After he overcomes his fears, he appears to be a good boxer. His girl, played by Anabel Shaw, doesn't want him to fight but finally she becomes reconciled. The young fighter is sponsored by a crooked fight promoter but when Brady realizes it he breaks with him. While working out for his big fight, he hits his opponent and is afraid he has killed him. However, the fight promoter had fixed it to appear that way so Brady would lose the fight. The girl discovers the situa- tion and in a tense climax convinces Brady that he didn't kill the man. Then he wins. This is an Arc production which was produced by David I. Stephenson and directed by Charles F. Riesner. Burk Symon and Fred Niblo, Jr., wrote the screenplay. Running time, 63 minutes. General audience classification. Set for September release.. !j Wednesday, September 8, 1948 il New York Grosses i (Continued from page 1) ; to finish its initial week with $70,000. t The Paramount, Roxy and State all \ claim weekend records. , "Ruthless" is fairly substantial in its first week at the Gotham where $16,- 500 is indicated for a first week. "Larceny" appears headed for about $22,000, which meets requirements in a first week at the Winter Garden. "Sofia" is big at the Rialto with a r^l^tively hefty $12,000 apparent for j.73~|rst week, f'^econd week of "Rope" at the Globe is likely to bring in a huge $56,- 000. "Date with Judy" is still doing splendidly at the Music Hall, where it (is supported by a stage show, and where a fifth week's income is likely to hit $140,000. At the Criterion, "Tap Roots" is faring well enough with $28,000 seen for a second week. "Two Guys from Texas" with a give-away show on stage should give the Strand a healthy $42,000 in a second week. "Velvet Touch" probably will take in a mod- erate $24,000 in a second week at the Rivoli. "Babe Ruth Story" at the Astor is fair at $19,000 for a sixth week. "Pitfall" with Dick Powell on stage at the Capitol is good in its third and final week, estimated at $67,000, it will be followed by "Luxury Liner" to- morrow. "Race Street" should con- clude its third week at the Mayfair with $17,500, which is good enough. Upstate Now Has 28 Albany, N. Y., Sept. 7. — Upstate Theatres, Inc., buying-booking unit here, has three new houses : William Kennedy's Lyric, at Rouses Point ; Lyceum, at Champlain Lake, and the Chezy. This makes 28 theatres for the group in New York and Vermont. Leonard Rosenthal is Upstate's coun- sel and film-buying adviser. Opens Rural Theatre Huntsville, Ala., Sept. 7. — "Five Points," a 200-seater, has been opened by Younger Ellis at a road junction five miles from Hazel Green as an experiment in the operation of a strict- ly rural house. If the theatre proves profitable, he plans other similar houses in Madison County. Nestler Buys Theatre Harry Nestler, formerly associated with the Interboro Circuit here, has purchased the Florence Theatre prop- erty in Florence, N. J., under a deal arranged by Berk and Krumgold, the- atre realtors. Martin Fishbein has been operating the Florence for the past five years. Improve GE Video Outlet Schenectady, N. Y., Sept. 7. — General Electric has scheduled a mo- bile video unit for picture and voice pickups outside the studio, three new studio cameras of the Orthicon type, two new Kinescope cameras for tele- vising films and a complete new trans- mitter at the main Helderberg sta- tion for its video station WRGB. Navy Contract to DeVry Chicago, Sept. 7. — DeVry Corp. here has been awarded a $1,000,000 contract by the U. S. Navy for 16mm. projectors in what is believed to be the largest single peace-time order ever placed for equipment of this type. Another contract from the U. S. Sig- nal Corps is for 35mm. projectors. May Pro due e Raw Stock in Mexico Mexico City, Sept. 7. — Increased financial stress resulting from the monetary devaluation which has raised prices as much as 50 per cent for raw stock and other film materials and equipment imported, has prompted leaders of the trade here to urgently consider plans for making raw stock in Mexico. Sponsors of the proposi- tion contend it is entirely feasible be- cause Mexico produces all raw ma- terials necessary for film stock. 'Pearl' Cited as the Best Mexico City, Sept. 7. — "The Pearl" has been cited as the best Mex- ican picture of 1947 by the Mexican Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences. Emilio Fernandez was named best director and Pedro Ar- mendariz best male actor for their work in the film. Other awards went to Blanca Estela Pavon as best act- ress ; Gabriel Figueroa, cameraman ; Victor Manuel Mendoza, male sup- port ; Marga Lopez, female support. Tenn. House Reopens Old Hickory, Tenn., Sept. 7. — The Old Hickory, acquired by the Crescent Amusement Co. of Nashville from E. I. du Pont de Nemours, who oper- ate a plant here, has been reopened after complete renovation. N. Y. Rabbis Seek Shelving of 'Twist' The New York Board of Rabbis dis- closed yesterday that in a message cabled to Eric A. Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, it requested that J. Arthur Rank's "Oliver Twist" be withheld from exhibition here. Johnston now is in Europe. It was said that objec- tions to the film were based on an article in the press which complained that the Fagin character in the film represented the "worst caricature of a Jew ever to be depicted in an English- speaking movie." An executive of Eagle-Lion, dis- tributor here, said yesterday that re- lease of the film has been temporarily deferred. Theatre Attendance In Uruguay Rises Washington, Sept. 7. — Attend- ance at Uruguayan theatres is still in- creasing, but U. S. films are getting keener competition from French, Brit- ish, Argentine, Mexican and Spanish films, film chief Nathan D. Golden of the Commerce Department re- ports. As of July 1, 1948, the report also says, there were 194 theatres in the country, with a total seating capacity of 109,635. Of these, 92 are in Mon- tevideo, the other 102 in the interior. b Two U. S. Films Get Venice Films Awards Rome, Sept. 7. — Two international awards of the Venice Film Festival went to the United States for "The Fugitive," directed by John Ford, and the "Louisiana Story" of Robert Flaherty. Grand prize winner of the ninth International Exposition of Cinematographic Art went to J. Ar- thur Rank's "Hamlet." Top award for best musical score went to Max Steiner for "Treasure of the Sierra Madre." Sharing top honors among animated films were Walt Disney's "Melody Time," and the French film "Little Soldier." Amity Bid (Continued from page 1) Americans will be squeezed out step by step. . . ." "The government's Finance Corpo- ration added another source of alarm and irritation for the Americans," the article continues, holding that under it "British production tends to be en- couraged even when it is likely to be unremunerative." The Times argues, however, that the genesis of British film legislation is "founded primarily on monopolistic devices of the Ameri- cans themselves here after securing an initial advantage largely due to the 1914 World War I preventing the showing of British films." The newspaper concedes the "neces- sity for unfettered international film trade," but concludes that Motion Pic- ture Association of America's pro- posals "don't point in the desired di- rection any more than those of the British government." Informed circles here attach great importance to the article, which has provoked intense discussion. The hope is expressed almost universally that it will serve to open the door to further Anglo-American discussion. Rank Tribunal Bid (Continued from page 1) CEA committee, which appointed a deputation of 10 to negotiate with Rank toward evolving a general basis of fair trading terms. Meanwhile, the committee has recommended that CEA members refuse new Rank terms until such negotiations end. An informal meeting of independent exhibitors was summoned for tonight, meanwhile, to weigh Motion Picture Association of America president Eric A. Johnston's plan for "double bill selling" in Britain, and their support of Johnston is expected. Astor in 16mm. Deal Worldwide distribution rights to the 16mm. version of Sam Coslow's "Co- pacabana" have been acquired by Jacques Kopfstein, executive vice- president of Astor Pictures, from United Artists, distributor of the 35mm. version. Astor's release of the film will begin next May. 25-Cent FP-C Dividend Ottawa, Sept. 7. — Famous Players Canadian Corp. has declared a quar- terly dividend of 25 cents per common share, being at the rate of $1 per share per annum, for the quarter ending Sept. 30, payable on Sept. 25, to share- holders of record on Sept. 10. British List 94 Films British Information Services here has published a new catalogue of Bri- tish official films, listing 94 subjects and a synopsis of each. There is nothing wrong with business that a n£0 t0M can t cure: t Monterey Productions presents HOWARD HAWKS' "RED RIVER" s^john wayne- Montgomery clift-walter brennan JOANNE DRU • With. HARRY CAREY, Sr. • COLEEN GRAY • JOHN IRELAND • NOAH BEERY. Jr. • HARRY CAREY. Jr. • PAUL FIX • From the Saturday Evening Post story. "The Chisholm Trail", by BorcTervChase • Screenplay by Borden Chase and Charles Schnee • Executive Producer. CHARLES K. FELDMAN • DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY HOWARD HAWKS On the Johnny Long Circuit Red River" broke every house record but one! In all the Griffith Circuit's 15 Oklahoma towns "Red River" smashed every existent record! Out of a totalof 367 premiere day-and-day engagements 293 house records were smashed beyond belief by HOWARD HAWKS' GREAT PRODUCTION ANY OTHER FORM /THEATRE ADVERTISING! Trailers draw 31% of your Patrons . . . according to Woman's Home Companion's 1947 Motion Picture Survey ! nfflionnL ' SERVICE of me/nousr/tv Accurate Concise and Impartial MOTION PICltg|fc£ DAILY ^£pfej(4. NO. 49 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1948 TEN CENTS 'Dual Selling' Acclaimed by UK Exhibitors Cite Johnston Pledge of Non-Increased Rentals London, Sept. 8. — Independent exhibitors, meeting here last night, enthusiastically acclaimed the pro- posed "dual selling" policy of U. S. film companies which was recently announced by Eric A. Johnston, pres- ident of the Motion Picture Associa- tion of American. Speakers in varying degrees expressed gratification with Johnston's pledge assuring them of ample alternate programs with unin- creased rentals. Opinion also was hard that the new system which will pre- vent combining an American and a British picture on one program will fully settle which country's films make the most {Continued on page 2) SPG Parent Union Rejects Taft Oath Membership of United Office and Professional Workers of America (CIO), parent union of the Screen Publicists Guild and the Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild, has voted 36,297 to 6,055 to continue the union's policy of not signing the non Communist affidavits called for under the Taft-Hartley Law. The UOPWA administrative committee, which an- nounced the results yesterday, said (.Continued on page 6) Johnston May Visit Stalin, Says A. P. Washington, Sept. 8. — Asso- ciated Press from London quotes a "reliable source" to the effect that Motion Pic- ture Association of America president Eric Johnston will fly to Moscow from Paris, about Sept. 20, maybe to visit Josef Stalin. The AP report links John- ston's trip with "rumors" from this city that Johnston may be offered a high U. S. Government post if Governor Dewey is elected President. The MPAA here knows nothing about the report. Ease Quota for Half Of UK Independents London, Sept. 8. — More than one-half of Britain's in- dependent theatres have been granted exemption from the 45 per cent quota law which becomes effective on Oct. 1, the Board of Trade disclosed today. The board said it had anticipated a large number of independent exhibitors would not be able to fulfill the new quota requirements. DEPINET ELECTED RKO PRESIDENT US Film Firms Avert Argentine Walkout Meetings yesterday of American film men in New York and Buenos Aires, which were linked by radio telephone, averted a walkout of some 1,000 employes of American companies in Argentina and settled a strike which was called for today. Announcement of the settlement which prevented vir- tual paralysis of the American film in- dustry in Argentina was made here by John G. McCarthy, associate manag- ing director of the international divi- sion of the Motion Picture Association of America. While foreign managers of member companies of the MPAA were meeting here in emergency session, their Ar- gentine representatives were assem- bled, awaiting word over the telephone as to how to meet the situation cre- ated by the Argentine film union. Under terms of the settlement Argen- tine film workers for American inter- ests will receive a maximum increase of 28 per cent while the companies retain major managerial rights. Greece Allots Half Million for Imports Washington, Sept. 8. — The Greek import control plan for motion pic- tures has been extended to cover the current fiscal year, with another $500,- 000 allocated for U. S. film imports between July 1, 1948 and June 30, 1949, the U. S. Commerce Depart- ment reports. As in the previous fiscal year, the amount will be divided into four equal parts of $125,000 each, with remit- tances permitted for printing costs and shipping charges effected at the time of importation and with royalty payments on a pro rata basis as promptly after the close of each quar- ter as permitted by the checking of distributors' accounts. Features and shorts will continue to be imported only on the basis of in- dividual licenses from the Ministry of National Economy. U. S. Reports Film Progress in Italy Washington, Sept. 8. — -Last year was a banner one for the Italian mo- tion picture industry, with both pro- duction and distribution activities mak- ing tremendous strides back to nor- mal pre-war conditions, according to a U. S. Commerce Department report by film chief Nathan D. Golden. The report states that 57 features were made in Italian studios last year, 10 more than in 1946, and 182 short subjects were turned out compared with 74 in 1946. Licenses to import 739 films were granted, close to 50 per cent above the 503 importations in 1946. Two-thirds of the imports came from the U. S., compared with 60 per cent in 1946. France, England and Russia followed the U. S. Several U. S. film companies began (Continued on page 2) Expect Salesmen's Pact Momentarily A union contract for the newly- organized film salesmen of the indus- try is expected to be agreed upon be fore the end of this week, it was in dicated here yesterday by a distributors' committee negotiator. Representatives of 11 distributors and the Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen of Amer ica have been meeting almost daily in New York since Aug. 30. Yesterday was one of the few days on which negotiations were not pur- sued. Both sides devoted the day to conferences among their own repre- sentatives. Re - election in October Held to Be Certain; Other Elections Are Pending Ned E. Depinet yesterday was elected president of Radio-Keith- Orpheum Corp., at a special meet- ing of the company's board of direc- March, 1946, Depinet has been, since the latter date, vice- chairman of the tors. He suc- ceeds N. Peter Rathvon, whose resignation ten- dered July 23, was effective yesterday. President of the subsidiary company, RKO Radio, from June, 1942, to board and exec- utive vice-president of the parent com- pany. The latter two posts remain un- filled. A company statement carrying board (Continued on page 6) Signing of French Film Pact Uncertain Ned E. Depinet Griffith Hearing Delayed to Nov. 30 Oklahoma City, Sept. 8. — Judge Edgar S. Vaught today again delayed a hearing on the Supreme Court man- date in the Griffith anti-trust case by setting Nov. 30 as the date for further proceedings. The Justice De- partment, which obtained a reversal in the case on appeal to the high tribunal, requested another delay be- cause a new man is taking over its files in the case. Supreme Court has ordered Vaught to revise his rul- ing and possibly force the circuit to sell certain holdings. Vaught had held Griffith innocent of trust charges after a 1945 trial. Washington, Sept. 8. — Both in- dustry and Government officials now expect that final signature of the French-American film pact will have to wait on a clarification of the French internal political situation. "We have no late word from Paris, and the pact may have been signed al- ready," one official said, "but it is far more likely that the French are tied up" with their political crisis. Building in Canada More Than Doubles Ottawa, Sept. 8. — After dropping steadily, contracts for the construction of the- atres in Canada jumped $530,- 000 in July from $200,000 in June. However, estimates indicate that such contracts slumped to $2,940,000 in the first seven months of 1948, compared with $5,464,000 in the same period last year. 2 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, September 9, 1948 Personal Mention WILLIAM C. GEHRING, 20th Century-Fox assistant general sales manager, and Clarence Hill, manager of branch operations, left here yesterday for Los Angeles. • David Griesdorf, general manager of International Films, Ltd., Canadian distributor of Eagle-Lion Films, is in town for conferences with Eagle- Lion executives. Before returning to his Toronto headquarters he will go to Hollywood. • Doris Mishler, secretary to G. E. Blackford of the Warner home of- fice publicity department, and Jerome Black have announced their engage- ment. • Jimmy Hobbs, Monogram's newly- appointed Atlanta branch manager, is in that city following a trip to Flor- ida. • Sam Shain, 20th Century-Fox ex- hibitor relations director, left New York yesterday for Chicago. • Jack Sogg, M-G-M branch mana- ger in Cleveland, arrived in New York yesterday for a few days' visit. • Nate Blumberg, president of Uni- versal, has arrived in New York from the Coast. B. G. Kranze, Film Classics gen- eral sales manager, left here yester- day for Albany and Gloversville. Larry Gendron has been named student manager at Loew's Poli Pal- ace in Hartford. Phil Engel, New England pub- licist for United Artists, and Marion Herbert were married recently. • Jim Vizzeo of the American The- atre, Bridgeport, has become engaged to Angela DeFelipa of that city. Russell Downing, managing direc- tor of Radio City Music Hall, is on the Coast from New York. William F. Rodgers, M-G-M dis- tribution vice-president, is due here to- morrow from the Coast. Joe Goldberg of Popular Pictures, Cincinnati, has returned to that city from a vacation in Chicago. Dembow Meetings in Pittsburgh, Denver The George Dembow "Tribute Drive," in honor of National Screen Service's vice-president in charge of sales, gets further under way with re- gional sales meetings today in Pitts- burgh and Denver, headed by William Bein, Eastern drive captain, and Ben Ashe, Western drive captain, respec- tively. District and branch managers and salesmen of each area are to attend. Will Apply Jointly For U.K. Quota Aid London, Sept. 8. — General Council of the Cinemato- graph Exhibitors Association today instructed CEA branches to collate all rejec- tions of members' bids for re- lief under the Quota Act. The plan is to renew all of the re- jected requests in one joint application. Clark at U.N. Day Meet for MPAA Washington, Sept. 8. — ■ Motion Picture Association of America in- formation chief Kenneth Clark will substitute for MPAA president Johns- ton at a meeting tomorrow of the Citizens Committee for United Na- tions Day. Johnston is chairman of the UN Day motion picture sub-com- mittee. The group is slated to meet with Secretary of State Marshall and President Truman, and lay plans for observance of the event, to be held on Oct. 24. Films a Part of U.N. Day Oct. 24 Washington, Sept. 8. — Eric John- ston, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, is chairman of the subcommittee on motion pictures for the nationwide observance of United Nations Day, Oct. 24. A compilation by the association's educational services department, head- ed by Roger Albright, shows that at least 21 short subjects dealing with the United Nations are available for use in schools. These films are dis- tributed through several sources, in- cluding Teaching Films Custodians, non-profit affiliate of the MPAA. Observance of United Nations Day will be stimulated through the show- ing of these and other special motion pictures in schools and before educa- tional groups. U. S. Reports (Continued from page 1) production in Italy, the report points out. It says U. S. firms have turned to Italy because of a more favorable film agreement permitting the use of blocked lira for production there and the retention by the companies of a large part of the proceeds from the sale of films abroad. FP-C to Meet in Oct. Toronto, Sept. 8. — Famous Play- ers Canadian Corp. will hold its an- nual convention in October at the General Brock Hotel at Niagara Falls, Ont., where executives, part- ners and company field representatives will deal with plans and policies af- fecting the current season's opera- tions. De Silva to Monogram Randolph A. de Silva has been ap- pointed Trinidad representative for Monogram by Norton V. Ritchey, president of Monogram International. De Silva was until recently Trinidad representative of United Artists. Narrow-gauge Boom In the Philippines The 16mm. industry is enjoying great popularity in the Philippines with some 240 16mm. theatres receiv- ing product from seven U. S. com- panies, Bert W. Palmertz, RKO Ra- dio manager in Manila, asserted here yesterday. There are about 350 houses showing 35mm. product, he said. Major American companies send from 30 to 36 pictures each annually into the islands, he declared, pointing out that the sales problem is made easier by the fact that nearly everyone in the country speaks some English. He said that about half of the 18,000,- 000 population are regular filmgoers. Palmertz revealed that the country produces about 35 native pictures a year, with virtually all the rest of the film imports coming from the U. S. It was observed by Palmertz that the Philippines has no restrictions on remittances. One of the industry problems, he said, is the shortage of materials nec- essary for construction. Business is off 35 per cent from the boom year of 1946, but "business still is above normal." Films liked best there, he said, are action types and color musi- cals. This is the first trip here for Pal- mertz. He leaves for the Coast Sunday. 'Dual Selling' (Continued from page 1) money. It was decided, too, that the measure will demonstrate the impracticability of Britain's 45 per cent exhibition quota. The meeting also decided to main- tain the machinery with which the independents are summoned whenever a discussion of the problems is de- sirable prior to meetings of the Gen- eral Council of the Cinematograph Ex- hibitors Association, which has, of course, large circuit representation. The General Council today fully ap- proved the recommendations of a gen- eral purposes committee of the CEA in dealings with J. Arthur Rank. The group had suggested negotiations with Rank of a general basis of fair trading terms and the refusal of Rank's terms until the negotiations end. Michael J. Casey, 53 Hartford, Sept. 8. — Michael J. Casey, 53, stage manager of the Para- mount Theatre at Springfield, and cousin of Pat Casey, former head of the film industry's labor relations board, has passed away. For many years, he was business agent of Local No. 53, IATSE, Springfield. His mother, a brother and a sister also survive. Benjamin Fain, 53 Cleveland, Sept. 8.- — Benjamin Fain, 53, partner with Charles Gott- lob since 1933 in the operation of a group of neighborhood theatres here, died at his home last Sunday follow- ing a heart attack. Funeral services were held on Monday. The widow, Rose and three daughters survive. AFM, Independents MeetAgainTomorrow Hollywood, Sept. 8. — Independent producers and American Federation of Musicians representatives, negotiating a new contract covering studio musi- cians, will reconvene again Friday af- ter a short session today. It is under- stood that the producers, who have been seeking nullification or modifica- tion of the contract provision requir- ing them to maintain a contract orchestra- whether it is used ot^^, supplied figures purportedly shfiv the hardship worked by this require- ment during the past year. It is believed the AFM negotiators will study these statistics during the adjournment. Charged with B. & K. Ticket Swindle Plot Chicago, Sept. 8.— Investigation of an alleged ticket resale swindle plot at the Loop B. and K. State Lake Theatre brought about the arrest to- day of Leo Guy Kosta, 27, assistant manager, who was charged with the embezzlement of $5,000. B. and K. officials said, however, that pre- liminary investigation indicated the amount involved was $30,000 and might even reach $100,000. Kept in- tact, the tickets apparently were re- turned to the cashier's cage and re- sold from a roll under the cashier's counter, according to a B. and K. spokesman. Kosta was arrested while on a vacation in Asheville, N. C, at the request of Chicago police. Named to Censor Board Philadelphia, Sept. 8. — Beatrice B. Miller was appointed by Governor Duff today to the $4,500 post of secre- tary of the State Board of Censors. She succeeds Mrs. Lucy H. Love who resigned a year ago ; the post has been vacant since. Sanders Slates Drive-In Louisville, Sept. 8. — Paul Sand- ers, head of Sanders Theatres, Camp- belisville, Ky., has announced plans for the construction of a 400-car drive-in theatre just outside of Camp- bellsville. The theatre will not be ready for opening before next season. Lease Two Houses Hartford, Sept. 8. — Community Amusement Corp., here has acquired from Daly Theatre Corp., a 10-year lease for the 1,200-seat Daly Theatre in Hartford, and the 700-seat Plain- field Theatre in Plainfield, Conn. Warnerites To Golf The Warner Club here will hold its annual golf tournament, the first since the war, on Friday, Sept. 17, at the Vernon Hills Country Club, Tuckahoe, N. Y. Mrs. George Hughes Washington, Sept. 8. — Mrs. George Hughes, 96-year-old mother- in-law of Motion Picture Association of America president Eric Johnston, died this morning in her home in Spokane after a long illness, it was learned here. Funeral services will be held tomorrow in Spokane. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald'; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. WARNER BROS'. TRADE SHOWINGS OF "SMART GIRLS DON'T TALK 11 starring VIRGINIA BRUCE ROBERT - BENNETT HUTTON with TOM D'ANDREA • RICHARD ROBER Directed by RICHARD BARE • Produced by SAUL ELKINS WRITTEN BY WILLIAM SACKHEIM MONDAY, SEPT. 13th, 1948 CITY PLACE OF SHOWING ADDRESS TIME Albany Warner Screening Room 79 N. Pearl St. 12:30 P.M. Atlanta 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. 197 Walton St. N.W. 2:30 P.M. Boston RKO Screening Room 122 Arlington St. 2:30 P.M. Buffalo Paramount Sc. Room 464 Franklin Street 2:00 P.M. Charlotte 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. 308 S. Church St. 10:00 A.M. Chicago Warner Screening Room 1307 So. Wabash Ave. 1:30 P.M. Cincinnati RKO Screening Room Palace Th. Bldg. E. 6th 8:00 P.M. Cleveland Warner Screening Room 2300 Payne Ave. 2:00 P.M. Dallas 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. 1803 Wood St. 2:00 P.M. Denver Paramount Sc. Room 2100 Stout St. 2:00 P.M. Des Moines 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. 1300 High St. 12:45 P.M. Detroit Film Exchange Bldg. 2310 Cass Ave. 2:00 P.M. Indianapolis Universal Sc. Room 517 No. Illinois St. 1:00 P.M. Kansas City 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. 1720 Wyandotte St. 1:30 P.M. Los Angeles Warner Screening Room 2025 S. Vermont Ave. 2:00 P.M. Memphis 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. 151 Vance Ave. 10:00 A.M. Milwaukee Warner Th. Sc. Rm. 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. 2:00 P.M. Minneapolis Warner Screening Room 1000 Currie Ave. 2:00 P.M. New Haven Warner Th. Proj. Rm. 70 College St. 2:00 P.M. New Orleans 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. 200 S. Liberty St. 1:30 P.M. New York Home Office 321 W. 44th St. 2:30 P.M. Oklahoma 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. 10 North Lee St. 1:30 P.M. Omaha 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. 1502 Davenport St. 1:00 P.M. Philadelphia Warner Screening Room 230 No. 13th St. 2:30 P.M. Pittsburgh 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. 1715 Blvd. of Allies 1:30 P.M. Portland Jewel Box Sc. Room 1947 N.W. Kearney St. 2:00 P.M. Salt Lake 20th Century-Fox Sc. Rm. 216 East 1st South 2:00 P.M. San Francisco Paramount Sc. Room 205 Golden Gate Ave. 1:30 P.M. Seattle Jewel Box Sc. Room 2318 Second Ave. 10:30 A.M. St. Louis S'renco Sc. Room 3143 Olive St. 1 :00 P.M. Washington Warner Th. Bldg. 13th & E Sts. N.W. 10:30 A.M. This line was T BUST all day long with more people— 19,000 of 'em— than have attended any N. Y. Paramount Theatre opening since the New Year's Eve Premiere of "Star Spangled Rhythm" 'way back in 1942 ... BUSIER than the lines that made history with "Welcome Stranger," "Road to Rio," outgrossing all Paramount hits since July, 1946 . . . of any opening in the past 26 months, with one of the N. Y. Paramount's 6 Top Grossers of All Time that's ready to put you right back in War-Boom 0» INAHURHY-CALL TZ1 "One of the most gripping pictures of the year." — Life Magazine • • • "Paramount audiences will be a fascinated and aghast crowd. The customers will avoid dark streets on the way home. It belongs among the very best of the season's thrillers. The excite- ment mounts to a frenzy." — Alton Cook, JJ'orld-Telegram • • • "A film for moviegoers with stout nerves. Does superbly what it sets out to do — to scare an audience into shivers. Suspense mounts to an almost unbearable pitch . . . leaves the spectator shaken." — Eileen Creelman, The Sun • • • "The Paramount's cooling system is getting stiff competition from this chiller ... a horror film of the hair-raising, spine-tingling, finger- nail-chewing variety. This one you won't soon forget. Top honors go to Miss Stanwyck." — Rose Pelszvick, Journal-American • • • "Radio's murder classic . . . rendered more graphic by visual excellence. A leader and a very glossy piece of entertainment. Even in 'Double Indemnity' Stanwyck was not called upon for comparable emotional fireworks." — Archer Winsten, Post • • • "An outstanding blood-curdler, a socko thriller. Stanwyck turns in a memorable performance. Expert direction by Anatole Litvak." — Lee Mortimer, Mirror • • • "Tapestry of terror . . . calculated to scare the wits out of the spectator. The celebrated radio thriller . . . builds to staccato and brutal climax. No compromises have been made." — Howard Barnes, Herald Tribune • • • "Will have Paramount patrons sitting on the edges of their seats. Wallis made an excellent choice in Stanwyck for the role of the woman who knows she is about to be murdered and can't do anything about it." — Kate Cameron, Daily News' • • • "A humdinger of a picture ... a whizbang of a chiller. You'll find yourself gripping the arms of your seat, your teeth set on edge, with goose pimples playing tag up and down your spine." — Leo Mishkin, Morning Telegraph 6 Motion Picture Daily Review "Apartment for Peggy" (20th Century-Fox) GEORGE SEATON'S screenplay, which he has also directed, recites the trials and hopes of Jeanne Crain, as a young expectant mother, and her husband, William Holden, pursuing an education on a G.I. scholarship. It has a lot of substance, some tear-jerking sequences and, done in Technicolor, it should have wide appeal, particularly for women patrons. The young couple's first problem is the housing situation on a Northern university campus. Miss Crain solves that by talking Edmund Gwenn, as a retired professor, out of the attic of his home, which she promptly converts into living quarters. Gwenn, feeling himself useless in his declining years, had contemplated suicide. The zestful young couple in his home gives him renewed interest in life. Holden, pinched for money, is tempted to abandon his studies. The delayed arrival of his allotment check forces his wife to do without medicine and, subsequently, their baby is born dead. He leaves the university and gets a job selling used cars despite Miss Crain's protests. Gwenn attempts to talk Holden into resuming his studies but, feeling that he has failed to persuade the younger man and soon will lose the company of Miss Crain, Gwenn attempts the suicide he had contemplated. Holden returns to the university, is reconciled with Miss Crain and Gwenn learns he has taken an overdose of harmless medicine rather than of sleeping pills. There is a breezy quality to much of the incidental story material and to Miss Crain's playing of a garrulous young extrovert that provides sound amusement as interludes for the film's more serious content and the drabness of the young couple's existence. There are also serious discussions of the younger generation, of philosophy, class-room brand, of improving civiliza- tion, of suicide and the sorry lot of a teacher. Much of it tends to retard the action and not all of it is certain to interest the customers. Moreover, there is an outspokenness about pregnancy and its physical mani- festations that may impair the acceptability of the picture as family enter- tainment to some. William Perlberg produced. The screenplay is based on a story by Faith Baldwin. Performances of the principals are competent and there is an excellent supporting cast. Direction is good. Running time, 96 minutes. Adult classification. For October release. Sherwin Kane Depinet (Continued from page 1) chairman Floyd B. Odium's announce- ment of Depinet's election said : "Inasmuch as Mr. Depinet was the choice for RKO presi- dent of all parties concerned, it naturally follows that he will be re-elected president follow- ing the stockholders meeting to be held soon." The stockholders' meeting is tenta- tively scheduled for Oct. 18. Odium Resignation Deferred Odium's reported resignation as board chairman failed to materialize yesterday. It is expected that he will continue at least until the October board meeting. Following yesterday's meeting, which took place at the down- town offices here of Odium's Atlas Corp., a spokesman for Odium denied emphatically reports that Odium and Rathvon plan to form an independent production company. The spokesman did indicate, however, that Odium may interest himself financially in future production of individual pictures, but he declined to elaborate in that regard. Depinet's election to the RKO presi- dency came on the eve of his 58th birthday, which is today. He has had a long career as an industry executive. After having served earlier as a book- er and film salesman, he joined Uni- versal in 1911 as Southern division manager. Later he was appointed one of three sales directors at the Univer- sal home office. In 1926, he became a member of the sales cabinet and manager of the Southern territory of the old First National Pictures, later becoming general sales manager. Joined on RKO-Pathe Merger With the merger of Pathe and RKO, Depinet joined the company and was elected to the board of directors of RKO Radio and RKO Pathe in 1932. He was elected president of RKO Distributing Corp. in 1934, vice-presi- dent of RKO Radio and president of Pathe News, Inc., in 1937. In 1940 he was named vice-president and a director of RKO, and in June, 1942, was elected president of RKO Radio. In 1946 he became vice-chairman of the board and executive vice-president of RKO. Rejects Taft Oath (Continued fropi page 1) the nationwide referendum was by secret ballot. Both SPG and SOPEG have, in re- cent votes of their own, reaffirmed their policies of not signing the affi- davits. Refusal to sign the affidavits means the union is not able to take advantage of National Labor Relations Board services in jurisdictional dis- putes. SOPEG has already faced that obstacle in its current jurisdictional dispute with IATSE at United Artists home office here, and the company has refused to negotiate with SOPEG be- cause it has not signed the affidavits. Set 'Joan' 'Spectacular' A $60,000 spectacular sign for RKO Radio's "Joan of Arc" will be completed at Broadway and 43rd Street here on Sept. IS. The location rental cost is reported to be $4,000 a month, and it will be operated for at least one year. Foote, Cone and Beld- ing supervised construction for Sierra Pictures, Inc. Wolf Stresses Local 'Reach' of Industry Hartford, Sept. 8. — Pointing up the extent to which the motion picture industry reaches into the community as a business, Maurice N. Wolf, M-G-M public relations assistant, told the Hartford Kiwanis Club that some 80 per cent of the 206,000 per- sons employed in the industry is lo- cated in exhibition in the field and that 91 per cent of the total industry capi- talization of nearly $3,000,000,000 is outside of Hollywood and in Ameri- can communities. Memphis Hearing on (Curleyf Sept. 28 Memphis, Sept. 8. — United Art- ists and Hal Roach will press their fight to lift the Memphis Board of Censors' ban on "Curley" at a hear- ing here on Sept. 28 before Chan- cellor Lawrence Creson. UA, as the distributor, and Roach, producer, will seek to have the court review the board's action, while the board, in turn, will seek to quash their petition. Terry in Video Post Cincinnati, Sept. 8. — Marshall M. Terry has been named vice-president of the Crosley Broadcasting Co. in charge of television activities. For- merly WLW vice-president in charge of promotion, he will have supervision over WLWT here; WLWD, Dayton; WLWC, Columbus. Wood To Film in Italy Hollywood, Sept. 8. — Sam Wood, accompanied by his production staff, will leave in mid-November for Rome to begin selection of location sites and other preliminaries for the filming in Italy of "Quo Vadis," Arthur Hornblow, Jr., production which Wood will direct next for M-G-M. Film Express Rates May Be Increased Washington, Sept. 8. — The Rail- way Express Agency has asked the Interstate Commerce Commission to approve a new single nationwide ex- press scale which would cost East- ern and Southern shippers from 11 cents to 99 cents per 100 pounds more than they are now paying. Film dis- tributors and theatre accessory deal- ers are among the largest customers of Railway Express. The new nationwide scale takes the rates now in effect West of the Mis- sissippi and applies them to the South and East as well. Rates in these two areas are 11 to 99 cents below West- ern rates, depending on the length of the haul. Miss. Gets Theatre Equipped for Video New Albany, Miss., Sept, 8. — Formal opening of "The Magnolia," with facilities for television, and de- scribed as one of the "most complete- ly modern theatres in all Mississippi," is scheduled for tomorrow night. David Flexer, president of Flexer Theatres, Inc., which will operate the house, said the house will probably be one of the first theatres in the South to offer regular television service. Rhoden Optimistic Kansas City, Sept. 8. — Optimism for fall business was expressed by Elmer C. Rhoden, president of Fox Midwest, at the two-day convention of Fox Midwest which opened here to- day. Rhoden's report was based on his recent survey of his territory. Kane Gets Lawson House Seattle, Sept. 8. — J. R. Kane has taken over the ownership of the Capi- tol Theatre in Tacoma formerly oper- ated by Helen Lawson. Dn Fl*-£ Copy MOTION PI^TITRE DAILY NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1948 TEN CENTS Accurate Concise and Impartial V— ^ 64. NO. 50 20th-Fox to Make 30 for New Season Zanuck Pledges Quality Will Be Safeguarded Hollywood, Sept. 9. — The 20th Century-Fox production schedule for the 1948-'49 season will com- prise 30 features, Darryl F. Zanuck, vice-president in charge of production, announced last night on his return here from a European trip. Six of the 30 features will be made abroad, 24 here, Zanuck said. The number includes only the company's own productions and is exclusive of films to be made for 20th- Fox release by Sol Wurtzel, Frank Seltzer and other independent producers. An- nouncement concerning the latter pro- ductions is expected to be made at the company's sales convention here next week. In making his announcement, Zan- uck said : "Never before in its history has Hollywood's talents, all down the line, faced so grave a challenge to {Continued on page 3) 20th's Global Plans Outlined Next Week Twentieth Century-Fox is formu- lating what it describes as new and important global production plans to strengthen its position with respect to blocked funds abroad, with worldwide distribution in mind. The program, first touched upon by Spyros P. Skouras, 20th's president, at the com- pany's Canadian sales convention last July, will be detailed at the company's first national sales convention in seven years, to be held at National Theatres' Los Angeles headquarters on Sept. 14-17. Customary formal convention ad- dresses to delegates by company home {Continued on page 3) E-L, Para. Get Trust Suit Time Extension Federal Judge Simon H. Riskind yesterday granted Eagle-Lion and Paramount until Sept. 24 for filing answers in U. S. District Court here to charges of anti-trust law violation brought by Prudential Theatres and the Playhouse of New Caanan, Conn. Similar time extension already has been granted other defendants, namely, United Artists, Universal, Columbia, Monogram and New England Thea- tres. Ascap to Ask for a 30-Day Deferment American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers is expected to ask for a 30-day postponement for the filing of a proposed decree in the anti- trust case decided against it in New York Federal Court. Both Ascap and the plaintiffs, the latter being mem- bers of the Independent Theatre Own- ers Association, are supposed to sub- mit to the court a proposed order giv- ing effect to the court's decision of July 20 within 60 days of that date, or by Sept. 20. Ascap's special coun- sel, Robert P. Patterson, returned from' a vacation this week and will petition the court for the postponement on the grounds that he has had insuffi- cient time to work on the case. Thomas All Set for Hollywood Probe Washington, Sept. 9. — House Un- American Activities Committee Chairman Thomas admitted today his group is running "behind schedule" in the series of hearings planned for this month and next month, but still prom- ised that resumption of the Hollywood hearings would come during the cur- rent series, probably early next month. A subcommittee headed by Thomas is holding closed hearings this week to prepare for the open hearings later in the month, but Thomas said none of the closed sessions would touch on Hollywood. "Our case there is all ready," he declared. The nation's showmen have selected Jane Powell the No. 1 "Star of To- morrow" in Motion Picture Herald's eighth annual poll of exhibitor opinion on those players who are most likely to ascend to stellar heights on the mo- tion picture screen. Rounding out the top 10, besides Miss Powell, in a combined vote of both circuit and independent operators, are : Cyd Charisse, Ann Blyth, Celeste Holm, Robert Ryan, Angela Lans- bury, Jean Peters, Mona Freeman, Eleanor Parker and Doris Day. The "Stars-of-Tomorrow" poll, es- tablished in 1941, is Motion Picture Herald's mid-year companion canvass to its 15-year-old "Money-Making Stars" poll, the trade's oldest and uni- versally accepted yardstick of talent values. Both polls are conducted by mail ballot and reflect the findings of theatre operators in direct and con- Prefer New Date For U. S. Hearing Postponement for at least a day of the New York Federal Court hearing in the industry anti-trust suit, now scheduled for Oct. 13, is hoped for by a number of attorneys in the case who will observe the Jewish holy day, Yom Kippur, which falls on that date. A lengthier postponement is hoped for by other defense attorneys who are scheduled to be engaged in trial of the Dipson anti-trust suit in Buf- falo Federal Court on Oct. 13. No formal application for postponement of the New York hearing has been made. Crime Film Protests Increase in Ontario Toronto, Sept. 9. — Growing com- plaints against films with crime and sex themes are being received by ex- hibitors from patrons in the smaller towns of Ontario, it is reported. Films protested against are generally those put in the "adult" category by the Ontario Censor board, it was said. The Ontario Motion Picture Thea- tres Association has reported that rural exhibitors are feeling the effects of the protests at the box-office. The association has asked for more infor- mation regarding the increasing resis- tance in rural centers with a view to placing the situation before distributors. stant touch with the public that speaks its mind in unmistakable dollar lan- guage^ "This year the poll installs the gen- tler sex in nine of its top 10 place- ments, and names as its sole selection from the sterner division Robert Ryan," the Herald report points out, adding : "This apportionment of hon- ors denotes a unique and probably very important characteristic of taste and preference in this third year of peace, but precisely what that charac- teristic is remains a matter for indi- vidual interpretation, for Motion Pic- ture Herald polls deal only in the in- disputable facts. One of these seems to be, beyond question, that the distaff side has the box-office situation well in hand," the Herald observes. Taken separately, the circuit vote resulted in the following top 10 "Stars (.Continued on page 3) SPG, SOPEG Rejected By Distributors 8 Companies, Like UA, Cite Communist Issue The issue of Communist domina- tion of two industry home office CIO unions broke wide open in New York yesterday when eight distributors, following the pattern set several months ago by United Art- ists, flatly informed the Screen Publi- cists Guild and the Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild that their failure to comply with the non- Communist affidavit provisions of the Taft-Hartley Law has made it im- possible for the companies to negoti- ate new contracts with them. The companies which took this stand in individually-signed letters to SPG president Jeff Livingston and SOPEG president Sidney Young, are : Columbia, Loew's, Paramount, Re- public, RKO Radio, RKO Service Corp., 20th Century-Fox and War- ners. Two companies which were not parties to the action were Universal- International and Eagle-Lion. The companies, it is understood, took a "positive approach" in their {Continued on page 3) Pledge Industry to Support U. N. Day Washington, Sept. 9. — The film in- dustry today gave the Government its pledge of full cooperation in observing United Nations Day on Oct. 24. Motion Picture Association of America information chief Ken Clark represented the industry at a meeting of the Citizens Committee for United Nations Day, held in two sessions at the State Department and at the White House. MPAA president Eric John- ston is chairman of the film subcom- {Continued on page 3) Ask Gov't Guarantee In Japan and Korea Motion Picture Export Association has filed application with the Economic Cooperation Administration for invest- ment guarantees in Japan and Korea, it is reported here. It is understood that the MPEA seeks permission to take dollars out of both countries to cover expenses. A similar MPEA ap- plication for Germany, submitted sev- eral weeks ago, still is pending. Nation's Showmen Select The 'Stars of Tomorrow' 2 Motion Picture Daily Friday, September 10, 1948 Personal Mention HARRY GOLD arrived in Holly- wood yesterday from New York for conferences with Howard Hughes. • Mrs. Robert Nashick, wife of a member of the Loew's Theatres pub- licity department, is recovering in Meadowbrook Hospital, L. I., from in- juries sustained in an auto accident. • Gene Kingston, head of the Uni- versal-International contract checking department, and Mrs. Kingston have become parents of their third child, a daughter. • Victor Volmar, Monogram Inter- national publicity director, will leave New York today for a combination business and vacation visit in Holly- wood. • John Cicero, Paramount advertis- ing production manager, will leave here today for a vacation at Shelter Island, L. I. E. T. Gomersall, assistant to W. A. Scully, Universal-International distribution vice-president, is in Chi- cago from New York. • William Hebert, Goldwyn Pro- ductions studio advertising-publicity director, will leave Hollywood by plane today for New York. • R. D. Goldberg, Omaha circuit head, is on the Coast from that city for a business trip. • Manning J. Post, Gibraltar Pic- tures vice-president, is in town from Beverly Hills, Cal. • R. M. (Bob) Savini, Astor Pic- tures president, is expected to leave Hollywood tomorrow for New York. • Paul Graetz, French producer, is due back in New York on Monday from France. • Robert Coyne, Theatre Owners of America executive, is in Chicago from New York. • Sam Seidelman, Eagle-Lion for- eign operations manager, returned to New York yesterday from the Coast. • Andy W. Smith, Jr., 20th-Fox's general sales manager, will leave New York today for Hollywood. Legion Rates Two 'B's In Reviewing Seven "An Act of Murder," Universal-In- ternational, and "Code of Scotland Yard," Republic, were given B rat- ings this week by the National Le- gion of Decency in its review of seven more pictures. Rated A-I are : U- I's "For the Love of Mary" ; 20th Century-Fox's "The Luck of the Irish," and Associated British-Pathe's "Quiet Weekend"; rated A-II were: U-I's "Larceny" and Warners' "Two Guys from Texas." Insider's Outlook By RED KANN \\7 ALTER WANGER was * ■ around town less than a week last week. But before he left New York once more for Hollywood, he unsheathed a whole array of suggestions de- signed to improve the status of the industry. Thus; 1. — "We should not concen- trate on cutting costs, but rath- er on seeking new ideas. We must keep pace with the great strides made by industry in gen- eral and in the fields of adver- tising and merchandising. 2. — More showmanship is re- quired on the part of exhibitors. 3. — Theatre operators should visit Hollywood more often, talk with studio executives and tal- ent on a constructive exchange of ideas. 4. — Studios should work more closely together for the good of the business as a whole. 5. — Major companies should encourage independent produc- tion for the good of the indus- try. "We are all tied up to- gether." 6. — The breach between Hol- lywood and New York is too great. 7. — Proper public relations are necessary. Through them the industry should have greater recognition in Washinton." ■ There is one essay, minimum, in each of these points. On a cooler day we might be ambi- tious enough to try it. No one would be convinced, but some- one might carry off the impres- sion we can be profound if we went to work at it. Point 3, however, reminds of a story. It's about a theatre operator — the kind Wanger be- lieves should visit Hollywood often — who was lured West chiefly by climate but was ready to exchange ideas if for no other reason than charging the trip to business expense. He couldn't even get into the studio con- trolled by the company in which he was a stockholder. ■ ■ Jimmy Nasser, San Francisco exhibitor now up to here in production, continues to break out with provocative approaches to matters long accepted as standard. His latest bears on the practice of those producers "who slap stars around a series of unrelated roles". This, thinks Nasser, eventually will junk the whole star system. He admits type-casting has been kidded for years by many producers, critics and some of the stars them- selves. "Yet that was the policy that built up box-office giants like Will Rogers, Rudolph Val- entino and Shirley Temple as a child," he maintains. In fact, a checkup of key-city exhibitors supports his view that topline players ought to abandon wide- ly different characterizations and stand by their old reliable, whatever that may be — so Nas- ser says. This rekindles, for the tiniest of flames anyway, one of Hol- lywood's long-standing bleats against exhibition : That, be- cause theatremen want carbon copies of established successes, production is in constant danger of being stultified. It is the sort of situation that might be ar- gued for days with only one foreseeable result : Hollywood will continue to make the prod- uct its own way. ■ ■ About 48 hours with practi- cally no breaks were required to effect the out-of-court settle- ment of the lawsuit filed by Howard Hughes over "Red River". Similarity of one of the climactic scenes in "The Out- law" was the charge. Forty- eight hours, plus Hughes, Grad Sears and high-priced lawyers, to cut 18 seconds of "Red River" footage. The excised film out of all prints just about filled a med- ium-sized suitcase. A Third of a Century Ago — Universal was claiming its cam- paign for "The Black Box" was "the biggest, the most complete and comprehensive ever put out for any film serial ever pro- duced." Which proves adjectives were adjectives way back then too. . . . Ohio exhibitors were divided over the safety values of motor-driven projection ma- chines and some were holding out for the hand-driven kind. . . . Pennsylvania had censor- ship in those days, despite re- peated exhibitor attempts at re- peal. . . . Sam Dembow, special representative for Box Office Attractions Co., was concerned about overbuilding in New Or- leans suburbs, figuring 15 per cent of the neighborhood popu- lation was tops any outlying houses in that city could depend upon. . . . Metro Pictures Corp. had just been formed, boasting a capitalization of $300,000. Shut 'or d Chairman of MPAA Publicity Unit Stanley Shuford, advertising man- ager of Paramount, was elected chair- man of the Advertising and Publicity Directors Committee of the Motion Picture Association of America at a meeting here yesterday. Maurice Bergman, Eastern advertising-public- ity director of Universal-Internation- al, is retiring chairman of the committee. $4,000,000 Seen 'Ruth' in U.S.: Broidy Hollywood, Sept. 9. — Domestic gross of $4,000,000 for "The Babe Ruth Story" is predicted by Steve Broidy, president of Allied Artists- Monog ram, who based his estimate on the first 63 playdates of the film out- side New York. NEW YORK THEATRES —RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL Rockefeller Center "A DATE WITH JUDY" Wallace BEERY . Jane POWELL Elizabeth TAYLOR . Carmen MIRANDA i Xavier CUGAT . Robert STACK A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION ROY DEL RUTH'S THE BABE RUTH STORY" -ffiH Popl Barbara Stanwyck Burt Lancaster /^f^gg "SORRY. WRONG miMBER" A Paramounl Release ROSALIND RUSSELL "THE VELVET TOUCH" A FREDERICK BRISSON PRODUCTION Released through RKO R I V 0 L I B way & 49th s*' Betty Grable - Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. "THAT LADY IN ERMINE" A 20th Century-Fox Picture — TECHNICOLOR On Variety Stage— FRANCES LANGFORD & JON HALL - HARMONICA TS JERRY COLONNA On Ice Stage— "THE MERRY WIDOW" Starring CAROL LYNNE - FRITZ DIETL =ROXY7thA8& 50th St MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Friday, September 10, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 3 NS S Meetings in N. Y. And K. C. Tomorrow Third in a series of regional sales meetings, preceding the "Dembow Tribute Drive" honoring George F. Dembow, National Screen Service sales vice-president, will be held to- morrow in New York and Kansas City. The New York meeting will be Med by Eastern drive captain Wil- j i Bein, and the Kansas City meet- ing will be headed by Western captain Ben Ashe. The New York meeting will also ' be attended by Leo Abrams, district manager, and from New York, Har- old Bennett, branch manager; Joe Katzoff, Jack Levy and Henry Rein- er, salesmen; from Boston, Harry Kirchgessner, manager, and Maynard Sickels and Fred Stoloff, salesmen; from Buffalo, Jack Goldstein,- man- ager, and Sam Geffen, salesman, and Adolph Edman, representing Albany and New Haven. The meeting at Kansas City will also be attended by Louis Patz, dis- trict manager, and Charles Brenner and Andrew Winningham, K. C. sales- men ; from Des Moines, Milton Fein- berg, manager, and James Parsons and Richard Shields, salesmen ; from Minneapolis, Jay MacFarland, man- ager, and Jack Allender and Jack Greenberg, salesmen ; from Omaha, Izzy Sokoloff. 20th's Global Plans (Continued from page 1) office, sales and studio heads will give way to round table discussions led by division and branch managers, with Skouras, Andy W. Smtih, Jr., general sales manager, and William C. Gehr- ing, assistant sales manager, acting as moderators. Long Preparation Evident When it was first decided to substi- tute the round table procedure for formal speeches at the business ses- sions, Smith sent lists of the principal topics of discussion to division and branch managers in the field to enable them to prepare ahead to discuss the agenda in detail at the convention. Special sales plans and policy for the final quarter of 1948 and for the first nine months of 1949 will also be taken up and new product will be viewed during visits to the studio. Darryl F. Zanuck, production vice- president, will make the principal ad- dress to the delegates next Thursday evening at a dinner at 20th's studio Cafe de Paris, outlining the company's expanded international production plans and reporting on his recent six- week trip to England, Italy and France, which he visited to survey and establish the first stages of the global program. General Topics on Tuesday The opening day, Tuesday, will be devoted to general topics in open forum and on Wednesday Smith will review pictures scheduled for release during the next 12 months. Advertis- ing, publicity and exploitation plans for these productions will be outlined at this session by Charles Schlaifer, advertising-publicity director. The sessions next Friday will be given over to individual branch and divisional meetings to be conducted by Smith and Gehring and divisional sales managers. Vogel Promotes Three In Loew's Theatres Three managerial promotions have been made by Joseph R. Vogel of Loew's Theatres, to take place imme- diately. Martin Gallagher, Jr., who started with Loew's as an usher, and recently has been assistant manager of the Capitol, New York, is named acting manager of Loew's Willard in Queens. Sigmund Schwartz, manager of the 46th Street Theatre, Brooklyn, moves to Loew's 175th Street, suc- ceeding Archie Adlman, who has re- signed'. Paul Swater, manager of the Willard, moves into the 46th Street post. Waldman Top Winner In F-C Sales Drive Top spot in the branch managers' new product drive of Film Classics went to George Waldman and his New York branch, it was announced here yesterday by B. G. Kranze, sales vice-president. Othei* winners were : D. J. Edele, St. Louis, second place ; Robert P. Abelson, Los Angeles, third ; Sam So- bel, San Francisco, fourth ; B . A. Slaughter, Jr., Charlotte, fifth. A new sales campaign, "The Joseph Bernhard Sales Drive," now is under- way in honor of the company's presi- dent. Fox Midwest Holds Youth Month Meets Kansas City, Sept. 9. — Youth Month activities, including the support of a dozen baseball teams on a perma- nent basis, was taken up at separate meetings of the five districts of Fox ' Midwest Theatres today. C .C. Murray is city manager of the circuit. The meetings ended with an outing at Star Lane Farm. 20th-Fox to Make 30 (Continued from page 1) deliver the goods, on account of the present economic situation. This is especially true in the preparation of scripts and the advance preparation of pictures before they go to the stages. "We must produce economically but never will quality be sacrificed. Per- fection will be the keynote at 20th Century-Fox. I am completely opti- mistic about the future as far as our company is concerned. We have nev- er had a richer backlog of story mate- rial to choose from and this will keep us in a position to deliver to exhibi- tors a diversified program, which al- ways has been our goal." 20th Denies Charge Twentieth Century-Fox filed in U.S. District Court here yesterday a gen- eral denial of charges brought by sportswoman Mildred (Babe) Didrick- son Zaharias who filed a $100,000 damage action for breach of contract. In asking for dismissal of the suit, the company said it has no written con- tract with Mrs. Zaharias, who alleges 20th-Fox had agreed to star her in a series of short subjects. 'Peggy9 Premiere Sept. 30 Detroit, Sept. 9. — Dave M. Idzal, manager of the Fox Theatre, today announced that the Fox will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its opening with the world premiere on Sept. 30 of "Apartment for Peggy." Plans are being made for Hollywood stars to be -on hand. SPG, SOPEG (Continued from page 1) communications to the guilds, namely, that the managements would be pleased to "do business" if affidavits certifying that the officers of the unions are not Communists, along with financial statements, are filed by each with the National Labor Rela- tions Board. However, recent refer- endums on that score by SPG and SOPEG memberships, as well as by the membership of their parent union, United Office and Professional Work- ers of America (CIO) reaffirmed overwhelmingly those unions' policies of not signing the affidavits. SPG Intimates Strike Action SOPEG held a strategy meeting here yesterday. Young said a state- ment will be forthcoming today. SPG, according to Livingston, "has the pos- sibility of strike action very much in mind," but expects to confine itself for the time being to milder attempts to persuade the companies to reverse their stand. The guilds' contracts with the companies expire Sept. 27 and thus far only Eagle-Lion, Livingston re- ports, has agreed to negotiate. SOPEG recently bid for a 25 per cent general wage increase in a communi- cation sent to company presidents. Company labor attorneys said yes- terday that, since the Taft-Hartley Law terms strikes "legitimate" only when they are inspired by "unfair la- bor practices," strike action by SPG and SOPEG would not make it le- gally impossible for the companies to replace permanently members of the guilds who choose to walk out. The companies, the attorneys point out, are merely keeping within the law of the land in refusing to negotiate with non- complying unions. Inroads by H-63 Continue It is understood, meanwhile, that AFL's IATSE Home Office Employes Local No. H-63 has made organiz- ing inroads among the "white collar" workers in most of the home offices, having "close to a majority" at Para- mount. At UA, H-63's jurisdictional tilt with SOPEG is approaching the shop election stage ; a scheduled elec- tion was blocked by SOPEG sympa- thizers recently by virtue of an appeal now before the NLRB in Washington. It is expected that H-63, which claims an "overwhelming majority" at UA. will act quickly now at the other com- panies .with a view toward repeating at the other home offices the success it has had at UA. "IA," of course, has complied fully with the Taft-Hartley Law, although it is currently conduct- ing a campaign for repeal. FCC Hearing Oct. 19 On 'Giveaway' Rules Washington, Sept. 9. — The Feder- al Communications Commission has announced that it will hear oral argu- ment on Oct. 19 on its proposed rules banning "giveway" programs from the air. Deadline for filing briefs on the rules has been extended from tomorrow to Sept. 24. Yarmove Appointed Jack Yarmove has been appointed vice-president in charge of public re- lations and motion pictures of the L. H. Hartman Co., New York advertis- ing agency. Yarmove, who resigned from an executive post at the Institute of Public Relations to head up the new department at Hartman, was at one time associated with 20th Cen- tury-Fox. New Odeon Theatre Opens in Toronto Toronto, Sept. 9. — Formal opening of the new Odeon-Toronto Theatre was held here tonight before invited dignitaries who filled the 2,400 seats of the palatial structure. Presiding over the ceremonies was J. Earl Law- son, head of Canadian Odeon, who in- troduced Rt. Hon. Earl Winterton, a member of the British peerage, and Sydney Wynne, both representing J. Arthur Rank for the occasion. North American premiere of "Oliver Twist" was held at the theatre. Also among those on hand for the ceremonies were Patricia Roc and Trevor Howard, British film stars who flew here from London. 'Stars of Tomorrow' (Continued from page 1) of Tomorrow" selections : Cyd Cha- risse, Angela Lansbury, Celeste Holm, Jane Powell, Robert Ryan, Ann Blyth, Doris Day, Jean Peters, Eleanor Parker, Richard Widmark. The balloting by independent ex- hibitors resulted in these ■ 10 selec- tions : Jane Powell, Mona Freeman, Ann Blyth, Cyd Charisse, Robert Ryan, Eleanor Parker, Celeste Holm, Angela Lansbury, Dean Stockwell, Jean ' Peters. The next 15 "Stars of Tomorrow" in the combined vote of circuits and independents are : Barbara Bel Geddes, Richard Wid- mark, Kirk Douglas, Dean Stockwell, Wendell Corey, Wanda Hendrix, Audrey Totter, June Havoc, Howard Duff, Robert Hutton, Olga San Juan, John Agar, Coleen Gray, Richard Hart, Pedro Armendariz. Canadian exhibitors agreed with U. S. exhibitors on eight out of 10 "Stars of Tomorrow," although con- siderably scrambling the U. S. theatre operators' one-two-three order. The Canadians placed Ann Blyth in first position, Celeste Holm in second, and Jean Peters in third position. On the U. S. side of the border, they placed third, fourth and seventh, respectively. Others on the Canadian list were Cyd Charisse, Barbara Bel Geddes, Robert Ryan, Angela Lansbury, Jane Powell, June Havoc and Mona Freeman, fourth to 10th place, respectively. The two areas of disagreement between the exhibitors were over Miss Bel Geddes and Miss Havoc. U. S. exhibitors placed them 11th and 18th, respec- tively. During the history of the poll there has seldom been any major dif- ferences between Canada and the U. S. over their choices for "Stars of To- morrow." U.N. Day Support (Continued from page 1) rnittee, and Clark was standing in for him. All major newsreels photographed Secretary of State George Marshall and President Truman addressing the sessions, stressing the importance of the United Nations to world peace. MPAA's David Palfreyman will shortly ask all exhibitor organizations to urge their members to cooperate with local civic groups in observing U.N. Day. The association has also reminded educational groups of 21 films on the U.N. available for non- theatrical showing, and the MPAA's monthly bulletin, What's Happening in Hollywood, will ask community lead- ers to swing behind plans for observ- ing U.N. Day. CHARY presents LORETTA WILLIAM ROBERT YOUNG • HOLDEN BROADWAY ENGAGEMENT AT Is divorcement coming? Will it help or hurt? rERNMENT COMMISSION CONTROL? ARE WE HEADED FOR G0> CAN THE^ BE Can exhibition live ^4 re we in the courts for life f under 20% Federal taxation? & CAN THEATRES CAPITALIZE ON TELEVISION What is the ^ — ot/,er ty °P^ot0« of t.and Sf» tre-men ever held . . . with nationally known speakers expressing their views along with yours.\ • • • FOR RESERVATIONS, WfRE OR WRITE JOHN BALABAN, General Convention Chair- man, Chicago Theatre Bldg., Chicago 1, Illinois^ l^O s 4 picxysJB FIRST 164. NO. 51 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1948 TEN CENTS Labor Board Rules AMPP Is 'Employer9 Decide Machinist Issue Against It and Studios Washington, Sept. 12. — Na- tional Labor Relations Board on Friday ruled that the Association of Motion Picture Producers is an employer within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act and de- termined that the producers' organiza- tion, along with Universal, Loew's, RKO and Warners had discriminated against members of the International Association of Machinists in the 1945- 46 studio labor dispute. By virtue of its control over Hollywood's policies on labor relations, the AMPP was found to be an employer by the NLRB. The ruling sets a precedent. The charge that machinists were dismissed in violation of the Labor Act was upheld even though this was done under pressure of the Interna- tional Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes which demanded to repre- sent all industry machinists, the NLRB held. The board ordered all parties to {Continued on page 2) Independents, AFM Adopt New Contract Hollywood, Sept. 12. — Terms of a new contract covering musicians em- ployed by independent producers were agreed to on Friday by the indepen- dents and representatives of the Ameri- can Federation of Musicians. The new pact, which will hold for the next 12 months and covers the Society of In- dependent Motion Picture Producers, Independent Motion Picture Producers Association, Eagle-Lion and Enter- (Continued on page 2) 27 Delegates to Variety Meeting Washington, Sept. 12. — Variety Club delegates to International Vari- ety's mid-year conference, to be held here Sept. 16-18, were announced at the weekend by Carter Barron and Nate Golden, committee chairmen for the Washington Tent, as follows : Pittsburgh, R. Clifton Daniel ; Cin- cinnati, Allan Moritz ; Detroit, Arthur Robinson ; Buffalo, Dewey Michaels ; (Continued on page 3) Seek Court Decree Divestiture of 2 A bid for a Federal Court decree directing Paramount and New En- gland Theatres to divest themselves of two Connecticut theatres was in- cluded in an amended complaint filed in U. S. District Court here on Fri- day by Prudential Theatres and the Playhouse of New Canaan, Conn., in connection with their $1,620,000 triple- damage anti-trust action against six distributors. The Empress in South Norwalk and the Norwalk in Norwalk, jointly- owned by Paramount and N. E. Thea- tres, were named by the plaintiffs in their bid for a decree. The co-own- ers, it is alleged, "conspired to monopolize exhibition" in the opera- tion of the houses. Original complaint charges the six distributors and N. E. Theatres with having fixed unreasonable clearances and "double clearances," and with hav- ing "conspired" in violation of the anti-trust laws. Windsor Moves in Walbrook Action Washington, Sept. 12. — The Windsor Theatre of Baltimore will ask Federal District Court here early this week for permission to intervene in the action whereby the Walbrook Theatre, also of Baltimore, is trying to enjoin 20th Century-Fox from giv- ing half of its first neighborhood runs to the Windsor. Fox made this promise to the Wind- sor in an out-of-court settlement of the Windsor's $600,000 anti-trust suit against 20th-Fox and five other major distributors. Argument on Wal- brook's request for the injunction is set for Sept. 16. The agreement is slated to become operative on Sept. 19. The Windsor will also ask that the (Continued on page 3) New UA Sales Unit; J. Hughes in Charge United Artists has established a new sales unit to liquidate dormant exhibition contracts and explore un- sold situations with John Hughes, former assistant to Fred Jack when the latter was Southwest district man- ager, in charge. Hughes returned to the home office 'recently from Dallas. Jack is now UA's Western general sales manager. It is understood that Hughes, who will operate out of the home office, under Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., executive assistant to Gradwell Sears, president, will spend substantial time visiting branch areas throughout the country investigating difficult selling situations. COURT SAYS ASCAP CANNOT COLLECT M. P. Colosseum, Take Note! Eric A. Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Asso- ciation of America, told the United Press in Stockholm on Friday that he was flying to Moscow for a visit of three to five days "to sell American pictures." K.C. Allied to Testify At Monopoly Quiz Kansas City, Sept. 12. — The board of Allied Independent Theatre Owners of Kansas and Missouri will appear before a hearing to be conducted here on Wednesday by the House Commit- tee on Small Business on monopoly practices in the motion picture indus- try. The board of the Allied unit, mean- while, has been advising its members on procedure for preparing complaints to be submitted to the House group. Congressman Ploesser, chairman of the group, will conduct the hearing. Screen Guild Dickers For Its Own Studio Hollywood, Sept. 12. — Screen Guild is negotiating for its own studio space, it was announced here by Robert L. Lippert, president. With Screen Guild's production pro- gram calling for five pictures every two months in full swing and financ- ing for forthcoming product com- pleted, studio space when needed is necessary to avoid production delays generally caused by previous commit- ments in independent studios, the com- pany stated. Rauland To Withhold Theatre Television Chicago, Sept. 12. — Contending that he does not believe the motion picture industry is "ready" for his new theatre television equipment, E. N. Rauland, president of Rauland Television Co., states here that he is not prepared to deal with theatres domestically, as yet. Rauland, who has already equipped a number of J. Arthur Rank's houses in London, indicated that he will wait for the outcome of those installations before dealing with theatres here. Society's Members Must Deal with Producers, It Says, Upholding Berger Minneapolis, Sept. 12. — Amer- ican Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers took its second Fed- eral Court defeat in as many months at the hands of independent exhibitors when U. S. District Court Judge Gunnar Nordbye on Friday handed down a decision in favor of Benjamin Berger, president of North Central Allied here, which, local at- torneys say, denies Ascap members the right to collect fees from exhibi- tors. The court held that while the in- dividual copyright owners have the right to collect for public performance of their music, they cannot exercise the right while joined together in an illegal combination. Judge Nordbye held that Ascap is such a combina- tion because, in its dealings with ex- hibitors,- it had extended its authority beyond the provisions of the Federal Copyright Act. Although it did not appear that Judge Nordbye had taken into con- sideration the recent decision by Fed- (Continued on page 3) Minn. Ascap Ruling Is Hailed by Myers Washington, Sept. 12. — "Judge Leibell's decision spelled the doom of Ascap, Judge Nordbye's decision smashes Ascap to smithereens," Al- lied States Association general coun- sel Abram F. Myers exulted over the Minneapolis judge's action in the Berger cases, Myers said that he had not seen Judge Nordbye's decision, but that he could "not forego saying that it must (Continued on page 3) Negotiate At Once, SOPEG Demands Refusal of seven distributors to ne- gotiate new contracts with CIO's Screen Office and Professional Em- ployes Guild, because the union has not complied with the non-Communist affidavit provisions of the Taft-Hart- ley Law, was met at the weekend by written demands by SOPEG for an immediate meeting with the companies (Continued on page 2) 2 Motion Picture Daily Monday, September 13, 1948 Personal Mention MORT BLUMENSTOCK, War- ner advertising-publicity vice- president, will leave New York to- morrow for the Coast. • Samuel N. Burger, Loew Interna- tional sales manager, left here at the weekend for a four-month tour of the company's branches throughout the world. Edward F. O'Connor, re- gional director for the Far East, is accompanying him on the first leg of the trip, from New York to India. • Maurice A. Bergman, Universal- International Eastern advertising-pub- licity director, and Charles Simon- elli, Eastern exploitation manager, left New York at the weekend for Chicago and Columbus. • A. J. O'Keefe, Universal-Interna- tional assistant general sales manager, left here over the weekend by plane for Los Angeles. • Edwin W. Aaron, M-G-M assist- ant general sales manager, left here over the weekend for a Coast vaca- tion. • Albert Mannheimer, Film Clas- sics director of exchange operations, left New York last night for Milwau- kee and Chicago. Eileen Scully, Hollywood, daugh- ter of film director Bill Scully, is here visiting Altec's Bert Sanford and Mrs. Sanford, her uncle and aunt. • Victor Saville, M-G-M director, will leave here tomorrow for London on the 5\S" Queen Mary. • Al Zimbalist, Film Classics adver- tising-publicity chief, flew to Chicago over the weekend from New York. 20th-Fox Group on Coast Los Angeles, Sept. 12. — Delegates to the 20th Century-Fox national sales conference arrived here over the week- end to discuss 'sales and promotion plans on productions to be released during the next 12 months. The con- vention will run from Tuesday through Friday. SOPEG Demands {Continued from page 1) to negotiate 1948 contracts without "ultimatums." SOPEG president Sidney Young, signer of the weekend communications, pointed out that his union had already voted three-to-one against complying with the non-Communist affidavit pro- visions, and accused the companies of using this as a pretext to avoid grant- ing job security and raises. Charges Companies 'Interfere' Charging the companies with "inter- ference in our American and demo- cratic right to decide our own affairs," Young's letters added, in part: "You cannot direct our officers to comply at your dictation. Our officers take di- rection from the membership, not the employers. We expect employers to respect the formal, democratic expres- sion of their employes." Complying with "the voluntary provisions of Taft-Hartley is an interference with our democratic right to run our or- ganization," Young asserted. NSS Expected to Resist Companies addressed were Colum- bia, Columbia International, Loew's, Paramount, Republic, RKO Radio, RKO Service Corp. and 20th-Fox. Meanwhile, a spokesman for National Screen said his company planned to join with the distributors opposing SOPEG and its sister union, Screen Publicists Guild. A Confidential Re- ports spokesman said at the weekend that that company had "no position" to state in the more or less wholesale industry management situation against negotiating with the two unions. At a late hour on Friday Universal-In- ternational continued to remain non- comittal regarding its future plans in connection with SPG, whose presi- dent, Jeff Livingston, conducted week- end strategy meetings. H-63, Warners Meeting Today As Impasse Threatens Talks New contract negotiations between Warners and IATSE Motion Picture Home Office Employes Local No. H- 63, reportedly at an impasse stage, will be resumed this morning, according to the union. H-63 has been _ pressing for wage increases and improved working conditions for "white collar- ites" in negotiations which have been conducted for several weeks with not only Warners, but also Universal, Pathe Laboratories, United World Films, Castle Films, Ace Labora- tories, Universal Newsreel, and War- ner and M-G-M music publishing houses. Whatever new arrangement is con- cluded between the union and War- ners, it is said, is expected to apply ul- timately to the other companies. Ask 'Rope' Ban Review Chicago, Sept. 12. — Warner Brothers has taken action against the Chicago Censor Board's banning of "Rope" here in the form of a letter to chief of police Thomas Prendergrast request- ing him to review the film a second time. According to Capt. Harry Ful- mer, Censor Board chief, the film was banned because it is not "wholesome" entertainment. 20th-Fox Sets Five Video Subsidiaries Five subsidiaries of 20th Century-Fox are now organ- ized for television operations and will be ready to go if and when station licenses are ob- tainable. The television companies are 20th-Fox of Washington, 20th-Fox of California, 20th- Fox of Missouri, 20th-Fox of St. Louis and 20th-Fox of New England. 17,831 Bookings Set Para. Drive Record "Paramount Week," which ended Saturday, set a record of 17,831 book- ings for at least one Paramount sub- ject, with five districts and 26 branches booked solid. In 1947, the Paramount trademark was on 17,009 screens during the drive, the company stated. Paramount features that made pos- sible the record are "The Emperor Waltz" "Dream Girl," "So Evil My Love," "Foreign Affair" and "Beyond Glory." Rembusch, Carroll To Direct Caravan Philadelphia, Sept. 12. — Opera- tions of national Allied's product sur- vey "Caravan" hereafter will be under the supervision and direction of True- man T. Rembusch and William A. Carroll. Meanwhile, Caravan head- quarters have been transferred from Philadelphia to Indianapolis, the Cara- van committee having accepted the in- vitation of the board of the Associated Theatre Owners of Indiana in that re- spect. Joseph Citron, 49, With Loew 10 Years Joseph L. Citron, 49, of Manhattan, manager of Loew's Olympia, passed away Thursday of a heart attack. Citron had been connected with Loew Theatres for 10 years, starting as an assistant manager of Loew's 46th Street in 1938. Services were held Friday at Riverside Memorial Chapel, with interment in Beth David Cemetery, Elmont. He is survived by the widow, Tillie, and two daughters, Roberta and Lucille. Labor Board Rules (Continued from page 1) cease and desist from discouraging membership in the international ma- chinists union in any manner. The four studios were directed to rein- state, with back pay, discharged mem- bers of the union, and the producers association was told to notify all member studios that the latter should not interfere with any labor organiza- tion memberships of their employes. ; The Board found against the ma- chinists' union in rejecting its charge that the studios failed to bargain in good faith and declared that bonuses paid to members who worked during the 1945-'46 dispute was not illegal. Newsreel Parade THE opening of the presidential campaign and the new Dutch Queen, Juliana, taking over are cur- rent newsreel highlights. Other items include sports and: human interest stories. Complete contents follow: MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 73— Presi- dential campaign opens: Truman in Detroit; Stassen answers the President. Queen B":l- helmina abdicates, Juliana succeeds, vest Moon ball. Sports: Tennis, foiyjjSr; shooting rapids. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 203 — Presi- dential battle of 1948 gets underway. Wil- helmina abdicates; Dutch hail new Queen Juliana. Jitterbugs jump at Harvest Moon ball. Davis cup victory for U. S. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 6-,-Harvest Moon ball. Truman, Stassen open verbal blasts. Juliana takes over. UNIVERSAL, NEWS, .No. 177 — Poli- tics: Truman opens campaign, Stassen re- plies. Juliana takes Dutch throne. Thrills at air races. Harvest Moon dance. Labor Day celebrated. WARNER PATHE NEWS, No. 8— New Dutch Queen. Truman in Detroit; answered by Stassen. Man who grows seven inches at will. Air races. Great Americans: John Marshall. Johnston Cites PC A In Reply on 'Twist' The New York Board of Rabbis, which protested by cable to Motion Picture Association of America presi- dent Eric A. Johnston in Paris against J. Arthur Rank Eagle-Lion's "Oliver Twist," has received the following cable reply from Johnston : "I have your cable protesting against the showing of the picture, 'Oliver Twist.' My New York and Holly- wood offices have advised me that the picture has not yet been submitted to our Production Code Administration for a certificate of approval. It would be inappropriate for me to express an opinion in advance of its submission to the Code authority." Assailing the film as a "vehicle of blatant anti-Semitism," the Rabbis had asked Johnston to "do everything possible" to keep it out of the U. S. Final NSS Meetings In 2 Cities Today Last of the regional sales meetings for the "Dembow Tribute Drive," honoring George F. Dembow, Nation- al Screen Service sales vice-president, will be held today in Atlanta and Dal- las. William Bein, Eastern drive cap- tain, will head the Atlanta conclave, and Ben Ashe, Western captain, the Dallas meeting. The drive will start today at all NSS exchanges. Independents, AFM (Continued from page 1) prise, retains the wage levels and working conditions in force under the pact which expired last month. The only significant change is the substitution of the permanent orches- tra clause by a provision that the pro- ducers guarantee the use of 35,000 man-hours of work for musicians an- nually. The independents used about 50,000 man-hours last year collectively. Also provided for in the new con- tract is the use of a stipulated mini- mum number of musicians on pictures in several budgetary categories. Para.,DuMont,WB in FCC Parley Today Washington, Sept. 12. — Para- mount, DuMont and Warners will be among the firms par- ticipating tomorrow in an in- formal conference with the Federal Communications Commission on future FCC procedure for allocating tele- vision outlets. Paul Raibourn, will represent Paramount, Dr. Thomas Goldsmith will repre- sent DuMont and the law firm of Cohn and Marks will appear for Warners. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor, Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady; Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yitcca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section Of' Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the po6t office at New York, N. Y.; under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Monday, September 13, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 3 Ascap Clipped \fteVieW {Continued jrom page 1) eral Judge Vincent L. Leibell holding Ascap to be in violation of the anti- trust laws in the case brought by members of the Independent Theatre Owners Association of New York, there is some similarity in the con- clusions reached by the two jurists. I ike Judge Leibell, Judge Nordbye if e ^ere suggested that the tqPi procedure to be followed by a copyright owner who would collect for the performing rights to his music in motion pictures is to deal individ- ually with producers. See End Put to Collections The decision is interpreted here as putting an end to collections by either individual Ascap members, or by the Society itself, from exhibitor parties to the case. As such, it stands as a precedent for exhibitors everywhere, unless reversed on appeal. The decision also is regarded here as even more sweeping than the New York decision against Ascap. In the latter case, it was the Society which was held to be in violation of the anti- trust laws and its methods of dealing with exhibitors which were held to be illegal. That left individual members of Ascap free to obtain licenses from exhibitors or to sue them for copy- right infringements if they used film music without licenses. Judge Nordbye's decision closes that gap. It is directed against Ascap's in- dividual members and denies them the right to collect from or sue exhibitors so long as they are members of Ascap. In this respect, it would appear either to force individual copyright owners "Miss Tatlock's Millions" {Paramount) CHUCKLES always prove their worth at the box-office, and "Miss Tatlock's Millions" runs the whole gamut of laughter, from subtle to silly. Producer Charles Brackett assembled a large and competent cast, with the result that some splendidly funny characterizations emerge from this farce about a curious family's excited scramble for the millions left by the elder Tatlock. Framework and development of the story are more or less along formula lines, but they keep the laughs coming. Heading the persuasive cast are John Lund, Wanda Hendrix, Barry Fitzgerald, Monty Woolley and Ilka Chase. A multitude of complications are incubated when worthy-minded Fitzgerald persuades Lund to impersonate an enfeebled heir to millions. Lund puts on a good act at being feeble-minded, and between the acts he falls in love with Miss Hendrix who is supposed to be his "sister." In the meantime there mushroom all sorts of avaricious conspiracies by the assorted relatives who are bent on getting the fortune. When circumstances get inextricably tangled, the real heir finally shows up to clear the muddle and pave the way for Lund to marry Miss Hendrix. Fitzgerald as a bottle-guzzling rascal is always a solid delight, while Woolley and Miss Crane get in some sophisticated licks as the fortune seekers. Miss Hendrix is pretty to watch, especially when she turns on the angelic expression for the lucky Lund. Richard Haydn directed from a screenplay by Brackett and Richard L. Breen. Running time, 101 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, Nov. 19. Mandel Herbstman to deal with producers for performing rights or, if they are to collect from exhibitors for those rights, it would be necessary for them to withdraw from Ascap. Ascap Suit Filed in 1946 The Berger suit originated in 1946 when Ascap members, rather than the Society, sued Berger, independent cir- cuit operator, and Mrs. Jessie Jensen, who operated a theatre at White Bear, Minn., for non-payment of performing rights fees. Berger admitted on the No extra fare on American's DC-6 Flagships! Ride the famous ^Mercury" flight to Los Angeles at no increase in cost! On September 1st, DC-6 and Constellation fares were raised 10 per cent by the transcontinental air lines — with the single excep- tion of American Airlines. On American, you can enjoy luxuri- ous DC-6 service at no increase in cost! "The Mercury," departing daily at midnight, EDT and ar- riving in Los Angeles at 8:10 a.m. PDT, will continue to provide transcontinental travelers with the finest in air travel — at the same fare — only $157.85. "Tbe Mercury" now has eight roomy Skysleeper berths to supple- ment 36 seat accommodations. stand during the trial last fall that he had not paid the fees nor obtained an Ascap license for years, contending that the Ascap collection method was illegal. The court ruled in favor of the de fendants on all counts. Ascap officials declined to comment on Judge Nordbye's decision on Fri- day on the grounds they had not yet received a copy of it. Rallies 16 mm. Field Against Price Cuts Declaring "war" against roadshow- men who are cutting prices of estab- lished 16mm. schedules, Jacques Kopfstein, vice-president of Astor Pictures, has called leading 16mm. distributors in New York to a lunch- eon-meeting at the Astor Hotel to- morrow to discuss the "growing men- ace of price cutting which is strang- ling the 16mm. industry." Roadshow practices, says Kopfstein, have reached a point where it is im- perative for the "Big Six" — Astor, Commonwealth, United World, Film Highlights, Post and Pictorial — to de- cide upon a future course of action "to combat wanton price cutting and other violations of established dealings with- in the framework of the 16mm. indus- try." "The luncheon," says Kopfstein, "may well go down in picture annals as the turning point in the fight against eliminating the present 'throat- cutting' policies employed in certain sections of the country." Delegates to Variety {Continued jrom page 1) Myers Hails Ruling {Continued jrom page 1) end all doubt as to the propriety of withholding payments from Ascap. "The decision is a clear signal to all Ascap members," Myers said, "that they should get out of Ascap, and get out fast." The only thing now left to Ascap members, he declared, is to leave Ascap and individually deal with the producers for royalties on public performing rights. Without reading the complete Min- neapolis decision, Myers declared, it must go a step beyond the New York decision. There, he said, Judge Lei- bell held Ascap's contracts with thea- tre owners were unenforceable "but the Berger suits involve not Ascap but individual members of Ascap This can only mean that any individu- al copyright owner — so long as he be- longs to an illegal combination like Ascap — can't collect from theatre owners on public performing rights They have the rights, but they can't collect unless they leave Ascap and negotiate with the producers. This means the break-up of Ascap, I have no doubt." Myers, who has been closely associ ated with the legal master-minding of the Berger case, was obviously over joyed at Judge Nordbye's decision, and gibed that it "certainly leaves Theatre Owners of America general counsel Herman Levy out on a limb.' Albany, Neil Hellman and Harry La- mont ; Indianapolis, Sam Switow ; Washington, Nate Golden ; Minneapo- lis, William Elson; Philadelphia, Al- fred Davis ; Omaha, M. G. Rogers ; Dallas, William O'Donnell ; Dayton, Roy E. Wells ; Memphis, Herbert Kohn ; Atlanta, Bill Jenkins ; Boston, Murray Weiss ; Charlotte, J. H. Dil- lon ; Los Angeles, W. H. Lollier ; Chi- cago, Jack Rose ; Grand Rapids, Her- bert Boshoven; Toronto, J. J. Fitz- gibbons ; Mexico City, Louis Montes ; Toledo, Jack E. Lykes ; New Haven, Barney Pitkin ; San Francisco, Jimmie O'Neal ; Miami, George Hoover ; Houston, J. P. Goodwin. Acceptances from many industry ex- ecutives of invitations to attend the conference and Humanitarian Award dinner were also announced. Majority of the executives will reach Washington on Sept. 16 to at- tend a dinner to be given by Richard C. Fowler to R. J. O'Donnell and will remain for a Friday luncheon meeting at which the Saranac Lake Sanatorium will be discussed, and the Humanitarian Award banquet on Saturday night when George C. Mar- shall will receive the 1947 Award. Phone HAvemeyer 6-5000 or your travel agent Ticket Offices.- Airlines Terminal • Rockefeller Center • Hotel New Yorker 120 Broadway • Hole/ St. George AMERICAN A/RUNES Vog Sets Cocteau Tour American distribution rights to the French film, "The Eagle with Two Heads," has been acquired by Vog Films here. In connection with the premiere of the film, Vog will spon- sor in October the American tour of Jean Cocteau, French author, who produced and directed the film. Windsor Move {Continued jrom page 1) Walbrook motion for a preliminary injunction be denied, that further pro- ceedings on the Walbrook motion be consolidated with proceedings in the Windsor's anti-trust suit, that the Walbrook be required to appear as a defendant in the anti-trust action, and that no preliminary injunction be is- sued in favor of the Walbrook unless it gives security of $250,000 to indem- nify the Windsor for any loss from being deprived of the films it is slated to get from Fox under the settlement. Walbrook said the Fox settlement breached a contract with the Wal- brook whereby Fox promised to give it the same films it gave the compet- ing Ambassador. Windsor will claim that this interpretation claims a long- term franchise, "and that such fran- chises have been declared unlawful by the Supreme Court." The Windsor petition will be filed tomorrow or Tuesday by Windsor attorney Harold Schilz. % Producer of "The ] St. Mary's" Brings Another Great Pic RADIO CITY MUSIC RAINBOW ODUCTIONS, iNc.l presents ■ ■■■ GARY COOPEF I ANN SHEF i with RAY COLLINS • EDMUND LOW Box office says: "Should BEAT the boxoflfice success of Miracle On 34th Street'! and in Portland, Spokane and Atlantic City, it's BEATING the grosses of Sitting Pretty' ! and in St. Louis it's BEATING The Walls of ■fit Jericho' and 'The Foxes of Harrow' ! Every showman says: YOU CAN'T BEAT Tyrone Jlnne BAXTER CENTURY-FOX nst«"ce/0nes Accurate Concise and Impartial MOTION PICTURE DAILY r FIRST IN FILM NEWS '0 NO. 52 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1948 TEN CENTS Availability [)ates Set by 20th Yr. Ahead Plan Subject to Any Decree, Smith Reports Los Angeles, Sept. 13. — For the irst time since the inception of the ;ompany's new selling methods, 20th Century-Fox is ready to offer definite availability dates of its prod- uct, picture by picture, for 12 months in advance, Andy W. Smith, Jr., gen- eral sales manager, told delegates at the opening of the company's four- day national sales conference here to- day. He added that the offer is subject to compliance with any applicable court decree and ul- timate execution of appropri- ate film licenses on a picture by picture basis. Smith said the company had achieved a point in production and distribution that made this offer pos- sible. "This is the first time that any mo- ition picture company has been able {Continued on page 8) U-I Joins Others In Boycott of SPG Film industry management in New York tightened up against the Screen Publicists Guild further yesterday when Universal-International joined eight other companies which last week informed SPG, and its sister union, the Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild, that their failure to comply with the non-Communist (Continued on page 3) Cinema Lodge Will Honor Si Fabian Simon H. Fabian, president of Fa- bian Theatres, will be honored by New York's Cinema Lodge of B'nai B'rith for his "outstanding service to human- ity" at a special meeting at the Hotel Astor, next Tuesday evening, S. Ar- thur Glixon, president of the Lodge, announces. Fabian, who recently served as New York State chairman for the enter- tainment industry's participation in the United Jewish Appeal drive, and last year as entertainment industry chair- man of the Federation of Jewish Phil- anthropies drive, will be presented with Cinema's "Honor Scroll" by Samuel Rinzler, president of Rand force Theatres. N. Y. lst-Run Grosses Off Beaches and other resorts got an- other good play over the weekend, parents made ready for their young- sters' return to school, and nearly all films were holdovers, all of these fac- tors apparently combining to force grosses at several New York first- runs down to levels substantially un- der last week's prosperous returns. The lone newcomer, "Luxury Lin- er," with Gene Krupa's orchestra and Georgie Price on stage at the Capi- tol, is faring well with a first week's take of $83,000 indicated. "Sorry, Wrong Number," with Carmen Ca- vallaro in person at the Paramount continues to be one of the best which the theatre has had in months, the second week's income being estimated at $100,000 after a huge $111,000 in (Continued on page 8) A A -Mono. Sets 61 For '48-9: Broidy Hollywood, Sept. 13. — Citing the success of Allied Artists' "The Babe Ruth Story" and an anticipated short- age in product through curtailments by other studios and the consequent demand by exhibitors for "second pic- tures," Steve Broidy, president of Monogram-Allied Artists, today dis- closed that both companies will in- crease their production schedules for the 1948-49 season. Monogram, which produced 42 last year, will make 51 during the coming season, while AA, which previously made six pictures, will produce 10, he said, adding that an undetermined (Continued on page 3) Ascap Decree In NY Sept. 29 American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers on Sept. 29 will submit to the New York Federal Court its proposed decree giving ef- fect to the court's decision enjoining the Society from collecting music fees from motion picture theatres, it was disclosed here yesterday. A court session is scheduled for Oct. 5, with attorneys for the Society and ITOA exhibitor plaintiffs in the anti-trust action joining with Judge Vincent L. Leibell in a discussion of the court's order. Whether this will take the form of an open hearing or an inform- al conference in the judge's chambers is not known. Meanwhile comment on the Minne- apolis Federal Court's decision against Ascap, handed down last Fri- (Continued on page 8) Map Plan to Recover Fees Paid to Ascap Counsel Sets Strategy For NCA Directors 1st Joint Percentage Suits in Carolina Asheville, N. C, Sept. 13. — Six distributors filed percentage suits here today in U. S. District Court for the Western District of North Caro- lina, Asheville division. Actions were filed by Paramount, 20th Century- Fox, Warner, RKO, United Artists and Universal. C. V. Davis, W. I. Davis and F. W. Davis, doing business as the Alva Theatre Co., are defendants, as well as Elsie B. House and Marion Amuse- ment Co. Theatres named in the com- plaint are the Mimosa and Alva in Morganton, and the Marion and Oasis in Marion. These are the first suits of this type in the Carolina area. "Johnny Belinda " [ Warner ] — A Very First-Class Drama JANE WYMAN'S illuminating performance will be talked about widely once "Johnny Belinda" gets under way. While she literally shines in a very difficult role, the attraction which she well nigh dominates has considerable merit on its own. Out of Elmer Harris' play Irmgard von Cube and Allen Vincent have worked out a sensible and intelligent script dealing with material ex- plosive enough to make many producers gun-shy. In such firm hands as Jerry Wald's, who produced, and Jean Negulesco's, who directed, and a top-grade cast, the outcome is one of decided merit and dramatic power. Adult in its appeal, "Johnny Belinda" in all likelihood will prove to be one of those infrequent films combining a popular attraction — particularly for women — with an appeal for those who only part with their money when Hollywood delivers for discriminating grown-ups. Miss Wyman is the deaf mute daughter of Charles Bickford, farmer fighting adversity on Cape Breton Island at the Eastern extremity of Nova Scotia. Neither he nor his sister, Agnes Moorehead, interest them- selves in her welfare. A drudge bearing her share of the heavy chores, (Continued on page 8) Minneapolis, Sept. 13. — A "plan" for the recovery of perform- ing fees paid by independent exhib- itors here to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers will be laid before directors ot North Central Allied immediately by Louis B. Schwartz, local attorney, in con- sequence of the Federal court decision here last Friday holding Ascap's col- lections from theatres to be illegal. Schwartz, in association with Sam- uel P. Halperin. represented Bennie Berger, NCA president, and Mrs. Jessie Jensen, defendant exhibitors, in the Ascap case decided in the ex- hibitors' favor by Federal Judge Gunnar Nordbye. At the same time, Stanley Kane, NCA executive director, said no stone will be left unturned to recover fees collected by Ascap. He said few the- atres here have paid fees to Ascap (Continued on page 8) SIMPP to Clark: Press NY Para. Case Hollywood, Sept. 13. — Society of Independent Motion Picture Produc- ers has called upon U. S. Attorney General Tom Clark to press the Gov- ernment's anti-trust suit against the distributors to an ultimate court deci- sion, SIMPP vice-president Gunther Lessing, in a weekend telegram to Clark (a copy of which was sent to President Truman) said: "We are in- formed that negotiations are in progress where major motion picture company defendants in the anti-trust case . . . are attempting to avoid the (Continued on page 3) E - K, Gov't Discuss A Consent Decree Los Angeles, Sept. 13. — Federal Judge C. Mathes has postponed the pre-trial conference of the Govern- ment's anti-trust suit against Techni- color and Eastman-Kodak from Sept. 20 to Nov. 20 on a motion by the De- partment of Justice here following re- ceipt of instructions from Washington. Cited in the instructions from the Capital were conferences between the Justice Department's anti-trust division and Eastman-Kodak officials on a pos- sible consent decree. Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, September 14, 1948 Personal Mention M 1VJ Artists-Monogram general sales manager, will leave here today for Pittsburgh. • Frederick Brisson, Independent Artists executive producer, who is here from the Coast, was in Philadel- phia last night. He will return to Hollywood next week. Joan Golding, publicist for Mar- garet Ettinger Co., industry public re- lations company, will be married to Marvin Machson on Oct. 17 in White Plains, N. Y. • Norman Barnett of Massco-Bar- nett Co. here and Mrs. Barnett have become parents of a son, born on Sat- urday at Women's Hospital, New York. Bernard J. Gates, Monogram Latin-American supervisor, left here by plane over the weekend for Mon- tevideo. « Jessika Kolkan, secretary to Paramount attorney Morton Lane, and Henry R. Chuck have an- nounced their engagement. • Al Zimbalist, Film Classics' adver- tising-publicity head, returned here yesterday from Chicago. a Andre Kostalanetz and his wife, Lily Pons, returned here yesterday from Europe on the •S\S" Queen Mary. Monroe Trust Suit Hearings Sept. 20 Chicago, -Sept. 13. — Preliminary hearings on Balaban and Katz's objec- tions to plaintiff's interrogatories in the Monroe Theatre anti-trust suit in- volving $1,580,000 treble damages against 14 film and theatre corpora- tions are scheduled for Sept. 20 in Judge Phillip Barnes' U. S. District Court. The plaintiff, Lubliner and Triniz, formerly operated the Monroe in the Loop. Chicago's Censors Re-classify 'Rope' Chicago, Sept. 13. — Warner's "Rope" was today given an "adults only" classification by the Chicago Police Censor Board. The board last week banned the film for local show- ing. Ben Kalmenson, Warner sales vice-president, spent several days here negotiating with the board. The film is scheduled for a Loop showing in Oc- tober at a Balaban and Katz theatre. Tradewise . . * Jeffrey Leaves E-L Arthur Jeffrey, exploitation man- ager of Eagle-Lion since its inception two years ago, has resigned, effective in October. Max E. Youngstein, E-L advertising - publicity vice - president, said yesterday a successor to Jeffrey will be appointed shortly. By SHERWIN KANE THE Minneapolis Federal Court decision in the Ascap- Berger case appears to be of even greater significance to ex- hibitors than the New York court decision two months ear- lier in the case brought by mem- bers of the Independent Theatre Owners Association of New York. The ITOA members sued Ascap as a monopoly in viola- tion of the anti-trust laws and won. The court held, however, in denying exhibitor plaintiffs damages from Ascap, that the early performing rights fees lev- ied by the Society had been rea- sonable and that exhibitors had received something of value for the license fees paid to Ascap. • The Minneapolis case involved actions brought by members of Ascap to obtain damages from exhibitors who had refused to pay any Ascap fee whatever and freely used films containing Ascap music without licenses. The actions also sought injunc- tions to restrain the exhibitors from exhibiting such films with- out Ascap licenses in the future. The court denied both petitions, ruling in favor of the exhibitor defendants on all counts. If early interpretations of the Minneapolis decision are correct, it would seem not only to invite exhibitors to halt payments to Ascap immediately but also to leave the door open for recov- ery of fees already paid to Ascap. • However, both the New York and Minneapolis cases are "priv- vate" litigation. They lack the breadth of application which would be theirs had the Govern- ment, representing the public, been involved. Also, their value as precedent is dubious pending determination of appeals. It is interesting to note that in both cases the courts made a point of citing Ascap's ability to levy an exorbitant fee from ex- hibitors for performing rights licenses as evidence of the pos- session of illegal monopolistic power. As this department pointed out earlier, that evidence was furnished the courts by Ascap itself when it sought to raise performing rights fees by 300 to 1,500 per cent a year ago. That was the most ill-advised of all Ascap actions in the his- tory of its dealings with exhib- itors. It appears now to have been a blessing in disguise for theatre owners for by it Ascap stands convicted, twice. • e Attorney General Tom Clark told Motion Picture Daily recently that although his De- partment has not received any formal proposals for a consent decree from defendants in the Paramount case, "if they want to talk we would be bull-headed to refuse." Along about last June when the exploration of the subject of a consent decree was raised among industry defendants, At- torney General Clark packaged the case with some finality by publicly listing it among the im- portant "accomplishments" of the Justice Department during his tenure. At the same time he brushed aside consent decree re- ports as "just trade talk," infer- ring that there was no basis for an agreement on a decree be- cause the case had been won already by the Government. On June 1 this department commented that it appeared to be a case of the Government protesting too much and sug- gested that any good horse trad- er would recognize in Clark's comments an invitation to open up consent decree talks in order that the case might be filed away in the drawer marked "settled," before January and, possibly, before a new Attorney General arrived. It would seem that the indus- try's horse-traders are moving too slowly to suit the Depart- ment, which now is out in the open. It has not received any proposals yet but it does not want to be "bull-headed" when they come. Not with elections only two months away. • © Loew's and United Artists Theatre Circuit are 50-50 own- ers of a company which controls the Louisville Theatre, Louis- ville, Ky. The Louisville com- pany borrowed $1,000,000 from First National Bank of Boston and Massachusetts Mutual Life, Loew's guaranteeing the loans, but — if Loew's is required by subsequent action in the Para- mount case to dispose of its in- terest, U. 'A. Theatre Circuit will repay Loew's any loss it may incur in consequence of its guarantee, before and after with- drawing from the partnership. An example, perhaps, of a New Look in joint operations. 'Hamlet' in Capital On Four -Wall Basis Washington, Sept. 13. — Laurena Olivier's "Hamlet," British-made, wil open here Oct. 20 at roadshow price; at both the Little and Playhouse thea- tres, Universal - International an- nounced here today. Both theatres are owned by Ilya Lopert and Louis< Noonan Miller. "Hamlet" will play on a two-a-day reserved-seat basis, with evenings-tick ets costing $2.40 and matinees- rl At present, the Playhouse charb £1 cents evenings and 55 for matinees while the Little charges 74 and 5C cents. The Lopert-Miller theatres got "Hamlet" on an "adjusted four-wall basis." The theatres will get a share in grosses over a minimum four-wall figure, plus adjustments for increases in overhead and other expenses. It understood here that Lopert-Miller offered a flat $100,000 for "Hamlet,' but the four-wall deal finally worked out, which it is understood is more to Universal-International's advantage Kusell to Preside AtSRO Meeting Milton S. Kusell, SRO sales_ vice- president, will preside at a meeting of division managers to be held Thurs- day at the home office. Following executives and division managers will attend : Sidney Deneau. assistant sales manager; Leonard R. Case, treasurer ; John T. Howard, Western division manager; J. E. Fon- taine, Eastern manager; Henry G. Krumm, Southern manager; Sam Horowitz, Midwestern manager, and Robert M. Gillham, Eastern advertis- ing-publicity director. NEW YORK THEATRES RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL- Rockefeller Center "A DATE WITH JUDY" I Wallace BEERY . Jane POWELL ■ Elizabeth TAYLOR . Carmen MIRANDA Xavler CU GAT . Robert 8TACK A Metro-Goldwyn. Mayer Picture SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION Barbara Stanwyck Burt Lancaster 'SORRY. WRONG NUMBER" A Paramount Release ROSALIND RUSSELL in "THE VELVET TOUCH" A FREDERICK BRISSON PRODUCTION Released through RKO B'way & 49th St. RIV0LL MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published dail> - except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address UurgpuBco; New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Then J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo j. ar™y James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, lucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. TJrben Farley, Advertising Representative; J immy Ascner. Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, -feter uuraup. Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section ot Mot .ion J^ure Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. x ., under tne act ot marcn 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, September 14, 1948 I- 1 iWouldExemptVideo Outlets on Changes ■ Washington, Sept. 13.— Testimony from top television officials seemed to add up today to the belief that any changes in television engineering , standards should not be made to ap- , ply to stations already in the field. Officials of television associations, i networks, stations, and equipment manufacturers attended an informal ij (Ary conference with the Federal , fc rtiunications Commission today, to - give industry views on new engineer- '. ing standards, proposed television channel reallocations and other televi- sion problems. 1 Changes in standards are desirable, i said Dr. Raymond Guy, of the Televi- li sion Broadcasters Association. But s pioneers in television, with large in- i vestments in stations and equipment, s should not have to conform to what- ever these new standards may be, he declared. 'I Paramount vice-president Paul Rai- bourn, originally scheduled to testify, called off his appearance at the last minute, and Paramount was not rep- resented. Nathan Levenson of Warners was an observer, but did not testify. Allen ' B. DuMont and Dr. Theodore Gold- ' smith of Allen B. DuMont Labora- 'tories are slated to testify tomorrow. ii Reade Managers Meet { District and city managers of Wal- iter Reade Theatres will meet here to- iday at the home office for their regu- I larly monthly session. } ■ AA-Mono. Sets 61 {Continued from page 1) number of films to be made abroad will supplement these totals. Three AA features are already com- pleted, King Brothers' "Last of the Badmen," Jack Wrather's "Strike It Rich" and Associated British's "My Brother Jonathan," he declared. Others on the AA list are : Roy Del Ruth's "Red Light," King Brothers' "Gun Crazy," Champion-Edward's "Stampede," Lesser-Melford's "When a Man's a Man," two untitled Fields- Than features to be made in Canada and Paul Short's "Bad Boy," spon- sored by Variety Clubs International. SIMPP to Clark . (Continued front page 1) full effect of the decision of the Su- preme Court by procuring the Gov- ernment's agreement to a so-called 'consent decree'." Lessing suggested that "any soft- ening of the application of the law as laid down by the Supreme Court would result in a continuation of monopolistic practices and prevent restoration of a free and competitive screen." He said that the original consent decree of 1940 had "complete- ly failed." Paris Opens Here Henri Bonnet, French Ambassador to the U. S., and Grover Whalen were guest speakers last night at the open- ing of Pathe Cinema's Paris Theatre here. "Symphonie Pastorale" was given its premiere in conjunction with the opening, which was held as a bene- fit for five French relief organizations. Small Business Quiz Set for More Cities Salt Lake City, Sept. 13. — Testi- mony on the independent theatre's side of the small business question will be heard before the Congressional Small Business Committee in New Orleans in November, Willis Ballinger, chair- man, declared today during hearings here. Hearings in January in Los Angeles, are also planned. -Ballinger said important testimony on theatres is yet to come. In Salt Lake City the hearings Sat- urday heard from Gene Bowls, repre- senting the Camark, neighborhood theatre, who said his house has not had pictures until after "seven runs," and that his grosses have been cut at least 50 per cent. Jay Christensen, owner of the Ar- cade, West Side house, said before circuits acquired neighborhood houses on the East Side he had received a "square break" on pictures, but now circuit-operated neighborhoods get special favors and pictures before the Arcade. Henry Ungerleider and Ray C. Hendry of Intennountain Theatres, and Giff Davison of RKO also at- tended the hearing, but did not testify. In Butte hearings earlier in the week the committee heard Clarence Colder of Great Falls testify that Fox-Intermountain is making it diffi- cult for him to get product. He tes- tified he did not believe producing companies should be allowed to own theatres. Services Today for Wm. /. Kernan, 72 A Requiem Mass will be sung at Holy Trinity Church at 10 A.M. to- day for William J. Kernan, 72, as- sistant treasurer and paymaster of RKO Service Corp., who died here Saturday, at St. Vincent's Hospital. Kernan had been with RKO and its predecessors for over 32 years. Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Ellen I. Kernan ; a son, William E. Ker- nan, and three brothers, John B., Joseph F., and Edward H. Kernan. Interment will be at Calvary Ceme- tery, West Roxbury, Mass. George Goldberg, 55 Albany, N. Y., Sept. 13.— Funeral services were held here today for George Goldberg, 55, Warner sales- man for more than 20 years. Police found Goldberg's body Saturday morn- ing in Washington Park Lake 26 hours after Mrs. Goldberg reported him missing. The widow said he was ill for the past tlrjree months. A member of Variety Club and a veteran of World War I, Goldberg is also sur- vived by a married daughter. F. D. Moore, Warner district manager, came from Boston to attend the funeral. Morris Harris, 64 Hartford, Sept. 13.— Morris Alton Harris, 64, associated in the operation of the State Theatre, Hartford, with his brothers, Ted Martin, and Sam, died at Mt. Sinai Hospital on Friday. Burial was in Hartford Sunday. Kriendler Memorial Monument to the memory of Jack Kriendler, co-founder of New York's Twenty-one Club, will be unveiled at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery, Brooklyn, on Sept. 26. Kalmine to Preside At Warner Meeting Harry M. Kalmine, president of Warner Theatres, will preside at a zone managers' meeting here today at the company's home office. Those at- tending will include: Zone managers James Coston, Nat Wolf, I. J. Hoff- man, Frank Damis, Charles A. Smak- witz, Ted Schlanger, M. A. Silver, George A. Crouch, and Ben Waller- stein. Also, film buyers Alex Halperin, Ted Minsky, Bert Jacocks, Max Hoff- man, Sam Blasky, Max Friedman, John Turner, Harry Feinstein, L. F. Ribnitzki and Leo Miller, and home office executives M. Alben, C. E. Bond, F. Cahill, H. Copelan, Z. Epstin, N. Felman, H. Goldberg, L. J. Kaufman, H. Maier, F. Marshall, W. S. Mc- Donald, F. Phelps, H. Rodner, H. Rosenquest, D. Triester, R. Weiss and B. Wirth. Edward Doherty Buys Film Company Hollywood, Sept. 13.— United In- ternational, Inc., 16mm. distribution company, has been purchased by a financial group headed by Edward Doherty of Chicago, who is president of the Apex Railway Supply Co., manufacturer of railway equipment. He will act as chairman of the board of the reorganized film company. The Hollywood office, from which most of the business of the company will be transacted, is under management of H. W. Irwin, new president of United Plans of United also call for the production and distribution of features for both 35mm. and 16mm. release. U-I, SPG Boycott (Continued from page 1) affidavit provisions of the Taft-Hart- ley Law has made it impossible for the companies to negotiate new con- tracts with them. Universal, like Warners, which also has refused to deal with SPG, has no contract with SOPEG and hence did not send a refusal communication to that group as did other distribution home offices. Companies forming a "front" against both unions include United Artists, Columbia, Loew's, Paramount, RKO Radio," Republic, 20th Century-Fox. Universal and Warner home office "white collarites" have contracts with IATSE Home Office Local No. H-63, which claims to have won "an oyerwhelming ma- jority" of UA employes away from SOPEG. A UA shop election has been sought. SOPEG president Sidney Young and SPG president Jeff Livingston are expected to hold a joint strategy meeting this week. Resume Stage Shows Scranton, Pa., Sept. 13.— Comer- ford Theatres' Capitol here and Penn in Wilkes-Barre will resume stage shows for the new season on Thurs- day, and the Hippodrome at Pottstown and Feeley at Hazelton will resume on Sept. 20. Al Tamarin's Father Abraham Tamarin, 74, died Sunday of pulmonary post-operative complica- tions. Services were held at Hudson City Cemetery, Hudson, N. Y. Sur- viving Tamarin, who retired from business 10 years ago, are his sons, Alfred H. Tamarin, publicity director of United Artists, and Dr. Joseph Tamarin, both of New York. No extra fare on American's DC-6 Flagships! Ride the famous * Mercury" flight to Los Angeles at no increase in cost! On September 1st, DC-6 and Constellation fares were raised 10 per cent by the transcontinental air lines — with the single excep- tion of American Airlines. On American, you can enjoy luxuri- ous DC-6 service at no increase in cost! "The Mercury," departing daily at midnight, EDT and ar- riving in Los Angeles at 8:10 a.m. PDT, will continue to provide transcontinental travelers with the finest in air travel — at the same fare— only $157.85. "The Mercury" now has eight roomy Skysleeper berths to supple- ment 36 seat accommodations. Phone HAvemeyer 6-5000 or your travel agent Ticket Offices.- Airlines Terminal • Rockefeller Center • Hotel New Yorker 120 Broadway • Hole/ St. George AMERICAN AIRLINES color by TECHNICOLOR . ^ utthat rhythm w»h HUGH HERBERT Directed by ^ qqq^ . XOMMY DORSEY -eT LOUIS ARMSTRONG • LIONEL HAMPTO •^V CHARLIE BARNET • MEL POWELL \P BUCK & BUBBLES • THE GOLDEN GATE QUARTET THE PAGE CAVANAUGH TRIO • RUSSO & THE SAMBA Kll> Released thru RKO RADIO PICTURES, INC. ADVERTISEMENTS IN THE FOLLOWING: LIFE LOOK-AMERICAN WEEKLY* PARADE THIS WEEK • AMERICAN GIRL • SING • SCREEN SONGS CALLING ALL GIRLS HIT PARADER SEVENTEEN BOY'S LIFE SONG HIT EBONY WHERE . (f(HC tteea, £C/ WHEN , _y fwc needs £C/ Akron Beacon Journal Albany Times Union Atlanta Journal Augusta Chronicle Baltimore American Baltimore Sun Birmingham News & Age-Herald Boston Advertiser Boston Globe Boston Herald Boston Post Bridgeport Post Buffalo Courier-Express Cedar Rapids Gazette Canton Repository Charlotte Observer Chattanooga Times Chicago Daily News Chicago Herald-American Chicago Sun & Times Chicago Tribune Cincinnati Enquirer Cleveland Plain Dealer Columbus Dispatch Dallas News Dallas Times Herald Dayton News Denver Post Denver Rocky Mt. News Des Moines Register Detroit Free Press Detroit News Detroit Times Duluth News Tribune Erie Dispatch El Paso Times Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette Ft. Worth Star-Telegram Fresno Bee Galveston News Grand Rapids Herald Hartford Courant Houston Chronicle Houston Post Jacksonville Times-Union Indianapolis Star Kansas City Star Knoxville Journal Lincoln Journal-Star Little Rock Gazette Long Beach Press Telegram Los Angeles Examiner Los Angeles Times Louisville Courier-Journal Macon News Telegraph Memphis Comm. Appeal Miami Herald Milwaukee Sentinel Milwaukee Journal Minneapolis Tribune Nashville Tennessean Newark Star Ledger New Bedford Standard-Times New Haven Register New Orleans Times-Picayune New York Herald Tribune New York Journal & American New York Daily News Okla. City Oklahoman Omaha World Herald Oakland Tribune Orlando Sentinel Star Peoria Journal-Star Philadelphia Bulletin Philadelphia Inquirer Phoenix Republican Pittsburgh Press Pittsburgh Sun Telegraph Portland Oregonian Portland (Ore.) Journal Portland Sun Telegram Providence Journal Reading Eagle Richmond Times Dispatch Roanoke -Times Rochester Dem. & Chronicle Rockford Star Sacramento Bee St. Joseph News Press St. Louis GTobe Democrat St. Louis Post Dispatch St. Paul Pioneer Press Salt Lake City Tribune San Antonio Express San Antonio Light San Diego Union San Francisco Chronicle San Francisco Examiner Savannah News Scranton Scrantonian Seattle Post Intelligencer Seattle Times Shreveport Times Sioux City Journal South Bend Tribune Spokane Spokesman Springfield (Mo.) News Leader Springfield News Sun Springfield Republican Syracuse Herald American Syracuse Post Standard Tacoma News Tribune Terra Haute Trib-Star Toledo Times Topeka Capital Tulsa World Washington Post Washington Star Washington Times Herald Wichita Beacon Wichita Eagle Wilkes-Barre Independent Worcester Telegram Youngstown Vindicator This is a partial list of news- paper comic sections and supplements. All ads will appear between Oct. 1 0 and Oct. 31 — heading for / Then we proved it at the N. Y. Paramount^ Pre-Rek Now weVe proved again and again in first nationwi ALAN LADD I can bring you, even is THE BIGGEST as it did in these typical Paramount is putting you back in War- Boom Business with "Beyond Glory" and "Sorry, Wrong Number"! wilh GEORGE MACREADY- GEORGE COULOUR] HAROLD VERMILYEA • HENRY TRAVER Produced by ROBERT FELLOWS • Directed by JOHN FARRO J! Original Screenplay by Jonathan Lai imer, Charles Marquis Warren and William Wisler Hai reater Alan Ladd... i emiere... ase dates that REED s market and at reduced admission scales, ID GROSSES IN 2 YEARS -most of them without benefit of holiday plus-patronage- | KANSAS CITY I DES MOINES SAN ANTONIO MIAMI POUGHKEEPSIE GEENS FAEES PATER SON BIRMINGHAM H OEEYff^O 0 D OKLAHOMA CITY D UE UTH NEIVARK PEEKSKIEE JVILKES-BARRE CHA TTANOOGA KNOXFIEEE CHARLOTTE 8 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, September 14, 1948 Ascap Fees (Continued from page 1) recently and since Friday's decision all have now ceased making payments. Kane, an attorney, says he sees little chance of Judge Nordbye's decision being reversed on appeal, pointing out that the jurist is regarded as ultra- conservative. Berger himself has refused to pay the music tax for his straight film theatres for 1941 but he intimated that Judge Nordbye's decision of last week might establish a precedent for those theatres which have been paying Ascap. Berger also indicated he would go along with any attempt by the Society to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. Denied Damages, Injunction Schwartz emphasized that Judge Nordbye's 17-page memorandum de- nied damages to the Ascap plaintiffs against the exhibitor defendants for the latter's refusal to pay and denied plaintiffs an injunction restraining the exhibitors from further use of film music without an Ascap license. Judge Nordbye held that to grant plaintiffs' petition "would tend to serve the plaintiffs in their plan and scheme with other members of Ascap to extend their copyrights in a monopolistic control beyond their proper scope." "Ascap has the combined and poten- tial power to deny to any theatre own- er the right to carry on his business," Judge Nordbye held, "because, with- out the right to exhibit films contain- ing Ascap music, no theatre owner would be able to stay in business." Citing Ascap's practices in dealing with theatres, Judge Nordbye held that the Society could refuse to license or impose an exorbitant fee which "can sound the death knell of every motion picture theatre in America." Illegal Despite Policing Granting that Ascap endeavored to police violations of its members' copy- rights by its licensing method, Judge Nordbye said : "Notwithstanding these seeming beneficent purposes, plaintiffs and their associates through Ascap have obtained by these methods and practices which they have carried on over the years a monopolistic con- trol over the copyrighted films in which the music is integrated." The suits were brought here by M. Witmark and Sons, Santley-Joy, Inc., Harms, Inc., and Mills Music, Inc., all of New York, and all Ascap mem- bers. They sought to collect the per- forming fee from Berger and Mrs. Jensen. "Johnny Belinda" (Continued from page 1) she begins to appreciate kindness and warmth when Lew Ayres, newly arrived village doctor, interests himself in her case. From him, Miss Wyman learns to converse with signs and to read lips so that finally she is moved from her own narrow world closer to the normal world of people about her. From her, Ayres finds comfort for earlier failure and disillusion until he falls in love as she eventually does with him. Stephen McNally, domineering and unscrupulous fisherman, one night rapes the girl who bears his child without divulging the identity of her violator although Ayres begins to suspect. Pride of possession persuades McNally to visit the child, Johnny, when in an unguarded moment he reveals the truth. In a scuffle atop a cliff, McNally kills Bickford, the avenging father. Suspicious of Ayres, the townsfolk decide to clear their village's name by seeking to place the baby in the hands of McNally and his wife, Jan Sterling. Her maternal instincts aroused, Miss Wyman resists Miss Sterling and thereafter kills McNally while on his way to the baby's room. Meanwhile Ayres, with marriage his intention, regards John^' as his own son and so describes him to Miss Wyman. Miss Sterling recognizes the letter so declaring as incriminating evidence in the trial that follows. In fact, it is until she breaks down in court and acknowledges that McNally had told her he was the father. This brings about Miss Wyman's acquittal and a final reunion with Ayres. From an histronic approach, Miss Wyman, who never utters a word must rely for the projection of her emotions and her understanding almost entirely on mobility of expression, with the sign language of the deaf mute as an assist. With an astonishing minimum of expression, it is to her great credit as an actress that she does outstandingly well. Undoubtedly here is a performance which will figure prominently, in the year's contest over Academy Awards. The surrounding talent is not to be minimized, however. Ayres is excellent as the doctor. McNally makes a thorough-going heavy. Bickford seems to get close to the soil as the father and Miss Moorehead, always competent, again maintains her reputation. Miss Sterling is effective and so, too, are Dan Seymour and the others. Production values are salty and picturesque. An asset of decided value is the musical score prepared by Max Steiner. It establishes and serves to maintain mood, which is its function. Running time, 102 minutes. Adult audience classification. Release date, Oct. 23. Red Kann Para. Staff Luncheon Henry Ginsberg, Paramount pro duction vice-president, will have luncheon with the entire advertising- publicity departments of the home of- fice at the Astor Hotel tomorrow, at which time he will talk about forth- coming product. Representatives of the publicity department of Para- mount International and the Buchan- an Advertising Agency also will be present. Paul Raibourn, vice-presi- dent of Paramount, will act as host. N. Y. Ascap Decree (Continued from page 1) day, was withheld here yesterday pending an analysis of the ruling. As- cap attorneys said that copies of the decision had not yet reached New York. Similarly, executives of the Thea- tre Owners of America, which, fol- lowing the New York decision- advised its members to continue payments to Ascap, said any new stand on the en- tire music matter must await a study of the Minneapolis opinion. Robert P. Patterson will join with attorney Louis Frohlich in represent- ing Ascap in Minneapolis. Both are also working on the New York case. i aaa WANTED 1,000 SHORT SUBJECTS Single Reels INTEREST— TRAVEL — SPORTS MUSICALS-CARTOONS etc. Up -To -Date — Good Quality BRITISH NEWSREELS LTD. 147 Wardour Street • London, Eng. PCCITO Trustees to Discuss Ascap, Video Los Angeles, Sept. 13. — Ascap and television will be among the first sub- jects discussed by trustees of the Pa- cific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners when their three-day meeting gets under way tomorrow at the Ambassador Hotel. Leroy John- son, PCCITO's Ascap program chair- man, will commend attorney Robert W. Graham for his amici curiae briefs filed in the Independent Thea- tre Owners Association's case against Ascap in New York and in the Minne- apolis case decided against Ascap by Federal Judge G. H. Nordbye last week. . New York Grosses (Continued from page 1) the first week. "Loves of Carmen," also good, will likely give the State a handsome $45,000 for a second week. Business at other situations is for the most part only about fair, with estimated grosses as follows : "That Lady in Ermine," Jon Hall and Frances Langford, among others, on the stage, third week at the Roxy, $75,000 ("Luck of the Irish" replaces the show tomorrow) ; "Date with Judy" and a stage show at the Music Hall, sixth and final week, $120,000; "Lar- ceny," Winter Garden, third week, $20,000; "Race Street," Mayfair, fourth and final week, $14,000; "Vel- vet Touch," Rivoli, third week, $22,- 000; "Tap Roots," Criterion, third, $20,000 ; "Two Guys from Texas" and a giveaway stage show, Strand, third week, $30,000; "Larceny," Winter Garden, second week, $17,000 ; "Rope," Globe, third week $30,000 ; "Babe Ruth Story," Astor, seventh week, $17,500; "Ruthless," Gotham, second week, $12,500. New films to open this week include "Good Sam," Thursday at the Music Hall, and "Rachel and the Stranger," Saturday at the Mayfair. 20th Availability ( Continued from page 1 ) to offer such a policy to exhibitors," he added. "Completed pictures and those already in preparation enable us to offer exhibitors definite future releases, giving them the opportunity to make their plans for future book- ings," declared Smith. Smith added that under this policy exhibitors would be able to schedule their attendance at a film's tri showing and at the same time conff. pencilled-in bookings. To Furnish Promotion Material "We offer," he said, "not only the product, but we are prepared to pro- vide the necessary advertising-pub- licity material and information with each picture sufficiently in advance to provide every exhibitor with the fullest opportunity to accurately plan presentation of our films. "Director of advertising and pub- licity Charles Schlaifer and his home office staff, and the staff of Harry Brand, studio director of publicity, already have completed publicity, ad sales material, trailers and other ac- cessories for the next five months and are preparing other campaigns far in advance. Our branch offices have been acquainted with the date of avail- ability of this material and have been advised of the first date on which bookings could be accepted for each release." Stresses Boon to Exhibitors Smith pointed out that 20th Cen- tury-Fox has been mindful that the exhibitor's opportunities for advance planning and preparation have not been simple in the past. Now, he said, through the coordinated and co- operative effort of the company's stu- dio and home office the exhibitor will have the maximum possibilities not only for advance information on pro- ductions but also on sales policies and availability. Stating that early in November he will announce definite dates for the availability to key city first-run ac- counts on pictures for the first five months of 1949, Smith said the sched- ule will stipulate arrival date of first print as well as the availability of ad- vertising accessories. Coast to coast and overseas, ily world-proved TWA One airline, TWA, takes you to principal U.S. cities or to Ireland , Paris,Egyptandother key points in Europe, Africa and Asia. When you go, fly by dependable TWA Skyliner with crews seasoned by mil- lions of trans- world miles. For reservations, call your TWA office or your travel agent TRANS WORLD AIRLINE U.S.A. • EUROPE • AFRICA • ASIA ri MOTION P I CTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1948 TEN CENTS ' I A' Pension Plans Readied For Industry Locals Move Toward Bid For Management Talks Governing bodies of IATSE lo- cals in various sections of the coun- try, representing thousands of in- dustry workers, have started to formulate plans for negotiating locally with film companies, laboratories, the- atres, etc., for the adoption of jointly- operated union-management pension plans. Hundreds of thousands of dol- lars in financing may be involved ul- timately. Local planning, stemming from the decision of the delegates at last month's biennial IATSE convention in Cleveland, is subject to the approv- al of individual local memberships. Whether the joint pension plan prin- ciple will be advocated eventually by all 940 "IA" locals in the U. S. and Canada, representing a total of some 60,000 industry workers, cannot be foreseen at this time. However, the possibility remains. The "IA" general executive board, headed by international president (Continued on page 4) 'Joan of Arc' to Open on Nov. 11 "Joan of Arc," starring Ingrid Bergman, made by Sierra Pictures and released by RKO Radio, will have its world premiere at the new Vic- toria Theatre, New York, on Armis- tice Day, Nov. 11. This Victor Fleming production, in Technicolor, based on Maxwell An- derson's stage play, "Joan of Lor- raine," has been heralded as the most costly in recent history of motion (Continued on page 8) Enterprise Calls Production Halt Hollywood, Sept. 14. — Enterprise, which recently allowed its option on Harry Sherman's studio to lapse, sus pended production last night pending the outcome of continuing conferences with Sherman. If not renewed, the lease on the studio has eight months to run. Side tracked by the production suspension are Sherman's "Tennessee's Partner," (Continued on page 4) Report Ascap Orders Its Field Branches to Drop Collections American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers has instructed all of its branch offices throughout the country to dis- continue efforts to collect music reproducing license fees from theatres, it was widely reported here yesterday although efforts to reach Ascap officials for confirmation were unsuccessful. Theatre collections had come to a virtual standstill in conse- quence of the New York and Minneapolis Federal Court decisions against Ascap and presumably the Society is content to let matters take their course until the current litigation is finally adjudicated. That could mean another two years, depending on appeals. Drive for Skouras' 35th Anniversary Los Angeles, Sept. 14. — Spyros P. Skouras, president of 20th Century- Fox, is celebrating his 35th year in show business and the company's sales force is d e d i c a t - ing a special concen- trated sales campaign in his honor, general sales manager Andy W. Smith, Jr., an- nounced here today. Starting- Sept. 26 and ending Dec. 25, the 13 - week period will be known as "The Spyros P. Skouras 35th Anniversary Celebra- tion," Smith revealed at the opening session of the company's national sales conference. Objectives of the anniversary cele- bration will include achieving the greatest "pencil-in" result in company (Continued on page 8) Spyros P. Skouras Realart's 1st. Nat'l Meeting Sept. 20-23 Budd Rogers, distribution vice-presi- dent of Realart Pictures, will preside at the company's first national conven- tion to be held here Sept. 20-23 at the Warwick Hotel. The meeting will be attended by franchise holders and salesmen from all parts^of the country. During its first year, the company placed in release through franchise holders more than 40 reissue features and eight reissue Westerns, and 35 features, 24 Westerns and four serials, all reissues, through other channels. Among those who will attend the convention are : Paul Broder, Jack Broder, Irving Kipnis, Norman Eisen- stein, Joseph Harris, Bill Schulman, (Continued on page 8) Central Agency to Buy Film Music Rights Under Study E. C. Mills, former general man- ager of the American Society of Com- posers, Authors and Publishers, has been asked to appraise the music per- forming rights situation in the light of recent Federal Court decisions and to report on new licensing procedures, including a proposal for establishing a central buying agency for motion picture producers. Producers will be unable to clear world rights to the music in their films through individual . copyright owners if the legal decisions force Ascap out of the theatre licensing field, it was pointed out. In most in- stances, American copyright owners assign rights to other music publishers for individual countries throughout the world and, without a central clear- ance agency, producers and distribu- tors would encounter great difficulty in locating and negotiating with such individual holders of rights outside the United States. While the court decisions will not (Continued on page 8) Approve 20th-Roxy Video Experiments Washington, Sept. 14.— Federal Communications Commission has granted 20th Century-Fox permission co operate an experimental television station in New York City. One of the chief purposes of the station will be to experiment with theatre television, and the FCC's grant includes permission to "pipe" programs picked up by mobile trans- mitters into the Roxy Theatre. Fox, along with Warner and Para- mount is slated to appear before the Commission next week on the use of higher frequencies for television, and part of Fox's testimony, it is under- stood, will center on the possibility of using higher bands in theatre video. Settlement of Para. Case 'Impossible' US, Companies Said Far Apart on Decree Terms Agreement on a consent decree in the industry anti-trust suit is impos- sible at this time because of the widely divergent views of the Gov- ernment and theatre-owning defend- ants, it was disclosed here yesterday by a participant in the top-executive, private, industry conferences on the matter. He said that the defendants cannot agree to the theatre-divestiture re- quirements on which the Department of Justice would condition a decree and expressed the belief that major defendants would do better by rely- ing upon the final adjudication of the case in the courts. Robert Wright, Government prose- cutor in the case, following the U. S. Supreme Court's opinion, said he in- tended to press for complete divorce- ment. Attorney General Tom Clark last week expressed willingness to talk (Continued on page 4) 3% State Tax Urged At Ohio ITO Meet Columbus, Sept. 14. — Return to the uniform state three per cent ad- missions tax was urged today at the first session of the two-day convention of the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio at the Deshler-Wallick Hotel here. Although no formal action was taken, sentiment of exhibitors present seemed to favor the change. The some 250 delegates present also heard a prediction by Abram F. Myers, Allied States general counsel, (Continued on page 10) Distributors Answer Gov't. Queries Today The five theatre-owning de- fendants in the industry anti- trust case will submit the balance of their answers to Department of Justice inter- rogatories to the New York Federal Court today, the deadline for filing. The com- panies will list theatre part- nership arrangements, stock ownerships, voting shares and related information. 2 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, September is, , . 1 Personal Mention Newsreel Parade Coming Events Sept. 16 - 18 — International Variety Clubs' mid-year convention, Stat- ler Hotel, Washington. Sept. 24 - 25 — Theatre Owners of America convention, Drake Hotel, Chicago. Sept. 26-27— MPTO of St. Louis, annual convention, Jefferson Ho- tel, St. Louis. Sept. 28 - 30 — Theatre Equipment and Supply Manufacturers Asso- ciation national trade show and convention, Jefferson Hotel, St. Louis. Sept 28 - 29 — Kansas-Missouri The- atre Association annual conven- tion, Kansas City. Oct. 14-15 — Independent Theatre Owners of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan annual convention, Schroeder Hotel, Milwaukee. Oct. 25-29— Society of Motion Pic- ture Engineers semi-annual con- vention, Statler Hotel, Washing- ton. Oct. 27-28 — Kentucky Association of Theatre Owners convention at the Seelbach Hotel, Louisville, Ky. Nov. 1-2 — Allied Theatre Owners of Texas annual convention, Dallas, Tex. Would Raise $17,000 To Fight Censorship Tentative title of "National Council for Freedom of Expression" was adopted by an anti-censorship group at a meeting here yesterday. A tenta- tive budget of $17,000 was also an- nounced. Elmer Rice, chairman of the meeting, pointed out that the wave of censorship in the film industry, as well as in the press and on the radio "is getting worse all the time." He called for the unified opposition of all "inter- ested in freedom." The meeting for the most part was concerned with whether the unit should indulge in legislative activity, and whether its organization should be on an individual or a group basis. Kurtz Quits Rialto To Join M. Heiman William Kurtz has resigned as trea- surer of the Rialto Theatre, Broad- way first-run, to join United Booking Office, headed by Marcus Heiman. Kurtz said yesterday that he will su- pervise operation of the National Theatre, Washington, as well as book product for it, maintaining headquar- ters in the Sardi Building, New York. Kurtz had been associated for many years with Arthur Mayer when the latter operated the Rialto. Sioux City, la,, to Review Pictures Sioux City, la., Sept. 14. — Follow- ing recent banning of three books by the city's chief of police, Mayor Dan J. Conley has named a committee of nine men and nine women to review motion pictures or publications against which complaints are entered. GRADW'ELL SEARS, United Artists president, is expected back in New York tomorrow from the Coast. • Fred Quimby, M-G-M short sub- jects production head, and Mrs. Quimby will leave Hollywood Oct. 1 for New York, stopping off at Lon- don, Ont., en route. • Johx Murphy, who is in charge of Loew's out-of-town theatre operations, accompanied by Harry Moskowitz, chief engineer, has returned to New York from Boston. • Jack Needham, retired 20th Cen- tury-Fox salesman in Columbus, has been named chairman of that city's drive to aid the Will Rogers Memo- rial Hospital. • Walter Yaxcke, city manager of Dent Theatres at Lincoln, Neb., has been discharged from the hospital fol- lowing a polio attack and is recuperat- ing at his home. • F. J. A. McCarthy, Universal-In- ternational Southern and Canadian sales manager, will leave New York today for Buffalo and Toronto. • B. G. Kraxze, Film Classics dis- tribution vice-president, left here yesterday by plane for San Francisco and Los Angeles. • Joseph Marks, Selznick Releasing Organization's Canadian division sales manager, is en route to New York from Toronto. • W. W. Spencer, M-G-M studio ex- ecutive, and his wife are scheduled to leave the Coast on Friday for a visit to New York. • L. B. Fuqua, head of Kentucky Theatre Enterprises, Eddyville, Ky., and Mrs. Fuqua recently became parents of a daughter, Martha Lois. • Larry Weixgartex, M-G-M studio executive, and his wife will leave Hollywood Sept. 30 for New York. • Paula Gould, Capitol Theatre pub- licist here, is on vacation. • Joe Faith, Connecticut exhibitor, has recovered from a long illness. Production in Slight Gain; 27 in Work Hollywood, Sept. 14. — The pro- duction index stood at 27, gaining one from last week's tally. Work started on five new films ; four were completed. Shooting started on "Blondie's Big Deal" and "Jungle Jim's Adventure," Columbia ; 'Daughter of Ramona" (Martin Mooney), Film Classics; "Jiggs and Maggie in Court," Mono- gram ; "Thunder in the Pines" (Lip- pert), Screen Guild. Shooting finished on "Joe Palooka in the Big Fight," Monogram ; "Streets of Laredo," Paramount ; "Daughter of the Jungle," Republic ; "Follow Me Quietly," RKO Radio. ARTHUR ABELES, JR., Warner managing director in England, is en route to New York from London on the -S^ Nieu Amsterdam for a six-week visit. • Deox DeTitta, chief projectionist at the 20th Century-Fox home office, is observing his 36th wedding anniver- sary today and his 32nd with the company. • George E. Laxders, Hartford divi- sion manager of E. M. Loew's The- atres, and his son, Richard, have re- turned to that city from a vacation on the Coast and in Canada. • S. J. Browx, Sr., former owner- manager of the Star Theatre in West Point, Ky., has almost completely re- covered from a major operation. • Domixick Turturro, owner of the Elm Theatre in Millbury, Mass., and Mrs. Turturro have become parents of a daughter. • Al Zimbalist, Film Classics adver- tising-publicity chief, accompanied by Mischa Auer, will fly to Chicago to- day from New York. • Bex Kalmexsox, Warner distribu- tion vice-president, was in Boston yesterday from New York. • Jack Waldsteix of the M-G-M of- fice in Boston is vacationing in Holly- wood. Johx Jexkixs, Astor Pictures of Dallas president, is in town for talks with R. M. Savixi, Astor president. • Hermax Ripps, M-G-M assistant Eastern division sales manager, is in Boston from Albany, N. Y. • Jimmy Nash, assistant manager of the Capitol Theatre here, was married last Sunday to Lexore Gramman. • Salvatore Popolizio, 20th Century- Fox booker in New Haven, is recup- erating from an operation. • Bixg Crosby has been elected to the board of directors of Vacuum Foods Corp. • Dick Powell left New York yes- terday by plane for Hollywood. To Halt Stage Shows Chicago, Sept. 14. — Discontinuance of stage shows by the Balaban and Katz Regal Theatre, Negro house, after the current Louis Jordan show, has been announced by the manage- ment after a demand by the American Federation of Musicians Local for in- stallation of a permanent pit band of eight men. B. and K. claims the de- mand is unfair. Stack on WB Board Loxdox, Sept. 14. — Charles Stack, who recently was appointed Warner general sales manager in Britain, has been elected to the UK company's board of directors. THE Berlin Crisis and the Pope blessing some 250,000 girls are among the current newsreel high- lights. Other items include a rodeo, beauty contest and sports. Complete contents follow: MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 74— Huge Berlin rally against the Russians. Canadian oil well burns. Governor Dewey re^j' *rs. Rome: 250,000 girls hail Pope. U.''i--P ir Forces marks first anniversary. '"WWjftl- vania Week" proclaimed by Governor 'Duff. Circus performance for hospital benefit. Miss America. Sports: Mountain climbing, auto dare-devil drivers. NEWS OF THE DAT, No. 804 — Berlin crisis. Film stars join circus for chanty. Pope blesses multitude. First pension check. Drama in the zoo. Beauty on parade. Governor Dewey aids "Youth Month." "Pro" football thriller. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 7— Boston baseball fever. Berlin crisis. UN on for- eign policy. Pope spurs anti-Red campaign. Stars aid charity. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. ^^Berlin crisis. News in brief: Girls hail Pope, jaloppies, Miss America, rodeo. Aviation: B-50's. WARNER PATHE NEWS, No. 9— New crisis in Berlin. People in the news: Gen. Mark Clark, John L. Lewis, President Truman, Secretary Marshall, Governor Dewey, air-force chiefs. Veteran registers for draft on a flag pole. Miss America. Canadian oil fire. Bike races. Girls visit Pope. Elephant a-la-moat. Stars To Join in WMGM Dedication On the occasion of setting new call letters, formerly WHN, and now WMGM, and the opening of new studios, the M-G-M-owned station in New York will offer a three-hour program beginning at eight P. M. to- night, featuring an hour-long pick- up from the film company studios with an assortment of M-G-M stars sched- uled to be heard. Mayor O'Dwyer, other officials and numerous figures of the entertainment world will partici- pate in the portions of the show orig- inating at the new studios. Wrather and Wayne Form Epic Pictures Hollywood, Sept. 14. — Producer Jack Wrather, actor John Wayne, and writer James Edward Grant, will file incorporation papers next week for Epic Pictures, Inc., to produce three Technicolor pictures in the next three years. Wrather will produce, Wayne will star in, and Grant will write all three. Wrather stated that the com- pany already is 100 per cent financed. No release channel has been set. Mesibov to CCNY Staff Sid Mesibov, exploitation manager for Paramount here, has joined the faculty of the College of the City of New York, Institute of Film Tech- niques, as part-time instructor in the principles of motion picture advertis- ing, publicity, exploitation and dis- tribution. The course is given as part of the College's evening sessions. Ferretti on His Own James J. Ferretti, Eastern division manager of U. S. Air Conditioning Corp. for many years, has resigned to develop a new air conditioning sys- tem for small theatres. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Then J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, J20 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the poet office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. EVERY DAY IT'S TRUER AND TRUER: *4 MGM TO PS THEM ALL/ What a Summer! "Homecoming," Irving Berlin's "Easter Parade" (Technicolor), Frank Capra's "State of the Union," "A Date With Judy" (Technicolor), "On An Island With You" (Technicolor), "Luxury Liner" (Technicolor), "A Southern Yankee"! And more! Who else but M-G-M has such a record! And who else but M-G-M has such a line-up of Fall and Winter Big Ones! BEFORE VITAMIN M-G-M! AFTER VITAMIN M-G-M! UP! AND COMING! GREER GARSON WALTER PIDGEON in "JULIA MISBEHAVES" PETER LAWFORD, ELIZABETH TAYLOR CESAR ROMERO, Lucile Watson, Nigel Bruce, Mary Boland, Reginald Owen The Enterprise Studios present DANA ANDREWS, LILLI PALMER and LOUIS JOURDAN in "NO MINOR VICES" with Jane Wyatt "THE SECRET LAND" (Teefcnieo/or) Starring MEN AND SHIPS Of The U. S. NAVY Narration By Comdr. ROBERT MONTGOMERY, U.S.N.R. Lt. ROBERT TAYLOR, U.S.N.R. It. VAN HEFLIN, A.A.F. (Ret.) "HILLS OF HOME" (Technicolor) Starring EDMUND GWENN DONALD CRISP, TOM DRAKE JANET LEIGH and LASSIE Alexandre Dumas' "THE THREE MUSKETEERS" (Technicolor) Starring LANA TURNER, GENE KELLY JUNE ALLYSON, VAN HEFLIN ANGELA LANSBURY Frank Morgan, Vincent Price, Keenan Wynn, John Sutton, Gig Young ★ ★ ★ "ACT OF VIOLENCE" Starring VAN HEFLIN, ROBERT RYAN with Janet Leigh, Mary Astor Phyllis Thaxter ★ * ★ FRANK SINATRA, KATHRYN GRAYSON in "THE KISSING BANDIT (Technicolor) J. Carrol Naish, Mildred Natwick Mikhail Rasumny, Billy Gilbert Sono Osato with Dance Specialties By Ricardo Montalban, Ann Miller, Cyd Charisse ' * * * 1 John Ford's "3 GODFATHERS" (Technicolor) Presented by John Ford & Merian C. Cooper Starring JOHN WAYNE, PEDRO ARMENDARIZ And Introducing HARRY CAREY, Jr. with Ward Bond, Mae Marsh Jane Darwell, Ben Johnson CLARK GABLE, WALTER PIDGEON VAN JOHNSON, BRIAN DONLEVY Charles Bickford, John Hodiak Edward Arnold in "COMMAND DECISION" "LITTLE WOMEN" (Technicolor) Starring JUNE ALLYSON, PETER LAWFORD MARGARET O'BRIEN, ELIZABETH TAYLOR JANET LEIGH, ROSSANO BRAZZI MARY ASTOR with Lucile Watson, C. Aubrey Smith ROBERT TAYLOR AVA GARDNER CHARLES LAUGHTON VINCENT PRICE JOHN HODIAK in "THE BRIBE" "SUN IN THE MORNING" (Technicolor) Starring JEANETTE MacDONALD LLOYD NOLAN, CLAUDE JARMAN, Jr. and LASSIE with Lewis Stone, Percy Kilbride "WORDS AND MUSIC" (Technicolor) Starring MICKEY ROONEY, JUDY GARLAND GENE KELLY, JUNE ALLYSON PERRY COMO, ANN SOTHERN with Tom Drake, Cyd Charisse, Betty Garrett, Lena Home, Janet Leigh, Marshall Thompson, Mel Torme, Vera-Ellen ★ ★ ★ SPENCER TRACY, DEBORAH KERR in "EDWARD, MY SON" with Ian Hunter ★ ★ ★ JOHN GARFIELD in The Roberts Production "FORCE OF EVIL" An Enterprise Picture with Thomas Gomez and Marie Windsor And Introducing BEATRICE PEARSON *».★'★ FRED ASTAIRE, GINGER ROGERS in "THE BARKLEYS OF BROADWAY" (Tec/in/co/or) with Oscar Levant, Billie Burke Gail Robbins, Jacques Francois ★ ★ *• FRANK SINATRA ESTHER WILLIAMS, GENE KELLY in "TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME" (Technicolor) with Betty Garrett Jules Munshin, Edward Arnold (Help Promote YOUTH MONTH — Saluting Young America!) 4 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, September 15, 1948 Break Deadlock in WB Wage Bid Here A deadlock was "partially broken" yesterday in the new contract negotia- tions being conducted here between Warner and IATSE Motion Picture Home Office Employes Local No. H- 63, it was indicated by a spokesman for the union. The break came, it was said, when the company made a wage offer which H-63 representatives considered worth taking under advise- ment. The spokesman declined to state the amount of the offer. This development in the Warner "white collarite" negotiations lent a fresh note of optimism to H-63's cur- rent campaign for wage increases at not only Warners, but also at Univer- sal, Pathe Laboratories, United World Films, Universal Newsreel, Castle Films, Ace Laboratories, and M-G-M and Warner music houses. 'IA' Pension Plans (Continued from page 1) Richard F. Walsh, has gone on record as being opposed to pension plans which are exclusively company-con- trolled. One point of opposition the board has expressed thusly : "Since discharge eliminates an employee from coverage, there is a temptation pres- ent to eliminate an employee about to go upon retirement." The "IA" convention's decision to allow joint pension plan negotiations to be conducted on the basis of local autonomy, and to prohibit their handling by the international office here, is embodied in the "IA's" dedi- cation to the "home rule" principle. However, for the sake of convenience in negotiating, "IA" has adopted the following stipulation : "When suffi- cient pension plans have been locally negotiated, and if consummated with the assistance of the general office, they may be sufficiently flexible to fit into a national plan, should a subse- quent convention desire to authorize the general office to negotiate pen- sions upon a national basis." Many industry companies, including Loew's, RKO Radio, Altec, and some independent theatre circuits, have been operating pension plans for employes. Brewer Calls NLRB Decision 'Confusing' Hollywood, Sept. 14. — IATSE in- ternational representative Roy M. Brewer has issued a statement calling last Friday's NLRB ruling on dis- charged machinists "confusing," as- serting they had been reinstated two weeks after their dismissal and have been employed steadily since. IATSE has been pressing for an NLRB decision, Brewer said, and welcomes it as clearing the way for an election to determine the proper bargaining agency for machinists em- ployed in studios, which he says are "virtually 100 per cent IATSE." NY Studio Mechanics Elect Muller, Gerrity Edward Muller has been elected business agent of IATSE Studio Me- chanics Local No. 52 here, succeeding Sal J. Scoppa who lost out by only nine votes. Local president William J. Gerrity and all other officers were reelected, including Charles Schlosser, vice-president, and James A. Delaney, financial secretary-treasurer. Screen Writers Guild To Join MPIC Work Hollywood, Sept. 14. — Reversing its previous stand-off policy, the Screen Writers Guild membership voted at its regular meeting last night to participate in the Motion Picture Industry Council. The membership voted for a rule to restrict SWG members from dealing with talent agents who have not been licensed by the Guild under regula- tions yet to be worked out by the executive committee. This action came as a sequel to Artist Managers Guild's rejection of the SWG licens- ing proposal offered some time ago. The SWG license terms, as projected, would bind agents to protect writers against certain standing practices and represent them in arbitration proceed- ings. The SWG members also approved a report by Ernest Pascal on progress in the preparation of contract demands to be made when the current pact ex- pires next May. Decision Reserved in MPAA vs. SWG Suit Federal Judge Samuel H. Kaufman yesterday reserved decision in U. S. District Court here on Motion Picture Association of America's defense mo- tion for dismissal of the injunction suit instituted by the Screen Writers Guild. SWG, together with some 30 authors and playwrights, filed its suit early in June, protesting the industry's policy of not hiring known Commu- nists. The industry policy was formulated after the 10 "unfriendly" Hollywood directors, writers and producers were cited for contempt of Congress follow- ing last year's Congressional investi- gation of alleged subversive activities in the film colony. Trial of Cole Suit Delayed to Dec. 1 Los Angeles, Sept. 14. — Federal Judge Leon Yankwitch today denied a motion by M-G-M attorneys for 60-day continuance of Lester Cole's suit for declaratory relief, scheduled for Nov. 16, but did grant a two-week delay, setting Dec. 1 as the trial date. Cole seeks definition of his rights and a ruling whether the studio was within its rights in suspending him following his refusal to testify before the Thomas committee. SWG Reports Drop In Jobs at Studios Hollywood, Sept. 14. — Reporting a decline in " its membership to 1,270 from 1,454 during the past year, the Screen Writers Guild maintains that the number of writers under contract to major studios has dropped 53 per cent during the past three years. Writers in the lowest and middle sal- ary brackets have been hardest hit, the SWG says. Delay Colosseum Talks; Resume Soon Contract negotiations between dis- tributors and the Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen, discontinued tem- porarily at the weekend, will resume here late this week, a spokesman for the distributors' negotiating committee indicated yesterday. An agreement was expected before the end of last week, but failed to materialize. Twin Cities Owners Ask Clearance Cuts Minneapolis, Sept. 14. — First definite overall break in clear- ance change demands among Twin Cities independent ex- hibitors occurred immediately when Minneapolis branch managers received requests from Tom Burke of Theatre Associates, buying combine, for a change in availability for a number of houses. Asking clearance changes from 56 to 42 days for the Edina, Nile and Boulevard, Minneapolis, and the Ran- dolph, St. Paul, and from 58 to 49 days at the Avalon, Min- neapolis, and 56 to 35 days for the West Twins, St. Paul, all effective Sept. 29, Burke said he was prepared "to negotiate on that availability." Move to Halt 16mm. Film Price-cutting As the first move in an all-out campaign to halt the cutting of prices of established 16mm. rental schedules, representatives of five 16mm. dis- tributing companies met at a luncheon- meeting at the Hotel Astor here yes- terday to discuss plans to combat the "growing menace of price cutting which is strangling the 16mm. indus- try" through the unfair pricing and exhibition practices of some 16mm. libraries and operators of road-shows, particularly in the south. The meeting was called by Jacques Kopfstein, executive vice-president of Astor Pictures, who met with repre- sentatives of Commonwealth, Film Highlights, Post and Pictorial. Dis- cussions centered around determining the validity of minimum price rentals now part of the standard lease agree- ment between distributors and film libraries and the question of their le- gal enforcement. Of paramount importance, it was said, is the question of the rigid en- forcement by the libraries of rentals in situations which might cause re- sentment from local 35mm. theatre operators. Maintenance of minimum price rentals between libraries and 16mm. exhibitors, and the best method of operation for the mutual benefit of the 16mm. industry were also dis- cussed. Additional meetings are scheduled for the second Tuesday of every month. Other 16mm. film distributors will be invited to participate. Enterprise (Continued from page 1) which was to complete Enterprise's seven-picture commitment to United Artists, and one untitled picture to complete its four-picture commitment to M-G-M. Neither had started shoot- ing. Also entering into the decision to suspend production, according to one Enterprise executive, is the fact that the company has in excess of $5,000,- 000 tied up in three unreleased pic- tures delivered to M-G-M. It is be- lieved that a resumption of production will await returns from these pictures unless Enterprise and Sherman work out a mutually satisfactory deal on a new studio lease. Answer SIMPP in Detroit in 2 Weeks Detroit, Sept. 14. — An answer to the anti-trust suit brought by the So- ciety of Independent Motion Picture Producers in Federal Court here against United Detroit Theatres and Cooperative Theatres of Michigan will be filed in about two weeks. David Newman, legal and publii1' " i lations counsellor for CooperaV said, "Cooperative in all its dealings with the plaintiffs, always conducted itself in a legal manner." He ex- pressed confidence in a complete vin- dication in court of the charges made. Newman directly stated that the SIMPP makes "some fajse charges with relation to Cooperative" and cited two examples, indicating at the same time, the line of reasoning which the answer will probably take: 1 — "It is false that Cooperative has an option to purchase back the theatre of any member who withdraws." Ex- istence of such a provision was de- nied by Newman who further stated, "Cooperative does not own any the- atres and has never owned any." 2— "They (SIMPP) claim that no exhibitor can come into Cooperative if any one member objects. Lots of new members get in over the opposi- tion of other members. In the case of the admission of new members a majority of the board of directors governs." Trial of Dipson Trust Suit Opens in Buffalo Buffalo, Sept. 14.— Trial of the $5,125,472 treble damage anti-trust suit filed here several months ago by Dipson Theatre Co. of Buffalo opened today in Federal Court before Judge John Knight with Mikitas D. Dipson as chief witness. Defendants in the suit are Buffalo Theatres, Inc., op- erators of the Shea circuit; Loew's, Paramount, Universal, Warner Broth- ers, RKO Radio, 20th Century-Fox, United Artists and Columbia, and Vincent R. McFaul, president of Buf- falo Theatres. Louis Borins, plaintiff's attorney, charged that Dipson's 20th Century Theatre, first-run downtown theatre, suffered "terrific monetary losses" as a result of what he described as "one of the unholiest conspiracies heard of." Paramount Case (Continued from page 1) about a decree with the film compa- nies but predicted that the companies would not submit any settlement pro- posals. While the same opinion is held by some top-level industry executives, the flat statement that a decree could not be agreed upon was the first to be made by one of the relatively few men who have participated in the private discussions on the subject. In Washington yesterday, Wright said that nothing has happened con- cerning the decree since the first ap- proach to Attorney General Clark. It was at that time that Clark told a distributor group that he would be available to discuss the matter. Concerning the forthcoming trial, Wright said that if the Oct. 13 date for reopening the case in New York interferes with plans of any defense attorneys to observe the Jewish holi- day the same day, he would agree tc "an adjustment." "I'm not so sure about a long postponement," he added. Wednesday, September 15, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 5 Buy European Right To Zale Fight Films European rights to Ringside Pic- ture's films of the forthcoming Tony Zale-Marcel Cerdan World's Middle- weight Boxing Championship and the Gus Lesnevich-Jersey Joe Walcott heavyweight elimination bout have N_- - sold to French boxing promoter OfJ Logman, it was reported here yesterday by Mannie Baum, Ring- side's general manager. Ten cameramen will record the fights, which will be held at Roose- velt Stadium, Jersey City, on Sept 21, according to Baum. He added that prints will leave New York at about eight o'clock the following morning by planes for points West, with screenings expected to be held in Chicago theatres less than 24 hours after the fights are finished. Ringside will handle its own dis- tribution in New York, Baum said. Illinois distribution has been con- tracted for by Henri Elman of Chi- cago, and Pacific Coast distribution will be handled by Herbert Rosener of San Francisco, according to Baum. Children's Library Starts in Canada The Children's Film Library will be inaugurated in Canada next week. Mrs. Marjorie Dawson, chairman of the Children's Film Library Commit- tee of the Motion Picture Association of America will leave for Toronto next Monday to attend a meeting on Sept. 21 at which she will demon- strate the procedures established by the committee in the United States to distributors of Canada and to repre- sentatives of Canadian women's or- ganizations. Toronto Odeon Scale Highest in Canada Toronto, Sept. 14. — Regular policy of the Odeon-Toronto has been estab- lished with prices scaling up to $1.20, the highest for any house in Canada. General admission at other first-run houses here is 66 cents top. 'Olympics' to Gotham J. Arthur Rank's "The Olympic Games of 1948," in Technicolor, being released here by Eagle-Lion, will open in New York on Sept. 24 at the Gotham Theatre, E-L announced yes- terday. Vog Film Premiere American premiere of the new French film, "Loves of Casanova," re- leased in the U. S. by Vog Film Co., will be held at Siritzky Ambassador Theatre here Friday. Canada's Attendance Is Leveling Off Toronto, Sept. 14— Cana- dian government report shows a decline in theatre at- tendance of 7,000,000 patrons in 1947, confirming the recent observation of president J. J. Fitzgibbons of Famous Play- ers-Canadian that patronage is levelling off in the Domin- ion. Review "The Olympic Games of 1948" (J. Arthur Rank — Eagle-Lion) EIGHTEEN Technicolor camera units, manned by 75 J. Arthur Rank organ- ization cameramen, recorded for the screen the brilliant, colorful feats of physical strength and endurance which marked the recent London Olympic Games and the prior winter Olympic Games held at St. Moritz, Switzerland. This is indeed a vivid film record of the 14th Olympiad, the ubiquitous cam- eraman capturing all of the breathtaking beauty of the Swiss Alpine area where daring skiers, superb ice skaters and expert tobogganists competed for top honors in the field of winter sports. Likewise, those cameramen followed with amazing flexibility the suspenseful athletic events at London's huge Wembley Stadium, Empire Pool, and other sites where supplemental sport contests were held. For American audiences there are many genuinely thrill- ing moments here, since U. S. athletic stars acquitted themselves splendidly at the Olympics and brought home with them a goodly number of laurels. But for all of the majestic beauty of snowy Alps, the thrills of stadium and aquatic events — including swimming, foot racing, marathons, jumping, discus throwing, horsemanship, etc. — the film is entirely too long for general theatre audiences. Sports enthusiasts, on the other hand, might complain that this is not a complete film record of the Olympics. True, it is an incomplete record, but there is no lack of excitement in the events presented. Of course, the first consideration should be general theatre patronage in serving fare such as this; hence, unsparing though judicious cutting would seem to be in order. One thing is practically certain, however. J. Arthur Rank (and Eagle-Lion, too, of course) has a film which qualifies for Academy Award honors in the documentary field. Producer director Castleton Knight can take credit for a masterful job in a production which was superbly handled in all individual departments. U. S. sports announcers Bill Stern and Ted Husing take care of the narration and commentary in their usual A-l fashion. An impressive music score, recorded by Sir Thomas Beecham's Royal Philharmonic Orches- tra, under the direction of Muir Mathieson, was specially written by Guy Warrack. Running time, 136 minutes. General audience classification. For September release. Charles L. Franke Commonwealth Meets President, Kan., Sept. 14. — An- nual convention of Commonwealth Theatres started here today with the announcement that Robert Simmons of the Plaza Theatre in Lamar, Mo., had won the "King of the Sun" con- test. He will be inaugurated at the outing tomorrow afternoon at Star Lane Farm. C. A. Schultz, president, and Robert Shelton, vice-president and general manager, are in charge of the meeting. Youth Month Scholarship A four-year scholarship to Denver University will be the grand prize in a nationwide essay contest conducted among the Youth of America over National Broadcasting, it has been announced here by the Theatre Own- ers of America. The scholarship was arranged by Robert W. Selig, Col- orado exhibitor and state chairman of the national Youth Month Committee. Education Film Unit To . End on Sept. 25 Final meeting of the Commission on Motion Pictures of the American Council on Education, established in 1944 under a Motion Picture Associa- tion of America grant, will be held here on Sept. 25, according to Dr. Mark A. May, chairman of the Com- mission. Research material and edu- cational specifications to be used in developing films in the fields of democracy, music, art and high school mathematics are expected to be re- leased at the meeting. Youths to 'Salute Youth' Los Angeles, Sept. 14. — Children will be admitted free to "Salute to Youth" morning programs at 17 Fox West Coast first run theatres in the Los Angeles area on Sept. 18. Shows will be sponsored by Arden Farms Milk Co., which will supply the tickets. 1,693 Canadian Houses Earned $62,278,573 Ottawa, Sept. 14. — In an advance preliminary report, the Canadian gov- ernment reveals that the 1,693 motion picture theatres in Canada earned $62,278,573 last year, excluding amuse- ment taxes which amounted to $16,- 375,226, paid admissions totaled $220,714,785. The 472 theatres in Ontario led all others in receipts, earning $26,483,044, with amusement taxes there totaling $5,977,181 and paid admissions $93,- 137,140. Earnings, not including taxes, else- where in Canada were as follows : (Number of theatres are in brackets) : Quebec, $13,919,917 (319) ; British Northwest territories, $7,055,066 (172); Alberta, $3,707,668 (178); Manitoba, $3,526,223 (146) ; Saskatch- ewan, $2,890,727 (254) ; Nova Scotia, $2,666,189 (79) ; New Brunswick, $1,773,904 (59); Prince Edward Island, $255,835 (14). Amusement taxes follow : Quebec, $4,743,498; British Columbia, $1,724,- 085; Alberta, $1,046,424; Manitoba, $864,826; Nova Scotia, $771,857; Sas- katchewan, $624,372 ; New Brunswick, $547,691 ; Prince Edward Island, $75,- 292. _ Paid admissions were as follows : Ouebec, $48,864,876 ; British Columbia, $24,062,010; Manitoba, $13,054,600; Alberta, $12,809,597; Nova Scotia, $10,683,793 ; Saskatchewan, $10,155,- 603; New Brunswick, $7,027,133; Prince Edward Island, $920,033. WB Urges FCC Act On Chi. Video Bid Washington, Sept. 14. — Warners today asked the Federal Communi- cations Commission to hold hearings as soon as possible on its application for a Chicago television station. Warner attorney Marcus Cohn tes- tified at an FCC-industry television conference that it was imperative "for competitive reasons" that the Chicago situation be cleared up at an early date. Paramount already has a Chi- cago television station, and it was obvious that Warner fears that if the FCC delays much longer, Para- mount and other stations already li- censed will have too much of a head- start. Allen B. DuMont, head of DuMont Laboratories, said he now thought it would be necessary to go into the ultra-high frequencies in order to get adequate television service. This was a reversal for DuMont who has been opposing use of the higher bands. Hearings on use of the ultra-high fre- quencies open here next week. The two-day industry conference ended today with FCC chairman Wayne Coy announcing that an engi- neering conference would be held soon on the problems outlined at this con- ference, and that revision of television engineering standards would wait on the outcome of the engineering con- ference. Urges Holding Video From Top Frequency _ Washington, Sept. 14. — Commer- cial television in the high frequencies should not be permitted until basic standards have been adopted for the lower bands, George Adair, former chief engineer of the Federal Com- munications Commission, told the FCC recently. Investment in the present commer- cial area is so great, Adair said, that all or a large part of television will remain there for a long time. He said experimentation on the use of the higher frequencies should continue. Video Competes With 'Bad9 Films: Goldwyn Salt Lake City, Sept 14. — "People will stay home to see bad television rather than go out and pay to see a bad movie," Samuel Goldwyn stated here while en route with his wife to a vacation at Sun Valley. Goldwyn asserted that the current business slump is affecting all of the entertainment field and not motion pic- tures alone. The way to overcome the film slump, the producer said, is to produce "better pictures." Youth To Take Over Salt Lake City, Sept. 14. — This city's 'teen-agers will take over opera- tion of downtown first-run theatres on Saturday as a feature of national "Youth Month" in Salt Lake City. Tracy Barham, Intermountain Thea- tres executive, is in charge of the local theatre phase of the observance. Delay Warner Dance Cleveland, Sept. 14. — The Warner Club fall dinner-dance, scheduled for tonight, has been postponed to Sept. 21. Affair will take place in the Hick- ory Grill. Century-Fox, the company that leads the ntire industry in acclamation for outstanding achieve- ments and with more champions than any other company on M. P. Herald's list of Boxoffice Champions . . . the only company to make the list every month in '48 . . .* and more hits on the Variety Scoreboard than any other company . . . invites the entire industry to join the Spyros P. Skouras 35th Anniversary Celebration September 26 to December 25 inclusive! 8 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, September 15, 1948 Review "Cry of the City" (20th Century-Fox) ROBERT SIODMAK'S directorial skill is evidenced in every foot of this spine-tingling look into the last days of a hunted killer, a modern savage who makes a desperate bid for survival in Manhattan's civilized jungle. This is sordid stuff told with a mean melodramatic wallop; it is a heart-pounding thriller, but it can hardly be defined as "entertainment" in the true sense of the word. Loaded with sly dramatic touches that create the illusion of rgC^S ism, it is director Siodmak's picture all the way, notwithstanding crack V&j formances delivered by a first-rate cast topped by Victor Mature and Richara Conte. For the latter, however, "Cry of the City" is singularly important: it marks his elevation to well-deserved stardom. Crippled by police bullets and fearful of dying only because of his appre- hension that the police will take vengeance on an innocent girl whom he loves, Conte makes his way through back alleys and avenues of New York with police lieutenant-detective Mature in relentless pursuit. The cold-blooded, wily killer lets nothing stand in his way as he follows his dogged course to the side of his girl. He brings misery to his slum-held Italian parents, he stabs to death a not undeserving shyster, he "uses" everyone he meets and accom- plishes a tour de force double-cross in dealing with an icy-hearted amazon. His trail of blood and tears is brought to an abrupt end with a bullet in the back from the wounded Mature's pistol. Conte's death on a Manhattan sidewalk comes immediately following his unexpected rejection by the girl he loved. Based on a novel by Henry Edward Helseth, the screenplay was ably done by Richard Murphy. Unpleasant though the proceedings may be, there is con- siderable redemption in the spotlighting of an intelligent approach to the juvenile delinquency problem. Tommy Cook, in the role of Conte's impression- able young brother, is saved from a similar "career" by virtue of Mature's persuasive reasoning. Also in support are Fred Clark, Shelly Winters, Betty Garde, Berry Kroeger, Debra Paget, Roland Winters and some 30 others. All phases of Sol C. Siegel's production are tops with camera work deserving of special mention. This looks like a money picture, but first make sure -your customers can take this sort of stuff. Running time, 95 minutes. Adult audience classification. For October re- lease. Charles L. Franke Skouras Drive (Continued from page 1) history and a record liquidation of backlog product, as well as the at- tainment of a new mark for volume of feature bookings in a 13-week period. Highlight will be a series of special weeks, climaxed by "20th Century-Fox Anniversary Week," Nov. 21-27, when it is hoped to have the company trademark on the screen of every U. S. theatre. For the first time, the company's five sales divisions will have home office sponsors. Charged with the responsibility of stimulating the re- sults of their division, the sponsors include W. C. Michel, executive vice- president, sponsor for the Western division ; Joseph Moskowitz, vice- president and Eastern studio repre- sentative, Eastern division ; Donald A. Henderson, treasurer-secretary, Southern division, with the Central division sponsored by Wilfred J. Eadie, comptroller and assistant treas- urer, and the Canadian division spon- sored by Otto Koegel, chief counsel for the company. 'Cabinet' to Coordinate Drive Another innovation of the anniver- sary will be the setting up of a spe- cial home office cabinet, Smith stated, to coordinate all campaign activity. Smith will serve as chairman, while others in the cabinet will include Wil- liam C. Gehring, assistant sales man- ager ; Martin Moskowitz, executive assistant to Smith ; Peter Levathes, short subject sales manager; Clarence Hill, manager of branch operations ; Charles Schlaifer, director of adver- tising-publicity ; Morris Caplan, statis- tician to Smith ; Roger Ferri, Frank X. Carroll, home office sales analyst ; Jack Bloom, home office division aide ; Harry Mersay, print department man- ager ; Sam Fishman, contract depart- ment manager, and Sam Shain, direc- tor of exhibitor relations. The five divisional sponsors will also be mem- bers of the cabinet. Special Field Committee Field activity for the anniversary will be supervised by a special field committee, composed of the five divi- sional sales managers : R. E. Moon, East ; J. H. Lorentz, Central ; H. G. Ballance, South ; Herman Wobber, West; Arthur Silverstone, Canada. Within each division, separate lead- ers have been designated. These will include the following assistant division sales managers : Howard Minsky, East ; Harold L. Beecroft, Central ; Paul S. Wilson, South, and Bryan D. Stoner, West. The Canadian leader will be announced later by Silver- stone. Realart Meeting (Continued from page 1) Carroll Puciato, James Harris, Man- ny Jacobs, John Mangham, Ken R. Smith, R. S. Carscallen, Bert Stearn, Milton Brauman, Lee J. Goldberg, H. F. Cohen, H. V. George, Scott Lett, Bob Snyder, Manny Stutz, Nelson Wax, Joe Levine, Joe Wolf. Also, John Franconi, Sam Decker, Henri Elman, Herman Gorelick, Har- ry Price, Fred Sandy, Bernie Mills, Myron Mills, Sherman S. Krellberg, Moe Kerman, Joe Felder, Carr Scott, Don Swartz, Jack Zide, and other sales personnel. 4 Films Rated 'B' as Legion Reviews 11 M-G-M's "Julia Misbehaves," Uni- versale "One Touch of Venus," RKO Radio's "Variety Time" and Scandia Films' "The Bells of the Old City" (Swedish) have been placed in Class "B" by National Legion of Decency in its review of 11 pictures this week. Classified as A-I were : M-G-M's "Hills of Home" and Monogram's "Kidnapped," while 20th Century- Fox's "Cry of the City," Screen Guild's "The Prairie," Paramount's "Sealed Verdict" and United Artists' "Urubu" were rated A-II. Music Agency (Continued from page 1) necessarily disturb Ascap's foreign li- censing clearance rights, it is general- ly conceded it would be impractical for Ascap to sell foreign rights alone. Mills' idea for a central buying agency for producers is understood to embrace the purchase of foreign rights and their clearance for produc- ers and exhibitors, as well as the do- mestic recording and performance rights. The plan is designed to elimi- nate the necessity of dealing with large numbers of individual copyright owners or with numerous smaller agencies which might spring up here in the event Ascap is destroyed as a theatre licensing organization. Meanwhile, copyright attorneys here, in commenting on plans of ex- hibitor plaintiffs in the New York anti-Ascap suit and defendants in the Minneapolis action to press for dam- ages against and recovery from As- cap, pointed out that members of the music licensing society are responsible for any judgments obtained against it. Ascap, they say, is a voluntary, un- incorporated organization with the le- gal status of a partnership ; thus, even the personal wealth or resources of its members are subject to judgments. 4 Joan of Arc' (Continued from page 1) pictures. Walter Wanger was the producer and Fleming the director. Announcement of the world pre- miere was made jointly here yesterday by Wanger, president of Sierra ; Ned E. Depinet, president of RKO, and Robert W. Dowling, president of City Investing Co., owner of the Victoria. Negotiations for the presentation were conducted by Robert Mochrie, RKO Radio sales vice-president, and Mau- rice Maurer, executive of City Enter- tainment Co., subsidiary of City In- vesting. Maurer made several flights to Hollywood to consult with Wanger on presentation plans for the film. The Victoria is now in process of complete reconstruction, under the guidance of E. D. Stone, the archi- tect who designed the interiors of Radio City Music Hall. It is the first theatre on Broadway to be re- built since the war. It will have a seating capacity of 1,100. In its lobby, huge murals will delineate scenes from "Joan of Arc." The opening will be preceded by one of the largest and most intensive national advertising campaigns. Price scale has not as yet been set. H. O. Eskin Leases Two Hartford, Sept. 14. — Morris and Dan Pouzzner, operators of the Mid- dlesex and Capitol Theatres in Middle- town, have transferred leases on both theatres to Harold G. Eskin of New York. The Pouzzners will retain ownership of the Middlesex Theatre and Middlesex Building. Maher Plans Drive-In Hartford, Sept. 14. — Philip W. Maher of Bloomfield, Conn., has made application to the State Police Com- missioner for a certificate of approval to construct a drive-in theatre in Bloomfield. No extra fare on American's DC-6 Flagships! Ride the famous "Mercury" flight to Los Angeles at no increase in cost! On September 1st, DC-6 and Constellation fares were raised 10 per cent by the transcontinental air lines — with the single excep- tion of American Airlines. On American, you can enjoy luxuri- ous DC-6 service at no increase in cost! "The Mercury," departing daily at midnight, EDT and ar- riving in Los Angeles at 8:10 a.m. PDT, will continue to provide transcontinental travelers with the finest in air travel — at the same fare — only $157.85. "The Mercury" now has eight roomy Skysleeper berths to supple- ment 36 seat accommodations. Phone HAvemeyer 6-5000 or your travel agent Ticket Offices: Airlines Termincl • Rockefeller Center • Hotel New Yorker 120 Broadway • Hotel St. George AMERICAN A/RUNES What a sight fc> see>f PaGa/kount's Gk&kt, Bt&, Happy lose story- with music! You'll be singing its love songs... and its praises! Only young love could make a picture so glori- ously gay. K .hi If Funnyman Billy De Wolfe lives up to his name in Para- mount's gay, young musical romance ! Help Promote YOUTH MONTH — Saluting Young America 10 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, September 15, 1948 Key City Grosses T^OLLOWING are estimated pic- •» ture grosses for current engage- ments in key cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily correspond- ents. Estimates omit admission tax. CHICAGO Attendance is off at most theatres. Legionnaires are filling hotels but not theatres. Best among newcomers is "Canon City," with a rousing $20,000. "A Foreign Affair" is mild. Strongest holdover is "Return of the Bad Men." Estimated receipts for the week ending Sept. 16: A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.)— CHICAGO (3,900) (50c-65c-98c). On Stage, Ginny Simms. Gross: $53,000. (Average: $53,5CO) THE BABE RUTH STORY (AA-Mono.)- STATE LAKE (2,700) (50c-65c-9Sc) 2nd week. Gross: $23,000. (Average: $25,000) CANON CITY (E-L)-ROOSEVELT (1,- 500) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $20,000. (Aver- age: $18,000) EASTER PARADE (M-G-M) — WOODS (1,080) (98c) 5th week. Gross: $17,000. (Average: $23,000) GALLANT LEGION (Rep.) and SECRET SERVICE INVESTIGATOR (Rep.)— GAR - RICK (1,000) (50c-65c-85c). Gross: $8,500. (Average: $10,000) » LUXURY LINER (M-G-M)— UNITED ARTISTS (1,700) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $17,000. (Average: $20,000) OLYMPIC GAMES (E-L) and THE SPIRITUALIST (E-L) — APOLLO (1,200) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $8,000. (Average: $12,000) PITFALL (UA)— ORIENTAL (3,300) (50c- 98c). On stage, Jerry Wayne. Gross: $46,- 500. (Average: $45,000) RETURN OF THE BAD MEN (RKO Ra- dio)—GRAND (1,150) (50c-65c-98c) 5 days, 2nd week. Gross: $17,000. (Average: $11,- 500) THE VELVET TOUCH (RKO Radio)— PALACE (2,500) (50c-65c-98c). Gross: $21,- 000. (Average: $21,000) TORONTO The important development of the week in Toronto filmdom was the opening of the palatial Odeon-Toronto Theatre with the North American pre- miere of "Oliver Twist," which was accompanied by holdovers at eight other theatres. "The Mating of Mil- lie" finally bowed out at the Biltmore, in its 15th week. Estimated receipts for the week ending Sept. 16 : CORRIDOR OF MIRRORS (E-L)— DAN - FORTH (1,400) (20c-36c-50c-60c) 6 days. Gross: $6,500. (Average: $6,500) CORRIDOR OF MIRRORS (E-L)— FAIR LAWN (1,195) (20c-36c-50c-55c) 6 days. Gross: $5,500. (Average: $5,500) A DATE WITH JUDY (M-G-M)— LOEW'S (2.074) (20c-36c-50c-66c-78c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $14,000. (Average: $14,200) THE EMPEROR WALTZ (Para.)- SHEA'S (2,480) (20c-36c-50c-66c-90c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $15,700. (Average: $14,- 700) ESCAPE (Z0th-Fox)— EGLINTON (1,086; (20c-36c-50c-66c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $5,900. (Average: $6,900) ESCAPE (20th-Fox)— TIVOLI (1,434) (20c- 36c-50c-66c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $7,- 200. (Average: $8,200) THE FABULOUS TEXAN (Rep.) and KING OF THE GAMBLERS (Rep.)— BILTMORE (938) (15c-30c-36c-55c) 6 days. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,000) FOREVER AMBER (2»th-Fox)— IMPERI- AL (3,343) (20c-36c-50c-66c-90c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $14,100. (Average: $14,600) OLIVER TWIST (E-L)-ODEON-TO- RONTO (2,390) (20c-35c-50c-60c-70c-80c- $1.20) 6 days. Gross: $21,000. (No average established). TAP ROOTS (U-I)— UPTOWN (2,761) (20c-36c-50c-66c-90c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $8,600. (Average: $10,600) TWO GUYS FROM TEXAS (WB)— NOR- TOWN (950) (20c-42c-60c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $4,500. (Average: $5,000) TWO GUYS FROM TEXAS (WB)— VIC- TORIA (1,240) (20c-36c-42c-60c) 6 days, 2nd week. Gross: $4,900. (Average: $5,800) BOSTON Ideal weather now prevails in Bos- ton. Holdovers are "Abbott and Cos- tello Meet Frankenstein," "Beyond Glory," "Hamlet." Estimates for the week ending Sept. 15 : ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (U-I) and ADVEN- TURES OF DON COYOTE (UA)— RKO BOSTON (3,200) (40c-80c) 2nd week. Gross: $7,500. BEYOND GLORY (Para.) and MUSIC MAN (Mono.)— METROPOLITAN (4,367) (40c-80c) 2nd week. Gross: $21,000. (Aver- age: $27,000) DREAM GIRL (Para.) and RETURN OF WILDFIRE (SG)— PARAMOUNT (1,700) (40c-80c). Gross: $15,000. (Average: $17,000) DREAM GIRL (Para.) and RETURN OF WILDFIRE (SG)— FENWAY (1,373) (40c- 80c). Gross: $6,900. (Average: $10,000) HAMLET (UI-Rank) — ASTOR (1,300) (90c- $2.40) 4th week. Gross: $23,000. MR. B LANDING'S BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE (SRO) and MEET ME AT DAWN ( 20th- Fox) — EXETER (1,300) (40c- 80c) 3 days. Gross: $1,500. OLYMPIC GAMES OF 1948 (E-L-Rank) and CODE OF SCOTLAND YARD (Rep.) —EXETER (1,300) (40c-80c) 4 days. Gross: $2,750. PITFALL (UA) and I SURRENDER, DEAR (Col.)— STATE (3,500) (40c-80c). Gross: $14,500. (Average: $12,000) PITFALL (UA) and I SURRENDER, DEAR (Col.)— ORPHEUM (3.000) (40c-80c). Gross: $25,000. (Average: $27,000) TAP ROOTS (U-I) and I SURRENDER, DEAR (Col.)— RKO-MEMORIAL (3,000) (40c-80c) 2nd week. Gross: $19,000. (Aver- age: $22,000) CINCINNATI New arrivals and holdovers are cur- rently registering average business or better, with "A Date with Judy" in the upper bracket and the world pre- miere of "The Saxon Charm" running a close second. Estimated receipts for the week ended Sept. 14 : THE BABE RUTH STORY (AA-Mono.)— RKO PALACE (2,700) ( 50c -55c -60c -65c -70c- 75c). Gross: $16,000. (Average: $15,000) BEYOND GLORY (Para.) — RKO ALBEE 4 aaa WANTED 1,000 SHORT SUBJECTS Single Reels INTEREST- TRAVEL - SPORTS MUSICALS-CARTOONS etc. Up -To -Date — Good Quality BRITISH NEWSREELS LTD. 147 Wardour Street • London, Eng. (3,300) (5Oc-55c-6Oc-65c-70c-75c). Gross: $15,000. (Average: $15,000) A DATE WITH JUDY (M-G-M)— RKO CAPITOL (2,000) (5Oc-55c-6Oc-65c-70c-75c). Gross: $16,000. (Average: $10,000) ESCAPE (20th-Fox) — RKO GRAND (1,500) (50e-55c-6Oc-65c-7Oc-75c). Gross: $8,000. (Average: $8,000) GOOD SAM (RKO Radio)— RKO SHU BERT (2,150) (50c-55c-60c-65c-70c-75c) 2nd week, on a moveover from the Albee. Gross: $7,000. (Average: $5,000) THE SAXON CHARM (U-I)— KEITH'S (1,500) (50c-5Sc-60c-6Ec-75c). World pre- miere. Gross: $12,000. (Average: $7,500) TWO GUYS FROM TEXAS (WB)— RKO LYRIC (1,400) (5Oc-55c-60c-65c-7Oc-75c) 2nd week, on a moveover from the Palace. Gross: $5,500. (Average: $5,000) KANSAS CITY Pleasant fall weather seemed to en- tice the public out, and to theatres, the weekend bringing first-rate business. The school opening also made the weekend a holiday period for students and families. Stage competition began this week with the two-day engage- ment of "Oklahoma." Estimated re- ceipts for the week ending Sept. 14-17: BAD LANDS OF DAKOTA (FC) and TRAIL OF THE VIGILANTES (FC)— ESQUIRE (800) (45c-65c). Gross: $2,500. (Average: $5,000) BEYOND GLORY (Para.)— PARAMOUNT (1,900) (45c-65c) 2nd week. Gross: $9,500. (Average: $10,000) GOOD SAM (RKO Radio) and DRAGNET (SG)— ORPHEUM (1,900) (45c-65c) 2nd week. Gross: $14,000. (Average: $10,000) RED RIVER (UA) and BLONDE ICE (FC)— MIDLAND (3,500) (45c-65c) 2nd week. Gross: $18,000. (Average: $15,000) TAP ROOTS (U-I)— FAIRWAY (700) (45c- 65c). Gross: $2,190. (Average: $1,750) TAP ROOTS (U-I)— TOWER (2,100) (45c- 65c). Gross: $10,500. (Average: $8,000) TAP ROOTS (U-I)— UPTOWN (2,000) (45c -65c). Gross: $7,500. (Average: $6,000) BALTIMORE This week's box-office business is "spotty," with capacity audiences at- tending the major attractions, and holdovers doing scarcely better than average. Weather conditions were favorable for weekend crowds. "A Foreign Affair" is tops at Keith's. Estimated receipts for the week end- ing Sept. 16 : CANON CITY (E-L)— HIPPODROME (2,- 205) (29c-37c-50c-58c). With a stage show. Gross: $19,000. (Average: $17,000) A DATE WITH JUDY (M-G-M) — CEN- TURY (3,000) (29c-37c-45c-54c) 2nd week. Gross: $12,750. (Average: $14,500) DRUMS (FC re-release) — VALENCIA (1,- 466) (29c-37c-45c-54c). Gross: $4,000. (Av- erage: $5,000) A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.)— KEITH'S (2,404) (25c-37c-44c-54c). Gross: $15,500. (Average: $12,000) GOOD SAM (RKO Radio)— TOWN (1,450) (29c-37c-56c) 2nd week. Gross: $10,500. (Average: $11,000) THE LUCK OF THE IRISH (20th-Fox)- NEW (1,800) (29c-40c-50c-54c). Gross: $13,- 500. (Average: $11,750) THE MIKADO (U-I-Prestige)-LITTLE (328) (29c-37c-56c) 2nd week. Gross: $3,250. (Average: $3,000) TEXAS, BROOKLYN AND HEAVEN (UA)— MAYFAIR (1,000) (21c-29c-54c). Gross: $4,500. (Average: $5,000) TWO GUYS FROM TEXAS (WB)- STANLEY (3,280) (29c-37c-50c-58c) 2nd week. Gross: $7,500. (Average: $14,500) ATLANTA Theatre business is a little above average, with good weather. Esti- mated receipts for the week ending Sept. 15 : A DATE WITH JUDY (M-G-M)— LOEW'S GRAND (2,446) (12c-54c) 2nd week. Gross: $11,000. (Average: $15,000) A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.)— ROXY (2,- 446) (12c-50c) 2nd week, on a holdover from the Fox. Gross: $6,000. (Average- $5,800) KEY LARGO (WB)-FOX (4,446) (12c-50c). Gross: $13,500. (Average: $15,000) MAN-EATER OF KUMAON (U-I) and SALOME, WHERE SHE DANCED (U-I) -TOWER (1,865) (17c-54c). Gross: $6,400. (Average: $5,800) K-MTA Maps Agenda For Sept 28-29 Meet Kansas City, Sept. 14. — Ascap, public relations, taxes, drive-ins, legis- lation and "Youth Month" will be among the subjects discussed at the Kansas-Missouri Theatres Association convention here on Sept. 28-29. The meeting will follow shortly after the Theatre Owners of America conven- tion in Chicago on Sept. 24-25. David Palfreyman of the Mojj Picture Association of America, H." Richey, M-G-M exhibitor relations di- rector, and Leon Bamberger, RKO Radio exhibitor relations head, are ex- pected to attend the meeting. Minnesota Exhibitors Decry New City Tax Duluth, Sept. 14. — Recent action here of the League of Minnesota Municipalities in resolving to add to the theatre taxes in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth was condemned at a regional meeting of Northern Minnesota exhibitors attended by both North Central Allied president Ben Berger and executive secretary Stan- ley Kane. A resolution condemned the League's action as an outright at- tack on theatres and asserted that the- atres object to being singled out for special taxation and discrimination. Bamberger to Talk To Circuit Heads Leon J. Bamberger, RKO Radio sales promotion manager, has accepted the invitation of Harold D. Field, president of Pioneer Theatre Corp. to meet with him and managers in Car- roll, la., on Sept. 22 to speak on thea- tre advertising, publicity and promo- tion and act as moderator in an all- day discussion of these topics. Pioneer consists of 22 theatres, mostly in Iowa. Tri-States Meeting In Memphis Oct 25 Memphis, Sept. 14.— Tri-States Theatre Owners will meet in Memphis on Oct. 25-26, Morris Collins, presi- dent of the organization, announced here today. Theatremen from Arkan- sas, Mississippi and Tennessee will attend the sessions. Ohio ITO Meet (Continued from page 1) that the industry would see a renewed period of prosperity in the immediate future if all branches of the industry "get on their toes." He hailed as an "overwhelming vindication of Allied policy relative to Ascap" the ruling last week in Minneapolis holding the Society's collection of music licensing fees illegal. In a speech on television develop- ment, Trueman Rembusch, president of Allied of Indiana, declared that the Paramount system of television on film is not within range of the average theatre budget. Direct view video still has no adequate theatre equipment, he averred. _ Other speakers today included Wil- liam Ainsworth, Allied president, and J. W. Spiselman, vice-president of Air Purification Service of Newark, N. J. At a special meeting held before the convention opened, Ainsworth de- scribed the Allied Caravan service for representatives of 75 small-town the- atres. The annual banquet was held today. o 5=o it* a-< 3UI -mo: ^ M Ul 5sS S | s£3 ccco >it-— — ; << Sclc; E< 3 5 isl =2i . UJ— _ o 1 1 *~s © .5 *■ ©CCMq Jp«l a |2 I^tj Eaoo e Ul —1= USE < <5=o §i g 1 * ~2 £gccE2£ Ibis's cc"1 u left's 5= * -< •Ooo „* S ■ <* • -ooo 5 S h-I -Si? =§i « 5 "OS a CC-I« 52- 9|2 .co — (■hi. to c z-. z > z 2 <° _"5 jS 0:<£=«-s» Is -. ~<,-,CC <5 — z £« ■ .5 -So O >. J3 L£v ui<°jL " a 5 HAS K°S=^ |(0 - O Q ^1 -T6C«= .So -S 5 °< a ™ 3P i . ™ oOw S -I P3 W X O i o < O OS O —j CO 3 Q. LU < CtL < O z o 2 2 ID z o < 2 o o o m ft . a asfts5: II*0 as&s safe ! « . L il « E =2~? Silo H ceo _a >" u IT O '■o £o S bi ^l2 0. E ! 1U « ! . "7 ST t CO ■>- UI 09 S W e < xt--= £ £s'o« >-5°^8a a. — o— . =Sll|aro c^^lEgS N > : s s !-8 P C5 « > = 1= Et o&gis 1-^8°° -lis <» °i O a .2 -S -as™ 5 -5o«=o "ixgS? »z«Q < 4< bl *,^5 N on U oia „• s«=Ta >■ _ ot^ ■ — 5z c'5 eci cc "■<§ = ] i SIT >ai Ui £ C3CC 'I8 *0 <(«, ,b=>> 2 « a . Is saf -ui tin 2- a. Hi <0a S5J I as £ aS? • Oh 2 *u 5 So S j *- ui<^ ._1S ouiBpj u.0 Oca Li- u =0 = aio *C -p op 00 >-s_gss Zlui a ™ .00 Z |oO^ 411 las X o_,ME ilia z s Is 5 uiui=± -sSL xuj-gg a» Sz»°S" »ce -So- « «2 b« ^ca « » 1 03 Ul ea 1 S1^ ss <5slas ecu. — i5 Ul = <0 co >- ol0 = YMPIC GAME OF 1948 (Documentary) LANCHE FUR (Color) Valerie Hobson D — 93 min. (Eev. 9/1/48) HOLLOW TRIUMPH Paul Henreld Joan Bennett 0 — 83 min. (Rev. 8/10/48) DVENTURES 1 3ALLANT BES Cameron Mitehe D — 73 min. (Rev. 7/30/48) -1 0 CO < — 2 _ieeijo BE; O z° co "3 !iiz£ 5 S 85" Hi ft 3 2-8 5 *> »°* -i^-g -""I „ OS Oz„|S- ffJE = n Ul a z_ Ul< Kui CCQ =) 09 s SjIe- o 5-uiQS u ._, = o ' to s 1H 5P On ■a ■a 00 ■a, 00 On *5 vo on 4^ W CO o o t3 O N National Carbon Company, Inc. presents: CARBON ARC PROJECTION At Meeting of Theatre Equipment and Supply Manufacturers ... and Theatre Equipment Supply Dealers q ^ee "Carbon Arc Projection"— 15 minutes of vivid fast- V^^^X moving Technicolor— the first movie ever produced to show the w hat . . . why . . . and how of the High Intensity Carbon Arc. World premiere at 2 P.AI., September 30, in the Hotel Jefferson, St. Louis, Missouri. Or write for our colorful folder, "Carbon Arc Projection," which spotlights the high points of the picture and explains how to obtain 35mm and 16mm prints for special showings! See address at right. NATIONAL CARBON COMPANY, INC. Room 1328, 30 East 42nd Street New York 17, N. Y. Unit of Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation MOTION PICTURE DAILY V(WJ64. NO. 54 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1948 TEN CENTS Smith Lists 32 for 20th For 1948-49 Campaigns for Half Are All Ready: Schlaifer Los Angeles, Sept. 15. — Andy W. Smith, Jr., 20th Century-Fox general sales manager, detailed to- day before delegates to the com- pany's nation- al sales confer- ence here a release sched- ule of product for the next 12 months which o ff e r s exhibi- tors two or more features monthly to Sept., 1949, for a total of 32, of which 20 are ready for deliv- ery. Seven will be in Technicolor and one in Cinecolor. The company's advertising, publicity, exploitation and radio departments al- ready have completed over-all cam- (Continued on page 6) Andy W. Smith, Jr. Hammons to Market Films for Video Earle W. Hammons, veteran indus- try executive, disclosed here yester- day that he intends to form a new company to engage in film distribu- tion for television. The founder of Educational Pictures and former president of Grand National, both now defunct, is preparing 125 of his own films for sale to telecasters, including 20 features and 18 Westerns. Hammons said he recognizes that video is not economically equipped to (Continued on page 4) House Business Unit Hears Views in K.C. Kansas City, Sept. 15. — While emphasizing that the cross-licensing ban is a "crucial remedy" for many conditions which independent exhibi- tors find objectionable, Louis Sosno, exhibitor of Moberly, Mo., today asked the House Small Business Com- mittee to find a way of stopping "un- controlled competitive bidding" pend- (Continued on page 4) Urges 1,700 Quota Cuts London, Sept. '15. — "Substantial re- ductions" in the film quota have been recommended by the British Film Council for some 1,700 British thea- tres, with the reductions to apply in varying degree. (Theatres grossing under 100 pounds — $400 — weekly are exempted from quota regulations.) The British Board of Trade does not expect that its president, Harold Wilson, will make any official state- ment regarding the Council's recom- mendation for several days, possibly not until after the new 45 per cent quota becomes effective on Oct. 1. Variety's Mid-Year Meet Starts Today Washington, Sept. 15. — A crowd- ed business and social program await delegates convening here tomorrow for Variety Club's three-day mid-year conference, with about 45 internation- al officers and canvasmen, represent- ing almost every tent in the country, expected. Climax of the meeting will be Saturday night's formal dinner at which Variety's annual Humanitarian Award is to be presented to Secretary of State George C. Marshall. Items slated for discussion at busi- ness sessions tomorrow, Friday, and possibly Saturday, include : Discus- sion of handling the premieres for Monogram's "Bad Boy" — Variety is getting a percentage of the premieres of the film, which is based on the (Continued on page 4) o. k: road shows FOR INDEPENDENTS New England Owners Stop Paying Ascap Boston, Sept. 15. — New Eng- land exhibitors are jubilant over Judge Gunnar Nordbye's Minneapolis decision that As- cap cannot collect from ex- hibitors. It is expected that owners who continued to pay Ascap will discontinue to do so immediately. Many circuits and independents have al- ready stopped paying. FilmDividends Drop To $2,964,000 Washington, Sept. 15. — Publicly reported cash dividend payments by motion picture companies in July were sharply below July, 1947, accentuating a trend developing since the end of last year, the U. S. Commerce De- partment revealed here today. Lower dividends by RKO and War- ner dropped the July, 1948, figure to $2,964,000, compared with $4,571,000 in July, 1947. Commerce usually fig- ures publicly reported cash dividends as representing about 65 per cent of all cash dividends. "There is no longer any doubt that film dividends are way off," a Depart- (Continued on page 6) Loew's Joins in Quiz On US Trust Evidence Jersey Allied Okays Smith Conciliation New Jersey Allied's board of directors has voted unani- mously to adopt the Andy W. Smith, Jr., exhibitor concilia- tion plan. The board accepted the plan, it was said, "in the con- fidence that the plan would be successful in bringing about a satisfactory solution to any problems arising be- tween Jersey Allied and 20th Century-Fox." Smith is 20th- Fox's general sales manager. Loew's has joined with RKO and Paramount in serving on the U. S. Department of Justice an extensive list of questions asking how the Govern- ment intends to establish that the com- pany acted illegally in any transactions with exhibitor partners. RKO and Paramount delivered similar sets of interrogatory questions to the Department earlier this month, preparatory to the reopening of the anti-trust case against the distributors in New York Federal Court on Oct. 13. It is understood that the five thea- tre-owning defendants in the suit yes- terday completed answers to questions on partnerships put to them earlier by the Department. For the most part the information was forwarded direct- (Continued on page 4) U.S. Attorney Says Price Fixing Ban Is Unlikely to Apply to Non-Defendants Washington, Sept. 15. — U. S. Justice Department attorney Rob- ert L. .Wright said today that the Supreme Court's Paramount case ban on admission price fixing bound only the defendants in the case and that he "doubted" that it would ap- ply to independent producers trying to make private arrangements with exhibitors for handling their own product. A controversy has long been rag- ing among industry lawyers as to whether the Paramount decision ban applied to non-defendants as well as defendants. Walter Wanger touched off the controversy again recently by his announcement that he planned to sell his "Joan of Arc" at advanced prices. Some industry attorneys have de- clared that even though the Para- mount decision actually binds only the (Continued on page 4) Confirm Gamble to Leave TOA Post Theatre Owners of America yester- day confirmed that Ted R. Gamble will withdraw from the presidency of the organization at its convention in Chicago on Sept. 24-25. It is known that efforts have been made to induce Gamble to be a candidate for reelec- tion but he has steadfastly maintained that the post should be rotated. TOA, in a press statement, reported that Gamble will preside at the two- day Chicago meeting which will open with a welcoming address by Chica- go's Mayor Martin Kennelly. Edward H. Foley, Jr., Undersecretary of the (Continued on page 4) 4 1 A' Work Stoppage Set for U-I Today A breakdown in new contract nego- tiations between Universal-Interna- tional and the IATSE local represent- ing the company's 425 home office "white collar" employes is expected to produce a full-scale work stoppage at U-I today. Russell Moss, business agent of "IA" Motion Picture Home Office Employes Local No. H-63, (Continued on page 6) 2 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, September 16, 1948 Personal Mention Ohio ITO Seeks End Of City Tax Power Columbus, O., Sept. 15. — Repeal of the Ohio law which permits munici- palities to levy admission taxes will be sought by the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio with a view to hav- ing the power returned to the state. A resolution empowering P. J. Wood, Ohio ITO secretary, to seek repeal of the enabling legislation was adopt- ed today at the concluding session of the organization's convention here. The ITO unit will also seek to have theatres included in legislation calling for a two per cent gross receipts tax which may be introduced at the next session of the Ohio legislature. Wood was also instructed to seek legal counsel on the question of whether National Screen Service is engaged in monopolistic practices. It was reported at the convention that NSS has been charging theatres^ in comparable situations different prices for the same material. Convention delegates also approved: the Cryptix ticket numbering system developed by Willis Vance, Cincinnati exhibitor ; an investigation of trucking charges, and the Allied Caravan plan for small towns. Henry Greenberger, president of Community Theatres in Cleveland, was elected a vice-president and was the only new officer elected by the convention. Incumbent officers and board members were reelected. Of- ficers are Martin Smith, president; F. W. Huss, Jr., vice-president ; Leo Kessel, treasurer, and Wood as secretary. PCC Members Seen Halting Ascap Fees Los Angeles, Sept. 15.— Members of the Pacific Coast Conference of In- dependent Theatre Owners will be advised by the organization's trustees to "cease negotiations" with the American Society of Composers, Au- thors and Publishers. While not ex- plicitly stating so, it is understood that the action voted by the trustees at their meeting here is tantamount to advising members to stop paying music licensing fees to Ascap. Leroy Johnson, chairman of the PCCITO committee on Ascap, lauded attorney Robert W. Graham for his preparation of the amicus curiae briefs in the New York and Minnesota cases which were decided against the So- ciety. TO A Presents Watch To 'Youth of Year' Washington, Sept. 15. — As part of the local observance of Youth Month, Theatre Owners of America today presented a gold stop-watch to Bob Mathias, Olympic decathlon champion who was chosen "Youth of the Year" by the Sports Broadcasters Associa- tion. The presentation was made by A. Julian Brylawski, head of the local TOA Youth Month campaign. Mathias also met President Truman at the White House, had dinner with Attorney General Tom Clark and topped the day with a broadcast over the "Tex and Jinx" program. HENRY GINSBERG, Paramount production vice-president, will leave New York tomorrow for the Coast. o A. M. Kane, assistant to Para- mount Southern district manager Hugh Owen, has left Atlanta for New York after a visit in that city. • Maurice Wolf of M-G-M's public relations department here, addressed the Albany, N. Y., Kiwanis Club on Tuesday. • William DeMello, manager of Western Electric's Caribbean opera- tions, has left here to return to his post at Bogota. • Calvin Leeder and Sol Kravitz, Warner home office representatives, were in Atlanta this week from New York. • H. M. Richey, M-G-M exhibitor relations head, will return to New York today from Columbus, O. • Russell Stewart of M-G-M's pub- licity department will leave here Mon- day for Washington. • Edward BuzzEll, M-G-M director, is here from the Coast. L. Brandt Named E-L Exploitation Manager Leon Brandt, Eagle-Lion field ex- ploiteer in the Chicago territory, has been named national exploitation man- ager, succeeding Arthur Jeffrey whose resignation will become effective on Oct. 1, it was announced here yester- day by E-L advertising-publicity vice- president Max E. Youngstein. Brandt, who has been with E-L since its inception two years ago, en- tered the industry in 1930 when he joined Fox Theatres. In 1942 he joined United Artists where he worked in exploitation and national promo- tional posts prior to his joining E-L. Whitmore Heads ATT Radio Advertising Will Whitmore, advertising man- ager of Western Electric since May 1945, has been appointed radio adver- tising manager of American Tele- phone and Telegraph. W. M. Rey- nolds, publications manager of West- ern Electric, will have charge of Western Electric's advertising. In 1927 Whitmore joined the Ex- hibitors' Herald-World editorial staff and two years later entered Western Electric. The Herald-World was a predecessor of Motion Picture Herald. Set New Drive-ins Minneapolis, Sept. 15. — Construc- tion on a 750-car drive-in in Brook- lyn township will be started immedi- ately by Minnesota Entertainment En- terprises, according to William Sears, general manager. Another drive-in, marking the company's fourth, will be started also in St. Paul limits, Sears said. He also disclosed that a fifth drive-in will be announced shortly. OSCAR F. NEU, president of Neu- made Products and head of TESMA, has left here for a Midwest trip and is due in St. Louis for the TESMA trade show Sept. 28-30. • Bill Williams, Film Classics salesman in Denver, has resigned to become general manager of the new- ly-organized Santa Fe Theatre Corp., which will build a $185,000 theatre in Santa Fe to open on Oct. 17. • Maurice A. Bergman, Universal- International advertising-publicity di- rector, and Charles Simonelli, Eastern exploitation manager, , have returned to New York from Colum- bus, O. • Doris Glass of the Universal-In- ternational advertising department here, .and Leonard Koplin of Phila- delphia, will be married in December. • Rube Jackter, assistant general sales manager of Columbia, was in Memphis yesterday from New York. • Bert Stearn, Fortune Films ex- ecutive, has returned to his office in Pittsburgh from Hollywood. • E. Z. Walters, Altec comptroller, is in town from the Coast. WB Asks High Court Bar Leslie Appeal Washington, Sept. 15. — Warner Brothers today asked the Supreme Court not to review a California Su- preme Court decision allowing the company to proceed with its breach of contract suit against Joan Leslie, who, on reaching 21, broke a contract made with Warner when she was 17, on the ground a minor could not make a valid contract. Warner sued to enforce the contract and keep her from working for other studios, but the lower courts ruled for Miss Leslie. The top California court, however, ruled that Warner could bring the suit and ordered the case tried on its merits. Miss Leslie ap- pealed to the Supreme Court. The Warner brief pointed out that the California Supreme Court had not decided the case, but merely had given a green light to trying the case. M. M. P. T. A. Post to Brecher on Oct. 1 Leo Brecher, New York circuit operator, will take over the presidency of the Metropolitan Motion Picture Theatres Association here on Oct. 1, succeeding Fred J. Schwartz who will become board chairman. Other nominations, all tantamount to election at a meeting next week, include : Edward Rugoff, first vice- president; Sol Strausberg, second vice- president ; Russell Downey, treasurer. Named to the board are : Brecher, Schwartz, Rugoff, Strausberg, Down- ey, and Malcolm Kingsberg,' Oscar Doob, Sam Rinzler, Robert Weitman, Julius Joelson, Sam Rosen, David Katz and Harry Goldberg. Expand Film Sphere For 'Iron Curtain' Washington Sept. 15. — A Polish- Yugoslav film agree- ment has been signed to in- crease the exchange of films between the two "Iron Cur- tain" nations, the Commerce Department reports. The agreement is valid until the end of 1949. jr Golden Will Produce Press Club's 'Russia' Edward A. Golden will produce this year a film version of "As We Saw Russia," fourth book to be written by members of the Overseas Press Club. Published yesterday by E. P. Dutton and Co., the book describes life in the U.S.S.R. as seen by 25 on-the-spot American newsmen. Golden announced his purchase of the book's screen rights at yesterday's luncheon-meeting of the OPC at which Norman Thomas, Socialist can- didate for President, was the prinicpal speaker. Johnston, Red Film Officials in Parley Eric A. Johnston, Motion Picture Association of America president, con- ferred in Moscow yesterday with So- viet film officials, according to press dispatches reaching here last night. He reportedly said he had a "pleasant and interesting" conversation and that there appeared to be a good chance that the Russians would buy some U. S. films. The report also said he expects to leave Moscow on Monday but did not disclose his destination. M-G-M Luncheon Today First session of M-G-M's executive training course will get under way here today at the Hotel Astor when William F. Rodgers, sales vice-presi- dent, welcomes six field men at a luncheon. Also attending from the home office will be Edward M. Saun- cjers, Edwin W. Aaron, John P. Byrne, H. M. Richey and M. L. Simons. The six include Michael J. Ford, Chicago; Philip F. Gravitz, New Haven; H. Russell Gaus, Los Angeles ; Louis Marks, Cleveland; Ansley B. Padgett, Atlanta; Louis J. Weber, Dallas. B.&K Engineer Killed Chicago, Sept. 15. — Pearson Bolan- der, 42, engineer for the Balaban and Katz Century Theatre, was asphyxi- ated yesterday while attempting to re- pair a gas valve on air conditioning equipment in the basement of the thea- tre. An attempt to rescue Bolander was made by Herbert Chatkin, the theatre's manager, who was partially overcome by gas. Executors of Powers Will David A. O'Malley and Glen Behy- mer, Los Angeles attorney, have been made co-executors under the will of Patrick A. Powers. The estate has been left to relatives, friends, em- ployes and charities. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco. New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the poet office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. I 1 wi If Motion Picture Daily Review "The Girl from Manhattan" {Bogcaus-United Artists) T^HE familiar yarn about the old boarding house about to be foreclosed by a A local scoundrel goes through the wringer again, this time with some comic frills. The cast is one with ticket selling ability, but the task of over- coming some of the plot's limp situations frequently proves a heavy burden. Heading the players of this Benedict Bogeaus production are Dorothy La- mour, George Montgomery and Charles Laughton. Others include Ernest Truex, Hugh Herbert and William Frawley. Truex, as operator of the boarding house, seems to have more kindness than wisdom. His tenants prove a zany lot who never pay their rent and always hope to strike it rich some day. The situation is natural for someone to foreclose the mortgage, and that's just what is about to happen when the new minister, Montgomery, aided by Miss Lamour, a fashion model, starts to rescue the situation. It takes a bit of scheming, punctuated by some mis- understandings, before the old homestead is saved. Laughton, as a sly old bishop, contributes a humorous characterization. In more conventional roles, Montgomery and Miss Lamour are adequate. The original screenplay by Howard Estabrook has the villain of the plot conceal- ing his nefarious doings by attempting to contribute a site for the erection of a new church. Alfred E. Green directed, Bogeaus produced. Running time, 81 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, Oct. 1. Mandel Heebstman 4 U A Managerial Posts To Three Overseas Appointments of Armando Bernal, former United Artists branch man- ager in Cali, Colombia, as general manager for the territory with head- quarters in Bogota, and of Merrill Gooding, booker in the company's office in Port of Spain, Trinidad, to acting manager there have been an- nounced here by Walter Gould, UA foreign manager. Bernal succeeds James Raymond and Gooding replaces Randolph de Silva. Gould also announced the appoint- ment of J. Engelstoft as manager in Denmark, replacing Viggo Ellemann, resigned. Engelstoft has been asso- ciated with Universal in Copenhagen for the past 12 years. To Distribute U. A. Films in N. Africa Pathe Consortium Cinema and United Artists' Paris office have nego- tiated a deal whereby Pathe will dis- tribute the company's product in Al- giers, Tunis and Casablanca, it has been announced here by Walter Gould, UA foreign manager. Distribution in Algiers, where UA formerly had its own branch office, started July 1, and will become effective in Tunis and Casablanca on Oct. 1. Variety Meeting {Continued from page 1) Dallas Tent's Boy's Camp ; expansion both here and abroad, including a possible new London Tent ; erection of a memorial to Father Flanagan; philanthropic and fund-raising activi- ties, and regular reports of officers. A luncheon on Friday will discuss whether Variety should take over the Will Rogers Memorial Sanitorium. RKO Radio sales manager Robert Mochrie, Paramount sales manager Charles Reagan, and M-G-M sales manager William Rodgers are slated to address the luncheon. Tomorrow night, Variety Interna- tional chief barker R. J. O'Donnell will be toasted at a dinner to be given by Vincent- Fowler, and Friday night a cocktail party will be given at the local Variety Tent. Many industry officials who will not participate in the conference are expected to attend the O'Donnell dinner, and both industry and Government officials will turn out for the Humanitarian Award dinner. Red Skelton will be master-of- ceremonies of the entertainment pro- gram. Another Variety Tourney Philadelphia, Sept. IS. — Bob Rus- sell will be master-of-ceremonies at the local Variety Club's golf tourna- ment on Sept. 24 at the Whitemarsh Country Club. ^^^B^^^OR THE 1 COMPANY^^ NEW YORK MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION Program for Women At TO A Convention Chicago, Sept. IS. — Several pro- grams have been arranged for women guests at the Theatre Owners of America Convention, Sept. 24-25 in the Drake Hotel, Chicago. Among events arranged by the women's entertainment committee, composed of Mrs. John Balaban, chairman; Mrs. James E. Coston, Mrs. George Kerasotes, Mrs. Morris G. Leonard and Mrs. Edward Zorn, are a luncheon and fashion show at Marshall Field's, a sight-seeing tour and a second luncheon, in the Edge- water Beach Hotel. Gamble, TOA ( Continued from page 1 ) Treasury, will speak on taxation. A theatre television demonstration is scheduled for the Esquire Theatre, to be followed by a discussion of the subject by Wayne Coy, chairman of the Federal Communications Commis- sion. Other matters on the agenda are the industry's anti-trust case, the rulings against the American Society of Com- posers and Publishers, drive-ins, 16mm. competition and public relations. Hammons to Market (Continued from page 1) offer film fare approaching present Hollywood standards and expounded the theory that the new industry is akin to the motion picture when it was revolutionized by sound. What was saleable in the early '30s in theatres will have its counterpart in television today, he reasons, explaining that the first sound pictures were not better for the theatre, at the time, than product available for television now. In addition to supplying his own films, Hammons plans to acquire vid- eo rights to others for marketing, and he might produce both film and studio programs for telecasts. To Hear Wolf son-Meyer Washington, Sept. IS. — The Fed- eral Communications Commission has agreed to give the Wolfson-Meyer Circuit a hearing in connection with the Commission's action cancelling its construction permit for television sta- tion WTVJ in Miami. Loew's Joins Quiz {Continued from page 1) ly to the Department in Washington, but in the cases of RKO and Para- mount copies also were filed in New York Federal Court. Paramount, for example, tells of its contractual ties with E. V. Richards in the operation of the extensive Para- mount-Richard Theatres in the South. The partnership directly operates and fully controls 37 theatres and has large interests, through subsidiaries, in 35 more, in Louisiana, Mississippi, Ala- bama, Florida, Texas and Arkansas. Paramount, in .its answer to the Government inquiry, sets forth that it acquired all stock in the partnership as an original issue, that it transferred 3,000 A' shares to Richards, and held the remaining 3,000 'B' shares. Each has equal representation on the six- man board, Richards electing the pres- ident and secretary, and Paramount the vice-president and treasurer. Paramount may request Richards to fix a base price for the sale of all Class A stock or the purchase of Par- amount's 'B' shares, the base price to be determined according to a formula arrangement which is part of the pact. If the request is made prior to April 29, 1950, ' Paramount has the right to purchase all of Richards' 'A' stock at 50 per cent of the base price so fixed, or else require Richards to purchase its 'B' shares at half the base price. If the request is made after the 1950 date the price for purchase by either party of the other's stock will be 100 per cent of the base price. 'Carbon Arc' Short Has Premiere Here A 15-minute commercial documen- tary, "Carbon Arc Projection," pro- duced in Technicolor by John Suther- land and directed by Norman Wright for National Carbon Co., had its pre- miere here yesterday at RCA's Ex- hibit Hall. The film, available in 16 and 35mm., describes effectively and interestingly how a "remarkably close approach to sunlight has been achieved to give motion pictures full visual value in ciarity and color. National Carbon has ruled that no admission may be charged. Several National Carbon executives attended yesterday's screening, among them C. G. Ollinger, C. O. Klein- smith, D. V. Joy and E. R. Geib. C.L.F. Thursday, September 16, 1948 'O. K: Road Show (Continued from page 1) defendants, it could be cited as a precedent for a treble-damage sui] by an exhibitor against a non-defend- ant demanding advanced prices, or; as a precedent for a Justice Depart- ment injunction against an independ- ent. Wright admitted that the Para- mount decision does lay down Jf^fin- ! ciple in law which "has wideipL, '.Pli- cation than just to the defenaa-.us," but pointed out that in order to ap-'< ply this principle, similar facts must] be proven. "You would have to show some purpose to restrain competition," he declared. "I don't think the findings could exist against Wanger, for inJ stance, that we had against the Para- mount defendants. You must bring the facts in your case in conformity with the facts in the case you want to cite as precedent in order that the court will apply the precedent. Many facts_ exist differently in the case of| the independent non-defendants fronfl the facts in the Paramount case." Wright refused to say flatly wheth- er Justice would move against any independent selling a film at advanced prices, but the general impression certainly was that Justice could not] see any grounds for such action. Mulvey Agrees Non-Defendants May Charge Advanced Prices James Mulvey, president of Sam- uel Goldwyn Productions, and execu- tive representative here of the So- ciety of Independent Motion Picture Producers, commented yesterday that "It is nice to have the Department of Justice in agreement with us. "We have taken the position that the Supreme Court decision on price fixing does not apply to independent, non-defendant producers and distrib- utors so long as collusion does not enter into the method of marketing films. "It is our view that we can ask what terms we think best for our pic- tures. There is no compulsion upon any exhibitor to accept them if he doesn't like them," Mulvey said. House Business Unit (Continued from page 1) ing the outcome of the U. S. vs. Para- mount et al anti-trust case. Sosna was one of several exhibitors who appeared at the hearing conduct- ed by Walter C. Ploeser, chairman of the House unit. A dozen other per- sons from the film business, including circuit representatives and distributor representatives, were present as ob- servers. Exhibitors who testified indicated that they hoped for legislation that would correct alleged evils quickly, in contrast with delay caused by court proceedings. L. V. Larsen, exhibitor of Webb City, Mo., and president of the Kansas City Allied unit, gave examples in general terms of what he called hard- ships through domination of the field by circuits in preferential buying and otherwise. Fred D. Herbst, buyer and booker at the Kansas City Allied offices, outlined the local clearance ar- rangement in which, he said, there is only one first-run independent. He also said that with few exceptions in- dependents 'get no less than 45 to SO days dating on pictures. Saluting Young America 6 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, September 16, 1948 Smith Lists 32 (Continued from page 1) paigns for each of the company's pro- ductions througli next February, Charles Schlaifer, director of adver- tising-exploitation, announced to the delegates. Special promotion folders prepared for 10 productions in the "Spyros P. Skouras 35th Anniversary Celebra- tion" were distributed to each dele- gate. Included among sales promotion steps cited by Schlaifer are three new exhibitor aids : advertising prevues, bi-monthly newsletters and a new- style press book. All combine to im- plement the company policy of con- stantly improving exhibitor service. To Release 54 Shorts Twentieth will release 54 short sub- jects during 1949, Peter Levathes, short subjects sales manager, an- nounced at the convention. These will consist of 19 Movietones, six of which will be in Technicolor ; 22 Terrytoons, including two reissues, and 13 March of Time subjects, in addition to 104 issues of Movietone News. The company will produce 30 of the 32 features contemplated in addition to Darryl F. Zanuck's "The Snake Pit," and will release two independent productions, "Canadian Pacific," star- ring Randolph Scott, for producer Nat Holt, and "Belle Starr's Daughter," starring George Montgomery and Rod Cameron, for Edward Alperson. Features listed by Smith for 1948-49 follow : September: "The Luck of the Irish," starring Tyrone Power and Anne Baxter, produced by Fred Kohlmar and directed by Henry Koster; "Escape," starring Rex Harrison and Peggy Cummins, from trie John Galsworthy drama, produced by Wil Ham Perlberg and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz; "Forever Amber," in Techni- color, starring Linda Darnell, Cornel Wilde, Richard Greene and George Sanders, Wil- liam Perlberg producer, and Otto Premin- ger director. October: "Cry of the City," starring Victor Mature and Richard Conte, pro- duced by Sol C. Siegel and directed by Robert Siodmak; "Apartment for Peggy," in Technicolor, starring Jeanne I. rain, William Holden and Edmund Gwenn, pro- duced by William Perlberg and directed by George Seaton. Three Set for November November: "Road House," starring Cor- nel Wilde, Ida Lupino, Celeste Holm an ': Richard Widmark, directed by Jean Ne- gulesco, from a screenplay by Edward Chodorov, who also produced; "When My Baby Smiles At Me," in Technicolor, star- ring Betty Grable and Dan Dailey, pro- duced by George Jessel and directed by Walter Lang; "Belle Starr's Daughter," an independent Edward Alperson produc- tion. December: "Yellow Sky," starring Greg- ory Peck, Anne Baxter and Richard Wid- mark, directed by William A. Wellman from a screenplay by Lamar Trotti, who also produced; "Unfaithfully Yours," star- ring Rex Harrison, Linda D'arnell, Rudy Vallee and Barbara Lawrence, written, di- rected and produced by Preston Sturges. January: "Mr. Belvedere Goes to Col- lege," starring Clifton Webb, produced by Samuel G. Engel; "Canadian Pacific," an independent Nat Holt production, in Cine- color, starring Randolph Scott and directed by Edward Marin. February: "The Fan," starring Madeleine Carroil, Jeanne Cram, Richard Greene and George Sanders, produced and directed by- Otto Preminger; "That Wonderful Urge." starring Tyrone Power and Gene Tierney, produced by Fred Kohlmar and directed by Robert Sinclair. March: Will James' "Sand," in Techni- color, with Mark Stevens, Coleen Gray, Rory Calhoun and Charley Grapewm, Rob- ert Bassler produced and Louis King di- rected; "Down to the Sea in Ships," star- ring Richard Widmark, Lionel Barrymore and Dean Stockwell, produced by Louis D. Lighton and directed by Henry Hatha- way; "Come to the Stable," starring Loret- ta Young and Celeste Holm, by Samuel G. Engel and directed by Henry Koster, from a screenplay by Clare Boothe Luce. April: "Affairs of Adelaide," starring Maureen O'Hara and Dana Andrews, under production in England by William Perlberg, with Jean Negulesco directing; "Chicken Every Sunday," starring Dan Dailey and Celeste Holm, William Perlberg producing and George Seaton directing; "I'll Never Go There Anymore," starring Victor Ma- ture, to be produced by Sol C. Siegel. May: "Letter to Three Wives," starring Linda Darnell, Ann Sothern, Jeanne Cram, Jeffrey Lynn, Kirk Douglas and Paul Douglas. Sol C. Siegel produced and Joseph L. Mankiewicz directed; "Mother Is a Freshman," in Technicolor, co-starring Loretta Young and Van Johnson, produced by Walter Morosco and directed by Lloyd Bacon; "Inside Scotland Yard," to be pro- duced in England by Samuel G. Engel. 'Prince of Foxes' for June June: "Prince of Foxes," starring Tyrone Power and Orson Welles, to be produced m Italy by Sol C. Siegel, with Henry King directing; "I Was a Male War Bride," starring Cary Grant and Ann Sheridan, to be produced in England, France and Germany by Sol C. Siegel, with Howard Hawks directing; "You're My Everything," in Technicolor, starring June Haver and Dan Dailey, produced by George Jessel. July: "Beyond Five Fathoms," to be di- rected by Elia Kazan off the coast of Florida; "Canadian Royal Mounted Police," to be produced in Canada by Samuel G Engel, to star Mark Stevens. ■ August: "Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend," in Technicolor, starring Bett) Grable, to be written, directed and pro- duced by Preston Sturges; "Cloak of Inno cence," starring Richard Widmark, to be produced and directed by Otto Preminger; "Fire," to be produced in cooperation with the United States Forestry Service by Sam- uel G. Engel. September: "Waltz Into Darkness," star- ring Linda Darnell and Cornel Wilde, to be produced by George Jessel and directed by John Stahl; "Call Me Mister," in Tech- nicolor," to be produced by George Jessel In addition, Smith announced that Zan uck's "The Snow of Kilimanjaro," "Lydia Bailey," "The Black Rose" and "Unseen Harbor" will also be produced and sched uled for 1949 release. Salute to Station WMGM Fred E. Ahlert, president of the American Society of Composers, Au- thors and Publishers, will head a pro- gram of writer members of the Society in a salute to radio station WMGM this evening, among them : Howard Dietz, Harold Adamson, Morton Gould, Ferde Grofe, W. C. Handy, Alex Kramer, Jimmie McHugh, Rich- ard Rodgers, Sigmund Romberg, Ar- thur Schwartz and Joan Whitney. 1 aaa WANTED 1,000 SHORT SUBJECTS Single Reels INTEREST-TRAVEL-SPORTS MUSICALS -CARTOONS etc. Up -To -Date — Good Quality BRITISH NEWSREELS LTD. 147 Wardour Street • London, Eng. Studio Pickets Ask Conviction Reversal Washington, Sept. 15. — Thirty- five persons convicted of violating an order restraining picketing around fhe studios of Columbia in Los Angeles on Nov. 16, 1946, today asked the Supreme Court to reverse their con- viction. Members of various unions in the Conference of Studio Unions, they de- clared that the restraining order was unconstitutional in that it was too sweeping and vague, that the trial court had issued improper instructions to the jury, that the restraining order had not been properly issued, and that they should not have been tried en masse. Justice Douglas early in the summer stayed jail sentences and fines for the pickets, pending their appeal. Key City Grosses SPG, E-L Start Pact Negotiations Today Eastern Screen Publicists Guild will commence new contract negotia- tions today with Eagle-Lion. SPG is seeking a 25 per cent wage increase for E-L publicists, and "better secur- ity provisions." E-L is virtually the only distributor in New York which has agreed to "do business" with SPG, notwithstanding the union's re- fusal to comply with the voluntary non-Communist affidavit provisions of the Taft-Hartley Law. U-I Work Stoppage (Continued from page 1) yesterday sent telegrams to the 425, including employes of U-I subsidiary Castle Films, urging their attendance at a meeting at Caravan Hall here this morning for a membership dis- cussion of the company's refusal to negotiate a new contract covering wage increases and changes in work- ing conditions. Moss hinted that "further action" will be discussed at the meeting. This morning's work stoppage, Moss said, "is purely a move by H-63, to- tally unconnected with the Screen Publicists Guild or Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild." Hold- ing that there were indications that SPG and SOPEG members intended to "horn in" on H-63's move, Moss declared : "We resent any action by these unions to imply this is any joint action." "IA's" H-63 is an AFL union, and SPG and SOPEG are CIO affiliates. Recent jurisdictional dis- putes here between H-63 and SOPEG have brought the two into strong com- petition for support among home office workers. SOPEG and SPG have not complied with the non-Communist af- fidavit provisions of the Taft-Hartley Law. Warner's home office avoided an H-63 work stoppage earlier this week by agreeing to negotiate with it. Film Dividends Drop (Continued from page 1) ment expert said. "They have been above 1947 in only one month — Feb- ruary— and then not enough to talk about." Feb., 1948, publicly reported cash dividends were $226,000, com- pared with $217,000 in Feb., 1947. Dividends reported in the first seven months of 1948 totaled $26,313,000, compared with $30,968,000 for the same 1947 period. Commerce report- ed dividends of $10,386,000 for the three months of May through July, 1948, compared with $12,747,000 for the comparable period last year. FOLLOWING are estimated pic- hire grosses for current engage- ments in key cities as reported by Motion Picture Daily correspond- ents. Estimates omit admission tax. INDIANAPOLIS Fine weather and a lull in outdoor competition helped first-run grosses here this week. Three new attractions all are playing to better than average business. Estimated receipts for the week ending Sept. 14-16 : ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (U-I) and DAREDEV- ILS OF THE CLOUDS (Rep.) — INDIANA (3,200) (44c-6Sc). Gross: $18,000. (Aver- age: $12,000) BEYOND GLORY (Para.) and OPEN SECRET (E-L)— KEITH'S (1,300) (44c- 65c). On a moveover from the Indiana. Gross: $3,500. (Average: $4,000) LARCENY (U-I) and ARIZONA RANG- ER (RKO Radio)— CIRCLE (2,800) (44c- 65c). Gross: $11,000. (Average: $10,000) MR. B LANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE (SRO) and FRIEDA (U-I)- LOEW'S (2,450) (44c-65c). Gross: $14,000. (Average: $11,000) TWO GUYS FROM TEXAS (WB) and THE BIG PUNCH (WB)— LYRIC (1,600) (44c-65c). On a moveover from the Circle. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $6,000) MINNEAPOLIS Theatre business held a shade above average as the post-vacation pickup continued. Estimated grosses for the week ending Sept. 16 : THE BABE RUTH STORY (AA-Mono.)- LYRIC (1.100) (50c-70c) 2nd week. Gross: P 5,000. (Average: $5,000) A FOREIGN AFFAIR (Para.)— CEN- TURY (1,500) (50c-70c) 2nd week. Gross: $5,000. (Average: $5,500) FOUR FACES WEST (UA)— RKO PAN (1,500) (50c-70c). Gross: $7,500. (Aver- age: $8,000) GOOD SAM (RKO Radio) — RKO ORPHE- UM (2,800) (50c-70c) 2nd week. Gross: $12,500. (Average: $14,000) LIFE WITH FATHER (WB)— STATE (2.300) (50c-70c). Gross: $12,000. (Average: $10,500) THE WALLS OF JERICHO (Zttth-Fox)— RADIO CITY (4,000) (50c-70c). Gross: $16,500. (Average: $16,000) THE WOLF MAN (FC) and THE HAIRY APE (FC reissues)— GOPHER (1,000) (44c- 50c). Gross: $3,300. (Average: $3,200) Goldberg to Preside At WB Meeting Today Harry Goldberg, in charge of adver- tising-publicity for Warner Theatres, will preside at a meeting at the com- pany's home office today of Warner zone advertising men. Present will be : J. Knox Strachan, Cleveland; John Hesse, New Haven; George Kelly, Newark; Jerry Atkin, Albany ; Everett C. Callow, Phila- delphia ; Henry Burger, Pittsburgh ; Frank LaFalce, Washington; Alfred D. Kvool, Milwaukee; Ben Waller- stein, Hollywood; Irving Windisch, New York. Upstate W.B. Circuit Meeting Next Week Syracuse, Sept. 15. — Managers of 26 Warner theatres in the Albany and Buffalo districts will convene at the Hotel Syracuse here next Tuesday for a discussion of problems affecting their houses and for an exchange of ideas. Charles A. Smakwitz, zone manager, will preside at the meeting which will also be attended by depart- ment heads from upstate offices. She owes her "ripe old age" to him • • • HOWEVER skillfully she might play her part, this young actress would still seem more girl than grandmother — save for the creative ingenuity of the make-up man. By deft application of grease paint and putty, he has added years to her ap- pearance . . . and conviction to her role. This is but one instance of the magic at the make-up man's command. He does as much and more for film folk who must be transformed to Jekyll, Cyranoj gnome, or Manchu. When these characterizations reach audiences successfully, it is because the make-up man combines cosmetic artist- ry with full knowledge of his medium. And, in knowing films, he is aware of what is done to help his work by the versatile members of the Eastman mo- tion picture family, famous films for more than fifty years. EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY ROCHESTER 4, N. Y. J. E. BRULATOUR, INC., DISTRIBUTORS FORT LEE • CHICAGO • HOLLYWOOD NOW BOOKING A BIG DOUBLE FEATURE MOTION PICTURE OF THE World's Middleweight Championship Between TONY ZALE vs MARCEL CERDAN WORLD CHAMPION EUROPEAN CHAMPION AND A Heavyweight Elimination Bout Between GUS LESNEVICH & JERSEY JOE WALCOTT TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 21, 1948 CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR Produced by RINGSIDE PICTURES CORP. 723 SEVENTH AVENUE ... - NEW YORK 19, N. Y. Circle 5-4240 MANNIE BAUM Circle 6-3082 General Mgr. MOTION PICTURE MR. ERIC ' MOTION Pi- vr 4. NO. 55 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1948 TEN CENTS Arthur Appeal To High Court On Arbitration Ask $285,000 Damages for Clearances Set by AAA Washington, Sept. 16. — A group of independent St. Louis ex- hibitors today asked the Supreme Court to rule that they are entitled to injunctive relief and $285,000 dam- ages for alleged injuries resulting from clearances set by the American Arbitration Association and observed by the distributors under the New York District Court decree. The St. Louis District Court and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the New York District Court had not exceeded its authority in creating and vesting powers in the AAA, and had therefore dismissed the suit. The exhibitors contend that in so far as the New York decree was construed and used to bar an action for relief from anti-trust law viola- tions, the decree was void. The appeal was filed by the St. Louis Amusement Co., St. Louis Am- bassador Theatre, Inc., Eden Theatre (Continued on page 7) F & M, Arthur Buy St. Louis Amusement St. Louis, Sept. 16. — Fanchon and Marco and the Harry Arthur interests have emerged as owners of St. Louis Amusement Company and were given permanent management of the Skouras theatre properties in St. Louis a few hours after completion of a $6,000,000 deal in which Charles P. and George Skouras, as individu- als, purchased the stock and retired the bonds of Ambassador Building Corp. and Missouri Theatre Building Corp. A new Ambassador-Missouri Corp., headed by George Skouras, J. W. (Continued on page 7) Walbrook Bid for Injunction Rejected Washington, Sept. 16. — Judge F. Dickinson Letts today denied the Wal- brook Theatre's request for a tempo- rary injunction to block an agreement between 20th Century-Fox and the Windsor Theatre, whereby 20th-Fox agreed to split its first neighborhood (Continued on page 7) Ainsworth Declines Wis.-Mich. Post Milwaukee, Sept. 16. — William L. Ainsworth will not be a candidate for president of Independent Theatre Owners of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, he has notified the board of directors in advance of the conven- tion to be held in Milwaukee Oct. 13-15. Ainsworth, who is the president of Allied States Association, served as president of the Wisconsin-Michigan group for eight years. Arnold Brumm, North Milwaukee, is convention chairman ; Harold Pear- son, Schofields, Wis., and Harry Perlewitz, Milwaukee, are co-chair- men ; Ervin Clumb. is chairman of the publicity committee. Speeches and round-table discussions on such exhibitor problems as Ascap, divorcement and operational problems are on the agenda. Speakers will include A. W. Smith, Jr., sales manager for 20th Century- Fox, and Benjamin Berger, president of North Central Allied. Variety Plans Five New Tents: McCraw Washington, Sept. 16. — Variety Clubs International hopes to have five more tents set up within a year in this country and is "making very good progress" in establishing a tent in London, the 47 delegates to Varie- ty's mid-year conference were in- formed here today. William McCraw, executive direc- tor, told ' the opening session of the (Continued on page 7) Wright to SIMPP: Wo Decree Talks' Washington, Sept. 16.— "The only answer to the Society of Independent Picture Pro- ducers' protest of a possible settlement of the industry anti-trust case is that there are no consent decree nego- tiations going on now," Jus- tice Department attorney Robert WriJ' imported by Eagle-Lion for U. S. showing, will be withheld from U. S. theatres only temporarily, according to present plans, it was indicated here yesterday by Robert Benjamin, presi- dent of the U. S. Rank Organization. The film has been criticized in some quarters because of the controversial depiction of one of its characters. Sues UA on 5 -Film Deal Auerbach Film Enterprises, Ltd., filed suit in U. S. District Court here yesterday against United Artists, seek- ing an accounting of profits in connec- tion with a five-picture European dis- tribution deal. UA, Auerbach charges, has not reported earnings on the five during the last three years. Auerbach says he owns the pictures. NEW YORK THEATRES e — RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL -a Rockefeller Center •GARY COOPER • ANN SHERIDAN in LEO McCAREY'S 11 j"GOOD SAM A Rainbow Productions, Inc. Picture Released by RKO Radio Pictures g SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION Barbara Stanwyck Burt Lancaster ROSALIND RUSSELL in "THE VELVET TOUCH" A FREDERICK BRISSON PRODUCTION Released through RKO B'way & 49th St. -RIVOLI. TYRONE POWER, ANNE BAXTER "THE LUCK OF THE IRISH" A 20th Century-Fox Picture ON VARIETY STAGE Ed Sullivan & Harvest Moon Ball Winners Joe Howard - Al Bernie - Illinois Jacquet On Ice Stage— "SYMPHONETTE on ICE" Starring ARNOLD SHODA RA V V 7th Ave. & W /V I 50th St. ■ MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Arnold Moss plays the Colonel Luther Adler plays Daucaire. Ron Randell plays Andres Bernard Nedell Margaret Wycherly plays Pablo plays the Old Crone Joseph Buloff plays Remendado Directed and Produced NOT THf BUT A DRAMATIC VERSIOf^ of the greatest pictures . . . Columbia Pictures presents \EVERY WOMAN WANTS TO SEE... Arnold Moss - Joseph Buloff • Margaret Wycherly story of "Carmen" by Prosper Merimee OF THE STORY OF CARMEN COLOR BY THE COLUMNISTS "Hayworth is Toreadorable." -WALTER WINCHELL "Rita has never given such a performance."— LOUELLA PARSONS "Rita is wildcat, gypsy, dancer and beauty all rolled into one femi- nine package. Best 'Carmen' ever on screen." — HEDDA HOPPER "Hayworth is greatest Carmen of them all. Wow!" — ERSKINE JOHNSON "Male members of audience wound up in completely dazed con- — SHEILA GRAHAM dition. "Projects what makes wolves howl." -LOUIS SOBOL THE TRADE PAPERS "Reunited for first time since GILDA, Hayworth and Ford emerge again a pair of lovers whose impact at box-office should be fore- gone conclusion." — M. P. DAILY "Bold, lusty. Hayworth's best. Profits should hit upper brackets." -VARIETY "Hayworth's portrayal is easily most inflammable of lot. Action abounds in passionate embraces, violent fights, offhanded mur- ders." _M. P. HERALD "Has names and angles to get the dough." —THE EXHIBITOR "Looks like a potential box-office record smasher." -SHOWMEN'S T. R. "Picture is assured long and prosperous exhibition career." -BOXOFFICE THE NEWSPAPERS "Rita bewitching! Best performance she has ever given." — N. Y. DAILY NEWS "Stormy movie, full of banditry, chases, fights and exceedingly ardent love-making." — N. Y. WORLD-TELEGRAM "Rita is terrific smash records.' irresistible. Glenn Ford is excellent ... It will — N. Y. DAILY MIRROR "Spectacular . . . Columbia has not stinted with its production." — N. Y. HERALD TRIBUNE "Hayworth's best to date. Lusty, colorful entertainment, full of ridin', fightin' and shootin'." _n. Y. JOURNAL-AMERICAN "Certainly going to pour plenty of cash into box-offices." — N. Y. POST Friday, September 17, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 7 US-French Pact Is Signed (Continued from page 1) bing rules. They also relaxed restric- tions on the number of theatres where non-dubbed films can play at any one time. Division of payments on amounts accruing to companies before June 30, 1947, will be made on the basis of the allocation previously approved by ;■. ^French government, but division ^Ai^yments on the period after June 30," 1947, will be on the basis of "the gross billings accruing to distributors of American films, as determined by a certified public accountant accept- able to th'e French government and to the motion picture companies." List Ways to Use Francs Amounts received by film companies in francs which may not be trans- ferred may be spent in a wide variety of ways, including construction of new studios and co-production of films in France when approved by the Na- tional Film Center. "Approval will not be unreasonably withheld," the agreement specifies. The blocked francs can be used also to purchase books, plays and other works, to buy distribution rights for French films, and make investments in non-film firms, real estate, and securities. In- come on these investments will be freely transferable. Main terms of the agreement, which replaced the Blum-Byrnes accord which lapsed May 28, have been dis- cussed in trade circles for several weeks. All arrangements are retro- active to July 1, 1948. The agreement was signed by French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman, Minister of Industry and Commerce Robert LaCoste, and U. S. Ambassador Jefferson Caffrey. Key Provisions Disclosed Here are the key provisions of the agreement as announced by the State Department : Remittances: The French government will allow annual transfer of $3,625,000 during each year of the four-year period beginning July 1, 1948. This will be composed of two parts. Of the total, $2,438,205 each year will represent liquidation of the balance of the $11,715,000 which the French govern- ment previously agreed to transfer on re- ceipts up to June 30, 1947. The entire remainder, or $9,752,820, will be transferred at the end of the four years. Transfer of these receipts is being made on the basis of 119.30 francs to the dollar. The balance of the annual remittance, or $1,186,795, will be on account of receipts accruing after July 1, 1947, and will be made on the basis of exchange rates prevailing at the time the transfer takes place. There can be no renegotiation on the terms for liquidat- ing the balances accrued before June 30, 1947. Remittances will be transferred in four equal installments, with the first transfer taking place Sept. 30, 1948. However, $609,- 551, first installment of the receipts accrued prior to June 30, 1947, was to have been paid on the signing of the accord. Among uses to which blocked francs can be put are: all distribution expenses and salaries in France, including dubbing ex- penses, advertising, and subtitling; ex- penses "incident to co-production" in France of films approved by the Film Center with revenue accruing from this production divided between U. S. and French interests on a percentage basis identical to that approved for the financing and revenue realized outside France freely disposable abroad by the U. S. company. Ban Theatre, Studio Buying Purchase of any right to books, plays, and other literary or musical properties, and purchase of film patents, provided that royalties will be paid in the currency of the nation in which the royalties accrue; purchase of rights to motion pictures pro- duced in France for distribution or sale throughout the world, excepting the franc zone, subject to the approval of the Centre National and the Office Des Changes; pur- chase of goods and materials for export, contributions to French charities, and other purposes specifically authorized by the Of- fice Des Changes ; and subject to exist- ing exchange regulations purchase of long- term securities issued by the state or pub- lic bodies or industries not connected with the motion picture industry, investment in French industrial or commercial enterprises not connected with the film industries, and purchase, construction, renovation and leas- ing of developed or undeveloped real estate. No theatres or laboratories can be built or acquired, no existing studios can be ac- quired, but new studios can be built. Pur- chases of securities and investments in film enterprises can be made with special per- mission of the National Film Center. In- come accruing from all investments will be transferable. ' Screen Quota: The French government increases to five weeks per quarter the re- quired showing of French films. This will be figured on the basis of 10 weeks out of every 26 from now on. Distribution Quota: "Taking into account the outlay of foreign exchange which the exhibition of foreign films in France in- volves and the condition of the French bal- ance of payments," there will be a limit of 121 dubbed feature-length U. S. films allowed each year in France, and a limit of 65 dubbed features originating in other for- eign countries. This quota can be raised if there is a product shortage. Dubbing: There will be an exception up to 25 U. S. features a year for the require- ment that there may not be a delay of more than two years between the date of the first public presentation of a film in its country of origin and the date of the dub- bing authorization. This rule will not ap- ply to shorts. Restricted to 15 Runs lS-Situations Restriction: As of July 1, films released in both original and dubbed versions may be shown in five theatres in the Department of the Seine and in 10 thea- tres in the other departments. Films re- leased exclusively in the original version may be exhibited in 10 theatres in the Seine Department and 20 theatres in other departments. Raw Stock: Positive and negative 35 mm. raw stock and sound track will be allocated, by the National Film Center, with empha- sis on the needs of the domestic industry. The statement accompanying the new pact said discussions were carried on in the light of France's financial and economic problems but "with due regard for the relevant provisions _ of the international agreements to which both governments are parties." It de- clared that the pact represented "a mu- tually satisfactory understanding with respect to the financial problems aris- ing from the distribution and exhibi- tion of American films in the French union." Arthur Appeal (Continued from page 1) Co., St. Louis Missouri Theatre, Inc., Fanchon and Marco Service Corp., Tames H. Arthur, David G. Arthur, Edward B. Arthur, Thomas G. Ar- thur, Harry C. Arthur, and Ed- ward I. Murphy. Defendants are Paramount, RKO, 20th Century-Fox, Warners, AAA, and Harold D. Con- nor, the AAA's St. Louis representa- tive. The exhibitors charge that the de- fendants are engaged in a conspiracy in restraint of trade, as a part of which they agreed to refuse to sell pictures to petitioners except on terms and conditions established by the AAA, claiming that this concerted re- fusal is made legal by the 1940 con- sent decree. They declare that the AAA's St. Louis office reduced clear- ance against the St. Louis Amusement Co. in favor of the Apollo Theatre and has pending another clearance re- quest in favor of the Princess The- atre against the Arthurs' interests. Arthur and Fanchon and Marco had opposed arbitration proceedings un- successfully under the system set up by the old consent decree. St. Louis Deal (Continued from page 1) White and Clarence M. Turley, will run the Ambassador and Missouri properties, the former one of the city's largest office buildings, as a realty enterprise. It transferred Ambassador Build- ing's 52 per cent interest in St. Louis Amusement Co., with 25-year leases on the first-run Ambassador and Mis- souri_ theatres, to Fanchon and Marco Service Corp. St. Louis Amusement operates 28 neighborhood theatres. Edward Arthur will be its president. The deal was strictly according to forecast, with Harry Arthur cooperat- ing in the Skouras purchases, and the management end going back to Fan- chon and Marco. No immediate changes are expected in theatre opera- tion, which has been conducted by Fanchon and Marco. Variety Plans (Continued from page 1) three-day meeting he had "high hopes" for re-establishing tents in Kansas City and Denver and of establishing new ones in Seattle, Portland and New Orleans. Variety hopes to have a tent in each exchange center ulti- mately, he said. The meeting also discussed the possibility of setting up a tent in New York City, long a stumbling block to the organization. Progress on the London tent was reported in a cable from second assist- ant international chief barker C. J. Latta, Warner manager in London. Top industry officials joined the Variety delegates tonight at a dinner in honor of chief barker Robert O'Donnell. • What makes it easy for me to rec- ommend Altec to my friends in show business is that I know I get the full-time energy and engineer- ing resources of that organization for our theatres; I know that my business isn't just a part-time oper- ation or a side issue with Altec. That means a good deal in these times when show business has to meet an intensified competition for the people we exhibitors count on to swell our theatre grosses. What's A™; 161 Sixth Avenue New York 13, N. Y. Schermerhorn Head (Continued from page 1) the Reade organization for 18 years, in Saratoga Springs and Kingston, N. Y., before moving to Asbury Park for the district managership, will be directly responsible to Reade for gen- eral supervision of managment, oper- ation and maintenance for all theatres in seven New Jersey and one New York State communities. Schermer- morn's district managership will be left vacant temporarily. Guy Hevia, city manager for the three Reade theatres in Morristown, N. J., was transferred to Asbury Park as city manager over the six theatres there ; Ralph Lanterman, city man- ager for the two theatres in Long Branch, N. J., replaces Hevia at Mor- ristown, and John Balzer, manager of the Reade Strand in Freehold, N. J., takes over as Long Branch city man- ager. A replacement for Balzer will be named shortly. Walbrook Bid (Continued from page 1) run product between the two Balti- more houses. The agreement was reached in an out-of-court settlement of the Wind- sor's treble-damage suit against 20th- Fox and other distributors for favor- ing the Walbrook. The Walbrook then claimed the agreement broke a contract it had with 20th-Fox to get the same film availability as the Dur- kee-owned Ambassador. Judge Letts said the Walbrook had not proved its case for a temporary injunction, and ordered 20th's counsel, John Caskey, to file proposed findings of fact "with reasonable diligence." Charles R. Gilmour, president, Gibraltar Enterprises, Inc., Denver, Colorado, says: more, the radio and records have made people a lot more discrimi- nating about the sound they hear. We know that the Altec man who comes to our theatres, as well as the research engineers in the Altec lab- oratories, are working and planning for us exhibitors all of the time, and it's a very comforting thought." Altec Service, known for its service "over and above the contract" is a vital ingredient of your theatre's ability to meet successfully the com- petition of other forms of entertain- ment. An Altec Service contract is the soundest long term investment an exhibitor can make today. THE SERVICE ORGANIZATION OF THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY "I KNOW THAT MY BUSINESS ISN'T JUST A SIDE ISSUE WITH ALTEC" 17,838 THEATRES PARTICIPATING IN Paramount Week SET ALL-TIME INDUSTRY HIGH! Thank you, Paramount customers, for making possible this major booking achievement in motion picture history. In 1947 our trademark was on 17,009 screens during PARAMOUNT WEEK— a record up to that time. Now this figure has been exceeded by PARAMOUNT WEEK of 1948. We congratulate you on the effective showmanship you put behind our special PARAMOUNT WEEK attraction, "Beyond Glory" starring Alan Ladd and Donna Reed which, in big and small situations, has now overwhelmingly established itself as the leading Ladd grosser in the last two years. The resounding success of PARAMOUNT WEEK is happy evidence of our mutual friendship and esteem. Now we promise that your record -setting vote of confidence will be answered with product of unusual excellence for the balance of the year. Typical is "Sorry, Wrong Number" which at its premiere engagement is topping every attraction but one since the N. Y. Paramount opened its doors in 1926. In addition, telegrams from key cities — following sneak previews of "Miss Tatlock's Millions" — indicate that, on the evidence of audience reaction, this will be one of the strongest releases this company has ever scheduled for Thanksgiving business. Again to all our friends who participated in PARAMOUNT WEEK, we repeat our appreciation and thanks. -PARAMOUNT PICTURES . — y MOTION PICTURE" ; Arnirntp f irvo i V^UllUoc ■w^ A *W w TT IN nnrl 11 ATI CI 1 KA Impartial £ NEWS p. • • ' w 3:2 64. NO. 56 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1948 TEN CENTS U. S. Accuses Ticket Makers Of Conspiracy 33 Manufacturers Are Named by the F. T. C. Washington, Sept. 17. — Federal Trade Commission has ordered six trade association and 33 manufac- turers of theatre tickets and other types of tickets and coupons to cease and desist from what it describes as an unlawful combination to fix prices and eliminate competition in their industry. The case against the ticket manufacturers has been in Government files for a long time. The Commission's findings said that the manufacturers agreed upon identical and uni- form prices, discounts, sur- (Continued on page 4) Court Bars Book Audits Chicago, Sept. 19. — A declaration which may set a precedent throughout the country involving anti-trust cases and the right of distributors to ex- amine the books of exhibitors was made on Friday by Judge William Campbell in U. S. District Court here. Judge Campbell overruled eight dis- tributing companies which had sued the Alger Theatre Circuit of Illinois on the grounds of fraudulent percent- age returns, stating that they were not entitled to audit the circuit's books un- til they could produce a valid contract that does not violate anti-trust laws. City Investing Buys 25% of Lopert Films City Investing Co., real estate and theatre owning corporation here, will become a 25 per cent stockholder in Lopert Films, Inc. Lopert, in addition to distributing foreign films in the U. S., has theatre interests in New York, Washington, Buffalo and Detroit. City Investing (.Continued on page 4) Scully to Set U-I Releases for Six Months at 4 Meets With sufficient pictures completed to enable the company to set releasing plans for the next six months, Uni- versal-International will launch a "U-I Unity Sales Drive" with four regional sales meetings dedicated to the drive, starting in New York Friday, William A. Scully, U-I sales vice-pres- ident announced here at the weekend. The four regional meetings to be held in New York, Cincinnati, Chi- cago and San Francisco, in addition to being devoted to the launching of the drive, will also serve for the form- ulation of the company's sales policies for 1948-49. The "Unity Drive" is inspired by the necessity of unity in the industry, according to Scully. He said, "The (Continued on page 4) Isley Succeeds Cole As Texas Allied Head Dallas, Sept. 19.— Phil Isley of Is- ley Theatres was elected president of Allied Theatre Owners of Texas at a special meeting of the directors called to act on the resignation of president Col. H. A. Cole. In office since 1921 and a stalwart in national Allied, Cole said he has begun to feel the burden of his labors and desires to divest himself of the responsibilities of office and to assure the life of the unit by new men taking over now. Board members voted also to defer the ATO fall convention to spring be- cause of the closeness of dates of Al- lied's national meet and that of Texas. Clear Legislative Picture for 1949 Washington, Sept. 19.- — Forty-four state legislatures have regular ses sions scheduled next year, and the other four may be called into special sessions, according to Jack Bryson, legislative representative of the Motion Picture Association of America. Bryson said that so far, "there hasn't been even an intimation" of any legislation hostile to the industry, but added that it is still early to be sure. There's certainly no reason for the in- dustry to let down its guard in any area, Bryson stated. The four legislatures which do not have regular sessions scheduled are Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Virginia. Arizona is the only state legislature in session now, and a spe- cial Virginia session is the only one on the horizon during the rest of this year, Bryson said. Dutch Increase U. S. Films' Playing Tune Washington, Sept. 19. — The Com- merce Department has reported that the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that playing time of U. S. films will be increased from a maximum of 32 weeks to a maximum of 40 weeks. Commerce film chief Nathan D. Golden said no late work has been received as to whether the change has already been made official. Golden said the Ministry announced that the Nederlandsche Bioscoop Bond, Netherlands film industry asso- ciation, will abolish its measure re- stricting playing time of U. S. film to 32 weeks a year. Reject US Bid for List Of 'Legal9 Ownerships The five major distributors have re- fused to respond to a Government in- quiry into all of their theatres which, the companies maintain, still are in their legal possession, in the light of the U. S. Supreme Court's opinion in the Paramount, et al, anti-trust case. This was disclosed at the weekend following the completion of the filing of defendants' answers to Department of Justice interrogatories on numerous aspects of their theatre interests. The Government had asked for a list of each theatre acquisition claimed to be "the fortuitous result of bank- ruptcy or an innocent investment, un- related to any restraint or monopolis- tic practice." The bid for information was turned down on the grounds that it was unfair and unreasonable. NLRB Orders Election In IA-Sopeg Tilt 1st Vote Sept. 28 at UA; Intervenor Eliminated A "white collarite" shop election which is expected to strongly in- fluence the future composition of film industry home office labor- management relations here has been set for Sept. 28 at United Artists by the National Labor Relations Board in Washington. NLRB ordered the election at the weekend as it denied an intervener's appeal for an overrul- ing of New York regional NLRB director Charles T. Douds' recent de- cision in favor of an election. The Washington decision sus- tains Douds' denial of a place on the ballot to UA employee Cecilia Schuman, the intervenor who, Douds ruled, was acting in behalf of Screen Office and Pro- (Continued on page 4) Rep. Schedule For 6 Months A six months' schedule of Republic releases, from Oct. 1 to April 1, was announced here at the weekend by dis- tribution vice-president James R. Grainger, who said it was the first time in the company's history that it has had releases so far in advance. Grainger said 90 per cent of the pic- tures are completed. Beginning in November, he said, one production will be released month- (Continued on page 4) Variety to Operate Rogers Sanatorium Washington, Sept. 19. — Variety Clubs International on Friday decided to take over operation of the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital. International chief barker Robert O'Donnell is to name a committee of (Continued on page 4) ■■■■■ ■ 8A MOTION PICTURE HERALD BOX OFFICE CHAMPION IN AUGUST Motion Picture Daily Tradewise . . . By SHERWIN KANE 2 Personal Mention JOSEPH BERNHARD. Film Clas- sics' president, will leave here by plane today for Hollywood. • Leon J. Bamberger, RKO Radio sales promotion manager, will attend the TOA convention in Chicago Sept. 24-25; the convention of the MP TO of St. Louis, Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois on Sept. 27, and the K-MTA convention in Kansas City Sept. 28-29. He will address the latter two. • David Palfreyman, Motion Picture Association of America exhibitor liai- son, is expected back at his desk this week after an operation for bursitis. He went to the hospital Wednesday upon his return to Washington from the Ohio Allied convention. • Sally Ruth Levine, daughter of Herman Levine and Mrs. Levine, was married yesterday to Ernest Pinter in the Park Central Hotel, New York. The bride's father is a Warner executive in Philadelphia. • George Sidney, who has been va- cationing in the East with his wife, dramatic coach Lillian Burns, is en route to Hollywood from New York to direct MGM's "Vespers in Vienna." • Nat Lax, United Artists advertis- ing production manager here, and Jack Kerness of Columbia have left Annapolis for a cruise on Chesapeake Bay. • Charles Mayer, Motion Picture Export Association managing director in Japan and Korea, is due here today from Tokyo. Paul Broder, Realart president, and Mrs. Broder have become par- ents of their second child, a son, born last Monday in Detroit. • William Howard, RKO Theatres assistant general manager, will be in Chicago today from New York. • Milton Sperling, president of United States Pictures, is at the Wal- dorf-Astoria here from California. SRO Lists Three for Early '49 Release Selznick Releasing Organization plans to release three pictures in the first quarter of 1949, it was announced here Friday by Milton S. Kusell, sales vice-president, at the final session of a divisional sales meeting held in the home office. Scheduled are : "Portrait of Jen- nie," David O. Selznick production co-starring Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten ; "The Third Man," co-star- ring Joseph Cotten and Valli, to be the first picture produced in Europe under a joint agreement by Selznick and Sir Alexander Korda ; and an un- titled picture starring Shirley Temple. '""PHERE are many similari- *- ties between the New York and Minneapolis Ascap decisions despite the fact that the two courts dealt with a separate set of circumstances and applied different tests of law. Never- theless, both reach the same conclusions. Judge Leibell in the New York case found Ascap's theatre licensing methods to be in viola- tion of the anti-trust laws, cited its power to arbitrarily exact ex- orbitant fees from exhibitors (as Ascap proposed to do in August, 1947) and suggested that copy- right owners, in the future, li- cense both the recording and performing rights simultaneous- ly to producers. Judge Leibell was dealing with a complaint by independent exhibitors that As- cap is a monopoly in violation of the anti-trust laws. He agreed. • In Minneapolis Federal Court, Judge Nordbye had before him a case brought by copyright own- ers who were members of Ascap against independent exhibitors who had refused to obtain Ascap licenses or otherwise pay for the copyrighted music in the films exhibited in their theatres. Judge Nordbye denied the plaintiff copyright owners the right to collect from the exhibi- tor defendants and denied plain- tiffs an injunction to restrain the exhibitors from further un- licensed use of their music. In so doing, he agreed with Judge Leibell that Ascap is in violation of the anti-trust laws, but relied for his decision upon the finding that Ascap and its members had illegally extended their copy- right monopoly. Judge Nordbye took note, too, of Ascap's power to exact ex- orbitant fees of exhibitors and he, too, observed that "undoubt- edly, the simplest plan for the copyright owners belonging to Ascap would be for them to is- sue both synchronization rights and performance rights to the producers." Both courts agreed that if that were done the performance right fee paid by the producer would very likely be passed along to the exhibitor, but that such a licensing method, at least, would be legal. • If the New York and Minne- apolis decisions are sustained, it is obvious that Ascap cannot collect from theatres, nor can in- dividual copyright owners so long as they are members of As- cap. The only possible excep- tion would be the employment of an individual licensing method, a license for the music in each picture. That would take some doing, on the part of Ascap and producers, as well as exhibitors. Most authorities presently are agreed that if it is not impos- sible, it is impractical. However, neither decision takes away from the copyright owner his right to collect for a public performance of his music for profit. The two decisions merely impose upon the copy- right owner the obligation to de- vise a legal method of collecting the performance fee in place of the collection method found to be illegal. It is Ascap, not the copyright, which has been found to be outside the law. Therefore, the conclusion is inescapable that while exhibitors may be through paying Ascap they are not done with paying for music on film. The two courts have pointed out the logi- cal way for copyright owners to collect. It so happens that the suggested method has for long been advocated by Allied States, which says it is willing to take its chances on how much pro- ducers-distributors will charge for music performing rights in their film "because you can bar- gain with distributors, but not with Ascap." • That means, of course, the bargaining will be done over films, not music charges. The exhibitor may never know how much he is paying for the music in his film even if it happens to be 10 times what he formerly paid Ascap. The theory, appar- ently, is what he doesn't know won't hurt him. Meanwhile, there has been in- troduced a new principle in the application of copyright law to the industry. Once it was con- ceded that if you used a copy- righted article without a license, you had infringed and were subject to the drastic penalties therefor. Now it appears that unless the copyright owner of- fers a "legal" license you are free to use his work without payment and without fear of penalties. This principle of law, extend- ed to distribution contracts, raises another line of questions. It suggests need for re-examina- tion of Ascap clauses. Monday, September 20, 1948 Newsreel Parade CLASHES in Berlin and the burial of Benes mark current newsreel\ highlights. Other events include "Mrs.\ America," "Youth of the Year," sports] and fashions. Complete contents fol-\ low: MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 75 — A marked man talks: interview with Mikhail Samarin. East-West clash turns Berlin,. into city of turmoil. President Truman^^'frs "Youth of the Year." Miss Truma» s first-voter's drive. Margaret Chase ^warfith wins Senate election. Ground broken for UN capital in New York. Oil-tank explo- sion. "Mrs. America." Football. Motor- cycle hill climb. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 205 — Ground broken for UN home in New York. Turmoil in Berlin. Progress rides the rails. Woman wins Senate seat. "Mrs. America of '48." Fire disaster. "Youth of the Year." Iron horse jockey. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 8— New 20th Century Limited. Election in Maine. Campaign for CARE packages. Ground broken for UN capital. "Youth of the Year." Crisis in Berlin. Funeral of Benes. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. 179— Re- ligion: 200,000 pay homage to Pope. News in brief: "Youth of the Year"; Pennsyl- vania Railroad award; 20th Century Lim- ited. Fire in Amsterdam. Gay Nineties festival. "Mrs. America." Football. WARNER PATHE NEWS, No. 10 — Benes dies. Crisis in Berlin. Fall fash- ions. Boxing, football. Great Americans: Samuel Adams. Chi. South Side Run By Para. Challenged Chicago, Sept. 19. — Subsequent run bidding over Paramount's "A Foreign Affair," raised new litigation under the Jackson Park decree Friday in Judge Michael J. Igoe's U. S. District Court. The legal squabble arose when Thom- as McConnell, Jackson Park attorney, contended that the company's selling of "Affair" to the Balaban and Katz Tivoli for an exclusive South Side showing on Sept. 24 constituted con- tempt of court. McConnell asserted that no South Side theatre is entitled to an exclusive run as long as a competing theatre meets the bid. All defendant distrib- utors, he said, have thus far offered films strictly on a non-exclusive run basis, but Paramount for the first time offered this film for bidding on either a non-exclusive or exclusive run basis. In this case, the Tivoli won the bid for 25 per cent guarantee, while the Jackson Park offered to pay 35 per cent. Paramount, represented by at- torney Alfred Teton, in turn, filed a petition upholding the Tivoli's right to play the film exclusively so long as the distributor chooses to sell it that way. Hearings on the issue will be held Tuesday in Judge Igoe's court. L ob er Will Assist Hummel in Europe Lou Lober, who has been with Loew's International for 20 years, will join Warner's European staff on Oct. 1. He will leave on Oct. 5 for Paris to become assistant to Joseph Hum- mel, Warner International vice-presi- dent in charge of Europe, Near East, North Africa and Middle East, in a supervisory capacity. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Bumup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the poet office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. bMUULU bKINb I n t TMKCTCrn&A L rAIV3 FLOCKING TO THE BOX OFFICE AGAIN!' -Film Dull 4 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Monday, September 20, 1948 Short Subject "10,000 Kids and a Cop" (Abbott-Costello) Hollywood, Sept. 19 Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, William Bendix, James Stewart and Brenda Joyce are the highly exploitable prin- cipals in this completely commendable short subject showing the constructive approach toward prevention of juvenile delinquency as exemplified in the es- tablishment and operation of the Lou Costello, Jr., Youth Foundation in Los Angeles. In 12 tight minutes the sub- ject, directed by Charles Barton, re- lates the experience of Bendix, as the policeman on the beat, in visiting the Foundation and discovering the ruf- fianly juveniles who used to give him trouble now engaged in wholesome sports and activities furnished them gratis and under successful self-super- vision. Abbott and Costello contrib- ute two humorous interludes to punc- tuate the otherwise mainly informa- tive and stimulating script, which in- cludes a direct address to civic bodies by Bendix on. the value of such youth installations ,to a community. Stewart sounds a similar note in an introduc- tory message. The subject rates ex- hibition in every city and town, strict- ly on its merit, and appears guaran- teed by its name power to more than earn its way. The picture is available to exhibitors without cost; they can, however, make a donation of any amount to the Cos- tello Foundation. NLRB Sets Election {Continued from page 1) fessional Employes Guild (CIO) in seeking to have her name in- cluded. Therefore, on Sept. 28, in the first test, UA's 150 "collarites" will vote on whether they want to be represent- ed by AFL's IATSE Motion Picture Home Office Employes Local No. H- 63, or whether they want no union representation. . Blumberg, Walsh Enter Talks To Avert Strike at U-I Nate Blumberg and John O'Connor, Universal-International president and vice-president, respectively, will confer at IATSE headquarters here today with "IA" international president Richard F. Walsh, "IA" Local No. H-63 business agent Russell Moss, and others from the union, in an effort to break a contract negotiations deadlock which threatens a strike by U-I's 425 home office "white collar" workers. Scully to Set (Continued from page 1) future successful course of operation in the industry lies in mutual coopera- tion between distributors and exhibit- ors to help insure the continuance of the present high weekly attendance level at the nation's theatres." RKO to Show Fight Film Starting Wednesday RKO the- atres throughout Metropolitan New York will show the official pictures of the Tony Zale-Marcel Cerdan and Gus Lesnevich-Jersey Joe Walcott bouts which will be held in Jersey City's Roosevelt Stadium tomorrow night. Variety (Continued from page 1) exhibitor members of Variety to work jointly with the sales managers group on working out fund-raising and oper- ating plans. Variety hopes to take over around the first of the year. O'Donnell said Variety seeks to raise between $200,000 and $250,000 in each of the first five years of its oper- ation of the hospital, in order to build up a fund to keep the sanatorium oper- ating another five years if hard times should come. Annual operating costs are estimated at $175,000. Present Award to Marshall Secretary of State George C. Mar- shall last night received Variety's 1947 Humanitarian Award "for his measureless service rendered in behalf of world-wide peace." Gen. Marshall, ninth recipient of the annual award, received his silver plaque, scroll and $1,000 check from O'Donnell in an impressive ceremony climaxing the club's three-day confer- ence. Presentation was made at a dinner attended by approximately 600 guests, including top industry, military, diplo- matic, and other Government officials. Among those lauding the Secretary of State at the dinner were O'Donnell, Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson, B. M. McKelway, editor of The Washington Star, and Albert Kennedy Rowswell, chairman of Variety's award committee. In a telegram which explained that his absence from the Capital kept him from the dinner, President Truman congratulated Secretary Marshall as recipient of the award and lauded Variety's charitable activities. Industry leaders on the guest list included Barney Balaban, Spyros P. Skouras, William White, George Skouras, Charles Reagan, Leonard Goldenson, William F. Rodgers, Abe Montague, Ben Kalmenson, Ned E. Depinet, Nate J. Blumberg, George F. Dembow, Herman Robbins, Si Fabian, Jay Emanuel, Tom Connors, George Schaefer, James R. Grainger, Max Cohen, S. Barret McCormick, J. Robert Rubin, Andy W. Smith, Jo- seph Bernhard, Earl Sweigert, Arthur Mayer, and Fred Schwartz. Congressmen Invited to Dais Among those invited to the dais, in addition to the above, were : Admiral Louis Denfield, Gen. Raymond S. Mc- Lain, Senators Elbert D. Thomas, J. Howard McGrath, Joseph C. O'Mahoney, and Herbert R. O'Con- nor, Gen. Jacob L. Devers, and Senate Secretary Carl A. Loeffler. Carter T. Barron, Eastern division manager of Loew's, and Commerce Film Chief Nathan D. Golden were in active charge of the event. New England Variety Tent To Receive Top Citation Boston, Sept. 19. — Variety Clubs' highest award, the Charity Citation, will be presented to the Variety Club of New England, Tent No. 23, tomor- row evening at the local club's annual banquet at the Hotel Statler. At the same time, the New England tent will present its own citations to Lou Perini, president of the Boston Braves, who will represent the base- ball club, and to Jim Britt, Joseph S. Cifre, John J. Dervin, Ralph Edwards, William H. Sullivan, Jr., and George Swartz for their aid to the club's fund for cancer research. Republic Schedule (Continued from page 1) ly in addition to three special produc- tions, two of which are scheduled for October and one for December. The October specials will he "Moon- rise," starring Dane Clark, Gail Rus- sell and Ethel Barrymore, with Frank Borzage directing, and "Macbeth," starring Orson Welles. The latter will open a two-a-day world premiere engagement on Oct. 7 at the Esquire in Boston. 'Red Pony' for December December's special is Lewis Mile- stone's production of John Steinbeck's "The Red Pony," starring Myrna Loy and Robert Mitchum. The other releases are: "Drums Along the Amazon," starring George Brent, Vera Ralston, Brian Aherne" and Constance Bennett; "The Plun- derers," starring Rod Cameron and Ilona Massey; "Wake of the Red Witch," starring John Wayne and Gail Russell; "The Missourians," star- ring William Elliott; "Montana Belle," starring George Brent ; Roy ^Rogers' "Grand Canyon Trail" and "The Far Frontier," both in Trucolor ; four Rogers re-releases, "Shine On Har- vest Moon," "In Old Caliente," "Fron- tier Pony Express," and "Saga of Death Valley." Reissue 'Scatterbrain,' 'Yokel' Also, "Code of Scotland Yard," "Homicide for Three," "Rose of the Yukon," "Daughter of the Jungle," "Duke of Chicago," "Hideout," "Streets of San Francisco," and the re-releases "Scatterbrain" and "Yokel Boy." Also, "Denver Kid," "Sundown in Santa Fe," "Renegades of Sonora," "Sheriff of Wichita" and "Death Val- ley Gunfighter," all starring- Alan Lane ; "Angel in Exile," starring John Carroll and Adele Mara ; "Nighttime in Nevada," starring Roy Rogers ; "Sons of Adventure"; "Out of the Storm" ; "Desperadoes of Dodge City," starring Alan Lane, and "Son of God's Country," starring Monte Hale. U. S. Accuses (Continued from page 1) charges and extra surcharges, and established various methods for detecting deviations from the established prices. They also designated charges made for each item of variation in "tailor- made" special tickets, the FTC said. Other Commission findings showed that the firms standardized products as to size, style, color, weight and quality. The FTC declared that the six trade associations were organized as "clearing houses or central agen- cies to effectuate the conspiracy." All of these things, the FTC said, violated the anti-trust laws, and the Commission ordered the firms and associations from entering into any further conspiracy to fix prices, em- ploy any central agency to regulate prices, exchange price lists, exchange information on charges for tailor-made tickets, adopting uniform standards as to style, size, or color of tickets or the weight and quality of the paper or cardboard in the tickets, or any of the other practices said to be illegal. The FTC said that its findings were based on answers filed by the respond- ents, admitting with certain qualifica- tions all of the material allegations of the complaint and waiving all hear- ings and other procedure. PCCITO Urges End Of Sex, Crime Films Hollywood, Sept. 19. — Demand that the Motion Picture Association of America "take immediate steps" to eliminate pictures portraying crime and sex themes was made here at the weekend by trustees of the Pacific Coast Conference of Independent The- tre Owners, citing "Rope," "Canon City," "Sorry, Wrong Number" and "Lulu Belle" as cases in point. The trustees also announced tor\ Discussing the Government's ■En- trust suit against Paramount, et al., Gamble warned that re-consideration of the case in New York Federal Court may result "in a decree present- ing new problems for exhibition." To this he added: "Now hopefully it might be wished that another -tre- mendous gamble with our business at pawn might be averted by the estab- lishment of a code of fair business operation, a code considering the rights of all and subject to court ap- proval and to amendment and modi- fication as needed." He placed considerable stress on the Ascap situation and sought to make capital of the switch in the attitude of New York ITOA as outlined in Thursday's airmail edition of Motion Picture Daily which reached the convention in time for Gamble to note the story and make direct reference to it. $268,215 in Dues (Continued from page 1) eight and seven-tenths cents per seat. Disbursements in the period totaled $191,604, leaving a balance of $76,611. Expense incidental to the organiza- tion's "Youth Month" campaign ran to $30,406. Robert W. Coyne, retired executive director, was paid $49,647 and Herman M. Levy, general coun- sel, $15,000. Gael Sullivan, Coyne's successor, was paid $6,250 for June, July and August which sets his re- muneration at approximately $25,000 annually. Cost of the public relations cam- paign under Earl J. Hudson was $12,086. the impression he believed exhibition had missed the bus. In his address, Gael Sullivan, ex- ecutive director, stressed the rising tide of video by pointing out RCA alone is manufacturing receivers at the rate of 50,000 monthly. He cited this situation, taxation, censorship, public relations and litigation as prob- lems emphasizing exhibitor need for a strong national organization. Guest speaker Edward H. Foley, Under-Secretary of the Treasury, lauded the cooperation of the TOA membership for its wartime coopera- tion, characterizing it as an "indis- pensible element" in the success of the Government's financial operations. Discussing such present problems as inflation, Foley called upon TOA as "a sympathetic and influential seg- ment of industry" to help us "get our story across to the public." More than any other group, I know you under- stand public opinion — how to shape and guide it," he added. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rgckefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, .Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald.; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the poet office at New York, N. Y., under the act of Marrh 3, 1879, Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. . Monday, September 27, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 3 They Lead Dealers And Manufacturers Show Over 100 Exhibits Of Equipment, Supplies Oscar Neu Ray Colvin TESMA President TEDI'A President TESMA-TEDPA (Continued from page 1) members of our association," he said. Boomer expressed appreciation of the cooperation and assistance received from convention and exhibit commit- tees, from the trade press and from Ray Colvin, TED PA president. In' a pre-convention message, Colvin also expressed his appreciation of the assistance given by the convention committees, the equipment dealers and manufacturers and the trade press. "Such teamwork," he said, "adds up to only one total, a bigger and better convention than ever before." • Oscar F. Neu, TESMA president, hailed the convention as "topping any- thing we have ever held before both for the attendance, representative of all branches of our industry and for Sopeg Assails Para. As 7 Pacts Expire Holding in a letter addressed at the weekend to Paramount president Bar- ney Balaban that "the law gives Para- mount no right to refuse to negotiate with our union," Sidney Young, presi- dent of Screen Office and Profession- al Employes Guild (CIO), reiterated his earlier charge that the company is "attempting to coerce us into sub- verting (Constitutional) rights" by refusing to "do business" with SOPEG until its officers comply with the non-Communist affidavit provi- sions of the Taft-Hartley Law. Young's letter was sent in reply to one in which Balaban took a dia- metrically opposite view of the situa- tion and expressed the hope that the union's officers would change their minds and file the affidavit. Young maintained that the "issue is not Communism but plain Ameri- canism." He cited SOPEG's record "for being law-abiding," said manage- ments in other industries have signed with non-complying unions, called upon the company "to cease seeking to evade your obligation to meet the pressing economic needs of Paramount employes because of the absence of legal compulsions to your doing so." SPG Strategy Parley Today; Pacts Expire Screen Publicists Guild this evening will hold its first full-scale strategy meeting in connection with nine dis- tributors' rejection of the union be- cause it refused to comply with the non-Communist affidavit provisions of the Taft-Hartley Law. Meeting will take place at the Holland House here. St. Louis, Sept. 26. — Final touches have been put on the big exhibit of motion picture theatre equipment and supplies at the conventions of the Theatre Equipment and Supply Manu- facturers Association and Theatre Equipment Dealers Protective Asso- ciation at the Hotel Jefferson here, starting tomorrow. Ray G. Colvin of St. Louis, TED PA president, said the pageant of 1948-49 theatre equipment will fill the block-long mezzanine and two other rooms of the Jefferson. One hundred manufacturers are on the ex- hibitors' list which was prepared at preliminary meetings attended by Col- vin and Roy Boomer, Chicago, TESMA secretary. The trade show will be climaxed by number and variety of manufacturers' products displayed." Neu said that $75,000,000 is spent annually for the equipping and mainte- nance of the nation's 16,880 theatres, apart from the rapidly growing drive- in field with its hundreds of theatres. He cautioned exhibitors to consider placing orders for needed equipment now to avoid the consequences of ris- ing materials and labor costs to manufacturers. Neu said that unavoidable delays in delivery of orders by manufacturers inevitably can be traced to shortages of steel and other essentials, but that every effort is made to overcome such obstacles. "Our records show," he To Reduce Clearances (Continued from page 1) followed by conferences in Cincinnati, Chicago and San Francisco. In advising the conference of Uni- versal's new policy, Scully states that the present method of distributing of the past 30 years "is hampered con- siderably by clearance and availability, some of which is unreasonable, but mostly perpetuated merely by custom," Scully said. "Today it is necessary that we have our pictures played in all important situations as early as possible. We do not believe it should be necessary for a distributor to invest $1,000,000 or $2,000,000 in a picture and have to wait two years to realize his invest- ment. "The clearance and availabil- ity of pictures is ours to give and not the exhibitor to tell us what he wants. "It is our problem today to do everything possible to eliminate un- reasonable clearance so that the people of America will be able to see our pictures while they are fresh in every- one's mind. "We spend a great deal on national advertising. The benefits of extensive advertising and exploitation are lost when pictures are delayed in reaching the public because of improper clear- ance and availability. "Large town operations have clear- ance of anywhere from 30 to 60 days and the same exhibitor, operating in one large town of 500,000 population, would have a 30-day clearance over subsequent theatres and, in another large town of the same population, this exhibitor would have only a 14 or 21-day clearance. "How many times in this business an RCA demonstration of large- screen television, and the world premiere of National Carbon's "Car- bon Arc Projections," in Technicolor. Both are scheduled for Thursday, with RCA's Barton Kreuzer and C. G. Ollinger, National Carbon lecturer, in attendance, respectively. Oscar S. Neu, TESMA president, arrived in St. Louis before con- vention registration started here to- day. Mayor Aloys P. Kaufmann will extend an official welcome at the open- ing luncheon Tuesday, and Joseph F. Holland, corporation counsel, will be toastmaster. A special party and luncheon for visiting ladies and the annual banquet and dinner-dance sponsored by the two organizations will be held Wednesday. said, _ "that few important theatre openings have ever been postponed as a result of such delays. In fact, any theatre opening receives the first con- sideration of our members." William A. Gedris, TESMA vice- president, and J. Eldon Peek, vice- president of TEDPA, expressed their gratification over both the record at- tendance and exhibits and the efforts of the many members of both associa- tions which made them possible. A convention registration in excess of 1,000 appeared likely today. Next year's convention will be held at the Stevens Hotel, Chicago, Sept. 23-28. Present officers of both TESMA and TEDPA will continue have certain theatres played after an- other, and just as soon as that certain theatre has been purchased by an ex- hibitor who has several other theatres, that certain theatre is moved into a different playing position ; and how many times have availabilities in cer- tain theatres been changed because the exhibitor who has had clearance over some specified theatre obtained some- thing he wanted for waiving this clearance, which is nothing more than using our product to gain something for himself?" Scully declared. N J Allied, Smith Plan (Continued from page 1) plan, it is expected that the member- ship will do likewise ; however, the board's decision is "not irrevocable." If the membership is willing to "go along" with the plan for settling pos- sible differences between Jersey Al- lied members and 20th Century-Fox, of which Smith is general sales man- ager, a committee to supervise a "survey of complaints" will be named by organization president Edward Lachman. Smith Will Discuss Plan Before ITOA Board Here Andy W. Smith, Jr., general sales manager of 20th Century-Fox, will discuss the details of the 20th Cen- tury-Fox conciliation plan for the set- tlement of exhibitor-distributor dis- putes at a meeting of the board of di- rectors of the Independent Theatre Owners Association of New York to be held on Thursday at the Hotel As- tor here. The ITOA has already ex- pressed approval of the principles in- volved in the plan. TESMA Mentors For Third Meeting W. A. Gedris Roy Boomer TESMA Vice-Pres. TESMA Secw-Treas. in office until then, both associations having elected their slates last year for two-year terms. Efforts are being made to get a national exhibitor or- ganization to hold its 1949 convention in Chicago concurrently. TESMA's membership increased to 115 during the past year with the ad- dition of 20 new members. Highlights among the new drive-in exhibits is the first model of a con- cession car on wheels for drive-ins, designed and built by the Calumet Coach Co., Chicago. Also on display is a new drive-in construction design originated by Dr. H. P. Ratoff of Rialto, Cal. Fred Wehrenberg, honorary board chairman of Theatre Owners of America, and retiring head of the MPTO of St. Louis, is sponsoring a luncheon tomorrow for 150 exhibitors in attendance at the convention of his organization, also in session here. WB Filming (Continued from page 1) filming. Nine will be started before Jan. 1. "Hollywood has been suffering from a lot of mental ills caused by indeci- sion, inertia and plain fear," said War- ner. "The work treatment is the only possible cure. It can be as effective as industry leaders and their creative workers want to make it. Most of the bugaboos we have been setting up are excuses for not making pictures. We still have an important domestic mar- ket, as the returns for good pictures prove," and "there still is a world market, although the returns have been sharply curtailed by the tying up of our dollars in many foreign coun- tries. "While the freezing of dollar assets has hit the industry hard, I believe there is too much talk about boycotts and restrictions and not enough energy devoted to making the kind of pictures that will main- tain our world leadership. The foreign situation," Warner added, "is difficult, but the best way to meet it is to in- crease the quality of our prod- uct to the point where it out- distances competition." "We've already made more pictures in 1948 than in all of 1947," Warner said. Warren William, 53 Hollywood, Sept. 26. — Warren William, 53, veteran film actor, died here Friday after an illness of 10 months. He came to Hollywood from the stage in 1932. Surviving is the widow Helen. 4 Motion Picture Daily Monday, September 27, 1948 EXHIBIT DIRECTORY OF THE 1948 TESMA TRADE SHOW . . . and Program of the Tesma-Tedpa dual convention at the Jefferson Hotel in St. Louis Sunday, September 26 9:00 A. M. — Registration opens: Mezzanine floor. 1:00 P. M. — Radio Corporation of America meeting: Room I. Monday, September 27 9:00 A. M. — Registration continued: Mezzanine floor. MPTOA meeting: Gold Room. RCA Dealers meeting: Room No. I. 12:30 P. M.— MPTOA luncheon: Gold Room. TESMA Board of Directors luncheon and meet- ing: Room 6. 2:00 P. M. — TEDPA Board of Directors meeting: Room 4. 7:00 P. M.— MPTOA Banquet: Gold Room. Tuesday, September 28 9:00 A. M. — Registration continued: Mezzanine floor. 10:00 A. M. — Exhibits open: Mezzanine floor and Ivory Room. 12:30 P. M. — Luncheon and Opening Session: Gold Room. 2:00 P. M. — Exhibits reopen. 6:00 P. M. — Ballantyne Company Reception and Dinner for Dealers: Rooms 8 and 9. 6:30 P. M. — Ideal Seating Dinner for Dealers: Room I. I 1 :00 P. M. — Exhibits close. Wednesday, September 29 10:00 A. M. — Registration continued: Mezzanine' floor. 10:30 A. M.— TESMA Annual business meeting: Gold Room. TEDPA Annual business meeting: Crystal Room. 11:15 A. M. — Sightseeing tour and luncheon for ladies, buses leaving from Jefferson Hotel. ^pr); 6:30 P. M. — Cocktail party; host, National Carbon Com- pany: Crystal Room. 7:30 P. M. — Annual Banquet: Gold Room. Thursday, September 30 10:00 A.M. — Registration continued: Mezzanine floor. 2:00 P. M.— TESMA Board of Directors meeting: Room No. 6. TEDPA Board of Directors meeting: Room No. 4. Premiere screening of Technficolor picture, "Carbon Arc Projection"; C. G. Ollinger, assistant advertising manager, National Carbon Company, lecturer. Address by Barton Kreuzer, RCA, on "Tele- . vision in the Theatre." I 1 :00 P. M.— Exhibit closes. EXHIBITORS AND BOOTH NUMBERS AS SHOWN ON DIAGRAM Adler Silhouette Letter Co.— 75-76 Ashcraft Manufacturing Co. — 69 Autocrat, Inc. — 2 Automatic Devices, Inc. — 38 Auto-Vend, Inc. — 1 1 Baldor Electric Co. — 66 Ballantyne Co.— 70-71 Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. — 3 Brenkert Light Projection Co.— 49 Century Projector Corp. — 45 Champion Moulding Mfg. Co. — 44 Coinometer Corp. — 53 C. Cretors & Co.— 79 Da-Lite Screen Co. — 29 Dazians, Inc. — 35 Devry Corp. — 58 Drive-In Theatre Mfg. Co. — 7 Elizabeth Iron Works— 24 Jay Emanuel Publications — 25 Essannay Electric Mfg. Co. — 41 Forest Electronic Corp. — 8 Forest Manufacturing Corp. — 8 General Register Corp. — 36 Globe Ticket Co.— 68 Golde Mfg. Co.— 27 Gordos Corp. — 12 Griggs Equipment Co. — 14 Heywood-Wakefield Co.— 61-62 Ideal Industries, Inc. — 26 Ideal Seating Co. — 72-73 International Seat Corp. — 65 Irwin Seating Co. — 30-31 Kneisley Electric Co. — 10 Knoxville Scenic Studios — 39 Kollmorgen Optical Corp. — 74 Krispy Kist Korn Machine Co. — 4-5 Kroehler Mfg. Co.— 34 LaVezzi Machine Works — 64 Lawrence Metal Products, Inc. — 28 Thomas L. Leedom Co. — 37 Manley, Inc. — 33 Mohawk Carpet Mills— 50 Motiograph, Inc. — 42-43 Motion Picture Machine Co. — 40 Murch Electric Corp. — 18 National Super Service Co. — 13 Neumade Products Corp. — 59-60 Poblocki & Sons — 6 Pronto Pop Corn Sales, Inc. — 67 Radiant Lamp Corp. — 63 Radiant Mfg. Co.— 46 Radio Corp. of America — 49-50 Raytone Screen Co. — 9 Robin, J. E., Inc.— 51-52 CRYSTAL ROOM MEETING ROOM REGISTRATION 58 59 60 i t GOLD ROOM MEETINGS £j BANQUET K3 — I ) 12 15 14 TTT MEZZANINE FLOOR IVORY ROOM 50 61 76 62 75 63 74 64 73 65 72 66 71 67 70 68 69 49 48 42 43 44 45 46 47 LiMiliMikMiH 17 33 | 32 | 31 | 30 1 29 J 28 [ 27 1 26 37 1 [ 56 | 55 1 54 1 LADIES REST ROTJM CHECK ROOM BAR ■ ■ EAST ROOM MEN'S REST ROOM Star Mfg. Co.— 23 Strong Electric Corp. — 54 Superior Electric Co. — 19-20-21 Theater Specialties, Inc. — 55-56 Theatrecraft Mfg. Corp. — 80 Tol-Pak Co.— 22 Typhoon Air-Cond. Corp. — 77-78 Universal Corp. — 81 Vallen. Inc.— 57 Wagner Sign Service, Inc.— 47-48 Wenzel Projector Co. — I Edward H. Wolk Co.— 32 WELCOMI To The THEATRE EQUIPMENT DE PROTECTIVE ASSOCIA1 And THEATRE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLY MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONVENTION JEFFERSON HOTEL, St. Louis, Mo., September 28 s Mann its section appt omplete list of •xhibiliih my of the ad "FIRST IN FILM NEWS ■A V(J j64. no. >i NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1948 TEN CENTS Business Up 15%, U. S. Tax Reports Show August Tax Collections Climb to $34 -Millions Washington, Sept. 27. — Box- office business bounded upwards in July, and not only rang up the top business for the year but was better than IS per cent ahead of July, 1947, according to August tax collection 'figures released today by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. General admission tax collec- tions in August, reflecting July box - office business, totalled $34,141,294, compared with $29,- 309,491 last July. Previous 1948 monthly high was in July, reflecting June business, when ■I collections totaled $33,054712. Collections have been going up ( steadily since May. The big jump in July business, com- y pared with July of last year, put the total box-office grosses for the first (Continued on page 2) 10% Pay Hike Set For WB 'Collarites' A 10 per cent flat wage increase has been won by IATSE Motion Picture Home Office Employes Local No. H- 63 for all 619 Warner home office "white collarites," it was announced here jointly yesterday by the company and the union. The increase will be retroactive to June 1, and the expira- tion date of the contract will be Aug. 31, 1949. The local's executive board met here last night to consider the agreement, and it is expected that Warner employes will meet this week to vote on it. U.S. Demands Action On Scophony Suit Washington, Sept. 27.— The Justice Department is trying to "light a fire" under the defendants in the Scophony anti-trust suit, having told the defendants that if they intend to submit a proposed consent decree, they had bet- ter do so within a month or else the Government will go to trial. One Department spokesman said that he understood the defendants had come "close to working out terms accept- able to us." N. Y. lst-Run Grosses Fair New York's first-run grosses this week are mostly only fair, with con- tinued warm weather apparently diverting many potential theatre-goers to outdoor attractions. The boxscore : "Olympic Games of 1948," at the Gotham, in its first week is good at $14,000; "Good Sam," Music Hall, with a stage show, second week, $125,000, good; "Sorry, Wrong Num- ber," Paramount, Carmen Cavallaro on stage, fourth week, a fairly im- portant $75,000; "Luck of the Irish," Roxy, Ed Sullivan and an ice revue on stage, second and final week, ade- quate at $80,000; fourth week of "Loves of Carmen" at Loew's State, a tidy $34,000; fifth week of "Rope" at the Globe, profitable at $30,000. "Rachel and the Stranger," May- fair, second, a fairly healthy $28,000 ; (Continued on page 2) To Free Japanese Earnings for MPEA Property Purchases All' or part of the countless yens which American distributors have blocked in Japanese banks are expect- ed to be released in about six weeks for property buying in that country, it was disclosed here yesterday by Charles Mayer, Motion Picture Ex- port Association's managing director of Japan, who has arrived here for a series of headquarters conferences. When the Japanese earnings are re- leased MPEA may invest in theatre "showcases" as well as general prop- erty there, Mayer said, explaining that the properties would be operated by the MPEA until after the U. S. occu- pation of the country is ended. Then, he said, they would be divided propor- tionately among MPEA member com- panies. U. S. military authorities in Japan are currently fashioning regu- lations which will govern property in- (Continued on page 7) Ascap Change Up to Congress, Levy Says St. Louis, Sept. 27. — Any basic modification of the Ascap problem will have to come from Congress, ac- cording to Herman Levy, general counsel for Theatre Owners of Amer- ica. Levy was featured speaker at a luncheon for the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of St. Louis, Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois which held its convention here today. Levy reviewed the recent court record of the Ascap cases, but warned that no Ascap decision can affect an individual's right to demand a fee for (Continued on page 7) TOA Unsure Of Status of Buying Groups Views Are Linked to D. of J. Stand on Subject By RED KANN Chicago, Sept. 27. — TOA termi- nated its annual convention with no clear definition for its member- ship about the legality, or other- wise, of buying and booking com- bines. Herman M. Levy, general counsel, said there was no answer be- cause "the legal patterns and limits of activity of buying and booking com- bines have not yet been determined." Under competitive bidding, Levy ob- served legality was in doubt, but that when the Supreme Court discarded competitive bidding, the situation un- derwent still another change. "The Supreme Court case and the two Ascap decisions were based substan- tially on the philosophy that you may not condition one copyright upon an- other," TOA's general counsel stated. "Without all of the facts of such a buying or booking combine, it is not possible to determine whether it will, or will not, be held illegal. And even (Continued on page 7) Twin-City Clearances Are More Muddled Than Ever Tenth Anniversary Drive for Grainger In observance of his 10th anniver- sary with Republic, a James R. Grain- ger "Anniversary Drive" was inaugu- rated yesterday and will continue through Dec. 31, it was announced by co-captains Edward L. Walton, assist- ant general sales manager, and Wal- ter L. Titus, Jr., division manager. Grainger, executive vice-president in charge of sales, joined Republic in May, 1938. In Jan., 1946, he was elected sales vice-president of the new Republic Corp., formed then by the merger of Republic, Consolidated Film Industries and Setay. Minneapolis, Sept. 27. — Clearance in the Twin Cities became more muddled this week as eight Minne- apolis houses swung from the 56-day slot to 42 days for Metro's "Easter Parade," and the Richfield and St. Louis Park, suburban stands remained in the slot for the picture under protest. In St. Paul it looks like no clear- ance changes as the West Twins, independent, turned down a 35-day availability, and the Uptown (Maco), after setting a 35-day run, cancelled it out and remained at 49 days along with the West Twins. Outcome of the 28-day runs at the Varsity and Homewood in Minneap- olis was reported not too good, as the two houses could not satisfactorily figure if the 60 cent admission price for the earlier run on "Easter Parade" was a profitable venture. They are carrying on, however, with the two stands using a joint adver- tisement heralding the "first neigh- borhood" showing. Both houses this week bought "Tap Roots" from Uni- versal on 28-day availability. The Homewood and Varsity expect the price hike on their patrons to ease off, as a number of houses go to 42-day runs at 55 cents. The Richfield has asked exchanges to negotiate on a 28-day run, but ex- (Continued on page 7) UA May Lose 12 NY Neighborhood Runs United Artists is faced with the possible loss of 12 important revenue- producing neighborhood runs in the New York area as a result of their moving up to day-and-date availability with the RKO circuit, it was disclosed here. With the RKO clearance elimi- nated, the houses are advertising a "first-run" policy, meaning first in the neighborhood. UA product plays the Loew circuit, then the independents af- ter a clearance of seven days. The 12 situations are said to be in- (Continued on page 2) Para., Windsor Settle Suit Out of Court Washington, Sept. 27. — Another distributor has come to an out-of- court settlement with the Windsor Theatre of Baltimore, in the Wind- sor's treble-damage anti-trust suit against six major distributors. Para- mount, it was learned today, has agreed to split its first neighborhood run films between the Windsor and the competing Walbrook. A similar settlement between the Windsor and 20th Century-Fox led (Continued on page 2) 2 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, September 28, 1948 Personal Mention A L LICHTMAN arrived here yes- terday from Hollywood. Joseph Hazen, president of Hal Wallis Productions, accompanied by Mrs. Hazen and their children, have arrived in New York after spending the summer in Santa Monica, Cal. • Gene Autry arrived here by plane yesterday from the Coast for his an- nual appearance with the Rodeo in Madison Square Garden. • Seymour Brond has been promoted from assistant manager of Loew's State to acting manager of Loew's Post Road, both in New York. • Dr. Eric G. M. Fletcher, deputy chairman of Associated British Pic- tures Corp., is due here tomorrow from London on the .S'.S Queen Mary. • Robert Fellows, who will produce "Wings of the Navy" for Paramount, will leave here today for Washington, o Al Zimbalist, Film Classics adver- tising-publicity chief, will fly to Wash- ington today from New York. • Arthur H. Lockwood, president of Theatre Owners of America, returned to Boston yesterday from Chicago. • Edward Lachman, president of New Jersey Allied, will leave here to- day for St. Louis. • Harold Mirisch of Allied Artists has arrived here from the Coast. Meet on Postponing N.Y. Para. Suit Trial Film company attorneys , at a meet- ing here yesterday held their first dis- cussions on a brief postponement of the trial in the anti-trust case against Paramount, et al., because it conflicts with the observance of Yom Kippur, Oct. 13. Although no final decision was reached a spokesman said that it is likely that a petition for a post- ponement of perhaps two days will be filed in New York Federal court. Para., Windsor (Continued from Page 1) to a breach of contract suit by the Walbrook against 20th-Fox. This suit is pending in District Court here. As yet no suit has been filed against Paramount, and Walbrook attorneys admit that the situation is slightly dif- ferent in that the Walbrook has con- tracts with 20th-Fox, United Artists, Universal, and Warner, while it had no contract with M-G-M and Para- mount. Grant DeLuxe Extension Chicago, Sept. 27. — An extension for the filing of plaintiff's briefs in the DeLuxe Theatre case against Balaban and Katz was granted until Oct. 27 in Federal Judge William Campbell's court, here, today. 35mm. 'Non-Inflam' Film Is Ready Now Eastman Kodak is ready for an im- mediate switch to limited use of only non-inflammable 35 mm. film in West Coast studios. Edward Peck Curtis, Kodak vice- president, announced the company's step in New York. Curtis said Kodak is prepared to supply the industry with a new type of 35 mm. safety film for daily "rushes." That is the film used in printing from the negative shot in studios, as distinguished from release films distributed to theatres. He said the company is working on development of safety film for release prints also but that is "very much of a future operation." Curtis said other manufacturers besides Kodak also will supply non- inflammable film for studios.. He stated it is hoped that the type of safety film to be provided on the Coast eventually may be used for re- lease printing for theatre projection. Claim Process Cuts Animated Film Cost Washington, Sept. 27. — A patent has been granted Place Process, Inc., for a process which the firm claims will cut in half the cost of producing animated cartoons. Robert Place, inventor, said he pro- poses to license the patent on a roy- alty basis. Savings are achieved by eliminating many artists now required and using mechanical means to turn out pictures faster. The process pho- tographically reproduces the artist's drawings on transparent sheets of cel- luloid, and dispenses with the present step of hand tracing these images on the cells by "inkers." Opaquing of the images on the transparent cells is also simplied and expedited, Place claims. Industry Fund Sets 51 Scholarships To mark the opening of the 51st academic year at Yeshiva University here the Motion Picture Industry Scholarship Fund will provide 51 scholarships for needy students for 1948-49, it was announced here at the weekend by G. S. Eyssell, president of Radio City Music Hall, chairman of this year's industry drive. Members of his committee were : Barney Balaban, Nate Blumberg, Jules W. Catsiff, Irving H. Green- field, Monroe Greenthal, Dan Micha- love, Charles Moskowitz, Charles D. Prutzman, Harold Rodner, Sam Ros- en, Abe Schneider, George P. Skou- ras and George J. Schaefer, honorary chairman. Para. Relinquishes House Paramount will relinquish all of its interest in the 1,343-seat Strand The- atre, Yonkers, effective Sept. 30, Leonard H. Goldenson, vice-president in charge of theatre operations, dis- closed here yesterday. Paramount has a 50 per cent interest in the house, with the remaining 50 per cent owned by W. W. Farley and the George Walsh Estate. Paramount has oper- ated the house since 1925. Business Up 15% (Continued from page 1) seven months of 1948 only a shade below last year's. Until the August collection figures were released, it had been estimated that business was off slightly more than one per cent. Collection figures for the February- through-August period, reflecting business in the first seven months, now show total collections of $214,- 200,000 this year, compared with $214,407,000 last year— or a drop of about one-tenth of one per cent. In three months this year — March, June and August, reflecting February, May and July business, respectively, collections exceeded 1947 figures. In the other four months, 1947 collections were higher. The general admission collections include legitimate theatres, sports events and other general admission events as well as motion picture thea- tres, but do not include roof garden and cabaret taxes nor taxes on various leases or overcharges. Admission tax collections of all types in August totaled $38,820,739, compared with $33,511,582 last year. New York Grosses (Continued from page 1) "For the Love of Mary," Criterion, first and only week, $16,000, sub-par; "Luxury Liner," Capitol, Gene Krupa on stage, third and final, $56,000, moderate; "Velvet Touch," Rivoli, fourth and final, $15,000, dull; "Lar- ceny," Winter Garden, three days of the fourth week, $8,000; "Life With Father," Strand, Johnny Long on stage, second and final week, a light $32,000; "Babe Ruth Story," Astor, ninth, down to about $14,000. New pictures due this week follow : "An Innocent Affair" at the Rivoli, today ; "Saxon Charm," Criterion, "Hamlet," Park, and "Cry of the City" at the Roxy, all tomorrow; "Red River" at the Capitol on Thurs- day, and "Johnny Belinda" at the Strand on Friday. Winter Garden Bows Out As First-Run for Films The Winter Garden, here, which Universal-International has had on lease for the past three years, and which has been showing " first-run product of that company, closed at the weekend. The lease will expire on Thursday and the house will re- vert to "legit" productions. N. J. Allied Meets Today Newark, Sept. 27. — New Jersey Allied will hold a special membership meeting at the Newark Athletic Club tomorrow, rather than today as previ- ously indicated, to consider adoption of the 20th-Fox Andy W. Smith, Jr., exhibitor-distributor conciliation plan. Jersey Allied president Edward Lachman will conduct the meeting. Charles Lyne of M-G-M Oklahoma City, Sept. 27 — Charles D. Lyne, M-G-M branch manager here, died suddenly Saturday night. Ward Royalty temporarily is taking over management of the ex- change, until a successor is named by William F. Rodgers, sales vice-presi- dent. Propose Academy Awards for Video To establish higher standards and technical effort in the production of films for television, Jack Glenn, exi ecutive director of The March of Time and chairman of the production com- mittee of the National Television Filmi Council, has given to Melvin L. Gold, NTFC chairman, a recommendation from his committee for annual ^pr^jrds for television films, to be sponsS-^f by NTFC. The proposal will be sub- mitted to the general membership at the monthly NTFC meeting at Sardi's here on Thursday evening. First general election of officers of the council will take place Thursday at Sardi's. Unopposed nominees for officers are : President, Gold ; vice- president, Burt Balaban; secretary, Robert M. Wormhoudt ; treasurer, Robert W. Paskow. UA May Lose (Continued from page 1) tent on playing only "first-run." Ef- forts to solve the problem will be made in negotiations with the theatres, including Loew's, it is understood. Some of the 12 houses seat over 2,000, with admissions scaled up to 80 cents top. NEW YORK THEATRES RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL — = Rockefeller Center jGARY COOPER • ANN SHERIDAN! in LEO McCAREY'S GOOD SAM A Rainbow Productions, Inc. Picture Released by RKO Radio Pictures SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION Barbara Stanwyck Burt Lancaster "SORRl WRONG NUMBER' A Paramount Release RKO presents LORETTA WILLIAM ROBERT YOUNG HOLDEN MITCHUM in 'RACHEL and the STRANGER' Brand, MAYFAIR Doors Opts »:30 A. M. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Qhief and Publisher; Sherwm Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Goiden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup! Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of 'Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March .1 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Gentl emen...it s PARAMOUNT magic that now conjures up for you Hit No. 3 in that Autumn Harvest of Hits WE REPEAT: "One of the Most Unusual Pictures Made By Paramount in the Past 36 Years" is this That Explores The Fascinating Phenomena The Average Man Calls "Hunches" and "Premonitions" IT'S AN ADVENTURE IN TIME that takes the spectator thru time's purple veil . . . behind which the past merges with the present, the present with the future . . . on a menacing night when the stars look down. IT'S AN ADVENTURE OF A MAN'S SOUL . . of "Triton, The Great" — the man who can see into tomorrow. Labeled by the police a crimi- nal— by psychic scientists an "E.S.P. Person," gifted (or cursed) with "extra-sensory perception." "I see a crushed flower, a broken vase ... a curtain blowing in the breeze. Then on the exact stroke of 11 — she will meet an amazing and inescapable fate . ... " EDWARD G. ROBINSON GAIL RUSSELL JOHN LUND IT'S AN ADVENTURE OF TWO LOVERS with your meteoric star, John ("Foreign Affair") Lund as the man whose arms shield a beautiful girl whom a predetermined, little-comprehended destiny has marked for tragedy . . . IT'S AN ADVENTURE IN BOXOFFICE SELLING spearheaded by a personal appearance tour by Dr. J. B. Rhine, psychic researcher at Duke Uni- versity. Plus national magazine ads beamed to the feminine intuition of 66 million women . . . 99 with VIRGINIA BRUCE-WILLIAM DEMAREST produced by ENDRE BOHEM • directed by JOHN FARROW Screen Play by Barre Lyndon and Jonathan Latimer sock >?e Of tL **°>*r °fth t6t year '"Per . pete for first run playing - - Representing plaintiff is attorney Sey- mour Simon. At the same time, Judge Barnes has set trial hearings in the Monroe Amusement Co. anti-trust suit for April 4, 1949, in District Court. Because of a statement made last week by Judge Michael J. Igoe during hearings on "A Foreign Affair," to the effect that his court does not have power of jurisdiction to modify the Jackson Park decree, Thomas Mc- Connell, Jackson Park attorney, today entered a motion with the Circuit Court of Appeals to dismiss his appeal in opposition to Judge Igoe's granting of extended Loop playing time for Paramount's "Emperor Waltz." U.A., Joining Others, Settles with Harford Washington, Sept. 28. — The anti- trust case instituted over two years ago by the Harford Theatre Co. of Baltimore against major distributors was completely closed today when United Artists agreed to settle on the same terms agreed to last month by the other seven majors. Under the settlement, Harford gets a better break on playing time but none of the damages it asked for. Now it will have an availability of seven days frOm the Durkee and Rome cir- cuits. Before, the Harford's clearance was tied to the Durkee and Rome. 4 Will List Theatres (Continued from page 1) Justice Department before the case comes to trial again in New York Federal Court on Oct. 13. (Inci- dentally, a brief postponement of this date because it conflicts with the ob- servance of Yom Kippur still is re- garded as a possibility). However, doubt that the presenta- tion of the lists will automatically mean a long delay in the trial was expressed here by Austin Keough, vice-president and general counsel of Paramount. THERE IS A in Accurate Concise and Impartial MOTIG.V PICTURE? mc DAILY T IN FILM NEWS VO >. NO. 64 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1948 TEN CENTS Ascap Out To Modify N. Y. Court Ruling To Move for Amended Findings; Files Decree American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, in a move to tone down the language used by New York Federal Court Judge Vincent L. Leibell in his decision against the society, has prepared and served upon exhibitor plaintiffs in the case a motion to amend Leibell's find- ings and conclusions of law. Simultaneous with the service of the motion yesterday, Ascap also sub- mitted to the clerk of the New York court and to the plaintiffs its proposed judgment which would enjoin it from theatre collections only on U. S.-made pictures and restrain its members from collections only when they are "acting in concert." Ascap's attempt to get some of the more sweeping and harsher language of Judge Leibell's decision modified was not unanticipated. The society's strategy in the case all along has been to make such an effort and, should it succeed to the de- gree hoped for by Ascap, the society {Continued on page 2) Detroit Hearings of House Group Off Washington, Sept. 29. — Michigan theatre owners who had hoped to tell their trade troubles to a House Small Business Committee at hearings sched- uled in Detroit Oct. 1-2 will not have a chance to do it. A committee aide announced here today that the Detroit hearings had been cancelled because Chairman Ploeser had not been able to work them into the committee's travel schedule. Hearings have already been held in eight cities, bringing a {Continued on page 2) 1,693 Canada Houses; 216 Opened in a Year Toronto, Sept. 29. — An in- crease of 216 new or reopened theatres last year throughout Canada is reported by the government in a study of film industry operations. Total ac- tive theatres rose to 1,693, from 1,477. FCC to Freeze New Television Permits 3 Mos. Washington, Sept. 29. — The Federal Communications Commis- sion is expected to announce to- morrow a freeze on any further television applications or actions. The purpose is to let the Commission di- gest the outpourings at three recent sets of television hearings, and pos- sibly lay down some new basic rules on what frequencies and allocations will be available to commercial televi- sion broadcasters, before passing on any individual applications. The freeze, which is expected to last for three months or more, will probably cover both further hearings and license grants, industry observers feel. Announcement of the FCC ac- tion is expected at a press conference slated for tomorrow morning by FCC chairman Wayne Coy, where, accord- ing to advance information, he will {Continued on page 4) Film Stock Trading Light, SEC Reports Washington, Sept. 29. — Trading by officers and directors in stocks of their companies was extremely light during the month ending Sept. 10, the latest report of the Securities and Ex- change Commission reveals. Only four firms listed transactions, and all of those were minor. At Universal, Daniel M. Sheaffer sold 2,940 shares of common in six transactions, dropping his holdings to 2,367 shares. Preston Davie sold {Continued on page 2) US 'SOFTENING' ON A CONSENT DECREE TO A in Albany Area To Elect Officers Albany, N. Y., Sept. 29.— A meeting to elect officers of the Theatre Owners of Amer- ica for this territory will be held within three weeks, said temporary chairman Harry Lamont. A date will be fixed after he and executive secre- tary-counsel Leonard Rosen- thal confer with TOA na- tional officers in New York. Three additional directors are slated to be chosen. K-MTA Elects Bills To Succeed Strowig Kansas, City, Sept. 29. — Elmer Bills of Salisbury, Mo., was elected president of Kansas-Missouri Theatre Association, succeeding Homer Stro- wig of Abilene, Kan., at the annual convention held here. Dale Danielson of Russell, Kan., was elected vice- president, succeeding Bills ; J. A. Becker of Independence succeeds C. E. Cook as secretary, and Fred Meyn of Kansas City was reelected treasur- er. As the new president, Bills was named to the Theatre Owners of America directorate, with R. R. Bie- chele as alternate. The morning session was devoted principally to a talk by Herman Levy, TOA general counsel, followed by discussion of specific problems. J. A. Becker spoke on public relations, and {Continued on page 2) Next Two Years May Be Best For Equipment Field: Golden St. Louis, Sept. 29.— As TESMA's $100,000 trade show swung into its second big day, Nathan D. Golden, chief of the motion picture branch, office of international trade, Depart- ment of Commerce, predicted the next two years may well be the biggest in the motion picture theatre equipment business. Whether the equipment industry ex- ceeds its present highs, Golden said, depends on the allotment of building material to waiting theatre builders. Foreign export is complicated by the dollar scarcity, but Golden was opti- mistic about a rise in the present $5,000,000 to $10,000,000 in exports. 'American manufacturers have the opportunity of a lifetime to sell their equipment," he said. "Despite the dollar problem, no manufacturer should be deterred from seeking a market wherever he can make sales." The trade exhibits, this year all made in America, were a hive for the more than a thousand manufacturers and dealers attending the TESMA and TEDPA annual sessions. There was unanimous agreement the show {Continued on page 2) Clark Abandons Stand on 'Complete Divestiture' ; Byrnes Resumes Talks Washington, Sept. 29. — Attor- ney General Tom Clark said here today that the Government would take a decree "if we could get di- vestiture of a sufficient number of theatres." He hastened to point out that "our interpretation of sufficient is much stronger than that of the companies," but at the same time laid much stress on how a consent decree settlement "would be a big saving to the Gov- ernment, to get the thing out of the way. More than likely it'll go back to the Supreme Court if it's tried." Clark left no doubt that the Gov- ernment would settle for quite a bit less than complete divestiture. He said the Department of Justice would ask for complete divorcement in the proceedings opening in New York District Court next month, but de- clared that he doubted that "the low- er court would go that far, in view of the Supreme Court's opinion." It was learned from trade sources here that James F. Byrnes, counsel {Continued on page 4) 6 1 A' Wins 10% Pay Hike at Universal A 10 per cent wage increase was won yesterday by IATSE Motion Picture Home Office Employes Local No. H-63 for all 425 home office "white collarites" at Universal-Inter- national, Universal Newsreel and U-I affiliates Castle Films and United World Films. The increase will be retroactive to July 1, and the expiration date of the new contract will be Aug. 31, 1949. Earlier this week H-63 won a similar {Continued on page 2) Extended Deadline For 'Youth Month' Tangible evidence that "Youth Month" will be main- tained far beyond its Septem- ber deadline was received yesterday at Theatre Owners of America headquarters here with reports of extensive ac- tivities for youths throughout the Midwest. 2 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, September 30, 1948 Personal Mention EJ. MANNIX, M-G-M studio • executive, left the Coast last night for New York. He will sail for Europe on the .JS Queen Mary tomorrow. • June Schlossberg, secretary to Dan S. Terrell, head of advertising- publicity for Loew's out-of-town the- atres, will be married on Saturday to William Smith. • Beaumont Newhall, former cura- tor of the department of photography of the Museum of Modern Arts here, has been named curator of George Eastman House, Inc. • L. J. McGinley, Prestige Pictures sales manager, is attending Univer- sal-International regional sales meet- ings at Cincinnati, Chicago and San Francisco. o John B. McCullough, Motion Pic- ture Association of America's direc- tor of conservation, has left here on an inspection tour of Midwest ex- changes. • James R. Grainger, Republic dis- tribution vice-president, and Walter Titus, Eastern division sales mana- ger, have returned to New York from Boston. e Hugh McDonald, M-G-M booker in Charlotte, and his bride are honey- mooning here and will visit Chicago next week before returning home. • D. C. Collins, manager of the Electrical Research Products division of Western Electric, will leave New York today for the Coast. « Boris L. Garner, head of Vog Film, will arrive at LaGuardia Airport next Tuesday from Paris. • John P. Byrne, M-G-M Eastern sales manager, is in Boston this week from New York. • Richard de Rochemont, March of Time producer, is due here today from Europe on the 5\S" Queen Mary. • F. A. Bateman, Screen Guild sales manager, is in Kansas City from Hollywood on a tour of exchanges. • Russ Stewart, M-G-M home of- fice publicist, has returned here from New England. Benjamin Joins Astor As 'Frisco Manager Elmer Benjamin, film pioneer, has joined Astor Pictures as manager in San Francisco, it has been announced here by R. M. Savini, Astor president. Benjamin, who will function under F. L. (Pat) Patterson, head of the Los Angeles and San Francisco ex- changes, has also formed Reel Pic- tures, with headquarters in Astor's ex- change to handle new films as well as reissues. Oct 26 Set by FTC For 'Blimp* Hearing Washington, Sept. 29. — Hearings will be held in New York on Oct. 26 by the Federal Trade Commission in connection with the commission's complaint against United Artists on "Colonel Blimp," an FTC attorney reported here today. FTC has ac- cused the company of misrepresenting the picture in its advertising. United Artists officials in New York said yesterday that no word has been received by them from the Fed- eral Trade Commission concerning a hearing date on the "Colonel Blimp" matter. Take 'Cur ley' Suit To Circuit Court Memphis, Sept. 29. — Suit of Unit- er Artists and Hal Roach against the Memphis Board of Censors in connec- tion with the banning from Memphis screens of the comedy, "Curley," is in process of being transferred from chancery to circuit court. Two motions, scheduled for hearing before Chancellor Creson yesterday, were delayed indefinitely as attorneys for both sides agreed to transfer the suit. Universal Pay Hike (Continued from page 1) blanket increase for all 619 Warner home office "collarites." The local's executive board is scheduled to meet here today to con- sider the increase at U-I, et al, and it is expected that the 425 work- ers involved will meet shortly to vote on it. 20th-Fox's SPG and SOPEG Units to Plan Moves Today The 20th Century-Fox units of Screen Publicists Guild and Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild will hold a joint strategy meet- ing here this evening. The meeting- was called following reports that members were resigning from the units because the company has refused to negotiate new contracts until union officers file non-Communist affidavits with the National Labor Relations Board as stipulated in the Taft-Hart- ley Law. Golden to Tesma (Continued from page 1) pointed to bigger and better theatre equipment, and theatres. E. J. Vallen of Akron, dean of the manufacturers in attendance, saw third-dimension, electrically operated contour controls with color lighting, curtain of spun glass and like mate- rials, as new subjects likely to occupy manufacturers in the next year. Annual business sessions of TESMA and TEDPA were held this morning at closed sessions. Presidents Oscar F. Neu and Ray G. Colvin said the associations would release reports on the business sessions at the con- vention's closing sessions tomorrow. Also on today's program were the National Carbon Co. reception and the annual banquet. Ascap Motion (Continued from page 1) then would dispense with an appeal. If the move fails or is diluted appreci- ably, Ascap will be forced to appeal and already has decided to do so in such an eventuality. See Licensing Setup Jeopardized Feeling within Ascap is that as Judge Leibell's decision now stands its whole licensing structure is subject to attack. The society's present move is to attempt to eliminate reflections on its licensing methods in performing rights fields outside of theatres, and to have modified some of the language of the decision applicable to its thea- tre licensing methods, according to observers. Ascap's proposed decree would re- strain it and its members from "con- spiring" with film producers for the purpose of including clauses in exhibi- tion contracts directing that music rights be cleared through Ascap. The society asks that no limit be placed on its or its members' rights to ac- quire and license public performance rights to exhibitors of music syn- chronized with films produced outside the U. S. Ascap also seeks to have its operations outside the U. S. re- main unaffected by the judgment. ITOA Asks Harsher Terms Plaintiffs in the suit, all of them members of the Independent Theatre Owners Association of New York, have a vastly different opinion of what should be included in the court's de- cree. In their proposals which were reported yesterday in Motion Pic- ture Daily, they seek to enjoin Ascap from theatre collections entirely and ask the court to direct that Ascap members license both public perform- ance and synchronization rights of their music to the motion picture pro- ducer. Additionally, they submitted that all contracts between producers and Ascap and between distributors and exhibitors which provided that exhibitors obtain music rights through Ascap be declared invalid. Film Stock Trading (Continued from page 1) 1,800 shares, leaving him with 3,409. N. Peter Rathvon sold 500 shares of RKO common during the period, making his total sales 5,800 shares in two months, leaving him with 14,200 shares. Republic president Herbert J. Yates sold all of the 900 shares he held of his firm's $1 cumulative pre- ferred. He still holds 73,687 shares of 50-cent par common and $25,000 of four per cent cumulative income debentures. Albert Warner acquired 700 shares of Warner common, bringing his per- sonal holdings to 435,200 shares ; his trusts hold another 21,000 shares. Coyne To Address AMP A Robert W. Coyne, executive direc- tor of the Theatre Owners of Amer- ica, will speak at the first 1948-49 luncheon-meeting of Associated Mo- tion Picture Advertisers, to be held today at the Hotel Astor. Max E. Youngstein is AMPA president. Gen. Robert A. McClure, USA, will also be a speaker. Foreign Films Tip L. of D. Ratings Albany, N. Y., Sept. 29.— Notice- able trend in motion pictures, princi- pally foreign importations, is the in- creased number rated Class "B" (adult only) and Class "C" (con- demned) by the Legion of Decency, Most Rev. William A. Scully, Coad- jutor Bishop of the Albany Diocese and chairman of the Bishops' Com- mitte on Motion Pictures of the American Hierarchy, said here. "^**« Bishop Scully, who was sup' mto tendent of diocesan schools in New York before his appointment to his present post, stated foreign standards are different than American, which is one reason for the number in "C" classification. Riskins To Produce Films Independently Hollywood, Sept. 29. — Everett and Robert Riskin have formed Equitable Pictures to produce independently for major release, the nature of which is still to be determined. Everett simul- taneously announced he is leaving- M- G-M on conclusion of his contract. Robert's RKO deal is unaffected. Bills Elected (Continued from page 1) Finton Jones on fire prevention. Parts of letters from the superintend- ent of schools of Kansas City, the sec- retary of the Council of Churches and the head of the city welfare depart- ment were read to the convention by M. D. Cohn, in which the writers commended exhibitors for their coop- eration and accomplishments in "Youth Month." Senn Lawler point- ed out that the Board of Education had asked for a conference with thea- tremen for the purpose of working out plans for "Education Week." Elected to the K-MTA board of di- rectors are the following: Ralph Win- ship, Beichele, Strowig, Gordon Hol- lady, and K. E. Pennington, all from Kansas ; and C. E. Cook, Glen Hall, Virgil Harbison, Jay Means and Frank Weary, all of Missouri. Also named were Frank Plumlee of Theatre Enterprises, Elmer C. Rhoden of Fox Midwest, and Clarence A. Schultz of Commonwealth Theatres. Detroit Hearings Off (Continued from page 1) steady stream of testimony from ex- hibitors. Hearings scheduled for Louisville on Oct. 5, Oklahoma City, on Oct. 8, and in Houston on Oct. 11 still stand. Committee officials have also indicated hopes of holding hear- ings in New Orleans at the end of November to coincide with the conven- tion of Allied States Association. McCarey Alters Slate Hollywood, Sept. 29. — Leo Mc- Carey has juggled his production schedule to make his own original, "Adam and Eve," his first Rainbow production under the Paramount ban- ner. The producer-director is work- ing on another story idea which he will film as his last for RKO Radio. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Martin Quigley, Jr., Associate Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; David Harris, Circulation Director; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca- Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor; Chicago Bureau, 120 South La Salle Street, Editorial and Advertising. Urben Farley, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl. Hope Burnup, Manager, Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London." Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald, Better Theatres, published every fourth week as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Theatre Sales; International Motion Picture Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Johnny Belinda ( Drama) WHEREVER MOTION PICTURES ARE REVIEWED YOU'LL BE READING A RAVE FOR WARNER BROS! bhnny elin 315 Ipso Atlantic City, Sept. 7. —"John- ny Belinda" is a compelling, adult drama, told with sensitive taste, A story of a tragedy with a happy ending, the film is one that piacks a boxoffice wallop and can be sold for big returns. Jane Wyman's portrayal is boff. It's a compellingly artistic display of talent, demonstrating that an artist can project emo- tions and sway an audience with- out a spoken word. Of equal worth is' Lew Ayres' co-starring performance. There are few who can convey the sincerity with which he endows a role and he makes his part i. sock perform- ance. The m elodramatic angles will capture fancy .of the general pub- tic, particularly the femmes, and there is a strong appeal to the class trade because of the intelli- gent ■ interpretation displayed by script, direction and playing. Jerry Wald's production has missed no bets in presenting it for outstanding attention. He realizes on every merit of the many strong points' of the story and has given the film sock cast- ing, in star spots and right on down the line. Plot is one that, in less adroit and sympathetic hands, could have been a highly theatrical melodrama. The theatrics are there but so deftly handled in the presentation that they give a solid backing. Jean Negulesco's direction guides the -development leisure'- but never slowlv. treat- ing the plot and players with po- tent understanding. He never overplays the heartstrings, yet keeps them constantly moved. An example of the deft handling is the rape scene. It's alive and vivid, but never becomes a ten- twent-thirt meller problem, • There are commanding perform- ances by Charles Bickford as Miss Wyman'- father and Agnes Moorehead as her aunt. Bick- ford's work is an unusually able realization on the part's demands. Stephen McNally is excellent as the rapist and Jan Sterling, _ as the village belle who marries him, also comes through strongly. Rosalind Ivan, Mabel Paige and Ida Moore shine as thoughtless village gossips. Dan Seymour and others in the large cast lend strong support. Wald's supervision has ac- counted for top work in technical assignments. Ted McCord's pho- tography makes a picturesque dis- play of the drab Nova Scotia background and the tender, mov- ing mood of the film is height- ened by Max Steiner's music score. Set decorations, special ef- fects, film editing and all other technical aids help in making this a class feature. WARNERS RELEASE. Producer, Jerry Wald. Director, Jean Negalesco. Screen pi.. '■' " ——Cube, Allen Vincent. Fi ~" "orris, V\ ... JANE M \tl\IH»MH . lew H b: Scree, f'Om the Wig: """BARD VON Clinr ,^S^~ '<»» Pl.„ by Elm,,H"!^,"f*L'-EN VINCENT TU|r) CravenT "nrem... nHSv Joan Winfield, Ian WoITeTTxvm.^. . s bert. Jonathan Hale, Ray Montgomery. 4 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, September 30, 1948 Review "Unfaithfully Yours" (20th Century-Fox) PRESTON STURGES' special gift for daffy comedy achieves hilarious expression in "Unfaithfully Yours." As a satire about the revenge fan- tasies of a symphony conductor who thinks his wife has been unfaithful, the picture has spots that will make the most hardened poker-face concede defeat and break into helpless laughter. It is adult fare that has been conditioned all around for high box-office performance. Much of the credit is due to the talents of the excellent cast, headed by Rex Harrison, Linda Darnell, Bar- bara Lawrence and Rudy Vallee. All of these persuasive assets, however, do not free the picture from moments when the running time of 105 minutes create an inflated quality. Having been led to believe of his wife's infidelity, Harrison, in the middle of a symphony, gets carried away with delusions of retribution. In one epi- sode he envisages himself murdering his wife and blaming the crime on her lover. In another fantasy he gives her up in a noble gesture ; and finally he pictures himself putting a gun to his temple with a cavalier abandon. Sturges, who did the screenplay as well as the direction and production, has evolved a perfect blending of mood, music and photography, giving the narrative a pungent, lasting flavor. As the aloof and erratic conductor who finds that all of his suspicions were a witless mistake, Harrison gives an exhilarating performance. Support is su- perb from Miss Darnell as his wife ; Vallee as a befuddled relative-in-law, and Miss Lawrence as Vallee's bored and acid-tongued wife. Some mem- orable characterizations are also provided by Kurt Kreuger, Lionel Stander and Edgar Kennedy. Three high-brow musical selections are offered from the works of Rossini, Wagner and Tchaikowsky. Running time, 105 minutes. Adult audience classification. For release in December. Mandel Herbstman 'Best Actresses' Are Invited to 'Belinda' The 37 actresses who have _ given the finest performances of all time in the opinion of the nation's drama edi- tors are being invited to the premiere of Warner's "Johnny Belinda" on Oct. 14 at Warner's Hollywood Theatre in Hollywood. A poll to determine the newsmen's choices was conducted by Warner among leading newspa- pers. Forty-two different actresses were named in the poll ; of these, five, Renee Adoree, Belle Bennett, Jeanne Eagles, Carole Lombard and Beryl Mercer, are deceased. Jane Wyman, who co-stars with Lew Ayres in "Johnny Belinda," is among those named in the poll. Miss Wyman, now on a 10-city press tour, will return to the Coast for the Hol- lywood premiere. Bette Davis re- ceived the greatest number of votes. 'Apartment' Opens In Detroit Today Detroit, Sept. 29. — A delegation of Hollywood personalities tomorrow will touch off the world premiere of 20th Century-Fox's "Apartment for Peggy" at the Fox Theatre here. At- tending will be William Holden, Ed- mund Gwenn, George Seaton and Col- leen Townsend. Climaxing civic and social events, and interviews, they will appear at three shows at the theatre during the first day of the run. The premiere activities were co- ordinated by Dave Idzal, manager of the Fox, and Sid Blumenstock, 20th- Fox assistant exploitation manager. E-L Preparing for Premiere in Toronto Toronto, Sept. 28. — Jerry Pickman, Eagle-Lion assistant advertising-pub- licity director, is here to arrange for the world premiere of "Let's Live a Little," which will inaugurate Twen- tieth Century Theatres' new Down- town on Oct. 9. Pickman is confer- ring with Irving Herman, advertising- publicity director for International Film Distributors, E-L outlet here. City officials have relaxed the ban on front illumination, imposed because of the power shortage, for the event at the theatre. Toland Rites Today Hollywood, Sept. 29. — Funeral services for Gregg Toland, Samuel Goldwyn cinematographer, who died on Tuesday, will be held tomorrow af- ternoon at Hollywood Cemetery Chapel. Toland was about to intro- duce his new "ultimate focus" camera technique at the time of his death. MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION US 'Softens' (Continued from page 1) for 20th Century-Fox in the Para- mount case, had a long interview with the Attorney General last week, at which Byrnes told Clark that the film companies were still spilt on terms for a proposed consent decree but that progress was being made in working out a mutually-agreeable formula on what theatres must be sold. Motion Picture Daily reported yesterday that four of the theatre- owning defendants in the Paramount case were preparing lists of their the- atres which they regarded as "ex- pendable" in a consent decree settle- ment, and which they would divest themselves of voluntarily should a de- cree agreement be reached. (RKO, the fifth company, said it was not participating in consent decree discussions and was planning to make a "different approach." Some observ- ers have interpreted this to mean that RKO is exploring the advisability of disposing of its theatres as a matter of business rather than legal strategy.) The change in Government attitude toward a consent decree has been marked over the past six months. After the Supreme Court decision last spring, Clark said the Govern- ment would get complete victory "and not by the consent decree route." Earlier this month, he said the door was open for film attorneys to come in and talk over a consent decree. Now, apparently, he is just waiting for the proposal in order to get down to dollars-and-cents bargaining. N.S.S. Acquires Space National Screen Service, trailer and accessories manufacturers and distrib- utors, has acquired a portion of the Street and Smith Building here for storage purposes, George Dembow, NSS president, reported yesterday. New Post for Weissman George Weissman, former publicist for Samuel Goldwyn Productions, has joined the Benjamin Sonnenberg office here. Linet To Lecture Here Henry A. (Hank) Linet, Universal- International Eastern advertising man- ager, will be guest lecturer at the American Theatre Wing screen semi- nar here tonight. His subject will be the organization and function of a film company advertising-publicity department. N. T. F. C. Elections To Be Held Tonight Election of the first officers for the National Television Film Council will be held here tonight at a dinner-meet- ing at Sardi's. A proposed standard television ex- hibition contract will be discussed and recommendations heard. Guest speak- er will be Edward Carroll, manager of DuMont's telescription department. FCC to Freeze rtr (Continued from page 1) ™ reveal a development "of major im- portance to television." Paramount, 20th-Fox, Warner, DuMont, and many firms owned all or partly by local circuits and other thea- tre interests, have applications pend- ing which would be affected. Recent hearings which the FCC must absorb and may rule on before it reopens the television field include those on expanding into upper fre- quencies, reallocation of the 12 exist- ing channels, and reception difficulties. The commission's calendar of hear- ings slated during the next three months, released today, is a good tip- off to the commission stand. It does not list a single television hearing. Crosby Plans to Set Up 3-Station Video Chain Tacoma, Sept. 29. — Bing Crosby has applied to the Federal Communi- cations Commission for permission to build a television outlet here, his brother, Everett, told the Tacoma Chambers of Commerce today. He said Bing also was planning to set up stations in Yakima and Spokane. TODAY AMPA'S FIRST LUNCHEON-MEETING OF THE 1948-49 SEASON! HEAR BRIG.-GEN. ROBERT A. McCLURE TALK ON THE ARMY'S USE OF FILMS FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL INDOCTRINATION ROBERT W. COYNE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF T.O.A. WILL ALSO SPEAK Send or call in your reservation now! THURSDAY, SEPT. 30 HOTEL ASTOR— 12:30 O'CLOCK FOR TICKETS, TELEPHONE ANY OF THE FOLLOW- ING MEMBERS: CHARLES ALICOATE BR 9-7117 CHET FRIEDMAN CO 5-6370 HERMAN SCHLEIER CI 6-6460 LIGE BRIEN PL 7-1600 She owes her "ripe old age" to him . • . HOWEVER skillfully she might play her part, this young actress would still seem more girl than grandmother — save for the creative ingenuity of the make-up man. By deft application of grease paint and putty, he has added years to her ap- pearance . . . and conviction to her role. This is but one instance of the magic at the make-up man's command. He does as much and more for film folk who must be transformed to Jekyll, Cyrano, gnome, or Manchu. When these characterizations reach audiences successfully, it is because the make-up man combines cosmetic artist- ry with full knowledge of his medium. And, in knowing films, he is aware of what is done to help his work by the versatile members of the Eastman mo- tion picture family, famous films for more than fifty years. EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY ROCHESTER 4, N. Y. J. E. BRULATOUR, INC., DISTRIBUTORS FORT LEE • CHICAGO • HOLLYWOOD The story of THE LOVES OF CARMEN can best be told by this adver- tisement inserted by the RKO Albee Theatre in Cincinnati newspapers. HELD OVER! RKOflLBEE A RARE OCCASION . . . THIS IS ONLY THE 7th PICTURE IN 10 YEARS TO BEHELD OVER AT THE ALBEE THEATRE! "CARMEN" stays because it is one of the most Tempestuous, Sensational Hits to come out of Hollywood! Record crowds are cheering it . • . the critics are raving over it! COLUMBIA PICTURES pr«Mnfs HAYWORTH (2£emv FORD In COLUMBIA PICTURES presents ^» IWk. ™ Ron RAN DELL • Victor JORY* Luther ADLER VnMpf Arnold Moss • Joseph Buloll - Margaret Wyehcrly Screenplay by Helen Deutscli HAYWORTH -FORD COIOK BY Ron RAN DELL • Victor JORY* Luther ADLER Arnold Moss-Joseph BulolU Margaret WychefJy Screenplay by Helen Deutscli Directed and Produced by CHARLES VI DOR A BECKWORTH CORP PRODUCTION COLOR. BY *TlCHNlCOLOH,