The Exhibitor (Aug-Nov 1948)

THE EXHIBITOR 13 Committees Named For Sept. Meeting Chicago — John Balaban and Eddie Zorn, chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, TOA’s general convention committee, last week named 38 members to the reception committee for the two -day sessions to be held on Sept. 24 and 25 in the Drake Hotel. From the exhibitor ranks in the area the following were appointed: W. K. Hol¬ lander, N. M. Platt, and D. B. Wallerstein, Balaban and Katz; Frank Smith, RKO Theatres; Aaron Jones, McVickers; Edwin Silverman, Essaness Theatres; James Coston, Warner Theatres; Jack Rose, Manta and Rose; Arthur Schoenstadt, Schoenstadt and Sons; Jack Kirsch, president. Allied Theatres of Illinois, and George Kerasotes, vice-president. United Theatre Owners of Illinois. Named from the distributing companies were: James Donohue and J. Harold Stevens, Paramount; Jack Lorentz and Tom Gilliam, 20th Century-Fox; H. Greenblatt and S. Gorelick, RKO; Bill Bishop, W. E. Banford, and W. Devaney, Metro; R. Cramblet and N. Nathanson, United Artists; Sam Horowitz and Harry Mandel, SRO; Ben Lowery, Columbia; Harry Seed and A. J. Shumow, W’arners; Irving Mandel and Ben Eisenberg, Mono¬ gram; Ed. Heiber and Clarence Phillips, Eagle Lion; Max Roth and Ed Spiers, Film Classics; M. Gottlieb and L. Berman, U-I; • W. Baker and A. Fischer, Republic, and Henri Elman, Capitol. Few SEC Changes Revealed Washington— The SEC repcj^'ted unex¬ citing stock transactions last week for the period between June 11 and July 10, 1948. The breakdown was as follows: Associated Motion Picture Industries: Albert W. Lind acquired 100 shares to add to his 400 already held. Columbia: Abraham Schneider gifted 25 shares of comm.on, retaining 10,028. Paramount: The F. K. Griffis Trust dropped 2.500 shares of dollar common, retaining 3 501 shares. Stanton Griffis, who also has three other trust funds, with 11.800 shares, also owns 9,000 personally. Henry Ginsberg added 500 shares to the 500 he already held. RKO; Howard Hughes acquired 929,020 shares of dollar common. Warners: Jack Warner gave 2,000 shares to the United Jewish Welfare Fund, re¬ taining 418,000 and 21,500 in trust. Major Albert Warner gifted charity with 400 shares, retaining 428,000 plus 21,000 in trust. lA Invades CIO Area New York — lATSE Local H-63, AFL, last week again invaded the territory of CIO’s SOPEG, driving into the union’s ranks at Paramount. A committee of 20, made up of SOPEG and non-SOPEG members, was heading the drive, and Russell Moss is H-63 business agent. SOPEG= is one of the unions which is not complying with the Taft-Hartley law requirements of non-Communist affi¬ davits. About 600 employes are involved.. The lA local had previously fought SO¬ PEG at United Artists. ^'Withhold ASCAP Payments/" Kirsch CHICAGO — Members of Allied The¬ atres of Illinois, Inc., were advised last week by Jack Kirsch, president, to withhold future payments of fees to ASCAP, based upon an opinion sub¬ mitted to Allied by its attorney Thomas C. McConnell. “ASCAP license agreements with theatres,” said McConnell’s opinion, “are illegal, and cannot be used by ASCAP to collect license fees from theatre owners who have signed such agreements.” “It would seem,” he con¬ tinues, “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 protection under the copy¬ right laws. In other words, Allied members receive nothing for their money by continuing such payments, and are now clearly on notice that such payments are illegal exactions.” Concluding, he stated, “I am of the opinion that Allied membeis can safely refuse to pay any further monies under ASCAP agreements, and that the Allied organization can safely recommend such course of action to its members.” Bernhard Drive Set New York — A new sales drive, in honor of Film Classics’ president, named the “Joseph Bernhard Drive,” was announced last week by B. G. Kranze, vice-president and general sales manager. It was placed in effect immediately following the com¬ pany’s international sales meeting this weekend, and terminates on Dec. 4. Prizes will be awarded immediately before Christmas. Nine branches will share in the prizes, which will be based on playdates and col¬ lections on all product, new Cinecolor pic¬ tures, new black and whites, combination reissues such as the Korda Technicolor hits, “Drums” and “Four Feathers,” Realart re-releases such as “Gung Ho” and “Eagle Squadron,” Goldwyn re-releases, Selznick re-releases. Roach re-releases, short subjects, and serials. Participating in additional awards will be the division manager whose division wins first place. Distribs Get Permission New York — RKO and Loew’s were last week given the right to inspect the books of Rhinehook Theatres and Millerton Amusement Corporation by Judge John C. Knox. The distributors are engaged in percentage fraud suits against the exhibi¬ tor companies covering the period be¬ tween January, 1942, and January, 1948. Loew’s also received a similar grant in its suit against the Stern-Levy Circuit. Mid-Central Allied Meets Cape Girardeau, Mo. — The first regional meeting of the Mid-Central Allied Inde¬ pendent Theatre Owners will be held to¬ day (Aug. 18) at the Colonial Tavern. Charles Niles, Allied ITO of lowa-Nebraska, is to be a speaker. Scbnifzer, Jack Upped By UA New York — Edward M. Schnitzer and Fred Jack have been upped to the newly created posts of eastern and western general sales managers, respectively, of United Artists Corporation, it was an¬ nounced last week following the resigna¬ tion of Joseph J. Unger. Announcement of the complete re¬ organization of the UA sales structure was made by Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., who, as executive assistant to President Gradwell L. Sears, will maintain policy and ad¬ ministrative supervision of the distributing firm’s sales operations. Jack, former southern district manager, will maintain headquarters in Dallas. Schnitzer will continue to operate from the home office. The former eastern and Canadian division sales manager’s added responsibilities include a projected series of field meetings to acquaint sales person¬ nel with UA’s new hard-hitting sales technique. Lazarus stated that under the new sales setup greater autonomy will be given to individual branch and district managers. Mark Silver has been appointed assist¬ ant eastern general sales manager, it was announced. Silver will act in the capacity of field representative for Schnitzer. With UA since 1934, Silver has succes¬ sively held the posts of salesman, office manager, branch manager in New York and Washington, and district manager, Pennsylvania-Washington area. Abe Dickstein will continue in his pre¬ sent post of executive assistant to Schnit¬ zer. Blumenstock Ends Trip New York — Mort Blumenstock, War¬ ners vice-president in charge of adver¬ tising and publicity, returned last week from the four-city world premiere en¬ gagements of the company’s Technicolor production, “Two Guys From Texas”, in San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and Okla¬ homa City. Each engagement was preceded by an extensive advertising, publicity, radio, and exploitation campaign covering a rad¬ ius of over 80 miles of each city. Stars of the picture, Dennis Morgan, Jack Carson, and Dorothy Malone, made personal ap¬ pearances, and participated in a series of special events that included Governor Jester of Texas, local mayors and other civic dignitaries. Newspaper correspon¬ dents from over 50 outlying cities covered the events, in addition to newsreels, mag¬ azines, and wire services. Colosseum Still Negotiates New York — Negotiations between the Colosseum of Film Salesmen and the major distribs were recessed last week, but were to be resumed again. Interim reports to their groups were to be made by C. J. Scollard, for the com¬ panies, and Mel Keller, for the salesmen. Fabian Acquires Another New York — Reports were current last week that Si Fabian would take over the Strand, Brooklyn, from WB next month. August 18, 1948