The Film Daily (1948)

PJ DAILY Thursday, April 8, 1948 Lewis Bill Knocked Out a Second Time (Continued from Page 1) plain they are not dropping the matter. Lewis said, in a statement after yesterday's meeting, "there is considerable division of thought," both in the industry and among committee members regarding the practicability of his bill. The Sub-committee action resulted, Lewis explained, because of "this diversity of opinion among the members of the motion picture industry and in view of the further fact that there will possibly be little opportunity for its consideration by the present Congress, plus the reluctance of some members of the Sub-committee to upset a method of contracting which, while it imay not be acceptable in all its features, is, nevertheless, and has been for many years the prevailing method of contracting in the industry." Nevertheless, Lewis went on, "I appreciate that the power residing in the pooling of a vast number of copyrights for the granting of uniform licenses and the collection of royalties, as disclosed by the hearing on the bill, poses a problem which, if not solved in the meantime, may call for further study and possibly legislative action, especially if there is an abuse of such power. ' He added his private opinion that "eventually the motion picture industry will come to appreciate the fairness of the provisions contained in H.R. 5014 (his bill), and the same either by legislation or by voluntary action on the part of the motion picture industry will become the standard method of contracting in that industry." "Miraculous Journey' Neuf eld First for FC West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Sigmund Neufeld Pictures, Inc., has been chartered at Sacramento with Neufeld as prexy, Karl Herzog of Film Classics and Cinecolor as secretary-treasurer, and Monte Livingston, film attorney, as vice-prexy. Company will produce for FC release, with "Miraculous Journey" as first pic. Neufeld made "Money Madness' for FC release May 15. Utilization of Color To Feature SMPE Convention West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywod — Colors' use in motion pictures, television and other media will be an important feature of the semi-annual SMPE convention at Santa Monica's Ambassador Hotel May 17-21. DEATHS in iieuj inousTRv posts ROBERT JACKSON, manager. Senate, Detroit. MARK ROGERS, shipper, Eagle Lion, Omaha. ZEVA YOVAN, manager, Orpheum, St. Louis. LOUIS UDWIN, assistant manager, Lakeside Theater, Chicago. WILL SNOW, B & K booking dept., Chicago. ALVIN W. GROSS, office manager, Metro, Milwaukee. DONALD MARTIN, booker, United Artists, Detroit, t JEWEL TRUAX, Azteca Film exchange manager, San Antonio. CECIL HUDSON, Rialto Theater manager, Oklahoma City. TONY LESTRO, usher. Colonial, Hartford. DON McGREGOR, Imperial Theater manager, Cleveland. JOHN PATNO, assistant manager, M & P Allyn, Hartford. PAUL BLACKMER, assistant manager, Suffolk Theater, Holyoke, Mass. RICHARD L. BROWN, sales and contact staff, Jam Handy Organization, Detroit. ERWIN NOYER, assistant manager, Tower Theater, Chicago. JAMES WYNN, stage manager, Colonial Theater, Hartford. JAMES HURLEY, doorman. Center Theater, Hartford. PEARSE PARKHURST, Yorktown Theater manager, Cleveland. Clark Would Advance Tax Exemption Age (Continued from Page 1) called that such an amendment to the Internal Revenue code had been in the 1941 tax bill as offered by the Treasury, only to be dropped out in Congress. It would affect only those admissions where the established price does not exceed nine cents. Clark said one objective of his proposal is to increase the scheduling of special attractions for youngsters— and that overall planning of the fight against juvenile delinquency calls for all-out participation of the pix industry. (Observers here thought the chances excellent that if the Treasury transmits Clark's suggestion to the House Ways and Means Committee it could receive favorable action this year. Revenue loss to the Government would be extremely small, it is believed.) Murray-Revel Will Make Musical Shorts West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Martin Murray Prods., new 16 mm. company formed by Martin Murray and Harry Revel, will make 150 musical shorts in color with 2xk to eight minutes running time, for home, tele and theatrical use. Company has just finished 20minute short, "Life in Hollywood" and has "El Rancho Week-End" and "A Day at the Flamingo" in work. Open Air Theater Nixed Boston — Members of the Board of Selectmen of Saugus voted unanimously not to grant the petition of the Saugus Turnpike Club, Inc., for an open-air theater, skating rink and entertainment place to be located opposite the present open-air theater on the Newburyport Turnpike. Thomas Demaura, head of the Weymouth Drive-In Corp. which includes the Saugus Turnpike Club, Inc., among its subsidiaries, was the petitioner. CLARENCE BLAESKE, Paramount engi neer at Milwaukee. Wind Kayos Drive-in Indianapolis — The West Side Drive-In Theater was completely demolished by high winds. Sanders and Boatman, owners, will rebuild with a 300 car capacity. Programming Affects Coast Video Sales (Continued from Page 1) need was additional stations, Marx predicted that the situation would be considerably better by fall. "There is no doubt that eventually it will be one of the nation's first and largest tele centers," he added. Both Los Angeles and San Francisco, which will also have a station operating later this year, will have extraordinarily large geographical coverage, Marx said, due to the location of transmitters on mountain heights of Mt. Wilson and Mt. Diablo. Spanish "Pinch" Felt By American Distribs. Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Although American films retained their popularity with Spanish audiences last year, terms upon which they were shown became increasingly unsatisfactory for American distributors, according to information released today by Nathan D. Golden, D. of C. pix chief. Cost of import licenses and other distribution expenses rose sharply, there was no provision for conversion of Spanish currency earnings to dollars, and importers and distributors were not permitted to deduct royalty costs as an expense of doing business before payment of Spanish income taxes. These taxes range to as much as 80 per cent of earnings. Lebedoff Seeks $835,000 For Alleged Conspiracy Minneapolis — Charging conspiracy to set runs and clearances, S. G. Lebedoff, operator of the Homewood Theater, filed a $835,000 anti-trust action in Federal Court. Defendants include Loew's, Minnesota Amusement Co., Paramount, RKO, 20thFox, Universal and Warners. Creative to Release "Villon" West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Second from Creative Films will be "Francois Villon," French pic. Company has four others to be released here. Later plans call for branching out into distribution of Italian and Scandinavian pix. NYC Censorship Bill Opposed By Fielding (Continued from Page 1) was in no need of increased powers. "The Department of Licenses and this administration," he said, 'U.s very proud of its relations with i , the motion picture industry avL -•"' our legitimate theaters. It is our determined belief that every possible effort be made to uphold the artistic and cultural integrity of our motion pictures and our theater. Sufficient statutory authority already exists to prevent any indecent performance by jury verdict and court trial under the due process of law. "We must be very careful not to endanger our civil liberties in this city during this critical period." Cunningham said that his bill was backed by civil and religious groups who felt that such bold and lascivious titles as "The Respectful Prostitute" should not be tolerated. Selznick-Lasky-MacEwen "Trilby" to be SRO Pic (Continued from Page 1) rangement is the Lasky-MacEwen commitment to RKO Radio for two more pix, which will be made aftei "Trilby." Latter will have Valli. Louis Jourdan and Rossano Brazzi latter due shortly from Italy. Pic will be made on the Selznick lot. Hopcraft, Film Buyer For DuMont Tele Web Edward M. Hopcraft has beer named film buyer for the DuMoni tele net, James Caddigan, progran planning chief, announced yesterday Hopcraft will also assist in the sah and distribution of tele-transcription; to video stations. WB Claims Wald Exclusively West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Taking cognizance o: reports indicating Jerry Wald was leaving the studio, Warners said yes terday that the producer is undei exclusive contract which does not expire until April 25, 1952. Tenrnei was signed three years ago, bars out side deals, partnerships. CHARTERED CARWIL PICTURES CORP., New York, wit capital of 200 shares no par value stock, thre» shares subscribed, to manufacture motion pictur projecting machines. Chartered at Albany b Helene Kersavage, Irene H. Slosser, Evelyn New man. HOLY GUILD FILMS, INC., New York, wit] capital of 200 shares no par value stock, thre shares subscribed, to distribute motion picture; Chartered at Albany by Ralph Losco, Ethc Zuckman, Etta Oinerantz. MAZEL PICTURES, INC., Brooklyn, with cap ital of 200 shares no par value stock, thre shares subscribed, to produce motion picture; Chartered at Albany by Ralph Jannone, Ka Wasserman, Frieda Rosen. KRAMER THEATERS, INC., Lancaster, N. Y with capital of 400 shares no par value stoci 201 shares subscribed, to exhibit motion picture; Chartered at Albany by Richard Kramer, Soph Kromsr, Jerome H. Raynor.