The Film Daily (1948)

i Oisst. Himate in Character ktemational in Scope idependent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Nine Years Old IPDyUlY NEW YORK, MONDAY, APRIL 12. 1948 TEN CENTS OLUmBlfl PRODUCTIOn COSTS DOUJD 30% fees Video Finding Own Level in Amusements CTOA Television Com. of pinion Novelty Will Wear >ff As in Case of Radio West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — While television set Ti JKmership reduces the movie-going tl ^bits of owners, television commitijle of the Southern California TOA felieves that once the novelty period >ks worn off, television will find its lace in the entertainment field — just s did radio. | Reporting on the results of an inJnsive study of West Coast video, jjmmittee holds that the motion picre industry must contribute to this (Continued on Page 3) tank in 50-50 Offer )n Production to PFC J. Arthur Rank made an offer to he Protestant Film Commission last i/eek to produce Bible films in Engand on a 50-50 basis. Rome Betts, president of the PFC, old The Film Daily Friday that he Commission which is financed by 9 Protestant denominations and 12 «ther inter-denominational groups (Continued on Page 8) SflPAA Ad Advisory Group Blasts Cunningham's Bill Taking the stand that the Cunningham Bill to enlarge the powers !>f License Commissioner Fielding 'would endanger civil liberties and free expression," Charles Schlaifer. 20th-Fox ad-publicity chief and (Continued on Page 3) MPE/l Pays $500,000 Dividends in 194S West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — MPAA Prexy Eric A. Johnston has revealed that MPEA in 1948 has paid $500,000 in dividends and last year's dividends amounted to $1,000,000. In his statement on tax problems with England he disclosed that between $2,000,000 and $3,000,000 is paid annually in Hollywood to English players and that under the new pact this can be paid in unremitted sterling. VARIETY TAKES OVER MIAMI BEACH 2,000 "Barkers" and Their Wives Expected at Convention Sessions Opening Today Miami Beach, Fla. — "The Heart of Show Business" is in this city today as the Variety Clubs, International opens ■Jr ' """" ~ " "S the 12th conven '*'-. ■ tion at the Roney I Plaza, the six-day mk ■ -i program climaxMi/? ing on Saturday # '■»■■ night with the I < traditional stag ^ dinner at which | the annual Humanitarian Award will be presented. The business sessions will be presided over by Robert J. (Bob) O'Donnell, of Dallas, International and International Big Boss, John H. Harris, the latter O'DONNELL Chief "Barker," one of the 11 men who founded the club in Pittsburgh in 1928. From 33 clubs scattered throughout 48 states, Canada and Mexico, show biz barkers have been converging on Miami Beach and convention headquarters in the Roney Plaza Hotel for the past week. Special convention trains yesterday from New England and the east, and from Dallas and midwest brought the largest contingent. Convention attendance will approximate 2,UUU (Continued on Page 8) HARRIS -Fox Plans Five Features in Britain London (By Cable) — TwentiethFox's British production plans call for the making of five major features with top Hollywood stars and directors, it was said here Friday by Spyros P. Skouras. The first two to go into production here will be "The Gay Pursuit" and "Britannia Mews." Skouras, who was accompanied here by Murray Silverstone, prexy (Continued on Page 3) PCC Bypasses Rentals As Conference Closes San Francisco — PCCITO convention which ended here Friday was unique in exhibition history in that the subject of film rentals was not discussed. Sales policies entered the discussions only in the re-affirmation of the Conference's position in fashioning a sales formula that will be workable and a previously appointed committee announced that it was developing its ultimate action in bring(Continued on Page 3) Video Builds Reade Patronage Lounge Sets in N.J. Houses Swells the B.O. Restraining Order Denied In 5th & Walnut Action Indianapolis — Application of Fifth & Walnut, Inc. for a temporary restraining order in its anti-trust suit against Universal and Loew's was denied in Federal Court here. Plain(Continued on Page 3) Walter Reade Theaters experiment with television via installation of sets in house lounges in six New Jersey cities is paying off, according to Walter Reade, Jr. Installations have either directly built up patronage of their own or have contributed materially in bringing in a segment of patrons to see (Continued on Page 3) Applies to Top Pictures, Stockholders Told; Film Inventory at $28,000,000 Columbia has cut production costs on its top pictures by 30 per cent, A. Schneider, vice-president and treasurer, told the stockholders at a meeting prior to the weekend. "The effect of this economy program will not be felt until the current inventory of high cost pictures is liquidated," Schneider declared. He put a $28,000,000 figure on the value of present inventory, terming it the highest in the company's history. Schneider emphasized that although the return of the British (Continued on Page 3) Cohn Withdraws From Proposed Col. Pact Harry Cohn, President of Columbia, has withdrawn a proposed employment contract and stock option agreement despite approval by stockholders at a meeting Friday. Contract, which called for a weekly salary of $3,500 plus $300 for expenses plus a 10-year option to purchase 75,000 shares of the corpora(Continued on Page 8) Senary, Mayer to Testify At Lawson Contempt Trial Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — District Court Justice David Pine Friday refused to quash a subpoena for producer Dore Schary, who will be required to show up here this week as a defense witness in the contempt of Congress (Continued on Page 3) UWF to Make Shorts For Protestant FC United World Films will produce from six to eight "human relations" shorts for the Protestant Film Commission, at no cost to the latter, Rome Betts, president of the PFC, revealed Friday. Stories would have to be mutually acceptable to UWF and PFC, Berts said. Profit split was not revealed. United would distribute as well as produce.