The Film Daily (1948)

so Thursday, March 11, 194 Rank is Confident Of Tax Settlement (Continued from Page 1) A. Johnston was currently conducting with British Government officials, Rank dismissed any pessimistic alternatives to his over-all plans. Thus when he was queried, for example, on the ultimate production goal of all the British studios, his refrain was: "It all depends on the tax question." But even in the event that talks on the tax are again frustrated, Rank stated definitely that his theaters would continue to be operated. Should Anglo-American relations be restored to normal, Rank thought that 120 "A" features a year might be the goal of British production. The suggestion that he might become Films Officer in the event the industry is nationalized was dismissed by Ir'm as practically impossible, and he referred to Harold Wilson's assurances that the Government would not nationalize the film industry. Rank said that there was also little likelihood that the Labor Government would either establish State owned studios to facilitate production, or that it would establish special financing for independent production. Of the 40 JAR features scheduled for 1948, Rank announced that 24 would be ready for U. S. distribution by September. Eagle-Lion's complaint that the cream of JAR's G. I. Woodham-Smith, legal adviser to J. Arthur Rank, let it be known yesterday when he arrived that he would remain in the States only about ten days. Chances are, the attorney added, he would sail on the Queen Mary, March 20. product was going to Universal for distribution was answered by Rank again: "It all depends on the tax." Regarding the squawk by the five U. S. newsreels that they were frozen out of the coverage on the Olympic Games through his exclusive contract, JAR answered that black and white footage would be available at a "reasonable fee." Sometime in September he proposed to send over a full-length Technicolor production on the Games. Asked whether he intends to enter the American equipment market, he replied _ it would be only sofar as his television patents are concerned, and they would be handled through a dealer. Status of his own tele projects in the U.K., he said, has yet to be decided by the Government since BBC controls video over there. He revealed that he plans to CHARTERED WASHINGTON VIDEO NEWS SERVICE, INC., Dover, Del.; purpose, deal in educational and entertainment films; capital, $10,000. Principal office. U. S. Corporation Co., Dover, Del. Atlanta Territory Statistical Summary SeatingTowns with Theaters 2(a) 6 •if), (mo 10,001 10,000 5,001 5,000 2,501 2.500 ami un.l.i apaeity of Cumulat Total 123 241 277 Number heating Capacity Number 1.048 639,296 Cireuit-opei ated theaterst .... 071 482.3: 24 10,357 Non-circuit theaters 401 167,2:" 1,072 649.653 now in opera tion, accordin T 649.6:' theaters to population groupi lgls*: ive No. of Theaters Cumulative Number of ( umulativf Ai Operating Total Seats Total 1 er 63 — 52,242 82P« 119 182 104,903 157,145 Hf cl 54 236 49.672 206.817 9| ' 44 280 37,739 244,556 858 130 410 95,011 339,567 731 126 536 86.868 426,435 689 163 699 87,874 511,309 539 349 1,048 124.987 639.296 358 * Excluding 10 Drive-In theaters, total capacity 3,385 automobiles. t Excluding: one Drive-In theater, total capacity 300 automobiles. t A circuit is defined as four or more theaters operated by the same ma (a) Atlanta, Birmingham. Clear Up Situation, Sorrell Urges Com. (Continued from Page 1) days of testimony, Sorrell said the situation in Hollywood is "a blot on labor," and that because it is in Hollywood it looms twice as large in the public eye as it would anywhere else. Sorrell told the committee he has presented "all I care to state at this point." He refused to alter his answer when asked by IATSE Attorney Matthew Levy if he had told his whole case. In the meautime, Subcommittee Chairman Carroll D. Kearns said he has not received the alleged Communist membership card of Sorrell back from the FBI. Because of press reports to the contrary, he called the FBI midafternoon yesterday, he said, and was assured that there was no report yet. Sorrell's attorney, George Bodle, pointed out that the name "Stewart" was spelled two ways on the alleged membership card. Sorrell said he is ready to step out of the battle in Hollywood as soon as a fair settlement is reached — that regardless of how he feels about the IATSE he'll "shake hands with them if they'll only treat our people right —but if not, I'll fight 'em till hell freezes over." Sorrell insisted that the committee not relax in its efforts to evaluate the Communist charges against him. "Dig in on it," he urged. William P. Doherty, of the threeman AFL committee which handed down the December, 1945, directive, returned to the stand to say he felt his committee's directive was strong and would have cleared up the situation had it stood. He said he was not certain what authority the Executive council had to order the clarification. Rank-Skouras Meet Today On Odeon-GB Close Tie (Continued from Page ll mont-British board, as he arrived with Mrs. Kent aboard the SS Queen Elizabeth yesterday. His view — contrary to that of J. Arthur Rank — was modified by the observation that with priorities going to home and factory building, new studios probably will not be built for at least five more years. Deal whereby JAR wants to closely tie Odeon with G-B remains incomplete, Kent said. Spyros P. Skouras, 20th-Fox prexy, and Rank will meet today to resume talks which began when Skouras was over in England recently. Last December, majority of Odeon stockholders approved acquisition of General Cinema Finance. Deal went through despite protests of United Artists which has about one-fourth interest in the Odeon circuit. GCF owns Metropolis and Bradford Trust; latter company, in turn, owns Gaumont-British. Therein lies the nub of the question regarding the consolidation of operations of Odeon and Gaumont, for 20th-Fox which has a large minority interest in Gaumont might be frozen out on playing time. British Government also reportedly has expressed disapproval of the full consolidation, viewing it as a move toward monopolistic control of exhibition in the U.K. add 17 new theaters to his Odeon Circuit in Canada. Film production in the Dominions, Rank again indicated, would depend on the tax. After visiting Philadelphia, Bos j ton, Miami and a few other cities in the East, he and Mrs. Rank plan to | go to Caifornia to visit their daugh | ter. The Ranks are scheduled to sail April 22. I Martin Starr Back on Air Over WINS Thrice Weekly Martin Starr returns to the air with his Movie Starr Dust air show over WINS every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 7 to 7:15 p.m., starting Monday. Program's format calls for film news, film reviews and star interviews. Starr, a former AMPA president, has a newspaper, magazine and radio background. "Robin Hood" Re-issue After Warner Record Reissue of "Adventures of Robin Hood," opening at Warner Theater here yesterday, last night appeared headed for a new attendance mark at that house, promising to run ahead of "This Is the Army." House opened at 10:30 a.m. and by 1 p.m., 3,700 admissions already had been clicked off. 1,048 Houses Operati In Atlanta Territory Atlanta exchange territory ii eludes 1,048 operating theaters, wit 639,296 seats, plus 24 closed theatei with 10,357 seats, for a total of 1,07 houses, seating 649,653, according the 29th in a series of 31 theater d rectories released by the MPAA. Area's two largest cities, Atlant and Birmingham, have 63 operatir theaters, with 52,242 seats, an ave age of 829 seats per house. Terr tory includes 349 theaters in 3.r towns with a population of 2,500 under, averaging 358 seats per hous "Best Years" Set for 70 Simultaneous Spots in U. I (Continued from Page II he arrived yesterday aboard tl fj Queen Elizabeth for a routine vis j on company business. "Captain W." f a Lady," second picture deal betwec RKO and J. Arthur Rank, has be< held up for further discussions b tween the two companies, Wolff sai No date has been set for shootin he added. So far, RKO has been most f vorably situated regarding produ for the U.K., Wolff said. "Fugitive is slated to preem April 5 at tl Leicester Square Theater for an definite run. Company has new pro uct up until June, he added. Because of Danny Kaye's hu? popularity in England — he has ju finished his sixth week at the Pall dium — "Up in Arms" has been r issued with greater success than had ever enjoyed in the U.K. (La rence R. Kent of 20th-Fox ma the same observation.) REUI POSTS CHARLES W. KIRKCONNELL, manager, Lo Pla St. Petersburg, Fla. JOHN G. WALSH, Eagle Lion salesman, Cle land. AL JENKINS, manager, Plaia, Vancouver. AL DAVIDSON, manager. New Odeon, Victor B. C.