The Film Daily (1948)

Monday, March 22, 1948 3fe awrence on Leave ifter Spinal Surgery "Milton Kramer, SRO board chairin, announced Friday that Laudy Lawrence, vice-president in arge of foreignl EtjvUiution, at1 -. \j request, l . ." i granted indefinite leave absence beginng April 15. wrenee is reperating from major spinal eration at t h e ;w York Hos-f t a 1 , and h a s en ordered bj doctors to take i ong rest. Organization ins for SRO's m-ibution a n di Les in Great Britain and on the ntinent were completed under wrence's supervision prior to his :um to this country. Neil Agnew, SRO president, stated at Louis Lewis had been appointed maging director of distribution for 10 for Great Britain, Europe and \ 3 Near East; and Manny Reiner, ! Vniaging director for Latin America d Australasia. Allen Byre continues as SRO geni »al sales manager in Great Britain, / an Divolies as SRO general sales inager in France while Rene La ite will continue as managing di:tor of SNFC (SRO distributing tlet in France). Cite Exhibs Position vs ASCAP MPAA To File Paper on Lewis Bill LAWRENCE 4nutson Grows Dubious U f Cut in Ticket Levy IVashington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY ., I Washington — House Ways and MSeans Chairman Harold Knutson "jrid Friday he hopes to be able to not through a reduction of some ex "» ;e taxes, but that it is not likely it 11 include action to cut Uncle Sam's x office take from commercial the ers. Jr'With the international situation gtfiat it is," he said, "we can't talk 'th great confidence about further x reduction now. But even aside Dm the international situation, I n't see how we could chop off a .arter of a billion dollars." It has been estimated by Rep. M„;rald Landis, of Indiana, that vot Kjg the admissions levy to 10 per Jrtunt instead of the current 20 per ujplnt figure would mean a revenue ajjss of 8239,700.000. j~ STORKS (Continued rights to anusic, in addition to recording rights. MPAA memorandum, signed by Edwin P. Kilroe, chairman of the Association's copyright committee, points out that the practice of acquiring recording rights from one source, and performing rights from another "has been the universal practice throughout the world for several generations." Prior to talking films, it is argued, exhibitors used music to accompany silent films, with the right of performance acquired by the theater. Even if performing rights were acquired by the distributor, memorandum claims, exhibitors would need similar rights for entrance, intermission and exit music, as well as rights for music used in flesh performances. Lewis' measure, it is said, would place the producer or distributor at the mercy of ASCAP, with rights becoming much more costly, and necessarily passed on to the exhibitor and, in the final analysis, to the public. Exhibitors, it is emphasized, "because of their position in the social and economic structure, are in a position to obtain the performing rights from ASCAP or other owners on terms more favorable than the producers or distributors can obtain them." Memorandum also argues that the bill is inherently discriminatory, in that it is directed only against producers and distributors of films. It is claimed that the bill would place a burden on the industry not placed on other types of industries which also utilize music in various forms. Theaters, it is claimed, "are the only real users of performing rights! The effect of such a change as would be engendered by H. R. 5014 would be to make motion picture producers and distributors (and they are not the ones who perform music) the 'collecting agents' for the societies which are the true owners of performing rights." Kilroe's statement notes that the bill, in effect, makes the several U. S. district attorneys the civil attorneys for parties who might feel aggrieved. "It is hardly necessary to point out that this is a most unusual and dangerous procedure," he concludes. Hearings on the Lewis bill open in Washington today, with the measure backed by National Allied and PCCITO. Opposition to the amend from Page 1 ) ment has been expressed by TOA as well as MPAA. Indications are that ASCAP will not take a position during the hearings. Scheduled to appear before the Judiciary Committee are: Abram F. Myers, Sidney Samuelson, Trueman Rembusch, Martin G. Smith and Joseph P. Uvick, representing Allied and its units. Appearing in opposition will be Ted Gamble, Robert W. Coyne, A. Julian Brylawski, Robert R. Livingston, Ben Strozier, Kilroe, and probably a number of producer representatives. JU| Mark I. Finkelstein, Cinema CirHnlit executive, became a father late '<% st week, with the birth of a daughjfljr, Lois Rhea, to his wife. Mrs. ■Srnkelstein is at Doctor's Hospital. ^p Cincinnati — A baby boy was bom •ft i Mrs. W. J. Carmichael, wife of the Garman Elected Prexy Ot Maryland MPT0 Baltimore — Lauritz Garman was elected president of the MPTO of Maryland at the annual meeting of the organization held here. Also named to one-year terms were Louis Gaertner, vice-president; Jacob Levin, treasurer; Mrs. Helen Diering, secretary, and the following directors: Walter D. Pacy, Harry Valentine, Leon Back, I. M. Rappaport, Meyer Leventhal, Harry Silver, Oscar B. Coblentz, Jr., William C. Allen, L. E. Green and H. R. Worman. agle Lion branch manager here. New Trailers for Dezel Releases National Screen Service has prepared new trailers for the feature versions of "The Return of Kit Carson" and "The Return of the Mohicans," Albert Dezel, president of Dezel Productions, announced. NSS also is readying special 40 by 60 and overhead banners in silk screen process, for the release of the former serials. THE BIG ClOCJC WONDER pqn fffWf 77