Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1953)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY VOL. 74. NO. 6 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, JULY 9, 1953 TEN CENTS Goetz Leaving As Head of 6 IP Studio Edward Muhl to Take His Production Post HOLLYWOOD, July 8.—William Goetz, in charge of production at Universal-International Studios, will terminate his association with that organization at the expiration of his contract in November, it was officially announced here today fol- lowing a conference between Goetz and Milton R. Rackmil, president of Universal. Rackmil stated that Edward Muhl, vice-president and gen- eral production executive, would assume charge of studio opera- tions. "We sincerely regret," Rackmil stated, "that our contract discussions, conducted under the most amiable of circumstances, were unsuccessful and (Continued on page 3) Hyamses Get MGM Films for Britain LONDON, July 8.—Reissue rights in Great Britain to selected M-G-M productions have been secured by Philip and Sid Hyams for their Eros Films. It is the first time that M-G-M product has passed through the hands of another company here. The agreement is for an .indefinite period. In the first stage it covers_24 pictures. The films, says Philip Hyams, will be booked to make up complete programs or as singles. Eros will be concerned with 35mm distribu- tion only. M-G-M's 16mm department will continue to handle 16mm prints. The first 24 films include "The Barretts of Wimpole Street," "Good- bye, Mr. Chips" and several Abbott and Costello and Laurel and Hardy subj ects. Name 4 from D. of J. For SBC Hearing WASHINGTON, July 8. — The Senate Small Business sub-committee investigating film industry trade prac- tices today disclosed'the names of four Justice Department officials who will testify in open hearings Friday. The Justice delegation will be headed by Assistant Attorney Gen- eral Stanley N. Barnes, head of the (Continued on bage 3) Myers to Address NJ Allied Today ATLANTIC CITY, July 8.— Abram Myers, general counsel of national Allied, will discuss the admission tax situation at the first business session of Al- lied Theatre Owners of New Jersey's convention here tomor- row. A discussion of new pro- jection media also is on the agenda. Today's convention activities were confined to registration, a closed meeting of the board of directors and a brief "welcom- ing" session. The convention will end Friday night with the traditional banquet. Seek Settlement of UATC-Loew Tilt Negotiations looking toward an out- of-court settlement of Loew's suit against the United Artists Theatre Circuit are under way. Loew's suit, filed in Federal Dis- trict Court here last September, seeks the appointment of a receiver to satis- factorily liquidate its joint interests with UATC in eight theatres. Cau- tious optimism on the progress of negotiations was voiced by one party in the negotiations. He added, how- ever, that he does not see any quick settlement to the long-standing dis- pute. The divestiture of Loew's joint in- terests in the eight theatres is required under terms of Loew's consent decree. The filing of the suit came after Loew's failed to get a new extension of its deadline last September from the Department of Justice. The fol- lowing theatres are held jointly by both parties: Loew's State, Louisville; Loew's Century, Parkway, and Valen- cia, Baltimore; Loew's Broad and Loew's Ohio, Columbus, and Loew's Penn and Ritz, Pittsburgh. Mason Bill to Get Hearing Tomorrow WASHINGTON, July 8. — The House Ways and Means Committee has tentatively scheduled for Friday an executive session to consider and vote on the Mason admission tax relief bill. The Mason Bill would exempt motion picture theatres from the 20 per cent Federal admission tax. The meeting is tentative since the House might be called on to meet early on Friday to consider extension of the excess profits tax, approved by the Ways and Means Committee, to- day. Committee officials said, how- ever, that chairman Reed (R., N. Y) was willing to meet as early as nine o'clock if necessary, to get action on the Mason bill. Even if the Friday meeting should be blocked for some reason, the tenta- tive scheduling of the meeting for that day makes it clear that Reed intends to get an early vote on the bill—if not this week, then probably next week. Reed and Mason have indicated they are confident the bill will be approved once it comes to a committee vote. Some other committee members, how- (Continued on page 3) <U' Tells SEC of Debt Reduction WASHINGTON, July 8.—A re- duction of $425,000 in indebtedness of Universal-International was reported here today by the company to the Securities and Exchange Commission. The report listed the company's in- debtedness as of June 30 at $3,650,000, compared to outstanding debts of $4,075,000 reported in February of this year. Toronto Projectionists Are Against The Exhibition of Films on Sundays TORONTO, July 8.—Toronto Local No. 173, Moving Picture Oper- ators Union, has officially objected to the introduction of Sunday film shows here, the spokesman for a protest campaign being union president James Sturgess who emphasized that projectionists "want no part of Sunday shows." The issue developed when the Toronto Film Council, linked with the National Film Board, secured permission to conduct "educational film programs" at Hanlan's Point on the Toronto lakeside. Sturgess pointed out that no professional projectionists would be used in the venture but contended it was the thin edge of the wedge to install Sunday shows in theatres throughout this area. "We believe the whole scheme is commercial. We have always opposed Sunday showings," declared the union president in announc- ing that the projectionists would place their objections before the Toronto Civic Board of Control. Slates Sports Program for Theatre TV Notre Dame Is Signed; Globetrotters, Too Notre Dame home football games, also basketball events featuring the Harlem Globetrotters, will be made exclusively available for theatre tele- casts under contracts signed by Box- Office Television, Inc., a new theatre TV programming firm. Announcement of the upcom- ing theatre TV sports events was made here yesterday by Milton N. Mound, president of EOT. Mound said that BOT will not confine its activities to sporting events, but plans the- atre telecasts of Broadway stage shows, concerts, ballet and busi- ness meetings. Mound said that BOT has a five- year exclusive deal with Notre Dame governing its home games and a six- year contract with the Harlem Globe- trotters. The deal with Notre Dame, he added, requires BOT to theatre telecast an undisclosed minimum num- ber of games during a season, with an option on the remainder. BOT's upcoming football and bas- ketball schedules represent the first (Continued on page 3) 'The Robe' To Bow At the Roxy Here Twentieth Century - Fox's "The Robe," in CinemaScope, will have its New York premiere at the Roxy Theatre, the company announced here yesterday. The picture will open in late August following a refurbishing of the theatre. Headed by Darryl F. Zanuck, vice- president in charge of production, a contingent of Hollywood celebrities (Continued on page 3) Set Oct 23-24 for Variety Meeting The mid-winter meeting of Variety Clubs International will be held in Washington on Oct. 23-24. In an- nouncing the dates of the meeting, Jack Beresin, international chief barker, stated that delegates from England, Ireland, Mexico, Japan, Can- ada and the newly-formed tent in Germany will be in attendance, along (Continued on page 3)