Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Mar 1954)

MOTION PICTURE HERALD Tax Fight To the Editor : My 3-D equipment cost less than $150, and my sixth 3-D did more business than a similar 2-D on the same playdate. I now have some “strictly 3-D” customers. Yes, Television is hurting our show, but it’s also taking advertising dollars away from your local newspaper, and you are not doing a job unless you point this out to your editor at least once a week. I hurt the loudest the last day of each month when I tear off a few pounds of flesh to send the Federal Reserve Bank, and although it's a stiff uphill fight, if you line up your newspaper and bank, and cooperate at the right time, we can eliminate this tax, but when I say we, I mean everyone in show business. The day before Ike vetoed the Mason Bill, 1 sent $50 worth of telegrams from leading organizations and business people. I am firmly convinced that had everyone done the same, we wouldn’t be paying the tax today. Take a look at your last month’s Federal tax depository receipt and ask yourself if y ou can afford the energy and cash to participate in the next waltz. — JESS JONES, Ritz Theatre, Crescent, Oklahoma. Tribute to HERALD To the Editor : As the year comes to a close, I think we should pay tribute to your excellent magazine and all the help it has given us throughout the year. Every section is read with much interest and certainly a lot of valuable information and hints are given on the problems of theatre management. Also, in these days when we see the box office sagging more than ever may we remind the producers that the smaller towns have to make a living also, so why not give us more down-to-earth stories with human interest family appeal. Animal pictures, race horse stories plus real clean humor will draw our patrons. However, as it now seems increased prices for pictures that often the parents will not allow their children to see results in their staying home as well. So, Mr. Producer, give us the family type picture and we’ll be happy. — D. P. SAVAGE, Capitol Theatre, Listowel, Ont. CinemaScope9 s Future To the Editor: What will CinemaScope per se mean on the sixth attraction ? I give you one answer : not as much as 3-D per se. I hope it never happens — and scanning the lineup of CinemaScope productions for the next six months — I’m sure it will be far in the future, but wait until a CinemaScope production of the quality of “Man in the Dark” and “Arena” is released. And now I would like to ask a question. Where are all the reviewers who criticized 3-D films for containing scenes that merely demonstrated the 3-D technique ? Or isn’t it so bad artistically to include scenes in a CinemaScope production that serve no purpose other than demonstrating the scope of the camera?— A Mississippi Exhibitor. The Recipe To the Editor : The industry needs better and more pictures. Also more pictures with top stars. — Exhibitor, Buffalo, Neiv York. The Money Making Stars THIS is the week in which exhibitors of the United States, Canada and Great Britain — through Motion Picture Herald’s 22nd annual poll — bestow on actors and actresses their most prized honor. To be selected as one of the Top Ten Money Making Stars is the goal for which all members of the screen acting profession strive. To be named again and again is the firmest proof of player eminence. Special recognition is due Gary Cooper, a veteran of fourteen appearances in the Top Ten, who now has attained the Number One position for the first time. To Mr. Cooper and his colleagues, congratulations and best wishes for continued box office success during 1954. The HERALD thanks the thousands of exhibitors who again chose the players whose names meant the most on their theatre marquees. — M. Q., Jr. January 2, 1954 MONEY MAKING Stars of the year 1953 as selected in annual poll of the nation's exhibitors Page 13 HAWKINS sweeps top honors in British champion polls Page 18 GOLDWYN suggests revisions in Production Code regulations Page 20 COMPO reports dues collections holding up to good level Page 20 CANDY hanging on exhibition Christmas tree in holiday week Page 21 TERRY RAMSAYE Says — A column of comment on matters cinematic Page 22 20TH-FOX plans assistance to exhibitors on use of CinemaScope Page 22 1953 PROVED to be an anamorphic, lively aspect year Page 25 NORWALK citizens reopen local theatre closed three years Page 26 LOEW'S International shows single track sound system Page 27 DECCA indicates intention to buy more Universal stock Page 27 "ETERNITY" selected as best of the year by New York critics Page 27 COMMUNION Breakfast scheduled in New York for January 31 Page 28 AMPEX sound unit is announced for theatres up to 1 ,500 seats Page 28 NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT — Notes on industry personnel across country Page 29 FCC indicates obstacles ahead to future of subscription TV Page 32 TELEVISION set production total in year reached 7,250,000 Page 34 COLOR TV approval leads to controversy on who gets credit Page 34 SERVICE DEPARTMENTS Film Buyers' Rating Page 36 Hollywood Scene Page 24 Managers' Round Table Page 37 People in the News Page 33 What the Picture Did for Me Page 35 IN PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION Showmen's Reviews Page 2125 Short Subjects Chart Page 2126 The Release Chart Page 2128 8 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JANUARY 2, 1954