Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Mar 1954)

LOOKS as if there’ll be another Mason Bill. Noah Mason of Illinois still is an industry friend. He said Monday in Washington he intended to submit another measure to the House of Representatives to lift the 20 per cent Federal admissions tax. His colleagues in the House and the Senate passed his bill last year. President Eisenhower vetoed it. ► In spite of production lulls and studio shutdowns caused by the executive uncertainty brought on periodically during 1954 by the general indecision regarding dimensions, the members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will have to make their annual “best picture” selection from a total of 425 features that were exhibited commercially in Los Angeles during the calendar year. For anybody fearing a day when the industry won’t have pictures enough to go around, without reissuing old ones, that stacks up as a decidedly reassuring statistic. ► More persons than ever will see industrially sponsored 16mm films during 1954. So says J. R. Bingham, president of Association Films, Inc., national film distributors. He added there are now 90,000 non-theatrical exhibitors. In 1946, there were 36,000. Also, he said, television takes not a few of such films. Of 140 sponsored film his firm is distributing, 69 are cleared for television. Most of these, he asserted, have been used a minimum of 100 times. ► This time it’s the landlord, who not only wants his rent, but wants the theatre back in operation. Warner Theatres last week in Chicago Superior Court faced not an ordinary anti-trust suit, but one filed by Mrs. Blanche Sarasin, operating the property housing the Grove Theatre in that city. She seeks damages of $2,500,000 for violation of lease, and an injunction forcing the company to reopen, and also forcing it to book pictures of “a high calibre.” She charges the circuit played inferior pictures in the 1,847-seat house which it closed in 1951. She also charged it booked “better” pictures into the nearby Capitol and Rhodes theatres. Thus, she continued, receipts dropped below $8,500 per week, enabling the circuit to use a clause cancelling the lease. The latter was to be in force till 1960, and called for a base rent of $2,000 per month, plus percentage of annual gross over $140,000. ► Mervyn LeRoy, who severed his connections with MGM two weeks ago, will return to the Warner Brothers studio, where he directed many successes extending as far back as 1928, it was announced Wednesday by Jack L. Warner. The announcement was made in a statement which “welcomed Mr. LeRoy home” and cited his brilliant record as a director and producer. The Bureau of Labor Statistics this week said motion picture admission prices rose again in the month ending in mid-November. Issuing its monthly cost of living index, the Bureau said a three tenths of one per cent rise in the index for reading and recreation was due to “an increase in the number of theatres showing special attractions at increased rates.” SEVEN STUDIOS REAFFIRM ADHERENCE TO CODE RULES HOLLYWOOD: Seven studios have reaffirmed their adherence to the Production Code and said they "deplored violation by any producer." Eric Johnston, president of the MPAA, said at a news conference Wednesday: "I have been requested to make a statement on behalf of the following studios that are members of the Association of Motion Picture Producers: Columbia, MGM, Paramount, Republic, 20th-Fox, Universal and Warner Brothers. These studios reaffirmed their complete faith and confidence in the principles of the Production Code and in its Administration. They deplore violation of the Code by any producer." Mr. Johnston forestalled questioning on RKO's action in opening "The French Line" in St. Louis without a PCA certificate, explaining that anything he might say could be construed as a pre-judging of a matter on which he will sit as presiding officer in any MPAA board meeting before which it may come. However, he pointed out that an MPAA resolution adopted in 1942 provides that any member company releasing a picture which has not been approved by the PCA shall be fined $25,000 automatically. Such a member company may appeal to the board, Mr. Johnston said, and the board may take whatever action is deemed appropriate up to a request that the member withdraw from the Association. On the recent exchange of communications with Samuel Goldwyn concerning the latter's assertion that the Production Code is due for modification, Mr. Johnston said that his reply to Mr. Goldwyn had already been published and that the producer had not submitted to him any specific recommendations for changes. He reiterated an earlier statement to the general effect that he considers the Code "a living document" and he called attention to its having been amended upon various occasions heretofore. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, published every Saturday by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., Rockefeller Center, New York City 20. Telephone Circle 7-3100; Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York", Martin Quigley, President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo. J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Raymond Levy, Vice-President; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; Martin Quigley, Jr., Editor; Terry Ramsaye, Consulting Editor; James D. Ivers, News Editor; Charles S. Aaronson, Production Editor; Floyd E. Stone, Photo Editor; Ray Gallagher, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager. Bureaus: Hollywood, William R. Weaver, editor, Yucca-Vine Building, Telephone HOIlywood 7-2145; Chicago, 120 So. LaSalle St., Urben Farley, advertising representative, Telephone, Financial 6-3074; Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club; London, Hope Williams Burnup, .manager, Peter Burnup, editor, 4 Golden Square. Correspondents in the principal capitals of the world. Member Audit Bureau of Circulations. Other Quigley Publications:* Better Theatres, published thirteen times a year as Section II of Motion Picture Herald; Motion Picture Daily, Motion Picture and Television Almanac and Fame. ■H MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JANUARY 9, 1954 9