Variety (December 1950)

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Wednesday, Deceinber 6, 1950 PSsaEtr PICTIIRES ■VICIOUS CYClf NIPS IBEJffRE TV New RKO film firm will step;- away from its theatre-operating af- filiate on Jan. 1 with plans for re- leasing 32 futures in its first year, stepped-up program will be oc- conipahied by a 27-week/ sales drive designed to hypo the produc- tion-distribution organizatioh out of its current deficit operation. Ariubuncement of the new line-* up was made by prexy Ned E, Depinet at the company’s thbee- day pre-divorcerhent meeting in N. Y. which concludes today (Wed;); Depinet, Who had returned to the homeoffice last Sunday (3> after Coast huddles with principal stockholder Howard Hughes, ex- pressed confidence that the new pix company will be successful de^ . spite the disalTiliation f rom the ex- hib partner. Schedule of 32 films for 1951 represents an increase of six over the past year. However, the pre- vious selling season ran from Sept. 1 to Apg. 31; thus the new listing for a calendar year constitutes a change in releasing skedding. New lineup includes five from the Jerry Wald-Norman Krasna team, first of which is “I Married a Woman,” marital comedy written by Goodman Ace, which is jiow in preparation. This is tentatively set for July 7 release. Walt Disney will contribute “Alice in Wonder- land” as a July 2ff release, Depinet reported. He added that the Dis- ney pic. which w'ill be in Techni- color, will be heralded with a full- page ad in Life six months in advance of its distribution. Goldwyn Has 8 Samuel Goldwyn’s part in the program listing is indefinite, as yet, but likely will be “Story of iflans Christian Andersen.” He dis- clo.sed the producer has eight story properties under consideration but probably will do the Andersen pic if he can cast it satisfactorily. Danny Kaye and James Stewart are being considered for the title role, with Moira Shearer slated for the top femme assignment. The Goldwyn picture is tentatively list- ed for handling by RKO in July. An exploitation special on the (Continued on page 20) Joseph H. Hazen it of the opinion Hiof fht TV Chol- Itngo Moy Stlmuloto Fix ilz to tHo Fvlloit llotiom of Itf Fotontiol in • pioco ontitlod The Will To Survive on intorofting odttoriol foofuro . in tho Hpeoming 45th Anniversary jNumher .of Theatre TV’s Herman levy Cautions. That All Drive-Ins Don’t Get Crack At 1st Run , Herman M. Levy, general coun- sel for Theatre Owners of Amer- ica, yesterday (Tues.) cautioned against drawing the conclusion that the drive-in decision of the Philadelphia district court means that all ozoners automaticany will have - the right to negotiate for first-run product. He points out that the opinion in the Milgram suit was that Milgram’s theatre, the Boulevard, was “suitable’’ for showing pix on first-run. Consequently, Levy observed in a pre.^.s statement, it is important that the .suitability of each drive- in house in each locality mu.st be considered individually. He added it was_ not possible to adopt an overall formula determining, the dealings of distribs with, all out- dobr houses. Levy stressed that the competi- tive factors in any given situation shall decide the iicensing policy for prior runs under the Philadel- phia ruling, if it is sustained, For this reason, the Milgram. action was not . a “local” matter. Skeds TV Shots To Build Rex Allen Hollywood, Dec, 5. cpublic is setting a precedent ining up a series of TV appeaiv es as part of a buildup cam^ ?n for Hex Allen, its giddyap ■. To date only Monogram has cod tlie other.way w'hen its con- tees appeared on television, her prohibiting nor sanction- suc)i acts, officially, lie n has three yideo .shots on prtrtrani, and "*epublic is nego- irig . ior at least , one more. Test bookings to determine the qualifications of drive-in theatres for prior-run product are being viewed as a likely result of last week’s Philadelphia federal court decision directing that sky’s'-*the- roofers be given the same film- licensing opportunity as conven- tional houses. In view of the ruling, distribs figure that they still would be free to sell prior-run away from the ozoners if booking experiments show that launching the films at the drive-ins means detracting from bookings in subsequent situ- ations. Thus, the interpretation is that the decision does not auto- matically mean that drive-ins are entitled to prior-runs on the basis of their ability to pay. Instead, the companies could license a group of perhaps six pix to the drive-in for the sake of experi- ment. If the results show conclu- sively that the bookings have a de- pressive effect on the value of the films at follow-up theatres, the companies believe they would be justified in selling away from the outdoor house in the future. Philly case involved the Boule- vard drive-in, situated between Bethlehem and Allentown, Pa. Operator of the house, and plain- tiff in the action, is David Mil- gram. Finding for the latter, Fed- eral court judge Kirkpatrick stat- ed; “Without exception the dis- tributors have refused to consider any bids from the plaintiff for first-run films and have statedyvith substantial unanimity they will not license such films, even though he may offer, as he has offered on two occasions, higher prices than could be obtained from exhibitor defendants.” The other exhibs in (Gontinued on page 20) Thehtre television backers, itch- ing to get their new mediupi roll- ing, are running into the same “chicken-or-the-egg” problem that plagued home video Immediately after the war—whether set instal- lations or good programs will come first. Exhibitors are extremely wary of plunking down up to $25,- 000 for the necessary equipments and yet it’s agreed that the profit- making programs won’t become ' available until enough theatres in- stall the equipment to provide the necessary boxoffice, < . If the progress of hortiW TV is! any indication, however, big-screen j proponents are hoping that their ‘ medium will mature the same way; i In the broadcast TV industry,; while execs were wondering how to get people to buy teceivers to watch the poor programs 'then be- ing aired and also how to lure ad- vertisers to pour money in for such a small audience, the novelty fac- tor took hold, Advertisers and the public rushed into video at the same time, thei-eby solving both problems almost simultaneously. Theatre TV’ites hope the same sit- uation will apply to their medium. News of RCA’s decision to trim prices on big-screen equipment down, to $13,500 if 500 or more ex- hibs order the units, meanwhile, is expected to have wide ramifica- tions. While a number of indie exhibs and top circuits are now considering placing orders, it’s be- lieved too early to tell exactly how much business RCA will attract with its new price scale. But of equal importance is the probability (Continued on page 20) Sidney Sheldon rtbt/ecnierfhtp III Mustn^t Do That! another editorial feature In the forthcoming 45th Anniversary Nuhiher of Six theatre^ carrying the Army- Navy football game Saturday (1) via big-sci;een television reported business ranging from excellent down to only fair for the afternoon. While the game was carried on the full NBG-TV network, aiid so was not an exclusive for the, theatres, Sam Pinanski’s Pilgrim, Boston, played to SRO biz during the day. Two United Paramount theatres in Chicago and ohe in 'Detroit, which had carried football games through the season, bypassed the contest. Circuit has a theatre TV tie with the Big 10 and, with nego- tiations now in progress for next season, didn’t want to jeopardize its relations with the midwest con- ference by carrying a non-Big 10 game. . Hollywood, Dec. 5. Jefry Wald and Norman Krasna, in addition to propping their own slate of pix, are actively engaged j _ in the editing, previewing and i telecast exclusively in State-Lake TO A Analysis of Theatre TV Chicago, Dec. 5., ' Boxoffice potential of theatre television is just “a . matter of stretching yoiir imagination/' That’s the enthusiastic analysis of David Wallerstein, Balaban & Katz v.p. and co-chairman of the teevee committee of Theatre Owners of America; Opinion Is based large- ly on B&K’s experiences with big- screen telecasting of five Big Ten football games, which wound up With good results last week in two of the circuits’ houses. Final two U. of Illinois games. polishing of 15 pix which were either on the RKO shelf or in pro- and Tivoli theatres, did overflow biz at the Loop house and near- $7,900,000 FOR YEAR Lbew’s had earnings of $1.55 per share in its fiscal year ended last Aug. 31, it wias estimated this week by E. F, Hutton & Co., stock brokers. Ma j or is slated to release official figure.^ next month on its profit. . Figured on the basis of common shares outstanding, the e.stiitialed $1.55 net would represent earnings of approximately $7,900,000 for the year. LoeW’s reported income'^ of $6,744,761 for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 1949 This was equivalent to $1.31 per share. , . Wall street investment firm,, com- menting on the industry generally, states in a report on a market and business survey that film stocks are “well deflated at current levels and appear attractive for income and modest appreciation.” Theatre attendance is expected to rise and foreign revenue is likely to show new improvements.. Sheaffer Sells U Stock; Goldenson’s Par Report; Girden’s Translux Sale Washington, Dec. 5. Daniel M. Scheaffer, member of the board of Universal Pictures, sold 1,800 shares of that company’s $1 par common stock in a series of six transactions in the monthly period from Oct. 11 to Nov. 10, the ; Securities & Exchange Commission reports. This left Sheaffer with 907 shares. Leonard H. Golde'nson, president of United Paramount Theatres, filed an amended July report show- ing the SEC that he owned 400 shares of United Par common, that he had bought certificates of inters est for another 300, giving him cer- tificates for 1,750 more shares; and that he and hk wife jointly owned certificates for 250 shares in the exhibition chain. William M. Girden, of Translux, sold 2,000 shares of the chain’s $1 common and retains only 500, he notified SEC. Frederick R, Ryan, member of the board of Republic, Pix, bought 500 shares of the $1 cumulative preferred, upping his holdings to 1,200, plus an additional 800 shares of the 50c common. R, B. Larue, of General Precision Equipment Corp., increased his holding of the corpofation’s nb par common to 300 shares, by the pur- chase of an additional 100. In the broadcasting field, Samuel Paley reported making a gift of 1.000 shares of Columbia Broad- casting $2.50 class B common, leav- ing him with 15,000 shares in which he claims no beneficial in- terest. He also has in .his name 7.000 shares of the class A $2.50 par common in which he says he has no beneficial interest. Ralph F. Colin, of the CBS board, sold 50 of his 1,078 shares of Class A common. Dr. Peter C. Goldmark, recently elected a CBS vicepresi- dent, notified the Commission that he didn’t own any CBS stock. Three officers of RCA made pur- chases of that company’s no par common stock. Charles B. Jolliffi increased his shares to 400 by pur- chasing 100. Harold R. Maag bought 100 shares, which gives him 300: and L. W. Teegarden bought 200 .shares, making a total of 241 for him. auction when they joined the stu-i capacity at the south side Tivoli, dio. They’re getting no screen! B&K exec indicated he is con- credit and no compensation for the ! fident that the public will buy the- chore. ati’e video, especially if exclusive They are doing it, it is said, un-[ fare is offered. Because of the der a gentleman’s agreement with | conference ban on regular live RKO topper Howard Hughes as ; telecasting, the five Big Ten games part of their five-year indie pro-1 were only showh on the B&K auction deal at the studio. Pix on I screens. Next big step is to get which they have been working in-j more theatres equipped for video, elude “Two Tickets to Broadway,” Wallerstein pointed out. This not “Sons of the Musketeers” and i only will make it possible to ob- “This Kind of Woman.” With the use) and War Dept; anxious for them to go ahead with the film, W&K are planning a switch in their story on the war- time entertainment agency. It was to have starred A1 Jolson. It now will star a femme actress instead. Frederick Hazlett Brennan is do- ing the screenplay. CHADWICK EXPECTS PETRIUO TV DEAL Hollywood, Dec. 5. Citing independent producers’ need to have both theatre and video distribution in order to sur- vive, I. E. Chadwick, prexy of In- dependent Motion Picture Pro- ducers Assn., reported he expects deal with James C. Petrillo short- ly permitting release of indie films for television. Petrillo has been open to a deal for some time. He recently okayed one: with Robert tain exclusive rights to major sports events and other entertain- ment for big screen telecasting but will also work to reduce the price of equipment. RCA has already indicated it would be able to cut its $25,000 tag for its direct transmission the- atre system if it were assured of sufficient orders for large-scale production. B&K uses both the RCA system and the Paramount instantaneous film method. RCA equipment, used in the Tivoli, requires no extra (Continued on page 18) Media, Prockter Into Major Picture Prod. In Switch From Tele In a switch on the lisual films to television procedure, two compa- nies which have concentrated un- til now on producing video shows are entering major film produc- Lippert on basis of payment of 5% of each station's class A rate , Uons, which is teaming with United card for time consumed for each j P.l, iS, showing, Uippert, however wanted . nfvafanT*Prockte pj-pduc- oi^Mnal ’Sdfrali;^ ’ > «oS,/vhich has Set plans fo? five oiiginal .sounmrdCK. .„ { feature-length films for theatrical Deal With indies probably will follow pattern of offer to Lippert. I Media Productions was formed Chadwick reported that theatre use [ jQgjt producer T, Edward- Ham- of indie pix no longer is enough, j bleton, Alfred Stem and John and since foreign productions are presently cornering all video coin it’s about time indiesWere allowed a chance to collect what revenue is available in the medium. Iinpellitteri to Be Saluted by Exhibs . N. Y.’s Mayor Vincent R. Impel- liUeri will be .saluted by a majority of the city’s top theatre operators at a tesi,timonial dinner at the Hotel Astor on Dec 18 S. H. Fabian is Houseman, with Howard Teich- man and Telenews. Latter two, however, have since bowed out of the company. Organized original- ly to produce films especially for TV, the outfit turned out two 27i/^r minute pix, both of which have shown a profit. They are “The Stronger,” with Geraldine Fitz- gerald, and “Gloria, a Day in the Life of a Chorus Girl.” r . Thurber film will be budgeted at' $650.000-$700,000. with author James Thurber taking an active part in the production and resell- ing the right to okay all scripts and serving as general chairman. Various committees at work on ^ material, fTliurber is reportedly arrangementS k are headed by Ed still peeved about what he claims Rugoff, Ilan-v Brandt. Robert M. was the poor treatment given his Weitman, Jack Levin and Morton^’Secret Life of Walter Mitty” by Sunshine. (Continued on page 62)