Boxoffice (Mar 5, 1955)

National Drive for Funds For Independents Is Set TOA, which organized Exhibitors Film Financial Group, will sponsor series of meetings with members starting March 15 and continuing to May 15. ee : 20th-Fox Enlists TV to Pre-Sell Wellin Advance of Release New promotion will supply background material taken while picture is in production; interviews with personalities connected with it, many live appearances and many spot announcements, all available to exhibitors. * N.Y. Theatres Losing Fight Over ‘Breakage’ in Tax Legislature to rush through bill giving city right to collect a full cent where ticket tax includes a fraction of more than half a cent; court now bars such collections; $1,000,000 in revenue involved. * Federal Tax Collections On Admissions Decline Drop reported from $55,073,000 in November 1953 to $20,300,000 in same month of 1954; for fiscal year perlods to November 30 decrease was from $135,887,000 in 1953 to $58,965,000 in 1954. * Censorship Bill Introduced In Connecticut Legislature Seeks creation of state board of review of five members appointed for four years who would advise state and local police when any entertainment is considered indecent, immoral or likely to impair public morals. * Buena Vista Will Distribute Disney TV Film to Theatre “Davy Crockett,” shown in three hourlong episodes of “Disneyland” series on WABC-TY, will be cut to 90 minutes for national theatrical release in June. * Brazil Remitting $300,000 To American Distributors Payment represents another installment on agreement to pay $5,500,000 negotiated in 1953 by Robert Corkery of MPEA and is first this year; blocked fund totals $15,000,000. & Films As Propaganda Medium Are Hailed by Government Report of director of U. S. Information Service says growing emphasis on special productions with hard anti-Communist themes has strengthened program. * Belgium Forcing Showdown On Color Printing Issue Seek to condition film pact on U. S. industry promise to use its laboratories for 80 per cent of prints to be released there; situation affects similar current Italian negotiations and could set unfortunate precedent. 10 Chaplin Interest in UA Acquired by Company g NEW YORK—Charles Chaplin has sold his 25 per cent interest in United: Artists to the corporation, ending an association dating back to April 17, 1919, when the founders and equal co-owners were Mary Pickford, Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and D. W. Griffith. Robert S. Benjamin, board chairman, made the announcement Monday (28). The stockholders now consist only of Miss Pickford, who owns one-third of the remaining stock, and the Benjamin-Arthur B. Krim management group, which owns the balance of the stock. Krim is president. PRICE NOT DISCLOSED The price paid Chaplin was not disclosed. He is now residing in Europe with his family, and has said he plans never to return to the U. S. Arthur W.-Kelly, his business representative for years,-died recently. The purchase of the stock was completed February 25 by Arnold M.'Picker, vice-president in charge of foreign distribution, at a meeting with Chaplin in Switzerland. Krim had opened the negotiations while in Europe last year. The downtown financial district heard rumors that UA stock will go on public sale some time this year, although the management has never disclosed any such plan. Chaplin’s 4,000 shares have been retired into the company treasury, leaving 12,000 outstanding shares. Chaplin now has no corporate tie with the U. S. industry, having always released through UA. 3 In Hollywood, Miss Pickford said she will never sell her holdings in the company. United Artists has a notable history. William Gibbs McAdoo, secretary of the treasury to President Wilson, drew up the incorporation papers and subsequently became general counsel. Oscar Price, chief Treasury Department publicist in the Liberty Loan drive, was first president. Hiram Abrams became first general manager and then president. He died in 1926. FAIRBANKS FILM FIRST The first UA picture was “His Majesty, the American,” a Fairbanks starring film which opened at the Capitol Theatre here in October 1919. Miss Pickford’s first was ‘“Pollyanna,” released in January 1920. It was followed by D. W. Griffith’s “Broken Blossoms,” starring Lillian Gish and Richard Barthelmess, and Chaplin’s ‘Woman of Paris.” Abrams inaugurated selling on a percentage basis. “Pollyanna” was the first film so handled. Independent producers were invited to release through the company. Many responded. Those films starred, among others, George Arliss, Alla Nazimova, Alan Hale, Mae Marsh, John Barrymore, Rudolph Valentino, Buster Keaton and William S. Hart. Then came Lillian and Dorothy Gish, W. C. Fields and Marilyn Miller. The films, added to those of the then four owners of the company, made a deep impression on the public. The corporate setup changed Dec. 5, 1924, when Joseph M. Schenck bought into the company, became an owner-member and was elected board chairman, He brought with him the pictures of Samuel Goldwyn, Norma Talmadge, John Barrymore, Gloria Swanson and Corinne Griffith. Goldwyn became the second new member-owner Oct. 13, 1927, followed by Miss Swanson. The changing character of the industry in the 30s, the depression, introduction of the double feature and emergence of new stars brought about new activity. Walt Disney began releasing his cartoons through UA in 1932, as did Edward Small and Harry M. Goetz, as Reliance Films. Then came Alexander Korda’s London Films and Twentieth Century Pictures, organized by Schenck and Darryl Zanuck, and David O. Selznick. Korda became the next producer to be elected to ownership. That was June 5, 1935, and marked the first investment of British capital in an American firm. ONLY CHAPLIN ACTIVE When 1945 rolled around only Chaplin and Miss Pickford of the original founders remained, and only Chaplin was active. Griffith had retired in 1933 and Fairbanks died in 1939. Schenck left to form his own distributing company, 20th Century-Fox; Korda withdrew and Selznick went elsewhere. UA found the problem of product acute, though it still had some good pictures. The company began slipping sharply in 1946. In February 1951, a new management group took over. It was composed of Krim, Benjamin, Matthew Fox, William J. Heineman, Max E. Youngstein, Arnold Picker and Seymour Peyser. The positions they occupied are well known. They concentrated on obtaining product for release. Almost immediately the accountants began using black ink. The conditions under which they acquired management were met and they became owners of 8,000 shares of the stock, with a ten-year voting control over the remaining shares, owned equally by Chaplin and Miss Pickford. The gross income of UA tells the story. In 1951 it was $19,900,000; in 1952, $29,300,000; in 1953, $38,600,000, and in 1954, $43,100,000, for a new high in the history of the company. Julie A. Herne, 74, Dead NEW YORK—Julie A. Herne, 74, MGM drama critic in New York, where she reviewed the Broadway plays and acted as talent scout, was found dead in her Tudor City apartment February 24. She was last seen alive the previous Sunday. Daughter of the late actor-playwright, James A. Herne, and sister of Chrystal Herne, former Broadway stage star who died several years ago. A brother, John T. Herne, survives, Zittau Joins Associated NEW YORK—Henry J. Zittau, who has resigned as treasurer of Western Television Co, and Motion Pictures for Television, has joined Associated Artists Productions as vicepresident and treasurer, according to Eliot Hyman, president. Zittau was associated with Hyman when he was identified with Motion Pictures for Television prior to forming Associated Artists. BOXOFFICE :: March 5, 1955 wd