Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1945)

WPB GRANTS RAW FILM STOCK INCREASE FOR THIRD QUARTER Industry Given 10,000,000 Feet More Than Figure Of Preceding Period WASHINGTON— The WPB has given the film industry an additional allotment of raw film stock for the third quarter, bringing the total allocation to 271,000,000 feet for the three months starting July 1, it was announced Thursday. This represents an increase of approximately 10,000,000 feet over the second quarter total and an increase of about 15,000,000 feet over the first quarter total, or approximately the same footage granted the film industry for the fourth quarter of 1944. At the same time the WPB announced that allotments for newsreels total 56,860,219 feet, or approximately 4,000,000 feet more than the amount allotted during the first and second quarters, when total allotments averaged 53,000,000 feet each quarter. It further was stated that authorizations for the transfer and exposure of raw film will be valid only if bearing the number 14,000 or higher. Under the number system used by the WPB, this means that raw film stock allotted to producers must carry an authorization number ranging from 14,000 upward to be acceptable for processing. Rank’s Footage on Two-a-Year Basis The question of J. Arthur Rank’s request for additional footage is answered, at least for the time being, in the present allocation, which allows him footage on the basis of two films per year, instead of on six pictures as requested by the British producer. As in the second quarter, WPB has established an over-all quota, or allotment, for independent producers as a group, in addition to quotas for the ten producers affiliated with the national distributors. This over-all quota represents the amount of film normally received by independent producers, plus a small additional amount needed to provide flexibility of operation for the smaller independent producers. The individual quotas of the distributors from whom the independents formerly received film has been reduced to the extent that they supply film to independent producers. The third quarter quota for independent producers is 1,085,200 feet greater than the second quarter quota. However, the independent producers’ third quarter quota represents the same percentage, about ten per cent, of the total amount allotted to major producers as in the second quarter. As in the past, companies that make positive prints available to the army and navy for showing to the armed forces will be given “credits” for additional film in the third quarter. For that period, film credits for prints lent to the army and navy will total 74,100,000 feet as compared to second quarter credits totaling 66,000,000 feet and first quarter credits of 60,000,000. The third quarter credits thus represent an increase of 14,100,000 feet over the first quarters. The Film Industry Advisory Committee meeting scheduled to be held next Thursday may be called off, the WPB said, inasmuch as the raw stock allocation figures have been sent to the various companies. The meeting originally was designed to discuss the third quarter allocations. Third quarter allotments for the producing companies are: Columbia 29,208,380 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 40,693,360 Monogram 7,888,810 Paramount 28,717,870 Producers Releasing Corp 5,308,890 RKO Radio 22,251,810 Republic ...17,736,950 20th Century-Fox _30,707,010 Universal 26,501,090 Warner Bros 32,576,910 Independents 29,408,920 Raw stock allocations for newsreels are: March of Time 2,318,719 Movietonews 13,318,500 News of the Day 12,129,000 Paramount News 12,392,250 Pathe News 9,574,500 Universal News 7,127,250 Will Drop Film Export Censorship on June 9 WASHINGTON — After tossing bouquets at the film industry for its loyal and earnest cooperation, Byron Price, director of censorship, has ordered the censor’s film boards of review in New York and Los Angeles to close down June 9. Price further announced that the film industry will be asked to adopt voluntary censorship, although the Office of Censorship will continue to uphold its responsibility in the event “the success of voluntary censorship became imperiled from any source.” “The Office of Censorship does not seek to escape its responsibility by delegating its powers to any private group or other government agency,” Price declared. “It does not, however, foresee a need for using those powers since they would be exercised only to intervene if the success of voluntary censorship became imperiled from any source. It is not my intention that the industry be denied any assistance which this office may properly give it. “In deciding to discontinue its present compulsory controls over imported and exported films, the Office of Censorship has been influenced by many considerations, but two of them are dominant. The first is that the end of the war in Europe permits a general readjustment of censorship policies; second, there is the record of the industry itself, which has shown a splendid understanding of censorship principles and an earnest readiness to cooperate.” Third of Ceniury Fete Is Set by Paramount NEW YORK — Paramount will conduct its Third of a Century Celebration from August 26 to September 29 under the slogan “Entertaining the World for One-Third of a Century.” In the middle of the observance Paramount week will be celebrated as usual with “Incendiary Blonde” as the principal feature for release. More than 350 bookings are scheduled. Principal outlines of the plan were given Thursday by Charles M. Reagan, vice-president and general sales manager, at a luncheon in his honor at 21 Club. This was in observance of his 25th anniversary with the company. Reagan said he had never worked for any other company, a record unique in this busi ness. Usher and Clark the Captains The sales drive in connection with Paramount month will be captained by Allen Usher and Duke Clark. They will make a tour of the country in July and will be accompanied by Adolph Zukor, Cecil B. DeMille and some of the company’s more important players. They will split up certain territories and each player or personality will cover a certain number of exchanges with the captain and division manager. An elaborate publicity and advertising campaign has been planned with special publicity kits for field men, containing art, byline stories by famous people connected with company, suitable art on past successes and pictures to come. Two or three coast-to-coast broadcasts will be put on during August. National magazines and newspapers and the trade press will be used for advertising. A special trailer will be issued with 350 prints. This will include details on awards during the past year and footage on forthcoming productions. WB Calls for Redemption Of Serial Debentures NEW YORK— Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., has called for redemption on June 29 all of its four per cent serial debentures outstanding in the principal amount of $7,000,000. The company also will call for payment on June 28 all of its two and three-fourth per cent term bank loans, $10,000,000 of which will be outstanding on that date. These securities will be refinanced by a term bank loan of $17,000,000 bearing interest at the rate of two per cent. The new bank loan will be payable in semiannual installments ending with a payment due May 1, 1952. Film Producers to Tour Battlefields of Europe WASHINGTON— The war department is completing plans for a tour of the European battlefronts to be made by a selected group of film producers and executives, it was learned here. A list of producers now is being compiled and will be announced some time next week. The trip will take place about mid-June. While no details are forthcoming, a war department spokesman asserted that plans for the trip “are in preparation.” May Spend Up to $5,000 on Repairs Washington — Exhibitors may now spend as high as $5,000 in new construction work without WPB authorization, instead of the previous $200 limitation imposed by the government agency. Under the terms of the amended order, all or part of the $5,000 exemption may be used for repairs, although special WPB authorization must be obtained for maintenance and repair work costing in excess of 20 cents for each square foot of gross floor area. Any part of the $5,000 used for repair work is to be deducted accordingly from the allowance for new construction. 8 BOXOFFICE :: June 2, 1945