Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1947)

Refuse to Remove Ban On Showing 'Outlaw' New York — Supreme Court Justice Bernard L. Schientag has denied a motion by Howard Hughes to restrain city authorities from banning showing of “The Outlaw.” In refusing to restrain Police Commissioner Arthur W. Wallander and License Commissioner Benjamin Fielding from revoking a theatre’s license and prosecuting an exhibitor for showing the picture on grounds it is obscene, the judge said “The industry must run the chance of having its pictures either exonerated or condemned by local court action initiated by police and license officials.” Hughes’ law firm. Diamond & Poletti, will not take further steps until Charles Poletti, now in Europe, can be consulted. Mexico Establishes Bank For Financing Industry WASHINGTON— A bank has been established in Mexico to finance their motion picture industry and is now ready to begin operation. The Credito Cinematorgrafico Mexicana will function in the three essential branches of the industry: Production, distribution and exhibition. The capital of the bank is 30,000,000 pesos and 28,620,000 pesos have already been paid in. The board of directors is outstanding, among them being the executive presidents of three large banks, some of the most prominent motion picture producers, and other well known financiers and business men, it was learned from the commerce department this week. Expect Attendance of 500 At Television Convention NEW YORK — Approximately 500 television and radio executives will attend the Television Institute meeting at Hotel Commodore, April 14, 15. The event is sponsored by The Televisor, trade publication. Some 40 speakers representing stations, advertising agencies and sponsors have been scheduled. The theme of the meeting will be “Meeting Television’s Challenge.” Television commercials will be discussed at the advertising panel on the closing day of the sessions. The advertising panel consists of Jose de Donato, Charles J. Durban, Chet Kulesza, David P. Lewis and Ralph Austrian. Johnston Blasts Soviet ; UN Film Board Urged WASHINGTON — Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Ass’n, blasted Soviet Russia Wednesday at a meeting of the United Nations Council of Philadelphia. His statement, released here, accused the Soviet Union of sabotaging the United Nations. “Russia’s postwar tactics raise the question whether Russia really wants world order or whether she wants world revolution,” Johnston asserted. Johnston has long been suspicious of Russia and that nation’s activities. American pictures are not permitted, and newsreel cameramen are let in only under certain circumstances. The MPA president made a tour of Russia two years ago, when he was president of the IP.S. Chamber of Commerce. His report then was not too good. Johnston is one of the few American industrialists ever to get an audience with Joseph Stalin. “Russia has been the chief culprit in undermining the United Nations. Two years of undermining and delaying tactics by Russia so weakened the United Nations that it was powerless to aid Greece and Turkey,” he declared. Johnston told the meeting that it is essential to our kind of society and economy that we try to remove “the haunting fear of aggression from the world.” “We’re interested in free men, and unless we show we are interested in free men, then we’re not going to have free men anywhere in the world,” he stated. This was Johnston’s first acid blast against the Soviet. Two weeks ago he attacked Communism, and asked that it be defined and combated. Johnston believes Russia and the American Communists are attempting to undermine the motion picture industry. Amusement Tax Declined In the Nation's Capital WASHINGTON — The house and senate committee has decided against imposing a local amusement tax in Washington. At a hearing Wednesday the group declined to accept the theatre levy as a means of local revenue. The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of D.C. has fought the proposal. PHILADELPHIA — One thousand delegates, representing some 500 organizations attended the first national conference of the United Nations educational, scientific and educational organization held here last week. To speed matters, the group was broken down into small panels. The general membership urged the appointment of a “commission on immediate needs to study and report on the material requirements of war-devastated Europe and the Far East with respect to press, radio and films.” The commission would determine the needs of respective countries for such material as printing presses, radio and film equipment and personnel. It was also proposed that UNESCO get up machinery for the interchange by UN member nations of trained instructors and skilled operators in the fields of press, radio and films. The film panel was headed by George F. Zook, president of the American Council on Education. The group agreed that UNESCO should set up a UN film board to coordinate film activities of all agencies of the United Nations. A resolution was also adopted to call an international conclave, as soon as possible, to explore the possibilities and methods of interchange of culture and goodwill via films. UNESCO would not engage in the production of films except where it was impossible for a private outfit to operate. The commission would simply serve as a clearing house for ideas and techniques. Donald Nelson, representing the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, addressed a windup session of the conference Thursday. New Lens for Television NEW YORK — Jerry Fairbanks Productions of Hollywood has moved its New York office, run by Jack Pegler, to 292 Madison Ave. Fairbanks arrives here next week to show his new Zoomar lens to television producers, television stations, advertising agencies and the press. This lens replaces the three-lens turret on television cameras and eliminates dollying. Tk« iitti Uslfeml Cosiereace 49 MWS’ii BRITISH CONFERENCE — Universal-International and General Film Distributors hold their first international conference in London. Standing, left to right: Sid Caverson, northern district supervisor; Syd Flateau, assistant sales manager; Syd Jackson, assistant to co-managing directors; Ben Henry, U-I’s home office representative in Great Britain; John Woolf, co-managing director of G.F.D.; J. H. Seidelman, president of U-I; E. T. Carr, co-managing director of G.F.D.; A1 Daff, vice-president of U-I; John Jacobs, sales manager; R. W. Wright, secretary of G.F.D.; Dave Carr, assistant sales manager, and H. Boodson, southern district supervisor. BOXOFFICE : : April 5, 1947 E 43