Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1948)

E inf eld Says Economies Enhance Film Quality NEW YORK — Studio economies have raised rather than lowered the quality of pictures, says Charles Einfeld, president of Enterprise studios, who came into town last week for the opening of “Arch of Triumph.” “Scare talk” has destroyed public confidence in the quality of pictures,” he went on. He blames Hollywood for this, but says: “As a matter of fact, legitimate, intelligent economies now in effect will enhance rather than sacrifice production, entertainment and quality values.” Einfeld also fired a blast at exhibitors who give “preferred treatment” to major company product. He did not specify what form this “preferred treatment” is taking, but he stated: “The independent producer will fight this attitude tooth and nail. It’s high time that these theatre owners realize that the independent producer will not sit back and accept the discrimination to which he is now subjected. Right now he is not only selling the independent producer short, but also the public.” He also made references to the “assembly line technique” of production used by large studios. Meanwhile. “Arch of Triumph” got under way in what the press agents called a “blaze of glory” at the Globe Theatre Monday night, April 19. Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman were there, along with a list of socialites in evening clothes: there was a lobby broadcast by Maggie McNellis over WINS; television cameras from WNBT functioned; outside Charles Einfeld, president of Enterprise studios, is seen here with Mrs. Einfeld at the “Arch of Triumph” premiere. lights illuminated the marquee and theatre front, and the police pushed and shouted at a mass of citizens who blocked Broadway from curb to curb, especially when Boyer and Miss Bergman arrived behind a motorcycle escort with sirens. Receipts went to the American Overseas Aid — United Nations Appeal for Children. The picture runs for two hours and 14 minutes. At midnight when it finished, Broadway had another traffic jam, the like of which it had not seen since prewar days. Others snapped at the premiere: GradweU Sears, United Artists president (right) and J J. Unger, general sales manager. Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman attracted public attention in front of the Globe Theatre. Their presence created a major traffic jam. French Film Is Honored By Board of Review NEW YORK — “Farrebique,” a Frenchlanguage film released by Siritzky International, has been given starred selected features rating, the top honor of the National Board of Review, in the weekly guide to selected pictures. Selected features rating has been awarded to “Fighting Father Dunne” (RKO), “Fury at Furnace Creek” (20th-Fox), “Shaggy” (Para) and “My Dog Rusty” (Col). Communist Probe Retold In Book by a Witness NEW YORK — Now on the bookstands is a 229-page account of the hearings on communism held last fall by the house unAmerican activities committee. The title — “Hollywood on Trial’; the author — Gordon Kahn, one of the 19 so-called “unfriendly” witnesses. The book has been published in two editions by Boni & Gaer. Proceeds from the sale will be turned over for the defense of the ten cited. 10% Tax Fever Strikes Pennsylvania Hard PITTSBURGH — The movement to put an extra 10 per cent lug on the motion picture ticket, by way of an amusement tax, is in full swing in Pennsylvania. What the Philadelphia city council started a year ago, when it boosted the municipal ticket tax from four to 10 per cent, is now being taken up on a statewide scale. Apparently, taxing units have no compunction about a 30 per cent levy on admissions — the local 10 and the federal 20 — and at least 11 municipalities voted in the extra levy this week. ALTOONA HEAVILY TAXED Altoona put its tax into effect immediately, and the city fathers in addition to enacting legislation on amusement taxes also voted a 2 mill gross sales tax, a service tax, and a $20 a day tax on transient photographers. In Patton, it was the school board which took advantage of the state law which authorized a great variety in local taxing powers. The school directors adopted the 10 per cent tax and set a $10 monthly fee on juke boxes and $100 a year on coin machines. At Titusville, the 10 per cent levy was voted in, but children’s tickets under 20 per cent were exempt. Other towns where the 10 percenters held forth were Dubois, Wilkinsburg, Brookville, Masontown, Rochester and Roscoe. In the latter municipality, officials also voted a $25 annual fee on pinball machines, coin operated machines, shuffle board, and juke boxes. It’s got to the point now where there are so many taxes to be collected and paid by circuits operating in the state that Warner Brothers announced it was setting up a new department, with additional personnel, merely to handle the taxes collected through its Pennsylvania theatres. EXHIBITORS FIGHT BACK Exhibitors have not taken the taxes without protest. They have fought bitterly, but no where with as much ire and determination as they were doing in Clairton this week. The borough council, now collecting a 10 per cent admission tax, announced it would present free motion picture shows at the city parks in June, July and August. This was the blow that hurt. Word got to Pittsburgh’s Filmrow and to the Allied MPTO of Western Pennsylvania, and at week’s end steps were being taken to halt any such move on the part of a taxing body. EL Has 23 Films Awaiting Distribution in Britain NEW YORK— Eagle Lion has 23 pictures in bond in England awaiting release as soon as parliament officially rescinds the 75 per cent tax, according to Sam L. Seidelman, general manager in charge of distribution. Seidelman left for London Wednesday (14) to set sales policies on these pictures with the J. Arthirr Rank Organization and Pathe Distributors, Ltd. Seidelman also will confer with distribution heads of Rank’s Eagle Lion organization. This company handles EL product on the continent and in the Par East. He plans to work out details of the reciprocal distribution deal between Rank and EL. 18 BOXOFFICE :: April 24, 1948