The Exhibitor (Aug-Nov 1948)

PRODUCTION Hollywood — Top sportscasters Bill Stern and Ted Husing collaborate on the commentary for “The 1948 Olympic Games,” which Eagle Lion will release in this country. . . . At Warners, the Joan Crawford starrer, “Flamingo Road,” kicked off, while director Vincent Sherman was prepping “Somewhere In The City.” . . . Walter Wanger and United California Pi'Oductions joined forces for the filming of the Eagle Lion release, “Reign Of Terror,” with Robert Cummings, co-head of United California, and Arlene Dahl. Spencer Tracy completed his role in MGM’s “Edward, My Son,” in England. . . . Three of Monogram’s next four “Bow¬ ery Boys” pictures will be filmed in Europe. . . . Leon Errol will do six more two-reelers for RKO in 1948-49. . . . John Payne’s first western stint will be for Pine and Thomas in “El Paso,” Paramount re¬ lease, opposite Gail Russell. . . . Monogram producer Jack Wrather bought an original story by Robert Ryan, “Dallas.” RKO Profit Drops New York — Consolidated net profit of Radio-Keith-Orpheum Corporation and subsidiary companies for the second quarter of 1948 was $556,536, after taxes and all other charges, equivalent to ap¬ proximately 14 cents per share on the 3,899,914 shares of common stock out¬ standing at the end of that quarter, it was announced last week. This compares with consolidated net profit for the second quarter of 1947 of $2,836,663 after taxes and all other charges (including profit of $1,603,243 on sale of capital assets, before taxes), equivalent to approximately 73 cents per share on the 3,899,914 shares of common stock outstanding at the end of such quarter. Consolidated net profit for the first half of 1948 was $1,901,863, after taxes and all other charges, equivalent to approxi¬ mately 49 cents per share on the 3,899,914 shares of common stock outstanding at the end of the first half, as compared with consolidated net profit for the first half of 1947 of $5,107,347, after taxes and all other charges (including profit of $1,605,852 on sale of capital assets, before taxes) , equivalent to approximately $1.31 per share on the 3,899,914 shares of common stock outstanding at June 28, 1947. At a meeting of the board, a dividend of 15 cents per share was declared on the common stock. Conn. MPTO Holds Tourney New Haven — Many executives from the home office were present on Aug. 24 at the annual Connecticut Motion Picture Own¬ ers golf tourney and dinner dance at the Racebrook Country Club. The committee was headed by chairman George Wilkin¬ son, and consisted of Herman M. Levy, Tex Jacocks, Sam Weber, Henry Ger¬ maine, Barney Pitkin, Lou Brown, Harry F. Shaw, and Max Hoffman. Among those present from New York and elsewhere were Ray Moon, 20th Cen¬ tury-Fox; Sam Shain, 20th Century-Fox; George Dembow, National Screen Service; Joel Levy, Loew’s Theatres, Tom Duane, SRO, and others. THE EXHIBITOR 20th-Fox, RKO Set South African Deal NEW YORK— Twentieth C entury Fox and RKO last week consummated a deal covering a 10-year period whereby 20th Century-Fox will be the sole and exclusive distributor of RKO product throughout the Union of South Africa. The deal was closed by Spyros Skouras and Murray Silverstone for 20th Century-Fox, with Ned Depinet and Philip Reisman for RKO. According to the terms of the agree¬ ment, which takes effect today (Sept. 1), 20th Century-Fox will distribute in South Africa all product from the RKO studios in Hollywood, also in¬ cluding product from independent producers and from the lineup of English pictures. SG Holds S. F. Meet San Francisco — The last in a series of weekend regional sales meetings for Screen Guild bookers and salesmen was held in the St. Francis Hotel last weekend. Representatives from the western ex¬ change group comprised of Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Denver, Portland, Seattle, and San Francisco conferred. The meeting was conducted by Francis A. Bateman. Robert L. Lippert, presi¬ dent, Screen Guild, also addressed the meeting, and outlined the company’s out¬ look for the future. Also attending was Arthur Greenblatt, eastern sales manager. SPG Votes "No'' New York — Reaffirming its previous position against filing the non-commun¬ ist affidavits required by the Taft-Hartley Law as a prerequisite to invoking the services of the National Labor Relations Board, the membership of the Screen Publicists Guild, Local 114, UCPWA-CIO, last week voted 125 to 44 against comply¬ ing. Richard Walsh Again Heads The lATSE CLEVELAND— The lATSE wound up its convention last fortnight by unanimously reelecting its officers, headed by President Richard Walsh. Only two changes were made in the entire lineup. James B. McNalbb, Local 154, Seattle, succeeds Eugene J. Atkinson as AFL delegate, and D. B. McKenzie is succeeded by Oliver M. Lynn, Local 210, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, as delegate to the Dominion Trades and Labor Congress. The convention adjourned one day ahead of the scheduled closing date. Edward Arnold, Screen Actor’s Guild exec, proposed a plan to solve industry labor disputes by an arbitra¬ tion board, consisting of representa¬ tives of the various coast unions, and claimed that the SAG would be the first to appi-ove such a proposal. Arnold termed the jurisdictional overlapping of crafts in film produc¬ tion as “stupid and a waste of time,” and went on to discuss the effect of television on trade unions. TELEVISION New York — Television’s major advance in 1948 lies in the widespread adoption of instantaneous transcriptions of television programs on 35mm. or 16mm. motion pic¬ ture film, and Paramount recently issued new video transcription rates which range from $18 each for one to nine prints for 10 minutes on 16mm. to $108 for 60 minutes for one to nine prints, with the price for 10 or more prints ranging considerably lower. On 35mm. prints, the price for one to nine prints for 10 minutes is $45 each, and goes up to $270 for the same number of prints for 60 minutes, with the price for 10 or more prints ranging considerably lower. Negatives can be delivered one minute after the program is off the air, and prints can be delivered as rapidly as the most modern equipment will allow. Paul Raibourn, Paramount vice-president in charge of television, explained that “Paramount recordings were designed to meet the competitive test of theatrical 35mm. pictures. This means that the qual¬ ity has to be good when enlarged 117,600 times as it is when the Paramount video transcriptions are projected on the Para¬ mount’s big screen. When broadcast to the smaller TV screen, the quality is even better. A complete transcription is made in 60 seconds.” Additions to several of the working committees of National Television Film Council were announced by Melvin L. Gold, chairman. Gold announced that sec¬ retary-treasurer Robert W. Wornhoudt, executive vice-president, Telecast Films, is currently engaged in selecting a mem¬ bership committee to pursue NTFC’s hypoed membership drive. Jack Glenn, chairman, production committee, an¬ nounced that J. A. Maurer, president, J. A. Maurer, Inc., and vice-president. Society of Motion Picture Engineers, will head the “Production Clinic,” which will provide a service to members of NTFC by pro¬ viding answers to all known production problems concerning films and television which may arise. U-l Winners Announced New York — Winners in the second lap of the current Universal-International Presidential Sales Drive last week began to receive their prizes as the third and final lap got underway. M. M. Gottlieb, district manager, Chi¬ cago, was the leading district manager in the second lap. Eugene Vogel, Albany, was the winning branch manager in the east; Irving Sochin, Cincinnati, was the winner in the south, and L. R. Berman, Chicago, was the winner in the west. Winning salesmen were Arthur Rose, Buffalo, in the eastern division; Harry Hynes, Jr., St. Louis, in the southern division, and Ted Reisch, Chicago, west¬ ern division leader. R. C. Bruce Passes Hollywood — Robert C. Bruce, 61, pioneer travelogue producer, died last fortnight at Queen of Angels Hospital, a victim of pneumonia. His one-day-old daughter, Roberta, died on the same day in the same hospital. Double funeral serv¬ ices were held at Forest Lawn Cemetery. September 1, 1948