The Exhibitor (1950)

EXHIBITOR 7 MSI KONSCOFF'S NSW YORK RICHARD WALSH, IATSE president, returned last week from European conferences on behalf of UNESCO to which he was an advisor on mass communications as well as representative of the AFL, and reported that labor was very interested in any agreement reached by American producers and the British film industry. He thought that industry executives were making a mistake if the British terms of enforced production there were accepted, and also that other countries would follow suit and freeze currency, after which production locally would be a condition for unfreezing once the precedent were set. He reported that presently Hollywood had 25 per cent of its union help unemployed, and if the British forced producers to pull 10 or 15 pictures away from the Hollywood schedule that figure would jump to from 35 to 50 per cent. True, he said, England has a 40 per cent unem¬ ployment figure for its industry but it should be remembered that Hollywood’s 25 per cent equals the entire number of British employed normally. Walsh stated, that the IA has no right to tell a producer where he should make his films, and, by the same token, the British government should not assume that right. If it does so, then labor will have to use its eco¬ nomic might to see that the producer stays in Hollywood. Producers should be per¬ mitted the freedom of choice of locale, and no one should try compulsion as Americans don’t take to it lightly, he said. Other matters touched upon by Walsh were the tax on reissues. He said that there was a question as to whether labor has a right to be paid for a film again once it is completed and even if it is reissued. He admitted that he has been in on negotiations between Local 306 and ex¬ hibitors over a pension plan, and he felt that if it could be worked out, it will serve as an example to others in other cities. He felt that exhibitors will be asked to contribute to a retirement fund in proportion to the size and income of their operation. He said that he would visit Hollywood to discuss with producers the production of a film on “Human Rights,” which will have the sponsorship of UNESCO, it is understood. TRAVEL TALK: Steve Broidy, presi¬ dent, Monogram and Allied Artists, and Norton V. Ritchey, president, Monogram International, returned from a six-week trip to Europe and told that they closed a deal to distribute in all the Western Hemisphere, excluding Canada, all the product produced by Associated British Pathe for the next three years. This would amount to eight to 10 annually or a total of between 24 and 30. Also finalized was the deal to produce jointly two films annually for four years, with the first two set to roll shortly. The first will star Merle Oberon and Richard Todd, and will get started in July or August while the second, “Inside Scotland Yard,” will be made with the organization’s cooperation in October. In Germany, the pair closed deals for the distribution of 12 of Monogram’s fea¬ tures. Broidy thought that that market was presently very well suited to the action product released by the company. German youth is particularly excited about westerns. American pix in general are the best boxoffice grossers even out¬ doing local product, while British films are second in popularity. In France, the pair thought that operation by their com¬ pany would be unprofitable due to the high import tax as well as the expensive cost of dubbing pictures into the French language. He recommended that market only for top releases to achieve the best results. IT’S A GOLDWYN PRODUCTION: The July issue of American magazine has a featured article by Samuel Goldwyn, “You Can Always Do Better.” Said Goldwyn, “I am not interested in past successes, but only in future opportunities. To me every picture is the first one, because I know that unless I give it the best effort of which I am capable, it may be the last. Therefore, the soundest advice to anyone who has ever won an award in any busi¬ ness is simply this: Forget it.” THE METROPOLITAN SCENE: Watch for an announcement from the Selznick organization that it is taking on a number of foreign-made films aside from the British for limited distribution. ... A note from EL’s Phil Cowan states that “on page 24 of our brochure on ‘Destination Moon’ it should be noted that the screen play was written by Rip Van Ronkel.” Does this entitle Eagle Lion Classics to say that we’ve got “the sleeper of the year”? . . . Director Fred Zinneman moved the “Teresa” company to local sidewalks for location footage. . . . The gold medal awarded to Radio City Music Hall by Freedom’s Foundation for the theatre’s celebrated patriotic stage pageant, “Let Freedom Ring,” goes on exhibition in the grand foyer. . . . Jimmy Durante and Marie Wilson become part of a giant pro¬ motion scheme conducted by the Dough¬ nut Corporation of America. . . . Okeh pressbooks are out on “My Friend Irma Goes West,” “Where The Sidewalk Ends,” and “Once A Thief.” . . . Hope that all of you had a safe and sane Fourth of July, and didn’t get caught in traffic. TOA Steering Committee Set New York — A TOA steering committee comprised of 14 members serving on the five functional committees appointed for COMPO by President Ned E. Depinet will be formed for the national exhibitor or¬ ganization’s participation in the all-indus¬ try group, it was learned last week. TOA has two representatives on each of the five committees, with the other four serving on the new steering committee to be repre¬ sentatives of Variety Clubs International who belong to TOA. Brewer MPIC President Hollywood — Chairman Roy Brewer be¬ comes president, Motion Picture Industry Council, under the new organizational setup revealed last fortnight. Paul Grosse is vice-president. Ronald Reagan is secre¬ tary, while Allen Rivkin is treasurer. Walter Wanger is the delegate of the SIMPP to the Council. Holiday Big Help To Bway Grosses New York — As expected, the holiday helped grosses on Broadway last weekend and this week. While the long holiday helped some theatres, the generally pleasant weather sent millions pouring out-of-town, and also helped swell the crowds at the area beaches. According to reliable sources, business was recorded as follows: “BRIGHT LEAF” (WB). Strand, with stage show, took in $17,000 from Friday through Sunday, with $33,000 expected on the week. “THE SECRET FURY” (RKO) . Para¬ mount, with stage show, expected $53,000 on the second week. “IF THIS BE SIN” (UA). Rivoli claimed $22,000 for the first week. “THE NEXT VOICE YOU HEAR . . .” (MGM). Radio City Music Hall, with stage show, grossed $84,500 from Thursday through Sunday, with $148,000 expected on the first week. “WITHOUT HONOR” (UA). Globe ex¬ pected $14,000 in the first week. “DESTINATION MOON” (ELC). Mayfair looked for $45,000 in the first week. “THE 3RD MAN” (ELC-SRO) Victoria expected $12,000 in the 22nd week. “THE LAWLESS” (Para.). Astor looked for about $13,000 in the second week. “ANNIE GET YOUR GUN” (MGM). State expected $20,000 for the seventh week. “THE ROCKING HORSE WINNER” (U-I). Park Avenue looked for $7,000 in the fourth week. Sullivan Adds Wichita House Kansas City — O. F. Sullivan, ownergeneral manager, Sullivan Independent Theatres, announced last week that he has purchased the Tower, Wichita, Kans., from Herman Hunt, Cincinnati. The Tower makes the seventh Wichita theatre coming under the banner of the Sullivan company. It now operates the Crawford, a first-run downtown house; Civic and West, West Wichita; Crest, opened in January, and the 54 Drive-In, East Wichita, and the 81 Drive-In, north of Wichita on Highway 81. Sullivan also operates indoor theatres in Winfield, Kans., and drive-ins in Okla¬ homa City. Vinson Denies Divest. Delay Washington — Further delay in effecting the divorcement and divestiture orders of the New York District Court was ruled out last week by Chief Justice Fred Vin¬ son. The U. S. Supreme Court’s mandate, affirming the February decision of the New York court, will be returned to New York this week, and divorcement and divestiture of distribution and exhibition properties of Warners, 20th-Fox, and Loew’s will be completed within three years from that date. Bernhard Announces Assignment New York — Joseph Bernhard announced last week that Film Classics, Inc., has made an assignment for the benefit of creditors. The assignee is Irving Kaufman, attorney and certified public accountant. Eagle Lion Classics will function for the producers of pictures formerly released by FC, and all reports regarding receivership of Film Classics are erroneous, Bernhard said July 5 , 1950