The Exhibitor (1950)

8 EXHIIITOR This Was The Week When ... 20th Century-Fox revealed that follow¬ ing the four-way southwest premiere of “Broken Arrow” on Aug. 6-9, the film will open in 18 special key city situations, preceded by the world premiere at the Roxy, New York, on July 20. . . . 20thFox announced a mammoth national ad¬ vertising campaign for “The Black Rose,” to be launched in August. . . . Oscar A. Morgan, Paramount general sales manager for shorts and Paramount News, said he believed that the current newspaper and industry interest in the restoration of single feature showings should help pro¬ mote the sale of shorts. . . . C. E. Nichol¬ son, Paramount studio chief accountant, received the Lybrand Award at the National Association of Cost Accountants annual convention in New York. Hollywood Enterprises, Inc., completed a deal with Samuel Goldwyn to represent Gigi Perreau exclusively in the commercial royalty licensee field. . . . 20th-Fox an¬ nounced the saturation premiere of “Stella” at the Rialto, Louisville, Ky., on July 20, with 200 theatres in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and Michi¬ gan opening on July 23. . . . 20th-Fox announced that 300 fashion editors would attend the “Black Rose Fashion Show” this month in New York City. ASCAP division managers held a threeday meeting in New York City. . . . The American Television Society reelected D. H. Halpern president, Warren Caro, vicepresident; Barbara Jones, secretary, and A. U. Braunfeld, treasurer. ... It was learned that coast to coast television serv¬ ice via I T and T microwave will be ready by Jan. 1, 1952. . . . Paramount Pictures suggested a one-year moratorium on color TV in a brief filed with the FCC for Paramount Television Productions and Chromatic Television Laboratories. U-I announced that “Louisa” would have its world premiere at the Chicago, Chicago, on Aug. 11. . . . N. J. Blumberg, president, Universal Pictures Company, Inc., and Al E. Daff, executive vice-presi¬ dent, Universal-International Films, Inc., left for England and conferences with J. Arthur Rank and others. . . . Edward Schellhorn, head, Paramount Interna¬ tional’s Foreign Department, under Luigi Luraschi, received the Paramount award for 25 years of service at ceremonies in New York City. . . . MGM announced a minimum of 13 pictures for the four months starting on Sept. 1. . . . Steve Broidy, president, Monogram and Allied Artists, and Norton V. Ritchey, president, Monogram International, arrived in New York after six weeks in London and on the Continent. 20th-Fox opened its new exchange building at 415 Third Street, N. W., Wash¬ ington, D. C., with branch head Glenn Norris as host and home office officials and exhibitors in attendance. ... It was learned that a series of special engagements of “No Way Out” will be held in August following the New York world premiere. "Bank Nights" Ruled Legal In Minnesota _ MINNEAPOLIS— “Bank Nights” with cash prizes can be legal in Min¬ nesota, the Minnesota State Supreme Court ruled last week. In a split decision, the court ap¬ proved a “Bank Night” plan if pur¬ chase of a theatre ticket is not neces¬ sary, the winner’s presence is not required, and purchase of a ticket gives no advantage for participation. Such a plan was used for 11 years by the New Broadway, Albert Lea, Minn., to award up to $1,000 weekly in prizes. It was suspended in 1947 when Ru¬ dolph Hanson, Freeborn County at¬ torney, objected as a violation of Minnesota’s anti-gambling laws. He acted on an opinion from the Attor¬ ney-General’s office that it constituted a lottery and that continued operation would subject the management to fines and prison sentences. The theatre owners, Ben and Iz Friedman, Minneapolis, took the mat¬ ter before Freeborn County Judge Martin A. Nelson, who agreed with the Attorney-General. Reversing the earlier decision, the State Supreme Court ruled that one of the essential elements of a lottery was missing. Max Youngstein Para. Vice-President New York — Barney Balaban, president, Paramount Pictures Corporation, and A. W. Schwalberg, president, Paramount Film Distributing Corporation, last week announced that Max E. Youngstein, na¬ tional director of advertising, publicity, and exploitation, had been elected a mem¬ ber of the board of directors and vicepresident, Paramount Film Distributing Corporation. A luncheon in honor of Youngstein was tendered to him by his associates. At the luncheon Balaban, Adolph Zukor and Schwalberg lauded Youngstein. . . . UA announced its world premieres of “The Iroquois Trail” in Albany, Ithaca, Rochester, and Syracuse, all in New York State, and Montreal, accompanied by the usual fanfare. . . . Television Features, Inc., a division of Larry Gordon Studios, showed its Vidicam system to television, film, and advertising executives, a tech¬ nique which enables it to film a live halfhour show within an hour’s time. . . . Republic revealed that it was working at least 3,000 prints of “The Battle For Korea,” one-reel subject, with 7,500 onesheets ordered. . . . The AMPA announced that its “Salute To The Trade Press” at the luncheon scheduled by President Harry McWilliams in New York City for the fall will have Mort Blumenstock, Warners’ ad. -pub. chief, as its chairman. . . . Hollywood Enterprises, Inc., revealed that Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis had contracted with it to represent them in the commercial licensee royalty field. . . . Lippert announced that it had concluded a tieup with Mars Candy Company for “Rocketship XM” publicity whereby 1,000,000 sample bars of candy will be distributed in imprinted envelopes in theatres in key situations. Outright Repeal Trade's Tax Goal Washington — The trade this week was in another all-out campaign, to secure total repeal of the 20 per cent admissions tax. The industry was electrified and spurred into renewed activity against the 20 per cent admissions tax by the fact the relief from this burden is now nearer than at any time since the fight began months ago. This is indicated by reports pouring into the office of Abram F. Myers, chairman, COMPO tax committee. Myers expressed amazement at the avalanche of response he has received from the last broadside sent to the field. Andy Smith, chairman, tax committee’s distributor division, sent out wires to all area chairmen urging immediate action, pointing out that once the bill hits the Senate Finance Committee it may be hurried to the floor of the Senate for vote. Many circuits have already gone into action, with all managers writing and wiring their Senators to help save their jobs. Richard Walsh, head, IATSE, continuing the support of the theatre unions in the tax fight, is asking his locals for renewed efforts. Members of exhibitor associations in New York and New Jersey are asking Ned Depinet, president, COMPO, to create an immediate, special “task force” committee to map out a great nation-wide “T-Day — Go To The Movies Week” celebration to publicize the day when the tax bill will be lifted from the back of the boxoffice and provide the “medicine” the business needs. The tax committee met to shape up plans for an all-out battle for full repeal of the tax as the House overwhelmingly approved a 10 per cent cut in the levy. Present at the meeting were: Myers, H. M. Richey, MGM; Oscar Doob, MMPTO; Morton Sunshine, ITOA; A. Julian Brylawski, TOA; Jack Bryson, MPAA; Carter Barron, Loew’s, and Harry Goldberg. Warners. Previously, the House Ways and Means Committee approved the new tax bill to halve the federal admissions tax, and carry reductions for corporations earning less than $167,000. Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Com¬ mittee plans to open hearings on the bill of July 3, it was announced by Senator Walter F. George, committee chairman. Geoi’ge estimated that from 10 days to two weeks of hearings, followed by about three days of committee discussion, should be sufficient for committee consideration of the measure. Elliott McManus Mourned New York — Elliott McManus, manager for 20th Century-Fox Inter-America Corporation in Panama, died suddenly of pneumonia last week. He is survived by his wife, the former Helen Weade Bridges, and a brother. COMPO Group To Meet New York — Scheduled for tomorrow (July 6) is a meeting of COMPO’s func¬ tional committee on personnel and man¬ agement, headed by MMPTA head Leo Brecher, to discuss possibilities for the salaried post of executive vice-president. July 5, 1950