The Film Daily (1940)

14 ^ lUULY Monday, June 17, 194<i Revision of Admish Tax is Advanced (Continued from Paiic 1) the House, which lowers the admission tax exemption to 31 cents, but read a statement for Carter Barron, Loew's Eastern Division Manager, and Spyros Skouras. Pettijohn asked the committee to consider that the industry has lost 77 per cent of its 40 per cent worldwide gross and is already facing serious problems. He declared the industry expects to do its fair share in raising the Government's income but asked that the committee keep the industry from repetition of conditions in 1934 when the admission scale was dropped to 41 cents, with the resulting drop in admissions throughout the country. The House proposal that admission taxes begin at 31 cents will encourage further admission cuts which will ruin the industry, he testified. Distribs. Alternative Proposal As an alternative proposal, which greatly interested the Committee. The industry representatives declared the Government could raise $60,000,000 per year instead of the $25,000,000 estimated in the House bill and at the same time aid the industry. Their proposed scale is: Up to 9 cents, no tax; 10 cents to 25 cents, 1 cent on each admission; 26 cents to 49 cents, 2 cents on each admission, and 50 cents and up, 10 per cent as is currently in effect. The $60,000,000 estimate is based on 80 to 85 million movie admissions per week, on a conservative estimate of IVe cent tax per admission. When the present 40 cent tax level was made law, there were more than 2500 theaters charging 40 cents or more, Barron and Skouras declared in their statement, adding "because of that law there are today only 150 theaters charging 40 cents or more." A reduction of the level to 31 cents will unquestionably revive the wave of price-cutting they declared. It was predicted that theaters charging over 31 cents will drop to 30 cents, and to meet the competition, other theaters will drop lower. Prices at Lowest Possible Level "This means still less revenue for the Government, and portends serious setbacks for the industry. Prices now in effect are at their lowest possible level; they cannot, must not be reduced. The industry must be shielded from further inroads," the committee was told. Reductions in admissions will call for fewer and less expensive pictures, it was stated. This will mean curtailment of personnel and poorer quality pictures as well as less revenue for Uncle Sam. The industry's own plan offers the government $30,000,000 more each year and is a plan that will maintain and perhaps improve the present economic WHO'S WHO IN HOLLYWOOD • • • I >if roil II ring Interesting Personalities • • • IRVING APPLEBAUM. b. Nov. 24, 1905, in Lenberg, Poland, which is also ' the birth-place of Paul Muni. Came to the United States in 1914. Attended Georgetown and Brooklyn Law schools. Worked as an usher in Washington D. C. Later managed two theaters in New York City for Universal. Worked in Universal's home office in advertising accessory department. Came to Hollywood in 1930. Worked as an assistant cutter in Universal. In 1933, went to England and worked as film editor for the Paul L. Stein unit which released through Columbia. Established A. & P. in England producing features for distribution by Associated British Film Distributing Company. Returned in 1934 and rejoined Universal as an editor and co-director on serials. In 1938 joined Dario Faralla Productions as production manager. In 1939 supervised Spanish version of "Gulliver's Travels" for Paramount. Has organized Irving Applebaum Productions and has completed "Choir Boy" and "The Modern William Tell," short subjects, and will make a feature "Music Camp." Hobby, collecting phonograph records. Two Theater Games Face Court Test Cases in Mass. (Continued from Page 1) used in "Ten-0-Win" were seized in the theater. Similar raid was also made on the Mohawk where a game called "Lucky Strike" was seized. Complaints charging lottery promotion have also been made out against Bernard Payne, manager of the Mohawk. Cases against the local theaters are the first of their kind in the state, according to Assistant District Attorney Harold R. Goewey of Pittsfield. By agreement, case against Faille was continued to June 21 for hearing. Divorcement Action Waits Says Senator Neely (Continued from Page 1) would not be continued this session, as Congress is expected to devote itself almost exclusively to defense legislation. No comment was made on hearings on his block-booking bill nor the equity suit, because, Neely said, "I haven't been able to read one word about either of these matters." position of the industry, it was stated. Concluding their plea, Barron and Skouras stated the House plan will be most harmful to the small exhibitor because, unlike the large theaters, he cannot hope to offset the lo.ss of revenue through larger seating capacity. "Force the larger theaters to reduce prices and you force the smaller operator to meet this competition, this is economic suicide," the execs.' statement said. Columbia Campaign Prize Winners are Announced (Continued from Page 1) ing the Montague 15th Anniversary Campaign in the Eastern, Mideast and Southern Divisions. For the July 1, 1939-May 10 period, Sam Moscow's Southern division placed first, and Nat Cohn's New York division, second. Final awards to branch managers of the leading branch in each division for best performances in liquidation during the 12-week campaign period went to, Eastern: T. F. O'Toole, New Haven; Midwest: S. A. Galanty, Washington; Southern: W. W. Anderson, Atlanta. Final awards to branch managers, salesmen, office managers and bookers for general performance in sales and liquidation were announced as: 1st Place: Atlanta, W. W. Anderson, E. B. Foster, U. T. Koch, B. A. Wallace. J. S. Laird, W. C. Sampler; 4th: New York, M. Fraum, S. Schussel, J. Sokoloff, S. Trauiier, J. Wenisch, I. Wormser, E. Helouis, S. Feinblum, W. Katz, I. Michaels, G. Fillet, J. Safer; 5th: New Orleans, H. Duvall, J. J. Fabacher, J. Winberry, R. Kelly, C. Randolf; 6th: Philadelphia, H. E. Weiner, W. Bethell, M. L. Goldstein, D. Korson, G. Schaeffer, L. Wurtele, J. H. Flynn, W. Donahue, B. Rosenthal; 7th: Charlotte, R. J. Ingram, G. Roscoe, R. D. Williamson, C. Patterson; 11th: New Haven, T. F. O'Toole, B. J. Lourie, S. Swirsky. Personal awards to bookers and shorts and serials liquidation went to the following branches: 1st Place: New Orleans, Robert Kelly, Cecile Randolph; 2: Atlanta, Sidney I.aird. Clyde Sampler; 5th: New Haven, Sidney Swirsky. Final awards on the accessory sales campaign were won by: 1st Place: New York, Harry Goldberg; 3rd: New Haven, Al Parizer; 6th: Charlotte, Don Hassler; 7th: New Orleans. Alton Dureau; 9th: Atlanta, Thornton La Hatte; 10th: Washington, Joe Goldsmith; 12th: Cleveland, Kenneth Johnson. "Brother Orchid" Gets a Third New York Strand is holding "Brother Orchid" and Jimmy Dorsey and his band for a third week. Goddard Out of "2nd Chorus" West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Paulette Goddard has withdrawn from "Second Chorus" to be made by National Pictures. It is understood that Charles Chaplin objected to her making an outside picture until "The Dictator" is released. Toll of La. Chain Tax Bill Uncerlain (Continued from Page 1) "for each such addition moving pic ture show, theater or similar plac of amusement" in excess of 5i houses. Apparently t^^pi' sue! wording, the first five MBfes of < chain would pay a $50 tax each bj the year, and then the next woul( face the extra taxes. Court Ruling Might Be Needed While the act is directed against places "under the same genera management, supervision or control," it is possible that court interpretation might be needed ti clarify this. The largest booking operation ir Louisiana, which apparently would not be considered under the act since it only buys and books and technically the operation of the theaters remain in the hands of the owners, is Theater Service Corp., which handles a total of 92 theaters in 69 Gulf States cities. In Louisiana, Theater Service books and buys for 74 houses in 57 towns. Apparently the greatest tax payer of the lot would be the Paramount-Richards circuit with total of from 52 to 63 theaters in f territory and adjacent territori and which at present operates lor theaters in 5 Louisiana towns. H Loophole Is Possible However, observers point out that the various partnerships under the Paramount-Richards standard could easily resume operations of their own , houses if necessary. : Among the other circuits operating in the state are: Loew, one theater in New Orleans; Mort H. Sin-' ger, two in New Orleans; Southern I Amusement Co. of Lake Charles,, operating 23 theaters in 17 Louisiana towns; Dixie Theaters, operating 16 theaters in 12 towns, or 12' theaters in Louisiana; Joy Theaters (Joy Houck), total of seven theaters, six of which are in Louisiana! and operating, presumably, three more in association with Levere Montgomery; J. W Hard, six theaters in five Louisiana towns; Rex Amusement Co (Willis Houck), 19 theaters in 17 territory towns, 18 of' which houses are in Louisiana; United Theaters of New Orleans, ^ 17 houses; Bijou Amusement Co. (Negro operation) 9 theaters in fiyf Louisiana towns as part of a circuit credited with 19 houses in the south, i League of N. Y. Theaters Objects to DG Agreement (Continued from Page 1) of film rights to plays. The League ; is expected to hold out for the for I mer 50-50 splitup. | Objections to the present pact, | expiring next February, were said j to have been forwarded to the gov ' ernors by James F. Reilly, executive i secretai'y. Elmer Rice, president of the DG, heads a committee working j on the next pact for the Guild. I