The Film Daily (1943)

In Today's Issue: The Equipment News Section lutimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought (See Pages 12 to 15<) The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old -^DAIIY OL. 84. NO. 106 NEW YORK, FRIDAY. DECEMBER 3. 1943 TEN CENTS ilNGLE EXHIB. UNIT JNEVITABLE— RODGERS Blind-Pricing7 Fair, Declares Metro Sales Head Editorial Taxation . . . and unity By CHESTER B. BAHN T first thought such subjects as Federal f taxation and the issue of industry unity fit seem miles apart and quite unread, but as Metro's clear-thinking and are-shooting Bill Rodgers told the boys of trade press assembled at the Hotel cr yesterday for an informal breadaking, unified trade action is the only answer to the threat of adverse legis if exhibitor groups, MPTOA, Allied unaffiliated, can stand shoulder to Ider — as they are — to combat the prodiscriminatory hike in Federal adion tax rates why cannot the same united for the common good be otherwise ifested? s a fair question, that, ertainly, as Rodgers pointed out, when ative committees — Federal or state — confronted with delegations from two more rival groups whose contentions wholly at variance, the industry is made appear ridiculous and its interests are rially damaged. to a national union of exhibitors, it's itted, perhaps none too cheerfully, that existing associations have varying philolies and viewpoints, but, more cheerit is pointed out that regardless of divergencies, they likewise have many tical problems. rhaps it is too much to expect a conlation of all exhibitor organizations side of the millenium, but isn't it ble to effect some sort of a "League of ions" setup which would permit cornaction on common problems? that asking too much of an industry ch, for better or for worse, stands stuntly in the public spotlight? id Company Desires Nothing More Than It Is Entitled To, Asserts W. F. Rodgers Metro wants nothing more than what it is entitled to, William F. Rodgers told the trade press yesterday in reply to questions concerning M-G-M's so-called "blind-pricing" policy. The company's vice-president and general sales manager said that terms must be predicated on the business clone by a picture and that it was necessary to give a production 50 or 75 percentage playdates to determine the worth of the atti action. Speaking informally over a luncheon table at the Hotel Astor, Rodg (Contiiuicd on Page 9) No Aussie Theaters For Columbia-Pery Sydney (By Air Mail)— Reports to the effect that Columbia Pictures will establish its own circuit of theater in Australia are branded as wholly unfounded by Nick Pery, Columbia's managing director, just re (Continued on Page 8) EAK1NG of taxation, the case for the theater operator in the present fight nst higher admission tax rates was never er stated than in this extract from Ed <endall's statement before ;-he Senate >nce Committee: t has been argued that the theater passed he tax and only bears the cost of collecting aecause the tax is separate from the ad on price. This may be quite true of taxes on tangibles, but it is a false de n with respect to theater admissions. I Ve sell rime. And we are dealers in entertainment. Unlike most retail busi s, we can't sell a few articles or ad (Continued on Page 2) March of Dimes Chairmen Already Set in 37 States State chairmen for the 1944 March of Dimes campaign by the industry have already been set in 37 states, it was announced yesterday by Harry (Continued on Page 8) Decree Meets Wait As Clark Fights Flu Assistant Attorney General Tom C. Clark, is confined to his Washington home with a case of influenza, and is not expected back in his office until early next week. Clark's illness has ruled out the setting of definite appointments with the independent producers or with distributor representatives, although it is expected he will see both next week on the New York consent de Call Coast Huddles On 4th Loan Plans West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — A special two-day series of meetings on the Fourth War Loan has been called here by Charles Skouras, general chairman for next Monday and Tuesday. The sessions, held on the West Coast to permit Skouras and his cochairmen Rick Ricketson and B. V. (.Continued on Page 8) Tarawa Battle Footage In Newsreels on Monday Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Monday's newsreel release will feature some of the best battle footage yet received from the Pacific, it was learned here yester (Continued on Page 9) Fix Aussie Raw Stock at 75 New Order Confronts Distribs. With Problem Loew's Adds $1.50 Extra To Regular 50c Dividend An extra dividend of $1.50 and a dividend of 50 cents were declared by Loew's board of directors on Wednesday. Both dividends are payable Dec. 17 to stockholders of record Dec. 31. By ALLAN WHITE FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Sydney (By Air Mail) — Modifying an earlier order, the Division of Import Procurements has set the quality of raw stock that may be processed by any distributor during the current calendar year at 75 per cent of the total used during the 1942 calendar year. While the new order at last clari (.Continued on Page 4) Metro Sales Chief Holds Proper Leadership and Unanimity Essential A single organization to represent all exhibito! s is inevitable, in the F. Rodgers, M-G-M's opinion of W. general sales manager, who yesterd a y reiterated his belief that such a n association would have wide benefits. Addressing a 1 u n c heon tendered b y M-G-M to the trade press, Rodgers contended that the interests of exhibitors as a whole would be best protected by one big organization which, he believed, {Continued on Page 10) W. F. RODGERS Orders Roach Held On Perjury Charge Federal Judge John Bright yester'day ordered Andrew J. Roach held for Federal inquiry after the member of Newark operators' Local 244, recalled as the Government's witness at the trial of the seven defendants (Continued on Page 5) Rodgers Says Dual Bills on IncreaseDouble bills are on the increase throughout the country, W. -F. Rodgers, M-G-M sales chief said yesterday. Territories where duals have not been prevalent are beginning to turn to two-feature policies, while, there had been no tapering off of duals in spots that have been predominantly double till, he said. , There has been no curfailmerjyfon the use of short subjects elgHt where twin bills have bee.it adopted.