The Film Daily (1947)

10 ^ DAILY Friday, November 22, 1946 Propose All-Trade Com. For Gov't Co-op (Continued from Page 1) an outgrowth of the White House conference on Tuesday, November 19, 1946. representing various elements and organizations within the motion picture industry, recommends co-operation with the United States Government during the post-war transitional period through any one duly designated agency truly representative of the Federal Government, representing all branches thereof. "2. That there be organized a national co-ordinating committee comprised of 12 persons one each appointed by and representing Allied States Exhibitors Association, Conference of Independent Exhibitors Associations, American Theaters Association, Motion Picture Theater Owners of America, Confederacy of Southern Associations, National Distributors Committee, Morion Picture Association of America, Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, the motion picture trade press, and the newsreels. "Such committee shall recommend to the above organizations a course of action with regard to (a) films submitted through the one duly designated agency of the Federal Government; (b) films submitted by nationally organized philanthropies. It is understood each organization listed above reserves complete freedom of action with regard to all such recommendations. "3. That within each exchange area there be locally organized an area committee representing distribution and exhibition, utilizing to the fullest extent any such industry trade organizations existing in that area. The exchange area committee shall be instituted as operating groups and not as policy making groups. "4. That a national reviewing committee be set up comprised of one or more persons appointed by and representing each of the following organizations: Allied States Association. American Theaters Association, Confederacy of Southern Associations, Independent Theater Owners of America, Motion Picture Theater Owners of America, the Na 24 Pixr Meiro^s '47 Maximum Leo^s Backlog Now Comprises 31 Features (Continued from Page 1) Film-less iV. J. Town Bfirs Id mm. House Atlantic City, N. J.— The City Council of theater-less Absecon, an off-shore municipality eight miles from here turned thumbs down on a proposition of Alfred Boyce of Pleasantville to construct a film theater there. Bryce had planned to exhibit 16 mm. films. Reasons given for the rejection were shortage of building materials which would prevent erection of a theater to conform with the local building code, and that the proposed location was a traffic hazard. participating for the last six days. Studio re-adjustments, it was said at the Culver City plant, will conform to production activity. Increase in Metro's backlog during the year results largely from the slower absorption of important pictures by the market. During recent weeks, three important pictures have gone into production at the studio, "Green Dolphin Street," "A Love Story" and "The Birds and The Bees." Scheduled to start soon after the first of the year are "The Hucksters," with Clark Gable; "Cass Timberlane," with Spencer Tracy; "The Pirate," with Judv Garland and Gene Kelly; "Speak To Me Of Love," with Greer Garson and "Song Of The Thin Man," with William Powell and Myrna Loy. Schenck leaves for New York over the week-end. (Continued from Page 1) share on 2,7-34,180 shares of common stock outstanding at Sept. 28. In 1945, same date, there were 1,911,2.38 shares of common outstanding. For the third quarter ended Sept. 28, the consolidated net profit after all charges was $4,770,366. After deducting dividends on prior convertible preferred stocks, this amounted to $1.67 per share of common stock. The profit for the second quarter of 1946 was $5,207,496. The profit for the third quarter of 1945 on a comparable basis was $2,095,927, equal to 89 cents per share of common stock. For the same 39-week period last year the consolidated net profit was $7,529,287. Dividends on the common stock at that time amounted to $3.31. Gross income for the period this vear was $139,180,445. Compared with $128,793,329 a year ago. The board of directors yesterday declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1,121'^ per share on outstanding prior preferred stock, payable Dec. 16 to holders of Dec. 2. A 371-^. cent :ash dividend was declared for outstanding convertible preferred stock. Outstanding common stock was voted a quarterly cash dividend of 75 cents and an extra dividend of 75 cents, payable Dec. 23 to holders of Dec. 2. 0-Fox 39-Wk. Profit 20th-Fox Winds Sales, Over 1 6 Million Exploitation Meets Two important meetings attended by 20th-Fox sales execs, and field exploitation men, respectively, were concluded j'esterday at the home office. Meeting with Tom Connors, vicepresident in charge of distribution and William J. Kupper, general sales manager, were division and district managers, as well as 11 branch managers who had been in New York to attend the world premiere of "The Razor's Edge." Sales talks centered about the Chi-istmas national release of the Zanuck production, and the final weeks of the Spyros P. Skouras Sales Drive. The exploitation meeting, which was conducted by Charles Schlaifer, director of advertising, publicity, exploitation and radio, laid special emphasis on plans for the subsequent engagements of "The Razor's Edge" throughout the countrj^ during Christmas week. The intensive exploitation campaign which preceded the world premiere of the picture in New York will be carried out with equal vigor nationally. Advertising and exploitation campaign? on "Margie," "Mv Darling Clementine," "13 Ru? Madeleine," "The Brasher Doubloon" and "The Shocking Miss Pilgrim" were also outlined and departmental discussions were led by Rodney Bush, exploitation manager and Sid Blunienstock, assistant exploitation manager. tional Distributors Committee, and Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theater Owners. "It is recommended that this reviewing committee approve no film unless (a) it be of importance to the public interest; (b) factual and concise; (c) contain no matter of a political or controversial nature, and (d) that any film exhibited under this program shall be at the responsibility of the issuing agents and shall carry the name of the organizations seeking such exhibition whether it be a charity organization or a depai'tment of Government, to the end that such film shall be recognized by the public as representing an official statement from such agency. "5. Resolved further that the 12 organizations to whom the above resolution is being sent are urgently requested to act upon the above as speedily as possible and transmit Break For U. S. Pix In Czech Deal Seen Seattle Trust Suit to Jury Seattle— The $500,000 damage suit brought by the Theater Investment Comnany and the Venetian Theater (•Jensen & Von Herberg) against 13 major film exhibitors and distributors, on trial here since Oct. 10, is before the jury in the Federal District Court here. (Continued from Page 1) tion treatment, thus for the first time breaking thi'ough Russia's alleged hold over Czechoslovakia. Full impact on the motion pictur: situation is not known, since the agreement, in eff'ect, is an interim arrangement until a full scale^ommercial treaty between the twrf^g^ntries is negotiated. However c3S3iOslovakia has had an agreement with Russia giving the Soviets up to 65 per cent playing time on Czech screens, providing 100 features annually could be furnished. So far, Russia has been unable to supply that many films. Under the most favored nation clause in the agreement with this country, the Czechs could not favor the Russians in any picture agreement. In addition the agreement provides that Czechoslovakia gives assurances that any government trade monopoly she maintains will operate on private commercial standards and accord this country fair and equitable treatment. Last September, Czechoslovakia film monopoly and MPEA signed a two-year agreement providing for import of approximately 80 features and short subjects a year. This agreement went into effect on Oct. 15, with the showing of "Wilson." The so-called interim agreement was hailed by George Canty, State Department picture chief, as "very gratifying." He said the accord should mean a resumption of unrestricted trade in time between Czechoslovakia and the United States. Sam Schwartz Dies West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAIL^ Hollywood — Sam Schwartz, 76 who started his career as exhilsitoi in New York in 1907, died at his Lo; Angeles home of a heart attack. He had at one time operated his owi circuit of theaters in the East anc was also treasurer of Theater Own ers Chamber of Commerce. He i; survived by his son, Marty, manager of Grauman's Egyptian here, anc Charlie, o-mier of Pacific Coast Filn Co. Albert Dorsen Dead Chicago — Albert Dorsen of B&K's Pai-adise Theater is dead. their reply to this Study Committee appointed by the White House conference. Signed: Harry Brandt, M. D. Clofine, S. H. Fabian, Francis Harmon, Fred Kent, Herman A. Levy, Donald M. Nelson, Lee Newberry, Charles A. Reagan. Ben Shlven. Jesse Stern, and Robert Wilby." '^^Movle Dance,'' Neiv Form of Opposition Columbus — "Movie Dance" is a new form of competition for local exhibitors, who have been plagued all Fall with all types of counter attractions, from brand new de luxe bowling alleys to huge ice shows. "Movie Donee" was started here last week by Smith's Dance Gardens in the Ohio State University district. "Name" bands, on film, ploy for a three-hour show and dance. The innovation uses 16 mm. film and extra-sized sound amplifiers. Admission is 75 cents per person, 10 cents higher than the usual downtown first-run price.