The Film Daily (1947)

■1 st . ist floor Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Eight Years Old -1FDAIIY • =>91, NO. 75 NEW YORK, THURSDAY APRIL 17. 1947 TEN CENTS » : RCSTRICTIOnS On U. S. PIK ABROAD H€LD Off United Front tor U. SL Admission Tax Fight Urged "heaters Should Battle tfo Take Films Out of uxury Category — Wood Columbus, O. — A "united front" ampaign by all theater interests, ?gardless of ownership and organ •.ational affiliation, to press for re |i eal or reduction of the present 20 <er cent Federal admissions tax be >re the House Ways and Means ommittee when it studies the en : Ire excise tax field, has been pro osed by P. J. Wood, secretary of --e ITO of Ohio. Wood, in pressing for action at (Continued on Page 6) sland Theater Asks learances be Ended The quietus which descended on pe arbitration scene following the xtension of life given that method f settling industry disputes by the ecree stay was broken yesterday ith the announcement of an arbitration complaint filed with the Bos)n tribunal. The Elmwood Amusement Corp., (Continued on Page 6) cheftel-Burger Group Buy "leve. Hippodrome Bldg. Cleveland, O. — Herbert Scheftel nd Alfred G. Burger, owner of the elenews Circuit, and New York as>ciates yesterday announced purlase of entire capital stock of the (Continued on Page 4) Balaban In Air Plea For l/JA's Campaign Barney Balaban, chairman of the United Jewish Appeal motion picture division and the Greater New York UJA, will talk tonight during a special WOR broadcast. Program features "Tomorrow the Harvest," starring Gregory Peck in a drama by Allan E. Sloane which tells the story of a survivor of Hitler persecution who is rehabilitated through UJA funds. Editorial Taxes are Your Problem . . . regardless of industry arm By CHESTER B. BAHN THREE times within the past 10 days, there have been portents that the film industry " in New York City would be confronted, sooner or later, with municipal measures affecting its finances. Mayor William O'Dwyer at a tax hearing declared that eventually the metropolis would have to avail itself of the right recently granted by the State Legisature to impose a five per cent admissions levy. Subsequently, the New York Times under the by-line of its reporter who covers the Broadway legitimate theater beat published a proposal, attributed to an unidentified "prominent showman," that the city advance the license fee of film theaters from the present $100-$200 scale to $500, the sum now paid by legitimate theaters. The fact that the Times desk saw fit to pass the story without identifying the proponent, plus the fact that it was given right of way in the day's theater column, lead one to wonder. The third portent was found in the remarks of Mayor O'Dwyer as the Board of Estimate met last week. At that time, the Mayor suggested that theaters now guarded by w • (Continued on Page 8) UJA Co. Chairmen to Organize Tomorrow Barney Balaban, national chairman, yesterday announced that the first general meeting for the organization of company chairmen of the film industry's drive to raise $2,100,000 for the United Jewish Appeal (Continued on Page 6) McNabb Re-elected by Bell & Howell Board Chicago — J. H. McNabb yesterday was re-elected president and treasurer of Bell & Howell at a board meeting following the annual meeting of stockholders. Board also de(Continued on Page 4) Colosseum in Philly With New York Next! Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen is reported completing organizational plans in Philadelphia, with New York City understood the next Eastern territory scheduled for organizing attention by the national (Continued on Page 6) 40 Loew Houses to Play "It Happened at Inn" Forty Loew's houses in the Metronolitan area will play the Englishtitled. French-lineo film. "It Haonened at the Inn." Loew's Mayfair. which becomes a Brandt house next (Continued on Page 6) Record Republic Ad Budget $5,500,000 to be Spent in 1947-48 Fabian Opposing Ticket Impost in 3 Counties Albany — Material to fiffht local amusement levies, as permitted under the enabling act passed during; the recent Legislative session, is being forwarded by Saul J. Ullman, Fabian general manager, to all thea( Continued on Page 6) West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — A hard-hitting advertisingand merchandising policy, backed with record appropriations of about $5,500,000, will be put behind Republic's new season product, Herbert J. Yates, president, said at yesterday's session of the Studio sales meeting. Annual advertising-promotion(Conrinued on Page 6) Foreign Nations Awaiting Outcome of Geneva Trade Talks Before Taking Steps By MANNING CLAGETT Washington "Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Foreign nations apparently are holding up imposition of contemplated restrictions on American films pending outcome of trade discussions now going on in Geneva, it was indicated yesterday. Although it may be only a temporary lull there have been no reports of restrictions threatened by (Continued on Page 8) Zorn Elected Chairman Of Chicago Area's MPF Chicago — Edward G. Zorn of Pontiac, president of United Theater Owners of Illinois, was elected chairman and Arthur Schoenstadt, Schoenstadt Circuit, elected a trustee of the Chicago area's Motion Picture Foundation, at a luncheon called cby John Balaban and attend( Continued on Page 7) Newsreels Rush Crews To Texas City Disaster Following receipt of flash word of the Texas City disaster yesterday newsreel headquarters in town were galvanized into action in the immediate hope of securing footage for inclusion in issues of the reels that are due out today. Movietone News stated it had two (Continued on Page 6) Apollo to Introduce Vaccination Giveaway Something brand new in theater giveaways will bow at Brandt's Apollo Theater this afternoon. Patrons of the house, between the hours of 1 and 4:30 p.m., will be offered free smallpox vaccinations on the spot, and no waiting. About 450 employes of the Brandt Theater circuit were vaccinated yesterday.