The Film Daily (1947)

londay, May 26, 1947 DAILY 7,000,000 Stock in Fabian Deal for UA (Continued from Page 1> \ hich would go to the two present A^^^nally, it is understood that Miss riokford and Chaplin would revive life-time releasing deals. The Fabian group would also obain from the local bank a $5,000,000 •i-edit in the form of a revolving ;. 'and to finance production. According to informed sources, the leal at the week-end was in exactly -" he identical status that it had been v>r the last week — it had neither )een rejected nor had there been any ndication that it would be accepted. Serge Semenenko, who is representing the Boston financial institution in the negotiations, had no comfnent to make in New York Friday. ovt. Could Control Films ::Via Television — Miller I (Continued from Page 1) fion, here, Miller said that FCC supervision of radio programs may spread to television and motion picure. "Great program plans," he said, 'are in the making, including the .transmission of motion pictures into /our homes and into your theaters. "Then the motion picture industry A-ill be subject to the regulations and iecisions of the FCC which currently •equire of broadcasters that programs in behalf of atheism be presented to offset programs devoted to •eligion. Will a showing of the 'King )f Kings' on television require the production of a spectacle in behalf >f atheism to balance it off?" Warner's Dr. Tipton Gets ?lrmy Commendation i Princeton, N. J. — Dr. Laurence B. I Tipton, Warner home office executive, ! jm Saturday was awarded a citation ; ind the Army Commendation Ribbon ii recognition of exceptionally meri orious war services. Col. Miles A. Towles, head of the Princeton Uni | -ersity Department of Military Sci ■nce and Tactics, represented the Secretary of War at ceremonies on he Campus. Dr. Tipton was a colonel with the "Jffice of Chief of Staff, Washington, erving as director of the manpower lonservation educational program. ».»+.♦ ».« ».» »,« ».» ».» ».» «>»»>—j»»t»+j»«j»«.»»>»».*»t««t»».»»; iJ^end vJiirthdau \ Lj re etlnad Uo May 26 Paul Lukas Al Jolson '. Viola Brothers Shore Norma Talmadge Andy M. Roy John Wayne Eddie Ryan ♦W#V«V*V*«V*W**W»»'»V PHIL M. DALY Hontlay Morning Report • • • LOOKS LIKE "THE KILLERS" history could repeat for Universal with "The Web" Like the former, "The Web" was made on a comparatively low budget ("The Killers" cost "U" less than a million); and like "The Killers," the new pic has all the aspects of proving a "sleeper" Incidentally, "U's" gross on "The Killers" is a very, very respectable 33,000,000, 'tis said. ... » Projected new Hollywood trade sheet is reported a dead duck. ... • More and more department stores across the country are becoming film conscious They're using projectors not only for advertising and promotional reels, but to show entertainment subjects as well "Park the kids, shop in comfort" is one approach. ... • Douglas Hobbs of the Aluminum Co. of America is the new chairman of the ANA's committee on films. ... • Is it true that the British trade isn't too receptive to Audience Research overtures? • RKO and Century Circuits reported considering booking Grand Int'l Pictures' "Nickelodeon Chuckles" series. ... • Cinema Stamp Collectors will hold a strictly business session at the Hotel Astor on Wednesday. ▼ ¥ » • • • IS THERE A NEW DAY DAWNING on the Long Island R. R.? Brakeman who punched Phil M's commutation ticket on Train ffo. 927 Friday morning actually said, "Thank you, sir" Any other industry commuters -who can report a similar experience? ... • Didja know that distribs. can garner S800.000 in the N. Y. met. area alone? . . . • Considering the fact that thus far (on the record) only the MPAA and ATA has asked to be heard on tax revision by the House Ways and Means Committee, you'd almost believe that exhibs. don't care a tinker's damn about trimming the Federal admissions tax to pre-war level, much less win its abolition. ... • Elaine, daughter of Dave Diamond, Hollywood agent, has been named guest editor of Madamoiselle magazine and will fly here May 31 Lass attends U.C.L.A and was one of 20 winners in a contest in which 1250 girls participated ▼ ▼ T • • • SYDNEY MOSES, prexy of Peak Films, Ltd., recently acquired the film rights to "Blue Light," which Phil M. remembers starred Leni Riefstahl, Hitler's babe, in the role of Junta the gypsy Leni R. was also credited at that time as having written the script 'Tany rate. Moses bought the rights for a song from the British Custodian of Enemy Property, and the new adaptation has already been scripted by Lesley Storm Moses hopes to sign up Ida Lupino for the Junta part before he emplanes for England next week His associate Dudley Giddins, board chairman of Peak Films, arrived yesterday aboard the liner Queen Elizabeth to report on "White Cradle Inn," currently playing in England T T ▼ • • • EVIDENTLY, someone seriously took that yarn some months ago that Fred Astaire was through with films, alter all At any rate. a N. Y. columnist patted himself on the back Friday, claiming an "exclusive" that Fred was thinking about making a pi.:: in the Fall. ... • The yeast is working in the Irish industry Patrick Farrell, Dublin circuit operator, has a $5,000,000 lab. and studio construction program. . . . • William Burke Miller is the new program editor of NBC's te!e dep't., moving over from the WNBC assistant managership. ... • Otto Bolle, retiring 20th-Fox British chief, sails for the U. S. on June 4 T ▼ ▼ • • • THINGS NEVER CHANGE DEPT.: J. D. Williams, manager of First National Exhibitors' Circuit, calls for drastic action to prevent re-issuing of old films under new titles. — From THE FILM DAILY of May 25, 1918 Rank, Hanson Vie For Mono. Can. Franchise (Continued from Page 1) where he will be joined by George D. Burrows, executive vice-president and treasurer, in discussions with John W. Davis, Rank's managing director. When any talks with Hanson will be held is not known, but both Monogram executives are due back at the studio on June 2. Hanson's interest in the Monogram franchise goes back to his tenure as president of Empire-Universal and his resignation to form Pioneer Films. He was an EmpireUniversal stockholder but sold his interest to N. L. Nathanson and, apparently as part of the deal, acquired the Monogram franchise and exchange system with Henry Nathanson, of Regal Films, and the late Arthur Lee. Regal had been distributing Monogram product along with M-G-M, but the Henry Nathanson connection with Monogram was severed when Loew's acquired Regal and Nathanson became an M-G-M employe. Hanson announced in October, 1942 that the Nathanson association was over and that he and Lee had acquired the Monogram franchise. Paul Nathanson was a silent partner in the deal. Subsequently Rank is said here to have acquired the Hanson, Nathanson and Lee Estate Monogram franchise as a physical distribution medium for his Eagle-Lion films. It was impossible to build exchanges at that time because of war restrictions on construction. Observers here point out Monogram's interests are at odds with Rank's almost everywhere except in Canada. In the United Kingdom, Monogram, through Pathe, is a competitor and, in the United States, Rank has moved into the Monogram level via his distribution of EagleLion releases through the PRC exchanges. Speculation that Monogram may set up its own Canadian distribution system is discounted because of construction difficulties. On the other hand, Hanson is said to have sites for at least three exchange buildings and is ready to go ahead if he can secure the Monogram franchise. Mugg "Shoots" Cops At Pathe Rhubarb Sneak-thief who had been lifting nickels, dimes, coats, and things unnailed-down from RKO Pathe offices pulled the neatest trick of the week last week when apprehended. Surrounded by 20 uniformed cops, called when he had been caught with proverbially red hands, runt crook pulled out a toy pistol equipped to shoot slides on walls and threatened the bunch. His nerve didn't pa/ off, cause when they got through ducking and laughing they nailed the mugg and put him on ice.