The Film Daily (1948)

nday, April 12, 1948 ;ft DAILY C Bypasses Rentals Conference Closes (Continued from Page 1) f the plan before the industry. 4. committee was appointed to folv the trend of television in nine ;s* Qfr states and to study teleic^Jyapplication to theaters. A jlletin will be prepared monthly to "lep the members informed as to jleo's progress. [The committee consists of Hugh uen, Rotus Harvey, L. 0. Lukan, \Vest Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles — Referring to XITO's request that he ban stars -pm appearing in newsreels and forts dealing with political candites Eric A. Johnston, MPAA 'exy, reiterated that he opposed e ban. "Are you going to make litical eunuchs out of any class?" ] asked. illiam Graeper, Harold Chesler, ijtck Suckstorff and Robert Poole I, The convention took no action on request by the American Council r Soviet Friendship to join a pro st against the release of "The Iron [urtain," a 20th-Fox film. I At an open forum Thursday, Vin lilt Rainey, noted architect, advised iat exhibitors who planned to build j^w theaters should do it now as conduction costs will not come down nd there is no use in waiting. | Lester Humphreys, Portland at4)rney, in discussing fraud suits, ad>sed exhibitors, who had been asked br an audit by the distributors, !iould submit voluntarily to audit, ut only after first consulting with jheir attorneys as to their legal ights. Humphreys expressed the ersonal opinion that the distributors /ere parties to under-reporting on -ercentage pictures as they had nown about the practices in many ■jhhstances for years. He warned, Lowever, that any exhibitor who has >een under-reporting should stop the •ractice immediately. The convention re-affirmed its conemnation of the practice of distribuors making their picture available or free showings. The growing nenace was pointed out bv one member who said that pool halls and bars Ivere showing free pictures in competition to theaters. The convention business wound up Thursday night at a banquet at which Bob Hope was given the PCCITO's annual Award of Achievement for humanitarian efforts. Hope Lvas not present, but he made a special recording in which he thanked phe organization. The recording was played at the banquet. The trustees [will hold their next meeting in Los Angeles early in May. I Sena (Blrtnaau \{ • it M QreetlnaA Uor— | Sees Video Finding Own Level Study Reveals Pix' Part in Adjustment (Continued from Page 1) adjustment by widening or improving the scope of paid box office entertainment. At the same time, the industry must make an effort to separate the two forms of entertainment in the public mind, committee believes. In this connection, group urged that new or current features should never be televised. Committee pointed out that television as an advertising medium for the motion picture offers a positive means of offsetting its competitive nature. Both studios and theaters were advised to make full use of television as an advertising medium for theater motion pictures. Exhibitors were urged to see that films for television be made for video exclusively, with films for theaters be restricted to theaters. Committee recommended that exhibitors help guide television entertainment and assist in supplying video outlets with special films. Employment of a strong paid working committee to see that this guidance is given to preserve film entertainment as sold at the box office was urged. SCTOA television committee report also covered television in theaters. In this connection it was pointed out that average programming now available is more likely to create a negative effect and could easilv give a distorted reaction which might retard the development of theater video. Special events and future improved programming were listed as exceptions. Committee said that large screen television sets demonstrated by manufacturers thus far have not produced quality sufficient to be considered adequate for theater use. It was recommended that first consideration given to the installation of theater video equipment in the preliminary stages, be determined by the quality possible. Exhibitors were urged to attend demonstrations of equipment arranged by the committee. Group also urged exhibs to participate in SCTOA's "share our knowledge plan" by consulting with the committee on proposed installations, and by informing the organization of results of any video experiments. 20th-Fox Plans To Make Five Features in Britain (Continued from Page 1) of the company's international subsidiary, and Gen. Lyman Munson, Jr., said he had already discussed rebuilding of the 20th-Fox Wembley studios with Harold Wilson, Board of Trade president. ■i.t April 12 Marie Lund Ann Miller Jane Withers Harry Noble ' ^♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦.♦♦♦tt < ♦♦*♦♦♦ ♦*#4V«MV«W**W#*V»*«Wf*V»#*VftV.W»*Vv' Columbia to Make U. K. Feature With Top Budget London (By Cable) — Columbia will make a high-budget feature here, according to Joseph McConville, prexy of Columbia Int'l., who is here with Jack Segal. SIMPP as MPAA Member is Scouted West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles — Gunther Lessing, chairman of SIMPP board, branded as silly the statement by Edward Cheyfitz of MPAA, that SIMPP might eventually join MPAA. Lessing said that in view of important cases against major distributing companies "I don't see how it would be appropriate for us to joint MPAA" Video Builds Up Large Patronage for Reade (Continued from Page 1) both films and video programs, according to Reade. City managers for the circuit in Asbury Park, Freehold, Long Branch, Red Bank, Plainfield and Morristown where sets are in operation have reported seeing the same patrons week after week watching the tele shows, with boxing and wrestling programs exercising the greatest attraction. Other Keade theaters are expected to install receivers shortly. Senary, Mayer to Testify At Lawson Contempt Trial (Continued from Page 1) case against screenwriter John Howard Lawson, which gets under way today. Also due are Louis B. Mayer and other industry witnesses whose identity was kept a secret here Friday. Mayer had already been served with a defense subpoena. It was anticipated here that the selection of a jury and other preliminaries for the trial might take as long as two days. House Group Refuses to Rule Commie Party Illegal Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The legislative subcommittee of the House Committee on Un-American Activities Friday revealed that it has again refused to rule the Communist party illegal — although the legislation it has prepared and which the full committee has already approved in principle, goes all the way in the direction of exposure of Communist membership and Communist front groups. Rep. Richard Nixon, sub-committee chairman, said Friday it does not rule membership in the party illegal per se — as was proposed by MPAA prexy Eric A. Johnston — nor does it appear to alter the situation as regards the hiring and firing of Communists by private employers on the basis of their political beliefs. One provision of the legislation, not yet released in final form, calls for identification of sponsorship of publications, pix and radio broadcasts by Communist front groups so designated by the Attorney General. Col. Cuts Production Costs 30% on Top Pix (Continued from Page 1) market was important, it was the company's intention to proceed on the basis of the American market alone. Declaring that Columbia would take advantage of any provisions of the tax settlement which might prove valuable, he anticipated that the company would produce there. Although there will probably be a drop in profits, the company will probably show a net for the current year, Schneider concluded. MPAA Ad Advisory Group Blasts Cunningham's Bill (Continued from Page 1) chairman of the MPAA Advertising Advisory Council, at the weekend registered his group's protest to the proposed measure. A negative reaction to the bill was recently registered by the ITOA. Schlaifer pointed out the film industry recently made more rigid its own self imposed code for film advertising, and there is a campaign afoot to induce allied and independent units to fully conform to it. He stated the Cunningham Bill would not only be a threat to the amusement industry but also affect other media. He applauded Commissioner Fielding's negative attitude. Restraining Order Denied In 5th & Walnut Action (Continued from Page 1) tiff, operator of the National Theater, Louisville, Ky., charges defendants with violation of the trust laws in Universal's alleged refusal to license first run of "Naked City." Theater claims Universal and Loew's are in violation of the Sherman Act because "Naked City" and three other Universal releases were said to have been licensed to Loew's on a national basis. Collins Rites Today A requieum high mass for Richard Collins, 55, assistant manager at the Capitol, who died Friday after an illness of several weeks, will be sung at 9:30 a. m. today at St. Agnes Church. Interment will take place in the L. I. National Cemetery, Farmingdale. "Killer Diller" Ready All American Pictures' "Killer Diller," all-Negro feature, has been edited and is now ready for national release. UJEDDtna BELLS Sachson-Zuckerman Janet Carol Saehson, daughter of Arthur Saehson, general sales manager of Samuel Goldwyn Prods was married yesterday at her home in Woodmere, to Marvin Zuckerman.