The Film Daily (1948)

K. P. Production Diet liitimate in Character international in Scope independent in Thought °° ^ gopr 1 Th< s Daily N ewspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Thirty Years Old -1FDAILY Peroni I CUT. teller: "e ttfc: ericari "< ^93. NO. 102 * NEW YORK. WEDNESDAY, MAY 26. 1948 TEN CENTS EAK COSTS H0LDN1G DOUM COnSTRUCTIOn i twin ted bj isions Tollywood Spends $454,520,000 on Year's Pix ^51,000,000 for 1947's feature Production, and ^,520,000 for Shorts urtheifH s Hiptcj) Iff urn Motion picture feature production sts in Hollywood during 1947 are timated at $451,000,000, plus $3, :0,000 for short subjects, according the 1948 Film Daily Year Book, st published. In the previous ;ar, costs of Hollywood's feature ms were estimated at $410,000,000, 1200,000 for shorts. | Average 1947 negative cost per ature was $732,449 last year, pub tation reports, compared with $655, 53 in 1946. A total of 271 features ere made by the major film com knies in 1947, as against 277 in A reference book on the motion (Continued on Page 7) j 3.'ii' I0T Reports Jump n Exhib. Defaults London (By Cable) — Total of exibitor Quota Act defaults in the ear ended Sept. 30, 1947 was 959, according to an official BOT release, ompared with 681 in the previous 2 months. Overall percentage of British footage played was 23.32, of which 20.87 (Continued on Page 8) portley Aims Large Screen Tele System for Theaters A television set capable of throwing a picture on a 6x8 foot screen by sither front or rear projection has been developed and demonstrated by ;he Cortley Television Corp. here. Present set is. compact and mobile (Continued on Page 8) Metro Drops Annual Novel Award Contest Metro yesterday called off its annual novel award contest. The award was instituted in 1944 and was an annual event until 1947, when it was made semi-annual. The winning author was guaranteed $150,000, with a possible maximum of $250,000, making it the most lucrative award in literary history. EXHIBS. RESPONSIBLE FOR PROGRAMS Supreme Court Opinion on Films' Press Status Seen As Argument Against Motion Picture Censorship Indianapolis — Recent Supreme Court judgment on the motion picture's press status under the First Amendment, more than ever emphasizes the reciprocal responsibility of the theater man for what goes on his screen, it is pointed out in a bulletin of the Associated Theater Owners of Indiana. "Freedom," the bulletin states, "is not synonymous with License." In an argument against "those few zealous individuals and groups," who seek local censorship in Indiana because of their failure to win State censorship of films, bulletin points out "law already exists that can be (Continued on Page 3) rr rr Report for Action Prints to Exchanges Prints of "Report For Action," the TOA training film to be used throughout the country in conjunction with the forthcoming national campaign to combat juvenile delinquency, are now en route to all exchange centers and will be ready for showing June 1. Not designed for public exhibition, the two reel subject will be shown in (Continued on Page 6) United World's 16 mm. Via Franchises in 16 States United World is at present selling its 16 mm. product through franchises in South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Cali(Continued on Page 7) Hughes Coin in Right Co., Says Depinet "Howard Hughes has invested his money in the right company," Ned E. Depinet, RKO executive vice-president, said yesterday following his return from the Coast where he conferred with the plane manufacturer, Floyd Odium, N. Peter Rathvon and Dore Schary. Declaring that "RKO has never been in better shape for product," (Continued on Page 7) Actors Equity Nixes Tele Program of Benefit Show Appearance of entertainers on television was forbidden last night by Actors Equity in what is believed to be the first action of its kind by the union. Members of the organization were slated to give benefit (Continued on Page 6) Argentine $ Depend on ERP Lack of Exchange Caused Import Permit Ban Sindlinger Forms New Opinion Organization Hopewell, N. J. — Formation of two new organizations' to make available a new concept in the measurement of public opinion is announced by Albert E. Sindlinger. New companies, Sindlinger & Co., Inc. and Electronic Radox Corp., will use new electronic devices, Radox, Teldox and Recordox. Radox (Radio Audience Determi(Continued on Page 6) Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Reopening of the Argentine market to American pix is largely dependent upon the speed with which American dollars provided by ERP get from Europe to Buenos Aires, it was indicated here yesterday. Because of the shortage of dollar exchange, the Argentine Government banned issuance of import permits for American goods about a week ago. It was believed at the State De(Continued on Page 8) But $15,000,000 in New Building and Renovation Contracted For in 2 Mos. Peak construction costs are acting as hydraulic brakes on plans for new theaters throughout the nation, but an estimated $15,000,000 in new structures and renovations has been contracted for since the elimination of controls two months ago. Approximately $11,000,000 of the total figure is being spent on long postponed remodeling projects, while a mere $4,000,000 has found its way into new nouses. Theater men find themselves faced with an expensive dilemma when weighing the desirability of building a new house. On the one hand, the need for additional theaters is con(Continued on Page 7) Drive-in Biz to Aid Para. Sales— Reagan Chicago — Drive-in theater expansion will be an important factor in future company sales, Charles Reagan, Paramount vice-president in charge of domestic distribution, told newsmen here yesterday. Reagan, who returns to his New York headquarters today after a three-day regional sales meeting attended by 50 members of the Para. (Continued on Page 8) Two D. C. Zoning Changes Aimed at Film Theaters Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — With the District of Columbia board of zoning commissioners to meet today for a final hearing, it seemed likely yesterday that local theaters would face two changes aimed squarely at pix houses. (Continued on Page 7) Hughes Offer of RKO Houses Not Confirmed West Coast Bur., THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles — No comment was available on a published report that Wall Street understands Howard Hughes is offering RKO theaters for sale with the asking price said to be between 40 million and 45 million dollars.