The Film Daily (1948)

FILE COPY Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Nine Years Old FDAILY VG-. 93, NO. 11 NEW YORK, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1948 TEN CENTS UK TUX EM SSSft TIED TO fllBRSHBLL PLjjn ASCAP Extends Current Rates Until March 15 No Date Set For Further Confabs But Resumption Of Talks Seen in 10 Days Agreement extending current ASCAP rates from Feb. 1 to March 15 was reached yesterday by Robert W. Coyne, executive director of Theater Owners of America, and the ASCAP board. Move stems from the recommendations of TOA officials made when it became apparent negotiations between the two organizations, currently in progress, would not be completed by next month. Gratified, Coyne expressed the (Continued on Page 6) Confirm Hughes Move For Atlas RKO Stock West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Discussions, which do not fall into the category of negotiations, between Floyd Odium and Howard Hughes on the acquisition of RKO Radio shares held by Atlas Corp., were confirmed yesterday by Odium. Odium issued the following state'Continued on Page 6) "Rebecca" Plagiarism Suit j I Dismissed by Judge Bright Federal Judge John Blight yesterday dismissed the plagiarism suit brought by the late Edwina Levin ;i MacDonald against David 0. Selz (Continued on Page 61 MBC Adding 15 to Video News Staff An expansion of NBC Television's news operations putting the full resources of the network's radio news organization behind its video coverage and adding 15 of the network's top radio commentators and newsmen to the television staff, was announced yesterday. Under the new plan, NBC's entire foreign and domestic news-gathering staff will be integrated into the television news picture, providing worldwide coverage for the video network. Both film and live programming will be provided wherever possible. CANADIAN $$ SAVINGS IN MILLIONS Subsidiaries of U. S. Distribs. to Film Shorts, Feature Sequences and Increase Dominion Processing Johnston Supports Plan As "Middle Way" Between Extremes of Left, Right Ottawa — In Government quarters last night it was stated the film industry has given assurance through J. J. Fitzgibbons of Toronto that there will be more production and processing work in the Dominion in support of the program to halt the flow of dollars to the United States. This declaration came after Fitzgibbons, as special industry spokesman, had conferred with Reconstruction Minister C. D. Howe. It was stated an agreement had been reached on methods to cut "several million dollars" in Canadian annual payments to the U. S. industry. This means the production of shorts and some feature sequences in the Dominion by Canadian subsidiary companies and eventually may lead to feature production. Fitzgibbons also suggested cooperation for wider foreign distribution of National Film Board releases to gain American dollars. Walsh Hints IA May Take Over Decorators Detroit — IATSE President Richard F. Walsh, principal speaker yesterday at the fortieth anniversary banquet of Stagehands Local 38, said the IA might consider expansion of jurisdiction to include decorators. Walsh indicated considerable areas (Continued on Page 4) Canty Ends State Dep't Chore in Film Field $6rQ0Gr000 Musk Hall Designed for B'way Plans for invasion of the Main Stem with a $6,000,000 building of modernistic and Radio City design, including a 3,600 seat theater, restaurants and office space, in the shape of blueprints was revealed vesrerday. Project is bordered by Broadway, (Continued on Page 4) Philadelphia Allied OK's Buying-Booking Proposal Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Philadelphia — Proposed booking Washington — George Canty yes and buying service has been unani terday closed his desk after four mously approved by the board of years' as State Department motion Allied Independent Theater Owners (Continued on Page 6) (Continued on Page 3) Univ. Seeks Decree Exemption To Claim Right to Continue Practices Tightman Will Buv-Book For Some Flexer Houses Memphis — ■ M. A. Lightman and associates have taken over minor interests in the Flexer Tennessee and Mississippi theaters and assume buying and booking responsibility. The deal includes the Ritz and Peabody here. According to Lightman, it is not a Malco deal. Get your advertising message into the office of the man who buys, use THE FILM DAILY, advt. I Exemption from virtually all of the provisions of the N. Y. Statutory Court's decree in the industry antitrust suit will be sought by Universal in its appeal to the U. S. Supreme Court, according to the brief which will be exchanged with the Government today. Contending that the company has never been guilty of participation in (Continued on Page 4' BULLETIN! London (By Cable) — Settlement of the Anglo-American film tax impasse is seen here as tied to Congressional approval of the Marshall Plan. Well informed trade sources takes this view: When Marshall aid comes to Britain, the U. S. will naturally expect a quid pro quo. Thus in return for the valuable financial aid, Britain may gracefully give way on the 75 per cent duty, probably allowing U. S. distribs. to take out (Continued on Page 3) Film Tele Shows for Editing is Proposed Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — It might be desirable "to make movies of productions," 'ntended for television in order that they can be edited before going out on the air, president J. R. Poppele of the Television Broadcasters Association, told the House Labor Committee yesterday. Appearing sup(Continued on Page 3) RKO Queries Position of its Theaters Under Chi. Decree Chicago — Mvles Seelev, attornev for RKO in the Jackson Park Theater case, is filing a declaratory complaint in Judge Michael Igoe's court today, seeking correct position of RKO Grand and Palace theaters in decree. (Continued on Page 8) ill find it in THE FILM JfcCoiniell Will File Contempt Brief Today Chicago — Thomas McConnell. Jackson Park Theater attorney, will go into Federal Court today with a contempt of court br;ef expected to name a number of alleged violations of Judge Michael Igoe's injunction decree. McConnell has been dissatisfied with a number of booking instances since the decree went into effect, and will take his complaints to the Court.