The Film Daily (1948)

[itimate in Character [nternational in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Nine Years Old ?DAILY NO. 13 NEW YORK, TUESDAY. JANUARY 20, 1948 TEN CENTS I Of J IS STANDING fjjMjj ON PIVORCjjjENT 212 in Backlog; 359 Pix Set tor '48 Shooting mposing Studio Reservoir }f Unreleased Pix; 365 features Produced in 1947 By RALPH WILK |j West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY i Hollywood — An imposing backlog I 212 completed unreleased features ras in the vaults of Hollywood stuios at the end of 1947, a survey repeals. In addition, as yet incomplete ilans already forecast 359 features till go before the cameras in the urrent 12 months. Production total or 1947 was 365 features. Backlog reported as of Jan. 1 had (Continued on Page 6) inecolor Reports lecord Sales, Profit West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Third annual report f Cinecolor Corp., for the year endd Sept. 27, 1947, disclosed record ales and profits for the company, ales for the fiscal year were $2,<52,147.38 with net profit reaching 305,780.77. Profit for the year end(Continued on Page 8) J. S. Newsreels Win Fight *o Film Olympic Games London (By Cable) — J. Arthur ank, who has organized Olympic ames of 1948 Film Co., Ltd., as a rivate company, is offering to share he newsreel rights of the Olympic fames with all other newsreel com(Continued on Page 6) House Sends Mundt Bill To White House Washington Bur., THE FILM DAILY Washington — Acting with unexpected speed, the House yesterday passed by voice vote the Senate version of the Mundt Bill, sending it to the White House for early signature. This bill will provide the statutory authority for a permanent United States information service but provides that Hie Secretary of State rely upon the pix industry and allied media to do as much of the job of telling the world about America as possible. WARNS OF MUNICIPAL AMUSE. TAX Move on Entertainment Field Being Plotted by Iowa Municipalities is Pointed Out by Leo Wolcott Eldora, la. — An amusement tax is an ideal local tax, according to the monthly magazine of the League of Iowa Municipalities, Leo F. Wolcott, chairman of the Allied Independent Theater Owners of Iowa and Nebraska, warns members in his current bulletin. Wolcott quotes the publication as claiming the Federal Government is likely to reduce or abandon this field and that "munici palities should be ready to step in" as "the yield can be substantial, particularly in larger cities." Publication warns municipalities to fix the tax by brackets, with a graduated tax in even cents in each bracket, rather than a percentage of admission charge, as "this is easier to defend," because the tax will be on the person going to the place of amusement. Eyeing Both RKO and UA, Young Confirms Robert R. Young, film and railroad magnate whose Pathe Industries wholly owns Eagle Lion, yesterday officially confirmed that he was negotiating for investment in both RKO and United Artists. Although Young said that up to now "nothing has come" out of discontinued on Page 8) Reade Upheld in Effort To Break RKO Contract Albany — Contract under which RKO Service Corp. managed 13 New Jersey theaters owned by TrentonNew Brunswick Theaters, Inc., has been declared "illegal, void and unenforceable" by Justice Thatcher of the Circuit Court of Appeals. Deci(Continued on Page 2) Video Discrimination Said Hearing Reason Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Discrimination against Television and FM broadcasting by the AFM is itself sufficient reason for the current hearings on the AFM. Rep. Gerald Landis, R., 111., declared yesterday. His statement was prompted by charges by (Continued on Page 8) Gene Martel Elected Prexy of Eastern SDG "A bad non-theatrical picture is just as detrimental to the movie business as a bad entertainment film," said Gene Martel, newlyelected president of the Screen Directors Guild, in taking over the reins of office yesterday from Bud (Continued on Page 7) ACLU Brief Asks Divorcement Serge, Fly Are Among the Signatories Fairbanks, Grounded, Due Here Thursday by Train Jerry Fairbanks' plans to fly here from the Coast over th» weekend were knocked out by adverse weather, and the producer now is expected to arrive by train on Thursday. Fairbanks' plane was grounded enroute. The producer is coming East pri(Continued on Page 8) Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Charging monopolistic trends in the film industry are a threat to freedom of the press, the American Civil Liberties Union yesterday filed an amicus curiae brief in U. S. Supreme Court in support of theater divorcement. Supporting the Attorney General's demand that major companies be forced to give up their theaters, brief asserted that (Continued on Page 6) Proposes 10-Year CrossLicensing Ban While Program is Being Carried Out Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The Government will reiterate its demand for divorcement and ask the U. S. Supreme Court for a 10-year ban on cross-licensing while the long-range remedy of divestiture is being carried out, it was revealed here yesterday when the Department of Justice made available its preliminary appeal brief exchanged with the defendant distributors last week. The Government also takes the position that the District Court (Continued on Page 8) Broadway Victoria As Selmick House David 0. Selznick is negotiating with City Investing for a lease of the Victoria Theater with a view to making it a Broadway showcase for SRO pix. City Investing, it is understood, is prepared to spend $280,000 in renovating the Victoria. Program calls for extensive alterations and installation of some 400 more seats, raising the capacity to 1,100. House is to be ready by Labor Day. Allied of Iowa-Nebraska Sets Own ASCAP Plan Eldora, la. — Board of Allied Independent Theater Owners of Iowa and Nebraska has recommended to members that they not sign any ASCAP application calling for an increase over present rates, and that prior to the expiration date of their (Continued on Page 2) Australian Newsreel To Try Color Clips Sydney (By Air Mail) — Cinesound in the future will film a portion of its newsreel in color, with the first clips now being processed, it is announced. Color will be limited at the start to about 500 feet issued every four to six weeks.