The Film Daily (1948)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought 'h^-m. The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Thirty Years Old VCa^^4, NO. 28 NEW YORK. TUESDAY. AUGUST 10. 1948 TEN CENTS 'semcD' sv5T6(n of Bippinc for mcTRO House Com., to Hear Exhibs. in Dozen Cities Schedule First Hearing On 'Monopoly' Complaints For Sept. 3 in Butte, Mont. Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington^^Exhibitors in a dozen cities between the two major coastal areas will get a chance to bring their stories to the House Small Business Committee during September and October. Staff Director Willis Ballinger has predicted that, on the basis of Committee mail and other information reaching him, exhibs. will be on hand in a number of cities to complain about alleged monopolistic practices or restraint of trade by the distributors and/or by large independent circuits. Hearings in most cases will be in (Continued on Page 6) Create New UA Posts For Schnitzer, Jade Elevation of Edward M. Schnitzer and Fred Jack to newly created posts of Eastern and Western Gen SCHNITZER JACK eral Sales Managers, respectively, of United Artists, was announced yesterday following the resignation of Joseph J. Unger. Announcement of the complete 'Continued on Page 6) Broohlyn Strand to Fuhian In September Si Fabian will acquire the Brooklyn Strand from Warners, but moving day has not yet been set, according to a reliable source. Sept. 29 has been rumored as the transfer date. There Is No More earnestly debated subject within the film industrytoday than that of industry public relations. The approaches, slants and conclusions naturally are varied. Today, thru the medium of the 1948 Critics Forum, The Film Daily' presents a first installment of the individual viewpoints of leading press and radio commentators upon the motion picture. Question Number 2 What specific move public relations -wise would you suggest to the industry? AN HONESTY in advertising would be excellent. A change of advertising format would greatly help. A greater amount of space in newspapers for movie news would prove valuable. JIMMY STARR Los Angeles Herald & Express TIRING THE industry and its people down to earth. The old notion that Hollywood is a world set apart, and that all public relations must be written with the box office in mind, is passe. AL WEITSCHAT Detroit News ♦ COMETHING should be done to tell the public that the movies are undergoing a revolution and that hereafter the customer has a chance of getting money's worth in entertainment. HAROLD MILLER Herald, Bridgeport, Conn. pK DEPARTMENTS might lay off treating newspapermen as they apparently expect newspapermen to treat the readers. Relations seem to be bet where actual ex-newspapernien are involved in industry departments. ROBT. E. MURPHY Minneapolis Star ♦ pXAGGERATED and distorted advertising still far too prevalent. Release of re-issues at current prices — higher than the original admission price at time of original issue — makes no friends for the industry. Compare the prices of books one year after original publication. MAE TINEE Chicago Tribune nrHE INDUSTRY should adhere to its code after liberalizing same and then stand up for its rights of free speech. By trying to please everybody and offend nobody it is offending everybody and pleasing nobody. There is something fundamentally wrong with an institution that means so much to the public, to the economy of the Nation and the Public welfare, when it is the first available target for every demagogue. JOHN ROSENFIELD The Dallas Morning News ♦ 'THE BOBBY-SOXERS are pleased enough — how about attempting to interest more mature people in film problems. The minute people become interested in an industry's problems, then they identify themselves with it. MARJORY L. ADAMS Boston Globe ♦ ITS SITUATION is due largely to over-emphasis of its good stuff, and negative or no attention to what's bad. Those reputed Reds have been no help, and some chatter columnists' bunk, is in the same category. W. E. MARTIN The Courier Express, Buffalo, N. Y. ♦ CTRESS industry's contribution to '^ economy, play down personalities, exercise more stringent control over (Continued on Page 8) Rodgers Announces Adoption of Plan as Requests for Competitive Bids Rise M-G-M is inaugurating a "sealed" system of competitive bidding which will preclude any danger of an information "leak" in those situations where pictures are sold via the auction block, William P. Rodgers, vice president and distribution chief, told the industry press at a luncheon in the Hotel Astor yesterday. Borrowing from the Government practice on bids, the company proposes to hold all RODGERS submitted figures in confidence and in sealed envelopes until the morning following (Continued on Page 8) Tlieater Biz Starts Upwards— Youngstein A brighter picture of theater business around the country was drawn here yesterday by Max E. Youngstein, Eagle Lion vice-president in charge of advertising, publicity and exploitation, during a home office stopover on his nation-wide tour of (Continued on Page 6) Yugoslavia Refuses Visa for Kreisfer Budapest (By Cable)— The Government of Yugoslavia has refused an entry visa to Bernard Kreisler, former U. S. film sales exec, who has been in Europe since last October to make a post-war study of film production, distribution and exhibition for the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. Kreisler, upon the conclusion of his official conferences here, will return to Western Europe. He plans to sail for home in September to write his report. He thus far has visited 15 countries.