The Film Daily (1948)

Thursday, September 16, 194J f Ohio ITO Asks Slate Gross Sales Tax Law (CDntinued from Page 1) as approving Willis Vance's Cryptix system and called for consideration of this system of cash control by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Henderson F. Richey, of M-G-M, urged tJie organization of a public relations group to overcome a oad i industry press. He asked that thea , ters be given over to civic commu | nity life during non-playing time as a further good-will move. Endorsed by ITO were the employment of the handicapped, the National Youth Movement, and the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital Drive. Another resolution adopted by the convention assailed NSS sales practices. Martin Smith, president of ITO of Ohio, and all other officers and board members were re-elected, with Henry Greenberger of Cleveland added as second vice-president, formerly an unfilled post. Anti-Censoi'ship Group Mulls Membership Basis Whether membership should be on an individual or on an organizational basis was one of the chief points under discussion at Tuesday night's meeting of the new anti-censorship group which has assumed the title of National Council for Freedom of Expression. Aside from the $17,000 tentative budget decided upon by a subcommittee, most of the evening's discussion was confined to legal aspects of the new organization which is an affiliate of the American Civil Lioerties Union. WORLD UNDERSTANDING VIA SCREEN Gamble Sounds Call to Theaters for New Public Service as TOA Convention Nears "Henry V" At New Prices And on Continuous Run "Henry V" opens a limited continuous run engagement at the Little Carnegie Theater Saturday. A new price policy will prevail for this showing — $1.20 for evening shows and all performances on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Matinee prices Monday through Fridays will be 95 cents. A new record student dis count price of 60 cents will be put into effect, good for all performances. These admission prices include tax. Council Bounces Move To Boycott UK Films A resolution calling for a boycott of British films and manufactured goods by New York City and its people until Great Britain "ceases active and passive support of the nations attacking Israel," was defeated in City Council by a vote of 18 to one. Stanley M. Isaacs rebuked its sponsor, Eugene P. Conno !ly, referring to the motion as the "most i.-resDonsible resolution" ever introduced by a rrember. Predicting that the forthcoming ' TOA convention will be one of the most significant gatherings of exhibitors in the history of the motion picture industry, Ted R. Gamble, president, emphasized the vital role of films in today's troubled world, in a pre-convention statement yesterday. I "This meeting will be of vital import in determining ways and means for theater screens to accept new responsibilities in interpreting the fateful trends now current in world affairs," Gamble s'lid. "With the world in a state of acute 'jitters,' with the fear of war in evidence everywhere and with general unrest at a record high, the screens of the democratic world must be used vigorously for the promotion of understanding among peoples. "Atomic energy, its use and control, remains a horrible enigma to the man on the street," Gamble continued. "Proper information should be provided by all communications media on this subject and the theaters are ready and willing to work with our nation's leaders to this end. "Theatermen are ready to serve, just as they served during the war period. They are waiting to be told how their efforts can be integrated with oiJier media of information." Gamble will 'preside over the twoday session which gets under way Friday, Sept. 24, with a speech of welcome by Chicago's mayor, Martin Kennelly. Vital industry issues are scheduled for discussion with the agenda and program now in the final stages of completion. MPEA Out of Hungary Market Cavalcade Named Buyer of American Pix (Continued from Page 1) cabled word over the past week-end confirming the appointment. An estimated 200 features yearly will be sought by Cavslcade in its buying program, aimed at major and grade "A" independent product. An MPEA spokesman yesterday refused to comment on the Hollywood report that Cavalcade Pictures had been named Hungarian buying agent for U. S. films. Development was not unexpected in some quarters, however. It is recalled that the Department of Commerce in June predicted nationalized film buying for Hungary, and was of the opinion that private film com Tuly Dividend Payments Reported at $2,934,000 merce in Hungary would soon disappear. On his recent trip to Europe, Irving Maas, MPEA vice-president and general manager, made several evidently unsuccessful efforts to come to terms with the Hungarian trust. As recently as July, it was learned that the National Film Bureau had turned down the most recent MPEA offer. Difficulty with the behind-theIron Curtain country is believed to be not so much with terms as with the Hungarian Government's insistence that it be permitted to select only those films which fit in with its political line. WnxJnvgtoii Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The pix industry paid off, in public reported cash dividends, more than a million and a half dol'ars less in July than in July of 1947, the Department of Commerce reveale-1 yesterday. July total was onlv $2,964,000, compared with 84.-571,000 a year earlier. Sizable RKO and Warner dividends in July of 1947 accounted for the difference. For the three months ended in July payments reached only $10,386,000, compared with $12,747,000 for the same period of a year earlier. This is in line with a comparison of the totals for the first seven months of 1949 and of 1947— $26,313,000 and $30,968,000, respectively. FCA Plans Expanded Uses Of Non-Theatrical Films Educator Turns Exhibitor Zaneevnie. O. — Kenneth C. Ray, of McConnelsville. state dire^^tor of edu cation from 1941 to 1945, h^s io'ne'" in partnership with Lou Holleb in operating the Imperial here. About 100 representatives of schools, churches, museums, women's clubs and social groups, as well as film distributors met yesterday at the Hotel Sheraton for the first Fall season luncheon meeting of the New York Film Council. Arthur Motley, publisher of Parade, and a men^ber of the board of trustees of the national FCA, reported on the developments in the use of film for discussion meetings. He called for an enlarged public relations program to acquaint interested organizations in the use of nontheatrical films. FCA will conduct a two-day Film Workshop meeting in mid-November, time and place to be announced at the organization's next meeting on Oct. 13. Workshop's efforts will be directed toward the program planners of those national, fraternal, social and other organizations which could use film material to aid them in their work. 20th-Fox Campaigns Complete Thru Feb. L 01 (Continued from Page 1) delegates at the 20th-Fox sales meet ing. Special promotion folders, nre pared for the 10 features C he Skouras sales drive, were distil Wced^. to delegates. Folders included copies 1 of the company's new streamlined ■! press book, complete ad campaigns] J and other advertising-publicity ac-i cessories for "The Luck of the Irish,' | ~ "Forever Amber," "Escape," "Cry \ of the City," "Apartment for Peggy,' Road House," "When My BabV Smiles at Me," "Unfaithfully Yours,' "Yellow Sky," and "The Snake Pit. Pictures will be launched by a concentr^.ted day-by-day sales pro-' motion, Schlaifer stated, made pos sible by long-range planning and liaison between the home office and, the staff of Harry Brand, studio publicity director. Schlaifer pointed to 20th-Fox in novations of the past three years, including the advertising prevues, bi monthly newsletters and tJie new style press book, all of which implement company's policy of con stantly improving exhibitor service. "Prevues," Schlaifer declared 'represent in capsule form the basic advance thinking on coming pictures, while the newsletters provide?^ a direct sounding board to more than ,■ 700 exhibitors throughout the coun-'^''^ try." Used to obtain exhib. opinion on company plans, letters have opened the way of interchange of ideas, suggestions and improvements, with enthusiastic exhibitor response Schlaifer reported. Company's New York service information bureau, and the fieldlSI staff service bureau, inaugurated last year, offer industry-wide cooperation, Schlaifer pointed out. . . -Jl Andrews To Direct AAF Salute Martin Andrews, who directed ABC's recent documentary on "Com munism," will direct a special half hour Air Forces Day salute for the same network on Saturday, Sept. l^jj, at 9:00 p.m. Program, a drama titled "Operation Vittles," will star Henrj^^n Fonda in the lead role and Joe E Brown as narrator. Andrews regularly directs "Trueiii Story" on Tuesdays and Thursdays en for Libby, McNeil and Libby, and "Summer Serenade" on Tuesday nights for the A.F.L., all on ABC. Aussie Atnuse. Tax Receipts on Increase Sydney (By Cable) — Australian entertainment tax receipts for the yeir ended June 30 totaled £5,198,336, an increase of £63,531 over the previous year, and only £72,435 below the 1944 peak collections. Breakdown showing the amount paid by motion picture theaters will not be available until the Commonwealth treasurer presents his budget to Parliament. hi ite R