The Film Daily (1948)

la, F, Production r:et. ^ W, 44th St. 21et floor 5ef» ro?> I. Y. Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought ^o ;fi^e Co ■^i^rz The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Thirty Years Old -IF DAILY VO.^^4, NO. 56 NEW YORK. MONDAY. SEPTEMBER 20. 1948 TEN CENTS 501155 Bim CLOBBL BTTBCK BT mU5IC fEES Wins Separate Hearinff oi Illegal Pad Issue Judge Orders Hearings Before Master in Alger Circuit Percentage Cases Chicago — Whether an illegal exhibition contract would be a valid defense in a percentage fraud action may be determined shortly as a result of the granting by Federal Judge William Campbell of a motion by the Alger interests for a separate trial of that issue. Action would mark the first instance where the oft-repeated exhibitor defense would be tested in the courts. In granting the motion on Friday Judge Campbell referred that aspect (Continued on Page 7) Regional Sales Meets Open U-l Sales Drive A series of four regional sales imeetings, opening at the WaldorfAstoria this week-end, will serve to launch the U-I Unity Sales Drive, slated as the company's biggest sales effort, William A. Scully, vice-president and general sales manager, announced Friday. Company, he pointed (Continued on Page 3) Lopert to Expand Theater Holdings With New Funds With the infusion of new money, Lopert Films will soon embark upon expanding its theater circuit on a national basis, it was disclosed at the week-end by Seymour M. Pey(Continued on Page 7) Use Projection Booth As Drive-in PA Stage Detroit — Personal appearance of Columbia's Western star, Smiley Burnetts, proved a problem for the new Tuscola Drive-In at Bay City — with no stage whatever — until ownermanager Harold G. Bernstein cooked up the bright idea of putting him on top of the projection booth, right in the midst of all the cars. Properly placed spotlights made the trick effective. The roof wasn't strong enough to take on Burnette's horse too. Variety Cluhs International to Take Over Will Rogers Mentorial Hospital Jan. 1 Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The Will Rogers Memorial Hospital at Saranac Lake, N. Y., was assured permanency when Variety Clubs International's Board at its midyear conference here Friday voted to assume its financing with the takeover tentatively fixed for Jan. 1. Both Variety and representatives of distribution, presumably chosen from the sales chiefs who have been engaged in an emergency campaign to provide temporary funds, will take places on the Hospital's Board. For Phil M. Daly's report of Variety's momentous action, turn to page 3. Protests Crime Sex Pix Scenes West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood— PCCITO at its trustee meetings here took action protesting production and distribution of motion pictures that portray crime and sex scenes, citing "Rope," "Canyon City," "Sorry, Wrong Number" and "Lulu Belle" as offenders. "A great many protests being made by women's organizations, as well as a definite commitment having been. made by MPAA; therefore, (Continued on Page 3) SRO Sets 3 Releases In First '49 Quarter SRO will release three features in the first 1949 quarter, Milton S. Kusell, vice-president in charge of domes|tic and Canadian sales, revealed Friday at the conclusion of SRO's (Continued on Page 7) Republic Scltedule Set for Six Months Republic's releases from Oct. 1 to April 1 are 90 per cent completed, with the balance to be finished within 60 days, James R. Grainger, executive vice-president in charge of sales and distribution, said Friday in announcing the company's schedule for the six months period. Announcement, Grainger pointed out, represents exhibitor assurance of regular delivery of product, and (Continued on Page 6) Demand for 2V2% of Gross Could Spread to Other Countries, Exhibs. Warned By CHESTER B. BAHN Editor, THE FILM DAILY Washington — A global attack by exhibitor organizations on theater music fees paid to composers' societies looms in the wake of an attempt just made by SUISA, the Swiss composers society, to impose a new rating system which would net the society a minimum of 2% per cent of the gross, or approximately 2,000,000 francs annually. Under the present agreement, which expires Dec. 31 next, the 40() Swiss film theaters, members of the (Continued on Page 7) 600 Applaud Variety Award to Marshall MPEA Confirms H.N.F.T. Pix Import Notification West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — MPEA confirmed its notification by Hungarian National Film Trade to Harvey Pergament, head of Cavalcade Pictures early last week, it was learned in an exclusive (Continued on Page 3) EAJ Continues Soviet Talks Offers Russians Selected List of Films Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Six hundred men, prominent in Government, the military and show business, were on hand Saturday night at Washington's Hotel Mayflower to applaud the awarding of Variety's Ninth Humanitarian Award to Secretary of (Continued on Page 6) SMPE Sets Washington Convention for Oct. 25 SMPE will hold its 64th semiannual convention at the Hotel Statler, Washington, Oct. 25-29, Loren L. Ryder, president, announced Friday. Social highlight of the meeting (Continued on Page 6) NCA Doubts Recovery Of Payments to ASCAP Minneapolis — NCA, attorneys and exhibitors have exjpressed doubts that they can recover payments made to ASCAP, despite Judge Nordbye's decision. Benjamin Berger's lawyers say a rule exists against recovery of moneys paid under illegal contracts but said they will consider "at the proper time" (Continued on Page 7) Moscow (By Cable) — Possibilities of sales of American motion pictures in Russia "and also other things" were discussed over the week-end by Eric A. Johnston, MPAA president, and Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov. U. S. Ambassador Walter Bedell Smith accompanied Johnston in the Kremlin talks, which were preceded by discussions with A. I. Mikoyan, Minister of Foreign Trade. Johnston late last week had "a very (Continued on Page 7) Judge to Rule Today On McConnell Claim Chicago — Judge Michael Igoe is expected to rule today on the complaint of the Jackson Park Theater against the booking by Paramount of "Foreign Legion" into the Tivoli Theater. Attorney Thomas McConnell claimed the booking was a violation of the Jackson Park decree. Paramount Attorney Alfred Teton reported that the Tivoli's exclusive run bid was higher than that made by the Jackson Park on a non -exclusive basis.