The Film Daily (1948)

2« We* 44tlJ Street IHEl DAILY Thursday, September 23, 19 TOA Seeks ASCAP Formula at Meeting (Continued from Page 1) Nordbye, in Minneapolis, hope to come up with a formula which on the one hand will eliminate unnecessary payments to the Society and at the same time protect theater men from violating existing copyright laws. Top attorneys specializing in the field have pointed out that nothing contained in any of the bench opinions to date has deprived the composer of his rights to musical compositions and that the usurpation of performing rights by the exhibitor without payment to someone could result in serious copyright infringement actions. At the minimum, it is expected that the decision will be made here to urge members to set aside money for payment to the owners of music against final disposition of the question by the courts. Meanwhile the advance guard of what is expected will be upwards of 500 exhibitors began their descent upon this city this morning in the hope that the two-day meeting will help clarify some of the problems with which theater owners are faced. Among these are the status and implications of the Government antitrust suit; increasing competition from other forms of entertainment, specifically 16 mm., television and sporting events; and the expansion of the theater-going public to include those millions of potential patrons who have not as yet been either attracted or re educated iijto the movie-going habit. Efforts to draft TOA President Ted R. Gamble for another term have been abandoned in the light of Gamble's persistent refusal to accept the post and members will vote on Saturday for a new chief. Sentiment here at the moment favors the choice of Arthur Lockwood, prominent New England circuit operator and former president of the MPTO of Connecticut. It is understood thatGamble is willing to accept the post of board chairman, succeeding Fred Wehrenberg, who has indicated his desire to step down. Another imminent top echelon change is that of a successor for Charles Skouras, who has declined a second term as treasurer. 'Strange Victory' to Ambassador "Strange Victory," feature describing the problems of discrimination against minority groups, will open at the Ambassador Saturday. The film is being presented by the new producing firm, Target Films, Inc. STORKS A daughter, named Eleanor, their third child, was born to Walter and Eleanor Brecher. Which makes Circuit owner, Leo Brecher, a grampa once more. ^1 ncui nun theaters orcnEO c Mllford, 1700 seats. Milford, Del. Elm, 480 seats, Greensboro, N. C, by S. W. Graver and P. H. Beddingrfleld. Gem, 350 seats. Hale, Mich., by Mutual Theaters. Colonial, 400 seats, Essexville, Mich., by Miitual Theaters. T-Bar-T, Scottsdale, Ariz., by Malcolm White. Cozy, Bentonville, Ark., by Ruff Prophet. Park, 700 seats. North Chicagro, 111., by Sidney Sehatz. Ward, 800 seats, Monahans, Tex., by R. E. Rushing. Carolina, 350 seats, Sanford, N. C, by W. M. Kelly. Park Hill, 750 seats. Manning:, S. C, by Leig-hton Parker, Howard Anderson and Harry Anderson. Urban, 375 seats, Urbandale, la., by R. V. Keeney. AIco, 350 seats, Harrisville, Mich. Lee, Whitmore Lake, Mich., by Eddie Carrow. Crest, 1100 seats, Affton, Mo., by Norman Probstein. Armada, 400 seats. Armada, Mich., by Frank and Joseph Vivoll. Od-Re, Bluffs, 111., by Paul Durbin. McCutcheon, 600 seats, Charleston, Mo., by O. W. McCutcheon. Pappio, Paillion, Nebr., by Art Sunde. Lake, Travares, Fla. Ilan, 806 seats, Fernandina, Fla. Brainerd, 1000 seats, Chattanooga, Tenn., by Independent Theaters. Thompson, Hawkinsville, Ga., by Martin and Thompson Circuit. Old Trail, Columbus, O., by Academy Theater Circuit. DRIVE-INS Fair Park Drive-In, (Negro patronage), Oklahoma City, Okla., by Southwest Theaters. Yucca Drive-In, 350 cars, Lamesa, Tex., by Audrey Cox. Tuscola Drive-In, Bay City, Mich., by Bernstein Circuit. Scioto Drive-In, 800 cars, Columbus, 0. Rose Drive-In, 600 cars, Minneapolis. Minn., Minnesota Entertainment Enterprises. Battle Creek Auto Theater, 880 cars, Battle Creek, Mich., by Mid West Enterprises, Inc. Moonlite Drive-In (U.S. Highway 176), 300 cars, Inman, S. C, by T. J. Hannon and George C. Ward. Wayne Auto Theater, 700 cars. Fort Wayne. Ind., by Htorace E. Shock. Starlight Drive-In, 300 cars. Southern Shops, S. C, by J. M. and F. H. Pless. Sioux City Drive-In, Sioux City, la., by L. E. Davidson and J. P. Kampmeyer, Sr. Ski High Drive-In, Chicago, 111., by Louis F. Jelinek. Waring Auto Theater, 530 cars. Murphysboro-Carbondale, 111,, by W. E. Waring, Jr. Montrose Drive-In, 700 ears, Fairlawn, 0.. by Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence A. Tyrrell. Colonial Drive-In Denton, Tex., by George Franklin. Sunset Auto Theater, 750 cars, Steubenville, O., by John Selby. Ronnie's Drive-In, Linberg Drive, St. Louis. Mo., by Fred Wehrenberg. Starlight Drive-In, Lincolnton, N. C, by Lincolnton Amusement Co. CCC Auto Theater, Columbus, O., by Frank Tassenoff and Harold Schwartz. Sky-Way Drive-In, Fountain City, Tenn., by G. D. Baker. Stardust Drive-In, 750 cars, Springfield, O., by Sam Le-^ine. Plkeville Drive-In, 750 cars, Pikeville, O., by Powell and Childers. North Avenue Drive-In, 1000 ear», Chicago, 111., by Fink-Gandell. Bel-Air Drive-In, Davenport, la., by BelAir Corp. Grandview Drive-In, 600 caxs, Omaha, Nebr., by E. C. Petseh. North 29 Drive-In, Charlotte, N. C, by A. S. F. Theater Co. Twin Drive-In (87th St. & Cicero), Chicago, 111., by Barger Circuit. Crest Drive-In, 950 cars, Hickman Mills, Mo., by Commonwealth Amusement Co. Garden State Drive-In, Camden, N. J., by Savar Amusement Co. Dearborn Drive-In, Dearborn, Mich., by James H. Ross. UA Foreign Department Shifts Colombia, Denmark Armando Bernal, former UA branch manager in Colombia, has been named general manager for the territory headquartering in Bogota. He succeeds James Raymond, resigned. Merrill Gooding, Trinidad, B.W.I., booker, has been promoted to acting manager status, following the resignation of Randolph De Silva. Other foreign appointments in Gould's announcement include J. Englestoft, manager for Denmark, replacing Viggo Elleman. Pathe Consortium Will Handle UA in N. Africa Harvey Elected Prexy Of Paramount Pix Club North African distribution of UA product will be handled via an arrangement with Pathe Consortium Cinema. Company formerly operated its own office in Algiers. Deal for the territory will become effective Oct. 1. Algiers operations were begun July 1. Thorpe on "Big Harpe" Hollywood — Richard Thorpe has been selected to direct "Big Harpe," Wallace Beery-Marjorie Main comedy-drama which Gottfried Reinhardt will produce for M-G-M. George Harvey, press book editor for Paramount, has been elected president of the Paramount Pictures Club, succeeding Monroe Goodman, assistant to Oscar Morgan, shorts sales manager. Others elected are Albert Deane, vice-president; Raymond Fisher, treasurer, and Beatrice M. Matala, secretary. Board of governors include Monroe Goodman, Sara Lyons Danto, Marty Hodge, Ed Morey, Si Siegel and Ann Leviness. Cinema 16 to Hunter Playhouse Cinema 16, membership group which sponsors showings of documentary and experimental films, will present this Winter's performance at the Hunter Playhouse. Group was started last year, utilizing the Provincetown Playhouse. NJWB To Coop with USO National Jewish Welfare Board will re-establish local committees to work with the United Service Organizations, it was lear.ned yesterday. The Board has accepted an assignment to direct six USO clubs and to be associated in the operation of nine others. 700 Re-issues in Reaiart Baciciog (Continued from Page 1) from the franchise holders to th sales chief. Rogers stated that it was not i likely that Realart would enter production since company had a backlog of almost 700 pictures. About 36 re-issues will be offered to exhibs. during next season. > Released at such a rate, the inference was that Reaiart would have enough R03ERS product to last them for the next 15 or 20 years. Aside from the largest backlog o; re-issues in the business, Realar has some pictures that have growr more valuable since they were ac quired from U-I, Rogers pointed out He mentioned such names as Ra> Milland, Robert Mitchum and a few others who were comparative newcomers when the films were made. To Work Out Ad Budget To help put across pictures witl "personalities, titles and timeliness,' the franchise holders indicated t strong willingness to participate ir ad-publicity-exploitation campaigns Budgets would have to be worked out later, Rogers added. Toip combination can be figured or playing from 6-7,000 situations; lesser dual offerings, 4-5,000, it was stated. Biggest Reaiart dual attraction for next season will be "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" and "Phantom of the Opera," both ii Technicolor. Problems of advertising, ofRc( management, prints and accounting procedure occupied the morning hall of the third session of Realart's convention yesterday, Following luncheon in the Pine Room to which the industry (press was invited, the 22 franchise holders and the company's execs, held ah open forum on questions that were held over from the previous day's discussions. i ]%CA to Campaign vs. Percentage Policies Minneapolis — Ending of compulsory percentage policies of some distributors will be the next goal of North Central Allied, according to a bulletin to members. Warning distribs. that NCA will fight "with every legal power at its command," Ben Berger, president, and Stanley Kane, executive secretary, declared NCA believes it has both the power and the method to put an end to what it called "this vicious compulsory percentage policy."