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■n ■ '' SB NOTE
Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought
DP A National Convention Issue
The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Thirty Years Old
-IFDAILY
VO
'^
. NO. 61
NEW YORK. MONDAY. SEPTEMBER 27. 1948
TEN CENTS
isoumon no lorger possible— BBiBBBn
U-I to Slash Clearance Schedules Nationally
I To Eliminate Holdbacks Between Towns, Do Away With Double Clearance
Drastic curtailment of clearance I on a national basis is planned by ; Universal in a move to secure more aggressive and rapid liquidation of pictures, William A. Scully, vicepresident and general sales manager of the company, revealed over the week-end at the regional sales conference held in tJie Waldorf-Astoria. Holding that picture play-off has not kept pace with drastic changes in (Continued on Page 15)
iWB '48 Production To Beat '47 by 25%
, West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY I Hollywood — A record fourth-quar! ^ter film schedule that will take Warners to a production total 25 per cent higher than last year was revealed yesterday by Jack L. Warner, , executive producer. Eight producers (Continued on Page 15)
Smith to Outline Plan Before Board of ITOA
■ Details of the Smith Conciliation Plan will be outlined by Andy W. Smith, Jr., 20th-Fox general sales manager, at a meeting of the ITOA board Thursday at the Hotel Astor. (Continued on Page 15)
l/-f Offers 3,000
Stories to Radio
West Coast Bur.. THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — UniversalInternational has made some 3,000 unfilmed stories owned by the company available for radio adaptation by either networks or local stations, it is announced. To be offered for lease on a single broadcast basis, properties include all unfilmed stories acquired by the studio prior to 1945.
It is recalled that CBS some months ago offered its catalogue of radio scripts to producers seeking stories for films.
TOA COMMITTEE ACTION DIGEST
Chicago — Digest of complete reports and action at the TOA convention which closed here Saturday follows:
TELEVISION
Recommended immediate investigation of the possibility of establishing a theater television distribution system in order to make available to theaters exclusively special events of wide interest. Advised exhibitors to think about getting into the tele station business. Suggested that producers experiment in the field of special trailers for video and recommended that all distributors be requested to refuse to release to television any films made for theatrical exhibition.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Recommended that TOA's public relations program be continued on a permanent and expanding basis with a public relations director to be appointed to supervise activity in this direction. Approved the industrywide plan presented to the body by Paul MacNamara, Selznick studio adpublicity director. Recommended that a special series of 12 one reel subjects be exhibited by TOA members as part of their public relations job with a small fee to be charged in order to finance their production.
LEGAL ADVISORY
Recommended that those exhibitors who, in the light of recent ASCAP court decisions, elect to cease payments to the Society, write a letter to ASCAP stating that fees are being set aside in a special reserve account pending ultimate clarification of the existing situation.
EXfflBITOR DISTRIBUTOR RELATIONS
Urged the establishment of conciliation committees in various exchange areas in order to settle disputes on an amicable basis and avoid litigation. Recommended that the system be based on principles outlined by Andy W. Smith, Jr., 20th-Fox general sales manager, whose program has already been adopted in several areas.
16 MM. FILM
Action will be taken to ascertain the attitude of every foreign and domestic distributor of 35 mm. film toward narrow guage distribution of their product. Formal request , will be made of UA to control 16 mm. print distribution so that welfare of 35 mm. exhibitors is not threatened.
LEGISLATION
Recognized the continuing problem of local taxation. Will compile compendium of the tax rights of various cities and states, particularly as to the enabling sections of State constitutions, information to be made available to all TOA units for their guidance.
D of J Readies Divorcement
Jointly Owned Houses To Be Hit First
Abelson Promoted to FC District Managership
Promotion of Bob Abelson to the post of district manager of Film Classics with supervision over Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver and Salt Lake City, is announced by B. G. Kranze, FC vice-president and (Continued on Page 16)
Chicago — The D of J will ask the New York District Court for a judgment ordering divestiture of approximately 1,000 theaters jointly owned by the major defendants in the Government's anti-trust suit as the first step in carrying out the mandate of the U. S. Supreme Court, Robert L Wright, D of J attorney prosecut (Continued on Page 16)
Warns TOA Exhibition Can't Remain Healthy With Distribs. in Red
By WILUAM SNYDER
Film Daily Staff Writer
Chicago — -The day has passed when exhibitors isolate themselves from the problems of distributors, or vice versa, and the time has come ' when the problems of each have serious repercussions on the other, Barney Balaban, Paramount president, declared Friday at the TOA luncheon.
Emphasizing! that distribution is in "the red," Balaban declared I this is "a danger] signal for everybody in the business" when the only sources of theater supply "are losing money and will continue to do (Continued on Page 16)
BALABAN
Public to Benefit from TV Competition— Coy
Chicago — Theater owners are going to have to fight for their economic life but the American public is going to benefit from the competition between present film theaters and television, FCC Chairman Wayne Coy told the TOA convention Saturday. TV "will exhibit motion pictures on a scale far surpassing the (Continued on Page 15)
Urges Exhihs. to Lead In Public Relations
Chicago — Showmen "understand public opinion — how to shape and guide it — more than any other group," Undersecretary of the Treasury Edward H. Foley, Jr., told the TOA meet here Friday. He called upon his listeners to take the lead in pushing bond sales and in the fight against inflation.