The Independent Film Journal (1955)

EXHI-BITS B&K Reports '54 Earnings Chicago. — Balaban & Katz reported net earnings for the year just concluded of $1,204,065, or $4.50 per share, as against $832,892, or $4.39, per share. Dave Wallerstein, general manager, attributed earnings to wide screen and other improved techniques during the past two years. Five houses on the circuit, he added, are yet to be disposed of in accordance with the consent decree. When this is accomplished, expansions, which may include drive-ins, will be planned. Profits Announced by SW Stanley Warner Corp. netted for the 26weeks ending Feb. 26 a profit after all charges of $1,621,600, or 73 cents per share on 2,208,680 shares of common outstanding. For the same 1954 26-weeks, net was $1,191,400, or 50 cents per share on the 2,367,696 common then outstanding. The Board of Stanley Warner also declared a dividend of 25<t per share on Common stock payable May 25, 1955 to stockholders of record May 4, 1955. Limitations Act Moves Washington.— The House of Representatives passed this week and sent to the Senate for concurrence an amendment to the Clayton Act, creating a uniform four-year statute of limitations in private anti-trust suits. Measure affects private persons seeking treble damages in cases arising out of anti-trust law violation. The law would become effective six months after being signed by the President. More Horizontal VV Set Six more deluxe theatres in the U.S. and Canada within the next few weeks will introduce the new horizontal double-frame VistaVision following the pattern set by the Paramount in New York and the StanleyWarner in Beverly Hills, for the premiere of “Strategic Air Command.” Other theatres will be: Stanley, Philadelphia, May 5; Saenger, New Orleans, May 6; Capitol, Washington, May 12; State-Lake, Chicago, May 12; Imperial, Toronto, May 12; and the Penn, Pittsburgh, May 19. Petition Filed Vs. Exhibs. Washington. — The case of the bouncing check as allegedly pertaining to exhibitors Joe Applebaum and Bertram Simms of the Greenville, Miss., Center Theatre has turned up before the Supreme Court in a petition filed against the theatremen by the major distributors, Republic and Paramount-Richard Theatres. Although the exhibitors are asking for reversal of an appelate ruling for a new trial in their anti-trust case, the distributors claim the Center couldn't have had financial trouble because its owners have been passing worthless checks from the time the house was built. Closed-Circuit TV Seen Vital Chicago. — In the event of a national emergency, closed-circuit TV is destined to become the nation’s Number One educational medium, according to Ralph P. Greer, American Medical Association executive, speaking at the SMPTE convention here. Greer also stated that the time is rapidly approaching when the medical societies of Europe or Latin America can join the AMA* in closed circuit color TV symposiums on important medical problems. Distribs Mulling Confab Requests (Continued from page 6) Lichtman statement a disservice to the industry. He said it discredited the faith exhibition in general could have in the top echelon of distribution. Abram F. Myers, Allied general counsel, was of the opinion that the Lichtman statement would serve to keep exhibitor groups united in their opposition to the distributors’ “high-handed policies.” “Lichtman has been a leading advocate of merging all exhibitor groups into a single organization, but he reacts to his first taste of exhibitor unity as though it were a green persimmon,” ventured Myers. He added that theatremen are meanwhile uniting “reluctantly” behind the idea of Federal regulation. Myers based his view on reaction lie said he received from a recent bulletin to Allied members. Bulletin had outlined a proposed bill for regulation and exhibitors are for it only because the present situation is so difficult for them, Myers said. Indicative of TOA’s continuance in pushing arbitration was a statement by Herman Levy, organization’s general counsel, denying reports that his group might change its stand as a consequence of the Lichtman position. Martin gave further support by noting that “nothing in Lichtman’s reply calls for any revision in the TOA statement or position.” He said that his recent “call to action” speaks for itself” and is as appropriate and sincere now as it was when it was issued.” SCTOA Decides Decision to drop efforts toward securing an arbitration system was made by Southern California Theatre Owners Association. According to Harry C. Arthur Jr., president, his organization is no longer interested in negotiations. The SCTOA decision was made on the eve of the joint TOA-Allied Chicago meet. Representing TOA at that session was Martin, Reade, Alfred Starr and Myron Blank. Attending for Allied were Shor, Ben Marcus, Ben Berger and Jack Kirsch. A TOA statement released after the meeting disclosed “complete agreement and unanimity of thinking that film and sales policies were exhibitor’s number one problem and (that) every effort must be made to obtain relief from their present suppressed position.” That statement noted also that TOA has “great faith” in the scheduled industry conference. Allied and TOA, in a joint statement, called the upcoming session “of greatest importance to the industry and (it) should be given top priority. It is believed that the presidents of the film companies will recognize the urgency and seriousness of this conference and will attend and cooperate.” Highlights of the Lichtman statement were that arbitration has and should receive priority at all times; blasts against producers and distributors together with threats of action cannot create an atmosphere for logical discussion of industry affairs; attempts to bypass arbitration for a roundtable meet at which rentals and sales policies of individual companies would be aired runs counter to the expressed purpose of such a meeting; all efforts should be continued toward achieving an arbitration system. NEWS-BRIEFS Albert Warner Honored Major Albert Warner, vice-president of Warner Bros., has been unanimously selected by the steering committee of the Motion Picture and Amusement Division of the United Jewish Appeal of Greater New York to be the guest of honor at the annual industrywide UJA luncheon on Tuesday, May 24th, at the Hotel Pierre. The announcement was made hy Adolph Schimel, vice-president of Universal, the division’s 1955 chairman, who stressed the gratification of the steering committee in prevailing upon Major Warner to accept this honor after he had declined any tributes for his charitable and humane endeavors for many years. New Lighting Announced National Carbon Company, a division of Union Carbide and Carbon Corp., announces production of carbons for motion picture set lighting to provide spectral energy distribution of around 3,300°k. to match the spectral sensitivity of present color films. With the addition of a filter over the lamp, carbon arc lamps may now be freely mixed with incandescent tungsten on motion picture sets. This change in color temperature has been obtained without loss of measurable light, according to the manufacturer, which means that photographically effective illumination from an arc lamp will .be almost doubled without additional power input. Bollengier Leaves UA A. E. Bollengier has resigned as treasurer of United Artists to accept another position outside the motion picture industry. DAR Praises Film Industry Washington. — The film industry is “in good hands,” the Daughters of the American Revolution were told in the annual report of its motion picture committee, which this year said nothing about keeping an eye on un-American tendencies in Hollywood. Committee chairman, Mrs. F. Allen Burt, visited Hollywood last September. Michael Mverberg was present at this session of the 64th Continental Congress to receive his award for production of the “Best Children’s Picture of 1954” for “Hansel and Grerel.” Director John Ford also accepted a DAR award for the best patriotic film of the year, “The Long Gray Line.” Non-Deductible Expenses Noted Washington.— Money spent to travel to Europe in order to investigate possible investment in foreign film production is not tax deductible, the Internal Revnue Service ruled this week. “Expenditures incurred (in this manner) without an existing right or interest resulting in the production of income, do not constitute deductible expenses for Federal income tax purposes,” the ruling stated. C. S. Chaplin Elected Charles S. Chaplin, Canadian general manager for United Artists, has been elected president of the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association, which is composed of the Canadian general managers of all motion picture distributing companies. Veteran of 25 years in the motion picture industry, Chaplin headquarters in Toronto. 26 THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— April 30, 1955