Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1940)

10 Motion Picture Daily i Thursday, March 7, 194(j Crush of War Taxes Facing Films Abroad (Continued from page 1) itable one, but it cannot be on the same basis as in the past, he says. Theatres of European nations are a big part of the economic and amusement life of their people, he points out, and will have to be kept open. Only product will keep them open and America is dominant in production and likely to continue so for many years. The Paramount official regards the present foreign restrictions on currency withdrawals and the depreciation in foreign exchange as of only momentary significance to the industry, factors which will be eliminated in peace time. The real problem, as Lange sees it, is the prohibitive postwar taxation which he believes to be inevitable. Explains Italian Problem Lange foresees the eventual breakdown of the American distributors' socalled "solid front" against capitulation to Italy's film trade terms, and is of the opinion that the breakdown is under way even now. He, himself, does not advocate a resumption of trade with Italy, believing that capitulation to that nation's trade restrictions will establish a precedent which will cost the industry many times its return in other world markets. He believes it better to forego Italian revenue now than to pay similar tribute to other nations later. He said there is no likelihood of Italy "backing down," that the first move will have to come from American distributors if there is to be a resumption of trade. He was advised by Italian sources, he said, that Italy experienced only a three per cent decline in theatre attendance last year, although the bulk of the present patronage is going to subsequent runs instead of first and second runs, so that grosses and admission taxes are less than they were. Spanish Situation Discouraging Italy has all the product it needs — 271 features were available there last year — but it is of poor quality, he said. Lange reported that the situation in Spain is equally discouraging. A big internal business can be done there, he said, but no money can be taken out of the country and new regulations require production of pictures within Spain by the distributor under difficult financial regulations. He said he would not recommend resumption of trade with Spain at this time. Lange said that "practically no money" can be taken out of France and that new regulations, including tax measures, are expected to be published there at any time. He included the Scandinavian countries, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, among those where the financial outlook is serious. Lange said that three companies, Paramount, M-G-M and 20th Century-Fox, still were doing a good internal business in Germany and Central Europe and that Paramount, as recently as last December, had been successful in obtaining remittances in marks from Germany. War Experts See Telecast, Hail it as Military Weapon A striking demonstration of the possible uses of television in wartime was given by NBC yesterday. Army and Navy observers watching the experiment from private sets, were reported as being amazed by the reception. Portable cameras, the lightest thus far constructed, were mounted in an airplane which circled Manhattan Island, and the image they picked up was received at the Em pire State building and re-transmitted by W2XBS. Military experts believe that the observation of enemy troop movements by scouting planes equipped with television cameras can be of inestimable value in the event of war. Off-shore maneuvers of enemy battleships and offensive tactics on land could be closely watched by the use of such equipment. Reporters watched the demonstration in the RCA building while aviation editors observed it from a set installed in another United Air Lines plane, which flew alongside the first airplane. The image received was far from a consistent picture of the ground beneath the plane, but several shots of the World's Fair site, Central Park and the West Side express highway had excellent definition and detail. The portable cameras, of course, were built for ground use and could not always cope with the vibrations from the plane motors and propellers. However, NBC engineers declared that sets capable of withstanding such vibrations could easily be built. The plane flew at heights varying from 2,000 to 3,000 feet. A slight haze obstructed the view but the camera's sensitivit}' to infra-red rays (which constitute a considerable nuisance in the studio) pierced the mist. Editors in the companion plane had the unique thrill of seeing their own plane on the television screen. The signal was received successfully at the General Electric television station near Schenectady. Calling the demonstration, "a tremendous technical stride," Lenox R. Lohr, NBC president, declared: "Its social implications are tremendous. To us at RCA and NBC, it means that today we can give the television public a service never possible before when we were obliged to schedule special events considerably in advance, and use two 10-ton trucks to cart the cameras." The two portable cameras now in use weigh a total of 700 pounds. They will be utilized in the future for special event pickups and for screening regular radio programs on television sets. Personalities in the News Fox Case, CBS director of public affairs on the Coast, has been appointed to the California State Board of Agriculture for a four-year term. . . . Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll, the famed "Amos 'n' Andy," celebrate their 12th anniversary on the air on March 19 at 7 P. M. over CBS. . . . Lanny Grey and Norman Weiser have had their first song published, "Stranger in Heaven," and it will receive an air premiere from Maurice Spitalny's band over NBC-Blue Monday, March 18. . . . John Gambling's "Musical Clock" celebrates its 15th anniversary over WOR tomorrow at 7:15 A. M. The show's Crossley rating indicates that it has more listeners than all other programs it is aired. combined at the time Radio Programs for Irish Not to be outdone by NBC's bid for favor with the Irish by the telecasting of the St. Patrick's Day parade up Fifth Avenue on Saturday, March 16, CBS has scheduled an exclusive broadcast by Eamon De Valera, prime minister of Eire, from Dublin on the same afternoon. "Virginia City" Premiere on Air World premiere of "Virginia City" in Reno will be carried by 40 Mutual network stations in Western states on March 16 in a deal arranged by Warners. The program will be heard from 6:30-7 P. M., P.S.T. and will originate from KOH. WQXR's "Buyers' Guide" WQXR has started a "Buyers' Guide" on the back of its monthly program book, listing the products of companies which sponsor programs over the station. WQXR is the only commercial station which sells its program book to listeners. With a subscription fee of $1 annually, the book lias a circulation of 12,000 in the metropolitan area. Morton Emphasizes! Film-Television Ties1 Chicago, March 6. — Television willlj make every effort to work with mo-j tion pictures, Alfred Morton, NBCj vice-president, said here yesterday.! Both have much in common, he said.] The executive said that television,] recognizing the importance of thej screen, would do all in its power to:] correlate both. Television today^re-f sents films 30 per cent of the timC id; more w luld be welcome, Mortorr ue) clared. He expressed the opinion that] the use of films would enhance tele-] vision considerably. Chicago, New York and Hollywood are key spots for television, and NBC will concentrate actively here shortly. Morton also declared that television would look to films for its best talent and do everything possible to cooper , ate with the film industry, realizing j that such action would mean the success of television. Canada Ban Stays Toronto, March 6. — The Canadian government will take no action to overrule the banning of March of Time's "Canada at War" by Premier Hepburn for Ontario theatres, it was officially announced today. Form Jewish Films Albany, March 5. — Jewish National Film Corp. has been incorporated here to conduct a motion picture business. Directors named are Benjamin J. Weinberg; H. G. Kosch and Jean Sikoff, New York. TODAY A MP A "GREAT BOOKS MAKE GREAT PICTURES" Starring COL THEODORE ROOSEVELT MAX SCHUSTER GILBERT SELDES BRIAN AHERNE JOAN FONTAINE KAY BROWN ANNIE LAURIE WILLIAMS PASCAL COVICI HENRY HULL JOHN SELBY and others JACK DEMPSEY S 8th Ave. & 50th St. $1.00 to members $1.25 to non-members Today at 12:45 p. m.