Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1941)

Alert, to the Tjkjtion Picture Industry DO NOT REMQiii MOTION PICTURE DAILY 50. NO. 1 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, JULY 1, 1941 TEN CENTS HOUSE A 10-CENT vVES ASE All to Pay U. S. Tax Except Uniformed Men; Church and Charity Benefits Included; Levy Expected to Start in Fall Washington, June 30. — Reduction of the admission tax exemption from 20 cents to nine cents, with a 10-cent tax base, was agreed upon today by the House Ways and Means Committee. No patrons are to be exempt except service men in uniform. The tax is expected by observers to start in the Fall. In adopting the nine-cent exemption, the committee rejected a proposal from the industry to eliminate the exemption entirely, but in wiping out the tax-free admissions heretofore granted, recognized a longstanding complaint against church and charitable organization shows and the like. Para. Plans Singles Sales In Large Spots 84 Arbitration Cases Filed in Five Months 49 Await Disposition; 17 Decisions Given Maintaining an average of approximately 17 new arbitration complaints monthly, the industry's arbitration system ended its fifth month of operation yesterday with a total of 84 cases filed in 26 local boards since Feb. 1. At the end of May there were 71 cases in 25 boards. Five local boards, Des Moines, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Omaha and (Continued on page 6) Koerner to Leave On Tour Tomorrow Charles W, Koerner, recently appointed general manager in charge of RKO Theatres, will leave tomorrow evening on his first extended tour of the circuit since assuming his new position. Traveling by train during the first part of the trip, Koerner will go first to Detroit. From there he will visit Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati, in the following three days. He then will fly to Chicago, and stop off at Champaign. 111.; Dav (Continucd on page 6) Griesdorf New U. A. Los Angeles Manager David Griesdorf, formerly Eastern representative for James Roosevelt's Globe Prod., yesterday was appointed United Artists branch manager at Los Angeles by Haskell M. Masters, Western sales manager. Griesdorf left for San Francisco last night to attend the company's fifth (Continued ot page 6) RKO Trade Shows To Start July 14 Hollywood, June 30.— RKO will tradeshow its first block of five on July 14, 15, 16 17 and 18, one picture a day, in all of its exchange centers, at 2 P. M., the studio disclosed today. Trade press reviewers will be admitted but not lay press representatives, it was learned. Trade to Launch 10-Day USO Drive Beginning Monday The motion picture and allied industries next Monday will launch a 10day drive to raise funds for the United Service Organizations. Plans were discussed yesterday at a luncheon at the City Athletic Club, at which Joseph Hazcn of Warners, chairman of the New York Motion Picture Committee, presided. "As in all other worthy movements, the motion picture and allied groups in New York City will do their share in this case," Hazcn said. "The workto be done by the USO is of vital importance. This organization has undertaken, nationally, to provide nroper recreation and environment for the men in service while they are on leave away from their camps. "The motion picture industry has sent hundreds of its young men into the various services. More hundreds will be going. I am sure that we all want to share in this necessary support to the boys. All of the producing companies, theatre circuits and (Continued on page 6) Washington, June 30. — Twentyone television stations will be operating with commercial programs within a short time, it was reported today by the FCC, although only one, NBC's WNBT, New York, will be ready for the commercial start tomorrow. CBS is preparing for commercialization with program tests on its New York station, while Zenith in Chicago, Philco in Philadelphia and DuMont in New York are expected to go commercial within the month, it was said. NBC was reported to be speeding construction of its Washington sta (Continued on page 8) Paramount will sell a large number of its new season's pictures individually in the larger first-run situations, at least at the start, it was indicated \ L'>terda\ with the i etun i of o mipanj executives from studio conferences. The officials let it be known that the first block of five and the initial schedule of trade showings will be ready for announcement late this week. A second block of five pictures for selling in the new season is expected to be anounccd and trade shown during August. Company executives returning from the Coast yesterday included Barney Balaban, president ; Adolph Zukor, chairman of the board ; Stanton Griffis, chairman of the executive committee, Russell Holman and Paul Raibourn. Para. Closes Deal For Sparks Control The deal by which Paramount acquires the 40 per cent interest of E. J. Sparks in the All-Florida circuit of approximately 100 theatres was formally closed yesterday, it was announced by Leonard H. Goldenson, Paramount theatre head. The deal gives Paramount 90 per cent ownership in the circuit, its (Continued on page 6) Government experts anticipate the new tax structure will bring $134,000,000 a year. The present 20-cent exemption was estimated to yield $74,000,000. The present level went into effect last year. Under the previous 40-cent exemption, the yield was about $16,000,000 a year. The rate will continue to be one per cent on each 10-cent admission or fraction thereof. A proposal for a $12,000,000 tax on film rentals, as in effect during World (Continued on page 6) Heat on Broadway Routed by 'Draft' The Paramount show, "Caught in the Draft," and Will Bradley's orchestra and Danny Kaye and Jane Froman on the stage, was far and away Broadway's box-office leader over the weekend, with "Blossoms in the Dust" and a stage presentation at the Music Hall also big. The excessive heat and humidity drove thousands out of town and to nearby beaches, thus checking grosses at most houses. At the Paramount, Saturday and Sunday business amounted to approxi (Continued on page 6) 3 Hollywood Reviews Reviewed from Hollywood today are: "The Bride Came C.O.D.," "Hello Sucker," Page 4; "Barnacle Bill," Page 5. Hollywood production news and grosses, Page 4. Third Appeal Filed The national appeals board yesterday received its third case, that of the Westway, Baltimore, which lost a clearance decision to Loew's, 20th Century-Fox and Warners on June 9. That decision, given in Washington, held, in effect, that the clearance schedule to which the Westway objects is not unreasonable in the meaning of the decree. 21 Television Stations Plan Commercials Soon