Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1944)

First in Film-an< (Radio jji Accural and Impartial MOTION PICTURE DAILY VOL. 56. NO. 84 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1944 TEN CENTS Gradual Lift Of Wartime Restrictions I US War Agencies Already Have 'V-E' Blueprints By BERTRAM F. LINZ Washington, Oct. 30. — War agency officials here are now pre" pared to put into effect on "V-E 1 Day" plans long since developed in ] anticipation of the end of hostilities in Europe, paving the way for gradual return of the motion picture and other industries to peacetime conditions. There will be no sudden and complete lifting of all the restrictions which have been in effect on film and other industrial, trade and private, personal activity since our entry into the war, however, but, rather, a gradual relaxation as changing conditions in the military situation permit. Thus, there will be no overnight wiping out of War Production Board (Continued on page 7) Holdover s D ominate N. Y. First-Runs; 'Marriage' is Big Holdovers are continuing to dominate Broadway grosses this week but new arrivals are sharing in generally excellent business. Of the new arrivals, "Marriage Is a Private Affair" with a stage bill featuring Bob Strong and his orchestra, Arlene Francis, Johnnie Johnston and Ella Mae Morse is leading the Capitol to a big $75,000 first week on the basis of $50,000 recorded on the first four days ending Sunday night and the combination will continue, to be followed by "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo." The Radio City Music Hall, Paramount, Strand and Hollywood are (Continued on page 7) Kalmenson to Hold W.B. District Meet Eight Warner district managers will meet in New York Nov. 9 for a two-day home office conference to be presided over by Ben Kalmenson, general sales manager. Forthcoming product and other subjects will be discussed. Regional executives who will attend are : Norman Ayers, Eastern district manager with headquarters in New York; Robert Smeltzer, MidAtlantic ; Charles Rich, Central ; Harry A. Seed, Midwest; Hall Walsh, (Continued on page 7) Depinet Sees WAC Aiding Tax Fight Chicago, Oct. 30. — Amplifying statements made in a recent West Coast address, Ned E. Depinet, RKO Radio Pictures president, who is here to attend an industry Sixth War Loan drive meeting, said that all efforts must be made to keep the War Activities Committee alive and active after the war to meet the many problems that will face the industry in the post war period. His first week's tour in connection with the drive convinced him that the exhibitors will face increased local (Continued on page 7) Employees Ask For Raise; Get Theatre Mexico City, Oct. 30.— Demand for a 50% pay hike by employees of the Cine Principal, local second run theatre that was made over 13 years ago from the historic 250year-old stage theatre of the same name on the same site, won them possession of the business. The exhibitors, stating that they could not afford to meet the pay hike demand, arranged with section No. 1 (theatre employees) of the National Cinematographic Industry Workers Union and the Federal Board of Conciliation and Arbitration for the workers to assume charge of the theatre. Video Shows Not Covered By Copyright No Precedent for Stars To Protect Likenesses Schine Defense Is Begun; U.S. Rests Buffalo, Oct. 30. — The defense of Schine Theatres to Government charges of violations of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act began here this afternoon with an opening address to the court by attorney Edward F. McClennen. The Government had rested its •ase at 3 :27 p.m., when Judge John Knight denied a motion by the defense to strike from the record many letters received in evidence both orally and in writing over the objections of the defense. McClennen began his defense by declaring that Schine would prefer to (Continued on page 6) By MILTON LIVINGSTON There is no overall legal precedent under the copyright laws which would enable radio broadcasters to prevent exhibitors from taking television programs off the air and projecting these programs in their theatres when video equipment becomes available for theatres in the postwar, according to legal opinion in the film industry. Also without precedent under the copyright laws is the plan that has been discussed to have Hollywood film personalities copyright their faces against unauthorized use of their likenesses in television programs, the same legal opinion indicates. There is no prohibition in law (Continued on page 6) Sauter Reappointed War Finance Head U. S. to Check Liberated Regions for Industry Set '44 Federation Drive Plans Today Plans for the 1944 drive of the amusement division of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies on behalf of the current Federation campaign will be discussed by the division's luncheon meeting to be held today at the Hotel Astor. David Bernstein, who is serving as co-chairman of the division with Major Albert Warner, will preside. In urging wide support within the (Continued on page 7) Washington, Oct. 30. — Present planners of the U. S. film industry's participation in foreign markets as they are liberated will, like those of other American industries, receive from the Government detailed reports on economic and social conditions and requirements of the freed countries, to aid in their planning. Bridging the gap since the cessation at the outbreak of the war, of the Department of Commerce's regular reports to the film industry on conditions abroad, the Departments of State and Commerce have jointly dispatched formal instructions to diplomatic, consular and similar U. S. representatives assigned to areas liberated from Axis control to expedite reports on economic conditions and trends within such areas for the guidance of both the Government and American business. (Motion Picture Daily reported on Oct. 19 that the State and Commerce Departments will make a survey of world markets to determine theatre equipment and projector needs.) The new instructions call for reports concerning the immediate supply requirements of liberated areas and estimates of economic conditions, interpretative reports covering all aspects of economic and social conditions, analyses of economic conditions as an essential guide to American film and other interests concerned in the resumption of commercial trade. It was pointed out here that in (Continued on page 7) James E. Sauter has been reappointed chairman of the entertainment industry division of the War Finance Committee for New York, it was announced yesterday by Frederick W. Gehle, state chairman. Sauter, executive director of the United Theatrical War Activities Committee, has served the Treasury Department as a representative of the entertainment industry since the in(Continued on page 6) Rank Canada Deal Announcement Due Toronto Oct. 30. — An executive of Odeon Theatres of Canada today stated that a formal announcement on the entry of J. Arthur Rank into the Canadian exhibition field might be forthcoming the middle of next week, when negotiations would probably be at a point where a public statement would be appropriate. Odeon circuit heads, including Paul (Continued on page 6) Reviewed Today Review of "Dark Waters," United Artists, will be found on page 3.