Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1946)

4 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, February 28, 1946 IP A Honors Nelson And Price Tonight Hollywood, Feb. 27.— Donald Nelson, president of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, and Byron Price, Hollywood vicepresident of the Motion Picture Association of America, will be honor guests at the regular monthly dinner meeting of the Independent Producers Association to be held here tomorrow evening. Film Ticket Sales Also Under Probe General Sessions Court here yesterday acceded to a request of City Commissioner of Investigation John M. Murtagh that the court delay action in all cases involving ticket speculation in view of a personal investigation of overcharging on tickets by speculators which Murtagh is conducting. An Investigation Department spokesman said yesterday that Murtagh's probings will not bypass the sphere of motion picture theatre tickets for reserve seat performances. Commissioner Murtagh, emphasizing earlier the thoroughness with which the investigation will be conducted, declared that those responsible for ticket speculation will be ferreted out, with the department's efforts leading to several arrests. Einfeld and Loew Buy New Remarque Book Charles Einfeld and David Loew have, acquired a new unpublished novel by Erich Maria Remarque, "The Other Love," which will be the basis for a top production, the company announced yesterday. This is the second Remarque work that the producers have purchased ; the first was "Arch of Triumph," a current bestseller. The new story will be serialized in a national magazine, probably Colliers, after which it will come out in book form. Negotiations for the new work were completed with the author by David Loew, currently in New York, who returns to the Coast tomorrow. Loew was reported in Motion Picture Daily of Feb. 27 as saying that the company will make four pictures the first year. Senate Subcommittee Gets Double Taxation Washington, Feb. 27. — The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has referred the double taxation treaty with Britain and North Ireland to a subcommittee for further consideration, due to insufficient testimony given at its February hearings, it was announced today. The treaty is to avoid double income taxation and prevent fiscal evasion. Senator Barkley of Kentucky is chairman of the special committee studying the treaty. Riskin Buys 'Bogardus* Hollywood, Feb. 27. — Robert Riskin has purchased "The Girl from Bogardus" by Michael Uris for his second picture for FKO Radio release. Mexican Theatre Building Rises Mexico City, Feb. 27— Total number of theatres under construction here will be raised to 16 shortly when Operadora de Teatros, S.A., operated by Manuel Espinosa Iglesias, will begin building four houses. The company has engaged John and Drew Eberson, New York architects, to handle the projects. The proposed Operadora theatres will include a 4,000-seater in a 14story building, a 3,000-seater in a 12story building, and two seating 2,000 each. Meanwhile, the Cia Constructora de Tepeyac, S.A., has obtained building permits to construct two theatres here, one to seat 1,800, the other a 1,250seater. The 16 new houses will bring to 89 the number of theatres in the federal district, which includes Mexico City, and has a population of about 2,000,000. Start Warner House in Mexico City Mexico City, Feb. 27. — Construction has been started by Warners on the "de luxe" theatre here that is to be their introduction house for Mexico. Grant Smaller Cities Own Building Codes Albany, Feb. 27. — Senator Condon's bill redefining "place of public assembly" and making changes in building-code enforcement powers was amended today to reduce from 100,000 to 40,000 the population figures for cities where the Industrial Commissioner shall not have power, provided there be a local enforcement agency. The bill appropriates $100,000, recommended by the advisory committee, including representatives of the film industry, theatres and organized labor, which held amendments to the definition of "place of public assembly" and article 17 of the Labor Law to be necessary. Shea Honored by New Haven Friends New Haven, Feb. 27. — Friends and associates of Thomas J. Shea in the third district of the IATSE honored the assistant "IA" International president at a testimonial dinner at the Hotel Taft here tonight. Harry Shaw, Loew district manager here, was toastmaster, and "IA" president Richard Walsh and other 'IA" executives, including William P. Raoul, James J. Brennan and Joseph D. Basson, were present. AMPP Coast Meeting On Foreign Problems Hollywood, Feb. 27. — Byron Price, executive vice-president of the Association of Motion Picture Producers, and Joseph I. Breen, production code administrator, today met with the international committee of the AMPP, composed of foreign managers of the major studios, in a discussion of international problems. Gruenberg to RKO Leonard S. Gruenberg, having completed his service in the Navy, is now back with RKO Radio as Rocky Mountain district manager. Atlanta Battle on 'Scarlet' Begins Universal, distributor, and Diana Productions, producer, of "Scarlet Street," yesterday filed suit in Atlanta's Fulton Superior Court seeking an injunction against that city and its censor board from banning exhibition of the film, Universal disclosed here. At the same time word was received here that the deleted version of the picture which had passed New York censors has been rejected by Milwaukee's Motion Picture Commission. Milwaukee Action Charles D. Prutzman, Universal's vice-president and general counsel, said yesterday that a "reasonable assumption" would be that the company would institute legal action in Milwaukee, as it had in Atlanta, adding that the Milwaukee ban had just been imposed and has yet to be given consideration. In its Atlanta suit, Universal and Diana name city officials and Christine Smith, censor, and charge the banning action was taken without "legally delegated authority in a manner which violates the petitioner's constitutional rights of free speech and expression." Milwaukee had rejected "Scarlet" in its original form on Jan. 11. Its film commission reaffirmed the ban, in spite of the deletions, by a vote of 16 to three. Warner Chicago Sales Drive Meet Chicago, Feb. 27— Outlining of plans for the 1946 Warner sales drive, which will get under way March 31, will be the first order of business at the three-day meeting of district managers and home office executives starting tomorrow morning at the Blackstone Hotel, here. Ben Kalmenson, vice-president in charge of sales, will preside. Other speakers at the opening session will include Mort Blumenstock, vice-president in charge of advertising-publicity, who will discuss merchandising plans for coming product, and Norman H. Moray, short subject sales manager and captain of the sales drive. Writers, Publishers Elected to ASCAP The following writers and publishers have been elected to membership in ASCAP: In the popular music field: writers Ray Carter, George F. Briegel, Edward Eageer, Marjorie Goetschius, Arnold B. Horwitt, James Andrew Rushing, Kenn Sisson and Jack Val; in the standard music field, writer George Kleinsinger. Publishers elected were: Beverly Music Corp., Gaumant Music Publishers, Stept, Inc., and Victor Publishing Co. FWC Tie-up Averted Los Angeles, Feb. 27. — A threatened tie-up of film deliveries to Fox West Coast theatres was averted today when the Teamsters Union, which had established picket lines at film exchanges, agreed to withdraw them pending a meeting with Charles P. Skouras on his return from New York Friday. The union has asserted that FWC is employing non-union workers. Odeon Is Fined for 'Caesar' Display London, Feb. 27. — The Odeon Theatre has been fined $200 and costs for infringement of government building regulations in connection with an exploitation display at the opening of "Caesar and Cleopatra" some time ago. The prosecutor agreed that the offence was not seriougf*^ inasmuch as workmen no{VItlct mally engaged at the Denham * studio had been employed; but questions asked in the House of Commons, in view of the current housing shortage, compelled the authorities to take action. Loew Stockholders Meet Here Today Extensions of contracts of Louis B. Mayer, head of production, and Sam Katz, production executive, will be submitted to stockholders of Loew's, Inc., at their annual meeting to be held at the home office here this morning. At the same time the stockholders will elect 10 directors. It is expected that all incumbents will be reelected. Mayer receives $3,000 a week plus 6.7 per cent of the combined annual profits of the company, not to exceed' $500,000 in one year, according to the company's proxy statement to the stockholders. His existing contract runs to Aug. 31, 1946, and is subject to; extension to Aug. 31, 1949. Katz! draws $200,000 annually. His con-, tract would be extended to 1954. District Theatres List 140,000 Shares Philadelphia, Feb. 27. — District Theatre Corp. of Washington, form-j erly Lichtman Theatres, has filed a i registration statement with the Securi1 ties and Exchange Commission cover1 ing 140,000 shares of common stock, par value one dollar per share. The stock is expected to be offered publicly later by a banking group headed by First Colony Corp. The company was incorporated in | Delaware this month. It acquired all i of the outstanding stock of 31 affiliat-i ed corporations, which operated thea | tres in Washington and Virginia. 20th Fox Reduces Outstanding Stock Albany, N. Y., Feb. 27. — A re-; duction in its prior preferred stock by | some 4,000 shares has been made by 20th Century-Fox, according to notice filed here by Dwight, Harris, Koegel and Caskey as attorneys. Reduction made out of the sinking fund was from 4,698,133 shares of no par value securities. Lipton Feted, Leaves David Lipton will leave New Yorkl for Hollywood today to take over his; new post in the Universal studio ad-, vertising-publicity department under'1 John Joseph, head of the department, j Lipton was given a farewell luncheon! by Universal home office officials orn Tuesday at Dinty Moore's.