Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1947)

MOTIOV £ 0? URE r Accurate Concise and Map Battle on Taxing Films As a 'Luxury' Lee Sees Danger of 20%^ Levy Becoming 'Routine' By TOM LOY The 20 per cent Federal tax on admissions stands in danger of be"routine" unless exhibitors coming and their patrons can succeed in a campaign to convince their Congressmen that films do not belong in the class with luxury items_ on which excise levies are placed, according to Claude F. Lee, public relations director for Para■ mount, which holds a partnership interest in theatres throughout the country. Following a discussion of this dan(Continucd on page 8) S Meet Today On Appeal It became evident here yesterday that the five theatre-owning distributors will appeal the New York Federal Court's decree decision. While official confirmation of the decision to bring the case to the U. S. Supreme Court is lacking at this time, "inside sources indicate that counsel for the companies will meet today at the office of John Caskey, 20th Century-Fox counsel, for the purpose of laying the groundwork for appeal action. This would first take the form of appointment of a committee to draft (Continued on page 8) AFL Will Act Upon SAG's Resolution 'U' Will Continue to Build 'Showcases' Along with its new exchange program, Universal intends to continue acquiring "show case" theatres, John J. O'Connor, "U" vice-president, discloses here, indicating that the extent of the company's entry into exhibition may depend somewhat on whether the New York Federal District Court's tight ban on franchise agreements is eventually sustained by the U. S. Supreme Court. At present 'IT is operating the Park Avenue and Winter Garden theatres here and Keith's in Cincinnati. ATA Fight on Objectionable Pictures Seen Convention To Consider 'Going After' Producers Claude F. Lee MPA Annual Meet Here on March 26 Hollywood, Jan. 28. — The Screen Actors Guild has announced receipt of notification from the Executive Council of the American Federation of Labor, which will open a two-week parley at Miami tomorrow, that action will be taken on the Guild's resolution calling for the establishment of permanent arbitration machinery for the settlement of jurisdictional disputes in the motion picture industry. SAG president Robert Montgomery had wired AFL president William (Continued on page 8) Carolina Owners Re-Elect Strozier Charlotte, Jan. 28.— Ben L. Strozier of Rock Hill, S. C, was reelected president of the Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina at the closing session of its 35th annual convention at the Hotel Charlotte. Charles H. Arrington of Rocky Mount and J. C. Long of Charleston, S. G, were elected vice-presidents, and Mrs. Pauline Griffith of Charlotte was re-elected secretary-treasurer. Most prominent among resolutions (Continued on page 8) The American Theatres Association, alarmed by possible damage its exhibitor members may suffer as a result of films and advertising which draw the fire of church and censorship groups, is considering_ a campaign to discourage the production of such pictures, according to an ATA spokesman, who mentioned "The Outlaw" and "Duel in the Sun" as two which tend to prompt the anticipated move. This problem, as well as numerous others concerning ATA's (Continued on page 8) Washington, Jan. 28. — Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association, is collecting departmental reports and data for his annual report to the board of directors of the Association, which he will deliver on March 26 in New York. The ramifications of the West Coast studio jurisdictional strike will be discussed by Johnston. He is also ex (Continucd on page 8) Four of 20 for 1947 Set by Schwalberg Following pre-release engagements of "It's a Joke Son !" and Vera Cas pary's "Bedelia," A. W. Schwalberg, Eagle-Lion Films vice-president and general sales manager yesterday an nounced national release of four of the company's 20-picture 1947 production (Continued on page 8) Jack Warner to British: End Criticism of US Films Urges US Women / Oppose 'Dope' FiL Washington, Jan. 28. — In k to the 21st Women's ConfereV National Defense, Mrs. EugeneV er, wife of the publisher of the W\ imgton Post, urged American won. i to register with Eric Johnston, M tion Picture Association preside/ their opposition to the production " films which deal with narcotics. ..I"I have been assured by leaders of the film industry," Mrs. (.Continued on page 8) London, Jan. 28. — Active intergland and the United States, workchange of motion pictures by Ening in a spirit of mutual cooperation instead of critic i z i n g each other, was urged by Jack L. Warner, vice president and executive producer of Warner Brothers, in addressing Sir Stafford Cripps, presilent of the Roard of Trade, high governnent officials, iditors and film critics at a luncheon given here today in Warner's honor by directors of Juck Ij. Warner Associated British Picture Corp., in whose theatre subsidiary Warners own substantial interests. Host at the lunch was Sir Phillip Warter, chairman of the board of ABPC. Warner's challenge followed the recent declarations by some British producers and exhibitors insisting that ABPC be "deAmericanized." This was answered also today by Warner's observation that he could justifiably make the claim that the company was the pre-war producer of the greatest number of British pictures, a condition which he said might have continued if the British government had not requisitioned studios. Britain owes a vast debt to Americans, particularly to Warner Brothers, Warter declared, disclosing that Warners are doing as much as the English in behalf of England's films. Warter then announced that he had (Continued on pane 8") Goldmark, Du Mont In Color Video Row Hearings on the petition of Columbia Broadcasting for Federal Communications Commission approval to put its color television system on a commercial basis continued at New York Federal Court house yesterday with Dr. Peter Goldmark, inventor of the CHS system, testifying that the method is completely developed, while ■{Continued on page 6) In This Issue "Bedelia" is reviewed on page 6. Estimates of key citygrosses appear on page 10.