Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1947)

Friday, February 28, 1947 Motion Picture Daily 3 New Selection Basis For U-I Overseas One of the main objectives of Universal International's forthcoming Paris convention, for which Joseph A. Seidelman, head of the company's foreign operations, will leave New York on March 7 with a contingent of home office delegates, is to give U-I ' -territorial managers an opportunity to Vilect pictures for their individual ^untries before they are set for distribution, Seidelman disclosed here yesterday. "In putting our foreign markets on a selective basis, we hope to meet successfully the particular demands of each country's audiences," Seidelman said, adding that "The Egg and I," "Time Out of Mind," "I'll Be Yours," "Song of Scheherazade," "Buck Privates Come Home," and a recentlycompleted French film, "The Devil in the Flesh," will be screened at the convention. U-I Sets $1,000,000 For 'Egg' Promotion With the addition of $150,000 for an advance "teaser" advertising campaign for "The Egg and I," Universal-International claims that it has set a record one-picture promotion budget of $1,000,000. The "teaser" campaign starts eight weeks in advance of the scheduled Easter openings, and is in addition to the $850,000 budget previously reported. Music Hall Books "Egg" Universal-International's "The Egg and I" will follow "The Late George Apley," the next attraction, into the Music Hall here. This will be the first U-I picture to play the house since International began producing at Universal Studios. Fabian, Rosen Head Charity Institute Si Fabian and Sam Rosen, partners in the operation of Fabian Theatres, have formed Fabian-Rosen Foundations, Inc., a charitable membership organization in which they and their respective families will participate. It is indicated that the organiaztion will contribute to the industry's Motion Picture Foundation as well as to other causes. $2,000 for 'Pimpernels' Grossing approximately $2,000 on the opening day at the New York Squire Theatre, Film Classics' re-releases, "The Scarlet Pimpernel" and "The Return of the Scarlet Pimpernel," have exceeded the . theatre's previous opening day record by $500, Sydney Weiner, FC branch manager, reports here. Both were produced by Alexander Korda. RKO Gets 5,020 Pledges RKO Theatres secured 5,020 pledges during the recent "American Brotherhood Week," exclusive of those secured by the circuit's field personnel, Sol A. Schwartz, RKO Theatres general manager, reports.. 'Henry V in Cincinnati Cincinnati, Feb. 27. — "Henry V" will open a two-week engagement at the Taft Auditorium here tomorrow, on a $1.25-$2.50 scale. Levinson to Handle Foreign Films Here Mike J. Levinson is setting up offices in New York for the distribution of a series of foreign features to be presented by Levinson-Finney Enterprises, Inc. Levinson is organizing road-show engagements for prolonged runs in first-run keys throughout the U. S. and will first concentrate on the Eastern seaboard, then proceeding to Chicago, Detroit and St. Louis. Edward Finney, associated with Levinson, is now getting the pictures ready. Those now completed include "Bel Ami," starring Willi Forst, and "Hello Janine." Kumin Joins Cagney As Talent Chief Hollywood, Feb. 27. — Irving Kumin has been appointed executive in charge of talent for William Cagney Productions. Kumin resigned Jan. 1 as talent executive for Warners after a 15-year association with that company. Formerly the studio's casting director, Kumin entered the Army Air Forces in 1942, returning a year and a half ago as aide to. Steve Trilling. A few months later he was handed the top talent spot. Coast Judge Rejects 16 Carpenters' Suit Hollywood, Feb. 27 .-^Federal Judge Ben Harrison today dismissed the suit brought three months ago by 16 carpenters charging the IATSE, the Conference of Studio Unions and 10 studios with conspiracy to deprive them of their right to work. The case, which attracted wide interest as a test of the right to work principle, was dismissed on the grounds that the Federal Court lacked jurisdiction. IATSE Local Wins Local No. H-63, IATSE, was designated yesterday as collective bargaining agent for "white collar" employes of Robbins, Feist and Miller, music publishing subsidiary of M-G-M. Negotiations for a contract, which will cover about 50 employes, are slated to get under way immediately. Albany Workers' Union Albany, N. Y., Feb. 27. — Cashiers, doormen, ushers, matrons and custodians of Albany theatres have established a unit of the projectionists union. Edward Foley, Strand doorman, has been elected president. No demands have been filed as yet. Fox Theatre Changes Hollywood, Feb. 27. — Dick Dickson, formerly head of the maintenance and purchasing departments of FoxWest Coast Theatres, has been appointed Southern California division manager, thus permitting general manager George Bowser to devote more time to management and film problems arising out of the court decree. R. H. McCullough replaces Dickson. Levee to be Feted Hollywood, Feb. 27. — M. C. Levee, chairman of the Permanent Charities Committee's United Appeal, will be honored at a reception tendered next week by studio officials, campaign captains and representatives of all guilds and crafts. Boston AAA Office In Clearance Award Reduction of clearance held by the Strand and Albert Theatres of Berlin, N. H., operated by Allied Theatres of Berlin, over the Ritz Theatre of Gorham, N. H., in licenses from M-G-M, 20th Century-Fox, Warner Brothers, Paramount and RKO Radio, from 30 days to 21 days was made in an award by the Boston tribunal of the American Arbitration Association. With the disposition of the complaint, filed by Ritz Amusements against the five companies and Allied Theatres, as intervener, the Boston tribunal now has seven cases before it. The arbitrator further held that the clearance would apply only to product shown by either the Strand or Albert within 60 days of availability. All pictures not shown by either of these theatres within that period shall become available to the Ritz immediately upon the expiration of the 60 days. Theatre Lighting Bill In N. H. Legislature Concord, N. H., Feb. 27. — A bill has been introduced in the New Hampshire legislature that would require theatres, dance halls, churches and other public buildings to install emergency lighting equipment. The measure calls for installation of an auxiliary storage battery lighting system which would go on automatically in case the regular electric nower failed. St. Louis Union Told To End Permit Cards St. Louis, Feb. 27. — International headquarters of the Theatrical Brotherhood has ordered St. Louis local No. 6 to stop issuing permit cards to stagehands. Thirty-three men holding permit cards have been admitted to the union as full-fledged members. Permit cards are described by a union representative as "not in keeping with our international rules." Children's Admissions Hartford, Feb. 27. — The Connecticut Legislature's Judiciary Committee today reported favorably on. a bill which would permit children under 14 to attend motion picture theatres after six P.M. without parents. Para. Declares Dividend Paramount Pictures yesterday declared a regular quarterly dividend of 50 cents per share, payable on March 31 to stockholders of record on March 11. Republic Dividend Republic Pictures' board of directors yesterday declared a regular quarterly dividend of 25 cents per share on preferred stock, payable on April 1 to stockholders of record on March 10. Columbia Stock Dividend The board of directors of Columbia Pictures has declared a common stock dividend of two and a half per cent, payable on May 9 to stockholders of record on April 24. Fractional shares arising from the dividend will be paid for in cash. Dewey Said To Be Studying Local Taxes Albany, N. Y., Feb. 27.— A report printed today of Governor Dewey's special committee on education, in recommending teachers' salary boosts, stated that "It has already been indicated that the Administration will recommend that additional taxing power be conferred locally for educational purposes in connection with a general program of increased local taxing power." The report continued : "This is outside the direct purposes of this committee, and we understand that the details concerning these special local taxes will be forthcoming within a few days." N. Y. Exhibitors Wire Local Tax Protest Buffalo, Feb. 27. — Representing approximately 400 theatres in this State, the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of New York State, Inc.', today wired Governor Dewey urging defeat of the measure introduced by Sen. Chauncey B. Hammond which would allow municipalities to levy discriminatory taxes against local businesses. The wire was signed by president Merritt A. Kyser. Pottstown, Pa., Tax Fought by Warners Philadelphia, Feb. 27. — Suit has been filed by Warner Theatres, Inc., in Montgomery County against the borough of Pottstown to declare invalid the five per cent tax on admissions. Warners claims the tax, passed last December, is increasing the annual county fee for operation of its house, the_ Strand, from $100 to $10,000. William Goldman, who operates the Hippodrome in Pottstown, said his company has filed a similar suit. Suit will be tried on Friday before Judge William F. Dannenhower in the Court of Quarter Sessions, county of Montgomery. Atlantic City Tax Being Considered Atlantic City, Feb. 27. — A bill which would permit New Jersey municipalities to tax amusements, tobacco, hotel rooms and liquor five per cent will be introduced in the New Jersey Legislature by representatives of this county early in March. The bill is designed to replace the former "luxury-tax" which has been called unconstitutional by the state Supreme court which decision was upheld by the Court of Errors and Appeals. Maine Solons Get Admission Tax Bill Augusta, Me., Feb. 27. — A bill providing for a five per cent tax on theatre admissions to finance a state soldiers' bonus in Maine has been introduced in the state legislature. The tax would also apply to dance halls and juke boxes. The Vermont legislature has voted down, 131 to 94, a bill which would allow motion pictures, basketball and football on Sunday afternoons. School Films Asked Hartford, Feb. 27. — Rep.Edgerton has introduced a bill which would authorize the hoard of education to promole visual education in public schools.