Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1948)

Wednesday, June 16, 1948 Motion Picture Daily 3 Production Drops To 32, from 37 Hollywood, June 15. — The production tally dipped to 32 from last week's 37. Shooting began on six new films, while 11 were sent to cutting rooms. Shooting started on "The Bribe," M-G-M ; "Letter to Three Wives," 20th Century-Fox; "Mexican Hayride," Universal-International ; "Grand yon Trail" and "Son of God's t — ntry," Republic ; "Quick on the Trigger," Columbia. Shooting finished on "Photo Finish," Columbia; "The Million Dollar Weekend" (Masque), Eagle-Lion; "The Unbelievable" (Albert J. Cohen), Film Classics; "Three Godfathers" (Argosy), M-G-M; "Sorrowful Jones," Paramount; "Desperadoes of Dodge City," Republic ; "Outlaw Valley" and "Weep No More," RKO Radio; "Jungle Goddess" (Robert L. Lippert), Screen Guild; "Burlesque," 20th Century-Fox, and "My Dear Secretary" (Cardinal), United Artists. Four New Theatres In Charlotte Area Charlotte, June 15. — Two theatres are going up in the little town of Stanley, N. C. One, due to open late in June, will be the Stanley, to be operated by Lewis Ballard and C. M. Lowe and will be included in the Exhibitors' Service circuit. The other has been announced by A. E. Miller who operates theatres in Lincolnton. The Whitaker Hall Theatre in McColl, S. C, operated by a group of businessmen, opened there recently The Hollywood Theatre in Winston Salem, which was damaged by a fire in January, will be razed and a new building will be erected by the Blum enthal circuit. Action Deferred on NYC Censorship Bill New York Councilman Edward Cunningham yesterday asked the City Council to withhold action on his cen sorship bill. Overwhelming opposi tion to the measure has emanated from theatre interests here. Although Cunningham sought post ponement until next Tuesday, spokes men in the forefront of the fight against the bill expressed the belief that the bill's sponsor will refrain from calling for a vote. He said he asked for the postponement becaus of "confusion" revolving around the Covington Adopts Film Censorship Covington, Tenn., June 15. — This town has become the first in the Mid South to follow Memphis and adopt film censorship. Mayor Clyde Walker said one Covington theatre, the Gem, has been showing pictures censored in Mem phis. Covington officials have taken the stand that any film banned in Memphis automatically will be banned in Covington. 20th-Fox Boatride Today More than 900 members of the 20th Century-Fox Family Club and their guests will embark today on the club's annual boatride to Bear Mountain, aboard the S.S. Robert Fulton. Defy Quota, Rank (Continued from page 1) the quota on reasonable economic terms. This constitutes an unprecedented step, the CEA heretofore having invariably taken the stand that quota defaults are a matter between the Board of Trade and individual exhibitors only. Envisaging wholesale quota defaults, the CEA is enthusiastically accepting Rank's challenge and virtually is counseling all independents to wilfully default. Term Rank Films 'Poison' Today's CEA executive meeting roundly alleged that a high proportion of Rank's recent film output is "plain box-office poison ivy." The executive meeting also stated officially that the proposed quota is completely unworkable, owing to an insufficient supply of suitable films. If Harold Wilson, Board of Trade president, persists, it was stated, his Quota Act immediately becomes a dead letter for the majority of independent exhibitors. Discussing the new booking terms which Rank would impose on the whole industry, the executive meeting recommends that the CEA general council refuse to consider terms exceeding 50 per cent, adding significantly that a considerable proportion of Rank's recent output doesn't justify even 35 per cent. Expect Debate in Commons Wilson's order fixing the new quota percentage requires an affirmative resolutjon by both Houses of Parliament which, it is anticipated, will provoke debate in Commons. The CEA does not place undue reliance on anything vital resulting from that but it is determined to pursue tactics which will render Wilson's quota inoperative. The CEA anticipates that the Board of Trade dare not risk wholesale legal prosecutions for defaults. The view was expressed that Wilson's impossible percentage is a subtle political move throwing the ball to Rank, who now must justify his claims that his films are good enough to satisfy the customers. In any event, the CEA is ready to do battle with Rank, whether or not the government aids. Calls Quota 'Farce' (Continued from page I) over the new law, however. They claimed they will certainly be able to provide the films demanded for meeting the quota. Said Sir Henry French, director general of the British Film Producers Association : "It is great encouragement and incentive for a future satisfactory conclusion of the producers' campaign." Sir Alexander Korda considers the 45 per cent figure "realistic." Allied's Ascap Bill Dies in Committee Washington, June 15. — The Allied States-sponsored Lewis Bill, to force film producers to acquire public performing rights to Ascap music, finally dropped completely out of the picture of the 80th Congress today when the House Judiciary Committee finished its last meeting of the session without taking action on the bill. Allied has indicated it will press the bill again in the next session. New Film Video Unit To Hold Elections Election of officers of the new National Television Film Council will take place at a dinner-meeting at the Williams Club here tomorrow night. The unit was formed to set up a code of ethics for the film television industry and to reconcile other problems. Guest speakers will include Norman Blackburn, NBC's director of television programming ; Ed Evans, CBS's director of films; Kendall Foster, television director of William Esty Co.; and Gene Martel, president of the Screen Director's Guild. Gael Sullivan (Continued from page 1) troduced to the gathering of about 40 by S. H. Fabian, head of Fabian Theatres, who warned that the relationship between exhibitor and distributor "is now at the lowest ebb," that the industry has never had such a low status with the public as it has at present, and that manifestations of "jealousy and envy" must end between exhibitor and distributor. Retiring TOA executive director Robert W. Coyne reviewed for Sullivan and the gathering the challenges which the industry faces in taxes, television, high costs and "shrinking foreign markets." Fabian joined with Coyne in expressing confidence that Sullivan is equipped by experience and background to help guide the destiny of TOA. "Politics is played for keeps in this industry," Fabian admonished, and drew a burst of laughter from the audience when he turned to Sullivan and added jovially: "I'm looking forward to your first encounter with Mr. Abram Myers." Myers is National Allied's general counsel. Loop House Reverts To 2nd Run Policy Chicago, June 15. — Shortage of first-run product is causing the Monroe Theatre in the Loop to revert on Friday to a second-run policy at reduced admissions. Owned by James Jovan, the Monroe adopted a first-run policy several months ago principally because the house is not affected' by the Jackson Park decree and is therefore able to play films beyond the twoweek limit. Jovan intends to go back to first-run at the Monroe when product becomes available. State Hearing Today On RKO Union Tilt New York State Labor Relations Board hearing on the contract dispute between Motion Picture Theatre Operating Managers and Assistant Managers Guild and RKO Service Corp., originally scheduled for yesterday, was postponed until today. Guild charges that the company refuses to bargain collectively will be heard by hearing officer Ben Wolfe. Rank Pooling Group (Continued from page 1) the pooling, which requires ratification by the individual companies. The J. Arthur Rank Organization yesterday released in London a lengthy statement outlining in detail the modus operandi to be pursued by Circuit Management. The Rank Organization here released the statement in turn. It contained substantially the same outline of operating methods previously reported by Motion Picture Daily, and added : "Experience has shown that, to be most successful, a theatre should show a balanced program of British and American pictures ; but the success of a theatre today depends to a very large extent on the number and quality of brother films it can obtain for exhibition." Explorers See 'Kumaon' Members of the Explorers' Club, the Adventurers' Club, executives of the Museum of Natural History, the Indian League and the Consul General of India, were guests at a screening of the Monty Shaff -Frank P. Rosenberg Universal-International production "Man-Eater of Kumaon," at the Park Avenue Theatre in New York last night. SRO Distribution Set in Two Areas Philadelphia, June 15. — National Film Service representatives, Oklahoma City Shipping and Inspection Bureau, Oklahoma City, and Film Inspection Service, New Orleans, will handle physical distribution for Selznick Releasing Organization. This includes film inspection, shipping, mounting, storage, etc. Mangham, White and Houck to Produce Atlanta, June 15. — John W. Mangham, J. Francis White and Joy B. Houck have formed Western Adventure Productions to make eight Westerns annually in Hollywood at the Ingram Ranch — to star Peggy Stewart and Lash (Al) Rue. New DuMont Video Link New Haven June 15.— WNHC-TV, affiliate of DuMont, is now on the air with test patterns and is expected to begin telecasts of network programs this week. Lawrence Phillips, director of the DuMont net, pointed out that the station will be the first affiliate of any television network to begin operations with a full schedule of network programs available, made possible by DuMont's construction of a microwave relay system between New Haven and New York. New GWTW Run Here "Gone with the Wind" will open at the Elysee Theatre here on June 19 for an indefinite run, in its fourth release throughout the country. 2nd MPAA Short Ready "Letter to a Rebel," second of the industry's short subjects on American Democracy, will be released on June 25, it was announced jointly yesterday by RKO-Pathe and the Motion Picture Association of America. The series is sponsored by the association to illuminate aspects of American life. Member companies are producing. "Letter to a Rebel" carries a foreword by Eric Johnston, MPAA president. Moffitt Theatre Burns Atlanta, June 15. — The New Fort Theatre in Fort Deposit, Ala., was destroyed by fire with a loss of between $10,000 to $12,000. John Moffitt is the owner.