Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1948)

^^63. NO. 119 MOTION PltrffolE DAILY NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, JUNE 21, 1948 TEN CENTS 38.7% of U.S. Theatres Show Singles: MPAA 25 Per Cent Are on a Straight Dual Policy Only 38.7 per cent of the 18,351 film accounts listed in the records of the Motion Picture Association of America have a single-feature policy; the remaining 61.3 per cent show doubles full or part time. Some 25.1 per cent present double bills only, and an additional 38.7 per cent double part of the time, the MPAA's research department will reveal today, in reporting an April, 1948, national theatre survey. The New York exchange area leads theatres showing double features regularly, with a percentage of 76.6; 10.6 (Continued on page 4) Vogel Cites Loew's Caution in Booking Joseph R. Vogel, Loew vice-president in charge of theatre operations, testifying in U. S. District Court here at the weekend at the trial of Fifth and Walnut Amusement's anti-trust action against distributors, revealed that 20 years ago Loew's legal department cautioned the company to refrain from booking product of other theatre-owning distributors, and said that that advice has been followed as closely as possible ever since. The legal department, he testified, so advised in (Continued on page 4) True-Name Bill Now Massachusetts Law Boston, June 20— The truename bill signed by Governor Bradford will affect all motion picture and other actors performing within Massachusetts. Upon entering the state they must file with the Department of Public Safety their true names and addresses. This will also include those making personal appearances. However, they can use their assumed name while performing. Massachusetts is the first state to have such a law. Canada Plugs Leak On Projector Tax Ottawa, June 20. — The 25 per cent excise tax on 16mm. projectors has been extended to cover 16mm. projector mechanisms, sound equipment, arc lamps, lenses, bases and reels because they are being imported as untaxed parts and later assembled in Canada to avoid the excise on finished projector imports. Congressional Probe Of FCC Starts Soon Washington, June 20. — A Congressional investigation of the Federal Communications Commission appears likely this summer. The House rules committee on Friday cleared for floor action a resolution establishing a special investigating committee. The committee would be authorized to go into the Commission's power to consider program content in licenses, whether it had in any way favored Communist Party members in granting stations, and other matters. Meanwhile, Republican Senator Capehart continued to block confirmation of the nomination of Frieda B. Hennock as FCC Commissioner. Para., 20th-Fox Video Permits Up Today Washington, June 20.— Hearings on five applications, including those of Paramount and 20th Century-Fox, for San Francisco's three remaining television channels will resume here tomorrow. Spyros P. Skouras, 20th Fox president, is a scheduled witness. Hearings were held on the West Coast a few weeks ago, and recessed to resume in Washington. See Boycott Again in UK London, June 20. — British exhibitors fear, not without reason, that the latest developments arising from the 45 per cent film quota for theatres may result in the return of the American companies' boycott which arose from the enactment of the 75 per cent ad valorem levy last year. Action of the board of the Motion Picture Export Association, in New York last Thursday, in deciding to protest the quota increase to the U. S. State Department on the grounds that Britain is violating Anglo-U. S. trade pacts, brought from a British Board of Trade spokesman the observation that, "Surely, Americans cannot complain we encourage our own industry," pointing out that even with the 45 per cent quota there still is 55 per cent of British screen time available to American product. In considering the how and why American film interests interfere with "our internal legislation," the impression is gained in some British film (Continued on page 2) Refutes D of J On Technicolor Decree Hollywood, June 20. — Technicolor president Herbert T. Kalmus denies Motion Picture Daily's story of June 10 from Washington quoting a Department of Justice official to the effect his company is seeking a consent decree in the Government's anti-trust suit. Kalmus had previously stated Technicolor holds the Government has no case and that the company will defend the case on its merits. He said no negotiations for a consent decree have been carried on and none are contemplated. Film Controls Abroad Are Increasing, US Reports Washington, June 20.— Controls of varying nature have been imposed in Hungary, Finland, Uruguay and Algeria, having varying effect on Hollywood product or the operations of American companies in those countries. Hungary has taken two steps _ to broaden its control over production, imports, distribution and exhibition, the Commerce Department reports. Film consultant Nathan D. Golden states that all matters relating to films have been centralized in the new National Motion Picture Bureau, directly under the supervision of the Prime Minister. A new decree provides for more intensive censorship to eliminate scenes and dialogue which do not reflect the politics of the present regime. Control of admission prices by Finland has ended, but the trade immediately set up a council to control prices and only small changes have taken place so far, according to Golden. He reports that audiences have declined considerably recently as part of a general economy move. Uruguay has decided to create a national film industry. Golden said the Ministry of Industries and Labor has appointed a commission of five to draft legislation creating the industry. Protest on UK Quota Is Held Unlikely by US State Dept. Awaiting Official Embassy Report Washington, June 20. — State Department officials have indicated that any U. S. Government protest against the increase in the British quota law, which was approved by the House of Commons late Thursday night, was "extremely unlikely." Admitting that they still want to get an official report from the London Embassy and study that, the officials said judging by press reports there was nothing in the film quota revision which discriminated only against American companies, and hence there existed no basis for a U. S. protest. The Motion Picture Export Association on Thursday directed Eric Johnston, its president, to ask the State Department to protest to the British government against the revised quota on the grounds it is in violation of international trade agreements to which the U. S. and the United Kingdom are parties. British Quota Gets Commons' Approval London, June 20. — The House of Commons approved at the weekend the order requiring that 45 per cent of the films shown in Britain be British-made. The order will now go to the House of Lords for confirmation. It will be operative for 12 months, starting October 1, next. British Board of Trade president J. Harold Wilson, in his motion for Commons' approval on Friday, insisted that the new quota figure was based (Continued on page 2) Video Exhibition Contract Drafted First draft of a standard exhibition contract for films in television, formulated by the National Television Film Council, will be turned over to its television film committee shortly for consideration, following which it will be submitted to television stations and film distributors for approval. The committee is headed by Robert M. Paskow, film director of WATV, Newark. The proposed contract is (Continued on page 4)