Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1948)

6 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, June 29, 1948 BVay lst-Runs (Continued from page 1) week is expected to hit a gratifying $135,000. Meanwhile, Radio City Music Hall continues to do very big business in the second week of "The Emperor Waltz," plus a stage presentation, with a robust $152,500 due, on the basis of $91,000 grossed Thursday through Sunday. At the Capitol, "Fort Apache," with a stage bill headed by Lena Home, is heading for a rousing first-week's gross of $120,000. Elsewhere business varies from soso to fair, as follows : "Dream Girl," plus Phil Spitalny and his All-Girl Band on stage, Paramount, second and final week, $55,000 ; "Romance on the High Seas," with Bob Crosby and his orchestra on stage, Strand, first week, $48,000; "Fighting Father Dunne," Victoria, first week, $16,000; "Melody Time," Astor, fifth week, $22,000; "Arch of Triumph," Globe, 10th week, $14,000 ; "Time of Your Life," Mayfair, fifth week, $22,000; "End of the River," Park Avenue, second week, $4,000; "Lady From Shanghai," Criterion, third week, $20,000. Second week of "Lulu Belle" at the Rivoli is very slow with only $9,500 expected. Two pictures are in their third and final (five-day) weeks, and are due to wind up as follows : "Summer Holiday," Loew's State, $9,000; "Bad Sister," Winter Garden, $5,000. "Citizen Saint" is expected to give the Bijou only $2,500 in a fifth week. Two new pictures will bow in tomorrow: "A Foreign Affair" at the Paramount, and "Easter Parade" at Loew's State. Winter Garden will be closed today and tomorrow in preparation for the world premiere of "Man-Eater of Kumaon" on Thursday. Lazarus Promoted (Continued from page 1) in the press book department to advertising manager and to sales and promotion director, after which he joined Buchanan and Co., advertising agency here, leaving there to become director of advertising-publicity for United Artists. Coast to coast and overseas, tly world-proved TWA One airline, TWA, takes you to principal U. S. cities or to Ireland, Paris, Egypt and other key points in Europe, Africa and Asia. When you go, fly by dependable TWA Skyliner with crews seasoned by millions of trans-world miles. For reservations, call your TWA office or your travel agent Set July 6 for FC Tilt on Video Rights Hearing has been scheduled for July 6 in New York Supreme Court on Film Classics' "show cause" order in connection with its suit against London Films and Hecuba Corp., alleging contract irregularity in the granting of television station WPIX here video rights to 24 Alexander Korda productions. Film Classics instituted the damage action on the ground that no agreement regarding television rights had been made when the contract giving FC seven-year rights to the pictures was signed in December, 1946. Exhibitors Told (Continued from page 1) Jersey, meeting at the Hollywood Hotel here. Citing the injunctions against Philadelphia theatre television use, Raibourn said these are establishing a legal trend which will hurt theatre owners if they don't intelligently combat them. He asserted that if broadcasters are able to maintain all the rights they think are theirs, radio set manufacturers will be chief beneficiaries. The address aroused such interest that president Edward Lachman announced that the closed Eastern regional tomorrow morning would be devoted mainly to television. 'Industry May Harness Video' Some other points Raibourn made were that there will always be important television events to keep people at home; the industry may be able to harness television; that since television shows must be negotiated individually with tremendous complexity, new films probably would not be used on television ; and that Paramount itself is being sued for $100,000 in Los Angeles for running an old independent picture. Raibourn observed that to use a picture now on television would cost up to $5,000 per picture in investigators' fees alone. Lachman opened the convention, calling the fight against taxation continuous and noting that the fight against 16mm. competition has driven it from taverns and grocery stores. The Supreme Court decision in the industry anti-trust suit, he said, will end oppression long a part of the industry and added that members are watching for decree violations. He called the new North Central Allied20th-Fox local grievance committee plan "an industry model." 'Distributors More Cooperative' William Ainsworth, National Allied president, said the few distributor representatives with whom he has talked seemed cooperative since the court decision and added he would reserve additional comment until Wednesday. Other speakers today were : Wilbur Snaper, convention chairman, and Meyer Leventhal, Eastern regional vice-president. Lippert, Jones (Continued from page 1) Lockwood takes Lippert's post. Jones a month ago called a press conference for the purpose of denying a report he would resign. Jones will remain at SGP headquarters here for several months to act in an advisory capacity while Lippert familiarizes himself with the presidency. Delaware Clearance (Continued from page 1) ance over all other Delaware communities. It is understood that the distributors propose to make changes in clearances in Delaware situations where it is felt an injustice prevails and just cause for a complaint exists. The big circuits operating in Wilmington are waiving, if they have not already done so, clearance over situations considered to be a reasonable distance removed from that city. No set pattern will be followed. All changes in clearance will be predicated on conditions in each situation. Fourth Clearance Complaint Since Decision Is Filed Another clearance complaint has been filed with the American Arbitration Association, bringing to four the number filed since the Supreme Court ruled in the industry anti-trust suit on May 3, the AAA reported here. Also the third complaint to be docketed with the Detroit tribunal in the same period, it was filed by Priscilla Theatre, Detroit, against all five distributor-defendants, and holds that clearance granted to East Side Theatre, Detroit, is unreasonable in compelling the Priscilla to wait on an average of between 10 and 30 days following availability to East Side. Complainant claims also that the two are not in the same competitive area, wants clearance abolished and new clearance fixed within the competitive area at seven days after the Your Theatre, or 14 days after the Rial to, both in Detroit. Para.-Brandt Action (Continued from page 1) for permission to serve proposed amended and supplemental summonses and amended complaints to alter the list of defendants and correct certain "defects and mistakes" in the original complaint. The court said it will hold a hearing on the motion on July 6. The defendants which Paramount would eliminate are : Andear Amusement, Anwell Amusement, Mangood Amusement, Rogel Amusement, Ray V. Wemple, Richie Amusement, Lanroc Operating Corp. and Moe Goldman. New defendants which the plaintiff wishes to include in connection with all or some of the causes cited in the original complaint, are : Milroy Theatre Corp., The 62 Delancy Street Theatre Corp., Safeway Corp., Bell Theatres, Inc., Traymore Operating Corp., R. and M. Operating Corp., A. M. Rapf and Michael Rudin. Cole to Quit (Continued from page 1) and he urged a more active participation of all directors, officers and members in association matters. He offered to continue actively as the state representative in national Allied matters and to continue to work with both the national and local boards. Decision was reached to inaugurate a new election procedure. Members in districts will nominate a director for the district and the directors in turn will elect officers. In the interim organization was started for the November convention by the naming of Phil Isley to be chairman of interim activities and to preside at the convention. Rubin Frels was made finance chairman and C. D. Leon, entertainment chairman. Fifth-Walnut Verdict Expected This Week A verdict in the Fifth and Walnut Amusement's $2,100,000 triple-damage anti-trust suit against distributors may be forthcoming this week in U. S District Court here, it appeared yesterday. Attorneys for plaintiffs and defend ants completed summations before a jury yesterday, and Federal Judge Vincent L. Leibel's charge to the jury may be made today. Four Distributors in Georgia Trust Action Alma, Ga., June 28. — Warner, Eagle-Lion, Republic, Monogram Southern Exchanges and local theatre operator L. A. Stein are defendants in an anti-trust action for damages of $21,000 filed by the Alma Amusement Co. Plaintiff charges a conspiracy which resulted in his inability to obtain top-grade product. 20th's Conciliation (Continued from page 1) plaints by members. The group, which consists of three alternates as well, thereupon is to endeavor to mediate differences with 20th Century-Fox officials. In no case is an exhibitor to be deprived of his legal rights, Smith stressed. One condition of introducing the plan around the country, he said, is that all exhibitor organizations in any one area must have representation. In any territory where Allied and Theatre Owners of America have members, both groups must have spokesmen on the grievance board. Minneapolis being predominantly an Allied stronghold, only that organization will deal with 20th-Fox, Smith said. Smith said his faith in the success of the plan lies importantly in its localized nature. Exhibitor groups have wanted such a system, he added. He said that he believes previous efforts to settle disputes failed because they were on a national basis, "with too many different interests involved." 20th's Quarter (Continued from page 1) revenue in the history of the firm, to consume more playing time in the quarter than in any previous corresponding period and improve playing time and contractual terms in every film classification. It is understood that the Andy Smith month drive helped to raise the volume of feature sales and bookings above the corresponding period of 1946, which was a record year. NATURALLY "TIMS, BROOKLYN and HEAVEN sent frnm IJA