Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1948)

FIRST IN FILM \ NEWS MOTION PICTUSL ^Accurate Concise and Impartial WB Seeks to Acquire RKO Theatre Lease Would Dissolve Mutual Interest in Cleve. House An agreement subject to court approval, for the acquisition by Warners of RKO's interest in the lease of the Allen Theatre, Cleveland, was disclosed yesterday when counsel for RKO filed with the U. S. District court here the company's quarterly report on theatre holdings as required by the tribunal in its decree in the industry anti-trust case. Ending of the joint arrangement would be in keeping with opinions expressed by the Supreme Court on joint operations by defendants in its recent Paramount case rulings. According to the report, an application will be made to the court if the landlord of the property approves the deal. The Allen is leased by RKO and WB from the Bulkley Building Co. RKO asserted that, since it was "not certain" whether any further re ( Continued on page 6) Court Holds RKO to Jackson Pk. Decree Chicago, June 30. — RKO's motion entered by attorney Miles Seeley asking for exemption from contempt charges in the Jackson Park decree was overruled today by Judge Michael J. Igoe in U. S. District Court here. Judge Igoe said he adopted the opinion of April 21 when the motion was filed on the contempt proceedings as his findings of fact and conclusions of law. RKO's motion was based on arguments that the RKO Palace and Grand theatres were not named defendants in the original decree but were separate corporations operating under individual corporations. 5th Sl Walnut Jury Saw 'No Monopoly' That the acquittal of the distributor and other defendants in the Fifth and Walnut Amusement Corp. anti-trust case was keyed to the interpretation of what constitutes monopoly was the opinion in industry legal circles here yesterday. Viewed as an indication of this was the_ action of the District Court jury, which interrupted its deliberations late [Continued on page 6) N. J. Allied Favors Conciliation Plan West End, N. J., June 30.— New Jersey Allied in its final meeting today, passed a resolution endorsing the 20th-Fox conciliation plan, but will proceed cautiously until the organization can satisfy itself that the plan has no "gimmick." The first step in this direction will be the appointment of a committee, so far undesignated, to confer with A. W. Smith, Jr., 20th-Fox general sales manager. Actually Jersey Allied's endorsement was made without an opportunity to fully analyze the plan, so that caution will be the watchword for the organization before finally deciding whether or not to accept it. On Tuesday, National Allied, through its president, William Ainsworth, and its Eastern units, through their respective representatives, fully endorsed the local grievance committee plan established by 20th-Fox in Minneapolis in cooperation with North Central Allied. Other matters discussed included [Continued on page 6) MPEA Meet Today On Action on UK The executive committee of the Motion Picture Export Association at a meeting here today will endeavor to develop a program aimed to counter Britain's 45 per cent exhibition quota, with the formulation of an MPEA service organization considered in some quarters as a possible result of the session. Executives here, however, point out (Continued on page 6) "Hamlet" 20th -Fox Files 4th Video Bid; Plans 5th Washington, June 30. — Twentieth Century-Fox of Missouri today asked the Federal Communications Commission for permission to build a television station in Kansas City. This is the fourth application to be filed by a 20th-Fox subsidiary, other subsidiaries having previously applied for stations in Boston, San Francisco and Seattle. It is understood that 20th-Fox will also file shortly for a fifth station at St. Louis through its new subsidiary there. La. Bill to Regulate Films Is Withdrawn New Orleans, June 30. — The Blanchard bill, providing for state regulation of film distribution in a manner based almost identically upon the New York Federal Court order in the Government's anti-trust suit against the industry, has been withdrawn by its author, Rep. M. A. Blanchard of this city, who introduced it in 'the House early in the current session of the legislature. The measure, known as House Bill No. 533, was looked upon with as much disfavor by independent exhibitors in the state as it was by local distributors. The measure would have required local trade showings in every Parish (county) in the state, prior to exhibition, and advertising of the trade showings. Licensing of films would (Continued on page 6) Schary Quits as Head of RKO Production Resignation Follows on Cancellation of 3 Films Hollywood, June 30. — Dore Schary today resigned his post as vice-president in charge of RK.O Radio production, effective immediately. The resignation, which came as a surprise here due to the issuance of a formal statement by Schary two weeks ago saying that he and Howard Hughes were in agreement on production policies, came as a sequel to the cancellation yesterday of three scheduled productions, presumably at the direction of the new owner of RKO. The pictures cancelled were the Lasky-MacEwen production, "Battleground," slated to go before the cameras in September, and "Setup" and "Bed of Roses," which were to have started this month. Schary's contract, a five-year pact entered into on Jan. 1, 1947 and calling for an estimated $500,000 annually, (Continued on page 6) TOA,Ampa May Join In Public Relations Robert W. Coyne and Gael Sullivan, for the Theatre Owners of America, and Max Youngstein, president of the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers, came to an "agreement in principle" at a preliminary meeting here yesterday at which Youngstein outlined his plans for industry public relations and asked for TOA cooperation. Youngstein said he found both Coyne and Sullivan "receptive" to his ideas and that another meeting is (Continued on page 6) Mochrie to Preside At 5 RKO Meetings Robert Mochrie, RKO Radio distribution vice-president, has set a series of five regional meetings for the discussion of current and forthcoming product. Winners of the 1948 "Ned Depinet Drive" will be announced at the same time. First meeting will be in Buffalo on Monday, July 12 with Mochrie presiding. Also from the home office will be Nat Levy, Harry Michalson, A. A. (Continued on page 6) [ Two Cities -U-I ] — Noteworthy, but Shakespeare ANALYSIS of the much-heralded "Hamlet" is not difficult and falls r\ at once into two distinct divisions. One is geared to the nature *■ of this business as a purveyor of mass entertainment. The other, equally as obvious, is what kind of a Hamlet is Laurence Olivier and what is there to say qualitatively about his production of Shakespeare's greatest play. The first answer is readily at hand. Since Shakespeare is not for the rank-and-file, his plays cannot be for them. Warner learned this with "Midsummer Night's Dream," Metro with "Romeo and Juliet," Mary Pickford with "The Taming of the Shrew" and Arthur Rank and UA with "Henry V." Rank and U-I will learn it with "Hamlet" if they should happen to lack the awareness now. It is immediately clear that the tragedy will have its best opportunity in theatres apart from those identified with the normal run of product and on a policy which generally parallels the handling of "Henry V." Because the play has survived the centuries and long since has taken on a timeless equation, "Hamlet" will not be bound by seasons. There is no (Continued on page 6)