Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1948)

4 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, July 27, 1948 Johnston, Foreign Market {Continued from page 1) revenues is foremost among the three reasons for the economy policy instituted in Hollywood production, the second being "dollar hamburger and dollar butter," and the third, "other forms of entertainment, such as night baseball and dog racing." He said television has not yet exerted boxoffice influence except in the biggest cities. Assailing the British quota as "a violation of the spirit and probably the letter of the Geneva and Havana agreements signed by the British," he said he expects the State Department to make formal protest and believes the delay in doing so is due to preoccupation with the Russian situation. He attacked the quota as doomed to force British producers into a quantity instead of quality basis and, declaring "you can't legislate people into theatres," forecast a situation in which the British producer will find a governmen tofficial "looking over his shoulder" and telling him ,what kind of pictures to make and what to put in them, in an effort to recoup the government's investment in production. Johnston revised his estimate, made here last March, that the American industry would realize five to seven millions of dollars this year from exhibition of British films in this country, saying he now expects amount to be less than one million and added, in response to questioning, that he does not think the industry has or will attempt retaliatory measures, and he would oppose such policy. He said the current lag in Hollywood production and employment will continue until fall, because "Hollywood companies are having trouble," but should begin improving then. Motion Picture Industry Council, which he addressed last week, is "making progress, but still is in an informal state," he said. 12 Foreign Films From Distinguished Twelve new foreign firms are scheduled for distribution in the United States in the coming year by Distinguished Films, the list embracing nine French productions, one Hungarian, one Italian and one British. Product includes the following films : "Dangerous," French, due in February, and described as the key production ; "Four Steps in the Clouds," Italian ; "An Only Love," French, September ; "Passionate Spring," 'Hungarian, October ; "W'ra,th of God," French, October ; "Hoboes in Paradise," French, December ; "Vautrin," French, January ; "The Wicked Duchess," French, March ; "Quiet Weekend," British, May ; "Fury in the Desert," French, June ; "Confessions of a Rogue," French ; "Passionnelle," French, and "Lysistrata," in German, made in Austria. t/itc Go® itt& t/wfisefyf AND YOUR COMMUNITY TO SEE WSHOW... Produced by RKO Pathe See your nearest RKO Radio Exchange Building Continues In Northern Cal. San Francisco, July 26. — Northern California is the locale for the construction of additional new theatres, including drive-ins, and the reequipping and remodeling of many old ones. T. and D., Jr. Enterprises has opened the El Rey at Chico, the second house in that city. Bob Coffman has been appointed manager, moving over from the Redding. D. Dickerman, president of Highland Theatre Co., announced that construction has begun on a new $180,000 drive-in at Highland, to be completed in November. Mason Shaw, formerly operator of two theatres in Texas, is building a theatre at Saratoga for $70,000. The house will seat 475. Opening of the new Turlock Theatre was held last week with George Atton supervising management of that house and the Fox Theatre. Salvador Alvarey and Phillipe Serna are building a $70,000 theatre in Monterey. Bert Kennerson is manager of the new Gay Theatre, San Jose, built at a cost of $55,000. Five Field Changes Listed by Rodgers Five more promotions in the M-G-M field sales and branch personnel were announced here yesterday by William F. Rodgers, distribution vice-president, as follows : John W. Coyne, former office manager at San Francisco, to salesman in the same territory ; Melvin Turner, head booker at Minneapolis, to salesman, same branch ; Clarence Keim, head booker at Chicago, to salesman, same office ; Raymond Haberland, booker at Minneapolis to head booker, same branch ; Jesse H. Owens, booker at Chicago, to chief booker, same exchange. Key Houses Sign {Continued from page 1) mayor's labor conciliator, failed to produce a complete settlement. Beyond announcing that a full settlement had not been reached at the meeting, Kheel refused to comment. Officials of RKO and Loew reported that the strike had not affected business noticeably, although a union spokesman said that many persons had demanded their money back when they learned that air-conditioning systems were not operating. The circuits were using every available substitute means of cooling their theatres. The union is asking for a 15 per cent wage boost, against the circuit's offer of 10 per cent. Richardson, et al {Continued from page 1) named Eagle-Lion's Cleveland branch manager, replacing Mark Goldman, who has resigned, it was announced by William J. Heineman, distribution vice-president. Richardson, who entered the industry 10 years ago, has served in the Cleveland territory since that time for RKO Radio, where he held various sales posts. Merritt Davis has been appointed branch manager of Republic's Atlanta branch and will assume his post on Monday. Davis succeeds James E. Hobbs, who has resigned. 500 Will Pass on Video Film Pact A standard exhibition contract embodying a series of recommendations for some 500 television stations, film producers, distributors, advertising agencies and others to pass on is being mailed out by the National Television Film Council, it is announced by Melvin L. Gold, NTFC chairman. NTFC attorney Seymour 1» er has explained that the various practices and procedures covered in the contract, emphasizing the fact that the new agreement would in no way attempt to negotiate for the television station or the film distributor. He pointed out that the contract's function would be to standardize the methods of doing business, the physical handling of each print, and to clearly define the obligations of the distributor and the telecaster in the matter of exhibiting films on television. Committee of 3 {Continued from page 1) Odium, chairman of the Radio-KeithOrpheum board; Ned Depinet, executive vice-president, and Howard Hughes, who holds the controlling interest in the company. Rogell is the studio's executive producer, while Lockhart and Tevlin are members of the Hughes organization. _ Rathvon said that Depinet will continue as vice-chairman of the board and executive vice-president in charge of all company operations out of New York. He asserted that until the stockholders meet he will function with the board's approval primarily in an advisory capacity. 'Ruth' Premiere ( Continued from page 1 ) gifts would be distributed among spectators. The event was covered by television station WPIX, radio station WNYC, by CBS, newsreels and the Armed Forces Radio and Press Services. Steve Broidy, Allied Artists president, was presented with an award of merit by Parents Magazine in recognition of the Babe Ruth production. Goldwyn May Guide {Continued from page 1) that through its experience in handling "Best Years" which brought phenomenal rentals (taking up to 65 per cent of the theatre gross in some deals) it is equipped to represent other producers of high-budget product. Video Okays Rise Washington, July 26. — As of June 30, 1948, 109 television stations were authorized in the U. S., an increase of 43 over the number authorized at the end of June, 1947, according to the Federal Communications Commission. An additional 124 experimental video stations had been okayed, compared with 81 a year earlier. Authorizations were also outstanding for 1,020 FM stations and 2,034 standard broadcast stations. The comparable figures for June 30, 1947 were 918 and 1,795. Sunday Film Fee Cut PittsfielDj Mass., July 26. — Effective August 1, the city fee for Sunday shows will be cut about 25 per cent.