Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1948)

Accurate Concise and MOTION PICFUR DAILY yJ\RSl IN FILM NEWS vCT,. 64. NO. 28 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1948 TEN CENTS British Gov't Finance Plan Includes Rank Report Money Not Just For Hard-Pressed Firms London, August 9. — Board of Trade president Harold Wilson's planned Films Finance Corp. which had been proclaimed as being dedicated to the assistance of hard-pressed independent producers will have dealings with all top-scale distributors, including J. Arthur Rank's General Film Distributors, it is indicated here. It is expected that the independents will strenously object to the government's financing being made available to Rank, who doubtless requires no help. Others in the industry also fear that this new move is aimed to give the government an even more active role in the business. Further cause for concern is the re(Continued on page 2) 2,600 Seek Quota Relief in England London, August 9. — Sub-committee of the British Board of Trade has already received 2,600 exhibitor applications for relief under the Quota Act which directs that they reserve 45 per cent of their top-picture playing time for British product, according to a BOT spokesman. The act prescribes certain relief for theatres competing with circuits. It was reported that 1,600 of the applications have been examined with 900 of these found to qualify for relief. The remaining 700 can still appeal to the Board's film council. IA Restrained on Debut of WJZ-TV A five-day stay to prevent IATSE Local No. 1, stagehands, from interfering with tonight's debut of WJZTV with a televised program of entertainment from the stage of the Palace Theatre was granted here yesterday by Federal Judge Samuel Kaufman to Charles T. Dowds, regional director of the National Labor Relations Board. Argument on the restraining order will be heard on Thursday. American Broadcasting filed charges of unfair labor practices with the (Continued on page 2) Withhold Ascap Fee, 2 More Units Urge Associated Theatre Owners of Indiana, Indianapolis, and Allied Rocky Mountain Independent Theatres, Denver, have joined the growing roster of exhibitor organizations urging members to stop paying Ascap for music production rights. Says ATOI in a bulletin to members: "Until such time as there is further clarification of this situation, especially as to appeal, it is unwise for exhibitors to enter into any further contracts or make any further payments to Ascap." N. J. Allied to Meet Smith on Peace Plan A committee to act on the BergerNorth Central Allied-20th-Fox concilation plan was appointed here yesterday at a meeting of members of Allied of New Jersey. Named by Ed Lachman, president, were Irving Dollinger, chairman, Wilber Snaper and Lou Gold. This trio was instructed to get together with Andy W. Smith, Jr., 20th-Fox's distribution chief, to discuss the conciliation plan with the idea of its possible adoption by Jersey Allied. A recommendation was made at the meeting to have members withhold payment of fees to Ascap and decline to sign new contracts with the society pending clarification of the situation resulting from the Federal Court decision finding Ascap guilty of violating the anti-trust laws. George Gold, legislative chairman of Jersey Allied, was given instructions on his appearance today before the Trenton hearing on bingo legislation to voice opposition to the bill. Plans for Jersey Allied's annual outing at West End Casino, West End, N. J., on August 24, also were taken up at the meeting. New U.A. Sales Posts to Jack And Schnitzer Edward M. Schnitzer and Fred Jack have been raised to the newlycreated posts of Eastern and Western general sales managers, respectively, of United Artists, following the resignation yesterday of Joseph J. Unger. Announcement of the complete reorganization of the U. A. sales structure was made by Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., who, as executive assistant to Gradwell L. Sears, president, will maintain policy and administrative supervision of the distributing firm's sales operations. This move will free Sears for greater concentration on corporate affairs and the securing of product, the company said. Jack, former Southern district manager, will maintain headquarters in (Continued on page 3) H-63 Reports Gains; SOPEGDeniesThem Gains were reported here yesterday by IATSE Motion Picture Home Office Employes Local No. H-63, in its drive into the ranks of the Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild at ' Paramount's home office. According to Joe Conlon, H-63 organizer, application cards were "coming in encouragingly" from employes. I Conlon reiterated that an application ' to the National Labor Relations Board for a representation election would not be made until H-63 has a substantial majority. Meanwhile Sidney Young, SOPEG president, discounted reports of H-63 progress and asserted that "they will never be able to get sufficient cards to represent the employes." Corwin and Lesser Buy 4 Coast Houses Hollywood, August 9. — Sherrill Corwin and Sol Lesser have completed a deal, which bogged down some months ago, for the purchase of controlling interest in the four Music Hall theatres. Deal represents the acquisition of Joe Blumenfield's half interest and one-half of United Artists' interest, the latter retaining 25 per cent. Properties are set to change hands on Friday. Opposes Loop Runs Of Over Two Weeks Chicago, August 9. — Thomas McConnell, attorney for the Jackson Park Theatre here, filed an appeal today in U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals from Judge Michael Igoe's order permitting Paramount's "The Emperor Waltz" to remain four weeks at the Chicago Theatre instead of the two-week limit imposed by the Jackson Park decree. Although "Waltz" will complete its four-week run at the theatre on Thursday, McConnell said he hopes by the appeal to prevent future exceptions to the decree being made. He charged the District Court lacked jurisdiction to grant the exception. Secrecy of Bidding Aided By MGM Plan Bids to Be Kept Sealed Until After Deadline M-G-M branch managers have been instructed by the home office to keep all competitive bids received for the company's product sealed until the day following the deadline for their receipt, at which time they are to be opened in the presence of office associates. The new in.g^f. ~~s^tKm structions for Wk handling bids pBBiti A ' HHH w ere revealed mam m,Wm by wmiam f. HMMHk ' IWm flH Rodgers, vice ^ „ „ president William F. Rodgers ■ i r in charge of distribution, at a luncheon attended by trade press representatives here yesterday. Rodgers said the new method, patterned after procedure used by the (Continued on page 3) MGM Field Men to Visit Home Office M-G-M is extending its policy of bringing its men in from the field for familiarization with company operations and policies at the home office, W. F. Rodgers, vice-president in charge of distribution, announced here yesterday. Heretofore, district managers have been spending a month at the home office, in rotation. Now the home office indoctrination course is to be extended to branch managers, book (Continued on page 3) ToreignLossesNeed Not Affect US Prof if Chicago, August 9. — Loss of revenue from the foreign market need not seriously affect profits in the domestic market, declared Dore Schary, Metro's new vice-president in charge of production, during a stopover here enroute to New York for conferences with Nicholas Schenck, the Loew president. Schary affirmed that good .XCojitinued on page 3)