Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1948)

Accurate Concise and Impartial 28 fESTf44TH ST.. 21ST pi 64. NO. 68 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1948 TEN CENTS 30 Features From 4IP in '48 -'49: Scully Increase of Six Over Its Original Schedule San Francisco, Oct. 5. — After a study of current exhibition conditions Universal has concluded that the present market can absorb 30 of its feature releases during 1948-49, William A. Scully, "U" sales vicepresident, announced as the company's sales representatives gathered for their fourth and final regional sales meeting at the Fairmont Hotel here Thursday and Friday. "U" had originally slated 24 features for the new season. Universal will also release 61 short subjects and 104 issues of its newsreel. Ten of the 30 features already are completed, Scully said. They are: "Kiss the Blood Off My Hands," Harold Hecht-Norma production, (Continued on page 5) N. Y. lst-Run Grosses Rise Sparked by the arrival of several new films, business at New York firstruns is fairly strong this week in spite of adverse weather conditions. Rain last Friday and yesterday kept many would-be patrons at home, according to theatremen here, who also cited as keen competition the radio and television accounts of the end of the baseball season. "Johnny Belinda," "Cry of the City," "Red River" and "Hamlet" are the week's big money-makers. "Belinda," with Freddy Martin on (Continued on page 5) Composers Bid for Voice in Ascap Suit Composer members of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, acting independently, will seek to be heard as intervenors in the New York case against the Society in an effort to protect their copyright interests and revenue for performing rights, it is understood. The song writers will serve notice of their motion to intervene in the New York Federal Court today, concurrent with the hearing before Judge (Continued on page 4) Rank's Organization Seen Facing Vital Test Next Year By PETER BURNUP London, Oct. 5. — The general impression following publication yesterday of the first consolidated balance sheet of J. Arthur Rank's parent company, Odeon Theatres, Ltd., is that the next year will be a vital testing time for Rank's prestige and the stability of his gargantuan organization. Newspaper and financial district commentators commend Rank's frankness in ostensibly putting all of his cards on the table. Also, they view his unchallenged reputation for probity, coupled with his financial shrewdness, as enabling him to ride out any pending storm. Nevertheless, comment is made in all quarters that the consolidated ac(Continued on page 4) CEA Fights for 835 Denied Quota Relief London. Oct. 5. — W. R. Fuller, general secretary of the Cinematograph Exhibitors Association, is preparing to demand re-examination by the Board of Trade of the 835 theatre cases which were, denied relief from the new 45 per cent film quota law, which went into effect last Friday. Fuller is collecting volumes of evidence dealing with each of the cases (Continued on page 4) US REJECTS FIRST DECREE PROPOSAL Rank, CEA in Trading Deal London, Oct. 5. — Following a three-hour meeting here today between J. Arthur Rank and Rank Organization executive John W. Davis on the one hand and a 10-man delegation from the Cinematograph Exhibitors Association on the other, an agreement "in principle" was reached on new trading terms. W. R. Fuller, CEA executive secretary, has begun drafting what has (Continued on page 4) 756 Drive-ins in the US, MPAA Reports There are now 756 drive-in theatres in the United States, according to the first survey of open-air theatres made by the Motion Picture Association of America, it was announced here yesterday by Robert W. Chambers, director of the association's research department. The theatres can accommodate 313,378 automobiles. Of the 756 theatres, (Continued on page 5) Income of 8 Companies In 1946 Up $116,000,000 Ascap Slates Appeal Of Nordbye Decision Minneapolis, Oct. 5. — Ascap will appeal from Federal Judge Gunnar Nordbye's decision denying an injunction and damages to the Society for alleged violation of the Federal Copyright Act in the so-called Berger-Jensen case, it was disclosed here today by Thomas Vennum, Minneapolis Ascap counsel. Hearing set for next Monday in District Court here for submission of findings of fact is expected to be postponed in preparation for the appeal, in the opinion of Vennum. Washington, Oct. 5. — Eight film companies had sales of $952,885,000 in 1946, compared with $836,326,000 in 1945, an increase of more than $116,000,000, according to a highly belated report of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The eight firms are Columbia, Loew, Monogram, Paramount, RKO, 20th Century-Fox, Universal, Walt Disney Productions and Warner. Republic gave figures for a 48week period in 1946, but no figures for 1945, and was not included in the industry totals for either year. The eight firms had an operating profit of $206,911,000 in 1946, or 21.7 per cent of sales, compared to $161,735,000 or 19.3 per cent in 1945. Net profit after taxes in 1946 was $119,984,000, or 23 per cent of net worth and 12.6 per cent of net sales, compared to $63,389,000, or 13 per cent (Continued on page 2) Terms Not Disclosed, But Gov't Indicates Initial Proposal Is 'Inadequate' Washington, Oct. 5. — Prospects of a consent decree settlement of the Paramount case appear to have taken a turn for the worse, with Justice Department officials turningdown as "inadequate" various proposals outlined yesterday by defense attorneys. The proposals were discussed — though never formally submitted as a proposed decree — at a lengthy conference yesterday between Assistant Attorney General Herbert Bergson, in charge of the anti-trust division, and a defense legal delegation headed by 20th Century-Fox counsel James F. Byrnes. Although there had been discussion over the possibility of a decree, this is the first time proposals have been brought to the Department. "They didn't come up with as much as we required," one top-ranking Justice Department official said. "It cer(Continucd on page 4) UA To Handle Video Films United Artists has established a television sales department which will provide releasing and sales service to producers of television film programs, Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., executive assistant to Gradwell Sears, U. A. president, said yesterday. The new department will use the facilities of U. A.'s branch and sales set-up, including 33 exchanges in the U. S. and Canada. "The sales organization, division, district, exchange and field representatives, have been (Continued mi page 4) SAG Bd. Backs Unity On Video Jurisdiction Hollywood, Oct. 5. — Screen Actors Guild board has unanimously approved a plan for administering American Federation of Labor union jurisdiction over acting work in television, whether live or on film. The plan, which is contingent upon the merger of Actors Equity, the American Federation of Radio Artists, American Guild of Musical Artists and Equity Chorus, with American Guild of Variety Artists to join when it is ready, would become operative.(Continued on page 2)