Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1948)

Accurate Concise and Impartial M OT I ONOTfeTPURE I \ A T "F «• L7" V£=J 64. NO. 75 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1948 TEN CENTS Vengeance Is Ascap's Aim, ITOA Holds Society's 'Simple Decree' Bid Cited in Allegation Issue before the New York Federal Court in the case of ITOA members versus Ascap has been narrowed down to the question of how broad an injunction may be ordered by the court in accordance with its jurisdiction, with the exhibitors hurling the charge that Ascap in its bid for a simple decree seeks _ to "wreak vengeance on the plaintiffs who were courageous enough to expose Ascap's illegality." At the direction of Federal Judge l "Vincent Leibell, both sides on Friday exchanged briefs exploring the court's jurisdiction, Ascap asserting that only a simple decree affording relief to the immediate plaintiffs is within the court's limit. Both endeavored to bolster their arguments with a number of cases offered as precedents. Ascap would have the decree re (Continued on page 7) Delay Anglo, US Meeting London/ Oct. 17. — The meeting of the Anglo-American Film Council, originally announced early this year in London by Eric Johnston and J. Arthur Rank, for November, was set back Friday until "shortly after New Year's," probably in New York, during a conference held by Rank and the Motion Picture Association of America president. Johnston left here by plane for New York at the weekend. British members of the Film Council are Rank, Sir Alexander Korda and Sir Henry French ; American (Continued on page 3) Rodgers Promotes 4 of Sales Force With the completion here at the weekend of the first M-G-M executive training course, William F. Rodgers, vice-president and general sales manager, announced the promotion of four of the six who participated in the four-week indoctrination. During their stay in New York, the men vis (Continiied on page 7) TOA Battles High Cost of Film Shipping Responding to "widespread protests on the part of motion picture exhibitors throughout the country" against the allegedly excessive rates for the transportation of film, Theatre Owners of America has started five courses of action in an effort to obtain early relief, the organization discloses. The courses include (1) a letter to leading railroad presidents urging them to establish a baggage tariff on the movement of film; (2) discussions with bus line officials on joint action before the Interstate Commerce Commission to secure a modification of safety regulations which prohibit, in many sections, the transportation of film on passenger buses; (3) a petition to trucking companies asking for (Continued on page 7) Republic Expects Business Increase "Greatest number of playdates in Republic history" is expected during the "Jimmy Grainger 10th Anniversary Drive" ending Dec. 31, it was reported here Friday at the closing session of the two-day sales conference at the New York Athletic Club. Playdate reports were submitted by Edward L. Walton and Walter L. Titus, Jr., co-captains of the drive. Herbert J. Yates, company president, addressed the meeting and stated that, based upon Republic's anticipation of increased business the studio would maintain the schedule slated for its production program. Reports emanating from Los Angeles and Chicago meetings that general theatre business is on the upswing were confirmed by the Eastern (Continued on page 7) House Business Quiz Report Due by Jan. 1 Washington, Oct. 17. — The House Small Business Committee, which has just concluded hearings in a dozen cities on monopoly problems of independent business, is expected to paint a very dark picture of the plight of the independent theatre owner, in a report being drawn up for submission to Congress around the first of the year. The committee expects to find even more grist for its mills at the Allied (Continued on page 7) 'Sell to Anyone' Is SIM PP Policy on UK Hollywood, Oct. 17.— Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers has decided to sell its pictures in Britain to anyone who wants them, regardless of the policy of the Motion Picture Association of America, according to Gunther Lessing, SIMPP vice-president and chairman of its executive committee. Asserting that MPAA should seek full industry cooperation in its British decision, he added: "We want to be asked, not told." Republic Case Goes to NLRB National Labor Relations Board examiner John J. Carmody will conduct a hearing here today on IATSE Motion Picture Home Office Employes Local No. H-63's petition for bargaining rights at the Republic home office. H-63 claims to have won away from the Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild a "definite majority" of the Republic "white collarites," and the company, meanwhile, has refused to "do business" with SOPEG because that union has failed to comply with the non-Communist ' affidavit provisions of the Taft-Hartley Law. H-63 will be represented at today's hearing by local organizer Joseph Conlon and "1A" international organizer James Rogers. SOPEG, as a non-complying union, is denied access to NLRB actions and, therefore, will not be represented. Republic's "collarites" are the second home office group to jettison SOPEG as a result of the Communist issue, the first having been those at United Artists, where a recent shop election brought a victory for H-63. E. K. Safety Film at Standard Prices Hollywood, Oct. 17. — Eastman Kodak is understood to be ready "almost any day now" to make safety film available at standard prices, according to John Nickolaus, superintendent of photography at the M-G-M studio. Nickolaus says the new base is neither acetate nor nitrate. M-G-M and some other producers are printing all daily rushes on safety stock. M-G-M is expecting to put features on safety film into regular release soon. Schine Should Divest 173 Theatres: US Would Impose Sweeping Operating Restrictions Buffalo, Oct. 17. — The Government on Friday asked the U. S. District Court here to order virtually complete dissolution of the Schine Theatre Chain. In its proposed findings and order for the further proceedings directed by the U. S. Supreme Court last May, the Justice Department asked that Schine be required to give up its interest in 173 theatres, operating in 74 cities in six states. Conceding that its records of the Schine interests were out of date, the Government said that it believes its proposals will leave Schine with "very few theatres." Off hand, the Department could name only the Paramount and Eckel in (Continued on page 6) Sales Union Favors Pact Chicago, Oct. 17. — Approval of the terms of the first contract between film salesmen and distribution companies was indicated as the Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen of America met here at the weekend in the first national convention of the salesmen's union. The contract was negotiated with distributors last month. Its previously-disclosed wage increases, vacation benefits, additional travelling expenses, etc., would become effective for some 3,000 film salesmen when the pacts are approved by the membership and signed by distribution and Colosseum representatives. MOT's Glenn Heads NTFC Directors Jack Glenn, executive director of the March of Time, was elected chairman of the board of directors of the National Television Film Council at the first meeting of the board, held here at the weekend. Attending the meeting, headed by Melvin L. Gold, Council president, were Burt Balaban, (Continued on page 3)