Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1948)

MOTION PTCttfkE Accurate Cohcise and partial ,ffriTT0M PICTURE ASSOC OS 28 flOt 44TB ST., NEW YORK 13, N. *. OL. '-BNO. 89 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1948 TEN CENTS JA-SRO Deal Fo Distribute n Final Stage [greement Is Expected to ro Before Board Today Negotiations which have been 'tider way here for several days fhich would give United Artists ihysical distribution of Selznick (eleasing Organization product are ■nderstood to have reached the stage n Friday night whereby an announcement of a decision appeared to be 'ossible at any time. SRO would retain its present sales force here and in the field, with a close working arrangement effected between it and UA's sales force. Replacing the usual flat distribution charge, it was indicated, would be a sliding percentage scale based on the amount of a production's gross. The conferees at the weekend were proceeding with the intention of pre (Continued on page 3) Kreisler Finds Film Interest Increasing 1 British industry leaders continue to Profess the belief that their films are arbitrarily withheld from American Him patrons despite the successes which some of their pictures have ,'egistered here, Bernard B. Kreisler, who recently completed a 13 months' survey of European film activities for the Harvard Graduate School of Business, said here on Friday. The fact that occasional British films are financially successful here and that many have been extravagantly received and publicized by American critics does nothing to dissipate [Continued on page 4) New Power Cuts Irk Toronto Exhibitors Toronto, Nov. 7 — Local exhibitors are up in arms over the order by the Hydro-Electric Commission providing for a 45-minute evening blackout starting tomorrow at seven P.M. This is in addition to the day-time power curtailments which totaled two hours last Thursday and Friday. Neighborhood theatres claim the night blackouts, which are scheduled {Continued on page 4) Some U.K. Theatres Have Lower Quota This Year than Last London, Nov. 7. — Many of Britain's theatres will be required to play fewer British pictures in the coming year under the new 45 per cent quota law than in the previous year when the quota of British first-feature films was only 20 per cent, in consequence of the formula for quota relief which has been established by the Board of Trade. The BOT has conceded relief from the ne\y quota to 1,353 of Britain's 4,706 theatres in degrees varying from 40 to 10 per cent of the new quota. BOT officials decline to reveal how many of the theatres conceded relief [Continued on page 4) Altec Re-shuffling Its Field Forces Altec Service Corp. plans to modernize and equalize the territorial coverage of its field forces. To simplify the present managerial framework, the areas comprising the New York, Philadelphia and Boston districts have been consolidated into a newly-created Eastern division, with headquarters here, according to an announcement by H. M. Bessey, Altec executive vice-president. Promoted to the new post of division manager is C. S. Perkins, formerly manager of the New York district. A. J. Rademaeher has been raised to the new position of business manager of the division. R. D. Fair (Continued on page 3) National Theatres To Give Away 30 Cars Los Angeles, Nov. 7. — Thirty automobiles and considerable other merchandise will be given away by National Theatres, in cooperation with merchants, during the final two weeks of the circuit's Etnnual sales drive, in December, to stimulate business for the closing fortnight and offset any holiday slump. Canada Seeking to Monopolize Video Toronto, Nov. 7. — That the Dominion government intends to make a government monopoly of television — a fact not contested by federal authorities— is apparent in the action last week of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. in postponing indefinitely its decision on applications of Famous Players Canadian and five others for television operating licenses. The government company has made a tentative offer to sell video programs to private enterprises such as the applicants but doe's not promise such service before two years. Licensing of household receivers at $12 a year, plus an unstated larger fee for the government service when used before audiences, has been proposed by the CBC. Meanwhile, what effect the government monopoly would have on Famous _ Players' plan to set up . a Canadian newsreel camera service specifically to supply video could not be determined. W anger Warns Industry To Abandon Complacency The complacency which has preceded debacles in the fields of politics and the theatre is prevalent in the motion picture industry today, and unless the major companies recognize quickly the harm that is inherent in "formula" and "orthodox" methods and policies, and act accordingly, those companies will "flop." So declared independent producer Walter Wanger on Friday, as he made a hard-hitting appeal for "intelligent showmanship" and greater dependence on the abilities of the people responsible for motion picture advertising, publicity and exploitation. "The public is 'hep' today," Wanger warned in his address before a luncheon-meeting of the Associated (.Continued on page 3) Para. Cuts Arkansas Clearance 18 Days Paramount has reduced first-run clearances in Little Rock, Ark., from 60 to 42 days with all subsequent availabilities moving up accordingly. The company is continuing its program of reducing clearances with almost constant investigations of film marketing and trade conditions. The Little Rock cut was the third in recent months, following similar moves in Indianapolis and Minneapolis. Lopping off 18 days in Little Rock presents one of the most substantial reductions made to date. Court Bout Is On Today in U.S. vs. Para. Companies, Gov't Wide Apart; RKO Decree Due Company defendants with the exception of RKO will clash anew with the Department of Justice today when the case of U. S. vs. Paramount, et al., reopens in New York Federal court. Terms of the separate settlement by RKO and the Department calling for reorganization of the company by disjoining exhibition from productiondistribution will be presented to the court, with early approval expected. The government is on record in favor of the RKO plan and is seeking an order calling for the early divestiture in part and ultimate and complete divorcement of the theatres of the other four companies. The government maintains that further hearings should be held for the "sole purpose of supplying relief additional" to that contained in the NewYork court's decree of 1946, which (Continued on page 3) Eiseman Is Named WB District Chief Ben Kalmenson, Warner sales vicepresident, has promoted Clarence Eiseman, the company's New York branch manager, to the post of Metropolitan district manager, with headquarters in New York. He replaces Sam Lefkowitz who is on a temporary leave of absence due to ill health. Kalmenson also appointed Ben Abner, manager of Metro-GoldwynMayer's New Jersey branch office, to replace Eiseman as Warner's New York manager. Eiseman has been with Warner as New York manager for the past five (.Continued on page 3) Allied in Pittsburgh Considers Smith Plan Pittsburgh, Nov. 7.— The SmithBerger conciliation plan was taken under advisement here on Friday by the board of Western Pennsylvania Allied, after it was explained to members at a meeting with 20th CenturyFox general sales manager A. W. Smith, jr. Fred Beedle presided at the meeting which was also attended by Sam Shain, director of 20th's exhibitor relations ; Weldon Waters, Pittsburgh manager and Wally Allen, exploiteer.