Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1949)

Motion Picture Daily Monday, July 18, 1949 NEWS in iiriof MEETING of the United Artists board of directors will be held here tomorrow, almost immediately following LA president Gradwell Sears' return to New York from the Coast where he conferred with owners Mary Pickford and Charles Chaplin. To Set FCC Hearing on TV W ashington, July 17. — Federal Communications Commission will hold a hearing, to be announced soon, on Warner Brothers application to buy from Dorothy Thackrey her Los Angeles television station and two West Coast broadcasting stations. Among the questions that will be studied at the hearing, the FCC said, is the status of Warners in view of the U. S. Supreme Court's Paramount case deci Reagan Joins MGM (Continued from page 1) May Attend Allied Meet Minneapolis, July 17. — U. S. At torney General Tom Clark is considering an invitation to attend the national Allied annual convention in Minneapolis on October 24-26 and "it looks as though he will accept," Stan Kane, North Central Allied executive counsel, said. NCA is sponsoring this year's Allied conclave. mount, Reagan, a native of Lawrenceburg, Ind., and a graduate of Notre Dame, started his industry career with Paramount in 1920 as a salesman in Cincinnati. Two years later he was promoted to Indianapolis as manager, and in 1925 was made district manager with supervision over Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Louisville. In 1932 he was transferred to Chicago. He became Western sales manager in 1934, held the post until 1941, when he was again promoted, this time to assistant general sales manager with headquarters at the home office, and in 1944 he was named vice-president and general sales manager of domestic and Canadian offices. He continued there until he resigned last May. WB Promotions (Continued from page 1) Canadian Exhibitors to Meet Toronto, July 17. — The National Committee of the Motion Picture Exhibitors' Associations of Canada, of which J. J. Fitzgibbons is chairman is now expected to hold a general meeting at the Chateau Laurier, Ottawa, October 12-13, to deal with amusement taxation and other problems of theatre operators. Plan Lunch for Bunche Hollywood, July 17. — A luncheon honoring Ralph Bunche, United Nations Palestine mediator, has been arranged by the board of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, to be held Friday at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Two Loop Houses Get TV Chicago, July 17. — Paramount's tele-transcription system, which was tried out at the Balaban and Katz Chicago Theatre last month, will probably not be used until fall, when five Notre Dame football games are set for showing at the State Lake. Essaness circuit has confirmed plans for a similar television installation at their key Loop house, the Oriental, to be ready by fall. State Dept. Moves in (Continued from page 1) sign. Army officials here admitted frankly that they are in no position to answer the State Department, yet, since not a single Pentagon worker has any knowledge of what may be under consideration by the Joint Export Import Agency on the subject. TOA Gross Reports (Continued from page 1) fair, poor and suitable for second features only. Reports on films percentage-wise was the original plan but this was abandoned because, it was said, the normal gross varies widely due to seasons, weather and other factors. The new plan was disclosed in a weekend membership bulletin from Gael Sullivan, executive director. Central America, with headquarters in Mexico City. On August 8 he will replace James V. O'Gara, who returns here from Mexico for a new home office assignment. Michael Sokol, former manager for Mexico, has resigned. Caesar Aboaf has been appointed general manager for Argentine ; he joins W arners with 22 years experience in the industry in Italy and Argentine. E-L Deal (Continued from page 1) menenko of the First National Bank of Boston are committed to secure $2,500,000 in new financing for E-L. Small would be responsible for another million in cash and production assets. Semenenko left here for Europe on Friday, but it was indicated his presence will not be essential to closing of the deal in the event he has not returned by mid-August, by which time the remaining arrangements are expected to be completed. Robert Purcell, Young's adviser in the deal, also left here on Friday for a vacation. MGM in Germany (Continued from page 1) sales, booking and publicity campaigns are scheduled to begin in the next few months. Loew declared that problems of unprecedented severity are being faced in Germany. It will take months before these are solved and the operation is on a smooth-running basis. He expressed the belief that independent distribution in Germany will benefit both the public and the film industry. Distributor Chairmen (Continued from page 1) Radio; Charlotte, J. Greenleaf, Universal; Chicago, Sam Gorelick, RKO Radio; Cincinnati, James Abrose, Warners.; Cleveland, I. J. Schmertz, 20th Century-Fox; Dallas, Hey wood Simmons, Paramount; Denver, Joe Emerson, RKO Radio; Des Moines, Clarke Baker, Columbia; Detroit, Don Woods, Warners; Indianapolis, Foster B. Gauker, Loew's ; Kansas City, Albert L. Adler, Loew's; Los Angeles, Fred Greenberg, Warners; Memphis, Herman Chrisman, Columbia ; Milwaukee, Jess McBride, Paramount. Also, Minneapolis, Art Anderson, Warners ; New Haven, Ben Simon, 20th Century-Fox; New Orleans, Houston Duvall, Columbia; New York, Dave Levy, Universal ; Oklahoma City, C. A. Gibbs, Columbia; Omaha, J. E. Scott, 20th CenturyFox; Philadelphia, Ulrick Smith, Paramount ; Pittsburgh, Saul Gottlieb, Loew's ; Portland, Charles Powers, 20 Century-Fox; St. Louis, Herbert Bennin, Loew's ; Salt Lake City, Carroll Trowbridge, United Artists ; San Francisco, Joe Smith, RKO Radio; Seattle, Wallace Rucker, Eagle-Lion; Washington, Fred Rohrs, Eagle-Lion. Kill Ala. Tax Plan Fort Payne, Ala., July 17. — The state legislature has killed Gov. James E. Folsom's plan for an additional 10per cent tax on amusements. Key Grosses (Continued from page 1) runners-up were "The Champion," "Mr. Belvedere Goes to College," "The Stratton Story" and "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." High grosses were also registered by "Flamingo Road," "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court," "Little Women" and "Knock on Any Door." 1949 Average Week No. of Total Per Ending Theatres Gross Theatre Jan. 1-2 164 $2,855,800 $17,413 Jan. 6-7 161 3,195,000 19,018 Tan. 14-15 161 2,609,900 16,211 Jan. 21-23 162 2,497,500 15,417 Tan. 28-29 179 2,624,100' 14,660 Feb. 4-5 176 2,491,000 14,153 Feb. 11-12 181 2,788,600 15,407 Feb. 18-19 170 2,435,900 14,329 Feb. 25-26 173 2,532.800 14,640 Mar. 4-5 179 2,545,800 14.222 Mar. 11-12 183 2,447,600 13,375 Mar. 18-19 175 2,441,800 13,953 Mar. 25-26 180 2,378,100 13,212 Apr. 1-2 181 2,426.000 13,403 Apr. 8-9 179 2,427.700 13,563 Apr. 15-16 179 2,328,100 13,005 Apr. 22-23 172 2,860,900 16,633 Apr. 29-30 177 2,422,100 13,684 May 6-7 175 2,391,300 13,665 May 13-14 176 2,291,400 13,019 May 20-21 170 2,210,200 13,001 May 27-28 182 2,307,400 12.678 June 3-4 167 2,295.700 13,747 Tune 10-11 185 2,234,300 12,077 Tune 17-18 180 2,231,800 1V99 Tune 24-25 166 2,051,400 12.358 July 1-2 181 2,217,700 12.252 May and June also saw better-thanaverage grosses for "Mother Is a Freshman," "Streets of Laredo," "The Red Shoes," "Joan of Arc," "Hamlet," "Quartet," "Monsieur Vincent," "Africa Screams," "My Dream Is Yours," "City Across the River," "We Were Strangers" and "Canadian Pacific." Composite key-city box-office reports for 1949 to date, compared with corresponding weeks of 1948, follow : 1949 Average Week No. of Total Per Ending Theatres Gross Theatre Jan. 2-3 179 $3,406,600 $19,031 Tan. 9-10 168 3,112,700 18,528 Jan. 16-17 168 2.473,300 14,722 Jan. 23-24 166 2,419.000 14,572 Tan. 30-31 166 2,341,900 14,108 Feb. 6-7 167 2,537,800 15,196 Feb. 13-14 166 2,381,500 15,546 Feb. 20-21 164 2,316,500 15,125 Feb. 27-28 167 2,734,100 16,372 Mar. 5-6 165 2,372,700 14,380 Mar. 12-13 165 2,441,800 14,799 Mar. 19-20 175 2,626,800 15,010 Mar. 26-27 162 2,356,800 14,548 Apr. 2-3 171 2,953,500 17,272 Apr. 9-10 169 2,740,000 16,213 Apr. 16-17 175 2,49,3,600 14.249 Apr. 23.-24 167 2,284,000 13.677 Apr. 30-May 1 159 2,232,300 14,040 May 7-8 167 2,416,500 14,470 May 14-15 167 2,301,200 13,780 May 21-22 149 2,118,300 14.217 May 28-29 158 2,241,100 14,184 Tune 4-5 166 2.577,400 15,527 June 11-12 172 2,287,800 13,304 Tune 18-19 176 2,340,300 13,297 June 25-26 170 2,396,500 14,097 Tuly 2-3 167 2,476,300 14,828 House Hears Curtis In Tax Cut Appeal Washington, July 17.— "Movies are the amusement for the rank and file of Americans," and the 20 per cent admission tax should be repealed, Rep. Curtis told the House on Friday. "The bulk of our citizens cannot go to swank night spots or join exclusive recreational clubs or take costly vacations or journey to a distant city to see a big-league baseball game," the Nebraska Republican said. "Their amusement is the hometown movie. But we are taxing those movies at the heavy wartime rate of 20 per cent. It is not right. It is not sound. That tax should be repealed." Albany TOA Urges an Immediate Tax-Cut Effort Albany, N. Y., July 17.— Albany Theatre Owners of America has sent a bulletin to all exhibitors in the area urging them to contact their Senators or Congressmen immediately on support of the pending legislation which would cut the Federal admission tax from 20 to 10 per cent. General counsel Leonard Rosenthal wrote that there is a strong possibility the reduction may materialize at this session 'of Congress. Tax-Cut Support Is Reported by Lockwood Boston, July 17.— Distribution executives of this area met here on Friday to discuss the theatre admission tax reduction with Arthur Lockwood, president of Theatre Owners of America, stating that "many Congressmen and Senators are in favor of tax reduction." He urged all connected with the industry to contact their Congressman immediately. Expand RKO Shorts (Continued from page 1) in Technicolor, will include six "specials" to be delivered as part of the regular series. There also will be six revivals of Disney Technicolor cartoons. "Seal Island," first of the True Life Adventure series, presented by Disney, was over six months in the making. RKO Radio will offer two new "My Pal" subjects featuring the dog, Flame. Michalson also announced that there would be six two-reel comedies starring Leon Errol and six two-reel comedy name specials. Also in the two-reel comedy category will be the revival of four starring Clark and McCullough and four Edgar Kennedy releases. From RKO Pathe will come 13 This Is America and 13 Sportscope releases, two two-reel sport specials and a two-reel Technicolor special "The Boy and the Eagle" narrated Jby and starring Dickie Moore. RKO Pathe will also continue the series of 13 one-reel Screenliners. RKO Regional Sales Meet In New Orleans Today New Orleans, July 17.— The third in RKO's Radio's series of five regional sales meetings gets underway here tomorrow at the Hotel Roosevelt, with Robert Mochrie, sales vice-president, conducting. Also in attendance from the home office will be Charles Boasberg, Carl Peppercorn, Aage A. Schubart, and Sid Kramer.