Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1949)

MOTION PICTURE FIRST IN FILM NEWS VOL. 66. NO. 66 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1949 TEN CENTS More Theatres Sign for World Series TV Pick-Ups See Move to Avert IMPPA Dissolution Hollywood, Oct. 3. — An attempt to reinstitute negotiations between the Independent Motion Picture Producers Association and IATSE and the American Federation of Musicians on contracts covering services of sound men, camera men and studio musicians, may be made Tuesday or Wednesday. IMPPA, which comprises some 45 independent producers not affiliated with the Association of Motion Picture Producers or the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, has threatened to dissolve itself unless the unions, now servicing IMPPA members temporarily under the terms of expired contracts, relax demands made in negotiations ended last week. IMPPA's membership has voted Monogram's Barney Shapiro, chairman of the five-man committee, power to take the necessary steps for dissolution. I. E. Chadwick, IMPPA president since its formation in 1934, in a report on the impasse, recommended disbanding, with each independent to proceed on his own thereafter in negotiations. He suggested the individual companies would do best then to take their problems to the National Labor Relations Board. Maas May Visit USSR On Forthcoming Trip Irving A. Maas, vice-president and general manager of the Motion Picture Export Association, will depart from New York the latter part of this month for an extended visit to MPEA's Eastern Europe countries. Presently included in Maas' itinerary are Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Austria. Depending on further developments, the MPEA chief may include Soviet Russia in his junket, as well as Rumania where all efforts to obtain a visa have thus far failed. MGM's 'Forsyte9 for Command Showing London, Oct. 3. — MGM's "Forsyte Saga" has been chosen for presentation at the Royal Command Performance at the Marble Arch Odeon Theatre here, Nov. 17. The film is being released in the United States under the title "That Forsyte Woman." Large-screen theatre television will be given its most thorough-going test to date with the pick-ups of the World Series games starting tomorrow definitely set for the State-Lake, Chicago, in addition to the previously announced Fox, Brooklyn, and Pilgrim, Boston, and with others likely to join in the program before tomorrow's deadline. However, yesterday in Washington the FCC, with Commissioner Sterling dissenting, refused permission for Comerford Publix Theatre Corp. to pick up the Series from the Scranton Times station for video showing in its Westside Theatre in Scranton. No reason was given. Paramount has been negotiating for the Series rights for its showcase, the Paramount Theatre here, and a decision will be reached today. Other houses in Milwaukee and Baltimore have shown interest in (Continued on page 3) 4-A's Showdown in Video Split Today The final showdown in the AFL talent unions' East-West split over the "Authority" proposed for administration of the television field is due to come today at a meeting here of the international board of the Associated Actors and Artistes of America. The split between Screen Actors Guild and Screen Extras Guild on the one hand and the nine other AAAA-member unions on the other over the issue of film television control remained as wide yesterday as it (Continued on page 2) Pickford, Rogers in New Radio, TV Firm Mary Pickford, Charles "Buddy" Rogers and radio producer Mai Boyd are underway with the formation of a new company to produce radio and television programs starring Miss Pickford and Rogers. Rogers is now doing a half-hour radio program, "Pick a Date," five times weekly over American Broadcasting and will launch the "Buddy Rogers Showcase," to be heard over ABC Television on Wednesdays, 9 to 9 :30 P.M., on Nov. 2. Miss Pickford, who will be in New York for several months, intends a once-weekly radio show in addition to a five-a-week series of 15-minute commentary programs. British Prospecting In German Market London, Oct. 3. — Spyros Skouras's recent prediction that Germany will become the world's third most important film mart bestirred British film men into prospecting there. Sir Alexander Korda has set up an organization to take care of his interests there. J. Arthur Rank's Eagle Lion has been refurbishing its branch in the newly formed Western German Republic. Sir Philip Warter's A.B.P.C. has dispatched a pioneering mission to Germany consisting of C. J. Latta, William Moffat and Macgregor Scott. U. S. Agrees to Extend RKO Divorce Time But Competitive Film Sales Must Start Nov. 8 Chicago Oriental's Lease in Dispute Chicago, Oct. 3. — Court action appears inevitable over a lessee-lessor dispute in the case of the Oriental Theatre, currently under operation by the Essaness Theatre Circuit. Lessor, the 32 W. Randolph Street Corp., has served notice to Essaness that it must cease operation of the house. Essaness, represented by attorney Edwin Blackman, contends the circuit has a lease which expires in 1963. New operators would be the Booth Management Corp., headed by James (Continued on page 2) The Department of Justice has consented to an application by RKO to the Statutory Court here foi amendment of its consent decree extending to May 8, 1950, the time for completing its divorcement. The company, as a condition, will be required to begin selling its own theatres on the original divorcement date, Nov. 8 next, as though they were unaffiliated. In announcing the D. of J.'s action, RKO president Ned E. Depinet said yesterday that "such an extension was essential to the solution of several (Continued on page 3) Defer Election of President for E-L Eagle-Lion, assured of a supply of product covering the next four or five months, will have to have a broader future in prospect before steps will be taken to find a president for the company, which has been without an official chief executive since Arthur B. Krim resigned last spring, it was indicated yesterday. Queried on possible plans for the (Continued on page 3) FIRST DECISION ON TRADE CODE IS UP TO DISTRIBUTION LA WYERS FTC Told Bids Are 'Unfair, Deceptive' Hollywood, Oct. 3. — Marco Wolff, president of South Side Theatres, has petitioned the Federal Trade Commission to investigate competitive bidding invitations sent him by RKO and Paramount and to which he declined to respond. His letter to the FTC contends: "This method of procuring offers for pictures is an unfair method of competition and a deceptive trade practice" and its "purpose and effect is to exact excessive, monopoly prices for use of film." Film distribution executives stated here yesterday that any plan for a trade practice code as proposed by the Theatre Owners of America would be subjected to full scrutiny by home office legal departments before its business advantages would be considered. The sales officers said they have yet to receive any formal presentation of TOA's ideas on an exhibitor-distributor conclave for the purpose of mapping a code which in some way would regulate clearances and availabilities and govern competitive bidding procedures. A TO A committee of 17 was appointed last week by president Sam Pinahski to carry out the program for the trade code as called for at the organization's convention in Los Angeles last month. Home office distribution officials said (Continued on page 3)