Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1949)

FILM NEWS MOTION PICTURE Cohcise and Impartial VOL. 66. NO. 69 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1949 TEN CENTS EndColosseum Talks Pending Arbitration Union Move Would Break Impasse on Auto Clause Current negotiations between the distributors and the Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen on the latter's bid for increased wages and expense grants have been discontinued pending the outcome of arbitration proceedings for which the 1,000member salesmen's union has applied. The last negotiation meeting, which continued for eight days in New Orleans, ended about a week ago. Colosseum attorney David Beznor of Milwaukee has informed the companies of the union's intention to arbitrate a point challenged by the management negotiators, namely, changes in company policy relating to the ownership of automobiles. Clarence Hill of 20th Century-Fox, chairman of the distributors' negotiating committee, acknowledged here yesteerday that the company group has declined to discuss the point with the (Continued on page 3) 739 Enroll In Allied Anamosa, la.; Oct. 6.— Some 739 new Allied theatre members have been enrolled in national Allied's ranks by the 20 units of the association in its current membership drive. The goal of 1,000 new members in 1949 should be reached easily, according to Charles Niles, chairman of the drive and secretary of the association. The drive is being held in honor of Abram F. Myers, general counsel and chairman of the board. "The slogan 'Get on the Line in '49' will ring throughout the whole Allied organization until the goal is reached," said Niles. Report Publicists Bolt SPG at RKO A spokesman for an anti-Screen Publicists Guild employee group at the RKO Radio home office reported yes terday that "all but one" of the mem bers of the unit have resigned from SPG (CIO). The unit's membership was approximately 34. It was reported also that the National Labor Relations Board will (Continued on page 3) 'Stable' Exempted From Loop Decree Chicago, Oct. 6. — Federal Judge Michael Igoe today granted 20th Century-Fox's petition for an exemption from the Jackson Park Theatre decree to permit "Come to the Stable" to play longer than the two-week Loop run established by the decree. Citing the "unusual nature of the picture," Judge Igoe ruled that "Come to the Stable" may have an eightweek Loop run. It will open soon at the United Artists Theatre. Thomas McConnell, Jackson Park counsel, opposed the run extension for the film. Paramount Sales Meet Opens Today Paramount home office executives and division, district and branch managers today will start three days of meetings at the Plaza Hotel here, with sales and merchandising policies for top product occupying the principal spots on the agenda. This morning's meeting will be devoted to a discussion of selling and merchandising for William Wyler's (Continued on page 3) Heavy Campaign for 20th-Fox's 'Prince' Chicago, Oct. 6. — Details of an ambitious campaign to promote 20th Century-Fox's "Prince of Fox's" were detailed here today at a meeting of the company's Midwestern division and branch managers, by distribution vice-president Andy W. Smith and advertising publicity vice president (Continued on page 3) Series Video Conclusion: HARD TO SELL IF EVERYONE'S GOT IT CBS, DuMont Clash Over Color Video Washington, Oct. 6. — DuMont and CBS continued their bitter clash over color television here today before the FCC. After a day-long demonstration of color television by CBS, Dr. Allen B. DuMont told a press conference that the CBS display was not up to the one put on three years ago. He predicted that it will take 10 to 20 years to develop a satisfactory color system. In reply, CBS president Dr. Frank Stanton declared that "Dr. DuMont's statement speaks for itself in showing his continued attempts to keep color television from the public. Observers at the CBS demonstration clearly indicated their, approval of the color pictures we broadcast, and in any event, the statements will be met and are being met before the FCC, which is the proper forum for determining the true facts." AFM, Industry Heads Explore TV's Future The "exploratory" meeting held here yesterday between American Federation of Musicians president James C. Petrillo and film industry and advertising agency executives on film television prospects and their application to the employmnet of instrumentalists adjourned without reaching "definite conclusions," it was reported. Ideas exchanged at the meeting will be reported to the companies involved by their representatives who attended. Arnall Looks to Unesco To Ease World Trading Back from a month's participation in the Paris conferences of the United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organization as an official U. S. delegate, Ellis G. Arnall, president^ of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, said here yesterday that he is hopeful UNESCO will prove the key to the elimination of remittance quotas and film trade restrictions abroad. He reported numerous foreign representatives showed an unprecedented vigorous interest in the motion picture as a power in disseminating international goodwill and for this reason, he said, he looks to UNESCO to exert itself in behalf of the free flow of U. S. films. Arnall pointed out that the global organization is dedicated to the principle of better understanding among peoples of the world as a means of achieving lasting peace. Eric A. Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, also a U. S. delegate to the UNESCO meeting, is now touring Europe for the ECA. Second Game Draws Less Than First to Big-Screen Theatres You have to have an "exclusive" program to offer if theatre television is to pay its way in theatres. That was the verdict of many veteran showmen here yesterday when it was learned that large-screen telecasts of the second World Series game drew fewer people into the four theatres offering the big screen telecast than did the first game. Theatre telecasts of the first game drew from three-fourths to one-half of capacity in theatres in Brooklyn, Boston, Chicago and Scranton, Pa. The explanation seemed to lie in the fact that the theatres, particularly those which increased their admission scales, were in the position of offering (Continued on page 3) SAG Calls 'Crisis 9 Meet The 44-member board of the Screen Actors Guild will meet in Hollywood on Monday to review the organization's fight against attempts of the Associated Actors and Artistes of America to supersede the SAG with a so-called "Television Authority" in the film video field. The Guild board is expected to prepare a plan of action which could be put in force should the international board of the Four-A's, of which SAG is a member, vote against the Hollywood actors. The Four-A's board has (Continued on page 3) Cohen Nominated by N. Y. Variety Club Max A. Cohen has been nominated for re-election as chief barker of the Variety Club, Tent No. 35, New York. Elections will be held at the clubrooms here on Oct. 31. Other nominees are : Morris Sanders, first assistant chief barker ; Robert J. Fannon, second assistant ; Jules Rieff, property master, and Saul Trauner, dough guy.