Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1949)

Monday, October 10, 1949 Motion Picture Daily 3 Can US Help? Cut Fax, Sawyer Told U. S. Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer, who on Friday coniucted a forum here of New York City businessmen to hear opinions of the area's economic prospects, asked the film industry's representative how the government could best assist the motion picture business. "Eliminate the Federal wartime emergency admission tax," he was told bluntly. The industry's representative at the forum was Harry Brandt, president of the Independent Theatre Owners Association of New York. He was not selected by the industry, but rather, like the department store, manufacturing, hotel and other business representatives on hand, was invited by Sawyer to give opinions relating to the economic position of the field with which he is connected. 20th Sets 12 (Continued from page 1) ing in the Dark," "Front and Center," "Whirlpool," "Wabash Avenue," "Oh, Doctor," "Twelve O'Clock High." Also the company will release Darryl F. Zanuck's "Pinky" nationally. Other pictures currently being readied for release in 1950 include "Two Corridors East," "Night and the City," "Broken Arrow," "The Gun Fighter," "Love That Brute," "The Big Fall," "A Ticket to Tomahawk," "Cheaper by the Dozen" and "No Way Out." With the conclusion of the Chicago meeting, home office executives left for the Coast where another regional will open in San Francisco tomorrow. Cinecolor to Process Three-Color Feature Hollywood, Oct. 9. — Cinecolor Corporation made a challenging bid for three-color processing business in the feature picture field by announcing a commitment to process in Cinecolor "Sunken Treasure," a James Burkett production for Eagle-Lion release, which will be photographed on Ansco color stock. Except for cartoons, it is understood that the picture will be the first three-color feature production processed by any laboratory except Technicolor, Inc., which has in the past processed several films photographed in Ansco. The Cinecolor commitment to Burkett sets a price of five cents per foot, inquiry revealed. Technicolor's base price is believed to be about 6.22 cents. Cinecolor's method of processing in three colors was developed by vice-president Alan M. Gundelfinger, who will report on it in detail at the Society of Motion Picture Engineers convention this week. Monogram Gross (Continued from page 1) ter figure was reduced to $497,696 by a net tax refund of $480,414, however. Consolidated assets totaled $5,066,080 on July 2, with liabilities at $3,989,856, according to the report. Bank loans had been reduced $1,100,000 and blocked foreign funds totaling $300,000 had not been included in assets or income. Await Selznick (Continued from page 1) Series Video (Continued from page 1) Friday. Sales policies for the two pictures, "The Fallen Idol" and "The Third Man," were outlined by Deneau. Deneau further announced at the meeting that Henry G. Krum, former SRO Southern division sales manager, has returned to SRO1 as Southeastern division manager. Series Dilemma Solved by Arnall Ellis G. Arnall, president of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, found he was unable to accomplish any work upon his return to New York from Paris last week, all of his associates in town being preoccupied with the World Series. Consequently, among the spectators at Ebbets Field for Friday's game was Ellis Arnall. casts to less than capacity audiences, due to its mix-up with the Federal Communications Commission which prevented advance advertising-publiicty. But patrons stormed the house after the word got around that the Series could be seen on television there. However, television itself, as well as the Series games, was a strong draw to Scranton residents, most of whom never before had seen the new medium, let alone a World Series game. And the theatre was the only place in town where they could see both. The city's only station, owned by the Scranton Times, was given an experimental license only recently. There are few telvision receivers in homes there ; none in bars or other public places. Signals must be picked up from New York or Philadelphia, 1U0 miles distant. The experience of the other theatres offering large-screen telecasts of the Series' game in areas where public and private ownership of television sets is the rule rather than the exception, was just the opposite of the West Side Theatre's. None of the latter could boast a capacity attendance up to the weekend games. Some even lowered admission prices and employed special "stunts" to no avail. Despite the fact that when the Series play moved from the 72,000-seat Yankee Stadium to the 38,000-seat Ebbett's Field in Brooklyn, ostensibly leaving in New York City some 34,000 who would be inside the ball park if it could accommodate them, Fabian's Fox Theatre, Brooklyn, failed to reach capacity. In fact, on Friday attendance at the 4,050 seat house during the telecast was estimated at a peak 1,350 persons. Boost Prices Weekend prices at the Fox were boosted to $1.50 from the $1.20 which prevailed for the weekday Series games. Regular prices at the Fox are 55 cents weekdays ; 85 cents Saturdays and 95 cents Sundays. Telecast admissions include the regular double feature film program at the theatre. At Pinanski's 1,800-seat Pilgrim Theatre, Boston, attendance for the telecast of the third game skidded to an estimated 650 persons and a gross of $800. The second balcony admission charge was scaled down to 85 cents from $1.25. House continued its $1.50 top for better locations. Price included the regular film program, also. Attendance at B & K's State-Lake, 2,700-seat Chicago house, picked up a little for the third game. Auditorium was near capacity ; balcony, half-filled. Advanced admission charge also included the regular film program there. At the Tower and Oriental, Mil waukee, using a smaller (9x7) screen than the other four theatres, scales were cut to 50 cents plus tax for the third game, from the previous $1.50 and $1.80. In addition, the houses exploited the game in ball park fash ion as a "Ladies' Day" special. At tendance continued to decline, however, with 40 people reported at the Tower. The Scranton theatre held to its established 30 cents admission. McConnell Is Named President of NBC Joseph H. McConnell, formerly RCA executive vice-president, on Friday was elected president of its subsidiary, National Broadcasting Co., at a meeting of the NBC board of directors. McConnell, who is 43, succeeds Niles Trammell who in turn was named NBC board chairman, which post was vacated by David Sarnoff . Sarnoff will continue as RCA board chairman. RKO Stock (Continued from page 1) counter in the New York Stock Exchange, make up the remainder. On the basis of current quotations in "B" trading, RKO's "A" holdings have an estimated market value of about $2,090,000. Last spring that figure was up to $2,860,000, but has since fallen off. Other important money situations which the company must settle by Nov. 8 are topped by its joint ownership with Walter Reade of 11 theatres in Trenton and New Brunswick, N. J. RKO has offered to buy out or sell to Reade at $1,500,000. In the event RKO acquires full ownership of that circuit, the company would be required to dispose of one of the 11 theatres under terms of the decree. the nation's most flight O UNITED MAINLINERjw Fly United's DC6 Mainliner 300"fheHo//ywood,"and you will see why it has won the favor of discriminating travelers. Notice the courtesy and efficiency of United's handpicked crew; relax over the delicious full-course meals, without question the finest aloft; then discover the unexpected extra services that distinguish this flight. 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