Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1949)

r. ■ ■■ ■ MOTION PICTURE Accurate IN TB"^ ▲ ~W ~W ~V Concise FILM JL/AlI JL1 and NEWS Impartial VOL. 66. NO. 73 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1949 TEN CENTS Ascap, Video Networks in Final Accord Will Sign Pact After Negotiating 9 Months Climaxing nine months of negotitions, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and the major television networks have reached a final accord on terms for the blanket use of music on video, under which the Society's net collections will amount to about 1.8 per cent of gross time expenditures. Virtually awaiting only the fixing of signatures, the deal is final and reportedly precludes the need for any further extension of the arrangement whereby Ascap music has been continuing on the air all this year (Continued on page 5) 'U' Steps Up Ad Meetings Meetings of Universal-International's advertising and publicity executives will be held every three months, reports David A. Lipton, national advertising-publicity director. "This no longer is a business in which annual meetings to plan advertising and publicity campaigns are sufficient," Lipton declared. "Because of the highly competitive nature of the business, frequent meetings are necessary in order to keep all plans on an uprto-the-minute basis." In Coast meetings of studio, home (Continued on page 5) May Ask Ky. Group To Join Tri-States Memphis, Oct. 13. — Kentucky Theatre Owners Association, affiliated with the Theatre Owners of America, may be invited to join the Tri-State Theatre Owners at the latter's convention here next week. The Tri-State executive board today approved the invitation, which now goes before the board of directors and which, upon approval, will submit it to the Tri-States convention opening next Monday in Memphis. Industry Lauded in U. S. Senate for Its Ideals and Services to Country Washington, Oct. 13. — Declaring that the motion picture is "one of the most powerful instruments for freedom and democracy throughout the entire world," California Democratic Senator Sheridan Downey today cited the industry's efforts to keep sending films to every foreign country despite restrictions and currency troubles. "It is costing the American motion picture industry millions of dollars to maintain a worldwide circulation of films today," he told the Senate. "The industry is direfully beset by tremendous difficulties. Stringencies in foreign exchange, restrictive quota laws and trade barriers of a wide variety are forcing the American motion picture industry into vast sacrifices. But it persists and it will persist in the role it has so sturdily and staunchly adopted. I doubt if any other private institution in all our history ever made such sacrifices for the good of our country and for the cause of democracy and freedom everywhere." Downey described the recent all-industry public relations meeting in Chicago, quoting in full the declaration adopted by the meeting. Downey said he believed it "one of the loftiest documents of our times, symbolizing the spirit of one of our greatest industries, putting into words those things which the men and women who make our motion pictures, who distribute them and exhibit them believe with constancy and devotion." Film Guilds Back 4A's Against AFM Hollywood, Oct. 13. — The boards of the Screen Actors Guild and the Screen Extras Guild tonight offered an olive branch to their parent body, the Four A's, but re-affirmed their threat of secession if plans for the formation of the controversial "Television Authority" go through. In a statement to be read at a general membership meeting of the American Federation of Radio Artists, held in New York at the Hotel Astor tonight, the boards backed the Four A's in its jurisdictional dispute with the American Federation of Musicians and denied that they had considered or discussed affiliation with James C. Petrillo's union. In addition, the statement declared the confidence of the boards that solution of differences on the organization of talent in television can be found (Continued on page 4) C. B. DeMille Named 'Pioneer of the Year' Cecil B. DeMille has been voted the "Motion Picture Pioneer of the Year" by the board of directors of the Motion Picture Pioneers, it was announced here yesterday by Jack Cohn, president. Recognition of DeMille's contribution to the industry was marked by his record of producing 68 pictures during his 38 years in the business. Presentation of a plaque will be made to him on Nov. 16 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Cecil B. DeMille MGM Sales Meet Opens With Touchdown Sprint M-G-M, in celebrating its 25th anniversary, faces the future "with confidence and optimism," William F. Rodgers, sales vice-president, declared here yesterday at the opening session of the five-day sales conference at the Astor Hotel. At the same time, Nicholas M. Schenck, Loew's president, in welcoming the delegates from the field, warned of "the rough road ahead," referring especially to events abroad. More than 100 from the field and home office were in attendance as well as trade paper publishers and editors. A spirit of gaiety pervaded the north ballroom which was decorated in football decor and resounded to the lilt of a 25-piece boys' school band. Schenck commended the entire staff for their "very nice job of the last fiscal year," but stated the coming year would require their fullest exertions. Rodgers declared his confidence stemmed from "the fine relationship with our customers." He also cited a production roster of "what promises to be the most important pictures of (Continued on page 4) Industry in Canada Forms Its Own Group Plans to Draft Distinct P.R.' Plan; Not U.S. One Ottawa, Oct. 13. — The Motion Picture Industry Council, representing all branches of the Canadian industry, became a fact at the windup session of the national convention at the Chateau Laurier here this morning with the election of interim officers and unanimous passage of resolutions containing specific suggestions on public relations, box office, legislative problems and definite details on the financing and organization of the new body. Named to the four key executive positions were John J. Fitzgibbons, president of Famous Players-Canadian, as chairman ; David Griesdorf, (Continued on page 5) SPG, SOPEG Vote Strike "The Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild and the Screen Publicists Guild are backed by substantial resources and are prepared to maintain a long strike," Len Goldsmith, SPG business manager, declared here yesterday, following the announcement that the membership of both unions had voted to authorize a strike. Home office personnel numbering some 2,755 would be affected by the (Continued on page 4) Allied Skeptical on Series Theatre Video Washington, Oct. 13. — Allied States is still taking a skeptical, go-slow attitude on theatre television. A bulletin issued today by Allied counsel Abram F. Myers reported that committees of Allied Exhibitors that attended theatre telecasts of the World Series concluded that: "Conceding big screen theatre television is here as a scientific fact, the question remains, what can be done with it? That question is as far from being solved as it ever was."