Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1950)

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VOL. 67. NO. 39 FILE COPY DO NOT REMOVE! MOTION PICTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1950 TEN CENTS MPAA Talks Start on UK Monetary Pact Negotiating Group Meets In Miami; Mulvey There Miami, Feb. 27.— Members of the Motion Picture Association of America committee for review of the Anglo-American film remittance agreement met here today and discussed plans for their coming conference in London with British government officials. The meeting was called by Eric Johnston, MPAA president, who arrived here from Washington by plane last night. Johnston, accompanied by his assistant, Joyce OHara, met with Nicholas M. Schenck, president of Loew's; Barney Balaban, president of Paramount Pictures; Spyros P. Skouras, president of 20th Century-Fox, and Joseph H. Hazen, president of Hal Wallis Productions. Ned E. Depinet, RKO president, (Continued on page 8) 1 st-Runs in NY Still Off Spotty business continues in the New York first-run area with the continuing dimout, the beginning of the Lenten season and adverse weather conditions adding further to the general condition. A few new shows are bringing good revenue, although short of expectations. Weekend evening business generally has been fair but mid-week trade has been abnormally low. Last week's holiday proved a disappointment with (Continued on page 8) Harlan Ordered to Open Books in Suit Lexington, Ky., Feb. 27. — An order permitting inspection of the defendant's theatre records by attorneys for the plaintiff distributors was signed here today by U. S. Judge H. Church Ford in three percentage actions brought, respectively, by Columbia, United Artists and Universal against (Continued on page 8) NAME PATTERSON ARBITRATOR FOR SELZNICK-KORDA DISPUTE 32 Have Filed for Theatre Hearings Washington, Feb. 27.— With today the deadline for filing notices of appearance at the forthcoming theatre television hearings, 32 companies and associations have told the Federal Communications Commission they intend to appear. It is possible that a few more notices may be filed late today. Decree Doesn't End Contracts: Kalmus The proposed consent decree which would terminate the government's case against Technicolor in U. S. District Court in Los Angeles, does not terminate any contracts between Technicolor and its customers, nor does it otherwise affect any existing contracts between Technicolor and its customers as to pictures completed or on which photography has started, it is asserted here by Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus, Technicolor president. The decree "does give customers the option to cancel existing contracts as to future photoplays, but Technicolor believes that few, if any, of its customers will desire to do so,'' Kalmus added. The final entry of the decree in Los Angeles court is due today. Elaborating further on the consequences of the decree, Kalmus said that it "purports to terminate certain contracts between Technicolor and Eastman Kodak. Actually, we have not operated under any of these contracts for several years. Nothing in the decree permits the use of the name 'Technicolor' without the permission of Technicolor," Kalmus added. Lichtman's Pact Up Today; Talk New One Al Lichtman's future role at 20th Century-Fox has yet to be finally decided although the contract calling for his active, full-time services as vice-president will terminate today. It was said here yesterday that revision of the pact providing for continuation of Lichtman's active assignments is "in the talking stage with nothing finalized as yet." His contract, which took effect last March 1 calls for one year on a fulltime basis and four years in an advisory capacity. Lichtman returned here at the weekend from Florida. Robert P. Patterson, former Secretary of War, yesterday was appointed arbitrator of the David O. SelznickSir Alexander Korda dispute over distribution of Korda's "The Third Man" and "Gone to Earth" by Federal Judge Irving Kaufman in U. S. District Court here. Joseph M. Schenck, 20th CenturyFox studio executive, had been agreed upon as arbitrator of the dispute several weeks ago but subsequently withdrew because of a change of itinerary in his current vacation sojourn in the South, which made it inconvenient for him to set a hearing. With Selznick and Korda representatives here unable to agree on another arbitrator, Judge Kaufman yesterday appointed Patterson. In another legal move in the dispute, Selznick's attorneys filed an application for a temporary injunction to halt Korda from licensing the Eastern Hemisphere version of Korda's "Gone (Continued on page 7) Fourth Fireless Year At MPA Exchanges For the fourth successive year there was no reportable fire loss in any of the more than 400 regional film exchanges of the Motion Picture Association of America's member companies, it is disclosed in an annual report submitted by the association's conservation department to MPAA president Eric Johnston. According to the report, 1949 was the 10th of the 24 years since the department was established in which member company exchanges enjoyed fireless records. The average annual fire loss from 1926 to the end of 1949 is $202, a record low which is probably unmatched by any industry or commercial organization of similar operational scope, regardless of the product handled. (Continued on page 7) Home Offices Collect For 'Brotherhood' A luncheon-meeting of home office "Brotherhood Week" chairmen was held yesterday at the 21 Club here to discuss progress of the 1950 campaign, which closed on Sunday, and to discuss mechanics for home office collections scheduled for this week. The meeting was conducted by Robert Coyne ; speakers included A. W. Schwaiberg and Max E. Youngstein. Home office chairmen present included : Ulric Bell, 20th Century-Fox ; Harry Buckley, United Artists ; William Brenner, National Screen ; (Continued on page 7) Sees New Hope Of U. S. Aid In Tax Battle Snyder's Tax Stand *Not Frozen', Barron Reports Washington, Feb. 27. — The Treasury Department takes a sympathetic view towards a cut in the Federal admission tax, Carter T. Barron, Eastern division manager of Loew's Theatres, reported after a conference today with Treasury Secretary John Snyder. Barron said that Snyder had authorized him to say that "the attitude of the Treasury toward relief from this tax was not 'frozen', and that he testified to this effect before the House Ways and Means Committee. Secretary Snyder pointed out his statement before the committee, in which he said, 'If it is clearly shown that someone has failed to come forward and show us a very distressing situation, we would be glad to consider it.'." Snyder himself would not comment on Barron's remarks, and Treasury spokesmen pointed out the remarks were "an (Continued on page 8) 1 50 Accept for 20th 's Meet With plans currently being finalized for the 20th Century-Fox "Showmanship Meeting" in Chicago on March 8-9, more acceptances from leading exhibitors have arrived. To date, nearly 150 have made arrangements to attend the two-day conclave at the Drake Hotel. In addition, division and branch sales managers of 20th Century-Fox will be present. The agenda calls for a number of speakers, the presentation of 20th (Continued on page 7) Aim to Revise Bill On Social Security Washington, Feb. 27. — A representative of the Motion Picture Association of America will appear before the Senate Finance Committee next Monday to suggest a change in a House-approved social security bill now before the Senate group. The measure as passed by the (Continued on page 7)