Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1950)

ILL UOPV MOTION WC TURE DAILY VOL. 67. NO. 41 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1950 TEN CENTS Johnston Plans 'Exploratory' UK Pact Talks Has Asked Arnall to Accompany Him Abroad Washington, March 1. — Motion Picture Association of America president Eric Johnston will probably make an early trip to England, possibly with Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers president Ellis Arnall, to take "preliminary soundings" on the British government's current attitude on remittance arrangements and the film quota. MPAA officials here emphasized that the decision is not yet final. Though they would not say that the decision was made at this week's Miami meeting of top company officials, it appeared obvious that it was the result of that session. Johnston is thinking of going "with{Continucd on page 5) Johnston, Myers to Address 20th-Fox Showmanship Meet Eric Johnston, president of the Mo] tion Picture Association of America, and Abram F. Myers, general counsel of national Allied, have accepted invitations to address the 20th Century-Fox "Showmanship Meeting" in Chicago on March 8-9. Myers, currently engaged in the admission tax repeal fight on behalf of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations, is expected to bring the group up-to-date on its progress. In addition to company president {Continued on page 2) Theatres Asked to Cut Temperatures Owners of theatres and other private buildings heated by coal-burning equipment are asked to conform voluntarily to the ceiling of 68 to 70-degree temperatures imposed on public buildings in an order issued by New York state coal conservation authorities. The ceiling applies to weekdays, with a weekend drop to 60 degrees. TOA Ratifies COMPO, but With Budget Reservations Elect Simpson, Slack As RKO Directors Hollywood, March 1. — Election of A. D. Simpson, vice-chairman of the National Bank of Commerce, Houston, and Thomas A. Slack, vice-president and general counsel of the Hughes Tool Company, as directors of i-tKO Radio was announced here today by Ned E. Depinet, president, following a meeting of the board. The new directors succeed George H. Shaw and J. Miller Walker, whose resignations were accepted at the meeting. To Insist on Warner Booking for 'Thief Joseph Burstyn of Mayer-Burstyn, American distributor of Vittorio de Sica's "The Bicycle Thief," said yesterday he would insist that Warner Brothers live up to its contract to book the prize-winning Italian production despite the fact that the Motion Picture Association of America has denied it a PCA certificate of approval. The picture is supposed to open at the Princess Theatre, Philadelphia, on March 12, and subsequently is supposed to be booked into other houses of the circuit, according to Burstyn, who disclosed he unofficially was informed it would not be booked with {Continued on page 2) Theatre Owners of America's executive committee yesterday unanimously ratified the organization's participation in the Council of Motion Picture Organizations for one year, but declared "unsatisfactory" the projected COMPO budget of $600,000. Such financing, TOA executive director Gael Sullivan said following the first day's meeting here of a two-day session of the 13-member committee, is regarded as extending beyond TOA's concept as to what constitutes a "modest budget." Allied, the only other COMPO organization to set a time limit, also {Continued on page 5) Hope Dra ws Record $20,000 at Para. Bob Hope, in person, at the Paramount Theatre here, along with Jane Russell, yesterday gave the house its biggest opening day's gross in history, estimated at $20,000, the theatre's management reported last night. Paramount's "Captain China" is the film attraction. Hope and Miss Russell are appearing in six complete shows daily, each running about one hour. The house opens at eight A.M. The weekday admission scale has been increased from 90 cents at the eight A.M. opening to a maximum of $1.50 at night. The usual opening price is 55 cents, which is scaled to $1.25 at night. TREASURY STUDIES HOUSE TAX TESTIMONY FOR MORE CUTS Washington, March 1. — Secretary of the Treasury Snyder said today the Treasury is studying all testimony given to the House Ways and Means Committee to see if any excises other than those named by the President should be cut. The President did not list the ticket tax in his recommendations. At his weekly press conference, Snyder confirmed statements made Monday by Loew's Eastern division manager Carter Barron that the Treasury's attitude on the admission tax was not frozen, and that any industries making out hardship cases would be considered for relief. Snyder's views today pointed up remarks by Abram F. Myers, chairman {Continued on page 5) D. of J. Is Against Webb-PomereneBill _ Washington, March 1. — The Justice Department urged Congress today to ''give _ careful consideration to the advisability of completely repealing the Webb-Pomerene Act." This is the act under which the Motion Picture Export Association and other export groups operate. The Department's stand was given to a House Judiciary sub-committee holding hearings on a bill to overhaul the act. Justice opposed the bill, declaring that while some portions tight {Continucd on page 5) TOA Approves Meetings On Arbitration To Ask Distributors to Initiate Conferences Direct action was taken yesterday by the Theatres Owners of America's executive committee to get started industry conferences on the subject of arbitration of exhibitordistributor disputes. The committee authorized TOA president Samuel Pinanski, on the recommendation of executive director Gael Sullivan, and general counsel Herman M. Levy, to send letters to all distributors urging them to initiate conferences to determine : (1) Whether the industry wants an arbitration system, and (2) whether an acceptable system can be evolved. The committee gave its authorization "with the feeling that the indus {Continued on page 5) 'Films for Profit7 Upheld by DeMille At 'Loop 7 Hearing Chicago, March 1. — After a heated hearing highlighted by the testimony of Cecil B. DeMille, Paramount's petition seeking an extended pre-release run for "Samson and Delilah," to be offered to all Loop theatres under bidding was taken under advisement today by Federal Judge Michael Igoe. DeMille, producer-director of the film, told of his industn affiliation since 1913, named all the Biblical pictures he has produced and stated that {Continued on page 2) TOA Picks Houston For Annual Parley The executive committee of the Theatre Owners of America has selected Glenn McCarthy's Shamrock Hotel in Houston, Texas for the organization's 1950 convention, to open on Oct. 30 and run through Nov. 2, it was announced here yesterday by TOA executive director Gael Sullivan. Robert J. O'Donnell will serve as convention chairman.