Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1950)

2 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, March 2, 1950 Phonevision Test Delayed E. F. McDonald, president of Zenith Radio Corp., disclosed here yesterday that his company's actual experiments with Phonevision, authorized to begin now, will be postponed from two to three months to allow for preparation by the telephone company and Zenith's radio station in Chicago. He said he believed that the Federal Communications Commission, in authorizing a 90-day testing period beginning this month, inadvertently failed to take into account the required time for preparation and expects the FCC to revise its authorization order accordingly. Despite repeated reports to the contrary, McDonald said only one film company, RKO Radio, among those approached, refused to approve the use of its films in the tests. He said he has films lined up and that they are "of recent vintage," but declined to disclose the identity of the companies involved or the actual titles. Crosby to Attend Florida Premiere Front Royal, Va., March 1. — Bing Crosby will appear at the world premiere of his new Paramount film, "Riding High," to be held here at the Park Theatre on Saturday. Opening of the picture will launch a fund-raising campaign for the local recreation association and will mark the dedication of its new stadium, named after the star who, two years ago, helped raise funds for its construction. 'Films for Profit' (Continued from page 1) the purpose of the pre-release engagements is to give the film, because of its unusual nature the widest possible "word-of-mouth" advertising. Replying to a charge made by Jackson Park attorney Thomas McConnell, inferring that the company's only interest in the pre-release engagement is monetary, DeMille said, "I can't make any more pictures if I don't make profits." Reveals Rental Clauses It was brought out that Paramount will ask 70-30 per cent rental terms, with an optional clause guaranteeing the exhibitor a 10 per cent profit providing house expenses are disclosed. McConnell charged that Paramount, in specifying that exhibitors list their admission charge in contracts, is indirectly fixing admissions. DeMille predicted that 40,000,000 "non-moviegoers" will eventually see the film and fixed the break-even figure for the production at $7,000,000. Negative costs were $2,750,000, another $1,000,000 for advertising and 28 per cent for distribution fees, he disclosed. Henry Wilcoxon, who told of his appearances before church and educational groups in behalf of the film, and James Donahue, Paramount Central division manager, also appeared as witnesses. Personal Mention GRADWELL L. SEARS, United Artists president, will leave here tomorrow by plane for a Florida vacation. Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., his executive assistant, is due here Monday from Phoenix. Arthur W. Kelly, executive vice-president, will leave here March 9 for the Coast. • George F. Dembow of National Screen Service will leave here today by plane for the Coast, and will return in time to leave here on March 22 for Europe. • Howard Wirth, son of Ben Wirth, president of Warner Service Corp., and general by-products manager of Warner cartoons, is engaged to Diana Sault of Philadelphia. • Winton Frost, head of EagleLion's legal department, was married to Margaret Lawrance last Friday. The couple will leave here tomorrow for a honeymoon at Aiken, S. C. • Harry Berman, Eagle-Lion Philadelphia branch manager, is still on the critical list following an operation complicated by a heart attack. • Sam Dembow, Producers Service Corp. president, will leave here today by plane for the Coast. A W. SMITH, JR., 20th Century• Fox sales vice-president, will leave here today for a month's vacation at Jacksonville. He will fly from there to attend the company's "Showmanship Meeting" at Chicago next week, returning to Jacksonville at its conclusion. • Greer Garson, Herbert Marshall and Mrs. Marshall, Joseph Calleia, Joseph Rattenberg, director, and Mrs. Rattenberg are among the passengers who arrived here yesterday from England on the 5".5. Queen Mary. • Leon Brandt, Eagle-Lion advertising-publicity director, and Charles Amory, account executive for the Monroe Greenthal agency, are in Boston from New York. • B. G. Kranze, Film Classics sales vice-president, has left here for Dallas and will continue on to the Coast following a tour of Southern exchanges. • William Heineman, Eagle-Lion distribution vice-president, will return here from the Coast today. • George Sidney, M-G-M director, is due here Monday from the Coast for a vacation. 'Francis' Here Today To Promote His Film "Francis," Universal-International's talking mule and star of the picture of the same name, will arrive here today to be given a New York welcome by Jane Russell in Times Square at two P.M. Climaxing a nationwide tour, the mule's visit will be in conjunction with the opening of "Francis" at the Paramount on March 15. "Francis" will visit veterans' hospitals, schools, department stores, orphanages and other locations, in addition to making appearances on network radio and television broadcasts. To Address 20th Meet (Continued from page 1) Spyros P. Skouras and vice-presidents Al Lichtman, Andy W. Smith, Jr., and Charles Einfeld, home office sales executives attending the meeting will be W. C. Gehring, Peter Levathes, Clarence Hill, Sam Shain, Frank Carroll, Morris Caplan, Lem Jones and Roger Ferri. Representing the company's international corporation will be Emanuel Silverstone, Francis Harley, Leslie Whelan, H. Blackmer Johnson and Ulric Bell. Home office advertising-publicity department representatives will include Jonas Rosenfeld, Rodney Bush, David Golding, Stirling Silliphant, Al Palca, Abe Goodman, Vic Sedlow, Earl Wingart and Ira Tulipan. Boston Honors Johnson Boston, March 1. — Local newspaper film editors, circuit operators and Boston 20th-Fox executives attended a press luncheon honoring Nunnally Johnson, 20th Century-Fox producer. Crawford, 3 Others Are Cited by 'Look' Look Magazine, in its current issue, cites four actors, 16 films, and a producer, director, writer and cameraman, for their work in Hollywood during the past year. In the acting department, the recipients are : Broderick Crawford for "All the King's Men," Olivia de Havilland for "The Heiress," and Mercedes McCambridge and Dean Jagger receiving special awards for "All the King's Men" and "Twelve O'clock High," respectively. Pictures cited are: "All the King's Men," "The Heiress," "Letter to Three Wives," "The Stratton Story," "Battleground," "Home of the Brave," "Pinky," "Twelve O'Clock High," "Champion," "Intruder in the Dust," "Rope of Sand," "White Heat," "The Fallen Idol," "Jolson Sings Again," "Samson and Delilah" and "The Window." The all-industry achievement went to Cecil B. DeMille, Dore Schary, William Wellman, Robert Rossen. Name Youngstein to Palsy Drive Post Max E. Youngstein, Paramount's director of advertising-publicity, has been appointed public relations chairman for the United Cerebral Palsy Association's nationwide education and fund-raising campaign to be held in May, Leonard H. Goldenson, president of United Paramount Theatres and head of the Association, announced yesterday. Nick John Matsoukas, director of community services for Skouras Theatres here, will be in charge of special events to promote the drive. Coming Events Today — Theatre Owners of America executive committee meeting, Hotel Astor, New York. Tomorrow — Actors' Equity^^ssociation meeting, Hotel ^Bfttor, New York. ' Tomorrow — Variety Club of Albany eighth anniversary dinner-dance honoring Saul J. Ullman, retiring chief barker, DeWitt Clinton Hotel, Albany. March 4 — Beverly Hills B'nai B'rith testimonial dinner for Charles P. Skouras, Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles. March 6 — Testimonial dinner for Carl J. Goe, Taft Hotel, New Haven. March 6-8 — Chicago Television Conference, Palmer House, Chicago. March 8 — Cinema Stamp Collectors meeting, Hotel Astor, New York. March 8-9— 20th Century-Fox Exhibitors Showmanship Meeting, Drake Hotel, Chicago. March 23 — A nnual Academy Awards presentations, Pantages Theatre, Hollywood. March 23-24 — National Board of Review 41st anniversary conference, Hotel McAlpin, New York. A session will be held at the 20th Century-Fox home office projection room on the 24th. March 27-28— Theatre Owners of Oklahoma annual convention, Hotel Skirvin, Oklahoma City. March 28 — Kansas-Missouri Theatre Association meeting, Kansas City. April 4-5 — North Central Allied board meeting and annual convention, Minneapolis. April 12 — Jewish War Veterans testimonial dinner for Louis B. Mayer, Hotel Waldorf-Astoria, New York. April 26-29— Variety Clubs International annual convention, Roosevelt Hotel, New Orleans. To Insist on 'Thief ' (Continued from page 1) out a Production Code seal. He added that he "would take legal action," if necessary. Burstyn also stated he will appeal to the MPAA for the certificate. He said Joseph Breen, Production Code Administrator, was "unfairly severe" with the picture. He charged Breen with wanting scripts of foreign films to be submitted to him "for approval in advance." Burstyn charged there is a tendency to discourage foreign films here that are "frank" in theme. He pointed out that without circuit deals a foreign film loses 75 per cent of its potential bookings. Breen advised Burstyn that the picture could be made acceptable with two eliminations. De Sica has refused. The film, given a "B" rating by the National Legion of Decency, is now playing in New York, Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Terry Ramsaye, Consulting Editor Published daily exceot Saturdays Sundays and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100 Cable addre^ss "oS eour^' New York/' Martin Qmgley President; Red Kann Vice-President; Martin Quigley Jr Vice-President; Theo. J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasure^ Leo L Brady, Secretary •' feft'8 PV^T.ngRam' NT£ 1$ T a?-6?6" V» Fecke, Advertising J Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager. Hollywood Bureau, Yucca-Vine Building, William R. Weaver f A° n»S ? Nf?i„n»i P '■• ri K°w Mich'gan Avenue Editorial and Advertising; Harry To er, Advertising Representative; Jimmy Ascher, Editorial Representative Washington J. A. Otten National Press Club, Washington D. C London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl : Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, "Quigpubco, London" Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald; Better Theatres and Theatre Sales, each published 13 times a year as a section of Motion Picture Hlrald; International Motion Picture Almanac; Fame Entered as second class matter, Sept. 23, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3. 1879. Subscription rates per year. J6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c H r*ra per