Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1950)

4 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, May 4, 1< Cleveland Critics Aid 'Showmanship' Cleveland, May 3.— The local Showmanship Campaign Committee's new plan to increase business by a newspaper film critics' award to the best first-run picture of the month bore its first fruit todav with the announcement of "The Third Man" as April's winner. The selection, on a point system, was made by Omar Ranney of The Press; YV. Ward Marsh, Plain Dealer, and Arthur Spaeth of the News in cooperation with campaign committeemen Frank Murphy, Loew's division manager ; J. Knox Strachan, Warner publicity director, and Leonard Greenberger, Fairmount Theatre manager. TOA Stand on COMPO (Continued from page 1) Now Philippines May Cut Remittances U. S. film industry is facing the possibility of another foreign market set-back with a new bill proposed by the Philippines legislature which would place a limitation of about 50 per cent on dollar remittances on a wide range of products, including motion pictures, it is learned here. The Motion Picture Association of America, which has representation in Manila, will protest the measure to the U. S. State Department. longer appears to regard trade practices as a COMPO issue in view of publication yesterday of M-G-M distribution vice-president William F. Rodgers' statement that he will do no more than call the Chicago meeting's attention to the need for COMPO to engage in trade practices. It had been expected that he would submit a formal resolution calling for by-law amendments that would commit COMPO to the establishment of arbitration machinery, thereby making it an issue. Neither he nor anyone else is expected to press for such action now, however. Mention Candidates With the Chicago meeting only a few days away names of individuals believed to be particularly well qualified to hold the presidency of the new organization are being mentioned with increasing frequency. Among these are Ned E. Depinet, who has been, serving as chairman of the organization pending its formal establishment ; Robert J. O'Donnell, who declined to accept another term as international chief barker of Variety Clubs, and Arthur Mayer, whose background includes, in addition to distribution and exhibition activity, service for the U. S. government in overseas areas during and after World War II and important posts with the industry's War Activities Committee. Yesterday's TOA meeting was attended by Gael Sullivan, S. H. Fabian, Herman Levy, Leonard Goldenson and Robert W. Coyne, the last-named WARNER BROS.' TRADE SHOW MAY 8th ZACHARV SCOTT EDWIN LMARIN PRODUCED BY SAUL ELKINS WRITTEN BY THOMAS BLACKBUR ALBANY Warner Screening Room 79 N. Pearl SI. • 12:30 P.M. ATLANTA 20th Cenlury-Fox Screening Boom 197 Wollon SI. N.W. • 2:30 P.M. BOSTON BKO Screening Roam 122 Arlington Si. • 2:30 tM. BUFFALO Paramount Screening Room tti Franklin St. • 2:00 P.M. CHARLOTTE 20th Century-Fox Screening Room 308 S. Church St. • 2 00 PJL CHICAGO Warner Screening Room 1307 So. Wabash Are. • 1.30 tM. CINCINNATI RKO Paloce Th. Screening Room Poloce Th. Eldg. E. 6th • 8 00 PM. CLEVELAND Womer Screening Room 2300 Porne Ave • 8:30 P.M. DALLAS 20th Cenlury-Foi Screening Room 1303 Wood St. • 2:00 PJt DENVER Paramount Screening Room 2100 Stool St. • 2:00 Ml DES MOINES Paramount Screening Room 1 125 High Si. • 12 AS ?M. uilding |. Sc. Rm. 8 00 P.M. DETROIT Film Exchange 6 2310 Coss Ave. INDIANAPOLIS 20th Cenlury-Foi Screening Roam 326 No. Illinois SI. ■ 100 P.M. JACKSONVILLE Florido Theatre 81c 128 E. Forsyth SI. KANSAS CITY 20th Cenlury-Fox Screening Room 1720 Wyondolle SI. ■ 1 30 P.M. LOS ANGELES Warner Screening Room 202S S. Vermont Ave. • 2:00 P.M. MEMPHIS 20th Cenlury-Fox Screening Room 1S1 Vonte Ave. • 2:00 P.M. MILWAUKEE Warner Theatre Screening Room 212 W. Wisconsin Ave. MINNEAPOLIS Worner Screening Room 1000 Currie Ave. • 2:00 P.M. NEW HAVEN Worner Theatre Projertio 70 College SI. • 2:00 P.M. NEW ORLEANS 20lh Century-Fox Screening Room 200 S. liberlv Si. ■ 8 00 P.M. NEW YORK Home Office 321 W. 44lh SI. • 2 30 P.M. J Roam • 2 00 P.M. n Room OKLAHOMA 20lh Century-Fox Screenin 10 North lee SI. • 1:30 P.M. OMAHA 20th Cenlury-Fox Screening Room IS02 Oovenporl SI. • 1:00 P.M. PHILADELPHIA Worner Screening Room 230 No. 13th SI. • 2:30 P.M. PITTSBURGH 20th Century-Fox Screening Room 17)5 Blvd. ol Allies • 1:30 P.M. PORTLAND Jewel Box Screening Room 1947 N.W. Keorney SI. • 2:00 P.M. SALT LAKE 20lh Cenlury-Fox Screening Room 216 Easl Tsl Soulh • 2:00 P.M. SAN FRANCISCO Republic Pict, Screening Room 221 Golden Gate Ave. • 1:30 P.M. SEATTLE Jewel Box Screening Room 2318 Second Ave. ■ 10 30 A.M. ST. LOUIS S'renco Screening Room 3143 Olive SI. • 100 P.M. WASHINGTON Worner Theatre Building I3fh t E. Sis U.K. • 10 30 A M. representing Ted R. Gamble. Prior to the meeting Sullivan, executive director, polled other TOA leaders by telephone and wire for opinions relating to the stand the exhibitor organization should take on various subjects at the Chicago meeting. TOA has gone on record as opposed to a $600,000 budget for COMPO, on the ground that such financing is too high. It was reported yesterday that not only does TOA want "a modest program and modest financing," as previously stated, but it will urge at the forthcoming meeting that COMPO function on a project-by-project basis rather than on any overall program. TOA reportedly will seek to have COMPO activities approved and financed individually before being undertaken, it was said. The Chicago meeting is expected to feature a report by Abram F. Myers, chairman of the COMPO tax committee, which waged the fight for repeal of the 20 per cent Federal admissions tax. Myers is on record as favoring a continuing battle until total repeal rather than 50 per cent reduction, has been won. Some of the COMPOmember organizations appear to be in agreement with Myers on this. However, there also is strong sentiment tor considering the tax fight a victory with the House Ways and Means Committees approval of the 50 per cent cut, the reasoning being that half-a-loaf is better than none." Many TOA stalwarts are in the latter corner. UK Finance Bi Eases Tax on Stage Shows Onl London, May 3. — Exhibitors to a dim view of the theatre admissi tax concession contained in /"Tk.tc1 of the British finance bill, [ pph today, which provides relief dniy 1 combination film-stage shows. Whe a quarter of the total program coi prises "live" entertainment with ' t remainder in films, the tax will levied in the proportion of two-thir at the full rate and one-third at f rate applying to stage plays. Exhibitors here still feel that Cha cellor of the Exchequer Sir Staffo Cripps has given them the brusho pointing out that M-G-M's Empi here is virtually the only theatre ct rently likely to benefit. At least per cent of the country's theatres a not even equipped for stage shows. The admission tax here is 38 p cent on films and about five per ce on stage plays. Meanwhile, it is learned that J. A thur Rank has plans to convert soi: of his film . theatres into legitima houses to avoid the high tax. A r vival of the "Annie Get Your Gu< stage -company will open at one Rank's outer London houses soon. NCA Meet (Continued from page 1) New Divorce Stays (Continued from page 1) Feb. 8, the effective date of the decree i his was pushed back to May 8 when the three companies appealed to the high court, ft is now apparent that the Supreme Court will not have acted on the appeals by that date, the cases not even having been docketed at the court as yet. Accordingly, the companies have requested a stay of the effective date until the court decides whether or not it will hear the appeals. the Justice Department is inclined to oppose the request for a further stay, and the matter is further complicated by the fact that Justice attorney Philip Marcus, in charge of the case, entered the hospital today for possibly as much as a week of observation. The Department may ask the high, court to hold off action on the new -request for another week or 10 days, ff Justice does make such a request or opposes the companies' pleas, the matter will probably be assigned to one of the high court justices for an immediate decision. Producers' Guild ( Continued from page 1 ) sion tomorrow. Snow and sleet storr throughout the upper Midwest cut a tendance at the opening session. ' Pointing out "obvious weaknesse of Zenith Radio's plan for televish of film product, Kane minimized tl threat of disaster to the independe theatre owners. He was supported his view by Trueman T. Rembusc president of Allied States Associatio H. M. Richey of M-G-M, a memb of the COMPO committee on tax; tion, urged North Central Allied intensify its fight to win total elimin; tion of the 20 per cent Feder. amusement tax. Richey agreed wil Benjamin N. Berger, North Centr; Allied president, who said that the 1 per cent reduction passed by Congre, was "not satisfactory'' and that Norl Central Allied would support an al out drive for repeal. The convention heard a report < the year's activities by Berger and discussion on public relations by Lec J. Bamberger, RKO Radio sales pn motion chief. A panel discussion c drive-in theatres and a report on § Legion of Decency completed 1 afternoon program. Members were to meet after lunt t°m.orrow for a discussion on fill buying practices, committee repori and elections of officers U' to Probe (Continued from page 1 ) cally will not function as a bargaining agency but will concentrate on public relations and matters affecting industry harmony and welfare, is open to any producer gainfully employed who has produced three or more feature pictures and to short subject and cartoon producers who have made six or more subjects. First official meeting of the SPG will be held on May 6 in Chasen's Restaurant. 4 analyze business conditions in e* individual situation in all respecti branches throughout the country. The meetings today and tomorro will be attended by D. A. Levy Nevll York; E. Myer Feltman and' Tor,,]'! Donaldson, Boston; Arthur Green j field, New Haven; George Schwart i , and Joe Leon, Philadelphia ; Harr j Martin, Washington, and John j»' Scully, district manager. Home offio executives attending, in addition § Scully, will be A. J. O'Keefe, C. J Feldman, James J. Jordan and J. B Huber.