Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1950)

IITmotion picture DAILY FILM NEWS NEW YORK, U. S. A., WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1950 TEN CENTS )hnston Sees alsh on U.K. ilming 'Bait' oduction in England oms as Key Problem By PETER BURNUP iOXDOX, May 30— Eric Johnspresident of the Motion Pic : Association of America, and aide, Joyce O'Hara, flew to Bin last night to discuss with •ard F. Walsh, president of the "SE, who now is visiting there, implications of British proposals continuance of American produchere as a major condition of a two-year Anglo-U.S. film remit e agreement. In return for maintaining the 7,000,000 annual remittance ithout change for another two ears, Britain is asking the merican companies to guaran•e that they will invest as uch in production here durig the period as they did durig the past two years. is estimated the American com,tes averaged about 12 pictures per {Continued on page 6) tudy Control *lan for U.K. London, May 30. — The Cinematoph Films Council, the statutory y appointed to advise the British lird of Trade on quota matters, will *t here Thursday for a full-dress |»ate on the Plant Report. It is (Continued on page 6) Bmine,, Brisk At\£ ()MP O REPORTS Z,fr«»82 SHUT DOWN The current week is an unusually good one for New York's first runs as yesterday's holiday income followed a generally strong weekend. Additionally, Monday's revenue was better than usual for most spots in spite of dismal weather. The outstanding performer is "Father of the Bride" with the stage presentation at the Music Hall. The show drew about $90,000 Thursday through Sunday and is figured to reach $153,000 in a standout second week. Opening week's take was $150,000 which exceeded earlier estimates. "Love That Brute" with Sid Caesar and his television revue on stage is headed for an estimated $80,000 in a healthy initial week at the Roxy. "The Big Hangover" with Woody Herman's orchestra on stage is likely to (Continued on page 4) U.S. Acts to Jail Lawson and Trumbo Cohen, Heiber and L u tzer Na med EL C Division Managers Milton E. Cohen and Edward E. Heiber, both of Eagle-Lion, will continue with Eagle-Lion Classics as Midwestern and Southern division managers, respectively, when the new organization emerges June 12 out of the consolidation of E-L and Film Classics, and J. L. Lutzer of Film Classics will be carried over into the new firm as West Coast division manager, it was revealed Monday by William J. Heineman, distribution vicepresident, and Bernard G. Kranze, general sales manager of ELC. Clayton Eastman and George Waldman, both of Film Pussies, will move over to the new company as New (Continued on page 4) Washington, May 30— The government will move speedily now to get John Howard Lawson and Dalton Trumbo started serving their oneyear jail sentence, according to the District Attorney's office here. By a 6 to 2 vote the Supreme Court has refused to reconsider its earlier decision not to review a Court of Appeals order upholding the contemptof-Congress conviction of the two for (Continued on page 6) Hunter Succeed e d by Hake in Para. Post Harry Hunter, managing director of Paramount Film Service, Ltd., in Australia since 1937, will resign his post to retire from the industry. George Weltner, president of Paramount International Films, has an(Continued on page 6) <abian and Hellman plit Five Drive-Ins IVlbany, N. Y., May 30. — Five re-in theatres operated jointly by Fabian and Neil Hellman have n divided, the Mohawk and Saraa in the Albany area going to □ian, and the Lincoln in Phila;)hia to Hellman. Fabian and llman have sold their Binghamton ive In to Comerford Theatres. MPAA to Survey U. S. Drive-Ins This Summer and Publish Data Collected The research department of the Motion Picture Association of America will conduct a survey of the nation's drive-in theatres during July and August with a view to publishing data concermng every such theatre in the U. S., including those that are closed or under construction. _ Paul Raibourn, Paramount vice-president and cha'rman ot MPAA's research committee, said the department will follow the pattern used in its comprehensive industry survey of 1948. MPAA will publish a drive-in theatre directory following completion of the survey, he said. Included in the data which will be sought from each drive-in is automobile capacity, number of months per year in operat;on, program policy, frequency of program changes and circuit affiliation, if any. Figures Gathered for Federal Tax Fight Are Still Incomplete Washington, May 30. — More than 482 U. S. theatres have permanently closed their doors during the last six months, according to reports wired to the tax committee of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations. A release from COMPO's tax committee chairman Abram F. Myers said that 25 of the nation's 32 film delivery territories had reported the closing of 482 theatres during that period. When reports are in from the other seven areas, the total will probably be over 500. The whopping figure, which surprised even those industry officials who all along have been most pessimistic about business, will_ provide powerful ammunition in the industry's fight for repeal of the 20 per cent admission tax. Myers said the tax committee hoped that members of the industry would use these figures in contacting their Congressmen and Senators on the need for repeal rather (Continued on page 6) Gains in Tour By Chadwick Washington, May 30.— I. E. Chadwick, president of the Independent Motion Picture Producers Association, said he has had a "splendid reception and reaction" so far in his cross-country tour to urge exhibitors to increase (Continued on page 6) Goldsmith Aims for $2,000,000 Credit Independent producer I. G. Goldsmith said yesterday he has his sights set on a $2,000,000 revolving_ credit fund with which to finance his _ own pictures and is here now discussing a deal with possible backers. He declined to identify the groups or individuals involved beyond saying he (Continued on page 4) lb A PARAMOUNT PICTURE IT'S THE BEST SHOW IN TOWN ! » IF IT'S A PARAMOUNT PICTURE. IT'S THE BEST SHOW IN TOWN ! . IF !fS A PARAMOUNT PICTURE. IT'S THE BEST SHOW Paramount:* MQST TALK PROVOKING PICTURE SUNSET BOULEVARD SINCE THE LOST WEEK END' A Hollywood Story T PICTURE. IT'S THE BEST SHOW IN TOWN I • IF IT'S A PARAMOUNT PICTURE, IT'S THE BEST SHOW IN TOWN '. VRAMOUN