Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1950)

FILE COPY MOTION PICTURE DAIL VOL. NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, JULY 3, 1950 Coast Meet to Set WB Sales And Ad Plans Called 'Most Important' In the Firm's History Warner Brothers plans what the home office describes as "the most important series of business meetings in the company's history," to take place at the company's Coast studios on July 13-15, with Ben Kalmenson, vicepresident in charge of distribution, presiding. On, the agenda will be the setting of an all-phase Warner policy in addition to sales and advertising plans for the company's productions. Attending the meeting in addition to the three Warner Brothers, Harry M., (Continued on page 3) Ben Kalmenson Hal Wallis Plans to Start Four in Fall Hal Wallis, here from Hollywood, will put four productions into work for the fall and winter season, he disclosed at the weekend, as he prepared to sail from here this evening on the Nieuw Amsterdam, for a combined business and pleasure trip to Europe. On his return to Hollywood in September, Wallis will start "The Stooge" as a vehicle for Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis ; "Night Man," a Burt Lancaster feature ; "Quantrell's (Continued on page 2) Goldsmith Due Here On Producing Fund Los Angeles, July 2. — Gloria Films Productions' president, I. G. Goldsmith, entrained here for New York at the weekend where he is expected to sign final papers for a $2,000,000 revolving fund to finance his own films. While in New York he also will confer with United Artists officials. Goldsmith was in New York three weeks ago conferring with a financial group regarding the revolving fund. AMPA to Salute The Trade Press "Salute to the Trade Press" at a luncheon scheduled by Associated Motion Picture Advertisers president Harry McWilliams for the fall, will have Mort Blumenstock, Warner's advertising publicity vice-president, as its chairman, it was announced by McWilliams on Friday. Blumenstock is a charter member of AMPA, "AMPA offcers and members want to honor publishers of the trade press, as well as editors and members of their staffs for the encouragement given to advertising, publicity and exploitation over the years," stated Dave Bader, publicity director of AMPA. UA Shelves Popkin Offer With the Harry Popkin-Joseph Justman proposals for acquiring control of United Artists conditionally rejected by the UA board, UA principals are now slated to engage in discussions of other possible deals on the Coast this week. Arthur W. Kelly, executive vicepresident, and Vitalis Chalif, board member, are scheduled to meet Mary Pickford and Charles Chaplin, co (Continued on page 3) New Contract ForBlumberg The board of directors of Universal Pictures has approved a long-term contract for its president, N. J. Blumberg. Trade reports indicate that it is for a term of five years. Action on the contract was taken on the eve of Blumberg's departure for England and the Continent, where he will confer with J. Arthur Rank and John Davis, and other members of the J. Arthur Rank Organization. He left here Friday by plane with Al Daff, UniversalInternational executive vice-president. Blumberg went to Universal as president of the company on Jan. 1, 1938. He had resigned the post of (Continued on page 3) N. J. Blumberg Mono. Plans Four in Cinecolor for Year Monogram's releasing schedule for 1950-51 will include four pictures in Cinecolor, the same as in the 1949-50 schedule, it was disclosed Friday at the final session of a two-day sales conference held at the Hotel Warwick (Continued on page 3) Florida State, Paramount Enterprises Consolidate Miami, July 2. — Eighteen Florida State theatres in the Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale areas have merged with the 14 Paramount Enterprises theatres in the Greater Miami area, with Leon D. Netter, Florida State's general manager and executive vice-president, continuing in both capacities as head of the consolidation. The merger of the two Paramount Theatres affiliates is a consequence of the divestiture ruling handed down in the industry anti-trust suit. George Hoover, formerly general manager of Paramount Enterprises here, has been named divisional manager of the merged operation; Al Weiss, Jr., was appointed divisional supervisor, and Al Wilkie will head advertising-publicity-exploitation. No Offer Yet, but E-L Would Sell Its Studio Eagle-Lion (now one segment of the de facto consolidation known as Eagle Lion Classics) would sell its Coast studio promptly if it received a suitable offer, according to ELC president William C. MacMillen, Jr. The studio is in no way involved in the merger with Film Classics. MacMillen pointed out that as yet the company has received no offers. He will be in Hollywood late this month for product conferences. fuses oan ForProduction See Little Chance for Other Bids for US Aid Washington, July 2. — The Reconstruction Finance Corp. has turned down the application of independent producer Sam Bischoff for a $4,800,000 government loan to finance film production. The RFC's action was a major setback to the hopes of independent producers to get government financial aid for filmmaking. No official announcement was made of the RFC vote, but several top RFC officials confirmed that the action had been taken. There was no statement as to the reasons for the refusal. Several other applications from other independent producers for smaller loans are still pending, but there is apparently little hope that they will be any more successful. Bischoff's application had been vigorously pressed, with Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers president Ellis Arnall and other officials lining (Cotitinued on page 3) Reserve Decision in RKO, Reade Dispute Decision has been reserved in New Jersey Superior Court, Trenton, in the suit by RKO seeking dissolution on court order of its partnership with Walter Reade in the operation of Trenton-New Brunswick Theatres. Judge Jayne indicated he might decide the case this month. The RKO aim is for appointment of trustees who would direct the break-up of the partnership which it is forced to terminate in accordance (Continued on page 3) 30 Days Added for 20th 's Partner Splits Department of Justice and 20th Century-Fox are expected to file a stipulation in U. S. District Court here this week which would extend the company's deadline for terminating exhibitor partnerships another 30 days, to July 30. The company is interested in the operation of five theatres in the West and has a minority interest in Golden Gate Theatres and T. and D., Jr., Enterprises, all of which must be disposed of.