Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1950)

Monday, August 21, 1950 Motion Picture Daily 5 Film Location Fees On Public Lands Earn U.S. $1,594 Washington, Aug. 20. — The Interior Department announced today that the Federal Treasury has profited by $1,594 from the filming of eight features on California and Utah public lands d Ln» the first six months of this yiiA^Of the eight features, only one wSs shot in Utah. The companies shooting were 20thFox, Universal, RKO-Radio, Columbia, M-G-M, Edward Small and Republic. Twelve films were shot on these lands in 1949, with payments to the Government of $1,903. Warner Film Again Cited in Record Washington, Aug. 20. — The Congressional Record carries a tribute to Warner Brothers by Senator Edward Martin of Pennsylvania in which he refers to "Fifty Years Before Your Eyes" as "a most unusual and significant film which stands out as a brilliant example of visual education in Americanism." This is the second mention of this picture in the Congressional Record, and is said to be the first film that has had commendation from both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Rank Sells Tatler Theatre; Winter Garden Bids Too Low London, Aug. 20. — The J. Arthur Rank Organization has sold the 690seat Tatler Theatre in London's West End to Jacey Cinemas, a newsreel chain headed by J. C. Cohen. The house will be remodelled and switched to a newsreel policy. Britain's first theatre television was staged in the house in 1939 by Isadore Ostrer. Purchase price was in the neighborhood of $200,000. Other Rank properties liquidated recently include Devonshire House, Piccadilly, originally intended as the home office ; Imperial House, former headquarters of the Rank publicity department ; Moor Hall, Cookham, color cartoon studio, and the Crouch End Hippodrome. Rank was unsuccessful in disposing of the Winter Garden Theatre, Drury Lane, at auction, the bids not reaching the reserve price, and negotiations for the sale of the Tivoli, in the Strand, and the Super Cinema, Kensington, have not been completed. Allport Due Here (Continued from page 1) Arthur Blasts (Continued from page 1) "Francis," "Ma and Pa Kettle," "Cinderella," "Treasure Island," "Winchester .73," "My Friend Irma" and "Fancy Pants" are still being produced. These top-quality entertainments happily illustrate that all is not lost and that our industry is still very much alive and kicking. But these productions sadly are now in the minority. Were it not so, we should not now be wondering where our former grosses have wandered." WB Marking Time (Continued from page 1) new picture company which would be formed and both common stock and debentures in the new theatre company in exchange for their holdings in the parent corporation. Meanwhile, the government has agreed to a new 30-day extension of the deadline for Warner to dissolve its partnership in Atlantic Theatres, New Jersey circuit, until Sept. 21. been completed by the respective British and American technicians' committees as of now. Consequently, Allport's visit here is largely in the nature of a vacation trip combined with interim reports and conferences on the details of the remittance agreement which remain to be worked out. Allport will return to London early in September to renew the work of the technicians' committees, with indications that no final draft is being looked for much in advance of Oct. 1, when the new pact is scheduled to become effective. Advisory Unit (Continued from page 1) Lockhart Quits RKO (Continued from page 1) BANKING FOR THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY Banker COMPAN sJTRUST \ h\V > OK K MEMBER FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION assumed on July 26, 1948, shortly after Howard Hughes acquired control of RKO, the company stated. A management consultant, Lockhart became associated with the Hughes interests several years ago following service as operating vice-president of the management engineering firm of MacDonald Brothers, Inc., of Boston. Lockhart's specific assignment at RKO was the "streamlining" of studio operations and placing them upon an economical basis. While at RKO, he was in complete charge of all phases of the physical operation of both the Gower Street and Culver City Studios. He will announce a new affiliation in the near future. Allied, 3 Regionals (Continued from page 1) Motion Picture Theatre Association of Virginia, has informed Mayer that a Virginia State war activities committee, to be formed within the next two or three weeks, will be prepared to work with COMPO on the industry's liaison program with the War Department and government agencies. Christmas Seal Trailer Hollywood, Aug. 20. — The Paramount studio has completed production of the 1950 Christmas Seal trailer, which features Ray Milland making the annual appeal. The trailer will be attached to the newsreels of all five companies for December release. this year by MPAA president Eric Johnston to help producers of foreign films find wider markets in this country. The report notes that 43 film producers or their representatives from 18 countries have thus far come to New York at their own expense to study the nature and scope of the project. Not included in the figure are four film industry officials from Italy and France, who came here at the Unit's invitation to serve as permanent liaison members. Half from France, Italy Of the 43 foreign film representatives who have been to New York for meetings with Kreisler, 24 — more than half — have come from Italy and France. The preponderance of response from these two countries is attributed to the fact that tangible commercial benefits have already accrued through the Unit to French and Italian feature product. Other countries which sent emissaries to New York for Advisory Unit consultations include Argentina, Mexico, Canada, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, England, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Egypt, Israel, Turkey, India and Siam. In addition to the personal visits, the report points out, the Unit has received a total of 22 written inquiries from producers in 11 other foreign countries, asking for details and information on the assistance program. The report adds that during this period, five foreign pictures— four Italian and one French — were presented to the Unit for trade showing in New York. This is one of a number of services offered gratis by the Unit. "As a result of these screenings, American distribution rights for three of the pictures were quickly negotiated, with favorable terms to the parties involved," it was disclosed. It is significant, Kreisler observed, that producers of two of the pictures for which successful contracts were concluded had called on the Unit's facilities after initial attempts to market the films here had failed. Primary function of the Unit, which is under the supervision of John G. McCarthy, MPAA vicepresident in charge of international affairs, is to make available to foreign producers the information, knowledge and merchandising experience needed to help them to increase audiences for their films in the U. S. Its objective is to spur the importation of more foreign motion pictures to America, thereby helping their producers and, in the process, helping to stimulate the flow of dollars to film-producing countries abroad. A Unique Project Commenting on the Unit's activities, Nathan D. Golden, chief of the Motion Picture Division of the U. S. Department of Commerce, wrote the Unit : "The motion picture industry is the only one on record as an industry which is assisting foreign com in Brief LA. HOLLINGSWORTH, for• merly New York staff member of the Associated Press and United Press has been appointed public relations director of WPIX, New York Daily News television station. He succeeds Frank Young who has resigned. • San Francisco, Aug. 20. — Harold Citron, North Coast Theatres general manager, and Lester Blomberg, secretary, arrived here over the weekend from Los Angeles for a week's meetings with the circuit's local staff. • Ottawa, Aug. 20. — Famous Players Canadian Corp. has declared a 25-cent dividend for the quarter ending Sept. 30 on its common shares, payable Sept. 23 to shareholders of record on Sept. 8. • Cleveland, Aug. 20. — Harry Weiss, formerly local 20th-Fox exploiteer and salesman for Eagle Lion for the past year, replaces Ray Wild as RKO Radio salesman. New Rank Film Here "Madeleine," a new picture from the J. Arthur Rank Studios in England, will have its American premiere at the Park Avenue Theatre in New York on Thursday, Aug. 31. The film stars Ann Todd. "Madeleine" was produced by Stanley Haynes and directed by David Lean. It is being rereleased in the United States by Universal -International. petitors to merchandise their product in this country." Kreisler said that later this year film producers from Sweden, Germany, Argentina and Mexico will send official delegates to New York on Advisory Unit missions. These delegates will serve in a liaison capacity with producer colleagues in their own countries — a relationship which is said to be showing results. "The Advisory Unit has made good headway in its first half year," said Kreisler's report. "While the area of assistance has thus far been limited, the worldwide interest expressed in the project augurs increasing use of the Unit's services by overseas producers." Daylight and Overnight DC-6 Mainliner 300s 1 1 HRS. ONESTOP to LOS ANGELES j Leaves 11 am, arrives 6:55 pm United's overnight flight to H Los Angeles leaves at 9 pm; arrives the next morning, n Flights operate on Standard Time UNITED AIR LINES