Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1950)

2 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, November 16, 1950 Personal Mention Strike Threat of TV Perf ormers Growing 315 At Testimonial To Wolf, Rembusch Indianapolis, Nov. 15. — Leaders of the film industry from all parts of the country were among the 315 men and women who attended the testimonial dinner for Marc J. Wolf, chief barker of Variety Clubs International, and Trueman Rembusch, president of Allied States, here last night. Speakers included Governor Henry F. Schricker of Indiana ; Jack Beresin, Philadelphia, first assistant chief barker of Variety International ; Abram F. Myers, general counsel of Allied; Marshall Thompson, Robert Young, and Sam Switow, Indiana and Kentucky exhibitor, whose father sold Rembusch's father his first theatre. Col. William McCraw, Dallas, executive director of Variety International, was toastmaster. Thomas McCleaster, chief barker of Indianapolis Variety Club, presided. Among those who came to pay their compliments to Wolf and Rembusch, both Indianapolis men, were Abe Montague, Columbia general sales manager; A. W. Schwalberg, president of Paramount Film Distributing Corp., and William L. Ainsworth, former president of Allied States. MPAA Board Review The Situation Abroad Motion Picture Association of America president Eric A. Johnston returned to New York yesterday from Washington to attend the second successive day of MPAA board conferences. He had gone to Washington Tuesday evening at the conclusion of the first day's meeting at the Association's offices here. Yesterday's conference revolved around developments in Italy, France, Japan and Germany, with action understood to have been limited to an exchange of ideas and opinions. The MPAA president will remain in New York until after the Picture Pioneers dinner, which he will attend, at the Waldorf-Astoria this evening. CBS Color TV (Continued from page 1) til the Judges reach a decision, which will be "as soon as possible." Speaking for the three judges, Judge Major said it would be "unthinkable" to make a decision today because the questions were so great and the arguments presented by both sides required such careful study before arriving at any decision. RCA and NBC have asked for an interlocking injunction, and the Federal Communications Commission, CBS, and the government have requested a summary judgment. TOA Undecided (Continued from page 1) Motion Picture Association of America president Eric A. Johnston testifies on Friday. Sullivan will be in New York on Friday for the Council of Motion Picture Organizations board meeting. LOUIS WEINBERG, Columbia sales executive, is on a tour of company exchanges in the interests of the current "Montague Sweepstakes." • Charles Schlaifer, head of the advertising agency bearing his name, has been designated a member of the National Advisory Mental Health Council of the Public Health Service. • Don R. Pears, managing director and part-owner of the Hollywood Theatre, Buchanan, Mich., has been elected to the Michigan House of Representatives. • C. C. Moskowitz, vice-president and treasurer of Loew's, will leave here today for the Coast. • Nat Levy, RKO Radio Eastern sales manager, will be in Buffalo' today and tomorrow from New York. • Bernard G. Kranze, Eagle Lion Classics general sales manager, has left here for Cincinnati. Way Clear to Hear Auten-Kerridge Suit A motion by R. J. Kerridge, New Zealand exhibitor and distributor, to vacate a writ of attachment obtained by Harold Auten, formerly Kerridge's American representative and plaintiff in a suit to recover $706,125 allegedly owed by Kerridge, was denied yesterday by New York Supreme Court Justice William C. Hecht, Jr. Auten claims in his suit that he represented Kerridge in negotiations with J. Arthur Rank which resulted in the sale, in 1946, to Rank of 50 per cent of the New Zealander's exhibition and distribution holdings. Auten is suing for a 10 per cent commission for his services. As a preliminary to the suit, Auten's attorneys attached Kerridge's funds in the Chase Bank of New York. Allied Unit Meets (Continued from page 1) cially by the phrase in the decree which has been used to extend compulsory bidding to independents and non-affiliated circuits. Myers maintains that the decree does not affect all situations but he has been unsuccessful in pressing distributors to seek a clarification. It is in this connection that Allied may seek clarification from the Department of Justice as "the other party" in the decree. ROBERT MOCHRIE, RKO sales vice-president, will return here today from St. Louis. A. W. Schwalberg, president of Paramount Film Distributing Corp., will return here today from exhibitor conventions in Indiana and Ohio. • Dore Schary, M-G-M vice-president in charge of production, plans to arrive here from the Coast on Dec. 23, accompanied by his wife and his executive assistant, Walter Reilly. • Robert Vogel, Loew's International representative at the M-G-M studios, is due here from the Coast on Nov. 25. • Norman Pyle, M-G-M field press representative at Des Moines and Omaha, has arrived in New York for conferences with Dan S. Terrell, head of exploitation. • M. L. Simons, assistant to M-G-M's H. M. Richey, has returned here from St. Louis. Cinema Prod. Hold Board Meeting Here A board meeting of Cinema Productions, organization of exhibitors which, in association with Cinerama Corp., has been planning a three-dimensional film production, was held here yesterday. Decisions regarding the project are due to be taken at two additional board meetings which are scheduled for next week in New York, it was reported following yesterday's meeting by M. A. Lightman, one of the directors. Yesterday's meeting was attended by Lester Cowan, production chief of Pinanski, Frank Walker, Robert Dowling, Fred J. Schwartz, Kermit Stengel, Sam Rinzler, Harold Stoneman and George Skouras. Allocations by July (Continued from page 1) the consumer will get, every pound, ton or what-have-you of each scarce material. It can be expected that "essential" users will take an increasingshare of the production of each item. Production of "non-essential" items would have to be cut back, of course. Fleischmann said he was basing his prediction on the assumption that military expenditures by next summer will have grown to $50 billion or $60 billion. Television networks may face a strike by its performers today or tomorrow, according to George Heller, executive secretary of Television Authority, which has been negotiating with NBC, CBS, ABC, DuMont and WOR-TV for more than a month for increased salary and a new contract. Negotiations continued untilAvV last night. V New York's State Mediation Board has acted to stave off a strike by asking network representatives and Heller to meet at the board's office here this morning. Negotiations have reached an impasse, according to Heller, and board meetings in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles have voted to authorize a strike. TVA represents five talent unions in the video field, all are members of the AFL "Four-A's," with a total membership of nearly 25,000'. Chief snag in the negotiations appears to be on wages, with the networks reported to be "still far away" from an offer agreeable to the unions. TVA's original demands were for minimums of $70 for a 15-minute program, $85 for a half -hour and $115 for an hour. A strike would involve TVA only! as it represents "live" television talent. Although it is likely that actors who appear in television films would not cross picket lines, films will continue to be shown over television, probably to a greater extent than ever. 'Voice' Will Cover 'Breakthrough' Bow A worldwide broadcast by the Voice of America will highlight tonight's special premiere here of Warner Brothers' "Breakthrough" at the Strand Theatre, where Voice of America broadcaster, Paul Deac, will interview prominent guests in the lobby. The premiere guest list includes Mrs. Perle Mesta, Mayor Impellitteri, ranking Army. Navy and Air Force officers, and Suzanne Dalbert, lovely French actress who appears in the film with David Brian, John Agar j and Frank Lovejoy. U.S. Admits Slump (Continued from page 1) it had the fourth highest return. But in 1947, it was down to 20th place on the list of 42. The same picture held for the return on net worth after taxes. In 1944, the film industry was fifth on the list. In 1946, it was third. In 1947, it was 14th. The Treasury figures show that in 1940 the film industry had a return on net worth before taxes of 11.9 per,( cent, compared with a 9.5 per cent average for all industrial groups. In 1944, the film industry had 29.0 per cent, against an all-industry average of 18.5 per cent. In 1946, it was 32.0 per cent against 18.0 per cent. In 1947, the gap was closing with 25.1 per cent for the film industry against 19.3 per cent for all other varied industries. 'Pioneer' Goes to Skouras ( Continued from page 1 ) bassador Dr. Athanasios G. Politis, His Eminence the Archbishop Michael, head of the Greek Archdioces.e of North and South America, former Supreme Court Justice Ferdinand Pecora, and George Jessel, 20th Century-Fox producer, who will be master-of-ceremonies. Seventy-five new members, a record high for any one year will be inducted at the dinner. The working committee for the dinner, in addition to Cohn, includes Si Fabian, Harry Takiff, secretary-treasurer of the Pioneers, and Marvin Kirsch, a Pioneer vice-president. MOTION PICTURE DAILY. Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sfaerwin Kane, Editor; Terry Ramsaye. Consulting Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company. Tnc. 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; lied Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo. J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager. Hollywood Bureau, Yucca-Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor. Chicago Bureau, 120 South LaSaile Street, Urben Farley, Advertising Representative. FI 6-3074. 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 Herald; 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, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c.