Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1951)

4 Motion Picture Daily Monday, January 8, 1951 ABC's TV Sales at $l-Million a Month The American Broadcasting Company's gross billings from television in 1950 totalled $6,470,510 as compared with $1,391,991 for 1949, the company reports. Sale of television time mounted sharply throughout the year, with billings in the final three months amounting to more than a million dollars each month. Gross income from radio declined in the same period, totalling $35,124,625 for 1950 as compared with $42,342,225 in 1949. 2J-Million TY and Radio Sets in Year Washington, Jan. 7. — The radiotelevision industry broke all past records in production and sales of TV and radio sets in 1950, president Robert C. Sprague of the Radio-Television Manufacturers Association, said. Preliminary estimates indicate that close to 7,500,000 television receivers and over 14,000,000 radios were manufactured during the past year. Manufacturers' sales amounted to about $1,700,000,000, which represented an increase of 90 per cent over 1949 sales and 125 per cent over 1948's record. The industry experienced its greatest year of commercial development, the RTMA president added, "in the face of a color controversy, shortages, bottlenecks, new excise taxes, tighter credit restrictions, and mounting military requirements. "At the peak of the fall boom, the industry was producing television receivers at an annual rate of better than 10,000,000 sets and radios at the rate of 17,000,000 units." Sprague said it is impossible at this time to predict with accuracy what civilian production will be in 1951 due to national and international developments. "Certainly, civilian production will decline sharply due to growing shortages of vital raw materials needed both by the military and our civilian economy," he said. Mass. Bill Regulates Drive-ins, Reissues Boston, Jan. 7. — Two measures filed in the 1951 Massachusetts Legislature would affect the motion picture industry in this state. They are House Bill 172 which would restrict the granting of licenses for the operation of open air or drive-in theatres near places of worship or buildings occupied by public or parochial schools. The other measure, House Bill 378, would require motion picture theatres to post advertising in the case of rerelease and to tell the public of the date of its first issuance and, if the film is re-titled, the original title must be given in the advertisement. Reviews To Handle 'Pilgrims' The Selznick Releasing Corp. will handle the distribution of "Les Joyeux Pelerins" ("The Joyful Pilgrims"), now in production at the Buttes Chaumont Studios, Paris, the company has announced. Tomahawk (Universal-International) A BIG, sprawling outdoor action drama that presents the Indian in a mature and intelligent perspective has been turned out by Leonard Goldstein in his latest Universal-International release. The picture is generous in production values, including Technicolor, and has a good cast headed by Van Heflin, Yvonne De Carlo, Preston Foster and Jack Oakie. It should meet with favorable reception in the market for which it is intended. The screenplay by Silvia Richards and Maurice Geraghty portrays the plight of the Sioux Indians being pushed Westward by the white man in the latter half of last century. Heflin plays a frontiersman whose Indian wife has been killed by marauding white men. Largely responsible for the crime is Indian-hating Alex Nicol, a lieutenant in the U. S. Cavalry. For the most part the film revolves around the enmity between the two men and the eventual showdown in which Nicol is killed. All along Nicol is bent upon stirring up the Indians. As a result there are many battle scenes which make for good pictorial effects. Miss De Carlo plays an entertainer with an itinerant show. Attracted to Heflin, she thus carries the burden of the story's slight romantic aspect. In other parts are Oakie, as an Indian scout, and Foster, a cavalry colonel. George Sherman directed from the screenplay based on a story by Daniel Jarrett. Running time, 82 minutes. General audience classification. Set for February release. Mandei. Herbstman V* Pride of Maryland (Republic) RACING FANS very likely will find a satisfactory amount of interest and excitement in "Pride of Maryland," but generally the story is lacking in action and sparkle. With William Lackey as associate producer and Philip Ford as director, the film is about a jockey who gets barred from the track and then has a long struggle to have himself reinstated before going on to win an important race. Stanley Clements plays the lead, a jockey at the turn of the century who believes that by standing up in the stirrups, rather than sitting flat in the saddle, the horse could make better speed. In trying to prove the theory, the jockey husband of his former girl friend — Peggy Stewart — meets his death. Subsequently, Clements rises in the racing business, becoming a famous jockey and meanwhile supporting the family of the dead jockey on the quiet. Trying to raise more money, he bets on a race and is barred. Broke and disgraced, he starts from the bottom again and after being reinstated, wins the important race and the girl. The script was written by John K. Butler. Running time, 60 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, Jan. 20. George A. Hamid, Sr. Acquires 4 Theatres Atlantic City, Jan. 7. — George A. Hamid, Sr., operator of Steel Pier and varied carnival and state fair interests enters the motion picture field in a $750,000 deal involving four theatres operated by the Waxmann circuit. He purchased the Hollywood and Cinema theatres, including street floor stores and apartments, and secured leaseholds on the Shore and Astor. Harry L. Waxmann, the latter's son-in-law, Max J. Chasens, and Waxmann's brother, Jack will continue to operate under the new set-up. $17,000 for 'Montezuma' With $17,000 indicated for the initial day, the Roxy Theatre here on Friday had its biggest non-holiday opening in the past two years with 20th Century-Fox's "Halls of Montezuma," it was reported by A. J. Balaban, executive director of the theatre. Sullivan Speaks Today New Haven, Jan. 7. — Gael Sullivan, executive director of the Theatre Owners of America, will address the New Haven Advertising Club's annual dinner at the Taft Hotel here tomorrow night. Missouri House Burns Kansas City, Jan. 7. — The Fisk Theatre in Butler, Mo., owned and operated by Charles L. Fisk, was deI stroyed by fire Thursday night. City Entertainment Gets RKO House Buffalo, Jan. 7. — The Empire in Syracuse has been taken over by the City Entertainment Corp. of New York. The 20-year lease, obtained at an estimated $1,000,000, was negotiated through the Eagan Real Estate Co. in Syracuse. The Empire has been under the RKO banner in Syracuse for many years. The house has been closed for redecorating and remodeling. George Maxwell has been retained as manager under the new setup. Three New Theatres To Open in South Atlanta, Jan. 7. — The new Legion Theatre in Gulfport, Miss., will be ready for opening Jan. 15. Florida Coastal Theatres has just purchased property for a new theatre in Delray Beach, Fla., to replace the old Delray Theatre. Work will start as soon as government regulations permit. Martin Theatres of Columbus, Ga., has just opened their new 1,159-seat theatre in Eufaula, Ala. Short Subject Seldes, SDG Moderator Gilbert Seldes will be moderator Thursday evening at the Robert Flaherty Film Festival which will be held at the Museum of Modern Art starting tomorrow under the sponsorship of the Eastern Screen Directors Guild, Jack Glenn, SDG president, reports. "The Mystery of the Flying Saucers" (Hoffberg Productions) The enigma of the flying saucers is posed but not answered in this eightminute short subject from Hoffberg Productions. The film has the appeal of a mystery and as such provides a satisfactory interlude for patrons, despite some rough edges in editing. The subject does prove photographically, and by statements of authority, that the soaring discs are real and not the product of imagination. Many good exploitation angles are attached to the subject. Stars Tour 4 Cities For 'Missouri Raid' Personal appearances by stars of Paramount's "The Great Missouri Raid" in St. Louis, Kansas City, Wichita, St. Joseph and Topeka will kick off the campaign for the 100 saturation bookings in that area between Jan. 16 and Jan. 20. Members of the troupe will include Ward Bond, Ellen Drew, Bruce Bennett, Lon Chaney, Jr., producer Nat Holt and fieldman Jim Castle. Jerry Pickman, assistant to advertising-publicity director Max Youngstein, will join the troupe following the opening of the new Paramount Theatre in Jackson, Tenn., Wednesday. He will also visit branches in the Southern and Mid-West territories. Omaha Variety Elect Scott Chief Barker Omaha, Neb., Jan. 7. — Joe E. Scott, 20th Century-Fox branch manager, will again lead the Omaha Variety Club. Other officers elected include : Jack Renfro, first assistant ; Bill Gaddoni, second assistant ; Edward Shafton, property manager; Henry McGrath, dough guy ; Meyer Stern, Glenn Slipper, Robert Ballantyne, Joe Jacobs, Norman Nielsen, Sidney Epstein, Walter Creal, Ralph Ayre and F. A. Van Husan, crew. Phila. Variety Dinner Philadelphia, Jan. 7. — Variety Tent No. 13 will honor its newly elected chief barker, Ted Schlanger, and its retiring chief barker, Dave Supowitz, at a dinner tomorrow night at the BellevueStratford Hotel here. Arthur Mayer, executive vice-president of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations, will be the chief speaker. Virginia MPT A to Meet Richmond, Va., Jan. 7. — The Virginia Motion Picture Theatre Association will meet here in the Jefferson Hotel on Jan. 18. Subjects to be discussed include : film rentals, taxes, drive-ins, cost of operation, improvement of business and admissions for men in uniform. DeRado Wins Promotion Buffalo, Jan. 7. — Fred De Rado has been appointed advertising-publicity representative for the Comerford Circuit with headquarters in the Riviera Theatre in Binghamton, where he formerly was manager of the same firm's Strand Theatre.