Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1951)

4 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, January 31, 1951 Screen Telecasts of Pigskin Games To Get Another Kicking -Around Springfield, 111., Jan. 30. — Senator Miller today introduced a bill in the State Senate designed to force the University of Illinois to televise football games and other athletic contests. The bill requires yearly bids for the awarding of TV contracts to bring the school the most profit and at the same time enable the public to see as many such events as possible. Last fall, Balaban and Katz had exclusive rights to all University of Illinois home-played football games. A bill to prohibit the University from obtaining revenue from simultaneous telecasting of games on Chicago theatre screens when the games are not telecast to home receivers was introduced last week in the Illinois House. A bill was introduced last week in Minnesota demanding such action, and other states reportedly are considering similar legislation. However, the National Collegiate Athletic Association recently voted a one-year moratorium on "live" television of football to allow it to study attendance and other factors. Phonevision (Continued from page 1) survey at a peak period showed that an average of 6.2 persons were viewing the Phonevision offerings at a cost of approximately only 16 cents per person. Reports of the test also tend to show that film distributors lose exhibition control of their pictures when they are shown on Phonevision. Audiences of ur> to 16 persons were voluntarily reported by some of the test families, all seeing the picture at the flat rate of $1 per showing, regardless of the number of viewers. Trade observers point out there is nothing to prevent three or four times that number seeing a Phonevision film showing for the $1 charge. Zenith Radio, owner of Phonevision, reported that 50 per cent of the test families expressed the view that the showings were worth more than $1, but trade observers, having in mind the 25 per cent that ordered no film shown at the nominal charge during a period of maximum Phonevision novelty, are dubious about how many would pay more than that after the novelty has been dissipated. Zenith also has reported that a large number of the test families said they had not previously seen the pictures ordered, indicating that Phonevision might tap an appreciable additional audience for films two or more years old. However, industry observers feel that this indicated market ultimately will not compare favorably with the reissue market for any good picture. They suspect, too, that the reissue values of the pictures shown and to be shown in the Phonevision experiment will be depreciated in the Chicago market because of the reportedly large numbers of people other than the 300 test families and their guests who tuned in the films and listened to ungarbled sound tracks or used various devices to obtain picture reception. Distributors are not charging Phonevision for the films supplied for the test but, under Zenith's plan, if Phonevision were on a commercial basis the distributors would receive SO per cent of the $1 billings. Industry observers, particularly theatre operators, believe now the test is proving very worthwhile. Thus far, it has added to their knowledge and subtracted from their worries. Phonevision Gets 7, Four from M-G-M Chicago-, Jan. 30. — New Phonevision film-fare for next week includes four M-G-M features, one from Warner, one from RKO Radio, and one from Paramount. Films, producers, and the year produced follow : "Lady in the Lake," "Desire Me," "The Arnelo Affair," and "Killer McCoy," all M-G-M, 1947; "Always Together," Warner, 1948; "Tycoon," RKO, 1947; "Jungle Flight," Paramount, 1947. ELC-Cusick Deal (Continued from page 1) in final editing stages, and a Harry Kurnitz film adaptation of Somerset Maugham's "His Excellency," scheduled for shooting in July. Cusick is presently negotiating with Hedy Lamarr and Rex Harrison to play the leads in this production, which will be made in London. 'IA' Pension Plan (Continued from page 1) whether the "306" plan measured up to tax exemption specifications. The government wage freeze order will not affect the "306"-management program because agreement on the program was reached months ago, it was reported by a spokesman for the local. As set forth in consequence of the renegotiation, the program does not require approval of the Bureau, it was explained. As constructed originally, however, the program would have had to be approved by the Bureau. The program calls for payment by Loew's, RKO and other large New York circuits, of five per cent of the basic wage scale for each projectionist, at the rate of 54 weeks annually, which includes the two weeks' vacation relief man. These payments will go into a fund to which the local's members will contribute $3.25 quarterly fin addition to regular union dues). The new program supplants one which Local 306 has had for many years under the administration of Herman Gelber, the local's president. The program provides death payments of $4,000 from the fund, and includes health, hospitalization and sick benefits. There are provisions for disability retirements. Weekly payment during retirement because of age will be $30. 9 from 20th (Continued from page 1) voted to sales plans for all of the films, as well as a discussion of advertising and exploitation ideas currently in work for the second quarter line-up. Pictures to be released in April are : "U. S. S. Teakettle," starring Gary Cooper and produced by Fred Kohlmar, with Henry Hathaway directing. "I Can Get it For You Wholesale," starring Susan Hayward, Dan Dailey and George Sanders. Produced by Sol C. Siegel, directed by Michael Gordon, and "Follow the Sun," starring Glenn Ford and Anne Baxter. Produced by Samuel G. Engel and directed by Sidney Lanfield. Pictures for May include: "Fourteen Hours," starring Paul Douglas, Richard Basehart, Barbara Bel Geddes and Debra Paget. Produced by Siegel and directed by Hathaway. "Rawhide," starring Tyrone Power and Susan Hayward. Produced by Engel and directed by Hathaway. "On the Riviera," in Technicolor, starring Danny Kaye, Gene Tierney and Corinne Calvet. Produced by Siegel and directed by Walter Lang. 'Miracle' Hearing (Continued from page 1) firms an opportunity to show why each permit "should not be rescinded and cancelled, on the ground that said pictures are and each of them is sacrilegious." Some 65 persons crowded the hearing room at the Bar Association Building here, including Ephraim S. London, attorney for Joseph Burstyn as an individual and sole stockholder in the firm bearing his name. London asked to speak for Burstyn in the interests of defending the latter's reputation in light of the controversy over "The Miracle." Denying London the privilege on the ground that the hearing was called specifically and solely to hear the licensees, Chancellor Emeritus William A. Wallin, who presided, said the hearing was not intended to provide a "forum." Blasts Critics (Continued from page 1) value for movie-goers — those quaint people who support our industry, and, incidentally, make the reviewers' job possible." In this respect, the Myers' bulletin said, the critics are falling down on the job, "misleading their readers and hurting the film business. It is time they started telling their readers whether the pictures reviewed, despite their ivory-tower point of view, will give the audience a good time." As an example, Myers cited Time magazine's review of "At War with the Army," which he said no one could read and still want to see the film, and then a trade press report citing the mobs at the N. Y. Paramount Theatre to see the film. MPA Advisory Unit (Continued from page 1) tween McCarthy and Rupert Somervell, Under-Secretary to the British Board of Trade, during the latter's visit to New York for the signing of the current Anglo-American film agreement. "A British Board of Trade spokesman welcomed the extension of these facilities to British producers as a helpful and cooperative move on the part of the Motion Picture Association, indicating the happier relations that now exist between the two industries," according to an MP A A statement. The Advisory Unit, set up early in 1950 under the executive guidance of B. Bernard Kreisler, is a consultative unit established within the MPAA. Tax Warning (Continued from page 1) tion, adding that he didn't "think the industry could bear it." Sullivan will tell a convention decimated in ranks by one of the worst blizzards to hit this area in many years that need to reactivate the committee is essential in order to resist threatened and currently unforeseeable excise taxes and the moves of state and municipal governments along such lines. "We must mobilize on all industry fronts with authentic and authoritative statistics and be the best informed industry spokesmen," he will say. It is likely Tri-States will endorse Sullivan's suggestion in a resolution directed to national TOA which, in turn, will refer it to COMPO. Coyne also outlined COMPO's purposes and pressed the need for the industry to organize through COMPO as the nation has on the national front. His address was well received and the likelihood is strong that Tri-States will ratify participation in COMPO before the convention closes with a dinner at the Hotel Gayoso tomorrow evening when new officers will be installed. K. K. ("Deacon") King ol Searcy, Ark., is the new president. Leon Roundtree, Holly Springs, Miss., is .the new vice-president; M. A. Lightman, Jr., secretary-treasurer and Max A. Connet, Newton, Miss., new chairman of the board. He formerly was president. Coyne said about $600,000,000 went into television sets last year and that actually theatres were getting only about 40 per cent of the amusement dollar. Sullivan tomorrow will urge exhibitors to place immediate orders for theatre television equipment before de fense requirements cut back manufacture. He is of the opinion this will take place in six months at the outside. U. A. Deal (Continued from page 1) unwarranted and predictions meaningless. It was stated, however, that the negotiations look "pretty good" now and, barring unforeseen developments, could be concluded one way or another within the next week. If the negotiations are concluded successfully, Walter Heller & Co., Chicago factors, would advance financing for current UA requirements and for new production to be released tli rough the company. Heller is not involved in the negotiations for control of UA nor would he become one of the company's owners in the event the deal is successfully concluded with Mary Pickford and Charles Chaplin. Loew's Gets Stay (Continued from page 1) is to give the film company opportunity to work out a consent decree with the government. The stipulation was to have been filed late today or tomorrow, and requires approval of the New York Court. This was expected immediately. Justice spokesmen said that while formal conversations with Loew's officials have not yet started, the company lawyers are working hard to prepare various information that will be needed for those talks, and that negotiations will probably start soom