Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1951)

VOL. 69. NO. 25 MOTION PICTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U. S. A., MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1951 TEN CENTS Price Freeze Applies to Raw Stock Ceiling Is Top Price Between Dec. 19-Jan. 25 Washington, Feb. 4. — The Office of Price Stabilization has issued an opinion stating that raw film is definitely under the price freeze order now in effect. In a series of questions and answers relating to the film industry, the OPS said t he exemption from the freeze applied only to rental and admission prices, while the cost of equipment and raw film stock definitely came under the price freeze. This means that no more can be charged than the highest price in effect for the particular item between Dec. 19. and Jan. 25. 'Phonevision Is No Threat': Rembusch Pittsburgh, Feb. 4. — "Phonevision is no threat to the exhibitor," Trueman Rembusch, president of Allied States Association, declares in a message prepared for the Allied MPTO of Western Pennsylvania, which is being circulated by the latter to its members. Rembusch's opinion coincides with that of a cross-section of the industry in New York, as reported by Motion Picture Daily at the close of the first month of the current 90day test of Phonevision, now underway in Chicago. It is reported that Albert Sindlinger, (Continued on page 3) Chicago Subsequents To Get 3 Loop Hits Chicago, Feb. 4. — Three of the Loop's current box-office hits will go into neighborhood first-runs within the next two weeks. The neighborhood houses will increase advertising for all three in an effort to recoup losses incurred this week by belowzero temperatures and snow storms. M-G-M's "Kim," now in its fourth week at the Grand, will open Friday at 18 theatres. "Kim" drew $29,000 in its first week, $19,000 in the second, (Continued on page 3) See UPT Earnings Highest in Industry Wall Street sources are estimating United Paramount Theatres' earnings for 1950, its first year of operation, at approximately $12,300,000. The company's annual report is not expected until late next month but if the forecasts prove accurate the figure would make UPT's earnings the highest in the industry for last year. The estimated figure includes sales of assets required by the Paramount consent decree, but also reflects earnings of considerably fewer theatres than were affiliated with Paramount up to 1950. Pickford to Speak At Edison Luncheon Mary Pickford will be a speaker at a luncheon commemorating the 60th anniversary of the patenting of the motion picture camera by Thomas Alva Edison and also observing the 104th anniversary of the late inventor. The luncheon, to be held next Saturday at New York's Hotel Astor, is sponsored by the Edison Pioneers, organized in 1918 and comprised of early associates of Edison and their descendants. Delegates from the motion picture industry are expected to attend and representatives of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations, the Motion Picture Association of America and the Motion Picture Pioneers have been invited. Although the first motion pictures were taken in 1889, Edison did not patent his equipment until July 31, 1891. Commemorative events, organized each year by the Edison Pioneers (Continued on page 3) NEW TAX UNLIKELY FOR ADMISSIONS W. Virginia Owners To Fight Tax Bid Charleston, W. Va., Feb. 4 — A state legislative proposal to permit municipalities to impose a four per cent tax on all amusement admissions is being protested by the West Virginia Allied Theatres Association. Fred L. Helwig of Charleston, association president, warns that the proposed new levy would "very adversely affect" motion picture theatres in the state. He pointed out that theatres "are now collecting a 20 per cent Federal tax, plus a two per cent state tax. They are also paying, in most instances, a city and state gross sales tax, plus city and state licenses." "Theatres have been unable to raise prices to keep up with rising costs of films, equipment, payrolls, transportation of films and other services because they have been saddled with the 20 per cent Federal tax eight or nine years which makes the total price of the admission ticket barely within reach of the average moviegoer." 'Brotherhood Week' Prospects Bright First reports on the mass meetings of film industry employes being held in all exchange cities in support of "Brotherhood Week," Feb. 18-25, indicate that this year's campaign "will be one of the most successful in the history of the National Conference of Christians and Jews which annually sponsors the observance," it was disj closed here at the weekend by a spokesman for the drive. Wires and letters from exchange (Continued on page 3) New Video Program Will Show Viewers What Pictures Are Playing — and Where A six times per week 15-minute television program to inform the vjewer of the films playing at his local theatres and to tell him something about them is being packaged by The Demby Co. here under the title, "What's Playing." Almost all major and independent companies have promised to provide two to four-minute clips from new product, according to Emanuel Demby, president of the company, and it is also planned to use stars for ' personal appearances" on the show. Under the plan as set up, the "plugs" for both pictures and theatres would be gratis, with returns for the program coming from advertising sponsors and a merchandising tie-in, according to Demby. The program will be available both locally and on a syndicated basis, he said. The first show is expected to be ready late in March or early in April. 'Carrying Their Share Now,' Treasury Official Says; May Tax TV Sets Washington, Feb. 4. — With Treasury Secretary Snyder scheduled to appear before the House Ways and Means Committee tomorrow to fill in details of the Administration's tax program, the best betting is still that the Administration will not seek an increase in the admission tax. One high Treasury official said that the feeling was that general admission events already are carrying their share, especially in view of the increasing competition from television. In fact, the film industry may even get a helping hand from the Administration tomorrow, it being reliably re (Continued on page 3) MPA Prepares 'Art' Theatre Directory { Complete data on every so-called "art theatre" in the United States is being compiled and will be published by the Motion Picture Association 01 America's advisory unit for foreign films as a further service to producers abroad endeavoring to expand their American market. The MPA A unit, headed by Bernard B. Kreisler, will send out questionnaires to the owners and operators of all "art" theatres, designed to obtain the fullest available information concerning the operations, the individual theatres, their seating capacities, admission scales, type and amount of (Continued on page 3) Dickson New Liaison For MPA with U. S. Washington, Feb. 4. — Cecil Dickson has resigned as Coordinator of Information for the House of Representatives to take a post with the Motion Picture Association of America as special assistant to president Eric A. Johnston, now on leave serving with the Economic Stabilization Agency as director. Dickson will act as MPAA's liaison with members of Congress and with government agencies and will also (Continued o-n page 3)