Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1951)

10 Motion Picture Daily Sears-UA (Continued from page 1) we name a new sales head at this time. I am pleased to announce that Grad will remain with us in an executive capacity. I hope to be able to advise you within the next two weeks who the new sales head will be." Negotiations are expected to open shortly between Krim and William J. Heineman with a view to having the latter head up UA distribution. Heineman, who has not renewed his contract as Eagle' Lion Classics distribution vice-president, will leave that company March 2. It is expected he would be succeeded at ELC by Bernard Kranze, assistant general sales manager. Management control of UA passed yesterday morning to Krim, Robert Benjamin and Matthew Fox, following the weekend resignations of Paul V. McNutt and Frank L. McNamee as board chairman and president, respectively. Krim, joined by his two associates, conducted a meeting of home office department heads, including Sears, C. J. (Pat) Scollard, Al Tamarin and Al Lowe. Earlier in the day Scollard guided Krim, who is scheduled to be UA's new president, on a tour of headquarters offices. In his telegrams to the sales managers in the field, Krim stated : "I want to greet you and through you all the members of your exchange on this my first day at United Artists. I am happy to become a part of the great tradition of UA and with your help _ to look forward to a renewal of its vigor and importance in the industry. "You have all been through a tryingperiod of uncertainty," Krim continued. "Happily for all of us this uncertainty is over. However, a very formidable, task remains. We will start immediately to create a strong, steady flow of important new product which is the lifeblood of our company. It is our objective to merit, once again, by careful planning and selectivity, the confidence of exhibitors that each of our pictures will represent the best that the finest creative talents in the world have to offer. This cannot be done overnight." Meet With Producers During the next several days, Krim, Benjamin and Fox are expected to confer with a number of regular UA producers who now are in New York. These include I. G. Goldsmith, S. P. Eagle and W. Lee Wilder. Due to arrive here next Friday from the Coast, via Philadelphia where his "Sound of Fury" will open this week, is producer Robert Stillman, who also will meet with the new UA management group. Harry M. Popkin, another UA producer, who returned to the Coast by train at the weekend without settling the question of bookings for his "The Second Woman," will return here in about two weeks for further talks with Krim. The previous UA management had agreed to pull some 44 bookings for the picture pending Popkin-Krim conferences on the company's capacity to market the film as the producer would like to see it marketed. United Artists now "must be protected for the benefit of those in the industry to whom it is so essential," Krim stated in his message to the sales managers. "To this end the next six months are crucial. Now is the time for you and our exhibitor friends to rally to a common cause, no longer in an atmosphere of uncertainty but with the sure knowledge that we are rebuilding for the future. This is the time for special energy and enthusiasm and with new purpose to build up our revenues out of what we now have going through the mill. I know I can count on you and your staff to do your part." Max Kravetz, still secretary of UA until an organizing meeting is held by the new operating group and officers are elected, reported for work as usual yesterday. He claims he still holds an option on 8,000 shares of UA stock and has not and will not relinquish it. Trade reaction is that Kravetz, therefore, can exercise his option for $5,400,000, the option price, any time up to June, 1952, without getting either stock or management control. Management control is part of the contract issued to Krim, Benjamin and Fox. There are 12,000 shares of UA stock in addition to that Kravetz claims to be involved in his option. Indications are that everything will be in readiness some time today for the election of voting trustees, first step in squaring away UA's new management. Krim and Fox and, perhaps, Seymour Peyser of the law firm of Phillips, Nizer, Benjamin & Krim, will be named by the new management group as its voting trustees. Loyd Wright probably will be named by Chaplin but Miss Pickford's nominee, she and Chaplin are entitled to name one each, is unknown. The voting trustees will elect a new board of directors, the first UA has had since last July, and new officers will then be elected by the board. Sears is privileged to remain with the company for the full term of his contract, nearly 11 years in all, if he elects to do so. The first part of his contract, calling for a salary of $2,000 per week plus $500 expenses, expires at the end of this year. A second part calls for payments of $35,000 annually for the next 10 years, whether he remains active or not. Settlement of his status was described as completely amicable. It is assumed he will be an officer of the company, in line with his contract requirements, but that his future service actually will be advisory in the main. Seymour Miller Is Named U.A. Manager Seymour Miller has been named branch manager of United Artists' St. John's, New Brunswick, exchange under Charles S. Chaplin, Canadian division manager, it was reported here yesterday by Nat Nathanson, EasternCanadian sales manager for UA. Miller, who joined United Artists in 1943 as a booker in Toronto, was transferred that same year to the St. John's branch, moving up to salesman. Norway Names Sherman Washington, Feb. 19. — Al Sherman, film publicity consultant, has been appointed official film representative and distributor in the United States for all Norwegian government motion pictures. Sherman, who was decorated by King Haakon of Norway with the Medal of St. Olav for servvices rendered during World War II as publicity and film consultant to the Royal Norwegian Embassy, has established offices here to handle Norway's film distribution. Weigh Fewer Prints To Save Raw Stock A plan to conserve rawstock by reducing the number of prints without impairing service to exhibitors is being studied by 20th Century-Fox distribution executives here. By a rearrangement of schedules, the number of prints for each file, now averaging about 400, can be cut to 350 under the plan, it is understood, without any material change in the availability of pictures. Golden Says (Continued from page 1) consulted at the proper time." Golden said if distributors could cut the number of prints of any picture in circulation without hurting exhibitors, "that's all to the good." The NPA chief returned over the weekend from the West Coast, where he discussed conservation with production officials. He said that "everyone out there was pretty pleased with the situation when I left. They are not at all concerned." The tour of film exchanges now being made by John McCullough, head of the Motion Picture of America's film conservation department, will be a great help in saving raw stock, Golden predicted. Raw Stock Shipments Abroad To Require Gov't Licenses Washington, Feb. 19. — Raw stock shipments to countries outside the Western hemisphere will need government licenses, effective today. The Commerce Department's office of international trade put "unexposed, sensitized negative film" of all sizes on the list, requiring export licenses for shipment to most foreign points. The license requirement does not apply to Western hemisphere destinations nor to shipments valued at less than $25. Tax Hearings (Continued from page 1) testify on "Admissions to Radio Broadcasts and TV Shows." No one here knows exactly what his point is, but it is surmised that he will urge that a ticket tax be levied on such admissions. Spokesman for the National Association of Broadcasters and the Radio and Television Manufacturers Association have been scheduled to testify in opposition to the Treasury's proposal to boost the excise tax on radio and television sets from 10 per cent to 25 per cent. Glenn A. Wallichs of Capitol Records has also been scheduled to represent record makers in opposition to a similar tax increase on their product. James Reilly yesterday confirmed that he had applied to be heard at House tax hearings in Washington, but said he had not yet been notified of the date he will appear. He declined to comment on his proposals. Guernsey Moves Up Otis L. Guernsey, Jr., film critic of the New York Herald Tribune, has been made first reviewer, following the resignation of Howard Barnes, film and drama critic. Tuesday, February 20, 1951 N.Y. Grosses (Continued from page 1) for the first seven days, not including the holiday coming up. Russell Marker's "Smart Set" revue is on the stage. Another house, the Criterion, is changing bills ahead of schedule to have a new film on the screen for the holiday. "Frenchie" is expected to draw about $8,000 for a final five days in a two-week stand, with "Under the Gun" coming in Thursday. "Born Yesterday" is still doing fine business at the Victoria, with $25,000 due for a ninth week. At the Astor, "Harvey" is holding up with $10,000 estimated for its ninth week. "Cyrano de Bergerac" is off slightly at the Bijou, but its expected $9,000 for a 15th week is more than satisfactory for a two-a-day policy. While a number of houses _ are bringing in new shows for the holiday, the Roxy is holding "Call Me Mister" and Danny Kaye on stage for an extra two days, with "US. S. Teakettle" bowing in on Friday. "Mister" is expected to pull $107,000 for its final nine days, a figure that concludes one of the theatre's recent best" three-week runs. The Ritz Brothers will head the new stage bill. Another successful four-week run will end tonight, at the Paramount, where "At War With the Army" is winding up with a substantial $53,000 ; "Cry Danger" will open there tomorrow, with Russ Case's band on stage. "Operation Pacific" is having a mild third week at the Strand; with about $24,000 estimated for the period. Denise Darcel tops the stage show. "Vengeance Valley" got off to a rather disappointing start at the Capitol, with about $46,000 due for its first week, which ends on the eve of the holiday. Blue Barron's orchestra heads the stage entertainment. Good Weekend at State "Tomahawk," which started Saturday, at Loew's State, had a good weekend and is expected to gross, with the holiday take, a healthy $30,000. "Sugarfoot" is being pulled after two days short of two weeks at the Globe to make way on Thursday for "No Orchids for Miss Blandish." "Sugarfoot" is expected to gross about $7,000 in its final five days. The Park Avenue, Walter Reade's off -Broadway showcase, is having its best first week under Reade management, with "Of Men and Music" steadily building to an estimated $14,500 for an initial week. This does not include Thursday's holiday. Also off-Broadway, "Trio" is grossing a steady $6,000 for its 20th week, at the Sutton. "The Second Woman" will conclude a three-week run tonight at the Rivoli, with a quiet $10,000 estimated for the final period," "The 13th Letter" will open there tomorrow. The Mayfair has been doing good business with a pair of re-issues, "The Last Gangster" and "The Big Store," with about $8,000 due for a final fiveday period of a four-week run ; two other re-issues. "Dodge City" and "Virginia City," will open there on Thursday. Theatre Cuts Prices Hartford, Feb. 19. — Loew's Poli Bijou, New Haven, has launched a new policy of reduced prices, with matinee seats set at 35 cents, and evening seats at 50 cents.