Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1951)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Accurate Concise and Impartial VOL. 69. NO. 38 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1951 TEN CENTS Swiss Theatre TV Model Due In 18 Months 20th-Fox Takes Rights If Model Acceptable The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology has 18 months in which to develop an Eidophor theatre television projector to specifications laid down by 20th Century-Fox under terms of the deal recently completed in Zurich, Spyros P. Skouras, 20thFox president, said here Friday at a trade press interview. Twentieth-Fox is advancing the money, reportedly several hundred thousand dollars for the work, and in return, if the working model is accepted, it will receive world wide rights for its manufacture and use. (Continued on page 2) Outlook Better for LongRuns: Schwartz Better prospects for a good picture to hold up for a longer run in a standard circuit first-run situation was the most heartening observation made by Sol A. Schwartz, president of RKO Theatres, on his recent swing across the country. Schwartz's trip was his first as head of the now independent theatre company. "For a long time," Schwartz said at his office here, "even the best product seemed doomed to short runs in most situations. The fact that (Continued on page 2) Predicts Theatre 'Boom' with Video Spyros P. Skouras predicts that motion picture theatres would reach their "ultimate development" through the use of theatre TV, though he emphasized that films will still be the major attractions. Skouras, meeting the press Friday on the 20th-Fox's new Eidophor theatre TV system, painted a glowing picture of stage shows, utilizing the best talent in the fields of music, dance and comedy, produced in New York and simultaneously and exclusively broadcast in color to thousands of theatres. Sol A. Schwartz Daff Reports New Showmanship Spurt Exhibitors everywhere are showing a renewed interest in cooperating with distributors in a revival of motion picture showmanship, according to Alfred E. Daff, Universal Pictures directbr of world sales who is currently visiting exchange centers in the field. Daff's trips, which have now brought him to more than half of the (Continued on page 4) Keynote Unity for Compo's Projected Box-office Drive Exhibition, distribution, advertising and production must be united in the Council of Motion Picture Organization's forthcoming nationwide box office drive if it is to be a success, it was urged on Friday by Ned E. Depinet, COMPO president; Spyros P. Skouras, president of 20th Century-Fox ; William F. Rodgers, M-G-M distribution vice-president and others at a planners luncheon-meeting held at the Metropolitan Club here. 1 .(Continued on page 4) Youngstein Is New UA V-P> Max E. Youngstein, who resigned recently as vice-president of Paramount Film Distributing Corp. in charge of advertising-publicity, was appointed vicepresident of United Artists in the same capacity by Arthur B. Krim, U. A. president on Friday. The appointment is effective today. A c c o m panying the appointment were reliable but unofficial reports that Youngstein's deal gives him an opportunity either to acquire stock in (Continued on page 4) Max Youngstein Para. Production Post to Hartman Hollywood, Feb. 25. — The appointment of Don Hartman as supervisor of production was announced here by Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount vicepresident in charge of studio operations. Hartman assumes the duties formerly handled by Samuel J. Briskin (Continued on page 2) Studios Open Fight for U.S. Wage Freeze Relief Propose UPT Acquisition Of Interstate Would Have to Divest Itself of 76 Theatres Washington, Feb. 25. — The Justice Department has agreed to amend the Paramount consent decree to permit United Paramount Theatres to acquire complete ownership of the Interstate Circuit Corp. and Texas Consolidated Theatres, Inc., providing UPT divests itself of 76 or more theatres in the 171-theatre chain. UPT now has a joint interest in the two circuits with Karl Hoblitzelle. The proposed change, which will be presented to the threejudge statutory court in New York on Thurs (Continued on page 2) R.J. Rubin Named an Aide to Balaban Washington, Feb. 25. — Hollywood producers and talent guilds have opened their fight for early relief from the government's wage freeze. Representatives of the two groups met here Friday with Willard Wirtz, executive director of the Wage Stabilization Board. Industry spokesmen emphasizing the unique problems of the film industry, said they were not at all clear how they were affected by the freeze and that early action was needed to enable them to continue normal operations. The delegation calling on Wirtz was headed by Joyce O'Hara, acting chief of the Motion Picture Association of America, and included Jerry Cahill of the MPAA, Maurice Benjamin and Arthur Freston of the Association of Motion Picture Producers, and Jack (Continued on page 4) Sales to Drive-Ins Eyed By D. of J. Reportedly acting on complaints of discriminatory terms and alleging difficulty in obtaining "fresh" product sent to the Department of Justice by drive-in operators, Phil Marcus, D. of J. attorney, queried distributors here last week on their sales policies for the outdoor operations. Marcus declined comment but trade reports indicated the information sought probably would be matched with policies applicable to standard theatres in a search for indications of discrimination or joint action. Robert J. Rubin, today, will become an assistant to Barney Balaban, president of Paramount Pictures.. Corp., Balaban disclosed here at the weekend. Rubin entered the motion picture industry in 1947 as assistant to Donald M. Nelson, and has been active in motion picture matters primarily in the field of distribution and fore i g n markets. His most recent post was as general counsel for the Society of Independent Motion Picture Pro (Continued on page 4) Robert J. Rubin Fromkess Forming His Own Company Hollywood, Feb. 25. — Leon Fromkess, whose five-year vice-presidency of Samuel Goldwyn Productions will expire on April 15, will establish a new production-distribution company, according to present plans, with most former PRC franchise holders handling physical distribution. Fromkess, who will own the new (Continued on page 4)