Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1951)

TODAY'S NEWS TODAY MOTION PICTURE DAILY VOL. 69. NO. 39 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1951 TEN CENTS UPT Retains Hoblitzelle And O'Donnell Long Term Contracts For Both Are Reported Dallas, Feb. 26. — Following announcement of the city-by-city divestiture provisions of the Paramount decree on Interstate and Texas Consolidated circuits, as set forth in adjoining columns, Karl Hoblitzelle, president of Interstate, reported today that Interstate's management would continue in its present form. Hoblitzelle said he and R. J. (Bob) O'Donnell, vice-president and general manager, would cont'nue to direct Interstate's operations. Others who have been in key posts at Interstate include E. J. Solon, treasurer ; J. Q. Adams, assistant to the president ; T. de Boer, comptroller ; P. K. Johnson, booker, and C. C. Hoover, purchasing chief. United Paramount Theatres has ac (Continued on page 8) INTERSTATE, TEXAS CONSOL. THEATRES UPT MUST DIVEST B'way First-Run Grosses Move Up; $140,000 for Hall Washington, Feb. 26. — Here are the details of the proposed amendment to the Paramount consent decree, permitting United Paramount Theatres to acquire complete ownership of Interstate Circuit, Inc. and Texas Consolidated Theatres, Inc.: To the extent the theatres which United Paramount can keep in the two circuits puts the total UPT theatre ownership over the maximum figure set in the original consent decree, United Paramount will within three years get rid of its interest in comparable theatres in other areas. As for the theatres which United Paramount must unconditionally get rid of in the Interstate and Texas Consolidated circuits, at least one-third must be sold within one year from the date of the new order, another third within two years, and the rest within three years. All theatres which UPT may have to sell under one of the conditions in the amendment must be disposed of "within six months of the time they are required to be divested." No theatre can be sold to any company which was a defendant in the original government anti-trust suit, which is owned or controlled by or affiliated with such a company. Four theatres must be divested in Albuquerque, New Mexico — Hiland and 66 Drive-In, Kimo or Sunshine, and Chief or Rio or Lobo. All other theatres to be divested are in Texas. Here are the city-by-city requirements : Abilene: Paramount or Majestic (Continued on page 8) Says 20th-Fox Decree Ready y Weekend Spurred on by a spell of clear cool weather which began on Washington's Birthday, grosses at New York's firstrun theatres hit the best average reported since the Christmas and New Year holidays. "Payment on Demand" at Radio City Music Hall in a second week is topping the initial week's take by about $10,000, with $140,000 due— a good gross at the Hall in any week with any picture. Russell Markert's revue is on stage. The Roxy capitalized on the holiday (Continued on page 6) Winikus Resumes As UA Ad Manager Francis M. Winikus, who resigned as United Artists advertising manager on Jan. 1, yesterday was re-appointed to the post by Max E. Youngstein, newly-named vice-president and national director of advertising-publicityexploitation. Formerly with Warner's advertising department, Winikus joined United Artists in 1946 as a copywriter, was appointed conv chief and then advertising manager in 1947. Heineman May Extend ELC Stay William J. Heineman, who is scheduled to become United Artists' new distribution chief, will continue in charge of Eagle Lion Classics' distribution until March 12 if William C. MacMillen, Jr., ELC president, has not selected a successor to Heineman by the end of this week. Heineman originally was scheduled to leave ELC next Friday. MacMillen and Bernard G. Kranze, ELC general sales manager, yesterday began discussions concerning the latter's succeeding Heineman at UA. Meanwhile, however, it is understood (Continued on page 8) Davis to Tour 4U' Branches with Daff John Davis, managing director of the J. Arthur Rank organization in Britain, arrived here from London by plane on Sunday and will leave in a day or two for a tour of Universal exchanges accompanied by Al Daff, worldwide sales director for Universal, and other company executives. Universal distributes for Rank here. Davis's first stop will be in Chicago on Friday. From there the group will visit other Universal exchanges as far West as San Francisco, before returning here. Davis brought with him from Lon (Continued on page 8) Chas. Skouras Free to Head Theatres: Koegel Final agreement between 20th Century-Fox and the Department of Justice for a consent decree is expected to be reached this week, with an appearance before the Federal Court here expected by the end of the present deadline on Monday, according to Otto E. Koegel, 20th-Fox chief counsel. The decree will place no barrier in the way of Charles P. Skouras continuing to head up the new theatre company which will emerge from the reorganization, Koegel said, adding that the government never opposed such a suggestion. Koegel said that any delay which might necessitate a last-minute extension beyond Monday for filing of the decree would arise from technical as(Continued on page 6) Pile Industry Ammunition In COMPO Speaker's Kit Denham Buys Out Gamble in Indpls. Indianapolis, Feb. 26. — Gamble Enterprises, headed by Ted R. Gamble of New York, today sold its half interest in Greater Indianapolis Amusement Co. to Denham Theatres of Denver, headed by B. D. Cockrill. The Greater Indianapolis Amusement Co. operates four of Indianapolis' five first-run theatres, the Circle,. Indiana, Lyric and Keith's. Fourth Avenue Amusement Co. is the other op(Continued on page 6) A 100-page "Speaker's Kit" has been issued by Council of Motion Picture Organizations headquarters here to provide material "for talks either by people in our industry or by others outside our business who might feel disposed to champion motion pictures before civic clubs, women's groups, over the radio or elsewhere." The kit comprises 11 addresses, written by D;ck Pitts, COMPO editorial director, to assist "motion picture people in presenting the film industry's case to the public." Each speech requires about 15 minutes for de (Continued on page 6) WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.— The U.S. Supreme Court today refused to hear an appeal from a lower court decision holding that states cannot censor films to be shown on television programs. The lower court had ruled that state TV censorship was already controlled by the FCC. A proposal for the takeover of the recently formed Lopert Films Distributing Corp. by United Artists reportedly has been discussed by Arthur Krim, U.A. president ; Ilya Lopert and Sir Alexander Korda, Lopert partners. The principals could not be reached for comment last night but spokesmen said no immediate development is seen.