Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1951)

8 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, February 27, 1951 May Ask Control of Commercial Rents Washington, Feb. 26. — The Administration reportedly will ask Congress soon for authority to control commercial as well as residential rents again. Such a request is said to be under consideration but, if made, the Administration will have a hard job persuading Congress to grant it such power. UPT Texas Divestiture About 30 from ELC In Eros U.K. Deal London, Feb. 26.— Eros Films will distribute around 30' Eagle Lion Classics' releases here under the deal concluded recently, Sid Hyams, managingdirector of Eros, said" on his return here from New York. The list will include 21 from ELC, of which six will be in Technicolor and four in Cinecolor ; seven or eight from Joseph Seidelman's Fidelity Pictures, and three from Harry Sherman. The deal boosts Eros' releases to around 40, including their own local output of six or seven annually. There is no provision now for ELC to distribute the Eros British output in America. Hyams left a proposal for joint production with Sam Seidelman, ELC foreign manager, for further consideration. Heineman (Continued -from page 1) (Continued from page 1) that MacMillen is giving consideration to the possibility of securing L Jack Schlaifer, former ELC general sales manager and one-time EagleLion distribution vice-president, for the spot Heineman is vacating. Schlaifer, who formed Jack Schlaifer Associates last July, has since been identified with the selling of pictures financed by N. Peter Rathvon for ELC release. MacMillen, who returned here yes terday from Hollywood, reported that in line with ELC's plans for "quality pictures with top stars," David Rose's Coronado Productions has been contracted to make "God's Little Island" in Technicolor in the Bahamas with Linda Darnell starred. Meanwhile, he said, Hal Stanley will deliver to ELC "Come Out Singing," a Cinecolor musical starring Donald O'Connor and Marilyn Maxwell. Benagoss Productions will film "White Rose in France" in Technicolor, with Glenn Ford and Geraldine Brooks, for ELC release and Ed Gardner will produce "Man With My Face," starring himself, in Puerto Rico. MacMillen also closed with producer Jack Schwartz for the production of 15 low budget pictures. 18 Book ELC Duo Day-Date Eighteen first-run theatres in key cities have booked Eagle Lion Classics' "Paper Gallows" and "The Taming of Dorothy" day-and-date, it is reported by Bernard G. Kranze, ELC general sales manager. McDonald Succeeds Sklar Charlotte, Feb. 26. — With -the resignation of Arthur Sklar, M-G-M office manager here, Hugh McDonald, head booker, has been moved up to the post. and. unless the Park Drive-in is disposed of, one other theatre. The Park Drive-in may be retained only on a court finding that competition is not unduly restrained. Amarillo: Capital and Rialto, one of them to a purchaser who will operate the theatre as a first-run. Paramount or State if certain conditions are not met for competition from_ independents, similar to the conditions in the Warner decree. Arlington: Texan. The Arlington may be retained only if the court finds competition not unduly restrained. If the Arlington is sold, the Texan may be retained. Austin: Queen, Capital and Texas. Possibly two additional first-run theatres unless certain conditions are met for competition from an independent. Breckenridge: Palace or National. If the National is sold, the Palace shall be divested or subjected to a 60 per cent product limitation if for the next five years an independent with a suitable theatre does not have a chance to get first-run films. Brownsville: Capitol. The Majestic can be retained only on a court finding competition is not restrained unduly. If the Majestic is disposed of, the Capitol may be retained. Brownwood: Three of either the Bowie, Lyric, Queen and Ritz. Corsicana: Palace or Idea! and Rio or Grand. Dallas: in downtown Dallas, the Melba, Rialto and Capitol. In North Dallas, Esquire or Village or Inwood or Varsity ; Knox and Lawn. If the Varsity is sold, the purchaser must promise to run it as a first neighborhood run. UPT must sell anywhere up to another three theatres in North Dallas depending on the competitive situation in first and second neighborhood runs in the area. In South Dallas, the Dalsec. One additional theatre to be sold or subjected to a product limitation if certain conditions for independent competition are not met. In Northwest Dallas, the Circle shall be sold or subjected to a product limitation _ if certain conditions are not met for independent competition. Denison: Rialto or State to a purchaser who promises a first-run policy. Denton: Texas and Palace or Dreamland. The Campus may be retained onlv with court approval and only if subsequently certain conditions for independent comnetition are met. If the Campus is sold, the Texas may be retained. Eastland: Maiestic and Lyric. El Paso: Ellanav and Texas Grand, or State arr' Texas Grand If the State is sold. UPT mav have to sell up to two additional first-run theatres if certain conditions for in dependent competition are not met. Fort Worth: Hollvwood. Majes tic. Varsity and Ridslea. The Mansfield Drive-In mav be retained only with court approval. Galveston: State, Key and Tre mont. The Broadway must be sold o subjected to a product limitation if certain conditions for independent competition are not met. The Oleander Drive-In may be retained onlv with court approval. Harlingen: Either the Rialto or Arcadia must be sold, or the Strand "Hist be =old and one other theatre either sold or subjected to p product limitation if during the next five years an independent in Harlingen or San Benito with a theatre suitable for firstrun operation is not given a chance to get first-run films. If the Rialto and Arcadia are kept, UPT must sell an additional theatre if at any time during the next five years three UPT theatres play first-run. Houston: In downtown, Majestic or Metropolitan or Kirby shall be sold or subjected to a product limitation if certain conditions for independent competition are not met. In the Southwest zone, Paramount has two alternatives. It can sell two first neighborhood run theatres, one of which shall be the Yale, Alabama or Tower. Or it can sell the Yale or Alabama or Tower or the River Oaks and then sell up to two other first neighborhood run theatres if certain conditions are not met for independent competition in the zone. No matter which alternative is taken, UPT must sell an additional theatre or take a product limitation if certain conditions are not met for competition from independents. In southeast Houston, the Broadway or Eastwood or Santa Rosa. If the Santa Rosa is sold, an additional first neighborhood run theatre must be sold if certain conditions for independent competition are not met. If certain other conditions are not met, Paramount must sell another theatre or take a product limitation. In north Houston, Irvington Drivein and Hempstead Drive-in. The North Main must be sold if certain conditions for independent competition are not met ; it must be sold or subjected to a product limitation if certain other conditions are not met. Two more theatres must be sold or subjected to a product limitation — and not the Shepherd Drive-in — if still other conditions for independent competition in the zone are not met. McAllen: Palace or Queen. Mercedes: Either the Rex and the Rio ; or the Tex, and then one additional theatre if during the next five years two United Paramount theatres play first-run. Paris: Grand or Main or Plaza; and Airport Drive-in. If the Main or Plaza is sold, the purchaser must promise a first-run policy. San Antonio: In suburban San Antonio, the Sunset, Laurel and Woodlawn. In the downtown area. Paramount has two choices. It can sell any two of the Majestic, Aztec, Texas and Empire. Or it can sell the Aztec and then sell or subject to a product limitation one of the other three theatres if in any year during the five years following the sale of the Aztec two independent theatres are not regularly playing first-run for the greater part of the year. San Marcos: Palace or Texas: and Hays. If the Texas is sold, the Palace must be sold or subjected to a product limitation if certain conditions for independent competition are not met. Temple: Arcadia or Bell. The Bell can be sold only to a purchaser who promises a first-run policy. Tyler: Tvler or Liberty. The Crest Drive-In can be kept only with court approval. If the court permits UPT to retain the Crest Drive-In, one other theatre m"st be sold. Vernon: The Vernon must be sold or subjected to a product limitation if certain conditions are not met for independent competition. WB Divestiture Starts in Conn. Hartford, Feb. 26.— In the first transaction covering the sale of a Warner Brothers theatre property in Connecticut as a result of the government's anti-trust action, the Raphael Realty Co. of New Britain has purchased the Capitol Theatre Building, New Britain, for an undisclosed sum. A number of additional Warner theatre properties in Connecticut are also up for sale under the decree. Davis-Daff (Continued from page 1) don a print of "The Browning Version," just completed at Rank's Pinewood studios and regarded as one of the best of his recent productions. It is planned to screen the picture for some of the Universal sales force during the tour of exchanges. While here Davis also may discuss arrangements for distribution of Rank product not allocated to Universal, as a replacement for the distribution formerly handled by Eagle Lion Classics here. The latter' s deal with Rank was terminated recently. It is reported in that regard that some of the Rank pictures may go to United Artists. Robert Benjamin, member of the New UA control group, is president of the J. Arthur Rank Organization here. UPT Retains (Continued from page 1) quired from Hoblitzelle and his associates their stock interests in the Interstate and Texas Consolidated operations. Both will be given long-term operating contracts by UPT, it is reported. The proposals, in the form of amendments to the Paramount consent decree, will be put before the Federal Statutory Court in New York for approval on Thursday. Waco: The Waco or Orpheum. Weswaco: The Gem. Wichita Falls: Wichita or Strand or State. If the State is sold, UPT must sell another theatre if certain conditions for independent competition are not met. . . Another theatre must be sold if in any year during the next five years UPT theatres play first-run for more than an aggregate of 104 weeks. If the Justice Department finds that a competing first-run theatre will be adversely affected by the first-run showing of pictures at more than two UPT theatres, UPT shall divest itself of an additional theatre or cease showing first-run at more than two theatres. In addition to all the theatres specifically listed above which Linked Paramount must sell, it must within three years sell any additional theatres to bring its total holding in the Interstate and Texas Consolidated chains down to 95 theatres or less. Ticket Tax Repealed Shelby, O., Feb. 26. — The City Council here has repealed the three per cent admission tax on the ground that it is discriminatory. The impost, in effect since 1947, has netted the city $8,000 annually.