Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1951)

2 Motion Picture Daily Monday, March 12, 1951 Personal Mention HERBERT J. YATES, Republic president, has left for the Coast from New York following his return from London. Accompanying him were John Wayne and Forrest Tucker. • Charles Simonelli, Universal executive in charge of national exploitation, has left New York for Chicago to confer with Ben Katz, Universal Midwest field representative. Simonelli will next go to San Antonio. • George. Weltner, president of Paramount International Pictures, is due to return here today from Australia. • Henry Novak, director of Universal Films in Paris, and Mrs. Novak are slated to arrive here today on the 5\ 6". Liberie. • E. C. Grainger, president of Shea Enterprises, and Mrs. Grainger are due to leave here Wednesday for Fort Lauderdale, Fla. • Claud Morris, publicist for Sol Lesser Productions, left New York for Hollywood on Friday. • Henderson M. Richey, M-G-M exhibitor relations head, is vacationing in Florida. Malco 'Answers' TV With New Theatres Memphis, March 11— Opening of three new theatres "is our answer to those who say television put the movies out of business," M. A. Lightman, Sr., president of Malco Theatres Inc. said Friday. A new 850-seat The Malco was opened in McGehee, Ark., last week. May 15 has been set as the opening date for the 1400-seat Crosstown Theater now being built in Memphis. Also scheduled for May opening is a new 850-seat Malco house in Helena, Ark. Red Hearings {Continued from page I ) New Contract Averts Chicago TV Strike Chicago, March 11. — Agreement on a contract between the AFL Television Authority and four Chicago TV stations has averted a threatened strike of 2,400 TV singers, actors and dancers. The first contract negotiated here for TV performers set a minimum wage rate of $89.25 for a one-hour program. It also provides for $4 an hour for rehearsals. NEWS in Brief Lopert Adds Six to Publicity Staff The appointment of Stephen Strassberg, Terry Kelly, Edward Dowden, Jr., Mel Strauss, Arthur Block and Lani Weiss to the staff of Lopert Films' publicity department here has been announced by Leon Brandt, advertising-publicity director. Crime Hearings (Continued from page 1) INDEPENDENT producer Harry M. Popkin has arrived here from Hollywood for a week's stay, during which he will confer with United Artists executives relative to the release of "The Well" and others on his schedule. He is understood to have screened "The Well" for Columbia as well as UA distribution heads. • Hollywood, March 11.— Top 1950 film honors in the educational film field have been voted to Stanley Kramer's "Cyrano de Bergerac" by 30,000 members of the California Teachers' Association. • Phil Koury, press representative for Cecil B. DeMille, is due here today from Sarasota, Fla., enroute to Hollywood. While here he will discuss advertising and publicity plans for DeMille's "Greatest Show on Earth," with Paramount home office executives. Participating in the confabs will be Sid Blumenstock, advertising manager, and Mort Nathanson, publicity manager. • Hollywood, March 11.— The Hollywood Coordinating Committee and USO Camp Shows will join forces to provide an accelerated entertain ment service to military installa tions and hospitals, according to plans set in motion at a meeting attended by members of both organizations. • Over 125 volunteers from Warner's home office donated blood to the American Red Cross Blood Bank on Friday. proceedings have been brought simultaneously to theatre audiences. The committee's activities have rated top space in newspapers and newsreels. Although an exact schedule had not been prepared at the weekend, the excerpts will be used as a special news feature between showings of regular film bills. The hearings will take place between 10 and 12 in the morning and from two to 5 :30 P.M. in the afternoon. William Brandell, 59 William Brandell, actor and producer who from 1933 to 1949 was ex ecutive director of the Friars, died here Thursday at Mt. Sinai Hospital Brandell, who is survived by the widow and two daughters, at one time produced vaudeville units. Charles Coleman, 66 Hollywood, March 11. — Charles Coleman, 66, veteran actor who came here 25 years ago from Australia, died Thursday of a cerebral hemorrhage. lations. But it feels that this policy of disassociating itself from suspected ubversives can hold that effect within manageable bounds. This double strategy stems from an analysis that the coming hearings are radically different from the Committee's 1947 hearings. The coming hearings, set for March 21, according to this view, are aimed primarily at the Communist activities of individuals, while the 1947 hearings were built on the theory that the industry was Communist-infiltrated and that films were being used as "Red" propaganda. Several members of the Un-American Activities Committee have said they feel the industry is not the target this time, and that this should be clearly stated. The industry hopes to capitalize -on these "friends" on the Committee to get the idea spread more widely in Congress and in the press. Still, they know that no matter how much this idea is spread, it can never catch up with the impression that will be made by the headlines about Communist affiliations of particular stars, writers or directors. It seems safe to predict that those who refuse to answer Committee questions will be summarily fired, while those who purge themselves will stay on in motion pictures. Newsreel Parade Col. Stock Options (Continued jrom page 1) ployment if the option is not ratified by the stockholders. The Briskin option is exercisable at $14 per share, which price may be decreased in certain events of dilution of Columbia's common. The producer's employment contract was effective Jan. 1 last, and on Jan. 3 the market price of Columbia common on the New York Stock Exchange was $13 per share. The Briskin option was made nontransferable, and meanwhile the 5,000-share option held by McConville and the 12,500-share option carried by Schneider also were made nontransferable. The three executives may transfer their options only by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Schneider and McConville, Columbia vice-presidents, were granted, their options on March 4, 1948 and June 25, 1948, respectively. Briskin's option will continue for the duration of his employment pact. rHE BIG-FOUR PARLEY and fighting in Korea are current neivsreel highlights. Other items include the return of U. S. Marines jrom Korea, sports and fashions. Complete contents folloiv : MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 21 — UN forces move ahead in Korea. A-bomb spies on trial. "Big-Four" talks in Paris. Winter training for Japanese police. Beach fashions. Winter sports in Germany. Baseball. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 255— Gen. MacArthur sees eventual stalemate in Korea. Marines welcomed home. "Big Four" parley in Paris. New Jap police force. Baseball, bobsledding, ski jumping. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 58— Japan trains newly-created police force. "BigFour" deputies meet in Paris. Pawnshop owner nabs criminals. Korea Marines return. Fashions. Report from baseball camps. TELENEWS DIGEST, No. 10-B— Korea report. President Truman on vacation. "Big-Four" meet in Paris. State Department's information campaign. Influenza epidemic. Unique travel system in German town. Michael DiSalle interviewed. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. 437— Report from Korea. "Big-four" meet in Paris. New Japanese police force. Awards to Francis, the mule, and Bonzo. Olympic skihopefuls. Dodgers in training. WARNER PATHE NEWS, No. 60— Marines and jet planes, smash foe in Korea. "Big-Four" parley. Death sentence for plot on President Truman's life. Ancient tribal rite for African chief. The Barkleys greet Easter seal poster girl. Fashions. Sports. British Films (Continued from page 1) has been made over the years and the leisurely pace has made it possible to establish a firm foundation for future growth, he believes. Davis, who is scheduled to return here Thursday and leave for London that night, said that Rank plans to produce 18 to 20 pictures this year, about four of which will be intended solely for the home market. Universal will distribute half of the remainder here, and individual distribution deals will be made in this market for the rest. There is no present plan to seek a blanket distribution deal with an American company, he said. 'IP Mobilizes Field Staff for 'Up Front' A special exploitation force of 20 field men have been mobilized by Universal to promote "Up Front," starring David Wayne and Tom Ewell. The film, which will have its world premiere at Loew's State in New York on March 24, has been set to open in more than 500 situations during April. Initial assignments of field exploitation representatives include Cincinnati and Indianapolis, Robert Ungerfeld ; Baltimore, Washington and Norfolk, David Polland ; Dallas, Julian Bowes ; Omaha and Des Moines, Ed Holland ; Atlanta, Ben Hill ; Pittsburgh, Duke Hickey ; New England, John McGrail ; St. Louis, Bob Kaufman ; Reading, Allentown and Harrisburg, Burt Hirschfield ; Chicago, Ben Katz and Al Bransdorfer; San Francisco, Cliff Brown. Remainder of the staff, which will handle special assignments, include Bob Wile, Maurice (Bucky) Harris, Sheldon Gunsberg, Phil Laufer, Bill Slater, Larry Greib and Paul Ross. ELC Division (Continued from page 1) Margaret Rutherford ; "The Perfect Woman," starring Patricia Roc ; "Cairo Road," starring Eric Portnlamm; "Golden Salamander," starring Trevor Howard ; "They Were Not Divided," starring Ralph Clanton and Edward Underdown : "Scott of the Antarctic," starring John Mills, and "The Gay Lady," starring Jean Kent and James Donald. MOTION PICTURE DAILY. Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Terry Ramsaye, Consulting Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo. J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; James P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager. 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