Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1951)

2 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, March 14, 1951 See More Time for Loew's Decree Talks Washington, March 13. — Another extension of the March 31 deadline for Loew's to submit a divorcement plan to the New York statutory court seemed likely to be granted by the Justice Department. Justice officials said they received from Loew's yesterday detailed, factual information requested by the Department for consent decree negotiations. They said after analysis of this information is completed, bargaining sessions can start. 1,600 Films May Share in Eady Pool London, March 13. — Approximately 1,600 films will be eligible for shares in the first year's operation of the Eady Production Pool, Sir Henry French of the British Film Producers Association, has revealed. The working year runs to Sept. 8 next. Of the estimated total, 500 are classified as features, including reissues which have had their quota "life" extended. The remainder are shorts. It is estimated that approximately £1,100,000 ($3,080,000) will be available for distribution this year under the pool. Distribution will be made pro rata to a given picture's gross at the box-office. As a production incentive, shorts will be allowed a percentage two and one-half times greater than features. Pickman to Coast For Product Talks Jerry Pickman is due to leave here for Hollywood today on his first trip to the Paramount studios since taking over as head of the company's advertising, publicity and exploitation operations. During his stay, Pickman will confer with Y. Frank Freeman, Norman Siegel and other studio executives, on Billy Wilder's new film, "Ace in the Hole," and George Stevens' "A Place in the Sun." In addition, Pickman will formulate and discuss overall plans for exploiting future releases. Stallings to Analyze All Para. Story Properties Hollywood, March 13. — Laurence Stallings, playwright and scenarist, has been appointed by Don Hartman, new production chief at Paramount, to survey and analyze the entire catalogue of Paramount story properties. Balaban 'Responds To Treatment? Hollywood, March 13. — John Balaban, president of Balaban and Katz Circuit, Chicago, was described today as "responding well to treatment," following an emergency operation Sunday in La Casita Hospital, Indio, Cal. He was stricken with appendicitis and a perforated ulcer. Personal GUS S. EYSSELL, executive vicepresident of Rockefeller Center, and Humphery Bogart and his wife, Lauren Bacall, are among the passengers sailing from here today for Europe on the Liberie. • J. P. Curtin, newly-named Republic Eastern division manager, recently made his first visit to the Cleveland exchange. • Phil Williams, theatrical sales manager of The March of Time, left here yesterday for a week in Washington. Hearing on 'Pinky' Appeal Due Today Austin, Tex., March 13. — The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is scheduled to hear today the appeal of W. L. Gelling, manager of the Paramount Theatre, Marshall, Texas, from a fine of $200 imposed by a county court for showing "Pinky" in Feb., 1950, after it had been banned by a local censor board in Marshall. The latter had been hastily conceived under a statute unused for 29 years. The basic issue is Ceiling's contention that the motion picture is entitled to the freedom of the press and is immune from previous restraint or censorship under the Constitution. The industry hopes that the Gelling case will eventually reach the U. S. Supreme Court for a ruling to have films included in the "press" of the country whose freedom from censorship is guaranteed by the First Amendment. A continuance of today's hearing is not expected to be requested by either Robert H. Park, attorney for Gelling, or by George B. Blackburn, attorney for the state. James Baldwin will represent the City of Austin. It is expected that a written decision will be handed down by the Criminal Appeals Court within a month of today's submission of oral arguments. Eastern Pa. Allied Supports NSS Suit Philadelphia, March 13. — Eastern Pennsylvania Allied threw its full support behind the exhibitor anti-trust suit against National Screen Service at a general membership meeting here today. In a motion passed by an overwhelming vote, some 45 exhibitors representing 160 theatres, directed president and general manager Sidney E. Samuelson to draft a resolution stating that "We indorse and give our moral support to the lawsuit of Korr Brothers against National Screen Service." The Allied unit, in a secret ballot, voted 20th Century-Fox and Columbia "the most unpopular companies in their treatment of exhibitors." The result was particularly surprising, according to Samuelson in the light of last year's vote acclaiming 20th-Fox the "most popular" company. Film rentals and sales practices were also discussed. Mention ROBERT S. WOLF, RKO Pictures' managing director for the United Kingdom, will sail from here today on the Queen Mary for England. • Lewis Cotlow, producer, is slated to leave here tomorrow for Hollywood by plane. • William Zimmerman, RKO Pictures' home office attorney, is due to leave here today by plane for Chicago. Kermit C. Stengel, executive vicepresident of Crescent Amusement Co., is back at his desk in Nashville after recovering from pneumonia. Rep. Stockholders To Meet April 3 The annual meeting of Republic stockholders will be held on April 3 in New York, with the principal business to be the election of five directors to terms on the board of three years each. In notices sent to stockholders, Joseph E. McMahon, company secretary, has advised that the following have been nominated for reelection to the board: Richard W. Altschuler, James R. Grainger, Albert W. Lind, Frederick R. Ryan and Herbert J. Yates. The stockholders also will transact other business as may be brought before the meeting. The meeting notice indicates that the director-nominees beneficially own Republic stock in the following number of shares : Altschuler, president of Republic International, 300 common, 200 preferred ; Grainger, executive vice-president of Republic, 300 common, 500 preferred ; Lind, 500 preferred, $45,000 in debentures ; Ryan, 800 common, 1,200 preferred; Yates, Republic president, 87,831 common, 1,000 preferred. Services Today for Carl L. Gregory, 68 Hollywood, March 13. — Funeral services will be held tomorrow morning for Carl Louis Gregory, 68, pioneer cinematographer, who died Sunday at his home in Van Nuys, Calif., following a year's illness. The widow and five sisters survive. In his early years, Gregory . worked with Thomas A. Edison. Among his many activities, he lectured at Columbia University and did Technicolor research with Professor Wall. In the latter part of his career, he was consulting engineer with the Kislyn Corp., from 1936 to 1939. He was a member of the Society of Motion Pictures Engineers and the Royal Photographic Society. Herman Chrisman, 45 Memphis, March 13. — Services for Herman Chrisman, 45, branch manager for Columbia Pictures here, who died early today of a heart ailment, will be held at 10 A.M. tomorrow at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. Burial will be in Memorial Park. Newsreel Parade A CTION in Korea and the Pan■fl American Olympic games are current newsreel highlights. Other items include animal news, sports, and people in the news. Complete contents follow. MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 22—Allies force Reds toward 38th parallel. President Truman on vacation. Naval guns made in Washington. Press photographers choose queens. Pan-American unity nailed at Argentine Olympic games. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 256-UN forces advance in Korea. Holiday for President Truman. Guns for defense. Dachshund paradise. News flashes from the sports world: Pan-American Olympic games. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. S9^-Advent of spring. Cabinet changes in England and France. Typewriter — key to new world of art. Great expansion of fleet approved. Korea: action at Han River. Pan-American games won by Argentina. TELENEWS DIGEST No. 11-A— Ernest Bevin resigns. Mud slows UN in Korea. People in the news: Rita Hayworth, William Green, William Marshall. Naval gun factory. Communist arensal. Turtle fishing. Student antics. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. 438— Korea report. Naval gun manufacture. P'ress photographers crown queen. Animals in the news. News flashes from the sport world: Pan-American games in Argentina. WARNER PATHE NEWS, No. 61 — UN crosses the Han. Mass production of Thunder jets. "Raton Pass" premiere. Bavaria: Dachshunds' paradise. Milton, Mass.: Children's church. Polar bear puppy. PanAmerican games in Argentina. 'IT 's Three Months' Gross Sale Rises Washington, March 13.— Universal Pictures' total worldwide consolidated gross sales for the 13 weeks ended Jan. 27, 1951, was $12,723,150, the company reported today to the Securities and Exchange Commission here. This figure compares with $12,442,000 grossed for the corresponding period of last year, marking a rise of $281,150. 'The company files reports of this nature with the SEC for every quarterly period. Theatre Rent Control Bill Set by Wilson Washington, March 13. — Housing Expediter Tighe Woods said that Defense Mobilizer Charles E. Wilson and Economic Stabilizer Eric Johnston had okayed a proposed draft of a new rent control law, including a provision giving the Government power to control rents charged for theatres and other commercial buildings. The proposal will be submitted to Congress as part of a new bill to extend the defense production act. Set 'Kettle' Chicago Bow Chicago, March 13. — UniversalInternational's "Ma and Pa Kettle Back on the Farm," will have its world premiere at the Chicago Theatre here on March 30, backed by the personal appearances of Percy Kilbride, Del Chain, Bob Donnelly and U-I starlet Beverly Tyler. 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; Tlieo. 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. Hollywood Bureau, Yucca-Vine Building, William R. Weaver, Editor. 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