Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1951)

Thursday, March 29, 1951 Motion Picture Daily 7 Compo-TOA (Continued from page 1) overcome the hesitancy manifested by the regionals, which, it was pointed out, pride themselves on their autonomous positions within the TOA. In this endeavor, Depinet will be joined by Robert W. Coyne, COMPO special counsel, and onetime TOA executive director. Depinet, now vacationing in Arizona, is due to return to New York on Monday. Only nine of TOA's 28 regionals have ratified the changes in COMPO's governing structure which were voted recently to provide the state and sectional units of national exhibitor organizations, mainly TOA, with voices on the COMPO board and executive committee. These nine cover Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, plus the District of Columbia. TOA as a national organization stands, meanwhile, as the only one of the 10 original COMPO charter members which has not yet ratified the changes. Action on this COMPO question is scheduled to be taken by the TOA board on April 4. The bearing which the regionals' hesitancy will have on action by the board, as such, is viewed as a moot question. Industry observers have said they would be surprised to find regional representatives on the TOA board voting one way on April 4 and another when it comes to deciding whether their local organization should be part and parcel of COMPO. TOA regional objections to COMPO are said to be rooted in a number of doubts. One is the doubt that COMPO could do for them a better public relations job than they are doing for themselves at present. Another revolves around the question of paying dues to COMPO and TOA both if TOA alone can provide them with all the public relations force and national prestige they need. While the Southern California Theatre Owners Association was the first TOA unit to indicate openly that it is in no hurry to back COMPO, others are manifesting a similar attitude by virute of their outright silence on the COMPO issue. None of the 18 other regionals have set meetings for a vote on the new COMPO set-up. These recalcitrants are represented in Alabama, New York, Northern California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Illinois, Eastern Missouri, Nebraska, North and South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia. Bans Theatre Bingo In Cleveland Area Cleveland, March 28.— Bingo and all similar games ended in greater Cleveland theatres today following orders from city law director Lee C. Howley. He declared them to be just as illegal as licensed commercial bingo which the Ohio Supreme Court recently outlawed. Ernest Schwartz, president of the Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitors Association notified all theatre owners to eliminate the games immediately. Police have been ordered to check violations. UJA Turnout (Continued from page 1) man, who presided yesterday, said a committee will be announced shortly for the affair. Barney Balaban described his recent visit to Israel, and stressed the urgency of the campaign. It was pointed out at the meeting by A. Schneider and David Fogelson that contributions of stock certificates could be made to the campaign. Henry C. Bernstein, UJA executive director, spoke on campaign plans. Others attending yesterday were : Jack Alicoate, Harry Brandt, George F. Dembow, Manny Frisch, William J. German, Robert Goldfarb, Irving H. Greenfield, Julius Joelson, Abe Montague, Charles B. Moss, Chick Lewis, Samuel Rinzler, Edward N. Rugoff, Adolph O. Schimel, Samuel Schneider, Fred J. Schwartz, Max Seligman, Solomon Strausberg, Morton Sunshine, Max Youngstein and others. Cantor, Jessel To Be Honored Here At Banquet on May 5 Eddie Cantor and George Jessel will be honored at a dinner to be held on May 5 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel here, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the founding Df the Jewish Theatrical Guild. Cantor has held office as president of the guild for the past 19 years, and _ Jessel has served as first vice-president for the same period. Mayor Vincent Impellitteri will be honorary chairman. Weill South on Product Jules B. Weill, president of Masterpiece Productions, has left here for Florida to confer with various producers on filming a series of one-half hour pictures. AMERICAN iota& 'ANGELES THE MERCURY-DC-6 SKYSLEEPER SERVICE Lv. Midnight— At. 8:30 a.m. 'Oscar' Night (Continued from page 1) ever other honorary awards may be bestowed, are not subject to balloting by the Academy membership-at-large, but represent the opinion of the Academy's board exclusively. The simple majority rule prevails in the board's voting this year, whereas previously the two-thirds rule prevailed. The board may bestow or withhold the Thalberg Award, which has been given to only seven individuals heretofore, at will, and the same condition applies to other honorary or special awards. The Thalberg Award implies recognition of the chosen producer for having maintained the highest qualityachievement during the year. Honorary awards need not be confined to professional achievement, and in the past have been given to such individuals as Thomas A. Edison, Col. William Selig and many others in technical, goodwill and public relations fields. Academy officials consider the present competition "one of the closest races for Academy honors Hollywood ever has seen," and even professional pollsters who have boldly predicted winners on past occasions have elaborately qualified their forecasts this year. Wagering on the outcome has been at minimum level, with interest rising proportionately as the announcement date drew nearer. The Pantages' 2,800 seats were snapped up early and the biggest outdoors turnout in years is expected. Among non-industry notables who will attend are Governor Earl Warren, Mayor Fletcher Bowron and Dr. Ralph Bunche, the latter having Canadian Awards Announced April 22 Ottawa, March 28. — Results of the third annual Canadian Film Awards will be announced here on April 22. Judges have received 35 films for consideration, including theatrical films, non-theatrical and amateur productions. The judges this year are, for theatrical films : Hye Bossin, editor, Canadian Film Weekly; O. J. Silverthorne, Ontario film censor, and Leon Shelly, of Shelly Films ; for non-theatrical films : Yvonne Taylor, of International and Towne Cinemas ; O. C. Wilson, secretary, National Film Board of Canada and supervisor of CBC Television, and Ernest Reid, director of Audio Films ; for amateur films : Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster, radio comedians ; James Cowan of the J. Arthur Rank Organization, and O. C. Burritt of CBC Television. U. S. Ticket Tax (Continued from page 1) include taxes on sporting events, concerts, plays and other entertainment, as well as on film admissions. They do not include, however, taxes on roof garden and cabaret bills nor on leases, broker sales and various overcharges. Total admission tax collections in February, including all of these categories, amounted to $26,711,773. agreed to make the stage presentation to the winner of the Best Picture Award. ANSWER TO YOUR TECHNICAL PROBLEMS The Altec Service Man and the organization behind him Man 161 Sixth Avenue, New York 13, N. Y. PROTECTING THE THEATRE— FIRST PLACE IN ENTERTAINMENT