Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1951)

Motion Picture daily Thursday, May 17, 1951 Joint Allied Allied's Arbitration Stand (Continued from page 1) Theatres Owners of Kansas and Missouri at the Hotel Phillips here, Rembusch said Allied's aim regarding TV channels was to have them available when and if it appeared that theatres could use television profitably. Myers on 'Freedoms' Another convention speaker was Abram F. Myers, national Allied general counsel, who stressed the "freedoms" independent theatremen now enjoy in comparison to 20 years ago. His subject was the rights of independent exhibitors and he urged them to assert and exercise their rights. Myers, who addressed the opening session presided over by O. F. Sullivan, president of the Kansas-Missouri unit, and attended by more than 300 exhibitors, also was present at later closed door sessions. In these sessions, booking and buying matters were discussed. Commenting on home television at the open session, Sullivan said that theatre owners were not as much alarmed by this competitive prospect as they were a year or so ago. Other Speakers Other speakers included Robert Kenefick, of Sports Service, whose talk dealt with refreshment concessions, and Robert Rubins who addressed the gathering on the role of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations. Martin Stone, of Mercury Service, demonstrated the use of tape recorders for music and commercials in drive-in concession stands. In most phases of concession operation, speakers stressed that each operator has to choose methods as well Mexicans Want Code Like Hollywood's Mexico City, May 16. — Felipe Gregorio Castillo, exchief film censor who now heads the National Authors Union, has asked the Union to urge President Miguel Aleman to abolish film censoring and substitute a code of standards for producers like the Production Code in the U. S. In making the request, Castillo indicated that film censoring is unsatisfactory for all concerned. Recently, Mauricio de la Serna, important producer, launched a campaign for the adoption of a code like the one in the U. S. Regular Loew's Dividend Loew's directors yesterday declared the regular quarterly dividend of 37% cents on the common stock, payable June 30 to stockholders of record on June 12. as merchandise that will appeal to his local audience. Limiting the convention programs to afternoons has left mornings free for the some 300 exhibitors who represent about 575 theatres, both driveins and indoor houses, to visit the equipment displays in the English Room of the hotel. The room has been well filled with exhibitors each morning. (Continued from page 1) distributor ranks to do anything about ; competitive bidding at this time." Accordingly, the board authorized Myers to continue the negotiations and explorations , concerning a new industry arbitration system, which he engaged in with distribution attorneys this spring, only "pro : vided an agreement can be readied for easing the hardships of competitive bidding." The board directed Myers to report back to it on both arbitration and bidding developments at its next meeting, to be held in New York in the fall. Allied's competitive bidding proposal is that the decrees in the government suit be amended to make clear that bidding is not required or sanctioned by any law or court order and any resort to the practice should be limited to cases where an independent exhibitor is seeking pictures on a run which "is monopolized by a circuit theatre." Invited Discussion Allied asserts that it did not present this plan on a "take it or leave it" basis, but invited a discussion of the matter and the submission of counter proposals. The board appointed the following permanent members to its new Film Committee with headquarters in New York to handle controversies over sales policies and practices directly with distribution companies: Wilbur Snaper, co-ordinator ; H. A. Cole, Nathan Yamins, Ray Branch and Benjamin Berger. The Film Committee will act for national Allied, any regional Allied unit and, in exceptional cases, any individual exhibitor when sales policy controversies arise with any film company. The Allied board also authorized Myers "to submit to the Attorney General the proposition that the National Screen Service Corp. is a monopoly in violation of the anti-trust laws" and to present the following exhibitor complaints : of discrimination between independent theatres of the same size and class ; between independent and affiliated theatres ; on extra charges for color trailers ; failure to make allowance in contracts for M-G-M and Warners trailers ; forcing of weekly service contracts by refusing to sell except at prohibitive prices on a per-trailer basis; refusal of allowances during part-time closings or when the number of changes per week is reduced, and discrimination against drive-ins through higher prices for the same service or _ run than those charged conventional theatres. Steiner Reorganizes, Sets New Product At the first meeting held here of the reorganized Broadcast Pictures, Inc., the following were elected: Joseph Steiner, president and board chairman; Max Rothstein, executive vice-president; Dorothy Waring, treasurer, and Saul Nack, Secretary. Production has started in the East I on the company's first Technicolor feature, "Rhythm Rhapsodies." 20th-Fox (Continued from page 1) already in effect or to be placed in effect would result in a further saving of $4,000,000. Lastly, Skouras pointed out that Darryl Zanuck, vice-president in charge of production, has expressed the hope that he can reduce the average cost of the company's 36 annual productions by $170,000, a goal of $6,120,000. Skouras also expressed the hope that actors and actresses would see the present need for production . cost reduction and, for their own best interests, agree to salary reductions. He observed, too, that operating economies may well result in all departments from new efforts inspired by the voluntary salary cutting of the chief executives. Should either possibility materialize, savings in excess .of the $12,000,000 annual goal are obvious. Meanwhile, the trade heard reports yesterday that a second major company was considering voluntary executive salary reduction plans similar to the one announced by 20th-Fox. Under the latter, the executives and creative workers, most of whom have contracts, are given an opportunity_ to recoup the reductions through participations in half of the film company annual profits, exclusive of National Theatres' profits, which will have a similar plan of its own. Guild Opposition (Continued from page 1) reductions are not unilateral in effect and are made on an individual picture basis. The Screen Actors Guild said that most stars' already have taken salary reductions and the matter is being studied. Darryl F. Zanuck, 20th-Fox vicepresident in charge of production, issued a statement tonight saying that writers and directors are included among those regarded to take cuts and that contracts with players will be adjusted individually. Zanuck said the response of studio personnel so far has been gratifying. Unveil Slade Monument Friends at RKO's New York exchange of the late Jean Slade,_ who was a booker at that branch, will attend the unveiling of a monument in her memory at New Mount Carmel Cemetery on Sunday at one-thirty. U-I's Hyder Promoted George Hyder, Universal-International assistant manager in Indonesia, has been promoted to managing director in that territory. $l-Million Gross (Continued from page 1) also expressed his confidence that the stage attractions he has lined up will build film-going in Chicago generally. Sid Caesar and Miss Coca will kick off the summer season by appearing for the week beginning June 8; Martin and Lewis will appear beginning July 21 and Milton Berle will wind up with the week of Aug. 31. Other attractions booked for the period, all to play one-week stands, include Frankie Laine, Billy Eckstine, Nat King Cole and his Trio, the Blackburn Twins, and Bob Crosby. ONE OF THE YEAR'S ■says Film Daily IN PARAMOUNT'S AGE INTHE HOLE