Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1951)

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4 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, July 5, 1951 UK1 'S Moot {Continued from page 1) nitely better and Lady Shawcross told Motion Picture Daily that she is confident he will be able to meet the American delegation on the 13th. Potential Hitch There is one potential hitch to the July 13 date and that is the possibility of John G. McCarthy, head of the international division of the Motion Picture Association of America, a U. S. industry delegate, having to go to Madrid on his first visit in connection with negotiations for a new SpainU. S. film pact. Joyce O'Hara, MPAA vice-president, will be a delegate with McCarthy to the AngloU. S. pact conferences. MPEA Meet Today To Brief McCarthy The Motion Picture Export Association will meet here today for a final briefing of John McCarthy, MPEA head, before he leaves on Saturday for London where prelim inary negotiations on the Anglo American film agreement are scheduled to begin July 13. Mulvey to London (Continued from page 1) for London during the latter part of next week. Joyce O'Hara, Motion Picture Association of America vicepresident, is due to leave about the same time. Myers on Theatre Video (Continued from page 1) nels," he cautioned in his position on theatre TV. Myers emphasized possible harmful effects on regular theatre attendance from "turning theatres into prize fight arenas from time to time." He cited results at RKO Keith's here for the LaMotta-Murphy fight— everyone in shirt-sleeves, hoots and cheers and boos for the preceding film and for the fight itself, vendors selling popcorn, soft drinks and candy and ice cream in the aisles. "One cannot escape wondering," the Allied official said, "what typical movie-goers — say parents, persons _ of refinement and children — will think of such going's on. Will they be willing to space their move-going to avoid these brawls, or will the theatre lose caste in their estimation ? The experience would hardly endear the theatre to them as a place of polite entertainment." Moreover, Myers said, as soon as the fight ends the audience rushes for the exits, "leaving the theatre empty and exposing motion pictures to an unwarranted humiliation." He stated that a special show for the fight only runs into the difficulty of having a very short fight and a discontented audience, and speculated that cost permitting, it might be a good idea to have an all-fight program including preliminary bouts. Other Sports The Allied official also pointed out that since there aren't enough good fights in sight, theatres will have to move into other sports events, and then "what will be left for . the home set owners besides Kukla, Fran and Ollie and a few sponsored programs of varying degrees of entertainment?" When this' happens, Myers said, when people find out that all the good things they bought their television set to see can be seen only in theatres for another admission price, "they will squawk to. the FCC." While it is not certain what the FCC would do, Myers concluded, "it is an added element of uncertainty and one that must be taken into account in deciding to take the deep plunge into theatre televi sion." AFM opened the way for itself, Republic and Monogram to reissue old product for TV use. The three companies have been the target of much adverse comment in exhibitor bulletins throughout the nation. The SCTOA statement threatened retaliation, declaring that selling pictures to TV "will put exhibitors all over the country on guard to avoid exhibition of current and future pictures with stars who appear regularly on television screens." "Curtailing box-office revenue with television competition," the SCTOA board said, "can only reduce the motion picture industry to the state of mediocre entertainment." The latest producer group to take steps looking to augment its revenue from video is the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, which will back "pay-as-you-see" TV systems in forthcoming hearings before the Federal Communications Commission. Special $100,000 Ad Drive for 'Cyrano9 A special $100,000 campaign for run-of-paper advertising for Stanley Kramer's "Cyrano de Bergerac," aimed at the large audience beyond the readership of entertainment pages, has been set by United Artists vicepresident Max E. Youngste.in. PCCITO Committees (Continued from page 1) "Fellers. ..better get those extra cops ready to hold the crowds in line... you'll be needing 'em plenty when you play my new picture!" lease system, titles, remakes, star par ticipation in radio and television, pro duction cooperating with columnists, suggestions for 1951-52 regarding types of pictures to avoid and_ correct casting; unit-conference relations, to take in units responsible to PCCITO and PCCITO services; theatre service committee, to cover previews, box office stimulation with emphasis on quality, performance and results. Also, National Screen Service, to cover record of performance for 1950 51 to cover recommendations for im proved service, complaints ; truckingservices, to cover performance, com plaints and recommendations for im proved services ; sound service,_ to cov er performance, recommendations for improved service and complaints ; uniforms, to include a survey of existing supply, performance and recommendations for improvement; concession supplies, to discuss the outlook, prices and service. In addition to these committees there will be a standing "distressed ex hibitors" grievance committee. SCTOA Hits (Continued from page 1) Warner Theatre (Continued from page 1) Dennis Morgan, Patricia Hitchcock and Robert K. Christenberry, president of the Broadway Association and managing director of the Hotel Astor, participated in the opening ceremonies outside the theatre. Christenberry presented a plaque in tribute to Harry, Jack and Albert Warner and to their late brother Sam, in whose memory the theatre is named, "for a quarter century of public service and entertainment in the field of sound motion pictures." In addition to Warner, Morgan, Miss Hitchcock, comedian Danny Thomas, Ben Grauer and RCA president Frank Folsom were seen in the telecast, which went in to the Warner screen direct from the NBC studios in Radio City. World-wide radio coverage of the opening was carried by the Voice of America. FRANCES goes to the races A UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL PICTURE ers on TR' (Continued from page 1) but because territorial action seemed the only way bv which to overcome those handicaps." Myers said the Texas campaign would be integrated into the COMPO campaign— "when and if the latter <rets going, and that is as it should be. But the reports of sagging receipts show that this matter cannot wait and that those who have the vision and gumption to do something had better get busy — right now." German Exhibitors (Continued from page 1) Schwartzberg Rites Funeral services for Philip Schwartzberg, 74, the father of Henry Schwartzberg, film buyer for American Theatres Corp., were held here yesterday at Riverside Chapel. He died Monday in Brooklyn. peal of the present import quota has practically been made contingent by the German government on adoption of a screen quota. The screen quota is slated to be reported by a committee of the German Bundestag this week. MITCHELL MAY, Jr. CO., INC. INSURANCE Specializing in requirements of the Motion Picture Industry 75 Maiden Lane, New York 3720 W. 6th St., Los Angeles