Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1951)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY VOL. 70. NO. 8 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, JULY 12, 1951 TEN CENTS Another NPA Interpretation On Building Says Some Phases of Earlier Ruling Erroneous Washington, July 11. — National Production Authority officials emphasized today that nothing is yet definite on the new set-up on controlling theatre building, and that nothing will be sure until the new order is actually issued sometime within the next week. They admitted, moreover, that one or two statements given the press yesterday now seem in error. According to the latest interpretations, here is the way the situation is likely to shape up : The present M-4 construction control order will be scrapped; New theatre building will remain banned under a new construction order, unless it can be accomplished with less than two tons of steel, 200 pounds of copper or 100 pounds of aluminum — virtually prohibitive for all except possibly a few drive-ins ; Appeals will still be allowed on a (Continued on page 5) TheatreAudit Is Approved Columbus, July 11. — Plaintiff distributors were sustained in their motion to audit theatre records back to January 1, 1937, in a decision just handed down here by U. S. Judge Mell G. Underwood in the eight percentage suits brought against George A. Manos, of Lisbon, O., and other individuals and corporations in the Manos Circuit. At the same time Judge Underwood (Continued on page 5) Shipments to Japan Put in Bond: MPEA The Motion Picture Export Association stated here yesterday that it was in error in reporting on Tuesday that Irving Maas, MPEA vice-president and general manager, had informed the Association's board that the MPEA was withholding shipments of product to Japan. The report actually made by Maas, it was explained, was that U. S. films (Continued on page 5) Large Screen Telecasts Face First Real Sports Competition Tonight Chicago, July 11.— Large screen theatre televising of sporting events faces its first real competition from another sporting event tonight when Chicago sports fans will be able to choose between seeing a large screen telecast of the Layne-Marciano fight or actually attending a major sports attraction. At the same time that the fight is being given its exclusive showing at the State Lake and Tivoli theatres here, the first place White Sox will be battling the second place Boston Red Sox in a twilight-night double header at Comiskey Park with the American League lead at stake. Reserve seats for the double header were sold out weeks ago and a crowd of 50,000 is expected. Court Denies An Injunction Against Souvaine's 'Alice' Colosseum Dropped Charges to Clear Air for New Talks Milwaukee, July 11. — The negotiating committees of the Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen and eight major distributors are expected to get together again soon for a resumption of the contract negotiations which broke off several weeks ago when an impasse arose over the question of pay increases for the country's 1,000 film salesmen. David Beznor, general counsel of the Colosseum, said today that the union withdrew the unfair labor practice charge it had filed with the National Labor Relations Board against the companies "to permit the carrying on of negotiations in a clear and unclouded atmosphere." The Colosseum filed the charge (Continued on page 5) Wald and Krasna on US Promotion Tour Jerry Wald and Norman Krasna will make a flying tour of the United States simultaneously with the release of "The Blue Veil" and "Behave Yourself!", their initial independent productions for RKO Radio. The producers expect to leave Hollywood by TWA Sept. 1 and will visit New York, Chicago, Washington, and as many key cities in the East and Midwest as time will permit. Purpose of the trip is to aid in the publicity and promotion campaign on the two (Continued on page 5) After hearing arguments by RKO Pictures and Walt Disney Productions on a motion for a preliminary injunction to enjoin Souvaine Pictures from showing the Lou Bunin production of "Alice in Wonderland" for 18 months unless the distributor and licensees agree to advertise prominently that the picture has no connection with Disney's film of the same name, New York Federal Judge Alexander Holtzoff yesterday denied Disney and RKO their injunction motion. In denying the motion Judge Holtzoff said: "It seems to the court that the plaintiff does not acquire any right to exclude others from producing or showing a rival portrayal of 'Alice in Wonderland." Judge Holtzoff remarked that both sides have been working on their pictures for a number of years and apparently the Disney production is more costly and more widely advertised but "the court is unable to find that this gives the plaintiff equitable rights to securing an injunction against the showing of the defendant's (Continued on page 4) Friedlob, Bernhard Films to 20th-Fox Two independent productions, "A Millionaire for Christy" and "Journey Into Light" will be released by 20th Century-Fox this fall, it was announced here by Al Lichtman, director of distribution for the company. "A Millionaire for Christy," which was produced by Bert Friedlob with Fred MacMurray and Eleanor Parker in the leading roles, will go out in September. October will see the release of "Journey Into Light," a Joseph Bernhard production, Skouras, RKO Reach Trust Suit Accord Settle $9-Million Action Without Damage Payment The $9,000,000 triple-damage anti-trust action which Skouras Theatres and Metropolitan Playhouses filed in November, 1949, against RKO Radio, RKO Theatres and Radio-Keith-Qrpheum has been settled out of court without payment of damages, an official spokesman for RKO Theatres confirmed yesterday. The crux of the complaint filed in U. S. District Court here was that RKO Radio falsely represented in its consent decree with the Department of Justice that it would make every effort to dispose of theatre interests owned jointly with the plaintiffs. With the settlement based on an agreement entered into between parties to the action, the action was dismissed without prejudice by stipulation executed by the attorneys for the (Continued on page 5) New England 'PR' Drive Set Boston, July 11. — Plans to launch a New England better business campaign to be conducted on the local level were set in motion here today at a meeting of leading exhibitors, advertising and publicity directors and public relations men. The meeting was held at the executive offices of Samuel Pinanski, president of American Theatres Corp., with Pinanski presiding. The group laid (Continued on page 5) Capital Exhibitors Map 4PR' Program Washington, July 11. — Local theatre owners today tentatively approved a campaign to boost attendance by intensive radio and television promotion over a 13-week period. The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Washington, at a meeting here, heard two advertising agencies outline plans for the campaign, which will cost about $15,000. The plan includes three (Continued on page 5)