Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1951)

VOL. 70. NO. 66 MOTION PICTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1951 TEN CENTS ECA Releases $2,167,870 To 10 Firms Convertibility Okayed For Rentals in Germany Washington, Oct. 2. — The Economic Cooperation Administration today announced contracts with 10 film companies guaranteeing them convertibility into dollars of $2,167,870 of their earnings on 58 specified features and 32 short subjects distributed in Germany during the 1950-51 film year. ECA officials said one more contract, amounting to about $60,000, still has to be signed. Last year, total guaranties to film companies for distribution in Germany eventually topped the $3,000,000 mark. However, those contracts covered from Jan. 1, 1950, to Dec. 31, 1950. (Continued on page 5) To Ask Publicists Here to Decide AmongThreeUnions Publicists at film companies' home offices will soon be called upon to decide among themselves the union representation which they, as a group, prefer. The call reportedly will come from the IATSE. With their labor union loyalties now divided among three organiza(Continued on page 2) AFL's William Green Lauds Coast Unions Hollywood, Oct. 2.— AFL president William Green, presiding at a celebration at the Palladium here of the 50th anniversary of the American motion picture theatre, paid tribute to Hollywood unions for their fight aga'nst the Reds. He said, "A few years ago, when the Communists started to demonstrate their strength, a number of unions, including the IATSE and the Screen Actors Guild, fought Communism in Hollywood. They prevented the Communists from taking over the unions in Hollywood." Sales Heads, Riled at Allied' s Recording Advice, May Be Silent at Convention A number of distribution executives, still resentful of the recent advice of Trueman Rembusch, Allied States president, on having recording devices installed in exhibitors' offices for use while film salesmen quote playing terms, indicate that the matter may be revived at Allied's convention here late this month. Several said they were uncertain whether or not to accept invitations to attend the convention "in an atmosphere of suspicion and distrust" such as that evidenced by Rembusch's suggestion, made at the recent convention of West Virginia Allied at Charleston, or how freely they could speak, if they did accept. Others, indicating they would welcome invitations to the Allied States convention, said they would consider using the opportunity to tell Allied what they thought of the Rembusch advice and its implications for current and future exhibitor-distributor relations. Still others shrugged off the Rembusch suggestion, asserting their belief that exhibitors would ignore it and many would not want to have some of their own buying proposals on a playback record. 'Overwhelming9 Support of Colosseum Given by Loges Omaha, Oct. 2. — "Overwhelming" support of the national Colosseum of Motion Picture Salesmen has been indicated in reports from the 32 loges scattered throughout the country, David Beznor, Colosseum general counsel, said here. Pioneer Foundation Begins Operation The industry yesterday made final arrangements to assure the care of its needy with the announcement by the Motion Picture Pioneers of the fullscale operation of The Foundation of Motion Picture Pioneers, Inc., whose purpose it will be to establish a selfperpetuating fund to assist pioneers of the industry who find themselves in need. This assistance will take the form of direct financial aid, medical aid and temporary subsistence during periods of unemployment, and, wherever possible, an attempt to secure employment for eligible applicants With the formal launching of the {Continued on page 5) Only the Chicago loge has bolted the national organization in consequence of disagreement over the $7per-week salary increase secured by the Colosseum negotiating committee. Minneapolis loge members are reported to be dissatisfied with the amount of the increase, but have indicated their intention of remaining within the national organization. Omaha is expected to ratify the pact. The convention, which will start here Friday will vote on acceptance or rejection of the new wage agreement, Beznor reminded. Additionally, he said, the convention will act on proposals for Colosseum affiliation. (Continued on page 2) Stock Firm Strong For Films' Future IA\ Major Studios Open Negotiations Hollywood, Oct. 2. — IATSE president Richard Walsh, international representatives Roy Brewer and Zeal Fairbanks, accompanied by business agents of all IATSE studio locals, met here today with major studio representatives at Association of Motion Picture Producers headquarters in the opening phase of negotiations for pay (Continued on page 2) The motion picture box-office upturn is more likely to gain momentum than not, Paine, Webber, Jackson and Curtis, investment brokers, state in a customers' report issued yesterday. Painting a highly optimistic picture of industry prospects, backed by sound reasoning, the report points out that "hard goods competition for the dollar has passed its peak" and a "more normal share of the consumer dollar should be available for entertainment from here out." Expanding television, including ending of . the Federal Communications Commission's "freeze" on construction (Continued on page 5) 'Movietime' Nationwide Tieups Set Compo Takes First Steps To Supplement Promotion "Movietime U.S.A." yesterday entered a sphere of promotional activity which for long has been part and parcel of industry publicity, namely tieups. The industry's year-long box-office drive to commemorate the golden jubilee of the all-film theatre will receive added impetus from the nationwide publicity staffs of Trans-World Airways and the National Community Chests organization, it was reported here yesterday by the Council of Motion Picture Organizations. It is expected that additional tieups will be achieved by COMPO in behalf of the "Movietime" campaign, and that ultimately a vast network of supplemental promotion activities will be in force. COMPO reported that all TWA' (Continued on page 5) United Artists' billings, continuing their steady increase, have neared the $360,000 mark for each of the two most recent weeks. The gross gives the company a profit of nearly $10,000 weekly. If operations continue at that pace, UA could be in the black for 1951 by Dec. 1 to 15. Washington, Oct. 2. — The A.M. P. P. and the SAG have asked the Salary Stabilization Board to go to Hollywood as part of their investigation on talent salaries. Meanwhile, the number of witnesses asking to be heard at committee hearings in New York have forced a one-day hearing to be expanded to three, Oct. 22-24.