Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1951)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY VOL. 70. NO. 71 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1951 TEN CENTS US Trust Suit Indicts TV Sportcasters Phila. Test Action Names Nafl Football League Philadelphia, Oct. 9. — The Government today filed here a test anti-trust suit to determine whether football clubs, baseball clubs and other sporting leagues can agree among themselves to restrict broadcasting and telecasting of their sports events. The suit made it clear the Government feels such agreements are illegal. The suit does not deal with cases where an individual promoter on his own decides to restrict the telecast of one event, but only where several promoters agree on a general pattern of restrictions. Nonetheless, the Government's stand here, taken together with the newly-announced New York Grand Jury investigation of (Continued on page 3) Market Para. Color Tube by Next Jan. Quantity production of the Lawrence-Paramount tri-color, direct-view color television tube can be expected by the first of next year, Richard Hodgson, president of Chromatic Television Laboratories, an affiliate of Paramount Pictures, reported here yesterday. This and other information relating (Continued on page 4) NPA Repeats Its Warning to File Washington, Oct. 9. — National production Authority Administrator Manly Fle'schmann again warns manufacturers they will face serious difficulties in obta'ning steel, copper or aluminum during the first three months of 1952 if they have not already filed their controlled materials plan applications with NPA, or if they fail to do so immediately. Pointing out that many companies have so far failed to file, Fleischmann sa:d that he could not "urge too strongly that those who have not done so should get their applications in immediately." Industry Would Save $5,000,000 Per Year on Film-Equipment Tax Cut Washington, Oct. 9. — The film industry may save as much as $5,000,000 a year from the tax bill provision on film and photographic excises, an industry source estimated. Most of this would go to the studios. The new tax bill exempts from the 15 per cent film tax and the 25 per cent equipment tax any raw stock, film or equipment which is used in business. Motion Picture Association of America president Eric A. Johnston estimated in 1948 that the 15 per cent film tax cost the studios about $3,500,000 a year. Industry officials believe the raw stock tax bill now is close to $4,000,000 a year, with possibly another $1,000,000 of taxes being paid on equipment in studios and theatres. 1,000 Leaders Launch N. Y. 'Movietime ' MP A Maps Program Aiding Foreign Films in U. S. A two-fold program to aid and expand the exhibition of foreign films in the U. S. will be inaugurated shortly by the Motion Picture Association of America's advisory unit for foreign films, B. Bernard Kreisler, the unit's director, disclosed here yesterday following a seven-week tour of London, Madrid, Paris and Venice. Beginning this fall, favorable re views here of foreign films which receive the MP A A Code Seal will be reprinted by the unit and mailed out to the 300-plus specialized "art" houses in the U. S., universities and colleges equipped to show foreign films and to circuit executives. The large circular, also containing the distributor's name, will carry the reviews appearing in such media as the New York Times, the Herald Tribune, the Post, and Time and New Yorker magazines. Kreisler also disclosed that his department is preparing a book to guide producers abroad on the American market. The book, to be distributed only to MPEA members' foreign offices, will carry information dealing with such topics as import permits, distributors, specialized theatres, and the Production Code. It will be a manual for the proper presentation of foreign films in the American market, Kreisler explained, adding that it should be ready by winter. In his task abroad, Kreisler re(Continued on page 4) Distributors File 4 Percentage Suits Pittsburgh, Oct. 9. — Thomas A. Capuzzi was named defendant in four percentage actions filed here today. Suits were brought by RKO, Warner, 20th Century-Fox and Paramount, alleging under-reporting of receipts on percentage pictures exhibited at the Princess Theatre in Republic, Pa. James R. Orr of the Pittsburgh law firm of Reed, Smith, Shaw and McClay represents the distributors, with Sargoy and Stein of New York of counsel. Enthusiasm Grips U.S. as 'Movietime' Campaign Begins The greatest enthusiasm ever to greet any motion picture event in history is reported from each of the regional key cities and state capitals in which "Movietime, U. S. A." star tours began their "invasion" of the country Monday, it was reported here yesterday by the Council of Motion Picture Organizations. In addition to local activities already reported by Motion Picture Daily, the following developments, as recounted by Compo, also transpired : Connecticut co-chairman Harry Shaw, reporting on the statewide reception to the visiting "Movietime" brigade, declared : "This 'Movietime' campaign has been like nothing (Continued on page 4) Emergency Precludes Equipment Exhibit Los Angeles, Oct. 9. — The Theatre Equipment Supply Manufacturers Association and Theatre Equipment Dealers Association joint convention, to be held here from Thursday through Saturday, at the Hotel Ambassador, will not feature any equipment and concession exhibit because members of the association have found themselves unable to arrange because of current emergency conditions. At the same time a TESMA (Continued on page 4) Judge Medina, Others, Cite Films' Influence Nearly 1,000 leaders of the Metropolitan New York community joined with Hollywood personalities and motion picture industry leaders at a luncheon in the grand ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria here yesterday, formally inaugurating New York's "Movietime" program and observance of the 50th anniversary of the motion picture theatre. Judge Harold R. Medina, distinguished Federal jurist who presided at the trial which resulted in the conviction of Communist Party leaders, was principal spokesman for the community groups. He cited motion pictures as the "most (Continued on page 3) Extend Air 'Plugs' For 'Movietime' An extensive lineup of national network radio and television tieups has been set to "plug" "Movietime, U. S. A." throughout October and November, it was announced here yesterday by officials of the Council of (Continued on page 3) Grosses Soar from 'Movietime' Ads Detroit, Oct. 9.— The fullpage "Movietime U.S.A." newspaper ads are attributed by the industry here to be responsible for soaring downtown key theatre grosses. "David and Bathsheba" at the Mad;son turned in $30,500 for a second week, its first week's take being a smashing $35,000. "His Kind of Woman" and "Chain of Circumstance" brought in a neat $22,000 at the Michigan and "Mr. Imper'um" did a big $19,000 at the United Artists. Fox netted $27,000 with "Meet Me After the Show" and the Palms, with "Rhubarb" and "Tomorrow Is Another Day," brought in $18 500. The Adams drew $18,000 with "Texas Carnival."