Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1951)

VOL. 70. NO. 79 DAILY NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1951 TEN CENTS Nation Is Now Pro-Hollywood Mayer Asserts Takes Stock of COMPO's Achievements in Year Taking stock currently of the achievements of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations as the all-industry agency concludes its first year of actual work, Arthur L. Mayer, COMP O executive vice president, observed that the industry in that time has made enormous 'advances in terms of improved public relations. In consequence of the "Movietime U. S. A." campaign, he said, the newspapers of the nation are reflecting a decidedly pro(Continued on page 5) Arthur L. Slayer Republic Sells 174 Films to Television Chicago, Oct. 22. — Exclusive firstrun television rights in the Chicago area to 174 Republic Picture films for two years have been obtained by WGN-TV, it was announced here today by Elizabeth Bain, film director for the station. This represents the first actual release of films to television by Republic. Through WGN-TV film availabilities more major feature pictures are said to have been introduced to (.Continued on page 5) Discuss Color TV 'Freeze' on Thurs. Washington, Oct. 22. — The Office of Defense Mobilization has scheduled for Thursday a meeting with television set manufacturers to discuss the ODM's proposal to put color television "on ice" for the duration of the materials shortage. ODM officials admit that each color 1 V set uses no more scarce material than black and white sets, but de (Continued on page 5) MGM's Sales Future Is the Brightest to Date: Schary 'Mob,' 'Fox' Bow Strong; BVay B.O. Still Healthy Strong openings for "The Mob" at the Paramount and "The Desert Fox" at the Globe highlight this week's grosses at New York first-run theatres, where strong product continues to draw in the customers. A very good $110,000 is seen for the opening stanza of "The Mob" at the Paramount, while "The Desert Fox" is expected to hit a big $55,000 at the Globe. "An American in Paris" plus a stage show, is still packing them in (Continued on page 5) Chicago, Oct. 12. — Metro-GoldwynMayer faces the brightest sales prosp e c t s in its history with current and forthcoming product, Dore Schary, vice president in charge of production, said today in addressing the company's annual sales conference held at the Ambassador East Hotel, presided over bv W i 1 i a m F . Rodgers, sales vice-president. Schary (Continued on page 4) Dore Schary Vote on New Status For TV A in Dec. At the second annual convention of the Television Authority, to be held here for three days beginning Dec. 7, a decision will be made whether its five constituent talent unions shall surrender their autonomy in the interest of converting TV A into a new and independent union under the juris(Continued on page 5) Amend Para. Decree On Ga. Dispositions Further modifications in the Para! mount divorcement decree are ordered in an amendment which has been signed in U. S. District Court here by Federal Judge Augustus N. Hand. These apply to theatres in Georgia. The amendment stipulates that United Paramount Theatres shall not (Continued on page 4) TV, Radio Broadcasters Adopt Production Code Chicago, Oct. 22. — The National Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters meeting at the Stevens Hotel here have adopted a code of self-regulation embodying the following rules among others for TV broadcasting : See Fewer, But Better Films Made Wald, Krasna Say Video Spells End of 'B's' A prediction that major studios in the near future will cut down on the number of pictures and utilize the talent and money thus saved on "big" quality pictures was made here yesterday by producers Jerry Wald and Norman Krasna. In line with what they called the trend made necessary by the competition of home television, Wald and Krasna said they have reduced the number of pictures that they will make for RKO from 12 a year to four to six a year. They said that Howard Hughes, principal stockholder in RKO Pictures, was in accord with their plans. According to Wald and Krasna, the day of the "quivering 'A'," picture and "the wobbly 'B' film is past due to the large selective audience which has cropped up since the advent of home television. "I think TV has drained away people who just want to see average films," declared Wald. (Continued on page 4) New Tax Changes Effective Nov. 1 " ( 1 ) Scenes depicting violence or vulgarity, details of crime and anything which might encourage gambling or immorality are prohibited. "(2) Only six minutes maximum of any hour of Class A time maybe used for advertising and advertising messages should be presented with courtesy and good taste. "(3) Television broadcasters have an affirmative responsibility to provide coverage of public events consonant with the ends of an informed and enlightened citizenry. "(4) Sex perversion or any reference to it is forbidden. "(5) Divorce is not to be treated casually nor justified as a solution for marital problems. "(6) The costuming of all performers shall be within the bounds (Continued on page 5) Coast Banquet for P. A. Tours' Success Hollywood, Oct. 22. — The success of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations' "Movietime" talent tours will be celebrated by the participants, the executives who arranged the tours, exhibitors and others at a banquet Thursday night at the Beverly Hills hotel here. Robert J. O'Donnell, 'Movietime' national director, is flying in from Dallas. Ned Depinet, COMPO president, is remaining over for the event. 300 are expected to attend. Washington. Oct. 22. — Nov. 1 is the official date for the changes in excise rates and coverages contained in the new tax bill. That became official when President Truman signed the bill over the weekend. Come Nov. 1, then, passes will be tax-free. On reduced-price tickets, the' tax need be computed only on the amount actually charged, rather than the regular established price. Another change will be that civic (Continued on page 5) Dipson Appeals to The Supreme Court Washington, Oct. 22.— Dipson Theatres, Inc., today asked the Supreme Court to review the New York Circuit Court of Appeals decision which threw out its anti-trust suit against Buffalo Theatres, Inc., and six major distributors. The distributors involved are Loew's, Paramount, RKO, Warner (Continued on page 4)