Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1951)

Thursday, November 1, 1951 Motion Picture Daily 9 National Pre-Selling MPAA Board Cites 'Movietime U.S.A.' Campaign, and O'Donnell and Mayer The "Movietime U.S.A." campaign won the plaudits of the Motion Picture Association of America's board of directors, meeting here yesterday, with Joyce O'Hara, MPAA vice-president and chairman of the board meeting, conveying the board's praise to Robert J. O'Donnell, national director of the campaign, and Arthur L. Mayer, executive director of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations. Both O'Donnell and Mayer reported on the success and achievements of the campaign to the board, highlighting the extensive press coverage of the drive throughout the country. New Tax Law Is Effective Today Changes in the Federal excise tax law become effective today. Hereafter, theatre passes will be tax-free. On reduced-price tickets, the tax will be computed only on the amount actually charged, rather than the regular established price. Another change is that civic symphonies, operas and certain non-profit entertainments will be free of the admission tax. But the tax is to remain on all film showings, even of non-profit groups. All raw stock, film and equipment used by the industry as a "cost of business" will be exempted from the tax. E> EDBOOK, for November, con-LV tinues its policy of giving a halfpage, full-color scene to illustrate its "Picture of the Month"— this time, "An American in Paris"— with an action-color shot of the now-famous ballet sequence. Three other fine films are cited, "It's Only Money," "Mr. Peeka-Boo" and "When Worlds Collide, ' with a dozen best-bets mentioned in . neighborhood theatres. There is another feature article, "The Tragedy of Robert Walker," to compare with last month's Nancy Sinatra story. M-G-M • devotes "The Lion's Roar" to "Westward the Women," with a footnote on "Quo Yadis." The Redbook cover for November, as previously reported, features Jane Russell in two poses, illustrating her two-point program. She is in favor of sex, but opposed to sin. The new American, released Nov. 3, names "Quo Vadis" as the Pictureof-the-Month and gives it a page of color scenes, with "Let's Make It Legal" (20th Century-Fox) and "Close To My Hheart" (Warner) as runners-up. "When W'orlds Collide," "The Tanks Are Coming," "Love Nest" and "The Barefoot Mailman" are recommended pictures in this issue. • Ladies' Home Journal for November, on the stands this weekend, tops its ' Journal About Town" page with news of "An American in Paris," and follows up with pages of Paris fashions in colors for its 4,600,000 readers. There is also a nice "co-op" page from Jergens' Lotion, with pictures of June Allyson, in M-G-M's "Too Young to Kiss," and Dick Powell, in M-G-M's "Tall Target." The editors say, editorially, if you are fed up with movies that make you feel you could do a better one yourself, see "The River" — which was produced by a Hollywood florist and an airlines publicist, in India, with color by Technicolor. • "Movie Citations," by Louella O. Parsons, in the November Cosmopolitan, nanics "Submarine C ommand" as the most human drama of the month; gives Eleanor Parker credit for the best performance, in "A Millionaire for Christy"; cites "Decision Before Dawn" as the best production , and "Tiro Tickets to Broadway" as flubest musical comedy. M-G-M advertises its "Picture of the Month" — "Westzvard the Women" — in an opposite column. There is a full-page fashion photo of Elizabeth Taylor, and a double-truck of Jane Russell and her husband, who may soon be her male counterpart in the movies. • Time magazine, in its current issue now on the stands, says William Wyler's film adaptation of "Detective Story" is "even better as a movie than as a stage play." The Time review unstintingly praises the large cast in the Paramount film, with Kirk Douglas, Eleanor Parker and original members of the stage cast getting special comment. The picture has been recognized as one of the most faithful film versions of a great play, and retains all the strength of Sydney Kingsley"s stage hit. Walter Brooks U. S. Seeks Talent For USO Shows U. S. Secretary of Defense Robert Lovett has appealed to leaders of the motion picture and all of the entertainment industry to aid in securing top name talent for special Christmas shows for the Armed Forces overseas, it was revealed here yesterday by Abe Lastfogel, chairman of the board of USO-Camp Shows at a meeting attended by representatives of leading talent agencies. Plans for Yuletide Shows Called by Lastfogel to his office for the purpose of discussing plans for the Yuletide shows which will go overseas to play to servicemen audiences, the meeting was attended by Sam Rauch, booker of the Roxy Theatre ; Dan Friendly, booker for RKO vaudeville theatres ; Harry Anger of General Artists Corp. ; Charlie Miller and Harry Romm, both of Music Corp. of America; Nat Kalcheim of the William Morris Agency ; Harry Levine, booker for the Paramount Theatre, and Jerry Rosen, Josh Meyers, Mark Leddy, Ed Smith and Matty Rosen, all independent talent agents. The special Christmas program is in addition to the regular USO-Camp Shows schedule of providing professional entertainment for U. S. Servicemen throughout the world. The units are scheduled to leave both Coasts on Dec. 21 and to return around Jan. 5. Small Lesser TV Firm in 2nd Deal The second deal arranged by the new Edward Small-Sol Lesser filmsfor-TV-firm, under which 26 old features will be sponsored in the Chicago market, was announced here yesterday by George T. Shupert, vicepresident of Peerless Television Productions. Under the agreement, the 26 films will be sponsored by the Chicago Nash dealer, Hauser-Nash Sales, Inc. The first sale was arranged with station KTTV, Los Angeles. Shupert, who joined the SmallLesser firm, was formerly vice-president and director of commercial operations of Paramount Television Productions, Inc., a subsidiary of Paramount Pictures. Anderson Dies at Orem Salt Lake City, Oct. 31. — Victor Christensen Anderson, manager of the Scera Theatre at Orem, the only community-owned theatre in Utah, died last night after a brief illness. He was 60 years old. He had been president and secretary-treasurer of the Utah Theatres Association. Lebedoff s $750,000 Action Starts Minneapolis, Oct. 31. — Suit of Martin Lebedoff, charging major film companies and the Minnesota Amusement Co. with collusion in withholding product from the Homewood Theatre, Minneapolis, during the 1934-48 period started in Federal District Court here today. Hearings in the case by deposition have been under way for several months. In his original complaint, Lebedoff asked treble damages amounting to $750,000. Columbia and United Artists are the only majors not named as defendants in the conspiracy action. S. G. Lebedoff, father of Martin, and who operated the Homewood during a number of the years in which the alleged conspiracy took place, is in Minneapolis from Los Angeles to testify. It is expected the hearings will last about three weeks. Theatres, TV Will Share Snader Films Hollywood, Oct. 31. — Snader Productions announced today plans to sell identical pictures to theatres and TV stations. Pictures are to be shown first at theatres, and after exhaustion they promptly are to be switched to telecasts. The company stated that the pictures have been sold on this basis in 40 major cities, involving 18 pictures for release in two years, consisting of 14 Alexander Korda productions, three J. Arthur Rank films, and others. Albany Unit Asks More TV Channels Albany, N. Y., Oct. 31. — The Albany Chamber of Commerce has pointed out to the Federal Communications Commission the need for additional television channels in this area. The Commission is studying the reallocation of channels, only one of which — held by WRGB, Schenectady — is now reserved for this district. Requesting information on the Commission's plans and the date when the allocations will be made, the Albany Chamber's president, Carl Fraser, told Wayne Coy, FCC chairman, that the area has 172,000 television sets with an estimated viewing public of 600,000. Don Jacobs Dies Boston, Oct. 31. — Don Jacobs, formerly general manager of the B. & Q theatres here and Cocalis Theatres of New Jersey, died suddenly from a heart attack at Miami Beach Monday, according to word reaching here from Florida. SCTOA Lawyers to Probe Practices Los Angeles, Oct. 31. — The Southern California Theatre Owners Association is seeking legal steps to remedy "improper" selling and pricing methods allegedly used by distributors, and to overhaul "oppressive" bidding, run, clearance, booking, and other practices, the organization discloses. Engaged Local Law Firm After failure to receive aid from the Justice Department in Washington, the SCTOA has engaged the local law firm of Fendler, Weber and Lerner to explore relief possibilities under existing laws. That's tough! 'cause you'll have to hire someone else to carry the heavy dough when you play