Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1951)

Thursday, December 27, 1951 Motion Picture Daily 11 Tight Supplies of Nickel, Copper Threaten Photographic Industry Washington, Dec. 26. — T'ght supplies of nickel and copper are causing particular worry to manufacturers of photographic equipment, the National Production Authority was told. Industry spokesmen met with NPA here and "one committee spokesman," NPA reported, "said the photographic and motion picture industry would have to shut down if it cannot obtain nickel. The industry also agreed that copper is indispensible to it and that the use of any substitute metal would not be practicable." The meeting was called to discuss an NPA-proposed order restricting the use of aluminum in the manufacture of photographic equipment to 35 per cent of consumption in the first half of 1950. The industry violently objected to this proposal, declaring that many small companies would have to cut back their labor force sharply. They said the loss in technically-tra;ned manpower would be out of all proportion to the quantity of material saved. The industry committee urged NPA to recognize the strategic importance of the industry as a source of photographic products and non-photographic equipment for military and war-supporting activities. NPA officials warned that supplies of copper and n'ckel will continue tight, and any additional aluminum becoming available frcm the aluminum expansion program would go into aircraft production. Nickel shortages are also interfering with production of broadcast transmitting equipment, another industry group told the NPA. It sa'd a special high nickel content alloy, known as numetal, was the worst bottleneck. N.Y. Grosses (Continued from page 1) excellent $36,500 is seen for the first inning of "I Want You," which bowed last Saturday. Lines of patrons outside Radio City Music Hall are the rule of the day. A very good $152,000 is estimated for the third week of the Hall's attraction, "I'll See You in My Dreams." On stage, is the traditional Christmas show. 'Story' Holding Up A healthy $36,000 is forecast for the first week of "Decision Before Dawn," which bowed Friday at the Rivoli. Holding up nicely is "Detective Story" at the Mayfair where $26,500 is estimated for the seventh stanza. Among the films which bowed Christmas Day, is "Double Dynamite" at the Paramount, which also headlines Tony Bennett on stage. A fine $18,500 was registered for the opening day, while "The Racket" bowed out with a good $40,000 for the final six days of its engagement. A big $6,100 was realized for the opening Christmas Day of "My Favorite Spy" at the Globe which racked up a satisfactory $8,500 for the last five days of "Adventures of Captain Fabian." At the Warner, a top $9,000 was hit by "Distant Drums" for its opening Christmas Day. "Starlift" bowed out there with only a fair $11,000 for its last four days. $70,000 for 'Elopement' A good $70,000 is estimated for the first week of "Elopement" at the Roxy, which features Guy Mitchell on stage. "Quo Vadis" is still drawing customers at the Capitol and Astor. An excellent $56,000 is seen for the seventh and final week of the film at the Capitol, while a good $18,000 is estimated for the picture at the two-a-day Astor, which on Jan. 1 will begin playing the film on a continuous run policy. On Dec. 31, "Westward the Women" bows in at the Capitol. Only a fair $15,000 is seen for the first week of "Flame of Araby" at Loew's State. An excellent $2,100 was racked up for the Christmas Day opening of "Tales of Hoffman" at the Sutton, which is showing the film on a continuous run policy, while "The Lavender Hill Mob" at the Fine Arts Theatre registered a good two-day $4,000 following a nice $8,000 for its tenth week, which ended Monday. A satisfactory $4,300 is forecast for the seventh inning of "The Clouded Yellow" at the Park Avenue. In the fairly good gross category are "The Man With the Cloak" at the Trans-Lux 52nd Street which is expected to hit $3,000 for its fourth week, and "The Galloping Major" at the Trans-Lux 60th Street, which is forecast to realize $4,200 for its second inning. An excellent $11,000 is seen for the third week of "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman" at the Normandie Theatre. 'Decision Before Dawn' Dated At 26 Key Houses Next Month Following the New York opening last weekend at the Rivoli Theatre, 20th Century-Fox's "Decision Before Dawn" will be initially launched at 26 key theatres across the nation early next month. Among the houses offering the production for first 1952 viewing are the Ritz, Globe and Vogue theatres, Los Angeles; Fifth Avenue, Seattle; Fox, Philadelphia; Capitol, Cincinnati; Eric Pleskow Joins United Artists Here Eric Pleskow has been named to United Artists foreign department staff at the home office here by Arnold M. Picker, UA foreign distribution vice-president. Pleskow was formerly Sol Lesser's representative in Continental Europe and prior to that was assistant general manager in Germany for the Motion Picture Export Association in 1948-50. Reelect Depinet (Continued from page 1) Van Wagner, comptroller; Joseph J. Laub, assistant secretary : and Edwin J. Smith, Jr., assistant treasurer. Results of the board meeting, which was held here Friday, were made known yesterday. State, New Bedford ; Denver and Esquire, Denver ; Wisconsin, Milwaukee ; Vogue, Vancouver ; Capitol, Worcester ; Paramount and Fenway, Boston ; Allen, Hartford ; Center, Buffalo ; Hippodrome, Cleveland ; Paramount, New Haven ; Criterion and Plaza, Oklahoma City; Bijou, Springfield, Mass. ; Palace, Rochester ; New, Baltimore ; Palace, Washington. Big Chicago Snow Cuts Christmas Box Office Far Below Normal Chicago, Dec. 26. — With Chicago attempting to dig itself out of its biggest accumulation of snow in 30 years, theatre business was way belownormal here Christmas Day. Although business started to pick up today, more snow is predicted for Friday and Saturday, threatening another serious tie-up over the week end, with the possibility that traffic will be paralyzed through New Year's Day. Heavy 'Quo Vadis' Grosses Boston, Dec. 26. — Metro-GoldwynMayer's "Quo Vadis" opened its Boston engagement at Loew's Orpheum and State theatres yesterday, The State grossed $5,000 and the Orpheum grossed $7,500 with a $1.50 top prevailing. Wald-Krasna Talks With RKO Continue Hollywood, Dec. 26. — Negotiations looking toward the renewal or revision of the Wald-Krasna productions pact with RKO continued today with an arrangement under which both Jerry Wald and Norman Krasna would continue at the studio individually following possible dissolution of their corporate setup reported to be among plans under consideration. While the probability is negotiations will continue up to the Dec. 31 deadline which could be extended by mutual agreement, the fact that W-K will start shooting "This Man Is Mine" for the studio tomorrow gives basis to the general belief that a solution for the impasse will be found. Lease Warner Here For 2 Weeks of Ballet The Warner Theatre, Warner Brothers' "showcase" on Broadway here, will suspend film showings from March 25 to April 6 during which period the stage will be given over to the Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet for 17 performances. A Warner Theatres spokesman explained yesterday that his company will turn the house over to the ballet company under a two-week lease arrangement. He described the Sadler's Wells offer as a "good" one. Harvey Reelected {Continued from page 1) PCCITO trustee and Levin, the alternate. Elect Board of Directors Fleeted to the board of directors wire David Bolton (Trans-California) ; Law rence Borg (Borg Theatres, I San Jose); Lee Dibble (Embassy, San Francisco) ; Gerald Hardv (Westland) ; Harvey, William Helm (Peterson Theatres); Levin, Dave Richards (Rialto, Oakland) ; Ed Row den (Rowden Theatres); Tegtmeier and. Sid Weisbaum (Sunny-Mount Theatres). Executive secretary Hannah Oppie. was unanimously reappointed to that office. Industry Aid (Continued from page 1) leading citizens to see that the activities are conducted in a showmanlike manner. Also, his letter stated, theatres will be asked to show a brief National Screen trailer advertising the exhibit. Meanwhile, plans for the industry's cooperation with the U. S. Defense Department in the promotion of the enl'stment of women in the Armed Forces are expected to be completed Jan. 18 at a luncheon which Defense Secretary Lovett will give in the Pentagon at Washington for about 20 leaders of the industry. This was revealed yesterday by Mayer, who has been in communication on the subject for the last two weeks with Mrs. Anna Rosenberg, Assistant Defense Secretary, and other officers of the Defense Department. COMPO Chosen Chosen by the Defense Department as the industry's spokesman, COMPO has sounded out several leaders in all brandies of the business on the best manner in which the industry could handle the assignment, Mayer said. Suggestions have been made, he added, for the use of newsreels and the production of a short subject appealing to women to enlist in the various branches of the Armed Forces. He said that one big theatre circuit had offered to install enlistment booths in the lobbies of its theatres. Other means of helping the campaign are expected to be put forward at the luncheon. 30,000 More Shares Acquired by Balaban Washington, Dec. 26. — Barney Balaban, president of Paramount Pictures, has acquired by exercise of option— warrants 30,000 shares of the company's common stock, it was reported here today by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Harry M. Warner, Warner Brothers president, made gifts of 2,300 shares of common stock in November. He holds 248,300 shares of the company's common and has trust holdings totaling 16,000 shares, it was reported. Also reported was the following : A. H. Blank, director of United Paramount Theatres, made a gift of certificates of interest of UPT common stock, decreasing his direct holdings to 3,095 shares. Theatre Equipment (Continued from page 1) said there was only one definite fact in the picture: "As far as civilian production is concerned, the situation will be worse before it gets any better, and there Mill be little improvement in supply before the end of the year." He referred specifically to steel, aluminum and copper. Cut in Copper Civilian use of copper will be cut back beginning with the second quarter of 1952, Golden said. Heaviest hit, he declared, will be all non-essential construction. "Every effort will be made to allow sufficient copper for construction already underway, but all new construction will be held down to an irreducible minimum,'' he stated. Drive-ins would be as hard hit as indoor theatres, he indicated.