Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1952)

FILM NEWS VOL. 71. NO. 15 MOTION PICTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U. S. A., TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1952 TEN CENTS Tradewise . . . By Sherwin Kane NEW examples of the irresponsible journalism of which some newspaper columnists are gnilty in circulating unfounded rumors about the industry and its people were provided in New York last week. On Tuesday, Danton Walker in his Daily Nezvs "Broadway" column, glibly reported the following: "Hollywood buzz is that Spyros Skouras will take over as chairman of the board at 20th Century-Fox, relinquishing the presidency to Al Lichtman, now veepee." If the item is newsworthy at all, then to any responsible newspaper man it is worth checking, not only to determine the facts, if any, but to obtain the story. No real reporter accepts a rumor, i.e., a "Hollywood buzz," as a news story without attempting to verify it. The facts are, of course, that Skouras and Lichtman are not changing jobs, nor are they involved in any executive title changes whatever. Nor is it even correct that Lichtman is "now veepee" of 20th Century-Fox. He is director of distribution and continues with that title. On Friday, Walter Winchell made this flat statement in the Daily Mirror : " 'The Desert Fox,' (the controversial movie about Rommel) is being quietly withdrawn until the heat subsides." The logical executives and 20thFox spokesmen with whom even a cub reporter might be expected to check such a report assert that they were not given an opportunity to deny it prior to publication. There is, in fact, no more basis for that report than for the erroneous gossip circulated by Walker. That could have been determined in advance of publication by a phone call requiring a matter of seconds, and would have been had a real reporter instead of a gossip columnist been involved. Film companies and their executives are subjected to this type of irresponsible journalism more than any other single industry or group of individuals. It is time the publishers concerned demanded the same journalistic workmanship of their by-line columnists that they do of their beginning reporters. Until they do, reader confidence in their publications will continue to be seriously shaken. Industry Asks NPA to Okay Color for TV Washington, Jan. 21. — The Motion Picture Association of America, the Theatre Owners of America and the National Exhibitors Theatre Television Committee today asked the National Production Authority to rule that its color television ban did not extend to theatre color TV equipment. In a letter to NPA administrator Henry H. Fowler, the three organizations argued that relatively small amounts of critical materials would be used in large-screen color TV and that NPA had never intended to include this in its order No. M-90, banning color television. Pointing out that the three organizations had taken a leading role in developing a nationwide theatre TV {Continued on page 5) Griffis Resigns as U.S. Envoy to Spain Washington, Jan. 21. — President Truman today reluctantly accepted the resignation of Stanton Griffis, chairman of Paramount Pictures' executive committee, as U. S. Ambassador to Spain. The exact date on which the resignation is to be effective is to be fixed later, the White House said. In a resignation letter Griffis said {Continued on page 4) Profits of Schine Theatres Test of 'Reasonable^ Offer Washington, Jan. 21. — A provision in the proposed theatre divestiture amendment to the Schine Circuit consent decree adds the profits of a theatre since June 24, 1951, to the purchase offer of a prospective buyer as a test of the reasonableness of an offer for any of the remaining 25 theatres which Schine must divest prior to June, 1953. A hearing on the decree amendments is scheduled for tomorrow in Buffalo Federal Court. Further, after entry of the order, Schine must notify the public and real estate brokers that "no reasonable offer" for a theatre will be refused. Schine's failure to meet the divestiture schedule last year prompted the decree amendments. Justice officials admitted that the in{Continued on page 4) 20th-Fox Seminar Held Here Today The special exhibition merchandising meeting and seminar called by 20th Century-Fox to outline the company's product plan for 1952 will be held today in the company's home office. Attending will be representatives of nearly 3,000 theatres throughout the country. Opening the meeting will be Al Lichtman, director of distribution, who will detail the pictures scheduled through next December. Following Lichtman, vice-president {Continued on page 4) U.S. Sees Better Theatre Take: Boosts Tax Estimate Film Bookers Club Officers Installed The New York Motion Picture Bookers Club installation dinner and dance was held here last night at the Tavern on the Green, with Al Schwalberg, president of Paramount Film Distributing Corp., acting as the toastmaster. Among the officers installed were Lou Wolff, president ; Bernard Myerson, vice-president ; Lou Solkoff, vicepresident ; Myron Starr, treasurer ; Shirley Sussman, financial secretary ; Shirley Chester, recording secretary ; Ben Levine, sergeant-at-arms ; Morton Lightstone and Kitty Flynn, trustees. Washington, Jan. 21. — The Treasury Department expects motion picture theatres and other general admission operations to do more business in the 12 months starting July 1. President Truman's budget message, submitted to Congress today, estimates that $366,000,000 will be collected from general admission taxes in 1952-53. For the current fiscal year, ending June 30, it expects collections of $357,000,000. These figures compare with actual collections of $346,491,715 in the 12 months ended last June 30. The message repeated predictions that the Federal Communications {Continued on page 5) Companies Set New TwoYear Pact with AFM Grants 15% Pay Rise, Subject to SSB Okay Miami Beach, Jan. 21.— The American Federation of Musicians won a 15 per cent wage hike for studio musicians in a series of meetings here last week between James C. Petrillo's executive board and heads of eight major film companies. Nine other "fringe" proposals submitted by the union were accepted by the companies. An additional pair of proposals were voted down, but the contract negotiations ended on a happy note. "I think it is a very equitable agreement between the companies and the union," said Nicholas M. Schenck, Loew's president, spokesman for the film group. "On both sides, it was {CoKtinned on page 4) 'Greatest Show' at Hall Paces BVay Runs with $150,000 "The Greatest Show on Earth" at Radio City Music Hall paced New York first-run grosses this week, with a robust $150,000 forecast for the second week of the Cecil B. DeMille Paramount production. Second week business is expected to top the opening seven days by $5,000. Aided by the current Regents week for high school students, healthy boxoffice receipts are also seen for the Paramount. There, a very good $84,000 is estimated for the first week of {Continued on page 4) New Briskin Option ToColumbiaHolders An option for an additional 5,125 shares of Columbia Pictures Corp. common stock to producer Irving Briskin is one of the matters which will be voted on at a stockholders' meeting here on Feb. 20. In addition, stockholders will vote on a new board of directors. Left off management's list of nominees is L. Rosenteil. Those nominated include: Harry Cohn, Jack Cohn, A. Schneider, Leo M. Blancke, N. B. Spingold, A. {Continued on page 5)