Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1952)

6 Motion Picture daily Wednesday, May 21, 1952 Kann Services {Continued from page 1] with all. In whatever presence he found himself, he was the center of love, interest and friendship. He had a deep sense of obligation to family, friends and his work." Burial was in New Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Brooklyn. Kann, who was 53 years old, died suddenly last Thursday of a heart attack while on a business visit to Hollywood. He had spent virtually his entire business career in motion picture trade journalism, having been reporter, editor and executive in that field. Partial List A partial list of persons from various branches of the industry who joined in the final tribute yesterday follows : A. J. Balaban, Barney Balaban, Spyros P. Skouras, Al Lichtman, Oscar Doob, S. Barret McCormick, S. F. Seadler, Si Fabian, Samuel Rinzler, Howard Dietz, Sam Dembow, Steve Broidy, Robert Weitman, Jerry Pickman, Monroe Greenthal, Leslie Thompson, Jack Cohn, Joe Vogel, William Pizor, Alfred Tamarin, Mort Nathanson, Manning Clagett. Also, Ned E. Depinet, Lynn Farnol, Alfred W. Schwalberg, Edward Morey, George Schaefer, Tom Connors, Joseph Unger, Herman Robbins, Sam Rosen, Charles Einfeld, Robert Mochrie, Jules Levey, William F. Rodgers, John J. O'Connor, Edward Grainger, Steve Edwards, Leo Brecher, Colvin Brown, Leon Bamberger. Also, Terry Ramsaye, Frank Walker, Monroe Goodman, Ed Sargoy, Joseph Stein, Jack Levin, James Mulvey, Paul Lazarus, Jr., Robert W. Coyne, Charles McCarthy, Paul Mooney, Sr., Sol Schwartz, Irving Lesser, Austin Keough, Adolph Schimel, Gordon White, Martin Quigley, Abe Montague, Archie Mayer, Abe Waxman, Sid Blumenstock. Also, Ed Fay, Jeff Livingston, Abe Goodman, Andy Smith, Jr., Mel Gold, Norman Robbins, Charles R. Jones, Jonas Rosenfield, Robert Harrison, Gus Eyssel, Fred Lynch, Max E. Youngstein, Francis Winikus, Charles Schlaifer, Gilbert Golden, Sidney Schaefer, Hortense Schor. Scores of executives and employes from Quigley Publications and other film trade paper publishing firms also attended the services. HELP THE CEREBRAL PALSY CAMPAIGN. 11 HRS. ONESTOP TO LOS ANGELES' ON UNITED AIR LINES! De luxe service aloft, including delicious Mainliner meals at no extra cost. Three flights to choose from leaving at 9 am, noon, and 12:45 am (DST). You fly big DC-6 Mainliners all the way. UNITED AIR LINES ONE OF THE SCHEDULED AIRLINES OF THE U. S. •from Nev/ York Sees Merger of TV, Films (Continued from page 1) called the demnostration a "labora tory" test and asked the press to re frain from comment until a formal demonstration is held in a week or two. However, the brief demonstration, consisting of a number of acts televised from the home office studios won the praise of Si H. Fabian, president of the Fabian circuit, who was present at the meeting. It also drew applause from the stockholders. Other highlights of the meeting which saw the re-election of all directors, were : Consolidated earnings for the first quarter ended March 29, 1952 were reported to be $34,001, compared to $874,776 earned in the same quarter last year. Disclosure of an emphasis on economy until what Skouras described as "the transition" period is over. The outlook of foreign operations were reported to be bright. Regarding future profit prospects, Skouras predicted that within three to five years, earnings will return to high levels, although not as high as the war years. Although consolidated earnings were off for the first quarter of this year as compared to last, Skouras saw an upswing in the second quarter. "We confidently expect that consolidated earnings during the second quarter will exceed $1,100,000, compared with consolidated earnings during the second quarter of 1951 of only $196,000," Skouras said. On foreign operations, Skouras said that so far in 1952 — up to the end of last week — film rentals were ahead by $478,000, or four per cent, and dollar transfers by 25 per cent. Again Skouras informed stockholders that the target date for divorcement of National Theatres from the 2'0th-Fox parent company is June 28. On completion of divorcement, Skouras continued, the film company will have a funded debt of $7,500,000 bearing 3J4 per cent interest and maturing over the next five years, and 2,769,000 shares of common stock. The capital structure of the new National Theatres, it was added, will consist solely of common stock, also in the amount of 2,769,000 shares, and the funded debt of subsidiaries will total approximately $27,000,000. As to the division of assets between the two companies, Skouras disclosed that a payment of a special cash dividend by National Theatres to the parent company in the amount of $12,500,000 was made. In addition, ownership of the Hoyts Circuit in Australia, operating about 190 theatres, was transferred from National Theatres to the film company, while ownership of the Roxy Theatre was transferred to NT. A 50-cent dividend for the second quarter of 1952 was declared at a board meeting held following the stockholders' session. Following divorcement, Skouras expressed hope that the film company would pay quarterly dividends of 25 cents per share. On the question of economy, Skouras called for "a substantial reduction" in the 2'0th-Fox budget. "Management and employes must be prepared for sacrifices greater than any we have heretofore made," he emphasized. The 20th-Fox president expressed regret that his voluntary salary reduction plan was not embraced by the various guilds, but said that many company executives have joined and it is a step in the right direction. Hope was expressed that within a year and a half, Eidophor sets will be available for sale to theatre owners. The total cost to 20th-Fox in the development of Eidophor to date was given as $330,000. Fabian, in his praise of Eidophor, called the demonstration an "historic" one, which will "revolutionize" the industry. Twentieth-Fox's share of damages in the $1,250,000 Brookside decision was reported at the meeting to be $400,000. The stipulated salary of Charles Skouras, president of National Theatres, is $123,455 yearly, plus a profit sharing provision, it was disclosed. Stockholders were told that 20thFox has no present plans to produce films in foreign countries. No Old 20th Films To TV: Skouras A pledge that 20th CenturyFox will not sell its theatrical films to home television was made here yesterday by Spyros P. Skouras, company president. He said such a step would be disastrous not only to theatres but to the film company. Skouras, All Others Reelected at 20th Pinanski Appointed (Continued from page 1) was announced by Mitchell Wolfson, TOA president. Allied States having named Trueman T. Rembusch on May 5 as its representative, it remains for the Motion Picture Association of America to make the third and final appointment. The MPAA representative is expected to be announced today following the scheduled meeting here of the Association's board. As soon as the triumvirate is complete, COMPO will set in motion its new dues collection system which was devised by Rembusch and approved by the COMPO board at its meeting here in February. The system calls for flat-rate payments by individual theatres based on seating ?nd car capacity. Pinanski, Wolfson's predecessor in the TOA presidency, served in that pacity from 1949 to 1951. He is a member of the TOA executive committee. Tells of Public's Interest in Films Hollywood, May 20. — The public "is hungry for news" about the 'motion picture industry, according to actor Don Taylor, who recently completed a personal appearance tour through upper New York state on behalf of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations. Commented Taylor : "Our reception everywhere was astounding. All we did was talk about Hollywood and answer questions about the film business. And never have I seen such interest." Spyros F. Skouras, president, and all other officers of 20th Century-Fox yesterday were reelected by the company's board at a meeting which followed the annual stockholders' meeting here. Others reelected were vice-presidents William C. Michel, Darryl F. Zanuck, Murray Silverstone, Joseph Moskowitz and S. Charles Einfeld ; treasurer-secretary, Donald A. Henderson; comptroller and assistant treasurer, Wilfred J. Eadie ; chief counsel, Otto E. Koegel ; assistant comptroller, C. Elwood McCartney; assistant secretaries, William Werner, J. H. Lang, G. F. Wasson, Jr., Norman B. Steinberg; assistant treasurers, Fred L. Metzler and Francis T. Kelly. The stockholders reelected the following to the board : Wilfred J. Eadie, Daniel O. Hastings, Donald A. Henderson, William C. Michel, Seton Porter, Spyros P. Skouras, L. Sherman Adams, Robert L. Clarkson, Robert Lehman and Murray Silverstone. BoudourisReelected Head of Drive-ins Goldwyn (Continued from page 1) years. Dalton, it is reported, plans to start his own business in London. Also affected is the Goldwyn office in Munich, Germany, where Leo Horster has been in charge. No decision has been made yet concerning the Goldwyn office in Tokyo, Japan. Cleveland, May 20. — Headed by Al Boudouris, Toledo, president, all incumbent officers of the Ohio Drive-in Association were reelected at a meeting held here at the Hollenden Hotel. Others renamed were : Horace Shock, Lima, vice-president ; Mrs. Ethel Miles, Columbus, secretary ; Jack Armstrong, Toledo, treasurer. Twelve members were elected to serve with the officers on the board of directors. The association named a standingcommittee consisting of Leroy Kendis and Milton A. Mooney of Cleveland, and Horace Shock, to collaborate with a committee from the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio for the purpose of presenting a united industry front on legislative matters identified as mutual problems affecting both indoor and outdoor theatres. Specific problems for immediate attention are efforts to eliminate the state's three per cent admission tax and to abolish Daylight Saving Time by establishing Eastern Daylight Time uniformly throughout the state. The importance of maintaining its own identity as a separate organization as opposed to merging with the Ohio ITO was unanimously agreed upon. The first step toward cooperation of these previously opposing competitive factions was the acceptance of drive-in members to attend the Monday evening ITO board of directors meeting for a discussion of mutual problems.