Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1953)

VOL. 73. NO. 8 MOTION PICTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1953 TEN CENTS Overlapping of Taxes to Get Ike's Attention To Name Committee to Work with Treasury President-elect Eisenhower will shortly appoint a committee of state governors to work with the U. S. Treasury Department to eliminate some overlapping state, local and Federal taxes, it was reported here yesterday. Periodically, there have been studies by the Treasury and by the Council of State Governors in this field, but nothing has come of them. The Eisenhower committee will represent a new attempt to get something done. The admission tax has always been one of the first taxes cited as a problem of Federal-state-local overlapping. It has been so lucrative a revenue source, however, that no government (Continued on page 5) 16Week Sales Drive For RKO Pictures RKO Radio Pictures will launch a sales drive on March 6 which will continue to June 25, it was announced here yesterday by Charles Boasberg, general sales manager. Titled "RKO's 25th Anniversary Drive," it will be aimed at booking RKO product, in every theatre in every territory during each of its 16 weeks duration. Branch and district managers have been advised to plan intensified selling campaigns immediately in preparation for division meetings which will be (Continued on page 5) Goldman Wins Tax Case Vs. Revenue Dept. Philadelphia, Jan. 12. — In a decision that is precedental not only for the motion picture industry but all others that have been subjected to anti-trust suits, the U. S. tax court here upheld William Goldman's suit against the Department of Internal Revenue. The circuit head had contested the right of the government to collect taxes on twothirds of the treble damages of $375,000 awarded him in his anti-trust suit against the majors and Warner Theatres. The decision was handed down by Judge Johnson. The court's decision (Continued on page 5) Report UA in Deal To Purchase 4Bwana' Negotiations on a deal whereby United Artists will purchase the Natural Vision production "Bwana Devil" was reported here yesterday to be near consummation. The deal is said to be an outright buy rather than a distribution arrangement and while details had not been completed, it is (Continued on page 5) D. of J. Abolishes Small Business Unit Washington, Jan. 12. — The Justice Department has abolished the anti-trust division's special small business unit, the Senate Small Business Committee said. It described the unit as a "focal point" for complaints from small businessmen, including independent theatre operators, and indicated the Committee viewed the move unfavorably. The unit's personnel have all been transferred to other sections of the anti-trust division, according to the report. UPT-ABC Merger Hearing in 2 Weeks; Opposition Hinted Washington, Jan. 12. — Senate Interstate Commerce Committee Chairman Tobey (R., N. H.) has notified the Federal Communications Commission that his committee will hold hearings within the next two weeks on the proposed merger between United Paramount Theatres and American Broadcasting Co. In another major development on the merger, Attorney General James (Continued on page 5) 20TH SLATES 3RD DIMENSIONAL FILM Skouras Points to Large Sums of Money Being Spent on Stepped Up Technological Program '52 Disney Profit Totaled $451,809 Hollywood, Jan. 12. — Walt Disney Productions' consolidated net profit for the year ended Sept, 27, 1952 was $451,809, equal to 69 cents a share on 652,840 common shares outstanding, president Roy O. Disney reported here today in his annual report to stockholders. This compared with a profit of $429,840, equal after preferred dividends to 65 cents a common share in the preceding year. The preferred (Continued on page 5) By MURRAY HOROWITZ Twentieth Century-Fox plans to release a third-dimensional picture utilizing its own process in 1953, in addition to developing "Anamorphisis," the large-screen French process which offers a third-dimensional effect, it was learned here yesterday. Commenting on the stepped up technological program, Spyros P. Skouras, 20th-Fox president, stated that the company currently is spending large sums of money to develop new techniques to stimulate the box-office. He said these sums, while large, are being allocated carefully. Skouras added that the attention of top 20th-Fox executives is being more and more devoted to the consideration of new technical development. "The Robe," slated for production this year, may be the first picture to be made in the "Anamorphisis" pro cess. Tests with the process are now underway in the studio's laboratories on the Coast, it was learned, and the process will be discussed further when Darryl F. Zanuck, vice-president in charge of the studio, arrives here for conferences with Skouras around Jan. 20. The process, according to a company spokesman, features a screen two or three times the size of the ordinary screen, requires only one projector, and utilizes regular 35mm. film. The only change necessary, it was (Continued on page 5) Practices, Film Rentals Top Allied Board Main Issues Confronting Midwinter Meeting New Orleans, Jan. 12. — The National Allied board, in its annual midwinter meeting here at the JungHotel, concentrated on films rentals and trade practices. Among the points up for discussion were : The scope of the survey to be made pursuant to the board's declaration of policy and the resolution of John Vlachos, Michigan Allied president ; the formal authority of convention resolutions ; the formal authority to present problems to Senate and House Small Business Committees ; pricing policies and trade practices and suggestions for amending or strengthening the programs adopted at the recent Chicago convention ; and the danger of extended clearance of top films. After national Allied president Wil (Continned on page 2) Say Bell System to Advance Theatre TV Washington, Jan. 12. — The American Telephone and Telegraph Co. told the Federal Communications Commission today that it will argue at the coming theatre television hearings that the use of Bell system theatre television transmission will permit the development of theatre television networks earlier than otherwise possible. The hearings will resume on Jan. 26. A. T. and T., the Motion Picture Association of America, the National Exhibitors Theatre Television Com (Continucd on page 4) Joyce O'Hara Rites InWashingtonToday Washington, Jan. 12. — The industry will pay its respects to Joyce O'Hara, vice-president of the Motion Pictures Association of America here tomorrow when a requiem mass will be celebrated at St. Ann's Catholic Church. O'Hara died in the Hotel Waldorf-Astoria, New York, last Friday morning of a heart attack. Representatives of major film companies and the MPAA offices in NewYork will be present at the services, (Continued on page 5)