Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1953)

Tuesday, March 3, 1953 Motion Picture Daily 5 Kas, Censor Repeal Measure Seen Dead Topeka, March 2.— With the present session of the state legislature drawing to a close, little chance of action is seen on the bill introduced by Rep. Milo Sutton to end film cersorship in Kansas. The bill still is in the house State Affairs committee, to which it was referred following its introduction. Indications are it will remain there. Rep. Sutton is one of 20 Democrats in a house composed of 125 members. The state administration is Republican and 35 of the 40 state senators are Republican. Enact Bill to Cut Mont. Theatre Tax Helena, March 2. — A bill reducing Montana license taxes on motion picture theatres has been passed by the legislature and sent to the governor for signature. A 1947 law required Montana theatres to pay a tax of \% per cent of gross ticket sales above $12,000 a year. The new measure raises that exemption to $20,000. Amusem't Tax Take Rises in Chicago Chicago, March 2.— City amusement tax figures released by the city collector's office here today reflect an increase in January theatre receipts over those of the corresponding month last year. February collections (on January receipts) this year were $90,654.49, against $87,130.49 last year, an increase of roughly four per cent. Starr in Air-time Change A change of air time marks Martin Starr's entry into his sixth year for New York station WINS as drama critic and motion picture commentator. The reporter will be heard, beginning last night, at 7 :30 P.M., instead of 7 :00 o'clock with his nightly coverage of Broadway-and-Hollywood over his programs, "Movie Starr Dust" and "Broadway Starr Dust." BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S SO WE KEEP ON SAYING . . . FILMACK GIVES YOU MORE SHOWMANSHIP PER DOLLAR AND THE FASTEST SPECIAL TRAILER SERVICE IN THE WORLD. FILMACK 1 | TRAILERS flpf^li — — ^^^^^^^^f^i.'ii.'ii'in'h'iiu.'U'.'iVi:!1^ MITCHELL MAY, Jr. CO., INC. INSURANCE • Specializing in requirements of the Motion Picture Industry 75 Maiden Lane. New York 3720 W. 6th St.. Los Angeles Boasberg, Kramer To Toronto Meeting Charles Boasberg, general sales manager for RKO Radio, and Sidney Kramer, short subject sales manager, will leave New York tonight for Toronto for the final session of a series of meetings with the field sales force in preparation for the company's forthcoming "25th Anniversary Drive," March 6-June 25. Walter Branson, assistant general sales manager, will join them in Toronto tomorrow following completion of a meeting today in Chicago. Other home office sales executives who will be present include Harry Gittleson, assistant to Branson, and Frank Mooney, assistant to David Prince, Southern division manager. Attending from the field will be Carl Peppercorn, Canadian district manager, and branch managers Jactc Labow, Toronto ; Harry Cohen, Montreal, and Meyer Nackimson, Winnipeg. Owen Will Conduct Albany Meet Today Fourth in the current series of Paramount Eastern and Southern division branch meetings of spring and summer releases is taking place in Albany today, with Hugh Owen, division manager, presiding. Owen has conducted meetings in the Atlanta, Boston and New Haven branches. Owen will return to New York tomorrow to attend the Variety Clubs International dinner honoring Paramount board chairman Adolph Zukor on his Golden Jubilee in the industry. The following day Owen will proceed to Buffalo, where another branch meeting will be held. Subsequently he will hold meetings in New Orleans, Jacksonville, Charlotte and New York. Johnston to Testify On Overseas Program Washington, March 2. — Motion Picture Association of America president Eric A. Johnston is tentatively scheduled to testify Friday before a Senate Foreign Relations sub-committee studying the government's overseas information program. The sub-committee, which is headed by Sen. Hickenlooper (R., Iowa), is studying all information media and is planning to hear both industry and government officials. Committee spokesmen said that the motion picture hearings might start even earlier, since several witnesses who were invited to testify Wednesday and Thursday have not yet replied. Moreover, additional witnesses might testify Friday, it was stated. AM PA Membership Meet Next Tuesday The annual membership luncheonmeeting of the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers will be held here next Tuesday. The purpose of the meeting is to appoint a nominating committee for new officers and to discuss business and policy items, including continuation of the AMPA school, publication of a book based on the course and program ideas for future meetings. Would Repeal Tenn. Theatre Tax Law Nashville, March 2.— A 1949 Tennessee 1 a w authorizing cities and counties to levy a 20 per cent tax on admissions to theatres and other places of entertainment would be repealed under terms of a bill introduced in the State Legislature by Sen. Charles M. Everhart of Kingsport and Rep. Richard T. Moore of Newbern. Goldenson Reports New Goal for Palsy United Cerebral Palsy and its affiliates will seek to raise $7,500,000 during the 1953 campaign, Leonard H. Goldenson, national UCP president, discloses. Stressing the urgency for expanding the work for the Cerebral Palsied, Goldenson, who also is president of American Broadcasting Paramount Theatres, said that "only a fraction" of America's 550,000 palsied children and adults are now receiving the proper treatment and care. The new $7,500,000 goal_ set for the national campaign during May will enable United Cerebral Palsy and its more than 100 affiliates and subaffiliates in 33 states to enlarge their operations, he said. 20th, NT Shares To Lehman, C. Skouras Washington, March 2. — Robert Lehman, a director of 20th CenturyFox, bought 7,000 shares of 20th-Fox common stock, $1 par value, in January, it was disclosed yesterday by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The purchase increased Lehman's direct holdings in the company to 7,500 shares. The SEC also reported that Charles P. Skouras, president of National Theatres, purchased 11,700 shares of common, $1 par value, also in January, bringing his direct holdings to 11,710 shares. His wife, Florence L. Skouras, owns 200 shares in her own names. Allied Explores Air Travel to Conclave Boston, March 2. — Allied is planning to take advantage of the forthcoming chartered coach service of the various airlines to bring delegates to the association's national convention here Oct. 3-7. Tie-ins with the airlines for chartered trips are now being explored by the convention's attendance committee. The air transportation firms are about to announce a coach service at a saving of approximately one-third of the normal fare. The amounts of the savings for air travel to the convention will be sent to Allied units throughout the country by the Independent Exhibitors of New England, the host unit. Various convention committees met here to discuss all phases of the forthcoming conclave. It was decided to have a "keynote" theme for the entire convention, but the subject was not selected at the meeting. New Maryland Censor Baltimore, March 2. — Maryland's Governor McKeldin has sent to the State Senate for confirmation the name of Mrs. Maude B. Dorrance of Harford County to replace Mrs. Eva M. Holland of Baltimore on the Board of Motion Picture Censors. It is expected the appointment will be confirmed. Kill Mass. Censor Bill Boston, March 2. — A bill which would have provided for censorship by the Massachusetts State Department of Public Safety of all foreign films brought into the state has been rejected by the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Top Capital Brass Sees 'Julius Caesar' Washington, March 2. — Motion Picture Association of America president Eric A. Johnston and Mrs. Johnston were hosts tonight at a buffet supper and screening at MPAA headquarters for House Speaker Joseph W. Martin. The film was M-G-M's "Julius Caesar." Guests also included Treasury Under-Secretary and Mrs. Marion B. Folsom, Presidential assistant Sherman Adams and Mrs. Adams, and members of the Senate and House. Two More Tax Bills In Congress Hopper Washington, March 2. — Two more admission tax bills have been introduced—one by Rep. McMillan (D., S. C.) to repeal the tax and another by Rep. Fogarty (D., R. I.) to exempt theatres from the tax. Kill S.D. Sunday Bill Pierre, So. Dak., March 2. — A bill to legalize Sunday motion picture shows, ball games, operas, ballets and other forms of amusement where an admission is charged has been killed by the South Dakota Senate. See more... do moreenjoy the best for less! FLY TWA to EUROPE in THRIFT SEASON and SAVE! You can save more than $100 on a TWA ticket to Europe and return (th rough March 31). See your travel agent or call Trans World Airlines. ACROSS THE US AND OVERSEAS ... FLY tm m