Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1953)

VOL. 74. NO. 97 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1953 TEN CENTS By March, '54 Sees 50 More Theatre TV Installations BOT's Rosensohn Tells Of Plans for Expansion At least 50 new theatre television installations by March, 1954, was forecast here yesterday by Bill Rosensohn, general sales manager of Box Office Television. Rosensohn said he made his prediction on the basis of hundreds of requests received by BOT from exhibitors interested in BOT's theatre TV installation plan, under which sets are leased to theatres. He said the 50 installations could be completed by next month, if line clearances are procured from the American Telephone and Telegraph Co. BOT's plan, it was explained, is to further the growth of theatre TV in (Continued on page 11) Moroptican Units to Lightman, O'Donnell Robert J. O'Donnell of the Texas Interstate Circuit, and M. A. Lightman, head of Malco Theatres of Memphis, are the first two major circuit executives to sign for the new Moropticon one-strip 3-D film system, it was revealed here yesterday by Matthew Fox, chairman of the board of the Pola-Lite Co. Fox said that the first of a series of national demonstrations of Moropticon would be held (Continued on page 11) Newsreels, TV, Ask McCarthy Coverage The Radio-Newsreel-Television Working Press Association of New York is challenging Sen. Joseph McCarthy's reported stand against permitting theatrical and television newsreel coverage of his public hearings here next week. Chester Burger, president of the association, yesterday sent a telegram to Senator McCarthy asking him to continue his previous policy of granting equal access to all media. See Revival of 3-D Interest as Result Of Upcoming Films Although the sale of 3-D equipment has been at a virtual standstill in some sections of the country for almost two months, exhibitor interest in the medium appears to be on the upswing again everywhere. The renewed interest stems from the focusing of attention on new 3-D releases from many companies of vastly better quality than heretofore. A leading New York equipment dealer said here yesterday that he had not had an order for 3-D equipment or accessories in eight weeks, but that "feelers" are beginning to be put out by exhibitors who now are interested in installing the equipment. Good 3-D pictures can change the complexion of the market for threedimension films overnight, a circuit operator said. He asserted that the upcoming depth product potentially (Continued on page 11) M-G-M Is Rushing Conversion of 'Lab' HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 18.— With two CinemaScope pictures completed and four others now scheduled for production, M-G-M is rushing conversion of its color laboratory for the processing of film photographed in this medium. The work will be completed in two weeks, after which the laboratory will have a weekly capacity (Continued on page 11) RKO Radio to\ Meet Today RKO Radio's district managers will start a two-day sales session with home office executives here today. Forthcoming product will be screened for the managers, and they will be addressed by Edmund Grainger, producer of "The French Line," who is here from Hollywood. Under discussion will be RKO's current product, "Decameron Nights," "Appointment in Honduras," "Marry Me Again," "Louisiana Territory," and the upcoming "Son of Sinbad," "Rangers of the North," King Brothers' "Carnival Story," Walt Disney's "Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue," Samuel Goldwyn's "Best Years of Our Lives," "She Had to Say Yes," Howard Hughes' "Jet Pilot," "Target Earth" and "The French Line," scheduled for a Christmas premiere in Texas. District managers attending the meeting are : Herbert H. Greenblatt, Chicago ; Albert L. Kolitz, Denver ; (Continued on page 11) Bookers-Salesmen in Tribute to Zukor Bookers-salesmen of Paramount's exchanges throughout the U.S. and Canada have voted to dedicate the month of December, traditionally "Bookers Salesman Month,'' to Adolph Zukor, board chairman of Paramount, in honor of his Golden Jubilee this year with the company, Monroe R. Goodman, national co(Continued on page 11) Dividend Set 20th Net Is Up For 39 Weeks, Third Quarter Bigger Gains Predicted Due to CinemaScope Variety Activities V.C. Tents Charting Fall Projects; Elect Officers Variety Club tents throughout the country are swinging into stepped-up fall activities, with elections of new officers and the blue-printing of charitable projects for the new season. Reports from the field reflect the continuing vitality of the tents. ^ | Columbia Ends Sales Meet in Chicago Consolidated net earnings of 20th Century-Fox and wholly-owned subidiaries for the 39 weeks ended Sept. 26 were reported here yesterday at $1,433,037, amounting to 52 cents per share on 2,769,486 shares of common stock outstanding. This is an increase of $155,769 over the corresponding 39 weeks of last year when net earnings amounted to $1,277,268, or 46 cents per share. Net earnings for the third quarter of this year also showed a rise over the same quarter of 1952. The 1953 third-quarter net was $1,274,728, compared with $1,122,864 in 1952. It was pointed out by the company that the 39-week net of 1952 did not include a special credit arising from a change of accounting procedure with respect to foreign operations and the (Continued on page 11) Para. Employes Near Agreement on Pact A settlement of a new contract for Paramount's home office employes may be reached tomorrow when company representatives will meet with Russell Moss, business manager of Local No. H-63, bargaining agent for the white collar workers. A meeting of the principals was held on Tuesday (Continued on page 11) Variety Club of Illinois has just elected as chief barker Mannie Smerling, an official of Confection Cabinet Corp. Other officers for the year include Nat Nathanson, Allied Artists Chicago branch manager, first assistant chief barker ; Ralph Smitha, Essaness Theatres general manager, second assistant ; Jack Rose, IndianaIllinois Theatres, property-master, and Harry Balaban of H. & E. Balaban Theatres, dough guy. Joining the (Continued on page 6) CHICAGO, Nov. 18. — Columbia tomorrow will conclude its five-day meeting held here at the Drake Hotel. Present at the sessions, all of which were led by general sales manager A. Montague, were home office executives, division managers and branch (Continued on page 6) Roxy Cuts 'Robe* Prices for Children A reduction of admission prices for youngsters under 16 will be inaugurated by the Rcxy during the 11th week of "The Robe," it was disclosed here yesterday by Dick Dickson, Roxy executive. Called the "Junior Budget Plan," the reduction will begin on Nov. 30, lowering prices to youngsters to 65 cents on weekday mornings, and $1 at other times. Present scale is from $1 to $3, with no reduction.