Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1954)

VOL. 75. NO. 24 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1954 TEN CENTS New Systems 'Scope Sound For Drive-ins Set: Lichtman 20th Tells TO A of Its Marketing Prerogative CinemaScope "sound reproduction" for drive-ins is assured by a recently unveiled system of International Projector Corp. and a system to be offered by RCA, it was disclosed here yesterday by Al Lichtman, 20th CenturyFox distribution director. Lichtman, in addition to issuing a statement on the drive-in CinemaScope situation, also told of 20thFox's reaction to the recently passed resolution of the Theatre Owners of America board of directors emphasizing the prerogative of exhibitors in ordering equipment. Calling the resolution "completely proper," Lichtman went on to say that CinemaScope has proven its success and 20th-Fox has "its own prerogative to produce and market its pictures in (Continued on page 7) Brotherhood Dinner At Waldorf Tonight The amusement industry will hold its annual Brotherhood dinner this evening at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, with Gen. Carlos P. Romulo, former president of the United Nations general assembly, and Robert D. Murphy, United States Undersecretary of State, making the principal addresses. Gen. Romulo and Murphy will receive the first world Brotherhood gold medal awards bestowed by the National Conferenceat the dinner. Mrs. Wendell L. Willkie will present the award to Gen. Romulo and Gen. Lu(Continucd on page 8) D. C. Premiere for Re-Issue of 'Years' WASHINGTON, Feb. 3. — The opening of "The Best Years of Our Lives," re-issued by Samuel Goldwyn for RKO Radio release, took place here at Keith's Theatre tonight, culminating a series of special events which started with a luncheon in the House of Representatives restaurant and ended with a midnight buffet at the Carleton : Hotel following the showing , of the film. The invitational premiere at Keith's (Continued on page 8) W. B. First Quarter Net at $765,000; Re-Elect Directors WILMINGTON, Del., Feb. 3.— Warner Brothers' consolidated net profit for the first quarter of the fiscal year, ended Nov. 28, was $765,000, the company's stockholders were told here today at the first annual meeting of the reorganized corporation. Judge Hugh Morris, who presided at the meeting, explained that the $765,000 figure was after providing for $825,000 for Federal taxes and $75,000 for contingent liabilities. The net is equivalent to 30 cents per share on the 2,474,363 shares of stock outstanding or reserved for exchange on Nov. 28. Film rentals, sales, and other income, he said, amounted to $15,825,000 for the period. Judge Morris said that because the new company began operations on March 1, 1953, it was necessary to (Continued on page 6) To Start Tests Of Fibre Glass Cases First tests of the durability of fibre glass film cases will be undertaken between Feb. 20 and' March 10, it was stated here by Irving Brown, chief engineer of U. S. Fibreglas, Inc., the company which will manufacture the containers. A major company will use three of the fibre glass cases for the shipment of film, each in a different manner of transportation. One case will (Continued on page 6) Altec De-Magnetizer To Be Offered Soon A new Altec Service development to demagnetize magnetic sound film tracks will be announced shortly, it was disclosed here yesterday. A company spokesman described the development as "of considerable importance to the industry." Election of Officers, Film Buying Plans Up To Allied Board WASHINGTON, Feb. 3. — Election of officers for the coming year and further discussion of plans for film buying circuits and for exhibitor attempts to control film production companies will highlight the midwinter board meeting of Allied States Association in Cincinnati starting tomorrow. Other items on the agenda released by Abram Myers, Allied chairman, include a discussion of the stereophonic sound equipment situation, anti-trust and tax legislation and plans to stimulate theatre attendance. The board meeting will also set the location of the 1954 and 1955 Allied conventions and the 1955 drive-in convention. All Allied officers come up for election at the meeting, and the board must also pick Caravan committeemen and Allied representatives for the exec(Continued on page 8) Extra Session Stereo Status Is 'Blasted' By Drive-ins Convention Jeers at 2-Speaker-in-Car Plan By WILFRED SMITH CINCINNATI, Feb. 3.— Exhibitors attending the National Allied Drive-in Theatre Association convention here today scheduled for tomorrow consideration of the failure of 20th CenturyFox to reply to their telegram protesting the company's insistence on stereophonic sound for the showing of CinemaScope pictures. The drive-in operators described the announcement of a two-speaker-in-a-car system, as demonstrated at the International Projector Corp. proving ground at Bloomfield, N. J., on Monday, as being "an insult to the intelligence" of the drive-in exhibitors. John Currie, a representative of National Theatre Supply, was quoted (Continued on page 7) Planning 485 'Scope Prints Per Month Beginning in mid-March, 20th Century-Fox expects to process 485 prints tor each new CinemaScope production, with 285 prints scheduled for the domestic market and 200 for abroad, it was learned here yesterday. A 20th-Fox executive said the target of 485 prints per CinemaScope picture will be increased as more theatres equip for CinemaScope. LTnder the Technicolor-De Luxe Laboratories tieup, he went on, the print run for (Continued on page 7) Seek Guaranty on Theatre TV Event A varying minimum guarantee of $250 to $650, based upon the theatre's' seating capacity, is being sought for the projected telecast of the Harlem Globetrotters on Feb. 18, Box Office Television, the agency selling the event, said yesterday. A BOT spokesman said that a minimum of from 15 to 17 theatres are needed to make the telecast possible, adding that the cost structure to theatres could be brought down if enough (Continued on page 6) Keynoted '53 Convention TOA Silence on Status of Product Supply Surprises The silence on the part of directors of Theatre Owners of America on product supply at their winter meeting in Washington this week was regarded as "puzzling" by some industry segments here yesterday, inasmuch as an alleged dearth of pictures was the keynote of TOA's convention in Chicago last November. In his keynote speech at the Chicago convention, Leonard Goldenson, president of American BroadcastingParamount Theatres, said that if "producer statesmanship" is not applied to the problem of high film rentals and picture shortages, then the motion picture exhibitor "must protect himself either by producing pictures, financing production or in some other manner." Some industry observers feel the silence of the TOA board on the subject was an indication that the film supply situation is improving. This belief was affirmed by national circuit leaders in New York last week, some of whom are TOA ieaders, when they pointed out that the increased playing time of current releases, especially long CinemaScope runs, had eased the so-called product shortage. The TOA board probably thought it best to side-step the subject at this time. Certainly there is little financial support in view for sponsored production in exhibitor circles. Moreover, any action to sponsor production taken at this stage could not affect current season's release schedules.