Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1954)

VOL. 75. NO. 66 MOTION PICTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U. S. A., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1954 TEN CENTS ALLIED IN PRODUCTION PLAN UK May Cut Ticket Tax By PETER BURNUP LONDON, April 6.— Moderate reductions in the entertainment tax are proposed in the new budget opened in the House of Commons today by Chancellor of the Exchequer R. A. Butler. If approved by Parliament the tax reductions will become effective May 30 and will cost the Exchequer £3,500,000 ($9,800,000) per year. The Cinematograph Exhibitors Association had submitted a memorandum to the Treasury some time ago claiming that a tax remission of £7,000,000 ($19,600,000) would be required to end the operating losses of a majority of British theatres. Nevertheless, legislative observers regarded the announcement as a great triumph for the exhibitors' tax remission campaign in view of the fact that the Budget makes practically no concessions in other tax fields. The following cinema entertainment tax reductions are proposed : a half(Continued on page 6) Disqualify Lawyer in Fisher Trust Action David H. Isacson and the law firm of Malkan & Isacson have been disqualified from acting as attorneys for the Fisher Studio, Inc., and Robert V. Fisher in their anti-trust suit against major companies and others. The suit was filed on Sept. 22, 1952, and asked $1,052,000 triple damages for alleged refusal by the companies to license their product to Fisher for 16mm. nontheatrical and TV exhibition. United States District Court Judge D. J. Abruzzo directed the disqualification following a report by a special master. The defendants claimed that Isac(Continued on page 6) 20th Sets Prints For Sound Tests After 2'0th Century-Fox selects its stereophonic and optical demonstration prints, invitations will go out to the Theatre Owners of America and Allied States Association to cooperate in the sound test, it was learned here yesterday. Spyros P. Skouras, 20th-Fox president, and Al Lichtman, distribution (Continued on page 4) Backs 12 Hal Makelim Films with 2,500 Playdates in Move to Help Ease Product Shortage; Other Measures to Be Pursued By J. A. OTTEN WASHINGTON, March 6. — Allied States Association announced it has entered into an agreement with a Hollywood independent producer for 12 feature pictures to be delivered at the rate of one a month beginning in late summer or early fall. The theatres would not put up any money in advance but would merely sign contracts to take all 12 films at pre-determined flat rentals, on a fixed run status. General counsel Abram F. Myers, who announced the arrangement, said it represented Allied's "first step in its endeavor to secure additional product for the picture-starved independent exhibitors." He emphasized that Allied would continue to work on its previously-announced plan to influence one of the major companies to produce more features, and might also make similar arrangements with other independents. Thompson Resigns RKO Labor Post; To Open Own Office Major L. E. Thompson, director of labor relations for RKO Theatres and active in amusement industry labor relations since 1919, has resigned effective April 16. However, he will continue as labor cons u 1 t a n t for RKO Theatres and other theat r i c a 1 enterprises and will open his own office for the services after taking a vacation. William F. Whitman, genera 1 counsel, and Mary E. Tuttle, director of per (Continued on page 6) L. E. Thompson The arrangement announced today was with Hal R. Makelim. Myers said Makelim heads his own production company, Hal R. Makelim Productions, using a distributing company known as Atlas Pictures Corp. He added that Makelim leases at the RKO-Pathe studio and has been working on his plan for almost a year, traveling some 15,000 miles in the past three months checking and perfecting the plan. Myers recalled that Allied had longbeen working on a plan to influence one of the major companies to step (Continued on page 4) BOSTON SALUTES FILM INDUSTRY IN FREE LIBRARY CELEBRATION NY Censor Head Defends Role BOSTON, April 6.— Spon sored by the Boston Public Library, the industry was honored here tonight at a banquet designed to serve a dual purpose; to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first free library in the United States and to salute the motion picture industry for its progress. Approximately 400 attended. With Howard Dietz as toastmaster and Charles E. Kurtzman presiding, the colorful event was highlighted by addresses by notables in many lines of business and civic affairs. The keynote address was delivered by Ralph M. Binney, executive of the First National Bank of Boston and general chairman of the Boston Public Library Centennial Celebration. In paying tribute to the film industry, Binney said : "This area has a big financial stake (Continued on page 6) Pre-censorship of motion pictures was vigorously defended here yesterday by Dr. Hugh M. Flick, director of the New York State censor board, in an address at a luncheon meeting of the Independent Motion Picture Distributors Association of America. Dr. Flick claimed that pre-censorship was far preferable as compared to the difficulties which distributors (Continued on page 6) Allied Production Plan Highlights Following are highlights of the Allied States plan to encourage additional production: €| Will assure production costs for 12 Hal R. Makelim productions by providing 2,500 playdates for each. iJJJ Pictures to be delivered at rate of one monthly for a year,, beginning in about six months, dl No financial advances by exhibitors. Producer to profit on rentals in excess of the basic 2,500 theatres. <j| Key city meetings for contract signing to start early next month. Drive-in Top Subject Before Wise. Allied MILWAUKEE, April 6— The first session of the "year of decision convention" of Wisconsin Allied was presided over by president Sig Goldbeig. All phases of drive-in operation were discussed, and Robert Koratz talked on all phases of operations and improvement that could be made. On stereophonic sound Karatz reported that sound engineers state that it is impossible to get the effect in a car. When screen sizes and ratios were brought up, Ben Marcus warned about rushing into enlarging screens too fast. "A lot of us have rushed in and brought a lot of junk," he said. Spiro Papas gave a detailed talk on concessions, recommending the operation of one's own concession stand. He stressed sanitation and cleanliness in all phases of concession operation, and said that repeat business depends on the quality of the. merchandise used. He cited an example of how to get the most out of each item, and also pointed out the (Continued on page 4) Report Soviet Seeks To Buy U. S. Films The purchase of American motion pictures by Russian interests, suspended since World War II, will be resumed if overtures now being made abroad with representatives of the Motion Picture Association of America materialize, it was reported here' yesterday. Conversations said to have taken place in Cannes with Marc Spiegel, European manager of the MPAA, are expected to be resumed shortly in Paris.