Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1954)

VOL. 76. NO. 13 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, JULY 20, 1954 TEN CENTS FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AND MPEA TO MEET ON FRENCH PACT WASHINGTON, July 19.— Officials of the Motion Picture Export Association are scheduled to meet with Federal Trade Commission officials some time this week to give the Commission MPEA's side of the recent French agreement. Ellis Arnall, head of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, has protested to the FTC that the recent French agreement brings MPEA into violation of the WebbPomerene Act. The Commission is investigating this complaint, and as part of the investigation has scheduled the meeting with MPEA staff members. Wide Screen, Sound Installations Cause Slight FT Net Drop Increased depreciation charges, due to the installation of new theatre wide screen and sound equipment, were primarily responsible for a small drop in the net operating profit in Ameri can BroadcastingParamount Theatres' second quarter, president Leonard Goldenson explained here yesterday in announcing 'second quarter and half-year earnings. Goldenson reported that the estimated profit for the second quarter was $715,000 or 14 cents per share on the common stock, compared with $756,000 or 16 cents per share in the same period last year. For the first six months of 1954, the estimated net operating profit was $1,754,000 as against $2,236,000 for the corresponding 1953 period. Capital gains for the second quarter and for the first six months were to local European product, and one (Continued on page 4) IFE to Hold First Sales Convention I.F.E. Releasing Corp., will hold its first national sales convention in August, Bernard Jacon, vice-president in charge of sales, announced. All division managers, district managers and salesmen will meet with the New York executives at conferences in New York, commencing Aug. 6. Daily and evening meetings and screenings will be held through Aug. 10. "The convention is being held at this time," said Jacon, "because circumstances have never been so favorable for I.F.E. at any time during its 20 months of operation. We intend to discuss the vast changes that have occurred throughout the nation distribution-wise during the past year and acquaint the field force first-hand with our strong product line-up for 1954-55, so that fullest advantage may be taken of both factors. We hope to demon(Continued on page 4) Set Meet on Eady Levies LONDON, July 19. — Representatives of British F'ilm Producers Association and Cinematograph Exhibitors Association have been invited by Peter Thorneycroft, president of the Board of Trade, to meet with him tomorrow to discuss differences in views on future Eady Plan payments. The differences led last week to the resignation from C.E.A. of J. Arthur Rank's Odeon and Gaumont circuits. Thorneycroft made it clear that the meeting will be explanatory and exploratory and that there is no suggestion of the government acting as arbitrator in the dispute between the two (Contimied on page 2) Not Ready for Draft Arbitration Group Seeks Agreement in Principle Discussions to date on the formula for an industry arbitration system have been centered on efforts to reach an agreement in principle on the entire scope of arbitration, it was reported yesterday following a meeting of the joint exhibitor-distributor arbitration sub U-I's Aboaf Sees Boom Era for Films In Overseas Market In view of an upswing in product quality, Universal-International faces a "record breaking'' year for distribution abroad, Americo Aboaf, U-I vice-president and foreign sales manager, said at a trade press conference here yesterday. Aboaf last week completed an eightweek tour of five European countries studying the U-I distribution picture as well as attending a company foreign sales convention in Barcelona. This will be a record breaking year for U-I, he stated, and "we are looking forward to a "tremendous year" in 1955, Aboaf said. He pointed to his company as well as industry-wide empasis upon quality over quantity in American product as the reason. He called the trend the best answer (Continued on page 4) committee. No effort has been made as yet to put the proposed provisions into "language." Problems such as the issues that are to be subjects for arbitration have been explored in the sessions held thus far. These problems are said to be those incorporated in the distributors' draft of an arbitration plan drawn up in 1952. Technically, the sub-committee is not a drafting group and the ultimate formula may be placed in the hands of a dift'erent group, it is reported. The committee is scheduled to meet here again tomorrow. Survey Reveals N.E. Grosses Are Topping Same Period of Last Year By FRANCES HARDING BOSTON, July 15. — The general interest that the public has displayed towards wide screen and CinemaScope productions, plus the 10 per cent reduction in the admission tax has Sid Rogell Succeeds Klune at 20th-Fox HOLLYWOOD, July 19.— Sid Rogell has been appointed executive production manager of the 20th Century-Fox studio, succeeding Ray Klune who resigned last week to join HechtLancaster Productions. Rogell has held top executive posts with RKO and Columbia, produced a western series starring John Wayne for Warner Brothers and has been with 20th-Fox since December, 1952. brought business to the point where it is ahead of last year's figures in many instances, according to a survey conducted among theatre circuits and independents throughout the five New England states, excluding Connecticut. The suburban or neighborhood house is still suffering except when playing a so-called "big" picture, not necessarily CinemaScope. VVith the public's appreciation of CinemaScope presentations, however, theatre buyers and bookers are quick to realize that not every CinemaScope presentation means a -box-office bonariza. The public, they say, still exercises discrimination in its film selections and the old adage remains true — a good picture will do good business. Good product is still scarce, film ren(Contimied on page 4) Korda Joins Woolf ; Plans Four Yearly LONDON, July 19. — Sir Alexander Korda, separated from British Lion since the government put the company in the hands of receivers recently, will release through John Woolf's Independent Film Producers. Korda plans four films annually, the first of which will be Shakespeare's "Richard III," starring Laurence Oli vier. Robert Dowling is reported to have offered Korda financing. Woolf will provide distribution guarantees for the Korda productions. Korda's four, added to Woolf's Romulus Films' output, should provide a schedule of about 12 top-grade films in the next year. Heretofore, the Woolf product has been distributed by British Lion. Whether or not that arrangement will be continued has not been determined yet. Illinois Allied Elects Officers on Thursday CHICAGO, July 19.— Officers and directors of Allied Theatres of Illinois will be held here on Thursday at a membership luncheon meeting in the Blackstone Hotel. At a directors' meeting, Jack Kirsch, unit president, echoed the sentiments of Abram Myers, Allied general counsel, in scoring the distributors for allegedly demanding "unconscionable" terms for product which, he said, "is threatening the existence of exhibition and is depriving the ex(Contimied on page 4)