Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1954)

The News That Is News MOTION PICTURE DAILY VOL. 76. NO. 110 NEW YORK, U. S. A., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1954 TEN CENTS New Product 6 Independents To Produce 12 Films for RKO Grainger Sees Company In Strongest Position HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 8.— Six major independent producers will be filming a minimum of 12 top-budgeted pictures — all of them in color and wide-screen process — for distribution by RKO with the start of 1955, it was disclosed here today by J. R. Grainger, president of RKO. In addition, with six films currently in release and a backlog of four completed and awaiting spring and summer release, the company is in the strongest, most mobile position it has been in since coming under the management of Howard Hughes, Grainger said. Each of the following independent units has a schedule of major attractions ready to go before the cameras in color and wide screen process for RKO release : Edmund Grainger Productions, King Brothers Productions, (Continued on page 3) Martin Talks Film Backing Stccial to THE DAILY MEMPHIS, Dec. 8.— Financing of film production was the main topic here on the final day of the three-day session of the Theatre Owners of Arkansas, Tennessee and Aiississippi. E. D. Martin, president of Theatre Owners of America, explained the setup of Exhibitors Film Financing Group, Inc., to finance films made by independent producers in order to increase the supply for theatres. Fie (Continued on page 6) Doubt Senate Action On SCTOA Charges From THE DAILY Burean WASHINGTON, Dec. 8.— Chances are very slim now that the Senate Small Business Committee will take any action this year on the Southern California Theatre Owner Association's complaints against the distributors and the Justice Department. The Senate has now completed its (Continued on page 6) Trial of Volk $576,000 Anti-Trust Action Against Majors Starts Today in Minn. MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 8.— Trial of a $576,000 triple-damage antitrust action brought by William and Sidney Volk, operators of the Terrace Theatre, deluxe independent suburban 28-day house, against eight major film companies, Minnesota Amusement Co. and RKO theatres is scheduled to open here tomorrow before Judge Gunnar H. Nordbye in Federal District Court. The action charges that the distributors and the two theatre circuits conspired to deprive the Terrace Theatre of a run "in keeping with the character, location and grossing potential" of the house. Reelect Schenck UATC Board Head Joseph M. Schenck was reelected chairman of the board of directors of United Artists Theatres Circuit at the company's reconvened stockholders meeting in Baltimore. Others reelected to the board are George P. Skouras, Joseph M. Seider, Bertram S. Nayfack, Milton Shubert, Harry D. Buckley, Douglas M. Mof( Continued on page 6) Minn. Booth Men File Strike Notice specialto THEDAILY MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 8. — ^trike notices against more than 40 circuit and independent theatres in Minneapolis were filed by Projectionists' Local No. 219, lATSE, with, the Minnesota Labor Conciliator's offi^fr-'ih St. Paul yesterday. The notices were filed against Min( Continued on page 6) Brewer to Station At AA N.Y. Office Upon assumption of full control, Roy Brewer, of branch operations for Allied Artists, will shift his headquarters from Hollywood to New York sometime in January, the former candidate for the lATSE presidency announced here yesterday. Brewer, concerned only with his present position and not with hi (Continued on page 6) Sees Mexico Industry Bolstered by Cimex From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 8. -^ Alfonso Pulido Islas, heading the recently formed Cimex, which comprises 55 of Mexico's 90 producers, today told the press that this pooling of resources, which was started last May, has brought Mexican production to a point in Cjuality that Cimex feels warrants (Continued on page 6) Goldenson Optimistic Predicts Pro fitahle ^33; 1st Quarter Specially Good 'By MURRAY HOROWITZ A forecast of good'l business for the new year, especially in the first quarter of 1955, was rtiade here yesterday by Leonard Goldenson, president of American I^roadcasting-Paramount Theatres. Beginning at Christmas, Goldenson said, there is a "tremendous number of good pictures coming into the market." He declined to make a detailed prediction for the second and third quarter, explaining the product line-up for the periods are not clear. Expressions of confidence in the fu L. Goldenson .ture and. the vitality of the motion picture business; bowever, were; constant in Goldenson's appraisal of the outlook for 1955. Regarding industry problems, the AB-PT president felt that there is a "crowding" of good product around holidays. He also acknowledged that there will be a "lot less pictures" in 1955. True, he said, there now are longer runs for pictures, but, he went on, the picture shortage is most keenly felt by subsequent runs and smaller houses, a situation which evidenced his sympathy. The proper use of television (Continued on page 6) Meets Today Anti-Toll TV Committee to Advance Plans Compo Aid Appears Out; Weigh Financing Means Members of the exhibitors' joint emergency committee on subscription television will meet here today to advance their campaign of opposition and to explore financing plans for committee activities. The committee will press its planning as rapidly as possible on the theory that the Federal Communications Commission may call for briefs on the toll TV question or set a date for hearing early in the New Year. Indications are that all chances of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations conducting or engaging in the campaign have been eliminated. Counsel for some of the member organizations of COMPO fear possible anti-trust involvements in such a move, while others feel that such a role is outside COMPO's orbit or would be barred by the COMPO requirement that it must have the unanimous approval of its members in (Continued on page 3) Compo to Set Poll Details Final details of the national audience poll recently authorized by the executive committee of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations will be worked out at a meeting over the week-end of the committee that drew up plans for the poll last summer. The committee will meet at the Sheraton Astor, and those attending the sessions will be Mrs. Alice N. Gorham of the United Paramount Theatres of Detroit, committee chair(Confinned on page 6) This Is Your Army' Bows in D.C. Tonight WASHINGTON, Dec. 8.— The Army Chief of Staff, General Matthew B. Ridgway, will head the guest ist at the Washington premiere of 'This Is Your Army" at the Metropolitan Theatre tomorrow night. Assistant Secretary of Defense Fred (Continued on page 6) 4