Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1955)

4 Motion Picture Daily Friday, January 7, 1955 Eisenhower Urges Lawmakers To Expand Minimum Wage Law From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Jan. 6. — As expected, President Eisenhower's State-of-the-Union message to Congress urged the lawmakers to expand coverage of the minimum wage law to take in "many workers, at present excluded," hut did not specify just which workers he had in mind The major exemption from the present Federal minimum wa'ge law is one for retail and service workers, jndluding theatre employes. The Labor Department reportedly wants to bring retail and service workers under the coverage of the Act, which provides a minimum wage to be paid and requires time and a half for overtime. Opposition Certain Presumably, the Administration's exact recommendations on expanded coverage will not be known until Labor Department officials testify before Congressional hearings on the subject. The President's message did indicate that workers newly brought under the Act would be brought under at a lower minimum than workers already covered. The proposal for expanded coverage is certain to provoke a bitter Congressional battle. The President also asked that Congress increase the minimum wage for workers already covered from 75 cents an hour to 90 cents an hour. This would affect film industry firms engaged in production and distribution activities. Industry officials said most .studio workers are already well above this proposed higher scale, but that some home office employes and film exchange workers might be affected by any increase. The outlook is for Congress to go along on this request. Message Much as Expected The President's message contained few surprises. As expected, he asked Congress to continue the present 52 per cent corporate income tax rate, scheduled to drop to 47 per cent under present law on April 1. The President declared that necessarily high government spending "precludes further tax reductions this year," but added that he was hopeful that further tax cuts could be made next year. He did not specify just where these cuts might come. Other requests made by the President in the message were these : <fl Expansion of world trade through continued tariff reductions and simplification of customs administration and procedures. Cf Amendments to the Taft-Hartley law "to further the basic objectives of this statute." The President detailed only two minor changes. Studio unions have been pressing for a change to cut the union shop waiting period requirement in the present law. CH An increase in postal rates. tfl Provision for a "vigorous" overseas information program. <f Establishment of a Federal Advisory Commission on the Arts, within the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, to "give official recognition to the importance of the arts and other cultural activities." The President is expected to spell out more of his views on foreign trade legislation in a special message to Congress on Monday. It's possible that at that time he will make some mention of proposals to lower tax rates on income earned overseas. This proposal was not mentioned in today's message. WASHINGTON, Jan. 6. — The U.S. Information Agency's Motion Picture Service has made arrangements with commercial newsreel companies to give the widest possible distribution in theatres in foreign countries to today's State-of-theUnion address by President Eisenhower, the agency announced. News Roundup 'Toko' Special in 2nd Week Paramount's series of special nationwide preview showings of "The Bridges at Toko-Ri" for exhibitors will start its second week Monday in key cities throughout the country. Showings will start Monday in Minneapolis and will continue in Milwaukee, Denver, Portland, Cincinnati and San Francisco. 'Post' Lauds Chicago V.C. A recent issue of "Saturday Evening Post" spotlighted the work beingdone by Chicago Variety Club Tent No. 26 in an article titled "The Secret Life of Joe Swedie." Hoover Visiting V.C. Tents George Hoover, Variety Clubs International chief barker, between Jan. 10 and Jan. 28 will visit the organization's tents in Philadelphia, Albany, New York, Houston, Dallas, New Orleans, Miami, Des Moines and Minneapolis. Old Ontario House Reopens Originally started in 1880 as the city's first opera house, the Granada Theatre, Hamilton, Out, has been reopened by Famous Players Canadian Corp. under the new name of Downtown Theatre after complete remodelling for which the unit was closed a month ago. The theatre made its fresh start for the New Year with a ceremony in which Mayor Lloyd D. Jackson of Hamilton officiated. Adopts 'Dimes' Project The Variety Club of Baltimore, Tent No. 19, has adopted the 1955 March of Dimes as its project, not only in Baltimore but throughout Maryland. Parade of Stars at Town Hall Tomorrow The Parade of Stars for the benefit of the Jewish National Home for Asthmatic Children will be held at Town Hall here tomorrow evening with Frank Sinatra and Sam Levenson heading the celebrity list of performers. Denise Darcel, Martha Wright, Henry Morgan, Joey Adams, Joey Bishop, Jack Carter, The Chordettes, Lanny Ross, Bobby Hackett, The Mariners, Jaye P. Morgan, Jan Arden, Lois Hunt, Earl Wrightson, Don Liberto and Bud Palmer are among the entertainers who will appear in the benefit parade. Robert Q. Lewis, honorary chairman of the benefit, will be master of ceremonies. The National Home's first benefit show is under the chairmanship of Max E. Youngstein, vice-president of United Artists. He will make a televised appeal today in behalf of the home on the Herb Sheldon Show over NBC-TV. Okla. Tent Names Fisher as Delegate ^ OKLAHOMA CITY, Jan. 6.— George Fisher, M-G-M branch manager, was named the delegate to the International V ariety convention at Los Angeles in May at a meeting of Variety Tent No. 22. Alternates elected were R. Lewis Barton, president of Barton Theatres, and C. R. Guthrie, TV executive. Chosen to serve in an advisory capacity to the Variety tent, without voting privileges, were Fred Sanders, vicepresident of the Liberty National Bank ; Leonard Kilfoy, real estate and insurance agent; W. H. Lewis, attorney, and Tohn Wilkinson, insurance man, all of this city. Dave Hunt as chief barker and international canvasman of the tent and Sam Brunk, Buena Vista representative, as immediate past chief barker, are automatically delegates to the big top. Don Tullius, Warner branch manager, as first assistant chief barker, is automatically an alternate. Plans are under way to have a formal installation of the new officers on Jan. 26. George Hoover, international chief barker, will attend. A dinnerdance will be held. Claughton Tampa Houses to Stohl Special to THE DAILY MIAMI, Jan. 6.— A. W. Corbett, general manager of Claugnton Theatres, concluded a five-theatre deal in Tampa yesterday which made Murray Stohl owner of these former Claughton houses ; the Roxy in St. Petersburg and the State, Palma, Ceia, Cinema and Northtown in Tampa. Lilian Claughton, president of the circuit, indicated the sale was made to eliminate management by "remote control" and did not reflect any pessimism over theatre business. She added the chain is in the market for new houses to add to the local string which includes the Embassy, Royal, Variety, Trail, Circle and Normandy. To Play 'Toko-RV CHICAGO, Jan. 6.— William Perlberg and George Seaton, producers of Paramount's "The Bridges at TokoRi," will arrive here Sunday from Hollywood for three days of promotional activity on behalf of their film based on James A. Michener's novel. Chicago will be their first stop on a tour of several key cities. People Donald Huff is the new owner of the Community Theatre, Negro house, in St. Augustine, Fla. n Jack Weiner, M-G-M exploiteer, is in a Jacksonville hospital suffering from injuries sustained in a two-car crash. □ Edwin J. Bofferding, former assistant manager of Minneapolis and St. Paul suburban theatres for Minnesota Amusement Co., has been elected a principal associate of Cresop, McCormick & Paget, management consultants in New York and Chicago. n Joseph Mack is taking over the chores in Filmack Trailer Co.'s New York plant while Jack Saperstein is on vacation. n N. S. Barger is the new owner of the State Theatre in Roseland, 111. He also owns the Oak Lawn and Illinois Drive-ins. n Harry Ripps has been named general sales manager of Du Mont New York, Inc. He has been with the company since 1952. n Roy Goodwin and Buddy Smith have been added to the sales staff of Stevens Pictures in Atlanta. n Morry H. Schwarz has joined Exploitation Productions, Inc., as branch manager in Philadelphia. n William Perlberg, George Seaton, George Murphy and Marge and Gower Champion are the newest acceptances to attend the dedication ceremonies of The Nickelodeon in Philadelphia on Jan. 18. Set 'Players' Premiere Twentieth Century-Fox will stage an afternoon "players premiere" of its CinemaScope production "Prince of Players" on Monday at the Rivoli Theatre here for the stars and casts of the leading Broadway plays, the film company announced. The film makes its regular debut the following morning. News Editors Beware. ! Joseph Sorrentino, in 20th Century-Fox's publicity department, will compete Saturday evening in the Golden Gloves tournament being held at Ridgewood Grove, Brooklyn. He will represent the Trinity Athletic Club and will participate in the 160pound sub-novice division in this, his first bout. He is being handled by Lawrence Kimmelman, also in the film company's publicity department.