Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1955)

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Tuesday, January 11, 1955 Motion Picture Daily 7 Martin {Continued from page 1) to the product situation. Strongly dissenting to the "fewer" argument, he was quick to add that he's all for better pictures. At the same time, however, Martin maintained that low-budgeted pictures are needed, too, citing the requirements of his own circuit of 110 theatres in the Southeast. These theatres, he contended, require low-budgeted productions also, pointing to a number of examples in which this type of picture turned out to be top grossers in his situations, beating the more expensive pictures. "Definitely," Martin continued, "there is a product shortage." TOA general counsel Herman Levy, who was present at the interview, interposed that there's nothing wrong with the business that more product cannot cure. Question 'Profits' Report Questioned as to why — as some film companies contend — profits of theatres are higher today than in previous years when the fewer, but bigger pictures approach did not prevail, Martin and Levy challenged that concept. Grosses may be higher for certain pictures, Levy contended, but he questioned whether net profits from theatre operations are higher, citing increased film rentals. Martin said that no doubt "we have better pictures today," but, he maintained, there is not a steady flow of such pictures and they are insufficient in numbers. Monroe Contract Still In Force, Fox Says Marilyn Monroe has a firm contract with 20th Century-Fox for her exclusive services until Aug. 8, 1958, according to company executives who issued a statement in regard to reports that the actress was forming her own production company. Miss Monroe asked for and was offered a new contract, 20th-Fox declared, which she and her representatives and legal advisors agreed to, but which she has not signed. Naturally this leaves her current long term pact in full force and the studio will use every legal means to see that she lives up to every provision of it, 20th-Fox said in the statement released here yesterday. RCA Reduces Price Of Color TV Tube An immediate reduction in the price of the RCA 21-inch color television picture tube from $175 to $100 was announced by W. Walter Watts, executive vice-president, electronic products, Radio Corp. of America. "This 43 per cent reduction to television set manufacturers in the price of the RCA color tube is another major step initiated by RCA toward the establishment of a nation-wide color television service," Watts said. 'Monkey' to A.A. HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 10.— Allied Artists has completed negotiations with Tony Owens, who heads Talon Productions, and Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors, Ltd., for the western hemisphere distribution of "Case of the Red Monkey," starring Richard Conte. Television — Radio -twith Pinky Herman-, Bill Nimmo 'T*HE first meeting of the New York State Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters (New York is the 43rd state to have an organized association), headed by Ham Shea, veep of NBC, and J. J. Bernard, gen. mgr. of WGR-TV, Buffalo, will be held tomorrow at the Hotel Syracuse, Syracuse, N. Y. . . . Frank Parker, star singer on Arthur Godfrey CBShows, and Roy P. Speckler have formed a new telefilm production company and, starting in the Spring, will shoot 36 half-hour films in color. Negotiations for a Hollywood studio sked is now in progress and Alexander Greendale, author of the forthcoming Broadway production (Herman Shumlin) "Love on Ice," has been signed to adapt well known stories for the new firm. . . . Bud Ford, who has done such a fine producing job of the "Johnny Andrews" radio and TV programs these past two years at NB Cleveland, has been shifted to New York and will again work with his old boss Ham Shea, gen. mgr. of WNBC. . . . Walt Framer has appointed Ashley-Steiner, Inc., exclusive sales reps for all new TV properties created by Walt, daddy of "Strike It Rich" and "The Big Pay-off" shows. ft ft ft Fezv execs are aware of it but Handsome Bill Nimmo, who gives with the Schick commershills on the "Jackie Gleason Show" CBSaturdays and is also "Bill the Bartender" on the Pabst Blue Ribbon Wednesnite CBShtgfests. is a natural to emcee a TVariety series. Before entering the Armed Forces Bill was head man of several top-notch variety programs at WLW where he tickled the ivories, told stories, made with the funnies and proved a clown of no mean ability. . . . Last Sunday at 2 :30 p.m. over WABD we thoroughly enjoyed a demonstration of memory training and its application to daily life. The program was handled by the director of the School of Memory and Concentration, Doctor-er-er-er 'sfunuy — let's see now — the school is in Srteinway Hall and 'stein' rhymes with 'ein! the German word for one — nozv then — one is the first number — that's it — first but the good Doctor spells it Furst — that's it— Dr. Bruno Furst (apt pupil, Doctor, No???). . . The Goodsou-Todman "The Name's The Same" package, produced by Howard Merrill TVia ABC, will expand the scope and will feature in addition to contestants with 'famous' names, close relatives of famous people. ft ft ft Dynamic little Paul Jonas, sports director of the Mutual Network, has finally completed plans and starting tomorrow night at 9:15, he'll produce a new series titled, "Parade of Sports" over 468 MBStations under the supervision of veep Pete Johnson, with sportscasters Harry Wismer, Art Gleeson and Gene Kelly reporting the events direct from Madison Square Garden and the Convention Hall (Philadelphia). ... A low bow to TV scripter Llona Kenney, who spends most of her evenings heading impromptu shows for vets at the Kingsbridge Hospital. . . . Big Jon Arthur, whose ABChildren programs, "Big; Jon & Sparkie" and "No School Today" finished second and third respectively in the latest FAME Radio Poll, has moved his wonderful brainchildren to N. Y. (he's already settled himself in Stamford, Conn.). He's quite serious about a TV series in the fall but first he's committed to several p.a. tours — Texas next month — back East in March followed by another jaunt to the West Coast in the Spring. CBSubscribers to the daily Newsfilm service, managed by Howard L. Kany, increased about 600% in 1954. ft ft ft TV color reception was brought a step nearer with the reduction by RCA of its price to TV set manufacturers, for the 21 -inch color tube, from $175 to $100. . . . Conrad Nagel, for two years emcee of DuMont's "Broadway to Hollywood" series, will once again return to that net as host and annotatoi' of a new series of telefilms, "Conrad Nagel Theatre," produced -by Andre Luotto in Europe, which will preem Thursday in the 10 :00 P.M. slot. Harry Wismer Foreign Tax (Continued from page 1) however, trot out one new tax relief proposal which presumably would benefit film companies as well as all other companies doing business abroad. Under present law, U. S. companies can deduct from their U. S. tax bills certain taxes paid to foreign governments. However, if a foreign government waives taxes due from a U. S. firm, that firm cannot deduct the waived taxes from its U. S. tax bill. The President promised that his Administration will explore the possibility of giving U. S. firms credit on their U. S. tax bills for foreign income taxes waived by a foreign government, just as credit is now given for foreign income taxes actually paid to a foreign government. Asks Tariff-Cutting Power As expected, the President renewed his request for a three-year extension of the reciprocal trade agreements act, along with authority for the President to cut tariffs far below present rates. House Democratic leaders have promised to move quickly on this part of the President's program. Action on the tax proposals probably will be delayed until much later in the session. The President also' urged Congress to take steps to simplify further U. S. customs procedures, as a means of stepping up imports into the U. S. The House Ways and Means Committee announced it would start hearings Monday, on chairman Cooper's bill to extend the reciprocal trade agreements act three years and give the administration broad power to reduce tariffs further, as requested by the President. Persons desiring to testify in support of the bill were asked to notify the committee by Friday, while opponents have until Jan. 19 to notify the committee of their desire to testify. Col. Files Stock Changes in Albany ALBANY, Jan. 10.— Columbia Pictures Corp. registered three certificates the same day with the Secretary of State, showing changes in capital stock. The first one reduced the stock from 1,063,714 at no par value, to 1,060,065 shares at no par value. Second changed the stock to 60,065 shares at no par value, and 1,000,000 shares at $5 par value. Third continued the number of no par shares at 60,065 ; increased the number at $5 par to 2,000,000. Barker to Address D.C.'s TV Council WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.— James A. Barker, president of Capital Film Laboratories, Inc., will discuss the motion picture industry in Washington at the first 1955 meeting of the Motion Picture and Television Council of the District of Columbia, Council president Virginia Rollwage Collier announced. The meeting will be held on Jan. 14. YOU CAN ALWAYS DEPEND ON ♦WW FOR THE BEST SPECIAL TRAILERS