Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1955)

MOTION PICTURE To The Point VOL. 77. NO. 15 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1955 TEN CENTS Censor Meet Calls for Film Licensing on Basis of Age Dr. Flick of N.Y. Makes Bid at Opening Session Special to THE DAILY RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 20— An exposition on behalf of a "limited type of licensing" for controversial motion pictures was made here today by Dr. Hugh Flick, director of New York State censorship, at a conference of state censors from four states and Ontario, Canada. The informal meeting, which was held at the Jefferson Hotel here, was called by Mrs. L. C. Whitehead, director of the division of motion picture censors of the State of Virginia. The purpose of the gathering was to discuss problems of mutual interest, and through a better understanding of such problems, to render a more effective service to the com(Continued on page 6) NT Plans No New Theatres National Theatres has no plans at this time to acquire new theatre properties, either conventional houses or drive-ins, NT president Elmer C. Rhoden declared here yesterday prior to his departure for the Coast. Rhoden made this statement in the wake of his announcement that NT had just completed its divestiture program, making deals for the last seven houses which it was required to get rid of under terms of its consent decree. Rhoden, however, held out the possibility that NT may "develop" the company's own vacant properties. IPs 'Six Bridges' Sets N. E. Records BOSTON, Jan. 20.— Universal-International's "Six Bridges to Cross," which had its world premiere at the RKO Memorial here yesterday and simultaneous openings in 24 other New England situations as part of a 150-odd theatre saturation territorial premiere, outgrossed "The Glenn Miller Story" and "Magnificent Ob(Continued on page 6) Would Add Allied, Compo And Others to 16mm. Suit Justice Dept. Sees Trust Law Changes 'Too Controversial' From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Jan. 20. — The Justice Department decided that proposals for a uniform Federal statute of limitations on private anti-trust suits and for judicial discretion in awarding less than treble damages in these suits were "too controversial" to include in an anti-trust law amendment bill sent to Capitol Hill today. Attorney General Brownell asked the lawmakers to enact legislation giving the Federal government the right to sue to recover damages whenever the U. S. is overcharged as a result of a price-fixing conspiracy. At present, private persons can sue {Continued on page 6) Awards to Stars for 'Achievements' Over 600 entertainment industry representatives were in attendance when the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies awarded Mark of Achievements honors at the Hotel Sheraton-Astor here yesterday to Grace Kelly, motion pictures ; Jackie Gleason, television ; Elmer Davis, radio ; Mary Martin, legitimate theatre; Mitchell Miller, recordings; Arthur Schwartz, music, and to Patty McCormack for her stage work. Participating in the Amusement Division's tributes were Salim L. Lewis, president of the Federation ; Joseph Willen, FJP executive vicepresident ; Gustave L. Levy, general (Continued on page 6) Department of Justice Moves to Name As Co-Conspirators ITOA, MMPTA, SCTOA And Old PCCITO in Case Set for Fall Trial From THE DAILY Bureau LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20. — The Justice Department today served notice it wants to amend its 16mm. anti-trust suit complaint to add the Council of Motion Picture Organizations, Allied States Association and four other exhibitor organizations as co-conspirators. The Department filed in District Court here a "notice of a motion to amend" the original complaint. The six groups are not automatically made co-conspir.ators — the court must first pass on the Justice request, and there'll undoubtedly be argument on the motion before the court acts. Justice officials said they expected the argument to take place immediately before the suit itself goes to trial. That's now scheduled for the first week in September. The other exhibitor groups which Justice said it wanted to add as coconspirators were these : the Southern California Theatre Owners Association of this city ; the Metropolitan Motion Picture Theatre Owners Association, and the Independent Theatre Owners Association, both of New York, and the Pacific Coast Confer(Continued on page 6) Anti-Toll TV Group Assigns Publicity Firm By LESTER DINOFF An information campaign which will relay to exhibitors and the public the facts and figures concerning subscription television is high on the agenda of the joint exhibitor committee opposing toll-TV which yesterday announced the retention of Harold Wolff & Associates as public relations counsel to the committee. Co-chairman Alfred Starr and Trueman Rembusch, following another day of closed door meetings in a hotel suite here, announced the retaining of the public relations counsel as the first move in the campaign to counter the propaganda of the tollTV interests to get Federal Communications Commission approval of subscription television without a public hearing on the facts and issues involved. The committee heads, also reporting that industry leaders had voiced (Continued on page 6) Tell of Round-Table Today "Latest plans" connected with the proposed industry-wide round-table meeting will be unfolded here today by Al Lichtman, 20th Century-Fox distribution director, and author of the round-table proposal. Lichtman, in a message to trade in a message press editors, said he would discuss the plans at today's trade press conference. The message immediately set off trade speculation that the setting of a date for the round-table conference may no longer be dependent on completion of the work on arbitration. Distributions' stand, as of yesterday, to go full steam ahead on arbitration before tackling the round-table conference found exhibition organization ranks split, with Theatre Owners of America siding with the accent on arbitration and Allied against any delay on the round-table project. In Washington, Allied general counsel Abram F. Myers said he knows of no change in distribution's plans. He added, however, that Allied will be glad to hear of any change, referring to the possibility of calling the round-table conference without waiting upon arbitration. Mail EFFG Plan to Trade The prospectus of Theatre Owners of America's sponsored Exhibitors Film Financial Group, Inc., will be mailed to exhibitors in 17 states and the District of Columbia early next week, it was disclosed here yesterday. The prospectus, repeating in the main what TOA leaders publicly stated already about the company, did disclose that TOA had loaned EFFG $10,000 for organization and it is expected that TOA will make further loans for such purposes. It was also stated that if the entire issue of 100,000 shares is sold, EFFG estimates that the net proceeds will be $9,962,000 after deduction of expenses in connection with the organization of the company, estimated at $2,500, and expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the shares, estimated at $35,500. The par value of each share is $100.