Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1955)

Thursday, January 27, 1955 Motion Picture Daily 5 Toll TV {Continued from page 1) whether or not to hold public hearings, or will say right now that it is seeking these comments preparatory for public hearings at a later date. Commission members said that on the basis of today's secret discussion, they would guess that the commission will take the former course, but that it is still possible that the commission will decide otherwise when it takes another look at the question in two or three weeks. Might Go Back to Congress One commissioner said he could not see' what could be served by public hearings at this time. He indicated that after the commission digests the written comments, it might decide that it has no authority to permit subscription television and that it must return the question to Congress. Or, he said, it might decide that there really is no case against it and that it should be authorized at once. He stated that most commission members seemed to feel that the written comments would provide good guidance for the commission to decide what to do next, and that it would be futile for the commission to lay out any hard and fast procedures for later action even before getting the written comments. Staff to Work Out Details At today's long session on the problem, the commissioners thrashed out all the questions they'd like to get the public's views on, and then ordered the staff to work out the proper legal language to do this. This is what will be put before the commission in two or three weeks, at which time there'll be another commission discussion. Denies Resistance ( Continu-ed from page 1 ) are exceptions such as Alec Guinness. Many American stars, in turn, do not enjoy the same popularity they hold in the U. S., a factor which weighs in the grossing experience of their pictures in the British market. Cohen said he plans to leave for the Coast on Saturday, staying there about two weeks negotiating with producers and talent. One of his projects will be acquiring two stars for "Mark of the Leopard," which Anglo Amalgamated plans to do in CinemaScope and in Technicolor, he added. While on the Coast, he said he also will confer with the American Releasing Corp. officials on co-production deals. Oklahoma! ' (Continued from page 1) 'Around the World in 80 Days." Beyond this, Woodbridge added, in anticipation of future demands, "additional equipment is being readied for the production lines so as to create an inventory of available equipment." In order to clear up misunderstandings, Woodbridge said that the ToddAO Corp. is the sole and exclusive distributor of the Todd-AO "all purpose" projectors, which can handle 70mm. film, standard 35mm. Cinemascope and VistaVision and the special lenses and screens. The licenses that will go with this equipment will be issued only by the Todd-AO Corp. and prices will be published . shortly, he said. Veto Zenith Film, Ohio T.O. Advises COLUMBUS, O., Jan. 26.— The I.T.O. of Ohio notes in a current membership bulletin that Ideal Pictures, Chicago, is offering to Kiwanis Clubs free showings of a 15-minute, 16mm. picture on Phonevision, sponsored by Zenith Radio. "If you are program chairman of a service club," the bulletin advises its members, "or have anything to say about the programs, this is a good one to veto." SMPTE Sees Color TV Test ROCHESTER, Jan. 26.— The first technical meeting of the Western New York Subsection of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, was held here today in the WHAM-TV studios and featured an experiment in color television reception. John G. Scott acted as chairman of the subsection, which is a newly formed group centered in Rochester. A triple showing of a color television program from New York City was the highlight of the evening. A color telecast of the "Norby" show as it comes to Rochester via New York, St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Erie and Buffalo, was shown on one screen ; a black and white version of the same program on the next screen ; and a color film copy of the program was screened from a projector in the auditorium. The purpose was to gauge the quality of reception of the color telecast, according to Scott. Film Inspection Bill Again Filed in N. Y. ALBANY, Jan. 26.— Reintroduction of a bill which amends the New York City Administrative Code by requiring that motion picture film brought into the projection booth of a motion picture theatre be inspected and, if necessary, be repaired, with indication thereof, "immediately" prior to shipment for projection purposes has been made. Assemblyman Bertram L. Podell, a first-year legislator from Brooklyn, is the sponsor. Last year, Senator Mario M. De Optatis, of Brooklyn, and Assemblyman Irving Kirschenbaum, of New York, put in the measure. It was advocated by the New York film inspectors and shippers' local, IATSE, and was supported by the State Federation of Labor. The union contended the plan would safeguard the public in metropolitan theatres. Other industry sources vigorously opposed the proposal, as being both unnecessary and expensive. Taxes Proposed on Port-Owned Property ALBANY, Jan. 26.— A bill requiring that real property of the New York Port Authority not used exclusively for airport or other port purposes and which is leased to theatres, concessionaires and for other uses, shall be subject to city, county and -fate taxes, has been introduced by Senator James G. Sweeney and_Assemblyman Bernard Dubin, of Queens County. British Quota to Remain Unchanged For Another Year From THE DAILY Bureau LONDON, Jan. 26.— The Board of Trade's Films Council recommended at its last meeting that there should be no change in Quota for the year commencing October 1 next. The Quota accordingly remains at 30 per cent for first features and 25 per cent for "supporting program," subject to reliefs granted by the Board of Trade under the Act of Parliament. The Producers' Association had previously informed the Council that its members anticipate delivering the same number of films as last year, namely 120, of which 75 are likely to be booked as first features. The Council also discussed representations from the trade union members in regard to the alleged shortage of studio-space arising out of the disposal of plants to organizations serving the new Independent Television Authority, but no statement was issued in this connection. TV Takes Two More British Studios From THE DAILY Bureau LONDON, Jan. 26.— Two more of the industry's dwindling number of smaller studios went over to television in the course of last week. They are the old 20th Century-Fox plant with its three small stages at Wembley, and the Shipman and King Studio at Southall, with two floors covering nearly 9,000 square feet. The former has been sold to a concern known as Associated Rediffusion which will handle Monday to Friday diffusions on the Independent Authority's first London transmitter. But 20th-Fox is retaining a part of the plant for the use of its dispatch department. Associated Rediffusion represents the interests of Associated Newspapers, owners of the Daily Mail and other newspapers, and of Broadcast Relay Services which already operates radio rediffusion services in Britain and abroad. Taken by Ad Agency Southall has been acquired by the screen advertising firm of Pearl and Dean, formerly associated with the Rank Organisation but now servicing ABC and a large number of independent exhibitors. Ernest Pearl, chairman of the company, anticipates that the London commercial TV station will start operations in early September. He foresees a great demand for commercial filmlets of which he believes a minimum of 200 will be used every week once the new service gets into its stride. The Authority, Pearl states, will permit six minutes advertising in every programme hour. Byron Lloyd, who is appointed head of the Pearl and Dean filmlet production, has lately returned from a survey of the American TV market. He emphasises that his Company is interested only in making "commercials." He will not enter the entertainment film production field. He has, he declares, already received orders from American advertising firms and has entered into arrangements with advertising TV studios in Paris and Amsterdam. Schine Case (Continued from page 1) State Bar Association meeting in New York. Government witnesses have testified to the alleged difficulty of independent theatres in getting enough satisfactory pictures in towns where Schine circuit theatres operate. Milton A. Mooney, president and general manager of Cooperative Theatres of Ohio, film buyers and bookers for many independent theatres, testified that since 1949 he had been unable to get enough satisfactory pictures for the New Ohio theatre in Van Wert, O. He said that the 267seat theatre gets all product of Columbia, Monogram and Republic, but little he can use from other large distributors. The latter, he said, generally offer films not suitable for small towns. Action pictures do better than drama in small towns, he added. Mooney said he hadn't been in the theatre, but knew that sanitary facilities were installed, after which, he said, the theatre's old name, the Ohio, was changed to the New Ohio. WB Salesman Heard Herbert L. Gaines, salesman in the Buffalo office of Warner Brothers, testified that during 1953, after Schine's divestiture of its Lake Theatre in Canandaigua, he was able to offer that house only pictures not chosen by Schine for its Playhouse Theatre in that community. James J. Mirras, who acquired the Lake Theatre from the Schine circuit in February, 1952, testified that he converted it to a commercial property last fall after difficulty in obtaining pictures. Evidence showed that the equipment was sold to Hildemart, Inc., which the government alleges is a Schine instrumentality. Bryson Says (Continued from page 1) already in session, and five more are expected to convene in the next few months. He said be was not worried so much about the possibility of new special admissions taxes as he was over general sales taxes which would cover admissions along with other sales. Only four state legislatures are not scheduled to meet this year — Mississippi, Louisiana, Kentucky and Virginia. Celler Names Self (Continued from page 1) members of the subcommittee. Republican subcommittee members may be named tomorrow. Celler has said that this subcommittee might look into complaints against motion picture distributors. His New York law firm is counsel for the Independent Theatre Owners' Association of New York. 'Time Slip' to A. A. Tony Owen has announced that his independent company, Todon Productions, had concluded a deal with Steve Broidy, president of Allied Artists, for release in the Western Hemisphere of his forthcoming picture, "Time Slip" by A. A. Gene Nelson and Faith Domergue will be starred in the picture which starts shooting in London on Monday.