Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1956)

1 80, NO. 19 NEW YORK, U. S. A., FRIDAY, JULY 27, 1956 TEN CENTS AX BILL WINS; NOW GOES TO PRESIDENT io Opposition in Either House to Exemption Increase jredit Plan jost Survey leady Soon 3 survey of the Indianapolis-MaHounty public in order to secure reaction to the establishment of atre credit card plan will also ipt to establish the costs and condons involved in the launching e distribution backed proposal 3 test situation, it was reported yesterday. sales managers committee of Vlotion Picture Association of ica has charged a sub-committee id by William C. Gehring, vicelent of 20th Century-Fox, to Continued on page 5) h Re-Issuing 1953 Auction of 'Titanic' entieth Century-Fox will make ble to theatres its 1953 producpf "Titanic," the drama of that I vessel's sinking and whose story els to some degree the collision 3 Andrea Doria and the StockWednesday night, it was an:ed by Alex Harrison, general 'manager of the company, rrison said the picture is being 1 Based "at the request of many emen who contacted my office hone and wire following the ing mishap at sea." FAA Divides Licenses Japanese Market 1 3 Motion Picture Export Assort) n of America has divided its imlicense allocations in Japan for ear April 1, 1956 to March 31, with Loew's receiving the highumber, 16, of the 102 licenses, illocation was the first made unhe new "global formula." (per licenses include Paramount, (Continued on page 5) The Ten Days That Won Tax Exemption Congressional action on the revised King Rill, achieved over a 10-day period shortly before adjournment, compares with their swift action on the Mason Rill in 1953 when that proposed measure was reported out of committee and approved by both houses in a 14-day period. The timetable on the Mason Rill read: July 10, 1953: House Ways and Means Committee reports out Mason Rill; July 13: House Rules Committee clears measure for voting; July 20: House approves Mason Rill; July 22: Senate Finance Committee clears bill for voting; July 24: Senate approves measure and sends it to White House. The King Rill timetable reads: July 16, 1956: House Ways and Means Committee reports out King Rill; July 18: House Rules Committee clears bill for House vote; July 21: House passes King Rill by voice vote; July 24: Senate Finance Committee votes to boost to 90 cents the exemption from the Federal admissions tax; July 26: Senate approves 90 cent exemption and sends bill to President Eisenhower. Frees Admissions, Up to 90 Cents, from Federal Levy; The Measure, If Signed, Would Become Effective About Sept. 1. fly J. A. OTTEN WASHINGTON, July 26-It's now up to President Eisenhower. Congress today approved and sent to the President— for approval or veto— a bill to exempt from the Federal 10 per cent admissions tax any admissions of 90 cents or less. The exemption is now only 50 cents. The Senate approved the bill by a unanimous voice vote in less than 10 minutes this morning. The House, on a motion of Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jere Cooper (D., Tenn.), agreed to the Senate version in less than 30 seconds this afternoon. In neither house was as a voice raised against the bill. The house had originally voted last Saturday to boost the exemption to $1, but speedily agreed to the Senate version today to get the bill to the President before Congress quits. Congressional approval of the bill culminated months of work by industry officials, and represented one of the neatest bits of "educational" work seen around Congress in many years. Only ten days elapsed from the time the (Continued on page 2) Wonderful! Wonderful! That is the reaction by Walter Reade, Jr., prominent New Jersey exhibitor and a leader in Theatre Owners of America activities, upon learning that the Senate had passed the King Rill by a voice vote yesterday and forwarded the tax reduction measure to the White House. Reade, after hearing all the details of yesterday's progress in Congress, said that he "was immensely thrilled." Robert J. O'Donnell, general man(Continued on page 2) Well Done— Coyne & COMPO By Martin Quigley, Jr. THE success of the drive to obtain Congressional approval of additional admission tax relief brings to mind the saying: "The difficult is to be done immediately; the impossible takes a little longer." In face of all the obstacles the winning of House and Senate approval of the measure to exempt all theatre tickets up to 80 cents from Federal admission tax was difficult, or impossible, depending on one's previous viewpoint. There were many, inside and outside the industry, who said as recently as yesterday that it could not be done. Although victory in the COMPO tax drive came as the result of the effort of many individuals, it is proper that prime credit be given to Robert W. Coyne, executive counsel and member of the organization's steering committee. The speed with which the key committee of the House and Senate, and the chambers themselves, acted favorably on the measure is a tribute to the splendid job Bob Coyne and his associates did and the way they, and (Continued on page 3) WB Sales Meet Told Of "New Look" Product Warner Brodiers Pictures will supply exhibition wdtii a continuous and uninterrupted supply of screen entertainment with a "new look to make this 50-year old industry seem like an entirely new business." Roy Haines, newly-appointed general sales manager of the production-distribution company, declared at the opening of the two-day conference of the company's district managers and divisional sales executives at the home office here yesterday. "With the important product which is available over the next few months, and the magnificent plans which Jack Warner has blueprinted for the immediate and long-range future," Haines stated, "I know that I can rely upon the experience and know-how of this great sales force to equal and ( Continued on page 4 )