Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1957)

4 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, January 17, 195 j ! Television Today ChromaticTV Who's Where Tax Reduction ( Continued from page 1 ) dent Charles B. Thornton and Barney Balaban, president of Paramount Pictures Corp. Chromatic is a subsidiary of Paramount and is the developer of the Lawrence color television tube invented by Nobel Prizewinner Dr. Ernest O. Lawrence. Litton Industries, principally engaged in research and production of advanced electronics equipments, operates plants and laboratories in California, New York, Maryland and Indiana. The Emeryville organization, as part of Litton Industries, will now be devoting its facilities and scientific manpower to the application of the Lawrence tube to military and industrial uses, Thornton said. Lawrence Tube Volume Production By Early Summer, Says Baibourn HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 16-Paul Baibourn, vice-president of Paramount Pictures, speaking at a press conference held here today, said the Lawrence color-television tube will be ready for volume production by early summer, and that sets using it, under license, should be on market for sale to the public by autumn. Set prices will be about two-thirds the price of color-television sets now on the market, Baibourn indicated, and the sets will require little if any more servicing than black-and-white. DuMont sets will not be the only ones equipped with the Lawrence tube (described as "single-gun" in contrast with "multi-gun" sets now in general use), as the tubes will be offered for license to all set manufacturers, Baibourn said, and he added the reminder that the receivers will be completely compatible. New 'Emmy' Telecttst For the first time in its history, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will present a nominations ceremony for television's "Emmy Awards," to be broadcast from New York and Los Angeles on the NBC radio network Feb. 16. The new ceremonies will be co-sponsored by the Oldsmobile Division of General Motors Corp., the Badio Corp. of America and the Whirlpool-Seeger Corp. Buys GPL Systems TelePrompter Corp., which recently acquired Sheraton Closed Circuit, Inc., has purchased from General Precision Laboratory, Inc., Pleasantviile, N. Y., 100 newly designed big screen television projection systems and has concluded an agreement to become the only national distributor for the GPL systems and allied closed circuit equipment, it is announced by Irving B. Kahn, president of TelePrompter. Bobert D. Levitt has been elected president and a director of California National Productions, Inc., NBC subsidiary. □ Richard Carlton, vice-president of Trans-Lux Television Corp has announced the appointment of Irving Kleinfeld as sales service manager. Kleinfeld formerly was associated with the editing and service departments of the Sterling Television Corp. □ Adolph L. Seton, assistant director of ABC Press Information, has joined the advertising and promotion department as manager of On-The-Air Promotion, a newly-created position, it was announced by John H. Eckstein, director of advertising and promotion. □ Eugene C. Wyatt has been appointed national program sales manager for the ABC Television Network, a newly-created post, Slocum Chapin, vice-president in charge of sales for the ABC-TV network, has announced. The appointment is effective March 4. U.S. Television Sets Continue on Increase WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 The number of American households owning television sets has continued to increase, according to a report released today by the Census Bureau. Census found in its latest survey made in August of this year, that 76 per cent of American households had television sets, compared with 73 per cent in February, 1956, and 67 per cent in June, 1955. The highest concentration of these sets was in metropolitan areas, Census declared, and the lowest in rural areas. Census pointed out, however, that the most rapid growth of television set owners recently has occurred in rural areas. About 60 per cent of all rural households had television sets in August, 1956, Census found, compared with 55 per cent in February, 1956, and 46 per cent in June, 1955. In the metropolitan area, Census said, 84 per cent of the households had television sets in August, 1956, 82 per cent in February of that year, and 78 per cent in 1955. New Lescoulie Post Jack Lescoulie, one of television's top announcers and sports personalities, will be host for NBC-TV's new five-nights-a-week "Tonight" show starting January 28. Lescoulie leaves NBC-TV's "Today" show after five years as right hand man for Dave Garroway. ( Continued from page 1 ) cally, but did say that "it would be neither fair nor appropriate to allow exise and corporate tax reductions to be made at a time when a general tax reduction cannot be undertaken." The President specifically asked continuation for another year— until April 1, 1958— of the present 52 per cent corporate tax rate, which otherwise would fall to 47 per cent this April 1. Becalls Last Year's Proposals The President noted that the Cabinet Committee on Small Business last year made a series of tax relief proposals—proposals that have since been endorsed by exhibitor groups. "Some relief in the tax burden affecting small business, as recommended by that committee, which will give help with a minimum loss of revenue should have early consideration by the Congress," he said. "Any changes involving substantial loss of revenue should be considered at a later time when a general tax reduction is possible." Humphrey said the administration would definitely oppose the key recommendation in the Cabinet report— a suggestion that the 30 per cent tax rate on the first $25,000 of corporate earnings be cut to 20 per cent. He said this would involve a $440,800,000 annual revenue loss, and that anyhow, he felt individual taxpayers should get relief ahead of corporations. May Favor Small Firms The Cabinet Committee also recommended easier depreciation allowances on used equipment, easier estate tax treatment for small firms, and giving closely-held firms the right to be taxed as partnerships. Humphrey wouldn't say which, if any of these, he endorsed. By indirection Humphrey criticized the film industry for its two successful tax relief campaigns in recent years. "There is hardly any group that can't show that they are hurt by the taxes they pay, he told a press conference. "Any group can make a case for tax relief. And if that group is sufficiently powerful, Congress gives them consideration." He said if Congress would stop making a series of small tax cuts for special groups, the day would come more quickly when a substantial tax cut could be voted for everyone. Bevenue Drop Expected The budget message estimated that general admissions tax collections, as a result of the increased exemption that went into effect Sept. 1, would drop from $104,018,000 in the year ending last June 30 to $68,000,000 in the year ending this coming June 30 and'to $45,000,000 in the year starting this coming July 1. The budget message dropped a tax proposal that the administration had previously pushed and in which film distributors had been interested. This was one to tax firms doing business overseas at a 14 percentage point low Convert Historical Films To Nitrate Base by Govt. From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 Th Government is completing the cor version to nitrate base film of somi 5,000,000 feet of valuable historic; film, the President's budget messag revealed. The film is held by the Ni tional Archives, and was on an ace tate base and threatened with dt struction. The conversion process ws< started in 1954 and is now almo: finished, the budget message said. REVIEW: Women of Pifcairn Island Regal Films — 20th Century-Fox This Wisberg-Yarbrough Product tion, being released via Begal undeii the 20th-Fox banner, carries on j proud Hollywood tradition of escapiiji entertainment. It has the considerable acting competency of James Craif ' Lynn Bari and Arleen Whelan, agains! a storybook 1847 South Seas Islam | setting. Miss Bari is seen as leader of islam' residents, consisting in the main o( native widows and children of muti( neers of the HMS Bounty. Miss Bari'; son, John Smith, fancies himself ill love with Sue England, but Mis' Whelan, admittedly of an older gem eration, takes a romantic interest 1] the lad. These emotional outbursts ar; soon second-fiddle, however, to big; ger trouble as House Peters Jr., ship1 wrecked sailor, lands on Pitcairn am is sent to his demise by a wild boa while attempting to bury a fortune ii pearls previously heisted from Crai and other nondescript gentlemen. Craig and his men arrive on th island, their tempers at trigger pitch eager to do away with Peters. The; eventually go into battle against thi Bari forces, but she is able to diver their main strength by creating th hoax that Peters is still alive. All end well for the Bari forces. Bunning time, 72 minutes. Genera classification. For December release A. M. W er rate than domestic firms. Treasun officials said the omission from thii year's message was "not inadvertent' and that it indicated the administra tion was abandoning this proposal fo.'! the present. The message did urg< that continued emphasis be given &, negotiating with foreign countries treaties to exempt from double income tax burden— in the U.S. and in the foreign country— money earned over seas by U.S. firms . IT WON'T TAKE A FULL PACE AD TO TELL YOU 630 Ninth Ave. NEW YORK. N.Y. 1 327 S. Wabash CHICAGO, ILL.