Motion Picture Herald (Sep-Oct 1941)

26 Treasury Lists Official Rules For New Taxes (Continued from preceding page) approved a price boost for practically all local houses, as of October 1st. All exhibitors agreed, however, on adding rather than absorbing the tax. As the meeting covered only key and subsequent-run houses, this move is dependent upon action to be taken by first and second-run houses which were to meet on Tuesday. Subsequent-run houses asked that the present 10-cent spread between second and key-runs be increased to 15 cents with the present split price of 44 cents for second-run admissions the key to the situation. From New Haven early in the week reports indicated that downtown houses would pass on the one cent tax on 10-cent admissions to children. The Paramount, which has raised children's admissions to 15 cents on Saturdays after four o'clock and all day Sunday, had not definitely set its policy on adding or absorbing the two cents tax on this scale. Fairmount, New Haven, the Capitol, East Haven, and the White Way have been charging 15 cents for children for some time and it is believed they would continue. The leading subsequent-run houses in New Haven: Dixwell, Strand, Howard, Lawrence, Whalley, Whitney and Westville, will ask the children to pay 11 cents, while 15 cent afternoon admissions will be raised to 20 cents including tax, and 20 to 25, including tax. Meanwhile, in Milwaukee, Warner's decreased by five cents admission prices to their Granada and Milwaukee theatres. "Early bird" admission prices were decreased from 20 to 15 cents. At Fox's recently acquired Garfield theatre, 20cent matinees were inaugurated. Fox's Modjeska has a 30-cent matinee policy. Dallas Club Tournament; Goldfine Heads Showmen The Texas Variety Club hold its annual golf tournament and celebrations October 11th, 12th and 13th, with the first day an "open house," the second, a ""Calcutta Sunday," the third, "tournament Monday." Sites are the clubrooms at the Hotel Adolphus and the Lakewood Country Club, Dallas. The Philadelphia Showmen's Club has elected Charles Goldfine president. He operates the Alden Theatre. In the elections, Monday, others elected were Meyer Adelman, Stand-in (vice-president) ; Charles Stiefel, Yes Man (secretary) ; Sam Rosen, Banker (treasurer) ; Joe E. Sapsis, Script Man (financial treasurer) ; D. M. Kirby, financial secretary; David W. Yaffe, Fixer (attorney) ; and for the Board of Producers (directors) — Edgar Moss, Ben Biben, Dave Rosen and Oscar Neufeld. Lamont To Distribute "Gift" Jack Orville Lamont, formerly connected with Monogram, has opened his own office in New York for the distribution of "The Eternal Gift," sound film of the Solemn Catholic Mass. according to an announcement by Father Hugh Calkins, O.S.M. UA Short Subject Arthur W. Kelly has announced that United Artists has agreed to release a tworeel subject entitled "A Letter from Home." The subject was produced in England and directed by Carol Reed. MOTION PICTURE HERALD (Continued from preceding page) than 10 cents charged to children under 12 years of age. Form 729 used in reporting the tax on admissions will be revised at the earliest practicable date in order to incorporate the changes made necessary by the Revenue Act of 1941. It is expected that the new forms will be available in time for taxpayers to prepare their October returns and file them with the Collector by the end of November. With respect to admission tickets which were previously not taxable, either by reason of the fact that the admission charges were under 21 cents, or due to the exemptions formerly allowed by section 1701 of the Internal Revenue Code, the following procedure has been approved : (a) In all instances where it is practicable new tickets must be provided or the tickets on hand overprinted or overstamped, to show the established price and the tax applicable thereto. (b) Section 1702 of the Internal Revenue Code specifically provides that the price for which every admission ticket or card is sold shall be printed, stamped, or written on the ticket. Accordingly, in every case where the established price of admission is changed new tickets will have to be provided or the tickets on hand must be overprinted or overstamped. (c) Where the established price is not Warner Publicity Men Meet Meeting of Warner Theatre department publicity men was held this week at the Warner home office with Harry Goldberg presiding. Joseph Bernhard, general manager of Warner Theatres, addressed the meeting on the special job that the publicity men would have to do during the next year. Charles Einfeld and Mort Blumenstock discussed campaigns and special merchandising plans prepared for "One Foot in Heaven." Publicity men attending were : Joe Feldman, Pittsburgh ; Everett C. Callow, Philadelphia ; Dan Finn, New Haven; Robert Paskow, Newark; Charlie Smakwitz, Albany; Larry Stein, Chicago; and Marcel Brazee, Milwaukee. Associated Short Finished Associated Screen Studios has completed recording of music and a release print on "Battle for Oil" the next National Film Board movie short in the Canada Carries On series. The need for oil is shown to have an important bearing on the course of current world events and direction of the war. Four relief maps with miniature oil derricks, and two animated maps were prepared by Associated Screen Studios to show major oil producing areas of the world, and to indicate fueling needs of Empire trade route. "Battle for Oil" will be released for theatrical distribution shortly. Kane's British Productions Robert Kane, Twentieth Century-Fox producer now in England to film background scenes for the studio's production "This Above All," will produce two films in that country. The pictures will be "Incident in Bucharest" and "Uncensored." The film, "This Above All" will be filmed in Hollywood instead of England as originally announced. October 4, 1941 changed, for a limited time until properly printed tickets can be obtained, the use of tickets now on hand which do not show the tax due under the Revenue Act of 1941, will be permitted. However, the manager or proprietor must keep conspicuously posted at the outer entrance and near the box office one or more signs accurately stating each of the established prices of admission, and in the case of each such price the tax due and the sum total. Social, athletic, and sporting clubs in your districts should be advised that under sections 1710 and 1712 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended by section 543 of the Revenue Act of 1941, all dues or membership fees paid on or after October 1, 1941, are subject to the tax of 11 per cent, if the dues or fees paid by active resident annual members are in excess of $10.00 a year ; and that amounts paid as initiation fees are taxable if such fees are in excess of $10.00 a year, or if the dues or membership fees of active resident annual members amount to more than $10.00 a year. The various clubs should, likewise, be notified of the change in the meaning of the phrase "dues or membership fees" which now include any charges for social privileges or for golf, tennis, polo, swimming, or other athletic or sporting privileges or facilities, if made for any period of more than six days. NBC Shifts Staff in Television Department Extensive changes in the television program direction of the National Broadcasting Company were reported in New York this week. Thomas H. Hutchinson, manager of the NBC television program division since 1937 resigned and active supervision of all program material was taken over by Alfred H. Morton, vice-president in charge of television. Warren Wade, who has been in charge of television talent was promoted to the position of executive producer while Arthur Hungerford, in charge of films for television, was named business manager of the television program department. Norman Kersta continues as assistant to Mr. Morton. Mills Opens PRC Branch Bernard H. Mills has opened his Buffalo, N. Y., office of Producers Releasing Corp. Mr. Mills who owns the franchise for both Albany and Buffalo, has appointed Leo Murphy to cover the Buffalo zone, Joe Friedman in the Rochester and Syracuse area, and Sam Milberg for the Albany territory. Eddie Berkson is office manager and booker. Arthur in St. Louis Milton B. Arthur, operator of 15 theatres, including the Fanchon & Marco Paramount theatre in downtown Los Angeles, left for St. Louis last week to undertake the management of Fanchon & Marco and St. Louis Amusement interest there. Fontaine, Aherne On Tour Joan Fontaine and Brian Aherne, her husband, both film stars, have been visiting nine cities by airplane in a transcontinental flight for the British War Relief Society and the United China War Relief. Official Treasury Instructions On Federal Admissions Levy