Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1944)

Allied Considers Next Consent Decree Move Rentals and Percentage Terms Also Are on Agenda at Philadelphia Meeting "The next move" by exhibitors in the negotiation of a revised Consent Decree occupied a major part of sessions of the Allied States Association board of directors meeting in Philadelphia this week. The directors opened the four-day session at the Warwick Hotel Tuesday. Abram Myers, president and general counsel for national Allied, was to report on the status of the Consent Decree and to discuss with state leaders methods for obtaining an early, and definite settlement of issues. It was indicated that Allied would make no concessions or changes in the brief submitted to Tom C. Clark, Assistant Attorney General, following a poll of the membership reaction to the January distributor proposals. Majors Await Invitation Coincident with the Allied meeting company attorneys in New York indicated that they, and their principals, the presidents of RKO, Paramount, Warners, MGM and Twentieth Century-Fox, were waiting for Mr. Clark to set a time and place for the next decree meeting. He indicated last week that he wanted a "show down" session with the companies to determine what changes they would make in their January proposals. Although there was talk in Washington this week of a possible compromise to be reached at the first "top rank" decree meeting since Mr. Clark and the presidents met in Washington in October several officials in authoritative positions in consenting companies have declared that distributors have gone as far as they can in conceding to Government and exhibitor demands. Allied leaders, in addition to hearing Mr. Myers' report on recent conversations with Mr. Clark and with other exhibitor groups who joined Allied in the Chicago declaration of exhibitor policy last January, also considered seeking -Congressional support for a new decree. Study Ohio ITO Action The Ohio ITO is sponsor of a resolution before the Allied directors asking for a Congressional investigation of asserted "lack of diligence in prosecuting pending cases under the Sherman Act." Rentals, percentage terms, checking methods, price policies, serial enumeration of tickets and theatre war activities programs were scheduled for thorough discussion. The Allied Caravan was to make a report on current sales and percentage policies. It was reported that the committee had prepared a report sharply critical of advanced admission price terms on certain pictures and had attacked sales policy on Columbia's "Cover Girl." The Allied directors were planning an examination of checking clauses in film contracts. Policies of the Ross Federal Service and the Copyright Protection Bureau were reported due for scrutiny in the executive sessions of the Allied board. The Caravan report was to be presented to 52 the board on Friday by Sidney Samuelson, with a recommendation for continuance of the program. Virgil J. Rader, regional representative of the Office of Civilian Requirements, was to discuss the agency's theatre assistance program. Directors also reported on the efforts of theatremen to obtain recognition as "locally needed" activities. Discuss Post-War Plans Post-war planning discussions were devoted largely to the disposition of Government stocks of equipment. A suggestion for an all-industry post-war planning conference is also before the directors. Fifth War Loan objectives were to be described by M. H. Lowenstein of the War Activities Committee. Martin G. Smith, national president of Allied, was scheduled to preside at the sessions. Among the 31 Allied directors scheduled to attend were: Sidney Samuelson, Philadelphia; Jack Kirsch, vice-president, Illinois; H. A. Cole, vice-president, Texas; William L. Ainsworth, treasurer, Wisconsin; Ray L. Harold, secretary, Indiana; Meyer Leventhal, Maryland; Hugh Bruen and Robert H. Poole, Southern California; Jack Fishman, M. A. Alderman, N. Bailey and Dan Pouzzner, Connecticut; Morris Wax and Harry Chertcoff, Eastern Pennsylvania ; Ray Branch, vice-president, and Fred Herrington, Western Pennsylvania. Arthur K. Howard, Walter B. Littlefield, New England; Harry Lowenstein, Irving Dollinger, vice-president, and E. J. Kelly, New Jersey; and Fred Herrington, Western Pennsylvania. M. A. Rosenberg, Pittsburgh, was absent due to illness. IATSE Officers Meet Prior to Convention Board members and other officers of the International All iance of Theatrical Stage Employees met in St. Louis this week, as overture to the national convention in that city which begins next Monday. The executives' meeting was at the Hotel Jefferson, presided over by president Richard F. Walsh. The convention is expected to draw approximately 1,100, of whom 940 will be delegates. Officers are to be elected. Thus far, only one candidate has been announced in opposition to Mr. Walsh. He is William F. Bennett, of Washington. Among speakers expected are William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, of which the IATSE is an affiliate. Wins Blood Donor Award The American Red Cross Blood Donor Service has awarded a certificate of appreciation to C. E. MacDonald, manager of the Fox theatre, San Francisco, for his work in recruiting donors. Mrs. Gardner Dailey, director of the donor service, notified Mr. MacDonald that 10 per cent of San Francisco donors had been recruited from theatres and that the recent theatre drive increased the quota from 5,500 to 7,000 donors weekly. Sherman Now RKO Film Buyer Harold J. Mirisch, general manager of the RKO Theatres film booking department, announced Tuesday that Robert Sherman had been promoted to film buyer, and Matthew Polon to head booker of the out-of-town theatres. Joseph Becker has been moved up to assistant to Mr. Polon. Under Mr. Mirisch's direct supervision, Ruth Lowenthal will continue to handle bookings for the circuit's New York theatres. 15,108 Theatres to Back MGM Week With an additional 1,730 theatres agreeing to play a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer feature or short subject during the week of June 22 to 28, MGM's 20year observance to date is assured of the cooperation of 15,108 theatres. MGM's New Haven exchange, under the management of Maury Goldstein, was the ninth exchange to report 100 per cent representation. This week is was said that Buffalo, Cincinnati and Indianapolis were expected to conclude a few remaining deals in their respective territories shortly, providing a full representation. The previous branches reporting 100 per cent theatre bookings for their areas include Charlotte, Albany, Kansas City, Detroit, Cleveland, Oklahoma City, St. Louis and San Francisco. Name Presidents of Union Carbide Subsidiaries The Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation Monday announced the names of elected presidents of subsidiary companies. Dr. Joseph G. Davidson was elected president of Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Corporation. He has served with the company in technical and executive capacities since its formation. The new president of the Bakelite Corporation is James W. McLaughlin. Stanley B. Kirk was named to head the Linde Air Products Company, the Prest-O-Lite Company, Inc., Dominion Oxygen Company, Ltd., and Prest-O-Lite Company of Canada, Ltd. Arthur V. Wilker was elected president of National Carbon Company, Inc., and Canadian National Carbon Company, Ltd. Francis P. Gormley was named head of Electro Metallurgical Company, Electro Metallurgical Company of Canada, Ltd., Haynes Stellite Company, Michigan Northern Power Company, and Union Carbide Company of Canada, Ltd. John D. Swain was named president of Electro Metallurgical Sales Corporation. John R. Van Fleet becomes president of United States Vanadium Corporation. Films Aid Canadian Victory Loan Drive Campaign films for Canada's sixth Victory Loan drive, April 24 to May 15, received the greatest coverage ever given any picture in the Dominion, John J. Fitzgibbons, president of Famous Players Canadian and chairman of the Canadian Motion Picture War Services Committee, announced in Canada this week. Films from the United States, England and Canada contributed to the productions used in the campaign. According to Mr. Fitzgibbons, the outstanding film exhibited in Canadian theatres during the drive was Warners' "The Shining Future," produced for the committee and the National War Finance Committee of Canada. "The Fifth Christmas," a short made by the Canadian Army film unit overseas, also was used, 50 prints going out for the drive. The two shorts played 1,218 dates during the two weeks. "Memphis Belle," made by the U. S. War Department film units, was another American short which figured prominently in the Victory Loan. Selznick Granted Right to Appeal in Chaplin Suit The Appellate Division last week granted leave for David O. Selznick Productions Inc., and Vanguard Films, two of the defendants in the Charles Chaplin stockholder suit, for $2,000,000 to appeal the recent denial by a New York Supreme Court judge to dismiss the complaint against them and which was affirmed by the Appellate Division. Dismissal was sought on the ground that both are California corporations and do not do business in New York State. Other defendants are David O. Selznick, Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation and United Artists Corporation, the latter for refusing to join in the action. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, MAY 27, 1944