Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1945)

ON THE MARCH N ¥ Operators To Demand 25% by RED ICANN 46 f 1 EAVIER Taxes Are Proposed for I — I Ohio" goes one headline. "Michigan Bill for Municipal Taxation" reads another. "Nebraska Proposes Sales Tax" is a third. These and many others are symptomatic of a situation taking more persistent turn and graver tone as V-E Day looms. Busy with its war duties and lolling comfortably on its cushy backside, the question is whether the industry is thoroughly alert to the legislative dangers now beginning to pile up. If it is not, most of the states are to their possibilities. Their law-making bodies are very aware of what will face them when war production tapers off and then dies, when Federal fund-priming begins to recede. They will be on the search for new forms of revenue to meet post-war requirements — roads and other public works, maintenance of veterans' hospitals. They will be on the search for "soft" touches which their legislators feel include motion pictures, as usual. They intend trying admission taxes, censorship taxes, chain taxes, sales taxes and whatever other kind of taxes ingenuity is successful in devising. Those whose prior experience qualifies them say what has happened to date is a mere trickle, that the trickle will develop into an avalanche, that somewhere along the line the avalanche may submerge, if it does not overwhelm, the industry — unless. Unless the forces of resistance are marshalled on all sides. Unless distributors work with exhibitors, and in reverse. Unless the approaches are crystallized into a single attitude — the attitude that whatever affects one part of the industry affects all of it in any final analysis. Unless the distributor is wise enough to understand that any unwarranted and unfair levy against the exhibitor is an oblique attack on him too, for he may be next in line. Unless it is recognized that, for common defense, there must be a common front. Distributor for exhibitor. Exhibitor for distributor. One interchangeable with the other for this purpose. It's Worthy IN that letter of his to all exhibitors — it was his first in quite some time — Harry M. Warner asked showmen "to book and play as quickly as possible a short subject entitled 'It Happened in Springfield'." He added, "I am doing this because I believe it is a motion picture which can do a great amount of good." And later, "You will find the people of your community will welcome it. Church, school and civic groups will support it. It will earn good will for your theatre." The head of the House of Warner is correct on all these counts. "It Happened in Springfield" is more than a plea for democracy. It shows democracy at work and it strikes hard and forcibly in the cause of religious and racial tolerance and understanding. The Warner institution is proud of that now widely known New York Times comment first nnbl isViprl nn AncniQt 1 104.^ for combining good citizenship with good picure-making." The evidence is on the record in many directions. Now it reaches into New England, into Springfield where democracy, on proud and practical display, is recorded for millions to see and hear. On History's Pages RUSSELL BIRDWELL, the striptease publicist, herewith plays a return date. A recent communique from him on behalf of Toni Seven whose photographic profile — neck to waist — forever tilts upward toward light and air, no doubt, tells about "a raging controversy" over her pin-ups in the European theatre of war. Her photos, "and particularly the nightgown shots," are a "distraction to the war effort" and have been ordered removed because "men are taking too much time out to look longingly and lingeringly at Toni's shapely limbs." This, according to Stars and Stripes according to Birdwell. Miss 7 has something to say about this : "The boys are fighting for a symbol — and that symbol is a girl at home. If I happen to be that symbol to some of them, then they are going to continue getting my photographs as often as they want them, commanding generals to the contrary notwithstanding." It embellishes history to learn that what the boys are fighting for is Toni in her nightgown. ■ ■ Bert Millhauser writes scripts for mystery and detective yarns — "The Suspect," "Enter Arsene Lupin" and others for Universal. From his creative chamber of horrors in a very pleasant home in Beverly Hills, he has now turned out a second novel which he calls "Whatever Goes Up." Doubleday, Doran will publish along with this foreword dedicated to the author's father, a former New York City policeman : "To the memory of Lieut. Isaac Millhauser, Police Department, New York City— 1888-1934 — who wouldn't have believed a word of it." Millhauser, who knows his foods and his wines so well his friends are inclined to rue the day he accepts their invitations, has a sense of humor. He also has a brother-in-law named Si Seadler. A sense of humor appears to run in the family. ■ ■ From a Coast paper : "Lew Landers was divorced yesterday by his wife, Mrs. Carmen Landers, on grounds she had to play second fiddle to director's hobby of miniature trains." With Landers directing, no doubt. ■ ■Description of a "super yes" man: One who nods "Yes" through sheer force of habit even when the studio head says "No." ■ ■ Hollywood put its very best foot forward and kept it there for two solid hours over the air Sunday evening with its dignified memorial to Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was a sterling and from-the-heart tribute, geared always to impeccable taste. A salute to the Association of Motion Picture Producers and the Hollywood Victory Committee, in col Wage Increase New York projectionists, members of the c< try's strongest projectionists' union, Local 30 the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage '. ployees, will at the end of the summer be as! the city's 500 contract-bound theatres for a 25 cent wage increase, it was indicated this week. The ten-year contract ends August 31. The contract, Local 306 has decided, must not only 1 the increase, but also provisions for time and i half pay for seven designated holidays, five c per year sick leave, three-week vacation with per year for members with five or more year service. The provisions, it was estimated, would $2,000,000 yearly to theatre costs. Projectionists in Loew's and RKO circuit ne borhood houses now receive $66.26 per week what amounts to a 28-hour week, since six men assigned to each booth for 84 hours of opera and the men work in pairs. This is besides an ditional $4.14 granted early last year in the f of an extra hour of overtime work for each of six men weekly. Projectionists in de-luxe houses receive $8 per man with 14 men required for each booth ; tl are also overtime provisions. Scales in other 1 York circuit and independent houses are somev lower than in the Loew and RKO theatres. About 160 Local 306 members are out of v or unemployed in the sense that they are not signed to any theatre on a permanent basis bi is understood that their earnings in some cases higher than those permanently assigned. Balaban & Katz 1944 Net Is $1,744,130 The Balaban and Katz Corporation, Chicago, a net profit of $1,744,130 during the year enc January 1, 1945, compared to a 1943 net of $1,S 060, stockholders were informed at the annual m ing Tuesday. The profit is equal to $6.63 a sh against $7.16 in 1943. Assets as of January 1 were $2,811,982, aga liabilities of $2,113,353; assets of January 1, 1 were $2,816,105 and liabilities $2,796,330. During 1944 the corporation reduced its fi obligations $1,570,128, against $737,057 in 1 John Balaban, secretary-treasurer, addressed stockholders. No changes in officers were m Roy Rogers Aids Bond Drive, Visits Service Hospitals Participation in the Seventh War Loan d activities and visits to Army and Navy hospi are highlights in Roy Rogers' current serie5 personal appearances which began April 12 Washington, D. C, where he appeared at Rodeo at the Uline Arena. Mr. Rogers visitedi Walter Reed Hospital and the Navy Hospj Following his visit to Washington, Mr. Ro[ will appear in Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Pro] ence, where hospital appearances and War B activities are scheduled. New Jersey Motoring Film Judged Best On Safety "X Marks the Spot", produced by the Iw Jersey Motor Vehicle Department, has been juc,;<l best safety film of 1944, by a motion picture c imittee of national safety authorities. The pic jre is being shown i* the state's theatres. It is facts and entertainment. Its production has eai';d the Department commendation from the : legislature. Represents Brazil Company Lazar Kitchner, president of Roas & Comp, y, New York, returned recently from Brazil, wl> e his company was appointed sole purchasing ajl