Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1945)

Kuykendall Urges Plan for Repeal of 20% Ticket Tax Calling for united action now in preparing to meet the post-war exhibitor problems, Edward L. Kuykendall, president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, this week urged that theatre owners concentrate on preventing further Federal and state admission taxes. In an MPTOA bulletin issued in New York Mr. Kuykendall emphasized that repeal of the 20 per cent Federal admission tax should be planned now, for quick action when the war ended. Although most of the bulletin was devoted to the problems of taxation, the MPTOA head discussed several other exhibitor "headaches," including high rentals and declining grosses. The peak of the war boom was reached several months ago, he pointed out, adding that a "definite decline has already set in, probably due to the fact that Government spending is no longer on the increase. "What do you think will happen to you when this huge Government spending on war production suddenly ends, as it is bound to do when the war ends?" he queried. "It takes no oracle to figure out the answer; just cut off a healthy chunk of your box office receipts and see how you come out." Most theatres survive the burdens of taxation and high rentals today only because of the war boom, he declared, and blamed the Consent Decree selling system for "skyrocketing film prices and percentage terms to impossible heights. Were it not for the war boom coming along at the same time that the Decree was imposed upon us by anti-trust legislation, the costly, cumbersome Decree selling system would undoubtedly have exterminated a lot of smaller theatres. "Some means of bringing down film prices with the drop in business that is sure to come must be found by exhibitors, and soon!" he warned. The real danger to exhibitors, in connection with the sudden collapse of the war boom, he observed, was the heavy 20 per cent Federal tax "which can crush a lot of small towm theatres and subsequent run houses who must operate at lower admission prices, if this heavy tax continues after the bottom falls out of their business." He urged united action and appeals to Congressmen. The bulletin concluded with a discussion of the dimout, fuel and rationing problems, the rubber and truck shortage and other wartime emergencies. Short Product in First Run Houses Film Classics Negotiating For Two More Exchanges Film Classics is negotiating for the acquisition of two additional branches, at present operated by franchise holders, L. E. Goldhammer, vice-president and general sales manager, said last week. The company owns the branch in New York, and has 21 "outside" exchanges. Other deals are pending for the acquisition of additional films, Mr. Goldhammer said. Members of the newly-elected executive committee of Film Classics' franchise holders consists of Al Dezel, Detroit, chairman; J. F. White, Jr., Charlotte, secretary-treasurer ; Bert Sterns, Pittsburgh ; Arthur Lockwood, Boston ; Joseph Wolf, Indianapolis, and Sam Wheeler, Washington. Settlement Reached in Boston Trust Suits The anti-trust suits, originally filed in 1935 by the Commonwealth Amusement Enterprises, Inc., of Boston and Nashua Theatres, Inc., against the Colonial Theatre Company, Nashua, N. H., and the majors, were settled out of court in Boston February 7, and the jury dismissed in Federal Judge Sweeney's court. Rumor had the settlement figure at $300,000. The suit, which in the past 10 years had been in various stages of litigation, charged violation of the Sherman anti-trust act and conspiracy to restrain trade by the method the majors used in distributing features. NEW YORK— Week of February 12 ASTOR: First Aiders RKO Feature: Princess and the Pirate RKO CAPITOL: Sfriking CAampions Columbia Screwy Truant MGM Feature: Thin Man Goes Home... MGM CRITERION: Chew Chew Baby Universal World Without Borders Universal Feature: The Suspect Universal GLOBE: Saddle Starlet RKO Feature: The Three Caballeros RKO HOLLYWOOD: Stage Door Cartoon. . .Vifapbone silence ParamountW>1C Jammin' the Blues VlfapAone Feature: Roughly Speaking Warner Bros. MUSIC HALL: Springtime for Pluto RKO Feature: Song to Remember Columbia RIALTO: Two Gun Rusty Paramount Broncos ond Brands. Paramount Feature: Destiny Universal RIVOLI: Seeing Them Through RKO-WAC Silence ParamountW4C Feature: Keys of the Kingdom 20th Cent.-Fox ROXY: Once Over Lightly Vltapbone silence .Parafflount-W>lC Port of Missing Mice 20fli Cent.-Fox Trolling for Strikes 20th Cent.-Fox Feature: Hangover Square 20th Cent.-Fox STRAND: Herr Meets Hare VltopAonej California, Here We Are Vitaphond Feature: Objective, Burma Warner Bros] CHICAGO— Week of February 12 APOLLO: Dark Shadows MGMI Seeing Tfcem TArougA WAC-RKO Feature: Together Again Columbia G4RRICK: Seeing Tftem TArougb W>lC-RKo| The Unknown Battle 20fh Cent.-Fox^ Feature: Something for the Boys 20th Cent.-Fon GRAND: Brought to Action WAC-UA Features: Bowery to Broadway Universal Girl Rush RKO PALACE: Barney Bear's Polar Pest MGMI Features: The Suspect Universal She Sets Her Man Universal ROOSEVELT: ITaniicee Doodle Donkey. .Poramounfl Feature: Objective, Burma Warner BrosJ STATE LAKE: Unruly Hare VltapAonJ Seeing TAem TArougA WAC-RKO Feature: The Keys of the Kingdom 20th Cent.-FoJ UNITED ARTISTS: Trap Happy Porky. .VltapAon^ Feature: Mrs. Parkington MGK/[ WOODS; WAot's rour Name7.W-4C-20tA Cent.-Foii So You Want to Give Up Smoking VltapAone^ .4qua-Malds Columbidp Carnival Rhythm VltapAone ; Feature: The Princess and the Pirate RKO NLRB "Coddling" Producers And SAG, Union Charges At midweek, a decision was still withheld by the Screen Players Union on whether to send representatives to Washington February 22 to attend hearings on the producers' and Screen Actors Guild's petitions for reconsideration of the National Labor Relations Board's definition of "extra player" in its certification of the union as bargaining agent for extras. Last weekend, the SPU telegraphed the NLRB charging that the agency was "coddling the losing union and the producers." The message urged the NLRB to "order the producers to cease and desist from discrimination against SPU members." The producers and SAG previously had expressed gratification with NLRB's reopening of the case for argument. The fight between the unions has placed the studios in the middle; definition of the term "extra player" and "bit player" is at stake. The SPU claims the term embraces stunt performers and non-speaking parts as well, while the guild insists these players belong to its group. Autry Owes Republic Five Pictures, Court Rules Denying the suit of Gene Autry against Republic Pictures to cancel his contract, Judge Charles E. Haas of Superior Court in Los Angeles this week held that the star, now in the Army, was bound to carry out the terms of the agreement "by appearing in five photoplays as per notice to him on August 1, ■ 1942" under the option in the contract. The ruling held that Mr. Autry was in the employ of Republic and would be until released by the defendant or until he completed his work in the five productions, that he is not free to render his services' for himself or for anyone else meanwhile. If he should obtain leave from the service, he would have to report to Republic, "but it is not incumbent upon him to voluntarily apply for such leave." Industry Foreign Unit Approval Due Approval by distributor counsel of a motion picture foreign trade association, which has beam projected for several months, is expected shortly' by N. Peter Rathvon, president of RKO and head of the foreign relations committee of tbe Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America. Mr. Rathvon said last week that work on the organization was progressing, and predicted that more information on its structure would be forthcoming soon. i Company lawyers have been studying the legal] aspects of the proposed organization as it would; function under the provisions of the Webb Act.i Under these regulations, it must be registered with the Federal Trade Commission in Washington. The companies then could act in concert on prob-] lems in any part of the world which affect one or more of them. The project is an outgrowth of one that was considered and abandoned about four years ago because of world conditions at the time. It was revived* last summer, approved by the MPPDA' board and a committee of distributor lawyers was requested^ to set up an organization plan and report. This work is understood to be complete now. It is designed to start operation shortly to prepare for the post-war period. Trade Campaign Parallels "Murder" Magazine Ads An extensive trade paper advertising campaign parallels the national magazine program announced for RKO Radio's "Murder, My Sweet," starring Dick Powell, Claire Trevor and Anne ' Shirley. It is under the supervision of S. Barret ! McCormick, director of advertising and publicity. ' The trade series was prepared by Ben Grimm, advertising manager. Siegel to Rejoin Paramount Sol C. Siegel will rejoin Paramount in an executive capacity under Henry Ginsberg, studio head, April 30, following the disbanding of his company, now producing "Kiss and Tdl" for Columbia release. F. Hugh Herbert and George Abbott are associated with Mr. Siegel in the enterprise. He was associated with Paramount from 1941 to 1944. Cincinnati Club Cites Sonz Edward Sonz, National Screen Service salesman, was tendered a testimonial dinner February 12 by the Cincinnati Variety Club. William Bien ' and Art Mannheimer were in charge of dinner arrangements. Mr. Sonz recently was promoted to a sales assignment in Chicago. 26 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, FEBRUARY 17, 1945