Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1946)

British Tax Total $206,000,000; 90% From Films The British amusement tax for the year ended April 5, 1946, amounted to $206,000,000, or $18,000,000 more than the earlier estimate of $188,000,000. The film industry supplied approximately 90 per cent of this total, according to an announcement last week in New York by Fayette W. Allport, European manager of the Motion Picture Association of America. The size of this figure can be appreciated when it is compared with the $28,000,000 collected from amusement taxes during prewar years, Mr. Allport said. The figure represents an increase of 700 per cent over prewar figures. It is estimated that the next fiscal year will yield about $200,000,000 to the British Treasury. One reason for the heavy increase in revenue is that amusement taxes were increased twice during the war. Mr. Allport is in New York to present "a general canvass of Continental problems and British matters" to Eric A. Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association. "Unnecessary restrictions and unavoidable monetary difficulties," he said, "are preventing Europeans from seeing the best and most up-to-date American productions." Jewish Appeal Wins Support S. H. Fabian, president of Fabian Theatres and the American Theatres Association, addressed leaders of the industry at a luncheon Monday in Albany in behalf of the Jewish Welfare Fund of Albany. The luncheon committee, which arranged for the Fabian speech, was composed of Saul J. Ullman, Joseph Saperstein and Larry Cowan. Last Thursday, Billy Rose, chairman of the amusement division of the United Jewish Appeal, solicited for the cause more than $80,000 in pledges and donations at the luncheon meeting of the Independent Theatre Owners Association of New York, held at the Hotel Astor. Tuesday, leaders in motion pictures, stage and radio attended a dinner in honor of Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, sponsored by the amusement division of the United Jewish Appeal, at Sherry's in New York. Filmcraft in Miami William F. Crouch, executive producer of Filmcraft Productions, has arrived in Miami Beach, where he will make 20 shorts and investigate the possibilities of establishing Miami studios. One of the first of the shorts to be made is "Miami Melody," a one-reel musical. Warners Holding Sales Meetings in New York Jules Lapidus, eastern division sales manager for Warner Brothers, was to conduct a meeting of the eastern and midAtlantic district at the home office Saturday. The following branch managers were to attend: Ray S. Smith, Albany; George W. Horan, Boston; Al Herman, Buffalo; Carl Coe, New Haven ; Clarence Eiseman, N. Y. ; William G. Mansell, Philadelphia, and Fred W. Biersdorf, Washington. In addition, Norman Ayers and Robert Smeltzer, district managers, were to be present. National Screen Meeting in N. Y. A report by Herman Bobbins, president, on the progress of the company during the war years and a discussion of plans for the _ _ future highlighted the annual conven t i o n of National Screen Service Corporation held Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. The first internat i o n'a 1 convention ever held by the company, it was a resumption of annual gatherings interrupted during the war. Approximately 165 representatives from the company's 31 branches in the United States and from England attended. Present from the London office were John R. McPherson and Arnold Williams, joint managing directors of National Screen Service, Ltd. In addition to Mr. Robbins, speakers and presiding officers at the sessions included George F. Dembow, vice-president in charge of sales ; William B. Brenner, vice-president in charge of operations, and Arthur Krim, treasurer. Herman Robbins PRC Will Release Five Pictures in 10 Weeks PRC will release five pictures within the next ten weeks. The listing is : "Avalanche," a mystery drama, June 20; "Colorado Serenade," a Cinecolor outdoor musical, June 30; "Larceny in Her Heart," a Michael Shayne mystery, July 10; "Queen of Burlesque," July 24, and "Secrets of a Sorority Girl," August 1. GPE Net $280,552 Consolidated net profit of General Precision Equipment Corporation and subsidiaries for the three months ended March 31, 1946, was $280,552, after Federal income taxes, compared with $343,505 for the corresponding period last year. United Artists District Heads Meet in Chicago United Artists home office executives were to attend a meeting of district managers scheduled for Friday and Saturday at the Blackstone Hotel, Chicago. J. J. Unger, general sales manager, was to preside. Among executives attending from the home office were to be : Jack Goldhar, eastern sales manager ; Maury Orr, western sales manager ; Edward M. Schnitzer, southern and Canadian sales manager ; Paul N. Lazarus, Sr., contract manager ; Paul Lazarus, Jr., advertising and publicity director, and Sam Lefkowitz, eastern district manager. Other district managers expected include Clayton Eastman, New England ; Fred M. Jack, southern; Moe Dudelson, central; Rud Lohrenz, midwestern ; C. W. Allen, prairie ; W. E. Callaway, western, and Charles Chaplin, Canada. Current and forthcoming product was to be discussed, along with advertising campaigns for each picture. The Chicago meeting is the second in a series of district manager meetings held this year. The first was held early in January in New York. Metro Resumes Sales Meetings MGM will hold its first sales convention in several years at the Hotel Stevens in Chicago, starting May 24. The sessions, to be conducted by William F. Rodgers, vicepresident and general sales manager, will continue for four days and will be attended by approximately 70 representatives from the home office and the field. To gather for the meeting will be 10 homeoffice executives, five sales managers, 11 district managers and 32 branch managers, in addition to five home-office assistants to the sales managers. From the home-office executive group will be, in addition to Mr. Rodgers, Edward M. Saunders and Edwin W. Aaron, assistant general sales managers ; Howard Dietz, vicepresident and director of advertising, publicity and exploitation; Silas F. Seadler, advertising manager ; William R. Ferguson, exploitation head ; Herbert Crooker, publicity manager ; Alan F. Cummings, in charge of exchange maintenance and operations ; and Tyree DiUard, Jr., liaison between the legal and sales department. The five sales managers who will attend include E. K. O'Shea, sales manager for the east ; John E. Flynn, representing the midwest ; John J. Maloney, representing the central part of the country; Rudy Berger, of the south, and George A. Hickey, representing the west coast. MOTION PICTURE HERALD. MAY 4. 1946 37