Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1947)

Selznick, Loew's Set "Duel" Deal EIGHT BILLS BEATEN IN 6 LEGISLATURES Majority on Censorship or Theatre Taxes; Several Are Still Pending Six of the 12 state legislatures which have now adjourned have defeated eight bills which would have adversely affected the motion picture industry, John Bryson, special legislative assistant to Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association, said in New York this week. The bills defeated were concerned with new theatre taxation or the establishment of state censor boards. Censorship measures were voted down in Indiana, West Virginia, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Tax bills were rejected in Arkansas, Montana, Indiana and West Virginia. Pending in 4 States Censorship bills are still pending in Iowa, Delaware, Connecticut and Missouri. The 17 state legislatures already adjourned are: Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, Georgia, Indiana, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah, Washington, North and South Dakota, West Virginia, New York, Tennessee and Maryland. Of these, in only one state, New York, was passed a measure detrimental to the industry. This bill gave large cities and counties within the state authorization to impose an additional five per cent levy on theatre admissions, and other taxing powers. The New York State Tax Commission, currently drafting model legislation for the taxing powers, has invited the views of theatres and other interests likely to be affected. No opinion has been given by the commission whether it could establish $1 as the minimum admission to be taxed, but it is understood the commission could prepare such a local ordinance if requested by taxing groups. The $1 minimum admission was suggested by the American Theatres Association and New York City exhibitors, who fought the measure. Bills U p in California Several bills in the California legislature, which would have particular significance to San Francisco theatre men, are up for discussion. The first is a proposal for a Fair Employment Practice Commission which would have full power of subpoena and authority to issue cease and desist orders. A second would create a commission to investigate possibilities of affording equal opportunity of employment to all persons, and to compile facts of racial discrimination. These measures point directly at the problem facing San Francisco theatre men whom the Negroes charge with discrimination. George Nasser, of Nasser Theatres, contends he hires employees sent him by the union. The Negroes have threatened a 14 city-wide picketing campaign against discrimination. The Connecticut legislature is studying two bills. The first would prohibit the admission of children to theatres or other places of amusement unless accompanied by a guardian, while the second would provide for a state censor board to approve pictures for exhibition to children under 14. Censor Bill in Missouri A bill in the Missouri House at Jefferson City would create a three-member state board of censors for motion pictures. Introduced by Rep. Harry Schendel of St. Louis, he said he was reluctant to offer the bill but that it was necessary to take action against certain types of films which he charged were contributing to juvenile delinquency. Denying charges by theatre men that the proposed repeal of Ohio's three per cent admission tax would be of sole benefit to large cities, State Tax Commissioner Emory Glander has urged passage of the Marshall bill in its initial hearing at the State House in Columbus. The theatre men said that passage of the bill would permit local taxes up to 10 per cent and would cause discrimination. Sunday Show Bill Killed A bill which would have legalized Sunday shows was killed in the Georgia House. Monday night the New Jersey legislature passed a bill to permit summer resorts in seacoast counties to impose a three per cent sales tax on amusement admissions, hotel rooms, liquor, tobacco and other accommodations. Originally the bill had been designed to affect all counties throughout the state but a campaign undertaken by exhibitors resulted in the bill being amended to apply only to counties bordering on the Atlantic Ocean. In Minnesota a third proposal for a 20 per cent levy on admissions has .been placed in the hopper. North Central Allied is lining up opposition to the new measure as it did on the two previous proposals. Lenoir, N. C, citizens are petitioning for Sunday shows and a repeal of the blue laws enacted in 1940 which forbid the showing of any motion picture, vaudeville or other amusements between 12 midnight Saturday and 12 midnight Sunday. The Lenoir City Council will discuss the matter at its next meeting. Elected by IATSE Charles Albee has been reelected president of Local 486, IATSE, Hartford, and George H. Sullivan has been elected chairman of Local 424, IATSE, Fall River, Mass. Selznick Releasing Organization and Loew's theatres last week signed a deal providing for the opening of "Duel in the Sun" at the New York Capitol, and at 37 Loew's neighborhood houses May 7. In addition, Loew theatres in 35 cities across the nation as well as in Toronto, Ontario, booked the film. All the Loew houses will play the picture on a grind policy at advanced admission. In New York the neighborhood engagements are for one week, while the Capitol booking is indefinite. New York area scales are expected to run from 90 to cents to $1.25 or $1.50, but no definite decision has yet been made. The deal climaxed long speculation as to where "Duel" would open in New York. The picture was originally scheduled for the Astor theatre, under an arrangement between David O. Selznick and Samuel Goldwyn. When its turn came, however, Mr. Selznick did not have a print of "Duel" available and his attempt to use United Artists' "Strange Woman" as a filler caused his subsequent disagreement with Mr. Goldwyn, who then opened "Best Years of Our Lives." In the negotiations that led to the agreement, Joseph R. Vogel, vice-president of Loew's and general manager of Loew's theatres, represented Loew's, and Milton Kusell, general sales manager, spoke for the Selznick Organization. School Picture Clubs Hold Annual Session The Tenth Annual Junior Conferences, sponsored by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures for school groups studying motion pictures, was to be held Friday at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. During the meeting the groups were to discuss their year's activities in film appreciation and instruction by film. They were also to report on special film projects and were to see some recent non-theatrical and entertainment films which they were to discuss. Altec's Los Angeles District Reassigns Staff Members Altec Service Corporation's Los Angeles district manager, Stan Pariseau, has assigned inspector S. S. Miller, formerly in the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas, to the San Diego territory and has shifted inspector Harold Nelson to Stockton, Cal., from Lansing, Mich. Robert K. Regan has been appointed service inspector in the Northern California area and in the Bay region. Republic Appoints Two Mary Stephens and Marvin Needelman have been appointed to Republic's pressbook department. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, APRIL 12, 1947