Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Aug 1947)

Boston Tribunal Makes 3 Awards; Complaints Filed The American Arbitration Association has announced three awards handed down by the Boston tribunal affecting theatres in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. A one-day maximum clearance over the York Beach theatres, York Beach, Me., has been granted for licenses to be entered into by the majors with the Colonial and Olympia theatres, both in Portsmouth, N. H., in the case of first runs. A consent award granting seven days' maximum clearance over the Collidge theatre in Watertown, Mass., has been granted the Central Square in Cambridge, Mass., on first runs, and seven days over the Collidge has been granted the University theatre in Cambridge. No clearance over the Community theatre in Wakefield, R. I., may be granted in licenses henceforth entered into by the majors with the Strand, Majestic, Albee, Loew's, State, Carlton, and Fay's theatres, Providence, under the third award. Meanwhile, Boston has received two more clearance complaints to bring the national total thus far this year to 11. Alleging present clearances are unreasonable, Marshall G. Carlton, operator of the Yarmouth theatre in Yarmouth, Me., arks for a maximum first run clearance of one day after the Nordica in Freeport, Me., the Cumberland and Pastime in Brunswick, Me., and the Strand, Empire, State and Civic in Portland, Me. The first three houses now have 14 days over the Yarmouth and the others have from 30 to 60 days. Eisner Theatres, Inc., operator of the Cameo in Uxbridge, Mass., also alleges unreasonable clearances exist and asks for a maximum first run clearance of one day after the Stadium, Park and Bijou, Woonsocket, Mass., Loew's State, Albee, Majestic, Carlton, Fay's, Strand and Metropolitan in Providence and the State Milford, Mass. Fourteen days' clearance now exists between these theatres and the Cameo. Altec Has New Speaker For Smaller Theatres The Altec Lansing Corporation has developed and put on the market a new "800" Voice of the Theatre speaker system specifically designed for the smaller theatre. It has an over-all depth of 23 inches and a shipping weight of 298 pounds. Because of the speaker's shallowness, it is particularly suited for theatres with a seating capacity up to 1,000, the company points out. ■ Loew's Seeks Tax Refund Loew's MGM has filed suit in New York District Court against James W. Johnson, Collector of Internal Revenue, for a refund of $2,666 in taxes paid in 1943. New York City Officials May Aid Production New York City officials and company representatives have begun a study of the regulations governing the various city departments with a view towards smoothing the way for increased production in the city. Edward C. Maguire, the city's director of labor relations, called film company officials to his office July 17 to lay the groundwork for the study. Representing the industry were Tom Mead, UniversalInternational; Leslie Thompson, RKO ; Frank Phelps, Warner Brothers; William D. Kelly and Edward C. Dowden, Loew's. The city will brief department regulations which might affect the industry, the industry men will then notify the city which of the regulations would hinder production, and then an attempt will be made to change those regulations. Name Two Aides In Red Probe Washington Bureau The House Un-American Activities Committee investigation of alleged Communist infiltration in the motion picture industry gathered additional momentum Monday with the appointment of two special investigators to work full time on the current investigation. Committee hearings are scheduled to begin September 23. Committee chairman J. Parnell Thomas announced the appointment of H. A. Smith to direct the investigating staff currently conducting inquiries in California. A. B. Leckie was appointed his first assistant. Both are Federal Bureau of Investigation agents who are residents of Los Angeles. Earlier Monday the Committee heard Walter Steele, chairman of the national security committee of the American Coalition of Patriotic Societies, describe in detail alleged Communist organizations. Mr. Steele said that the Hollywood People's Educational Center is a "Red school of considerable size," and said associates of the school included screen-writers Robert Lees and Michael Simmons ; directors Irving Pichel and Stanley Rubin, and producer Kenneth MacGowan. Among the Hollywood names listed by Mr. Steele for association with alleged Communist organizations were Charles Chaplin. Ben Hecht and James Cain. Defense Given 4 Months to Answer Denver Suit In a suit of Cinema Amusements, Inc., against Loew's, RKO Radio and Twentieth Century-Fox, Judge Richard S. Rodney in the U. S. District Court in Wilmington, Del., last Wednesday gave the defendants four months to answer interrogatories by the plaintiff. The circuit claims that its Broadway theatre in Denver, Colo., is not getting the same moveover as the predecessor lessee. Moments of jRiry from 7>esert Fury 5. THE CRASH In one blazing flash, a man's secret past and a woman's secret heart — ruthlessly ; revealed ! i HAL WALLIS' Production In Technicolor . . . From Paramount MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JULY 26, 1947 49