Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Feb 1948)

Box Office Champions for The Month of January CAPTAIN FROM CASTILE (Twentieth Century -Fox) Produced by Lamarr Trotti. Directed by Henry King. Screenplay by Mr. Trotti from the novel by Samuel Shellabarger. Technicolor director, Natalie Kalmus. Photographed by Charles Clarke and Arthur E. Arling. Cast: Tyrone Power, Jean Peters, Cesar Romero, Lee J. Cobb, John Sutton, Antonio Mareno , Thomas Gomez, Alan Mowbray. ( Champion for the second month.) DAISY KENYON (Twentieth Century -Fox) Produced and directed by Otto Preminger. Screenplay by David Hertz. From a novel by Elizabeth Janeway. Photographed by Leon Shamroy. Cast: Joan Crawford, Dana Andrews, Henry Fonda, Ruth Warrick, Martha Stewart, Peggy Ann Garner, Connie Marshall, Nicholas Joy, Art Baker. KILLER McCOY (MGM) Produced by Sam Zimbalist. Directed by Roy Rowland. Screenplay by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan. Photographed by Joseph Ruttenberg. Cast: Mickey Rooney, Brian Donlevy, Ann Blyth, James Dunn, Tom Tully, Sam Levene, Walter Sande, James Bell, Gloria Holden. MY WILD IRISH ROSE (Warner Brothers) Produced by William Jacobs. Directed by David Butler. Screenplay by Peter Milne. From a book by Rita Olcott. Photographed by Arthur Edeson and William V. Skall. Cast: Dennis Morgan, Andrea King, Alan Hale, George Tobias, George O'Brien, Sara Allgood, Ben Blue, William Frawley, Don McGuire. ROAD TO RIO ( Paramount ) Produced by Daniel Dare. Directed by Norman Z. McLeod. Original story and screenplay by Edmund Beloin and Jack Rose. Photographed by Ernest Laszlo. Cast: Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour, Gale Sondergaard, Frank Faylen, Joseph Vitale, Frank Puglia, Nestor Paiva, Jerry Colonna, The Andrews Sisters. ( Champion for the second month.) TYCOON (RKO Radio) Produced by Stephen Ames. Directed by Richard Wallace. Screenplay by Borden Chase and John Twist. Adapted from the novel by C. E. Scroggins. Photographed by Harry J. Wild and W. Howard Greene. Cast: John Wayne, Laraine Day, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Judith Anderson, James Gleason, Anthony Quinn, Grant Withers. Johnston Urges Board to Aid Private Loans Abroad The establishment of a "Peace Production Board" within the framework of the Marshall Plan to facilitate private production loans abroad by American banks was proposed last week by Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, speaking at a dinner of the Wash'ngton Chapter of the American Institute of Banking at the Mayflower Hotel, Washington. Mr. Johnston's proposal was aimed at giving private business abroad a chance to revive. "A dozen Marshall plans without the aid of private business men will never solve the real problem of European recovery," he said, adding: "We want the Marshall Plan to be a springboard for Europe instead of a wheel chair." Under Mr. Johnston's plan, the Peace Production Board would pass on worthy private investments abroad by American banks. The lending bank in America would assume five per cent of any loss and the borrowing bank another five per cent. The 90 per cent remainder of the loan would be guaranteed by the Government as in the days of war production. First Month of New Chicago Tax Nets Only $125,567 To date Chicago has collected only $125,567 on its new three per cent amusement tax, which went into effect January 1, it was reported by Comptroller Robert B. Upham last Thursday. He stated the figure was considerably below the $250,000 a month the tax was expected to yield, but that many amusement organizations have not yet filed reports. Deadline for reporting on January • taxes is March 1. Women May Join Associates Women will be invited to join the Motion Picture Associates if a change in the constitution, recommended by the board of directors, is ratified at the next business meeting to be held before April 1 in New York Citv. Local Admission Taxes Reported Widely Adopted Local admission taxes are being widely adopted, according to a report by the Municipal Finance Officers Association, released in Chicago Tuesday. Spectacular example of the trend was the adoption of admission taxes by 79 Ohio cities almost simultaneously after the state abolished its admission tax October 1. As a result annual admission tax collections are expected to reach $660,000 in Cleveland; $300,000 in Cincinnati; $155,000 in Columbus, and $140,000 in Dayton. Most of the Ohio cities impose a tax of three per cent on theatre and other admissions. Chicago imposed a three per cent tax on admissions late in 1947 and expects a yield of $2,250,000 this year, according to the Association. Bloomingtori, 111., has levied a four per cent tax on gross receipts of theatres, while St. Louis recently adopted a five per cent tax, the report stated. Meanwhile, the Montgomery County Court in Pennsylvania ruled last week that a proppsed five per cent tax on gross business at Pottstown theatres is illegal, thus nullifying a similar tax under consideration at Hanover, Pa. The suit against Pottstown was brought last year by William Goldman Theatres, Inc., and the Warner theatre circuit. Monday, Lock Haven, Pa., will institute its 10 per cent ticket tax, while the Harrisburg City Council has set March 11 as the starting date for its eight per cent amusement tax. In Lewistown, Pa., where a 10 per cent ticket tax has been passed, amusement interests have engaged counsel to seek an injunction against the levy. Ontario Seeks Tax When Dominion Drops It Although heavy opposition developed during a session of the Ontario Mayors in Toronto, the position of Mayor Saunders of Toronto, that the province of Ontario assume the Federal amusement tax when it is dropped was endorsed unanimously. A brief, sponsored by Mr. Saunders, has now been placed before Ontario's Premier George Drew. It contains the suggestion that the tax revenue be allocated to the cities and towns of the province to be earmarked for hospitalization and relief. As an alternative, it was suggested that if the province did not want to make this move, it might clear the way for the municipalities themselves to impose such a tax, as soon as the field is cleared. Bill Wou'd Repeal Tax W. E. McClure, Henderson, Ky., has introduced a bill into the Kentucky General Assembly which would repeal the excise tax on admissions. 28 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, FEBRUARY 28, 1948