Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1948)

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THIS WEEK IN THE NEWS The Old Ones A COUPLE of old ones that RKO first released back in 1935 are drawing in the heavy money in surprising and pleasantly unexpected amounts in New York, Chicago, and points east and west. The pictures are "The Last Days of Pompeii," volcanoes, pretty girls, and a lavish production, and "She," all about the Kingdom of Kor, a beautiful lady, and a pillar of fire. Tuesday, that double bill closed at New York's Palace after playing a fourth day of the fifth week. Out in Chicago the bill drew long lines and the threat of a lawsuit if RKO ran the bill longer than the decree in the Jackson Park anti-trust suit allowed. All this popularity came just in time. RKO was on the verge of releasing a 16mm print of "Pompeii" to the New Church, New York, for free showings. The day before the church was to run off the film, RKO called up and cried "stop the projector." Is Their Poll Red Berlin Bureau THE GERMANS in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany don't like all those political propaganda shows they've been seeing. What's more, the more the Russiancontrolled press condemns a picture, the more the Germans want to see it. These opinions were turned up by a recent poll of theatre-goers taken by the Dresden Kulturbund, an association of artists and writers, under Communist auspices. The poll has caused considerable dismay in Communist circles which had been hoping for an altogether different outcome of their investigations. The Kulturbund distributed 5,000 questionnaires in 10 Dresden theatres. Each blank contained no less than 60 questions. Only 11 per cent were returned. The lowest rating was given to political propaganda pictures, such as are produced by the Sovietlicensed DEFA company. Most of those who answered stated that their primary reason for seeing a particular show was because it had received an unfavorable review in the Russian-controlled press. Snowbound FILM STORIES were a dime a dozen during Nebraska's recent snow and ice storm that shut down more than a hundred houses, but here's one, priced a little higher, that involves two exhibitors, Harold Dunn at Valentine and Rod. Bailey at Ainsworth. Their position in the storm was unique. The two towns, 50 miles apart, were cut off from everybody but each other. Both transportation and communications systems be MOTION PICTURE HERALD for December 4, 1948 ALLIED seeks discipline of stars, condemns percentage sales Page 13 ABC brings opera into the home via television for first time Page 17 PLAY trust suit cards carefully in complex decree negotiations Page 18 UNIQUE theatre in Miami operates as semi-open air house Page 19 RANK plans to close a British studio, bringing new crisis Page 22 BOX OFFICE Champions for the month of November Page 23 GROSSES in nine months down only 2%, revenue reports indicate Page 24 120,000,000 see motion pictures sponsored by State Department Page 26 NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT— Notes on Industry personnel across country Page 29 BRITISH interests seek bilateral pact on films with France Page 34 SERVICE DEPARTMENTS Foreign Reviews Page 35 Hollywood Scene Page 27 In the Newsreels Page 39 Managers' Round Table Page 41 Picture Grosses Page 40 Short Product at First Runs Page 38 What the Picture Did for Me Page 37 THEATRE SALES Pages 47-55 IN PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION Showmen's Reviews Page 4405 Short Subjects Chart Page 4406 Service Data Page 4408 Short Subjects Page 4409 Advance Synopses Page 4410 Release Chart by Companies Page 441 I The Release Chart Page 4412 tween the towns were in order. So when the exhibitors found themselves cut off from new film supplies for their weekend change, they got together and swapped pictures. Disappoin tmen t PARAMOUNT executives were disappointed last Monday. The day had begun with the expectation that the Paramount theatre, New York, might carry not only the festivities attendant upon the season's first opera performance at the Metropolitan, but also the full first act of "Otello," which was transmitted, full-length, over the American Broadcasting Company's television network. By the afternoon it was clear that the largescreen presentation of the first act would have to be dropped. ABC had agreed. The sponsor, Texas Company, had agreed. But the unions had stalled. There was also talk that theatre television would have meant not double but triple salaries for some performers and stagehands. There were objections from the talent unions also. Paramount decided not to press the matter for fear of muddling up the whole project. It still was set, however, to carry the arrival of celebrities and intermission activities on its screen just before or after the 9 P.M. stage show. Recording started at 8 P.M., but Paramount could not find footage interesting enough to present to theatre patrons. CBS' Benny ALL ALONG the radio industry had buzzed with excitement. , Rumors flew thick and fast. Speculation filled the press. Would Benny do it? Last week he did. The Columbia Broadcasting System proudly announced that, as of January 2, 1949, Jack Benny, comedian, would join its lineup of top programs. The National Broadcasting Company, on whose stations Mr. Benny had grown to be recognized as one of the country's best-loved comedians during the past 16 years, took it hard. Harsh statements were issued to the press by both sides. NBC was annoyed. Earlier in the season, CBS had taken away from NBC the "Amos 'n' Andy" show under a $2,000,000 capital gains deal. Although no financial terms of the Benny shift were announced, it was assumed that a similar arrangement had been made. Under it the seller is subject only to a capital gains tax of 25 per cent rather than the much higher personal income tax. Cried NBC's Niles Trammel: "Such arrangements are bound to lead to charges of discrimination between artists who are paying income taxes at the higher regular rates and those who are paying at the lower rates." Replied CBS: "Mr. Trammel's statement is unwarranted. If and when deals are made ... all details will be submitted to the Treasury Department for approval. Mr. Trammel's statement reflects unfairly on many creative artists. . . ." ■i MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 4, 1948