Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1952)

Trust Cuses In Industry Tend Fietd Although Government anti-trust cases in all fields were fewer in the 1952 fiscal year than in any other post-war year, the number of private anti-trust suits increased sharply and a “considerable” portion of these were brought against motion picture companies, according to the annual report, just published in Washington, of Henry P. Chandler, director of the administrative office of the U. S. Courts. New anti-trust actions which developed during the week included the following: In Denver, Kar-Vue Theatres, Inc. filed suit in District Court asking $300,000 treble damages against United Artists and theatre companies headed by Harris and John Wolfberg. The suit alleges that Kar-Vue was unable to buy a proper run at proper prices of United Artists films for the Monaco drive-in. The Wolfbergs, who own six Denver theatres, recently won a $300,000 judgment against RKO Radio, Loew’s and 20th Century-Fox and have another suit pending asking for $1,000,000 from the same companies for alleged inability to buy films at proper runs and prices for their Broadway. The Charben Cinema Corporation, owners of the Jewell theatre in Brooklyn, New York, filed in Federal District Court a triple damage $375,000 anti-trust suit against eight majors and a number of exhibitor corporations claiming “discrimination” by the defendants and complaining of its inability to procure feature films. Those named include Randforce Amusement Corporation, Metropolitan Playhouses Inc., Rantru Operating Corporation and Springer Theatres Inc. In New York, William C. MacMillen, Jr., president of Chesapeake Industries (formerly Pathe Industries), announced that the $15,000,000 triple damage anti-trust suit which Chesapeake filed against Loew’s and RKO Theatres will come to trial in three months. The action, filed over a year ago, charged that the defendants conspired to exclude independently produced pictures from the metropolitan New York market. New Jersey Allied to Elect New Officers A one-day meeting highlighted by election of officers will be held by New Jersey Allied October 14 at the Hotel Astor in New York, Wilbur Snaper, National Allied president and head of the New Jersey unit, announced. Mr. Snaper is scheduled to address the annual convention of Allied Theatres of Michigan at the Tuller Hotel, Detroit, October 20. Change Lippert Title “Bad Blonde” is the new U. S. release title for “This Woman Is Trouble,” now shooting in London with Barbara Payton and Tony Hughes heading the cast of the Lippert release. IN NEWSREELS FOX MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 81— The Stevenson Story. FOX MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 82— U.S. unveils first atomic artillery. Speed king Cobb dies in explosion. Tito shows off new bride. Football. World Series. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 211— The Stevenson Story. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 212— Greenland rescue drama. Gales battle ship. Tito’s wife makes debut. First atomic gun. Football. Cobb meets death beating speed record. World Series. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 14— The Stevenson Story. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 15— The World Series. Soviet vs. -Ambassadcr Kennan. Football game of the week: Wisconsin beats Illinois. TELENEWS DIGEST, No. 40B— Jet boat kills Cobb. Truman dedicates Tiber Dam. Gamma rays aid medicine. New York air raid test. New atomic cannon, Nato navy maneuvers. World Senes. TELENEWS DIGEST, No. 4lA — Stevenson scores Republicans. Italian film stars arrive. Films of Tito and wife. Italian peasants get reclaimed land. Nato commanders meeting. Roller skating. World Series. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. 40i — The Stevenson Story. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. 402 — Truman, Stevenson and Eisenhower on whistle stops. Greeland rescue. John Cobb’s boat crackup. Football highlights. Yanks the new world champions. WARNER PATHE NEWS, No. 10— The Stevenson Story. WARNER PATHE NEWS, No. 17— Death of John Cobb, Amazing Arctic rescue. Army unveils atomic cannon. Eisenhower on Midwest swing. Stevenson in Midwest. Truman on whistle-stop tour. Newsreels in Color Plan Abandoned by Distributors The proposal that newsreels be produced in color has been abandoned by the distributors, it was learned last week. The reasons given for dropping the idea were that color would prove to be too costly in light of what newsreels earn, and that mechanical difficulties pose too big a hurdle. With time a big factor in the release of newsreels, the additional effort involved in color production would make such a plan inadvisable, it was found. William Y. Lovelace Dies William Y. Lovelace, 47, owner of motion picture theatres at Montgomery, Ala., and Pensacola, Fla., died unexpectedly at his home in Montgomery September 29. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, and from 1935 to 1946 he served with the Farmers Home Administration. He is survived by his widow, two sons and a daughter. James H. Doyle James H. Doyle, 85, died at his home in Boston October 3. Mr. Doyle operated the Broadway theatre. South Boston, the Central theatre, Waltham, and was part owner of the Embassy in Waltham. He was a former state legislator and city official and at one time was acting mayor. He is survived by two daughters and a son. Harry Hammond Beal HOLLYWOOD : Harry Hammond Beal, 63, veteran film publicity man, died unexpectedly at his home here October 4. At one time a leading publicist, Mr. Beal had been active in other fields for the past number of v'-ars. Sees Upturn In ]\utionul Circuit ]%fet Earnings of National Theatres, Inc., for the third quarter this year are expected to take a sharp up-swing over the two previous quarters, which ran behind the corresponding periods last year, Charles Skouras. president, said last week in a letter to stockholders on the occasion of the divorcement of National Theatres Corporation from 20th Century-Eox Film Corporation. Mr. Skouras pointed out that as a result of the reorganization, Wesco Theatres Corporation and Roxy Theatres, Inc., now are wholly owned subsidiaries of National Theatres. which has 437 theatres in active operation. It also has interests in 64 closed theatres and nine other houses leased or subleased to others. Of this total of 510 theatres, National must divest itself of all interest in 71 theatres under the Consent Decree. Also contained in the president’s letter was a statement of the financial history of the Roxy theatre in New York. It shows that the net income of the theatre ranged from $105,000 in 1942 to a peak of $173,000 in 1949 to $91,000 in 1950 and to a loss of $39,000 in 1951. In the peak 1949 year, Federal taxes totaled $111,000. The first meeting of National Theatres’ board of directors since the divorcement will be held at the company’s Hollywood headquarters October 23. Ad Lecture Series In New Quarters Harry K. McWilliams, president of the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers, New York, announced the acquisition of new quarters in the 20th Century-Fox Little Theatre, at the home office, for the series of lectures on advertising and promotion given by the organization. The last lecture, second of a series of 10, discussed operation of a modern motion picture company’s home office advertising and publicity department. This was followed by the screening of a project picture for the course. Studio Workers' Earnings Sh ow Fall for August The monthly report of the California Department of Industrial Relations shows a decline in the weekly earnings of studio craft workers during August. The weekly average in August was $111.57 as compared to $118.30 for July and $104.40 for August 1951. The sharp monthly variations are due to variations in the amount of overtime pay Harold Cohen Harold Cohen, 51, Warner Brothers New York home office projectionist for more than 28 years, died October 2, at the Beth David Hospital in New York. MOTION PICTURE HERALD. OCTOBER II, 1952 33