Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1952)

fflfinaiiig-' MOTION PICTURE HERALD June. 28, 1952 THEATRE TV starts to talk back to the home kind of TV Page 12 CROSBY, Hope, NBC, CBS, TV in one big living room package Page 12 FCC gives the green light to theatre television in color Page 12 20TH-FOX demonstrates its Eidophor system in New York Page 14 INDUSTRY seeks early date for theatre TV hearing by FCC Page 14 COMPO, under new leadership, launches all-out attack on tax Page 16 TERRY RAMSAYE Says — A column of common on matters cinematic Page 18 MAJOR distributors asked to end competitive bidding system Page 18 DECCA Records purchases all of Rank stock in Universal Pictures Page 21 DISNEY lays $20,000,000 worth of faith on production line Page 24 WILL ROGERS Hospital executive group votes new financing Page 26 THEATRE TV is demonstrated by Arthur Rank in London theatre Page 28 COMMONS votes slight tax concessions to British exhibitors Page 28 NPA expected to lift curbs on copper and aluminum shortly Page 30 NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT— Notes on industry personnel across country Page 35 SERVICE DEPARTMENTS Film Buyer's Rating Page 48 Hollywood Scene Page 34 In the Newsreels Page 32 Managers' Round Table Page 41 People in the News Page 39 Short Product at First Runs Page 47 What the Picture Did for Me Page 46 IN PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION Showmen's Reviews Page 1425 Short Subjects Page 1427 The Release Chart Page 1427 ► In view of the industry’s decision to make an all-out fight to repeal the admission tax next year, changes in the key House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee will be of more than normal interest. Retiring from the House Committee are Chairman Doughton (D., N.C.) and Representatives Combs (D., Tex.) and Woodruff (R., Mich.), while Rep. Granger (D., Utah) is running for the Senate. In the Senate group, Senator Connally (D., Tex.) is retiring, while Senator Taft (R., O.) may be leaving for other pastures. Vacancies in those two important committees are usually filled by other legislative members from the same states. ► Michael Redstone, Boston area owner of drive-in theatres, continues to give the industry a good reputation with the people who sometimes eye it censoriously. For a second summer his theatres are available UNIVERSAL DOUBLES HALF-YEAR PROFIT Universal Pictures Company, Inc., and subsidiary companies report for the 26 weeks ended May 3, 1952, consolidated earnings of $1,220,440, after provision of $1,550,000 for estimated Federal income and excess profits taxes. This compares with consolidated earnings for the corresponding 26 weeks of the previous fiscal year of $608,565, after provision of $800,000 for estimated Federal taxes on income and after a provision of $200,000 for contingent liabilities. After deducting dividends on the preferred stock, consolidated earnings for the 26 weeks ended May 3, 1952 are equivalent to $1.14 per share on the 960,498 shares of common stock outstanding. For the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year, consolidated earnings were the equivalent of $.50 per share on the common stock. Sunday mornings for church services. Mr. Redstone throws in complete sound service and an altar. No charge. Last summer, services at his Neponset Drive-in, Dorchester, drew hundreds of cars, many of them from out-of-state. ► Don’t expect any speedy relaxation of theatre construction controls, even when the steel strike ends. NPA officials fear the loss of production has been too great, and that recreational construction will have to wait until some of the loss has been made up. ►Not all the new TV applications will be in by July 1. That’s just the date the FCC starts processing applications for certain cities. Exhibitors and others in cities which won’t be reached until later will probably hold off filing applications a while longer. ► That the newsreels are not quite ready to sit back and let TV carry the brunt of the hot political campaign is obvious. This week. Fox Movietone devoted an entire reel to the presidential war, with the spotlight particularly on Taft and Eisenhower. ► If the present administrative system of COMPO works out — with three men representing the component groups running the organization— it is entirely likely that a move will be made in the direction of having this plan made permanent, with necessary bylaws changed. ► It may be by the film that opponents of W. Averell “Honest Ave” Harriman will hoist him out of politics. The director of the Mutual Security Agency is running into troublesome questions on his organization’s production of documentary films in Italy. The questions, by Republicans, no less, have to do with the kind of film planned and produced (the Italian government reportedly said commercial showings of two films were unwise because “fictional” and “not true”) ; their cost ; their producers, who allegedly lack experience, but were with ECA, the MSA’s predecessor; the resignation, after investigation, of one of the men associated with the film program; and so on. PICTURE HERALD, published every Saturday by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., Rockefeller Center, New York City 20. Telephone Circle 7-3100; Cable address, Quigpubco-, New York", Martin Quigley, President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Raymond Levy, Vice-President; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; Martin Quigley, Jr., Editor; Terry Ramsaye, Consulting Editor; James D. Ivers, News Editor; Charles S. Aaronson, Production Editor; Ray Gallagher, Advertising Manager; Sus H. Fausei, Production Manager. Bureaus: Hollywood, William R. 'Weaver, editor, Yucca-Vine Building, Telephone, GRanIte 2145; Chicago, 120 So. LaSalle St., Urben Farley, advertising representative,^ Telephone, ^ Financial 6-3074; Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club; London, Hope Williams Burnup, manager, Peter Burnup, editor, 4^ Golden Square. Correspondents in the principal capitals of _the world. Member Audit Bureau of Circulations. Other Quigley Publications: Better Theatres, published thirteen times a year as Section II of Motion Picture Herald; Motion Picture Daily, International Motion Picture Almanac and Fame. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JUNE 28. 1952 9