Motion Picture Herald (1954)

MOTION PICTURE HERALD December 18, 1954 On the OJ'i onzon Page EXHIBITION maps strategy for fight on toll TV 13 COMPO nationwide audience poll date is changed 16 McGEE cites reduced sales before exhibitor meeting 16 ARBITRATION draft is called "near" as talks are continued 16 PARAMOUNT News covered game — and built good will I 8 WARNER reports net for year totaling $3,976,000 18 RKO has strongest product in years, Grainger tells men 18 CANADIAN industry discusses problems at round table 20 MARTIN declares happiness at plans for industry parley 20 RANK to push plans for establishing circuit in U.S. 22 NIZER called nation's most successful lawyer in article 23 FOREIGN business showing good gains, says Johnston 23 NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT— Notes on personnel across country 27 SERVICE DEPARTMENTS Refreshment Merchandising 37 Film Buyers' Rating 3rd Cover Hollywood Scene 24 Managers' Round Table 33 People in the News 25 The Winners' Circle 26 What the Picture Did for Me 31 IN PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION Showmen's Reviews 249 Short Subjects 251 The Release Chart 252 MOTION 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; James D. Ivers, News Editor; Charles S. Aaronson, Production Editor; Floyd E. Stone, Photo Editor; Ray Gallagher, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager. Bureaus: Hollywood, Samuel D. Berns, Manager; William R. Weaver, editor, Yucca-Vine Building, Telephone Hollywood 7-2145; 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 and Better Refreshment Merchandising, each published thirteen times a year as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Motion Picture Daily, Motion Picture and Television Almanac, Fame. TRIAL DATE That long delayed and from the industry point of view superfluous Government anti-trust suit, the one directed against the majors and subsidiaries because they allegedly withheld 16mm prints from possible competitors, such as television stations for instance — may get to trial next May 30, or even later. Government and company attorneys in Hollywood this week conferred on simplification of basic issues and on trial date. The date tentatively set was September 6 ; but Government attorney James McGrath is urging May 30. DOUBLING Whether to increase common stock from 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 shares at $5 par, was to be voted upon by Columbia Pictures stockholders Friday in New York. Columbia has for years been paying dividends on common stock. By amending the certificate of incorporation to increase the shares, Columbia will have available additional shares for future stock dividends or other purposes. STATUS QUO A letter to the stockholders of RKO Pictures Corp. dated December 16 announces that (a) Howard Hughes has not "at any time" tendered to the company any of the 1,262,120 shares held in his name, and the offer of the company to purchase his stock at $6 per share expired December 15; (b) none of the 884,900 shares registered in the name of Atlas Corp. has been tendered for redemption and the Atlas management has notified RKO Pictures that none of it will be tendered at any time during the remainder of the redemption period and, (c) the board of directors of RKO Pictures has determined that the invitation to stockholders other than Mr. Hughes to redeem stock at $6 per share will expire at the close of business December 31, 1954, and will not be extended. The holdings of the company immediately after the sale of its assets to Howard Hughes consisted of $23,489,478 in cash. As of December 14, a total of 952,987 shares of stock had been redeemed at $6 per share. Exclusive of the stock owned by Atlas and Mr. Hughes, there remains a total of between 700,000 and 800,000 shares outstanding owned by about 4,500 persons. The stock closed Tuesday at 7 1/8. HAPPY BANKERS Never in the calculable future is the television film going to become the banker's darling that the theatrical motion picture film was in the era starting with the late Dr. A. H. Giannini and ending with the flurry of mortgage foreclosures in 1947. Because, according to a leading banker in the Los Angeles area where film financing was so long •a favorite venture, "the amount of money involved isn't enough to earn the cost of the bookwork — title clearances, property rights, research and policing— that the servicing of such a loan entails." On the contrary, the financing of a mil a lion-dollar picture, in the pre-1947 period, was about the simplest, surest and always the most entertaining lending activity in the banking business, says the same authority. ("No names , please" . ) Du MONT RUMOR Does American BroadcastingParamount Theatres want the Du Mont television stations? The rumor of a deal was floating again in New York financial circles last week and Du Mont stock advanced two points in two days. WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE Hollywood, which apparently likes to go around in cycles, seems to have hit upon a new one. The producers are now all a-sea as witness some of the forthcoming cargo from the studios: "It Came from Beneath the Sea," "Moonfleet," "Admiral Hoskins Story," "Underwater!" "Mr. Roberts," "The Sea Chase" and "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." For land-lubbers, Esther Williams is ready to cavort in "Jupiter's Darling." Floyd Stone — William R. Weaver — Jay Remer — J. A. 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