Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1955)

KANSAS ABOLISHES BOARD OF CENSORS, U.S. OLDEST The state censor board of Kansas was abolished last week when Governor Fred Hall signed the bill which the legislature passed immediately prior to adjournment. The measure becomes effective July 1. Kansas was one of the first states to establish a film censor board. This bill leaves only five others which still maintain them — New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Ohio. Industry and legislative observers said that Kansas' action may prove precedental or at least may encourage these other states to take similar action. However, the legislatures of these five states either have adjourned already or have not introduced censorship repeal legislation and thus no effect would be seen until the next sessions. Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, said of the Kansas bill, "Every believer in freedom of expression will rejoice that Kansas has repealed its ancient censorship law. ... It is to be hoped that the lead of Kansas will be followed by her sister states that still have anachronistic censorship statutes on their books." However, Mrs. Frances Vaughn, chairman of the Kansas board, said its abolition was a threat to the morals of the state. "Any kind of pictures can be shown," she added, "and they will be, make no mistake about that. I feel strongly that the men and women of Kansas do not want the box office dollar placed above the morals of their young people." Despite the new law, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled last week that the board was within its legal rights in banning the film, "The Moon is Blue." The court said it was not passing on the merits of the film, but that "The only question presented here is limited to the constitutionality of the statute creating and regulating the Board of Review." It held that the board had full reviewing power under the statute just repealed. The picture, of course, can be shown after July I, when the repeal becomes effective. In contrast to the situation in Kansas, the Connecticut State Legislature's Judiciary Committee held a public hearing this week on a Senate bill which would create a Board of Review, membership to be appointed by the governor, to aid local authorities "In reviewing movies and theatricals." The proposed board would advise local authorities when any entertainment Is considered indecent, immoral or likely to impair public morals. Committee to Explore Needs Of Children's Film Library Promising that distribution would make available more pictures for the children’s film library, the sales managers committee of the Motion Picture Association of America appointed Bernard Goodman, Warners, and Monroe Goodman, Paramount, to explore the needs of the library. Morey Goldstein, chairman of the group, said last week, following a meeting of distribution sales heads, that all agreed to furnish the maximum number of suitable pictures for the library for special showings, due to exhibitor requests. He added that many exhibitors have come to realize that the youngsters of today are the future ticket buyers of tomorrow. Exhibitors' $300,000 Suit Names 10 Distributors ST. LOUIS : A $300,000 triple damage suit under the Federal anti-trust laws was filed in Federal District Court here last week against 10 film distributors and a Missouri theatre operator by Earl E. Williams and Pauline Williams, owners of the Venita theatre, Herculaneum, Mo. The petition charged they were forced to close in June, 1952, because the distributors “illegally refused’’ to give them first run films. Defendants are Paramount, Columbia, Warners, 20th Century-Fox, Universal, Loew’s, RKO, United Artists, Republic, Allied Artists and Miller Theatre, Inc., theatre operators in Festus, Crystal City of St. Louis County. Loew's to Continue Republic 16mm Distribution Abroad Signing of a long term contract for the continued distribution abroad of 16mm versions of Republic Pictures product by Loew’s International Corp. was announced last week. The deal, initiated in 1947, enables MGM offices overseas to offer customers a complete service suited to the 16mm market and consisting of MGM pictures and Republic’s feature and serial pictures, according to Loew’s. MGM was the first of the major companies to enter the 16mm field commercially. Glase Issues 1 7th "Lest We Forget" Paul E. Glase, manager of the Fabian’s Embassy Theatre, Reading, Pa., has issued the 17th edition of “Lest We Forget,” a compilation of highlights from the careers of theatrical men and women who have died. The current edition covers the years 1953 and 1954. Mr. Glase remarks in it that this is his tribute to performers who have “made their last curtain call.” The 24-page booklet is free to all in the show business. Combitte JVot Illegal Trust Court Holds WASHINGTON : The U. S. Supreme Court this week refused to hear the appeal of the G. and P. Amusement Co., Cleveland, from lower court rulings throwing out its anti-trust suit against several exhibitors, four distributors and a booking combine. The court gave no reason for its action. The plaintiff had leased the Moreland theatre, Cleveland, from 1937 to 1950 and said it was forced to close in 1950. It sued the competing Regent Theatre Co., various other companies owned by the Regent’s owner, 20th Century-Fox, Loew’s, Warner, Universal and the Cooperative Theatres of Ohio, a central booking agent that included the Regent. It charged that Cooperative had used its power to buy for theatres in closed situations as a lever to get the best product from the distributors for the Regent, as against the Moreland. G. and P. asked the Supreme Court to rule that a theatre buying cooperative which combines theatres in both open and closed situations violates the anti-trust laws. The Cleveland District Court and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati threw out the suit, finding that the cooperative had not attempted to exercise any monopoly power possibly arising from its control of the closed situations in order to get films for the Regent. The complainant had argued that the power used was exactly what the high court had declared illegal in the major antitrust cases. The defendants replied that there was no parallel at all, and that negotiations between the cooperative and the distributors were always on a theatre-by-theatre, picture-by-picture basis. Debate on Propaganda Whether this country is wasting money in its information services overseas will be debated Sunday, April 23, on America’s Town Meeting of the Air, ABC Radio, 8 to 9 P.M., EST. Speakers will be Eugene Castle, who has written a book attacking alleged waste, and Representative Harrison A. Williams, Democrat, New Jersey, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Building Miami House MIAMI: Ground has been broken for the new Riviera theatre, a l,J0f^-seat house here. S. R. Longo of A. Longo & Sons says it will be completed by August. It will be leased to Sun-Red, Inc. New Winnipeg Film Board WINNIPEG, MAN.: The Winnipeg Film Board has elected the following officers for 1955: P. Geller, president; S. Pearlman, vice-president; L. Norrie, secretary; B. Meyers, fire marshal, and F. Davis, assistant fire marshal. 22 MOTION PICTURE HERALD. APRIL 16. 1955