Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1947)

SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, March I, 1947 n NATIONAL NEWSREEL 1,200 Draw for Variety Clubs' International A turnout of 1,200 showmen in connection with the 1947 convention of the Variety Clubs International, to be held at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles on May 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, was anticipated this week by Convention Chairman Charles Skouras of Fox West Coast Theatres. Skouras's estimate followed a four-hour organizational meeting of the 11 committees which will have charge of the various arrangements. The convention chairman, who is also head of the southern California Variety Club Tent No. 25, which will be host to the event, pointed out that attendance would be from all sections of the United States as well as Canada and Mexico. A list of convention committees and their personnel follows : Humanitarian Award Banquet and Entertainment : George Bowser, chairman ; William Srere, Andrew J. Krappman. Convention Journal : Dave Bershon, chairman ; Thornton Sargent. Robert Kesner. Studio Contacts : Willard Keith and Howard Stubbins, co-chairmen ; Bruce Fowler, Victor Adorns. Cullem Espy. Publicity: Sherrill Corwin. chairman; Seymour Peiser, Pete Lat=is, Earl Adams. Finance : George Topper, chairman ; Jack Berman. Heart: Dr. Ben Feingold, chairman; Dave Bershon. Ladies : Rhyllis Hemmington, chairman ; Ida Schreiber, Ruth Doyle. Decorations : Oscar Oldknow, chairman ; Dean Hyskell, Ben Ashe. Registration. Hotel and Transportation: W. H. (Bud) Lollier, chairman; Al Galston, John Lavery. Token and Gift : Jack Berman, chairman ; Dick Dickson, Lloyd Ornsby. Convention : Skouras, chairman ; Dave Bershon, Jack Berman, George Bowser, Sherrill Corwin, Dr. Ben Feingold, Willard Keith, W. H. Lollier, Oscar Oldknow, Howard Stubbins, George Topper. Fire Drill Povs Off: No One Hurt in Georgia Fire Daily fire drills of ushers at the Modjeska Theatre, Augusta, Ga., ever since the Winecoff hotel fire, paid off in big dividends last week, when fire broke out at the theatre. Instead of shouting the customary alarm of "fire" and throwing the audience into a panic, ushers took charge of the situation, and quickly, but calmly, supervised exit of the packed house. There was no panic, and no one was injured. There was little damage to the theatre. Para. Offers Pine-Thomas Films on 1 Contract Form Paramount announced this week that it would offer its six Pine-Thomas productions on a one-contract form though the deal for each picture would be negotiated separately, theatre by theatre, in accordance with decree provisions. The pictures involved are "Big Town," "Seven Were Saved," "Fear in the Night," "Danger Street," "I Cover Big Town," and "Jungle Flight." Defer 'Duel' Rgain The premiere of "Duel in the Sun," scheduled for the Melba Theatre, Dallas, after several postponements, has again been deferred, this time, it is stated, due to the unavailibility of the stars from current production assignments. Picture was to have opened at the Melba last October then was set for January and next for February. Premieres also were planned for Amarillo, San Antonio, Houston and Forth Worth. The Appeal So They Say... The Big 5 "The Decree entered by the Court . . . prohibits the owner of a feature motion picture from agreeing with a licensee that the latter shall charge a specified minimum admission price during the exhibition of that licensed feature. Many features are licensed under terms which reserve to the licensor as film rental a percentage of the admissions received by the licensee during the period of exhibition. During such period, therefore, the licensor has an immediate and direct interest in the admission prices charged. The Decree deprives him of the right, which he has under the Copyright Laws and the common law, to protect his interest by contract. . . . "The prohibition, imposed by the Court, has particular effect in the case of a feature of unusual cost, where it is necessary to 'roadshow' the production at a specified admission price." American Theatres "It (competitive bidding) compels the buyer in the market for film to submit to market regulation imposed by the concentrated action of sellers who control a substantial part of the supply . . . (the exhibitor) buys in a market where the supply is in the hands of a few. The principal suppliers have been found guilty of conspiracy to dominate the market and eliminate competition in exhibition . . . the relief ordered by the court is to induce the wrongdoers in control of the supply to charge all the traffic will bear." Confederacy Competitive bidding places the industry "in a strait-jacket of the court's own design, desired by no one." Eagle-Lion Canadian Deal Eagle-Llion this week closed a deal for distribution of its American-made product in Canada through International Film Distributors, Ltd., according to an agreement reached in Toronto by Eagle-Lion Vice-President and General Sales Manager A. W. Schwalberg and David Griesdorf, one of International's organizers. Griesdorf will be in charge of Canadian sales. Loew's Dividend 37 V2 Cents Loew's Inc., this week announced a dividend of 37^4 cents a share of common to be paid March 31, 1947. Towne Drops 'Outlaw'; Press Blasts Pressures The Towne Theatre, closed in Milwaukee for two days last week by the authorities because it insisted on showing "The Outlaw," reopened last Friday with a double bill consisting of "Bachelor Daughters" and "Scandals in Paris." The management appeared to have given up the idea of continuing any showing of the Hughes film, but the activities leading up to the closing and the action by the authorities brought a blast from the Milwaukee Journal, which editorially lashed at the situation. The Journal found that the opponents of the picture had constituted a "motley lobby" and that it was due to pressure that the authorities had moved against the Towne. Some of this pressure, the Journal found came from interests that did not want an independent theatre, "competing with the big chain theatres in downtown Milwaukee." It conceded that the Catholics had the right to counsel its members not to see the picture, but objected to an attempt by pressure groups to impose their thoughts upon a whole community, adding: "Now when there is an effort to give the views ... or the beliefs of limited groups the force of law without a clear mandate from the citizens as a whole, trouble is directly ahead. The prohibition experiment taught us that. When there is any suspicion that there may be selfish interest hiding in the shadows as well, there is even more reason for caution. And arbitrary censorship is, as always, perilous and repugnant in the eyes of many Americans. It lends itself to abuses that invade the most cherished rights of a citizen in a democracy." Holds 'Duel in Sun' May Force Production Policing Exhibitors may be forced to ask policing of motion picture production unless the Motion Picture Association or the code authority finds a way to "take some definite and vigorous action in connection with "Duel in the Sun," the Independent Theatre Owners this week advised MPA President Eric Johnston. Acting on orders from his directors, Secretary P. J. Wood advised Johnston that the picture had "stimulated several state legislatures to consider the adoption of state film censorship" and that it was apt to cause more unwelcome attention to the screen. Lind to Pathe Industries Pathe Industries this week entered the worldwide distribution of 16-mm. film with the formation of Pictorial Films, Inc., a subsidiary to be headed by Lloyd Lind, vice-president and assistant general sales manager of PRC. Lind is expected to take over the presidency of Pictorial, which is reported ready to distribute and handle sales through PRC's exchange system, within a week. At PRC, President Harry Thomas said Lind would also carry out his duties in that outfit until a successor had been selected. Astor Releasing Deal Astor Pictures and Producer Jack Rieger this week closed a deal whereby Astor will distribute "Stairway to a Star" and "Hollywood Bound." Release dates are set for March IS.