Showmen's Trade Review (Jan-Mar 1947)

\2 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, March 1, 1947 NATIONAL NEWSREEL Cancel Forum Meet Picture People Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America President Fred Wehrenberg Wednesday cancelled the call he had issued for a meeting of exhibitors in New York on March 10-11 to discuss organization of his proposed Motion Picture Forum. Wehrenberg said he had received numerous requests to delay the meeting to organize the Forum until after the Supreme Court acts on the appeal from the New York anti-trust suit decree. Informed sources estimate that the decree appeal may not even be heard until late 1947 or mid-1948. American Exhibitors Have Stake in British Pictures — Silverstone (See The News Spotlight) American exhibitors have a definite interest in seeing that more top-flight British pictures get better playing time on their screens, 20th Century-Fox International President Murray Silverstone declared in New York this week upon his return from England. Silverstone based his assertion on the view that the British need this playing time so that they can in turn have the funds to rent American pictures. Lacking them, the loss of playing time on British screens by American pictures would result and would be felt by American exhibitors. Stating that the American exhibitors must support this increased playing time move if only for "selfish reasons," he added : "Because with the loss of British playing time we won't be able to make such big pictures. I think they (the exhibitors) have a great stake in the business." Silverstone asserted that the British would not cut down the importation of American films by law. But he pointed out that the British, desperate on the matter of monetary exchange and credit balances, would undoubtedly pass a stiffer quota law, reserving more British screen time for British product, unless they could sell more of their product abroad. Silverstone made it plain that he did not expect American exhibitors to absorb inferior product. In fact he would suggest to the British that they make fewer pictures and concentrate on the type that would find ready American markets. If this assistance is not forthcoming the Americans will get a "quota that will knock you over," Silverstone predicted. He pointed out that Motion Picture Association's President Eric Johnston sought a year's extension of the present quota which expires March 31, 1948. He thought that Johnston might get a trial renewal period of not one but two years if he could bring over assurance that American ex fflix 'Grapes' Explanation Norwegian authorities have refused to permit "Grapes of Wrath" to play theatres in Oslo with a foreword stating that the picture represented the United States in depression days and was not a true picture of conditions today, according to word received in New York this week. Presumably 20th Century-Fox had insisted on the foreword in order to prevent any misunderstanding of the American way of life. Norwegian theatres for the most part are said to be municipally owned and as a result of the ruling the picture did not play. hibitors would give worthwhile British productions fair screen time. Asked how Johnston could get such assurance, he suggested that it might be done by the support of exhibitor organizations and mentioned both American Theatres Association and ATA Board Chairman Ted Gamble. Comment Cool on Screen Time for British Films Suggestion that exhibitor organizations migh: be the medium which could give assurance to the British that their pictures would get adequate playing time on American screens, voiced by 20th Century-Fox International President Murray Silverstone, was met either coolly or with restraint this week. Robert W. Coyne, executive director of the American Theatres Association though that exhibitors might be reluctant to give a blanket^ assurance of such playing time. Coyne added that he felt exhibitors were cordial to good pictures from any nation which would pay at the box office. "I think that good British films will get adequate playing time because from all over the country come complaints that there are not enough top pictures, and if it's a top picture, even if it is from Timbuctoo, it will get playing time. "I don't think any exhibitors in the country, however, are going to give any blank check on their use of pictures whether they're from this country or anywhere else. If it would help to have a resolution that there would be no discrimination against British pictures I think it could be obtained." Allied General Counsel Abram F. Myers saw such assurance as belonging to the Motion Picture Association and not to the independent exhibitor. "It is hardly an independent problem," he said. "Mr. (Eric) Johnston's organization represents fully 80 per cent of this country's important first-run revenue. If Mr. Johnston obtains pledges from his members to get British pictures playing time, that should certainly suffice. Before Allied took any stand it would of course have to be brought up before the Board. However, it is not an independent exhibitor problem." Fred Wehrenberg, president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America, did not reply to a query on the subject. $1,067,040 Republic Met Republic last week reported a net income after deducting for taxes, of $1,097,940.41 for the 48-week period ending Nov. 26, 1946, and equivalent to 38 cents a share of common. When the Jefferson Gravois Bank of St. Louis recently threw a dinner for Fred Wehrenberg it wasn't just to honor a vicepresident and a director. It was because Fred once stood upon a box — and therein lies the story. One sunny day a quarter of a century ago Fred, with a song in his heart and a package of gelt under his arm which represented the receipts of the Cherokee and Melba theatres, was about to walk into his favorite bank when he found a crowd blocking his way. The crowd wanted its money back for there were rumors, caused by misunderstanding, that the institution was going into receivership. Fred thought — and acted. He got on a box and made a speech. "If you people are going to insist on being paid," he Marc Antonyed, "it will hurt the bank. To prevent that ... I personally will guarantee your deposits up to a million dollars." , It worked. The crowd, many of whom knew Fred from the theatres, dispersed. Some who had their money, redeposited it, and a grateful bank wiped the sweat off its directorial brow and made Fred a vice-president and a director. Arthur Mayer and Joe Burstyn aren't unhappy over the fact that their Rod Geiger importation, "Open City," is entering its second year at the New York World. Robert L. Lippert, Screen Guild sales and distribution vice-president, is more than usually busy these days getting things ready for the annual sales meet at the Los Angeles Roosevelt Hotel May 12-16. Warner Bros. Vice-President Ben Kalmenson just rounded out a two-day district managers' meeting at the home office in New York which included all the district managers and such personalities as Vice-President Samued Schneider, Advertising and Publicity Vice-President Mort Blumenstock, Sales Managers Roy Haines, Jules Lapidus and Norman Ayers and Exchange Supervisor Bernard R. Goodman. Paramount International President George Weltner will hop off on a world-circling tour Sunday to inspect all exchanges. Clement S. Crystal goes along with him. Bernard Lewis, who was director of advertising, publicity and exploitation for Story Productions, was moved up this week to producer for "This Side of Innocence." Bob Montgomery, formerly with 20th-Fox, Lester Cowan and J. Arthur Rank, follows him in his old spot. American Theatres Association's Public Relations Director Ned Shugrue has been loaned to the American Heritage Foundation to ballyhoo "Freedom Train," the cross-country museum on wheels which will contain Americana. Honored by Plaque A bronze plaque, awarded by the nation and the state of Minnesota in honor of a projectionist, Alfred Weatherley, who lost his life by courageously remaining at his post to avert a panic during a booth fire at the Orpheum Theatre, Ortonville, Minn., has been hung in the foyer of the theatre in his memory.