Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1948)

SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW, October 30, 1948 11 Mew Product Too United Artists plans to handle distribution of new non-theatrical product especially made for television as well as to reissue its old features for video purposes, it was learned in New York this week. The new product will be confined to shorts for television, it became known as United Artists directors announced that in all their future distribution contracts with producers of theatrical films they would retain the rights to sell these pictures to video after their theatrical runs had been completed. Tii-State MPTO Widens Membership, Directorate The Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee concluded its two-day convention at the Hotel Chisca in Memphis with a decision to admit members from Alabama, Kentucky and southeast Missouri and to increase its directorate to 21. The exhibitors association also adopted the Smit'hberger plan for conciliation of differences with 20th Century-Fox. Officers elected were: President W. F. Ruffin, Jr., Vice-Presidents C. C. Mundo, N. A. Rush, and M. A. Lightman; Secretary-Treasurer Max Connett. Directors consist of Chairman Orris Collins, Emma Cox, Sidney Wharton, Dave Callahan, O. G. Abernathy, Terry, Axley, Gordon Hutchins, Sam Resly, representing Arkansas; R. X. Williams, Charles Eudy, W. S. Taylor, Leon Roundtree, Dwight Blissard, T. M. Jourdan, Grady Cook, for Mississippi; Chalmers Cullins, M. A. Lightman, Tom Dallas, Steve Stein, W. F. Ruffin, Sr., Louis Mook, J. A. West, for Tennessee. Legislative Committee — Eudy (Mississippi), Cullins (Tennessee), Busby (Arkansas). Theatre Owners of America directors — Mundo (Arkansas), Connett (Mississippi), Ruffin, Sr. (Tennessee). RK@ Shorts Program To Consist of 85 RKO Short Subject Sales Manager Harry J. Michalson this week announced a 1948-49 program of 85 short subjects. The program comprises 13 This Is Americas, two untitled specials, four "My Pals" featuring child actors and wonder dog Flame, four Ray Whitley musical reissues, six Edgar Kennedys and six Leon Errols — all in two reels — and the following in one reel — 18 Walt Disney Technicolor cartoons, six Walt Disney Technicolor reissues ; 13 Sportscopes and 13 Screenliners. The Screenliners are new to the RKO program and will embrace, among others, Jan August in "Piano Magic" for release Oct. 29 ; "Block Party," release Nov. 26; "It Pays to be Ignorant," release Dec. 24. O'Shea Adds to Duties In Paramount Sales E. K. (Ted) O'Shea, special assistant to Paramount Distribution Vice-President Charles M. Reagan this week assumed additional duties as supervisor of the mid-eastern district, comprising Philadelphia, Washington, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit and Cincinnati. The division offices will be moved to New York from Philadelphia. 'O'Shea replaces Earle W. Sweigert, division manager for the past three years, who will resume his post as district manager over Pittsburgh, Washington and Philadelphia offices with headquarters in Philadelphia. 'Stallion Canyon' Heads Astor Releases "Stallion Canyon," western starring Thunderbred and filmed in Trucolor in Utah, will be Astor's principal release of the year. Youth Winner Fifteen-year-old Catherine M. Rickert, a hign-school student at Guys Mills, Pa., received the Youth Month essay award last Saturday in a studio of the National Broadcasting Company on the Frank Merriwell program. Miss Rickert, who wrote what the judges considered the best essay on "What Youth Means to the Future of America" will receive a scholarship to the University of Denver plus a $500 maintenance fund. In event she is too young to enter the University or has not the needed requirements, the prizes will be held for her until she qualifies. The judges in the contest were Mayor Quigg Newton of Denver, Continental Air Lines Presiaent Robert F. Six and Public Schools Superintendent Kenneth Oberholtzer. Sales Twentieth Century-Fox Assistant General Sales Manager William C. Gehring will take over personal supervision of the company's reissue sales, General Sales Manager Andy W. Smith announced today. David O. Selznick and Sir Alexander Korda were to meet in New York this week to discuss forthcoming film productions. Names United Artists Eastern and Canadian Sales Manager Edward M. Schnitzer is a grandpappy tor the fourth time. It's a boy, Robert Ian, born to his daughter, Mrs. Lawrence Parsly. Twentieth Century-Fox Ad and Publicity Director Charles Schlaifer is back at his desk in New York after going to Omaha for his mother's funeral. Eagle Lion Ad and Publicity Director Max E. Youngstein talked on "The Motion Picture Industry You Do Not Know" at the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee. Monogram International President Norton V. Ritchey is in Helsinki, Finland. Universal International Southern and Canadian Sales Manager F. J. A. McCarthy left for Canada Wednesday and will return at the weekend. OK Kid's Library The Massachusetts Parent Teachers' Association, which closed its three-day meeting at Worcester, Mass., Wednesday had praise for the Children's Film Library of the Motion Picture Association of America. Declared Mrs. William R. Blair, state president : "The Children's Film Library is of inestim Calendar NOVEMBER 1-2, convention, Allied Theatre Owners of Texas, Dallas. 9, meeting, Independent Theatre Owners Ass'n of Northern California, Hotel Whitcomb, San Francisco. 10, 11, convention, Allied Theatre Owners of Indiana, Hotel Antlers, Indianapolis. 12, 13, convention, West Virginia Theatre Managers' Association, Terrace-Plaza Hotel, Cincinnati. 27-28, fall board meeting of National Allied, New Orleans. 29-Dec. 1, annual convention, National Allied, New Orleans. DECEMBER 6, 7, convention, Theatre Owners of Oklahoma, Skirvin Hotel, Oklahoma City. FEBRUARY 21, 22, postponed convention, Allied Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Western Pennsylvania, Hotel William Penn, Pittsburgh. able value to parent-teacher groups everywhere who are working for special programs for children. The excellent material available should be in more hands and then actually used." Financial Columbia showed a net profit of $565,000 for 52 weeks ending June 30, 1948, or 40 cents a share of common compared to $3,707,000 for the same period in 1947, where the returns were $5.19 a share of common. Universal declared a dividend of $1.0625 a share on the 4% per cent cumulative preferred to be paid Dec. 1. IA Wins Altec, RCA Rises, Video Rights International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes President Richard F. Walsh this week announced that his union had won $10.40 weekly pay increase for its sound service members employed by Altec and RCA along with union shop clauses which recognize the IATSE as the bargaining agent for sound men in motion pictures, theatres and in both motion picture and theatrical television. The television clauses are considered the most important since they apparently would do much to getting for the I A the' "in" it is seeking in that field. Other clauses in the contract, which is retroactive for two years from Aug. 22, 1948, include auto allowance rises ranging from 16 to 88 per cent. Video Election For N. Y. Paramount New York's Paramount, in association with The Daily News' Station WPIX, will broadcast election returns Nov. 2, recording the returns and picking up scenes in the Dewey headquarters at the Hotel Roosevelt and the Truman headquarters in the Biltmore, as well as the Times Square crowds. The pickups, recorded on film, will be shown at intervals cn the regular program. Ralph Cohn Forms Second Video Company Ralph Cohn, former producer for Columbia and at present associated with Mary Pickford, announced the formation of a second television producing firm — Pioneer Telefilms — this week. Pioneer will work principally on full-length, live and film video programs while its companion company, Telespots, will work in the field of television commercials, Cohn explained. Mali the Nation Half of the United States' population will be able to get television services by the end of 1948, RCA Vice-President Joseph B. Elliott claimed Wednesday in an address before the Engineering Society of Detroit at Rockham Auditorium. "A third of the nation's population already lives within service range of television," Elliott said. "By the end of the year, about half the population should be within reach of at least one television station."