Variety (Dec 1942)

t6 PICTURES Wednesday, December 2, 19i2 Majors With Newsreek Take Bigger Cut Relatively, As a Result of Sash In Raw Film Allotments After Jan. 1 Application of raw film stock allo- cation regulations affecting the in- dustry will be tightened up in the revised Order L-178 which is ex- pected shortly to supplement and supersede the original War Produc- tion Board order of Sept. 17 freezing shipments. More rigid method of operation, more complete details of adminis- tration and clarification of issues which have been confusing both laboratories and distributors are liltely under the revised WPB order. Meantime, industry execs are rec- onciled to a further cut in raw film allocations after Jan. 1, which will total approximately 25% as com- pared with 1941 figures. This further 5% reduction below 1941 consump- tion, which formed the basis for the first reduction, would affect those majors with newsreels more than others. Newsreels, which have hitherto been exempt from WPB al- location restrictions, have been con- suming footage at the 1941 rate. As understood from WPB officials, newsreels and also foreign releases are to be subject to the same re- strictions. Companies such as Par- amount, Universal, Metro, 20th-Fox, RKO (Pathe), will be faced with a 20 to 25% reduction on their news- reel footage in addition to the cut in feature length footage. African Assignment Question of American films being shipped Into various countries, in war zones, as soon as they are re- trieved from German domination and returned to the United Nations zone of Influence, is also up for dis- cussion. U. S. distribs contend that film shipped to North Africa at the request of the Government should not be deducted from regular allo- cations. While celluloid used In films pro- duced for the various Government services is not deducted from fixed allocations, in cases such as the North African campaign distribs ere re- quested to send pictures into foreign countries on a straight commercial basis. Distribs would not normally send films to such markets at the present time since the move would not be warranted commercially, though all companies were glad enough to cooperate with the Gov- ernment when asked to send film. Bill Rodgers Now Heads Victory Shorts Distrib William F. Rodgers, v.p. in charge of distribution for Metro, was last week elected chairman of the distri- bution division of the War Activities Committee, through which Govern- ment shorts and the industry's 'America Speaks' series are chan- nelled into theatres. Rodgers re- places William Scully, who has com- pleted his term of office. Rodgers has appointed a committee consisting of George Demt>ow, Abe Montague and Charles Reagan to assist in perfecting the distribution of the shorts program. Among those attending the meet- ing at WAC headquarters last Wednesday (25) were Ned Depinet, Bob Mochrie, Ben Kalmenson, AI Schwalberg, George Dembow, Walter L. Titus, Jr., Paul N. Lazarus, Arthur Greenblatt, George J. Schaefer, Francis Harmon, Herman Gluckman and Arthur Mayer. tad WEEK ■rrol PLYNN • AUxli SMIJH In Warner Bros. Hit "GENTJ-EMAN JIM" In Peraon GLEN GRAY And HU Oata Lema Oroh. Witb Kenny Sargent • Pm Wee Hunt Extra I DKAN MUKPHT B'way at iTth 8t BTRAlll) JUDY 6ARUND "FOR ME AND MY GAL" An MOM Plclun CMMM MWANOA • tMIRY JAMB OSAR ROMIRO Hfdy LAMARR • pidISiIon Id U-a-M'a 'llfHItl CARGO'' CAPITOltaftt Paramount r: PALACE (Jlnser Bocera ' D WAY & 4 7111 SI CharleiL Borer | mam' Htmrj Tm 'TALES of MANHATTAN' — and — 'THE HIDDEN HAND' CraUr Sttvena • JuH« Blaiwp SND WEEK HunphTCr lufM Faal Bogart * Bergman * Henreid In Warner Broa. Hit "CASABLANCA" A Hal B. Wallla Production ' DIreoted by Michael Cartla HOLLYWOOD THEATRE Oontlnuoua • B'way A 61at St. 23th Week! MICHAEL TODD'S Stak ' Garter bob:^ MUSIC HALL "YOU WERE NEVER LOVELIER" SpecUeular Stag* Produetlons LOEW'S STATE V Lot TiBiei mti. "THE MOON aa4 •IX fiNar~ Swrfe MNDERS HwM MARSHALL iad Hli Onk. Plm All M ~ Marte Thin., Dm. 3 Diana ■AHNVMORI Briaa DONLEVV "MIOHTHABE" Id FerfOD Dkk Retert 4 Orali. EiUil AL BERNIC "Tie Perteet (katlaa tbew/'-Uuiae, Newi. 50c $1 & $1.50'j'A' ■at Nlfhtt taly Mt. <e tiM Plat Tai SoDlt Hula h Attbur IL WUti pmeal A MC8I0A1 lOETBAVAGAMZA STARS ON ICE CENTER THEATRE, RMkeTalltr Ceat* 00.1-S474 Ametle*'! Only lee Tfaaatn II WPB Cuts Output ll l ^^j Contlnaed from paie I film in 1941. Under the new aUot- ment these companies will be al- lowed 1,000,000,000 feet ol film, rep- resenting a 25% reduction, provid- ing there are no further changes In April. Total footage used In pro- duction, Including commercial shorts, trailers, etc., was approximately 1,600,000,000 feet during 1941. This leaves a balance of 300,000,000 feet of which only a fraction will be available for other than Government usage. How the New Cut Applies The first raw stock slash applied last September provided for a re- duction ranging from 10% to 24% of 1041 figures, where companies used from 75,000,000 to 150,000,000" feet of film. Thus a company such as Metro took a cut of 24%. That cut is now to be increased by an ad- ditional 5% Joringing th total reduc- tion from ^1941 footage to 30%. Other companies are similarly af- fected. Majors servicing the U. S. Army camp circuit and providing film for the U. S. Navy are given credit on their allocations to the extent of 50% of the raw stock involved In Army bookings and 100% on Navy book- ings. With the Army circuit rapidly nearing the mark of 1,000 theatres this represents a considerable vol- ume of footage. Retrenchment The shorter rations imply a re- duction in small-budget product with a corresponding concentration on top money features, since pro- ducers would be inclined to leave as much footage as possible for major releases. Quantity of bis budgeters, in turn, would depend on availabil- ity of talent under pending income ceiling restrictions. Hits Shorts Income Hard Simultaneously, it is reported, a retrenchment policy in shorts pro- duction departments is under way at all major studios. With Govern- ment shorts now using 50% or more of screen time hitherto available for regular shorts, business In this latter d..iartment has, from accounts, dropped from 20 to 30% and Is still dropping at a rapid rate. One major is reported dropping $10,000 weekly in shorts rentals, rep- resenting approximately 33% of to- tal volume. Others are also show- ing a drop in weekly bookings ranging from 20% upward. The 25% overall cut, going into ef- fect after Jan. 1, applies to all foot- age—studios, shorts, newsreels, for- eign and domestic. Fntgrc Prospecta Future prospects regarding alloca- tion of raw stock continue uncertain. Whether there will be ;i further cut in April, at the expiration of the quarter, depends chiefly on Govern- ment celluloid requirements. With the stepping up of the United Na- tions offensive on all the battle fronts, there is •obviously a greater need for aero and training film stock (as first reported in 'Variety' Nov. 11). Business prospects, on the other hand, regardless of raw stock allo- cation problems, continue strongly frvorable. Extended run policies, possibly single blUIng, will likely maintain rentals at current high leveK Fewer Fans But B CoBtlancd from page T '— throughout the territory from Uc to 17c, or even higher. No More Early B. O. San Francisco, Dec. 1. Five of the seven Market Street first run houses have abandoned the 'before 1 p.m.' tariff that formerly prevbiled on Sundays and holidays, and now charge the evening rate throughout the day. Before the change, the admission at the tour Fox-West Coast theatres before 1 p.m. on Sundays and holidays was 50c, and at the Golden Gate 66c. The regular evening rates are 65c for the F-WC houses, and 75c for the Golden Gate, vaudfilmer. United Artists theatre, the one holdout from the recent increase of tariff of pix-only houses to the eSe level discarded lU &5c rate for Co- lumbia's 'You Were Never Lovelier' and will probably retain the hiked charge. All price boosts here can be at- tributed to the ripe biz situation, caused by the flow of coin from tiie servlciB men and war Industry workers. Curbs on Raw Fihn Stock Seen Also Meeting Finandng of indie Fix Curb on Buals Continued from paie T s sal feeling in the Industry is that there is no ohance of obtaining the elimination of dual bills quickly ex- cepting by universal agreement which can't be enforced under pres- ent statutes. Only other out Is a Government order, under the war- time emergency. Experience of exhibs has shown that while many theatres probably would like to get rid of duals, ex- cepting In the case of a few opera- tors, there is no possibility of return- ing to the solo-picture standard ex- cepting in the south and sections of the west where opposition iS' miles apart. Chicago's Allied fight Is viewed as steming from the peculiar setup in the Illinois metropolis. This finds many indie houses, in opposition to Balaban & Katz, forced to play at cheaper ■admission because unable to play day-and-date with the B. tt K. houses. Reason for this, of course. Is that the Indies have been unable to get the necessary product to buck the first-runs of B. & K., dual setup enabling this circuit to buy from all eight majors to fill requirements. Naturally the Independents In Chi want the ousting of double-features because it will give them a chance to get stronger screen fare and boost their admission scale. Financial sources indicate that coin for bankrolling independent film production, which has been relatively easy owing to the war- time boxofflce boom, is likely to become tighter as a result o( the reduction in raw film stock alloca- tion. Banking sources usually figure on paymetata on principal beginning within a period of a year. With less raw stock available it is feared that smaller number of prints and longer playoff periods would.entail carry- ing negatives from IS months to two years. While considering picture loans de- sirable, figuring a yield of 5.6% which Is currently uncommon on other types of equally goodjsecurity, bank- ing and Insurance execs are wary of longer term financing for a com- modity which may fluctuate rapidly in value with the times. A produc- tion which may be considered a good risk over a period of a year might not retain the same value over a two-year period. Another problem facing independ- ent producers planning activities during 1943 is the shortage of play- ers which major studios already have to contend with. While a name player may set up an independent production tmlt, performers might not necessarily wish to appear in all the pictures being made for their corporations, and would encounter more difflculty In lining up a cast than the major studios who retain large studio player list<;. Arthur Stresses Governmental Edict Unnecessary, End Duals Voluntarily St Louis, Dec. 1. A group of local flicker house ex- hibs, meeting last week with Harry C. Arthur, Jr., g.m. of Fanchon & Marco's Interest here, were told by Arthur that the help of a Govern- ment ukase for the elimination of double feature programs was not necessary. 'Exhibitors, producers and distributors alike, for years have maintained they were capable of handling motion picture Industry affairs and problems, and have done so magnificently,' Arthur stated. 'We alone are responsible for the double feature program. We gave it birtB, we nourished it, and found it worth while In direct boxofflce re- turns. For a whole generation now, some IS years in all, double feature programs, originally started by a few exhibitors anxious to come out In the black at the end of the week, have grown to the proportions in which they exist today. 'Today a different picture is pre- sented us. The war effort flnds re- version to single feature policy an immediate necessity. Vital war ma- terials are being utilized In the man- ufacture of film raw stock. It has become a question now of unneces- sary film productions causing the lack of certain of this vital material, and there Is but on answer—elimina- tion of duals for the duration, to allow the vital materials to go Into the manufacture of ammunition for the fighting men of the nation. 'Another reason advanced by Gov- ernmental representatives Is the ne- cessity of utilizing certain portions of screen playing time for essential Government reels of educational or informative nature. Every exhibitor In America is whole-heartedly trying to play these shorts as quickly as they are released, but in many in- stances playdates are forced back or cut to a minimum, dUe to the exces- sive length of dual programs. The showing of these films, the spreading of the word in an effort to more quickly achieve Government aims and measures, Is tho fundamental reason the motion picture indus- try has been termed an essential In- dustry. It's our duty to comply with these requests If we are to continue as such.' It was pointed out by Arthur that the entire Industry is now geared to- wards a continuation of the double feature policy, that studio production today is continuing along these lines. He said the resolution adopted and signed by 95% of flicker house exhibs two weeks ago afforded a lapse of time before dual programs are to be eliminated in this territory; that Is, June 1, 1943. Arthur said: This will allow ample time for all of us to iron out any wrinkles which may exist insofar as contractual obligations are con- cerned, time to play off as many ex- isting productions as possible, time for the studios to re-gear their setup to- wards a slngTe feature policy, and time for distributors to work out new arrangements with exhibitors. 'The motion picture industry con- ceived double feature programs. The same Ingenuity, the same old-fash- ioned, two-fisted showmanship which has sold many an 'unsalable' pro- duction to a wary public, can sell the theatregoing public the idea of single feature programs, at least for the duration. This business of crying out for a Governmental edict in order to make such a reversion possible la ridlculoxis. The motion picture in- dustry Is still capable today of han- dling Its own affairs and problems, a* it has always done. All we have to do is to dig in and go to work on a common problem.' Frisii^iWould K.O. Dualing If Ol]iers Dittoed St. Louis, Dec. 1. Frisina circuit, which operates a chain In southern Illinois, eastern Missouri and southern Iowa, will eliminate double feature programs from all of Ito houses if competitors do likewise. Max Schauder, manager of the Frisina Roxy, Springfield, 111., who attended the recent meeting called by Harry C. Arthur, Jr., of Fanchon & Marco, when many ex- hibs signed a resolution to do away with the double feature bills, said the directors of Frisina would act on the idea. Schauder said many of the Frisina houses In Illinois and Missouri were now operating on a single feature policy and the rest would join the move when competitors fell into line. Several other exhibs who attended the St. Louis meeting did not sign the resolution - as they represented corporations the officers of which must pass on such matters. The. re- action that has developed since the meeting Indicates that most exhibs win join in the plan to cut down the long flicker programs throughout this territory.