Variety (Oct 1943)

WedneaiUy, Oclober 6, 194? PICTURES 7 Rentals Formula Looms As Decree ■'. A book ■wi illcii by; Fodlcral Judge*: John C. Knox ehtlUqd. ' rder in the Coiii'V.' caiij-'cd liiiii to disqXiaUfy. Him- ■ ' : :. losidiiifi judke in llie trial aMeSpd Chicago gan'Kslers,' plus Joi'ii\ ■Rosqlli. West Coast cpN iecioi- f.ur ,'■ 8 Par Pii Roll at Once Hollywood,: Ocl-. 5.- J Paraniount Jaunchf'd 'Rainbow Island' as the eighth Xeatiii e iii cur-; . n the ground that the liiiblic has morr moiicy. to. spend and Is M'lUing to pay more tor Its entertaiiimenl. widespread consideration Is beiiig No Revelation to Her tnan, business afienl oMocal 244, Mo: lion iPiclui;p Opeiaiois Union of Iv'cw ark. N..'J., wliich got, irnd.ci' way and Louis ka\it- ''"^'n piodui'tionv gluUiiig ih6 iilininy ! (ac'ililie.s of Ihe stu Others in' .work are 'Double In- , deninjty,'. 'The Man. in Ha.lf Moon | ; Street," ' r.enchnian's i'tek.' 'T)ic , yesterday I Tuesday I, before Judge i siory of JDl.. Wassell,' 'Our Hearts 1 John Bright instead.. . The Federal Weie Young and Gav." 'C-oiiig My,' go.vernnKMVt charcics. the defendants Way' and'The Navy Way." with eNlortinK more than $2,500,000; _— \ — \. from, major (ilin companies in, the film' industry—during, the- Brbwne- BiolT regime. ii> (lie lATSE. Judtjo. Knox. dis<|iialincd himself after Jamos T). C. Murriiy', chip/ de- fcn.se counsel 'for the Chicago gang, all mcinbers of tlie'old At Capone mob. had made a mo.tiiHv in this, con- nection. Murray was spokesman'for 'all other attorneys repiesehting the defendants; -After talking with Murra.y and the oVhcr attorneys in hi"s. cliambeis' for- .about one' hour, Jud.ee Knox decided- that hi.s re- marks in .'the book 'anff his article >vhich . appeared - m Saturday Evening Post, concerning .the cx:- torliori trial of George E. -Browiie and Willie Biofi". convicted cx-'presi- denl ."of the lATSE aiid his personal ide: niiRht !;i\'e >he defehdants rca- - (Coittiiured on page 22) B' Film Shortage ^(inhs Circuits Hollywood. Oct.-5. j Circuit bookers and exhibitors of J sub.sediuenis , alarmed at , tViy! diminishing output of .B. product ijy j niajbr plants,' The .supply is. greatly.• rediiccd .ljy a, deci.sion of 20lh-Fox • nnd Warners t(i isconlinuc .cheaper ' pictureii. and' other inajprs are eiiiier i cufting.down materially Or sloughiiig ; B's altogether. - . . - Only RKO.; Universal and Cnlum- bia arc maintainins a regular ace but exhibs say thai won.'l helb the'' .siuiation .much. Shqrrase is. i;oving a windfall to Republic: Moiiosram and smali' planlii wl^ich are .kept' hiimniing . to supply, the demand. ; War)irrs and Paramount are rcliev- ' ing the-pressure slightly wiiK two-j refel hiusicals.'wiiich tliey figure will ! rill the'bill sliould a dearlh of prod-1 iict force subse<iuenl.s' and Smaller ' first riuis to single bills. ,. i West Also to Be HOIlywoodi Oct.' 5. ■_ Metro recalled Lalia Turner'froin ■Riven by subsequent-run op'ef.W|'e'^'t^.n - VacaUoit- Xo.r.'an-.iiji."ly ■^ ' . . ; start on her next s|arrer, Marriage to an Immediate increase In 'admjs-^' jj. g Private Afloir.' ' ■ i sion scales. iMany of the smaller - |V. p|p,.^|,.g i^^g,, ■j^Q^.gj .jjhgg^ g,, dependents, have rematiied at pre- the shooting sihedule and is slated I'.cnrlHarbor levels; .'• . ' J to start irt two weeks with PandrO (Encouraging .the.smaller operators ! Bennan 'producing, i to hike prices is the tlieory that lower sciiles ui. . theatres playing .sccoiid-run- or farther- down the line; are ho loiigi?!' an incentive. Declared jiv theatre operating ci'iclos that it ha.>! becon'ie .evident that people do hot care about prices anymore and \yilt go to a larger ftrst-riin'down-, town or neighborhood, theatre to s<'e Ihc'pictures when thfiy aie hew^ i'aihcr'than wait tor thonx to come to a sub-run. where it won't cost so. much. '; PoiiyiFd out. in lhi.s connection, thai, downtown theatres-in the larger cenl'ers as'e jacking, their prices lip [ A.'ie. Gov^rhiiieiU preparing to eur- (o such an extent ihgf they would have faced bo'ycotis if -doing the san-ie in pre-war tin-ies bin now find it possible to get away with murder, Thi.ij i.s-particularly true o'f, dowh- lown N. Y. where price-changes, at on . . . - Washington,; ;.i Coa.'it and ROcky Mountain, talcs show biz is about to be clipped to the same extern as in the east, with utliniiig- ill. .general way nature; of-compliviiils under the dcr' erce and outside..ot its jiirisdiclioii,'- which have bteiv broviKhl to his'at- tenlibn by exhibitors .througlifuit ■ the country,'Tom C. Clark, ■assi.-.tiiiit attorney gciieral : in ; tharfte oX the anti-lru,sl division ot" the,- Depart- ment, of Ju.'<tico, has askeri decree prodiicor-disli-tbutors for their ic- acti ' and at their ucsl lie will' meet with therii. aguin in .- Y.- on Friday <81; Tii session Willi the' ' presidents of the companiej; .all: af- ternoon Mbnday (4». Clark h.id planned .mccOing, again wiih tliein yesterday tTuc-iday) to go . into ad- dilional. riiattcrs such; a.s ; possibly arbilratj.on. size of:bl6cks, cancella-'' lipo.s. etc.. but' this .second hiiddle was-called off in. fayoi -of deferriiig anolher ' gelTtOgetlicr ' . Frida.v. -Tlie p'rodiicei-- isti-i -sig- natory to Ihc^ decree who met among tliem.solves .yesterday i Tuesday )- to-, tfiscuss lines of action., -waiit-cd ' the postponement until -Fridav i8i in order to give; Ihcrii addiliohal. time to prepare, various statistical • data, mo.st of which, it i.i- believed, will 'be in the nature^ of a defense against the possibility that the. De-;. I partmont of Justice inay write a . ("siablished hours, are no longer ad- ] hoi cd to generally. BIOFF PAYS 20G FINE, CUTS 10 YEARS IN JAIL y pa.viii.i; a fiiic of S20.000. Willie . former Coast i-oprescntatiyc of the-Xnternational Alliance , of The- atrical Stage Employees and per- sonal aide to GeorKC E. Birpwne, cx- presiident ,ot. the.union, .saved hiinselt an additional. lO-year rap.; The fine .was hni)Osed upon iBiOff by N. Y. FederaJ. Judge .John C. Knox ill No- vembci'^. 1&41. It was paid last week In tlie N. Y, federal court. : ' Browne and BiolT were convictecj In 1941 on charRCs.of extorting more than $1,000,000 froiii major film cbm- panies.. . They werenentcnced to eight aiid 10 years. • speclively. A similar fine a.iiaihst rbwnc w;as paid In Dcccmbci'. 1041. . BiolT is i\.ow eligible for- parole, in March, 1945: but it's, likely: he'll be free before then because of 'valUr able iiiformalion' he's reported to have given Feder-iiT aiithoritics on racketeering withiji the motion pic- . ture industry. Brpwne.. loo. will be up for parole for iiic\saiiie-reason. Republic Files Suit On Jane Kean Contract Jane Kean. appcaritvu in the musl- c^il "Early to Bed.' roadhurst, N. Y., .was named as def<>iidanl in a dam- . age action broughl by Republic Pic- tures . Monday i4) - jn. N. Y.'i to iiil.vKosiPlanclz., assisiaiv; U.-S. Supron-ic - .coiirt., Siiit .seeks to pre-.f alliii ney .sieneral. he' knew ihai it vent hi;r frpm vinlatinK a film cOn-■ was-Ijeing disposed of b.v. rn-.\-::o tract she enlerf-d into With the and • his per.^onal; rcprc.s('ii'.ii;ivc. studio on May 2.S, . ' , Willie BiQff. for the b(?iicrit of ilicin- CompUiint charge-. Aliss Kcaii Avith i selves and (ither.;. t)eh;nd ihc I'.vo. breach of: contract: It claims- the) labor leaders:- ' conlrac-t cwiis : to. have started' oh r 'ZeviiiV: guiliy plea c^mve i">n the July 0 for year: subject to" ex- ' eve of the ■Tue;sday's i.ii- vciydirii.H tcntioh by options for 12 additional j Trial of live 'Boys from Chicaiiii." plus' inany suburban entei-tainmeiit spots, normally reached only by- car: The program, wliich ' would save about l-iS.OOO barrels of ,gas per day. has ZEVIN, BROWNE-BIOFF AIDE, PLEADS GUILTY liOng imder indictment; foi' pei- jury in conheclipn Willi the U. ■ S. : Attorney".s investisalion inlo Ihc. • fund birill lip by the I.ATSE duriiig ; the !Bi-.owne-Biofl' rcgirvic. llirouglri a.sse.ssmcnt of nicinber.s. Isidore: Zcvin, former private yecreiary . to ' Browne-., pleaded guiiiy Monday i4 i i before Federal. Judge'Saiiuiel Mini- 1 dejbauni liT-N; Y. and will come up i for senieiite Nov. ^. - It was alleged. that Zeviii acted as;collector of ihe- a.-ise.ssnienls for ihe Browne-BioiX ' gans. He 'h'iiff'/'&'C;>','f?«?'^ on numerous occasion.-J but poslpone- menls were always taken. Zevin faces a possible srnlence of 00 years- in jail and lines lo'. 'iins" $42,000: . .. ■ In testifying. Zev-p lokl llic grand jury-thai Ihe'funds colloclcd were to , pa.v Ihe salaries and expen.-ics of the • uni.nii representatives, tjul a("»-or(.iin,« • II is also noted in exhibilpr as w.ell. as distributor-.ciiclos that even some siii;01cr pr, secpiVdary idefense towns |.jj;;;-;^.;;-:,;- co^^r^smin ' .up. in llial aren-.i too distant; from large; 3,.,,,^ , Ti,ey got the lowdowli from c.tic.-^. are noi doing a landoIfice; poii.„n.j„„ Administrator Harold L. bu.->iness because defense workers and pihers: their pockets bulging with money: go the big-city theatres instead: The same is t'rue..of nabe subsequer)l-riihs- which suilTcr ciuise their lowei' prices no longer have draught. Thus, the inclination .seems to be to try to .get more money Xi'on-; fewer customer^.- G^neral Rise All Around . Ahothcr reason impelling subse- queiit-run operators to higher ad Allied Meiel ; . Detroit, Oct. 5. In place of the usual annual coh- niissioiis at this time is to bfTsotj' venlioh. Allied Theatres of Michigan increased rental, costs, all distribu-1 will meet here today and tomorrow tors this .season being impacably-bent. (6) in a: two-day War Conference for for higher ifnin.s and perce'niage ; which a heavy speaking schedule: oX d<'als. .As long as the theatres nuist : (ilm executives has been lined; Up. pay 'more for film, then why yMeetiiig of the board-will precede sliouldn't the :biiyer get. more oiil of;: the rcHillar confab which:.wili .center it. the exhibitors conteiKl. Also, it's 1 its interest this year on the special pointed oiil that the public is paying problein pf the war oii lilin busiiies.s. more for evcVytliing Ihal's bought, so ! ' Officers have a lirstThand example why hot pay.a:litlle moie for (ilifi 'of the latter with likelihood thai riuertainii-ienf' . Generally speaking,-'tiiany members can't coi'-rte in beCaii.sc the exhibs are noi fearful of public j of the: drastic reduction in B and. C prolc.n agclinsi a rise in prices.; If; as coupons: not too out (if line. Where oreviously." cpunuM-eu' ,i'ufe ./-.••f,o't/;.V.-c . .\l!lioiigh clearance isn't of the • same importaiice as before, with cer. i lairi ( xceplions: any widespread in- crease in boxoll'ice scales among | subsequent runs throws .so-called i pi otiH tiou' further olT balance.; un- ' lcs-< lir.s',-l'iins .proportionately in ' "lit other -.voids, where theatre No. 1 ■ ^^'''?' "'^ g"i"(? to; do in the, face of no-.v-hit-i. sav a' 14-dav-.cleitrance?l'V<' further i<a.<oline lalioning cur- through a higher price iVtheatre No. tai'nu-nl. Much ^of the selling may tail gasoljne consumption for the Xar western' .. by roximatcly lo'l. The aniiounceineht that the cut i.-i-due was made.yesterday. ' Theati e'ineii here predict .troiible ' I'entals-aiid-percentagc Xormula on for the lilhi salesmen, studios and I sale of. pictures into a new decree. Clark's Discussions Having , been 'bombarded'' by e.t-. hibitor complaints against the high ;' nim rices prevailing, plus increased .percentage demands, Clark di.scussed Ihis pi'bblem bl the exhibitor;ai Ilia Monday session, together with at-• tejidant problems, but in a. general rather than specific w*ay since he has, prpmi.sed : to keep afl information confidehtial. • , :; Clark is ,said to be giving serious., consideration to the high, rentals which distributors are 'forcing' the- atre operators to pay. based upon figures - that have been furnished him. but if- this becomes an fmpol t- ant issue in conjunclioh with modifi- ealion of the present decree, it is xir- ' Hially certain tiie dislribs. will piit up. a stilt fighi. Whether or. not .'a price ceiling.on rentals, may be the result, if .some price formuia is jibt included in- the decree, is prob- lemalical.at this:timc, ' Faced, with complaints on rcntalJ and high percentages, the cbnseiit- I Coil t i nujjd :on page 22; Ickrs,: and;are' already denianding. increased gas supplies^ rather than decrea.sed consumption. West Coast A, B and C coupons, still worth Xour- gallbns each! per week, would be brought ■ in line, with the coupon value prevailing in the. remainder: of the-coiinlry. ■ F-WC BUYING H'WOOD u Looms As Gas Gut Move ■ • ""^ t'^- <''*=''"- stage and if coiisumnlatcd v.ould Mhineapolis, Oct. .■>.. | 'eave Hollywood with only one' legit In; this territory .where distances •"'•and. the Pliiyhoiise:. :;Lease cur- arc gi'fal' and traiiii and bus service renlly held by Ceoi ge Shafer riii.-i to many "of the. situations practically '""' next May and all i^fforts to trans- : noii-exi.stciit. film trade is wondering fer his ihlcrests at Ihi.s time have ' prpVed unav,:iiliiig: Shafer has a vaude show i;ooked ;lo- follow cur- rent pop-priced run of 'Ar.st-nic.and Old Lace.' .. - periods: of -six 'months each. ' I.ouis- Kaufiiian. u.stne.-.» asciu, of ' Prior to :iliat. date, ihe'.actress \ '■ Local 2-14, Motion, iciu.rc OjH'i aujrs ..cureri ^ postppiKmciit sp. that she : Union; of Newark. N, J.. and Jol'.n could tontinvio with the show^until] ftoselli. former Coast rollej-ior for . after its New York run. Tlie liim ! the gang.- They arc. charged -.V:!!. ; company .claihis it learned that Ihe.j^fimirav extortion in the pix ind. •cbiiVedienne-siiiger inteh s. to '^sign ■ Vl> with another lllhi', compaivv.; -Re-j ■ — ." ;. '— . ; — ubiic .seeks 10 le.Mrain her froni en-i iiiiy such -agrc'eineiit. tailmcni. 2 b..Xis"'llio"adnii!;sion;^KO^^^ i„ , u-h-i, n,n-,„ f w -^r ■ ■ Correspondence, it s tJointed out. - i Just what policy. F-WC Iras in'; - Salesnii'n who-formerly drove' 750 I "^'"'1 f"r. the' hou-^e has not been mile^^ ii week on the average; to i Oiic.-i-ns' ranging' fiom ' coyer their towns havir' beeii forced I t'^ccond-rnn film to split .-lage and to cut down", to 400 as it is. the trade:, l'''V'iii"P «''have • Ixien. made. Uh- sa.vs.: It's claimed that Ha.>^^oiiiic piial- I derst6od 2.0th-F"ox , interested in the ity is much lower: too. so that the (^'bu-se as Iryout for .stin y pi ppertiuS:. driver' gets much Ic.-.s ' ji'ge per :^"'' g'"'>."'n''.iS of its new and younger gaIlo|*.ilian:rorniei-|v. " slock.talcjit. ' the.lowered diflercnlial in scales as. .H niraiis-of governing eleiira,nce b.e- ' lollies less or a justification for thiit : cleai.anci"..- :lli)wever, not' expected '.hai jiuiipint; of prices by ohe hous : w 1;I'rc'anoth('i'-: doeri'l. will liave any i-flec.l lip ill change.- in clearance be-.: r.vecn .the 'i\i-o opc.ral.ions. ..pi.'=ti:ibs . a 1 r - ': 1 ■ very clei<:Kiii";'- - .shy about ,Chang ing.,' Conna Be Co-b-old \Vinter In Canadian Filmeries /' . ■ ivrontb. Oct, 5. 1,; ''''' "'''' Canartian A'lotiun. Pic'turb War Set vices oinniiliee voiuntariiy sijreeing: •' coal consumption I'ediiciij,,! -iii over 1.100 theatres aoro.ss Canada.- hou.sc;^ this it'intcv' Will iioi oiiiy |,e eoolci': but pperators 'Dragon Seed' Sprouts Holl.vwood. Oct. .1. -. .^flt>i' two .ve.ars oi .|)lowinii and ;fcrtiliziiig. ragon .Seed" bcgiii: '.-sprout iii fi'ont or the leri.-es on ii;c Melnr.tarin ai Caiabii,sii.-^..,;u here ■ acres have been- (raiisforiiH-d into -ai; imaginai'y'.se('t(H'of China: Jack Conway .ga.ve tin- sMi-'kia' signal. Willi Pandro S., Bei inaii pro- ducing and. .kalhcriiie llep.burii. in the. rpU- of ,Tade. piilaveili.g vyillvlx'r U-Lantz Shorts Studio May I)o >Iore Arrhy Films -, U'ii:vi':-.-;il inay \\\r\\ -o\'er a con- :s:cic-i-ai/le port ;0n-pf, ils short subjei t pi'odiK.iion at the studios to tiaiiiiiig- liiniv rov the aiined force-^. Walt. >an;z.' Univci'.sar cartoon prodiircr. •:«'f;. .\'i.''.i ' York, last; Thui'sda.v <•>{)>: .iii'icr tii.M-ii.-.sions with hoiiic- oilice: exec-; for Wa.sl'..i|:glon' to .coiVici v.-ilh--: - .Vavy oiiicials oil a iiroduc tioii .-.ched- ;,,)(.• foi', ihis.braiicli or the sci.v-ici'. . - • . ,ailiz, Sl'.iciio.i.- now d';voting. ap- for Un'ilWI,: Ai'ti:^t proxiinalely, !)0'. of tol'al;0|jer!ilions 'Seli.satipi;,- (it 1944 Unless the ti'ade is; abie to. con-: . Music Box. 9fJ0-.se'ater ju:-^l o vince Ihe powcr.s ilial film selling is Hollywood and Vine cr'o.s.srpads.. e.s.scntial and that" .thercfpi; the ! ..an oiien-imd-ihuf. alTair- ■ialesnicii ..li/)nld be entitled to ; ycar^.an . j.s owned by Clare Biuii-:. ■a.volinc; coii.-ideration: and , ;: arldiliijiial . .'illowairct-:. 175 , . a | ' , ——— '\ ' week or less will be thc rnaxinniin ill; travel, possible by acilb.: braiich liianugrrs say. .'I'hi.N'will hiean tiiat . coniihiicd per.sbnal contact with, rinbst ! Charle; (.-ustoinei's will have to be foi egone. ' '''''-"''''' iiircordiiig to- the exchange hcfld-.; MG s 4 Costume Musicals tiop-e\to save appr.6xinia(cly 90.000 father; Ling Tang, played bj Walfr li'ns ol fiiL'l. , -' Iluston Waiter.-, .Metrp daiice di- .N'e; - York looking over shinvs. di-cli)sed last- wi^ek: that :of the hall a:(lozen iiiu-iu oniedies slated ,Mebbe Senss»tion;il., ;l;;^:-;S>:ece'" jlolly'wpod. Oct- . I Set tip f.ir pidfliK t:Oi, are 'Meet 'cf-oiKl Andrew Sloiie pi bdiii-lion : .'Vie: In Si, ; Lou.s:' . ' arvev GivU.'. relcii.s will" Bejle of Ne'u York " iiiid as y\?l iirt - . . UNiiai.ned iiiii.-icoM.ed.v about the turn ii); mililar.- shorts.- wilh soinc MfTilifl Pictiuc. .(lealni'i; wilh spectaciil'jr of Ihe ci'ntiiry. -He just finished 'Girl- rcei or 'Hill. . being - Xurned-.^out: backgi'oiind.s, .will be filmed in Cine- j Crazy.' and iv;al->o slaled to handle :tlily. from accounts. . i color, . the lerp chores on 'Ziegfeld KolJics.'