Variety (Dec 1944)

PICTURES Wailneeday, Dec«mber 87, 19i4 2 Days After *Boys From Ch? Lose Appeal Browne-Biotf Get Paroles Two days aflcr Ihc U. S. Circuit■< C<imt of Appeals affirmed convic- tion of "Ihc boys fiom Chi," reputed renmanls of the Al Capon.e mob, Fidcrni Jud!;c John C. Knox granted George Biowiic and Willie Bioff Iheii- freedom reward for their Bssistance in bf.inc about the con- V it! ion of W\t mobsters, and Louis Kaufman, union business agent, all cliai-};cd witli parlicipation in Ihe $1,000,000 siiakcdown on film Ktudio.s. Latter Kroujj were con- viclcd a year ago after one of. the loniifst liial.s in hi-story of the N, Y, Ictlcral louit. Browne and Bioff had been con- viuccl Of enKincers of the extortion plot in 1041. Browne drew 10 years and BiolT eight years plus $10,0,00 flnr.-:. When Ihe Government was ■ a.<.'icnibling its case against the Chi niobslcrs. Louis Campagno, Frank Marilole. John Rojelli, Phil D'An- drea, Charles Gioe and Paul Ricca, plus' Kaufman, Bioft contacted Boris Ko.^lelancl7., .special U. S. attorney general who prosecuted the - case, nnd agreed to "sing" on his former pal.-:. Bioft's testimony was most damag- in - and. coupled with corroborative evidence S'vcn by the HdUywood <Um moguls, who had been victims of the shakedowns, tie mob was convicted and sentenced Dec. 31, J 943 by Federal Judge John Bright to 10 years;' imprisonment and $10,- 000 fines each, save Kaufman, He drew seven years but the same fine Latter had also been admitted to bail while appeal was pending but "the boys from Chi" were held at N. Y. Federal House of Detention Operations of the rnob, according to testimony, stemmed back to 1939 when Browne was president of the lATSE and BiofT,. former Chi tin- horn racketeer was his business agent. It ensued that Bioff had been the brains of the shakedown idea and that the-Chi mob moved in on the cut. During the Browne-Bioll dyna.sty HoUywbod execs and stu- dios were in constant state of jitters and reportedly paid off the extort demands to curb threatened strikes al studios which would have tied, up the entire film industry. Subsequent iiTcome tax'investigations brought to lip.ht the shakedown angle that con- \ icled Browne and Biof and later the Chi mobsters, Browne and BiofI will remain on probation for an ad- ditional live years. In upholding conviction of the Chi mobstcis, the appellate court slated they had been given a fair 1^ trial and were justly convicted. H There hiid been, another indict- W mcnt against Browne, Bioff and ^ former pals for mail fraud in con ncciion with a $1,500,000 extort from members of the lATSE, which may not be processed now that the convictions for the film shake- down has been affirmed. Gene Biirk's tntmerlMH* •! MiobU ihow bli and ip*ftt avMrii It aii >Rt*r«>tiny caValaoii* li Nexl Week's 39lh Annif0r$»ry Eililioit Appropriate Setting Probably the only ' political bet paid off in the Whit* Houi* occurred last week whan • group of showmen visited Preildtnt .Koosev6lt for tea, on occasion of launching the March of Dlmct drive. ■ Which reminded Alabama the- alreman Richard M. Kennedy that he«wed Si Fabian a (light wager on last November's alec- lion, and the deal was consunri- malcd right then and there . . , with, Calvin Coolidge'g painting looking on benignly. Increase in Film-Booldng Comlwies Stirs Much Concern Among Distaibs SPU Asks Aid Vs. SAG Over Extras Col.'s 13-Week SBghdy Less Tiiaii a Year Ag« Columbia Pictures' .net profit for tI;o fiist 13 wcclcs of the company's fi.scal year declined about $102,000 as compared with like period a year a.;o. Coi-poralion's net was $380,000 for the first quarter ended last Sept. 30 (IS atjalnst $482,000 in correspond- liijj period in 1943r Columbia's operating profit was $1,0(15,000 for the quarter as com- pared \yilh $1,545,000 a year ago. Es- timated provision for Federal taxes totaled $685,01)0 in this first quarter while a year ago they amounted to $1,063,000. Mcllywood, Dec. 26. Complaint jm Wed with the War Manpolvar Oommltslon over the weekend Wy tnt Screen Players Union ai axtra work, was thrown qpen to llon-un>pnl.«ts, and producers annbunoad that only member.s of the Screen Aotore Guild would be em- ployed for acting work.. * . .SPU exec eommittee aimouhccd that unfair lator practice charges would ia'filed with the National, La- bor Helatlong Board today. At the same time, atudlo heads arranged for a meeting this afternoon with SAG toppers. . Showdown fight between the two groups loomed as Central Casting began . ragistcring outsiders tor extra work, and the SAG indi- cated It would take every step tO; protect Itl oialm to jurisdiction over all acting work; .• SPU, on other hand, declared it had been certified as ,bargaining agent tor all extras, and insisted pro- ducers would be required to recog- nize this designation by the Goverh- mnl agency. Peace betwaen the Screen Actors Guild and the Screen Players Union is still a long way ofl, although.the extras, by an overwhelming vote have'chosen SPU as their collective bargaining agent. War conliniies on the borderline, a sort of no-man's- land betwaen the established actors and the *xtra«. Bone of contention is control ol tha bit players. SAO, dafaatad In the election, is- sued a statement maintaining its jur- isdiction wai unimpaired in " aqting work," and larved notice that em- ployment of non-guild members in screen acting work will be consid- ered a breach of the basic agreement between producers and the Guild. In addition, SAG announced that class "B" members who desire to do bits and parts will hcncetortli be required .to apply for membership in a classification known as "A-J," or A-junlor. "This classification," the SAG spokesman sald,"will not interfere with the rights of these members who do extra work, since the Girild no longer has Jurisdiction over this field of amployment. It has, accord- ingly, removed the bylaw restriction (Continued on page 38) ' U.S. TREASURY GIVES OK TO RKO'S PENSION FUND Floyd B. Odliun, chairman of the board of RKO, announced last.'week thai the RKO pension, trust plan had been approved by the U. S. Treasury. Plan covers approximately 1,925 cniploycos for the year ended-Nov. 30, 1944. RKO contributed over $425,000 to the fund during the first year, with a siinilar amoimt to.be contributed ' to cover the second year.. Group insurance provided for un- der the plan is paid separately Into an insurance company. During the first year of the pension plan ap- proximately $55,000 was paid In death :beneflls to beneficiarle.s of H deceased members of the cohipany. UA to Release Hughes' Solo and Sturges'Duo Gi ad-Sears, has scl a deal to re- lease "The Outlaw" tHoward Hughes) and the fir.st two Howard Hughes-Preston Sturgcs pictures via Unite* Artists. ''Outlaw" has repeatedly been re- fused release by national distribs be- cause the Hays office would not grant the film a purity seal unless the producer would agree to ceVlaiii cuts of Jane Russell's closeups. UA deal was closed by Sears with Henry Henigsbn, general manager of Slurges' California Pictures Corp Sturges organized his own indie company several months ago after a long association with Paramount, Omaha Key Spots Duck New Year's Eve Stagers Omaha, Dec. 26. Major theatres have dropped ail atage . .shows ; for ' New Year's eve, leaving the "in' person" entertain- ment to tlie Town and the State. Former will offer a local reviie and latter, the WHO radio show. Ocpheum has traditionally opened . • big .show, on. New Vear's eve until r this season. Lloyd-Sturges Film Deal Hollywood, Dec. 26 Harold Lloyd and Preston Sturges are collaborating as co-writers and co-producers on an untitled story as their fiist indie producing venture Release outlet is still under nego tiation. Filming will start when Lloyd re lurns from his forthcoming trip east, where he will make a number of broadcasts. Ruggles Takes Fabrics Oveirseas for Picture Hollywood; Dec. 26. British film producers are cramped by a shortage of drapes and costurfie materials, in addition to the lack of studio space and technicians. For that reason Wesley Ruggles is round ing up a cargo of American textiles for use in his "London Town," to be shot in England. With 'Technicolor demanding spe cial hues, Natalie Kalmus has been delegated to select all material for shipment to London. RKOy $1.50 Diwy RKO'dcchHcd a regular dividend of $1.5f) on its preferred stock, cov- ering Ihe quarter ending Jan. 31, I94S, at' meeting of directorate last- week. . . . Divvy Is payable Feb. 1 to stock- .^VldeK 0^ . record on Jan. 20. Scully, Seidelman And Bergman West on U Biz William A. Scully, Univei'.sal's sales chief; Joseph Seidelrhan. for- eign sales head, and'Maurice Berg- man, eastern, ad-publicity chief, leave lor the Coast Jan. 12 for. a product huddle. Both Scully and Seidelman not only will look at new product, but discuss plans for both the domestic and foreign markets. Bergman ■will confer .witli John Joseph, ad-publlcity chief,- on details of 1945 ad-publicily budget. 2 Meggers Upped Hollywood, Dec. 26. Two assistant directors. William Mull at Columbia, and J. Dewey Starkay, were upped to associate producers, causing a shakeup iii thie official ranks of the Screen Directors Guild Council. Their new jobs make them Ineligible. Jasper BIystone succeeds Mull as president ol the. Council and John E, Burch becomcB veepee in place of Starkey. Frank Scully and Norman L. Spier •Iva Ikelr **PlmifoTPqst-War Ehtertaihmeut*' In on Idlterlal Faotara •( S9lh Anniver$4iry hmie (Out N«xt Week) Bway Cinemas Up To $2.20 for Eve Although; the. time for . price changes and the icales will depend to a great extent on what the Iraf- flo will bear, plus condition o( the weather, Broadway picture houscj; are expectied to riange. to a' $2.20 top on New Year's evel Other top admission ranges so, far planned will run $1,20, $1.25, $1.40, $l..')q and $1.65.' • ■ The $1.20 high is being plaimed for the little Rialto, which will yi ind through New Year's eve, closing only an hour or so arojintj^ sunup to clean out the theatre. Music ^ Hall, In accordance with Us 10-year policy, will remain at regular holir day scale of $1.25 top New Ywar's. eve, but that night will charge more lor mez7, seats, boosting from $1.80 to $2.40. A $2.20 top, as last year, is under consideration by the Roxy. Capitol. Paramount and Strand. ' That . fignre may also be thrown in at the Warner Hollywood, straight-filmer. Grile- rion is likely, to charge $1.65 or more, also the Rivoli and .>-ecoiid.- run State. The run Aslor is set at $1.40 top. Palace and Victoria will probably try for $1.50 or bit more. Three Broadway first-runs, operated by the Brandt circuit, Globe, Gotham and Republic, are already scaled at $1.50 lor the coming holi- diay eye. All houses will open as .early as possible on Dec. SI and throw in as many extra shows' as busine.s.<i will justify. , Leading theatres in other keys throughout the country are also ex- pected to toiS In extra shows and raise New Year's eve prices' to as much as $1.50 or more. Crix See M-G Pix at H.O In Screening Switches Tradepaper and other reviewers henceforth will see Metro's pictures at the homeofTice, while, meantime, the screening room at the N. Y.' ex- change is being remodeled for the benefit : of exhibitors attending screenings. The company recently rebuilt its h.b, projection room, en- larging it at the same time. After the new screening room at the N. Y. Metro exchange is ready. It will be used exclusively for ex- hibitors and branch personnel. Only exception, on: screenings are comedies, all of which Metro will tradeshow in theatres, not only lor reviewers and exhibs but . also their own sales staff and others. Metro even wants the salesmen and book- ers to see the comedies in theatres instead of in projection rooms in order to gain a proper au(licnce per- spective. ., SEP PACTS HcL&GLEN ~ Hollywood, Dec. 26. Republic handed Victor McL'aglen a contract to play lead roles in a nfinimum 61 two films st year. Signing is tl)« first under the new studio policy of lining up name play- ers for its forthcqming high-budg- eters, Renovated'Stork Chib' Nearing Launch Date; Hollywood. Dec. 26.^ With the story line detourcd to suit Sherman Billingsley. B. G. De Sylva is launching "The,Stork Club" as his first'production under his new setup at Paramount, with Harry Sc- gall doing the script. Andy Russell, nilery singer, will be given a series of tests here next month for bracketing with Betty Hutton, who has been assigned as femme star. PRC Steiw Up Company Production for 1945 Hollywood. Dec. 26. Home lot production is the new policy at PRC, which moves into the new year with TO'.o of its uAn prod- uct on the release program and only 30% provided by independent pro- ducers. Same policy Avill continue next year. ^ Currently PRC has 17 pictures in preparation for shooting within two months, : *■ By ROY CHARTIER The number of theatrai turning to booking combines, offering a lura tQ iiidependent exhibitors through mast purchasing power at fees not gen- erally steep, has begun to arousa more than moderate oonoern in dli- tributlon quarters. Result la tharc'y .some discussion as to how to curb the buying associations. . That some steps hi an: as-ytt un- diHermiiicd direction will be taken - at an early ditte is regarded a* ■ very likely. Not only are the A\t- tributing companies mindful of the danger's inherent in too great k growth of buying-booking eomblnas. but numerous exhibitors, who want to retain; their , identity through negotiating their own film dealt, warn; however, that 11 distributors continue to force theni Into harsh rental itnd, playing ternii, thalr only alternative, eventually will ba to go into a booking combine. In fact, certain exhibs, seieking a Way out of capitulating to buying asso- ciations now in existence,- have dii- cu.ssed combining among themselyai for comparison of notes and general pvoteclion but with each,.,as now, negotiating his own film contracts, in other words, a groiip of axhibs in a given zone, if able to be Honest with each other and not kick over the traces, might under such a fraternal scheme be In a posltlon tb at least harass a distributor by ganging up on him. Of course, distributors could also sang up on any such gi-oup or against booking associations though, dangers of anti-trust laWs are to be borne in mind, it has been tug- gcstcd. as a matter of fact, that per- haps booking combines could be con- sidered restraining trade through their buying powers. In neither direction, however. Is It to likely"' that distribs or exhibs group-buying combines might proceed , in that manner. At least, it does not appear . oh the horizoit though dLstrlbs are frankly burned up over the power that has been accumulated by cer- tain larger combines which employ' live chisel freely, including tbe Weapon of holding back large sums of rental money from distribs In hopes of finally gietting an edge by effecting settlements. This Is also done by certain circuit buyers, how- ever, who will forward an arbitrary rental amount to th* distributor and ar.uue over the balance due. Although,Co-operative Theatres of Michigan, buying for around 106 houses out of Detroit, has been in • business for many years, and com- bines have more recently sprung up in Now England, Pennsylvania ana in other portions of the country, the N.Y. City exchanges are forced to deal with lar more buying outfltA than any other. 'There are now five buying-booking organizations oper- ating for theatres served, out ol tha ! N.Y. branch offices. With several lecent additions, the number ol houses how in N.Y. combines has passed the 200 mark. A late check I shows the riumber to be 211, ap- proximately i20% of the total num- ber of theatres sold out ol N.Y. ex- changes. Discussing the figures with some apprehension, a dis- tributor official points out 11 the booking combines continue to grow as they have been, there won't be much need to maintain salesmen in the N.Y. branches—or at least not as many as now. A sixth booking combine, with 40 theatres already lined up and with i goal of 75 sought,, is In process of lonnation among New Jersey ex- hibitors who buy out of the N. Y. exchanges. 20th*Fox Jumps Ahead Chicago. Dec. 26. Phones at 20th-Fox exchange were kept busy Friday (.22) by flood of calls asking how come they're 900 years ahead of-anyone else in the business. Queries, resulted from ad in dailies describing "Irish Eyes Arc Smiling" at the Roosevelt as a "29th (sic) Century-Fox Pictiirc." Line was corrected in Saturday la'youts. Wartime proofreaders were blamed lor boner. 4 Indie Films Hft Chi Loop, 5th in Flagship Chicago, Dec. 26. PRC scored with four pictures In three first-run Loop houses last week, to point up the fact that indie distributors aiMl producers arc finally getting a break here. Aa lar as known, this Is the flVst time an independent has cracked with that many in one week here. ; Pictures exhibited in three out of the Loop's 11 flrst-runs are "Great Mike,'* Oriental (Iroquois Manage- ment); "Rogues' Gallery," Downtown. (Barger); and ."When Lights Qo On Agaiii" and "Bluebeard," Grand (RKO). JlepubUc's "BrazU" played Balaban & Katz' flagship, the Chi- cago, three weeks ago, also a fare ■event