Variety (Oct 1945)

PICTURES Wednesday, October .3, 1945 Reported President Truman Cued DJ Against Any Anti-Trust Compromise Sec. Vinson Urges End Of Excises Tax; Would Cut Nitery Tabs, Theatres •VV Washington, Oct. 2.. ' Treasury Secretary Free) M. Vin- I son yesterday tlV urged the House Ways & Means committee, now working on a new tax reduction bill, to end wartime excises effective July 1, 1946. beginning of the Govern- ment's next fiscal year. This would include half of the 20' Di\ tice .1011 of the Department of Jus- wjlh attorneys ot distributor Reported that U. S. Attorney-Gen-> efiii Turn C. Clark was not com- pletely adamant against further dis 7 cussions of proposals for a new con- sent decree, even less than a week .ago, which would have averted, (lie scheduled anti-trust suit in." N. • Y. next Monday, <8l,. but that President _aaawuuL,.vJas 'not sympathetic toward .any . additional - —compi'omise"~blans. B^Trwfn g of the trial live days front now seems a certainty. ' In legal circles, over the weekend, it was. indicated strongly there was no more hope for a pre-trial settlement of the issues involved, notably the theatre divorcement phase. .. Meantime, with that in. view, a meeting was held Monday (IV in the local headquarters of the Anti-Trust ; bite on theatre admissions, and three- fourths of the 20'.; ' levy on nitery tabs. Vinson eslima'cd that elimina- tion of all the wartime excises—in- cluding taxes on fur costs, pocket- books, etc.—would cost the Govern- ment about $347,000,000 of revenue during the last six months of 1946. "Relief to individuals which would be. particularly helpful to the lower and middle income groups." he said,, "can be given by setting an effective date for the excise tax reductions now provided, in the law. The in- I dustries .involved in the excise taxes j have pointed out the 'disadvantages arising' from the uncertainty in the effective ' dale for these automatic reductions." Vinson referred to the fact that j the wartime excises are to expire six months after the termination of hostilities. While the Ways & Means. I committee voted last week to take | no action regarding them, Senator Walter F. George (D„ Ga. f, chairman of the Senate Finance committee, has said he favors writing into the new tax bill a date terminating hostilities for tax purposes. Vinson's prod yes- terday may cause the Way Freer Pix Exchange Abroad as Peace Key, Trade-Labor Setup, Johnston Goal 'Confident' Tom Clark Tito' current Saturday Evening Post esiWios a profile of Tom C. Clark. U. S. attorney general, ' Whip so -for', has refused to en- tri'tain appeals tor a compromise • of the' anti-trust suit against the major distributors. Written by . Jack-Alexendev, article i.s labeled "The . President's New Lawyer." and among', other tilings, points up his stance as foMows: "Clark'has. immense reserves of :patience • and isn't likely, to use. .'his .atiti-trust club or any other of the weapons in the at- torney general's arsenal until he i.s reasonably confident of get* ting results." . ;.'.' .'■ Understood in fhe trade that Clark is' thoroughly convinced that the Dept. of Justice can win the suit against the distributors, forcing them to divorce theatres and ):);tn.'.ir.-a!'e other reforms. Thank you. Mr. Itpliorl Uarlu.ml. for having- said. ".Molly to me', is tfips, shecan act. slit- <*an slug. Opt* of the Rreat hnlii's of the American showshop. Kv<'(j fi theatrical critic 1 of the il'ra.niii ;'riin see that she has wliai it. iitkes to lay. Itroadway in. live aisles." WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY Personal Representative . ' JACOB KALISH ' One University Pjace New York Washington, Oct. 2, Washington may nudge New York out as the nation's second most im- portant film industry city under a pi ofiram which Eric Johnston, new MPPDA prexy, is working on. Huddling with' the trade press here, Johnston.- -expanded on' a scheme to erect in the nation's capi* tal "Kit outstanding building" which would provide quarters "for all branches of picture business. The kind of setup he talked about would is operating only .in Holland, was the! be a virtual U. S. Chamber of Coin- opening gun in the U. S. film busi- imeroc, but specializing in the ness campaign against barriers erected against it in the foreign mar- Johnston, only recently named Johnston Also Heads. Export Corp.; UA With WB in'United Front' Election, of Eric A. Johnston as I president of the newly-formed. Mo- ' lion Picture Export Assn., and. ol'li-j cial admission that the Export Assii. 'j defendants on trial procedure and j ways and means of expediting try- ing of the issues involved in the] case. There were no decree discus- sions at this meeting. Wendell Bcrge, assistant attorney general in charge of the criminal division and Ernest Meyers ancj Robert I,. Wright, special assistants] to Clark, attended this- session to- j Kether with Harold Lasser, local as- I sistant U. S. attorney. Attorneys appearing for distributors, all from i committee to reverse itself and lake some action. In his statement to the committee, the Treasury secretary urged overall reductions amounting to about $5,- 000,000,000. In addition to the ex- ■cises, he favored repeal of the. ex- cess profits tax on business, and of the so-called "normal" 3% tax on personal incomes. He said that at a later date, he favored an overall revision of the Federal tax structure which would Bebe Daniels to Prod. 4 of Hal Roach's 12 40-60 Min. Streamliners Hollywood. Oct. 2. Bebe Daniels, former film star, signed, to produce four streamlined comedies for Hal Roach after Jan. 1. when the Army returns the Roach studio to civilian operation. Roach will sign two more producers to complete his lineup for filming 12 streamliners per year, at a cost of around $200,000 each, plus the salary of a star. Films will run from 40 to 60 minutes. & Means j Studio will be the only one de- ket. Motion Picture Producers & Dis- tributors Assn. proxy, was unani- mously elected Export Assn. head by the directorate last Friday i2H), With, the formal joining up of United Artists last Friday, although out of the MPPDA, the Export setup now has all eight major companies as members. Warner Bros, is also a member although not belonging to the MPPDA; Glad Sears, UA v.p.. was named a director of the Export Assn. at last Friday's meeting. Full significance of this united the outside, were Joseph M. Pros- | w-ipe out most of the excises com- kauoi' for Warners, John W. Davis I pletely. for Loew s: Fred Pride, representing | "We should eliminiaie as far as 20th-Fox: Whitney Seymour for j possible the sales and excise taxes," Paramount, and R. R. Irvine. RKO's j he said in that connection, "because special counsel on case. DJ group . they not only put an unfair and hid- I indicated to distrib attorneys that den tax burden on those with low incomes, but they also restrict mar- kets foi business." Some weeks ago" "Variety dis- closed that Vinson favored complete | lmn m ,t abolition-of the admissions tax' and produced* for him by Arthur W most other excises. j K ,,„ y and -„.„.. p kk1ord w|1J <|o I iConlihucd on page 31» '.--.'V ;-. " — j," - ' ••'7vi;- ^aj.;.;,.,^,,,..,^ .. PIX BIZ ENCOURAGED BY NW LABOR SURVEY Minneapolis, Oct. 2. Film trade here is encouraged j Earle W. H 1111110II s' 1-Yl*. again by the conclusion reached by j ^ , . „,.,, „ ,,. the Star Journal here, after a sur- j- l^Ontraqt With KOSS F ed < vey of business firms, that employ- i As newly-elected president of Fed- i Gradwcll Si mehl total for Minneapolis in 1946 f eral Service. Earle W. 'Hammons i ! will be 24','.' greater than in 194,0, the | veteran shorts producer, will re- last prewar year. In fact, indica- organize the-checking system o( this tions arc that the 1946 employment j company. His deal with ' Ross is will equal the wartime peak, under a one-year contract. Harry Newspaper made the survey A . Ross, founder of the organization. becomes chairman .of the board. Ross plans to devote m'ost of his lime personally to the llimm. field. ! Which he is entering to supply equip-. ^ menHtu-oughout the country to com- fit 2ai.0OO. which is 45,000 more than mc ,. cia , acboun , m 1040 and cqu.il to the high em- \ bc suppliet , ploynrcnt record in July of this year, 1 |hoalre» at the wartime peak," the Star ' Journal said. voted exclusively to comedies ot that length. Roach has made no releasing deal to date, preferring to wait until lie has completed about half a dozen of the pictures before arranging for distribution. During the war the studio, has been operated by the Army Air Forces Photograph Section at a rental, of $13fi.000 per year. During j three years of occupation the Army spent around $500,000 on equipment and improvements. About half the I equipment will be removed by the I Government and the rest will accrue I to Roach. 10 Short Features on U. A. Sked Hoi.ywood, Oct. 2. Streamlined pictures will get a heavy play on the United Artists re- leasing program next season, with pect, Charles Chaplin has decided to 3 series of this type, to be in- dustry. , . ';.,. - » ■ 1 "Such a place," he said, "would ; include a grapliic display of the his- I tory of the industry. There would be ;i library of films, a smtii) thea- tre, offices for all segments of the industry." including .the craft and guild unions, service for visiting mo- tion picture officials." He said the ; project might be taken over by the j Institute of Motion Pictures which ihe has proposed, and said he wanted I to bring in not only the production; end, but also distribution and ex- hibition. •' Johnston appeared dissatisfied with the job that has been done by front was appreciated as Johnston i MPPDA in the past and declared he outlined a precise program of attack ! was ready to take on a lot of extra in the world market. It was stated, .work. Some highlights of the press after, last week's session, that tlie i conference:. - machinery of the Export Assn. was I i. He is moving ahead on plans I being used solely because U. S. dis- ! for the Institute which he hopes will llnbutors are confronted with bar- j handle trade and labor practices of rieis which can be surmounted only hh t . industry.' "We.'have to solve v through such united ac.ion as Con- them in the industry." he said; "or gress had in mind in the Wc'ob- | they will be solved by the govern- Pomerene Act, which permits the ; ment. Industries talk about self-, operation of groups of ' companies.': regulation, but little has been done not permitted in the U. S:, in the 1 i; bbut it. We need a policy gVoup ot foreign field. J al j .segments of the industry." i , 2.-Johnston is going to Hollywood i within the next two weeks to dis- ! cuss establishment of - a full time i head of the MPPDA office there. Research Program Mapped 3. He wants an extensive research program which would develop inex- pensive non-inflammable 'film, three dimensional projection, educational possibilities, etc. He foresaw the necessity of pictures to develop pro- grams along that line as public serv- ice jobs which might compare with this connection, Johnston likewise, with her husband, Buddy Rogers, handling the production end. Miss Pickford is in New York now for a UA board meeting and to dis- cuss her production plans with sales chief. among. 500 firms and these represent jibout 50';. of total employment' in the city. ■ "Results from this sample indicate employment next year is estimated it No equipment will in opposition. . to Four hading business groups and organizations cooperated in con- ducting the .-urvey. J. S. Jones. Minnesota Farm Bu- reau 'FetVirttfion • executive secretary, has made , the prediction that the farmer and his family probably will •be the largest buyer in'the postwar era, which.: it's pointed, out, also should help to make for good tin t aire bus'ness. -. . Cummiiigs Decish Upheld j Ross is presently checking per- 1 cmta'ge dates only for 20lh-Fnx. Sam Goldwyn and David O. Selznick. tast. spring it suffered a loss when Paramount. Universal, RKO, Colum- bia and United' Artists set up their own. checking outfit, Ccnlidentia) Reports,. Inc. Hammons. pioneer in the shorts field, for -many years had his.own company. Educational, and also was president of the defunct Grand Na- tional Pictures. In 1942 Hamimnis became a", short producer oil release through Par. Loop's First Pic Preem In Five Years Is 'Dollys' Chicago. Oct. 2. First/world preem of an important pie to be held in the Loop in five years is skedded for Friday CM at the Chicago when, according to 20th- Fox, p.a.'erswith "The Dolly Sisters" will be George Jessel. producer: June Haver. Vivian Blaine. Caesar Romero and Phil Silvers, who'll ap- pear at all shows during the day. Also planned are a parade, followed by a pitch in front of the theatre: visits to hospitals in the vicinity,' and press party at the Sherman I hotel. . .,..'■■•'.;: I . In, charge of the afToir are Tom j Connors, vet pee over sales for 20th, I and John Balaban, general manager | for Balaban /': Kalz. with Sid Blu- menstock in charge of exploitation. In stated "The purpose of the Motion Pic- ture Export Assn.. Inc.. is to pro- mote the sale of motion, p'.clures; in foreign countries on a fair, co'mpe i- tive basis. This country has no trade barrier* against films from other lands, and we want no tiide bar- riers established against us." : It will be recalled that there has been a growing tendency on the. part of some foreign governments'- to establish such barriers, via film monopolies, unfair taxation and other restrictions. Outlining tho further objectives of the Export Assn., Johnston s:\id: "The American film industry has no de.-ire to use the mot ion •picture, for unworthy, purposes. Other na- tions would resent it if we tried, just" as we resent any-atrempfon dheir part to 'propagandize' us. The best propaganda is 'no propaganda. "The .notion picture is too potent : f^ M ^ay'Wyg^aafe«;-'.' '-j;n»- derstandmg anif Iritntl.-hip Tor V,s usefulness to be circumseribed. We hope to send abroad an increasing number of films which will be an honest portrayal of. American life and which, at the same time, will provide wholesome entertainment. We will welcome similar films from abroad. A free exchange of motion pictures among the nations will help greatly in the development of a healthy, .prosperous, pc-.ceful -world " Murray Silverstone had been act- ing as temporary prexy' of the Ex- port Assn. Industry was conjecturing as to what foreign country ncxl would come under Export Corp. setup, with ! latest interest focusing on Spain and Yugoslavia. . , the non-commercial. cultural sus- tlie networks laming programs of and radio stations. 4. He called freer exchange of films among the nations oi' the world "almost the keystone to future peace." He will try to expand the loleign representation of MPPDA. • Continued on page 31) San Francisco. Oct, 2. U. S. Court of Appeals upheld the action of Federal Judge Hollzev in terminating Robert explained.that the Vludio had ceased making warlike films but would keep Par's Igloo Out'ets -•" Seattle^ O, t. 2. t Cummings' I Paramount closed a'deal with the { on iritogifn^i^u^nc^VoTfte*^ M- y90 loii i W ( Universal, as of Gross Theatre circuit in Alaska for wi'h entertainment' ' 01 ^'^ M»-y|» v 194f Actor was al,so award- the showing of the .studio's product f.dvS2,2f»0 in back pay. during the 1945-4B season, Dwight Court ruled that Cummings was Sprachcr.. of. Paramourit's Seattle exchange, arranged the deal the 10-housc circuit in Juneau WB's idea' Pix Hollywood, Oct. 2. Warners will continue to produce "idea pictures-" in a peacetime world, \ cr.ty was purchased by P.,I he 1 weording to Jack L. Warner, who I tries ' RKO-PATHE'S NEW N.Y. STUDIO AND FILM LAB RKO-Palhe News and Palhc In- dustries. Inc.. have acquired the 11- story building at 'KJflJh sired and' 1 : Park avenue for their-- New York I studio and film laboratct.ies. Site covers 31.Q00 scjuare ltd, I'm.-ch-'-'e .' price was a reputed If'j.OOO.OtlO- with I considerable coin still to .he spent to refurbish Ihe huilding., ' Documentaries,, as' well as other i specialized subjects including the "This Is America" S'en'cs, «ill he produced at the new studios I F.P.CANADIAN SUBS1D I cligiar^WiiTW Toronto. Oct. 2. ; Over 200 managers and leading ; licurcs in Canada's film industry were banquet guests here marking ! the 10th anniversary of- 20ih-Cen- i tury Theatres, affiliate of Famous j flayers-Canadian Corp. (Subsidiary : has 47 houses in Ontario. 21 of •these in Toronto.) N. A. Taylor, ! picz of 20th, and Raoul Aurbach, j.g.iii„ were each presented with I office portable radios, with Hye I Bossin acting throughout as toast- master. Gathering was held in the Crystal Ballroom of the King Ed- ward, hotel. . - In relating the history of FP-C"s' "baby chain,"- Taylor -recounted how, 10 years ago, "his organization started out with seven office, suites ant! had to sublet five of these to pay the; office rent. Organization started in 1935 with two booking »t- ("ouuts. Taylor said. He paid tribute to the later cooperation-of J. J. KtiiE- g'ibbon-, FP-Can. pfez, who was prcs- I'lil as one on the lengthy rosier of spealsefs'. Given an ovation was Capl. John J. Fitzgibbon. Jr., U.S. Army, who returned here last week direct from Okinawa and who. alter military discharge, returns Co KP- Caii.'s head office here. rop- within Irs rights in refusing to play » role in 'Fired Wife." with Warner p.'etice. Jnritt.slryi shotdd keep up wiih important events of worldwide interests • .and not limit itself to escapist films. Mayer a 'Globester' Arthur L. Mayer, owner of the Riaitli •theatre, N. Y., and assistant to the chairman of the American Red Cross, i.s one of the party mak- ing the' "globester" flight ' Irom I Washington in a C-54, Making off on Inc.. with Erwin S. Woll'son handling the deal, according to the announcement by Frederic .Oilman. Jr., prexy of RKO-Palhe News, and Kenneth M. Young, chairman of the declared that the motion | board of Pathe Industries. Inc.' j i2HV. Both 01T; ,nizat!oi'r, will continue to They're due back 'tomorrow mainca.n exec ofiV es. h«w< ve.r. at iThurs.) but Mayer is getliug off in their present site, 625 Madison J Calcutta where he has Red Cross avc,uie - ., • • 1 business. the 23.000-mile route )a.-t Friday