Variety (Sep 1946)

Wednesday, September 18, 1946 PICTURES 21 Russo-U.S. Bartering in Germany May Ease Raw Stock for Yank Pix Impasse over raw stock thatr" IS"* currently keeping American films ' from fuUscale exhibition in the U.S. and British zones of Germany is ex^ pected to be overcome ishottly on the basis of a survey now being made by the American Military Government. That's the opinion of Francis Harmon, v.p. of the Motion Picture Association, and Gerald Mayer, foreign affairs aide to Eric Johnston, MPA prexy, who recently returned to the U.S. from a month abroad. They discussed the raw stock situation with General Lucius Clay, Mil-Gov topper in Germany, in sin effort to reach a solution. U. S. distributing companies re- cently issued an ultimatum to the War and State departments that they would send no quantities of prints into Germany unless an ar- rangement is made , whereby they can at least get back the cost of the film and processing. As things now standi the best the American distribs can get is credit in blocked marks for income derived via exhibition of their Alms. There's no prospect that these marks ever will be convertible • into anything like their present ex- change value. Companies are not squawking about the inability to get 'profits out, but figure-that inasmuch as the prints are desired, for educa- tional and reorientation purposes by the AMG, they ought to at least get their costs. Gen. Clay recognized this fact in his talks with them, Harmon and Mayer said, and has started machin- ery moving to clear up the situation. Solution, he declared, would be,'on one of three bases now. being inves- tigated. They are: 1. That raw stock can be obtained from the Russians and provided to the American companies for process- ing their prints in Germany. Both the Agfa and Eastman plants are in the Soviet zone and they have a ' capacity for beyond the 72,000,000 feet per year which is the esti- mated U.S. requirement. The Rus- sians have indicated willingness to provide the raw stock if a suitable barter deal can be arranged for chemicals of various types, which . are available only from factories within the U. S. zone. Clay is try- ■ ing to work out such a barter ar- rangement. 2. Bringm equipment from the U, S. and set up a plant in the American zone for making filTin. There are presently a few minor plants in the U. S. area, but with the stock they'd provide working at full capacity, plus all that could be scrounged in various other ways under present conditions, no more than 35^000,000 feet would be avail- ■, able. ■ 3. Buy raw stock in the U. S. and give it to the American companies. Bifficulty with this—and it is equal- ly true of the second method—is that neither the Army nor Military Gov- ernment has an appropriation for such and where they will get the money is a dvibious issue. 'WOMEN' VICE 'WIND' Hollywood, Sept. 17. Tara Hall, the home of Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone With the Wind," was torn down after standing for eight years on the RKO-Pathe lot. On the spot wil be erected dnother home for the David O Selznick pro- duction, "Little Women," slated to start Oct. 1. AMPAs Tee Off Oct. 3 Associated Motion Picture Adver- tisers, mapping its fall season activi- ties, set the first open meeting for October, with speakers and agenda to be announced later. Under plans drawn up by Rutgers Neilson, AMPA prez, presiding chairman at each meeting will be rotated, among the organization's . roemhership with every third meeting to be a closed business session. On behalf of the AMPA relief a fund-raising committee was appoint- ed, with Chester Friedman as chair- man. Balance of the committee in- cludes Charles AHcoate, chairman of the AMPA relief fund; Phil Wil- liams, chairman of the planning and program committees: Dave Bader Arnold Stolz, Evelyn Koleman, Je- rome Pickman and Ray Gallagher. Loew's Longhair Shorts Seven shorts which David L. Loew will distribute via United Artists this year, it was disclosed yester- day (Tuesday), will be one-reelers of classical music with scenes typi- fying the melodies. Inllialer, Bach's Tdcato arid Fugue in D Minor, was preemed Monday (16) at the Center theatre. Salt Lake City, Pictures to catch the mood of the music are of Bryce Canyon, Utah. There is no commentary. All the shorts are being made in Cinecolor. Werner. Janssen, who conducted the 90-piece orch which played the Bach music, was present at the Salt Lake City premiere and was hosted by city officials. NORTHWEST VARIETY SET FOR SEPT. 23 FETE Minneapolis, Sept. 17, Bob O'Donnell and Bill McCraw, Variety Clubs national chief barker and executive director, respectively have advised Northwest Variety Club that they, will be present in Minne a polls, Sept. 23 for the University of Minnesota's testimonial dinner for the club here in recognition of its successful campaign to raise $250,900 for a heart ho.spital on the campus. Fred Allen will emcee the dinner. Bill Elson and Ben Blotcky com^ prise the club's committee assisting in the arrangements. The heart hospital is the North- west Variety club's main philan- thropic project. It not only has raised the funds to build and equip it, but also will contribute a sub- stantial amount annually for its maintenance. MEEMAN ANKLES P-T Hollywood, Sept. 17. , Doc Merman checked out as pro- duction manager for Pine-Thomas to organize Merman-David Pictures, Inc., with William B. David as his partner. New outfit has two stories lined up for filming in Cinecolor, starting Oct. 7. ACCOUNTANT t'oriiicr Kovoimn AEoiit llioroUBlil.v '"<•*''"' pK'ture production, Ultitrlbiitlon nnil tlientrlniil Hccountlnfr "ix problenm scektt fiiH of ptirt Mme t'onneotloii, '. Box No. *66, Variety 154 Watt 46th St., N«W Yorit 19, N. Y. Now Specialising) in Refreshment Concessions for DRIVE-IN THEATRES inc. BtPfa . BUrhALO N Y Larry Grieb Leaves RKO For City Investing Spot Larry Grieb, RKO Albee manager in Brooklyn, has resigned to become supervising director of picture the- atres for the City Investing Corp., which operates the Astor and Vic- toria, N. Y., and several other thea- tres in Cincinnati and elsewhere in the U. S. Grieb, who opened the Mayfair theatre on Broadway for RKO, and also handled the Globe and 86th Street for the same company, was honored by top RKO theatre execs and 60' managers at a testimonial dinner at the Diamond Horseshoe last Sunday (15) night. Leun Kelmer, veteran of 17 years with RKO Theatres, succeeds Grieb at the Albee. He moves over from the RKO Kenmore, Brooklyn. Local Checkers ^ Continued from page' 1 ss novation proved successful others would take it up and were exhorted to fight the new system. 'Whole Town Knows Your Biz' Other major point gabbed was use of locar checkers by Confidential Reports, representing all majors ex- cept MetrOi Delegates squawked loudly over their business being known to the whole town because local people checked grosses. One man complained his own gasoline service station operator checked his receipts while another said his land- lord did it and then jacked his thea- tre rental. Another example was a local undertaker garbed 'n high hat plus full regalia. . While many remedies to fight the sy.stfjni were suggested, including a test suit, no action taken after prexy Jack Kirsch assured members there was "no need for regulations. The job is going to done. Have con- fidence in your leaders." Sidney Samuelson, chairman of Eastern ' Pennsylvania Alliec^, said: Charles M. Reagan, Paramount, sales chief, told him less than 500 ex- hibitors out of total 15,000; com- plained about local chocking. From sources outside the conven- tion, it was learned that Attorney- General 'Tom Clark has, initiated an investigation into uniform cliecking clauses in distributor contracts after the Justice department received a number of exhibitor complaints. Be- lief is strong that Clark will take action on anti-ti-usV grounds.' '',' Olean Exhib Sues Majors (or 489G Olean, N. Y., S,ept. 17. Treble damages totaling $489,000 and costs are being sought in an anti-trust action filed by Bordonaro Bros. Theatres, Inc., operator of the 1,434-seat Palace here, in Western District Federal Court at Buflfalo, naming 13 producers, distributors and exhibition corporations as co- defendants. Charging the 12 distribu, tors with conspiring to effect a ino- nopoly for Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., the suit brought under the Sherman, and Clayton anti-trust acts, and the Robinson-Patman act, alleges the plaintiff was unable to '•obtain a fair and adequate supply of first class feature motion pictures for first-run exhibition at sa;d Pal-- ace theatre . . ; because 'of the wrongful conduct and acts of the defendants." The Warner interests have operat- ed the 1,000-seat Haven and the 350- seat second-run State since 1930. Named as defendants, served through Buffalo branch offices, are Loew's, 20th-Fox, Universal, United Artists, Warners, RKO and Para- mount. Complaint cites that for the 1930- 31 season, the Palace was able to obtain first-run' product from only one major -distributor, Param'ount, because of a "dispute" between that company and Warner theatres. The following season not even Para- mount pictures were available to the Palace for first-run exhibition, ac- cording to the complaint. It is stated further that for the past 10 years plaintiff has been able to license for first-run showing, 50% of the prod- uct of Metro, 20th, and Universal, among the defendants, but the charges are made that these com- panies discriminated against the Palace (1) by exacting higher film rentals than those charged Warners for similar productions, (2) by de- mands for preferred playing time, which demands were not coinciden- ially being made on Warners as a condition of the showing o.' their half of the product in question, and (3) by requiring the plaintiff to ex- hibit "numerous inferior and unde- sirable productions . . . without mak- ing any similar requirement or con- ditions with respect to productions leased to Warner Bros." In addition, it is charged that de- fendant, Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., has at various times attempted to acquire the plaintiff's theatre for the purpose of I'monopolizing, the first- run exhibition of first class feature motion pictures in the city of Olean and of being enabled to 0x admis-. sion prices," Shift in Showmansiiip Requirements On Par's Ihib-Ad&llii^ Agenda Change in importance of different publicity and advertising media in selling pix and the shift in show- manship requirements under the new sales system, will come in for prolonged discussion at a Paramount huddle of all special field reps with studio and h.o. heads set to open at the Hotel Warwick (N. Y.) Sept, 30. Important meet which will be attended by such biggies as Par prexy Barney Balaban, sales chief Charles M.'Reagan, and board chair- man Adolph Zukor will result in a complete overhauling of Par's pub- licity, advertisinfe and exploitation machinery, the company announced. Plan for the> Par conclave is closely akin to a 'similar meet coming up for the 20th-Fox field exploiteers under the supervision of Charley Schlaifer, ad-publicity director, and Harry Brand, studio publicity chief. Moves key the trend, toward an in- dustry-wide realization of the belief that the new selling policies em- bodied in the anti-trust decision will require a return to old-type showmanship, with a consequent re- vamping, where necessary, of out- moded exploitation techniques. Metro exploitation staff, under the direction of William R. Fergu- son, has held periodical divisional meets during the last several months. M-G exploiteers, moreover, have sat in on the recent Metro sales meets in Chicago in order to work up a closer liaison between the work of the distribution and exploitation forces. Par execs will reexamine ef- fectiveness Of such . media as radio and publications in building up the- atre patronage. Shift in ad coin dic- tated during the war when some media closed down while others re- mained unaffected may be redirected to prewar channels. In this regard. Par meet will study a plan for ex- tensive use of billposting in connec- tion with key engagements of the company's pix, since motor traffic has upped substantially since V-J. day. Analysis of' impact' of radio' spot announcements on promotion of company product, currently being conducted by Par with Buchanan Advertising Agency, will determine Par's future course 'on employment of radio as drumbeating fare. De- gree of penetration of the spot an* nouncements in communities, where used^ will be discussed during the four-day confab. Meet will single out "Two Years Before the Mast" and "Blue Skies," slated for early release, tor special attention. New plans to be drawn at the huddles will be imme<liately tested in these two pix. PETE WELLMAN SUES FOR SHARE IN TWO THEATRES Youngstown. O. Sept. 17. Peter M. Wellman, operator of neighborhood houses in Youngstownt Girard and Hubbard, has filed juit in Common Pleas Court for $25 000 damages and also to force the sile to him of an interest in the Uptown and Mahoning theatres in Youngs* town. The petition alleges that Wellman was to have obtained an interest in the two houses at the time he ob- tained the Wilson theatre for $50,000 in June. He was to have Raid $105,- 000 for the other two, $60,000 in cash and the balance in note* A ten.1er of $60,000 has been refused, Wellman charges. Defendants are Elias Kan- iaris, Youngstown; George and Louise Manos, operators of the Manos Amus. Co., Toronto, O.; John and Athena Chri.stopoulos, Warren, 0.i Roxy Anius. Co. and William P. Barnum, Youngstown, attorney. Wellman said Kaniaris and Manos offered him the theatre interests, 'ind he arranged for a transfer of leases from the owners of the properties. He said he received the Wilson and was to have obtained possession of the Uptown and Mahoning on Aug. 1. New York Theatres Blumenstock's Broken Jaw Following Accident Mort Blumenstock, Warner veepee in charge of ad-publicity, underwent an operation yesterday (Tuesday) in the Danbury, Conn., Hospital for a double fracture of the jaw suf- fered in a Westchester County auto accident 10 days ago. Although badly injured by his car's swerving into a ditch, after allegedly running down two pedestrians, Blumens,tock was not aware of the jaw fracture until Monday (16). ■ According to his attorney, Mor- timer C: O'Brien of White Plains, Blumenstock was badly pummelled, first by an irate lynch mob which witnessed the accident, and follow- ing by a state trooper who claimed Blumenstock resisted arrest. Cur- rently free oh $1,000 bail, Blumen- stock is up for hearing in a Lewis- boro court tonight (Wed.) on charges of assault and reckless driv- ing. O'Brien i.s seeking adjournment of the ease until Blumenstock cah exit fro'm the hospital. , CARY, AtBXiS GRAI^ SMITH iN TECHNICOLOR/.' MONTY WOOLLEY • 6INNY SIMMS JANE WYMAN • eve aroen • carios ramirc/ ooNAiD WOODS tot MARY MARTIN OirKt«4 t) MICHACl CURTtZ• Prmluotit tt ARTHUR SCHWARTZ • 0<ncn antit utt ttifM UROY mm B WAY at SUt WARNERS' CONDITIONED HOLLYWOOD Of ENS 10:30 A M. • CONTINUOUS • LATE FttM 11:30 t M. M.|4l'lTilMcllwM> "HOLIDAY in MEXICO" i>aiMniHM,Mninn!. 6ENE KRUPA, MPIIISMCII. lEN ICII —tMlrmI— IGREEN^ PAIACE B WAY & 47th St. Pal O'BRIEN • Clair* TREVOR Harbert MARSHALL CRACK-UP AN KKO RAPIO riCXURK Thura., fiept. 19 ALAN LADD IS TEKSON ^ BUDDY MORROW and ORCH. HUMPHREY BOGART LAUREN BACALL in Warner Uros. Hit "THE BIG SLEEP" IN KERSON BOB CROSBY and His OrehMtra Xxtra Added Attrnction THE TOWN CRIERS Air-Condltloned STRAND, B'way at 47th St. Till the End of Time An R.K.O. Radio Picture Starring Dorothy Guy McOUIRE and MADISON ROIiERT MITCHVM Bllfj WILUAMS RiVOLI. B'way and 49th St. CRAIG RICE'S 'Home SwMt Homicid*' A 20th Ctntury-FM Pletiif?\ ON STAGE HILDEGARDE -ROXY"" *" *- Mill at. ■OB HOPE and Joan Cavlfleld In '^Mentimr .BMuealrt" A Par&mount Picture with Patric Knowlas in Person CHARLIE SPIVAK and Mil Orchottra : BOB KVAJJS JOHN ahd BKN£ ^ ■ARNAUT Exiral PEGGY LEE Cool PARAMOUNT Times Square -' Mtdnlirht Feature Nlshtl;.! Ooori iOoen 8:.TO A.Mi Meridian Signs MsUox Hollywood, Sept. 17. Meridian Pictures, newly formed 16m company, signed Walter Mattox to produce a series of western and action films. Outfit is lieaded by Sam Nathan- son, who recently fiulled out of Planet. " ' ' ^' ' ' , " RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL "NOTORIOUS" Starring Cory Grant and Ingrid Borgman Spectacular Stage Productions J. ARTHUR RANK Presents ''Caesar and Cleopatra Cool ASTOR Broadtvny and 45th .Stri^nt ToDiilqi;' rrk'ei<«^,(;aptlnuopa