Variety (July 1949)

23 nC^ITRBS 0 1171 VTUr AIDE “= conunue- from pat. , <•11 A I I nCiA 1 AEi MPA A. and Francis Harmon. I O MPA A v.p. in charge of the good w% I "'*** campaign. HA iTl r Meetings with the PCCITO and llH I l^lj I MPIC, as were the sessions with j Allied and Theatre Owners of Omaha. July 8 I America, are labeled as strictly ex- - - ploratory. According to Depinet. Things **?•** hfiwSpn in* MPAA is seeking out those fields fine three-way ***^^^® *” which the whole industry has a lerests in Omaha. J. J. Shinbach ^.^^mon interest and on which it of Chicago. ^®*^**^" expected to cooperate. First theatres, came t® town ^th SoP ^ the Vubllc rela- wKO**ch\"iS **Th 7 ^^ strategy and ‘’■ud,*w5uW'’cT"k‘‘h“e"'’'''"‘ Co-t ’ 2 U that Ralnh Gold- i meetings and Item .. J. £ putting Hollywood to San tadaMuT n hS' ToX! K,"! Johnaton j, .t hi, home nt, Xneapoll.. Dee Molne, and kI;,. hu.rlv and the circuit Harmon leaves from TtZX Orty hurdli wm •» fe w«Kend. the conservative city government. ^^===s=g!= ? '■. ss'* Indications are Trlstgtes (Blank- aai — I paramount will meet the competi- D’yf«|y Cj|pp* I tion with stage band revues which . ® rai»B 9 I have always been successful at the , Continued from pas* 7 Orpheum. Also, they’re holding , . , * ... on to their UBO roadshow fran-I P®««-ed ‘n two prod ikM ions. ‘ Sidev f/ir the Omaha i Street and Adam s Rib and is chlse for the umana. i Goodwill Continued ill Drive from paia S ■' Omaha. July 8. B’way Faces Continued from pasc 7 ,n o their UBO roadshow fran-I P®««-ed ‘® two prod ikM ions. ‘ Side^ f/ir the Omaha i Street and Adam s Rib and is ,hlse for the Omaha. , ^ ••Ambush.” j Paramount recently tagged Lvle A I Beltger. from the legiter, ‘‘Love Pl^ II ^ j! Life,” for a character role in “I I Married a Dead Man.” now in pro- Continued from page S sssJ duction. Although assigned only . . ... .. to a relatively small character part, that it IS not pic quality that s do- Paramount is grooming him for Ing the damage. lead roles as in the case of John With economists in agreement ; Lund, also originally from Broad- that the nation is definitely going way. Lea Penman, another Para- through an economic recession ^ mount prospect out of “Annie Get that may la.st a year or so. show- Your Gun.” was inked for the Bob men are not being unmindful of Hope starrer, “Where Men are the effect of a dwindling pocket- Men ” book on theatres. While jobless rolls are up somewhat, as reflected in unemployment compensation Boris Kaplan. Paramount's east- ern talent scout, pointed out that more te.sts are being given at the JguiM. mo t Important ■» Wt to p„.,ent time tor particular part* be a lear of free-spending that has „„ overcon* a generation that knew ^ openings for the depressicm. In any case, the men with the pencils and big tradition of signing every pretty words insist that the Imsic econ- [...e in sight, Ksplan said, omy is sound and it is just a case ..... . . , of its going through a short period , Although most of the majors of righting Itself *’•''* stepped up their scouting ac- In addition, of course, films .““'''u have never before had the tough Kaplan said he didn I expect much competition they’re getting now barnyard pickings. T he scoots al- from night basehall. racing tele- "»<*>' are familiar with the goc^ vision, roller derbies, amusement I axperieme while the parks and a myriad of outdoor ac- "’’T” "P"""* tlviiies that are stimulated by the i * recent warm, clear weather throughout most of the nation. In making comparisons with a year ago, there can be no gainsay- ing the effects of old man weather. Spring and early summer of 1948 were particularly rainy, as against the current dry spell. Moreover, * good part of the rain fell during weekends, the best break possible for exhibs who must buck the lure of the outdoors. Judging by the returns of such major chains as that of Paramount, Warners and RKO, the important weekend business has recovered to the point where it lags last year by 5%-lo%. Lack of rain and the outdoor lure of continued fair and Warmer is credited for the slide in revenues rather than the quali- ty of plx. As for current week- <iay biz. following the rally of the past two weeks, it has been hold- jog up better than the Saturday- , unday slice, with reports indicat- ing a lag anywhere from 3%-7^. AUendance started its bad dip *fter the Easter holidays turned in ,,'J®'‘®'ne gro.s.ses. In a gradual Slide, grosses faded to a postwar ow point which carried through lost of June, The weekend take as low as 15%-25% behind last -oar s. while the midweek biz ap- Pioxiinated a 10% dive. The fall as enough to wipe out exhibs’ n'argin of profit, plunging a nuin- “J*® ihe red for that period. Although the take of flickeries n^as been spotty for the past 48 ■'*®* intrinsically oallhy state of the pic industry *n the U. S. is demonstrated by the act that as important a circuit as J;Oew\s is only 5% off for the 48- **v' >*tretch. Other big chains. Paramount, Warners and have levelled for the same Period at around 7% off, to still <* urn fair profits to company coffers. ^ew Winnipeg Drive-In Winnipeg. .-”'P®‘Pcg's. first drive-in being ®Peried by Western Theatres. Ltd. hoM ® ^‘®^* ®f $150,000, it will 575 cars, with a holdout area *or another 400. »nH ^''a.v. Lyceum manager, u ”. '*ack Taylor, Ro.se theatre l^ill manage the drive-in. ExUbs See Only Top Fix Nipping St L Competish St. Louis, July 5. With b.o. receipts at main stem cinemas sagging and little likeli- hood of a recovery during the sum- ' mer, operators of the big houses < believe that only outstanding films can meet the competish. Within the past two years four drive-ins have been constructed in adjacent St. Louis county, and half a dozen more are scattered in Illinois towns witkin a 15-mile radius of St. I^uis. Each of these "houses” has a 1,- OOO-car capacity. Other competish springs from I the II-week season of the Muni- cipal Theatre ,\s.sri.. spon.sor of the al fresco playhouse in Forest Park that annually draws upwards of .500,000 payees. Then there is the S.S. Admiral, an excursion steam- boat that makes two trips In the Mississippi and finds the p.m. mob filling the 3 .. 500-capacity boat nightly. In addition to the night baseball games, of wtiich tl\e Cardinals and Browns play a large number, there are two night pro softball parks, minatnre auto races and ‘‘hot-rod” contests weekly. There are two amu.scrnent parks in the city proper and in the county a minature Coney Island tor the kiddies has begun operation and is doing swell biz. The drive-ins offer cuffo pony rides, balloons, icecream cones a'^d use of playgrounds to the kiddies, and this is proving a strong b.o. bait. With air conditioned bistros and other drinking spots featuring television sets, of which approxi- mately 35.000 are said to be owned in this burg, this form of enter- tainment also is slowing down b.o. activity. ! While exhibs have not returned to the giveawav poli<*y long in vogue here before the la.st war there lias been some talk along film row that this form of b.o aitrac- tion may he crnploved to lure the payees hack to their houses. But most extiihs agree Itiat belter films with big names is the .solu- tion. CUFT’S OPTIMISM ON ANGLO-U. S. REUHONS On the basis of his recent talks ^ with Motion Picture Assn, of America prez Eric Johnston and other top U. S. film officials, inde- pendent British exhibitor Sir Sid- ney Clift sees no reason why .5nglo-.\merican industry relations won’t be smoother in the future, Clift, who conferred with Johnston : in Washington, said that tha MPAA chief "was anxious that both exhibitors and unions receive 1 lepresentation” at any joint meet- ' ings of the industries’ film council in months to come. Chairman and managing direc- tor of the Clifton circuit, Clift sailed for England last week on the Queen Elizabeth after a month s stay in the U. S. He was accompanied by his son-in-law Jack Parsons. Also leaving on the Elizabeth was Columbia Pic- tures head Harry Cohn. He’s ex- ■ pected to explore the use of com- i pany frozen funds as well as sur- veying continental branches in a two-month European o.o, I Accompanying Cohn was attor- ney Arnold Grant. Their itinerary includes London, Amsterdam, i Paris. Rome and Zurich. Other ■ outgoing filmite passengers on the ship w'ere Warner veepee Sam Schneider, who’ll be abroad about six weeks, and the MPAA’s inter- national division chief John G, McCarthy. U. S. Unlikely ('ontinoed from page 4 foreseeing possible devaluation, re- fused to go for it. Slicing the value of the pound could have some bearing on tlie fight between the U. S. and British industries for film markets in other countries of the world. The rea- son for the devaluation in general is to improve Britain's export posi- tion by cutting the prices of its goods in competition with products I of other nations. Thus, the trim- ming of sterling value means that the French, for instance, could buy British pix at a 25% discount in relationship to Hollywood's output as compared with now. Entertainment value and demand I for American pictures is so well I established abroad that this com- petition from England on a price basis is not viewed seriously. Hol- lywood product does so well in most foreign lands that a differ- ence in exchange values, it is thought, will provide little incen- I live for shutting it out in favor of I British pix. It’s Sterling Regardless As for the balances of American film earnings frozen in Britain, de- l valuation is meaningless. Theo- retically, £1,000,000 blocked over there would suddently be worth $3,000,000 instead of $4,000,000. However, since these funds are un- remittable anyway and, in any case, are carried on American company books as sterling, not as dollars, devaluation would have no practical effect whatsoever. The purchasing power of the frozen funds in terms of U. S. film pro- duction in England or in using them to support British distribu- tion organizations would in no way be affected by devaluation. The Anglo-American agreement providing for the $17,000,000 was signed In March. 1948. and became effective June 14, 1948, for a two- year period and a possible two- year renewal. There is supposed to be renegotiation, however, be- fo(;e the renewal. It is this that is coming up now. In light of what had been a steady itnprovement early this year in British dollar balances. American companies were hoping by a combination of moral and State Dept, pressure to gel an improvement when the second half of the agreement starts June 15. 19.50 With the deterioration of the British dollar position. U. S in- dust ryites are beginning to fear that all the moral pressure will be on them to give England a break rather than the reverse. Unless there’s another reversal soon, the British will truly be able to say that they cannot afford to pay any more—or even as much as now— for .American films. British exports to the U. S.— which is the prime factor in bal- ancing off what Britains can afford to spend for films—dipped to $13.- 800,000 in April and $14,400,000 in Ma\ This compares with a month- ly average of $22,000,000 in 1948. Jessel Advocates More Personals' By Fdm Players for 3-Ply Impact Zanuck’s Review ^ I'onliniipd from paRV S — ■ " ♦ Kansas City, July 5. A Rnv»1 f C^'^orge Jessel. 20th-Fox pro- XX , mcciing I ducer. has his own formula for an Koyal-ty showed up in force industry public relattons and im- o. at the provement program, one that could 21 Club. N, Y., feteing 20th- bp easily done and vastly effective. Fox production veepee Darryl xbe answer, Jessel said during his F. Zanuck last week, when ex- personal appearance at the Tower Secretary ®T War Kenneth C. here. Is for picture players to muike Royall niet NBC veepee John more personal appearances. This F. Royal. Former is now a could be done easily if stars wauld member of the Dwight, Harris. make it routine to make personal appearances while not actually en- on -0th s board. gaged in picture work. • ^®®' ****Terence i xhls would have a threefold in of their la.st names, j benefit. Jessel pointed out. It gabbed for several minutes to I would be first class public reIatior*s see if they could come up with tbe industry as a whole, it any mutual ancestors b u t would immeasurably boost pre»- hnally admitted no family re- (jgp and popularity of the stars, lationship. and it would make money for the — II II producing companies indirectly. The personal appearance angle 7onilf*lr’R DoiflOiaf ought to be covered in every play- IIUwR • flCVIwwV ; er’s contract, Je.ssel said, espe- ^ I'oniiniipd from paRv s cially the new players starting out I now\ Contracts should provide for ring Power, probably would not the player to be working most of come out until 1950. Each of the the time—either on the shooting two carries an approximate $4.- , stage, or on the theatre stage. It 000.000 budget, about two-thirds should be made routine that a of which is frozen money. , player’s schedule include so many Whether 20th will make many ' weeks of shooting to be followed more films abroad depends on regularly by stage appearances. In- such factors as the quota law and sl^ad of the unproductive waits other restrictions, the 20th pro- : players now have between duction chief said. He emphasized, j pictures. though, that all foreign produc-1 ”1 should know becau.se I am on tions were in excess of the domes- both sides of (he fence, an actor tic studio quota. Now pencilled and an active stockholder in 20th in for lensing abroad are "Land I Century-Fox.” Jessel said. He Down Under,” to be shot in Aus- : made personal appearances in tralia; Nevil Shute’s “No High- - Denver. K. C’.. Omaha and Milwau- way.” in England and Newfound- | kee last week heading a troupe of land, and an untitled story on the i 20th players in connection with international police brigade, which area premiers of "Sand,” Engel and Leonard Hoffman are j Audiences in the midwest have now researching in England. Ibeen highly receptive, and (his 1 gives you some idea of how much USHER VICTIM OF SALT L ‘ ^ I had recently also indicate this pub- FIRE, 600 GET OUT OK * Salt l.ake City. July 5. I»» many 10 straight weeks at fat A basement fire in Salt Lake figures. If the audiences are that City’s largest theatre, the Capitol, |j®ngiy for talent, fh«re Is a wealth yesterday (4i resulted in the death f pnpularity awaiting the Holly- of 17-year-oId usher Richard Duf- T *® fin. There were 600 patrons In the f®®Hlghts. he said, house, but all escaped without In- . Jessel is going to begin practic- jury. I Ing what he preaches with a per- CauM of the Hre was not given, ' f®"”,' »PPV»i’»n<’e «l the Oriental nor was damage estimated. ‘..'’‘‘■“'uk’!;!;*' 1 in connection with the premiere of his picture. "You’re My Every- thing.” It’s a fat guarantee against tfcrslioll rum lielKl « percentage. Jessel said, and that n f 1 0 gL »!»• something else a lot of the iFCXy for iJlh Innc ”®*>y^®®^ names couM use—the J , . . 1 dough. It would not be unproflt- Hollywood, July 5. able work, he pointed out. Jean Hersholt entered his 13th ' f|s|-. - ai -u ai. w.,. Pi* Fund ais a result of I middle west, besides Jes.sel in- Picture Rrtief fund as a result of I,^’oleen Gray. Barbara ^e annual election, held at the , Lawrence and Nancy C^lld. Masquers Club. Reelected with ^ him were all the incumbents: ^ Ralph Morgan, first veepee; George Jessers Radio Deal Bagnall, second veepee; Mitchell Omaha. July 8, Lewis, third veepee; Frances George Jessel told audiences at Goodrich. foui*th veepee; E. L. De- i the Paramount here that he was Patie. treasurer; Wilma Bashor, i working on a deal for a radio pro- executive secretary, and Lloyd gram. His sponsor, he said, would Corrigan, Willard K. Craig. John be Pepsi-Cola If the deal went Larkin. Moroni OLsen. Charles j through. "If It doe.sn’t.’’ he added. Kosher and Mendel Silberberg, "You can drink Jergen’s Lotion for trustees. New tru.stees, elected to all I care.” fill vacancies caused by death and Je.s.sel here to ballyhoo "Sand** resignation since last year, were for 20th-Fox, Accompanying him Valentine Davies. Albert J. Hil-, were Coleen Gray. Barbara Law- ton. Jane Murfin and Herbert rence and Nancy Guild. Marshall. ' —- In his annual report. Hersholt painted a picture of acute distress among, film players In Hollywood 1111151161^ in 1948. durine which the Fund r..,. aided 25.076 persons, the largest —J number in its history. Heaviest give impetus to indie forces is re- donation of the year was $226,349, garded by Ginsberg as a heaMliy derived from the Friars benefit development. show, I Xlimin0 In hi« /xu'n 1/x* ,w Jessel’s Radio Deal Omaha. July 8. George Jessel told audiences at RKO FVoducin^ One ‘Vaude’ Pic Annually Hollywood, July 5. George Bil.son, shorts producer at HKO, was assigned the task of turning out one full-length "vaude- ville” picture a year from now on. Series started with la.st year’s "Va- riety Time,” ba.sed largely on clips of musical and comedy layouts, filmed but not utilized for KKO features. This year's entry. "Make Mine Laughs,” is all new. with a cast consisting of Gil Lamb, as em' ee; Jack Haley. Joan Davis, Frances Langford, Dennis Day. I,eon Errol. Ray Bolgcr, Frankie Carle and Ro- sario and Antonio. Ginsberg Continued from page 3 give impetus to indie forces is re- garded by Ginsberg as a heaMhy development. Turning to his own lot. Ginsberg said the company would maintain the same production pace as here- tofore. By that he means the com- pany will continue making 16-‘20 films yearly. Par’s big backlog is indicated by the fact that the out- fit has all its releases for the year in the cans and six-to-eight pix for next year already completed. Of the latter group are "Samson and Delilah.” “Riding High.” “After Midnight.” "File on Thelma Jor- dan." "Bitter Victory” and "Cop- per Canyon.” If Par finds a need to speed up production because of its impend- ing theatre divorcement, company will be In a good position because of its solid backlog, according to fiinsberg 1 hat deci.sion, liowever, I'es with the h.o.s and not the stiH Jio.