Variety (November 1950)

Wednesday, November 8, 1950 PICTURES CUFFHANGERS ANTIDOTE Bids Plan; RKO, Par Can’t See It Rival major distributors are f adopting unofficial, wait-and-see at- titudes regarding the announce- ment by William F. .Rodgers, Metro sales chief, that he will divulge terms under which a picture is li- censed on competitive bidding, when ail parties to the bidding are agreeable to the idea. Rodgers made the offer in an address before last week’s convention of the The- atre Owners of America in Hous- ton. Executives of other majors are wary of the plan and frankly arer hesitant about adopting it. In the cases of Paramount and RKO, at least, there appeared no likelihood at all that similar offers would be made to exhibs. Some theatremen, too, said they were not for it, al- though they commended Rodgers for his effort to answer the cries, of injustices in bidding^ Majority of sales executives said they were averse to disclosing the terms offered for product because it could result in an almost endless amount of wrangling with the the- atfemen. It was said that an exhib, upon learning his competitor’s bid for a film, could charge that the latter’s offer was not the best made to the distributor, and that he,, al- though the losing bidder, actually offered the best deal. Observers said that numerous such disputes coul stem from the plan because exhibs all don’t offer the same for- mula to determine rental. Percent- age and sliding scale deals could be anything but uniform, it was point- ed out, thus the distributor’s selec- tion of the winning bid might be readily contested by the losers. Some film spokesmen also had the thought that the relationship between the company and the exhib was more or less private business and information concerning it (Continued on page 22) O’Donnell Revealed Inspiration of Short Telling ‘M-G Story’ Idea for Metro’s super-trailer on upcoming product, a special five- reeler titled “The M-G-M Story,” was originated by Interstate Cir- cuit prez Robert J. O’Donnell, it’s been, revealed. He wrote all the major film company prexies sug- gesting they turn out a one or two-reel short highlighting forth- coming pictures. Metro prexy Nicholas M. Schenck was the first to act on it. He turned it over to sales veepee William F. Rodg- ers, who then called production veepee Dore Schary to Outline what he would like to see in such a film. On the basis of the favorable reaction it. received on its preem showing at the Theatre Owners oj America convention in Houston last week, M-G has decided defi- nitely to make it available in abridged form to exhibitors for showing to the public. Rodgers phoned Schary again over the weekend and Schary, who narrates the film, is going to record a new speech, grooving his remarks to the customers rather than exhibs. It will be trimmed to include only films coming up in .the future (priginai had some which have al- ready preemed in certain areas) and will be available to any exhib who wanis it as a twor-reeler. Frank Whitbeck and Mae Murray Back In Goluinbia Short Hollywood, Noy. 7. Mae Murray returns to the screen after ah absence of 20 years as star and narrator iii a Ralph Staub Columbia short, “Heart Throbs of Yesteryear,” She plays herself and discusses male film idols of the past. Miss Murray’s last previous pic- ture was “High Stakes,” in which she played opposite the late Lowell Sherman for RKO in 1930. Metro, wbicji has lined up a long string of new young performers as potential star material, has virtual- ly reversed its field in its standard star-making policy. Where the newcomers until recently gained both their experience and public attention in M-G’s “B” picture se- ries, such as “Hardy Family,” “Dr. Kildare.” “Maisie,” etc., they are now being teamed with established stars for quicker progress. 'That’s the way Metro originally estab- lished its big star stable. M-G execs currently are plug- ging their future stars at every op- portunity in an attempt to show both exhibs and the public their optimism for the future of the bus- iness, Exhibs, in particular, who have consistently complained to the majors about the need for new faces, were told by sales veepee William F. Rodgers at both the National Allied and Theatre Own- ers of America conventions about M-G star-making plans. In addi- tion, George Murphy,, who last' week completed a lengthy speech- making toiir before/civic and edu- cational groups throughout the country, stressed Metro’s constant development of neW talent. Reason for M-G’s switch to the big star-newcomer policy is based primarily on the fact that it no longer produces the “B”-series films. Company, however. Is Still mixing some moderate-budgeters in with its top “A” product but is nonetheless putting most of Its newcomers into the bigger pic- tures. Illustrating Metro’s currenb^ pol- icy is Howard Keel, who was Im- ported to Hollywood from Broad- way musicomedy. Keel, for his first assignment, was teamed with Betty (Continued on page 18) Lighfman Huddles In N.Y. on Cinerairia Pic M. A. Lightman, Memphis circuit operator, is due in New York next Monday (13) for final huddles on a pic to be made in the Cinerama broad-screen process by Cinema Productions, Inc. Lightman is prexy of CPI, which has been set iip and financed by a group of ex- hibs to make a Series of novelty pix. Board meeting of the corppra- Herman Hoffman, j tion will be held in New York dur- who produced it, are hoW editing | ing Lightman’s presence in the the new version. i city. He and Lester Co\van, v.p. Film shown at the TOA meet! and producer for the group, will opened with Schary sitting on the edge of his office desk to intro- duce the dips. He then made sev- eral appearances during the run- ning, while handling the narration. Picture Was climaxe'd by the first pUblicly:showr footage from “Quo Vadis.” M-G’f $6,500,000 spectacle, filmed in Rome. , Rodgers, incidentally, originated the idea for Metro’s “Sdme of the Best,’’ two-reele-" turned out last year as part of the company’s sil- ver anni celebration, which was screened by practically „every the- atre in the country. confab with Hazard Reeves and W, French Githens, Cinerama top- pers, on ideas for pic to be made in the process prior to the board conclave. ‘ Cowan this week sent a camera- man, Jerry Hershfeld, to Boston to make fests with a newly-im- proved version of the Polarbid third-dimensional camera. CPI is planning to make its initial picture, tentatively labeled “The Customer Is Always Right,” in this process, which requires viewers to Wear I special glasses. - ^Production is I slated for early next year. Video’s encroachment bn theatre biz is providing a modest upbeat foi* serials—onetime mainstay bf every Saturday matiiiee. Increas- ing number of exhibs have started to book the cliffhangers as a means of again; attracting moppet trade, which has been particularly hard hit by tele. ^ _ Columbia and Republic, the only two studios remaining in the busi- ness of producing chapter pix, are hoping the currently still gentle trend will grow: They’Ve had their salesmen plugging the serials on the basis of their value in counter- acting TV competition. If the serial tide should swell as anticipated, it will be a paradoxical reversal of what’s happened dur- ing the past half-dozen years or so. During that period many exhibs cut out the weekly thrillers for the express purpose Of discouraging kid biz. Juve trade was a source of such physical damage to the^ atres, cutting up seats and the like, that many theatremen got to the point of thinking it was cheaper not to have them as customers. . Tendency to delinquency ap- pears to have subsided somewhat recently. That, in combination with the general decline at the b.o., has exhibs again looking toward building of weekend mati- nee biz, plus special Saturday morning shows for children. An added factor in desirability of the small-fry trade is the hypo it provides for the concession biz. (Continued on page 71) In Rep. Shuffle Hollywood. Nov. 7. Shuffle in the Republic, studio’s top echelon makeup was revealed by prexy Herbert J. Yates at a conclave of department heads yes- terday (Moh.) Adjustment, which follows the recent resignation of veepee Allen Wilson, affects three Rep execs. All move up cto higher posts. Jack E. Baker. With Republic and its subsidiaries for the past 25 years, becomes studio man- ager. Previously he had been in charge of the' studio production department and prior to that was head of Consolidated Film indus- tries in Fort Lee, N. J. Robert V. Newman, formerly Wilson’s assistant, was named stu- dio executive assistant to Yates, production activities identified with responsibiMty for all Rep with Independent and outside pro- ducers. He’ll also take over Other executive duties which reportedly will enable Yates to devote more time to the company's worldwide activities; In line with their promotions, Yates disclosed that both Baker and Newman have been elected veepees of Republic Prodtictions, Inc. Baker also becomes chair- map of the studio executive com- mittee. Third personnel shift saw Lou Rosso assuming Baker’s chores in the production depart- ment. Rosso had assisted Yates in various capacities for the past 19 years. .•.' Arnall Proposal The proposal outlined here- with for an industry trade practices code administered by the Federal Trade Commis- sion will be presented by Ellis ArnaU at the meeting of the executive board of the Council Of Motion Picture Organiza- tions in New York next week. SIMPP 'prexy and some Other industryites believe that COMPO’s greatest ultimate usefulness may be in the^field of trade practices, although they are iiow outlawed by COMPO as a subject for its activity. IAs$l02l356 Reflecting the strongest finan- cial condition in the history of the labor organization. International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Em- ployees had total assets of $1,022,- 356, versus liabilities ef $16,045, as of the end of its fiscal year last July 31. Balance sheet was pub- lished this week, as demanded by the Taft-Hartley Law. Statement lists total cash re- ceipts for the year at $780,741, as compared with total cash disburse- ments of $642;575. Membership dues forwarded to the interna- tional from the local units amounted to $631,042.. Richard F. Walsh, lA president, and other officers collected salaries in the total amount of $91,147, to which was added $19,339 for ex- penses and $19,434 for transporta- tion and incidentals, for an overall total of $129,921. International trustees and special representa- tives drew $48,875, plus expenses of $24,472, and $12,667 for trans- portation and expenses. Balance sheet showed the union incurred expenses of $27,994 in the Hollywood studio strike and spent $29,762 in legal fees. Or- ganization listed $50,000 in pur- chases of U. S. Savings Bonds. 7-Year Writer-Prod. Pact At 20th for Brackett Straight seven-year writer-pro- ducer pact has been inked at 20th- Fox by Charles Brackett, who winds up at Paramount pec, 1 after prepping “Famous” screen- play. Paramount deal still had nine years to go, but Brackett bowed out 10 days ago following differences with studio. First assignment at 20th will be ! decided when he reports next i I month for talks with Darryl' I Zanuck. i Metro Ups Harper To Circuit Sales Rep Metro, after a lengthy test pe- riod of handling its national circuit sales from the field, has shifted that phase of the operation back to the bomeoffice, with Richard A. Harper upped to the post of circuit sales representative. Former aide to sales veepee William F, Rodgers, he takes over the post which has been vacant since Edwin W. Aaron moved from M-G to 20th-Fox two years a[go. Harper will deal directly with several national circuits Which headquarter in New York. He started as a student salesman with the company, and after training in several of the Metro exchanges, was returned to the h.o. ^ By ELLIS G. ARNALL (Pres., Society of Independent Mo- tion Picture Producers) When the Council of Motion Pic- ture Organizations became an actu- ality, the American motion picture industry looke forward to an era of good feeling The purpose of COMPO is the unification of all segments of the industry into an organization to promote the wel- fare, success and good name of the American inotion picture in- dustry. A marvelous opportunity is present for COMPO to do much toward bringing about these de- sired results. Within our industry there are those who are alarmed and con- cerried becaus* the motion picture business is such a fruitful field for litigation and lawsuits. While I differ sharply with those who believie that litigation retards the growtn and development of buY industry I am persuaded that the industry having united in COMPO can take another forward step by requesting the Federal Trade Commission to set up a Mo- tion Picture Industry Fair Trade Conference. Perhaps COMPO should initiate the move. At the inception of COMPO, it will be recalled, trade practices were specifically eliminated from its consideration and attention. Those within the industry who are fearful of the multitude of anti- trust suits and who ■ Would like to see the industry adjust its own trade practice problems outside of court, might, well consider the pro- visions of the U. S. Code relating to the power of the Federal Trade Commission concerning industry trade practice conferences. The Department* of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission of trade and commerce and the use of unfair trade practices there- in. ' Unfair methods of competition in commerce, and unfair or decep- tive acts or practices in commerce, are violative of the law of the U. S. The FTC is authorized to estab- lish trade practice conferences, (Continued On page 22) H’wood Canteen Again ' Dickering fa Buy Site UfRorentine Gardens Hollywood, Nov. 7. Hollywood Canteen Foundation ha.s revived negotiations for pur- chase of Florentines Gardens as a place of' entertainmTOt for service men. Latest move was payment for another 30-day option on the building and the large paiking lot in the rear. Property is owned by Flogar, Inc., with a mortgage of $215,000 held by the L. A. Times Really Corp. Hollywood, Nov. 7. UI, with “Francis Goes to Races” still in scripting stage, Is: laying plans for a third in series, aiming “Races” screenplay to end in such a way that third film can pick up from that point. In case of > “Francis,film was released before stpdio plahned se- quel. Only Donald O’Connor is signed to date, although deal is un- derway with Chill Wills to again dub voice of the talking mule. Exhib Trust Action Vs. NSS Suits in Philjy Philadelphia, Nov. 7. , Exhibitor action against Nation- al Screen .Service has begun with suit filed in U . S. district court here by May M. Korr and. his: brother, Leon W./ Korr, owners of six Allehtown theatres. Suit is an aetiori on behalt of all' film exhib- jltors in U. S. and any exhib can intervene. Through their attorneys, Ylray; Anderson, Schaeffer & Rome, the Korrs named as defendants NSS and various film distribs, Charging them with monopolizihg the film advertising industry in violation of antitrust laws. As result of this “monopoly,” exhibs are forced to pay excessive prices for trailers and V advertising accesspries, the complaint averred. . The cause demands triple dam- ages for themselves and oilier film exhibs. i