Variety (December 1950)

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Wednesday, December 6, 1930 PICTURES SNIPERS ONG ANEW ON FIX Charles P. Skouras* frank statement on the Coast last week concerning the heavy inroads of TV on theatre grosses got wide- spread press play. A number of film execs in New York were disturbed by the National Theatres prexy's candidness in citing figures on poor biz and stating “we know where to put the blame ... television is giving us terrific competition.” Skouras* remarks were made at a luncheon of the Hollywood Foreign Correspondents Assn. Thursday. (30). They were picked ,, up. apparently out of the tradepapers, the following day by the press associations. They were mso carried by the Dow^Jones tickers, which provide financial nCws to Wall street and brokerage' houses throughout the country, and were said to have an unset- . tling effect on film shares, Skouras said business w'as very poor in New York, Chicago and Southern California, which had heavy TV coverage. He declared that attendance was down from 10% to 15% in tele areas and off Only 2% to 4% in non-TV territories. (Actually, other execs have repeatedly pointed out, theatre chain and distribution figures don’t any such simple correlation between poor grosses and TV areas—which is a baffling plienomenon, since there’s little doubt that tele hurts.) “Television is here to stay,” NT topper asserted. “It stands to reason if you have a movie at home, you are going to stay at home,” But,.he added, “we are not going to give lip.” He said it took two years for film execs to realize the value of sound bn films, and that radio was feared and shunned until it was discov- ered it could be helpful in selling stars and pix. He remarked that he hoped producers would Wake up to the fact that TV could also be used to publicize films. He predicted widespread use of tele in theatres. To Determine Stepped-Up COMPO Gloving slowly now because of.f. lack of coin and uncertainty con- cerning its future. Council of Mo- tion Picture Organizations is ex- pected to move into a higher gear almost itt once if its problem with Theatre Owners of America pro- gresses t 0 w a r d settlement this week. Prexy Ned E. Depinet and tlie TO.V committee headed by Ted Gamble are slated to meet on the matter within the next few days. Depinet is in New York and Gamble is expected back there from Palm Springs today (Wed,). Since cancellation of the Phoenix meet of company prexies, Depi- net will be available for the Gamble huddle tomorrow and Fri- day., If Depinet and the Gamble group can arrive at a formula for meet- ing TOA’s demands for greater representation on the COMPO , board, immediate steps, will be taken to give effect to the arrange- ment in stepped-up operation of the new public relations, agency Actually, any formal change in COiMPO’s organizational setup W'ill take nironths to achieve. However, it is anticipated that by contacting “points of influence” by telephone, COMPO and TO A toppers can (Continued on page 8 ) Famous Players-Canadian Prexy John J, Fitzgibbons sets Other Things Besides TV Cutting Into Filiri Boxoffice it it ' it an interesfing editorial feature in the forthcoming 45th Anniversary dumber of P^-RIETY While the Gounicil of Motion Pic- ture Organizations moved actively ahead on one public relations front | last week, the industry was taking ; its accustomed beating on a couple : others. In one instance Hollywood ! was inferentially charged on a ra- i dio show with contributing to the i Chinese Communist attack on Korea. The roundabout reasoning was heard on the “Tex alid Jinx” pro-1 gram on WNBC, N. Y. Being in-| terviewed was Robert Payne, au- ! thor of a biog on Mao Tse-tung, leader of the Chinese Reds. Other incidents in a bad week! for industry public relations in-' eluded remarks by Francis Car- j dinai Spellman in New York; a • charge, widely played in the press, j by William H. Mooring, reviewer ' for C a t h o 1 i c newspapers, that i “Born Yesterday” is subtle Marxist propaganda; and a talk, also wide- ly publicized, by Charles P. Skour- as indicating film biz was very bad because of inroads of TV. Other incidents in a bad week for industry public relations in- cluded remarks by Francis Car- dinal Spellman in New York; a charge, widely played in the press, by William H. Mooring, reviewer Yfor Catholic newspapers, that “Born Yesterday” is subtle Marx ist propaganda; and a Morris Loewensteiu os Prasldent of tho Oklahoma Theotro Ownors puts oceont on tho Hinterlands^ Greater Concern with the Advancing Candy and Popcorn Prices nt a a onothor oditorlol footuro in tho upcoming 45 th Anniversary IS limber of Vj^iety ■f Fate of an arbitrlitiort svstem for the industry hinged largely on the attitude of Allied States Assn, this week following the initial meeting on the matter between Theatre Owners of America and distribu- tion executives. Participants at the conclave uhanimously agreed that any sys- tem for out-of-ourt handling of distributor - exhibitor differences demands that substantially all ex- hibs become party to it in order to be effective. For this reason, no definite action in the way of developing a proposed system was taken at the meeting, which was called by TOA. Efforts now will be made to bring Allied and other regional theatre groups together at an all- industry conference to devise a mutually acceptable system. Prior to the TOA-hOsted session, Allied board chairman Abram F. Myers said he was in a state of uncer- tainty regarding the amount of ground which arbitration legally is permitted to cover. Myers is not averse to the principle of arbitra- Uon but his comments did suggest that the binding plans advanced by some industryites might not be acceptable by the courts. Which- ever plan is adopted, if one is, will Plans for developing a film in-! be submitted to the U. S. district .vmrx dustry arbitration system within 1 court in N. Y. for inclusion in the u... .1.; .1.. oc ih. K Within COMPO j widely publicized; by Charles P., Motion Picture Organizations re-1 of will be con- : Skouras indicaating film biz was ^ere under consideration . suited before any system Is final- 'in top trade I w broached at last week's N. Y. I , A™°”8 ‘he . strong supporters-^ been deceived on the fighting qual ityof the American GI by a Holly- wood film he had seen. Inference i appeared to be that IMao might not ; have chanced the attack on U. S. meeting between reps of Theatre Owners of America and numerous , Bennie Berger, board member distribution executives. i V’*, Reasoning behind the move is Central Allied. His ; nave cnancea me aiiacK on u. o. ' xxeaauning uenuiu me inove is fhom “ic n nrynna troops if he hadn’t been led to be^ i that COMPO s purpose of enhanc-, thought is that there .js a^ crying , uoopb II ne ^laan I ueen leu lo ue inrlnch-v niihli'p rplafinn? nnnlH ' ^ced for .the development of an ap- lieve via the picture that they ing inaustiy puDiic relations could , . . ^ intelligent arbitration weren’t much in the wav of fight- he served best only if the intra- P^opuate, iniei igenc aiDiiiation ueieni muen in tne waj ngnt squabbles are cut, handle industry prob- Pic in question was Harry Joe j to a minimum. Means of accom-j Brown’s 1945 20th-Fox release, “A : plishing this would be through the ; ‘Articulate’ Pic Execs Would Tell ; lems.’ Also backing the idea of cre- Walk in tile Sun ” which Mao saw i arbitration system being projected. * a” . sys^m is I when U was shown to Cl’s sta-! . Since the Industry largely already , Independent tioned in Yenan capital of Red united under the COMPO roof, I ‘ IV ’ TT I it fplt ihat thp all inHiiQtrv nr -1 Harry Brandt. Outfit formally en- China. during World War II. Payne ' “ leii mat me aii-inau.siry oi -1 , /.f orKWi-uHnn then jumped to the conclusion that ' ganization figures as the most feas- • Noised the Hollywood should be “controlled ” ihle base for setting up the arbi-. l*'^ ^®solution last week, aoiiywooa snouiu ue tunuuueu, , . . AUn thP nrnrinqal Meanwhile, the entire subject of presumably by the Government, j tration plan. Also me proposal j tqa conference and “I’m afraid it wasn’t a very good could serve to ease the strain ; weeks lUA conierence ana Catholic Lay Opinion in To Mooring’s ‘Born’ Rap iiiiii j-aviie saiu “It was about placed on COMPO by the current ^he iiext steps to be taken are ’•11 Tf iV' difference*; with Theatre Owners ’ sprouting peculiarities. Reps of guerilla fighting in Italy and It was amerences wim ineaue ; the theatre organization and done in a very unreal Hollv-■ of aone in a veiy unieai, «u|Ay i„cf a leading the distnbs are maintaining a woodish way, and Mao commented last \\ eek s meeting, is a leaamg . ^ secreev on details at the end, Ts this how Americans advocate of arbitration. If COMPO , secrecy on details. fight?’ And at that moment we all J® successful in deyismg a rtiutual- ! felt a little bit of panic. i ly acceptable plan, it fo lows that ,ai.i T . .1 Il|-J “He hadn’t seen Americans fight-; would be moie willing to go |.l\0rill vcDlldl AllicQ ing, actually,” Payne continued. • all-embracing in- Council of Motion Picture Or- i ■.'He’s beard reports of a little band , ^“Sf™“‘’consideration is the means of bringing Allied States ganizations clearly is weighing all!Yenan who'd done very well, but possible approaches for its upcom-' (Continued on page 18) - ing, multi-faceted job of public re- ; ——-—-—^ lations. New plans added, to those :yiai C1IA117C AITADTrD previously disclosed include enlist- • l/vL uflUViu IjUAKlLK ment of “articulate” film execs who, in their travels, would stop j in at local newspaper offices to , . '.^TT ~ \ ' I other charter member groups. 5Villi considerlble Catholic lay discuss the industij in general ) ..f ' opinion apparently piling up in op- Also under consideration is the, the 13 week peuod ended Sept. 30, position to the views of Williani H.*, einployinent of a group.Of Takes Action to Bring Distribs to ‘Senses’ into the arbitration setup within COMPO. Bylaws direct that trade | Minneapolis, Dec. 5. practices are beyond the jurisdic-! Accusing di.stributors of being tion of COMPO and any change In ; “blind” and refusing to recognize UrT AC (POAA AAA I respect would require Allied’s the fact that gro.s.ses are declining Wtl Ur IbZyU,UUU approval, as well as that of all! while film rentals and other pper- T I atlog costs cOntinue to rise, NorMi Central Allied dirCetprs at a meel- ‘ora-1 amounted to $290,000, the compiany ; Moririnv rohimbia is hoping that tors" to tour the country.'speaklng disclosed in New York yesterday j iMoouno, uoiumDia is noping +hn inHmitrv’c; hf^half hMore civic ' Tuesday). Sum represents a drop ' the 26 diocesan newspapers^ seiw f before citic the $ 337,000 net aced by the Coast critic will skip meetings and the tike ! racked un in the eciiiivalent 1949 ' running his review of “Born Yes- New widening of the p.i. P!'®^iendin« SeM teiday" this weekend. In any event, ■gram;w'asd_iscusscd last Thursday ; : ing here took action designed to j “bring the companies to their I senses.” Directors appointed a j committee of four headed by i Henry Green of Minneapolis to Council of Motion Picture Of -1 work out a “plan lo bring about to COMPO EXHIB SAM AS 20TH PHILtY MGR. : Thursday ' semester enaino £>ept, 1.ganizations, which is considering reduction of fUm rentaLs fairly. before the j. ■'a survey of exhibiiprs to determine v and equitably.” (Continued on Page 18) 1 o^ 13-week stretch equaled ; dctivi-i ”NCA members are crying the 133c as again^st 40c. Comparative jg j^Qpg earnings on^the common, aft(?r pi'e-, pointing to a pilot study conducted tributors that film rental reduc- feiTed dividends, are calculated on i Interstate Theatres of Texas tions are essential,” explained .S. the 6o4,311 shai-es outstanding at showing the nature of informa- D. Kane, NCA executive courtvsel. the end ot both periods. . tion which could be obtained on After a special oommittee has de- . Company s operating profit for : vised a plan it will be submitted Tn amiflrleii reshuffle of person-UcSo ono^^ri* ended Sept. fiO was • Survey by Inter.state shows that to the entire board for approval, snth Fox this week ^moved the circuit’s^^^t^ managers are Directors look the position that Marxist propaganda. Miss Paison^^^^ ntamOnfr who had been New r- ^ “solid”, citizens, according to Ar- a general admission boost would, remarked that MO()ring was; gairv D ^n^d. who had ^nJNc^.. 1 . 949 ^^ thur .L. Mayer,. COMPO execiitive not help to solve their problem in reaching” and further suppoiCfor 1 Ypik bi c . piiiiofiel nAn : vicepresident. Total of; 150 thea- view Of present television and oth( r the pic along the same tack is , old ,as^chief ,of OQO. a h ke ot $24,000 ^ oyer the t^emen pTticipated in the Inter- competition and tightening of SbolibTay'souwS®laterin thb who resigned over fhl 13-wecks in 1949. | quiz. Compilation of answers amusement pursestringsAnother Col i.s plugging for the editors to (30) by COMPO execs see the fiiin themselves and at iea.st run some of their own. opinion along with that of Mooring. Col got immediate support from the Motion iPiclure Assn, of Amer- ica and Hearst columnist Louella O. Parsons ini answering Mooring’s blast that “Born ” contained subtle Horovvilz. who resigned ove.f the Week/ weekend for undisclosed reasons. Fni'iiiTiJifelv a.*! far as the distrib ' In revealing the moves, 20 th this coming Weekend in the Los . quest, ,so that the^ move does not Angeles Tidings, the Brooklyn represent a demotion tor mm. tn- Tabiet and the other pa^rs. - -- - til a new branch manager hamecl Most trade observers agreed with for the N. Y. area. Marlin Mos- Miss Far,.sons’ view that Mooring’s ko\yitz will assume the chores co- attack was influenced mo’^e by hi.s incident with his job as Linpiie (Continued on page 8 ) | State district cliiet. No Question Now New Castle, Pa., Dec. 5. Before .last week’s blizzard, City Council defeated an ordi- nance calling for a 10% mU- nicipal amusement tax. After the storm the city got a bill for.- $ 20,000 for .snow remoyah Council . met tigajn and passed the anuksemehi tax. sliows' that the average manager committee was appointed to work is in his 30’s, probably a war Vet- with- Kane to defeat a bill that eran, is married and/has one chiid, would enable Minnesota municipal- it was said. ities to impo.se admission tax, and Majority of managei'vS belong, to to combat other legislation in- their local chamber of commerce, jurions to theatres when Stale Rotary or other clubs, and engag- legislature convenes Jan. 2. NCA ed in a variety of civic activities, succeeded in knocking put such a Of those an.swering, 134 actively bill at the last legislative session* had parlicipated in local welfare but league of municipalities has campaigns, according to the siir- announced intention to sponsor it vey. [again: