Variety (January 1951)

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Wednesday^ January 24, 1951 P^SSlEff PICTCBES 13 Following is a breakdown, by the time of screenings each day, for the second week of the Phonevision tests in Chicago (Jan. 8-H), sjiowing the number of test families who paid for each . screening and what percentage that is of the total 300 families available. Major companies are utilizing such figures to arrive at an estimate of the potential Phoneyision boxollice. Total of 569 paid for the 21 screenings during the week, representing 27% of the available audience, % of Families Who. Saw ' 4 p m; 7 pjiK 9 p.m. Total One Film Jan . 8 ( Mon .) . . . . . . .. 3 25 37 65 22 J U IT* 9. ».••■#•••••• .. 3 38 28 69 ■■■ ,1 a ri . 1 0 i . i • • • • • • • .. 2 29 52 83 27.7 • Jari. 11 . i •••• ••• •• •■ • -3-. : • 31 59 93 U ri . X2 . • * • • » • a ^ . . 3 18 23 44 15 Jan. 13 3 35 50 9.3 31 Jan. 14 (Sun., 2 p n a.) 27 ■■ 42 122 41 Total . . 44' 218 302 569 Women^s division of UIT (American Committee for the Hebrew ! University, Weizmann Institute of ; Science and Te^nion) has taken over the N. y. Bijou theatre for was a letter this week from Robert advance showing of “Women With! B. WIlby, of Georgia, who has put Names" next Wednesday mbrnr ' always looked on COMPO with ing (31). Proceeds ($5 per ticket) | more than a trace of a jaundiced will go to the UIT fund to provide eye. ^ doctors, lawyers and other trained ‘‘I just learned of the changes," personnel for Israel. Picture 'was , he wi'ote, "and I think COMPO made in Italy with backing of Ilya is to be congratulated, for yOur Lopert-Robert w; Dovvling combi group has given it a chance. It did nation. COMPO Moving Ahead Coutinued from pase 4 minds realized that this action taken in the face of Allied’s warning meant the withdrawal of Allied from COMPO." Next mbrning, he said, “fatuous appeals addressed to Allied’s representatives by clumsy meddlers trying to extricate themselves were bruskly Mrs. Robert S. Benjamin, wife of J. Arthvir Rank prexy in the 'U.S;, is co-chairman of women’s division of UIT, Fraud ^ Suits Continued .from page 5 waved aside,” riot have one the other way. So . Myers said the Allied; conrpro1 think TOA has dene k service, Was woxked out at the Now if they will just get going j second day’s luncheon rece.ss by himself, Allied prexy Trueman Rembusch, Nate yamins and Wib bur Snaper “in order to show our 3 1 1 ,81 6 Common Bdiigbt Continued from page 1 Paramount’s bid to buy up 5O0,OOO shares of its conuuon stock at $21.50 per share resulted in the purchase of 311,816 shares for retirement. • ^ (Company withdrew its bid at the clo.so of business last Fi’iday (10). Odor to buy balance of stock may be made later in the veaiv Continued .rbm page 3 version, privileges the right to purchase shares of the cominort stock on the same basis, terms and conditions as if the notes had remained outstanding. ; Another P»'tr stock sale was reported: for board member Maurice Newton; He divested himself of 2.000 shares of the common, leaving a total of 7,605 now held by him. Others , engaging in stock transfer activity were Jack Cohn, exec v.p, of Columbia Pictures, and Robert W. Dowling, pi'exy of City Investing Co., whose real estate properties include some theatres. Cohn gifted 2,100 shares of the Coiiimbia . common, bought 200 shares and now owns a total of 4:i()24 shares. Dowling sold 12,500 .shares of City Investing’s conihibn, leaving hiiri with total direct ownership of 594 shares. He owns 174,633 shares indirectly. R. E. Dowling Realty Corp. purchased 12,500 shares of City Inve.sting common, bringing its new total of shares held to 176,444. week bf Jan. 8-14 included “Sea of Grass” ( iVt-G ), substituted for "Enchanted Cottage” (RKO), Which was pulled because of print trouble; "I Walk Alone” (Par), “Song of Love’’ . (M-Gi, "Voice of the Turtle” (WB), "iOth Avenue Angel” (M-G), “Hagen Girl’* (WB^ and "Golden Earrings” (Par). Under the rotating system involved, each picture is screeried once on three diffei-ent days, at different times of the day. Most popular of the pix shown was “Walk Alorie,” which was ordered b.v 100 families, or 331^^0 of the total possible audierice. Next in line was “Turtle,” Ordered by 93, or 31% of the total. Figures also reveal that very fbW orders are placed for the 4 p.m. screening daily. Only 44 families during the week tuned in their Phonevision receivers at that time, while 218 ordered the screenings at 7 p.m. and 302 tuned iri at 9 p.m. Best hour was the 9 p.m. screening on Thursday, which was ordered by 59 of the 300 families. Phonevision’s potential threat to theatres was soon in the fact that 50 orders were plaGed for the Saturday night showirig and 53 for the Sunday night screening. Those two nights are usually considered the best of the week by exhibitors. the defendants. Where there obviously are discrepancies, settlement ensues. Theatres Not Always Responsible Theatreo wners themSel ves riot always are responsible for the inaccuracies in bvO. statements. It’s known that recently a circuit chieftain invited checkers to a few of his situations because he suspected theatre personnel friight be seek^ ing to enhance their personal in; come via illegal fepdrtmg. Actually, while the situation is a matter of concern to the distribs, it is not regarded as a major problem. It’s said the percentage disputes, for example, are not nearly so important as the private antitrust compiaints going to litigation throughout the nation. In these, of course, the distribs ‘are the defendants. Additionally, instanees of obvious dishonesty are not so numerous in view, of the seven-year pe on their war activities obligations,” : New' Flan ^ New plan as worked oiit by GOMPO’s exec board at a two’day session in New Yoi*k Jari. 11-12 calls for admission of any exhib group approved by an admissions [ committee. Each will have one rep • on a board of directors, which , in turn will elect an exec comitiittee. Each of the 10 charter members of COMPO will have one rep bn this steering body, plus seyeu additional delegates from TOA, seven from Allied and seven elected at large. As now constituted (until the changes are finally ratified) only the 10 charter members can' vote, each having two reps oil the Explaining the nevv setup to his membership, Abraiii Myers declared in last week’s bulletin: “These changes riiay result in the appearance bn the scene of some ' uripleasant characters. Since they are part of the industry, I suppose they must be recogriized, especially if they are to contribute to the expense and participate in the program. Their opportunities for mischief, no matter bn which scene they appear, will be slight good faith and to capitalize on Allied's growing good will, and as a final effort in behalf of those who sincerely believe in COMPO.” "The proposal, outlikied to the board by Nate,” Myers wrote, "Was greeted with applause, although TQA tried to hack away at it ipr awhile. But the pressu re was top much for them to Withstand arid in the end Gamble said that he and his associate would do their best to sell the plan to TOA’s board.” As a result of the action of its reps, in New York, Myers declared* "Allied’s prestige is at the peak ” He added: “There \vere some bitter exchanges betweeri Allied and TOA; and when Gamble; voiced some critieism of the way in which the tax campaign was handied, Trueman Rembusch gave them a fearful castigation for their lack of teamwork. Smarting under the tongue lashing given them not only by Allied but by others, there may be some soreheads in TOA ranks for awhile, although at the end they were quite conciliatory.” Allied’s board will, meet to consider the new plan in Washington Feb. 15-16. The recommended change in the by-laws of COMPO , , in view of the unanimous consent riod covered and the total number • fyie although they will be in a of theatremen playing on percent position to talk matters to death.’’ age. The 500 suits filed in that [ describing the new setup, i. . k • j u i time named only a total of 100 exj Myers remarked of the board of I® hibs. AveFa,ge number of com! directors that it “is destined to various of the chai ter prganiza panies filing separate actions become , knbwn as the Debating against each defendant is believed Society.” In this regard, COMPO to have beeri five, thus accounting was forced last week to issue a for the 500 total. ^ 1 clarification Of A press release given out immediately after the Often, however, epurt battles are averted. Campromises have been j TOA-Allied compromise plan had reached when exhibs voluntarily j been reached in New York, permit auditing of their books and : Majority Rule agree to restitution to the com . At that cime it Was stated that panics where warranted. United Nations type of absolute Distrib complaints are two-fold, veto power now held by each mem* Fill the Seats . Washington, Jan. 23. Biggest job facing COMPO is to make surveys and promote the filmgoing habit so as to help fill the theatre seats, according to Abram F. Myers, chairman of the board of the Allied States Exhibitors. and a COMPO delegate. Hughes Stock C'ontinued froin 5 Actions filed, generally allege shortage in percentage revenue is ac "The problem which looms higher of the exec board would also f gest in the minds of exhibitors all hold for each meriiber of the new s Bd. Approves to CoiRinoii (or 6 Execs Slock option plan for industry cxccs aiJd key personnel has spi’ea.d to Loew’s, where oplioiis to ])iirchase 250,000 shares of the ina.ior’.s common have been approved by the board for six officir.ls. Subject to stookholders’ approval at their annual meeting in Alarch. options went to Dore Schary , production chief, for 100,000 shares; Arthur M. Loew, forci‘.;n chief, 40,000. and Benjamin ■'I’liau, Jo.seph R. Vogel, Charles C; Jl6.sko\Yi:lz and LouivS K. Siclncy, 27.500 shares each: Options may be exercised at • Ill’s per. share, which vy.as the inarkel price wlicri the board approved tile plan last week, , iUmefit for the option hol.der.s unci'.. ir the pjan is that any profit Iroip the slock transaction.s will be romputc-ci as capital gains, rather than strai.ght income, under last St'iuember’s rLiling by the , Treasiiry heparlmentv ^ La^l month. United Paramount , 4 licalrcs voted options to purchase 2,)().Ooo of the = cliain’.s issue for top pcr-('!meL iign Gritics Elect , Language Pre.-vs Film ; ‘ ‘ '.u.s' Circle held itvS. annual meet -'•’Hi election in New York last cvk. • 'N imod iH'cxy was Dr. Manfred 0’or.gc; film editor of Aufbau; Loris Scluvefer, film editor of the ’few ish Dally Forwards becomes V''v'i>ee. vvliiie Signuind Gottlober, H r.'clor of the . American Foreign 1 '.tv.-Kage Press, was reelected the f I I’C le ’s c.xcc sccrc tary. ing up its interest. The stock swap scheme which it is studying contemplates either an exchange for the Greene syndicate’s pictui'c j holdings alone, or possibly the addition of enough other shares held I by Wall Streeters to take from Hughes his entire bundle of theatre stock. Hughes Orders to Dietrich Loosely allied with Greene are under.‘:loocl to be owners of as many as 1,500.000 shares. Hughes’ interest in the swap is indicated by orders of his chief aide, Noah Dietrich, to RKO headquarters in New York to provide Greene’s men with any info desired. A large quantity of statistical matorial has already been delivered to his office and is under araiysis. From this he Will determine whether he is interested, in going ahead at all on the' swap idea and. if so, on what terms. If he does decide to negotiate on the swap— which it is expected Will be determiried in two or three '.weeks ^ Greene wants to have a I plan for the company. It is in this . regard that the scheme is. being studied of selling off part of the theatre circuit One idea mentioned in the Street as a possibility is the sale of all of RKO’s put-of-town houses and retention; of, the New York circuit : However, there are tiiany other ^ possibiilties for. selling part of the circuit and keeping other houses, ; ; Wlulp one vociferous group, of; :: Street professionals favors liquiclar tion of the entire . chain. They ' fi.Gure on , that basi s they coul d get ' $10 • to $12 a share out of the capital avSset.s. Greene group is also awaiting [outcome of the present probe of , • directors of the theatre company : by the Dept, of Justice, on the , ; Squawk that the bpard is made up entirely of Hughes appointees and : ' the company is not thus really • divorced from the picture end. | Findings by the G^men will un j doubtedly influence Greene’s aci ' tion on the stock swap. i companied by commensurate losses j exec committee. However, it was in revenue from flat deals. Charge 1 stated, that the^new board of direcis that income from a percentage | tors would operate oh a majority pic is ii.sed as a yardstick in setting rule. over the country,” said Myers, “is the lack of patronage. I think that this is the big job to be handled by COMPO.” terms for the flat licensing. If the percentage coin is under what it should be, the conse^enee is that the sale on a flat basis also is short of what it riormally would be. Theatres riamed in the Rpsenblatt-American complaint as hav Tliat brought a squawk from a( least one charter organization, which said that was not the Way it understood the compromise. As a result, the clarification went out stating that the unanimity rule would apply in both the board and Local H-63 Continued from 7 SOPEG and SPG which caused them to lose their identity coming been operated by the defend' exec committee. BPard’s only duty ! pictely. ants at one time or another are the ! is to select the seven exec comj Listed changes were (l) expulLake, Lake George; the Gatskill i mitteenien at large. sion of UCJPWA from CIO, (2) Catskill, and the Strand. Water1 Myers’ review for his members -mergbr of SOPEG and SPG into vliet, all N. Y. Recovery is sought , of the two-day New York session [ Screen Employes Guild, (3) merger in each suit from damages result1 . was characteristically biting. “Ted i of expelled UOPW. with two other ing from the alleged under-report Gamble presented TOA’s plan in j national labor groups to form Dising. Charles E. Nichols of the Al; such a way as to convey that, .so ' tributirig, Proces.sing and Office bany firm of. Whalen, McNamee. i far as ’TOA Was concerned, it was i Workers of America, .and (4L Creble & Nichols is attorney for : that or nothing. A few tentative J merger of N.* Y. affiliates of the plaintiffs. In this case, as in all suggestions put forward by Albed j UOPWA, including SOPEG and others, distribs also are represent! as feelers verified this impression ! SPG, with other affiliates of ed by the N. Y. copyright protec: . . , The bare, idea of broadening ! dPOWA, including Wholesale & j the base had considerable appeal, . Warehouse Workers Union; Local but led to some pretty silly ' 65; to form District 65. DPOWA. speeches. Orations were offered in [ Claiming that majority of cornfavor of democracy, our priceless : panics’ emplorees have expres.sed heritage and free institutions.” [ their wish “to be rid of SOPEG Allied objected to TOA’s un and SPG” as bargaining agents, limited membership idea for j H-63 called on distribs and cir I COMPO, Myers said, beeau.se “the ! cuits to give their employees a a . board uridoi ■ I only tion firm of Sargoy & Stein. BdrAssn. Continued from paR:c 1 were televised from a Twin City station and thereafter used by national hookup'. I under any such plan could . definite statement as to recognition conduct mass meetings.’’ It of the two units. Uhion bases its Censuring the "spGctacularity • "muld be too unwieldy to. function, vclaiin of • iilegality on .recognition and scnsationalisiri” and declaring the bar ethics were broken; the report recommended that the Bar ASvSn. apppint another commit tee of representati ves of ‘the federal district court, Minnesota supreme court, press, radio and television, etc., "to determine of the trials would open the ' door to the political bickering arid mancuver.s which we had tried so hard to eliminate from COMPO, Ned pepinet and Austin Keough (who acts as a sort of adviser to Pepinet) both voiced their opposi tion to a large, unwieldy board;” righfei. ; duties and responsibUUies : 'I'i: of each in both civil and criminal actions in order to protect the pub on fact issue is before NLRB, which has not yet given its answer on question of bargaining agerit. Position, of companies is that no action will be taken until NLRB hands down; its decision. H-63 contends that . if emp'o.vees wore giveri choice of bargaining agent, 11^63 would W'iti hands down. For that rerison unipn Aviir press election. The Imbecile Session’’) why Al lied had registered oppositiori to iia 'i'ntK-’esr In court 'orocec^ Unliiiiited membership plan but : Russell Moss, exeeulite v.p.. Of lie unteiest III cowt pipcecnings. i veto. M.vers H-63, who wrote letters to com Use pi radio broadcasts to pro I s “It was thought best to let panies, ,said if employers recogmote publicity, for a judicial officer ' - is described as "prostitution of a high office for persorial advantage” and it’s asserted that “using such a trial for the public’s critertairiment or for saiisfying its curiosity shocks our sensibilities.” the apostles of asininity reap the j pized either SOPEG or SPG, they rewards of their own folly rPfhrir \yould be subject to charge of asr than cast upon Allied the onus of siSting and supporting unions w'nich disrupting COMPO then and "have given aid and comfort to there.” . the pro-Communist movement.” ‘Fatuous Appeals’ ;. VVhile SOPEG and SDG toppers With the unlimited membership ' are expected to resist an H-63 at At the polls last fall, following plan (minus. Allied’s later compro tempted raid, some leaders clairii severe newspaper criticism and the ipise suggestion for both the un* ; they arc not worried, as any change^ committee’s appointment, Judge . limited board and the limited exec over rests with results of an elecMoriarity, who had held office for committee) approved at the conclu tion anfl NLRB certificatjoni They many years/ was defeated for re sion of the fir.st day’s session. Myers appear confident of holding their election. i said that overnigl^t "the brighte'’ pi'csent membership.