Variety (August 29, 1951)

4 PICTOIB9 / States Clmb Aboard Gravy Train As Quest (or New Locations Goes On While the Screen Extras Guild Is squawking about Aim location units depriving members of work, and is seeking an equitable solu- tion to the problem, a number of states are trying to chisel in on a lucrative racket enjoyed by Ari- zona, New Mexico, and Utah. According to SEG rules, location units Aiming within 400 miles of Hollywood must use guild mem- bers. But in recent years the com- panies have been using locations beyond that range, employing local citizens for extras. Because Arizona. New Mexico, and Utah are near Hollywood and all boast varied topography, good weather, perfect cloud formations, and other physical characteristics, the companies have concentrated the Aiming of westerns and spec- tacles in those three states. In addi- tion. these states have made a big play to attract the Aim-makers. Joseph Bursey of the New Mexi- co State Tourist Bureau spends all of his time plugging his state to the Aim companies, Prescott, Ariz., has one man assigned for tiie sole purpose of digging up locations in that state for the location units. State and local chamber of com- merces in all three states make concentrated pitches to Hollywood producers, offering all forms of help, facilities, lodgings, employ- ment of local extras, props, etc. Also the "big three” have had so much experience with location units. Aim companies are inclined to favor them. Pander To Il'wood In Arizona, for example, the state chamber of commerce or em- ployment bureau will aid com- panies to employ cowboys. Indians, • Continued on page 16) Reservation? Hollywood, Aug. 28. Art Cameron, Vancouver hotel clerk, did not realize that he was laying the foundation of a Aim career when he gave Bing Crosby the bum's rush a few months ago. Now Art is an actor, playing a hotel clerk in "Son of Pale- face’' at Paramount. Bing's enemy was hired by Bing's friend, Bob Hope. Ferrer’s Earope Trek Jom Ferrer and wife, actress Phyllis Hill, sail on the Liberte from N. Y. Sept. 7 for about three weeks in Paris and London. They’ll attend the opening of producer Stanley Kramer's "Cyrano de Bergerac," in which Ferrer stars, in both cities. Wall St. Gambling On UPT-ABC Deal As FCC Delays • Uncertainty over approval by the Federal Communications Commis- sion of the projected United Para- mount Theatres-American Broad- casting Co. merger has slowed down Wall St. professionals in the complicated arbitrage activities in w^hich they have been engaged with a j on g w jth examples of how they the .locks of the wo cornpan wer * used in this cou olry. arc sent Tn'r-“ r K. tr,,!e , COn f ? c bUV ! n ? 10 each country to be used tn the '' ' r eonserslon ■ manner best suited for each situa* into UPT. if and when the merger tjon is completed. Trade observers reC all the batt ie No game for amateurs, the opera- that rko topper Howard Hughes tion is extremely complex and had with the MPA A several years Russell Ad Art Too Sexy For Brit Tho OK for 1)^ Bodice Raised 6 Inches The Jane Russell art for adver- tising posters for RKO's "His Kind of Woman," which was reported turned down in England because it was too revealing, is the same art used in the U. S., where it also caused some raised eyebrows In the trade. However, the Motion Picture Assn, of America had okayed it for American viewers. British Board of Film Vendors has ordered the top of Miss Rus- sell's dress raised six inches to diminish the "cleavage." Change of the line, "The Hottest Combina- tion Ever," to "The Greatest Com- bination Ever," was also ordered. RKO ofAcials declared that the revision was an "ordinary" proce- dure followed in the advertising and exploitation of all U. S. Alms in England. Same thing is true in other foreign countries, they point- ed out. explaining that the same photographs and painting used in U. S. ads, posters and 24-sheets, technical. Nevertheless, the way the Wall Streeters have it Agured. It will give them UPT preferred at about $11.40 per share. They esti- mate it will be worth at least $17 or $18 "without seasoning," and something more than that after it ago over the advertising of Miss Russell's initial picture, "The Out- law." which resulted in Hughes Aling a triple-damage, anti-trust action against the association. Some observers explain that fre- quently the advertising depart- iii nn |\ • • . tv ill I witituiiu* mu.* i >t‘ ,u quenuy me advertising depart- NLKd Decision Upholds ' s on th * market for a While. Thus, men ts of Aim companies will go as r if everything works out as antici- • *-- **-«- *- SDG in Membershiu Drive ob Among Radio-TV Shows iously Arbitrage specialists in major brokerage houses—who watch for such situations in all industries— were engaged in the UPT-ABC op- of another "cleavage" problem of oration on a moderately large scale, several years ago. but with reverse (Continued on page 55) I "censorship." The MPAA argued that Margaret T<ockwood‘s neckline in "The Wicked Lady," a British Aim, was too revealing for Ameri- can consumption. Consequently, Washington. Aug. 28. As far as the National Labor Relations Board is concerned, the Screen Directors Guild may con- tinue to solicit members among directors of radio and TV shows. In an "administrative decision” which never mentions the Screen Directors Guild by name, the gen- eral counsel of NLRB, has upheld a decision of the board's regional director, who overruled a com- plaint Aled apparently by TV Authority, which also is never men- tioned by name. Administrative decisions, for the Information of the board * and staffers, customarily omit names of the parties in cases. This particu- lar issue Is now terminated by NLRB Decision said in part: "A radio and television directors' union Aled charges against a directors’ guild . . . The charge claimed the guild was an industrial organiza-1 tion which had interfered with em- ployees . . . and which had domi-j ments in the Far East, from 1931 rated the formation and adminis-' up to the present. Some of the se- | far as possible in designing sexy art. then sweat it out with the MPAA. and revise as little as pos- sible and still retain what they onsider the best selling angle. The British action is reminiscent the U. S. MOT ‘Pacific’ Pix Now ■ I j| TV Ci 1 1 tan consumption. consequently, Inked DV LL 1 V Motions these scenes were re-Almed before ' uj the |cture was in the Washington, Aug. 28. ' "Crusade in the Pacific." new series of video Alms launched by March of Time, has already been pacted by 22 TV stations, with MOT figuring that another 40 to 60 will come in for the 26-week set of pictures. First station to actually put this scries on the air was WBNK, in Cleveland, which launched it Thursday '23>. same night as MOT showed several of the episodes to an invitation press and brass hat audience in Washington. 'Crusade in the Pacific" reports on military and political develop- tration of a unit of radio and tele- vision directors, assistant directors, floor managers and others em- ployed by a broadcasting com- pany ..." NLRB general counsel said of the charges: "The general counsel quences are from captured Japa- j nese film and have never before been made available by the armed forces. MOT’s first series was "Crusade In Europe.” which was carried over the ABC web. Network is now ELMAN GETS CHI RIGHTS TO mCANO’ IN SUIT Chicago. Aug. 28. Breach of contract suit between Henri Elman Enterprises and Mo- tion Picture Sales Corp. was par- tially ironed out last week, when MPSC agreed to give distribution rights to Wiilimn Dieterle’s Import, "Volcano." to Elman in the Chicago area. United Artists will handle distribution elsewhere in this coun- try. Elman spokesman said its damage suit against MPSC will still be pending, however. Elman outfit contends the Neil Agnew-Charles Casanave firm had reneged on its contract to give Elman five-year distrib rights on MPSC product. sustained the action of the regional t winding up the second video MOT. director on the ground that further proceedings were unwarranted, finding that although the individual * members of the guild may act as employers when producing a mo- tion picture, they are only such 1 at tlic time so engaged and over the employees they then hire. The guild itself remains a labor organi -1 zation. Since there is no specific evidence that the guild is the em- ployer. or the agent of an em- ployer. in the solicitation of em- ployees. it appears that no viola- tion occurred."' March Years. of e second video MUl, O i r* A I t ft II Time Through the jA(j Asks lait-Hartley Change to Balk Casuals Babb tolfchame ‘Beauty’; ‘Women Only’ Angle Weak Hollywood. Aug. 28. Hollywood. Aug. 28. John Dales. Jr., and Richard Carlson planed to Washington to represent the Screen Actors Guild in an appeal for a modification of ? "«■ T.ft-H.r1l»y Act. insofar as re- MITCHUM’S PAR BALLY Robert Mitchum will piake five personal appearances on the stage of the N. Y. Paramount today tWed.i in connection with the open- ing of "His Kind of Woman” <RKO» in which he costars with Jane Russell. It was Miss Russell's revealing appearance with Mitchum on an advertising poster that recently brought press reports from London that her neckline had been judged too brlLl-nt for the British. Hallmark Production's “Secrets of Beauty." prexy Kroger Babb dis- closed that a new tag and cam- paign would be set for the picture before its national release this fall. "Beauty” was originally to be aimed at "women only" audiences. However, an analysis of the pre-re- lease hookings convinced Babb that the title and sales policy would not attract sufficient women in the mature or middle-aged brackets. Film is now slated to move into general distribution for mixed au- diences under the label of "Why Men Leave Home.” Some six weeks later Hallmark will also re- lease Its "The Best Is Yet to Come.” Starring Ruth Warrick and Ginger Prince, it was formerly titled "One Too Many." quirement to join the union is con- cerned, Although the Guild has a legal union shop contract under the law. a newcomer to films is not required to join the Guild until 30 days after his first day's work. Under this provision, thousands of casuals are taking jobs away from professional actors. Roy M. Brewer, international representative of IATSE, also flew to Washington for the same Senate hearing. >. N. Y. to Europe Lola Albright Irving Allen Linda Darnell Albert ShaiiM Martha King WtdncuUy, Aigtt 19 t 1951 Fib Stocks Get Plug ( ] Film stocks esme in for an unexpected plug in thA New^York World-Telegram ft Sun last week. It was contained /tit a feature story by financial writer Arthur Gorman. He was Writing on in- vestment analysts, how they work and what makes th/ra "experts " interviewing Harry I. Prankard. 2d, of the investment management firm of Lord, Abbett ft Co., which -directs ^fRe uading of large mutual trusts, Gorman wrote: / "One illustration proffered to/show the difference between the 'naive' investor and the specialist will sene to sum it all up. The firm has recently been buying mbtion picture shares. Some 'naive' investor wrote in to say. In effCqt: 'What’s the matter with you guys? Don’t you know the movleVare being forced into the dis- card by television?' \ "The answer," said Mr. Prankard. "is that ‘they didn’t know what we knew. It was our belief motion picture shares were being oversold on just that notion that the movies are headed for the junk heap. We figured X company scares at the price were a bar- gain. There's no common stock that/isn’t a good buy at soma price and none that isn’t a bad buy at some other price’." Fun’s Fun-But You Can’t Meet Unemployment Benefits For It ♦ Hollywood, Aug. 28. Hurry Call Hollywood, Aug. 28. John Call was in a hurry* to get back to New York for a thesping job on the stage. In fact, he was about to climb aboard a plane when Metro sent him a hurry-up summons for a film role. The film is "Young Man in a Hurry." | New Pact’s Terms Bring Sales Union Exit Threat in Chi Chicago, Aug. 28. Move by members of the Chicago Loge, Colosseum of Film Sales- men. to withdraw from the na- tional organization loomed likely after Chicago salesmen expressed dissatisfaction with the terms of the new contract drawrn up be- tween distributors and the Colos- seum bargaining committee. A spokesman for the local group said a meeting will be held Sept. 7 to determine whether to ignore j the national convention set for Oct. 27 in St. Louis or withdraw from the national organization. The new contract, the organiza- tion's first since 1949. calls for a $7 weekly salary increase and a $1 hike in daily expenses for the country’s salesmen. The salesmen complain that' present costs* on the road make the $9 a day expense allowance inadequate. “It's inconceivable that they (the bargaining committee) would even consider it. let alone accept it." the local spokesman said. It was pointed out that the new con- tract avoids the issue of job se- curity and severance pay in the event of dismissal and it will be binding, pending ratification, until October, 1953. — Sameniegos Not Buying Out Dada’s Mex Film Co. Mexico City. Aug. 28. Reported sale of Jorge M. Dada. , independent distributing company here, to Gustavo Sameniegos. for- • mer Columbia Fix assistant man- , ager. has been denied by Dada. Dada, who established this film outfit here in 1912, stated that he never planfied to sell out. and will continue in full control of the com- pany which distributes European and U. S. pix. Sameniegos is now manager at Dada. which was unusually suc- cessful here with its recent pic, , “Apocalipsis" in first-runs here. Europe to N. Y. Herbert Barrett Daniel Blum Rudolf Bing Igor Cassini W olfe Cohen Henri Diamant-Berger Marjorie Gateaon Fanny Holtzmann P. W. (Bill) Manchester Molly Mandaville • Charles Nolte Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr. Herbert J. Yates Screenwriters slipping out of town to woo the muse in som# recreational rendezvous are mak- ing sure they pack their type- writers these days, as a result of a ruling of the California Unem- ployment Insurance Appeals Board. Unimpressed by the aee- old theory that creative genius frequently needs a change of scenery in order to function prop- erly, the board has ruled that fun and jobless benefits don't mix. No longer, apparently, will a writer be able to claim that a brook will help produce a book— or that a study of the various methods of making eight the hard way. is conducive to turning out a more authoritative script deal- ing with gambling. Ruling came in the case of Mrs. , Czenzi Ormonde Heinemann, who maintained that she was available for work through her agents, even though she happened to be spend- ing some time on a farm with her son in^ Idaho. She said she was preparing a script on the Pacific Northwest for submission to pro- | ducers. Mrs. Heinemann's appeal painted vContinued on page 14) N. Y. to L. A. Barney Balaban Earl Blackwell Arthur Blake George Brandt Rosemary Clooney Ruth Cosgrove Andrew Cruickshank Kenny Delmar Margaret Ettinger Ellen Fenwick Judy Holliday Jack Linder James Michener Mitch Miller Louella O. Parsons Mary Pickford William Pine Ralph Riggs Everett Riskln Joe Shribman Mike Stern Robert Strauss L. A. to N. Y. Irving Allen Judith Anderson Warner Anderson James Basevi L. Bush-Fckete Eddie Cantor Ed Cashman Montgomery Clift Andre De Toth Irene Dunne Irving Elman* Nanette Fabray Fred F. Finklehoffe Farley Granger Johnny Grant Pat Hitchcock Howard Horowitz Nat Holt Joseph M. Hyman Seaman Jacobs Victor Jory Arthur B. Krim Burton Lane Roddy McDowall Edmond O’Brien Otto Preminger Vincent Price Ginger Rogers Hal Rossen Ann Sothem John Springer Dave Tebet Forrest Tucker David Tyrell Linn Unkefer Philip A. Waxman Meredith Willson Shelley Winters