Variety (April 1953)

0 / 24 PICTURES ‘Picnic/ ‘Town/ ‘Colonels* Cop Continued Xrom page 1 cible " two for Tennessee Williams’ “Camino Real,” and one for Moss Hart’s adaptation, “The Climate of Eden,” with four crix abstain- ing. In the musical division, 20 aisle- sitters gave the nod to "Town,” one to “Hazel Flagg,” with one ab- staining. “Love of Four Colonels^ was picked by 13, “Dial M For Murder” copped eight votes, with one critic Joshua Logan, and is producer of the Rosalind Russell starrer, “Town,” whose book is by Joseph Fields & Jerome ChodorOv from the Ruth McKenney stories, lyrics, by Betty Comden & Adolph Green, score by Leonard Bernstein. Natural Vision Continued from page S abstaining. I Breakdown of the ballot ran this way: Best domestic play: “Picnic” was selected by Ward Morehouse, World-g’elegram & Sun; Richard Watts, Jr., Post; John Mason Brown, Saturday Review; Robert Coleman,. Mirror; John McClain, Journal-American; Brooks Atkin- son, Times; Jack Gaver, United Press; Whitney Bolton*, Morning Telegraph; Ethel Colby, Journal of Commerce; Mark Barron, Asso- ciated Press; Thomas Dash, Wom- en’s Wear Daily. Casting votes for “Crucible” werfe Lawrence Perry, North American Newspaper Alliance; Richard P. Cooke, Wall Street Journal; Louis Scheaffer,. Brook- lyn Eagle; Tom Wenning, News- week. William Hawkins of the World- Telegram & Sun and John Keating of Cue put their stamp of approval on “Camino,” while John Chapman of the News was the sole upholder of "Eden.” Four abstainers were Walter Kerr, Herald Tribune; Louis Kro- nenberger, 'Time; George Jean Nathan, Theatre Arts and Journal- American; Joseph T. Shipley, New Leader. In the balloting for the best mu- sical, Gaver was the abstainer, and Nathan was the sole abstainer in selections for the best foreign entry. • Two members of the Circle were absent and did not forward proxy ballots. They were Wolcott Gibbs, of the New Yorker, and. Joseph Wood Krutch, on leave of absence from the Nation. Coleman made a motion sug* gesting amalgamation of the Cir- cle with N. Y. crix in the fields of music and films, this, integrated group to hold monthly sessions on the order of the Drama Desk. The motion was vetoed. It was noted that the Theatre Guild, as producer,* won a double- header. it produced the Rex Harrison-Lilli Palmer starrer, “Colonels,” in association with 2,600,000 a week to about 0,000,000 a week by April 25, Gunzburg said, adding that about 70,000,000 specs are now on order and more than 19.Q90,000glasses had already been used. The 10c. price for the viewers will be retained, regardless of any increase in the production rate. Natural Vision at present has three cameras in use and expects to have a fourth ready within a few weeks. Seven pix lensed in the Natural Vision process are either completed* or going' before the cameras, and the company has an •additional 15 commitments for use of its cameras. Natural Vision gets a 5% piece in every film lensed with-its equipment. The seven pix include “Bwana Devil,” "House of Wax” .(WB), “Charge““at Feather Creek” (WB) completed in color; “Fort Ti” (Col) Technicolor; “The Maze” (AA) * in color; “Arizpna Outpost” (RKO) in color, and “The Moonlighters.” Natural Vision 3-D pix are slated also for Italy and Britain when camera units-become available: Par ’.52 Net Continued from page 3 )■-- --* -V that Famous Players, in swinging into TV, has, acquired a 25-year franchise to manufacture and dis- tribute Telemeter through Canada. He also disclosed that a subsid of Par’s Canadian company has ap- plied for TV broadcasting licenses' and already has been granted a permit in Quebec. Balaban told investors that the- atre receipts have held at about the same level of a year ago for pictures of the same calibre and foreign revenues continue, to be “gOod.7 On the 3-D front, Balaban acknowledged that much confusion exists but adds he’s confident that “a practical solution is possible and that it is near.” He feels the public interest in the field of 3-D should prove to be a “strong and welcome stimulus,” NORTH AMERICAN SALUTES A GREAT MOTION PICTURE-PARAMOUNT’S NEW OUTDOOR EPIC mirr Worth American Airlines is proud, to transport the stars of Paramount's great motion picture, "Pony Express," from a world premier* in St. Joseph, Mo., to premieres in eight major ci ties ... along the famous Pony Express Trail. In I860, it took two weeks lor gallant and darJng horsemen <o ride the J 500-mile Pony Express Trail . Today, giant 4-engine Hotlh American, Airlines Skymasters lly over the trail in/hours. COLCyt »Y TKCHNICOLOn CmLTOI BESTOI • mm FLGMIRS romsf ncm - jju rsbuxs BinKCTKb »v JERRY HOPPER moDUCKB tv HAT HOLT A PARAMOUNT PICTURE m CMCH Wf emmemt P’SstiR'fr Curtiz, WB End Pact . Over 50% Salary Cut Hollywood, April 14. One of longest directional asso- ciations in industry history has come to an end with Michael Cur- tiz and Warner Bros, parting com- pany after 26 years. It’s under- stood the studio severed relations with the director when t£e latter declined to go along with the 50% salary cut WB is requesting of its top execs.. v During’ his yeai*s at the Burbank studio, Curtiz megged such pix as “Mission to Moscow,” “Mildred Pierce,” “Life With Father,” “PH See You in My Dreams” and the recently-completed “Trouble Along the Way.” He wop an Academy Award for his direction of “Casa- blanca.” He^lias always ^hsen a WB director except for a brief pe- riod when he formed his own indie company. L Arbitration ' Continued from page 3 - f additional abuses, including viola- tions of the consent decree judg- ment. In fact, there are indications that Allied may call for stricter enforcement of the consent decree and charge laxity on the part of the Dept: of Justice. In testimony before the committee, Allied prexy Wilbur- Snaper will* reportedly re- view the entire arbitration pro- ceedings and reveal heretofore un- disclosed aspects of the talks. Scope Enlarged? TOA, on the other hand, will argue that the industry can work out its own differences without Government intervention. This- was revealed in New York Monday (13) by prexy Alfred. Starr, just back from a five-week trip to Europe. Starr and TOA exec vee-* pee Walter Reade. Jr., are slated to appear before the Senate com- mittee, next Thursday (23). Testi- mony of the TOA leaders will be confined mainly td the question of arbitration, although Starr ac- knowledged- that the scope could* be enlarged depending on the committee’s queries. tt Senate body wifi hold hearings for several days beginning today "(Wed.), probably recess for a few days and resume testimony next Wednesday (22) when the distrib reps will present their views. TOA’s leaders will appear - on Thursday (23) when the whole subject of arbitration is set for air- ing. Lawyers committee of the MPAA is currently preparing its arguments and lining up distrib members who’ll appear before the Senate group. Hewnan Levy, TOA general counsel, will be o‘n hand for the opening of the hearings and will remain throughout the ses- sions as the exhib org’s observer. He’s not scheduled to testify. Europe Reaction - Continued from page 3 approach would be followed. Early 3-D product currently fl playing abroad, he indicated, has received a n.s.h. reception. Exhib topper reported that Eu- ropean exhibs are having difficulty obtaining the Polaroid specs neces- sary for 3-D. He said the card- board throwaway type is not avail- able, and theatres had to buy. the expensive permanent-type glasses. In addition, he pointed out, cost of transportation and duty was quite high. Starr noted that, in general, the- atre biz was surprisingly good abroad. He said he heard few com- plaints about b.o. receipts. He de- clared that dubbing technique has reached a perfection in Europe “that is incredible.” In England, Starr said, exhibs were beginning to worry about im- pact of TV. Up to now, there has been only one video outlet, the BBC station. However, he reported that a commercial-type station, fol- lowing the policy of U. S. stations, is set to open soon with a variety of popular-type entertainment, causing considerable concern among British theatremen. Starr, in New York for a day, returned yesterday (Tues.)' to Mem- phis, headquarters of his theatre chain. He’s due in Washington next Thursday (23) to testify before the Senate Select Committee on Small Business, which is probing industry trade practices. Wednesday, April IS,' 1953 Inside Stuff—Pictures “Go See,” New York Subways Advertising Co.’s car-card feature which plugs a “picture of the month,” will recommend 20th-Fox’s “Call Me Madam” for May although the film has been at the Roxy, NT Y., for the past three weeks. Ad firm claims that “14,000 subway car cards will carry this recommendation to 6,000,000 subway riders, of whom 5,000,000 are city residents and the rest suburbanites.” Subway “pic-of-the-month” feature has been maintained by NYSAC ■ continuously since March, 1941, as a “free public service not con- nected with any film company.” Columbia is pitching for the kid trade with its upcoming release of Stanley Kramer’s “5,000 Fingers of Dr. T,” via a release in June to coincide with the school vacation and extensive tie-ins with manu- facturers of children’s tops and wearing apparel. Disclosure of the merchandising promotion, made in N. Y. over the past weekend, was the opening gun in' the campaign for the pic. Joyce Selznick, working for ad-pub chief Howard LeSieur, set the tieups, which include dis- plays in department and chain stores and sample giveaways and sales at theatres. Three-day run of RKO’s “Androcles andS the Lion” at the Trans- Lux Colony Theatre, N. Y., last week saw each patron carry off a cuffo loaf of bread In keeping with the “atmosphere of the Roman empire in the days of the pre-Christian era.” Devised by manager Hans Barnstyn, the stunt was predicated on the ancient Roman custom when the emperor distributed bread to the populace upon entertainment occasions, Tieup in this instance was with the Pick Quick Super Market, across the street from the Colony, Curtis Mitchell, onetime ad-pub director for Paramount, analyzes 3-D for the layman in a piece scheduled to appear in the April 26 issue of the American Weekly, the Sunday mag section distributed to some top 24 metropolitan newspapers. His yarn heralds the be- ginning of a new era in film theatre entertainmenet and makes the prediction: “As surely as the silent picture has become a museum piece; so must flat pictures vanish within one, or two years.” United Artists now has on its N. Y.. payroll a press rep whose job is to seek space in the sports pages, handling the assignment is Lew Barasch, The sports* angle isn’t unusual, as he’s making the promo- tion pitch for the 3-D lilmization of the upcoming Walcott-Marciano fight in Chicago. Speed of Switch Continued from pace 3 as= switch as soon as 75% of the 2,500 to 3,000 theatres from which it gets more than 80% of its revenue have converted to Cinemascope. Cur- rent plants are to equip 1,000 houses by the end of ’53 and an additional 500 a month thereafter. That means the 3,000 mark could be reached by April of 1954. The report showed a consoli- dated 20th net for 1952 of $4,747,- 587, which includes a special credit of $1,077,755 due to an adjustment of .earnings from a change in ac- counting procedure affecting for- eign operations. Net Was equiva- lent to earnings of $1.71 on the common stock. Earnings for 1951 totalled $4,308,000, or $1.47 a share, but included domestic the- atre operations for a full 52 weeks, whereas 1952 figures took in only 39 weeks of theatre operations, divorcement having gone into ef- fect Sept. 27. 1 Film operations in 1952 account- ed for $2,178,000 of earnings as against $2,128,000 in 1951. World- wide film rentals amounted to $93,- 167,000 in ’52, compared with $92,489,000 in 1951. For the first 14 weeks of ’53, domestic film rentals increased 24.5% with for- eign film rentals up 8.3% during that same period. The increase worldwide was 17.8%.' ’Revolutionary Impact’ Skouras’ message highlighted the acquisition and development of the Cinemascope widescreen sys- tem, ahd commented on “its revo-* lutionary impact on the motion picture industry and the advan- tageous position in which owner- ship of this system” places 20th. He revealed a non-excluslve con- tract with Bausch & Lomb to manufacture the Cinemascope lense in the U. S. where other optical companies al&o \vill turn them .out. The 20th prexy pointed out that, with the potential market of old pix for TV, the company’s library of films was becoming increasingly important. “Up to this time, for our own sound business reasons, we have refrained from disposing of these pictures to television sta- tions,” he stated. “However, with the advent of Cinemascope and other new techniques, it is antici- pated that the theatre demand for motion pictures will be generally for pictures of the new types. The demand for the older pictures will greatly! decrease for theatres. Therefore, it is likely these older pictures will then be made avail- able to television.” The message said work on com- mercializing Eidophor “has been speeded” since the color theatre TV system was first demonstrated last July. “Your corporation’s plans to create live shows of out- standing merit and spectator ap- peal are well progressed,” Skouras declared. He emphasized that Ei- dophor could use the Cinema- Scope screen to good advantage. Reviewing the year's operations, the 20th exec pointed out that the new stocks of 20th and National Theatres on April 8, '53, had an aggregate market value of $2394 whereas a year ago, with National Theatres a wholly-owned subsid, the old 20th stock closed at $17? a a share on that date. The report showed 20th in ’52 released 33 pix of it own, four pro- duced by others and six reissues. Of the 33 films, 13 were in Tech- nicolor and 20 in black and white. Distrib in 1951 also released 33 of its own pix; 28 in 1950, 24 in 1949; 21 in 1948, and 18 in 1947. Average per pic cost in '52 was lowest in the six-year period since 1947. It was pegged at $1,298,000, as against $1,370,000 in 1951 and $1,634,000 in 1950. Per pic cost in 1949 was $1,787,000 and in 1948 $1,869,000, compared with $2,328, 600 in 1947. Inventory at the end of 1952 stood at $58,881,236 as against $57,848,074 in 1951 and $58,295,958 in 1949. “It is anticipated there will be a drop in inventory of from $7,000,000 to $10,000,000 dur- ing 1953” due to CincmaScope, Skouras said. The message pointed out that, since 1942, 20th had earned over $126,000,000 and had paid out over $68,000,000 in dividends. Book value at the end of 1941 was put at $21,560,894. By December, '52 it had risen to $79,910,514. Book value of National Theatres at the time of divorcement was $19,602,- 037, making for an aggregate of $99,512,551. Working capital has been increased from $27,959,944 in ’51 to $66,540,451, a boost of $38,- 580,507. New York Theatres RADIO CITY MUSIC HUt“ .Rockefeller Center DORIS DAY ♦ CORDON MacRAE “BY.THE LIGHT OF THE SILVERY MOON” color by TICMfcOMHt • A Warner Bros. Picture Plus THE mm RAIL'S MEAT EASTER STARE SMW