Scanned from the collections of The Library of Congress Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation \N\N\N. loc.gov/avconservation Motion Picture and Television Reading Room www.loc.gov/rr/mopic Recorded Sound Reference Center www.loc.gov/rr/record m ) AUG 12 1952 riUBLtSHER'i MOTION PICTURE DAILY F Accijr. 1/£ ise and Impartial VOL. 71. NO. 1 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 1952 TEN CENTS Para. Okays Its Films for Skiatron Test Negative Universal Reply Expected; UA Undecided Paramount Pictures will furnish product for a bona fide test in New York City of Skiatron subscription home television, Paul Raibourn, Paramount vice - president, disclosed here. United Artists said it was consider- ing Skiatron's bid, while a spokesman for Universal pointed out that Uni- versal was one of the few companies that did not furnish films for the Phonevision test in Chicago and he felt that there should be no change of policy for the Skiatron test. Raibourn, in commenting on Skiat- ron's request made to all major com- {Continued on page 5) 1932 Brings New Executive Roles to Many in Industry Numerous executive changes in film home office executive staffs become ef- fective today with the start of the new business year. Charles M. Reagan officially takes over this morning as head of domestic distribution for Loew's-M-G-M, suc- ceeding William F. Rodgers, now on an extended vacation in Florida, who enters upon a two-year period in an advisory and consultative capacity. Jerome Pickman, advertising-publi- {Continued on page 5) ,427,000 Warner Profit Last Year Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc. and subsidiary companies report for the year ending Aug. 31, 1951 a net profit of $9,427,000 after provision of $9,- 100,000 for Federal income taxes and after provision of $700,000 for contin- gent liabilities. For the preceding year the net (^Continued on page 4) N, F. Film Delivery Strike Averted Over Holiday; New Deadline Is Set Deliveries of prints to theatres in the New York Metropolitan area and outlying districts were assured over the New Year's holiday and through this week under an agreement reached between the 14 carrier companies and AFL Teamsters Local No. 817, thus dissipating the threat of an immediate film delivery- men's strike, previously scheduled to begin yesterday. The agreement to postpone the strike deadline to this weekend was arrived at following a three-hour drivers' work stoppage which had the effect of delaying print deliveries to theatres by about one hour, according to Ira Meinhardt, attorney for the car- riers. The work stoppage prevailed on Friday during a meeting of negotiators for the union and the companies. Two-Day Color Processing For Film Is Tri-Art Claim With the completion of the new Tri Art Color Corp. laboratory in New York, "it is now possible for a producer to have his film printed in color 48 hours after shooting," Al Young, president of Du Art Labora- tories, the parent company, declared here. In addition to the fact that in- dependents and majors now have a laboratory in the East that can give them immediate service on color features, the color system also is avail- able for speedy handling of color (Continued on page 5) 20th-Fox Sets 12 for First Four Months Twelve pictures to be released dur- ing the first four months of 1952 will be the basis of discussion at the 20th Century-Fox annual sales convention to be held in New York, Jan. 7-11, reports AI Lichtman, 20th's director of distribution. The schedule follows : .January — "Decision Before Dawn," with Richard Basehart, Gary Merrill, Oskar Werner, and Hildegarde Neft', (Continued on page 5) "The Greatest Show on Earth (Cecil B, DeMille — Paramount) THE NEWS this morning is that Cecil B. DeMille is sending another big one your way, one which, aptly enough, carries as its title that immodest but commercially potent slogan of the Ringling Brothers-Barnum & Bailey circus, known everywhere in the land where spare change for entertainment is to be found — "The Great- est Show on Earth." To this motion picture of and about that circus, and its uncomplicated, behind-the-scenes story of circus people, DeMille has brought many of the showmanly investitures for which his productions are noted. Told in a running time of 153 minutes, boasting a cast which includes Betty Hutton, Cornel Wilde, Charlton Heston, Dorothy Lamour, Gloria Grahame, Jimmy Stewart, Henry Wilcoxon and top personalities of the circus, as themselves, and with eye-satisfying color by Technicolor, theatres are assured of one of the top attractions of the year. The picture, in essence, is a box seat at not one, but several performances of "The Greatest Show on Earth" and, in addition, a guided tour behind the scenes into many phases of circus life and activity uncler the big top, even to the interesting details of striking the great show at the end of a date, or (Continued on page 6) 1952 CECIL B.OEMILin greatest grosses TSS^E Top Business Opens '52 at N. Y. Ist-Runs Yule Week Grosses Grow Into Big Season's Take New York's first-run theatres greeted the New Year with heavy patronage that commenced in full force generally at Christmas and mounted steadily during the week. Along Broadway theatres with their glittering marquees and spectacular signs proved for the most part to be as much of a haven for New Year's Eve celebrants as were night clubs, hotels and restaurants. As usual, crowds streamed into Times Square to witness the arrival (Continued on page 4) Neagle, Rohson Are Honored by King London, Jan. 1. — Actresses Anna Neagle and Flora Robson and scriptwriter T. E. B. Clarke were made Commanders of the Order of the British Empire in to- day's Royal Honors List. Among the numerous films Miss Neagle has appeared in are "Spring in Park Lane," "Maytime i n Mayfair," and "Odette." Her latest is "Lady With a Lamp." Miss Robson has been seen in "Saraband for Dead Lovers," "Good Time Girl," "Black Narcissus," and many others. Clarke wrote "Lavender Hill Mob" and other Ealing successes. Miss Neagle last week was named the "First Lady of Britain's Screen" for the fifth successive year in Motion Picture Herald's annual poll of "Top Money Maklnff Stars." Anna Neagle ICO OWON EAR int Picture lOr by TECHNiCOLOP 2 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, January 2, 1952 Personal Mention GEORGE D. BURROWS, Mono- gram and Allied Artists execu- tive vice-president and treasurer, is here from the Coast. • C. J. Feldman, Universal Pictures domestic sales manager, and F. J. A. A'IcCarthv, Southern and Canadian sales manager, will leave here today for Jacksonville, Miami and Nashville. • Ben Berger, head of Berger Amuse- ment Co., will leave Minneapolis this week for an extended vacation in Cali- fornia and Honolulu. • Floyd E. Stone of Motion Picture Herald's editorial department, was married last Saturday at Camden, N. J., to Muriel Oberson. • William Lavery is the new city manager for Walter Reade Theatres in Perth Amboy, N. J. • S. P. Eagle, producer, is here from the Coast.. NETTC Seeks Part In FCC Hearings Washington, Jan. 1. — The Na- tional Exhibitors Theatre Television Committee has asked the Federal Communications Commission for per- mission to take part in the coming theatre television hearings. The original deadHne for filing ap- pearances for the hearings was in Feb. 1950, before NETTC was formed. NETTC now asks the Commission to grant its request to appear, even though filed late, because it repres- ented many firms and organizations already listed as parties and would help bring more efficient and speedy hearings. NETTC members include exhibitors affiliated both with the Theatre Own- ers of America and Allied States^ As- sociation, according to the petition. NETTC has hired special engineering advisors, and will be in a position to "develop, correlate, and coordinate for and present to the commission with its single organized presentation the posi- tion and evidence of a substantial nurn- ber of exhibitors and exhibitor organi zations already parties to the proceed ings." The petition, f^led by NETTC coun- sel Alarcus Cohn, said the exhibitors had already signified their intention of relying on the NETTC presentation to present their case, and thus NETTC's appearance would make : more orderly and speedier hearing. Koteen Setting Up Own Law Office to Handle TV Cases Washington, Jan. 1. — Bernard Ko teen is leaving the Washington law firm of Cohn and Marks, television counsel for the Theatre Owners of America and the National Exhibitors Theatre Television Committee, to set up law practice for himself. He will continue to specialize in radio-tclevi sion cases. Herald Poll Widely Quoted in Britain London, Jan. 1. — British Broadcasting Co. and all na- tional and overseas news bul- letins and newspapers throughout the country car- ried the story of the Motion Picture Herald-Fame exhibi- tors' poll of the top money- making stars at the box- office. Several papers, including the sober Manchester Guar- dian, remarked on the ordi- nary film fan's remarkable disdain, as evidenced by the poll, for the film critics' assessments of pictures. "On the whole," said the Guar- dian, "it seems likely, as usual, that critics and cin- ema-goers look for different, even contradictory qualities in their favorite films." Ban on TV of 'Oscars' Hit As Montague Names Rogers Committees Abe Montague, newly-elected presi- dent of the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital has announced the appoint- ment of five key committees for 1952, as follows : Executive Committee : Chick Lewis, chairman; Harry Brandt, Max A. Cohen, Tom Connors, Maurice Goldstein, John H. Harris, William Heineman, J. Robert Hoff, Al Licht- man, Murray Weiss, Marc Wolf, Herbert Yates, Sr. Finance Committees Fred J. Schwartz, chairman ; Gus Eyssell, Charles Feldman, Leonard Goldenson, Harry Kalmine, Robert Mochrie, Samuel Rinzler, Herman Robbins, Samuel Rosen, Arthur Schwartz, Sam Switow, Morton Thalhimer, Joseph Vogel and Richard Walsh. Public Relations Committees Maurice Bergman and Paul Lazarus, Jr., co-chairmen ; George Dembow, William F. Rodgers and William White. Sales Managers Committee : Charles Reagan, chairman; Charles Feldman, Maurice Goldstein, James Grainger, Heineman, Ben Kalmenson, Uchtman, Robert Mochrie, Montague, Rodgers and Alfred Schwalberg. Fund Raising Advisory Commit- tee : Montague, chairman ; William German, Lewis, Robert Mochrie and Samuel Rosen. Special Committee Named A special committee to refine the rules of eligibility for admission to the hospital was appointed at the annual directors meeting. Richard Walsh is chairman and members include : Rob bins, Arthur Schwartz and Joseph Vogel. Officers not named to specific com mittees will serve as ex-officio on all committees. The new president of the Hospital is setting up a schedule of weekly meetings with the different committees so that the work of all groups can be coordinated and the maximum team work achieved. Franklin, Ind., Jan. 1. — Taking vigorous exception to the rejection of Theatre Network Television's request to make the Academy Award cere- monies in Hollywood available for theatre television next March, True- man T. Rembusch, president of Allied States Association, has addressed a protest to Charles Brackett, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. "The theatres that are pioneering theatre television are opening up a whole new field for every segment of the industry," Rembusch asserts in his letter. "Theatre television may well become the training ground for new faces and give substantial employment to the older Hollywood faces and tech- nicians. "The Academy, by depriving these theatres of the opportunity of carrying the Awards, is doing a diservice to the entire industry. I can tell you that the several thousand exhibitor mem- bers of Allied States Association will seriously resent the Academy's de- cision in this matter unless there are sound reasons behind that decision." Rembusch requests Brackett to re- state the Academy's reasons for refus- ing to clear the Awards ceremonies for theatre television, asserting that an earlier statement on the subject by Margaret Herrick, executitve director of the Academy, was "arbitrary and conducive of generating much ill-will within the industry." Newsreel Ha It Parade ■^'^^ $4,300,000 Loan to Pathe for Financing Pathe Industries has arranged for a $4,300,000 loan, due Jan. 31, 1955, with four banks for the purpose of refin- ancing its outstanding debt, William C. MacMillen, Jr., president, reports. The loan was made by the First Na- tional Bank of Boston, Fidelity "Trust Co. of Newark, Bank of the Manhat- tan Co., and the Marine Midland Trust Co. Eastman Sales to W, J, German, Inc, The firm of W. J. German, Inc., has been appointed sales representa- tive for all Eastman commercial mo- tion picture film, it is announced. William German, head of W. J. German, Inc., formerly was president of J. E. Brulatour, Inc., which pre- viously distributed Eastman's motion picture film. O PORTS reviews of the year are highlighted in three of the cur- rent newsreels. Other items include Korea reports, people in the news, and fashions. Complete contents follow. MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 105-Sports review of 1951. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 234-Bin Stern's sports review of '51. PARAMOUNT, No. 39— Beauty and the blades. People in the news: Harold Stas- sen, George F. Kennan, Cardinal Spellman. Fashions. Boxing-. TELENEWS DIGEST, No. 52-B— Korea report. 5"5" New Jersey says farewell. Illinois mine disaster. Red P.O'.W.'s. Libya report. "Ike" supporters. Cardinal Spellman in Tokyo. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. 521— War in Korea. Mine disaster in Illinois. Midwest blizzard. Ship afire off Oregon. Churchill in Paris. Skiing. Football. WARNER PATHE NEWS, No. 41— Year in sports. Samuel D. Palmer, 69 Hartford, Jan. 1. — Samuel Dimock Palmer, 69, ex-director of advertising and publicity for the old Paramount studios and at one time in a similar position for Universal studios died at Danbury Hospital last week. Breen Condition Fine Hollywood, Jan. \. — Joseph I. Rreen, director of the Production Code Administration, who underwent major surgery here Friday, is now pronounced in excdlent condition. Rep. Closes New Phila. TV Deal Philadelphia, Jan. L — A new con- tract between WPTZ and Republic Pictures, under which the station will get exclusive TV rights here to 101 Westerns and 26 feautres, has been consummated here. Such Western stars as Johny Mack Brown, Sunset Carson, Don Barry, Smiley Burnette, Bob Steele and Dun- can Renoldo are included in the films. The agreement was hailed by the sta- tion as insuring a continued flow of product for its film programs. NEW YORK THEATRES RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL Rockefeller Center DORIS DAY « DANNY THOMAS "I'LL SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS" plus THE MUSIC HALL'S GREAT CHRISTMAS STAGE SHOW sl3iiing JINE RUSSELL ■ CROUCHOMAKX FRANK SINATRA SAMUEL GOLDWYN'S I WANT YOU Now! CRITERION Broadway at 45th St. MOTION PICTURE DAILY. Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Terry Ramsaye, Consulting Editor Published daily, except Saturdays^ Sundays and hiidiys, b^ Quigley Publisfing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New Y-ork 20, N. Y. Telephone Orcle 7-3100. Cable address: ' Quigpubco New Yo?k " MTrtirOuigley PresiLS; Red Kail. Vi'a Pureau. 120 Soiilli l.aSalle Slreel. IJilien Farley, Advertising Reinesenlalivc, EJ 6-.W74; Bruce Trinz, Editorial Representative. 11 North Clark Street, ER-2-2M.3. Washington, J. A. Otlen, National I'rr^s Cliih, W.isliiiiglon, D. C. London llureau. 4 Golden Sq.. London Wl; Hope Burnup, Manager ;■ .Peter Burnup, E'litor; cable address. "Ouigpubco, London." Other Ouiglcy Publications; Motion Picture Herald; Better Theatres and Theatre Sales, each published 13 times a year as a section of Motion Picture Herald; International Motion Pict'urc Almanac; Fame. Entered as second-class matter. Sept, 21, 193S, at the post office at New York, N. Y,, under the act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. Thursday, January 3, 1952 Motion Picture daily 3 Sullivan Toastmaster at Jan. 7 Boston Cancer Building Banquet Boston, Jan. 2. — Gael Sullivan, executive director of the Theatre Owners of America, has accepted an invitation of the Variety Club of New England to be toastmaster at the citation banquet to be held at the Hotel Statler here on Monday in conjunction with the official opening of the new Jimmy Fund Cancer Building of the Children's Cancer Research Foundation. Martin .1. Mullin is president of the Foundation and Louis R. Perini is chairman of the building commttee. Others who have accepted Varety's invitation to attend the ceremonies are Horace Stoneham, president of the New York Giants; Walter O'Malley, president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, and Warren Giles, president of the National Baseball League. Justice Department Extends Deadline in Warner Divestiture Washington, Jan. 2. — The Jus- tice Department has given Warner Brothers a six months' extension of the deadhne for disposing of certain theatres which were to have been sold within one year from the entry of the consent decree and which still have not been sold. This pushes the deadline back from Jan. 4, 1952 to July 5, 1952. Justice officials said that "while Warner has not sold all of the theatres it was required to sell during the first year, it had sold several others which it was not required to sell, and so an extension in the deadline seemed rea- sonable." Seek Amendments To Schine Decree Negotiations for an amended di- vorcement plan covering 18 theatres of the Schine circuit are currently under- way between Schine attorneys and Department of Justice officials, it was learned here yesterday. Schine attorneys are seeking not only to revise the divorcement sched- ule of seven theatres, the date for which expired Dec. 17, but to alter the June 30 disposition date of another 11 theatres under its consent decree, it was reported. An announcement on the success of such negotiations is ex- pected shortly. Kane Retained for Suit Against Hahns Minneapolis, Jan. 2. — Jrank J. Hahn and Frank J. Hahn, Jr., oper- ators of the Bay and Royal theatres at Ashland, Wis., have retained Stan- ley D. Kane, Minneapolis attorney and executive counsel for North Cen- tral Allied to defend them on charges by a number of film companies for alleged under-reporting on pictures. Kane said that he will file an answer of general denial. Separate suits for damages against the Hahns were filed at Superior by 20th-Fox, Warners, Universal, RKO, M-G-M, Paramount and Columbia. San Juan Exhibitor Files Trust Suit San Juan, Jan. 2. — The District Court has received an anti-trust com- plaint filed by Julio S. Bruno, of the El Encanto Theatre here, which seeks $270,000 plus costs. The suit accuses Teodulo Llamas, operator of a 13- theatre circuit in San Juan, and all distributors in Puerto Rico, of con- spiring to prevent the El Encanto from booking first-run pictures since Jan., 1947. Arthur W. Davis With Har groves Arthur W. Davis has been appointed Eastern district manager of Hargroves National Service System, Inc. and will be in charge of the Philadelphia, Pitts- burgh and Washington, exchange ter- ritories with headquarters in the Widener Building, Philadelphia. Davis was formerly general man- ager of the National Field Service Co. Katz, Steinhardt, Pearlman Assigned Alfred Katz, Albert V. Steinhardt and Leonard Pearlman have been as- signed to new posts by Arnold M. Picker, vice-president in charge of foreign distribution, who has realigned the managerial staff in the Caribbean area. Katz, now manager in Puerto Rico, has been promoted to Caribbean area supervisor covering the following : Panama, Cuba, Colombia, Trinidad and Puerto Rico. He will have head- quarters in Havana. Steinhardt, who headed the Trini- dad office, has been succeeded by Katz in Puerto Rico. Pearlman, formerly has been named to fill the manager's post in Trinidad. UA Forms * Employer' Subsidiary for Stars To make it possible for free-lance Hollywood stars to name an "employ- er" in their tax returns when report- ing earnings from roles in pictures produced abroad independently for United Artists release, the company has formed a subsidiary, United Art- ists Production Corp., for this pur- pose. The subsidiary will not engage in financing, it was emphasized. First star to make use of the sub- sidiary will be Claudette Colbert, when she appears in Ken Annakin's British production, "Planter's Wife." 'Queen' Sets Record For UA at Wilshire Los Angeles, Jan. 2. — .\n all-time high United Artists local box-office record of $24,300 at the Fox Wilshire Theatre in Los Angeles was set by John Huston's "The African Queen" for the first week, it was announced. The film, which entered its second week yesterday, broke several other U.^ house records during the week, including opening day grosses. Sisk Pact Extended Hollywood, Jan. 2. — Robert Sisk's contract as a Warner Brothers pro- ducer has been extended by Jack L. Warner, executive producer. Sisk joined the studio's producer staff a year ago. He recently completed "This Woman Is Dangerous," and his cur- rent assignment is the Technicolor production, "Man with A Gun." Press Club Elects Sidney Baltimore, Jan. 2. — Jack Sidney, publicist of Loew's Valencia Theatre here has been elected to the board of governors of the Press Club. Four of U-I Foreign Staff in New Posts Universal International's Cecil Marks, Robert Ferber, James Alexan- der and Martin Jordan have been giv- en new assignments by Al Daff, direc- tor of world sales, and Americo Aboaf, foreign sales manager. Named Trinidad Manager Marks, formerly managing director in Indonesia and more recently on a special assignment in England, has been named manager in Trinidad ; Ferber, who had been manager in Trinidad, has been shifted to the post of rep- resentative in Venezuela ; Alexander, who had been New York representa- tive for Central America, will assume a similar post in LIruguay with head- quarters in Montevideo, and Jordan, Universal's New York representative for Latin America, has been returned to New York following a trip through Latin .A.merica. Ruralites Vote Bing 'The Most Popular' Bing Crosby, Paramount star, has been named "most popular actor" in the ninth annual survey of rural mo- tion picture preferences, announced by the magazine. Country Gentleman. Paramount rates more of the "Ten Best" films of the year than any other company in the magazine's ., survey, with four films selected. They are Cecil B. DeMille's "Samson and Delilah," the Bing Crosby-Jane Wyman pic- ture, "Here Comes the Groom," George Stevens' ".\ Place in the Svm" and the Hal Wallis production, "That's My Boy," starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Metro scored three on the list with "Show Boat," "The Great Caruso" and "Father's Little Dividend ;" War- ner Brothers, two, "On Moonlight Bay" and "Lullaby of Broadway," and 20th Century-Fox made the "Ten Best" with "David and Bathsheba." Remittance Problem In Colombia Ended Washington, Jan. 2. — A remit- tance problem in Colombia has been worked out to the satisfaction of U. S. distributors, it was learned here. Colombia had been insisting that blocked remittances be sent out at a new, depreciated exchange rate, ra- ther than the older rate, which is more favorable to the distributors. An agreement has been worked out under which the new rate will be used, but the remittances will be made very promptly, in three monthly install- ments. Over $.500,000 is involved, it was reported. 'Take' in Admission Taxes Shows Sharp Decline in Month Washington, Jan. 2. — Admission tax collections in December, reflect- ing boxoffice receipts in November, were sharply below those in Decem- ber, 1950, the Bureau of Internal Rev- enue reported. The Bureau put tax receipts this November at $31,084,965, compared with $34,370,182 in the year previous. There is no breakdown as to how much of the total came from motion picture theatres, and how much from other "general admissions," and so it is impossible to use the tax figures to measure the boxoffice impact of "Movietime U.S.A." However, it is to be noted that the Dec, 1951 figure compares with a whopping $37,302,260 total for Nov., 1951, reflecting October business. In previous years, the November- December trend was either an increase or a very slight drop, so it is almost certain that film business did account for at least some of the sharp drop from November to December this year. RKO Radio's Office In Japan Functioning RKO Radio's offices in Tokyo have opened, William Schwartz, general manager, has informed Phil Reisman, vice-president in charge of foreign distribution. Under the direction of Leon D. Britton, Far-East supervisor, the staff includes T. Ishikawa, general sales manager ; Y. Nakatsuka, chief account- ant; M. Morita, publicity chief; K. Murai, Tokyo chief booker ; M. Tam- iwa, Tokyo sales ; K. Shima, Nagoya sales ; and branch managers A. Iga, at Kyushu; S. Ueda at Negoya, and LI. Nakanishi, Osaka. RKO was the first major company to have billboard posters up advertis- ing product, Schwartz reported. Souvaine Pictures Promotes Heiber Edward Heiber, Souvaine Selective Pictures Western district manager since the formation of the company, has been promoted to the post of di- vision sales manager with head- quarters in Chicago. Heiber's terri- tory will embrace Midwest and Far Western districts. With this appoint- ment Heiber becomes the firm's first divisional sales manager. Name Wagner Manager vVashington, Jan. 2. — Gerald Wagner has been named general man- ager of the Playhouse and the Dupont, two local Lopert theatres, to succeed Victor J. Orsinger, who has entered private law practice. Wagner has been serving as Orsinger's assistant. Jean Imhofi^ will be manager of the Dupont and Kenneth J. McGuire be- comes manager of the Playhouse. Robert Goodfried to Para, Publicity Post Hollywood, Jan. 2. — Robert Good- fried, former advertising-publicity di- rector of Eagle Lion Studios, and for the past two years associated with Sherrill Corwin's Metropolitan The- atres Circuit, will join Paramount's studio publicity department Monday, assigned to George Pal Productions. 6 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, January 3, 1952 Film Stocks Up at Year End (Continued from page 1) November Increase In U.K. Attendance London, Jan. 2.— Latest re- turns issued by the Customs and Excise Department re- flect an increase in theatre business in Britain for No- vember. In that month the tax on theatres yielded £3,- 482.000 ($9,749,600), compared with £3,290,000 ($9,212,000). November's increase, a re- versal of the traditional downward trend from Sep- tember to Christmas, is attri- buted to a number of top- grade pictures which went into general release in No- vember and an increase in the country's confidence fol- lowing the general election. Increase Producers' Bonus in Eady Plan London, Jan. 2. — Substantial in- creases in interim bonuses accruing to producers under the so-called Eady Plan will be paid for the second year of the Plan, which will end Aug. 4, 1952, directors of the British Film Production Fund, which administers the Plan, have announced. An interim bonus of 30 per cent will be paid next August for feature films, with 75 per cent on shorts. That compares with a first payment last year of IZYz per cent and 31^ per cent respectively. Payments are based on distributors' grosses. Figures for the first year, to Aug. 4, 1951, are not yet complete but it is anticipated they will amount to a to- tal of 20 per cent for features and 50 per cent for shorts. Offer New Tax Plan For U.K, Theatres London, Jan. 2. — A new theatre tax proposal, advanced by Sir Alexander King, has been submitted to the Cus- toms and Excise authorities by the Cinematograph Exhibitors Associa- tion. The plan envisages no change in the tax on seats up to one shilling. Seats at higher prices would be taxed 50 per cent. Tiie plan also calls for elimination of discrimination, tax- wise, between legitimate and motion picture theatres. The former are not taxed. It is expected that the Customs and Excise department will call an all- trade conference on the matter in the near future. RKO and Mills Music (Continued from page 1) studio operations, and Irving Mills. It is retroactive to 1950. Involved in the agreement, which includes the music of all outside pic- tures released through RKO, other than Walt Disney product, are ap- proximately 40 pictures already in dis- tribution. The contract ijrovides Mills international publishing and foreign royalty collection rights to all back- ground music. Hear Valley Ca^e Jan. 17 Chicago, Jan. 2. — The defendants' request for a change of venue from Chicago to Cincinnati in the "Valley Shop-In," case — The case requesting the breaking of the Cincinnati release .system — will be heard here Jan. 17. creasing trek to motion picture box- offices, concluded as the year ended that the film industry was meeting the challenge of television more effective- ly than at any time since TV arrived on the entertainment scene. The industry's chief weapons were the release of several really outstand- ing productions, a backlog of more of the same and the unprecedented nationwide "Movietime U.S.A." pro- motional tour to sell the public on motion pictures again. It became in- creasingly apparent that the novelty of TV was wearing off and that more people were leaving their sets to see really good films. Consequently, there was good support in trading sessions for motion picture shares. The industry took the TV bull by the horns in other ways. An example was the proposed merger of Para- mount Pictures and yVmerican Broad- casting. Although gross earnings of most film companies were gen- erally higher than those of 1950, net profits were off because of higher operating costs and taxes. But, here, too, traders took a long range view of cau- tious optimism in view of de- velopments late 1951. There was good demand for film shares and they held their own in a highly selective general market. Paramount Pictures stock was out- standing on the "Big Board," finish- ing the year around 26 for a gain of more than four points. United Para- Against Hughes (^Continued from page 1) Justice brief said, adding that the en- tire decree was carefully drawn to get two independent companies and that the trusteeing and eventual sale of the theatre stock was an "integral part" of this plan. Hughes' argument that he does not have to sell the trusteed theatre stock until he is ready "would enable appellant, at his pleasure, to frustrate the primary purpose of the decree — divorcement of the economic interests of the two companies," the brief argued. So long as Hughes gets the divi- dends on the trusteed stock, his pic- ture company has a "powerful induce- ment" to favor the RKO Theatres Company, the high court was told. The consent decree specifically gives the lower court power to prescribe "other terms and conditions" for the trust, Justice said, and "this includes the power to set a reasonable termina- tion date." The time actually set for final disposition of the Hughes theatre stock is more than six years from the date of the consent decree and "is fair by any test," Justice declared. It is particularly important, the court was told, that the lower court be free to take action "calculated to prevent a recalcitrant party from sub- verting the objectives of the reorgani- zation plan." Justice said the District Court "well knew" that between the time of the consent decree and the government motion to force sale of tlie theatre stock, Hughes and the RKO defendants had "repeatedly manifested considerable reluctance to effectuate the divorcement contem- plated by the 1948 decree." Hughes argued that "he does not have to do anything ever" about sell- ing the stock, Justice claimed. In view mount Theaters was steady, selling around 19 at the yeareiid for a frac- tional gain. The new RKO Pictures stock and that of the Theatres Corp. ranged be- tween highs of around $5 a share and lows of $3. RKO Theatres showed a flashy profits comeback in the 13 weeks ended Sept. 29, with a net income of $502,206, compared with $109,697 in the 13- week period ended June 30. Net for the 13 weeks ended March 31 was $441,941. Warner Brothers and Universal Pictures were good performers on the stock market, both gaining more than two points on the year, the former going above $14 a share and the lat- ter to around $12. Universal showed strong gross earning power and de- clared a year-end dividend of 60 cents a share on the common stock. The last previous payment was 25 cents a share, in July, 1948. Loew's, Inc., an amusement stock favorite in Wall Street board rooms, met good demand throughout the year and finished more than a point higher, around $17 a share. Eastman Kodak, 20th Century-Fox and Columbia Pictures were little changed as a result of the year's deal- ings but held steady despite lower net profits reported for earlier periods of the year. Technicolor was a highlight on the Curb Market, rising around $4 a share for the year, to above $22 a share. Monogram was well supported and gained more than a point, to above $3 a share. U-I Backlog (Continued from page 1) and Piper Laurie, will be the second, followed by "Sally and Saint Ann," with Ann Blyth. Lone picture carrying through from last year is "The Untamed," in Tech- nicolor with Joseph Cotten, Shelley Winters and Scott Brady. Technicolor pictures now in the cutting rooms or awaiting release include "Bend of the River," starring James Stewart and Arthur Kennedy ;"The Cimarron Kid," Audie Murphy and Yvette Dugay; "Flame of Araby," Maureen O'Harra and Jeff Chandler; "Steel Town," Ann Sheridan, John Lund and Howard Dufif; "The Treas- ure of Lost Canyon," William Powell and Julia Adams; "The Battle at Apache Pass," John Lund and Jefif Chandler ; "Has Anybody Seen My Gal," Piper Laurie and Rock Hudson; "The World in His Arms," Gregory Peck and Ann Blyth; "Scarlet Angel," Yvonne DeC'arlo and Rock Hud- son; "The Duel at Silver Creek," Audie Murphy; "Bronco Buster," John Lund; and "Son of Ali Eaba," Tony Curtis. Black and white films editing or await'ing release are "Meet Danny Wilson," Frank Sinatra and Shelley Winters; "Francis, Racket Buster," Donald O'Connor: "Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair," Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride; "Here Come the Nelson," Ozzie, Harriet, David and Ricky Nelson; "Finders Keepers," Tom Ewell and Julia Adams; "Hear No Evil," Tony Curtis and Jan Sterling; "Red Ball Express," Jeff Cliandler; "Lost in Alaska," Bud Ab- bott and Lou Costello; "Ma and Pa Kettle Go to Paris," Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride; and "Francis Goes to West Point," Donald O'Connor. Brotman to Follow Law Chicago, Jan. 2. — Oscar Brotman has resigned as a member of the board of directors of Allied Theatres of Illi- nois to devote full time to his law practice. of all this, it was "incumbent on the lower court to set a limit," the brief said. TV. Y. Grosses (Continued from page 1) week's gross at $110,000, reported that the two-day gross was about 10 per cent greater as compared to previous years. "Elopement," plus a stage re- vue there, wound up its first week last night. An excellent $11,700 was registered by "I Want You" at the Criterion for the two days, while a robust $12,618 was racked up for the period by "De- tective Story" at the Mayfair. "Deci- sion Before Dawn" at the Rivoli did a fine $13,600 for both days and a simi- lar good figure was realized for "Dis- tant Drums" at the Warner, which did about $18,000. 'Spy' Doing Well At the Globe, a large $11,327 was taken in for the two-day period by "My Favorite Spy." Similar reports of brisk business came from the Cap- itol, which opened Monday with "Westward the Women," the Astor, now playing "Quo Vadis" on a con- tinuous run policy, and Loew's State, where "The Wide Blue Yonder" had its preview showing Monday. 'Vadis' Breaks House Record in K.C.; Tops 'GWTW in Indianapolis "Quo Vadis" continues to pull very high grosses. In Kansas City, despite inclement weather and extra-ordinary competition from a basketball tourna- ment, it broke the house record at the Midland, where it drew a seven-day gross of $42,000. Regular priced gross- es at this house usually average about $14,500. In Indianapolis the film is outgross- ing "Gone With the Wind" by a wide margin, with a seven-day gross at Loew's there hitting $36,000, where at ordinary scales $10,000 would be the average. Cleveland Holiday Business Ranges from Good to Excellent Cleveland, Jan. 2. — Business here over the holiday weekend was good to excellent. Local neighborhood busi- ness was spotty. The weather was mild and clear. Scanty reports from the territory indicate that some the- atres outgrossed the same period last year, while other theatres reported a drop. Garland Sets Hold-over Record at RKO Palace Judy Garland, now in her 12th week at the two-a-day RKO Palace, has set a new hold-over record for the thea- tre, topping Kate Smith's previous record of 10 weeks in 1931. As to holiday business at the Palace, a big $58,000 was estimated for the week ending Monday. New Year's Eve prices were hiked to $7.20. Carriers Grant Pay (Continued from page 1) $5 pay hike a year from now. It will contain provision for increased vaca- tions, holiday pay and improved in- surance, disability and hospitalization benefits. Some 70 drivers and driver- helpers are involved. A "no strike" clause wiU be included in the pact, Meinhardt said. The month-long negotiations threatened to collapse with a strike on Jan. 1, but just prior to the holiday the carriers won a promise from the union that there would be no walkout until _ at least the end of this week, pending further talks. m BETTY as Holly, Queen of the Flyers r * *1 CHARLTON as Brad, The Boss -man GLORIA as Angel, the Elephant Girl WORLD PRE-RELEASE ENGAGEMENT At The Nation's Greatest Showplace RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL Cecil B.DeMiUe^s Color TECHNICOLOR CORNEL as The Great Sebastian DOROTHY as Phyllis, the "Hula" Girl with HENRY WILCOXON LYLE BETTGER LAWRENCE TIERNEY EMMETT KELLY CUCCIOLA ANTOINETTE CONCELLO and PRODUCED AND DIRECTED BY CECIL B. DeMILLE Produced with the cooperation of Ringling Bros.-Barnum & Bailey Circus Screenplay by FREDRIC M. FRANK, BARRE LYNDON and THEODORE ST. JOHN Story by FREDRIC M. FRANK, THEODORE ST. JOHN and FRANK CAVETT "If It's a Paramount Picture, It's The Best Show in Town" — and this Paramount Picture is THE GREATEST BOXOFFICE SHOW ON EARTH ! JAMES mm as Buttons — a Clown Thursday, January 3, 1952 Motion Picture Daily 9 Motion Picture Daily Feature Reviews 'The Las Vegas Story* (RKO Pictures) THE exploitable strength in this RKO Pictures presentation lies in its cast, topped by Jane Russell, Vincent Price. A'ictor Mature and Hoagy Car- michael. The mechanical plot is a bit enlivened by Carmichael at the piano and p. hair-raising episode involving a chase between a heliocopter and an automo- bile. The formula situations, however, are not improved by a number of double meaning lines directed at Aliss Russell. "The Las \'egas Storj-" finds Miss Russell unhappily married to Price, a wealthy investment broker, involved in a number of shady deals and in dire need of cash. They stop at the XeA'ada gambling town where Miss Russell during the war years was in love with ^lature. Price takes to the gambling tables while Miss Russell tries to retrace the past when she was a vocalist at the Last Chance club. There she meets Mature who is now a detective. Compli- cations pile up when the owner of the club is slain and Price is accused of murder. However, the real killer is found to be a "private eye" for an insur- ance company who has designs on ^Miss Russell. He is slain following a chase by Mature. Price is nabbed for embezzlement, leaving ^Miss Russell free to marry Mature. Others in the cast include Brad Dexter, Gordon Oliver. Jay C. Flippen and Will Wright. Samuel Bischoft was executive producer and Robert Sparks was producer, while Robert Stevenson directed. Running time, 88 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, not set MuRR.w Horowitz 'Indian Uprising" (Edward Small-Columbia) CLEAVING to basic Western formula, "Indian Uprising" is strong on action, light on love interest and has the added attraction of color by Supercinecolor. George Montgomery-, playing a dauntless cavalyrman who has sharp insight into the problems of the Indians and knowledge of the ways of the notorious chief. Geronimo, gives a vigorous performance and is ably assisted by a sizeable cast, including Audrey Long. Carl Benton Reid, Eugene Iglesias, John Baer, Joe Sawyer, Robert Dover, Eddy Waller, Douglas Ken- nedy, Robert Shayne and Miguel Inclan. The essence of the screenplay, which Kenneth Gamet and Richard Schayer made of the latter's stor\-, is that a clique of predatorj- white men were re- sponsible for the insurgence of Geronimo's Apaches, and that peace was restored when Montgomery finally succeeded after many attempts to convince the authorities that the Indians were being deliberately aggravated into raid- ing white communities. Ray Xazarro directed the numerous Indian fights in a manner to create maximum excitement, and maintained throughout the film a sharply drawn distinction between heroism and villainy. Produced by Ber- nard Small, the picture is an Edward Small presentation. Running time, 75 minutes. General audience classification. For January release. Charles L. Fraxke 'Angel With the Trumpet" (London Fihns-Snader) ERNST LOTHAR'S kaleidoscopic novel of Austrian history has been brought to the screen by Sir Alexander Korda's London Films, emerging as a highly dramatic unfoldment of the decades from the time the Austrian republic grew out of the Hapsburg empire until it became a segment of Ger- many's Third Reich. A stirring performance is rendered by Eileen Herlie. in the role of an Austrian woman stalked by tragedy from the moment she first meets the Crown Prince Rudolph to the bitter day when the Nazi storm troopers come to arrest her, a Catholic, because her father was a Jew. The cast is uniformly good, from Basil Sydney as the middle-class piano manufacturer who marries Miss Herlie over the objections of his relatives, to Norman Wooland who plays the tragic figure of Rudolph, Maria Schell, the pianist sweetheart of Eileen's son, and Oscar Werner, the family's wayward son who eventually turns Nazi and returns home in triumph to find his mother dead. Producer Karl Hartl and Franz Tassie did the script, which follows the Lothar story faithfully. Anthony Bushell was the director and presumably is responsible for the leisurely tempo. The film jolts along from climax to cli- max, lacking a sharp focus. Authentic in its mood, it is both sentimental and moving in spots, but on the whole it is spotty in its quality and surprisingly lacking in polish. Art houses probably will find this a stimulating entry. Running time, 98 minutes. General audience classification. Release date, Dec. 20. Lewis Buys Greene Yarn Hollywood, Jan. 2. — David Lewis has purchased the screen rights to Graham Greene's controversial novel, "The End of the Aff^air" and will re- enter active film production. There's oniy one BEACH OCEAN FRONT • 40lh lo 4lil Sli COMPLfTELV AIR-COfJDITIONEO R«(eru employ- ment by Paramount. T WHEN YOU NEED T ^SPECIAL TRAILERS^ 'MOD'JIND f -A-S-r stNp row own to [riJLMACK; CHICAGO. 1377 S. Wabash - NEW YORK. 630 NinlhA».| to arbitrate their differences as pro- vided in Grainger's contract. Arthur Mayer, executive director of the Coun- cil of Motion Picture Organizations, was named as an arbitrator by Grainger. The motion was filed Dec. 17, giv- ing Shea 10 days notice to proceed with arbitration in lieu of a court hearing set for Jan. 10. A'leanwhile, Dorothy Shea, wife of Gerald Shea and daughter of the late M. A. Shea, founder of the Eastern circuit, filed a petition in Bronx Sur- rogate's court asking an accounting of the administration of the Maurice A. Shea Trust, naming Grainger and Edward C. Raftery of the law firm of O'Brien, Driscoll & Raftery, as sole surviving executors and, with Thomas E. Shea, as trustees of the estate. The action alleges that the executors and trustees have not filed or settled their account of proceedings except for an "alleged intermediate account- ing" covering the period from Oct. 29, 1940, to Aug. 31, 1948, and a sup- plemental report covering the period from Aug. 31, 1948, to Sept. 19, 1949. Lender M. A. Shea's will the trust was supposed to terminate on Oct. 19, 1950, 10 years after his death, at which time the beneficiaries were to receive the principal of the trust and the re- mainder of the estate and became en- titled to a "full, complete and detailed account" of the executors and trustees, the Dorothy Shea petition asserts. The petition estimates the value of the estate at approximately $3,000,000. It was filed Dec. 22 and a hearing has been set for Jan. 9. Reached by telephone yesterday at the office of his attorneys' Dillon & Top Salaries (Continued jrom page 1) received the highest remuneration paid by the companies. All directors and officers of Loew's M-G-M as a group received fees, sal- aries and commissions totaling $2,007,- 369 and bonuses and shares in profits totaling $393,333. The Warner directors and officers received remuneration totaling $1,232,- 070. Annual retirement benefits payable to Alayer beginning March 1, 1954, will be $36,142, subject to reduction if he exercises an option to receive annual payments sooner. His remu- neration last year included $156,428 in fees, salary and commissions, and $143,571 in bonuses and shares in profits. Schenck, Rubin, Mannix Listed Nicholas M. Schenck, Loew's Al-G-M president, received during the last fiscal year $130,357 in fees, salary and commissions, and $94,410 as bo- nuses and shares in profits. Other Loew's officers whose remuneration was similarly divided were J. Robert Rubin, vice-president and counsel, who received $104,285, plus $76,611, and Edgar J. Mannix, vice-president, who received $159,035, plus $43,571. -Salaries paid to other Loew's vice- presidents were : William F- Rodgers, $114,714; Charles C. Moskowitz, $156,428; Joseph R. Vogel, $156,428, and Leopold Friedman, $130,357. Eu- gene W. Leake, director and chair- man of the company's audit and fin- ance committee and employes' retire- ment plan committee, received $25,100. .Salaries paid to other Warner offi- O'Brien, Grainger said he was served in the action "on the eve of Christmas Eve." He added that he and his wife went to Atlantic City for the four-day New Y' ear's weekend and that on his return here he received a notice in the mail from Shea Enterprises in- forming him that his services were no longer required. He said he subse- quently was refused access to his of- fice. Grainger said the differences arose during discussions over renewal of his 10-year contract with Shea Enter- prises which expired in 1951 and was extended to 1956. Differences con- cerned the duration of the new con- tract, participation in profits under it and sums alleged to be owed to Grainger under the expired contract. He said the contract provided for ar- bitration of disputes of the kind and it was his intention to submit them to arbitration. Grainger's attorney, commenting on the Shea action" for an accounting by the executors, said that gross assets had increased about 400 per cent, net worth about 250 per cent and cash by over 800 per cent from the time Grainger resigned as Eastern division sales manager for 20th Century-Fox in 1936 to become general manager of Shea Enterprises to Dec. 31, 1950. Grainger was elected president of Shea Enterprises in 1949. Last fall Gerald Shea was elected president and Grainger was again named gen- eral manager. Gerald Shea could not be reached for comment yesterday and efforts to reach Raftery for comment were un- successful also. Wald-Krasna {Continued from page 1) Productions will continue under the RKO banner. The first year's option expired at midnight last Monday and the nego- tiators have been in constant session since. The option permits either side to cancel but the expectation is that agreement will be reached on its ex- tension for another year. cers were : Jack L. Warner, vice- president, $185,550; Harry M. Kal- niine, vice-president, $130,000 ; Albert Warner, vice-president and treasurer; $105,050 ; Samuel Carlisle, controller and assistant treasurer, $51,070 ; Stan- leigh P. Friedman, vice-president, $66,150; Robert W. Perkins, vice- president, secretary and general coun- sel, $105,150; Samuel Schneider, vice- president, $105,150. Holding Corp. Challenges Mayer's, Rubin's Bonus and Profit Rights Loew's, Inc., Louis B. Mayer, J. Robert Rubin and other officers and directors of the company have been named defendants in a suit challenging the legality of the bonus and profit- sharing provisions in the employment contracts which have been held by Mayer and Rubin. The suit was filed yesterday in U. S. District Court here by Geramy Holding Corp. "on behalf of itself and other holders of common stock" in Loew's. The plaintiff charges that the "resi- dual rights" in the employment con- tracts violate the Securities and Ex- change Act of 1934. Slate TV for 20 More WB Houses An additional 20 large- screen television systems have been ordered by Warner Brothers for its theatres, Harry M. Warner, president, revealed here yesterday in his annual report to stockholders. Seven of these, it was added, are currently being in- stalled in Warner theatres. At present, Warner theatres in New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Milwaukee have TV installations. WB Report {Continued from page 1) mon stock, the report said that con- sideration is being given to the ap- propriation of approximately $15,000,- 000 to be used for the purchase by the company of approximately 1,000,- 000 shares pursuant to invitations to tender stock to be mailed to stock- holders shortly after the annual meet- ing, set for Feb. 19. To take advantage of new develop- ments, the report said that the board is convinced that a new plan of re- organization will be necessary, other than that approved Feb. 20, 1951, ef- fecting the divorcement of the com- pany by April 4, 1953. The new de- velopments were listed as necessities to negotiate changes in the bank com- mitments and the Revenue Act of 1951 relating to tax-free reorganiza- tions. Still Show Decline Under the heading of current oper- ations, the report said that box-office receipts of Warner Theatres since Aug. 31 still show a decline as com- pared with the receipts of the same theatres for the same period in 1950. It was added, however, that the per- centage of decline is smaller than that of 1950. The report estimated that the operating profit for the quarter ending Dec. 1, 1951 will be slightly larger than the cor- responding profit of $3,846,000 earned for the same quarter in 1950. It was noted that film rentals, both domestic and for- eign, are greater than in 1950. As reported Wednesday in Motion Picture Daily, the net profit for the year was off $844,000 compared to 1950. With 5,619,785 shares outstand- ing as of August, the net profit per share was $1.67, as compared to $1.46 per share in 1950 with 6,997,300 shares outstanding. Mention was made in the report of the six-month extension granted to the company for the disposition of the re- maining theatres which were to be divested during the first year. Eleven of the required 27, the report noted, have been sold or contracted for sale and the lease on one has expired. Five theatres affected by contingencies in the decree have been disposed of and only one theatre is presently affected by those contingencies, it was added. The sale of the 43 properties at $7,106,000, the report stated, repre- sented a net profit of $2,208,000 be- fore provision for Federal income tax. Of this profit, $1,079 was included in the operations for the fiscal year end- ing Aug. 31. Tken we told tlie industry of our experience in tke opening engagements. MORE FIGURES THAT PROVE "QUO VADIS" IS THE BOX-OFFICE GIANT OF ALL TIME ! "Q.V." grosses, first week, in all of the new engagements compared to "GWTW" in the same cities and the same theatres. All of the grosses below are exclusive of admission tax. "QUO VADIS" BOSTON (2 Theatres) INDIANAPOLIS . KANSAS CITY . NEW ORLEANS NORFOLK. . . . WASHINGTON . BUFFALO .... •80,449 =30,023 =36,085 =37,113 =30,098 = 52,303 =47,063 "GWTW «63,322 *33,165 * 37,646 *35,279 ^25,004 ♦34,752 «40,196 "So proud' 00 of lU Z a: < u6~ J 6 IS ^ -.oco »" i_ ■_ ? ° iS X =^s 5 «S ■ 1 5z« =7 ■ ae O 3 «* b e o « ¥ • ^ ■2 S M 1 ^ 0 0 •* > Q j2 .a tm" <— ttr Q la J E 6 ^ocs ^ t- E — = C3Z U-S s2 E S < i,iiJ ^ =>--^& I luUl-; X o UJ o Q m ; V < i -J >M Ul « Q >..3Sn ;=« 2^ as " = 01 • fe'C'r • = < m >, I -J rt— c iiJT: u"'*' o n lljC — r-lfM qZ w-»Ui 5 Sfocs:; is 2 3 IB !» i Soils sllri o « ii""" I z i« -"sjs I s o 11. 2> oza:"o 2» ills I- C u ^ Is O 0. OS 11.3-' o < 2 ~ u«'-<-^ i_ u"-^ m Z^B-g" . » < pS HI h < ^ to JS a"iS O z o 2 ^lli 01 Z= CO 0:1— |->'^.S < * I b-liS Se..S K = a Wirt; . 0(N t-r e 0 8 • S o « * go •E o * "2 ^ o ^ *a sl s « s • c 5 * 2 2 -00= - «3"z|c5 zOoTs-a? — Oy— OC s U w OHO \ UlUI. =»2z ■ ouiir-'E ^as Sis >- = ^ o 0.2 S"- UJ IMM UJ— -S J. > Sl^^s uj'g^ a iSIIp. CO O t>t,i •-Ski? • 3 Bl a B E 2 _l o o -3 E_ U-o h£Sa= ;2a; =6» I -^i" < oc §=Sg uj^a^ •r-l eft E « St:;! " fi^f- ^S'?;- sSs'f wis - 1 EeSc1 2| o ^ ^ On W CO i Destry will ride tonight— positively NO QUESTION, the show will go on — tonight — and every night ... go on with all the blood-and-thunder that distinguishes the new-day Western — a stellar example of work in- spired by modern technics, equipment, and materials. Here, too, is a stellar example of the way the Eastman Kodak Company functions through the Eastman Technical Service for Motion Picture Film. For, in addition to aiding studio and laboratory in film selection and processing, representatives collaborate with exchange and theater in helping solve problems of pro- jection— help check film and equipment . . . make light measurements, determine proper levels ... all to help assure good showings, black-and-white or color. To maintain this service, the Eastman Kodak Company has branches at strategic centers . . . invites inquiry from all members of the industry. Address: Motion Picfure Film Department EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, ROCHESTER 4, N. Y. East Coast Division Midwest Division West Coast Division 342 Madison Avenue 137 North Wabash Avenue 6706 Santa Monica Blvd. New York 17, N. Y. Chicago 2, Illinois Hollywood 38, California '"9'y free ofp! every Z P^op/e Bu, after a l tl°"°' '"^ °-n yard so t , ''^^ ° c/eof Distributed by RKO Radio Pictures, Ino MOTION PICTURE DAILY VOL. 71. NO. 4 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 1952 TEN CENTS Merchandising Clinic Sparks 20th-Fox Meet To Explore Full Range Of Selling Methods The full range of distribution techniques in selling pictures to the public will be explored at a 20th Century-Fox merchandising chnic, one of the highlights of the annual 20th-Fox sales convention, which will open today at the home office. During the five-day meeting a range of subjects based on the knowledge and experience of the attending exec- utives and field men, will be given full and detailed discussion in order to implement plans and policies for what the company says it considers "the most outstanding line-up of pro- duct ever offered" by 20th. The meeting will be presided over by Al Lichtman, director of distribu- tion, who will be aided throughout the round-table discussions by W. C. (^Continued on page 6) E. Allied Will Meet On Trade Practices Philadelphia, Jan. 6.— Allied of Eastern Pennsylvania has invited all independent exhibitors of this territory to attend a mass meeting on Wednes- day at the Broadwood Hotel here to hear "a full and complete report of conferences held" by Sidney Samuel- son, organization president, "with rep- resentatives of all major film compa- nies on the problem of double features {Continued on page 7) Industry Leaders at 'Jimmy Fund' Dinner Boston, Jan. 6.— The Variety Club of New England, tent No. 23, has an- nounced that high government officials as well as nationally-known figures of the industry, will attend the citation banquet tomorrow evening at the Hotel Statler in conjunction with the official opening of the "Jimmy Fund Cancer Building. Among them will be Secretary ot (Continued on page 6) Adolph Zukor^ 79 Today Sees Good Year for Films Adolph Zukor, who celebrates his 79th birthday today, believes 1952 will mark the beginning of a "settling down" of the business. Inter- viewed at the weekend at his office here, the Paramount Pictures board chairman explained this definition as meaning that there will be steady continuance of Wolf to 6 Variety Events This Month Marc J. Wolf, chief barker of Variety Clubs Internation- al, is down for six functions for January at which he will officiate. They are: Jan. 5, Installation of of - ficers of the Chicago Variety Club, to be held in the Con- gress Hotel; Jan. 7, Dedica- tion ceremonies of the Variety Children's Cancer Research Clinic, Boston; Jan. 11, Chick Lewis testimon'al dinner, Ho- tel Astor, New York; Jan. 14, Installation of officers and crew of the Indianapolis Tent; Jan. 19, Installation of officers and crew of the Buf- falo Tent; Jan. 20, Speaking at the annual banquei of the Pittsburgh Tent. the boxof- fice improve- ment manifest during the past six months. "The people in Hollywood," observed this industry pioneer for whom his birthday will be just another work day at his office in the P a r amount Building, "are concentrat- ing on making pictures that are of 'must' caliber." Developments in 1951 actually served as proof of the accu- racy of Zukor's prediction of one year ago that better pictures and better business were in the offing. Zukor does not look for "abnormal prosperity" for the industry in 1952. He sees no reason why the box-office (Continued on page 6) Adoliph Zukor Rose Bowl Telecast Leaves Authorization in Question The question of authorization to theatre telecast the Rose Bowl game was left begging at the weekend in the wake of the theatre telecast New Year's Day by Sherrill Corwin's Orpheum in Los Angeles, the only theatre in the nation to carry the event. Queries directed at NBC-TV, which had exclusive TV rights to the game and the Tournament of Roses, and to Theatre Network Television, which booked the event for theatres in cooperation with the network, failed to clear up the matter. According to Coast reports, Corwin went ahead with the scheduled tele- cast despite the objections of Pacific Coast Conference football commis- sioner Victor Schmidt and Lathrop Leishman, chairman of the football committee, who voted against lifting the ban on theatre TV reported to be included in the contract with NBC- TV. The ■ game and the Tournament (Continued on page 7) Policy of No MGM Films to TV Holds Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer at the week- end reaffirmed its policy of not selling M-G-M pictures to home television. Queried on the recent call of Jack Kirsch, president of Illinois Allied, to all major companies to make public their stand on the sale of films to TV, a spokesman for M-G-M said that he saw no immediate prospect of any change in the company's policy of (Continued on page 7) 150,000 for Star Tours From M.P. A. A. COMPO Ad Plans Acted On Also By Distributors The Motion Picture Association of America board on Friday voted to make available $150,000' to fin- ance a new series of star tours which will get underway in the spring in conjunction with the Council of Motion Picture Organizations' contin- uing "Movietime U.S.A." campaign. The action was taken at an MPAA board meeting attended by Arthur L. Mayer, COMPO executive vice-president, who received from those present a friendly warning that he will not be "permitted" to leave his post for at least another year. Mayer has repeatedly indicated that he would prefer not to be reelected by the COMPO exec- (Confiniicd on page 6) No Successor to Grainger at Shea There will be no changes in Shea Enterprises' executive management in consequence of the departure of E. C. Grainger, former general manager, Gerald Shea, president, said on Friday. Shea confirmed that Grainger's services had been regretfully "discon- tinued, effective Jan. 1," and declined to comment further. In reply to a question, he said that he would take (Continued on page 6) Hughes Appeal to High Court Today Washington, Jan. 6. — The U. S. Supreme Court tomorrow is sched- uled to hear arguments on the How- ard Hughes appeal, but a decision will probably not be handed down for many weeks. Hughes is appealing an order of the New York Statutory Court that he sell his RKO Theatres stock by Feb. 20, 1953 or watch the trustee sell it for him within two succeeding (Continued on page 6) 1952 will be the year of this industry's greatest grosses 1 A PararnQunt Pietwrfi Color by TECHNICOIOR 2 Motion picture Daily Monday, January 7, 1952 Personal Mention Screen Ads on the Rise, Mack Reports Chicago, Jan. 6.— If present indications continue, 1952 will see screen advertising in the greatest number of theatres ever, reports Irving Mack of Filmack Trailers. The most prevalent trend in screen ad- vertising noted by Mack is the movement on the part of many exhibitors to solicit their own screen advertising among local stores and busi- ness firms. "Commercial screen adver- tising, a lucrative source of revenue, particularly through- out the Southern states for years, is now firmly estab- lished on a national and local basis," said a Filmack state- ment. Cole, Trumbo Win M-G-M Settlements M-G-M has settled out-of-court the suits of writers Lester Cole and Dal- ton Trumbo which sought $350,000 in wages under contracts which were cancelled by the company in conse- quence of the Nov. 25, 1947, declara- tion by the Association of Motion Pic- ture Producers that the so-called "un- friendly 10" writers and directors who had been cited for contempt by the House of Representatives were to be discharged without compensation. The suits, dismissed in U. S. Dis- trict Court in Los Angeles, are similar to pending suits of Ring Lardner, Jr., writer, against 20th Century-Fox, and of Adrian Scott, a producer-director, against RKO Pictures for unpaid wages aggregating about $176,000. The amount of the settlements by M-G-M were undisclosed. Additional settlements are expected to be made before a scheduled Feb. 4 hearing date on some of the suits. No Comment Here Attempts to obtain comment on the settlements from M-G-M here and from Eric A. Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of Amer- ica, were unsuccessful at the weekend. The -AMPP statement in 1947 was issued by Johnston. It read, in part : "We will forthwith discharge or sus- pend without compensation those in our employ, and we will not reemploy any of the 10 until such time as he is acquitted or has purged himself of contempt and declares under oath that he is not a Communist." Some trade circles here have inter- preted the settlement of the Cole and Trumbo suits as a retreat from the original AMPP stand, at least in principle. Report Majors Financing Pool to Settle 'Unfriendly Ten' Suits HoLLYwr«D, Jan. 6. — In the wake of the disclosure that Lester Cole and Dalton Trumbo had withdrawn their suits against M-G-M for salary they would have earned under employment contracts existing at the time of their dismissal in 1948, following refusal to SILAS F. SEADLER, M-G-M ad- vertising manager, will leave here for the Coast Friday. • Mel Everitt of Columbia's Char- lotte office, has been transferred to the Atlanta branch, while Bill Bay- N.^RD goes to the Charlotte branch. • William B. Zoellner, head of M-G-M short subject and newsreel sales, will leave here today on a visit to Eastern branches. • Maurice N. Wolf, field assistant to H. M. RiCHEY, exhibitor relations head, left here for Boston over the weekend. • Jack Shields of the Capitol The- atre, Ansonia, Conn., is recuperating from auto accident injuries. Watertown Meet Is Now Set for Jan. 14 Albany, N. Y., Jan. 6. — The post- poned reorganization luncheon-meet- ing of the Albany Theatre Owners of America for the Northern district will be held at the Woodruff Hotel in Watertown, Jan. 14, with Gael Sulli- van, executive director of the national TOA, as principal speaker, it was dis- closed here at the weekend. Sullivan was scheduled to address a meeting there Dec. 18, which had to be can- celled because of a 24-inch snowstorm. Several of the temporary directors, including Harry Lamont and Jules Perlmutter, and executive director- counsel Lewis A. Sumberg, will ac- company Sullivan to Watertown. Don Gilson, Canton-Massena- Alexandria Bay exhibitor, will preside. A record- ing of the talk which S. H. Fabian, chairman of the executive committee of TOA, delivered on arbitration and industry problems at the Albany meet- ing last month is to be played back. Several Circuits in 'Poison* Bookings Several major circuits in the county have joined the mid- January cross- country saturation premiere for "An- other Man's Poison," the Bette Davis- Gary Merrill feature, William J. Heineman, United Artists distribution vice president, has announced. Included are Warner's, United Pa- ramount, Fox West Coast, Fox Mid- west, Loew's, RKO, Famous Players, Kerasote's, Westland, Fabian, Cumer- ford, Wometco, and others. answer the House Un-American com- mittee's questions, late afternoon newspapers today reported the Cole and Trumbo settlements were the first in a series covering suits on file by other members of the "Unfriendly Ten," and that four major studios had contributed varying amounts to a gen- eral $107,000 pool for the purpose of financing the settlements. Officials of the studios named f M-G-M, Warner Brothers, Univer- sal-International and Columbia), As- sociation of Motion Picture Producers and "Unfriendly Ten" attorney Robert Kenny, withheld comment on the pub- lished stories. Y" FRANK FREEMAN, Para- I • mount vice-president and studio head, will arrive here from Hollywood Thursday for conferences with home office executives. • Harold Wirthwein, Monogram- Allied Artists Western sales manager, left Hollywood yesterday to confer with exchange managers at Western and Mid-West branches. • Joseph A. Walsh, head of branch operations for Paramount, left Los Angeles over the weekend for Seattle. He will leave there on Wednesday for Portland, Ore. • James Reynard has been named manager of Shea's Teck Theatre in Buffalo. All 205 MOT Films To Embassy Houses Norman Elson, president of Guild Enterprises, Inc., owners of the Em- bassy newsreel theatres, has completed a deal with Phil Williams, theatrical sales manager of the March of Time, for the entire 205 issues of the March of Time's "History-in-the-Making Series." The original Embassy-MOT deal, announced on Oct. 17, called for the first 75 issues. The new deal means that the Em- bassy theatres will be playing the MOT films on a twice-a-week change for over two years. U-Fs *Bend* Premiere In Oregon Jan, 23 Universal-International's "Bend of the River," with color by Technicolor, starring James Stewart, Arthur Ken- nedy, Julia Adams and Rock Hudson, will have its world premiere at the Broadway Theatre in Portland, Ore. on Wednesday, Jan. 23, climaxing a three-day celebration marking the opening of Oregon's "Covered Wagon Centennial." The premiere, at which Governor Douglas McKay of Oregon will be host, will launch more than 100 pre- release dates in the territories of Port- land, Seattle, San Francisco and Salt Lake City. Senator Kefauver At IDA Meet U. S. Senator Estes Kefauver will be the principal speaker, and Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II will be guests of honor at a B'nai B'rith Cinema Lodge meeting on be- half of the Joint Defense Appeal on Thursday, Jan. 10, in the Hotel Plaza, it was announced by Harry Brandt, chairman of the event, and Kitty Car- lisle, co-chairman. Also a group of outstanding personalities including Robert Vogeler ; Dr. William Jansen, Superintendent of New York City Schools ; Ezio Pinza ; Monte Irvin of the New York Giants, sportscaster Mel Allen and radio commentator Ben Grauer, will participate in the dra- matic presentation, "Our Children's Tomorrow." Newsreel Parade nf^HE various football Bowl games ■» highlight the current newsreels. Other items include the four released fliers, plane crashes and human inter- est stories. Complete contents follow: MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 3— Cardinal Spellman in Korea. Four U. S. flers freed. Clielsea Arts ball in London. Salamanca plane crash. Sports: Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Sugar Bowl. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 237— Sports: games in the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl. Lybia hails independence. Holiday air tragedy. Ransomed U. S. air- men. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 40-^Football welcomes the New Year: A description oi the games in the Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl and Rose Bowl. TELENEWS DIGEST, No. 1-B— Korea report. Dean Acheson sees fateful new year. U. S. airmen freed. Defense produc- tion. North Atlantic gales. Mine-sweeping. Football: Sugar Bowl. UNIVERSAL NEWS, No. 5Z2-Highlights from the world of sports: Games in the Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Sugar Bowl and Orange Bowl. WARNER PATHE NEWS. No. 4Z-Foot- ball highlights: Bowl games. Four freed U. S. fliers tell story. Lost plane found in Salamanca. Fire in London worst since the blitz. Sacher, Former '306* Lawyer, Is Disbarred Federal Judge Carroll C. Hincks approved here at the weekend the dis- barment from federal practice in this district of Harry Sacher, former coun- sel to New York lATSE Projection- ists Local No. 306, the punishment to be efifective as soon as two local bar groups submit the papers for the jurist's signature. Reds' Defense Lawyer Judge Hincks found that Sacher when serving as a defense lawyer in the trial of 11 top Communist leaders in Federal Court in 1949 "disregarded numerous warnings of the court con- cerning wilful delaying tactics and persisted in making long and repeti- tious arguments and protests." See Agreement Today On W-K Option Hollywood, Jan. 6. — ;It is now ex- pected that negotiators representing Jerry Wald and Norman Krasna and RKO Pictures in their discussions concerning extension of the option for W-K will come up with a final agree- ment today. The first year's option expired at midnight last Monday, but expectations are that an extension will be agreed upon. Wile Assumes New Ohio ITO Post Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 6 — Robert Wile, former Universal Pictures pub- licist, assumes his new post tomorrow as executive secretary of the Inde- pendent Theatre Owners of Ohio, with headquarters here. Wile succeeds the late P. J. (Pete) Wood who held the post for 27 years prior to his death last spring. MOTION PTCTIJRE DAILY. Martm Quigley, Editor-m-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; Terry Ramsaye, Consulting Editor. Published daily, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center. New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York. Martin Quigley, President ; Red Kann, Vice-President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President: Theo J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Raymond Levy, Vice-President; t*?,/" ^Y,^' J^mes P. Cunningham, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager. Hollywood Bureau, Yucca-Vine Building, \yilham R. Weaver, Editor Chicago Bureau, 120 South LaSalle Street, Urben Farley, Advertising Representative, Fl 6-3074; Bruce Trinz, Editorial Representative. 11 North Qark Street, FR-2-2843. Washington, J. A. Otten. National Press Oub, Washington, D. G. London Bureau, 4 Golden Sq., London Wl; Hope Burnup, Manager; Peter Burnup, Editor; cable address, Quigpubco, London. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture Herald; Better Theatres and Theatre Sales, each published 13 times a year as a section of Motion Pjcture Herald; International Motion^ Picture Almanac; Fame. Entered as second-class matter, Sept. 21, 1938, at the post office at New York, N. Y.. under the act of March 3, 1879. Srubscnption rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. • , 0 DECISION BEFORE DAWN Anatole litvak, the m