Boxoffice-July.17.1948

. .
TH^fi ^*tcC So^cctt^
Legislative Problems
^HIS is one of those even-number years
when more than 40 state legislatures will
go into session.
Also, it is a presidential campaign year
when national issues will crowd out local
issues and local candidates will be swept
along on the national current.
Some exhibitor organizations are already
urging their members to look over the
local, state and congressional candidates
and to ascertain their views, so far as possible,
on taxation and other problems affecting
this business.
Leo F. Wolcott. chairman of the board
of the Iowa-Nebraska Allied unit, whose
A La Mexico
J^LL the exhibitor groups battling municipal
and state taxes ought to file a
dispatch from Mexico City showing how
the government came to the rescue of the
hard hit film men. The government decided
to cancel all debts owed to the government
and to exempt the industry from
all municipal taxes. These exemptions are
limited to producers, distributors and
studios, but they set a unique precedent
which throws a bright light on how much
value Mexican leaders place on their film
industry.
Something New
PARAMOUNT has a very unusual story
idea worked Into a suspenseful film In
"Night Has a Thousand Eyes," It is told
in flashback.s with much dialog, but the interest
never flags and it builds up Into an
exciting climax.
Edward O. Robinson has the role of a
successful vaudeville performer who dls-
By JAMES M. JERAULD
covers he has powers of divination and
can't understand it. It brings him misery
later, but toward the end his prophetic
gifts help him to save the life of the daughter
of his former pianist. He plays his role
with power and insight. It all seems completely
real in spite of the occult factors
involved.
Smart showmen should see the film before
going to work in their campaigns.
Application of a little ingenuity with mystery
teaser slants used freely ought to pay
off handsomely.
Strained Relations
Organize Film Benefits
For Earthquake Victims
New York — Charles Mayer, MPEA
managing: director in Japan, has organized
a series of benefit film showings for
victims of the recent Japanese earthqual(e
in cooperation with native relief
agencies.
In a report to the MPEA office here,
Ma.ver said all six film theatres In the
city of Fukui were demolished in the
quake and at least 1„'".00 patrons in the
theatres were killed. The worst death
toll was taken at the lloko Theatre where
1,000 were killed.
TOA May Invite Rank
To Its Convention
NEW YORK—Theatre Owners of America
directors are talking about inviting J. Arthur
Rank to the annual convention in Chicago
next September. The suggestion was made
during recent talks on convention agenda.
No decision is expected for at least three
weeks.
The directors who proposed the invitation
point out that both Rank and the exhibitors
would gain from a personal exchange of ideas.
Except for Rank's meeting with Abram F.
Myers. Allied States general counsel, and his
appearance in New Orleans last July before
a group of southern exhibitors invited by
E. 'V. Richards jr.. Rank has had little contact
with U.S. theatremen. It has been pointed
out that most of his dealings in this country
have been with distribution presidents
JN SPITE of efforts to maintain a surface
talent for using homely, effective, down-toearth
prose, is well known, states the prob-
American film situation, eruptions
appearance of amity in the British- and high sales and studio officials.
lem
occur Rank was in this country on an extended
this way:
almost daily. Tempers are visit frayed, last
and
"Well,
the
spring to look after his Universalthe
primary elections are over and agitation is more violent and more International
the general
vocal
and Eagle Lion interests. During
public appeared to be either among British exhibitors hit by
too
the
busy new the past three years he has made one
or too lazy to care who will govern
them for the next term .
quota than elsewhere.
visit annually to the U.S.
It has been known for
"We must
some time that
Meanwhile other TOA convention plans are
rebuild our political fences. United Artists, which has
We an interest beginning to
in
shape up. Charles R. Denny,
can't just lie down and quit! Unless the British Odeon circuit, has
we want
been getting executive vice-president of NBC and former
enabling acts, local admission a squeeze play from J. Arthur
taxes and Rank on chairman of the FCC. has been invited to
other unpleasant things next playdates.
discuss the legal aspects of television and
year, every Iowa exhibitor must contact his Right in the middle of the violent
nominees
protests
started by the Cinematograph
network policy for theatre broadcasts.
for state senator and representative
Exhibitors
Ass'n Sam
now and sell them on us—that we are
now
Dembow jr., president of
directly taxed 22 per cent and more Producers Service Corp.,
and
headed
Youngstein
that we
by
want
Mary
Is Captain
to pay for our fair share Pickford, let loose a blast in wliich
of the tax
he
load, but we do not want to be
Of EL Heineman Drive
charged Rank with "perfidy.
discriminated against. This is not a tough In the same week Jack L.
job now.
Warner intimated
in London that his
NEW YORK—Max E. Youngstein, Eagle
You'll find your candidates willing
and
company
anxious
would Lion vice-president in charge of advertising,
to listen to you . . . Take limit its releases in Great Britain.
publicity and exploitation, has been named
your neighboring exhibitors along ... We
captain of the Bill Heineman sales drive in
can't take chances; we can't leave it for
honor of the vice-president in charge of distribution.
The drive began June 4 and will
Jim to do; we must do it ourselves, now!" A New Formula
Other exhibitor leaders are saying the QVER a period of years Abbott & Costello continue thi'ough December 2.
same thing—more elaborately, perhaps, but comedies and horror pictures
not more
have been Youngstein left the home office July 12 for
effectively.
the consistent bread-winners for
In
Universal- a 20-day tour of the 31 Eagle Lion exchanges
Connecticut and New Jersey they are International. The company
facing
turned away to consult with district managers and leading
the problems with a united front. from these when it added
In
International to exhibitors. During his trip. Youngsteiii will
New York plans for the same thing are the name, but it recently
under
decided to do set up large-scale campaigns on the forthcoming
Eagle Lion prod'uct.
discussion.
some experimenting. For the first
It's an
time a
important year for the exhibition picture is listed in
end
a review chart
of
as a
the business.
"horror-comedy."
The idea is so novel that both exhibitors Sanitarium Fund-Raising
and patrons are curious. It's a pre-selling
inspiration. The combination of Abbott.
Groups Gaining Rapidly
Costello, Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney on NEW YORK—Organization of the campaign
to aid the Will Rogers Memorial hos-
a marquee is proving it can pull 'em in.
Some exhibitors say kidding a formula pital at Lake Placid is progressing rapidly.
is dangerous, but they're the cnes who Seven committees have been set up in exchange
areas—New York. Philadelphia,
haven't played it yet.
Boston,
Washington, Buffalo and Cleveland i
and more are planned immediately.
In each area the committees will work]
closely with exhibitor oi-ganizntions and it la I
probable that raffles will bo held to raise]
money needed by the sanitarium.
All branch managers belong to tlu- lominittees.
Latta to Sit for Milder
NEW YORK C. J. Liitta. until recently
Warner Theatre zone mannscr in Albany,
hiis been named as nn alternate for
Mux Milder on the As.sociated Britisli Pictures
Corp. board of directors. Milder Is
niiinagliig director for Warner Bros. In Great
nrltaiii and his company has an important
Interest in ABP.
20
BOXOFFICE July 17. 1948