Boxoffice-December.02.1950

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By ISABEL OLDER
for these in the year ending June 30, 1950.
European projector carbons, mostly from
France and Germany, are providing stiff
competition for American suppliers, and are
threatening to absorb the market entirely.
PRODUCTION OF TELEVISION and radio
sets will drop 25 to 40 per cent after the
New Year, in the opinion of industry leaders,
as a result of the 70 per cent cut in civilian
deliveries of cobalt ordered by the National
Production Authority.
Sale of cobalt, frozen temporarily two weeks
ago, were resumed last week at 30 per cent of
the volume during the first half of this year.
This restriction on the steel-hardening agent
important in making magnetized parts of
radio and TV sets, together with the 35 per
cent cut in civilian use of aluminum, effective
January 1, will hit the industry hard.
"The industry faces dwindling production
in the first quarter of 1951—and after that
it will grow worse," said a spokesman for
the Radio-Television Manufacturers Ass'n.
Representatives of RTMA met last week in
Washington with NPA Administrator William
H. Harrison, to consult on the problem caused
by heavy defense stockpiling of radar and
electronics equipment, in closed session. It
was learned here, however, that the industry
group feels that as a result NPA will provide
enough materials to keep the plants running
at a reduced rate, and that defense orders
later would "take up the slack."
Had the freeze on cobalt been continued,
industry plants would have had to shut down
by the end of next month, according to the
spokesman. Cobalt, described as "highly
essential" in the making of magnets for
radio and TV loudspeakers, is imported from
Africa.
Trade Practice Group
Named for Radio-TV
WASHINGTON — Robert C.
Sprague,
president of the Radio-Television Manufacturers
Ass'n, this week appointed an
RTMA trade practice conference committee
to meet with the Federal Trade
commission in a fair trade practice conference
for the television industry.
This move follows closely an announcement
by the Federal Trade commission
that it was looking into the "child appeal"
advertising of several TV set manufacturers,
but RTMA described this as
"pure coincidence."
The fundamental Objective of the conference,
according to RTMA, will be to
extend and apply the trade practice rules
for the radio manufacturing industry,
promulgated June 22, 1939, to the television
manufacturing industry.
atres, and plans to build a strong chain of
outlets in Havana and the interior.
"Film City," in the outskirts of Havana,
is now in operation. Nine U.S. distributors
took up headquarters there in September,
and adequate office facilities have been
provided. Buildings are modern, air-conditioned
and fire resistant.
HAITI IMPORTED 133 FILMS in the year
ending September 1949, of which 70 per cent
were American, with the remaining 30 per cent
exclusively French, the Department of
Commerce reported. A new distributor
entered the field last year and estimates he
will average 30 full-length films a year. Up
to then, two distributors had been doing all
the importing. Current practice is to import
one positive print, rented for six months to
a year, and re-show it in the capital every
two or three months. Average run is about
three days, and annual revenue to U.S. film
industry is estimated at $30,000.
There are 16 theatres operating in Haiti.
IN FINLAND, PRODUCERS expect to complete
15 feature films in 1950. Difficulties
have been great, with production costs rising
from about $26,000 in 1946 to $43,000 in 1950.
The summer was marked by labor conflict
and threatened strikes, resulting in higher
wages for many groups connected with filmmaking.
Admission prices have increased, and
attendance is off. A total of 19 new theatres
have been started in small towns, but 30 have
gone out of business.
One of the most serious problems is the
shortage of raw film. Importation from England
is blocked, although some importation
has been authorized from Belgium. At present
75 per cent of the raw film used comes
from the USSR with the remaining 25 per
cent almost exclusively from the U.S., Golden
said.
PAKISTANI CENSORS VIEWED 52
feature
films during the third quarter of 1950,
according to the Department of Commerce.
Of these 17 were American and 14 Indian.
This is a drop in American competition,
compared to the first nine months of 1950
considered as a whole, during which 177 feature
films were reviewed, of which 34 were
American and 90 Indian.
The formation of the Pakistani Film Advisory
committee may be a significant factor
in this picture. At its first meeting, in August
of this year, it was resolved that Pakistani
theatres should be asked to show a fixed
quota of native films each year, and a subcommittee
was appointed to investigate the
question levying a reciprocal duty on films
imported from foreign countries.
NATHAN GOLDEN of the Commerce Department
film branch also issued several
other reports during the week on motion picture
business in foreign lands.
Boxoffice receipts in Havana totaled
$819,000 in the third quarter of this year, he reported.
This is a gain from $692,000 in the same
quarter last year, and $803,500 in the second
quarter of this year. A total of 102 films were
shown, of which 66 were American made, accountng
for 75 per cent of the total gross,
and 17 were Mexican. Six Cuban films were
in production or awaiting release.
A new company, called Cines Cadena de
Ora, S. A., has been formed to develop a chain
of theatres which will specialize in Spanishlanguage
releases. Organized by a large Mexican
theatre impresario, it has taken over
management of the Encanto and Alkazar the-
ARGENTINE THEATRES total 8,057 now
operating, and an additional 465 commercial
outlets using 16mm films. Golden further
reported. About 1,500 35mm houses operate
regularly, the rest are in operation only
part of the year.
Almost every small theatre in the interior
is using old French or German projectors
adapted to sound with Argentine-made equipment.
Equipment used in the Buenos Aires
area is good. The need for U.S. equipment is
great, but only the largest houses could afford
it, even if the government authorized its
purchase.
U.S. carbons are offered in Argentina at
about twice the price of German carbons, because
of the unfavorable exchange rate. All
but the most delicate pieces of equipment are
being manufactured in Argentina, although
the rate is insufficient to meet the demand.
A relatively good 35mm projector, equipped
with Philips sound equipment and sold under
the name of Philips, is made in Argentina and
production ranges from 50 to 70 projectors a
year.
Uranium Firm Under Probe
Headed by Paul McNutt
NEW YORK—State Attorney General
Nathaniel L. Goldstein created a sensation
in financial and film circles by announcing
that he was investigating the sale of American-Canadian
Uranium Co., Ltd., stock under
the "blue sky" laws of the state.
Paul V. McNutt, chairman of the board of
United Artists, is president of American-
Canadian Uranium and Josiaii Marvel jr.,
former minister to Denmark, is vice-president.
Goldstein said that "insiders" control 83
per cent of the stock and that the remaining
17 per cent is being sold in New York for
$3.50 per share. It is listed as having ten
cents par value.
United Para, to Pay 50c
NEW YORK—Directors of United Paramount
Tlieatres, Inc., have voted a dividend
of 50 cents per share on the common, payable
December 20 to holders of record on
December 5. Leonard H. Goldenson, president,
made the announcement.
PERUVIAN CENSORS reviewed 135 feature
films during the third quarter of 1950. Of
these, 51 were U.S. productions and 26 were
Mexican.
Some theatres which were closed have been
renovated and reopened, and several new ones
have been built. Importation of U.S. equipment
is subject to stringent control, and this
equipment is being supplied on an increasing
basis from Europe.
Sale of equipment parts, which is not
restricted, is active. Around $40,000 was spent of record December 1.
Paramount Declares Dividend
NEW YORK—Tlie board of directors of
Paramount Pictures Corp. has voted a quarterly
dividend of 50 cents per share on the
common, payable December 1 1 to stockholders
30 BOXOFFICE December 2, 1950