Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Independents Confident<br />
Of UA Success: Arnall<br />
ATLANTA — Independent<br />
producers<br />
have great confidence in the new United<br />
Artists regime and are now going ahead<br />
with production plans held up during the<br />
company's reorganization, Ellis Arnall,<br />
president of the Society of Independent<br />
Motion Picture Producers, said on his arrival<br />
here Tuesday (6) from the coast.<br />
He will be in his New York office Tuesday<br />
(13).<br />
Arnall said that a general meeting of<br />
SIMPP members previously planned had<br />
not been held while he was on the coast<br />
because of the absence of a number of<br />
members, some of whom were in Europe<br />
and some in the east. A general meeting<br />
will be held later, he said, but no date<br />
has been set.<br />
On arrival in New York, Arnall will<br />
tackle a number of problems closely affecting<br />
the independents, among them<br />
the raw film stock situation, which the<br />
independents regard as serious, and the<br />
fixing of a formula with the German<br />
industry for import licenses for U.S.<br />
films.<br />
He also planned to meet with the Italian<br />
delegation due in New York, in an<br />
effort, in collaboration with the Motion<br />
Picture Ass'n of America, to find solutions<br />
to import problems in Italy.<br />
Film Salesman Exemption<br />
From Wage Freeze Asked<br />
MILWAUKEE — David Beznor, general<br />
counsel for the Colosseum of Motion Picture<br />
Salesmen, this week wired Eric Johnston,<br />
economic stabilizer, asking that wages of film<br />
salesmen for major distributors be exempted<br />
from the wage freeze.<br />
"Aside from the questionable legal right<br />
to freeze wages in industries exempt from<br />
price controls, film salesmen salaries are<br />
lagging far behind the cost of living," he<br />
said. He asked that the Colosseum be given<br />
an immediate opportunity to be heard on its<br />
appeal.<br />
Francis, the Talking Mule,<br />
Wins First 'Patsy' Award<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Francis,<br />
the talking mule,<br />
won the American Humane Association's<br />
first annual "Patsy" award as the best animal<br />
actor of 1950. In a presentation ceremony<br />
at the Carthay Circle Theatre March<br />
7, Francis was decorated with a statuette.<br />
Bonzo, chimpanzee star of U-I's "Bedtime<br />
for Bonzo," was to have presented the<br />
awards, with the aid of Ronald Reagan,<br />
actor. But Bonzo was killed with several<br />
other animals in a fire at an animal compound<br />
in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Bonzo,<br />
whose real name is Tamba, won an award<br />
last year for his work in Paramount's "My<br />
Friend Irma Goes West."<br />
Other winners of the American Humane<br />
award were Flame, an acting police dog;<br />
Black Diamond, a movie horse; Jackie, a<br />
movie lion; Jerry Brown, another horse, and<br />
Lassie, the dog.<br />
Heineman Tells His Staff<br />
UA Outlook Is Bright<br />
NEW YORK—One of the first official acts<br />
of William J. Heineman after taking over at<br />
United Artists as vice-president in charge of<br />
distribution was to send a wire to all members<br />
of the sales force saying, "I know that<br />
given a steady flow of quality product you<br />
will come through with the kind of performance<br />
that will again place United Artists<br />
among the very top majors of the industry."<br />
Heineman pointed out expressions of goodwill<br />
and cooperation which have come in<br />
from leading exhibitors, and said that independent<br />
producers were "rallying to the<br />
UA banner."<br />
He promised a quick list of new product<br />
for the next 90 days.<br />
"This is the happiest day of my life in<br />
joining you at United Artists, having firsthand<br />
knowledge of your wonderful record of<br />
accomplishments," the wire began.<br />
LAUDS SALES FORCE<br />
"In my opinion no company in the industry<br />
has had a harder hitting sales force<br />
on quality product and I know that given<br />
a steady flow of quality product you will<br />
come through with the kind of performance<br />
that will again place United Artists among<br />
the top majors of the industry.<br />
"There is no mystery in distribution. All<br />
that is required is know-how—enthusiasm<br />
and tlie will to work. Every person in this<br />
be given ample opportunity to<br />
company will<br />
prove his worth by pulling his own weight in<br />
the tremendous job that lies before us.<br />
"My confidence and my enthusiasm are<br />
heightened by the very able leadership of<br />
Arthur Krim and his associates. I am happy<br />
and fortunate that Grad Sears has consented<br />
to remain with us and to work with me and<br />
I am grateful for the privilege of being able<br />
to utilize his great ability and experience.<br />
EXPRESSIONS OF GOODWILL<br />
"The expressions of goodwill and cooperation<br />
that have poured in to us during the<br />
past few days from the leading exhibitors<br />
both independent and circuit throughout the<br />
nation are conclusive proof of the great opportunity<br />
that will be offered us. Furthermore,<br />
leading independent producers and<br />
agents representing top personalities are<br />
rallying to our banner and are pledging the<br />
top independent product now available and<br />
to be made available in the future.<br />
"Every day solid progress is being made in<br />
the closing of important talent and product.<br />
"This is it, boys! The chance of a lifetime<br />
for you, for me and for every person<br />
in every capacity connected with United<br />
Artists. My very best wishes to you all."<br />
Meanwhile it was announced that rental<br />
returns from films released by UA for independent<br />
producers will be received by<br />
Walter E. Heller & Co. and deposited in a<br />
special bank account under the terms of the<br />
financial arrangement made by Arthur B.<br />
Krim and his associates with the Chicago<br />
banking firm.<br />
Disbursements will be made only with the<br />
countersignature by a representative of both<br />
companies. The purpose Is to assure producers<br />
that their share of rentals will not be<br />
used for any other purpose.<br />
This applies to all films in current release,<br />
the aim being, according to Krim , to<br />
strengthen the confidence of banks and<br />
other financial institutions.<br />
The step, Krim's announcement read, is<br />
designed not only to provide greater security<br />
for active UA producers, but to create a fairer<br />
financial climate for them and for all independent<br />
producers.<br />
The Heller company, however, will assume<br />
no responsibility for the preparation of the<br />
accountings of the disbursements, nor for<br />
distribution in proper proportion to various<br />
parties entitled to shares. This responsibility<br />
will continue to be with United Artists.<br />
Roster of New Officers<br />
For UA Is Completed<br />
NEW YORK—The roster of new officers<br />
of United Artists has been completed by<br />
Arthur B. Krim, president, as follows:<br />
William J. Heineman, vice-president in<br />
charge of distribution; Max E. Youngstein,<br />
vice-president and national director of advertising;<br />
Seymour M. Peyser, vice-president<br />
and general counsel; Gradwell Sears, vicepresident;<br />
Seward I. Benjamin, secretary;<br />
H. J. Muller, treasurer; Loyd Wright and H.<br />
J. Muller, assistant secretaries; H. A. Weimer<br />
and Seward I. Benjamin, treasurers.<br />
At the same time it was announced Leon<br />
Roth, in charge of national tieups and promotion<br />
for UA, has been named assistant to<br />
Al Tamarin, publicity manager, by Youngstein.<br />
Under the new setup. Roth will continue<br />
handling the national tieups and promotion,<br />
integrating this with the total publicity,<br />
trade relations and exploitation program.<br />
Roth joined UA in June 1943 as a feature<br />
writer and was subsequently named pressbook<br />
editor and then promotion manager.<br />
Blanket Retail Levy Asked<br />
To Replace Excise Taxes<br />
WASHINGTON—Replacement of virtually<br />
all existing excise taxes with a blanket retail<br />
sales tax was proposed Wednesday (7)<br />
by the National Committee for Fair Emergency<br />
Excise Taxation.<br />
Last year this group, consisting of officials<br />
of corporations whose industries are hit by<br />
excises was known as the National Committee<br />
for Repeal of the Wartime Excises, and<br />
Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture<br />
Ass'n of America, was a vice-chairman.<br />
The new plan presented by the committee<br />
to the house ways and means committee<br />
calls for repeal of the present 20 per cent<br />
admissions tax and all other excises except<br />
those on alcohol, tobacco and gasoline. A<br />
sales tax would be placed on all items now<br />
subject to these excises, and on all other retail<br />
items except food, medicine, rent and a<br />
few others. The committee made no recommendation<br />
regarding the rate at which the<br />
proposed tax would be levied, but it would<br />
certainly be lower than 10 per cent.<br />
BOXOFFICE :<br />
: March<br />
10, 1951 11