Boxoffice-March.10.1951

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Waive Wage Freeze
For Studio Talent
WASHINGTON — The film industry has
won its battle for a temporary waiver of the
wage freeze as applied to contractual talent,
including actors, directors, writers, producers
and others.
W. Willard Wirtz, executive director of the
Wage Stabilization Board, ruled late Wednesday
C7) that the industry could maintain its
present wage contract setup for talent, subject
to review by the board itself, it was
learned. Government sources said that the
"interim relief" requested by the Motion P>icture
Ass'n of America and west coast industry
representatives in a series of conferences
with Wirtz was granted in a letter handed to
Hollywood attorneys Maurice Benjamin and
Arthur Preston, who represented the Ass'n of
Motion Picture Producers in the negotiations.
The letter, addressed to MPAA, AMPP,
Screen Actors Guild and Screen Directors
Guild, stressed that the waiver of the freeze
is in accordance with Wage Regulation 5,
which deals with merit and length of service
increases, promotions, transfers and new employment.
TEXT OF RULING RELEASESD
The Wage Stabilization Board released the
text of its ruling granting interim relief to
film studio contractual talent pending final
review of the subject by the board.
The board listed these classifications of
talent as coming under the ruling: Actors,
actresses, extras, producers and associate
producers; directors and producer directors;
assistant directors, including technical directors;
dance directors, writers, song writers,
composers, musicians, art directors, wardrobe
designers, cameramen, sound engineers and
film editors.
Wirtz told the industry "it is contemplated
at the problems in this field will be the
ly subject of separate treatment in the
ievelopment of a salary stabilization program
as contrasted with the wage stabilization
program."
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Wirtz said that in the meantime, with
:gard to contracts which were in effect
'anuary 25, date of the wage freeze, employers
can pay whatever the terms of the
contract required, including options and
^periodic increases.
^H "These seem to constitute merit and/or
^Bength of service increases within the
^Hneaning of wage stabilization regulation
^lumber 5," Wirtz stated. Contracts signed
^Rfter January 25, the letter continued, can be
considered as new or changed jobs or for
promotion or transfer purposes under the
terms of Regulation Number 5.
TO FOLLOW 1950 PRACTICE
In fixing talent pay, the employer must
follow the same practice in determining the
pay scale as he did in 1950 the letter explained
"compensation must be in balance
with the compensation paid to comparable
talent," Wirtz added.
Explaining this particular ruling he said
it would apply to new contracts and to contracts
replacing or modifying existing contracts.
He cited as an example of the ruling's
application "the case of significant enhancein
the talent value of an employe
an existent contract."
SENATOR TO VARIETY CLUB—
Senator Pat McCarran of Nevada is
shown at the Hotel Flamingo in Las
Vegas receiving his membership card to
Variety Tent 39 from Jack Walsh, right.
Bennie Goffstein, left, chief bariier and
a prime mover in establishing the Las
Vegas tent, looks on with approval.
Dale Evans Set to Star
In 'South of Caliente'
HOLLYWOOD—For the first time in a
year. Dale Evans will team with her husband,
Roy Rogers, in the sagebrush star's next for
Republic, "South of Caliente."
Miss Evans took time out for motherhood
and during the interval was replaced in the
Rogers oaters by Penny Edwards.
Plan Army Camp Shows
HOLLYWOOD—First step toward formulating
a united show business front in planning
entertainment for the armed forces was
taken when a joint meeting of the Hollywood
Coordinating Committee and the recently
reactivated USO Camp Shows organization
was held at the headquarters of the Screen
Actors Guild. George Murphy, HCC president,
and Abe Lastfogel, Camp Shows board
chairman, presided.
Tentative plans for pooling
the HCC and USO efforts were discussed.
Army Inducts Operator
LOVINGTON, N. M. — Walter Williams,
operator at the Lea Theatre, has been called
into the service. Bobby Haley, son of Alvah
Haley, theatre manager, has replaced him.
Install New Sound at Rex
ELGIN, ORE.—Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth
Kinzer, manager of the Rex Theatre, have
installed new sound and projection equipment.
Wm. Selw"yn Switches to Mono.
HOLLYWOOD—Succeeding Fred Messenger,
who recently resigned, William Selwyn
has been named casting director for Monogram
and Allied Artists. Selwyn was formerly
casting chief for Samuel Goldwyn.
New Owner to Plymouth Theatre
PAYETTE, IDA.—J. Dexter Whalen has
purchased the Plymouth Theatre from James
L. Jewell, who has operated it since 1949.
Influenza and Lent
Hit Grosses at L. A.
LOS ANGELES—A bad siege of influenza
and the Lenten season combined to strike
sharply at first run boxoffices. Four bills
managed to attain 110 per cent, but in most
other situations the take was under normal.
Still among the leaders, in its tenth record
week, was "Born Yesterday."
(Average Is 100)
Chinese, Lcs Angeles, Loyola, Uptown, Wilshire
—I'd Climb the Highest Mountain (20th-Fox),
Fingerprints Don't Lie (LP) 75
£gyptian, Loew's State Three Guys Named Mike
(MGM), Outlaws of Texas (Mono), at State only 110
El Rey—Seven Days to Noon (Maylux), 2nd wk. 90
Fine Arts Cyrano de Bergerac (UA), advanced
prices, 15th wk 105
Four Star ^Manon (Discina), 4th wk - 75
Hillstreet, Pantages—Bom Yesterday (Col), 10th
wk 110
Hollywood, Downtown Paramounts Molly (Para);
Quebec (Para) 55
Orpheum, Hawaii The Flying Missile (Col); A
Yank in Korea (Col) 110
United Artists, Culver, Studio City, Rilz, Vogue
Tomahawk (U-1), 2nd wk 70
Warners Hollywood, Downtown, • Wiltern Lightning
Strikes Twice (WB) 110
Three Denver Downto'wners
Hit 200 Column
DENVER—First run business was generally
good, with three houses doing 200 per cent
and four being pegged at 150. "Vengeance
Valley" is staying at the Broadway.
Aladdin, Tabor, Webber Storm Warning (WB);
Blondie Goes to College (Col) 150
Broadway Vengeance Valley (MGM) 200
Denham September Affair (Para) 150
Denver, Esquire Tomahawk (U-I); Bowery
Battalion (Mono) 200
Orpheum Payment on Demand (RKO); Law of
the Badlands (RKO), 2nd wk 85
Paramount California Passage (Rep); Belle Le
Grand (Rep) IOC
"Yesterday' Hits 186
At Frisco in 7th Week
SAN FRANCISCO— Still among the honored
three for its seventh consecutive week,
"Born Yesterday" claimed top honors last
week with a loud 185 per cent. An amazingly
strong record, the film claimed first spot
honors for six of its seven weeks booking.
Second spot honors went to the second week
of "Valentino."
Golden Gate Payment on Demand (RKO); Double
Deal (RKO) 160
Orpheum—Valentino (Col), 2nd wk 165
Paramount The Redhead and the Cowboy (Para) ISO
St. Francis—The Enforcer (WB) 150
United Artists—Bom Yesterday (Col), moveover
7th wk 185
Warfield—Vengeance Valley (MGM), 2nd wk 100
'Kim' Second Week Takes Honors
With 175 in Seattle
SEATTLE— "Kim" held the lead among
local first run theatres, with 175 in its second
week at the Music Hall. "A Yank in Korea"
took in 140 at the Blue Mouse to gain second
spot in its opening week.
Blue Mouse—A Yank in Korea (Col) 140
Liberty Target Unknown (U-1) 110
Music Box—Trio (Para) 100
Music Hall—Kim (MGM), 2nd wk _ 175
Orpheum—The Enforcer (WB) 90
Release 'Mexico' April 12
HOLLYWOOD—With the appointment of
Edward J. Peskay as his sales representative
on the two films, producer Irving Allen will
deliver his recently completed "New Mexico"
and a musical featurette, "The Return
of Gilbert and Sullivan," to United Artists
for distribution. The national release date on
"New Mexico" has been set as April 12. Allen
has arranged no distribution as yet on a
third vehicle, "Slaughter Trail."
BOXOFFICE :
: March
10, 1951 53