Boxoffice-March.10.1951

No Shortage of Carbons
Seen by Manufacturer
NEW YORK—In a news release appearing
in the motion picture press under
a March 2 dateline, attention was
called to a shortage of monazite sand
as a raw material essential in the production
of carbons for projectors, spot
lamps and other equipment used in the
motion picture industry.
Quick to realize the trade disturbances
that might be caused by such reports,
National Carbon Co. said that in its
opinion there will be an adequate supply
of carbons in the foreseeable future
and that, as a consequence, there is no
need for theatres and suppliers to overstock.
The company announced to
the trade
last December, at the time of the issuance
of Copper Conservation Order
M-12, its viewpoint that an adequate supply
of carbons was assured. Despite current
reports, the company at this time
does not foresee any change in this outlook.
COMPO
(Continued from preceding page)
passed along to a committee to be named by
Ned E. Depinet, RKO and COMPO president,
when he returns from the coast.
COMPO has said it doesn't like the word
"festival." It would much prefer something
like "Greater Movie Season." It thinks the
public would confuse a U.S. industry "festival"
with those being held in Europe and
South America and which are becoming so
numerous as to lose prestige.
COMPO also is greatly interested in the
The TOA
visit of Gael Sullivan to the coast.
executive director said before he left that
he will approach studio heads in furtherance
of a COMPO seminar plan to combat public
criticism by telling how the industry operates.
COMPO said it hoped Sullivan will press
other COMPO projects, including the Starmakers
Contest and an exposition.
Sullivan left Tuesday (6) by train with
Herman M. Levy, TOA general counsel, and
both will attend the March 9-11 meeting of
the Southern California Theatre Owners
Ass'n in Los Angeles to urge participation in
COMPO.
In the meantime, Arthur L. Mayer, COMPO
executive vice-president, and Robert W.
Coyne, counsel, will be scanning the returns
from the pledge cards mailed exhibitors.
There should be an indication of the extent
of the response within a short time.
In his formal notification to COMPO that
the Motion Picture Industry Council has
ratified the COMPO bylaw changes. Art
Arthur, executive secretary, has asked for
prompt ratification by all member organizations.
"The industry continues to face many complex
and difficult problems," he wrote.
"These problems can best be met under a
formula which makes possible drawing upon
the best brains of
the industry when, where,
how and as needed—in other words, the
COMPO formula."
He added: "COMPO has a great script.
Now let's put it in production."
BOXOFFICE :: March 10, 1951
NPA Willing to 'Talk Over
Easing of Building Ban
WASHINGTON—The National
Production
Authority will meet with representatives of
the motion picture equipment manufacturers
to consider easing the ban against theatre
construction, if three members of the industry
advisory committee request it, Nathan D.
Golden, chief of NPA's motion picture division,
said Tuesday (6). One such request,
from J. Robert Hoff, of the Ballantyne Co.,
in Omaha, has already been received.
Hoff based his request on World War II
regulations, which provided exemptions from
the building ban in theatreless areas, where
population movements made it desirable, or
near war industries or camps where new theatres
would benefit morale. These conditions
are part of NPA's order governing commercial
construction, M-4, but construction of
amusement facilities is under a flat ban.
EXEMPTIONS SEEN LIKELY
Prospects for getting such an exemption,
which would permit the building of a theatre
when it could be shown to be in the public
interest, appear to be very favorable. Informal
statements by NPA officials indicate
that while the language is not In the order,
"common sense" would govern the treatment
of such applications. Some supporting evi-
in the case of an
dence would be necessary;
application to build near a training camp
a statement by the commanding officer
should be submitted; in the case of a defense
plant or government facility the statement
should come from the official in charge.
Hoff told Golden that during World War
II "when our country was engaged 100 per
cent in the war effort, provisions were made
in orders, promulgated at that time banning
theatre construction, for exceptions to be
entertained where a need could be shown
for a theatre because (1) one had never been
built in a given area, or (2) movements of
population, due to war industries, and camjjs,
called for the construction of a theatre for
morale purposes."
Hoff then called attention to the fact that
"in the present emergency, the people have
been given to understand that the industry
of the country is only on a 35 per cent war
basis, and 65 per cent of the productivity
and raw materials of the country were being
channeled into civilian use. Under these
circumstances, I believe the department
should be permitted to issue permits in special
cases where the need can be shown for
a theatre under the same circumstances as
during World War 11."
Iron, Steel Cutback Ordered;
Affects Theatre Equipment
WASHINGTON—The National Production
Authority Wednesday (7) cut back the
use of steel for theatre seats, show and display
cases, cabinets and counters, radio and
television sets, and 8mm motion picture
cameras and projectors.
NPA ordered manufacturers of some 150
consumer durable goods, including automobiles,
household appliances and signs and
advertising displays in addition to those
items directly affecting the film industry,
to use only 80 per cent as much iron and
steel in making these products from the second
quarter of 1951 on, as they used in the
average quarter of the first six months of
1950.
The agency also cut back from 80 to 75
per cent of the base period of consumption
the amount of copper permitted to be used
by fabricators. Fabricators of aluminum will
be permitted to maintain the 65 per cent
rate in effect this month. However, no further
restriction was placed on the amount of
copper and aluminum to be used by the
consumer durable goods producers.
NPA emphasized that the order did not
put any ceiling on the rate of output of
consumer durable goods, with manufacturers
allowed to maintain the highest rate possible
by conservation and substitution. It also
said no limit was being put on the use of
steel for replacement parts.
NPA Turns Down Six Applications
For Theatre
WASHINGTON—The National
Construction Jobs
Production
Authority has announced decisions on six
applications for exemptions for motion picture
theatres. The entire group was rejected.
Included was one application for a drive-in,
two for remodeling and additions to existing
theatres, two for new theatres, and one for
an addition to provide ground floor sanitary
facilities for an existing theatre.
This is probably the last batch of applications
outside the Washington area to be
handled by the central office, and was in the
works before regional offices were granted
authority to act locally on such pleas. In the
future, only "big" applications, involving
more than a million dollars or 50 tons of
steel, will be sent directly to Washington.
The six applications denied:
Sanford, N. C—Drive-in theatre, O. C.
Cagle.
Birmingham, Ala.—Remodeling of theatre
building. $100,000. R. M. Kennedy.
St. Louis—Theatre, $550,000. Bernard
Steinger.
Dallas—Addition to theatre to provide sanitary
facilities. $9,800. Interstate Circuit, Inc.
Midland, Tex.—Addition to theatre, $54,000.
J. Howard Hodge.
North Bend, Ore.—Theatre. Jones Enterprises,
Inc., Portland, Ore.