Ill He [ THE BOLDESt QEEDS OF A BYGONE DAY DAZZLING IN ckOR BY |1 n u He looked like the King - and fought like the Devil himself. aji lite PitlB flit tfek Btriti until Hfore Witstj Inspired by the Alexandre Dumas story Directed by PHIL KARLSQN ,m^ m
Sales Forces to Ask Tax Aid of Theatres NEW YORK—Preparations for thp campaign to have the 20 per cent federal admissions tax repealed took a step forward during the week when the sales managers of the major companies agreed at a meeting Tuesday (24) to instruct their sales forces to cooperate in raising campaign funds. Al Llchtman of 20th Century-Fox presided. The plan, tentatively set up a week before, calls for the sales forces to urge exhibitors to make contributions to the Council of Motion Picture Organizations on the basis of the seating capacity of their theatres. The campaign Is under COMPO auspices. All exhibitor contributions will be matched by the distributing companies. Campaign planning continued during the week with informal talks between Robert W. Coyne, special COMPO counsel in charge of headquarters, and Col. H. A. Cole of Dallas and Pat McGee of Denver, co-chairman of the COMPO tax committee, and sales heads of the majors. Cole and McGee left for their homes the end of the week. Another formal meeting will be held here July 7. American Weekly Plans Entire Issue on Films NEW YORK—The August 31 issue of the American Weekly will be devoted exclusively to the film industry. A series of annual awards for the most enjoyable film and most enjoyable performance by an actor and actress will be launched. In the award voting the 23 critics of the newspapers which distribute the multi-million circulation Sunday supplement will participate. Ernest V. Heyn, editor, claims that the special issue will take readers "into the confidence of the leaders of the motion picture industry." It will give more than 20 million people "a pictorial and verbal summary of the movie entertainment which is being prepared for their amusement during 1952 and 1953." The usual home and beauty features will appear, but from the standpoint of Hollywood stars and experts. "The movie industry is one of America's great enthusiasms," adds Heyn. He points out that Liza Wilson is the American Weekly's Hollywood editor, and that Adele Whitely Fletcher, until recently editor of Photoplay, is women's feature editor. Universal Half-Year Net Way Over 1951 Period NEW YORK—Universal Pictures Co.. Inc., and subsidiary companies report consolidated net earnings of $1,220,440 for the 26 weeks ending May 3, 1952 after provisions of $1,550,- 000 for estimated federal income and excess profits taxes. This compares with consolidated earnings for the corresponding 26 weeks of the previous fiscal year of $608,565, after provisions of $800,000 for federal taxes and a provision of $200,000 for contingent liabilities. After deducting dividends on the preferred stock, consolidated earnings for the 26 weeks ending May 3 were equivalent to $1.14 per share on the 960,498 shares of common outstanding. Tor the corresponding period of 1951 the earri.nTP were equivalent to 50 cents PC! share on the jommon. Petition FCC to Move Up Theatre TV Hearings WASHINGTON—The Motion Picture Ass'n of America and the National Exhibitors Theatre Television Committee on Monday (23i filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission asking FCC to begin theatre television hearings October 13 or October 20. FCC has scheduled Jan. 12, 1953, as the starting date for the hearings. MPAA, through the law firms of Welch, Mott & Morgan and Fly, Shuebruk & Blume, and NETTC, through Cohn and Marks, contended that FCC had decided two and a half years ago to schedule hearings, but there had been many postponements, each placing "a heavy burden on those who have repeatedly prepared to meet each hearing date deadline . . . readying witnesses and material ..." The two organizations, which had previously held a conference with FCC officials, also asking for a fall beginning for the hearings, contended that at least the technical details could be gotten out of the way, even if the hearings could not be continuous during the faU. They asked for a minimum of eight days in the petition, and further asked that the hearings days be "as contiguous as possible." The group drew up a list of technical and accounting subjects which they argued could be disposed of in advance of the main hearings. They said, "... a denial of these requests would result in hardship in the preparation and presentation of the exten.sive case for theatre television to those who have for so long and so earnestly endeavored to establish this new medium." Restrictions Ended On Color TV Sets WASHINGTON—Restrictions on the manufacture of color television sets were eased Tuesday (24) by the National Production Authority. This was the day before the first press and industry demonstration of the Eidophor color television for theatre screens by 20th Century-Fox in New York. The color system used in the Eidophor apparatus is the one authorized some time ago for Columbia Broadcasting System by the Federal Communications Commission. It was reported here that the relaxation of bans would help Paramount to carry on its experiments with its Chromatic tube. The company has contended from the start that development of this sy.- tem does not require use of any more strategic materials than are used in present home receivers. CBS has not been making color home sets since the ban was imposed November 20 by order of Charles E. Wilson, who was mobilization director at that time. Raibourn Says Chromatic Can Make Color TV Sets NEW YORK—Paul Raibourn. Paramount vice-president, said the National Production Authority order easing restrictions on the manufacture of color television sets was so House to Probe Effects Of Decrees on Tfieatres WASHINGTON—A nationwide Inveallgation of the effects on independent exhibitors of the Paramount ca.se and the resulting con.sent decrees became certain on Wedne.sday i25) when the Senate Small Buslnes.^ Committee voted a thorough probe. The inve.'-tigatlon will get under way in Los Angeles around the middle of July, according to staff members. Los Angeles will be the starting point. it was explained, because of the large volume of material gathered by the Southern California Theatre Owners Ass'n. From there on. plans are vague, and the investigators will likely go the way and to the places the developing facts lead. Tentatively scheduled are hearings in Chicago, Omaha, Atlanta or New Orleans and New York City, aside from the Los Angeles opener. The Committee has received numerous complaints from independent exhibitors and intends to trace them all down, with hearings only at such places where it is indicated new facts might be uncovered. worded as to make their production difficult except in the case of Chromatic. While others could not meet the requirements. Chromatic could, he said, but he did not know at the time just how the company will react to the order. Raibourn said the order gave the green light to the production of theatre TV color equipment. "It's the go-ahead for theatre TV color," he said. Dr. W. R. G. Baker, vice-president and general manager of the electronics division of General Electric, said that if the company went ahead with mass production now it would "cause irreparable harm to important military production." He said that three-quarters of the company engineers are engaged in defense work and that color TV output would divert between 15 and 20 per cent as the company enters upon peak production. Other manufacturers agreed that the order would not act as an mcentive to make color sets. Among them were Allen B. Du Mont of Du Mont Laboratories. Ross Siragusa. president of Admiral Corp.. and Percy L. Schoenen. executive vice-president of Olympic Radio & Television Corp. The Columbia Broadcasting System said the "conditional authorization" applies only to those companies which have made a substantial investment in color television research and development, and that few companies will be able to qualify. It said its setmanufacturing sut>sidiary Is engaged in defense woi:k and plans increased defense work which will occupy fully all available technical and engineering persomiel. BOXOFFICE June 28. 1952 17
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