Boxoffice-December.20.1952

'
CJ. leyI'm Returns to Pilot
RKO Studio Operations
HOLLYWOOD—As had been anticipated,
the election of Howard Hughes as board
chairman of RKO Radio was foUowed ataiost
immediately by the return to the fUm plant
of C. J. TevUn as chief of studio operations,
a post he had held prior to Hughes' disposition,
last September, of his controlling interest
in the company to a syndicate headed by
Ralph Stolkin.
Currently and for some time past, the
studio has been inactive productionwise, but
Tevlin's return was interpreted by observers
as a concrete indication that cameras soon
will be turning again on the lot.
Another executive development found J.
Miller Walker, recently named to the directorate,
elected vice-president, general counsel
and secretary of RKO Pictures Corp. at a
meeting of the board. Walker, who has been
with the company for 22 years, has served in
the respective capacities to which he was
elected at various times in the past.
The board, with Hughes as chairman, comprises
Walker. Noah Dietrich, A. D. Simpson
and Edward G. Burke jr.
Meantime a $600,000 libel action brought
against Hughes, RKO Radio and Carl Byoir &
Associates, Hughes' public relations counsel,
was dismissed "without prejudice" in federal
district court. The suit had been filed by
Attorney Martin Gang as an outgrowth of
another court action in which Gang represented
Actress Jean Simmons, who sued
Hughes and RKO over asserted contractual
violations. Gang charged that Hughes libeled
him in a statement made at the conclusion
of the case, won by Miss Simmons. Judge
Byrne ruled that there was no libel, per se,
but Gang declared he will take the matter
before the circuit court of appeals.
Arnold Picker Returns
From Australia Survey
NEW YORK—Arnold M. Picker, vice-president
of United Artists in charge of foreign
distribution, returned to New York by plane
Tuesday (23) from a month-long survey tour
of the company operatioiis in Australia, New
Zealand, Singapore and the Philippines.
Picker began the trij) November 27 and first
went to southeast Asia and the Pacific areas.
He spent nine days in Australia, four in New-
Zealand, four in Singapore and three in Manila,
meeting personnel of UA offices. During
the lour, he arranged for the release of "Limelight"
in Sydney. Auckland and other Australian
cities. Picker also visited "Coombe
Cottage," home of Dame Nellie Melba, near
Melbourne and collected information for the
forthcoming release of S. P. Eagle's "Melba."
Hayes Retires From Kodak
ROCHESTER, N. Y.—Myron J. Hayes will
retire from active duty with the Eastman
Kodak Co. the end of the year, but will continue
as a consultant. He is vice-president
and general manager of the camera works,
Huwk-Eye works and navy ordnance division
and has been with the company more than 40
i-i:
. He
• itles.
has participated in many civic
Industry Leaders to Aid
Jewish Federation Drive
NEW YORK—Fourteen amusement industry
leaders have been named by Barney Balaban,
Simon H. Fabian and Emanuel Frisch
joint heads of the industry's Federation of
Jewish Philanthropies drive, to an executive
committee, to assist in over-all plans for the
current campaign.
Named to the committee are: Harry Brandt.
Brandt Theatres; Jack Cohn, Columbia Pictures;
Emil Friedlander; Leopold Friedman,
Loew's, Inc.: Leonard H. Goldenson, United
Paramount Theatres; Henry Jaffe. Jaffe and
Jaffe; Al Lichtman. 20th Century-Pox; Herman
Robbins, National Screen Service; Samuel
Rosen, Fabian Theatres; Fi-ed J. Schwartz,
Century Circuit; Sol A. Schwartz, RKO Theatres;
George Skouras, Skouras Theatres;
Spyros P. Skouras, 20th-Fox, and Albert Warner,
Warner Bros.
A committee of home office chairmen has
been named to promote the amusement division
drive of the PJP. Named were Martin
:
H. Newman. Abe Schneider, Ed Fabian. Leopold
Friedman. Irving Greenfield, William
Brenner, Burton Robbins, Arthur Israel jr.,
Louis A. Novin, Harry Mandel, Charles Boasberg,
Louis M. Weber, Max E. Youngstein,
Edward L. Hyman. Robert M. Weitman, Leon
Goldberg, Adolph Schimel and Samuel Schneider.
William J. German was named chairman
of the film laboratory division.
WB Financial Statement
Ready Early February
NEW YORK—Warner Bros, has notified the
Secm-ities and Exchange Commission that it
will have its annual financial statement ready
early in February 1953. It will be sent to
stockholders prior to the annual meeting,
scheduled for February 20 in Wilmington. Del.
A proxy statement listing officers and directors
of the new distribution and theatre
companies to be formed in compliance with
the consent decree is being prepared and will
be mailed in mid-January to stockholders,
who will vote on the reorganization.
The Warner Bros, board has not yet decided
if it can take advantage of a new "spm-off"
section of the revenue act of 1951. Twentieth
Century-Fox sought to do so, but abandoned
the plan.
Noble to Head Infantile
Paralysis Drive NY
NEW YORK—Edward J. Noble, board chairman
of the American Broadcasting Co., has
been named chairman of the 1953 Greater
New York March of Dimes campaign by Basil
O'Connor, president of the National Foundation
for Infantile Paralysis. The drive will
open January 2 and close January 31. Noble
also is board chairman of Life Savers Corp.
He was named chairman of the Civil Aeronautics
Authority in 1938 and undersecretary
of commerce in 1939. The following year he
resigned to return to private industry.
Solon Lauds Industry
For Anti-Red Aid
HOLLYWOOD—Because of complete cooperation
by industry executives and union
and guild leaders, the Communism-in-motion
pictures situation has been radicallj
changed and filmdom is deserving of tht
"highest praise" for its efforts. Rep. Donald
L. Jackson, of the House Un-American Activities
Committee, declared when he participated
in an American Legion-sponsored seminar
Sunday (21) in Santa Ana, Calif.
Other speakers included Roy M. Brewer
lATSE international studio representative;
Actor Ward Bond, and Scenarist Martin
Berkeley.
Jackson was quoted as saying that ones
film leaders "understood the extent of the
conspiracy and realized its seriousness, they
went all-out to do the job—and they havt
done it." The seminar was staged undei
auspices of the Legion's 21st district.
David Bogen Completes
Move to 29 Ninth Ave.
NEW YORK—The David Bogen Co.. manufacturer
of sound systems, high fidelity reproduction
equipment and intercommunica
tions systems, has completed the removal o
its complete plant facihties from 633 Broad
way to new quarters occupying the entiri
six-story and basement building at 29 Nintl tej,
Ave. Increased available space in the new lo
cation has permitted expansion of all de^ Di
partments, especially the engineering laboratories
and production facilities needed fo:
new products manufactured by the company
The Bogen company was established ii
1932. and has steadily expanded and diversified
its operations under the continuou.
direction of its founder. David Bogen. Pi-od
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and amplifiers, school, plant and office sounc
systems and office and home intercommunica
tions systems and television booster ampU
tiers.
UA Theatre Circuit Net
For '52 Up to $491,093
NEW YORK—United Artists Theatre cir
cuit and subsidiary companies report a ne
liiities
Com
Jamts Sai
tas, Inc., N
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ny special s(
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income of $491,093 for the year ended Aug^*«
31, 1952, an increase over $402,290 for th.
previous 12-month period.
The earnings for the 12-month period ll
1950 were $614,383.
The net for the 1952 period was $749
from which was deducted interest, depreclal ^|
tion, amortization and provision for federa
income taxes. UA theatre chain operates 2
theatres in California. Michigan. Oregon ani
New York. It also has an interest in Metro
politan Playhouses, which operates 128 thea
itny
fell
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Jane Sanc
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tres in and around New York City; Uniten
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California Tlieatres, with 99 theatres; Rowle
United Theat)-es. with 127 theatres, and Perm
Federal Enterprises, with seven theatres
Roles in Science Film
Robert Sliayne and Doris Merrick have bee)
signed for the top roles in "The Neandcrtht
Man," a Wisberg-PoUexfen science-fictio
melodrama.
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BOXOFFICE December 27, 19J'
loJorncE