Boxoffice-March.06.1948

—
idustry-wide. so could the implementation of good practices.
Ind they must start at the top.
I
\nother Look at Ascap
Allied Ass'n units freely admit that ii the Lewis bill, which
hey are backing, becomes law, thus requiring the American
iociety of Composers, Authors and Publishers to collect its
-lusic fees from producers, these fees will be passed on to
•xhibitors as a part of film rental. Of course there is the argument
that this will leave some room for negotiation, implying
hat such fees may be very small or even totally absorbed by
he producers. But, assuming that the very minimum charge
or such "music license" were only 50 cents per feature, the
tverage small theatre playing three changes of double bills
ler week would find itself paying a minimum of $150 per year,
'hen there are shorts, too; all of which have music in their
ound tracks.
Maybe the good bargainers among exhibitors could talk
ne salesman out of the music charges on the smaller pictures;
)ut it's a cinch the rates would be jacked up pretty high on
^e "specials," especially the big musicals. Of course, there
'»
the chance that as with sound, which distributors originally
!old separately, the fees assessed by Ascap might eventually
)e entirely absorbed by the producers. But that eventuality
oight be a long time in coming and the accrued costs to exlibitors
in the meanwhile could be monumental as compared
present Ascap rates. It seems like a pretty big risk for extibitors
to be taking.
There's another way of looking at the matter. Back in the
'(Id silent days, even the smallest of one-night operations re-
'[uired a piano player. Maybe the wage was only a dollar a
light and there was plenty of free music available. But even
hat minimum cost was more than the minimum license fee
tow assessed by Ascap.
We hold no brief for Ascap, having once been an exhibior.
But we always think it wise for one to count one's blessags—to
weigh the good against the bad. And in the case of
he music tax, with the rate scale fixed for a period of ten
^ears, we think the good far outweighs the bad.
There's another view to be considered. The various Allied
mits as well as those belonging to the Pacific Coast Conference
of Independent Theatre Owners and others committed
io fight Ascap have appropriated funds vnth which to support
heir actions. To make the job complete, time, thought and
sfiort will be consumed. For should the Lewis bill or any other
similar legislation be enacted into law, it will be challenged;
md that will call for still more time, thought, effort—and
noney.
We think there are better uses—and much better risks
o which exhibitors can put their hard-raised funds and ef-
\J^'V^J
'PuC^^caU
Bill to Repeal Ticket Tax
Introduced in House
Representative Landls of Indiana submits
legislation to drop wartime excise levies, including
admission taxes; goes to ways and
means committee for consideration.
$330,000 Antitrust Suit
Is Filed in Missouri
Cape Pictures. Inc., operating Esquire Theatre
in Cape Girardeau, Mo., sues distributors
and Fox Midwest for alleged conspiracy
to keep first run product from its house.
Ascap Six-Month Contract
Ofiered ITOA Plaintiffs
Pacts based on new rates agreed on by society
and ITOA to have 30-day cancellation
clause; payments to be held in escrow pending
outcome of antitrust suit against Ascap.
X
To Consider Test Suit
On Telecast Pickups
Independent and affiliated exhibitors to
meet March 17 in New York at invitation of
Colonial Corp. to determine theatre rights to
video programs.
Great Britain Film Bank
Is Undergoing Study
Harold Wilson, president of board of
*
trade,
discloses government plan while presenting
outline of film tax settlement to house of
commons; says will aid industry.
Rank Organization Formed
For Canada Distribution
J. Earl Lawson named president; aim to
coordinate activities of various J. Ai-thur
Rank companies in the Dominion; James A.
Cowan is director of advertising and publicity.
Technicolor 1947 Profit
Triples Previous Year
-X
Net of $1,422,752 is reported, an increase of
$986,584 over the net profit of $436,168 on
record for 1946; the 1947 net is equal to $1.55
a share, a gain of $1.07 over 1946.
Wage Dividend of $11,600,000
Paid by Eastman Kodak Co.
Sum goes to more than 49,300 employes in
the western hemisphere; last year $8,100,000
was paid to 48.800 workers; Rochester employes
receive 70 per cent.
Foreign Correspondents Pick
'Gentleman's Agreement'
Association in Hollywood selects 20th-Fox
film as best of 1947, and gives best acting
awards to Rosalind Russell and Ronald Colman;
Ella Kazan, best director.