Boxoffice-March.06.1948

: March
16mm Industry Faces
Censorship, Taxes
NEW YORK—The 16mm industry is
being
cftreatened by new taxes, censorship and
violations of copyright laws, according to
Wiiliam F. Kruse, president of the Allied
Nontheatrical Film Ass'n. Kruse made this
statement during the recent meeting of the
ANFA board of directors called to work out
the agenJa of the forthcoming annual convention
originally scheduled for April 22-24
at the Hotel New Yorker. The convention
committee has voted to extend the convention
an extra day, through Sunday April
25, at the request of ANFA members.
Kruse pointed out that 40-year-oId police
regulations covering the storage of nitrate
film are being dusted off to harrass photographic
retailers and other dealers. There
has been an increased tendency among taxing
bodies to impose license and other fees
on firms and individuals engaged in the 16mm
industry, he added.
He also brought out the fact that "inexperienced"
persons have been trying to supply
local television stations with films to
wliich they do not have the television rights.
These problems and many others will be
discussed at the convention. Among the
other problems are: severe shortage of raw
stock, and "recurrent efforts to establish or
intensify film censorship in several areas."
The third national 16mm industry tradeshow
will be held jointly with the convention.
There will be exhibits of the latest equipment
and services offered by all branches.
Benefit Balls to Feature
'Emperor Waltz' Runs
NEW YORK — Paramount's
exploitation
campaign on "The Emperor Waltz," Technicolor
film starring Bing Crosby and Joan
Fontaine, will feature a series of benefit
balls in 31 cities in connection with the opening
of the film. Anita Colby, executive assistant
to Henry Ginsberg, head of the Paramount
studios, left March 8 to set advance
plans for the balls.
Proceeds from the affairs will be donated
to the Damon Runyon Cancer fimd. The picture
will be released July 2 at regular prices.
During her tour Miss Colby will contact
newspaper editors and enlist their cooperation.
She will arrange for window displays
on "The Emperor Waltz" with department
store executives.
Miss Colby's eight-week trip will take her
to New Haven, Boston, Montreal, Toronto,
Detroit, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Kansas City,
Des Moines, Omaha, Denver, Salt Lake City,
Mimieapolis, St. Paul, Milwaukee, Chicago,
Memphis, Dallas, New Orleans, Jacksonville,
Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Cleveland,
Pittsbm-gh, Washington, Baltimore. Philadelphia,
Albany, Buffalo and New York. She is
expected back here May 7.
'Turtle' Held in 135 Spots
NEW YORK—Warner Bros, reports 135
holdovers in the first 150 engagements of
"The Voice of the Turtle." The company
says "Tm-tle" is the company's highest
grosser of the year, except "Life With
Father."
FROM THE FILES OF
THE SMALL EXHIBITOR would be
driven
out of business by the abolition of blind
and block booking. President C. F. Williams
of the Western Iowa and Nebraska MPTO
on the stand last week in Washington, at
hearings on the Brookhart bill. "Block booking
is the only thing which enables the small
showman to get along," said Williams, "for
he knows what he is going to get over an
extended period. Blind booking is not blind,
for he knows about what a given star will
produce and can safely buy on star names."
One-Eyed Connolly, the world's most
famous gate crasher, is not so good when it
comes to keeping others from crashing a gate.
Connolly has been gate keeper at the Pox
studios in Hollywood, but so many people
have slipped through, the gate crasher has
lost his job.
S.O.S. Moves Its Offices
NEW YORK—S.O.S. Cinema Supply Corp.
has moved its offices to 602 West 52nd St.
The receiving and shipping entrance to the
new offices is on 51st St. S.O.S. formerly
was located at 449 West 49th St.
COLUMBIA PICTURES
f
ANNOUNCES THAT PRINTS OF THE FOLLOWING PICTURES &
ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN OUR EXCHANGES FOR SCREENING #
ADVENTURES
in SILVERADO
w,.h WILLIAM BISHOP
•
GLORIA HENRY • EDGAR BUCHANAN
Forrest Tucker • Edgar Barrier
Screenplay by Kenneth Garnet, Tom Kilpatrick and Jo Pagano
SONG OF IDAHO
with
THE HOOSIER HOT SHOTS
(Hezzie, Ken, Gil and Gabe)
KIRBY GRANT • JUNE VINCENT • TOMMY IVO
DOROTHY VAUGHN • EMORY PARNELL • THE SUNSHINE BOYS
THE SUNSHINE GIRLS • THE STARLIGHTERS
Suggested by the story 'Silverado Squatters" by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON
Directed by PHIL KARLSON • Produced by TED RICHMOND and ROBERT COHN
THE RETLRn
OF THE UIHISTLER
v.ith MICHAEL DUANE • LENGRE AUBERT • RICHARD LANE
Screenplay by Edward Bock and Maurice Tombragel
Suggested by the CBS Radio Program entitled 'The Whistler"
Directed by D. ROSS LEDERMAN • Produced by RUDOLPH C. FLOTHOW
Original screenplay by Barry Shipman
Directed by RAY NAZARRO • Produced by COLBERT CLARK
Charles STARRETT
Smiley BURNETTE
WEST OFSONORA
with
• GEORGE CHESEBRO • ANITA CASTLE
STEVE DARRELL
THE SUNSHINE BOYS
Original screenplay by Barry Shipman
Directed by RAY NAZARRO • Produced by COLBERT CURK
34 BOXOFFICE
:
13, 1948