Boxoffice-March.06.1948

Pass Bill for Control
Of Child Patronage
ALBANY—Town boards are given the same
authority to control theatre attendance by
children as is now enjoyed by incorporated
cities and villages in a bill passed unanimously
by the legislature and sent to Gov.
Thomas Dewey for his signature.
The measure authorizes town boards to
pass ordinances licensing motion picture theatres
for the admission of children between 8
and 16 years of age, unaccompanied by a
pai'ent, guardian or other adult person, where
the theatre provides a matron. It was drafted
to correct inequalities which now exist where
two theatres situated in the same populated
area face different treatment because one
is in an incorporated locality and the other
is not.
Senator William S. Hults jr., co-sponsor
of the measure with Assemblywoman Genesa
M. Strong, said the bill is needed to cover
several situations on Long Island, where
there are several large unincorporated villages.
Incorporated commimities have had
authority to regulate theatre attendance by
children since 1937.
The local ordinances may specify theJiumber
of attendants theatres shall provide.
Matrons' licenses, to be paid by the management,
are not to be more than $2. The law
does not permit theatre attendance by childi'en
during school hours or after 6 p. m.
Harvey English to Operate
New Theatre in CaHcoon
ALBANY—Harvey English expects to assume
operation by July 1 of the 500-seat
theatre which Fred Stark is building in
Calicoon. English, who conducts a dozen
film houses in the Albany, Buffalo, New
York and Philadelphia territories, has leased
the Calicoon situation from Stark, onetime
Liberty exhibitor. Calicoon is a town
of approximately 1,000, with a large summer
population. It has one theatre. now.
English, mayor of Hancock, revealed during
a visit here that he would sell several
of the present string if he could get the
right price. He reported that "business has
been off considerably, due to the tough
winter we experienced and to the fact people
do not have the money to spend."
Brooklyn Senator Seeks
iO-Cent Tax on $1 Ticket
ALBANY—A tax of ten cents on admissions
over $1
in New York City is one of the
special imposts which would be permissible
under terms of a bill introduced by Senator
P. G. Moritt, Brooklyn Democrat. Passage
of the mea.sure is doubtful. Senator Moritt
fathered a similar bill last year.
MPAA Awaits Approval
On Plan for Annex
Washington—The IMPA.\ is awaiting
approval of a plan to build an annex to
its present headquarters on 16th and
Eye Streets. The project is being considered
by the District Fine Arts Commission.
The district zoning board already
has reviewed the building plans.
The MPAA intends to construct a projection
room adjoining its present building.
Later on new offices will be added.
PCA Hears John Lardner
At Film Division Meet
NEW YORK— John Lardner, newspaper
and magazine writer, addressed the PCA
Film Division meeting held imder the chairmanship
of John T. McManus. newly elected
president, at Holland House, March 1.
First rushes of the films taken at the
Wallace Golden Gate ballroom meeting by
a group of producers, directors and cameramen
working with members of the Film
Division workshop were shown. Recordings
of the Wallace speech and of Paul Robeson
singing the campaign song, "Fresh Breeze
Blowing," were played. The membership
also heard a complete report on Film Division
activities of
the past year and the projected
program for the coming year.
Al Sherman Lining Up Deal
For Sponsored Film Plan
WASHINGTON—Al Sherman, president of
Sherman Plan, Inc..^ new system for distributing
sponsored films to theatres, is lining
up a local independent circuit and is planning
talks with circuit heads in New York. Sherman's
plan is copyrighted.
It involves formation of a preview committee
composed of leading exhibitors in
various exchange areas who will approve
sponsored films for theatrical showing.
New York Booth Men
Reach Agreement
NEW YORK—Informal agreement on
terms of a new contract between theatre circuits
and Local 306 of the operators union
was reached in the early hours of Friday
morning after a day of sabotage in theatres.
Films were run upside down and sound apparatus
failed. Some houses were closed for
several hours.
The argument was with RKO, Warners and
United Artists Theatres Corp. The agreement
calls for a 15 per cent wage increa.se,
provides for vacations, covers use of substitutes
and includes a clause requiring the
same wages for operators in leased theatres
as are paid in owned houses.
Two membership meetings were held during
the past week. A meeting also was held between
union representatives and those of theatre
management at the Waldorf Astoria
March 4. There had been talk that a strike
would begin in 120 theatres March 7 or 8
unless the union got what it wanted.
The operators have been working under
the terms of the old contract which expired
last August. Negotiations have been under
way since May 1947. They have been broken
off and resumed several times. Richard F.
Walsh, president of the lATSE has stepped
in twice to prevent a strike.
Max Herschmann Directs
Filmack Eastern Sales
NEW YORK—Appointment of Max Herschmann
as eastern sales manager of the
Filmack Ti-ailer Co. was announced by Irving
Mack, general sales manager. Herschmann,
a veteran trailer executive, will work from
the newly opened New York studio of
Filmack at 245 West 55th St. Full laboratory
facilities are available at the studio for the
making of trailers of all types.
Mulvey to Head Drive
NEW YORK—James A. Mulvey, president
of Samuel Goldwyn Prod., will be chairman
of the Catholic charities drive for Brooklyn
and Long Island. Others on the committee
are Edward C. Dowden and John Murphy of
LoeWs, Charles McDonald of RKO, Samuel
Rinzler of the Randforce circuit. Fred
Schwartz of Century circuit, and Walter F. J.
Higgins of the Associated Prudential Theatres.
HOSPITAL BENEFIT PL.^NNEKS—.Arrangements for a joint concert to be given by
the Choral Society of the Paramount Pictures club and the St. John's University glee
club at Town Hall, May 19, were set at a recent meeting in New York. Proceeds will
go to the New York Foundling hospital. Left to right, Charles M. Reagan, Paramount
vice-president in charge of distribution; Father Robert Rivard, conductor of the university
glee club; Father J. P. Kelly, assistant chaplain for the hospital; Monroe Goodman,
presrdent of the Paramount Pictures club; Monsignor John Reilly, chaplain of
the hospital; Agnes Mengel Grew, founder of the Paramunt choral group, and Robert
J. O'Brien, secretary of Paramount.
BOXOFFICE : : March 6, 1948