Boxoffice-April.17.1948

i
rolling
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litigation,
i production.
: products.
i
should
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I
he
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Reported
ding, and exhibitors do their part at the point-of-sale, everyting
will really be rosy vnlh this business again.
ruly, the Heart
Speaking of public relations, the Variety Club's 12th anlal
convention held at Miami this week serves as a reminder
at this great group of men is rendering the finest kind of
ablic relations in humanitarian services. In its work of aidg
the sick, the lame, the blind and the underprivileged in
.,,j ^ .rtually all regions of the U.S. and now carrying its great work
|£Hito other countries. Variety, through its inspired leadership,
?* deserving of the highest praise. It has well earned its
ascription as "The HEART of the motion picture industry."
I
liay it long continue in its humanitarian endeavors with
"I
[bounding success.
"-f
^gain, Television and Talent
in the news pages of this issue is an interesting
tory of the latest industry step in the direction of harnessing
^levision for use on the theatre screen. The success of the
xperiment points to further developments along this line,
/hile some commercial kinks are being ironed out. As an
ndication of one of the kinks to be encountered, we quote
rom a letter received from John Dales jr., executive secretary
!if the Screen Actors Guild. The letter follows:
"We at the Screen Actors Guild always read with great interest
our editorials in BOXOFFICE. In your comments on Talent and Teleision'
in the issue of April 3, you indicate it would be belter for the
lotion picture industry if films made for theatre exhibition are not used
ii television. With this conclusion we agree heartily, as do the ex-
!iibitors.
"There is one remark in your editorial in question which vre must
|:hallenge. You stated: 'It would seem that when a player is paid for
lis services in a motion picture, all uses of that film are covered.' Do
fou believe that stars and character actors who have been paid to
jnact roles in pictures made for theatre exhibition have thereby sold
right to use their work and their likenesses to advertise commerrial
products on television? Yet that could happen if your statement
s taken at face value. In fact, such use of theatre films already has
Dccurred. The actors feel that such unauthorized use of their names and
Iheir work is outrageous and indefensible. It will be most interesting
lo see what the courts have to say on this question."
To answer Mr. Dales' question: We should not like to see
films made for theatre exhibition put to use on video programs
for the express purpose of advertising commercial
And, as we stated in our editorial of April 3, we
not like to see the industry put "regular" films into
'competition with itself via television. It is our further belief
that such instances where theatre films are being put to comjmercial
television use will disappear once television gets to
on a firm and regular basis. Meanwhile these isolated
cases should not be allowed to involve the industry in more
nor to add to the already high cost of regular film
There's such a thing as "more than the traffic will
) bear."
QlAl C/^if"-^
San Francisco is A-warded
1949 Variety Meeting
At closing session, its also announced that
33 tents pledge a total of $2,020,185 for charity
in 1948; R. J. O'Donnell and slate of officers
reelected.
Foundation Trustees Set
12 for Meeting
May 11.
Two-day session will be held at Hotel Astor,
New York; meetings also scheduled for finance
committee on fund raising, and program
and scope committee on industry relief.
United States Publication
Of Tax Pact Irks British
Harold Wilson, president of the board of
trade in England, tells the house of commons
final form approved by it will be different
from the version printed here.
Two Features Up for Bids
From 20th-Fox in Chicago
"Sitting Pretty" and "Fury at Furnace
Creek" are booked at first run Loop houses
after they are offered for bids under the new
20th-Fox zoning plan for the city.
Bars With Tele, Juke Box
Free of 20 Per Cent Tax
Internal revenue bureau rules taverns and
public places showing films must pay cabaret
tax; those with television sets exempt unless
dancing and entertainment is permitted,
Producers A'wait Actors
For New Pact Parleys
-K
Charles Boren. labor relations liaison executive
and vice-president of MPAA, says no
doors closed and the producers "have not
broken off negotiations" with the actors.
Johnston Reaffirms Stand
On Actors and Politics
MPAA head at Hollywood press interview
stands pat on his previously declared handsoff
policy regarding the rights of film personalities
for the presidential campaign.
Loew's, Inc. 28-Week Net
Shows Big Decrease
Profit of $3,886,745 reported for period ending
March 11 compared to $8,596,779 for
same period previous year; gross revenue.s,
however, were up.
-X
Pictorial Films Acquires
69 Features for 16mm
Eagle Lion sells 35 features, 24 westerns and
10 Edward Small productions for distribution
to nontheatrical situations, starting October
1; also many shorts added.
;/ .