Boxoffice-January.07.1950
— Vhonevision Is Shown Monogram to Release For Studio Executives HOLLYWOOD—What its proponents claim is the logical catalyst to meld two entertainment giants—motion pictures and television so that both can enjoy continued prosperity was demonstrated for a number of studio executives when a film outlining the workings of a suggested "pay-as-you-see" home rideo plan was unwound by Eugene McDonald, president of the Zenith Radio and Television Corp. ARBITRARY FEE IS SET Long under discussion by both film and TV toppers, the Zenith scheme would require a linkage between the nation's telephone systems and home TV viewers, with television audiences selecting the programs they wish to see and asking their local phone companies McDonald to complete the necessary circuits. has set an arbitrary figure of $1 per feature picture, but this amount would be subject to approval by the Federal Commimications commission—w^hich also, of course, must give its blessing to the project in its entirety. McDonald made a brief trip here in an effort to interest Hollywood production moguls in supplying him with films to be used in a test-run in the Chicago area next month, provided FCC approval is secured. The initial demonstration of Zenith's "Phonevision" was staged for studio toppers including Marvin Schenck and E. J. Mannix, MGM; C. B. De- Mille and Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount; Al Lichtman, 20th Centurj'-Fox; and George Slaff, representing Samuel Goldwyn. The Zenith executive planned to return to Hollywood within three weeks to meet with other studio officials and hold further demonstrations. CLEARANCE CONSIDERED McDonald explained that the arbitrary $1 fee would be split among the producers of the televised films, the various telephone companies and video stations. "Phonevision" would not necessarily demand first run films, he declared, but would make a pitch for features after they have reached the subsequent run stage. The upcoming Chicago test is to determine how many times a week a family would want to view films and how much they would be willing to pay. McDonald said all arrangements witli telephone companies have been finalized and FCC approval is the next major step to be taken. Arthur Sachson Resigns As Goldwyn Sales Head NEW YORK — Arthur Sachson, general sales manager of Samuel Goldwyn Productions, resigned, effective January 4. He had discussed plans for leaving the company with Gold\^7n for several weeks. Sachson has supervised Goldwyn product sales through RKO for four years. He left the millinery business to become a real estate sale.-iman in 1923, then joined Warner Bras, in 1925. That company named him manager of the sales and contract departments in 1931 and assistant general sales manager in 1943. No successor has been named. Two General Managers For Intermountain SALT LAKE CITY—Appointment of Ray M. Hendry and Sidney L. Cohen as associate general managers of Intermountain Theatres, Inc., succeeding the late Tracy Barham, was announced midweek by Leonard H. Goldenson, president of the company, from his offices in New York in a wire received at Salt Lake City headquarters. Hendry and Cohen had been serving as executive assistants to Barham, with Hendry as assistant general manager and Cohen as booker and buyer for the circuit which operates 27 theatres in Utah and Idaho. All managers of the circuit were called for a meeting in Salt Lake City Thursday for formal announcement of the appointment. Will Consider 481 Films In Oscar Sweepstakes HOLLYWOOD—A grand total of 481 motion pictures are eligible for Academy Award consideration for achievements during 1949, according to a tabulation disclosed by Charles Brackett, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, as plans for the upcoming 22nd annual Oscar sweepstakes advanced. As in the past, any film exhibited in the Los Angeles area in a commercial showing for a period of seven consecutive days is automatically entered for consideration. Nominations ballots will be mailed January 19 to members of the crafts for which awards are to be handed out, with a period of nine days allowed for voting. Nominations will be announced February 13 and presentation of awards will take place March 23. 20th-Fox, RCA Renew Large-Screen TV Pact NEW YORK—Twentieth Century-Fox and RCA have signed a new cooperative research contract for joint advancement of largescreen television. This is a renewal of an agreement reached two years ago. Several new RCA equipments, including one of the first commercial-type instantaneous systems and the first production model of the new intermediate film apparatus are to be delivered. Earl I. Sponable will continue as technical director for 20th-Fox. He carried on the negotiations for the new pact with Barton Kreuzer of the theatre and fUm recording unit of RCA. MGM Releases New Shorts NEW YORK—MGM Will release four short subjects duj-ing January. The quartet consists of two Tom and Jerrj' cartoons, "Little " Quacker and "Saturday E\'ening Puss," produced by Fred Quimby, and two Pete Smith specialties, "Pest Control" and "Crashing the Movies." 'Our Gang' Reissues HOLLYWOOD—Monogram, which heretofore has placed little emphasis on short subjects, is invading the briefie field on a large scale with the acquisition of 26 two-reel and 13 one-reel reissues of the "Our Gang" comedies originally made and released by MGM. The comedies will be distributed as the "Little Rascals" series by Monogram, with releases probably to be spaced out over the next two years. The shorts were obtained by the company from Auerbach Film Enterprises, which originally purchased them from MGM. Distribution wUl begin March 1. New prints, posters, lobby cards, stills and pressbooks are being prepared for the series, in which Farina, Dickie Moore, Jackie Cooper, Mary Kornman, Joe Cobb and Mickey Daniels are featured. Only two other shorts have been distributed by Monogram—a documentary, "Thunderbolt," with narration by James Stewart, and an Academy Award winner, "Climbing the Matterhorn." Emil Jannings, 63, Dies; Famed Silent Film Star STROHL, AUSTRIA—Emil Jannings, 63, leading German film star who won the first "Oscar" award of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences, died at his home at Lake Wolfgang January 2. Jannings was born in Brooklyn, the son of a well-to-do cutlery manufacturer, but his family moved to Eui'ope when he was one year old. When the world's finest silent films were being made by UFA in Germany, Jannings won fame as the star of "The Last Laugh" and "Variety." He refused many offers to come to Hollywood but finally signed with Paramount in 1926. He won the award for his first American picture, "The Way of All Flesh," and followed this with "The Last Command," "The King of Soho" and "The Patriot." After his return to Germany in 1929, he appeared in "The Blue Angel," which made Marlene Dietrich a star. After the rise of the Nazi regime, Jannings continued to make films, including the propaganda pictures, "The Old King and the New" and "Ohm Krueger." After the war, when some of his unfinished films were found in UFA files, he was formally investigated by Eric Pommer, pre-Nazi director of UFA reinstalled by American Military Government. He was de- Nazified in 1946 and moved to Austria. Jannings is survived by his third wife, the former Gussy Lee Holl, and a daug-hter, Ruth Maria. Bill Would Ban Drive-Ins Within Mile of Church BOSTON—A bill that would ban construction of any drive-in theatre in Boston within a mile of any church or school was filed Tuesday (31 b>' Rep. Joyce Dorchester. The bill would include any structure not finished by Jan. 1, 1950, and has as its target former Mayor Curley's last-minute grant of two drive-in permits to Michael Redstone to erect ozoners in West Roxbury and Dorchester. Redstone's office announced construction started on Neponset Bridge Dorchester drivein on Friday at 3 p.m.. two hours after Curley signed permits with West Roxbury to start as soon as contract bids are returned. 12 BOXOFFICE January 7, 1950
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- Page 3 and 4: ! ! ! WAIT! DON'T CLOSE THE BOOKS Y
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- Page 7 and 8: J-lu Ayulu fit llu yv lotion /Ulctu
- Page 9 and 10: . . Keep . . Mr. . . Hollywood . .
- Page 11: FROM COAST TO COAST! "Best picture
- Page 15 and 16: RCA Offers Complete Drive-In Planni
- Page 17 and 18: Thelma Jordon Is Something To Talk
- Page 19 and 20: salaried producers will bring the M
- Page 21 and 22: . . to meet CINDERELLA. . . your bo
- Page 23 and 24: : January CHESTER FRIEDMAN EDITOR H
- Page 25 and 26: Here Are 4 Proven Package Combinati
- Page 27 and 28: School cheer leaders help to enthus
- Page 29 and 30: : January Sons of War Veterans, Ind
- Page 31 and 32: 20th Jersey Allied Unit Will Act on
- Page 33 and 34: • Reduces film distortion due to
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- Page 37 and 38: . . The . . "The . . The . . . Jame
- Page 39 and 40: nEws AND VIE^VS THE PRODUCTION CENT
- Page 41 and 42: — Arizona Anniversary To Feature
- Page 43 and 44: YOU get extra results with equipmen
- Page 45 and 46: \ Theatre Chandelier Falls, Hurts T
- Page 47 and 48: . . DeLake House Burns Just After P
- Page 49 and 50: SALT LAKE CITY /^old weather and bl
- Page 51 and 52: Komm Family Forms New Operating Co.
- Page 53 and 54: YOU get extro resuhs withl^eqoipmen
- Page 55 and 56: $8,427 Erects This Striking # "'' ^
- Page 57 and 58: . . — town for personal appearanc
- Page 59 and 60: St. Paul Council Shuns Action on 'O
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