Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1963)

OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS (Continued from Page 12) was assistant publicity manager. Harold Rand, director of 20th's world publicity, has announced the appointment of three new publicists, Jack Pitman, Joanna Ney and Frank Rodriguez. Sid Ganis, staff publicist takes up new duties as New York newspaper and national syndicate contact. Poe also named George D. Pilzer to be executive assistant to David Raphel, continental division manager. He will serve from 20th's Paris headquarters. Recent resignations: Edward E. Sullivan, publicity and public relations director, who joins Frank Berend Associates as vice president and public relations director; Glenn Norris, sales executive, who is reported set to join another distribution firm. Landau Sets Busy Year after 'Journey' The product situation was brightened in the first week of the new year by the announcement that the Landau Company is scheduling a program of five features in 1963. Encouraged by the boxoffice and critical reception accorded his first film venture, "Long Day's Journey Into Night", Ely Landau revealed that four of his new projects already have been selected. The schedule indicates that Landau plans to LANDAU pursue the line of quality production established by "Long Day's Journey". Leading off the program of the New York based production company will be a film version of the Helen Eustis novel, "The Fool Killer", which will go into production in Hollywood in March. The screenplay, by David Friedkin and Morton Fine, will be produced and directed by Jose Quintero and Mexico's Servando Gonzales. This will be followed by "The Pawnbroker", first production by the new team of Roger H. Lewis, former UA executive, and Philip Langner. It is slated to started shooting in New York in the spring. Landau's most ambitious project is an original screenplay by Howard Fast based on the life of Leonardo da Vinci, which will get under way in Italy in the fall. Scheduled for a summer start in France is an adaptation of Giraudoux's "The Madwoman of Chaillot", while the fifth, not yet announced, will be another of Eugene O'Neill's works. RACKMIL Rackmil High on Universal^ Future After a golden anniversary year which was the best financial period in the history of the company, Universal is swinging into its 51st year of operation with "highest optimism in the future of our company and our industry". These were the words of cheer in a year-end statement issued by president Milton R. Rackmil. Outlining the company's extensive production program for the coming year he expressed the view that it held "even greater promise of growth and success." With sixteen pictures near release or in various stages of production and another thirteen in preparation, U's position was described as strong, bolstered by an impressive list of boxoffice names and a wide range of fare. "This is by far the most impressive star-studded program of major attractions ever presented by Universal," Rackmil said, "and one which not alone will earn great boxoffice returns, but will also add new prestige for Universal." McCarthy Urges Eye To State Wage Floors Warning that exhibition may face new minimum wage laws in those 26 states were such laws don't as yet affect theatre employees, COMPO executive vice president Charles E. McCarthy urged exhbitors to be on the alert. Making public a report on the subject, he called attention to the fact that all but four of the 50 state legislatures meet this year in regular session and indications are that minimum wage legislation will be introduced in several. Three of these states, Delaware, Montana and Utah, have made known that they contemplate the introduction of minimum wage laws affecting theatres, the first two states already having such legislation in preparation. Nine of the 26 states have authorized establishment of wage boards and four of these boards have already issued wage orders affecting certain workers. Disparity in the classes of workers covered exists in those states which provide wage minimums: in North Dakota, Ohio and Pennsylvania, only concession attendants are covered, in others only women and minors, while some states cover all workers in minimum rates ranging from 46<f an hour in Puerto Rico to $1.75 in Alaska. "In the circumstances," McCarthy says, "it behoves all theatre exhibitors to keep a close watch on all proposed minimum wage legislation, to make their views known to their local state senators and representative, and to keep their state minimum wage committees and COMPO advised of developments." Weston, Peppercorn Named Embassy V.P.'s Joseph E. Levine's burgeoning Embassy Pictures' organization elevated two key executives to the office of vice president over the weekend. Robert R. Weston moved up from the post of director of advertising to vice president in charge of world advertising, publicity and exploitation. Sales chief Carl Peppercorn was named vice president and general sales manager. The appointments, said president Levine, were "further steps in the Embassy Pictures program of expansion in all phases of its world-wide activities" and in line with company policy of selecting executives from within. Citing Westons youth and Peppercorn's youthful attitude, Levine declared: "It is youth, daring and inventive, that will shape our progress." Shortly after his appointment, Weston announced the retention of Bill Doll, prominent showmanship expert, to handle special publicity and promotion assignments for Embassy. WESTON Film BULLETIN January 7, 1943 Page 17