Motion picture daily (Jan-Mar 1954)

Tuesday, January 26, 1954 Motion Picture Daily 3 Theatremen to Aid Crusade for Freedom Under Harry Brandt Theatremen in the New York Metropolitan area will participate actively in the Crusade for Freedom under the leadership of Harry Brandt, president of the Independent Theatre Owners Association, it was announced yesterday by Barney Balaban, New York State chairman of the national campaign to enroll 25,000,000 signers and raise 10,000,000 "Truth Dollars" to support the round-the-clock broadcasts of Radio Free Europe to the 70,000,000 captive people behind the Iron Curtain in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria. Brandt, who has accepted the appointment as chairman of the amusement division of the Crusade for Freedom campaign locally, will coordinate the activities of some thousand theatres in dramatizing the role Radio Free Europe broadcasts have played in the maintenance of world peace. The Crusade is a project of the American Heritage Foundation. Five Companies Set Record Global Newsreel Coverage Reached High Mark in '53 Mullin Reelected by N.E. Exhibitor Group BOSTON, Jan. 25. — Martin J. Mullin, president of New England Theatres, has been reelected president of Allied Theatres of New England. Also reelected as vice-presidents were : Sam Pinanski, president of American Theatres Corp. ; Charles E. Kurtzman, Northeastern division manager of Loew's Theatres, Inc. ; Ben Domingo, district manager of RKO Boston Theatres ; Harry Feinstein, of Stanley Warner Theatres, New Haven, and Al Somerby, retired. Stanley Sumner, of the University Theatre, Cambridge, was reelected treasurer ; John J. Ford, president of Maine and New Hampshire Theatres, was renamed chairman of the board, and Frank C. Lydon was reelected to the post of executive secretary. Allied Theatres of New England has no affiliation with any other national exhibitor organization. The motion picture industry's five newsreel organizations in 1953 set a new record in global coverage of news events. This is indicated in a topical analysis of 545 editions produced by the newsreel companies last year for theatrical exhibition. The survey, made by the Motion Picture Association of America, discloses that the newsreels presented 3,598 topics to U. S. moviegoers in the course of the twelve-month period. This topped the 1952 total by 300 topics. The newsreel cameras in 1953 recorded events in 78 countries and areas of the world — a breadth of coverage unmatched in previous years. The growing importance and impact of international activities on the lives of Americans is underscored in the fact that 1,686 news stores, nearly half of the topics presented last year, dealt with some aspect of the foreign scene. This marks a gain in foreign news coverage of 204 topics over 1952. A tabulation by country shows that Great Britain, for the second successive year, rated first as an overseas news source, accounting for 324 sequences. Korea was a close runnerup with 314 sequences. Other countries that figured importantly in the newsreel spotlight were France, Germany, Canada, Italy, China and Japan. 1,914 Topics in U. S. On the home front, the newsreels presented 1,914 topics on all phases of contemporary life and activity, an increase of 98 topics over 1952. National interest in the new administration, its policies and personalities was reflected in a three-fold increase in newsreel stories on the U.S. government over the preceding year. Po To Salute Publishers At AMPA Luncheon In N. Y. Tomorrow litical news, however, supplied less than one percent of the domestic topics in 1953 — a sharp drop from the previous year when the presidential and local election campaigns accounted for almost ten percent of the newsreel footage. A 50 percent increase in newsreel topics affecting the nation's health and welfare indicated growing concern and interest in efforts to stamp out disease and epidemics. The nation got by with relatively fewer disasters last year, according to the newsreel tabulations. Against 137 catastrophies in 1952, there were only 104 tallied for last year. The world of sports continued to be an important reservoir of news, accounting for 17 percent of the. newsreel topics. Movie theatres last year exhibited 24 newsreel issues devoted entirely to a single subject. Among the subjects accorded exclusive treatment were President Eisenhower's inauguration and State of the Union message, the Coronation, atomic energy, as well as a number of year-end sports roundups. Public Welfare Stressed The film industry's cooperation with national campaigns to assist humanitarian and charitable causes was extended in 1953 through the presentation of 112 sequences on public welfare projects. The analysis of the contents of American newsreels is part of a continuing study made under the direction of MPAA's Newsreel Committee of which Thomas Mead, editor of Universal Newsreel, is chairman. The four other industry newsreels are Fox Movietone News, M-G-M's News of the Day, Paramount News and Warner Pathe News. Edward Dodd, president of DoddMead Publishing Co., Alfred Knopf, Jr., of Alfred A. Knopf, and Spencer Scott, president of Harcourt-Brace, will be among the guests at the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers' first luncheon-meeting of 1954 at the Hotel Piccadilly tomorrow, it was announced by Lige Brien, president of AMPA. The principal address at the meeting, which is being held on the theme of "Great Books Make Great Movies," will be delivered by Douglas M. Black, president of the American Book Publishers Council and president of Doubleday. At the same meeting, Paul N. Lazarus, Jr., will deliver his first public address since his election as vice-president of Columbia Pictures. Mich. Allied Meeting Apr. 19-21 in Detroit DETROIT, Jan. 25. The spring convention of Allied Theatres of Michigan will be held here Apr. 19', 20 and 21 at the Hotel Statler. Recently-elected officers of Michigan Allied are: John M. Vlachos, Flat Rock, president; E..J. Pennell, Bronson, 1st vice-president; Pearse Parkhurst, Lansing, 2nd vice-president ; Alden Smith, Detroit, secretarytreasurer ; Lew Wisper, Detroit, national Allied representative; Ernest Conlon, executive vice-president. Directors are: Al Ackerman, Detroit ; Joe Denniston, Monroe ; Henry Carley, Allegan; Mart Christiansen, Muskegon ; Irving Belinsky, East Detroit; C. R. Beechler, Charlotte; Emmett Roche, Hart ; Ed Johnson, Bay City ; Martin Thomas, Menominee ; P. J. O'Donnell, Ironwood; B. L. Kilbride, Detroit ; Adolph Goldberg, Detroit, and Frank Forman, Oxford. Kingsley Named to N.F.F.C. Presidency LONDON, Jan. 25.— David Kingsley, accountant, has been appointed managing director of the National Film Finance Corp. here, succeeding J. H. Lawrie, resigned. Kingsley joined N. F. F. C. as its secretary. His new appointment is effective next Monday. Lawrie resigned to form his own production company. He has announced plans for three productions in association with three different distributors, A.B.-Pathe, British Lion and Independent. Harry, Jack Warner Give, Buy WB Shares WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.— Harry M. Warner, president of Warner Brothers, in December made gifts of 7,700 shares of common stock and Jack L. Warner, production vicepresident, purchased 18,300 shares, the Securities and Exchange Commission reports. Harry Warner's gifts reduced his holdings to 109,900 shares. Jack Warner's purchase brought his holdings up to 247,299 shares. Sassier Sets Up New Independent Firm HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 25.— Robert Bassler Productions has been formed and will produce Richard Sale's "Suddenly" as its first independent production. Sale, now in Europe, will arrive in New York on Friday enroute to Hollywood where he will direct his own screenplay. 'Garters' Premieres To Aid 'Dimes' Drive AUSTIN, Tex., Jan. 25.— The February premiere of Paramount's "Red Garters" here, and subsequent Texas openings of the musical will be utilized to extend the March of Dimes drive in this state. In addition to Austin, openings are scheduled in San Antonio, Feb. 3 ; Houston, Feb. 4 : Dallas, Feb. 5 and Fort Worth, Feb. 6. BFPA Head Operated On LONDON, Jan. 25.— Sir Henry French, director-general of the British Film Producers Assn., is reported to be making satisfactory progress after undergoing internal surgery in Middlesex Hospital. Sir Henry is 70 years old. Starr Files Action Over Theatre Site NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 25. — Alfred Starr, former president of Theatre Owners of America, with his brother, Milton Starr, owner of the Bijou Theatre here, has filed suit in Federal Court seeking an injunction to prevent inclusion of the site of the theatre in a housing project. Starr stated that he has no intention of interfering with the re-development project, but points to the fact that certain other properties have been left out. Colonial Theatre Suit Recessed Till Feb. 2 ^ MILWAUKEE, Jan. 25. — The Colonial Theatre suit against eight major motion picture firms, which is being tried here, has been recessed until Feb. 2, at which time the film companies will present their case. Colonial alleges that the defendants violated the anti-trust laws by forcing Colonial to exhibit old films. Plaintiff asks damages of $4,500,000. File Percentage Suit Against Henn in Fla. ATLANTA, Jan. 25. — Damage suits totaling $39,000 have been filed in circuit court in Clearwater, Fla., by 20th Century-Fox, Warner Brothers, Columbia, RKO Pictures, United Artists and Loew's against J. P. Henn, who owns theatres , in Murphy. Andrews and Robbjnsville, N. C. Henn is now residing in Clearwater. The film companies charge the $39,000 is owed on unreported admissions on percentage pictures playing in his theatres from January, 1947 to mid1952. Trans Lux Offering All-Pur pose Screen A seamless screen made with a plastic base and designed for use with CinemaScope, wide-screen, 3D, and 2D, has been marketed by The Trans Lux Corp. Trade-named the "LUXURIA SCREEN" it is being produced in sizes .up .to. 90 feet in length and 50 feet in height. Wolf Buys SW House CLEVELAND, Jan. 25. — Nat Wolf, former Warner Theatres Ohio zone manager, has purchased the Columbia Theatre, Portsmouth, O., a Stanley Warner house. James Trancy will continue as manager of the Columbia under the new ownership. The Stanley Warner Circuit is retaining the Leroy and Lyric theatres in Portsmouth.