Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1956)

6. 79. NO. 15 MOTION PICTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 1956 TEN CENTS r^ First Half '56 ^publicAllots 1-15 Million $ II Production pis Will Be Promoted wvily, Says Yates My WILLIAM R. WEAVER ■LLYWOOD, Jan. 22. Alloca|>f $12,000,000 to $15,000,000 i_m production in the first six I s of 1956, which approximately ■ is the previous year's allocation, I jinounced at the weekend by ■ ilic president Herbert J. Yates, ■ aid that his company, "despite ■ 3rm warnings in the picture in ■ ," will continue to deliver the Entertainment possible to theatre ■ ices during 1956. Ajlitionally, Yates said, "a more «3 trade paper and magazine ad■ng campaign is being planned a effort to stimulate exhibitor enBsm in Republic product and ■ (Continued on page 7) feet Today h Tax Drive ffi first meeting of the steering m ittee to further plans for the ffljation of the Federal admissions { I ill take place here today at the Quarters of the Council of Morn] icture Organizations, it was an«|ed by Robert Coyne, special Id for COMPO. T; group meeting today was de^> 1 as the "small steering com(Continued on page 6) I HMiile Urges Unity ■Milestone Dinner | From THE DAILY Bureau Ht LLYWOOD, Jan. 22.-To more iri.,000 guests attending tonight's B. Producers Guild Milestone Wf honoring Cecil B. De Mille ■ s contributions to motion picre during the past 43 years, the i producer expressed his eamt ntitude and made some serious I [Continued on page 9) C & C Not Allowed Use of RKO Insignia The trade mark of RKO Radio Pictures will not be used in the merchandising or sales of C & C Television Corp. product to TV stations, according to Matthew Fox, C & C TV president. Fox said that under the terms of his agreement with RKO Radio, the RKO trade mark will not be used at all. "But you can be sure that the public will know that the films they are seeing on television are from that studio," he said, referring to the advertising program. To Own the Product on Permanent Basis RKO Library to TV Stations as Package 740 Productions to Be Sold to Outlets as One Unit; Will Go to Theatres Overseas Television Today By LESTER DINOFF The entire film library of RKO Radio Pictures, which was acquired by C & C Television Corp. last month, will be sold in one lump package of 740 features in deals with U. S. and Canadian TV stations and networks, under which purchaswill IN THIS ISSUE PAGE 10 ► More reports — from A(BC) to Z(iv), in fact — on the increasing tempo of activity in the television film field. >■ Spotlighting the New and the Significant in Television Today. ^. The Week in Review — What was on the air. REVIEW: ANYTHING GOES Paramount-VistaVision ers own the rights to each film permanently, it was announced here at the weekend by Matthew Fox, president of C & C Television. Fox, w h o said that no sales policy had been established thus far for the short subjects which were also acquired in the RKO Radio sale, disclosed that he planned shortly to set up a company to handle foreign distribution by awarding theatrical re-issue rights to franchised distributors in each overseas nation. The C & C executive, in a trade (Continued on page 9) Matthew Fox It's a platitude now to refer to a picture as being "just what the doctor ordered." It's also pretty old hat to tag a picture with such superlatives as a "natural" or a "bonanza." But "Anything Goes" is one of these productions. Medically speaking, it's a hypodermic that should be a definite cure for sick box-offices. Story-wise, the picture is light, flimsy and, in a sense, insane, as most musicals are and, perhaps, should be. But the production numbers are fast and furious; choreography is superb and the Cole Porter songs, plus a few from Sammy Cahn and James Van Heusen, are tuneful. There also is plenty to sell via names. Even a mediocre film couldn't help drawing business with such people as Bing Crosby, Donald O'Connor, Jeanmaire, Mitzi Gaynor and Phil Harris. And this quintette delivers smooth performances. It's quite likely that the stock of dancer Jeanmaire and Miss Gaynor will rise to greater heights after the picture's release. As for The Groaner, O'Connor and Harris, their competency in polished roles need no elaboration. Produced in VistaVision and vivid color by Technicolor, "Anything ( Continued on page 6 ) Loew's Seeks New Drive-in ■ From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Jan. 22.-Loew's Theatres will shordy seek permission from the New York District Court to build a new drive-in in a Houston suburb, the Justice Department said. The theatre is planned for Sharpstown, adjoining the Houston suburb of Bellaire. About 10 miles from downtown Houston, the theatre would have an initial capacity of 1,200 cars, with later expansion possible. It would serve primarily a new development area which is ultimately expected to have 25,000 homes and about 100,000 people. Justice officials said no date had (Continued on page 6)