Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1959)

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Motion Picture Daily 1 Curtis Pleads at SMPTE for 'New Look' | Tuesday, October 6, 1959 New Murray Hill I Theatre Opens The newly constructed Murray Hill I Theatre on East 34th Street in Manhattan, which officially opens tonight | with the world premiere of Universal's ! "Pillow Talk," was shown to the press yesterday afternoon on a conducted tour following a screening of the film. The Murray Hill, named after its locale, was built by the Rugoff & Becker Theatre Corporation, and represents an investment of $500,000. The same company operates several first run art theatres in New York— the Sutton, the Beekman and the Fifth j Avenue Cinema— including the recenti ly acquired Paris Theatre, which it j operates jointly with Pathe Cinema. Seats 570 The new theatre, a 570-seat house, was designed by Ben Schlanger, who is presently consultant on the Lincoln Square project, and was the architect of the Williamsburg Twin | Theatres in Virginia, built for the I Rockefellers. Norman Ives of the Yale University | School of Design created the new : marquee of stainless black steel with \ its specially designed letters. The interior was designed by James McNair, a graduate of the Yale School of Architecture. Holby & Hewes were the builders. I The theatre has a white marble ' facade and embraces the most recent ; advances in theatre construction, including the most modern acoustical treatment. The color scheme of the theatre interior is scarlet and black and the wall consist of narrow white wooden slats set against a gold metallic background. The lounge is entirely red with black modern furnishings. Changes in Denver's First Run Setup Seen Special to THE DAILY DENVER, Oct. 5. Changes in Denver's first run situation are expected to occur as a result of remodelling of theatres and new policies planned j or in work. Fox Intermountain's Aladdin closed today for extensive alteration and remodeling, including installation of 70mm. equipment and relocation of booth equipment. Extensive additional parking space will be provided. Work is being rushed to meet an Oct. 15 deadline when "The Big Fisherman" will open on a two-a-day basis. Aladdin had formerly operated on a variable first and subsequent run basis. Towne Theatre Corp. has taken over the lease on the downtown Welt<m Theatre and the house has been closed for a complete remodeling. The theatre will now be called the Towne rather than the Welton. The theatre lease is held by Sam Feinstein, who also operates the Kar Vu Drive-In Theatre in Brighton, Colorado, and Mrs. Bertha Andersen of Fort Morgan, who sub-leased to the Telenews Nfanagement Corp. ( Continued from page 1 ) knowledge." He noted that, though the Society has achieved much since its inception in 1916. "We haven't had a breakthrough comparable to a Sputnik or a moon shot that has lifted entertainment to new high levels . . . since the advent of television. We have had improvements aplenty but nothing that has really given a startling new look at the art of entertainment." Praises Engineers After mentioning such innovations as color, stereophonic sound, and wide-screen processes, Curtis remarked, "In saying this I confess I do not have in mind exactly what our engineers might have accomplished which they haven't done." The Eastman executive pointed out that the motion picture business "derives a great proportion of its income from abroad and, for better or worse, probably has more impact on relations with other peoples or certainly on their ideas of how we live in the United States. Mr. Khrushchev and our friend Spyros Skouras have recently had some discussions about this, as you know." Commiserating with the lack of sympathy the industry's leaders often accord engineers, Curtis stated, "Entertainment is not in any sense an exact science. It will always depend primarily on creative talent . . . and the responsible producer ... is more preoccupied with story and stars . . . than he is with improved sound quality or getting more speed and better definition in film." During a recent trip to the U.S.S.R., for purposes of seeing the American exhibition there, Curtis said he observed first hand that "the motion picture is still the outstanding means of communication in Russia for entertainment, propaganda, and education. There are 77,000 cinemas in Russia today of which about 25,000 use 16mm film, and their seven-year plan . . . calls for the total number to reach 120,000 by 1965. The setup is a raw stock manufacturer's dream. "Unfortunately, for the Western manufacturers this is all supplied from factories within the Iron Curtain, although they have recently purchased a small amount of Eastman color positive and negative, largely for comparison purposes. I would guess that our sales of motion pictures, television sets or programs, raw stock of anything else will be on only a token basis for many years to come." Russians Like 70mm Russia engineers, commented Curtis, are much interested in 70mm film, and are convinced 70mm Sovcolor has a sparkling future. Curtis found television there unimpressive. "The motion picture is still preeminent on the screens of the world," he said. "So far I do not believe the producers of TV have given the same attention to the possible international appeal of their material as the motion picture producers have long been accustomed to do. I am confident this Society will fully measure up to the challenge of the space age." Curtis' speech was preceded by an introduction by SMPTE president Dr. Norwood L. Simmons, who urged the Society's members to broaden the base of their knowledge by incorporating new techniques, such as video tape, into their operating know-how. He' cited a recent resolution passed in the U.S. Senate which spurred "all interested agencies of the Federal Government to participate actively to the greatest practicable extent in the Fifth International Congress on HighSpeed Photography to be held in D.C. in October 1960 under the sponsorship of the SMPTE." Lauded by Simmons Simmons listed Curtis' record of service as a combat pilot in World War I, and chief of the U.S. Strategic Air Force in Europe during World War II. In addition, Curtis served as President Eisenhower's special aid on aviation facilities planning in 1956. Major General Curtis awarded the Collier Trophy of the National Aeronautics Society, and the prize was personally presented by the President. Hence, Simmons said, the keynoter was well qualified to talk on botli space and motion pictures. A partial listing of the Society's 1960-61 officers and sectional srover o nors was read to the gathering before the main event. Tent 35 Annual Election Will Be Held Oct. 19 The annual election of canvassmen of Tent 35, New York Variety Club, will be held at Allied Theatre Owners of New jersey offices here on Oct. 19. Nominated for canvassmen are Charles Alicoate, Harry Brandt, John P. Byrne, Irving Dollinger, Walter Franier, Jack H. Hoflberg, Jack Levin, Jerome Pickman, Morris Sanders, Charles Smakwitz and George Waldman, Additional nominations may be petitioned on the signatures of 10 members in good standing. EKC Film for Commercial Producers Offers High-Speed Material for Color A new, high-speed color motion picture film described as enabling commercial producers to obtain color footage under previously impossible lighting conditions has been announced by Eastman Kodak Company. It was demonstrated yesterday at the convention of the Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers in the StatlerHilton Hotel here. Eastman Color Reversal Film, Daylight Type, So-260, has a normal exposure rating of 160— comparable to the fastest black-and-white cine films now made. A companion, tungstenbalanced film, Eastman Color Reversal Film, Type B, SO-270, has a normal index of 125. The new film is said to combine exceptional speed with adequate sharpness, moderate grain pattern and excellent color reproduction. These characteristics permit photography under a wide variety of natural and artificial lighting conditions which have proved previously unsuitable, it was explained. High Speed Advantageous As an example of what the higher speed of the new tungsten-balanced SO-270 film means in terms of exposure under low light levels: at a shutter speed of 1/50 second at 24 frames per second sound speed with a lens aperture of f/1.4, the new film may be exposed at the normal 125 rating with only 18 foot-candles of incident illumination. Commercial motion picture producers are expected to find the film particularly valuable when photographing fast-moving objects or interior scenes, such as broad orientation shots, which formerly posed lighting problems. It is expected that such footage on Eastman Color Reversal Film will be inter-cut with scenes exposed on slower, finer-grainer films with optimum quality, such as Ektachrome Commercial Film, Type 7255. In addition to the films' value in research and testing programs conducted in the nation's missile and aircraft industries, the new films are expected to be useful in a broad range of scientific, industrial and engineering photo-recording applications, sports analysis, television color newsreel coverage, and medical research. Availability Oct. 12 The new films will be available in limited supply beginning Oct. 12 and in full supply early next year. Processing service will be offered by Kodak in Rochester, New York, and Hollywood, California, beginning October 5. Processing service may also be provided by other than Kodak laboratories or the film may be processed by the individual user if desired. Duplicate color prints can be made on any conventional print film. Eastman Color Reversal Film, Daylight Type, SO-260, the Eastman Color Reversal Film, Type B, SO-270, will be available in 16mm and 35mm sizes. The films may be purchased from the W. J. German Company (Fort Lee, New Jersey; Chicago, and Hollywood) agents for Eastman professional motion picture films. The same films will be available through Kodak dealers under the names Kodak Color Reversal Film, Daylight Type, SO-260, and Type B, SO-270.