Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1959)

OL. 86, NO. 74 MOTION PICTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1959 TEN CENTS Hckus Says taint Efforts Only Hope for Eliminating Ills ^ells Maryland Unit to Pin lopes on Firms' Honor Special to THE DAILY BALTIMORE, Oct. 14.-As long js exhibition continues to sit down Wth production and distribution to iscuss mutual problems "we have a hance of doing something to solve hose problems," Albert M. Pickus, lhairman of the executive committee f Theatre Owners of America, told he first convention of the new Maryand Theatre Owners Assn. today. Speaking on the need for organizaion and the advantages of unity, 'ickus said "the solutions to all our >roblems must spring from these." When we walk alone," he said, we are just a small, single voice, lost (Continued on page 11) l/ld. Convention Lauds khneider's Policies Special to THE DAILY BALTIMORE, Oct. 14.-The first onvention of the recently organized Maryland Theatre Owners Ass'n., held here today honored Abe Schneider, Columbia Pictures p re s ident, b y resolution for his confidence in the industry as exemplified by his c o m p a n y's pledge to go "all out" in the production of films and to Concentrate upon putting "new life" into the motion picture business. The resolution was one of two adopted by the convention, the other expressed the organizations' approval (Continued on page 11) TELEVISION TODAY p. 10 A. Schneider Maryland Censors Ban No Film for 4 Years; 'Modify' 19; Call Their Task 'Exacting' No Action Activation of New Pa. Censor Special to THE DAILY BALTIMORE, Oct. 14.— In its annual report issued today the Maryland Board of Motion Picture Censors discloses that for the fourth consecutive year it has not banned a motion picture in its entirety. The board did, however, j n iit 1 "Tl M ill III "modify" 19 films in that period. Jjil" 111 The report further revealed, during the fiscal year ending June 30, the board reviewed 1,076 original films, more than 5,000,000 feet of celluloid. Administering Maryland's censorship law is an "onerous and exacting task," the board stated. It demands the "utmost in objectivity and severest control of personal predilections. Each situation must be evaluated on its own merits." The board noted that recent legislation barring exhibition of "obscene" films to minors under 18 had to be administered by state law enforcement agencies. To check compliance with the censorship law, the board inspected 4,960 films as they were being shown across the state. C. Morton Goldstein is chairman of the board. No Appropriation Yet; Aim At Oct. 26 Adjournment New Realignments in Columbia's Sales Staff Further appointments in the realignment of Columbia Pictures' domestic sales department top echelon were announced yesterday by Rube Jackter, vice-resident and general sales manager. They followed by a few days the appointment of Milton Goodman to the post of assistant general sales manager. Realignment of the sales cabinet and its members' chief aides, Jackter again pointed out, is in line with the strengthening of the entire sales organization to insure the best distribution of the heaviest schedule of (Continued on page 2) Rule Film Doesn't Violate Columbus Law Special to THE DAILY COLUMBUS, O., Oct. 14. City officials could not ban "Ten Days in a Nudist Camp" in its recently-completed run at the Fox theatre under the newly-amended anti-obscenity ordinance, city attorney Russell Leach has ruled. He had been asked for an opinion by vice squad members, who took a second look at the film following complaints by members of the Parent-Teacher Association of Immaculate Conception Church. Leach said the film does not violate the city's law, amended to include motion pictures. Vice squad members found the picture "boring" but not "obscene." UA Answers Complaint From School on Films Special to THE DAILY DETROIT, Oct. 14.-United Artists has officially replied to the Cranbrook School following publication in newspapers of a complaint criticizing refusal of the film distributor to furnish it with product. In reply, Sydney Bowman, UA branch, manager stated: "We have a policy of not serving non-theatrical accounts that we feel would be in competition with theatres. It is our policy to protect the people who have an investment in theatres against the (Continued on page 12) Leenhouts Resigns As V.P. of Cinerama, Inc. Grant Leenhouts yesterday announced his resignation as vice-president in charge of production of Cinerama, Inc. He plans to enter independent production for both the wide-screen processes and television. He has a long term non-exclusive contract as a production consultant to ( Continued on page 12 ) Cinema Lodge Luncheon Set Oct. 29 at Astor The first fall luncheon of Cinema Lodge B'nai B'rith will be held Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Hotel Astor, at 12:30 p.m., it was announced yesterday by Alfred W. Schwalberg, president. The luncheon, which will ( Continued on page 1 1 ) Special to THE DAILY HARRISBURG, Oct. 14.-With the state legislature having set Oct. 26 as a target date for adjournment, the status of the recenty enacted censorship law remains undetermined. No appointments to the board have been made by Gov. David Lawrence, although there is considerable jockeying for preferential positions on the list of prospects and at least one well known film industry name, a former sales executive in the estate, is being mentioned as a possible appointee to the board. Moreover, the status of the appropriation with which to run the board also is unclear. The legislature still has taken no action on the state's new budget and some believe that until that has been cleared, no approprition for the censor board would be possible. However, others believe that because the censor legislation author( Continued on page 2) Canadian Film Rentals $33,746,765 in 1958 Special to THE DAILY TORONTO, Oct. 14. Film rentals from all sources in Canada during 1958 totaled $33,746,765, the Dominion Bureau of Statistics has reported, with theatrical product yielding $25,310,194 or 69.5 per cent of the overall figure. TV brought in $6,336,346, up from $5,575,414 last year. Film rented for non-theatrical use grossed $393,966. The report shows that in 1958 there were 49 film distribution companies operating out of 124 exchange offices, compared with the same number of companies and 130 branches in 1957. The year 1955 saw the great spurt in distribution of films to TV and the opening of 16 new companies. The 49 companies employed 1,102 persons and paid out $4,104,677 in salaries and wages during 1958.