Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1960)

lay, August 5, 1960 Motion Picture Daily 7 tiycho' Heading for )0,000 in Brooklyn jhe biggest single day's gross in I history of the Brooklyn Paramount "|atre was set by Alfred Hitchcc's "Psycho" in its opening on V|lnesday, according to managing ictor Eugene Pleshette. ;ross for the day was a record ] 580 which eclipses the previous l ime high for the theatre set by le Ten Commandments." On the us of this new high mark set by 1,'cho," an opening week gross in xpss of $100,000 is predicted. linimum Pay ( Continued from page 1 ) mr of the Metropolitan Motion 'iWe Theatres Association will apd: at the (Friday) hearing in New «c City and present a brief on beI of all the industry." harles Horwitz, personnel director Schine Theatres, Gloversville, asked for "elimination" of the (/ision for the four-hour "Daily •in" applying to ushers. This ns that when ushers are summed to work, they must be paid a imum of four hours if the theatre perated full time. For night-time ses, ushers must be paid a minin of two hours. Horwitz Tells of Paper Work [orwitz also commented, "I wish could make all minimum wage |;rs uniform. If you had any idea ihe amount of paper work placed u[a manager when there is a Iranian wage order for the amusement ii recreation industry, another for h building trades, and a third for t retail trade, you might understand I' we think greater uniformity is lirable." Covered in the "retail l ie" minimum wage orders are emwees of theatre concession comities, it was explained. lanagers, Horwitz continued, are 'fimarily involved" in the amuserjit-recreation industry minimum tte order. They find it "very diffiI:" to understand why there are l:e minimum wage orders requir iii attention. "Uniformity would be durable," Horwitz declared. Answered by Lefkowitz erome Lefkowitz, associate counfor the State Labor Department, lied that the provisions of the ;e orders are the result of recomidations made by individual rds for the various industries and ;ts. "The provisions cannot be unin for all," he stated, lorwitz then made a specific plea the exemption of ushers. I feel this seriously morally and ry other way— you are wiping out ployment for these ushers," comnted Horwitz. "They are young la, not adults with families to supt and for whom higher wages uld be necessary," he added. The Schine Circuit spokesman U.S. Wage Legislation Draws C. of C. Fire From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Aug. 4. The U. S. Chamber of Commerce has reminded its members that minimum wage legislation is "on the KennedyJohnson priority list" for Senate action. The measure passed by the House, and the bill pending in the Senate, would not alter the status of the motion picture industry. The chamber expressed fears that new wage legislation "would spark more inflation and more unemployment." It cited as evidence of this some comments made by the Pennsylvania State Employment Bureau concerning the impact of recent extension of the state's $1 hourly minimum wage law which became uniform throughout the state this year. The bureau said that "because of minimum wage regulations forcing a higher wage scale," retail stores are trying to hold sales forces down. London 'Alamo' Benefit John Wayne and his Todd-AO production of "The Alamo" will play host to Princess Margaret and her husband, Antony Armstrong-Jones, at its European charity premiere October 26 at the Astoria Theatre in London. The opening of the United Artists release will be sponsored by Variety Tent for the benefit of the Invalid Children's Aid Association. 'Gantry9 Big in Phila. "Elmer Gantry" has registered the highest gross in five years at the Stanton Theatre, Philadelphia, with a first week total of $28,884, according to United Artists. raised the further point of "apprenticeships" for ushers, their hourly salary to be less for "the first two or three months" than after they had gained experienced and therefore would be more useful. The Assembly Rules Committee bill, recommended by Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller, passed by both houses of the legislature, and signed by him in April, makes provision for "apprentices." Lefkowitz interjected that "apprentices" are those recognized as such as federal and state governments. Motion picture theatre workers are not so recognized, Lefkowitz emphasized. At the hearing's conclusion, the concensus seemed that motion picture theatre workers would not be exempted from the provisions of the new statute. It extends the $1 hourly minimum to 700,000 additional workers, according to Governor Rockefeller's message of approval. The classes of theatre workers whose salaries were not upped to the $1 minimum, Mar. 1 last, are ushers, ramp attendants, children's matrons, messengers and other unclassified employees. The industry could press for an amendment— as it unsuccessfully did, via COMPO, this year at the 1961 session of the legislature. N.Y. World's Fair ( Continued from page 1 ) publicity directors committee, of which Martin Davis, Paramount Pictures national director of advertising, publicity and exploitation, is chairman. Mills will report back to the committee which, in turn, will consider what the industry's position might be with respect to participation and, if so, to what extent. Exhibitors at the Fair will be charged $4 per square foot for space. Exhibit structures will be permitted to use only 50 per cent of the space rented. Structures will be limited to four floors or 80 feet in height. Many new facilities and access roads, involving millions in construction costs are planned for the Flushing Meadow site. Pathe, DeLuxe (Continued from page 1) Chicago and New York, will operate under the direction of Roger Beaudry, as vice-president and general manager. Beaudry was formerly with Shelly Films Limited. Pathe-DeLuxe is retaining virtually all of the personnel formerly employed by Shelly Films Limited. The new company will continue to function as a motion picture and sound laboratory. Leon C. Shelly is setting up his own independent office, as Leon Shelly and Company, and will act as a general sales agent for PatheDeLuxe. A. F. Myers ( Continued from page 1 ) organization could retain legal services if, as and when needed. A board chairman could be elected from among the membership officials, it was argued, and the post of general counsel could be eliminated without inconvenience to the organization. It was apparent that there is no possibility of an early return to Allied membership of the Western Pennsylvania and New England organizations which resigned following the last annual election of national officers. Neither organization will be represented at the weekend meeting here and, it was further learned, the national organization did not extend invitations to either to attend. Directors predicted that the Allied board will vote a purse to Myers in appreciation of his 31 years of service to the organization, and that it may initiate plans for an industry testimonial to him of some sort, probably in the form of a banquet, proceeds from which would make up part of the purse. Rosary for Mole Today HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 4. Rosary for Peter Mole, 66, partner in the firm of Mole-Richardson, who died Tuesday following a heart seizure, will be recited tomorrow at 8 P.M. in St. Francis de Sales Church, Sherman Oaks. 'Pjeasure-Ttill is going to happen to you when you see "IT STARTED IN NAPLES." Louella Parsons says: "'IT STARTED IN NAPLES' IS ABOUT AS GOOD AS AN ACTUAL VISIT TO THE BAY OF NAPLES AND THE BLUE GROTTO AT CAPRI." You're in for a new kind of movie experience as you chortle over^l^ ^^this highly irregular adventure. Starring CLARK GABLE • SOPHIA LOREN • VITTORIO DE SICA and introducing MARIETTO ♦ A PARAMOUNT RELEASE