Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1960)

4 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, October 11, 1960 Gov. Leroy Collins New Head of NAB From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Oct. 10. Gov. Leroy Collins of Florida has been unanimously elected the 17th president of the National Association of Broadcasters by the 43-member board of directors. The 51-year-old governor, who succeeds the late Harold E. Fellows, will take over the NAB post after his term as Florida's chief executive expires on Jan. 4. The contract, ratified by the board today, calls for a threeyear term. Salary is believed to be about $75,000 plus some expenses. The election ended a long search, started shortly after Fellow's death, for another nationally prominent leader to take over as NAB president and chief spokesman for the Broadcasting industry. The search was conducted by a special 11-member selection committee headed by C. Howard Lane, executive vice-president and general manager of station KOIN-TV, Portland, Ore. Policy Group to Serve NAB's policy committee headed by Clair R. McCollough, president and general manager of the Steinman Stations, Lancaster, Pa., which has given policy guidance to NAB since Fellows' death, will continue to do so until Collins takes over the presidency. Other members of the policy committee are G. Richard Shafto, executive vice-president, WIS and WISTV, Columbia, S. C, and Merrill Lindsay, executive vice-president, WSOY (AM-FM), Decatur, 111. Everett E. Revercomb, NAB's secretary-treasurer, will continue to serve as acting NAB administrator until the new president takes over. Smith Named ( Continued from page 1 ) ists International Company and Inter-State Division headquartered in London. Earlier he was assistant foreign manager for RKO Radio Pictures, a post that followed his activities as assistant secretary and treasurer and acting foreign treasurer for the same company. During World War II, Smith served as a major in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, Photographic Division. He graduated from Princeton and attended Harvard Law School. Burton Robbins, National Screen Service Corp. president, is in London supervising Smith's takeover as managing director. REVIEW: Surprise Package Stanley Donen — Columbia From its opening scene, which is a take-off on the notorious Appalacian summit conference of the U.S. underworld, to its completely unexpected fade-out, which spoofs the Principality of Monaco, Stanley Donen's delightful "Surprise Package" is a hard hitting satire on many things recent and laughable. Sometimes subtle, but more often about as coy as a cobra, Harry Kurnitz's screenplay pokes fun at everything from tv commercials to atomic spying. "Surprise Package" is based on a book by Art Buchwald and therein lies the clue: the film is one funny line after another with much being lost simply because the viewer is still enjoying the last barb. Although no one allows it to interfere with the droll dialogue, the plot concerns itself with Yul Brynner as an exported gangster on a Greek island which also sports exiled king Noel Coward with spice being added bv the arrival of lovely Mitzi Gaynor as Brynner 's "secretary." Since inflation has also hit lush living, Coward would like to sell Brynner his $1,000,000 crown, but alas, Brynner 's buddies ran off with his loot and sent Miss Gaynor as a consolation. However, the ex-mob leader is determined to have the bejeweled head piece as are a number of characters including ministers from Coward's country and an idealist from the monastery which was the crown's origin. It is not too difficult to imagine who finally ends up with the treasure, but getting there is all the fun. Donen's supporting cast is filled with off-beat characters and the actors portraying them turn in wonderful bigger-than-life portraits. No one should be singled out for special mention as all are effective. Even though he is called King Pavel II in the script, Noel Coward is Noel Coward and no sane person would desire anything else. When a man has the wit and suave comic ability that Coward possesses there is no need for him to try something different. Miss Gaynor adds much beauty to the goings-on, especially in the Sammy Cahn-Jimmy Van Huesen "Surprise Package" number she does with Coward. It is Brynner, however, who supplies most of the surprises in this farce. Unlike most of his past roles, he plays here an animalistic illiterate of the Neanderthal tradition; his only interest, aside from Miss Gaynor, is making money. Brynner has a way with a line and most of the truly hilarious ones are his. The picture has bits of pathos and some tension, but it is the comedy which will draw the audience. The one which viewed the film at a "sneak" preview here was unrestrained in its laughter. Running time, 100 minutes. Release date, October. William Werneth Allied Committee ( Continued from page 1 ) a maximum representation of members from their respective areas to attend the convention, which will be held in conjunction with the National Association of Concessionaires trade show, are: Gulf States: Abe Berenson, F. G. Prat, Jr.; Indiana: S. J. Gregory, Marc J. Wolf; Illinois: Sam C. Meyers, Arthur Schoenstadt; Iowa-NebraskaSouth Dakota: Lester Versteeg, Tim Evans; Maryland: Meyer Leventhal, Edward F. Perotka. Also, Michigan: Carl Buermele, William M. Clark; Mid South: Dwight F. Blizzard, J. A. West, Sr., Edward O. Cullins; New Jersey: Wilfred P. Smith, Howard Herman; Ohio: Marshall H. Fine, Louis Wiethe, Ken Prickett; Western Pennsylvania: Steve Rodnok, Jr., Morris M. Finkel; Rocky Mountain: Tom Smiley, Joe Ashby, Neil Beezley; Wisconsin: Edward E. Johnson, S. J. Goldberg; Texas: Julius M. Gordon; North-Central: Grecula Named Conn. NSS Representative Special to THE DAILY HARTFORD, Oct. 10,-Veteran exhibition executive Ernest A. Grecula, 45, has been appointed Connecticut sales representative for National Screen Service, succeeding Jack Keegan, resigned, effective immediately. Grecula, who will continue to maintain residence in suburban Avon, Conn., has been in Connecticut exhibition for 30 years, most recently as advertising-publicity director for the Hartford Theatre Circuit, Hartford, and as an independent exhibitor, operating the State Theatre, Torrington, Conn. Frank Mantzke; Kentucky: Edward L. Ornstein; West Virginia: Frank Allara. Commenting on the anticipated attendance, Kirsch and J. Papas, president of NAC, predicted a record gathering of more than 2,500 members for the 1960 conventions. Alpha Group ( Continued from page 1 ) operation would enable Alpha to move quickly into actual production. Alpha's first picture could go before the cameras in December, and be ready for theatrical release by April, Roger disclosed. TOA's committee consists of George G. Kerasotes, chairman of the TOA board of directors, and president of Kerasotes Theatres of Springfield, 111.; M. Spencer Leve, assistant to the TOA president, and executive vice-president of National Theatres and Television, Los Angeles; Samuel Pinanski, honorary chairman of the TOA board, and president of American Theatres of Boston; Walter Reade Jr., past president of TOA, and president of Walter Reade, Inc., of Oakhurst, N.J.; E. D. Martin, past president of TOA, and president of Martin Theatres of Georgia, and Pickus, serving ex-officio. Alpha has announced it is prepared to undertake the complete financing, production and distribution of quality theatrical films, with the understanding TOA will urge its members to support and play those pictures which TOA has approved. The program is one result of TOA's efforts to find new production sources to ease the current product shortage. Will Scan AH Films The TOA committee will act as a reviewing board on all proposed Alpha pictures, in an effort to advise and guide Alpha towards making films which exhibitors feel have the best box office potential. Both TOA and Alpha have agreed to seek films which will have the broadest possible appeal, and to avoid those which stress sensationalism, sex or horror. Rogers said that the prompt appointment by Pickus of the committee insures Alpha that it can move its production program into high gear in less than 30 days after the TOA convention. He said that as a matter of policy, no publicity would be given any proposed production until it has been approved by the TOA committee. Announcement of the first picture, he said, is anticipated in the very near future. Four-Day Celebration For 'Alamo' Premiere Special to THE DAILY SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 10. San Antonio is marshalling a force of some 3,500 Texans to stage "Operation Alamo," a four-day celebration beginning Oct. 22 to herald the world premiere of John Wayne's "The Alamo." The event will be covered by an international press corps of some 100 newspaper, magazine, newsreel, radio and television and trade press representatives. The press of 17 nations will be represented at the world premiere celebration. Wayne will lead a contingent of "Alamo" stars who will attend the celebration and premiere of the United Artists release. FILMACK SPECIAL TRAILERS LEAD THE FIELD!