Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1960)

Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, December 6, PERSONAL MENTION D GERALD CANTOR, president of National Theatres and Television, Inc., has returned to his Beverly Hills headquarters from Europe. • James R. Velde, United Artists vice-president in charge of domestic sales, and D. J. Edele, the company's new Southern division manager, will be in Charlotte tomorrow from New York, and Jacksonville on Thursday and Friday. • Joseph E. Levine, president of Embassy Pictures, has entered the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Boston, for minor surgery. • David Golding, publicity coordinator for "Pepe," will arrive in New York today from Mexico City. • Robert M. Sternberg, president of New England Theatres, Inc., has returned to Boston from Hartford. • Louis Lober, United Artists vicepresident in charge of foreign operations, has returned to New York from Europe and the Middle East. • Pandro S. Berman, producer, has returned to Hollywood from Paris and London. • William Moclair, formerly manager of the Roxy Theatre here and now manager of the Penn Theatre, Pittsburgh, is celebrating with Mrs. Moclair their 29th wedding anniversary. • Lee Bobker, of Vision Associates, has returned to New York from Washington. • Howard Strickling, M-G-M director of advertising and publicity, and Edmund Grainger, producer of that company's "Cimarron," have returned to Hollywood from Oklahoma City. • Mrs. Ben Halpern yesterday gave Industryites Set Rackmil Carries Optimistic Report to U.K.; Says Company Has no Bank Loans for 1st Time J0 Aid Inauaur Bv WILLIAM PAY " U ' * By WILLIAM PAY LONDON, Dec. 5.-For the first time in Universal Picture's history-and possibly in the history of the industry-the company carries no bank loans Milton Rackmil, president, told the trade press here today. Rackmil pointed to the company's 19 pictures for release in the coming year and its dollar inventory properties which "are the highest on record." The Universal head said he is convinced business is getting better with the opportunities greater than ever before for the company's worldwide organization. He said the latter has been "streamlined" and mentioned also the switch in production policy from "quantity to quality." Universal will make pictures wherever the locale lends itself to the story Rackmil said, recalling that "The Grass Is Greener" was shot here as was Hammers Curse of the Werewolf." He added the company has just completed two films in Italy. While here Rackmil will talk with James Carreras, director of Hammer *ilms, and F. L. Thomas, managing director of Rank Film Distributors, on provincial road-showings of "Spartacus." Rackmil said "Spartacus" is building tremendously by word-of-mouth, "proving my confidence in its success." He added he is not concerned whether the film takes two or four years for its play-off. ' Rackmil will return to New York from here on Sunday. 1 Dismiss One Anti-Trust Name Winikus Sim'/; Second 7s Started Special to THE DAILY PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 5-One antitrust action was dismissed and another started in this area recently. Judge Francis L. Van Dusen, in the U. S. District Court here, dismissed with prejudice the anti-trust action of Main Line Theatres, Inc., and 309 Drove-In Corporation, operating in the suburban areas, against Paramount Film Distributing Corp. and the other majors. A new action was filed here in U. S. District Court by Elizabeth Elliott, Isadore Segall and Jack Y. Brodsky as trustees for the Fern Rock, local neighborhood house, against Paramount, Universal, United Artists, Columbia, M-G-M and the William Goldman Theatres. A key run is asked with no damage amount specified. F ranklin Acquires House PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 5. The Narbeth Theatre, in suburban Narbeth, has been taken over by Franklin Enterprises, consisting of Milton Kamsler and Warren Wheelen. Ann Phillips will continue as manager of the house. M. Winikus NEW YORK THEATRES i — RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL — i Rockefeller Center • Ci 6-4600 WILLIAM HOLDEN THE WORLD OF SUZIE WONG co starring NANCY KWAN SYLVIA SYMS • MICHAEL WILDING A Paramount Release in TECHNICOLOR® ON THE GREAT STAGE "TOWN AND COUNTRY" birth to a girl, Nora Ruth, at Lenox Hill Hospital here. Father is with United Artists. Newcomer is their fourth child. • Donald O'Connor, who stars in Joseph E. Levine's "The Wonders of Aladdin," has left New York for Rome. • Morris Ergas, producer of the Italian film, "General Delia Rovere," has arrived in New York from Italy. (Continued from page 1) responsible for production promotion as well as distribution campaigns. Winikus has been serving as executive assistant to Max E. Youngtein in Europe since 1955, first in Paris and then in London during the past several years. He assumes his new post at once. Winikus has been with United Artists since 1946, following his discharge from the Navy as Lieutenant S. G. His first position with the company was that of advertising copy writer. He was subsequently named copy chief and then advertising manager in 1947. Four years later, when the new management headed by Arthur B. Krim, president, and Robert S. Benjamin, chairman of the board, took over the reins, Winikus was promoted to the position of national director of, advertising and publicity and expoitation. He held this post 1951 through 1955, when he was transferred to Paris as Youngstein's executive assistant. 'Hur' Extended in Pitt. ( PITTSBURGH, Dec. 5.-The run of "Ben-Hur" at the Warner Theatre, which was to have been ended on Dea 18, has been extended to Dec. 22. "The Alamo" will begin a continuous run at the theatre on Dec. 23. From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Dec. 5-A numl of motion picture industry person*] S ities will participate in the InaugJ Gala scheduled for Jan. 19 at I I National Guard Armory here in ho I of the President-elect and Mrs K nedy and the Vice-President-elect I Mrs. Johnson. The two-hour show will be produ. by Frank Sinatra. Joey Bishop will master of ceremonies. Performers \ include Harry Belafonte, Milton Be Nat Cole, Sammy Davis, Jr., Ella F gerald, Henry Fonda, Gene Ke Shirley MacLaine, Dean Martin liet Prowse, Nelson Riddle and his chestra, and Red Skelton, as well Sinatra. Mahalia Jackson will sing "Star Spangled Banner." Spec material will be prepared by Sami Cahn and James Van Heusen. Attendance at the Gala will be invitation. Prospective guests will asked to contribute $100 to the De ocratic National Committee in order reduce the substantial defiicit rema; ing from the campaign. Advance quiries indicate that the Armory w be filled to capacity for the Gala. 'Pepe' Bow to Benefit Cancer Foundation The Dec. 21 world premiere of tl George Sidney production, "Pepe" the Criterion Theatre is being spo sored by the Lila Motley Cane Foundation, with the proceeds goir to the benefit of the Lila Motley Rad ation Pavilion at New York Universit Belle vue Medical Center. The foul dation has pledged $750,000 for tf| pavilion and has been raising mone for that purpose for the past two year The benefit world premiere wi mark the beginning of the reserve seat engagement for the Columbia r< lease at the renovated and redecorate Criterion. Foreign Rights to 22 Acquisition of foreign rights to post-1948 Pine-Thomas films origina ly released by Paramount Pictures h;. been announced by International Fib Distributors. All of the features are H be made available for theatrical r< issue and television distributio throughout the world. Film Set on Long Rights to make a motion piotur based on the life of Earl K. Long, lat governor of Louisiana, were granteij to Nelson J. Waterbury by Gov. Lon before his recent death, Waterbur announced here. Waterbury, a Ne\ York socialite, will make his bow a a film producer with the film. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and PnMUW Qt,» — : — v £T r — — — — _ ______ Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Prfduc'tior r&rfTELEvts ON TODAY Charle^""^3"163 D" fcers. Managing Editor; Richard Gertner, News Editor Herbert V Feck. Yucca-Vine Building, Samuel D. Berns, Manager; Telephone HOllvwood 7 f S-,,AiE°nS?n' Edlt°r'a> Director; Pinky Herman, Eastern Editor Wn1?™„L -r Bear St. Leicester Square, W. 2. Hope Williams Burnup, .Manager ; Peter Bu™ Edi SL^p11' £ahn> 88 Natj?nal Press W*. Washington 4 DC S,„don Burea,^ P.cture Da.ly is published daily except Saturdays, Sundays andToiiday by Qulgle ^PnbfisWnL Smwn'y iT ^T^T0"^ irl ^ pnnclPal ~P^1» of iS worPd ^otiot, Cable address: "Qu.gpubco New York" Martin Quigley, President; ^I^ h^Vi^^^^'li/^l^it^^ X*****®* Center, New York 20, Circle 7^3 100 -T^o^^ cUss matter Sep, 21, 1938, at the Post Omce at New « N. *J ttW li fc^^^ ^3