Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1960)

Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, December 7 PERSONAL MENTION TTENRY H. "HI" MARTIN, Universal Pictures vice-president and general sales manager, will return to New York on Friday from Dallas. • Charles A. Smakwitz, Stanley Warner zone manager, and Lou Dennis, contact manager, have returned to their Newark, N. J., headquarters from Albany and Utica, N. Y. • Milton Brockett, of Crescent Amusement Co., Nashville, Tenn., has returned there with Mrs. Brockett from Memphis, where the latter had been hospitalized. • George Sidney, producer of "Pepe" for Columbia Pictures, has returned to Hollywood from Mexico City. Kim Novak has arrived in New York from the Coast. Samuel Bronston, producer of "King of Kings" for M-G-M, has returned to Hollywood from Spain. • Red Skelton has entered Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Hollywood for a checkup. 'Spartacus' Gets German Exemption Special to THE DAILY FRANKFURT, Dec. 6. "Spartacus," the Bryna production which Universal-International is premiering in this country on Dec. 16, has just been granted a rarely issued "predicate" certificate by German authorities entitling it to special tax exemption and other advantages. Universal Pictures president, Milton R. Rackmil, and vice-president and foreign general manager, Americo Aboaf, were notified today preceding the final session of the German sales conference which they are conducting here. The granting of the "predicate" to "Spartacus" as a "culturally distinguished film" marks the first time a large scale "spectacular" has been so honored. The German predicate certificate gives many advantages to "Spartacus." The lowered tax rate on the film permits both exhibitor and distributor to share in a larger net revenue. The singling out of "Spartacus" for this honor is also of great benefit publicity-wise. It will assist immeasurably in promoting and publicizing the picture to school, church, and other cultural groups particularly attuned to such recommendations. Paramount Gets Loew's Warner Din6 HoUda, Booking Time Future Brig Paramount Pictures has captured all of Loew's Theatres' prime playing time during the year-end holidays, with two of the company's major releases booked as the New York circuit's Christmas and New Year's attractions. Hal Wallis' "G.I. Blues" will be the Christmas show at Loew's, opening Friday, December 23rd. The companion feature will also be a Paramount release, "The Boy Who Stole a Million." Opening Friday, Dec. 30, as Loew's New Year's show will be Ray Stark's "The World of Suzie Wong," starring William Holden and Nancy Kwan. The Technicolor drama will be single-billed, with the Paramount short subject, "Boats A-Poppin'," as an added attraction. Kim Novak, Bernstein To Attend 'Exodus' Bow Kim Novak and Leonard Bernstein will attend the world premiere of Otto Preminger's "Exodus" Thursday evening, Dec. 15, at the Warner Theatre here. The audience will also include social and civic leaders, stars of screen and stage, diplomats and dignitaries from all fields of endeavor. Among those attending will be Mr. and Mrs. Preminger, and Eva Marie Saint, Sal Mineo and Jill Haworth, who star in the field. The world premiere starts an unlimited reserved seat engagement for "Exodus" at the Warner. Advance ticket sale has topped $600,000 at the theatre. JS^haVe ' ,OR0EReD| the. tram Tmm NATIONAL SCREEN SERVICE * Warner Annual Profit ( Continued from page 1 ) $9,375,000 after a provision of $6,000,000 for federal income taxes. The net profit for the year ended Aug. 31, 1960, is equivalent to $4.64 per share on the 1,527,900 shares of common stock outstanding at that date after deducting 315,396 shares held in treasury. The net profit (not including the net profit on the sale of the ranch ) for last year was equivalent to $5.91 per share on the 1,585,196 shares of common stock outstanding after deducting 897,051, shares then held in treasury. Theatrical film rentals, income from television productions, sales, etc., amounted to $87,163,000; dividends from foreign subsidiaries not consolidated were $2,084,000; and profit on sales of capital assets was $716,000 for the year ended Aug. 31, 1960, as compared with $82,731 OOo' $1,130,000 and $1,467,000, respectively, for the year ended Aug. 31 1959. b Net current assets at Aug. 31 1960 were $46,951,000 (including $19,482,000 cash and U. S. Government securities) and debt maturing after one year was $5,644,000 compared with $44,687,000 (including $21,615,000 cash and U. S. Government securities) and $5,277,000, respectively at Aug. 31, 1959. Parker Is Exploitation Manager for Embassy Judson Parker has been appointed exploitation manager for Embassy Pictures Corp., it was announced yesterday by Eddie Solomon, executive vice-president of the film company. Parker, who has held various executive positions with Embassy since joining the firm four years ago, was Embassy's Boston sales manager before transferring to its New York advertising staff. In his new position Parker will handle all of the film company's cooperative advertising campaigns and exploitation activities in the field commencing with the forthcoming release of "Two Women," "The Fabulous World of Jules Verne" and "Bimbo The Great." Served with Marine Corps An industry veteran and native New Englander, Parker, prior to joining Embassy, was Boston branch manager for Republic Pictures and during his career has served in executive posts with Universal-International, Warner Bros, and United Artists. He served with the United States Marine Corps in the South Pacific during World War II. Decca Dividend 30$ Directors of Decca Records yesterday declared a regular quarterly dividend of 30 cents per share on the company's capital stock, payable Dec. 29, to stockholders of record on Dec. 19. By SAMUEL D. BERNS HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 6. De ing that opportunities in films greater today than ever before, L. Warner, president of VV| Brothers, told an overflow cele audience attending a testimonial ner in his honor tonight that the tion picture industry faces an creasingly bright future. More than 500 industry leaders; eluding scores of stars, attended event at the Masquers Club here heard the guest of honor praise "the happy giant of Hollywood the high tributes paid for his $1 of leadership and countless conti tions to motion pictures. In his acknowledgement, Wa struck an optimistic note, predic that films of the future would pass those of the past. Encourages Youngsters Addressing his remarks espeej to the many young players preWarner said they need not fear of opportunity. "Both in theatrical films and television, opportunities are bri| and increasing," he said. "You . in a dynamic, expanding medium Principal speakers introduced Harry Joe Brown, harlequin of Masquers, and toastmaster Pat Bt ram, were Greer Garson, Rosal Russell, Mervyn LeRoy, William Orr, Arlene Dahl, and Edward Robinson. 'Sunday9 Hits $22,618 "Never on Sunday" rolled up a huge gross of $22,618 during its seventh week at the Plaza Theatre here, it was announced by Lopert Pictures. The finest carbons ever made... ATIONAL ^--^^^^^ TRADEMARK PROJECTOR CARBONS S|f„/SRef; f^lk. p^^^^l^^^^ SWi, Kane Edi torses D. Ivers, .Ma„agi„g Ed;tor; hJJ££L( New. ,,,, l^TT '