Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1960)

riy. December 9, 1960 fin Sets Precedent; Tour for 20th-Fox phia Loren, who has never gone „ our for any of the numerous dican films she has made, has ftd to alter that policy for 20th " ury-Fox and "The Millionairess." ,e Italian actress will travel to U.S. cities for advance promoon the film, which is based on ,y by George Bernard Shaw. The ,re is set for February release. [ovie Digest' ( Continued from page 1 ) 'We copies gratis as they leave the ire, although the first issue is ced 15 cents on the cover. !chibitors will purchase copies of 'magazine in bulk quantities on an 'lal contract basis. Contract comlents from circuits to date are in 'ss of 1,500,000 copies, Birr said, 'expects to hit a circulation of ^0,000 copies monthly soon, 'resent cost to the exhibitor is 1 1 per copy although no orders are 1 accepted for less than 5,000 es. Exhibitors are permitted to rt material promoting their local 4'ent and upcoming attractions. ' fee of the publication is 5 and 54 v|s wide by 7 and )L The first isdated December, has an edial by Birr stating the function purpose of the magazine. He i the magazine is designed to ; greater understanding and apcliliciation of the movies" to movief'rs. Motion Picture Daily Hitchcock Blames Exhibitors for 75% Of What Is Wrong with Industry Today Special to THE DAILY DETROIT Dec 8.-The exhibitor can shoulder 75 per cent of the blame for what is wrong with the motion picture business today producer-director Alfred Hitchcock is quoted as saying in an interview in the Detroit News this week. The article was written by Harold Hefferman, MinimumPay Alfred Hitchcock Previews Included lach month, he points out, "Movie >est" will preview top productions, rjiljwill also present factual "behind ' : scenes" features on producers, di'lors, wrtiers, actors and outstandpersonalities in the industry. Detments will include fashions, reels and recording artists, sound H albums, and others, 'rhe December issue has a number ^ short film reviews and long ones rs two films-"The World of Suzie 1 g" and "Sunrise at Campobello." '.are are "behind the scenes" stories "The Alamo," "Spartacus" and wiss Family Robinson." The \shion" department includes an rpfl'dcle by Vyvyan Donner, fashion I tor of Fox Movietone News, and illustrated article on gowns worn Doris Day in "Midnight Lace." lere are also features on Frankie Ufvalon, Robert Ivers, and Tuesday eld. Color photos are employed. of the paper's Hollywood bureau. The Hitchcock quotes are as follows: "T h e men who run theatres haven't done a thing to sell a picture since the days of the silents. At least before talkies they had to hire a pianist or an orchestra to get their patrons in the proper mood. Since those clays they've been getting a package deal done up in pink ribbons. All they do now is hire a man to put the film through the projector and sit back twiddling their thumbs. "Theatre men won't get out and hustle and apply ingenuity. They use the same tired, trite come-ons such as 'terrifying,' 'thrilling/ and 'will stand your hair on end.' The marquees, the lobbies, the newspaper ads are cluttered with them." Hitchcock is also quoted on his policy for "Psycho," in which he insisted that theatres refuse to seat anvone after the start of the picture. He said that if he had his way no one would be seated for any picture once it had begun. "You don't start reading a book in the middle, do you?" he asked. "You're familiar with that cliche, 'This is where I came in? Well, that came from the bad habit of getting to movies smack in the middle. Its just bad timing. After all, those home watching tv don't turn the dial 10 minutes late if they've been looking forward to a particular show. {Continued from page 1) national organization of exhibitor committees in all of the 50 states and in virtually all the country's 437 Congressional districts. Formed last year, these committees will again swing into action in the campaign that will soon be getting under way," Sarra said. "In the meantime, I think all exhibitors should get in touch immediately with their senators and congressmen while they are at home and remind them that our industry still needs this exemption. It is of the utmost importance to theatres. "Statistics show that had theatres been included in the last minimum wage legislation, and had the bills been enacted into law, the increased cost would have closed thousands of theatres." The Sarra article begins what is planned as a regular feature of TOA Bulletins, to which key members will contribute articles on subjects and in areas in which they are experts. 'Blue law' Edict Could Affect S.C. Statute Praises Hyman ( All editorial text is to be original, cording to Birr. He credits Edward tfrij ? o . . i ■ _ r a : Hyman, vice-president of AmeriB Broadcasting Paramount Theags, with "creating the climate for Me magazine that will answer a ing-felt need in the industry at a fetal time. Advertisers in the first issue include aulton, a cosmetic concern (full Merchandisers9 Merger Jay Emmett Associates, Inc., Stone Merchandising Associates and Syd Rubin Enterprises, Inc. are being merged to form Licensing Corporation of America. The new company will be one of the largest character merchandising firms in the world. page), Columbia Records Club (a four-page color insert) and Parliament Cigarettes (full page). Advertising rates are based on an initial guarantee of 1,300,000. "Movie Digest" will also offer advertisers custom-tailored merchandising promotion and tie-ins both nationally and at the local level." A separate fee will be charged for these merchandising promotions. Publicity for the magazine is available in the form of a 45-second color trailer providing a sketch of the editorial contents and also through vending display racks for use in theatre lobbies. By E. H. KAHN WASHINGTON, Dec. 8. Argument before the Supreme Court on the validity of so-called blue laws in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts has been concluded. If the court holds that these laws are not enforcible, it will have an effect on a similar suit brought by theatres in Spartanburg, S.C, which the court did not accept for argument. In the course of the attorney's presentation to the Justices, it was asserted that mandatory observance of Sunday as the Sabbath imposed an extra burden on businessmen whose faith required observance of a different day. It was also brought out, for example, that it would be possible for a state to enact a "dayof-rest law" which could require that businesses be closed one day a week and that this might be drafted so as to remain within the Constitution. The court was also assured by David Berger, solicitor for the City of Philadelphia, that the basis for the laws was primarily sociological, not religious. He noted that department store employees are not strongly organized, and asserted that one objective of the law is to assure them a day off. Another aspect of the Sunday-closing laws is to hold down the competitive impact of suburban shopping centers and stores which want to stay open on Sunday upon the downtown business area. Final Ad in Compo £&P Series Out Publication by Compo of a series . of advertisements in Editor ir TubUsher will end tomorrow, for a while at least, with the appearance of the 123d advertisement in the newspaper trade magazine, according to Charles E. McCarthy, Compo executive vicepresident. McCarthy said that the regular program of advertising was being ended for economy reasons. In the future, he explained, advertising in Editor if Publisher will be resumed from time to time as special conditions may indicate. Tomorrow's advertisement is the last in a series devoted to the industry's Production Code. Carrying the headline, "Does the Press Need Policemen?" the ad states that the answer was given long ago with free press guarantees in the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. The advertisement then points out that in its decisions on motion picture censorship cases the United States Supreme Court has repeatedly included motion pictures in those guarantees of freedom of expression. Text of Advertisement The text of the advertisement follows : "The nation's highest court has included motion pictures in those guarantees of freedom of expression. "Wherever censorship rears its totalitarian head in mass communications it breeds further controls. The censor in America still wants further controls even though he's been licked on every case in the Supreme Court since 1952. "The motion picture doesn't need policemen any more than the press does. We know our responsibility to the public that supports us and have worked out our own voluntary selfregulation in a Motion Picture Production Code. "Our self-regulation begins with the typewritten script. Code authorities watch every step along the way, right up to the final print that goes to the theatres. "And this voluntary self-regulation is supported and adhered to by all responsible film producers, distributors and exhibitors in the U.S. "It's the American way. Police control is not." Theatre Firm Formed ALBANY, N. Y., Dec. 8.-Thurston Theatre, Inc., has registered a certificate to conduct business at 555 Thurston Road, Rochester. Authorized capital stock is listed as 200 shares, no par value. 'Mink9 Opens Dec. 19 Terry-Thomas' new British comedy, "Make Mine Mink," will have its American premiere on Monday, Dec. 19, at the Baronet Theatre here, it was announced by Continental Distributing, Inc.