Motion Picture Herald (Jan-Mar 1954)

People in Dke U e in ^/ne a lews iimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Canada Had 1009 090 Seat Gain in 19 5 IS TORONTO : An examination of theatres opened in Canada in the past year seems to indicate there were an additional 100,000 seats provided in 1953 in about 123 new 35mm situations. The Dominion Bureau of Statistics indicated for the period ending in 1952 that 1,843 “regular” theatres had 1,106,316 seats. The 1952 figure showed an increase of 22,279 over the figure for 1951. Therefore, while 1952 showed a healthy increase in business in Canada, 1953 certainly is better than the 1952 gross of over $100,000,000. It is reported that 45 “regular” theatres and 78 new drive-ins opened in 1953. To these totals may be added the figures for the 16 drive-ins under construction ; 14 drive-ins projected; 10 theatres in work and 19 houses planned. The number of seats is based on the theory by provincial tax departments with a seat tax, that drive-ins may be proportioned at two-and-a-half persons per car, giving the total figures for drive-ins. This is particularly important in the light of the number of drive-ins opened in 1952 — 100 — which brought the total operating to 182. There were 82 in operation at the end of 1951. To the 954,813 must be added 1,309 “walkin’’ seats in the country’s 104 drive-ins, and the 150,194 to be found in 657 community enterprises. Community enterprises are made up of 505 with 16mm equipment and 152 with 35mm. A community enterprise is a situation operated in very small centres by local non-profit organizations, such as the Canadian Legion or board of trade branch. Its aim is to keep the local shoppers at home, instead of going to a nearby town, where they combine theatre-going with shopping. Clarke, Stanzler on Real Estate Board Albert J. Clarke and Meyer Stanzler, of Clarke and Stanzler, Providence, have been appointed to the city’s Real Estate Board. Mr. Clarke till last May and for 13 years was manager of the Majestic Theatre there. Mr. Stanzler also has been in theatres. Both men have been active in charities and civic efforts. Mr. Clarke was a member of the Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Stanzler, a “Jimmy Fund” aide. Less than 300 of some 1,500 realty men have been voted into what city observers say is a select group, the Real Estate Board. Audrey Hepburn Cover Girl Audrey Hepburn, Paramount’s newest star, is the cover girl of the February issue of “Motion Picture and Television Magazine.” In recent months she has been similarly honored by other national periodicals, including “Life” magazine. Charles Skouras, head of Fox West Coast Theatres, and Fred Stein, managing director of United States Theatres, have been presented citations by the U. S. Treasury Department for “outstanding service to the Government in presenting the case of United States Defense Bonds.” Felix Guggenheim has been elected a new member of the board of directors of King Brothers Productions, Inc., at the annual stockholders meeting in Hollywood last week. Leo V. Seicshnaydre, Republic’s New Orleans branch manager, has been awarded the company’s “Man of the Month” citation for November. Cecil B. DeMille Tuesday celebrated his 40th anniversary as a producer. Durwood Wins Circuit After Eight-Year Fight A Kansas City circuit court last week decided Edward D. Durwood of that city was a victim of “conspiracy to defraud” and is entitled to acquire at cost theatre properties obtained by his brothers, Irwin and H. W. Dubinsky from 1946 through 1949. It had been charged that the two men while in his employ and with other partners achieved control of the Starview, Lincoln, Neb., the River Lane, Rockford, 111., and the Altwood, Wood River, same state, and managed them from St. Joseph, Mo., headquarters. Court appointed referee Paul Barnett said the Dubinskvs violated their employment contract by not giving exclusive time to the business. Mr. Durwood, if he takes the houses, would be entitled to rentals from 1949 to purchase date, estimated by the end of 1954 at $384,000. He also was awarded $121,000 for contract violation. New Boy Seoul Film Is Shown in Three Cities "Jamboree 1953,” a film record of the Third National Jamboree which brought together 50,000 Scouts, Explorers and Leaders last July, was given a premiere this week simultaneously in New York, Washington and Los Angeles for leaders of the motion picture industry and the press. The Jamboree took place in a huge 3,000-acre “tent city” on the Irvine Ranch, near Santa Ana, Calif., with members participating from all over the world. The film was created with the complete cooperation of the Hollywood studios and many stars. Because the democratic way of life is portrayed so well, the State Department has arranged for international distribution. No theatrical distribution has been set as yet. Benjamin Lorber, insurance manager of Universal Pictures, will be the first witness before the Congressional Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce in Washington January 6, when the committee’s health inquiry gets under way. Dan Schneider has been appointed Sydney branch manager for RKO Radio, succeeding Tom Walcott, resigned. Al O’Keefe, distribution vice-president of Pola-Lite Co., has moved his headquarters to the company’s office in the Film Center Building, 630 Ninth Ave., New York City. David J. Hopkins, son of the late Harry L. Hopkins, has been named director of sales for CBS-Columbia, TV-radio manufacturing division of Columbia Broadcasting Co. Scant Drive Ca-Cha innen A re Named Arthur Klein, theatrical producer, has been named third co-chairman to head the amusement division for the Greater New York Councils of Boy Scouts’ fund-raising campaign. Mr. Klein joins Charles Boasberg and Spyros S. Skouras who previously were announced as co-chairmen of the industry’s part of the drive. Mr. Klein will appoint field chairmen covering performers, producers, legitimate theatre owners, managers, press representatives, talent agents, play brokers, theatrical costumers, designers and prop suppliers, ticket agencies, music publishers and allied fields. Ed Gage of the Walter Reade Theatres will be in charge of the music fields, and Ted Husing, sports commentator, will supervise the sports division. Other committees in the amusement division are headed by Leon J. Bamberger, for motion picture producers and distributors ; Harold Rinzler, for exhibitors, Richard Walsh, guilds and unions ; Phil Harling, theatre equipment and laboratories; John Bergen, film trade papers. Chairmen in the exhibitor division include Gene Picker, Loew’s Theatres ; Mr. Gage, Mr. Reade ; Charles Hacker, Music Hall ; Sid Markley, Paramount; Louis Vorzimer, William Brandt Circuit, and Morris Seider, Prudential Circuit. All committeemen and their campaigners will gather in the Waldorf Astoria at 8:00 A. M. January 6 for a “Dawn Patrol” breakfast, at which Mayor-elect Robert Wagner and U.N. delegate Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., will be speakers. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JANUARY 2, 1954 33