Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

On the OJi onzon GOLDEN JUBILEE Hollywood studio heads and studio publicity directors have decided to implement plans for a "Golden Jubilee" for Hollywood as part of the over-all program of the MPAA to stimulate greater public interest in motion pictures. Meeting last week, the top film executives and their publicity directors reacted favorably to the proposal and publicity men were given authorization to develop further details for the project. Also discussed were plans for the visit to Hollywood of a considerable number of the nation's press. Among those present were Y. Frank Freeman, Dore Schary, E. J. Mannix, Harry Cohn, B. B. Kahane, Buddy Adler, Steve Broidy, Howard McDonnell, Ray Klune, Ed Muhl, David Lipton and publicity directors of all the major studios. COMFO , ALLIED IN TALKS Preliminary discussions between COMPO and Allied States Association concerning the exhibitor organization's reaffiliation with COMPO have taken place during recent weeks, a COMPO representative reports. At the same time, it was reported that the MPAA board of directors has discussed the appointment of a production-distribution representative to the COMPO triumvirate. FOR DRIVE-INS Panavision, a projection development pioneered by MGM's projection department, is expected to greatly benefit drive-ins because of increased light and definition, according to John R. Moore, executive vice-president of Panavision. He added: "The conversion of standard 35mm Simplex XL projectors to combination 35-65 or 70 models and back, is now a matter of several minutes." According to Mr. Moore, the 65-70mm projection is now firmly established as the standard for the super wide-screen. 20TH-FOX, NTA SET DEALS ON FILMS, NETWORK SHARE Twentieth Century-Fox and National Television Associates Thursday jointly announced an agreement by which 20thFox will turn over a total of 390 pre-1948 films to NTA for showings on TV. A second deal announced by Ely Landau, NTA president, gives 20th-Fox for an unannounced amount, a 50 percent stock interest in the film network for TV recently organized by NTA. The pictures will be turned over to NTA in five units of 78 each. Only the first two are set at the moment and NTA has options on the remaining packages. 20th-Fox will realize an average of $5,850,000 for each package of 78 pictures. See earlier story on page 24. RESEARCH The vast research assembled for Cecil B. DeMille's production of "The Ten Commandments" has been documented and put into book form by Henry S. Noerdlinger, research consultant for the VistaVision-Technicolor Paramount dramatization of the life of Moses. Titled "Moses and Egypt , " the book has just been published by the University of Southern California Press. The work represents a comprehensive assemblage of .scattered and relatively inaccessible material. The book came about as the result of the urging to Mr. DeMille by scholars, educators and clergy that he make the material available for general reference. In releasing the painstakingly-compiled material for publication, Mr. DeMille commented that "this research only serves to affirm rather than to contradict the Bible itself. " CENSORSHIP REQUEST In Philadelphia, the September Grand Jury recently declared that "immoral films were a direct cause of juvenile delinquency" and asked for censorship as it presented its month-end report to Judge Joseph L. Kun in Quarter Sessions Court. The jury recom WHEN and WHERE November 13: Dinner in honor of Martin S. Smith, exhibitor leader, Deshler-Hilton Hotel, Columbus, Ohio. November 13-14: Annual convention of the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio, to be held at Deshler-Hilton Hotel, Columbus. November 17: Washington Variety Club's 21st annual dinner dance and presentation of the "personality of the year" award, Statler Hotel, Washington, D. C. November 19: Annual convention of the Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario, King Edward Hotel, Toronto. November 20: Annual convention, National Committee of Motion Picture Exhibitor Associations, King Edward Hotel, Toronto. November 21: Annual meeting of the Motion Picture Industry Council of Canada, King Edward Hotel, Toronto. November 22: Annual dinner of the Canadian Motion Picture Pioneers, King Edward Hotel, Toronto. November 25-27: 44th annual convention of the Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina, Hotel Charlotte, Charlotte, N.C. November 27-29: Allied' States Association, Fall board meeting and annual convention, to be held at Statler Hotel, Dallas. November 30: Eighteenth annual dinner of the Motion Picture Pioneers honoring Robert J. O'Donnell as Pioneer of the Year, Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York. January 29-31: Allied States Association, national drive-in convention, Netherlands-Plaza Hotel, Cincinnati, Ohio. February 26-27: Annual convention of the Kansas-Missouri Theatre Association, Pickwick Hotel, Kansas City, Mo. March 6-7: Second annual convention of the United Theatre Owners of Oklahoma, Blitmore Hotel, Oklahoma City. mended that City Council take measures to set up a motion picture censorship board to police films that "skirt the boundary of decency. " The Jury took note that the State Supreme Court had found Pennsylvania's 41year-old motion picture censorship statute unconstitutional in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's earlier decision. It asked that a new statute be created that would be legal. MOTION PICTURE HERALD, NOVEMBER 3, 1956 9