Variety (December 1954)

W<^ni»day, December 1; 1954 Earning power of 26th»Fox’s Cin-< emaScope lineup so far this year is reversing a . former pattern wider which the majority of the com- pany’s releases had to' depend heavily on the foreign market in order to show a profit. Figures on the early C’Scope films which have had their playoff in* the equipped houses indicate • ■* - ’.i . ..in- i If-.. NOW-TAX ON BOUTS District of Columbia Seeks Bite On Theatre-Circuit Video Washington, Nov. 30. The local District Of Columbia o bright byline place In the 49th Anniversary Number that most of them Will actually Government is considering a pro- show a profit in the U. S. and Cana- posal that, it levy a special tax on diari markets alone, leaving foreign televised theatre showings of box- revenue as pure gravy. .... ing bouts, to provide additions Obviously this is true of “The funds for the D, G. Boxing Corn- Robe,*’ which is the industry’s cur r mission, which is running m the ■■■rent b.o. champ. “How to Marry a red. Boxing Commission has rec- Millionaire,” the second C’Scoper ommended . a 5% bite on theatre from 20th, so far has brought the grosses on the events, company $5,100,000 in rentals. Pic’s At a public hearing last week, negative cost is put at $1,900,000. j ac k Foxe, publicity director of “Hell and High Water,” .which cost the three Loew’s theatres here, led $1,900,006 to make, has earned $2,- opposition to the proposal. Loew’s . n . 400,000 in the. U. S. arid Canada so £ ap itol has offered several theatre MamI a[ Knh far; “River of No Return,” at a tv attractions, includirig some .of ,uw W1 i ?_ X- a r .OfiA Aft fie' lie .< . t 4 -m U at* 11 • 1 -A: ^ * Paramount'* British Production Topptr Richard Mealaild ! hot. written an IncIiWp piece on Yank fourlttn titled London's Top Layer 'ARIETY Fabian Enterprises Sell?/ 11,241 of Stanley Shares Fabian Enterprises, headed by S. H, (Si) Fabian and Bam Rosen, has sold 11,241 shares of its com- mon stock in Stanley Warner. This reduced Fabian’s holdings in S:W to 328,094 shares. In Few negative cost of . $2,200,006s is {jib championship fights. Other ahead With $3,400,000 in : rentals; theatres in the area have also car- *12 Mile. Reef," costing $1,600,006, ned title boufs in conjunction With has earned $2,866,666 and “Three Theatre Network Television, Inc. Coins in the Fountai ,” at a nut of $1,766,660, is running in the black to the tune of $4,000,000 in ti. S. and Canadian rentals to date.. It’s pointed out that the playoff on these releases isn’t complete by a long shot since new theatres continue to equip, at the rate of about 206 a weefc There’s also still next year’s drive-in season to be taken into account.. IF f* 9 Q . In the past, 20th managed to W Q I IfipVTlQ’\PA||P break into the black with only com- f Or wlllvIIIWV/vVjfw paratively few 2-Ders. “Snows of Kilimanjaro,” for instance, which It’s 20th-Fox’s,,CinemaScope vs. Jacksonville, Nov. 30. Theatre Owners of America’s new financing group, the Exhibi- tors Film Financial Group, will aid all types of pictures “that look to be good bbxoffice. ” It will not try to win an Oscar. Comment was HU * * d 4 || f made by TO A prexy E. D. Martin Moral 0l Dob Hope S last week at the annual Convention in • V ii of the Motion Picture Exhibitors Book: A Comic Is Always “g*^* * *^.^ Aft Fvnn ill Hie MftllUlirQ * u PP ott the financing plan, Martin UIIj LiCu 111 1115 lflCUlUII o ur g e( j theatrerrien “not to look on By ROBERT. J. LANDRY this as a loan but as an invest- tm *. * c-.L * riient.” He said the necessary P l ei ? ty a papers had already been filed with newsstand “sell” is evident in the softcover version Securities & Exchange Commission “to authorize 1 the company with a •tt » rv ' ^ fit ty . 4 .** i A j At , tu RUtllUlUC' U1C tUUipaUJ WiUl. o hnnirc thP capitalization of $16,666,666,-rep- (WedJ. There ai ® £? 0 ^ixfl e resented by 166,666 shares of corn- second selling c 5i°^' mon stock to be sold at $166 each, There ^ai'e two titles, the second wlth f u U voting rights.” being .Have Tux, Will Travel. ^Be- stock, Martin said, will be cause there arc two titles, there 0 ff ered f or sale . in three Qf four ape two titlepages, facing. Finally W eeks! at which time a prospectus ®? b ^.f Pes ^* be Ji ub ‘ will be sent to all those interested, ject himself and writer Fete. M a £ *<The purpose of the company,” he tin, sounding 1 as much, like Bob gald> ^ill. be to finance capable Hope as possible. and responsible producers~not to It may well be that if Pete Mar- produce pictures itself. This We tin had written about, rather than do not know how to do, arty more cost $2,766,606, ended up with a Parampunt’s : VistaVisiori in the in- Hope as possible. and responsible producefsi-^not to domestic take of $5,666,660. “Qeri- dustry’s now- developing major It may well be that if Pete Mar- produce pictures itself. This We tlemen Prefer Blondes,” brought battle' pf the widescreen • tin had written about, rather than do not know how to do, arty more in at' $2,766,066, netted .$4,8.60,606 C ! Scope, first to market, is way Bob Hope a better book than a producer knows how to Tun’ at. home alone. “Pickup on South out ahead, for every pic in thiswould have resulted. The one-two a theatre.” He stressed that the Street,” a gleeper that cost only anamorphic process has been & gag rhythm of Bob Hope’s platform pictures “will be distributed . $866,666, racked up $2,666,066 in commercial click so far. ... manner is not ideal for an extend- through outlets friendly to exhibi- domestic rentals. Par’s “White Christmas” is the text of 368 pages, since too tion.” Every one of the 20th- Cinema- first in V’Vision and it is in only many aspects of his career, which He said the financial group would Scope pix that have been in release limited circulation at this point, would be fascinating if seriously not be controlled by TOA although for ariy period of time has recouped But the b.o. showing has been so treated, emerge as no more than it is sponsoring the company and its negative cost. However, depend- remarkable that it already looks additional patter, This may or advancing organizational, money. Ing on that latter factor, anywhere sure to be among the top money may not seem a carping criticism Martin said TOA wanted all ex- frem 56% to 166%. must be added pix of the year. Even in areas of a vvork intended for “fans” and. hibitors to participate, “regardless dri. before a production, begins to where musicals are usually so-so first published, in excerpts, as Sat- of affiliation or organization.” He make mpndy; “Christmas” has been an outstand- evepost copy. Title in the weekly said that it was unfortunate that ing contender. was “This Is On Me.” the former “so-called affiliate cir- Non-partisan .execs in the east ^ great deal, of factual informa- cuits” could not join, are of. the opinion thatregardless t ion la convey ed. And the text He said that if sufficient funds of . how. strong Christmas in...its makes clear.' that Bob Horie ; was were not obtained from exhibitors, full playoff proves itself, and how ™ a d Kt £ a sharo inteiigence The “we will go to others within the well future V’Vision entries hold troop entertainment stuff is the Industry, excepting distribution, up, the_Par system Is not hlcely to mos t human, But when it is all W* to the Public.” have C. Scope on the run., But over> the bodk has not said too Martin declared that he had, ded- there jS) too, much conjecttiire thst rnnoh th2t esn he tAken - seriotislv ic&ted his &dmiiiistir&tion to .three n n Ol Y’yision • , m iS h f welftake some of ““ul Bob Hope* thf man The major-objectives: (1).unification of 52.17 |0]f 'kirfi gaggy approach constantly *r*. '25.^ In other words, it’s felt, V’Vision ygnts that could progress to the point where _ t . ’ it will be side by side with C’Scope Tl1 ^ P®°* The book runs on the rails of the Still showing spectacular gains, i tenns of industry prominence -co^entional commercial idea that 26th-Fox earnings for the 39 weeks. the autobiography of a comic must ended last Sebt 25 soared * to $5 - and public Acceptance." Naturally, ^ if «H exhibitors. “Our problems are 732 063 eaual P to $217 ner share v ’ vision ha s much to . go to catch b e a joke^book. Fine as far as it no different from theirs—only the lutSJaina up. For one thing, the mere name ^oes. There are plenty of quips, approach to solVe them> ” he de- rnhih $l of. the 26th filmmaking method has Wltty asl , des „ and considerable cl PP ed ■ « It i s hoped that this ob- This compares with $1,433,037, oi w . . , . iK1 ., amusement. “When an actor lays i*\ bitration; (3) increase in produc- tion. He said discussions are planned with Allied States Assn, to unite all exhibitors. “Our problems are no different from theirs—only the approach to solve them.” he de- This compares with $i,433,037, or rv’- ■. ; . 52c per sharl on 2,769;486 shares an egg in Brooklyn, it has three outstanding, for the corresponding pu ^ “ cr p {^. yolks.” period of 1953. to all newsreels as Pathe and all Hope Is generous to many, in- Third quarter of the current color D^xTs Techniemof C’ScoS deed most, of his contemporaries year brought a net profit of $ 2 -: is^ widescreen pic^^^^ sho^vine and especially admiring of the un- 635,518, representing a ; jump.pf ** J^° wmg ’ fortunate Richie Craig Jr. Ill and more than 100% oyer the $1,274,- ma W norntradesters believe. 728 earned in the same quarter , maior eonclusion that m A major conclusion ttiat niay be coiiicu 1U b.. c aaiuct drawn at. this earlv date ronrerns sack doin ^ hls first performance last year - nSftev Tf tw in a long time. “They didn’t get Rentals for the new 39-week ^ him an d one fellow became to period were listed at $78,010,386, heckle him brutally.” Craig came against $75,540,617 the year P re - P f«ri back -with his hammer blow; VioUS; Significantly, amorti za tion dispelled. Outfit is so full of "They took a fellow to the » ••Chr» SKt mn^appears hos^Tf SjftXf & yoa^ comparod with.$5i,242;797 in : ^^^^ts^presont ^ * 1953 ; iorm, inus remaining xr Also on the upbeat was dividend ou i ; amon S all majors, action taken by the 20th board in N. Y. yesterday (Tues,). A regular quarterly . divvy of 40c was de- clared on the common stock, plus an extra of 10c. Hecht-Lancaster Into WORLD PEACE COUNCIL 0 -‘ j I safe to sav Par wi 1 never try a "They took a fellow to the of film costs was earned at $44,- f®*® .} P- say , ..' w “ l - ever ny a hncnifnl in this town last 187 140 for the 39 weeks of this Christmas” cheer it now appears hospital tn this town last Also on the upbeat w.as dividend 6ut among all majors. examined it and 1; while his Also on ine upoedi was auiaena brain was out he jumped otit the window. They found hint , later in d theatre heckling the actors.’* WORM) PFAfF rnilNni That the fans will be satisfied If V1VLU IL./U/E. LUUHUL With ^Have Tux, WiU Travel” is U A<I U taiiAOclar Inf a Washington, Nov. 30. probably a certainty. But those neUIrLauldMcI 11I1U An indication in the continued. who P refer sub-surface values will, Wm. Morris Structure ? ties? pl8 ? ed communisu makes-a-comic-tick study has been Hnnvwnnd Nnv 3n Upotl motlon as a prime wr itten in the spirit and idiom of i'lecht-Lancaster Productions lias Propag^da je^porv was given at- a^radio gagwriter’s roundtable con-. purchased the two-story William the ?^d World Peace Council feience. Morris Bldg, in .Beverly Hills as which wound up last week in headquarters for firm’s expanding Stockholi Gnmliera Win* &1 SOO activities^ Harold Hecht made deal n<1 ,„ VOmoerg Wins ■with United Artists which leased elected to vvpq ffs Organiza- Beverly Hills, Noy. 30. to Mortis agency, which is now tional Commission ahd tw?of these '. erecting own building. werp “film workers ” orie from Bra- ment of $1,500 in favor of writer . H ^ ht rt an “ Ste / "'.“Vn ° Ve i n ‘° *U and one from the Netherlands. 'S? taek Hew quarters in April. Alter exten- . . . - ; . ; salary against George Jessel. aive renovations, may also take . Gomberg, Jhad asked $3,000 for over Morris leases on building Leon Roth, United Artists pub- his work on ‘the script of a picture, next door, subleasing some space licity coordinator on the Coast, is “Rip Van Winkle, Jr.,” which Jes- to other indie producers. in N. Y. for homeoffice confabs, sel was planning to produce. Gomberg Win* $1,500 Beverly Hills, Noy. 36. Municipal Court granted a jpdg- (Continued on page 24) L. A. to N. Y, Bud Abbott RichaFd Aldrich Lemuel Ayers Irving Berlin Robert Caldwell Charles Coburn Lou Costello Kirk Douglas Jimmy Durante Evelyn Ellis Faye Emerson Charles K.. Feldman Freddie. Fields Y. Frank Freeman George Gobel Helen Hayes Paul H^nreid Russell Holman Henry Hull Nancy Kenyon Arthur Kramer Harold Kuseli William Lanteau Margaret Lindsay Virginia Low William Lundigah Rocky Marciano Adolphe Menjou George Mitchell Donald O’Connor Viola Roache Leon Roth Eva Marie Saint Stan Seiden Joe Shea Kent Smith Earl I. Sponable Mark Stevens Robert Strauss Robert Young Sapiuel Goldwyri Jr. is entering independent jnrodubtiori, - w it h United . Artists aa the bankroiler. The son of the veteran filmmaker has a program of three pictures lined up. U4 vfill provide th« cash financing, as distinguished from deferments taken by other partici- pants,, for the flrst%lm and if this works out undoubtedly the same, or a similar, deal Will obtain for the other two. First, slated to roll in February, is “Sharkflghters,” an original screenplay by Jo and Art Napoleon. Others are “Llnnett Moore,” based on a story by James Edward Grant, and “The Dancing Detective,” story by Cornell Woolrich. Goidwyn Jr. some time 'agd set up Westward Productions to en- gage in the lerising of films for television*. Outfit turned, out one pic, a pilot, which tradesters fbund to be of merit but which sponsors turned down because of cost fac- tors. It was the first of a projected series, Company has beeri inactive since. It’s understood that Samuel Goidwyn Sr. will limit his role in the new setup to counsel on selec- tion of story properties and pro- duction generally. The second- generation Goidwyn was associated with Sydney Box in British pro- duction shortly following World War II. Bob Rubin Center of Dais _At Conference Banquet Amusement industry division of the Natipnel Conference of Chris- tians and Jews is launching its Brotherhood Wfeek campaign with a dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria, N. Y„ on Jan. 13. J. Robert Rubin, general chair- man of the amusement division and former Loew’s v^epee, will be guest of honor. Rubin organized the amusement division of the Na- tional Conference .17 years ago. ; / » N." Y. to L. A. Myer P. Beck Tony Bennett Milton Blackstone Sid Blumenstock Burt Champion Linda Christian Noel Coward Cecil B. DeMilla Sidney Denau Eddie Fisher Joe Glaser Gaston Hakim Victor Jory Joshua Logaa Vincent Lopes George Martom Virginia Mayo E. K. O’Shea Michael ,0’Shet Jerry Pic&man Monte ProsCr Thelman Ritter CCsar Romero A. W. Schalberg Charles Simonelt Herb Steinberg Axel Stordahl Danny Welkes Mae West Europe to N.Y. Jeari-Paul Blondeau Cecil Brown David Cole Joan Collins Jack Heyman Jjmmy Jewel Yvonne Menard Ray Noble .Julian Olevsky Dick and Dot Remy Artur Rubinstein Henry Salomon Jr. Zadel Skolovsky Muriel Smith Rosalyri Tureck John C. de Wael Darryl Fi Zanuck N. Yi to Europe , q Jack Anthony Jackie Decaux Sid Krofft Barry Jones Bertha Ricardo Will Starr Ken Swann Robert Wilson