Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1963)

Ball” at the Admiral and “Miracle of the White Stallions” at the Military . . . Marj McGlynn, wife of former MGM branch manager Jerry McGlynn of Omaha and now of Des Moines, visited Fred Fejfar and his wife here last week . . . It’s all settled — the Variety Club Golf League will tee off April 6, the weatherman permitting. Exhibitors who battled to Omaha through the rain last week included Nebraskans A. Leise, Hartington; Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Leise, Randolph; Don Johnson, Lynch; Mrs. Fred Schuler, Humboldt; Howard Burrus, Crete; A1 Marshall, Verdigre; Ed Christensen, Ord; Phil Lannon, West Point, and Iowans A1 Haals, Harlan; Arnold Johnson, Onawa; Jim Travis, Milford; Vern Brown, Missouri Valley, and S. J. Backer, Harlan. Asserts Movies Distort U.S. to the Entire World MILWAUKEE — Dr. Brock Chisholm, world health leader and Canadian psychiatrist, appearing on the Milwaukee Journal’s WTMJ-TV station here, said that movies distort the United States to the entire world. The first director general of the United Nations world health organization, Chisholm aired his views on the station’s Open Question program. He said gangster and western movies, which make up a major part of American films exported for showing abroad, are giving much of the world a completely distorted view of the contemporary culture of the United States. “These films mirror a phase of American history long past, but accepted as current history.” He said he was asked many times during a recent visit to Geneva, Switzerland, questions such as: “How many times have you had to cower in doorways and hide to avoid bullets from passing cars?” On the importance of the American image abroad, Dr. Chisholm said: “One bad film is worth one warship operating on the side of the enemy in the cold war. One gangster movie can undo the work of Radio Free Europe many times over.” The American image, he said, is being based largely on its past history and the reputation of its ancestors. “And,” he said, “that reputation is not very good, and hasn’t been lived down yet.” He said he had suggested to officials in both Washington and Hollywood, that the government control the sale of American films abroad. “But the idea was not kindly thought of. The motive of American businessmen selling films abroad,” he said, “was not to damage the United States image, but was to make money.” The films and broadcasts exported from the United States, he added, were of a much lower caliber than those from other countries. “The United States will sell anything,” he said. Dr. Chisholm pointed out that in Communist-controlled Czechoslovakia, a large number of American gangster films are bought by the Czech government and are shown as “authentic” representations of current American culture. After slides of racial riots in this country were shown, a Czech propagandist said to the audience, “Now you know what is meant by the American way of life. What do you think of it?” MILWAUKEE geveral gals from the motion picture industry are entered for the “Alice in Dairyland” contest, which is a real plum for the winner. She usually travels the state plugging the dairy industry for a year, represents Wisconsin at the Rose Bowl and gets married the following year. That’s about par for the course. Pete Rosian, Universal’s regional manager, was in. He says that this will be the best year ever for Universal. Publicist Louis Orlove, traveling about five states to plug Universal product, soon will have box -car figures on his speedometer. Harold “Bud” Rose, self-acclaimed “King of the Publicists,” wants all and sundry to know that he’s back in the harness after being “out of circulation” due to illness. At the moment (he’s free lancing) his first project is to beat the bushes for “Billy Budd” for Allied Artists. He threw a press luncheon at the Steak Ranch, a screening March 28 at the Egyptian Theatre and is slated for a swing around Wisconsin. Bud says he expects to have a hand in the forthcoming Schlitz Circus Parade scheduled here for the Fourth of Jully, “and the nation will hear about it,” he vows. In Hollywood’s TV-cartoon workshops, one of the major tasks is to find the right voices for the characters that pop out of the inkwells. Among the better known and highly regarded members of this group is John Stephenson, 39, who finds this field far more exciting and rewarding than anything he ever did in his previous show business experience. He has been on TV and in the movies as well. John’s parents live at 1029 East Idaho St., Milwaukee. ENDLESS BURNS THE ENTIRE POSITIVE ROD Save Carbon Cost U. *. DISTRIBUTORS West Coast Theatre Service 1923 N.W. KEARNEY PORTLAND, OREGON Coll — write — wire — for a demonstration REVOLUTIONARY PROJECTOR ^ CARBONS Funeral services for Maynard W. Erickson, 51, Loyal, were held March 10 in the Loyal Methodist Church, with the Masonic Lodge conducting services. Erickson was born at Suring in 1911 and moved with his parents to North Dakota, where he lived until he was 14 when he went to Oconto, where he managed a number of theatres. On July 1, 1941, he married Leona Rosenfeldt, and they moved to Loyal, where they bought the Loyal Theatre and managed it until January 1962. Erickson was active in civic affairs, acting as an alderman and mayor of Loyal for several terms. He also was chairman of the Loyal Community chest fund for a number of years. In West Germany, a coin-machine company plans to install washing machines in theatre lobbies, so customers can watch a movie while getting their clothes laundered. Lew Breyer, former vice-president of station WXIX-TV and a former film salesman with U-I, reported that while traveling through Dodge City in a rented car he was pulled over to the side of the road at gunpoint by the sheriff, who said a police car of same model and color as the car Breyer was driving had been stolen, resulting in a road block. “I was scared stiff,” Breyer said. “A Ticklish Affair” is the final title MGM has selected for “Moon Walk,” Shirley Jones-Gig Young starrer. PROJECTION Equipment Repaired EXPERT MECHANICS Parts for all makes Work Guaranteed LOU WALTERS Sales & Service Co. 4207 Lawnview Ave. Dallas 27, Texas P/ease ser>cf fne □ 2 years for $5 □ 1 year for $3 □ Remittance Enclosed □ Send Invoice THEATRE STREET ADDRESS TOWN ZONE STATE. NAME POSITION THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY 52 issues a 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 24, Mo. year BOXOFFICE :: April 1, 1963 NC-3