Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1961)

TO A Urges Exhibitors to Write for Kits To Help Build New Screen Talent NEW YORK — Exhibitor participation in building new stars is being pushed by Theatre Owners of America as the kickoff liaison between the exhibitor organization and the Ass'n of Motion Picture Producers. The initial effort was made at the recent TOA convention in New Orleans where nine upcoming personalities were introduced to the delegates who, in turn, were urged to give the players a buildup on the local level. Kits are available through the AMPP and TOA is asking all exhibitors to write for them. The kits contain biographical material on the players, stills from their pictures and other background data which, TOA hopes, will be utilized by exhibitors by planting stories with their local newspapers and radio and television outlets. When the publicizing of the nine players is well along, a new group of young stars will be selected for ballyhooing by the producers and the exhibitors. Exhibitor cooperation on the project is regarded as proof of sincerity in wanting to create new talent. Hundreds of application cards for kits were signed at the convention but both the AMPP and TOA are hopeful that many more will be requested. The kits may be obtained by writing Duke Wales at the AMPP, 8480 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles 48, Calif. New players getting the cm’rent buildup are Stella Stevens and Darlene Tompkins, Paramount; Peter Brown and Madelyne Rhue, Warner Bros.; Joyce Taylor, MGM; Karen Balkin, Mirisch-UA; Kendall Scott and Pat Wayne, 20th-Fox, and Annette, Walt Disney. Babb Sets Up National Distribution Network HOLLYWOOD — Kroger Babb has established a national film distribution company, to be operated as KBA Attractions and/or Kroger Babb & Associates. Associates have been named for 26 territories and personnel for four additional areas is to be named shortly. Handling product for the company in the various territories will be: Los Angeles and San Francisco, Pat Patterson; Seattle and Portland, George R. Borden; Denver, Joe Emerson; Salt Lake City, Fred Palosky; Minneapolis, Des Moines and Omaha, Abbott Swartz; Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis and Kansas City, Irwin Joseph; Dallas and Oklahoma City, Alfred Sack; New Orleans, Don Kay. Pittsburgh, Milton Brauman; Atlanta and Jacksonville, Walter Morris and Sam Davis; Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., Jack Jaslow; Boston and New Haven, Ellis Gordon; Detroit, Lloyd A. Turel, and Memphis, Charles Arendall. Associates in New York, Charlotte, Cincinnati and Cleveland will be set within a short time, Babb said. KBA has been handling “Kipling’s Women” this year and expects to have two or three new releases in 1962. He al.so is considering producing a sequel to his “Mom and Dad,” which was a successful production in the mid-1940s. AB-Paramount Shows Record 9-Mos. Profit NEW YORK — American BroadcastingParamount Theatres reports an estimated net operating profit of $7,580,000 for the first nine months of 1961, a record high, according to Leonard H. Goldenson, president. The nine-month figure compares with $7,522,000 for the like period in 1960. The 1961 figure is equal to $1.78 per share, compared with $1.76 per share in the 1960 period. Net profits, including capital gains, rose to $13,758,000, or $3.24 a share, from $8,873,000, or $2.08 a share, last year. For the third quarter of 1961, estimated net operating profits were $1,886,000, or 44 cents a share, compared with $1,869,000, or 43 cents a share, last year. Net profits, including capital gains, were $1,915,000, or 45 cents a share, compared with $1,892,000, or 44 cents a share, in 1960. The AB-PT theatre business for the first nine months of 1961 ran ahead of the like 1960 period, Goldenson said, although the third quarter results were not up to those of the comparable quarter in 1960, reflecting the fewer number of quality pictures available during the past three months. Form Berkeley Films, Inc.; London Unit Is Opened HOLLYWOOD — The formation of Berkeley Films, Inc. to finance and produce motion picture features has been announced by producer Leonard Kay, president of the company. Aaron Appleby has been named vice-president and Harold H. Newman secretary-treasurer. An affiliate office in London will be under the directorship of Jack Lamont, veteran filmmaker. Key entered the picture field two years ago financing and packaging features, while Lamont formerly was European representative of the Society of Independent Motion Pictures and prior to that headed film purchasing for RKO Theatres and was a producer for RKO. He is cuirently an independent producer with the J. Arthur Rank Organization. WB Releasing 7 Cartoons In 3-Month Period NEW YORK — Warner Bros, released two Technicolor cartoons, “What’s My Lion” and “The Grey Hounded Hare,” for Halloween bookings. The company has seven other Technicolor cartoons on its shortsubject schedule for November, December and January. They are “Beep Prepared,” “Leghorn Swaggled,” “The Last Hungry Cat,” “A Peck of Trouble,” “Nellie’s Polly,” “Wet Hare” and “Tom-Tom.” In addition, Warner Bros, is releasing four Worldwide Adventure Specials in the same time period, “Where the Trade Winds Play,” “This Sporting World,” “Emperor’s Horses” and “Fabulous Mexico.” Smerling Is Oflicially Off of NT&T Board LOS ANGELES — Sheldon Smerling has sold all his stock and resigned from the board of National Theatres & Television, it was revealed following the regular board meeting of NT&T on October 26. To date, no action has been taken on a replacement, and the board will remain 12 in number, according to current reports. The resignation of Smerling, who joined NT&T last May as vice-president and chief operating officer and subsequently amassed 150,000 shares of company stock through acquisition of shares held by B. Gerald Cantor and Samuel Firks plus open market deals, doused widespread rumors that a proxy fight would highlight NT&T’s annual stockholders meeting next April. Battle for control of the company was seen between Smerling and president Eugene Klein at the time the former made heavy stock purchases, but soon after his large acquisitions he was replaced by Robert Selig, head of NT&T’s Denver division, with announcement by Klein that he would continue only as a board member. Since that time, it was believed that Smerling was contemplating new maneuvers for control of NT&T through his family-owned Smerling Enterprises, but his recent resignation and sale of stock to an investment group put an end to fm-ther questions anent a proxy battle. Regan Quits Filmgroup As Distribution Head LOS ANGELES — Skip Regan has resigned his post as head of distribution for the Filmgroup in order to devote more time to personal investments and enterprises. Regan, who has held the post since Roger Corman founded the company three years ago, will continue his association with Filmgroup as a sales consultant for an indefinite period. No successor has been appointed. Corman, who announced Regan’s departure “with regret,” credited him with the increased sales penetration of company product and progress. Frank Capra, Glenn Ford, Hope Lange Will Tour HOLLYWOOD — Producer Frank Capra departs next week for a two-week tour of the east in connection with the Christmas release of United Artists’ “A Pocketful of Miracles.” Capra will go to New York first, followed by Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Chicago. Glenn Ford and Hope Lange, who costar in the film, will make a second tom', kicking off November 27. The pair will make personal appearances in six cities. King Bros. Back in U.S. HOLLYWOOD — Maurice and Frank King have returned from Europe where they finalized openings abroad of their MGM release, “Gorgo” and completed negotiations for European production of “Captain Sinbad,” slated to roll in January. “Sinbad” will be lensed in Cinemascope and Technicolor on a $2,000,000 budget. 14 BOXOFFICE :: November 6, 1961