Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

Simonelli Is Gen. V-P Of Youngslein Firm NEW YORK — Charles F. Simonelli, assistant to the president of Universal Pictures for the past three years, has been elected general vicepresident of Television Industries, Inc., and its wholly owned •subsidiary. Entertainment Corp. of America, according to Max E. Youngstein, president. Simonelli will join the new company November Charles Simonelli 26, following his resignation from Uni versal. In his new capacity, Simonelli will act in all areas of management, including policy, organization planning and operations. He is also a director of the Interboro Premium Finance Co.; a consultant to the management of Volusia Jai Alai, operators of Jai Alai Fronton in Daytona Beach, Fla., and a partner in S.D.S. Associates, a private investment group. He is a former director of Thompson -Starrett Co., Bethlehem Machine & Foundry and Superior Tool & Die Co. He also has served as chairman of the board of management of the Bib Corp. Simonelli entered the motion picture industry as an office boy in Universal’s eastern advertising and publicity department and, nine years later, was named eastern advertising and publicity director. His election is the third major change in the strengthening and revitalization of Television Industries’ top management. Youngstein, the former executive vicepresident of Cinerama, Inc., became president and chief executive officer November 2 and Jerome Pickman, formerly vicepresident of Paramount, was elected executive vice-president. The new company plans to expand its functions from the distribution of feature pictures for TV to all phases of the entertainment industry, with emphasis on motion pictures. The name of the Entertainment Corp. of America, Inc., is subject to stockholder approval at a future meeting of stockholders of Television Industries, Inc. Investor Harvey Jacobson New Filmgroup Partner HOLLYWOOD — Investor Harvey Jacobson has joined the Filmgroup as executive vice-president and partner as the first step in the company’s development of highbudget product, it was announced by president Roger Corman. Jacobson will begin a tour of the nation this week to meet distributors and exhibitors. Of the $500,000 which Jacobson will invest, $135,000 is being allocated to operational improvements and story development. 'The remaining $365,000 will be added to production budgets of features to be made in the next eight months. Wallis Reoptions Paul Nathan HOLLYWOOD — Producer Hal Wallis has reoptioned his longtime associate producer Paul Nathan. The coming year will be Nathan’s 17th with Wallis at Paramount Studios. National Allied Prepares For Cleveland Sessions TV Block Booking Out, Supreme Court Rules Washington — The U. S. Supreme court this week unanimously upheld a lower coiu-t order barring six distributors of motion pictures from block booking in selling and licensing films to television stations. In the first opinion to be written by the newest member of the high court, Justice Goldberg, enforced block booking was termed a vice and a violation of the Sherman antitrust act. The original lower court order, handed down by Judge Archie O. Dawson of New York, applied to Loew’s, Inc., C&C Super Corp., Screen Gems, Associated Artists Productions, National Telefilm Associates and United Artists. Attorneys for both the Justice Department and the film distributors had requested that the high court upset the District Court order, the D of J seeking a strengthened order and the distributors asking that the decree be set aside. WOMPI President Names Committees for Year ATLANTA — Mrs. Jean W. Mullis, president of the International Ass’n, Women of the Motion Picture Industry, has announced the appointment of the following committees for the fiscal year, 1962-63; Membership: Miss Mary Heueisen, Kansas City, chairman; Mrs. Leone Cooper, Memphis; Miss Sadie Castanza. New York City; Miss Alice Patton, Des Moines; Mrs. Sue Tankersley, Denver. By-Lows: Miss Lois Eyans, Memphis, chairman; Mrs. Gladys Melson, Kansas City; Miss Nola Bishop, Des Moines; Mrs. Dorothy Zeitlinger, Jacksonyille; Mrs Polly Puckett, Stone Mountain, Georgia. Finance: Mrs. Florence Work, Des Moines, shairman; Mrs. Philomeno Eckert, Jacksonville; Miss Phvllis Whitescarver, Kansas City; Mrs. Juanita White, Dallas; Miss Leone Matthews, Des Moines. Extension: Miss Florence Long, Toronto, chairman; Mrs. Myrtle Parker, Charlotte, co-chairman; Mrs. Amy Rohde, New York City; Miss Charlotte Murphy, St. Louis; Mrs. Lorena Cullimore, Dallas; Mrs. Hazel Lenoir, Kansas City. Publicity: Mrs. Frankie English, Atlanta, chairman; M'ss Sue Benningfield, Dallas; Mrs. Marie Berglund, New Orleans; Miss Marcello DeVinney, St. Louis; Miss Hilda Frishman, New York City. Newsletter: Mrs. Stella Poulnot, Atlanta, chairman; Mrs. Mable Guinan, Dallas; Miss Dorothy Mathieson, Toronto. Will Rogers Memorial Hospital: Mrs. Gene Barnette, New Orleans, chairman; Mrs. Mory Hart, Jacksonville; Miss Jessie Ray Lucy, Memphis; Miss Faye Riess, New York City; Mrs. Dorothy Pobst, Des Moines. Ways and Means: Miss Goldie Woerner, Kansos City, chairman; Miss Janice Bierman, Atlanta; Miss Phvllis Schaeffer, New York City; Mrs. Bernice Chauvin, New Orleans; Mrs. Myrtice Williams, Jacksonville. Industry Service: Miss Anna Belle Miller, Denver, chairman; Mrs. Kathleen Dowell, Jacksonville; Miss Patricia Dowling, Indianapolis; Mrs. Ora Dell Lorenz, Dallas; Miss Audrey Hall, Metairie, Louisiana. Historion: Mrs. Lee Nickolaus, New Orleans, chairman. Convention Chairmen: Miss Rosemary White, Dallas; Mrs. Mable Guinan, Dallas. DETROIT — “Advance hotel reservations assure that the 33rd National Allied merchandising and tradeshow at Hotel Sheraton, Cleveland, December 3-5 will have the largest attendance in several years,” said Allied president Marshall H. Fine, also convention chairman. TO FEATURE NEW EQUIPMENT The day-and-date booking of TEDA and TESMA conventions and tradeshow will throw the spotlight on startling new developments in equipment. While several manufactm-ers are keeping these exhibits guarded top secret imtil debut, among the items to be shown to the industry for the first time will be projection lamps using no carbons, shutterless projectors, sound systems without a single tube, carbon lamps giving far brighter picture and sharper screen definition, and slow-burning brighter carbons. Other exhibits will present automated 70/35mm booth equipment and high profit equipment for drivein concessions. The national theatre owners convention itself will open with a luncheon Monday noon with an afternoon session devoted to exhibitor problems, trade practices and film discussions. Continental breakfasts will open Tuesday and Wednesday meetings with Tuesday morning devoted to marketing research and patron motivation, presented by university and business authorities. This convention is breaking new ground, bringing experts on specific business techniques from other fields. The equipment luncheon on Tuesday will be programmed by TEDA and TESMA, stressing new developments, followed by guided demonstrations covering the entire show. FILM MERCHANDISING TOPIC The Wednesday morning session will cover profitable merchandising of motion pictures with authorities on consumer psychology and merchandising. An all-out promotional drive to build convention attendance is being launched from national headquarters here. Three actionoriented mailing pieces are currently in the works, with other material to follow. The slogan adopted for the event is “Next Year’s Successful Exhibitors Will Be at ’This Year’s National Allied Convention.” One attention-getting piece shows a picture of an usher in military style uniform, occupying nearly the full sheet, comfortably snoozing in a theatre seat, legs crossed and an open box of popcorn in his lap. Large type asks the question, “Where’s Business?” 'The text gives the message of the convention goal to put “cars in your drive-ins, patrons in your seats, and ushers back in the aisles.” Robert Vcnighn Signed for Role HOLLYWOOD — Robert Vaughn will star in “I’ll Sell You a Secret,” Harry Sandford and Max Lamb screenplay to be made under the Roberts H banner. The company is owned by producer Robert Reese, Richard Long and Vaughn. Long will direct. BOXOFTICE :: November 12, 1962 13