Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

HIGH COURT RULES: A. J. Balaban Is Dead; Pioneer Exhibitor NEW YORK — Private funeral services for A. J. Balaban, 73, one of the pioneers in the film industry, were held at the Universal Chapel Saturday (Nov. 3). Services were held at the Pizer Chapel in Chicago, Balaban’s birthplace, November 5. Balaban died in his apartment at the Hotel Laurelton November 1. Balaban broke into show business as a singer of illustrated songs in the few existing nickelodeons, one of which he rented for a six-month trial period with his brother Barney in 1909. Later, the two brothers laimched a circuit of theatres, building the Crircle Theatre and, later, the Central Park Theatre with Sam Katz as their partner. With the aid of their three younger brothers. Max, John and Dave, they pioneered such presentation trends as bills of vaudeville and films, presenting such stage headliners as Sophie Tucker, Nora Bayes, Van and Schenck and Belle Baker, along with pictures, at the Central Park Theatre. Later, they launched a band policy, headed by Paul Ash, in conjunction with movies, at the Oriental Theatre. This combination of movies and live entertainment was quickly emulated throughout the U. S. In 1929, Balaban and Katz merged with Paramount and A. J. retired to Geneva, Switzerland, but he came back to the U. S. in 1937 to supervise construction of the Esquire Theatre, a palatial film house in Chicago. Just prior to World War II, he was again called out of retirement, this time by Spyros Skouras, to become executive director of the Roxy Theatre in New York. Balaban is survived by his wife, the former Carrie Strump; two daughters, Mrs. Louis Culture, and Mrs. Harold Robbins; a son, Bruce, who is a producer, and four grandchildren, in addition to his brothers, Barney, Harry and Elmer. Astor Promotes Sigmon To New Soles Post NEW YORK — Sam Sigman, who joined Astor Pictures in 1961 as executive assistant to the vice-president in charge of sales, has been promoted to the new post of national sales supervisor for Astor, according to George F. Foley, president. Sigman will work under Harry Fellerman, recently named general sales manager to succeed Ernest Sands. Sigman had previously been sales administrator for Paramount, manager of worldwide operations and assistant sales head for Selznick Releasing Organization and New York representative for Edward Small Productions. He entered the industry with the old Fox Film Co., where he held various posts in the sales promotion, playdate and contract departments. He had also been associated with Republic Pictures as manager of the contract and playdate departments. Gower Champion to Meg ‘Carnival' HOLLYWOOD — Gower Champion will direct MGM’s filmization of “Carnival,” musical hit he staged on Broadway. Producer Arthur Freed, who gave Champion his first big screen role in “Show Boat,” is producing. NEW HOLIDAY DISPLAYS— National Screen Service’s holiday displays now are available in all of its branches. Joseph Bellfort, sales manager, said three 40x60 displays and two 30x40 displays offered a variety of Christmas and New Year’s messages, prepared in six colors, via the silk screen process, on heavy roUboard, providing colorful holiday greetings to suit virtually any theatre frame or wall space. Johnston Is Elected Head Of International Group LONDON— Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Ass’n of America, was elected president of the International Federation Film Producers’ Ass’n at the Federation meeting here November 1. The Federation, which is made up of the national prqducers’ associations of the major film producing companies, deals with international film festival matters and other problems of mutual interest. Cable Facilities Okay For Ark. Pay TV LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Supreme Court on November 5 unanimously upheld the decision of a lower court affirming an earlier action by the state’s Public Service Commission, which ordered Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. to provide Midwest Video Corp. with the necessary facilities for introduction of a pay television system here. Midwest Video holds a franchise agreement for Paramount’s Telemeter system. The Public Service Commission’s ruling had been appealed by a group of theatre owners including independents. United Theatre Corp. and Rowley United Theatres. The Public Service Commission had ruled: “All of the intervenors’ arguments add up to one contention, that pay television will disrupt other segments of the entertainment business. Any new business is likely to lead to economic change. This commission cannot deny the people of Arkansas the benefits of new entertainment media merely because other segments of the industry may be inconvenienced thereby.” The court said it regarded the commission’s explanation as “the complete answer to the appellants’ contention” that pay TV was not in the pubUc interest. NOW IN RELEASE . . . 'POOR WHITE TRASH ' ’63 RELEASES “THE GARBAGE MAN”* “COMMON LAW WIFE”* “SIN AND SYMBOLISM” * “I HATE YOUR GUTS ’ Formerly 'The Intruder" IN PRODUCTION... “ WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN” C. D. A.^ inc. 'Copyright Union Ad 1962 I BOXOFTICE :: November 12, 1962 15