Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

AWARDS TWIST TROPHY — The Fepco Trophy for the couple who best danced the twist was presented to Mrs. Sonny Shepherd, left, and her son Sonny jr. at the recent TOA-NAC convention Pepsi-Cola champagne twist party by Mrs. Esther L. Green, right, owner and general manager of Fepco Theatre Advertisers, Omaha. The winners are the wife and son of Sonny Shepherd of the Carib Theatre, Miami, a vice-president of Wometco Theatres. Mrs. Shepherd and Sonny jr. were a popular selection of those in attendance at the party, with young Sonny putting on a particularly enjoyable performance. Allied Artists Reports First Quarter Profit HOLLYWOOD — Allied Artists Pictures Corp. and its wholly owned subsidiaries for the first quarter ended September 29 showed a net profit before federal income taxes of $163,000. Due to prior losses, no provision for federal income taxes was necessary. This compares with a net loss of $730,000 as reported for the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The gross income in the quarter ended September 29 amounted to $7,986,000 as compared with $2,365,000 in the corresponding quarter in 1961. Steve Broidy, AA president, attributed the increase in the gross income for the current quarter to the distribution of “El Cid.” The AA board of directors on November 14 elected officers as follows: W. Ray Johnston, chairman of the board; Steve Broidy, president; George D. Burrows, executive vice-president; Edward Morey, vice-president; Norton V. Ritchey, vicepresident (foreign) ; Earl Revoir, treasurer; Jack M. Sattinger, assistant vice-president and secretary; G. N. Blatchford, controller and assistant treasurer; Lamar Criss, assistant controller; J. P. Friedhoff, assistant secretary; Milton Segal, assistant secretary; and Constantine Hambas, chief accountant. The board also authorized payment of the December 15 quarterly dividend on the company’s preferred stock. The dividend of 13^4 cents per share on the company’s 5V2 per cent preferred stock is payable December 15 to stockholders of record December 3. 350 'Action' Prints for New Year's Eve LOS ANGELES — Paramount has ordered 350 prints of “Who’s Got the Action?” Jack Rose production to be screened on New Year’s Eve only, in a similar number of situations where the picture later will play regular nms. The film goes into ten situations for Christmas release; general distribution in February. AlP Charts Releases (Continued from page 5) whereby the distributor “shares the risk” so long as there is exposm-e. But, most important, Melamed believes the exhibitor should put the “show back into show business by supporting each picture with an adequate exploitation campaign and “share the risk” by playing every possible picture so that the producer of the “weak picture” can be encouraged to try again. Nicholson concluded the luncheon by showing AIP’s 15-minute film presentation of highlights from releases for the first part of 1963, including excerpts for “The Raven,” “Schizo,” “The Seafighters” and “The Young Racers.” In addition to Nicholson and Melamed, those attending the AIP luncheon for the tradepress included: Salvatore Billitteri, east coast production head; Ed Heiber, eastern regional manager; George Waldman and Howard Mahler, New York, Albany and Buffalo franchises; Samuel L. Seidelman, head of the foreign contingent; Richai’d Guardian, Latin American supervisor; Keith Goldsmith, foreign administrative manager, and Ruth Pologe, eastern publicity manager. AIP Plans 10th Exchange In Boston and New Haven NEW YORK — American International, which has nine wholly owned exchanges in the U. S., will open its tenth wholly owned exchange in Boston and New Haven around December 1, James H. Nicholson, president, told the trade press November 20. The branch manager will be announced shortly, he said. AIP distributes through franchise holders in 18 other areas in the U.S. J. Lee Thompson Touring U.S. Keys for 'Taras' NEW YORK — J. Lee Thompson, director of Harold Hecht’s “Taras Bulba” for United Artists release, will act as host for a series of screenings and interviews for newsmen of 36 cities, starting in New York. Thompson was scheduled to be in New York from Saturday (24) through Wednesday (28), during which time editors, columnists and representatives of the tradepress will view “Taras Bulba” and meet him informally at a supper party. Newsmen will also attend from Philadelphia, Boston, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, New Haven, Hartford, Toronto, Hamilton and Montreal. The next showing and interview will be held in Washington November 29, 30 with representatives from Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Miami and Jacksonville on hand. The Chicago preview-interview will be held December 3, 4 with press visiting from Detroit, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Milwaukee and Cincinnati. The Kansas City sessions will take place December 5, 6 with newsmen from St. Louis, Omaha, Des Moines, Dallas, Port Worth, Houston and Oklahoma City. The final conference will be held in Denver December 7, 8 with guests from Salt Lake City, Albuquerque and Colorado Springs on hand. National General to Add Mobile Rental Trailers LOS ANGELES — The board of directors of the National General Corp. voted to acquire Mobile Rentals Corp. on a share-forshare exchange of stock, according to joint announcements of Eugene V. Klein, N(3C president, and M. E. Hersch, MRC head. The latter company is national designerproducer of “Instant Space” mobile trailertype units used as classrooms, offices and a wide variety of industrial and commercial applications. NGC’s move is in line with its large-scale diversification program, with heavy emphasis upon real estate. The deal, which was approved recently by the MRC directorate, is subject to approval of company stockholders and a final tax ruling, Hersch reported. The latter will continue as his company head and also a top officer in NGC. National currently has 2,830,363 shares of common outstanding. Mobile 482,000. Russell Downing Elected Treasurer of COMPO NEW YORK — Russell Downing, president of Radio City Music Hall, was elected treasm-er of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations at its annual meeting here Tuesday (20). He will succeed Herman Robbins, chairman of the board of National Screen Service, who had served in that post for several years. Harry Mandel, president of RKO Theatres and chairman of the nominating committee, brought in a slate that would be the same as that of the past year, with the exception of the post of treasurer. The triumvirate was re-elected as was Edward Schreiber of the MPAA as secretai-y and Charles E. McCarthy as executive vice-president. The triiamvirate consists of Samuel Pinanski of Boston, Marcus of Milwaukee and Picker of New York. 8 BOXOFFICE :; November 26, 1962