Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

IN NEW DISTRIBUTION METHOD Fox Adopts 'Showcase Pattern in N. Y. Area NEW YORK — Beginning with its January release. “Sodom and Gomorrah,” 20th Century-Fox will adopt its own Premiere Showcase-type plan of first-run distribution in the New York metropolitan area, it was announced Tuesday (11) by Seymour Poe, vice-president in charge of world distribution. The plan, patterned after the successful Premiere Showcase formula developed during the last year by United Artists, involves showing of first-run films in all of the metropolitan population centers simultaneously. Twentieth-Fox, thus, becomes the first company to adopt the procedure pioneered by United Aitists. “This will represent a new method of distribution for this company in New York,” Poe said, “based on our success in other cities. The multiple run will be new for us in this area, but it is very much like what we have done elsewhere, and what has been done locally in the Premiere Showcase plan.” A similar plan, he added, has been used by 20th-Fox in Los Angeles, Detroit, Philadelphia and Baltimore. “Actually,” Poe continued, “there is little difference between what we are doing and what has been done for some time by other merchandisers. It has been said before, but we are only catching up with the pattern of distribution developed in recent years by department stores, with their opening of branch stores in heavy population areas to supplement the downtown store. “Henceforth, we are going to bring the entertainment to the people, not ask the people to come to the entertainment.” There was no announcement from Poe as to which theatres would be involved in the 20th-Fox plan. When UA began its Premiere Showcase plan in June, Loew’s Theatres refused to participate. Reportedly, officials of RKO Theatres indicated this week that they would not go along with the 20th-Fox plan. Bob Conn, executive assistant for domestic sales, and Abe Dickstein, eastern division manager, were credited by Poe for THE COVER PHOTO The illustration on this week’s cover shows how Lester Pollock, manager of Loew’s Theatre, Rochester, N.Y., on one occasion utilized the lower boxes to give a Christmas atmosphere. On the other side of the house, he used an outdoor scene of children, Santa Claus and a Christmas tree with flickering lights. The effect was further enhanced by dimming the house lights and spotlighting the boxes to pick up the dayglo painted figures. Simultaneously, the proscenium lights went on and the screen curtains opened, with a Christmas Greetings message on the screen followed by a recording of Mario Lanza singing “Ave Maria.” their work in bringing about the 20th-Fox plan. “We take this step,” Poe said, “to redeem further our pledge to adopt modern merchandising methods in proof of the overall company streamlining plans laid down by our president, Darryl F. Zanuck.” “Sodom and Gomorrah” is a spectacular drama produced by Titanus and released by 20th-Fox, with Goffredo Lombardo as producer and Robert Aldrich, director. The De Luxe Color film stars Stewart Granger, Pier Angeli, Stanley Baker, Rossana Podesta and Anouk Aimee. Fox Studios to Reactivate With 'Sound of Music' HOLLYWOOD — Twentieth Century-Fox Studios, idle in recent months, will resume production with “The Sound of Music” and, according to production chief Richard Zanuck, has a number of deals “with top personalities now in negotiation which will put 20th-Fox back into full production this summer.” Zanuck announced also that Ernest Lehman, who wrote the screenplay for “West Side Story,” has been signed to screenplay the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical and will start work January 14. Filming on the picture is scheduled to start this summer with interiors shot in the studios and exteriors in the Austrian Alps. Screen rights to “The Sound of Music” were acquired in 1960 at a reported cost of $1,250,000. Steve Broidy Selected For 1963 Judaism Award LOS ANGELES — Steve Broidy, president of Allied Artists, has been selected for the 1963 American Judaism Award to be given for the first time on the west coast by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and the Hebrew Union College. Broidy will receive the award for “distinguished achievement on behalf of both Jewish and general community causes,” at a $100 per person dinner on January 23. Money will be used to aid the annual combined campaign for the two Reform Judaism institutions. Pintoff Shorts Handled By Beta Films, Europe NEW YORK — Pintoff Productions, producer of “The Shoes,” live-action featurette, and the animated color shorts, “The Old Man and the Flower” and “The Interview,” has concluded a distribution agreement with Europe’s Beta Films for Continental distribution of the three short subjects. “The Shoes” is currently playing at the Baronet Theatre in New York while “The Old Man and the Flower” will open late in December. Para., Reade-Sterling To Coproduce Film NEW YORK — Paramount Pictures and Walter Reade-Sterling, Inc., have closed a coproduction agreement for “The Love Goddesses,” according to George Weltner, executive vice-president of Paramount, and Walter Reade jr., board chairman of Reade-Sterling. Walter Reade jr., left, board chairman of Walter Reade-Sterling, and George Weltner, executive vice-president of Paramount Pictures, sign the coproduction agreement for “The Love Goddesses.” Under the tei-ms of the agreement. Continental Distributing, subsidiary of ReadeSterling, will have the western hemisphere rights with the rest of the world to be handled by Paramount. The picture will detail the changing mores of the past half century as reflected in love, sex and women in general and footages from both companies’ film libraries will be utilized, in addition to specially filmed sequences, according to Saul J. Turell, president of Reade-Sterling. Entertainment Corp. Sets Bobby Darin Film Deal NEW YORK — Entertainment Corp. of America has made a four-picture deal with Bobby Darin for him to star in films to be made in cooperation with his Ferrion Corp. over a three-year period, according to Max E. Youngstein, president. The first picture will start production in the summer of 1963, according to Youngstein, who said the Darin pictures will be the first of several projects he plans to undertake. “We can make new stars only by keeping them before the public in pictures the public will go to see,” Youngstein commented. Darin recently starred with his wife, Sandra Dee, in “If a Man Answers” for Universal. Set Sub-Distribution Deals for 'Yojimbo' NEW YORK — Seneca International, which is distributing “Yojimbo,” Japanese film made by Akira Kurosawa, has set the following sub-distribution deals: George Waldman in the Albany-Buff alo area; Abe Weiner in the Boston-New Haven area; Joe Gins in the Washington area; James Hendel in the Pittsburgh-Cleveland-Detroit-Indianapolis-Cincinnati area; Sam Davis, Atlanta-Charlotte; George Regan for Chicago-Des Moines-Omaha St. LouisMilwaukee-Minneapolis-Kansas City, and Herbert Bregstein, the Far West, including Alaska and Hawaii. S BOXOrnCE :: December 17. 1962