Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

7,000 See Ground-Breaking Event For $14 Million Hollywood Museum An architect’s rendering of the new $14, 000, 000 Hollywood Museum. HOLLYWOOD — Groundbreaking ceremonies were held Sunday (20) for the long-awaited $14,000,000 Hollywood Museum, with more than 7,000 invited guests in attendance, representing the top personalities of today and yesteryear in motion pictures, TV, radio and recording. Located on a four-and-a-half acre site just opposite the famed Hollywood Bowl, the museum is expected by its president, Sol Lesser, to attract a yearly attendance of 1,000,000 people. Lesser, keynoting the ceremonies, told the audience, “It is our intention and the good intentions of Los Angeles County, to have something for everybody in the Hollywood Museum. For the fan, tourist, student, expert, technician, artist and child who visits the museum, there will be everlasting memory of an industry which grew out of bean patches and orchards for more than 50 years to become an important segment in the way of life for millions and billions *he world over.” RICHARD POWELL ASSISTS With a forecast for the future, Lesser continued, “We will have room to do and time to dare and share, and the dedication to make this museum as exciting and educational and artistic as the four forms which not only live but also breathe here.” Assisting Lesser in actual ground-breaking were county supervisor Ernest Debs and Richard Powell, 11 -year-old son of the late Dick Powell, who turned the first spadeful of dirt. Mary Pickford’s emotionally charged words were met with great enthusiasm. “Here, where 50 years ago there were orange groves and vineyards, we will soon see a beautiful building that will say to all the world, ‘Ours is a noble profession.’ It has lightened the burden of people everywhere. It has taught them much. It has elevated them. It has brought us all infinitely closer together. It has given us understanding.” Officiating as mistress of ceremonies, Rosalind Russell read a message sent by President Kennedy. It read: “Through the motion picture, television, radio and other recording media, modern technology has added a totally new and exciting dimension to the creative arts. The unique characteristics of these new art forms require special institutions. The new Hollywood Museum can make a major contribution to the educational and cultural resource of the country, and I should like to congratulate its sponsors on undertaking this challenging task.” WARNER, DISNEY SPEAK Jack L. Warner and Walt Disney, cochairmen of the event, also spoke, as did other film personalities, including Gene Autry, Edward G. Robinson, Gloria Swanson, Francis X. Bushman and Jack Webb. The educational field was represented by Dr. Franklin Murphy, chancellor, University of California at Los Angeles, and Dr. C. C. Trillingham, county superintendent of schools. Supervisor Ernest E. Debs, termed “father of the Museum,” and Warren Dorn, chairman of the county board of supervisors, under whose jurisdiction the project will be maintained, also spoke. Special buses brought some 25 oldtimers from the Motion Picture Country Home in San Fernando Valley and a rising ovation was given the delegation, special guests of the Museum committee. Seating stands were erected around the ground-breaking site and special parking facilities on the grounds of the Hollywood Bowl were used as a test, since an overpass will connect the Bowl and the Museum. Gov. Edmund G. Brown spoke, and architect William L. Pereira discussed the design of the Museum. Dr. Albert Hibbs, California Space Technology, introduced the new Laser beam communication system. Heading the public relations cabinet is Jack Diamond, Universal Studios, with Casey Shawhan, NBC, vice-chairman. Curtis Kenyon was ex-officio member of this group and handled more than 100 members of the press corps. Attendance Reflects Growth of Allied NEW YORK — Continued growth of Allied States Ass’n is reflected in the large attendance at its regional conventions and was further in evidence at the national get-together at the Americana Hotel here last week. Milton H. London, Allied’s executive director, said that the convention which closed Thursday evening (24) had the largest attendance in the memory of most of the present members. While the final tabulation had not been completed at press time, registration had exceeded the 700mark. London pointed out that while the convention in Cleveland last year also drew more than 700 persons, that conclave also had equipment and concessions representatives. The New York convention was composed of only theatre owners and their wives. There are areas in which Allied is contemplating new units, but negotiations still are in a formative stage and it would be premature to identify the territories, London said. He said, too, that there were no inactive units within the association. Allied has 15 regional organizations with members in 48 of the 50 states. Regional conventions, London said, often drew more than 200 members, a situation which did not exist a few years ago. As for the prospects of an ultimate single association representing all exhibitors, London said there was “no agitation” by members of either Allied or Theatre Owners of America for a consolidation. He said the existence of two national bodies was “healthy” and that the “friendly rivalry” of the two groups was good for the industry, inasmuch as both worked together on all industry problems of importance. The finance committee approved the national budget for the coming year, but figures were not revealed. Kenneth Winograd Urges Allied-TOA Merger NEW YORK— Contending that Allied States Ass’n was not big enough to solve exhibition’s problems by itself and that the organization could not back up its threats, a Western Pennsylvania exhibitor asked that Allied explore the possibilities of a merger with Theatre Owners of America. Kenneth Winograd, speaking from the floor at the afternoon session of the convention’s opening day, said it was time to develop a strength that distribution would understand, so that film could be bought on an equitable basis. “Give us one big national organization,” Winograd said, in advocating a consolidation with TOA. Irving Dollinger, convention chairman, told the exhibitor that he was out of order and that the subject under discussion was trade practices and that it was no time to make such a proposal. Jack Armstrong, Allied president, told Winograd that his suggestion was not a new thought and that he did not object to his bringing it up. He said, however, that National Allied followed the direction of the individual units, indicating that such action would rest with the regional segments. 8 BOXOFFICE :: October 28, 1963