Canadian Film Weekly (Feb 13, 1957)

———e February 13, 1957 CANADIAN FILM WEEKLY Page 3 (BC CAPAC AIM (Continued from Page 1) sit back and go along with old arrangements. Even those which remain unchanged are that way because a close examination has shown them worth continuing. There is a constant searching for a fair formula. Right now Capac is working out a new formula with the CBC, which used to pay fixed sums separately for radio and TV. This formula calls for a rising five-year per capita scale based on population. In 1957 it will likely begin at one and six-tenths of a cent per head and go up every year for five years until it reaches two-and-a-half cents —for AM and TV broadcasting together. The private TV stations pay a fixed sum—this year $135,000. The theatre formula remains the same, which is for so much per seat according to five categories. There was something more than a five per cent drop in Capac income for 1956. This income, information indicates, will continue to decrease. In 1955 there were 1,928 35 mm. film theatres licenced and this fell to 1,873 in 1956, with the figure still declining. Capac does licence very small and part-year operations for a small flat fee up to $10. Because many of the closed theatres were of this nature Capac’s total take wasn’t affected seriously. An example of Capac awareness of change is its interest—at present detached —in the growth of two-a-day exhibition at special prices, such as is represented in Toronto by The Ten Commandments and Oklahoma!. Motion picture people prefer the per-seat scale system of royalties to the boxoffice percentage method, which Capac suggested several times in the past. Of course, the theatre industry in this country has taken the stand that Canada should be put in the same position as USA exhibitors in relation to film-music fees. In the USA they are paid at the source as a result of a USA Supreme Court decision. BMI of Canada Limited, also a music royalties agency, will collect the aggregate sum of $98,646.35 from the privately owned broadcasting stations, according to the Copyright Appeal Board, and $30,000 from the privately owned television stations. It has a mutually satisfactory agreement with the CBC. BMI, also a_ publisher of music, is headed by Harold Moon. "Cand'n Profile’ Set By NFB For CBC TV Commercial Division of the National Film Board completed negotiations with the CBC for the television premiere of a feature-length documentary over the French and English networks. The _ Frenchlanguage network telecast the film, which gives a cross-section view of Canada and Canadians, on February 9. It was directed by Allan Wargon. News Totes STEVENS IS TOP DIRECTOR Top director of the year, chosen by his colleagues of the Screen Directors Guild of America, is George Stevens, for Warner Bros.’ Giant, who was honored with five others at a 1,000-guest dinner in the Biltmore Hotel, Hollywood. He was presented with the large medallion for ‘‘outstanding achievement’’ and also received the silver medallion along with four others selected from 24 nominations in the theatrical category. Theatrical winners, beside Stevens, are Michael Anderson (Around the World in 80 Days), Walter Lang (The King and I), King Vidor (War and Peace) and William Wyler (Friendly Persuasion). The only award for TV directing went to Herschel Daugherty for The Road That Led Afar. The D. W. Griffith Memorial Award, for distinguished contributions to the advancement of the cinema and the prestige of the Guild, was presented to Vidor by the president, George Sydney. The annual Critic’s Award, established in 1953, was given to John Rosenfield of the Dallas News. MEL JOLLEY HONORED About to take up residence in California with his family, Mel Jolley, for years manager of the Century, Hamilton, was presented with a number of gifts at a party in his honor at the Royal Con naught Hotel. Al Ford, president of the Hamilton Theatre Managers Association, presented Jolley with a desk set; Bill Cranston of CKOC handed him a tray; A. G. Muir of the Hamilton Spectator turned over a clock; and Dan Krendel, for Twentieth Century Theatres and Famous Players, gave him a set of matched luggage. Ford, the toastmaster, introduced the speaker, both of whom had sentimental and humorous things to say — and all were duly appreciated by Jolley in his reply, CANADA ACTORS FUND GETS GOING Actors Fund of Canada, founded recently to help needy persons in each and every section of the theatrical field, as well as their dependants, held its first meeting at the Crest, Toronto legitimate house, on a recent Sunday. Chairman was Donald Davis, who pointed out that the Actors Fund of America had been in existence since 1882. Application for recognition by the government, so that donations could be treated as income tax deductions, has been made. Paul Kligman, chairman of the advisory committee of Actors Equity of Canada, offered the facilities of his group to the Fund and Barbara Hamilton made the first treasurer’s report. Dennis Sweeting, business agent for Actors Equity in Canada, was also heard. Those present were entertained with the Crest’s current attraction, King of Hearts, in which Austin Willis, Barbara Chilcott and Jonathan White are starred. Vet Show Biz Figure, Dan F. Pierce, Dead A veteran of Toronto Show Business, Daniel F. Pierce, 76, died last week in St. Joseph’s Hospital, Toronto. He came to Toronto in 1905 and was best known as the manager of the old Star Theatre, a burlesque house on Temperance Street, which became a legit operation in the 30’s as the Empire. A past grand president of the Theatrical Mutual Association of Canada and the United States, the late Mr. Pierce was a_ building manager for many years while using his theatrical knowledge for the Shrine Circus, which was sponsored by organizations of which he was a member. He also belonged to the Royal Order of Jesters. The late Mr. Pierce, who was predeceased by Mrs. Pierce in 1944, was born in Yale, Iowa. WB's Diana Barrymore Biopic Warners’ has acquired Too Much, Too Soon, the story of Diana Barrymore. Conte In ‘Sea Wall’ Richard Conte has been added to the cast of Columbia’s The Sea Wall, which Dino De Laurentiis is producing on location in Thailand with Silvana Mangano, Anthony Perkins, Jo Van Fleet, Alida Valli and Nehemiah Persoff also playing lead roles. Ginger Rogers Tour To Include Toronto Toronto will be one of the cities visited by Ginger Rogers on her tour to publicize her latest film, 20th-Fox’ Oh Men! Oh Women!, in which she stars with Dan Dailey, David Niven, Barbara Rush and Tony Randall. Due to arrive in the Queen City on February 20, Miss Rogers will make an appearance on Cross Canada Hit Parade on CBLT-TV that night as one of the items on a busy round of press, radio and TV interviews and engagements arranged for her by Sam Glasier, head of public relations for 20thFox in Canada. OSCAR DERBY (Continued from Page 1) who made known at the same time the contest’s regional representatives. They will have proofs and stereos of the ballot and the Oldsmobiles, as well as all information necessary for a theatre’s participation in the promotion. All that is necessary for a theatre in Canada to join in is to show a trailer on its screen, display a one-sheet in its lobby, order a supply of ballots and pay one cent per seat. This, of course, is a minimum promotion and a theatre may augment its campaign in any way desired, providing the rules re advertising, ballots, etc. are followed. Theatre Poster Service is handling the material and will fill orders as received. The district co-ordinators as named by Main, who in addition to acting for all Canada is Ontario representative, are as follows: British Columbia — Owen Bird, West Coast Booking Association, Vancouver. Alberta — Ralph Mitcheltree, Capitol Theatre, Calgary. Saskatchewan — J. Duane McKenzie, Orpheum Theatre, Estevan (co-ordinator pro tem). Manitoba — Harold Bishop, Capitol Theatre, Winnipeg. Quebec — Tom Cleary, Consolidated Theatres Limited, Montreal. Maritimes — Leslie Sprague, Gaiety Theatre, Lancaster, NB. In line with Main’s earlier announcement, this year’s Sweepstakes will list 12 categories, instead of the eight of last year, to conform with the request made by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which applied both to the USA and Canada. In addition the Canadian ballots will carry one question on British films and all participants in this country will have to make a choice in each of the 13 sections. The 12 categories are best performances by an actor, actress, supporting actor and _ supporting actress; best film, directing, song, motion picture story, color cinematography, color costume design, score of a musical picture and score of a dramatic or comedy picture. OUR BUSINESS (Continued from Page 2) tion or by flat rentals. Smaller attractions, costing a fraction of top-quality productions, may only be entitled to a much lesser percentage if the exhibitor is to make a buck and stay in business. Probably most of these films are being produced with an eye to their being sold to TV exhibition shortly after their theatrical runs. The exhibitor should not be forced to show what is uneconomic either through its lack of boxoffice draw or because of unfair film rentals.