Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1951)

Sit art Subjects By BARN VDVERTISING manager Si Seadler. F ' who has a way with words, puts the movie industry's case in neat, concise form in an jarticle. "Speak Up, Movie Folk! It's Your Injdustry They're Knocking !" which is being disItributed by COMPO to all branches of the business. "Whether you're an usher or a viceIpresident. a studio worker or a film salesman, lyou earn you're living in the film business, it's (high time you answered idle gossip with [FACTS." says Seadler. "It's your livelihood (that's being torn down. Next time you hear [someone attack your business, fight back !" He [goes on to list some sample answers to the garden variety of irresponsible statements that are heard every day by industryites — and, too often [left unanswered, thus assuming the standing of I fact. You know these canards: "Pictures are lousy." "Hollywood's a den of iniquity," "The I movie business is full of Communists," "Movies breed juvenile delinquency," and all the other slurs on a great industry. But do you know what to say when you hear them, or do you just sit glumly by and give your tacit agreeIment by not showing up the statements with logical, irrefutable facts? You'll be doing yourself and the industry that puts the bread in your mouth a good turn if you get hold of the Seadler pamphlet and speak up when your industry is being knocked. THE NEW YORK Sunday News of June 17 is going to look like a fan magazine. The front page has a full-page photo of U. S. Navy frogmen crawling on a beach near the Xaval Amphibious Base at Little Creek, Ya., taken during the recent press junket held by 20th Century-Fox at the base. Inside, on pages 14-15, is a picture spread on the rigors of training for the hardy tadpoles who would emerge as fullfledged frogmen, and a plug for the Fox film on the subject, "The Frogmen." In the roto section of the same paper, also in both the local and national editions, will be a spread featuring the old-time circus ballyhoo which has put United Artists' "Fabiola" among the current top-grossers. The spread features the Lucullan feast staged in New Orleans for the world premiere, executed by Murray Roman of exploitation head Mori Krushen's staff. The banquet, simulating the feast shown in the film, held in the celebrated New Orleans restaurant. Arnaud's, has all the trimmings of the ancient orgies, with beautiful "slave girls", "gladiators", lion cubs, etc. Included are shots of Mayor de Lesseps Morrison and producer Jules Levey decked out in togas. CLEEPWALKERS of the world, awake! Somnambulism is finally going to pay off. Anybody who walks in his (or her) sleep will get a pass from 20th Century-Fox to a special showing of "Half Angel", at the Roxy. It seems that Loretta Young, who is co-starred in the film with Joseph Cotten, gets into all sorts of romantic complications because of her "proclivity for somnambulism", it says in the Fox release (showoffs!), and the stunt has just enough schmaltz to get a neat bit of publicity. To get the Annie Oakley, all you have to do is get a note from your doctor testifying that you walk m your sleep. Upon receipt of the testi METRO'S SEADLER Slur-Slugger monial, 20th-Fox will supply the afflicted one with a free ducat for the special showing. The thought occurs that Fox must be doggone sure of the entertainment value of the film. Some of these characters could go into their act at the showing and wouldn't a lot of faces be red if a few members of the audience started to parade through the aisles and (heaven forbid!) walked out of the theatre. THE SUCCESS which greeted the initial "Look Forward-Go Forward" showings of Warner Bros, four top productions in New York on May 31-June 1, was duplicated last week when some 2500 theatre owners, managers and bookers in each exchange city turned out for the two-day showings. It was a heartwarming reaction for sales vice-president Ben Kalmenson, ad-publicity c.p. Mort Blumenstock and the rest of the WB staff who have received a welcome shot-in-the-arm with the company's expanded plans after some jittery days. IT TOOK three theatres in Albuquerque (pop. circa 40.000) to take care of the crowds for the world premiere of Paramount's "Ace in the Hole," June 14. Jerry Pickman, Paramount adpublicity chief and an old hand at staging world-preems, stopped off at the New Mexico town, site of the film's story, to see that all was in order enroute from Hollywood to New York. The shindig was right up to the Pickman par. Kirk Douglas and Jan Sterling, stars of the film, sparked the two-day celebration as an estimated 75.000 flocked into the town for the festivities. With local excitement whipped to a high pitch by cooperating merchants (who handled distributing of 15.000 heralds), newspapers and radio stations in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. the big day saw a giant parade of cowboys, Indians, civic groups and school children of both towns, followed by a barbecue for the benefit of local charities and climaxed by the stars' appearances at each of the three theatres. IJN'ITED ARTISTS is going all out to sell "Cyrano de Bergcrac" for its "mass appeal". A circular that is covering every active theatre in the country is being distributed through each of UA's local exchanges and represents the opening gun in the campaign. Half a million copies of a comic book telling the Rostand story have already been sold. "This means," says the circular, "that millions have already thrilled to the high adventure, the brilliant sword play, the smashing action and the swashbuckling romance of this magnificent story on the basic level represented by the comic -recuthuj public. Additionally, the pamphlet stresses the millions who have head the Rostand original, and of course, star Jose Ferrer's Oscar-winning performance. THE OULD SOD is going to get a Variety Tent. Application for the newest member of the famed show business organization was received by International Chief Barker Marc J. Wolf, and, barring unforeseen complications, will be known as Tent #41 of Ireland. The eleven men — as required by the VC constitution — who applied for the Charter, who will be the first crew and officers, are all members of the motion picture industry: Louis Elliman, Odeon Ireland ltd.; C. B*. Sheridan, Adelphia Dunlaoghaire: A. Elliamn. Odeon Ireland: Patrick Farrel. Capitol & Allied Cinemas Ltd. ; J. Lyons, M-G-M; B. T. Britten, 20th Century-Fox; M Baum. Roxy. Forum "and other cinemas"; N. Barfield, Paramount Film Service Ltd.; D. O'Keefe. Carlton Cinema ; Peter Farrell, Capitol ft Allied Cinemas Ltd. ; V. Garland, Republic Pictures Ltd. Clubrooms for the new Ireland Tent will be in Dublin's Shelbourne Hotel. Interest is so widespread, it is reported, that more thati a hundred applications for membership have already been received despits the fact that International Canvassmen have not yet voted on the Charter for the applicant. AI MEN AND THINGS: Paramount'. AI Schwalberg did a Jessel at the Harry Feinstein Testimonial Dinner by Pittsburgh Variety Tent #1 last Tuesday (12th) to honor the new Warner Theatres New England Zone manager. Other execs who paid tribute to Feinstein were WB sales head Ben Kalmenson, WB Theatres general manager Harry Kalmine, Universale Maurice Bergman. Paramount's Ted O'Shea, Lippert's Arthur (Ireenblatt and WB division manager Jules Lapides . . . Francis S. Harmon's resignation as a vice-president of the MPAA due to ill health was accepted with reluctance and paeans of praise for the valuable services rendered the industry since 1937 when Harmon joined the Ass'n as executive assistant to the president . . . Joyce O'Hara was named a vice president of the MPEA at a board meeting at which all incumbent officers were reelected . . . The appointment of Moe Levy as MidWestern division manager for 20th-Fox moves the headquarters for that division to Minneapolis . . . Peter Myers moves up from 20th-Fox Toronto branch manager to head the Canadian division. Phil Sherman takes over Myers' branch spot . . . H. L Frost, former MGM circuit sales manager in Milwaukee and Giicago becomes MonogramAA's Kansas City branch manager today (18th). JUNE 18, 1951 21