Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1952)

Short Subjects BY NEWTON SPYROS P. SKOURAS, in accepting the Protestant Motion Picture Council's 1951 award for the picture of the year, "David and Bathsheba," from Dr. Daniel Poling of the Christian Herald Association, made some sage observations in regard to the movie industry's responsibility to religion. He believed rhat the occasion was "of far greater import, however, than the awarding of a tribute to a single motion picture, for it signalizes the fact that the church and screen are joined together in the defense of the spiritual heritage of the Western Civilization against the threats of a pagan philosophy." POLIMG £ SKOURAS COLUMBIA HAS its own version of the: "Oscars" for salesman who do outstanding jobs. Six "Rubes" will go to the leading branch in each of the groups set up for the 'Round-the-World' sales drive at the end of each period. The tropies may be kept only so long as a branch maintains its lead. "AXE OF its biggest national and local " advertising campaign" will support the remainder of M-G-M's 1952 product — which the company considers "its strongest lineup of pix in many years." This was the word passed on by Howard Dietz to Metro studio executives last week. The occasion was a Studio luncheon tendered six newly appointed special field promotion men. Dore Schary welcomed the sextet: (Emery Austin, southern; Arthur Canton, eastern; E. R. Coleman, southwestern; E. C. Pearson, central; Ivan Fuldauer, midwestern, and Ted Galanter, western). Dietz said each release will be handled individually on both a national and local scale, depending on results shown by test engagements. 20TH-FOVS Charles Einfeld made the most of the Arnold Schuster slaying headlines in the N. Y. press witlt a series of special ails plugging the "revenue killing" angle in "Deadline — U.S.A.", the Bogart starrer at the Roxy, LJcCALL'S M VGAZINE has joined other national mags in tub-thumping ' >r Hollywood product. Beginning with the March issue, they are carrying an editorial feature "Mel all's Goes to the Movies" which aims at "nrc-sclling Hollywood to America." UNIVERSAL PICTURES has launched a two month ballv featuring star tours of key cities. It's to be tied in with the final of the current "Nate J. Blumberg 40th Anniversary Sales Drive." Tony Curtis and Jan Sterling ("Flesh and Fury") are touring cities which will include Washington, Boston and New York. Ann Sheridan, John Lund and Howard Duff ("Steel Town") are scheduled for Cleveland, Birmingham and Atlanta. Special tie-ups for "Flesh and Fury" will be available to exhibitors with their local department and sporting goods shops in a joint promotion with the Everlast Sporting Goods Company. PLAUDITS AND KUDOS: Jerry Baker of RKO Keith's Theatre, Washington, D. C, received first prize in 20th-Fox's exhibitor showmanship contest for the most comprehensive ad, publicity, and exploitation campaign on "The Day the Earth Stood Still" . . . The Motion Picture Associates of Philadelphia is honoring the following local branch mgrs., on April 21: Lester H. Wurtele, Columbia; Ulrik F. Smith, Paramount; Joseph Engel, Screen Guild; Joseph Leon, Universal; Lou Formata, M-G-M; Norman Silverman, Republic; Samuel Dia THE 'RUBE' JACKTER mond, 20th-Fox; William G. Mansell, Warner; Maxwell Gillis, Monogram; Charles Zagrans, RKO, and John Turner, United Artists . . . The General Federation of Women's Clubs, disappointed because "The River" wasn't included in the Academy Award nominations, are asking the Academy's Board of Governors for "an award to that picture which is 'the most significant cooperative international schievement,' and that we should nominate 'The River' for the honor this year." . . . Parents Magazine selected "Never Take No For An Answer" (Souvaine Selective Pictures) best movie for the month of May . . . David T. Katz, executive director of the Roxy Theatre, recently received a special scroll from New YorkCity's Broadway Association, honoring the Roxy :or 25 years of service to New York moviegoers . . . Paramount walked away with top honors in the 1951 exhibitor poll held by England's {Cinematographic Weekly . . . Bob Hope and Alan Ladd were two of the four leading money making stars to appear in films released in Britain, and among films to '.'am high boxoffice were. "Samson and Delilah," "Reap the Wild Wind" (top re-issue of the year), and "Detective Story." OF MEN AND THINGS: William B. Levy is off to Europe April 3 to set arrangements for production in Europe in association with both British and American interests . . . Columbia controller C. B. Wikoff's son Richard entered Uncle Sam's forces . . . Nat Levy, RKO eastern sales mgr., became a grandfather recently when his daughter Enid (Mrs. George Pager) gave birth to a girl . . . Columbia sales execs Louis Astor, Louis Weinberg and George Josephs are touring branch offices to push the company's current 'Round the World sales drive' . . . Texas exhibs recently feted Paramount's new South-Central mgr. Alfred M. Kane and his predecessor, M. R. Clark at a luncheon in Dallas . . . Jack Kirsch was re elected President of Allied Theatres of Illinois for a term of three years. Also elected: Van Nomikos, v. p., and Benjamin Banowitz, sec.-treas. . . . Milton Piatt is Nat Levy's new assistant succeeding Daniel Loventhal who has been granted a leave of absence by RKO . . . 20th-Fox distribution head Al Lichtman announces that Tom McCleaster has been tagged mgr. of the realigned Central Division . . . UA veeps Max Youngstein and William Heineman, accompanied by Eastern Sales Mgr. Nat Nathanson, instituted the first in a series of meetings with all UA branch personnel and ex1 ibitors in Boston, Buffalo, and Toronto last week . . . Wedding bells rang last week for Herbert J. Yates, president of Republic Pictures and star Vera Ralston. They were married on March 15 in Hollywood. MR. & MRS. HERBERT J. YATES WARIETY TENT TOPICS: Nathan D " Golden, chairman of the Varietv Club' Heart Committee invited two Las Vega newspaper editors to serve with trade pres reps on the Charity Citation Committe board of nidges which will select the tent ti be cited for the most outstanding job in th , field of charity work. Selections, to be mad at the forthcoming 16th annual convention ii Nevada, are not based on the amount (• money spent, but on the results of the parti cular effort . . . The schedule and prograrl for the big meeting are Hearing completio under the guidance of Jacob Kozloff, Con vention Chairman, and Ben Goffstein, Chit Barker, of Tent #39. Care has been take to provide open time for extra-conventio activities. 22 FILM BULLETII