The Independent Film Journal (1955)

Para Sales Heads In Re-Alignment Principals in the top echelon re-alignment of Paramount's domestic sales organization announced by George Weltner (center), head of world-wide sales, were E. K. (Ted) O'Shea (left) now in charge of eastern U.S., and Hugh Owen (right), now in charge of western U.S. Owen was also elected a vice-president of Paramount Film Distributing Corp. George Lait, resigned as publicity director at Columbia, joined the Paramount publicity department to handle special exploitation assignments. New Discount Policy Geared For Youths ( Continued from page 20) thus bringing heavier patronage to the theatres and instilling the movie-going habit in an increasing number of people who will continue attending the movies after they reach 18 years of age,” O’Donnell declared. The action by Interstate was inspired by the urging of Leonard Goldenson, president of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres, to encourage attendance of young movie-goers with a special price substantially less than the prevailing adult admission charge. Some years ago Interstate adopted a Junior Ticket plan, but because of a federal excise tax burden, plus some other problems including alleged abuse of the plan by overage patrons, it was dropped. Goldenson and Interstate felt that children and young people are among the movies’ most faithful customers. Interstate believes that its new plan, nearing completion, will eliminate the “bugs” which plagued earlier ventures into the intermediate age price field. Single Operator Fight Won By Mass. Xhibs Boston. — The long fight to gain approval of single operators in Massachusetts theatre booths when safety film is used ended in a victory for exhibition with the filing of amended regulations with the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The new law reads: “In the exhibition of motion pictures, no nitrate film shall be used. All film used shall be acetate film, known as safety film. Every motion picture machine shall be equipped with a dowser handle and control switch operated from either side of the machine. While exhibiting motion pictures, the operator shall devote his entire time and attention to that work. In any theatre where the equipment in the projection booth meets these requirements, and is approved by an inspector, only one operator will be required; otherwise two operators shall be in attendance during the exhibition of motion pictures.” Robert J. Rubin becomes a vice-president, and moves into a top administrative post, for Paramount Film Distributing Corp. Sidney G. Deneau and E. A. Pitter Jr. become assistants to Ted O’Shea and Hugh Owen, respectively. Roy Brickner was appointed head of the Warner Bros, trailer department, succeeding Art Silver, whose assistant he has been for several years. Silver now heads the “Behind the Scenes” division of the Warner ABCTV project. Carl Goldman wTas appointed executive secretary of Independent Exhibitors of New England, affiliated with National Allied, following Ray Feeley’s resignation after nine years of service. Goldman was previously a booker with Affiliated Theatres Corp. Myron L. Kerney of Rochester was named manager of the new amateur film sales division of Eastman Kodak Co. His former post as manager of the amateur accessories sales division of the company was taken by Charles J. McNary. Independent Trade Reviews Gerstle, that he is his brother until his twin brother breaks out and calls gun moll Jaclynne Greene, who tips off the hoods. In a climax poster. The gangs are wiped out and McClory goes back to finish his studies for the ministry. ‘ Seminole Uprising” (Columbia) Technicolor 71 Min. Cast: George Montgomery, Karin Booth, William Fawcett, Steve Ritch, Ed Hinton. Credits: Produced by Sam Katzman; Directed by Earl Bellamy; Screen play by Robert E. Kent; Based on the novel, "Bugle's Wake," by Curt Brandon. ‘ ‘ Seminole Uprising ” is an average programmer dealing with the cavalry and Indians, this time, the Seminoles. Its story is just a little different from the usual plot for these types of action features and the strongest element here is George Montgomery, who does an even and believable job as the cavalry officer who can ’t marry the colonel ’s daughter because it is believed that he is a halfbreed. There is plenty of action here, a great deal derived from stock footage, which has been edited into the picture with obvious skill as to story line, but sometimes the footage isn ’t too good a match pictorially. However, as a supporting feature, this one will appeal to the outdoor action fan, who isn’t too demanding. Cavalry lieutenant Montgomery is given the job of getting rampaging Seminole chief Steve Ritch back on his reservation. Reporting for this assignment, he comes in contact with the InnovationGoal: Better CS Prints (Continued from page 12) loss of definition incidental to the duping process, the introduction of effects of all kinds, and such further definition loss as may be due to dye migration or bleeding in some color processes,” he told the engineers. The company experimented with its old cameras turned over on their sides to produce a double frame picture when tests of the first CinemaScope films were being made and Sponable said that it was then decided a larger negative was one definite way to add to CinemaScope definition. To increase the negative size then, he explained, would have involved the making of entirely new cameras. The 20th-Fox research director emphasized that it is the policy of his company in experimenting with all improvements for new processes “to produce the best possible result for every theatre everywhere. Anything which we may do in the future will be devoted primarily to that end, even though there will undoubtedly be cases in which specially produced pictures may warrant special showmanship handling and, as such, may advantageously receive roadshow treatment.” It was noted that in the use of the fourtimes area frame, distributing the projection light and heart over the large area is advantageous. “Improved projector mechanisms and cooling methods would alleviate the problem of maintaining good focus in the theatre. So also would the longer focal length lenses which would be used,” Sponable pointed out. ( Con’t . from page 22) 1 colonel ’s daughter, Karin Booth. After a battle, Montgomery gets Karin and all is peaceful again. “Top Of The World” (United Artists) 90 Min. Cast: Dale Robertson, Evelyn Keyes, Frank Lovejoy, Nancy Gates, Paul Fix, Robert Arthur. Credits: Produced by Michael Baird and Lewis R. Foster; Directed by Foster; Written by John D. Klorer and N. Richard Nash. The Arctic Circle serves as locale for the proceedings in this melodrama about Air Force weather observation unit personnel. Because of a talky script that deals too heavily with romance, “Top of the World’’ will do best in program slots. Names of Dale Robertson, Evelyn Keyes and Frank Lovejoy may be of some marquee help. Story, climaxing with an experimental mission to the North Pole, rarely exploits its action potential. Matching of studio and location gives the outdoor portions of the narrative an uneven pictorial quality. Robertson, a jet pilot, is transferred to Fairbanks, Alaska, to serve under Lovejoy in the weather observation unit. There he meets his ex-wife, Miss Keyes, owner of the local nitery. Since Lovejoy has a crush on Miss Keyes and the base’s public relations officer, Nancy Gates, is set on Lovejoy, Robertson becomes a pivotal figure. When an experimental mission to the North Pole is scheduled, Lovejoy assigns Robertson as commander. The crew becomes stranded on an ice float and Lovejoy rescues them by glider. On the trip back, Robertson decides to re marry Miss Keyes, who still loves him. 24 THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— April 30, 1955