The Independent Film Journal (1954)

Arthur Canton, M-G-M eastern division press representative, holds winning "Julius Caesar” campaign as winner J. M. Endres, manager of the Calderone Theatre, Hempstead, L. I., receives award from Emery Austin, M-G-M exploitation manager. Allied TOA Plan Fall Trade Shows To Accompany Exhibitor Conventions SAN FRANCISCO (cont'd.) Arnold Lavagetto, shipper, Paramount, was upped to second booker, replacing James Henry, now in the Army. New shipper at Paramount is David Cooper. . . . Visitors buying and booking the past week were Philip Garber of Vallejo, M. E. Glascock of Woodlake, Barney Gurnette of Salinas, Harry Hayashino of Fresno and Stockton and Joe Serrv of Live Oak. . . . Drama editors from three San Francisco newspapers (Hortense Morton, Examiner; William Hogan, Chronicle and Fred Johnson of the Call-Bulletin) will be guests of Paramount Pictures for the premiere opening of “Rear Window” in Los Angeles, August 11. B & L CS Lenses Chosen Rochester. — More than 90 percent of all theatres that have converted to CinemaScope have installed Bausch & Lomb cylindrical anamorphic lenses, according to L. B. Mc¬ Kinley, B&L vice-president. He added that conversions are now running at more than 400 a week. McKinley asked all interested exhibitors to contact his company. Bell & Howell Price Cut Chicago. — The price of the Bell & Howell 35mm CinemaScope projection lenses for theatres has been reduced to $1,095 a pair, according to A. H. Bolt, director of sales. Bolt attributed the price cut to “increased sales by dealers” and “a number of manu¬ facturing economies.” With the industry’s two national exhibitor organizations having scheduled conventions accompanied by trade shows for the fall, the nation’s theatre people will be given the op¬ portunity to see the latest in theatrical de¬ sign and equipment. Coming first is the National Allied meeting in Milwaukee to be followed by the TOA convention and TESMA-TEDA-TOA-IPA trade show in Chicago. Wisconsin Allied will play host to the na¬ tional group’s “Silver Anniversary Conven¬ tion and Trade Show,” to be held at Milwau¬ kee’s Schroeder Hotel on Oct. 12-14 in honor of the group’s 25th anniversary. Convention co-chairmen are Ben Marcus and Sig Gold¬ berg. Chairmanship of the national atten¬ dance committee has gone to William Ains¬ worth, past president. For the Allied show 68 booths will be available for the display of all types of equipment and services used in conventional and drive-in theatres. All of the booths will be located on the fifth floor of the hotel, Illinois Allied Studies Ad Rates, Elects Kirsch Chicago. — Jack Kirsch has been re-elected president of Allied Theatres of Illinois for a term of three years. The exhibitor leader was re-named the group’s head at its 24th annual meeting held at the Blackstone Hotel. Van Momikos was re¬ elected vice-president and Benjamin Banowitz was re-named secretary treasurer. Harry Nepo was ap¬ pointed sergeant at arms. All 15 direc¬ tors were re-elected. The board has created a special com¬ mittee to look into the matter of greatly increased rates for newspaper advertising, which it feels is becoming too excessive, ac¬ cording to a report from the group. Amuse¬ ment advertising rates in the Chicago “Trib¬ une” are slated to rise on Aug. 1 with loop theatre rates going from $1.23 to $1.28 per line daily and more on Sunday. The Illinois Allied board also endorsed audience collec¬ tions for La Rabida Jackson Park Sanitarium. JACK KIRSCH Editor’s Note: The films listed below have been shown gratis on different television networks in the New York area and have not been previously used. A complete listing of titles of films already shown is available to our readers upon request. Title Cast Original release date Arizona Skies . Johnny Mack Brown Big Timber _ _ _ Roddy McDowall Col. 7-11-32 The Black Tulip . . Ann Soreen Counter Punch . Leon Errol Form Such A Seed . Edgar Barrier Hoosier Holiday _ . . . Dale Evans Rep. 8-25-43 I Became A Criminal . . Sally Gray Warners 216-48 Riverside Murder . . . Basil Sydney Song of Mexico . „ . Adela Mara Rep. 5-20-46 Spanish Cape Mystery . Donald Cook Rep. 10-3-35 The Tall Lie _ Paul Henreid Trigger Fingers _ Johnny Mack Brown Mon. 9-21-46 In addition to the trade show, the conven¬ tion will publish the Silver Anniversary Souvenir Year Book, which will be designed to serve as a memento of the occasion, ac¬ cording to an Allied report. Other committee chairman appointed in¬ clude E. E. Johnson, year book and booths; Oliver Trampe and Angelo Provinzano, pub¬ licity: F. J. McWilliams, reception; Rita Goldberg and Cele Marcus, ladies; Russell Leddy, state attendance, and Ben Marcus, advisory. The TOA convention and trade show will be held on Oct. 31-Nov. 4 at the Conrad Hil¬ ton Hotel. TESMA and TEDA have been invited again this year to take charge of the forum, and they will provide a panel of experts versed on theatre equipment, acces¬ sories and new processes. “The dollar-wise exhibitor literally cannot afford to miss this giant forum, particularly in view of the fact that developments in the physical operation of our theatres are chang¬ ing almost daily,” declared Walter Reade, Jr., TOA president. “All theatre owners must keep abreast of these changes if their future investments are to be economically sound,” he stated. Open to All The forum wTill be held on Nov. 3 and will be open to all industryites who wish to attend, according to a TOA announcement. The entire TOA convention will devote a large share of its attention to theatre con¬ cessions this year. “It is appropriate that this year’s TOA convention give more time and discussion to this vital art of theatre operation,” de¬ clared J. J. Fitzgibbons, Jr., president of the International Popcorn Association. TOA and IPA will join forces for an all-inclusive concessions forum on Nov. 4. This forum will be conducted by Bert Nathan and Nat Buchman, co-chairmen of the TOA concessions committee and leading officials of IPA. A major portion of this morning session will be devoted to a question-and-answer period, with the experts to give answers and advice to all exhibitors with concession problems. 'Combo’ Joint Production The latest development in Allied Artists’ stepped up production plans is the conclud¬ ing of negotiations to produce jointly with Theodora Productions and Security Pictures “The Big Combo,” according to Walter Mirisch, executive producer. “Combo” will star Cornel Wilde, Jack Palance and Jean Wallace and gets under wTay Aug. 26 with Sidney Harmon as producer. 44 Silver” For Christmas “Long John Silver,” Technicolor-CinemaScope production in which Robert Newton plays the title role, has been set for national release during the Christmas period. The feature, being produced by Joseph Kaufman and directed by Byron Haksin, has com¬ pleted camera work on location in Australia, according to the producer. The film is a continuation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel, “Treasure Island.” THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— August 7. 1954 35