Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1953)

HI Motion Picture daily Tuesday, November 17, 1953 Seal 20th-Fox 16mm. Interrogatories LOS ANGELES, Nov. 16.— Federal Judge Ben Harrison has granted 20th Century-Fox's request that the company's interrogatories in the government's 16mm. anti-trust case be sealed on the grounds that the general dissemination of private trade information might subject the company to "injury, harassment and prejudice." The company is the seventh among 12 defendants to ask that their interrogatories be sealed. Additionally, Columbia Pictures has been allowed until Dec. 1 to complete answering some unfinished portions of its interrogatory already reported filed and sealed. New Ampex Firm to Supply Speakers REDWOOD CITY, Cal.. Nov. 16. — Ampex Loudspeaker Co. has been formed as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ampex Corp. Alexander M. Poniatoff president of the latter company, stated that the new firm's initial output will consist solely of theatrical loudspeakers, to be manufactured in North Hollywood. Formation of the new company was necessary, said Poniatoff, to fulfill Ampex commitments for the equipping of theatres with multi-directional sound systems used with the new 3-D and wide-screen techniques. 'Sign' Award to 'Lost,' and 'Caesar' Bing Crosby's "Little Boy Lost," currently in its ninth week at the Rivoli 'theatre here, has been named as one of the best pictures of 1953 by the national Catholic monthly, "The Sign." Announcement of "The Sign's" 1953 award and of the presentation of a scroll to producers William Perlberg and George Seaton in honor of their achievement, will be made in the forthcoming December issue. Sharing this 12th annual motion picture award with "Little Boy Lost" was M-G-M's "Julius Ceasar." Para. Gulf Managers In 2-Day Conclave NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 16.— Management, advertising and the new trends in presentation were the principal subjects treated at a two-day convention attended by 32 managers of Paramount Gulf Theatres. Optimism was the keynote of the address delivered by Gaston Dureau, Jr., president, while H. G. Plitt, vicepresident in charge of operations, conducted a management clinic participated in by all delegates, who represented PGT houses in 22 cities. Television-Radio with Pinky Herman, TT'OR centuries puppets have withstood the onslaught of time's ever" changing types of entertainment, including the modern stage, motion pictures, radio and television. In fact, puppets have even found renewed strength and scope in the latter, Bill Baird's puppets, Howdy Doody, Kukla & Ollie, Charlie McCarthy, Mortimer Snerd, Jerry Mahoney, to mention a few. Thus WNBT will introduce a new innovation starting tomorrow when it will bring into use animated puppets to plug its local shows while the call letters are flashed on the screen. Deal was set by Al Stahl, prexy of Animated Productions, Inc. -fr ft Production of commercial films by Desilu Productions will get under way with the arrival from Chicago of the division's new manager-director, R. S. Mulford, former radio-TV manager for Russel Seeds Adv. Agency. . . . After five years of research and musical aptitude study, Fred Waring's Music Workshop has come up with a fine children's music study textbook, "Piano Sessions," which one mother describes as "the greatest thing since the invention of canned baby food." . . . James J. Kriegsmann, w.k. Broadway photographer, has penned a ditty with Carroll Coates titled, "Too Much in Love to Care," which has been waxed on Derby records by Steve Gaynor. And keep your eyes on Steve, who can trill with the best. ft ft ft Watching Sid Caesar's hilarious antics Saturday on Max Liebman's NBClassy "Your Show of Shows," it was hard to believe that the comic had just been discharged from the hospital. Sid's "French double talk" routine is without question one of the funniest bits in TV. . . . The sensational rise to stardom of filmdom's M.M. (Merely Magnificent) has been interestingly chronicled by Joe Franklin and Laurie Palmer in their tome, "The Marilyn Monroe Story," published by Rudolph Field Publications. ... Is MCA-TV planning an "Ed Sullivan" type of TVariety show to be femceed by Hedda Hopper? . . . Ronald Reagan bows into the nite club circuit Dec. 2 when his "R. R. Show" opens an indefinite stay at El Rancho Vegas (Las Vegas). . . . French actress Anne Preville, who'll make her American TV debut next week opposite James Daly in "Foreign Intrigue in Blackmail," was born and educated in California, went to France as a child, was named "Miss France" at the age of 16, naturally was signed for a film career, and in 1939 copped the Rejane prize, annually awarded to the "outstanding young actor in the French film industry." ft ft ft About 400 top agency execs, radio and TV personalities and ladies and gentlemen {ah, there, ye scribes') of the Fourth Estate descended en masse at 1150 Sixth (Ave. of the Americas) Ave. Thursday to help producer Walt Framer formally open his spacious, air-cooled offices. . . . That's a W 'AB Dandy musical that producer Roger Gerry' and director Richard Eckler telecast every Wednesnitc at 10 for the USA-US AAF titled "Stars On Parade." With an orchestra composed of men of the Army and Air Force directed by Elliot Lawrence, top-name guest stars and emceed by Bobby Sherwood, this network program is nothing less than a Du Montage of mirth, melody and make-believe. . . . Gordon MacRae has the inside track as male lead for the ToddAO film version of Rogers & Hammer steins "Oklahoma." . . . Mike Stokey's "Pantomime Quiz," after six years on the air, will leave Hollywood to originate from New York with the Dec. 1 program. Sponsored by Parliament ciggies (alternate weeks), the scries will be telecast live via the Du Mont net and will feature besides Mike Stokey and John Barrymore, Jr., Broadway stars as guest panelists. The Mervyn Framer s have struck it rich with their first little big payoff, a baby girl, Beth Ellen, born last Saturday at the Jamaica Hospital. ft ft ft DOTS ALL . . . Nice work if you can get it, and Tom Moore's GOT it. He will originate his "Ladies Fair" across the board daily NBSeries at Winter Haven, Florida, during the winter. . . . Vincent Lopez and his ork will entertain the Shriners at Pittsburgh, Nov. 23, 24, 25, with Enoch Light's band subbing at the Taft Grill. Sid Caesar Drive-ins Delay Spring Convention DALLAS, Nov. 16.— The spring conference of the International Drive-in Theatre Owners Association has been postponed until completion of construction of the new Statler Hotel here, at which time the entire building will be reserved. Efforts are being made to obtain a TESMA and TED A equipment trade show in conjunction with the convention. Complete Plans For St. Louis Conclave ST. LOUIS, Nov. 16.— Plans for the annual convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of St. Louis, Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois were outlined at a meeting of the board of directors and convention chairmen held at the Sheraton Hotel. An attendance of 500 is expected at the convention, which will be held at the Sheraton Dec. 14-15. Demonstrations of new techniques in 3-D, using one film, and a new theatre television system with RCA equipment are planned. Speakers will include Walter Reade of New York, newly elected president of the TOA; Alfred Starr of Nashville, and Herman Levy of New Haven, general counsel of the TOA. Past president Tom Edwards of Farmington, Mo., will serve as toastmaster. Booths of the "Globe-Democrat" safety campaign and the Red Cross blood donor program will be on display. B&K Still Undecided On Medium for 'Kate' CHICAGO, Nov. 16.— Despite persistent rumors that "Kiss Me Kate" will be shown in 3-D at the Chicago Theatre starting Christmas Day, Balaban and Katz executives say that they still are considering whether to present the film in 2-D or in 3-D. "Julius Caesar" has been booked into the Selwyn Theatre on a two-aday basis starting Christmas Day at road show prices. "The Robe" will open Friday in Champaign, Peoria, and Rockford, 111., and in South Bend, Ind. Majors Sue Florida Two on Percentage BARTOW, Fla., Nov. 16.— Six motion picture companies have filed percentage suits in Circuit Court here against James L. and Julia E. Raulerson, operators of two outdoor theatres, seeking damages of $30,000. The identical complaints of the companies cover the period since 1949. Companies suing are Paramount, Warner, Loew's, RKO Pictures, Columbia and United Artists. HOWARD E. STARK" Brokers and Financial Consultants TELEVISION STATIONS RADIO STATIONS SO E. 58th St., N. Y. EL 5-0405 Specialists to Motion Picture Industry