Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1954)

Thursday, July 22, 1954 Motion Picture Daily 3 Baltimore Improvement {Continued, from page 1) NYC 3% Tax (Coniimied from page 1) suspense moiuiting on both sides as they awaited Supreme Court Justice Nicholas M. Pette's decision on the issue, legal opinion became divided as to whether the mere filing of a notice of appeal by the city would stay the injunction. Injunction May Stay Tax The City Corporation Counsel, according to Buchsbaum, feels that such filing, if the injunction goes into effect, will stay it. However, according to Bress, attorneys for the theatres feel that section 571 deals primarily with security on appeal and would not stay an injunction, since in this case, it is claimed that the city is in violation of a state law and a New York city statute. Bress said, if need be, an appeal by either side may be taken to the Appellate Division, second department, should they be dissatisfied with the ruling of the Supreme Court. Academy (Continued from, page 1) are compensated." The Brackett statement explains that these include the use of the Academy Theatre for previews. "Temporary budget difficulties were created mainly by capital expenditures necessary for the installation of new vi'ide-screen equipment, stereophonic sound equipment and air conditioning the auditorium. An approximate $160,000 was spent before the Academy Awards voting last winter so that the Academy could present 1953 pictures in their proper sound and aspect ratios," the statement said. UHF Problems {Continued from page 1) affirmed its earlier stand that the 10 per cent Federal excise tax should be removed from TV sets capable of receiving UHF as well as HF signals. Chances are that these are the only actions the subcommittee will take this session as the result of its hearings. ^Egyptian' Exhibits Reach 500,000 Mark Attendance at the 20th Century-Fox "Egyptian" traveling exhibits has reached the half -million mark as the trans-continental tour of the dual exhibition trucks to the North-Central and Southern states met with acceptance from the public, the company announced yesterday. Latest stops were in Richmond, Va. and Syracuse, N. Y. Reports from all cities reached by the tour show the exhibit being visited by an average of 20,000 to 25,000 persons a day with larger groups being reached through personal appearances and TV and radio appearances by the "Egyptian" hostesses traveling with the show. *U' Florida Changes JACKSONVILLE, Fla., July 21.— Buford Styles, Ulniversal-International branch manager here, has announced the following personnel changes : Oliver Matthews has been promoted to head booker ; Barbara Greenwood and Garret Newman have joined the booking department ; Jacqueline Vaughn and Flonia Lea Currie have joined the secretarial staff of the booking department. Students Ordered to See M-G-M's 'Suite' SOUTH ORANGE, N. J., July 21. — Dr. Austin Murphy, dean of the School of Business Administration at Seton Hall University here, has instructed all graduate students of the advanced course in the graduate business program concerning the function and responsibilities of top level executives, to see "Executive Suite" as a requirement for passing the course. Dr. Murphy's course, Executive Policies and Decision Making, provides for three credits in the five week term. After the students see the picture, they must report back to Dr. Murphy in order to get credit. Drive-Ins {Continued from page 1) ment agencies such as the Census Bureau, Library of Congress and Department of Health, Education and Welfare ; books by private authors and publishers about the film industry ; trade directories, such as the Motion Picture and Television Almanac ; trade journals, including Motion Picture Daily and Motion Picture Herald ; and trade associations. The pamphlet is described as business service Bulletin No. 40. Selznick in BostonPhone Interview BOSTON, July 21. — Producer David O. Selznick will meet the Boston film critics tomorrow via coast-tocoast telephone interviews at the Hotel Bradford here m order to discuss the forthcoming re-release of "Duel In The Sun." Selznick, who is in Hollywood, will talk with Elinor Hughes, Boston Herald ; Alta Maloney, Boston American ; Prunella Hall, Boston Post ; Mary X. Sullivan, Boston Advertiser ; Leo Gaffney, Boston Record, and Edwin Melvin, Christian Science Monitor. Representatives of the Yankee television and radio network will transcribe the proceedings. Zukor to Sell 1st Ticket to * Window' Adolph Zukor, board chairman of Paramount Pictures, today will sell the first ticket to the Aug. 4 world premiere of Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window" at special ceremonies in front of the Rivoli Theatre, where the premiere will be held. The premiere will benefit the American-Korean Foundation, and today's ceremonies at the theatre will mark the opening there of a two-week prepremiere lobby exhibit of Korean art, ceramics and handicraft. Set Canadian Golf Meet TORONTO, July 21. — The third annual Canadian Motion Picture Golf Championships will be held on Aug. 12 at the St. Andrew's course here, under the auspices of the Canadian Picture Pioneers. New AA Title "The Human Jungle" is the final title for Alhed Artists' "The Police Story." motion picture theatre owners would be benefitted if a reasonable distribution procedure might be established and if there could be more regularity in release of pictures, particularly to sub-run houses. He further stated that the 'alleged' shortage of prints is interfering greatly with the orderly release of pictures and mentioned these situations and obstacles in the complete recovery of the motion picture business. Improved Business Striking another note in tune with Back's comments, Stanley Baker, general manager of the Hicks Theatres of Baltimore, said he finds business improved. _ He went on to state that, in his opinion, people are beginning to grow restless with watching television and that the industry has come out at just the right time with its giant screens, improved sound, new projection equipment and other innovations favorable towards luring film fans into the theatre again. "It's also important to note," said Baker, "the pictures are better and thats' the word being passed around. There's a lot of value in word-ofmouth advertising and the public has started speaking favorably once more Fox Slates 24-Sheet ^Egyptian' Campaign Darryl F. Zanuck's CinemaScope production "The Egyptian" will employ a 24-sheet billboard campaign, the largest in 20th Century-Fox history, the company amiounced. The film will open nationally for Labor Day. The campaign, which will utilize 3,500 posters placed in and around 51 key cities will be concentrated on large urban _ centers as well as their surrounding communities. Consisting of 100 per cent showings in major cities, the campaign will include regular as well as illuminated boards, with a posting period running for an entire month starting in midAugust and continuing into September. ^Bulldog Drummond' Features to TV Eight "Bulldog Drummond" features have been acquired by Governor Television Attractions for TV sales from Congress Films, it was announced by Arthur Kerman, president of Governor. The films were made by Paramount in the 1930's. In addition. Governor has acquired the TV distribution rights to a large group of features and short subjects from Moe Kerman's Regal Television Pictures Corp. The group consists of 45 Hal Roach features, 52 Laurel and Hardy comedies, 80 Charley Chase two-reelers and 300 miscellaneous shorts. M'G-M Buys 'Tea' HOLLYWOOD, July 21. — "Tea and Sympathy," Broadway stage hit, has been purchased for the screen by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, it was announced by Dore Schary, studio production head. Pandro S. Berman has been assigned to produce the picture but the director and stars , have not yet been selected. There's a chance that Deborah Kerr, the play's original star, and Elia Kazan, its director, will reunite for the film version. of the films that are being released now and of those heralded for the near future. Theatregoers are regaining their confidence in the screen attractions." A third exhibitor, head of a Baltimore chain, stated : "Business is slowly nsmg." He is Meyer Leventhal, vice-president and general manager of the Philip J. Scheck Enterprises, who admits he has "seen the movies grow from their nickelodeon days." "Statistics show that Baltimore is near the top of the list with homes that have television sets. Consequently, this city will be slower in getting back to normal where theatre business is concerned. But, people are getting over the TV-jitters and going back to theatres. Hopes for Better Films "I_ wish that Hollywood would stop making what is known as 'quickies' and devote its entire time and effort to better stories and finer quality pictures. They are improved to a great extent now and that's what is helping confidence among the movie-goers. But we must remefnber, we can't fool the puWic; better pictures will mean better business, such as it has, in a slow rise, recently." Adding 2 Units to MGM Cartoon Staff HOLLYWOOD, July 21.— Following the annual mass vacation of the MGM cartoon studios, Aug. 27 to Sept. 20, two additional units will be added to the present production staff, Fred Quimby, cartoon producer, announced today. The demand for additional product in CinemaScope is responsible for the increase, Quimby said. "Touche Pussy Cat," "Brave Little Mousketeer," "Pete Peeve" and "Southbound Duckling" are new CinemaScope cartoon subjects now in work. _ The new units will resume production on the "Droopy" and "Barney Bear" series, both of which were held in abeyance during the filming of a "Sinbad the Sailor" sequence for the feature musical, "Invitation to the Dance," starring Gene Kelly. This sequence will be completed before the cartoon staff leaves for its vacation. Peckham Re-Elected HOLLYWOOD, July 21. — Ralph Peckham, business agent of the Motion Picture Set Painters, Local 729, lATSE, was re-elected by a vote of 289 to aggregate 80 for all opposing candidates. Peckham is co-chairman of the committee supporting Roy M. Brewer in his campaign for the lATSE international presidency. Ascap's Ball Team Joins Music League ASCAP has organized a softball team and has joined the league here composed of various music organizations. The team, managed by Hank Hofschuster, will make its initial appearance next Tuesday at the 62nd St. diainond in Central Park where it will play the team representing Columbia Records.