Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1954)

Friday, December 10, 1954 Motion Picture Daily 17 Exhibitors May Have Ally (Continued from page 1) Strike Closes Albany House ALBANY, Dec. 9. — The Grand Theatre here was closed this week when the boothmen supported, by failing' to report for work, the stage workers' union in its dispute with lessee-proprietor Paul V. Wallen over the number of men to be employed, in back of the house. The projectionists had notified Wallen that unless the controversy was settled by noon, they would not come on the job. The four men had passed single pickets stationed in front for eight days. However, their union, Projectionists Local No. 322, lATSE, voted by secret ballot Thursday to stand behind the stage hands, members of Local 14, LATSE, if Wallen did not payroll the long time number of two. He cut to one, in a shiftover that followed the retirement of Henry Harris at the Strand — after 52 years' service. The stagehands had picketed the Grand durmg operating hours, claiming a "lockout." Wallen retorted with a sign that all union employees of the theatre were members in good standing of lATSE. In voting to back up the stagehands, the projectionists' local further pledged that working members would share their shifts with the four Grand men. This meant a reduction in takehome pay, until the dispute was resolved. Jack Kennedy AA Des Moines Mgr. Jack Kennedy has been appointed Allied Artists' Des Moines branch manager, it was announced here by Morey R. Goldstein, general sales manager. Kennedy was Des Moines branch manager for M-G-M until 1948, when he acquired a small circuit of theatres. Kennedy has since disposed of these properties and will now devote all his time to distribution. Charles Elder, who was formerly acting branch manager, will take over the booker's position in the Des Moines branch. 'Six Bridges' World Premiere in Boston Universal-Inter nation al's "Six Bridges To Cross" based on the $2,500,000 Boston robbery and starring Tony Curtis, Julie Adams and George Nader, will have its world premiere at the RKO Memorial Theatre in Boston on Jan. 19 launching a series of openings throughout the New England territory as part of a saturation territorial release of the picture. In addition to the national magazine advertising campaign on the picture which is blanketing for the first time the men's magazine field with 11 "male appeal" publications being utilized, U-I is developing a territorial saturation promotional campaign which will use television, radio, the newspapers and special exploitation and merchandise tie-ups. 'Cruz* for Christmas United Artists' "Vera Cruz," the first picture to be released in the new Superscope widescreen process, will have its world premiere on Christmas Day at the Capitol Theatre here. to help the theatre instead of stealing its manpower, audiences and monetary returns, the stage producers and house owners were generally in accord about not producing plays, which are subject to minute censorship when broadcast, for "a one night stand" on subscriber television, thereby allowing a mass audience to see an opening night performance and eliminating any chance for long-run situations. A question posed by producertheatre owner John Shubert to Leitzell concerning the "one night stand" performance on pay-as-you-see-TV and its value to a house owner was answered v^'ith a hope that if enough product, films and legitimate stage presentations, were available, theatres wouldn't have to worry about the situation. However, Leitzell asserted, at the present time Zenith is making no plans for any financial backing, co-production or production activities so that when Phonevision is in actual operation, there will be enough prodduct for public entertainment. "Zenith is only concerned at present in getting Phonevision into the American home," Leitzell said. Commenting on the proposed cost to television set owners, the Zenith representative said that "the cost of a Phonevision code descrambler should equal the cost of a small radio now being sold. Zenith, once permission is granted by the Federal Communications Commission, hopes to mass produce these decoders so that some 500,000 U.S. homes are equipped within a year." Van Beek, along with Dr. Faught, Grainger (Continued from page 1) Hughes' "Underwater!", which will be released in Superscope. Following the screening. J. H. MacIntyre, Western division sales manager, presided over a discussion of selling plans for the film. Pointing to the unique debut of the Hughes production on Jan. 10, underwater at Silver Springs, Fla., MacIntyre predicted that "this will be one of the most publicized films of recent years." The Angeles meeting, which ends Saturday, will be followed by simultaneous meetings in New York and Chicago, with Grainger presiding at Chicago, Walter Branson in New York. The Friday morning session will be devoted to a screening of "Americano" and in the afternoon sales plans will be discussed for that picture and "Underwater," which Grainger said will carry the biggest budget ever set for the advertising of any RKO picture. Arbitration Meet (Continued from page 1) draft of a system which was prepared by Adolph Schimel, Universal general counsel, and Herman Levy, general counsel of the Theatre Owners of America, who were designated to draw up a tentative formula for the industry. No exhibitor representatives will attend today's meeting. insisted that product would be in abundance once Phonevision is in operation, but the stage producers, many of whom seek outside financial support in order to stage a play or musical, were concerned about obtaining backing for plays to be performed only once. Faught, at this point, said that the financial return, in many instances, from a "one night stand" would be enormous, thereby allowing producers to more or less go into mass production of plays and films with profitable results. Censorship a Factor The problem of censorship entered the discussion and one producer stated that of the 30-odd plays and shows now on Broadway, only about two are suitable for broadcast under current FCC regulations. Also, he asked, who would select the plays and films to be presented over Phonevision when it is in operation? The Zenith representatives answered that "no system has been set up for program procurement but it is expected that the local TV station and sponsor would select the show." According to Herman Levin, president of the League of New York Theatres and a well-known producer, Phonevision can be a stimulant to the theatres. "The potential return to the theatres, both in financial terms and in terms of increased interest in the theatre throughout the country, might result from permitting the televising of the first nights of certain productions on a home subscription basis," Levin said. The producers at the Sardi's meeting were also shown a film which depicted the so-called "box-office in the home." Schine Witnesses (Continued from page 1) courtroom cleared of witnesses in • a response to a request from Joseph E. AIcDowell, government attorney, and joined by defense attorney Frank G. Raichle. In making the request McDowell said he feared "danger of recollections being altered if witnesses hear each other." Innocent pleas were entered for the defendants, one of whom, Elmer F. Lux, president of Elmart Theatres, Inc., was excused from attendance. His attorney explained he is in Buffalo General Hospital. Opening the government's case, McDowell said proof will be presented that the defendants have continued "the abusive and predatory practices found by the court and that failure to divest themselves of theatres" is the result of a "stubborn, continued determination to maintain control of theatre exhibitions in scores of towns." Merchants Reopen (Continued from page 1) chants' organization to the theatre. The Harber, a Cooper Foundation house, closed this week with the explanation that a shortage of first run product made it impossible to book the house properly for the next several weeks. The Warner Theatre here, a Stanley Warner operation, also closed last week with a similar explanation. It plans to reopen Dec. 22. The Harber will reopen Dec. 25. 'U' Drive (Continued from page 1) sales drive climaxed four days of meetings during which the U-I executives reviewed production, distribution and promotion plans for 1955 which the company aims to make its fifth record-breaking year in a row, Daff said. Thirteen pictures, most of which were screened for the sales and promotion executives, will be released during the four months of the Feldman drive period. More than $36,000 will be distributed in prizes in the Feldman sales drive to the company's domestic division, district branch and office managers, salesmen and bookers for the best billing results achieved during the drive period. In addition to the over-all prize money, the branch managers will vie for a "man of the week" award in the form of a special gift from one of the company's top stars. District Meetings to Follow With the announcement of the Feldman sales drive, for the third year in a row named in honor of Universal's vice-president and general sales manager, the business sessions of the week-long sales conference concluded. The division sales managers, F. J. A. McCarthy, P. T. Dana and Foster M. Blake will leave Hollywood over the weekend to start a week of district sales meetings in San Francisco, St. Louis, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Chicago, Cleveland and Boston with their district managers, branch managers and salesmen participating. A promotion executive is scheduled to attend each of these seven meetings to outline promotional plans on the pictures to be released during the Feldman Drive. Paramount (Continued from page 1) studio with many of the technical aspects of picture-making integrated into the production and will give motion picture audiences an "inside view" of Hollywood, never before seen on the screen, Schwalberg said. Five hundred prints will be made of the featurette which will be handled through division managers and supported by an extensive advertising campaign. It was decided to give "Paramount Presents Vista Vision" to the theatres following its approval when it was screened at the international promotion coordination meeting being held this week at the Paramount's studio. The productions shown in the featurette are: Irving Berlin's "White Christmas," Alfred Hitchcock's "To Catch a Thief," "Strategic Air Command," "The Far Horizons," Hitchcock's "The Trouble with Harry," "The Seven Little Foys," Pine-Thomas' "Run For Cover," "We're No Angels," Pine-Thomas' "Lucy Gallant," and Hal Walhs' "Three Ring Circus." Introduced by Y. Frank Freeman, who said "The Ten Commandments" is "needed by the world" and "will take its place in history," De Mille screened footage from the picture for the delegates. Describing the footage as "merely background against which the story of Moses will be told," he said, "the scale of production you have witnessed will be dwarfed by the theme and stature of the subject which symbolizes unity and the spirit of brotherhood."