Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1955)

2 Motion Picture Daily Monday, January 17, 1955 Golden Years Ahead {Continued from page 1 ) birthrate continued to rise thereafter. There were 3,41 1 ,000 births in 1946, a record up to that time. From 1947 to 1952 the total was 22,471,000, and the estimated number for last year is 4,100,000. THE point of these statistics is that industry research has shown that attendance at motion picture theatres increases through the early age groups until it reaches a peak at age 19. Thereafter, attendance frequency declines. The vast "war baby" group is now in its early 'teens, nearing the years of peak theatre attendance. In addition, the "war babies" are the vanguard of that vastly increased national birthrate which followed upon the war years, and which will keep the annual new motion picture audience potential at record high levels for many years into the future. This spells a golden opportunity for the film industry but it is an opportunity that could be squandered and, even, lost. To realize it requires an uninterrupted flow of suitable quality entertainment, properly presented in clean, comfortable and safe surroundings. It will require special showmanship efforts, and advertising designed for the 'teen-age audience or, better still, the family audience. And all of this must be delivered at a price within the reach of the 'teen-ager's purse. If you have not done so already, now is the time to begin efforts to win that audience. It is the firmest foundation this industry has had to build upon in its ever lengthening history. Personal Mention HOWARD DIETZ, Loew's-M-GM vice-president, has returned to New York from the Coast. Hillis Cass, general sales manager for M-G-M in Canada, and Reginald Wilson, in charge of the 16mm, division for the company in that territory, will arrive in New York tomorrow from Toronto. Vale Parnell, managing director of the Moss Empire Circuit, Ltd., of Great Britain, returned to London from New York yesterday via B. O. A. C. Monarch. Charles C. Moskowitz, Loew'sM-G-M vice-president and treasurer, is scheduled to return to New York today from the Coast. James Velde, United Artists Western division manager, has left New York for St. Louis, Memphis and other cities of the Midwest. Ned Clarke, Walt Disney foreign sales supervisor, left here over the weekend for England and the Continent. • P. T. Dana, Universal Pictures Eastern sales manager, left New York at the weekend for Cleveland and Boston. • Jeanne Crain, her husband, Paul Brinkman, and their four children will arrive here from Europe today aboard the "Liberte." Louis Phillips, Paramount Pictures counsel, left here over the weekend for a vacation in Mexico. Herman Kass, Universal Pictures Eastern exploitation manager, left here yesterday for Boston. • Robert McElwaine, publicity director of Dena Productions, left the Coast Friday for New York. Vance King Heads Nassour Publicity HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 16.— William and Edward Nassour on Friday announced the appointment of V ance King, journalist and former publicity director of Producers Releasing Corp., among others, as publicity director of Nassour studios, Inc. The Nassours have "The Beast of Hollow Mountain" in production for United Artists release. Anderson Rites Today The funeral of Roy Anderson, 27, a member of United Artists playdate department, will be held today at Rouse's Funeral Parlor, St. Albans, Queens. Anderson died suddenly on Thursday at his home. He leaves a wife, Pat, and daughter, Deborah Lee, three months old. Kansas-Missouri Conclave March 2-3 Special to THE DAILY Kansas City, Jan. 16. — M. L. Simons of M-G-M was in Kansas City at the weekend making preliminary arrangements for his part in the annual convention of the Kansas-Missouri Theatre Association. The convention will be held March 2-3 at the Hotel Continental where displays will be set up in the roof garden. The meetings will be on the same floor on March 2. Thursday will be devoted to the "ticket selling workshop" that will be staged by Simons. M. B. Smith of Commonwealth Theatres is chairman for the convention for both drive-in and conventional theatre owners and managers. O'Neill to Coast On H-L Promotions James O'Neill, Eastern publicity representative for Hecht-Lancaster Productions, left for Hollywood over the weekend for conferences with Walter Seltzer, H-L vice-president, concerning forthcoming promotional campaigns for "Marty" and "The Kentuckian," which will be released by United Artists. FJP to Conduct 'Dial-a-Thon' Day The amusement division of Federation of Jewish Philanthropies' 195455 drive will conduct a "Dial-a-Thon Day" at Federation's headquarters here today as a prelude to the division's "Mark of Achievements" luncheon at the Hotel Sheraton Astor on Thursday, it was announced by Adolph Schimel, chairman of the division's participation in this year's campaign. Harry Brandt, chairman of the amusement division's participation last year, and S. H. Fabian will spearhead the group of volunteers participating in the Dial-a-Thon. The "Mark of Achievements" luncheon at which awards will be made to outstanding figures of the entertainment world "whose talents and genius have brought happiness to countless millions," will climax the amusement division's campaign. Recipients of the "Mark of Achievement" awards this year will be Elmer Davis, radio ; Jackie Gleason, television ; Grace Kelly, motion pictures ; Mary Martin, legitimate theatre ; Mitchell Miller, recording industry ; Arthur Schwartz, music world, and a special award for 1954 to Patti McCormack for her performance in "The Bad Seed." Bid for Trade Pact To Be Made Today By Eric Johnston A strong bid by Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, on behalf of an extension of reciprocal trade agreements was forecast here at the weekend at MPAA headquarters. Johnston, it was said, will make the plea in the form of a statement to the House Ways and Means Committee, which convenes in Washington today to consider the administration's proposal for a three-year extension of reciprocal trade agreements. Johnston, currently in the capital, was said to feel that with foreign aid being cut, it is more important than ever for the film industry that reciprocity in trade should be an underlying principle. The MPAA president is due to leave for the Far East on Jan. 23, and will be away for one month. Walton Ament Heads Newsreel Group Walton C. Ament, vice-president of Warner Pathe News, has been named chairman of MPAA's newsreel committee for the ensuing year. The appointment was announced following a special meeting of the committee. Ament succeeds Thomas Mead, editor of Universal Newsreel, who headed the newsreel committee for the past two years. The newsreel committee is composed of Fox Movietone News, M-G-M News of the Day, Paramount News, Universal-International Newsreel and Warner Pathe News. Grainger in Mexico For RKO Sales Meet HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 16.— J. R. Grainger, president of RKO Radio, left here yesterday by plane to attend a sales meeting in Mexico City to be held by Michael Havas, Latin American supervisor, beginning Monday. Walter Branson, world-wide sales manager, intended to meet Grainger in Mexico City but will pass up the sales meeting because of the death of his father last Wednesday in Stanton, Neb. Branson will meet Grainger in Havana for a sales meeting on Friday, which Havas also will attend. From Havana, Grainger will go to New Orleans and Dallas on his way back to Los Angeles. N.E. Heart Award To Rudolph King BOSTON, Jan. 16.— Walter A. Brown, chief barker of the Variety Club of New England, has announced that Rudolph F. King, Massachusetts Registrar of Motor Vehicles, has been unanimously chosen to be the recipient of the "Great Heart Award," presented annually to the individual who is voted the one who has done the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people. King will receive a citation at a banquet to be held in the early spring. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor. Published daily except Saturdays. Sundays and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." Martin Quigley, President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo. J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Raymond Levy, Vice-President; Leo J. Brady. Secretary; Al Steen, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca-Vine Building, Samuel D. Berns, Manager; William R. Weaver, Editor, Hollywood 7-2145: Chicago Bureau, 120 South LaSalle Street, Urben Farley, Advertising Representative, FI 6-3074. Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C. 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