Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1955)

Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, March 15, 1955 Personal Mention ARTHUR M. LOEW, head of Loew's International, is in Hollywood from New York. • Sir Carol Reed, director ; Liam O'Brien, writer, and James Hill, producer, will arrive in New York from Hollywood today on their way to Europe. • Mori Krushen, United Artists exploitation manager, will leave here today for Chicago, Indianapolis and Milwaukee. • Herman Kass, . Universal Pictures Eastern exploitation manager, was in Philadelphia yesterday from New York. • Steve Broidy, president of Allied Artists, left Hollywood yesterday for Dallas. William B. Zoellner, head of M-G-M shorts and newsreel sales, will leave here tomorrow for Detroit. • Si Fabian, president of Stanley Warner Theatres, and Mrs. Fabian, are in Miami Beach from New York. • Bryan Michie, London talent agent, is scheduled to arrive here today from London via B.O.A.C. • Ilya Lopert, president of Lopert Films, will arrive in New York by plane today from Europe. • Sam Zimbalist, producer, will leave New York today for Jamaica, B.W.L, via B.O.A.C. • Mrs. Darryl F. Zanuck has left New York by plane to join her husband in Europe. e Irving Mack, president of Filmack Corp., and Mrs. Mack are in Miami from Chicago. Irving H. Ludwig, Buena Vista sales manager, left here yesterday for Cleveland. SAG Okays Pact for Filmed Commercials HOLLYWOOD, March 14. — The membership of the Screen Actors Guild, in a mail referendum, has voted 2,600 to 43 in approval of a recentlycompleted contract covering actors, singers, announcers and puppeteers in filmed television commercials, the Guild announced here today. The organization now is preparing to open negotiations with the producers of TV entertainment films. Fritz Hugh Thomas, 53 HUNTSVILLE, Ala., March 14. — ■ Fritz Hugh Thomas, 53, general manager of the Lyric Amusement Co., was stricken with a heart attack and died' iff a hospital in "Sarasota, Fla. Survivors include a son, F. H. Thomas. Theatre Liquor Bill For Legitimate Only Special to THE DAILY BUFFALO, Mar. 14.— State Senator Stanley J. Bauer defends his theatre liquor bill against attacks, which, he charges, are "based on ignorance of the proposed law." Bauer's bill now in committee of the legislature, would allow legitimate theatres — not motion picture houses — to sell alcoholic beverages during intermission, and for one-half hour before and after performances, he says. Bauer declared he believed the Erie County Restaurant & Liquor Dealers Assn., whose members the other day unanimously resolved themselves opposed to the bill, had the impression the measure would affect film houses, too. Fears a Precedent Association president Joseph P. Kross admitted some members may have had that impression, but he declared he personally was against the bill anyway. If live-drama theatres get liquor licenses, he charged, the picture house will be next to ask, and will have precedent for their request. TNT Sets TV Plans For Marciano Bout The Rocky Marciano-Dan Cockell heavyweight championship fight scheduled for May 16 will be presented coast-to-coast via closed circuit television by Theatre Network Television, it was announced here by James D. Norris, president of the International Boxing Club ; Nathan L. Halpern, TNT president, and promoter Jimmy Murray. The title bout will originate from Kezar Stadium in San Francisco and through the facilities of TNT will be projected in theatres around the country. The entire state of California will be blacked out. The last Marciano title defense, at the Yankee Stadium here, was presented by TNT in theatres in 71 cities. English, U pstate N.Y. Exhibitor, Dies ALBANY, March 14. — Funeral services were held in Hancock yesterday for Harvey English, 55, owner of the Capitol in that village and operator of theatres in five other New York and Pennsylvania communities. He died on March 10 of heart disease, a recently-broken wrist being reported here as a possible contributing cause. A graduate of Syracuse University, English served as a school principal before entering the exhibition field more than 25 years ago. He operated in northern Pennsylvania as well as on the New York side of the border, and in the Catskill Mountains. English was mayor of Hancock for several terms. A delegation from Film Row attended the funeral services. Sohottka Killed SEATTLE, March 14. — Herbert B. Sobottka, 51, executive manager of the John Hamrick Theatres, was killed in an auto accident yesterday. C'Scope Policy Up At European Meet From THE DAILY Bureau LONDON, March 14. — CinemaScope policy will be a prominent item of discussion at the meeting of the Union Internationale de l'Exploitation Cinematographique in Paris on April 20, 21 and 22. CEA's general secretary, W. R. Fuller, and treasurer, E. J. Hinge, will attend this meeting. CEA's technical adviser, Dr. Leslie Knopp, told delegates that he was informed that 20th-Fox CinemaScope subjects were available in America showing at 1.75:1; whereas they were not available in this country. They were also informed that an official enquiry on the matter had recently been addressed to American exhibitor associations but that no reply had yet been received. CEA's officers were instructed to seek interviews with MGM, Warner Brothers and 20th Century-Fox. Kodak People Share Record Dividend ROCHESTER, N. Y. March 14.— About 51,400 Kodak men and women in the United States shared today an estimated $28,300,000 wage dividend, the largest ever distributed by the Eastman Kodak Co. Eligible persons receive $28.75 for each $1,000 earned at Kodak during the five years 1950 through 1954. The wage dividend plan, begun 43 years ago, recognizes the part Kodak people have played in the success of the company, it was stated. A year ago the total dividend payment in the United States was approximately $24,900,000 at a rate of $27.75 per $1,000 earned at Kodak during the period 1949-53. This was the previous record payment. Cambridge Planning Florida Production MIAMI, March 14.— James L. Nisbett, executive producer of Cambridge Productions of Florida, has announced that his company has purchased Pentagon Films, Inc., of California, which was capitalized for $1,000,000 in 1949. Cambridge plans to finance independent motion picture and TV productions and to produce from three to six feature films annually in addition to a number of varied television properties for syndication. Plans for a modern studio were completed in Hollywood recently by Rudi Feld, art director and designer. Discussions have been under way for some time concerning a south Florida location for the proposed studios. Phila. Bans Pupils From Seeing 'Jungle' PHILADELPHIA, March 14. — "Blackboard Jungle," MGM's picture on juvenile delinquency, is hitting tough sledding here before its opening at the Arcadia on March 25. The Board of Education has refused to allow school children to see the picture. Furthermore, the police have rejected an offer by Ed Gallner, Loew's press and publicity representative, to see a screening of the film. N. Y. Firemen Bill Clarified Special to THE DAILY ALBANY, N. Y., March 14.— Clarification of provisions of Sen. Joseph R. Marro's bill calling for the use of firemen and policemen in theatres reveal a differentiation in the duties of members of the two municipal departments. Policemen would be detailed to any person, firm or corporation for the purpose of "escorting employees carrying checks, currency, specie or; other forms of money for payroll purposes." This section could cover cerl tain situations in the film industry, but the bill was not drafted with motion picture houses specifically in mind. Fireman for Theatres That portion of the measure dealing with firemen, however, has direct application to theatres of various types. It states that the commissioner or other head of any paid fire department of a municipal corporation "may detail not to exceed two members of thej uniformed fire department to eacfl and every place of amusement or entertainment to which the public is' admitted, whenever machinery or scenery are in use and one or more persons participate in the actual performance of a play, show or other type of entertainment." The commissioner or department head may further "detail as many ad-j ditional members of such department as he may deem necessary for duty] in any place of amusement or entertainment at which any play, show oa other performance is witnessed by] 6,000 or more person's in any 24-hour period." Duties Outlined "It shall be the duty of all members of such department detailed to such duty," heads the bill, "to guard against fire, to take charge and con^j trol the employees of such place ofj amusement or entertainment, during each public performance therein, in guarding and protecting the occupants against all fire hazards." Payments would be made to properly designated officials, who woulc re-route the money to fire or police pension funds or retirement systems, where "actuarially sound" funds anc systems are maintained. The measure, which exempts charitable performances, would take effect immediately. Referral was to the Senate Committee on Affairs of Cities. NEW YORK THEATRES _RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL Rockefeller Center 'HIT THE DECK" in Cinemascope and Color starring Jane Tony Debbie Walter J •POWELL MARTIN REYNOLDS PIDGE0N1 Vic Gene Ann Russ J DAMONE RAYMOND MILLER TAMBLYN An M-G-M Picture and SPECTACULAR STAGE PRESENTATION 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-Fresident; lheo. J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Raymond Levy, Vice-President; Leo T. Brady, Secretary; Al Steen, News Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; Hollywood Bureau, YuccaVine Building, Samuel D. Berns, Manager; William R. 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