Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1955)

Thursday, April 7, 1955 Motion Picture Daily 3 People George Smith has heen named manager of the Colonial Theatre, Hartford, succeeding Carroll J. Law ler, who has left the Hartford Theatres Circuit. Lawler, at one time with Shea Enterprises, New York, did not disclose his future plans. n Robert I. Kronenberg and Associated Artists Productions have completed a deal by which he will handle the television distribution of AAP's entire catalog of films in the Far West area. n Dr. Julian H. Webb, associate head of the physics division at Kodak Research Laboratories, has been awarded the 1954 Progress Medal of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain for his research work in the photographic field. n Larry Shayne has been appointed professional manager of Northern Music, a Decca subsidiary which has been reactivated as a full-scale publishing operation. n Howard J. "Buddy" Robbins has been named to the post of general professional manager of Columbia Pictures Music Corp. n Lucille Z. Alexander, who has been with Movietone News in Chicago for 20 years, is leaving Film Row to marry Taylor E. Richardson of Trenton, N. J., on April 30. They will live in Trenton. n John Parsons of the Telenews Theatre in San Francisco has taken over the Piedmont Theatre in Oakland from the Hardy interests. n Ronald Megown has been appointed assistant manager of Loew's Ohio Theatre in Columbus. He formerly managed the McDonald Theatre, McDonald, Pa. Says Army Clearance Still Not Finalized The subject of film clearances for Army-Navy theatres is still not finalized and would require at least one or two more meetings, according to Morey Goldstein, chairman of the sales managers committee of the Motion Picture Association of America. "Despite reports, nothing has been decided as to a formula by which films are to be made available to military theatres," Goldstein said. The Allied Artists vice-president and general sales manager will report today to the MPAA sales head group on his recent talks with the Department of Defense. Another topic on the sales group's agenda is the children's film library, Goldstein said. France, Italy Sign New Film Agreement PARIS, April 3 (By Air Mail). — A new Franco-Italian agreement has been signed which will extend film cooperation between the two countries until Dec. 31, 1957. The exact terms of the agreement have not as yet been published but it is known that they differ from previous co-production agreements. The French, over the past year or so, have shown some dissatisfaction. French films have suffered, production has fallen and the co-productions, while developing rapidly, have not always been of first class quality. Under the new agreement there are likely to be fewer co-productions but the quality and the standard should be very high. There are also certain technical differences between previous agreements and the new one. These differences are primarily financial. Films for Young Stressed Greater attention will be paid to films for the young. At the moment neither country is producing films oi this type and it is evident to both that the present trend toward violence and passion, even when at a high artistic level, is not good for youth or children. It is likely, therefore, thai both countries will work out coproduction plans for special films for youth. Finally, an exchange of documentaries is also included in the agreement. This is considered very important as these short films have been treated as poor relations in both countries. Patrons Can Dictate Material: Chulack ST. LOUIS, April 6. — William K. Chulack, director and producer, told a father-and-daughter banquet of Notre Dame High School here, that morals of motion pictures are no better than those of the patron. "If they will, Catholics can dictate the ethics and morals of the screen by using their power of discretion in attending shows," he declared. "When the industry's self-imposed codes are violated by producers, the public should protest and let it be known that it objects." Chulack who started with Warner Brothers in 1942 stated that the story of the decent people in Hollywood is never told because sensationalism attracts publicity and many good persons live almost obscure lives. He emphasized that the "box office has proved a picture doesn't have to be dirty or vile to be a success" and that the big money-makers of all times generally possess family appeal and are morally all right. Mo. Exhibitors File Anti-Trust Action ST. LOUIS, April 6— Earl E. and Pauline Williams, owners of the Venita Theatre, Herculaneum, Mo., have filed an anti-trust action, seeking $300,000 treble damages, against 10 distributors and Miller Theatres, Inc., operating theatres in Festus and Crystal City and others in St. Louis County. The petition charged that the plaintiffs were forced to close their theatre in June, 1952, because of the alleged refusal of the distributors to grant them first-run product. Segregation Bill Killed in Missouri JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., April 6. — The House Judiciary Committee of the Missouri General Assembly has voted to kill a bill to end racial segregation in Missouri's public places (theatres, hotels, restaurants, sports arenas, baseball parks and other places of amusement). The vote was 13 to 6 to kill the bill which was sponsored by the four Negro members of the House of Representatives. Announce Changes In Hamrick Circuit SEATTLE, April 6. — Will J. Conner, executive vice president of Hamrick's Theatres, announced that Douglas J. Forbes has been named Seattle city manager for Hamrick Theatres. Forbes was named to take over the work of the late Herbert B. Sobottka. Forbes has been booking pictures for the circuit since 1942, a job he will continue in his new position. He started his theatre career in 1928 as personal secretary to John Hamrick, and has remained with the organization without interruption. Promoted to the position of assistant city manager is Cass Smith, who has managed the Music Hall and the Orpheum. Other changes include Nick Furfaro, who will leave the Music Hall to operate the Orpheum; Clint Wineholt, who will become manager of the Liberty, the Blue Mouse and the Music Box, and Will Hudson will come from Hamrick's Tacoma house to manage the Music Box and the Blue Mouse in Seattle. 'Peter* Print Given To National Archives WASHINGTON, April 6.— A full length CinemaScope print of "A Man Called Peter" has been presented to the National Archives in the nation's capital, to honor the memory of the late Rev. Peter Marshall, former Chaplain of the United States Senate and pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church here. Mrs. Catherine Marshall, his widow, and author of the book, acting for Twentieth Century-Fox, producers of the film, presented the print to Sen. Alexander Wiley, of Wisconsin, who then turned it over to Dr. Wayne C. Grover, Archivist of the United States, for permanent keeping in the National Archives. Penn. Circuit Wins Anti-Trust Suit PHILADELPHIA, April 6.— Treble damages totalling $1,275,000 plus costs and attorney fees were awarded to Norris Amusement Co. in its suit against major distributors. The verdict was given by a jury in tire U. S. District Court for the Eastern district of Pennsylvania. The trial lasted seven weeks. The action involved the alleged right of Sablosky's Norristown theatres to play on national release with Philadelphia. The jury's decision, in effect, held that Norristown and Philadelphia were not in substantial competition and that there should be no clearance between them. Kansas (Continued from page 1) and Virginia, and in numerous municipalities throughout the country. Since the last U. S. Supreme Court decision narrowing the field of film censorship and raising the question of its Constitutionality some of the states having censor boards have been exploring means of drafting new legislation to strengthen the legal status of the boards. Signature Seen Unlikely Despite the fact that no such efforts have been undertaken to give a new legal bulwark to Kansas' board, observers here are not too hopeful that the bill to end the board's existence will get the Governor's signature tonight. They feel that had he intended to sign the measure he would not have waited until the last minute to do so and, hence, are of the opinion that his inaction means he intends to let the measure die. 3-D Pictures (Continued from page 1) films, he said, as long as the supply doesn't get too big. It was the flow of poor three-dimensionals that killed the demand for such product, he said. Meanwhile, Universal reports that more than 200 theatres have asked for 3-D versions of "Creature." While a "revival" of 3-D is not anticipated on a large scale, periodic productions could be regarded as a "tonic," it was said. B.O. in Canada (Continued from page 1) however, that the situation is not "dangerous." TV in Canada, he forecast, will have a similar effect at the box-office as it did in the U.S., but not as serious or as long. Business in Canada was described as very good by Rosen. He predicted that there would be some Canadian production, backed up by Canadian money, in another year. North Central Area Mulling Giveaways Theatres in the North Central territory may revive the "giveaway" type of programs in an effort to boost rapidly declining attendance, according to William R. Frank, producer of "Sitting Bull" and a Twin Cities exhibitor. Even though film grosses have been good, mainly because of the advanced admission prices and the relief from the Federal tax, the attendance figures have dropped sharply, Frank pointed out. Frank, who will leave for Europe this month to tour and lecture in conjunction with the openings of his GnemaScope production, "Sitting Bull," a United Artists release, said that "exhibitors in the area may reinstall the giveaway type of program which was so successful a number of years ago. It may become a trend once again." Hirsch Joins Armstrong Melvin L. Hirsch has joined the A. J. Armstrong Co., Inc., here, commercial financing company, as managing executive in charge of the motion picture and television financing department.