Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1955)

6 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, May 12, 1955 Variety Club Cooperating 'Nickelodeon' Celebration Shaping Up in Pittsburgh PITTSBURGH, May 11. — "Every Man His Own Chairman" is the theme for the nation-wide celebration of the Golden Anniversary of the Nickelodeon, world's first all motion picture theatre, on Sunday, June 19. Around Pittsburgh, where the late John P. Harris, nationally famous showman, founded the Nickelodeon in 1905, independent exhibitors are joining with the Stanley-Warner and Harris theatres in a special observance which will include special programs in all houses throughout the month of June. The Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, together with Pennsylvania Gov. George M. Leader, Mayor David L. Lawrence, and Allegheny County Commissioners John J. Kane, Harry W. Fowler and John M. Walker, will dedicate a new placque at the site of the old Nickelodeon on June 19. Date of Nickelodeon Observance June 19 A little research by the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania has resulted in a change of date for the golden anniversary celebration of the Nickelodeon. The event had been scheduled for June 5 because it had been believed that the late John Harris had opened his first exclusive motion picture theatre on June 5, 1905. However, the Historical Society has come up with the informa Audience Poll (Continued from page 1) one nomination in each of the five categories. A pre-paid postage envelope is enclosed in which the nominating ballot should be mailed. The envelopes are addressed to Price Waterhouse & Co., public accountants, which will tabulate the results. A similar procedure will be followed in subsequent nominations. The names of all pictures and personalities chosen in the three nominating periods will appear on the final ballot to be voted upon by the motion picture public during the annual election from Nov. 17 to 27, inclusive. Press Book Will Follow The brochure also will contain the rules governing the poll, a list of accessories to be made available to exhibitors, comments by industry leaders, and a descriptive account of past regional polls conducted by theatres in the Midwest, South and Rocky Mountain areas. Mailing of the brochure will be followed shortly by the distribution of a press book, which is now in preparation by the COMPO staff. GPE Registers (Continued from page 1) stock. The remaining 32,824 shares together with any unexchanged shares will be purchased from the corporation for public offering by an underwriting group headed jointly by the First Boston Corp. and Tucker, Anthony & Co. The dividend rate and price on the new stock will be determined just prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, expected about May 31. As part of the current financing program, the company expects to call for redemption any unexchanged shares of old non-convertible preferred stock and all outstanding shares of its $2.90 cumulative convertible preferred stock not converted into common stock within the permitted period prior to redemption. Has 21 Subsidiaries A management company, General Precision, controls 21 subsidiaries engaged principally in the design and production of a wide range of highprecision instruments, components and systems for industry and defense. Net proceeds from the sale of the unexchanged shares of new preferred and from the concurrent borrowing of $6,500,000 on a long-term note will be added to working capital out of which $10,000,000 in notes _ outstanding under a revolving credit will be repaid. Variety Club Active The Variety Club of Pittsburgh is arranging a dinner for the occasion and will have as guests a number of former Pittsburghers who gained fame in pictures as well as representatives of 15 Pittsburgh district firms. Arrangements are also under way to hold the world premiere of an important picture as part of the celebration. In every section of the country theatre circuits and independent exhibitors are setting up special programs for the 50th birthday of the first all motion picture theatre in the world. Gov. Victor Anderson of Nebraska has announced he will issue a special proclamation in honor of the occasion. Top Executives Joining Spyros P. Skouras, president of 20th Century-Fox ; Bob O'Donnell, head of the Interstate Circuit in Texas ; Walter Reade, Jr., head of his circuit in New Jersey, and a host of other leading exhibitors from Coast to Coast are joining in the celebration. Since theatre managers generally are deluged with instructions for any promotional campaign, the committee for the Nickelodeon's Golden Anniversary decided, to depart from the usual procedure of outlining a "must" road which the observance is to fol 'Terryscope Jukebox' Developed for Kids Paul Terry, president of Terrytoons, Inc., has developed a 3-D, color entertainment device, "Terryscope Jukebox," which shows 3-D picture stories accompanied by sound and music, it was announced yesterday. The mechanical "kiddie-catcher" is aimed at the child audience when away from home and television and has been installed in "Mighty Mouse Playhouses," jukeboxes that have already been and will be set up in supermarkets and amusement parks. The machines feature adventure stories of Terrytoon characters. The "Terryscope Jukebox" was developed by Terry engineers who worked out a system whereby pictures of his cartoon characters could be shown in 3-D in a slot machine with sound. tion that the theatre was opened on June 19 of that year. For that reason, a change in date for the observance was necessary. low. Instead, as this is to be a promotion for business in each of the houses, it was agreed that each manager and circuit head was the best judge of what type of observance would be most effective in his situation. So each is his chairman to do what he considers is best. Trailer and 40x60 Are Offered For Nickelodeon Celebration Among the promotional items which will aid the celebration of the Golden Anniversary of the Nickelodeon are a trailer and a 40x60 being distributed by National Screen Service. The trailer features four background shots : one of an old-time Nickelodeon, one of a modern luxury theatre and two showing children and families obviously enjoying a film show. The 40x60, developing the theme, "We're Celebrating," stresses "more fun, more entertainment for everyone in the world," and "enjoy your theatre, the best place for entertainment, after all." Para. Executives To See 8 Films Eight completed films and portions of five others will be screened for assembled distribution and production executives of Paramount Pictures at a special sales-merchandising conference which will open Monday at the studio, it was announced yesterday. George Weltner, head of the Paramount worldwide sales organization, will preside over the week-long meeting. Pictures and portions of films which will be screened include "The Seven Little Foys," "We're No Angels," "Ulysses," "To Catch A Thief," "The Girl Rush," "You're Never Too Young," "The Rose Tattoo," "The Desperate Hours," "The Trouble With Harry," "The Court Jester'* "The Vagabond King," "Anything Goes" and "The Ten Commandments." Schenck (Continued from page 1) ture Daily that his company would consider a parley only on an "individual basis." While other companies, with the exception of United Artists and Allied Artists, have not committed themselves in answer to the "reconsideration" bid, it is believed in industry circles that their policies will be the same. This is regarded as making it certain that an all-industry meeting will be discarded. However, TOA and Allied leaders will meet here on May 23 to discuss future strategy and it is expected that the next step will be undertaken by Allied's board of directors which is scheduled to convene in New York the next day. Shor Referred to Reagan Schenck told Shor that the discussion of matters suggested in the latter's telegram earlier this week should be held with Charles Reagan, general sales manager. He said that the company's "Ticket-Selling Workshops" were indicative of M-G-M's recognition of the problems of exhibition as well as its own positive effort to stimulate an increase of business in U.S. theatres. Between 10,000 and 15,000 exhibitors already have attended these Workshops, it was said. Predict $10,000,000 'Brunettes' Gross By LESTER DINOFF United Artists' "first, big, flashy musical production" in CinemaScope and color by Technicolor, "Gentlemen Marry Brunettes" should gross $10,000,000 world-wide, according to independent producers Richard Sale and Robert Bassler, who yesterday said that "high, sales terms would be asked" for the late August release. Sale, Bassler and Mary Loos have returned to this country from Europe where they produced the film in conjunction with the recently-formed Russ-Field Corp. "Gentlemen Marry Brunettes" will gross in the neighborhood of $10,000,000— $6,000,000 domestically and $4,000,000 foreign-wise, according to Sale. "This CinemaScope picture does for Paris what 20th Century-Fox's 'Three Coins in the Fountain' did for Rome, and more so," the producer and his wife, screenwriter Miss Loos, declared. The story was written for the screen by Miss Loos and Sale, who also directed and produced with Robert Waterfield of Russ-Field Corp. Bassler was the executive producer for "Gentlemen Marry Brunettes" which stars Jane Russell, Jeanne Crain, Alan Young, Scott Brady and Rudy Vallee. Planning Two More Sale revealed that his future production plans include two films, "The Biggest Game," which will be filmed in CinemaScope in the Swiss Alps, and "The Rudy Vallee Story." Commenting on subscription television, Sale stated that "I am all for toll-TV as the medium offers a quick monetary return to producers and will stimulate film production." Miss Loos asserted that there is no lack of screen material these days. "All you have to do is pick up a newspaper and there are many ideas in front of you for screen stories," she said. Delay Delinquency Hearing on Films From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, May 11.— A Senate Judiciary sub-committee has put off until midJune or later hearings originally scheduled for the latter part of this month on the effect of motion pictures on juvenile delinquency. Sub-committee officials said a conflict with another planned hearing necessitated the postponement.