Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1955)

4 Motion Picture Daily Friday, May 20, 1955 People Larry Lapidus, MassachusettsNew York film buyer for StanleyWarner Theatres, has resigned to join Frank Damas in the drive-in theatre field in New Jersey. Harry Worden, for 35 years in the Boston sales department of MGM and for 30 years in the New England sector, has retired from the company. He started in the industry with the old General Film Co. and for a time sold film for Goldwyn Pictures. In 1920 Marcus Loew hired him to sell for him. n James W. Beach, sales manager of Television Station WBKB, Chicago, has been named director of the ABC-TV network's central di vision. n Marion E. Russell, manager of Eastman Kodak Co.'s color print and processing, will head a U. S. delegation of scientists to a 10nation meeting of photographic experts in Stockholm, Sweden, in June. He sailed for Europe this week. George S. Owen has purchased the Dixieland Drive-in at Opp, Ala., from John Young. Owen operates two other theatres in Opp. Jay Hoffer, formerly promotion manager of WJAR and WJAR-TV in Providence, has joined ABC's advertising, promotion and publicity department in New York. Philip Schwartz has closed his Parkway Drive-in at Bridgeport, Conn. In Tele-Census Poll West Point to See 'To Hell and Back' Following reported enthusiastic response to its new CinemaScope, Technicolor production, "To Hell and Back," at a special preview in the Pentagon, Universal-International has arranged to show the film to the six Army commanders of the United States at the U. S. Military Academy, West Point, on Monday. The film is based on the autobiography of Audie Murphy, most decorated soldier in American history, who plays himself in the screen version of the book. Shaftel and 2 Others Form New Company HOLLYWOOD, May 19.— Joseph Shaftel, producer, today announced the formation of Story Properties, Inc., with himself as president, attorney Arthur B. Sachs vice-president and attorney Edward Mosk secretarytreasurer. The company's first property is the completed film, "No Place to Hide," filmed in the Philippines, with Marsha Hunt and David Brian starred. Toll Televison Proponents Out Front in Los Angeles From ThjE DAILY Bureau LOS ANGELES, May 19.— More than two-thirds of the TV set owners in the Los Angeles area believe that the Federal Communications Commission should approve subscription television, according to the findings of the 13th semi-annual Tele-Census report released here. Tele-Census director Hal Evry pointed out that the question regarding approval of subscription television was included in the latest Tele-Census survey as a result of current FCC consideration, which began early in February. The Commission had asked for comment on subscription television from all interested parties prior to May 9th for their study. The deadline for such comment was extended to June 9. Calls Result 'Significant' "In view of the Commission's exploration of subscription television," Evry said, "it is significant that 67.2 per cent of the survey sample of 2,600 Greater Los Angeles set owners favored FCC approval of subscription television, while only 19.3 per cent thought the Commission should deny approval." Reported also in the 13th TeleCensus was viewer-opinion on the types of programs for which set owners would be willing to pay a $1 subscriber-fee, on a take it or leave it basis, as addition to regular, free TV programs. Included were 1st quality motion pictures, Broadway stage shows and football games of the viewers' own choice. For first-run features, 61.6 per. cent of the survey sample said that they would be willing to pay a $1 per program ; 31.9 per cent would not. If the price of both subscription TV and theatre admission were the same, 59.6 per cent said that they would rather view new pictures at home, in contrast to 18.4 per cent of those surveyed who preferred seeing them in theatres. Evry noted that viewers who said they would pay for first-rate pictures if they were available on TV had increased 2.3 per cent since a similar Tele-Census report a year ago. He stated that there had been a continuing growth of sentiment favoring pay-asyou-see TV reflected in each TeleCensus since 1950. Broadway Shows Popular Los Angeles viewers willing to pay a $1 subscription-fee for TV-delivered Broadway stage shows totaled 61.1 per cent, while 54.7 per cent indicated they would pay for home telecasts of the football games of their choice. Stating that they would not pay for Broadway entertainment were 21.5 per cent, and 32.9 per cent indicated they would not pay for football on TV. The 13th Tele-Census report is one of a series of impartial surveys which have been conducted since 1949 in cooperation with Los Angeles area colleges as a public service. NY Labor Council Opposes Toll TV The Central Trades and Labor Council of Greater New York has gone on record as being strongly oppose to pay-to-see TV and has "urgently requested" every A.F. of L. local union in the New York metropolitan area to write the Federal Communications Commission expressing disapproval of proposed channel allocations to pay-to-see TV. Granting of such approval, the Council said, "would, in our opinion, be in violation of the Federal Communications Act and contrary to the best interests of the citizens of our great country." Martin T. Lacey, president of the Central Trades and Labor Council, and secretary-treasurer James . C. Quinn, announced their organization had voted to endorse City Council Resolution No. 410, introduced by Council president Abe Stark, opposing coin-box TV. Poli Sells Worcester House; to Be Razed HARTFORD, May 19.— As part of its divestiture program, Loew's PoliNew England Theatres, Inc., has sold Hie 2,300-seat Elm St. Theatre, Worcester, Mass., to real estate investors Bertram and Lena Handleman, who plan to demolish the 42,_ear-old structure and erect a multideck parking garage. Sales price was $152,000. France Now Has 5,300 Film Houses WASHINGTON, May 19.— There are now approximately 5,300 motion picture theatres in France, with a seating capacity of about 2,600,000, according to a Commerce Department report. The report, prepared by film chief Nathan D. Golden, put 1953 attendance at 365,700,000, and attendance during the first nine months of 1954 at 264,400,000, slightly behind the 1953 rate. However, Golden said, final statistics are expected to put 1954 attendance slightly ahead of 1953. Exhibitors are complaining, Golden declared, about the low admission prices, frozen at their Aug. 31, 1952, level. Theatre owners are pressing for decontrol of prices, he said, adding that while decontrol is not likely, it is expected that the government will allow a price increase. Loew's State Unveils 52-Foot Monroe Sign A giant 52-foot sign picturing Marilyn Monroe was unveiled yesterday at Loew's State Theatre here, where Miss Monroe's latest picture, "The Seven-Year Itch," will premiere on June 3. More than 3,000 persons gathered in Times Square at noon to watch TV star Roxanne, who makes her film debut in the picture, unveil the sign. The event was covered by TV, newsreel, newspapers and wire service cameramen. Hospital {Continued from page 1) the cost of medical care and treatment of tuberculosis among industry employees and to further advance the work of the hospital's active research laboratories, where a constant search is being made for an anti-tuberculosis vaccine. The campaign augments the annual Will Rogers Hospital Christmas Salutes. Phone Broadcast on June 7 Following the telephone broadcast of June 7, and working up to the campaign week, the distributor-exhibitor organization in all exchange areas will concentrate on securing pledges of cooperation from theatres throughout the nation. A concerted effort will be made to line-up the highest possible participation among drive-ins and conventional theatres. Theatres are asked to run a special appeal trailer, and to take up an audience collection on at least one day during the week of Aug. 15, starting preferably with the new-program day. Herman Robbins, vice-president of the Hospital board, is contributing the facilities of National Screen Service in distributing the special appeal trailers. The telephone broadcast will be heard in the forenoon in the offices of exchange area distributor chairmen, or at places designated by them. The area telephone company will, within the next 10 days, install temporary amplifiers and loud speakers to accommodate the expected large attendance of exhibitors, branch managers, film salesmen and local committees. All Areas Represented A complete listing of exchange area distributor chairmen follows : Albany, R. S. Smith, Warners ; Atlanta, George Roscoe, Columbia ; Boston, J. G. Moore, Paramount ; Buffalo, Ben Felcher, Columbia ; Charlotte, Grover Livingston, Warners ; Chicago, Harry Goldman, United Artists ; Cincinnati, J. S. Ambrose, Warners ; Cleveland, David Rosenthal, United Artists ; Dallas, Louis W eber, Loew's ; Denver, Jack R. Felix, Allied; Des Moines, D. H. Conley, RKO ; Detroit, Joseph B. Rosen, Universal ; Indianapolis, R. L. Conn, 20th Fox ; Jacksonville, Buford Styles, Universal ; Kansas City, Harry Hanburg, Paramount ; Los Angeles, S. Borde, RKO ; Memphis, Nat Wyse, Republic ; Milwaukee, J. G. Kemptgen, Loew's ; Minneapolis, Ralph W. Maw, Loew's ; New Haven, Shepherd Bloom, 24th Fox ; New Orleans, C. J. Briant, Loew's ; New York, D. A. Levy, Universal ; Oklahoma City, Don Tullius, Warners ; Omaha, M. M. Rosenblatt, RKO; Philadelphia, Sam E. Diamond, 20th Fox ; Pittsburgh, Lawrence Seidelman, Republic ; Portland, Wayne Thiriat, Paramount ; St. Louis, T. Williamson, RKO; Salt Lake City, Kenneth O. Lloyd, 2'0th Fox ; San Francisco, Mel Klein, Columbia ; Seattle, Arthur Greenfield, Universal, and Washington, Phil Isaacs, Paramount. 'Marty' Book Tieup A nation-wide book promotion in behalf of United Artists' "Marty," winner of the Grand Prize at the Cannes International Film Festival, has been set with Simon & Schuster. The campaign was designated to boom sales of the book and salute the Hecht-Lancaster production with deoartment store, book shop and public library displays in 65 key cities.