Motion Picture Daily (Apr-June 1956)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY )L. 79. NO. 66 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 1956 TEN CENTS en jamin Berger fees Solution o Issues Via loundtables' ills Mich. Convention nily'' Can Force It Special to THE DAILY DETROIT, April 4.-The ultimate ition to industry trade practices 1 come through the "unity of j [j ibitors forcing roundtable discuses at top els" between ,dbition and jS t r i bution. |t i s opinion ,s expressed e tonight by j.ijamin Ber, chairman A 1 1 i e d' s lergency Deise Commit, at the ban1 e t at the h annual tvention o f ied Theatres of Michigan, admitting that AUied was asking igress to inaugurate legislation {Continued on page 6) Presidents9 Meeting Reaches Permit Accord Virtual agreement on the definition of an American film, needed for calculating the world formula for the division of foreign permits, was said to have been reached at yesterday's meeting of company presidents and their representatives. On minor points, representatives of one or two film companies said they would need further clearance before acknowledging formal agreement on the issue. TV-Film Agencies In Dispute Over Olympic Coverage By JACK EDEN A charge that TV interests in the U. S., Canada and Great Britain are "ganging up and using pressure tactics to obtain free film rights" to the November Olvmpic Games in Australia was hurled yesterday by William K. Hughes of Melbourne, (Continued on page 6) Aggressive Front Before SSBC DistributorsPlanning Defense and Offense Will Seek to Refute Exhibitors' Charges, Also Present Grievances of Their Own Benjamin Berger Foundation Leases Buffalo's Erlanger Special to THE DAILY BUFFALO, April 4.-The Erlanger Theatre's future as a haven for Broadway attractions was assured today by the formation of "Foundation for the Preservation of the Legitimate Theatre of Western New York" which has [Continued on page 6) By J. A. OTTEN WASHINGTON, April 4.— Distributors who will take the stand before the Senate Small Business sub-committee currently looking into exhibitors' complaints against distribution practices are expected not only to answer charges and complaints made by exhibitors in testimony before the committee, but also to come up with some complaints of their own against exhibitors. This emerged yesterday after subcommittee counsel Charles Noone and Jack Flynn spent most of the day meeting with Adolph Schimel, chairman of the Law Committee of the Motion Picture Association of America in New York. Schimel, representing the distributors, was briefed by Noone and Flynn on the areas in which subcommittee members would like information from the distributors, when their representatives take the stand (Continued on page 2) erman Trade Girds or Contest With TV From THE DAILY Bureau iOLLYWOOD, April 4. The rman film industry, competing h only 400,000 television sets at : time, but with more than a mili expected by the year's end, will r not to make the same mistakes" American film industry made in listing to TV competition, Dr. ion Schelkopf, official representa( Continued on page 6 ) Bollengier Named Magna Treasurer The appointment of A. E. Bollengier as vice president and treasurer of Magna Theatre Corp., succeeding Malcom Kingsberg recently resigned, was announced yesterday. As a certified public accountant, he began his career with the firm of Price, Waterhouse & Co. in 1936, and stayed with it until 1942, having served as independent auditor of major Hollywood studios. Upon his discharge from the U. S. Army Signal Corps, Bollengier joined Universal Studios and served as studio comptroller until 1947. He joined Eagle Lion as treasurer and served there from 1947 to 1949. Thereafter he was with the Hal Roach Studios as treasurer until 1951. During the years from 1951 to (Continued on page 6) Only 25% Response to Own Survey TOA Requests SBC to Poll Exhibitors on Trade Issues ai swerdiove Dies; N.E. Distributor Broidy to Outline AA Product Plans Today From THE DAILY Bureau CHICAGO, April 4.-Allied Artists' president Steve Broidy will outline the company's future plans tomorrow at AA's national three-day sales convention at the Blackstone Hotel here. Morey R. Goldstein, vice-president and general sales manager, will discuss release plans for forthcoming AA (Continued on page 6) anteen Benefits by liracle' Showing i full house at Loew's State Thei here last night paid tribute both Warner Brothers' "Miracle in the n" and to the Cathedral Canteen, ich received the proceeds from the lefit performance. the Cathedral Canteen was formed ( Continued on page 6 ) Theatre Owners of America, in a letter to Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey of the Senate Small Business sub-committee investigating industry trade practices, admitted that it was unsuccessful in securing complete membership cooperation in answer to the organization's questionnaire on industry problems. Myron N. Blank, TOA president, urged Sen. Humphrey and his committee to conduct a poll of exhibitors in order to get their views on matters "now before your committee." The text of the letter was released here by TOA headquarters. Blank, who sent the letter to Sen. Humphrey, with copies to Senators Andrew F. Schoeppel, Barry M. Goldwater, Wayne Morse and John F. Kennedy, said that "we have a copy of the Independent Theatre Owners Association, Inc., letter to you, signed by Harry Brandt, as president, respectfully urging you to have the ( Continued on page 6 ) Special to THE DAILY BOSTON, April 4.-Funeral services for Albert Swerdiove, 58, for the past 10 years head of Screen Guild of New England, Classics of New England, and Federal Film Co., will be held Friday from Levine's Chapel, Brookline. He died suddenly in New York last night while having a late snack in a hotel restaurant. Surviving are his wife, the former Mollie Haase, and a brother, Jules of Montreal.