Motion Picture Daily (Apr-June 1956)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY 3L. 79. NO. 75 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1956 TEN CENTS lan Roadshow dicate Some Wall Deals or 'Ten' Bow late Openings in Six ities for Nov., Dec. Four-wall deals for "The Ten mmandments" reportedly have jn set for some opening engagemts, a number of circuit officials licated yesterday, as Paramount anunced that the Cecil B. DeMille )duction will open in six cities dur; November and December. Paramount's setting a road-show, >a-day policy was mentioned by 3 circuit executive, while Paraunt president Barney Balaban had (Continued an page 3) rnswalder Named ox N. Y. Manager Ilex M. Arnswalder has been ned manager of 20th Century-Fox's w York extnge, s u c e d ing Abe :kstein, who 5 appointed terday to the antic district ^nagership, it announced ' Alex Haniis-, general ;s manager. iow assistant lager of the v York exnge, Arns der will assume direction of the (Continued on page 2) Alex Arnswalder dl Page Ads for wan' in Key Cities ;i-M is using full page newspaper ertisements on the Sundays preing the openings of "The Swan" ach city. The copy in each newser in a single city is different, but slant is toward Grace Kelly. In e cities it was said that this was first time that full-pages had been I to herald a picture's opening. SSBC Hitting Snag On Distributors9 Date From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, April 17.-The Senate Small Business subcommittee hopes to know by the end of the week when it will hear distributor witnesses. The committee had tried to set up the distribution testimony for the week of April 30, but distributor officials claimed they wouldn't be ready before the week of May 14. The problem now is to try to fit something that week in with the other commitments of subcommittee chairman Humphrey (D., Minn.). Nemec Leaves SMPTE Post UK Theatres Barely Reach Quota Figure On First Features From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, April 17. Commerce Department film chief Nathan D. Golden said British films accounted for 29.4 per cent of the first features shown in British theatres during the year ending last Sept. 30 and for 31.2 per cent of the supporting programs. The Cinematograph Films Act provides that 30 per cent of the first feature films and 25 per cent of the supporting films must be British. However, exceptions for relief cases actually dropped the quota requirements to 25.3 per cent for first features and 23.8 per cent for supporting programs. Golden said the three major British (Continued on page 2) Boyce Nemec, executive secretary of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, has announced that he has resigned, effective on June 15, and that he will establish a management consulting service, with headquarters in the East, to specialize in work on problems of corporate structure, cost analysis, market (Continued on page 2) Johnson Seeks End Of Danish Impasse A new effort to end the Danish impasse will be made by Griffith Johnson, vice-president of Motion Picture Export Association, now in Europe, it was learned here. Johnson, currently touring Scandi( Continued on page 2) O'Neii Tells Poor Richard Club Success of One Medium Stimulates Another to Benefit of the Public Special to THE DAILY PHILADELPHIA, April 17. -Confidence in the vitality of all entertainment media was expressed here today by Thomas F. O'Neii, chairman of the board of RKO Radio Pictures, who, in ac cepting the annual Poor Richard Award, told the members and guests of the club that the continued interest and investment in all forms by his company "will mean more entertainment for everybody." O'Neii, in his address before the Poor Richard Club annual dinner meeting here, recounted the technical advances in the entertainment industry. O'Neil's speech was titled "Technology: The New Creative Force in Entertainment." In accepting the silver medal and citation of the award, the RKO Radio board chairman stated that "in entertainment, as in other businesses, I think we can prove that the success of one medium tends to stimulate the efforts of another, tends to make all media stronger and better— and all to the advant a g e of the public. I refuse to believe that the development of any good and w o r thwhile tiling is done at the expense of another good and worthwhile thing. My confidence (Continued on page 2) Thomas F. O'Neii Optimistic Forecast Sam Rosen Says Future Hinges On Film Flow Tempers Viewpoint by Citing 'Rugged Period" By MURRAY HOROWITZ Based on releases promised by distribution, the future looks good for the motion picture theatre box-office, Samuel Rosen, executive Nice-president of Stanley Warner, said here yesterday. Rosen tempered his optimism by underscoring the transition stage the industry currently is undergoing, citing the competitive factor of TV, and adding that until the various factors resolve themselves it will be a "rugged period" for the industry. He stressed, however, that he was very optimistic about the motion picture business and the future of the motion picture theatre. The key problem, according to Rosen, remains the need for good, acceptable product, and the continuous (Continued on page 2) Samuel Rosen Tax Relief Fight Lost in Britain From THE DAILY Bureau LONDON, April 17. -Hopes of the British industry for a reduction in the entertainment tax were shattered today when the Chancellor of the Exchequer presented the Government's new Budget to Commons for the next fiscal year without provision being made therein for a decrease in the tax. Because of a decline in attendance and increasing competition from television, the trade had made a strong bid in recent months for some measure of tax relief. The new Budget means the tax will remain unchanged for another year at least.