Motion Picture Daily (Apr-June 1956)

Motion Picture Daily New York 'Television City ( Continued dustry to be lost to our city 30 years ago now threaten New York's leadership as the television capital of the world," Stark insisted. "In order to halt the exodus of major shows relocating to the Pacific Coast, we must provide the television industry with enough studio space for normal expansion, color television, educational TV, vast spectaculars and commercial displays." Television City would combine studio, office, garage and storage space, with separate facilities made available to each network participating in the development. Points to CBS, NBC The Council president stressed the senseless diffusion of existing television activities. As a result of the absence of a centralized location, CBS now conducts its television programs in 19 different studios and NBC is compelled to use sixteen different sites. One major network has estimated that it could effectuate a saving of $2,000,000 a year by combining its TV activity under one roof. The high cost of land in mid-Man from page 1 ) hattan, coupled with legal difficulties in acquiring title to an area of substantial size, have prevented centralization thus far. This problem, Stark noted, could be solved by invoking the provisions of the existing Title I law which permits public acquisition of land and subsequent resale to a private developer at a considerable saving. Sees Wide Advantages Stressing the economic value of the broadcasting industry in the City of New York, Stark emphasized that their regular payroll, exclusive of related industries, now totals approximately $100,000,000 a year. The construction of a Television Center would also provide indirect benefits to countless other firms, such as advertising agencies, the building trades, suppliers, distributors, manufacturers and allied service industries. As a city within a city, the Center would provide comprehensive facilities for broadcasting, filming, recording, set construction, make-up, costume design, and all related activities essential to the industry. PEOPLE Arthur L. Mayer, promotion consultant to Paramount on "War and Peace," and Mrs. Mayer will appear at a luncheon-meeting of The Woman Pays Club today in a colloquy about the picture, the film industry and the Mayers' family life, at Sardi's Restaurant, here. n Anolyn Arden has been appointed to handle choreography of the N. Y. Roxy Theatre stage attractions, replacing Dolores Pallet, who has resigned. n Jules V. Schwerin has been appointed vice-president in charge of creative production of Robert Davis Productions, New York producers. He previously was supervising producer for Sol Lesser and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and a director at CBS-TV. n T. L. Irwin has resigned from Paramount after 30 years in the company's branches in Detroit and Cleveland to join Buena Vista as auditor with headquarters in Cleveland. As a result, Cleveland branch manager Harry Buxbaum has made the following personnel changes: Irwin Sears moves up from second booker to head booker. Helen Thoma goes from secretary to booker and Lillian Ack, cashier, will take on the added duties of office manager. n H. E. MacManus, who last week announced his resignation from Cooperative Theatres of Ohio to become general manager of three driveins near Toledo, will be given a testimonial dinner by his industry friends on May 14 in Cleveland. 0 David Miller, assistant manager of die Bijou Theatre, Springfield, Mass., has been promoted to manager of the Arch St. Theatre, New Britain, Conn., by Perakos Theatre Associates. 'Moby Dick' Lectures Planned by Artist American artist Gil Wilson has scheduled a 26-week, 52-city nationwide lecture tour and presentation of paintings based on Herman Melville's "Moby Dick" in conjunction with the motion picture version of the classic which will have its premiere on June 27 in New Bedford, Mass. Visiting schools, community groups and organizations, Wilson will illustrate his lectures by a selection of color slides made from his 300 "Moby Dick" paintings which describe Melville's fight with the white whale. The tour is being arranged for Wilson by Warner Bros. and the Melville Society. Robson's 'Hut' for M-G-M Distribution Plans to produce "The Little Hut," which is to be financed and released by Loew's, Inc., were announced here yesterday by Mark Robson, co-producer and director, at a luncheon prior to his departure to London. Robson said that F. Hugh Herbert will be the co-producer as well as write the screen play adaptation of the French stage play by Andre Roussin, an English version of which was written by Nancy Mitford. The Robson and Herbert independent company, Robson added, made a deal with Loew's for complete financing and distribution. Under the arrangement, Robson explained, Loew's and the independent company will share the profits 50-50 after distribution costs are deducted. He called Loew's entry into the independent field a "healthy" development for the company, contending that independents bring new "blood and vitality." Shooting on the picture, which will star Ava Gardner, Stewart Grainger and David Niven, will begin sometime between June 15 and July 1 in London. Omaha, Des Moines NTS Offices to K.C. KANSAS CITY, April 23.-National Theatre Supply Co.'s branches in Omaha and Des Moines are to be consolidated with the Kansas City office. W. R. Dans, former manager at Des Moines, will maintain a service office there. Glen K. Skipper of the Omaha branch will serve as sales engineer for National and for Walt Disney pictures in the Iowa and Nebraska territories. UFA Will Have U.K. Producing Company LONDON, April 23.-Arrived here on a two weeks' visit, United Production of America president Stephen Bosustow with Ernest Scanlon announced plans for the formation of a British TV producing company, U.P.A. Pictures Ltd. Bosustow told newsmen that in the initial stages of the operation he would bring here key production personnel from his New York organisation. The work involved demanded extensive technical training, he said. U.P.A. 's London division would start off as a sales unit, but the plan is to build up the division on the lines of the parent organisation in New York. He plans attending the Cannes Festival before returning to New York, but Scanlon will be back here immediately after the Festival. AA to Produce 7 Films in 4 Months HOLLYWOOD, April 23.-Allied Artists will launch seven films, which represent a multi-million dollar investment, during the next four months, executive producer Walter Mirisch announced here today. The seven films include five in CinemaScope and are in addition to "Notre Dame of Paris," which commenced production last week. The films are "The Oklahoman," in CinemaScope, May; "Jeannie" and "The Pinkerton Man," both in CinemaScope and set for June production; "Typee," and "Poppaea," both in July with the latter in CinemaScope; "Ariane," in August, and "Laredo," in late August in CinemaScope. Tuesday, April 24, IS SDG Nominates Four As 'Best Directors' From THE DAILY Bureau. HOLLYWOOD, April 23. Tl; Screen Directors Guild has norm nated four directors for best directiif in pictures circulated during the fii quarter of 1956. They are: Robe B.ossen, for "Alexander The Great' Henry King, for "Carousel"; Rti Rowland, for "Meet Me in L: Vegas," and Alfred Hitchcock, f "The Trouble with Harry." Jacksonville ( Continued from page 1 ) in Atlanta since 1951, will be trail! ferred to head the Jacksonvil exchange. He was formerly Chaj lotte branch manager. Bill Hames, who managed UA; Dallas branch until his resignation 1954 to go into private business, w manage the Atlanta exchange. Ham had previously served as branq manager in Indianapolis. United Artists has maintained booking office in Jacksonville for tl past three years. The exchange w] be located in new quarters. It m be attached to the Southern distrii under the supervision of Eastern aii Southern division manager Milton Cohen and Southern district manag George Pabst. Silverstein Post ( Continued from page 1 ) into. Silverstein's headquarters will I Silverstein's headquarters will 1' in New York. Prior to this new a signment he was employed by Loew International, in charge of distrib tion for Central and South Americ EKC Quarterly Net Sets a New Record ROCHESTER, Apr. 23. Fir quarter sales and earnings of Eastm£ Kodak Co. were better than in av previous first quarter, it was reporte yesterday by Thomas J. Hargrav chairman, and Albert K. Chapnaaj president. Consolidated sales of the company United States establishments for t] 12-week period ending March 1] 1956, were $154,744,604, up four p cent over the $149,174,688 for tfj corresponding 1955 period. Net earnings after taxes for the fir quarter were $16,998,185, an increas of 15 per cent over the $14,763,63 earned in the first quarter a year agj The previous first quarter high f<j sales and earnings was set in 195 Shartin Killed by Car ! SEATTLE, April 23. WilliaJ Shartin, 56, head of Favorite Pictmq here and a former manager of tl United Artists and Eagle Lion e: changes in Cleveland, was killed ii stanteously by an auto as he crosse a downtown street.