Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1956)

(i Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, October, 10, }' MP A A Report {Continued from page 1) board by the advertising and publicity ■'roup. The committee, headed by Jerry Pickman of Paramount Pictures, vesterday presented to the directors an extensive report on the committee's recommendations for boosting the box office through various promotional and merchandising means. The report includes such proposals as immediate and drastic revision in advertising billings, a Hollywood press conference, executive field tours, market analysis, advertising campaigns, and contest gi\ eaways. Five from Each Company The MPAA directors decided to ha\ e at least five men from each company attend the "summit" conference to 'discuss the advertising-publicity report in more detail, to discuss other suggestions pertaining to the report and its basis, and to formulate a definite program which would have production and distribution support throughout the industry. Once this is attained, then it is expected that the MPAA will seek Hollywood approval along with approval and participation in the program by exhibitors and their national associations and from the Council of Motion Picture Organizations. The MPAA official said that the foreign sales and foreign advertisingpublicity heads have been requested M. P. DAILY picture HE ACCEPTS, without too much surprise, he confesses, but certainly with pleasure. Spyros S. Skouras tellM the National Conference at luncheon in the Waldorf yesterday he and William Heineman (in Brooklyn or some business) will try to repeat their record as chairmen of the 1957 Amusement Industry's annual Brotherhood campaign. Or beat it. As amusements division co-chairmen this year, according to general chairman J Robert Rubin, they collected a formidable $147,639. This, he pointed out, certainly is an improvement ovei the first big drive, back in 1946, when for the first time it netted more than $100,000. That was under an I other Skouras— Spyros P. In array above, John O'Connor, Eugene Picker, Messrs. Rubin and Skouras, anc Leslie Schwartz. to attend the Oct. 18 meeting because it was felt by the MPAA board that some facets of the report might be applicable to the overseas market. He said that at yesterday's meeting, which was presided over by MPAA vicepresident Kenneth Clark, the directors, after studying the agenda, decided to authorize the summit meeting. It's Eddie and Debbie with the season's biggest box-office package ! Five Awards ( Continued from page 1 ) engineer, received the Progress Medal; Charles C. Davis, Westrex Corp. sound engineer, the Samuel Warner Award; Dr. Wesley T. Hanson, Jr., Eastman Kodak, the Herbert Kalmus Medal; and Donald G. Fink, director of research at Philco, the Journal Award. One award was posthumous— that of the David Sarnoff Gold Medal Award, which went to Robert E. Shelby, NBC. Dr. Alexander Ernemann of Zeiss Ikon, designer of the Ernemann projectors, was awarded honorary membership in the Society. Fifteen New Fellowships Sixteen active members were elevated to the grade of Fellow tonight, bringing the total number of SMPTE Fellows to 256. They are: Willy Borberg, General Precision Laboratories; Jasper Chandler, Edouard P. Genock, Robert G. Hufford, Walter I. Kisner and John G. Streiffert, Eastman Kodak; John W. DuVall and Wilton R. Holm, du Pont; Edward Furer, Producers Service Co.; Herman M. Gurin, NBC; Fred Hynes, ToddAO; Warren R. Isom and Michael Rettinger, RCA; Frank L. Marx, ABC; John B. McCullough, Motion Picture Association of America, and Richard O. Painter, General Motors Proving Grounds. After the presentations, Dr. William H. Pickering, director of the jet propulsion laboratory, California Institute of Technology, spoke on "Project Vanguard-The 'Earth Satellite." Dr. Pickering, chairman of the working group on tracking and computation of the eartli satellite program, discussed the types of information which will be obtained from the proposed satellites to be launched by the U. S. in 195758. He also explained how scientists hope to get this information and the problems involved in gathering the data. To Offer Three British Films in Package Deal From THE DAILY Bureau LONDON, Oct. 6 (By Air \ Harry Norris, joint managing di' of J. Arthur Rank Overseas Fib tributors, Ltd., will go to New the middle of this month, taking him prints of three Rank pictur which he plans making a pa distribution deal. The films "Reach for the Sky," "A Town Alice," and "The Battle of the Plate." Norris will join his chief, Davis, who is scheduled to arr New York on Oct. 15. Board of PC (Continued from page 1) committee, Robert Rubin of mount, Ray Bell of Columbia Pii Paul Quinn of RKO Radio Pi. and Sidney Schreiber, MPAA tary. Barney Balaban of Paraij Daniel T. O'Shea of RKO Radj tures, and A. Schneider of Cob may also attend the conference. The sub-committee and SH are expected to formulate the N directors approved plan to enlari appeals board to include exhibits independent producers. It was j ed that the sub-committee will a to have some sort of an oper program ready by the Nov meeting of the MPAA board. W. M. Sphect, 59 ATLANTA, Oct. 9 Willi] Sphect, 59, for many years Q row here as sales representativ booker for major film exchangffl at his home here after many of illness.