Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1956)

Motion Picture Daily l Wednesday, October 17, I PERSONAL MENTION MONTAGUE and Rube Jack A. oral and assistant general sales manager, respectively, are in Toronto today from New York. • W. C Gehhing. vice-president of 20th Century-Fox, and Martin MosKowrrz, Eastern division manager, have returned to New York from Boston. Walter Wanger will return to Hollywood today from New York. • Francis Herwood, vice-president of Bank of America ir> the motion picture department, has returned to Los Angeles from New York. Harold G. Boxall, managing director of London Film Productions, Ltd., and Mrs. Boxall will arrive in New York from England today aboard the "Queen Mary." • George Abbott and Robert Griffith, producers, have arrived in Hollywood from New York. Lee Koken, of RKO Theatres, has left here for a vacation in Arizona. • James Hill, producer, and Alexander Mackendrick will arrive in New York on Friday from the Coast. • Dana Andrews will leave New York today for London via B.O.A.C. Mun Delano, Columbia Pictures booker in Chicago, is retiring after 27 years with the company. Writers Guild Resolves To Fight Censorship The Writers Guild of America, East, has announced that its National Council, which met here over the weekend, passed a resolution recommending that its membership of more than 2,000 writers on both coasts seek to "remove unjustified censorship restraints whenever possible." Asserting that writers "have exercised in the past and will continue to exercise appropriate good taste and good judgment," the guild's policy group declared that these qualities "cannot be formulated in a set of rules." Previously, the council had heard reports on "pressure groups within the radio, television and motion picture industries," which it was said, "often attempt to force the writer to revise his script completely between the time of delivery and the actual production of the material." M. P. DAILY picture HIS FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE, as president: Ernest G. Stellings, in the TOA offices yesterday. In the background, Herman Levy and Albert Pickus. TOA Will Aid Independents ( Continued from page 1 ) exhibition association, he said "one group would enhance the industry if it speaks for all retailers, which exhibitors are." He said he has not met with any leaders of Allied States Association concerning "a merger," but ' will meet with anyone, anywhere at any time in the interests of exhibitors." Stellings also reported that within a short time TOA will announce the members of its standing committees, and representatives of the committees which will attempt to meet with the distribution sales chiefs and set up a new arbitration plan. Attending the press conference with Stellings were Levy, Reade, Albert M. Pickus, vice-president, and Joseph G. Alterman, assistant secretary. with a management consultant firm in its search for an executive director and that TOA has several men "under consideration for the post." Stellings said he has already conferred with two independent producers who told him of their main problems—liquidation and distribution of The mid-winter combined meeting of the board of directors and executive committee of Theatre Owners of America will be held at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago, March 3, 4 and 5, it was announced here yesterday by TOA president Ernest Stellings. The 1957 convention of TOA will be held Nov. 17-21 at the Americano Hotel, in Miami Beach, he said. their product. "We can offer independent producers assurances concerning liquidation," he said, explaining that the organization would "act, if necessary, as a clearing house between producer and exhibitor." Stellings pointed out that TOA's activities in this field would be governed by the trade association's charter. Stellings said that TOA's immediate plans for encouraging independent production do not include financing. He indicated, however, that the TOAsponsored Exhibitors Film Financial Group, the inactive investment group, could be revived if necessary. Several Interviewed Commenting on the organization's search for an executive director, Stellings said Herman Levy, TOA general counsel, and Walter Reade, Jr., TOA executive, have interviewed a number of qualified personnel, but thus far "haven't come up with the right man." On the formation of one national TOA Group i Starr Funen Downing Finds ( Continued from page 1 ) West Coast— M-G-M, Columbia, and Warner Brothers— said that "I am pleased with what I saw." "Less pictures are being produced, but there is a high concentration on bigger and better films for theatres. The studios are not producing in quantity just to make pictures. They are on the right track in trying to make each picture the best in quality," he said. Fox-Republic Deal (Continued from page 1) said, is whether 20th-Fox would waive its franchise rights to CinemaScope if Republic would utilize the process. Twentieth Century-Fox has been securing about $25,000 from outside producers who seek to use the CinemaScope process for a single film and about $100,000 from a producer who plans to make at least four films in the CinemaScope process. Special to THE DAILY NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 13 delegation of exhibitor members officers of Theatre Owners of Am will attend the funeral of the Alfred Starr, president of the Amusement Co., which will take here tomorrow afternoon. Starr, who was a founder of and a past president of the orgal tion, suffered a fatal heart a here Monday. He was 58 years j Representing TOA will be Gi Kerasotes, John W. Keiler II, H C. Dennings, Mortun C. Tune. Solomon, A. Fuller Sams, Jr., Edi C. Grainger of the Crescent Arl ment Co., and Tom Bloomer. Meanwhile, in New York, president Ernest Stellings annoi that TOA will set up a perm, memorial to Starr, the Chile Museum of Nashville, "one o favorite activities." Stellings sai has been requested by the fami request that flowers not be sent j that contributions be given inste Philip Harling in New York fo Children's Museum. Stellings Pays Tribute Stellings said that "the unt death of our dear friend and asso Alfred Starr, is a source of great ness to all of us. There is a void ahead. His passing is a I loss to the industry which he loy much, and to which he gave than his share in effort, in energy in time It was his good fortur it was ours, that he was endowed limitless and indomitable courage with an utterly and completely s dedication to the protection q rights of the less fortunate, left his mark. H Rites for Mrs. Gaglit Funeral services for Mr: Gagliardi, mother of Gio Gag executive engineer of Stanley W Theatres, will be held today A.M., at McCorry Bros. F Home, Cliffside Park, N. J. I Showplace of the Ec FOR YOUf SCREENINC Three Channel interlock project! 16, 171/2 & 35 mm tape interloi 16 mm interlock projection CUTTING & STORAGE ROD/ : Tir,v PTf'TTTRE DAILY Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; James D. Ivers, Managing Editor; Richard Gertner, News Editor; Floyd E , L uj , r Hprhert V Fecke Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca-Vine Build ng. Samuel D. Berns, Manager; William R. Photo Editor, ne HOlly'wood 7-2145; Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C; London Bureau, 4, Bear St., Leicester Square, W. 2, Hope Williai Editor, leiep >no eurnup Editor; William Pay, News Editor. Correspondents in the principal capitals of the world. Motion Picture Daily is published daily except Saturday nup, -Vlana= e\ ; . Ouinley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, Telephone Circle 7-3100. 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