Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1956)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY ISO, NO. 95 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1956 TEN CENTS TORI Ah the Retirement The General' L — By Sherwin Kane [OLAS M. SCHENCK'S anuncement yesterday of his defin to retire from Loew's, Inc., expiration of his current conext Dec. 31 will be an occaI r sincere regret by many on j els and in all branches of the v. Ijjjs nearly 50 years in the inI almost 40 of them as either ;Kef executive or a key official iw's Theatres and Metro-Goldayer, Schenck made substanatributions to the success and of the industry of the screen ; as to his own companies. • ndustry councils over the years, h an influential voice and one las listened to with respect at es. y of the policies which stood dustry in good stead public |«-wise could be traced to his ounsel, and policies originated rs which were shown to be of enhancing the prestige of en and improving its stature de never failed to receive )lehearted and continuous sup nck is a product of the pioneer )f the industry, who like his issociate, the great showman, Loew, and others still living, exhibition from its "shooting i ' beginnings to its preeminent in public entertainment tiere. production, too, his career the years from the time of le-reel "flickers" to today's quality productions in the most ed techniques. • vhere friends of Schenck and of the industry will be moved a "Well done!" to the man jj>r so many years was known lout the industry as "The Genii i Schenck's retirement an inera, indeed, comes to an end. AB-PT Organizes Am-Par Pictures As New Production Subsidiary By LESTER DINOFF (Picture on Page 2) American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres, Inc., has formed a wholly owned subsidiary, Am-Par Pictures Corp., to produce "good, commercial motion picture product, with box office appeal," it was announced here yesterday by Sid M. Markley, AB-PT vice-presi Judge Assigned to Film Consent Cases N. Y. Federal District Court Judge Edmund L. Palmieri yesterday was assigned to preside over all future motion picture industry cases involving the industry consent decrees. The announcement was made at the hearing held yesterday in Judge Palmieri's court pertaining to an application by Stanley Warner Theatres to (Continued on page 6) WB 4Baby Doll' Banned By Censor in Memphis MEMPHIS, Nov. 15. Memphis and Shelby County Board of Censors has banned its first Hollywood film since the retirement of the late Lloyd T. Binford last Jan. 1. The picture is "Baby Doll," a Warner Bros, release and the first of that studio to be banned in Memphis since "The Rope," about six years ago. "Baby Doll" was banned by Mrs. ( Continued on page 6 ) ney dent in charge of film production. Markley also announced that Irving H. Levin, former president of Filmakers Releasing Corp., and Harry L. Mandell, former vice-president of Filmmakers, have been elected president and vice-president, respectively, of the new subsidiary. The decision to enter into production of motion pictures has been under consideration for some time, Markley said. "The formation of the company and its entry into production initially on a modest scale, will help overcome the shortage of pictures for theatres," the AB-PT of( Continued on page 2 ) Finds Production Costs No Higher in New York There is no difference in costs when producing a film in New York or Hollywood, in the opinion of producer-director William Berke, who recently completed two films here for United Artists distribution. Berke, an industry veteran, made (Continued on page 4) As Crowds Jam Paramount Oldtime Showmanship Pays In Selling Presley Picture By GUS DALLAS Old fashioned showmanship scored a rousing triumph yesterday when over 2,500 people jammed around the Paramount Theatre box office early in the morning for the Broadway opening of 20th Century-Fox's "Love Me Tender," which feaures Elvis Presley, currently Robert K. Shapiro, managing director, estimated late yesterday. During the month of October, Fox conducted a massive saturation advertising campaign in all available media, climaxed by the presentation of over 300 spot 10-, 20 and 60-second radio announcements during the 15 days preceding the opening. Presley's October visit to New York to film a much-discussed "second (Continued on page 6) one of the hottest attractions in the A review of "Love Me Tender," the 20th Century-Fox film starring Elvis Presley, appears in this issue on page 6. entertainment field. The picture was heading for the "highest non-holiday opening day gross in the past year" at the Paramount— a "smash" $12,000, At Year's End Schenck Will Retire from Loew's Inc. Veteran Executive Ending 50 Years of Service Nicholas Schenck Nicholas M. Schenck, honorary chairman of the board and former president of Loew's, Inc., yesterday announced his retirement from the companv, effective at the end of the year. Schenck was president of Loew's, Inc., from 1927 until December, 1955, when he was elected chairman of the board of directors. On last Oct. 18 he resigned that post and was named honorary board chairman, in tribute (Continued on page 5) Many Voice Regret on Schenck Retirement Many motion picture industry leaders yesterday expressed deep regret at the decision of Nicholas M. Schenck, veteran executive, to retire from active participation in the affairs of Loew's Inc., at the end of this year. JOSEPH R. VOGEL, recently elected president of Loew's Inc., stated: "Every man and woman in the organization will regret Schenck's (Continued on page 5) FCC Rejects Circuit's TV-Station Application From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 In a 4-3 split decision, the Federal Communications Commission has ruled against a theatre circuit's application for a television station, largely on grounds that the circuit has in the (Continued on page 5)