Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1956)

2 Motion Picture Daily Monday, November 26, PERSONAL MENTION WILLIAM C. GEHRING, vicepresident of 20th Century-Fox, and Alex Harrison, general sales manager, will leave here today for Charlotte, N. C, to attend the annual convention of the Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina. • Mori Krushen, United Artists exploitation manager, has returned here after meeting with circuit officials and field personnel in Washington and Philadelphia. Marty Wolf, sales manager of Altec Service Co., has gone to Charlotte, N. C, to represent his company at the TOA Carolina convention. With him are M. G. Thomas, Altec Southern division manager, Atlanta, and Bruce Newborn, company branch manager. Norton V. Ritchey, president of Allied Artists International Corp., will leave here today by air for London to confer with distribution outlets in England and the Continent. • Milton R. Rackmil, president of Universal Pictures, and Alfred E. Daff, executive vice-president of the company, left for the West Coast over the weekend. Charles J. Feldman, vice-president and general sales manager of Universal Pictures, returned to New York "over the weekend. • Mike Simons, director of M-G-M customer relations, left here at the weekend for Charlotte, N. C, to attend the Carolinas TOA convention. • Miss Olga List, daughter of Albert , A. List, chairman 'of the board and president of List Industries Corp. (RKO Theatres), will marry George S. Mack, son of Irving Mack of Filmack, Chicago, on Feb. 2, 1957. 9% of Filmgoers See 'Giant' a Second Time In -13 cities where George Stevens' "Giant" went into a second week, 9 per cent of the theatregoers returned to see the film a second time, according to a survey taken by Warner Bros., distributors of the film. The survey also established that this figure increases with length of run. Where the picture has played more than two weeks, 11 per cent of the audience 'were found to be repeaters. Portland, Ore., Houses Fewer Than in 1948 Special to THE DAILY WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 The number of motion picture theatres in Portland, Ore., dropped from 48 to 45 between 1948 and 1954, and from 17 to 13 in the central business district of the city, according to the latest Census Bureau figures. A considerable decline in grosses also was reflected by the report, which showed these comparisons: IfThe 45 theatres throughout the city reported total sales of $4,316,000 in 1954, as against the $4,967,000 recorded in 1948 by the 48 theatres then operating. ^Business of the 13 downtown houses totaled $2,625,000 in 1954; in 1948 the 17 central business district theatres racked up sales of $3,363,000. Four-Day Yule Holiday Urged by Film Council HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 25 The AFL Film Council has unanimously approved a recommendation made by Charles E. Boren, vice-president of the Association of Motion Picture Producers, to allow a four-day Christmas holiday and a three-day New Year's holiday, with other days adjusted to accommodate this arrangement. All guilds and unions in the Film Council will present the proposal to memberships. With approval considered certain. The council also suggested that television film producers do likewise. Set Movielab Lectures Movielab Film Laboratories has commenced a series of instructive lectures for its employees on processing color films to meet a coming demand for trained color technicians, Saul Jeffee, president of the company, lias announced. The course will keep Movielab employees "abreast or even ahead" of the newest techniques, Jeffee said. Fete Wise. Showman MILWAUKEE, Nov. 25-Ben Marcus, president of the Marcus Management Co., held a dinner at Tomah, Wise, for one of his managers, Clarence Holtze, in honor of his 25th anniversary in the business. All branch managers were invited as were the managers from the surrounding towns. ''Rainmaker'' Bow Set Hal Wallis' "The Rainmaker," starring Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn will have its world premiere on Wednesday evening, Dec. 12, at the Astor Theatre here, according to Paramount Pictures. Funeral Services Held For Gradwell Sears Many prominent members of the motion picture industry attended funeral services Saturday afternoon for Gradwell L. Sears at the George T. Davis Funeral Parlor in New Roclielle. Interment was in Kensico Cemetery. Sears, who died Thursday at his home in Harrison, N. Y., was a former president of United Artists, having retired in 1950 after holding the post since 1946. At his death he was a vice-president of the corporation. Started With World Film He began his career in the industry as sale sman for the World Film Co. in New York after which he was associated with various distributing companies. In 1920 he joined First Natic^-U Pictures and was southern and western division sales manager for Warner Bros, from 1931 to 1937. He was a vice-president of Vitagraph (Warner) from 1935, and general sales manager from 1937 to 1941 and president of Vitagraph from 1938. He joined U.A. in 1941 and was elected to the board in 1944. Gradwell Sears Canadians Will Repeat Academy Award Contest TORONTO, Nov. 25-The Motion Picture Industry Council of Canada appointed H. C. Main, Sutton, Ontario, exhibitor, to coordinate next year's Academy Award contest. Exhibitor reports on the contest last year were so glowing, it was said, that the appointment was made to encourage a greater number this year. Last year some 400 exhibitors participated, and 1,000 are expected this year. Each exhibitor having a share will pay one cent a seat toward the cost of the promotion. Main will begin his work December 1 on a paid basis with paid assistance. Rube W. Bolstad, vice-president of Famous Players Canadian Corp., was reelected chairman of the council while Charles Chaplin, head of the Distributors Association, and Bill Lester were again elected vice-presidents. Main replaces Roy Chown, secretary-treasurer of the council. ISFS Signs S. F. Rep. Backroom work for Republic Pictures in San Francisco has been taken over by National Film Service, Inc. ..JEW I! Ill 'Tender' Setting Records Record Thanksgiving 1 grosses and first week business j reported for 20th Century-Fox's Me Tender," the Elvis Preslel ture, in its first engagements I the country. On Thanksgivin at the Paramount, Atlanta, it $6,320; $11,874 at the Fox, Lj $3,579 at the Coliseum, Seattl 706 at the Memorial, Boston. Filmack Popcorn Trailer ! The Filmack Trailer Co. ha duced a new sound trailer desigl boost popcorn sales during th holiday season. It urges the I to "buy popcorn both for enjr3 during the show and to take I suggesting the family "will enji< ing popcorn at home and that io| a wonderful decoration for the|s Christmas tree." Acquires 'Thompson' for* Continental Distributing, In acquired U.S. distribution ri "The Notebooks of Major Tho: a comedy written and direc Preston Sturges in France. Jack Buchanan and Martine ■ 'Attack!' Sets Record United Artists' "Attack!" rej the "biggest opening day of th at the State Lake Theatre in ( on Thanksgiving Day with a $10,340, according to UA. B & K Names Segi Ad-Publicity Direct CHICAGO, Nov. 25-The f ment of Edward H. Seguin as of advertising and publicity fo ban and Katz Theatres has b( nounced by David Wallersteii president and general manac guin has been with the orgai for more than 20 years, ser each post of the department heads. R. G. Byrne, 60 Roger Gerald Byrne, 60, poS ist at the Radio City Music Hs its opening, died Thursday atj head, Long Island. In his Byrne was a musician who ha associated with the band o Phillip Sousa. His wife, Irni vives. Editor; James D. Ivers, Managing Editor: Richard Gertner, News Editor; Floyd Hollywood Bureau, YuccaVine Building, Samuel D. Berns. Manager; William R. London Bureau, 4, Bear St., Leicester Square, W. 2, Hope Willi; the world. Motion Picture Daily is published daily except Saturda 20 Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York. ^^"resMen^^M^rU^'^urgleT'jr" ViSside^t;' The^.T Suilivanf vic7Presidenrand 'freasu^f Leo J: B^ady. Secretary. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Pictun Better Theatres and Better Refreshment Merchandising, each published 13 times a year as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Television Today, published daily as a Motion Picture Daily. Motion Picture Almanac, Television Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter Sept. 21, 1V38, at the Post Ofnce at ISew York, N. under tl March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Ouigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Photo Editor; Herbert V. Fecke. Advertising Manager; Gas I H. Fausel, Production Manager; I .'. I i lejihoiie HOllvwood 7 '145; Washington, J. A. otter,. National Pre., Club, Washington, D. C. ; Lo nup Manager; Peter Burnup. Editor; William Pay, News Editor. Correspondents in the principal capitals of tl days' and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20