Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1956)

Motion Picture Daily Thursday, November 2&, PERSONAL MENTION FRANK KING, producer, will leave here by plane today for Europe. • James Carreras, chairman of Exclusive Films, Ltd., will arrive in New York from London tomorrow via B.O.A.C. H. Donald Hunter, Paramount International overseas division manager, has arrived in Paris from New York. Jack Baur, Universal-International casting director, has arrived in New York from Hollywood. • George Seaton, producer-director, will arrive here on Monday from Hollywood. Irving Mendelsohn, New Haven branch manager for United Artists, and Mrs. Mendelsohn are marking their 25th wedding anniversary. • Bob Vogel, of the M-G-M studio International Department, is in New York from Hollywood on special assignment. Sy Cohen, pressbook editor for Warner Brothers, will leave here at the weekend for Florida. • Lewis Blumberg, producer, has arrived in New York from the Coast. • Norman Panama and Melvin Frank, Paramount producers, will return to Hollywood at the weekend from New York. Guilds Again Talk Pay For Post-1948 Films HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 28-Committees representing the Association of Motion Picture Producers, the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers, the Screen Actors Guild, the Screen Writers Guild and the Screen Directors Guild met briefly here last evening in the third discussion canvassing possibilities in connection with the working out of a system for making additional payments to guild members concerned in post-1948 features sold to television. Although no formal announcements were made by participants in the discussion, it is reliably understood little if any progress toward agreement was made. No date was set for further meeting. Census Bureau Reports: California Film Enterprises Had Receipts of $184,123,000 in '54 By J. A. OTTEN WASHINGTON, Nov. 28.— California had 661 establishments engaged in film production, distribution and related activities in 1954, with total receipts of $184,123,000, the Census Bureau today reported. The enterprises had a payroll of $230,802,000 and 25,262 employes. No comparable figures for 1947 and 1948, the years of the previous census of business and manufacturing, were available. The Census Bureau also revised slightly downward its earlier .published figures on 1954 theatre business in California. It showed 1,084 theatres with receipts of $142,446,000, including 925 conventional theatres with receipts of $116,678,000, and 159 drive-ins with receipts of $25,768,000. In 1948, there were 1,060 conventional theatres with receipts of $128,252,000 and 43 drive-ins with receipts of approximately $5,450,000. In 1954, the Bureau said, there were 517 establishments in California engaging in film production and related service activities, with receipts of $125,056,000, and 144 firms engaged in distribution and service activities, with receipts of $59,067,000. Receipts of film producers include only film rentals received directly from exhibitors, receipts from outright sales of films and miscellaneous receipts. Of the 144 distribution establishments, 100 were exchanges for films for other than TV use, and these had $49,381,000 of receipts. Another 21 distributed films for TV, with receipts of $7,543,000, while 23 service firms had $2,143,000 of receipts. The Bureau did not break down the receipts of the producers. It only showed that of the 517 establishments, 259 produced films for theatre and other non-TV use, 110 produced films for TV, and 148 were service organizations. Thomas Rodgers Deny Dismissal of Suit Of Douglas vs. Dlisney LOS ANGELES, Nov. 28-Superior Court Judge Leon T. David today denied a motion by defendant Walt Disney for dismissal of the $415,000 suit brought against him on Aug. 1 by Kirk Douglas on a charge that Disney had publicly exhibited for profit certain privately shot footage of the plaintiff and his family. Douglas had charged Disney made films during the Douglas family's visit to the Disney home, and had used the footage on the Disneyland television program without consent. Douglas described the suit as a test case and said he would turn over any damages received to the Motion Picture Relief Fund. Thomas Rodgers Elected 7rans-Lux Vice-Pres. Thomas E. Rodgers has been elected to the post of vice-president of Trans-Lux Theatres, according to a n announcement by Pereival E. Furber, chairman of the board of TransLux Corp. R o d g e r s, after serving a two year apprenticeship i n various branches of the motion picture industry, joined the Trans Lux Co. in 1950 as a supervisor of New York theatres. He is currently in charge of the booking of pictures into Trans-Lux Theatres as well as the director of advertising, publicity and exploitation for the circuit, which includes, in addition to New York theatres, several in Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. UA Opening Fieldmen Convention Here Today The first fieldmen's convention in United Artists' history will begin today at the Warwick Hotel here. The meeting will review every facet of the advertising, publicity and exploitation operations and develop a comprehensive field promotion program lor the coming year. The sessions, bringing together 12 district exploitation men from major market areas in the United States and Canada, will last three days and top-echelon executives, department heads and staff personnel will participate in them. The convention will open today with a welcome luncheon. Succeeding sessions will combine addresses on various phases of the promotional operation with workshop forums. Globe Books 'Huk' Collier Young's "Huk!," drama of post-war guerilla fighting in the Philippines, will open at the Globe theatre here December 14, it was announced by United Artists. Schary's Par (Continued from page 1 ducing and writing motion pill since 1932. Announcement of plans for J M-G-M studio operations wil made soon by Joseph R. Vogel, I dent of Loew's, Inc., who lefiil late yesterday for Hollywood. J, company's statement yesterda) 1 nothing of a successor to Schiil head of the studio and prod 1 head, but it is believed that 1 jamin Thau, vice-president ant I eran studio executive, will be j I in administrative charge by Vogi lowing his arrival at the studio 1 Efforts to reach Schary for 1 ment on the Loew's announcl yesterday were unsuccessful. I veteran industry producer is crj| ly in New York and expected main for another week. Ho\ Joe Wolhandler of Rogers & C. Schary's press representatives, that no statement will be issui "negotiations are not complete No Independent Deal The severence is complete the end of the year, no indepe production deal with the studio" involved. It was reported that J has expressed some interest i coming active in California pi Schary's contract with M-G-J for $200,000 annually and A January, 1958, after which he to have gone on advisory statf another 10 years at a salary of 000 per year. Trade reports yes! were that arrangements for | ment of the pact provide fo; payment of sums specified ov extended period no less fav tax-wise than the contract wouk provided had it remained in fo The company, however, ma announcement concerning the ment terms and a Loew's spok said that the trade reports wen accurate in some details." Wolhandler said that once thing is settled, a press conft will be set up for Schary or a ment will be issued by the pro Fox to Release 5 Five films will be released ij cember by 20th Century-Fox, m the most company releases fo single month this year. The "Anastasia," "The Girl Can't It," "Oasis," "Women of Pitcai' land," and "The Black Whip. Salesmen Set Party CLEVELAND, Nov. 28-The men's Club of Cleveland has sei 15 as the date of a screening to be held at 8:30 P.M. in the Fox screening room, followed b dinner at Harvey's Barbecw MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; James D. Ivers, Managing Editor; Richard Gertner, News Editor; Floyd E. Photo Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager; Hollywood Bureau, Yucca-Vine Building, Samuel D. Berns, Manager; William R. V Editor, Telephone Hollywood 7-2145; Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club, Washington, D. C; London Bureau, 4, Bear St., Leicester Square, W. 2, Hope William nup. Manager: Peter Burnup, Editor; William Pay, News Editor. Correspondents in the principal capitals of the world. Motion Picture Daily is published daily except Saturday; days and holidays, by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., 1270 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20, Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco. New York." |rjS Quigley, President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo. J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Leo J. Brady, Secretary. Other Quigley Publications: Motion Picture m 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 i nj Motion Picture Daily. Motion Picture Almanac, Television Almanac, Fame. Entered as second class matter Sept. 21, 1938, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the Nf March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year, $6 in the Americas and $12 foreign; single copies, 10c.