Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1956)

2 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, December 19, 19 Plans for 'Sweeps' Advance ( Continued stakes," which is tantamount to approving the project in all but active endorsement. The sole stipulation which the Academy's board of governors had, it was reported, was that the contest not be called the "Oscar Sweepstakes" and that no likeness to the "Oscar" statuette be used in promotion of the contest. According to a member of the MPAA, once this all-industry meeting is set up, (it is hoped before the end of the year), the best points of the MPAA business building plans and the Council of Motion Picture Organizations-Theatre Owners of America plans would be combined, among them being similiar proposals for an industry "giveaway" contest. However, before such a conference could be held, an official report from the West Coast must be had. The Association of Motion Picture Producers in Hollywood met yesterday afternoon to discuss the "Golden Jubilee" plan, which encompasses some of the MPAA's points. Exhibitor organizations are in favor of any contest plan which will boost from page 1 ) motion picture business, be it the Academy Award Sweepstakes or the COMPO Audience Awards. The time element involved in launching the latter program is said to rule it out for 1956, and most likely for next year. The Audience Awards were initially scheduled for the Christmas period, but dropped, and it was suggested later on that it be staged sometime in April. However, the MPAA has been boosting the Academy Awards Sweepstakes for next year and scheduled it to start when the Academy Award nominations are announced. This contest would be completed with the announcement of "Oscar" winners on March 27, but the winners of it, at a later date, would go to Hollywood in follow-up promotions. This then would rule out the Audience Awards as exhibitors would be working with the Academy Awards Sweepstakes follow-ups. TOA Allied States Association, Independent Theatre Owners Association, Metropolitan Motion Picture Theatres Association, and circuits have indicated they favor "any proposal which will build business." PERSONAL MENTION OPYROS P. SKOURAS, president ^ of 20th Century-Fox; vice-presidents W. C. Michel, Joseph H. Moskowitz and Charles Einfeld; Alex Harrison, general sales manager; Donald A. Henderson, secretarytreasurer, and Murray Silverstone, president of 20th Century-Fox International, returned to New York from Hollywood yesterday. e Norton V. Ritchey, president of Allied Artists International, will arrive in New York todav from London via B.O.A.C. • Emanuel Silverstone, vice-president of 20th Century-Fox International, has returned to New York from a Florida vacation. William Wyler, producer-director, will arrive in New York today from the Coast. Dick Richman and Charles Simonelli, exploitation representatives, the latter a nephew of the Universal Pictures Eastern advertising-publicity head of the same name, were in Detroit from New York on company business. Jean DuBarry, city manager for Stanley Warner Theatres in Bridgeport, Conn., and Mrs. DuBarry recently observed their 22nd wedding anniversary. Paris Hears Reports of Fox European Change PARIS, Dec. 18.-John Lefebre, Twentieth Century-Fox sales manager for Europe and the Middle East, will shortly be advanced to managing director of the European Division, covering Europe, Scandinavia, North Africa and the Middle East, it has been reported here. Lefebre will succeed Albert Cornfield, who has been reported in ill health. Cornfield will act in a supervisory capacity, it was indicated. When asked to comment on the proposed change, Murray Silverstone, president of Fox International, said that a definite decision has not been reached. New Film for M&L HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 18 "Sad Sack" will be the title of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis' next picture for Hal Wallis and Paramount Pictures. The film is scheduled to go before the cameras in March, 1957. 4DolP Premiere Held (Continued from page 1) drew many stars as well as society, industry and religious leaders, who paid $50 a seat. Marilyn Monroe was there, along with Jennifer Jones, Mary Martin, Nancy Berg, Perle Mesta, Mrs. William Rhinelander Stewart, Elsa Maxwell, Tennessee Williams, the Very Rev. James A. Pike, the Rev. Daniel A. Poling, Huntington Hartford, Franchot Tone, Rev. Dr. William F. Rosenblum, the Paul Garretts, the Serge Semenenkos, the Bedford Sharps, Charles Heston and Susan Strasberg. Immediately following the premiere, the festivities continued at a supper dance in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria. Auten to Sydney for G. U. T. Conferences Capt. Harold Auten, American representative of Greater Union Theatres, Australia, will leave here by plane on Jan. 6 for Sydney, by way of Los Angeles and Honolulu for a month's visit and conferences with Norman Rydge, president, and other G. U. T. officials. Auten will leave Sydney by plane early in February for Singapore, where he will visit for several days. Other stopovers on the return trip are scheduled for Rome and London. Auten is scheduled to return to New York early in February. Rothafel Optimistic ( Continued from page 1 ) the Hotel Piccadilly luncheon at which time door prizes for all were distributed. Rothafel said that while the industry is now facing a critical challenge, "films have a great future." The mission of the industry is to get the masses back to the theatres, he said. Seated on the luncheon dais were Rothafel, Dave Bader, Hans Barnstein, Martin Starr, Lige Brien, Leon Hamberger and Robert Montgomery. 'Bundle of Joy' Opens At Capitol Tonight Harry Wismer, radio and television announcer, will interview celebrities arriving at the Capitol Theatre tonight for the world premiere of RKO's "Bundle of Joy." The premiere is being held for the benefit of First Aid for Hungary, Inc., and CARE. Lisa Ferraday, screen and television star, will act as official hostess for the occasion with George Jessel master of ceremonies inside the theatre. 4th Week at M. H. Radio City Music Hall's Christmas stage and screen show will begin its fourth week tomorrow with extra performances and early openings scheduled for the holiday season. "Teahouse of the August Moon" is the screen attraction. Arbitration ( Continued from page 1 ) is currently awaiting word from lied's leaders as to "mutual cooped tion in formulating an arbitrati [ system." The TOA president, recalling j cent talks with company presided and sales heads in New York, said discussed arbitration with them a I found "they are thinking and looki i to the best interests of the industrd Stellings would not comment as whether the last arbitration draft, j leased on Sept. 27, 1955, would | used as a basis for a new draft, some distribution quarters, it has be I reported that any new talks woil have to start from scratch. Postpone Naming Committee TOA has been holding up nami a committee to launch the arbitrati proceedings, but, according to Stel ings, when a group is officially 1 nounced, Herman M. Levy and Mi chell Wolfson will be committee me ; bers. Allied also has not as yet a nounced a committee on arbitrate A bone of contention to exhibiti in the 1955 draft was the provisi limiting distributors to two prelease pictures annually. A simplifi conciliation plan was also advanci designed to get quick decisions controversies. Some industry obse: ers feel that if and when steps ; taken to set up a new arbitrati draft, the basis for it would coi from the 1955 arbitration draft a perhaps the one before that. MPAA Group Inactive According to a distribution offici the Motion Picture Association America committee on arbitration 1 "been more or less disbanded." new committee, if distribution decic officially to work with exhibitors preparation of a new draft, wot have to be named, he said. The 1 distribution committee on arbitrati was composed of Al Lichtm; Charles Reagan, A. Montague a Adolph Schimel. The last exhibiti committee on arbitration inclu Wolfson, Levy, Max A. Cohen a Leo Brecher. VShowplaee of the East FOR YOUR SCREENINGS • Three Channel interlock projection • 16, 171/2 & 35 mm tape interlock • 16 mm interlock projection CUTTING & STORAGE ROOMS MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; James D. 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