Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1957)

2 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, January 31, lj j i Detroit Exhibitor Seeks to Boost Business With Special Programs for Women Only Special to THE DAILY DETROIT, Jan. 30— Exhibitor Bert Penzien is today inaugurating a new promotional idea at his Shores Theatres here: A series of Wednesday matinees for women only. Each program will have a feature film and a few short subjects of special appeal to the distaffs. Today's main attraction is the Jane Wyman film, "Miracle in the Rain." Penzien reports that he came up with the idea recently while going over back issues of "Motion Picture Herald" in search of some plans to promote business. He found one having to do with special programs for children and decided to adapt the scheme to one designed for women. Today's bill is to start at 1:30 P.M. Free coffee and refreshments will be served in the foyer. Future programs scheduled include "Interrupted Melody," "Three Coins in the Fountain," "The Swan," "The End of the Affair," and "Autumn Leaves." Penzien's scheme has attracted exceptional attention in the local press, including feature stories and illustrations. PERSONAL MENTION JAMES A. MULVEY, president of Samuel Goldwyn Prods., is scheduled to return here tomorrow from a month's visit on the Coast. • Herbert J. Yates, president of Republic Pictures, will return to the Coast over the weekend from New York. David A. Lipton, Universal Pictures vice-president in charge of advertising-publicity, returned to the Coast yesterday following two weeks in New York. Paul Martenson, of the M-G-M legal department, will leave here for London on Saturday via B.O.A.C. • David E. Brodsky, Philadelphia theatre architect, has been reelected president of the Downtown Jewish Orphans Home of that city for his seventh consecutive term. • Richard F. Walsh, president of IATSE, is in Miami Beach from New York. Douglas Amos, general manager of Lockwood & Gordon Theatres, will return to Boston later this week from Mexico. Eugene Arnstein, Allied Artists studio manager, and Mrs. Arnstein have announced the marriage in Las Vegas of their daughter, Carlynn Jean, to Busby Chapman, of Santa Monica, Cal. N.E. Image and Sound Suit to Trial April 7 In reporting on Jan. 28 the dismissal of an action against Altec Service Corp. brought by Image and Sound Service Corp., a Delaware Corp., Motion Picture Daily neglected to mention that the action was one of two which were pending. The second, brought by Image and Sound Service of New England, has been set for trial in Massachusetts Federal District court on April 2, according to L. J. Hacking, treasurer of the Boston company. Reopen Okla. Warner OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., Jan. 30. —The Warner Theatre here will reopen Friday with the first-run showing of Warner Bros.' "The Big Land." The theatre has been closed for remodeling and removal of Cinerama equipment. Warner Sales Meeting Today in Kansas City KANSAS CITY, Jan. 30.-Ed Williamson, Warner Bros. Midwest division sales manager, will open a .twoday meeting of the company's Midwest, North Prairie and South Prairie district and branch managers at the Muehlebach Hotel here tomorrow. Mr. Williamson will discuss the merchandising policies on forthcoming Warner Bros, product as set at the recent home office meeting held by general manager Roy Haines. Attending the meet are Midwest district manager Ernest Sands, with headquarters in Chicago, and branch managers George Lefko, Chicago; Joe Baringhouse, Detroit, and J. M. Wechsler, Milwaukee; North Prairie district manager A. W. Anderson, with headquarters in Minneapolis, and F. J. Hannon, Omaha; South Prairie district manager Hall Walsh, with headquarters in St. Louis, and branch managers R. C. Borg, Kansas City, and Lester Bona, St. Louis. Home office executives attending include Roy Haines, general sales manager; Norman H. Moray, short subjects sales manager, and Larry Leshansky, supervisor of exchanges. Reopen Phila. Erlanger PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 30-William Goldman's Erlanger, center-city house which has been used for both stage productions and roadshow films, will be air-conditioned and completely refurbished, to allow for summer operation. Contracts for the air-conditioning, to be completed by May 1, were let out today, it was announced by William Goldman, head of the theatre chain bearing his name. Legitimate stage offerings are expected for the summer weeks for the Erlanger, which has been dark most of the time in recent years. 'Hours' and 'Gervaise' Named Best in Japan Special to THE DAILY TOKYO, Jan. 25 (By Air Mail)The Japanese magazine Kinema Jumpo whose film awards have real meaning in the industry and to the public, and the Tokyo Motion Picture Reporters Club, have picked the best foreign films shown in Japan in 1956. First choice of both organizations was Rene Clement's adaptation of "Gervaise" by Zola, a French film. Both organizations put William Wyler's "Desperate Hours" in second place. Honorable mention went to "Moby Dick," "War and Peace," "Giant," "Rose Tattoo," "Rebel Without Cause," "The Brave One," "Guys and Dolls," "The King and I" and "The Solid Gold Cadillac." Saturation for iDrango'> United Artists has set a 185-date regional saturation booking for Earlmar Productions' "Drango," it was announced by William J. Heineman, United Artists vice-president in charge of distribution. Openings over the next two weeks include Portland (Ore.), Seattle, Salt Lake City, Kansas City, Oklahoma, Omaha, St. Louis, St. Paul, Des Moines, Detroit, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Dayton, Columbus, Toledo, Providence, Buffalo and Rochester. Mrs. Milt Watt Dies HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 30. Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at Pierce Brothers Inglewood Mortuary for Mrs. Irene Hulbert Watt, who died Tuesday at Encino Hospital following a long illness. The deceased was the wife of Milt Watt, Warner Brothers publicist and former advertising-publicity director at Republic Pictures, who was at the bedside when the end came. Two sons and three grandchildren survive. Cinerama Se To Produc Hazard E. Reeves, president \ Cinerama, Inc., and Milo J. Sutl president of Cinerama ProduotirJ Corp., yesterday announced the gra ; ing of a new non-exclusive license Cinerama, Inc., to Cinerama Prochi' tions Corp. for production and exhi ; i tion in the Cinerama process effect!' Jan. 1, 1959, and possibly earlier. Making the announcement, Rec; said: "We are happy to continue cl friendly business arrangements wi; Cinerama Productions Corp., the col pany that produced 'This Is Cii< rama,' the first Cinerama picture." m John H. Hartley, treasurer of Cii; rama, Inc., said the license means tl, Cinerama, Inc., is continuing with production plans for "The Eigl Day," with Grant Leenhouts in char of production. Also announced was a settlement!" all intercompany claims covering p| vious accounts between the compani, which claims mostly arose in 1953 a. prior thereto, by the payment to Ciirama, Inc., of $174,000. There hij been held in escrow by Cinerama Pi ductions Corp. for this purpose several years the sum of $125,000. Stone to WB Post Mark Stone, formerly comptrol for Warner Pathe News, has been , pointed to the newly-created posit: of business manager for the Wan Bros, advertising and publicity dep.' ments both in New York and at Burbank Studios, it has been ; nounced by Robert S. Taplinger, \ vice-president. Stone will make a headquarters at the home office. Elbert L. Robinson, of the Warner ho .' office sales department, will asqj Stone in establishing the new set-ij Lowell Thomas 'M.C' HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 30 Lowl Thomas will be master of ceremors at the Milestone Dinner of the Scrn Producers Guild, it was annound today by Carey Wilson, chairman f the dinner, which will be held j Feb. 17 at the Beverly Hilton Ho . The dinner will honor Walt Disn. Stellings to Report Ernest Stellings, president of Tbtre Owners of America, will holch press conference today to report j his meetings with exhibitor organition executives and with some cl tribution officials. Close Denver Theatre DENVER, Jan. 30-The 1,960-st Tabor Theatre, which was built | 1881 and converted to films in 19 . has been closed. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; James D. Ivers, Managing Editor; Richard Gertner, News Editor; Floyd E. SttH Photo Editor; Herbert V. Fecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H. 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