Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1957)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY VOL. 82, NO. 5 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, JULY 9, 1957 TEN CENTS 'Pride9 Leads Parade Long Weekend Aids Business On Broadway But Some Report July 4 Grosses Behind Last Year Broadway theatres enjoyed excellent business for the long four-day weekend beginning Thursday, exhibitors reported yesterday, despite the fact that business on -July 4th itself was not up to last year for many. On that day in 1956 grosses were unusually good, and showmen pointed out that they had been aided by inclement weather. This year, the skies were sunny and clear. Continuing to hold the pace it has already set as one of the biggest hits in the history of the Capitol and one of the biggest grossers for United Artists ever was Stanley Kramer's "The Pride and the Passion." The picture took in a huge $59,440 at the theatre over the four-day weekend with $17,200 on July 4 alone. It is estimated (Continued on page 3) Closes' s Mexican Stages To Be Closed July 31 Special to THE DAILY MEXICO CITY, July 8.-Stages of the Clasa Studios will be closed July 31, but the labaratory will continue until October. The studio, which opened in 1935, has been a deficit operation for some time. The Picture Production Workers Union ( STPC ) is taking the closure calmly as more work is expected by members at the Churubusco, Tepeyac and San Angel Inn plants. This closure, following the recent shuttering of the Azteca Studios, is described as a "wholesome reorganization of the industry" by Felipe Palomino, secretary general of the labor group. Television Today t Toil-TV Test Would 'Serve No Useful Purpose1: Joint Committee By J. A. OTTEN WASHINGTON, July 8.— The "appropriate remedy" in the toll television dispute at this time "is not a test but an out-right dismissal of the pending petitions or, at the very least, a public hearing where oral testimony will be given under oath," the Joint Committee on Toll-TV told the Federal Communications Commission today. The assumption that a field test would serve any useful purpose is "fallacious," the committee asserted in its response to an FCC request for comments on a proposed field test of subscription television. The general tenor of the FCC's notice asking for comments on a test, it continued, "clearly indicates that the commission itself is not convinced that a test will prove anything and has not formulated a definitive understanding of what it hopes to gain by a test." The committee called this "the first known instance where an applicant's inability and/or unwillingness to offer evidence that its proposal would serve the public interest becomes the basis for granting the proposal." The committee said it was "quite (Continued on page 3) With FCC m Reveal '1 9W Film Subsidized by USIA From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, July 8.-The film version of George Orwell's novel "1984" was the film which the U. S. Information Agency helped out with a $100,000 subsidy, according to reliable sources. "1984" was produced by Holiday Film Productions in England for distribution by Columbia Pictures. It was nationally released in this country in September, 1956. Earlier this year, when the U.S.I.A. (Continued on page 3) Figaro Officers and Board are Reelected All officers of Figaro, Inc., were reelected at a meeting of the board of directors held here yesterday. Joseph L. Mankiewicz continues as president, Emanuel Sacks as executive vice-president and Robert Lantz as vice-president. Richard Reiss remains secretary of the corporation, and Earl Rettig and Michael Mindlin, Jr. continue as treasurer and director ( Continued on page 2 ) Program of Shorts RKO will initiate a new program of short subjects with 12 new films scheduled for release between this Thursday and Aug. 26, it was announced yesterday by Budd Rogers, (Continued on page 3) Bminess Holding Well for Little Rock, Ark. Drive-Ins; Some Report Increases Up to 17% Special to THE DAILY LITTLE ROCK, Ark., July 8.— Summer business for drive-in theatres in this area is running about the same as 1955 and 1956. That was the statement in general bv managers of six drive-in theatres in this area in recent interviews. Business increases of 10 and 17 per cent were reported by a few while the majority felt there had been little or no change. Admission prices are the same with the majority. The one increase was only 10 cents. The "nfty cents a carload" or "dollar a carload" is not in effect here and no plans to launch it are being considered. Each drive-in is enjoying an increase in the concession business, due partly to a better selection of items offered, exhibitors said. Because of unusually heavy rains in this area for several months and floods last month, mosquitoes are a major problem at the drive-ins. Some are meeting the situation with spray and fog-type insecticides over the area before the show begins and at intermission. Seven Groups File Briefs on Toll -TV Tests Deadline for Answering New Comments is July 22 From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, July 8.-The Federal Communications Commission today was recipient of several more reams of printed matter relative to toll television and specifically concerned with whether or not the Commission should authorize toll TV tests. Today was the deadline for the filing of those comments. Deadline for the filing of answering comments on today's opinions is July 22. Chief opponents to the proposed tests who filed today included, as expected, the three television networks —the American Broadcasting Company, the National Broadcasting Company and the Columbia Broadcasting System — and the Joint Committee Against Pay TV, all of whom reiterated their previously declared positions with special respect to the proposed tests. Chief proponents filing today (Continued on page 6) mg C0MP0 Dues Payments Special to THE DAILY DETROIT, July ^-Members of the Michigan Allied unit have been asked to withhold contributions to the Council of Motion Picture Organizations until national Allied and COMPO have agreed on terms of a rapproach( Continued on page 3) Rally to Aid Victims Of Hurricane Today Hulan Jack, president of the Borough of Manhattan, actress Yvonne DeCarlo and "rock-and-roll" master of ceremonies Alan Freed will join with New York City and Red Cross officials in Times Square at noon today to head the notables at the emergency rally called by the New York Chapter of the American Red Cross to aid victims of the Louisiana hurricane and tidal wave disaster.