Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1957)

Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, July 9, 1957 PERSONAL MENTION DORE SCHARY, consultant for M-G-M, is scheduled to arrive here today from England. • Bob Goodfried, Paramount studio exploitation manager, will arrive in New York today for 10 days of home office conferences. • Jean Goldwurm, president of Times Film Corporation, will sail for Europe Thursday. • George D. Burrows, Allied Artists executive vice-president and treasurer, has returned to his office at the studio from New York. • Edward L. Hyman, vice-president of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres, and Bernard Levy, his assistant, have returned to New York from Des Moines. • Fred Zinnemann, director of "A Hatful of Rain," has arrived here for conferences with 20th Century-Fox executives. ■ • Ned Seckler, Far Eastern supervisor for RKO Radio, will arrive in Singapore tomorrow on his current tour of offices in his territory. • Morris Lefko, Paramount "Ten Commandments" sales executive, left New York last night for Milwaukee and Chicago. U-I's Golden Jubilee Film Preview Tonight City and state officials will join stars of stage, screen, television and radio and leaders of the motion picture industry and publishing world at a special invitational preview of Universal-International's "Man of a Thousand Faces" at the RKO 86th Street Theatre here tonight. The picture has been designated Universale "Golden Jubilee Film" in commemoration of 50 years of motion picture making in Hollywood. Turnbull Elected The election of W. J. Turnbull as executive vice-president and member of the board of directors of National Theatre Supply Co. was announced yesterday by Walter E. Green, president. Turnbull has been vice-president in charge of Eastern district sales for the company since 1951. Todd Blankets London Seek fo Settle Decatur With 'World' Stoms Theatre Council Dispute By PETER BURNUP LONDON, July 8. The imperturbable, unpredictable and highly vocal Michael Todd has left these shores, leaving a wake behind him of still stunned citizenry. No one in the furthermost corner of these islands can now claim that he has not heard of "Around the World in Eighty Days." Every newspaper from "The Times" down to the tabloids carried stories, couched in various types of excitement, of the fabulous Arabian Nights party which Todd ran at the Battersea Pleasure Gardens following the opening of his film at the Astoria Theatre. Best Since Barnum There were slightly hysterical accounts of the occasion also on both TV networks. There's been nothing like it before or since Barnum, declare old and experienced showmen. Todd certainly showed us how to sell the picture, others say. In the view of many who had seen the show in New York in full ToddAO the Astoria screening seemed to lack some of the New York brilliance. National critics vary in their verdicts, but all agree— despite the absurdities of the story— that it comes out as a showman's show par excellence. Down to earth writers aver that it will run at the Astoria for months if not years. Set Double N. Y. Bow For 'Love in Afternoon' Billy Wilder's "Love in the Afternoon," an Allied Artists release, will open simultaneously at both the Paramount and Plaza Theatres here late in August, Morey R. Goldstein, vicepresident and general sales manager of Allied Artists, announced yesterday. The picture, which previously had been announced as opening at the Paramount alone, will be shown instead, in the two theatres because "the combination of broad and sophisticated comedy in this picture makes it an equally potent attraction for both commercial and specialized theatres," Goldstein said. Oscar Vollert Dies; Exhibitor Since 1911 MILWAUKEE, July 8.-Oscar Vollert, 89, a retired theatre owner and manager, died here after a long illness. From 1911 until 1925 he managed the Idea and Henry Boyle Theatres in Fond du Lac. He then returned to Milwaukee and opened the Liberty Theatre. He managed the Strand Theatre here from 1946 until 1950, when he retired. ATLANTA, July 8.-An attempt to settle the dispute between the Decatur (Ga.) Better Films Council Committee and Fred Storey, owner of the Decatur Theatre there, over the number of persons attending the theatre free of charge will be made this week. The meeting was called after city attorney Hugh Burgess delivered an opinion on the city ordinance under which the film group operates. Burgess advised both Storey and the council on what he thought each should do, but his suggestions have not been revealed as yet. Storey had charged the council abused its attendance rights with more persons seeking to attend the theatre as committee representatives in one week than there were on the entire board. Figaro Board ( Continued from page 1 ) of advertising and publicity respectively. Members of the board also remain the same. They include: Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Emanuel Sacks, Bert Allenberg, Alan Livingston, Abraham L. Bienstock, Earl Rettig, Robert Lantz and James E. Denning. The board also approved a plan to expand into the legitimate theatre with a new Carson McCullers play titled "The Square Root of Wonderful." Figaro, Inc. is getting ready to launch production on two Walter Wanger films, "Border Trumpet" and "Commencement." At present Joseph Mankiewicz is editing and scoring the latest Figaro production, "The Quiet American," in Rome. The picture is to be released by United Artists sometime in late October or early November. Figaro also expects to step up activity in television in a short time, though no definite plans have been made public yet. Personnel Cutback for Government Film Unit From, THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, July 8. The Commerce Department's Motion Picture Division has suffered a 25 per cent cut in personnel as a result of Congressional economy action. Congress this year cut deeply into the appropriations for the industry divisions of the Business and Defense Services Administration. In fact, at one point the House had eliminated the industry divisions, but later went along with a Senate decision to restore some money. Crown Colleen Today For 'Moon' Premiere Patricia Kelly of Farmingdale, L. I., will be crowned with shamrocks at noon today as New York's "prettiest colleen" in the 55th Street Playhouse at the American premiere of "The Rising of the Moon." The John Ford film for Warner Bros, release was filmed entirely on location in Ireland. Miss Kelly was selected yesterday over nearly 100 other entrants. The premiere ceremonies for the picture will begin when New York City Fire Commissioner Edward Cavanagh, Jr., cuts the green ribbon in front of the theatre and thereby reopens the New York showcase, which has been closed since June 23 for extensive alterations. Lasky Book Published Jesse L. Lasky's personal story, "I Blow My Own Horn" was published July 3 by Doubleday and Company. The book, written in collaboration with Don Weldon, reminisces on Lasky's half-century in motion pictures and is in effect a history of Hollywood as well. 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