Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1957)

VOL. 82, NO. 35 MOTION PICTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1957 TEN CENTS Coast Production Hits New High Shares Active With 55 Films Currently in Work Loew's Stock Adjournment Near Vital Measures Going Over to Next Session Ticket Tax, Toll TV, Wage Law Face Congress in '58 By J. A. OTTEN WASHINGTON, Aug. 19.-The Congress rushing to adjourn is leaving for next year a large number of bills of vital interest to the motion picture industry. They cover such subjects as tax relief, outlawing toll television, minimum wage extension, and tougher anti-trust laws. This year no major legislation of interest to the industry went all the way to the White House. When Congress returns in January, exhibitors can be expected to step up a drive for admissions tax relief, (Continued on page 5) NicGee Asks for Denver Cable TV Franchise Special to THE DAILY DENVER, Aug. 19.-The Pat McGee-Briggs Enterprises, owner of the Tower Theatre and two car-washing establishments, have applied for a franchise to install toll television. They want to limit their activities to about a third of Denver, that section east of Colorado Boulevard, which contains (Continued on page 5) Film on Soviet Life Acquired By Univ. Universal has acquired for fall release a feature length, color film depicting many new and revealing scenes of life behind the Iron Curtain, Alfred E. Daff, executive vicepresident, reported yesterday. The film, "This Is Russia," was (Continued on page 5) Television Today 'T From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 19— Last week's high of 47 pictures in production was increased this week to an even greater record-breaking total of 55. Eleven new pictures were started and three others reached the completion stage. Started were: "Beast of Budapest" (Allied Artists); "Viking Women," Roger Corman Prod. (American International ) ; "Monster on the Hill," Marquette Prod. ( Howco International); "The Hot Angel," Paragon Prod., "Teenage Rumble," TransWorld Prod., and "Assignment for Murder," P-W-B Prods. (Independent); "Plunderers of Eldorado," Ventura Prod. (Republic); "Ghost Diver," Regal Films, and "Blood Arrow," Regal Films (20th Century-Fox); "Time Is a Memory," Batjac Prods. ( United Artists); "Marjorie Morningstar," WarnerColor (Warner Bros.). Completed were: "Oregon Passage," CinemaScope, Eastman Color ( Allied Artists); "Young and Dangerous," Regal Films, and "Escape to Red Rock," Regal Films (20th Century-Fox). Telemeter Holds Exhibitor Interest By NORMAN MORRIS "Will subscription television expand or restrict the exhibition market?" is the question raised by many theatre men who have witnessed Paramount's Telemeter demonstration being held at the Savoy Plaza Hotel. Mixed Views Regarding Medium While there are some who go along with Telemeter's claim that the wired system "is providing additional remote seats" in viewer's homes, others believe the franchise pattern proposed by the company will limit the number of potential patrons by sheer physical necessity. Among Telemeter's new enthusiasts are Richard M. Hall of Chakeres ( Continued on page 4 ) Detroit Newspapers Shut Down in Strike Special to THE DAILY DETROIT, Aug. 19-For the second time in two years Detroit is newspaperless. Saturday, in a dispute over work assignments, the International Mailers Local 40 threw 100 pickets (Continued on page 2 ) Rhoden Hits Toll-TV As 'Giants' OK Frisco Special to THE DAILY SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 19-There is no financial future in pay television. That was the statement here today of Elmer C. Rhoden, president of National Theatres, in an exclusive interview with Motion Picture Daily. Rhoden made the observation a few minutes after Milton J. Shapp, president of Jerrold Electronics Corp. told a press conference his firm had just (Continued on page 4) REVIEW: Perri Walt Disney — Buena Vista Hollywood, Aug. 19 You've got to go back as far as to the earlv Griffith, the infallible director of whcm it came to be said of each picture as it came along in seemingly endless order of release, "Griffith has done it again," to find a consistency so long maintained, a standard so highlv held, as Walt Disney's. And the thing it has become regulation practice to say of each of his pictures as it comes along in seeminglv endless and also endlessly varied release is a little different— a little more— than the thing that was said of the great Griffith; it is "Disney has done it again— and ( Continued on page 4 ) Bought by Fri. Can Be Voted Speed Proxy Drive; Court Hearing Thursday Decisive By JAMES M. JERAULD Those who buy Loew's, Inc., stock up to the close of business Friday will be able to have their ownership recorded so they can vote at the special stockholders' meeting scheduled for September 12. The stock opened at 18 yesterday on the New York Stock Exchange and closed at 17% a loss of % after sales of 20,200 shares. The Loew's Stockholders Protective Committee was busy yesterday on a national scale rounding up pledges of assistance in securing proxies and laying plans for a national campaign which will continue until the meeting takes place. In the meantime the spotlight is about to shift to Wilmington on Thursday where Chancellor Collins J. Seitz is scheduled to hear all the complicated ramifications of Tomlinson's struggle to prevent the holding (Continued on page 2) Ginema Lodge Names Rosen for Honor Night Samuel Rosen, executive vicepresident of the Stanley-Warner Corp. will be honored by New York's Cinema Lodge of B'nai B'rith at a special "Honor Night" at the Hotel Sheraton Astor on Wednesday evening, Oct. 2nd, it was announced yesterday by Robert K. Shapiro, president of Cinema Lodge. Leaders from every branch of the entertainment industry and civic officials are expected to join Cinema Lodge members and their guests at the Sheraton-Astor that evening to (Continued on page 2) Samuel Rosen