Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1957)

195 8 Thursday, August 22, 1957 Motion Picture Daily 3 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Sir: The opinions of some executives expressed lately that Toll TV is on the way to success and that most of the four wall theatres are on the way out to make room for Toll TV, are worthy of consideration but I venture to say that Toll TV because of its many complications may find itself on the same road as 3-D. Exhibitors have nothing to fear if they use good old fashioned showmanship methods, cooperate between themselves, avoid cut-throat methods and keep the interest of the public to the movies constantly on a par with other businesses, through co-operative institutional advertising. Exhibition's worst danger lies in the lack of cooperation within itself. Tommy James Comet Theatre, St. Louis, Mo. U-l Takes Hollywood To Stamford, Conn. Special to THE DAILY STAMFORD, Conn., Aug. 21.-A touch of Hollywood was brought to this Fairfield County town tonight when the premiere of "That Night," the RKO Radio picture being released by Universal-International, was held at the Ridgeway Theatre before a capacity audience of local residents who had participated in the production, civic officials and newspapermen. Ceremonies were broadcast over Stamford's radio station WSTC. The premiere climaxed a three-week promotional campaign developed under the supervision of Harry Furst, city manager for Consolidated Theatres here; Fred Dunner, manager of the Ridgeway Theatre, and Al Cohan, U-I home office exploitation representative. The local Stamford Advocate gave strong support to the campaign. 'Joker' Premiere to Aid Las Vegas Variety Club The Variety club of Las Vegas will receive the proceeds of the world premiere of Paramount's "The Joker Is Wild," which will be held tomorrow at the El Portal Theatre in the Nevada resort city. Newsmen from the principal cities of the country will attend and report the event. Frank Sinatra, star of the film biography of Joe E. Lewis, and Lewis himself, will greet the arriving press at the airport. The film opening and the attendant ceremonies have been planned as a tribute to Lewis. Atlanta Theatre Sold ATLANTA, Ga., Aug. 21.-Ed Strange, for many years owner of the Jewel Theatre, Gordon, Ga., has sold the house to William Aiken. Concentrate on Young Patrons, Rydge Warns Special to THE DAILY SYDNEY, Aug. 21.-"The industry's one objective is to concentrate our selling upon the children, the teenagers, the adolescents and younger people generally," Norman Rydge, head of Greater Union Theatres, told the Australian film industry at a gathering in honor of his 20th anniversary as an exhibitor. His statements were based on a preliminary report of a scientific study of adolescents made by the Sydney University Research unit, which showed that from 94 per cent to 97 per cent of girls 16-18 years old and 93 per cent to 94 per cent of boys in the same age bracket go to the movies at least once a week. Foresees "New Circumstances' "Faith in the future is not enough," Rydge warned. "Not that I have any doubts about the future, but there are big tasks ahead. They involve a future of change, of adaptation to new circumstances, but a future which can and must be shaped. "Our monopoly of mass visual entertainment has been built over many years. It will continue for many years, but new challengers in the field will impose heavier responsibilities upon the individual theatre manager and his team." TV Effects Being Felt The Sydney University study was made under the direction of Prof. W. F. Connell, professor of education. Australia is just beginning to feel the effects of television competition. Warner Meet Report 117 Vendors Signed for Trade Show From THE DAILY Bureau CHICAGO, Aug. 21. -A total of 117 exhibitors have reserved 65 booths in the "ConcessionVend-ORama" section of the 2nd Annual International Motion Picture Industry Trade Show, to be held at Hotel Americana, Miami Beach, Fla., Nov. 20-23, according to NAC exhibit sales chairman Lester Grand, Confection Cabinet Corp., Chicago. The show is jointly sponsored by the National Association of Concessionaires, Theatre Owners of America and Theatre Equipment and Supply Mfrs. Association. L. A. Asks More Data On Pay-TV Applicant From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Aug. 21.-At the first hearing on the application by Harriscope, Inc., for a pay television franchise covering Los Angeles, the Public Utilities and Transportation Commission requested the company to furnish additional information concerning its financial responsibility at a hearing next Tuesday. That also is the date for the Commission's second hearing on the Fox West Coast-Telemeter application. (Continued from page 1) manager; Meyer M. Hutner, national publicity manager, and W. W. Brumberg, in charge of field exploitation, also will address the meeting on advertising, publicity and promotion plans for the forthcoming pictures. The releases to be discussed include "Sayonara," "The Pajama Game," "The Helen Morgan Story," "The Green-Eyed Blonde," "BlackPatch," "Johnny Trouble," "The Black Scorpion." Also "No Sleep Till Dawn," "Jamboree," "The Story of Mankind," "These Dangerous Years," "Woman In A Dressing Gown." Detroit Without Papers At Least Until Friday Special to THE DAILY DETROIT, Aug. 21. To resolve the impasse in the Detroit newspaper strike, publishers of the three dailies attempted to break the deadlock by bringing before Circuit Court Judge Horace Gilmore a plea to restrain pickets of newspapers. Judge Gilmore declined to consider the action on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction. However, he continued the case until Thursday to consider further" argument by counsel. Practically, this means that unless an agreement is reached in the threecornered dispute between International Mailers, Local 40, International Typographers, Local 40, and publishers' association, there will be no newspapers in Detroit before Friday. Exhibitors are doing what they can to reach the public by the way of advertising taking mainly the form of radio and TV spots. It is too early to ascertain what the impact is on the sale of tickets. ..JEWS IWIHIIlr New Caravel Studio Caravel Films, producer of filmed television commercials and industrial films, is expected to move into its new Manhattan quarters on or about Sept. 1. The new Caravel building, located at 20 West End Avenue, will house a completely modern, fully equipped production center with facilities for cutting and animation. Formal dedication will take place after Sept. 15. The company will retain its Hempstead studios as well. Lesser Buys Travelogues Irving M. Lesser has acquired the American rights to the Ultrascope ( VistaVision ) and Eastman color series, "Around the World in Ultrascope." The series consists of 18 short films, five ready for release, thirteen still in production. "Rat Race' to Be Film Perlberg-Seaton have concluded negotiations in Hollywood with Garson Kanin for the purchase of his play, "The Rat Race," for adaptation as a motion picture. 'Graf Spee' to New Orleans The Rank Organization's "Pursuit of the Graf Spee" will have its American premiere on Oct. 16 at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans. 5 times bigger than ever before . . . Columbia's fabulous 5