Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1958)

84, NO. 58 MOTION PICTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1958 TEN CENTS Millions eport Deal ir Col. 'Lab' ile Closed he Gets Processing rk on Long Term Basis From THE DAILY Bureau }LLYWOOD, Sept. 21. The pending deal for the sale of nbia Pictures' film processing atory here to Chesapeake Indus;is reported to have been closed e weekend. ider the deal Pathe Laboratories d acquire ownership of the atory equipment and will remove >m the studio site here. In turn, 3 Lab receives a long term conto do all of Columbia's film (Continued on page 2) 000,000 Col. Budget for 'Navarone' lumbia Pictures has assigned a ft ceiling of 85,000,000 for HighProductions' "The Guns of Navain plans to make it the comi's top picture among its 1960 ses, Abe Schneider, president, anced here at the weekend. The ton to provide Carl Foreman, ttive producer of Highroad, with (Continued on page 5) l umbia and Sidney Pact for 5 Films j From THE DAILY Bureau pLLYWOOD, Sept. 21. -George sy and Columbia Pictures have •ed into new contract calling for pictures, which will keep Sidney in production either as a direcproducer or both for next three ;. First on schedule is "Pepe," ing Cantinflas, which Sidney will (Continued on page 2) elev'ision Today Page Northwest Business-Building Drive To Emphasize Merchant Co-operation Special to THE DAILY MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 21— Northwest exhibitors who take part in the business-building campaign developed for use in October, November and December are being urged to take full advantage of promotion materials involving co-op advertising with restaurants, banks and insurance companies. Following the theme developed by the Northwest Exhibitors Business Building Forum last month, "Take Time for a Good Time— Your Best Time is Theatre Time," mats of co(Continued on page 2) Skouras Returns; Starts Meets on McCarey Film Spyros P. Skouras, 20th CenturyFox president, returned here over the weekend from Europe and immediately began conferences with film company officials on special handling and release plans for Leo McCarey's "Rally Round the Flag, Boys!" The picture is being readied for a premiere before the end of the year to qualify for Academy Award recognition. Initial screenings of the picture have been held for Fox executives, and Charles Einfeld and Alex Harrison immediately called meetings with company advertising, publicity and sales forces to set in high gear one of the company's most extensive exploitation campaigns in history. Promotion will be keyed to the film's appeal as "family entertainment." Videotape Operation Set for Roach Studios From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 21. Hal Roach Studios will become the first major production center in Hollywood to be fully equipped for videotape operation, at an installation cost of §1,000,000, it was jointly announced (Continued on page 4) Theatre Officials Meet On Orderly Distribution Special to THE DAILY DETROIT, Sept. 21. About 40 theatre executives, from among American Broadcasting Paramount Theatres' Eastern regional affiliates attended the meeting here called by Edward L. Hyman, vice-president, to discuss the release schedules of 10 national distributors for the final quar( Continued on page 2 ) Says Plenty of Smart Showmen Are Around The theory that theatre circuits lack "smart showmen," as made recently bv an "anonymous" industry figure, was challenged by Ernie Emerling, Loew's Theatres national advertisingpublicity director, at a meeting here of New York managers, division managers and home office executives. The meeting was held to plan the Fall Film (Continued on page 4) USIA to Stress Cultural Content in films To Promote Better Image of U.S. Overseas From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Sept. 21.-The U.S. Information Agency will emphasize the cultural content of its films and other programs in an attempt to promote a better image of America overseas, director George V. Allen said today. In a semi-annual report to Congress, Allen said films and other media in the past six months had largely emphasized American scientific achievement, but that the stress would now go on cultural subjects. He cited a new film, "Museum of Art," now being shown at the Brussels World Fair and which will be shown at the Edinburgh Film Festival and in many theatres in foreign countries. Among major developments in the past six months, Allen cited an agreement which covers Poland under the information media guaranty program for films, books, and magazines. Under this program, U.S. firms for a fee get a government guaranty of convertibility of earnings in the foreign country. NT Circuit 'Solid Core' Theatres, Plus Diversification Policy: Bertero Sets 'Incentive PZan' for Managers; Eyes TV Field From THE DAILY Bureau LOS ANGELES, Sept. 21. Increased diversification by National Theatres into related commercial fields, but with a continued reliance on its circuit of some 300 theatres will be the mainstay of NT operations, it was emphasized here on Friday by John B. Bertero, who will assume the presidency of the organization on Oct. 1. Characterizing the theatre circuit ( Continued on page 2 ) Univ. Foreign Sales Drive to Honor Aboaf October Aboaf Month, a five-week sales drive honoring Universal International Films vice-president and foreign general manageT, Americo Aboaf, was announced a t die weekend bv Alfred E. Daff. executive vicepresident o f Universal Pictures, and president of its overseas subsidiary. Forty of die company's foreign branches will participate in die drive, which (Continued on page 5) Americo Aboaf 'U' Reports Net Loss of $861,247 in 39 Weeks Universal Pictures and its subsidiary companies had a net loss for the 39 weeks ended Aug. 2, 1958, of $861,247 after a Federal income tax credit of $1,160,000. After provision for divi(Continued on page 5)