Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1958)

iiursday, November 6, 1958 Motion Picture Daily ariety International fans '59 Convention Special to THE DAILY \ CHICAGO, Nov. 5.-Four special [rums have been scheduled for the )59 convention of International VaMy Clubs, which will take place in I is Vegas March 31 through April 3 I the Thunderbird Hotel. This was ^nounced here by Jake Kozloff, genI al chairman of the international con ■ntion, following a three-day meeting I tlie Congress Hotel. I The four forums planned for the I invention include fund raising, [loosing the proper charity, general nt financing, and club room activiI;s. 1 Las Vegas will also institute a new 'novation in the presentation of |:art reports. Nathan Golden, inter(itional heart chairman from WashIgton, D.C., is working closely with ozloff and George Hoover on a new I rmat for this presentation. Charities Committee Formed I International chief barker George \\'. Eby of Pittsburgh announced the irmation of a charities committee to It headed by Tracy B. Hare, ad1 inis.trative director of Variety Chill-en's Hospital in Miami, and also | member of Tent 33. Serving on this |>mmittee will be Louis Goffman of ||iiladelphia, and Leroy Miller of I inneapolis. I The charities committee will also |ive assistance and professional guidIice from health and welfare agenjes. ■ It was also decided at the meeting I set up a New York press repreI^ntative. Eby will make an announcement shortly on the man who will [bad this department. Election Effect Is Weighed B-B Campaign ^ing Bros, in Suits Involving 3 Pictures From THE DAILY Bureau I HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 5. King rothers Productions has filed antilust and breach-of -contract suits askIig damages of $6,030,000 against KO Teleradio Pictures; General Tire I id Rubber Co. parent of RKO; Unilarsal Pictures; Thomas F. O'Neil, ■ resident of RKO; and three of its Iirmer executives, Daniel T. O'Shea, 1 /alter Branson and Edward L. Wali in. Action was filed in Federal DisI ict Court here and involves distribuI.on of King Brothers' picture, "The I rave One," and claims breach of I'mtract in regard to "Carnival Story" lid "Drums in the Deep South." ! Complaint charges there was "gross lismanagement" in the distribution nd sale of the pictures growing out f the assignment last January by iKO of distribution rights to Univeril. Universal, in turn, it is claimed, pansferred distribution of "The Brave t)ne" to the J. Arthur Rank OrganizaI on in England. Picture was to have jeen handled exclusively by RKO, the omplaint states, and asks damages >e trebled as provided for in comJaints alleging conspiracy under nti-trust regulations. (Continued tor John W. Bricker, top Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee and a leading advocate of tough TV network regulation. Bricker's defeat also points up the major overhauling that will come in key Senate and House committees as a result of the Tuesday voting. He was one of four Republican members of the Commerce Committee to lose out, with Senators Potter of Michigan and Purtell of Connecticut going down to defeat to join the earlier-defeated Senator Payne of Maine. He'd lost in September in Maine's early election, Schoeppel the Leader With Bricker's defeat, Senator Andrew F. Schoeppel of Kansas, a protoll-TV lawmaker, becomes the top Republican on the commerce group. Democratic members of most committees will, of course, remain unchanged, except for filling vacancies left by deaths, resignations or shifts to more desirable committees. There'll also be new Democratic vacancies, however, due to the fact that the heavy Democratic margins will require increased Democratic representation on most committees. For example, the Senate Commerce and Finance Committees in the past Congress had eight Democratic members and seven Republicans. To take care of increased Democratic representation in the Senate, they'll probably have to be changed to at least nine to six margins. Similar or more drastic changes will be needed in other Senate and House committees. Committee Chairmen Unchanged Naturally, practically all committees will continue under the same Democratic committee chairmen as in the past Congress. What's more, a Democratic-controlled Senate is assured through 1962. So great were the Democratic gains this year that Republicans cannot capture the Senate in 1960, no matter how great the sweep for president. The key tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee will see many new faces. On the Democratic side there are at least three vacancies caused by the primary defeat of Rep. Gregory of Kentucky, the death of Rep. Eberharter of Pennsylvania, and the elevation to the Senate of Rep. McCarthy of Minnesota. In line for from page 1 ) two of the vacancies are Reps. Watts of Kentucky and Metcalf of Montana. On the GOP side of the committee, Reps. Jenkins of Ohio and Holmes of Washington retired, Rep. Kean of New Jersey lost on a Senate try, and Rep. Sadlak of Connecticut was defeated. In line for two GOP spots are Representatives Utt of California and Knox of Michigan. A similar shake-up faces the Senate Finance Committee. At least one new Democrat will probably be named as the Democratic membership of the committee is increased. In addition three Republican members— Flanders of Vermont, Martin of Pennsylvania and Jenner of Indiana— retired, and a fourth, Senator Malone of Nevada, were defeated yesterday. Senator Williams of Delaware becomes the top Republican on the committee, and Senator Curtis of Nebraska is reported in line for one of the GOP vacancies. Bennett of Michigan Advances On the House Commerce Committee, the top four Republicans in the past Congress have either retired, died or been defeated, and Rep. John Bennett of Michigan advances to the top GOP spot on the committee. Major changes will take place on the Republican side of the House Judiciary Committee, which handles anti-trust legislation. There are at least half-a-dozen vacancies on that side of the committee, and with the Senate election of Rep. Keating of New York, Rep. William McCulloch of Ohio becomes the top Republican, a very conservative GOP member. The GOP side of the Senate Labor Committee loses three members— retiring Senators Smith of New Jersey and Ives of New York and defeated Senator Purtell. Senator Goldwater of Arizona becomes the ranking Republican. In the House Rep. Kearns of Pennsylvania moves to the uppermost GOP spot with the retirement of Rep. Gwinn of New York. Saltonstall Succeeds Thye The former chairman and presently ranking Republican on the Senate Small Business Committee, Senator Thye of Minnesota, also lost yesterday. With his defeat Senator Saltonstall of Massachusetts leads that committee's Republicans. Mark Ostrer Dies; Gaumont Director From THE DAILY Bureau LONDON, Nov. 5.-Mark Ostrer, a member of the board of Gaumont British Picture Corp., Ltd., and its associated companies, died last night of a heart attack. He had spent the afternoon with John Davis, managing director of the Rank Organization. David said Ostrer had "never seemed in better form or happier." Ostrer became financially interested in motion pictures some years ago and had a large share in the establishment of Gaumont British Corp. ( Continued from page 1 ) prove proceeding with the radio phase by matching some $170,000 of exhibitor contributions, a maximum of $5,000 of which would be contributed by TOA should a deficit exist. If the distribution companies agree, it was hoped to get the radio phase of the campaign started by the yearend holidays. The board also is scheduled to act on arrangements for the companies to match exhibitor contributions to COMPO for another year. Once this has been done, COMPO can proceed with its annual solicitation of theatre dues, which has been delayed since September, awaiting MPA action. Ad Group to Meet Today The advertising-publicity directors committee also will meet today and is expected to consider the status of the business-building campaign, as well as hear reports on studies of criticisms of film and theatre advertising by newspapers and other public 4U' Board Again Omits Preferred Dividend The board of directors of Universal Pictures yesterday voted to omit the declaration of the quarterly dividend on the 4Vi per cent cumulative preferred stock of the company, which would ordinarily have been declared at this time. Although an offer for purchase of the Universal studio property by Music Corp. of America reportedly was on the board meeting agenda, the company said following the meeting there was nothing to report on the subject. Para. Would Distribute ( Continued from page 1 ) future French films, George Weltner, Paramount vice-president in charge of world sales, said here today. Weltner spoke on the latest lap of his trip to carry Paramount 's message of faith in the future abroad. The luncheon was attended by 80 French exhibitors, distributors and newsmen at the Ritz Hotel. Among the French film leaders in the audience were Adrien Remauge of Pathe, Marcel Richard of Sogec, and Louis Sallard of Gaumont. Weltner left here tonight for London, the final stop on his world tour. He will address Britain's exhibitors Friday at a luncheon-meeting at the Dorchester Hotel. Durwoods Take Victoria For Kansas City 1st Run Special to THE DAILY KANSAS CITY, Nov. 5.-The Victoria Theatre in Kansas City which in past years has been used for stage shows, concert series and radio and television presentations, has been leased for 30 years to Kansas City Theatres, Inc., to be operated by Durwood Theatres, which also operates the Roxy here. The lease will not become effective until next spring because various sponsors of legitimate theatre attractions and other interests already have rented the theatre through the winter season. The major deal, which has been rumored for some time, will result in another first-run theatre for downtown Kansas City. The Durwood firm, which also operates theatres in St. Joseph, Mo., and Leavenworth, Kans., reportedly plans to use the Victoria for roadshow pictures, playing the films on a long-run, advanced price basis. The building is owned by the KMBC Broadcasting Co.