Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1959)

April 17, 1959 Motion Picture Daily iscriniination on v-See*: Heineman Allied to Weigh MP A Group UA's Grosses _m J. Heineman, United Art>-president in charge of dis», denied yesterday that the Br's 'look-see" policy would reed against only a certain exhibitor, gring a question put to hirn at tOth anniversary luncheon to bress representatives, Heineterated that the pohcy would ied uniformly to all. lie to Box-Office' Continued from page 1) ing director; Robert Ferguson, iffice publicity-advertising diJohn Flinn, studio publicity . and Robert Goodfried, stulicity manager. Lazarus called i to the joint operation of lictated by today's need for donal coverage, e will be no last minute sellfilms. For the first time, the [da publicity advertising de' t will now be working on prodates instead of release schedazarus stated. Men to Have Vital Role men, with Hollywood backand a knowledge of distribud exhibition, interested in a a package, will be employed advance of shooting dates to ^ors, radio and television comrs in key cities throughout the ) discuss film projects and take [(for material which will be xilored for particular outlets, ■Id said, adding that the "Inspiration of East and West pubrpartments is now passe." pen-door policy for informathe company will now be ,iied; and emphasis on closer with company's roster of inbnt producers will also be fco effect pre-arranged merj-ng opportunities on reviewj: during the pre-production (hrough requests for special 1 "trailer shots" during filmproject, it was pointed out. rade Papers Emphasized ' us stated further that Columl make a sizable upswing in i aper advertising to build an corporate image with institu; ds aimed at introducing newand actresses and attracting jdent producers to Columbia's I tis cited "Seventh Voyage of and "Gidget" as examples of 'chandising program being inthat is proving itself at the ce. lfield in pointing up the com)lans to return to studio superf the production phase of pubjtso called attention to on-the,r\ icing in England and the |nt, with Sidney Merkin and Veiner, respectively, acting blicity representatives, rus will leave here tomorrow 1 York. Rosenfield and Ferguby plane late today. ( Continued a report on the meeting of the ACE executive committee in New York this week, and would be "eager to learn" whether the meeting of the MPAA group with ACE "is the round-table conference which was the principal reason for bringing ACE into existence, or merely a preliminary step leading to a full conference including the heads of all the companies." "White Paper' on Agenda The special board meeting, Myers said, would also review the work in the various territories in support of the Allied "white paper" campaign and would consider plans for stepping up the campaign. Many of the Allied board members plan to stay over Monday to contact their Senators and Representatives on Allied complaints against the Justice Department and distributors. Allied officials will try to induce President Horace Adams to retain the presidency, promising to relieve him of some burdensome chores, such as attending meetings all over the country, Myers said. He also stated there is some talk of a "regency" plan to run Allied until the next annual board meeting in December or January. Myers gave no details on this "regency" idea. Adams to Preside Adams will preside over the special board meeting this weekend. Myers said Adams had not indicated whether he would serve out his term. Adams' doctor has ordered him to shed some responsibilities and duties, and Myers said Allied leaders were "appalled" at losing Adams' leadership. The board also plans, according to Myers, to look at the so-called Basle case in Pittsburgh. Basle is an exhibitor who won an anti-trust case, and Myers contended distributors were going far beyond the requirements of the decree in the case and were arbitrarily zoning the city, instf from page 1) tuting zone-wide competitive bidding, and reducing print availability. He said the board hoped to find means to help the Pittsburgh exhibitors and to protect exhibitors in other areas against the "spread of these new and onerous marketing methods." Irving Dollinger will submit a report from the Emergency Defense Committee, and the board will hear reports and formulate policy on legislation pending in Congress to extend minimum wage coverage to theatres and to give the Federal Communications Commission control over wired pay-TV schemes. Myers said in view of the special board meeting, the regular Spring board meeting scheduled for Boston May 11 and 12 would probably be cancelled. til. Papers Feature Zanuck Appearance Special to THE DAILY SPRINGFIELD, 111., April 16. Illinois newspapers, radio and television stations were filled with news of 20th Century-Fox's "Compulsion" today via producer Richard Zanuck's unprecedented appearance before the state legislature yesterday. A bill dealing with the elimination of capital punishment is currently under discussion in the legislature. "Compulsion" deals in part with the capital punishment theme. Talks with State Officials Zanuck also met with state officials as well as legislature members to discuss his research into the problem. In addition, the young producer presented State Secretary Charles Carpentier with a copy of the original "Compulsion" script for the state archives. Following this activity, Zanuck met with the area's leading exhibitors at a special luncheon, which was followed by a lengthy conference with Governor Stratton. Today Marks 40th Anniversary of U.A. Today marks the 40th Anniversary of United Artists Corp. It was on this day in 1919 that four of the most famous stars and producers of the periodCharles Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks Sr., D. W. Griffith and Mary Pickfordset their signatures to the documents that brought the film company into existence. Today, as this event is being celebrated around the world by the legion of stars, producers and creative talent associated with United Artists in the present and past, the company is enjoying the greatest financial and artistic rewards of its history. Arthur B. Krim, president, and Robert S. Benjamin, chairman of the board, who head the new management-owner team that has been directing the affairs of UA since 1951, this week reported that net earnings for 1958 reached an all-time UA high of $3,701,963, and world-wide gross revenues attained a peak of $84,072,467. The 40th Anniversary Year promises to be even more profitable. In the eight years under the Krim-Benjamin stewardship net earnings have increased more than tenfold and gross revenues have multiplied more than four times over. Other members of the management team are William J. Heineman, vice-president in charge of distribution, Max E. Youngstein, vicepresident, Arnold M. Picker, vice-president in charge of foreign distribution, and Seymour M. Peyser, vice-president and general counsel. (Continued from page 1) ing our hopes and aspirations to exhibitors and to Hollywood." The 1959 first quarter gross, Krim reported, amounted to $19,300,000, or a 17 per cent increase over the $16,200,000 gross for the corresponding 1958 period. And, he added, since the 1958 figure was a healthy increase over that for 1957, the U.A. record of uninterrupted progress under the present management is continuing. "It is our prediction," he said, "that for the year 1959 we will be substantially ahead of 1958." U.A. this week reported net earnings of $3,701,963, and gross revenues of $84,072,467 for 1958. Pays Tribute to Associates Noting the presence at the luncheon of Eliot Hyman, president of United Artists Associates; Ilya Lopert, president of Lopert Films, a U.A. subsidiary; Herbert Golden, vice-president in charge of operations; Bruce Eells, executive vicepresident of United Artists Television, and Max E. Youngstein, vicepresident, Krim said each represents a new phase of the company's periodic "progress reports." "They are writing a growth story now," Krim said. Of U.A.'s production plans, Krim said he could do no more than reiterate the company's product announcement of six months ago— "We will dehver what we promised to deliver and we have made no changes in the schedule." Krim was introduced by Youngstein. The two, with Robert Blumofe, vice-president in charge of West Coast operations, leave here for Europe today. Other U.A. executives present included Robert Benjamin, board chairman; W. J. Heineman, vicepresident in charge of distribution; Arnold Picker, vice-president in charge of foreign distribution; Roger Lewis, advertising-pubhcity-exploitation director; Fred Goldberg, executive assistant to Lewis; Mort Nathanson, publicity manager and David Picker, executive assistant to Youngstein. UA Executives (Continued from page 1) of the founding of U.A. Today is the actual anniversary date. "We wanted to celebrate this occasion with our trade press friends who have helped us along the way," said Arthur Krim, U.A. president. "We think it is appropriate that we repeat now, which we do, the acknowledgements of your valuable help that we made in our 35th anniversary report. We think you've done a magnificent job." Said Max E. Youngstein, vice-president: "Our main purpose in getting together today is to say 'thank you' to the trade press. We are grateful for all the help you have been to us during our growth from insolvency to our present healthy condition."