Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1959)

(flay, April 20, 1959 Motion Picture Daily 5 me' Campaign flew Phase ith a full-page ad in Friday's / York Journal-American," a new 3 in the campaign for "The Diary [tone Frank" was entered. The ad s an international flavor for the laien, calling attention to New [ readers that Anne Frank can :>en shortly in the capitals of the p and that ticket information is jable in New York, tie advertisement, largest in a ; of ads which quote some of the i reviews of the 20th CenturyFox !se also brought news of "Anne uc" to students who will be on ion during the summer months, jents were cautioned to order tickets before the vacation peso as to avoid the "standing room problem." ie Journal ad told readers that the imaScope release would premiere lv in London, Paris, Antwerp, n. Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney, iourne and Copenhagen. Ticket mation will be made available by :alace for people who wish to see e Frank" while on their Euroor Oriental vacations. World Gross $590,000,000 m Reopening for iriotte Theatre Special to THE DAILY ( Continued media convertibility of their earnings in certain foreign countries. The MPAA official testified behind closed doors, and his questioning will not be reported until later. Estimating that some $150,000,000 of informational media have been sold in 18 countries during the last ten years under the guaranty program, Johnston asked the subcommittee to boost to $15,000,000 the Administration's recommendation of only $3,500,000 for the program in the year starting July 1. IMG guaranties now cover film distribution in four countries—Poland, Turkey, Vietnam and Yugoslavia. Calls Policy Best Obtainable Johnston said the $3,500,000 sought by the Administration would support the foreign sale of about $11,000,000 of American informational media, a "woefully inadequate" amount. He estimated the program actually is costing the government at the most 10 cents on the dollar, and actually may cost far less, if the local currencies credited to the program should recover their market value. "Even at a cost of 10 per cent," he from page 1 ) asked, "where could be found a better bargain in carrying out foreign policy objectives?" Johnston said MPEA companies are currently guaranteed about $2,000,000 for payments from the four countries covered by the program, and that it was this guaranty alone that made it possible for them to distribute there. Last July, he declared, the Government was asked to increase its guaranties for Turkey and Vietnam, and to include India and Indonesia for the first time in the film guaranty program, in all involving about $6,000,000. The U.S. Information Agency which administers the program said it wanted to expand the film program, he declared, but it was kept from achieving this objective because of lack of funds. Sees Existence Endangered "We are trying to hang on and do business in all these countries," he asserted, "for we prefer to stand on our own feet, but steadily deteriorating conditions make the task harder and harder. Frankly, I don't know how long we can continue in some of these areas." CFI Opens District Office in Detroit UA's Parties 1ARLOTTE, N. C, April 19.i are underway here to reopen eatre which has been dark for ijral years. The C. H. Sears Realty i owners of the long-shuttered If Theatre in North Charlotte, is repairing the theatre for a new it. Painters are giving the front w look and new carpeting and I are being installed. Plans are being made to obtain new prom and sound equipment. mers say they will not open the ire themselves but are preparing : "an interested prospect." IdenDf the prospective operator was revealed. # — ; ploitation Pool ( Continued from page 1 ) lization that would coordinate exition and develop methods of lotion that could be used by all bers of the proposed group, ie idea of a business building n was developed in the upper vest a year ago by Edmond n. president of Welworth Thea Charles Winchell, president of lesota Amusement Co., and Har^ield, president of Pioneer Thea They felt the need of having r in publicity in order to get the est value for the money spent, presentatives from a number of in the Great Plains area have | invited to attend the talks, fog those expected to attend are, y S. GrifBng, Video Theatres, homa City; H. J. Griffith, Dallas; [ge Kerasotes, Theatre Owners Kmerica; Myron Blank, Central ?s Theatres, Des Moines, and Don l, Tri-State Theatres, Des Moines. From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, April 19.-Consolidated Film Industries, in addition to its processing facilities here and in New York and Fort Lee, N. J., has opened a new district office in Detroit to handle an increasing number of film processing orders from the midwest for both black and white and color. C. Richard Shanahan has been placed in charge of the Detroit office, which will coordinate orders and service customers in the area. Technical advice and assistance will be made available to industrial organizations embarking on new film projects. Joseph Gould, UA advertising manager, is visiting exchange areas to confer with sales officials on new materials and methods for presenting the company's 40th anniversary release schedule to exhibitors across the country. He will visit Charlotte today and Philadelphia tomorrow. Tied to UA's 40th anniversary film lineup, the new kind of presentation is designed to effect closer coordination between the sales and promotion forces for maximum selling impact at the local level. ATLANTA, April 19.-Lane Hebson, for 20 years with Martin Theatres, is the new owner of the Strand Theatre, Alexander City, Ala., having purchased it from Mack Jackson, who had operated the house for 41 years. (Continued from page 1) fieldmen, will feature screenings of United Artists' fortieth anniversary trailer and big birthday cakes. Exhibitors, circuit heads and film buyers in UA's 33 exchange areas will be guests at the birthday celebrations. UA's 40th anniversary trailer features scenes from the company's films set for release in 1959. The trailer will also be shown in theatres around the country. The trailer is one of the key elements of an all-media promotion campaign for the 40th anniversary celebration. UA has already sent out a 40th anniversary kit to motion picture editors, film reviewers and film trade editors throughout the U.S. and overseas. Universal Signs Kay HOLLYWOOD, April 19. Gordon Kay, producer formerly under contract to Universal International, has completed negotiations with U-I for a new, multiple picture deal calling for two pictures a year for two years, it has been announced by Edward Muhl, U-I vice-president in charge of production. Heflin, Heilweil Set HOLLYWOOD, April 19. Van Heflin and producer David Heilweil will co-produce "Precipice," original screenplay by Philip MacDonald, which they purchased. Heflin, who will star, will scout locations over the weekend in Acapulco and Mexico City. No release deal has been set. Newsreel Plan (Continued from page 1) tone News, was elected chairman for the coming year to replace Edmund Reek, vice-president and producer of Fox Movietonews. Reek held the post four years and the committee expressed its "appreciation for his valuable services." In regard to the public service matter the committee pointed out that newsreels are called upon nearly every week to provide services requested in support of not only the industry itself, but the government and many national organizations, including the American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, the President's Committee to Employ the Handicapped, U. S. Savings Bonds and other philanthropic organizations. The committee then went on record to the effect that this service, "being an all-industry matter, properly should be shared by the industry." Overseas Service Cited It was brought out that not only do the newsreels serve the industry domestically but frequently in many foreign countries as well. For many years the newsreels have given special coverage to visiting foreign dignitaries who represent important film markets throughout the world. The release of this footage abroad has done much to further the industry's international public relations, it was stated. In another action the committee decided to put before the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences the question as to "why the newsreel has not been recognized by the Academy for its outstanding contribution to the motion picture industry in the 31 years of the Academy's existence." Attending the meeting in addition to Stratton and Reek were: Tom Mead, Al Barsch, Charles Tierney, Universal Newsreel; John E. Michon, Casey Davidson and Walter de Hoog, M-G-M News; Jack Haney and Burt Reinhardt of Fox Movietonews, and Taylor Mills, MPAA. Roy Haines Named (Continued from page 1 ) Columbia Pictures for its short cartoons will be terminated shortly, but its releasing arrangement with Columbia for the coming animated feature, "Mr. Magoo's Arabian Nights," will not be affected. Claughton Changes Set MIAMI, April 19. Managerial changes made by Claughton Theatres here include the shifting of Dean Berrett, manager of tire Circle Theatre, to the Trail, Coral Gables the circuit's flagship. Roger Ellis, assistant manager at the Circle, was named manager, while his post has been taken by Clarence L. Watkins. Robert Guibord, former Wometco manager, has been appointed manager of the Normandy, Miami Beach, succeeding Alex Moffatt, long-time Claughton manager, who retired recently. Gould on Tour for UA Anniversary Lineup Alabama Theatre Sold