Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1959)

2 Motion Picture Daily Monday, July 13, 19S PERSDML MEIVTIDIV BERNARD M. KAMBER, HechtHill-Lancaster executive in charge of advertising-pubbcity, will arrive in Hollywood today from New York. • Joseph Bellfort, since 1946 managing director for RKO Radio in Continental Europe and the Near East, has returned to New York from Paris with his family to take up residence here. • Marshall Schacker, head of Premiere Films, Inc., left here on Saturday for three weeks' vacation at Martha's Vineyard. • Cynthia Blau, wife of Martin Blau, assistant publicity manager of Columbia Pictures, gave birth on Friday to a boy, Clifford Irwin, at White Plains Hospital. • Linda Barbara Goodman, daughter of Bernard R. Goodman, vicepresident of Warner Brothers, will be married in the autumn to Steven Laifman, of Westwood, Cal. • Fred Zinnemann, director, will arrive here today from Hollywood. • Al Steen, Eastern editor of Boxoffice, will be married at the Marble Collegiate Church here on Saturday to Pat Padula, of Endorsements, Inc. Senate Bill ua, Finance Firm Join Bur cau ill Indii Susan Hayward Signed HOLLYWOOD, July 12-Susan Hayward has been signed by producer Ross Hunter to star in Universal-International's "Elephant Hill," to be filmed in India in October or November, depending upon her availability. Hunter will leave Hollywood in September to scout locations. Hunter is also preparing "Luana Royal," which will star Lana Turner, for filming this fall, and Fannie Hurst's "Back Street," as yet uncast. SHOuimEnuinnfED! Increase your Concession Sales to an all-time high with 4 Brand-New Full-Color Animated and Narrated Intermission-Time BLOCKBUSTERS from: NATIONAL SCREEN SERVICE TOPS IN TRAILERS! ( Continued from page 1 ) (D., Mass.) said he hoped to have the bill acted on by the full committee this week. Backers of the bill intend to press for Senate approval this year, but concede House action is not likely until next year. Nonetheless, Senate approval this year will make it difficult for the House not to act next year. The Bill approved by the subcommittee went considerably further in extending; coverage to theatres and other retail and service establishments than any of the proposals on which the subcommittee held hearings earlier this session. The proposed bill would cover all retail or service establishments engaged in activities "affecting commerce." Labor department officials said the definition was clearly one that would cover all theatres, even small independent ones, because of the shipment of films across state lines. Differs from Kennedy Bill The original Kennedy bill, which unions backed, would have covered theatres and circuits grossing more than $500,000 a year immediately under a $1.25 an hour minimum and a 40-hour-a-week overtime. But it would have left intact the present complete exemption for theatres grossing under $500,000 a year. The Administration proposed covering theatres and circuits getting more than $1,000,000 worth of goods a year from outside the state. The subcommittee bill would increase the hourly minimum for many film production and distribution employees already covered by the law. The present $1 an hour minimum would go up to $1.15 an hour immediately, and up to $1.25 an hour a year later. Administration Opposed Change The Administration had opposed any change in the minimum. Under its terms, theatre and theatre circuits with annual gross sales of $750,000 or more would immediately be subjected to a $1 an hour minimum wage, with a requirement for time-and-a-half for overtime after 46 hours a week. A year after the bill becomes law, they would have to start paying $1.10 an hour with overtime after 44 hours a week. Two years after the bill becomes law, they would have to start paying $1.20 an hour, with overtime for more than 42 hours a week, and starting with the period three years after the bill becomes law, they would have to pay $1.25 an hour, with overtime for more than 40 hours a week. Theatres grossing less than $750,000 a year— and not part of a larger circuit with sales over that amount— In $5,000 'Hole' Contest More than $5,000 in prizes is being offered by United Artists and Beneficial Finance through a contest in behalf of UA's "A Hole in the Head," Sincap production starring Frank Sinatra, Edward G. Robinson and Eleanor Parker. The competition will be conducted in 20 major markets of the nation, and will be publicized in all of Beneficial's 1,100 branch offices throughout the country. Twenty $100 Savings Bonds will be offered as first prizes to contestants submitting the most original conclusion, in 25 words or less, to the sentence: "I Must Have Had a Hole in the Head When I. . . ." A $50 and $25 Savings Bond will be awarded as second and third prizes in each area in addition to other cash prizes and gifts. Diversification ( Continued from page 1 ) assets. Moreover in most cases this has resulted in the realization of many times their book worth, leaving the film companies extraordinarily rich in cash and well situated to take advantage of new non-movie business opportunities as they materialize." At the same time, the article continues, the companies are using their funds to repurchase company stock and thus "enhancing the per share earnings and dividend paying ability of the remaining stock." The report quotes recent statements of Spyros Skouras, 20th Century-Fox president, and Barney Balaban, head of Paramount, to the effect that diversification is being considered for their companies. And it adds: "Presumably, other major studios are also seeking non-movie ventures into which they can expand." Value Line states that as a result of diversification moves and retirement of common stock it ranks film equities in Group I (Highest) relative to all stocks for appreciation potentiality to 1962-64. Penn. Censors ( Continued from page 1 ) tutional by the State Supreme Court will be presented to the legislature tomorrow, attorney general Anne X. Alpert said. Miss Alpert explained that the amendments "will meet objections of the court to sections dealing with definitions of immorality." Sections banning obscenities will be retained and the penalties for violations increased. would have to pay $1 an hour when the bill becomes law. However, they would not be subject to the later increases in the minimum, nor would they be subject at all to overtime requirements. ( Continued from page 1 ) to, on scripts, songs and dialogue ( films during or before productioi The advice of the Bureau, howeve will be on a voluntary basis and wi not prejudice the decision of th Censor Board in regard to the fin approval of those films for public e hibition. The Bureau will also examin scripts submitted by foreign produc ers who may desire production facil ties in India. The advice of th Bureau in such cases will cover sui ability of the film for exhibition nc only in India but also abroad. The headquarters of the Bureai it is further learned, will be i Bombay and sub-offices, if foun necessary, will be set up in Madra; Calcutta or any other centre. Specie steps are likely to be taken to ensur secrecy about the contents of th scripts and other documents comin into the possession of the staff of th Bureau. The draft plan does not prescrib any consultation fee as payable t the Bureau. But if payment of fe is involved in any particular cas requiring expert advice from special ists, such fee will be payable by th. producer concerned. The Bureau wi! have its own library of books am films, which can be availed of b producers. Johnston Report ( Continued from page 1 ) ment, also to report on the Berlii ' Film Festival which he attended. Johnston, who was accompanie( to Europe by J. Griffith Johnsonj MPEA vice-president, . arrived ii New York on Friday, left for Wash ington for the weekend, and return here today. In the meantime the MPEA boar( held a short meeting here on Frida; to discuss progress made in negotia tions for a new agreement witl' Israel. Instructions were then re ^ layed to S. Frederick Gronich, MPE/ Continental representative, who wil proceed with the matter from there Possibilities are that negotiations wiL, be resumed in London this week. I II MPI Directors {Continued from page 1 ) president of the company which wa formed last year by a group of ex hibitor leaders to purchase stock ir motion picture production and di: tribution companies. Principal pur pose of the move was to give ex^ hibitors a voice, through MPI, in th^ management of major companies. The original group subscribed more than $100,000 and no further solicita tions were made until two weeks agq when J. Robert Hoff, president of tm Ballantyne Co. of Omaha, took a siJj li montlis leave of absence to head sales organization for MPI. MOTION PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley. Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kan Herbert V. iecke, Advertising Manager; Gus H " . _ . . Canby, Eastern _Editors._ Hollywood Bureau ington principal Center, dent and as a secti class matte Fausel Production Mana'^er "fFTKVTTTOW ^n^^ l"'^''!' Managitig Editor; Richard Gartner, News Editor; -^^auctioti Manager, iJi^LJi VISION TODAY, Charles S. Aaronsqn, Editorial Director; Pinky Herman, Vincent,