Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1959)

12 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, October 15, 195' National Pre-Selling A PHOTO of Clark Gable appears in the Oct. 12 issue of "Life" in a relaxed mood. It is a production still from "But Not For Me," in which he is facing a great moment of truth. The truth is that he is not 51 or 44 or 41 years of age, as he has been stoutly insisting to justify falling in love with his 21-year-old secretary. He is in hard fact, a middle-aged should-knowbetter 56. Actually Gable is an unabashed 58 years old, and he can still make love to lovely ladies on the screen with the same careless grace that entranced Jean Harlow and Greta Garbo a quarter of a century ago. The luscious Carroll Baker and piquant Lilli Palmer are co-starred with him in this new Paramount film. • Jesse Zunser in "Cue's" Oct. 10 issue reports that "Pillow Talk" is one of the liveliest and funniest adult comedies of the year. It's Zunser's opinion that Rock Hudson quite unexpectedly reveals himself as an excellent actor in light, racy comedy; Doris Day delivers a fine job; Tony Randall again contributes beautifully toward accenting the most hilarious of gags and situations. This U.I. film is playing here at Rueoff and Beckers new swank and distinguished Murray Hill theatre and at Broadway's venerable RKO Palace. • "Grand Illusion," that excellent film of World War I, has been returned to distribution by Continental Films and received a learned and penetrating review by "Esquire's" Kingsley Amis in the October issue. • A clever device, a jewel studded can opener developed by Jackie Neben of the promotion department of "McCall's," was sent to the top theatre executives of the nation. It was packed in a jewel case with a gift card publicizing "The Best of Everything." In addition to regular promotional copy, the card carried this message "we are sending you the best opener we could find to celebrate the opening of this brand new, grand new film." • A striking color ad on "Pillow Talk," starring Rock Hudson and Doris Day, appears in the October issue of "Redbook." • "Take A Giant Step," the sensitive, poignant story of a teen-age boy caught between adolescence and manhood, received a laudatory review from Edwin Miller in the October issue of "Seventeen." The boy in this U.A. film is a Negro brought up in a white neighborhood located in a New England city. • "The Inquiring Photographer" ad for "The Best of Everything" appears on the table of contents page in "Good Housekeeping's" October issue. Walter Haas New Drive-In Screen, Play Equipment To Be Exhibited at TOA, NAC Show A new plastic-coated drive-in screen, new kiddie area equipment, and methods of converting abandoned theatre properties into commercial uses, will be among the highlights at the all-industry trade show to be staged at the Hotel Sherman, in Chicago, in conjunction with the 12th annual convention of the Theatre Owners of America, starting Sunday, Nov. 8th. Kerasotes Tells Plans George G. Kerasotes, TOA president, said the trade show, to be conducted in cooperation with the National Association of Concessionaires, will feature many new ideas and new equipment for theatre owners. The convention will run from Nov. 8 through 12. The trade show will conclude one day earlier, Nov. 11. Samples of the new plastic coating for screens will be exhibited by George English, Inc., of Berwyn, Pa., along with material on the firm's prism screen, and its Panovision fight meter readings for "do-it-yourself" screen comparisons. Three manufacturers will display their models of kiddie "Karts" for drive-in play areas, which have been hailed as easier and less expensive to install than the conventional miniature trains or midget autos. Booth for Advice To capitalize on the current growing popularity of bowling, the BrunswickBalke-Collender Company will have a booth to advise theatremen how closed theatre properties can be converted profitably into bowling alleys. Officials of the company say they also will tell theatre operators how bowling alleys can be incorporated into the operating structure of their theatre companies, as a means of diversification. Also exhibiting, Kerasotes said, will be the new Seaboard Premium Comany, with a new line of dishware and cutlery premium items. Seaboard lists Skouras Theatres, Walter Reade, Stanley-Warner and Fabian Theatres among its users. Kerasotes said that a sell-out of exhibit space is certain for the trade show, and that equipment for virtually all other phases of theatre operation will be shown. Show hours will be from 1 to 6 P.M. daily, and the convention business program has been arranged so that afternoons will be clear for conventionaires to attend the trade show. Two Student Matinees For 'Ben-Hur' in Hub Special to THE DAILY BOSTON, Oct. 14. With the Boston opening of "Ben-Hur" still more than a month away, the Saxon Theatre has booked their first two student matinees. Special shows will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 7 and 8, with over 900 students at each performance. The two matinee performances have been reserved by the Watertown, Mass., school system. These student matinees will be in addition to the 10 regular performances per week, all on a reserved seat basis. Final Title Chosen "Wild River" is the final title of Elia Kazan's forthcoming 20th Century-Fox production. The CinemaScope-DeLuxe color release will star Lee Remick and Montgomery Clift. The story is based on William Bradford Huie's novel, "Mud on the Stars." BIG AD CAMPAIGN for "Solomon and Sheba" New York engagement at Capitol: Roger H. Lewis, United Artists vice-president in charge of advertising, publicity and exploitation, unveils the ad campaign for the New York premiere of Edward Small's Super Technirama-70 production "Solomon and Sheba" at the new Loew's Capitol Theatre, to UA vice-president William J. Heineman, center, and Seymour Poe, producer's representative. The UA release will be the inaugural attraction at the Capitol when the Broadway showcase is re-opened in late December following a $1,000,000 renovation. Penny-Day Stunt Is Success in Baltimore Special to THE DAILY BALTIMORE, Oct. 14. The firs, two Mondays of "Penny Day" durinOctober, which is designated "Movi. Month" by neighborhood theatre^ have resulted in substantial boosts ^ box offices, according to the Allied Motion Picture Theatre Owners oc Maryland, which originated the prcT motion. Adults purchasing one ticket as th( regular price are permitted to buy second ticket for one cent. The sam regulation applies to the purchase C1' children's admissions. An elaborate promotional campaign includes proclamations by Maryland Governor J. Millard Tawes and Balti' more's Mayor J. Harold Grady a "October Is Movie Month." U.A. Answers (Continued from page 1) people who might hurt them. W choose not to sell them because w| feel it is not in the interests of our ow customers." Milton H. London, president c Michigan Allied, which has been wag ing a battle against non-theatrical di< tribution, has publicly said, "Than you, Mr. Bowman, and all other D^ troit branch managers who are cc operating in this matter." Leenhouts Resigns ( Continued from page 1 ) Cinerama with the right to crea^i packages and to produce in the thrajf strip process. [ Leenhouts said he will establisj headquarters in Hollywood around til first of the year to begin work on "Tfcti Missile," his own original story, whic, is being packaged by the William Mo: ris Agency with whom he has an e; elusive three-year deal. Plane Will Carry 112 To N. Y. for 'Ben-Hur' \ For the first time, a motion pictur will be included in the entertainmer package for a "show plane." Some 11 visitors from Columbus, Ohio, have r< served tickets for "Ben-Hur" at Loew State on Dec. 6 as part of their weel long entertainment package in Nei" York. The "show plane" visit was arrange through the Columbus Citizen. Many newspapers throughout th1 country sponsor "show planes" t bring their readers to New York t see the best attractions that BroadwaL has to offer, but previously, they hav lined up stage attractions exclusivelj "Ben-Hur" will not open in Colurrii bus until later in 1960 so the Ne\: York tourists will be seeing it month before their neighbors.