Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1959)

Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, November 17, l' PERSONAL MENTION EDWARD MOREY and Norton V. Ritchey, vice-presidents of Allied Artists, have returned to New York from Hollywood. • Joseph Wohl, president of International Film Distributors, Inc., has returned to New York following a three-week sales trip on the Continent. • Herb Steinberg, Paramount studio publicity manager, has arrived in New York from the Coast. • Hal Cummings, 20th Century-Fox publicist in Charlotte, is hospitalized there following a heart attack. • Louis Ratener and Mrs. Ratener, operators of drive-in theatres in Ohio, will leave Cleveland on Nov. 22 for their annual winter stay in the Virgin Islands, where they are actively engaged in the real estate business. • William F. Daugherty, Connecticut district manager for Lockwood & Gordon Theatres, will be married to Anne LaBrecque on Nov. 26 in Corpus Christi Church, Wethersfield, Conn. • James Scovotti, publicist, has left here for Worcester and other New England cities to promote Louis de Rochemont Associates' "Embezzled Heaven." Good Taste' Cumberland Papers ( Continued from page 1 ) to a Sunday announcement by the Times and Alleganian Co. The papers state, in a printed announcement, they have noted "with some concern the increasing frequency of a certain type of motion picture that makes its bid for patronage by stimulating an unnatural or unwholesome attitude toward sex, violence, narcotics or other subjects socially unacceptable. . . ." The published regulation further states, "it is not an intention of the Times and Alleganian Co. to assume functions of a board of censors. There is an obligation on newspapers, however, to exercise care in what is carried into the home through advertising and news facilities. Misrepresentation and over-emphasis on conduct generally immoral or contrary to established standards must be carefully controlled before such elements get out of hand." The company publishes the Cumberland Sunday Times; The Evening Times and Cumberland News. Letters have been sent to theatres explaining the policy. ( Continued from page 1 ) many occasions," he added, "that it is not afraid to tackle controversial subjects. We have no intention of ducking controversy now. In fact our scheduled productions include several films on topics never before dealt with on the screen." Lazarus assured the theatremen, however, that all films would be handled with impeccable taste. "We will only make deals with producers who we are confident will observe the limits of propriety. And you can be certain that our product will be merchandised in good taste." Calls It 'Key to Problem' This, he said, was the key to the whole problem of censorship. "No matter how provocative the subject, if it is handled with good taste, the public will accept it. It's not what you say, but how you say it." Conceding that there may be only a thin line between good and bad taste, Lazarus called it the responsibility of everyone in the industryproducers, distributors and exhibitors —to stay within the bounds. "Self-regulation is a vital part of our drive to win and keep public favor," he said. There need be no fear of important public disapproval or censorship if we all sincerely cooperate in regulating ourselves." Promises Top Product Lazarus told the exhibitors that Columbia's program of three top films per month in 1960 is just the beginning of a continual flow of product. Columbia "will continue to buy top pre-sold properties, best selling novels, Broadway plays, timely stories-for adaptation into motion pictures," he said. "Although we already have a tremendous investment in product for release in the next two years, we are still going all out to accumulate outstanding properties. Our story editors are continually seeking out new properties for ourselves and for our independent producers. There are no restrictions as to number, price, type or content. If we think it will make a good movie, we'll buy it." In addition to the acquisition of properties, Lazarus noted that Columbia was expanding in other areas, such as the $10,000,000 promotion budget allocated for 1960 and the continual signing of deals with creative talent, producers, directors, stars and writers, for future projects. "Our list of independent producers is the most imposing in the industry today," he declared, "and it continues to grow." Lazarus leaves today for Cleveland where he will address leading exhibitors in that area Wednesday. On Thursday he will meet with theatremen in Pittsburgh. He will conclude his series of talks in Chicago on December 2. Charge Drive-In Owner In Sunday Charity Film Special to THE DAILY SPARTANBURG, S. C , Nov. 16. Claude Rumley opened his Fox drive-in theatre here yesterday for what he described as a "charity showing" for a Spartanburg youth burned this past summer. "Charity movies are no different from other movies," circuit solicitor Allen Lambright declared, and sheriff's officers immediately charged Rumley with violation of the Sunday "blue laws." Rumley posted a $50 bond, but officers made no move to close the theatre. This is the fifth time Rumley has been cited, and other charges made earlier this year still have not been tried. Ban 'Lovers9 Minn. Censo ( Continued from page 1 ) liminary hearing on charges of exhibiting an obscene film. Police raided the theatre on Friday night and confiscated the print of "The Lovers," a French film. Police Chief Capt. Earl J. Gordon, who made the arrest said his department had received several complaints and that he agreed with the review in the Plain Dealer by movie editor W. Ward Marsh, who called the picture "screened pornography." Gordon, after seeing it twice, said he considered the picture "definitely in violation of the state obscenity law." Jacobellis explained to the 400 adult patrons present what was happening and asked them to get their refunds (at $1.50 admission) at the box office. He was taken to the Cleveland Heights jail and released under $100 personal bond. The action was taken under a criminal statute. The law under this action provides a maximum fine of $5,000 or seven years imprisonment or both. County Prosecutor Corrigan, in invoking the criminal statute, by-passed a newer law allowing injunctions against obscene matter, which recently went into effect, calling this method "worthless." The Heights Art Theatre is owned and operated by the Art Theatre Guild. Mrs. Rebecca Starr, 80 Funeral services were held here yesterday for Mrs. Rebecca Starr, 80, mother of Martin Starr, Hollywood commentator and former member of the staff of Quigley Publications. Interment took place in Mt. Zion Cemetery, Flushing, L. I. Mrs. Starr, born in Russia, was a resident of Forest Hills, L. I., at the time of her death. She is survived by four other sons and a daughter. ( Continued from page 1 ) van of the New York City pu] schools, addressed a meeting of Twin Cities committee recently^ which he outlined the objectives' the national movement which willj formally organized in Cincinri Ohio, next Feb. 26 and 27. Postanal General Summerfield will be the cf speaker at the forthcoming meeti J While the national group is to cj| centrate on literature, there has b. ] agitation here for the Twin Ciii Committee to include films and 3 pecially to clamp down on "art" th| i tres which advertise pictures j>l "adults only." Instances have been M ported of such theatres admitti'| teen-agers provided only that they pi the adult admission price, and as a | suit parents are asking for censorsh , The Twin Cities group has alreaj begun to take action against books ail magazines. The committee was org^lJ ized after Minneapolis and St. if] were flooded by pornographic ma'i rials through the mails. Large quaril ties of the materials were seized 'J the Minneapolis morals squad and tla Hennepin County Grand Jury h* investigated and returned some indii ments. Disclaiming any intentions of usi "gestapo" methods, the Twin Cm committee said it will seek to aroui public opinion to the point whri citizens will demand strict enfoni ment of the laws against indeed literature. As part of its educatiori campaign the committee will furnii speakers to organizations and chr to discuss the censorship drive. | This educational campaign is ps of the proposed program of the n[ tional Citizens for Decent Literatuij-' Donovan, chairman of the steerirj committee of that group, said mil than 500 communities have express^ the desire to participate in his orga ization. i" Burt Champion Joins 1 Taplinger Associates Burt Champion, former publicii manager of Paramount Pictures, hi joined the public relations firm | Robert S. Taplinger Associates. I Champion will be group accouB executive in charge of the Milliner Institute of America program. NEW YORK THEATRE I — RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL—, Rockefeller Center • Ci 6-4600 MAX REINNARDT'S "THE MIRACLE" Starring CARROLL ROGER WALTER VIITORIO KATINA BAKER MOORE SLEZAK GASSMAN PAXINOU A WARNER BROS. Picture inTECHNIRAMA® 8 TECHNICOLOR® inj GALA NEW STAGE SPECTACLE "CONTRASTS IN RHYTHM" AdVeSg^^ wood Bureau, Yucca-Vine Building. 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