Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1959)

Television Joday Motion Picture Daily Sovereign to Distribute S. G. Product in Canada A long-term agreement for Sovereign Film Distributors, Ltd., Toronto, to distribute the television films of Screen Gems, Inc., in Canada was announced yesterday by Paul Nathanson, president of Sovereign, and A. Schneider, head of Screen Gems. Plans are also being concluded for the formation of a Canadian company that will produce the television films and videotaped shows in Canada. The proposed company will be predominantly Canadian controlled and operated but will avail itself of the manpower of Screen Gems, Inc., acting in the dual capacity of producer and worldwide distributor. The primary purpose of the new company will be to develop and produce Canadian television programs based on Canadian subjects having worldwide market appeal. Petition to Recover 'Lovers' Print Denied Special to THE DAILY CLEVELAND, Nov. 17. Owners of the Heights Art Theatre failed today in their efforts to recover the print of the French film, "The Lovers," which was seized Friday by Cleveland Heights Police. Judge J. P. Corrigan has denied a petition for release of the print and restraint from interference in showing the film. The theatre management announced it is considering taking the petition for an injunction to the Federal court. Jacobellis Arrested Nico Jacobellis, manager of the theatre, was arrested when the print was confiscated on charges of "possessing and exhibiting an obscene film under the state criminal code." A preliminary hearing in Cleveland Heights Municipal Court scheduled for yesterday morning was postponed to Wednesday, Nov. 25, to await outcome of the injunction petition. 'Solomon' Campaign (Continued from page 1) mas bookings, the trade press was told here yesterday by King Vidor, director of the Edward Small film, and Roger H. Lewis, UA vice-president in charge of advertising, publicity and exploitation. Three hundred Sunday supplement and roto color covers devoted to the Super Technirama-70 production and its stars, Gina Lollobrigida and Yul Brynner, have already heightened the film's appeal, Lewis said. Promotion kits have been sent to more than 35,000 libraries, 100,000 schools and colleges and 5,000 women's clubs across the country, Lewis added, noting that the drive to AROUND THE musifex co 45 w. 45 st. n.y.c. music for feature films ci-6-4061-2 ... TV CIRCUIT with PINKY HERMAN T T S LONG BEEN said that "Macy doesn't tell Gimbels and vice versa " X but in the forthcoming David Susskind TVehicle, "Miracle on 34th i>t. which will usher in the NBChristmas Season Friday Nov 97 (8-30 9:30 P.M.) Ed (Santa Claus) Wynn, although in the emplov of Macy's doesn t hesitate to direct shoppers to Gimbels' and/or other' rival establishments For years Walter Kiernan has been heard on radio and 1 V as announcer, emcee, newscaster but last Saturday night his stint as moderator-narrator when the Lambs Club honored' music ' publisher Jack Mills, revealed him to be one of the wittiest ad-libbers around The entire show likewise proved to be one of the greatest ever seen at the Lambs with headlines including Frank Fay, Bert Wheeler, Carol Bruce Harry Hershfield, Red Buttons, Jack Carter, Eileen Barton, Hal LeRov' Senator Ford's Sioux City Four, Tommv Dillon, Irving Caesar, aiding Shepherd Bill Gaxton in making the "Jack Mills Nite" an unforgettable event. ... A short story, "A Nice Guv," written bv David Lew and which appeared in the February 1959 issue of Good Housekeeping, has been adapted by Richard Berg as a full hour TVehicle which will be NBColorcast on the March 6 "Sundav Showcase" series. Lew who joined NBC earlier this year as NBC veep in charge of programs and talent, has authored numerous radio, TV stories ever since he joined Y & R m 1938 Joe Salzburg turned in such a fine job on the Lvnn Romero Productions feature film, "Blood Creature," co-starring Greta Thvssen, Francis Lederer and Richard Derr filmed in Manila, that Joe was recalled to the Philippines last month to become associate producer of this firm s new TV series, "Counterthrust." . . . Sandu (Miss New York City) Scott, singer-comedienne of the "Everything Goes" ABChannelled show, will be one of the stars on Jerrv Lewis' telethon for Muscular Dystrophy Saturday next over WNEW-TV. ... Co-hosted by Eydie Gorme and Steve Lawrence and produced by Bill Hobin, next Wednesnite's telecast of "The Golden ABCircIe," will highlight a quarter century of hit songs and featuring The Andrews Sisters Rudy Vallee, Frankie Avalon, Nat King Cole and The Mills Bros. Scripted by Syd Zelinka and Ervin Drake, the orchestra will be batoned by Don Costa Merv Griffin, "Keep Talkin' " moderator, may be signed to a long term NBContract. The talented lad has come a long way since we first spotted him warbling with Lyle Bardo's Ork back in 1945 over KFRC, San Francisco. . . . King Vidor, director of Edward Small's $6,000 000 United Artists Biblical Spectacle "Solomon & Sheba" will talk about his most interesting film-making career on WPIX next Tuesday afternoon at 2. . . . Monday nite while watching "Peter Gunn," still one of the best private-eye-NBCrime-doesn't-pay series, we noted that the commercial announcer is George Gunn, who likewise is one of the best in his field. . . . Walter Slezak makes his Metropolitan debut next Wednesday in the title role of "The Gypsy Baron" exactly 50 years (and one week) after his father, the late great tenor, Leo Slezak sang his first role in the same theatre Nov. 17, 1909. . . . Harvey L. Glascock, Jr. has been upped to assistant to John W. Kluge, prexy of Metropolitan Broadcasting Corp. He will be succeeded as general manager of WHKleveland by Jack G. Thayer who left a similar post at KFRO, San Francisco, Cal. . '. . Alan Gilbert, associate producer of two Wolf Associates TV aces, "Keep Talkin' " and "Masquerade Party," just returned from a three-week vacation in Europe. build selective audience interest is being implemented by 25 promotion experts of the film's special promotion unit. Radio, TV Use Heavy As in the European campaign North America will be blanketed by 2,500 spot radio and television announcements, teaser ads on general news pages, fashion shows and costume displays, direct mail campaigns and book and music cross-promotions. The combined newspaper, radio and television drive will cover Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, St. Louis, San Francisco, Washington, Toronto, Milwaukee, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Seattle, Lewis said. Vidor, who leaves here today to begin a cross-country pre-sell trip, will personality visit nine of those cities. Will Utilize Several Media UA's drive to focus attention on its wide-screen process used for "Solomon and Sheba" will include a 20-city newspaper and Sunday supplement ad schedule, radio and television penetration in 33 major markets, and 10,000 special mailing pieces describing Super Technirama-70, Lewis said. Wednesday, November 18, 19^5 20th-Fox and API Del Confirmed by Lippert From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 17. Roh, Lippert, in his capacity as liaison m. tween 20th Century-Fox and As| ciated Producers International, tod; confirmed the completion of an A deal with 20th Century-Fox for tl production of 14 films to be produce' for the latter company during the ne nine months [see Motion PicTuif Daily, Nov. 17]. The announcement was made at„ special luncheon in the Beverly HiL Hotel introducing the new comecl team, Tommy Noonan and Pete Met shall, to film buyers representing 35 theatres in the Los Angeles area. h Noonan and Marshall will comple', their nation-wide tour for meetinj with exhibitors tomorrow at a lunti eon in San Francisco. ) Noonan reported that results meeting with exhibitors established ! future policy of making films that ai clean, family-type entertainment. H set forth plans to have exhibitors i} view story material before productio as a guide to the undertaking of ! project. Lippert announced also that 30 New Year's Eve midnight-show booli ings have already been made to launc the comedy team's initial film, "Th, Rookie." , • 1 > Joint Product Drive ( Continued from page 1 ) members of the four coordinating groups for advertising, publicity, ejj, ploitation and radio and TV met ye/ terday in the MPA board room f launch the program. Ted Baldwin, whi has been appointed coordinator of th| campaign, presented a general outlinj of the drive to the meeting. Tayloj Mills, MPA public relations director, i|| also working with the committee. All elements of production and disj tribution will be called upon to unit/ in the drive, it was said, and COMPO ACE, and the national exhibitor or1 ganizations will be asked to furnisf;' support from the grass roots level, f The advertising coordinating grouf of the ad-pub committee will meeffi today to work out the theme anc trademark for the campaign. Or Thursday the publicity coordinating group will also hold a meeting. Cites Stronger Position Today In a statement issued after the meeting yesterday the ad-pub group1 said they would seek through the cam-* paign to focus public attention on thef' * 1960 product "through every avails J able information channel." The indus-j1 a try is in a "stronger product position1 for 1960 than at any time in the past decade," the group said. "This fact was effectively pointed up by the com-; pany sales managers in their respec-, tive reports at the recent Theatre! Owners of America meeting in Chi-* cago. Each sales manager not only hadi a strong up-beat story in terms of his, company's overall release schedule for" 1960 but described an exceptionalnumber of outstanding features that, will be made available during thJ coming year." ii .i I