Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1959)

4 Motion Picture Daily Friday, December 4, II U-l Sees $22,500 Gross For 'Petticoat' First Day Universal International yesterday afternoon estimated at $22,500 the first day's gross of "Operation Petticoat," Granart production which had its world premiere at the Radio City Music Hall. The box-office at 3 P.M., said U-I, was running some $600 ahead of "Auntie Mame," last year's Christmas picture at the big theatre. In the first 20 minutes after the 9:45 A.M. opening yesterday, it was reported, 2,200 admissions were sold. Allied Likely {Continued from page 1) convention, which will open at the Eden Roc here on Monday and will continue through Wednesday. Considerable fault-finding with both is to be expected for, admittedly, conciliation's record to date is a spotty one insofar as many exhibitors are concerned, and there are just as many who believe that ACE has singularly little of significance in the way of accomplishment to show in its first year of existence. Advantages Generally Conceded Despite the fairly well spread dissatisfaction, however, even the harshest critics concede that there is always the possibility of some benefits being realized from both ACE and conciliation, and, therefore, they are deserving of more time to demonstrate their value. Board or convention resolutions on the subjects might very well include mention of Allied's disappointment with the showings made to date, but would concede that they are better than nothing, and leave them with the hope that, given more time, they may prove more effective. Many Allied directors arrived here during the week to get in brief vacations ahead of the meetings. A full roster is expected by tomorrow night. In addition to ACE and conciliation the board's agenda is replete with other subjects, including a possible election of officers, for the SaturdaySunday meeting. Post-'48-Film Buys on Agenda It will consider a proposal to purchase with exhibition funds "blockbusters" in the production-distribution companies' post-1948 libraries for reissue to theatres from time to time. Another proposal calls for the establishment of Motion Picture Talent of America to keep talent costs at a reasonable level and thus help increase film supplies and avert high rental terms. The whole subject of legislation, toll TV and trade practices will be examined. Normally the board does not elect officers until its annual meeting in January or February, but to accommodate Horace Adams, who for reasons of health has asked to be relieved of the presidency as soon as possible, the board may approve an election at this time. In that event, as previously re Cary Grant, named all-time favorite screen star and box office champion of the Radio City Music Hall, yesterday received a special scroll from Russell V. Downing, president of the Hall. Henry H. "Hi" Martin, vice-president and general sales manager of Universal Pictures Company is at left. Grant's 24th picture to play the Hall— "Operation Petticoat"— opened yesterday as the Christmas picture to start the 84th week of playing time for Grant's pictures at the Hall. It is a Granart Production being released by Universal-International. O'Donnell Memorial {Continued from page 1) at the Lambs Club. Eric Johnston, president of MPA, will deliver the eulogy. Among those who will be present are: William Gaxton, president of the Lambs Club; Gilbert Miller, Bob Hope; Abe Montague, president of Will Rogers Memorial Hospital; Ned Depinet, Max A. Cohen, Herman Robbins, Richard F. Walsh, Si H. Fabian, Samuel Rosen, William J. German, Fred J. Schwartz, Joseph R. Vogel, Murray Weiss of Boston, John P. Byrne, Alex Harrison, Eddie bowling, Edmund Reek, Bert Lahr, Frank Fay, Mickey Alpert, Bobby Clark, Jackie Gleason, Walter Pidgeon and many others in the motion picture, Broadway, television, radio and music branches of show business. ported, Edward Lider of New England Allied, is regarded by most directors as the most likely choice to succeed Adams. Allied's much publicized "white paper" of the past two years appears to have no place on the agenda of either the board or the convention. If it has, it is not being mentioned publicly. Observers give the "white paper" program little or no chance of making progress in Congress in the next session, even should Allied revive it. Myers Report Slated The board will hear a report from Abram F. Myers, chairman and general counsel, on the interpretations of the industry consent decree given at Theatre Owners of America's recent convention by Assistant U.S. Attorney General in charge of the Anti-Trust division Robert A. Bicks. Effects of 70mm. sales policies and of city zoning plans like Pittsburgh's Censorship and minimum wage legislation also will be discussed. Distributor Suits {Continued from page 1) ized exhibitions by the defendant exhibitor of some 62 features, in disregard of license limitations under the exhibition contracts. The alleged infringements are what were once known in the industry as "bicycling," the bane of distributors 30 or more years ago, but comparatively rare in recent years. The complaints, separately filed by Loew's, Warner Bros., Universal, Columbia, United Artists, 20th CenturyFox, Paramount and Allied Artists, claim that the pictures licensed and booked by defendant The Joy Shreveport Theatres, Inc., for only its Joy Theatre, or only its Joy Drive-in Theatre, in Shreveport, were played at both houses; and that other pictures licensed and booked for designated playdates at one or the other of these houses, were unauthorizedly shown an extra day or days at the booked theatre. The complaints ask the United States District Court to award minimum statutory damages of $250 for each infringement, as provided by the United States copyright law, which would aggregate a minimum of some $15,500 for the 62 copyrights in the lawsuits. Complaints were filed for the motion picture companies by attorneys John C. Christian and John M. Madison of the Shreveport firm of Wilkinson, Lewis, Madison & Woods, with New York City attorneys Sargoy & Stein appearing as of counsel. Birdwell on 'Alamo9 HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 3. Russell Birdwell has been appointed director of all advertising, exploitation and publicity for Batjac's production "The Alamo," it was announced today by John Wayne. Justice Dept { Continued from page 1 ) Department would okay only "bi fide" adjustments and would not sal tion adjustments that amounted! rigged bids. Bick's stand, outlined to the Tli tre Owners of America convention j month, brought criticism from 1 mour F. Simon, former assistant atl ney general in the anti-trust divis and now a Chicago alderman, h! letter to Bicks, released to the pri Simon said the new policy of allow adjustments of terms after the run, a picture obtained by competitive fc ding would "negate whatever lit validity there may be left in the crj petitive bidding procedure as it j been conducted in the motion pict industry." Will Reply to Letter Justice Department officials said mon's letter would be answered in d course. In the meantime, they si the Department reiterates what Bitsaid— that adjustment of bids does i violate the Paramount case const judgments providing they are bd fide adjustments. "We certainly don't intend to adjustments be used as a device! rig bidding," one official declan "What the exhibitor pays must s clearly be better than what the m bidder bid. Certainly films could I be said to be licensed on their mei if a distributor agrees with an exhil tor that he can put in any kind of 1| with the understanding it will later i adjusted to somewhere above the n« bid. We never intended that, anq don't see how Simon could ha! thought we did." Johnston Sees Hope \ { Continued from page 1 ) j the House Ways and Means Comm tee which originates all tax legisl tion. "Those responsible for tax revisioJ now realize that there are gross i( equities in the present system of ta ing fluctuating income," Johnston sai "This is particularly unfair to motiti picture talent whose income may 1) high one year and much lower tlj next. "Studies prepared for the Hous committee by tax authorities show tfy such persons could pay 30 to 80 p< cent more in taxes than persons wit stable annual incomes of the sam amount. Sees 'Opportunity for All of Us' 1 "The new awareness offers an portunity for all of us who have bee concerned with this problem to inter; sify the effort to have these tax visions enacted," Johnston said. Screen and stage stars and som outstanding athletes have been th hardest hit by existing laws. Several bills aimed at correcting in equities on fluctuating income are t be introduced in the next session o Congress. Johnston said that the mp tion picture industry's friends in Con gress can be expected to give thi most serious attention to these measi ures. r