Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1959)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY VOL. 86, NO. 109 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1959 TEN CENTS Annual Report S. W. Theatres Income Shows Big Increase Company Profit Is Doubled Over 1958— $4,812,000 Box office receipts at Stanley Warner Theatres showed an increase for 27 out of the last 32 weeks, with earnings higher in the 1959 fiscal year (than those of the previous one. This contributed to a net profit for Stanley I Warner Corp. and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended Aug. 29 that was more than double the profit for 1958, S. H. Fabian, president, anounced at the weekend. Net profit for the year after taxes was $4,812,000 compared to $2,333,100 for 1958. Fabian said the increase in box office receipts marked the first time in years they showed improvement for such a long period. He noted that it was achieved despite the fact that (Continued on page 5) Columbia Concludes Acquisition of B.NU. From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 6. The Music Publishing Company, Broadcast Music, Inc., has been acquired by Columbia Pictures, it has been announced by Samuel J. Briskin, viceI president in charge of West Coast I activities. The acquisition by Columbia of Broadcast Music, Inc., creates ( Continued on page 7 ) Compo Minimum Wage Committee Completed Completion of the COMPO operating committee that will conduct the campaign against new Federal minimum wage legislation was announced at the weekend by Charles E. McCarthy, COMPO executive secretary. The committee consists of Edward (Continued on page 7) TELEVISION 7"ODAY-page 6 M-G-M 'Not a One Picture Company' Byrne Says, Reporting 24 for 1960 Loew's M-G-M is not a one picture company and this industry cannot afford to be in effect a one picture industry. That was the starting point of JackByrne's announcement to the trade press Friday that Loew's will have an average of two important pictures a month available for exhibit o r s through '60. The Loew's vice president and general sales manager was host at a luncheon a t Sardi's at which he declared that the M-G-M studio is "on its way back to the supremacy it had always held in the industry." As token of Metro's resurgence, now that the fabulous "Ben-Hur" is launched and happily on its way, Byrne, who was flanked by Burtus Bishop, assistant general sales manager; Si Seadler, eastern advertising (Continued on page 6) Jack Byrne Johnston Warns on Film 'Punitive' Legislation From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Dec. 6. The motion picture industry faces in 1960 "a widening area of punitive legislation—from special taxation to state censorship," Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association, warned here today. There are no more (Continued on page 5) 20th-Fox's New Ad Policy in Effect Twentiedi Century-Fox's policy of avoiding overt sensationalism in advertising is fully operative and will be evident in campaigns on current and future productions, Charles Einfeld, vice-president in charge of advertising-publicity, said on Friday. Einfeld inaugurated the policy of de-emphasizing sensationalism in the company's advertising last October. Earlier, there had been considerable public criticism of some film adver(Continued on page 5) Double-Unveiling for Fox's 'Journey' Held Twentieth Century-Fox's "Journey to the Center of the Earth" was launched into national release in a simultaneous double-unveiling in Nashville, Term, and New York City Friday night. The twin events included the world premiere in the Southern city, birthplace of Pat Boone, one of the film's stars. The other was a "sneak" preview at the Paramount Theatre here preceded by a special press dinner (Continued on page 6) Pre-File Bill Directing N. Y. Film Division To Classify Pictures at Time of Licensing Special to THE DAILY ALBANY, Dec. 6.-Senator William T. Conklin, Brooklyn Republican, has pre-filed a bill directing the State Education Department's Motion Picture Division, in licensing films, to classify them as suitable for "general patronage," "adults and adolescents," or "adults only." The measure, similar to one which Senator Conklin and Assemblyman Luigi Marano, also a Brooklyn Republican, have sponsored at several previous sessions of the Legislature, likewise would require exhibitors when advertising the showing of such films to "note the classification." An amendment to Section 122 of the Education Law, the bill would take effect immediately. Principal support for the proposal reportedly has come from the CatholicWar Veterans and other Catholic groups in Brooklyn. Last winter some American Legion sentiment for it in that borough also was said to have been indicated. Opens Today Forecast Good Attendance at Allied Conclave Constructive, Worthwhile Program Is Mapped Out Special to THE DAILY MIAMI BEACH, Dec. 6.-Reservations and early arrivals for Allied States' first annual combined indoor and drive-in theatre convention which will open at the Eden Roc Hotel here tomorrow indicate an attendance of Ben Marcus Edward Johnson several hundred minimum, regarded as good to excellent. Ben Marcus, general convention chairman, and Edward E. Johnson, president of Wisconsin Allied and convention co-chairman, indicated un( Continued on page 7) Aim TV Code Revisions At Deceptive Practices From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Dec. 6. The Television Code was strengdiened over the weekend by the addition of new amendments designed to protect the public and root out questionable practices over the air waves. The (Continued on page 6) O'Doimell Memorial to Draw Many from Afar Washington and Texas, his adopted State, will have delegations at the special memorial service today at the Lambs Club, West 44th Street, at 3 o'clock, for the late Robert ("Bob") (Continued on page 2) i