Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1960)

2 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, March 1, 1 PERSONAL MENTION AT WILLIAM J. HEINEMAN and V V James R. Velde, United Artists vice-presidents; David V. Picker, executive assistant to U.A. vice-president Max E. Youngstein; Sidney Cooper, Central and Southern division manager, and Jules Chapman, supervisor of branch operations, are in Washington from New York. Mauric e "'Red" Silvehstein, first vice-president of M-G-M International, has returned to New York from Europe. • Herman Kass, Universal Pictures executive in charge of national exploitation, is in Syracuse today from New York. • Emery Austin, of the M-C-M home office advertising-publicity department, will leave here today for Chi I. Meeussen, manager of the technical-commercial department of the Gevaert Co., has returned to Belgium from New York. • Teete Carle, special representative for Mervyn LeRoy's "Wake Me When It's Over," has arrived in New York from Hollywood. e Ben Siegel, sales manager for Selznick Releasing Organization, returned to New York at the weekend from Charlotte. • Charles L. Casanave, president of Fred Astaire Dance Studios, is scheduled to arrive here by plane today from Miami. Johnston Views Latin America Watch Brigitte BARDOTS j3o from Co/umb'a] ( Continued the spot led him to '"think things are going along for us fairly well" there. A major problem discussed by Johnston in Mexico was the admission price ceiling on 4 pesos (about $0.32) for first-run theatres in Mexico City. Other towns and states, taking their lead from the national capital, have imposed comparable top price limits. Johnston met many Mexican film producers and exhibitors to discuss the problems that stem from existence of this long-standing price ceiling, which takes into account neither the progress of inflation nor the devaluation of Mexican currency. Mexican producers are taking up this problem with their government. They will be able to point to the elimination of price ceilings in Brazil and Argentina, which took place after the MPEA president had discussions with the authorities in those countries. Johnston hopes for "some relief" on price ceilings. Conferred with President The MPEA president also spoke on this point to President Lopez-Mateos of Mexico, and to the Mexican Minister of Government (equivalent to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce). Though Johnston says he does not "think you ever get these problems settled with one journey," he believes that MPEA can be helpful in solving them. In discussions with Mexican exhibitors, Johnston said he heard that the box-office business is good, and that product— both U.S. and local producers—is well liked. He noted that pic from page 1 ) tures with subtitles draw better than Spanish-dubbed films. TV, Johnston said, does not appear to be having much effect on the boxoffice, which is stronger than before, even though the number of sets is constantly rising. Johnston also noted that about 40 per cent of motion picture revenue in the country come from Mexico City, which has only about 15 per cent of the population. In 1959, he said, Mexico took in $5,000,000 from rentals of its product in the U.S.a trifle more than the U.S. received from Mexico. Export of Mexican films accounts for about 60 per cent of the revenue of the local industry. Discussed Joint Production The question of better cooperation with U.S. film-makers who want to shoot on location in Mexico was also broached by Johnston. He believes the government wants to be as cooperative as it can, but that it is constrained by the limitations made necessary by local attitudes and practices. In Cuba, Johnston did not deal with representatives of the government, but received a situation report from MPEA representatives here and a briefing from U.S. Embassy officials. He said that business is improving there, and that there are no remittance problems up to this time. Similarly, the new censorship board created by the Government has not yet caused any problems. Johnston noted, however, that the situation there is fluid. ABC Radio, Fox Join In 'Flanders' Contest The ABC radio network and 20th Century-Fox will join in a nationwide contest on behalf of "A Dog of Flanders," which will be heard by 5,000,000 young listeners five times a week on the "Teen-Town" show. Set to begin the evening of March 7, and continuing through April 1, the winner of the contest and his or her parent will be flown to New York as the guests of 20th-Fox for a weekend on the town, including a special screening of "Flanders," and reserved seat tickets to "Can-Can," in Todd-AO. 'Adam and Eve' Bows In New Orleans Mar. 24 Special to THE DAILY NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 29-Preparations are underway at the Joy Theatre here for the world premiere of Universale "The Private Lives of Adam and Eve," it is announced by L. C. Montgomery, president of Delta Theatres. Mike Vogel, personal representative of Albert Zugsmith, producer of the film, is here to aid in arrangements. Several of the actors in the picture, including Mamie Van Doren and Marty Milner, are expected to attend the opening, as is Zugsmith. Set Date for 'Cranes' J. G. Bryson Dies at 84 The gala New York premiere of "The Cranes Are Flying" will be field at 8:30 P.M., Monday, March 21, at the Fine Arts Theatre for the benefit of the Near East Foundation, the oldest American voluntary agency devoted exclusively to programs of technical assistance in rural development in newlydeveloped countries. The Foundation's current programs are in Iran, Jordan, Ghana and Korea. HARTFORD, Feb. 29.-John G. Bryson, Sr., 84, active in the industry for 45 years, who was associated with Eric A. Johnston and Will Hays in the Motion Picture Association of America, died in a suburban convalescent home following a long illness. He had lived in West Hartford since 1956, when he retired from the MPAA. He is survived by a son, John C, Jr. Booklet, 'The Free Screen,! Being Mailed by the MFI From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Feb. 29. Motion Picture Association of A J ica has started to send out a 10,000 copies of a new brochure ' Free Screen," to opinion-makers, cators, public groups, and other munity leaders all around the t try. The illustrated booklet con the text of statements made by representatives before the Gran (D., Pa.) subcommittee early February. Sullivan on Tour fo: 'Can-Can' Premieres Edward E. Sullivan, 20th Cen Fox publicity director, arrives in cago today on the first leg of a (' country trip to finalize premiere for the "Can-Can." He will meet exhibitors who are now crossing the film, group sales orga tions representing benefits for the i premieres, and 20th-Fox branch regional advertising publicity j agers in Denver, Salt Lake City Los Angeles as well as Chicago Conn and Engel Will Aid In Chicago, branch manager ert Conn and regional ad-pul: manager Phil Engel will co-hos meetings with Sullivan. In De branch head Reville KnifEn and pub manager Peter Bayes will the discussions. In Salt Lake Sullivan will have the aid of b chief Kenneth O. Lloyd and ad licity manager Helen Garrity ~\ In Los Angeles, branch ma Morris Sudmin will assist Sulj Sullivan will return to New Yo'j the weekend. Arthur Keller Dead CLEVELAND, Feb. 29. A Keller, 67, founder and preside Ohio Amusement Co., that openi circuit of 13 neighborhood hou: this area in the 1930's, died in. urban Community Hosptial. He been active in the real estate fit recent years. Associated with h B the defunct O.A.C. were Meyer and Abe Kramer, now of Assoc Theatres Circuit, and the late I Schuman. NEW YORK THEATI i — RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL ■ Rockefeller Center • Ci 6-4600 YUL BRYNNER • KAY KENDA1 In a STANLEY DONEN Production "ONCE MORE, WITH FEELING A COLUMBIA PICTURES RELEASE IN TECHNICOLOR'S Hi ON THE HEAT STAGE "FAD EAST. FAR WEST" MOTION.-PICTURE DAILY, Martin Quigley, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher; Sherwin Kane, Editor; James D. Ivers, Managing Editor; Richard Gertner, News Editor; Herbert V. 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