Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1960)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1960 Report Competing Theatres Are Unhurt by Telemeter Special to THE DAILY TORONTO, March 1.— The first four days of Telemeter operation in suburban Etobieoke, while spectacularly successful in its own right, has had no discernible effect on theatre attendance in the same drawing area, John J. Fitz gibbons, head AMPP-SAG Negotiations Will Continue, Says Boren From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, March 1. "We will resume discussions with the Screen Actors Guild," was the only comment furnished by Charles S. Boren, executive vice-president of the Association of Motion Picture Producers, following today's meeting of SAG and AMPP negotiating committees. No date has been set for the next meeting seeking a solution to their contract dispute. Meanwhile, Julian Blaustein and the committee representing the Screen Producers Guild will hold a closed conference tomorrow with Si Fabian and his Theatre Owners of America committee on current industry problems affecting both groups. of Famous Players Canadian, which operates most of the theatres a f fected, said today. "Business at our theatres in the Etobieoke c o m p e titive area has been n o different since the Telemeter operation began last Friday than on a normal weekend," Fitzgibbons answered a reporter's question. "I would say the theatres have not been affected. There is room for both entertainment forms. All it means is that we are getting {Continued on page 4) Minimum Wage, License J. J. Fitzgibbons L 87, NO. 41 ipuld Cut Fees . Y. Senate een Passing icense Bill t Kelly Says House ght Defeat It Again Special to THE DAILY ,BANY, March 1. -Senator John J. rchi, co-sponsor of a bill decreasing fees collected by the State EducaDepartment's motion picture divifor licensing films, said today the Insure had been favorably reported the Senate education committee to j finance committee, "because it in\ es money." He said he did not ex"t any eventual difficulty in obtainr Senate approval. A similar act— except that it prosed to cut the rate from $2 per thound feet on prints to $4 for each adional "entire" copy whereas the nding legislation would make the (Continued on page 2) dam' Is Condemned y Legion of Decency The National Legion of Decency mounced yesterday that it has confined "The Private Lives of Adam id Eve," an Albert Zugsmith proaction for release by Universal-Inrnational. The film stars Mickey ooney and Mamie Van Doren. The Legion statement said: "This (Continued on page 4) aynes Named to Board, VSS, Ltd. Managing Post From THE DAILY Bureau LONDON, March 1. At the anual meeting of the board of directors f National Screen Service, Ltd., intony L. Haynes was elected to the *oard. Haynes was thereupon deignated by the board as managing irector of the company. Haynes has been with National creen Service for eight years, most ecently as general manager. He had Previously been associated with MGM. ELEVISION TODAY— page 4 Laurentiis Sets 4 Abroad In English This Year By SAMUEL D. BERNS HOLLYWOOD, March 1. Dino de Laurentiis will make four films in English in Europe before the end of the year, using American star names and one or two American directors, the Italian producer announced at a press conference here (Continued on page 2) Fee on Maryland Agenda Special to THE DAILY BALTIMORE, Md., March l.-The status of state efforts to secure theatre exemption from the new proposed Federal minimum wage and hour bills, and for relief from the Maryland theatre license fee schedule, will be top subjects on the agenda of the board of directors of the Maryland Theatre Owners Association, at its (Continued on page 2) TEN CENTS MPEA Statement Ask U.S. Help In Removing Curbs on Films Johnston Says Barriers I\o Longer Justified From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, March 1. Without freedom to circulate in world markets, the American motion picture is deprived of its effectiveness as an ambassador of this nation and a stimulator of its trade, Eric Johnston, Motion Picture Export Association president, told the Commerce Department's special conference on export trade promotion which opened here today. Motion pictures are first in a series (Continued on page 5) Name Resigned Allied Men to ACt, Compo Units From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, March 1.— Al Myrick, president of Allied States, has completed the designation of Allied representation in Compo and the American Congress of Exhibitors. In doing so, representatives of New Eng(Continued on page 5) Webb & Knapp Paying Fox $1,000 Daily Under Deal Webb & Knapp, which received an extension to May 1 to exercise its right to purchase the 20th CenturyFox studio property, has been paying a consideration of $1,000 per day since Feb. 1 for the extension, it is learned. The payments are io continue until the deal is consummated or, at Webb & Knapp's election, abandoned. In the latter eventuality, Webb & Knapp would forfeit the $2,500,000 payment made to 20th-Fox last year. On closing, an additional payment of $3,180,000 is to be made. Total purchase price can run as high as $56,000,000, with payments over a 10year period. The $2,500,000 down payment would be applied to the purchase price if the deal is closed. Three Film Classification Measures Remain Unvoted in N» Y. Assembly Special to THE DAILY ALBANY, N.Y., March L-As the Assembly Education committee today entered the final week for action, three film classification bills remained on the unvoted calendar. Of these, the Younglove act, authorizing the Education Department's motion picture division, in licensing a film, to classify it as "approved for patronage by children attending the elementary and secondary schools," and if empowered by the Regents, to award the producers, exhibitors, or distributors of any film so classified "a seal or other appropriate evidence of its approval," was considered by some observers to have the best chance of being reported. Assemblyman Daniel M. Kelly of New York, who called this "an excellent bill," believed the probability of favorable committee action "good"; (Continued on page 5)