Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1960)

Ijn-sday, March 23, 1960 I Motion Picture Daily I man for 'Flexibility' Cope with Strike le Hollywood strike, if protracted, o injury to the industry and will an early reshuffling of releases, ard L. Hyman, American Broadt ig-Paramount Theatres vice presi said yesterday, .man reported that while some ses already have been revised an end to the strike could bring k the reinstatement of most or all Hch releases. For that reason, he lined, he will not revise release mation at this stage which he prepared for AB-PT and other rres that have endorsed his pro". of orderly distribution. 3 noted, too, that in some cases Ted Hollywood releases may be ced by reissues and films acquired dstributors abroad, 'he distribution companies have 'A up so many foreign pictures it now is reputed to cost more to : a picture in Italy than it does in Avood," Hyman remarked. Hits Sale of Post-'48 FUms ! the Screen Actors Guild strike kid: 'f course, we are unalterably opd to the sale of any post1948 res to television and as far as we oncerned, all other considerations linor. However, the strike if cond indefinitely, must eventually 2 our industry. In canvassing the butors and producers, we are i to understand that most of them a reasonable supply of pictures it shelves. Naturally, there would to be a reshuffling of releases and lis where flexibility and adapta1 • in booking will play a vital part. '■ exhibitors and distributors will 1 to co-operate in this flexibility adaptability in order to weather form, and there is no question in lind but that they will do so." rvland Allied Names i J ard of Directors Special to THE DAILY iLTIMORE, March 22.-The AlMotion Picture Theatre Owners i aryland, Inc., has elected a new ,1 of directors. The eleven named jfc. Elmer Nolte and Vernon Nolte, of the Durkee Enterprises: Lou jtner; J. Stanley Baker; Meyer nthal; Donald DeLawney; J. Bonit: Jack Levin; Leon Back; Walter nger and Edward Perotka. a future meeting, the date to be these new board members will a president, vice president and jtirer toi tin (aisiimu f. a] \ < ar ! 0 Tour for 'String9 CKSONVILLE, Mar. 22.-Boris os, whose ten years as a counter•erved as the basis for Louis de mont's "Man on a String," arrives tomorrow to participate in pron il activities in behalf of the iribia Pictures release. Morros will 1 two days here making the full 1 of newspaper, radio and telei appearances. Hyman Sees 227 Releases ( Continued with key production executives in Hollywood, following a pattern he established several years ago in a continuing campaign for orderly distribution of quality product throughout the year. His findings will be given to the annual meeting of AB-PT theatre affiliates to be held at the Concord Hotel, Kiamesha Lake, N. Y., tomorrow and Friday. In addition, his compilation of release information from the 10 companies will be distributed to those theatres and exhibitors in all parts of the country who are cooperating in the orderly distribution campaign. A key phase of the campaign is an exhibition drive during April, May and June to promote maximum business for the quality releases of the period. Business promotion ideas for the campaign have been developed for specific pictures by AB-PT advertising-publicity men working with sales and promotion departments of the pictures' distributors. Hyman noted that his product forecast does not include M-G-M's releases for the last quarter of 1960, because information on them is not available at this time. Given those releases, plus 18 reissues already announced, and foreign-made acquisi from page 1 ) tions, plus some additional releases which the companies may add before the end of the year, Hyman believes it is reasonable to assume the total of films available this year "will be closer to 300." However, Universal and Allied Artists may have several fewer than now estimated, he pointed out. This compares with approximately 230 pictures released last year. In addition, there is an important improvement in quality in 1960 releases over last year's, Hyman finds. Hyman emphasized that despite "the loud cries about the scarcity of product" to be heard, "in my opinion, numbers mean nothing. Only quality counts." Hyman's tabulation of 1960 releases by company is as follows: Columbia, 37; 20th Century-Fox, 47 (excluding "Can-Can"); Warners, 21; Paramount, 22; M-G-M, 13 (excluding "Ben-Hur," and through September only); United Artists, 27; Universal, 28 (excluding "Spartacus"); Buena Vista, six; Allied Artists, 16, and American International Pictures, 10. (Total, 227.) Obviously, additional pictures will be available during the year from smaller independent distributors and importers of foreign films. Mrs. Twyman Lauds New Audience Discrimination Mrs. Margaret G. Twyman, director of the Motion Picture Association of America's community relations department, cited increasing discrimination in the selection of film fare by the public in an address yesterday to the Manhattan Chapter, National Women's Committee, Brandeis University. "With its new technical developments and fresh approaches to important and significant themes, the motion picture is fast measuring up to its potential as the world's greatest mass medium," Mrs. Twyman said. "Audiences are gradually learning to select their films with the same thoughtful care and discrimination with which they select their reading and music." 68th St. Playhouse Will Become First-Run Here The east side 68th Street Playhouse here will adopt a first-run policy with the premiere Easter engagement of 20th Century-Fox "When Comedy Was King," Alex Harrison, general sales manager announced yesterday. The theatre will be completely refurbished before the premiere on March 30. Extra 'Can-Can' Showing There will be matinee performances every day during Easter Week of 20th Century-Fox's "Can-Can" in ToddAO at the Rivoli Theatre here. Ordinarily there are only 10 performances per week, including matinees on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Hyman Skeptical of Pay -TV Success Story Claims of "success" for the Telemeter pay-tv operation in Etobicoke, Ont., are premature in view of a number of still unanswered questions, Edward L. Hyman, American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres vice president, told a trade press conference here yesterday. Stating that, like other "exhibitors everywhere who have spoken out against toll tv, I am opposed to it," Hyman said. "It is much too early to tell ( whether the Canadian operation is a success) since the receipts have not as yet been counted." "It must be remembered," he continued, "that in choosing the site for the experiment, the area chosen is naturally peopled with prospective patrons who will be able to afford the expenditure necessary. One must ask this question: What will people who are not affluent think of when they are confronted with the costs of paytv? It is bound to have repercussions." Hyman posed the following questions : "Will there be a steady flow of attractive and diversified programs? "Will Telemeter be patronized enough in the spring and summer when people are not content to stay at home? "Will there be censorship problems such as has already made an appearance, as in 'Room at the Top'? "And, last of all but still important, will the sponsors of pay television be able to absorb the tremendous expenditure needed to effectively saturate any large area?" Many AB-PT Theatres Being Rehabilitated Rehabilitation of numerous AB-PT theatres has been completed recently and is under way in others on a large scale, Edward L. Hyman, vice-president, reported yesterday. A $250,000 rehabilitation project is under way at the Indian Head Drivein, Phoenix, he said. Other projects mentioned included the Paramount, San Francisco; the Madison, Detroit, and in the Boston, Iowa-Nebraska and up-state New York areas. Shelton Domestic Head For 'Windjammer'' Sales William Shelton has been appointed domestic sales manager for "Windjammer," it was announced by Oliver A. Unger, executive vice president of Cinemiracle Productions Corp., a subsidiary of National Theatres and Television, Inc. Shelton has been an executive of National Telefilm Associates for the past year. He was formerly vice president in charge of distribution for Times Films. He has handled road show pictures as well as foreign imports. Shelton will have his headquarters in the NTA offices here. Coast Publicists Again Nominate Dan Thomas From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, March 22. Dan Thomas, Universal-International publicist, was nominated without opposition for his third successive term as president of the Publicists Association, Local 818, IATSE, at regular membership meeting of association last night. Election of officers will be by secret mail ballot in May, with new officers being installed at June membership meeting:. Fox 'Sons' Is British Cannes Festival Entry "Sons and Lovers" has been selected as the official British entry in this year's Cannes Film Festival. The 20th Century-Fox production, adapted from D. H. Lawrence's novel, was filmed entirely in England by director Jack Cardiff. Jerry Wald produced the CinemaScope film. The annual Cannes affair will take place May 4-May 20 with stars from many countries participating in the event. 312 'Pirates' Bookings United Artists has set 312 bookings beginning April 6 for its Easter saturation release of Bert I. Gordon's "The Boy and the Pirates" in the Ohaha, St. Louis and Kansas City areas. The Easter engagements are being backed by full-scale advertising and exploitation campaigns blanketing the three major areas.