Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1960)

Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, July 5, 1960 Banker Lauds 'Smash Hit' After Checking Deposit Approbation from a banker being "praise indeed," Melvin Miller, general manager of Consolidated Theatres, Stamford, Conn., is proudly exhibiting a deposit receipt of the Fairfield County Trust Co. on which the teller has written, "Congratulations on a smash hit." The banker's exuberance resulted from Miller's deposit of the opening day's receipts of Paramount's "Psycho," the size of which seemed to call for felicitations. Needless to say, the gross broke the house record for an opening day. TV-Actor Pact (Continued from page 1 ) the employers, two sets of increases in minimum rates, one effective retroactively to June 1, 1960 and continuing to 1962, and then additional increases for the next two years, and many other changes. Highlights of the new contract, in addition to raises in minimums, new limitations on producer options for exclusive rights on pilot and series contracts, include: (1) Pension, health and welfare plans: producer to pay an amount equal to 5 per cent of total actors' salaries and residuals, with limitation of $2,500 per actor per half hour program, and $4,000 per hour show. (2) Re-runs: Present re-run schedule remains in effect with increased residual payments provided by raises in minimum rates. Guild has the option the end of the first two-year period of the contract to convert residual payments to a system of royalty payments in perpetuity of not less than 8 per cent of the distributors worldwide gross from re-runs. If the guild exercises the option, the contract will run for an additional three years instead of two. If the guild elects not to exercise the option, the residual formula will be based on the minimums taking effect in 1962 and the contract will end in 1964. Levine Goes to Rome Joseph E. Levine, president of Embassy Pictures, flies to Rome today for pre-production conferences on "The Thief of Bagdad." The adventure drama, which will star Steve Reeves, goes before the cameras July 15. IN A HURRY FOR SPECIAL TRAILERS Let Filmaek make them! You'll be glad you did! We'll give you fast service and the finest quality! 1327 5. Wabash FILMACK Aid Asked on Foreign Tariffs ( Continued trade in countries still applying oppressive taxes. Motion pictures were not included in the listing previously announced by the committee for negotiation in conferences later this year. "I would like to request," wrote Johnston, "that exposed motion picture film, both negative and positive, and related materials, be included on the list of products on which the United States may seek concessions from other countries." After pointing out that more than half of the world-wide gross earnings on American films came from the foreign market last year, Johnston said: "In many countries import duties on negative or positive prints do not represent an onerous expense or a serious obstruction to importation, but have been far overshadowed by other types from page 1 ) of restrictions. Perhaps for this reason, the importance of import duties has been overlooked in certain instances." On the other hand, Johnston pointed out that among the countries with whom negotiations are to take place this year, there are several cases where the duties "are of such a size as to present a heavy annual cost to the industry and an important impediment to the importation of films." A tendency on the part of some other countries to resort to confiscatory duties, was also noted by Johnston, and he urged the committee to press for more reasonable tariff treatment in these areas. He also pointed out that it is important where present duties are low to make arrangements for preventing any future increases in such duties. Sandburg to Work on Para. Officials 'Story' with Stevens Special to THE DAILY FLAT ROCK, Tenn., July 4. Carl Sandburg, world acclaimed poet and historical biographer, is about to enter motion picture production. George Stevens, producer-director, announced here that Sandburg has agreed to collaborate with him on bringing to the screen Fulton Oursler's best-selling book, "The Greatest Story Ever Told," on which Stevens has spent the past year preparing a film for 20th Century-Fox. Sandburg will collaborate with Stevens and his staff of associates in both the preparation and complete production of the film, the producer stated. Stevens revealed that Sandburg will arrive in Hollywood July 18 and devote his full talents to the writing and actual making of the picture. This will mark Sandburg's first association with films. Pedro Seeks Another ALBANY, N.Y., July 4. Alex Pedro, who recently placed St. Johnsville, New York back on the theatre map— by reopening, with the aid of merchants and townspeople, that village's only motion picture house—, and who also operates in Dolgeville, New York, is reported negotiating for a lease on the Johnstown Theatre in Johnstown, N. Y. Formerly called Smalley's, it had been conducted for two years by Charles Schnell. CHICAGO, ILL. Form Jeff-Fun, Inc. MIAMI, July 4. Officers of Wometco Enterprises, Inc., and Jefferson Stores, Inc., issued a joint announcement today of the formation of a new corporation, Jeff-Fun, Inc. The corporation was formed to manage and operate a unique type of "inside funland park and snack bar." The JeffFun will be located as part of the Jefferson Super Stores, Inc., new self service department store in Fort Lauderdale. ( Continued from page 1 ) Hal Wallis' "G.I. Blues," starring Elvis Presley, and will confer with Alfred Hitchcock on the August general release of "Psycho." Other upcoming Paramount releases to be discussed include Shavelson-Rose's "It Started in Naples," Dino DeLaurentiis' "Under Ten Flags," Roger Vadim's "Blood and Roses," Jerry Lewis' "CinderFella," Marlon Brando's "One-Eyed Jacks," Ray Stark's "The World of Suzie Wong," Wallis' "All in a Night's Work" and Perlberg-Seaton's "The Counterfeit Traitor." FPCC Set to Resume National Meetings Special to THE DAILY TORONTO, July 4. Famous Players Canadian Corp. has set its first national meeting of executives, partners and managers since the 30's. Meetings are scheduled for Sept. 1215 inclusive. The four-day conference scheduled for the Park Plaza Hotel, Toronto, will include a showing of Telemeter, which is high on the agenda. Famous Players is Canada's largest circuit. New Drive-In Opens DETROIT, July 4. Elton Samuels owner of the Waterford, Jackson and Pontiac Drive-Ins, opens his new 1,500-car Miracle Mile Drive-in today. This is reported to be the only drivein equipped with 70mm and Todd-AO equipment. Grand opening festivities will include fireworks and prizes. 3 Columbia for July Columbia Pictures will release three films nationally during the month of July, it has been announced by Rube Jackter, Columbia vice-president and general sales manager. The three features are: Bryna-Quine's "Strangers When We Meet," William Castle's "13 Ghosts," and Harry Romm's "Stop! Look! and Laugh!" Justice Dept. Vigilance Is Urged for Anti-Trust Special to THE DAILY BERKELEY, Calif., July 4. Has divestiture of theatre holdings, in line with government antitrust action, re j stored competitive market rivalry to exhibition? Michael Conant, author of "Antitrust in the Motion Picture Industry," just published by the Univ. of Cali ' fornia Press here, concludes that it:| has in the short run, but will probably not prove effective in the long;; run. When the watchdog powers of the^ courts end, Conant expects the "monopoly power" of the major chains to'j make itself felt once more. "The only ! sure, long-run remedy for monopoly ! power is dispersal of that power. The ! circuits should have been destroyed," i Conant writes. He argues that, for,; example, United Paramount's 500 1 houses should have been divided upi among at least 50 separate firms. Chicago Case Emphasized Conant formerly served as attorney | to firms in the entertainment industry ! in Chicago. His book gives special!! attention to the Chicago area and the ; crucial Jackson Park case. He is now ; assistant professor of business admin1 istration at the Univ. of California. Conant feels that the prohibition on] compulsory block-booking has been; effective, as have those on formula deals and master agreements. How-! ever, he finds that distributors have; been able to control admission prices;; through percentage deals. Even dispersal of theatre holdings,,! Conant concludes, would not have produced effective competition without a system of public auction bidding, open to all theatres. Opposes Exhibitor Views Conant opposes the exhibitor proposal of compulsory arbitration in the making of film contracts as inconsistent with free competition. He argues that the minors (Columbia, Universal and United Artists) were wrongly named as defendants in the basic Paramount antitrust case. In conclusion Conant calls for "continuous vigilance by the Department of Justice to insure free entry of rivals into the market." GPL Has New Quarters LOS ANGELES, July 4.-GPL Division—General Precision, Inc., has relocated its West Coast sales and service headquarters in a new building, 7803 Lemona Avenue, Van Nuys, Calif., it has been announced by J. M. Kees, manager of the organization's Los Angeles regional office. Formerly the facility was located in Pasadena. Cinerama in Peru Cinerama will add another theatre to its chain of foreign installations when the Diamante Theatre in Lima, Peru, opens on July 12th, it is announced by B. G. Kranze, vice-president of Cinerama, Inc.