Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1960)

Motion Picture Daily Friday, August 26, jo PEOPLE Mort Sunshine, editor of The Independent, has been appointed vicechairman of the Democratic State Campaign Committee for KennedyTohnson. □ Sarah Keller, former president of the Jacksonville chapter, Women of the Motion Picture Industry, has returned to Film Row there as booker on Byron Adams* staff at United Artists. □ Irving Stern has been named manager of the 16mm division of Warner Bros. Pictures Distributing Co., Ltd., of Canada. He was formerly Toronto branch manager for Rank Film Distributors of Canada, Ltd. □ Robert S. Parnell, formerly with Allied Artists in Seattle, has been appointed manager of the SeattlePortland exchange of Favorite Films, succeeding Chilton Robinette, who has resigned. □ Ralph Dale has joined CFTO-TV, Toronto, as film buyer. He formerly was with Sovereign Film Distributors Co., Ltd. Push Fight to Free French Film Here Films-Around-the-World, Inc., will go to the Supreme Court if necessary in its fight to Force U.S. Customs to release "Les Teux de l'amour ("The Games of Love" ) , a French film. This was made known here yesterday by Ephraim London, legal representative of Irvin Shapiro, head of the distribution firm. First step in the fight to release the picture will be to ask an injunction against D. B. Strubinger, acting Commissioner of Customs in Washington, who has held it up since July 16. This may be done on Monday in New YorkFederal Court. London said he may also file a damage suit against Customs. The film has been detained by Customs because of the questionable nature of two sequences which might be construed as "obscene," it is understood. A special customs consultant is expected to view the picture after Labor Day. Drive-in Corp. to Open Bowling Center Today Special to THE DAILY BOSTON, Aug. 25.-General Drivein Corp., Philip Smith, president, opens its first 40-lane bowling center tomorrow in Felsway Plaza, Medford, Mass., the first of 15 such deluxe bowling operations now being built in the New England area. The second, to be situated in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway, West Roxbury, will open soon afterwards. Lindsay Bill (Continued from page 1) ination. It is not, however, the sort of discrimination which could lead to a court ruling that the law is void, according to Rep. Lindsay, who told Motion Picture Daily that "Conpress can do whatever it wants" on o taxes. Queried as to the reason for excluding the tax on motion picture admissions from his bill, Lindsay observed that one of them, at least, is the revenue problem. He noted that in removing taxes, the Treasury's opposition to the bill tends to increase in proportion to the amount that would be lost. Crash Program,' He Says Lindsay noted that when specific relief is given to an industry, it is part of a "crash program" to help "make life a little easier to an area in distress." He added that the "living theatre" ( much of which is located in the district he represents) is "in as bad trouble as any depressed area." The Congressman also commented that he felt sure that if his proposal were to come to the floor for action, there would be no dearth of legislators who would come forward and urge tax relief for buyers of motion picture tickets, too. To a certain extent, Lindsay's tax proposal ties in with a plan being worked out in the Senate by Sen. Javits (R., N. Y. ), who plans to ask a group of Broadway and out-of-town producers to make recommendations concerning the proper disposition of the funds that would be available if the ticket excise tax were to be removed. Javits Wants Theatre to Benefit Javits apparently is not thinking so much in terms of simply repealing the excise tax as in terms of sequestering the funds and making sure that they are used to benefit the theatre. Javits' proposals may be embodied in suggested legislation after the producers' group has made its recommendations. Meanwhile, in New York, James F. Reilly, executive director of the League of N. Y. Theatres, said: "It should be borne in mind that the repeal of the New York City five per cent tax is our most immediate necessity and we shall concentrate on that, although laying die groundwork at the same time for the effort to eliminate the Federal tax. To this end, surveys are being made which will be used for both purposes." Agents and Guild Contribute At the same time, Reilly acknowledged a contribution of $2,500 from the Association of Theatre Benefit Agents and the Play of the Month Guild to a fund being raised to finance the legitimate theatre's tax repeal fight. Contributions from other sources are in prospect. The tax repeal drive is an outgrowth of the Actors Equity strike which closed Manhattan's legitimate theatres last June. Producers contended they could better withstand increasing costs resulting from the Big WOMPI Delegation Anticipated at Toronto Special to THE DAILY TORONTO, Aug. 25.-A large delegation is expected to converge here for the seventh annual WOMPI convention to be held at the Royal York Hotel, September 9, 10 and 11. Miss Florence Long, convention chairman, states that advance registration indicate attendance at the convention will probably exceed any previous WOMPI conclave. Mrs. Mable Guinan, WOMPI association president, will preside at the business meetings, assisted by association vice-president Helene Spears, recording secretary Myrtle Cain, corresponding secretary Rosa Browning, treasurer Viola Wister and immediate past president Gene Barnett. One of the highlights of the convention will be the presentation of the annual awards for service, attendance, publicity and public relations. The following official delegates will represent the 11 member WOMPI clubs: Atlanta — Mrs. Jean Mullis-Mrs. Johnnie Barnes. Alternates— Mrs. Nell Middleton-Miss Martha Chandler. Charlotte — Mrs. Rebecca HunterMrs. Mack Wess. Alternates— Mrs;. Hazel Greer and Miss Clarinda Craig. Dallas — Miss Marie Powers-Miss Thelma Jo Bailey. Alternates— Miss Sue Benningfield-Mrs. Ora Dell Lorenz. Denver — Mrs. Toni DyksterhuisMrs. Bernice Gilmore. AlternatesMiss Anna Belle Miller-Mrs. Ivy Tullos. Des Moines — Miss Leone Matthews-Miss Nola Bishop. Alternates— Joyce Brain-Mrs. Pauline Mosier. Jacksonville — Mrs. Philomena Eckert-Mrs. Mary Hart. Alternates— Mrs. Ida Belle Levey-Miss Flora Walden. Kansas City — Mrs. Gladys MelsonMiss Phyllis Whitescarver. Alternates —Mrs. Bessie Buchhorn-Mrs. Alna Nece. Memphis — Miss Lois Evans-Mrs. Genevieve Lovell. Alternates — Mrs. Mary Katherine Baker-Mrs. Katherine Keifer. New Orleans — Mrs. Carmen SmithMiss Jane Ella Moriarty. AlternatesMiss Audrey Hall-Mrs. Bernice Chauvin. St. Louis — Miss Marcella DeVinney-Miss Jane Smoller. AlternatesMrs. Catherine Foy-Miss Theresa Boheim. Toronto — Mrs. Ruth FranksonMiss Florence Long. Alternates— Miss Olive Copleston-Miss Mary Sasaki. strike settlement if the city and Federal government would eliminate their ticket taxes, the theatres to retain the tax portion of the admission cost rather passing the saving on to the public. Afterward, Compo and other film industry sources said if a serious effort to repeal the admission taxes is undertaken by the legitimate theatre, proper steps will be taken either to see that the exemptions apply equally to motion picture theatres or to challenge the legality of the legislation on grounds that it was discriminatory. "on 'Spartacusj ( Continued from page 1 ) : , reported here yesterday by Jeff ingston, the company's executive 'j. ordinator of sales and advertii Livingston is conducting a seriejJl orientation meetings on the mere*dising of the picture being releid * by Universal. The personalities will visit each! with the aim being to reach as n sections of the newspapers as pos: since each will be drawn from a cialized field, Livingston explai' He pointed out that this is only beginning of a constant march of and personalities into the cities w will be opening "Spartacus" du the next three months. This is sep; and apart from the premiere ac ties in each of the cities. The tours will start immedh and continue through October "Spartacus" has its world premier the DeMille Theatre in New Yorl Oct. 6, followed by openings in cago, Los Angeles, Boston, Phil? phia and Detroit. Producer Included The personalities include Edv Lewis, producer of the film; Westmore, who supervised make John Day, who trained the gladia Alex North, who composed the n cal score; and Stan Margulies, proi tion and advertising and publ head of Bryna. With this group of five personal: the press activity will be directei the sports pages, the financial sectl the women's pages in addition to regular entertainment columns of newspapers. They will become volved in all forms of local pre tional activity. Formal sessions of the three series of orientation meetings "Spartacus" concluded last night 1 special workshops being schedu today on specific problems relatin each individual city. Besides the 1 versal executives, headed by D; A. Lipton and Margulies of Br participants also included Ck Schlaifer, head of the Schlaifer ad tising agency; Harry Mandel, president of RKO Theatres and associates, and Harry Goldberg, vertising and publicity head of Sta: Warner Theatres, and his assoc Arthur Manson. i 'Alamo' L.A. Premie To Benefit Share, In Share, Inc., Los Angeles' chant organization, and Batjac Product yesterday jointly announced an ini tional premiere of John Wayne's " Alamo" will be held at the Carl Circle Theatre on Oct. 26. Proa from the $50-a-ticket event are gi to Share. Proceeds from the premiere expected to fulfill the $500,000 of Share, which sponsors the Ex tional Children's Foundation Child Guidance Center for the mei ly retarded. The organization sponsored seven previous fund-ra affairs, but this is its first mo|* picture premiere.