Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1960)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY \)L. 88, NO. 54 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1960 TEN CENTS If Coast Convention 'OA Delegates old Pay-TV Is lot Inevitable ,9ur Speakers Scoff at Chreat,' But Urge Fight i By MARTIN QUIGLEY, JR. IcOS ANGELES, Sept. 15.-"Those no tell you pay-tv is "inevitable" are H3 "victims of the big lie told over Id over again. Pay-tv is not inevilile. It is unconscionable." [This was the gist of a blistering ati ;k on pay-tv at today's Theare Own Di of America convention seminar on I; subject, made by Mitchell Wolf a, head of Wometco Enterprises, 5 iami, and himself a television station | erator. i'lThe convention also heard a strong 1 3a from Philip Harling, chairman of 1 3 TO A toll-tv committee, that exDitors unite in the campaign to get (Continued on page 4) her Named Chairman f B'nai B'rith Drive Appointment of attorney Louis zer as general chairman of the 1960 :w York campaign for B'nai B'rith youth services was announced by Label A. Katz, president of the Jewish service organization. The campaign, conducted by the B'nai B'rith Foundation o f the United States, helps support the B'nai B'rith's many and vari ns youth programs. Climax of this year's fund-raising ( Continued on page 2 ) Johnston Will Urge MPA Africa Effort By E. H. KAHN WASHINGTON, Sept. 15. Just back from a five-week, 300,000-mile trip to Africa, Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Export Association of America, is expected shortly to make formal recommendations concerning that continent in a report to the MPA member companies. It seems clear that he will suggest a more active role in Africa exhibition by American organizations. In a press conference today Johnston reiterated his confidence in the growing market that is Africa. "With tv coming into Europe," he said, "we (Continued on page 5) Academy Show Slated For Monday, April 17 From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 15. The 33rd awards presentation of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will be held on Monday night, April 17, 1961. In making the announcement, Valentine Davies, first vice-president, said a Monday was selected for the third successive year in deference to motion picture exhibitors, recognizing that such a record-audience show on other days of week might interfere with peak night theatre attendance. Mirisch Asks TOA Join Producers American Version of Eady Plan Proposed SPG Head Says Fund Could Overcome Product Shortage, Develop New Talent By SHERWIN KANE (TOA convention pictures on page 4) LOS ANGELES, Sept. 15.— A proposal that exhibition join production to study and develop an American version of the British Eady Plan as a means of overcoming the product shortage and for the development of new talent was made to /. Cheever Cowdin, Former 'W Official, Dies J. Cheever Cowdin, industrialist and former chairman of the board of directors of Universal Pictures, a post he had occupied for 13 years until his retirement in 1949, died here yesterday following a heart attack. He was 71. He joined Universal in 1936 following extensive experience in the industrial and financial fields, having organized Blair & Co. and Standard Capital Co. He achieved wide acclaim as a polo player, being a member of the U. S. team in many international contests. Cowdin is survived by his wife, the former Andrea Parker, a sister and a son by a previous marriage. Walter Mirisch the Theatre Owners of America c o nvention here today by Walter Mirisch, presid e n t of the Screen Producers Guild. Mirisch also called for s t r e a mlining and consolida Louis Nizer Self-Regulation Answer to Censorship Wolfson and Wald Tell TOA Meeting From THE DAILY Bureau LOS ANGELES, Sept, 15.-The industry's concerted aim in the face of new criticism and agitation for censorship should be to preserve its system of self-regulation, the Theatre Owners of America convention seminar on legislation and censorship was told today ~ " " by Mitchell Wolfson, chairman. To have national censorship and local this end, he said, die Production Code classification." tions in distribution "to do the job better as well as cheaper." His proposal for an American Eady Plan pointed out that the national film gross for the past 10 years has averaged approximately $1,300,000,000 per year. "A contribution of only three per cent of this total could establish a (Continued on page 6) and its administrators require the complete support of everyone in the industry. "If self-regulation is discredited," Wolfson warned, "we are going to Wolfson said that TOA's censorship committee, which met earlier with Motion Picture Association representatives, had concluded that sex and (Continued on page 5) Pa. High Court Asked To Uphold Censor Code Special to THE DAILY HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 15. Atty. Gen. Anne X. Alpern yesterday disclosed the State Department of Justice has asked the State Supreme Court to uphold Pennsylvania's new censorship code enacted in 1959. Stating that die department had hoped to have the case heard sooner, she said "an effort will be made to ( Continued on page 6 ) LABORATORIES, INC. Complete facilities for every Him NEW YORK AND HOLLYWOOD ..... . , need in black and white or color