Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1960)

Motion Picture Daily Monday, November 21, lfi'j , PERSONAL MENTION GEORGE WELTNER, Paramount Pictures vice-president in charge of world sales; Jerome Pickman, vicepresident in charge of advertising, publicity and exploitation, and Russell Holman, Eastern production manager, have returned to New York from Hollywood. • Goffredo Lombardo, president of Titanus Films, and Franco DeSimone, executive vice-president, arrived in New York at the weekend from Rome to attend the Pioneers dinner tonight and to conduct talks with Joseph E. Levine on forthcoming product. • Mitchell Leichter, producer and distributor, has entered Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital for a check-up. • Joseph Friedman, Paramount Pictures exploitation manager, arrived in Chicago over the weekend from New York. • Sheila Beth Silverstone, daughter of Emanuel Silverstone, vicepresident of 20th Century-Fox International Corp., was married at the Park Lane here yesterday to Richard L. Veron, attorney. • Harry Botwick, district supervisor for Florida State Theatres, has recovered from illness and has returned to his duties in Miami. • Dave Prince, Southern district manager for Lopert Films, Atlanta, has returned there from New Orleans. • E. E. Shinn, Paramount veteran salesman, is confined to Biloxi ( Miss. ) Hospital being treated for serious injuries suffered in an automobile accident there. • George Kreegar, Benton Bros, official and mayor of Smyrna, Ga., has returned there from a vacation in Florida. Marcus Plan HAVE YOU ORDERED the ( Continued from page 1 ) selected by die exchange area's exhibitors' committee and has been approved for the special Marcus promotion by U.A. Two pictures that have already received Marcus plan promotion throughout the Pittsburgh area are "Jungle Cat," a Walt Disney production released by Buena Vista, and "I Aim At The Stars," a Columbia picture. Edele Named Southern Div. Manager for U.A. D. J. Edele has been appointed Southern division manager for United Artists with supervision over Metropolitan New York, it was announced by James R. Velde, UA vice-president in charge of domestic sales. He succeeds Sid Cooper. Edele's appointment is effective Dec. 12. The Southern division consists of the Charlotte, Jacksonville, Atlanta, New Orleans and Dallas exchanges. Edele has been Metropolitan district manager for UA since January, 1959. Prior to that time he served as branch manager of the company's St. Louis and Memphis offices. MPAA Board Meeting Is Set for Tomorrow The board of directors of the Motion Picture Ass'n. of America is schedule to meet here tomorrow morning in a continuation of the adjourned meeting of Nov. 3. At that meeting the board authorized the appointment of a committee to consider the establishment of a West African Development Co. to develop new dieatres, provide direct distribution of American films and promote and protect American film interests in the new nations there. The project is an aftermath of a survey of African market possibilities made last summer by Eric Johnston, MPAA president, and Ralph Hetzel, vice-president. Johnston has not yet announced the committee members. Switch 'Grass' Date Universale "The Grass Is Greener" will open at the Astor and Trans-Lux 52nd St. Theatres here on Dec. 23 instead of Dec. 14, as previously announced. The switoh was made to conform with other Christmas-New Year's openings of the film at theatres throughout the country. W.B. Signs Tashlin HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 20. Frank Tashlin has been signed by Warner Brothers as writer-director for "May This House Be Safe from Tigers," from the novel by Alexander King. Woolf Suing CEA over Film Deal with WB From THE DAILY Bureau LONDON, Nov. 20.-James Woolf, director of Romulus Films, said at the weekend he is taking legal action against Ellis Pinkney, general secretary of the Cinematograph Exhibitors Ass'n., and others following the collapse of Woolf's negotiations with Warner Bros., for a production deal. Woolf oharged Pinkney wrote Jack Warner, head of Warner Bros., last May concerning reports that James Woolf, brother of John Woolf, had signed a deal with Warners to make a film in America. Pinkney is said to have told Warner that John Woolf and his companies were under criticism by CEA as a result of Romulus Films making feature pictures available to television. The CEA general council has recommended that its members not book any new or old film with which John Woolf or his companies are concerned. Pinkney is reported to have added in the letter that, while the CEA resolution does not extend to James Woolf by name, it may well be the delegates "will wish to extend the scope of the resolution to give effect to their original intentions." Solomon to Loew's State Succeeding Blackwell Robert Solomon, manager of Loew's Paradise, Bronx, has been named manager of Loew's State, the circuit's Times Square flagship, it was announced Friday by Murray Lenekoff, supervisor. Solomon succeeds Jerry Blackwell, who resigned to become M-G-M's Puerto Rico manager. Murray Sharf, manager of Loew's State, Newark, will fill the Paradise post. Bernard Zelenko will become manager of Loew's 175th Street, succeeding Jack Blum, who moves to the Delancey. George Kirby, at present Delancey manager, will fill relief assignments. 'Can-Can' to Palace On Regular Policy The CinemaScope version of "CanCan" will open at the RKO Palace Theatre on Broadway Dec. 21 with continuous performances and regular admission prices, it was learned at the weekend. The Todd-AO version of the film recently completed a long engagement at the Rivoli Theatre on a reservedseat, two-a-day basis. Sam Wilson Dead ATLANTA, Nov. 20. Sam Wilson, who at various times has served film exchanges here and in Jacksonville, died at his home in Orlando, Fla. Pioneers' Feti (Continued from page 1) guests will include Adolph Zuki Simon H. Fabian, Eric Johnston, jj Warner, Joseph R. Vogel, Robij: Benjamin, Arthur Krim, Robij Mochrie, J. D. Gortatowsky i. Judge Ferdinand Pecora. Judge Pecora will formally ind 40 industry veterans into the Pionei as part of the annual dinner affai festivities. Night club and television star A King has accepted an invitation perform at the affair, interrupting i extensive personal appearance tour be on hand for the Levine celebratii; Al Rickey and his orchestra will pi vide the musical entertainnu throughout the testimonial. Many Attend Services For Mrs. Lillie Rosen About 350 persons prominent in I motion picture and allied industi[ attended funeral services on Fric for Mrs. Lillie Rosen, 86, mother Samuel Rosen, executive vice-pr« dent of Stanley Warner Corp. 1 services for Mrs. Rosen were held Riverside Memorial Chapel and int ment was at New Mt. Carmel, Cypr Hills. Rabbi Jacob Polisoh of Tem Isaiah, Forest Hills, officiated. Among those at the services in adj tion to members of the immedi family were: Samuel Rinzler, Eman; Frisch, S. H. Fabian, Philip Harli); Ed Fabian, Bernard Kranze, Hem: Robbins, Lou Golding, David Fog| son, George Dembow, Charles Srm witz, Merlin Lewis, Nat Feldms Jules Lapidus, Harry Goldberg,Stu; Aarons, Harry Kalmine, A. W. Schwi berg, Max A. Cohen and Josel Lefkowitz. MPPC 1961 Campaigi Passes $1 Million Marj From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 20. Tj 1961 campaign of the Motion Pictii Permanent Charities has reached total of $1,051,232, it was disclos following reports from leaders in t film and allied industries at the char: organization's third campaign lunc eon here. In view of the rapid progrt of the campaign, Sidney Solow, MP1 chairman, estimated that the tot raised in the drive should reach least $1,170,000. MPPC will hold its fourth and fin] report luncheon on Dec. 1. O' 'Toole for 'Lawrence Peter O'Toole, a star of the Shakt peare Memorial Theatre at Stratfor on-Avon, will play the title role Sam Spiegel's "Lawrence of Arabia having won the role in a test co ducted by David Lean, who will c rect the film.