Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1960)

} nday, November 28, 1960 [arrison Rites Motion Picture Daily ( Continued from page 1 ) ht of health up to the time of his juth. He had never previously had i nptoms of a heart ailment. I Memorial services for Harrison will j held in New York City on Wednesly at the Church of Jesus Christ of I > Latter Day Saints, 142 West 81st Let, at 11:30 A.M. I Harrison is survived by his wife, ■ jyrleen; a sister, Mrs. Mort Thomas 1 1 this city, and a brother, James, of wider, Colo. I Harrison, who was with 20th-Fox 1 r 25 years, was born on May 26, 15 and was educated at the Univer !,,y of Utah. He joined 20th-Fox as fj poster clerk in the San Francisco lanch in 1935, advanced to booker Lfore entering military service in 11143. Rejoined in 1946 |,Upon his separation from the armed I rces in 1946, he rejoined the film I inrpany as executive assistant to Heran Wobber, then head of the San fancisco branch. Harrison became in Francisco branch manager in )48, and head of the Los Angeles |fice in 1951. In 1952, he was named home office ■presentattive of the sales departlent and was promoted to Western ivision manager in 1954. He was liade general sales manager by presient Spyros P. Skouras two years later ad resigned last spring to retire to is California ranch. I ] The family requested that in lieu it if flowers, donations be made to the joster Parents Plan, New York City. i Atlanta WOMPI Plans IJTule Charity Activity i I Special to THE DAILY ATLANTA, Nov. 27.-The monthijl?/ meeting of the local chapter, : Women of the Motion Picture Indusry, was held at the Variety Club here following dinner, with president Jean £ Chillis, presiding. Those board memAers and committee attending other 4 ban Mrs. Mullis, were Margaret itover, Mrs. Tillie Shapiro, Mrs. iernice Hinton, Elizabeth Wallace. Mrs. Pat Brown, Mrs. Marcelle Kohn. Vlrs. Lois Cone, Mrs. Opla Tate, Mrs. Juanita Elwell, Mrs. Nell Midlleton, Mrs. Martha Chandler, and . Ldythe Bryant. sm Plans are formulated to reach in inhe neighborhood of 400 persons at ' Christmas time, including all patients it Battle Haven; all children at Hill Side Cottage and girls in the six to •:en-year-old group at the Salvation Army Club. All WOMPI's are in the process of dressing 150 dolls so that each of the i little girls will receive a doll in her Christmas stocking. Hard Ticker Protests Heard; 'Atlas' Shifts From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Nov. 27.-A saturation release utilizing 500 prints in 11 key territories instead of roadshowing has been set for "Atlas," The Filmgroup's first million-dollar feature in CinemaScope and color, it is announced by president Roger Corman. The switch from the originally announced policy was made, Corman said, because growing numbers of exhibitors were" reporting dilution of roadshow attraction attendance and attenuation of grosses as a result of too many simultaneous hard-ticketers spoiling the box-office broth. 'Spot Bonanzas' Decried "Exhibitors whose box-office acumen we respect," Corman said, "indicate the dangers of pricing pictures out of the market. They admit the occasional success of roadshows but point out that they are interested in loner run attendance increase over extended periods instead of spot bonanzas. In effect, the roadshow oasis can be a mirage. Because The Filmgroup is interested in a long-term exhibition future we will go along with our customers. We believe on consistency at the turnstiles instead of the feast-famine policy. Promotion to Be Increased Name Bergman ( Continued from page 1 ) promotional activities conducted by all Eastern groups on behalf of the April 17 awards telecast and broadcast. A public relations and motion picture industry veteran of more than 30 years' experience, he will work under the direction of the Academy's recently appointed public relations coordinating committee. This committee, headed by Jack Diamond and John Flinn, public relations branch representatives on the Academy board of governors, is responsible for the supervision and control of all promotional activities for the awards. Other members of the committee include Dan H. Baer and Archie A. Lee, Harshe-Rotman, public relations counsel for the Academy; Clarke Wales, director of public relations for the Association of Motion Picture Producers, and representatives of the American Broadcasting Company public relations staff, as yet unnamed. Bergman has most recently been a general public relations consultant, following a year as director of public affairs for the Motion Picture Association of America. He will assume his new post Jan. 1, 1961. V, 'Exodus' to Philadelphia Otto Preminger's production of "Exodus" will have its Philadelphia premiere at the Boyd Theatre in Feb. 1, starting an exclusice, reserved-seat engagement. It will play 10 performances weekly. "'Atlas,' therefore, which we sincerely believe to be of roadshow calibre, will be a better money's worth to exhibitor and audience if it goes out for regular run. The appropriation increase necessary for roadshowing now will be devoted to promotion." Crippled Children Are Guests at 'Hur' Party Special to THE DAILY BOSTON, Nov. 27. A "Million Dollar First Anniversary Party of 'Ben-Hur'" was held at Ben Sack's Saxon Theatre here last week with 1,000 underprivileged and crippled children guests at the matinee showing, sponsored by the Massachusetts Shriners, and a party for the press film critics, radio, tv personalities and a group of leading citizens on the theatre's mezzanine. Judge Robert Gardner Wilson, Jr past Imperial Potentate of the Shriners, arranged for the matinee showing for the children and ice cream and cake was served. Sam Richmond, general manager of Sack Theatres, and the Saxon Theatre staff, headed by Buster Holt, manager, hosted the mezzanine party, at which a citation from Boston's mayor John F. Collins was presented. Sullivan Felicitates A congratulatory telegram was received from Ed Sullivan, from Miami, and in for the ceremonies were Stanley Chatkin, M-G-M advertising, New York; Ed Gallner, M-G-M advertising, Philadelphia; Ben Bebchick, branch manager, M-G-M, Boston. Map Hub Campaign for 20th-Fox's 'Legions' Special to THE DAILY BOSTON, Nov. 27. Plans for a heavy exploitation campaign for the 20th Century-Fox production, "Legions of the Nile," set to open at the Pilgrim Theatre here Dec. 6, and in 100 theatres around New England the following day, were discussed at a two-day session at the local 20thFox office last week. Clayton Pantages, member of the 20th Century-Fox sales cabinet, under the supervision of Glen Norris, general sales manager, was here to conduct the sessions. Al Levy, branch manager, spoke on the expenditure, exhibitor cooperation, and wide distribution of the picture. Phil Engel, New England representative, outlined the promotion plans. The entire area will be saturated with a 10-day television campaign, plus radio coverage for one full week. Remodels Theatre, Then It's Damaged By Fire Special to THE DAILY JACKSONVILLE, Ark., Nov. 27Tlie Grand Theatre here, owned by Bart Gary, was heavily damaged by fire last week, a few minutes before it was to open for the night. The flames were confined to the rear of the building around the screen but the heat was believed to have damaged projection equipment and film at the front. The largest part of a remodeling project on the theatre had been completed only recently, and some work still was to be completed. TEST TALK Variety Club News LOS ANGELES Tent No. 25 has elected its crew for 1961. The 11 members include Ben Adler, Jack Berwick, Lester Blumberg, Johnny Grant, Jack Hessick, William Jamagin, Al Lapidus, J. E. McCarthy, Armand Schaefer, Fred Stein and William Thedford. The crew will meet this week to elect its new chief barker and other officers. A BUFFALO The new directors for 1961 of Tent No. 7, Variety Club of Buffalo, are: Peter Becker, son of Al Becker, veteran theatre supply executive; Melvin Berman, of Tri-State Refreshments; Bernie Burns, musician; Jack Chinell, manager of the local Buena Vista branch; Dewey Michaels, of Michaels Theatres, and William Shirley, field representative for United Artists. A MIAMI Tent No. 33, Variety Club of Greater Miami, has elected as chief barker Jack Bell, "Town Crier" columnist of the Miami Herald. He will take office on Jan. 1, succeeding Ed Melniker. Others elected include Bill Dock, first assistant; Maury Ashmann, second assistant; Frank Crown, dough guy, and Hal Kopplin, property master. New crew members named are Wolfie Cohen, Hal Pelton, Sydney Meyer, Jack Leonard and Sonny Shepherd. A PITTSBURGH Ray Downey has been installed as chief barker of Tent No. L Other officers installed are Bernie Hickey, Jerome "Tad" Reeves, Harold Gray, Bob Rosuali, Lou Averbach, I. Elmer Ecker, Nat Kaufman, Jimmy Klingensmith, Ernest Stern and Jack van Lloyd. Among the <mests at the installation were Elsa Maxwell and Columbia Pictures' Jo Morrow. A CHARLOTTE-James R. Gilland, Stewart-Everett Theatres executive here, is the new chief barker of the Charlotte Variety Club. He succeeds Ray Ervin. Other new officers are Ulmer Eady, first assistant chief barker; Tom Cookerly, second assistant chief barker; Melvin Cook property master, and John R. Vickers, dough guy. The officers will be installed on Jan. 1. Suspend 'Cleopatra'; Miss Taylor Returning From THE DAILY Bureau LONDON, Nov. 27. Production on 20tii Century-Fox's "Cleopatra" was temporarily suspended here at the weekend. After a weekend in Paris, the picture's star, Elizabeth Taylor, whose illness caused the suspension, will fly to California to complete her recuperation.