Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1960)

4 Motion Picture Daily Tuesday, November 29, Thanksgiving UK Exhibitors Urged to Get Into TVCodeHeck CTV As Prelude to Pay-TV Connection (Continued from page 1) out of town. For the four-day period, "Butterfield 8," playing at the Capitol here, is reported to have grossed $64,000, while "Ben-Hur," at the State played to a box-office take of $34,000. The figure for "Butterfield 8" is said to be the largest for any MGM attraction at the Capitol since that company's "Guys and Dolls" in 1955. 'The Alamo' Strong "The Alamo," playing at the Bivoli Theatre, is reported by United Artists to have netted $27,409, with Saturday the best day. The company's "Inherit the Wind," playing at the Astor Theatre, racked up $11,654 for the same period. BKO Theatres, widi "Esther and the King" playing at the Palace here, and "Let's Make Love," with Marilyn Monroe, showing at die neighborhood houses, did "better than average" business. Grosses for "Girl of the Night" at the Criterion Theatre were moderately good, die management disclosed. Paramount Theatres, with "Hell to Eternity" playing at the Brooklyn Paramount and "North to Alaska" at the Times Square house, reported business as somewhat better than usual for the period. 'Spartacus' Widely Popular "Spartacus," the attraction at the DeMille Theatre here, is reported by Universal Pictures to have taken $30,500 for the period, a strong figure, with business out of town reported as equally good in six current roadshow engagements. 'CinderFella' Sets House Record At the Woods Theatre in Chicago u CHICAGO, Nov. 28. Jerry Lewis' "CinderFella" has set an all-time house record for a Paramount release at the Woods Theatre, Chicago, in the first five days of its world premiere engagement. A gross of $39,169 was registered in the five days ending Sunday. The figure tops the entire first week of Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" at the same theatre by almost $8,000. Thomas E. Lucy Dies ATLANTA, Nov. 28.-Funeral servives were held here today for Thomas E. Lucy, 56, owner of Exhibitors Service Co, booking agency, who died at a local hospital. Formerly Atlanta manager for M-G-M, he suffered a heart attack two weeks ago at the Georgia Tech-Alabama football game. He is survived by his wife, his mother, a son and a brother. From THE DAILY Bureau LONDON, Nov. 28.-The E.M.I, group staged a well-attended two-day demonstration of its community tv system this week to sell independent exhibitors, in particular, the idea that this could be their first move towards cashing-in" on toll tv. MONEY MAKING MERCHANT IMAS SALES MANUAL FREE ON REQUEST For The Quiekesf And Best Holiday Promotion Trailers Send Your Order To FILMACK JJf W 1327 SO. WABASH CHICAGO S Addressing the 150 theatremen who had travelled from various parts of the British Isles to view E.M.I.'s equipment, D.I.G. Lodge of E.M.I, advocated the installation of this wired tv system to "ensure that exhibitors had a foot in the door" if and when toll tv is permitted here. "I would advise you," he added, "to apply to your local authority for permission to erect a mast receiving aerial and operate this relay system in any given town. Quite honestly, I think you are many years late in being here. Instead of divorcing yourselves or trying to oppose tv as a competitor, I feel diat events may prove it would have been much better if you had joined up with it." Calls It 'Brother' to Cinema "Tv-relay could become a 'brother' to the cinema but," he warned, it was no use postponing a decision or exhibitors would find themselves out on a limb. I am fully convinced this is going to happen — the fellow who controls networks will have the ace up his sleeve when it comes to tolltv." The E.M.I, equipment provides for as many as 13 channels including alternative channels for BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) and ITA (Independent Television Authority) networks and VHF radio. Colour tv, both live and film, telecine equipment and a simple coin-in-the-slot box were also demonstrated. Cost of the installation ranges between £5 ($14) to £10 ($28) which means for 2,500 houses a minimum outlay of £12,500 ($35,000). Until the advent of toll tv the "selling" points of tv-relay, it is stated, are quality reception free from fading in fringe areas, "flutter" from aircraft, interference in built-up areas. Cost Is a Factor Questioned on the Telemeter operation, an E.M.I, spokesman said that Telemeter may have the answer but he was worried whedier the man in the street would be prepared to pay five shillings (70 cents) or £ 1 ($2.80). ''Conditions in England," he added, "are vastly different from those . in North America." He described Telemeter as a "most wonderful box and a most wonderful system but we believe this is rather expensive and we believe it is advisable to produce a device which will permit coin-in-the-slot operation done much more cheaply." Becently E.M.I. Electronics concluded an agreement with Fairbanks Whitney, whereby the latter organisation will market most of the E.M.I, range of electronic equipment in the United States. 4-Day Holiday Weekend Business Strong in N.O. Special to THE DAILY NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 28.-Theatre business on the four-day Thanksgiving Day weekend here ranged from good to excellent, despite strong competition from the Shriners annual circus at the Auditorium, especially the "Circus Daddy" matinee, Thanksgiving Day, which benefited from distribution of 6,500 tickets made possible by donations received from Shriners and their friends for the benefit of oldsters, children and invalids. Sports Hurt Grosses Distribution of tickets was through parents clubs, boy and girl scout troops, churches and other groups, including those for orphan homes and hospitals. The Thanksgiving night show also cut into theatre business, as did all of the shows during the nineday engagement. Also there was a 17,000 opening-day crowd at the races that jammed the Fair Grounds Thanksgiving afternoon and on Saturday afternoon 74,000 were at the LSU-Tulane football game here. Managements of the Saenger, Loew's State, Tudor and Civic theatres reported that business was excellent. The RKO Orpheum and Joy described it as good. Rank Theatres Zoned Into Seven Regions From THE DAILY Bureau LONDON, Nov. 28.-An important geographical readjustment of Rank theatres is announced by assistant managing director Kenneth Winckles. The changes, which take effect Jan. 8, 1961, involve the reorganization of theatres into seven regions, as opposed to the present 10. Details are given by Winckles in a letter to all managers, in which he recalls the speech by John Davis, managing director of the Rank Organisation, to the 1957 Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association conference outlining the industry's need for rationalisation, and added that steps taken since then have necessitated the geographical readjustment of regions. Regional Heads Named Under the new plan, Rank theatres will be grouped into the following territories: Scotland and North Eastern England: regional controller, C F. Booth; Northern England and North Wales: regional controller, R. G. Mason; Central England 'and Wrexham: regional controller, D. B. Williams; South West England and South Wales: regional controller, L. V. Crews; East Anglia, Home Coun ( Continued from page 1 ) 1 ucts advertising are solved or are! on their way to being solved, Hail bower reported, but he w;l broadcasters strongly against potM danger in film trailers and in the er feature films. While broadcasters have and no control over what theatres ex in their own areas, he said, they be careful in aocepting film clip mercials for use on the air. "Son this stuff in the past has been ei tionally violent or overly sexy ol best, quite suggestive," he said. "Look these offerings over care," he told the broadcasters you can't do it yourself, be sure i responsible staff member does. If are in doubt, ask your closest C office for an opinion." He also advised the broadcasts screen post-1948 feature films, 3 of which have been released to vision. He added: "This is not to credit this material, for certainly great percentage of it is accept! television fare, but, remember s of it raised a few eyebrows whe was exhibited in theatres." MGM Host ( Continued from page 1 ) join the press junket, one of the gest ever undertaken for a motion ture premiere. With the West Coast group wil three of the stars of "Cimarro Maria Schell, Anne Baxter and IN cedes McCambridge. Both groups are expected to ar, in Oklahoma City at noon t Wednesday. The premiere will held Thursday night. Rank to Distribute ( Continued from page 1 ) Western Hemisphere will be by Al Artists, in Spain by Filmayer, anc Italy by D.E.A.R. Films. Bronston, in signing the eontr stated he expected delivery of Cid" for a London premiere in cember, 1961, adding the met! of split distribution is an experim he is trying which certainly is ) costly than a major company hi dling worldwide distribution, and] the same time guarantees specialiJ local handling. Bronston will ret to New York on Wednesday. Eulogy by Skouras ( Continued from page 1 ) place tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. in Church of Jesus Christ of Latter D, Saints, 142 West 81st Street. Mr. Harrison's family has request that in lieu of flowers, contribute be made to the Foster Parents PI of New York. ties and Northern London: regio controller, F. Bradley; South Lone and South East England: regioi controller, W. A. Hockman, and W; End ( London ) : regional control! G. Conway.