Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1960)

6 Motion Picture Daily Friday, December 16, PEOPLE Spiro J. Papas, president of the . National Association of Concessionaires and executive vice-president of Alliance Amusement Co., Chicago, has been awarded the "Big Wheel" plaque at the annual business seminars of the Roller Skating Foundation in Miami Beach. He was questioned in detail concerning the profit possibilities of concession areas at roller skating rinks. □ David Supowitz, theatre architect with offices in Philadelphia, has been reelected to a four-year term on the board of the Jewish Family Service of that city. □ Leo Johns, assistant manager of the Crescent Drive-in Theatre, Danville, Va., has been transferred to Greenville, S. C, as manager of the Paris Theatre in that city. □ Herbert B. Langner, former partner in the New York law firm of Langner, Parry, Card and Langner, has accepted the post of treasurer of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. □ Lee Lockwood, magazine photographer, has been engaged by Joseph E. Levine, president of Embassy Pictures, to photograph special sequences for "The Wonders of Aladdin," now before the cameras in Tunis. □ Norman Lewis has sold his Girard Theatre, Philadelphia neighborhood house that dates back to the early days of films and vaudeville, to Stanley Warner Theatres, which in turn plans to sell it for non-theatrical use. □ P. L. Taylor, formerly with the Dixie Theatre, Columbus, Ga., but more recently active in California, lias returned to his post at the Columbus house. 'Exodus ' Bow Baur Rejoins Universal HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 15.-Edward Muhl, Universal-International vicepresident in charge of production, has announced the appointment of Jack Baur as studio talent executive. Baur was previously at Universal in similar talent capacity until 1958, when he left to join Walt Disney as casting director. He takes up his new post on Monday. L.A. Biltmore Sold LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15. The Biltmore, legitimate theatre landmark since 1924, has been purchased from Louis Lurie, major stockholder, by David Karno, Joseph Rubin and Joseph Harris as an investment. Operation of theatre will continue under a lease arrangement with the former owners. Purchase price is reported at $600,000. Technical Achievements Submitted For Academy Award Consideration Sixteen technical achievements of the past year have been submitted for 33rd Annual Academy Awards consideration, it has been announced by Gordon Sawyer, chairman of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Scientific or Technical Awards Committee. Meetings to evaluate the technical advances have been held and demonstrations of the entries have been conducted. A final meeting will be held late this month to determine which of the achievements the committee will recommend for awards recognition to the Academy board of governors. Pursuant to committee policy, the following list is being publicized to permit those with claims of prior art or with devices similar to those under consideration to call them to the committee's attention: Instantaneous color-film analyzer, Hazeltine Research Corp.; an automatic shutter for motion picture printing machines, Electronic Systems, Inc.; multiple head reduction printer, Movielab Film Laboratories, Inc. Instant-Sync, Myer P. Beck; synchronizing device, Joseph Lombardi; editing attachment, Carlos C. Rivas; Ampex high level switching sound system, Ampex Professional Products Co.; Kenyon KS-4 gyro stabilizer, Gordon Enterprises. Flicker indicating device, Columbia; Panavision Panaflex hand held 65mm camera, Panavision Inc.; Panavision Steinheil Pan-Quinon lenses, Panavision Inc.; Bausch & Lomb Cinephor 703 projection lenses, Bausch & Lomb. Visual Image Compensator, Vicom, Inc.; miniature flak gun and ammunition, 20th Century-Fox; an automatic developer replenisher system, Consolidated Film Industries; and dual flywheel filtering principle, Magnasync Corp. Kirsch Successor (Continued from page 1) periodically during the past several years, is scheduled to undergo major surgery at Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago, where he has been for the past several weeks. Kirsch agreed to assume the Allied presidency again-he held the post in 1946 and 1947-at the annual meeting of the board in Chicago, Nov. 5, against the advice of his physician and the urging of his wife. Kirsch also is president of Allied Theatre Owners of Illinois and is that organization's national director. So far as is known, he has not relinquished his Illinois Allied post. At the Chicago board meeting last month at which Kirsch was elected president of national Allied, plans were made to set up national headquarters in that city under a new executive director. Allied headquarters heretofore have been in Washington, D. C. It is expected that the board meeting next month will proceed with the plans to name an executive director, in addition to designating someone to serve out Kirsch's term as president. (Continued from page 1) ety and business leaders arriving at the theatre. Among those attending were: Adlai Stevenson, newly designated United States Ambassador to the United Nations; the Honorable Joseph P. Kennedy, father of John F. Kennedy, the President-elect; Joey Adams; Jean Pierre Aumont; George Axelrod; Lauren Bacall; Richard Basehart; Harry Belafonte; Leonard Bernstein; Paddy Chayefsky; Nat King Cole; Arlene Francis; Joan Fontaine; Coleen Gray; Burl Ives; Harry Kurnitz; Mrs. Fiorello LaGuardia; Myrna Loy; Joseph Mankiewicz; Lewis Milestone; Kim Novak; Christopher Plummer; George Raft; Lee Remick; Quentin Reynolds; Jerome Robbins, and Billy Rose. From the production, producer-director Otto Preminger, accompanied by Mrs. Preminger, attended. Also present were the following "Exodus" stars: Peter Lawford, Sal Mineo, David Opatoshu and Jill Haworth. U.A. Officials Attend Among the executives of United Artists, distributors of "Exodus," who attended the premiere were: Robert S. Benjamin, chairman of the board; Arthur B. Krim, president; Max E. Youngstein, vice-president, and William J. Heineman, vice-president in charge of distribution. WNTA-TV and WNTA radio telecast and broadcast the "Exodus" premiere in three separate programs. The first program, beginning at 7:30 P.M., was the live telecast of the stars and celebrities arriving at the theatre and being interviewed by Jinx Falkenburg, who was host for Buick, sponsor of all three programs. This was followed by a one-hour radio program on WNTA and a taped repeat of the 7:30 live tv program at 12:30 A.M. Garner Pact Is Voided; Gets $1,750 from W.B. From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 15. Actor James Garner has won his freedom from a contract with Warner Brothers, but lost his $106,000 suit for damages. The court ruled earlier that Warners breached its contract with the former star of its "Maverick" television series by suspending him last March during the writers' strike. For One Week's Work The judge awarded Garner $1,750 for one week's work between the time of suspension and his notice to the studio that the contract was broken, on the grounds that he earned more than $60,000 during the suspension period from personal appearances. Arkansas Exhibitors Will Hold Convention in May Special to THE DAILY LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Dec. 1 The Independent Theatre OwnerArkansas, a unit of the Theatre O ers of America, will hold its 1 state convention at the Marion H in Little Rock, Arkansas, Tues and Wednesday, May 2 and 3, it announced today by Bruce Yoi unit president. Young said the theme of the c vention will be "Let's Make SI Business Our Business." He said t attendance is also expected from hibitors in states bordering Arkan Eddie Holland, city manager North Little Rock Theatres, is se ing as chairman of the publicity cc mittee for the convention. Big Radio Driv For 'G. I. Blues A new plan for radio merchanc ing, in which local stations are 6 couraged to prepare campaigns t' lored to their particular situation, li been conceived by Paramount Pj tures in conjunction with Hal Wal "G.I. Blues." With the assistance the Radio Advertising Bureau, Pai mount has set special "G.I. BIu< campaigns on more than 200 tc rated stations, keyed to the popul; ity of Presley on the nation's airwav A special effort has been made select only stations that have pre ously demonstrated "strong prom tion-mindedness." Local Conditions Considered A cash budget for purchase specified numbers of commercial sp< is allocated to each station, with i structions for their directors to for a campaign based on their knowled; and understanding of the local ma ket. The stations are further advise to work closely with their neare Paramount field representative on d vising such techniques and gimmic as contests and tie-ups. Stations a: also urged to submit their own coy. for spot announcements, working froi production data supplied by Par mount. Hollywood's Paramoun Primps for 'Cimarron' From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 15. Tl Hollywood Paramount Theatre wi undergo extensive redecoration, i eluding installation of a new Walk high intensity screen, new overhea marquee with three-dimensional le ters and new lobby cases and ligl" ing for the roadshow engagement MGM's "Cimarron," with a Christm Night opening for stars and Los A geles civic and society leaders. T( officials of the industry are also e pected to attend. a! S! IK •n I