The Exhibitor (1954)

NT-1 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR iXKWs OF thf: Boston Crosstown This city was selected by David O. Sclznick to show his newly re-edited print ot “Tom Sawyer.” The special invitational and public screening was held at New England Theatres’ Capitol, Allston, Mass., for a cross section of thea¬ tre patrons. Selznick himself remained in the theatre to check the audience re¬ action on the film, made in 19d7 and now cut and revised with a new color print. Prior to the evening screening, Selznick met a group of representative buyers, bookers, circuit heads, and inde¬ pendents at a cocktail party at the Ritz Carlton hosted by Joseph E. Levine, Embassy Pictures Corporation. He told the group that the purpose of his visit was to decide whether to re-issue the original print or to re-make the picture altogether. The I’e-make will cost a matter of $4,00(1, 000, he said. “This is the number one American classic,” he told the exihibitors. “ ‘Tow Sawyer’ is a family audience picture and the educa¬ tional possibilities are limitless. The PTA groups, schools, colleges could cooperate with the release, because of the place of idolatry Tom Sawyer has in the libraries and homes of the American public.” James “Red” King, ebullient publicist for Cinerama here, has been sent to Buffalo to lay the ground work for the exploitation of “This Is Cinerama” when the film opens at Shea’s Teck around March 1. Between now and the opening date. King will be back and forth to Buffalo. In connection with their two latest pictures made for Paramount, William Perlberg and George Seaton visited for press interviews. Arnold Van Leer, pub¬ licist at Paramount, staged a cocktail party for the two producers at the Sheraton-Plaza Hotel. The following day, Tony Curtis, starring in “Six Bridges To Cross,” arrived in town with his wife, Janet Leigh, for ladio and TV appearances. John McGrail, U-1 pub¬ licist, arranged a. large cocktail party for the stars at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Waltei A. Brown, chief barker, Variety Club of New England, has announced that Rudolph F. King, Massachusetts I'egistrar of motor vehicles, has been unanimously chosen to be the recii)ient of the Great Heait Award, presented annually to the individual who has done the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people. King will receive the citation at a banquet to be held in the early spring, sponsored by the Variety Club, with executive director William S. Koster in charge of arrange¬ ments. King has long been a tireless worker for the Jimmy Funds and has served on the committee for several years. Lawrence “Lar'ry” Wallace, concessions manager, E. M. L<)(‘W 1 hcaitres, is in William Koster, executive director, Jimmy Fund Drive, and Theodore Fleisher, co-chairman, 19.74 campaign, are seen recently after spearheading the successful $430,435.49 drive benefitting children suffering from cancer. Fleisher is president. Interstate Theatres Corpo¬ ration, and traveled into every state in the territory to personally direct the committees in the various cities and towns. Winthrop Hospital, Winthrop, Mass., for an operation. . . . The parking problem at the State, East Milton, Mass., was solved when manager Maurice Sidman approached the officials of the Milton Savings Bank, located directly across the street, and asked for their cooper¬ ation. As the theatre has no parking lot and the bank had recently acquired a sizeable area for its own parking, the bank officials agreed to allow the theatre patrons to use the space in return for a trailer to be flashed on the screen at each performance. The trailer mentions the services of the bank and also gives full credit to the bank foi' the parking favor. h-ving A. Isaacs, president, Inde¬ pendent Exhibitors, Inc., of New Eng¬ land, the unit of National Allied, has appointed Norman Glassman and Leslie Bendslev as co-chai)’men of the nominat¬ ing committee for 1955. Melvin Safner, Ted Rosenblatt, and Edward Lider were asked to be on the committee. This group will select a slate of officers to sci've for the year. The officers will be elected at the annual meeting to be held on March 1. Eliminations announced by the Bureau of Sunday Censorship included “The Black Pirates,” parts 1 to 8, (Deletions: Eliminate entire song starting with lyrics “I want love,” in part 2; eliminate song starting with lyrics “1 want love,” in part 4; eliminate dialogue, “Listen to the one who has brought the shame of lust to our village,” in paid 5.) (Lippert). “Destry,” parts 1 to 11, (Deletions: Eliminate close-ups of Brandy’s breast exposure after fight, in paid 4.) (U-I) Mr. and Mrs. Michael A. Fasano, Cummings, Fitchburg, Mass., celebrated their 4()th wedding anniversary. Fasano was formerly a photographer. The couple have seven children and nine grandchildren. Film District Funeral services were held for Maurice N. Wolf, retired public relations repre¬ sentative, MGM, at Temple Sinai, Brookline, Mass. Wolf died at Baker Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. He was 75. Born in Texas, he came to Boston 30 years ago and was branch manager, MGM, for many years. Later he was given the post of public relations representative when he toured the country addressing various groups on the industry. He retired from active duty a year ago. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; a son, Norton, of New York; and two grandchildren. He was a charter member of the Variety Club of New England and its first chief barker. He also was the originator of the Boston Friars Club, which later be¬ came the Variety Club. 20th-Fox’s eastern division sales man¬ ager, Glenn Norris, and his staff came in from New York to conduct a two-day sales meeting with the branch managers and sales staff from Boston, Buffalo, Albany, and New Haven for discussions on forthcoming pi'oduct. Phil Engel, Boston publicist, was in charge of ar¬ rangements at the Hotel Statler. Elmer Hollander, special sales repre¬ sentative, Distributors Corporation of America, has come on from New York to make his headquarters at the offices of A1 Swerdlove, New England distri the above luncheon was held in Boston with film critics all briefly interviewing Barry Fitzgerald, starred in the film, via long distance telephone. Seen around the table left to right, are J. M. Davenport, importer of Austin-Healey cars seen in the film; George Roberts, Rifkin, Circuit; Fifi Harding, MOTION PICTFRE EXHIBITOR area correspondent; Robert Taylor, Boston Herald; Prunella Hall, Boston Post; Elinor Hughes, Boston Herald; Don >Iessenger; .Marjory Adams, Boston Globe; Peggy Doyle, Boston American; .\tta .Maloney, Boston Traveler; Priscilla Fortescue, Station VV EEl; and Harry Goldstein, Allied Artists’ publicist. Jiinnarp 26, 1055 NEW ENGLAND