The Exhibitor (1955)

8 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR CAN NEWS (Trade Headlines Of The Issue) Deaths Max Youngstein’s father dies (page 9). Distribution Stanley Kramer announces that terms for his UA release, “Not A Stranger” will be 70-30-10 (page 19). Exhibition Exhibitors approve plan for theatre col¬ lections for Will Rogers Hospital (page 18). Military services indicate they will veto present industry plan for compromise in theatre competition (page 20). Financial 20th-Fox credits CinemaScope for im¬ proved financial position and stock rise (page 10), international Toronto exhibitors utilize a kiddies' contest to offset the inroads of television; Ontario censors pin adult label on eight films (page 10). Legal Supreme Court reverses lower decision and rules treble damage award taxable (page 18). Mel Konecoff “Strategic Air Command” gets an Omaha sendoff blessed by the Air Force; 20th-Fox’s “A Man Called Peter” opens at the Roxy before a star-studded crowd; and IFE reveals top secret statistics on Gina Lollobrigida (pages 8 and 21). Organizations National Allied bulletin raps distributor policies and charges no intention of going through with roundtable conference; TOA’s Herman Levy and distribution counsel Adolph Schimel report progress on arbitration draft (page 9). Rube Shor, Allied president, tells Okla¬ homa convention that government regu¬ lation bill will be pressed, (page 19), Organization for Free TV is established to coordinate activities of all groups com¬ batting toll-TV; Omnibus presentation hit (page 20). Production The 27 th annual Academy Awards presentation gives top honors to “On The Waterfront,” Marlon Brando, and Grace Kelly (page 9). At the recent premiere of the New York Museum of Modern Art Fi!m Library's "50 years of Italian Cinema" retrospect program at the Museum's auditorium were, left to right, Alberto Lattuada, co-founder, Cineteca Italiana; Bernard Jacon, vice-president in charge of sales, I.F.E. Releasing Corporation; Dr. Goffredo Lombardo, president, I.F.E., and president, Titanus Films; and Franco DeSimone, general manager, Titanus Films. NEW YORK By Mel Konecoff (ABOARD MILITARY AIR TRANS¬ PORT Service Convair somewhere over the center of the U.S., New York-bound.) Most everybody aboard this fleet plane is catching up on sleep with the exception of writer Bob Considine, who is batting out a story on a typewriter a few seats further front. We are return¬ ing from a visit to Omaha, Neb., where, along with about 100 newsmen from both the east and west coasts, we observed the celebration of the ninth anniversary of the establishment of the Strategic Air Command as well as a special preview of Paramount’s “Stra¬ tegic Air Command.” It’s hard to believe that just two days ago, we landed at Offutt Air Force Base in falling snow and below freezing tem¬ peratures, were greeted royally by both the Air Force and the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and then whisked off to the Hotel Fontenelle behind the scream¬ ing siren of a police escort. Then came a special reception and dinner prior to the showing of the film at the Orpheum. Lots of old friends dropped over to say hello at that affair including Bob Hoff and his wife, Hank Plitt, Lou Fenske, Merle Lewis, etc. There were no speeches other than the few words of warm welcome on the part of Governor Victor Anderson, and aboard the dais were Brigadier General Richard Carmichael, producer Sam Briskin, Frank Love joy. Mayor John Rosenblatt, screen writer Beirne Lay, screen writer Valen¬ tine Davis, general sales manager E. K. O’Shea, company president Barney Balaban, Jimmy Stewart, June Allyson, John Alison, president. Air Force Association, and Art Storz, beer manufacturer. Theatre seats were at a premium as Konecoff BROADWAY GROSSES (As of this Monday) "Mambo" In The Groove New York — Considering the Lenten season, business in most of the first-run Broadway spots was pretty good over the weekend with the Criterion really jump¬ ing with “Mambo.” According to usually reliable sources reaching Motion Picture Exhibitor, the breakdown was as follows: “Battle Cry” (Warners). Paramount was heading toward $27,000 on the ninth week. “A Man Called Peter” (20th-Fox). Roxy opened to $33,000 for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with the first week heading toward $65,000. “The Glass Slipper” (MGM). Radio City Music Hall, with stage show, garnered $97,000 for Thursday through Sunday, with the second week sure of $152,000. “Mambo” (Paramount). Criterion re¬ ported $30,000 for the opening week. “On The Waterfront” (Columbia). Globe jumped to $150,000 on the third week due to the film copping so many Academy Award honors. “Underwater” (RKO). Mayfair was down to $8,000 on the final week. “East Of Eden” (Warners). Astor claimed $35,000 for the fourth week. “Man Without A Star” (U-I). Victoria expected the second week to tally $20,000. “The Long Gray Line” (Columbia). Capitol dropped to $20,000 on the eighth week. “Blackboard Jungle” (MGM). Loew’s State anticipated the third week at $52,000. airmen presented the colors on the stage. Tony Marvin, of the Arthur Godfrey show, acted as master of ceremonies, pre¬ senting Mayor Rosenblatt, Governor An¬ derson, and Alison, who, on behalf of the Air Force Association, presented a spe¬ cial citation to producer Briskin and Paramount. Stewart, Miss Allyson, Lovejoy, and General Curtis LeMay, com¬ mander-in-chief, Strategic Air Command, also participated in the cutting of the anniversary cake. There were several bursts of applause from the audience as the huge planes maneuvered in the air aided and abetted by color, wide-screen, and the clarity of the VistaVision photographic process. The film was projected via specially-con¬ structed horizontal feed projectors brought in from the coast for the event, which resulted in fine clarity and smoothness of detail. The audience seemed to find the proceedings highly entertaining while the Air Force was extremely pleased that at last here was a film that presented their story in proper fashion. A reception at the Storz brewery fol¬ lowed. The next day was devoted pretty much to the Air Force with briefings at the base on the country’s air power and the part played by the Strategic Air Com {Continued on page 21) April 6, 1955