The Exhibitor (1955)

MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 21 Defense Witnesses Deny Charges Of Conspiracy Against TV Release Sweepstakes (Continued jrom page 20) performances; and although the fashion show got added business at both showings, the important thing was the terrific amount of free radio time secured from the radio station on the current film both in advance of its opening and during its showing, and which, therefore, helped the whole engagement of this film. The di¬ rector of women’s programs of CKPC estimated that the amount of free radio time we received by joining in the pro¬ motion was $429 — absolutely free to the theatre. In addition, the public had to pay regu¬ lar admission prices to see the show, and the florist decorated the stage with beau¬ tiful displays. Large lead pencils, small tots at desks, and regular school atmosphere were all received from the radio station. Also, patrons received 15 lovely gifts at both afternoon and evening performances. These were given as door prizes and also were supplied by the sponsors and the radio station. A truly “ccst free’ stunt, this resulted in excellent business for the entire en¬ gagement of “Love Me Or Leave Me” at the theatre. In addition, excellent relations were cemented with the radio station, who wrote after the stage show, “I would like to say how impressed I am with your staff They were most co-operative. Nothing seemed to be too much trouble for them if it would add to the success of the fashion show.” KonSCOff (Continued from page 8) The film was shot mostly on location in Virginia and Texas, and as part of the advance promotion and publicity, they had press and magazine representatives out on location for up to a week, living with the stars and technicians and send¬ ing back timely copy. He and Warners are concentrating on setting up selling plans rather than on working on the next project. Undoubtedly TV will be used in the campaign. With regard to TV, he be¬ lieved that it is a prime source of talent today for the industry and that there is a definite relationship between the two industries today. THE METROPOLITAN SCENE: Several hundred youngsters, along with parents who worked on newspapers, in trades, radio and TV, and on magazines attended an invitational showing of UA’s “Heidi And Peter” at the Little Carnegie and a party that followed, with goodies, souvenirs, goats, and sandwiches, in addition to pretty costumed models and real authentic Swiss cheese. A couple of twin Santn Clauses added a holiday effect and the whole UA publicity and promotion de¬ partment were working like beavers with a special bow from us to Bura Sloane and Lige Brien. . . . New York subways select three pictures for November to get their “Do See” recommendation, “Umberto D,” “The View From Pompey’s Head,” and “The Rose Tattoo.” . . . Current issue of Colliers has part one of a two-part profile on Bette Davis by her, as well as a color layout on “The Late James Dean.” Los Angeles — Defense testimony in the Government’s 16mm. anti-trust suit charging major distributors and others with conspiracy to restrict exhibition of their film product on television was wound up last fortnight before Federal Judge Leon R. Yankwich. The last wit¬ ness to be heard for the defendants was U-I vice-president and general sales man¬ ager Charles J. Feldman, who blamed television for the closing of about 6,000 theatres in recent years, emphasizing that to have made U-I product available to that media would have resulted only in hurting the industry more. He denied any conspiracy to withhold narrow gauge films from TV or any other outlet able to pay the price demanded. Feldman’s testimony followed that of John Daniel Desmond, 16mm. sales man¬ ager, United World Films, Inc., a U-I sub¬ sidiary, who said that it was his object to get as much revenue as possible from 16mm. distribution without competing with 35mm. theatres. Warners vice-president in charge of production Jack L. Warner and Ben Kalmenson, vice-president in charge of sales, told the court that Warners’ policy to¬ ward TV dates from unqualified antago¬ nism in 1948 to the present, when the company is engaged in producing films for TV under the title “Warner Brothers Presents.” They supported other testimony that there was no conspiracy among the majors to withhold 16mm. product and that any decision to do so was made privately by each organization, in the financial interests of stockholders. Others offering significant defense testimony included Abe Montague and B. B. Kahane, Columbia vice-presidents, who backed up Ralph Cohn, president. Screen Gems, a Columbia subsidiary in the TV film field, to the effect that 35mm. theatrical films adapted for television use have proven unsatisfactory from several points of view, with the result that Co¬ lumbia established the independent com¬ pany under Cohn, which the latter said has made between 600 and 750 television films since its inception four years ago. Final arguments for the defense, from counsel Macklin Fleming and Homer 1. Mitchell, and for the prosecution, by Government attorney Samuel Flatow, were heard last week by Judge Yank¬ wich. "Guys And Dolls" Damon Runyon would have been pleased were he here to see the job Samuel Goldwyn did on “Guys And Dolls,” in Cinemascope and Tech¬ nicolor. Marlon Brando insures interest and does a good job. Jean Simmons should win an Oscar for her histrionic ability, while Sinatra and Vivian Blaine do just what was expected of them. “Guys And Dolls” will deliver off and on Broadway without any doubt. A $5,500,000 investment that will pay off, it is colorful, lively, in¬ teresting, and will top all of Goldwyn’s previous efforts. _j^y EMANUEL. Variety Tents Elect 1956 Officer Slates Philadelphia — Edward Emanuel, prop¬ erty master. International Variety Clubs, last week announced the tabulations oi recent elections in the various Tents as follows: Tent Five, Detroit; Benjamin Rosen, chief barker; William Wetsman, first assistand; Walter Norris, second assistant; Alden Smith, dough guy; and Ernest T. Conlon, property master. Tent Nine, Albany: Harold Gabrilove, chief barker; Lewis A. Sumberg, first assistant; Norman Weitman, second as¬ sistant; George Green, dough guy; Jack Hamilton, property master. Tent 10, Indianapolis; Robert Jones, chief barker; Murray Devaney, first assistant; Dale McFarland, second assistant; B. N. Peterson, dough guy; William Carroll, property master. Tent 11, Washington: Orville Crouch, chief barker; Marvin Goldman, first assistant; Hirsh De La Viez, second assistant; Sam Galanty, dough guy; George Nathan, property master. Tent 13, Philadelphia: Maxwell Gillis. chief barker; Sylvan M. Cohen, first as¬ sistant; Harry Remain, second assistant; David Supowitz, dough guy; Mickey Lewis, property master. Tent 24, Charlotte: J. F. White, chief barker; Charles B. Trexler, first assist¬ ant; J. H. Holston, second assistant; John Vickers, Sr., dough guy; R. M. Simril, property master. Tent 25, Southern California: Ezra E. Stern, chief barker; O. N. Srere, first assistant; Lloyd C. Ounbey, second as¬ sistant; Jack Y. Berman, dough guy; M. J. E. McCarthy, property master. Tent 28, Toronto, Canada: David Griesdorf. chief barker; N. A. Taylor, first assistant; Dan Krendel, second assistant; Al Troyer, dough guy; Lewis Davidson, property master. Tent 33, Miami, Fla.: Sigmund Eisenberg, chief barker; George B. Storer, first as¬ sistant; Victor Levine, second assistant; Alfred Mercur, dough guy; Franklin W. Maury, property master. Tent 34, Houston, Tex.: Paul Beesch, chief barker; Augie Schmitt, first assistant; Dick Gottlieb, second assistant; Mike Conti, dough guy; John P. Goodwin, property master. Decca Earnings Up New York — Consolidated net earnings of Decca Records, Inc., for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 1955, including the com¬ pany’s share of undistributed earnings of its subsidiary. Universal Pictures Com¬ pany, Inc., amounted to $2,410,264, equal to $1.50 per share on 1,602,501 outstanding shares of capital stock. On Sept. 30, 1955 Decca owned 718,585 shares of Universal common, representing approximately 71 per cent of the motion picture company’s outstanding common stock. This repre¬ sents an increase over last year’s figures. November 16, 1955