The Exhibitor (1956)

STUDIO SURVEY A-ll ( Continued from page A7) August, 1956 1 — Congress passes an admission tax reduction measure canceling the 10 per cent federal levy on admissions of 90 cents or less. . . . WarnerPathe newsreel discontinued. . . . The second Todd-AO production, “Around The World In 80 Days,” set to premiere in October at the Rivoli, New York. 8 — The Senate Small Business Sub¬ committee states that exhibitors should reapply themselves to the task of devising a workable indus¬ try arbitration system, excluding film rentals. . . . Hal E. Makelim, who failed to garner sufficient sup¬ port for his exhibitor backed release plan, sets his “Peacemaker” for UA release. . . . RKO announces 15 re¬ leases for Aug. 15-Dec. 31 period as it marked its first anniversary of its purchase by Thomas F. O’Neil. 15 — COMPO considering the second Audience Awards poll. . . . Toll -TV decision is prompted by the Federal Communications Commission before the end of the year. . . . Jerry Wald signs a contract to produce 18 for 20th-Fox in the next five years. 22 — R. J. O’Donnell is named “Pioneer of the Year” by Motion Picture Pioneers. . . . MGM leases its film backlog of 725 pre-1949 films to TV. ... A Canadian drive-in ad¬ mits patrons free providing they visit the concessions stand. 29 — The TOA files a brief with the Small Business Administration urg¬ ing federal exhibitors loans. . . . Motion Picture Exhibitor 1955-56 Laurel Awards go to Doris Day as topliner female star; Gary Cooper as topliner male star; Shirley Jones and Fess Parker as “new personali¬ ties”; Cecil B. DeMille as top pro¬ ducer-director. September, 1956 5 — Luis R. Montes, founder, Variety Club of Mexico, dies. . . . MGM-TV places 725 film library in 12 markets for $20 millions. . . . Paramount’s 208 minute “War And Peace” has Broadway opening at the Capitol. 12 — TOA prepares for biggest conven¬ tion in history at New York Coli¬ seum. . . . UA sells 93 features to NBC -TV New York outlet. . . . National Theatres sells the Roxy for $6,200,000. . . . Japan announces plans for a Japanese film festival in New York at Museum of Modern Art. 19 — TOA’s “Star of the Year” award goes to William Holden. . . . Pathe Pictures, Inc., announces that the famed Pathe rooster would con¬ tinue to crow as trade mark of The News Magazine of the Screen. . . . Saturday Evening Post article says “the drive-in is here to stay.” 26 — Technicolor announces Technirama, a new and flexible production tech¬ nique. . . . Cinerama is four years old. . . Credit-card “see now; pay later” is studied in Canada by in¬ terested theatremen. October, 1956 3 — Leonard H. Goldenson, head, AB PT, announces that his company plans to enter production. . . . Na¬ tional Film Service begins taking over more physical distribution duties for the film company ex¬ changes. . . . COMPO continues to seek solution to conflict with Allied. 10 — Arthur M. Loew resigns as Loew’s head. . . . Paramount announces Cecil B. DeMille’s “The Ten Com¬ mandments” will be handled on legit basis. . . . Stella Poulnot, Atlanta, is named national WOMPI head. 17 — The Screen Actors Guild mulls its “rights” in the sales of post 1948 films to TV. . . . Barton Kreuzer, director, product planning for RCA, is elected head, SMPTE. . . . “The Search For Bridey Murphy” reaches the screen via a Paramount feature release. 24 — Joseph R. Vogel is named presi¬ dent of Loew’s, Inc. . . . Alfred Starr, former TOA head and partner in Bijou Amusement Company, Ten¬ nessee, dies. . . . New York Supreme Court is the scene of a test on censorship of French-made “Lady Chatterley’s Lover.” 31 — 20th-Fox releases the CinemaScope version of “Oklahoma!” . . . J. Arthur Rank announces plans to begin U.S. distribution. . . . Second film in Todd-AO, “Around The World In 80 Days,” opens on Broadway. November, 1956 7 — Television gets 156 more 20th-Fox films. . . . TOA convention in Jacksonville tackles industry prob¬ lems. . . . Cartoon producer Walter Lantz in an interview in New York says he would like to get half-abuck more on each booking which would make staying in business a little easier. . . . TOA leaders call for “more pictures” and “single ex¬ hibitor group.” 14 — In answer to the product shortage cry, 20th-Fox slates 55 for ’57. . . Louis W. Schine, secretary-treas¬ urer, Schine Enterprises, dies. . . . The fifth annual Popcorn Fall Festi¬ val in full swing. 21 — Nicholas M. Schenck, honorary chairman of the board and former head, Loew’s, Inc., announces his retirement. . . . Irving H. Levin is named head, Am-Par Pictures Cor¬ poration, the AB-PT motion picture production subsidiary. . . . Affiliation with IATSE tops the agenda of the Colosseum of Motion Picture Sales¬ men convention in Milwaukee. . . . Paramount’s “The Ten Command¬ ments” bows at the Criterion, New York, with producer Cecil B. De¬ Mille on hand. 28 — Viking, inde Philadelphia house, files $1,800,000 anti-trust suit against the eight majors and three firstrun exhibitors. . . . Gradwell L. Sears, former head, United Artists, dies. . . . Bishops are told in Wash¬ ington that there were less objec¬ tionable films this year, but that “offensive” and “lurid” motion pic¬ ture advertising is on the increase. . . . Columbia moves its entire home office staff into new quarters at 711 Fifth Avenue. STELLINGS SHOR DAY DE MILLE COOPER KREUZER December 19, 1956 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR