The Exhibitor (1959)

14 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR February 18, 19 59 AB-PT Promotes Plitt To Head Film Unit LONDON Observations Ay Jock MacGregor WHAT A TONIC it is to have lunch with Jim Carreras even though he is currently on a diet which precludes alcohol to get into training for his forthcoming visit to the states. He literally exudes enthusiasm for the industry. His success story is well known, Jim is not one to sit back. He goes from strength to strength. His forthcoming trip will be unique. In these days when so many moan about the dire state of things, this independent will arrive in New York with not a single picture but a whole line-up of product to deliver to major distributors. This universal provider, who has proved with such offerings as “Curse of Frankenstein,” “Horror of Dracula,” and “Camp on Blood Island” that British pictures with British scripts and British casts can be international hits, will be handing to UA, “Hound of the Baskervilles” and “10 Seconds To Hell”; Colum¬ bia, “Yesterday’s Enemy”; and Paramount “The Man Who Cheated Death”; and will show U-I the rushes of “The Mummy.” THE FILM INDUSTRY has been spotlighted during the week in the very best possible manner. Following hard on the glittering Royal Film Performance which gained nothing but kudos for everyone, the opening of the Columbia with “Gigi” garnered a terrific press. Though a cold stopped me attending, the radio at home kept me in touch with numerous references to the occasion as the hit numbers were played. It must have been a truly wonderful show, and I am so very glad to hear that Mike Frankovich was well enough to leave his sick bed to attend. Incidentally, the demand for “Gigi” seats is only rivalled by that for “My Fair Lady,” and bookings now run into the early summer. Road shows are really taking on here. “Around the World” is nearing its second year and I have lost count of how long “South Pacific” has been running. Discriminating patrons, tired of the pushing and shoving of the con¬ tinuous show welcome the chance of booking and seeing a movie in comfort. BACK FROM HOLLYWOOD and feeling that there is nothing wrong with the future is Irving Allen of Warwick. With “Bandit of Dhobi,” starring Victor Mature, and “Idol on Pa¬ rade,” with William Bendix, awaiting premieres, shooting is about to start on “Adamson of Africa.” Starring Robert Taylor with the British discoveries, Anthony Newley and Anne Aubrey, it will be directed by Richard Thorpe. It will be shot in Technirama. . . . Doing a first rate job for the independent British and American producers in the Italian market are Globe Films of Rome. For the last two years, they have been responsible for 22 per cent of all the monies grossed by British films in Italy. . . . Those who thought extended runs in the provinces could never be, should note that “South Pacific” celebrated its 39th Saturday at the Gaumont, Manchester by taking more money at the box office than on any previous Sat¬ urday during its run. . . . Thanks to the untiring efforts of Sydney Lewis, general manager Bill Cartlidge is able to announce that Associated British Cinemas are now in a position of hav¬ ing permission to open everyone of their theatres on Sundays. In 12 years, he has fought 151 campaigns. Final victory came recently with an overwhelming vote in favor of Sunday cinemas at Penzance in the West Country. ACE (Continued from page 8) 4 — Three additional topics were added to the agenda of the proposed meeting with heads of production and distribution, as follows: (a) 16mm films (b) Production of more film in color (c) Request for more stereophonic sound with prints and increased publicity concern¬ ing such prints. Adams repoi’ted that preliminary discus¬ sions had been initiated. 5 — Under Industry Research, ACE is seek¬ ing a “new look” in motion picture presen¬ tation in both picture and sound, to enhance the glamour of motion picture theatres. Hazard Reeves, who created CinemaScope sound, outlined a research program to attain this objective. He will serve on the commit¬ tee and offered the facilities of his company to the committee. Max Cohen, chairman of the Committee on Research, declared that the phrase “stereosound” had been grossly misused, so that its original meaning had become obscure. Cohen announced that the committee is anxious to find a new name or a descriptive phrase for the multi-channelled process for reproducing sound in theatres. Such a name would be copyrighted and reserved exclusively for theatre use. 6— Since the executive committee feels that it is vitally important for every theatre owner in America to be identified as a member of ACE, it has authorized a Cer¬ tificate of Membership which will be issued to every exhibitor becoming a member of ACE. All constituent organizations and area chairmen will cooperate in distribution of applications and certificates. 7 — Forman reported that the problem of post-1948 films was under continuing study. George Kerasotes, chairman of the Toll -TV committee, reported that all the members of his committee will become members of the Joint Committee on Toll-TV. Michael Edelstein, divisional manager, RKO Theatres, recently presented Academy Award star Joan Crawford with the first pair of reserved seats for the New York Palace show¬ ing of 20th-Fox's "The Diary Of Anne Frank." In private life. Miss Crawford is the wife of Alfred N. Steele, chairman of the board of Pepsi-Cola Company. NEW YORK— Leonard H. Goldenson, president of American Broadcasting-Para¬ mount Theatres, Inc., last week announced the appointment of Henry G. Plitt as presi¬ dent of ABC Films, Inc., an AB-PT sub¬ sidiary. The appointment of Plitt, who for the past four years has been president of Paramount Gulf Theatres, also an AB-PT subsidiary, is effective immediately. “The film syndication field is rapidly ex¬ panding, throughout the word as well as in the United States,” Goldenson pointed out, “and under Plitt’s leadership, ABC Films plans to get an increasing share of these ex¬ panding markets.” Plitt joined United Paramount Theatres, with which the American Broadcasting Com¬ pany merged in 1953 to form AB-PT, in 1946 as district manager in Ohio, West Vir¬ ginia, and Kentucky, where he started his programming activities by putting on stage shows for the district’s theatres. In 1949, he was moved to New Orleans and promoted to division manager of the then ParamountRichards (now Paramount Gulf) Theatres. Two years later, he was made vice-president of the Gulf chain, and on Dec. 31, 1955, was promoted to president. He is chairman of the committee for the development of new screen personalities for the Theatre Owners of America and chairman of the Academy Awards committee for the TOA. Loew’s-ABC Vending Awards NEW YORK — Leonard Pollack, director of purchasing and concessions for Loew’s Theatres, and Melvin L. Gold, sales manager of the newly formed exploitation novelties division of the ABC Vending Corporation, announce eight winners in the “tom thumb” candy stand decoration contest held at Loew’s intown and out of town theatres. The following managers will each receive a $25 award: Danny Cohen, Loew’s Kings Theatre, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Harold Graff, Loew’s Orpheum, Manhattan; Lennie Edwards, Loew’s “35,” Keyport, N.J.; and Joe Beck, Loew’s Gates, Brooklyn. Out of town winners are Walter Kessler, Columbus; Frank Henson, St. Louis, Kermit Allum, Evansville, and Sam Gilman, Syra¬ cuse. NTA Promotes Burns NEW YORK — Vernon Burns, who heads the NTA office in London, has been named vice-president of NTA International, Inc., Harold Goldman, president of NTA Inter¬ national, announced last week. Burns will supervise all NTA Interna¬ tional’s European operations, including fea¬ ture and syndicated film sales, production, and theatrical and non-theatrical sales. Lider Heads N.E. Unit BOSTON — The annual meeting and election of officers for 1959 of Independent Exhibi¬ tors, Inc., and Drive-In Theatre Association of New England was held last week. President Edward W. Lider gave a com¬ prehensive report on ACE at the buffet lunch¬ eon session. The following officers were elected: Lider, president; Julian Rifkin, first vice-president; Edwin Fedeli, second vice-president; Henry Gaudet, secretary; Melvin Safner, treasurer; and Nathan Yamins and Lider, national dele¬ gates. Carl Goldman was reappointed execu¬ tive secretary.