The Exhibitor (1959)

10 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR Julij 15, 1959 Two AB-PT Circuits Map Box Office Effort "S.P." And "Porgy" Indicate Future Full Of Black Ink For Magna Firm NEW YORK — President George P. Skouras and A. E. Bollengier, vice-president and treasurer, assured stockholders at an annual meeting last fortnight that Magna Theatre Corporation was headed for future profits. Skouras reported that in his opinion, a “very substantial progress” was made in the last 12 months and augured well for the future. The Todd-AO Corporation, he said, has received and is receiving substantial royal¬ ties from “South Pacific” and the prospects of royalties to come from “Porgy and Bess,” together with future productions of others, such as Fox and Magna, give sign of a very healthy future of the Todd-AO Corporation, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mag¬ na. Skouras stated that as a result of the re¬ financing of Magna, “all of the debentures have now been paid and the corporation is in a position to move forward toward the production of other pictures in the ToddAO process.” He pointed out that the sole indebtedness of Todd-AO Corporation now remaining is $2,860,000 to the Magna Cor¬ poration and $1,150,000 to American Optical Company, with payments of interest and principal on the indebtedness to begin in May, 1960. Skouras informed the stockholders that the domestic road shows of the Todd-AO version of “South Pacific” earned a film rental of $6,200,000 from March 19, 1958, to June 30 of this year from 58 such engage¬ ments in the U.S. and Canada. In the foreign market, he said, showings of the film in Todd-AO pulled a total rental of $3,700,000 up to June 15 of this year. He added that 35mm version of the film is now being shown at advanced prices in 160 U.S. the¬ atres to results “beyond expectations.” It will be generally released in the U.S. and Canada and various parts of the world later this year. “I feel confident,” he said, “that the picture can reach a $25,000,000 mark in film rentals.” Bollengier said that money coming in from the 35mm showings will be “gravy.” The stockholders approved actions taken by the company to refinance its outstanding $4,000,000 of six per cent debentures due June 1 of this year. A stock option plan involving up to 70,000 shares of Magna com¬ mon in which Skouras and Bollengier will not be eligible to participate was also okay¬ ed, as were a new contract for Skouras and Bollengier. Reelected to the board were Skouras, Bollengier, Irving Cohen, Oscar Hammerstein II, Herbert P. Jacoby, and James M. Landis. New directors endorsed by the stockholders were MacMerrill Birnbaum, Robert A. Naify and Joseph M. Sugar, who is Magna vicepresident in charge of domestic distribution. Fla. Exhibs Set Meet NEW YORK — The Motion Picture Exhibi¬ tors of Florida, an affiliate of the Theatre Owners of America, will hold its annual con¬ vention at the Robert Meyer Hotel in Jack¬ sonville, Fla., on Oct. 4, 5 and 6, president Arnold Haynes of Naples, Fla., announced. Arvin Rothchild, National Theatre Enter¬ prises, Jacksonville, is chairman of the con¬ vention arrangements. South Bend Theatre Sues For Damages, First Runs SOUTH BEND, IND.— South Bend Palace Theatre, Inc., operator of the Palace, filed suit in Federal District Court against AB-PT and its subsidi¬ aries, Public Great Lakes Theatres, Inc., Publix South Bend, Inc.; Indiana Amusement Enterprises, former op¬ erator of the Palace, and B and K. The suit charges that the Palace, for several years prior to 1955 one of four downtown houses operated by the de¬ fendants, lost its first-run status in an alleged agreement splitting initial runs between the AB-PT subsidiaries and the Lewis Cochovety interests. This agreement is claimed to have been made in connection with the settlement of an anti-trust action filed by Coch¬ ovety, then operator of the Avon, an¬ other downtown house. Palace contends it has been denied an opportunity to compete with the other houses, resulting in deterioration of the theatre and damage to good will. Treble damages of $2,100,000 are sought. Edwards Joins Col. Unit NEW YORK — Steve Edwards has been named special promotion coordinator for the Columbia Pictures spectacular, “The Warrior and the Slave Girl,” it was announced by Robert S. Ferguson, national director of ad¬ vertising, publicity and exploitation. Edwards previously served as advertisingpublicity manager of Rank Film Distribu¬ tors of America for two years. From 1945 to 1956 he was director of advertising, pub¬ licity, and exploitation for Republic Pic¬ tures. Electrovision Buys Five D-I's HOLLY W OOD — Electrovision Corporation last week concluded the first step in acquir¬ ing 29 theatres and other property from the Lippert Circuit with the purchase of five drive-ins in the Fresno area, for an undis¬ closed price. The purchase will enlarge Elec¬ trovision theatre holdings to 38 theatres and other properties. Joseph E. Levine, president. Embassy Pictures, recently greeted Aline Czartjarwicz, Embassy's director of foreign productions with headquar¬ ters in Rome, upon her arrival at New York's Idlewild International Airport. She will tour key cities promoting Levine's Warners release, "Hercules." DETROIT— An all-day conference of man¬ agers and executives of two AB-PT subsid¬ iaries, United Detroit Theatres and the Northio Circuit, took place last week. Following the morning session called to order by Woodrow R. Praught, president, UDT, and vicepresident of the circuit operating in Ohio and Kentucky, the meeting adjourned to lunch at the Detroit Press Club. There honor was done to Otto Preminger, commemorating the world premiere here of his “Anatomy of a Murder.” The group listened to a talk from Hal Neal, vice-president and general manager of still another AB-PT subsidiary, station WXYZ, who, as guest speaker, discussed modern methods of radio movie merchandising, and appraised the group of a new institutional plan the station contemplates to stimulate away-from-home-entertainment. Theme of the meetings was “Orderly Prof¬ its,” for which Praught gave credit to AB-PT vice-president Edward L. Hyman, who in¬ troduced the idea recently at a company meeting at Lake Kiamesha. Better business building underlay all phases, and note was made of the abundance of high-grade prod¬ uct on which to launch campaigns the rest of the year. Circuit officials presiding over the meeting were W. R. Praught, G. W. Green, T. W. Byerle, C. E. O’Bryan, R. E. Salter, and E. J. Welling. Ohio Northio managers who attended the session were Bill Dodds, Paramount, Hamil¬ ton; Rufus Shepherd, Rialto, Hamilton; James Rairdon, Paramount, Middletown; Warren McIntyre, Palace, Marion; Jack Lee, Para¬ mount, Fremont; M. E. Grubb, State, Belle¬ vue; and James Toombs, Kentucky, Danville, Kentucky. Of the United Detroit group, managers present were Lincoln Friend, Michigan; Charles Whitaker, Palms; Glenn McLean, Madison; Richard Sklucki, Broadway-Capitol; Jack Sage, Fisher; Calvin Collard, Woods; August Sermo, Cinderella; Jack Cataldo, Ramona; Marie Olcese, Vogue; Frank Perry, Varsity; Dale Killeen, Norwest; M. W. Rose, Birmingham; Keith Musser, Bloomfield; and Lee Young, Mel. Disney, MacLaine Honored BERLIN — At the recent Berlin Film Fes¬ tival that had the participation of 52 nations, 44 with films, a “Golden Bear” was awarded Walt Disney’s “White Wilderness” and a “Sil¬ ver Bear” was awarded Shirley MacLain for the best performance by an actress for MGM’s “Ask Any Girl.” The “Silver Bear” for the best performance by an actor went to France’s Jean Gabin for “Archimede le Clochard.” A “Silver Bear” also went to Akira Kurosawa chosen as best director for Japan’s “Three Rascals In A Hid¬ den Fortress.” The French entry “Les Cous¬ ins” won the “Golden Bear” grand prize. The “Golden Bear” for the outstanding cultural film went to the Netherlands entry, “Praise The Sea.” Dr. Alfred Bauer, director of the festival, said he regarded the event a great success. Cleveland Okays "Anatomy" CLEVELAND — Following a screening for local police officials Otto Preminger’s “Anat¬ omy Of A Murder,” released by Columbia, was okayed for local showing at the Allen. It was agreed that the dialogue of the picture was used “matter of factly and not obscenely.”