The Exhibitor (1959)

Varied Allied Agenda Set For Miami As Successor To Adams May Be Named "Rhapsody Of Steel” In Gala Pitt Premiere PITTSBURGH — Announced as the first world premiere for a short subject will be the Dec. 4 bow of “Rhapsody of Steel” at the Stanley, Pittsburgh. The 23-minute animated featurette produced by U.S. Steel will be welcomed with all the fanfare accorded a top full-length feature. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will be in the Stanley pit for the occasion, under the baton of Dimitri Tiomkin. The famed composer has arranged a special overture based on the score of “Rhapsody in Steel,” which he composed. The subject was scored by the Pittsburgh Symphony, also under Tiomkin’s direction. Out front will be a number of celebrities, including a group of Hollywood stars. Klieg lights, red carpet, radio microphones, and television cameras will grace the event. Eyvind Earle, famed for his work on Walt Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty,” was art director of the film, produced by John Sutherland. Gary Merrill was commentator. Merrill was recently seen in Pittsburgh with his wife, Bette Davis, in “The World of Carl Sand¬ burg” at Carnegie Music Hall. The film traces the history of steel from the time primitive man discovered meteoric iron until the man-fashioned metal is returned to outer space in the form of a space-rocket. “Rhapsody in Steel” will be made available for showing to theatres throughout the world. To prepare for the premiere, the Stanley will be closed for the matinee on Dec. 4. A mezzanine cocktail party for 800 invitee! guests will precede the showing of the film. Later the guests will attend a gala dinnerdance at the new Pittsburgh Hilton Hotel, coincidently opening the same day. NT Shifts Managers LOS ANGELES — Two veteran theatre managers have been assigned to Fox West Coast Theatres’ booking department, it was announced by William H. Thedford, Pacific Coast division manager of National Theatres Amusement Co. Frank Ramsey, manager, Culver, Culver City, and Bob Simonton, Pacific Ocean Park, become bookers in a realignment of duties. William Mclntire shifts to manager, Culver, as does Edward Crystal, as assistant man¬ ager, both from the recently closed Uptown. One Theatre Loan From SBA WASHINGTON — Only one Small Business Administration loan for a motion picture enterprise was issued during October. This was to Moyer Theatres, Portland, Ore., for a direct loan of $41,000. No Residual Payments To Guilds On TV Sales HOLLYWOOD — Charles S. Boren, AMPP vice-president, notified all guilds and unions last fortnight that major prod¬ ucers will not contract with any of them for residual payments on post-1948 pic¬ tures released to free or pay television. He issued this statement at the break¬ down of the AMPP negotiations with the Writers Guild of America, West. Industry Leaders Honor Pioneer Broidy NEW YORK — Leaders of the film industry turned out en masse last fortnight to do honor to Steve Broidy, president, Allied Artists, who was saluted as the “Motion Picture Pioneer Of The Year” at the annual Motion Picture Pioneers dinner. The Broidy tribute marked him as the 16th Pioneer to be thus honored. Ned D. Depinet, Pioneers president, presented a sterling silver tureen to Broidy as a tribute marking the occasion. More than 400 members of the film and allied industries attended the 21st anniver¬ sary dinner of the Pioneers at the WaldorfAstoria. Following the welcome by Depinet and the invocation by Dr. Max Nussbaum, rabbi of the Temple Israel in Hollywood, Judge Ferdinand Pecora officiated at the in¬ duction of 80 new Pioneers, a record number of inductees for the organization. A “Farewell Pioneers” salute then honored the memory of the 29 members who passed away during the year. Morey R. Goldstein, chairman of the din¬ ner and toastmaster, introduced Senator Jacob Javits, principal speaker for the evening, who spoke on the motion picture industry’s posi¬ tion in the world of entertainment, and pointed out that the film industry is a major part of the technological advance in our times. The inscription on the Grecian styled tureen presented to Broidy read “In appre¬ ciation and recognition of your stalwart leadership and examples of industry faith and courage . . . your demonstrated humanitarianism.” WASHINGTON — Allied States Association of Motion Picture Exhibitors last week an¬ nounced that its Miami Beach, Fla., board meeting on Dec. 5-6 would be concerned with conciliation and other ACE projects; trade practices; post 1948 pictures and tollTV; the Kennedy Wages and Hours bill; and censorship. Recognizing that Horace Adams for reasons of health is anxious to be relieved of his responsibilties as president at the earliest possible time, the West Virginia unit has given advance notice of a motion to amend the by-laws so as to constitute this not only the regular autumn meeting but also the annual meeting for 1960. If the motion is adopted, elections for the forthcoming year will be held at the Miami Beach meeting. In the ordinary course the annual meeting would take place in January. With Allied members discussing the pic¬ ture shortage and high film rentals with film executives invariably encountering argu¬ ments based upon the exorbitant demands of stars and other creative talent, a proposal for the creation of an industry organization to be called Motion Picture Talent of America, to compete with existing agencies in an effort to ease the grip which the latter have on the studios, will be considered. Rock Hudson, Doris Day Named Allied's Top Stars MILWAUKEE — Allied States Association of Motion Picture Exhibitors last fortnight named Rock Hudson “Star of the Year.” This is the first time in its 30 year history that the Allied theatre men have made such an award, which was based on a secret poll taken among its members. Ben Marcus, general convention chairman of Allied, made the announcement stating that Hudson was selected for his “outstanding acting contribution and excellent entertain¬ ment performances” in 1959 in U-I’s “This Earth Is Mine” and “Pillow Talk.” Hudson will be presented with the award at the banquet climaxing the Associations convention at the Eden Roc Hotel, Miami Beach, Fla., on Dec. 9. Actress Doris Day was named “Top Female Star Of The Year” for her performance in “Pillow Talk.” Paramount Net Declines NEW YORK — The net income in the first nine months of 1959 of Paramount Pictures was estimated last fortnight at $6,609,000 or $3.88 per share. This represents $3,644,000 from operations and $2,965,000 special in¬ come, principally profit on disposal of invest¬ ments. This compares with a reported total net income of $14,469,000, or $8.04 per share the year before, representing $3,807,000 from op¬ erations and special income of $10,662,000, including income from the company’s dis¬ posal of its film library. In the third 1959 quarter, Paramount esti¬ mated net income of $1,349,000, or 79 cents per share, including $1,151,000 from operations and $198,000 special income. This compares with the same period of last year of $4,197000 net income including $1,242,000 from operations and $2,955,000 in special income. A quarterly dividend of 50 cents per com¬ mon share payable Dec. 21 to holders of record Dec. 4 was voted by the company’s directors. (Continued on page 18) Steve Broidy, president. Allied Artists, was named "Motion Picture Pioneer Of The Year" at the recent 21st anniversary dinner of the Motion Picture Pioneers at the Waldorf-Astoria, New York City. Seen, left to right, are Norton V. Ritchey, Broidy, Sam Dembow, Jr., Morey R. Goldstein, Arthur Krim, Broidy and Robert Benjamin December 2, 1959 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 7