The Exhibitor (1959)

U-l Fiscal Upsurge Brings Dividend Vote NEW YORK — A dividend of $1 per share payable to common stockholders on Dec. 24 was voted last fortnight by directors of Uni¬ versal Pictures Company, Inc. This is the first distribution to be made on the common stock since December, 1957, when an extra 25 cents and a year-end dividend of 25 cents, brought the total that year to $1.25 a share. Milton R. Rackmil, president, told stock¬ holders at the annual meeting last March that the company would consider resuming dividends on the common stock if at the end of the fiscal year, Oct. 31, the company was operating in the black. For the 39 weeks to Aug. 1 the company cleared $3,772,036, including a $3,667,387 profit from the sale of its Universal City, Cal., studio. It was the first time this year that the company operated in the black. Present activity indicates a favorable first quarter, which would contrast with a loss from operations of more than $900,000 in the first quarter of the 1959 fiscal year, Rackmil said. Trailer Contest Judges Named NEW YORK — Three of the nation’s most prominent, promotion -minded showmen — Al¬ bert Pickus, Ben Marcus, and Silas Seadler — have consented to serve as judges of the “Once-In-A-Lifetime Tribute to Trailers” contest. The contest, conducted by National Screen Service Corporation, is an integral part of its 40th anniversary celebration. Pickus is the newly-elected president of the Theatre Owners of America and also serves as chairman of the industry research commit¬ tee of the American Congress of Exhibitors. Marcus is a former president of National Allied, presently serving as a member of the COMPO triumvirate. Marcus also developed the area promotion plan so successfully tested in the State of Wisconsin. Seadler is the veteran MGM advertising ex¬ ecutive who currently heads the advertising and publicity directors committee of the Mo¬ tion Picture Association. Braunagel Buys Drive-In LITTLE ROCK — Jack D. Braunagel, presi¬ dent, Jay D Bee Amusement Company, an¬ nounced that he had purchased the Broad¬ way Drive-In, North Little Rock, Ark., from Malco Theatres. It has a capacity of 450 cars, and has been renovated several times from its early days, when blast speakers were in use. This brings the Jay D Bee Circuit in Ar¬ kansas to nine. New Honors For "Ben-Hur" LOS ANGELES — The Southern California Motion Picture Council raised its standard of excellence to award Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “Ben-Hur” six stars, highest rating ever given by the 30-year-old reviewing organiza¬ tion. Previously, five stars were awarded “The Ten Commandments,” “Windjammer,” and “Around the World in 80 Days.” Bellfort Joins NSS NEW YORK — Joseph Bellfort, former gen¬ eral European manager for RKO-Radio Pic¬ tures, has joined National Screen Service Cor¬ poration in an executive sales capacity, it was announced by Burton E. Robbins, vice-pres¬ ident in charge of sales. He will headquarter at the New York home office. Allied Convention Agenda Loaded With Important industry Issues Legion Places "Suddenly" In Separate Classification NEW YORK — The National Legion of Decency announced that it has rated the Columbia film, “Suddenly, Last Summer,” based upon a Tennessee Williams story and produced by Sam Spiegel, as “Separ¬ ately Classified.” The reason is outlined in the following observation: “This motion picture is judged to be moral in its theme and treatment, but be¬ cause its subject matter involves per¬ version, it is intended only for a serious and mature audience. In view of the mass medium nature of American entertainment motion picture presentation, both distribu¬ tor and theatre owner are urged to mani¬ fest social and moral responsibility to the impressionable and immature in the ex¬ hibition of this film. Granted the accept¬ ability of the film for a mature audience, nevertheless the Production Code, in giving its Seal to the film and thereby indicating its approval of it for general patronage, violates a particular application of its general principles, namely, that sexperversion or any inference of it is for¬ bidden.” Schreiber Joins Fox In Exploitation Post NEW YORK — Edward Schreiber, former ad¬ vertising-publicity director for the motion picture industry’s War Activities Committee, has been named assistant to Rodney Bush, 20th Century-Fox exploitation director, payable to common stockholders on Dec. 24 Schreiber will fill the job vacated by Eddie Solomon, who recently resigned his post to become director of advertising for Embassy Pictures. In his new post, Schreiber will assist Bush in directing national exploitation activities on behalf of the film company and will coordinate activities with regional advertising and pub¬ licity managers, stationed throughout the U.S. Prior to heading the War Activities Com¬ mittee’s ad-pub department during World War II, Schreiber was a member of the Warner Brothers publicity department. Wometco Buys Vending Firm MIAMI — Mitchell Wolfson, Wometco Enter¬ prises, Inc., head, announced last fortnight that the company had further expanded its vending operations in the purchase of Great Southern Vending Company, Jacksonville. The name of Great Southern has been changed to Duval Automatic Vending Cor¬ poration, and the firm becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Wometco. John W. Mor¬ gan, former owner, will continue with Duval as vice-president and general manager. Toronto V.C. Officers Set TORONTO — The following crew has been named by the local Variety Club Tent 28 to serve for 1960: J. J. Fitzgibbons, Jr., Chief Barker; Phil Stone, first assistant; George Altman, second assistant; Frank Strean, prop¬ erty master; and George Heiber, dough guy. MIAMI BEACH, FLA. — Ben Marcus, gen¬ eral chairman of Allied States Association of Motion Picture Exhibitors convention now in progress at the Eden Roc Hotel, stated last week in Milwaukee that “During these three days (Dec. 7-8-9) many important issues will have to be faced, discussed and an attempt made for their solution. The business of the convention will encompass a variety of sub¬ jects and the following most certainly will come in for much discussion: trade practices, ACE, conciliation, future planning and the merchandising of motion pictures. The latter will be one of the chief highlights of the con¬ vention. ACE chairman Si Fabian and COMPO’s executive director Charles McCarthy were both scheduled to outline their activities and future plans. Product stories were to be delivered by Walter Mirisch, vice-president in charge of production, Mirisch Studio; Rube Jackter, vice-president and general sales manager, Columbia Pictures; Samuel Arkoff, vice-pres¬ ident, American International Pictures; Dave Lipton, vice-president and director of adver¬ tising, publicity and exploitation, Universal Pictures; and Robert Ferguson, vice-presi¬ dent and national director of advertising, pub¬ licity and exploitation, Columbia Pictures. Marcus will be moderator of the panel dis¬ cussion on the merchandising of motion pic¬ tures, at which Lipton, Ferguson, Milt London, president and national director, Michigan Al¬ lied, and Beverly Miller will participate. Ben Smerling, executive vice-president, ABC Vending, will speak on merchandising for theatre concessions in both indoor and outdoor theatres. Abe Berenson, president, Allied Theatre Owners of the Gulf States and national sec¬ retary and regional vice-president of National Allied, will serve as toastmaster of the Awards Banquet, sponsored by Coca-Cola Company, at which Rock Hudson will be honored as actor of the year; Doris Day as actress of the year; Joseph Vogel, of Loew’s Inc., as in¬ dustry man of the year; Mirisch as independ¬ ent producer of the year; and William Wyler as director of the year. Other sponsored affairs were to be a cock¬ tail party courtesy of American International Pictures; a luncheon co-sponsored by National Screen Service and National Theatre Supply Co., a barbecue and night club party courtesy of Pepsi-Cola Company; and a pre-banquet cocktail party courtesy of National Carbon Company. Detroit Maps Movie Month DETROIT — The business building group, comprised of 50 theatres and known as the Metropolitan Exhibitors of Detroit, are launching “Movie Month” Jan. 1. Plans will be announced mid-December at a large cock¬ tail party and buffet for owners and managers of participants. At this time, a 30-page manual of suggestions for promotion will be distri¬ buted by MET’s Bob Solomon. A proclamation by the Mayor of Detroit will begin the publicity. One tie-in, already announced, is that a large super market chain will distribute discount tickets. These will give a 25 cent reduction to adult holders Mon¬ days through Thursdays in January. All exhibitors have been invited to join the campaign. * December 9, 1959 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR