The Exhibitor (1960)

NEWS CAPSULES \,C BROADWAY A GROSSES "Bells" Toll Happy Tune NEW YORK — MGM’s “Bells Are Ringing” opened strong at Radio City Music Hall as Broadway, with mostly holdover product, registered generally satisfactory returns over the weekend. “THE STORY OF RUTH” (20th-Fox). Para¬ mount reported $35,000 for the second week. “BELLS ARE RINGING” (MGM). Radio City Music Hall claimed $117,000 for Thurs¬ day through Sunday, with a reported $192,000 for the opening week. Stage show. “THE RAT RACE” (Paramount). Capitol reported $18,000 for the fifth week. “PSYCHO” (Paramount). DeMille claimed $45,000 for the second week. “BEN HUR” (MGM). Loew’s State, on re¬ served seat policy, did $49,000 for the 31st week. Corrected figure for the 30th week is $48,000. “PAY OR DIE” (Allied Artists). Warner reported $18,000 for the fifth week. “THE APARTMENT” (United Artists). Astor did $38,000 for the second week. “WILD RIVER” (20th-Fox). Victoria did $8,000 for the fifth and last week. “OSCAR WILDE” (Films Around World), Forum did $8,400 for the opening week. “WHO WAS THAT LADY” (Columbia). Criterion claimed $12,000 for the 11th week, last five days. “CAN-CAN” (20th-Fox). Rivoli did $27,000 for the 16th week of hard ticket policy. JOHN W. ALICOATE JOHN W. ALICOATE was the dean of motion picture trade paper publishers. I knew him for 35 years and was impressed always by his warm and ready smile. Here was a man who enjoyed the con¬ fidence and respect of everyone he ever met, in business circles or on purely social occasions. His advice and counsel through the years to the industry he loved were always constructive. Jack will be missed by his friends. He will be missed by the industry he served so well. JAY EMANUEL FORMS FOR THIS PAGE CLOSED AT 2 P.M. ON MON., JUNE 27 New Cleveland Group Protests Censorship CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Citizens for Freedom of the Mind held its first meeting last week in the Frank Wiley Junior High School auditorium, with approximately 700 residents of Greater Cleveland in attendance to protest what it claims to be an encroach¬ ment upon the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States by alleged organized pressure groups who seek to impose censorship of movies, books, and magazines. The immediate spark that aroused the member’s of the community was the arrest and conviction of Nico Jacobellis, manager, Heights Art Theatre, for “knowingly having in his possession and knowingly exhibiting an obscene motion picture,” namely “The Lovers,” which had been admitted into the country as suitable by the United States Bureau of Customs. Jacobellis said, in his short speech before the assembly, “What is good enough for the federal government is good enough for me,” in respect to obscenity. Temporary chairman Jaster Wood turned the meeting over to Rev. Emerson Schwenk of the Euclid Unitarian Church, who introduced the speakers, Dr. Bernard V. Dryer, professor of medicine at Western Reserve University; Dr. Richard Wallen, psychologist, formerly on the staff of Western Reserve University; and Arthur Spaeth, of the Heights Sun-Press. Dr. Dryer, who is also the author of the best seller. “The Image Makers,” expressed alarm over the pressure of organized minority groups to effect what he termed an injustice, saying issue now is not one of obscenity but of censorship. He said, “Injustice to one become injustice to everyone in that society.” Attacking the problem from a psychological angle, Dr. Wallen considered the determina¬ tion of minority groups to try to restrict what other groups should see, hear, read, and do as an expression of their inability to cope with temptation and the desire to translate everything in terms of sex. Spaeth interprets the case as handled in Cleveland as a danger signal to all of our freedoms. The citizens’ group plans lobbying activity. FILM FAMILY ^ ALBUM Arrivals George Christ, manager, Rivoli, Bridgeport, Conn., and Mrs. Christ are parents of their second child, another boy. Go Id Bands Robert Youngson, producer, 20th-Fox’s “When Comedy Was King,” was married to¬ day (June 29) to Margaret Jeanne Keyes in Sussex, N. J. Miss Keyes is a graduate of the NYU School of Fine Arts and is a prominent New York artist. Obituaries John W. (Jack) Alicoate, 71, publisher, The Film Daily and Radio-Television Daily, died of coronary thrombosis at Tenafly, N. J. Sur¬ viving are his wife, two daughters, a stepson, and a brother, Charles, who is executive pub¬ lisher of the publications. Jack’s career in the entertainment industry publishing field cov¬ ered more than three decades, while his in¬ dustry activities were most varied. He was a member of the Paris Post of the American Legion, the Overseas Press Club, the Motion Picture Pioneers, AMP A, and Westchester Country Club. In 1946, the Treasury Depart¬ ment awarded him its silver medal for dis¬ tinguished war loan service. Maurice S. Barck, 59, prominent theatre owner in the Cleveland area, died after an illness of several months. Back in 1912, he acquired the downtown Colonial. From 1932 to 1948 he owned and operated the Maple Heights, a neighborhood house now disman¬ tled. In 1912 he built the Park Auto DriveIn, Alliance, Ohio. Lindsey Hooper, 78, Weston, Mass., died last fortnight. He had held the lease on the University, Cambridge, Mass., for many years, and was in the investment banking business. Arthur H. Rosson, 73, veteran film director, died in a Los Angeles hospital after under¬ going surgery for a heart condition. He joined the Vitagraph Company in New York City when he was 23. He had been an associate director with the late Cecil B. DeMille for 16 years. The Variety Club of New England recently presented its "Great Heart" Award to Louis R. Perini, whose inspiring leadership helped make the Jimmy Fund a strong civic force at an affair held at the Statler Hilton, Boston. Seen, left to right, are Arthur Lockwood, Lockwood and Gordon Theatres; national sportscaster Curt Gowdy; Dr. Sidney Farber, scientific director. Children's Cancer Research Foundation; Perini, owner, Milwaukee Braves; and "Birdie" Tebbets, vice-pres¬ ident, Milwaukee Braves. June 29, I960 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 7