The Exhibitor (1960)

NEWS CAPSULES \l/ FILM FAMILY ^ ALBUM Arrivals A son, Douglas Mark, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Firstenberg on Oct. 7 in Doctors Hospital, New York City. Mrs. Firstenberg is the former Jean R. Picker, daughter of Eugene Picker, president, Loew’s Theatres, Inc. This is the couple’s second child. Obituaries Salvatore A. Adorno, Sr., 82, general man¬ ager, M&D Theatres, operating in recent years the Palace, Middletown, Conn., died. A Con¬ necticut film pioneer, he leaves five sons, in¬ cluding Salvatore, Jr., owner-general man¬ ager, Middletown Drive-In, Middletown; and Michael, assistant general manager, M&D in¬ terests. M. Earl Ames, Ames Theatre, Jefferson, Ohio, died on Oct. 13. He was the father of Howard Ames, his associate in the theatre, and had been a 40-year pioneer in theatre operations. The theatre will be closed tem¬ porarily. Walter T. Hickey, a pioneer in the industry, who started in the business by showing “The Great Train Robbery” in a tent, cranking the machine by hand, died in Atlanta, Ga., after a lengthy illness. He represented Warners, Realart, and Film Classics in the Atlanta ter¬ ritory before his retirement in 1947 because of ill health. Robert E. Kaufman, 65, owner and presi¬ dent, Rialto Service Bureau of New York City, and for nearly four decades actively identified with the legitimate and motion pic¬ ture industries, died suddenly at Redding, Conn. He is survived by his widow, two sons and a daughter. Thomas A. J. Riley, 58, general manager, Highway Express Lines, Inc., and Clark Transfer, Inc., died in University Hospital, Philadelphia. He had been with Highway and Clark for many years and is survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter. FORMS FOR THIS PAGE CLOSED AT 2 P.M. ON MON., OCT. 17 Mulvey Heads New Distribution Company NEW YORK — A new company, BeaverChampion Attractions, Inc., dedicated to sup¬ plying a regular flow of major featui’e pic¬ tures, has been organized by veteran Ameri¬ can and Canadian motion picture executives, it was announced by James A. Mulvey, presi¬ dent of the new firm. In addition to Mulvey, former president of Samuel Goldwyn Productions, Inc., principals of the new company are N. A. (Nat) Taylor, David Griesdorf, and Meyer M. Hutner, vicepresidents; Harry S. Mandell, treasurer; and Stephen W. (Bud) Mulvey, secretary. Taylor and Griesdorf are well-known Canadian ex¬ hibitors and distributors; Hutner resigned as vice-president of William Goetz Productions, Inc., to join the new firm. The new company will inaugurate its prog¬ ram with three films — “David and Goliath,” an Italian production with a cast headed by Orson Welles; “Sins of Rasputin,” with Ed¬ mund Purdom, Gianna Maria Canale, and John Barrymore, Jr.; and “Uncle Was A Vam¬ pire,” comedy with Renato Rascel, Sylva Koscina, and Christopher Lee. “David and Goliath” will be released to the nation’s theatres in February. Negotiations are now in progress for the acquisition of additional films. A major aspect of the company’s operation will be the extent of its pre-selling and pro¬ motional activities, with many of the proper¬ ties being given the “Hercules”-type treatment. The principals of Beaver-Champ¬ ion were partners with Joe Levine in the distribution of “Hercules.” Beaver-Champion will establish its own publicity, advertising, and exploitation de¬ partments under the supervision of Hutner, who prior to becoming vice-president of William Goetz Productions served as national publicity director for Warner Bros. \/m BROADWAY /\ GROSSES Several Openings Hypo Business NEW YORK — With the advent of consider¬ able new product Broadway first run grosses jumped accordingly last week-end. The breakdown was as follows: “DESIRE IN THE DUST” (20th-Fox). Par¬ amount had a $25,000 opening week. “MIDNIGHT LACE” (U-I). Radio City Music Hall claimed $111,000 for Thursday through Sunday, with the opening session sure of $170,000. Stage show. “SPARTACUS” (U-I). DeMille reported $35,000 for the second session. “HELL TO ETERNITY” (Allied Artists). Caiptol claimed the opening week at $40,000. “BEN-HUR” (MGM). Loew’s State, on rer served seat policy, claimed the 47th week at $33,500. “HIGH TIME" (20th-Fox). Warner stated the fifth week would reach $8,000. “INHERIT THE WIND” (United Artists). Astor expected the opening week to reach $30,000. “IT STARTED IN NAPLES” (Paramount). Victoria anticipated the seventh and last week at $15,000. “ALL THE YOUNG MEN” (Columbia). Forum expected the eighth week to hit $8,000. “SURPRISE PACKAGE” (Columbia). Cri¬ terion reported $25,000 for the opening week. “CAN-CAN” (20th-Fox). Rivoli did $15,000 on the 32nd week of reserved seat engage¬ ment. Col.'s "Pepe” Receives Big Trailer Campaign NEW YORK — The most ambitious trailer program ever undertaken for a motion pic¬ ture has been filmed in connection with “Pepe,” the G.S.-Posa Films production for Columbia release, it has been announced by Jonas Rosenfield, Jr., Columbia’s executive in charge of advertising, publicity and ex¬ ploitation. The trailers are in four languages and feature 10 of the 35 top Hollywood stars who appear as themselves in the motion picture. Among the personalities who will appear in the trailers are Cantinflas, Maurice Chevalier, Bing Crosby, Dan Dailey, Jack Lemmon, Kim Novak, Debbie Reynolds, and Edward G. Robinson. All trailers will be offered free of charge, except for the regular theatre trailer. Included in the comprehensive program are “Pepe presents George Sidney,” a short subject for trade and exhibitor screenings; a series of theatre teaser trailers; television spots; and three special teaser trailers in which Cantinflas addresses the audience in Spanish, Maurice Chevalier speaks French, and Dan Dailey speaks Italian. Although pre-release engagements are set for the end of December, 50 per cent of the trailers are now completed, with the remain¬ der of the program to be completed by Nov. 1. This will afford ample time for long-range promotion. Steve Broidy, right, president. Allied Artists, recently revealed to the press at 21 Club, New York City, that his company will distribute producer Samuel Bronston's forthcoming spectacle, "El Cid." Seen, left to right, are Morey R. Goldstein, AA vice-president and general sales man¬ ager; George Burrows, AA executive vice-president; and Bronston. 6 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR October 19, I960