The Exhibitor (1960)

The NEW YORK Scene By Mel Konetoff CHARLES A. ALICOATE was sworn in as the new chief barker for Variety Tent 35 at a recent luncheon in the Hotel Astor’s grand ball¬ room at which time he pledged to do his utmost to double the present membership of the tent. John J. Fitzgibbons, Jr., president of Canadian Famous Players representing Variety International, also inducted Robert K. Shapiro, first assistant; Irving Bollinger, second assistant; Jack H. Levin, property master; Jack H. Hoffberg, dough guy; and as canvassmen Bud Edele, Walt Framer, Morris Sanders, Charles Smakwitz and George Waldman. Joseph E. Levine was named convassman in absentia recuperating from an operation in a Boston hospital. Jack Levin as luncheon chairman paid tribute to the efforts of outgoing chief barker Harry Brandt and presented him with cuff links for the occasion. Brandt was grateful for the assistance he received from his fellow officers and he presented checks to Dr. Emanuel Revici, head of the Cancer Control Research Foundation, a project of the tent, and to Dan Daniel, president of the tent’s Bill Corum Fund for additional playgrounds for handicapped youngsters. Comedian Joey Adams entertained the more than 500 present. HIGH FLYING MOVIES: Jet airplane passengers will soon be seeing movies on a regu¬ lar basis if present indications come into being. Beginning early in January, Trans World Airlines will show first run and pre-released films on certain coast-to-coast Super jet flights following the installation of Strato-Cinema, the new airborne motion picture projection sys¬ tem. The film selected for the premiere showing will be Fox’s “Marriage Go Round,” which will also be the world premiere of the film. The projection system was designed by David Flexer, president of Inflight Motion Pictures, Inc., which will service the equipment to the major airlines of the world. According to Sheldon Smerling, Inflight’s vice-president, the entire process is automatic with the films being projected on screens suspended from the plane’s ceiling. The screen will accommodate all wide-screen productions with the sound being piped directly to the passengers via light-weight earphones, each with its own volume control. Stewardesses will distribute to each passenger a sealed packet of sanitized, foam rubber ear tips. Sound and projection equipment were developed by Reevesound Co., Inc. THE METROPOLITAN SCENE: The heavy snow last week which gave everybody head¬ aches was welcomed by the production crew shooting preliminary scenes on “Cause of Death,” the George Raft starrer which U-I will release for Arlington Productions. The action takes place in New York during the winter. ... U-I sending out quite a campaign kit on “The Grass is Greener,” the showmanship angles of which could provide a greener Christ¬ mas for exhibitors. . . . Global genii headquarters sends over a paper turban calling at¬ tention to the forthcoming Fox film, “Wizard of Baghdad,” and away we go. . . . U-I worked a neat tie-in with Associated Food Stores wherein the chain plugged “The Grass is Greener” in its grocery ads in the metropolitan and area papers. ... A profile on Joe Levine entitled “Joe Levine Unchained” out in the January issue of Esquire. . . . Early season’s greetings in from Walt Disney and staff, John Boone, Harold Rand, Ed Hyman, Norman Elson, Ralph Moyer, etc. E-K President Honored PHILADELPHIA— The Poor Richard Club of Philadelphia will award its gold medal of achievement to William S. Vaughn, presi¬ dent of Eastman Kodak Company, on Jan. 17 at ceremonies in the Pennsylvania city com¬ memorating the 255th anniversary of Ben Franklin’s birth. A. Edward Morgan, Poor Richard president, said Vaughn will be honored as the chief ex¬ ecutive of a leading American corporation. The Poor Richard Club, one of America’s oldest advertising organizations, is closely associated with leadership in Philadelphia’s business and social life. “It is especially appropriate for Poor Richard to honor the leader of a company whose name is synonomous with progress in the communication arts,” Morgan said. “Mr. Vaughn’s company is well recognized for photographic achievement that has con¬ tributed so much to publishing, graphic arts, and to human progress and enjoyment.” Corwin Joins PR Firm NEW YORK — Alfred F. Corwin, for 12 years director of international information for the Motion Picture Association of America, has joined Fred Wittner Company, industrial mar¬ keting, advertising, and public relations agency. Kingsley Releases "League" NEW YORK — The Allied Film Makers pro¬ duction, “The League of Gentlemen” will be released in the U.S. by Kingsley International Film Corp. in a distribution deal between Ed Kingsley and Frank H. Fisher of The Rank Organization. Kingsley International will release the film early in 1961. Juliet Prowse, star of 20th-Fox's "Can-Can," is seen in the company's New York home office with vice president Charles Einfeld. She is on a tour of big cities and small on an exploita¬ tion tour during which she will talk to exhibi¬ tors, executives of theatre circuits, newspaper and TV reporters and other media. Feast Or Famine Rapped By Marcus MILWAUKEE! — Ben Marcus, chairman of the board of Allied States Association, ex¬ pressed deep concern over the major distribu¬ tors’ policy of withholding product from re¬ lease until a soft spot is found such as holi¬ days, school vacations, etc., and depriving the market at other times of a steady flow of good product. However, Marcus further stated that, fortunately, some of the major companies have taken advantage of the Marcus Plan during the famine periods by releasing pleasing family pictures which, under the Marcus Plan, have run up some very flne grosses. As an example, Marcus pointed to the splendid campaign conducted in Wisconsin on the “Magnificent Seven” and “For the Love of Mike.” In these situations, both the exhibitor and the distributor benefitted handsomely while other distributors withheld their prod¬ uct from release awaiting the holiday period. He emphasized that in selecting pictures for a saturation campaign, that such pictures should be of an entertaining calibre that would have mass appeal. Marcus criticized the handling of “Can-Can” which he said was not heavy enough to carry the hard ticket policy which Fox originally set on this production. It was a mistake for them to have withheld “Can-Can” from general re¬ lease as long as they have, he added. After the terrific campaign put on in the large first-run cities, the demand to see it by the general public was very high and instead of with¬ holding the picture as they have, it should have been put into general release through¬ out the country at that time. No Depression, Says Survey NEW YORK — Sindlinger and Company, market analysts, disclosed that statistics bear evidence that there is no depression in the motion picture business. The report states “that in November, for the second month in succession, more people went to the movies than did the same month last year” and indicates that the national theatre gross may exceed $1,500,000,000 for the year.” It indicates that attendance for the month of November was 6.7 per cent higher than that for the similar month of 1959, con¬ tinuing the uptrend which started in October, when attendance rose five per cent. Sally Perle To L.A. NEW YORK — Sally Perle, president. Cen¬ tral Casting Corporation (New York), ar¬ rived in Los Angeles last week for purpose of opening a Los Angeles branch of her cast¬ ing and talent operation. Miss Perle will represent talent in every category for mo¬ tion pictures, and will offer full casting serv¬ ice of extras, as she does through Central Casting Corporation in New York. The west coast office will be headed by Jack Hyman and will operate, for the present, under the name of the Sally Perle Agency, to avoid conflict between the name of her east coast corporation and the studio’s Cen¬ tral Casting Affiliate. Merchants Reopen Theatre PORT NECHES, TEX.— Local merchants were reported cooperating to reopen the Neches, recently closed by Jefferson Amuse¬ ment Company due to a lack of attendance. The merchants are purchasing tickets which will be given away free to their patrons. 34 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR December 21, I960