The Exhibitor (1960)

The NEW YORK Scene By Mel Konecoff ABOUT THE FARM TEAM: Columbia Pictures is going in for talent tryouts and grooming using a farm team type of set-up. For instance, the company has tied in with a summer theatre out on Long Island wherein Columbia contract players would be brought there to learn acting. The venture is supposed to get under way next summer. The thinking at the Columbia home office is that it would be nice to train new potential screen stars in the ways of the theatre first. Appearances at the “farm” will not necessarily be limited to beginners, but the summer audiences may even find a sprinkling of familiar faces and semi-familiar names among those going through their paces on stage. The studio is expected to also provide some scripts and story material for testing during the summer which should also serve to break in new writers, budding directors, and wouldbe technicians. IN MEMORIAM: A Jonas Rosenfield 3rd Scholarship Fund has been set up to per¬ petuate the memory of the son of Columbia Pictures vice-president Jonas Rosenfield, who died in the tragic air collision on Dec. 16 over this city. Contributions can be made to the Fund c/o John Auerbach, 181 Salem Road, Roslyn Heights, N.Y. MAGIC CARPET NOTE: Press agent Harvey Matofsky writes from the land of Aladdin in the ancient city of Kairouan, a tiny pocket of dust and decay on the Tunisian plain, that the name of Joe Levine is even now being blessed in the land where the burnoose is a national habit. It seems as though Joe, knowing that the band of actors and technicians would be stranded there during the Christmas holidays, airlifted a huge Christmas tree with all the trimmings, presents, chefs, food, etc. Donald O’Connor, who is in the Levine epic, “The Wonders of Aladdin,” was set to do the entertaining. (Aside to Harvey: So where’s the magic carpet? You thought you were going to spend your days and nights in Rome where girls are girls and the men know it. Ha, Ha, Ha. Camels you wanted. Camels you’re getting) THE METROPOLITAN SCENE: The Radio City Music Hall will participate in the Italian Centennial Celebrations in the U.S. by devoting its first stage show of 1961 to an all-Italian spectacle, according to president Russell V. Downing. In honor of the 106th anniversary of the unification of Italy, a company of more than 30 Italian artists will be brought to New York to take part in the show. . . . More greetings of the season in from the Jean Goldwurms, Paul Street, Marie Hamilton, Hortense Schorr, Charlie Schlaifer, Elinor Silverman, Stan Holmes, Sam Arkoff, Pintoff Productions, Russell Fifer, Marvin Levy, Dan Terrell, Jeff Martin, Jerry Sager, Jack Levin, Lars McSorley, Ed Feldman, Dick Brooks (who had a ball in Mexico), Gabe Sumner, George Bennett, Jeff Livingston, John Cassidy, Charles Okun, Sheldon Gunsberg, Bill O’Hare, A1 Davis, etc., etc. Lancaster, Taylor Top "Famous Fives ' Poll NEW YORK— Results of The Film Daily’s 1960 poll of critics, reviewers and broadcast¬ ing film commentators in its annual “Filmdom’s Famous Fives” resulted in the naming of Burt Lancaster in UA’s “Elmer Gantry”; Charlton Heston in MGM’s “Ben-Hur”; Jack Lemmon in UA’s “The Apartment”; Spencer Tracy in UA’s “Inherit The Wind”; and Ralph Bellamy in Warners’ “Sunrise At Campobello” as giving the best performances by male stars. Best performances by female stars went to Elizabeth Taylor in MGM’s “Butterfield 8”; Greer Garson in Warners’ “Sunrise At Campobello”; Shirley MacLaine in UA’s “The Apartment”; Doris Day in U-I’s “Midnight Lace”; and Jean Simmons in UA’s “Elmer Gantry.’ Best performances by supporting actors were voted Arthur Kennedy in UA’s “Elmer Gantry”; Stephen Boyd in MGM’s “BenHur”; Hugh Griffith in MGM’s “Ben-Hur”; George Peppard in MGM’s “Home From The Hill”; and Hume Cronyn in Warners’ “Sun¬ rise At Campobello.” Named as giving best performances by supporting actresses were Shirley Jones in UA’s “Elmer Gantry”; Angela Lansbury in Warners’ “Dark At The Top Of The Stairs”; Eve Arden in Warners’ “Dark At The Top Of The Stairs”; Ina Balin in 20th-Fox’s “From The Terrace”; and Myma Loy in U-I’s “Midnight Lace.” In the best performances by juvenile ac¬ tors, Kevin Corcoran in Buena Vista’s “Toby Tyler”; Troy Donahue in Warners’ “A Sum¬ mer Place”; Lee Kinsolving in Warners’ “Dark At The Top Of The Stairs”; James MacArthur in Buena Vista’s “Kidnapped”; and Robert Ever in Warners’ “Dark At The Top Of The Stairs”. Best performances by juvenile actresses were voted Hayley Mills in Buena Vista’s “Pollyanna”; Sandra Dee in U-I’s “Portrait In Black”; Shirley Knight in Warners’ “Dark At The Top Of The Stairs”; and Luana Pat¬ ten in MGM’s “Home From The Hill.” “Finds Of The Year” were named as Hayley Mills in Buena Vista’s “Pollyanna”; George Peppard in MGM’s “Home From The Hill”; Peter Sellers in Columbia’s “I’m All Right, Jack”; Ina Balin in 20th-Fox’s “From The Terrace”; and Troy Donahue in Warners’ “A Summer Place.” The year’s outstanding directors were named as William Wyler for MGM’s “BenHur”; Billy Wilder for UA’s “The Apart¬ ment”, Richard Brooks for UA’s “Elmer Gan¬ try”; Stanley Kramer for UA’s “Inherit The Wind”; and Vincent Donahue for Warners’ “Sunrise At Campobello.” The best photographed pictures were MGMs “Ben-Hur,” Buena Vista’s “Jungle Cat,” 20th-Fox “Sons and Lovers”; UA’s “Elmer Gantry”; and MGM’s “Suddenly, Last Summer.” The best screenplays of the year were UA’s “The Apartment,” UA’s “Elmer Gantry”; MGM’s “Ben-Hur,” Warner’s “Sunrise At Campobello”; and UA’s “Inherit The Wind.” Kerman Exits Governor Post NEW YORK — Dave Emanuel, president and general sales manager of Governor Films, Inc., announced that Arthur Kerman has re¬ signed as an officer and director of Governor Films, Inc., following the sale by Kerman to Dave Emanuel of his stock interest in that firm. Governor Films, Inc., is presently dis¬ tributing the highly successful “Carry On Nurse,’ PARAMOUNT (Continued from page 5) licity and exploitation, announced a com¬ pletely new “Paramount Press Book and Mer¬ chandising Manual,” a major innovation in local-level selling that has been under de¬ velopment for more than a year Davis, directing a session of Paramount’s eastern sales division, also made announce¬ ment of another “first” for the company — a national network of field merchandising offices which will be available at a moment’s notice for special assignment on forthcom¬ ing product. Another highlight of the meetings was the launching of “Paramount’s 1961 Sales-Merchandise Drive” by Jerome Pickman, vicepresident and domestic general sales man¬ ager. The six -month campaign offers $50,000 in merchandise prizes to the winners. In prefacing his announcement of the new press book and other promotional plans, Davis said, “Our every effort will be directed towards attracting the potential ticket-buyer’s attention away from the many other leisure time activities directly competing with us for the entertainment dollar. Presenting the consumer with the best in film entertainment is not enough in today’s market. We must constantly devise new approaches — find new avenues to entice the consumer and his family to see our films.” A page-by-page analysis of the new “Para¬ mount Press Book and Merchandising Manual” was presented at the sales meeting by Joseph Gould, advertising manager. The new press book is being inaugurated with Y. C. Heart Group Named PHILADELPHIA— William Koster of Bos¬ ton, George Murphy of Hollywood, and C. J. Latta of London, England, will constitute the Heart Committee of Variety Clubs Interna¬ tional it is announced by Edward Emanuel, international chief barker. Koster, executive director of one of Vari¬ ety’s most famous charities, The Jimmy Fund, and also executive head of the Variety Club of New England, Will serve as chairman. In the work of coordinating all of Variety’s humanitarian efforts. He will be assisted by George Murphy, who is currently vice-presi¬ dent of Desilu Productions, and C. J. Latta, former head of Warner Brothers operations in Europe who is now managing director of Associated British Productions. Ray Stark’s “The World of Suzie Wong,” and will be continued on each succeeding Para¬ mount release. Exploitation manager Joseph Friedman further developed Davis’ announcement of the formulation of a national network of field merchandising offices. Friedman also devoted time to a re-evaluation of Paramount’s cooperative advertising policy. He said the company had been mak¬ ing intensive studies in this area for the past year “to obtain maximum return for every dollar expended and to find new means of reaching the potential audience.” Friedman added that Paramount is ready to revise its co-op policies in many situations. January II, 1961 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 9