The Exhibitor (1961)

MGM Execs Exercise Common Stock Options New Orleans Circuit Head Ludman Honored On His Golden Anniversary NEW ORLEANS — United Theatres, Inc., will sponsor the first drive in the 33 year history of that company when the managers of the circuit’s 12 theatres compete in the Edward Ludman Drive for five weeks begin¬ ning April 30. The drive honors the president of United Theatres, who is this year celebrating his 50th year in exhibition. Ludman entered the industry in May of 1911 when he rented a property and built the long since demolished Reliance Theatre in a neighborhood section of New Orleans. Two years later, he bought the Escorial Theatre which he subsequently remodeled in 1916 and again in 1926, and which house he personally managed until 1952. The present circuit of¬ fices are now located in the Escorial building. In 1922, along with eight partners, Ludman built the Tivoli Theatre, one of United’s flag¬ ships, and in 1925 he became associated with Judge Louis H. Yarrult, George Montgomery, and the late Nat Ehrlich, in the Isis and Granada theatres. The Granada, still a United property, is closed. In 1928, Ludman, along with his partners, merged his interests with other theatre oper¬ ators in the Louisiana city to form the pres¬ ent United Theatres, Inc., and in early 1956 he became president of that company, which position he continues to fill. C. Clare Woods, general manager for United, will handle all plans and details per¬ tinent to the five week drive. United Theatres are de luxe neighborhood operations, and an extensive remodeling pro¬ gram keeps older theatres modern and suited to the needs of the top new films. Floersheimer Heads AMPA NEW YORK — Albert Floersheimer, Jr., di¬ rector of public relations of Theatre Owners of America, has been nominated for the presi¬ dency of the Associated Motion Picture Ad¬ vertisers to head the slate of officers for the year 1961-1962, it was announced by AMPA’s nominating committee. The other nominations are Samuel Horwitz, Mermaid Theatre, Brook¬ lyn, for vice-president; Hans Barnstyn, Trans-Lux 52nd Street, again for treasurer; and Marcia Sturn, Columbia Pictures, for another term as secretary. Nominated for members of the board of directors were all of the above plus Bob Montgomery, retiring president of AMPA; Robert S. Ferguson, director of advertising, publicity and exploitation of Columbia Pic¬ tures; Philip Gerard, eastern advertising and publicity director of Universal Pictures; Fred Goldberg, national director of advertising, publicity and exploitation of United Artists; and Silas F. “Si” Seadler, advertising man¬ ager of MGM. These nominations were to be voted on at a closed meting of AMPA members yesterday (April 25). Pat Steen, serving for a third term, and Martin Starr were appointed co-chairmen of the public relations-publicity committee. "Priest.” "Raisin" To Cannes NEW YORK — The Cannes Festival commit¬ tee advised the Motion Picture Export Asso¬ ciation of America that United Artists’ “The Hoodlum Priest” has been selected as an official American entry. Columbia’s “A Raisin in the Sun” already has been accepted by the Festival committee. Cinerama Names Century To Design New Projector NEW YORK — Cinerama, Inc., has com¬ missioned Century Projector Corporation to design and manufacture a special 70 mm. pi'ojector for the Cinerama Spacearium system, which employs a single lens to create an audience viewing area of 360 degrees horizontally and 160 degrees verti¬ cally to envelop the audience in a pic¬ ture surrounding it on all sides and above. The process will first be used at the Seattle World’s Fair next year and was developed by Cinerama in cooperation with the Boeing Airplane Company and the U.S. Government, whose combined in¬ terest is in a space film to be shown in a $1,000,000 domed theatre which will be part of a governmentconstructed science pavilion. Technicolor Income Up With Color Films HOLLYWOOD — Technicolor, Inc., had con¬ solidated net income, after taxes, of $345,943, or 16 cents a share, in the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 1960, compared with $237,160, or 12 cents a share the previous year. The increase in net income was attributed to more profitable operation of the company’s motion picture division. The use of color for Hollywood features reportedly increased 13.4 per cent last year, and a 25 per cent rise in non-theatrical release print footage was also noted. Net sales in 1960 totaled $28,458,945, com¬ pared with $27,250,407 the year before. Technicolor Italiana reportedly completed its second full year of operations by increas¬ ing output 25 per cent and showing profits of $223,000 against a 1959 loss of $81,380. Technicolor, Ltd., the British affiliate, re¬ portedly showed a slight decline in profits. In 1960, the affiliate showed profit, before taxes, of $875,805, compared with $935,315 in 1959. Although the consumer photographic prod¬ ucts division increased unit sales, there was a loss of about $873,000 for 1960, it was reported. Eric Johnston, right, president. Motion Picture Association of America and the Motion Picture Export Association of America, receives a statuette from Domenico Meccoli, director, Venice Film Festival, on behalf of the Italian Motion Picture Industry Association, ANICA, in commemoration of Johnston's 15th anni¬ versary recently celebrated at a dinner in the Waldorf Astoria, New York City. WASHINGTON — The Securities and Ex¬ change Commission’s official summary of se¬ curity transactions and holdings for March showed that three vice-presidents of MGM in December and January exercised options to increase their holdings of the company’s common stock. Raymond A. Klune acquired 1,200 shares via option, to increase his total to 1,300 shares, while Robert Mochrie acquired 600 shares to make his total 650, and Howard Strickling acquired 600 to increase his hold¬ ings to 825 shares. Other transactions reported by the SEC were: Allied Artists — Sherrill C. Corwin sold 4.500 shares, reducing total holdings to 17,400; Robert W. Hurlock purchased 700, making his total 21,700. AB-PT — Simon B. Siegel acquired 1,785 shares by option, making total holdings 4,947. Cinerama, Inc. — Wentworth D. Fling ac¬ quired 15,000 shares by option, making total 16,050; John H. Hartley acquired 15,000 by option, making a total of 18,125; Morris Schechter sold his last 100 shares. Columbia Pictures — Alfred Hart acquired 100 shares, making total 10,073; Leo Jaffe ac¬ quired 5,805 shares for a total of 5,976; A. Montague sold 600 shares, reducing holdings to 5,266. Loew’s Theatres — Arnold M. Grant sold 10,500 shares, to eliminate his holdings. NT&T — B. Gerald Cantor acquired 10,000 shares, increasing total to 110,000; Cantor & Son, Inc., sold its remaining 2,600 shares. Paramount Pictures — Y. Frank Freeman sold 1,000 shares, decreasing holdings to 500; Louis A. Novins sold 100 shares, reducing holdings to 691. Twentieth-Fox — J. B. Codd sold 100 shares, his only stock; Peter G. Levathes acquired 1.500 shares, his sole holdings, by option; James A. Van Fleet sold 200 shares, retaining 300. Warner Bros. — Sales under stock tenders, to eliminate holdings of WB stock included Wolfe Cohen, 5,000 shares; James B. Conkling, 5,000; Benjamin Kalmenson, 20,000; Her¬ man Starr, 7,500, and Steven B. Trilling, 5,000. Allen & Co. sold 10,000 via tender to reduce holdings to 40,000 shares; William T. Orr sold 5,000 to reduce holdings to 15,800; Serge Semenenko Trust sold 800, retained 200, and Jack L. Warner sold 5,000 via tender, retaining 249,865 shares, plus 1,400 in a trust. Albany's Strand Reopens ALBANY — The completely refurbished Stanley Warner Strand opened its doors with a benefit performance for Variety’s Boys Club Camp Thacher. This is a free camp for under¬ privileged boys, regardless of race, creed, or color. Extensive alterations have been made in the modernistic trend. A new corner lobby has been built with a complete glass area which can be viewed from the exterior, as well as the interior. The outdoor effect is en¬ hanced by the use of planting boxes and greenery. The entire auditorium has been re¬ designed, using red carpet, gold and pastel grey drapes and walls. (Told modernistic fix¬ tures have been added. The seats have been respaced and heavily upholstered. All radio and television stations, as well as newspapers, cooperated with announcements and stories. A special 12-page section ran in the Albany Knickerbocker News and Albany Times Union on the night of the premiere. 12 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR April 26. 1961