The Exhibitor (1961)

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NEWS CAPSULES \/ FILM FAMILY 7C ALBUM Gold Bands Anita Marie Piccione, daughter of Grace Piccione, owner, Apollo Art and Varsity theatres, St. Louis, was married Nov. 23, to Richard Lee Nix at Our Lady Of Lourdes church at St. Louis. A reception was held following the ceremony at Mrs. Piccione’s home. Obituaries Edna B. Levy, mother of Marvin J. Levy, of MGM’s publicity and advertising depart¬ ment, died in New York at the age of 62. In addition, to her son, she is survived by her husband, daughter, mother, three sisters, and brother. Harold W. Seidenberg, former managing director, Fox Theatre and Building, Philadel¬ phia, died in San Francisco. He was 55. He is survived by his widow and two sons. Sy Waxmann, 50, younger brother of Harry I. Waxmann, and formerly associated with him in an Atlantic City theatre circuit, died in Florida. He is survived by his widow and two sons. Burial was in Atlantic City. Lester Wurtele, Philadelphia branch man¬ ager, Columbia Pictures, died after 35 years with the company. He was a member of the board of directors of the Motion Picture As¬ sociation of Philadelphia, of which he was also past president; and was currently serv¬ ing as chief barker, Philadelphia Variety Club Tent 13. Also, he was trustee and secretary of congregation Rodeph Shalom and past president of the congregation’s men’s club. Surviving are his widow, son, and sister. Setback For Segregation DURHAM, N. C. — The Mayor’s Committee on Human Relations voted to draft a “state¬ ment to the public” expressing its view that federal laws prohibit segregation of the races in the Carolina here because it operates in a municipally-owned and tax-supported building. Paul Hardin, Duke University law profes¬ sor and newly-elected chairman of the com¬ mittee, said that while the group does not push integration, it “does favor obedience to the law.” A delegation of Negroes appeared before the City Council recently and demanded, among other things, an end to segregation in the Carolina because it is located in the old Municipal Auditorium which is leased from the city. The committee considered the other de¬ mands at its meeting but agreed on no definite recommendation on any except the one involving the Carolina. Hardin said the Carolina was in a “different position from all the rest because it is in a municipallyowned building.” “It is our understanding,” he said, “that the law prohibits operation of city-owned facilities in a racially-segregated manner.” During a discussion preceding the decision, Nelson Strawbridge, outgoing chairman of the body, said investigations by the com¬ mittee had turned up numerous precedents and law cases in which such integration had been required by the courts. FORMS FOR THIS PAGE CLOSED AT 2 P.M. ON MON., DEC. 11 Unreal Contract Terms Waste, Distribs Agree NEW YORK — Almost all major distribu¬ tors agree that the practice of signing con¬ tracts with initial unrealistic high percentage terms, which subsequently are renegotiated to lesser terms, represents a great waste of time and effort both by exhibitors and dis¬ tributors. This opinion was revealed in a report of the producer-exhibitor-distributor relations committee of the American Congress of Ex¬ hibitors published recently after meetings last spring and summer between an ACE sub¬ committee and sales managers of distributor companies. There were a number of topics discussed, including changes in fine print clauses of film contracts; problems concerning bad prints; request that distributors not ask for bidding too far in advance of scheduled playdates; ef¬ forts to keep small theatres open; shortage of prints; rigidity of terms and playing time re¬ quirements; request that distributors use dis¬ cretion in handling films from independent producers; requests that companies refrain from the initiation of competitive bidding where not requested by exhibitors; and re¬ quests for support of cooperative advertis¬ ing campaigns and saturation bookings. The subcommittee comprised Irving Dollinger, chairman; Marshall Fine; George Kerasotes; Albert M. Pickus; and Emanuel Frisch, chairman of ACE. In commenting on the report, Frisch said that “many of the companies indicated that individual steps are being taken to try and effectuate a policy of signing contracts with initial terms that have a closer relation to actual fact than the ‘high-terms-policy’ for all theatres that has been in effect in many cases.” Frisch also said his feelings are “that the film companies now are fully aware of the objection of exhibitors to changes in fine print clauses in film contracts without prior notice. On the subject of keeping small theatres in business, Frisch said “there was unanimity of opinion expressed that these theatres must be kept open.” XL BROADWAY /\ GROSSES "West Side" Tops Holdovers NEW YORK— It was another holdover week for Broadway first-runs, with the better en¬ tries maintaining their boxoffice power. “West Side Story” at the Rivoli continued to lead the parade. “THE COMANCHEROS” (20th-Fox). Para¬ mount reported $16,000 for the sixth week. “FLOWER DRUM SONG” (U-I). Radio City Music Hall, with stage show, registered $93,000 for Thursday through Sunday, with the fifth week headed for $125,000. “BACHELOR IN PARADISE” (MGM). Capitol claimed a fourth week tally of $15, 00. “KINGS OF KINGS” (MGM). Loew’s State held up with $25,000 in the ninth hard-ticket week. “SUMMER AND SMOKE” (Paramount). DeMille stated that the fourth week would reach $13,000. “SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS” (WB). Vic¬ toria reported a solid $14,000 for the ninth week. “PARIS BLUES” (UA). Astor expected the fifth week to tally $14,000. “DEVIL AT FOUR O’CLOCK” (Columbia). Criterion registered $17,000 on the eighth week. “WEST SIDE STORY” (UA). Rivoli still led the parade with a capacity $45,000 for the eighth hard-ticket week. New Pact For Pasternak HOLLYWOOD — Producer Joe Pasternak celebrated his 20th anniversary with MetroGoldwyn-Mayer and the start of his 48th feature motion picture for the company by signing a new three-year contract. One of Hollywood’s most prolific and suc¬ cessful producers, Pasternak is currently en¬ gaged in pre-production rehearsals for “Billy Rose’s Jumbo,” starring Doris Day, Stephen Boyd, Jimmy Durante, and Martha Raye. Evaluating the results of the meetings, Frisch said that ACE feels “that important ground work has been laid with each of the companies which eventually will lead to the elimination of many points of friction arising between exhibitors and distributors.” Harry E. Weiner, Columbia division manager headquartered in Philadelphia, is seen center with recording star Chubby Checker, who is topcast in Columbia's upcoming "Twist Around The Clock," after a meeting held to introduce the current musical sensation to a group of Philadelphia exhibitors. 4 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR December 13, 1961