The Exhibitor (1962)

TOA Names Peck As Star Of Year Actor To Attend Miami Convention Banquet To Receive Coveted Award; Bilgrey Also To Speak NEW YORK — Gregory Peck, four-time Academy Award nominee, has been selected as the Theatre Owners of America’s Star of the Year, it was disclosed by John H. Stembler, TOA president. Peck will attend the President’s Banquet, which will conclude the organization’s 15th annual convention being held at the Ameri¬ cana Hotel, Bal Harbour, Fla., on Saturday evening, Nov. 10, to receive the award, v/hich is the highest honor TOA bestows on a motion picture actor or actress. Peck will be the ninth recipient of the annual award, given to the actor or actress who, in TOA’s opinion, is not only a topcalibre performer and box office attraction, but whose personal life and other activities have brought honor to the industry. Cliff Richard, Britain’s top male popular who stars in Paramount s December release, “Wonderful To Be Young,” will also appear and perform at the President s Ban¬ quet. Richard, who has sold more than 12 million records throughout the world, will perform with The Shadows, a four-man group with whom he regularly appears, and who also appear in “Wonderful To Be Young. The 21-year-old star will be making his first trip to the U.S. for this personal appearance tour, which will include the TOA banquet. The Star of the Year Award was initiated in 1954, with Danny Kaye as the first recipi¬ ent. Other winners have been James Stewart in 1955; William Holden in 1956; Rock Hudson in 1957; Deborah Kerr in 1958; Jerry Lewis in 1959; Doris Day in 1960; and John Wayne last year. Consistently a top grossing star. Peck’s Oscar nominations were for “Keys of the Kingdom,” “The Yearling,” “Gentleman’s Agreement,” and “Twelve O’Clock High. His next release will be “To Kill a Mockingbird” in early 1963. Peck recently entered into the production end of the business, forming two companies, Melville Productions and Anthony Produc¬ tions. Also announced for the coming convention was the scheduled appearance of Cathy Bauby of Memphis, Tenn., widely known as an expert on charm and personality. Miss Bauby will address the opening luncheon of the Ladies Program, said ladies committee chairman Sallie Shepherd of Miami. Felix J. Bilgrey, general counsel for Times Film Corp. and veteran industry attorney, is also scheduled to speak to exhibitors on Thursday, Nov. 8, at a session devoted to the exhibitor and the law. Bilgrey will address himself to the problems of local and news¬ paper censorship, and will outline how ex¬ hibitors and distributors can work together to counteract censorship. Code Board Unchanged WASHINGTON — Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of Ameri¬ ca, has reappointed all members of the Pro¬ duction Code Review Board to another regu¬ lar term of one year. Stanley Kubrick signs a multiple picture deal with Columbia Pictures for his independent com¬ pany, Polaris Productions. Looking on are (from left to right) Stanley Schneider, administrative assistant to the executive vice president; Leo Jaffe, executive vice president; Mike Frankovich, 1st vice president; Mo Rothman, vice pres¬ ident of the International Corporation; and Jonas Rosenfield, vice president in charge of advertising and publicity. Allied Again Readies Merchandising Manual DETROIT — From executive director Milton H. London’s Detroit headquarters of Allied States comes the announcement that the as¬ sociation will repeat last year’s smash success with the 1963 Allied Merchandising Manual. It is even more fitting this year than last, since National Allied’s 33rd annual conven¬ tion, which takes place at the Sheraton Ho¬ tel, Cleveland, Dec. 3-6 and in conjunction with which the manual will be issued, is heavily accenting equipment and merchandis¬ ing. The manual will detail merchandising ideas, proven sales promotions, and “will be a prac¬ tical tool for converting very little effort and very little time into a lot of money.” It will also contain a comprehensive guide for suc¬ cessful theatre operation, showmanship, and merchandising designed to increase attend¬ ance and profits, training of employees, and maintenance and servicing of equipment. Among other sections will be those on the role of the theatre manager in creating pub¬ lic images of the industry and the theatre; preparation and delivery of speeches to fra¬ ternal, civic, and community groups, along with prepared basic speeches. As was done last year, a copy will be given to all who attend the convention, and sent to Allied memebrs throughout the nation. Last year, long after the issue had been distrib¬ uted, letters poured in from all over offering to pay for as many copies as the correspond¬ ents could lay their hands on. Embassy Names Margolies NEW YORK— The appointment of Harry Margolies as New York branch manager of Embassy Pictures Corp. was announced by Carl Peppercorn, general sales manager. Margolies has resigned from the staff of Astor Pictures to accept the new post, effec¬ tive immediately. He replaces Lou Steisel, who has been appointed assistant to Pepper¬ corn at Embassy Pictures. Block Booking Subject Of TV-Film Dispute WASHINGTON— The U.S. Supreme Court was asked by the film distributors of feature films to tv and the Justice Department to upset a lower court decision carrying an in¬ junction against block booking. Arguing for the distributors were Louis Nizer, Myles J. Lane, Justin M. Golenbock, and Mervin C. Pollack, while Daniel M. Friedman handled the case for the Justice Department. The distributors claim the decree should be dissolved as needless, but the the Justice De¬ partment wants the injunction tightened and further safeguards imposed. The Justice Department claims the Para¬ mount decree has put the Supreme Court on record as against forcing buyers to take prod¬ uct they don’t want to get product that they do want and asked that sales be made on a picture-by-picture basis. They assail the lower court permission for “temporary” block booking under which a distributor could first see if he could find a buyer for the entire package. “In both instances, the same eco¬ nomic pressures are brought to bear on the prospective purchaser by the film distributor in order to induce a purchase of unwanted films along with wanted ones,” it was said. The defendants are Loew’s Inc., C&C Super Corp., Screen Gems, Associated Ar¬ tists Productions, National Telefilm Associates, and United Artists. Glen Alden Profit Up NEW YORK — The Glen Alden Corporation increased its earning 172 percent in the nine months ended Sept. 30, it was announced by Albert A. List, chairman of the board. Sales and revenues climbed to $81,350,000 in the same period. Consolidated net earnings reached $3,850,000 for the period. This equaled 70 cents a share on 5,495,000 shares outstanding. It compared with $1,417,000 or 25 cents a share on 5,636,000 shares in the nine months ended Sept. 30, 1961. Glen Alden is a diversified operating com¬ pany consisting of Glen Alden Coal Company Division, RKO Theatres, Inc., Aluminum In¬ dustries, Inc., Swift Manufacturing Company, Opp and Micolas Cotton Mills, and E. Hubschman and Sons Division. Glen Alden also has substantial investments in Government securities, bank certificates of deposit, mortgages, and other industrial com¬ panies. Netter Heads ''Lawrence'' Unit NEW YORK — Rube Jackter, Columbia vice-president and general sales manager, has reached an agreement under which L. Douglas Netter will join Columbia as execu¬ tive in charge of roadshow sales for the Sam Spiegel-David Lean production of “Lawrence of Arabia.” In his new post, Netter will be under the direction of the Columbia vice-president for all engagements of the Super Panavision 70 Technicolor film. Netter was vice-president in charge of operations for Todd A-0 and general manager for Samuel Goldwyn .Productions. 8 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR October 24, 1962