The Exhibitor (1964)

NEWS CAPSULES vl/ FILM FAMILY /N ALBUM Arrivals Robert F. Blumofe, United Artists vice pres¬ ident in charge of west coast operations, and his wife, are the parents of a boy born in California. Mrs. Blumofe is a daughter of Jack Benny and Mary Livingston. Milt Livingston, Universal Pictures press and magazine contact, and Beatrice Livingston, secretary of New York Variety Club Tent 35, became grandparents for the first time when a daughter, Diane Lisa, was born in Englewood Hospital, Englewood, N. J., to their daughter Mrs. Paul Shohet. Mr. and Mrs. Julius Sprechman became the parents of a daughter, Lise Joanne, at Beth Israel Hospital, New York. The father is financial vice president of Embassy Pictures. Obituaries Mark Gerald Buckley, 19, grandson of the late Christopher H. Buckley, once among the biggest theatre owners in Albany, N. Y., and later a Bennington, Vt., exhibitor, was killed in a New Haven, Conn., automobile accident. He was a resident of Cheshire, Conn., and is survived by his parents, two brothers and a sister. Harry A. Burke, 63, commissioner of public safety in Saratoga Springs, N. Y., for 13 years, and former manager of Reade’s Com¬ munity and of Benton’s Congress, died in his office of what was officially described as “self-inflicted chest wounds.” He was also an inspector and security consultant for the N. Y. State Harness Racing Commission, and had been in Saratoga since the 1920’s. He was a widower. Ralph E. Crammer, 58, international repre¬ sentative of the International Union of Oper¬ ating Engineers, died in Columbus, Ohio. He was engineer at Loew’s Columbus theatres before becoming a union official. Anthony W. Hartford, 68, veteran Seattle the¬ atre man, died of a heart attack while on a San Francisco vacation. Retired for the past two years, he had been a salesman for Na¬ tional Screen Service in Seattle for 14 years. Previously he had been with Republic Pic¬ tures and Columbia in Denver; with United Artists in Salt Lake City; and with 20th-Fox in both Los Angeles and Seattle. Survivors include a son and a sister. J. Olin Mock, 61, Charlotte, N. C., branch manager for 20th-Fox, died. He had been with the office for 27 years. Surviving are his wife, a daughter, two sons, three sisters and five grandchildren. Harry Rosenthal, 58, veteran projectionist at the United Artists home office, died of a heart attack. He had been with UA since 1938, and is survived by his widow, a son and a daughter. MPAA Expands Staff NEW YORK — Mrs. Barbara S. Boekemeire and William M. McCutchen were named community relations associates to the com¬ munity relations dept, of the Motion Picture Association of America, announced Ralph Hetzel, acting president. FORMS FOR THIS PAGE CLOSED AT 5 P.M. ON MON., JULY 13 Fox Sets Sound Pact NEW YORK — Seymour Poe, executive vicepresident cf 20th Century-Fox Film Corp., announced that Movietone has entered into a long-term agreement with the Manhattan Sound Corp. to operate the sound studios of the Movietone New York production complex. Manhattan Sound was chosen to operate the Movietone sound studio, said Poe, be¬ cause “Manhattan Sound has shown itself to be one of the most dynamic and progressive organizations in the sound field. And it is the type of organization which fits in with our expanding activities.” A joint statement by Fred B. Adair, Jr., president of Manhattan Sound, and Jack Kuhne, executive producer of Movietone, re¬ vealed that more than $300,000 has been ear¬ marked to modernize the Movietone sound studios. Mich. Bars Ticket Tax LANSING, MICH. — Michigan Allied has been working behind the scenes with quiet effectiveness for protection of Michigan houses. The objective was to prevent possible community admission taxes. Rep. James N. Folks (R) of Horton in¬ troduced and succeeded in having passed Act 243, Public Acts of 1964, which Gov. George Romney has now signed. “The People of the State of Michigan enact: Sec. 1. Except as otherwise provided by law and notwithstanding any provision of its charter, a city or village shall not impose, levy, or collect a tax, other than an ad valorem property tax, on any subject of taxation, unless the tax was being imposed by the city or village on Jan. 1, 1964.” Since Michigan does not have any “city or village” which imposed admission taxes before last Jan. 1, this means statewide exhibition is now freed from any threat on this front, says Michigan Allied president Milton H. London. BROADWAY GROSSES Openers Pace Big Week NEW YORK — Some remarkably strong grosses were reported in many Broadway first runs that had outstanding attractions. Crowds in town for the world’s fair and the usual summer vacation visitors swelled the totals. According to usually reliable sources reaching MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR, the break-down was as follows: “THE CARPETBAGGERS” (EmbassyParamount). Paramount did $83,000 the first week; and $60,000 the second session. “THE CHALK GARDEN” (U). Radio City Music Hall, with usual stage show, reported $175,000 for the seventh stanza; with $114,949 tallied for Thursday through Sunday; and $190,000 claimed for the eighth, and final, week. “THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE” (Paramount). DeMille claimed $13,000 for the 15th week; and $12,000 for the 16th week. “IT’S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD” (UA-Cinerama). Warner Cinerama did $23,439 for the 33rd week; and $25,949 for the 34th week. “BECKET” (Paramount). Loew’s State an¬ nounced that the 17th week was $20,000: and the 18th week was $21,000. “CIRCUS WORLD” (Paramount). Loew’s Cinerama stated the second week was $33,000; and the third week was $29,000. “A SHOT IN THE DARK” (UA). Astor reported $21,000 for the second week; and $19,000 for the third week. “633 SQUADRON” (UA). Victoria an¬ nounced $9,000 for the second, and final, week. “FOR THOSE WHO THINK YOUNG” (UA). Victoria opened to a $9,000 week. “WHAT A WAY TO GO” (20th-Fox). Cri¬ terion had $24,000 for the eighth week; and $24,000 for the ninth week. “CLEOPATRA” (20th-Fox). Rivoli stated the 56th week was $14,000; and the 57th week was $12,000. “BEDTIME STORY” (U). RKO Palace claimed $10,000 for the fourth, and final, week. “ZULU” (Embassy). RKO Palace did $30,000 on the opening week. Associated British Picture Corporation recently tendered an honor lunch to Col. Jack Warner in Lon¬ don. He is seen, center, with ABC directors C. J. Latta, chairman Sir Philip Warter, Dr. Eric Fletcher, MP, and Jack Goodlatte. 4 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR