The Exhibitor (1964)

Carter Proposals Win Stockholder Approval NEW YORK — At a special meeting, ap¬ proximately 72 per cent of the outstanding common shares of Republic Corporation were voted in favor of three amendments to the bylaws proposed by the Victor M. Carter-led group. Validity of the meeting and of these amend¬ ments are in litigation. The appellate division will hold a hearing on Sept. 10 as to whether or not to overrule a New York Supreme Court decision that the meeting had been validly cancelled by Robert L. Huffines, Jr., chairman of the board and leader of a BSF Corp. group of directors. Stockholders voted 1,754,660 in favor and 3,430 against an amendment which would read in part, “Any vacancy in the board of directors and/or increases in the number of directors shall be filled only by vote of the shareholders.” On raising the number of directors, the vote was 1,754,071 in favor and 4,019 against. The vote on an amendment giving stockholders the right to remove any director with or without cause at any time was approved 1,753,814 to 4.221. The Carter group nominated six directors to join the 15 now on the board, and they were elected. They are Benjamin J. Goodman, Ben Herzberg, Zalec Familian, Bernard I. Forester, Oscar Pattiz, and Ben Weingart. A slate of six directors nominated by Joseph Feinstein, a lawyer representing 30 shares, received 30 votes. The Appellate Division ruling which allowed the oft-postponed and recessed meet¬ ing to be held, specified that none of the actions taken at the meeting could take effect until validity of the meeting could be decided in court. LONDON Observations By Jock MacGregor WHO SAYS THE PUBLIC IS NO LONGER INTERESTED IN MOVIES? RANK Theatres chief Kenneth Wicnkles revealed at the gala civic opening of the Odeon, Merrion Square, Leeds, that no less than 40,000 potential patrons had accepted the invitation to inspect it over the weekend. This 820 seater is Rank’s first post war theatre in the North and is part of a vast city centre redevelopment. Compact, simply designed with the emphasis on comfort and presentation, and a capacity that ensures the longest runs for suitable pictures, it is, to quote the Lord Mayor’s opening descriptive, “the epitome of forward thinking.” Indeed, seeing this and other new stadium style theatres, one can but wonder if some of the old one-floor houses now being used for bingo or storage might not be brought back into operation since they could be more adaptable for modernization and new style presentation than many vast, balconied auditoria. I travelled with the Winckles and Fred Thomas, Harold Boodson, and Charles Young of Rank Distributors, and it was a nostalgic occasion for Charles. More than 30 years ago, he was manager when Leeds’ other Odeon opened as the Paramount. At the theatre, I was able to make the acquaintance of Bryan Quilter and Michael Bagstaff, Rank Theatres’ new assistant managing director and controller respectively, and meet those old local exhibiting friends, the Eckarts, Prendergasts, and Flavells. THOUGH THERE IS A RISING BACKLOG OF INTERNATIONAL PRODUCT WHICH has not been shown on the ABC and Rank circuits, no new subject has been offered to the “third release” for many months. Queried on this, a leading distributor suggested that the potential made even the print cost, since about 30 are required, an added gamble. The showcasing of “Goldfinger” in nine big Rank and independent suburban theatres is not sweet music to those with normal releases at the time as they will be denied certain lucrative areas entirely. An embarassing releasing problem facing the industry just when all family programs are proving big money makers, unexpected in some cases, is a glut of adults-only pictures. Many are being paired, but even so some 20 programs are available. Every effort is made for the circuits not to play them concurrently, but with so many, clashes are inevitable. MEANWHILE, JIM CARRERAS HAS TRADE SHOWN HIS LATEST HAMMER horror package for Columbia, “Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb” and' “The Gorgon.” Profes¬ sionally expert, I found myself shuddering at some of the best shocks in a long while. Now Jim has launched his most ambitious picture ever “She,” with a Les Ambassadeurs cocktail party for the press and Associated British executives, headed by C. J. Latta, Robert Clark, and Jack Good latte, to meet the stars, Ursula Andress, Rosen da Monteros, and those two chillers without whom no Hammer picture would be really complete, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. A good dash of horror will be added to the H. Rider Haggard classic. "Lilith" To N. Y. Fete NEW YORK — Producer-director Robert Rossen has accepted an invitation from the New York Film Festival to show his con¬ troversial production of “Lilith” at Lincoln Center’s Philharmonic Hall. The Festival will run from Sept. 14-26. Rossen made the following statement: “I welcome the invitation to show ‘Lilith’ at the second New York Film Festival because it not only affords film people the oppor¬ tunity to examine each other’s works and to exchange ideas, but it also eliminates the jungle-type competition which prevails at other film festivals and which only serves to cloud the true purpose of the festival.” James H. Nicholson, American International Pic¬ tures’ president, is seen with starlet Susan Hart, re¬ cently signed to a seven-year exclusive contract with the company. TONY TENSER STARTED COMPTON CAMEO’S MOST AMBITIOUS PROJECT, “Repulsion,” which could be a dangerous title with critics around, with a pre-production party at the Twickenham Studios. To be produced by Gene Gutowski, it is the first British film to be directed by the 30 year old Pole, Roman Polanski, whose “Knife in the Water” aroused international interest. Starring will be France’s Catherine Deneuve as “an angel with a slightly soiled halo.” There was more pleasurable elbow bending at Claridge’s when Paramount sales manager Peter Reed, in the absence of Russell Hadley, introduced George Weltner and the one and only Joe Levene. They are jointly to make “Will Adams,” the story of a 17th century shipwrecked sailor who rose to power in the Japanese court as the first white Samurai, with Peter O’Toole. Producing will be Jules Buck and Eugene Frenke, who was tickled pink that I recognised him after 30 years. I should. He gave me my first studio job. Peter O'Toole was present and delighted that “Lord Jim” has been chosen for next February’s Royal Film Performance under the new arrangement whereby the seemingly most suitable is invited well in advance rather than for movies being submitted and held from release for a viewing panel. SAM GOLDWYN IS BEING STRONGLY CRITICISED FOR SELLING 50 OLD MOVIES to tv against trade policy. The Daily Express splashed its interview with Film Industry Defense Organization’s Bill Speakman, who said: “Producers who sell to tv are just kicking their own industry in the teeth. Goldwyn made quite a lot of money out of his pictures . . . now by selling them to tv, he may be helping to destroy the cinema today.” FIDO has done a fine job keeping movies off tv. On the Aug. 22 weekend, all London stations could show were “Green Buddha” (a 1954 British second), “Top Hat” (1935), and “The Rat” (1937). . . . How rumors start. Within 36 hours of the Leeds opening, I heard in London that Harold Myers, Variety; Willy Williamson, Daily Cinema; and myself had walked out because of bad seats. Fact: As we had seen “Fall of the Roman Empire,” it was suggested that after the official ceremony, we might prefer to visit other Rank activities. We returned our tickets and sat in the front row stalls which were being kept for the military trumpeters sounding the opening fanfare. After a guided tour, we returned for the celebration dinner. It is sad that anyone should bother to phone such a story to his London office. . . . Congratulations to Terry Ashwood on being named Pathe News editor-in-chief in succession to the great Tommy Cummins, who is retiring. He will be replaced as special features chief by Harry Field from AB Pathe’s tv division. . . . During his recent visit, Pittsburgh’s Ernie Stem got a big writeup in the 5V2 million circulation Daily Mirror on his collection of cars. . . . “Bedtime Story” is supported at the Leicester Square Odeon by “Midsummer Nightmare,” Halas & Batchelor’s impish 10 minute cartoon — live action combo. The weekend take was a dream. . . . Charles H. Schneer is just goggle-eyed over the astronomical “Mesn in the Moon” — -“East of Sudan figures. September 2, 1964 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 15