The Exhibitor (1965)

Heston Doffs Hat To Gals At Clubwomen’s Convention Mo vie lab "Wildcat" Strike Brings Call For Eastern Production Boss NEW ORLEANS — Charlton Heston ad¬ dressed the opening banquet of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs annual con¬ vention in the grand ballroom of the Jung Ho¬ tel. In presenting his subject, “Hats Off To The Ladies,” Heston commented on the problems of the actor in today’s film production. He said; “The actor has a great deal of responsi¬ bility to reflect credit on the film industry wherever he travels throughout the world.” On the problem of censorship, Heston spoke with deep feeling. He stated; “In a free so¬ ciety such as the United States, the problem of censorship is best solved on an individual basis. A painting or a book or any other ar¬ tistic undertaking is an individual effort. Cen¬ sorship has always been a problem to the art¬ ist, and there are no easy answers to this problem. Critical standards which can be ap¬ plied to all art must be developed within the home. Parents are ultimately responsible for teaching this to their children.” Heston related some of his experiences on a recent trip to Africa, arranged by the State Department, when he made personal appear¬ ances in Nigeria. Heston was high in his praise of the fine work being accomplished at the community level by club women both here in the United States and abroad. Mrs. William H. Hasebroock, president of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, presented Heston with a certificate of appre¬ ciation. Mrs. Thomas R. Houde, director of Junior Clubs, presented Heston with a letter opener engraved with the seal of the General Federation. She commented, “This will help you to open your fan mail.” Margaret G. Twyman, director of the Com¬ munity Relations Department of the Motion Picture Association of America, introduced Heston to the group. Arrangements for Heston’s appearance were made by Universal Pictures and 20th Cen¬ tury-Fox. Heston will appear as Michelangelo in Fox’s upcoming “The Agony And The Ec¬ stasy.” He also is starred in Universal’s “The War Lord.” The community relations department of the Motion Picture Association of America set up a prominent exhibit at the Jung Hotel in con¬ nection with the convention. This is the first time that the MPAA has participated in the General Federation’s an¬ nual convention. The key element in the Asso¬ ciation’s exhibit is a blowup of the “Movies And You — Reel I” booklet. The cover of the booklet simulates a 16mm shipping container with which clubs and schools are most famil¬ iar. Projected in front of the white back-drop with the Motion Picture Association of Amer¬ ica in red lettering is a quotation from Mrs. William H. Hasebroock, president of the Gen¬ eral Federation of Women’s Clubs — “Movies are very much a part of our culture and merit our attention as responsible citizens.” The exhibit also features eight color trans¬ parencies of eight important films either in release or planned for release in the near future. Miss Marian Ross, community relations associate, was on hand to supervise the ex¬ hibit and distribute especially prepared mate¬ rials, which spell out the details on how every one of the 15,500 clubs can conduct a motion picture program during the ensuing year. Pierre Salinger accepts the good wishes of sevenyear-old CF Poster Girl Lisa Behr on his appoint¬ ment as general chairman for the National Cystic Fibrosis Research Foundation's 1965 campaign to raise $100,000 in southern California. Salinger Heads Charity Drive LOS ANGELES — Pierre Salinger, vicepresident of National General Corporation, has accepted the post of general chairman for the National Cystic Fibrosis Research Foundation’s 1965 fund-raising campaign in southern California. His acceptance was an¬ nounced by Dr. Walter Platz, national As¬ sociate director of the Foundation. Salinger plans to enlist the support of film personalities and industry leaders in an allout drive to attain the Foundation’s 1965 goal of $100,000. “Several major theatrical events will highlight the program of ac¬ tivities,” he stated. “While fund-raising will, of course, be the main objective, I am deter¬ mined that the public be better informed about this little-known but virulent children’s disease which unbelievably affects a child born every two hours,” he added. Cukor Fellowship Awarded LOS ANGELES— The George Cukor Fel¬ lowship for graduate study in the Cinema Arts and Sciences at the University of South¬ ern California has been awarded to Gary Davis, 24, Charleston, S. C. Cukor, Oscarwinning director of “My Fair Lady” and many other top Hollywood motion pictures, and the year’s choice of the Directors Guild of America as best director, presented the $1750 check to Davis in the office of Dr. Norman Topping, USC president. Davis, seventh USC student to receive the Cukor award, has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N. Y. He is a candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in communication-cinema. Anti-Trust Suit Settled NEW YORK — Cinema Theatre Corporation’s $300,000 anti-trust suit against Stanley Warner and Loew’s was settled out of court and dis¬ missed, with the settlement terms not re¬ vealed. The complaint had charged that SW, oper¬ ating the Embassy, North Bergen, N. J., had conspired to keep Cinema’s Cinema, Union City, from getting a desired run. NEW YORK — “The film industry in the east needs an impartial chairman with au¬ thority to enforce no-strike clauses ignored by irresponsible parties,” according Saul Jeffee, president of Movielab, Inc. The film processing laboratory is currently the victim of a “wildcat” strike which began June 4, involving members of the I.A.T.S.E. Local 702 headed by Richard Gramaglia, president and business agent. Despite a tele¬ gram from Walter Diehl, I.A.T.S.E. assistant international president, notifying the local that the strike was illegal and ordering the men back to work, the laboratory workers have not complied. Jeffee, referring to the substantial effort now being made to boost film production in New York and create an improved climate for east coast film-making by the Film Pro¬ ducers Association, Television Producers As¬ sociation, the East Coast Council of I.A.T.S.E., and the 4A’s, emphasized that the heart of the plan under consideration was to guar¬ antee continued shooting despite labor dif¬ ferences that might arise on the set. “We need the same kind of plan with teeth in it to guarantee continued film processing despite grievances that come up in the laboratory or any other part of the industry. This kind of work stoppage is un¬ forgivable and should not happen. It gives the industry on the east coast a black eye needlessly. Our contract with the union has established grievance procedures that osten¬ sibly guarantee against work stoppages but they are being ignored in an arbitrary and high-handed fashion,” Jeffee added. The president of Movielab pointed out, despite all grievances, no one had been dis¬ charged or disciplined prior to the walkout and that the officers of Local 702 had ignored a call to a New York State Mediation Board meeting. The controversy involved disputes over enforcement of work rules established by the laboratory with the union. The com¬ pany’s offers to submit the disagreements to arbitration were rejected. The existing con¬ tract expires Sept. 30, 1965. “All we are asking for is a day’s work for a day’s pay,” Jeffee concluded, “and it is unfortunate that faithful employees are being misled by certain irresponsible cliques and losing pay. At the same time, the company is unable to properly serve its customers. Eastern production needs guarantees against future setbacks and, I believe, an impartial chairman, with the necessary power to act, is the answer.” Record Crowd At Golf Tourney NEW YORK — A record turnout of close to 200 golfers teed off last week at the Briar Hall Golf and' Country Club at Briarcliff Manor, N. Y., in the 14th annual film indus¬ try golf tournament sponsored by New York’s Cinema Lodge of B’nai B’rith. Tourn¬ ament chairman was Martin Levine. The number of participants swelled to 300 by the time the prize awarding took place at the banquet. Everybody walked home with something since the Lodge distributed Cinema Lodge key chains and bottles of Williams Aqua Velva, and more than 75 gift donors made it possible to award more than 200 golf prizes and more than 150 door prizes. June 16. 1965 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 15