The Exhibitor (1965)

NEWS CAPSULES Xf FILM FAMILY 7% ALBUM Diamond Rings Mr. and Mrs. Jack Letteris announced the engagement of their daughter, Minda Sue, to Jeff Stuart Wilder, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Wilder. The future bridegroom’s father is promotion manager for Warner Brothers, New York. Obituaries Maynard K. Baird, 68, international repre¬ sentative, IATSE, died at Knoxville, Term., after a lingering illness. He was a charter member of Knoxville Moving Picture Machine Operators Local 405. Survivors include his wife, five children (one of whom, Maynard, Jr., succeeded him as business agent of Local 405) and a brother, Herbert, also a member of Local 405. Sam Baker, 71, president and founder, As¬ sociated Independent Theatres, Inc., died while on a visit to California. His Long Island based circuit recently launched an extensive expan¬ sion program with acquisitions and new thea¬ tres throughout the country. Survivors in¬ clude his widow, two sons, five grandchildren, and a brother, Irving. J. B. Barron, 77, one of Canada’s leading motion picture pioneers and operator of four Calgary theatres in association with the Odeon Company, died of a stroke. Charles M. Beilan, booker and buyer for Hamid Theatres of Atlantic City, N. J., and long a film salesman in the Philadelphia area, died. He is survived by his wife, two daugh¬ ters, and a son, as well as three grandchildren. Gunther R. Lessing, 80, a vice-president and retired board member of Walt Disney Pro¬ ductions, died following a short illness. Lt. Walter Neville Levy, 27, son of William B. Levy, was killed in action in Viet Nam. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William B. Levy. His father was managing director of Walt Disney Productions in Great Britain and sales representative for the Disney New York office. S. Barret McCormick, 75, died of a heart attack at his home. He retired in 1952 as head of advertising and publicity of RKO Radio Pictures. In silent film days, he was a di¬ rector and author. Fred Quimby, 79, pioneer in the production of film cartoons that brought him eight Aca¬ demy Awards, died at St. Johns Hospital, Santa Monica, Cal., following surgery. He was best known as head of the MGM cartoon studio. Joseph (Joe) Saperstein, 75, associated with motion picture theatres in Troy, Albany, and Ithica, N. Y., as well as in Connecticut, for some 50 years, died in Greensboro, N. C. Joseph S. Silver, 69, manager of William Goldman’s News for 25 years, died in Misericordia Hospital, Philadelphia. He was formerly connected with the theatrical advertising de¬ partment of the old Philadelphia Ledger. He is survived by his wife, a daughter, and two sons, and six grandchildren and a sister. FORMS FOR THIS PACE CLOSED AT 5 P.M. ON MON., OCT. 4 NSS Embarks On Major Two-Year Expansion Plan NEW YORK — National Screen Service Cor¬ poration, the biggest U. S. manufacturer and distributor to most of the nation’s motion picture theatres of their advertising needs such as lobby displays, signs, billboards, and coming-attraction trailers, has embarked on a two-year expansion and modernization pro¬ gram to meet the growing needs of the resur¬ gent motion picture business. The expansion program, already underway, was announced by Burton E. Robbins, presi¬ dent of the almost 50-year-old company. “We have tripled our production capacity this year and will continue to increase our capacity next year,” Robbins said. “Even more importantly, we are streamlining our pro¬ motional aids to give them a new modem showmanship look.” In its vast expansion program, National Screen Service is investing heavily in new equipment, plant space, creative personnel and research. Robbins said that National Screen Service will continue to improve its products and services despite spiraling costs. Because of saturation booking and new complex film sales distribution plans, National Screen Ser¬ vice must stockpile vast quantities of adver¬ tising material in order to service many thea¬ tres playing the same motion picture at the same time. This complicated servicing re¬ quirement makes NSS operations vital to the industry, according to Robbins. As a result of its major business of servicing the nation’s motion picture theatres, National Screen Service has been engaged by non¬ movie companies for the preparation of their advertising aids. In response to this commer¬ cial business, National Screen Service this year formed a new company, Advertising Industries, Inc., headed by executive vicepresident Milton S. Greenman, which con¬ solidates the diverse printing and production facilities to serve non-movie advertisers. Eugene V. Klein, president, National General Cor¬ poration, addresses a recent meeting of Fox West Coast Theatres’ managers in Los Angeles. \/ BROADWAY y% GROSSES Theatres Battle News Strike NEW YORK — Despite the newspaper strike, the Broadway first runs continued at a fair pace last week, with Warners’ “The Great Race” at Radio City Music Hall leading the parade. According to usually reliable sources reach¬ ing MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR, the breakdown was as follows: “THE GREAT RACE” (Warners). Radio City Music Hall, with usual stage show, continued its great pace, with $105,000 reported for Thursday through Sunday, and $165,000 sure for the third week. “THOSE MAGNIFICIENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES” (20th-Fox). DeMille stated the 16th week was $19,700. “THE SOUND OF MUSIC” (20th Fox) Rivoli claimed $42,000 for the 31st week. “MARRIAGE ON THE ROCKS” (Warners). Loew’s Capital did $27,000 on the second week. “THE SABOTEUR” (“MORITURI”) (20th Fox.) Loew’s State claimed $13,000 for the sixth week. “THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL” (UA). Astor did $15,000 on the opening week of the “show¬ case” showing. “SHIP OF FOOLS” (Columbia). Victoria had $14,000 for the 10th and final week. “THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD” (UA). Warner Cinerama claimed $15,000 for the 33rd week. “MY FAIR LADY” (Warners). Criterion, with road show policy, reported $36,000 for the 50th week. General Cinema Stock Split WILMINGTON, DEL.— Stockholders of Bos¬ ton-based General Cinema Corporation ap¬ proved a 5-for-4 split in the company’s com¬ mon stock, raising the number of shares out¬ standing from 1,012,845 to an approximate 1,266,000 shares, subject to fractional adjust¬ ments. The vote was 868,516 shares in favor and 883 opposed. It is expected, a company statement said, that certificates representing the additional shares and cash in lieu of fractional shares will be mailed Oct. 28, 1965, to stockholders of record Oct. 6, 1965. The authorized capital stock will be in¬ creased from 1,470,000 shares of common stock without par value to 1,837,500 shares of com¬ mon stock without par value. Robert Kurland, assistant secretary, told newsmen that all indications are that the fiscal year ending Oct. 31, 1965, will be better than fiscal 1964 when revenues were $20,815,058 and net income was $1,347,085 or $1.33 per share. Reardon To Gen. Cinema PHILADELPHIA — Carl Reardon, local branch manager of Universal, has resigned from the company with which he was con¬ nected for 28 years, to become buyer for General Cinema Corporation. October 6, 1965 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 5