The Exhibitor (1965)

TO A s Redstone Keynotes Allied Convention To Herald Exhib Unity DETROIT — Sumer M. Redstone, president of Theatre Owners of America, will deliver the keynote address at the Allied theatre owners convention in Pittsburgh on Monday, Oct. 11, Allied president Jack Armstrong an¬ nounced. “The Allied board of directors decided to invite Mr. Redstone to make the keynote address at the Allied convention in order to emphasize to the motion picture industry the unification of exhibition which is soon to be realized in the formation of a single national exhibitor organization — the National Associa¬ tion of Theatre Owners,” Armstrong stated, “and Mr. Redstone has graciously agreed.” President Armstrong also announced that Allied’s “Star of the Future” award will be presented to Miss Elizabeth Hartman at the convention banquet on Oct. 14. Miss Hartman makes her motion picture debut in the femi¬ nine lead opposite Sidney Poitier in MetroGoldwyn-Mayer’s “A Patch Of Blue.” Armstrong also announced that the “New Star of the Year” award will be presented to Miss Rosemary Forsyth at the convention. Others who will be honored by the nation’s theatre owners at the convention banquet are James Stewart, “Distinguished Actor Award”; MGM president Robert H. O’Brien, “Man of the Year”; Variety Clubs International chief barker James Carreras, “Showman of the Year”; and Martin Ransohoff “Producer of the Year.” Miss Forsyth won the coveted award for her outstanding dramatic performances this year as the feminine lead opposite Jimmy Stewart in “Shenandoah” and Charlton Hes¬ ton in “The War Lord.” She is under long¬ term contract to Universal Pictures. There will be something doing every min¬ ute of the four-day convention. For the men, each day will be divided between the very latest thteatre and concession equipment ex¬ hibits and important sessions on movie busi¬ ness. The Tuesday morning session, following a convention breakfast sponsored by the Motion Picture Advertising Corp., will be devoted to film discussions. Sol Horowitz, who writes screening reports for the Allied bul¬ letins, will be one of the principal speakers. On Wednesday afternoon, each of the major film companies will present product reels and rushes of next year’s pictures to the theatremen. This session will be held in the Gateway Theatre. There will be four convention luncheons: the keynote luncheon on Monday, MGM luncheon on Tuesday, ABC Consolidated luncheon on Wednesday, and National Screen Service luncheon on Thursday. During each day, there will be special luncheons, trips, and programs for the wives. There will be festive affairs each evening: the film companies’ reception and dinner on Monday evening, followed by screenings in downtown theatres; the American-Interna¬ tional dinner on Tuesday evening; the Pepsi¬ Cola Night Club Party at the Holiday House on Wednesday evening; the Union Carbide Cocktail Party on Thursday; and the awards banquet sponsored by The Coca-Cola Com¬ pany. National Screen Service Corporation will provide liquid refreshment and relaxation in the Sky Room throughout the convention. Comedians Marty Allen and Steve Rossi will headline the entertainment at the con Rival Pickets Parade In Front Of Theatre COLUMBUS, O. — Picket for the stage¬ hands’ union, parading in front of the Northland Cinema in a dispute about em¬ ployment of stagehands, found himself with a rival. Manager Robert McKinley had an usher parade, carrying a placard which read “We don’t even have a stage!” UA Names Drive Winners NEW YORK — United Artists vice-president James R. Velde has announced the winners in the company’s United Artists Weeks Con¬ test, which this year ran from June 27 through July 10. Eugene Tunick, UA eastern and Canadian division manager, was named winner of the division prize. In the first group, Chicago took first place and Dallas captured second place in the ship¬ ments category, while Detroit won first place and Chicago gained second place in the billings division. In the second group, under shipments, Seattle took first place and Buffalo won second place. For billings, Denver was named in the first place and Cleveland in second place. Shipments winners in the third group were Kansas City in first place and Pittsburgh in second place. For billings, St. Louis copped first place and Kansas City took second place. In Canada. Vancouver won first place for shipments and St. John garnered first place for billings. vention banquet. Paramount has just signed Allen and Rossi to an exclusive seven-year motion picture contract. Their first movie, “The Last Of The Secret Agents?” is scheduled to begin filming soon in Hollywood. TOA Star-Of-Year Banquet To Honor Former Winners NEW YORK To mark the 10th anniversary of the “Star of the Year” award, bestowed by Theatre Owners of America at its annual convention, the previous winners will be paid further tribute at the exhibitor organization’s 1965 conclave in Los Angeles, Oct. 28-30, Sumner M. Redstone, president, announced. The award, by which showmen representing more than 9,000 theatres recognize the screen personality whose boxoffice magnetism has been outstanding, is traditionally the feature of the President’s Banquet, climax of each convention. To highlight this year’s event, the convention’s executive committee headed by Sherrill C. Corwin, chairman, and Robert W. Selig and William Thedford, co-chairmen, has voted to present new citations to former award recipients, hailing them for their con¬ tinuing contributions to the motion picture industry and the entertainment of the world. The accolades will be presented at the banquet prior to the naming of the 1965’s “Star of the Year.” Announcements of the upcoming citations have been issued by TOA to the exclusive alumni group made up of Ann-Margret, Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, Doris Day, Jerry Lewis, Deborah Kerr, John Wayne, Rock Hudson, William Holden, James Stewart, and Danny Kaye. Joseph G. Alterman, administrative secre¬ tary of TOA, is currently in Hollywood con¬ ferring with the committee on finalization of all details for the gathering, which will be held at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. The President’s Banquet has been shifted to the larger accommodations of the Hollywood Palladium. Budco Plans Three DOYLESTOWN, PA.— Claude J. Schlanger, president of Budco Theatres, Inc., announced the construction of three new 850 seat con¬ ventional theatres, to be located in the Stony Brook section of York, Pa., the Vineland Shopping Center on Route 47 and Landis Avenue in Vineland, N. J.; and on Route 611, Easton Road, on the south side of Doylestown, Pa. Plans call for ground breaking on the three new projects within the next couple of weeks. It is hoped that all three theatres will be opened shortly after the first of the year. The ladies committee planning special activities for the feminine contingent at the Theatre Owners of America’s 18th annual convention at the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, Oct. 28-30, recently viewed a western set at Universal City Studios. From left to right are seen Mrs. William Oldknow; Mrs. Sherrill Corwin, chairman; Mrs. Robert Shapiro; Mrs. Fred Stein; Mrs. Jackie Shlaes; and Mrs. Eugene V. Klein. 8 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR October 6, 1965