The Exhibitor (1966)

^Illill!llllili!illllllllltlll!l!lli!ltlllll . . iiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiniig LONDON Observations By Jock MacGregor | “FASCINATING” IS HOW THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH SEES HIS VARIETY CLUB tour of the United States and Canada. He believes that such a visit in aid of charity will be a refreshing change for him. His Royal Highness expressed this view when he met the past chief barkers of the Variety Club of Great Britain and top editors — no more than 30' were present — at an eve of departure for the Caribbean and America reception. International Chief Barker Jim Carreras welcomed him, and the individual introductions were made by International Press Guy David Jones. The Duke chatted informally and would seem to be looking forward to the American press conferences. He is anticipating a cut and thrust in the questioning, but added if pressmen were expecting him to bludgeon British sales talk, they would be disappointed. There was no question about his admiration for Jim’s terrific work and it would have done C. J. Latta good to hear him refer to his great contribution. His first contact with Variety, HRH recalled, was when he was at a 12 Club lunch. He was seeking new means of raising funds for his National Playing Fields. Several members were barkers, and they pledged the Tent’s support. Since, he has graced many VC func¬ tions as a gold card life barker. Modestly, he is a little unsure as to how much the tour will help Variety. I started to say that all my American friends were thrilled with anti¬ cipation, thought it would give a terrific fillip, and froze at the unintended pun. He im¬ mediately put me at ease, said others had made the same gaff. The Duke is unashamedly after charity funds. With his charm and easy manner, the tour must be a triumph — which, as someone added, will be talked about for 25 years. In town to handle the public relations of the tour on an honorary basis, Henry Rogers was guest of honor at a Jim Carreras VC lunch. It has been wisely considered that an American expert was essential for the smooth running of so important a visit. MICHAEL BROMHEAD HAS BECOME JOINT MANAGING DIRECTOR WITH BILL Gell of Alliance International Film Distributors, a new selling and promoting organization affiliated to the Box group but ready to handle product from any source. An innovation will be the selling of pictures to key territories before they are made, thereby spreading financing over a wide field. While individual producers without major American distributor backing have worked such deals on the continent, this is the first complete service by specialists in world markets, selling, distributors, producers, etc., to be offered. Mike be¬ lieves this will benefit all. The producer has his financing eased, and the various distributors know they will get a picture, can make suggestions about presentation and use of national stars, and most important, develop a proper exploitation campaign from the start When a Box (or a client’s) picture is set, Mike will consider how best it can be financed and sold. Some will be straight Anglo-American deals. In other cases, scripts will be submitted with casting to the most suitable prospective partners in various markets. Should a picture not be taken up anywhere, it will still be made and sold after completion in the traditional manner which will, indeed, be Alliance policy for many countries. John Stanley will be European sales manager. Mike flies to New York’s Berkshire Hotel on Feb. 12 to renew acquaintances made during his four years as Lion International rep, complete sales deals, acquire theatre and tv product for the UK and elsewhere, seek production partners, and arrange an American office. HARRY ALLEN TOWERS HAS BEEN DOING WITH HIS PICTURES VERY MUCH what Mike wants to offer as a service. I visited the set of “The Brides of Fu Manchu,” an international promotion indeed, at Bray Studios. Seven Arts will distribute in America and Anglo Amalgamated here, while German, French, and other interests are involved. In consequence, the cast includes France’s Marie Versini, Germany’s Heinz Drache, while the British segment is headed by Christopher Lee. As a pre-selling promoting, a beauty contest was staged in connection with leading publication in various countries, and the winners are playing “brides.” The Temple of Kama set was in colorful contrast to the mist outside. The European beauties, who I understand are to be featured in “Playboy,” were chained to pillars. Later, director Don Sharp let them loose on their captors for a fight sequence. They went at them with Amazon ferocity. No punches were pulled, and after¬ wards they were proudly comparing bruises and scratches. I beat a hasty retreat with Anglo publicist John Troke. THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH WILL HONOR THE MAY 2 ODEON premiere of Olivier’s “Othello” and Princess Margaret the April 26 Empire opening of “Doctor Zhivago.” . . . The usual appeal trailer for this year’s Royal Film Performance on March 14 when Carl Foreman’s “Born Free” will be shown in aid of the Cinema and TV Benevolent Fund has been cancelled. All seats have been sold. Incidentally, the greyhound “Lucky Born Free” won its first race. Columbia publicists lyrically likened the dog to the film it is named after as “a real ‘stayer’ and lasting favorite.” . . . Publicist Theo Cowan received an unexpected pat on the back when the Sunday Express was in critical mood about Royal Family public relations and held his service up as an example. . . . Compton’s Michael Klinger and Tony Tenser will be at New York’s Hampshire House from Feb. 13 and the Beverly Hills Hotel from Feb. 20. Free lance studio publicist Dora Dobson flies to New York and Hollywood on Feb. 18. . . . Congratulations to Belfast exhib¬ itor and businessman Jimmy McCaherty on being the first Ulsterman to be chief barker of the Variety Club of Ireland. . . . ABC is branching into a new racket — squash — and build¬ ing a club and courts adjoining its Walton-on-Thames theatre. ... A distributor admits that a feature on pay-tv recorded payments of only $2.80. ... I wonder if a university degree is really as essential a requirement as critical appreciation of films, knowledge of film history, and administrative experience for the post of films acquisitions officer at the National Film Archive. With such intellectual snobbery, it is not surprising the British Film Institute continually appeals for additional government support. ALBANY Local industry friends congratulated Nor¬ man Jackter, one-time Albany branch man¬ ager for Columbia, on his promotion to gen¬ eral sales manager for domestic distribution of the company. . . . The season’s heaviest snowstorm led to the closing of Alan Iselin’s Turnpike Drive-In at Westmore, outside of Albany. . . . Hyman Krenovitz has scheduled a relighting of Super 87 Drive-In, Plattsburgh, Feb. 26. . . . John Vallin, travelling auditor, visited UA exchange. . . . Arthur J. Newman, manager of the old Republic exchange for years and later selling independent pictures to theatres and television stations, has retired to Florida. . . . Mrs. Mary Romanzo, advertis¬ ing director for Iselin Drive-Ins, recovered from surgery performed at a Utica hospital for removal of a wrist cyst. BOSTON Columbia Pictures is timing outdoor se¬ quences in Boston for their new production, “Eli Kotch,” which has a story dealing with the city and its environs. James Cobum will star in the film, sequences for which were to be shot around Harvard Square, Cam¬ bridge, Boston Common, Prudential Tower, Logan Airport, and the North Shore. Producer is Carter DeHaven. John Markle, Columbia’s Boston press publicity exploitation representa¬ tive, is handling details. . . . Bill Graham, associated with the A1 Daytz Theatres in Boston, is in the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital after an operation, and would like to hear from friends in the industry. . . . John Pecos, 20th Fox branch manager, re¬ ported to New England exhibitors the tre¬ mendous grosses in Boston and around the country on “The Sound of Music,” with the Boston Gary, owned by Ben Sack, hitting the million dollar mark in its 44th week, largest gross of any roadshow to ever play Boston or New England, surpassing record holders “My Fair Lady” and “Ben Hur.” . . . Sal Paplozio, New Haven branch man¬ ager for 20th-Fox, was in Boston for sales discussions with branch manager John Pecos. . . . John J. Dervin, formerly of Allied Artists, New York, has joined 20th-Fox In¬ ternational Classics department, and will work with Elmer Hollander of the home office, covering New England. . . . A1 Cohen, former 20th-Fox head shipper, now with the Com¬ bined Film Shipping Co., has announced his retirement after many years in the industry. A testimonial for him will be held shortly by his many friends. . . . Diane Baker, is new booker stenographer at MGM branch office. . . . Lennie Barrack, manager Saxon, Boston, is busy planning the campaign on “Dr. Zhivago,” opening in the middle of February. A meet¬ ing with Alan Friedberg, general manager, Sack Theatres, and Zeb Epstein, MGM home office, was held to discuss the promotion and exploitation for the opening. . . . Former 20th-Fox New England advertising and pub¬ licity director Phil Engel, now associated with a Boston music company, announces his ap¬ pointment as general manager and is coor¬ dinating his efforts with theatre managers and film companies on music promotions. . . . “Our Man Flint” hit the highest gross at the Savoy since Ben Sack took it over and renamed it from the former Keith Memorial. BUFFALO The Children’s Foundation of the Buffalo Variety Club’s Telethon was held Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 5-6, through the facilities of WKBW-TV, and a goodly sum was raised ( Continued on page 28) 24 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR February 9, 1966