The Exhibitor (1966)

NEWS CAPSULES FILM FAMILY ALBUM Arrivals Mr. and Mrs. George Reeves announced the birth of a son, Matthew George. Reeves is the east coast legal counsel for American Interna¬ tional Pictures. Obituaries Harry Altman, 74, often called “Buffalo’s Mr. Showman,” died in Buffalo General Hospital. He owned the Glen Casino, Williamsville, and formerly owmed the Town Casino, Buffalo, which was converted to a theatre. Survivors include his wife, a son, two daughters, and six grandchildren. Benedict C. Bordonaro, 58, manager. Palace, Olean, N.Y., treasurer of Bordonaro Brothers Theatres and Bordonaro Realty Company, died of a heart attack in St. Francis Hospital, Olean, after being found ill in his car along a rural road near Allegany. Tom Curtis, 58, MGM plant manager, died of a heart attack at his Tarzana, Cal., home. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Signal Corps and executive producer of Army train¬ ing films. He is survived by his wife, a son, a sister, and a niece. Former U.S. Senator Daniel O. Hastings, 92, senior partner of the Wilmington, Del., law firm of Hastings, Taylor and Willard, counsel for 20th Century-Fox and for many years a member of the 20th-Fox board of directors, died. Clair E. Hilger, 70, died in Dallas. In 1918, he was a salesman for MGM, and later was a branch manager for Paramount in Memphis, and for 20th Century-Fox in Kansas City. He returned to Dallas as manager for 20th-Fox and before World War One was appointed European general manager for RKO with headquarters in Paris. He returned to Dallas as branch manager for 20th-Fox and was active in ventures with the late R. J. O’Don¬ nell and others. He was an organizer of the Dallas Variety Club. Survivors include his wife, three daughters, and seven grandchil¬ dren. Gordon T. Hubbard, 63, president, lATSE Local 511, Jacksonville, Fla., died in a local hospital after a lengthy illness. He was pro¬ jectionist at the downtown Imperial for the past nine years. Survivors include his widow, a daughter, a son, a brother, and three grand¬ sons. George Resnick, 73, well known independent Philadelphia, Pa., exhibitor, died. He formerly operated the Grant and Cayuga theatres. He is survived by his son. NGC Income Up LOS ANGELES — National General Corp. reported increased gross income and net op¬ erating income for both the 13 weeks and the 26 weeks ended March 29. Operating income for 13 weeks rose 13 per cent to $1,101,128. Net income for the first half rose to $1,795,364. WOMPI Chief On Tour CHARLOTTE — Mrs. Viola Wister, presi¬ dent, Women of the Motion Picture Industry, has departed on her tour of WOMPI clubs throughout the country. FORMS FOR THIS PACE CLOSED AT 5 P.M. ON MON., MAY 16 Leo Greenfield Elected BV Vice-President NEW YORK — Leo Greenfield has been elected a vice-president of Buena Vista Dis¬ tribution Company, Inc., by the board of di¬ rectors, it was announced by Irving H. Lud¬ wig, president of the Walt Disney distribution subsidiary. Ludwig stated that in his new position Greenfield will continue to function in his capacity as manager of domestic sales and to assist him in directing the company’s overall sales operations. “Mr. Greenfield’s well-merited promotion to this post of key responsibility reflects the continuing policy of building the Buena Vista organization from within, and our practise of constantly adding to and improving our execu¬ tive structure to keep pace with the growing importance of Walt Disney product in the¬ atrical entertainment.” Greenfield has been a member of the Buena Vista sales team since 1954, shortly after the formation of the company. Through the years he has successively held company posts as Cleveland area district manager, western divi¬ sion sales manager, and domestic sales man¬ ager. Prior to joining Buena Vista, Greenfield was associated with Universal Pictures for almost a decade in various sales capacities. Previously, he had been active in exhibition and theatre management. Conflict Closes Theatre SPRINGFIELD, MASS. — The Art Cinema in suburban Chicopee posted a “Closed In¬ definitely” sign on its front doors after being denied a preliminary injunction which would have permitted performances until full hear Mrs. Anna Rosenberg Hoffman, Vice-President Hu¬ bert H. Humphrey, and Mrs. Arthur B. Krim, wife of the United Artists' president, are seen at the recent preview of UA's "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming" at the MPAA headquar¬ ters in Washington, D.C. Guests represented the highest echelon of the government and diplomatic corps, including Jack Valenti, newly-appointed president of the MPAA. iug on the constitutional issues it has raised by a Springfield Superior Court equity action. Judge Frederick S. Pillsbury denied the application for the enjoiner after a hearing and failure of Ronald Zerra, theatre manager, and Chicopee Mayor Richard H. Demers to reach agreement on basis for continued opera¬ tions. Some 2,500 area residents have submitted a petition to the judge, asking him to consider the moral effect on the community of the type of motion pictures the Art Cinema was show¬ ing as well as the impending financial hard¬ ship claimed by the owner, Reid Enterprises, Inc., if the film outlet was forced to close. Completion of pleadings in the equity case is anticipated by end of the month. T-L Names Carlt-on NEW YORK — Richard Carlton has been named vice-president in charge of the enter¬ tainment division of the Trans-Lux company, it was announced by Richard Brandt, presi¬ dent, who said that the position is newly created to provide additional key management personnel to handle the company’s heavily ex¬ panding activities. Carlton was formerly vicepresident and general manager of Trans-Lux Television Corporation, a wholly owned sub¬ sidiary in which he now becomes executive vice-president. Carlton’s new position will entail supervi¬ sion of the theatres division, Trans-Lux Tele¬ vision Corporation, Trans-Lux Distributing Corporation, and Entertainment-In-Transit. SUPPORT FOR MGM Exhibitors especially have a vital interest in the corporate affairs of major film com¬ panies. Currently, industry attention is cen¬ tered on the battle brewing at MGM, where influential stockholder Philip Levin is op¬ posing management proposals. Anyone who has followed the affairs of MGM over the past few years must be im¬ pressed by the job that has been done by President Robert O’Brien and his manage¬ ment team. They have guided MGM back to a top spot in the industry after a period of considerable difficulty. Today, MGM is in a healthy fiscal position, and exhibitors can look forward to a steady flow of quality product. Mr. Levin’s objections to company poli¬ cies seem to be based on an extremely narrow view of how they might affect his particular holdings, with little regard for MGM’s important position in the motion picture industry or the long range effects of his counter-proposals. An important group of exhibitors have formed a stockholders’ committee to assist MGM management in the current cor¬ porate struggle. MGM has earned exhibitor support, and we urge every theatreman to do what he can to help the company main¬ tain its position in the forefront of our in¬ dustry. This is one fight exhibitors can’t afford to lose. JAY EMANUEL 4 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR May 18, 1966