The Exhibitor (1966)

. . Illllllllll . I . . The NEW YORK Scene By Mel Konecoff THE 33RD ANNUAL MEETING AND LUNCHEON OF NATIONAL FILM SERvice and National Film Carriers (they have the shortest post-luncheon speeches in the business) was held at the Roosevelt Hotel last week, at which time Ray Trampe was re¬ elected president of the Carriers for the zillionth consecutive term. At the meeting prior, members discussed diversifying into the small package delivery service because they can’t make a living sticking strictly to film deliveries. CALENDAR NOTE: The new president of the Motion Picture Association of America will be unveiled at a cocktail reception at the Four Seasons, tomorrow (Thursday). Wel¬ come, Mr. Valenti! MISH MASH; FROM MUNICH, GERMANY, CAME AN AIR MAIL MISSIVE WITH the notation that this was a secret message sent from a location in the shadow of the Iron Curtain, which had to be dipped in water for the real, meaningful words. Since our reservoirs are faring better these days, we went ahead and dipped. Since this is all hushhush, we can’t tell you that it calleci attention to “The Defector” being filmed in and around Munich with Montgomery Clift for Seven Arts release. We think that these secret message people are having something put over on them as at the very bottom is the legend — “printed in the U.S.A.” From the same area, in Berlin, where Guy Hamilton is directing “Funeral in Berlin” with Michael Caine, comes word that the Berliners are not very happy with the subject. While permission was not exactly withheld, neither was it especially encouraged. People concerned with the project were warned not to discuss it, and a different working title is being used in public, “Finale in Berlin.” The Berliners are “brash, hearty and even quite rude at times.” The gang can hardly wait to return to Britain. Then, good old Peter Van Haverbeke, a Columbia Pictures staffer, sends along a first day of issue envelope with the new postage stamp issued by the U.S. Post Office honoring the American circus. It was postmarked Delevan, Wisconsin, and, no, it did not have a foto of Don Ameche on the telephone. He just happens to star in a circus film, “Rings Around the World,” which Columbia happens to be releasing. Press representatives across the nation have or are receiving a selection of photographs by six photographic specialists, who covered the filming of Mark Robson’s “Lost Com¬ mand” in Spain. The unusual enlargements and extensive mass mailing are part of Columbia’s advance promotional campaign for the Anthony Quinn starrer. Merv Griffin, who has a syndicated television variety show seen in a number of cities, over a period of time has been asking a hundred members of each audience some general questions, which they have answered via indicators attached to their seats. More than a month before the presentation of the Academy Awards, his audiences picked the motion picture of the year to be “The Sound of Music”; the actor of the year to be Lee Marvin; and missed by one on selecting Julie Christie as the actress of the year. The question started out, “If you were voting in the Academy Awards. . . .” Perhaps this indicates the public should be consulted more often. THE METROPOLITAN SCENE: WILLIE WANG, A MEMBER OF THE ADVERtising-publicity department of MGM, celebrated his 40th year with the company last week. He recalled that when he joined the company in 1926, five MGM films were playing Broad¬ way: “The Big Parade” with John Gilbert; the original “Ben-Hur” with Ramon Novarro; “The Merry Widow” with Mae Murray; “Mare Nostrum” with Alice Terry; and “The Barrier” with Lionel Barrymore. . . . Two features being filmed in the New York area, Warners’ “Any Wednesday” with Jane Fonda and Jason Ro bards, and MGM’s “Penelope” with Natalie Wood and Dick Shawn. . . . The Dalek, a man-sized talking robot, one of England’s most popular television stars, arrived here for tv and press interviews in con¬ nection with Continental’s “Dr. Who and the Daleks.” When we tried to reach him at the Americana, we couldn’t make ourselves understood even though the people we get along with best are mechanical robots. . . . Museum of Modern Art has an exhibition of 150 stills entitled “The Career of an Actress: Sophia Loren.” INVITATION: Governor John A. Love of Colorado writes in part: “It is a pleasure for me to extend you this personal invitation to join us on a three-day tour of the State of Colorado from Monday, May 16, through Wednesday, May 18, 1966.” Okay, Guv, we’re with you and “Stagecoach” too. Save us a bit of barbecue. Erwin Tors Named V-P Of Ivan Tors Films CULVER CITY, CALIF.— Erwin Tors has been elected vice-president and general man¬ ager for Ivan Tors Films, Inc., it is announced by B an Tors, president. Under his newly increased responsibilities, Erwin Tors left for London and the Continent in behalf of the company’s overseas interests. Erwin Tors for the past 10 years has been treasurer of Ivan Tors Films, which has in the last three years had an explosive growth in both television and motion picture production. Maker of “Sea Hunt” and other previously highly successful series as well as feature films, the company’s “Flipper” series for NBC has been renewed for a third year; its “Daktari” series for CBS for a second year. This summer will see the release of three pictures under the Tors’ banner, “Around the World Under the Sea” by MGM, “Birds Do It” by Columbia, and “Namu, the Killer Whale” by United Artists, plus the twin-reissue of Tors’ features “Flipper” and “Flipper’s New Adventure.” Among feature films scheduled for 1966 pro¬ duction are “Cowboy In Africa,” “Gentle Ben,” “The Biggest Dog In the World,” and others. The Tors’ interests also include the Ivan Tors Studios in Miami, Florida, an “un¬ derwater” studio in the Bahamas, and “.Africa, U.S. A.,” a unique animal com]X)und in Soledad Canyon near Los Angeles. Wilby-Kincey Heaps Praise On CoL's "Born Free" NEW YORK — Columbia Pictures and “Born Free” have received unusual accolades from the Wilby-Kincey circuit, southeastern theatre chain. In a special brochure honoring the Carl Foreman-Columbia presentation, the circuit hails “Born Free” as an “unbelievable masterpiece of film presentation.” The circuit brochure also salutes Columbia for its “outstanding job in the preparation of material, national publicity and depth pene¬ tration” in promoting the film. Calling “the scope of emotions, adventure, excitement, and grandeur of ‘Born Free’ beyond simple word description,” the brochure outlines some of the outstanding qualities of the Virginia McKenna-Bill Travers starrer which make up the “full and completely satis¬ fying entertainment values” and contribute to the film’s “one hundred percent mass appeal.” “Born Free” is scheduled for release by the circuit beginning with the local premieres at the Fox, Atlanta, and the Alabama, Birming¬ ham on May 27. Following the May 27 premieres, the film will open at the Imperial, Augusta, Ga.; Paramount, Montgomery, Ala.; Palace, Athens, Ga.; Wilby, Selma, Ala.; East Gate, Chatta¬ nooga, Tenn.; State, Kingsport, Tenn.; Ma¬ jestic, Johnson City, Tenn.; Lucas, Savannah, Ga.; and Tiger, Auburn, Ala. The Wilby-Kincey bookings are part of the extensive summer release plans for “Born Free,” following record pre-release openings at the MacArthur, Washington; Vogue, Los Angeles; Stage Door, San Francisco; Strand, Erie, Pa.; and Gapri, Boston. Disney Net Rises BURBANK, CALIF. — Consolidated net profit of Wait Disney Productions and its wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries for the six months ended April 2 was $4,502,000, equal to $2.32 per share on the 1,939,957 com¬ mon shares outstanding, president Roy O. Disney said in an interim report to share¬ holders. The corresponding period ended April 3, 1965, showed a net profit of $4,136,000, equal to $2.23 per share on the 1,854,273 common shares then outstanding. Gross income for the six months was $45,433,000, as compared with $40,212,000 for the related period last year. In addition, the board of directors on May 12 declared the regular quarterly cash divi¬ dend of 10 cents per share. Touring on behalf of Universal's "Johnny Tiger," Robert Taylor, star of the film, is seen here in Miami, Fla., with P. F. Rosian, U's regional sales manager. 12 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR May 18, 1966