The Exhibitor (1966)

The NEW YORK Scene Inflight Earnings Record For Nine Month Period By Me/ Konecoff WE’D LIKE TO ADVISE CUSTOMERS OE MGM THAT THEIR CHRISTMAS picture is now being filmed partially on locations in various areas of this city. We went up to Central Park, where Natalie Wood, Ian Bannen, Dick Shawn, and Peter Falk were pre¬ paring to start emoting in “Penelope,” directed by Arthur Hiller and produced by Arthur Loew, Jr. We got to talk to Loew during a break for lunch at the Tavern on the Green, where between apprehensive glances at the sun, which was starting to come out for the first time in days, he admitted that the decision to film location scenes in New York was adding $15,000 per day to the budget of three million dollars. He felt they were necessary. Though many of the locations could have been duplicated on the studio lot, it was felt that the flavor and settings were important enough to warrant bringing the stars and key production people to New York. Cooperation by city agencies and unions has been fine, he opined. We asked how the film set was taking all the bickering on the stock front between manage¬ ment and dissidents, and he replied that there was concern, naturally, and also a bit of hesitancy on decisions and the advancement of some projects. What’s the formula these days for getting a production okay on a property? Loew felt that there was no set pattern but rather that the subject matter and cost seem to be the determining factors. The plot has to do with Miss Wood playing the role of a madcap young wife of a banker, who finds that taking money from his bank is more fun than housekeeping. Ian Bannen plays her banker-husband and Dick Shawn her psychiatrist. The latter related that since his appearance in “What Did You Do In The War, Daddy?,” he’s all of a sudden in demand with this one and two others waiting. It looks as though he’s finally arrived. As he was nervously fingering last minute script changes, Shawn asked, “Do you think this suit (gray) makes me look like a psychiatrist?” We didn’t want to upset him by telling him that he still looked like Dick Shawn to us. Incidentally, more than 200 local actors have been signed for the exterior sequences. Be¬ cause there is no Screen Extras Guild in New York, the vignette roles of policemen, debu¬ tantes, Salvation Army musicians, bagel vendors, organ grinders, and career girls are being filmed by many actors from Broadway shows and from television. LUNCHEON NOTE: OVER 500 REPRESENTATIVES OE EXHIBITION AND Dis¬ tribution gathered at the Americana Hotel last week to have limch with Matty Polon, presi¬ dent and general manager of RKO Theatres, presumably in honor of his recent promotion and also because they like Polon. Of course, the popularity, energy, and persuasiveness of luncheon co-chairmen D. J. Edele, Morey “Razz” Goldstein, and Charlie Boasherg might have had something to do with the sell-out, in addition to the charm of Polon. The co-chairmen took turns at the microphone extolling the virtues of Polon, with Edele expressing gratitude to Mort Sunshine for the fine job organizing the event and also present¬ ing flowers to Mrs. Polon. Goldstein introduced screen personalities Mary Ann Mobley, Gila Golan, Leslie Parrish, James Best, and Hermione Gingold, as well as Paul Johnston, president of Glen Alden. Goldstein had some funny bits, which shouldn’t be printed, although he did intimate that he was thinking of collaborating on a book with Boasherg tentatively entitled “My Nine Years With Kalmenson.” Boasherg presented a plaque to Polon on behalf of his friends and associates and also presented him with a color television set. The balance of the proceeds, at the request of Polon, will go to the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital. A moved and thrilled Polon responded with gratitude to all concerned and to his friends for their help and guidance. He was proud of the industry, which he labeled one of the best in the world with its opportunities and rewards. Aboard the dais in addition to those mentioned were Martin Perlberg, Sumner Redstone, Abe Dickstein, Ben Marcus, James Velde, Bernard Myerson, Salah Hassenein, Burt Robbins, Nat Fellman, James Gould, Irvin Shapiro, Leo Jaffe, Si Eabian, Harry Brandt, Harry Mandel, Sherrill Corwin, Eugene Picker, Ned E. Depinet, Richard Walsh, Morris Lefko, Sam Clark, Sam Rinzler, George Waldman, Len Gruenberg, Nat Nathanson, Leslie Schwartz, and Tom Crehan. RECEPTION: JACK J. VALENTI, NEWLY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE MOtion Picture Association of America, was guest of honor at a press reception hosted by the board of directors of the Association. Everything was neat and proper with all the formali¬ ties, etc., neatly observed. He told us that he intends to continue living in Washington but spending two or three days of the week in the New York office of the organization. A MATTER OE CLASSIEICATION: DINO EAZIO, PRESIDENT OF EUROPIXConsolidated Corp., which is releasing an Italian import, “Mandragola,” with sub-titles, was all upset last week because the National Catholic Office for Motion Pictures has condemned the film without permitting any discussion as to the possibilities of revisions, changes, etc., which might bring about a change. He was backed at a press conference by Ephraim Lon¬ don, an attorney prominent in the field of censorship. They called the film a bawdy classic written centuries ago by Niccolo Machiavelli, which should have received some special consideration. London stated that at this point, there was not enough evidence to prove economic damage and institute a court suit, but should this come to pass, such a suit could be brought. Murray Kaplan, general sales manager, esti¬ mated that the condemnation could result in a loss of between 25 to 30 per cent of bookings, and he has had a few cancellations as a result of the rating. London had hoped that the last several years had seen a mellowing or modernization in the attitude of the religious organi¬ zation, but, he lamented, it “hasn’t changed its spots.” The film, incidentally, deals with the campaign of a bachelor to seduce a married woman with whom he has fallen in love. NEW YORK — Inflight Motion Pictures, Inc., has registered the highest earnings in its history in the nine months ended March 31, it was announced by David Flexer, president of the company. Earnings were $1.23 a share on 665,850 outstanding common shares, com¬ pared to 46 cents on 589,000 shares for the comparable period a year previous. Inflight’s earnings for the first three months of 1966 were also the highest on record for a third quarter, with earnings for the period 34 cents per share, compared to 17 cents in 1965. Inflight, which now shows color wide screen movies in the jet fleets of Trans World Air¬ lines, United Air Lines and Philippine Air Lines, is making application to have its stock listed on the American Stock Exchange, Flexer announced following a meeting of the board of directors. He also reported that the com¬ pany’s commitments to start movie service on Air France’s fleet of 20 Boeings and Olympic Airways’ three Boeings were being fulfilled on schedule. By the end of June, the Inflight motion picture service will be aboard 162 air¬ craft, circling the globe. For the first time it will be featured over the North Pole to Tokyo, into Africa and Asia, and over the Central and South Atlantic to the Caribbean and South America. Flexer also announced that Inflight has ac¬ cepted an invitation by the Boeing Company to evaluate new system approaches to in flight entertainment in connection with the Boeing 747 program. Flexer also announced the election of Winheld A. Huppuch H and Alfred H. Tamarin as vice-presidents of the company. Huppuch has been legal counsel to Inflight for more than five years. He is also assistant secretary and has been a member of the board since 1962. Tamarin has been director of the company’s advertising and public relations since 1961 and in charge of Inflight’s audio prog^ramming ser¬ vice for United Air Lines, Philippine Air Lines, and Olympic Airways. He has been a member of the board for the past year. N.Y. Golf Meet Closing NEW YORK — An absolute limit of 180 golfers, or 45 foursomes, was announced for the 15th Annual Film Industry Golf Tourna¬ ment, sponsored by New York’s Cinema Lodge of B’nai B’rith at the Briar Hall Golf and Country Club. Tournament chairman Martin Levine said the number of golf reservations had topped 100 for the June 9th event. Levine disclosed that the Lodge will stop taking any further reserv^ations once the 180 limitation was reached, and he urged those in the entertainment industry who intended to participate to make reservations immediately to avoid any disappointment. He said no golf¬ ing reservations would be available at the club on the day of the tournament if the present pace of advance reservations continues. J. Hyman Heads 7 Arts Music NEW YORK — Seven Arts has activated two subsidiary music publishing companies and has named Jeremy Hyman as president of Seven Arts Music Corp. and Sevarts Publishing Corp., it was announced by Eliot Hyman, president of the parent company. Seven Arts Produc¬ tions, Ltd. 12 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR June L 1966