The Exhibitor (1966)

Industry Speculates On Effects Of N. Y. Minimum Wage Increase Col. Launches Heavy Summer Release Slate NEW YORK — With the multiple openings of four films in key cities across the nation, Columbia Pictures has launched one of the heaviest summer release programs in its his¬ tory, it has been announced by Mo Rothman, vice-president in charge of global distribu¬ tion. Included in Columbia’s summer line-up of product are two Carl Foreman productions which opened in New York. These are “Born Free,” which had its New York premiere at the Foew’s State and Coronet Theatres, and “The Guns of Navarone,” which was opened in showcase presentation theatres throughout the metropolitan area. In addition to the New York opening of “Born Free,” the film was launched in en¬ gagements in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Omaha, Albany, and Oklahoma City, as well as a hnge citywide mnltiple in Fos Angeles. Another important opening was Jerry Fewis’ “Three On A Couch,” with world premiere multiple engagements throughout the Pitts¬ burgh, Cleveland, and Philadelphia terri¬ tories. The comedy also opened in more than 30 additional key cities across the nation. Mark Robson’s “Fost Command,” which has been playing a limited number of situa¬ tions to date, also began its first extensive wave of playdates with mnltiple openings in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Washington, and in exclusive run theatres in more than 15 other key cities. Columbia will accelerate its summer re¬ lease program with the first openings for Sol C. Siegel’s “Walk, Don’t Run,” starring Cary Grant. This will be followed by territorial saturation openings of Ivan Tors’ “Birds Do It” and Hanna-Barbera’s “The Man Called Flintstone” during the summer months. WB To Film “Moonshot” BURBANK, CAFIF. — Warner Bros, will begin production this summer on “Moonshot,” a motion picture about the Apollo project to land men on the moon, it was announced by Jack L. Warner. The film will be made with the full coopera¬ tion of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Portions of the story will be photographed at the NASA center near Hous¬ ton. The studio has purchased a book, “Project Pilgrim,” by Henry Hank Searls, and a screen¬ play of the same title by Loring Mandel as the basis for the drama in which astronauts and their wives are the principal characters. Wil¬ liam Conrad will be executive producer on “Moonshot.” NGC Opens Four Houses FOS ANGEFES — In line with its $50 mil¬ lion, three-year expansion program. National General Gorporation added four new theatres last week, it was announced by Dan A. Polier and William H. Thedford, co-directors of theatre operations. Making their bow were the Fox Town & Country Theatre, San Jose, Calif., and the re¬ designed Fine Arts, Kansas City, both opening with Warner Brothers’ “Who’s Afraid Of Vir¬ ginia Woolf?.” NGC also opened the Fox Skyline Theatre, San Bruno, Calif., and the Fox East Gate, Carbondale, Ill. Opening attraction was 20th Cen¬ tury-Fox’s “Stagecoach” at both San Bruno and Carbondale. ^^Russians’’ Capture Berlin; Crowds Cheer UA Comedy BERLIN — Norman Jewison’s “The Rus¬ sians Are Coming, The Russians Are Com¬ ing” received a tremendous ovation as it opened the Berlin Film Festival in the presence of Berlin Lord Mayor Willy Brandt and invited guests. The audience broke into spontaneous applause through¬ out the screening of the United Artists comedy and cheered Alan Arkin’s perform¬ ance. Producer-director Jewison received deafening applause, lasting several min¬ utes, when he was introduced prior to the showing. “The Russians Are Coming, The Rus¬ sians Are Coming,” a Mirisch Corpora¬ tion presentation, was simultaneously screened at the Zoopalast Theatre, where the reaction of the young, paying audi¬ ence was overwhelming. A prolonged ova¬ tion also followed this screening. Berlin is still discussing the film days after its presentation, and the consensus is that it may have achieved more good will than the politicians have been able to create. Atlantic D-l Welcomes Jersey Shore Crowds PLEASANTVILLE, N.J.— Delayed two days by engineering difficulties, the grand opening of the new Atlantic Drive-In was held Friday, July 1. The new theatre is located on the Black Horse Pike at the Tilton Road Circle in Pleasantville. A1 Frank, operator of the new drive-in, said the theatre lot accommodates 1,400 autos. The new Atlantic Drive-In is situated im¬ mediately adjacent to its former location, which is being developed into the new Searstown shopping center. Opening night attraction was “Stagecoach,” which Frank said is being shown exclusively in this area. Second part of the double bill was “Last of the Secret Agents?” starring Martin and Rossi. Don Warner, a 25-year veteran in the mo¬ tion picture industry, manages the new drivein, at the same time handling operations at Frank’s two other local theatres, the Circus and Absecon. The new theatre office wall serve as a south Jersey headquarters for Frank’s widespread interests in the entertainment and motion picture industry. MOM Maps Hermit’S* Boom NEW YORK— Robert H. O’Brien, presi¬ dent of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc., an¬ nounced that arrangements have been con¬ cluded with Allen Klein, president of Reverse Producers Corporation, for the signing of a long-term recording contract with Herman’s Hermits as produced by Mickie Most and Re¬ verse Producers Corporation. The British sing¬ ing group is also being signed to a multiple motion picture deal. ALBANY — Industry men continued to spec¬ ulate on the costs and effects of the new state¬ wide minimum wage legislation, signed by Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller and increas¬ ing the scale from $1.25 to $1.50 hourly, effec¬ tive Jan. 1, 1967. The compromise measure, drafted after Democratic-controlled Assembly and Repub¬ lican-dominated Senate had passed differing versions, also provides that the State’s mini¬ mum rate will go to $1.60 an hour when the Federal minimum wage advances to that level. The Governor, in his message of approval, pointed to these as “important steps” possible to be taken now “because of the healthy economic climate” of the commonwealth. He estimated the raise to $1.50 will benefit 650,000 workers in New York State; the further hike, when the Federal stipend escalates, will affect 785,000 working men and women. Gov. Rockefeller did not fail to point out this State’s first statutory minimum wage was en¬ acted in 1960, on his recommendation. Motion picture theatre workers — ushers, doormen, matrons and others, chiefly, accord¬ ing to exhibitor sources, “part time” workers, would have been exempted if requests by Metropolitan Motion Picture Theatre Owners Association and later by the State Exhibitors Committee were granted. However, the Minimum Wage Study Board, after public hearings, turned down the plea. Industrial Commissioner Martin P. Gatherwood, to whom an appeal was made, ruled it should not be extended. However, Dr. Gatherwood did express “sympathy” for the plight of film theatre operators, caught in an economic squeeze. D. John Phillips, executive secretary of MPTOA, tried vainly to achieve exemption for employees via passage of a specific bill. When he finally managed to get a measure through that would have excepted “students” working in booths. Gov. Rockefeller vetoed it. “No justifiable reason” for the legislation had been shown, the Governor wrote. This year, Phillips renewed his effort via letters to the 65 members of the Senate. He enclosed a “Fact Sheet,” evidencing the de¬ cline in number of N.Y. state film theatres operating and a reduction in totals of ushers, doormen, and matrons employed. The cam¬ paign failed. Miner To Century Board FLORAL PARK, N. Y. — At a recent meet¬ ing of the board of Century Theatres, Henry C. Miner, HI, was elected a director. Miner, an attorney, represents a third gen¬ eration of the family in the Century oi'ganization. His father, Henry C. Miner, Jr., is the present chairman of the board. His grand¬ father, H. Clay Miner, was one of the founders of the organization. Mayer Addresses Conference NEW YORK — Michael F. Mayer, executive director of IFIDA, was to be a principal speaker at the Conference on Film and Tele¬ vision Study. Mayer was scheduled to speak on the subject “Foreign Films and the Class¬ room.” The study conference was under spoii.sorship of the Department of Communications Arts of Fordham University. July 6, 1966 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 7