The Exhibitor (1966)

NEWS CAPSULES \t/ FILM FAMILY ALBUM Gold Bands Sidney Cooper, vice-president of United Screen Arts, and Marilyn Saltzman were mar¬ ried in New York. Patricia de Jager, editor of SILVER SCREEN and SCREENLAND magazines, and Norman Eisen, president of Neo-Graphics, Inc., were married. They will live in Manhattan. Obituaries Marvin “Buck” Brown, 41, supervisor for Roth Enterprises, Inc., and owner of the Ranch and 301 drive-ins in Maryland, died. He is sur¬ vived by his wife and two daughters. Francis X. Bushman, 83, the great lover of the silent screen who made a comeback through radio and television, died at his Pacific Pali¬ sades home. H. L. Robinson, Sr., 72, died in Bronxville, N.Y. He retired in 1965 after 34 years with Warner Bros, theatre and distribution depart¬ ment. Va. Exhibs Win Tax Fight RICHMOND, VA. — Jerome Gordon, presi¬ dent, Virginia Motion Picture Theatre Asso¬ ciation, thanked its legislative committee com¬ posed of Roy Richardson, chairman; Seymour Hoffman and T. I. Martin for their successful efforts in the campaign for exemption from the Virginia sales and use tax. Due to the efforts of the committee, State Tax Commissioner G. R. Horrissett ruled that the state sales tax is not applicable to the ren¬ tal of motion picture films in theatres. Retrenchment For U.S.A. NEW YORK — Robert LeBuhn, president of United Screen Arts, Inc., announced a re¬ trenchment and regrouping policy for the company due to a lack of suitable product for distribution. LeBuhn stated that United Screen Arts field offices would close temporarily until such time as a regular flow of product could be obtained. Prudential Names Turner NEW YORK — John Turner, former United Artists division manager for the New York metropolitan area, has been named by the Prudential Theatre Circuit to the position of head film buyer for the Milwaukee area. FORMS FOR THIS PACE CLOSED AT 5 P.M. ON MON., AUG. 29 Fox Earnings Soaring As "Music" Sets Pace NEW YORK — Darryl F. Zanuck, president of 20th Century-Fox Film Corporation, re¬ ported that film rentals in the first half of 1966 from feature pictures, including television and film series specifically produced for television, reached a record high of $97,502,000 for a six month period. These revenues were 61 per cent higher than the $60,469,000 in the first half of 1965. Gross earnings before taxes in the first half of 1966 amounted to $11,534,000, an increase of 72 per cent over the $6,715,000 earned be¬ fore taxes in the first half of 1965. Net earnings after federal and foreign in¬ come taxes in the first six months of this year amounted to $6,110,000, equal to $2.13 per share on 2,866,208 shares outstanding. This compares with net earnings of $5,811,000, equal to $2.03 per share in the first half of 1965, when carry-forward tax credits elimi¬ nated federal income tax obligations. Net earnings of the corporation in the sec¬ ond quarter alone were $3,062,000 after taxes, equal to $1.07 per share, as compared with net earnings of $2,912,000, or $1.02 per share in the second quarter of 1965. “Earnings so far this year,” Zanuck stated, “are in line with our expectations and reflect the very strong and sustained program of our company.” He reported that “The Sound Of Music” continues as the largest contributor to theatrical film income. It has a world-wide film rental of $60,044,000 as of Aug. 20. UA Net At New High NEW YORK — Robert S. Benjamin, chair¬ man of the board, and Arthur B. Krim, presi¬ dent, announced that the net earnings of United Artists Corporation for the first half of 1966 amounted to $7,541,000 ($1.78 per share) after provision for income taxes of $7,340,000. This compares with net earnings of $6,189,000 ($1.46 per share) for the first six months of 1965. The stated earnings per share are based on 4,239,818 shares outstanding as at July 2, 1966. These earnings represent the highest six months earnings in the history of the company. The company’s worldwide gross income for the first half of 1966 totalled $93,848,000, as compared with $95,543,000 for the same period of 1965. Vl^ BROADWAY GROSSES “Alfie,” “Walk” Open Big NEW YORK — Paramount’s “Alfie” and Columbia’s “Walk, Don’t Run” were strong new entries. “HOW TO STEAL A MILLION” (20thFox). Radio City Music Hall reported $114,000 for Thursday through Sunday. The seventh week was estimated at $188,000. “WALK, DON’T RUN” (Columbia). Loew’s State showed impressive $34,500 for first week. “THE SOUND OF MUSIC” (20th-Fox). Rivoli had $45,000 for the 78th week. “THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING THE RUSSIANS ARE COMING” (UA). Astor showed $12,500 for fourth and last week. “WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?” (Warners). Criterion did $46,500 on the 10th week. “TORN CURTAIN” (Universal). De Mille announced $25,000 for the fifth week. “DR. ZHIVAGO” (MGM). Capitol stated that the 36th week was $31,000. “ALFIE” (Paramount). New Embassy headed for house record with $38,000 in first week. “THIS PROPERTY IS CONDEMNED” (Paramount). Victoria took in $11,500 for fourth and final week. “KHARTOUM” (UA). Warner Cinerama had $31,000 for the sixth week. ‘KALEIDOSCOPE’’ Warner Bros.’ “Kaleidoscope” is clever, kooky, and vastly entertaining. It is played fast and furiously by a talented, exuberant cast and builds up considerable excitement and suspense to accompany a solid measure of cinematic fun. Warren Beatty makes the best impres¬ sion of his career as a shady but very at¬ tractive gambler with a sensational gim¬ mick. Susannah York is delightful as his pretty sidekick who deals in kooky teen¬ age fashions and spicy adult games. Sup¬ port by a highly talented group of players, particularly Clive Revill, is first-rate, and direction and production never falter. Audiences are in for a rollicking good time, and that’s what going to the movies is all about. Watch it take off like a sky¬ rocket with a Radio City Music Hall en¬ gagement as the first explosion. JAY EMANUEL NO ISSUE NEXT WEEK MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR, as is its annual custom, will not publish next week to give a hard-working staff a well-earned vacation Labor Day week. But we’ll be back with renewed vitality for the issue of Sept. 14th. 4 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR August 31, 1966 .. . .. . . . . .