The Exhibitor (1966)

Para.'s Davis To Exec V-P Post Donnenfeld, Evans Share Responsibility For Studio Operation; Ornstein Named Overseas Production Head NEW YORK — The board of directors of Paramount Pictures Corporation, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Gulf and Western Indus¬ tries, named Martin Davis, who has been a vice-president and assistant to president George Weltner, as executive vice-president of the film company. He was also named to the company’s executive committee. The board also named Bernard Donnenfeld and Robert Evans to share responsibility for studio operation and world wide production activities. They succeed Howard W. Koch, who relinquished his post as vice-president in charge of the studio to become an independent producer for Paramount. Evans’ new title is vice-president in charge of production. Since August, he has been work¬ ing in London as Paramount’s vice-president in charge of overseas production, a post which now goes to George H. Ornstein, formerly in charge of European production for United Artists and associated with Harry Saltzman and Albert Broccoli in London. Donnenfeld, who has been vice-president in charge of studio operations and production administration since August, retains that title, but with added authority. Arnold Burk has been named an assistant vice-president to work with Donnenfeld in administration of the Hollywood studio. The board also elected Richard Spence an assistant vice-president and assistant to Davis. He was formerly an assistant vice-president of Gulf and Western, where he was also an execu¬ tive assistant to Charles G. Bluhdorn, chair¬ man of the board. Para.'s Koch Goes Indie HOLLYWOOD — Paramount Pictures Cor¬ poration and Howard W. Koch, vice-president and studio and production head, announced that they have reached a joint agreement to amend his contract with the company. Under the new arrangement, Koch will re¬ linquish his post as head of the studio to form his own independent production company. He will personally produce three major motion pictures for Paramount, starting with the film version of the Broadway comedy hit, “The Odd Couple,” next May. Koch said that his decision to step down from the direction of the studio was based entirely on his personal preference to produce motion pictures. Berio To Sponsor VCI Fete LONDON — Lollowing talks with Ben Smerling and Ralph Pries, Variety Clubs Interna¬ tional president Jim Carreras announced that the opening pa ty at the convention in Mexico City next May 15—19 will be sponsored by the Berio Vending Company of Philadelphia. Pries is VCI’s first assistant president. At the recent royal premiere of Paramount's "Is Paris Burning?" at the Tushinski Theatre, Amster¬ dam, Holland, Queen Juliana and her consort. Prince Bernhard, met film star Leslie Caron. MGM's O'Brien To Receive March Of Dimes Award NEW YORK — Robert H. O’Brien, president of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc., has been named recipient of the 1967 March of Dimes “Humanitarian Award,” it was announced by Basil O’Connor, president of the National Eoundation — March of Dimes. O’Brien will be presented with this distin¬ guished award at a supper-ball in his honor on Dec. 21 in the Imperial Ballroom of the Americana Hotel here. The supper-ball will follow the gala world premiere of MGM’s roadshow attraction, “Grand Prix,” earlier that evening at the Warner Cinerama Theatre. Both events will be coupled as a benefit for the March of Dimes. Spyros P. Skouras, the first recipient of the March of Dimes Humanitarian Award, is chairman of the evening. The award is presented annually to an out¬ standing individual in the motion picture industry for his devotion and assistance to humanitarian causes. Other recipients of the award include Leonard A. Goldenson, Jack L. Warner, Eddie Cantor, Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Danny Kaye, and Rex Harrison. Nederlanders Buy N.Y. Legit DETROIT — Longtime movie operators in Detroit, the Nederlander family, just pur¬ chased the 946-seat Henry Miller Theatre in New York at a cost of $500,000. This will give the Nederlanders two legit houses in New York and seven on the road — two in Chicago, and when plans are completed, one each in Detroit, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, and At¬ lanta. The Nederlanders also own the old Orches¬ tra Hall in Detroit as well as run the Fisher Theatre. They own the Riviera, Great Lakes, Carmen and Kramer theatres, all leased out movie houses to the Broder Circuit in Detroit. The Nederlanders bought the Palace last year in New York at a cost of $1,600,000 and spent $500,000 remodeling it for the opening of “Sweet Charity.” The Nederlander theatre family consists of David, 80-year-old veteran Detroit theatre operator, and his five sons. Joe runs the Fisher in Detroit; James the Palace in New York; Harry, administrator; Fred, an investor; Rob¬ ert, lawyer for Nederlander enterprises. Rinzler Tribute Draws Capacity Industry Turnout NEW YORK — A capacity turnout was ex¬ pected at the special membership luncheon meeting of the New York Variety Club at the Hotel Americana yesterday (Nov. 15), honor¬ ing veteran exhibitor Samuel Rinzler on the occasion of his 80th birthday and his 50th year in show business. Luncheon chairman was Salah Hassanein and co-chairman was Philip Harling. Named to the honorary committee were Harry Brandt, Sam Clark, Irving Dollinger, Simon H. Fabian, Emanuel Frisch, James Gould, Bernard Myerson, Martin Newman, Matty Polon, Walter Reade, Jr., Donald Rugoff, Leslie Schwartz, Edward Seider, Wil¬ bur Snaper, Laurence Tisch, Arthur Tolchin, and Milton C. Weisman. Top distribution executives on the honorary committee were Robert Benjamin, Charles Boasberg, D. J. “Bud” Edele, Morey “Razz” Goldstein, Leo Greenfield, Eliot Hyman, Leo Jaffee, Norman Jackter, Benjamin Kalmenson, Arthur Krim, Morris Lefko, Joseph E. Levine, Irving Ludwig, Henry “Hi” Martin, Robert H. O’Brien, James O’Gara, Arnold Picker, Sey¬ mour Poe, Milton Rackmil, Mo Rothman, Joseph M. Sugar, and James Velde. Serving as distributor chairman was Eugene Picker. Rinzler, throughout the years, has been prominently identified with every industry philanthropic and communal activity and has been honored for his many contributions dur¬ ing war and peace. Hartford Forum Studies “Paris” HARTFORD — Paramount’s “Is Paris Burning?” was selected for extensive coverage at the Greater Hartford Forum, which an¬ nually brings to the Connecticut capital prominent speakers for a series of lectures on timely issues and this year is being wholly devoted to “Evaluating Motion Pictures.” The four-session series began at the Cine Webb Theatre in Hartford with a keynote address by Louis Nizer, general counsel for the Motion Picture Association of America. Nizer’s talk was followed by a special screening of “Is Paris Burning?” for leading educators from throughout the state of Con¬ necticut. At the second session of the Forum, which was to be titled “Are Author and Screenwriter Compatible?,” the speakers were to be Larry Collins, who wrote the best-selling book with Dominique Lapierre, and Francis Coppola, who collaborated with Gore Vidal on the screenplay. MGM's Ralph Ripps Retiring ALBANY — Ralph Ripps, retiring Dec. 31 as Albany branch manager for MGM after three decades of service, will be honored at a testimonial dinner Dec. 5 in Schine-Ten Eyck Hotel. Arranging the testimonial for Ripps are John Keegan, 20th Century-Fox sales represensative; John G. Wilhelm, former Fox branch manager in Albany and now partner in Wilhelm-Thornton Theatres, as well as a buyer-booker for independent accounts; and Francis Lynch, MGM salesman. 8 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR November 16, 1966