The Exhibitor (1966)

Roth To Open Theatre In Md. Shopping Center GAITHERSBURG, MD.— A mid-No¬ vember opening has been set for Roth s Mont¬ gomery Theatre, in the Gaithersburg Square Shopping Center, Gaithersburg, Md. The new showplace will be the 10th unit operated by the Roth Theatre Circuit. Decor will be Williamsburg-Colonial, in keeping with the design of the shopping center by architects Bagley and Soule, 4 he theatre will accommodate approximately 700 persons, emphasizing patron comfort and convenience. Roth’s Montgomery is the first theatre in Maryland specifically engineered for the new Xenon Projection System. Use of a customdesigned high-gain screen will assure high quality image clarity, augmented by the latest transistorized sound amplification. Special seats have been designed to offer maximum comfort by use of deep-foam cushioning and staggered seat placement for unobstructed viewing. Other outstanding features will be an indoor-outdoor boxoffice, a luxurious lounge, art gallery, private viewing salon, and a colonial refreshment facility. Veteran showman Mannie Stutz has been appointed resident manager, under supervision of general manager Ned Glaser, who is also directing construction of two more theatres to be opened within the year by the Roth organization. “Magicold” Vendor Available CHICAGO — The American Division of the Ditchburn Organization, Ltd., of England has announced that its new “Magicold” vendor is now available. The vendor has been two years in the developing, the company says. According to Richard L. Cole, executive vice-president of the U. S. company, the advantages of this machine are its compact size, mechanical precision, rugged construction, attractive appearance, large cup and syrup capacities, and its “instant ice mechanism. The “Magicold” offers high quality precision at an economical price, Cole says. The parent company is a most significant vending factor in the European market, and Dichburn equipment is operating in over 25 countries. These models, dressed as Confederate soldiers, were used recently in a street bally for the Savoy, Boston, on Columbia's "Alvarez Kelly." The 'lucky number' board was used to announce winning numbers that matched the numbered heralds they distributed. November 16, 1966 . . . The NEW YORK Scene By Mel Konecoff TT TOOKS AS THOUGH MGM PRESfDENT ROBERT H. O’BRIEN WILL emerge a°?hf film company president with the most awards for 1966. We think he deserves an award for this accomplishment. Last week, it was the turn of the National Conference of Christians and J=ws to bestow its Brotherhood Award on O’Brien for “distinguished service in the field of human rela tions” as some 350 executives in the industry and other areas looked on. It all started when chairman Laurence A. Tisch called the session to order and asked the Rt Rev Msgr. Thomas F. Little to give the invocation. A week ago we thought we had the Msgr. out to pasture in Elmhurst, Queens, but guess he got lonely for his show business friends. Dr Sterling W. Brown had some brief words on the NCCJ and its works, which included workshops concentrating on turning out teachers properly omnted camp activities for impressionable youngsters, and attempts to sett e proUems between the fa ths as well as between management and labor. He had particular pride in the motion picture industry for its participation in the workings and program of the INC J. Tnlm Charles Daly player of games and veteran newsman, applauded the choice of O’Brien for he award, ^ making the presentation. The MGM head was grateful, and he reca ed Ms initial contacts with prejudice and how amazed he was at its existence He was proud to LTpart of the entertainment business, which has sought its people for thenability, not for their religious beliefs, as its standard of acceptance. Aboard the dais were Ira Guilden, Frank E. Conant, Barney Balaban Eliot Hyman, Leslie Schwartz Msgr Little Jim Gould, Abe Schneider, Ed Sullivan, Natalie Wood, G(.°*ge * luSCsam Ros^! Dr .Brown, C,Ine Picker, John L. Sullivan, Philip A. Roth, and Spyros P. Skouras. MFSSY SMORGASBORD THREE JUDGES OF THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS haSr^SdSTjani Films Lu.d-be release “491“ to be “repute -vo ting and disgusting ” yet they claimed that they could not declare it obscene and thus bar from attribution and exhibition in the U.S. At the moment U.S. Customs s has „n(i • rpflisintr to release it until the government decides whether or not it will appeal me decision. The§Court refused to declare the censor rights of the Customs Service lllega in this first instance of challenge. Saul T Turrell president of Tanus, admitted that the film is “a dangerous” one, and also that i £ ^^“entertainment.’’ Consequently, it will be shown, when and Iff > cleared to adult audiences 18 and over not as an advertising gimmick but out ot necessity. It will ’ need special handling, and a special panel of advisors consisting of sociolog , nsvchiatrists and the like will be named to suggest the method of distribution, audienceJypes etc. He doesn’t want it to just get away in the sexploitation houses because i ca have considerable positive and negative effects on impressionable audiences. We tried to find out then, why release it if it’s not entertainment and it’s dangerous. We we“*a°t f, should be skn because i. is the firs, fihn «ha, approaches^ -rtam . probes without equivocation; it is an important sociological document^ and ^ ^ intere nrtisticallv In light of this clinical approach and analysis, we would suggest that they g out a flock of 16S mm prints to medical societies, psychological groups, school associat , discussion groups, etc., etc. Tn case you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, a Judge Graven at the initial trial stated that'the film “contained all the following portrayals: sodomy with a naked worn i , homosexual love-making; sexual relations to be consummated behveen a dog and a wo (and that) its dominant theme as a whole appeals to the prurient interest, ana u characterized1 by patent offensiveness ... and was utterly without redeeming social im¬ portance.” Incidentally, the trend towards numerical titles could have neighbors asking one another “DM you see 723’ the other night?” or “Don’t miss ‘96’-it’s much better than 48, . THE METROPOLITAN SCENE: A COLUMBIA SPOKESMAN ' i ALONG A nelwithAe folloS message: “Please accept the enclosed Matt Helm pen with onr comUse k in good heahh but beware. Don’t write this off as just another film promofi“nkl* becauseof Helm’s subtlety in creating lethal devices, \htTe ambush2d by myself. If you too would rather stay aiound to see ui eiei , „ u tpink he was one of Matt’s little silencers, you may to Pa^ man" that puffed smoke rings trying to tell us something? . Kemembe t ? wPu 20th-Fox has out over Times Square on behalf of Camel cigarettes for over years Well, O h k ox taken over the space and is constructing a. replica of the USS San Bab o, the vessel usen MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 15