The Exhibitor (1966)

Universal Ups Production Pace With 19 Features Set Through May NEW YORK — Universal has set 19 feature productions, all in Technicolor, to start during the first five months of this year, it has been disclosed by Edward Muhl, vice-president in charge of production. This will be the greatest number of pictures started by the company during a similar period in two decades, exceeded only by the heavy production schedule in the immediate post-World War II years. It more than triples the number of films put before the cameras in the first five months of 1966. Sixteen of the pictures will be made here, with three on the schedule of Universal Pic¬ tures Ltd., the company’s overseas production arm headed by Jay Kanter. Kicking off the domestic schedule was “The Epic Of Josie,” starring Doris Day and Peter Graves. Following will be “Criss Cross,” star¬ ring George Peppard, Raymond Burr, and Gayle Hunnicutt; “Meanwhile, Far From the Front,” starring Paul Newman; “The Stalking Moon,” starring Gregory Peck; “The Green Berets,” starring John Wayne; “Don’t Just Stand There”; “Rosie,” to star Rosalind Rus¬ sell and Sandra Dee; “What’s So Bad About Feeling Good,” to star George Peppard and Mary Tyler Moore; “The Commissioner”; “Journey To Shiloh”; “The Shakiest Gun In the West,” starring Don Knotts; “The Win¬ ning Position”; “Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady”; “Instant Army”; “In Enemy Country”; “Northwest Frontier.” Scheduled for production abroad are “Work Is A Four Letter Word,” to star David War¬ ner; “Pretty Polly,” starring Hayley Mills; and "What Ever Happened to Whatsisname,” to star Oliver Reed. UA Field Reps Meet NEW YORK — United Artists field repre¬ sentatives from the United States and Canada completed their two days of meetings on the company’s upcoming product. A1 Fisher, direc¬ tor of exploitation, presided. Also addressing the meeting were Fred Goldberg, UA vicepresident; Gabe Sumner, national director of advertising and publicity; James C. Katz, di¬ rector of publicity; and Jolin Leo, exploitation manager. Buddy Young, UA west coast coordi¬ nator of advertising and publicity, attended. AIP Promotes Three HOLLYWOOD — James H. Nicholson, president of American International Pictures, announced the election of William J. Immerman, AIP associate legal counsel, and George Reeves, resident counsel for American Interna¬ tional’s Export Corporation and tv subsidiary, to assistant secretary posts. Nicholson simul¬ taneously announced that Lucy Keister has been elected assistant treasurer. Glen Alden Plans Merger NEW YORK — Paul Johnston, president of Glen Alden Corporation, and John W. Hum¬ phrey, president of The Philip Carey Manufac¬ turing Company, announced that agreements have been signed under which, subject to ap¬ proval of the stockholders of both companies, Philip Carey will merge with Glen Alden. Philip Carey manufactures products for build¬ ing and industry. At the London world premiere of Charles Chaplin's "A Countess From Hong Kong," a Universal release, as a benefit for the Institute of Ophthalmology "Fight For Sight" campaign are (l-r) Chaplin and Mrs. and Mr. Jules Stein. Stein, chairman of the board of MCA, Inc., parent company of Universal, is chairman of the board of trustees of Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc. Easter Sunday "Robe" To TV; Ford To Sponsor NEW YORK — The television presentation of the motion picture “The Robe,” in color, over ABC-TV on Easter Sunday night, March 26, and on Easter Sunday, 1968, fully spon¬ sored by the Ford Motor Company, was an¬ nounced by Thomas W. Moore, president of the ABC television network. The picture, to be played in its entirety, be¬ ginning at 7:00 p.m. will be shown with a special commercial policy appropriate to the day and the subject of the film. The 2 /i -hour program will carry only one commercial dur¬ ing a middle intermission period. Special com¬ mercials will also precede the film and follow it. All station break commercials will be elimi¬ nated. This is the second major motion picture for Ford on ABC-TV. This past September, Ford was the sole underwriter on the precedentsetting “The Bridge on the River Kwai,” which attracted the largest audience for a single television production in the medium’s history. Starring Richard Burton and produced by 20th Century-Fox, “The Robe” is a story of the crucifixion of Christ, the robe he wore, and of a man whose life was changed both by the momentous event and the sacred garment. Gravitz Heads N.Y. Board NEW YORK — Phil Gravitz, branch man¬ ager of MGM’s New York exchange, was in¬ stalled as president of the New York Film Board of Trade at a. dinner held at the Ameri¬ cana Hotel. Louis Nizer was the guest speaker. Solar Buys “Nylon String” HOLLYWOOD — Steve McQueen’s Solar Productions, Inc., has purchased the screen rights to “The Man on a Nylon String,” a novel by Whit Masterson, as the first acquisi¬ tion, it was announced by Robert E. Relyea, executive producer for Solar. Buffalo Variety Tent [Mans Annual Telethon BUFFALO — The Buffalo Variety Club’s fifth annual Children’s Rehabilitation Founda¬ tion Telethon will be held on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 25 and 26, starting at 10 p.m. Sat¬ urday and continuing until 3 p.m. Sunday. James J. Hayes, past chief barker, is general chairman of this year’s event. Richard Aaron is administrative assistant, and Myron Gross, Tent 7’s long time dough guy, is comptroller. Melvyn Berman is permanent Telethon chairman. Once again, thanks to Bob King, the facili¬ ties of WKBW-TV, channel 7, are being made available. O. Lyle “Red” Koch, program di¬ rector, and Don Kline, production director, are working with the committee to help make this year’s appeal greater than ever. Chairman Hayes has appointed the follow¬ ing Telethon committee chairmen: Francis Maxwell, tabulation; Richard Berkson, police and security; Samuel Geffen, badges and ad¬ mission; William Katz, refreshments; Martin Fox, hospitality; Dr. Robert Warner, patientshospital; O. Lyle Koch and Don Kline, pro¬ duction; Robert Olin, parking; Norman Schrutt and Alex Lusthaus, transportation; Richard Atlas, talent continuity; Harold Ben¬ nett, advance gifts; Mary Pappalardeo, grati¬ tude; Rose Gorman, follow-up; Mary Pappalardo, Barbara Quinlivan, Giannina Pappalardo, Dorthoy Atlas, telephone operators; Marvin Atlas, telephones; Myron Gross, bank¬ ing; Steve Zappia and Kenneth Seaman, tal¬ ent schedules; Edward W. Meade, publicity; VIP’s and panels, Michael F. Ellis, Jr. and Jerry Edelstein. The annual Tent 7 Telethon is the biggest money-raising event of the year. In 1966, the Variety Club raised $203,000 in pledges and cash, and since its beginning in 1934, the club has raised close to a million dollars for its selected charities. Over the years, the money for child-help has come from countless extra-curricular enter¬ prises organized by the barkers and barkerettes of Tent 7, including telethons, theatre and night club collections, sewing and knitting bees, bingo games, etc. The offices of the 1967 Telethon are in the Towne House Motel. The first meeting of the committee chairmen will be held in the Tent 7 club rooms Jan. 31. Harry Kodinsky’s Public Relations Research Service of Pittsburgh is acting as telethon co-ordinator. Police Close Iowa House On Charge Of Obscenity WEST DES MOINES, IA. — Police closed the Lyric Cinema in West Des Moines and charged two projectionists and the manager with exhibiting an immoral and obscene motion picture. The manager, Leland Dale Mercer, was released on $100 bonds. Movies were “Daniella by Night” and “The Unsatisfied” and had been shown for a week. The chief of police said they watched “The Unsatisfied” for about 20 minutes, decided it was obscene, immoral, and indecent, and closed the theatre for the night. 12 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR January 25, 1967