The Exhibitor (1966)

Wwt Dter* Ostw Nomination Mean? /sk Cornel Wikle About 'Naked Prey' By MARK GIBBONS HOLLYWOOD — There is a loner in the pack. That is to say that a “sleeper” lurks in the upcoming Motion Picture Academy Awards come next April 10. Cannonading really starts in earnest Monday (Feb. 20) when the Oscar voters will have their choices of five categories announced. There will be five choices for each category. The press agent boys are poised and raring to go when the five nominations in respective categories are announced. The moment of truth, of course, comes on April 10 — not in Hollywood, but away out by the beach in Santa Monica. They used to have the Awards in the Pantages Theatre on Hollywood Boule¬ vard, but the house got too small or the cere¬ mony too large to accommodate the smother of folks who wanted to get in on the act. As for this year’s festivities in the Santa Monica, Civic Auditorium, there will be one person in there pitching for an Oscar or two by sheer purpose and not ashamed of his be¬ havior — fellow by the name of Cornel Wilde — in behalf of a motion picture he produced, directed, and starred in, “The Naked Prey.” It was released by Paramount, and while Para will stick by their boy, it is not unlikely that more than a modicum of press agentry will boost “Alfie,” which appears to be a sure wager to make the Oscar nominations. Para has helped Wilde arrange a re-release across the country and is contributing some ads, but it is easy to understand that Para, when the time comes, will give the big push to “Alfie.” Never¬ theless, Wilde is convinced that he has a con¬ tender with “Naked Prey.” The flicker has had some splendid reviews and made Canada’s “Best Ten” movie list. Wilde says: “I don’t remember that an in¬ dividual pushing for awards for a picture has ever succeeded, but it’s worth trying. I’ve got too much blood and sweat in this picture, and I am not going to back down now.'’ Wilde says he figures that if “Naked Prey,” which was shot entirely on location in Africa, could fetch a nomination or two, it could com¬ mand re-release around the country. He thinks: “It could mean another half million to a million dollars at the box office. And that ain’t swamp grass!” Are the Oscar awards and nominations really important? Wilde chuckled. “You can always say, let me tell you about my nomination.” U of Wis. Fetes Mirisch HOLLYWOOD — Walter Mirisch, vicepresident of The Mirisch Corporation, has been named Alumnus of the Year in Southern California by the University of Wisconsin Alumni Association. The award will be presented March 17 at a dinner at the Sportsmans Lodge, according to Harold Frumkin, chairman of the event. Mirisch, who received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University in 1942, will be cited for his achievements in the motion pic¬ ture industry. WB Elects Levinson NEW YORK — Howard Levinson, secretary of Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., was also elected general counsel of the corporation by its board of directors. Levinson, who has held the secretary’s post since 1961, has been associated with Warner Bros, and its predecessor companies for many years as an attorney and has served as officer and director of many of its subsidiary and affiliated companies. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Motion Picture Association of America. Increase net profit, forget concession headaches ! Let ABC’s refreshment con¬ cession experts do the job for you. ABC does the work — and the worrying. All you do is bank the check. Make us prove it . . . Write, or call collect, now. ABC CONSOLIDATED CORP. • 333 S. BROAD ST., PHILA., PA. 19107 • AREA CODE 215 PE 5-5966 Actress Stella Stevens recently visited Los Angeles Mayor Yorty's press conference as a representative of the Variety Club of Southern California, Tent 25, to present the mayor with an invitation to Variety's 25th Annual Heart Award Ball. “Succeed” To Radio City NEW YORK— “How To Succeed In Busi¬ ness Without Really Trying,” the Mirisch Cor¬ poration presentation for United Artists re¬ lease, will be the Easter attraction at Radio City Music Hall, it was announced by James F. Gould, president of the theatre, and James R. Velde, UA vice-president. Fla. Disney World ( Continued ) ning its construction in phases. “However, our corporation is dedicated to making Walt Disney’s dream a reality, but it cannot be done without the help of you people here in Florida,” continued Disney. “We must have a solid legal foundation be¬ fore we can proceed with Disney World. This foundation can be assured by the legislative proposals we are presenting to the next session of the Florida legislature,” he concluded. “If these requests are granted, I believe that we can make the new theme park a reality by 1971.” Disney then introduced Donn B. Tatum, vice-president and administrative assistant to the president of Walt Disney Productions, who gave specific details regarding these legisla¬ tive proposals. Tatum then introduced Florida’s Governor Claude R. Kirk, Jr., who offered his whole¬ hearted support to this new project, and then detailed tfie economic growth Disney World will bring to Florida. “During its initial construction phase and first 10 years of operation, Disney World will directly generate $6.6 billion in measurable economic benefits for the State of Florida as a whole,” said Kirk, summarizing an indepen¬ dent study of the project conducted by the firm of Economic Research Associates. “Of this $6.6 billion estimate, $3,978 billion will result from expenditures by new tourists attracted to the state by Disney World. An¬ other $2,261 billion of this total represents payrolls for new jobs created, and approxi¬ mately $414 million represents monies to be spent for construction materials and equip¬ ment,” said Governor Kirk during his presenta¬ tion. Following a brief question and answer pe¬ riod, Governor Kirk and Roy Disney flew to Jacksonville to tape a half-hour televised re¬ port to the people of Florida. 18 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR February 15, 1967