Motion Picture Herald (1954)

On the onzon MOTION PICTURE HERALD October 30, 1954 Page TRADE in field does not support U.S. control idea, check shows 12 MGM opens series of Workshops for regional showmen ^ 12 EXHIBITION girds for finish fight on subscription TV 13 FIRST picture of new Vista Vision horizontal feed camera 14 TOA convention in Chicago expected to draw record crowd 1 5 TESMA to ask joint show with TOA and Allied next year 15 CINERAMA not to be included in Quota under British decision 16 SCREEN gross down in 1953 compared with 1952, U.S. says 16 SKOURAS' death takes a dynamic figure of the industry 17 TV REVENUE for year shows sharp rise, FCC reports 18 NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT— Notes on industry personnel 26 SERVICE DEPARTMENTS Refreshment Merchandising 40-57 Film Buyers' Rating 3rd Cover Hollywood Scene 36 Managers' Round Table 43 People in the News 37 The Winners Circle 23 in $d!$)heaM for November: Section begins opposite 58 A STUDY of Small Town Operation TWO NEW Drive-In Theatres with Wide-Screen THE FALL BUYERS INDEX IN PRODUCT DIGEST SECTION Showmen's Reviews 193 What the Picture Did for Me 196 The Release Chart 196 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, published every Saturday by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., Rockefeller Center, New York City 20. Telephone Circle 7-3 ! 00; Cable address, "Quigpubco, New York", Martin Quigley, President; Martin Quigley, Jr., Vice-President; Theo. J. Sullivan, Vice-President and Treasurer; Raymond Levy, Vice-President; Leo J. Brady, Secretary; Martin Quigley, Jr., Editor; James D. Ivers, News Editor; Charles S. Aaronson, Production Editor; Floyd E. Stone, Photo Editor; Ray Gallagher, Advertising Manager; Gus H. Fausel, Production Manager. Bureaus: Hollywood, Samuel D. Berns, Manager; Wiiliam R. Weaver, editor, Yucca-Vine Building, Telephone Hollywood 7-2145; Chicago, 120 So. LaSalle St., Urben Farley, advertising representative, Telephone Financial 6-3074: Washington, J. A. Otten, National Press Club; London, Hope Williams Burnup, manager, Peter Burnup, editor, 4 Golden Sauare. Correspondents in the principal capitals of the world. Member Audit Bureau of Circulations. Other Quigley Publications: Better Theatres and Better Refreshment Merchandising, each published thirteen times a year as a section of Motion Picture Herald; Motion Picture Daily, Motion Picture and Television Almanac, Fame. ALLIED sound Ben Marcus, president of National Allied, said in Hollywood Tuesday that within 60 days it would show in Chicago and New York, a "superior-quality, full stereophonic sound" system. This will carry the Allied label. Saying some exhibitors were ruined by the exorbitant costs of the new processes, he added Allied is "determined that never again will its exhibitors be caught in a vise." The system, he pointed out, will cost 25 per cent less than others, and non-Allied showmen may buy. SALE TO TV Columbia sees no reason to refuse money for its "out-of-date" cartoons and westerns, and therefore has sold them to Hygo Corporation, which provides films for television. "This in no way alters our company's policy of not releasing our features for television showing," Jack Cohn, executive vicepresident, commented. The films have "no further potential for reissues," he said. The company stated the westerns , among which the stars are Bill Elliot and Russell Hayden, are 15 or more years old. ADMISSIONS UP Theatre admissions rose during August and September, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said the other day, and pointed out this rise almost offset a reduction of the cost of living resulting from the decline in television receiver prices. MICKEY ON TV That unique show which will benefit films as well as television, opened over the American Broadcasting Company network Wednesday evening. It is the Disneyland show, which was "introduced by Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse". Not only will the Disney show enhance the popularity of the filmed cartoon series, and the features which the company is finding so successful it has become its own distributor under the name. Buena Vista Productions ; it also assures success for the Disney program of films for television, and for that entrancing new project, the potentiality of which appears limitless — Disneyland, the huge new amusement park in California. MISTRIAL The major companies won a victory Monday in Miami Federal Court. A jury failed to agree about the $9,450,000 treble damages suit by Claughton Theatres, and the judge declared a mistrial. The trial consumed six weeks. The jury deliberated seven hours. It was said to be eleven to one for acquittal. Six majors were defendants. FOR NEW TALENT To develop its new faces each year costs Universal $1,000,000. This is the figure given by Robert Palmer, studio talent executive, during a breakfast interview in New York Tuesday morning at which candidates for "Mary Magdalene" in the forthcoming "The Galileans" were introduced to the press. BAD TIMING The request of National Theatres to get into film production and distribution is badly timed, some anti-trust law students believe. The Justice Department is under close scrutiny at the moment for its actions on mergers and other anti-trust problems, and the public attention on the topicis considered likely to act against the National Theatres' request. CHANGES Democratic control of Congress would bring some committee chairmen very friendly to the film industry, as for example, Rep. Cooper of Tennessee to be chairman of the important House Ways and Means Committee. He led the fight for greater admissions tax relief in the past Congress. Vincent Canby — Floyd E. Stone — J. A. Otten — Samuel D. Berns MOTION PICTURE HERALD, OCTOBER 30, 1954 9