Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

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Vogel is Optimistic in Taking Loew's Post . . . New president voices faith in industry future; Friedman to head theatre company; Picker and Murphy named directors “Making good pictures at commensurate costs and marketing them properly is an assignment I welcome,” says Joseph R. Vogel, who last week was elected president of Loew’s, Inc., by the company’s board of directors, succeeding Arthur M. Loew. Mr. Loew was named chairman of the board, succeeding Nicholas M. Schenck, who was accorded an honorary chairmanship in appreciation of “his many years of dedicated service.” Leopold Friedman was elected president of Loew’s Theatres, succeeding Mr. Vogel. “ Enthusiastic ” for Future “I am happy that Arthur Loew with his vast knowledge and progressive ideas will be active and will work side by side with me,” Mr. Vogel said. He continued: “As I have lived with the problems of exhibition, I have been a continuous observer of the trends in motion picture production. Times and tastes have changed quite a bit over the years and these changes are a challenge. I am filled with enthusiasm for the future of M-G-M and we will go forward.” In addition to his board chairmanship, Mr. Loew will serve as president of Loew’s International. He said of Mr. Vogel’s election: “It will strike a note of optimism not only to our own organization but to the entire industry. To our studio it will mean the guidance of an experienced and understanding executive who has a proven conception of public taste. He has a capacity for judgment and decision on the merit of film projects which combines uniquely with his business experience. To our distributing organization his election will mean a chief executive with appreciation of boxoffice values gained from his many years in the operation of a most successful circuit of theatres.” Two new members were elected to the board of directors of Loew’s Theatres: Eugene Picker and John F. Murphy, both company vice-presidents. They fill the vacancies caused by Mr. Vogel’s resignanation and the recent death of Harold J. Cleary. J. Leonard O’Donnell, controller, was elected treasurer of Loew’s Theatres, and will serve in both offices. Mr. Vogel began his career in the in LEOPOLD FRIEDMAN dustry as a part-time usher at the age of 14. At 18 he was appointed manager of the old Fulton theatre, now demolished, and then the Palace, Victoria, and finally Loews State on Broadway. Mr. Vogel was then promoted to be an assistant to Charles C. Moskowitz, who was in charge of the New York theatres. Later he became assistant to Colonel Edward A. Schiller, who had been handling the circuit’s out-of-town theatres. In 1934 Mr. Vogel assumed management of Loew’s out-of-town circuit, and in 1939 he became a director of Loew’s. In 1942 he was elected a vice-president and in 1954, when the government decree separated Loew’s production-distribution activities from the exhibition company, Mr. Vogel was elected president and director of Loew’s Theatres, Inc., the new theatre operating company. He is married and the father of one son. From Theatre Department Leopold Friedman, the new president of Loew’s Theatres, became secretary of Loew’s in 1919 and general counsel in 1921. A few years later he was elected to the board of directors and in 1945 became vice-president. In 1954, with the separation of Loew’s Theatres from Loew’s, Inc., he was elected financial vicepresident and a director of Loew’s Theatres. During this period Mr. Friedman served briefly as treasurer. Eugene Picker, new director, joined Loew’s in 1921. In 1935 he became chief film buyer and booker. During the realignment of departments in 1946, he was named general manager of all Loew’s New York theatre operations. Following the separation of Loew’s Theatres from Loew’s, Inc., in 1954, he was made vicepresident of the new theatre organization. John F. Murphy, the other new director, started with Loew’s Theatres as an accountant in 1922. In 1925 he was night assistant at Loew’s Hillside theatre in Jamaica and Loew’s Valencia in New York. Shortly after, he was promoted to assistant to Mr. Vogel, then general theatre executive, in charge of all Loew’s theatre operations. When Mr. Vogel became president of the new company after the 1954 separation, Mr. Murphy was named vice-president. List of Officers The up-to-date list of Loew’s officers includes: Nicholas M. Schenck, honorary chairman of the board; Arthur M. Loew, chairman of the board; 'Joseph R. Vogel, president; Dore Schary, Edgar J. Mannix, Howard Dietz and Benjamin Thau, vicepresidents; Charles C. Moskowitz, vicepresident and treasurer; Marvin H. Schenck, Joseph J. Cohen, Charles M. Reagan, vice-presidents; Jesse T. Mills, vice-president and controller; Ben Melniker, Charles C. (Bud) Barry, Frank B. Walker, vice-presidents; Nicholas Nayfack and Marvin Atlas, assistant secretaries; and Dolph Schadler and Charles H. Phelan, assistant treasurers. Directors include: George A. Brownell, G. Rowland Collins, Howard Dietz, F. Joseph Holleran, Arthur M. Loew, Charles C. Moskowitz, Ben Melniker, William A. Parker, Charles M. Reagan, Nicholas M. Schenck, John Lawrence Sullivan, and Joseph R. Vogel. National Film Service, Buena Vista in Deal A new contract for front office work has been negotiated between National Film Service, Inc., and Buena Vista Film Distribution Co., Inc., Walt Disney’s distribution organization, it is jointly announced by James P. Clark, president of NFS, and Leo Samuels, president of Buena Vista. The new contract supplants a similar agreement between the film distribution company and the service organization, which had a year to run. Credit Plan Extended To "Around the World" For the first time in the history of the Diners’ Club, worldwide single credit plan for restaurants, hotels and other services, the more than 350,000 Diners’ Club members will be permitted to charge for a film presentation. The film is “Around the World in 80 Days,” Michael Todd production now showing at the Rivoli theatre, New York. Diners’ Club members can charge their order either by mail or by presenting their card at the box office. 16 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, OCTOBER 27, 1956