Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

THE WINNERS CIRCLE Pictures which were reported as doing above average business in key theatres of the cities of the nation for the week ending December 8 were: Allied to Ask Producers to Create Stars Allied States Association will urge producers and distributors to “create new stars of today” and to release top pictures in an orderly release pattern to combat and offset the recent decline in motion picture theatre business, according to Julius M. Gordon, secretary of the national exhibitor organization, and head of Jefferson Amusement Company, of Beaumont, Tex. Mr. Gordon, speaking in New York this week prior to returning to his home, said “business in my territory and theatres has been way off compared to last year because the ‘big’ pictures aren’t available and the films which we do buy don’t hold up at the box office.” National Allied has a great desire for the producers and distributors to take cognizance of this problem, Mr. Gordon stated, adding that the theatre men’s association has urged, and will continue to urge, the companies “to stop holding back ‘big’ films and to release the product available in regular, orderly manner so that there will be no feast or famine periods, no hills and valleys in business periods.” Mr. Gordon also said that National Allied is highly concerned about the slow, and sometimes lacking development by the producers of “new faces.” “We will continue to urge the producers to create new talents which appeal to today’s audiences, the teenagers and older persons,” he said. “Build up youngsters with talents into stars in proper motion picture vehicles,” Mr. Gordon said, adding that “exhibitors all over would be only too happy to participate, help and advise the producers on the box office potentials of the new faces.” The prominent Texas exhibitor said he personally feels that new talents could be developed by the individual studios “who should return to the days when they had stables of performers. When a studio had a large number of contract players on call for its own film productions, more films were available to theatres and a definite number of these players had enough work to become ‘stars’ and box office names.” Reduce Sunday License Fee in Boston Theatres BOSTON: An ordinance passed by the Boston City Council and signed by Mayor John B. Hynes reduces the Sunday license fee for theatres here, effective January 1, 1957. Instead of the former $10 weekly fee, the new rate is $100 annually. There is no change in the weekday theatre license fee, which remains at $100 annually. Albany. Giant (W.B.) 3rd week; Private’s Progress (CDA) ; Love Me Tender (20thFox). Atlanta: Giant (W.B.) 3rd week; The Man From Del Rio (U.A.). Boston: Lust for Life (MGM) 2nd week; Oklahoma! (Magna) 12th week; Shake. Rattle and Rock, Runaway Daughters (AIP); The Ten Commandments (Para.) 2nd week. Buffalo: Giant (W.B.) 5th week; Julie (MGM); Private’s Progress (DGA) 3rd week; War and Peace (Para.) 6th week. Chicago: Giant (W.B.) 7th week; The Grand Maneuver (UMPO) 4th week; Julie (MGM) 2nd week; Love Me Tender (20th-Fox) 3rd week; Reprisal (Col.) 2nd week; The Teahouse of the August Moon (MGM) 3rd week. Columbus: Giant (W.B.) 3rd week. Denver: Death of a Scoundrel (RKO); Giant (W.B.) 4th week; Oklahoma! (Magna) 7th week; War and Peace (Para.) 6th week. Des Moines: Giant (W.B.) 4th week; Oklahoma! (20th-Fox) 3rd week. Detroit: Love Me Tender (20th-Fox) 2nd week; The Ten Commandments (Para.) 2nd week. Hartford: Canyon River (A. A.); Giant (W.B.) 4th week; Julie (MGM); Lust for Life (MGM) 3rd week; Rififi (UMPO) 3rd week; Seventh Cavalry (Col.) Indianapolis: Giant (W.B.) 4th week; Lust for Life (MGM); Oklahoma! (Magna) 14th week. Jacksonville: The Black Sleep (U.A.); Hold Back the Night (A. A.); Julie (MGM); Odongo (Col.). Kansas City: Giant (W.B.) 5th week; Oklahoma! (Magna) 8th week. Memphis: Giant (W.B.); Love Me Tender (20th-Fox) ; Lust for Life (MGM). Harry Bachman, Exhibitor, Industry Veteran, Dies WASHINGTON: Harry Bachman, 53, died here December 10. He was president of the Circle Theatre Corp., operating the Circle theatre. He began his motion picture career here with Educational Films in the early 1920’s, and later managed Warner theatres in Hagerstown, Md., and Baltimore. He was secretary-treasurer of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Metropolitan Washington for 15 years and had been on the board of governors of the Variety Club tent. Huntley Gordon HOLLYWOOD: Huntley Gordon, 69, onetime screen star, whose career in motion pictures started in Vitagraph days, died December 7 at his suburban Van Nuys home. Absent from films since 1938, he later was a talent agent for the radio pro Milwaukee: Friendly Persuasion (A.A.) 2nd week; Giant (W.B.) 4th week; Love Me Tender (20th-Fox) 3rd week. Minneapolis: Giant (W.B.) 4th week; Julie (MGM) 3rd week; Oklahoma! (Magna) 2nd week. New Orleans: Death of a Scoundrel (RKO); Friendly Persuasion (A.A.) 2nd week; Love Me Tender (20th-Fox) 2nd week; Opposite Sex (MGM) 3rd week. Oklahoma City: Friendly Persuasion (A.A.) 2nd week; Giant (W.B.) 4th week; Love Me Tender (20th-Fox) 3rd week; Oklahoma! (Magna) 17th week; War and Peace (Para.) 2nd week. Philadelphia: Friendly Persuasion (A.A.) 3rd week; Giant (W.B.) 3rd week; The Opposite Sex (MGM) 5th week. Pittsburgh: Giant (W.B.) 6th week; The Ship That Died of Shame (Cont.). Portland: Friendly Persuasion (A.A.) 3rd week; Giant (W.B.) 3rd week; Oklahoma! (Magna) 4th week. Providence: Giant (W.B.) 3rd week; Lust for Life (MGM). San Francisco: Death of a Scoundrel (RKO); Everything But the Truth (Univ.); Giant (W.B.) 5th week; The Sharkfighters (U.A.). Toronto: Julie (MGM) 2nd week: Oklahoma! (Magna) 33rd week; The Ten Commandments (Para.) 3rd week. Vancouver: A Cry in the Night (A.A.); Giant (W.B.) 3rd week; Love Me Tender (20th-Fox). Washington: Fantasia (B.V.) (Reissue); 3rd week; Friendly Persuasion (A.A.) 4th week; Giant (W.B.) 5th week; Man from Del Rio (U.A.); Oklahoma! (Magna) 5th week; Secrets of Life (B.V.) 4th week; The Solid Gold Cadillac (Col.) 8th week; The Ten Commandments (Para.) 2nd week; You Can’t Run Away from It (Col.). gram, “Screen Guild Players,” and was studio contact with the Motion Picture Relief Fund. His widow, Gene Gordon, survives him. Arthur Lange WASHINGTON: Arthur Lange, 67, film composer, died here last weekend. He conducted the Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra for the last 10 years and, earlier, had headed music departments at MGM, 20th-Fox, and RKO-Pathe studios. He also composed scores for a number of independent films. Harry N. Stone TACOMA, WASH.: Harry N. Stone, well known manager of the Temple theatre here, died December 1 of a heart attack. He was formerly with Fox Inter-Mountain theatres and National Screen Service Corporation. T 24 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 15, 1956