Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

" Baby Doll " Is Scored By Spellman Francis Cardinal Spellman, speaking from the pulpit at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York last Sunday, warned Roman Catholics that they would commit sin by seeing “Baby Doll,” the Elia KazanWarner Bros, production condemned last month by the National Legion of Decency. It was one of the cardinal’s rare appearances in the pulpit. At the same time, Mayor Wagner’s office protested the use of the names of himself and Mrs. Wagner among the sponsors of the premiere of the film at the Victoria theatre on Broadway Tuesday night. Cardinal Spellman called the picture “evil in concept and certain to exert an immoral and corrupting influence.” In addition to the film’s “revolting theme,” he also condemned “the brazen advertising promoting it.” Elia Kazan issued a statement defending the film and the Production Code Administration approval of “Baby Doll.” “In this country, judgments on matters of thought and taste are not handed down from an unchallenged authority,” he said. “People see for themselves and finally judge for themselves. That is as it should be.” A statement issued from Key West, Fla., in behalf of Tennessee Williams, author of the script, said: “I cannot believe that an ancient and august branch of the Christian faith is not larger in heart and mind than those who set themselves up as censors of a medium of expression that reaches all sections and parts of our country and extends the world over.” U.A. Gets "Satchmo” “The Saga of Satchmo,” a feature-length picture about the famous jazz musician, Louis Armstrong, has been acquired for release by United Artists from Edward R. Murrow and Fred W. Friendly, producers of the film, it has been announced by Arthur B. Krim, U.A. president. Mr. Murrow narrates the film which includes some 20 song numbers. The picture tells the parallel rise of American jazz and Louis Armstrong’s career. Name SMPTE Committee Edward M. Warnecke has been named national membership chairman of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers for 1957-58, it was announced this week by Barton Kreuzer, presidentelect of the society. Mr. Warnecke is assistant chief engineer of the East Coast division, Motion Picture Film Department, Eastman Kodak Company. Bromhead Dies at 73; Founded U.K. Fund LONDON : Reginald Charles Bromhead, 73, died here December 15 following a long illness. He was president and chairman of the Cinematograph Trade Benevolent Fund, which he founded 32 years ago. He was past president of the Kinematograph Renters’ Society; chairman of Variety Theatres Consolidated, Ltd., and director of the Sunderland Empire Palace, Ltd. He established the Gaumont-British Picture Corp., Ltd., with his brother, Lt. Col. A. C. Bromhead, in 1922, and was vice-president and chairman of the company and subsidiaries until 1929. IA Concludes Pension Pact Employer contributions to create a pension fund for more than 6,000 workers at film exchanges in 34 key cities throughout the United States have been negotiated by the IATSE, it was announced this week. Blanket wage increases of $3.75 per week also are included in a new two-year agreement, retroactive to December 1, signed by 13 distributing companies — Warner Bros., National Film Service, RKO, Paramount, United Artists, Columbia, Republic, 20th Century-Fox, Universal, National Screen Service, Loew’s, Allied Artists and Buena Vista. The pension fund established by the agreement is to receive six cents for each hour worked, up to straight-time maximum of 37 Vi hours per week, thus augmenting the weekly wage increases by $2.25 per full-time employee. The fund will be administered jointly by the employers and the I.A.T.S.E. Special provisions remain to be worked out because three of the companies — Loew’s RKO and 20th-Fox — had pension plans of their own in effect prior to the industry agreement. In addition to the monetary benefits, the new contracts provide a number of others: Previously, the maximum annual paid vacation was two weeks. Hereafter, there will be a third week for employees who have worked 15 years or more for one company. In the past, top severance allowance was the equivalent of seven weeks’ pay. That has been raised to eight weeks’ pay after 16 years of employment, nine weeks after 18 years and 10 weeks after 20 years. A new seniority clause provides that “all lay-offs and all rehiring following lay-offs shall be made according to seniority within each of the respective exchanges covered by the agreement, provided that the senior employees shall, in the judgment of the employer and the union, have the necessary qualifications, experience and ability to perform the available work. Jersey Allied Studies Fuel Buying Plan Allied Theatre Owners of New Jersey has appointed a membership committee to handle physical theatre problems, including the purchase of heating fuel on a group basis, according to Sidney Stern, president of the organization. Last year, Mr. Stern sent out a questionnaire to all members of the group asking for information and viewpoints on many topics ranging from trade practices to the amount of fuel and light bulbs used for a marquee. The results were announced last week. “Our members used over 1,500,000 gallons of fuel for heating their theatres last year,” Mr. Stern said. “The committee was appointed to investigate the feasibility of Jersey Allied buying heating fuel on a group basis instead of each theatre buying its own separately. If such a proposal could be worked out successfully, it would result in large savings to members.” A number of other topics were discussed at a recent meeting of his unit. Mr. Stern said, “We heard a report from our delegates on the national Allied convention and on the Motion Picture Association of America’s business building plans,” adding that Jersey Ailed is highly in favor of any program which will build business. He also said the membership conferred on “a feeling of closer cooperation with Theatre Owners of America” as is being pursued by national Allied. The regional group’s annual convention will be held June 2-4 at the Concord Hotel, Lake Kiamesha, N. Y., Mr. Stern announced. Hold Xmas Show for Rogers Hospital Patients The third annual Christmas Show for the staff and patients of the entertainment industry’s Will Rogers Memorial Hospital at Saranac Lake, N. Y„ which is sponsored by New York’s Cinema Lodge of B’nai B’rith with the cooperation of the American Guild of Variety Artists, was given at the hospital this week. Accompanied by Burton E. Robbins, past president of Cinema Lodge, who first conceived the idea, and Marge Coate, director of sick and welfare for AGVA, the troupe left New York this week by train for the hospital, where they were greeted by Dr. George E. Wilson, medical director of the hospital, and Ned E. Shugrue, executive vice-president. Participants in the show included Smith and Dale and Mabel Smith; Helen Kane and her husband, Dan Healy; the Two Zephyrs, Pablo, Bob Coffee and Lee Marmer and an accompanist. 24 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 22, 1956