Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

MOTION PICTURE GROSSES CLIMB TO NEW CHRISTMAS HIGHS THIS WEEK Motion picture grosses at Broadway showcases and in other key theatres across the country were strong and in many cases record-breaking during the four-day Christmas weekend. Paced by excellent attendance and bolstered by extra performances during the weekend, theatres reported that “despite the inclement weather, business was very very good.” Typical of the business being done in New York was the record made by 20thFox’s “Anastasia” at the Roxy. The management reported that the film would gross approximately $145,000 for the week — the biggest Christmas week in three years — which includes $101,000 for the weekend. The Victoria, showing Warner Brothers’ “Baby Doll,” closed the opening week with a new, all-time record gross (for a film at popular prices) of $55,254. The Radio City Music Hall estimated that its fourth week of MGM's “Teahouse of the August Moon” and the annual Christmas stage show would hit a high of $190,000. Also in New York, top business was recorded by the Paramount with Warners’ “The Wrong Man,” the new Central theatre with United Artists’ “Dance with Me Henry,” the Astor theatre with Paramount’s “The Rainmaker,” the Capitol with RKO’s “Bundle of Joy,” Loew’s State with Paramount’s “Hollywood or Bust,” and the Mayfair with U.A.’s “The King and Four Queens.” Each of the three Broadway houses operating on a reserved seat policy also reported sell-outs at all performances. The Criterion, with Paramount’s “The Ten Commandments” estimated its Christmas week would hit a high of $80,000. Comparable estimates were made by the managements of the Rivoli, playing United Artists’ “Around The World in 80 Days,” and the Warner, playing the Cinerama feature, “Seven Wonders of The World.” Across the country, business was equally as good in such cities as Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Detroit, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Minneapolis and St. Paul. The outstanding attractions were “Anastasia,” “Baby Doll,” Universal’s “Rock, Pretty Baby” and “Written on The Wind,” and 20th-Fox’s “The Girl Can’t Help It.” Public Should Understand Code: Flick ALBANY : The Motion Picture Association should promote “a comprehensive and imaginative effort to create greater understanding on the public’s part of the Production Code,” in the opinion of Dr. Hugh M. Flick, executive assistant to the State Commissioner of Education and former director of the Department’s Motion Picture Division. Dr. Flick said: “Wherever there are rules or regulations to be enforced, it is important that they be understood. In the case of the motion picture Production Code, this understanding should most certainly be shared by the public. In fact I think such an understanding is essential if the Code is to achieve the full results which the Motion Picture Association hopes for. With understanding will come stronger support for the Code.” Dr. Flick added that while no one “can quarrel” with the principles of the Code, there is the matter of “interpretation and administration” to be seriously considered. “Here lies the difficulty and danger,” he stated. “The Motion Picture Production Code has firmly established the rationale for the potency of motion pictures,” continued Dr. Flick. “It has further stated in clear and uncontroversial terms sound moral values for the nation. The attempt to create self-regulating rules whereby these sound moral values may be strengthened through motion pictures is an important contribution to our society as a nation and as a member of the family of nations.” “The administration for accomplishing these ends is as difficult as it is important,” he added. “In order to harmonize with our democratic society, any administration of regulatory measures should contain a reasonable appeal system to an impartial agency, as well as some means to prevent exploitation of good intentions by petty or philosophical racketeers. “The present critical state” of international relationships places a heavy responsibility on the motion picture industry, especially on the major companies who produce films that are played globe-wide, Dr. Flick believes. Elect Springfield Group SPRINGFIELD, MASS.: Officers of Motion Picture Operators Local 186 have been reelected. The slate includes Edward Whittle, president; Lewis Lambert, vicepresident; Arthur J. Payette, financial secretary; John P. Croke, recording secretary, and Edward O’Connor, business agent. On the executive board are Guy Best, Edward Corbin and Owen Holmes. Loews Year Net Is Equal To 90 Cents Loew’s, Inc., earnings for the fiscal year which ended last August 31 are estimated at 90 cents per common share in comparison to the $1.03 for the preceding year, according to Joseph R. Vogel, president. In a notice to stockholders, Mr. Vogel said earnings for the first quarter of the current year are estimated at 30 cents per share as against five cents for the same period in the prior year. Mr. Vogel told stockholders that negotiations continue for the licensing of the Loew’s pre-1949 feature films to television in many markets. The number of agreements concluded to date will result in a gross income of approximately $27,500,000 over the next seven years. The company has also acquired a 25 per cent stock interest in two television stations and an option to acquire a 25 per cent interest in a third station, Mr. Vogel said. The Loew’s, Inc., president told stockholders that “we are presently in negotiations with the insurance companies, the holders of the funded debt of the company, to accomplish a division of this debt between the company and the theatre subsidiaries. When this division is effected, we will announce the date of the distribution of the shares in the new theatre company.” The Vogel letter accompanied a dividend check of 25 cents per share payable December 24, 1956, to stockholders of record December 6. Paramount May Buy Dot Record Company Discussions were reported in progress last week between Paramount Pictures Corp. representatives and Randolph Wood for the possible purchase of the latter’s Dot Record Company. Reportedly an agreement setting a purchase price of $3,000,000 has already been made. However, Barney Balaban, president of Paramount, said talks were under way but “that’s as far as it has gone.” Paramount has no record business. The Dot Records Company was organized in 1950 with headquarters in Hollywood. Its output consists largely of hillbilly and popular records. "Disneyland" in Release “Disneyland, U.S.A.,” the newest featurette in Walt Disney’s “People and Places” series, went into national release Christmas day. The featurette is in Cinemascope and color by Technicolor. 12 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 29, 1956