Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

Focus Is Top Problem , Says Research Man Kenneth D. Wingo HOLLYWOOD: Despite the multiplicity of technological developments bringing problems as well as prosperity to theatre owners in the past three or four years, the biggest, toughest and most widely prevalent problem of them all is now, as it was in the beginning, fo^ cus! Thi ing of Kenneth D. Wingo. first Motion Picture Research mi Council field man, who returned last week from preliminary tour of theatres and who was introduced to trade press representatives by Reseai’ch Council director William F. Kelley. The Wingo appointment is the first of its kind in industry history and represents fulfillment of a long nurtured Research Council ambition to establish a direct, personal and continuing liaison between Hollywood and the point of product exhibition. Representative Wingo, together with other field men who may be appointed additionally, will make available to theatre owners throughout the country all the information, testing devices, guidance data and related materials set up by the Research Council as standard and applied by studios to film production. Coal Is Uniformity *”*•» * The sought objective is to achieve a status of approximate uniformity, industry-wide, which will have the effect of guaranteeing to producer and exhibitor, for their mutual benefit, that the standards by which a picture is made and the standards by which it is exhibited are the same. Mr. Kelley pointed out to the press that a measure of liaison which prevailed between major studios and their own theatre circuits was lost, due to divorcement, at a time in the course of the industry’s life when technological processes, methods and equipment were undergoing more drastic changes than ever before. But that liaison benefitted only the theatres linked by corporate parentage to the major studios. On the contrary, the present arrangement, which contemplates a permanent staff of field men, will benefit all the theatres, big or little, circuit or independent, in the line of travel of each representative. THE WINNERS CIRCLE Pictures which wete reported as doing above average business in key theatres of the cities of the nation for the week ending December 22 were: Albany: Giant (W.B.) 4th week; Hollywood or Bust (Para.). . Atlanta: Curucu, Beast of the Amazon (U-I); Friendly Persuasion (A. A.); Hollywood or Bust (Para.); The Mole People (U-I); Westward Ho the Wagons (B.V.) Boston: Lust for Life (MGM) 4th week. Buffalo: "The Girl Can’t Help It (20th-Fox); Hollywood or Bust (Para.); The Ten Commandments (Para.) 2nd week; Westward Ho the Wagons (B.V.). Chicago: Anastasia (20th-Fox); The Teahouse of the August Moon (MGM) 5th week. Columbus: Giant (W.B.) 5th week. Denver: Oklahoma! (20th-Fox) 9th week; Riviera (I.F.E.). Des Moines: Friendly Persuasion (A. A.). Detroit: Julie (MGM) 2nd week; The Ten Commandments (Para.) 4th week. Hartford: Four Girls in Town (U-I); Hollywood or Bust (Para.); The King and Four Queens (U.A.); Rififi (UMPO) 5th week; Rock, Rock, Rock (DCA); Westward Ho the Wagons (B.V.). Indianapolis: Hollywood or Bust (Para.); The Teahouse of the August Moon (MGM); Westward Ho the Wagons (B.V.). Jacksonville: Dance With Me Henry (U.A.); Hollywood or Bust (Para.); The King and Four Queens (U.A.); Rock, Pretty Baby (U-I). Kansas City: Rebecca (20th-Fox) (reissue) 2nd week; The Sea Shall Not Have Them (U.A.) 2nd week. Memphis: Giant (W.B.) 5th week. Milwaukee: Giant (W.B.) 6th week. Oklahoma City: Curucu, Beast of the Amazon (U-I); Everything But the Truth U-I); Hollywood or Bust (Para.) 2nd week; Julie (MGM); Oklahoma! (Magna) 19th week; Westward Ho the Wagons (B.V.). Philadelphia: Friendly Persuasion (A. A.) 5th week; Giant (W.B.) 5th week; The Opposite Sex (MGM) 7th week. Pittsburgh: Secrets of Life (B.V.). Portland: Giant (W.B.) 5th week; Lust for Life (MGM) 5th week; Oklahoma! (20thFox) 6th week. San Francisco: Friendly Persuasion (A. A.) 7th week; Giant (W.B.) 7th week; The Great American Pastime (MGM); Reprisal (Col.). Toronto: The Battle of the River Plate (JARO); Oklahoma! (Magna) 35th week; The Ten Commandments (Para.) 5th week. Vancouver: Navy Wife (A.A.); The Rack (MGM). Bernard Sholtz Joining Altec Sales Division Bernard Sholtz will join Altec Service Company January 1 as special sales representative, according to an announcement by H. M. Bessey, executive vice-president. Mr. Sholtz, known to the industry as “Bernie,” has served in various sales and executive capacities in the theatre equipment division of RCA since 1929. Prior to his retirement from RCA in 1954, he acted for several years as district manager of theatre equipment sales in behalf of a wide variety of product. He entered the industry in the distribution departmen of Selznick, followed by associations with Warners and Fox, and in 1929 was appointed sales manager of the RCA sound device known as Photophone, marking the introduction of sound-on-film. He was with RCA continuously until his retirement in 1954. U.A. to Release Five Pictures in January Earlmar Productions’ “Durango,” starring Jeff Chandler, heads United Artists’ roster of five releases for January, it was announced last week by William J. Heineman, vice-president in charge of distribution. The other features are “Five Steps to Danger,” starring Ruth Roman and Sterling Hayden; “The Halliday Brand,” starring Joseph Cotten and Viveca Lindfors; “The Big Boodle,” starring Errol Flynn and Pedro Armendariz, and “Four Boys and a Gun,” a Philip Yordan screenplay with newcomers Frank Sutton, Terry Green, James Franciscus and Bill Ninant. Allied Artists Plans Eight New Pictures Eight productions will be put before the cameras at Allied Artists during the first four months of 1957, according to executive producer Walter Mirisch. During January production will be ' launched on “Dino,” with Sal Mineo; “New Day at Sundown” and “From Hell It Came.” In February the cameras will be turned on “The Victor Riesel Story” and “Spook Chasers,” a Bowery Boys comedy. In March production will commence on “Chisera” and “Branded Lady.” In April, “Queen of the Universe” goes before the cameras. Buy Seattle House SEATTLE, WASH.: Sterling Theatres have purchased the Colonial theatre on Fourth Avenue from the John Collins Estate, it is announced by John Danz, president of Sterling. Installation of the latest type of equipment, including a wide screen for CinemaScope, is planned. 22 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER 29, 1956