Variety (November 1963)

Fe Annual Meeting: Hands McCarthy ‘New Ticket | |. -, patra’? in that. theatre. Censorship Fights i in 4 States Loom— ‘Rights’. Angle. Council of Motion Pieture Organizations. last. Friday: (1) held” its annual membership, board an exec committee meeting. at which _.reports were made on the outfit’s: work during’ the past year and incumbent execs were re-elected. é ~ V.p. . Marcus presided at the ses ber. sion for which 22 members turned |. out. Ralph Hetzel subbed for Gene | Picker who. was on the Coast for |~ the festivities in connection. with |} “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad World.’ ». McCarthy discussed. claimed ing an all-industry effort to com bat censorship .and classification: ‘wherever it arises. It was agreed to continue COMPO’s anti-censor| ship campaign. It was disclosed that. the. audi-. ence awards proposal. which had been gtandopont at least, because the organization had been. told that it}? would not be able to gef the nec essary talent to stage an awards [ presentation via sponsored tv. It was through this program that. it. had planned to. defray ‘the .expenses involved in running the poll. Theatre Owners of America, me ,» Rad passed a resolu|: tion of its own during its national | convention last week to investigate ence awards campaign. — Emanuel Frisch. reported. on. the. COMPO Bill of Rights drive to ‘stimulate public awareness of the. guarantees. in the federal document and it was decided to con| tinue the Bill of Rights committee as a standing part of the organiza-. tion. Le Mar Sarra reported on the outlet’s efforts to get the fed eral tax on theatre tix repealed and said: that the drive was slowed | by President Kennedy's tax bill .which was up for congressional | appro’ and which prevented ac~ tion. on of ‘proposed. tax legisla tion. It was noted, however, that: COMPO had made friends among congressmen regarding their re peal fight and it was decided. to} continue COMPO’s efforts until Charles E. McCarthy was, given | \a new three-year contract as: exec. of COMPO and cochdirman Ben Marcus, Eugene Picker . and. > Samuel Pinanski were reaffirmed| _ as Russell ‘V. Dow-).¢* : ning and secretary Sidney Schrei-| Turks Film Actin and covered the hotspots of ‘com: ing battles—New York, Maryland, New Jersey and Kansas. He pro the necessity of organiz|. before the organization had | ‘been abandoned, from. COMPO’s: the tax is finally eliminated. Also discussed’ :at the closed |’ d|mieeting was :the ‘group’s efforts. towards -increasing film. ‘produc|. tion. No. détails ‘were available, | .. however, as. to. what this program. ; entails. Partnering, Washington, Nov.. ‘42. U. Ss. ‘Commerce Dept. predicts that an: increasing ‘number of ‘U.S. and. European. motion pictures. will be filmed in.Turkey. Commerce Dept. reported a an in crease in “runaway” production in: Turkey over the last two years. ‘Whether the trend. continues depends on the availability of blocked. lira accounts ‘which: were opened to foreign filmmakers this year, ‘the ’ Department. said.. ‘Domestic. production in. Turkey also vontinues to rise with the num: ‘ber of homegrown. films: ranging. from’ 130 to’ 150. annually. ‘in 000. or. above. ” g $66.00 of the domestic industry ‘is marked: by. nearly 200 produc-. ‘ing companies... The Turkish Film ‘Producers Assn, noted, though, that ‘only 15 of. these ‘companies. can | produce top quality :pictures.” Attendance:..was estimated” at. about. 90,000,000. annually: bringing the possibilities of such an’ audi‘in Git 000,000. of box office ‘coin. _ ‘the .255. imports,..85 were } vank films. with the. bulk of the remaining . imports: ‘coming from. ‘Western Europe : Although the “domestic industry'| ny other larger cities, suffers be‘cause: i amorhas be len |. gf cen. stolen ‘&. Rome inspection ‘tour checking the company’s product in preparation. . doesn’t: get ‘a ‘direct . government. subsidy, distributors and exhibitors. get: a better break with domestic films through. a “Gifterential:, tax! ‘payment plan. Henry: Fredel’s Surgery | <. © Denver, .Nev.: 12. Henry: Fredel, for many years Denver branch manager for MGM but now representing. Parade. Films here, recently’ underwent. ‘Ywsajor: surgery. | After many weeks in’ the. ‘hos-: pital, he-is now. ‘Tecovering at his heme... | “ATTENTION: THEATER MANAGERS | Opportunity to move up into the mushrooming field’ of Community Antenna Televisien. (CATV) — —Managers neéded to direct, promote « and admini-_ ster CATV operations (Several. positions. avail. | able). ‘Barns An Um * Charlotte, N.C., Nov. 12, * Officials of. ‘Charlotte’ ‘Ss. ae worth Theatre shook ‘the hand person who ‘paid to. see “Cleo ‘She. was : Mrs. : ‘Charles: a pharmacist. She | received ° ‘a one-year family pass and. “an. antique Egyptian | urn. a Detroit. qi ——* ‘Continued. ‘from. Dare. 4 — ‘Jat the downtown: UDT houses at 50¢ a ‘head, will ‘get a revitalized'| campaign beamed” at the under-17 | | group. throughout the metropolitan {area by means. of radio and ‘tv: | spots, school. notices. and: the like.: On the Increase Free parking for downtown thea tre-goers is ‘already: available, but |’ ‘this fact..will be: dramatized . and. | made. better known by newspaper, | . radio and tv ads and ‘the. circula-'| tion of 20,000. folders. Showing Io‘cation. of the lots | near -each of the}. | four. UDT. theatres. | All of. these. promotions. will ‘be. advertised, along ‘with . the big -Thanksgiving-week large display ads; ‘billboards, radio | and tv. commercials. Also, an eight-| page roto section devoted entirely: “bookings” to these specials and: the. movies {ton ‘view will be circulated: just be-. fore Thanksgiving asa Supplement | to the Detroit Free Press. In commenting . on. the. massive’ . | campaign, ‘Woodrow. R.. “Praught, -lhead of UDT; said:. ‘is. entirely .within’ the realm. of reason that, with a. constant bar rage of. gimmicks and Special’: en‘ducements,. added to ‘our offerings of quality attractions, ‘we ‘can focus hitenough attention. on. downtown ..| theatres as the place to go, to increase the: numbers of patrons. by 50%, and. even’.more.. We have fine : théeatres,. plenty. Of seats; and]: we have the. ‘attractions—and we have about. four’ million “people: to draw fro om. °. “Netroit’s downtown, like so: “'ma by the new ‘shopping centers; new residential: developments | and new entertainment facilities of the sub __turban-. area: Downtown ‘has been | ‘here :; “f-very Tittle that is new. about: it,. . in Ahe entertainment field. . J. :“Qur facilities are still the finest |_ to be had,” Praught continued, “but ‘the new things inthe ‘eighbor-. hoods: have been getting the at-| tention. We “intend. ‘doing’ some-|_ thing about ‘it, and this. campaign |: . is* only the’ ‘beginning. “Over-all, t our intent.is ‘to ‘have something |. . -| special going all the time, and we.|.’. | have. erhaps: another dozen. gim|. ® | micks on tap to add to-those al-|j| ready: in. the ‘plan;\ or to replace |: | any. -that. don’t. ‘work .out. . | a| “We should | make clear, though, iT §| that ‘this “is ‘not am effort: to. take any . theatre-going away from : the a .long. time, and. ‘there. is ‘| neighborhoods: Our company is al so: substantially involved’ in ssubur-. ban’ theatres, : and” expects ‘to be more. so. However,..we are. strong| ly. convinced: that ‘the sparkle and. glamor. of the downtown-first-runs jis an absolute necessity. -to the | health of.the busines. as a whole. “Let -me’ put. it. lie .sees' the. downtown theatres | withering on the. vine,” this: isa | black: eye to: the industry. as -a| | whole, and: ‘movies: as-such become a ‘second-rate commodity, about ‘as glamorous asthe. neighborhood | drug’ store. Even. to the suburban‘i |-ite who: never attends a downtown | @| movie, the excitement and glamor | | of. an. exclusive | ‘showcase launch — Requires minimum 3-5 years experience in theater : ‘promotion. and administration, including ‘super Fl vnich are the howt ead cere ae vision of employees. | 3 —Assume parallel responsbilities in managing and promoting a.CATV system. Liberal starting salary. —Must be willing to relocate. Give full information on: your qualifications. in your . first letter,. which will be kept confidential. | Write Box V-3535, VARIETY 154 W. ‘46th St, New York, N. Y. 10036 sine r Qj with Sandra LL Goulet. _ : |ing Jare ‘part .and parcel. creating | the desire: to-see a motion. picture. If we let these’ downtown theatres, our distribution’ patterg, ‘die out or ‘become. sick, we ‘will soon-have an. _ entire sick _Andustry in. the | area. ” A silent. but partisan. voice in}: attendance-building try. is Detroit’s |Cetitral Business. District Associa-. tion, of which Praught is a director ‘Bij and tember of. the promotion ¢om‘i | mittee.. This body is using its re@j. sources to: boost thé. UDT cam ‘paign, and. many ‘member retailers jj and property.’‘owners are.. watch-} ‘ing “with ‘keen interest the. effect of UDT’s effort to stimulate down-. -§ { town traffic, and to place the down + town | area. in the: ‘public’ spotlight. a ie Andy Williams. makes “his. fiim* | bow in Universal’s “Richest Girl’ in}: | Town,” playing a straight acting: ‘trole ‘in ‘Ross’ Hunter:. production: Dee; and Robert, | Wednesday”. of “the: 50,000th. -| ‘Dan ‘Frankel is ehairmani. signed. a deal to join Jackie Gleason’s staff . “Sound system . ee “We think it| correct a press release sent out last week by company’s former sales the release of both “Zazie": and “Yojimbo” . .. has ‘signed an. exclusive pact with GAC for films and. legit. _Werinesiny November 13,1 1963. ~ New York Soundtrack “Continued from page 13 fae Irving Drutman is the. author: ‘of the. “Tt’s In "The Contract,” “detailing: examples 2 current. Playbill: article, . | of some of: the. eccentric demands ‘made: by performers. Camphell, who. came. to. see | the .show with her ‘husband,.| “phe ‘Gold: Bug,”’. Edgar ‘Allan: Poe classic thriller, has been set for: production by American International Pictures next year, Roger Corman | to produce-direct and ‘Charles Griffith to script. . Irving Wormser, prez of CoritinentalDistributing, ‘back’ ‘from. Moscow; Paris. and. London ‘in time’ for talks here this week. on: Reade-Sterling’ s° + {| upcoming “The -Luck of Ginger Coffey,”’which. starts. production : ‘in ‘| Canada in January. Pic will be produced by. Roth-Kershner i in association: -| with Crawley ‘Films of -Canada.; . Audubon: Films’ Radley Metzger. off for Europe to. ‘scout. new: product . eo. Tommy Sands and: N ancy Sinatra . in ‘town, | o : Daniel P.. ‘Skouras, formerly. director ‘of operations for Inflight Motion Pictures,: has joined. AIP’s foreign department as head of sales: control. Also: at’ AIP, Jerry. Cutler, former ‘trade: press: reporter, is a. ‘new addition to the: 'N. Y,. publicity ‘staff headed by Ruth Pologe : Times Film’s sales director Irving. Sochin. denies reports that “Mondo wg Cane” had. any censor problems. jn Montgomery, | Ala.. Pic, originally due to: open’ at the Charles :Theatre there inmid-October, -was only.” “ delayed and. ‘finally’ opened without cuts. or any. kind" of objections ' Nov. 1. George Jessel, who was a. producer on! the 20th ‘Lot for. déveral years while Darryl. Zanuck was production chief, will be toeastmaster .at the Motion Picture Pioneers dinner here Not, 25 honoring his.former ‘boss Writer John Tackaberry, following 15: years ‘with Jack Benny,’ has . James Stewart in town following his: Texas p.a.s. in connection: with the opening. of 20th’s. “Take Her, She’s Mine” .. . Glenn Ford stars. in 20th’s.. “Fate Is The’. Hunter,” which ‘tarts. production on the Coast’ Tot’ in December. toe Four: Brazilian. journalists, stopping off: in New York after the: “Mad. World”. junket to Hollywood, were treated. toa dramatic. view of the “Ameri¢an economy one night while ‘dining at. the. ‘Top-of-The-Sixes. ‘There they: ran into several ‘young’ Brazilian compatriots, students: . working .as. waiters'in their spare time, ‘each of. whom is presently 7 earning more money than any of the journalists present. Se . Skouras Theatres. hosted a press’ junket -yesterday (Tues.)’ to the 7 Skouras Route 17: ‘drive-in..for a. demonstration. of the theatre’s new . Bill Kronick,. prez of Seneca International, ‘writes to’ chief Ben Gladstone. According . to Kronick, while Seneca will ‘not be ‘acquiring any more pictures for: distribution, it will continue: to handle— . Actress Nan Martin Paul Czinner’s film: version. of. the: Salzburg festival | ‘production. of.” “Der Rosenkavalier,” starring Elizabeth Schwarzkopf, will have:a special four-week. erigagement at. the Carnegie Hall: Cinema here'‘starting during ‘the Christmas holidays. Pic :is. being handled nationally « as a concert attraction by Showcorporation and Martin Tahse, ; | Otto Preminger back in Gotham and off on a. ‘promotion. swing. for “The ‘Cardinal’ which takes him to Toronto, Detroit, St. Louis, Los. Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Dallas, New Orleans and: Philadelphia: . Cartoon maker: Walter Lantz and wife in Gotham, he to huddle with U execs re future pix. Carl: Peppercorn, Embassy V.p. general sales. manager, on. a. ‘London there... . George Kirgo into “Best Man”... . Rex. Bell Jr., son of Clara Bow, inked for Pdramount’s. “Stagecoach to Hell” along with Anne Seymour and Dale Van Sickle . .~.. Romy. Schneider has replaced ‘Sophie Loren as Peter Sellers’ costar: in. “Shot. in the Dark” after. Miss ‘Loren’ 8 withdrawal due to illness. County Aims to Censor Materials Measure Opposed as as Another In Instance of. Parental Abdication of Responsibility originally urged ‘the ordinance, be-. “Albuquerque, Nov. 43. cause they objected to. skin flicks ‘of speakers, . ‘out. if : Crowd of: about 160 ‘persOns ‘ate: x tended”: the... .commission = session 1: ‘with about. 90% of. them favorable 1. By ‘a_two-to-one. vote, zines, periodicals and. some. films ‘being shown at two theatres. in ‘rural . portion -of county outside city. limits ‘of. -Albuquerque (the “It must come up for: {second . and ‘third. public readings this way,’ | Praught stated: “If the general pub-. county seat). before. if becomes. final. “sell; distribution” “of same. both... postal: mailing “permit. Opposing the: ordinance,. which | | also drew protests from ‘a number |: was Commissioner | Gerald Cornelius, ‘who earlier had. ‘gone on record against the. ordi-: the Bernalillo County. Commission last: week greenlighted ananti-ob-. scenity. ordinance on its. first read-. ‘ing. .Ordinance is: aimed ‘at so-ealled pornographic books, maga (250,000. population) already: has @ ‘similar ‘law: on the: books.. Wording of . the ordinance is ingeneral terms, no definition of ‘the | word obscene is ineluded. Law exempts material which. has a US |. and nudie pix being shown at: two. theatres in the area, the Route 25 Drive-In and the. ‘Esquire “Arts” Cinema. Both houses are operated | by Carl: ‘Halberg. and his. TREC ¥nterprises. County’. seat “on? “Albuquerque , It's been in effect since 1949; but the city. has failed. to’ get'a conviction, 7 in ‘spite of ‘several. arrests ‘on: the. charge. in Tecent: ‘years, . Ordinance ‘makes’ it. unlawful to | _ -exhibit.. or. distribute’ any | ‘obscene. writing or picture or to. advertise’ the. sale, exhibition or Convic|= tion. ‘could. bring: a fine of up. to}: $100 or. 90 days in. county jail, or ‘Bud Yorkin &: “Norman Lear: (Tandem). bought Robert Kaufman’s © -novel, “Divorce. American Style." a “New York's largest specialists In ‘motion picture &TVi insurance (cast, film,. weather, liability, | -cameras, props, plagiarism...) WINKLER ASSOCIATES, LTD, 120 W. of. St, New. York 19, Circle 7-3366 mance as ‘a form: of censorship. _ Cornelius ‘said’ that he will con-'| tinue to oppose the. ordinance.-'. He | ‘said that: “it’s a. sign of the times |[ that. we: are eroding rights by. legislation and. having the state take over the’ duties ot the. family.” He said he ‘believes the’ ‘problem: a. of dealing. with obscene. literature |} ‘or pictures is a parental oné, this. he added that many parents. | are shirking this duty and respon| sibilty, ; and. taking ‘the. easy. way. > aiaied te sucha eontrol. bilL-. _ Several persons in the: ruraLarea |e ‘To [' away” our|{ | ANNOUNCES. 7 FILM LIBRARY: World Wide 35mm..8K. Color” » Plee e crates, Angeles 19, Calif. "Ritpublic §-1212, Editerial. MOVIE THEATRE “| __ , Lease for Sle Pree $10,000, Terms "so Seati—Alr bond. Coney Idond—ES 21908: