Variety (April 1964)

be ene phrase “Showcase” Misapplied at ~ Residents of Yorkville N abe Dislike Confusion of a : “Terms and. Lockout of, ‘Fresh’ Product . * “The. “showcase” situation in n New! “York is gétting: sloppy.’ For ‘one “t . thing, theatres are. keeping * their | “showcase” “banners: . flying. and |" scales: in force — “regardless” of ‘ what’s | playing—and, . for another, a (7 “13 Was. approved. at “the ‘annual funs® ‘are becoming: “endless.” Examples “havebeen | visible at} “the RKO 86th St. Theatre; where}: : ““it*-has -happenedbeiore, | ‘and : at ~other’ Spots around town.: A reissue |: .. ‘double : bill ‘had been: ‘playing the} 86th, “Pillow: Talk’” and’ “Operation Pet-}.-. ‘show-. . -ease:” Yet the theatre still. has the} “A Premiere:, Showcase: -. Theatre” on :the marquee.: At also ‘ticoat.”. This is surely:..no ° “lias ‘$1.65: top. scale.in: force. _ -To Yorkville: area residents. this fs an. annoyance—and ..a.. confusion..|: *. Carrying. the sloppy. practice. ‘to thé. basic.” ‘question—can, any: prestige “Premiere | “Sf it “is tisapplied ‘SO |. “loosely, . and: ‘many will ‘think, ‘$o| -~unethically?’ ‘Words: have meanings |. “survive.-in -the’ term : ‘’ Showease’”’ and... these. ‘meanings: must. ‘be re “spected.” itz any booking. is a“show. |: “ease” no booking has a: ‘separation | from the. run-of-stream. AS separate “question “relates: to Pe “the: tendency to’ hold ‘films just. as |“ long: ‘as -possible in neighborhood|. There .. are’ limits: to-“the: ~houses.. economic..sense in “doing «so. The. . Yorkville. district is’ ‘residential and | too’ /much' “showcasing” deprives | the’ ‘residents’ ‘of their. accustomed change, OF. ‘bill. and . _ Variety of choice. ee {To tise ‘the 86th. ‘Street’ example’ ” . again; ‘“The Cardinal” has" been at | “Loew's 86th it “now. séems © like foréver.. Before the. U: double ‘bill, “eC Aptain Newman” . the: RKO. spot for: an: equally séem 7 ingly endless. run: |, Meantime United’ “Artists is: gall. . ‘On ‘the. basis of nine and: more ‘weeks, of: jocked ‘in “ing “Tom. J ones” bookings. “Showcase” -originally. was | pre-firstrun. ” sented” as .a multiple. -‘scheme,: aimed ‘ at. bringing” the * were only tobe. two-three: ‘weeks -as -@ quick ‘first wave kill :before’ the subsequent. « “multiple. -“showease’ City .Music: ‘Hall, with. Iongrun|* policy in the nabes: This has-exhibs mh climbing. walls, It als” annoys: ‘Jocal. ‘Patrons. There are. genuine “Showedse” | . hookings too, like the ‘current: UA{: “From “ “Flight. “From. ‘Ashiya.’ van “Russia . With Love’. But .‘the “pattern is stich a. ‘conglomerate ‘one . that ‘patrons’ who. are supposed to “be. attracted by © “showcase’” are}: eonfused: and l-and annoyed by: it by: it. 5 Bi ious Eye | Goon ‘Showcase’ . Discussing. the hefty ‘sales ” cam-. paign’ “sct. by . Allied’ Artists. for: oe “Fhe: Thin.RedGine”’ in. New: York : ~Jast -weak gerieral.sales . ‘manager |’: ‘Ernest ‘Sands commented. that “he Was going to. “bark into New. York’’ | with. the picture.. ‘Questioned . fur-: ther ‘on this. -point; Sands said -this ‘Wast'so bse use ..he ‘wasconcerned with the. “shawease””. Gotham.” _ Althoush: Allied: ‘hasnt. ‘played 2 “pie on “showease”. yet, Sands com| . mented: that: as. regards: AA he. ‘Was. . “not happy” . with it. et So: far “it. is “not ‘lear ‘how. thie, “Red | ‘Line’ Gotham: It is. ‘being distributed on “a. wide.. ‘multiple basis: elsewhere’ around : the country. -but ‘that .typeof.-pattern. is. ‘crimped a: bit ‘in the: New Yor’s ‘area because: so many |'on nahe houses ate out of circulation and. tied: vy. in. -“showéase”” runs. This: ‘as. ben one: of. ‘the’ big “show?ace” -arohlems | == -how. , to _ handle straig ut. multiplés, ia “coupling -.of | Universal’s |: "| "largest chain of shopping: ten" had ° béen -at-|. ‘To.day’s: ‘seems. evolving: into al: ". followup’: toanexclusive firstrun on Broadw: ay, the. eastside or Radio ;. and. situation . ins. fee ge “Relfag Geni Drive-In a As las atictipns -but runaway (to .the: poor fo _ 1 house).. -budgets: is’ what frightens ‘many.a thoughtful. New: York. film showman nowadays. ‘vate. ‘conversations open. ‘alarm. is} + expressed. as. to ‘epics. costing dou“| ble: and. more. :what : was ‘intended. :| Impatience. has devéloped, -too, -re . . Boston, ‘April 21,0 ” General: Drive-In; ‘Corp: has officially, changed its name to . General Cinema Corp... Action’. : ‘meeting of. stockholders . “here. 7 “last week, : A According to prez Richard ‘A = .. descriptive. of: the: ‘diversified. “ theatre activties. of the com-. = pany: Latter. includes atotal , comprising. not: only. drive-ins, * ‘and what is believed ‘to be the . 7 ter theatres: in. the: US... It $ Lou Chesler Litd:, | out. of. the company. in. Torder.. to i ment Co.. } been’: revealed: ‘the. ‘1962 Seven Arts’ -anniial ‘report : -shows| “‘TA’S ‘in-. “vestment in-Grand Bahama © De-}: | velopment, via’ -a_ wholly: owned | 1 Subsid, to: ‘be ‘valued: at: -600;000 | nabes and suburbs. into: the. Broadand ‘equal to 21% $5,000. way release pattern. But ‘bookings! Bahama’. outstanding common: ‘eost:. and --the ‘control of budget: is ‘sh ares,. ‘sary -financing,. 1 7A~ ‘shareholders, tion,.-Chesler will . resign. as. 7A -chairman* and. hoard. ‘member. . tome FEST BID. Chicago, “April 21: : First: feature-length. art. film: ever | produced in -Chicago has been | se-: {1 lected. to” ‘Tepresent .-the 2 ‘United | | States’ in the -Critics: choice’ ‘section. jae the Cannes: International Film ‘Festival , ‘commencing © -Aprik 21. in ‘Fratice. Tae ‘producers; : directors: and writers: of. the: 85-minute film, “‘Goldstein:” are: Philip. ‘Kaufman’ and ~ ‘Benijamin. Manaster, ° ‘both in| their. mid-twenties. : -in-for' about $75. 000; was" filmed. on ‘Deceriber-: of 1963° and was, completed’ juSt*in time” for: the. ‘prejudging for the Fr ench fést. ‘return of: the ‘prophet: Elijah... ‘TPhe and “Requiem For A Heavyweisht’ ’: Benito -. -Carruthers. and. Lilith’): Caretaker”: { “Shadows”. “The “Defenders” ‘and: “eg “Route -Burns: of the Second City, troupes, Smith, the new name ‘is‘consid-: ered to be more appropriately: *:. of °72° theatres -in .20“states, “put also conventional :hardtops” * E“Birth’ Of -A Nation”. in’ 1915; ‘and. Of Bahamas Now, ' [Ne evelt Arts : “sonable. monsoons: and -unreason| growing: disposition: to see the: heart |. : of. boxefficeletdown in: two: weak-|" a board’ of. ‘Seven. ‘Arts. ‘Production | players, not big:séts, riot width|" cand chairman, of | ‘its., board }. for the last: three: years, ‘Is: pulling | devote his. full . time ‘tothe‘bur: | ; feoning . ‘Grand. Bahama. Develop. | a ‘:|nes§-that..the :characters. in-.epics . According: to. a. IA ‘press’ “hand: ‘aut, :the’ company-:: has’ entered into. an agreement. with: ‘Chesler® ““pro-| | viding for .the elimination of”: his ‘holding. of. 7A. securities and. the |} | disposition | by-.7A of ' its’ holdings ‘| ‘in Grand. ‘Bahama : Development. a} While. ‘the exact” aniount: of'-Ches-: 1 en holdings -in-’ 7A: shave” neyér of -Grand } , ; t bi d ti | “Consuimmation of’ the ‘agreement | elated to -the script being ‘good to with, Chesler: is subject.to the.completion. of. -arrangéments forneces| ‘still being . nego-: ‘tiated, and.to the’ ‘approval of the “according -.. ‘to: Eliot Hyman. prez of Seven: Arts; : ‘Upon: completion of . the: ‘transac: | the. blame for today’ s ‘script changes | _ ‘Twritten lastnight. ee . understand ‘is how,: ‘with. millions “involved; -.and ‘so: much ° attention} _ bestowed upon ‘stars, . sets, special |: “TO CHICAGO: << “ ‘togas the. basic élements-of.a_ “well ‘siona' Ss. |gac THALL AD CHIEF “The::picture, which: was. “brought: location. in: :Chicago ‘using no studio. scenes: :-It ‘was shot. in. October and fF: 4 tertainment.division of West, Weir } ‘The. ‘picture’ -is a. “modern-settiaig adaptation Of-ia‘Story* by Martin }Buber: based ‘on ‘the. ‘legend: of the’ ‘beast. includes Lou. Gilbert; who: ap-+|peared | in -the films. “Viva ‘Zapata’ |: Jwill’ be. handled. in} and in. a: “stage: ‘version: of “The. ‘and |: Ellen Madison,“who-. has appeared: Also in--the ‘east ate Severn} ‘Darden, .Anthony.-Holland: and. Jack | quarterly: ‘divvy’-of. B0e" per: share and a’ gust: appearance by. novelist: . Nelson. n Aleren: ” 3 holders: of: record May 15, 1934, “or “ aaa v By ROBERT g. EANDRY ~ Noe runaway (to: overseas) ‘pro-|° In’ their ‘pri: -| specting: ‘the : time-tarnished’ ‘alibis _ that. the: weather, the natives, the ‘| direetor “OF. the leading lady’ ‘went | : berserk. : Old and” New. Testaments, even. the -Protean-change ‘Yugoslavian caval-. . . try, -disguised as Medes; Persians | ~~ Jor ancient Greéks. Yét despite the:]. © | fretting: over burst budgets nobody |." ‘| suggests an ‘end to.: epics.’ “Truth | {is epics “have been. standard -since. frequently. ‘profit: bonanzas,. though. now. .clouded.. by: fiscal ‘madness, : . Stripping away. alibis : of unsed-,| ‘able. natives,: and: the love Junacies |. of. -stars, ‘there. is’ apparently ~ a | ‘costs: “and” 42). script ° “and | dialog. of screen,” nor. “Wagnet-like ° ‘music scores Can cover up, * New: York. ‘showmen and/oi or “fie nanciers” ‘may’ partly be. repeating the ‘critics in their: latterday: aware must: talk good’ dialog. Because. Joe Mancekiewicz " took’ ‘good © care of ‘that. in* “Cleopatra, 9. dialog. be-. came .one’ “of. the. lus. points Of: a: troubled : -Spectacle. : :’ True,. some ‘folk. objected. thatthe: speech pat-| Egypt.’ set .in “‘Becket,”” cand a point of. criticism : in, “Fall of : ‘The Roman} Empire.” eo But’ if. dialog _ ig: being: ‘singled: ‘out: increasingly | as .one vital” component’ ‘of boxoffice: appeal” or non‘appeal, it is: only part. of the script. The script ‘in turn” is “part. of. the}. ‘Start. with, and: ‘completed. suffici| ently ahead: for shrewd-eyaluation. |: “Cleo” and “Bounty” . are. the. two} most-cited’ ‘recent | instances, of ‘un feady script: . In. each-insta ‘quarrel ‘has: ‘raged. ast. whether | fhe: company in -New: York or: the}. director’ on «location ‘should -bear | What.. the ‘worrying ores “cannot | effects; fancy. ‘credits, art, lavish] scores .and . fortunes in “Fobes ‘and|| told tale : ‘are. sometimes So‘ trite and} ‘thin: It <is. “possibly: “even more |: ‘shocking’ in. ‘certain: cases: where the completed seript . was :in hand) months.-ahead.: : “Tf the critics, can |’ ‘see the. flaws ‘so-readily why cannot. ‘the. fortune-collecting profes: | see them and. ‘correct | them?” sums: up ‘the complaint. AT COLUMBIA PICTURES | “Jac Thali; “formerly ‘Copy. ‘chief | and ‘creative. director for the :en &. Bartel, : has: ‘been. -hamed’ ad manager. ‘for Columb: a: ’ Pictures: He ‘replaces: Gil Pearlm2n,. ‘who! ‘resigned. to: Join. a new. legit: ‘thea|. : tre. -project. « ” :-"Phall‘has: aise ‘Served | “Stints Parainount’s Quarterly. 50e Pr ‘ Paramount last: week.’ ‘voted. a on its. common stock. “Split. is pavable Jue wT ta stock * “host: on-existent, | All of. which: ‘throws. ‘attention. to}. n stent, the: ozoners the: future ‘of costume and chariot |’. -spectacles, Ahig-screen: historicals of ‘all’ kinds; further’ explorations: of:| ‘terns ‘were. prettymodern for’ old. Dialog,: too, became ° an as-]'; ‘f Cinerama. film,: | Mad,. ‘Mad ‘World oe Tuns through . ‘with “RKO, “Universal and. 20th | OY" 3. ‘Fox. ‘Recently. he headed . his:. own |} ‘Studio, Servicing film, contraets. Bate Circuit ‘Promises ‘omises Renovation —_ Defends _Slowness « ‘on. Grounds of. 40¢c: Admission _ Hardy Showmen.. Minneapolis, “April. 21; Twin Cities’. . 7 ‘theatres; ‘which: opened. their. _ Season this” month, last .week “on a Monday: night (13) en-: : snowstorm being accompanied: ‘While ‘the. patronage: was al-° ‘went. ahead. with : ‘their. screen ings...-And “only: one’ suffered. Sufficient damage. that put. it. entirely:dut of commission. for. Most. of: ‘last_ week:. “That ‘was . the. Lucky: Twin, ‘a leading one | ‘which wash’t-‘so. lucky: on. this .. occasion, having had: a portion "of its” “screen demolished. Glen Alden Corp. Owner of RKO) " Notice. of annual. meeting. of the ‘Glen: Alden: Corp., scheduled ‘for Park ‘Sheraton ‘Hotel. on.” May. 15, ! was ‘sent to shareholders: Tast week, It stated: ‘that agenda would in- clude consideration -: ‘of. authoriza-| tion . of .: stock’ purchases ‘out. of capital: surplus’ and.*.authorization’} stock. option . plan: to. bring it into; conformity with ' stock-option-: pro-| visions. . of .1964. ‘Revenue | Act. Alden is. -parent of RKO.: :Theatres. | Glen’ Alden. sold its: capital stock ‘investment in American. Hardware ‘Corp. in J anuary ‘ ‘for: approximate-| “fy. $19,350, 000,. ‘realizing a. ‘profit -of *. ‘approximately -$5,460,000. -In February « it: offered..to purchase | common . ‘shares fromistockholders | ‘for: ‘$14 | ~per share,as: result of which; “by. the March ‘expiration ‘date,. company had’ purchased: 712,+1|: 878 sharés | at aggregate cost | of $9; 980; 292. °. Proxy : -$tatenient: _whieh. . ae-} companied ‘notice, “proposed * ‘that directors. be fixed.'at .11, the 11 ‘nomitiees being. directors at . the ‘Present. time, Lewis D. ‘Gilbert and John 5. Gilbert, . -. stockholders . ‘and’ coexecutors: ‘of estate :of : ‘Minnie | D:. -] Gilbert; “another . stockholder; have} advised Glen ‘Aldén: they intend to. introduce: a. resolution at the ‘annual. meeting. requesting *.. ‘that ‘Board “Of: -Directors take steps |.’ necessary ‘to--restore pre-emptive ‘Manage rights “to: stockholders. ment “is ‘recommending: that share Folders. vote against’ the resolution. 1. ‘CIRCUS’ INTO DALLAS . DAY BEFORE COTTAM Dallas), April 21. = Capit Theatres. : ‘is’ set “for . the. | . world. premiere ‘June 24 of the new{| ‘est Cineramia production, Samuel} | Bronston’s: “Circus. “World, . John ‘Wayne, Claudia ‘ ‘Cardinale and. Rita « Haywerth.. “June 25. in -Ne We York.” Earl. . Podolnick, Theatres ‘prexy; sat the preem Thursday. 416)" sith: : Sid. .€onper, general. ‘sales manager, of Ciner2ma, . ‘on: the: Coast. . ‘The’ “midtown: Capri’ S--¢urre ont “It’s. a Mad, Mad, “Prans-Tex3s "Rosenberg 0 ‘on: x Coast: ‘Hollywood, -April 21. -committee’. on. “aways, ‘xpects Guests| ‘with: ‘Film opens 1 ‘meets. Thurs.. _ Atlanta, “April 21. Some ‘35. Negro. demonstrators 13°" outdoor . picketed’ eight theatres belonging “Ato Atlanta-based’: ‘Bailey ‘fheatres: oa circuit. for about. three hours ‘Ye 2. | cently in protest. against failure. of countered-.a near blizzard, ‘the. ” [ehain’s. management. to renovate ‘a . by.-wind ‘gusts up.to 90-miles'. -| theatre..in a Negro neighborhood. an. hour:: At ‘same time..the ‘| wl ‘Oscarcast, Was ‘on: ABC-TV. “Mrs. Asberry ‘Fears, -spokes-. ‘woman: for .Atlanta : ‘Civic: Council, F ‘said management had. promiised : a ‘complete renovation of. Carver ‘Theatre several weeks ‘agoand “they have’ done. little to improve | the theatre.” She: added that all eight of the jhouses are in need of -improve -Jment, Seven are located in Negro -/ sections of Atlanta and the. eighth |is ‘in a racially mixed | neighbor|-hood. ‘Harold: Ty. ‘Spears, president -of ‘| Bailey chain,which. includes: his‘| toric ‘Bailey’s 81, located on De“/-eatur. Street.:in ‘heart of .Atlanta’s ‘| downtown. Negro :-business: section, .. said: his outfit has been. in process -of. ‘renovating ‘Carver .-for-.: some. i time now and Civic Council members were: not. satisfied with speed ‘with which: work is being done. | “Wecharge: only: A0c admission,” Spéars ‘said; t pared to. $1.50 charged by Atlanta’ s i theatres” for whites, SQ we are not in -financialposition: to. make ide luxe : ‘houses out of. our . locations, “However, we try tokeep them in: ‘ good. repair. and make i them. ‘comfortable: for our patrons. and. expect. . to” " continue this [af * ‘amendments of . corporation's | policy.’ . ; Civic ‘Council. did’ ‘not follow ‘through. ‘on. their picketing ‘PproBram after. dnitial effort. . Weirdo Chi Jam Post. Oscarcade wd Chicago; April 21.: . An "embarrassment of: Oscar ‘riches has created a. traffic jam at. ‘Chi’s .subrun houses.. Exhibitors | accustomed: ‘to. ‘scurrying ‘after the ‘better™ pix. have for the first time’ in .yéars ‘found themselves: in a | Buyers’ ‘Market; _ . . The -current week finds: United Artists’ accounting for’65 houses— -20with: the ‘second week-of.“Tom-. Jones”. ‘and 45. situations. picking up. a hastily-arranged. first subrun. of “Lilies of. the Field” (which ” had a dim three: ‘week first run -at. the. Oriental, ‘Theatre last: : November). ‘Nearly all of the rest of the nabes are: carrying. “Hud,”’. “g14" and:-“Irma La Douce” inVarying combinations. . ” The backup::i is further. congested by a 20th reissue of “South Pacific” which * was.arranged months ago | and nailed ™ some of. the better Cardina ?. is:being held for a. third week at several: of the prime. nabe ‘situations, i A Poitier Editorial .o. o"? Albany, April 21.. Albany’. Knickerbocker .» ‘News. editorially observed (18) “No one. | who sawe ‘Lilies.of the field’.could |: doubt. that Sidney Poitier was de© Serving-of. the.“Ose-r’ for the best ‘actor of the year..The ovz tion Mr. ‘Poitier received from his colleagues: inthe Academy of Motion’ ‘Picture. Arts. and Sciences, plus the reaction. of Jack : Lemmon, © the master of ceremonies at the aw. rds presentation, made it clear : that. : | the movie industry—a. major factor “fin carrying. America’s abroad—realized the | the Negro’ actor had “special sig, ; nificance in. a year. ‘when. civil Anna: -Rosehberg; ‘consultant la. -Motion Picture Assn.,. (23). with major. ‘studia. p: a>" city. ‘| directors’ ‘means of achieving Boal. of an; . improved. “image.” image s-lection of | Tights has ‘become a subject cf in.tense ‘concern.”. Stanley Warner ‘Ritz booked +-“Liliesof ‘the Field” for a down town-revival .date. Picture _ shad "| originally. played the Strand... oo te RS ee: “aS come (houses, “and the ‘fact that .“‘The womens ees >