Variety (July 1953)

Champ, ‘Shane’ 24 ‘Ft Ti,’ ‘Bess’ Next on "Ijnpact' that 3-D . product has ■•the/- boxolfice was .vividly . trated.at the nation’s first run IH'c- ■ nt-res Inst month, when, tri-dimen- sion al pictures landed, the first three places in : the national box- office sweepstakes. So strong were the 3-D pix that such films as “Scared Stiff“Desert Song’*, and “Young .Hess” were overshadowed. Of the three bio. toppers only “Shane” had any name stars', plain- ly pointing up the three-dimen- sional appeal. . F-ilm theat res in some 24 key cities cove red .by Variety had to contend with some/very hot. June weather and: end of' school' terms was- reflected;. business-wise only in closing weeks of; month, : ... “It.' Came. From//Outer Space’* (U) is: the June champion grosser, finishing first two weeks in a row, and never going beloW sixth.. This 3-1) tii l-i 11 or pi 1 ed up grosses that better the biz done by Universal's previous ace \ money make rs './by a wide inargin. “Sliaiie’.' ipar), also in the three- dimensional /cM^ landed sec- ond 1 . position,, showing, marked strength on virtually every play- date; Markvyas made despi to a lesser number of... engagements early in the. month.. "/' /./••■ . “Fort Ti” (Col) copped third- spot,, cashing in on the popularity of 3-D pix and . the fact that it is an outdoor thriller. -‘Voting Hess” (M-G) captured fourth money, with the advent; of the Coronal ion . making this a nat- ural for one week of sweeping bookings around the time of. the British queen’s crowhing (Continued on page at Claim Profit Margin NG Pending a downward revision of .film rental ten ns for 3-D pictures, subsequent-run theatres are do? laying installation of depth equip- ment. Theat remen are acting on advice of their exhib orgs, which, have he(‘ii surveying the profit .and loss aspects of the “deepies,” un- der the current, prices being de- manded by distribs. Terms are gen- erally at 50%. " ' There’s general acknowledge- ment that the 3-D filihs can chalk up substantial b.o. returns in key sUiiations. However, once the film gets down to .a. sub-rim house the profit margin, ; according to exhibs, appears to have vanished. There’s wicket' activity, 'they admit, blit with the, film rental charges plus the cost .of ■'installation, the ex bibs sec scant, if any, black ink figures. While more. and. more .houses continue to install 3-D equipment with the release of each new stcr- copic. speed of conversion has , slowed down, to a -walk, Exliibs dis- count; distrih optimism of any- where to ■ 3.000 to 5.000 depth houses by the end of the year. Cur- rent estimates place the number of 3-D houses at between 1,800 to 2 , 000 . Hold (Hit s do not only include indie ops-; but there’s indication of chains afso balking in rushing iicxy installations. for their subscguOht run- outlets; ■ Coroner Sez 3*D Cause of Heart Attack Philadelphia; June 30. .... A patron, who collapsed and died in the Stanton Theatre Friday night ! 26) w;hi J c watching the 3-D film, “The Maze," was believed to have suffered shock caused by sud- den fright, according to- the re- port by -Coroner Joseph (brninsky; The victim,; Albert Orsini, 25, slumped ..over /in his seat while watching the. fi 1 m, and was pro- nounced dead, on arrival at Hahne- mann Hospital. Art autopsy re-, vealed death was dtie to a con- gested heart failure, which .might- have been : induced by sudden ex- citement or fright,; Qrisini’s brother Samuel reported; he had been in good health.. PfatiEfr 3. “Fort Ti" (Col) 4. “Young BOss" (M-G) 5. “Cinerama" (Indie) 6. “Scared. Stiff" (Par) 7. “Queen Is Crowned" (U) 8. “Pickup South St;". (20th) 9., “Titanic" <20th) 10, “Sangaree" (Par) 11, “Desert; Song" ( WB) ’ 12, “Lili” (M-G) ; Wednesday July 1, 1953 Disney organization, In a complete switch from its conven- tional operation pattern,, has set up a full program package, which may be sold directly to theatremen. Ten- tative plan • represents the depar- ture from, normal for, if the dear goes through, RKO, with whom Disney has been associated for years, wouId have -no part of it. Disney org has put together what’s deseribed as the first pic of feature length, fashioned along the format of the “True Life Adven- t lire" series., Fi I m, titled “Living Desert,” runs about 80-'-minutes. Disney also has a new 45-minute entry named “Stormy,” dealing with the birth of a colt and .some conflict over its age,. Indie company figures on adding some short subject material to “Desert” and “Stormy,” to bring the total -to a combined running time of 213 minutes and selling the combo as the single unit. /. Releasing the package through RKO might mean such speedy ban-, dhng that the pix couldn’t realize their full potential, Disney 'com- pany believes. Consequently, the outfit, on its own, is considering t he 1 ’ private” distribut i.on, initial 1 y to houses of art.circuit stature. 11 .City Investing Co., as a result of the revision of New York City’s theatre, building regulations, . is dusting off plans for the construc- tion of a new legit theatre In the Broadway area/Accordihg to prexy. Robert Dowling, company already has a plot of land selected - and details leading to the construction of a new theatre are being worked oh. He declined to reveal the Site, . Although the new law permits the building of an office; Structure above the theatre, Dow'ling. said City Investing’splans- does not provide -for dual construction. “I don’t believe in a combination building,” he stated, .“and the area docs not demand an Office build- ing;” He indicated, however, that there would be facilities for park- ing, a restaurant and stores, ad- juncts that “are natural to the' theatrical district.” Concerning City Investing’s four adjacent theatres on Broadway and flanking oh 45th and 46th Sts', Dowiihg saidirio changes were con- templated, since they were doing very well. The Bijou and the Ful- ton are legit houses while the Astor and Victoria are filmeri.es. There had been reports in the past that the .company planned to raze this area to construct ai combo theatre-office building site. . FCC Nixes Pix Biz Bid Johnston, Fiaud Talk Up New U.S.-French Pic Pact Preliminary talks on a... new French' film agreement took place; in Berlin Over the weekend ; be- tween Motion picture Assn, of America prexy Eric Johnston and Jacques Fiaud, director general of the Centre National de la Cinema- tographie. There Were no indicar tions in N. Y. yesterday (Tues.) as to outcome of their discussions,. to- be continued in Paris later: this' week.' /.:"■• ■■ // . . Both Johnston and Fiaud wer.e in Berlin .for the international film fete there; Current Franco-Arneri- ean - pix pact; expired; June 30, While the . French, are reportedly anxious for a subsidy arrangement similar to the one in effect as part of the Americans’ deal with Italy; MPAA execs are under impression the present agreement . may be extended . without any , drastic changes/ /• Hollywood, June 30. . :T.;u k ol' a snitDipemcee. may torpedo: : Sol ■ -I .i.osspv.’s.. ■ /it' at lire-' ' length “-3-I) -Follies'.’.. and .'"send tlie a I leads* .coinplelecl. sequences on t as : Mi (iris' . <vF.iV.e _ parts' of;.' tlie" 'color■•'■revue., / lenH’d in Storeo-C/ino process, have been completed. If Lesser . can't . get a suitable, name to act as env. ree; lie’ll break up the film.for re- lease With Decca Records now hold- ing a 52% interest in; Universal, two disk; company reps joined Decea-U proxy Milton R. Rackmii on the U board this , week (29), They are Samuel H. Val lance and Harold I. Thorp. Their election at a ;U board meet Monday, brings the board’s sf rengtlr up to 11, one short of the 12 directors on it before the three J. Arthur Rank reps resigned. Lat- ter included Rank himself, G. Iv Wo odlia in-Smi t.li a nd R ob ert. Bern Jamm.; They. qui-L When Rank .sold, out. his U interests/to Decea. • Thorp is a partner in L.aurenicb M; Marks/ . investment . bankers.. . Val la nee- is. viec-ch ai rntan of VIn- dustria Ejectr.ia; dc Mexico, and. , i prexy and .director of l r niversal -.Exchange C’o-rp.,- a/ financial trad- : ing company which has ho ceil no c- tions with U.. Modci'n Art Museum Maps TV Show With Oldie Pix ... |4 . . , . INlindful of- 'tiic ■industry’s- ehatig- jeaso as l.ve siiorts. .probably with ing attitude towards' TV, . Arthur chirring: Lili JSt,; Cyr' Mayer and-Rieliard Griffith/ cura- tlic way,. ... I (or of (lie Museum of Modern Art f i 1 ml i bra r y.. a re a ga in m nil i n g the idea of a TV show, making Use of ol die foot age . in t he liliraTy’s vaults. Plan depends completely on an leading 30. For Exdusive Channels On Theatre TV Service Washington, June 30. With a ruling that theatre TV should operate as a common car- rier on frequencies assigned fbr the. purpose, the Federal Commu- nications Commission last week de- nied the motion picture industry’s bid for exclusive channels for; the service. However, the agency left the. door slightly open by indicat- ing it would consider separate channels when a need can be shown for them. By its ruling* fiie agency granted that part of a so-called “corripr6- •niise'”' solution;, offered by the mo- tion picture industry, which asked that the Commission clarify its po- sition w-ith regard to the eligibility of theatre TV for use of frequen- cies assigned . for common carrier purposes. " . Commission also pointed out that there is nothing in its regulations to prevent a common carrier offer- i rig o n ly a the a Ire TV service from using frequencies assigned to the common carrier band. “If the pro- ponents of theatre TV feel,” agency asserted, “that . existing ; common carriers (such as American Tele- phpne & Telegraph Co.) cannot supply them with the service they I desire, they are free to take, i lie necessary steps to establish a sep- arate 'carrier to supply such serv- ice or to. require existing carriers to render a reasonable service." A?, long as theatre transmission service can be provided through (Continued on page. 10) --. V N. Y. to Europe ' Bud Abbott. Larry Adler . / //•.-- ; - Florey Amsterdam' ■/ ■ '■ ■ '' ' Florence Chadwick.. /Helmut; Dantine .///. ... /Walt; Disney : • Boris Karloff / /• Dennis King Irene Manning AA SKEDS 3 IN JULY iloilywood. June -/. .Allied ; Artists’ first • 3-1) film. , . . ... _ ... ‘/The M-aze,//.\\ ill be tlie last of the okay from distribs, who maintain three films tile company will re- - a liaison 'with five Museum through lease (luring July./ /Others . arc j a : tliroe nian^-.'coinmitteb'. Mayef and. July 32 and ”Airair in Monte Car- lo,’’ which goes out July 19. July 26 release date has been set for. “The Maze/’ ^GrifmiT^apprpaclfi^^TbtioiF^ic^ turq Assn, of America proxy Eric Johnston with the idea early last year, but he roundly nixed even ri discussion of -i'ti ■ Michel Mok / David. Rose ' . ...Victor Savillc. . -Artliur. II. / Scliwartz. Cornelia Otis Skinner • Spyros P. Skouras / ^Farl _ l7 _ Bp6nable i_ ^ T ^^ . Roy Stark Shepard. Traube Herbert Wilcox Max E, Youngstein Hassle is brewing beWeep dis- tribs arid exhibs regarding sharing costs for Polaroid : specs for .3-D films. With 50%. rehtal deals for most stereopix, policy/ has been for the distribs arid exhibs to share ;| equally in purchasing fhe spec- tacles. Cost per pair, of specs is 10c. •/ ■ .: / ; ■ Exhibs charge , film companies are attempting a swdteh of policy, indicating - they’re willing to share in only, part of the co£t, when the film rental deal is below 50%. For example, on a 35% deal, distribs. want to share in spec costs only up to that percentage. Warning to be on tlie; lookout for such, deals - has been issued by Allied. States prexy; Wilbur Snaper, In a note to all Allied Units, Snaper advised: "When mak- ing deals on. 3-D pictures, make sure the distributor shares equally in the cost of glasses. A new gim- mick is trying to be pulled, where- by, they will only share in part of the; cost of the glasses.” . If there ■ has ever been unitv among major industry elements against a film turned down by the Productioni Code Administration the ranks now are broken.. For despite the PCA nix plus the kofi. demned” classification by the Na* tlonal • Legion of Decency, -The Moon Is Blue” has been booked to play both United Paramount and : Stanley Warner outlets. The Otto. Premihger-F. Hugh Herbert indie, released by United Artists,. is^^ slated; to bow at S-W’s ; Stanley Theatre* Atlantic City; July . 17, and UPT’s Center, BufTalo. Aug. 14. ' Other , new opening dates . also / have been set lip, including three Wometco Circuit situations in 'Florida.-' / /. Francis Cardinal Spellman find the 'American Civil Liberties Union joined in the "Moon!’ controversy last week. The; Cardinal started / the ball rolling with a-letter to. all pastors In the archdiocese telling Catholics that -‘Moori" Was “an oc- casion of. sin ” He reminded tlu/m of their pbiigation to avoid seeing the picture, -'because it bears a se- rious potential influeiiGe : for evil, especially endangering our yon.t h, tempting fhem to entertain ideas of behavior conflicting With;the nioral law” and inciting to juvenile delin- quency. / The letter was read at churches oh. Sunday (28)'. In reply, the National! Cpuncil , oil Freedom for Censorship, an ACLU affiliate headed by Elmer Rice, offered the; Council’s aid t o the Victoria and Sutton theatres; . N. Y.; where the pic is skedded to . open July 9. Rice said that, while Z (Continued on page 14) : ; IldllyWood, June 30. Arthur, Fisher, Hi .S. Register of Copyrights, in town, for a short visit, notified the ' film industry that it lias an important stake in the Universal Copyright Conven- tion, recently submitted tq fhe U-S. Senate, .pact, signed in; Geneva last September, will- provide copy- right protection abroad, . While; i n /town, Fisher cohfcjired: with Joseph S. Dubih, head of UI’s studio legal staff; and chairman Of the committee on copyright law re- vision for the American Bar; Asso- ciation.; . ; -■' /Razor Admish Tax; Pix Biz in’Perilous’State Washington, June 30. On ground that TV is driving film exhibition into bankruptcy, Sen. Guy M, Gillette (D,, la.) this - week joined the ranks of those in- troducing bills to exempt motion picture admission from the 20% ad- mission levy. . ;.//.' • Gillette, ai member of the Sen-, ate -Small. Business Committee. Which has been probing practices . of the. film distributors, issued a statement in which he explained : this is more than a case of merely eliminating “an Unpleasant . and burdensome tax:” • “The situation of the motion pic- ture theatre,” he stated, “is unique in that their, business situation has/, changed radically in recent, years,, because of the competition of tele- vision and other factors, including ; restrictions, in the movie producer " industry/ Hundreds of motion pic- ture theatres have been compelled to close all over 1 the country and others are operating at a loss;" He said the industry was in a "perilous situation." ' AH tax legislation must originate in the House. Hence Gillette lias to wait until a tax bill reaches the Senate floor. Then he will attempt to have his measure added as a /Robert Alton .. , Ray Anthbny.. . J, S. Burkett If vihg, Caesar.. Jeff' Charidier; Wendell. Corey Roy Disney ,.' -- , Charles Einfeid . ■/. Alice Faye' • James R, Grainger • ' Pliii Harris ; ./.; .Judy Hbiliday . -Sam-Israel •; Dick Krakcnr ' Harvey Lembeclc . Al. Lichtman. • Robert Merrill /• DivId^Rosd^" : ... /•"/• Ray Stark Bob Strauss Edward Sullivan Al Zimbalist . . Europe to N. Y. Edgar Bergen Lloyd Bridges Nan ci; Cr om_pto n _ • •••: .Bing Crosby June Lockhart Alicia /Markova Maynard Morris Roger L. Stevens ;/;./;:N. Y. to L. A. Johnny Burke Linda Christian’ Al Daff Marilyn Erskine Cy Feuer Dorothy Fields • Herbert Fields. . Stanley Gilkey. Dolores Gray. Abner J, Greshler David A. Lipton /Tony Martin Tyrone Power Milton R. Rackmil John Raitt Basil. Rathbone ; Roy Roberts Mrs. Roy Rowland' Mike Sloane rpniRr-Btonr" . Helen Tantiris . Spencer Tracy Jimmy; Van Heusen Bretaigne Wtndust