Variety (January 1958)

Wednesday, January 1, 1958 loews ‘lovable Pension Plan May GojVOGEL FACES IIP As part of its generalbelt-tightening operation, Loew’s may dis-. continue its employees pension fund. For the past two years, the company has been pouring approximately $500,000 annually into the fund. The Loew’s retirement plan requires no contributions from employees. Prior to a change in the fund’s operation two years ago, as much as $4,000,000 yearly was deposited into the fund. At that time, all employees, including the high-priced executives of the company, were eligible for pension payments. Due to stockholder pressure, however, the operation of the fund was revised and only employees making up to $500 weekly were eligible. However, those former members of the plan were entitled to the sums already deposited in their names. Under the Loew’s plan, employees connected with the company for 10 years or more are entitled to pensions on reaching the age of 65 (or 60 for women).. If. an employee exits the company before; his retirement age, he. can make a cash settlement at a reduced rate, or receive payments when hie reaches 65.; Louis A. Green in Vogel’s Corner; Goal Is to End Open-For-Grabs Situation Long Harassing Loews Loew’s; Inc. in New York has , \lhlQllAVI I Aflfl launched one of the most drastic kJlLllULlvlft liylu economy sweeps in the history of ' ' ° the industry. Prior to the Jan. — : . • . : — — ♦ 9 hoard of directors meeting, it’s _ expected that the homeoffice staff Coming-^-Un TV OCreens will be reduced from 900 to 450, Minneapolis, Dec. 30. with the strong possibility of even In early i958 local video the latter figure being substantially. stations will be shooting away Calls Name Actors Biz Wreckers; Hollywood, Dec. 30. Name actors have become the robber barons who are looting the film industry, producer William Alland charged yesterday. And un¬ less something is done soon; prefer¬ ably some, system of cost, control, .the performers ;wiil have priced themselves and the industry right out. of the entertainment market. “It isn’t just the salaries they .demand,” Alland explained, ‘‘it’s their whole approach to the prob¬ lem of film making. Naturally, there are exceptions, people who work hard and are cooperative. But many of our top stars just don’t want to face up to the economics of our business. They?re late, they stall* they demand script changes, they’ve got a dozen and one tricks that are loosely described as tem¬ perament,” By any name, Alland contended, these 'tricks are ruinous. ‘‘Some actors,” he pointed out, “get salaries that are far greater than their possible value to a’ pic¬ ture. Then they add to the cost by expanding the shooting schedule through their non-cooperative , tac¬ tics. The day .when the Industry could afford this kind of attitude is past.” Pictures today should be made within definite pricey ranges, Alland feels, and performers who unneces¬ sarily add to. those prices should be made responsible in some. way. It’s also true of producers and directors, he adds, since they are basically responsible . for maintain¬ ing budgets and schedules. “No other industry operates this way/* Alland declared angrily. “If the auto industry knows, for exam-' pie,.; that there’s a market for a $2,000 car, it doesn’t manufacture car that has: to; sell for $3,00Q. But we do it all the time. Many pictures made .in the last year lost (Continued on page. 16) *War &,Peace’ at 35c Minneapolis, Dec. . 30. Here’s how the high and mighty super-pictpres Wind, up here: “War and Peace” (Par): currently is on a twin bill at the downtown Aster for 35c. . : Aster is a ‘-last run” that often gets ‘product several years old. reduced. All departments of the company will be affected by the wholesale axe swinging. The word; “Here’s your head,” will reach top executives, as well as lower eche¬ lon staffers. All speed has been orded to ac¬ complish the ruthless cuts before prexy Joseph R. Vogel submits his report to the board on Jan. 9. The slicing commenced immediately af¬ ter the. Christmas holiday when 50 staffers id Various, catergories ■and ; positions were handed oner week notices on Friday (27). As part of Vogel's aini to trim expenses to the bone, the sales de¬ partment will be reorganized. Sev¬ eral honieoffice assistants to field sales managers will be dropped. Departing from the . company will be Ed Saunders, the last of the original franchise holders (Philadelphia and Washington) who was general sales manager of the; old Metro company before the merger In 1924 that saw the emer¬ gence of the . Metro-GoldwynMayer. Until recently, Saunders had been assistant general sales manager, but he became a h.o. With , more topnotch oldie fea¬ ture films, new to tv here, than ever before, it’s indicated. For example, KMGM-TV will screen such pix as “Every Girl Should Be Married,” “Fury at Furnace Creek,’’ : “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir,” “Bachelor’s Mother,” “Stage 1 Door” and “Guadelcanal Diary,” showing for the first time here on tv. Most have top stars. KMGM-TV will also pop “African Queen,” “Moulin Rouge,” “Red River” nnd “Night of the Hunter.” . Omaha Film Row gence * of ~the" Mefro-Gold^n x l , *,.r °"iahai’ ®ec* 3®V been somewhat impeded by the Mayer. Until recently. Saunters -maha s Flbn RoW lost another fact that the various individuals inhad been assistant general sales charter member last week when volved With the Loew’s situation manager, but he became a h.o. Manager joe Jacobs revealed that are scattered “from Halifax to Cal sales executive when John P, Columbia Pictures will close its *-*•• saturday — mer sales v.p. Charles M. Reagan. (4)* holders’ meeting late in February. Previous to Saunders, two other New office for the Iowa and _ Green, who lives in the same original franchise hblders of the Nebraska territories will be in Des Park Ave. ^ apartment building as old Metro company— ^George Hick Moihes, with Jacobs, who has been Vogel, is playing a key role in lmey, who had been western division Columbia manager here since 1939, inS up what he hopes to be a harmanager* and Bob Lynch, who had in charge. Shipping and inspection (Continued on page 16) been Philadelphia district man departments and their present em — ? ager— exited the company. Their ployes will remain in Omaha. , association with Loew’s goes back Coluihbia thus is the sixth outfit MAAlrAiHid* to the days when Richard A. Row to drop its Omaha offices in the iillflS. 1T10SKOWI1A land was president of the old, past year. Others included War . w Metro company. , “ ners, Paramount, M-G-M, Republic . _ fy# . . The upheaval inthe sales de and RKO. 'Still on film row are |nlA 1/iiI/ia DvaiI • partment will see the elimination Buena Vista, 20th Century-Fox, I(1ID YlUcO L 1(1(1. • of the post of director of exhibitor j Unite# Artists, Allied Artists and w * v *■' * (Continued on page 50) Universal-International. y National Boxoffice Survey Eut t Sff caf*! — — : — Moskowitz, veepee-treasurer of Loew’s, and Charles M. Reagan, Holiday Week Booms Biz;-‘Sayonara* First, ‘Peyton* veepee over Metro sales, win see i in * . _ . the former shifting into television 2d, Days 3d, Legend 4th, ‘Sack* 5th production and Reagan concentrat¬ ing more on his University'of Iridi ' r 'T— r ana activities. He’s a trustee of First-run biz all over the nation lease for first time this week Is *** university and also, incidental . . x. . i -Vu ii • i i . .v. ; ly. owns some theatres m the Hoo is soaring this week, with all m taking eighth position. “Old Yel si'r state on whi6h hell {ocus but dications that it will be one of big ler"~(BV), another newie, is land from his new base in 1600 Broadgest Christmas (and New Year’s) ing: ninth place. “Seven Wonders way. sessions i Fairly decent of World” (Cinerama) is finishing Moskowitz has long had his weatter in^ m°st sectors plus a 10th. “^eardfrFor Pxfadise" (Cih batch of strong, new product is ergma ) is taking 11th spot while „ rl_ ... . bringing patrons out In **»**. <?CingS) hi/ $3,000*-week contMct before Typical is the huge total being reg-. ro“"^s -/A, ,TT. .March, 1958, at 50%, Marvin istered in New York City where «.Par aLL ^ Schenck, a nephew of former two house records were toppled Pal ae. ^ tW° mn" Loew’s Inc. prexy Nicholas M. two house records were toppled ber-up fiims this round. Schenck, is staying on until next and two capacity weeks were Several new films, besides those March, when he shifts over to the chalked up. listed in Variety ratings this William Morris agency in Holly * By HY HOLLINGER . The position of Louis A. Green, the Wall Street investor who has emerged as a key figure in the Loew’s Inc. situation, is now clear. Unless prexy Joseph R. Vogel “runs the show,” Green won’t play at all. Green, chairman of the finance committee of Grand Union 'and a director of the Philadelphia and Reading Corp., the latter a coal company which he helped pull out of .financial difficulties, lias been busy all week attempting to bind together the divergent forces that have substantial investments in Loew’s. It’s understood that he has made some progress in healing the wounds that have seriously dis¬ rupted Loew’s operation and made the company “fair game" for raid¬ ers out for a fast buck. Green, who has now acquired more than 100,000 shares of Loew’s stock, has already had talks with Lehman Bros, and Lazard Freres, the Wall St. banking firms With a heavy stake in Loew’s, and with Joseph Tomlinson, whose 180,000 shares make him the largest single shareowner; Green’s progress has Chicago, Dec. 30. Despite Motion Picture Assn, of America and Council of Motion Picture Organizations reports to the contrary, Chicago’s downtown theatres have no intentions of clos¬ ing during the. March 26 “Oscar” telecast. . Dave Wallerstei , Balaban & Katz prexy, states there are no plans for B & K closings and Other Loop operators deny they ever agreed to support the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ telecast by a dimout. : ™ A : . Skouras Off to Paris : Spyros P. Skouras, 20th-Fox prexy, is preparing for another trip to Europe. He’s expected to leave early next week for Paris. Accompanying him will, be Mur-; ray Siiverstone, prez of 20th-Fox international. A. Now Coordinated Tlollywood, Dec. 30. Teet Carle and Bill Hendricks, repping Academy’s Public Rela¬ tions Branch on Board of Govern*; orsi will co-chairman a committee to coordinate film industry public relations -activity for the upcoming 30th annual t©scar : Derby. Duke Wales, director of MPAA public, re¬ lations, will coordinate program. Other committeemen include Henry Rogers, repping, indie pub¬ licists* Bob Bergen, of HarsheRotman Inc.; and Casey Shahan, .Coast public relations director of NBC. Roger Lewis, of MPAA office in N.Y., who will cordinate program in the ;.e$st, 'sat in on meeting here called by prexy George Seaton and Valentine Davies, c h a i r m a n of Awards Planning Committee. Need •for industry-wide cooperation to I assure show’s success on March 26 was stressed by Seaton., STERLING HAYDEN SETTLES Out-ofrCourt End To Action Vs. RKO Pictures Los Angeles, Dec, 30. Oiit of court settlement for an undisclosed but claimed “substan¬ tial. amount” has ended Sterling Hayden’s $35,000 breach of con¬ tract suit against RKO Teleradio Pictures Inc. Hayden Contended he was hired in February, 1956, to work in “Ten¬ sion at Tablerock” for six weeks at a salary of $40,060 and the com¬ pany later disclaimed the agree¬ ment. Hayden said that during the period in. question he was only able to earn $5,000 as. a result of holding himself ready for the as¬ signment, so he sued for the dif¬ ference. manager* and Boh Lynch, who had iit charge. Shipping and inspection been Philadelphia district man departments and their present em* ager— exited the company. Their ployes will remain in Omaha, association with Loew’s goes back Coluihbia thus is the sixth outfit to the days when Richard A. Row to drop; its Omaha offices in the. land was president of the old past year. Others included WarMetro company. ners, Paramount, M-G-M, Republic The upheaval in; the sales de and RKO. 'Still on film row are partment will see the elimination Buena Vista, 20th Century-Fox, of the post of director of exhibitor Unite# Artists, Allied Artists and (Continued on page 50) ’ Universal-International. National Boxoffice Survey and two capacity weeks were chalked up. New champion “Sayonara” J week, show, promise. One is wood. (WB^whlch wilt come Cose fo ^ ’doI^A $450,000 in some nine keys. Paired on longrun in Li A. “Bridge on with the traditional Christmas River Kwai” (Col) is bearing out stageshow at the N. Y. Music Hall, the promise of first week in N. Y. it is heading for an all-time high in the Hub’ of $224,000 at that house. “Pey "nere it is wow. ton Place” (20th) is a strong sec “Tarnished Angels” (U), due at ond, and a pic that is likely to be N. Y. Paramount next, is smash in . heard from additionally. Philly currently. “Wind Is Wind” M-G Music-Usk, TV Under 1 Roof Theatreman Turns Supplier San Antonio^ Dec. 30. Alamo Concession ^Supply Co., has been opened hire with Irving Cohen, former director Of drive-in theatres for the; Jefferson Amuses merit. Co;, as prez and manager; He resigned Jefferson berth on Nov. 1 after being with the circuit for more than 20 years. . In addition to a line of conces¬ sions it will also handle supplies, and equipment from the Houston Popcorn & Supply Co. Philly currently. “Wind Is Wind” ‘•Around World in 80 Days" is sotko on (UA), long in No. 1 spot, Is wind N* 7' v . . ... . ing up third. “Legend of Lost” “Gervaise”. (Cont) is bearing out (UA) is copping fourth position, the terrific opening weeks in N. Y. ir), . okay in Chi, is socko on I TVith the minimization pf the rd N. Y. round. Metro sales staff (see separate Gdrvaise" ICont) is bearing out ^ ■*&***&*? tdrrifinnnonimfM jn N v lar music-record-television activi UA) is copping tourtn ppsmon. ties will be focused on the ninth Sad Sack” ^Paf), first last wpek. by^Unding a treat taka on m.t.al ^ of the 1540 Broad way bXZ is finishing fifth. “Rairttree County” (M-G), just getting started oh its continuousrun engagements, is easily climbing to : sixth ' spot. “Don’t Go Near session in -Philly. In N. Y., it is nearly as big in seventh week as the second. “Kiss Them For Me” (20th) is floor of the 1540 Broadway homeoffice. Already MGM-TV and MGM Reccords have shifted over from the IS easily cmnping Aiicm rut iyic » Mayfair Theatre T»M~ Kn.„p Don't Go Near doing better tbis_stama, betog_ es1 to sixtn spor. uon i uo wear ^ was under lease and next tn mnw» Water,” also from Metro, which pqcially good in Portland and Pitt. Jj ^ ‘ (RotoS? id but in Cireulation-for first time “TaU Stranger" (AA) Is good » Sutef mS“co^> 5 to any extent, is landing seventh [ Toronto. which Metro and 20th Century-Fox money; (Complete Boxoffice Reports on are partnered, with Loew’s owning “Enemy Below” (20th), .in /,re.PapCs 8-9.) the dominant shares.