Variety (February 1959)

4 Hcnnss pStatifr Wednesday, Febrnary 11, 1959 Notable Kvers#er, Stanley Scoots Fresh hvestments As Severance From Cinerama Nears With its association with Ciner-4 ama drawing to an end, Stanley Warner Carp, is busily engaged in seeking a new field of diversifica¬ tion. As Soon as the current Cinerama product plays off both in the U.S. and abroad, it’s antici¬ pated that the theatre chain will liquidate its activities in the medium. It’s figured that Ciner¬ ama, under SW’s aegis, has about a year to go domestically and per¬ haps two years abroad. As far as can be ascertained, Stanley is not making any plans to produce another picture in the process. The most recent film, Dudley-produced “Cinerama — South Seas Adventure,” is figured to complete its U.S. and Canadian runs'by the end of 1959. In some of the Cinerama houses, SW is^ ex¬ pected to book the ClneMiracle film, “Windjammer,* but this is regarded as a temporary stopgap. In some instances, the theatre, chain is restoring Cinerama the¬ atres to conventional houses.- This leads to speculation 'about the Warner Theatre on Broadway which has served as a Cinerama house for almost five years. After “South Seas Adventure,” the cur¬ rent tenant, the Warner will follow with “Windjammer.” Since the latter has already had a long Broadway run at the Roxy, it is not expected to remain in the house for an extended period. Thus the Warner, a house well suited for roadshow engagements. Will prob¬ ably be available for conventional long-run films by the end of 1959 unless, of course, somebody im¬ mediately gets busy and produces another Cinerama film. Wall St was again buzzing with reports about a possible new di¬ versification move on the part of Stanley Warner. The theatre chain headed by S. H. Fabian is perhaps the most successful diver¬ sifier among the film companies. Its solid financial report is based a good deal on its wholly' owned subsidiary. International Latex Co. When SW acquired the company. International Latex manufactured girdles, bras, rubber gloves, , swim caps, and baby pants. However, it too, has since diversified into the pharmaceutical field, with a whole line of home remedies under the Isodine label. Fabian has frequently told the company’s stockholders that Stan-, ley Warner is continually on the lookout for new businesses. At one time, SW was interested in ac¬ quiring the Zonite Co., but this deal did not materialize. It came close to obtaining the cosmetics firm of Hazel Bishop, but the lat¬ ter company eventually went to a Matty Fox syndicate. Stanley is believed courting tele¬ vision interests. Its station in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy area of upper New York State recently converted from UHF to a VHF sta- j tion, a changeover that is expected , to materially increase the audience potential and thereby benefit op¬ erating results. All in all, Stanley aims to broad¬ en its base of activities so that the company is less dependent on the fluctuations of the motion picture market. In his last report to stock¬ holders, Fabian declared: “Follow¬ ing careful and realistic investiga¬ tions, we seek to acquire companies having potential growth and profit possibilities.” U Cleaning Up Its Pfd Divvy Arrears Holders of Universal preferred stock are about to be paid off on dividends which they should have received but didn’t. This is a cum¬ ulative issue which provides the owner with $1.06V4 per share quar¬ terly. Two payments were missed, for the reason the film corporation was low on its .cash position, and another becomes due on March 2. All three payments are to be made on this date, with U thus clearing up the arrears *and the cur¬ rent obligation. Source of the coin was U’s sale of studio real estate to Music Corp. of America for $11,250,OQO. Quotes Stock Quotes For Skeptic’s Doubt Picture Moose Jaw, Sask., Feb. 10. City council has turned down a recommendation of its finance sec- j tion that the present 10% amuse¬ ment tax be reduced by 30%. The three 'theatres in the city had sought.a complete removal of; the tax for a two-year period be-i cause of declining business. i Moving that no change be made,, Alderman Harry Swarbrick said ! theatre admission prices had risen 1 considerably in recent years. He doubted if the motion picture in¬ dustry’s revenue was down very much, if at all. Contention of Alderman Don Malden was that if some consid¬ eration were not given to theatres they might be forced to close and and the city would lose tax money.- Alderman Fraser Muirhead said that, the stock in film companies had risen considerably over the past year,, which indicates that the days of features were not num¬ bered. He also pointed out that the city could not extend a priv¬ ilege to the theatres when it was not in a position to give relief to citizens whose assessments had in¬ creased. Theatremen had said admissions would not be cut if the tax were reduced, Alderman A. Wilson re¬ ported. In other words, the city would be giving the theatres an outright gift, he said. SKOURAS:‘ANNE FRANK FOR ALL, NOT JUST JEWS’ San Francisco, Feb. 10. Spyros Skouras doesn’t want “The Diary of Anne Frank” to have a benefit opening at blew York’s Palace March 17 because “this isn't a Jewish picture, this is a pic¬ ture for the world.” “Anne Frank” was screened be¬ fore an audience for the first time at Frisco’s 1,400-s^at St, Francis last week, was screened the next night at Berkeley’s California The¬ atre across Frisco Bay. Producer- director George Stevens was in the ; Frisco area for the screenings and said the 190-minute running time probably would be eut about 20 minutes. He didn’t know what Skouras* at¬ titude toward benefit perform¬ ances was, but said he knew that 20th-Fox’s Charles Einfeld “has ar¬ ranged at least eight benefits.” He added: “As you can imagine, everyone wants a benefit, Hadassah, all the rest.” Skouras’ attitude was revealed in a letter he wrote to the Anne Frank, Memorial Foundation, in Los An¬ geles. This foundation is trying to raise funds to build a library wing for Hebrew University in Israel. Skouras, reached by phone- in Palm Springs, was-'asked: “DM you write that you didn’t want this known as a Jewish pic¬ ture?” His reply: 1 : - ‘That’s the idea. We don’t want to have a benefit for the opening. Th's is a picture for the world.” Amplifying, he said there would be “plenty of benefits later." The film’s writers, Albert and. Frances Hackett, said by phone from Los Angeles that their under¬ standing about benefits was this*. “Several organizations wanted opening night. The plan now is to give no one organization the terri¬ ble responsibility of selling the whole house. It’s supposed to be split up in blocks of tickets for a number of organizations.” They were referring to the sec¬ ond U. 'S. opening, March 27, at the Egyptian, Hollywood. One source of confusion about “Anne Frank” benefits is: that there are two organizations bearing the name- of the teenage Dutch girl who became a Nazi Victim • in World War IL .One organization'-is pitching for the Israeli library* % ooi«‘ Stock Quotation Qrirk Words of cheer are being spread. Companies in several instances are underlining an upbeat in operas tions and otherwise making it known, without their spec ifi cal l y so stating, that there’s hardly need for pessimism. All amounting td part of the reason behind the con¬ tinuing, general upbeat of prices on the New York Stock Exchange. Republic preferred hit a new high. At the same time Rep presi¬ dent Herbert J. Yates went on record as saying the company Is in the best shape it has been in years. Warners common hit a new high. At the same time the company officially disclosed a profit of $1,- 922,000 for the first fiscal quarter of the new year, adding, signifi¬ cantly, that the second quarter should likewise show “substantial” gains. Paramount common continues, at near the high-for-the-year level. At the same time Par president Bar¬ ney Balaban reports that earnings continue to exceed the dividend rate and that the' industry has a $50,000,000 potential in sale of the old silents to television. Par has the biggest backlog of pre-sound films. Twentieth-Fox, too, is trading at the near-high level At the same time this - company has - offered jubilant reports of a strong pro¬ duction program, along with the kind of economies that impress Wall Streeters. United Artists has embarked upon its most ambitious film-mak¬ ing lineup; Universal is pulling -out of the doldrums; Columbia now has a 24-a-year schedule of “A”s in mind; Paramount has all studio facilities being put to use with new production; WB is stepping up im¬ portant revenue-producing activi¬ ties in television; Loew’s-Metro, more stabilized now than it has been in recent years, everybody’s economy-minded; the year is young but already there’s been an. “Auntie Mame” to show the poten¬ tial blockbuster level of the box- office; Walt Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty” cost $6,000,000 but no one seems worried. There are entries on the other side of the (balance sheet, natur¬ ally. Exhibition companies con¬ tinue to beef about an erratic sup¬ ply of adequate product and the prospect of home toll television, feared as a devasting adversary, seems coming closer at hand. But there are the heartening notes, too, as above. VANCOUVER LOCALE FOR CHINESE FEATURE Vancouver, Feb. 10. Vancouver is China sans Com¬ mies is pretext for a James Stew¬ art feature to be filmed here by William Goetz Productions this summer, according to local tour¬ ist bureau topper Jim Hughes whose source is Canadian consul¬ ate in Los Angeles. Apparently lo- eal shoreline and large Chinese citizenry comprise adequate dou¬ ble for Chinese coast and blue-- printed epic “will need a lot of extras,” be states. There’s more than tourist hosi¬ ers interested in report Area needs, the work,- with some 40,000 currently seeking jobs, though few Chinese. Seemingly Vancouver’s Chinatown can. absorb its. folk, thus any call for extras is like to get qneue of occidentals trying to. look -almond-eyed. . PLAGIARISM TO TRIAL Kendrick-Fader Vs. 20th Refused Dismissal A motion by 20th-Fox for dis¬ missal of an infringement suit on a scenario called “My Hero” was denied in N. Y. Federal Court Mon¬ day (9) by Judge Frederick Van Pelt Bryan. # ■ Suit brought by writers Kath¬ leen Kendrick and Herbert Fader, charged that “My Hero," submitted to 20th, was later - infringed and pirated, emerging as the 20th film, ‘The Lieutenant Wore Skirts.” Authors are seeking $200,000 in damages and a injunction for al¬ leged infringement of their com¬ mon law rights. ' Film company had asked for dis- r missal of the suit and for a sum¬ mary judgment on the ground of Tack of jurisdiction. r- c.. figmol no mU? kao‘ r i 1 Berlin Fest To Date: 17 Lands Total of 17 countries already have indicated their desire to par- v ticipate in the 1958 international film festival in Berlin, slated for June 26 to July 7. - " > Every country can enter one feature and one or two shorts, de¬ pending on its total shorts production. However, fest authorities have the fight to invite an additional total of eight features, and eight shorts. The Soviet Union has, for the first time, been invited to parti¬ cipate at Berlin. Docking Showmanship Risks, Enjoy Corporate Enhancement National Theatres Quarter Net Eqnals 13c; Year Ago Same Period Rated 2c Los Angeles^ Feb. 10. National Theatres Inc., in a sharp about-face climb, ran up con¬ solidated net earnings of $362,843, or 13c per share, for the first quarter ended Dec. 30, 1958 of fiscal year. Profit repped a 555%. increase over take of $65,401, or-2c per share, for corresponding quarter] l of previous year. I Earnings,, according to prexy John B. Bertero, included capital [ gains and net of Federal taxes of $240,000 of 9c per share, as. against j $179,000 or 6e per share for com-! parable quarter of preceding year. I Circuit during the first quarter' terminated its interest in 17 thea-] tres and properties “not useful in the business,” Bertero said, in a letter to stockholders. NT is hope-j ful, he added, that in the light of j announcements by film producers there will be a substantial increase* in important pictures during the year that “the shortage in supply that has characterized the last few years inay'be somewhat overcome.” Chain, he also advised stock¬ holders, expects to be shortly in a position to go ahead with its pre¬ viously announced exchange offer to acquire a controlling interest in National Telefilm Associates. At a special stockholders meeting Jan. 8 an overwhelming majority voted in favor. of this exchange offer. CUBA’S FIDE CASTRO ONCE MEX FILM EXTRA Mexico City, Feb- 3. Victorious Cuban rebel chieftain Fidel Castro Ruz turned to dreams of revolutionary glory only after failure in another career. The currently bearded revolutionary making dictatorial noises , in Ha¬ vana aspired to be a film leading man ki Mexican motion pictures six years ago. Back in 1953 the thought of revolutionary ideals did not enter Ruz* plans. He worked as an extra in a number of Mexi¬ can films and today still is listed on the rolls as 'a “transitory extra.” Instead of a real-life “hero,” Ruz dreamed of being a screen hero. But dreams of film glory faded and, faced with the pros¬ pect of a dreary procession of ex¬ tra and bit roles, the rebel-to-be rebelled. VEEPCY FOR W. L MILLER K At least a couple companies have proved the way to profits in the world of business is to drop the business of making and distribut¬ ing motion pictures for theatres. Republic, which was in the red for $1,362,000 in fiscal 1957, after which the company abandoned all theatrical production activity* will show a profit of around $1,500,000 for fiscal ’58. It cost Rep about $2,000,000 in liquidating its dis¬ tribution and theatrieal pic busi¬ ness; the overall corporate profit is coming H*om tv production, and distribution, laboratory work, stu¬ dio rentals and plastics. On the overall. Rep’s fiscal posi¬ tion has been the best in many years, according to a company rundown of its various activities. BKO Teleradio, parent of the now-defunct RKO Radio Pictures, similarly has made strides since theatrical pictures have been dropped. Teleradio, which is a divi¬ sion of the General Tire & Rubber Co.,' on its own had a profit of $3,051,426 last year. - Teleradio had a loss in 1957, with its radio-tv profits more than outdistanced by the deficit from the theatrical pie deficit Incidentally, it cost General Tire more than $7,000,000 to close shop on the theatrical department. L. A. to n. Y. Brian Aherne Russell Arms Jay Barney B. J. Bird Tutti Camaratta Godfrey M. Cambridge Carleton Carpenter Sidney Carroll Linda Christian RosemaryClooney Joan Collins James Comorthoon Gary Cooper Sumner Locke Elliott Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Jose Eerrer Glenn 'Ford Mike Gould Bonita Granville Abper J. Greshler . William J. Heineman Eddie Hodges, Jimmy Johnson Victor Joiy Martin Jurow Marc Lawrence Paul Levitt Art fiinkfetter Julia Meade Joseph L. Moskowitz Jimmie Rodgers Leon Roth Richard Shepherd Ralph Story Ted Thorpe Bobby Troup Philip A. Waxman Max E. Youngstein i Roxy Vet Rewarded—Flo Simendtnger Abo Upped William L. Miller, who’s been with the Roxy Theatre for more than 25 years, has been appointed veepge in charge of theatre opera¬ tions. Miller most recently has l^een first assistant to the managing di¬ rector. Florence Simendinger, another 25-year worker, has been named assistant secretary at the theatre while Alspn Lee has been ap¬ pointed treasurer, with Alex Rotko, assistant -treasurer of Roxy Enter¬ prises Corp. UP-STATUS BEBCHICH Ben Bebchich has been named branch manager of Metro’s Boston exchange. He moves up firom the position of assistant branch man¬ ager to succeed the late Ben Rosenwald. Bebchich joined Metro in 1927 and has been a. salesman-since 1937.- He became assistant branch .manager in, 1949 .,,.h New York to L; A. j Joey Bishop Geraldine Brooks 1 Lewis R. Chudd Betty Comden - Adolph Green Herb Landon Jerry Levy Jim Miller Mrs. Jaek Norton Tony Randall Chuck Reeves Herbert Sargent Selene Walters Eddie Wolpin U. S. to Europe Albert R. Broccoli Trevor Howard Joseph Julien B. Gr. Kranze Michael J. Lichtenstein • Robert. Taylor Europe to (j./S. ; .. Bruce Becker . * . rHoney Becker . . * . j y ini qvul+s*