Variety (June 1959)

$ 3 M 1250 m AmusenBBt Shares HOLDS SUCH FILMS Metro s Byrne Reports Drive-In Ops STILL VflLUIlfiLtl Mw e Screen, Less Concession, Minded ■f\t :•»!! rri-An>\i- ■ tliioi o miicnrYii oin t.c. viinlrafL V7fli In’.'Hivma nt' !- • ■ ■ . . ^ By JIM POWERS Amusement industry stocks listed; on the New York Stock Ex- __.. , .... ■ ■ an i r change as of the , end of May had a total market value of $3,242,- PT |1 I 11 IS I 11 fl |J I f .125,055, the Exchange reported this week. Average price was Hill l y III 11 Uni I $44.8T per share , . U I ILL InLUnULL . . .. nv „„ pnwPR<5 Of all groups, listed, the amusements, ranked 17th in terms of . . ... •... ■: ■ ■ : ; T runLKS market value'and were ahead of ; such other businesses as farm There’s istill a market for short I Hollywood. June IS. . machinery, leather & its products, real estate, ship building. & . .subjects; at . least, Walt . Disney vxllDeri i\oianu i ersista t j> r i ve _j ns . are undergoing a sig- operating, textiles, and tobacco., thinks so/. ."The Lost World-', was made nificant c h a n g e in policy, with n~ j. ' ' ' , , ■ .. ■■■■■ . ' . . ... ... - At a;time when all other compa- m. 1924 with Gilbert Roland more emphasis on the film and rnr m» l ■■ • r 1V . nies have; cut down on the. briefies, . as one of. the.extras. First IVa- less on the concessions, according Ma TtflAI* R/fl AtttlAYl AH Kilf and for the most part are losing tional d.d it at tnat time. t0 Metro sales v.p. John H. .Jack) lift' 1IIICS lYlClllIUIlclL DUl"" money on those which still,are. Now, Irwin Allen is about to Byrne. . v 7 .• being made. Disney has earmarked picturke the Arthur Conan There’s also a growing trend to . V ■ '■ ''' • ■ . . ■ ■■ ■■■ ■ a. total expenditure of $1,800,000 ; Doyle story for a second go- emphasize class in the ozoners, for the production Of shorts this around, and with Roland slat- Bvrnes says, with an awareness by Irwin Allen Philosophizes on Blockbusters and Their year. This is just negative invest- ed as a featured player. • exhibs that a saturation point can *t J tt a i" nri - £ pi a • j.* : ment ana doesn’t take into account. , , , _^__ be reached on the number of open Hard Pay off—Also Themes or Gloom Association the costs of prints; advertising andj, ....... . ... . airs. +- - — - ——:— ■ — — . -- distribution. _. I¥ 1 1 HJI Byrnes, here for one of his peri- •• .... i I?* ^ n/fir •• mil. In addition; to this, Disneyhas l||p|||i|n IvEOCPAIAT odic checks into the studio'from While the industry for the most A rlV6-MlU10n ICllHlg just placed an . order, for 2,500 ; JllV'llltfv iTluuvU if his New York office, and specific- poofter, the.theory : . Of Michelangelo’s Life S n e t n S t fea“s Ut ft a a nd c i os g t 3®(E' i <n ,, ~ busters .are. the. trade s salvation, viJoUywo^ Juue afi. , . Pablie acceptance of shorts of .■‘BaJ,’ PfOOIliC ^ to ?he lend for both the fleas’ Independent producer Irwin Allen [ • Michelangelo,, biopic of the the better, variety hasn’t been se r f|| DtdLlI I ICCIIIO ing organization and the exhibitor. , Is at hand with the notion that the ® r t ls 'v Projected a^.a: riously questioned in the trade. ; ! Driv e_ in owners now want new blockbuster in terms of investment Simultaneous openings in. aJt ; films, Byrnes says, to break with Budget*,is not necessarily a'clean- pose 1>y^froduber Sidney ^ ^ jS lMKS up picture at the boxoffice. He director Richard Quine and writer ‘ Disney now apparently feels that ?“ dl J h g ^arh”’ nn Den J7 1959 I feel tbel need to compel” on this admits it’s a cliche and adds Michael BlankforL ..l-.there’s a, tren/in the oth<* direcr.'•••• ??, th - e 5? acb ■*“ P??L ZJTSS2 ° n 3 t But— Gilbert Roland Persists "The Lost World”, was made in. 1924 with Gilbert Roland as One of the. extras. First Na¬ tional did it at that time. Now, Irwin Allen is about to picturke the Arthur Conan . Doyle story for a second go- . around, and with Roland slat¬ ed as a featured player. While the industry for the most A Five-Million Tellklg j just placed an . . order, for 2,500 part'offers the theory that block- Of Michelangelo’s Life busters are .the. trades salvation; Hollywood, June 1$. / Public acceptance of shorts of independent producer Irwin Allen “Michelangelo,” biopic of . .the ' the better variety. hasn’t teen se- Is at hand with the notion that the j Italian artist, is projected as, a i riously questioned in the trade. blockbuster in terms of investment J5>000,000 indie by new firm of The But much exhibitor feeling has piocKDUSter m terms pr investment Michelangelo Co., set up for pur- ( been that they just don’t sell tick- budget is not necessarily a clean- pose by producer Sidney Harmon,! no matter how good thev are. the costs of prints; advertising andj,. distribution. In addition; to this, Disney has! jiist placed ah . order, for 2,500: prints of outstanding cartoons of j recent years at a cost of $150,000, | Public acceptance of shorts of Indude Moscow In‘Beadi Preenis: admits it’s a cliche and adds,' ^ Michael Blankfort: [ there’s a trend in the other direc- r^nrtPd UTasis ^ “aren’t all cliches truths?” . Based on unpublished biog by tion—specifically, that theatremen !r .^ 5 ^ He’also sees the^releasing picture Allen refrained from dropping ^addeus Ash^. ^mmissipned by i believe a good short can help^^ the ^ ?00 000 proltclion ^ othtr ^ P1CtUre titles but notes off the record a few Harmon to write, ^lm will require ^programming to the extent of con-. ChSSS' ^ “Atlahta was for yehrs our big- recent examples of blue-chip pro- at least one^year of preppmg Film , tributing. to: the word-of-moutfa ^ \ gest exehange in the South,” Byrne ductions, in terms of costs, which 1 will-.be made entirely in Italy. about the theatre’s entire bill. : and Los Angeles^ the same d^e. ,j ^ B Jacksonv g le C har- have been unsatisfactory at the b.o. : ■■ .;. : considered is the fact 1 lotte are growing to rival Atlanta. He cites a few reasons, foremost j If fj . Q_*_ [that , A features are. -running, ory Peck,. Ava Gaidner and Fred ; This < j oesn . t mean that Atlanta is ductions, in terms of costs, which ] Will be made entirely in. Italy, have been unsatisfactory at the b.o. i ‘ ’■ He cites a few reasons, foremost j If fj . H _ among them being the impact of I I H .HfliyipT p|||f|, audience identification With the’ V ■* i/v f IVI- * Hill' screen characters, or the lack of it. , • ^ Speaking in generalities,. Allen lYniinfr In Na«1 said a sadness theme and ultimate • UaLlIlff IS lifiS tragedy is the type of material With ^ which the average customer, can’t . , .Vis liken herself to. No names, please, ...■ ... - "-T- v . ;This doesn’t mean that Atlanta is *«*«?*- ''?? ’ ,h ? t Sirfii getting smaller or less important, ibly be accompanied by a second i'ly on location m Australia. Based,. tl at na r) U iation growths are feature in the eustomary dual-hill Son the Neville Shute hovel. Ifs the : &^n, P °S a ^SSnfft.^.lhS houses. A one-or tworreeler can j story about the .last city in the tw0 & ; mean the -adequate substitute for world, left tfter an atom war Its , Byrne eraphasizeSi as always . hia Sneaking in generalities Allen - 1\ *• I IT I houses.. A one- or tworreeler can storj' about the .last city in the t „ SaW^a sadness theme and ultimate ijfltllllff iS iNC3lT ! t h « .adequate stibsttfaxte for. wrld left after an atom war. Its , Byrne eraphasizes , as always . hia tragedy is the type of material with - PfWHS' " 1 1 C * U j that, second feature . „ , . message, which Kramer stres^ beUrf ln systematic re j ease pr0 . which "the averse customer can't.- S. .. . w .. t ii . ^Duneyhi ne^ .shorts: fall into ms ^ non^poiitiea , dealsr with the., grani He . doesn , t uke Hje tem likenherself to. No names, please, - s -^. . ^tnglon. J une i6. | three eetegones, namely hve ac- dangersi;of rad.ation and the folly .. orderly rerease ... Sieving this he. asked, blit the allusion appar- and 1 eople and of an atomic war, ‘phrase has been beaten to death, ently was to -Diarv of Anne ilminWashingCon andthemitial. Places. ^Someare sold informs ■ Kramer. Who has a six-picture and i ost u s meaning in producer- Frank," which is the 20th-Fox re- SLMoscow: pf a package with a Ihsney featare^ | deal with United Artists, said the , ex hib discussions of the subject, lease now doing disappointingly, under ti*e exchange agreement, ij j and some oldies are block-booked first print wouldn’t be delivered to j Modern Planning • , ■ ■ . now T rp al-ivplv firm” fnrthp *»nrl 1 . ■. '- 1 ^. •, • .' i i • mi- _: - - .• . .. ... legse now. doing, disappointingly. . persisted, m not naming 0 f j u ] y or early August, Turner; *7*11 Vll* • another; e<u»,agBarent]y. Shelton reports. V- H ill Illinmo could.be Warners,-Old Man and, , sha iton. motion picture chief for IVUllllinOlS »he Sea." which proved a eommer- u s . Information' Agency and : a cial disaster. negotiator of the^^exchange deal, ^ Now comes the commercial. The • has been meeting, on details of two- I ny am .film-maker, uninhibited: about dis- nation exhibit of pictures with A, ■ 1 ClA vll cussing his latest enterprise, “The [ N. Kuznetsov, deputy chairman of Big .Circus,” for Allied Artists, USSR state committee on cultural Springfield ' stated in New. York this week that!relations who planed over f rom Illinois exhibitors the audience wants escape and, at | Moscow for the talks on that and e d in killing in : cor the same time, a certain amount;: other matters. bill that wouic of identification with the on-screen Although Soviets ha\^e reached, tax on film, rentals, characters. a virtual final idecision on the first The bill was s . - .■ ;UA until Aug. 1. The company is | We’re projecting production T7 ^11 Ill* % setting up special units to expe-i plans six to eight months ahead at IV llI lillflllK 1 / dite arrangements for the interna-; Metro," he says. “We know just *»UI lUlIIVIO O jQ . tional; openings, which are being : about what we’ll be making and ; ■ ; . arranged, by Arnold Picker, UA ; what we’ll be releasing that far *1* :--W% ■ 1 v:p: in charge of.foreign distribu- j ahead. This way we won’t be in a l OV ATI KpntO C tion, . I position of having two or three of 1UA: Vll IIV1IIIU0 • Max ‘ E. Youngstein, UA ad-pub ; our biggest pictures forced to go. • . c ., T1 . y » v.p.,. reported that at least $1,000,- ; out in the same month.” T „. Springfield,. III., June 10., LooO would be spent on promoting ! In line with this, Byrne sees too . , I1 . lln ? 1 ^ 1 . exhl . bltors succeed- the preems. Stars of the picture . a tendency today to “nurse” each ed in kilhng_ m committee a rey- ‘ are expected to make personal ap- : film along, give it the special and enue bill that would ^mpose a 3^c ; pearances i n various parts of the : individual treatment, that was not tax on film, rentals, ; f n heln kick off the Dicture : always the case in the old days. The bill *as scrapped SSi? -V» .1 He‘cited “North Bv NorllnVeat “ Springfield,: III., June 16. T’ « , i ?n The‘ bin was scrapped after ofl57 m i^ He cited “North By Northwest.’* : : . This, he figures; hes got along 1P G a° r ge ^Kerasotes, president of j.JJgl 11 a r _ u ™ s to 1 ^ ^ his particular baby at the moment, with.some, extra angles: Latter m- f shown at Moscow preem, Shelton Theatre Owners of America and ' a P p ears.likely tnat tne tiim ^ elude the casting of Petef Lorre.; said Russians will have: to. make head of Kerasotes 4heatSs' Of ^ be roadsho ^ “ the States. ^™ l ^ as ever ainfoff ..as a circus, clown. Seemed/start- ; announcement of the. title.: . Springfield, testified before the .... ~^ . Ithe lot for this kind of work. It ling at the outset, said Alien but. u ^ „ Revenue Committee of. the House, KAVIGAN HEADS EDITORS -will get a slow release, with ex- Lorre comes out a natural tan- ■ DOWN THE ECONOMY^CHUXE of ReDrespntativps ThP commit, .-.ivmviwmm nPMva cuiiv/k» J.,, . 6 n anff , , . „ Lorre comes out a natural tan-1 DOWN THE ECONOMY^CHUTE of Representatives. The. commit- bark performer, . . - Philadelphia, -June 16. • tee killed the bill by a 21 to 13 Hollywood, June 16. j elusive engagements, a promotional I treatment in each city where it Harry, Freeman, vet publicity ; vote,. ■ • .! :, J°e Kavigaii heads new officer j bows and a bu ild-up along the line f l> 1 IT i A ‘ 1UD I L I I" an wlth . Fox Theatre for almost J This legislaUve victory for thea-. Panel fpr 19o9-60- of the Motion ; until it is ready for gene ral release. Jot 1 Mote As Wd Launches 30 yea F s - 13 out ln a retrenchment: treowners marks the eighth time Picture Sound Editors, Gene Marks j . <A specia i picture deserves this ■ ^ „ . _ v - |.move ,by National which operates.; in the current session of the legis- elected yp, Leonard Corso is re-j kind of treatment,” Byrne says. Thr^A-FIjiV Mppf At Shlllm* ! the ffrst-fun. 2.250-seater. j lature that exhibitor spokesmen cording secretary; Dick Jensen, I « Y ou won’t do it with every one, ' JU* w *ldy ljlccl .nl JlUQIO), Job has . been eliminated, with j. have appeared at committee hear- corresponding secretarj-; Mort ; of course g u t j n f case like ‘North Piv TV Miicip Baviflumil ' as , s ^ tant manager Harold Brason i ings in opposition to bills consid- Tabor, treasurer. !Bv Noithwesf it behooves you to I Ia, If, lillisiL HcYlcWcu ■ adding .the acl-pub duLios to his j ered detrimental to the interests Slate will be installed July 18 Los Angeles, June 16: | ohores. I of theatres. at annual dinner. , Warner •. Bros,. Will. : launch • a !. -7 '■ '/ ; - 7 . ~ -'7 ' ' - '■ ‘' ' 7•7 77 ~~ : ; ' 7 ' ^JK. Film. Importers Form New Ore:; rOW, W'hich will bring top manage- 7 . .. . 7 X 7 O y ment and sales reps of company’s j : / ¥7'"' .7V. fTfl / * # • lour major divMohs-motion plo KjOlClWUT 111-^01)01't 1 ^(16 JJlSCOUrleSieS tures, television, music and rec- 7 \ ords—from, all over. the w-ofld. Independent importers and dis-1 ternatiopal objected, and Lopert l under obligation to keep up his Total of 137 delegates from all tributbrs of foreign films unani -1 then apologized, stating his com- dues payments. 7 adding .tlie ; atJrpub duties to his j .ered detrimental to the interests Slate will be installed July 18 ; move slowly I of theatres. at annual dinner. Byrne also disclosed that Metro is planning to re-release “Gone • Yl*1 ' 1" i T^T 1\T With The Wind,” for the fourth re- iV. 1 .. him irrmorters Form .New Ore; %Tj™ elhne next year or the JL It will be the first time out for j ■ y . ~r.; - . fin • ■ j # • the all-time b.o. champ since 1954. Lroklivurm-Lopert 1 rade Discourtesies J- ; val between releases,” Byrne says. Independent importers and dis-1 ternational objected, and Lopert [ under obligation to keep up his ; This release of “Wind” will see ■ it tied-in with the Civil War Cen- parts of U.S,,. and 29 foreign c.oun- mously; approved in Manhattan last merits had been directed at only The indepehdents were generally -tennial and it will be given a new tries, will attend; week the formation and purposes one man and didn’t reflect on the enthusiastic last week over the : full-scale promotional campaign. Biz. sessions Will be held at.the-.'•<>? ai new;organization to represent^^whole assembly. : . prospects of a potentially strong! Byrne checked off the lot here Ambassador Hotel, headquarters of their interests.. Sortie 30 cqm- . Replaces Old Body association; The group will con- j last weekend, heading back to the conclave, and further meetings and .panics were represented, at the screenings, will be. held at studio, meeting,,Which^^ heard reports from The new organization which, it’s \\arner will, open the chainnen of both the orgamz- .-fj. 7 Prexy Jack L; Warner will, open jority of indies, replaces the de- tomorrow’s session. Other speak- ing and. ; the -.program' committees., f une f Todebendent Motion ; ers Will be: exec;v.p, Ben Kalipen- Articles of-incorporation .for the S jS d S i son, International : prexy Wolfe new group will' be filed in Albany Cohen, v.p/s Steve Trilling ,and later this , week. The by-laws of ^J^ppS [standard William T. Orr, sales .chief Charles, the organization stipulate that for- bnn n ■ ■ ■ e ^ eas J- producers. prospects of a potentially strong Byrne checked off the lot hero association; The group w-ill con- last weekend, heading back to the bern itself w"ith pressing problems home office. Prior to his arrival in of censorship, U. S. Customs, ship-^Hollywood he made a swing ping and storing, newspaper rela- j through the south and mid-west. tions, trailer production, contacts' —-- 1 -*— witli foreign industries and govern- j n. * m n ments and the formulation of a new j KlSDlS iO 0 OUl l*lilUS standard contract with overseas j a _ _ _ _ ■ , Boasberg and v.p. in charge ol eign film subsidiaries of major Jr„ a .Mr nd 1vW1 hire an | While a number o£ Indies signed * w domestic operations Bernard R. companies Would be eligible for e . u e director, up after the meeting last week, Tn ITmfafl Arliolc . Goodman., membership. A committee is currently at work others tsuch as National Telefilm UU 1U UiUlCU ill lldlo Teeoff meet will be highlighted .This led to the single flareup of to;formulate a name for the organi- Associates) said they had to check Motion picture rights to the by prexy’s ahnouncemri.nt of WB’s the riieeting, W'hich was under th€7 back writh their principals before heavyweight championship fight 1959-60 program of . theatrical chairmanship of Richard Brandt, Dues will be collected both ion a. coming to any decision on joining, between Floyd Pattersori and Inge- films. Also on Wednesday agenda president of . Trans-Lux Theatres flat. annual fee and a pictures-in- With the growth of the foreign mar Johansson in N. Y. June 25 will be presentation by Warper of and Trans-Lux Distributing. When release basis. The fee will be $200. film field in the States, the need have been acquired by United Art- awards to. winners of. recent “W.el- Jean Goldwurm of Times Film In addition, ithere’Il be a pay- for a unified approach to common ists. UA previously has handled come Back, J;ack’’ sales drive,.Reps Corp. questioned the Wisdom of ment of $75 for every dubbed or problems has been evident to the ■ the films of other top fights, of all divisions will participate in allowing membership by such out- titled Import being put into re- indies for some considerable time. | UA and the Mirisch Co. recently discussions of overall program, fits as Lopert Films and. Kingsley- lease. Membership, in the organi- The program committee report ; acquired the radio broadcast rights Meet . mSrks. WB’s 'first interi International/ Ilya Lopert shocked zation will be for a riiinimum of was prepared by Edward L. Kings- j to the bout from TelePrompter for national sales gathering since . 1946, the group with some strong re- one: year: Even if a member., de- ley and the organizing committee! $100,000 as promotional time for and first ever held in California, marks. Dan Frankel of Zenith In^ cides to take a. walk, he’ll still be report by Jack Ellis. 1 “The Horse Soldiers.” While a number of indies signed up after the.. meeting last week, j Rights To Bout Films For Regular Bookings Go To United Artists Associates) said they had to check Motion picture rights to the back w ? ith their principals before heavyweight championship fight coming to any decision on joining, between Floyd Pattersori and Inge-