Boxoffice-October.01.1955

I
Rhoden Denies Awards
Conflict With Oscars
LOS ANGELES—Sharp exception to Information
contained in a story in a local
tradepaper, reporting Hollywood guilds and
organizations which are members of the
Motion Picture Industry Council are refusing
to cooperate with COMPO's Audience
Awards poll, was taken by Elmer C. Rhoden,
president of National Theatres and national
chairman of the poll committee, in an official
statement issued September 28.
Rhoden reminded that there are "scores
of polls." but that the COMPO-sponsored
event can be considered the first national
public election of its kind.
"We should welcome the opportunity to
hear from our audiences as to what pictures,
stars and new personalities they prefer,"
Rhoden declared. "I cannot conceive of
even a small group of people in show business
opposing the idea of acknowledging the public
vote."
The story to which he had reference had
asserted the film capital groups were failing
to lend their support to the COMPO balloting
on the grounds it conflicts with and is in
direct competition to the yearly Academy
Awards event. Rhoden denied this, asserting
the Oscar affair is an important one in
stimulating Hollywood's creative genius, but
that the industry should be "equally aware
of the fact that our job is to entertain the
public."
Simultaneously, at previously announced
meetings held here and in San Francisco to
brief the personnel of Fox West Coast's
northern and southern California divisions
on subjects covered at the recent NT conclave
in Colorado Springs, Rhoden discussed
the business outlook and said he was looking
forward to the Motion Picture Festival
planned for staging here next March. The
need for good pictures and competent manpower
were cited and toll-TV and color video
as competitive media were analyzed.
Reveals Cost of Wiring
For Jerrold's Toll TV
NEW YORK—A wired system for bringing
subscription television into the 285,000 homes
in the greater Cincinnati area would cost
$16,000,000 or less than $60 per home, according
to Milton J. Shapp, president of Jerrold
Electronics Corp. of Philadelphia. This cable
system would span the 1,600 miles of streets
in Cincinnati and its suburbs In Ohio and
Kentucky.
The cost for Zenith, Skiatron and Telemeter
would be at least $25,000,000, or $90 per subscriber,
to install 285,000 of their decoders,
Shapp estimated from data furnished to the
FCC.
The cost comparison was presented by
Shapp on a recent three-day panel discussion
on "Fee vs. Free TV" telecast over WCPO-
TV, Cincinnati. Other panelists were Trueman
Rembusch, Allied Theatres; Ted Leitzel
and Greg Flettelan, Zenith; Robert Hall,
Skiatron, and Paul McNamara, International
Telemeter.
Ampex Employes to Share
In Company's Profits
REDWOOD CITY, CALIF.—Employes of
the Ampex Corp. will share in the company's
profits after May 1, 1956, George I. Long,
Ampex president, announced last week at a
meeting attended by more than 800 employes
of the tape recorder manufacturer.
Effective with the beginning of Ampex's
next fiscal year the board of directors has
approved the establishment of a profitsharing
fund to consist of 15 per cent of the
company's profits before taxes. Had the plan
been in effect during the past fiscal year, employes
would have shared $114,000. Long
pointed out.
Continental to Handle Guinness Film;
Also Four Other Foreign
NEW YORK — Continental Distributing,
Inc., will distribute Alec Guinness' "The
Ladykillers" and four other foreign films in
the western hemisphere, according to Frank
Kassler, president, and Walter Reade jr.,
board chairman. Releases for 1955 will total
five films and the total for 1956 will be at
least seven or eight. The company would
like to and is equipped to handle 12 a year,
all quality productions. It is prepared to
handle American product.
The four other foreign films are "The
Night My Number Came Up," also from the
J. Arthur Rank Organization and starring
Michael Redgrave; "Adorable Creatures,"
French-language comedy starring Martine
Carol, Danielle Darrleux, Edwige Feuillere and
Daniel Gelln; "The Snow Is Black," a drama
of post-war France, also starring Gelln and
based on a novel by Georges Slmenon. and
"Hill 24 Doesn't Answer," multi-lingual
Features
Israeli picture about Israel's fight for independence.
The last named will open November
2 at the World Theatre here and the next
day in Washington and Chicago.
Kassler and Reade reported that the Guinness
film, "To Paris With Love," has played
550 engagements in six months to a gross of
over $400,000. There were 70 prints of it.
The company has a "Continental plan"
whicli encourages exhibitor financing of coproductions
and in the acquisition and distribution
of product. It is seeking further coproduction
via Israeli-American financing.
Exhibitors invest according to a percentage
figure based on the revenue potential of their
areas, get a picture for first run in their
areas and receive a percentage of all western
hemisphere revenue from a picture.
Kassler and Reade will go to Europe early
in 1956 in search of more product and to
close pending co-production deals.
A Diamond Jubilee
In 1956 Suggested
NEW YORK—The idea of a motion picture
diamond jubOee celebration in 1956 has
been devised by Sigmund S. Maitles, former
advertising copy chief at MGM, who now
has his own advertising and promotion company.
He has taken it up with the Council
of Motion Picture Organizations and is seeking
support from the major distributors.
As outlined to date, Maitles' plan is to
feature "60 years of progress in motion picture
entertainment" by reissues to theatres
of 60 "all-time greats" during 1956. There
would be a national institutional advertising
campaign, trailers and accessories and personal
appearances of 60 stars.
The project would become international in
scope through a worldwide touring "exposition
of progress" and a reception at Hollywood
which would be reported overseas by
radio and television.
Maitles is located at 1560 Broadway. His
company has handled work for Columbia.
United Artists. Universal-International and
Cunningham & Walsh, advertising agency,
among others.
John N. Krier Is New Head
Of Intermountain Circuit
NEW YORK—John N. Krier has been
named vice-president and general manager of
Intermountain Theatres. Inc.. a subsidiary of
American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres
in Utah and Idaho, by Leonard H. Goldenson,
president. Krier will fill the vacancy created
by the death of Ray M. Hendry.
Krier has been a booker and buyer for
the circuit since 1952. He joined the circuit
originally in 1937 from Tri-States Theatres.
He is a graduate of Augustana College, Rock
Island, 111., his home town, and also the
Paramount-Publix Theatre Manager Training
School of 1930. He began his theatre career
as an usher at the Fort Theatre, Rock
Island.
He lives in Salt Lake City with Mrs. Krier.
A son. John, is with the U. S. Army in
Friedelberg, Germany.
Levey Drops Importations
To Re-Enter Production
NEW YORK—Jules Levey will leave soon
for Hollywood where he will re-enter production.
He has been importing films since
1946 when the Italian film, "Fabiola," which
he dubbed, became an outstanding United
Artists release. Previously, since 1940, lio
organized Mayfair Productions and made a
number of features, among them "Boys from
Syracuse" and "Hellzapoppin."
Levey entered the industry in 1913 as a
Universal-International salesman. He resigned
as RKO general sales manager to
i
form Mayfau-. He was critical of exhibitors
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for refusing to play dubbed foreign films.
Republic is handling his present release, "She
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Wolf," an Italian film.
Extra Warners Dividend
NEW YORK—Warner Bros. Pictures. Inc.,
voted a special dividend of 30 cents per sharel
on the common stock at a special meetingi
held September 22. It is payable November 5|
to stockholders of record October 14.
18 BOXOFFICE October 1, 1!