Boxoffice-October.01.1955

Yates Predicts Top Year
For Republic Films
HOLLYWOOD—With productional activity
at the studio now at its highest level in the
company's history, Republic president Herbert
J. Yates on Monday (26) forecast "a most
optimistic outlook" for his organization and
the film industry in general during this year's
final quarter and the first six months of 1956.
"Domestic and foreign business will show
increases this year," Yates declared, and
1955-56 will be "the greatest production year
in Republic's 20-year history."
He pointed out that all 19 stages at the
valley studio are occupied with feature and
TV production, music scoring and dubbing,
and said all technical departments are working
overtime to complete Republic's production
program, which has seen 15 features
already completed thi.s year.
More than $1,000,000 will be expended before
the end of 1955, Yates reported, on additional
construction, technical equipment and further
development of Republic's new Cinepanoramic
lens.
Seven theatrical features and TV subjects
are currently shooting, two features are being
scored and dubbed and 17 other properties are
in various stages of preparation.
In work as Republic ventures are "The
Maverick Queen," being shot in the Cinepanoramic
process: "Shot in the Dark" and
"Stranger at My Door." Being scored and
dubbed are "Circus Girl" and "Come Next
Spring," while other stages are occupied with
four video projects leasing the studio's facilities.
The 17 upcoming subjects, some of which
will be shot in Cinepanoramic and Trucolor,
include:
"Lisbon," to star Ray Milland: "Annie
Jordan." "Portrait of a Hero," "Little Lady
of the Big House," "Brother Van," "Man of
Violence," "The Deerstalker," "The Long
Watch." "Back of Beyond," "Renegades and
the Woman," "Jesse James Was My
Neighbor," "And Suddenly You Run," "Below
the Summit." "Lady in Lace." "Sophisticated
Lady." "The White Leopard" and "The Long
Way Back."
DISNEY HONORED BY SMPTE—Walt
Disney receives a certificate of honorary
membership in the Society of Motion Picture
and Television Engineers from Dr.
John G. Frayne of Westrex Corp., president
of the Society. The certificate was
awarded to Disney at a ceremony at the
.•\BC Telecenter, New York City, for his
lifetime of important contributions to the
field of animated motion pictures, and for
his excellent handling of nature subjects.
Four to Receive Awards
At SMPTE Convention
NEW YORK—The Society of Motion Picture
and Television Engineers announces
four awards that will be presented October
4 at its 78th convention at Lake Placid. Dr.
Harry S. Olson of RCA has been chosen for
the Samuel L. Warner Memorial Award. Dr.
Elmer W. Engstrom. who will receive SMPTE's
Progres.s Medal Award, is executive vicepresident
of research and engineering and a
director of RCA. Bernard D. Loughlin, consulting
engineer with the Hazeltine Corp.,
will be recipient of the David Sarnoff Gold
Medal for his work in color television. R. S.
O'Brien, senior project engineer of the Columbia
Broadcasting System, will be presented
SMPTE's Journal Award.
Now It's a Drive for an Exhibifor
In the Minneapolis Territory
MINNEAPOLIS—There's a new kind of industry
drive on In the territory, and theatre
owners are particularly interested in it. It's
an exhibitor's Instead of film company drive
and Bill Danelz, owner of the Border Theatre
In Elmore, Minn., conceived the switch.
He launched it as the "Morgan Theatre Exhibitor's
Drive" in "honor" of theatre owner
Clarence Morris in nearby Morgan.
Film companies here that have a practice
of staging playdate campaigns, etc., from
time to time In "honor" of one of their
executives, have been notified by Danelz that
his drive will continue from October through
December.
Its goals, he says, are lowering of film
rentals, getting earlier playdates, obtaining
only top grossing pictures and securing a
few shorts gratis.
"This is our first drive, Mr. Distributor, and
how about getting behind it?" asks Danelz
in his letter sent to all film exchanges here.
"You have advised us to refurbish and clean
our theatre, to put in new equipment, to get
out and exploit.
"Well, friend, we have done all this and
we still need your help. We have cooperated
with you in your sales and playdate drives
in the past. Now is your opportunity to cooperate
with us In our first Exhibitor's
Drive."
Danelz says he feels sure the territory's
exhibitors will watch the drive's results with
great Interest.
Four MGM Releases,
Six Reprints Set
NEW YORK—Four new features are
scheduled for MGM release, plus six reprints
and two more pictures for special engagements
only for the final three months of
1955.
The October releases will be "Trial."
starring Glenn Ford. Dorothy McGuire.
Arthur Kennedy and John Hodiak: "Quentin
Durward." in CinemaScope and Eastman
Color, starring Robert Taylor. Kay Kendall
and Robert Morley. and two reprints, "The
Philadelphia Story." starring Cary Grant,
Katharine Hepburn and James Stewart, and
"Green Dolphin Street." starring Lana
Turner, Van Heflin and Donna Reed.
The leadoff picture for November will be
"The Tender Trap," in CinemaScope and
Eastman Color, starring Frank Sinatra.
Debbie RejTiolds. David Wayne and Celeste
Holm. There will also be two reprints, "A
Guy Named Joe," starring Spencer Tracy,
Van Johnson and Irene Dunne, and "Thirty
Seconds Over Tokyo," starring Tracy, Johnson
and Phyllis Thaxter.
Samuel Goldwyn's production of "Guys and
Dolls," in CinemaScope and color, starring
Marlon Brando. Jean Simmons. Frank
Sinatra and Vivian Blaine, has been booked
for several special engagements during
November and, for special engagements in
December. MGM will have "I'll Cry Tomorrow,"
starring Susan Hayward, Richard Conte.
Eddie Albert and Jo Van Fleet.
"Kismet." in CinemaScope and Eastman
Color, will be the Christmas picture. It stars
Howard Keel. Ann Blyth. Dolores Gray and
Vic Damone. Two reprints for December will
be: "Billy the Kid." starring Robert Taylor
and Brian Donlevy, and "Honky Tonk."
starring Clark Gable and Lana Turner.
Carl Siegel Services;
Executive With SW
NEW YORK—Funeral services for Carl A.
Siegel. 44. executive head of Stanley Warner
Corp. service department, were held at the
Riverside Memorial Chapel Wednesday i28>.
Siegel died suddenly September 25 of a heart
attack.
Originally in the wholesale dress business.
Siegel began his theatre activity In the Newark
zone office of Warner Bros. Theatres, in
the booking department, from which he was
transferred to the advertising department
and given charge of the zone concessions. His
talent for merchandising resulted In his becoming
the operating head of the service
department for the entire circuit in 1951.
remaining In charge when the circuit became
Stanley Warner Corp.
He is .survived by his wife. Cecile: a brother.
Arthur St«el. and his mother and stepfather.
Major and Mrs. Albert Warner.
Mrs. Orville Crouch
INDIANAPOLIS—Funeral .services for Mrs.
Oiville Crouch. 40. wife of the eastern zone
manager of Loew's Theatres, were held here
Wednesday i28>. Mrs. Crouch was fatally
injured in a traffic accident in Washington
September 24. as she was crossing the highway
to enter her husband's car. Besides her
husband. Mrs. Crouch is .survived by her
mother, five sisters and a brother in Indianapolis.
26 BOXOFTICE October 1. 1955