Boxoffice-Febuary.18.1956

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National Theatres' Production
Okayed by Justice Department
Divorced circuit given permission to make
16 features in its new Cinemiracle system in
five and one-half years, and show them in 24
of its theatres, and elsewhere under certain
restrictions; equipment must be licensed to
others at end of period: court hearing on
application set for February 24.
*
Eric Johnston Set to Leave
For Global Trip Feb. 20
Will take up film export problems in the
Far East, the Near East and Europe: first
stop will be Honolulu; Mrs. Johnston and
Irving Maas, MPEA vice-president, will accompany
him.
Two Wall Street Men Nominated
As Loew's Inc. Directors
Stockholders will vote Thursday (23) on
Paul E. Manheim of Lehman Bros, and
Charles J. Stewart of Lazard Freres & Co., as
Benjamin Melniker and Eugene W. Leake
withdraw names from slate: Melniker made
a vice-president.
*
Republic Sees 50% Increase
In Its Foreign Business
Reginald Armour, executive vice-president
of Republic International, says European outlook
very good, in spite of slight setback due
to British television.
*
Screen Gems Sales
To Share in the Profits
Staff
Columbia's television subsidiary to have
plan effective at the end of the year; Robert
H. Salk, director of sales, says net has risen
400 per cent in 12 months.
•
David A. Levy Planning
To Retire on March 2
New York metropolitan district manager for
Universal-International will be succeeded by
Joseph B. Rosen, Detroit branch manager;
Richard B. Graff, sales manager in Chicago,
will succeed Rosen.
*
Virginia Exhibitors Vote
To Aid Tax Campaign
Pledge to support COMPO's admission tax
drive is made by Virginia Motion Picture
Ass'n at Richmond meeting; to hold annual
convention April 17-19 in Washington.
•
UA Field Heads to Meet
At N. Y. Home Office
All United Artists district managers in the
U. S. and Canada to convene Friday (24) and
Saturday; will mark first general meeting of
the field men in New York in over two years.
*
'Carousel' Premiere Raises
$52,000 for Medical School
Three governors, United Nations leaders
and huge delegation of industry leaders
climax week of activity; streets blocked north
Reagan and Dietz Outline
MGM Exploitation Plans
HOLLYWOOD—Closing sessions of
MGM's
worldwide sales conference, a five-day affair
which ended Friday (10) at the company's
Culver City studio, were climaxed by outlines
of exploitation plans for upcoming releases as
discussed by Charles Reagan, sales chief, and
Howard Dietz, in charge of publicity and advertising.
Every film today must be sold as an "individual
enterprise." Dietz declared, "with the
promotion resources of both domestic and
international markets combined for fullest
effect."
NEED FOREIGN IMPACT
Sales executives numbering 78, and representing
MGM in 60 countries around the
world, were told by Dietz that competition
in the world market requires tremendous impact,
"especially with the revenues from
abroad contributing so tremendously to the
company income."
Putting definitively to rest rumors circulating
as to the status of Dore Schary as MGM
studio head, Arthur M. Loew, newly elected
president of Loew's, Inc., issued a statement
at the conclusion of the week of conferences
asserting that no changes in executive personnel
at the studio are contemplated. Said
Loew
"In my opinion, as well as the opinion of
the various international representatives, the
pictures we have seen are commendable in
every way. In fact, I would venture to say that
they are the finest group of MGM pictures in
the company's history. This sounds like typical
showmanship exaggeration but I suppose
there is no way of giving a superlative appreciation
without the use of superlatives . . .
While I am indulging in the age-old executive
sport of making statements I should like
to correct a rumor that has been aired since
my election to the presidency of Loew's. The
rumor is to the effect that Dore Schary is
about to sever his connections with the company
as head of the studio.
"There is no truth to this rumor.
SCHARY REMAINS IN POST
"Dore Schary remains in his executive post
and I am contemplating no other changes in
the executive personnel.
"The studio is functioning in fine shape, it
seems to me, and the pictures about to be released
will be the best evidence of that fact."
As an example of the promotional policies
being implemented for new MGM product.
Dietz and Reagan cited campaigns on "I'll
Cry Tomorrow," "Forever Darling," "The Last
Hunt," "Meet Me in Las Vegas," "Bhowani
Junction," "The Rack," "Tribute to a Bad
Man." "The Swan," "Gaby" and "The Catered
Affair."
The campaign for "Vegas" will be touched
off with its Tuesday (21) world premiere at
the El Portal Theatre in Las Vegas, with
drama critics to be flown there from key
cities. Milton Berle's network TV show will
be telecast live, and in color, from the Sands
Hotel and the El Portal, and will be renamed
the "Milton Berle 'Meet Me in Las Vegas'
Show" for the occasion. Tieups are being
made with retail RCA dealers and Whirlpool,
sponsors of the Berle program. The broad-
Charles Reagan Howard Dietz
cast will immediately precede the premiere,
which is for the benefit of the Las Vegas Variety
Club Children's Hospital.
Cyd Charisse, femme star of the musical.
will then go on tour for pre-release premieres
in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Minneapolis,
Dallas. Houston, Denver, Washington,
D. C, St. Louis and Memphis and will do
press, radio and TV interviews.
"The Last Hunt" had its world premiere
Thursday (16) in Sioux Falls, S. D., with
Stewart Granger, who co-stars in the film
with Robert Taylor; director Richard Brooks,
and Russ Tamblyn and his bride Venetia
Stevenson among the Hollywood luminaries in
attendance. Gov. Joe Foss of South Dakota
proclaimed a statewide " 'The Last Hunt'
Week" in honor of the picture, which was
filmed on location in the Black Hills and Badlands
near Rapid City.
Delegates to the sales sessions brought with
them representative pairs of dolls native to
their home countries, and which were presented
to Samuel Goldwyn at a dinner after
a special screening of "Guys and Dolls," the
Golclwyn musical which MGM is releasing.
Goldwyn, expressing his appreciation for the
gift, told the visitors he is "proud" to be distributing
his picture through the company
which he helped to found, and praised the
job the MGM sales organization has done on
the film thus far.
Chas. Coe, Oscar Doob
Join in TV Net Series
PALM BEACH, FLA. — Charles Francis
"Socker" Coe. former vice-president and general
counsel of the Motion Picture Producers
and Distributors Ass'n (then known as the
Hays Office), has signed a contract to become
a TV star. He will appear as a raconteur on
a weekly network TV series entitled "The Living
Story," produced by Theodore Granik,
known for his American Forum and Youth
Wants to Know TV shows. Oscar A. Doob,
who resigned as an MGM executive last September,
will be associated with Coe in his TV
venture.
The deal also includes access to Coe's vast
storehouse of literary properties. He has
authored some 250 published short stories
in the Saturday Evening Post) and
around 50 novels. Until recently he was
editor and publisher of the Palm Beach Post-
Times.
Granik will produce and film the TV series
here.
12 BOXOFFICE
•
. February
18, 1956