Boxoffice-Febuary.18.1956

Automatic Projection jReweat > >
Developed in Britain
LONDON—It appears that automation is
to enter the motion picture projection room.
An automatic projection device, known in
the trade as "Projectomatic," is now nearing
a two-year test in theatres throughout the
country, and an official report is expected to
be made to the government soon. Today's
Cinema, trade daily, says that so far, reports
have all been favorable.
Sometime this month, a group of 50 to 60
experts of the National Ass'n of Theatrical
and Kine Employes (NATKE) is expected to
attend a full trade demonstration of the
equipment. It is hoped that the group will
put its seal of approval on the machine.
TOM O'BRIEN IS IMPRESSED
Tom O'Brien, M.P., general secretary of
NATKE, saw Projectomatic in action some
months ago and said it "impressed him" very
much.
The Cinematograph Exhibitors Ass'n,
through its technical department, has made
an official report on the system. The equipment
was developed by the Essoldo Circuit
some years ago, and is capable "of controlling
arc lamps and projector mechanisms, operating
the switchgear controlling house lighting.
curtain motors and performing other functions
associated with the projection of motion
pictures."
Two years ago, an application was made
by Essoldo to the government asking that
the efficacy of the equipment be recognized.
However, the government authorities felt that
the equipment should be tested in actual
operation under normal conditions in theatres.
This was done, and the reports are
about ready to be made public. The CEA informed
the trade recently that preliminary
reports indicate that the equipment is operating
satisfactorily, and that within the near
future, if present satisfactory results are
maintained, the equipment will receive official
recognition.
STILL NEED PROJECTIONIST
The mechanism will not do away with projectionists.
The government is expected to
require a competent operator to be in charge
of the projection room where the automatic
equipment is installed, although the operator
will be permitted to leave the projection room
for periods up to 15 minutes. What effect the
automation device will have on the two-operator
booth was not revealed.
Essoldo has entered into an agreement with
B.O.P.E., Ltd., for the manufacture of the
equipment while marketing agents will be
G. B. Kalee, Ltd. The latter is to offer exhibitors
a rental plan under which the equipment
will be installed and maintained at a
fixed weekly rental, with the exhibitor paying
for the entire wiring costs.
Zukor to Bank Post
NEW YORK—Adolph Zukor, Paramount
Pictures board chairman, has been elected
chairman of the advisory board of the Times
Square office of the Chemical Corn Exchange
Bank, located at Broadway and 44th street.
Announcement of the election was made
Tuesday (14).
Carl Krueger to Produce
Second Film in Mexico
NEW YORK— Carl Krueger, who completed
"Comanche" for United Artists release in six
weeks in Mexico at a cost of just under
$1,000,000. will make his next picture, "St.
Carl Krueger, left, producer of "Comanche"
for United Artists release, tells of
his plans to promote the Mexican-made
feature in CinemaScope. Myer Beck, the
producer's representative, looks on.
Patrick's Battalion," in Mexico, with UA to
have first crack at the release.
"Comanche," which was filmed entirely on
location near Durango, Mexico, would have
cost about $750,000 more if shooting had been
done in Hollywood, Krueger estimates. No
studio photography was used, but Krueger
took 27 Hollywood technicians to Mexico and
employed a 175-man Mexican crew. United
Artists financed the picture 100 per cent.
The picture will open at the Worth Theatre,
Fort Worth, March 15 with Dana Andrews,
the star, and Krueger making personal appearances.
Krueger will then tour for a
month in connection with regional openings.
Easter week bookings have been set for the
Interstate circuit in the southwest and the
Fox West Coast chain.
"St. Patrick's Battalion" is an adaptation of
a Spanish-language novel by Patricia Cox, a
Mexican of Irish extraction, who will get a
small percentage from all rights, including
movie, theatre, TV and book. Krueger will rewrite
the book for American publication and
he also has started the screenplay. The original
book was published in Mexico late in
1954. No cast has been set.
Krueger will leave for the coast next week
after conferring with UA executives on sales
and promotion for the CinemaScope picture.
'Conqueror' Trailers Made
For Use on TV Stations
NEW YORK—Trailers assembled from film
shot at the worldwide premieres of Howard
Hughes' "The Conqueror" are being circulated
to television stations as the major phase of
the publicity drive for the pre-release domestic
openings in 45 theatres February 22.
Tape recordings have been made for use
with the films. These include interviews with
John Wayne and celebrities who attended the
openings in London, Rome, Paris and Berlin.
< <
*?6u4ed
SLIGHTLY SCARLET (RKO)—Two of the
screen's most attractive redheads, Rhonda
Fleming and Arlene Dahl, add decorative
color as well as name value to an effective
crime melodrama in Superscope and Technicolor.
The title and John Payne, who
plays the lieutenant to a crime syndicate
boss in capable fashion, are additional selling
points. Based on a James M. Cain
novel, "Love's Lovely Counterfeit," this was
produced by Benedict Bogeaus and well directed
by Allan Dwan, who keeps the pa«e
lively r.ght up to the tragic "crime doesn't
pay" fadeout. 99 minutes. John Payne,
Rhonda Fleming, Arlene Dahl, Kent Taylor.
TIMETABLE (UA)—For his debut as an independent
producer-director, Mark Stevens
has picked a different type of crime melodrama
and peopled it with supporting players
who are comparatively unfamiliar and
thus add realism to an above-average programmer.
Stevens, an excellent actor who
has lately been making a name on TV, is
the main selling point. The suspense is well
maintained throughout and the climax is
in the best shooting-chase tradition. 79
minutes. Mark Stevens, King Calder, Felicia
Farr, Wesley Addy, Marianne Stewart.
These reviews will appear in full in
a forthcoming issue of BOXOFFICE.
RKO Will Have Four Films
Before Cameras in March
HOLLYWOOD—Supplementing "The First
Traveling Saleslady," now before the cameras,
RKO Radio will launch three more
features within the next month, it was reported
by William Dozier, vice-president in
charge of production, upon his return from
a two-week trip to New York.
Slated to go March 1 is "Tension at Table
Rock," to be produced by Sam Wiesenthal
and directed by Charles Marquis Warren.
It will be followed March 5 by producer-director
John Farrow's "Back From Eternity,"
starring Robert Ryan and Anita Ekberg, and
on March 14 by the Bert Friedlob production,
"Beyond a Reasonable Doubt," starring
Dana Andrews and megged by Fritz Lang.
"Saleslady," in which Ginger Rogers is the
title-roler, is being produced and directed
by Arthur Lubin.
Manley, Inc., District Men
In Sales Meeting at K. C.
KANSAS CITY—Manley, Inc., held a meeting
Monday through Wednesday for district
managers from all over the country at the
Hotel Muehlebach. It was an executive session
devoted to a discussion of sales plans for
new concession equipment developed by the
company.
B J. McKenna, executive vice-president,
and Charles G. Manley, vice-president, conducted
the meeting. The managers who attended
and their district headquarters are:
A. T. Rowe. Kansas City; F. E. Malia, Minneapolis;
John F. Saunders, Memphis; L. O.
Seley, Boston; W. H. Turpie, Los Angeles:
Arlie E. Berry, Denver; P. A. Warner, Dallas.
16 BOXOFFICE :
: February 18, 1956