Boxoffice-March.24.1956

AFM 47 Scrap Faces
Showdown Monday
HOLLYWOOD—Representatives of both
factions in strife-ridden Local 47, American
Federation of Musicians, traded verbal
punches at midweek press conferences. One
faction opposes the administration of James
Caesar Petrillo, AFM president.
Recording secretary Maury Paul, a target
of the anti-Petrillo segment along with John
TeGroen, deposed as the local's president by
a 1,531-51 vote at a recent membership meeting,
pledged a finish fight against the attempt
by Cecil F. Read, now acting as president,
to "usurp political control" of the unit,
which has 16,000 members. Read meantime
declared ouster proceedings also will be
launched next Monday (26) against G. R.
"Bob" Hennon, financial secretary, "as soon
as the membership dismisses Paul."
The Paul and Read charges and countercharges
are expected to face a showdown
at the Monday session. Meanwhile, five men
appointed by the AFM's executive board as
a probing committee concluded seven days of
investigation into the rebellion and returned
to their respective headquarters with the expectation
that a full report will be submitted
at a Tuesday (27) board meeting.
The Read faction charges Petrillo and
other AFM executives with mismanagement
of the union's strike funds.
'Gray Flannel' to Premiere
In Hollywood April 12
HOLLYWOOD—World premiere of "The
Man in the Gray Flannel Suit," the Darryl
F. Zanuck production for 20th-Fox, has been
scheduled for April 12 at Grauman's Chinese
Theatre. Based on the best-seller by Sloan
Wilson, "Suit" stars Gregory Peck, Jennifer
Jones and Fredric March, and was directed
by Nunnally Johnson.
* * *
"Crime in the Streets," Allied Artists'
drama of adolescent delinquency, was
screened Friday (23) in Fresno, Calif., as a
highlight of the annual convention of the
California State Juvenile Officers Ass'n.
Starring John Cassavetes, "Crime" was produced
by Vincent M. Fennelly, with Don
Siegel as the megaphonist.
Merchants Drive Results
In Gustine Reopening
GUSTINE, CALIF.—The Valley Theatre,
which has been closed for approximately a
year, has been reopened for weekend showings.
Announcement was made by William
Skaggs, manager of the West Side Theatre in
Newman. He also will manage the theatre
here.
The opening comes as a result of a long
campaign by the merchants of this city to
bring back movies to Gustine. Showings will
be Fridays from 7 p.m. and Saturdays and
Sundays from 1 p.m. Admission will be 50c.
U-I STAB IN PORTLAND—William
Campbell, producer-actor who got his
first real screen break with Spencer Tracy
in "People Against O'Hara," clowns with
Wil Hudson, John Hamrick Theatres city
manager at Portland. Campbell says the
successful actor today is businessman
first; playboy role doesn't pay. Campbell
is a U-I star.
New Type Sound Stage
Makes Trade Debut
HOLLYWOOD—Said to be the only operation
of its kind in the industry, a new recording,
scoring and dubbing stage constructed
at Kling studios by the motion picture
production division of the Todd-AO
Corp. was opened for press and trade inspection
Monday (19) and is now available to
major and independent filmmakers. Built
under the supervision of S. A. Sanford, general
manager of Todd-AO's film division, the
stage has a special closed-circuit TV operation
linking it with two other stages and
the Todd-AO control room.
Fred Hynes, sound director, asserted the
scoring time can be cut by 25 per cent because
of quick communication between the
conductor and the control-room operators via
TV. The sound operation has a six-channel
orthosonic setup and a 60 by 27-foot screen,
adjustable to any depth of curvature to accommodate
all photographic processes. Ninety-six
sound tracks can be put together at
one time.
Producer Mike Todd's "Around the World
in 80 Days" will be the first feature dubbed
and scored with the new facilities.
Joe Popkin Leaves Studio
HOLLYWOOD—Joe Popkin has resigned
as executive in charge of facilities at California
studios, owned by Jack Gross and
Philip Krasne. Mickey Gross will continue
as studio manager, while Gross and Krasne
will devote increased time to maintaining a
direct relationship with their clients and
tenants.
The quota for imports of feature films into
Japan for the year ending March 31, 1956,
was set at 180 by the Japanese government.
Coquille, Ore., Men Buy
Theatres at Florence
FLORENCE, ORE.—Mr. and Mrs. Morrill
E. Ritter jr. have sold the Florence Theatre
and Rhododendron Drive-in here to L. W.
Claver and R. G. Thompson of Coquille. The
Ritters came here in 1937 operating the old
Florence Theatre, erecting the new theatre in
1939. They opened the Rhododendron in 1953.
The new owners are not new to the theatre
business. Claver operates two theatres and a
drive-in in Coquille. Thompson owns several
business properties there. They plan to hold
matinees both Saturday and Sunday afternoons
at reduced prices.
Thompson will be in active management of
the local theatres, planning to move here after
school is out. His daughter Irene has been
voted the most popular girl in the senior class
at the high school. The Ritters will divide
their time between their homes in Florence,
Roseburg and Bear Lake, Canada.
Cannes Festival Invites
'Harder Fall' Entry
NEW YORK—The Cannes Film Festival
committee has invited Columbia Pictures to
enter "The Harder They Fall" in the annual
competition from April 23-May 10. The final
release print was not ready for showing at the
time of the screening by the Motion Picture
Ass'n of America when it was selecting the
two national entries allotted to the United
States.
The American entries already selected are:
"I'll Cry Tomorrow" (MGM) and "The Man
Who Knew Too Much" (Para).
Gala Treatment Is Given
'Alexander' in London
LONDON—Top personalities in the diplomatic,
business and theatrical worlds attended
a gala opening of Robert Rossen's "Alexander
the Great" at the Odeon Theatre Thursday
(22). A closed circuit telecast into the theatre
auditorium enabled patrons to see the
arrival of the celebrities. Films of the opening
will be televised throughout Europe, the
Far East and South America. The British
Broadcasting Corp. telecast the actual event.
Kentucky Opening Set
For Tony Martin Film
NEW YORK—"Quincannon, Frontier
Scout," a Bel-Air western starring Tony
Martin, will open at the Mayfair Theatre,
Mayfair, Ky., April 6, with Gov. A. B. "Happy"
Chandler, former baseball commissioner,
heading the list of officials present.
Martin will attend, with Peggie Castle and
John Bromfield, who are co-starred, and the
film's producers, Howard W. Koch and Aubrey
Schenck. United Artists is releasing the
picture.
JlonnA&tc
BOONTON, N. J.
Large Core
Greater Crater Area
means
MAXIMUM LIGHT
in Colo.—DENVER SHIPPING & INSPECTION, Denver—Acoma 5616
West Coost— B. F. SHEARER CO.
in Utah—WESTERN SOUND & EQUIPMENT CO., 264 East First
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Evenly Distributed a
38 BOXOFFICE :: March 24, 1956