Boxoffice-April.13.1959

Schines Pay Off $68,000
In Fines for Contempt
BUFFALO—The Schine theatre interests
have paid $68,000 in fines imposed March
26. 1957, in federal court in Buffalo after
they were found guilty of criminal contempt
of a court order directing that they
dispose of some of their theatre holdings.
Judge Harold P. Burke found that they
violated a 1949 federal court order to dis-'
pose of 39 motion picture theatres held by
Schine and its subsidiaries.
Twelve of the 14 defendants paid their
fines. One of them, Louis W. Schine, died
and no fine was imposed on him, wliile
another Schine official, John A. May, died
since he was fined $500.
The fines paid were Schine Chain Theatres.
Inc., $25,000: J. Myer Schine, $25,-
000; Donald G. Schine and Howard M.
Antevil, $5,000 each; Schine Theatrical
Co.. Inc., Schine Lexington Corp., Schine
Circuit. Inc., Chesapeake Theatres Corp.,
Darnell Theatres, Inc., Elmart Theatres,
Inc., Schine Enterprises and Hildemart
Corp., $1,000 each.
Schine Theatre interests appealed the
conviction to the second circuit court of
appeals. But the conviction was upheld a
year ago. In January, the Supreme Com't
refused to hear an appeal. The defendants
had provided a bond guaranteeing payment
of the fines while the case was on
appeal.
Somerville Drive-In Corp.
Names Eight Defendants
NEWARK — The Somei-ville
Drive-In
preference to the Somei-ville and Plainfield
theatres in the release of pictui-es. Pictures
are made available to the plaintiff
not earlier than seven days after openings
in Newark theatres. Somerville Di-ive-In
says it does not compete with the Newark
theatres and has no substantial competition
with the theatres in Somerville and
Plainfield.
Defendants are Loew's Inc., 20th Century-Fox,
Paramount, Warner Bros., RKO
Teleradio Pictures, Columbia Pictures,
Universal-International, and United Ai-t-
Motion Picture Councils
Meet in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — Delegates from 60
units of the Federation of Motion Pictui-e
Councils convened at the Warwick Hotel
here Wednesday and Thursday i9. 10 1
for
their fifth annual meeting. The organization
was established "to strengthen the
work of its member councils by furthering
their interests of general motion pictui-e
problems through the mutual exchange of
ideas and experience and to promote the
success of those motion pictures, without
regard to their origin, which reflect the
highest possible moral and artistic standards
of motion pictures." Mrs. Dean Gray
Edwards, president, presided over the sessions.
Mrs. Margaret Twyman, director of community
relations for the Motion Picture
Ass'n of America, gave the keynote address.
She highlighted the need for careful selfevaluation,
for supporting the backing of
the national federation and for the development
of new councils.
"The greatest tribute to the pioneers of
our industry and to the pioneers in the
founding of the Motion Picture Councils,"
Mrs. Twyman said, "will, in my opinion,
be expressed through the evidence of your
willingness and mine to keep apace with
the changes around us. These pioneers had
the spirit to 'stay apace and also look
ahead.' and we must be sure we do like-
Corp., operator of a drive-in theatre in wise. This, more than any other one thing,
Branchburg, Somerset County, filed an will reflect the heritage of their vision in
antitrust suit in Federal Court for treble our future. Let us never settle for 'what
damages of $360,000 against eight film has been done' or for doing things 'the
producers and distributors.
way they have always been done.' "
The plaintiff charged the defendants The luncheon meeting opened with a
conspu-ed since April 1, 1955, with theatres
in Somerville and Plainfield, to restrain
interstate trade in violation of the
Shennan antiti-ust laws.
As a result of this alleged conspiracy,
the defendants are said to have given
Censors' Revival Asked
HARRISBURG—Legislation to revive the
old state board of censors, ruled unconstitutional
by state and U.S. Supreme
Courts, has been introduced in the house.
Sponsors are ti-ying to detour around constitutional
objections by making movies
subject to the board's "approval" substituting
this word for "disapproval." The
measure was prepared by Reps. Marian
E. Markley, Allentown Republican, and
Democrats Marion L. Munley, Scranton;
Kathryn Pashley, Philadelphia, and Philip
Lopresti, Johnstown.
RECEIVE THE FIRST PRINTS—
William J. Heineman, left, United
Artists vice-president in charge of distribution,
and James R. Velde, right,
general sales manager, are shown with
the first prints of UA's special 40th
Anniversary product trailer. Commemorating
the founding of UA on
April 17, 1919, the six-minute trailer is
being sent to the company's 33 exchange
centers in the U. S. and Canada
for theatre distribution and special
exhibitor screenings.
discussion of motion picture councils and
the commimity by Taylor Mills, director
of public relations of the MPAA. In outlining
suggestions for new opportunities
of service to the community. Mills said
that every town provided a fertile field
for developing new interest in motion pictures.
"Schools," he said, "through PTA groups,
women's clubs, church groups and other
community organizations and business interests
all offer real opportunities for the
constructive promotional efforts of the local
Film Council."
Following his talk. Mills conducted a
symposium of Film Council management
and operation. Participating were Millard
Jordan. Cleveland; Mrs. Karl Km-th, St.
Louis; Mrs. Harry T. Ja:-vis. Detroit; Mrs.
Leroy Lewis, Larchmont-Mamaroneck,
N.Y., and Mrs. C. R. Buckeridge, Sheboygan,
Wis.
The featured speaker on the dinner program
Wednesday night was Gordon S.
White, director of the MPAA Advertising
Code Administration, who discussed the
industi-y's voluntai-y self-regulation of advertising.
White said, in part:
"It is a plain and simple fact that customs,
social views and ideas have undergone
substantial changes since our codes
were written. We are. in fact, facing the
paradox of more liberal public acceptance
on one hand and demands for still tighter
controls on the other."
During the two days of meetings, pictui-es
screened for the delegates were
United Artists' "A Hole in the Head," Universal's
"Imitation of Life" and Cinerama's
"South Seas Adventure."
Fiank Capra. producer of "A Hole in
the Head," received a special award "for
his remarkable record of distinguished
films and for his many years of devoted
service to the motion picture industry and
to his adopted country."
Md. Senate Bill Requires
Air Conditioner Engineer
BALTIMORE—Senate Bill 533, if enacted
by the state legislature, would compel
everyone with a 75 h.p. or over air
conditioner to hire a licensed engineer to
operate it. The bill has been referred to
the Senate's judiciary proceedings committee.
Since the measure would affect all
neighborhood theatres, the Allied Motion
Pictm-e Theatre Owners of Maryland
promptly lodged a vigorous protest with
the committee.
Ozoner Regulations Proposed
HARRISBURG—In the state legislature
is a measure. Bill 800, which would make
it necessary for builders of outdoor motion
picture theatres to obtain permits
from local governments. The bill would
further ban any permit if the theatre
screen picture side could be seen from the
highway or if the entrance is less than
1,000 feet from a highway.
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BOXOFFICE
April 13. 1959
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