Boxoffice-March.19.1962

which
NEWS AND VIEWS OF THE PRODUCTION CENTER
Hollywood Office— Suite 320 at 6362 Hollywood Blvd., William Hebert, Western Manager
i
'Geronimo' Premiere
In New Mexico in April
HOLLYWOOD—The world premiere of
"Geronimo" will be held by United Artists
April 28 in Albuquerque and Santa Fe to
coincide with New Mexico's 50th statehood
anniversary celebration.
Chuck Connors, who stars as Geronimo
in the story of the Apache warrior's final
fight for freedom, and femme lead Kamala
Devi will attend the two premieres.
Foreign Press Ass'n Hit
By Internal Dissension
HOLLYWOOD — Following the recent
Hollywood Foreign Press Ass'n's Golden
Globe awards event. Ingrid Claimiont,
president, and members Guy Austin. Nora
Laing and Olga Neville resigned. Various
reasons were given for their decision to
bow out. among them charges of "too much
politics." "deadwood in the organization."
and the "undignified" awards presentation
this year.
Miss Clairmont. Swedish newspaperwoman,
wired her resignation to the board
for "personal reasons." Austin, of the
Sydney Morning Herald Overseas News
Service; Miss Laing. London Daily News,
and Miss Neville. British correspondent,
reportedly resigned for "political" reasons,
which included one charge of "internal
intrigue."
Elmer Bernstein Heads
Museum Music Group
HOLLYWOOD—The Hollywood Museum
has appointed Elmer Bernstein chairman
of the music committee. Museum chairman
Sol Lesser said the committee will
establish a museum exhibition illustrating
the technique of scoring films, including
orchestration and dubbing, and will compile
a histoi-y of screen music. Also on the
committee's agenda will be a Hollywood
Bowl concert saluting the late Victor
Young.
Abe Meyer of MCA is vice-chairman of
the music committee, with Bobby Heifer
of Revue Studios as coordinator.
Honorary UJW Chairmen
HOLLYWOOD—Jack Benny. Samuel
Goldwyn and Jack L. Warner will serve
as honorary chairmen of the amusement
section of the United Jewish Welfare fund
campaign for 1962. it was disclosed by
chairman Walter M. Mirisch. The drive,
which gets under way April 1. will involve
every phase of show business.
BOXOFHCE March 19, 1962
Technicians Earmark
'Stop Runaway' Fund
HOLLYWOOD—The lATSE laboratory
technicians Local 683 voted to earmark
$2,500 from its general fund for use by the
AFL Film Council to battle film productions
abroad, it was disclosed by Don Haggerty.
business representative. The vote
followed a talk by Clayton Thomason. business
representative of the scenic artists
Local 816. which took similar action last
week when members voted a minimum assessment
of $1 a month per member for a
fund to be used by the film council for a
positive action program against such
production.
A George Macy Memorial
HOLLYWOOD—The George Macy Memorial
Library of Classics was dedicated by
the Writers Guild of America West at the
guild offices. Macy. who was publisher of
the limited editions and Heritage books,
championed the adaptation of the world
classics to films. Following his wish, his
widow Helen turned over to the guild all
the classics published by him for use by all
film and television writers.
SPECIAL
AWARD PRESENTED—
Producer Charles Straus is pictured
here with the Special Award of Merit
given to Three Crown Productions for
"Hitler," by the Hollywood Foreig:n
Press Ass'n. Presentation was made to
Straus "in recognition of the outstanding
production which contributed to
greater understanding among worldwide
audiences." The Allied Artists
release stars Richard Basehart.
Blake Edwards Firm
Schedules 2 Pictures
HOLLYWOOD — Patricia
Productions,
Inc.. has been formed by producer-director
Blake Edwards. Its first two projects are
filming of William Goldman's "Soldier in
"
the Rain. will star Jackie Gleason
and Steve McQueen, to be distributed by
Allied Artists, and "The Great Race." to be
produced by Patricia for Mirisch Co.. based
on an original idea by Edwards. Edwards
will produce and direct both films. He now
is shooting "Days of Wine and Roses."
starring Lee Remick and Jack Lemmon for
Warner Bros, release. Over and above
"Great Race." the Edwards compaiiy has
a nonexclusive four-pictiu'e deal with
Mirisch.
"A Crack in the Steeple." autobiography
of Arthur Wilson. Episcopal minister, will
be filmed by MGM with Robert Edners the
producer. The vehicle is a love stoi-y played
against a religious background and concerns
a dedicated man who considers himself
a failure when he gives up an early
ambition to become a missionary. Eleanor
Griffin, who scripted "Boys Town" and "A
Man Called Peter," has been set to write
the screenplay of the Wilson stoi*y.
Christine Kaufman Signed
To Harold Hecht Pact
HOLLYWOOD—Producer Harold Hecht
has inked Christine Kaufman to a six-picture
non-exclusive pact, with a starring
role in "Flight Prom Ashlya" as the initial
film on her contract. The film is
slated to roll May 15 in North Africa from
a script by Waldo Salt. United Artists will
release.
Miss Kaufman also will star in "Tunnel:
28." opposite Don Murray, who will produce
the film independently with Walter
Wood in Germany in April. She also has
been set for "The Victors," Carl Foreman
production.
Art Hiller to Direct
HOLLYWOOD—Walt Disney has signed
Arthur Hiller to helm "The Miracle of the
White Stallions." a Technicolor production
based on the post-World War II recovery
of the famous dancing Lipizzan horses from
behind the Iron Curtain. Production is
tentatively scheduled to begin in July.
HOLLYWOOD—Eugene V. Klein, president
of National General Corp.. has been
named chairman of the executive committee
of the board of trustees of the City of
Hope.
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