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HONOR TO SPYROS SKOURAS
AT 20TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER
Around 1,000 Leaders From
Industry, Government
Are in Attendance
NEW YORK—In a Rlitteiing tribute, almost
1.000 persons saluted Spyros P.
Skoura^s Thursday evening (12> on the occasion
of his 20 years as president of 20th
Century-Pox. The event, sponsored jointly
by Allied States Ass'n of Motion Picture
Exhibitors and Theatre Owners of America,
was held in tlie grand ballroom of the Hotel
Waldorf-Astoria, with Marshall Fine. Allied
president, and John Stembler, president of
TOA. serving as co-toastmasters.
A resolution, citing Skouras for his accomplishments
and contributions to the industry,
was presented by Fine. Stembler
presented to Skouras a silver inscribed tray.
Then, Pine and Stembler gave Skouras a
check, representing the net proceeds from
the banquet, which will be given to the Will
Rogers Memorial Hospital at Saranac Lake,
N.Y.
Skouras responded with an address of
appreciation.
Following the national anthem. Archbishop
lakovos gave the invocation. Dinner
music consisted of selections from 20th
Century-Fox productions. Fine introduced
Monsignor Thomas Little, who offered a
prayer, and the Allied president then gave
the official welcome and introduced
Stembler who carried on as toastmaster for
the program.
A "This Is Your Life" film was presented.
Terry Saunders sang selections from "The
King and I" and Juanita Hall sang "Bali
Hai" from "South Pacific' '
The entertainment, coordinated by Morton
Sunshine, included such personalities
as Groucho Marx, Alan King, Juanita Hall,
Terry Sauiiders and the Radio City Music
Hall Choras.
MANY FIELDS REPRESENTED
The dais consisted of leaders in government,
exhibition, television, distribution,
and entertainment. Seated at the head
tables were, in addition to Skouras;
Dimitrios Bitsios, Greek Ambassador to
the United Nations: Basil Vitsaxis, Greek
Consul General in New York City: Judge
Samuel Rosenman. board chairman of
20th-Fox: Barney Balaban. president of
Paramount: John Stembler. TOA president:
Marshall Fine. Allied president; Peter
Levathes, head of 20th -Fox production;
Joseph R. Vogel. president of MGM:
Harry Mandel, president of RKO Theatres:
Irving Levin, executive vice-president of
National General Corp.; Leonard Goldenson,
president of American Broadcasting-
Paramount Theatres: Harry Brandt, president
of Brandt Theatres: Irving DoUinger,
Allied coordinator: S. H. Fabian, president
of Stanley Warner: George G. Kerasotes,
TOA: Meyer Levanthal. Allied: Arthur H.
Lockwood. TOA:
Milton London, Allied: Ben Marcus,
Allied: Albert Pickus. TOA: Samuel Pinanski,
TOA; Walter Reade jr., TOA: George
Stern, Allied: Mitchell Wolfson, TOA: Abe
BOXOFFICE April 16, 1962
SPYROS P. SKOURAS
Schneider, president of Columbia Pictui-es:
Richard Walsh, president of lATSE;
Emanuel Frisch. chairman of American
Congress of Exhibitors: Joseph Levine,
president of Embassy Pictures; Sidney
Markley, president of A.C.E. Films: Russell
Downing, president of Radio City Music
Hall; Herman Robbins, board chairman of
National Screen Service; William German,
president of W. J. Gennan, Inc.: A. H.
Blank, retired head of Tri-States Theatres,
Ues Momes:
William C. Michel, executive vice-president
of 20th -Pox: Murray Silverstone,
president of 20th-Pox International: Glenn
Norris, general sales manager of 20th -Fox;
Joseph Moskowitz, vice-president of 20th-
Fox; Charles Einfeld, vice-pre.sident of
20th-Fox: Donald Henderson, secretarytreasurer
of 20th-Fox: Alan Freedman,
president of De Luxe Laboratories: Edmund
Reek, vice-president and general
manager of Movietone News: Otto Koegel,
20th-Fox general counsel; Juanita Hall:
Ina Balin; Pamela Tiffin; Terry Saunders:
E. D. Martin, TOA; Thelma Ritter and Mr.
Ritter: Rabbi Moshay Mann. Actors'
Temple: Right Rev. Msgr. Thomas Little;
Archbishop lakovos: Lauri Peters: Jack
Clark. Allied: Jay Emanuel, publisher
Motion Picture Exhibitors: Don Mersereau,
associate publisher, Boxoffice; Martin
Quigley jr.. editor. Motion Picture Herald;
Abel Green, editor. Variety: Morton Sunshine,
editor. Independent Film Journal;
Mo Wax, publisher. Film Bulletin:
Rita Gam: Julie Newmar: Jack Armstrong.
Allied: Wilbur Snaper. Allied: Sen.
Jacob Javitz: Bette Davis: Alden Smith,
Allied: Sidney Cohen. Allied: Milton Rackmil,
president of Universal Pictures:
Laurence Tisch. president of Loew's Theatres:
Leslie Schwartz. Metropolitan Picture
Theatres Ass'n; Nicolas ReLsini. president
of Cinerama; Groucho Marx: Benjamin
Berger, Allied; Sol Hurok, impresai-io;
Tina Louise and Ernest Stellings. TOA.
The benediction was rendered by Rabbi
Mann.
High Tribute From Exhibition
Following is the resolution presented to Spyros Skouras Thursday night by
Marshall Fine, president of Allied States Ass'n, on behalf of Allied and Theatre
Owners of America:
"A giant among showmen, a Goliath among leaders, and a Samaritan among
legions of friends, you, SPYROS P. SKOURAS, are many fine things to many
people.
"You are a courageous and dynamic executive, who during the 20 years of youi-
Presidency, made Twentieth Century-Fox a film producer and a film distributor of
worldwide importazice and respect.
"You are an aggiessive. determined, and practical scientist who has brought
new spectacular dimensions to our physical screens, and new glamour to our world
of entertainment.
"You are a somxe of inspiration that goes beyond the arena of your own
Company. You have caused exhibitors to be more united, and our industry's public
service to be more meaningful.
"You are the champion of good causes, and your boundless energies have reaped
harvests of benefits for countless charities, diives, our government, and the welfare
of your native Greece and your church.
"You are the Horatio Alger of the Twentieth Centui-y. typifying all that is
traditional in the American success story.
"Thus it is with the sincerest respect, and with warmest admiration that all of
Exhibition takes this opportunity to salute you. our friend, and to express, in this
smaU measure, om- heartfelt affection. May your active years with us number many
more decades, and many more annivei-saries."
THE ALLIED STATES ASSOCIATION
OF MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITORS
THE THEATRE OWNERS OF AMERICA