Boxoffice-January.03.1966

R„
hrougl
> nt
10
olitan
: mis
Censorship
Threatens
N.Y. Film Indusiry
ALBANY—The motion picture Industrj
Pennsylvania Legislature
Shelves Drive-In Bill
HARRISBURG. PA.—State Rep. James
|
L. Wright
Bucks* who introduced a
state legislature in 1965, providing
bill in the
for the regulation of drive-in
theatres,
said "the bill appears dead until
1967."
No action was scheduled on the measure
as the current term of the legislature
neared its close. Any bill still in committee
at the end of the year dies. The 1966 session
will deal with fiscal matters only and
thus no action can come on the drive-in
bill until 1967.
Among other things, the measure would
require drive-ins to erect fences around
their property to prevent youths from
seeing "adult" films being shown on the
screen.
Wright blamed the "strong movie lobby"
for his measure being bottled up in committee.
He said the lobby is "ho.-i
ward me" because of his fight against the
repeal of the 10 per cent admission tax on
theatre tickets.
Wright, who also is a Middletown supervisor,
is a member of "Operation Decency,"
a civic group which was formed to convince
the Roosevelt Drive-In on US ! to
stop showing "adult" films.
'Magnificent Men' Booked
In 22 Showcase Theatres
NEW YORK—"Those Magnifier
m Their Plying Machines." which re
completed a 277-week roadshow ei
ment at the DeMUle Theatre, will open at
Loews Orpheum and the Guild Theatre
on 50th Street in Manhattan, as well as
20 other Showcase theatres in the metropolitan
area 1 at continuous
performances and popular prices. This will
be the first 1966 attraction for 20th Century-Fox
in New York.
Launch 'Grass-Roofs' Campaign for 'Othello'
is faced with threats of new censorship
in New York state as the legislature prepares
to convene Wednesday i5>.
Assemblyman Jules Sabbatino. Queens
Democrat, who is chairman of the join!
legislative committee on offensive ;md obscene
material, announced his group will
sponsor a revamped licensing law. The
only roadblock readily seen is an ad
decision from the Supreme Court.
Sen. John H. Hughes, Syracuse Republican,
co-sponsor of an unsuccessful compulsory
classification bill concerning unaccompanied
children at theatres during
the 1965 session, is expected to pres
for another such bill.
Assemblyman William J. Ferrall. Brooklyn
Taking part in a special "Othello" New York
Democrat, is ready to reintroduce a bill
campaign meeting on in are.
which would provide for new procedures
left ti> ri^ht, Richard Lederer, Warner Bros, vice-president of advertising ami
by the Regents In applying to a State Supreme
public relations; Matthew 1'oion. RKO Theatres vice-president More] "Ran"
Court justice for a review, after Goldstein, Warner Bros, vice-president and general manager, and Fred Herkowits,
the board has held a picture "obscene." KKO Theatres advertising and publicity director.
Assemblyman Noah Goldstein. Brooklyn
Democrat, already has filed a censorship NEW YORK—One-hundred RKO executives
and theatre managers, together with RKO represents
:ued by
Manhattan.
bill that would make it a misdemeanor for
an unaccompanied child under 16 to be Other Circuit leaders and independents, have leaders of Stanley Warner, B. S. Moss. Interboro.
Randforce, Century and otli
permitted admission to a theatre exhibiting launched a "grass-roots" commumi
Warner an "adults only" film.
paign i area In cults at the meeting in the Bros.
behalf of the two-day special engagement Preview Tl
of Warner Bros." "Othello."
Warner Bros, vice-presidents
Matthew Polon. RKO vice-president, outlined
"Razz" Goldstein and Richard I
addressed the theatremen and v
the deep-going drive, which
each
RKO in
carry on to enlist every
school and organization m
hood to support the special "Othello" enon
February 2 and 3. A highlight
of the RKO campaign will be a citywide
breakfast and screening for organization
leaders of all communities to be held
Saturday < 8 > in the RKO 58th Street The-
Dr. Alexander Selected
For Tent 13 Heart Award
PHILADELPHIA — In keeping with a
practice of honoring a doctor of children's
medicine. Variety Tent 13 will present its
Grand Heart Award to Dr. Hattie E. Alexander,
one of the country's foremast children's
doctors, and professor of ped
at the College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Columbia University. The presentation will
be made at the club's 31st testimonial dini
•iday 1 in the Bellevue Stratford
Hotel, where retiring Chief Barker David
E. Milgram and incoming Chief Barker
Harold H. Salkind will be honored. The
installation of will be held.
Dr. Alexander is a graduate of Goucher
College and the Johns Hopkins Medical
School in Baltimore. She Interned
Harriet Lane Home in Johns Hopkins Hospital
and at Babies Hospital in New York
She is attending physician a)
pital and is v
the same institution.
One of her recent honors is the Children's
Hospital of Phllad.
awarded on the occasion of the bicentennial
of the University of Pennsylvania
Award to Disney Picture
•
NEW YORK—Scholastic Magazti
awarded its B ird for an outstanding
motion picture to Walt Di
"That Darn Cat." Buena Vista release.
stressing the great potential of "Othello"
he responsibility of the local manto
spread the word on the production
in their communities. They emphasized,
"There no easy path to follow."
is
and the best sales route is the one RKO Is
undertaking, to reach the greatest possible
audience.
MPAA Attorney Chides
Maryland Censor Board
BALTIMORE—An attorney for the Motion
Picture Ass'n of America, J. Cookman
Boyd jr., says the Maryland Board of Motion
Picture ('
opting to usurp
the duties of parents merely to kee
m busin
Boyd referred to publicized comments by
E. Shecter. the board
chairman, wherein she proposed the board
be given authority I
"adults only" or "suitable for child.
"Ev>
motion pictures are not suitable for children.
The question Is who should
mine what pid
The responsibility should rest with
The attorney pointed out 1
board, which banned 18 dim
land and dele
The Supreme Cou:
the board cannot ban a film v
prompt court
advisoi
'ban an autho
Boyd said M the only state
which.
motion pictures, and
his association believes such oensoi
unnecc-
BOXOFTICE :: January 3. 1966 E-l