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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 25, 1958)
16 MAIL TRIBUNE, Medford, Origan, luCTaay, novempir j3, . , ... - Fewer Movies Made This Year Than at Any Time Br VERNON SCOTT UPI Hollywood Correspondent Hollywood-CPB-Movie busi ness has never had it so bad. This year fewer pictures were made than in any previ ous year, going all the way back to nickelodeon days. Production is down 34 per cent from the 1957 output. Only 194 feature films were produced, compared with 293 last year. For the first time since the silent era less than 200 new flickers were canned-a dis trous drop from the 1936 high of 566. Distressed producers who used to say, "wait til next year," admit 1959 may be worse. Every major studio, except MGM, made fewer pic tures this year than last. In depedent producers dropped off from 131 films last year to only 76 in 1958. Recalcitrant actors, high costs and that old "debbil" television have ganged up to put motion pictures in the worst slump in history. Salad Days Gone In the old days Columbia, Metro, Paramount, RKO (now defunct), Universal - Interna tional, 20th Century-Fox and Warner Brothers ground out 50 to 60 pictures each. But those salad days have wilted forever. Universal laid the biggest egg, filming only seven icks this year as against 27 last year. However, the usual panic Is missing among movie em ployees. During the 1949 cri sis actors, electricians, car penters, painters, prop men and all the rest were unem ployed and mutinous. Not so in 1958. , They're all working on filmed TV shows, which have taken up the slack. Nor are the sound stages dark and echoing. Brash vi deo companies have moved in -mostly with horse operas keeping the 6,000 movie work ers happily employed. Those studios which moved into the TV field early are booming. Columbia (through its Screen Gems subsidiary), "Warner Brothers (with five westerns) and 20th Century- Fox have no financial prob lems. But Paramount and Uni varsal, which hoped TV would evaporate, are hurting Few TV Shows MGM still produces few TV shows, but its movie produc tion has climbed to 24 pic tures this year compared to 20 in 1957. How come? "We've rooted out the dead wood and injected some new blood in the top echelons," a studio spokesman said, then added wryly, "and some of our films have made much more money than we antici pated." Metro, largest of the ma jors, could be among the miss ing next year if its $15 mil lion gamble, "Ben Hur," is a dud at the boxoffice. Another reason for the movie nosedive is slumping boxoffice receipts abroad. As R n R RESTORES HEARING Sutton, England - (UPD -Metal worker William Greg ory today credited an Elvis Presley rock 'n roll song for restoring his hearing. Greg ory, deaf for eight years, said "something went click" while the song was blaring on the radio during the week end. He said his hearing suddenly returned. Titian painted his Battle of Lepanto when he was 98 years old. a your neighborhood ...call today! "S&H Green Stamps with Mobilheat" MEDFORD FUEL CO. Court & McAndrews - Tel: SP 2-21 1 1 mw K.I f . A P VACS in History television grows in Europe, theaters suffer more. Also frozen assets in for eign countries have been used in the making of location pic tures, drying up a financial and cheap labor pool that had helped keep producers afloat. Italian Premier Examines Disputes Rome-TUPD-Premier Amitore Fanfani called a cabinet meetr ing today to examine a wave of strikes and labor union de mands that threatened to para lyze the nation's entire econ omy. At the moment Italy is faced with nation-wide strikes by railway, post office, t e 1 e- phone, telegraph, shipping, dock, and state employees, in cluding gasoline refinery workers, and newspaper re porters. All demand higher wages to match the increase in the cost of living. ILLINOIS VALLEY Tree Haulers Cautioned Cave Junction - John Moe, state fire warden, calls atten tion to the provision of the state law requiring all per sons who transport more than five Christmas trees to have a bill of sale for the trees. This provision applies to those who have purchased trees from a landowner and not to persons cutting trees from their own lands. Mr. and Mrs. Larry Prest- RETURNING to Idlewild Airport after South Ameri can vacation, New York Governor -elect Nelson A. Rockefeller smiles and ges tures in press conference. Screen Star Denies Marriage Date Set Madrid -(UPD- American screen star George Sanders today denied reports that he and Benita Hume, widow of Ronald Coleman, were plan ning a Christmas Eve wed ding ceremony in Madrid. Sanders told the United Press International that "no date has yet been set," and denied rumors a wedding would take place in the near future, specifically on Christ mas Eve. MOON ERUPTIONS Washington -(UPD- An Irish astronomer says he believes Russian reports of a volcanic like eruption on the moon Nov. 3 are probably true. Prof. Ernst J. Opik, . noted astronomer and editor of the Irish Astronomical Journal, said Monday the internal heat of the lunar body was high enough to make an occasional eruption "very likely." warm ' ?-st 3 A .? ' ' s - V J friend . . . Mobilheat man Ll,f; J mm - - m m A. ncimeiu ujum Test Scheduled Salem-fUPB-A group of Mar ion county citizens will seek a court test of who has the right to appoint Oregon's next secretary of state, Gov.-elect Mark Hatfield said today. Hatfield said the unnamed citizens would file for a dec latory judgment in Marion County Circuit Court to back his claim that he has the right to appoint his successor when he becomes governor Jan. 12. Democratic Gov. Robert D. Holmes previously announced he would appoint David O'Hara, a Republican and former State Elections Divi sion chief, to the post when secretary of state Hatfield resigns. But Hatfield claims he does not have to resign to take the oath as governor. Hatfield said he thought the courts could dispose of the case quickly, adding "it is important that we get the ruling soon to eliminate con fusion." The gov.-elect said he would not attempt to appoint a suc cessor to the post himself un til the court test was made. on, of Ashland, have moved back to the valley. Larry will be employed by Clyde Knight. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Smith moved to Portland where Smith is attending the North west Techinical institute. Mrs. Smith will be employed in the office of the New York Life Insurance company. Born to Mr. and Mrs. John C. Smith of Cave Junction Tuesday morning was a six pound one ounce baby daugh ter, Julia Marie. This is the couple's third child. Elk hunters Jim Allen, Clif ford Fink and Bob Lewis re turned this week from their two-week trip with two elk. Bob Lewis, a former smoke jumper, is now with the For est Service in Powers. Lee Hassler, hospitalized this week and for a time plac ed on the critical list, is re ported to be improving some. Ronnie Green, son of Mr. and Mrs. Les Henry was se lected as a candidate for ca det training at Keesler Air Force base, Miss. His high rating in his chosen fields of electronics and radar was re sponsible for his appointment. Scott Reading, vo-ag stud ent at Illinois Valley High school won the southwest Ore gon conservation speech con test last week held at Crater High school in Central Point. Dave Foote of Crater High school won second place. For est conservation was the sub ject of the contest sponsored by the Oregon Association districts. Scott will receive a trophy from the J. R. Simplot Fertil izer company and an all expense-paid trip to the annual meeting of the state associa tion in Baker Nov. 20 and 21. The contest was judged by the Medford Toastmasters and Toastmistress clubs. The Illinois Valley High school PTA minstrel show is well underway, with chorus practice sessions being held this week. The posters ad vertising the event were de signed by Mrs. Casey Piller, Mrs. Jim McDermott and Mrs. Merv Hogan assisting.' Van Johnson, musical di rector for the minstrel said there was still room for any one dssiring to take part in the chorus. Practice is held nightly in tha high school. A temporary burlap curtain has been located which can be used for the first perform ance on the new stage. There will be a campaign to sell ads on the curtain. The PTA has issued a call for donations of homemade candy, cake and pie to be sold during inter mission time. The minstrel show is sched uled for Friday and Saturday nights, Dec. 5 and 6. Mr. and Mrs. George Hor ton of Los Angeles, paid a surprise visit to the Robert Wilsons last week, and ex tended their stay to three days. COURT RECORDS DISTRICT COURT Dave L. McAnally, refusal to weigh,- S105. Mabel L. Brown, no operator's license, $10. Paul D. Conrad, failure to stop, $10. John M. McCabe, insufficient tail lights. $10. Richad E. Cox, no safety chain, $15. Davis E. Vincent, unnecessary noise with motor vehicle. $10. George G. Lane Jr., violation ba sic rule, $55. Melvin Howard Franklin. 19 6119 Table Rock rd.. Central Point, drunk in a public place, $30. Charles E. Lane, no operator's li cense. $30 and six months jail sentence to be suspended on con dition he refrain from driving. CIRCUIT COURT Delia Joan Hughes vs. Jack W. Hughes, divorce complaint. DONT DESPAIR Prime Minister Jawaharlah Nehru of India expresses strange feeling after being garlanded with a live snake by Hindu saint, Panchlegaonkar, in New Delhi. Saint assures premier's daughter, Indira Gandhi (right) that nothing will happen to Nehru and she should not fear. December For Bulls Along Wall By ELMER C. WALZER UPI Financial Editor New York (UPD December generally is the big month for the bulls of Wall Street. Seldom in the past has the stock market declined in the last month of the year, a month of opti m i s t i c rein vestment of in terest and di vidends, and of optimistic Elaier Waizer forecasts for the new year plus a period when tax sell ing comes to an end. History shows that December has been good for both the indus trials and the rails in. the stock market. It has been the best month for industrials. But the market can decline in December. Last year for ex ample, the industrial average fell 14.18 points during the month, in 1956 it rose 26.99 points in that period. The 1957 decline was the widest for a December since 1931 and the 1956 gain was the best ever. In the period since the Dow Jones industrial average has been compiled dating back 1.45 points for 1945 to 8.58 en in 44 Decembers and de clined in 17. This, says the brokerage firm of Francis I. Du Pont & Co., indicates the probabilities of 2.59 to 1 that the close in December will exceed the close for November for indus trial shares. Over the past 61 Decembers the Dow-Jones rails have ris en 36 times and declined 25. Longest String The longest string of De MEEBMMOT MXMSM Here is the Lark by Studebaker;- the one car so right for the needs of the times it is winning overnight acclaim from the driving public, the press, its dealers and even dealers of competitive, makes -here is your new dimension in motoring -big-car spaciousness on the inside (seats 6), small- i car convenience on the outside (nearly 3 feet shorter' than conventional cars), economy where it counts (runs for miles on a hatful of low-cost, regular gas) top performance from either the spirited six or super responsive V-8 engine handles like a dream, turns on a dime, parks where others can't -superbly built and engineered by Studebaker crafts men simple, clean and classic styling harmonizing colors inside and out rich and fashion-right interiors, finely upholstered in fabric and vinyls-costs less to buy, far less to operate prices start under 2000-The Lark is the one car that perfectly balances passenger comfort and driver convenience, its a honeybun! meet and drive THE JjJJBY 'DE' LEIGH MOTORS, 134 SOUTH Generally cember gains for industrials was the period between 1942 and 1952 11 straight gains for the month, ranging from 1.45 points or 1945 to" 8.58 points for December, 1949. This ' year, the tax selling that usually hits the market in November has been light. And the year-end dividends smaller than last year. But the dividends have been higher than one would have expected on the basis of the decline in earnings of many corporations. The high er expenditures for most com panies for expansion and mod ernization. The Du Pont firm finds that the big rise in share prices so far this year is one factor Union Escapee Gets Four Years La Grande (UPD Paul R. Brown, 22, of Union, who escaped from the Union coun ty jail while awaiting sen tencing on a burglary charge, was sentenced to four years in the state penitentiary late Monday. Circuit Judge W. F. Brown ton indicated that Brown's escape from the jail and his 22 hours of freedom before being apprehended by state police had no bearing on the sentence. Union county District At torney George 'Anderson Jr., said he would not file charges in connection with the jail break since it was only a mis demeanor and the escape oc curred prior to the sentencing. Use Tribune Want Ads puts economy where Big Month Street against a December rise. "Viewed from fundamental factors," the Du Pont re searchers say "the rise in share prices has increased the price-times-earnings ratio of the industrial average to the highest level since 1946. "And yields have been ma terially reduced so that high grade bonds now provide a considerably larger return than do junior equities. Major Clue "Accordingly a test of the further upside potentialities in the stock market, which should provide a major clue to what's ahead for equity values next year, may be re vealed by the ability or in ability of share prices to re flect the strong seasonal fac tors in the period ahead." A December rise, when it occurs, usually carries over into January which is one of the four good months for in dustrial shares. The market usually also has a rise in March of moderate propor tions, a good, one in July and August and a big one in De cember. September has been one of the poorer months but this year the market rose in that pionth. It also gained in Octo ber which is a standoff in the record. It is recalled that the indus trial average closed 1928 30 years ago at exactly 300 in the D-J tabulation. It is not considered beyond the realm of possibility that it could touch an even 600 this year. But none of the analysts is making that prediction. The general tendency is to wait for a market appraisal of the economy attitude in Washington. it counts smart, sensible, spirited -MBK" Or M STUDEBAKER AT YOUR DEALER TODAY: RIVERSIDE, MEDFORD; OREGON Sputnik Rocket To Be Visible Portland -(UPD Mrs. Robert Boardwell of the Oregon Moonwatch Team said today Oregonians should be able to see the rocket section of the Russian satellite Sputnik III before it falls back into the atmosphere. She said the section was due to return to the atmos phere Dec. 3, plus or minus one day. Mrs. Boardwell said view ers should be out 10 minutes or so before the scheduled visibility time of the rocket. They gave the following times for the Portland area for the rest of the week, with crossings from northwest to southeast. Tuesday: 5:35 p.m. 56 de grees in northeast sky. Wednesday: 4:28 p.m., 22 degrees in northeast sky, and 5:59 p.m., 46 degrees in south west sky. Thursday: 4:47 p.m., 39 de grees in northeast sky and 6:18 p.m., 16 degrees in south west sky. Most Foreign Nations Keep Payment Schedule Washington -(UPD- President Eisenhower has reported that most foreign countries are making scheduled payments on their World War II lend lease obligations. In his 39th report to Con gress on the lend-lease oper ations, the President disclosed Monday that as of Dec. 31, 1957, the foreign governments had repaid the United States $445,348,673 of their total $1, 577,570,755 obligations. Bandleader's Wife Dies in Auto Crash ' Fort Lupton, Colo. -(UPD-Mrs. Catherine Hill, wife of band leader Harry (Tiny) Hill, died instantly Monday in a car crash while driving be hind an automobile operated by her husband. Coroner Charles Ludine said Mrs. Hill, about 35, died instantly from a fractured skull after being thrown from the vehicle when it hit a util ity pole. ALMOST FLATTENED Vicksburg, Miss. -IUPB- Mon tie Bailey of Brandon, Miss., was knocked down and run over by a three-ton packing roller Monday. He got up and went back to his construction job after doctors said they couldn't find anything wrong with him. PRIZE WINNER DIES London-flJPD-Viscount Cecil of Chelwood, 94, died Mon day in . a nursing home. He won the Nobel peace prize in 1937 for his efforts to make effective the League of Na tions, of which he was a founder. BY STUDEBAKER HARD TOPS I DOOR SEDANS 4 DOOR SEDANS STATION WAGONS Warning Issued on Portland - (UPD Police told the State Board of Pharmacy Monday they were alarmed at an increasing number of young persons who drink cough syrup containing nar cotic derivatives to get thrills and "floating sensation." Now you can bring your Old Fashioneds up to date Want to taste a wonderful improvement in Old Fashioneds? Change your formula ? No. Your bourbon? Yes. Change to Old Taylor 86 the same in quality as our 100 proof bonded bourbon, in lighter 86 proof. So, mild and gentle as it is, it gives you the rich flavor and deep satisfaction of hon est Kentucky bourbon. Try Old Taylor 86 lightest full-flavored bourbon you caad' $r20 f J 45 - QUART Naturally, it costs a little more-but this is1 Old Taylor 86 "The Noblest Bourbon of Them All" Straight from Kentucky a truly American whiskey KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKIES 8E PROOF 100 PROOF THE 018 TAYLOR BISTILLEIY CO.. FRANKFORT t LOUISVILLE. KY. DISTRIBUTED BY NATIONAL DISTILLERS PE0D8CTS CO. "PLEASE, MR. JONES, stay". This was the Red puppet government's warning to the only U.S. newsman in Eudapest when the Russian tanks rolled back to crush the Hungarian revolt. But Russell Jones, of United Press International, did stay, until the ultimatum, "Leave-or go to jail." For his reporting of the bloody and historic events he saw, he won the Pulitzer Prize. Jones, as U.P.I.'s chief Eastern European correspondent, now is writing from both sides of the Iron Curtain. Read his dispatches in Medford Cough Syrup rJagr , Police said certain syrups which contain derivatives can be obtained without prescrip tion. The Board voted to call a hearing to consider a new reg ulation which would require written doctors' prescriptions (86 PROOF) OLD TAYLOR fflTS" . "OS(tl Mail Tribune HI -; lmm ItaylorI ' " L mow J 4
