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# AB-PT Income Rises; Theatre Take Larger(Continued from Page 1)compared with $75,965,000 in 1962.The AB-PT operating earnings for 1963 were $7,358,000 or $1.65 a share compared to $10,757,000 or $2.41 a share in 1962.Goldenson explained the paradox of lower operating earnings when the record income exceeded that of 1962 as reflecting 1962-1963 tele- vision business and the cost of covering President Kennedy's assassination. He anticipated progressive improvement during 1964, better than 1963.He noted, too, an improvement in theatre business despite a slow start in 1963. AB-PT, he said, con- tinued its policy of disposing mar- ginal theatres and attempting to replace them with modern units in growing suburban areas. The com- pany, he revealed, dropped 14 thea- tres during 1963-and opened three new ones. Theatres are under con- struction in Charlotte, N.C. and Sunnyland, Fla., and a third is on the drawing board.# Levy Signs Sandy Oliver To Compose for 'Fanny'*West Coast Burcau of THE FILM DAILY*Hollywood—Robert Levy, pres- ident of Pebble Productions, has signed noted song writer and dramatist Sandy Oliver to write an original song for the company's color featurette, "A Comedy Tale of Fanny Hill", which begins rolling at Producers Studio in April, starring Judy Cannon. Working title for the tune is "The Song of Fanny Hill".Levy has also set Cy Roth as production manager for the film which is aimed for July 4 nationwide release.# Batschelet Succeeds Sweeten as Denver Mgr.Denver, Colo.—Ralph J. Batschelet, manager of the Mayan Theatre and member of the cabinet of Fox Inter-Mountain Theatres, has been named managing director of the Denver Theatre, according to Ray W. Davis, area supervisor for the Fox organization, and John O. Denman, Denver district manager.Batschelet succeeds Robert G Sweeten, promoted to national advertising director for National General Corp. in Beverly Hills, Calif., the parent company# Peter Lorre Dead*West Coast Bureau of TIE FILM DAILY*Hollywood - Pefer Lorre died here yesterday.. He would have been 60 in June. The Hungarian- born actor was known film audiences for his character roles in a score of motion pictures, nost recently in a series with Ameri- can International.---# DAILY# FINANCIAL(March 23)# NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE|                 | High   | Low   | Close | Net | Chg. || --------------- | ------ | ----- | ----- | --- | ---- || ABC Vending.    | 146    | 14    | 14%   | +   | 14   || ABC-Par         | 368    | 358   | 367/8 | +   | 1/s  || Am. News.       | 23/22  | 2318  | 233a  | +   | 1/8  || Am. Optical..   | 68%    | 6734  | 68    | -   | 1/2  || Am. Seat.....   | 35     | 35    | 35    |     |      || Ampex           | 168    | 152   | 1578  | +   | 3%.  || Auto. Canteen   | 138    | 1350  | 1358  |     | 14   || Bausch & Lomb   | 348    | 331   | 332   |     | 3/4  || Bell & Howell.  | 2318   | 2258  | 238   | +   | 5ys  || CBS             | 431/2  | 43    | 43    |     | -4   || Columbia Picts. | 2178   | 21泊   | 21泊   | -   | Va   || Decca           | 464    | 464   | 464   |     |      || Disney          | 45     | 44    | 4478  | +   | 1.8  || East. Kodak..   | 1291/2 | 128   | 1284  |     | 3/4  || Gen. Prec, Eq.  | 286    | 282   | 282   |     | 14   || Glen Alden...   | 14%    | 148   | 144   | +   | 8    || Lear Siegler.   | 1378   | 13%   | 138   |     | 2    || Litton Indus... | 6678   | 658   | 658   |     | Va   || Loew's Thea..   | 22     | 2134  | 214   |     | Ya   || MCA             | 568    | 568   | 568   |     |      || MCA CVP....     | 36354  | 35%   | 35%   | +   | Va   || MGM             | 3014   | 30    | 30    |     |      || Nat. General..  | 9      | 878   | 878   |     | 18   || Paramount...    | 58     | 57    | 574   | +   | 17/6 || RCA Common.     | 3678   | 357   | 36%   | +   | 4    || RCA 1st Pfd...  | 7758   | 77    | 77    |     |      || Republic Corp.  | 77/8   | 734   | 73/4  |     | Ya   || Republic Pfd..  | 154    | 15    | 154   | +   | 1/4  || Stan. Warner.   | 26/2   | 2538  | 26/2  | +   | 1    || 20th-Fox....    | 227/8  | 221/2 | 221/2 |     |      || United Artists. | 25     | 2478  | 241/2 |     |      || Warner Bros..   | 288    | 278   | 277/8 |     |      || Zenith Radio..  | 84     | 83    | 83    |     |      |# AMERICAN STOCK EXCHANGE|                 | High  | Low | Close |     || --------------- | ----- | --- | ----- | :-: || Allied Artists. | 278   | 276 | 27    |     || Audio Dv....    | 12/2  | 124 | 12-   |     || Cinerama Inc..  | 118   | 11  | 11    |     || Filmways        | 84    | 8   | 8%    |     || MPO VA..        | 1258  | 119 | 118   |     || Reeves Indus:   | 314   | 3   | 3     |     || Screen Gems..   | 1914  | 19  | 19    |     || Sonotone        | 5     | 578 | 5     |     || Technicolor...  | 188   | 178 | 1778  |     || TV Indus....... |       | %   | 74    |     || Trans-Lux       | 121/8 | 128 | 121/8 |     |# OVER THE COUNTER(Supplied by the National Association of Security Dealers)|                       | Bid  | Asked || --------------------- | ---- | ----- || Commonwealth Pr.      | 55a  | 61/2  || Du Art Corp.          | 414  | 5     || General Drive-In      | 10%  | 11%   || General Artists Corp. | 7/2  | 8½    || Magna Pictures        | 2    | 278   || Medallion             | 1634 | 17    || Seven Arts Production | 10%  | 1134  || Skiatron              | 214  | 25%   || Subscription TV       | 114  | 1218  || Universal             | 66   | 701/2 || UA Keatres            | 8    |       || Wetter Reade          | 21/2 | 27%   || Fometco               | 344  | 365   |---# COMING AND GOMAX A. COMEN, head of Cinem and MRS. COHEN returned yester Europe.M. J. FRANKOVICH, Columbia F head, returned to the coast from Paris and Rome.BERNARD J. GATES, Allied Art national v.p., has returned fram European trip.JOSEPH E. LEVINE, Embassy Pict ident, to Bostan on business. H tomarrow.MO ROTHMAN, Columbia Inte executive v.p., returned from Bue following the company's Latin Ame vention in Uruguay.LOU FORMATO, MGM assistan sales manager, to Seattle and Por returns Friday.WILLIAM J. DEVANEY, MGM division sales manager in Seatt heading for Portland, Ore.FRED HYNES, Todd-AQ vice-pre the coast, has returned there freSHELDON SMERLING, head of B terprises, returned to the coast fortnight here on his theatre inter include Eastern Management housSAMUEL TAYLOR, who will screenplay for "Three on a Covel Irving Pincus production for huddling in Hollywood.RUTH POLOGE, American Int eastern publicity director, to ChiccProducer LAWRENCE TURMAN turned to the coast after UA tal lease of "The Best Man."DIRK BOGARDE and SARAH turned to Landon; ditto JOSEPH LC directed "The Servant," in whichBETTE DAVIS is here from the coPETER GLENVILLE, director of H "Becket," has returned to Lond N. Y. for tomorrow's premiere at Theatre.# 'Yesterday' Rolls Bi In New York and IJoseph E. Levine's "Ye: Today and Tomorrow," k the biggest grossing film Manhattan's East Side, ac to Embassy, which repo expected first week's g $59,000 at the Festival and 701/2 East.In Los Angeles, the film $15,304 in first three days Cox Wilshire, Embassy ro# 'Servant' Breaks 30. Record at Little CalEly Landau's "The S broke the 30-year record Little Carnegie with a fir gross of $20,402, the comp ports.# 'Word' Here Today"The Given Word," Filpas release, has its U. navere today at the Beekm. atre under auspices of r Dora A. de Vasconcellos, General of Brazil.---> [Figure] A speech bubble says "July Release" and has the word FANNY in large letters with HULL underneath.# 'Greek Gods' to Roll in '65 At $20 Million Budget(Continued from Page 1) of $20 million."Diko Dimitroff, head of the new company, has set next January for start of filming. Financing has been obtained from a Wall Street firm, the National Organization to Assist Small Business.Shooting on the four-hour wide- screen production is expected to take a full year. All exteriors will be done in Greece and will involve the use of Mount Olympus itself.---THEDAILYEstablished May 8, 1918Vol. 124, No. 57, Tues., March 24, 1964 10 Cts.CHAS. A. ALICOATE: Edit. in Chief & Pub.HARRY WISMER::: Associate Publisher &Executive Vice-PresidentAL FINESTONE:::::::: EditorBOONE MANCALL:: Vice-Pres. Dir. of Adv.WILLIAM SPECHT: : : : Associate EditorMERLIN LEWIS ::::: Vice-Pres.-Gen. Mgr.Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York 36, N. Y., Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. Chas. A. Alicnate, I'resident & Treasurer; Nelson E. Garringer, Vice-President & Secre tary. Second Class postage paid at New York, N. V. Terraa (l'ostage free) United States $15.00 one year. Foreign $20.00. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway, New York 36, N. Y. Telephones: BRyant 9-7-117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable Address: Filmday, New York.# 'Becket' Grosses Tops In First Five EngagamentsHal Wallis" "Becket" shapes up as one of the top roadshow films of recent years on the basis of its first five engagements in the U.S. and Canada, according to Paramount.In its second week, at Loew's State here, "Becket" scored $30,- 070 in six performances. Others include $16,959, seven shows, Warner Beverly, Los Angeles; $11,849, six performances, Chicago Cinestage; $12,370, seven performances, Eglinton, Toronto.# Brandt to West Coast For 'Weekend' ConfabsBingo Brandt, vice president of Brandt Theatres, leaves today for the West Coast for promotion con- ferences with Emanuel Barling, distributor of "Weekend" which opens at the renovated Globe Theatre here at the end of April. Brandt will also discuss picture possibilities for Lotte Tarp, who is featured in "Weekend."