Former Detroiter Herman Cohen Masterminded Film Now at Fox Herman Cohen, executive pro- ducer of "A Study in Terror," now at the Fox, is . one of the young men in the field of independent production who sprang from the industry's grass roots—the theaters —and believes it must turn back to them for guidance if the movies are to recapture their potential as the greatest mediuM of mass en- tertainment in history. On this principle, Cohen is con- tinually criss-crossing the country to meet the audience, paying par- Herman Cohen ticular attention to the age group between 12 and 26. He turns 'up at high schools and universities, at PTA and club meetings to acquaint himself first' hand with the tastes and peeves of the ticket buyers. And he was back in Detroit—his home town—this week for that pur- pose. He was here for a few days on the occasion of the premier show- ing of the Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper film, "A Study in Terror," at the Fox. He said that as co-owner of the Fox he was naturally anxious to have. the De- troit theater present the film first in this country. In England, it is one of the sensations of the year. Passing on to the public his in- timate connections with the thea- ter and the public, in his home in Hollywood, and in London where he spends much of his time, Cohen related his experiences abroad and told of the deep interest in Ameri- can films. There :Was, for example, a milestone of terror pictures called "I Was a Teen-age Were- wolf," which caught national at- tention. In city after city, pro- tests went up from people view- ing with alarm the parked bicycle congestion in front of theaters showing a picture with such a title. But Cohen went on the road, challenged the objectors to see the picture (which they hadn't) and won it a clean bill of health. The young people in it didn't carry switch blades, drink, smoke or have illegitimate babies. They were basically good, moral kids, and he hadn't shown them doing anything wrong .except under the influence of "sinister supernatural forces" or of villainous adults. Besides, whose boy could turn himself into a werewolf? Mindful of what parents and teachers had taught him, the producer had shown. the young- sters no evil they could imitate. The picture cost $150,000 and grossed $2,000,000 its first year, and it: started the industry on a whole cycle of chillers slanted toward an age group making up 72 per cent of the total audience. Cohen followed up with "I Was a Teen-age Frankenstein," "Blood of Dracula." and "How to 14lake a Monster." Then in color and Cine- maScope came "Circus of Horrors" and "Horrors of the Black Muse- um," the latter breaking box office records throughout the world. Next came "The Headless Ghost," "Kon- ga" and "Black Zoo." For "Black Zoo," Cohen wanted a spectacle that old movie hands didn't think possible . . . lions, tigers, panthers, cougars, and chee- tahs lying down uncaged and un- THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 30—Friday, April 29, 1966 chained in a living room in peace. He got it too, though it took a new and revolutionary kind of wild-animal training to reconcile these natural enemies. Cohen ex- ercises personal supervision over every operation of all his pictures, from photography to the final cut. He was born in Detroit, at 12 became a movie usher, and four years later the teen-age theater manager of Detroit's Dexter. He enlisted in the U.S. Infantry during World War II at the age of 17 and was assigned to de- tached duty with the Marines. Out of service 39 months later, he became manager of Detroit's Fox Theater, now the country's second largest motion picture house. Then he switched to the distribution phase of the indus- try and became Columbia's sales manager for the state of Mich- igan. At 23 he arrived in Hollywood determined to produce his own pictures and • after a _four-picture apprenticeShip as a producer's as- sistant at Realart, he made it. He formed Herman Cohen Produc- tions and became the youngest member of the Screen Producers Guild. Twenty-eight of the 30 pie- , tures he made before "A Study in Terror" have been box office hits. Besides his co-ownership of the Fox, Cohen also owns the Cinder- ella theater on West Jefferson. His primary interest, he said, is as motion picture . producer and writer. He retains his local interests not only because he is a native De- troiter 'and because of his business • crests but because his father, i Meyer Cohen, and his three sisters, Mesdames William Banks, Gordon Levine and Julius Droze, are De- troit residents and he visits them frequently. Cohen visited in Israel three times and he is interested some- day to produce a film there. Egypt Lags in Tourism as Israel Surges On ROME (ZINS) — The lively com- petition between Israel and Egypt for tourists ended in 1965 with Israel as the victor, according to a report by the Italian tourist company "Centra da Documenta- zione" which recently appeared in Rome. Whereas in 1965, the number of tourists visiting Israel steadily in- creased, Egypt, the report com- mented, suffered from a steady decline in its tourist' trade. Statistics bear out the report: - the volume of American tourists to Israel increased by 15.5 per cent in one year, while Egypt showed a decline of 4 per cent. Israel emerged triumphant in the race for European tourism as well. Author Zilberzweig Yeshivah to Dedicate Southfield Unit The dedication . of Yeshivath addition to a Beth Hamedresh to Discuss 'Truth' Beth Yehuda's new Daniel A. for advanced Hebrew studies. Building and Julius and The Jewish community is in- of Yiddish iii. Israel Laven Alice Rotenberg High School will vited to the May 15 dedication. Zalman Zilberzweig, prominent Yiddish author and Zionist, will speak on -"The Truth About 'Yid- dish' in Israel," 8:45 p.m., May 6, at the Sholem Aleichem Institute. The oneg Shabbat lecture is sponsored by the Institute and Farband, Labor Zionist Order. The public is invited for a nominal ad- mission charge. Zilberzweig, who has visited Israel before and after statehood some 10 times, completed a study on the attitude of the leaders and people toward Yiddish. In addition to facts he accumulated, there are concrete proposals and expecta- tions related to the future- of Yid- dish. Zilberzweig sees. a radical change in attitude toward the Yid- dish language, tied in with a new Israeli policy of rapport with Jews in the Diaspora to retain the unity of the Jewish people throughout the world. ilizrachi to Honor Gelman May 12 Leon Gelman, pioneer Zionist, former president of .Mizrachi of America, will be honored by Miz- rachi-Hapoel Hamizrachi of Detroit at the organiza- tion's Israel Hai anniversary cele- bration, at Beth Abraham s y n a- gogue May 12. Rabbi Mordecai Kirshblum, w h o served as Miz- rachi p r e sident for a number of year s, will be guest speaker. There will . be cantorial s e 1 e c- Gelman tion s, a n d re- freshments will be served. Admission will be free and the entire community is invited. Vision Testing Program Set at Jewish Center The Jewish Center is among a number of area locations that will be staffed by Detroit Health De- partment vision technicians giving vision tests to Detroit youngsters age 31/2 to 5 next month. Dates for the "Project 20/20" vision screening at the Center will be May "6, 13, 20 and 27. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parents of preschool children are urged by the health depart-1 ment to have their youngsters' vision checked before the busy summer season begins. Defects such as one-eyed blind- ness may affect a child's vision for the rest of his life if not detected and treated by the time he is 5 years old. Birmingham-Bloomfield There is no charge for the tests. appointments, call the health 1st Bank to Pay 5 7/s Pct. For department vision office, 871-4722, BIRMINGHAM — Birmingham- or 871-3464. Bloomfield Bank this week became the first Detroit-area bank to in- crease interest paid on time de- Lois Winsen Joins posits to 5 1/8 per cent. The new Simons-Michelson Co. higher guaranteed bank rate will Simons-Michelson Company Ad- be paid on one-year savings time vertising announces the appoint- deposits on any amount over $1. ment of Lois Winsen as a key Thomas H. Wagner, chaiiman member of its creative staff. Her of Birmingham-Bloomfield Bank, duties will include campaign said the new 5 1/8 per cent time sav- planning and account work on ad- ing deposit rate will become ef- vertising and public relations fective immediately. All certifi- assignments. cates are insured by the Federal Mrs. Winsen was formerly direc- Deposit Insurance Corporation tor of public relations for the and will be available at all five Jewish Welfare Federation. Prior offices of BBB or may be ordered to that she operated Lois Winsen by telephone or mail. Enterprises, specializing in adver- Depositors will receive savings tising and public relations coun- certificates which may be re- seling. Her background includes deemed at any time on 30-day extensive copy and account ex- written notice. F o 1 lowing the perience in New York and Chicago legally required 30-day notice, cer- agencies. She is a graduate of the tificates redeemed before the end University of Michigan School of of the one-year period will receive Business. Administration, a mem- the bank's regular 4 per cent rate ber of the Detroit Press Club and from the date of deposit to the Mensa. date of withdrawal. New Israel Housing Units Nine-storied terraces rise by A total of 550,000 housing units gradual accumulation of bricks.— have been built in Israel since the Chinese proverb. state was founded 18 years ago. be held 11 a.m., May 15. Hillel L. Abrams, president of the Yeshivah, announced that Cir- cuit Judge Nathan J. Kaufman will serve as chairman of the dedica- tion committee. The judge, an authority on youth and its problem s, called Beth Yehudah "a strong force in the development of Jewish youth in our communi- ty. It gives the child meaning to his life as a Jew and a reason to be proud of hi: Judge Kaufman Jewish heritage." The new structure . will have facilities for nursery through_ grade school and high school, in Serving with Judge Kaufman on the dedication committee are Abrams, David J. Cohen, Reubin D u b r i n s k y, David Goldberg, Daniel A. Laven, Joseph Nadler, A. M. Silverstein and Nathan Soberman. Emil Mossbacher, America's Cup skipper, was one Of the sports per- sonalities appointed to New York City's newly formed Sports Com- mission. Weddings • Bar Mitzvahs • Socials HA-RIVEIA ISRAELI DANCE TROUPE For Private Appearances Call: JEFFREY DUNN, Manager PHONE: LI 8-7864 ATTENTION ALL JUNE-BRIDES We offer special instruction in helping you establish a Jewish home. Also guided, free tours of modern Ritualarium (Mikvah). CALL LI 8-3554 or UN 4 - 5759 WOMEN'S EDUCATION LEAGUE A BEAUTIFUL CARPET and FURNITURE CLEANING * All Work Guaranteed • Moth Proofing FREE * 35 Yards — $15 42 Years Experience SAM SMALTZ 542-4735 EXPECTING OUT OF TOWN GUESTS FOR A WEDDING OR A BAR MITZVAH? 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