Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY Published in Nine Sectional Editions BEN SHLYEN Editor-in-Chief and Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU, Associate Publisher & General Manager JESSE SHLYEN ....Managing Editor HUGH FRAZE Field Editor AL STEEN Eastern Editor I. L. THATCHER Equipment Editor MORRIS SCHLOZMAN Business Mgr. Publication Offices: 825 Van Brunt Blvd. Kansas City 24, Mo. Jesse Sblyen, Managing Editor; Morris Scbluzman, Business Manager; Hugh Fraze, Field Editor; I. L. Thatcher. Editor The Modern Theatre Section. Telephone CHestnut 1-7777. Editerial Offices; 1270 Sixth Ave., Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Donald M. Mersereau, Associate Publisher & General Manager; A1 Steen, Eastern Editor. Telephone COlumbus 5-6370. Central Offices; Editorial — 920 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 11. 111., Frances B. Clow, Telephone Superior 7-3972. Advertising— 5809 North Lincoln, Louis Dldier and Jack Broderick, Telephone LOngbeach 1-5284. Western Offices: Editorial and Film Advertising— 6362 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 28, Calif.. Syd Cassyd. Telephone Hollywood 5-1186. Equipment and Non-Film Advertising — New York Life Bldg., 2801 West Sixth St., Los Angeles 57, Calif. Bob Wettsteln, manager. Telephone Dunkirk 8-2286. London Office: Anthony Gruner, 1 Woodberry Way, Finchley, N. 12. Telephone Hillside 6733. The MODERN THEATRE Section Is Included in the first issue of each month. Albany: J. S. Conners, 140 State St. Atlanta: Mary Charles Watts, 205 Walton St.. N. W. Baltimore: George Browning, 208 E. 25th St. Boston: Guy Livingston, 80 Boylston, Boston, Mass. Charlotte: Blanche Carr, 301 S. Church. Cincinnati: Frances Hanford, UNiversity 17180. Cleveland: W. Ward Marsh, Plain Dealer. Columbus: Fred Oestrelcher, 52*4 W. North Broadway. Dallas Mahle Guinan, 5927 Winton. Denver: Bruce Marshall, 2881 S. Cherry Way. Des Moines: Pat Cooney, 2727 49th St. Detroit: 11. F. Reves, 906 Fox Theatre Bldg., WOodward 2-1144. Hartford: Allen M. Widem, CU. 9-8211. Indianapolis: Norma Geraghty, 436 N. Illinois St. Jacksonville: Robert Cornwall, 1199 Edgewood Ave. Manchester, N. H. : Guy Langley, l’.O. Box 56. Memphis: Null Adams, 707 Spring St. Miami: Martha Lummus, 622 N.E. 98 St. Milwaukee: Wm. Nichol, 2251 S. Layton. Minneapolis: Jon Pankake, 729 8th Ave. S.E. New Orleans: Mrs. Jack Auslet, 2268*4 jjt PluiiHp A up Oklahoma City: Sam Brunk, 3416 N. Virginia. Omaha: Irving Baker, 5108 Izard St. Philadelphia: Al Zurawskl, The Bulletin. Pittsburgh: It. F. Klingensmlth, 516 Jeanette, Wilkinsbuig. 412-241-2809. Portland, Ore. : Arnold Marks, Journal. St. Louis: Joe & Joan Pollack, 7335 Shaftsbury, University City, PA 5-7181. Salt Lake City: II. Pearson, Deseret News. San Francisco : Dolores Barusch, 25 Taylor St., Oltdway 3-4813; Advertising: Jerry Nowell, 417 Market St., YUkon 29537. Washington: Virginia R. Collier, 2308 Ashmead Place, N. W., DUpont 7-0892. In Canada Montreal: Room 314, 625 Belmont St., Jules Larochelle. St. John: 43 Waterloo, Sam Babb. Toronto: 2675 Bayvlew Ave., Willowdale, Ont. W. Gladish. Vancouver: 411 Lyric Theatre Bldg. 751 Granville St., Jack Droy. Winnipeg: The Tribune, Jim Peters. Member Audit Bureau of Circulations Second Class postage paid at Kansas City, Mo. Sectional Edition. $3.00 per year. National Edition. $7.50. OCTOBER 14, 1963 Vol. 83 No. 25 PROGRESS ON PRODUCT PRODUCT looms big in the news of the past week, with the overall outlook considerably brightened by reports from various quarters. First there was the report by Edward L. Hyman, vice-president of American Broadcasting — Paramount Theatres, of the progress made in his continuing campaign to which he has become dedicated in seeking to bring about orderly release of pictures throughout every season of the year. The product book that he has currently brought out lists films set for release through the fall and winter quarters, with much carrying through next spring. The schedules of each of the major distributing companies that have cooperated with Mr. Hyman look exceptionally encouraging, especially on pictures already finished, some of which have been screened. Titles, casts and descriptions of stories on a substantial number of the others add to the brightness of the prospect. And, with a total of 214 films, including nine reissues, there is clear indication that the trend is up in quantity as well as in quality, on both counts of which Mr. Hyman has put forth extraordinary effort over the past eight years. From individual company standpoints, the news is good that Universal will have 14 top-grade pictures and two reissues within the next six months, as reported in Boxoffice last week. American-International comes forth with the biggest stride in this independent company’s continuing progress over its nine-year history. Not only is it expanding its total product output, but it is improving it, stepping up its investment in story properties, stars and other ingredients. And, for the first time, it is in position to announce its release lineup for better than a year ahead. Another independent company, the Mirisch Corp., observing its seventh year of making fine pictures which it releases through United Artists, is stepping up its volume of output, highlighted by a list of strong marquee names in presold story properties, placed in the hands of reputable producers and directors. The production data on AIP and Mirisch appears in this issue. As with the issuance of his previous reports, Mr. Hyman again urges that all exhibitors extend themselves and conduct an extensive merchandising campaign on the product that will be available in the current fourth quarter period. “Quality product,” he says, “in and of itself does not guarantee success at the boxoffice. I urge all exhibitors to pitch in and work at the grass-roots level to make such success a reality.” That’s the surest way of attaining the long-sought objective of “orderly release of quality product throughout the year,” thus bringing about an end to the dreaded “orphan periods” that have retarded the industry’s progress. ★ ★ Profitable Investment The two national exhibitor organizations, on the basis of advance reservations for their respective annual conventions, both to be held at the Americana Hotel in New York this month, are expecting the largest attendances in their history. This is not surprising, and it might be called “a product of the times,” indicating an awareness on the part of exhibitors that theatre operation today entails many complexities that require greater and more knowledgeable effort than ever before. Accordingly, Allied States Ass’n of Motion Picture Exhibitors and Theatre Owners of America have lined up programs that indicate no stone has been left unturned to bring exhibitors up to date on all phases of their business, with spokesmen of the highest authority in their respective fields on hand to provide information and inspiration from which the exhibitors can obtain the utmost in practical values. This applies also to the convention of the National Association of Concessionaires, which is to be held concurrently with the TOA conclave, one session of which will be jointly convened. Every facet of concession and vending operation is to be covered, with accent given to merchandising. Whether applied to motion pictures or foods and refreshments, there is constant need for better ways of doing the selling job. We urge exhibitors to visit the trade show exhibits and to attend as many of the NAC meetings as possible. These business sessions have become increasingly instructive and valuable for exhibitors, in keeping with the growth and importance of this phase of the business to the overall success of theatre operation. All three conventions — Allied, TOA and NAC — hold promise of providing every exhibitor who attends them with many progressive and profitable ideas, though just one can make his investment in going well worthwhile.