Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

E. V. Klein lo Address TOA Convention NEW YORK — “Horizons Unlimited’ will be the subject of the address delivered by Eugene V. Klein, president of National General Corp., at the opening business session of the TOA convention on Monday morning (28) in the Georgian Ballroom of the Americana Hotel in New York City. Other speeches scheduled for the session are: “The Progressive Exhibitor Looks Ahead,” by Richard A. Smith, General Drive-In Theatres, Boston, Mass.; “A Look Behind and a Look Ahead at Industry Legislation,” by E. LaMar Sarra, Florida State Theatres, Jacksonville, Fla.; “A Look at Pay TV” by Philip F. Harling, Stanley Warner Corp., New York City, and “A Look Ahead at Theatre Trends,” by Drew Eberson, New York City. The following speeches will be delivered at the convention business session on Tuesday (29), during “The Art Theatre Look” seminar chaired by Norman Levinson, Trans-Texas Theatres of Dallas. “What Art Product Can Do for You,” by Richard P. Brandt, Trans-Lux Corp., New York City; “Art Theatre Advertising and Publicity,” by Sidney Deneau, Continental Distributing Co., New York City; “Public Relations for Art Theatres,” by Melvin Brown, Peachtree Theatre, Atlanta, Georgia, and “The Rise of Today’s Art Theatre,” by Bosley Crowther, motion picture critic of the New York Times, New York City. Speeches at Wednesday’s business session will include: “The Value of Tie-in Merchandising,” by Charles Baker, Pepsi-Cola Co., New York City; “Quality and Quantity Control,” by Louis Collins, Crush-International, Evanston, 111.; “Diet Drinks for Entertainment and Fun Spots,” by W. E. Uzzell, Royal Crown Cola Co., Columbus, Ga.; “The Impact and Value of Name Brands,” by Wesby Parker, the Dr Pepper Co., Dallas, Texas; “Art and Conventional Theatres, Concessions and Vending,” by John Johnson, Walter Reade-Sterling, Inc., Oakhurst, N.J.; “Drive-In Concession and Vending Highlights,” by Phil Lowe, Lowe Merchandising Service, Newton Center, Mass.; “How to Plus Refreshment and Food Sales,” by William Fishman, Automatic Retailers of America, Philadelphia; “Putting Our House in Order,” by Jack Fitzgibbons jr„ Theatre Confections, Ltd., Toronto; “Automatic Vending, Present and Future,” by Pat O’Malley, Automatic Canteen of America, Chicago; “Feeding 70 Million People,” by Thomas J. Deegan, CocaCola Co., New York City; “The Importance of Motion Pictures to the Public,” by L. V. Burrows, Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y., and “Security,” by Addison Verrill, Dale Systems, Inc., New York City. Jessel to Be Toastmaster At TOA-Levine Dinner NEW YORK — George Jessel will serve as toastmaster at the opening dinner of the Theatre Owners of America convention at the Americana Hotel on the evening of October 28. Jessel will introduce the evening’s principal speaker, U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. The dinner, which will be preceded by a reception, will be sponsored by Joseph E. Levine, under the title of “A World of Showmanship for the Showmen of the World.” Hockey on Closed Circuit In Good Start in Canada TORONTO — If the debut of closed circuit theatre television as a sports presentation as offered here on October 13 is an indication of the future, then a giant stride has been made in that direction. This was the consensus of observers following the telecasting of the season’s first away-from-home game of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Nine theatres played to capacity audiences for a gross of $24,000, according to Famous Players Canadian Corp. and International Telemeter Co., which presented the program. The nine theatres, with a price scale ranging from $1.25 to $2.50, have a seating capacity of 11,000. It was stated that more than 2,500 persons were turned away from the soldout theatres. The telecast game, in which the Chicago Black Hawks defeated the Toronto hockey team by a score of 4 to 2, was the first of 32 games to be presented until next March by the network. In addition, the games are available to Telemeter home subscribers for $1.50 per game. The theatres are equipped with the Eidophor large screen system. International Telemeter, a subsidiary of Paramount Pictures, is aligned with Famous Players Canadian which is owned 51 per cent by Paramount. Arnold Haynes to Conduct TOA Small-Town Seminar NEW YORK — Arnold Haynes, exhibitor of Naples, Fla., will conduct a special seminar on the operation of theatres in small towns at the TOA convention, scheduled for New York’s Americana Hotel October 28-31. Haynes, a past president of the Motion Picture Exhibitors of Florida, now operates three four-wall and one outside theatre. He will be assisted at the seminar by Paul Ricketts, Ness City, Kas; J. T. Hitt, president of Independent Theatre Owners of Arkansas; Virgil Odell, president of Mountain States Theatre Owners; Ross Campbell, Sheridan, Wyo., and Mel Gold, National Screen Service. Zanuck to Address TOA Convention Luncheon NEW YORK — Darryl F. Zanuck, president of 20th Century-Fox, will be the principal speaker and guest of honor at the Tuesday (29) luncheon of the Theatre Owners of America convention in the Americana Hotel. The luncheon will be sponsored by the member companies of the Motion Picture Ass’n of America. Zanuck will be introduced by Spyros P. Skouras, chairman of the board of 20thFox. Other speakers at the luncheon will be Henry “Hi” Martin, vice-president of Universal Pictures, and Ralph Hetzel, acting head of the MPAA. Arthur Tolchin, assistant to the president of Loew’s Theatres and Hotels, will serve as toastmaster. AA Has Backlog of 12, Largest in 2 Years' HOLLYWOOD— Allied Artists’ backlog of completed pictures and films now in the final stages of dubbing and editing is the biggest in over two years, according to Steve Broidy, president. He listed 12 productions ready now or in the near future. The c o m p a n y’s most important picture of the year, “Soldier in the Rain,” a Blake Edwards Production, starring Jackie Gleason and Steve McQueen, is in its final editing form with music being scored by Henry Mancini. Also in the cast are Tuesday Weld, Tony Bill, Tom Poston and Ed Nelson. With “Cry of Battle,” starring Van Heflin, Rita Moreno and James MacArthur, and “The Gun Hawk” in color, starring Rory Calhoun, Rod Cameron, Ruta Lee and Rod Lauren, just entering their first release patterns, completed productions include “Gunfight at Comanche Creek,” in color and Panavision, starring Audie Murphy, Colleen Miller and Ben Cooper; “Wails Hell” featuring Tony Russell, Baynes Barron and Judy Dan; “Year of the Tiger,’ starring Marshall Thompson, story of an American Marine in Vietnam and filmed entirely in that country; “Now It Can Be Told,” an espionage thriller in color, starring Robert Hutton, Martin Benson, Peter Illing and Sandra Dorn; and “Life in Danger,” a suspense drama. Editing is well along on “The Strangler,” first starring vehicle for Victor Buono, Academy Award nominee for his performance in “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” Scheduled for future release will be “The Thin Red Line.” This is a production of Security Pictures, in association with A.C.E. Films, which Philip Yordan is making, based on the novel by James Jones, author of “From Here to Eternity.” Andrew Marton is directing and Keir Dullea and Jack Warden head the cast. AA will release this picture in the Western Hemisphere and Japan. Nearing completion is “Never Put It in Writing,” a Seven Arts Production starring Pat Boone, and produced and directed by Andrew Stone. This, too, will be an AA release in the Western Hemisphere and Japan. Filming was scheduled to start October 21 on “The Iron Kiss,” written, produced and directed by Samuel Fuller. This is a Leon Fromkess-Samuel Firks Production and reunites the same group which delivered “Shock Corridor.” Broidy said additional films will be announced by November 1. MGM Role to Don Woods HOLLYWOOD — Motion picture and stage actor, Donald Woods, has been chosen for the role of an Air Force colonel in MGM’s “Kissin’ Cousins.” Sam Katzman is producing, with Gene Nelson directing and Elvis Presley starring. Steve Broidy BOXOFFICE :; October 21, 1963 9