Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

Michigan Allied Cites Hyman on Release Plan DETROIT— Allied Theatres of Michigan voted a special commendation to Edward L. Hyman, AB-Paramount Theatres vicepresident, at the December board of directors meeting, for “his valiant efforts to achieve more orderly methods of motion picture distribution.” Allied further asked each film company to make quality product available during April and May, in a direct assault on the present booking practice, “so that they will not continue to be months of destitution and disaster.” Turning to the exhibitors’ own job, Allied asked exhibitors to work out implementation of the program by seeking to “increase grosses on all quality pictures which are made available during April and May by means of conscientious merchandising and additional playing times, publicity, advertising and promotion. HIT TRADE PRACTICES The Michigan Allied motion carried a direct stinger for current trade practices. “There has been a trend for film companies to withhold the better grossing pictures for release only during the summer months or during holiday playing time.” The award to Hyman was based on his research, preparation of product release schedules, and work for orderly distribution. Other significant actions at the Michigan Allied meeting included: 1. Report by president Milton London on numerous letters from trade groups and associations, chambers of commerce, and similar bodies, thanking Allied for its spearheading of the fight against the Detroit City Water Department charges for nonrecirculating air conditioners. This was a seven-year court fight, carried on by Allied counsel David Newman, and resulted in a court order to the city to refund the charges for the whole period. The court further ordered the city to pay ten per cent interest on the amount collected during this period. Newman reported that actual distribution will begin within about 60 days and will mean about $200,000 cash from the city for 48 theatres of the metropolitan district, in addition to a continuing annual saving of about $100,000. AID ANTI-TV CAMPAIGN 2. The Michigan board expressed its continuing opposition to pay TV by setting up mechanism to secure contributions from all Michigan theatre owners to go to California exhibitors in their fight on this issue. This is in line with past actions by the Michigan body in fighting pay TV wherever it appears. 3. Strategy was planned to seek exemption of theatre employes from projected minimum wage legislation, slated for introduction in the Michigan Legislature in January. 4. Techniques of opposition to 16mm exhibition in competition with established theatres were considered. Allied will issue warnings to exhibitors to be alert for such opposition and counsel on steps to meet the situation. Ask Bill of Rights Trailer Be Returned Pronto NEW YORK — Exhibitors booking the Bill of Rights trailer are being urged to return the prints promptly to National Screen Service as soon as the run is completed. Charles E. McCarthy, executive vicepresident of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations, said the necessity for immediate return of the reel stemmed from the deluge of orders for prints. He said indications were that if there were twice as many as the 780 prints now in circulation, there still wouldn’t be enough, so great was the demand. Accordingly, he said, “exhibitors will be helping this project and also their fellow exhibitors if they return prints of the trailer to the National Screen exchanges just as soon as they are through playing them.” The trailers will continue playing until the end of the year, so theatres still will be able to get prints, McCarthy said. 3 More Distributors List April-May Fare NEW YORK — In line with Edward L. Hyman’s push for strong product to fill the so-called orphan period of April and May, three additional companies have announced their product for those spring months. Universal has designated four new pictures and two releases for the two-month span. Paramount has placed four productions in that period and Buena Vista will have two, although its February release will carry over into the April-May spot. Universal has announced 14 pictures for release during the first six months of 1964. H. H. “Hi” Martin, vice-president and general sales manager, said the April-May lineup would consist of “Captain Newman, M.D.” “The Brass Bottle,” “Nightmare” and “He Rides Tall.” The reissues will be two of Universal’s record-breakers, “Operation Petticoat” and “Pillow Talk.” Charles Boasberg, general sales manager of Paramount, reported that in addition to its four releases in April and May, there would be the opening of roadshow engagements of Samuel Bronston’s “The Fall of the Roman Empire” and Hal Wallis’ “Becket.” The four films selected for the late spring period will be “Paris When It Sizzles,” “Lady in a Cage,” “Law of the Lawless” and “Son of Captain Blood.” The Buena Vista release for February will be “The Misadventures of Merlin,” to be followed at Easter with “A Tiger Walks” and in May, “The Three Lives of Thomasina.” Marshall Naify Is New UATC President NEW YORK — At the suggestion of George P. Skouras, Marshall Naify, president of United California Theatres, was elected president of United Artists Theatre circuit by the board of directors of UATC here W ednesday (11). Skouras, who has been recuperating from an extended illness, will remain as chairman of the board. He had been president of UATC for many years. The directors also set January 13 as the date for two stockholders meetings in Baltimore. The first will be held in compliance with a court order, granting the request of the Committee for the Better Management of United Artists Theatre Circuit for a special meeting at which the dissident group hopes to oust the present management and install its own panel of directors. The second will be the regular meeting of shareholders who are expected to install a pro-management board. With the Naify family holding a majority of the UATC stock and having the backing of other large stockholders, it appears unlikely that the dissident group can effectuate its program. At the board meeting, R. A. Naify and Georgette Naify Rosenkrans were elected directors and a new slate of directors to be presented at the January stockholders meeting was approved. Michael A. Naify, father of the Naify brothers, was elected honorary chairman of the board. Marshall Naify stressed that the operation of United Artists Theatres would be a broad team effort with R. A. Naify serving as president of United California Theatres. He singled out Salah Hassanein, Arnold Childhouse, John Rowley and A1 Bollengier as the key executives with whom he would be working closely. The Naify family, under the consolidation of United California and United Artists Theatre Circuit, owns 770,000 of the 1,600,000 shares of UATC stock outstanding. UATC's Dissident Group Appeals Merger Ruling NEW YORK— Although United Artists Theatres Circuit has been given the green light to proceed with its consolidation with United California Theatres, the dissident group of UATC shareholders has filed an appeal in Maryland Court of Appeals against the approval issued by Judge Reuben Oppenheimer in Baltimore City Court. The dissident group has sought to block the UATC-UCT deal and had asked for a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of ousting present management. Judge Oppenheimer ruled on December 4 that the stock exchange plan of UATC management, which would unify the two circuits, was a fair one, despite the protests from the dissident group. In effect, the Naify family, which operates the California circuit, will receive 46 V2 per cent of the UATC stock, with UATC having control. 4 BOXOFFICE :: December 16, 1963