Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1956)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY VOL. 80, NO. 64 NEW YORK, U. S. A. MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1956 TEN CENTS SBA Action Seen Aiding Modernization I The announcement by the Small business Administration that "fourwall theatres" are eligible for government loans "should open the doors or much modernization and refurbishing of theatres," according to Ernest itellings, president of Theatre Owners of America. Stellings, along with Harry Brandt, resident of Independent Theatre Owners Association, expressed certainy that the SBA action would afford nany theatres "a new lease on life." The TOA head, speaking from Charlotte by telephone, said that "it s a step forward in getting the motion )icture theatre out of a classification vhich also includes cabarets, saloons, ;tc. The SBA move will enormously lid theatres, especially the small ones, vho haven't any established source of sorrowing loans." Brandt, who presented this suggesion to the Senate Small Business Comnittee last March, said: "The action vill serve as a shot in the arm for .mall theatre owners and should act as i tremendous incentive to the refurrishing of theatres, purchase of new ;quipment, and in supplying working capital, giving hundreds of theatres i new lease on life." SBA Approves Gov't. Loans For Small Indoor Theatres Rhoden Cites Need of 'New Approaches' Special to THE DAILY PHOENIX, Ariz., Sept. 30.-On the eve of National Theatres' three-day convention, which gets underway here tomorrow at the Arizona Manor Hotel, president Elmer C. Rhoden asked the delegates to "recognize the quickly changing conditions that beset our industry" as "we must think in terms of what is going to take place rather than what has already taken place." In His preliminary message, Rhoden said: "I want you to think in terms of what we as merchandisers of motion picture entertainment must provide to {Continued on page 6) Group Says Applications Now Will Be Accepted and Considered 'on Merits'; Called Vital to Community Economy By J. A. OTTEN WASHINGTON, Sept. 30.— The Small Business Administration announced over the weekend that conventional theatres will now be eligible for government loans. Williamson, Livingston Promoted by Warners Ed Williamson, Warner Bros. Southwest district manager, has been promoted to Midwest division sales manager, with headquarters in New York, and Grover Livingston, Southeast district manager, is promoted to the post of Southern district manager, ( Continued on page 1 1 ) Allied Artists Acquires 4 Southern Exchanges Allied Artists Pictures Corp. has purchased four Southern exchanges— in Atlanta, Memphis, New Orleans and Charlotte— formerly owned and operated by the late Arthur Bromberg, according to an announcement by Steve Broidy, AA president. Ef(Continued on page 11) TV Shift to UHF Seen 'Jeopardizing' Service The transfer of all television broadcasting to the ultra high frequency ( UHF ) band would jeopardize the future of television in the country, the Radio Corp. of America and the National Broadcasting Co. have protested ( Continued on page 1 1 ) Goldsmith Selected for SMPTE Progress Medal Dr. Alfred Norton Goldsmith, motion picture and television consultant, has been selected by the Society of Motion Picture a n d Television Engineers as the 1956 recipient of its highest award, the Progress Medal. He will receive this award during the Society's 80th convention at the Los Angeles Ambassador Hotel on Oct. 9. The Progress Medal was established in 1935 "to honor outstanding achievement in motion picture, and later television, tech(Continued on page 6) A. N. Goldsmith Television Today In a statement issued on its decision, SBA limited loan applications to "fourwall theatres," and said such applications would now be "accepted and considered on their merits." The SBA statement recognized that "four-wall theatres, in addition to providing entertainment, frequently make substantial contributions to the maintenance and advancement of the economy of their communities." It was for this reason, SBA said, that its loan policy board had agreed to extend "financial assistance" to small theatres for their "modernization, equipment, repair or operation." Follows Suggestion of SSBC . SBA said that at a Sept. 17 meeting its Loan Policy Board had given careful consideration to the recommendation of the Senate Small Business Committee that small theatres be made eligible for loans in cases where regular lending institutions would not grant credit. The committee recommendation had been incorporated in a brief filed with SBA by A, Julian Brylawski for the Theatre Owners of America, urging that SBA extend its (Continued on page 4) IN THIS ISSUE PAGE 7 An examination of certain alleged facts relative to operation of the television system currently under inquiry in various directions takes precedence this week in Spotlighting the News. ' Who's Where— Personnel changes continue to alter the scene. Passing in Review— The week's high spots, and low, in shows. Membership Drive Set By Variety Clubs Int'l Special to THE DAILY DENVER, Sept. 30.-Variety Clubs International will initiate a membership drive in all seven districts, with the International representative showing the largest increase, percentage-wise, to receive a plaque. The club showing the best increase will get a special prize to be decided on later. Local clubs are urged to start drives to get (Continued on page 11)