Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1960)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY VOL. 88, NO. 72 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1960 TEN CENTS Pay-TV Brief is Filed British Censor Would Like To See Program Plans ^''m C'ass'fica*'on System in U.S. Not Spelled Out ByPhonevision Col. '60 Net Up To $1,905,000 Myers Says : Adult Films Conceding that there are disadvantages as well as advantages to Britain's film -j-^ mi classification system, John Trevelyan, secretary of the British board of film Mil f I HPfl tTP^ censors, who has arrived here from London on an American visit, nevertheless, L 1 HCail CO said he would like to see a classifi Will Outline "Intentions And Hopes9 at FCC Hearing By E. H. KAHN WASHINGTON, Oct. 12. Hartford Phonevision, applicant for permission to conduct trial pay-tv operations over station WHCT-TV, Hartford, Conn., has filed an answer opposing Marcus Cohn's petition, on behalf of exhibitors, for clarification j{ the issues to be heard at Federal Communications Commission hearings itarting Oct. 24. In addition, both Zenith Radio and Ieco, Inc. (its licensee for the Phone/ision subscription-tv process) have isked FCC for permission to appear is parties to the case. Zenith noted hat adverse FCC action on the Hart( Continued on page 4 ) MP A Stresses Secrecy Of Campaign Donations Eric Johnston, president of the Moion Picture Association of America, resterday stressed the security angle )f the motion picture industry's non)artisan campaign for the 1960 elections as of key importance to the efectiveness of the entire operation. The campaign, which seeks to get )ut the vote and raise funds for both ( Continued on page 6 ) Columbia Pictures reported operating income of $1,905,000 for the fiscal year ended June 25, compared with an operating loss in the preceding year of $2,445,000. In the 1960 year, the company reported profit of $202,000 from sale of studio facilities. In the preceding year a profit of $2,596,000 was reported from this source. Combined operating and sale of assets profit in the 1960 year amounted to $2,107,(Continued on page 2) NAB Reaffirms Stand Against Subscription TV From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Oct. 12. The television board of directors of the National Association of Broadcasters has reaffirmed the NAB's position against the use of the air waves for pay television. The board instructed the association staff to request permission from the Federal Communi(Continued on page 6) cation system adopted here. He said it works well in Britain and exhibitors are conscientious both in their efforts to apply it to juvenile age limits and to safeguard children who are tempted to petition adult strangers to permit them to accompany them into theatres where "A" classification films are being shown. Trevelyan described his trip as one to meet Motion Picture Association, Production Code Administration and studio heads and to discuss with them ( Continued on page 6 ) Wald, in Coast Address, Urges 'Highest Taste' By SAMUEL D. BERNS HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 12. In a speech to some 500 distaff bankers in the Beverly Hills Hotel last night, Jerry Wald prefaced his remarks on "censorship" as a Hollywood pitfall, with the statement: "There ought to be inscribed over every film-makers desk, in letters of glorious technicolor, 'the public are not fools.' Because this is true, a really brilliant film-maker, if he thinks of his audience at all, will go after the highest common factor rather than (Continued on page 6) On Hot Spot Allied Veteran Hits ACE; Asks Skouras to 'Explain Special to THE DAILY INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 12.-Grave consequences for exhibition, and particularly the small town and neighborhood theatres, are foreseen by Abram F. Myers, who retired last summer as chairman and general counsel of Allied States after 32 years in the posts, unless "teeth are restored to the Production Code." Addressing the annual convention of Ohio Valley Theatres here yesterday, Myers warned the exhibitors that should current test cases succeed in eliminating all prior censorship of films, without a strengthening of selfregulation by producers, exhibition will be put on a spot. "All who argue against anv form (Continued on page 5) Hayward to Direct Teco Pay-TV Programming Leland Hayward, theatre and moion picture producer, has been reained to direct the subscription teleision programming activities of Teco, nc, it was announced yesterday by 5ieter E. van Beek, president. Teco, nc, an Illinois corporation, has been icensed by Zenith Radio Corporation o engage in subscription television ( Continued on page 4 ) TELEVISION TODAY— page 4 At 41st Michigan Allied Meet London Warns Industry Must Adapt To Changing Conditions for Survival Special to THE DAILY DETROIT, Oct. 12.— The motion picture industry has got to adapt to changing conditions if it is to survive, Milton H. London, president of Michigan Theatre Owners and Managers, said today at the opening session of the group's 41st annual convention at the effectiveness of trailers, when not shown in an empty house. He commented on the "amazing and overwhelming effectiveness" of the trailer show at the Michigan State Fair. All officers were re-elected as was the board of directors, excepting the resigned Harold Clark of Detroit, who was replaced by Gordon M. Bennett of Hastings, Mich. Resolutions were adopted com(Continued on page 2) Sheraton Cadillac Hotel here. London, while holding high hopes for the future, predicted subsequentruns theatres would experience increasing difficulties in the near future due to the product shortage, the swelling number of roadshows, and a possible business recession. He said that the increasing number of roadshows would be "self-defeating." He called for more advertising outside the theatres, remarking on the 'Sterility' in Selling Films Hit by Solomon Special to THE DAILY INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 12.-While exhibitors in some sections of the country are backing to the hilt their pictures with vast amounts of showmanship, those in other sections of the country are showing a "vapid sterility" in selling their merchandise, Eddie Solomon, Embassy Pictures vice-president, said here today. He ( Continued on page 5 ) Exhibitors Ask Disney To Expand TV Time Special to THE DAILY GREAT FALLS, Mont., Oct. 12.The Montana Theatre Ass'n. at its recent annual convention here adopted a resolution calling upon Walt Disney to resume full television programming which has been found to be beneficial "to the motion picture exhibitors throughout the United States."