Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1960)

Motion Picture Daily Monday, November 7, Allied States (Continued from page 1) of New Jersey Allied, said that regardless of whether National Allied does or does not act on the Justice Department's letter, New Jersey Allied will consider it at a meeting called for Nov. 15 at the organization's headquarters in New York City. Pending that meeting, Stern said, the text of the letter will not be made public, primarily as a courtesy to Jersey Allied members who, he said, are entitled to be informed about it prior to its release. Report Action Unlikely From other sources here, it was learned that the Justice Department stand, as evidenced by its reply to Jersey Allied, gave little indication that action by the Federal agency is in prospect on the trade practice complaints. "It looks like Jersey Allied may have to go to court on its own if it wants to determine whether some of the practices now in vogue in distribution are violations of the industry consent decrees," one Allied official said. "The Justice Department's answer reflects a dim view of the small exhibitor's rights, in my opinion." Another said, "I think the Bicks letter is important to the entire industry. I think it should be turned over to exhibitor attorneys along with whatever documentation of its complaints Jersey Allied may have. I hope the Allied board gives it serious consideration and adds its official observations on it to the record." 'Unilateral Action' a Factor This source said under formal procedure, the Allied board could withhold action on the Justice Department letter on the grounds that New Jersey Allied had taken unilateral action in the matter and did not consult the national board in advance. He added that he hoped, however, the national board would not adopt that procedure. Jersey Allied's communication to the Justice Department listed 12 trade practice grievances, which it offered to document, and inquired which of them were in violation of the Paramount case decrees and what the Department could do to end them. Among the practices complained of were conditioning the licensing of one picture on that of another; of extending first run clearance by insisting on preferred play dates in sub-runs; of encouraging and even forcing bidding; of causing an artificial shortage of film and thereby being able to demand increasingly higher terms for definitely inferior pictures. Grievances Outlined necessary losses; of not granting subrun theatres a cooperative advertising allowance while continually granting one to first run theatres; of extending and altering clearances and runs by claiming a "shortage" of prints; of extending and altering clearances and runs by requiring special projection equipment in certain areas, and of insisting on a road show, long run, hard tickets, high price policy for an increasing number of pictures in a few favored theatres. Price Hike Called Necessary The letter contended that the alleged practices complained of result in higher admission cost to the public, the necessity to drive hundreds of miles or to wait years to see certain pictures; destruction of small businesses that are invaluable in keeping people trading in their own communities; unemployment of thousands of persons presently employed in subrun houses; the necessity of showing inferior pictures and pictures which an exhibitor may not wish to present to his particular patronage because of the artificial product scarcity, and the loss of millions of dollars in local real estate taxes that cannot be paid by closed theatres. Stern explained at the time the letter was released that Jersey Allied is endeavoring to find out "what the industry decrees are and are not; what can be enforced, and what the policy and viewpoint of the Justice Department are on the decrees." Record Cleared, Says Stern Yesterday Stern said, "Our action has cleared the record for a new Attorney General and anti-trust head, should there be a change in the Administration, and for ourselves, if there is no change." The series of weekend board meetings will continue tomorrow morning, with Allied's annual convention scheduled to open tomorrow afternoon and continuing through Wednesday. The National Association of Concessionaires trade show, being operated in conjunction with the Allied convention, opened today and also will continue through Wednesday. Return Date for 'Gigi' Set At Normandie Here "Gigi," M-G-M release, will begin a return engagement Nov. 23 at the Normandie Theatre here. "Gigi" originally played at the Royale Theatre for six months on a reserved-seat basis, and then moved to the Sutton Theatre, where is ran for another year. 'Kingdom9 Saturation Also, of discriminating in the pricing of film; of not providing an even flow of product by the withholding of pictures for holiday playing time; of restricting the booking of pictures when an exhibitor wishes to strengthen a weak show; of forcing extended playing time when not warranted; causing an exhibitor to sustain nn "The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come," starring Jimmy Rodgers, will have a saturation engagement in the south for Christmas, according to 20th Century-Fox. Rodgers has taken time out from his national night club and tv engagements to set a tour of the southern area on opening days and will make personal appearances on stage at theatres between Dec. 19 and 25. Allied States Convention Program Conrad Hilton Hotel, Chicago TODAY 9 A.M.-12:30 P.M.-National Concessions Trade Show-Lower Level. 10 A.M.-Board of Directors Meeting-Dining Room #3-3rd Floor. 2 P.M.-Opening Convention Session-Waldorf Room-3rd Floor; Call to Order and Welcome by: Sam C. Meyers, vice president! Allied Theatres of Illinois; Greeting by: Hon. Richard J. Daley! mayor of Chicago; Permanent Chairman: Al C. Myrick, Hational Allied president; Keynote Address: Jack Kirsch, general convention chairman. 3 P.M.-C.O.M.P.O.-Ben Marcus, Allied representative, triumvirate of COMPO; Report on COMPO-Charles McCarthy, executive vice president, COMPO. 3:30 P.M.-Paul N. Lazarus, vice president in charge of advertising, Columbia Pictures; Rube Jackter, general sales manager. 4 P.M.-Business Building Forum-Milton London, president, Allied Theatre Owners of Michigan; Harry Hendel, chairman of the board, Allied Theatre Owners of Western Pennsylvania; Otto Settele, Pulaski, Wis.; Keith Milner, Cresco, Iowa. TUESDAY 9 A.M.-12 Noon-National Concessions Trade Show-Lower Level. 10 A.M.— 'Film Discussions-1) Drive-ins-Small City Drive-ins (Population 15,000 or less) Room #12— 4th Floor; Large City Drive-ins (Population over 15,000) Room #13— 4th Floor. 2) Indoor Theatres-Small City Theatres (Population 15,000 or less) Room # 1 8— 4th Floor; Large City Theatres (Population over 15,000) Room #19-4th Floor. 12:30 P.M.-Luncheon for Registered Delegates, Grand Ballroom -2nd Floor; Sponsored by: American International Pictures. 2 P.M.-4:30 P.M.-2nd Convention Session-Grand Ballroom2nd Floor-Joint N.A.C.-Allied Workshop on Concessions. Moderator: Harold F. Chesler, N.A.C. first vice presidentExpert panel of professionals including: S. J. Papas, N.A.C. president; Edwin "Pete" Gage, N.A.C. treasurer; Bert Nathan, N.A.C. past president; A. J. Schmitt, N.A.C. second vice president and others. WEDNESDAY 10 A.M.— 3rd Convention Session— Grand Ballroom, Al C. Myrick, presiding; Alfred Schwalberg, president, Citation Films, Inc.; H. Martin, general sales manager, Universal-International; Burton E. Robbins, president, National Screen Service; Glenn Norris, general sales manager; 20th Century-Fox; Marc Wolf, Allied Theatre Owners of Indiana-'Toll TV." 1:30 P.M.— Final Convention Session, Al C. Myrick, presidingBudd Rogers, general sales manager, Pathe-Alpha; Milton R. Rackmil, president, Universal Pictures; Si Fabian, chairman, American Congress of Exhibitors. 3:30 P.M.— Panel on Theatre Projection Problems-Lawrence W. Davee, Century Projector Corp.; Arthur J. Hatch, Jr., Strong Electric Corp.; Leonard Satz, Technikote Corp.; J. W. Cosby, National Carbon Company; Hugh McLachlan, Y & W Theatre Circuit; D. H. Peterson, Bausch & Lomb, Inc.; H. B. Toilette, Marcus Theatre Management Co. 2 P.M.-6 P.M.— National Concessions Trade Show— Lower Level. 6:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M.-National Carbon Company Cocktail Reception Williford Room— 3rd Floor. 7:30 P.M.-Motion Picture Industry Banquet— Grand BallroomHost: The Coca-Cola Company.