Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1960)

;dnesday, November 9, 1960 Motion Picture Daily 7 arcus Subs for ays High Tribute to Compo Special to THE DAILY CHICAGO, Nov. 8. A report on e activities of Compo, scheduled to given national Allied by Charles McCarthy, executive vice-presint, was given instead by Ben Mars when McCarthy was unable to :end the convention here, i Marcus was enthusiastic in his aise of the work accomplished by >mpo and called it "a vital instruent" working toward the good of e industry. The results in the major mpaigns conducted on the admis>n tax and on the minimum wage W have been "phenomenal," he deared, urging all exhibitors to send their dues. M Kirsch Pleads with Independents to Unite Concessions I ( Continued from page 1 ) hrisman general convention chairman. U Exhibitors attending the national feed convention, scenting the apprizing odor of popcorn and egg roll phich pervaded the main lobby of P'ne Conrad Hilton Hotel, examined ith interest the almost 100 exhibits trampolines, Go-Karts, Bowling :.ne layouts, miniature golf equipment, automatic vending machines lispensing almost everything from aspirin to hot soup, and other ideas jbr diversified income possibilities. "NAC services and activities will be ocelerated in the coming year assurdig members the broadest and most bmplete assistance possible," Papas laid, adding that NAC's motto "Planig Our Progress" will continue to isure successful advancement in the oncessions field by offering the tools nd ideas its members need. Calls Improvement Vital it Expressing the theme of the trade how, Chrisman said, "There is an old dage that it is necessary to spend honey (wisely) to make money and riat has never been truer than today. The customers of every business in his country are demanding better Products and better services. Thus, it is necessary for theatre owners to look t every phase of their operations and o improve those departments which re not providing maximum efficiency nd service." The association will elect officers ihd directors for the coming year before the show and convention close omorrow. ( Continued from page 1 ) has learned to discriminate, because of the conditioning of television, between good, mediocre and bad entertainment. And, while the audience is returning the exhibitor, he, because of the product shortage and the backup of top films caused by the roadshow policies, is unable to offer them anything better than program fare. "We have nothing to give them," he said, "or darn little in terms of product and of timing. We face a situation in which terms are dictated to us, we are not permitted to view the product . . . and oftentimes we cannot buy what we want without taking a tag-along picture with little box-office appeal Pricing conditions are both unrealistic and unequitable." Hits Blind Selling In this connection he urged the convention to seek ways of eliminating blind selling. "Can we not take a united stand and demand a sensible unbiased hearing from those in^our industry we work for and with?" he added. Kirsch attacked the increasing numbers of roadshow pictures and "the 70mm gimmick" on the ground that the public is beginning to put the term "blockbuster" in the same category as the outmoded "colossal"; that national advertising campaigns for these pictures mean nothing when the small exhibitor gets them a year and a half or two years later; and that the long runs in special houses prevent product from sifting into the subsequent run houses. "This means," he said, "that in this test-tube market we are fair game for the subsequent establishment of prohibitive sales terms." Stresses Merchandising To offset these conditions, Kirsch urged renewed attention to the physical plant— "the store with the newest paint gets the customers"— and an exchange of merchandising ideas within the Allied framework. The new Allied president attacked distributors for their lack of "cooperation and understanding." He declared that exhibitors have always been willing "to go an extra mile" to achieve understanding but added, "apparently we cannot have a meeting of minds with certain elements in production and distribution until we concede that we have no right to be in the business at all; that we are to be tolerated only until production and Kirsch Heads National Allied ( Continued cers in setting up a fully manned national headquarters for the organization and in implementing the board's plans to take an active role in exhibition problems at the national level. Other members of the committee are Kirsch, Irving Dollinger, James Whittle, Milton London and Trueman Rembusch. National headquarters for years has been in Washington in the office of Abram F. Myers, former general counsel and chairman of the board. It was indicated the new offices would be located in the mid-west, probably Chicago. Myers, who retired last year, continues as legal consultant but the board voted against retaining a fulltime general counsel. One of the first tasks of the administrative committee and of the new officers will be the selection of a full-time executive secretary or administrative head. This post was refused recently by A. W. Schwalberg. Other officers voted by the board are: chairman of the board, Ben Mar from page 1 ) cus; treasurer, Harry Hendel; national secretary, Richard Lochry, regional vice-presidents, James L. Whittle, Baltimore; Marshall Fine, Cleveland; Milton London, Detroit; Edward E. Johnson, Milwaukee; and Neil Beezley, Colorado; emergency defense committee, Trueman Rembusch; finance committee, Harry Hendel, Meyer Leventhal, Baltimore; Abe Berenson, New Orleans; Milton London, Harrison D. Wolcott, Iowa; Sidney Stern, New York; Richard Lochry, Indianapolis. Kirsch will serve for Allied on the ACE executive committee with Irving Dollinger as alternate. The COMPO executive committee includes Marcus, Dollinger, London, Harry Hendel, Roy Kalver, George Stern and Berenson. Forecasting a resumption by Allied of an active role in the fight against pay television, Julius Gordon of Texas and Wilbur Snaper of New York were reappointed Allied representatives of the Joint Committee on Toll TV. distribution see fit to vest a monopoly of exhibition of motion pictures in a few metropolitan theatres . . ." The convention was opened by retiring president Al Myrick, who also urged that exhibitors unite at this convention. A business building forum followed immediately at which Harry Hendel reported in detail on the outstanding results of the Marcus-Compo plan in the Pittsburgh area; Milton London of Detroit told of the results obtained by a cooperative business building plan staged by Michigan exhibitors in connection with the Michigan Stite Fair; and Keith Milner and Bill Jenkins told of similar area institutional plans. In connection with the operation of the Marcus plan in Pittsburgh during which "Jungle Cat" and "White Wilderness" were played, Hendel stressed the difficulties the exhibitor committee had in getting cooperation from distributors, with the exception of Columbia. NAC Plays Host A cocktail party conducted by the National Association of Concessionaires and a screening by 20th Century-Fox of "North to Alaska" concluded Monday's sessions. Today's activities included clinics covering both drive-ins and indoor theatres in large and small cities, a luncheon fashion show for exhibitor wives; a luncheon hosted by American International Pictures; a joint NAC-Allied workshop on concessions and a Pepsi-Cola "international cocktail party." Milton Moritz, American International Pictures' advertising-publicity director, told the convention luncheon session hosted by his company today, that "There no longer are major motion picture companies, only major motion pictures," because audiences no longer have the movie-habit. They shop for their pictures, with the result that we have been taken out of the motion picture business and are in the entertainment business, competing with many others for the mass public's free time. 25 Per Cent of Gross for Ads Moritz said that to help meet this competition AIP aims its films at large, special groups, providing them with "entertainment that can be seen only in your theatres." Merchandising and advertising the pictures looms large in winning audiences for such pictures, he said, so AIP commits 25 per cent of its gross income to advertising. Sales Offices and Warehouses 1 e^>^^ A COMPLETE LINE OF PROFESSIONAL CINE FILMS 321 West 54th Street New York 19, N. Y. 6601 N. Lincoln Ave Lincolnwood (Chicago), 111. 1355 Conant Street Dallas 7, Texas i Quality photographic materials . . backed by more than half a century of experience. ■-' __ iiicDici INC. OF AMERICA, INC.