Boxoffice (Mar 5, 1955)

Small Houses Can Afford Stereo Sound, Lewis Says COLUMBUS, OHIO—A complete stereophonic sound system can be installed in the smaller theatres for as little as the price of a few tickets a day after a small down payment, Merlin Lewis, executive secretary of the Theatre Equipment and Supply Manufacturers Ass’n, told the convention of Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio. He also discussed VistaVision, Todd-AO, screens and lenses. Lewis said there was misunderstanding among exhibitors about the cost of stereophonic sound because they had not investigated the facts closely enough. WARNS AGAINST MISUSE “The fact that the film companies are in many cases charging exorbitant rentals and thus reducing net profits,” he said, “does not affect the fact that grosses in most cases where stereophonic sound has been installed are higher and that in most cases the yearly profit is higher.” Lewis warned about the misuse of stereophonic sound, resulting in its being too loud and also in damage to the equipment. He noted that the requirements of theatres vary and that equipment of insufficient capacity should not be bought because it costs less than adequate equipment. He urged that the advice of the theatre supply dealer be heeded. As to the VistaVision process, Lewis said it brought about a considerable reduction in grain and a much higher saturation of color, permitting a better image on the screen with no amperage increase and with no expensive extra equipment needed. “This is great for the average theatreman who has installed a large screen,’ he said, “because the magnification of the 35mm image is less washed out. The drive-in theatre, however, still will have light problems with VistaVision, as well as with CinemaScope and every other process but one.” Lewis noted that VistaVision projectors cannot be used with any other film, and that whatever theatre decides to use them must install them in addition to the projectors already in the booth. SIZE OF APERTURE “The aperture to be used with this horizontal projector and special VistaVision film,” he said, “is 1.4772x.992 inches and permits the passage of about three times as much light as is possible with any other projection process. Thus, it can permit drive-ins which might have a normal reading of four-foot lamberts on their screens to increase such readings to 12 or more foot lamberts, which is well within the academy standards and which has not been possible heretofore. For indoor theatres it probably will be necessary to reduce amperage.” h Lewis then described the Todd-AO system. He said the special projectors had been announced as usable for regular projection, CinemaScope and any other projection process except Cinerama, and that prints of all Todd-AO pictures will be made for regular CinemaScope distribution following roadshow runs. Exhibitors should not gamble by buying screens without a reputation for quality sim 16 Schine Circuit Trial Ends; Decision in Two Months BUFFALO—The Schine Theatres trial, which has been under way here for 13 weeks, has ended. The prosecution had several witnesses from various producing companies on the stand Tuesday (1). Judge Knight said he would give no decision for at least two months. He gave the government a month to file briefs and the defense a month to file an answer. The judge also denied all motions for a judgment of acquittal as filed by the defense until he can go over the records of the trial and the briefs. ply because they are inexpensive, he said. He mentioned manufacturers such as Walker, Raytone, Williams, Bodde, Radiant, RCA and “a few others of equal stature,” and said they had set prices that enabled them to produce a good product and stand behind it. Lewis said the same thing was true of lens manufacturers, that all of the anamorphics on the market had qualities sufficient to. do the job and that even two of comparatively poor quality work fairly well in some special cases. “But the better anamorphics and regular projection lenses,” he said, “have earned reputations because the lenses are of superior quality in definition, light transmission, resolving power, color quality, etc. These include anamorphic attachments made by such companies as Bausch & Lomb, Panavision, Inc., which makes the Super-Panatar or the “Gottschalk” lens; Projection Optics, which makes the Hilux Val, and one or two others.” He added that lens prices were at a level that did not permit any further price reductions. On the subject of cutting off the heads and feet in the older films, Lewis said that when new lenses of shorter focal length are bought by a theatre to make a larger screen picture possible, the theatre should start with possible screen height and then extend the picture as far to the sides as the height determination would permit. “This might cause,” he said, “a cutting-off of some parts of the sides, but that, in the greatest majority of cases, would be of no consequence since the action is centered on film except for entrances and exits of actors at the extreme sides of the sets.” Air Force Promotion Aid Promised ‘Air Command’ WASHINGTON—The U. S. Air Force will cooperate with Paramount in the promotion of “Strategic Air Command.” A directive to that effect has been issued by Gen. Brooke E. Allen, head of the information services authorizing all commands to furnish displays, personnel and bands on request by exhibitors. The picture will open in mid-April at the Paramount Theatre here. B. F. Walsh of IATSE To Get Heart Award NEW YORK—Richard F. Walsh, president of the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employes, will be honored at the second annual Heart Award dinner of the Variety Club of New York, Tent 35, May 2 at the Waldorf-Astoria. The announcement was made _ recently by Edward L. Fabian, chief barker, and William J. German, president of the Variety Club Foundation to Combat Epilepsy. Richard F. Walsh “As long-time president of IATSE,” the announcement said, “Dick Walsh has been a loyal friend of the entire industry. His unselfish aim has always been the greatest good for the greatest number, and his long-range planning has been built upon an intelligent understanding of the needs of both employers and employes. “As a man, independent of his capacity as an advocate of labor, Dick has been a friend to all mankind. He never has to be asked to help the needy. Dick has always gone out of his way to assist others. He is all heart. We know no one in the industry more worthy to be honored.” Dinner committees are being organized. 20th-Fox Starts Meetings On Video Production NEW YORK—President Spyros P. Skouras of 20th Century-Fox has set plans for a series of production, promotion and merchandising meetings with advertising agencies and television networks in behalf of TCF Television Productions, the company’s new TV subsidiary. Sid Rogell, production head at the Western avenue TV studio in Hollywood, arrived to attend them. They are expected to continue for a week. Others attending them will be Skouras, Al Lichtman, 20th-Fox distribution head; Joseph H. Moskowitz, vice-president and eastern studio representative; Charles Einfeld, vicepresident; Donald A. Henderson, treasurer and secretary, and Martin Michel, TV and radio director. The first meeting was held late in the week with Leonard H. Goldenson, president, and other American Broadcasting Paramount Theatres executives, including Robert E. Kintner, ABC president; John Mitchell, vicepresident in charge of the Tv network; George Shupert, vice-president in charge of film syndication; Robert Lewine, TV program director, and Donald Durgin, head of sales development and research. Variety Adds to Judges PHILADELPHIA — Additions have been made to the charity citation board of judges for Variety Clubs International convention in Los Angeles May 4-7. They are Pete Harrison, Harrison’s Reports; Morton Sunshine Independent Film Journal; Mo Wax, Film Bulletin, and T. E. Mortensen, Greater Amusements. The additions bring the tota] number to 13. BOXOFFICE :: March 5, 1955 we »}