Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1963)

THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY Published in Nine Sectional Editions NO EADY PLAN HERE BEN SHLYEN Editor-in-Ghief and Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU, Associate Publisher 8. General Manager JESSE SHLYEN ....Managing Editor HUGH FRA7E Field Editor AL STEEN Eastern Editor I. L. THATCHER. . .Equipment Editor MORRIS SCHLOZMAN Business Mgr. Publication Offices: 825 Van Brunt Blvd. Kansas City 24, Mo. Jesse Shlyen. Managing Editor; Morris Scbloaman. Business Manager; Hugh Froze, Field Editor ; 1. L. Thatcher, Editor The Modern Theatre Section. Telephone CHestnut 1-7777. Editorial Offices: 1270 Sixth Ave., Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Donald M. Mersereau, Associate Publisher & General Manager; A1 Steen, Eastern Editor. Telephone COlumbus 5-6370. Central Offices: Editorial — 920 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 11, 111., Frances B. Clow, Telephone superior 7-3972. Advertising— 5809 North Lincoln, Louis Dldier and Jack Broderick, Telephone LOngbeach 1-5284. Western Offices: Editorial and Film Advertising— 6362 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 28, Cal., Syd Cassyd. Telephone Hollywood 5-1186. Equipment and Non-Film Advertising — New York Life Bldg., 2801 West Sixth St., Los Angeles 57, Calif. Bob Wettstein, manager. Telephone Dunkirk 8-2286. London Office: Anthony Gruner, 1 Woodberry Way, Finchley, N. 12. Telephone Hillside 6733. The MODERN THEATRE Section Is included In the first issue of each month. Atlanta: Jean Mullis, P. O. Box 1695. .Ubany : a. S. Conners, 140 8tate St. Baltimore: Geoige Browning, 119 E. 25th St. Boston: Guy Livingston, 80 Boylston, Boston, Mass. Charlotte: Blanche Carr, 301 S. Church. Cincinnati: Frances Hanford, UNiversity 17180. Cleveland: W. Ward Marsh, Plain Dealer. Columbus: Fred Oestreicher, 52% W. North Broadway. Dallas: Mable Gulnan, 5927 Winton. Denver: Bruce Marshall, 2881 S. Cherry Way. Des Moines: Pat Cooney, 2727 49tb St. Detroit: H. F. lieves, 906 Fox Theatre Bldg., WOodward 2-1144. Hartford: Allen M. Wldem, CH. 9-8211. Indianapolis: Norma Geragfaty, 436 N. Illinois St. Jacksonville: Robert Cornwall, 1199 Edgewood Ave. Memphis: Null Adams, 707 Spring St. Miami: Martha Lummus, 622 N.E. 98 St. Milwaukee: Wm. Nichol, 2251 S. Layton. Minneapolis: Paul Nelson, 3220 Park Ave. S. New Orleans: Mrs. Jack Auslet, 2268% St. Claude Ave. Oklahoma City: Sam Brunk, 3416 N. Virginia. Omaha: Irving Baker, 5108 Izard St. Philadelphia: A1 Zurawskl, The Bulletin. Pittsburgh: It. F. Kllngensmlth, 516 Jeanette. WUklnsburg. 412-241-2809. Portland, Ore.: Arnold Marks, Journal. Manchester, N.H. : Guy Langley, 320 Pine street. St. Louis: Joe & Joan Pollack, 7335 Shaftsbury, University City, PA 5-7181. Salt Lake City: H. Pearson, Deseret News. San Francisco: Dolores Baruscb, 25 Taylor St., ORdway 3-4813; Advertising: Jerry Nowell, 417 Market St., YUkon 29537 Washington: Virginia R. Collier, 2308 Ashmead Place, N. W., DUpont 7-0892. In Canada Montreal: Room 314, 625 Belmont St.. Jules Larochelle. SL John: 43 Waterloo, Sam Babb. Toronto: 2675 Bayvlew Ave., Willowdale, Ont. W. Gladish. Vancouver: 411 Lyric Theatre Bldg. 751 Granvflle St., Jack Droy. Winnipeg: The Tribune, Jim Peters. Member Audit Bureau of Circulations Second Class portage paid at Kansas City, Mo. Sectional Edition, $3.00 per year. Natlooal Edition, $7.50. \ \ / HEN it was first proposed that a VVform of Britain’s Eady Fund plan he tried in the United States, the skeptics said that it wouldn’t work over here because of a more complicated industry, greater geographical area and the improbability of the majority of exhibitors cooperating and adhering to the rules. Ellis Pinkney, general secretary of the Cinematograph Exhibitors Ass’n of England, gave an effective pitch to the Theatre Owners of America convention in Miami Beach last November and stirred up a great deal of industry interest in the subsidized financing formula for production. But the above reasons of the skeptics did not account for the adverse report on the matter by Herman Levy, TOA’s general counsel. Mr. Levy had made a thorough study of the possibilities of an American Eady plan, probing all aspects on both sides of the Atlantic. The objections boiled down to just one conclusion: It would not, in any way, increase production in the United States — and that was the whole reason for its prospective existence. Apparently seasoned producers who want to make pictures have little trouble in getting the necessary financing — and that goes for some new producers, as well. Money may be tighter than it was a year or so ago, but a good film package still can find the necessary budget money from one source or another. An inexperienced and untried producer could not get financing even under an Eady formula. Now that TOA has made an overture for governmental subsidy, without theatre taxation, maybe something will come of that. But, as one TOA topper told us, it was doubtful that any great impression was made on the Labor Department executives when the proposal was made; and, if anything results from it, it will take a long, long time before it could be brought to the point for serious discussion. Other forms of guarantee or subsidy are reported to be under discussion in the three segments of the industry and it could be that they will bloom before the end of the year. ★ ★ For 'The Birds' The best laid plans of mice and men often boomerang in the wrong direction with good results — paraphrasing Bobby Burns. “The Birds” via a stunt that flopped hut garnered more attention than if it had been a success. It seems that Universal’s publicity department decided to dress a beautiful gal as an ornate bird and take her up to Central Park in New York and have her toss bread and other delectable dainties which are appreciated by our fine feathered friends. Well, it was a well-planned, cute and original idea and the TV newsreel boys were there to record it all. The beautiful gal stepped out of the ear and the park birds must have taken one look at her and, seared out of their feathers, high-tailed it to trees a block away. All the food thrown on the light blanket of snow would not entice the birds near that giant “fowl.” When the gal returned to the car, photographer Henry Rapisarda spread the remaining food on the ground. The birds stormed to the scene in droves and gobbled up the goodies. The human bird got out of the car again and the birds scrammed. The whole thing turned out so funny that the newsreel boys got a better story than if the birds had flocked around. Keep this in mind, if you planned a similar stunt when you play this Hitchcock classic. The public will go for the picture, but little birds don’t like big birds. ★ ★ Variety Clubs' Convention It’s nearly two months off, but it’s time to set plans to attend the annual Variety Club International convention in Houston. The dates are May 13 to 17 and the Texans have arranged an exciting program. Joe Polichino, general chairman of the convention, has sent out a brief glimpse of the entertainment agenda which goes something like this: Monday, May 13, opening of “Club 34”; Tuesday, “Go Texan” party; Wednesday, “A Night in Old Mexico”; Thursday, Pepsi-Cola’s rodeo and barbecue, and Friday, the Humanitarian Heart Award dinner, sponsored by Coca-Cola. Joe also gives some capsule facts about Houston, in case you didn’t know: It’s the largest metropolitan area in the south and the sixth largest in the U.S. It is the oil and petro-chemieal world center. And he adds: “Go Texan — You'll Like APRIL 1, 1963 Vol. 82 No. 23 And Universal the other day had some It*” well-laid plans for focusing attention on —AL STEEN