Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1962)

Strong Product Seen In May-June Period NEW YORK — Exhibitor concern over an apparent dearth of quality product in May and June may be premature and unwarranted, a checkup last week revealed. Inasmuch as Easter will come late this year — April 22 — the Easter releases are expected to carry over May and June and, according to Edward Hyman, vice-president of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres, there will be a “flock of good pictures for Easter.” Both national exhibitors associations — Theatre Owners of America and Allied States Ass'n — have been putting pressure on the major distributors to release top product in non-holiday periods, the subject having been an important agenda item at their annual conventions. It is reported that at least two of the companies have given assurances that they would make available top quality pictures in May and June; that is, after Easter and prior to July 4. The distributors, it is said, have been reluctant to release their so-called blockbusters in the non-holiday spans because exhibitors, in the past, have not given them the campaigns they deserved. One exhibition leader told Boxoffice that the only way exhibitors could get the big pictures at a time when they needed them was to get behind every picture with strong promotion and advertising. When they do that, he said, distributors will not be hesitant in providing a steady flow of product. Hyman said that the prospects for strong film fare next summer were very bright. He said that he was preparing the schedules based on information provided by the companies and that the data would be ready for publication in mid-March. Green Sheet Rates 12 On January Listing NEW YORK — Three features reviewed in the January Green Sheet were given adultonly ratings, five were listed as suitable for adults and mature young people, two others for adults, mature young people and young people, and two were rated as family entertainment. The Green Sheet, which is published by the Film Estimate Board of National Organizations, gave its family ratings to Buena Vista’s “Babes in Toyland” and Paramount’s “The Errand Boy.” At the adults-only end of the scale were MGM’s “Colossus of Rhodes,” United Artists’ “Season of Passion” and Paramount’s “Too Late Blues.” In the A-MY bracket were 20th CenturyFox’s “Bachelor Flat,” “The Innocents” and “Madison Avenue,” United Artists’ “One, Two, Three” and Columbia’s “Sail a Crooked Ship.” Classified in the A-MY-Y group were Universal’s “Flower Drum Song” and United Artists’ “Pocketful of Miracles.” New Distribution Firm NEW YORK — Three Task Pictures plans to establish a distribution company for the handling of independent producers on an international scale. Allen Klein, executive producer of Three Task, said offices would be established in Hollywood, Mexico City, Rome and Berlin. MGM Names Weitman Studio Administrator Allied Pledges Its Support For Skouras Campaign Cleveland — Allied States Ass’n will do everything in its power to help make a success of the worldwide celebration honoring Spyros P. Skouras, president of 20th Century-Fox, on the occasion of his 20th anniversary as head of the company. Marshall Fine, Allied’s president, sent a wire to Skouras this week extending the association’s congratulations on his two decades as 20th-Fox president, and promising that Allied “will do everything in its power to publicize and aid in the success of this most worthy effort.” Global activities for the 13 -week drive got under way earlier this month, and top sales personnel of the 20th-Fox organization are now touring exchange offices to stimulate the campaign at regional levels. Arthur M. Tolchin Named Assistant to Loew's Head NEW YORK — Arthur M. Tolchin, executive vice-president and director of WMGM, New York radio station which was transferred to the Storer Broadcasting Co. January 5, has been named assistant to the president of Loew’s Theatres, Inc., by Laurence A. Tisch, president and chairman of the board. His new assignment will encompass the coordination of all departments, activities and projects involved in the company’s theatre operations. He will be responsible to both Laurence A. Tisch and to Preston R. Tisch, chairman of the executive committee. Tolchin’s association with Loew’s began 24 years ago as a time salesman for radio station WHN (later changed to WMGM). Under his direction since 1954, the station rose to a leading position in the local broadcasting field, culminating in the l’ecent sale to Storer for $10,950,000, said to be the largest sum ever paid for an individual radio station. The Loew executive staff, comprising Herbert A. Hoffmann, senior vice-president in charge of corporate matters; John F. Murphy, executive vice-president in charge of film buying and booking; Ernest Emerling, vice-president and advertising director, and Charles E. Kurtzman, general manager of theatre operations, will work in association with Tolchin. Zukor's 89th Birthday HOLLYWOOD — Adolph Zukor, chairman of the board for Paramount Pictures, was feted by family and friends on the occasion of his 89th birthday on January 7. Zukor arrived from New York to headquarter at the studio here for his annual winter visit. HOLLYWOOD — Stepping up from the position of vice-president in charge of television, Robert M. Weitman has been appointed vice-president and studio administrator of MetroGoldwyn Mayer, it was announced by president Joseph R. Vogel. Weitman assumes his newly created post immediately, following the withdrawal of Sol C. Siegel as production chief to resume indedependent production lot. Vogel will work in close association with Weitman, and during the coming months plans to spend a major portion of his time at the MGM studios. While during recent years Weitman has served as a top executive in various fields of television, assuming the position of vicepresident in charge of TV operations in May 1960, he has had an equally wide background in motion picture and theatre operations. Prior to heading MGM’s video production, he was with CBS-TV as vice-president in charge of program development for two years, and then vice-president in charge of all independent production. From 1953-56, he was vice-president in charge of programming and talent for ABC-TV. Weitman entered television from the post of vice-president of Paramount Pictures, in charge of all Paramount de luxe theatres, in which capacity he served as a liaison between the studio and the theatres. Earlier, he had been managing director of the Paramount Theatre in New York, where he won recognition among showmen for instituting the successful “big-name personality” and “big band” policy. In naming Weitman to his new position, Vogel declared: “Weitman in the past two years has made an important contribution to MGM in the field of television production. With a consistent background of achievement as a creative production executive his combination of showmanship and business ability will mean much to MGM’s future.” Loew#s Theatres Has First Quarter Net of $528,400 NEW YORK — Loew’s Theatres had gross revenues of $10,350,000 in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, ended November 30. After providing for income taxes of $561,000 and depreciation of $764,000, a net income of $528,400, equal to 20 cents per share of the common stock, was realized. For the comparable period of the preceding year, gross revenues amounted to $9,800,000. After providing for $492,000 for taxes and $718,000 for depreciation, a net income of $403,800, equal to 15 cents per share, was reported. Robert M. Weitman on the Culver City BOXOFFICE :: January 15, 1962 7