Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1962)

Stembler Will Speak At Show-A-Rama ABC Sunday Night Films Draw an Allied Warning COLUMBUS — Directors of Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio, meeting here January 30, alerted Ohio exhibitors on plans of the ABC television network to telecast a series of United Artists features in prime Sunday night time. The films will be shown in the 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. (EST) slot, with the first scheduled April 8 and the last September 16. The directors said that some of the pictures in the package were released as late as 1960, although preliminary announcements by ABC indicate that none is later than 1957. Exhibitors were urged to check UA bookings so that theatres would not play any of the TV-dated features. Directors said they believe prints of some of the pictures are still at UA exchanges. The ABC network is a division of AB-PT, operator of the largest circuit of theatres in the United States. Thus, by acquiring the UA features and scheduling them for Sunday night programs, the company is pitting its TV division against the theatre division for viewing time. The ITOO board, in addition to the action taken on the UA film package, pledged support of the Ohio group in the Spyros P. Skouras anniversary drive being conducted by 20th Century-Fox. It was announced that Allied’s group insurance plan for theatre owners and employes will go into effect March 1, with enrollment to take place in February. Government Drops Suit Over UA TV Film Buy NEW YORK — An antitrust suit of several years standing against United Artists and United Artists Associated, UA’s TV sales division, originally aimed at preventing acquisition by the companies of feature films for television, has been dismissed at the request of the Department of Justice. The government told Judge David N. Edelstein of federal court, who signed the dismissal papers, that conditions in the industry had changed since the suit was instituted. The action was intended to halt acquisition of feature films from the Warner Bros, and RKO libraries, on the grounds that the sales would limit competition in distribution of motion pictures to television. Methods of selling have changed since then, the court was informed, and acquisition of the Warner and RKO films no longer constitutes a monopoly threat. The suit was dismissed “without prejudice,” which means that it can be reinstated later on. Parade Handling 'A Public Affair' LOS ANGELES — A deal was completed with Girard-Lewis Productions for the distribution by Parade Releasing Organization of “A Public Affair,” produced by Bernard Girard and Robert Lewis. The picture treating with criminal pressures in state politics stars M/ron McCormick, Edward Binns, Harry Carey jr., and features Jacqueline Loughery. PRO has set “A Public Affair” for March release. Admissions Up 36 Million; Gross Hits $1,485,336,000 New York — Attendance at U.S. motion picture theatres in 1961 increased by 36 million, to reach 2,165,000,000, Sindlinger & Co., analysts, reported this week. If the country had not been hit by severe weather conditions last February, the rise would have included another 25 million patrons. The figure included 157,000,000 free admissions, mostly at drive-ins. The remaining patrons, however, paid $1,485,336,000 for their movie entertainment— about 30 million more than a year ago. A shortage of top quality features in November and December kept the industry from reaching a predicted $1.5 billion gross, Sindlinger & Co. said. Paid adult admissions at indoor theatres ran about 5 to 3 over drive-ins, the prevailing ratio over a five-year period. However, adult attendance at drive-ins exceeded that at indoor houses for four months in a row, June through September, the first year in which this has happened. Sees Ohio Court Decision As Weapon Vs. Censors COLUMBUS, OHIO — The recent decision of the Ohio Supreme Court in “The Lovers” case provides an effective weapon in fighting city or state censorship, according to Ken Prickett, executive secretary of the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio, in a bulletin issued to exhibitors. The opinion “definitely proves that the public is duly protected by present laws and that there is no need for censorship which not only would take away the rights of the individual but could also represent considerable expense, which after all would ultimately be borne by the exhibitor,” Prickett said. Ohio does not have a film censorship law, a 1914 statute having been ruled unconstitutional several years ago. As a result, prosecution of “The Lovers” showing was carried out under the state’s antiobscenity and police-power laws. Prickett thus points out that such legislation, in effect in most states, satisfactorily protects the public against the showing of obscene motion pictures. Nearly Half of 325 Films For Oscar Race in Color HOLLYWOOD — A survey of films released during 1961 disclosed that almost half of the 325 feature-length motion pictures eligible for Oscars this year were filmed in color. A total of 151 was in color and 174 in black-and-white, with 171 produced by American companies and 154 by foreign firms. KANSAS CITY — John Stembler, president of the Theatre Owners of America, will be one of the top speakers at ShowA-Rama, scheduled for March 6-8 at Hotel Continental. The annual motion picture merchandising convention is under the sponsorship of United Theatre Owners of the Heart of America. Other notables who will appear on the program will be Elmer Rhoden, chairman of the board of directors of Commonwealth Theatres and former president of National Theatres & Television: Glenn Norris, sales manager for 20th Century-Fox; Martin Moskowitz, assistant sales manager for 20th-Fox; Robert Selig, vice-president of National Theatres & Television. Spyros Skouras, president of 20th Century-Fox, will be the keynote speaker as announced last week in Boxoffice. Skouras will be followed by Dr. Herbert True and Fred Klemp, specialists in the art of selling and developing campaigns. Selig will open the second morning at a breakfast session with the presentation of “Stars of Tomorrow” and “May Time Is Movie Time.” Following him will be eight of the region’s top showmen presenting custom-tailored campaigns for pictures that will be coming to the theatres in the next three to four months. Concessions will be discussed on the third day at a session headed by Russell Fifer, executive secretary of the National Concessionaires of America committee. Paul Ricketts, theatre owner of Ness City, Holyrood and Wheatland, Kas., will lead a small-town business clinic. An attendance of nearly 800 is expected. Norris Cresswell, executive secretary, reports that over 70 per cent of the exhibit booth space has been contracted. Reservations for rooms are urged to be made early. Disneyland to Music Hall Stage for Easter Show NEW YORK — Walt Disney will move some of his Disneyland attractions to the Radio City Music Hall stage during the Easter period in conjunction with the show ing of Disney’s “Moon Pilot.” The program, to be titled “Disneyland, U.S. A.,” will present for the first time on any stage some of the most vivid aspects of the famous amusement center. Disney and his staff are devising stage and scenic effects especially for the Music Hall production which will be staged and directed by Leon Leonidoff. Approximately 40 of the Disney characters will join the Music Hall company of Rockettes, including Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Pinnochio, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. New Elvis Film for MGM Is Fred Kohner Comedy HOLLYWOOD — The initial picture under Elvis Presley’s new four-picture MGM contract will be “Mister, Will You Marry Me?” a romantic comedy to be produced by Jack Cummings. Presley is scheduled to report to the studio this summer for the new photoplay, based on a novel by Fred Kohner, author of “Gidget.” 8 BOXOFFICE :: February 5, 1962