Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1963)

THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY Published in Nine Sectional Editions BEN SHLYEN Editor-in-Chief and Publisher DONALD M. MERSEREAU, Associate Publisher & General Manager JESSE SHLYEN Managing Editor HUGH FRAZE Field Editor AL STEEN Eastern Editor CHRIS DUTRA Western 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 Sctilozman, Business Manager; Hugh Kraze, Kield Editor; I. L. ITiatcher, Editor The Modern Theatre Section. Telephone CHcstiuit 1-7777. Editorial Offices: 1270 Sixth Ave., Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. Uonald M. Mersercaii, Associate I’liblisher & General Manager; Al Steen, &istcrn Editor. Telephone COlumbus 5-6370. Central Offices: Editorial— 920 N. Michig;m Ave., Chicago 11, 111., Frances B. CTow, Telephone Superior 7-3972. Advertising— 5809 North Lincoln, Louis Didier and Jack Broderick, Telephone LOngbeach 1-5284. Western Offices: Eriitorial and Film Advertising— 6362 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 28, Cal., Chris Uiitra, manager. Telephone Hollywood 5-1186. Equipment and Non-Film Advertising — New York Life Bldg., 2801 West Sixth St., Los Angeles 57, Calif. Bob VVettstein, manager. Telephone Dunkirk 8-2286. London Office: Anthony Gruner, 1 Woodberry Way, Finchley, No. 12. Telephone Hillside 6733. The MODERN THEATRE Section is Included in the first issue of each month. Atlanta: Jean Miillis, 1’. 0. Box 1695. Albany: J. S. Conners, 140 State St. Baltimore: George Browning, 119 E. 25th St. Boston: Guy Livingston. 80 Boylston, Boston, Mass. Charlotte: Blanche Carr, 301 S. Church. Cinciimati: Frances Hanford, UNiversity 17180. Cleveland: W. Ward Marsh, Plain Dealer. Columbus: Fred Oestreicher, 52V4 W. North Broadway. Dallas: Mable Guinan, 5927 Winton. Denver: Bruce Marshall, 2881 S. Cherry Way. Des Moines: Pat Cooney, 2727 49tb St. Detroit: H. F. Reves, 906 Fox llieatre Bldg., woodward 2-1144. Hartford; Allen M. Widem, CH. 9-8211. Indianapolis: Norma Geraghty, 436 N. Illinois St. Jacksonville: Robert Cornwall, 1199 Edgewood .\ve. 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: Al Zurawskl, The Bulletin. Pillshiirgh: R. F. Klingensmlth, 516 Jeanette, Wilkinsburg. 412-241-2809. Portland, Ore.: Arnold Marks, Journal. Providence: Guy Langley, 388 Sayles St. St. Louis: Joe & Joan Pollack, 7335 Shaftsbury, University City, PA 5-7181. Salt laike City: H. Pearson, Deseret News. San Francisco: Dolores Bariisch, 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. St. John: 43 Waterloo, Sam Babb. Toronto: 2675 Bayvlew Ave., Willowdale, Ont. W. Gladlsh. Vancouver: 411 Lyric Theatre Bldg. 751 Granville St.. Jack Droy. Winnipeg: The Tribune, Jim Peters. Member Audit Bureau of Circulations Second Class postage paid at Kansas Cliy, Mo. Sectional Edition. $3 00 per year. National Eidltion, $7.50. JANUARY 2 1, 1963 Vol. 82 No. 13 m THE VIEW FROM THE TOP WHAT the presidents of the distributing companies think of industry trends and developments that they foresee taking shape during the ensuing year is set forth in the symposium of interviews published elsewhere in this issue. Some of the opinions have been expressed before, some are given for the first time — and there is open candor among them — altogether they offer a basis for determining which way the industry may be going. Among points of difference, there is the view regarding product — the amount of it, what dimensions it should take and how it should be marketed. In one view, there is the belief that total output will shrink more than it already has, that there will be fewer pictures made, but they will be better in quality — though the need for the so-called smaller pictures is not ruled out. Another point of view asserts that good, saleable product in sufficient quantity exists to meet all of exhibition’s needs, but that exhibition is not making the most of the good product that is available. An overhaul of distribution systems is predicted by one executive, while another sees the experiment of the shutting down of branches as a failure. But there is more or less agreement that exhibition policies, in line with distribution, are in for a change. One such new method, the simultaneous showing of first-run pictures in residential areas and downtown showcases is seen to be extended to many parts of the country. There are some candid views as to pay television; that, while it is far from having proved suceessful in its tests, producer-distributors will participate in it when that eventuality becomes a fact. This may be many years away — perhaps as much as a decade — but producer-distributors do not deny their interest in this medium. An increase in Hollywood production is foreseen but that does not necessarily mean that the output total will be increased. One interpretation is that filming abroad will be decreased, largely because the economic advantages are beginning to disappear. Roadshow pictures, sold on a hard-ticket basis, are seen as continuing but being limited in number. This may represent a gain for what may be called “conventional” exhibition policy that indicates a wider spread of big-money pictures. affording more profitable running time in a substantially greater number of situations. This could trickle down through the subsequentruns and relieve the tight product situation. Faith and confidence in the progress of the industry are generally expressed or implied. It is qualified only by the requisite that “it depends on what the industry does with the material and the means it has at hand.” ★ ★ MGM^s New President Robert H. O’Brien takes over the reins as president and chief executive officer of MetroGoldwyn-Mayer well prepared for his new responsibilities. In his previous posts with the company, first as vice-president and treasurer when he joined MGM in 1957 and, later, when he was promoted to executive vice-president, he gained much valuable knowledge of the company’s operations highly qualifying him for his current advancement. His tenure in the top echelon of MGM management has carried through the crucial period of transition from a productiondistribution company operating an exhibition affiliate to one whose principal interests are in production-distribution. Doubtless, he contributed importantly to the smoothness and success of this change. For ten years before joining MGM, Mr. O’Brien served as a financial officer of Paramount Pictures and as treasurer of its affiliate. United Paramount Theatres, and, later, as financial vice-president and a director of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres. In these connections, as well as with MGM, Mr. O’Brien learned much about theatre operations that has given him an understanding of exhibition’s problems and needs, from a production point of view. As a team mate of Joseph Vogel in the rebuilding of MGM to a peak of success, as well as because of his capabilities in the fields of finance and management, Mr. O’Brien is, indeed, the logical choice for MGM’s top management post.