Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

LETTERS (Letters must be signed. Names withheld on request) Adding Fuel to the 'Fire' We continue to subscribe to your magazine, even though we closed the theatre two years ago. However, since the whole family has been in the theatre business since 1922, we still take an active interest in the movie business. We notice the trends, the new movies, the old and new stars, and we back the movies 100 per cent. I've been away long enough now that I consider my reactions similar to an average moviegoer (which I have become). I moved to Shinnston six months ago. I found the rates of the local TV cable company to be rather high. With the lousy stuff that has been on TV and because I could pick up two mediocre local TV stations for news and an occasional good program, I decided not to hook-up on the TV cable line. Then, along comes a movie, “The Night Fighters” with Robert Mitchum, made in 1960. This week, I can see “The Egyptian” and “Land of the Pharaohs.” And, when I saw the list of movies that are coming up, my wife and I decided it was well worth the price of hooking-up with the local TV cable. I leave yom* readers with just one thought: I’m glad that I don’t have a theatre that would have to buck these blockbusters on Satm'day and Sunday nights. RALPH F. RASPA President, Mountaineer Homes, Inc., Shinnston, W. Va. Offers Some 'Sound Suggestions' Many theatres that are equipped with stereophonic sound are letting those ex pensive speakers go to waste. Here’s a way to use them and for promotion as well as entertainment. Before the first show of the day and between shows, many theatres play outdated recordings of twist music or some other music. There are many excellent soundtrack and theme music albums on the market today to take advantage of. By utilizing these albums, you are also promoting your future programs. A sign in your lobby or lounge can tell your patrons what they are hearing and which record-music store you “promoted” to obtain the album. Here are some sample albums: “The Music Man,” “West Side Story,” “El Cid,” “Judgment at Nuremberg,” “Hatari,” and the theme albums by Ferrante and Teicher, Percy Faith, David Rose, Montovani, and others. Your stereo system can be converted or augmented to provide excellent music which could be an attraction in itself. Some of the larger city theatres could possibly sell the albums on a consignment basis from local record companies. Never underestimate your theatre as a retail entertainment center. JAMES A. MANUEL 2614 Madison St., Hollywood, Fla. Need for Family Entertainment Thank you so much for the Boxoffice Blue Ribbon Award for August and for your very kind letter. This kind of award is very gratifying to me. I’m sm’e you will be interested to know that we have received hundreds of letters substantiating the need for family entertainment, and many have vowed that pic Police Officials Present $23,204 to Jimmy Fund Boston — Officials of the Boston Police Department and the Metropolitan District Commission, touring the Jimmy Fund Hospital here, presented a total of $23,204.54 to Children’s Cancer Research Foundation vice-president William S. Roster recently. The lawenforcement agencies, which aimually support the Jimmy Fund Drive, were represented by MDC commissioner Robert Murphy, Boston police commissioner Edmund L. McNamara, MDC deputy superintendent McCarthy and Boston superintendent Hennessey. This year, the Boston Police Department collected $12,317.71 and the Metropolitan Commission raised $8,886.83 for the Jimmy Fund. tures like “The Music Man” could reestablish their habit of going to the movies. Again many, many thanks. MORTON DaCOSTA Producer and Director “The Music Man” Hollywood, Calif. Continental Names Homes Southeast Division Head NEW YORK — Robert Hames, formerly bi’anch manager for Paramount in New Orleans, has been named southeastern division sales manager for Continental Distributing by Sidney G. Deneau, vice-president and general sales manager. Hames will make his headquarters in Atlanta and will be in charge of Atlanta, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Memphis, New Orleans and St. Louis. He succeeds James Frew. MCA'S NEW HEADQUARTERS AT UNIVERSAL CITY The first four buildings planned in a multi-million-dollar Music Corp. of America commercial “complex,” to be constructed in Universal City on the present site of Universal-Revue Studios, are shown in model form in the photo above. Involving a minimum construction expenditure of $10,000,000, the first buildings will include a 14 -story office structure, highest ever to be built in the San I ernando Valley. This building, containing 160,000 square feet, »\ill house the world headquarters of MCA, which is consolidating certain portions of its operations in Chicago and New York and moving its home office to Universal City. Other buildings will include a Bank of America branch building, the Universal City post office, and a new commissary building. Ground-breaking on the project, according to Albert A. Dorskind, MCA vice-president, is scheduled for early 1963 with construction slated for completion on the first units by late spring of the following year. 10 BOXOFFICE :: October 15. 1962