Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

EXHIBITORS GATHER IN MIAMI FOR ANNUAL TOA CONVENTION Talks on Product, Pay TV, Showmanship Will Be Among Main Topics MIAMI BEACH — Theatremen from all parts of the counti'y were starting to arrive here over the weekend for the 15th annual convention of Theatre Owners of America and the National Ass’n of Concessionaires convention and tradeshow, at the Americana Hotel. The convention cochairmen are promising an interesting and informative program which could be upset only by adverse developments in Cuban waters to the south. All basic problems of the industry will be touched upon and will be highlighted by discussions on product, pay television, forthcoming pictures, showmanship and merchandising, operational costs, drive-in management and other topics. Arriving delegates were being told that they will get from the convention what they put into it, which is another way of urging participation in the discussions. As John Stembler, TOA president, stated in the convention handbook, the theme of the convention is a fitting one: “The Challenge of Progress.” The challenges are many, he said, and the convention should provide guidance on better ways to adapt to the tremendous changes in the industry. Mitchell Wolfson, convention chaiiTnan, in welcoming the delegates to his home town, pointed out that while Florida was a state that had everything, he cautioned exhibitoi's to limit their sampling of the natural resources to a point that it would not interfere with participation in the convention. “You have come too far and the convention is too important for you to miss a single business session,” he said. Aside from the more serious aspects of Convention Honorary Chairman and Cochairmen Mitchell Wolfson Loyd O. Franklin David E. Milgram Julian Rifkin the convention, a solid entertainment program has been arranged for each night. And under the chairmanship of Mrs. Sonny Shepherd, with Mrs. Mitchell Wolfson as honorary chairman, the ladies committee has lined up a calendar of events which will keep the delegates’ wives busy. The ladies committee consists of Mrs. Franklin Maury, Mrs. Ethel Stem, Mrs. Ed Stern, Mrs. A1 Weiss and Mrs. Harvey Fleischman. The convention hostesses are Mrs. Harry Botwick, Mrs. Hal Kopplin, Mrs. Van Chris C. Gorder Tommy Hyde John H. Rowley William H. Thedford Myers, Mrs. Howard Pettingill, Mrs. Jack Waxenberg, Mrs. Louis Wolfson and Mrs. Richard Wolfson. Considerable interest has been centered on an address scheduled for Thursday by Ellis Pinkney of the Cinematograph Exhibitors Ass’n of England who will discuss Britain’s Eady Fund with the American exhibitors. This plan, which has worked successfully in England for more than ten years, is an arrangement whereby a portion of theatre receipts are contributed to a pool for the financing of British pictures. The possible adoption of a similar fonnula in the United States was brought up at the TOA convention in Los Angeles three years ago. Now, with the shortage of product more acute, it is the opinion of many TOA leaders that greater study will be given to it this year. Manhattan, L.A. Theatres Sign Up With TOA NEW YORK— The Little Carnegie Theatre, Manhattan art house on 57th Street, operated by Felix Bilgrey, has joined the Theatre Owners of America, as has the Sero Amusement Co. of Los Angeles, headed by William H. Oldknow, according to John H. Stembler, TOA president. Charles P. Skouras jr. is vice-president and treasurer of the Los Angeles chain. Also enrolling in Theatre Owners of America were Jack Coplan of the Nal PAC Theatre company of Miami Beach, for his Roosevelt Theatre there, and R. V. Reagin of Memphis, who enrolled his Corinth Drive-In Theatre, Corinth, Miss. This membership was secured by George Roscoe, TOA director of exhibitor relations. If There Were No Tradepress Miami Beach — There is wisdom in Theatre Owners of America’s regard for the motion picture tradepress as recorded in its convention handbook which is being distributed to convenioneers at the Americana Hotel. Under the title of “If There Were No Tradepress,” TOA has the following to say: “Can you possibly imagine how vastly different, difficult and poorer our industry would be if it had no tradepress? “The reviews and the ads telling > u about new product, which you now have at your fingertips, would be missing. “The news about the plans and the work of our suppliers — the producers and distributors — would be reduced to a few newsletters and the occasional paragraph that found its way into the larger metropolitan newspapers. “The merchandising developed by showmen, which you adapt to your local situations, would be missing. “The task of TOA, and the many other companies and organizations, would be manifold more difficult. “We would, in short, be struggling to operate without the main cords of our channels of communications. “That is why TOA has always supported the tradepress and why it will be eternally grateful for the cooperation and the help it receives from the four daily newspapers and the seven weekly or biweekly magazines serving our industry. “Subscribe and support the tradepress of your choice. It will be your assurance that the eyes, the ears and the voice of our industry will remain for us to use and enjoy.” 6 BOXOFFICE :: November 5, 1962