Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

TOA-NAC CONVENTION TOA TO STUDY EADY PLAN FOR FILM INDUSTRY IN U. S. The National Ass’n of Concessionaires opened its annual convention-tradeshow in Miami Beach with official ribbon-cutting ceremonies. In top photo, left to right: Lee Koken, BKO Theatres; Mitchell Wolf son, honorary convention chairman; John Stembler, TOA president; Alex Gordon, Dade County commissioner; Augie Schmitt, NAC president; Madelyn Melina, Miss NAC; Van Myers, NAC convention chairman, and Ed Redstone. At the head table for the NAC president’s dinner Monday (5) night, bottom photo: Mrs. John Stembler; John Stembler, TOA president; Mrs. Augie Schmitt; Augie Schmitt, NAC president; Mrs. Bert Nathan; Bert Nathan, past NAC president and toastmaster for the dinner. General Counsel Levy Directed to Explore Its Feasibility By AL STEEN MIAMI BEACH— Theatre Owners of America has directed its general counsel, Herman Levy, to explore the feasibility of adopting a plan similar to England’s Eady Fund for the American motion picture industry. (See separate story on Eady Plan’s operation in this issue, page 11.) TOA’s board of dii'ectors and executive committee heard Ellis Pinkney of the Cinematograph Exhibitors Ass’n of England describe the plan as it functioned in Britain at a preconvention meeting on Tuesday ( 6 ) and there appeared to be considerable interest in it in view of the current product shortage and the possibility of easing the dearth. Pinkney also presented the plan to the general convention on Thursday. Following Pinkney’s explanation, the board instructed Levy to delve into all phases of the plan and to draw a formula which might conform with the American industry’s methods of operation. The general counsel will make his report on his findings and present a tentative plan at TOA’s winter board meeting, which will be held in Washington in March. Although TOA toppers evidenced interest in the Eady Plan, several of them admitted to Boxoffice that, because of some differences in American methods and the greater geographic area of the United States, there might be some complications that did not exist in Britain. There was some feeling, too, that government participation in any industry operation might not be desirable for fear that there would be government control or supervision. In any event, the TOA leaders expressed the opinion that the plan was worth studying and that it should be given serious consideration. They felt that any prescription that would create a greater flow of product had merit and that an Eady Plan might be the answer. George Singleton, former president of the CEA, echoed Pinkney’s recommendation for an American Eady Plan as opening the way for a greater product supply. Singleton also advocated closer cooperation between TOA and CEA on industry matters on the premise that both American and British exhibitors had common problems. At a brief session with the tradepress At press time, the Theatre Owners of America convention in Miami Beach still had two and a half days to go. Next week’s issue of BOXOFFICE will have the full convention story, covering those portions which the time elef prevented being printed in this 1. i: ■■ following the board meeting, John Stembler, TOA president, said that TOA was “happy” about the Hollywood Preview Engagement plan whereby Warner Bros.’ “What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?” was pushed up to fall release from its scheduled February release. He said that discussions had been held with the sales managers of other companies and there were possibilities of getting similar consideration from them. “We are very encouraged,” Stembler said. The upholding by the Arkansas Supreme Court of the Federal Communications Commission’s approval of a pay television test in Arkansas will be appealed, according to Philip Harling, chairman of the Joint Committee Against Pay T’V. Harling told Boxoffice that his committee would carry the case all the way to the United States Supreme Court in its effort to prove that pay television was not in the public interest and that the FCC did not have the right to approve the tests. Speaking at a luncheon Fred Gebhardt, president of Four Crown Productions, urged exhibitors to cater to the potential market of 35,000,000 youngsters. He called the industry “the most powerful medium for the moulding of minds” and added “we should consciously be alive to our moi'al and ethical obligations to our American public.” He called for “solid replacements” of stars through development of new talent, pointing out that in multi-million dollar spectaculars producers were not in a position to take chances with new talent, but that in modest budget pictures, “the opportunity to develop and use this new talent is realistically possible.” Gebhardt said his company has 30 modest-budget family pictures in its schedule, five space science-fiction, five sea stories, five Indian stories, five comedies and five other features covering “other fascinating facets of life.” Addison H. 'Verrill, president of Dale System, Inc., nationwide business-security organization, told theatremen and concessionaires that they could “do plenty about employe theft if you only bothered.” Emphasizing that employe theft in the last ten years has risen by 32 per cent and by 39 per cent in the entertainment and sports industries, 'Verrill said, “Because you’re selling a seat at an entertainment, a bar of candy or a drink, don’t for a moment think that ways cannot be devised to keep your full profit from you. 4 BOXOFFICE :: November 12, 1962