Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1962)

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 Biunt Blvd. Kansas City 2-1, Alo. Jesse Slnyeu. Managing EUilur; Morris Sclilozniain Business Manager; Hugh b'raze, Heid Editor; i. L. 'i'lialclier. Editor The Aloderu Theatre Section. Telephone Cllestnut 1-7777. Editorial Offices: 1270 Sixth Ave., Bockefelier Center, New York 20, N. V. Uonaid M. Alersereau, Associate Publisher & Ueiieral .Managei ; Al Steen, Eastern Editor. Teleplione COlunibus 5-6370. Central Offices: Editorial — 920 N. Michigiui Ave., Cliicago 11, 111., Erances B. Clow. Telephone superior 7-3072. Advertising— 5809 North Lincoln, Louis Uidier and Jack Broderick, Telephone LUngbeach 1-5284. Western Offices: Editorial and Film Advertising— 0362 Hollywood Blid., Hollywood 28, Cal., Chils Hutia. manager. Telephone Hollywood 5-1186. Equipment and Non-Film Advertising — New York Life Bldg., 2801 West Sixth St., Los Angeles 57, Calif. Bob Wettstelii, manager. Telephone Dunkirk 8-2286. London Office: Anthony Griiiier, 1 Woodberry Way, Finchley, No. 12. Telephone Hillside 6733. TTie MOUEllN THBATKE Section is included in the first issue of each month. Atlanta: Jean Miillls, 1‘. 0. Box 1695. Albany: J. S. Conners, 140 State St. Baltimore: George Browning, 119 E. 25th St. Boston: Guy Livingston, 80 Boylston, Boston, Alass. Charlotte: Blanche Carr, 301 S. Church. Cincliiiiati : Frances Hanroid, UNiversity 17180. Cleveland: W. Ward Marsh, Plain Dealer. Columbus: Fred Oestreicher, 52% W. North Broadway. Dallas: Mable Guinan, 5927 Winton. Denver: Bruce Marshall, 2881 S. Cherry Way. lies Moines: Pat Cooney, 2727 49th St. Detroit: 11. F. Iteves, 900 Fox Theatre Bldg., woodward 2-1144. Hartford: Allen M. Widem, CH. 9-8211. Indianapolis: Norma Geraghty, 436 N. Illinois St. Jacksonville: Uobert Cornwall, 1199 Edgewood Ave. Memphis: Null Adams. 707 Spring St. Miami: .Miu’lha l.iimmiis, 622 N.E. 98 St. Milwaukee: Wm. Nichol, 225i S. l,aylon. .Minneapolis: Paul Nelson. 3220 Park Ave. S. New Orleiuis: Airs. Jack Auslct, 2268% St. Claude Ave. Oklahoma City: Sam Brunk, 3416 N. Virginia. Omaha: Irving Baker, 5108 Izard St. Philadelphia: Al Zurawskl, The Bulletin. ITttsbiirgh: It. P. Klingensmlth, 516 Jeanette, WHkinsbiirg. Cllnrchill 1-2809. Portland, Ore. : Arnold Marks, Journal. Providence: Guy Langley, 388 Sayles St. St. Louis: Joe & Joan Pollack, 7335 Shaftsbiiry, University City. PA 5-7181. Salt Ixike City: II. Pearson, Deseret News. San Francisco: Dolores Barusch, 25 Taylor St.. OUdway 3-4813; Advertising: Jerry Nowell, 417 Alarket St., YUkon 29537. Washington: Virginia It. Collier, 2308 Ashmead Place. N. W.. DUpont 7-0892. In Canada .Montreal: Boom 314, 625 Belmont St., Jules Larochelle. St. John: 43 Waterloo, Sam Babb. Toronto: 2675 Bayview Ave., Wlllowdale, Ont. W. Gladlsh. Vancouver: 411 Lyric Theatre Bldg. 751 Gninville St.. Jack Droy. Winnipeg: The Tribune, Jim Peters. Member Audit Bureau of Circulations Second Class postage paid at Kansas City, Mo. Sectional Edition, $3,00 per year. National Edition, $7.50. DECEMBER 3, 1962 Vol. 82 No. 7 VOLUNTARY. YES; PRESSURE. NO! NCE AGAIN a committee of Catholic bishops has set out to force film classification upon the industry, their proposed action to be waged against theatres via the committee’s plan to support legislation “for advisory film classification wherever exhibitors do not voluntarily label films suitable for children.” While the news release accredits the five bishops as comprising a “committee for movies, radio and TV,” there is no condemnation therein for radio or TV on the same grounds as are held against motion pictures. The committee did note that there is a “marked moral improvement in this year’s domestic film production, but it said that these gains were offset by “the increased screening of questionable foreign and independent films in neighborhood and family-trade theatres.” On this basis, why does not the committee extend an effort to recommend the theatres and the better films that they are showing and, especially , those exhibitors who are making an effort to provide information to their public as a guide to parental selection of films their children might “safely” see? As for foreign and independent films being viewed, generally, as so much to blame for the breaches of good taste and wrongly influential of youth, it is a well-known fact that they are not just “sneaked” into showings for the public; they usually are well-advertised and their content rather candidly set forth. If anything, the accent on sex or other objectionable themes frequently is emphasized to the point where no parent can be misinformed that such pictures may not be for their youngsters to see. But haven’t some of the same types of films been shown on television? And haven’t some of the same stories, with suggestive songs been broadcast on radio? With these media reaching into the home morning, noon and night, depicting scenes of horror, brutality, violence and depravity, why put the onus on motion pictures shown in theatres? We have seen some mighty “frank” subjects on television, with little subtlety in their telling or showing. And they have come on the TV screen, without any prior notice, either by the TV network or local station or by the sponsor or anyone else, to indicate whether the subject is suitable for children or adults ! Has any demand been made of the TV industry' to adopt a voluntary program classifica tion? If so, has there been a subsequent threat “to support enabling legislation in the states . . . to publish advisory classifications of films suitable for children,” when the voluntary action was not taken? The Motion Picture Ass’n of America may not favor an outright film classification system any more than would its counterpart in the television industry. But it has not stood in the way of theatre owner organizations or individual exhibitors adopting whatever method they thought best suited for their local situations. And the Theatre Owners of America has provided its large exhibitor membership with information on films’ audience suitability that they could, voluntarily, convey to their public. And many are using this material, including the data furnished in The Green Sheet ratings which, as the bishops committee acknowledges, is issued monthly under the sponsorship of the MPAA. The bishops’ statement makes the point that guidance to parents through the Catholic Legion of Decency ratings. The Green Sheet, Parents' Magazine, the PTA Magazine, Consumer Reports, news stories, critical reviews, etc., are inadequate to serve the need, because “no rating service— that of the Legion included — covers all films currently released in the United States.” And questionable value is placed on other sources of film information. This makes us wonder why it should be believed that still “other sources” as would constitute politically appointed or other film classification groups could be any more relied upon to properly classify films. As we have observed in previous discussions of this problem, the extreme to which filmmakers may have gone early in the so-called “mature” subject trend, has moderated and it is continuing to do so. A greater variety and a higher level of story material is on the way, with a greater output of pictures suitable for the whole family than in the last several years. The public has only to indicate, by its patronage, what it prefers in its film fare and the industry will key its efforts accordingly. And it will do a much better job — voluntarily — ^without outside pressures.