Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

Burton Robbins Says Prosperous Era Here CHICAGO — National Screen Service is investing almost 80 per cent more in the production and distribution material in the year ahead “to meet the requirements of the extensive resurgence of promotional activities in all areas of exhibition,” Burton E. Robbins, president, told his branch managers at the threeday meeting at the Ascot Hotel, which ended Sunday (13). “Almost half of the increased cost represents promotional material required in the development of unprecedented revitalization drives in which exhibitors in all areas are participating with local merchants, bankers, Chambers of Commerce and other civic groups,” he said. A cross-section survey of exhibitors’ promotional needs disclosed a “very exhilarating development that cannot help but result in a substantially more important stature for the motion picture industry,” Robbins said. He believes that no year in the post-World War II period saw the motion picture industry’s image in the public and general business eyes brighten to the extent it has in 1963. “We are in what I believe is the most fruitful quarter of any post-war year. Not only is there an abundance of fine product, but exhibitors on the local level and distributors generally are engaged in a national promotional activity that dwarfs any in the past five years. The so-called ‘grass-roots areas,’ with their theatres, have undergone an urbanization that is inducing promotional support of motion pictures that has been increasingly softening the impact on boxoffice by free entertainment. Poor programming and too much mediocre TV fare are establishing a trend in moviegoing increasingly accelerated by the availability of more and better screen entertainment,” Robbins concluded. Concluding the three-day sessions, Melvin L. Gold, general sales manager, disclosed that NSS will offer exhibitors “44 per cent more holiday promotional stimulants” than it did for the corresponding pre-Christmas period in 1962. “Whereas in 1962,” Gold said, “we marketed 45 items, this year in the same period we are offering 65.” He pointed out that more than 90 per cent of the output is completely new. “This year,” he said, “we are introducing many new promotional concepts. These represent a strict departure from precedent and constitute a modern approach to exhibitors’ needs that we confidently believe will help them not only do a more thorough job of local-level P’-omotion, but also open numerous doors to new means to develop a maximum re turn of screen entertainments.” The expanded holiday program, he said, comprises “four showmanship packages,” including banners, valances, streamers, pennants and other cloth attention-arresting materials; displays; trailers, and locallevel promotions covering the entire holiday period and enabling exhibitors to effect many outlined tie-ins with business establishments. The four “packages” will be displayed at both Allied and Theatre Owners of America conventions in New York later this month, Gold said. Coyne Family Buys Comerford Control SCRANTON, PA. — John E. Coyne jr. and members of his immediate family have acquired the interest of Thomas F. Friday and his wife in the Comerford Enterprises for an undisclosed sum. Mrs. Friday is the daughter of the late Michael E. Comerford, founder of the theatre circuit. Coyne jr. will assume the office of president of the company and his father, Coyne sr., will remain as executive vice-president and general manager. The junior Coyne operates Coyne & Co., insurance agency in Scranton. The Comerford Enterprises consists of theatres and real estate throughout northern Pennsylvania and southern New York and consists of both conventional and drive-in theatres. Policies and traditions of the Comerford organization for the last 50 years will remain the same, it was announced. Mr. and Mrs. Friday will devote their time to other business interests and personal matters, but Friday has agreed to ramain with the company in an advisory capacity. The Fridays owned the controlling interest in the circuit. 20th-Fox Names Evans Continental Controller NEW YORK — Peter G. Evans, who has been with 20th-Fox since 1956, has been named controller of the Continental division by Seymour Poe, executive vicepresident. Evans, who headquarters in Paris, will supervise all accounting and the administration of Fox distribution operations in Continental Europe and the Middle East. He joined Fox as a traveling auditor, first in Latin America and later in the Near East. In London, John Fairbairn, who began his film career in 1932 with Paramount Theatres, has been named director of advertising and publicity for 20th-Fox in the United Kingdom by Percy Livingstone, managing director of 20th CenturyFox, Ltd. He succeeds Rowland Hill, who had been with 20th-Fox since last May. Fairbairn will operate under the overall supervision of Fred Hift, the company’s advertising-publicity director for Britain, Europe and the Middle East. Ronald Shinn will continue as assistant advertising and publicity director for the UK. Fairbairn most recently was associated with the publicity for Samuel Bronston’s “55 Days at Peking” and “The Fall of the Roman Empire.” Frankovich Is Named Col. Production Head NEW YORK— M. J. “Mike” Frankovich has been appointed head of worldwide production activities for Columbia Pictures, with headquarters in Hollywood. The post is a newly created one. Sol Schwartz, who had been in charge of the Hollywood studio, recently was named senior vice-president with activities to be centered on worldwide activities in all de M j Frankovich partments. Schwartz will make New York his headquarters. A. Schneider, Columbia president, said Frankovich was admirably suited for the new post and cited his outstanding record as vice-president in charge of British and continental production during the last several years. Leo Jaffe, Columbia’s executive vicepresident, said that the naming of Frankovich to the production position represented a specific desire on the part of the company to encourage as much production as possible at the Hollywood studio. Arthur Kramer and Gordon Stulberg, studio vicepresidents, will be given increased responsibilities under the new setup. Additional changes in the administration of European production will be announced shortly, Jaffe said. Frankovich joined Columbia in 1955 as managing director of its British operation and was elected a vice-president of Columbia Pictures International the same year. He was made a vice-president of the parent company in September 1959 and first vice-president in April 1962. #Circus# Films in Madrid; John Smith, From TV, Set MADRID — Following 11 days of location shooting in Barcelona, Samuel Bronston’s “Circus World,” being directed by Henry Hathaway for Paramount release, has moved to Bronston’s studios here for interior scenes. John Smith, TV star of “Laramie” for several years, has replaced Rod Taylor in a starring role with John Wayne, Rita Hayworth and Lloyd Nolan, also from Hollywood, and Claudia Cardinale. Also recently signed for “Circus World,” which is being filmed in Super Technirama-70 and Technicolor, are Richard Conte, from the U.S.; Kay Walsh and Miles Malleson, from England; Katherine Kath, French actress, and Wanda Rotha from Vienna. Philippe Forquet to Tour HOLLYWOOD — Philippe Forquet, young French costar with Sandra Dee in the 20th-Fox picture, “Take Her, She’s Mine,” has been set for a major personal appearance promotion tour in eight cities across the country, including Los Angeles and New York. Forquet, who starred with James Stewart, Sandra Dee and Audrey Meadows in the picture, is under contract to 20th-Fox. Burton Robbins Melvin L. Gold 8 BOXOFFICE October 21, 1963