Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

ALLIED CONVENTION NATIONAL ALLIED FILM BUYING PLAN IS PROPOSED BY SNAPER ALLIED BOARD RE-ELECTS ALL PRESENT OFFICERS The board of directors of Allied States Ass’n met in the Americana Hotel in New York on the eve of the opening of the organization’s 34th annual convention. Front row, left to right: Edward Johnson, Irving Dollinger, Marshall Fine, Jack Armstrong, Wilbur Snaper, George Stern and Milton London. Second row: C. Elmer Nolte jr., Harrison Wolcott, James Whittle, Neal Houtz, Sidney Cohen and Jack Clark. Standing: Albert Aaron, Ben Berger, Ray Vanderhaar, Alden Smith and William Clark. Board members not shown are Ben Marcus and Harry Hendel. Believes Exhibitors Should Organize Opposition to Harsh Terms, TV Sales By AL STEEN NEW YORK — Product, percentage terms, uneven flow of quality pictures and the alleged inability to play desired films were among the subjects that were dissected under an open forum “microscope” at the opening session of Allied States Ass’n’s 34th annual convention at the Americana Hotel here on Tuesday (22). Out of the discussions came a proposal, presented by New Jersey’s Wilbur Snaper for a buying plan under which two or three Allied men would be delegated to do the negotiations on one or more top quality pictures from each company, thereby making lump deals for approximately 2,000 theatres. Snaper, who was one of several speakers at the morning segment, asserted that, under present conditions, fewer persons were seeing top pictures, fewer theatres were playing them and therefore, less money was being made by both exhibitors and distributors. Although Snaper primarily was concerned with the withholding and slow playoffs of roadshow pictures, he said all high-grade product would be involved in his suggestion. Contending that large numbers of potential patrons were being deprived of seeing important pictures, Snaper said the day may come when exhibitors will have to go to the Department of Justice for some sort of relief to force distributors to make desirable and needed product available. At a meeting of the board of directors of Allied States Ass’n Wednesday morning (23), it was indicated that Allied would take steps toward the establishment of a buying unit along the lines discussed at the Tuesday session of the national convention. The board, it was said, conferred with attorneys, unidentified, who expressed the opinion that such a plan would not be illegal. The mechanics of the setup will be formulated by the directors, possibly at a special meeting. When the afternoon session was thrown open to a general discussion of the topics covered by the morning speakers, Paul Vogel of Ohio said he approved Snaper’s national buying suggestion, but urged that something be done about it. He indicated that in the 17 years he had been attending conventions, many issues had been discussed and approved, but were not always carried through to a conclusion. Both he and Sidney Cohen of New York State Allied asked for immediate action. Snaper contended that the mechanics would have to be worked out and that approval of the units would have to be obtained before anything could be developed. He estimated that, under a central Allied buying formula, a distributor could be offered $2,500,000 from that source on a single picture. He NEW YORK — Jack Armstrong, president, and all other officers of Allied States Ass’n of Motion Picture Exhibitors were re-elected by the board of directors at its meeting here Monday (21) on the eve of the formal opening of the organization’s 34th annual convention in the Americana Hotel. In addition, a new vice-president was elected, William M. Wetsman of Detroit. Returned to their respective posts were Marshall H. Fine, chairman of the board; Ben Marcus, chairman of the executive committee; Milton H. London, executive director; George Stern, James L. Whittle and Harrison D. Wolcott, vice-presidents; said his plan was not a “sudden thought,” but one he had been mulling for a long time and that it might be tried first on a regional basis. He said, if Allied members liked the idea, they should say so by card or letter to the national body. Two other hints at possible government intervention in industry affairs were made by convention speakers on the opening day. Ben Marcus of Milwaukee, chairman of the executive committee, and Ben Berger of Minneapolis, a member of the board, each brought up the possibilities of government help. Marcus said distribution must develop realistic sales policies and half the “feast and famine” philosophy of release. He said, if there would be a steady flow of quality product, the industry would be enjoying its greatest era of prosperity, but, he added, theatres were being fed pictures with “teaspoons,” bunching them at Christmas, New Year’s, Easter and July 4 periods, as well as a reasonably good span of Edward E. Johnson, secretary, and Harry B. Hendel, treasurer. Wetsman, veteran exhibitor in the Detroit area and a partner in the circuit of Wisper & Wetsman, will be chairman of the 1964 convention which will be held in Detroit, September 19, 20. He is a past chief barker of Variety Club Tent No. 5. The 1964 convention, unlike the one held in New York last week, will have a tradeshow, but whether it will be in direct association with Theatre Equipment and Supply Manufacturers Ass’n will not be determined until the TESMA board holds a board meeting, which is scheduled in about two weeks. summer pictures. However, he continued, the top summer pictures still hadn’t played many small towns. Marcus said he believed in peaceful coexistence with the distributors, but that their policy of withholding pictures was costing them money. As to terms, he said that there was a time when a deal calling for 35 per cent gave the opportunity for a “look,” but now there was no “look.” He said that there should be a “buyer’s policy” to combat the sales policies. The Wisconsin leader was critical of the policy on 20th Century-Fox’s “The Longest Day,” which, he said, was offered in first-run areas at 60 per cent the first week, 50 per cent the second week and 40 per cent the third week. But, when the picture went into a subsequent run, citing one instance of two towns 15 miles apart, the terms went back up to 60 per cent. Under such conditions, he said, the subsequent run actually was paying as much, if not more, than the first run. He proposed 4 BOXOFFICE :: October 28, 1963