Boxoffice (Oct-Dec 1963)

Cites COMPO Rights Bill As a Public Service NEW YORK— The campaign which the Council of Motion Picture Organizations is currently conducting to make the public more aware of the Bill of Rights was described Wednesday (23) by Charles E. McCarthy, COMPO executive vice-president, as a public service that will enhance the film industry’s reputation. Speaking at the morning session of the National Allied convention at the Americana Hotel here, McCarthy also said that the campaign against the industry’s federal admissions tax had been roadblocked by the Administration’s tax reduction bill, but that the COMPO tax committee was still trying. After sketching the 14-year history of COMPO, McCarthy outlined the highlights of the campaign for the Bill of Rights, which the organization was authorized to conduct at its executive committee meeting last May. First objective of the campaign, he said, is to achieve a wider observance of Bill of Rights Day, December 15. To obtain this, the committee plans to produce a 150-foot trailer carrying a message from President Kennedy, with 1,000 prints distributed through National Screen Service and every exhibitor urged to play it. “This campaign,” McCarthy said, “should increase the alertness of the public to threats against the freedom of speech, freedom of worship and, needless to say, freedom of the screen. For that reason, our committee believes it is of great importance to our industry. “The campaign will not bring a dollar into theatre boxoffices,” he continued. “However, it is an example of what good public relations can be. It shows that the motion picture industry has a concern for the national well-being and is ready to work to bring about a solution of the national need.” 7 UA Field Men in N.Y. For 'Mad World' Showing NEW YORK — United Artists field men from seven key cities are in New York to attend the special showing of “It’s a Mad, Mad. Mad, Mad World” in the new singlelens projection system at the Syosset Theatre, Tuesday (22) and for a series of meetings at the home office, conducted by Milton E. Cohen, UA national director of roadshow sales, and Fred Goldberg, UA vice-president. Out-of-town men in New York included Joe Mansfield, Boston; Max Miller, Philadelphia; Howard Pearl, Detroit; Ed Lurie, Pittsburgh; Bernie Evens, Kansas City; Archie Laurie, Toronto, and Addie Addison, Dallas. Exhibitors, representatives of group sales and UA home office personnel also were on hand. A “Mad World” sales conference for central, northwestern and far western field men will be held in Hollywood in conjunction with the international press preview October 31 -November 4. Ascap Meeting Oct. 30 NEW YORK — The semi-annual east coast membership meeting of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers will be held at the Americana Hotel October 30, according to Stanley Adams, Ascap president. NAC Convention Program Americana Hotel — New York City SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27 1:00 P.M. — NAC board of directors meeting. MONDAY, OCTOBER 28 10:00 A.M. — Popcorn industry meeting. Speakers will cover every facet of the popcorn industry from seed to consumer. 12:30 P.M. — Luncheon. 2:00 P.M. — Grand opening of trade show — ribbon cutting ceremonies. 2 P.M. -6P.M. — Visit the tradeshow. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29 8:45 A.M. — Guided bus tour and inspection of New York’s finest theatre concession operations, including visits to world’s largest shopping centers. Afternoon snack en route. 2 P.M. — Visit the tradeshow. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30 8:00 A.M. — Joint continental breakfast (NAC-TOA-TESMA-TEDA) . 8:30 A.M. — “All Star Program” presented by NAC for TOA-TESMA-TEDA. Top executives from beverage, food, concession and vending companies covering all phases of theatre (drive-in and conventional) and other fun-spot operations. 12:45 P.M. — NAC annual membership luncheon and business meeting — Election. 2 P.M. -6 P.M. — Visit the tradeshow. 8:00 P.M. — The Pepsi-Cola party. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31 9:00 A.M. — NAC merchandising forum. Leading speakers will cover the overall spectrum of concession merchandising. 12:30 P.M. — Luncheon. 2 P.M. -5 P.M. — Visit the tradeshow. 6:30 P.M. — National Carbon cocktail party. 8:00 P.M. — President’s banquet. Host: The Coca-Cola Co. NAC farewell cocktail party in NAC president’s suite following the CocaCola banquet for NAC members, guests and press. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 10:00 A.M.— NAC board of directors meeting. Columbia Color Preview Set for TOA Convention NEW YORK — A color feature, prepared by the Cellomatic Corp. and utilizing “a combination of every visual effect ever employed,” will give a “panoramic view” of Columbia Pictures’ complete product lineup at the Theatre Owners of America convention at the Americana Hotel here this week. Robert S. Ferguson, Columbia vice-president in charge of advertising and publicity, said that more than 1,000 persons were expected to attend the event, which will be held Tuesday (29) at 5:30 p.m. in two of the largest ballrooms of the hotel. After a cocktail reception in the Royal ballroom, guests will go to the Imperial ballroom where a specially constructed 30-foot screen using both front and rear projection equipment will be used for showing the film. The picture will be shown to exhibitors internationally after its TOA convention premiere. Technicolor 9-Month Net in Big Increase NEW YORK — Technicolor, Inc., and its diversified subsidiaries reports net earnings of $2,444,911 for the first nine months of 1963, this continuing the upward trend in sales and earnings for the company, according to Patrick Frawley, chairman of Technicolor. Earnings for the like period in 1962 amounted to $433,850. The 1963 earnings are equal to 91 cents per common share on 2,688,071 shares outstanding, compared with 16 cents per share on the 2,640,478 shares outstanding in 1962. Frawley said that the consolidated sales for the first three quarters of 1963 totaled $57,495,448, compared with $42,689,527 for the similar period in 1962, this being an increase of 35 per cent. Consolidated sales and earnings for the first three quarters of 1963 and in the corresponding period for 1962 do not include sales and undistributed income of the foreign affiliates. A regular quarterly cash dividend of 12y2 cents per share was payable October 21 to stockholders on record September 30. The board also declared a two per cent stock dividend payable on the same date. The proposed acquisition of the assets of Town Photolab, Inc., by Technicolor has been announced by Frawley who said that “the consummation of the transaction is still subject to negotiations of mutually satisfactory agreements and to formal approval by the boards of directors of both companies and the shareholders of Town. The managements have agreed in principal that the purchase price would be approximately 130,000 shares of Technicolor stock, which is equivalent of one share of Technicolor for about four and one-third shares of Town, Frawley said. Town Photolab, which recently moved their New York facilities into a new building in Mount Vernon, N.Y., is engaged in the amateur photo finishing field, in the merchandising of film and in direct mail order film processing. Town also operates laboratories in Boston and St. Louis. Fred Frank in Trans-Lux TV; Sales Meet in N.Y. Oct. 28 NEW YORK — Fred R. Frank jr„ a tenyear veteran of TV syndicated sales who served with NTA and Ziv in the southeast market, has been named southeast division manager of Trans-Lux Television Corp. by Richard Carlton, vice-president. Frank will headquarter at the Miami Beach office and will report directly to Murray Oken, national sales manager. Trans-Lux Television will hold a threeday sales meeting in its New York offices October 28-30, presided over by Carlton and Oken. Others who will attend include Frank jr. ; Richard Restler, eastern sales representative; Marvin L. Lowe, midwest division manager, and Arthur L. Manheimer, western division manager. Carlton called the meeting to lay the groundwork for the November sales kickoff of “Mack and Myer for Hire,” a 200 program series starring Joey Faye and Mickey Deems, and an accelerated sales plan for “The Mighty Hercules,” adventure-cartoon series already launched in 45 markets. BOXOFFICE October 28, 1963 9