Canadian Film Weekly (Nov 23, 1966)

Vol. 31, No. 24 VOICE OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY Incorporating the CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST (Founded 1915) SSE LEELA TTC TORONTO, November 23, 1966 Rate Showarama ‘66 A Success e 4-day Toronto convention and trade show earns enthusiastic comments Was Showarama ’66 successful? A big yes is indicated in a round-up of opinions from delegates with varied interests who attended the recent four-day joint convention of the Canadian motion picture and the theatre concessions industries at Toronto’s Inn on the Park. “Yes,” said Jack Fitzgibbons, co-chairman of the event with Dick Main. “It was a resounding success and the desired results were obtained. I heard enthusiastic comments from people who have attended similar conventions in the United States and could be considered qualified to make comparisons. Those who addressed presentation sessions also told me their audiences were attentive and interested, which means the discussions were productive. The most important result of the convention, in my opinion, was the endorsation of one organization, the Motion Picture Theatre Associations of Canada, to represent all provinces and be one united voice for the industry. There had to be a start in this direction and combining the trade show with a program that had general appeal achieved this initial objective.” : ASKS MORE FILM TIME While acknowledging the convention as an overall success, some distribution executives, like Harvey Harnick, Canadian general manager of Columbia Pictures, felt that more time should have been devoted to product screenings. “From a distribution standpoint,” Harnick said, “the screenings at the Don Mills Theatre of future product was most important and the only comment I have to make is whether the basic motion picture distribution and exhibition ‘sell’ shouldn’t have been expanded to more than the one morning screening. All in all, however, I think congratulations should be extended to (Continued on Page 5) eg Wilson Leaving ‘Arts Productions — PLAQUE symbolic of the award for the best booth display at the recent MPTAC-NAC Trade Show—Showarama Canada ‘'66—at the Inn on the Park, Toronto, went to Astral Films Ltd. for its imaginative display of the interior of a miniature theatre with a screen showing trailers on coming product through rear-screen projection. Accepting the award are Bill Morland, Astral director of advertising and publicity, left; and Jerry Solway, general manager of Astral, centre; from Frank C. Troy, Trade Show chairman, right. —Photo by Len Bishop Gaston Theroux Elected Head Of New MPTAC Election of Gaston H. Theroux, president and managing director of the Association of Theatre Owners of Quebec, as the first president of the new Motion Picture Theatre Associations of Canada highlighted a two-day annual meeting at the Inn on the Park, MPTAO Annual Meeting Discusses BMI Rates BMI Canada Limited, recognizing the increased use of BMI music in motion pictures—scores for Mary Poppins and The Blue Max being two notable examples —has applied to Canada’s Copyright Appeal Board for the right to charge Canadian motion picture exhibitors annual fees according to seating capacities and (Continued on Page 6) Reg Wilson, producers’ represent tive at Seven Arts Production Limited, has resigned effecti.~ December 2. Born in Winnipeg he was educated in Toronia and joined MGM in 1937 as shipper. He stayed with that xompany, except for Uy g yy Wyong PH EEL“ Toronto. The MPTAC, successor to the National Committee of Motion Picture Exhibitors Associations of Canada, drew up a new constitution at one of its sessions, aimed at promoting and protecting the Canadian motion picture exhibitor and the industry. Elected along with Theroux as directors were Owen Bird, president of the British Columbia Exhibitors Association; David Rothstein, a director of the Manitoba Motion Picture Exhibitors Association; Curly Posen, treasurer of the Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario; and F. Gordon Spencer, vice-president of the Maritime Motion Picture Exhibitors Association. R. W. Bolstad, president of Famous Players; C. R. B. Salmon, president of Odeon; and N. A. Taylor, head of Twinex Century Theatres, were appointed to (Continued on Page 3) five y ‘16 mm, Divisi Alberta Exhibs Fighting Daylight Saving Time Daylight Saving Time may be acceptable in other provinces but if it comes to Alberta it may well ruin some exhibitors, says Norman MacDonald, Edmonton theatre manager and president of the Alberta Theatres Association. He points out that in effect DST in Alberta would actually be double DST (daylight until 11 p.m.), meaning some drive-ins would have to close, while attendance at auditorium theatres could drop by as much as 30 per cent. The ATA is’ spearheading a (Continued on Page 3) FPCC Names Bludhorn Chairman Of The Board Charles G. Bludhorn, board chairman of Gulf & Western Industries Inc. which recently acquired control of Paramount Pictures, was elected a director and chairman of the board of Famous Players Canadian Corp. Limited at a meeting held last week in Toronto, it was announced by President R. W. Bolstad. Bludhorn succeeds the late J. J. Fitzgibbons. At the meeting, Bludhorn stated G & W had no intention of disposing of its share interest in (Continued on Page 3) Vancouver Variety Busy On 3 Charity Projects Presentation of a “Sunshine Coach” by Vancouver Tent No. 47, Variety Club of Western Canada, to the Cerebral Palsy Association of Lower Vancouver Island was a recent first move in the Tent’s planned three charitable projects to aid underprivileged and handicapped children. The bus, built in the west coast city and equipped with a hydraulic lift ramp for children in wheelchairs, was donated by Barker Andrew Robertson, Vancou (Continued on Page 3) ears of active service with the RCAF, until 1962, when he moved to Seven Arts. When he he was Toronto branch manager a VMI Zs