The Exhibitor (1951)

SS-6 STUDIO SURVEY Movietime (Continued from page 14) The Sage”, written by Charles R. Meeker, Jr., managing director, State Fair Musi¬ cals, State Fair Auditorium, and called “Movietime In Texas — U.S.A.”. will, prob¬ ably, become the theme for the campaign. Colonel Cole divulged that state exhibi¬ tor morning meetings had been set for the Majestic, Houston, and Wichita, Wichita Falls, Sept. 10; Jefferson, Beaumont, and Paramount, Amarillo, 11; Majestic, San Antonio, and Lindsey, Lubbock, 12; Ritz, Corpus Christi, and Paramount, Abilene 13; Arcadia, Harlingen, 14; Waco, Waco and Worth, Fort Worth, 17; Rembert. Longview, and Scott, Odessa, 18, and Bowie, Brownwood, and Plaza, El Paso, 19. In kits furnished all salesmen were copies of the Life magazine article as well as pledge cards for exhibitors to sign. Each salesman also had the campaign book dem¬ onstrated to him, and was told about the three trailers. O’Donnell gave many details of the forthcoming “Movietime, U.S.A.” campaign. Paul Short, publicity committee, and Wil¬ liam McCraw, Bob Eyler, and Phil Isley, head, Personality Tour, were other speak¬ ers. Colonel Cole closed the meeting, say¬ ing, “I would like to see you men become true ambassadors, and really do a job for the industry.” Niles Wires O’Donnell On High Film Rentals Anamosa, Ia. — Charles Niles, treasurer, Allied States Association, last week s^nt the following wire to Robert J. O’Donnell, “Movietime, U.S.A.” drive chief: “I am well aware that film rentals are not a part of COMPO, but it is ironical that outrageous demands are being made here in Iowa and Nebraska for top prod¬ uct right at the time the “Movietime” campaign is getting underway. We in Allied know we need the campaign and need it badly. We in Allied have done, and will do everything possible to make it a success, but cannot you or someone get the word to the big guns to call off the dogs and curtail their greed at least until the ‘Movietime, U.S.A.’ is over? You and Arthur Mayer are doing a great job, and I personally hate to see all your work and efforts being destroyed at the grass roots by avarice. What better answer is there to that in¬ famous article in Life than top pictures on every screen in the country with big audiences in attendance, but this is impos¬ sible if exhibitors are unable to negotiate for top pictures such as ‘Here Comes The Groom’, ‘That’s My Boy,’ and ‘Captain Horatio Hornblower’. In the case of ‘David And Bathsheba’, Fox is violating the law by fixing admission prices so that not only the exhibitor is being gouged but the public as well by upped admissions.” New York Readies Sept. 6 Rally New York — The local rally for “Movie¬ time, U.S.A.” will be held at the RKO 58th Street on Sept. 6 at 9.30 a.m., it was WA. 2506 OUTDOOR REFRESHMENT SERVICE from Coast to Coast over % Century SPORTSERVICE CORP. SPORTSERVICE BLDG. • BUFFALO, N. Y. Refreshment Service for DRIVE IN THEATRES "PAghc Mayer Replies To Life Magazine Article NEW YORK— Arthur L. Mayer, executive vice-president, COMPO, last week released a copy of the letter he had sent to Life magazine answering its recent article on the industry. Mayer quoted inaccuracies in the story, disputed the “closed theatres” record, mentioned some of the cur¬ rent and forthcoming big pictures from Hollywood, pointed to the fact that the researchers for Life had chosen to ignore some optimistic material which they had unearthed, declared that more theatres were opening than clos¬ ing, that insurance companies and others were still investing large sums in theatres, that exhibitors were bring¬ ing their sons into the business, and that any time Life felt like it he would give it plenty of pictures, facts, and anecdotes for the record to prove his statements. (In the Life magazine issue of Sept. 3, the weekly publishes several letters on the trade story in the “Letters to the Editors” column. Some are favor¬ able and some unfavorable, with an editorial note that the 3,000 theatres closing referred to took place over a two-year period instead of one-year, and winding up with the remark that “trouble is still supercolossal in Holly¬ wood.” The Mayer letter as it appears in Life is cut to pieces, with only six slashed paragraphs used out of the 19 which Mayer wrote. Other letters quoted are those from Jack Kirscli, president, Allied Theatre Owners of Illinois, and J. P. Adler, Adler Theatre Company, Marshfield, Wis., and promi¬ nent in exhibitor organization affairs. Both are cut down. — Ed.) announced last week. R. J. “Bob” O’Don¬ nell, will be the principal speaker. The meeting will be attended by Greater New York City theatremen, film salesmen, ex¬ change personnel, and home office em¬ ployes. It will be co-chairmanned by Ed Rugoff. president, Metropolitan Motion Picture Theatres Association; Wilbur Snaper, presi¬ dent, Allied Theatre Owners of New Jersey; Harry Brandt, president, Inde¬ pendent Theatre Owners Association; Maurice Miller, president, TOA of New Jersey; and Fred Schwartz, chairman, Or¬ ganization of the Motion Picture Industry of New York. Other speakers will be Rev. William Alexander, Oklahoma City, and Arthur L. Mayer, executive vice-president, COMPO. 1,500 Exhibitors In New Orleans Meet New Orleans — More than 1,500 theatre owners of Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, and Florida voted last week at a “Movietime, U.S.A.” organization meet¬ ing to contribute five cents a seat for ex¬ penses for the drive in the exchange terri¬ tory. Drive-ins will contribute at the rate of 10 cents per loud speaker. The meeting was held at the Strand, and speakers were Robert J. O’Donnell and Arthur L. Mayer. Levere Montgomery, general chairman, “Movietime” campaign in the territory, presided. In addition to the appointment of Montgomery as general chairman, the ex¬ hibitors elected the following campaign officers and committee chairmen: Secretary, Louis Boyer; treasurer, F. G. Plat; coordinator, Abe Berenson and Hank Plitt; advisory committee chairman, N. L. Carter; executive committee chairman, C. J. Briant; financial committee chairman, Joy N. Houck; advertising and publicity chairman, Maurice Barr; radio, Harold Wheelihan, and arrangements, George Pabst. Jacksonville Meeting Organizes Campaign Jacksonville, Fla. — Florida was organ¬ ized for the “Movietime, U.S.A.” campaign last week at a meeting of 700 exhibitors, film salesmen, newspaper, and radio repre¬ sentatives in the Florida. Speakers were Robert J. O’Donnell, Arthur L. Mayer, Mayor Hayden Burns, Harold Colee, executive vice-president, Florida State Chamber of Commerce, and Nat Williams, former president, Theatre Owners of Georgia. O’Donnell and Mayer were guests at a luncheon for the press and radio repre¬ sentatives. Allied Polling On “Movietime” New York — It was learned last week that an informal polling of Allied regional members to determine how they feel toward “Movietime, U.S.A.” was under way. Results will be forwarded to the national convention in time for the meet¬ ing with distribution heads so that any disagreements can be ironed out on the convention floor. Stars Won’t Appear In Theatres Hollywood — Samuel J. Briskin, Holly¬ wood chairman, “Movietime, U.S.A.”, stated last week that the 300 stars and other Hollywood figures going on tour will not make personal appearances in any the¬ atres but will appear in the capitals of the 48 states on Oct. 8, and then fan out into nearby communities for a period of one week. Chicago Arranges Sept. 10 Mass Session Chicago — A mass meeting on Sept. 10 at the Esquire will get the “Illinois Movie time, U.S.A.” campaign started, it was an¬ nounced last week. The program is being set up by a committee consisting of Harry Balaban, William K. Hollander, Jack Kirsch, A1 Kvoll, and Dave Wallerstein.. Ohio’s Smith Endorses “Movietime” Columbus — Martin G. Smith, president, ITO of Ohio, last week urged “enthusi¬ astic and wholehearted cooperation of members in “Movietime, U.S.A.” The board of directors of the group will meet on Sept. 11 to formally endorse the cam¬ paign. Buffalo Date Changed to Sept. 17 Buffalo — The date of the local “Movietime, U.S.A.” meeting was changed last week from Sept. 10 to Sept. 17 at the Erlanger. This will enable Robert J. O’Don¬ nell, national drive director, to be present. EXHIBITOR September 5, 1951