The Exhibitor (1953)

12 EXHIBITOR The International Scene Canada Fitzgibbons Optim. On 1953 In Canada Toronto — An optimistic outlook for 1953 is held by John J. Fitzgibbons, president¬ managing director, Famous Players Can¬ adian Corporation Limited, in his annual report to the stockholders. The consolidated net profits for 1952 shows $3,480,126 as compared with $3,032,018 for 1951, or $2 a share as compared to $1.75. Net current assets of company improved by $1,022,177 to $9,979,015, of which more than $8,000,000 was in cash, securities and call loans. The shareholders’ equity in the business representing capital stock and earnings retained for use in the business, amounted to $29,049,707. Dealing with the outlook in 1953, Fitz¬ gibbons states: “We have every reason to be optimistic about our business for 1953. A continued high level of employ¬ ment is predicted, and Canada’s popula¬ tion is increasing as our country moves steadily forward. The great improvement in the quality of motion picture enter¬ tainment now being produced, and the new developments taking place in our industry give us added confidence for 1953.” Discussing developments in the indus¬ try, Fitzgibbons asserted that “the wide¬ spread interest in three-dimension is one of the most striking developments in the motion picture business in years.” He said the company was making preparations for the installation of equipment necessary for the showing of 3-D pictures. Although many variations were being tried by the industry, the company was “trying to keep abreast of the supply problems so that we have a sufficient supply of the neces¬ sary equipment for the presentation of whatever system appears to be the most acceptable to the public.” Franchises have been granted to the company for the establishment of com¬ munity antenna systems in the cities of Three Rivers and Quebec in the province of Quebec, and pending applications are now before the city councils of Vancouver, New Westminster, Winnipeg, Toronto, Hamilton, Kingston, Peterborough, and other Canadian cities. The construction program in 1952 was reviewed by Fitz¬ gibbons, who referred to the opening of three standard-type of theatres by the company and its associates, as well as to the opening of two new drive-ins and the acquisition of a third. A subsidiary company, General Theatre Supply Com¬ pany Limited, has purchased a new build¬ ing to house its head office, while the building of Theatre Confections Limited, Toronto, has been enlarged. A number of properties and sites across Canada for prospective theatres have been acquired by the company, said Fitzgib¬ bons, “as they may be required to serve the public in those areas in the future.” A hospital and surgical plan, in opera¬ tion since 1946, has been carried by the George Rouvier, managing director, United Art¬ ists office in France, recently received in Paris a parchment scroll awarded to France for coming in first in the 1952 sales drive. George Soulat, sales manager, looks on, as Charles Smadja, right, Continental European general head, smiles. company at a cost of 70 per cent of $330,600. Most of the company’s full-time employes are protected under the com¬ pany’s group life insurance plans. Since the inception of these plans, the bene¬ ficiaries have received more than $553,000. Fitzgibbons paid tribute to the late Noel G. Barrow, a member of the board, and secretary of the company, who died last July. Barrow was one of the original executives of the company, and “devoted most of his life to helping to build Famous Players into the great organization it has become through the past 33 years.” Considerable satisfaction was expressed in the report at the announcement of the reduction in federal corporate income taxes which was contained in the last budget, and the further steps taken toward the removal of “double taxation” on divi¬ dends paid by corporations. Altogether taxes covering amusements, real estate, business taxes, licenses, income taxes, etc., were paid by the company amounting to $11,958,000. Canadian Comment British Columbia, Canada’s western¬ most province, has raised its censorship charges. The board under R. W. McDon¬ ald, operates under the Department of the Attorney General. The first 1,000 feet of a 35mm. sound film submitted by a licensed distributor has been raised from $3 to $4, and each additional 500 feet or fraction thereof is up from $1.50 to $2. Additional prints are up from $2 to $3 for the first 1,000 feet, with each extra 500 feet raised from $1 to $1.50. Trailers 500 feet or under are up from $1.50 to $2. Most annoying part of the new regulations are that payment has to be made for advertising clips in newsreels. These advertising clips which plug various charities in the coun¬ try are carried free of charge by the industry. To give added point to the fact is the information that advertising agency billings for press and radio in connection with recruiting for the armed forces in 1952 came to $2,192,923. Theatres run these clips without charge. Five more theatres have been opened in Canada. W. Semeniuk has opened his 250-seat Hodgson, the first in Hodgson, Man. Operations have started at the 550seat Oak, the first in Benito, Man., oper¬ ated by William Sawchuk. The 1,036-car Cinema Park Drive-In, Calgary, built by a company headed by Frank Kershaw, is also operating. Four partners, H. Lyone, B. Fingard, and B. M. and A. J. Flach, have opened the 250-car Rosetown DriveIn, Rosetown, Sask. The $100,000 AutoVue Drive-In near Trail, B.C., has been opened by George Donish and O. A. Berg¬ eron. ... A trade show of equipment, etc., with A. H. Jolley as liaison officer has been arranged for Nov. 25 and 26 in Toronto by the Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario. The Motion Picture Industry Council of Canada will meet following the session of the National Com¬ mittee of Motion Picture Exhibitors Asso¬ ciations of Canada. The MPTAO will also hold its annual meeting and luncheon. It is expected that the annual dinner of the Canadian Picture Pioneers will be held this same week. John J. Fitzgibbons, Famous Players Canadian president, received the Brother¬ hood Award of Beth Sholom Synagogue, Toronto, for his work in “furthering brotherhood among all classes and creeds.” The award, presented annually in On¬ tario, is “for the greatest contribution to¬ ward tolerance and understanding.” Beth Sholom Synagogue Brotherhood Presi¬ dent Mac Shore said Fitzgibbons had been selected in recognition of “his outstand¬ ing work in the promotion of Christian Jewish relations.” A member of the board of the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews, Fitzgibbons was one of the pioneer organizers of Variety Village. A donation of $800 has been made to the Ontario Association of Film Councils by the Atkinson Foundation, which owns The Toronto Daily Star. The money will be used to finance two three-day summer courses on the use of films in the com¬ munity. . . . John Brown, Lindsay Thurs¬ day Post, has been appointed manager, Downeyville Road Drive-In, near Lindsay. . . . Six pictures were put on the adult list by the Ontario Motion Picture Censor Boai’d. . . . Win Barron, Paramount Can¬ adian publicity chief, is back in harness after a heart attack. . . . Stan Helleur, publicity man with Warners, went west to meet the various members of the press. • . . Douglas Stanger purchased the Qu’Appelle, the only one in Qu’Appelle, Sask., from J. D. Gunn. He has renovated it, replaced some of the chairs, and has renamed it the Starlit. . . . Gerry Cass, salesman with 20th-Fox, St. John, ad¬ dressed a meeting of the Kiwanis Club, Lancaster, N.B. . . . Plans for a $75,000 drive-in for Kamsack, Sask., have been announced by Charlie Krupp, Winnipeg. . . . The municipality of Cory, Sask., has approved a by-law to levy an amusement tax on admissions to drive-ins. It is four cents on a 50-cent admission. — Harry Allen, Jr. Italy In Rome, the difficulty in concluding the proposed new Italo-American film agree¬ ment, was still unsolved as Eric A. John¬ ston, MPAA president, left for New York. April 29, 1953