The Exhibitor (1954)

14 EXHIBITOR Drive-In Operators Warned On Long Shows Kansas City — Drive-in owners attend¬ ing the outdoor theatre operators’ con¬ ference sponsored by the Kansas-Missouri Theatres Association last fortnight were warned that all-night shows incite re¬ strictions since a majority of cars carry children. Every program, including allnight shows, it was said, should consist of films not considered objectionable to any part of the public. Jack Braunagle, drive-in operations manager, Commonwealth Circuit, urged delegates to write newspaper copy and other publicity in the same language they would use in casual conversation with their patrons and pointed out the value of effective promotion. Concession operations were also dis¬ cussed, with moderator Paul Peterson and others advising that an adequate number of equipment units are essential to service popular items. It was also noted that higher quality merchandise at a higher price can be handled successfully if prop¬ erly exploited and displayed. Promoting concession items via the screen, public address announcements, displays, and trailers supplied by manufacturers was taken up, and individual operators spoke of their most successful concession items. Dick Lightman, Malco Theatres, Mem¬ phis, spoke on merchandising experiments with containers of one item promoting a second item. Bill Sawyer, Malco, discussed the importance of keeping track of those items that move profitably and those that do not as guides for other theatres in a circuit. M. A. Levy, 20th-Fox midwest division manager, emphasized the value of adher¬ ing to multiple speakers for stereophonic sound on CinemaScope films and urged delegates to watch tests by Claude Ezell in Dallas and Corpus Christie, Tex., with his new device of three speakers in a single unit. Stanley Durwood, joint convention chairman, presided. More than 175 opera¬ tors attended the sessions. Para. "Pageant" Plans Complete New York — Thirty -four theatres in as many key cities throughout the country have been selected for “The Paramount Pictures Pageant” from March 29-April 2, with 26 of these theatres to present the triple -feature product show on the first day, A. W. Schwalberg, president, Para¬ mount Film Distributing Corporation, re¬ ported last week. The pictures selected are “Elephant Walk,” “About Mrs. Leslie,” and “Knock On Wood.” The triple -feature program will be opened and closed by trailers in which Schwalberg and Don Hartman, Paramount executive producer, will outline the com¬ pany’s production and releasing plans for 1954. ITOA Arb. Group Named New York — The Independent Theatre Owners Association last fortnight named a three-man committee to represent it when industry arbitration discussions are resumed, Julius Sanders, chairman; Abe Leff; and Ray Rhone. President Harry Brandt is an ex-officio member. Alex Harrison, former home office representative, 20th-Fox, functioning under Al Lichtman, di¬ rector of distribution, and W. C. Gehring, exec¬ utive assistant general sales manager, has been appointed to the position of western sales man¬ ager, succeeding the late veteran E. W. Aaron. Schine Motion Delayed Buffalo — Federal Judge John Knight, with the consent of U. S. Attorney John O. Henderson, last week adjourned to April 13 a motion by Schine Chain The¬ atres, Inc., to modify terms of its 1949 anti-trust decree ordering the disposal of 25 theatres. On April 13, the circuit, its officers, sev¬ eral subsidiaries, and other individuals must answer show cause orders granted the government on why they should not be held in contempt of court for failure to obey the 1949 decree. Broidy Reports Profit Hollywood — Steve Broidy, Allied Art¬ ists’ president, reported to stockholders last week a profit for January of $116,000 before taxes. The report also revealed that Interstate Television Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary, has concluded a deal with the Dougfair Corporation for dis¬ tribution of a new series, “Douglas Fair¬ banks Presents,” on a syndication basis. Broidy stated that “Riot In Cell Block 11” will be the company’s top grosser to date. IATSE Sets 1954 Convention New Orleans — The IATSE board last week set the 1954 convention for the week of Aug. 9 in Cincinnati. Two new vicepresidents elected were Al Johnstone, New Orleans, and William Donelly, Min¬ neapolis. U Profit Aids Decca Annual Report New York — Milton R. Rackmil, presi¬ dent, Decca Records and Universal Pic¬ tures, told stockholders in his annual report issued last week that Decca’s net income for 1953, including for the first time the income from its interests in the film company, amounted to $1,826,266, equal to $1.38 per share on the 1,354,158 shares of Decca stock outstanding at the end of the year. Net income for 1953, including dividends from Universal, but discounting any share of that company’s undistributed earnings, amounted to $1,240,438, or 92 cents per share on the outstanding stock, compared with $933,265, or 90 cents per share, in the previous year when only 1,035,533 shares were outstanding. Rackmil pointed out that while more stock was outstanding, earnings per share increased. He stated that Decca’s share of Universal’s net earnings and profits distributed through dividend payments will be even larger in 1954 since holdings of approximately 67 per cent of Universal common were not achieved by Decca until January of this year. Meanwhile, Justice Morris Elder, New York Supreme Court, reserved decision on the George Lloyd motion to examine company records. Republic Meeting Delayed New York — Republic stockholders were informed last week that management will vote the proxies it receives for an ad¬ journment to April 9 of the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting, originally called for April 6, so that President Her¬ bert J. Yates, presently in Europe, can attend. The principal business at the meeting will be the election of three direc¬ tors for three-year terms. Management’s nominees are Richard W. Altschuler, Al¬ bert W. Lind, Franklin A. McCarthy, C. Bruce Newbery, and Yates, all now serv¬ ing as directors. A proxy statement mailed to stockhold¬ ers stated that aggregate remuneration paid to directors and officers in the year ended on Oct. 31 was $389,550. Individual amounts include Yates, $175,350, and Alt¬ schuler, $34,600. Yates’ salary includes $100,000 accrued remuneration for the fiscal year, payment of which is deferred pursuant to the terms of the employment agreement of Oct. 19, 1950. Southern California Theatre Owners Association directors were the first exhibitors to see the recentVistaVision show at Paramount studio on the west coast. Seen, left to right, are Marco Wolff, Milton B. Arthur, Roy Wolff, Jack Goldman, Sherrill C. Corwin, Jack N. Brewer, Harry C. Arthur, Jr., James Finkler, Gus Metiger, Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount vice-president-studio head, receiving a resolution of appreciation from H. Arthur, R. Trusdell, O. N. Srere, W. Hanson, R. Rogers, S. Lehman, and H. L. Rackin. March 24, 1954