The Exhibitor (1953)

EXHIBITOR 13 Towne, Jackson Park Lose High Court Appeals WASHINGTON— The U. S. Supreme Court, by refusing last week to hear appeals by the Jackson Park and Mil¬ waukee Towne from decisions of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, ruled, in effect, that the two theatres must outbid other theatres in their areas for choice films. The court also refused a petition by National Allied to file a “friend of the court.” The court did not act on three other pending film appeals, two involving Fanchon and Marco Theatres in Los Angeles and one involving Crest The¬ atres, Baltimore, Md. Levy Still Hopeful On Arbitration Osage Beach, Mo. — Herman M. Levy, TOA general counsel, addressing a joint meeting last week of the Kansas-Missouri Theatre Association and the Motion Pic¬ ture Theatre Owners of Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois, expressed hope that the Senate hearings on exhibitor com¬ plaints will result in new arbitration conferences, ending in a dedication by all segments of the industry “to the evolu¬ tion of a satisfactory system for early availability to aggrieved exhibitors.” He stressed that the industry did not lend itself to outside regulation, and that its problems were peculiar to it. An effec¬ tive arbitration system, he said, could con¬ stantly be enlarged to cover disputes as they arise. He blamed distributor tactics of competitive bidding, exorbitant film rentals, and pre-release policies for driv¬ ing exhibitors to the courts for assistance. Dick Orear, Commonwealth Amusement Corporation, addressed the group on the various methods of 3-D and wide-screen techniques. Eldon Peek, head, Missouri Theatre Supply, Kansas City, and Okla¬ homa Theatre Supply, Oklahoma City, expressed optimism over the future of the industry, due to recent technological advances. Demetrious James, St. Louis; Keith Coleman, Mt. Carmel, Ill., and other exhibitors told of their experiences with 3-D, and Count Arthur de Stefano, Kansas City manager, National Theatre Supply, stressed the importance of perfect 3-D projection and lighting. The general opinion of the group was that 3-D, requiring the wearing of glasses, presented many problems. Many exhibi¬ tors rapped the exorbitant terms asked for 3-D features, among them Tom Ed¬ wards, Earl Vandiver, and Bill Williams. Tom Bloomer, Belleville, Ill., commented on recent demonstrations of 3-D in driveins, and stated that they were favorable. Altec Installations Progress New York — L. D. Netter, Jr., general sales manager, Altec Service Corporation, last week expressed complete satisfaction concerning the performance of Altec ster¬ eophonic sound equipment which featured the four day showing of the CinemaScope process at the Roxy. The entire stereophonic sound system at the Roxy was Altec equipment. The Westrex magnetic reproducer used was also supplied by this organization. This Was The Week When . . . . George Stevens, producer of Paramount's “Shane”, continued his trip to Pittsburgh, Dallas, Forth Worth, Tex., and Denver on behalf of the film following a trip to Phila¬ delphia and Chicago. . . . Boston, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Calgary were leading in the RKO “25th Anniversary Drive.” . . . The General Federation of Women’s Clubs recom¬ mended 20th-Fox’s “Man On A Tightrope” to its membership. . . . U-I set the first showing of its new wide-screen and directional sound process at Loew’s State, New York, in connection with the bow of “Thunder Bay” on May 19. . . . Roberta Haynes, in UA’s “Return To Paradise”, continued on a two-week, seven-city publicity tour for the film. RKO’s “Split Second” had its world bow in the RKO Orpheum, Denver. . . . Para¬ mount revealed that Paul Hahn, star of the “Grantland Rice Sportlight” short, “Wizard Of The Clubs”, will be available for no-cost stage appearances in connection with the bookings of the subject in the east and midwest. Five hundred day-and-date bookings of “Raiders Of The Seas” in the southern states this month were set by United Artists. . . . MGM completed a tieup with Carolyn Schnurer on “Young Bess”, the fashion deal including summer clothes, dresses, bathing suits, etc. . . . Paramount declared a quarterly dividend of 50 cents a share on the common stock. . . . Decca Records, Inc., showed consolidated net earnings of $234,685, after provision of $241,833 for income tax, for the quarter, equal to 23 cents a share, compared to $231,580, or 30 cents a share, in the comparable quarter last year. Goldwyn Reissues In Deal New York — Howard Pictures, Inc., with James A. Mulvey as vice-president, was organized recently to take over the re¬ issue and other rights to about 40 of Samuel Goldwyn’s old pictures, whose rights have been vested in the name of Mrs. Frances Howard Goldwyn. Distri¬ bution rights for some of the films in both the United States and Canada have been acquired by RKO. Mayer-Kingsley Handling Group New York — It was learned last week that Arthur Mayer-Edward Kingsley, Inc., will handle exclusive distribution in this country of films produced in England by the government subsidized Group 3, Limited. Under an agreement signed with Leslie Baker, managing director, Asso¬ ciated British Film Distributors, the American company will handle distribu¬ tion of a number of Group 3’s annual pro¬ duction of six to eight features. Paramount Election Nears New York — According to a proxy state¬ ment mailed to stockholders last week, Paramount’s 14-member board of direc¬ tors will be proposed for reelection at the annual meeting of shareholders at the home office on June 2. The board com¬ prises Barney Balaban, Y. Frank Freeman, A. Conger Goodyear, Stanton Griffis, Dun¬ can G. Harris, John D. Hertz, Austin C. Keough, Earl I. McClintock, Fred Mohrhardt, Maurice Newton, Paul Raibourn, Edwin L. Weisl, George Weltner, and Adolph Zukor, all of whom have served since 1949. "Sangaree" Bow May 27 New York — It was announced last week that “Sangaree”, Paramount’s first Tech¬ nicolor 3-D feature, produced by Pine and Thomas, will have its world premiere in Savannah, Ga., on May 27. Openings in Atlanta and other southern cities will precede the New York showing. THE FINEST ALTEC 9356 Santa Monica Bivd. Beverly Hills, Calif. 161 Sixth Avenue New York 13, N. Y. ' ■ : ■ • ■ Mliig ipfcil ?&sl8iSSCS J, pg&isSAV ■ ■ grass ■ THEATRE LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEMS . ■m , (-< ' i L . ' ^ \k •-/ S : • ■ ;Lr%8' May 13, 1953