The Exhibitor (1953)

EXHIBITOR 8 CAN NEWS A guide to the headlines in EXHIBITOR this issue. Distribution Allied Artists holds its first international convention in Miami Beach, Fla. (page 11). Negotiations between distributor com¬ mittees and exchange locals continue (page 13). Beacon, a new company, is formed at a Chicago meeting (page 16). Winners in 20th-Fox “Stars And Stripes Forever” contest are announced (page 22). Distributors are set for handling a group of J. Arthur Rank reissues (page 24). Exhibition Allied Independent Theatre Owners of Iowa, Nebraska, Mid-Central, and South¬ ern Dakota, meeting in Des Moines con¬ vention, asks for standardization of equip¬ ment, raps unfair trade practices, and seeks the continuance of high quality films (page 9). Wilbur Snaper, at the annual meeting of Allied Theatre Owners of Kansas and Missouri, in Kansas City, warns that the fight for the elimination of the 20 per cent federal amusement tax is still on (page 13). Stanley Warner and Cinerama are in the midst of concluding a deal whereby SW will handle the exhibition phases of the process (page 13). Max A. Cohen is elected president, The Organization of the Motion Picture In¬ dustry of the City of New York (page 17). The Motion Picture Theatre Owners and Operators of Georgia and the Alabama Theatres Association lay plans for their May 31-June meeting in Atlanta (page 24). Financial National Theatres, Inc., shows an in¬ crease in its profit for 26 weeks (page 13). Cinecolor shows a loss for the 52-week period (page 24). International Changes take place in executive ranks in Canada, Westrex holds a meeting in Italy, the Tokyo deal is signed by the MPAA, the ceiling is held on 3-D admis¬ sions in Mexico, and prices are cut in Argentina (all on page 12). Variety Clubs International is holding its convention in Mexico City (page 11). Mel Konecoff Paramount’s wide-screen program and U-I’s developments along the same lines are scrutinized (pages 8 and 20). Production MGM will make only one-reel shorts in the 1953-54 season (page 13). RKO reveals some production planning (page 16). Technical 20th-Fox perfects process for having four sound tracks on one film, Photorama Rembusch Hits FCC On TV; Asks For Investigation INDIANAPOLIS— Truman T. Rembusch, co-chairman, COMPO, former head. National Allied, and president, Indiana Allied, revealed last week that he had written to U. S. Senator Homer Capehart, charging the FCC with encouraging the development of a broadcast monopoly in TV, and ask¬ ing the Indiana Senator to “use all your influence in persuading Congress to investigate from top to bottom, the machinations of this most un-Ameri¬ can body, the FCC.” Rembusch also urged Indiana’s U. S. Senator William E. Jenner, to look into, via a Congressional probe, claims that the FCC backs TV monopoly. Broadway Grosses Hold To Average New York — Business was about average over the weekend, with Radio City Music Hall holding well with Paramount’s “Shane.” According to usually reliable sources reaching Exhibitor, the breakdown was as follows: “HOUSE OF WAX” (WB). Paramount, with this 3-D attraction, claimed $50,000 for the last five days of the sixth week. “TROUBLE ALONG THE WAY” (WB) . Roxy, with ice show, did $47,000 from Wednesday through Sunday, with the second week expected to top $55,000. “SHANE” (Para.). Radio City Music Hall, with stage show, reported $78,000 for Thursday through Sunday, with the fourth week sure to reach $114,000. “SPLIT SECOND” (RKO). Criterion reported $15,000 for the opening week. “SALOME” (Col.). Rivoli was heading toward an $18,000 eighth week. “THE MAGNETIC MONSTER” (UA). Globe claimed the opening week would reach $12,500. “THE DESERT RATS” (20th-Fox). Mayfair expected the second week to total $15,500. “NEVER WAVE AT A WAC” (RKO). Astor anticipated the fourth week at $10,000. “SMALL TOWN GIRL” (MGM) . Loew’s State was heading toward a $13,000 second week. “MOULIN ROUGE” (UA). Capitol was sure of $22,000 on the 14th week. “THE JUGGLER” (Col.). Victoria claimed the second week at $18,000. Illinois Exhibitor Sues St. Charles, III. — J. J. McFarland, who recently purchased the Arcadia, last fort¬ night filed suit for an injunction against the major distributors asking day-anddate playing time with the Aurora and Elgin. Tornado Destroys Texas House Waco, Tex. — The Joy was destroyed last week by the tornado which hit here. makes its bow in Philadelphia, and Co¬ lumbia’s “Fort Ti” will bow in with 3-D and wide-screen and stereophonic sound in New York City (all on page 20); reuse of 3-D glasses is barred in Harrisburg, Pa. (page 22). New York News Letter By Mel Konecoff PARAMOUNT, in support of its recom¬ mended wide-screen program of showing future product at 1.66 to 1, stands about ready to do everything possible to permit exhibitors to ready their theatres for the era of the wide-screen outside of actually in¬ stalling same in the theatres. It will make available all data to exhibitors, with blue¬ prints, charts, engi¬ neering formulae, etc., included. This was brought out at a meeting be¬ tween trade press rep¬ resentatives and officials. A1 Schwalberg, president, Paramount Film Distributing Company, announced that this was the answer to exhibitors’ inquiries as to what the immediate future holds. He said that this is all possible with no great capital investment, no tremendous architectural changes, etc., but rather it covers a simple, inexpensive program which would permit a rapid changeover. All that is involved would be a standard lens, an aperture plate, and a screen. The change would permit presently produced product to show wide-screen. Dr. Charles Daily, studio technical ex¬ pert, reported that the 1.66 to 1 ratio was selected as the best all-around wide¬ screen because exhibitors will be able to play the product now awaiting release and for months to come, and almost all theatres will be able to increase the size of their present screens without cutting off the top and bottom of the picture. The screen should have a metallic finish so that both 2-D and 3-D films can be shown, a curvature as well as light col¬ ored surround around the screen, and an architectural cornice overhead which will help round out the front of the house. If stereo sound is to be used, the surround should be of porous or perforated material similar to the screen to let the sound through. All the new product coming at Para¬ mount was being shot in the new ratio for some time, and while the backlog presently awaiting release is in the old 1.33 to 1 ratio, this will be shown 1.66 to 1. The 1.66 product can be shown on the regulation sized screens without much inconvenience or distortion. Paramount is suggesting that exhibitors do the following: Make the screen larger, change the shape, frame and round it, and make it highly reflective. As for news ( Continued on page 20) Konecoff May 20, 1953