The Exhibitor (Nov 1948-Feb 1949)

10 THE EXHIBITOR TO A Sponsoring Conciliation Plan New York — The Theatre Owners Of America executive committee announced last week that it had decided to place in operation a nationwide conciliation plan for 60 days as an experiment, open to all theatremen regardless of affiliation. President Arthur H. Lockwood and executive committee head Si Fabian made the announcement. Under the setup, there will be organ¬ ized in every area a conciliation commit¬ tee of theatre independent exhibitors, with the makeup a TO A member, a mem¬ ber of another exhibitor association, if so desired, and an independent not affiliated with any organization. The committee will listen to all complaints, and, if warranted, will try to get local relief for the com¬ plainant. If unsuccessful, the complaint will be sent to the TOA office to be taken up with distributors at the national level. TOA indicated it would be pleased to join with any national association officials who wish to participate. If this fails, then voluntary arbitration will be recom¬ mended. No charge will be made for TOA services at any time. Lockwood also announced that William F. Ruffin, Sr., Covington, Term., chairman; Edward Zorn, Pontiac, Ill., and Walter Reade, Jr., New York, had been appointed to a National Screen Service committee to act on any problems affecting that body. The TOA executive group also discussed the decision of Federal Judge Vincent Leibell in the ASCAP case, and voted to abide by the recommendation of the TOA legal advisory body at the Chicago con¬ vention. It was also voted to continue and expand the public relations program, with Gael Sullivan, executive director, making a further study of all plans offered. David Wallerstein, Chicago, and Reade are co-chairmen of the TOA television committee, to serve with chairman Mitchell Wolfson, Miami, and M. A. Lightman, Jr., Memphis. On hand for the sessions were: Lockwood, Ted R. Gamble, Fabian, Leonard Goldenson, R. W. Coyne, J. J. O’Leary, Harry Lowenstein, Lewen Pizor, Herman H. Levy, Sullivan, M. A. Lightman, Sr., and Wolfson. The TOA board will meet in January in Washington, it was revealed. New Chicago Suit Filed Chicago — The Bartelstein Circuit’s Ridge last week filed suit in Federal Judge John Barnes’ court alleging that B and K mon¬ opolizes films in its area from Warners, Paramount, U-I, Columbia, Eagle Lion, and SRO. Purpose of the action is to open up more North Side houses for dayand-date bookings. Seymour Simon is the attorney for the plaintiff. Better Management, Devoted To the Latest Ideas in Selling Pictures, Is A • Regular Feature Of This Publication. Seiznick Video Idea Delayed Hollywood — It was learned last week that David O. Seiznick had given up, temporarily, at least, the idea of making films for video because of the fact that costs would be too great. Rickman Laying EL Drive Groundwork _ NEW YORK — Max E. Youngstein, Eagle Lion vice-president in charge of advertising, publicity, and exploita¬ tion, last week announced that Jerry Z. Pickman would represent the de¬ partment during the company’s forth¬ coming 18-week “Mystery Drive,” starting on Dec. 3, 1948. Pickman, working with Milton E. Cohen, eastern sales manager, who is serving as drive captain, will head a specially appointed group of advertising, publicity, and exploitation department personnel par¬ ticipating in the drive. With the identity of the person in whose honor the drive is dedicated being withheld until shortly before the starting date, Youngstein declared that many unique devices would be employed during the 18-week drive period. Youngstein revealed that each member of the home office advertising, publicity, and exploitation depart¬ ments and field exploitation repre¬ sentatives would be assigned one or more of the company’s branches to handle special promotions in connecnection with the drive. Special prizes wi’l be awarded advertising-publicity employes participating. Mid-Central Allied Meets Hannibal, Mo. — Mid-Central Allied In¬ dependent Theatres held another full meeting last fortnight at the Mark Twain Hotel, and among the speakers were Trueman Rembusch, Indianapolis; Charlie Niles, Anamosa, la., and A. C. Myrick, Lake Park, la. Following brief remarks by exhibitors the meeting started with an open forum on film buying which featured instruc¬ tions by Myrick in the use of the Allied Caravan. Myrick explained the technical features. Both Rembusch and Niles recom¬ mended use of this service, and explained its benefits to members of the Allied or¬ ganization. The three guest speakers also discussed other advantages of an affilia¬ tion with Allied States. 20th-Fox Quartet Bows New York — Both coasts participated in the “Spyros P. Skouras 35th Anniversary Celebration” last week with the world premiere of “When My Baby Smiles At Me” at the Fox, San Francisco, and New York witnessing three new 20th CenturyFox pictures, Darryl F. Zanuck’s produc¬ tion of “The Snake Pit,” at the Rivoli, “Unfaithfully Yours” at the Roxy, and “Road House” at the Mayfair. THE EXHIBITOR will celebrate its 30th ANNIVERSARY in the issue of November 24 . ' Watch For It! Activity Reported In Industry Stocks Washington — Reports of the Securities Exchange Commission for October indi¬ cated the usual amount of activity in stock changes as follows: Warners: Jack L. Warner acquired 10,000 shares of Warner $5 common, now holding 426,500 shares after having given 1500 shares to the United Jewish Welfare Fund, as well as 21,500 in a trust. Harry M. Warner reported a gift of 1200 shares, retaining 283,150 and 16,000 in a trust. Major Albert Warner added 1000 shares, holding 436,200 and 21,000 in a trust. Loew’s: The company added another 84 shares of Loew’s Boston Theatres $25 common, holding 123,263 at the present time. 20th-Fox: Robert Lehman added an¬ other 100 shares of the common, holding 2600. Trans-Lux: William M. Girden added 400 shares of dollar common, holding 2400 shares. Republic: Edwin Van Pelt added 1000 shares of the company’s 50-cent common, holding 2600 in all. RKO: N. Peter Rath von dropped 400 shares common, holding 13,800. Monogram: Monogram Southern Ex¬ changes, Inc., now has 16,672 shares of the dollar common. Arthur G. Bromberg holds 1086. Detroit Motion Studied Detroit — Federal Judge Arthur A. Koscinski last week had under adviserpent a motion by Samuel Goldwyn, Walt Dis¬ ney, and several other independent Holly¬ wood producers that they should not be required to come here for examination in an $8,500,000 anti-trust suit they filed two months ago against United Detroit The¬ atres and Cooperative Theatres of Michigan. They ask that depositions be taken in Los Angeles, and also urge that their principal sales and distribution execu¬ tives, in New York City, be substituted for them as the proper parties to be ex¬ amined in connection with charges in the suit of alleged monopolistic licensing of pictures in the more than 100 theatres controlled by the two defendants. Affidavits from James Cagney, Walter Wanger, Hunt Stromberg and Edward Small, co-plaintiffs with Goldwyn and Disney, also were filed here, setting forth that their absence from Hollywood would result in curtailing or shutting down, at least in part, their current productions and studio operations. Lancaster Ends Trip New York — Universal-International last week completed a series of regional pre¬ mieres highlighted by the advance ap¬ pearance of Burt Lancaster for its Harold Hecht-Norma Production, “Kiss The Blood Off My Hands.” Lancaster, whose own company pro¬ duced the picture, cooperated in the pro¬ gram to provide the widest and most direct type of key city promotion. Unlike the general type of personal appearance tour which calls for a star to appear at theatres, Lancaster’s trip was designed to have publicity and radio chit chats ema¬ nate from key cities and penetrate the sur¬ rounding areas. November 10, 1948