The Exhibitor (1953)

8 E X H I B r T O R CAN NEWS A guide to the headlines in EXHIBITOR this issue. Deaths Joseph Burstyn, veteran foreign film distributor, dies on a plane (page 20). Distribution MGM will soon celebrate its 30th anniversary (page 10). United Artists’ “35th Anniversary Sales Drive’’ is in full swing (page 20). Meetings are held on the COMPO dues collections (page 25). Exhibition Walter Reade, Jr., speaking as the TOA president at the Kansas-Missouri Theatre Association convention, asks for improved merchandise policies (page 9). BMI inaugurates a licensing system for theatres for the use of its music (page 10). International John Davis, managing director, the J. Arthur Rank organization, asks for a freer interchange in a speech in Toronto, Canada (page 17). The Canadian Motion Picture Industry Council holds a meeting in Toronto (page 22). Legal The Hillside Amusement Company, operating the Mayfair, Hillside, N. J., will appeal the dismissal of its suit in which it charged violation of the Robinson-Patman act by the major companies (page 10). Mel KonecofF Alfred Crown’s return after a 10-week tour of foreign lands and UA vice-presi¬ dent Max Youngstein’s address before the AMPA Showmanship School provide the highlights (pages 8 and 27). Production 20th-Fox President Spyros Skouras travels to Europe in connection with “The Robe” and CinemaScope (page 26). Technical Industryites are impressed with the demonstration of film-on-tape at Prince¬ ton, N. J., but think the day when it will be applicable to theatres is a long way off (page 9). The Telemeter test in Palm Springs, Cal., is still the reason for plenty of dis¬ cussion within the business (page 10). The Snaider Television Corporation an¬ nounces a new plan for the use of its portable theatre TV equipment for the¬ atres (page 10), Alfred Crown, foreign sales manager, RKO, re¬ cently met the trade press in New York City. Average Grosses In B'way Sector New York — Business in the Broadway first-runs was about average for the preChristmas time of year, despite lack of an advertising medium due to the newspaper strike. Radio City Music Hall, helped by the usual Christmas stage show, led the parade. According to usually reliable sources reaching Exhibitor, the breakdown was as follows: “THE ROBE” (20th-Fox). Roxy an¬ nounced $31,076 for Thursday through Sunday, with the 12th week expected to reach $40,000. “HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE” (20th-Fox). Loew’s State claimed the fourth week would hit $33,000. “HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE” (20th-Fox). Globe expected the fourth week to tally $24,000. “HONDO” (Warners). Paramount an¬ ticipated the opening week at $55,000. “EASY TO LOVE” (MGM). Radio City Music Hall, with the annual Christmas stage show, opened to $86,000 for Thurs¬ day through Sunday, with the opening week sure to top $138,000. “CEASE FIRE” (Para.). Criterion ex¬ pected the second week to go to $20,000. “LITTLE BOY LOST” (Para.). Rivoli was heading toward $10,000 on the 11th week. “TAKE THE HIGH GROUND” (MGM). Mayfair announced that the third week would be around $14,000. “QUEEN OF SHEBA” (Pizor). .A.stor was down to about $8,000 on fifth week. “THE MAN BETWEEN” (UA) . Victoria expected the third week to garner $20,000. “FROM HERE TO ETERNITY” (Col.). Capitol was heading toward $19,000 on the 18th week. G. Rowland Collins was recently elected a di¬ rector of Loew's, Inc. He is a prominent educator. New York News Letter gy Konecoff ALFRED CROWN, RKO foreign sales manager, home after a 10-week tour of the Far East, reported that RKO’s busi¬ ness abroad is up to last year’s levels, with remittances be¬ ing greater than the two previous years. He explained that this was due to un¬ freezing of currency in some countries, greater autonomy be¬ ing exercised by local offices, an exacting economy program which has resulted in a saving of $750,000 without hurting com¬ pany personnel, a good job being done in promoting releases, which, in turn, has meant increased bookings, and exhibitors bending over backwards to prove their friendship for the company. Crown opined that the company’s posi¬ tion abroad was sound, with no thoughts of a let-down in the operations of the organization being expressed anywhere throughout the world. The income from the foreign market, which amounts to 40 per cent of the overall gross of the com¬ pany, includes distribution for foreignmade product locally or in areas where it is suitable. For instance, the company is distributing some French films in South America and it is negotiating for a Chinese film to be distributed in the Far East. It was felt that RKO is thus helping local producers get better returns as well as giving RKO more product, more dates, and more entree into situations that might V. otherwise be closed. The next six months should see an increase in RKO business abroad, he opined, with enough product on hand, and with more forthcoming. In addition to distributing foreign-made product abroad, he is searching for films made abroad that might be suitable for distri¬ bution here, with approval necessary from President Jimmy Grainger and the board of directors. Crown reported enthusiasm abroad for CinemaScope and he foresaw a healthy increase in theatres reequipping for that medium. 3-D doesn’t generate any excite¬ ment in those areas. Reaction depends on the individual film in the medium, he said. Crown’s remarks were received with plenty of attention by those present. PRODUCTION NOTES: In Cinema¬ Scope, they do everything big. For in¬ stance, in the Warner film, “Lucky Me,” in that medium, when Robert Cummings chases Doris Day with romantic intent, WB uses four sets. It starts in a hotel kitchen, moves to an alleyway, shifts to (Continued on page 27) Konecoff December 9, 1953