Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1952)

Weather-Vonseious Exhibitors Ask Utnul t*rotiuvt Eor Spring-Summer Drives Exhibitors in TV-infested areas are growir increasingly conscious of the weather as 1 oxoffice factor. They have been slow to rtlize, as have the distributors, that when it B^et or cold outside the poorest kind of asrtainment in the living room suffices to f.p people away from the theatres. Now iy are beginning to ask, "Shouldn't the fciier films be reserved for release in the ij ng and summer months?" he past two years have convinced many uple in the industry that a switch in movie itsons is taking place. In both 1950 and '51 h warm months brought an encouraging it wing in business, only to have boxoffice ijres skid off the upward trail when the <I 'ember chills set in. l view of this experience, theatremen are eigning their advertising policies. Right ■ they are girding themselves to put forth n :imum showmanship effort as soon as the ir robin chirps. A prominent independent a:uit operator said the other day that he »lis his big exploitation push for business otart the first of April, just as it formerly k titration Talks Imminent I TOA Submits Proposals Irie next move in the formulation of an ijistry arbitration program was up to the Iributors. With both major national exIror organizations having submitted their Us for the arbitration set-up, the film fupanies must now study the proposals and ■Inge a meeting with representatives of ltd States Association and Theatre Ovvnfrpf America, and other large regional exllor groups, such Western Theatre Ownfind the two large New York associations. Mie TOA proposals went out to distribupj last fortnight, accompanied by a letter f<ji president Mitchell Wolfson asking "initiate consideration." pA's plan, less detailed and more general hi Allied's, differed primarily from the br's on two points: (1) A salaried national jilinistrator, at not more than $25,000 anMly, to be appointed by the U. S. SecreM of Commerce, and (2) in the selection • pgional arbitrators. In addition, each of ifthree men on the regional boards would tjive a maximum of $50 per day plus reeling expenses, and there would be a lu fee for defendant and plaintiff of $25 l| with the loser paying costs on the case. J nis was in contrast to Allied's emphasis Wn "inexpensive" system, in which it was fiosed that the arbitrators serve without • TOA's recommendation of an arbitrator pbinted by a member of the Government W also out of line with Allied's opposition 0 tovernment interference of any sort. 4Thile TOA did not specifically mention' ij rentals as a subject for arbitration, the Muage was so couched that this point Wd well be interpreted as being embraced <t RCH 10, 1952 was geared to start around Labor Day. "It's mighty tough trying to pull people out of their homes," he said, "when it's cold, or snowing, or raining. When the weather is warmer and the days are longer, people don't sit around watching television. That's when we're going to make our strongest pitch to the public. Funny, isn't it, but remember how we used to dread the start of daylight saving time each year? Now I look forward to it as a boon to our business. I only hope the film companies give us the right kind of pictures." The distributors, likewise, are drifting BULLETIN NEWS u nil OPINION MITCHELL WOLFSON Asks 'Immediate Consideration1 by the TOA plan: "Any matters arising out of, or in connection with, the film contract, or any matters involving clearances, or runs, or any controversies concerning competitive bidding." The TOA plan proposes that any decisi-.n made by two of the three members of the regional board be final and binding, with no appeal. away from the old policy of sloughing off the least desirable pictures during the summertime, and there is ample evidence of a strong lineup of product for the next six months. 20th-Fox, Metro, Paramount and Columbia have announced promising programs to be released through the spring and summer months. There no longer seems to be any tendency on the part of the film companies to hold back strong boxoffice properties fcr the fall season. Another factor, incidentally, has something to do with this interest on the part of the distributors in warm weather business. That is the increasing importance of the revenue derived from drive-ins. The rapid expansion of this phase of the industry and the fact that drive-ins are no longer content to accept late runs and slough-off product gives the fiV.n companies an additional profit incentive to release more topflight films in the warm weather. Before long, no doubt, theatres will be shouting, "Springtime Is Movietime" and "Summertime Ditto." COMPO Machinery In Fresh Spurt; Skouras Nod Awaited Spyros P. Skouras, president-elect of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations, succeeding Xed E. Depinet, was being awaited eagerly by a delegation from COMPO upon his arrival from Europe late last week to determine whether he would accept the post. Xotice of his election at the all-industry organization's executive board meeting was cabled to Skouras in Zurich, Switzerland, hut no acceptance has been received and the decision was forced to wait upon his return. Other officers named were: Herman Robbins, treasurer and Sidney Schreiber, secretary. Appointment of an executive vice-president will be made the new president. Arthur I.. Mayer has agreed to stay on in the post until a successor can be found. Other action taken by the COMPO board: Formulated and sent a resolution condemning the House Un-American Committee report on Red activity in Hollywood (full text on page 15); Invited TEDA and TESMA to become members of COMPO; set up an admissions tax committee to explore the advisability of a campaign to remove the levy; ' adopted a flat-rate dues assessment plan; set up a general program of activitives, including star tours. COMPO lost little time in setting its machinery into motion. Nine p. a. tours were set for the next three months, with stars, producers, directors and writers participating. The first junket leaves Hollywood March 16 for the Oklahoma City territory. Six tours during April will cover the Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, and Xew York state areas, and in May the (Continued on Page 14) 11