Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1957)

THEY MADE THE NEWS MARTIN HENRY M. (HI) MARTIN has succeeded the late Charles J. Feldman as general sales manager of Universal Pictures. The appointment was announced by president Milton R. Rackmil. Martin, who has been in the Universal organization for 23 years, began his career as a poster clerk in the company's Oklahoma City exchange. Working his way up the ladder, he eventually became Southern division manager, the post he held prior to his new appointment. Commenting on Martin's ability, executive vice president Alfred E. Daff said: "We are extremely fortunate in having within our organization one of the most capable distribution executives in "Hi" Martin, who has proved himself to be a man of great capacity and integrity. Those who have had a close relationship with him, have admired his ability and his fairness in all things. He is one of the youngest men to be appointed to such a position— he is barely 45 years of age, and I feel certain that the industry will welcome a man of his outstanding ability." o THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have simplified procedures for determining "Oscar" nominees and winners. The new streamlining rules: 1) nominations for acting, writing, directing and other accomplishments will be restricted to voting by members of the branch concerned. 2) a reduction of the number of awards to be made in six work categories. An earlier ruling prevents performers receiving co-star billing from reducing their status to supporting player in order to compete for supporting-performance awards. o TYRONE POWER and TED RICHMOND will produce a quartet of motion pictures for release via United Artists, it was an nounced by Power and UA president Arthur B. Krim. First of the films to be produced by the new ly-formed company, Copa Productions, will be "The Lost Steps," an adventure drama which will be filmed on location in Venezuela in C'Scope and color. o JASON RABINOVITZ has been appointed assistant treasurer of Loew's, Inc. by financial vice president Robert H. O'Brien. With AB-PT Theatres since 1950, Rabinovitz was appointed assistant controller in 1954 and, then, in 1956 was advanced to administrative vice president of the ABC television network. 0 ALLIED ARTISTS, following up its expansion policy of offering distribution and coproduction facilities to independent producers, has concluded arrangements to acquire 32 films. Twelve films have already been completed and negotiations are now going on with 11 producers for another 20 motion pictures. To supplement the new operational policy, which was announced by president Steve Broidy some three months ago, the company is preparing for the production of six of its own films during the next three months. 0 20TH CENTURY-FOX has denied rumors that it plans to distribute its own film product to TV. Here is the denial statement issued by the film company: "The report is entirely without basis in fact. Our company is not engaged in any such negotiations, nor is it contemplating any such move. Moreover, we have been completely satisfied with the work and performance of National Telefilm Associates who are properly handling the distribution of our feature films and television material." 0 SAMUEL GOLDWYNs antitrust suit against 20th Century-Fox, Fox West Coast Theatres and Fox West Coast Agency Corp. resumed last week before Federal Judge Edward P. Murphy. Scheduled to take the witness stand as the last major witness in the 51,755,000 suit is the noted producer himself. 0 MARTIN MULLIN, president of Allied Theatres of New England, announced that his organization has endorsed the work of Leonard Goldenson and Edward Hyman of American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres who are attempting to obtain orderly distribution of product from the film companies. He revealed that ATNE, which is unaffiliated with any national exhibitor organization and represents some 200 theatres, will send representatives to take part in the forthcoming N. Y. meeting w ith film distributors. 0 JERRY WALD, 20th Century-Fox producer, blasted the television industry' for being "hitch-hikers" and "brain pickers ". In a San Francisco speech, he accused the cathodetube medium of having "no courage of their own" and of fostering "assembly-line product". Some Waldisms: "The public doesn't know what it wants, so you give the public what you want. This is the (film industry's) greatest strength . . . TV is the place where you see the pictures you've been trying to avoid for years." Allied Report (Continued from Page 14) urged exhibitors to take the following action in ^elf defense: if a distributor does not make a film available on normal clearance schedules, the picture should be passed up completely by the exhibitor. After the film companies have whetted the public's desire to see a particular film, "they promptly take the pictures off the market after the first-run engagement and dissipate a great potential by starving the public as well as the exhibitor," he charged. In the same vein, Horace Adams, president of Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio, and Ruben Shor, former Allied president, declared that the small theatre is being put out of business as part of a preconceived plot. The basis for their charge was the continuing print shortage. Shor indicated that the big buyer could always get a print when he needed it, but that this is not the case with the small theatre owner. "If exhibitors want to stay in business, they had better join up together," he said. The Cincinnati exhibitor openly advocated a boycott of those companies who are not providing prints on the dates they are supposed to be available. "You are being cut up singly. Some of you are operating in the black now, but it won't be for too long. You will be in the red w ithin a year and, in fighting this issue, the reds and the blacks will have to work together." These following actions were also taken by the convention: A condemnation of Paramounts acquisition of the Esquire Theatre in Chicago. Allied w ill also request the Attorney General to take prompt action "to annul this transaction and to halt "any further movements among film companies to follow Paramount's lead." Protested the "feast and famine" policies of releasing top grade product during holiday periods. Made a plea for orderly releasing schedules keyed to the needs of the theatregoing public and exhibition. Endorsed motion picture industry sponsorship of the Academy Awards telecast next March. However, only qualified approval was given to the Sweepstakes plan. Gordon indicated that Allied would support the AA Sweepstakes only if every film in the 1958 competition has had a minimum of 2,500 playdates. Urged Paramount Pictures to eliminate its five-theatre sub-run blueprint for "Ten Commandments" and place the film in general release. Requested film companies to subject the release of feature films to television to clearance protection that would favor theatres. A committee is to be appointed to discuss this problem with the film companies on an individual basis. Protested Joseph L. Mankiewicz' statement that "motion pictures can be shown just as well in a living room as in a 2,000 seat barn" and requested an apology from the producer. An expression of sympathy to the family of the late Charles J. Feldman, Universal general sales manager. Page 22 Film BULLETIN November II, 1957