Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1960)

What They'te Talking About □ □ □ In the Movie Business □ □ □ MOVIE MAN ZECKENDORF. Look for William Zeckendorf to become increasingly active in -movie matters. Through his association with various deals involving studios and theatres, the dynamic realty man. has become convinced that the time is ripe for the entrance of new entrepreneurs into the film production field. Zeckendorf s reputation for boldness of action is seen carrying him far beyond the modest step he is taking into production via the new Alpha Distributing Co., perhaps, ultimately, into acquisition of a studio of his own. 0 'ENTER BROTHERS TISCH. Bill Zeckendorf will not be the only one to move from hotel realty to film production. The Tisch brothers, Laurence and Preston, now firmly in the saddle at Loew's Theatres, likewise are impressed with the potential of the movie market and are eager to extend their activities into production. Their brief experience thus far in the Loew's operation has served to convince them that there s room for new blood in picture production. The thinking of the Tischmen is not confined :o easing the product shortage only for their )wn circuit; they believe the gap between film supply and demand leaves a profitable world-wide market for more pictures. When the Department )f Justice clears the roadblock, Loew's v i 1 1 move fast into the field. o SUMMER B.O. DOWN. Early indications from i check being made of all leading theatre chains ire that theatre business for the past Summer vas down between 7 and 10 percent from last year. Onus for the slump is generally put on the quality of the product available during the season. Details will be made known in the next issue of Film BULLETIN. o ETOBICOKE SILENCE. The date for the accounting of the toll-TV experiment in Etobicoke continues to recede. On numerous occasions since the service was instituted in the Toronto suburb last February 26 vague promises have been made by Telemeter that a definite report on public response would be forthcoming, but each time the accounting date has been pushed back. Latest word is that Trans-Canada Telemeter will withhold the information for some time to come, perhaps six months after the goal of 6,000 installations is reached (the count is now over 5,000). Meanwhile, there was a sharp, albeit not unexpected, drop in feevee viewing during the Summer months. While there is certain to be a pick-up in the Fall, Telemeter's "take" will depend on the programming. Many subscribers are demanding more than the almost straight film fare offered so far, and TCT is hoping to line up popular sports events. It already has been indicated that such attractions can outgross any of the movies presented, including "Ten Commandments". o NO EADY PLAN FOR U.S. Immediate and firm exhibitor reaction to the proposal by inde producer Walter Mirisch for an America^ version of the British Eady Plan is thumbs down. While eager to hear any idea that might spark more production, most theatremen see the Mirisch suggestion as leading to an increase in film rentals, and they are in no mood for that. The Eady Plan in Britain takes the form of a boxoffice tax, proceeds of which are turned over to producers for additional production. It is credited with rescuing the British film industry. While not averse to subsidies by the government to stimulate production, U. S. theatremen will be found unalterably opposed to using their boxoffices as the collection agencies to finance any subsidy program. Rim BULLETIN September If. 1*40 Page 5