Independent Exhibitors Film Bulletin (1960)

u lewpoints iR 19. I960 / VOLUME 28. NO. 19 SEPTEMBER 19, 1960 Welcome* i\e$r Film Xlukers Because change and progress usually are indiscernible, humans are given to despairing that their ills will never pass. To comfort us, philosophers through the ages have contrived such happy soothsayings as, "It's Always Darkest Before the Dawn" and "Behind Every Cloud There's a Silver Lining ". Trapped in a vise-like impasse between a greatly reduced audience and a sharply constricted film output, theatremen in recent years had been sinking deeper and deeper into an attitude of despondency about their future. Nothing, it seemed, could relax the product shrinkage that had taken its toll of many movie houses and threatened so many more. Now, suddenly, a bright new day seems about to dawn. The motion picture industry today is abuzz with excitement about production activities by new people who comprehend the imbalance that exists between film supply and demand. Like keen and farsighted businessmen, they sense the needs of the market and plan to provide the product it requires. Some time ago, we wrote here: "The film companies, content with the tight little sellers' market they have evolved in recent years, are deluding themselves if they believe this business will always remain their oyster. Supply in any field has a habit of developing to meet demand, and it is inevitable that some day soon some keeneyed, profit-minded entrepreneurs will plunge into film production to take up the slack between present-day output and the needs of thousands of theatres." Well, here they come. From the realty field, William Zeckendorf; from hotel operations, the Tisch brothers; from exhibition, ACE. They come with plans and the wherewithal to "crash" the gates of filmdom. Mr. Zeckendorf said the production field needs a broader base, one on which theatremen, as well as film companies, can prosper. "The industry is not an exclusive club for the few", he declared. "It belongs to the many." And, let's face it, some of our film leaders have grown smug with the presumption that they have the market fenced off as their private province. We join with exhibition in extending a hearty welcome to the new film makers. The industry needs you. The TV Seasan Tooks Caatl 1 or Us! This month marks the traditional opening of a new television season, the start of doings that are of more than passing interest to our industry. How good, or bad, the competitive entertainment medium will be concerns everyone in movie business. An early appraisal of the 1960-61 TV season impels the conclusion that the overall quality of the medium's programming is down-graded this season. Apparently playing it according to the strictest commercial rules, and nothing more, the networks seem determined to stick to formula in dispensing this season's video fare. The public will be fed a highly increased number of filmed series of familiar bent — westerns, family situations, private eyes, crime shows. BULLETIN Film BULLETIN: Motion Picture Trade Paper published every other Monday by Wai Publications. Inc. Mo Wai. Editor and Publisher. PUBLICATION-EDITORIAL OFFICES: 123? Vine Street. Philadelphia 7, Pa., LOcust 8-0950, 0951. Philip R. Ward. Associate Editor; Leonard Coulter, New York Associate Editor; Berne Schneyer Publication Manager; Mai Garelick Business Manager; Robert Heath. Circulation Manager. BUSINESS OFFICE: 550 Fifth Avenue, New York 36, N. Y., Circle 5-0124; Ernest Shapiro, N.Y. Editorial Representative. Subscription Rates: ONE YEAR, $3.00 in the U. S.; Canada, $4.00; Europe $5.00. TWO YEARS. $5.00 in the U. S.; Canada. Europe. $9.00. Of particular interest to movie people is the fact that the new season will see a sharp (approximately 50^) reduction in TV specials. Television's programmers maintain they are conforming to the public's preferences, which, indeed, may be so. In any event, the type of programming scheduled to dominate home screens this season presents a fine opportunity for our industry to exploit to advantage. The most devoted segment of television viewers is comprised of those who, by reason of age, circumstance or convenience, are content to sit home to watch the repetitive, weekly grind of 30-minute or hour-long TV fare. They have become the occasional or rare moviegoers. On the other hand, the restless younger people and their discriminating elders who still find moviegoing an exciting adventure also were prone to the lure of television's special shows, which offered some degree of novelty and style and pageantry hinting of movies. This is the point. With the reduction in specials, a decided competitive factor has been siphoned out of TV. As television lowers its sights more and more to the common denominator, opportunity increases for movie business to widen the breach between the two media. This new TV season looks good — for us. Another season, another reason for making whoopee. 20th-Fox. The Working Si mi to When he assumed command of the 20th Century-Fox studio, Robert Goldstein promptly made known his intention of activating the plant's vast facilities for a stepped-up production program. "I consider it foolish," he said, "to have a big, well-equipped studio and not make use of it." (Continued on Pjt;c II) Film BULLETIN September 19. I960 Page 7