Harrison's Reports (1954)

as a«oond-cULas matter January 4, 1921, at the post office at New York, New York, under the act of March 3, 1879. Harrison’S Reports Yearly Subscription Rates: United States $15.00 U. S. Insular Possessions. 16.50 Canada 16.50 Mexico, Cuba, Spain 16.50 Great Britain 17.50 Australia, New Zealand, India, Europe, Asia .... 17.50 35c a Copy 1270 SIXTH AVENUE New York 20, N. Y. Published Weekly by Harrison’s Reports, Inc., Publisher A Motion Picture Reviewing Service Devoted Chiefly to the Interests of the Exhibitors P. S. HARRISON, Editor Established July 1, 1919 Its Editorial Policy; No Problem Too Big for Its Editorial Columns, if It is to Benefit the Elxbibitor. Circle 7-4632 A REVIEWING SERVICE FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF FILM ADVERTISING Vol. XXXVI SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1954 No. 15 THE ALLIED 12-PICTURE DEAL Allied States Association announced this week that, as the first step in its endeavor to secure additional product for “picture-starved” independent exhibitors, it has entered into an arrangement with Hal. R. Makelim, of Hollywood,' for the production of twelve feature pictures to be delivered to contract theatres at the rate of one a month beginning in late summer or early fall. According to the announcement, the plan involves no capital investment on the part of the exhibitors, nor will they engage directly in the production or distribution of the films. Under the plan, 2,500 theatres will be afforded the opportunity to sign exhibition contracts for the pictures. Each contract will be for twelve pictures at predetermined flat rentals. The total rentals for each picture will equal the production cost thereof, and Makelim and his associates will rely upon the further marketing and exploitation of the pictures for their profit. In other words, states the announcement, the 2,500 exhibitors will, in effect, underwrite Makelim’s production costs but they will advance no money and merely pay for the pictures as they are delivered. In spreading the production cost among the 2,500 "charter member” theatres, the total has been allocated among the several film delivery territories in the proportion that each such territory contributes to the gross rentals for all companies. According to the announcement, these ratings of film delivery territories according to the revenue produced therein are well known in the motion picture business. The plan also contemplates certain benefits to the “charter members” in the form of rebates from profits, but such exhibitors will not be partners in the venture. Under the plan, Allied members and others who may be invited by the regional leaders will be given the opportunity to sign exhibition contracts for the pictures at a series of meetings to be held in various parts of the country. The plan will first be presented at conventions of Alhed regional associations in Denver, May 3; Omaha, May 4; Kansas City, May 5 and Minneapolis, May 11. John M. Wolfberg is acting for Allied in completing ar-. rangements on the Coast, and Trueman T. Rembusch is serving as co-ordinator in planning the meetings. In addition to the above-mentioned meetings, the tentative schedule is as follows: Milwaukee, May 12; Chicago, May 14; Columbus, May 17; Boston, May 24; Baltimore, May 25; Indianapolis, May 27; New Orleans, May 28; Memphis, June 1; St. Louis, June 2; Oklahoma City, June 4; Dallas, June 7. This schedule still is in a fluid state and subject to change. The announcement states also that the average production cost per picture may be considered low in comparison with the swollen budgets of some major studios, but it adds that the difference, as explained by Makelim, represents lower overhead and economies made possible by existing conditions in Hollywood and will not be reflected in the quality of the pictures. Although Allied’s connection with the plan is only recent, Makelim has been working on it for almost a year in his headquarters at an RKO-Pathe studio, which he leases. He has traveled more than 15,000 miles in the past three months to check and perfect the plan. He is head of his own producing company, known as Hal R. Makelim Productions, and a distributing company, known as Atlas Pictures Ckirporation. Associated with Makelim are Sam Nathanson and Frank Borzage, the veteran producer-director. The names of available story properties, stars, directors and technicians will be disclosed by Makelim at the exhibitor meetings. In announcing the plan, Abram F. Myers, National AUied’s board chairman and general counsel, had this to say; “This is the first time in the history of our industry that a producer of motion pictures has taken into full consideration the problems of the independent exhibitors and has taken direct steps to meet those problems. The Hal R. Makelim plan is perfect in theory to provide vital product to the exhibitors in time of direst need and I am very hopeful that it will succeed.” The announcement made it clear that the effort by Allied to stimulate the independent production of pictures is non-exclusive in the sense that Allied is free to continue its explorations and activity in this field. Moreover, the effort is compatible with and not in lieu of the Allied plan to secure the production of additional pictures by one of the major companies. Harrison’s Reports echoes the sincere hope expressed by Mr. Myers that the Makelim plan will succeed and that it will provide the exhibitors with a means by which to combat the product shortage. And it is to be hoped also that Mr. Makelim, in availing himself of the independent exhibitor backing, will produce pictures that will justify their hopes and that will measure up to the better pictures of other producing companies so that the exhibitors will get meaningful relief. THREE CHEERS! Limited space has prevented Harrison’s Reports from commenting before now on the successful campaign waged by COMPO for the reduction of the excise tax on admis< sion tickets. But its cheers — three of them — are nonetheless loud. One cheer is for COMPO as the organization that spearheaded the efforts to convince Congress of the need for eliminating the tax. The second cheer is for all segments of the industry for again showing that they can work together in harmony and for again proving that in unity there is true strength. Finally, but far from the least, the third cheer is for Col. H. A. Cole, Pat McGee, Robert Coyne and all their co-workers for their untiring work and personal devotion to the job at hand. THE ALUED VIEW ON LENSES AND SOUND The following bulletin was issued recently by Abram F. Myers, National Allied board chairman and general counsel: "Watchdog Committee’s Conclusion “This Committee consisting of Wilbur Snaper, Sidney E. Samuelson and Irving Dollinger, with the undersigned as Counsel, has reached the following conclusion concerning the Tushinsky (SuperScope) lens described in the bulletin dated March 23. “As of today, the Tushinsky lens represents the best buy for exhibitors desiring to make wide screen presentations in either enclosed or open-air theatres. “The limiting words, ‘as of today,’ are used because this is a fast-developing art and one never knows when something new will be announced that will excel all that has gone before. "Perspecta Sound “To prove the accuracy of the foregoing observation, we are suddenly confronted with the announcement that hereafter all Metro and Paramount prints (except Metro’s CinemaScope pictures) will carry Perspecta stereophonic sound tracks. “At first blush this is startling, but a closer reading of the trade paper accounts shows that ‘stereophonic’ is not (Continued on bod( page)