Harrison's Reports (1962)

Entered as second-class matter January i, 1921, at the post oflsce at New York, New York, under the act of March 3, 1879. ON'S REPORTS Yearly Subscription Rates: Published Weekly by Unfted States $17.00 Harrison's Reports, Inc., U. S. Insular Possessions... 19.00 Canada and Mexico 19.00 A Motion picture Reviewing Service 1600 Broadway Other Countries 19.50 New York 19, N. Y. 45c a Copy Devoted Chiefly to the Interests of the Exhibitors COlumbus 5-4434 Established July I, 1919 Martin Starr, Editor A REVIEWING SERVICE FREE FROM THE INFLUENCE OF FILM ADVERTISING Vol. XLIV SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 1962 No. 15 Do Indies Weaken Majors? With each passing year, the future of the inde' pendent movie-maker seems more promising and his position in the film-famished industry more secure. There are more of his kind today turning out the product so badly needed at the box offices, than ever before. His number, like the tribe of Abou Ben Ad' hem, will continue to increase. This is all to the credit of the enterprising executives (and the profit' participating talent in this end of the business) who play for keeps at being their own boss. On the side of the independent, and a strong economic ally, is Uncle Sam with his capital-gains setup. Since an Academy Award is the symbol of achievement measurable in noticeable box office re' turns, then it could well be said that this year, in the realm of the Oscar, was the one which high' lighted the remarkable progress made by the picture packagers, " the independent producers. They couldn't lose, considering that all five films nominated were from their workshops. The entries were all of big sature and had been proving their box office power, across the nation, long before the final judge' ment night, out at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, had rolled around. What does this state of affairs augur for the major studios? Will Independents Rule the Roost? Will we go along with Paul Lazaraus, Jr., for instance, who told us a few days ago, that the very future of the industry is in the hands of the independent? He made the statement on the occasion of Samuel Bronston's announcement that Lazarus, surprisingly and hurriedly resigned as vice president of Columbia Pictures, had joined the Bronston organization as executive vice-president. Lazarus said that the independent film-maker is in a position of turning out product cheaper and sometimes better. "The independent film-maker works better, faster because he has a free approach to his work," said Bronston 's second top man. Speak to the five independent producers whose films were nominated this year, Stanley Kramer, Robert Rossen, Carl Foreman, Joshua Logan and the Mirisch-Wise-Robbins combination responsible for the winning picture, - "West Side Story." They'll tell you that all the freedom in the world was given them by the distributors and their studios. In several of these mammoth, million-dollar productions the major distributors had a hefty financial investment. While a studio man with a dollar investment in a property has a right to protect it, by knowing what the independent film-maker is doing most of the (Continued on Bac\ Page) Skouras Fete Scores Big Seldom in the history of the motion picture industry, known for its fabulous operation of the "testimonial" when honoring the deserving and the worthy, has there been a celebration so replete with heartfelt interest and genuine adulation as the one which marked the salute to Spyros Plato Skouras on the oc casion of the 20th anniversary of his presidency of 20th Century-Fox. Co-sponsored by the Allied States Association of Motion Picture Exhibitors and the Theatre Owners of America, it crowded the main ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria with the overflow taking to the mezzanine. Topflight exhibitors, owners and operators of vast chains of theatres came from all parts of these United States to join in the sincere manifestation of the in' dustry's profound respect for the great pioneer, and their abiding faith in his future achievements in an industry which he virtually picked up from the floor with his $100,000,000 savior, CinemaScope. From men hardened, by the years, to the ever-challenging exigencies of a tough business, there poured forth plenty of deeply-felt sentiment. Nation's Exhibitor Leaders Present S. H. Fabian, Irving Dollinger, Harry Brandt, Ben Marcus (chairman of the board of Allied States Ascontinued on Bac\ Page) Maryland Exhibs Elect New Slate Veteran, dedicated theatre men inherited the major offices of the Allied Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Maryland for the year ahead. The following were voted in with unanimous acclaim: C. Elmer Nolte, Jr., is the new president. He's managing director of the F. H. Durkee Enterprises. Nolte has been operating theatres since 1926 . . . The vice presidency went to Harry C. Bondurant. A time-tested, knowledgeable showman of many years experience, Bondurant has been connected with the E. M. Loew's Theatres for a long time. Leon Back is the new treasurer. Graduate lawyer, engineer Back's greater love is the theatre business. He's general manager of the Rome Theatres . . . Both Nolte and Back have been Allied leaders of long standing. The new board of directors consist of the following: Meyer Leventhal, H. Vernon Nolte, Jacob Levin, J. Stanley Baker, Louis Gaertner, Walter Gettinger, J. Robert Gruver and Victor H. Savadow.