Harrison's Reports (1962)

120 HARRISON'S REPORTS August 4, 1962 N.J .-N.Y. C onvention... (Continued from Front Page) guidance and rulings on the following: The stimuta' tion of movie attendance in theatres. This will include not only the conventional neighborhood house but the drive'ins as well. There will be a huge display of newly developed theatre equipment that will re' duce the operating costs of a house. All of these innovations will be presented, to the exhibitors, for the first time. It was stated by both Infald and Cohen that the agendas will be full ones. But, they were not yet ready for release when we were going to press. National Allied Holds Board Meeting It is to be remembered that, like a lot of added moral support, nearly all the officers, members of the board and committee heads of National Allied will be in attendance August 6-9. Chairman of the board of Allied States Association, Ben Marcus, and president Marshall H. Fine have called the quarterly (summer) session of the board to be held at the Concord. There will be due reason for great expectations of important accomplishments of the Allied exhibitors when the coming session of the two state units will have been over. At the hub of motion picture operations towers the place of the exhibitor. He is a symbol of strength and a guarantee of the stability of character that has helped make the industry what it is, the greatest mass-appealing form of entertainment that mankind has ever known. As the theatre men of New Jersey and New York sit in solemn convention, they will realize the valuable role they play in their respective communities. The exhibitors will seek light and guid' ance the better to serve their patrons. They will also seek fairer equities and more reasonable dealings from the men (distributors) who supply them with the product that keeps the theatres going. Each Must Do His Share But, there can be no equity, nor fairness when there is the kind of imbalance that assertedly finds the exhibitor on the losing end of operations. Each must do his share (distributor-exhibitor) to balance the scales of proper business conduct. Which is re' mindful of one of the first conventions this reporter ever covered. He heard a man, whom the whole in' dustry trusted, tell the assemblage: "When one aims to do his share and do it properly, he is merely following in the steps of all those great men who in serving have found that service is the supreme commitment of life." It came from Will H. Hays. For a while it was the credo of our whole business. While a goodly number of releases have flowed across the screens of the nation's theatres since the film generalissimo (Hays, a Presbyterian Elder from Indiana) expounded his idealogical philosophy, it is not much different today. The economic burden in the motion picture business continues heavy. Grave responsibilities rest on the shoulders of all factors in the films. "Each must aim to do his share!" At no time, was the exhibitor found wanting in meeting his obligations. Good luck to you Allied showmen of New Jersey, New York and surrounding areas! The very best of all good wishes! Z anu c h Future... (Continued from Front Page) one of the big things going for Zanuck, " the friendship, the efforts, the guidance, the super-salesmanship and the overall help that a man like Skouras is so qualified to give. Big Changes in Production Setup It stands to reason, that there will be a big change in the production setup over at 20th-Fox. The studio is Zanuck's bailiwick. Here is where he shines best. And, here is where he scored his greatest triumphs. That he intends devoting a great deal of his time to the operation of the vast lot, there can be no doubt. He himself almost said as much when he took over: "The president of a motion picture company today should be its production head as well as its administrative head." To be sure, Zanuck doesn't intend to be everything to everybody all the time. He will surround himself with a powerful production roster and experienced aides. That brilliant picture producer, known for his money-making releases, William Wyler is already on Zanuck's side, almost both ways. Wyler will not only be turning out films, but he'll be sitting in as a member of the board. Zanuck will aim at bringing the old status of the majors into operation again. Meaning, the studio will employ (on contract) stars, writers, directors, producers. It won't be a hand-tomouth existence. Zanuck has always held that he who owns the talent controls the release. Knowing what he's got (talent-wise) and what he could do with it, he can plan far ahead and be reasonably sure that he will come up with a goodly number of releases. This should be good news for the exhibitor, for it augurs well that there will be an increase in film output. Zanuck is not a procrastinator. His production schedules were not cleaved out of the costly delays of long, endless conferences; mind-changing schedule upsets; never ending revampings with their residue of confusion. Zanuck is respected by Hollywood's topflight talent in all the branches of picture making. Many of the big money-making stars will be anxious to work for him. Being one of the richest men in Hollywood finds him a more dedicated man to the inspiring cause that is good picture producing for the sole sake of good picture entertainment. He seems to be in search for that golden fleece that should be every creative man's individual integrity with every picture he starts. But, all that is production, - prologue. What comes now is executive know-how in heading up a gigantic Goliath like 20th-Fox. What will need precise squaring will be the multitudinous administrative matters. These operations will have to fit with their decisions, deductions, determinations like a square peg in a square hole. It is to be expected that Zanuck will falter here and there. Such occasions will not be many. For, the venerable chairman of the board will always be there, - if necessary to lean on. Yes, Skouras will be waiting to be of every help pos' sible to his presidential successor. What a relief that will be to the man trying his hand at something so new, so big, and challenging and demanding as the presidency of one of the truly great majors of the motion picture industry. The very best to you, Darryl F. Zanuck!