The Independent Film Journal (1954)

WE SALUTE The Memphis “Press-Scimitar” for de¬ voting a lead editorial one day last week to urging its readers to attend one of the down¬ town theatres. The paper declared that “all five Memphis’ downtown, first-run theatres are featuring first-rate films.” It noted that the city had been responding to these films so well that all five were being held over. The editorial then asked, “have you been to the movies lately? This is a good time to go.” Features involved were “Gone With The Wind,” “Garden of Evil,” “Three Coins in the Fountain,” “Knock on Wood” and “The High and the Mighty.” IATSE Local 273 of New Haven, which has set up an advertising campaign urging people to attend theatres employing union help. The advertisements, placed on 24-sheet billboards, list all the theatres in the area that are union-operated. Campaign is spon¬ sored by Projectionists Local 273’s advertis¬ ing committee to help business at theatres that have contracts with IATSE locals. James N. Jovan, operator of the Monroe Theatre, Chicago, for taking the initiative in writing to Chicago’s film critics about unfair treatment of films. Jovan told them that when his theatre plays poor films “the critics make our lives quite miserable, but regard¬ less of the number of good fares that I show, they are incredibly silent in their praise.” The letter received front page treatment by “The New World,” official Catholic paper, which urged its readers to patronize ac¬ credited pictures. The Catholic paper ran an editorial headed “Decent Film Fare Up To You!” in which it explained that the only way to stimulate the production of more decent films is to support those that are being produced now. California Exhibitors Re-Elect Hamm Prexy San Francisco. — L. S. Hamm has been re-elected president of the Northern Cali¬ fornia Theatre Association. Hamm stated that the group will concentrate on the TOA resolution concerning formulation of a plan for production of top grade films in order to relieve the product shortage. Other officers elected include Homer Tegtmeier and Abe Blumenfeld, vice-presidents; Lee Dibble, secretary -treasurer ; Charles M. Thall, executive secretary, and Hule McGinn, public relations chief. Directors include Mark Ailing, Robert Broadbent, Roy Cooper, Ger¬ ald Hardy, Lloyd Lamb, Ben Levin, Irving Levin, Earl Long, Henry Nasser, August Panero, John J. Parsons, Boyd Sparrow, C. V. Taylor and Harry Weaverling. Theatres Ask For Shorts Because of the limited supply of short subjects available for art house bookings, the Walter Reade circuit has been inserting ad¬ vertisements asking for a suitable short to run with one of its art films at the Baronet Theatre, N.Y.C. A spokesman for the chain reported that the nation’s art theatres are constantly on the lookout for short subjects and that the ad was a “shot in the dark.” Allied Rent Beefs Due For Hearings ( Continued from page 5) the bleaching bones of the customers,” Myers warned. The bulletin granted that “as of the present time no evidence has been gathered which would support a charge that the film companies have formally agreed among them¬ selves” to appropriate “all or an unfair por¬ tion of the benefits of the tax bill.” The executive noted that “there is not even complete uniformity among the several companies in the practices employed; nor are the practices employed the same as to all pictures or classes of pictures.” Myers ex¬ plained that the “pattern of conduct” is not in the methods but “in the uniformity of results attained.” Speaking earlier for New Jersey members, Snaper revealed that the unit has appointed a committee to plan a campaign to make more films and prints available for exhibi¬ tors. Members of the group include Lee New¬ bury, Sidney Stern and Irving Dollinger. The New Jersey president disclosed that part of the strategy may include presenting the prob¬ lem to the public. Board Meeting Slated When final plans are completed they will be presented to the National Allied board, which is scheduled to meet at White Sulphur Springs on Aug. 23-24. Whether accepted or not by the national board, the New Jersey unit will take action on its own, according to the exhibitor leader. It may take legal action similar to the Jackson Park case, Snaper disclosed. The of¬ ficer noted that his membership is “bitter” because it is losing benefits gained by the new tax law. He explained that expensive advertising campaigns are ruined when the product is held up in first-run Broadway houses and not released to the smaller ex¬ hibitors. In another local area, support for Myers’ statement came from Jack Kirsch, president of Illinois Allied, who stated similar beliefs at a directors’ meeting of that organization. Kirsch scored the distributors for demanding such unconscionable terms for their product which, he declared, “is threatening the exist¬ ence of exhibition and is depriving the ex¬ hibitor of his rightful share” of the tax saving. McClanahan KATO Head; Tax Easing Possibility Louisville, Ky. — Ralph E. McClanahan has been elected president of the Kentucky Association of Theatre Owners at a meeting in this city. The new head predicted that if the State Legisla¬ ture reduces the 10 percent admission tax, as is hoped for, many closed theatres mav re-open. Other officers include Charles R. Mitchell, John Keck, W. E. Horsefield and Tom Hill, vice-presidents; C. R. Buechel, treas¬ urer; Nell Borden, secretary, and Henry J. Stites, counsel. r. e. McClanahan NEW POSTS Ray Klune, veteran motion picture execu¬ tive, signed a long-term contract to become general production manager of the HechtLancaster Organization. Formerly executive production manager of 20th Century-Fox, a post he held for 11 years, Klune will per¬ sonally produce a number of films in his new assignment. Sid Rogell was named executive productioo manager at 20th Century-Fox, succeeding Klune. Rogell joined the film company in 1952 after 15 years as a top executive j at RKO. Burt LIirshfeld joined the publicity staff of IFE, where he succeeds Johanna Grant, resigned. Hirshfeld was formerly a feature writer for Universal-International. Gil Golden, advertising manager of War¬ ner Bros. Pictures, was named chairman of the MPAA’s advertising and publicity direc¬ tors committee, succeeding Steve Edwards, Republic director of advertising and public¬ ity. The post is filled for a six month term on a company rotation basis. Dr. Charles F. McKhann, board chair¬ man of the Playtex Park Research Institute, was elected a director of Stanley Warner Corp. The institute is a public service foundation sponsored by International Latex Corp., a wholly-owned S-W subsidiary. Dr. McKhann is professor of pediatrics at the Jefferson Medical College. Lester Crown has resigned as a S-W director. Americo Aboaf Sees ’54 As Another Record Year The belief that 1954 will prove to be an¬ other record-breaking year for Universal in Europe as well as in other foreign markets was expressed by Americo Aboaf, the com¬ pany’s foreign sales chief, at a press confer¬ ence following his two-month European tour. Aboaf brought back with him a completely optimistic picture of conditions abroad. He noted that after speaking with many foreign exhibitors, he is convinced that the future will be bright, especially if American aid to these foreign countries is continued. Foreign exhibitors feel a part of the inter¬ national motion picture industry, he ex¬ plained. European theatre owners are not worried by the approach of television, the executive explained, because they feel that superior product will beep audiences in the theatres. There is special confidence in the continuing quality of American product, he revealed. Marked out for exceptional progress was Germany, which is in the midst of a theatre boom. Ask Censor Law Study Albany. — New York’s 31-year-old censor¬ ship law needs re-studying, according to Dr. Hugh M. Flick, director of the motion pic¬ ture division of the State Education Division, who spoke at a Rotary Club luncheon. Dr. Flick declared that the film industry has a good system of self-censorship and that the most troublesome films are those not gov¬ erned by the production code. 20 THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— July 24. 1954