The Independent Film Journal (1954)

Exhibitor Relief Foreseen; Warner Plans Flat Rentals Exhibitor relief appears to be definitely on the way. With the round of conferences between major distribution executives and the joint Allied-TOA committee nearly com¬ pleted (only United Artists remains to be seen), industry consensus is that practical and concrete results — especially pertaining to the small exhibitor — will be forthcoming from the intra-industry meetings. Statements made on both sides after the sessions were unusually cordial. Distribu¬ tion’s leaders acknowledged the justice of certain exhibitor complaints and promised corrective measures. The exhibitor group was optimistic and announcements were [ marked by the absence of name-calling and | the threat of government intervention. Indicative of the new temper emerging in exhibitor-distributor relations was the pre¬ diction by the joint committee that new sales policies to provide “immediate and remedial relief” would be forthcoming. According to the committee, Warner Bros. I distribution chief Ben Kalmenson is already | conducting a “national survey by exchange areas,” analyzing each theatre in order to set up a policy under which every theatre can buy product on a “fair and equitable” basis. "Every Assistance" Pledged Kalmenson was said to have stressed that “every assistance” would be given to small¬ grossing theatres and that flat-rental terms would be extended to such houses. Previous¬ ly, Abe Montague, Columbia Pictures vice1 president, agreed that on “certain topics,” like national sales policies, continuity of product, the development of new personali¬ ties, and the selling to small theatres on an equitable flat rental basis, he was in “com¬ plete agreement” with the committee. He assured the joint exhibitor group of complete cooperation. George Weltner, Paramount chief of world-wide sales, said that his company would take under “extremely friendly advise¬ ment” the committee’s presentation of ex¬ hibitor problems, particularly in those the¬ atres grossing under $1,000 a week. The committee, which advised distribution that “failure of their lines of communica¬ tion” had caused misunderstanding and fric¬ tion, said that it presented these exhibitor requests for discussion : Static Policies Condemned Eliminate all static national sales policies and sell pictures based upon individual merits to all theatres on their ability to pay; A fair and equitable sliding scale to avoid rebuying and renegotiating a picture time and time again ; Sell pictures to theatres grossing $1000 or less a week on a fair and equitable flat rental basis ; Arbitration on film rentals of $100 or less; Make more and better pictures with new and fresh 1 personalities ; Print shortage either by num¬ ber or classification. The committee expressed the belief that “there should be a more stringent policing not only by distribution of their sales peri sonnel but also by exhibitors in various ter¬ ritories to insure equitable dealings.” The TOA-Allied group was reported to be “in the process of evaluating the results of the individual conferences for the purpose Film Bill Unlikely Before Congress Adjourns With the adjournment of Congress close at hand, it is apparent that no attempt will be made at this session to gain legislative action which would make the Government the watchdog of exhibitor-distributor re¬ lations. National Allied, which has had frequent talks with Congressional leaders, has an¬ nounced its next board meeting for July 20, only a week before Congress’s target date for adjournment. Whatever Allied decides, it is unlikely that a busy Congress, with “must” legislation to be passed, would do more than refer any exhibitor request to a committee, which would then be unable to hold hearings. of making a full and detailed report to their respective organizations.” The group will not disband with the termination of the meetings, but -will continue to function and appraise the results of its conferences with the company heads. The sole company with which the TOAAllied committee has not met is United Artists. “Tentative dates” are being arranged for meetings with the latter company. Most recent meetings took place wflth executives of Republic and Allied Artists. The Republic spokesmen included Herbert J. Yates, presi¬ dent and Richard Altschuler, vice-president and director of world-wide sales. The Allied group was headed by Maurice Goldstein, vice-president and general sales manager, and Edward Morey, New York vice-president. The hope was voiced by the committee that “this all-out effort by exhibitor rela¬ tions” and that “production and distribu¬ tion will demonstrate their desire to prevent the closing of many theatres. Justice Answers Allied Washington. — The Justice Department has notified National Allied that it tries to give exhibitors advance notice on proposed theatre acquisitions by the divorced circuits. Answering an Allied complaint, Justice de¬ fended its present procedures as adequate, saying it tries to be sure that there is full publicity in the trade press, so that exhibi¬ tors can bring in pertinent information. TNT Gets Marciano Bout The rights to telecast the Rocky MarcianoArchie Moore world heavyweight champion¬ ship bout via closed circuit have been ob¬ tained by Theatre Network Television. Ac¬ cording to TNT president Nathan Halpern, over 100 theatres are expected to present the bout, which will take place on Sept. 20 at the Yankee Stadium. Ted Solomon Re-elected Gulfport, Miss. — Ted Solomon -was re¬ elected president of the Mississippi Theatre Owners Association. Other officers named were: John Williams, Bim Jackson, Van Tay¬ lor and Tom Garroway, vice-presidents; Jeb Williams, secretary-treasurer. A. L. Royal was elected board chairman. New Pay-TV Unit Set; FCC Stretches Rebuttal Deadline A fourth entry, claimed to have definite advantages over its competitors, has joined Zenith, International Telemeter and Skiatron in the pay-television swnepstakes. The latest system to be offered for ECC approval is Ultravision, patented by Dynamies-Electronics-New York. Ultravision reportedly can use any con¬ ventional TV receiver, using UHF or VHF channels, and needs neither a punch card nor coin box to collect revenues. Only an extra cable emerging from the set will be required. The cable will feed the pay-pro¬ gram into the set, and keep a record for future billing. The cable will also record a running count of the audience reached for any given program, for the use of sponsors. Meanwhile, a new ruling by the FCC in Washington has granted an additional two months time to those who want to file re¬ buttal briefs in the hotly-contested pay-tele¬ vision controversy. The new deadline of September 9 was established to “serve the public interest, convenience and necessity,” according to the Commission. Petition Virtually Unanimous Original briefs were received up to June 10, and replies were to be filed by July 11. The petition for a time extension was sub¬ mitted by the Joint Committee Against Toll TV, representing the interests of exhibition and other groups, with virtually all other participants subscribing. Although no definite decision will be handed dowyn by the FCC for at least two months, public discussion of the subject is mounting, with pay-TV becoming a house¬ hold word in many communities where edi¬ tors and syndicated columnists have focussed attention on the pros and cons of the pro¬ posed new systems. Latest of the public opinion “man in the street” surveys conducted in newspapers and magazines wTas that held by the “New York Herald Tribune,” in their TV & Radio Mag¬ azine. The “Tribune” questionnaire, bring¬ ing in about 1,650 replies, revealed 76 per¬ cent opposd to the fee-systems, with 24 percent in favor. Qualify Answers The newspaper pointed out in their analysis of the results that most of the 24 percent in favor attached qualifications to their “yeas.” Most important was their stipulation that “commercial announcements would have to be abolished.” The “Tribune” also reported that many answers displayed “considerable emotion.” There was particular antagonism over the possibility that shut-ins would be deprived of programs. An interesting new wrinkle in the continu¬ ing debate between the pay and free-TV forces was created when it was reported that NBC would pay up to half a million dollars to present the new Laurence Olivier VistaVision film, “Richard III,” on free-TV be¬ fore its theatrical release. Olivier’s latest Shakesperian film was budgeted at $2 million and has received en¬ thusiastic advance reports. The argument began when Paul Mc¬ Namara, president of International Tele( Continued on page 22) THE INDEPENDENT FILM JOURNAL— July 9, 1955 7