Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1954)

Friday, January 29, 1954 Motion Picture Daily 3 Cites Zoning Danger to Closed, Conversion Houses (Ed. Note: A warning to exhibitors contemplating converting closed or depressed theatres to other purposes to investigate soiling regulations in the areas in which such theatres are located before entering into costly commitments is sounded in the following letter from E. R. Holts, president of the Grand Riviera Theatre Co., Detroit. Describing a personal experience in whic'k theatre conversion plans Were frustrated by new soiling provisions calling for off-the-street parking facilities which in this instance were nonexistent, Holts warns that such regulations may even prevent the reopening of theatres which have been closed for any extended period. Motion Picture Daily is glad to publish Holts's letter as a sendee to exhibitors, believing it may save some from costly experiences.) Variety Tent of N. Y. Seeking to Obtain 1955 Convention New York Variety Club Tent No. 35 is urging its members to attend the international convention in Dallas on .March 22-25 to help stimulate interest in getting the 1955 convention for Manhattan. In a bulletin to members, the local tent points out that in view of the fact that New York wants the convention, "a good-sized delegation from this area will be a big help." The next major function of Tent No. 35 will be a testimonial dinner to William J. German, president of William J. German, Inc. No date has been set. A report on the accounting of Motion Picture Associates, which was acquired by Variety Club here in 1948, showed that the net assets amounted to $48,765, which included bank balances and government bonds. After deducting relief payments and death benefits, the net assets available on Oct. 31 amounted to $22,115. As of that date, there were 214 former MPA members entitled to death benefits of $250 each, totalling $53,500. FCC Sets Service Fee for Theatre TV WASHINGTON, Jan. 28. — The Federal Communications Commission proposed a scale of fees for use of radio and television frequencies pursuant to a Budget Bureau directive last year that all government agencies issuing licenses set fees to cover the cost of services. The FCC set an April 1 deadline for comments. FCC officials said any theatre television network company actually proposing to build telephone lines or other equipment would have to pay $150 each time it asked authority for additional construction. No fee would be required if equipment of existing common carriers were used. Film companies using radio for onlocation work would have a $10 per application fee. A A Tomorrow Starts (Cell Block' Confabs HOLLYWOOD, Jan. 28. — Conferences by excutives of Allied Artists on plans for the national sales and advertising campaigns for Walter Wanger's "Riot in Cell Block 11" will be held here tomorrow following arrival from New York of Morey R. Goldstein, vice-president and general sales manager. Among those who will take part in the meetings are : Steve Broidy, president ; Harold Mirisch and G. Ralph Branton, vice-presidents ; Harold Wirthwein, Western division sales manager, and John C. Flinn, director of advertising and publicity. Frieberg in TP A Post Hardie Frieberg, formerly an account executive with Ziv Television, Inc., has been named Eastern sales manager of Television Programs of America by Michael M. Sillerman, president of TPA. Columbus House to Shut COLUMBUS, O., Jan. 28. — The Little theatre, operated by Charles Sugarman, will close February 1 and will be remodeled for use by a religious group. Editor, Motion Picture Daily: Early last fall I thought I had found an answer for some of the closed or distressed theatres. Working with Charles Beltz, the developer and manufacturer of Bell Temp and Ice Flair, we planned to rebuild the closed Aloma Theatre in Grosse Pointe into a semi-public indoor ice rink. Included in our remodeling was a sporting goods store, pro quarters, refreshment stand, and facilities for the practice of other sports in off hours. The deal fell through for a reason that it might be well to pass on to all other theatre owners as a warning that they consider it care-; fully before they close a theatre, and that they take steps to protect themselves against it. Many 'Legal Ramifications' My warning to theatre owners has to do with zoning. So many theatres having been built in non-conforming areas, or if they are built in a commercial area they do not conform for off-street parking. Once one closes a theatre, especially if you take out the equipment, you then have to apply Aim J.A. Contest at Building Attendance In a cooperative move to stimulate theatre attendance, the New York "Journal-American" promotion department is again sponsoring a motion picture contest, offering $1,000 in cash prizes to the public for choosing the outstanding pictures and players of 1953, as selected by Rose Pelswick, the newspaper's film critic. The awards will be presented at a cocktail party in Hollywood with stars and motion picture executives on hand. The date of the party will be set later. Sumner Collins, of the "Journal-American" promotion department, is handling full details of the contest. V.C. Officers, Crew Installed in Hartford HARTFORD, Jan. 28. — Henry Germaine, Connecticut branch manager for Paramount, has been installed as chief barker of Variety Club of Connecticut, Tent 31. Other officers are: 1st assistant chief barker, I. J. Levine ; 2d assistant chief barker, John Pavone ; dough guy, Sam Germaine ; property master, George Weber ; international canvasman, Robert G. Elliano ; crew members, George H. Wilkinson, Jr. ; Pat Goode, Harry Feinstein, Rudy Frank, Robert Hoffman, Samuel Wasserman ; heart fund, Harry Feinstein. for zoning approval to reopen the building. I don't think it behooves me here to go into all the legal ramifications because those do vary with the different communities, and each theatre owner should therefore check with his own lawyer. In our particular case, the lobby Parking Important part was conforming being located in a commercial area, but the auditorium was non-conforming because it extended over into residential property. This latter was not too difficult, but during the years the theatre had made no provision for off-street parking. New zoning provisions for off-street parking are quite severe and in our case it became most difficult and expensive to even try to provide the minimum requirements. Under the circumstances I doubt if this theatre could even be reopened today as a theatre, and it's my suggestion that if a theatre must be closed, it should be periodically reopened for short periods of time to maintain their zoning privileges. E. R. Holtz, Detroit, Mich. Circuit Cuts Rates For N. O. Students NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 28. — A total of 15,000 special admission tickets have been donated by United Theatres, Inc., for use by teen-agers in the parochial schools of this city in response to a request by the Council of Catholic School Cooperative Clubs. Mrs. George Kussmann, president of the CCSCC, in expressing her appreciation of the circuit's act, stated that her organization has been working for several years to obtain reduced rates for the students. The CCSCC represents 65 affiliated clubs. Cohen Joins Resnick WASHINGTON, Jan. 28.— Stanley B. Cohen, former Federal Communications Commission attorney, has joined Leo Resnick's law office here. Resnick, who specializes in communications law, was the FCC examiner for the United Paramount TheatresAmerican Broadcasting Company merger hearing. Join Jam Handy DETROIT, Jan. 28.— New additions to the Jam Handy Organization staff are Patrick Murphy as recording director of the slide-film department and Warren G. Honecker as sales and contact representative in the Pittsburgh office. Todd-AO Process Is Termed Excellent By Elmer Rhoden The Todd-AO Magna Corp. projection system is warmly praised by Elmer Rhoden, president of Fox Midwest Theatres, in an article published in that circuit's house organ, "Contact." After attending a demonstration of the process in a theatre in Buffalo, Mr. Rhoden was quoted as saying that the sense of participation or "presence" is just as pronounced in ToddAO as in Cinerama. Todd-AO is a single strip 65mm film process which requires only one projector, as opposed to the three of Cinerama. The Todd process, according to Mr. Rhoden, employs 130 degrees of peripheral vision and is a 2 to 1 ratio. Wall-to-Wall Screen He reported that the demonstration was held in a 900-seat, one-floor theatre and that the screen was virtually wall-to-wall in the 60-foot wide house. The screen was between 28 and 30 feet high and curved to a depth of about 13 feet at the center. Scenes shown in the demonstration were similar to those on view in Cinerama, he said, adding that he had experienced a feeling of nausea in a roller coaster sequence as he had under similar Cinerama circumstances. Although the demonstration was without sound, Mr. Rhoden reported that he had been told that the 65mm film could handle as many as seven sound tracks. He said also that he had been told that the special "bugeye" lens used by Todd-AO could accomplish excellent results with 35mm film. Financing Still Unclear Meanwhile, the status of Magna Corporation financing remained unclear yesterday. The company is reported to have made overtures to several Hollywood distributors for financing in return for production and distribution rights to Magna properties. A deal with 20th-Fox is spoken of most often. However, nothing yet has been set and no decision may be reached for another week or more, it was indicated. 'Heidi' Publisher and UA in Promotion Tie It is estimated by United Artists that 120,000,000 persons will be reached by a series of national cooperative promotions planned in behalf of "Heidi" by Francis M. Winikus, UA director of advertising, publicity and exploitation. Grosset and Dunlap, publishers of the classic on which the film is based, will kick off the powerful "Heidi" promotion in more than 100 cities by plugging 2,000,000 copies o f seven "Heidi" editions, including a coloring book with a cover picture of Elsbeth Sigmund, young star of the Lazar Wechsler production. "Heidi" posters on 800 news company trucks will also plug the book and film. Four hundred radio stations and 90 TV outlets carrying children's programs will beam news of the contest to millions of young listeners. Thousands of dollars in scheduled prizes include expenses-paid vacations in Switzerland. "Heidi" is in the sixth week at the Little Carnegie Theatre here.