Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1954)

4 Motion Picture Daily Thursday, February 25, 1954 C 'Scope Policy in U .K. (Continued from page 1) Tushinsky (Continued from page 1 ) Electronics (Continued from page 1) effects of television on motion pictures and other entertainment and recreation industries have not come true for two reasons, Jordan asserted. One reason, he said, is the enormous increase in time and labor-saving devices since World War 11, whicn has created more leisure time tor recreation. The other reason, he continued, is the courage and creative ability ol the men in other branches of the entertainment industry, who have found ways to live with and even to profit by television. Points to New Media Specifically on the subject of the motion picture industry, Jordan said that even while the industry closed thousands of old theatres, it was modernizing others and constructing thousands of new drive-ins. It also produced Cinerama, CinemaScope and 3-D, he pointed out. He said 135 pictures grossed over $1,000,000 each in 1953, chalking up $311,950,000. In 1952, he stated, only 119 pictures were in this category with a total take of $253,510,000. His report emphasized that "The Robe" has become the greatest single box-office attraction in the history of entertainment, with an estimated potential record-breaking gross of $20,000,000 to $30,000,000. "The obvious fact is this," Jordan said. "Today, people demand better entertainment. When they get it, they go. When they don't, they stay home." Immediate prospects for theatre television, according to Jordan, "are for steady, but not spectacular growth, as home TV creates more fans. The hope of large-scale expansion may come true when big special events can be carried in true-to-life color." Loew's International Awards Announced The second annual "M-G-M Hall of Fame" awards of Loew's International have been announced here by Morton A. Spring, first vice-president. Honors for 1953 went to Stewart Granger, "star of the year" ; Abraham Gotfried, M-G-M manager of Thailand, "distributor of the year" ; and Gustave Zelnick, manager of the Metro Theatre, Cairo, "exhibitor of the year." Stewart Granger was chosen "star of the year" because of returns on "The Prisoner of Zenda," "Scaramouche" and "Young Bess." Gotfried was selected because he led the M-GM office in Thailand to first place in the Loew's International quota standings. Zelnick was honored for his enterprise and efficiency as theatre manager. Taylor Again Heads Canadian Pioneers TORONTO, Feb. 24.— Nat Taylor, president of 20th Century Theatres, has been reelected president of the Canadian Picture Pioneers. Morris Stein, of Famous Players Canadian Corp., was elected vicepresident, while manager Tom Daley of Famous Players' University Theatre here was reelected secretary-treasurer. Fox will go its own way here, dropping the traditional release through Rank and will, instead trade in the open and independent market. "The Robe'' and "How to Marry a Millionaire" will play the /5 l<aiii< theatres already contractually committed but thereafter their bookings here will be on a free-for-all basis. Skouras maintains that the new screen techniques demand a revolutionary revision oi the release pattern here, claiming that Cinemascope creates an entirely new patronage tor theatres. He declares also that this otters a challenge to independent exhibitors who are able to see the opportunity it provides. Skouras said there have been far-reaching discussions in financial circles which are now prepared to extend three years credit to exhibitors on an insurance basis to finance installation of full CinemaScope equipment with stereophonic sound. He insisted, though, that the arrangements are solely a matter between exhibitors and the equipment makers. The latter, it was learned from other sources, are urgently pursuing the proposals with the probability of the formation of a financial corporation. When officially announced, the policy undoubtedly will cause repercussions throughout the trade, in view of the outdated release pattern and restrictive clauses prevailing, which enterprising showmen have long op In-Car Heaters Allow Early Outdoor Start COLUMBUS, Ind., Feb. 24. — Many otudoor theatres plan early openings through the installation oi m-car electric heaters, Gordon T. Ritter, electric housewares sales director of Arvin Industries, Inc., said. Ritter, whose company last fall introduced a portable electric fan-forced heater designed for drive-in theatre use, said many operators plan on opening 15 to 45 days earlier this year than in previous years. "Outdoor theatre people in states north of the Mason-Dixon line, who are now installing in-car heaters, tell us they plan on early March openings this year where before they couldn't get underway until midApril," Ritter commented. "Early reports from other operators in balmier climates indicate that they were able to stay open uninterruptedly this fall and winter on a profitable basis after equipping with heaters." New Reade Drive-in Near Atlantic City Purchase of a tract of land on Absecon Blvd. near Atlantic City for the construction of a 1,000-car drivein theatre and a recreation center including a swimming pool was announced here by Walter Reade, Jr., president of Walter Reade Theatres. Reade said that the drive-in would have the latest innovations, in-car heaters, a play area for children and the new type screen which permits shows to stai t two hours earlier that usual. posed. Policy-makers within Cinematograph Exhibitors Association, who aie mainly independents, declined to comment today on the new developments but privately admitted that the formation ot a financial curpjration extending credit to exhiokors on equipment installations drastically alters the whole situation and challenges the position Oi circuit booking. Much clearly depends on CEA's decision following Rank's committal to install no more stereophony in his theatres. The former, at this moment, maintains that it will go its own way and disdain direction from the outside on how to run its theatres. However, with M-G-M and, possibly, Warners lining up here with 20th-Fox on the stereophony issue, a product shortage looms ahead and clearly anything may happen within the next few days. Nevertheless it is clear that Skouras has unsnarled the release pattern here, giving enterprising independents freedom from the present barring clause restrictions. But most theatremen here are electing to stand on the sidelines, saying : Let the titans fight it out while tiie minnows watch and make up their minds afterward. Skouras, recently back here from Zurich, where he conferred on Eidophor developments, flew to Paris today. He will return here for Monday's premiere of "Beyond the Twelve-Mile Reef," leaving for America by plane on Tuesday. More CinemaScopes For Foreign Market More than 1,000 theatres in Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australasia will be equipped to show CinemaScope films by mid-April, with 700 orders currently being processed by manufacturers of CinemaScope equipment, 20th Century-Fox said yesterday. Installations in the foreign field are keeping pace with the orders as initial engagements of "The Robe" and "How to Marry a Millionaire" in principal cities abroad keep setting new records, the company said. Demonstrations of the process are continuing in South America. CinemaScope will also be introduced in Indonesia in the next few weeks while in major Latin American cities CinemaScope has regular engagements of "The Robe," 20th-Fox said. Kodak Net for '53 Up to $50,171,153 ROCHESTER, Feb. 24.— Pre-tax earnings of Eastman Kodak Co. for 1953 were $133,449,168, the largest on record, and six per cent above the $126,288,192 for 1952, the company reported today. Consolidated net earnings, the third highest to date, were $50,171,153, or 10 per cent above 1952, when the figure was $45,803,851. The 1953 earnings were equal to $2.86 a share, compared with $2.74 a share for the previous year. Earnings per share were reduced by 12 cents as a result of the five per cent stock dividend paid in May, 1953. said, projection lenses will be offered exhibitors on three different plans. Lenses will be sold outright to large theatres in most cases, it was stated, in addition to being made available on a rental basis. Finally, in "hardship cases," it was added, the lenses will be furnished gratis for as long as the extent of the exhibitors' hardship warrants. Lenses will sell, outright, for something less than $1,000 per pair, with the price dependent on the volume, it was stated. Regarding the tests, it was stated that especially fine results are being obtained with footage shot witn M-G-M's Metroscope camera, which obtains a materially extended aperture width by eliminating three of the usual four sprocket holes and placing the remaining hole in the base line. But standard Mitchell 35mm. cameras are giving complete satisfaction, as was demonstrated last week at thl RKO studio for the Society of Mo< tion Picture and Television Engineers. Allied Stock (Continued from page 1) pooling-acquisition plan, details of which will be withheld until after the board considers it. Abram Myers, Allied chairman and general counsel, said here yesterday that the board is free to accept the plan, reject, modify it or draw up a new one. Myers said that there was no agenda for today's board meeting. The directors will, besides considering the stock plan, discuss unfinished business left over from the Cincinnati meeting. Myers declined to specify what these issues might be and would make no comment on the possibility that the board may take some action on the bid for an arbitration conference issued by Eric Johnston, president of the Motion Picture Association of America. Industry TV Pilot (Continued from page 1) talent guilds have worked out an agreement on the program with ABCTV. The program, originally titled "Hollywood Parade," will feature clips from current film attractions in theatres, in addition to screen personalities. Weitman also reported that meetings with studio heads and ABC-TV officials are continuing on the Coast on the network's plan to develop young screen talent through featuring such talent periodically on ABC-TV programs. Three Films Started; 17 Before Cameras HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 24. — The studios here started four pictures last week and finished shooting two others, bringing the total of films in camera stage to 17 at the weekend. The new undertakings are : "The Country Girl," Paramount ; "The Big Top," Wallis-Paramount ; "Two Guns^ and a Badge," Allied Artists, and "Those Reported Missing," Columbia. "Bridge at Toko-Ri," Paramount ; and "Lucky Me," Warners, are now in the cutting rooms.