Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1955)

MOTION PICTURE VOL. 77. NO. 50 NEW YORK, U.S.A., MONDAY, MARCH 14, 1955 TEN CENTS EDITORIAL Free and Toll TV In Competition Sherwin Kane THE NBC network estimates the audience which witnessed its telecast of "Peter Pan" last week at 65,000,000. It was lavishly — and deservedly so — praised by the critics and appreciated by the public. Now the network has about decided to repeat the performance at Christmas-time and to establish it as an annual NBC Christmas^ show. "me undeniable success of the telecast, which was available in color as well as in black and white, is being studied by many TV executives in its possible application to subscription television. That exercise is giving them heart. What, they ask, can subscription TV offer which will be better? How often can subscription TV equal it? At what price? And how many will buy it while we can offer as good or better entertainment without charge? Are some of the questions they are asking — and answering. Of course, a "Peter Pan" is not on TV every day. Nor will something as good be on subscription TV every day. However, the appearance of "Peter Pan" — a first of its kind — is a milestone in free entertainment. The same network and other networks will emulate it more and more, eventually achieving a new standard of entertainment in free TV. Obviously, the prospect of a competitive battle between free TV and subscription TV holds little solace, but does hold some valuable guidance, for motion picture and theatre interests. If the "Peter Pan" telecast is to be a criterion of free TV's future offerings designed to hold its audience despite attractions which may be offered by subscription TV, if and when it is sanctioned by the Federal Communications Commission, then film producers and ex(Continued on page 2) New TO A Convention Dates: Oct. 6-9 Theatre Owners of America has advanced the dates of its annual convention in Los Angeles to Oct. 6-9. The conclave previously had been scheduled for Oct. 23-27. The meetings will be held in the Hotel Biltmore. Negotiations are under way between TOA and two private organizations whereby the trade show will be conducted by an outside group. The Theatre Equipment Supply and Manufacturers Association trade show this year will be held with the Allied States Association convention in Chicago. MPAA 'Strong' For Discretionary Damages Measure From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, March 13.— Motion Picture Association vice-president Kenneth Clark declared the association is "stronger than ever" for legislation to give Federal judges discretion to award less than treble damages in private anti-trust suits. At present, judges must award three times the damages whenever a defendant is found guilty. Several years ago, MPAA urged the House Judiciary Committee to enact legislation for discretionary damages but exhibitors objected and the bill got nowhere. Last week, House Judiciary Committee chairman Celler (D., N.Y.), (Continued on page 6) Terre Haute Case To Trial; Consent Decree Collapses From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, March 13.— Consent decree negotiations have collapsed in the government's Terre Haute antitrust suit and the case will now almost certainly go to trial, probably in late spring. This was authoritatively learned here over the week-end. The government has charged five theatre companies with a conspiracy to monopolize first-run exhibition in Terre Haute, Ind. Defendants are the Alliance Theatre Corp. of Chicago ; Fourth Avenue Amusement Co. of Louisville, and Grand Theatre Corp., Terre Haute Amusement, Inc., and Tri-Theatres Corp., all of Indiana. The case was set for trial on March 21, but consent decree negotiations have been going on for many months. These negotiations had almost reached agreement, it was learned, but collapsed at the last moment. At the (Continued on page 6) Schary Is Honored On Coast by NCCJ From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, March 13.— Dore Schary, vice-president of Loew's, Inc., was the honored guest at last night's seventh annual brotherhood testimonial dinner of the National Conference of Christians and Jews at the Ambassador Hotel. He received a bronze plaque for his service in "promotion of good human relations among all (Continued on page 6) New Committee Name Anti-Toll TV Drive Moves On Research, 'P-R ' Fronts The anti-toll TV campaign moved the appointment of Donald Walsh commissioning of Dr. Dallas Smyth Fox and Journalists To Confer on 'Peter' A series of meetings in nine cities between magazine representatives and 20th Century-Fox field representatives and branch executives will be held, starting tomorrow, as part of a program to develop regional and locallevel promotion for the Fox CinemaScope production of "A Man Called Peter." The promotion will be keyed (Continued on page 6) on two fronts at the weekend, with to handle public relations and the e, director of the Institute of Communications at the University of Illinois, to study the impact and implications of subscription television. The appointment of Walsh, an account executive, was announced by Robert S. Taplinger and Associates, retained by the committee to handle its public relations. The committee, at the same time, announced that it will henceforth be known as the Committee Against PayAs-You-See TV, rather than the Joint Committee on Toll TV. The change was made, it was stated, in order to (Continued on page 6) Split on Regionals McGee, Allied Have Different 'Compo' Ideas Claims Colorado Compo Registered Corporation The hassle over the alleged misuse of the name "COMPO" appeared to be heading for still further confusion at the weekend when efforts to clarify the issue were made from two sources. Pat McGee, leader in the Rocky Mountain Council of Motion Picture Organizations, stated in New York that his organization was a registered Colorado corporation and indicated that despite protests over the use of the name, there would be no change in its corporate title. "There is no copyright on the name 'COMPO,'" McGee said. In a weekend bulletin headed "Setting the Record Straight In Regard to the Misuse of the Name COMPO," Allied, from its Washington headquarters, delved deeper into the controversy. The situation is wrapped up in the bulletin as follows : "At a recent meeting in St. Louis, (Continued on page 7) Texas Drive-in Assn. Elects Weisenburg Special to THE DAILY DALLAS, March 13. — Charles Weisenburg, president of Weisenburg Theatres, Dallas, was elected president of the Texas Drive-in Theatre Owners Association at the closing session of the organization's third annual convention, which drew exhibitors from Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma in addition to Texas. Three vice-presidents of the association were elected: Edward Josephs, of Josephs Theatres, Austin; J. L. Durst, Fredericksburg exhibitor, and (Continued on page 6) MPAA Annual Meet Later in March The annual meeting of the Motion Picture Association of America will be held here at MPAA headquarters later this month, at a date yet to be selected. Election of officers will be a major topic on the agenda.