Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1956)

Jursday, July 19, 1956 Motion Picture Daily 3 of Drive-ins t-Vjometco Manager Promoted feurton Clark has been promoted to itrict manager in charge of all its ;lve-in theatres in the Greater Miami, if.., area by Wometco Theatres. With V circuit for many years, Clark was ljI;ly manager of the Boulevard drive*"t North Miami Beach. ® fhafers' New Drive-In the Algiers Drive-In at Wayne and j'-st Warren, Mich., is nearing comfcion and should be ready for opItion within two weeks, according trwners Martin and Charles Schafer. jtional Theatre Supply is installing I equipment, which will include liplex projectors and sound and a [by screen tower. Capacity is 2,000 ® lm Price War In Ohio last summer the seven drive-ins [the Toledo, Ohio, area suffered In an admissions price war; this ton it is a film price war. Product kting has been discontinued due to ligreements among the exhibitors jticipating in that plan. ® -st for Newton, Conn. ?lans to construct the first drive-in Ltre at Newton, Conn., have been jiounced by George J. Ryan of Fair1, Conn. ® >en at Ravena Today Opening of Sylvester Albano's drive: outside Ravena, N. Y., has been tponed until today because of delay in construction work. The 'inal opening date was for last bk. mn. Circuit Tries Out ew Film Time Plan IARTFORD, July 18-The Perakos ;atre Associates Circuit is experinting with suburban feature screentime to determine more exactly the rons' wants. iperie Perakos, general manager of independent circuit, has scheduled [ipanion features twice nightly, idays through Fridays, at about |0 and 9:30 P.M., with the main :ure shown only once nightly at jiit 8:15 P.M. The experiment is ig conducted at the Eastwood and Theatres. 'erformances at both theatres are itinuous on Saturdays, Sundays holidays. Terms Situation 'Serious' British Producers Said 'Disturbed1 By Rise in U.S. Films Made There By PETER BURNUP LONDON, July 14 (By Air Mail)— The increasing number of "British" films being made in England by American production companies was described as "disturbing" to British picture makers by John Davis, managing director of the Rank Organization and president "itish Film to A. A, Hollywood, July is. Allied lists has announced acquisition of lited States, Alaska and Hawaii disbution rights to "Yield to Night," jiociated British-Kenneth Harper Ciduction starring Diana Dors. of the Producers' Association in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the Association. Describing the situation and its future development as requiring "serious consideration," Davis said that the "arguments are not all on one side." Acknowledges Cooperation Taking up first the points "for" American producers, Davis said: "We all realize and gladly acknowledge that American motion picture companies which make films in this country have in many directions, for example, in carrying out the agreements made between this Association and the various Trade Unions, been most cooperative. Again, British producers cannot provide all the films required to enable exhibitors to carry out their statutory obligations in respect of Exhibitors' Quota and for this reason we welcome the films made in this country by American-controlled companies. We also appreciate that large sums of American money are being used in this country which help to provide a livelihood for British producers, actors and technicians. Subsidiaries a Factor "However," Davis declared, "'there is another side to be considered. American companies have established subsidiaries in this country which are legally British companies and enjoy all the advantages which have been devised by Parliament and otherwise chiefly in order to enable British producers to survive notwithstanding the fierce competition in their home market from American imports. American subsidiaries in this country not only have the benefit of Exhibitors' Quota but receive payments from the Production Fund on precisely the same terms as British producers. They also claim British export licenses for foreign countries and even put forward their films to be presented at International Festivals as being British. Says Purpose Was to Aid U.K. "The British Film Production Fund was established in 1950 on the initiative of the Government for the purpose of providing British producers with a supplementary revenue over and above the receipts from cinema box-offices in this country. Although it was agreed at the time that the distribution of the Fund should, generally speaking, be for the benefit of British quota films, it is obvious that the scheme would not have been put forward by the Government or accepted by the industry on the ground that the levy recoverable from box-office takings was required to support films made in this country by American subsidiaries. At the present time American production in England is greatly increasing and it is this increase which is so disturbing to British picture makers. "This situation and its future development require serious consideration. As I have indicated, the arguments are not all on one side. It will not be easy to find a satisfactory solution, but, speaking for myself, I am confident that it will not be in the best interest of this country or of British film production to leave things as they are at the present time— an equitable solution to the problem must and can be found." Looks to Future of Eady Plan In his address, Davis directed his attention also to the future of the Eady Plan and the British Film Production Fund saying: "I cannot emphasize too strongly how essential it is that a decision on the extension of the Fund should be announced before Parliament rises for the summer recess. "Unless producers can be sure, within what is now only a matter of two or three months, that an adequate Production Fund will be available to them in some form after Oct., 1957, British production inevitably must now start to contract. Wants Assurance of Fund "No producer, as a prudent business man, will be able to put a film into production after the end of November next unless he is assured of the continuance of the Fund, but to go into production in November he must start his planning in the summer. Ark., Miss., Tenn. MPTO Slates Oct. Convention MEMPHIS, July 18-Dates for the annual convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee were set today for Oct. 22-23. Action was taken by the Board of Directors meeting in Memphis, president Charles Eudy, Houston, Miss, announced. The convention will be in Memphis. Leon Roundtree, Holly Springs, Miss., was named as convention chairman. E. M. Fay's Wife Dies PROVIDENCE, R. I., July 18-Funeral services for Mrs. Katherine A. Fay, who died here this morning, will be held at the T. J. Monahan Funeral Home here tomorrow. Mrs. Fay was the wife of Edward M. Fay, Providence theatre exhibitor, whose industry career dates from 1916 and includes chairmanship of the board of C & F Theatre Company, membership on the board of directors of MPTOA. . . . NEWS ROUNDUP U-I to Release 'Beast' Universal-International has completed negotiations with Jewel Enterprises for acquisition of "Beast of the Amazon," starring John Bromfield and Beverlv Garland. Dual Bow for 'Verdi' of A. W. Schwalberg, president Artists-Producers Assoc., has announced that "The Life and Music of Giuseppe Verdi" will have a dual New England premiere Aug. 1 at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland, Vt., and the Knox Theatre in Rockland, Me. ■ Silvers' Lunch Postponed The Phil Silvers testimonial luncheon, scheduled for today by the entertainment artists and musicians' section of the United Jewish Appeal of Greater New York, has been postponed until some time in September, because a number of prominent members of the group are out of town this week. ■ Articles To Exploit 'Bigger' Twentieth Century-Fox's controversial drama of drug addiction, "Bigger Than Life," which will have its world premiere in August at the Victoria Theatre, New York, will have a large promotional campaign, including stories in medical, drug, educational and psychological journals. ■ Button Heads USIA Service Robert E. Button, former NBC executive, has been named head of the broadcasting service of the U. S. Information Agency. This carries on both the "Voice of America" radio and tv services. Button has been deputy chief since April, 1955. He'll succeed J. R. Poppele, who resigned as of July 15 to return to private industry. Canadian Exports Drop OTTAWA, July 18.-Canadian film exports dropped to $1,588,000 in the first five months this year in contrast to $1,821,000 in the corresponding period last year, the Canadian Government has reported. Film exports fell to $316,000 in May from $390,000 in May last year and $444,000 in the preceding month this year. Open New Office Here A branch office will be opened in New York on July 30 by the publicity firm of Blowitz-Mazell to handle promotion of independent film productions, it was disclosed yesterday by William Blowitz. Fred Goldberg will direct operations at the new office.