Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1956)

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October 30, 1956 Motion Picture Daily oian Hits Independents Eye Todd -AO Columbia Meet ]Continued from page 1 ) the motion picture industry future— "that nothing in the entertainment has been indesigned or created, that is r superior to a motion picture lotion picture theatre screen" >d that the public still wants entertainment despite televith spectaculars, tv first-nins, dded playlets and shelved film > been proven, Fabian stated, en adequate product, "we can jut position as the most imfactor in the relaxation and nment of the American pubit the studios, indifferent to is of their customers, continue ue policies of restricted pro, he said. "Among other reaaeirs is the fallacious belief hey make fewer pictures, they Ice better pictures. We don't now to change their thinking, lough we have tried. We are Dwever, that time and experiill do that. But we do know ically that this policy of rea limited amount of pictures imental to our welfare," he n told the Florida convention i-W policy "to invest sufficient time and energy to make a of top quality pictures." He exhibitors also to take a .ook at doubtful pictures" as lay be some slant in building ; that might have been over ?s Marginal Houses' Out S-W president also said "in lion you should face the grim t the present number of theamot endure against the comwithin and without the inMarginal houses, shabby and 'ited, without modern equipin over-seated situations and i neighborhoods— these will be ualties of the next few years." ay towns and areas are overFour-wall theatres are fight)ugh struggle against drive-ins. are not enough pictures curto go around or enough custo fill the theatres and drivev in existence. Undoubtedly, ure of our industry will adslf to the fact that drive-ins important factor." ndustry veteran told the Florwmen that the basic impor(2tor to exhibition is one big , exhibitor organization to full factions and opinions. Fa MONEY Use Filmack's REVUES New, Deluxe RtTTt IMMEDIATE SERYICE! ^gtr HO CONTRACTS NO IITUBMS Prevues, Advance or Cross Plugs! FILMACK ( Continued while expenses added up to $1,408,000 for the period, enabling the distribution organization to have an excess of $2,237,000. It was reported to the stockholders that Magna expects to finalize an agreement with one producer to use ToddAO momentarily and that Magna would both invest and distribute the fiim "if the deal goes through." Magna is also involved with Rodgers & Hammerstein Productions in making "South Pacific" in Todd-AO and CinemaScope, along with 20th Century-Fox, who is also investing in this film, Skouras said. The Magna president, in recounting the history of the company during the past year, along widi problems and developments in the Todd-AO process, said that at present there are 30 theatres equipped for it in the U.S. and Canada. He said that American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres will install Todd-AO equipment in five more theatres shortlv for the engagements of "Around the World in 80 Days" and that there should be about 50 installations by the time "South Pacific" is ready for release. Tells of Fox, RKO Pacts Skouras also told stockholders of the agreement with 20th-Fox and RKO Radio Pictures concerning domestic and foreign distribution of the CinemaScope version of "Oklahoma!" He said that the domestic deal with 20thFox, in which Magna will receive $2,500,000 by next March, will enable the company to pay off its debentures and bonds at that time. Bollengier, in reply to a stockholder bian also called attention to the Council of Motion Picture Organizations and its program for the future, including the Theatre Owners of America-sponsored national promotion and public relations plan. Stellings Optimistic (Continued from page 1) meeting of Motion Picture Exhibitors of Florida. Additionally, he said, officials of the Motion Picture Association of America have expressed willingness to better relationships with exhibitors. The meeting here, which drew 400 delegates, also was addressed by Irving Mack, Chicago; James W. Cartwright, Daytona Beach; Ronnie Otwell, Columbus, Ga.; James Gaylord, Troy, Ala., and Russell Kay, head of the Florida Press Association, who advised his audience to "make friends with your newspaper editors and ad men and don't just call on them when you want a favor done." from page 1 ) query, said that in his opinion, the CinemaScope version of "Oklahoma!" would "gross domestically about $10,000,000." Skouras said that RKO has informed him the CinemaScope film abroad should gross about $12,000,000. He said that 400 prints of the CinemaScope version have been ordered thus far for domestic distribution. Skouras also explained the Magna tie-up with Todd-AO Corp., and the company's nickel royalty provision on every admission ticket sold, saying that this contract provision "would be one revenue source which would bolster our business in the next year." The Magna stockholders also approved a management proposal for a five year contract for Skouras, effective Sept. 17, 1956. By a vote of 2,012,485 for to 8,526 against, stockholders approved the $500 per week contract, which also provides for Skouras to have a stock option up to 50,000 shares at $2.34 per share. Elected as directors of Magna Theatre Corp. were Bollengier, Oscar Hammerstein II, Herbert P. Jacoby, James M. Landis, Charles B. McCabe, Richard Rodgers, Edward H. Rowley, Joseph M. Seider, Skouras, Raymond V. Wemple, James F. Burns, Jr., and Frederick M. Warburg, the latter two representing debenture holders. SDG Awards (Continued from page 1) gan; "Moby Dick," John Huston; "Somebody Up There Likes Me," Robert Wise; "The Eddy Duchin Story," George Sidney; "The King and I," Walter Lang, and "War and Peace," King Vidor. (Continued from page 1) of the Columbia laboratory operation, for 1,000 shares of stock at the initial price of $19.36. The Columbia notice discloses that the nine directors up for reelection are Harry Cohn, president; Jack Cohn, executive vice-president; Schneider, Leo H. Blancke, N. B. Spingold, vice-president; A. Montague, vicepresident; Donald S. Stralem, Alfred Hart, and Abraham Sonnabend. Cohn, in his official capacity as president, received an aggregate remuneration of $217,300; Jack Cohn, $148,400; Schneider, $145,750, and Montague, $132,500. AB-PT Extension ( Continued from page 1 ) other theatre, with divestiture expected by Nov. 5. The extension was granted, Justice said, because of the complexities involved in disposing of the 21 theatres in the Maine and New Hampshire Theatres Co., in which AM-PT owns a 50 per cent interest. The company is the only one of the five major companies involved in the Paramount case which has not yet completed divestiture. Originally it had the largest number of theatres— 774— to divest. Vbu can go Dutch, and you can go native, you can go broke and you can go crazy, but win, lose or draw... I0U (§ANT JlUN (neither can JUNE ALLYSONand JACK LEMM0N in COLUMB/A'S big, new comedy hit!)