Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1956)

faesday, October 31, 1956 Motion Picture Daily (orida Meet Competitive Bidding Hit Honor Wyler (Continued from page 1) L. Cartwright of Daytona i, a district supervisor of Florida Theatres; Sheldon Mandell of dry, co-owner of the St. Johns jue, and Arnold Haynes, Naples :re, Naples, named a vice-presialong with four holdover vicelents. n Pinanski, of Boston, a leader in ouncil of Motion Picture Organiis, and head of American Theajave a forceful luncheon address ich he stated: Two Basic Problems nerican exhibitors are faced with :>asic problems. First, it is ably essential that we have more >roduct, if not from existing cornthen from new companies, id, we need to survey the needs wishes of the American public i in this mobile day of automoare going more and more to the ban shopping centers. ev\ pictures must be made avail:| to patrons in areas where they i to go. They can no longer get i|Jie centers of many of our larg*iies where the plush theatres are fed. We can lick these changing and trends if we'll only stick (her and go in for positive ac ■ a morning forum and workshop ed to theatre concessions, three 1 south's leading men in this field constructive approaches to the ems of providing patrons with est selections of food and drinks ive-ins and four-wall theatres, were Van Myers, Moderator, Wometco Theatres, Miami; , Hoover, Martin Theatres, jiiasville, Ga., and Bob Harris, ! la State Theatres, this city. losenblum for Modernization rman Bosenblum of the Savron Patterson, urged the adoption of up-to-date selling methods, inng the use of cafeteria-type lgs for drive-ins. ,)rida exhibitors showed an eagerto accept the "pay or play" plan hich exhibitors will subscribe to t program of 10 or more pictures ir from an independent producutfit organized by Moe Kerman udor pictures. Many independand small circuit owners signed pes Cartwright, Daytona Beach ! itor, made an appeal for 100 per 'exhibitor support in the coming Rogers Hospital Drive. ! Tuesday luncheon was sponby National Theatre Supply, in Theatre Supply, Joe HornDixie Theatre Service and SupUnited Theatre Supply and eastern Theatre Equipment. >n Brothers Film Express was it a cocktail party tonight. Attendance of 500 ward of 500 conventioneers atlg the closing Tuesday night let, with George Jessel flying in 1 the Coast to serve as toast ( Continued convention of the Motion Picture Exhibitors of Florida at the Roosevelt Hotel here today, declared that "distributors should re-evaluate all competitive bidding situations in order to determine, whether, with their help and with the co-operation of exhibitors much of that bidding cannot be eliminated." Calls It 'Uneconomic' "Competitive bidding is an uneconomic method of doing business. It adds nothing to a picture, nor to the interest of the public in that picture. Yet, it takes a great toll in time, in energy, and in effort, from everyone connected with it. That time, energy and effort could be used to great advantage in distributor-exhibitor moves to get more people into theatres. Increasing the box office should have the full-time attention of all segments of the industry, immediately. Much less time must be given to negotiating for product. The burden is too heavy and debilitating." * The TOA general counsel pointed out that many industries have taken inventory of themselves and have made surveys to determine where they have been, where they are, and Cleveland Grosses (Continued from page 1) make a decision to get to bed early. "Where they used to go to an early movie on weekday nights, they take their relaxation from the entertainment available at hours of their convenience. So, regardless of what picture we are playing, and regardless of what the average tv show is, these people stay home Monday through Thursday nights. They see any mediocre tv show at a time which fits into their time schedule and permits them to get to bed early. "As for the children, they have school work during the week. They also pick up an early tv show and then make for the hay. Another factor is the working mother of the family. When she gets home, she either has household duties waiting for her or she's tired out. So, as a result, the whole family stays home Monday through Thursday." Sees Less Drawing Power "TV isn't the drawing power it used to be with the average family either," Cost continued. "Time was when the family stayed up to see boxing matches and fight programs. No longer. Unless these are championship fights, they are just more tv programs." Leonard Mishkind of General Theatres Circuit agrees that on Sunday, about 80 per cent of the day's total business is done in the afternoon. "After six o'clock there isn't much doing at any of our theatres," he said. Most of the theatre owners contacted expressed the opinion that there is no particular tv program that hurts the boxoffice. from page 1) where they are going— all in view of drastically changing economic forces. "The first move must come from distribution because it is the source of supply to the theatre owner," Levy stated, adding that a helpful move would be for the distributors to take another look at competitive bidding situations which "result in inordinately high film rentals" in many spots. "Many of the reasons given by distributors to justify the employment of competitive bidding have now been dissipated either by court decrees, or, by patterns developed within the industry itself," he said. Levy said that "except in rare instances, competitive bidding accomplishes no more than a division of product at very high rentals." The TOA official added that if distribution takes a look at the situation and tries to work out a "saner and fairer way of renting pictures, such a revolutionary move would be applauded by most; it would be of great benefit to the entire industry; and it might well keep open hundreds of theatres. "Facts have changed. Situations have changed. Exhibitors are in a time of crisis. It is for distribution now 'to take stock', to revalue, to reappraise— all in the light of those changes, in the light of the new patterns of doing business that have developed under the consent decrees." (Continued from page 1 ) the Fox-Wilshire Theatre here. Among those honoring Wyler was President Eisenhower who, in a telegram read by Samuel Goldwyn, chairman of the tribute committee, said in part: "Through his motion pictures, Wyler has strengthened the standards of his craft with imagination and a keen sense of humanity. He has helped us to understand our allies abroad and our people at home. He has brought enjoyment to millions." Academy Winners Present A star-studded audience of 2,200 which packed the theatre included many who had won a total of 30 Academy awards for work in Wyler's films. In a brief ceremony on the stage, he was presented with a silver Paul Revere bowl, a huge tray, and 12 goblets, each bearing the signature of a star whose work in a Wyler production won an Oscar. Carey Wilson Chairman For Milestone Dinner HOLLYWOOD, Oct. 30 Carey Wilson has been named by Screen Producers Guild president Samuel G. Engel as chairman of SPG Milestone awards committee, which will prepare for the banquet Feb. 3 which will honor Walt Disney. Leave us face it... you can't five with it and you cant live without it, and— certainly... Hov (§ANT Sun Away (neither can JUNE ALLYSON and JACK LEMM0N in COLUMBIA'S big, new comedy hit!)