Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1957)

Motion Picture Daily Friday, February 1, J TOA Still Searches For Executive Director Theatre Owners of America has not given up in its search for an executive director and currently has six candidates under consideration, according to Ernest G. Stellings, president. Stellings, who also disclosed that TOA expects to retain the services of a field man shortly, said that TOA hopes to reach a decision on the executive director by March 3, when its board of directors and executive committee meets in Chicago. Arbitration ( Continued from page 1 ) ferences here this week. TOA asked the heads of the distribution companies whether their companies were willing to meet with representatives of TOA and other exhibitor groups which may wish to join in the movement, with a view to establishing an industry system of arbitration, in accordance with the 1953 and 1956 Senate Small Business committee reports. Five on Committee The TOA Arbitration Committee is composed of Mitchell Wolfson, S. H. Fabian, Sam Pinanski, Stellings, Herman M. Levy, general counsel, and George Kerasotes, alternate. "We hope to be able to sit down with the distributors and work on arbitration as soon as possible," he said, adding that TOA expects Allied States Association to cooperate in the work. "I expect to hear from Allied at the conclusion of their board of directors meeting in Cincinnati," Stellings said, pointing out that this exhibitor group has had a committee on arbitration— Abe Berenson, Rube Shor and Abram F. Myers— for some time. Platform Not Clarified Stellings did not expound on the TOA arbitration platform, but said that certain items in the old drafts would be taken up and others rejected. Toronto Pioneers Name New Board of Directors TORONTO, Jan. 31-The 16th annual meeting of the Toronto branch of the Canadian Picture Pioneers has elected Jack Arthur, Len Bishop, Eddie Harris and Lionel Lester to the board of directors. Seven of the 11 directors were reelected. They were Clare Appel, R. W. Bolstad, Dan Krendel, Archie Laurie, George Oullahan, Morris Stein and Tom Daley. The directors will choose the officers for the new term at their first meeting. Ten new members were inducted into the organization. Oscar Hanson, head of the trust fund urged greater fund-raising activity. M.P. DAILY picture ERNEST G. STELLINGS at the TOA office yesterday; with him, George Kerasotes; and, rear, Joseph Alterman. Stellings Lauds Distributors ( Continued this year as at least 40 more films will be distributed than in 1956; TOA will hold a more elaborate foreign film festival in conjunction with its 1957 annual convention in Miami Beach, Fla., at the Carib Theatre and that the public will be invited to attend also. Sees More Good Films as Key The national exhibition leader, in complimenting distribution, said "there is no problem in this industry that more good pictures can't solve. The recent systematic and orderly release of good quality pictures has immeasurably improved general industry conditions. While 1956 was relatively a poor year, 1957 has started off on the right foot. "My predecessors and I, and the officers and directors of TOA, have worked hard for years to see this come about. All of us are extremely grateful and appreciative of the cooperation now being received from the various film companies to this end. It is hoped that this enlightened policy will be continued. It can insure the future of this industry with beneficial results to all segments of our entire business." Accompanied by Kerasotes Stellings, along with George Kerasotes, chairman of the executive committee, and other TOA leaders, met with various distribution companies during the week in regard to several items on the TOA program, including the problems confronting small town theatres. He declined to name the companies with whom he conferred, but it is understood that this week and during his last previous trip to New York from his Charlotte home, Stellings conferred with Universal, Columbia, 20th Century-Fox, Loew's, RKO Radio Pictures, and Paramount. "Those companies with whom I talked assured me that they will do everything in their power to cooperate with the small town theatre owners to assist in keeping their theatres open," he said, adding "even to the point of considerable assistance in the from page 1 ) area of film rental terms and deals." As a point of illustration, Stellings said that specific pictures were discussed on which terms nationally have been designated at 50 per cent. "It is recognized that the small town theatres are unable to pay 50 per cent of the gross and continue operating at a profit. In several instances, I was told that the companies in question are willing to negotiate flat rental deals. Furthermore, I was informed that these flat rental terms will not be predicated upon 50 per cent of the anticipated gross of top pictures, but will be set at ' a figure which should be considerably less than that and which will be reasonable under the circumstances," he said. Favor Single Association Kerasotes, in reply to a question concerning day-and-date exhibition between downtown and neighborhood theatres, said that this type of playdate is in effect in his territory in Illinois. He and Stellings also said, in answering another question, that one national exhibition association would be best for the industry. Commenting on the foreign film festival, Stellings said that TOA assistant secretary Joseph G. Alterman has been in contact with the Miami Beach publicity department regarding the screening of product at the Carib Theatre. "The public would be in attendance at the screenings in the theatre which will have a specified number of seats set aside for the convention delegates and the industry," Alterman said. Stellings added that TOA's first foreign film directory will be sent out within the next 10 days. Record 'Ten' Score The album of the original sound track music from the score of Cecil B. DeMille's production of "The Ten Commandments" will be brought out by Dot Records, Inc. under arrangements consummated by DeMille, Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount Pictures studio head, and Randy Wood, president of Dot Records. But Will They Keep It Snow-white? TULLYTOWN, Pa., Jan. 31 (J school here has been named for || Disney. The choice of a name foijJ new structure was not that of U town fathers; it was that of the j|.J dren. The Disney School, as :1 called, is ultra-modern, with cJ rooms named for Disney characlj WB Investin (Continued from page 1) M exhibition," the Warner Bros. Mih stated. JJjji 'The exceptional box office perfcl| ance of such recent and currenti-ln leases as 'Moby Dick,' 'The Bad Sel'JJl 'Giant' and 'Baby Doll' have been! inspiration for our forthcoming ;J duction plans. The vast attends! ' being accorded these pictures 11 other companies' top product, tP's here and abroad, is proof that A public is prepared to give unqualil support to all worthwhile motion >j,fl ture entertainment." Points to 'St. Louis' fl Among the films mentioned in m.' statement by Warner was "'1 Spirit of St. Louis," which cost M 000,000, he said. Properties curreil in various stages of production incliu ; "No Time for Sergeants," "Sayonai "The Old Man and the Sea," '"] Story of Mankind," "A Face in Crowd," "Band of Angels," '">. Prince and the Showgirl," "The jama Game," "Lafayette Escadril] "Bombers B-52," and "The He Morgan Story." Among pictures scheduled to go .fore the cameras shortly are "Aut Mame," "The Nun's Story," "Dai Yankees" and "Marjorie Mornii star," Warner added. ; Eleven Being Readied Among other Warner purchases 1 ing prepared for early production "Too Much, Too Soon," "Death of Sand Flea," "Onionhead," "Darb Rangers," "The Deep Six," "T Whip," "Yellowstone Kelly," "Birdm of Alcatraz," "The Saga of Billy t Kid," "Young Strangers," and "Te of Hollywood." Warner, who has been in New Yc for the past two weeks, is schedul to return to the company's Burba studios this week-end. To Award Hoover WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 T National Association of Radio ai Television Broadcasters said it wou give its 1957 keynote award for d| tinguished service to former preside' Herbert Hoover. The award will lj given him for work he did to aid tl! development of broadcasting whi Secretary of Commerce in the ear 1920's. The award will be made c| April 9 at the NARTB's annual coi! vention in Chicago.