Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1958)

ursday, October 23, 195S Motion Picture Daily Lnti-TV Plans (Continued from page 1) | } plan would cost," Stellings said, could be $200,000,000. It could $100,000,000." The speaker esti.ted that between 3,500 and 4,000 itures were involved. About 20 to per cent could be generally relied with perhaps 50 to 60 per at in certain types of theatres and the drive-ins. Stellings told the delegates TOA lieves that the plan will pass any ral or U.S. Treasury objections. If 3 plan goes into operation and the ssue of the product to theatres d release of some of the films to ievision ultimately produces a profit ;er all bonds are paid off, funds uld be used-Stellings suggestedreduce film rentals, establish some ganization to do a job for the inlistry or for charitable purposes. Reade Clarifies Jameyson Plan | Reade explained the workings of |e Howard E. Jameyson-sponsored lotion Picture Investors Company, investing company which has E.C. approval and whose initial fnds— which were oversubscribed — le invested in eight film companies, lie purpose of this company is to jrmit exhibitors to have a voice in le affairs of producer-distributor [ms and help to prevent them from king such action as selling backjgs to television. The new investment company is n by a board of directors experiiced in industry and financial matrs, and at present plans are underay to secure the services of a paid esident. Stock sells at $10.75, with e 75 cents representing commission id sales expense. The company functions as a closedid investment company, Reade said, e also pointed out that company ould not only vote the stock it vned but was ready to vote stock other exhibitors. Vomen Entertained Jlicely at Conventions Special to THE DAILY MIAMI BEACH, Oct. 22. Mrs. pnny Shepherd, chairman of the j idies committee, prepared a most ungual day for the women attending the [inventions of the Theatre Owners of imerica and National Association of oncessionaires. ; Luncheon was served at the Skyjom of the new DuPont Plaza Hotel : downtown Miami. Mrs. Harry Botj ick, assistant chairman, and Mrs. an Myers presented prizes to the \ omen attending. The group was lead y Mrs. Ernest G. Stellings and Mrs. beorge G. Kerasotes. ; By bus, the ladies proceded to the ! arrot Jungle where there was a walk jirough the tropical jungle to see eautiful birds flying all around. The ospitable Floridian hostesses on this ip included Mrs. George Hoover, Irs. Franklin Maury, Mrs. Howard ettingill, Mrs. Ethel Stern, Mrs. Al feiss, Mrs. Richard Wolfson and Irs. William Scully. TOA Resolution Pledges Opposition to All Pay-TV Special to THE DAILY MIAMI BEACH, Oct. 22. A resolution unanimously reaffirming the opposition of Theatre Owners of America to all forms of pay-television was passed today at the 11th annual convention of the association. The TOA pledged itself to "present before all appropriate governmental agencies the infringement to the public interest by any form of pay-TV. The resolution also authorizes the organization's Toll Television Committee to develop a plan to raise funds necessary to carry out its work and take whatever action it deems needed to bar toll-TV whether over the air or carried by coaxial cable. The resolution was presented to convention by Philip F. Harling following his talk on the subject. Television Today Urges TOA Continue Lead in Pay-TV Drive Special to THE DAILY MIAMI BEACH, Oct. 22. Theatre Owners of America must continue to spearhead the drive to ban tollt e 1 e v i s ion — both over the airwaves and via coaxial cables — by securing "foolproof" legislation, Philip Harling, chairman of the TOA toll-TV committee, said in an address before the annual convention here tod a y. Harling spoke at a morning forum session on "better business vs. television." Harling took note of the announcement of the House Commerce Committee that it intends to investigate starting in January plans for pay-TV of sports events to come through the wire. This means, he said, that "what we have been advocating for over six years has finally taken root, and that it is that pay-TV in any form must be outlawed on the grounds that it is against the public interest and certainly not within the province of any administrative body, whether city, state or national, to grant any franchise or license to any special group for pay-TV purposes." The TOA committee feels that the necessary legislation to ban toll-TV will emanate from the Harris committee with the assistance and cooperation of public opinion, Harling added. The TOA committee is now carrying out extensive legal research in preparation for its appearance at the Congressional hearings. In the meantime, Harling continued, all exhibitors, regardless of affiliation, must unite in a common drive and work to put an anti-toll-TV campaign into immediate operation. "Time is of the essence," he said. Gene Tierney Returns In GE's 'Doll House' Gene Tierney will renew her career, after an absence of four years from the screen, when she stars in The General Electric Theatre's production of the Ibsen classic, "A Doll's House," on the network TV series. This was the very same story on which Miss Tierney began production for General Electric for its first TV program when the series began on the air in 1954— a role she was forced to abandon when she became ill. It went on the air as "Nora," with Phyllis Thaxter cast as an emergency replacement. KOMO, Seattle, Newest ABC Network Affiliate KOMO-TV, of Seattle, Wash., has signed as a primary affiliate of the ABC Television Network, it was announced jointly yesterday by W. W. Warren, executive vice-president and general manager of KOMO-TV, and Alfrd R. Beckman, vice-president of ABC television station relations. The affiliation will become effective Dec. 10, 1959. NT A Establishes New Offices in Brussels National Telefilm Associates, Inc., has opened new offices in Brussels, Oliver A. Unger, NTA president, announced here. The newly-established office will handle NTA's theatrical and non-theatrical product in Belgium, Luxembourg and Holland and the company's television program in Belgium and Holland. Leo Lax, leading figure in the European film industry and president of his own firm, Leo Lax Films, will supervise the Brussels office. National Telefilm Associates now has overseas offices in Paris, Rome, London, Japan, Australia and the Philippine Islands. Offices also are maintained in Toronto and Montreal, Canada. Harrison Joins SG Paul Harrison has joined Screen Gems as an executive producer, it was announced by Harry Ackerman, vicepresident in charge of production for the Columbia Pictures' TV subsidiary. Harrison has just completed directing the new Ann Sothern series at Desilu studios. Banner, IFD Deal Banner Films and International Film Distributors, Inc., have signed an agreement whereby IFD will distribute in all areas except the U.S. and Canada the 35 feature films known as the "Banner Package" and the series "Night Court." NBC Reports Sell-Out of 10:30 A.M.-l P.M. With $2,300,000 gross revenue in new and additional daytime business being placed with the NBC-TV Network during the past week, the Monday-through-Friday, 10:30 A.M.-l P.M. (NYT) block of programs is now completely sold out, Walter D. Scott, vice-president, NBC television networks sales, announced. The additional business is from the Procter and Gamble Company, the Lever Brothers Company and Whitehall Laboratories. It follows the recently announced purchase by Pharmaceuticals, Inc., of five alternate-week quarter-hour segments in three NBC-TV Monday-through-Friday daytime programs. Donaldson to NBC The appointment of Ross Donaldson as director, script services, has been announced by Robert F. Lewine, vice-president, NBC Television Network Programs. He will report to Lewine. B-B Formula for '59 Is Launched by NAC By GUS BACOLINI MIAMI BEACH, Oct. 22. Lee Koken, president of the National Association of Concessionaires, today launched the association's 1959 business building formula entitled "Better Merchandising Equals More Profits." % Members and theatre operators were introduced to an adaptation of the Harvard Case Book method prepared under the direction of James O. Hoover, Martin Theatres, Georgia, program chairman of the NAC convention. Koken was discussion leader of a session on conventional theatres. The next Harvard Case Book method discussion will be conducted by Phil Lowe, Lowe Merchandising Serv Cinema Lodge (Continued from page 1) tribution share certificates on behalf of the various B'nai B'rith agencies. Selection of the winners of the Cadillac and West Indies cruise by a prominent personality will highlight the festivities. Emanuel Sonnenreich, membership director of District Grand Lodge Number One, will be the guest speaker. Norman Robbins, vice-president of Cinema Lodge and executive of National Screen Service, chairman, and Jack Hoffberg, treasurer of Cinema Lodge, will act as hosts for the occasion. ice. Today's NAC session concluded with a showing of a sales training film by J. J. Fitzgibbons, Jr., theatre Confections, Ltd., producer and commentator.