Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1958)

[onday, October 27, 1958 Motion Picture Daily 5 Commercialism Vies With Glamor As NAC Concludes Its Convention By GUS BACOLINI MIAMI BEACH, Oct. 26.— The final business session of the 1958 convention of the National Association of Concessionaires here took the form of a combined NAC-TOA meeting. Presiding chairman was TOA's Sam L. Gillette. Guest speaker Eugene Fontaine, Howard Johnson Restaurants, developed the subject "Food Cost Control and Profit" to show the importance and methods of controlling a food selling operation. Lee Koken, chairman of the NAC board presented a summary and the consensus of opinion resulting from the study made of conventional theatre-concession operation using the Harvard Case Book method. Lowe Talks of Drive-ins Philip Lowe followed with a similar report on the drive-in results. Just to keep the proceedings from getting too, too commercial they were interrupted long enough to present Miss America 1958 (Maryanne Mobley) with a set of matched luggage from NAC. In turn, Miss America crowned Miss Candy Girl 1958, who is Dorothy Tierney, who operates the concession stand at the Carib Theatre, Miami Beach, a Wometco house. Getting back to business, lively discussions ensued on every phase of concession operation. It was suggested that theatres should develop "take home packages" made up of items that would be theatre exclusives, to avoid competing with commercial establishments. However, the success of this and every other phase of concession selling depends on merchandising, proper promotion and effective use of pointof-sale material, it was pointed out. 'Sellarama' Presented After the discussion period, which was moderated by Bert Nathan, a film entitled "Sellarama" and showing the "do and don'ts" in operating a concession stand was run by J. J. Fitzgibbons of Theatre Confections, Ltd. Canada, who produced and narrated it especially for the convention. Before concluding the session Lee Koken, on behalf of NAC presented Bert Nathan, chairman of the board, with a gift of a flat silver service. Philip Lowe presented a plaque to Nathan as a testimonial of his dedicated work in NAC as chairman of the board 1956-58. licholson Warns of 'Groove hat Becomes a Grave' Special to THE DAILY I MIAMI BEACH, Oct. 26. James L Nicholson, president of American iternational Pictures, warned theatre en attending the Theatre Owners of merica convention here of "the oove that becomes a grave" in his Idress at an AlP-hosted luncheon. I The theatre, said Nicholson, "must ach out to all people. The owner [ust open his eyes to the varied ishes of varied people. Some enjoy lie type of picture. Others will plunk ; down for something else. The exbitor who changes his theatre's type lill appeal to more types. He will find at there is a large number of people ho like all kinds of movies." Harkley Urges (Continued from page 1) j ict ions and a "B" theatre to play Sijploitation product. Potential patrons, Specially parents, once knew in genfial the policy of each theatre. ' Comments of Markley came aftei Sidney Markley George Eby 1 unexpected exchange enlivened a licheon sponsored by American Infli;national Pictures, which was adjessed by its chief executives, James I Nicholson, president, and Samuel i, Arkoff, vice-president and general lunsel. ^Following the AIP talks, Jerry Wald, Iio had been one of the principal leakers at the morning session, got k> and raised the question about what lie of product is needed in the info stry. "It's fine to make money, but ■n't harm the motion picture. The Ilustry can only be built on quality. Si'tures should not offend the innoit but also should stimulate the lit mind," Wald remarked. To the evident enjoyment of the delegates and guests present, ..holson countered by stating that all P pictures had been passed by the 3duction Code and had received ratings from the Legion of Delcy. Arkoff carried the argument ther and more personal by citing plot of "Peyton Place" and saying, ' hildren love monsters. Monsters do It drink, do not smoke, do not lust f other peoples' wives." Markley told a story that illustrated t point that both Wald and Nichol I I and Arkoff were right, depending on aims. "From the exhibitors point of view," Markley said "there has not been too much choice of product." In tracing the record of AIP, Arkoff said that the company started four years ago with $3,000,000 and "we are now shooting our 60th picture." He deplored the tendencies to air industry struggles in public, saying "Our job is the merchandising of glamor and make-believe." He decried the lack of attention to recruiting young manpower and observed that in some cases children of exhibitors were being discouraged from going into the business. "There is too much downbeat —to much talk of liquidation. The liquidators, themselves, can and will be replaced." Lauds Convention Optimism Nicholson said this was the most optimistic convention he had attended in the four years he had been making pictures. "Too many pictures are being made for the adult mind and not enough for those under 21," he observed. Citing the example of how a daily newspaper appeals to all classes and types of readers, Nicholson urged greater ingenuity, which he said was equivalent to showmanship. He urged exhibitors to book exploitation pictures in theatres where such product had not been previously tried. "We are expanding our budgets and will deliver next year a minimum of 30 pictures of which four will be in CinemaScope and color," he said, and added, "W« are not attending our own funeral by selling to television." George Eby, international chief barker, Variety Clubs, spoke about S. F. Festival ( Continued from page 1 ) entire festival, but executive director Irving M. Levin isn't happy as he might be. Mainly because no American film is among the 12 foreign nations coming up with a total of 16 pictures. "I begged and pleaded with every Hollywood studio to submit an entry" Levin said, pointing out that 20th-Fox made formal application to enter Leo McCarey's "Rally Round the Flag, Boys" and they withdrew the entry on the grounds the print wouldn't be ready on time. At a press conference today Levin waxed almost bitter against the American film industry for its lassitude concerning the San Francisco Festival. "They (Hollywood) simply have indicated they don't want to play ball with an international festival in San Francisco" he said. "Don't ask me for their reasons." "The city of San Francisco hasn't put up a plugged nickel, either for this or last year for the festival" Levin said. "The help we are getting from civic and other organizations compensate in a great measure. But unless we get financial support next year there will be no San Francisco International Film Festival. The project will die under its own weight." the charitable and public relations job for the whole industry done by the various local Variety tents. Sidney Blumenstock, coordinator of promotion for the Academy Awards telecast, explained to exhibitors the ways in which they could cooperate to make the event of greater benefit than ever to the industry. Meeting of T0A Directors On Final Convention Day Special to THE DAILY MIAMI BEACH, Oct. 26. On Saturday, the final day of the convention the Theatre Owners of America board of directors was in session all morning. In the afternoon there were two round tables: "The Future of the Small Theatre Owner," Albert M. Pickus, moderator; and "Drive-In Theatre Operations, Equipment and Problems," Edward L. Fabian, moderator. The week long convention ended with a cocktail party sponsored by National Carbon Co. and the president's banquet at which the TOA star of the year award was presented to Deborah Kerr. The host at the banquet was the Coca-Cola Co. Fashion Show Luncheon Held for the Ladies Special to THE DAILY MIAMI BEACH, Oct. 26. A fashion show and luncheon here was attended by over 150 women at the Eden Roc Hotel. Mrs. Ernest Stellings, on behalf of the group, thanked the TOA ladies committee for all their hospitality. Ellen Sullivan, daughter of Thomas Sullivan, executive secretary at N.A.C., won the door prize. Mrs. George Hoover introduced the fashion show presented by Jordan-Marsh. Mrs. Margaret Twyman, community relations director of MPAA spoke on the topic "Today's Fashionable Wife." She outlined the role of the fashion designer in motion picture making. The message she had for exhibitors' wives was that they are working partners in a business, and must keep up with fashions in living, including community activities. Miss America Is Guest Breakfast with Miss America of 1959 was highlight in the final day's program for women. Mrs. Sonny Shepherd introduced Mitchell Wolfson, honorary chairman of the convention. Robert Wagner and John Gavin spoke briefly. After breakfast there was an enjoyable boat tour of the Miami area. Technicolor Earnings ( Continued from page 1 ) stock outstanding, it was announced today. Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus, president and general manager of the technicolor companies, said, "this compares with earnings after taxes for first nine months, of 1957 of $591,849, equalling 29 cents per share. In this comparison it should be borne in mind that profit for 1957 included a non-recurring capital gain of $580,700. Hence the earnings from operations for the first ten months, of the current fiscal year show a marked improvement over corresponding period for 1957."