Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1959)

OF THE Motion Picture Daily Friday, April 24, -/bnanlccLTL, Drttenswu&orud. U. S. and U. K. [Continued from page 1) son that has existed for many years between TOA and CEA, and expressing the American exhibitor's optimism about the future, said he trusts it is shared by his counterpart in Britain. "Our association, over the many years with our fellow-theatre owners and operators in CEA," Kerasotes wrote, "has been so mutually beneficial — for the problems of motion picture theatres in your country are in so many respects akin to those in our nation — that we want to share with you the problems, the struggles and, the rewards, that we know lie in the future for all of us. "Our liaison has been invaluable; it is something, I am sure, both our organizations and our memberships want to encourage and to nurture. Common Problems Cited "We all know the lack of product, the acute sellers' market, the competition from television, the increasing selectivity of theatre audiences, the need for technological improvements which once again establish the movies as a prime source of entertainment, are all problems common to the exhibitor of both our countries. "We know that we share with you the feeling, as veteran showmen who have devoted their lives and their fortunes to our wonderful business, that united and working toward common aims, we have, within ourselves, the means of effecting our own salvation. This path lies through our trade associations, which must continue mutually strong, so that we can best achieve this bright future." "We, in the United States, are optimistic about this future. We trust that you share in that optimism," Kerasotes concluded. TOA Not Opposed (Continued from page 1) peared in Motion Picture Daily yesterday which stated that proposals for disposition of the funds put die two national exhibitor organizations "in opposite corners," a TOA spokesman yesterday said, "TOA's proposal is not in conflict with Allied's — it simply goes one step farther." The spokesman explained that TOA, like Allied, is in favor of refunding the $108,000 cash on hand to the contributors but is awaiting the outcome of a vote on this by the b-b executive committee. In addition, TOA advocates that the best of the proposed business-building campaign materials be salvaged and made available to exhibitors at cost for use in local or regional promotional campaigns. In this connection, TOA hopes that exhibitors receiving refunds will use them to purchase campaign material for that purpose, if the material can be provided. The Allied board in voting in favor of refunds to campaign contributors specified that thereafter it would recommend that such funds be "pooled locally for promotion endeavor." Television Today Met. B'dcasting Profit, Gross Up Sharply Metropolitan Broadcasting Corp. yesterday reported net income of $932,348, equal to 60 cents a share, for 1958. The company earned $243,460, or 16 cents per share, in 1957. John W. Kluge, chairman of the board and president, who early this year acquired Paramount Pictures' 22 per cent interest in Metropolitan, noted that the 1958 net income is subject to special write-offs during the year of $630,313 as a result of talent contract cancellations at radio station WNEW. He also reported that the company has remaining a tax loss carry-forward of approximately $900,000 after applying $300,000 in 1958. "We expect to apply ( $900,000 ) against this year's profitable operation," Kluge informs stockholders. Metropolitan's gross revenues last year amounted to $14,427,752, compared to $10,293,587 in 1957. The company operates WNEW AM and FM and WNEW-TV in New York; WTTG in Washington, and WHK, Cleveland. The company's annual meeting to be held in New York May 11 will vote on the following nominees for the board of directors: Lloyd M. Bauman, Richard D. Buckley, Armand G. Erpf, Thomas T. Goldsmith, jr., Robert C. Jones, Kluge, Warren H. Lasher, J. Lincoln Morris and Percy M. Stewart. NTA's Unger Believes Pay-TV Inevitable Special to THE DAILY CHICAGO, April 23. The future of television in the United States may well hinge upon the possibility of the co-existence of both the present concept of telecasting and pay TV, Oliver A. Unger, president of National Telefilm Associates, told members of the Advertising Club of Chicago at the Sheraton Hotel here today. Discussing the depletion of feature films from the vaults of Hollywood studios, Unger said that the time is rapidly approaching when telecasters will "need to program more and more of the on-the-air time of our own resources." When that time comes, he said, "a crisis" will arrive. "The answer to that crisis will probably be some form of pay TV." "The American public," the NTA president commented, "will have to decide for itself whether it is prepared to pay for the kind of entertainment it wants and which advertising budgets simply cannot afford." Unger said that "whether Congressmen will try to create artifical problems that will impede pay TV's arrival or whether various pressure groups speaking for the theatre exhibitors who fear the coming of toll TV as much as some people in the FCC Would Ante Option-Time Ru From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, April 23. Federal Communications Comnj today announced proposals to r its present rules on option time ii vision network broadcasting, and for comments. The Justice Depai has declared that option time tices as they now exist are in vi( of the anti-trust laws. The commission's proposals in< a reduction of the number of daily which a station may opti network programs and a broai of a station's right to accept or network programs so that it m free to substitute for a networ! gram "a program of greater lo national importance." Program-Rejection Provide The FCC also proposed to gl tions the right to reject networ grams already contracted for a as network programs offered. "The proposed changes are de to improve the competitive posit other groups affected by option the FCC said, "and the freed program selection of a station its affiliation contract, while ma ing the essential features of the practice which the commissio held to be reasonably necessary successful conduct of network tions and in the public interest.' The commission asked that ments be filed on or before June Levenson Will Reph Godfrey Next Week "The Sam Levenson Show" \ the substitute program for the week daytime "Arthur Godfrey on the CBS Television Network, tive Wednesday, April 29. The new program will be re; scheduled Mondays thru F 10:30 to 11:00 a.m., EDT. F two-day interim when Levenso be unable to appear due to a pi commitment, Jack Sterling wil stitute. This will be on April 2 28. NTA's Ads Honore The advertising department < tional Telefilm Associates li£ ceived three awards for typog cal excellence from the Type tors Club of New York. The first award was for an Program Sales ad for the "U. S shal" TV series. The second v( a trade ad for the company's ^ vani TV series. The third c honored the "NTA on the Air" head used for promotional m; broadcasting industry fear it, make die least bit of difference tuallv."