Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1959)

Motion Picture Daily Friday, October 23, 19 Compo Has Plan for Ad Tie -In With 'Oscar j 'Spots' on Air Seen Effective Aid to Films {Continued from page 1) ing, which lasted about two and onehalf hours, also heard a report from Ben Marcus, a member of the Compo triumvirate, on progress of arrangements to try out his Wisconsin plan for area promotion of selected pictures in three other territories to be chosen by industry advertising executives. Originated with Jack Whittle The proposal for tieing in film commercials with the Academy Awards telecast originated with Jack Whittle, executive secretary of Allied Theatre Owners of Maryland. When it was explained by Charles Simonelli, Universal's Eastern advertising-publicity director, who is chairman of the Motion Picture Association's advertising directors committee, that unions, talent and others comprising the annual Awards telecast contributors would have to be paid at full scale if commercials were included in the program, Sol Schwartz, RKO Theatres president, suggested that alternate opportunities for commercials disassociated from the program proper be considered. Goldberg, Mandel Heard Harry Goldberg, Stanley Warner Theatres advertising-publicity director, and Harry Mandel, RKO Theatres vice-president, suggested that "spot" announcements of 10 or 15 minutes of air time be purchased by the industry for commercials on current and coming pictures, perhaps keyed to the theme that "What you have just seen concerned Hollywood's best of last year. But you haven't seen anything yet." Then named outstanding new attractions. Simonelli and other advertising and distribution executives present agreed the idea had possibilities and should be explored further. It was noted that whether the next Academy Awards telecast was sponsored by the industry or by an outside commercial source, the before-and-after time tieup with it still would be effective. It has not been determined yet whether the industry will again sponsor the telecast as it did during the last two years. Simonelli Suggests Drawing Simonelli also noted that his advertising committee has considered the possibility of individual companies drawing the names of specific markets reached by the "Oscar" telecast out of a hat and each beaming their own picture plugs to the markets they had drawn. This would solve the problem of whose new picture should be mentioned in what way on the air. Charles McCarthy, Compo execu HERMAN ROBBINS with the scroll presented to him yesterday by COMPO in recognition of his services to the industry. Left to right are Sam Pinanski, A. Montague, Robbins, and Ben Marcus. Robbins Honored by Compo ( Continued 40th anniversary of the National Screen Service of which Robbins is the founder, president and chairman of the board of directors. The scroll reads as follows: "In recognition of his outstanding service to the motion picture industry and of his lavish gifts of time, energy and money to all industry charities and other industry activities, and also in appreciation of the distinctive service he has given as treasurer of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations, Inc., to whose every call for assistance he has responded promptly and generously, this scroll is presented to Herman Robbins on this, the fortieth anniversary of the National Screen Service Corporation, of which he is from page 1 ) the founder, president and chairman of the board of directors. "Given this day by the membership, board of directors and executive committee of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations, Inc., assembled in annual meeting at the Hotel Astor, New York." In accepting the scroll, Robbins said, "The credit directed to me really should be given to those who do the work." Robbins disclaimed any individual and personal credit, saying the founding of his company and its development was achieved through joint efforts. Robbins was given a standing ovation. tive secretary, submitted his annual report to the meeting, describing Compo's activities in the fields of Academy Awards TV show promotion in cooperation with the MPAA-ad publicity directors committee; its organization of an industry publicity network embracing 145 cities and towns, capable not only of distributing upbeat publicity but also ready to be used in a public relations emergency of any kind; continued publication of strategic industry messages in Compo advertising in Editor 6 Publisher, the trade journal of the newspaper world; assistance on publicizing and promoting "new faces"; cooperation in matters of local taxation; counsel on national and local legislation where requested; preparation of businessbuilding records and materials and other projects. The meeting authorized continuance for another year of the Editor ir Publisher ads, and voted commendation of the Compo press relations committee, of which Mandel is chairman. McCarthy and Manning Clagett, legislative representative of the MPAA reported to the meeting on developments in the field of censorship and warned that, in addition to the recently-passed censorship in Pennsylvania, other "classification" type laws may be expected to be introduced next year in New York, Maryland and Ohio, among others. Both warned that the laws affect exhibition as much as distribution. Compo, McCarthy, revealed, is making up campaign kits outlining methods for combatting censorship measures and providing materials from prior experiences which will be distributed to exhibitors threatened with censor legislation. They will be sent also to Compo's publicity network and others who request them. Clagett noted that after censorship victories in New York, Maryland and Ohio this year, Pennsylvania was the first to be lost. "Unless we snap out of our selfhypnosis," he warned, "we may awake to find censorship the rule of the land rather than the exception." Those reelected included the Compo triumvirs, Ben Marcus, represent Council Urge||Guard Agains All Censorshi] ing Allied States; Abe Montague, re resenting MPAA, and Sam Pinansl representing Theatre Owners I America, who presided at yesterday meeting. Also reelected were Herm1 Robbins, treasurer; Sidney Schreibi secretary, and McCarthy, executi secretary and information director. Executive Committee Named Reelected to the executive comm tee were, for Allied: Marcus, Irvi Dollinger, Milton London, Hail Hendel, Marshall Fine, Roy Kalvj Whittle and Ed Lider; for ITO! Harry Brandt; MMPTA, Sol Straif berg; MPAA, Montague; Society j Independent M. P. Producers, Ell Arnall; Theatre Owners of Amerie Pinanski, Myron Blank, Si H. Fabia E. D. Martin, Spence Leve, Wal\ Reade, Jr., Ernest Stellings, Morfc Thalheimer, Sr., and Albert M. Pickv for trade press, Jay Emanuel, and If Variety Clubs International, R O'Donnell. 'Get Well' to O'Donnell The meeting voted to send a mi sage of good wishes for a speedy | covery to O'Donnell, who has bet hospitalized in Dallas during recej |js] weeks. Pickus, chairman of Compo's i search committee, was to have giv| a progress report, but asked that [ be waived, explaining that his gro| is in the midst of preparation oft plan for conducting an ambitious i search project but requires more tir„ to complete it. The plan, if made u, of when completed, would have to financed separately, rather than out Compo funds. II slit Ceo pi C 1 B8 Report by Robbins Robbins, who was commended the meeting in a special citation (s separate story) read the treasure; report. In attendance at the meeting yest( day were Harry Hendel, Mannij Clagett, Sam Pinanski, Al Pickus, I Floersheimer, Merlin Lewis, Char] Simonelli, Herman Robbins, Milt| London, Abe Montague, Harry Gol berg, Mort Sunshine, Max A. Cohe D. John Phillips, Gerald Shea, B| Marcus, Martin Levine, Soloing Strausberg, Eugene Picker, Emani Frisch, Jack Whittle, Sidney Schn ber, Ralph Hetzel, Sol Schwar Harry Mandel, Irving Dollinger, Sa Rinzler, Ed Lider, Sidney Stern, Ta lor Mills, Michael F. Mayer, Err," Shapiro, Chester B. Bahn, Sherw Kane, Al Steen, Martin Quigley, J Dave Martin, Charles McCarthy, Hi' old Saxe, Stanley Prenosil, Alex Mc and Claire Roth. ili 1