Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1960)

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s Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, February 24, ]J| Actor Guild Sets Strike Call for March TO A to Seek Para. Decree Revisions From THE DAILY Bureau W ASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-Theatre Owners of America today called upon die anti-trust division of the Department of Justice for revisions in die decrees in the U.S. vs. Paramount case which would permit theatre mergers, and the production and distribution of pictures with pre-emptive rights by former affiliated circuits. The board of directors and executive committee of TOA. meeting here yesterday directed its decrees revision committee to confer at the earliest possible date with Robert A. Bicks, Acting Assistant Attorney General in charge of the anti-trust division, to ask for these changes. Bicks is on vacation at present. Suggested at Previous Meeting The decrees revision committee had recommended these changes following an earlier meeting. Co-chairmen of the committee are Sumner M. Redstone of Boston, assistant to the TOA president, and George G. Kerasotes of Springfield, 111. chairman of the board. Members of the committee are: Stuart Aarons, New York; Myron N. Blank, Des Moines; Roy Cooper, San Francisco; M. Spencer Leve, Los Angeles; E. LaMar Sarra, Jacksonville; Mitchell Wolfson, Miami; Sidney Markley, New York; and Herman M. Levy, New Haven, TOA's general counsel. The board and executive committee authorized the decrees revision committee to meet as soon as possible with Bicks for a full discussion of the matters contained in its report and other critical problems affecting the industry and arising out of provisions in the Paramount case decrees. TOA Hails Paramount For Using Technirama From THE DAILY Bureau WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-Theatre Owners of America today hailed the announcement by Paramount Pictures that it would produce its future films in the Technirama anamorphic process as a progressive step towards the standardization of projection processes. Albert M. Pickus, TOA president, announced that the mid-winter combined meeting of the board of directors and executive committee meeting yesterday at the Mayflower Hotel here praised Paramount for this step. Correction A story, under Albany dateline, in Motion Picture Daily, Feb. 15, on the introduction of a bill by Senator Jacob H. Gilbert, Bronx Democrat, amending the general business law, to fix a new ceiling for placement in theatrical employment, stated that the present rate is five per cent of the weekly wages through the first two weeks of a single engagement. This was a typographical error: the correct period for the five per cent payment is 10 weeks. (Continued from page 1) negotiating committee a mandate not to negotiate on such subjects as die TV exhibition of theatrical pictures, both as to pictures made since 1948 and as to pictures to be made in the future. "Their negotiating committee sits on its hands while their publicity committee 'negotiates' in the press. "Nor has progress been made on guild's pension and welfare proposal, in spite of producer claims to the contrary. "In public statements, the producers have sought to create the impression that the actors are rolling in wealth, ignoring the fact that 69.1 per cent of all guild actors earn less than $4,000 vearly, 85 per cent less than $10,000. "They have sought to create the TOA for Peace (Continued from page 1) ing, the board of directors and executive committee called for a settlement, even on a limited, standby basis. In a statement, which took a glum view of the future of the film industry if there should be a protracted work stoppage, TOA also said it believes that the Screen Actors Guild does not want post1948 films to be sold to TV because this would cut the grosses of new and current pictures. TOA added that it believes that the majority of studios have no current intention to sell their post-'48 libraries to TV. Calls It First Such Action The statement, which TOA claims to be the first action by an exhibitor organization to seek avoidance of the threatened strike, states: "Theatre Owners of America notes that exhibitors report increased public response to current releases. This is in great part due to the quality product that has come from Hollywood, to the more intensive merchandising both by distribution and exhibition in the effort by both ends of the business to stimulate additional revenue from each individual feature and perhaps by the increased public awareness that you get more out of picture entertainment by going out to see movies in the theatre. "An interruption in the present flow of product— and very scanty product it is for a time when the tide of public favor is turning to theatres— a drying up of product will dry up the revival of business under way and a strike will undoubtedly result in a major disaster to every division in the industry. Fears for 'Thousands of Jobs' "Thousands of theatres will go dark never to re-open, talent teams will disintegrate, the whole process of motion picture creation will come to a dead stop and literally thousands of jobs will disappear perhaps never to return. "And a long strike would probably impression that guild proposals are new and revolutionary, whereas the fact is that these principles are well established and accepted by the industry and the producers themselves in many areas of guild bargaining. "The producers' short-sighted, belligerent attitude has brought us to the present situation." Commenting on the announced intention of the actors to strike, the Writers Guild today said: "As responsible members of the Hollywood community we regret the necessity of a strike at any time. However, the producers have taken the same intransigent attitude with the actors that they took with the writers guild. Like us, the S.A.G. was left with no other choice but to strike. We sincerely hope that this action on Nathan, Rothenberg Head Columbia Unit Columbia Pictures has named Allan Nathan and Bob Rothenberg of the home office exploitation department to head a special promotion unit on four forthcoming Columbia releases, it has been announced by Robert S. Ferguson, national director of advertising, publicity and exploitation. The four features are: Hammer's "Stranglers of Bombay," "The Electronic Monster," Toho's "Battle in Outer Space," and "12 to the Moon." Nathan and Rothenberg will coordinate the promotion campaigns on these films in addition to their regular duties within the exploitation department of the company. shift the motion picture leadership permanently from our country to the production centers abroad. "All strikes eventually come to a settlement. It has been proved time after time that a better settlement for both sides could have been made before the strike began than in the embittered and costly atmosphere of a deal after a prolonged stoppage. "On the production side, we hear repeatedly that the majority of the studios have no current intention to sell their post-'48 libraries to TV. On the labor side, the actors guild has taken the position publicly that they would prefer no sale of post-'48 films because it would cut the grosses of new and current pictures. "In this atmosphere, is it not possible to effect a settlement of this complex disputed issue for a limited period? Strong for Standby Settlement "A standby settlement would bring great relief to the whole industry and place no road blocks in the upswing of picture income now apparently underway. It is the sincere hope of the Theatre Owners of America that such a settlement can be affected quickly and that the negotiating parties will recognize that their constructive future progress in the business dictates such a solution to this critical situation." the part of the actors will helri speed an equitable solution fori concerned." Charles S. Boren, executive v president of the Association of j tion Picture Producers today iss) the following statement: "We deeply regret the S.A.G. : tion in calling a strike, thus imp' ing thousands of jobs in the indu as well as the institution of the dustry. 'Not the Desire of Producers' "The suspension of negotiat with the actors was not the desin the producers. We feel that the sumption of negotiations which is for Thursday at 2 P.M. may nar the issues between us and pres< the jobs of many innocent by-st£ ers." Marcus Pla (Continued from page 1) of its stock, with other financing tf obtained by odier means, for the | chase of selected films from post-1 libraries, Abram F. Myers, Al > States board chairman and genj counsel, states in a membership 1 letin released here . Myers, who recalls that he ; "lukewarm" to M.P.I.'s original jj of seeking a stockholders' positiOi major film companies and endea ing to influence their policies aJ1 from selling their post-'48 librarie ' television, notes that the M.P.I, j1 has been joined with Ben Mail Plan for acquiring post-'48 blockh ers for reissue. Points to Competitive Situatio "Television and the movie thea are intensely competitive," M notes. "Bodi want and need the ter post-'48 pictures. It is within spirit and intendment of the antit laws that they compete with other to secure those pictures seeking them, the exhibitors are pursuing a dog-in-the-manger po They are seeking the pictures noi keep them away from TV, not to press them, but to exhibit ti Therefore, pay no heed to the f. hearted ones who are hinting at straint of trade." Accompanying the bulletin is a ter from Marcus reporting on in meetings with Walter Reade M.P.I, on the plan, and suggesl that Allied units be invited to port it. Interested in Wage Law The bulletin also urges Al.-J members to "do dieir part" in the (J rent campaign against propo' changes in die Federal minimum w" law affecting theatres. Myers also chides 20th Centi Fox for terming its selective run ail downtown as the "first wave." recalls that the old trade term "j tection" gave way to "clearance," si in turn "clearance" is being repla I by "availability" and the word "n for "first wave."