Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1960)

rljrsday, September 15, 1960 Motion Picture Daily 5 fraction to Anti-Pay-TV t titions Big: Hurling From THE DAILY Bureau OS ANGELES, Sept. 13.-The naal campaign to acquire 30,000,000 atures on a petition to Congress ng that pay-television be outlawed luced a "unified response" from bitors "beyond expectations." 3 Philip F. Harling, chairman of toll-tv committee of Theatre Own}f America, will tell the TOA conion tomorrow in a speech, the text yhich was released here today. First 12 Alpha Films Outlined Additional Petitions Printed arling will tell exhibitors that 1( 000 petitions were printed origi§ly but that the demand for more g| met with an additional 75,000. H will also thank National Screen I ice for its help in distributing the petions. i. arling will assert that pay-tv could flfroy half of the free-tv stations; ■ the Etobicoke experiment has ai'ed that exhibitors will get no help Hi distributors in combatting payBand that toll-tv is not inevitable, n will also again urge exhibitors arywhere to follow the example of Be in Connecticut and assess themffies to set up a fund to hire legal ansel in Washington opposing the JBj'ith-RKO General application for a M permit in that state. Fight in Seventh Year 1 [arling will remind the TOA deleft >s that this month marks the sevSi year since an industry commitf&was organized to fight pay-tv and w express confidence that the bat|Haan be won "if we are as diligent Mre have been in the past six years." tve 'Lace1 Recordings ■»| ive recordings have already been for the "Midnight Lace" theme fija the Ross Hunter-Arwin produc■j; "Midnight Lace," which Univer» International is releasing. These ri>rdings of the theme are in addim to a Doris Day recording of the sc| y "What Does a Woman Do," from V picture for Columbia Records. Bare is also a possibility of a sixth girding of the theme by Dick HyWji for Mercury. I \ayne for 'Greatest* j COLLYWOOD, Sept. 14. John V|yne became the first star name to 1 igned for a role in George Stevens' ■luction of the life and times of lis, "The Greatest Story Ever ■jl." Wayne will portray the role C^he Roman who scourges Jesus on ■:way to the cross, but comes to be tl; first believer at the Crucifixion. l^nzler's Sister Dies ■i'uneral services were held here Ijisday for Mrs. Gussie Mantel, sis1 of Samuel Rinzler, president of tl Randforce Amusement Corp., who dl Monday night in Brooklyn. In action to Rinzler, she is survived by jbn, Leo; a daughter, Mrs. Mollie Vfner, and two sisters. ( Continued from William Zeckendorf, realtor, and a member of the board of the America Corp., Pathe Laboratories parent company, and by Budd Rogers, newly named president and general manager of Alpha. Maureen O'Hara, who will star in two of Alpha's 12 productions, also addressed the exhibitors, assuring them that producers and talent will give their best to the pictures to be made and asking that exhibitors, in turn, give their best to selling them. She said she was prepared to go out on the road and help sell them. Two for Brazzi The 12 pictures scheduled include "Brigante," starring Rossano Brazzi, to be produced by Steve Barclay, with a top co-star, and "Wife or Mistress?" a second Brazzi starring vehicle. Charles B. Fitzsimmons will produce the first Maureen O'Hara starrer, "The Deadly Companions," from a screenplay by A. S. Fleischman, based on his novel, "Yellow Leg," a Civil War story. The actress's second Alpha picture will be announced later. Nat Tanchuck and Irving Gummings will produce Jules Verne's "From the Earth to the Moon," a science-fiction story with topical values, and "Morgan's Horse." Stuart Reynolds and Jack Baker will produce "Johnny Cote," a prohibition gangster story by Robert Patterson, with screenplay by Mark Hanna. The same producer team will make "Record Buster," teen-age music film, and "The Face," a horror film. Bischoff, Diamond Teamed Samuel Bischoff and David Diamond will produce "Something for Nothing" and "The Trek," adventure film. "Doc" Merman will produce "Escape from Andersonville," from a screenplay by Norman Corwin. Zeckendorf told the exhibitors that a policy of attempting to make only blockbusters is unhealthy and of potential injury to the industry. "No matter how high the pyramid may be," he said, "it needs a broad base. It is all right to make a few big pictures but the industry can't exist on those alone nor can it prosper unless exhibition prospers, too. The pyramid could topple and bring an industry down with it around the heads of its policy-makers. There must be a partnership between exhibition and production. The industry is not an exclusive club for the few. It belongs to many." Sees Tide Turning Zeckendorf, whose Webb & Knapp Co. has contracted to buy the 20th Century-Fox studio property for $43,000,000 cash for a real estate community development, told the convention the tide has commenced to turn against production scarcity when companies like Alpha are prepared to invest large sums in pictures. "I'm sure you're on your way," he said. TOA has promised cooperation in obtaining play dates for the Alpha from page 1 ) pictures, and a joint committee of exhibitors and producers will help select pictures that exhibitors believe there is a good market for. Exhibitors will pay only the going terms for the product and will share in the entire playoff. Pathe Laboratories will benefit from the film processing work involved. It is one of the several current exhibitor efforts to increase production. These points were touched upon by Rogers who said that in addition to the 12 announced, Harry Joe Brown will make two more and additional deals with other producers are in work. The product listed is subject to change if the exhibitor committee, soon to be designated, desires. The conventioneers were asked to sign cards at their luncheon tables, giving their company's name, for further contact. Film terms will be adjusted up or down according to box-office performance, Rogers said. Field representatives have been retained to call on exhibitors around the country with further details. Complete advertising and exploitation campaigns will be created for each release. Studio Tours Set for TOA-Meet Delegates From THE DAILY Bureau HOLLYWOOD, Sept. 14.-M-G-M, Paramount, 20th Century-Fox and Warner Brothers will host tours and luncheons tomorrow for families of Theatre Owners of America convention delegates. About 200 guests are expected to make the tours, which were arranged by the Association of Motion Picture Producers. An extensive Universal studio tour for TOA members also has been arranged by David A. Lipton, Universal vice-president, in which buses will ferry the convening visitors in the afternoon to see points of interest on 400-acre company plant, back lot and sound stages. They will visit the shooting set of the Tony Curtis starrer, "The 6th Man." The TOA groups also will be feted in a studio projection room with greetings from Lipton, their host. 'Sunrise' Policy ( Continued from page 1 ) sell tickets for each separate performance, guaranteeing the patron a seat at that performance. Depending on local conditions exhibitors may run three or four performances a day and four or five on Saturday, but in no case will the film be shown on a grind policy. Nor will shorts, newsreels or trailers be shown. The picture has a running time of 143 minutes plus an intermission and there is a short musical prologue. "Sunrise" will open on Sept. 28 at the RKO Palace in New York and four other openings will be held the following week in Beverly Hills, Boston, Washington and San Francisco. Problems of Popcorn At 'Ben-Hur' Showings From THE DAILY Bureau LOS ANGELES, Sept. 14. One exhibitor at the TOA concessions session here today asked what could be done about popcorn sales in "BenHur" engagements. One panelist replied, "you don't have to book the picture." Another exhibitor explained that he solved the problem by not selling popcorn the first week of the run but has been selling it ever since. "MGM yelled but I had the picture," he commented to the amusement of the TOA delegates. Concessions ( Continued from page 1 ) was chairman, with the following panelists: Edwin Gage, Oakhurst, N.J.; John Krier, Salt Lake City; Bert Nathan, Brooklyn; Spiro J. Pappas, Chicago, and Jack W. Wilson, Los Angeles. On the psychology of sales, principal attention was given to explain how prices could be increased without patron resistance. Panelists explained how gradually 15 cent candy items have been introduced and popcorn increased from 10 cents to 15 cents for the same amount or less popcorn. It was pointed out that a new rule of the Pure Food Administration, effective Mar. 1, 1961, will bar the use at old fashioned type popcorn boxes. Quality Emphasized There was full agreement among the panelists that in the long run the most satisfactory equipment is the top quality. However, even the best equipment has to receive TLC— "tender, loving care" as Papas put it, if it is to be a good investment. It was recommended that controls are essential and that they must cover 100 per cent of the concession items and supplies. Various methods of keeping inventories were outlined. Krier explained how a lie detector was used with effect in controlling pilferage at one drive-in. Others raised the question of the legality of having employees agree to submit to lie detector tests. Gage recommended that managers be paid a commission on concession sales less any losses. In answer to a question on the extent of leakage Nathan said that a shortage of Vz of 1 per cent of the dollar volume would be an acceptable national figure. Coupon Books Suggested Jack Braunagel recommended that employees be given coupon books permitting a 50 per cent discount on refreshments or even free purchases up to a fixed weekly amount of $2 or $3. Papas said that a 40 cents per day allowance is what he uses in his operations. Exhibitors were urged to know just what yields should be obtained on every item they handled.