The Exhibitor (1959)

Allied Clarifies Stand OnConciliationSupport SMPTE Convention Opens With Call For Technical Industry Advances NEW YORK — At a luncheon meeting for¬ mally opening the 86th semi-annual conven¬ tion of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers at the Statler Hilton Hotel last fortnight, Edward P. Curtis, East¬ man Kodak vice-president, guest speaker, advised the record attendance of engineers and technicians in the fields of motion pic¬ tures and television not to get so preoc¬ cupied with space technology that they for¬ get the need for “a few mundane things like better projection in motion picture theatres” and improved kinescope recordings for telecasts. Dr. Norwood L. Simmons, SMPTE president, told the gathering that “. . . the exchange of interests, techniques, and discipline result in a broader base of knowledge that is wanted and needed by our members. It is the re¬ sponsibility of the elected officers of the So¬ ciety, both national and local section, to carry this out.” Curtis gave due credit for the engineers’ “host of important and significant achieve¬ ments since the days of 1916 when Francis Jenkins and a small group of engineers first met in New York to consider the problems of a then young motion picture industry. . . . However, we haven’t had a break-through comparable to a Sputnik or a moon shot that has lifted entertainment to new high levels aside from and since the advent of television. . . . Perhaps, one simple example might be the development of three-dimensional pic¬ tures in color — needless to say without the Foreign Film Symposium SAN FRANCISCO — A foreign film sympo¬ sium will be held here under the auspices of the San Francisco International Film Fes¬ tival under sanction of the Theatre Owners of America on Nov. 22-23-24. Co-chairmen are Herbert Rosen er and John P. Parsons. During the three-day period are scheduled workshops and forums for the purposes of discussing problems of film distribution. use of glasses — but there must be many others.” “The leaders in the industry,” Curtis con¬ tinued, “are not as sympathetic to the engi¬ neer and his problems as they might be. . . . The best attraction in any medium can be all but ruined by poor projection, inferior color or bad TV reception, but the finest technical achievement can’t make good en¬ tertainment out of poor material. ... I would not necessarily imply that money is the ulti¬ mate criterion in judging performance, but the relation between star salaries and those the engineers in our business is certainly more startling than in any other industry I know of.” Curtis also gave the SMPTE luncheon dele¬ gates an insight into his visit last August to Russia, stating that “the motion picture is still the outstanding means of communication in Russia for entertainment, propaganda and education, although television is becoming an increasingly popular entertainment medium. Results of mail balloting for new officers of SMPTE were disclosed. Elected for 1960-61 were Dean R. White, engineering vice-presi¬ dent, succeeding Axel G. Jensen, who will serve until Dec. 31, 1969; E. M. Stifle, fi¬ nancial vice-president, succeeding G. Carleton Hunt; Garland C. Misener, sections vicepresident; and G. C. Hunt, treasurer. Elections for other officers including presi¬ dent Dr. Norwood L. Simmons will be held next year. UA Cuts Loan Debt NEW YORK — Robert S. Benjamin, chair¬ man, United Artists Corporation, reported to stockholders last fortnight that the original bank loan of $25,750,000 borrowed to com¬ plete the United Artists Associated transac¬ tion a year ago, was reduced as of Oct. 1 to approximately $12,750,000. The reduction reflected revenues from TV station contracts. CLEVELAND— President Horace Adams of Allied States Association of Motion Picture Exhibitors issued the following statement to end the existing confusion concerning the attitude of National Allied and its affiliated regional associations on conciliation: “Allied accepted the conciliation plan at its midsummer board meeting in 1957 as a step in the right direction, but not as a sub¬ stitute for an effective arbitration system. The plan was evolved at all-industry con¬ ferences at which Allied was represented by former president Julius Gordon and its gen¬ eral counsel. The board’s approval still stands. “Since the revival of conciliation by ACE every Allied unit and every leader who has spoken on the subject has advocated giving the system a trial, so that it can be judged by its results. It is obvious that if the plan proves beneficial to exhibitors, no form of opposition can suppress it — assuming there would be anyone wishing to do so. If in the opinion of exhibitors it proves to be of no value, it is doubtful if anything could save it. “Therefore, it should be understood that whenever an Allied unit announces its sup¬ port of conciliation it thereby aligns itself with National Allied and the other regionals and is not taking a position antagonistic to them. “Apparently there are always some who would like to promote discord and distrust in Allied but their present efforts are wide of the mark and will fail as all past efforts along that line have failed.” Nathanson On World Tour NEW YORK — Morton Nathanson, United Artists director of international advertising and publicity, has completed the first part of his round the world tour of UA offices over¬ seas and returned to New York for home office conferences. He will then leave for Japan, Australia, and other Far Eastern territories. Purpose of Nathanson’s tour is to assess and coordinate the promotion requirements of UA’s overseas offices. His program includes conferences with advertising and publicity managers, media representatives, and ex¬ hibitors. THEATREMAN SPEAKS ( Continued from page 12) but as a message to and influence on opinion-makers. The ticket-selling campaign will go at the time of release. but this is cavilling. Its healthy and sound to have these criticisms made public within our industry. Particularly when they are so well justified. Let’s hear again from the voice of the Turteltaub. STEVE BROIDY, President, Allied Artists Whether you agree with his viewpoints or not, I believe that Mr. Turteltaub’s article should provide food for thought for everyone engaged in production, distribution, and exhibi¬ tion. I particularly include the latter group because many of his suggestions can only become effective with cooperation from the theatre men. It is certainly gratifying to see that an exhibitor who is also an officer of New Jersey Allied has devoted the time and effort to thoughtfully focus attention on many points of view that require clarification and discussion. I have always felt that one of the industry’s greatest needs is for free and open discussion without rancor, and I am hopeful that ACE will offer such a forum. Some of the matters which Mr. Turteltaub brings up are in the area of internal policy for the industry’s production and distribution companies, and therefore I cannot speak for others. However, as far as Allied Artists is concerned, we certainly go along with many of his suggestions and have in fact put them into practice within the limits of exhibitor cooperation and good business operation. I note that two of the advertising campaigns he singles out (“House On Haunted Hill” and “Macabre”) are from Allied Artists, and also “A1 Capone” is saluted as a moderately budgeted picture which was a top success with exhibitors. Additionally, wherever possible we plan saturation campaigns, but again, this can only be effected with exhibitor support. The “fundamental” that “what is good for the exhibitor is good for the distributor” can no more be accepted as axiomatic or all-encompassing than a statement that “what is good for the distributor is good for the exhibitor.” Let’s just agree that we should all work for the mutual good. But rather than pick flaws in Mr. Turteltaub’s suggestions and criticisms, I welcome them as a constructive effort to pin¬ point some important areas that do require consideration and action. His is an interesting and perceptive article and it’s most refreshing to see an exhibitor take some of the respon¬ sibility for what has to be done rather than just put the blame on the other fellow. 16 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR October 14, 1959