The Exhibitor (1961)

Record Attendance At Mich. Meet Allied Sessions Discuss Varied Industry Agenda; Fine To Talk Contracts With All N.Y. Distribs DETROIT — The blue print for the 42nd an¬ nual convention of Allied Theatres of Michi¬ gan became a successful reality in every respect, when a record attendance learned from and enjoyed the two-day meeting. It opened with a breakfast hosted by Alex¬ ander Film Company in the Town Room of the Sheraton Cadillac Hotel, also the site of most convention activities. After breakfast, delegates went into a busi¬ ness and election session. Discussed were the National Allied insurance program and other industry matters. All officers and executive committee were reelected, save two replace¬ ments for those who had resigned. The Variety Club luncheon in the Found¬ er’s Room did honor to Richard Graff. He came from Chicago five years ago where he had been in charge of sales to become branch manager here for Universal, and a member of the crew of Tent 5. Now he has been returned to Chicago as branch manager in the Windy City. Chief Barker Woodrow R. Praught read a letter written to Chief Barker Nat Nathanson of Tent 26 recounting Dick’s fidelity, ability, and the esteem in which Detroit holds him. To him and his wife Gail, a Barkerette, Adolph Goldberg presented in behalf of the Tent, a handsome suitcase as Barkers and Al¬ lied members applauded. Hi Martin, U-I sales manager, and Pete Rosian, district manager, were also on hand to do tribute. After the presentation, the former gave a small talk on forthcoming U-I product, and the assemblage was shown the first screening any place of extended special production reels. The exhibitors reacted very happily to the liberal slices of forthcoming product, which were from “Lover Come Back,” “Back Street,” “The Outsider,” “Cape Fear,” and “Flower Drum Song.” Confection Cabinet Corporation, ABC Vending subsidiary, sponsored the luncheon. The afternoon session on showmanship also included a talk by A1 Boudouris, B. A. Auto, Toledo. Boudouris indicated that with costs of every description rising, admissions should be hiked. While there was no discussion, several exhibitors remarked off the record they felt equally strongly today was no time to in¬ crease prices. Variety Club then opened its doors to con¬ ventioneers and wives, as did the hospitality suites of National Carbon and Electro Car¬ bons. The following day both mornings and after¬ noons were left open for conferences. At noon, the Pepsi Cola Company gave the Motion Picture Industry Luncheon in the Founder’s Room. Laughter was elicited when Hank Cockerill, of Coca Cola, and a guest at the luncheon, won a door prize — a case of Pepsi Cola! Michigan Governor John B. Swainson wired congratulations from Lansing. Speaker of the State House Don R. Pears, an exhibitor, at¬ tended and spoke. Also putting in articulate appearances were two Detroit Councilmen, William G. Rogell and Edward Carey, fol( Continued on page 10) Exclusive Second-Run For "Fanny" In N. O. NEW ORLEANS — Warner Brothers changed the city’s traditional release sys¬ tem by offering “Fanny” on an exclusive basis for second run at a single neighbor¬ hood theatre. Usually a picture opens downtown and then plays at a group of non-competitive neighborhood houses for engagements 28 days after the completion of the down¬ town run. However, Warners is offering “Fanny” to the neighborhood Pitt re¬ portedly 21 days after first-run at the RKO Orpheum, where it played two weeks. Following the run at the Pitt, War¬ ners are said to be offering it to six other neighborhood theatres in different zones for opening 28 days after conclusion of the Pitt engagement. This is said to be the first time that Warners have gone in for an exclusive run, and since the Pitt has parking space, it is expected that its engagement will draw from audiences of other neighbor¬ hood houses. Cooper Out Of Race For TOA Presidency COLUMBUS, GA.— Roy Cooper of San Francisco, chairman of the executive commit¬ tee of Theatre Owners of America, has asked E. D. Martin of this city, chairman of TOA’s nominating committee, to eliminate his name from among those being considered for the presidency of TOA. Martin disclosed that he had received a letter from Cooper saying that “due to several theatre acquisitions and plans for the future, it would be impossible for me to devote the time and energy to properly administer the office of president, if I should be honored by being considered for that office.” The new officers of TOA for the 1961-62 year are to be elected at TOA’s annual board of directors meeting on Sunday, Oct. 8, the day prior to opening of TOA’s 14th annual convention at the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans. Albert M. Pickus of Stratford, Conn., is serving his second term as TOA president. U-I Wins Copyright Suit NEW YORK — The suit of Universal Pic¬ tures against Nu-Cards, Inc., and Alexander Korn for copyright infringement of Univer¬ sal’s “stills” of scenes from certain of its “horror monster” pictures, by Nu-Cards’ pub¬ lication of miniature reproductions of such stills on “trading cards,” ended with the entry of a consent decree against Nu-Cards and its president, Alexander Korn, the defendants in the case. Under the terms of the decree, the defend¬ ants were permanently enjoined not only from reproducing the particular “stills” in¬ volved on their “trading cards,” but also from producing any of the “horror monsters” de¬ picted by those “stills” in any form. Defend¬ ants also consented to pay damages in the sum of $2,500 to the plaintiff copyrightowner, Universal. Plaintiff Universal was represented by the law firm of Sargoy and Stein. Cowan, Liebowitz, Emmanuel, and Latman represented the defendants. Youngstein Keynotes Carolina Convention ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Max E. Youngstein, vice-president of United Artists, was to de¬ liver the keynote address Monday (Oct. 2) at the opening business session of the 49th annual convention of the Theatre Owners of North and South Carolina, at the Grove Park Inn here, it was announced by R. E. Agle, president. The convention opened with a board of di¬ rectors meeting, and a Las Vegas Night spon¬ sored by the Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Associa¬ tions of the Carolinas. Earl W. Eller, mayor of Asheville, was to deliver the welcome ad¬ dress. Philip F. Harling, chairman of the anti-pay tv committee of TOA, was to be second guest speaker Monday morning, alerting the conventioneers to the dangers of pay tv. Tuesday morning’s session was to feature addresses by J. Elwood Mitchell, Sr., chair¬ man of the board, Mitchell-Fry Insurance Company of Greensboro, and E. E. Whitaker, vice-president and operations manager, Georgia Theatre Company of Atlanta. The annual election of officers was to fol¬ low the Tuesday morning session. At Tues¬ day night’s President’s Ball, sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company, the “Theatre Man¬ ager of the Year” award was to be presented. Managers of Carolina theatres have been competing for several months on promotions and exploitations for this honor, which in¬ cludes a $500 first prize and four runner-up awards. A golf tournament was to be conducted each afternoon of the three day convention, and a special social program was arranged for the ladies, including a special screening of Universal’s “Back Street.” Code Board Reappointed NEW YORK — Eric Johnston, Motion Picture Association president, announces that all members of the Pi'oduction Code Review Board have been reappointed for the usual one-year term to the 20-man board. The members, in addition to directors of the Motion Picture Association, are Russell V. Downing, John Ford, Leopold Friedman, William Goetz, Leonard H. Goldenson, George Kerasotes, Stanley Kramer, Harry Mandel, Ben D. Marcus, and George Sidney. UA Names Two Managers SEATTLE — Robert M. “Bob” Hazard, United Artists branch manager in Seattle, has been elevated to the post of United Artists Boston branch manager, it was announced by James R. Velde, UA vice-president in charge of domestic sales. At the same time, Velde also announced that Jack Partin, sales manager for UA in Seattle, has been promoted to the post of Seattle branch manager, succeeding Hazard. MGM Ups Turner JACKSONVILLE! — Charles Turner, sales¬ man in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s Jacksonville branch, has been promoted to the newly created post of assistant branch manager, it was announced by Robert Mochrie, general sales manager. A 20-year man with MGM. Turner has been a salesman for the past 12 years. October 4, 1961 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 7