The Exhibitor (1961)

CANADIAN Highlights By Harry Allen ; Jr. THE ANNUAL MEETING and luncheon of the Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario again started off an industry week of meetings in Toronto Nov. 27. Guest speaker for the luncheon was to be Walter Rawcliffe, nationally -known sales promotion and mer¬ chandising authority. The MPTAO was to hear reports from committees on such wideranging subjects as tax, Sunday movies, and Amendments to Theatres Act. Election of of¬ ficers also was to be held. The Annual Award dinner and dance of the Canadian Picture Pioneers was to be held at the King Edward Hotel. Ruben Bolstad, vice-president of Famous Players Canadian Corp., was to receive the industry’s highest award. The next day, Nov. 28, the annual meeting of the National Committee of Motion Picture Exhibitors Association of Canada was to meet. A luncheon for delegates was to be given by Adfilms, Ltd., while at the same time the Variety Club of Ontario was to hold its luncheon meeting. Then begins the two-day meeting of the Motion Picture Industry Council of Canada. Luncheon for the first day’s meeting will be sponsored by the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association, and on the second day by General Sound and Theatre Equipment, Ltd. The week is topped by the Grey Cup football game. FILM FESTIVALS will be a prime topic of discussion of both the national organizations, according to E. G. Forsyth, president of the NCMPEAC. The conclusions will be placed before the meeting of the MPIC. Many questions on the subject are to be settled. These include: “Is the success of a film festival measured by the number of paying patrons it attracts.” “How well does the contention that film festivals increase public interest in arthouse films stand up?” “Does Canada have too many festivals?” Another topic will be the amusement tax. Exhibitors need the money now going to the pro¬ vincial governments. The exhibitors are hoping for its elimination, and plans for advanc¬ ing the cause throughout the country will be discussed. Underlining the necessity is the fact that 31 theatres in Ontario closed since the first of the year, bringing the total since the beginning of 1960 to 60. Presently, the amusement tax comes to more than $2,000,000 a year in the province. Aggressive action is sought by Hugh J. Sedgwick, international vicepresident of the IATSE, who points out that other unions do not hesitate to take part in drives to reduce or eliminate taxes which affect their industries seriously. Sedgwick has asked Ontario's 20 IA locals to join in the campaign of the Motion Picture Theatres Associa¬ tion in Ontario. THE MPIC will hear a report from Charles Chaplin, chairman of public relations and boxoffice promotion of the MPIC. Chaplin has sought suggestions for improving business at theatres in a questionnaire sent to all exhibitors in the country. He asked: “How about sending me a letter outlining as briefly as you can your suggestions for improving our business?” Chaplin, a past chairman of the Motion Picture Industry Council of Canada, has been chairman of the committee for a number of years. The highly-successful Academy Award sweepstakes and other forms of promotion based on the Oscar have been developed by his committee with the aid of circuit executives and exhibition and distribution pub¬ licity officers. REEL CLIPS: Newspaper ads placed in Vancouver papers by the British Columbia Ex¬ hibitors Association told citizens of Vancouver that “your City Council denies your right to vote.” It asked them to mail a coupon in the ad to the Association office, enclosing name and address for inclusion on a petition asking for a plebiscite. . . . Sportsmen’s Park Drive-In, with 200-car capacity, was opened as a six-day operation in Cleark Lake, Man. Para. Earnings Up Paramount Pictures Corporation reports es¬ timated consolidated earnings for the first nine months of 1961 at $5,310,000, or $3.15 per share, plus special capital gains of $980, 000, amounting to 58 cents per share, making a total income of $6,290,000. or $3.73 a share based upon 1,686,956 shares outstand¬ ing at Sept. 30. Comparative total income for the same period in 1960 was $6,137,000. or $3.67 per share on 1,673,231 shares then out¬ standing. In the third quarter of 1961 consolidated earnings are estimated at $890,000, or 53 cents per share plus special capital gains of $558, 000, amounting to 33 cents per share making a total income of $1,448,000. or 86 cents per share. Comparative total income for the same period in 1960 was $2,405,000, or $1.44 per share. Benefit Bow For "Cid" SAN FRANCISCO — “El Cid,” starring Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren, will open a roadshow engagement at the Alexandria with a benefit premiere Dec. 20, sponsored by the Volunteer Auxiliary of the Youth Guidance Center. "Babes In Toyland" Set For Radio City Holiday NEW YORK — Walt Disney’s “Babes in Toyland” has been selected as the Christ¬ mas holiday screen attraction at the Ra¬ dio City Music Hall, it was announced by Irving H. Ludwig, Buena Vista president, and Russell V. Downing, president of Radio City Music Hall. The Disney Technicolor musical star¬ ring Ray Bolger, Tommy Sands, Annette, and Ed Wynn is based on Victor Herbert’s famed musical comedy. The result is a colorful, gay and exciting adventure into the land of make-believe as the two young people in love, thwarted at every turn by a scheming fortune hunter with an eye on the heroine’s inheritance, even¬ tually find happiness when the villain receives his comeuppance and romance triumphs over all. The film will accompany the Music Hall’s famed Christmas stage show which will consist of the celebrated pageant of “The Nativity” and a new seasonal spec¬ tacle, “Holiday Tidings.” 5KI-DEK ( Continued, from page 8) Ski-Dek is made and franchised by SkiDek Corp. Officers are G. David Schine, pres¬ ident; Cyril Farny, chairman of the board; Raymond Hall, vice-president; J. Myer Schine, treasurer. Ski fans in the greater Boston area gave the Ski-Dek the nod of approval after giving it the overall scrutiny at the sports show. Its possibilities in the ski business are many and varied from costumes to equipment. Centers will be specially air conditioned with streams of cool air directed up each slope at high velocity to heighten reality. Ski boots, skis, and poles will be provided free. There will be no charge for spectators. Schine predicted that Ski-Dek will outgross bowling alleys, into which many theatre chains have diversified. He predicted it will even supplant them in many cases. He envisioned that some bowling alleys will be converted into Ski-Deks as soon as their potential is realized. While some closed neighborhood theatres will be poten¬ tial locations for the new sport, Schine en¬ visioned that most franchise holders will build their own housing. Estimated gross for a 10 deck Ski-Dek cen¬ ter is around $9,000 weekly, Schine esti¬ mated. The first Ski-Dek in the renovated theatre in Buffalo is expected to take care of 144 skiers per hour, with room and facilities for 300 or more onlookers. Extras will be music, refreshments, shops, and entertain¬ ment and ski instruction classes. Centers will make tieups with ski instructors, classes, and ski people. Bill Doll, well known motion picture and legit theatre publicist and exploitation man, accompanied Schine to Boston for the first public demonstration of the new attraction. MGM-Cinerama Pic For July 4 NEW YORK— “How the West Was Won,” drama covering a half-century of American history, will be Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer-Cinerama’s July 4 gift to the nation. First dramatic story to be told in the Cinerama process, “How the West Wag Won” has completed 80 per cent of filming with one more episode still to be filmed. Loca¬ tions from Kentucky to California and from Oregon to the Mexican border have been utilized to give authenticity to the important production. Decision on world premiere city will be made after film has been completed. Local premieres, however, will be staged in each city which has a Cinerama theatre. Col. Ups Williamson NEW YORK — Patrick M. Williamson has been appointed director of advertising and publicity for Columbia Pictures of Great Britain and Ireland, it was announced by Jonas Rosenfield, Jr., Columbia vice-presi¬ dent in charge of advertising and publicity, following meetings in London with Kenneth N. Hargreaves, managing director of the com¬ pany’s British corporation. The announce¬ ment follows the resignation of Alan Tucker. Williamson will take up his new duties Dec. 4. AA Votes Dividend HOLLYWOOD — Announcement has been made by Steve Broidy, president of Allied Artists, that at a meeting of the executive committee of the board of directors held at the Hollywood home office, payment of the Dec. 15 quarterly dividend of 13% cents per share on the company’s 5V2 per cent pre¬ ferred stock was authorized. 10 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR November 29, 1961