The Exhibitor (1961)

LONDON Observations by Jock MacGregor WHISPER THE WORD! The Cinema Exhibitors Association celebrates its Jubilee this year. Here is a great opportunity to boost movies to the skies and make the public conscious of the achievements of the industry, but I doubt if a single patron knows of the anniversary. Supposedly something is to happen at the CEA’s summer convention at Bournemouth, but there has not been a mention as to what form it will take — and May is not far off. Frankly such a celebration should call for 12 months spotlighting at every theatre in every town and not just a week at a seaside resort ahead of the high season. It may be the CEA's party but it should be exploited by the entire industry. It is incredible when show¬ men often have to create an occasion that a natural should be treated with such disdain. Meanwhile, the CEA is training its guns against the treat of toll tv. A pamphlet, “The Danger of Cash Register Television,” is being prepared for circulating among Parliament members and others. A vigorous campaign is to be fought. Since some exhibiting interests are involved in the new system, developments will be keenly followed. Some feel it would be preferable if more independents worked collectively with the same vigor to get people into the theatres as they are apt to use to bash their heads against the wall of progress. EVEN IF SOME EXHIBITORS do not feel that movies still play an important part in the life of the people, the producers think otherwise. The British Film Producers Associa¬ tion have published “A Guide to British Film Production.” The object: to present essential facts about British feature production as a ready reference for journalists and others with interests in the industry. The booklet ends with this sound observation: “Today’s audiences might be far smaller were it not for the fact that the cinemagoer has available to him many fine technical devel¬ opments including big screen productions, true color photography, and high fidelity sound. These developments, allied with imaginative and adult production and direction, have at¬ tracted a new type of cinemagoer who is highly selective in his choice of films.” That last sentence is indeed operative. If a picture clicks today the sky’s the limit. If it flops, it really goes down the drain. There are no half ways. Already chasing Associated British’s fabulously successful “The Young Ones” is Peter Sellers’ “Only Two Can Play.” The free coach service which runs the overflow audience from the smaller Columbia to the larger Marble Arch Odeon thereby saving patrons long waits and ensuring the best use of accommodation has resulted in the second Sunday beating the Odeons all time record only established on the first Sunday. Incidentally, “Paris Blues,” “Day the Earth Caught Fire,” and “Only Two” prove that given the p -oduct, this theatre can take really big money. I HAVE FOUND a use for tv! It saved me a 400 mile round trip on Saturday for I was able to watch the opening of ABC’s Carlton Bowl which has been built over the parking lot of the Carlton Cinema, Tuebrook, Liverpool, lazily without leaving my fireside. Sun¬ day evening, however, did see me slip south of the river for the opening of Rank’s $840,000 Streatham Bowl, which with 40 lanes makes it the largest outside of America. . . . Com¬ mercial tv companies, faced with falling viewing figures and the actor strike, must be taking as much newspaper advertising space these days as the film companies to plug programs. Whether it was lack of advertisers I do not know, but on Saturday night, ATV gave a number of plugs on its own channel for the 10pm transmission of the 1937 produced “The Rat.” . . . This is news! The critics have written enthusiastically about a U-I movie. For many months, Douglas Granville did not press show their releases, but almost without exception they praised “Lover Come Back.” Jerry Lewis pictures are still kept from the critics. “The Errand Boy,” currently on release, however, has not, to borrow a cliche, ex¬ actly set the Thames on fire. N.Y. Unit Recommends Tough Obscenity Laws ALBANY, N.Y. — The New York State Joint Legislative Committee studving the dissemi¬ nation of obscene material has recommended tougher laws. According to Assemblyman Luigi R. Marano, R., Brooklyn, “adult” films dealing with rape, perversion, premarital and extra¬ marital relations, crime, and delinquency now dominate the motion picture screen, while themes of crime, violence, and brutality con¬ stitute an alarming and disproportionate share of television programming. These practices undermine our standards of conduct, cause further disrespect for duly constituted au¬ thority, breed delinquency, he said. He added there is need for legislation deal¬ ing with material which, though currently adjudged not obscene, constitutes a clear and present danger to our youth, and there is a need to continue and strengthen the Motion Picture Division. The Committee would also amend Section 1141 of the Penal Law to conform to recent decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court and to adopt the definition of obscenity proposed in the model penal code of the American Law Institute. The Motion Picture Division of the State Education Department would be au¬ thorized to issue an advisory opinion as to motion pictures believed suitable for children attending elementary schools; that legislation be enacted to provide for finger-printing of those arrested for crimes involving obscenity; and that Congress be urged to enact proposed legislation establishing a national commission on noxious and obscene matters and materials. Assemblyman Marano noted that his Com¬ mittee has recommended that a renewed at¬ tempt be made to encourage and promote re¬ sponsible and effective self-regulation within the motion picture, television, and publishing industries, and to encourage the adoption of b system of voluntary film classification. Ziv-UA To Distribute Its Product Abroad NEW YORK— All Ziv-United Artists prod¬ uct will be distributed abroad for the first time by Ziv-United Artists, Inc., it was an¬ nounced by John L. Sinn, president. At the same time, Sinn disclosed that the franchise agreement with International Television Pro¬ grams, Inc., whereby ITP has been distribut¬ ing Ziv-UA product in foreign markets since April 15, 1953, has been terminated. Manny Reiner has been named vice-pres¬ ident in charge of foreign operations of ZivUA, Inc. Reiner, who has been vice-presi¬ dent of United Artists Associated, Inc., since October 1960, will direct and supervise sales of all Ziv-UA product abroad. The entire Ziv-UA Television line-up of product, numbering 46 individual series and comprised of 2,765 episodes will be distrib¬ uted abroad by Ziv-United Artists, Inc. ZivUA will operate with divisional sales man¬ agers in the field, working in association with UA foreign offices around the world. Reiner announced the appointment of Herbert R. Banquer as continental sales man¬ ager with headquarters in Paris, and Ira D. Beck in charge of Latin American sales with offices in Mexico City. John C. Hierlihy has been named foreign sales coordinator in New York, and Dorothy L. Martin in charge of the contract department. Ziv-United Artists, Inc., shortly will in¬ vestigate co-production deals abroad, Mr. Sinn revealed, and hopes to enter into ar¬ rangements with leading foreign television producers. Dugan Heads UA Branch DES MOINES — John Dugan, sales man¬ ager of United Artists’ Omaha branch, has been promoted to Des Moines branch man¬ ager, it was announced by James R. Velde, United Artists vice-president in charge of domestic sales. Dugan succeeds Gene Jacobs, who was just named southern division man¬ ager. Dugan joined UA two years ago as a sales¬ man in the St. Louis branch. He was appoint¬ ed Omaha sales manager last September. Pre¬ viously Dugan was associated with several Col.'s Schneider Shifts NEW YORK — Stanley Schneider, adminis¬ trative assistant to Mo Rothman, executive vice-president of Columbia Pictures Inter¬ national Corp., has been transferred to the parent company, Columbia Pictues Corp., as administrative assistant to Leo Jaffe, first vice-president and treasurer. Schneider, who has been with Columbia since 1946, was appointed Rothman’s assistant in 1960. Prior to that he served the company in various capacities including assistant treas¬ urer of the international organization. Harvey Represents Kay NEW ORLEANS — Floyd Harvey, Jr., has joined Don Kay Enterprises, Inc., as regional representative for the New Orleans and Memphis trade areas. Harvey is well known in these territories. In 1946, he started with Universal as booker in Memphis. After serv¬ ice with the Engineers and Air Force during World War II, he was salesman with Uni¬ versal. In 1954, he departed to join Buena Vista as representative in charge of Memphis and New Orleans activities. 14 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR February 7, 1962