The Exhibitor (1962)

Wometco Profit Rises; Further Growth Seen Universal Marks 50th Anniversary With World-Wide V-Day'On Jane 8 NEW YORK — Universal Pictures Company will mark the 50th anniversary of its found¬ ing on June 8 with “U-Day” celebrations throughout the world as part of the com¬ pany’s current observance of its Golden An¬ niversary year and its Presidential Sales Drive honoring Milton R. Rackmil, it was annoimced by Henry H. “Hi” Martin, vice-president and general sales manager, and America Aboaf, vice-president and foreign general manager of Universal International Films Inc., foreign sales subsidiary of Universal Pictures. Exhibitors throughout the world will be asked to exhibit on their screen some Uni¬ versal release on that day to help mark the 50th birthday of the oldest film company in the business. Universal Film Manufacturing Company was formed on June 8, 1912, at 1 Union Square in New York City by a group of film executives with Carl Laemmle being elected president. The worldwide observance of “U-Day” on June 8 is one of a series of special events which Universal has developed for marking its Golden Anniversary. With some of the biggest box office attractions in its 50 year history being released during the anniversary year, the first 26 weeks has been highlighted by a Presidential Sales Drive in both the do¬ mestic and foreign markets in honor of Pres¬ ident Rackmil under v'hose leadership Uni¬ versal has reached the greatest financial successes in its 50-year history. The first half of the anniversary year has already seen the release of “Lover Come Back” and “Flower Drum Song,” which are well up among the company’s, all-time record grossers based on their early box office per¬ formances. The 26 week period is also seeing the regular release of “Spartacus,” which is already the all-time U-I record holder on its limited roadshow engagements. Also in release during the first half of the year are “Back Street,” “The Outsider,” and “The Day the Earth Caught Fire.” Scheduled for domestic release during the final weeks of the Presidential Sales Drive are “Cape Fear” and “Lonely Are the Brave,” and already scheduled for the second half of the anniversary year are “That Touch of Mink,” “The Spiral Road,” “Phantom of the Opera,” and “If A Man Answers.” The impetus of the Golden Anniversary Year continues in the current production ac¬ tivities with five pictures before the cameras and in final stages of production including “The Ugly American,” starring Marlon Bran¬ do; “To Kill A Mocking bird,” based on the Harper Lee Pulitzer Prize novel and starring Gregory Peck; “If A Man Answers,” starring Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin; “Forty Pounds of Trouble,” starring Tony Curtis and Phil Silvers; and John Huston’s production of “Freud.” Scheduled to follow later in the year are “A Gathering of Eagles,” starring Rock Hudson, and “The Thrill of It All,” starring Doris Day and James Garner, all for release in late 1962 and early 1963. Pickus In "Who's Who" STRATFORD, CONN.— Albert M. Pickus, exhibitor of Stratford, Conn., and chairman of the board of directors of the Theatre Own¬ ers of America, has been listed for the first time in the new 1962-63 edition of “Who’s Who in America.” Barrie Chase, featured in Universal's "Cape Fear," who is touring key cities on behalf of the advance promotion of the picture, is seen here in New York with Philip Gerard, eastern advertising and publicity director, and other home office executives. On the left is Jerome M. Evans, eastern promotion man¬ ager, and next to Miss Chase is Herman Kass, executive in charge of national exploitation. Business Survey Sees Profits In Production NEW YORK — The Value Line Investment Survey issued by Arnold Bernhard and Com¬ pany, stated that “Hollywood is still a going concern” and voiced the opinion that the film capital was not being pushed into “ob¬ livion” by “an increasing tendency to film motion pictures abroad.” “Prospects for the months ahead are favor¬ able,” the survey reported. “The higher-qual¬ ity motion pictures now in production or re¬ lease suggest increased attendance at higher prices . . .” The report continued that it saw no reduc¬ tion in the number of features available for distribution; that competition from free tele¬ vision was believed to be leveling off; and that profits from motion picture production “can be expected to advance in 1962.” Value Line continued that “the shift in studio bosses from movie-makers to business men is another significant factor on the plus side of the ledger.” The publication looks for “consolidated earnings of the producer-distributor, as well as the exhibitors, to advance modestly this year.” It adds that “the trend toward over¬ seas production will intensify unless condi¬ tions in the U.S. undergo a metamorphosis which enables this country to compete for the production dollar. Whichever be the case, here is still another indication of the emer¬ gence of the profit motive in the policies of the U.S. motion picture industry and an im¬ portant factor imderlying our postulate that profits from motion picture production are in line for a significant rejuvenation in the years ahead.” Wage Bills Approved ALBANY — Governor Rockefeller has ap¬ proved two bills relating to the increase of minimum wage. These bills carry out the recommendation made by the Governor in his annual message to the Legislature and call for the increase of the state-wide statu¬ tory minimum wage from $1 an hour to $1.15 an hour on Oct. 15, 1962, and $1.25 an hour on Oct. 15, 1964. MIAMI, FLA.— Wometco Enterprises, Inc., i had a 29 per cent increase in sales and a 50 per cent increase in profits in the first quar I ter of 1962, President Mitchell Wolfson told stockholders at the annual meeting. Sales for 1 the 12 weeks ended March 24 were $4.4 mil¬ lion, against $3.4 million in the comparable 1961 period. Net earnings were $449,088, up from $301,293 in the prior year. This was 41 ' cents per share against 27 cents a year ago. Wolfson told the stockholders who attend¬ ed fhe meeting at the Carib Theatre that the company “looks for a continuing growth trend in 1962, once again showing increases m volume and net earnings.” He noted that Wometco recently set up a vending affiliate in Panama and was planning to open a new theatre in Palm Springs, a shopping center in the growing city of Hia¬ leah. In response to questions of stockhold¬ ers, Wolfson said that art theatres are very profitable but that there is presently a “glut in this area and the company probably won’t expand along this line. He commented also that there is a marked decline in second-run theatres and the decline is likely to continue i since every theatre can now bid for first run | films. “Today there are 22 first run theatres | in Miami,” a number Wolfson suggested was ] ridiculously high. Construction on the Palm Springs Theatre is .scheduled to begin in late June with Thanksgiving Day, 1962, as the target date ! for completion. This theatre will serve a heavily-populated and growing area. Prior to the start of the business session , the stockholders’ meeting, a theatre-televi | sion presentation, “The Wometco Story,” was | shown to the more than 300 stockholders and I guests. The show, which gave a photographic tour of the company’s properties and facili¬ ties, was run on video tape from the WTVJ studio in Miami through the facilities of the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Com ! pany and then sent via microwave relay for exclusive showing at the Carib. It is believed that this is the first instance of the use of theatre-television at a stockholders, meeting. | In other business at the meeting, all direc i tors of the company were re-elected. These director are Wolfson, Frederick H. Schroe , der, Louis Wolfson II, Jack Waxenberg, Rich | ard F. Wolfson, Albert B. Bernstein, Frances Wolfson, and Van Myers. "Lovers" Case To High Court CLEVELAND — A notice of appeal to the United States Supreme Court was filed by Ephraim London, attorney, with the Court of Common Pleas in Ohio, in the conviction of Nico Jacobellis and the film “The Lovers.” Jaoobellis was indicted and then convicted for possession of an obscene film and was fined $500 for possessing and $2,000 for ex¬ hibiting “The Lovers,” with a prison sentence in lieu of the fines being paid. The convic¬ tion was upheld by the Court of Appeals of Cuyahoga County and the Supreme Court of ] the State of Ohio. The fine has not been paid, pending the appeal to the higher court which now cul¬ minates in the request for hearing before the United States Supreme Court. i London’s appeal is based on the issues that possession alone of a film, or other property, i charged as obscene does not constitute a j crime, as it violates the Constitution. Defense | against the obscenity charges will also be presented. 8 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR April 25, 1962