The Exhibitor (1963)

Alert Detroit Exhibitors Promote ' Oscar "Sho w Via Radio TV Programs DETROIT — Promotions that other cities would do well to copy in future years were employed by alert exhibitors here in connec¬ tion with the Academy Awards. On the Saturday preceding, the Metropoli¬ tan Exhibitors of Detroit (association of 42 theatres and drive-ins) together with the Mercury and United Artists Theatres, plus United Detroit Theatres, took a one hour program on WXYZ-TV. Show business com¬ mentator Dick Osgood conducted the telecast which consisted of film clips from past win¬ ners, and interviews with nominees. On Sunday, Osgood’s “Show Business” pro¬ gram was expanded from its daily short for¬ mat to a special hour show. The only interuption was a brief announcement of the winners of the Masters Golf Tournament, and instead of regular commercials, discussion of current attractions were cleverly woven into the show. It was sponsored by United Detroit The¬ atres and broadcast over its sister-subsidiary of ABC-PT, WXYZ radio. The program was devoted to “The Oscar from Several Points of View.” Telling what the Awards would do to their careers were guest stars George Peppard, Patti Duke, Keir Dullea, Arthur Kennedy, and Peggy Cass. To describe what the annual event did for exhibitors were C. Dillon Krepps, managing director, United Artists, and Ross Caccavali, general manager, Studio Theatre Corp., which operates three art houses. Giving their viewpoint were the critics of the two Detroit newspapers, Louis Cook, “Detroit Free Press,” and A1 Weitschat, “Detroit News.” Introducing four segments was Woodrow R. Praught, UDT president. In addition there was a “man on the street” type of thing taped at the City County Building, and closing the program a similar spot devoted to travelers interviewed at the Sheraton Cadillac Hotel. Both programs were given wide display adin the Awards and in motion pictures ad¬ vertising, and did much to stimulate interest rently showing. Rifkin Heads TONE BOSTON — Julian Rifkin, Rifkin Drive-Ins, was elected president of Theatre Owners of New England at their annual meeting here. New first vice-president is Malcolm C. Green, Interstate; second vice-president, Chester Stoddard, New England Theatres; third vice-president, Edward Redstone, Red¬ stone Theatres; and secretary-treasurer, W. Leslie Bendslev, Community Theatre, Welles¬ ley. Carl Goldman was reappointed executive secretary. Plans for a combined meeting with the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Con¬ necticut on Sept. 9-11 at Groton, Conn., were discussed. Illinois IATSE Units Meet BLOOMINGTON, ILL. — Illinois unions of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Operators at their regularly scheduled meeting here dis¬ cussed problems pertaining to individual loc¬ als, which are apparently nation-wide. Co¬ operation between the locals has eased their problems considerably. Mayor H. J. Tate points out historic Independ¬ ence Hall to producer-director Alfred Hitch¬ cock and actress Tippi Hedren at City Hall when they recently visited Philadelphia in conjunction with opening of U's "The Birds" at the Fox. Universal City Organizes Chamber Of Commerce UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. — Universal City has organized its own Chamber of Com¬ merce-marking the first time in history that a film studio has ever been officially repre¬ sented by such an organization. News of the sanctioning of the Chamber was announced by Joe Flynn, star of “McHale’s Navy” and president of the newlyformed body, after receiving word from the National Chamber of Commerce of its ac¬ ceptance of their application for affiliation. Operating under the slogan “Universal City, The Reel City,” the members serving on the board of directors are Flynn, presi¬ dent; Tim Conway, first vice-president; John Wright, second vice-president; Ernest Borgnine, treasurer; Gavin MacLeod, recording secretary; Gary Vinson, public relations; Billy Sands, sergeant-at-arms; Yoshio Yoda, Carl Ballantine, and Jim Nye, foreign rela¬ tions; and Edson Stroll, department of water and power. With Doris Day as the present Mayor of Universal City, the new chapter promises to be the most glamorous Chamber in the coun¬ try. It will meet, as do other chambers, on the first Monday of each month. Anyone making their living within the 420acre confines of Universal City is eligible for membership. Flynn expects an eventual membership of 1200 — and this will include producers, costumers, carpenters, writers, actors, actresses and executives. Universal City has its own post office, police department, fire department, bank, and hospital. “The Chamber is presently dominated by the men from ‘McHale’s Navy,’ but we expect to make our board of directors and mem¬ bership representative of all the shows and activities on the lot. Our affiliation with the National Chamber of Commerce, which took place today, is our first big step toward that end,” said Flynn, adding, “and in June our Chamber will send its own delegate to the national conference in Chicago.” Picker Sees Top Grosses For Kramer’s “Mad World” NEW YORK — Arnold M. Picker, executive vice-president of United Artists, after view¬ ing the rough cut of the first half of Stanley Kramer’s “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” in Hollywood, declared that the comedy spectacular looms as “by far the biggest grosser in the company’s history to date.” As to the actual world-wide figure, Picker stated that he was firmly convinced that the film’s ultimate gross would exceed any figures achieved up to this time by any other attrac¬ tion. Picker based his prediction not only on envisioned superlative domestic grosses but also on an unlimited foreign-market accept¬ ance, describing the picture as so highly visual and physical that there will be “no language or interpretive barriers anywhere in the world. “We’ll be in uncharted waters,” Picker stated, “where all the rulesofthumb dealing with grosses will be out the window and the stratosphere will be the only limit.” Producer-director Kramer screened the rough cut of the first half of the film for Picker, Arthur B. Krim, president of United Artists; Robert S. Benjamin, chairman of the board; Eric Pleskow, vice-president in charge of foreign distribution; and James R. Velde, vice-president. Kramer also showed the UA executives assembled sequences for the second half. “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” will be exhibited in Cinerama throughout the U. S. and in all foreign countries. SW Issues Profit Report NEW YORK — The consolidated operating profit of Stanley Warner Corporation for the three months ended Feb. 23 amounted to $429,200, it was announced by S. H. Fabian, president. This is equivalent to 21 cents per share on the outstanding common stock. The consolidated operating profit for the same period last year was $247,300, equivalent to 12 cents per share. The consolidated operating profit for the six months ended Feb. 23 amounted to $1,059,000, equivalent to 52 cents a share on the outstanding common stock. The profit for the corresponding period one year ago was $1,560,000 which was 77 cents per share on the common stock. In commenting on the report, Fabian said, the net profit for both the second quarter and the six months were not as large as antici¬ pated. “However,” he continued, “after again reviewing the prospects for the second half of the 1963 fiscal year with the heads of all divisions, I still expect the profit for the 1963 fiscal year will exceed the profit for 1962.” Del. Anti-Bias Bill DOVER, DEL. — A bill to outlaw refusal of service to anyone “on account of race, creed, color, or national origin” by theatres and other places of public accommodation was intro¬ duced in the State Senate by Senators Evelyn M. Lord, Republican, and Joseph A. Martin, Democrat, both of Wilmington. It was referred to the Judiciary Committee of which Senator Allen J. Cook, Kenton, is chairman. Observers said passage is far from likely if it should be reported to the Senate floor. 18 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR April 17, 1963