The Exhibitor (1964)

MGM Film Rental Gross Hits Unprecedented Highs AB-PT'S Hyman Concludes Meetings With Distribs On Orderly Release NEW YORK — Edward L. Hyman, vicepresident of American Broadcasting-Para¬ mount Theatres, reported that he has con¬ cluded two weeks of intensive meetings with the principal film distributors in the final readying of his forthcoming fall-winter orderly release book. The book, now in its eighth year, is to contain the complete release schedules of the major companies from September, when it is due, through Easter of 1965, and in many instances will go beyond even that date. It is reputedly the most elaborate of the practical and handsome similar bi-annual in¬ dustry aids which Hyman has been presenting to the film business since he started' the cam¬ paign for orderly distribution of quality product throughout the year. Each of the 11 companies represented in the new book has been allotted a section of its own. In addition to the complete listing of its product, each distributor also presents pro¬ motion suggestions which will be helpful to the exhibitor who plans and works far ahead of actual playdate. The new book is to be titled “GREAT IN ’64, GREATER IN ’65,” which sums up the excellent upswing in boxoffice grosses, par¬ ticularly in the third quarter of this year. Hyman, according to a distribution executive who attended one of the luncheon meetings, has promised to change the slogan of his campaigning from “orderly distribution” to “orderly profits” if product continues to flow smoothly. “There will always be hills and valleys in the release of quality product,” asserted Hy¬ man', “but there has been a very definite im¬ provement in the consistency of an even flow to the theatres. “There remains much room for improve¬ ment, particularly in the period's of AprilMay, preChristmas, and SeptemberOctober, but the major film distributors have tasted the sweet fruits of quality releases in those periods and they are responding with greater interest because of the marked success their product enjoyed then at the boxoffices of the¬ atres in the United States and Canada.” FWC's Bradley Retires LOS ANGELES — Fox West Coast Theatres’ James Bradley retired after 35 years as man¬ ager of the circuit’s California Theatre, Hunt¬ ington Park. Bradley, who joined the company in 1928, and became manager of the California in 1929, first entered the motion picture busi¬ ness in 1915 and was a salesman for World Films and Pathe Films. Active in various civic projects, he has served as Huntington Park Fire Commissioner and is a 32nd Degree Mason. During World War 11, he was cited as one of the nation’s top war bond salesmen. Chinese Not For Sale BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.— Categorically denying a report that Jerry Lewis is ne¬ gotiating to acquire Grauman’s Chinese Thea¬ tre, Eugene V. Klein, president and chairman of National General Corporation, said that “the Chinese Theatre is not for sale — at any price to anyone. There is absolutely no basis or foundation for such a report.” Jonas Rosenfield, Jr., left, 20th-Fox vice-president and director of advertising, publicity, and exploita¬ tion, and Joseph M. Sugar, center, vice-president in charge of domestic distribution, meet with Edward L. Hyman, vice-president, AB-Paramount Theatres, for final discussions on Hyman's fall-winter orderly release book. Florin To Century Circuit NEW YORK — Martin H. Newman, vicepresident of Century Theatres, announced that Seymour Florin will serve as a consultant for special assignments. DETROIT — The newspaper strike which be¬ gan here July 13 has the possibilities of na¬ tional impact on all major cities which have newspaper associations, and of being the long¬ est in history. Inasmuch as concessions offered by the De¬ troit Publishers’ Association were acceptable to all unions save striking Local 13, Inter¬ national Printing Pressmen and Assistants Union, and Local 10, Plate and Paper Handlers Union, other reasons for the deadlock exists. That reason is that unions have long been seeking to dissolve publishers’ associations. While such are in effective existence, con¬ tracts with all newspapers involved expire at the same time. If unions can deal with each periodical separately with, different dates on contracts, union bargaining power is far stronger. Both unions involved here have appealed to the National Labor Relations Board during the past week for the right to bargain sepa¬ rately. This move is what may make this the most protracted struggle recorded any¬ where. An union official who does not desire to be quoted told your Detroit Bureau that the usual time element for appeals was “two or three months,” but that in this case, be¬ cause of the basic importance of the issue, he believed the Board might deliberate as long as six months. An outcome favorable to the unions would hit across the country. It would set a pre¬ cedent for the talks now continuing in New NEW YORK— For the week ending July 23, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer recorded a weekly film rental gross from both the domestic and international markets in excess of $3,000,000, it was announced by MGM president Robert H. O’Brien. This was the third time in four weeks that MGM has recorded a film rental gross in excess of $3,000,000. Films making substantial contributions to the record weeks were: Domestic: “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” which grossed $220,960 during its opening week at Radio City Music Hall to establish a new 32-vear opening and non-holiday week record; “The Night of the Iguana,” which has been highly successful at the box office in initial key city engagements; “How the West Was Won,” which continues to be a prime box office attraction in its general release engagements throughout the country; “Look¬ ing For Love,” which recorded record grosses in initial situations; “Rhino!” and “Flipper’s New Adventure,” from Ivan Tors; “Viva Las Vegas,” largest grossing Elvis Presley film ever released by MGM; and “Honeymoon Hotel.” International: “How the West Was Won”; “Love in Las Vegas,” the international title for “Viva Las Vegas”; “The Love Cage”; “Sunday In New York,” which was an out¬ standing box office success in the domestic market earlier this year; and “Separate Beds,” international title for “The Wheeler Dealers.” York between publishers and unions for new contracts in 1965. There are two other factors. The news¬ papers have not denied they took out insur¬ ance against a strike situation from a Cana¬ dian insurance company which offers such policies. This could insure publishers against loss for whatever length of time they paid for. Unconfirmed rumor here has it the period is 12 weeks, which would mean protection until early October. Also, rumors were pre¬ viously spread that the Pressman’s Interna¬ tional Union, with which both locals are affiliated, indicated its disapproval of the strike by withholding strike funds. The unions admit that no money is forth¬ coming, but not because the International frowns on what is going on. It is stated that such funds are depleted because of recent New York, Cleveland, and other strikes. Further, every local is autonomous in such situations. No indication of fund-raising plans in the event of a marathon strike was made. How¬ ever, ability to hold out must eventually become a prime consideration. Finally, union circles are quite uncertain as to whether the NLRB will grant their petitions. They indicate that if they are re¬ fused, they will certainly appeal. Whether this would further extend the agony, seems another moot question. Meantime, exhibition digs in with massive makeshift means of continuing to communi¬ cate with the public. Protracted Newspaper Strike Seen As Detroit Bargaining Limps Along By ARTHUR HERZOG MPE Detroit Bureau 10 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR August 5, 1964