The Exhibitor (1964)

'lllllilillllHIMIIIIIIMHillUillinilll ALBANY . . . IIIIIIMIIIIIMI Hill MIIM IMMIMIMHIIMIIIItMIIMMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIHI lllll Mill lllllllllllimUMIIMMIIIIIMMHIIIIIMIIHIIIMmiMMII— LONDON Observations By Jock MacGregor WHAT A SHAME IT IS THAT WITH SUCH A WORLD WIDE SHORTAGE OF TALENT in the industry, so many of the younger creators are seemingly so obsessed with the con¬ tinental cinema and contemptuous of the commercial. Too many are filming to please themselves — and possibly the critics — rather than the masses. Currently, there are a number of such British pictures going the rounds. They have been applauded in the press, and acclaimed at foreign festivals, but are proving a drag at suburban and provincial boxoffices. Some dedicated teams, who really believe in subjects, make personal sacrifices, and trust their judgment by taking percentages of the profits (if any), are to be encouraged for such pictures are specially sold and can achieve useful returns in many markets. The higher budget offbeat movies are the problem, and it is surprising the distributors allow the producers such liberty. With finance for production such as it is, would it not be wonderful if these young men could be disciplined to devote their unquestioned talents to making popular subjects really well so that distributors, exhibitors, patrons, and even critics could be happy? THE POSTAL STRIKE HAS PROVIDED THE BEST EXCUSE EVER FOR NOT DOING desk work — why write when the letter may never get there or pay that bill and have the check lie in a mail bag? The phone has been used excessively, and office boys have been claiming for the shoe leather worn out delivering by hand. It has been a wonderful reason for going out to make personal contact and find out what is really happening in the big world. One victim was the reopening of the Warner Theatre after a $300,000 moderni¬ zation with “Robin and the 7 Hocds.” A worthy premiere was impossible since invitations could not be sent, acceptances received, and tickets mailed, with letters taking 10 days to travel short distances. In consequence, Arthur Abeles phoned a number of trade leaders to join the critics after the press show in the new “My Fair Lady” lounge bar for a champagne buffet lunch and made one of the wittiest opening speeches ever. It had to be heard to be enjoyed and what a pleasant change from the usual oratory on such oc¬ casions. One of his problems is trying to explain to Jack Warner the vagaries of the London County Council’s licensing laws, which permit him to sell hard liquor during road shows but not during continuous performance runs, though MGM’s Empire next door can. I got his point! ABC’s architects, headed by Jack Foster, have carried out the transforma¬ tion which required a complete gutting of the building. The entrance foyer and circle lounge have been redesigned. In the auditorium, a suspended ceiling carrying the lighting motif, richly curtained side walls, and the realigned stalls floor all sweep in to frame the actual screen so that it provides the fourth wall. The stage and orchestra have been elim¬ inated. 70mm has been installed though “My Fair Lady” cannot open before 1965 because of contractual ties. The work was not fully completed by the press show, and a nice and much appreciated gesture of the management was to ask those still working to join the lunch and toast the venture. THE INDUSTRY IS LOSING ONE OF THE MOST COLORFUL CHARACTERS. WILliam Hutchinson better known as “Jock,” is retiring after a life time in films and 22 years with MGM. He will be succeeded as head o£ sales by Lester Brooks, who has shared the post with him for seme time. Jock, always immaculate and a bit of a dandy at heart, will be missed, but I suspect, since he will continue living in London, that he will not be missing from trade functions. . . . Congratulations to the British and American Film Press, publishers of the Daily Cinema, on achieving an increase in profits of $9,500 on the year. . . . An added adornment of operation, a necessity in Jim Carreras’ Wardour Street HQ is a map of America so that he can keep a constant eye on all Variety Tents. George Hoover has been working with him for the past week. Jim is starting four more features headed by the remake of Rider Haggard’s “She.” ... It has been a long time since there was so much rivalry between the sponsors of two films as there is over Cliff Richards’ “Wonderful Life” and' The Beatles’ “Hard Day’s Night,” which have started their pre¬ releases at the seaside. The wires are buzzing with reports of fabulous takes and hold¬ overs. . . . Looked in on the first of the “Blackpool Night Out” series being televised from the ABC, Blackpool, on Sundays, and found the camera lovingly picking up features of this magnificent new theatre which reverts to movies in the fall. . . . Never publicised has been the fact that London’s Studio One has not played an “X-Adults Only” film for 12 years. Apparently a woman took her teenage son to “Le Plaisir,” did not like what she saw, told the owner, Welsh businessman, philanthropist, and churchman Sir David James. He checked, agreed, and has played only family type entertainment — mainly Disney. It is one of London’s most successful theatres. ... A strippery off Wardour Street has in¬ stalled closed circuit tv on the bar so that the drinkers do* not have to move. This in¬ telligence about the marvels of modern science was unmasked solely through the postal strike driving people away from their desks! Sextant Activities Expand NEW YORK — -Sextant, Inc., an independ¬ ent television and motion picture production company, announced plans for an expansion of its television programming activities in New York. Allan B. Schwartz has been named head of New York production. He recently joined the company after four years at the ABCTV Network. Peck Joins Festival Unit HOLLYWOOD — Gregory Peck has been ap¬ pointed by the Screen Actors Guild as a member of the Hollywood Guilds Festival Committee, it was announced by Fred Zinnemann, committee chairman. Consisting of two delegates and one alter¬ nate from each of four talent guilds, and functioning at the request of the U.S.I.A., the committee selects official U. S. entries. John E. McGrath, Jr., employed in his father’s Albany, N. Y., Theatre Supply Co., married Mary I. Chludzinski in St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church at Londonville. Bride is a graduate of Albany Junior College, which groom also attended. . . . Trading stamps are the extra inducement which local employees of Columbia exchange offer wives of ex¬ hibitors “to induce your husband to book as much Columbia product as is possible be¬ tween Sept. 13 and Dec. 24,” in a Sales and Billings Drive that is part of the 40th Year of Service celebrated by the company. For each feature playdate submitted during specified period, 40 trading stamps “of your choice” will be awarded, and another 40 for each four shorts booked. Wives of exchangemen are making “the supreme sacrifice” by giving their trading stamps, according to a letter addressed to “Mrs. Exhibitor,” care of husband’s theatre. Branch chief Herbert Schwartz thought of the trading stamp idea, used by theatres, including one Albany area drive-in but never before in a film sales campaign. ... A high wind blew down the screen of Rustic Drive-In, Wynantskill, out¬ side Troy. . . . Ned Christiano reopened the Lee, Lee, Mass., which had been closed for a year. Nephew of owner Mrs. Elizabeth Sarra, he operated the 400-seater once be¬ fore. For a time, virtually all major dis¬ tributors served it from Albany, but re¬ portedly some might switch the assignment to Boston. . . . ABC-TV Films, Inc., has filed a certificate with the Secretary of State to conduct a film, tape, television, radio, and theatrical programs business of all kinds, with principal office in New York. ATLANTA Three new members to the local WOMPI are Muriel Head, MGM; Linda Rickman, MGM; and Freddie Youngblood, MGM. . . . Tillie Shapiro was hostess at a stork shower for Jean Mullis, WOMPI International past president. . . . Sid Whiteman, former Uni¬ versal booker, is preparing to enter the More light + slower burn= lower costs PROJECTOR CARBONS August 5, 1964 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 15