The Exhibitor (1964)

Rowley's All-Industry Conference No One-Shot Deal Exhibitors Told PLYMOUTH, MASS. — John M. Rowley’s proposal for an all-industry conference is not visualized as a one-shot deal, the president of Theatre Owners of America said here. Speaking at the annual convention of Thea¬ tre Owners of New England at the May¬ flower Hotel, Rowley said he saw the project as an established vehicle, a sort of national board which would meet at least four times a year, and more frequently if necessary. “It would certainly be an improved com¬ munications system for the industry,” Rowley said, “functioning as the proper ma¬ chinery for clearing up misunderstandings and maintaining a continuous means of exchang¬ ing views on a businesslike basis. It would be less time consuming and at the same time more effective.” Rowley said these recommendations were aimed at one objective: the improvement of the economic health of the industry. He said he felt that “we have been sitting back and drifting for too long a period, while rolling with the punches.” He said a strong effort must be made for constructive action on an all-industry program and to establish rules of the game, adding that consideration must be given, too, for some form of outside mediation in the event the industry cannot do it itself. “It is all very well to plan conferences, mediation and rules of the game,” Rowley said, “but implementation of them is not so simple. Lawyers will find many reasons why their companies should not participate. As you know, they are reluctant to sit down and talk with competitors on controversial matters. Therefore, we may need the assistance of out¬ side agencies to help us make a start toward some of our goals.” Rowley said there had been preliminary talks with several of such organizations which had been receptive to the proposals. He as¬ serted, however, that “we should make every effort not to wash our linen in public with outsiders without another good college try.” He added that TOA was ready to do more than its fair share on any constructive pro¬ gram which was in the interest of the motion picture industry. The TOA president stated that while trade problems were of vital concern, an important matter remained, and that was manpower. He said that TOA was studying an educa¬ tional and training program for the develop¬ ment of theatre managers. He said details were in the formative stage but that TOA’s aim was to create a school for the proper training of future theatre executives. He said he hoped enough progress would be made so that the program could be announced at the TOA convention in Chicago late in Sep¬ tember. Rowley pointed out that every theatre owner or operator was in need of good man¬ agers and that there were not enough of them. He recalled the Paramount Managers School of some years ago which turned out such men as Gus Eyssel, now president of Rocke¬ feller Center, and Bob Weitman, who became managing director of the Broadway Paramount and now vice-president in charge of produc¬ tion for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. “The Paramount school has passed into history,” Rowley said, “but the time has come when we must have capable managers and new blood to carry on when present man¬ agers drop away for various reasons.” Rowley said an issue of major concern to all exhibitors was pay tv. He said the answer to the difficulty was simple: “Just keep the films off of those slot machines.” “Hollywood thinks pay tv is the answer to all their problems,” Rowley said. “Initially, they are looking for another customer. If pay tv catches on, away they go. At the moment, they are not ready to give up their theatre income. But you can be assured that they will go where the pot of gold is.” Rowley said many exhibitors had made liberal contributions to the California fight to outlaw pay tv in that state, but the need for more funds was urgent. He said the California exhibitors were facing a top man¬ agement team headed by Pat Weaver and that they were loaded with money and that in the next few weeks the Weaver organiza¬ tion would be waging a big campaign in an effort to brainwash the public into believing that pay tv would be an amusement paradise. “Only our dollars can counteract the brain¬ washing by means of an itelligent campaign,” Rowley said. The TOA chief said the California Com¬ mittee for Free TV had set a budget of more than $1,000,000 to reach 7,000,000 California voters on the matter of voting to outlaw pay tv in the November elections. He urged all exhibitors to contribute their fair share so that “we all can breathe easier after Nov. 3.” N. Y. Wage Law Nixed NEW YORK — Supreme Court Justice Sid¬ ney A. Fine has ruled the city’s recently enacted $1.50 per hour minimum wage law is unconstitutional. Justice Fine noted that an almost identical hourly wage law enacted by the city in 1962 was declared invalid by the State Court of Appeals, and said a new home rule amend¬ ment which went into effect last Jan. 1 did not give the city the right to pass the new legislation. The court ruled on a move by the Whole¬ sale Laundry Board of Trade, Inc., and eight other commercial laundries for a judgement “declaring unconstitutional local law num¬ ber 45 of the laws of the City of New York.” Royal Bow For "Lord Jim" LONDON — Richard Brooks’ “Lord Jim,” Columbia release, based upon the Joseph Conrad adventure classic, has been selected as next year’s British Royal Film Perform¬ ance to be attended by Queen Elizabeth II, it has been announced here by officers of the Cinematograph Trade Benevolent Fund. The performance, which will also serve as the world premiere of the film, will be held in February at the Odeon Theatre, Leicester Square, as a benefit for the Fund. “Lord Jim” stars Peter O’Toole, James Mason, Jack Hawkins, Eli Wallach, Curt Jurgens, Paul Lukas, Akim Tamiroff, and Daliah Lavi. September 2, 1964 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR