The Exhibitor (1965)

Ohio Towns Strengthen CATV Franchise Rules COMPO Urges Tax Follow-Up; Cites Leaders A t Spring Meeting By Mel Konecoff NEW YORK — The state of the industry was the prime topic of discussion at the annual spring meeting of the Council of Motion Pic¬ ture Organizations, held at the St. Moritz Hotel here last week, with results quite satis¬ factory according to Charles E. McCarthy, COMPO executive vice-president. LaMar Sarra, of TOA suggested that or¬ ganizations active in the concession end of the business be invited to join COMPO and par¬ ticipate in its activities and this was adopted by the attendees. T. Manning Clagett of the MPAA reporting on censorship, said while many state legisla¬ tures adjourned without adverse action as re¬ gards censorship, N.Y.’s was still in session and would have a harmful impact on the rest of the country should censorship measures pass. He thought that in N.Y. the industry faced “its worst thrashing of the last forty years.” McCarthy was instructed by those present to draw up a communique to N.Y. legislators urging the defeat of censorship measures which are contained in some twenty bills. The report of the national tax campaign committee by C. Elmer Nolte, Jr. will be dis¬ tributed to exhibitors everywhere. Expected tax cuts on admissions, when enacted by Congress, is expected to save the industry many millions of dollars. COMPO, said Mc¬ Carthy, has not taken a stand as to whether or not the savings should be passed on to the public. The members of the committee (Nolte, Sarra, Ed Cooper, Wm. Namenson, Martin H. Newman, Richard Walsh and McCarthy) were presented with engraved scrolls in apprecia¬ tion for their efforts on behalf of exhibition in this area. Ben Marcus, one of the triumverate, paid tribute to COMPO as one organization in the industry that really represents unity in pur¬ pose and action, seldom seen in the business. A report by Sarra on the Federal minimum wage law was not made public. McCarthy reported that COMPO turned down an invitation to participate in a motiva¬ tional research project covering theatre at¬ tendance conducted by the University of Den¬ ver on behalf of TOA and the MPAA. COMPO would have replaced the Producers Guild which withdrew from the project. Sarra urged COMPO to alert local exhibi¬ tors to be aware of the dangers of having state and local governments rushing in to pick up taxes cancelled by the Federal gov¬ ernment. Exhibitors will be urged to join with other business groups to prevent this, and a motion was adopted to this end. Eugene Picker, another triumverate mem¬ ber, reported that the plan to increase the number of pictures produced had bogged down under differences of opinion between committee members, but hoped portions of the program could be salvaged. Samuel Pinanski, the remaining triumver¬ ate member, suggested COMPO alert exhibi¬ tors on the threat and trend to seek local increases in real estate assessments and taxes, and again to link action with other interested local groups to forestall these motions. Russell Downing, treasurer, urged the sup¬ port of COMPO by all exhibitors. Howard Herman, president of Allied of N.J., urged COMPO to promote a community film study Mor.on Gerber, chairman, Variety Club Tent 11, Washington, D. C., and president District Theatres Corporation, recently presented a check for $1,000 to Captain John Dials of First Prescinct Metropolitan Police Department for sending underprivileged chil¬ dren to summer camp. Robert Irving and Tommy Humphries, members of the Police Boys Clubs, look on. Levsne-O'Toole Pact LONDON — Joseph E. Levine’s Londonbased Anglo Embassy Productions, Ltd., has concluded an agreement with independent producer Jules Bricken, and with Keep Films, Ltd., the production company owned by actor Peter O’Toole and producer Jules Buck, for the co-production of two motion pictures. The two projects are “The Assassins,” based on the contemporary thriller by Frederic Mullally, which will be produced by Bricken, and “To See a Stranger,” adapted from the sus¬ pense novel by Margaret Lynn. The latter film will be produced by Ronald Kahn, with Bricken serving as executive producer. Both films will be released world-wide by Em¬ bassy. program by exhibitors and distributors wherein school children and others could view appropriate films during off-times, study them and hold discussions. Cooperation was urged with MPAA, which has such an opera¬ tion on its agenda. This motion was approved. Emanuel Frisch proposed investigation of some of the problems that might interfere with theatre attendance such as travel to and from theatres on unsafe streets at night, urg¬ ing action with other interested groups. The meeting adjourned after Sarra proposed a resolution praising Ed Cooper and T. Man¬ ning Clagett, Washington legislative represen¬ tatives, for their activities, and that this be forwarded to the MPAA and to member com¬ panies of that, organization. Among those present were Samuel Pinan¬ ski, Ben Marcus, Eugene Picker, C. Elmer Nolte, Jr., LaMar Sarra, Ed Cooper, T. Man¬ ning Clagett, Morton Sunshine, Max A. Cohen, Wm. Namemson, Martin H. Newman, Bernard Diamond, C. E. Cook, Richard Brandt, Tom Brandon, Michael F. Mayer, Howard Her¬ man, Richard Walsh, Harry Goldberg, Sid¬ ney Schreiber, Joseph Alterman, Emanuel Frisch, Burton Robbins, and others. COLUMBUS, O. — New and stronger ordi¬ nance regulating granting of community an¬ tenna television franchises was introduced in Whitehall City Council. A weaker measure, introduced earlier, was tabled indefinitely. The new legislation calls for granting a non¬ exclusive CATV franchise to Multi-Channel Cable Co., Portsmouth, Ohio. The new ordinance calls for these addi¬ tional provisions: The firm shall come under control of the Federal Communications Commission, if and when the FCC acts to take over CATV reg¬ ulation. The firm shall not alter programs of any tv station and will carry all local tv stations. The licensee shall furnish an annual re¬ port of its operations. The system must be in at least partial op¬ eration within 12 months. The license will be non-exclusive. The firm must provide a local weather, time, and music channel. The licensee must post a $50,000 perform¬ ance bond. In Marion, Ohio, representatives of four CATV firms seeking franchises met with the utilities committee of city council. Council¬ man George Roest, committee chairman, said he would report at the June 14 council meet¬ ing on its recommendations. Mayor Karl Dune said he believes the city should fran¬ chise the service to protect the city and CATV patrons. Jack Boyd, sales manager, General Telephone Co., said his firm is ready to sup¬ ply facilities for CATV service in Marion. Para. Adds New Shorts NEW YORK — Paramount Pictures is en¬ larging its short subjects program to a total of 50 releases for the 1965-66 season, it was announced by Herb Gillis, national sales di¬ rector for special attractions. An increase of 10 releases over the pre¬ vious season, the new all-color program is Paramount’s most ambitious short subjects schedule in recent years, Gillis said. “The demand for good, entertaining shorts has never been greater,” Gillis noted, “due to the elimination of double-feature policies in many situations and to a genuine need for suitable programming material for driveins and hardtops that cater to the family audience.” Highlighting Paramount’s 1965-66 program will be two new cartoon series, “Honey Half Witch” and “Nudnik.” In all, there will be 35 cartoons, including seven “Noveltoons,” seven “Modern Madcaps,” seven “Honey Half Witches,” six “Nudniks,” and eight “Popeye Champions.” In the area of live-action shorts, “TwoReel Specials” are being increased to a total of four and “Travel Adventures” to a total of five. In addition, there will be six “Sports in Action,” produced by Winik Films. Quigley Directs Hall Lighting NEW YORK — Robert S. Quigley has been named director of stage lighting of Radio City Music Hall, it was announced by Rus¬ sell V. Downing, president of the Rockefeller Center. Quigley succeeds the fate Eugene Braun, Music Hall lighting director from its opening in December, 1932. Quigley joined the Music Hall staff in No¬ vember, 1943, as Braun’s assistant, having previously worked as chief electrician in the legitimate theatre in New York City. 16 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR June 16, 1965