The Exhibitor (1966)

Fine Names Key NATO Committees Texas D-l Meet Features “Gold In 1966” Theme DALLAS — The annual Texas Drive-In Theatre Owners Convention was held here last week at the Statler Hilton Hotel. Earl Podolnick, Austin, is president of the associa¬ tion, with Harry McCartney, Dallas, as con¬ vention chairman, and Phil Tidball, Fort Worth, and Eddie Reyna, Victoria, co-chair¬ men. Honor guest and principal speaker at the annual convention was Marshall H. Fine, first president of the National Association of Theatre Owners, who spoke at the luncheon sponsored by Pepsi Cola, with Bill Slaughter, retiring chief barker of Dallas Variety Club, serving as toastmaster. The convention opened with registration, trade exhibits during the day, and a 6: 30 p.m. cocktail party sponsored by motion picture advertisers. National Screen Service sponsored a break¬ fast on Feb. 2. Brandon Doak, Dallas, pre¬ sented two hours of future product film clips before the luncheon. More product film clips were presented during the afternoon, and American International Pictures sponsored a cocktail buffet with Sam Arkoff,, vice-presi¬ dent of AIP, as host. On the morning of Feb. 3, those attending the meeting were taken on a tour of the Gemini Twin D-I, which is said to be the largest d-i in the world, where supply representatives ex¬ plained the equipment of the theatre. Booth exhibitors sponsored a snack at noon, follow¬ ed by a general meeting and board session. At 6: 30 p.m. the president’s banquet was held with entertainment and awards presented. Edwin Tobolowsky was master of ceremonies. Each registrant at the convention received a bag of gold bearing ore mined at Central City, Colo., which carries out the theme of the convention of “Gold in 1966.” Wives of exhibitors attending the conven¬ tion saw a special screening of “Made in Paris” at the Palace on the morning of Feb. 2, and in the afternoon attended a screening of “Battle of the Bulge” at the Capri. On Feb. 3, Cohen Candy Co. honored the ladies at a Zodiac Room luncheon, where fashions created by Helen Rose for “Made in Paris were shown. Texas Governor John Connally proclaimed the week of Feb. 1 through 7 as Drive-In Theatre Week throughout Texas. Pacific Ups Gordon LOS ANGELES — Veteran district manager Art Gordon will play a key role in Pacific’s fast-moving expansion program, it is an¬ nounced by Don Guttman, general manager. Gordon was named walk-in division manager with supervision over the growing hardtop wing of the predominantly drive-in circuit. Recent acquisition of the Hollywood Pantages, two new Cinerama houses in San Diego, and immediate construction of a deluxer in Lakewood Valley Shopping Center triggered the creation of two separate and autonomous divisions, Guttman said. Operational direction of Pacific’s drive-ins remains with Frank Diaz. 276 Features Eligible For "Oscar” Consideration HOLLYWOOD— A total of 276 featurelength motion pictures are eligible for “Oscars” this year, a survey of films re¬ leased during 1965 disclosed. Of those pic¬ tures which meet the requirements for consideration for Academy of Motion Pic¬ ture Arts and Sciences Awards at the 38th annual presentation, 152 were produced in color and 124 in black-and-white. Last year, the list of eligible films totaled 316. Separate consideration is given pictures competing for the Foreign Language Film Award. Pictures submitted in this category need not have been shown in the United States. The “Oscar” Show will air in color April 18 over the combined radio and television facilities of the American Broad¬ casting Company and world-wide through the facilities of the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. Disney Net Profit Rises; All Divisions In Black NEW YORK — At the annual meeting of stockholders of Walt Disney Productions, all eight members of the board of directors were reelected for another year. The treasurer reported to the stockholders that consolidated net profit after taxes of Walt Disney Productions and its wholly owned domestic subsidiaries for the quarter ended Jan. 1 was $2,122,000, equal to $1.10 per share on the 1,935,559 common shares outstanding after giving effect to a three percent stock dividend (56,342 shares) declared on Nov. 11, 1965. These earnings compare with last year’s first quarter net profit of $1,737,000 or 94 cents per share on the 1,841,475 common shares then outstanding. The current quarter earn¬ ings were after a tax provision of $2,118,000 as compared with last year’s first quarter pro¬ vision of $1,766,000. Gross revenues for the first quarter were $18,750,000, which com¬ pares with $17,240,000 last year. Theatrical and television film revenues were about the same as last year; Disneyland Park and other entertainment activities were up about $500, 000, while other income from publications, merchandise, music and records increased by $1,000,000. All divisions of the company are operating profitably, and management expects the cur¬ rent year to be another good year for the Company. The board at their organization meeting reelected all officers and declared a regular quarterly dividend of 10 cents per share pay¬ able April 1 to stockholders of record March 14. New Duties For Lapidus NEW YORK— Bernard Myerson, executive vice-president of Loew’s Theatres, announced that Larry Lapidus, in addition to his duties as Myerson’s assistant, will assume charge of the booking department for both in and out-of-town theatres. NATO Chief Chairs Unit Studying Trade Practices; Dollinger Named To Head Drive For Orderly Release NEW YORK — President Marshall H. Fine announced the formation of what he con¬ siders to be the two key committees of the National Association of Theatre Owners: a Trade Practices Committee and a Film Prod¬ uct And Orderly Release Committee. “Product is the one great issue facing the exhibitor,” Fine stated in his acceptance remarks at the inaugural board meeting last month at which he had been elected to head unified exhibition in this country. “By this I mean the availability of product, its orderly release, honest advertising and distribution of that product, and a fair and equitable method and manner of sale of all pictures to all theatres. To me, everything else is secondary.” Further, Fine had stated: “As soon as practicable, I hope to get back into New York to meet with the heads of distribution, to assure them of our complete cooperation and desire to work with them in whatever means they suggest to assure ourselves a steadier flow of product, more evenly dis¬ tributed, and fairly and honestly sold.” Underscoring and emphasizing the impor¬ tance to which Fine assigns the Trade Prac¬ tices Committee is the fact that Fine has de¬ cided to head this committee himself. To serve with him, he has selected an impressive group of experienced, knowledgeable theatremen representing every type of exhibition in the nation: Jack Armstrong, Armstrong Circuit, Bowling Green, Ohio; Roy Cooper, West Side and Valley Theatres, San Fran¬ cisco; Sherrill C. Corwin, Metropolitan Thea¬ tres, Los Angeles; Irving Dollinger, Triangle Theatre Service, New York; Salah Hassanein, Skouras Theatres and United Artists Theatres, New York; George G. Kerasotes, Kerasotes Theatres, Springfield, Ill.; David E. Milgram, Milgram Theatres, Philadelphia; Bernard Myerson, Loew’s Theatres, New York; Sum¬ ner M. Redstone, Northeast Drive-In Thea¬ tres and Redstone Management Circuit, Bos¬ ton; Julian S. Rifkin, Rifkin Theatres, Bos¬ ton; Wilbur Snaper, Associated Independent Theatres, New York; T. G. Solomon, Gulf States Theatres, McComb, Miss.; William H. Thedford, National General Corp., Beverly Hills, Calif.; and Ray T. Vonderhaar, Tentelino Enterprises, Alexandria, Minn. Dollinger was tapped by Fine to be chair¬ man of the Film Product And Orderly Re¬ lease Committee. Dollinger is a partner in Triangle Theatre Service, the largest inde¬ pendent buying and booking service in the country, and is also a partner in the Colum¬ bia Amusement Company operating theatres and drive-ins in New Jersey and Connecticut. Members of the Film Product And Orderly Release Committee, all well versed in the ins and outs of film distribution and exhibition, are: Nat D. Fellman, Stanley Warner Theatres, New York; Emanuel Frisch, Randforce Amusement Corp., Brooklyn; Bernard Levy, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., New York; Richard H. Orear, Commonwealth Cir( Continued on page 23) February 9, 1966 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR 15