The Exhibitor (1966)

Col. Latin Executives Discuss Current Product Trans-Lux First Quarter Earnings Rise Aiong With Theatre Business NEW'^ YORK — Earnings of Trans-Lux Cor¬ poration for the quarter ended March 31 were 12.3 percent abov'e those of a year earlier and amounted to $129,819, or 18 cents per share on the 718,037 shares of common stock cur¬ rently outstanding, Richard Brandt, president, told stockholders at their annual meeting. First quarter 1965 net earnings were $115,615, or 16 cents per share. Gross revenues from opera¬ tions, Brandt said, closely approximated those of a year earlier. In commenting on results of operations, Brandt noted that gross revenues from the company’s communications services showed a slight gain. However, he said, revenues from the company’s entertainment activities were down somewhat, due primarily to the Balti¬ more Theatres, which were satisfactorily dis¬ posed of, and its Trans-Lux at 52nd and Lexington Avenue, New York, which was closed by reason of the demolition of the build¬ ing in which it was located. However, first quarter 1966 gross theatre revenues on the basis of comparable theatres, Brandt stated, were substantially ahead of a year earlier, “and I expect this trend to continue.” Noting that the company continues in a strong financial position, Brandt reported that during the quarter, the company reduced by $250,000 its indebtedness under the revolving credit agreement with a leading New York bank, thus bringing the balance currently out¬ standing to $750,000. More recently, he added, the company has effected an extension of the original $2.5 million credit until June 30, 1972, with no increase in the interest formula. Reporting on recent developments, Brandt said that a 10-foot model of the Trans-Jet electronic stock quotation device, with chai'acteristics similar to the 45-foot display now in use on the floor of the New York Stock Ex¬ change, is currently in test operation at the Trans-Lux Long Island City plant and will be available for inspection by the New York financial community in the very near future. Referring to the company’s plans to establish theatres in major shopping centers, Brandt said that the new Trans-Lux Harrisburg, Pa., theatre is scheduled for opening in late sum¬ mer, and that discu.ssions are presently under way with regard to the acquisition of additional locations, five of which are expected to be concluded by the year end. Brandt reported that the company’s tele¬ vision operation experienced greater sales of its tv series in the first quarter of 1966 than it did for the same period in 1965. He added that the company was stepping up its search for new tv programming, a move to expand its volume as well as diversity of television entertainment. Early in the quarter, he reported, the com¬ pany acquired the Shoreham-Norman Hotels, Miami Beach, Florida, on a favorable pur¬ chase-lease back arrangement. The beach front property, he stated, includes two hotels, a swimming pool, cabanas, and related facilities and is located in an area which is being de¬ voted increasingly to high rise developments. He indicated that the company expects to develop this beach front property sometime in the future. In the meantime, by means of a leasing arrangement, the company is receiv¬ ing a highly satisfactory return on its invest¬ ment. George Horstein, left. New York TEDA board mem¬ ber, recently welcomed J. W. Servies, right, execu¬ tive vice-president of National Theatre Supply Com¬ pany, to membership in Theatre Equipment Dealers Association. TEDA Welcomes NTS; Pushes For Standards NEW YORK — Spero L. Kontos, president. Theatre Equipment Dealers Association, an¬ nounces that National Theatre Supply Com¬ pany has become a member of TEDA. “We particularly welcome National Theatre Supply Company to membership in our organi¬ zation,” Kontos stated, “because now the greater portion of dealers across the country will be represented, and this is important. There is a continuing demand in the industry for improved technical standards, and with TEDA acting as the technical consultant to exhibitors nationwide. National Theatre Sup¬ ply Company will make a valuable contribu¬ tion in rounding out this fund of technical knowledge within the dealer organization.” J. W. Servies, executive vice-president of National Theatre Supply Company, said, “We believe that TEDA bas been responsible for elevating the role played by the equipment dealers and are anxious to cooperate in this effort. Many theatre owners and circuits are still not fully aware of the many services per¬ formed by equipment dealers and with our joint efforts, we may be able to get this mes¬ sage across to them.” Fox^s Williams To Studio NEW YORK — Elmo Williams, European production chief of 20th Century-Fox, will transfer his base of operations from London to the 20th-Fox Studios in Hollywood. Darryl F. Zanuck, president of 20th-Fox, .said Williams would shift to the studio on June 1 and would work under the direct super¬ vision of Richard D. Zanuck, 20th-Fox vicepresident in charge of production. The reason for the move, Zanuck explained, was to institute a much closer coordination in the casting and production efforts on films scheduled to be made. Williams will prepare a number of important pictures at the studio for European produc¬ tion. They include “Memed, My Hawk,” “Big Country, Big Man,” and “May You Die in Ireland.” SAN JUAN, P.R. — Columbia Pictures Inter¬ national territorial managers and publicists from 1 1 key Latin American countries were offered an intensive look at Columbia’s cur¬ rent product and long-range production and promotion plans when home office executives spelled out “The Total Look in Entertain¬ ment” during a four-day conclave at the Americana Hotel here. Convening the meetings was Mo Rothman, Columbia vice-president in charge of world distribution, who told the delegates that they would have the opportunity to examine one of the most ambitious sales, distribution, and advertising-publicity schedules the company has ever organized for the Latin American continent. Robert S. Ferguson, vice-president in charge of worldwide advertising and publicity, spelled out the long-range promotion concepts that would govern Columbia’s plans for the future. The convention held screenings of “The Chase,” “The Silencers,” “Born Free,” and “Lost Command.” Seminars on the promotion of the screened films followed each exhibition. Attending the convention from the home office were Bernard E. Zeeman, vice-president and treasurer of Columbia Pictures Interna¬ tional; Bert Obrentz, executive assistant to Rothman; Marion Jordan, foreign sales man¬ ager of the International company; Edwin A. Levine, sales control executive of the Inter¬ national company; Martin Blau, executive assistant to Ferguson; and Kevin Doyle, pub¬ licity manager of the International company. Jacksonville WOMPI Elects JACKSONVILLE — Mrs. John (Mary) Hart, member of the Florida State Theatres home office advertising staff, has been elected to the presidency of the local WOMPI group for a year’s term, succeeding Kitty Dowell, a booker in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer branch office. Mrs. Hart also served as the local WOMPI president in 1959 and has held nu¬ merous other offices during the nine years she has been in the organization. Her husband, John, is international chairman of the CoWOMPI group, which is composed of hus¬ bands and other male friends of WOMPI members. Other new WOMPI officers named at the annual election Sandra Hughes, Columbia, first vice-president; Sandra Easley, MGM, second vice-president; Ida Belle Levey, United Artists, treasurer; Claudia Taylor, Florida State Theatres, corresponding secretary; and Violet Davis, Allied Artists, recording secre¬ tary. Mrs. Halt said that the installation of new officers will be conducted in a formal ceremony the night of June 25. Al Appoinf-ments NEW YORK — Larry Steinfeld has joined the American International publicity staff as radio, television, and foreign correspondent contact, and will also handle merchandising for that company, it was announced by Ruth Pologe, eastern director of publicity and adver¬ tising. Chrys Blionas has been named traffic man¬ ager of American International Television, it was announced by Stanley E. Dudelson, AITV’s vice-president. Miss Blionas has been with American International for two years and had previously been with National Telefilm Associates. 8 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR May 11, 1 966