The Exhibitor (1966)

Albany Observers Differ On Role Valenti Sboald Play As MPAA Chief ALBANY — Two schools of thought exist in Albany on the particular metier for which Jack J. Valenti, new president, Motion Picture Association of America, is best fitted. One believes the former aide-confidant of President Lyndon B. Johnson is most qualified to function in the field of combatting state or local censorship, as well as improving the in¬ dustry’s position nationally and in Washington. The other contends that the hard driving, enormously energetic Texan should throw the weight of his influence for “changes” to strengthen the Production Code. In other words, Valenti should strive for “closer indus¬ try self-regulation.” Veterans of film business take the first posi¬ tion. Some legislators, including Assemblyman Jules G. Sabbatino, D.-Queens, chairman of Joint Committee on Offensive and Obscene Material, assume the second stance. Valenti, best known here because of his status with the President, is assumed, on both sides, to “know his way” around the nation’s capital. This can not help but benefit the mo¬ tion picture business, it is agreed. Industryites project their thinking a step further: Valenti should also be ideally equip¬ ped to fight censorship. They point out that Dallas, in his native state, is one of the lar¬ gest cities to adopt a film review licensing ordinance recently. So far, this statute has successfully undergone court scrutiny. Whether it will, if and when brought to the Supreme Court, is a guess. Assemblyman Sabbatino and other solons, who still support “some kind of state film licensing,” are of the opinion Valenti should concentrate on firming the Code. They think he would be ill-advised to participate in a strong drive on “censorship” — because “the tide is unmistakably running against obscenity and pornography.” Chairman Sabbatino adds that he and the JLC’s counsel, John A. Manning, Brooklyn attorney, hope to draft a licensing law for introduction at the 1967 legislative session. New York State’s long-established prior re¬ view law was declared unconstitutional by Court of Appeals in the wake of a directive from the nation’s top tribunal. The Joint Committee has successfully spon¬ sored in the Assembly this year two bills which would have some “curbing” effect on motion pictures. Senate action is awaited. The feeling is unanimous here that Louis Nizer, engaged by MPAA as general counsel for a five-year term, possesses super equipment and experience to advise the Association. AlP Schedules Anofher HOLLYWOOD — Tenth production for American International, an addition to the nine announced earlier, has been set by AI top executives James H. Nicholson and Samuel Z. Arkoff. It will be the sixth co-production, while four will be made in Hollywood — all during the next six months. Latest American International production for 1967 release will be a co-production with Italian International Films titled “Guns of Anzio,” to be filmed in early fall of this year in Rome and at the famed World War II landing spot, now an Italian resort, Nicholson and Arkoff disclosed. TV Catches Student Reaction To J.F.K. Biopic NEW YORIC — An in-depth filmed report on the special 10:00 a.m. morning shows for parochial and public school groups at the 57th St. Lincoln Art Theatre during the engagement of “John F. Kennedy: Years of Lightning, Day of Drums” was telecast recently on the WCBS-TV Evening News. Conducted by WCBS-TV newcaster Peter Hyams, the feature report included footage of the schoolchildren lining up out¬ side the theatre, and also of their reactions while watching the color film of the life of the late President Kennedy. Interviews with students and faculty members as they left the Lincoln Art concluded the report. Hartford Pay-TV Test Turns "Rental" To "Service" HARTFORD — RKO General, owner-opera¬ tor of WHCT-TV (channel 18), Americans sole on-the-air subscription television experi¬ ment, has made a small but meaningful change in terminology of station charges. Heretofore, the charge of 75 cents a week, or $3.25 per month, has been called “rental.” Now it’ll be known as a “service fee.” “This is not a move on our part to play with words, nor are we making an effort to change our ‘image,’ ” said Keigler E. Flake, general manager. “The term ‘service fee’ simply reflects moi'e accurately what the 75 cents a week, or $3.25 a month, really involves. “This small fee guarantees that our men in the field can and will give you the best and fastest service, whether you live in the im¬ mediate vicinity of the station or in the more distant regions of our broadcast area. It also makes it possible for us to maintain the most up-to-date equipment available to deal effec¬ tively with whatever problems may arise — ■ from a loose wire to the replacement of a decoder.” FCC Commissioner Raps Ignorers Of TV Code WASHINGTON, D. C.— Robert E. Lee, FGG Gommissioner, told a luncheon meeting of the Catholic Laymen’s First Friday Club that license renewals will be jeopardized for those television stations which permit them¬ selves to disregard the decency provisions of the tv code under pressure from the film indus¬ try. Lee said there should be different standards for tv which comes into the home than there are for books or even for theatrical films. He noted that the FCC has tried unsuccessfully to get the Supreme Court to state categorically that obscenity decisions in book cases don’t apply to tv. He pointed out the FCC dilemma in that there are criminal laws against obscenity on the air, but the FCC has specific provision in the Communications Act prohibiting it from censoring what goes on the air. He cited Congressional intent and court decisions to back his belief that the commission does have the power to review whether a station’s pro¬ gramming is in the public interest. He praised the NAB code and agreement between the NAB authority and the Associa¬ tion of Motion Picture and Television Pro¬ ducers. He added, however, that there are many Hollywood stars who have their pro¬ duction companies not aligned with either group; that there are other Hollywood and tv film producers not members; and that there are tv stations which do not subscribe to the NAB code. Lee accused some in the tv industry of as¬ sailing the NAB-TV code as a bar to artistic expression and some in Hollywood who go so far as to characterize as an attack on free speech the refusal of some newspapers to ac¬ cept sexy ads. Earnings Record For MCA NEW YORK — The highest first quarter earnings in the history of MCA Inc. were an¬ nounced by Lew R. Wasserman, president. The unaudited consolidated net income for the three months ending March 31 amounted to $4,014,525, and after preferred dividends, was equal to 82 cents per share on the 4,706,568 average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. For the corresponding three months in 1965, consolidated net income was $3,925,563, and after preferred dividends, was equal to 80 cents per share on the 4,680,620 average number of shares outstanding. Richard Chamberlain recently officated at the opening of the new MGM exchange at 1025 Vermont Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. Shown holding the ribbon is Otto Ebert, backed up by the exchange staff. 6 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR May 18, 1966