The Exhibitor (1966)

New RKO Pictures Division Formed To Produce, Distribute Features NEW YORK — Robert J. Leder was an¬ nounced as president of RKO Pictures Com¬ pany, new division which will encompass the activities of RKO General Productions, as well as other entertainment projects. RKO Pictures will continue the activities of RKO General Productions as financier, pro¬ ducer, and distributor of entertainment pro¬ gramming. RKO General Productions has completed 1 1 motion pictures in Spain, Italy, France, England, Mexico, and Hollywood and placed 1 7 more into production. Theatrical distribution of the pictures is expected shortly. In addition, RKO Pictures Company will manage the distribution of features controlled by RKO Radio Pictures. Leder moves up from his position as execu¬ tive vice-president of RKO General Broad¬ casting to assume leadership of the new com¬ pany. In the new organization, RKO General Productions will function as the tv department of RKO Pictures Company and will continue to include production of network pilots, ani¬ mated cartoons, specials, and series. Other projects of RKO Pictures Company include Madison Square Garden-RKO General Sports Presentations RKO General Attractions, and RKO Music. RKO General, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of the General Tire and Rubber Company. RKO and its subsidiaries own and operate radio stations in seven major markets, tv stations in six major markets, 125 motion picture theatres, 32 community antenna systems, RKO Sound Studios, and RKO Phonovision subscription tv experiment in Hartford, Conn. It has controlling interests in other businesses including Frontier Airlines, Inc., Pittsburgh Outdoor Advertising Corpora¬ tion, Universal Marine, Inc., and Fleetwood Corporation. “Tchaikovsky” Due In ’68 NEW YORK— Arrangements are being made for the world-wide release of “Tchai¬ kovsky” early in 1968 as steady progress con¬ tinues on the first Soviet-American motion picture co-production, according to Dimitri Tiomkin, Hollywood composer who is serving as executive producer of the film under the personal supervision of Jack L. Warner, presi¬ dent of Warner Bros. Tiomkin made his progress report on his departure for London en route to Moscow for meetings with Vladimir Surin, general direc¬ tor of Mosfilm Studios, who is in charge of the film’s production within the Soviet Union in collaboration with Tiomkin. Warner Bros, has concluded agreements for the presentation of “Tchaikovsky” in England, Japan, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Argentina. Wash. Tent To Fete Berle WASHINGTON, D. C. — In celebration of the 32nd anniversary of the dedication to the children of Metropolitan Washington, Tent 11, Variety Club of Washington, will hold on Nov. 19 in the Regency Ballroom of the Shoreham Hotel its dinner dance and presentation of the “Personality of the Year” award to Milton Berle. The Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomos F. Little, who recently retired as executive secretary of The National Catholic Office for Motion Pictures, receives a testi¬ monial placque from the motion picture industry of the U.S. at a luncheon in his honor at the Americana Hotel, New York, from Walter Reade, Jr., as screen star Virna Lisi looks on. New 3-D System Developed WINTHROP, MASS. — National Entertain¬ ment Workshop, Inc., recently unveiled a new system of 3D projection in a studio in Winthrop, Mass. The president of the firm is Larry W. Davee, who is also president of the Century Projector Corporation. The new system employs a 70mm film strip upon which are printed two 35mm images. Glasses are worn by the viewers to seperate the two superimposed images. At the screening, the images were projected onto a special theatre screen supplied by Technikote Corpor¬ ation. The initial filming is done by two 35mm cameras, and the images are printed side by side on a 70mm frame, which can contain the usual magnetic or optical sound tracks. The interchangeable lens which splits the image has been supplied by the Kollmorgan Corpor¬ ation. The rear mirror is also split and CimeFocus is used for stabilization. The system does not require the projectionist to make any adjustments. He just threads the film as he would with any 70mm film, and the lens and mirror do the rest. National Entertainment Workshop, Inc., "ms formed primarily to promote the new 3D process, which is protected by patents. Western N.Y. Exhibs Rap Competition From Schools BUFFALO — Sidney J. Cohen, president, Allied Theatres of N.Y. State, Inc., is re¬ ceiving many complaints from exhibitors on the showing of motion picture features (similar to those shown in theatres) in schools, colleges, and other educational in¬ stitutions in the western New York area. Cohen requests any exhibitor having complaints on this situation to get the in¬ formation quickly to the Allied offices. Cohen declares there will be concerted ac¬ tion on the part of his organization to stop this unfair competition. Inflight Expands Contracts With Two Major Airlines NEW YORK— Inflight Motion Pictures, Inc., has agreed to expand its contracts with two major airlines that will increase showings of airborne motion pictures, David Flexer, chairman of the board, announced at the annual meeting of shareholders. He also said that more inflight motion pic¬ tures will be shown in the future because air¬ borne movies mean extra ticket sales for air¬ lines. Flexer announced that Air France has ordered six more aircraft equipped with In¬ flight Motion Pictures, bringing that fleet’s total up to 26, and that United Airlines has also ordered its first seven new “stretched” DC8’s equipped with the Inflight system. He announced introduction of the Ili-Lite 400, a new source of 16 millimeter projection illumination, which generates over 400 per cent more light than ones previously used and permits film showing aboard aircraft without darkening the cabin. In addition, a new lens system will be introduced next year, he indi¬ cated, to improve projection even further. Flexer announced that the airline strike cut back first-quarter earnings. “For the quarter ended Sept. 30, 1966, we had an operating loss of $7,751. However, we had a non-recurring income item which more than offset that, resulting in a net income after taxes of $57,756 or 8.6 cents per share,” Flexer said. “We anticipate a more favorable second quarter,” he said. “As usual, the company is in negotiations that could strengthen future sales and earnings.” Following the airline strike, United Air Lines suspended movie flights but brought them back after only a few weeks “because of passenger demand.” The airline than signed a stronger contract with Inflight than existed before. Flexer concluded, “Your company’s progress has been an encouraging one. Inflight Motion Pictures, Inc., increased from revenues of $398,000 and a net loss of $139,000 in 1962, to sales of more than $8,000,000 and income of $1,076,000 in 1966, only four years later. Where once we w'ere a novelty, the public now considers us a necessity.” Desiderio Boosts “Ulysses” NEW YORK — Ralph T. Desiderio has been appointed special assistant to Walter Reade, Jr., on all matters pertaining to the forthcom¬ ing release of James Joyce’s “Ulysses,” Reade, president of The Walter Reade Organization, announced. Desiderio will be working primarily with Norman Weitman, general sales manager; Arthur Rubine, who is coordinating the pub¬ licity campaign; the foreign sales department; and the production crew still working in Lon¬ don. NCC Promotes Three LOS ANGELES — National General Cor¬ poration’s board of directors promoted three company officers at a meeting held in the com¬ pany’s Carthay Plaza headquarters. Samuel Schulman was named senior vice-president, and Dan A. Polier and William H. Thedford were promoted from assistant vice-presidents to vice-presidents, according to announcement by Eugene V. Klein, National General presi¬ dent. 10 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR November 16, 1966