The Exhibitor (1966)

Canadian Film, Concession Forces Attend First Combined Convention 1 ORONTO — A sell-out crowd of more than (500 delegates and guests, which converged on Toronto’s Inn On The Park, made the first combined convention and trade show ever conducted jointly by the motion picture and concession industries in Canada a big success. The four day program provided a busy sched¬ ule of morning sessions devoted to business meetings, merchandising forums, and discus¬ sion panels, with afternoons given over to the trade show. The annual meeting of the Motion Picture 1 heatres Association of Ontario was held with J. J. Fitzgibbons Jr., “Showa-Rama” co-chair¬ man, welcoming delegates on behalf of fellow co-chairman H. C. Dick Main, who was absent due to illness. The National Association of Concessionaires kicked off their meetings with a welcoming address by Fitzgibbons and J. J. O'Brien, Boston, president of N.A.C. The panel of concession speakers included John T. Sweeney, executive secretary, Canadian Sugar Institute; L. L. Sheppard, president, S & S Vending, Toronto; and George K. Brown, vicepresident, Wyandot Popcorn, Marion, Ohio. Opening luncheon chairman S. R. McManus, MPTAO president, introduced head table guests who included representatives of each of the motion picture exhibitor and distributor associations in Canada, circuit heads, NAC representatives, municipal and Provincial digni¬ taries, and special guest speaker Marshall H. Fine, 1966 president of N. A. T. O., Inc., Fine spoke of the importance of a united industry voice in combatting some of the problems be¬ setting theatre operators today. While these problems vary on a regional basis, Fine stated that a national body enables the industry to compare their local problems and work them out collectively and much more effectively. In expressing good wishes and words of encouragement to the newly formed Motion Picture Theatre Associations of Canada, Fine felt that the first year of N.A.T.O., Inc., had been one of achievement and that the U. S. national body formed in Canada would prove to be most effective in dealing with political matters pertaining to the industry. At the afternoon sessions, guest speaker Paul N. Lazarus, executive vice-president of Na¬ tional Screen Service Corp., New York, posed the question: “Theatre Advertising — Science, Art or Waste of Time?” and dealt with the many new ideas and trends in theatre advertis¬ ing. Following the busy opening day, all attended the Canadian Picture Pioneers’ aw'ard dinner and industry ball. The gala black tie affair honored Dan Krendel, Famous Players district manager, as “Pioneer of the Year.” Ancillary awards were presented to A. L. (Pat) Travers of Toronto, Maynard S. Joiner of Vancouver, Arthur P. Bahen of Montreal, and David Rothstein of Winnipeg. The morning sessions of the second day of the Showa-rama program shifted to the near¬ by Odeon, Don Mills Theatre for a trade show screening of distributor product reels. Frank H. Fisher, vice-president and general manager, Odeon Theatres (Canada) Limited, hosted the screening sessions. Guest speaker at the following luncheon was William H. Gove, sales consultant from Maine and Florida. Tw'O seperate merchandising forums followed the luncheon — one on drivein theatres and restaurants conducted by Shopping Center Twins For Heilman Near Albany ALBANY — Another evidence of sus¬ tained Albany exchange district confidence in the future of exhibition, especially at or near shopping centers, was dramatically demonstrated when Neil Heilman, presi¬ dent of Heilman Theatres and Enterprises, joined Homart Development Corp., Inc., in announcing that twin cinemas of 700 and 1,200 seat capacity, respectively, are to be erected in the new Macy’s-Sears Colonie Shopping Center. The Center, half of which was opened last May and the other half in the fall, is a short distance off the Albany-Schenectady Road, three miles west of this city. The plot earmarked for Cinema 1 and Cinema 2 is located north of Macy’s giant store. Cinema 1 will be a 700 seat de luxe intimate showcase. Cinema 2 is to be a 1200 seat memorial to Mrs. Nettie Hellman, mother of Neil, and with her late husband, Harry, operator of Albany film houses from the nickelodeon days through the 1940’s. Gerald Dillon, eastern division manager and branch manager of parks, arenas and drive-ins, Theatre Confections Limited, and the other on indoor theatre concession sales with Martin Simpson, supervisor of theatre operations, Tvinex Theatres Corporation, Ltd., acting as moderator. Guests and delegates of the Motion Picture Theatre Associations of Canada took over the final day of the convention for election of officers and luncheon hosted by Lloyd C. Pear¬ son, General Sound and Theatre Equipment, Limited. Gaston H. Thoroux, Montreal, presi¬ dent, Quebec Theatres Association, w'as elected president of the newly formed M.P.T.A.C. Thoroux will also serve as a director represent¬ ing Quebec. Dave Rothstein, Winnipeg, representing the Manitoba and Saskatchewan exhibitor asso¬ ciations, was elected vice-president of the national association. Curley Posen, Toronto, a vice-president and treasurer of the Ontario association was named secretary-treasurer of Discussion Series Opens With "Pessimistic" Lumet NEW YORK — At the opening of Filmstage’s “Future of American Film discussion series, Sidney Lumet told an overflow' audi¬ ence that, “Although I enjoy my wmrk and my life immensely, my feelings about the film in¬ dustry and the future of American film are extremely pessimistic.” Addressing an intensely enthusiastic group, Lumet lashed out in particular against the rigidity of film economics. He stated that ever higher production costs, combined with busi¬ nessmen’s control of most major film com¬ panies, made it virtually impossible for small films of quality to be made in America today. In addition, Lumet stated that the situation in Europe is fast becoming the same. In reaction to this, Lumet w'as queried by the audience, composed mainly of young film makers, cinema trade people, and students, who wanted to know how the climate for job opportunities in the film industry could be improved. Lumet repeatedly voiced a distinctly nega¬ tive point of view. In answers that were mainly personal, he explained that his entire career is pointed towards the making of six particular films of his owm — six films w'hich wmuld con¬ stitute his life’s work. Expressing satisfaction at only one film, “A Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” which he believes to be his best w'ork to date, Lumet feels, regretfully, that the films he still wishes to make are beyond his power to complete at this time in America due to the economic situation of the film industry today. Lumet’s future plans include a feature film to be made in England in 1967-68. M.P.T.A.C. and will represent Ontario interests in the national body. H. C. D. Main was appointed executive secretary for 1967. 1". Gordon Spencer, former president of the national committee of Motion Picture Exhibi¬ tors Association of Canada, will represent the Maritime provinces as past-president of the newly formed M.P.T.A.C. The director repre¬ senting B. C. and Alberta exhibitors associa¬ tions is Ow'en Bird of Vancouver, B. C. In addition, three special directors repre¬ senting major theatre circuits of Canada were appointed by the new officers. These are R. W. Bolstad, president, Famous Players (Canadian) Corporation; C. R. B. Salmon, president, Odeon Theatres (Canada) Limited; and N. A. Taylor, president, Twinex Century Theatres j Corp., Ltd. Dan Krendel, center, Canadian 1966 Pioneer of the Year, meets with past recipients of the award fol¬ lowing the Canadian Picture Pioneers annual dinner in Toronto. Left to right are Herbert Allen, R. D. Hurwitz, Morris Stein, Frank H. Fisher, Krendel, N. A. Taylor, Haskell M. Masters, and R. W. Bolstad. 10 MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR November 23, 1966