The Exhibitor (1966)

Corwin Tackles Inluty Problems Blind Bids, Late Reviews Hit In Tex. D-l Speech; NATO Chief Proposes Plan To Counter TV Showings DALLAS — Sherril C. Cowin, president of the National Association of Theatre Owners, recently addressed the annual convention of the Texas Drive-In Theatre Owners Associa¬ tion. In his speech, he took a strong stand on a number of industry problems and suggested various new proposals. He spoke of the current attendance recession at theatres which, of late, has been caused by the offering of free movies (presently six a week) by network television at prime evening time. He outlined measures by which film companies could profit from television show¬ ings while preserving the exhiibtors. These measures, he said, had been explained by him to Jack Valenti, head of the M.P.A., who has been asked to discuss them with the major film companies. They include the holding of fea¬ ture films for three years before releasing them to television; the withholding of the names of specific films to be released to television so that theatre-goers won't be discouraged from paying admission prices by the prospect of seeing the same film on television later; and the requir¬ ing that television networks run one-minute spots advertising first-run films as part of the contract to televise a particular film. Corwin has suggested these measures in previous talks. He pointed out in his current address that the success of a film on television is closely tied in with its initial success at the boxoffice. If tele¬ vision’s film-showing practices hurt the theatre exhibitor, they will inevitably hurt the net¬ work. He believes the feature films made espe¬ cially for first-run television release to be of only minor importance because they com¬ mand neither the money nor the rating of the films that have been a success in the nation’s theatres. Corwin praised the success of the new trend in road shows. He made specific mention of monetary success of “The Sound of Music” and “Dr. Zhivago,” and encouraged theatremen, if their community is large enough to support and justify such a showing, to climb on the band wagon. He then spoke of the cur¬ rent campaigns against Daylight Saving Time, mentioning some failures and prospects for success in various states. Another topic upon which he dwelt was the growing unification of theatre owners’ organi¬ zations and their influence in matters which concern theatremen. He then expressed hope that the upcoming National Movie Month will be a success and pointed out the necessity of concentrated promotional effort by theatremen at large to make it so. Mention was then made of a proposed subsidy plan similar to England’s Eady Plan. Nat Feldman, chairman of the NATO Product Subsidy Committee, was said to be preparing a report on the feasability of implementing such a subsidy plan. Problems created by 16 millimeter competi¬ tion, especially in campus towns, were said to be under consideration by the Non-Theatrical Competition Committee, headed by Fred Danz of Seattle, and Corwin advised theatremen who faced such problems to keep Danz in¬ formed of them. “Blind booking is as great an evil as blind ACE Films Holders Vote To Dissolve Film NEW YORK— Stockholders of ACE Films recently voted in favor of a proposal to dissolve that company. The measure was proposed by the firm’s board of directors and agreed upon by the stockholders at a special meeting at the company’s head¬ quarters here. The vote was 148,000 shares in favor, 26,000 against, and 29,000 not voting. By March 1, the stockholders will get back 30 percent of their investment, with the balance to follow if and when assets are turned into cash. ACE Films was organized in 1962 for the purpose of providing financial assistance to proposed films so that additional product could be turned out. The dissolution of the company was said to be called for due to its inactivity and its failure to progress to¬ ward its proposed goals. ACE Films origin¬ ally intended to sell stock on the open market, but this project never got under¬ way due to the lack of adequate financing. bidding,” said Corwin, as he spoke on the plight which makes theatre trade publications unable to review films long enough before¬ hand to enable exhibitors to properly evaluate them before the final booking. Fie recom¬ mended that special screenings be arranged for trade press critics, who should be given the right to publish reviews immediately. He said that the reduction in advertising space pur¬ chased by film distributors in the trade maga¬ zines, combined with this inability to properly report on films, could mar the services of the publications upon which theatremen so strongly depend. Corwin recommended that NATO’s “Show¬ man of the World” award, last awarded to the late Walt Disney, be retired in place of an an¬ nual “Walt Disney Award,” to be presented to the individual in distribution, exhibition, or production who has made the greatest contri¬ bution to the integrity, excellence, and imagery of the industry. The value that the Disney organization gave to the Showman’s Award, indicated on the initial page of that organiza¬ tion’s recent fiscal report, caused Coiwin to speculate that the award may be someday equivalent to the Irving Thalberg Award, which is sparingly given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to producers for unusual achievement. Concerning small theatres, he r ported that he received every courtesy in his meetings with distributors in regard to theatres grossing less than $1,000 a week. Fie assured his audience that distributors do not want to lose these runs and are not disinterested in them. He then gave warning of the danger that a potential tax holds upon admissions. He called the possibility of such a tax a “potential menace,” which he said ‘“is most likely to appear in the guise of a sales tax, which would include a tax on your admissions or a tax on your film rentals.” He cautioned the assembly to be on the alert for any such bill introduced in state legislatures, and urged them to make themselves heard by their legislative representatives. He said that although theatremen are often in competition, they should unite on matters such as these and Busy Sherrill Corwin Hosts New Theatre Bow LOS ANGELES — Sherrill C. Corwin’s new Camelot Theatre in Palm Springs bowed with triple-header opening ceremonies. The Metro¬ politan Theatres Corp. president hosted dis¬ tribution and production executives at dinner preceding a presentation of the luxurious show¬ case. They were shown a special 45-minute featurette demonstrating Dimensions 150 with which the theatre is equipped. This included scenes shown first in normal wide screen ratio and then in D-150 of excerpts from “Sound of Music,” “Agony and The Ecstasy,” and “My Fair Lady.” A reel of “Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines” was also shown in D-150. The following day (Feb. 3), there was a cocktail party for Palm Springs civic officials, the press and tv and radio representatives, followed by a screening of the special D-150 presentation. The premiere of the Camelot’s first attrac¬ tion took place Feb. 4 with a $100 per couple benefit for the United Fund honoring Fred¬ erick Loewe and Louise Nicoletti, the Palm Springs Fund’s “Woman of the Year.” There was a Mayor’s cocktail party before the pre¬ miere for the scores of stars and celebrities and later an after-theatre champagne supper at the new Panorama Room of Palm Springs Airport. The opening attraction was the first showing in D-150 of “Dr. Zhivago.” The Camelot is the first new hard-top built in Palm Springs in over a quarter of a century and embodies the very newest in technological developments and design. The screen surface measures 68 ft. by 32 ft. in the fully draped auditorium with 630 seats. The theatre has an upper level housing luxurious lounges and an art gallery. It was designed by Mayer and Kanner Architects, A.I.A. and the interior decor was created by Ben Mayer and Asso¬ ciates. The premiere was covered by tv newsreels and radio, be heard with a common voice, so that threats to the industry as a whole can be countered. Although this may be the first billion dollar year in the industry since 1957, he said, there is a deep cause for concern because, although Americans are spending more for recreation, exhibitors are taking a smaller percentage of the amusement dollar. He therefore recom¬ mended that exhibitors “take a position of strength in correcting some of the inequities that continue to exist.” He referred to the blind bidding practice that has become more widespread in recent years, and advised that the Department of Justice has given the goahead for distribution to confer on this matter. Fie continued, “I can assure you, you will be kept informed of the results of these historic sessions.” He concluded his address with a note of satisfaction on the growing unification of re¬ gional theatre organizations, several of which have changed their names to include the words “National Association of Theatre Owners.” lie said that he will continue to meet with exhibitors eveiywhere to espouse the idea of one unified national organization to meet each crisis as it arises. February 8, 1967 MOTK N PICTl RE EXHIBITOR 7