The Exhibitor (1966)

Corwin Asks TEDA / TESMA For New Technical Advances And Automation FT. LAUDERDALE, FLA.— Declaring that the prosperity of the theatre equipment iand supply industry is meshed with the well-being of exhibition, Sherrill C. Corwin, president of the National Association of Theatre Owners, asked the sixth annual conference of the The¬ atre Equipment Dealers Association and the Theatre Equipment and Supply Manufacturers Association (TEDA/TESMA) to accelerate the development of technological advances in the theatre equipment field. Fie said, “It is strange that there has been no spectacular advance since the advent of Cine¬ rama and Cinemascope that would encourage or even demand that we exhibitors rebuild or re-equip a theatre simply for technological rea¬ sons. For two generations of entertainment¬ seeking patrons who have seen a crystal set grow to a communications satellite placed in space, there have been no truly earth-shaking changes in our industry to keep pace with the world around us.” Asking the dealers and manufacturers to pardon him for being critical, the NATO leader pointed out that “except for a bigger picture, better lighting and a more comfort¬ able theatre, the equipment and supply indus¬ try has not made a tremendous contribution to create the theatre of the 21st Century.” Calling for the development of .an auto¬ mated theatre, Corwin said, “Find, if you will, some new advance in the film industry of such magnitude as the video tape recorder which revolutionized television. The automation which has so changed broadcasting is an area where our creators have sadly lagged. How much ingenuity and effort would it require in this computerized ‘space age’ to bring into being and to perfect an automated theatre? “Certainly this is within the realm of dis¬ tinct possibility and it would be a great step forward for exhibition. We no longer build three, four and five thousand seat palaces. Our new theatres, ranging from 500 to 1200 seats and geared for today’s moviegoing habits and tastes, would seem to lend themselves admir¬ ably to automation. Theatre operation would then be simplified and improved at lower costs and greater efficiency. It would not mean the elimination of a projectionist. Instead, perhaps there would be a ‘control chief’ located at a console or similar equipment in the audi¬ torium.” Corwin also deplored the absence of a set of technical standards “that we can accept as gospel and work accordingly.” He said, “There was a time when the Motion Picture Council in Hollywood provided such a service. With its demise, it seems to me that the only place we can now go is the Society of Motion Picture Engineers. That group has rendered a great service to the industry and we should ask them to set down a set of standards from which we can achieve industry-wide perfection.” Along the same lines, he suggested the crea¬ tion and circulation of a manual for exhibitors and projectionists, similar to that created and distributed in the United Kingdom. This would be prepared for all theatres with gen¬ eral information on all aspects of theatre operation. Continuing his suggestions to TEDA/ TESMA, Corwin submitted, “There is room for improvement and innovation in the matter of service to your best customer, the exhibitor. It would be of tremendous value to theatre owners if equipment and supply manufacturers Tex. Solons Respond To Anti-DST Effort AUSTIN, TEX. — A spokesman for Texas theatre owners, chief opponents of daylight savings time, said that he had found no opposition to legislation which would keep the state from turning the clock. John D. Reed, attorney representing Texas theatres, said 50 per cent of the legislature was definitely opposed to day¬ light savings time and the other half had not committed themselves. State Rep. Will Smith of Beaumont was expected to introduce legislation that would exempt Texas from the new federal daylight saving time law. and dealers provided the type of servicing such as theatres currently receive from RCA in the sound field.” Fie termed this “preventive maintenance” a much needed and logical function. “It could be provided,” he said, “through some type of periodic visits from trained trouble shooters who are experts in their particular fields. Equipment deteriorates at an accelerating rate and ‘preventive maintenance’ plus regular in¬ spection would spot trouble before it becomes serious and extremely costly. It would be akin to the 5000-mile check on your car. Another advantage would be the opportunity for skilled personnel to educate exhibitors and projec¬ tionists in the operation of equipment and the latest methods of care and servicing.” Corwin called for closer rapport between exhibition and manufacturers and supply deal¬ ers. He suggested that dealers and manufac¬ turers “mingle more freely in exhibitor circles, so that they would become truly familiar with theatre owners’ problems.” He quipped, “As it is now, we showmen seldom see you except at Variety Clubs, trade shows or when we’re building or re-equipping. Let me assure you, we find your company pleasant and interest¬ ing, so come see us more often.” The NATO president touched on a matter which he said was of great concern to exhibi¬ tion — the high interest rates on loans for equip¬ ment and refurbishing. He suggested, “You should devise a method, when the tight money market gets considerably easier, whereby the exhibitor will not have to pay usurious rates in order to purchase new' equipment for his exist¬ ing theatre or a new' theatre he may plan to' build. An easing of interest rates consistent with good business practice could well see an avalanche of new customers who w'ant desper¬ ately to improve their theatres, but cannot stand the unconscionable extra costs to which they must submit in order to complete the work that must be done.” Corwin closed with an enthusiastic look at the future, saying, “We are in a great business together and there is no limit to theatre grosses that lie ahead. One ‘Sound of Music’ has shown us the massive untapped audiences that are waiting to be invited to our new and newly equipped theatres which we will plan together. NATO, as one unified exhibitor organization, can work with you in providing for our patrons of tomorrow' an atmosphere in our theatres that will compete vigorously for their leisure time which we seek so devotedly.” 14 N.C. Theatres Continue Fight On Daylight Time RALEIGH, N.C.—' The North Carolina As¬ sociation of Theatre Owners, Inc., has voted to make a “determined effort” to keep North Carolina on standard time and will wage a concerted fight during the coming session of the State Legislature to keep Daylight Savings Time out of the state. This was revealed by W. G. Enloe of Ra¬ leigh, district manager of North Carolina The¬ atres and a director of the state organization. A new federal law designed to make Day¬ light Savings Time uniform through the nation will go into effect in April unless the State Legislature, which convenes in February, adopts legislation exempting North Carolina from the federal law. Enloe said a number of other states, includ¬ ing South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee, will stay on standard time, and “North Carolina will by no means be an island w'hen the Legislature exempts it from the fed¬ eral law.” Many North Carolina legislators this time appear ready for the state to go on Daylight Time and have shown little enthusiasm for legislation exempting the state from the fed¬ eral law. In past years, the Legislature has gone along wfith theatre interests and farmers in killing proposed legislation which would have put the state on Daylight Time. This time, however, the State Farm Bureau has announced that it will take no stand on the issue, and many feel that wfithout the support of the farmers the theatres may be fighting a losing cause. Enloe said major support for legislation exempting the state from Daylight Time will come from parents, especially mothers of school children who will have to get their chil¬ dren ready to leave for school in the dark to reach their classes by the opening bell. “Geographic facts evidently meant little to Congress, which seemed bent on calling the time for lockstep conformity by the southern states,” he said. “Once people of North Caro¬ lina learn that Daylight Time is not a panacea and fails to live up to advance notices, they will refuse to go along wfith this colossal nui¬ sance.” Ohio Seems Destined For Daylight Time In ’67 COLUMBUS, O. — Daylight Saving Time seems assured for Ohio, beginning April 30, following a 5-3 vote in the Ohio Senate Agri¬ culture-State Agencies committee which killed a bill to exempt the state from Daylight Saving Time. Action of the Senate committee means it would be useless for the House committee to act. Even if the House approved EST, the measure would die in the Senate. The com¬ mittee decision came after two nights of hear¬ ings. Establishment of EST can mean a loss of $2,800,000 in the $20 million annual payroll of theatres in Ohio, said Ken Prickett, execu¬ tive secretary of the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio, in testimony before the com¬ mittee. He cited votes in past years against DST in Cincinnati, Toledo, and Columbus. Committee action does not mean that Ohio will remain on DS1 forever, according to information given the lawmakers by James Hanson of the Ohio Legislative Service Com¬ mission. Hanson said a bill to exempt the state from DST had to be effective by April 30 but that this does not preclude voting an exemp¬ tion for 1968 or by any legislature in years following. MOTION PICTURE EXHIBITOR February 8, 1967