Motion Picture Herald (1953)

Exhibitor in Eiffht Over *Pan ’ Sente CINCINNATI: Exhibitor resistance to the demand for advanced admission prices on 'top pictures has flared into the open , here with.dhe showing of ..Wait Disney’s ’ “Peter Pan’’ at the Twin Drive-in and ■ 'Westwood theatres at regular adijiission prices, playing day-and-date v/ith RKO^fearcuit houses which are' charging increased prices. Rube Shor, who operates the Twin and Westwood, announced his plan to charge regular admissions in newspaper advertisements, which appeared on the same page with the RKO subsequent run ads. At the Twin, children under 12 are admitted free. Adult admissions are 50 cents at the Westwood. The RKO theatres are charging $1 top. Despite warnings by Walt Disney Productions against the showing of the picture at the regular prices and free admissions to children, Mr. Shor has challenged the Disney organization to force him to increase his prices. Mr. Shor, in a telegram to Disney, insisted on the performance of his contract “as written.’’ In answer to a telegram from Disney, in which the latter warned of copyright infringement if the picture is played without conforming to the contract provisions, Mr. Shor telegraphed the following to the Disney office in New York; “I am advised by counsel that RKO has been enjoined in Federal court from agreeing with exhibitors on admission prices and that RKO cannot escape therefrom by entering into contractual regulations with you. The contract I made with RKO and which was approved by you w'as valid and binding and I insist on its performance as written, and your rights to wadte into it unlawful terms and conditions implicating me in an unlawful understanding are denied.” Whatever action that may result from the exhibition of “Pan” at two theatres ' at regular admission prices probably will not come to a head until after the completion of the run, it was indicated by Leo Samuels, sales manager for the Disney company with headquarters in New York. Heads Edmonton Group TORONTO : A. E. Staniland has been elected president from among the 20 Edmonton theatre managers attending the Edmonton Theatre Managers’ Association. Vice-president is Walter Wilson, manager of the Capitol, w'hile secretary-treasurer is Fred Varlow of the Garneau. To Construct Drive-In Ken Phillips and Peter Karonis, owners of the Phil-Kron Drive-In theatre, Bloomington, Ilk, will start construction on a 500car drive-in just north of Bloomington as soon as the weather permits. High Rentals Assailed By Florida Showmen What were termed the “high costs of present day film rentals” occupied discussions recently of the Motion Picture Exhibitors of Florida board of directors, meeting in Jacksonville. They were reported to have planned proposals for action to be presented to the general membership meeting April 27 in the same city. Also discussed were ways of protecting the industry during the 1953 legislative sessions,* which began April 6. Director of discussions waS^William P. Gumbaa, of Leesburg, unit pfeident. Arvin Rothschild, National Thea’tre Enterprises, waT^ acting secretary. Among, those present were Guy A. Kenimer, B. B. Garner, H. T. Spears, Carl Floyd, Hugh G. Martin, E. D. Martin, Maurice Hensler, Phil Sullivan, Bob Anderson and Horace Denning. Uphold Bordonaro Anti-Trust Verdict A $7,500 verdict in favor of Bordonaro Bros. Theatre, Inc. of Olean, N. Y. against three motion picture companies, has been affirmed by the New York Circuit Court of Appeals. Sidney B. Pfeifer, Buffalo attorney, said the verdict, reached in a Buffalo jury trial last May before Federal Judge John Knight, was appealed by Bordonaro Bros, on the grounds it was “inadequate.” Mr. Pfeifer represented RKO-Radio, one of the defendants, during the two-week trial of the case. The Bordonaro Bros, complained that the defendants — Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros. Circuit Management and RKO Radio — had conspired to keep motion picture product from the Palace theatre in Olean, which the plaintiffs operate and instead, favored the Haven theatre which Warner Bros, operate in the same city. The $7,500 verdict is to be trebled, thus bringing total damages to $22,500. This was the second such case brought by Bordonaro Bros. Four years ago they recovered $82,500 against the same three defendants for the period up to September, 1946. The latest action covers the period from Sept., 1946 to March, 1948. Allied Artist Schedules Board Meeting May 20 A meeting of the board of directors of Allied Artists will be held May 20’ at the Roney Plaza Hotel, Miami Beach, Fla., it was announced by Steve Broidy, president of the company. This meeting will fall on the last day of the company’s three-day international sales convention to be held there. Those scheduled to attend the directors’ meeting are W. Ray Johnston, G. Ralph Branton, George D. Burrows, Edward Morey, Harold J. Mirisch, Norton V. Ritchey and Arthur C. Bromberg, Herman Rifkin and Howard Stubbins, franchise owners. Franchise owners who will attend the convention are Harry Berkson, Mel Hulling, Nate Schultz, Ray and Oliver Trampe and Ben Williams. Enrnmount Retenses Set Ear Summer Pledging a continuous flow of “big” pictures through the summer months, A. W. Schwalberg, president of Paramount Film Distributing Corporation, announced the revised schedule of releases for April, May, June and July. “For some years,” Mr. Schwalberg said, “exhibitors have maintained their need for big pictures during these vital months.” The Paramount executive also revealed the temporary postponement of release of two previously announced films, “Shane” and “War of the Worlds,” because of “gigantic strides which have been made in the development of Paravision, which offers vastly improved viewing and projection technique.” Set for April release are “Off Limits,” starring Bob Hope, Mickey Rooney and Marilyn Maxwell, and “The Girls of Pleasure Island,” in color by Technicolor, starring Don Taylor, Leo Genn and Elsa Lanchester. The general release of “The Greatest Show on Earth,” Technicolor, heads the list of May releases. Others set for the month are “Pony Express,” also in Technicolor, starring Charlton Heston, Rhonda Fleming, Jan Sterling and Forrest Tucker, and special pre-release engagements of “Sangaree,” 3-D Technicolor production, starring Fernando Lamas and Arlene Dahl. June pictures will be the color by Technicolor production of “Jamaica Run,” starring Ray Milland, Arlene Dahl and Wendell Corey; “The Vanquished,” in color by Technicolor, starring John Payne, Coleen Gray and Jan Sterling, and “Scared Stiff,” starring Martin and Lewis, Lizabeth Scott and Carmen Miranda. The July releases are “Houdini,” starring Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, and “Stalag 17,” starring William Holden and Don Taylor. Scheduled for release after July are “Forever Female,” “Arrowhead,” “Roman Hol-.^ iday,” “Little Boy Lost,” “Here Come the Girls,” “Botany Bay,” “The Caddy,” “Three Sisters from Seattle,” “Red Garters” and “Elephant Walk.” Tennessee Legislature Eliminates Film Tax NASHVILLE: The governor has signed a bill passed by the Tennessee legislature removing the two per cent sales tax on film rentals. A measure requiring drive-in theatres to take down any vision-obstruction barriers between automobiles has passed on second reading. Another measure just introduced would require that “theatres, motion picture and other shows subject to state’s gross receipts tax, file report and pay tax by the 20th of the month on which the tax is payable.” MOTION PICTURE HERALD, APRIL II, 1953 27