Motion Picture Herald (Jul-Sep 1953)

VIEWS OPPOSED ON 3-D PLAN AT THE CONVENTION. Mississippi Theatre Owners met June 28-30 at the Edgewater Gulf Hotel, Edgewater Park. Above, Teddy Sofomon, secretary treasurer; Don "Red" Barry, star; Lloyd Royal, reelected president; and Alfred Starr, president. Theatre Owners of America. ALSO ON THE DAIS, at the convention banquet were, above, Colonel H. A. Cole; W. A. Prewitt, Leon Roundtree, T. E. Williams, B. C. Cox, and B. V. Sheffield. EDGEWATER PARK , MISS. : Opposing views on the advisability of immediate installation of three-dimensional equipment highlighted last week’s convention of the Mississippi Theatre Owners held here at the Edgewater Gulf Hotel. Alfred Starr, president of the Theatre Owners of America, urged the “greatest caution,” while Robert Hoff, of the Ballantine Company, assured exhibitors they “could not lose” by installing immediately. Complain About Losses Lloyd Royal, who was reelected as president of the organization, announced that the diametrically opposed opinions on 3-D were presented to afford the exhibitor an opportunity to gain perspective in the matter. Mr. Royal said that the members should “seek an in-between course that would be sensible.” In the discussions of the new techniques, exhibitors complained about the losses that they meet by playing three-dimensional films. Pointing to the added expense of two operators, double carbon and transportation expense and a loss of volume because glasses forced an increase in admission prices, they said they usually wind up with “nothing” for themselves after paying 50 per cent for the film. Protest Forced Short A complaint was also made by some of the members that distributors were endeavoring to force a 3-D short on exhibitors as a companion to the 3-D features. According to the members, “an unheard of flat rental or five per cent extra” was being asked for the short. Col. H. A. Cole, co-chairman of the tax committee of COMPO, told the members that the fight to eliminate the Federal tax on admission was progressing encouragingly. The group expressed a desire to join in conducting collections among theatre audiences for the benefit of the civilian population of Korea. Col. Cole had asked for cooperation by the members to back this plan proposed at the last meeting of the Council of Motion Picture Organizations and sponsored by Dr. Milton Eisenhower, president of the American Korean Foundation, and brother of the President. Two other major exhibitor complaints lodged at the convention concerned prerelease roadshow policies and the lack of a reduction in insurance rates. Pre-release contracts were attacked as box office failures because of advanced prices. The Mississippi State Rating Bureau was asked to explain why there had been no reduction in insurance rates since the adoption of safety film by all companies. Chicago Censor Board Rejects Two Pictures CHICAGO : During the past month, the Chicago Police Censor Board rejected two pictures, cut four and placed eight in the “adults only” category out of 132 films submitted by distributors for licenses to exhibit in Chicago. “Black Butterfly,” a Mexican feature, and “Horror Maniacs,” an American film handled by Albert Dezel, were the rejected pictures. See Film Container Of Glass, Liqht Weight A new type of film can may be ready by the year’s end. It may be made of glass fiber. Tests are being made of fiber glass plus fabric reinforcement. Although most film shipments to theatres are on a service fee, nevertheless enough remain on a weight basis to make adoption of lighter containers mean substantial saving. The International Drive-In Theatre Owners Association, Dallas, has estimated savings would be $10,000,000 yearly. Columbus and Cincinnati Show 1952 Tax Gains COLUMBUS : According to results of a statewide survey released by Robert Wile, secretary of the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio, Columbus and Cincinnati theatres showed slight gains in municipal admission tax collections during 1952 as compared with 1951. Most smaller towns and all other major cities showed declines in the 1952 report. Cincinnati theatres gained 1.6 per cent while Columbus theatres gained .4 per cent. Warner Votes Dividend The board of directors of Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc., has declared a dividend of 30 cents per share of common stock, payable August 5 to holders of record July 15, 1953. Buys Reissue Package Loew’s, Inc., has purchased the reissue package, “The Stranger” and “Woman in the Window” for its Metropolitan Circuit, it has been announced by Nathan Saland, president of Independent Releasing Corp. 22 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JULY II, 195?