Motion Picture Herald (Oct-Dec 1956)

Optimism Marked Canadian Parleys . . . Four days of meetings held in Toronto by industry groups; name coordinator for Oscar contest, separate from U.S. plan by HARRY ALLEN, Jr. TORONTO: Optimism pervaded four days of industry meeting here. So strong was the optimism that one independent, Owen Bird of British Columbia, took exception to statements by important industry figures predicting a radical reduction in the number of theatres. Mr. Bird, speaking at the National Committee of Motion Picture Exhibitors Associations of Canada, said these gentlemen could speak for their own companies, but should not make blanket predictions that included the enterprises of others. Oscar Contest Set He admitted, “We’ve pretty well hit the bottom of business, and there is no direction for us to go now — but up.” Indicative, however, of how the industry was continuing to work together was the decision during meetings of the Motion Picture Industry Council of Canada to appoint H. C. D. Dick Main, Sutton West, Ont., exhibitor, coordinator of the coming year’s Oscar contest in Canada. This contest will be conducted independently of that in the U.S. Last year, sparked by Charles Chaplin, United Artists general manager in Canada, the contest included some 400 exhibitors. This year 1,000 exhibitors are expected to pay one cent a seat toward participation in the contest. Mr. Main begins his work December 1. He will be paid and will open an office with paid assistants. The week of meetings began with the annual meeting of the Motion Picture Theatres Association of Ontario, at which the whole incumbent board of directors was returned, with Lionel Lester continuing as president. Others are: Russell Simpson, vice-president; Angus Jewell, secretary; and Jack Clark, treasurer. Arch H. Jolley remained as executive secretary. Plan Membership Drive Russell Simpson, head of the membership committee, reported there were 349 member theatres compared with 346 last year, although 31 had joined. The number lost through closings was 24 and this year there was 108 independents compared with 117 last year. He said there would be a membership drive. The luncheon speaker of the MPTOA, was Martin Quigley, Jr., editorial director of the Quigley Publications. Mr. Quigley said there was no doubt that motion picture theatres were here to stay. He compared TV with other appliances in the house. He spoke of the five great films that were currently on view that would gross more than any five pictures in the industry’s history. Asks More Production The meeting of the National Committee of Canadian Exhibitors heard a complaint by Douglas Miller of Alberta of the complete absence of selling and exploitation ideas of the sort that used to accompany each picture from its distributor. Morris Stein, chairman, who was reelected to his post, agreed. “We’ve got a lot of big advertising minds in our business but they can’t seem to get out of the old habits.” The motion was taken to the floor of the Motion Picture Industry Council of Canada, the next day. It was unanimously agreed at the meeting each exhibitor association across the country would approach its provincial government on the question of the amusement tax. Toll TV was decided as no threat to the industry, so long as each exhibitor association did something now. The good feeling between distributors and exhibitors was commented upon at both the meetings of the exhibitors’ association and at the Motion Picture Industry Council of Canada. Harmony Is Cited J. Duane McKenzie, president of the Saskatchewan association, said that distributor-exhibitor relations had improved greatly in his province and adjustments had been made in many cases. Morris Stein, eastern general manager of Famous Players Canadian, spoke also of the obvious good feeling now predominant in the industry. His statement harkened back to last year’s meeting when exhibitors complained at the treatment received from distributors. Today the distributor is attempting to help the exhibitor, Mr. Stein said. The issue of drive-ins operating without charging admission was brought up during the meeting of the MPIC. Distributors were asked to stop supplying film to the Circus drive-in, Winnipeg, operated by Max Schnier. The distributors said there was nothing they could do about refusing to supply film to Mr. Shnier. It was revealed that other drive-ins followed the Shnier lead, then none made any money. Mr. Shnier had made money on the operation of his snack bar. Exhibitors also asked distributors to have all film placed on nitrate, rather than acetate. Clare Appel, executive secretary of the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Canada, explained this was impossible as there were still some distributors who had an investment in acetate film. Most of the majors had eliminated their stock of acetate, he said. On the social side, there were the Variety Club elections of Tent No. 28, and the Pioneer of the Year Awards. Two new canvasmen were elected. They were Chet Friedman and Ralph Dale. Reelected were Herb Allen, George Altman, Clare Appel, Joe Bermack, Jack Fitzgibbons Jr., A1 Troyer, N. A. Taylor, Dan Krendel and Ernest Rawley. Five persons were also inducted into the club during the meetings. They were J. Duane McKenzie, Harry Hurwitz, Andy Rouse, Bob Stern and F. Gordon Spencer. Honor Oscar Hanson Oscar Hanson was presented at a banquet with the Pioneer of the Year Award, top honor of the Canadian Picture Pioneers. He was honored for his work with the Pioneers’ Benevolent Fund. Mr. Hanson is the only living founder of the Canadian Picture Pioneers. His award was presented by Premier Leslie Frost of Ontario. First member of a craft in the industry to be honored was James A. Whitebone, a projectionist of Saint John, who received an ancillary award. His award, presented by John J. Fitzgibbons, was accepted by Gordon Spencer. The Winnipeg branch was given a special award for its contribution to the work of the Pioneers. Hye Swartz, president of the Winnipeg Branch received the award on behalf of the branch before the 400 persons of the industry who attended the dinner. Ritchey Plans Product Discussions in Europe Discussions on new Allied Artists product with distribution outlets in England and on the Continent, and a review of expanded European operations instituted early this year, will comprise the agenda of Norton V. Ritchey, president of Allied Artists International Corp., who left New York this week by air for London. In the British capital, Mr. Ritchey will confer with Macgregor Scott, general sales manager of Associated British Pathe, Allied Artists International distributor in Great Britain. He also will meet with Edwin J. Smith, International vice-president in charge of European operations, and C. George Dickinson, the company’s representative in Great Britain. Mr. Ritchey’s European itinerary includes stops in Paris; Frankfurt, Germany; Rome, Zurich, The Hague and Brussels. 24 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, DECEMBER I. 1956