Variety (April 1964)

28 ° SE BBE ea tee By HAROLD ) MYERS London, ‘March 31. Independent action by exhibitors if _and the unions is threatening the| Taunching of Britain’ 5 pay television service, due to start this autumn ° in| several test areas in London. and { ‘the provinces,. for a: three” years’ | trial run, The five companies | who. have “een awarded franchises, but which. have not yet received. their license “agreements, have. been. called toa crucial meeting by post office offi-|. ‘eials tomorrow. (Wed.): It, is’ .ex -peeted that ‘they. will be told of | the decisions made at’a recent se-| cret meeting of the Cinématograph | Films Council, the. statutory: body |. appointed by the President of the Board of ‘Trade. to. advise’ on. film. industry affairs. Although the ‘Postmaster General indicated when: the: licenses’ were quota regulations, | and would be obliged to have ‘a minimum. of: 30% |: British. Council has recommended. -otherwise.. By a unanimous vote’ the Council: has. informed the. Board ‘of Trade president that the quota should be nearer the ‘commercial tv figure of 86%. The ‘Council also. ade | ‘yecom-. mendations “to protect the . inter est of independent exhibs, who fear fhat ‘the advent .of. payvision could put. them out of business.. It was -guggested; therefore, that, tollvision. _ contractors should ‘compensate pic-. ture theatres for loss of business,. | including 4: ‘total shutdown. _ And just to. make. the lot. of the ‘payvision companies tougher, it: “was recommended that they should con tribute to the statutory. ‘Eady fund: in the same way as. picture. theatres. While it jis. conceded that. there “fs a big-gap between, a Films. Coun-' eil recommendation ‘arid a ‘statutory ruling, the payvision companies. are. concerned at. the. pressures ‘being: -applied from various ‘quarters. : in the film’ industry,. ‘which threaten to put them out of business before they..can get started:. There has already been comment fo the effect. that it ‘would be. economically imible’ ‘to. ‘launch: ‘a service if ampered » ‘by ‘sO’ many: restrictions and some of. the companies would threaten to pull out.° ‘Plans for launching the: service are also being suggested : for. the transmission: of. current. film. releases. It is understood that::an 4ndependent exhib campaign for a: “gix. months’ time lag between ‘gen-|: eral release ‘and pay-tv transmis‘sion is gaining ground: and such. a clause may ‘be “written inte . ‘the | @ agreement... To co-ordinate their ‘campaign,. §ndependent theatremen are setting up a defence committee within the Cinematograph Exhibitors. Association, to continue ‘the: fight: against pay-tv. ‘This committee is known. _as the Independent Exhibitors De fence: Committee (INDEC), and al-' though there has been. a public: an-' ‘nouncement, there’ has” been no. mention of any names, : Eildio Fisher play ‘the Spaniard, originally. done by ‘Tony Bavaar. The legit femme. ‘-eensorship. . Attorney: Greg Bautzer handled. the |. Jead was originally Olga San Juan. details. Fisher must “do ‘this one within a year, per contract,. but is: also working. on “The Goufe Case,” a German novel: with. a French set| ting, for which Natalie Wood jis set. Joachim Maas wrote it: It’s based | *® on a real-life wierdie whodurit and ‘will be.shot partly. in Marseilles. “Painted. Wagon”’. will and Paris... be filmed in New Mexico. Alain Delon may be Miss: "Wood's ‘male lead. New York—an a alburn. for is’ own ‘Ramred: labe ; ‘Warner Bros. purchased Other Charles,” unpublished novel by. Joseph: Hayes, ..and . assigned. property to Sinatra Enterprises to: ‘film, with. Sinatra akely,. to star: a Kes T; rr programming ‘the. Films: J. | Springs: “The | _TOLLVISION. | N atural Pair Honolulu, ‘March: SI double ‘Dbill:: . "Love. “With the * Proper : Strang er” — “Who's. . Been. Sleeping: in My Bed.” MB es “SO Via Cable Closed-circuit telecast by. MCATY: of the’ Indianapolis: 500" Mile. Race has ‘been: set in 63 ‘key cities. : according © ‘to sales: chief ‘Richard Graff. Other. locations’ “are. being first. awarded. that: toll operators | alized. would. be subject to the theatrical: Theatre chains that have set, the. telecast.to date, and. cities involved, include. Balabank & Katz Theatres. (Chicago, ‘Rockford, Evanston), ‘Blumenfield — Theatres. (Oakland), -California-Paramount (.Frisco.), Cinedome’ (Fresno), Essaness (Chi cago), Famous: Players Canada), Fruchtman. ‘(Baltimore),; : . Inter-: ‘mountain: (Salt. Lake: City); ‘Interstate (Dallas, Houston, Fort. ‘Worth; San Antonio), Loew’s (Akron, New Orleans; Atlanta), Madison-20th ‘Century: ni Madison; Wisc.),. George. Mann (Eureka, Modesta, Calif.); FE: -D.: Martin (Columbus, Ga., Nash ville;: Chattanooga), . Metropolitan (LAL), ‘National ‘General’ Corp. -(Long| | Beach, Kansas ‘City,”Mo., L.A, Sacramento, San Diego), . Neder: lander (Detroit,. Dearborn), RKO. (Frisco;. Davenport), Skirball ¢Toledo), ‘Stanley ‘Warner .(L.A:, Chi -cago, Erie, Pa., Youngstown, Ohio), United Detroit. (Detroit), Wilbey. Kincey.. . (Atlanta, _ Birmingham); Wisper & Wetsman. (Detroit): and Wolfberg -(Denver).° ‘Large. sports. arenas: that. have | contracted. for ‘the’ telecast -include |: ‘Boston Garden, Boston; Civie Cen-{ter, Baltimore; : Civic ‘Arena, Pittsa ‘burgh; ‘Cobo. ‘Arena Hall; Detroit; ‘Convention Hall, Philadelphia; Hip: podrome,,. ‘Minneapolis: Sam: Hous| ‘ton . Coliseum, “Houston; International Amphitheatre; Chicago:. Kiel ‘Auditorium, St. Louis; Long Beach | Sports | Arena, “Long * Beach; L:A.. Sports. Arena, . LA: Memorial Col-} Portland; ‘Milwaukee Arena! seum, ‘Milwaukee;. State Fairgrounds, ‘Dal| las; Sports Arena, ‘Hershey, Pa.; ; War Memorial; Rochester, . N.Y, * ‘Arenas and: auditoriums also earrying: ‘the: event | have .-beén «set. in’ ‘Albuquerque, ‘NLM.; Austin; Tex “Charleston, .° W. Va.: : Colorado ‘Corpus . ‘Christi, Texas; Denver: Fresno; Grand: Rapids:. Greensboro, ‘N.C.; Hempstead, Long Island; Jacksonville, . Fla;; “Little Rock; _Mémphis; . Miami; Miami Beach:: ‘Pasadena; Reading, Pa.: 1San" Bernardino: "San. ‘Diego; San Jose; . Santa Monica: Santa. Rosa; Seattle: ‘Shreveport; Lay Spokane; ‘and Stockton, Calif. . —ACalgary’s 5 Nose Ble ae Calgary,. Alta., Mach, 31. _ Calgary: Film. Society's ‘efforts to ao . ‘be ly*” ‘Co ntinuea from pare 3 | lift : “‘eensorship from “adult -only filmusical, has James ‘Cagney. i in mind for the Jead role created. by |" the late "ames Barton. -Fisher -will. : have. the .-provincialoe type films (Varrery,. F 11). have failed. The “society: had asked. that” 3 “new. “X"-¢ategory. be set. up Inj} Alberta, .. the * ‘category . to. be .for adults: only” and not: Subject. to. Provineial ‘Secretary. “Ambrose “Holowach, the. cabinet . ‘minister responsible | for’ censors, -replied| by letter, ‘Saying. the. government a. is. unwilling. to make ‘the changes. Paul. Schau, :.a ‘society director, said the group ‘was “very. disapHe declared it: had} beth Taylor, . one: of.the share pointed: an “tried to follow. the reasonable course .. in. solving this problem.) * Our concern is to save..good films] from ‘eensorship, and we hoped: + this would be. one way : of. ‘doing “Eddie Fisher Sings the Words {it * -of Alan Jay Lerner” was the third | project the singer wound ‘up in ‘The society had high-lever “supPort. for its position. ship’ last October; Col. P. J." A. Fleming, chief. censor, said «he had no: objection te ‘a. restricted Classification. “I think it is re-] quired,” he ‘said, “but it is -not my job to. decide. policy.” me {ADDS CLOSED-CIRCUIT TEACHING-BY-DOING “Widening: uses. of: closed circuit | _Ttv are demonstrated ” ‘by a plan :| presently ‘in ‘operation aboard: the}: Titles of. a Queen. ‘Theatre. t products’ 1 to equip. the ‘vessel. had ‘steadily refused .to recognize :| plaintiff “as a‘ corporation and the ‘I: merely’ follow: oR oT i Bepated: in ‘the action... La bor Unions and Theatre G Operators | hospital: ‘ship: S,S. ‘Hope, now an-|‘| chored °: eff. Guayaquil, “Ecuador. | . Over. 115 ‘U.S:. Medical personnel. ‘Jareteaching and training. Ecua| dorian -counterparts’. ini ‘medical procedure ‘followed in the’ States. One. -of: ‘their ‘major. ‘tools is" a ‘closed circuit tv set up donated: by Theatre Network:: ‘Television. _ The ty. operation” is used for‘ale téaching-by-doing ‘program. © Lack of. space..aboard shiplimits: the number of foreigiimedical. people who. can ‘see what: is ‘going on in ‘the operating room in person. | With.: the. ‘closed. circuit arrange ‘ment, . up. to. 100 doctors, nurses and technical personnel located .in an adjacetit lecture room can fol‘low _-every. step..of. an. operation | : while . listening, te. explanations in}. Spanish. The Project: Hope sriedical staff. has. performed . “over . #000" ‘major operations -. So. far. | South Vietnam. and: Peru. and has. | trained nearly-'2,000' personnel: ‘in|. these. countriés. . ‘The-use of closed |: circuit tv. is: now enabling’ a much-| increased. reach, : ‘aS -theEcuadorian | experiment. has: proven.” 7 Indonesia; (The. Project itself was fornied in This. ‘ship has: been visiting leet. cally-depressed. .. “areas, aboard’ the. S‘S. Hope.Over ‘800 excess © of. $4,000,000: worth. of “Liv $ Corp. —= ‘continued. from. ‘page. 5 — — and Negatives’ ‘of. “Cleopatra”: -presa ently in 20th-Fox possession; ‘and|.” ‘that. healso take. possession of. all ‘funds-thus far collected from film’s|'‘Telease‘and. hold’ until further. order. 3 of. ‘the court “In: asking for. ‘declaratory. ‘judg: . ‘ment. ‘on MCL’s. distribution: pact with. 20th-Fox, “complaint. -charged| | I that‘defendant. had: refused to ‘| recognize MCL’s ownership in film or to ‘comply with its’ obligations to. MCL. This ‘arrangement,’ according | to action, which ‘originally was ‘based upon terms. calling for 20th] to hold 55% .-interest, MCL 35%]: ‘and 10% to: go.to a ‘Swiss. ‘corpora|: tion, -Walwa Films, S.A.,° provided| for MCL to receive 6-2/3% of the|” first $7;500,000 of gross. receipts: and 10%. of ‘such . “gross _ receipts in excess of this figure. Suit ‘asks ‘that :20th-Fox be ordered: by court ‘to. pay: all sums due under this dis*| tribution. agreement. Can't See'Her (or it) “Twentieth-Fox;, according to suit, validity. of. the distribution ~ pact, and. refused: access to: financial’ Sin-| . R. Gondak made disclosure by way. formation relative to picture. Company also had made. decision§,ac ..peording to complaint, which were “solely within: the :province of. the producer : and: not: the.. defendant,” the complaint: -holding ‘that MCL ‘was producer of the film. MCL also jhad been :refused to. permit. MCL | which: ‘held’..a: joint production agreement. with Walwa-—to produce location.scenes in Spain. — ‘Defendant: likewise, ‘suit. claimed, had made’ public: ‘statements that} payments which20th had. agreed} to make to MCL. under. its -distribu-: tion pact “were in fact payments to be: made. by ‘defendant to: Eliza-. holders of. plaintiff.” ye Action: ‘further charged: that 20th. .Fox contended that its distribution | agreement was. invaded: and.unenforceable -by plaintiff -on grounds ‘that..Miss’:Taylor, one’ of ‘the -inShareholders” of .-MCL,}" _At’a Calgary -forum : on: eensorbreached. her obligations under her]. dividual . pact . with 20th-Foxanid. by . such ‘breach of contract : “caused: ‘de= ‘fendant™ damages, “sufficient. in amount so that defendant: ‘claims not: to. be obligated: to: make any “payment?” agreement : with : plaintiff. : This is} atte cates nail nab aan Ee ~“TasideStuf—Pictres, gent need”. to reappraise them; In a death bed will signed ‘in the Boston hospital. where she, succumbed, Mrs, Metalious left her body to medical. 1.science.. But her. offer “was rejected’ ‘by medical schools: Also she specie: -:, fied that there were to be no‘ funeral services, but the New.Hampshire . . ©. Court ruled: against. this: proviso. She was a loser on ‘stil} another count!’ .°-: -She left. her forturie to a Brit ish journalist living in Boston ‘and: her. ~~...’ collaborator: on a. new. v. book but: he Tenounced, the bequest. in favor. of Te her kin. Georgia’ 's: Gov. Cail Sanders receiitly transferred ° ‘more. . ‘thai: $50, 000 ae ‘from: his emergency funds to bail ou‘ a: motion: picture venture that was” © : |: Supposed: to..be supported by ‘industrial: contributions,.Quarrels have | ©... -° surrounded film,; titled “Susan Hayward ‘Invites You: to Georgia;” ever’): | since it. was. ‘proposed. It is being produced by Tomniy Reynolds: Pro= 0 :: “duction. ‘Last. July a tradé association: complained. the state was putting: ..=. “pressure”. on “it. and other organizations. to-help raise -$110, 000: needed. diesday, ‘Apri. ina 1966 ro The ‘Feb. 25. death ‘of. Grace Metalious.. whose. “Peyton. “Place”: ‘aid. i 7 “Return {o Peyton Place,” both were. made. into films. by the Jate Jerry -..:y | Wald, has. resulted in an opinion by the N..H. Supreme Court. that New.” 7 ‘Hampshire’ s body disposal laws ‘are “inadequate”? and. there is. an ‘‘ur-* Washington’ newsmen. Fletcher. Knebel. and Charles. ‘Bailey’1 ne have a chad a flat turndown “for. the time . being”. on, film’ rights: to. their new. ..: fiction effort “Conveiition.” It is: seen as a.conflic’: with United ‘Artists’. ~ “The. Best’ Man,” based.on Gore Vidal's’ Broadway. play? Both: works are. set at a national. political’ convention and: the: stories concern the. battle for the Presidetial nominaion between. ‘good guys..and. bad. guys. : _ Harper. & ‘Row, publishers. of . “Convention” . and, agents: for the: film Tights, were. told fo return. to: Hollywood: for. r reconsideration An a. couple mo ..| Of-years.. ih o Fate . a oO . training | new doctors,. technicians: et.al. To! date. over: .600members” of the}. ‘medical: ’ profession have. served | gram: and lines. firms. . ‘affecting company’ s Tegular. service Murray ‘Kaplan to 20th, “under. its: distribution]. to make pidture. Ate and Georgia Chambers of Commerce ‘did. not? “ | contribute. “shorter. Flying time between NY. ‘and ‘San. Francisco. gets. ta: be: ‘Shorter. core es : ‘The other day:.a plane, because ‘of ‘a: favorable tailwinds, arrived 40: minutes. before the scheduled: time: “The. passengers Te< ‘Tained | seated after landing ‘in. spite’ of. the. air ‘hostess’: ‘request to ‘debark..: Reason: during the ‘flight :a picture™ had. ‘been shown. (Rock Hudson’ 3 “Man’s Favorite. Sport”) ' the picture had: ended. “Shares With Workers. ~ .Holl ood; March 31. U.S. ‘companies: have donated in}|' ~ yw Hanna-Barbera . “eartoonery | has its own way of expressing ‘its gratitude ‘to: employees. 1 _ Firm -will share its. profits. with. ° . personnel “‘as Jong as financial -@urcumstances of the. company... *. permits,” according to.William. . Hanna and Joseph Barbera. .--Jnitial payments. will be. ‘made before Dec. 31. Letter-to ... -each employee said; the people» who have’ con-.-” ~ tributed. so : Tnuch ‘to. the . growth and company,” "9 on $679, rr) Det For Phone Hollywood, March. 31: _A check in the aniount of $679,| 400. will be. ‘deposited . by: Subscrip-. I tion: TV with Pacific ‘Tel & Tel as a. . guarantee | “against ‘installation | costs’ of the tollvee concern’s initial: TLAS: operation which Bell subsid | will”: service. . | week. during.. a California State: Public Utilities Commission hear This: developed: last. ing: on proposed: pact between pro | Federat “Tariff Engineer Charles of’ assuring Commissioner. William Bennett. and Examiner Thomas Dailey. that should the feevee oper-'|. ation abort, phone. stockholders -wouldn’t be “out of pocket. Essence.’ of presentation made by PT&T,.as guided . by attorney. ‘George Sears, ‘was that. service could be extended. on a fiscally. sound basis without to. ‘customers. shop. in near future. _ After Bronston. Switch “Murray: Kaplan, formerly a mem ber of Samuel Bronston. Produc‘tions’. ‘sales org, has. joined: the]. 20th-Fox. homeoffice domestic sales) Academy, however,:to cable. or: any | other ‘subscription system, as: long. -it gives -public the right to decide. Hoa te. ‘or. not. it ‘wants: subscripet ‘staff. Telemeter Repea “this . is. “! our way of saying. thank. you to.-.| success of ‘the oo ‘tional coin a be paid. . . Par prez. Barney “Balaban has | will: According. te. domestic sales veep ‘Joe Sugar, Kaplan will, be assigned -| Specific duties. at 20th later. wee and. the : Plane. had Janded Before thin kena Gin Bg Far ing lis Showgit — —+.. When ‘Telemeter, | tollvision, ‘subsid, . taped. the: Broad-" | way. musical “Showgirl”: a season __ ago-it was ‘at considerable expense .. and: the showing: via Telemeter’s — | Toronto system didn’t begin to-re-. | “| coup “that outlay, ‘although it was “la. mild: success. With’. the click on. “| Broadway: this-.season of. “Hella: : Dolly,’ ” which also. stars. Carol Channing; Telemeter has been con | sidering | ‘bringing back “Showgirl” {but ‘the reprise has. ‘been hampered. by union demands. ‘for: additional . payments for €ach. new showing. . ‘The’. “Showgirl” eral for its toll ‘system.. A snafu has developed. via a un= 220050" ion demand: that. Telemeter:pay. * {$16,000 in | additional fees every ‘ime the presentation. is aired again. This. immediately makes the. plan to reprise: the package prohibitive, according: to ‘Telemeter . thinking,. .”. since such a levy would virtually. defeat the grossing potential of the return. engagenient. ‘What has hap | pened now is, in in. effect, a standoff. ' fuses to pay the addi-: . d-the: ‘union insists it oh. ‘Telemeter : long. been a bit bugged by. the fact SEE TOLL SYSTEMS ‘Los. Angeles, March 31.: ‘probably . cable. System. ‘Such. is belief. of Dr. rt. Ramsay, exec. director. of Neeutly-formen Academy. for ‘Sub scription Television. —‘: Ramsay has ‘pledged. support. of Paramount's. = piesentation ee originally’: ‘cost inthe. neighborhood:. «. -. of $90,000 to produce’ for tollvision. |). In its initial, and only in fact, show-_.| _ jing in Toronto, it took. in’ “nearly. re ; 1 $6,000 which obviously. leaves:a lot: 5 0 of recoupment coin still to. be:made. :. With . Miss’: Channing’s.. estimated .. renewed. | sales potential. this year ‘via-“Dolly,” Telemeter has wanted . . | to: re-show “Showgirl”: in Toronto. ‘@ | and. possibly make. a deal for: its | telecast over . the -RKO-General To “| system. Also.a) possibilty. was am °°: .| offer of the item: to National. Genye that:: the “Showgirl” ‘project. is a: deficit ‘operation.. The plan. to re--: .~ show it in Toronto and peddle it. to. other. toll: outfits was geared te. .~. * offset’ this : unpleasant. situation. — “‘However,.as long as union demands.. ‘for: additional payment are main‘tained. ‘it is ‘unlikely that..““Show-. Tolisters propose. to launch’. a fae will again see: the ght of: the: : three-channel, closed-circuit ‘home |" ‘operation July. 1 .in-a threé-square| . mile west-central L.A. area.-A second hearing will be. held this week Dn, \ before Commission in: San Francis| OT co -where STV. also plans <0 open wt GOING AIRBORNE a “Subscription ‘tv: utilizing the. air Te, -be theultimate >. -. | method: for: pay-tv. rather than. the © ‘, ec . . . Joa ’