Variety (September 26, 1951)

Bidding to n Back at Distribs. While the dial riba were subjected* l # more knuckl*c»pp4ng for thrir competitive bidding practices at the Theatre Owwr* of America convention In M. Y this week. op rrator* of Important hinterland ctr rttiU take the view the IIItn com papies *M> *"<* wd# * l, ' n * ^ •• them In the future II.mild FlUgerald. president and general manager of Fox Wisconsin Ama* Cw. Milwaukee unli nt Na tumal Theatre*. *aid he believe* bidding *111 not be of anv help t*| anione He atated distribs *111 And theatremen alntph will not go for hefty rental* In their effort i« obtain p»* \i% ron Blank. operauw of On tral State* Theatre* operating 6o house* m the Dea Moine* area re laied theatremen are ‘Cut tin "then non throats’* via big bid* for big Alms. but this Is not likely to con tim.e indefinite!) Also he said dt*tnb% are losing out on the *m?ll rr pi* to the extent that some do not even play certain areas Blank « complaint was that the dutrib* this year again have held j back on the top pi* until the fall and no* are demanding nutimum] rentals Comment from Fitzgerald eat that the coat of film today is ,. the *‘h»gheat in historv J - At the opening of the TO \ con clave the film compame* *rCr V (Continued on pace If* ] Expo Brings Profit Theatre equipment god tup- ply caposition which Theatre Owners of America is staemg Slung with its national con- vention at the Hotel A*t«r. N Y , la providing the exhib org wtth a smalt profit. Origin all), in vie* of the ex- pense. a lo*a appeared tn pi ospect Cost of aettmg tap the ftps and hole! charges runs to Shout $23.0011 Dealers and other* taking apace at rental* ftf $300 to $500 per booth. * til pay a total of about $26 000 to TOA Rigged tenant la Pepsi-Cola with the equivalent of 14 booths CITES EVILS OF m POLICY i> am \R\iri Theatre Owner* ot America *111 Changing V$nd$liim ore*, for s a— the Atm " 04 *** 4Wlt ** * ***** »* press mm 4 rev xmping «vf the A>m ( Theatre Owner* of America c om panics sales met hod* to the extent that each theatre account *111 be considered individually in licensing »r range menu rather than having anv national pulley for a pic applicable to all exhib*. This * as indicated as TO A * e* hihitor-distributor committee went into an allaUy hy d dl* yes te rd ay Toes » with distribution toppers, held within the framework of the theatre's orgs national eon vent ton . which opened Mondav at the Hotel Asfor, N Y I Key Bgutes in the national TOA , setup aatd if* Imperative that the I Aim outfits break •« a\ from the I idea a 40’. -rent «l pn in N V should bring, the same term* In smaller operations in the Acid ] Sgrh a deal at the Urgr-capacii \ Rosy. X Y . would g»'e the house, j uv $40.0411 td take a rounded-fig- I ut v In* evahtple R was said H« ever, under ihe ;iame pereenlaiie j, arrangement, the smaller sealintt, lea* elaborate t h ea tre grossing far less cantud exist in v lew uf Ihujm- expense- Another view expre s s e d is that sush pift as Metros "The Great tradeshow in New York this week rrpiMl that juvenile van- dalism in theatre* is a ppa r e nt * I) both decreasing amt i hang- ing form Seal ftlashlng which was the favorite trick a few years ago. v has given day to a new and even mote obnoxious delin queuev. aIIhooch fortunately a levs freqd ei R wne It consists of in .king a hole in the scat with a penknife and stuffing a lighted cigaret. In It Since the upholsterv is A re proof It *<mt burn, bul smolder* reusing malodorous snw*ke that sil* oust) acstrx uninulaied pa turns. ; i—M i m i ■■ .i ■ ■ ■! — Limit Distribs t Saeak Previews Face Hefty Obstacles, Say j:.'.- Caruao should nut bring the same Although they had opportunity term*. anv in a rrinofe southern to do so. the approximately 3.V1 M | Ua uon. aa the Aim drew in hex member* of Theatre Owners ••#{—** A TO \ oAu nl fold Vaairrv America currently conwning at lha , a Ta dM* R>1 WmM R> the Hotel Astor. If. Y . refrained ♦ Cloaer alliance between Allied Stales Asan and Theatre Owner* » via itaisoR Mill be t w een the two rvhth trade assorta- iinn* was Heart* in i»r.»spect at the 1*1 )A gonventhm whirh o\verve d Mondav ill' »l tin* tf«*tel Astor. n, v -‘‘r, ■ ■. y ■■ *"*-: V“; r* ; X .• Actually a merger of the two group* had been suggested t»v sonve TOA toptierv hut Ahtram K Myers, ' Allied's board chairman and gen* eyal rugnvrl turned if down, indi- cating dissatislasi ion with the terms ' V-’-= Cireum>ta»»e»>v are (•toviding in J , Creasing I) nuu r malter.s Of mut ual concern I* tin- two outAts cueing the need f«»r a closer relwtionstilp. TOA will *4*mi tu exhibfHw dts* Irthultk rrUitimv eohrmitlee lie- litre, A Hurd's cmaveothm . whirh opens in N YY Oet ,1u for pi earn I at ton id a plan for a «v stein of industrv ar hit ration • Idea of a deii'gaiiiu* fitwn one a iusilatinn . iashing ihe «alh«'r : 's national et ip date r e pr es e nt * f an i m iwwiant ■ i de- • > parture f rom lhe rivalt' which has persisted trarfdlouaMv Myers ami \ Julian Mr)lawski» 1'OA'a legislative eon< ret and fo \ esec diretfoi (iaet H*tfU«an have hren working to :>-t_her ini the n«W tax biR n«*w befitre fopgires. Al- lied Met ami TO A c»s al%«» have from exercising anv voice in the outfit'* election*, which sow Mlleh- ell Wolfson elevated to the pcesi- Ad Hah Re B.O. Pali p Skm “““ Recent proposal that ma>or com panics hold studio sneak pre view*” in cltle* throughout the L' A as an- additional hyp* to the board chairman The entire *Ute of officer^ en dorsed by the exec committee^and sent to the board on Mondav '24* i waa hnmadtately accepted w ithout ■ New Owsersbiy Sea Unlikely la Adopt Radical pained hand* in ihe "Movietime, USA' campaign , Oracral ttln r - ' U* TSSSJTrS^T* “! Atm it' «Mf» «lv«« —1» '* **' ?' V- 1 - --." yW lin.lt.-ft limr h. Ttw»l.r O.n.-i. "* " r, '** r * JWWiS l“»« '» . *tP* ■... ..nt It .*•*" **' • l" ""*- A'tiw. N V. runv.-nti.M. Nut a L. ... . final.- rt..lr(in.l.un t..pi~ . »a. m ■ W*!* M* ***” ANffS : *MMW Till'. Aril,. II «,f ... fw..t t.. aitd.M. tha lull r.«iuA;iv*:, '"O'**. * l ** ft*/S ***_W *j TOA. .bKOtvr tl ... )h , ^ ^ W nnllnurd ..n |nMT » , weil as Alii«d State* Assn, invwii- ^ ably gave the sales topper* an op-, $ 54,000 in Conmisk above TarusO* at fhe bo in aome sesiumn aiihiHjgh top nu>ne> still must be paid/ for sot h Aim* a* **caru»o •• : >.•■ (Continued on iwige 2d' k Movietime V S A ** boxodBee drive a hitch Earlier di*eu*vion\ on Sun would run Into physiral and pidic) day centered on the po»*thility of ticwible*. report major studio ad submitting neve-al name* aa can- pub head* (dhdete* for the board chairmans Chief reaxon for a aneak preview post However, this was threshed cvpiained one publlcitv chief i* to out before the board aesalon took enable those persona concerned piece, and Skoura*. who is presi-, ^ P with a picture * actual production dent of National Theatres was the nu»nth adopiu.ii .. am a . * to check audience reaction *‘t»b- only nominee. Wolfson. head ©f ] arwpuhcie* by the manage ie*» . vuNply,** he said. Tl would be im Wumetco Theatre*. Miami, also wa* MRaWly. IHWwM lu wiMjJMgR practical to send such a group of unopposed producers, directors, writer*, and Hoard meeting was open to all, ... . Other* to all parts of the countrv TOA membrrx who weie free to l * 4 ‘ it generally lake* mantns It was pointed out that some stn suggest candidate* or quest km the dux. except on rare occasion* d*» (Continued on page 20' ! * n*g hold sneak preview*, and such j ■ ^ Tt Be ■■■■■■ Afcies. on Movietime' a scheme would require extensive C iU||ri C RflAV CtirfCCn change* in the present physirzl IVI/I MhmRM handling of such print*. However 1 Uf D I CVV AT hlCIlWi m*ne of the New York Back head* I R« D. LLf I A1 UljlALl •PPTOMlwd on th* Mbjc. t dUpuird I f s , murl> ^ ,„ Uu#) worM |M*rtunit) to lie heard in Utr «|H-n Film company officials however. | did have an opportunity !»» |»»escn( their position* on trade practice _ y pollcie* at a private meeting yes. Changes it Monogram ^e*» with toa * e*h.b. gMooo 5 n.mmh^t>o <>• tor-distrilHi'or coiomiHee This |H* advertising ,H» the "Unvietlme was g questMkand ammer SA-Mom v t a M drive will be d«wied with one aid# doin g the intermgat ilm ,m ad agrm n-» for the variout Ing in the morning and (wrung dutrtb* after • xpciises lor pftntur* aHOCnWOW tn take #R and handling are taken out by the queries lk»n*hue A Coe whirh preparrd Kcason f«»r lire change Ihi* year .' (he campaign Ja h|Nri provided is the experience TOA had af Its j by the regular IV» agm< y fee Hnustof* convention lad fall At a ,n result frum plarement of full- th;rt tunc, nearlv a full dev wax’ p#J | r $nf \ halt page ‘ Movietime’* . given to addresses b* the vale* a( « % ln i 7 )mi t M u. rv next week. ^*4* * ^ (hrrlb and a screening (»f 1 lie |, rOH , gymi taxi Aim* Burrow* noted that the Arm. M-G-M Storv ” Metro* etokur ale .he rsdn unhappy experience with some trat | rr or.«e«i h^rri hs other j super-bud*el Allied \rti*tg pic- yhh resulted In plcni) of bell agenrie* sinew Metro pulr-ad chief lures I* Virtually • menuwy now w|thin lhe ranks Y ui T t »A The H„^d IheTr WjS^etdedThTad after two year* of tailend selling m-O pic was well received bul thw| tl1i<wlT1tf , or ti^ tUstilbs. flooa ■ Although awnerfthip control of Monogram RbtMi giMlMl ImI and treasufer tieorge I) Burrows He declared In New York Monday for R BRIT MfOnl -jn’bgWM O ffer ttvs Inc. Kansas City (h» mrrtt ot tbf pUn. »hich » -.V . Z~- . I | * ,,v A r * h1 ''' V l '" 1 ' *« »•> "««(»*. l)tc( „ , 0 i. .it*. propowd by H E Jwt)M py«t ”* W .. ! V t *!’" 4 'ZIL *2*1 . W m I kiL L m “ rh Um» «»* r.«->.".«l ,, rn , u |„|, h.nrtV. ll^ MHnt «c M.W.CMNNSS Thr*trr. »t»rrbr. by th» 4»lrU> , “ UKT#od William R. t##y. Who #•* ( al t2 %oe Mono sharos I# Harold, ;C |„ r , s l etter took the arraakm to Division dR5SB5SIS»»U b# Jamoyom reported that a Metro 'S’STSl^r^^rend Cm **&d*** A * Bremen wit,, m-de m lirr ^mire with the pro- film W ^ am tm. Mle * man *4 rr last weekend I-atfer Kaiph Hr anion a nominee to the :J” w,/ I «**' un ,n *' r '**y board Transaction gave Miri^h •od»ence l ^rcD!I?mav^ V |n , ‘lli.!.r ***' f, ' inf 'MuoUy full time to Brantrm and prexv Steve Broidy than T/tJr ttr W llh * nk PuhllcatIon*. British pub^ I ownership control urM^?' — <<W J [ t ^ n 4 ^ hln « * rm 01 w hlch he is man Meantime Broidy Is m hrdulcd II MlVt M » afin|t gtrector and principal stock to Mt | for Britain the end of the failed to get behind pi ft w ith ©| the total of 14 films bclent ballyhoo Smne also made mrnUoiie<1 IB , h e .d*. each i^>m- a pitch for their own product and |>#n> ^ KlJ|h| dlian ,^ hav> two ■MMM INiHMlIk: pix each and. two are represented Obviously, the latter did not set well with the rth:b audience, thus hv a single Aim IhMribs air pay- dutry leaders Jameyson urged that T" ■ L” k a# lr ommzl «m hel'mg **'71 . i mg a pro rata share ot the odver- - - * - - noiaer week after arriving liom ihe t oast th< . cotT (plaintv In an) event it- * t».-e *o Its reported Samuels will be ap yesterday iTye* to attend the apparent the sales chief* are not ; ^ " Theatre Owners of America €on- |»ke|> to be glvew so much time at ’V, ' vention. While in England he ll upm u wionv ot futuie TOA get O l>onrU‘ll. .MiVfr | (Continued on page 1411 togrtherv * studio man be arnt out with a print and routed to 10 or 12 town* pouted to the post following proxy on sut cexxive nights, pointing out H(l/ DlMiey g ar nval in N. Y from that increased rentals on the ac- the Coast shortly Samuels joined company ing percentage Atm would th4 . iy 3 « an d had been liquidate the expense* involved j foreign manager before he wax — upped to aaalxtant worldwide l4M»wV Justice Dept. . supervisor I*reviousl> he w^ wxh , . Jt ' United Artist*, serving as the dta- In Decree Huddles trirt liaison between stmkfmlderv Washington. Sept 15 tht board pi director*, and Benjamin Melaiker t^ew sattor. assistant to the president l^vy he>, huddled here last Thursday 1‘hkrd with Disney m l^ l l when 110 with Philip Marcus motion he hecanM the fwmlucer . European picture specialist for the Justice advtagg* Hit wilhqnk RMW pub- TOA to Attempt • . ’ • - i. .• • f \, . . .* At Industry Arbitration System Theatr# Owner* of America will VAsli. r Rcadr Jr \ “« ! At TOA Tonvention Robert J O Donor ft. who*e past activity in the higher council* of .Theatre Owner* of America has • :iau*rd nuiiwruu> drk gate* to note hi* absence from the prrvnt N*-w York conclave is expected to be on hapd today ' Wed * si the TOA convention in N V. \rthur U. Mayer e*cc v p of the Council of to work out a \|,,» t0 n Picture fhganUalion* will Department antitruvi division over ' 1 ** 11 ^* comic books and make its do-or-die effort to e* 4 ab» “constructive" arbitration piogram ^ ^ ^ k , Vc* York •4* w I* SLilwvtSwS!«*»i«h.. m rtu ..r, «b,....b* ns. ^ decree Another meeting will take V"— —— lew Vt * b m ^ ^ 30 ** f s A “ drive haw bren « P'ftce this week Loews is the ||p| SiniM * ** ”* *** *** ^ — ^ . f ^ making acre »enl* «d (He Big 5 without I decree Meantime. Justice Department ok ived another short extension, to it will be stressed mat enoorse- Rcadc * committee mnnln-rv have " - Inrt Indo-'i v Coun- Hollywood. Sept 15 men! of arbitr.tmn bv the latter been holding a *P^i.l meeting t* J ih,.H.ghout Jack 1. Warner hoisted Mel ouiAt will not commit its members among themwives to draft the J” , ®VjTT * Dei- 3. for the Sehme theatres to Shavelson from scripter to pro-) TOA wants Allied f< * * Si^Rkirt r of next week I | unl,»d mtnl theatres tt is re durer. with The Wtnnta* Team* pl»» (or conrill»t.on -( tr.de dl.- mo hw -^*-wl" lsnnm« thr.e.eh the « st.les N-red to dteert under tt* deeree. as hta »rst as».«n»e«. prt« rather .hen euurt rontestr a tot 1 tMOwOf im hOartl*sOr ^ Ytiu marks the third extension (or Shavelson s writer credit. . •*„ ' 1, i'llSne tUmt t.ih Warner Hr.,.. i«bad ch.e( Mort (Use houaea. which were I. he un elude rellaboraUon on "Always »m_still be Iree^lo »l« *o*al^_sul»s_ ^fjom**~*£»J*** »«« Rll „"~ Uu<k „ .Uar.e „f M<*v irt in »e on t he with player* will begin leaded by the beginning of July Leave Them Laugh! n/* OsMoon | Idea for the dirctt approach lw arbitration » l-o.- * a * L.as »4R^ xldhts.i Midi II IV m mxi isns % w***»»**v»* — , —* . Mitrhell IrtlH rr\t*e Ih Hr e«Mnpetitive hid- the ^Movirtunr tour*, waa in nob _ IdV ■ *X • MV Ml — — ■ ' *chine circuitla mw^ In thesec - liaht Say " "The Daurhler of Hnsle Allied - dnSMted «. h .......... ",iZr7u" iy^oMoeer the uechrnd with zz: t: iz-’Z'&rXt » • and? 1 £ rrecteVtr^ffi. is,’- ••—- (Mime situations during each yenr. More.** * distributor committee, headed by M ontinued on page IfTI • i. . :• • i »lhe arranged,col