Variety (April 1953)

Wednesday, April 15, 1953 PICTURES 25 Stereo Sounds Note Continued from page 7,; tions and exploring whether it’s nrcl'erable to record on one film optically or magnetically. Cinema- scope will have three channels and possibly an added control track. When the Roxy Theatre, N. Y., shows Cinemascope later this month, it will have *29 speakers distributed around the house. As a starter, and for testing purposes onlv they will be switched man- ual i.v, with the operator cuing them. Sponable pointed out that carrying the sound on a separate track not only creates synchroniza- tion but also exchange problems. First move towards bringing down the cost of the stereo sound equipment is being made by .Natural Vision-which, according td prexy Milton R. Gunzburg in N. Y.‘ Monday 1131, plans to bring out equipment at half or one-third the present price “within a few Seeks.” Gunzburg said his com- pany had developed a compact, portable unit that would not re- quire extensive rewiring and would bring stereophonic sound within the reach of the smaller houses. Gunzburg, whose Natural Vision system was used in lensing War- ner Bros.’ 3-D “House of Wax,” which carries stereophonic sound ancl opened last week at the Para- mount Theatre, N, Y., acknowl- edged that the multi-channel sys- tem in use at the Paramount wasn’t all that it might be and that this was partly due to the acoustics of the house. While several operators were sufficiently impressed with “House of Wax;” Cinerama and the Cine- mascope sound to order it for their houses, others stated flatly that they didn't consider stereo sound of sufficient added value to justify the expense. At tlie production end, stereo- phonic sound could become a budget burden if properly done. “House of Wax” actually -was re- corded with a single mike, with “tiie sound effects s^plit up latef'and put on separate tracks to be chan- neled through different speakers. Same process is being used in the re-recording of Sam Spiegel’s “Melba,” a United Artists release, to add stereo sound. Spokesman for one of the large equipment houses said Monday that there had been many inquiries about stereo sound which, he said, has caught the exhibs’ imagina- tion. He added, however, that the reproduction and amplifying equipment as well as the speakers are currently in short supply, since the manufacturers themselves are not certain which way to turn. Frank McCarthy Set Hollywood, April 14. New director of public re- lations for 20th-Fox is Frank McCarthy. He succeeds Col. Jason Joy, who retired recently because of failing health. During the past four years Mc- Carthy has functioned as a 20tli- Fox producer, turning out “De- cision Before Dawn” and “Sailor of the King.” His new duties will include Governmental relations and contact with the Breen office. =51 Regent Continued from page 5 Pix-To-TV Dam Continued from page 3 Movie Stocks... Should I Buy - or Selt? Judging by our mail, that's one problem a good many investors would like to solve. Can Cinerama, 3 D's, and foreign markets keep movies alive— Or is Television bound to take over—chase Tarzan back to the trees? Green-20th Continued from page 3 Actually, of course, there is no absolute answer to the question— the movies have always* been a more or less speculative industry. . But there are a number of facts that should be considered before reaching any conclusion—facts that can help you come up with the right answer for you. And ypu can find those facts in our brand new booklet "The Mo- tion Picture Industry” In just 32 pages, it sets forth the most important pros and cons that should influence the moving-pic- ture industry in general . .. gives you a detailed analysis of 18 lead- ing companies presently involved , in making movies—or showing them. If you’d like a copy of t( The Motion Picture Industry/* just ask. 4 ► There’s no charge, of course, simply address— Department V-26 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Beane 0 Pine Street, New York 5, N. Y. Offices in 105 Cities proxy battle. Green’s one great talking point has been that 20th has • neglected to capitalize on all -its assets, so as to increase divi- dend payments. While the 20th announcement roused intense interest in the trade, a good many execs leaned to the belief that 20th, in addition to making a bid for stockholder support, may be throwing out a feeler to test general reaction to any TV deals. Opinion is wide- spread that, if and when it weath- ers the Green storm, the company may not press the issue. Both Green and -20th submitted their proxy letters to the Securi- ties and Exchange Commission last week. Charles Maybrook, Green’s public relations rep. was in Wash- ington yesterday to discuss the Green document with the SEC and “iron out some details.” He refused to comment on whether or not the Commission had demanded any changes. Meanwhile, a table of statistics covering the period 1942-’52 and giving comparative figures for the five major distribs — Paramount. Warner Bros., Metro, ,RKO and 20th—indicated 20th’s impressive gains during the 11 years under the present management. Compilation showed a per share increase of 4638. points between Dec. 31, ’41 and April 9, ’53, a boost of 143%. 20th shares rose 16Vfe points for an increase of 240%. During this time the increase in Dow-Jones Industrial Average was only 149%. Table gave 20th per share earn- ings in 1942-52 as $49.92, over seven times the cost of common in ’42. In this respect, as in the 191% rise in per share book value, 20th leads the five major companies. It’s ahead, too, in the per share dividends paid over the 11 years and amounting to $24.40, as against $67.76 for the five majors com- bined. 20thjL’ates second; after War- ner Bros., in the increase in market value plus dividends. for .the second lime, denied that there had been any -agreement on “Oklahoma” and* current plans for lensing it. “If Mfio-Schenck has been quoted correctly, he must have been mistaken,” Rodgers stated. Rodgers reiterates he opposes filming “Oklahoma” while the legit musical is still enjoying the boffo biz on the road it has been doing despite its 10-year run. Mike Todd, Todd-AO exec, com- mented in N. Y. Monday (13) that he though the confusion “unfor- tunate” and added that he didn’t intend making further comment since “there have been too many statements already.” Todd said that he was spendfng time in Buffalo, setting up a Todd-AO demonstration in cooperation with the American Optical Co., manu- facturers of the equipment. There may be a showing of the process “earlier than had been ex- pected,” Todd-' disclosed, adding that the press might not get to see the system until it’s ready for com- mercial showing. Initial demonstra- tions will be in a Buffalo house. Many of the Magna backers have neve,r seen the process at work, i Rodgers himself has seen some black-and-white footage but noth- ing in color. Unless the process is demonstrated to their satisfaction by Aug. 1, 1953, R & H have the right to bow out of the Magna setup. Schenck said on the Coast that R & II have final approval of cast ancl story and would probably write a few additional songs for “Oklahoma.” Present plans call for the pic to open at the Rivoli, N. Y., next January. William Ludwig and Sonya Levien are currently collab- orating on the screenplay, Schenck disclosed. Stanley Warner Continued from page 8 that Hollywood Television Service, Rep’s TV subsidiary, had earned about $4,000,000 during its first 15 months in business, and that the company expected to collect “around $3,0Q0,000” from TV sales in 1953. Reasons that so far have kept the major clistribs fTom selling to TV rangfe from the belief that TV can’t offer enough money at pres- ent to concern over exliib reaction and a pronounced feeling that “we are in the business to turn out the- atrical product.” It’s been pointed out that a reissue can reap in many times the money that/ would be forthcoming from a television I sale. - ^ ~ • 20th Reasoning: The 20tn reasoning, that Cine- mascope and other techniques will so antiquate “flats” that there will be no harm in letting them go to TV, puts a new slant on the situ- ation. While none of the other majors at this moment will admit that they are* entertaining the idea of breaking down their resistance to doing business with TV, they are also not unreceptivc to the 2oth argument. Furthermore, each distrib is aware that he who gets there first is apt to reap the benefits, while the rest may suffer the conse- quences of having to compete in a market swamped with product. Situation has already been aggra- vated by the rising flow of indie pix to TV. Practically every one of the majors, and particulax*ly 20th, has had what, are termed “fabulous” offers for their old pix. They know that none of that bonus money will be available once the rush is on to unload to TV. Advent of 3-D and widescreen processes has given the distribs a handy reply to 'exliib pressures that they stay away from TV. There’s also been some comment on the fact that Republic doesn’t appear to have suffered to any ex- tent from exhib retaliation in the wake of its decision to do business with TV. As Yates put it last week: “One or two (exhibs) complained but we pay no attention to these com- plaints at all . . . in fact many ex- hibitors today own stations to which we’re selling.” He added that exhibs “will never give you an even break” and emphasized that, if the broadcasters didn’t get their pix from Hollywood, they’d go out and make their own. Fact that Skouras envisioned TV sales, once switch to new types of projection systems is completed, is seen creating a tense period with distribs watching very closely who might make the first move in the direction of TV. Minevich’s Coup Continued from page Z ‘Wax,’ ‘Man’ Continued from page 3 play, and appraisals of the added dimension in sight and sound ranged from faulty to strong new values for pix. Downbeat on the film, in various degrees, were the Times (Bosley Crowther), Herald-Tribune (Otis L. Guernsey, Jr.) and tlie Post (Arch- er Winsten). News (Kate Cameron) was yes-and-no. ‘ Mirror (Frank Quinn), Journal-American (Rose Pelswick) and the World Tele- gram-Sun (Alton Cook) were boosters. It must be noted, of course, that business at the Par was hefty at the opening of the show last Frl- day (10) before the reviews were widely read. Nabe Exhibs Continued from page 8 exchequer) of the Compagnie Gen- erate Transatlantique like no other VIP passenger ever could. In fact, as Minevitch gathered his belongings from his Hollywood and New York homes, to return to his Paris penthouse (where he has been a permanent resident post- World War II), it became an intra- Frcnch Linfe subject of discussion as the most unusual “private bag- gage of any passenger. Besides the plane, Minevitch bought two giant cigar store Indians from Bill Hardy. (Bill’s Gay '90s, N. Y.) for $1,000, which will adorn the portals to Minevitch’s “moulin” (mill-farm) some 90 kilometres outside of Paris; many trunks full of theatri- cal props and costumes; beacoup electronic and recording equipment (he’s a nut on sound reproduction), and unsuspected other items which Minevitch will not be able to de- clare as to their true identity be- cause he doesn’t know what they are himself—trunks full of press books, record collections, and the like. Minevitch produces films for the- atres and for TV in France. He’ will also focus on European outlets for his new harmonica factory which he just reactivated in Los Angeles, and which kept him some six months in the States. PS—there was so much luggage that the French Line put the plane on a freighter out of L. A., and Minevitch embarked from New York on the S. S. Liberte last Fri- day (10). due to dock in Lellavre today (Wed.). She's Lux Lovely Its wonderful. •the new softness Lux care gives my skin 9 4* O+bCi T All:’ ; 4 » » based on estimated earnings. If the earnings do not meet the esti- mate, company will have to dip into the earned surplus to make up the difference. Unlike the the- atre company, it’s easier for the production company to estimate earnings. Hence the earlier divi- dend declaration by WB. It’s still too early to tell whether stockholders will come out on top as a result of the split. If the theatre company is as liberal in its payment as the picture com- pany, shareholders can profit. However, if the b.o. assumes an offish aspect and earnings con- tinue at the breakeven point, stock- holders stand to lose as aTcsult of the^iit; , ,. ^ * ing that he had already ordered stereophonic sound systems for 34 theatres. „ The introduction of the new processes has resulted in frequent, lengthy meetings among theatre toppers, all attempting to deter- mine what’s what, how soon and how much. Latter, of course, is the most serious concern. Because of the relatively low cost of 3-D, most of the circuits have equipped the majority of their theatres with this process, figuring they can cash in at least on the novelty value. If' the medium catches on (and there are many exhib toppers who tHinlc It will be based on their re- action to Warner’s “House of Wax”), the feeling is that houses wilL be ready to receive all prod- uct in this medium. The one-theatre or nabe opera- tor, however, figures he can’t gamble. Theatremen in this cate- gory want assurance of some sort of standardization. > They want to know exactly wjiat product Will be available soffhat they know in what direction to move in regard to new | jipstajlatipns. . 1 See PHYLLIS KIRK in uunnec fiC U/AV” natural vision 3.dimension ilUUot Ur VinA Color by WamarColor A Warner. In&ISuMlwfou.„ r.. JNow, ilwwing,locally ll < ■» u