Variety (May 1956)

22 PICTURES Pfi&IETY Wednesday, May 2, 1956 Recalls ‘Smartie’ Abuse of Ad Films Wile Theorizes Over-Quoting Theatre Attendance To Chesterfield Killed a* Golden Egg An exhibitor leader has admitted that theatremen themselves killed “the goo. c e that laid the ro'fV'i egg" in relation to extra revenue from the showing of special adver¬ tising subjects. The acknowledge¬ ment was made by Robert A. Wile, executive secretary of the Inde¬ pendent Theatre Owners of Ohio. Wile, in his regularly-issued bul¬ letin, recalled that several years ago National Screen Service han¬ dled the distribution of a special advertising short made by Chester¬ field. Payment to exhibitors was based on attendance. However, so many theatremen exaggerated the attendance that the cost exceded the cigaret firm’s budget. As a con¬ sequence, National Screen has since been unable to interest an¬ other advertiser to conduct a simi¬ lar campaign. . . In pitching.for a revival of the advertising short as an added coin source, Wile suggests a tieup be¬ tween a major distributor and an advertiser whereby the advertising reel would be distributed in con¬ junction with a feature picture. Wile feels this system, would as¬ sure the advertiser an “honest count because otherwise the film company would get more than its share.” He points out, too, that a percentage deal would be justified “if the exhibitor got back (from the advertiser! money for every patron who entered.” Wile stresses, however, that the exhibitor “would be free to accept or reject the ad¬ vertising reel .at his option alone.” THREE JERSEY HOUSES SUE UNDER ANTITRUST Relatively quiet of late, the anti¬ trust front in the New York met¬ ropolitan sector broke out in re¬ newed activity last week when op¬ erators of three New Jersey thea¬ tres filed as many suits in N. Y. Federal Court: Total damages of $3,360,000 are asked of the eight majors and several theatre circuits. All three actions charge that the majors conspired with each other and certain affiliated chains to dis¬ criminate against the plaintiffs in respect to runs, clearances, rentals and playing conditions among other things. Kearuth Theatres Corp., opera¬ tor of the Rivoli Theatre, Ruther¬ ford, seeks $1,620,000 contending “illegal” practices of the defend¬ ants forced it to.play last run product. Named in this suit, aside from the major distribs, are Smith Management Corp., operator of the S-3 Drive-In, Rutherford, and r- - solidated Theatres, operator of the Allwood Theatre,. Clifton. S.M.P. Theatre Corp., which op¬ erated the Cameo Theatre, New¬ ark, for a “long period of time,” wants treble damages from the d> r - trib defendants as well as Ameri¬ can Broadcasting-Paramount Thea¬ tres and Stanley Warner Theatres. Likewise, same defendants are named in the $840,000 action brought by Arlthe Inc., operator of the Lincoln Theatre, Arlington- Kearny, N. J. Poe Beefs Up IFE List Strengthening its release sked for the coming year, IFE Releas¬ ing Corp. has acquired six fea¬ tures, including three in color and one in Cinemascope. According to Seymour Poe, IFE exec v.p., five of “the six will be re¬ leased in English version. List of pix includes “Roman Tales” (tentative title), in C’Scope and Technicolor ' (Italian); “Sym¬ phony ol' Love,” in Technicolor. This is an Italo version of the life Df Franz Schubert; “Forbidden Fruit,” starring Femandel and Francoise Amaul (French); “Tor¬ pedo Zone,” in Am 2 riean language; “Con Men,” with Broderick Craw¬ ford and Richard Basehart, direct¬ ed by Frederico Fellini; “Fabulous India,” Claude Renoir tinter with American commentary. IFE has just begun to release 'Madame Butterfly,” Techni ver¬ sion of the Puccini opera, and it has set the CinemaScoper “Lest Continent” for 1956 release along with “Neapolitan Carousel.” * Exhib Now Mayor Shamrock, Tex., May 1. Seibert Worley, local thea¬ tre owner, has been elected mayor of this town. It was his first entry into politics. He conducted no active campaign for the office. Worley operates the Texas, Liberty and the Pioneer Drive-In Theatres. Call Ozoners Bad For Real Estate Minneapolis, May 1. After being told by the mayor of a neighboring community that a drive-in theatre would attract “un¬ desirable businesses such as. ham¬ burger stands” and following argu¬ ments that it would decrease sur¬ rounding property values 2 .id cre¬ ate a traffic hazard, the suburban Eden Prairie city council voted two to one to refuse an ozoner per¬ mit. The project would have brought the ninth Twin Cities’ area outdoor theatre. Three more ozoners are in the development stage. Otto W. Kobs, who owns and op¬ erates the only Eden Prairie four- wall theatre, has been trying un¬ successfully for 15 months to get the green light for the ozoner. M. F. Grill, who sold him the proposed site, told the council he had ap¬ proval from the metropolitan air¬ ports commission and the state highway department for the out¬ door theatre, but this availed naught. If 20th Unloads Backlog For Video Twill Be'For' Cash Needs—Skouras Decision by 20th-Fox to unload all or parts of its film library to ■television “will be related \o the corporation’s cash requirements for its development and healthy ex¬ pansion,” Spyros P. Skouras, 20th prexy, told stockholders in the an¬ nual report last week. Skouras acknowledged that 20th had received offers to sell, but noted: “It is to the interest of our stockholders and the corporation not to entertain any such offers un¬ less the price offered is more com¬ mensurate with the true value -of the pictures.” » It's known that 20th has split up its library into 10 packages of 50 pictures each and has been hud¬ dling on them with tv film distribs. Per-package price is said to run to 92,000,000 plus a percentage of the profits. "Management at this time can give no indication as to whether we may in the immediate or dis¬ tant future sell these assets for cash, or distribute our library to television stations through our own distribution, organization, or spin¬ off these, assets, as well as other specific assets, such as the corpora¬ tion’s interest in oil afid gas op¬ erations,” the reported stated. And it added “The management wishes that stockholders realize that no treatment of the specific assets, such as sale or spin-off may over be consummated. 20 th reported drilling its ninth oil well on the studio lot. Current daily production from the wells is in excess of 3,000 barrels of oil and 4,700,000 cubic feet of gas and has a sales value of $8,500. Total gross revenue from produc¬ tion since Feb. 29, 1956, runs 1o -1,013.650, of which 80% or $810, 920 has been applied to drilling and production costs of $3,512,397. A. J. Miller at Path® Lab Arthur J. Miller, formerly direc¬ tor of the American Optical Co.’s motion picture printing depart¬ ment, has been named technical director of Pathe Laboratories. He’ll oversee the lab’s develop¬ ment and improvement of ma¬ chines, techniques and processes and will organize and supervise de¬ velopment methods in Pathe’s new consumer color film branch. i 'OKLAHOMA' HITS NIXON Summer Run Set In Pittsburgh’s Legit House Pittsburgh, May 1. After extensive study by engi¬ neers- confirmed early opinion that Todd A-0 process could be in¬ stalled without the necessity of any physical alternations, Nixon The¬ atre, local legit house, closed a deal last'week to show “Oklahoma” for a summer run. It’ll open around June 7 on a road-show basis, with 14 performances a week. Installation of equipment will begin just as soon as legit season winds up with “Damn Yankees,” which begins a fortnight engage¬ ment on May 7. Nixon manage¬ ment figures “Oklahoma” will be j good for four months. . j Nixon got its feet wet with films recently when Samuel Goldwyn’s “Guys and Dolls” came in end of January for 10 weeks. It was a life- saver for the house, since only one legit attraction was available dur¬ ing all that time, the touring “Bus Stop.” Bill Blair stays on as house man¬ ager for Ihe “Oklahoma” booking, which means that summer opera company at Pitt Stadium will have to look elsewhere for a company' manager, a post Blair has filled for the past two years. German Prophecy Continued from page 3 _ rep, who’s also .head of the tv committee of the SPIO, the Ger¬ man industry org, was skeptical re the establishment in N. Y. of an office to promote German Dix. “It’d cost at least $250,000 a year if it’s to do a decent job,” he observed. “But our pictures only gross be-, tween $5,000 and $20,000 at the most in the U. S. So it just wouldn’t pay.” Apart from that, the German industry doesn’t have the money to do that kind of job, he explained. Schellkopf opined that one way of making German films more palatable to U. S. public would be** to use American actors in stories Acceptable to Americans. He also felt that revival of the UFA would boost the quality of German films. “German producers in recent years didn’t really have a cnance to develop stories properly. ^Every¬ thing had to be done fast,” he said. “Now, with the emergence of a big company, it can take more time to develop the right properties.” Schellkopf didn’t think that quan¬ titatively, the German output would, go up. As for tv, he said it would have a bearing on theatre biz in Ger¬ many once commercial video was introed, probably by the end of next year. At this moment, Ger¬ man tv isn't on a scale to rate con¬ cern ^ith German exhibs. Typical Off-Typing Continued from page 3 of type-casting. Now an independ¬ ent with an Abbott and Costello picture in the works, Goldstein coutends his own experience is the proof of the new thinking. “When Abbott and Costello were at Universal,” says Goldstein, “the studio had an obligation to make a certain number of pictures with them. Every year when the time came around, there would be a stu¬ dio conference and everyone tried to decide on a story idea for the comics. The general theory seemed to be ‘well, they’ve met Franken¬ stein—whom can they meet now’.” Goldstein’s deal with them, he de¬ clares, is a’ result' of the reverse type of thinking: He had a script and decided. Abbott and Costello would be good for the key roles. “This time,:’ he says, “there’ll be no interruption of the story line while a familiar A&C routine is inserted.” Similarly, Goldstein believes, other performers have suffered from the fact that the studio was “obligated” to deliver a script. If they had been successful in three. westerns, the general tendency was to dream up a fourth. But the emancipation of the slaves is not likely to go as far as anarchy. It will still be a little while before you see Marilyn Mon¬ roe in “The Brothers Karamazov.” Clips From Film Row ''"'new YORK , , Charles J. Feldman Drive fin¬ ished Saturday at Universal. Lasted 17 we’eks. Flaherty Awards, due today (Wed.) in tieup with Cinema 16 at Needle Trades Aud. Samuel Friedman sold Palestine and Charles theatres, downtown eastside houses, to a client of Gainsburg, G(ottlieb, Levitan & Cole who’s refurbishing the prop¬ erties. Deal was negotiated through Berk & Krumgold. Harry „ Garfman, business rep for Brooklyn and Queens of IATSE Local 306, named chairman of a midnight theatre party at Randforce’s * Congress' Theatre June 22 for benefit of children af¬ fected with cystic fibrosis. Gilbert Josephson* vet film im¬ porter and exhibitor, and Moe Goldman, operator of a Spanish- language circuit, acquired the Town Theatre, New Rochelle. They’ll run it in an art hous«” policy. MINNEAPOLIS Fiddlers club of film industry salesman and other employes elected Harry Levy, prexy; Bob Hazleton, veepee; John O’Rourke,, treasurer, and Joe Rosen, sergeant- at-arms. W. C. Gehring and Alex Harri¬ son, 20th-Fox Veepee and general sales manager, respectively, sched¬ uled as speakers at North Central Allied' convention here May 15-16. " “The Ladykillers” wound up highly successful seven-week first- run at local Suburban World. “Night My Number Came Up” having Twin Cities’ firstrun at neighborhood Westgate here. Ray Lehrman resigned from United Artists’ sales staff to be¬ come Independent Film Exchange’s sales manager, newly created post. Circuit owner Ted Mann back from. New York where he landed “Richard III” for his Minneapolis and St. Paul . Worlds. Bennie , Berger sought picture for his legit roadshow house, the Lyceum. Fay Dressell, RKO branch man¬ ager, in St. Mary’s hospital for checkup. Russell McCarthy resigned from : Paramount sales staff to join United Artists. - ST. LOUIS Winfred Garner, Dexter, Mo., added a second ozoner to his string via purchase of another near Dex¬ ter from Mrs. C. L. Godwin, who operated the spot since 1950. James Gill took over manage¬ ment of the State, Shawneetown, Ill. For years D. O. Lanham operated house. Fox Midwest Circuit relighted its Roxy, West Frankfort, Ill., as film situation improved. Mark Twain, Perry, Mo., shut¬ tered last February by C. K. Pais¬ ley, now being converted to other use. Another regional meeting of the Missouri Illinois Theatre Owners skedded for Lebanon, Ill., next June. Mrs. Beulah Kohne and Mrs. Frances Shoemaker took over management of the Chandlerville, Chandlerville, Ill., under deal With Floyd Taapken. Howard F. Busey and Elmore Suter, top men of Central Amus. Co., will relight their ozoner near Jacksonville, Ill., in a few weeks. W. E. Horsefield sold his interest in the Victory, Morganfield, • Ky.,. to his partner, Edwin Johnson. Horsefield will continue, to operate his Victory, Sturgis, Ky., Tom, Bailey, St. Louis exchange manager Jor Metro, goes to Kansas City to head the exchange there. Commonwealth Amus. Co., Kan¬ sas City, added another, ozoner to its chain of 76 drive-ins and hard tops in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska by pur¬ chase of ozoner near Fulton, Mo. Commonwealth shelved plans for. a new ozoner near there. Charles Bowles. Russellton, Ky., bought an ozoner near Murray, Mo., from W. F. Sykes. Bowles also operates drive-ins and hard tops hr the Cincinnati and Indian¬ apolis film exchange areas. . Walter Scott is the new owner of the Scott, Golconda, Ill., and will relight the house shortly. Paul Harrington who owns a hardtop in Calbert City, Ky., and a drive-in near there, purchased another ozoner near Kuttawa Springs, Ky., from Russell Wilson. Paul Kruger, prez of Wehren- berg Circuit, bought playground ferris wheels for two of chain’s ozoners as added b.o. bally. James M. Gill now sole owner of the State, Shawneetown, Ill., by purchasing interest of D. O. Lanham with whom he was joint owner for several years. The Prairie, Prairie du Rocher III., shuttered since May 29, 1955! purchased by Lavern J. and Ernie Doiron from Russell More. An ozoner near Winchester, Ill., relighted for current season by Paul Stehman and Tpm Danner. PITTSBURGH Thomas Hicks, Jr., Saxton The¬ atre manager and councilman, named a member of industrial development committee of Broad Top Area Chamber of Commerce. A. J. (Tony) Colose is now op¬ erating the State in Osceola Mills, formerly managed by Charles Pagano. Edwin P. Brown, Wesleyville and Connellsville exhibitor, leased the Lake view Drive-In ^near Erie from Mrs. Thomas Cowell, widow of original builder. Joseph Bresnahan, of Boston, named manager of ABC Drive-In near Conway, succeeding William Powell, who piloted it for five years and is now ad director for Smith Management Co., which „owns the ABC. Blatt Brothers chain bought two .Williamsport ozoners, the Lycom¬ ing, with 800-car capacity, and Starlite, which can hold 700. John A. Blatt Jr., will direct manage¬ ment of both spots. The Eeho Drive-In on Route 51 purchased by . Morris Finkel and Norbert Stern’s Associated The¬ atres from A1 Kurtak; It’s the larg¬ est ozoner in Pittsburgh area and will be operated by the Associated organization, Fred Kunkel, .assistant at the Penn, named manager of Harris circuit’s Perry. Bora Moskowitz. Sharapan, who was employed at RKO 13 years ago, returned to that exchange again in contract department. The DuBois, Pa., local will be host to 32nd annual convention of the IATSE Tristate Assn, at Eagles Hall in Reynojdsville, Pa., June 3. William Finkel, exhibitor for last 41 years, is retiring and sold out ! his interests in Arcade Theatre on Southside and several other hold¬ ings to his brother, Morris Finkel, who operates several houses here. Jim Hall, manager of the Harris in Donora, moved to the Hams in : Tarentum, with Joe Zuggari, assist¬ ant at the Manos in Greensburg, moving up to replace him in Don- ora. Joie Vance, assistant at the Stanley downtown, gets vacated Greensburg spot. Jay Frankenberry, formerly as¬ sistant to Ken Woodward, Union- town city manager; for Manos cir¬ cuit, now managing Moonlite Drive-In, recently acquired by Manos outfit from Steve Danke. Variety Club will take over Schenley Hotel for a Gay Nineties Ball June 30, last day the historic place will operate as an inn before Pittsburgh U, moves in. Abe Joseph, exhib here for 37 years, and Jack Goldstein, trans¬ ferred their Triangle Theatre, East Liberty, to Mervis Brothers cir¬ cuit, which now runs four houses. Joseph expects to remain in the industry but his partner and brother-in-law, Goldstein, will go into another field. PHILADELPHIA Shirley Duglin, branch manag¬ er's Sam Diamond’s secretary at 20th-Fox, resigning after 15 years. “Seven Wonders of World” has sock advance sale at Boj>d. Indus¬ trial groups have bought out 17 entire nights; running into June. Mel Fox bought out Neil Hell- man in the Roosevelt Drive-In. Harvest Moon. Drive-In pur¬ chased. frqm C. F. Beck by Comer- ford circuit. CHICAGO A1 Golden, vet Chi city salesman, left the Metro exchange to join Universal sales staff, here. “Serenade’* due to follow “Alex¬ ander the Great” at Chicago Thea¬ tre, but no date set. LABOR HEARINGS ~ Wage Minima May Embrace Theatre Employees Washington, May 1. Hearings on whether to extend the Federal Minimum Wage Law to cover .service trades and retail business—which would include mo¬ tion picture and legit theatres and other branches of entvtainment— are slated for May 9. Sessions will be conducted by a Senate Labor Subcommittee which is considering several bills on the subject.