Boxoffice-January.08.1955

DELAYING TRADE CONFERENCE
FOR ARBITRATION IRKS ALLIE
Ben Marcus Declares Talks
Could Improve Relations
If Given Priority
CHICAGO—Giving priority to arbitration
over an all-industry conference proposed
several weeks ago by Al Lichtman.
director of sales for
20th Century-Pox, is
a mistake, says Ben
Marcus, president of
National Allied. The
conference could result
in more fair and
equitable distribution
policies and better industry
relations, he
states.
First word that distribution
sentiment fa-
Ben Marcus vored action on arbitration
ahead of the
proposed industry conference came out early
in December. At that time a meeting at the
Motion Picture Ass'n of America called to
discuss plans for the conference was devoted
almost entirely to the arbitration outlook.
Nothing was done about either arbitration or
the industry conference during the holidays.
SKOURAS FAVORS CONFERENCE
When Spyros P. Skouras returned from
Europe just before Christmas, he also said
he was in favor of an early conference and
would attend if one was held. Early in the
week, however, Lichtman admitted that distribution
heads favored action on the arbitration
problem first.
Marcus, along with Abram P. Myers, general
counsel and board chairman, conducted
a meeting here Thursday i6i of the Emergency
Defense Committee. While the decision
of whether to push for the proposed government
regulation bill will be taken by the
entire Allied board when it meets in St. Louis
next month, Thursday's meeting had its significant
pointers along this line, too. Allied
has been collecting data on film rentals,
availabilities and other trade problems, and
the complexion of the information forwarded
from exhibitors will determine to a large
extent the decision of board members on government
regulation.
STATEMENT BY MARCUS
Marcus, in pres.sing for an indu.stry conference,
i.ssued this statement:
"The round table conference between the
heads of production and distribution on one
side and representatives of exhibition on the
other could contribute greatly toward achievement
of a greater understanding between all
branches of the industry. It could result in
more fair and equitable sales policies by distribution
and much greater understanding of
the distributors' problems by exhibition. This
would tend to eventually help complement
the final results for the setting up of arbitration.
It is regrettable that production and
distribution .seem to be thinking in reverse
by placing arbitration prior to this muchdesired
round table conference which met
with such unanimous acceptance by all
—
Divorced Chains Rigl
To Produce Is Soughi
NEW YORK—Theatre Owners of America
has asked the Department of Justice to meet
with a small group of TOA officers to discuss
allowing theatre circuits formerly affiliated
with major distributing companies, and divorced
from them by the consent decree, to
engage in production of pictures.
E. D. Martin, president, said Thursday (6)
that the date of February 13 or 14 was suggested
for the meeting. That is wher TOA
will hold its mid-winter convention in Washington.
He said the government would be told
that TOA would expect "reasonable restraints"
to be imposed on any production by
the circuits to avoid the possibility of a
monopoly.
Martin also said he saw no reason why the
circuits should not also engage in distribution.
If and when the Justice Department grants
the request for a meeting, he will name the
TOA committee.
MeanwhUe, the Exhibitors Film Financial
Group, Inc., sponsored by TOA to supply
finances for independent production, met at
TOA headquarters Thursday to complete
final details for registering the $100 par value
common stock it will sell in all states.
Application for Security Exchange Commission
approval was filed the same day in
Washington. E. D. Martin, president of TOA,
and Benjamin Ti-ustman of Boston, legal aid,
said they hoped for SEC approval within a
branches of the industry, when first suggested
by Mr. Lichtman."
At the meeting Marcus said the EDC is
quite disturbed about the manner in which
Walt Disney is handling distribution of "20,-
000 Leagues Under the Sea," particularly because
there are not any optical prints made
available for theatres not equipped with stereophonic
sound.
The EDC. he stated, has received complaints
from member exhibitors to the effect
E. D. Martin Favors
Arbitration First
New York "1 think it a good idea to
hold back the round table talks proposed
by Al Lichtman until arbitration is
worked out," E. D. Martin, president of
Theatre Owners of America, said Wednesday
(5).
He said arbitration should have priority
because it is "the big matter," and that
other matters could be taken up via round
tables when arbitration is established.
He added that he knew Ben Marcus, National
.•\llied president, felt differently,
but that he could not affree with Marcus.
few days so that plans may be accelerj
When approval is received, a series of
ings will be scheduled throughout the
which two or more of the temporary c
of the company will attend. The firs
be in St. Louis. When sufficient progre
been made toward raising the autl
capital of $10,000,000, stockholders wil
to elect permanent officers.
Martin and Trustman said the EFFG
cation was drawn so broadly that the
pany can indulge in any industry ai
even distribution, but that the chief i
to obtain financial backing from exh
for independent production. They sai(
had the "moral backing" of the large c:
They did not believe it necessary to g
partment of Justice approval.
Temporary offices have been estal
in the Boston headquarters of Sam Pii
Later regular offices will be opened, inc
one on the coast, and personnel engage
First National Bank of Boston is dep
of funds.
Asked about the invitation of Ben i
National Allied president, to TOA to
,
joint actions on exhibitor problems, :
recalled that Walter Reade jr., former
dent, had written Marcus a letter of i
ance and said he had followed up the
letter with one of his own. saying f
awaiting a reply.
that Disney representatives have nc
any of their salesmen call on a great
ber of exhibitors out in the territory
result, many exhibitors have not bougl
ney pictures at all, and numerous ones
some of the films at a very late date. '
fore, the EDC requested that Marcus c
the Disney organization for the purp
correcting this condition, which he w
out to do soon at the February meeti
In addition to discussing the bill pre
at the Milwaukee meeting, they wil
up Allied's plan to have theatre equi
manufactured under its brand nam
distributed by Allied, and Allied's pr
bill for federal regulation of the fU
dustry.
COMPO Ad Says Big Fil
Mean a Happy New Yec
NEW YORK—Exceptionally fine r
pictures will help to make the new j
happy one, readers of Editor & Publishe
told in a Council of Motion Picture Orgi
tion's advertisement in the January 1
:
"The word from Hollywood," the ad
"is that the new pictures coming up ii
are even better than the notably fine
that have been entertaining the Am
people for the last several months."
8 BOXOFFICE January i