Boxoffice-April.07.1958

ITO OF ARKANSAS ASKS BLOCK
ON POST-48 FILM SALES TO TV
Jameyson Plan for Buying
Producer Stock Favored
At Convention
HOT SPRINGS— It's the consensus of
Arkansas' independent theatre owners that
post -1948 films should not be sold to television.
What effect the sale of a backlog of old
movies to TV has had on the motion picture
business was discussed at the final day's
session of the Independent Theatre Owners
of Ai'kansas' 39th annual convention at the
Velda Rose Motel.
REVIEWS
JAMEYSON PLAN
M. S. McCord of North Little Rock, head of
United Theatres, reviewed the Sindlinger report
and the Jameyson plan, both of which
have been well-received by theatre owners
throughout the nation.
McCord explained that the ,Sindlinger
business analyst firm of Philadelphia has
been conducting a dollar analysis of the motion
picture industry at the request of the
Theatre Owners of America. The Sindlinger
report shows that theatre exhibitors have
suffered $200,000,000 losses in admissions and
the film companies have lost $73,000,000
through sale of old films to television.
McCord endorsed the Jameyson plan which
provides for common stock acquisition by
theatre ownei-s in motion picture producing
companies so that they will have a voice in
the management of the concerns, especially
with reference to disposition of old movies.
McCord said he objected to the so-called
Stellings plan which would create a nonprofit
trust by owners to purchase post-1948 films
to keep them away from television. He said:
"This would call for the unified cooperation
of all exhibitors in the country and in my
40 years in the business I've never known
this to happen."
"And this plan would put us in direct bidding
com{>etition with TV. Past performances
prove that only 20 per cent of the films produced
each year are of such a caliber to warrant
reruns. What would the distributors do
with the other 80 per cent?"
EXPLAINS PRE-1948 SALES
Roscoe, the TOA representative, explained
why "post-1948" is the dividing line on old
movies: "Up to 1948, film companies could
sell their products without making any deals
with guilds or unions. But on all productions
released after 1948, the guilds and unions
share in any money received from television."
J. Fred Brown of Fort Smith, who was reelected
to his third term as president, said
"Arkansas theatre owners feel very definitely
that no releases of post-1948 films should be
made to TV, and that is the thinking of most
all theatre owners in the country."
In addition to Brown, Roy Cochran of
North Little Rock was re-elected executive
vice-president: Miss Nona White of Little
Rock, was renamed secretary-treasurer. K. K.
King of Searcy will again head the board of
directors.
District vice-presidents were named as fol-
These three officers were re-elected by the Independent Theatre Omiers of
Arkansas at the closing business session of the ."Jflth annual convention in Hot Springs.
Left to right: J. Fred BroHTi, Fort Smith, president; Miss Nona White, Little Rock,
secretary -treasurer, and Roy Cochran, North Little Rock, vice-president.
lows: Gordon Hutchens of Russellville, J. J.
Hitt of Bentonville, Adrian White of Pocahontas.
James McWilliams of El Dorado, Lloyd
Pillen of Little Rock, and Clyde Bradley of
Mountain Home.
Jeff Williams of Hot Springs and Chickasha,
Okla., noted after-dinner speaker, addressed
the luncheon session. A banquet and
dance Tuesday night at Belvedere Club
closed the convention.
Theatre owners and operators should not
be afraid of the prospect of toll television,
but should fight it "intelligently, diligently
and with courage," George Roscoe, New
Vork, field representative of the Theatre
Owners of America, said at the Tuesday
session. Roscoe called toll or pay television
"one of the most controversial subjects affecting
the entertainment habits and welfare
of every community."
"The matter is one of great interest not
only to theatre owners but to the American
public as well," he said. "Every poll has
revealed that the general public opposes pay
TV by better than 25 to one, yet the resistance
of the big gadget promoters who are
using every political and propaganda means
to promote the collection of a fee from
home TV owner.s must be overcome."
TOA is on record as opposing toll television
in any form. This includes cable TV
as well as using the air waves to can'y the
picture.
"Too often we have heard the expression
that theatre men have a selfish interest in
opposing toll TV," Roscoe said. "Once and
for all, I wish to state categorically that if
a person fights to protect his business and
uses every legal and persuasive argument to
preserve that which he has built, that person
is not selfish but, on the contrary, is to be
admired and acknowledged as a good and
substantial citizen.
"The closing of a theatre in a community
or neighborhood not only affects the owner
and operator, but causes the nearby restaurants
and shops to lose business also. The
theatre is more or less the hub of the downtown
ai-ea at night. It is the drawing card
that gets people downtown not only to see
a movie, but to eat and to window shop. With
the theatre closed, these people stay at home
and the other businesses lose customers."
In speaking of the social changes he .said
toll TV could bring about Roscoe said: "A
man and his family aren't going to go out
Vfry much for other forms of entertainment
if they already have money invested in pay
TV." He concluded ov saying that toll television
could not "prouuce any better programs
than are already on the air."
Phil Harling, New York City, executive of
the Fabian Theatres, who was scheduled to
address the convention on toll television, was
unable to attend due to illness.
The annual banquet was held Monday
night.
Harvey Posert, Chicago, research director
of the Theatre Screen-Advertising Bureau,
also addressed the opening session at a luncheon
Monday noon, telling the delegates that
"a recent survey indicates persons remember
to a high degree the advertising they see on
the screen."
He quoted from a survey conducted by
Sindlinger & Co., a business analysis firm,
which revealed that as high as 72 per cent
of those per.sons who had seen screen advertising
within a week remembered it. The
study, Posert said, was made on 18.519 drivein
theatre patrons and reflected that women
.•showed a 10 per cent higher recall rate
than men.
A closed board meeting was held Monday
morning.
Elvis to Ft. Hood
MEMPHIS—Two sideburns lighter and a
pair of size 12 combat boots heavier. Private
Elvis Presley of the United States Army has
been shipped by truck to Fort Hood, Tex., for
eight weeks of basic training. Ft. Chaffee,
Ark., sent Elvis with a truckload of other
draftees to Ft. Hood.
Warners' "Bull by the Tail," formerly
titled "Rio Bravo," will star John Wayne.
BOXOFFICE April 7, 1958 SE-1