Boxoffice-08.01.1960

ACE MOVING TO GET CLOSER'
TO GRASS-ROOTS EXHIBITION
Plan Is to Permit Ideas
From Field to Reach
Top Echelon Quicker
VIRGINIA BEACH. VA—The American
CoiiRress of Exhibitors is going ahead with
a reorganization of
its stmcture in the
exchange areas so
that each exhibitor
with a suggestion can
get it rapidly before
the executive committee.
Emanuel
Frisch. an alternate
member of the committee,
told the convention
of the Virginia
Motion Picture
Emanuel Friscb Theatre Ass'n here
Thursday. July 28.
Frisch Is treasurer of the Randforce
Amusement Corp. of New York.
EXPECT FOURTH MILLION SOON
Reporting substantial progress in raising
a third $1,000,000 for the production
fund. Frisch said ACE expected to start
soon on accumulating sub.scriptions for a
fourth $1,000,000. In reviewing the progress
to date, he said the first step was to talk
to the big circuits with the result that
Loew's Theatres, National Theatres, American
Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres.
RKO Theatres and Stanley Warner put
up $400,000 each, so there is now $2,000,-
000 in the bank.
"Why did the committee pick on the
big circuits?" Frisch asked. "Well, the
shortage hurts them more than it hurts
any other exhibitors. They have a greater
need, a greater worry, a greater load to
carry than individual exhibitors. They
have thousands of theatres and therefore
thousands of headaches.
"The exhibitor with one theatre has just
one headache but that headache is just as
important to him as every one of the great
number of theatres are to the bigger circuits.
"What does it mean to the individual
exhibitor if the big chains are willing to
their cash for the proposition that exhibition
ri.sk
can organize a company which
will produce pictures or cause pictures to
be produced and so relieve the chronic
booking trouble that tortures theatre operation?
TO PROMOTE MORE FILMS
"It means that ACE has arranged the
all-out cooperation of financial leadership
which is willing to shoulder the risk along
with every other exhibitor. It means that
ACE, having organized all exhibition into
one national unit, is now organizing the
resources of all exhibition to ensure the
one item without which exhibitors cannot
live—more pictures. This production company
will not be the exclusive property of
a small group of exhibitors. Every thea-
VMPTA Urges All Exhibitor Groups
To Unite Into Single Organization
VIRGINIA BEACH. VA.—A call for
all national organizations which are
composed in full or in part of exhibitors
to unite in a single association
was issued in a resolution adopted by
the board of directors of the Virginia
Motion Picture Theatre Ass'n at the
annual convention held here this
week.
A single exhibitor organization
would be more effective, conserve on
manpower and operate more economically
than the present situation in
which a number of organizations function
on behalf of theatremen. the
tre owner can become a part of it and
have a voice in running it."
Frisch said ACE is working on many
other projects that can't be reported now
because publicity might hurt them or because
progress has not reached the stage
of announcement.
"There is not much sen.se in just telling
you. for instance." he said, "that we hope
to get some concessions from some government
agency when such an achievement
is some time away."
He followed the remark with the comment
that a special ACE subcommittee
had alei-ted the Department of Justice to
film company talks of affiliation with a
toll TV company, believing there could be
an investigation in line with antitrust
laws.
"Maybe it is coincidental," he added,
"but from what we have been able to dis-
Reports 20th-Fox Offered
Levine Block of Its
Films
NEW YORK—Reports that 20th
Century-Fox has been wooing Joseph
E. Levine for a possible executive
berth with the company have some
basis of fact, but chances for the finalization
of such a deal are slim—at
least for the time being.
According to an Embassy spokesman.
20th-Fox offered a group of its
pictures to Levine who would sell and
exploit them in his own fashion. The
pictures would be turned over to
Levine as his own properties, with
20th-Fox retaining an interest in the
form of a percentage of the gross.
With two pictures in which Levine
has a coproduction participation, plus
acquisition of other films, it appears
that he will have his hands full for
many months to come, before he could
consider any outside proposition.
resolution declared.
The directors also adopted resolutions
authorized appointment
which 1 1 1 of a committee to confer with
National Screen Service to determine
company policy as to charges for
trailers and accessories when Columbia
Pictures starts charging for its
own trailer-accessory service; and i2i
protested to film distributors again
about an increasing number of bad
prints, and asked the film companies
to release prints to civilian theatres
ahead of military establishment theatres
where prints are mutilated.
cover, the plans being discussed with the
toll TV company have been dropped, at
least for the moment."
Frisch reviewed anti-toll TV campaign
plans aimed at outlawing any form of pay
TV as being contrai-y to the public interest.
He said that a plan to petition
Congress will be announced soon and that
it should have backing of all exhibitors.
Va. Exhibitors Told
How to Help Selves
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA.—Exhibitors can
do much to resolve their product problem,
the convention of the Virginia Motion Picture
Theatre Ass'n was told by Walter
Reade jr., past president of Theatre Owners
of America and keynote speaker.
Reade urged the smaller finns to give
product greater playoff opportunity, either
as equal billing or second feature. Noting
that it is the entertaiiiment value that
counts, he said that a picture of sufficient
quality and lacking a big name cast should
be given every opportunity for as wide a
playoff as possible.
Reade also made the following suggestions:
• "An exhibitor today has an opportunity
to encourage production through his
investment in the Motion Pictui-e Investors,
Inc.
• "When the 'Fabian plan' is put into
effect, exhibitors will be in a position to
offer their full support.
• "There are many opportunities for
exhibitors to invest in individual productions
on a personal basis. There is a great
deal of talent, both in the writing, directing,
producing and acting areas, just waiting
for the necessai-y financial support to
translate their ideas into finished films."
SW Board 'Votes Dividend
NEW YORK—The Stanley Warner
Corp. board has declared a dividend of 30
cents a common share, payable August
25 to stockholders of record August 10.
BOXOFFICE :: August 1, I960