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27 Post '48s Included
In Fox Package for TV
NEW YORK—TweiUy-scvcii post-1948
features are included in a new package of
81 acquired from 20th Century-Pox by
National Telefilm Associates for distribution
to television. The other 54 were produced
prior to 1948. The 27 constitute the
first group of post-'48 20th-Fox features
made available to TV.
The deal was announced jointly by
Spyros P. Skouras. president of 20th-Fox,
and Oliver A. Unger, NTA president. August
22. It followed a statement by Skouras
to exhibitors and stockholders that previous
sales to TV had been a mistake. It
was assumed that stockholder pressure
forced the NTA deal. The price was in
excess of $4,000,000.
MORE LATE VA RELEASES
At the same time, more post-1948 films
became available to TV through an announcement
by Erwin H. Ezzes, executive
vice-president of United Artists Associated,
that UAA will begin immediate distribution
of the "Boxoffice 26." a new group of
very recent UA features. Ezzes stressed the
value to TV presentations of still familiar
promotion campaigns conducted for theatrical
showings by United Artists.
Regarding the 20th-Fox contract, NTA
said that in the last five years, prior to the
new agreement. 20th-Fox had made available
to TV, through NTA, 471 motion pictures.
It said the new features were being
offered to TV stations for dates commencing
Jan. 1. 1961, and it is known that bidding
for them has started.
The post- '48 20th-Pox films include "All
About Eve," "Come to the Stable," "The
Gunfighter." "A Letter to Three Wives,"
"Mr. 880," "12 O'clock High," "Panic in
the Streets," "Pinky," "Down to the Sea
in Ships" and "Father Was a Fullback."
Among the earlier films are "Berkeley
Square." "Cavalcade," "Marie Galente,"
"The Power and the Glory" and "Caravan."
Among the stars in the featui'es are
James Mason. Gregory Peck, Gary Grant.
James Stewart, Maureen O'Hara, Spencer
Tracy, Richard Widmark, Jeanne Crain,
Paul Douglas, Fred MacMuiTay. Edward
G. Robinson, Loretta Young, Tyrone Power,
Burt Lancaster, Jack Palance, Susan
Hayward. Anne Baxter and Bette Davis.
AMONG THE UA TITLES
"Boxoffice 26" includes "The Barefoot
Contessa." starring Ava Gardner and
Humphrey Bogart: "King and Four
Queens," starring Clark Gable and Eleanor
Parker: "Attack," starring Jack Palance
and Eddie Albert: "Bandido," starring
Robert Mitchum: Otto Preminger's "St.
Joan, "Comanche," starring Dana Andrews
and Linda Cristal: "The Monte
Carlo Story." starring Marlene Dietrich.
and "Baby Face Nelson." starring Mickey
Rooney.
Additional features in the UA package
present Hugh O'Brian, John Payne, Sterling
Hayden, Raymond Burr. Edmond
O'Brien, Lee Marvin and John Bromfield.
Ezzes said that UAA is currently distributing
to TV more than 1,900 features
of which more than 400 are post- '48s.
A few weeks ago, Warner Bros, prepared
to dispose of more than 100 post-'48 films
to Creative Telefilms & Artists, and Columbia
has said recently it will dispose of
.some similar product to TV later in the
year. Universal -International's intentions
are not known. It has placed pre-'48 product
with Screen Gems. Indications are
Paramount will retain its films for possible
pay TV use by Telemeter. MGM is said to
be investigating pay TV as an outlet.
Musicians Union Intensifies
Drive on Posf-'48 Films
NEW YORK—The American Federation
of Musicians has enlarged its drive
against the transfer of post-1948 theatrical
films to television without AFM approval
to include all sellers and purchasers.
In a statement issued Tuesday i23i.
Herman Kenin. president, said the union
will exercise "full legal rights" in connection
with films "made under contractual
agreements with the union wherein their
transfer to television exhibition without
prior consultation with the federation is
contemplated."
The union previously asked the Federal
District Court to halt a Warner Bros,
transfer of post- 1948 films to Creative
Telefilms & Artists, Ltd., of Toronto. Warner
Bros, followed with the filing of a
counteraction asking dismissal of the suit
on the ground that its contract with AFTVI
ended in 1958 when the union lost jurisdiction
over Hollyw'ood musicians to the
Musicians Guild of America. The court
adjourned the hearing from Tuesday '23>
for one week.
Warner Bros, also claimed in court Tuesday
that there was political motive behind
the AFM suit since an election involving
MGA has been set by the National Labor
Relations Board for September 7 in Hollywood.
The Kenin statement said the union had
"recently advised the National Broadcasting
Co. and Columbia Broadcasting System
of our determination to protect our rights
under law," and that the union will proceed
promptly against all sellers or purchasers
"as we have proceeded recently
against Warner Bros."
Chakeres Original Backer
Of ACE Production Fund
NEW YORK—The name of Phil Chakeres.
president of Chakeres Theatres.
Springfield. Ohio, was inadvertently omitted
by the American Congress of Exhibitors
in its last week's listing of original
subscribers to its production fund. ACE
has since stated that upon notification of
the start of the fund. Chakeres forwarded
his check for $25,000. asking that his circuit
be entered on the records as among
the first to subscribe.
All-Time High Gross
For 1960 Foreseen
NEW YORK—An all-time high motion
picture gross for 1960 is forecast by Albert
E. Sindlinger, president of Sindlinger
& Co.. market analysts.
"The nationwide theatre gross has already
reached the 1946 level, the motion
picture industry's peak year." Sindlinger
said, "despite the fact that attendance at
the nation's motion picture theatres in
the first seven months of this year ran
6.5 per cent behind the same period of
1959."
He said this apparent paradox has been
caused by the fact that the average admission
price in 1960 is averaging 69 cents.
In 1959 it was 60 cents, when 224 films
brought in a theatre gross of $1.361 -million,
only 12 per cent less than 1946's record,
$l,499.5-milIion.
Sindlinger noted an upswing in attendance,
stating: "In the last week of July,
the nation's motion picture theatres
played to more people than at any time in
the last four years. Early August attendance
is ahead of the same period in 1959.
These circumstances, coupled with the
facts there will be at least five more advanced
admission pictures released before
the end of the year, leads us to estimate
that the nationwide theatre gross could
reach $l,500-million or more in 1960.
"Since the motion picture public is becoming
more and more selective each
year," Sindlinger further said, "it will
readily pay advanced prices to see the motion
pictures it wants to see the most. Individual
motion pictures today can bring
in more money to the nation's boxoffice
and return more film rental to the producer
than ever before."
Big N. Y. Theatre Demand
For Anti-Pay TV Petitions
NEW YORK—An additional supply of
petitions in the anti-pay TV Congressional
campaign has been sought by local
theatres even before receipt of the distribution
originally planned, according to
Philip F. Harling. chairman of the Joint
Committee Against Pay TV.
Loews Theatres and RKO Theatres and
the major Broadway houses requested the
additional supply. It will be furnished
them through Theatre Owners of America
and the Metropolitan Motion Picture
Theatre Ass'n.
Kits are being sent to all U. S. theatres,
with completion of distribution set for
Thui'sday < 1 ) . Theatre managers will
collect signatures for at least ten days and
will also solicit petitioiis from outside
groups.
Hartford Citizens Signing
Anti-Pay TV Petitions
NEW YORK—Hartford citizens started
signing petitions to their Congressmen
this past week, signifying their opposition
to pay-as-you-see television. Philip Harling.
chairman of the Joint Committee
Against Pay TV, said that the public in the
Connecticut city needed very little persuasion
to sign the petitions and that 60,000
put their names to the papers in the first
two days.
8 BOXOFFICE :: August 29, 1960