Boxoffice-March.09.1964

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TOA URGES CONCERTED EFFORT
TO CORRECT INDUSTRY ILLS
Use of 'Latent Power'
Advocated by Pres.
John H. Rowley
CITY—Theatre Owners of
America should continue to try "with every
means at our command"
to make a
concerted effort to
alleviate the ills of
the motion picture
industry. John H.
Rowley, TOA president,
told the midwinter
meeting of the
board of directors and
executive committee
in the Muehlebach
Hotel here Monday
1 2
John H. Rowley
1 . Rowley urged
TOA to "take a good
look at what is happening in our
and then take advantage of our
power."
latent
Pointing out that over the years, the orhad
been regarded as not being
concerned with trade practices—the
day-to-day business relationships between
buyer and seller—Rowley emphasized.
"TOA. in order to grow, must be responsive
to the wishes of its membership. Why
have a TOA unless it can accomplish things
that the individual cannot?"
He said TOA cannot and should not buy
for the individual members, but that
iit should be concerned with the general
trends and relationships among producers,
distributors and exhibitors.
Reviewing TOA activities since the last
board meeting in October, Rowley then
commented on the Hollywood Preview Engagement
plan and the three campaigns
in which the organization participated.
The program has been held in abeyance,
he said, because of the present product outlook,
which looked promising through the
summer. He said the program would not
be abandoned, but would be held in readiness
in the event the product situation
should change, adding that TOA had demonstrated
that pictures in so-called off
'seasons can do creditable business provided
they are properly exploited and given sufficient
exhibitor support.
< Speaking Tuesday at the Show-A-
Rama VII convention here, Rowley again
emphasized that TOA was taking a long,
hard look at certain trade practices and
the threat of pay TV. He called attention
to the construction and remodeling siu'-
vey published by BoxoFncE and warned
that a situation should be thoroughly
studied before new theatres were built, lest
such construction upset a delicate balance
of competition. In addition, he made reference
to negotiations currently under way
for merging of TOA and AUied States
Ass'n.i
Exhibition, he said, could not expect relief
in the television area, with Paramount.
Universal. MOM and other companies making
new packages available to TV. and
Allied-TOA Committee
To Study Merger
Kansas City—Jack Armstrong, president
of Allied States Ass'n, and John
H. Rowley, president of Theatre Owners
of America, named a joint committee
on Tuesday (3) here to further
explore plans and study the possibility
of the creation of a new national exhibitor
trade association. The committee
consists of four representatives
from each organization, who will meet
at an early date.
In addition, the presidents of the associations
announced that TOA and Allied,
after approval by their boards of
directors, would act jointly to protest
to each distributor the current practice
of blind-bidding, Armstrong and
Rowley said that if the practice were
not discontinued, the two organizations
would take such joint action as
deemed appropriate and necessary.
since the economics of the industry made
it virtually impossible to prevent such sales.
It was hoped, he told the board, that these
sales would be regulated and controlled to
have the minimum effect on product.
Admitting that the Premiere Showcase
Plan, such as instituted in New York,
threatened to change distribution patterns
as a whole, he said the final verdict on
the formula had not been made and it might
be too early for TOA to take an official
stand on the overall plan. But, he said, it
would be watched and studied .so that its
beneficial or harmful effects could be
weighed and judged.
Audience Award Plan,
Kiddie Films Probed
KANSAS CITY—The Theatre Owners of
America board of directors and executive
committee, meeting here Monday i2i. considered
methods to alleviate the shortage
of suitable pictures for children's matinees.
Robert W. Selig. vice-president of National
General Corp., reported that some interest
had been expressed by groups who might
be vvilliag to subsidize the production of
suitable programs.
A Congressman. Selig said, told him the
Small Business Administration might partially
finance such a program. Additionally,
he said, several philanthropic organizations
indicated they might partially subsidize
a program. The most likely source.
Selig said, might come from an arrangement
with Soupy Sales, a television personality
with a strong kiddle following.
One plan, he continued. In which local
personalities could tie in with Soupy Sales
on a stage-screen idea and including a
serial type program by Sales, has gone far
enough to attract the interest of a bank for
financing.
The TOA board and executive committee
endorsed the idea and asked Selig to
study It further. The board also voted to
continue development of a final Audience
Award Poll plan for a possible national
audience poll at the earliest possible time.
George G. Kerasotes, chairman of the
Production Code liaison committee, hailed
the expansion of The Green Sheet and the
TOA board passed a resolution pledging its
support to the expansion program. The directors
reaffirmed the Washington declaration
of March. 1961, pledging adherence
to the Production Code and to the principle
that films were entitled to the full
protection offered by the Constitution
and authorizing continuance and expansion
in scope of the TOA Film Content
Informational Service.
Kerasotes reported that Geoffrey Shurlock
of the Production Code Administration
admitted that film advertising appeared
to be a sore spot and that If exhibitors
complained loud and often
enough, the quality of advertising would
be forced to improve. The board voted for
the appointment of a subcommittee to
work closely with the Advertising Code
Administration on matters of advertising
content.
Lamar Sarra. chairman of the legislation
committee, reported that plans are continuing
on a campaign for repeal of the
admission tax. John Broumas. chairman
of the membership committee, said 38 new
individual members had joined TOA since
the October convention and that 30 were
added with the joining of the Glen Dickinson
circuit in the Kansas City area.
M. A. Kmcey reported there were Congressional
bills up for consideration on the
daylight time issue, and that John Rowley,
TOA president, will appoint a committee
to study all aspects of the fast-time
problem.
The board recommended the use of
patriotic trailers in theatres and discussed
other Issues such as pay television, community
antenna systems and non-theatrical
competition.
Texas COMPO Board Votes
To Afiiliate With TOA
KANSAS CITY—Members of the executive
board of Texas Council of Motion Picture
Organizations have voted to affiliate
with TOA, it was announced here Monday
i2i by John Rowley, TOA president and
a member of the Texas COMPO board. The
TOA directors officially welcomed the
Texas group as well as the new Indiana
uirit which became a member at the October
TOA convention.
Texas COMPO will continue to maintain
Its local Identity while performing tasks
Involving both exhibitor and general Industry
problems on the state and national
levels.
Commenting on the new affiliation, John
H. Stembler. TOA board chairman, said;
"TOA has added another strong link. This
orgaiiization has been a power house in all
industry affairs and we are mighty proud
and happy to have such an aggressive
group in our fold."
BOXOFFICE March 9, 1964