Boxoffice-August.16.1965

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Record Numbers of Vermont Tourists
Proving to Be Boon to Exhibitors
By ALLEN M. WIDEM
MONTPELIER. VT.—Analysis of exliibition"s
pace and performance in these
storied Vermont hills, of necessity, must
cite the importance of the recreation industry
to the tiny state's economy.
Recreation is Vermont's second lai-gest
industry, labeled by some traditionalist as
an income-producer without a smokestack.
Elbert G. Moulton, state development
department commissioner, comments that
one-third of the recreational income is
earned in winter montlis, two-thirds during
the summer.
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There are the side benefits of toui'ism,
too. Moulton said in an economics workshop
at the University of Vermont that the
tourist trade provides a stable tax base and
increases land values.
Significantly—and exhibition is benefiting
in modest terms, too—the rush of
travelers has been greater this summer
than before. Record numbers of visitors
are reported at principal sight-seeing centers.
Vei-mont's exhibitors are content to maintain
the bulk of their advertising expenditure
in newspapers, the thinking here being
that moviegoers, per se, are accustomed
to regular perusal of home-town media as
guide to entertainment pm-suits. Ijargescale
ad layouts, as such, appear in the
larger municipalities, most notably Burlington.
While recreation advertising, on a yearround
basis, outpaces amusement expenditures,
exhibitors feel that the ui'gings of
recreation promotion in all media can
influence movie-spending in the general
concept.
Both hardtops and di'ive-ins have employed
window cards in summer months.
Exploitation-wise, large city and smalltown
theatre owners alike would welcome
"star-toui-s," distributor-backed visitors
by "names" and "semi-names," although
exhibitors are quick to admit that the
monetary value generated wouldn't begin
to compare to similar activity in the morepopulous
adjoining states.
It is felt that even an occasional American
International youth tour, with exposui'e
of potential "names," can contribute
immeasurably to exhibition's "image"
in Vermont. But, time and again, spokesmen
told this BoxoFFicE coiTespondent,
distribution has overlooked or by-passed
Vermont and, in essence, the impact of
industry prestige is lessened.
Exhibition here cites the willingness of
major newspapers across the state to cooperate,
spacewise, but distribution hasn't
seen fit to provide the toui'ing manpower to
embellish movie-consciousness. The sporadic
visits by Hollywood-based companies
for Vermont location-filming have proved
popular, to be sure, but the sustained
effort, a couphng of location shooting and
star tours, has to be stepped up to derive
the maximum importance of the film industry
as a major influence across the
and valleys of Vermont.
hills
No new theatre construction projects are
in the offing. At the same time, no closings
are reported. "The Land of Steady Habits"
plods dutifully along in the summer
months, ever hopeful that the industry
will someday decide not to pass it by!
'Core' Opening in Boston
BOSTON— "Rotten to the Core" will open
at the Exeter Wednesday (18), according to
Carl Peppercorn, Cinema V Distributing executive,
vice-president and general sales
manager. Accompanying the Boulting Bros.'
comedy will be "A Home of Yom- Own," the
43 -minute featm-e which also is playing
with "Rotten to the Core" in its cuiTent
world premiere engagement at Cinema I
in New York City.
VERMONT
Tn a letter to the Burlington Free Press, I
a Jericho resident, Raymond G. Huessy,
said he was "disgusted at the sight of
young people, even first and second graders,
frequenting monster and sex movie.s
—out of habit." "Is there no one," he
asked, "who cares that his childi'en grow
up with good taste? Let us provide our
childi'en with wholesome entertainment!
Recently 'Dumbo' was brought here but
was it in a large theatre? No. It was shown
in a hall of 150 seats. Almost all of those; J
who wanted seats, or even standing room,' 1
were turned away. Had to be—the theatre
was just too small. I say, bring good movie.s
to Bui'lington or none at all."
The three features at the University of
Vermont film festival in Bui'lington during
the week beginning August 2 were a movie'
of short stories on each of "The Seven
Deadly Sins," the film based on Sarte's'
play. No Exit," and Walt Disney's "Ichabod!
and Ml-. Toad."
The Trapp Family Singers, whose life
has been the subject of German and American
motion pictures and the Broadway
musical comedy, "The Sound of Music,",
were reunited on the stage in Stowe August
4 for the first time in a decade. The
gathering was in connection with a weeklong
Festival of Music honoring Maria Von
Trapp and her family, who have a big
fainn in Stowe and conducted a music
camp in the area for a number of summers.
Young Italian Actress
Signed by Mirisch
From Western Edition
'
HOLLYWOOD—Giovanna Ralli, young
Italian star, has been signed by the Mirisch
Corp. to a three-picture contract, it was
announced today by Harold Mii-isch, president
of the independent film-making organization,
who simultaneously revealed that
the actress will make her American film
bow in Blake Edwards' new comedy, "What
Did You Do in the War, Daddy?"
She joins James Cobuin, Dick
|
Shawn,'
Aldo Ray and countryman Sergio Pantoni
in the film, which producer-director-writer
Edwards will launch in September for,
United Artists release.
A comedy set against a World War II
background, "What Did You Do in the War,
Daddy?" is the first of a series of films Edwards
will make for the Mirisch organization.
Screen Gems Forms Film
Sales Department
From Eastern Edition
NEW YORK—Screen Gems has formed
a new film sales department to syndicate
television film properties produced outside
this country to U.S. stations, according to
Lloyd Burns, vice-president in charge of
international operations.
;
Screen Gems has named WUliam Hart, (
who has served as midwestern sales manager
for the syndication division since 1961,
eastern sales manager of Screen Gems
syndication, replacing Dan Goodman, who
is now du-ector of syndication sales, according
to Roger Seidelman, vice-president
in charge of syndication.
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BOXOFFICE :: August 16, 1965
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