V

THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY
Published In Nine Sectional Editions
Edncr-m-Chie: and Publisher
BEN SHLYEN
JESSE SHLYEN Mananing Editor
MORRIS SCHLOZMAN ...Business Mgr.
GARY KABRICK Equipment Editor
Publication Offices: 825 Van Brunt Blvd.,
Iwnsas City. »li). 64124. (810) 241-7777
Eastern Offices: 1270 Skth Avenue, Suite
2403, IJockefeller Center, New York, N.Y.
10020. (212) 265-6370.
Western Offices: 6425 Hollywood Blvd.
Suite 211, Holl.vwood. Calif., 90028.
(213) 465-1186.
London Office—Anlhony Gruner, 1 Woodberry
Way. Finchley, N. 12, Telephone
Hillside 6733.
THE MOUDUN THEATRE Section Is
included in one issue each month.
Albuquerque: Chuck AHttlestadl, Boi
8514, Station C.
Atlanta: Geneiieve Camp, 186 Lindbergh
Drive, N.E. 30305.
Ballimore: Kate Savage, 3607 Sprlngdale
.Vvc.. 21216.
Boston: Erne.st Warren, 1 Colgate Itoad,
Needhara. Mass. 021U2.
Charlotte: Blanche Carr, 912 B. Park Ave.
Chicago: Frances B. Clow, 176 North
Kenilwortli. Oak I'ark, III. 60302. Tele.
(312) 383-8343.
Cincinnati: Fiances Hanford, 3433 Clifton
Ave. 45220. Teelphone 221-8654
Cleveland: Lots Baumoel, 15700 Van Aken
Blvd., Shaker Heights. Ohio 44120.
Columbus: Fred Oestreicher. 47 W. Tulane
lid., 43202.
Dallas: Mable Gulnan, 5927 Winton.
Denver: Bruce Marshall. 2881 S. Cherry
Way 80222.
Dea Moines: Anna Lee Poffenberger, 20OO
Grand Ave., West Des Moines 50265.
Detroit: Vera Phllllpe. 131 ESIiott St..
West. Wind.sor, ()nt. N9A 5V8.
Hartford: Allen M. Wldem, 30 Pioneer
Drive, W. Hartford 06117, 232-3101.
Indianapolis: Daniel L. Kohlman, 3416
W. Washington 46222.
Jacksonville: Robert Cornwall, 3233 College
St., 32205. Tele. (904) 389-5144.
Memphis: Kaye T. Adams, 3041 Kirkcaldy
Itoad 38128. 357-4562.
Miami: Martha Lummus. 622 N.E. 98 St.
Milwaukee: Wally L. Meyer, 3453 North
I5tb St., 53206. LOcust 2-5142.
Minneaiiolls: Bill Dlehl, St. Paul Dispatch.
63 E. 4tb St., St. Paul. Mhin.
New Orleans: Mary Greenbaum. 2303
Mendcz St. 70122.
Oklahoma City: Eddie L. Oreggs, 1106
N.W. 37th St.. Oklahoma City. Okla.
73118. Telephone (405) 528-2888.
Philadelphia: Maurie H. Orodetiker, 312
W. Park Towne Place. 19130. Tele.
(215) 567-4748.
Phoenix; Chris Koruga, 4111 E. Camelb:iek
No. 10. 85018.
Pittsburgh: R. F. Kllngensmith, 616
Je.mette, Wilkinsburg 15221. Telephone
412-241-2809.
Portland. Ore.: Carl Eugene Koch. 11601
Southeast Foster Road, 97266.
St, Louis: Fan R. Krause. 818A Longacre
Drive, St. Louis, Mo. 63132. Tele.
(314) 991-4746.
Salt Lake City: Keith Perry. 264 E. 1st
South. 84111. Tele. (801) 328-1641.
San Antonio: Gladys Candy. 619 Cincinnati
Ave. 782-5833.
San Francisco: Kathleen MacKenzie, 644
Golden Gate Ave., 94102. Telephone
(415) 441-5500.
Seattle: Stu Goldman. 4273 Woodland
Park Ave. North 98103. Telephones:
(206) 634-3090 or 782-5833.
Washington: Virginia R. Collier, 6112
Connecticut Ave., N.W. EM 2-0892.
IN CANADA
Calgary: Ma.vine McBean. 3811 Edmonton
Trail N.E. T2E 3P6.
Montreal: Tom Cleary, Association des
Proprietaires de CMnemas dn Quetoec,
3720 Van Home, Suite 4-6. n3S 1Z7.
Ottawa: Abby Hagyard. 235 Cooper
St., Apt. 2. K2P 002. Tele (613)
238-3913.
Toronto: .1. W. Agnew. 274 St. John's
Rd.. MOP IV5.
Vancouver: Jimmy Davie, 3246 W. 12th.
V6K 2R8.
Winnipeg: Robert Hucal, 600-232 For-
(nse Ave. R3C OBI.
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Published weekly, except one issue at
yearend. by Associated Publications. Inc.,
825 Van Brunt Blvd.. Kansas City, Missouri
64124. Subscription rates: Sectional
Edition, $10.00 per year: foreign. $15.00.
National Executive Edition, $15.00; foreign,
$20.00. Single Copy, 50c Second
class postage paid at Kansas City, Mo.
Vol. 106
MARCH 17,
No. 23
1975
FROM
PROBLEMS SEEKING SOLUTION
time to time, we receive letters
from exhibitors who tell us of the
problems they are having in obtaining
films that have not been shown on TV.
Anca the problem is aggravated when they
finfS that a picture currently booked is
slated for TV showing at the same time.
In recent weeks we have received calls
from a number of
theatremen who expressed
great concern over the escalation
of telecasts of top feature films, with
many telling us of attendance drop-offs
that coincided with the airing of major
motion pictures on "the tube."
Attributing this, not only to the primetime
showings of prime film product on
TV, but also to the public curiosity about
new midyear TV programs (although
many of the latter have proved to be
busts and are being canceled) , exhibitors
expressed doubts about further theatrical
drawing power of some of the features
which have received video exposure. Their
big concern, however, was over the future,
because the producer-distributors
were making it possible for TV to be more
competitive to theatres than ever. And
they are dreading the time when some
of the recent blockbusters make their appearance
on prime-time TV. That, of
course, already has begun!
"Just imagine," said one of these theatremen,
"what will happen to our attendance
on the nights that such films are
telecast! We know from what we already
have experienced that we can expect
empty houses. Furthermore, the 'lift' this
will give to TV, as examples of the quality
entertainment it is offering, inevitably
will generate increased TV-watching at
other times."
This is a great business, as we have said
enthusiastically on many occasions. But
as much as we love it, we don't always
understand it. Among the reasons is one
that seems to be a congenital fault—the
playing of both ends against the middle
—that so much holds back the industry's
progress. The seeming total disregard for
the buyer on the part of the seller that
deters any effort to build for tomorrow;
the disregard for the needs of those who
helped to build up faltering distribution
companies by giving them playdates for
unworthy product, only to find they now
have to bid for the chance to play good
product when it comes along, is indeed
enigmatic!
What brings this about? The fast buck!
Policies and practices are made and broken
to gather in the fast buck; and when
one angle no longer works, another readily
is brought into play.
Ever since the inception of TV, the play
has seemed to go in its direction. While
pictures no longer are being sold to TV
in entire inventories—as in the first
breakthrough—those that are being sold
are selective—choice product that is as
many times stronger in detraction value
for theatres as the price is many times
more than when such sales were made in
the dozens.
Vintage product, some two and three
decades old, with which the sales to TV
were started, became "younger and
younger" with each passing year. Exhibitors
pleaded for "clearance" over TV of at
least five years and some promises in that
regard were made. But now, films as recent
as last month's are appearing on
TV (and on CATV in many areas—on a
regular basis) and on prime time.
This might have less, or little, effect on
theatre attendance if the product for
theatres were strengthened, (Quality-wise,
as urgently as the need to meet the added
strength theatrical product is giving to
TV.
Producer-distributors have their problems,
too, some of which are caused by
practices engendered by exhibitors. But
the amelioration of these problems is beginning
to take hold and the chance for
overcoming them is growing. However,
the density of the "woods" surrounding
TV competition is, by far, more difficult
to penetrate.
If the motivation of producer-distributors
toward increasing sales of top-quality
films to TV is being conducted in their
need for the financing of filmmaking for
the theatrical market, the exhibitors need
to find a solution to that problem. Exhibitor
investment in picture company
stocks has been suggested as one approach
to a solution. If this can be permitted
in the instance of a TV entity buying
a filmmaking company to pi'oduce
pictures for its needs; if the three major
networks can finance the making of films
(as they are doing) for their needs, in
addition to their acquisitiveness that may
lead to a monopoly of almost-current
film product, maybe the Department of
Justice's stand against similar moves by
theatremen can be changed.
However, whether or not this is the
solution to the exhibitors' product dilemma,
the need to find a solution was never
more urgent!
kJc'i^