Total Loss

Movie-theater owners were hoping they had found one solution to the problem of their sluggish box offices. Why not pipe in big sports events by means of private coaxial cables? Fans would have to pay to see the events, either at the point of origin, or at specific movie houses. Some exhibitors tried the scheme out last year (TIME, June 25). Last week the results were in: movies will probably have to be better than ever, without benefit of TV.

The plain truth, said David B. Wallerstein, general manager of the Balaban & Katz theater chain, is that nine fights and football games cost B. & K.'s Chicago Tivoli theater $23,640. Admissions brought in $14,541. Total loss (excluding normal operating costs): $10,312. The only Tivoli telecast to make money ($1,213) was the Robinson-Turpin fight in September. B. & K. has invested $128,000 in special TV equipment for five theaters, but, said Wallerstein, the company will make no further installations.

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