Boxoffice-March.06.1948

: March
. . Ann
. . Mi-s.
Jersey Solons Get
Legal Bingo Plan
NEW YORK—A bill to legalize bingo for
religious and charitable groups was introduced
in the New Jersey assembly by Assemblyman
J. Richard Kates of Trenton.
It is now before the judiciary committee.
Ways of defeating the proposal are being
studied by trustees of the Federation of
New Jersey Theatre Owners, who met at
the Newark office of Warner Bros. March 11.
The trustees represent the Allied Theatre
Owners of New Jersey, Warners, Loew's,
RKO, Paramount, Skouras and independent
exhibitors. George Gold presided.
Under the new constitution, the bill, if
passed by the legislature, can be submitted
as a referendum at the general election next
November.
The measure is designed to permit municipalities
to issue licenses under which bingo
can be conducted by approved religious and
charitable organizations.
SRO Shifts 'Blandings'
Into the Astor Theatre
NEW YORK— Selznick Releasing Oi-gaiilzation
booked "Mr. Blandings Builds His Di-eam
House" into the Astor Theatre for March 25
on short notice. The Astor management was
notified March 6 that the film was available
and the deal was signed March 7.
The Astor arrangement has complicated
matters for "Arch of Triumph." UA and
Enterprise executives were anxious to settle
for the Astor after negotiations to put the
film into the Capitol fell through.
As matters now stand, it seems likely that
"Ai-ch" may open at Brandt's Globe Theatre.
John W. Benas, Skouras
Theatres Booker, Dead
NEW YORK—John M. Benas. 49, head film
booker for Skouras Theatres in the metropolitan
area, died March 7. Funeral services
were held Wednesday at the East 74th street
Greek cathedral. Survivors are his wife and
two daughters.
Benas started his career in the shipping industry.
In 1925 he joined Rosenblatt-Welt
Theatres. He had been with Skouras tor the
last ten years.
Review Board to Discuss
Film in Public Affairs
NEW YORK—More than 500 delegates
from motion picture councils throughout the
country and representatives of 25 national
organizations affiliated with the National
Board of Review will attend the 39th anniversary
conference of the board at the
Hotel McAlpin, Thursday, March 18. "The
Motion Picture in I»ublic Affairs" will be
the theme of the conference.
Theatre Wing Hears Linet
NEW YORK—Henry A. Linet. eastern advertising
manager for U-I, was guest lecturer
at the American Theatre Wing screen seminar.
He discussed motion picture advertising.
Along New York's Film
TARNER BROS,
w
is
the eastern district which covers the
By WALTER WALDMAN
considering changes in
New York, Boston, Albany, New Haven and
Buffalo branches ... A plan now being discussed
calls for the appointment of an additional
eastern district manager to handle
all of the exchanges except New York. Sam
Lefkowitz, the present district manager, would
concentrate on the New York area. He would
take charge of some of the more important
New York deals now handled by home office
executives in addition to his regular duties.
A final decision on this plan is expected in
about two weeks.
Nearly every exchange and circuit was represented
at the funeral services held March
10 for John M. Benas, Skouras film buyer,
who died March 6. Archbishop Athenagoras,
head of the Greek Orthodox church in the
Americas, officiated at the ceremony at the
Greek cathedral on East 74th street. The
Skouras home office closed at 11:30 a. m.
March 10.
. . . Herb
Harry Royster manager for Paramount
Theatres in Newburgh, Glens Palls, Peekskill
and Poughkeepsie, has been studying the
vaudeville situation. He may try out stage
shows in some of these theatres
Pickman, WB field exploitation man, recently
played host to Bob Cose, Reade district manager
in Kingston, and Mrs. Case when they
were in New York.
Arthur- L. Mayer, president of the Motion
Pictui-e Associates, has called a general membership
meeting and luncheon for March
23 at the Hotel Piccadilly. The members will
vote for the recipient of the 1947 Beacon
award. The three former winners are Samuel
Rinzler, 1946: Si H. Fabian, 1945. and George
J. Schaefer, 1944. The award will be presented
NEW
YORK
PHONE
PLAZA
7-3809
NEW YORK
THE IDEAL THEATRE CHAIRS 245 WEST
JOE HORNSTEIN has them 55 STREET
i
BOXOFnCE :
13, 1948
Row
at the annual MPA dinner and dance May
21 at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel.
Moe Goldman, New York and New Jersey
exhibitor, is now a grandfather. Parents of
the granddaughter are Mr. and Mrs. Harold
Goldman . Brown, .secretary to Nat
Stern, head booker for Paramount, will marry
Jack Hammell April 11.
Helen Price has resigned as assistant booker
for 20th-Fox after a five-year hitch. She will
be married May 9. All we know about the
bridegroom-to-be is that he is related to
somebody in the film indu.stry. Helen's fellow
workers gave her a solid sendoff at the
Piccadilly hotel. Those present included Bess
Allen, Ann Jones, Estelle Herman, Minnie
Smith, Shirley Mandel, Lillian Bloomberg,
Bertha Jacobson and Ann Guido.
Nathan H. Seidman, father of Lloyd Seidman,
vice-president in charge of the Donahue
& Coe theatre department, died March 10. He
was 64. He was president of Inter-Racial
Press of America, Inc. . . . Eddie Bell, Paramount
salesman, was almost snowbound in
upstate New York last week . HaiTy
Fellerman, wife of the U-I salesman, is recuperating
from pneumonia at the North
County Community hospital. Glen Cove, L. I.
MPAA Building Plan to Get
Final Review March 24
WASHINGTON—The proposed MPAA annex
to its present headquarters here wiU come
up for final approval at a meeting of the
District of Colimibia zoning board March 24.
The District of Columbia fine arts commission
already has approved the plan.
The amiex will consist of a new projection
room adjoining the present building, with
other sections to be added at a later date.
Here we are at 245 W. 55TH ST.
Ready to serve you with
finest special announcement trailers.
If you haven't tried Filmack's
quality and rapid service, send us
your next order and be agreeably
surprised.
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