Boxoffice-March.06.1948

: March
AT WOOD OPENING—Cutting the ribbon at the opening in Detroit of the Wood,
new United Detroit Theatres' 2,500-seater, are, left to right: Edward L. Hyman, first
vice-president Paramount Theatres Service Corp., New York; Max Fellerman, vicepresident;
Hal Pereira; Alois Ghesquiere, president of the Grosse Point* Woods council,
and Earl J. Hudson, president of United Detroit Theatres.
Allied Continues to Lead
Detroit Bowling League
DETROIT—Allied retained the lead in the
Film. Bowling league with 26 won and 14
lost. Cooperative is second with 22 victories
and 18 losses and Republic and Monogram
are tied for third. Each has won 21 and lost
19. RKO rolled the high three last week,
2,633. High game was Theatrical's 968. High
individual was J. Pavella with 657. W.
Gorjl had 617 and Small 616. High single
game was C. Sheran's 246. J. Pavella had
245; Small 242; C. Sheran 246: D. Kaplan 211:
R. Lamb 202: E. Loye 202; E. Clarrj' 200 and
L. Metzger 200.
National Theatre Supply retained the lead
in the Nightingale Club bowling league, having
won 43 and lost 19. Altec Sound Service
is in second place and McArthur Theatre
Equipment is third. High scores last week
were rolled by Edgar Douville, 227-210-185—
622; Francis Light, 225: William Swistak. 206;
Roy Light, 201, and Joseph Michel 203.
Gets New Furnace
CARSON CITY. i^nCH.-The Lee Theatre
closed for a day recently to permit installation
of a new furnace, according to Phil
Muzik, manager.
I
RKO Radio Pictures,
Video Hearings Scheduled
PITTSBURGH—The FCC will open hearings
May 17 to allot thi-ee local television
wave lengths on applications from six companies.
FCC is inquiring into the ownership
of Allen B. Du Mont Laboratories,
which holds a permit to build a television
station here. This project has been delayed
due to a financial setup which hnks Paramount
Pictures with Du Mont in a group
of television grantees and applicants. At
Greensburg, the FCC will consider a television
application filed by the owners of
WHJB. also owners of WJAS, Pittsburgh.
To Build Coshocton Road
COSHOCTON, OHIO—Frank Gilfillen of
Grove City, Pa., has announced plans to
construct an outdoor theatre to accommodate
500 cars on the Canal Lewisville road
near the tumoff to Coshocton Lake park
within the next two months.
Butterfield House Closes
BATTLE CREEK, AHCH.-The Post Theatre,
buUt in 1901 by a group of local business
men led by Charles W. Post, was closed
March 6 by the Butterfield circuit.
Inc.
NEW DATE FOR CLEVELAND TRADE SHOWING OF
REMEMBER MAMA
Shaker Theatre, Kinsman 6r Lee Rds., Shaker Heights
FRIDAY, MARCH 19 AT 2 P. M.
Indead of Thurs., March 18 as
previously advertised
Tax Spread Linked
To Boxoffice Dip
PITTSBURGH—Falling boxoffice receipts,
public relations "never poorer than at present."
and film product that is meager were
reported by theatre owners at an Allied
MPTO meeting here last Friday i5i in exhibitors
assembly hall on Filmrow. Morris
M. Finkel. president, presided in the absence
of Fred A. Beedle. chairman of the board.
The Allied exhibitors discussed means to
intensify their campaign in behalf of a bill
in Congress to amend the copyright law and
prohibit payment by exhibitors of fees to
Ascap. postponed taking action for participation
in the Motion Picture Foundation and
aired grievances against various companies
and on various subjects.
1947 ST.\TEMENT DUE
Expanding amusement taxes definitely are
affecting boxoffice receipts, the exhibitors reported.
President Finkel reminded Pittsburgh
exhibitors that they had to file a statement
on their 1947 theatre and concession
grosses at the city treasurer's office not later
than March 15.
The Allied group criticized distributors for
alleged print shortages and distributing
"poor and uninspected prints."
Sidney Samuelson of Philadelphia will direct
an Allied Caravan meeting here soon.
A 24-page report on the recent national
Allied board session in Washington was distributed.
I
LEGISLATIVE CONTACTS URGED
Fred J. Herrington. in his report on legislative
matters, urged exhibitors to "be alert
and active . . . make contacts and tell your
side of the story."
Among those present were Bob Higgins, fl
Billy Wheat III. Henry Schmitt, Guy. Frank
and John Oglietti, John Nagj-, Tom Hickes,
Bernard Buchheit, Ted Manos, F. E. Hasley,
John Kobak. Tom Schrader. Harry Rachiele,
Guy V. Ida, Bart Dattola. Harry and Norman
Fleishman, Lou Kaufman. Bill Weiss, Rudy
Navari. Joe and Gil Gellman. Abe Joseph.
Bob McCalmont. George Corcoran. Warren
Wurdock. Frank Panoplos, Joe Kosco. Speer
Marousis. Marlin Way, Sam GoiUd. Max Arnold.
Bill Blatt. Norman and Ray Mervis,
Hymie Goldberg. Dr. C. E. Herman, Charles
Herman, Carl Poke. Jake and Sid Soltz,
Israel Roth. Morris M. Finkel. Fred J. Herrington.
Laskey to 'Bells' Debut
PITTSBURGH— Jesse L. Laskey. observ-i
ing his 3&th anniversary in
the industry,
be here in connection with the opening of
"The Miracle of the Bells" March 27. Ac
companying him will be several film stars.j
Terry Turner. RKO exploitation chief, -v
here last week preparing for the event, and
returned this week with assistant Hi
Reiner. Morris E. Lefko. RKO manager, has:
booked numerous Easter season openings
the area for the excellent Laskey productio;
Exhibitor a Councilman
CONFLUENCE, PA.—Wendell Yeagley,. ex-j
GI local theatre operator, has been appointed
a new- member of the Confluence
borough coimcil, succeeding Joseph Barkley
resigned.
84
BOXOFTICE :
13, 194)