Boxoffice-March.20.1948

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DETAILS ON BRITISH DEAL
SURVEY: Theatre Advertising
Rates Compared With Others
Page 10
COVER STORYs "Can Timberlane"
Wins February Blue Ribbon Award
Pago 30
'national executive edition
Inclyding tht Stclional Nfws PaO" of All Edilroni
MARCH 20, 1948

y
\^
"I PREDICT THAT
THESE THREE
PICTURES WILL
BE CANDIDATES
FOR THE TEN BEST'
OF 1948!"
SPENCER TRACY
KATHARINE HEPBURN
VAN JOHNSON
ANGELA LANSBURY
ADOLPHE MENJOU
LEWIS STONE
in
FRANK CA PRA'S
STATE OF THE UNION
I:
IRVING BERLIN'S]
EASTER PARADE
JUDY
FRED
GARLAND • ASTAIRE
PETER LAWFORD
ANN MILLER
Remember what we say here! And remember that it is still
early in the year and there are many other M-G-M Big Ones
M G M GREAT IN '48
to come! That's why there's a new industry slogan:
L

Ms TECHNICOLOR SPECTACLE!
HE PIRATE"
0: PETE SMITH'S Hilarious New Short

You TOLD ME
YOUR SECRET—NOW
I'LL TELL YOU MINE !

DIRECTED BY
PRODUCED BY
^JAM[
SCREEt-) PLAY Br CATMERItJE TURNEY
• FROM THE NOVEL BY ETHEL VANCE • MUSIC BY MAX STEINER

THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY
PUBLISHED IN
NINE SECTIONAL EDITIONS
BEN SHLYEN
Editor-in-Chief and Publisher
JAMES M. JERAULD Editor
NATHAN COHEN Associate Editor
JESSE SHLYEN Managing Editor
IVAN SPEAR
Western Editor
J. HARRY TOLER Equipment Editor
RAYMOND LEVY General Manager
Published Every Saturday by
ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS
Editorial OfBces! 9 Rockefeller Plaza, New York 20,
N. Y Raymond Levy, General Manager; James M.
Jerauld. Editor, Chester Friedman, Editor Showmandiser
J.
Section: A. Stocker, Eastern Representa-
tive. Telephone Columbus 5-6370, 5-6371, 5-6372. Cable
address BOXOFFICE, New York."
Central OfKces: 332 South Michigan Blvd., Chicago
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Telephone WABash 4575.
Western Offices: 6404 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
22, Colli. Ivan Spear, Manager. Telephone GLadstone
1186.
Washington Offices: 302-303 International Bldg., 1319
F St., N. W. Lee L. Garling, Manager. Telephone
NAtional 3482. Filmrow: 932 New Jersey, N. W. Stira
London Offices: 136 Wardour St., John Sullivan, Manager.
Telephone Gerrard 3934-5-6.
Publication Offices: 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City
1, Mo. Nathan Cohen, Associate Editor; Jesse Shlyen,
Managing Editor; Morris Schlozman, Business Manager.
Telephone CHestnut 7777--78.
Other PubUccrtions: BOXOFFICE BAROMETER,
published in November as a section of BOXOFFICE;
THE MODERN THEATRE, published monthly as a
section of BOXOFFICE.
ALBANY—21-23 Walter Ave., M. Berrigon.
ATLANTA— 163 Walton, N. W., P. H. Savin.
BIRMINGHAM—The News, Eddie Badger.
BOSTON—Frances W. Harding, Lib. 9814.
BUFFALO- 157 Audubon Drive, Snyder, Jim Schroder.
CHARLOTTE—216 W. 4th, Pauline Griffith.
CHICAGO—332 S. Michigan, Jonas Perlberg,
WAB-4575.
CINCINNATI— 1634 Central Parkway, Ullion Seltzer.
CLEVELAND—Elsie Loeb, Fairmount 0046.
DALLAS—4525 Holland, V. W. Crisp, J8-9780.
DENVER— 1645 Lafayette, Jack Rose, TA 8517.
DES MOINES—Register & Tribune Bldg., Russ Schoch.
DETROIT-1009 Fox Thecrtre Bldg., H. F. Reves.
Telephones: RA 1100; Night, UN-4-a2I9.
HARTFORD— 109 Westborne, Allen Widem.
HARRISBURG, PA—The Telegraph, Lois Fegan.
INDIANAPOLIS—Rt. 8, Box 770, Howard M. Rudeaux
MIAMI—66 S. Hibiscus Island, Mrs. Manton E. Harwood.
2952 Merrick Rd., Elizabeth Sudlow
MEMPHIS—707 Spring St., Null Adams, Tel. 48-5462
MILWAUKEE—529 N. 13th, J. R. Gahagan, MA-0297
MINNEAPOLIS—29 Washington Ave. So., Les Rees
NEW HAVEN—42 Church St., Gertrude Lander
NEWARK, N. J.—207 Sumner, Sara Carleton.
NEW ORLEANS—Mrs. Jack Auslet, MA-5812
OKLAHOMA CITY— 125 NW 15th St., Polly Trrndle
OMAHA—Omahct World-Herald Bldg., Lou Gerdes
PHlLADELPHIA^gOl Spruce St., J. M Makler
PlTTSflURGH-86 Van Broom St., R. F. Klingensmith.
PORTLAND, ORE.-David C. Kahn. BR, 1181 ext 156
RICHMOND-Grand Theatre, Sam Pulliam.
ST. LOUIS-5149 Rosa, David Barrett, FL-3727
SALT LAKE CITY—Deseret News, Howard Pearson
SAN ANTONIO-333 Blum St., L. J. B. Ketner
Taylor St., ^''MmJ^^f}^f^°~'^ Gail Lipman,
UHdway 3-4612.
SEATTLE-928 N. 84th St., Willard Elsey.
TOLEDO-^330 Willys Pkwy., Anna Kline.
IN CAMADA
CALGARY—The Albertan, Wm. Campbell
MONTREAL-4330 Wilson Ave., N. D. G., Roy Carmichael.
Walnut 5519.
ST. JOHN- 116 Prince Edward St., Wm. J. McNulty
TORONTO-242 Milwood, Milton Galbraith.
VANCOUVER-^U Lyric Theatre Bldg., Jack Droy
VICTORIA-938 Island Highway, Alec Merrimon.
WINNIPEG—The Tribune, Ben Lepkin.
Mbmber Adidit Bureau of Circulaxiows
OXOFFICE
I
i
THE ANGLO-AMERICAN PACtI
r-
.^^ 7HAT old saying that half a loaf is bet
ter than none may aptly be applied to the settlement of the
British ad valorem tax controversy. From the cash standpoin
—that is money which the American producers can take ou'
of British earnings—the compromise agreement is a 50-5C
proposition, for the accrued "take-out" is expected to yield
approximately half of the estimated current year's Americar
film earnings in Britain.
Generally, the settlement is looked upon with satisfaction
the negative view being in the minority. In some measure i1
may be considered as a victory for the American industry, foi
it does represent a considerable gain, if only in having en- .jbi
tirely eUminated the principle of the ad valorem duty that hoc i
been imposed. Thus the precedent-setting danger this measure
held out to other countries has been eased, to say the
least. From that standpoint American producers stand to gair
in remittances to be derived from other foreign markets, where-i
as had the British tax remained those markets, too, would hav€j| i'^(
been squeezed out.
I
Under existing world conditions, particularly Britain's own
economic circumstances, the deal is as good as could have
been expected, if not a bit more than actually was expected.
Further on the plus side is the possible use of the "frozen"
funds remaining in England for investment that will bring some **
future return. Where the money is put to building or enlarg- ^
ing studio facilities and payment of salaries and other costs
in the making of pictures in Britain by American companies,: u
with American stars and other talent, there is, in effect, c !.,,
further dollar accrual for the American industry.
From the British side, their motion picture industry has
been saved from not only possible, but probable, destruction.
With resumption of the flow of American pictures for British -
cinemas, theatre interests over there can now heave a big sigh
of rehef. British producers gain as well from the assurance *c
of continuing good business in England's theatres. And they:
also stand to gain from the greater attentions that will be: a
given to the exhibition of their productions in America, under '
the terms of the settlement agreement. Not to be overlooked
is the benefit to be derived by the British treasury out of the
high tax collections that will come from these stepped-up in-j
come-producing sources. | n
In the over-all picture, the public, both in Britain andlj^^
America, if not "around the world, is the ultimate beneficiary' -„
from the settlement of this eight-months' old controversy. Having
been used as at least one of the several invalid excuses
for some of the inferior product that has come out of Hollywood,
the settlement should help to clear the atmosphere and
serve as a springboard for instilling new confidence on the
port of the picturegoing public. And on the part of the in-i
dustry, itself—in itself!
I
That can take almost immediate effect from the proper
Entered » Second Class matter at Post Office, Kansas City. Mo.
Sectional Edition, $2.00 per year; National Edition, $7.50
Vol. 52 No. 20
MARCH 2 0, 1948

mPju 0^ tluyndlcHPlctuttcJnJiiuU
merchandising of the many good pictures that recently have
been completed and which are now ready for release.
The time that has been spent wrangling and conjecturing
over the British tax controversy can now be fully given to
the job of making and selling motion pictures. Concentrating
all the know-how that Hollywood possesses in the making of
good pictures and unleashing some of that pent-up, contagious,
enthusiasm on the part of distribution—and exhibition—in
selling them, will keep this industry on a sound and healthy
profit plane.
Eric Johnston and James Mulvey rendered a great service
to the industry by the settlement which they effected with the
British government. As for going the rest of the distance and
eliminating the fund restrictions that remain, time vnW take
care of that. In the meanwhile the "offset" wall have to come
from the coordinated effort of all in the industry to play to the
full the opportunities that are within their own grasp. Again
that adds up to making good pictures—and backing them up
with GOOD SALESMANSHIP.
More on Double-A-ing
As further comment on the "double-A-ing" trend, we quote
a letter received from Charles Coru-ad, Monogram salesman,
which follows:
"I have just iinished reading Your editorial, 'A Dangerous Trend' and
agree with you 100 per cent. Your editorial is a coincidence, as I have
been talking about the major circuits' dissipation of top product now ior
over six months.
"Even before I began using a discussion of it in my conversations
with exhibitors in the course of selling 'It Happened on Fifth Ave.' after
one of the major circuits double-billed it with 'Miracle on 34th St.' in an
A house, I had remarked on numerous occasions how silly it seemed to
me for any booker to waste a good boxofiice attraction, in view of the
apparent shortage of top-flight film entertainment, by playing two such
pictures on the same bill. In most of these instances, either one of the
pictures would have drawn capacity business.
"Naturally, I, as a film salesman, look at this malpractice from the
effect it has on our selling in the crossroads theatre.
"Our independent producer goes all-out to give us a good piece of
merchandise; he puts enough money into the production and turns out
a truly great picture. Then, when we try to sell it at a just rental, the
exhibitor uses as his argument to obtain a lower rental the fact that the
picture played double-bill with such-and-such a picture at such-and-such
a house. How do I (the salesman) know which picture drew the crowd?
'There are enough good program pictures being made that have a
certain amount of boxoffice pull that can be used with the better pictures
in double-bill situations, that any circuit or independent theatre can help
make the good pictures outstanding in the public mind by single-billing
or top-billing them."
Double-A-ing is like a double-edged knife: It cuts down
good product supply and, at the same time, it trims picture
earning power—both for the exhibitor and the distributor.
'PuUe Se^iU
Petrillo Lifts Music Ban
For Television Stations
Three-year pact signed to permit live music
in telecasts; ABC and NBC schedule first
video symphony programs; can now make
own tele films with live music.
*
20th Centur'y-Fox Earnings
Reported Less Than in '46
Net of $14,000,000 is earned by company for
1947, or $8,619,535 under the previous year;
figures at rate of $4.81 per share on 2,796.016
shares after preferred dividends.
Stockholders Will Consider
New Jack Cohn Contract
Columbia shareholders will decide on new
five-year pact for company's executive vicepresident
April 9; also to vote on seven directors
up for re-election.
*
National Board of Reviews
Cites Censorship Danger
At annual meeting, reaffirms its opposition
to any type of censorship and sees recent
un-American activities committee hearing as
conducive to federal censorship.
F. D. Moore b Appointed
WB's Eastern Manager
Former manager in Pittsburgh to supervise
Albany, Buffalo, New Haven and Boston exchanges;
Paul Krumenacher, Pittsburgh
salesman, to succeed him in old post.
lATSE National Convention
In Cleveland August 16
Approximately 1,000 will attend convention
lasting a week; officers will be elected for
two-year term; Richard F. "Walsh, international
head since 1941, up for re-election.
¥
Progress at a Standstill
In Hughes-RKO Deal
Executives had been conferring at Floyd
Odium's ranch, in California, but there is no
word of agreement of sale price for controlling
stock in company.
Monthly Ascap Payments
To Be Made in N. J.
-X
Members of the Allied Theatre Owners of
New Jersey will not sign new contracts as
their present contracts expire, but will send
checks every month for performance rights.
*
Republic Moves to Sell
Molded Plastics Firm
Proposal to get rid of subsidiary for $850,-
000 to be presented to stockholders April 6;
was acquired when Republic and Consolidated
Laboratories merged.

AMERICAN APPROVAL GIVEN
TO BRITISH TAX AGREEMENT
Acting Speedily, Export Ass'n Okays Settlement
Within a Few Hours After Johnston and Party
Arrive From Conferences in London
By JAMES M. JERAULD
NEW YORK—American approval of the British tax settlement agreement was
given by the Motion Picture Export Ass'n 'ihursday (18) a few hours after Eric Johnston
arrived on the Queen Mary from London.
The next step to put it into operation wUl be approval by the British parliament.
This is expected the first or second week in April, following the Easter week recess.
Because it was an agreement between the British government and the American
film industry it was not subject to change without sending it back for renegotiation.
It is believed to be the first agreement ever negotiated between the British government
and a private foreign industry.
Some criticism of the agreement has been voiced both in this country and in
Great Britain, but Johnston says that this is proof it was fair to both sides.
When ratified in London the tax will go off immediately, and numerous films
which have already been shipped will be taken out of bond for the making of prints.
The remittance phase of the agreeme.it will become effective June 14.
TEXT TO AWAIT PARLIAMENT APPROVAL
Coming in on the ship Johnston outlined the main features of the agreement,
about which there has been considerable discussion. Text of the agreement will not be
released until it has been approved by Parliament, although what purports to be a
complete copy has been published in this country.
All of the remittable $17,000,000 earned in England will go into a pool. Each three
months the total will be worked out and it tan be sent to this country monthly. American
distributors who are entitled to any part of it will draw out on a percentage basis.
This percentage will depend on the proportion that each company's releases in a
given period bear to the total.
All profits on the distribution of British pictures in this country also will go into
a pool and will be added to the money remitted. These will be divided on the same
percentage basis.
Johnston estimates the earning on English pictures in this market next year will
reach $4,000,000 and possibly more. This would make the total to be distributed $21 -
000,000.
The money held in England will be divided into three categories, and will remain
the property of the American companies earning it. Total American earnings in Great
Johnston said he could make no guess as to what form American investments in
Great Britain would take. Pi-ofits on these investments will be remittable in dollars to
the United States.
MAY CONTRIBUTE SURPLUS TO GREAT BRITAIN
Profits from these funds for use for investments in other parts of the British Empire—previously
referred to as the sterling area—may also be remittable, if the dominions,
commonwealths and colonies follow the example of Great Britain. If any
money is left over from these two categories—the uncontrolled and controlled invest^"
ments—Its disposal will be subject to negotiation, and it may be that a free gift of
some unnamed sum will be made to Great Britain for cultural purposes One of the
projects mentioned is a reproduction of the original Shakespearean Theatre on the
banks of the Thames.
American companies are expected to invest considerable money in production in
Great Britain for the purpose of exporting the pictures here. Profits on these wiU go
into the pool.
Johnston was asked if this would not tend to reduce production in Hollywood He
said he did not think it would. He pointed out that there has been a steady expansion
of the business since 1921, with the exception of the war period. He also said only 20
'^^°^^^^ °^ ^^^ ^"'"^'^ ^^^ American pictures and the market can be
'^reau'^ex^^ d^d
In reply to a number of questions on what measures American companies would take
HAPP\
tNDING
fRmSHMOVIE PUBLIC
Ray in Kan C.ty
to promote the exhibition of British films in
this country, he said this would depend on
the ingenuity of individual companies and
would take
considerable time.
Johnston was emphatic in pointing out
that the agreement should not be regarded
as a "victory" for either side.
On our part, he said, we have gotten rid
of an obnoxious tax precedent—something
never attempted before between countries.
If this precedent had been allowed to stand,
he said, it would have spread to all other
countries and would have destroyed the
export market.
Britain in the first year of the agreement are estimated at $40,000,000.
The bulk of it can be invested in Great Britain or in countries of the sterling area,
which does not include Canada, in any enterprise connected with the industry. There SEES NO FLOOD OF FILMS
are no strings on this amount. Two and one-half million pounds can be invested in He sees no prospect of a flood of British
projects outside the industry, but these investments will have to
four-man control board not yet chosen. Two members will
be
represent
approved
the
by a
American
pictures. They do not have the production
facilities, he said, and they are careful to
industry, and two will represent the British government. In case of a tie vote the British
export only the pictures they think will be
Board of Trade will cast the deciding ballot.
acceptable in the world market.
Because frequent meetings of this board may be necessary the American members
will probably
American distributors
be
who v.'ant
representatives resident in London.
to buy
British picture distribution rights for countries
outside the United States can do so,
he said. Tliis will be a further way of getting
profits from the unremlttable funds,
and these profits can be brought back to this
country in the form of dollars.
Conferences will be held immediately both
in this country and in England for working
out further details of the agreement.
Allen Dulles said the whole arrangement
was made thi-ough the export corporation
because any other method would have been
illegal. It would have been extremely difficult,
if not impossible, to have reached an
agreement without the export corporation.
The majors expect to use considerable portions
of their balances in England for production
there with as much American talent
as they are allowed to use, and to distribute
the films here and throughout the sterling
area. These balances can be used for production
and other expenses in all countries
BOXOFFICE March 20, 1948

London
reissue
Top Industry Figures
At MPEA Session
NEW YORK—Action on the settlement
of the British tax imbroglio and the
of the ban on export of American
lifting
pictures to Great Britain moved with
clocklike precision Thursday (18 1.
The Queen Mary docked about 11:30
a. m. with Eric Johnston; Allen Dulles,
MPEA counsel; Joyce O'Hara, assistant
to Johnston; James Mulvey, representing
the SIMPP. on board. They went
immediately to MPAA headquarters.
At 2 o'clock the America docked with
Nate J. Blumberg. U-I president, and Joseph
H. Seidelman. head of foreign distribution.
Tliey were rushed by taxi to
the Harvard club where the MPEA meeting
was already in progress.
Two hours later Johnston and other
executives met the press.
Those present at the MPEA meeting
were: 20th Century-Fox—Spyros Skouras,
William C. Michel. LaiTy Kent ( London
i. Mui-ray Silverstone and Emanuel
Silverstone. Paramount—Barney Balaban,
Austin Keough. Joseph H. Hazen.
J. W. Piper, Fred Mohrhardt and Hal
Wallis; Columbia —Jack Cohn. Abe
Schneider, Joseph McConville and Arnold
Picker. Loew's — Joseph Vogel.
Charles C. Moskowitz, Arthur Loew, M.
A. Spring, Samuel Eckman i i,
Joseph Rosthal; Universal—J. Cheever
Cowdin, Nate J. Blumberg, Joseph H.
Seidelman and C. A. Kirby.
Warner Bros.—Samuel Schneider, Harry
M. Warner, John J. Gl.vnn and Robert
W. Perkins; RKO—Robert Wolff
(London!, Phil Reisman, R. K. Hawkinson,
John Whitaker and William Clark;
United Artists—Gradwell L. Sears and
Arthm- W. Kelly; Allied Artists—Steve
Broidy and Norton V. Ritchey. Republic-
Herbert J. Yates and Richard Altschuler;
Selznick—Milton Kramer; Samuel Goldwyn
Productions—James Mulvey; Walt
Disney—William Levy.
Officers of MPEA—Johnston. Francis
S. Harmon, Irving A. Maas, Gordon E.
Youngman, Fred W. Du Vail, H. J. Erlanger,
O'Hara, Dulles, Gerald Mayer,
Joe Goltz, Louis Kanturek, Theodore
Hope, Sidney Schreiber, Kemieth Clark.
Edward Cheyfitz, Tom Waller, Robert
Chambers, Otto Doering, Carl E. Milliken
and John McCarthy.
The voting members were Spyros Skouras,
Barney Balaban, J. W. Piper, Jack
Cohn, Arnold Picker, M. A. Spring, J.
Cheever Cowdin. Samuel Schneider, John
J. Glynn, R. K. Hawkinson, Gradwell L.
Sears, Arthur W. Kelly, Steve Broidy,
Norton V. Ritchey.
Approval w^as unanimous.
in the sterling area. Unluckily for producers
turning their eyes toward Canada, this dominion
is not in the sterling area.
The places in the sterling area as of last
week were: Au.stralia, New Zealand, Union
of South Africa, Eire, India, Pakistan, Burma,
Ceylon, Hong Kong, Malayan Union, Singapore.
Northern Borneo, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan,
the Bahamas, Barbadoes, British
Guiana, British Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward
and Windward Islands, Falkland Islands,
Bermuda, Iraq, Iceland and the Faroe
BOXOFFICE ;: March 20. 1948
Allied-Ascap Fight Goes
To Congress This Week
WASHINGTON—As the house committee
on patents prepared to open its hearing Monday
(221 on the Lewis bill to amend the copyright
laws. Abram F. Myers, chairman of the
board and general coun.sel for National Allied,
was ready to take the stand as the first
witness. He said he will attack Ascap—at
which the bill is aimed—as a "gigantic
monopoly" and point out that the effect of
the bill will be to make producers of fUms
the sole organization to bargain with Ascap
about rates for copyright music.
Sidney E. Samuelson, of Pennsylvania, also
will appear on the opening day in behalf of
the bill.
On the other hand, there will be plenty of
opposition to the legislation. At the week's
end, it was announced in New York that producer
groups will present a united front
against the bill along with TOA.
Arguments for its defeat will be along these
lines: In the long run exhibitors may have
to pay more than the 300 per cent increase
in fees asked by Ascap prior to the recent
agreement reached on rates: Ascap will no
longer be bound by the new agreement, and
will
be in a more powerful position negotiating
with 60 or 70 producers than with organizations
representing 18,000 exhibitors;
Ascap could ask for payment by reel, foot
or amount of music on a film, and require
Islands. Up to a few weeks ago Egypt. Palestine
and Transjordan were included, but
they are now out.
Obviously most of these places are not
likely to get American production. Australia
would like to have some, and there has
been some talk of organizing a production
company in Jamaica.
Expenses of distribution on films produced
in England can be charged to the
sequestered funds.
Several provisions have been made for investment
of funds in England—studios, theatres,
etc.—but investments outside of the
business will require the approval of the
government. How much approval can be
gained will be learned by experience.
American companies made some fast moves
to get negatives to England immediately
after the announcement of the agreement.
Twentieth Century-Fox shipped nine nega-
tives by air.
Warner Bros, set nine films; "Arsenic and
Old Lace" i, "Idol of Paris" (produced
in England!, "Dark Passage," "City
for Conquest" (reissued "Calling All Husbands,"
"The Beast With Five Fingers."
"My Reputation" (reissue), "The Hidden
Hand" and "Bond Street" (produced in England).
Eagle Lion decided on: "Out of the Blue,"
"Love From a Stranger." "T-Men" and "Adventures
of Casanova."
Paramount said the London office was
studying a possible release schedule and that
the first titles decided upon were: "Hazard."
"The Paleface," "The Night Has a Thousand
Eyes" and "The 'Sainted' Sisters."
Universal-International had not
producers to set up expensive administrative
machinery to handle performing rights; all
of these charges would be passed on to exhibitors
by the producers and distributors.
Myers, on the other hand, will argue that
Ascap now is able to bargain with producers
for recording rights and with exhibitors for
performing rights.
The Allied executive contends passage of
the Lewis bill will inject some good, oldfashioned
competition into the fixing of public
performing rates by pitting the combined
copyright owners against the powerful, wellorganized
motion picture producers.
As matters stand now, the combined copyright
owners are in a position to impose
on the numerous, individually weak and widely
scattered theatre owners whatever rates
they see fit, he declared.
The motion picture producers are comparatively
few in number—seven big ones and
a few smaller ones; they control a medium
that is just as vital to the copyright owners
as the copyrighted music is important to
them, and, consequently, they are in a strong
position, he added.
Myers proposed one amendment to the legislation.
This would enable the productions
"in the works" to be shown on the present
basis by making the legislation effective six
months after its enactment.
on its titles at the weekend, but said no
more than five negatives would be shipped
by boat early in the week.
United Artists and Monogram will decide
how many and which pictures will be shipped
in the next few days.
Columbia has already shipped negatives,
but are silent on the titles.
MGM sent "This Time for Keeps." "Cass
Timberlane." "Body and Soul" (Enterprise).
"Green Dolphin Street" and "High Wall."
The company releases Enterprise productions
in Great Britain.
Other companies were still studying their
schedules at the weekend. One foreign manager
pointed out that there was no rush, as
the negatives will be held in bond until
Parliament ratifies the agreement early in
April, if no special arrangement for their
release to laboratories is made in the meantime.
Modification Is Seen
On U-I, Rank Deal
NEW YORK—Settlement of the British tax
situation may modify some of the arrangements
worked out in London by J. Arthur
Rank and Universal-International executives
who have just returned from a five-week
visit to England and France. This was indicated
Thursday (18) by Nate J. Blumberg.
U-I president, upon his arrival here aboard
the S. S. America.
He said there was no point in discussing the
results of his British conferences with Rank
in view of the subsequent settlement of fhe
tax problem. Rank sailed for the U.S. March
5 before the terms of the tax agreement had
been worked out.

LUG ON THEATRE ADVERTISING
SHOWS SIGNS OF DIMINISHING
By NATHAN COHEN
The appeal last week by Ernest Emerling,
advertising chief of Loew's Theatres,
for recognition of the motion picture theatre
as a "legitimate retail establishment"
on equal footing with all other advertisers
served once again to spotlight a practice
which for decades has put a lug on
film industry advertising in the daily
press. Emerling made his appeal before
the sixth biennial advertising, selling and
merchandising conference in Springfield,
Mass.
ASKS FOR EQUITABLE RATES
He labeled as "mysterious and Inexplicable"
the refusal to give theatres the local retail
rate for comparable lineage. "Give the
theatres the retail rates for space," he
urged, "and make it plain they are buying
display space and no so-called tieups for
free publicity. Let the editorial departments
run their movie pages on the same high
editorial plane as other departments and
pages in the papers."
An examination of rate cards of more than
100 representative daily newspapers by BOX-
OFFICE—as a follow-up to Emerling's remarks—reveals
that the practice of hiking
rates for theatre advertising—on the longheld
theory that the added lug compensates
for reviews and other publicity—remains
prevalent; and that the penalty payment
in some instances doubles the rates
paid by retail establishments and general
advertising accounts.
The survey surprisingly also reveals that
not all newspapers are following the decadesold
practice. A good number of important
newspapers have dropped the practice altogether
and, if there is a trend, it is toward
the goal projected by Emerling. In a few
scattered spots, the amusement rate actually
is lower than the retail rate. Yet, the overall
picture is still one that requires the
theatre advertiser to contribute his penalty
payments. The practice varies from city to
city, from paper to paper. Even within
the great newspaper chains there is no apparent
plan by which it is determined
whether theatres should pay the lug, and
if are, they how much.
HEARST CHAIN VARIATIONS
In the Hearst chain, for example, the daily
open rate on the Los Angeles Examiner is 65
cents a line. The theatre rate is $1.15 a line.
On the San Francisco Examiner, the open
rate of 65 cents a Une is increased to $1.07 for
film advertising. Yet on the Chicago Herald-
American, the rate card makes no differential
between retail and theatre advertising except
that -national advertisers, when mentioning
the name of the local exhibitor, must
pay 15 cents a line extra.
The Scripps-Howard chain likewise follows
no set pattern for penalty payments.
In San Francisco, where the chain's paper
is the News, the general pattern of the community
is followed. The lug is high—90 cents
a line compared to the general flat rate of
45 cents. Yet, the theatre rate is unchanged
Comparative Rates
10

from the open rate on S-H's Pittsburgh Press.
For the 50 newspapers listed in the adjoining
column, the additional per line payment
for theatre advertising averages 21
per cent above the open rate. Average flat
rate posted is 55 cents a line; average theatre
rate 67 cents. In most instances, the
is
rates listed do not represent actual per line
cost to exhibitors as frequently rates drop
as lineage rises. But the figures do provide
a fair picture of what the film industry
is paying for its newspaper advertising as
compared to "the legitimate retail establishment."
NO PRICE-FIXING EVIDENCE
While the practice of penalty payments is
widespread, it cannot be said that the dally
press has participated in any sort of price
fixing. Practices vary not only as to cities,
but within the communities themselves.
In Chicago, the lug seems to have been
dropped. The Herald-American rate card
provides an 80-cents per Une rate for general
advertising as well as theatre advertising.
The Daily News likewise asks no increase
from exhibitors, and the Ti-ibune places
national motion picture accounts in the same
classification as national distributors of
merchandise. New York papers, on the other
hand, ask from 10 cents to 20 cents a line
more for film advertising than the published
open rate. Yet, the Daily News, with its
circulation of more than two million readers,
posts an amusement rate which actually
is less than the general rate.
In the group of "no lug" papers are some
important members of the American press.
Among them are the Indianapolis News,
Evansville Press, Des Moines Register and
Tribune, St. Paul Dispatch and Pioneer
Press, Louisville Courier, Omaha World-Herald,
Pittsburgh Press, Nashville Banner, Fort
Worth Telegram and the Wilmington Journal
News.
There also is a substantial list of other
daily newspapers which do not classify motion
picture advertising in the "special privilege"
group. This group is considerably
larger than that which requires the penalty
payments. But. on the basis of information
is available, there no method of determining
whether failure to Ust an amusement rate
actually means the lug is not added.
Along with these extra payments, many
exhibitors and those distributors participating
in local advertising campaigns are
1, facing increased rates. On March rates
went up on newspapers in Mobile, Oakland,
Wilmington, Pontiac, Scranton, and Wilkes-
Barre. On April 1, increa.ses will go in effect
on the Los Angeles Times, which will
boost its amusement rates from $1.30 per
line daily to $1.40, and rate from $2.10 per
line Sunday to $2.30; Providence Journal,
where a two-cents per line increase is scheduled;
and the Waterbm-y Republican-American,
where a one-cent a line increase has
been' posted.
A BOOST IN NEW YORK
On July 1, the New York World Telegram
will increase its local theatre advertising
rate 12 cents a line to $1.32; its national rate
13 cents a line to $1.38 and its neighborhood
rate 8 cents to 88 cents a line.
For those national distributors who have
been using the comic pages for building patron
interest in forthcoming product, the
costs also are going up. A number of the
big dailies, who are part of the Metropolitan
Comic Group, already have posted rate increases
for July 1.
Juvenile Delinquency Aid
Gets TOAs Green Light
NEW YORK—A national
TOA committee welfare and social groups active in combating
juvenile delinquency. Some of the methods
to help fight juvenile delinquency will meet
here March 22. Charles P. Skouras and
it proposes to use in the fight are: youth
Harry Lowenstein are chairman and cochairman
forums, special screenings for children, use
respectively. The establishment of
of special films. All of these methods will
be carried out in cooperation with the groups
this committee was recommended during the
mentioned above.
two-day board meeting in Los Angeles following
a discussion on youthful criminals by
The TOA committee will not conflict with
Attorney General Tom Clark.
existing theatre-sponsored campaigns against
juvenile delinquency, said Robert W. Coyne,
Members of the group also will discuss
executive director. Whenever possible the
the public relations campaign outlined at TOA groups will cooperate with existing
the Los Angeles board meeting. The organization
of a separate public relations committee
and specific program will be worked
out at a future date by Ted R. Gamble,
director of the public relations campaign
and by the executive committee of the TOA.
It is not certain whether Gamble will attend
the March 22 meeting. He is due in
Washington with four other TOA members
to testify against the Lewis bill before a
congressional committee.
The TOA committee on juvenile delinquency
will operate on national and local
levels.
On the national level it will prepare publicity
material and will cooperate with the
National Conference for the Prevention and
Control of Juvenile Delinquency which Clark
established in 1946.
Locally it will help set up and guide committees
to cooperate with police, religious.
drives.
Coyne viewed the campaign against juvenile
delinquency as part of the over-all TOA
public relations campaign. He added that
this campaign will probably require the cooperation
of distributors and the MPAA.
The proposal for a Humanitarian week,
which was also discussed at the Los Angeles
convention, is still another phase of public
relations, Coyne said. This proposal has been
referred to TOA regional units for study.
Their recommendations will be submitted to
the TOA executive committee.
In addition to Skouras, Lowenstein and
Gamble, those scheduled to attend the March
22 meeting are: Si H. Fabian, Coyne, Albert
Pickus, Richard R. Biechele, Thomas Friday,
George Kerasotes, Edward Zom, Harry
Browning, Earl Hudson, Edward Levin,
Charles Winchell, Walter Morris, Martin
Mullin and Frank Starz.
Ascap Hikes Stage Show Fees,
Asks Rate of 50c to Dollar Top
NEW YORK—Motion picture theatres with
stage shows will be asked to pay annual
Ascap fees ranging from 50 cents a seat to
$1 a seat, in addition to the regular performance
rights fees for music on film. Under
the terms of the TOA-Ascap agreement
signed early last month, Ascap reserved the
right to set special scales for theatres with
continuous live talent. Ascap spokesmen estimated
that approximately 100 theatres will
be affected.
Theatres offering stage shows occasionally
or once or twice a week will receive special
terms.
The new regular rate for theatres without
stage shows went into effect Monday, March
15. The theatres have already received newcontract
forms.
The live talent scale calls for the following
schedule of payments:
No payments for theatres with 499 seats
and under; 50 cents for theatres with 500 to
799 seats; 75 cents for theatres with 800 to
1,599 seats, and $1 for theatres with 1,600
seats and over.
The regiHar schedule also exempts theatres
under 500 seats and goes to a maximum of
25 cents for theatres with 1,600 seats and over.
Negotiations over the rate for theatres with
stage shows had been postponed until circuit
executives and TOA officials returned
March 15 from the TOA board meeting in
Los Angeles. Meanwhile, they also will be
busy at the House hearing on the so-caUed
anti-Ascap bill.
Deems Taylor Answers
U.S. Antitrust Suit
NEW YORK—Ascap President Deems Taylor
has denied that his organization is part
of an international cartel set up to monopolize
music. He has asked that the Department
of Justice antitrust suit against Ascap
be dismissed or that Broadcast Music, Inc.,
also be made a defendant in the suit. Ascap
and BMI signed consent decrees in 1941.
In his answer to the government suit,
Taylor pointed out that Ascap was formed
in 1914 to protect individual artists against
copyright infringements and to help them
collect fees.
BMI, he pointed out, Is not a performing
rights society. It is a stock corporation set
up and controlled by the broadcasting companies
in 1940 during the dispute between
Ascap and the broadcasters. Ascap music was
off the air during that dispute.
Taylor went on to say that BMI "threatens
to destroy all associations of composers and
authors and to make the composers and
authors of the world subservient to the
American broadcasting industry."
BOXOmCE :: March 20, 1948
11

ABOUT THE WORLD'S

I
WATCH
TT
starring
BARRY FinGERALD
and Featuring
HOWARD DUFF
•
DOROTHY HART
• DON TAYLOR
Directed by
JULES DASSIN
Produced by
MARK HELLINGER
• Associate Pioducer JULES BUCK Screenplay by ALBERT MALTZ and MALVIN WALD />
A UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL RELEASE ^'rvrN^'e^Xu",?-

—
NEWSREELS FACE COMPETITION
OF VIDEO AT CONVENTIONS
Race for Speedy Delivery
May Chart Their Future
For Use in Theatres
By DORIS SULTAN
NEW YORK—Theatrical newsreels are
at the crossroads. The Republican and
Democratic political conventions in Philadelphia
next summer will be one of the biggest
news events of the year, and the newsreels
don't intend to be caught napping.
They are figuring out ways to get faster
coverage of the conventions and 34-hour
delivery of newsreels to offset television
competition. A quick survey of television's
plans for covering the conventions indicates
the competition will be strong.
TELEVISION'S BIG CHANCE
Television leaders see the conventions as
their big chance to put the industry on its
feet the way the 1916 Democratic convention
that nominated Woodi-ow Wilson for a second
term gave radio its big push. At that
time radio loudspeakers in bars, taverns and
restaurants attracted large crowds and cut
into theatre business. The film industry
learned to get along with radio, but even up
to a few years ago it was estimated the late
President Roosevelt's fireside chats cut theatre
attendance 20 per cent. A lot of enterprising
theatremen began piping the president's
speeches into theatres so patrons
wouldn't stay home to listen.
Newsreel men know the competition will
be keen this year. The convention television
broadcasts will be picked up on television receivers
in theatre lobbies, in bars, taverns
and homes. Some theatres may use television
projectors for their screens. Newsreel
coverage must be fast, or the convention pictures
will be outdated.
Paramount admits its system for filming
television images from receivers and developing
the films in 60 seconds is perfected. The
company may use its equipment at the New
York Paramount Theatre and elsewhere to
pick up the television broadcasts from the
conventions. If this is done it will be the
first time a major political event of this
kind will be shown on theatre screens only
a few minutes after it occurs.
TALK PROCESSING PLANS
While the television stations plan to proce.ss
their newsreel films right at Convention
Hall, the theatrical newsreels feel they
can do a better job of narration and editing
in New York. Some theatrical newsreel
executives are talking about getting out special
editions. They all are concentrating on
speed.
Paramount is considering picking up the
negatives in Philadelphia by helicopter. The
company figures it could be ready to ship the
prints to exchanges by air express in 12
hours. Other newsreels also are planning to
fly negatives to New York and air express
prints to exchanges. Universal, Pox Movietone
and Warner Pathe may do the same
thing. MGM's News of the Day claims it
Circuit Aid Is
Sought
For Tele Trust Suit
NEW YORK—The possibilities of an antitrust
suit against television broadcasters over
the issue of theatre television were discussed
March 17 before a group of affiliated and
independent circuit operators. These possibilities
were presented by officials and attorneys
of Colonial Television Corp., who invited
the cooperation of the exhibitors in
financing antitrust litigation. It had been
suggested that each circuit contribute $50 for
each theatre it operates.
Among those present by invitation were:
Oscar A. Doob and Irving Greenfield of
Loew's, Harry Goldberg of Warners, Charles
Horstman of RKO, Leonard Satz of Century,
Emanuel Frisch of Randforce, Phil Harling
of Fabian, E. E. Ford of Newsreel Theatres,
Walter Brecher of the Leo Brecher Theatres,
Arthur L. Mayer of the Rialto, Edward Lachman
and Albert Gebhard of Allied Theatre
Owners of New Jersey. A lawyer and architect
representing Paramount were asked to
leave on the ground that Paramount is associated
with a competing television firm
Du Mont.
The reactions of the exhibitors were varied.
hasn't decided how it will cover the conventions.
Its reels are processed at DeLuxe
Laboratories, 20th-Fox affiliate.
Plans for covering the conventions were
worked out by representatives of television
and the theatrical newsreels at recent meetings
with the national committees of both
political parties in Philadelphia. Some of
the theatrical newsreels still have men ironing
out the details at Convention Hall.
The television executives are excited. They
are going to pool technicians and coverage,
with NBC. Du Mont and CBS networks assigned
to handle the direct television pickups
on eight cameras, instead of four as originally
planned. Each of the networks will have
one television camera mounted at three different
positions on one of the two largest
balconies in Convention Hall.
The theatrical newsreel cameras will be
stationed on the second major balcony. Tljp
five newsreels are expected to have between
40 and 45 cameras covering the conventions.
This is about the same number they had
covering the last political conventions in
Philadelphia.
The television stations plan 16 hours a day
of direct pickups from Convention Hall.
Some of the theatrical newsreel executives
say this doesn't worry them. They explain
that while they can't hope to compete with
television on minute-to-minute coverage,
they can do a better job on narration and
editing. They have the facilities for it in
New York, and Philadelphia is close by air.
Some circuit representatives said they have
turned over the matter to their legal departments
for further consideration. Others
thought that existing industry and exhibitor
groups—TOA, SMPE—and their own legal
departments were capable of handling any
legal problems that arise in connection with
theatre television. Others resented the idea
of being asked to help finance an antitrust
action. They called it "pulling the other fellows
chestnuts out of the fire." There was
still another point of view—doubt whether
this is the time to start such action.
Alfred Emerson, president of Colonial, got
the idea after NBC had threatened to sue
RKO if the circuit held a scheduled large
screen showing of boxing from Madison
Square Garden. NBC pointed out it held the
rights for those fights and objected to showing
them before paid theatre audiences.
called off the screening.
RKO
Shortly afterwards the Embassy newsreel
theatre called off a scheduled large screen
showing of fights, also televised by NBC.
In both instances Colonial equipment was
to have been used.
One newsreel executive says 16 hours of
straight convention coverage daily is too
much, even if local television stations do
break in with some regular program commitments.
Pox Movietone plans to have seven or eight
newsreel cameramen plus contact men assigned
to the conventions. The company
may handle portions of the conventions with
an editorial or magazine type treatment. Universal
hasn't decided how many cameramen
will cover the conventions. Paramount expects
to assign eight sound crews to the
events. All companies will have roving cameramen
covering sidelights in addition to
those assigned to the balcony overlooking the
main platform.
In addition to sharing one of the major
balconies at Convention Hall, the three networks
will share a fourth camera position
just over the stage. Another direct television
camera will cover the arrival of political
leaders just outside the hall. Station WFIL-
TV, Philadelphia will provide the equipment
and personnel for this last pickup.
Television stations participating in the
pool network extend northward to Schenectady
and to Boston, and southward to Richmond,
'Va. The coaxial cable linking Philadelphia
with Chicago is expected to be ready
for the convention pickups by June 1. The
Republican convention will start Monday,
June 30. Many other stations will use film.
The Democratic convention will open Monday,
July 12.
14 BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

"ALL THE THINGS THAT ALL AUDIENCES WANT
MAKE^ALL MY SONS' AN ESPECIALLY FINE
BOXOFFICE MOTION PICTURE."
1 //NIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL proudly keralds "ALL MY SONS"
Cy{^ as a si^niiicant event in motion picture nistory.
^ALL MY SONS" was tke New York Drama Critics' prize
play in 1947. We feel that it nas been Lrou^lit so gloriously
to tne screen tnat it will Le automatically acclaimea as tne priz«
motion picture or 1948.
Already tke picture "ALL MY SONS" kas received sufficient
critical acclaim to warrant tkis prediction.
It is our intention in future advertising to acquaint tke
entire motion picture industry witk tke a^^re^ate values contained
in tkis picture.
It is our firm conviction tkat you will want to make a point
of seeing tkis picture as soon as it is made availakle for screenings.
It is
one of tkose magnificent dramas tkat must ne seen to
kc appreciated.
In tke meantime, let us leave you witk a quotation from a
review wkick recently appeared in Tke Film Daily wkick states:
"'ALL MY SONS' has all the fine qualities for making and
breaking records. 'ALL MY SONS' is as fine as they come".
Tkis is typical of tke pre-release puklicity wkick is attending
tkis memorakle motion picture.
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL presents
EDWARD G. ROBINSON • BURT LANCASTER
.'ALL MY SONS'
• LOUISA HORTON
FRANK CONROY • ARLENE FRANCIS • LLOYD GOUGH
A CHESTER ERSKINE PRODUCTION
Written and Produced for the Screen by CHESTER ERSKINE
From the Play by ARTHUR MILLER . Directed by IRVING REIS

A TOTAL OF 16.543 THEATRES
IN 29 EXCHANGE TERRITORIES
New York and Boston Lists
Still Due From MPAA;
May Reach 18,353
NEW YORK — Theatre and seating
statistics for 29 of the 31 United States
exchanges have been compiled and published
by the MPAA. The missing exchanges
are New York and Boston.
There are some surprises. For instance,
in the 29 exchange areas there are 16,453
theatres operating. They have 9,913,775
seats.
Six hundred and seventy-five theatres with
385,797 seats are closed. There is no explanation
for this.
If all the theatres in the 29 exchange areas
filled their seats at least once a week that
would be 69,396,425 admissions per week—less
than half the estimated 145,340,000 persons
in the country.
NEW YORK AREA IS LARGEST
In the New York exchange area—the official
figures are not ready yet—it is estimated
there are about 1,100 theatres with less than
1,500,000 seats, with approximately 150 closed
theatres containing something over 100,000
seats.
In the Boston exchange area it is estimated
in advance of the official figures that there
are 800 theatres. The number of seats is not
available, but will
be within a few days.
Add the estimated totals for New York and
Boston to the official total of 16,453 theatres
in operation and it becomes apparent that
there are about 18,353 theatres in operation
in the 48 states.
The War Activities committee figured the
total at 16,500 when it sent out a series of
mailings and removed the addresses which
did not respond. Apparently many theatre
managers did not bother to answer their
mail.
Eighteen thousand has been the estimated
total used by the industry for several years
and this was thS total quoted in several
briefs presented to the supreme court in the
antitrust
trial.
DALLAS SECOND WITH 1,302
New York, Dallas and Atlanta are the three
exchange areas with the largest number of
theatres—in that order. This may surprise
some in the industry who have long regarded
Chicago as second on the list.
New York leads on a seat basis with an
esimated 1,210,488 seats, but Dallas tops it
on a theatre count, with an official total of
1,302 theatres containing 706,682 seats.
Atlanta has 1,048 theatres with 639,286
seats. This area may be split at some future
date because of the distances covered. Paramount
has a distribution depot in Jacksonville
for the Florida territory and there has
been some talk among other companies of
opening similar depots when construction
costs come down.
Fourteen of the remaining 29 exchanges
where the count has been completed have
more than 500
this
order:
Minneapolis
Philadelphia
Washington
Cincinnati
Chicago
Los Angeles
Chcrrlotte

MORE ABOUT
ALL MY SONS
IV.'HEN UNIVERSAL- INTERNATIONAL acquireJ tke screen ri^kts to
"ALL MY SONS," one of tlie prime considerations in tke production of tke
motion picture was tke casting.
"ALL MY SONS" kad keen selected as tke PRIZE PLAY of 1947 ky
tke New York Drama Critics Circle, and tke U-I studio was determined tkat
all tke vitality, all tke dramatic values wkick marked tke stage presentation
skould ke kettered, if possikle, in tke screen presentation.
Tke motion picture trade journal critics kave saluted U-I's ckoice of stars
and featured players. Tkey were really kand-picked, and eack rose to tke very
keigkt of kis talent.
KHAD THESE PARAGRAPHS PROM
TRADE JOURNAL REVIEWS:
'EJwarJ G. Rohinson has nevar given a more impressive
performance."
—BOXOFFICE
• "Performances hy an unusually good cast are tops. The
players reflect sincerity and believability."
—MOTION PICTURE HERALD
* ''Edward G. Rohinson, Burt Lancaster, Mady Christians,
Louisa Horton and Howard Duff fill the top roles and give
performances which complement each other like well meshed
gears in a perfectly running machine."
—MOTION PICTURE DAILY
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL pr«Mnts
EDWARD G. ROBINSON • BURT LANCASTER
J'ALL
MY SONS"
th MADY CHRISTIANS
FRANK CONROY • ARLENE FRANCIS • LLOYD COUGH
A CHESTER ERSKINE production
the Screen by CHESTER ERSKINE
Written and Produced for
ttie From Play by ARTHUR MILLER • Directed by IRVING REIS

Tale of Two Cities on Video:
REPORT FROM
When Television Comes,
Here's What Happens
By JAMES GAHAGAN
MILWAUKEE— Since radio-television station
WTMJ-TV began broadcasting television
programs here last December, following
heavy advance pubUcity, the new form
of entertainment has mounted in interest.
At present there are about 1,500 home television
sets in operation, plus a good many
in public places.
WTMJ-TV started with limited equipment
for television broadcasts and this necessarily
".urtailed extensive program scheduling. Recently,
new equipment, including a mobile
television truck acquired by the station, has
increased the length of television broadcast
time and currently the station broadcasts a
5-day weekly schedule—Sunday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Sunday's
schedule runs at night only. Otherwise programs
are televised from 2 p. m. to 3 p. m. and
7:45 to 9 p. m.
VARIED PROGRAMS LISTED
Programs carry such titles as Television
Newsreel, How to Do It. Sunday Theatre,
Meet Your Neighbor, Travel Film, Surprise
Package, Film Featui-es, Let's Look at Television,
Paul Skinner's Music Room, NBC
Newsreel, Movie Matinee, Cartoon Fun, News
and Views, Armchair Travels, Teen Cartoons
and a Wild West Theatre, which provide
western films.
The teen-agers' Teen Canteen has proved
highly popular with the younger set. Run on
Saturdays, this show is entirely prepared and
presented by Milwaukee high school boys
and girls. A full half-hour show Saturdays,
3 to 3:30 p. m. The WTMJ-TV Teen Age
Council, consisting of these local high school
students, is in charge of "Teen Canteen,"
and representatives of six Milwaukee county
youth groups.
This show, according to exhibitors, is attracting
increasing numbers of youngsters
ordinarily attending motion picture theatre
matinees. In fact, exhibitors point out, any
televised show slanted to children and young
people is cutting into matinee business.
Youngsters gather In department stores at
retailer, according to reports, has provided
fire exit lights and dim lighting to permit
acceptable reception. As many as 50 kiddles
have been counted at these weekly Thursdav,
Friday evening and Saturday shows.
Of course, taverns, cocktail lounges and
other public spots have offered television as
added attractions. To date, the sports events
have proved the best attendance getters.
Through the novelty Is wearing off. these
Video Doesn't Worry
Cincinnati Showmen
CINCINNATI—There are few television
sets in use here, and exhibitors have had
no noticeable competition from this
source. Some exhibitors here are of the
opinion that the theatre of the future
will have a special television room or
hall. Thus, if an important sports events
is being telecast, the male members of
the family can drop into the television
room and the women can see the motion
picture. While declining to be quoted,
several exhibitors here said they are not
alarmed at the approach of universal
television and believe its effect on theatre
attendance will be no more than that
of radio.
spots draw sizable audiences whenever televised
shows are broadcast. Some exhibitors
are closely watching this threat, and have
protested that operators of such spots in
many instances, are not conforming with
fire safety laws.
On the whole, television broadcasting here
is still pretty much in the experimental stage
as far as programming is concerned. At
times, the Sunday shows are not presented
regularly. However, regular scheduling of
Sunday shows is planned. Youngsters are
asking for scheduling of the "Teen Canteen"
shows on Sunday.
"Birth of a Nation" was scheduled for
televised broadcast on WTMJ-TV on March
12, marking the first time this show has been
broadcast by television in the United States.
To date, most films broadcast have been
oldies, westerns and "Whodunits" of ancient
vintage.
RADIO-TELEVISION LOUNGE
The Telenews Theatre is the only local
house offering television as an added patron
puller. The radio-television lounge in the
theatre's relaxing spot, offers patrons the
chance to watch all televised broadcasts.
Thurston Wayner, Telenews manager, says
rapidly in this seventh largest city in the
The
television screens, sit on the floor, chairs,
country. first station, operated by the
or stand around to watch the shows.
televised sports events have proved most Sun papers, began telecasting a year ago
FREE SHOWS DRAWS KIDDIES
and the second station, a Hearst enterprise,
popular. Patrons like the feel of a crowd
Television shows presented gratis on weekend
opened March 11. Within another year sev-
while watching such events. Other shows
nights and Saturday afternoons by a lo-
are not so popular, Wayner indicates. He eral additional stations are expected to be
believes television fits into the Telenews type in operation. Most of the programs are
cal radio and television .sales retailer for
children, has exhibitors concerned. This retailer
picked up from Washington.
of operation better than the conventional
Exhibitors have made little or no effect to
type of theatre. The televised broadcasts
packs his store basement with tele-
vised shows for the youngsters. One utilize the new amusement form. One downtown
large
of news supplements the radio broadcasts
and two small television screens are used.
Seats are provided in theatre fashion. The
provided for patrons in the radio-television
lounge. Patrons stay for sports and spe-
run house has installed a set in
Its
cial news televised broadcasts, but thin out
when most other shows are offered.
Exhibitors feel that television has not cut
greatly into theatre attendance to date, with
the exception of the younger patron attracted
by the new field. The experimental stage
of shows to date, according to exhibitors, is
not keeping many patrons at home watching
television, or in spots providing such
public entertainment, to any great extent.
Baiti
more
By JACK SIDNEY
BALTIMORE—The effect of television on
the boxoffice here has been slight and not
noticeable enough to allow exhibitors to
blame telecasts for off nights. This may be
due. however, to the fact that there are not
too many sets in use—about 5,500 of which
1,000 sets are in taverns and bars—and serious
competition really has not been provided.
With the advent of the low-priced models,
such as those put out by Motorola and Philco
and to be followed by Hallicrafter in the
same price range ($180-$200>, and the acquisition
of production know-how by the
telecasters, keener competition is anticipated.
NO INROADS ON ATTENDANCE
The general feeling among leading Baltimore
theatremen is that television has not
made any inroads on attendance in the
downtown area, except on nights when a
championship boxing match is being telecast
or some other important sports events
is being shown. However—and this seems to
be an impressive point—what attendance is
lost comes back dm-ing the week.
Neighborhood exhibitors seem to feel that
they are the ones who lose business through
television. Chauncey M. Wolf, of the Uptown
Theatre, says that in these smaller
situations video is a decided factor on attendance
as the neighborhood playing a split
week does not get the lost attendance back.
Neighborhoods, therefore, in his opinion, will
be the first to feel the effects of a drop in
attendance because of televised programs.
William K. Saxton, Loew's city manager,
says that attendance has been off slightly
when special events are televised and that
telecasting further pulls down attendance
when weather is against the theatre. Lawrence
Schanberger of Keith's Theatre, also
holds to this opinion.
I. M. Rappaport, head of Rappaport Theatres,
is inclined to dispute this view. He
points to night baseball which attracts as
many as 30,000 fans a night and yet has not
affected theatre attendance.
NOT PROGRESSED RAPIDLY
On the whole, television has not progressed
foyer and merely exploits the attraction
through use of a sign outside the house. While
all radio and appliance stores invite residents
to come in and watch the video programs,
none has yet established a small auditorium
as a means of providing direct competition
to the theatres. Programs have yet
to include feature films, but the stations
have been drawing upon the home 16mm
libraries and short subjects taken from the
"soundies" type of film.
18 BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 194S

YOU WILL REMEMBER "ALL MY SONS"
r
t is cliiHcult to sum up the essence of a motion picture Ly
tlie use of slogans.
However, "ALL MY SONS" lias tliat natural, liuman, emotional
quality that leaves a lasting impression.
One of the reasons wliy tliis
prize play comes out so gloriously
on the screen is the care given to it, not only during proauction,
nut for montns prior to proauction.
Ana, in entrusting tne writing of tne screen play and tne
picture's proauction to Cnester ErsUine, co-producer-airector of
tke "EGG AND I", U-I felt confident tliat in liis hands tlie picture
would assay all tlie sterling qualities of tlie play.
Also, in selecting a director, U-I felt that Irving Reis,- noted
for his excellent work on tlie "BACHELOR AND THE BOBBY-
SOXER", would have an unusual perception for the subject matter
of "ALL MY SONS".
Wnen you see "ALL MY SONS" you will be tlie beneficiary
of tne magnificent amalgam that results from all the elements of
a production hlending into a triumphant screen achievement.
There is not any one thing that you will rememher ahout
"ALL MY SONS"; instead, you will he deeply conscious of all
the inings that have gone into it.
UNWERSAL
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Por thai reason, Motion Picture Daily said:
"Great skill and talent in acting, writing and
direction combine to make tnis screen version
of tke Artliur Miller stage play a professional
acnievement!"
,
ana PlJm DaiIt) said:
"Written ana proaucea for tne screen ty
Cnester Erskine, tne story is lucidly translated
into film terms by Director Irving Reis. In
eacli catagory of production, the treatment is
top drawer!"
and summed up generally
hy Snowmen's Trade Review:
"Tne way it lias keen written, acted and directed
for tke screen makes of it 94 minutes
of superk entertainment!"

TftcH' €UtcC 5'f'e*^
How io Spend It?
IMMEDIATELY after announcement of
the British tax settlement the amateur
statisticians pulled out their pencils and
started trying to figure how much money
would be tied up over there. The total
depended on the optimism or pessimism of
the man with the pencil.
One company executive predicted that
nearly half the British income would get
back to this country the first year and
liere is how he figured it:
Estimated British income.. ..$50,000,000
Less $10,000,000 which can
cost 7,500,000
This leaves a balance of 42,500.000
Less $17,000,000 remitted
here 17,000,000
This leaves 25,000,000
Less $10,000,000 which can
be invested outside the
industry and may include
materials purchased for
export 10.000.000
This leaves $15,000,000 which
must stay in England, but
can be expended for industry
purposes 15,000,000
If these figures are anywhere near correct
the actual tieup of income is
$15,000,000.
Ordinarily American companies allot 25
per cent for distribution costs in this
counti-y, but this man says they are cheaper
in Great Britain, and vary with the volume
of product. The big distributors get
their distribution costs down to 15 per
cent or less. He figures the average at 15
per cent.
MGM and Warner Bros, will enlarge
their studio facilities when materials become
available.
There may be a substantial increase in
production in Great Britain by American
companies by sending top stars over there.
This might reduce Hollywood production,
but it would enable American companies
to get out close to $15,000,000 in the form
of completed pictures which could be distributed
profitably in this country.
From seven to ten important pictures
could be produced over there for $15.-
000,000.
The British figure the agreement will
stimulate U.S. bookings. Conceivably the
income from British pictures here could be
raised from $3,000,000 to $5,000,000. If
this should happen, the actual tieup of
American funds in England would be $10,-
000,000 instead of $15,000,000, because the
profits of British films will be retained
here.
This raises the question as to how the
American companies would split this income,
if they split it. There will be plenty
of behind-the-scenes argument on this.
EHective Action
JUST how effective united action by all
exhibitors—affiliated, small circuit operators
and independents—can be when applied
with knowledge of public relations
By
JAMES M. JERAULD
was demonstrated in New York by a committee
headed by Oscar Doob. The committee
heard with dismay that through
some maneuvering a sleeping bill had been
reported on the floor of the N. Y. assembly.
It was a fantastic bill calling for tremendous
contributions to firemen's pension
funds at the rate of $10 per show for
each of two firemen to be stationed in
the theatres.
The legislature was deluged with telegrams,
the newspapers were informed in
detail. Some ran editorials.
In a matter of hours the legislators decided
this was a hot potato. Amendments
were suggested, the measure was sent back
to committee, and it was still there when
the legislature adjourned. Exhibitors faced
with somewhat similar problems elsewhere
can take heart.
Early Antitrust Ruling?
pHERE is a possibility that the antitrust
case decision may be handed down before
June.
The court usually takes some form of
action on a case during the term in which
it is heard. The present term will expire
some time in June.
For some surprising reason the court
has not been as busy as usual so far during
the current term. The total of cases
to date is 144 under the same period last
year. Forty-seven decisions have been
handed down this year—eight fewer than
last year.
Hearings have been off sharply, too. If
this situation continues, observers feel that
decisions will be speeded up.
Worth Remembering
fjERE IS A precedent: The New York
Life Insurance Co. secured approved
for construction of an $838,000 theatre
with 2.000 seats in the 3.000-family housing
project now under construction at Flushing
L. I. The housing expediter agreed
that the income from the theatre would
help hold down rents and make the project
more attractive from the financial viewpoint.
One of the biggest housing projects in
the United States—the Parkchester in the
Bronx—also had a theatre built in connection
with it, but that was before building
controls were imposed.
Tele Pictures Property?
NEWSPAPERS have been cautioned
against reproducing pictures taken
from television sets. The advice is not as
drastic as that directed against theatres,
but the principle is the same.
Joseph A. McDonald, vice-president and
general attorney of the American Broadcasting
Co., has informed Editor and Publisher
that "there may be several legal
complexities, all depending upon a certain
set of facts in each case. Legal principles
This Exhibitor Decides
'To Keep It Clean'
of
MEMPHIS—Barney Wooler, operator
Memphis Drive-In on Lamar, will open
a laundry in connection with both his
Memphis and New Orleans outdoor theatres
April 2. Plans call for the housewife
to leave the dirty clothes as she
drives into the theatre and have them delivered
to her car before she leaves.
laid down in the famed AP-INS suit involving
property rights in news and again
in the AP case against VOS still apply, in
the broad sense, to television pictures."
These cases are said to be the closest
approach to precedents bearing on the use
of television programs in theatres.
Exhibitors contemplating the use of television
shows taken off the air might do
well to consult their attorneys about these
cases.
Business Is Good
ARTHUR RANK has a lively humor
J
that often catches his hearers by surprise.
He was asked at a press interview
about business in Great Britain's theatres.
"It's good," he responded. "The people
have nothing else to spend their money
on. The stores are empty and everything
rationed."
is
The condition was one of the things that
made business excellent here during the
war.
Ascap Fight Subsiding
^SCAP's willingness to grant temporary
licenses to Allied members who want
the money in escrow until Allied's legal
attacks have been decided may remove this
controversy from the headlines for a time.
Some outstanding lawyers insist that the
record of legal attacks on Ascap has been
preponderantly in favor of that organization,
and they say the only way the situation
can be effectively changed is by
legislation.
Al Wilkie to Coordinate
Variety Clubs Journal
MIAMI—Al Wilkie, former home office
publicity manager for Paramount, has been
named coordinator for the 12th annual convention
of Variety Clubs International to
be held here April 12-17 by Mitchell Wolfson,
general chairman.
Wolfson said Wilkie will start immediately
on assembling advertising and editorial
material for the convention journal, working
with Herb Elisburg, chairman of the committee
in charge of the journal. Wilkie's
headquarters will be In the clubrooms of the
Variety Club of greater Miami in the Alcazar
hotel.
Lichtman Heads Variety Group
MIAMI—A. E. Lichtman, former Washington,
D. C, exhibitor, has been named chairman
of the banquet committee for Variety
Clubs International 12th annual convention
scheduled for April 12-17.
BOXOFFICE March 20, 1948

ALL MY SONS
"All my sons" appeals to all kinds of people. We tliinU
tnis proves it is a great motion picture.
U-I lias made a point of screening 'ALL MY SONS" for all
kinds or people in all walks or life. We feel tnat tlie picture nas
a powerful Lasic tkeme, wnick appeals to audiences of all types.
Not only have tke snow-wise trade paper reviewers acclaimed
"ALL MY SONS" as an excellent picture, but it
witk equal entkusiasm ky suck a varied group as:
kas been received
SAMMY KAYE
HARRY CONOVER
ARTHUR MURRAY
PERCY FAITH
EDDIE BRANNICK
LOU LITTLE
PHIL SILVERS
JOHN KIERAN
GUY LOMBARDO
JOE DI MAGGIO
Tkey all said: "'ALL MY SONS' is
great!"
Everyone wko sees "ALL MY SONS" agrees tkat it is a
great
motion picture.
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL presents
EDWARD G. ROBINSON
."ALL
BURT LANCASTER
MY SONS"
with MADY CHRISTIANS • HOWARD DUFF • LOUISA HORTON
FRANK CONROY • ARLENE FRANCIS • LLOYD GOUGH
A CHESTER ERSKINE production
Written and Produced for the Screen by CHESTER ERSKINE
From the Play by ARTHUR MILLER • Directed by IRVING REIS

18
at
Lasky Recalls Old Days
On 35th Film Birthday
NEW YORK—Some say that showmen, hke
poets, are born, not made. This may be true,
but plenty of infants
who displayed showmanship
talents lost
them early: plenty of
others allowed them
to waste before middle
age; others developed
and polished
their skills as they
advanced in years.
Take Jesse L. Lasky,
for instance. This is
his 35th year in the
film business. The
records show that he
will be 68 next September.
L. Lasky on his Lasky n t only
arrival in New York showed showmanship
talents around the family home in San Francisco
as soon as he got out of a perambulator,
he kept right on showing—and sounding
them. Long before he was ready to go to
high school the neighbors knew he had ambitions
to become a cornetist.
He related some of these incidents Thursday
1 1 a luncheon given by RKO in
observance of his 35th anniversary in the
Sherry-Netherland hotel.
It can't be recorded that San Franciscans
living in the vicinity of the Lasky hacienda
thought the Lasky's youngster was a virtuoso.
They liked their music loud, but not
too loud and not too much of It. This didn't
bother Jesse L. The one thing that did
bother him was the lack of income from his
musicianship, such as it was, so he went to
work as a reporter in the city of the Golden
Gate.
TO KLONDIKE FOR GOLD
As a reporter he was one of the first to
hear of the Klondike gold discovery. Not
long thereafter he was jarring the eardrums
of his Alaskan huskies. The quickest way to
get them .started some place was to sound
a few notes, instead of shouting "mush!"
Lasky doesn't say how much gold dust he
gathered. Anyway, he didn't have to pay
income tax on it, because there was no income
tax in those days. Jack London was
one of his fellow adventurers. London did
not become allergic to a cornet, because out
in the great open spaces it was a relief from
the wolf howls.
After Lasky had decided there was no future
in gold mining he returned to California
and organized an orchestra which appeared
in Honolulu. Oahu had nice moonlight, but
the climate and the income were enervating.
Before long Lasky was head of a vaudeville
booking office and he was widely known
as an entertainer when S?m Goldwyn was
still selling gloves and Louis B. Mayer was
running a theatre in Haverhill.
New York beckoned, just as it did later to
another San Franciscan named Paul Whiteman,
and in a short time Lasky was associated
with Henry B. Harris as a stage producer.
It was about that time he met Cecil
B. De Mille, who was associated with his
brother and his mother, in a play brokerage
and production business.
Unlike some of the other stage figures of
the day, he did not look down on the upstart
picture business. In 1913, with Goldwyn,
De Mille and Arthur S. Friend, he formed a
company called the Jesse L. Lasky Feature
Play Co.
Hollywood can ascribe its present fame to
this venture.
Up to that time most of the films had been
made across the Hudson in the fitful sunlight
of New Jersey. What few studios there
were looked like greenhouses. Lasky decided
he needed the imclouded skies of California.
He found a barn in an orange grove at the
corner of what is now Vine street and Hollywood
boulevard. By the way, the barn is now
a gymnasium with historic interest on the
Paramount lot.
'SQUAW MAN' FIRST FILM
The first picture was "The Squaw Man,"
a story owned by the De Milles. Dustin Farniun
was the star. Farnum was given a big
interest in the company, so he would act
in the lowly "fillumns." He sold out later
because he saw no future in the business.
What Lasky and De Mille and Goldwyn
did is now quite well known, and anybody
who wants to enjoy a few assorted chuckles
can get them by listening to Lasky's reminiscences.
He gave a few at the luncheon
last week.
Time passed as it usually does, but not
much time. Lasky was a rolling stone, but
he gathered moss—long green moss—in spite
of the old adage—also experience. In three
years he consolidated with Adolph Zukor's
Famous Players Film Co., forming Famous
Players-Lasky.
Hundreds of people in Hollywood still refer
to the Paramount studio as the Lasky lot.
Like many other producers he had his ups
and downs during and after the big depression,
but unlike some of them he bounced up
from the downs. Remember "Sergeant
York"! Soon you will be remembering "Miracle
of the Bells."
Lasky has taken on a waist line and a
double chin, but his humor is as lively as
it was 35 years ago. His buoyancy, his youthful
outlook are fascinating. His flair for
pleasing the youngsters as well as the oldsters
is extraordinary.
He is too modest to admit he was born a
showman, but he confesses he likes the show
busine.ss, and nobody attempts to argue that
""
the show business doesn't like him.
He never displays temperament. He is
what many men call a regular guy. His
visits to the RKO home offices are like
homecomings. And he still owns that cornet.
Lasky Says Studio Heads
To Continue Budget Slash
NEW YORK—Studio heads will continue to
cut production costs, despite the reopening
of the British market, but this will not affect
the quality of product, Jesse L. Lasky declared
Thursday at a luncheon in his honor.
Olympic Films io Go
ToU.S.Newsreels
NEW YORK—Plans for American newsreel
companies to release footage on the
Olympic games to be held in England next
summer were discussed at a meeting of the
newsreel executives and J. Arthur Rank during
the week. Rank has acquired exclusive
rights to photograph the games, and the
American companies were anxious to know
whether Rank would charge for the footage
he did not want himself for a feature film.
Details of the arrangements were not disclosed,
but it is understood Rank may make
a nominal charge for the Olympic footage,
or American newsreel companies may be
permitted to cover the games and pool their
fUms with Rank and the British Newsreel
Methods for filming the games were discussed
at the meeting. The American newsreel
executives exchanged views with Rank
on the best possible coverage of the events.
G. I. Woodham-Smith, general counsel for
the Rank interests, will discuss the recommendations
of the American newsreel men
with the British Newsreel Ass'n when he arrives
in England. He was scheduled to leave
Saturday i20i on the Queen Mary.
Boston Award Is Modified
By Appeal Board in N.Y.
NEW YORK—The film arbitration appeal
board has modified the Boston arbitrator's
decision in a clearance complaint filed by
Elmwood Amusement Corp., operating the
Jamestown Theatre, Jamestown, R. I., against
the Big Five. The arbitrator had dismissed
Loew's, 20th-Fox and Warners from the complaint
and had ruled that the 14-day clearance
granted by Paramount and RKO in favor
of the Strand Theatre, Newport, over
the Jamestown Theatre was not unreasonable.
The appeal board reduced the clearance to
seven days.
De Mille to Supreme Court
Appeal Over Union Fight
WASHINGTON—Cecil B. DeMille asked the
U.S. supreme court this week to help him get
back into good standing with the American
Federation of Radio Artists, Los Angeles local
land presumably back Into the business
of producing one of the outstanding radio
shows) without paying a one dollar union assessment.
It's the fourth try for DeMille.
He was turned down by the Superior court
for Los Angeles county, the District Court of
Appeals, and the Supreme court of California,
the last Dec. 16, 1947.
'Rope' Trailer Is Planned
NEW YORK—Alfred Hitchcock will produce
a Technicolor trailer for his new picture
"Rope," in New York in May. The trailer
will be made in Technicolor. It will star
James Stewart, who plays the lead in "Rope."
The feature was produced by Transatlantic
Pictures, Hitchcock's new company. Warners
will release it.
22 BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

Regular Admissions
For 'Arch' Release
its
HOLLYWOOD—Expressing the hope that
action may serve as a contributing factor
to a "roll-back" in inflation, the board of
directors of Enterprise voted to release
"Arch of Ti-iumph," its Ingrid Bergman-
Charles Boyer co-starrer, at regular admission
prices. This definitive action scotches
earlier conjecture that a roadshow policy
would be adopted for "Arch," which is being
distributed by United Artists. UA will ask 50
per cent of the gross and also a guarantee
for top playing time.
"Surveys just concluded," said the board
statement, "clearly indicated that higher potential
profits, our primary interest, will accrue
from following a policy of regular admission
prices on the basis of today's market."
It declared "Arch" has the "greatest
potential audience since the great 'Gone
With the Wind," according to the offices of
poll-taker Dr. George Gallup.
"The recent decision by Mr. Charles Reagan
of Paramount Pictures to release their
top-starring films at regular prices along
with the announcement made several weeks
ago by General Electric's Charles Wilson
should set a pattern for industry in bringing
about a 'roll-back' in price inflation."
Universal Board Re-elects
All Company Officers
NEW YORK— All officers of Universal
were re-elected at a meeting of the company
board- of directors, Tuesday (16).
Officers include J. Cheever Cowdin, board
chairman; Nate Blumberg, president; John
J. O'Connor, Charles Prutzman, William A.
Scully, Joseph H. Seidelman, Matthew Fox,
Edward Muhl. vice-presidents; Adolph
Schimel, secretary; Manuel Machnovitch,
treasurer; Anthony Petti, Margaret M. Sullivan
and Morris Davis, assistant secretaries;
Eugene F. Walsh, Harold Brewster, Miss
Sullivan and George Douglas, assistant treasurers.
Percy Guth was elected as a new
assistant
secretary.
The board has declared a quarterly dividend
.of 25 cents a share on common stock.
The dividend is payable April 30 to stockholders
of record April 15.
FC Names Jules Chapman
Assistant Sales Head
NEW YORK—Jules K. Chapman has been
named assistant general sales manager for
Film Classics. Chapman has been with the
company since its organization five years
ago. His promotion was made public by
B. G. Kranze, vice-president, who listed additional
appointments.
Ted Birnbaum has been named executive
assistant to Kranze; Albert Mannheimer is
director of exchange operations; Arthur Reiman
is head of the contract approval department;
Louis Bernhard is head of the
playdates and liquidation department; William
Markert is chief of the print department;
Herbert Stern heads the legal department.
Honorary Degrees for T-wo Film Executives
Rank Sees Competition;
Skouras
Welcomes It
Following the convocation exercises at Boston university's traditional Founders'
day at Symphony hall, congratulations are in order. Left to right: David Samoff,
(left) president of RCA, shakes hands with Spyros Skouras, president of 20th Century-
Fox. At the extreme right is J. Arthur Rank. In the background is Dr. Daniel L.
Marsh, president of Boston university, who conferred the degrees.
BOSTON—Keener competition between
Hollywood and the British film industry will
benefit audiences of the world by a crop
of finer films, J. Arthur Rank declared
March 12. At the same time Spyros P.
Skouras, 20th Century-Fox president, said
that the American film industry is ready to
meet all competition, confident that Hollywood
will continue to lead as long as it operates
in an atmosphere of freedom.
These statements were made at the annual
Founders Day ceremonies at Boston
university, where both executives received
honorary degrees of doctor of laws from
Daniel Marsh, president of the university.
Rank predicted that Hollywood and Britain
will try to outdo each other. He said the
target of the British industry is "steadily
increasing production of first rate films based
not on fear of public taste, but on faith in
it." He pointed out that the film industries
in both countries have learned much from
each other.
FREE SCREEN EMPHASIZED
Skouras pointed out the American film industry
does not deny access to films made
in other countries. "We welcome these foreign
films and their stimulating effect," he
declared.
Skouras said: "We must keep the screen
free, but also rich in scope and rich in inspiration.
I submit that in our industry we
Russia."
Skouras emphasized the value of films in
cementing international friendship through
education.
Regarding the British tax settlement. Rank
said the American industry is in a far better
position today on the terms of the agreement
than it would have been if there was
no strong British film industry at all. He
said: "Then it would have been entirely a
•one-way street,' and it would not appear
that any solution would be possible. But,
with a strong and progressive British film
industry, although small, there is some mutual
basis between the two countries, and I
feel that our very growth has been a salutary
thing, even for Hollywood."
Rank reviewed the growth of the British
industry and the increasing popularity of
British films abroad. He said that Britain,
like Hollywood, recognizes that films are the
greatest medium of information and a great
influence in spreading culture. We followed
the Hollywood pattern and created a demand
for British goods, he said, knowing full well
that a worldwide job had to be done for
Great Britain if the country was to continue
to exist in the postwar world.
He said: "I am a busineess man, and I
have made a bid to put our films into the
world markets, not only because I wanted
people to know about us, but because I have
believed that motion pictures could be a
spearhead in Britain's battle against adverse
trade balances.
U.S.
ALERTNESS PRAISED
"So we are using British films as trade
are ever alert to this very profound responsibility,
ambassadors for British goods—just as you
considering the magnitude of our have used American films to stimulate the
art and its mass appeal. Our screen does
not glorify evil, but rather the good impulses export sales of American goods; and it is
that stir in the human heart.
my hope that the foreign revenue from our
"We do not avoid controversial subjects. films will in time grow to become a not unimportant
item in our national balance
If our films did not portray the ways of
democracy in unflinching fashion, as they sheet.
"Until not so long ago, a great part of the
do, they would not be barred from Soviet
British film industry was largely dominated
by American interests. I do not blame Hollywood
for its commercial alertness, when
we ourselves in England were so slow to
realize the full potentialities of the film."
BOXOFnCE March 20, 1948 23

ISA
great love story..m
IS
IT
A SHOWMAN'S DELIGHT BECAUSE
HAS EVERYTHING THE PUBLIC
ALWAYS LIKES IN MOTION PICTURES...
^'*^
l'3Stel«ays
"CASBAH'S POWERFUL BOX-OFFICE!

With its songs on the air day and night
and the public whistling such hits as
''For Every Man There's a Woman,"
''Whafs Good About Good-byer 'It Was
Written In The Stars/' "Hooray for Love/'
"CASBAH" has been pre-sold
by showmanly
publicity and exploitation.
You are hearing about
everywhere
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL presents A MARSTON PRODUCTION
YVONNE DeCARLO • TONY MARTIN • PETER LORRE and mtroduces MARTA TOREN
and
HUGO HAAS . THOMAS GOMEZ • DOUGLAS DICK
KATHERINE DUNHAM and her exotic dancers
• •
MAT C. GOLDSTOHE OKecleO m JOHN BERRY Mui.c b, HAROLO ARUN and L»ncs by LEO robin . Scie.npl., by I. BUSH FEKEIE and ARNOLD MANOFf . Mullcal Slory by ERIK CHARtU
•
Bistd upon Ihe Novel "Ptw U Moko by Delecliye Asbelbe • Ajjociale Prodocei ERIK CHAREIL • A Unin

7i^a^AiH^t^*t ^cfiont
•fHE CONSTRUCTION of new theatres is in
the news again. The house of representatives
this week voted to drop curbs on the
theatre building. The senate bill still says
no; all available building materials should
go into homes.
When the final vote comes this month, the
chances are ten to one the house version
will be accepted, and the present cm-bs on
theatre construction lifted. The truth is, the
senate committee recommended the curbs in
order to have a bargaining weapon when it
goes into conference with the house.
The senate leaders will say: "Give us our
stronger rent ceilings, and we will give up
the curbs on theatre construction." That, at
least, is the way it shapes up to observers.
The housing act of 1947 was scheduled to
end February 29. But as house and senate
leaders were working on a one to two-year
extension, they got so windy, the deadline
caught up with them and no legislation was
ready. A simple one-month extension of the
present law was i-ushed through Congress to
give the solons more time to talk of the
long-term measiu-e.
The house committee feels strongly about
the curbs. The present law prohibits the
construction of amusement and recreation
facilities unless the housing expediter grants
specific approval. He does this in two cases:
(1) where a community has grown very rapidly;
(2i where a disaster, such as fire, has
struck.
The clearance with the expediter means
that most requests to
By LEE GARLING
build theatres are denied.
However, this saves scant materials,
said the house committee. "Slightly over 1
per cent of the total of all new construction
is affected," said the Walcott report this
week. "Maybe even less. And who's to say
how much of the saved material finds its
way into housing?" asks the pudgy legislator
from the midwest. He won't.
THE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES in
Hollywood, one of the most severe cases of
labor-management illnesses in the nation,
was ignored by a joint house-senate committee
which found the Taft-Hartley act
working well.
In its first big report on operations under
the six-month-old act, the committee found
strikes down, cases before the National Labor
Relations board moving swiftly, and harmony
on the rise.
On jurisdictional strikes in general, it believed
it saw the way out. Noting that the
bulk of them have occurred in the American
Federation of Labor building trades, it outlined
what is being done.
"Tentative agreement has been reached
which contemplates the creation of a board
of trustees made up of members from both
the union and employer groups," the committee
reported. The heads of the committee
are Sen. Robert A. Taft (R., Ohio) and
Rep. Gerald Landis (R., Ind.). Landis, incidentally,
is one of the congressmen who
John H. Harris
president,
Harris Amitsemcnt Companies,
Pittsburgh, Pa., says:
"ALTEC ENABLES US TO GET FULLEST VALUE
^? What makes the motion picture
theatre business different from
many other industries. is, I suppose,
that the value we give is measured
purely in the emotional satisfaction
the customers feel. This makes it
necessary for us to deliver every
ounce of the value, in drama and
emotion, that has been put on the
film in the first place. This is more
fered outside the theatre. The Altec
engineer is a real friend of show
business because he enables us to
get the fullest value out of what is
on the sound track. Furthermore,
that is his sole job, just as it is the
sole job of the entire Altec organization.
That means something to us.^
necessary today than it ever was: •
j/,„^ c„..„; ^ ; ^'"'^ r
we
^ermr, known
have to meet the intensified
for ,l.s service
competition of entertainment of- "ovc/- anil alwve llie contract" is a
viral ingredient of your theatre's
have been watching the Hollywood troubles
closely.
The board of trustees, the committee went
on, is to look to the past for guidance. If,
when a dispute comes up, the board finds it
has been determined by a prior i-uling, "that
ruling is final." If it is something new, a
joint board of five, two from union and two
from employer, and an impartial chairman,
decides.
"The agreement further provides," said the
congressional document, "for amendment of
the constitutions of the building-trades to
give absolute finality to the decisions of the
board of trustees and the joint board."
THE QUESTION OF TIMING has not been
solved, but television is going to Congress.
The big cameras can go there now occasionally,
but only at the will of senators and
house members: these have been found, in
many instances, fearfully camera-shy.
For instance, here's the 'Wallace case.
'When Henry A. 'Wallace appeared before the
senate foreign affairs committee to testify
against foreign aid for Europe, the television
cameras thought it a big enough event to be
on hand. But members of the senate committee
thought differently. They had aides
push the cameras out the door.
Maybe the senators didn't want to be
"sihot" in compromising, or unflattering positions;
maybe they didn't want 'Wallace to get
the publicity; mabye they didn't want to
make a record of Wallace which could be
sent to Russia as a permanent exhibit of
what goes on in America. 'Whatever the
reason, they refused to let the cameras in.
Radio is in somewhat similar position. Live
microphones can be brought into committee
hearings only at the assent of the chairman
or a majority of members. Similarly with
records for rebroadoast on the radio. Only
newsmen, it seems, can go freely about the
committee rooms of Congress.
This is going to be changed. Both broadcasting
and televising of congressional proceedings,
on the floor and in committees,
wUl be permitted. Probably specific legislation
will be enacted. There is some in the
works right now.
In fact, a bill of Sen. Claude Pepper
iD., Fla.i on which hearings recently were
held, would authorize the government to
spend money to broadcast and televise proceedings.
The actual job would be done by
private
industry.
OUT OF WHAT IS ON THE SOUND TRACK" we Promotes E. Deeter
NEW YORK—Emmett Deeter, warehouse
manager for the Western Electric plant at
'
Kearny, N. J., has been named supplies
service manager of the telephone division of
the company. He has been with the organization
for more than 20
years.
Altec Renews 2 Contracts
CAMDEN, N. J.— Altec Service Co. has renewed
service contracts with Alliance Theatre
Corp.. Chicago, covering 22 theatres, and
with Sexton Circuit, Inc.. Ashland, Ky., for
five
theatres.
Service Corponition
250 West 57rli Street
New York \9. N. Y.
aliilily to meet successfully the conipclition
of otherforms of entertainment.
An Altec Service contract is
the soundest long
term investment
cm exhibitor can make today.
THE SERVICE ORGANIZ.ATION OF THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY
New Columbia Dividend
NEW YORK—The board of directors of
Columbia Pictm-es Corp. has declared a dividend
of 2'- cents on its common stock. The
dividend is payable May 14, 1948, to stockholders
of record April 30.
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

. . . The
. . The
. . Over
. . Hugh
. . JuUan
. . Donna
VoUcfCWMd ^C^KWt
RKO Lists 12 Releases
Into Early September
starting with its current booking of "I
Remember Mama" at tlie Radio City Music
Hall in New York, RKO Radio has lined up
12 releases to carry the company through
Labor day, most of them in the high-budget
category. The schedule .was mapped in conferences
at the studio between Ned Depinet,
sales chief, Dore Schary, production topper,
and the company's independent producers.
Following "Mama" during March will be
"The Miracle of the Bells," with "Fort
Apache" set for April release and "Berlin
Express" going out in May. In June "Tarzan
and the Mermaids" and the reissue of
"Bring 'Em Back Alive" will be available
for bookings, as will "Fighting Father
Dunne." The July output will comprise Samuel
Goldwyn's "The Best Years of Our
Lives," going into general release, and "Your
Red Wagon." Walt Disney's "Melody Time"
and Independent Artists' "The Velvet
Touch" are the August entries, with Leo
McCarey's "Good Sam" scheduled for September.
Three New Independents
Established in Week
Another bumper crop or new independent
units went through their corporate laborpains
during the period to maintain the
bullish market that has prevailed for the
past several months in this field.
A partnership association finds Claudette
Colbert, Jack Skirball and Bruce Manning
merging their interests to produce "The Soft
Touch," an original by Joseph Fields and
U-I Wants to Know:
Is Xiss the Blood'
Good Title
or Not?
Confronting: the Universal-International
studio brain (rust at the moment
is
the vexing question:
Is "Kiss the Blood Off My Hands" a
good title for a movie, or ain't it?
After a hot debate over Its boxofflce
value, the problem now Is to go directly
to exhibitors for their reaction. Harold
Hecht of Norma- Productions, which Is
making the film version of the Gerald
Butler novel as a Burt Lancaster starrer,
sent querying letters to more than 500
theatremen, Including showmen, circuit
heads, bookers and buyers, and has also
asked for reactions from the heads of
100 university psychology departments.
Another survey is being conducted by
Audience Research Institute.
The studio "does not want to lose the
advance boxofflce interest stimulated by
the book," said puzzled U-I spokesman,
"although the title admittedly has a
shock reaction with some persons."
By
IVAN SPEAR
Fred Kohner, with Miss Colbert in the
starring spot. A major release will be set.
She toplined an earlier Skirball-Manning
venture, "Guest Wife," made for United
Artists release in 1945. Her partners hi the
new enterprise were, until recently, turning
out film for Universal-International.
In association with Art Leonard, eastern
producer. Bill Deming set up an independent
unit with a tentative three-picture slate,
the initialer—for unannounced release— to be
"Second Sight." Deming pulled out of Gibraltar
Pictures, outfit headed by Al Rogell.
to form the new association with Leonard.
Robert L. Lippert, Screen Guild vicepresident,
set himself up as president of
Crestwood Pictures, with Carl K. Hittleman
aligned as executive producer. The outfit's
first three pictures, all for SG release, will
include "Return of Wildfire," "Last of the
Wild Horses" and an untitled dog yarn.
Hal Wallis Signs Dieterle
To Director's Contract
Producer Hal Wallis tagged
WiUiam Dieterle
to a term ticket as a director and assigned
him to "The Accused," which Wallis
will make for Paramount, as his initial chore
production reins on RKO Radio's
"Honored Glory" were handed Frederic UUman
jr. . . . Stuart Heisler will direct Walter
Wanger's "Tulsa," which Eagle Lion is set
to release . . . "Sun in the Morning," newest
the Lassie vehicles, will
MGM by Richard Thorpe .
be piloted for
at 20th
in
Century-Fox William A. Wellman was booked
to hold the reins on a new western, "Yellow
Skies," to star Gregory Peck . Wedlock
and Howard Snyder are scripting an
upcoming Abbott-Costello comedy for Universal-International,
for which no title has
been dreamed up yet . . . "Bury Me Not,"
next in Monogram's Charlie Chan series,
is being written by W. Scott Darling from
an original by George Callahan . . . LilUe
Hayward is scripting "Powder River" for
Republic, which intends it as a William
Elliott
starrer.
Low Week for Story Buys;
Only Three Transactions
The story market went on the toboggan,
after several weeks of above-par activity,
and nosedived to a dismal low as only three
transactions were completed, Warners accounting
for two of them.
To the Burbank studio's slate were added
"Marriage '48," by Vera Caspary and Isadore
Goldsmith, and "These Many Years," an
original by J. Redmond Prior. The Caspary-
Goldsmith yarn, to be published as a magazine
serial, will be produced by Henry
Blanke. "Years" is being prepared as a
starring vehicle for "The Voice of the Tur-
Documentary
Production
Growing More Active
the present documentary, shoot-'emon-the-sccne
If
trend among filmmakers
gets much more active, Hollywood may
yet turn out to be a veritable ghost
town committed to the manufacture of
an occasional cartoon or boy-meets-glrl
musical in the making of which productional
authenticity as to backgrounds
and atmosphere is not demanded.
Latest to Indicate pursuit of such realistic
technique is Jack Wrather, Monogram-Allied
Artists producer, who is
laying plans for the filming of four subjects
dealing with various pha.ses of
Americana. To make them he will transport
casts, crews and equipment to the
designated locales by air. Wrather's
initialer along these lines, slated to go
into work next month, "Strike It Rich,"
is
dealing with the discovery and development
of an oilfield in Texas. He intends
to follow it with "The George
Washington Story," "In His Steps" and
an untitled yarn based on the lumber
Industry.
MGM, too, is swinging into action on
its recently announced program of semidocumentaries,
which it will turn out
with Samuel Marx at the production
helm. Jules Furthman is scripting the
initialer, "Bread Upon the Waters," and
Malcolm Stuart Boylan is writing the
second, "Cowboy and Indians." Both
are based on recent actual happenings in
the
news.
Susan Hayward Gets Lead
In Wanger Film for EL
Susan Hayward snatched an acting plum
when Walter Wanger booked her for the
title role in "Anne of the Indies," story of
a woman pirate, which he will make for
The heavy role in U-I's
Eagle Lion . . .
"Rogues' Regiment" went to Vincent Price
. . . Cast additions to Warners' "A Kiss in
the Dark" included Broderick Crawford and
Wayne Morris, while the same studio set
Dancing Star Ray Bolger for "Silver Lining,"
the upcoming Marilyn Miller biography,
which will star June Haver . . . Enterprise
borrowed Lilll Palmer from Milton Sperling's
United States Pictures to co-star with
Dana Andrews in "No Minor Vices" . . .
Supporting roles in Samuel Goliwyn's next
for RKO Radio. "Take Three Tenses," go to
Cathy O'Donnell, Farley Granger and Philip
Friend . . . Republic ticketed Jimmy Lydon
and Lois Collier for the romantic leads in
"Plight From Fury" Reed will
appear opposite
.
Van Johnson in MGM's
"The Story of Monty Stratton" . . Into
.
Paramount's "The Tatlock Millions" went
Robert Stack . . . Comedian Benny Baker
was booked for the Columbia musical,
"Sweetheart of the Blues."
After five years with the studio as a
writer .and associate producer, Virginia Van
Upp has terminated her Columbia post by
"mutual consent." Her last chore was the
writing assignment on "The Loves of Car-
tle" leads, Ronald Reagan, Eleanor Parker
and Wayne Morris, with Anthony Veiller producing
week's only other sale was
a Mary Loos-Richard Sale original, "The
Grave Scratchers," picked up by the King
Brothers and added to their Monogram-Allied
men" . Johnson is celebrating his
Artists slate. They will star Eddie Albert 17th anniversary as story editor for 20th
Century-Fox, his option having been picked
in the property, which relates the delivery
up for another year.
of a locomotive overland in 1876.
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948 27

•i

ij^l
j'm^
DORE SCHARY
presents
IRENE DUNNE
Production of
co-starring
^^^
BARBARA BEL 6EDDE8
OSCAR HOMOIKA
PHIIIP DOR^
Sir Cedric Hardwicke Rudy Vallee • Barbara O'Neil
E«cu„ve Produce, an. D.reccr GEORGE STEVENS
Reduced b. HARRIET PARSONS
Screen Play by DeWIH BODEEN
Based Upon the Play by JOHN VAN DRUTEN

. . . "Fine—and
MGM's
Cass Timberlane' Wim]
Blue Ribbon Award for February
By VELMA WEST SYKES
QASS TIMBERLANE," Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's screen version of the Sinclair Lew
"novel of husbands and wives" has been voted the February BOXOPFICE Blue 1
bon Award by the National Screen Council. With Spencer Tracy in the title roles as
lovable judge in the "city" of Grand Republic (another Minnesota town created t
Lewis 1, this popular best seller carries over into celluloid most of its charm, enhanced t
Lana Turner whose glamor is not obscured by the baseball outfit in which she appeao
early in the picture. While serious in theme, Tracy's casual portrayal of his role keej
it himiorous in spots and there are many neat touches of direction which make it moi
of a family picture than the novel itself might indicate. Good taste is shown in all situa
tions and as entertainment it is an enjoyaole entry in that field.
As a boxoffice favorite, "Cass Timberlane"
has been strong in nearly all of the key exchange
cities from which BOXOFFICE receives
percentage gross reports. In the March
6 issue it was the top hit, having grossed
200 per cent in Kansas City at the Midland
the previous week and 190 per cent in Indianapolis
at Loew's. The February 7 issue
showed it again as the top hit for pictures
playing at regular prices, that time playing
to 160 per cent at the Pox in San Francisco.
It has been held over in many of these
key show tovras for five weeks. This week
it scores again, grossing 190 at Minneapolis.
Dozen Plaques for Tracy
This is the first Blue Ribbon winner for
MGM since it won with "The Unfinished
Dance" for October of 1947, but that company
had a third of the Award winners last
year. For Director George Sidney it is a
first Blue Ribbon and also for Author Sinclair
Lewis, his other filmed novels failing
to fall in this special class.
With the cast, we find Spencer Ti-acy
can be nonchalant about an even dozen
plaques now, the last being for his role as
Colonel Doolittle in "Thirty Seconds Over
Tokyo" for Januai-y 1945. Tom Drake has
three now, one in each of .the last two years,
but Mary Astor only her second, though her
first was as far back as 1932. For Lana Turner,
Albert Dekker and Zachary Scott, these
are initial honors in the Blue Ribbon field.
In the issue of November 8 last year, the
BOXOFFICE reviewer had this to say about
"Cass Timberlane" in part: "The celluloid
version of what he considers his most sue
cessful book attains a new high of excel
lence for pictures based on the author's worl
Such superlative classification is easily mer
ited because of the sterling qualities of
film's every department ... A probablHsc'*
Academy Award nomination—a standout i
a highly competitive field."
"Estimates on Current Motion Pictures,
a sheet put out by MPAA in HoUywooo
which carries combined reports from 14 wo
men's and educational organizations, say |Ts(
that estimates agree on its family rating an<
comments: "If for no other reason, this pic
ture has merit because of the opening speed
jjf]
of Spencer Tracy in which he upholds th
sanctity of marriage and deplores the at
titude of those who rush too carelessly int
it and then seek the divorce court as
Comments from National Screen Counc:
members on their ballots included these
"The cast was great and the story was ver;
humanistic. Photography was excellent,
Arnold Hederman Jackson Clairon-Ledge
I had not expected mucl
for I disliked the book, but the splendii
acting of Mr. Tracy and Miss Turner make
it outstanding."—Mrs. Ferd Lucas, Indian;
Indorsers of Photoplays, Greencastle.
"Saw it twice—to me it was very out
standing, vibrant—and Tracy just talked
Such pictures we need."—Anne Hayes
KCMO, Kansas City . . "It good adull
. is
entertainment and is depicted vrith charir
and simplicity."—Mrs. Allen Cox, Helens
(Ark.) Better Films Council.
1(11
The Cast
Cass Timberlane Spencer Tracy
Virginia Marshland Lana Turner
Bradd Criley Zachary Scott
Jamie Wargate Tom Drake
Queenie Havock
Mary Astor
Boone Havock Albert Dekker
Chris Grau
Margaret Lindsay
Diantha Marl
Rose Hobart
Webb Wargate John Litel
Avis Elderman Mona Barrie
Executive Producer Louis B. Mayer
Directed by George Sidney
Produced by Arthur Hornblow, Jr.
Screenplay by Donald Ocden Stewart
Adaptation by Donald Ogden Stewart,
Sonya Levien
Based on the Novel by Sinclair Lewis
Director of Photography
Robert Planck, A.S.C.
Art Directors Cedric Gibbons
Film Editor.
Production StaH
Lillian Drover Josephine Hutchinson
Louise Wargate Selena RoyleBt
In]]
Gregg Marl Frank Wilcox
Dennis Thane Richard Gaines
Dr. Roy Drover John AlexandebI
Eiiio Roskinen Cameron MitchelIi;
Hervey Flint
Howard Freeman
Mrs. Higbee
Jessie Grayson i
Herman
Griff Barnett I
Alice Wargate Pat Clark
i
Musical Score
Roy Webb
Musical Director
Constantine- BakaleinikoffI
Recording Director Douglas Shearer!
Set Decorations
Edwin B. Willis!
Associate Richard PefferleI
Special Effects Warren NewcombeI
A. Arnold GillespieI
Costumes by IreneI
Hair Styles Designed by
Daniel B. Cathcart Sydney GuilarofpI
John Dunning Make-Up Created by Jack Dawn|
n\<
O This Award is given each month by the National Screen Council on the basis of outstandinn merit
and suitability for family entertainment. Council membership comprises motion picture editors, radit
film commentators, and representatives of better film councils, civic and educational orjanizations.

i
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Lifc'
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. . The
FROM THE FILES O
Canadian Expansion Program Started ^ ,
For Film Studios, Theatre Chains
^^ i/ jeur^^^^o
MONTREAL—Completion of a modern
studio on Cote des Neiges Road in the near
future is the first project of a ten-year program
of expansion by Renaissance Film Distribution,
Inc., which was formed to establish
in Canada an essentially Canadian motion
picture industry designed to produce all-
Canadian films of high quality, using Canadian
talent and technical ability.
The company also plans to construct and
acquire motion picture studios, laboratories
and theatres in Canada, to acquire theatres
in the United States and Europe for exhibition
of its films, and to produce, distribute
and exhibit motion pictures principally in
English, French and Spanish versions in all
forms, including television.
The idea was conceived by J. A. DeSeve,
who has a well-knovm record as a business
man and producer of successful motion picture
accomplishment in France and Canada.
Glen Ireton, former Canadian public relations
director for Warner Bros. Pictures,
Preliminaries Completed
For TESMA Convention
CHICAGO—P reliminary arrangements
have been completed for the 1948
trade show and convention of the Theatre
Equipment and Supply Manufacturers Ass'n,
Inc., to be held at the Jefferson hotel, St.
Louis, September 28-30. The theatre supply
dealers will hold their convention at the
same time and it has been indicated that
an exhibitor organization will also meet at
that time.
Roy Boomer, secretary, says 400 rooms and
suites have been set aside and space has
been taken for 100 booths. Exhibit information
can be obtained from Boomer at 4356
West Washington Blvd., Chicago 24.
is general manager of all Enghsh speaking
relations of the company in terms of administration,
production, distribution and
exhibition.
The new studio building was designed by
Paul Lapointe, Montreal architect, and will
be a self-contained unit able to handle almost
any type of interior sound production.
It includes a sound stage i60 feet wide by
120 feet long by 50 feet highi, large recording,
studio, dressing rooms, rehearsal room,
art department, carpenter and plaster shop
where scenery is made, film vault, canteen,
etc. Included also in the equipment are two
mobile generators to supply power for filming
location shots.
A second enterprise is planned on land
acquired on the site of the former Dominion
Park on Notre Dame street, where the company
expects this year to begin construction
on a project to comprise some 20 to 25
buildings, including three large sound stages,
which will be completely self-contained.
Wallis Buys Another Story
NEW YORK—Hal Wallis has purchased
film rights for "Obse.ssion," national magazine
story by Gertrude Schweitzer. Barbara
Stanwyck probably will star in the picture.
This is the third story property Wallis has
acquired in the past three weeks. Tlie others
are "September" and "Sound of Years."
Paramount will handle release on all the pictures.
'Venus' Release Is May 1
NEW YORK—Crystal Pictures, Inc., will
release "Venus of Paris," French production
featuring Viviane Romance, May 1. The
film has English subtitles.
DAWO CHALLENGER NO. 7600
Write or
Wire
With All
the
Features
1015 Utica Street
ff#^
$16.75
As niustrated
DAWO CO
Per Set
F. O. B.
Toledo. Ohio
Write or
Wire
Toledo, Ohio
^O MAKE all
pictures dialog vehicles would
be to turn the progress of the screen
back at least ten years," said Jesse L. Lasky,
first vice-president of Paramount recently.
"The great value of the motion picture has
been its power to touch swiftly upon
action and then sweep away," he continued.
"This would be impossible were all dialog
between the actors to be recorded."
Lasky states that if sound pictures become
the vogue, the present studios will have
to be rebuilt. Either heavy concrete or brick
will have to be used in place of the present
light
materials.
The Pullman Co. is naming three new
Pullman cars in honor of Dolores Del Rio.
One car is to be named "Ramona" in honor
of her forthcoming film for United Artists;
another is to be named "Del Rio," and another
"Dolores" . Gideon Society is
placing 3,000 Bibles in Hollywood dressing
rooms.
The plan, advanced by Sidney R. Kent,
general manager of Paramount, to reduce
radically the number of film salesmen in the
field, has been discarded. In the meantime,
Frank J. Rembusch, national secretary of
the unaffiliated exhibitors, is calling a conference
to create sales resistance against certain
producers. Rembusch advises exhibitors
to resist the weight of salesmen
2,500
calling on 5,000 accoimts.
Twenty New Realart Films
Dated Until September
NEW YORK—Realart Pictures, Inc., will
release 12 features and eight westerns between
now and September 1948. The company
has released 18 features since its formation
last year.
Scheduled for release are "Drums of the
Congo," "Captive Wild Woman," "Timber,"
"Mutiny on the Black Hawk," "Zanzibar,"
"Rio," eight Buck Jones westerns, "Magnificent
Brute," "Sea Spoilers." "Next Time
We Love," "Men of Texas," "Pardon My
Sarong," "My Man Godfrey."
Title Change by 20th-Fox
NEW YORK—"Leave It to the Irish" is
the final title of the 20th-Fox comedy starring
Tj-rone Power and Anne Baxter. The
picture previously was titled "For Pear of
the Little Men." Fred Kohlmar is producer.
Henry Koster is directing.
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

CHESTER FRIEDMAN
EDITOR
PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR SELLINiS SEATS BY PRACTICAL SHOWMEN
(^orpuS cfDelicti
With tongue In cheek, he have
occasionally published pictures of
lobby displays used by well-meaning
but misguided theatremen who think
it necessary to exhibit a coffin in
order to sell a horror show. At best,
these displays add nothing to the
prestige or decorum of an enterprise
supposedly dedicated to entertainment.
Last week we received a photograph
of such a display which outdoes
anything we have ever seen in
the way of gruesome exhibits. The
manager had drcFsed a dummy with
a genuine death mask, placed it in
a real casket, and produced a bier.
Even a mortician could, be proud of
the
result.
It took a good deal of imagmation
on the part of the theatre manager
to get such a striking and realistic
effect, but wh-ii we wonder about is
the impression the scene made on
•
the minds of youngsters, timid women
and even more courageous men.
There are not many people who
have the stomach for close association
with death. Under any circumstances,
few can withstand the
feeling of apprehension, awe or
downright terrc-r which death instills
in many mortals.
Timid persons, and children
particularly, are known to avoid
places which are associated in their
minds with unpleasant memories.
Imagine how the display is going to
react on them during the weeks,
months and years ahead.
The theatre is primarily a place
of entertainment, amusement and
relaxation for the masses. With
special attractions which appeal to
the curiosity of a few, the exhibitor
must be careful, both in his presentation
and in his advertising, not
to offend the sensibilities of the
majority.
The standard formula for successful
theatre operation is, "Get 'em
in, get 'em out, get 'em back." With
coffins and corpses lying around in
the lobby, it is more likely that we
will drive 'em out and never get 'em
back.
Easter Style Show Gives Texas Girls
Opportunity to Display Talents
Pasadena high school girls model Easter fashions on the stage of the Long Theatre.
J. W. Nagel, city manager for Long Theatres
in Pasadena, Tex., in conjunction with homecoming speech, and was supported by
with a number of popular songs and a short
a dress and millinery shop, staged an admirable
promotion to focus advance interest songstress was flooded with orchids and
her brother Marion and his orchestra. The
on women's Easter styles.
hand bouquets from friends and well-wishers
following each appearance.
Nagel was successful in lining up Janie
Ford, currently starring on the Mutual network's
Theatre of Song. Miss Ford, a Pasa-
The second part of the stage presentation
dena girl, was home for a brief visit.
On four successive nights, the stage
presentation played to capacity audiences
at the Long Theatre. Miss Ford entertained
consisted of a pre-Easter style show presented
by the Hat Box. Miss Ford acted as
mistress of ceremonies and even modeled
some frocks. High school girls serving as
manikins also modeled the latest in fashions.
Style Show Benefits Cancer Fund
A spring style show staged for the benefit
American Cancer society under the
of the
sponsorship of the Women's Junior Chamber
of Commerce was an event of major
proportions in 111. Carbondale. The promotion
was arranged by Pete Gloriod, manager
of the Varsity Theatre.
Considering that the Carbondale district
playoffs in both the high school and National
Intercollegiate Basketball tournaments
were held on the night of the benefit
show, the theatre attendance might have
dropped to far below average, but instead
played to standing room only.
Gloriod modestly attributes the success of
the show to the fine work of the Jaycettes,
but believes that the stunt was one of the
—419—
best public relations jobs ever done in Carbondale
for the theatre, and was of financial
benefit.
All stores in Carbondale specializing iJi
women's dresses, hats, bags, shoes, etc., were
invited to have their own models display
the new fashions. This was backed up by
full window displays publicizing the style
show and a full page of pictorial art and
puWicity in the Carbondale Free Press.
Ticket sales were hypoed by signs announcing:
"Cancer Kills Every Three Minutes.
Help Prevent the Waste of Lives by
Buying a Ticket for the Varsity Style Show."
Tickets were sold in advance by the women's
group, with a percentage on all sales
being assigned to the Cancer society.
33

Tarzan Returns in Jungle Setting
Brotherhood Services
Promote Goodwill
And 'Fugitive'
A Sunday morning, interfaith, interracial,
nonsectarian Brotheriiood service was held
at the Broadway Theatre, Kingston, N. Y.,
to promote community brotherhood and interest
in "The Fugitive."
The idea was conceived by Walter Kirchofer,
manager, and was carried out with
the approval and supervision of Bob Case,
city manager for Walter Reade Theatres
in Kingston.
It was the first time such an endeaver
was attempted in the city, and not only
helped to publicize "The Fugitive" but also
served to bring closer unity between the
various religious and racial denominations
represented in the community.
Clergymen from each faith addressed the
audience with an organist, soloist and choir
to give the proceedings further authenticity.
DO NOT FEED
Local newspapers gave the services front
THE ANIMAK
'""^^^ publicity, and the event was endorsed
from the pulpits of Kingston churches
and synagogues in advance.
Tropical foliage and stuffed animals were incorporated into this unusual lobby exhibit
Additional promotion for "The Fugitive"
by Frank Henson. manager of Loews, Akron, Ohio, to sell the return engagement of
double feature Tarzan program. The display attracted adults as well as youngsters.
Brochures on Money
Sell'T-Men'Debui
Richard Feldman, manager of the Paramount
Theatre. Syracuse, N. Y., arranged for
the distribution of 5.000 "Know Your Money"
brochures by the Syracuse Trust Co. in connection
with his campaign on "T-Men."
Radio station WOLF sponsored a contest
in which listeners were asked to write letters
on "What I would do if I were a T-Man."
Passes were offered as prizes in addition to
merchandise gifts.
The distributors of Emerson radios provided
15 window displays tied in with the
film and playdates. Two boys, carrying a
large letter "T" and with playdates imprinted,
ballyhooed the picture on the main
streets in advance and during the run.
A Willys jeep borrowed from a local motor
sales company was bannered and driven about
town. Numerous window displays were arranged
with luggage, camera, electric and
cosmetic shops in addition to the local fiveand-ten
cent stores.
Chicago Telenews Makes
Presidential Survey
Joe Odeiihal of the Chicago Telenews tied
up with the Chicago Herald-American for a
presidential preference survey, with results
reported daily in the newspaper. An automatic
voting machine was borrowed from a
local concern, similar to those used in local
elections, and was installed outside the theatre
with passersby Invited to register their
choice for presidential candidates.
Inside the
theatre, a trailer called attention to the poll,
and up-to-date results were furnished by
wire from the Herald-American offices for
posting on the theatre bulletin board.
34
Asbury Gadzes Compete
In 'Earrings' Contest
For "Golden Earrings," Bud Heck, manager
of the Mayfair in Asbury Park, N. J,, ran
a contest in which patrons were asked to define
the gypsy word, "gadze." Those correctly
describing it as a non-gypsy and submitting
the best letter explaining why they liked
the picture were awarded prizes. First winner
received a pair of golden earrings donated
by a local jeweler; a record album
promoted from a music shop was second
prize, and runnea-sup were presented guest
tickets,
A preview the night before the regular
opening date, sold as a "two for one" program,
drew a capacity audience. Heck used
40x60s and window cards to plug the preview
and contest well in advance.
Peppermints Ballyhoo
'I Walk Alone' at Ritz
To advertise "I Walk Alone," T. P. Arrants,
assistant manager of the Ritz, Elizabeth,
N. J., arranged a tieup with the distributors
of Chex peppermint breath sweeteners.
The company supplied Arrants with several
thousand sample mints. These were packaged
in glassine bags with imprint, "You'll
Never Walk Alone If You Chew Chex." Ad^ditional
copy included the theatre attractions
and playdates. The Ritz usherettes
distributed 10,000 of
uptown shoppers.
the novelty giveaways to
Uses Mailing Piece
To promote "The Great Mr. Handel" at
the Mars in Milwaukee, C. W. Kraemer
used a direct mailing piece and handouts
to patrons carrying newspaper comments
about the film. Complimentary "admit one"
tickets were enclosed in letters mailed to
a select list.
—420—
included a contest sponsored by the Evening
Leader in which theatre tickets were
offered to readers sending in the best letters
on "What Brotherhood Means to Me."
Kids See Free Show
Goodwill and an effective ballyhoo which
helped exploit "The Naked City" was promoted
by Paula Gould, publicity manager
for the Capitol Theatre in New York, when
she invited children of the Henry street
settlement to be guests on opening day. The
children were taken to the Capitol in buses
carrying large banners announcing the film
opening.
Ervin dumb, publicity director for the Towne,
Milwaukee, submits this attractive, attentiongetting
display ad he prepared on "The Exile."
The theatre s'Q is cleverly worked into the
layout, which emphasizes action and :
BOXOFFICE Shovraiandiser :: Mar. 20, 1948

Hohby Lobbies
Citizens of Hickory. N. C, have good reason to help the fight against infantile paralysis
as a result of the polio epidemic that struck that community a few years ago.
Earle Holden, manager of the Center, displayed an iron-lung and had high school
girls collecting funds in the theatre lobby.
ma SH£ BC SAV€D
'flRILSyPAUUNE
FoK This and oth^s. thmlls...
A CIRCUITWIDE CONTEST conducted by Fox Wisconsin
Theatres, in which prizes were awarded to managers
creating the most outstanding diorama displays,
produced some unusual examples of multidimension
lobby ideas. Reproduced are some of the winning
exhibits. From top of page, downward; Francis Bickler,
leffris Theatre, Janesville, Wis.; Al Camillo, Mirth,
Milwaukee; John Islen, Strand, Milwaukee; Carl Doty,
Veneian, Milwaukee.
Three-sheets, cut out and mounted, provide
flashy lobby pieces for W. C. Cundiff, manager
of the Coleman Theatre, Miami, Okla.
Inexpensive and easily constructed, Cundiff
also utilizes them for outside exploitation.
A week in advance oi "Road to Rio"
opening, Loris Stanton, manager of
the Strand, Clarksville, Ark., used
this jeep as lobby bally to call attention
to
his playdates.
fc^"^ YOU "Sk^ MEANT^ ME^^I^f |
STflRTS PRI.
II \i
\ ^
This foyer display, created by Bob Cox, city manager, at the Kentucky Theatre in
Lexington, was economical, attractive and effective in bringing patrons' attention
to "You Were Meant for Me."
36 —422—
imMMt

I
Patrons Participate in Air Quiz Teaser Campaign Pays
Ray Conner, manager of the Palace in New York, is presenting a radio quiz show
called Movie Matinee from the theatre stage five days a week. 3 to 3:30 p. m. Besides
boosting business, the stunt is helping to stimulate interest in motion pictures generally.
The program is aired over WOR and is presided over by Johnny Olsen. star of
"Ladies Be Seated." The theatre audience is scanned for contestants during a
10-minute warmup period. All questions pertain to motion pictures and valuable
prizes such as watches, vacuum cleaners, etc., are given for correct
i^ Feather Giveaways
Tickle Recipients
Inexpensive stunts which have helped
Ralph Tiede promote his attractions at the
Granada in Napanee, Ont., have been paying
off at the boxoffice and in comment
from theatre patrons.
To exploit the Hal Roach "Comedy Carnival,"
Tiede promoted a thousand safety
pins from a local druggist and affixed them
to cards with this copy: "Use this pin to
replace the buttons you'll pop off laughing,
etc., etc." These were distributed in homes,
offices and shops.
Prior to the engagement of "Welcome
Stranger," cards were tacked up at the city
outskirts adjacent to the service clubs' directory
boards, with copy: "'Welcome
Stranger.' Rotary Club meets every Tuesday.
See 'Welcome Stranger' at the Granada
Theatre."
For "Cross My Heart," a wholesale poultry
plant delivered several thousand chicken
feathers. These were inserted in shipping
tags imprinted with copy: "If you think this
tickles you, wait till you see, etc., etc."
Free Heralds Obtained
For Tampa 'Out of Blue'
IQ
Curt Miller, manager of the State. Tampa,
Fla., tied up with the Airco Airplane Corp.
which paid for special heralds on "Out of the
Blue."
Miller also promoted several co-op ads with
a Royal Crown cola dealer which ran in both
newspapers.
Gags in Lobby Point Out
Coming Attractions
Lobby displays recently helped to focus
attention on attractions dated at the College
Theatre, College Point. N. Y., for Manager
James Pisapia.
For "My Wild Irish Rose," sheet music
covers were pasted to large lobby board
a
surrounded with metallic frames, while
catch copy called attention to the great song
hits heard in the film production.
To build advance interest in "Singapore,"
Pisapia used a large photograph of Ava
Gardner under the announcement, "Amnesia
victim. Does anyone know this woman?"
Additional copy brought to the readers'
attention the fact that they could fill
in missing data by seeing "Singapore."
Free guest tickets to "see "Desert Fury"
were offered for the best colorings submitted
thi'ough a herald on which a two-column
sketch illustrated a scene from the picture.
Circulars were distributed in homes and at
schools.
Co-Op Ad Promoted
A two-thirds page co-oi) ad plugging
"Good News'" was one of the first tieups Bob
Wade made, shortly after taking up a newassignment
as manager of the Playhouse in
Canandaigua, N. Y.
Wade sold five merchants on the idea of
using the "Good News" slug to head their
daily advertisements, reserved the center
spread for his own display ad and ran a
banner headline across the page reading:
"Good News to the Shoppers of Canandaigiia."
Besides providing the theatre with a flash
selling message, Wade had the satisfaction
of showing a saving on his ad budget.
Excellent Returns
On 'Narcissus'
Playing on the curiosity of patrons, S. R.
McManus, manager of the Odeon in Kingston,
Ont„ put on a campaign for "Black
Narcissus" which was dominated throughout
by teaser advertising.
Individual letters were mailed to leading
merchants in 16 communities surrounding
Kingston with teaser cards. The cards announced
on one side: "The picture that
caused country wide discussion." The reverse
side carried a simple announcement of
the theatre playdates and endorsing the picture
as adult entertainment.
On CKWS, spot announcements breaking
in regularly with the simple statement,
"Coming . . . 'Black Narcissus,' " helped provoke
curiosity among radio listeners. Beginning
on opening day, the radio annoimcements
were changed to include theatre
mention.
A display was set up in the foyer featuring
daffodils dipped in black paint, and the
entire outer lobby was covered with circular
pasteboards bearing copy, "The much
discus.sed 'Black Narcissus.' "
In 20 prominent locations, special window
cards were displayed with stills and this
is copy: "Tliis only one of two 'Black Narcissus'
to be seen in the district. The other
is at the Odeon Theatre."
McManus circularized his mailing list with
postal cards. In addition, 3,000 teaser calling
cards were placed in cafes, hotels, meeting
places and at cash registers of all local
shops.
An outstanding newspaper campaign was
supplemented by special readers and art.
McManus credits the campaign with the
responsibility for an extra two-day engagement
beyond the regular booking.
Cooking School Session
Is Valentine Day Hypo
A morning cooking school session at which
more than 300 prizes were offered to patrons
was promoted by Gil Green, manager
of the Michigan Theatre in Detroit as added
entertainment and diversion for Valentine's
day.
Green hooked up with WXYZ, bringing
Edythe Fern Melrose, whose Lady of Charm
program is one of the topflight shows in that
area, to the theatre stage. The program's
sponsor provided the 300 gifts, 200 of which
were food baskets, as door prizes.
Comedy relief was provided by having two
male announcers participate in baking contest.
The cooking session took place before
the screen show with everyone paying full
admission price.
Pages 'The Killer
Fred Greenway. manager of the Palace,
Hartford. Conn., used three effective gags to
publicize "Killei- McCoy." He had the
"Killer" paged at local sports events and
gave out teaser cards offering $100 "if you
last one round with 'Killer McCoy.'" Tying
up with the Hartford Times, readers of the
sports pages were asked to name the ten alltime
fight chamipions. Best answers were
rewarded with theatre tickets.
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Mar. 20, 1948 —423— 37

Passes Are Awarded
If Patrons Are Hep
To Current Shows
Council Bluffs Citizens Enter Hunt
For 'Treasure of Sierra Madre
A treasure hunt built around an interesting
angle was the basis of cooperative tieup between
six merchants, the Nonpareil newspaper
and the Broadway Theatre in Coimcil
Bluffs, Iowa, which aroused wide public interest
in "Treasure of Sierra Madre."
The promotion, arranged by G. Allan
Schrimpf, manager, offered prizes valued at
$200 for local citizens who established the
location of the "treasure."
One week prior to the pictures opening,
a full-page newspaper ad in the Nonpareil
announced the details of the hunt, the Broadway
booking coming in for half the space
with illustrations and starting date at no
cost. Each merchant set up a display occupying
a full window with a single clue furnished.
Curious persons were required to
visit each merchant's store in order to pick
up all the clues. Answers had to be brought
to the theatre where each was officially
stamped with the time of its entry.
The newspaper assisted by displaying all
prizes and running publicity stories and pictures
of the winners receiving their prizes
on the Broadway stage.
In addition to the valuable publicity the
.hnt^^ TREASURE ,
#''
OF SIERRA MAWIE
.(b»^
sn5*
f$
TREASURE OF
sierra madre
stunt provided for "Treasure of Sierra
Madre," Schrimpf believes that his relationship
with the participating merchants and
the newspaper has been enhanced through
the excellent comment among the townspeople.
Telephone stunts continue to noid the
spotlight among theatre managers who are
intent upon impressing local theatre patrons
with their attractions.
W. C. Cundiff, manager of the Coleman
in Miami, Okla., has added a new twist to
the current phone devices by offering
passes
to citizens listed in the telephone directory
who are called and who can tell him the
name of the current picture playing at the
Coleman.
Cundiff calls ten phone numbers daily. He
reports that when the stunt was first tried
out, about one in seven who were called
could give him the desired information. Two
weeks later, after he had instituted a campaign
to publicize the phone award, he
found that nine out of ten persons were
able to give him his current film titles.
To create interest in the device, Coleman
built a special board around an old-style
wall telephone and set it up in the lobby
of the theatre with an announcement that
persons called daily and giving him the correct
title of the picture and star currently
playing would receive passes.
A special trailer was used to get the idea
across, and the editor of the local newspaper
was prevailed upon to run a story
informing its readers of the offer. Every
Sunday Coleman lists the names of the winners
for the past week.
The Miami theatreman reports that persons
in the community are now pinning the
newspaper ads by their telephones, and instead
of walking out of the theatre during
the showing of the screen trailers, they stay
to see what the coming attractions are.
Institutional Plug
Walter B. Lloyd, manager of the AUyn
Theatre, Hartford, Conn., is using an institutional
sign inside the lobby with copy,
"The AUyn welcomes you and sincerely hopes
you will enjoy your visit."
38
Star Appears to Spur
Safety Membership
In conjunction with the Save-a-Life campaign
in Los Angeles, Beach Abrams, manager
of the Loyola Theatre, arranged for the
personal appearance of Natalie Wood, juvenile
star of 20th Century-Fox, at a Saturday
morning show. A children's safety
program was presented, all youngsters in the
audience signing a pledge which gave them
membership in the Junior Safety club.
Simplicity, combining good art work and coloring,
was the keynote of a successful lobby
campaign to promote "The Pearl" at the Sutton
Theatre, N. Y. C. Joseph Sinclair, assistant
manager of the Sutton, is admiring one of the
attractive easels which helped to build interest.
—424—
Prizes Lure Singers
In 'Song' Contest
One of the outstanding exploitation campaigns
to hit the Denver area in recent
months was a vocal contest staged by William
Hastings, manager of the local Orpheum,
in collaboration with RKO exploiteer
T. B. McCormick to promote "Night Song."
The enterprising duo hooked up with the
Rocky Mountain News and radio station
KLZ, the former publishing daily stories and
art with several full page banner headlines,
the latter plugging the event with periodic
announcements and program time.
Merchants and businessmen contributed
prizes valued at more than $2,000, including
a fur coat, diamond and ruby wristwatch,
washing machine, phonograph and radio
combination, wardrobes and beauty kits and
other valuable gifts.
The contest attracted over 1,200 entries.
The campaign also included a tieup with a
soft drink concern for truck banners and
window cards in 350 stores, and music shop
promotions tying the picture's score in with
records of Ai-thur Rubinstein and Hoagy
Carmichael.
Flying School Provides
Heralds and Airplane
A local flying school paid for the printing
and distribution of 5,000 heralds publicizing
the national Aeronca aiiTJlane giveaway and
the engagement of "Out of the Blue" at the
Avon Theatre in Savannah, Ga., as a result
of a tieup arranged by Ed Seamon, manager.
A demonstration plane such as is being offered
to the winner of the national contest
was placed on exhibition in the outer lobby
of the Avon prior to and during the run of the
film.
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Mar. 20. 1948

properly
A THOUGHT OR TWO FROM HYGIENIC CORNER
a:ri)iTORiAL jii
^^»^^:f?^
WILMINGTON, OHIO. U S.A.
of duties and desired conduct in theatn
s of "Mom and Dad" are given all en
Productions periodically by owners Krogi
. S. Jossey.
Penny Macguire of Hygit
Charles B.
Meade (left) explain: Canadian aocnt George Altman that
every "Mom and Dai unit IS handled by top-notch people.
Wanta make real
profits this summer?
Just because we have 25 units of "Mom and Dad" rolling these days in the
United Slates, Canada. Alaska, Mexico and Latin and South American countries,
exhibitors get the queer idea when their program looks awfully weak, that we
should be able to clear 'em a print for next Tuesday.
Hygienic doesn't operate—can't operate—that way.
We have a "system"—just like the kid putting money in the bank. It's the
only successful system we know so we've got to slick to it. Under ordinary circumstances
if you phoned us todcry for a play date for "Mom and Dad" it would
be six weeks—or around May 1st. That's because our system, or policy, of presenting
'Mom and Dad to get you the greatest possible boxoffice re
"
turns, requires six weeks of advance work. Therefore we "fire" agents who can't
or don't keep their units booked six weeks or more in acivance. Good jobs aren't
too easy to find these days, so most of our agents have their units booked two
months, three months or more ahead. One fellow, who is working for the 1948
top bonus, already has his unit booked solidly up to Thanksgiving week. He's
some "slave"l
Most of our "Mom and Dad" units today are still ploying routes that were
booked by Hygienic's agents last year. At Christmas time every route was booked
into March and one was booked into mid-May.
The thing about an exhibitor that shouldn't be, is his yen to tell our agents
"how" to book their units. No one knows a "Mom and Dad" unit like its agent.
They have been schooled and trained in properly handling this special attraction.
They have had months or years of experience. The exhibitor hasn't played it before.
Neither has he played "a show just like it"—because there never has been
an attraction like "Mom and Dad." Thats' why we rightfully call "Mom and Dad"
. . . 'The World's Most Amazing Attraction."
There are a thousand-and-one little things about "Mom and Dad" and our conipaign
that are not only different, but the exact opposite of other pictures. Hygienic's
agents know all of these-and will explain em to you. Listen to the agent, work
and cooperate with him and we'll not only guarantee you a record gross but that
he's the first film salesman you have ever met who made "under-statements."
"
"Mom and Dad deals with juvenile delinquency and V. D. It's strictly the
new modern-way approach. These are controversial subjects. Before you consider
playing it make up your mind who runs your theatre—you, or somebody
down the street and around the corner? If you're a weak-knee, a back-patter, cin
appeaser, forget it. But if you're an exhibitor who wants to keep his bills paid
and exercise your right to make profits and discharge your duties in rendering
a community service, set your play dales for "Mom and Dad" now. Then, listen
to our agent. Cooperate and follow-thru. When the engagement is over cmd firie
mothers and fathers and all the young men and women are thanking you for "this
wondefully educational program" you'll be writing us a letter, too. Exhibitors
aren't fools. "Mom and Dad" has played over 4,000 of them and is welcome back
anytime in any theatre. People aren't fools. They know the truth from group
propaganda. They like facts in preference to old-world opinions. They'll
see "Mom and Dad" regardless of who says what, when you give them the opportunity.
For summer playdates, book now!
Dad" agent Fted
fe of another Hyg
lot like Veronica Lake of the movies.
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

Exhibition of 18fh Century Antiques
Enlivens Washington Birthday Show
Daughters of the American Revolution served as hostesses and lecturers at a Flushing.
N. Y., birthday celebration show. They are shown demonstrating antiques o{ the Revolutionary
period in the foyer of the Roosevelt Theatre.
A record attendance was rolled up at the
Roosevelt Theatre in Flushing, N. Y., at a
recent Washington's bh-thday junior matinee
staged by Manager Mildred FitzGibbons.
Miss FitzGibbons tied up with neighborhood
store, the Flushing chapter of the
Daughters of the American Revolution, and
a fine arts and antique shop. The children's
shoe store acted as sponsor of the
program and paid for the distribution of
5,000 heralds at 23 public and parochial
schools, as well as other incidental advertising
expenses.
The patriotic group loaned the theatre an
exhibit consisting of an American flag with
13 stars, weapons of the Revolutionary
period, photographs, articles of women's
attire of the 18th century, samples of needlework
of the period, and many other historic
objects.
The antique firm loaned fine furnishings
Coming Films Plugged
At Strategic Places
Selling the next week's attraction is one
of the showmanship rules strictly adhered
to by Harry Francis, manager of the Cabrillo
Theatre, San Pedro, Cahf. Francis uses
a large cutout of his next attraction at one
side of the stage proscenium regularly to sell
his coming shows, and places other eyecatching
pieces in strategic locations in
foyers and lounges.
Posts College Bulletins
To draw attention to "Campus Honeymoon"
at the Allyn Theatre, Hartford, Manager
Walter Lloyd posted displays on all
local college bulletin boards.
of the Colonial era including a spinning
wheel and many other fine museum pieces.
All this material was then placed on exhibition
in the tlreatre.
Letters were addre.ssed to principals of
schools covering a 20-mile area, informmg
them of the exhibit and inviting all school
children to visit the Roosevelt. Details of
the Washington birthday celebration were
set forth.
At the special show, the screen program
included several patriotic short subjects and
two Gene Autry features.
Throughout the day, members of the
Daughters of the American Revolution, attired
in authentic costumes of Washington's
day, acted as hostesses at the exhibit
and delivered informative lectures.
The promotion resulted in increased attendance
and widespread interest among
school children and adults.
Sells Biggest Show!
To focus patrons' interest on the coming
engagement of "Nightmare Alley," Norman
Lofthus, manager of the California Theatre
in Santa Barbara, created a miniature skyline
effect of a circus carnival and placed
it in the theatre lobby. A large sign, hung,
overhead, called attention to "the greatest
show on earth."
Seeks Mostest, Leastest
A radio contest to locate the "most traveled"
and "least traveled" persons in New
Haven helped promote the showing of "To
the Ends of the Earth" for Sid Kleper. manager
of the College. Listeners were asked to
send in a resume of trips they had taken,
and cash prizes of $10 each were awarded
to the winners.
Toledo Disk Jockeys
Revive Old Tunes
For 'Double Life'
Radio figured prominently in the camppign
put on by Abe Ludacer, manager of the
Valentine, Toledo, for "A Double Life." Disk
jockeys on stations WSPD. WTOL and
WTOD played old tunes that were successful
in their day and brought b^.ck recently
to enjoy hit status again, citing it was the
"double life" of songs. Theatre and playdates
were included at all times.
The Rogers Hollywood program carried a
story about actors, once faded, who have
made a terrific comeback, tying it in with the
double-life motif and urging hsteners to see
the Ronald Colman picture.
A "Double Life" contest was set with station
WTOD, in which the radio audience was
asked to submit stories about themselves or
someone they knew who led double lives.
Spot announcements were used daily.
Ludacer sent letters to all drama teachers
in the city, stressing the Othello angle in
the picture and suggesting they have their
students see "A Double Life" as an example
of fine Shakespearean acting.
Cards were placed in the windows of 20
dry cleaning stores reading: "We give your
clothes 'double life' with our new cleaning
process. See "
Motion picture critics on newspapers and
radio attended a special screening which
resulted in reviews appearing the day before
opening. Generous art breaks in the Sunday
Times and Toledo Blade were also achieved
prior to the playdate.
Jeep and News Stories
Exploit T-Men Dates
Placing small ads on "T-Men" in out-oftown
and weekly newspapers in addition to
the Batavia, N. Y„ dailies, landed valuable
publicity breaks for J. Oberlen, manager of
the Dipson Theatre.
Free time promoted on WTDA augmented
regular spot announcements. Life magazine
blowups were used in three of the Batavia
News Co. stores and one in Grant's.
Window displays were set with the Richmond
store, 'Vaughn Auto Supply shop, at
the Richmond hotel entrance, and the bus
station.
A jeep, with banners announcing the theatre
dates, ballyhooed the attraction on the
streets, and 2,000 "T-Men" heralds were distributed
house to house.
Merchant Co-Op Ads Plug
Attractions at Shea's
An attractive co-op ad was promoted by
Charles B. Taylor, advertising and publicity
director for Shea's Theatres in Buffalo, to
exploit "Gentleman's Agreement." Headed
"Major Attractions." the ad featured a large
cut of Dorothy McGuire, with prominent
title and theatre mention.
Another ad set by Taylor with a local record
shop to exploit "You Were Meant for
Me" was almost entirely devoted to theatre
and program information with art, only the
name and address of the shop appearing.
Both of these ads were promoted at no cost
to the theatre.
40 -426— BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Mar. 20, 1948

|
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ON MOTION PICTURES EVER PUBLISHED
THE
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FILM DAILY
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DIALOGUERS, SCENARIO WRITERS. TELEVISION, CIR-
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Af Last a PRACTICAL
Guide to
Suctessful Theatre Operation!
"How TO Manage
A Theatre"
LEARN about motion picture theatre
management. Don't run a
theatre on guesswork!
Roy Rogers and Republic
Agree on New Contract
HOLLYWOOD— Under terms of
an "amicable
adju.stment," Roy Rogers will continue
to ride the celluloid range for Republic as
spokesmen for both the cowpoke and the
studio disclosed their contractual controversy
had been satisfactorOy settled.
Rogers had contended an earlier commitment
had expired under terms of a California
law limiting personal service contracts
to a maximum of seven years. The studio
claimed otherwise and submitted, further, that
it had exercised its option on a new agreement.
Both parties agreed to divulge "no details"
of the peace treaty. Under the settlement
Rogers will begin work late this month in
"Eyes of Texas," an Edward J. White production
which William Witney will direct.
Wells Fargo Cooperating
On 'Bart' Promotions
NEW YORK—Universal-International has
arranged promotion tieups on "Black Bart"
with Wells Fargo & Co. in 12 key cities.
Principal customers of Wells Fargo offices
in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New
York and Boston attended special screenings
of the film and were invited to receptions
following the screenings. Newspaper
and radio representatives also were present.
Similar screenings and receptions have
been set for Portland, Dallas, Philadelphia,
This comprehensive book, just
the press, explains about:
•Motion Picture distribution
•Theatre construction
•Heating and cooling
•How to buy and book pictures
•How to advertise and exploit
different kinds of pictures
•Basic principles about picture
projection
off
•How a determined employee can
work himself up to be a theatre
manager
•Duties of various theatre employees
•Advice on handling all the details
of theatre management.
This book will help any man or woman,
with or without previous theatre experience.
It will help to build up your attendance
on poor nights. It explains
why some theatres fail and others succeed.
IT WILL HELP THOSE NOW IN THE
BUSINESSl
No other book of its kind available.
This book endorsed by Theatre and Film
executives. Full information complete
up to 1947.
Price
5 — postpaid
Send check or money order to
SAM CARVER
p. O. Box 3642 • Highland Park, Mich.
.5. III.
.CLfflRlflG
THEATRE SEATING
HOUSf.
(Continued, from inside back cover)
sajid used upholstered opera ch,iiis
.Tie he.ldquaiters for the cream of
crnp. We pick the lots that we
i u> 111 .\oiir theatre. Our many
Washington, Dayton, St. Louis and Seattle.
In New York the reception was attended by
60 guests. Wells Fargo is preparing a special
booklet on the film. The picture touches
on the early days of the company organization.
Also, leath-
Good quality.
!o. State St.,
Theatre Chairs, 3,000 used spring cushioned
part full upholstered back and part insert panel
back with spring edge and box spring cushions.
1.000 veneer chairs, 800 good backs. 500 spring
cushions and hinges. Write for prices and photographs.
Immediate delivery: advise how many you
need. We export chairs anywhere. .lesse Cole, 2565
McClellan Ave., Valley 23445. Detroit, Mich.
Artificial Leather: Naugahyde quality, over 60
in. or wider, various colors. Cheaper than dealers,
full rolls, immediate delivery. Irving Levin, 717
So. Independence Blvd.. Chicago 24, 111.
1.600 streamlined spring cushioned full upholstered
modem theatre chairs, like new. Reasonable
for immediate delivery. .lesse Cole. 2565 McClellan
Ave. Phone Valley 23445. Detroit. Mich.
500 exceptionally good theatre chairs (Heywood)
veneer back, spring seat. $5.25 ea. Other
lots. Bodelson & Co.. 10-38 Jackson Ave., Long
Island aty. N. Y.
Theatre Chairs, used, rebuilt. Advise quantity
wanted. Photographs mailed with quotation.
Frnsin Seating Co.. Chicago 5. TIL
500 American upholstered hack, padded cushiin
seat-s, sloped floor. $2 ea., $750 for entire lot.
ack McOralh, 3 Lincoln Ave., .Albany, N. Y.
350 American panel back, box spring cii5hj«n,
-1 condition. Make offer. Jack McGrath, 3 Xiniln
Ave.. Albany. N. Y.
1.000 Heywood, American, and Irwin chairs.
II lots in rxfpllent condition. Your choice $2. SO
I, fnh Mliaiiv. No warehouse, must sacrifice
iimcdinlclv Write, Wire Albany Theatre Supply
intfi Broadway. Albany, N. Y.
p a number of 20 and 21
full uphoNtered backs and
'relte bnttoms. Comnlete
r and enil stand^trds Very
Bargain af
AlS(
THEATRE SEATING (Cont.)
cushion leatherette bottoms, complete with centt'r
and end standards. These chairs, removed
from first run circuit theatre, are in excellent
condition. All or part for quick sale, $4.50 ea.,
fob Cleveland. Call or write Universal Theatre
Equipment Co.. 1878 E. 18th St., Phones Superior
3912, FAlrmount 4959. Cleveland, 0.
700 800d all-veneer theatre chairs. Available
m: Contact Southern Theatre, 3153 W. 25lh
t., Cleveland, 0.
For Sale; 500 spring cushion, insert upholstered
ick chairs. A re;d buy. Good condition. Immedi-
;e delivery. Cover Theatre, Ft. Morgan. Colo.
700 used chairs. Veneer back, full cushion
spring scats, condition good. A real bargain.
Cine Theatre Supply Co.. 3310 Olive St., St. Louis
3. JIo. Telephone Jefferson 7974.
STUDIO FOR SALE
Completely equipped studio occupying six floors.
Two large sound stages, Mitchell camera equipment,
process projection. RCA sound channels,
lights, filmvaults. executive offices, dressing rooms,
shops, props. Long term lease, reasonable rental.
Wire or phone for details. New address S.O.S.
Cinema Supply Corp., 602 W. 52nd St., New
York 19.
STUDIO AND PRODUCTION
EQUIPMENT
Mitchell standard camera, four -Panastro lenses,
magazines, two tripods, motor, etc., $5,997.50:
Akeley newsreel camera, two lenses. m.agazines.
tripod, etc., $295: Belhowell 110 AC/DC motor.
$249.50: E.astman Cinespecial Blimp, $295:
Mitchell raolor adapters. $79.50: Askania 35mm
studio camera, syncmotor, three lenses, magazines,
blimp, etc . $975; Blue Seal 35mm single system
recorder, ciiniplete. $295: Three-way sound Moviola,
reconditioned. $795: New Moviola D, $279.50.
Send for latest stockllst. New address S.O.S.
Cinema Supply Corp., 602 W. 52nd St., New
York 19.
THEATRE TICKETS
Prompt Service Special printed roll tickets.
100 000 i;n')n iniiiio $595 2 000, $3.75.
Each chin in i
iirue including change
in cnlni II iilik numbering extra.
Shipping
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order Ki 1 Dept 9, 1819
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Easy Way to Paint Signs. Use letter patterns.
Avoid sloppy work and wasted time. No experience
needed for expert work. Write for free samples.
John Hahn, B-1329 Central Ave.. Chicago
MORE CLASSIFIED INSIDE BACK COVER
42 BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

Local Tax Powers
Widened in N.Y.
ALBANY—Cities and counties of 25,000 and
over in New York state will be able to impose
a 5 per cent amusement admissions tax
under the terms of a bill now awaiting the
signature of Gov. Thomas E, Dewey. It was
passed during the closing days of the legislative
session that ended March 14. Last year
the legislature approved a bill giving cities
and counties of over 100.000 the right to impose
a 5 per cent admissions tax and other
levies. To date, no city or county has used
its power to tax admissions.
The new bill was sponsored by the New
York State Conference of Mayors. It was
opposed by representatives of the Metropolitan
Motion Picture Theatres Ass'n. They had
no more luck this year than last. If approved
by Dewey, the bill will go into effect May 1.
The new law does not include race tracks,
boxing or wrestling matches. The tax on
vending machines has been changed. It is
called a privilege instead of a license tax and
the rate may be increased to $25 per year.
The present maximum is $10.
RKO-Reade Circuit Joins
TOA Unit in New Jersey
NEW YORK — The RKO-Reade owned
Trenton-New Brunswick Theatre Corp. has
joined the New Jersey chapter of the TOA.
Although RKO does not belong to the national
TOA organization, many of its theatres
are members of regional organizations
which are affiliated with the TOA.
In addition to the Trenton-New Brunswick
circuit which operates 12 theatres, three theatres
operated by Rapf & Ruden in northern
New Jersey also have joined. This brings the
New Jersey membership to about 60.
Total TOA membership as reported last
week in Los Angeles by Charles P. Skouras,
treasurer, is about 3,500.
F. D. Moore Is Promoted
To WB District Manager
NEW YORK—F. D. Moore, branch manager
for Warners in Pittsburgh, has been
promoted to eastern district manager. He
will supervise the Albany, Buffalo, New
Haven and Boston exchanges. Sam Lefkowitz,
who formerly handled these exchanges,
will concentrate on the New York-Metropolitan
district.
Pauld Krumenacher, salesman in Pittsburgh,
succeeds Moore as bi-anch manager in
Pittsburgh. Moore has been with the company
for ten years. He started as salesman
and was promoted to branch manager in
1941.
Goldstein Is Office Head
ALBANY — Bennett Goldstein, formerly
head booker at the MGM branch here, has
been named office manager. Edward Suess,
former office manager, has been named salesman
in the Buffalo territory.
Chapman Is Pinch-Hitting
BUFFALO—Jules K. Chapman, assistant
general sales manager for Film Classics, is
pinch-hitting for Joe Miller, branch manager
here, who is ill with pneimionia.
Monthly Ascap Payments
To Be Made in Jersey
ACCEPTS CRITICS' AWARD—Charles
Schlaifer (center), director of advertising
and publicity for 20th Century-Fox, accepts
the award on behalf of Darryl F.
Zanuck, given by the New York Foreign
Language Press Film Critics Circle to
"Gentleman's Agreement" as the best
picture of 1947. Other awards were to
Zanuck as best producer; Gregory Peck,
best actor; Elia Kazan, best director; and
to Moss Hart for best screenplay, all of
which were for their work on "Gentleman's
Agreement." The ceremonies were
broadcast over WNYC, New York's municipal
station. In the photo, left to right:
Andrew Valuchek, chairman of the Circle;
Schlaifer, and Sigmiind Gottlober, executive
director of the Circle.
Cinema Lodge Will Honor
Robert Weitman Apr. 14
NEW YORK—Robert M. Weitman, retiring
president of the Cinema Lodge, B'nai B'rith,
will be honored at a dinner to be held at the
Hotel Astor, April 14. The new president, to
1, be elected April will be installed.
David Weinstock and Jack Levin are honorary
chairman and chairman, respectively, of
the dinner committee. Other members of the
committee are: Harry Levine, Robert K.
Shaprio, Marvin Kirsch, Albert A. Senft, S.
Arthur Glixon, Malvin T. Davidson and Milton
Livingston.
Washington Press Corps.
To See 'State of Union'
HOLLYWOOD—Political writers and correspondents
in Washington will be guests at
a special press preview of Metro's "State of
the Union" April 7. Producer-Director Frank
Capra will attend the screening. The Spencer
Tracy-Katharine Hepburn starrer will be
shown at Loew's Capitol Theatre in that city.
I. A. Ekerman Dies
SAO PAULO. BRAZIL—I. A. Ekerman,
local theatre supply dealer with offices and
agents throughout this country, died here
March 5 of a heart attack. Ekerman at one
time was general manager for Columbia in
Brazil. Three years ago he formed his own
theatre supply company.
NEW YORK— Members of the Allied Theatre
Owners of New Jersey will not sign new
contracts as their present pacts expire, but
will send monthly checks in payment for performance
rights at the new fee .schedule. The
new rate went into effect last Monday, March
15. If Ascap should refuse monthly payments,
as was reported it will in the March 13 issue
of BOXOFFICE, then Allied members wiU
make quarterly payments.
This procedure was decided at the March
16 membership meeting at the Newark
Athletic club. The members also decided to
attach a letter with each check protesting
Ascap payments. The letters will cite pending
antitrust cases and the Lewis bill to
amend the copyright law so that the producer
instead of the exhibitor pays for the
performance rights.
Members at the March 16 meeting also
voted to fight an assembly bill to legalize
bingo. This bill has been pigeonholed by the
judiciary committee, but an Allied committee
has been alerted against possible resubmission.
George Gold, chairman of the legislative
committee, also discussed a possible admissions
tax in Newark and the proposed 3 per
cent admissions tax in Ocean City. If Ocean
City exhibitors ask for help in fighting the
proposed ordinance, the state Allied unit wiU
cooperate.
Pennsylvania Allied
Backs Ascap Fight
PHILADELPHIA—Allied Theatre Owners
of eastern Pennsylvania will give full support
to National Allied's anti-Ascap campaign and
has decided not to cooperate with the Motion
Picture Foundation. This action was taken
by the board of governors of the Pennsylvania
group at a meeting at the Broadwood hotel
during the week.
The board endorsed all the actions approved
by the National Allied board during the meeting
in Washington last February and will not
back the Foundation.
The board of Eastern Pennsylvania Allied
also decided that some companies are violating
the provisions of the antitrust suit decision
by using "coercive sales methods" and
the group "will bring these violations to the
attention of the proper authorities." This
action was taken after the board considered
a report on selling methods of the various
companies. The board said these violations
are contrary to published selling
instructions
given by sales executives in New York to their
field
staffs.
Also considered were the municipal and
state tax situation and plans for the group's
film buying service. This is expected to start
operating in the next few months. The board
approved the financial campaign of the Motion
Picture Associates of Philadelphia and
the treasurer's report for 1947. The board
heard reports from Sidney E. Samuelson,
general manager, and Field Representative
Heldon.
A general membership meeting was scheduled
for Monday, April 5, and a regional
meeting was set in Lykens, Tuesday, April 6.
Additional up-state meetings will follow.
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948 43

. . Don
. . Arno
. . T
. . Hal
. . . Merle
. . Danny
. . . Howard
. . Charles
. . David
. . Harry
B R O A D W Ay
Qeorge Stevens, film director, arrived in
New Yoric for tlie Music Hall premiere
of "I Remember Mama" . B. Wallis,
is producer, in town
Paul Henreid will
spend six months in
Europe this summer
and fall to produce
and star in "Cartouche,"
based on a
historical novel by
William Jerzog. Henreid
will be accom-
ley .. .
panied by his wife
and two children . . .
Deborah Kerr is in
town with her husband,
Anthony Bart-
Steve Broidy,
president of Allied
Artists and Monogram,
Cieorgc Stevens jg here discussing the
effects of the British film tax settlement
with Norton V. Ritchey, president of Monogram
International Corp.
Ralph Cohn of Triangle Pictures is in Hollywood
discussing future production plans
with Mary Pickford and Buddy Rogers. He
is also casting leads for a film to be made
in New York by Pioneer Films, Inc. Cohn
is head of Pioneer . . . B. Z. Davis, president
of the Ziff-Davis Publishing Co., i3 working
out story sales with studio heads . . . Sam
Israel, Eagle Lion studio publicity director,
is back on the coast after home office talks
with William J. Heineman and Max E.
Youngstein . Kerske, RKO general
manager in China, arrived for conferences
with Phil Reisman, vice-president in charge
of foreign distribution.
Jesse L. Lasky, co-producer of RKO's "The
Miracle of the Bells," came in from Hollywood
to attend the opening of the film at
the Rivoli Theatre, coincident with the anniversary
of his 35th year in the film business
. . . Charles C. Moskowltz of Loew's
is back from a five-day visit at the studio
. . . Victor Mature and Richard Conte are
here to film scenes for "The Law and Martin
Rome" . . . Bernard R. Goodman, supervisor
of exchanges for Warners, is back from
a three-week tour of southern and west coast
branches . Swartz, head of Independent
Film Distributors, Astor Pictures distributor
in Minneapolis and Milwaukee, arrived
for business conferences with R. M.
Savini of Astor.
Elliott Foreman of MGM's exploitation department
has returned from the southwest
NEW MIRROPHONIC SOUND
JOE HORNSTEIN, Inc.
630 Ninth Ave.. New York CitT
Keq. U, 3, Pal Oil.
ATTENDANCE BOOSTER
For Inlormation.
Write, Wire or Phone
FOTO-PAY-DAY, INC.
161 W. Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee 3. Wis.
. . . Joel Levy, out-of-town booker, visited
New Haven during the week . . . WiUiam
B. Zoellner, short subjects sales head, left
for Chicago and other midwestern cities . . .
Jules Lapidus, Warners ea.stern sales manager,
is back from Pittsburgh and Cleveland
Oberon is touring Europe with
her husband, Lucien Ballard. They are due
back in May . . . George Raft returned from
a European assignment.
J. Cheever Cowdin, Universal board chairman,
returned by plane from London early
in the week after a five-week trip abroad.
Nate J. Blumberg. president, and Joseph
Seidelman, vice-president, arrived from
. France toward the weekend D.
Home of Monogram International flew in
from San Juan, Puerto Rico, after a tour
of Latin America . . . James R. Grainger,
Republic executive vice-president in charge
of sales and distribution, has completed a
five-week trip to Charlotte, Atlanta, New
Orleans, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco
and Chicago.
Alfred Hitchcock is here from Los Angeles
. . . Walton C. Anient, vice-president and
general manager of Warner Pathe News, attended
Washington conferences of newsmen
with Secretary of Defense Forrestal on voluntary
censorship of military information
Kaye left London for Germany
during the week to entertain at army posts
Strickling, MGM studio publicity
head, and Herb Pettey, managing director
of WHN, are back from the coast . . . Frank
Capra will leave for Washington from the
coast March 26 . . . Wolfe Cohen. Warner
International vice-president, arrived in Manila
on an inspection trip. Clifford E. Almy,
general manager for Warners in Manila, accompanied
him on a tour of the Philippines.
Joseph M. Schenck arrived from the 20th-
Fox studio for home office meetings . . . Don
Walker, Warner field exploiteer, became the
father of a baby boy. This is his fifth child
. . . F. C. Dickley, Detroit district manager
for Altec Service, is in town . Feinstein,
Warner film buyer in Pittsburgh, was
here for a few days . . . Charles M. Reagan,
Paramount vice-president in charge of distribution,
is in Hollywood to review a group
of new films . . . F. E. Hutchinson, Paramount
managing director of sales for Great
Britain, arrived on the Queen Mary.
Samuel N. Burger, Loew's International
sales manager, left by plane for Oslo on a
tour of Europe . . . Ike and Harry Katz of
Kay Film Exchanges are in town from Atlanta
. E. Lewis, national public
relations director for the Variety Clubs International,
will leave for Florida in two
weeks to set plans for the 12th annual Variety
Clubs convention to be held at Miami
Beach, April 12-17 . . . R. E. Warn, ne*
engineering chief for Westrex Corp., arrived
from Australia to take over his new duties.
He formerly was managing director in Australia
. . . Jules Levy left for Europe. He
will visit France, England and Italy to work
out production deals.
Shoots Film With Gory Title
Russell Metty has been signed as cameraman
by the Harold-Norma Productions for
"Kiss the Blood Off My Hands," Universal-
International
release.
'Naked Cily' Retains
Top New York Spot
NEW YORK—"The Naked City" at the
Capitol again set the pace for Broadway
first runs. Second week grosses were excellent
although slightly below the first week's
take.
—
Radio City Music Hall had a profitable
week with "I Remember Mama." The film
opened to rave reviews. Opening-day lines
were two blocks long. At the Roxy, business
was sitting pretty with "Sitting Pretty," another
film that found favor with the critics.
Two Warner reissues did fairly well during
their first week. "The Fighting 69th" opened
at the Strand and "The Adventures of Robin
Hood" came into the Warner.
The week was short on newcomers. "The
Miracle of the Bells" opened at the Rivoli
and "The Adventures of Casanova" was the
new feature at the Globe, replacing "Body
and Soul," which ran 19 weeks. "Casanova"
will be followed by "Arch of Triumph."
(Average Is 100)
Astor—The Bishop's Wife (RKO), 14th wk 84
Capitol—The Naked City (U-I), plus stage show,
2nd wk 160
Criterion—Relentless (Col), 2nd wk 92
Globe—Body and Soul (UA), 19th wk 75
Loews StatE^-The Mating oi Millie (Col) 90
Maylair—Gentleman's Agreement (20th-Fox),
18th wk 90
Palace- If You Knew Susie (RKO), 4th wk 80
Poramount—Road to Rio (Para), plus stage show,
4th wk 90
Park Avenue—Song of My Heart (Mono), 2nd wk,.. 75
Radio City Music Hall—I Remember Mama (RKO),
plus stage show 123
Rialto—Furia (FC), 8th wk 95
Rivoli—To the Ends of the Earth (Col), 5 days of
5th wk 75
Roxy
rlus stage show. ...Ill
.VB), reissue, plus
Strand—The Fightmg G9lh
! Sitting Pretty ''
Sutton—The Pearl (Rt:- ft. ^^JV'['ZZ'.ZZ''ZZZ^m
Victoria—Albuquerque (Para), 2nd wk 55
Warner—Adventures of Robin Hood (WB),
reissue 99
Winter Garden—Black Bart (U-I), 2nd wk 88
'Senator' and "Daughters' Open
Strong in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA—Thr-ee new shows hit the
deluxers, two of them doing quite well
"Three Daring Daughters" at the Goldman
and "The Senator Was Indiscreet" at the
Aldine. "The Fabulous Texan," opening at
the Stanton, attracted little attention. "Cass
Timberlane" bowed out at the Erlanger after
five days of the seventh week of a spectacular
nm. "The Bishop's Wife." completing its fifth
week at the Karlton, has been called by local
RKO folk one of the best runs the film has
had in the country. HoWo^eis of other films
received mixed reception.
Aldine—The Senator Was Indiscreet (U-I) 150
Arcadia-High Wall (MGM), 4th d. t. wk 125
Boyd—A Double Life (U-I), 3rd wk 100
Earle—Saigon (Para), 2nd wk 110
Erlanger—Cass Timberlane (MGM),
7th wk
fox—Gentleman 'i Agr.
3rd
150
Goldman—Three Daring Daughters K' ;M) 190
Karlton—The Bishop's Wile iHKOi, Mh wk 120
Keith—The Voice ol the Turtle (WB), 2nd run 100
Mastbaum—H You Knew Susie (RKO), 2nd wk 90
run, 7th Pix—The Outlaw (UA), 2nd wk No report
Stanley—Duel in the Sun (SRO), 2nd run. 2nd wk...lOO
Stanton—The Fabulous Texan (Rep) IDO
CBS Television Names 7
NEW YORK—CBS has added seven men to
its television staffs for its new studio plant
now being built here. Tliey are: Nat Karson,
stage producer, who will be consultant producer:
Ed Mabley and Ace Ochs, directors,
and Robert Merrill, Kenneth Redford, Kingman
T. Moore and Hugh Muir Rogers, associate
directors.
—
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

. . . made
He gives the scene its
iieartbeat...
THIS meeting of mother and child is no
make-believe—not to the movie-goers!
To them, it is as real as life itself,
thanks to the director of the picture.
Through his perceptive handling of action,
dialogue, and camera, he has given
the scene its human touch, its heartbeat
the audience feel its warmth, its
mood—and live the moment, one with
the personalities on the screen.
And this achievement is the mark of
his mastery of the dramatic; the gauge of
his creative contribution to the motion
picture art.
But if such artistry is to have full expression,
the director must have the assistance
of film that gives him ample
freedom to achieve the effects he desires.
This freedom he finds in the family of
Eastman motion picture films.
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
ROCHESTER 4, N. Y.
J. E. BRULATOUR, INC.
FORT LEE . CHICAGO
DISTRIBUTORS
. HOLLYWOOD
BOXOmCE : March 20, 19-

. .
. .
Along New York's Film
^HERE was green aplenty along Filmi-ow,
five long blocks west of the St. Patrick's
day parade March 17. Further west at Dimellan,
N. J., John Piorvanti, operator of the
Dunellan Theatre, helped spread the Irish
spirit by playing ''My Wild Irish Rose." The
film also played at the Tivoli, Jersey City,
By WALTER WALDMAN
the Playhouse, Passaic, and the Strand,
Bayonne. In New York, where 1,000,000 wellwishers
watched 80,000 sons of Ireland march
along Fifth avenue, only one house had the
picture—this was the Utopia, Flushing. Nat
Harris of the Island circuit booked the picture.
Joe Vergesslich, former Warner Bros, shorts
subjects salesman, is rapidly recovering from
a recent illness . . . Jack Bowen, MGM district
manager, is vacationing in Florida .
Herb Pickman, WB field exploitation man,
was in Stamford Wednesday . . . Elliot Forman.
MGM exploiteer is back at his desk after
an extended tour of the east and south, where
he drummed up interest in "Green Dolphin
Street" . . . Howard Levy and Ed Richter of
MGM and Moe Katz of 20th-Fox served on
jury duty last week.
Phil Isaacs has been named New York
salesman for Paramount, replacing Sam Lake,
who resigned two weeks ago to join SRO .
The Motion Picture Bookers club has three
new members, Martin Wurtzburg of Five
Boro, Seymour Kaplan of RKO and Ray
Herbst of the Renner Theatres.
Ansel Winston of the RKO Coliseum Theatre
has been awarded the RKO Theatres
showmanship certificate for February and
$25. The award committee consisted of Sol
A. Schwartz, vice-president and general manager;
William W. Howard, assistant general
manager, and Harry Mandel, national director
of advertising and publicity ... Joe
Harris of Realart Pictures played host to
franchise holders Don Swartz of Minneapolis.
Lee Goldberg of Cincinnati, Joe Levine of
Boston and Nelson Wax of Philadelphia during
the recent company sales meeting in New
York.
The 14th Street Theatre will open "Shoe-
Shine," Italian film, for a seven-day run
March 26. The theatre has adopted a new
policy of showing ten foreign films a year
following their Broadway runs.
Robert Gessner, who conducts motion picture
courses at NYU, reported that the Mo-
ROADSHOW PROJECTION
16 MM 35 MM
THE HARVEY WILLIAM CO.
Gulistan Wilton Theatre Carpet
JOE HORNSTEIN has it!
Row
tion Picture club voted "Great Expectations"
as the outstanding film of 1947. Club members
also
selected Robert Newton as the best
foreign actor of 1947 for his performance in
"Odd Man Out." Mia Setterling was chosen
the most promising foreign actress for her
work in "Torment" and "Frieda" ... A. J.
Balaban, managing director of the Roxy,
held a special screening for a United Nations
group of the new UN film, "Clearing the
Way."
Murray Greene, manager of the Vogue,
Brooklyn, has become a patron of the arts.
His theatre has became an exhibition hall for
paintings, drawings, and sculpture by &0
children ranging in age from 7 to 18. The
show opened March 17 and wUl be held for
six weeks. Miriam Duhl is in charge . . .
Conrad Baker of the Avenue and 55th Street
Playhouse reported that "Die Fledermaus,"
the new German color film which opened
March 13, had a bigger first week gross than
the prewar German favorite, "Two Hearts in
Waltz Time."
Irving L.
Eisenstat has been appointed office
manager of Century Theatres. He formerly
was field accoimtant, supervisor for
Warner Bros, for 15 years . . The following
.
have been named Century Theatres assistant
managers: William Winans, Alan Theatre;
Eugene Connelly, Franklin; John Jackson,
Lynbrook, and Max Ross, Fantasy.
Theatre Approved to Hold
Down Housing Rentals
NEW YORK—Approval of the erection of
an $838,000 theatre as part of the Fresh
Meadow housing project in Flushing, L. I.,
has been obtained by the New York Life
Insmance Co. from Housing Expediter Tighe
E. Woods.
The insurance company argued that the
income from the theatre would help to keep
down rents, and that without the theatre
the rents would have to be raised $1-$1.50 per
room in order to pay a profit on increased
construction costs.
A. H. Theimann, insurance company executive,
says the house will seat 2,000 and will
be leased to the Century circuit.
Two 13-story units of the development are
open, units for another 800 families will open
in March and when the project is completed
it will house 3,000 families.
Paramount Buys Another
32,000 Shares of Stock
NEW YORK—Paramount acquired 32,000*
shares of its own conmion stock on the open
market during February. This brings the
company holdings of its ovni stock to 476,233
shares. During January Paramoimt bought
32,800 shares, 25,000 more than it acquired
during December. The stock buying program
was adopted to aid the company in acquiring
theatre interests from its partners.
Also in February Herbert J. Yates, Republic
president, bought 22,387 shares of the
company's common stock, bringing his holdings
to 73,687 shares.
Baltimore Week Fair:
'High Wall' Is Topper
BALTIMORE—The weather was fair and
agreeable but business was still slightly off
during a week of just fair product and three
holdovers. "The Bishop's Wife" was in its
fourth and final week, "Saigon" and "An
Ideal Husband" in their second. New films
"High WaU," "Prince of Thieves" and "Black
Bart," did just average.
(Average is 100)
Century—High Wall (MGM) 100
Hippodrom^-The Prince of Thieves (Col), plus
stage show inn
Keiths—Black Bart (U-I) 83
Mayfair—Caged Fury (Para) _
97
New—An Ideal Husband (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 82
Stanley—Saigon (Para), 2nd wk, ,. 95
Town—The Bishop's WUe (RKO). 4th wk 80
Ram' and "Saigon' Are
Strong at Buffalo
BUFFALO—"Saigon" at the Great Lakes
and "The Sign of the Ram" at the Lafayette
were strong. It was a fair week. "The
Bishop's Wife" rounded out a fine threeweek
stay at the 20th Century.
Bullalo— II Winter Comes (MGM); Captains
Courageous (MGM), reissue 82
Great Lakes—Saigon (Para), Mr. Reckless (Para)'.. 150
Hippodrome—An Ideal Husband (2Gth-Fox);
The Tender Years (20th-Fox) 89
Faiayette—The Sign oi the Ram (Col); The Return
of the Whistler (Col) 118
Teck—You Were Meant for Me (20th-Fox); The
Challenge (20th-Fox), 2nd d. t. wk. 88
20th Century—The Bishop's Wile (RKO), '3rd wk... 90
'Expectations' Is Chosen
Best Film of '47 by NYU
NEW YORK — "Great Expectations," J.
Arthur Rank production released by U-I, has
been chosen as the best picture of 1947 by the
motion pictiu-e club of New York imiversity.
Citations of merit will be sent to winners of
the club awards.
They will go to "Shoe-Shine," selected the
best foreign -language film; Gregory Peck,
best American actor; Rosalind Russell, best
American actress; Richard Widmark, most
promising actor; Celeste Holm, most promising
actress; Elia Kazan, best director, for
"Gentleman's Agreement"; "Dear Ruth," best
comedy; "The Fugitive," best black-andwhite
photography.
Special awai-ds went to J. Arthur Rank for
"outstanding achievement in elevation of the
British film industry"; Edmund Gwenn for his
portrayal of Santa Claus in "Miracle on 34th
Street"; Dudley Nichols for his adaptation
and directionof "Mourning Becomes Electra";
Dan^l Zanuck for his production of "Gentleman's
Agreement."
Robert Gessner is chairman of the NYU
film department. JuUus Krater is president
of
the motion picture club.
Voice of America to Beam
Discussion on Critics
NEW YORK—A 15-minute discussion on
U.S. film critics and criticism will be beamed
to Europe and Asia as a "Voice of the United
States of America feature. This state department
radio program will be broadcast ever
NBC shortwave transmitters.
Taking part in the discussion will be: Max
E. Youngstein, vice-president in charge of
advertising, publicity and exploitation for
Eagle Lion; Mrs. Kathryn Edwards, film editor
of Parents' Magazine, and Walter Waldman
of BOXOFFICE.
Judith Morley of NBC will be the moderator.
BOXOFFICE :: March 20. 1943

, . Jack
PHILADELPHIA
Busiest man on Filmrow this week was Doug
Beck, RKO publicity director, who was
up to his ears with arrangements for the
"Miracle of the Bells" openuig. This film
will have its eastern premiere at the S-W
Earle March 27. A galaxy of Hollywood personalities
are expected to be on hand for
the accompanying festivities. Producer Jesse
Lasky will be in towTi, and will celebrate his
35th year as a producer. Coming in to help
him celebrate will be Ruth Warwick, Leo
Carillo, Frank Sinatra, Valli, Rhonda Fleming,
and other stars, scheduled to arrive
March 24. In addition to the usual round
of events, a dinner will be given for Lasky.
An elaborate tieup has been arranged for
"Mh-acle of the Bells," The Chapel of the
Four Chaplains, now being built here in
honor of four religious leaders who were
killed during the war, is seeking donations
for a set of bells. Radio stations are cooperating
by giving large amounts of radio
time to publicizing a contest. Listeners are
asked to send their donations, along with a
letter on the subject of the preservation of
religious unity in the postwar era to a special
mailmg address — "Miracle of the Bells,
Philadelphia 1, Pa." Writers of the 100 best
letters will attend a preview showing of the
film at KYW, and will meet the stars of the
film on the 24th. Four religious leaders have
been selected as judges for the contest.
Miriam Lasserson came to town for special
events connected with the opening at
the Studio of "My Father's House," an English
film made in Palestine. She's one of
the stars . . . Kate Smith was here to open
the 21st annual Educational week for the
blind . . . Lewen Pizor, operator of a chain
of independent theatres, and head of
UMPTO in this area, is California-bound
with his wife.
Harold Russell, handless film star, and
winner of the Academy award, addressed a
youth rally connected with the Jewish Appeal
drive at the Locust Street Theatre
. Sunday night Jaslow has acquired
two Italian-made films, "Shoe-Shine," and
"To Live in Peace" . . . Motion Picture Associated
will hold a luncheon April 5 . . .
The New Jersey Alcoholic Control department
issued a ruling disfavoring the showing
of 16mm films in taprooms. But this
ruling in no way affects television showings
in
bars.
More amusement taxes appeared on the
local scene last week. Over the formal protest
of the community's theatre owners, the
Upper Darby township school board imposed
a 4 per cent amusement tax. The
measure was passed despite the contention
by theatremen that it would place an unfair
burden on their business. Whitehall
township, following the lead of Allentown,
adopted an 8 per cent amusement tax. The
report from Allentown is that the first week's
application of increased prices and amusement
tax levies has had little or no effect
on theatre attendance.
Steps to encourage the erection of a theatre
in Berlin, N. J., were taken at a recent
meeting of the Berlin Rotary club. A committee
was named to contact interests with
a view to build a house to replace the one
which burned down several years ago. The
STARTING HIM YOUNG—Jimmy,
young son of Jack O'Brien, manager of
the theatre equipment section for RCA
Service, is seen here pondering over a
problem—and it's not bubble gum or
toys! Jack says Jimmy ran out of paper
trying to help him estimate the number
of RCA drive-in installations to date and
how many more the company will sell
this
year.
town is now theatreless . . . The Chester, Pa.,
school board is taking steps to combat delinquents
who attend theati-es instead of
classes. A member of the board will wi-ite
all theatre owners and managers asking their
cooperation in not admitting youngsters during
school hours. The chief attendance officer
wiU follow up with a personal visit to
all theatres and theatremen.
"Voice of Variety" contest, sponsored by
the Variety Club and WCBM, a la Miss Hush,
was won in less than thi'ee weeks, the woman
identifying the voice being a retired school
principal who has a keen ear for voices. She
had heard the mystery voice exactly twice,
once in 1940 and again at a lecture in 1945.
Her abUity to remember voices and what's
more important, associate the name with the
voice, won her $5,000 in prizes, amongst
which was a 1948 car, a $500 sOver fox jacket,
radio phonograph combination, oil burner,
electric refrigerator, washing machine and
a long list of others . . . The club plans to
continue it's fund raising campaign.
Fire in Philadelphia Royal
But No Damage Done
PHILADELPHIA—Approximately 600 patrons
of the Royal Theatre here filed out
when heavy oil fumes and dense smoke from
a basement fire poured into the auditorium
shortly after 6 p. m. Friday (12). When fu-emen
arrived on the scene, they found the
smoke so heavy they were forced to call the
rescue squad, whose members donned masks
to enter the basement. There they found a
heater had backfired, and set fire to adjoining
portions of the basement. George Rubens,
manager, was called from his home, and after
inspecting the slight damage, cancelled the
rest of the evening's shows so that the theatre
could be thoroughly aired out.
Erlanger Dark Again;
Film Lack Blamed
PHILADELPHIA- The ill-laled Erlanger is
closed again. Local newspapers Monday carried
the following advertisement on the theatre
page:
"We regret that we must again close the
Erlanger Theatre due to our inability to obtain
suitable motion pictures.
"We wish to thank all of our friends for
their patronage, and when suitable pictures
are made available, the Erlanger Theatre will
reopen with the same personalized service,
free parking facilities and fine entertainment
for your pleasure.
"William Goldman Theatres (A Philadelphia
owned and operated company)."
Spokesmen for the circuit had nothing
more to say concerning the situation than the
statement made in the advertisements. The
run of "Cass Timberlane," which packed the
Erlanger for seven weeks, would seem to prove
that the theatre is suitable for motion pictme
presentations. But Goldman can't seem
to get films to show.
The long, drawn-out suit between Goldman
and the major distributors now is before the
U.S. supreme court, which the majors have
asked to review a lower court's decision in
favor of Goldman's monopoly charge against
the majors.
When Goldman closed the Erlanger after
a religious dispute over "The Outlaw," the
house was dark for many weeks before "Cass"
was procured. How long it will remain closed
in this round of the fight is unknown. Goldman
is bidding for films. When he gets one
suitable for presentation at the Erlanger, he
will reopen the house, said a spokesman for
the chain.
Set Pennsylvania Opening,
Lasky Tieup for 'Bells'
NEW YORK—RKO has lined up 100 theatres
for a statewide opening of "The Miracle
of the Bells" in Pemisylvania. The first
opening in the state will be at the Earle
Theatre, Philadelphia, March 27. The campaign
on the film will tie in with Jesse
Lasky's 35th year in the film business. Frank
Sinatra, Fred MacMurray and ValU, stars
of the film, will join in the opening celebrations.
Lasky has received a wire from the mayor
of Pittsburgh welcoming the statewide opening
of the picture. The wire read m part:
"I want to thank you on behalf of the people
of Pittsburgh for youi- reproduction of
this Pennsylvania story that will bring us
as a state more forcibly and favorably before
om- other states. It is my understanding
that this marks your 35th anniversary
as a producer from 'The Squaw Man' to 'The
Miracle of the Bells!' ... We are glad to
help you celebrate this notable event in your
life."
The campaign will be handled by Harry
Reiners, Douglas Beck and Alan Wieder,
under the supervision of Terry Turner.
Critics Honor Russell
NEW YORK—The Film Critics' Circle of
the New York Foreign Language Pi-ess has
voted Rosalind Russell the outstandmg female
star of 1947 for her work in "Mourning
Becomes Electra" (RKO). The organization
represents 100 publications in 27 languages.
BO::orFICE :• March 20, 1948 47

. .
Review Board Cites
In
Censor Danger
Hollywood Un-American Probe
NEW YORK—The National Board of
Review
reaffirmed its opposition to any kind
of censorship and pointed out the danger
that the recent investigation of Hollywood
by the House Committee on Un-American
Activities might be conducive to federal censorship.
Thursday (18 1. This action was
taken in a resolution passed by the board at
its 39th annual conference at the Hotel
McAlpin.
The board also lu-ged producers to turn
out more films designed either for children
or for family audiences.
In additional resolutions the board askea
for production of documentary films dealing
with the potentialities of atomic energy in
peace and war and promised its membership
would support such films and commended
the films and visual information department
of the UN for its documentary
films.
The board seeks to encourage producers,
directors and writers to use more documentary
material in featui-e films.
The value of active theatre participation
in community affairs was discussed by Joseph
Lilly, special assistant to George P.
Skouras. He told the hoard membership that
not enough exhibitors appreciate the importance
of aiding community programs.
Lilly stressed the fact that under the guidance
of George Skom-as. president o^ Skouras
Theatres, the circuit has gained the respect
and support of communities by aiding
in civic and national drives and campaigns.
Lilly pointed out that the theatre owes a
debt to the community which supports it.
He said; "No theatre can succeed in community
enterprises unless it is a house which
the commimity is glad to enter. And to
operate theatres which enjoy community
confidence, we must present programs that
the community enjoys and approves
Our managers must make themselves part of
community life ... It is not the line of least
it resistance in business, but is a way which
gives our corporation and executives very
deep satisfaction.
"Of course we are constantly confronted
with the basic problems of all theatre operators.
We must present an adequate amoimt
of adult entertainment. We must be careful
not to injure the sensibilities, and, I may
say, reticences of others. The childi'en are
a serious and just problem which must be
handled with all the intelligence we can
muster. We are proud to say that we spend
a great deal of time on special children's
shows at which the only patrons we wish to
have are children. And I believe it can be
said honestly of our theatres that we enjoy
community respect and confidence in each
of the many communities we serve."
Lilly explained the activities of the community
service department of the Skouras
circuit and reviewed some of the contributions
the theatres have made during war
drives and in local promotions.
The theme of the Board of Review conference
was "The Motion Picture in Public
Affairs." More than 500 delegates from motion
picture councils throughout the country
and representatives of 25 national organizations
affiliated with the board attended.
Quincy Howe, president of the board, and
Richard Griffith, executive director, presided.
The conference featured a discussion of
the ways in which the motion picture can
educate the public on atomic energy. Dr.
Philip M. Morse, director of the Brookhaven
National Laboratory, spoke on "Films and
Atomic Information" at the opening of the
afternoon session.
Jesse Lasky was the first guest speaker.
He was followed by Lilly. The group also
heard Lillian Hellman, author of "The Little
Foxes" and "Watch on the Rhine," speak
on "A Free Screen." Edwin J. Lukas, executive
director of the Society for the Prevention
of Crime, talked on "Do the Movies Influence
Behavior?"
Dr. Philip Morse opened the afternoon
session. He was followed by the Very Reverend
Charles E. McAllister, dean of St.
John's Cathedral in Spokane, Wash., who
showed "The Church in the Atomic Age."
The picture is from the Eyes of the Church
series of the Film Forum Foundation.
In the evening. Aline McMahon spoke at
a special screening of "The Search" (MGM)
for the conference committee of the reviewboard.
'Mama' and 'Search' Rate
Review Board Top Honors
NEW YORK—Two featm'e productions, "I
Remember Mama" iRKOi and "The Search"
(MGM), have been given starred selected
ratings by the National Board of Review as
pictiu-es especially worth seeing. The ratings
appeared in the board's weekly guide to
selected pictiu'es. Three additional films were
recommended.
About "Mama," which stars Irene Dunne
and Barbara Bel Geddes, the board reviewer
said: "Sympathetic touches in settings and
direction, in wordless bits of action, add
constant support to the film's appeal." The
reviewer called "Search" a "profoundly
thought-stirring indictment of war."
The other feature selections included
"Fanny," French production released by
Su'itzky International: "The Mating of Millie,"
Columbia release starring Evelyn Keyes
and Glenn Ford, and "The October Man,"
Rank production released by EL.
The board also recorrunended six shorts:
"G-Men Never Forget." Republic serial: "'Visiting
Virginia," FitzPatrick Traveltalk, and
"What D'Ya Know," What's Your I.Q.
MGM: "Streamlined Luxury,"
series,
Popular
Science, and "Modern Pioneers," Unusual
Occupations, Paramount: "Woody Herman
and His Orchestra," Name Band Musical, U-I.
Yes. our New York City Branch
at 245 WEST 55TH STREET
is now in full swing and
ready to serve you.
Send your next special announcement
trailer order to Filmack . .
and see why exhibitors all over
the country get their trailers
from us.
T^^V Los Angeles I
FILMAC
iLf 1574 W.Wash.J
1327S.Wobash.Chicogo
°g^ ington St.
J
Parade Will Start Drive
For European Children
NEW YORK—A parade of 100,000 school
children will open the national Crusade for
Children drive of the American Overseas Aid-
United Nations Appeal for Children, April 12.
Nick John Matsoukas of Skouras Theatres is
chairman of the parade committee. The
parade will start on West 33rd street and
continue to Central park- where stage, screen
and radio personalities will entertain.
THE IDEAL THEATRE CHAIRS
JOE HORNSTEIN has them
I ST CLASS DISTRIBUTION FOB
* THE ENTIRE SOUTH — thru
J (JOHN) Q ^
(O. K.)
ENKINS OC OOURGEOIS
BOXOFFICE :: March 20. 1948

. . The
. . Carter
. . Avis
. .
Economy Watchword
Of District Theatres
WASHINGTON—Managers of the 26 District
Theatres, here at their annual meeting,
warned each other to tigliten up on cash outlays.
"Perhaps tlie most important thing
for all of us to do," said Shep Allen, executive,
"is to conserve on everything we use."
Pi-esident Harry Freedman agreed.
In their two-day meeting, the executives
agreed to carry on through 1948 an intensified
conservation campaign. The aim will be to
save on electric lights, carbon paper, postage
stamps, equipment and other items as well
as on other costs,
but without reducing services
to customers.
Executives attending also included Eugene
Kramer. Morton Gerber, Clark Davis, Bill
Hoyle, Seymour Hoffman, Joseph Mona,
George Wheeler, Rufus Byars, Sigman Heard,
George Clarke, Bernard Mabry and William
Jordan.
All phases of theatre operation were
covered, such as general operation, fire prevention,
booking, advertising and publicity,
personnel and records.
Managers attending: Edward Evans. Leon
Jones. James Washington, James Spillers,
benefit of the Welfare club and sponsored
William Moore, Charles Lee. William Mayes,
Harvey Christian. George Miller, George
by Variety.
Harry Cohen, salesman for E. Brient &
Bragg. Thomas Proctor, Alvin Campbell, all
of Washington.
Mr. and
Lorenzo Minor. John Vaughn, Carl Bebbs. Mrs. M. Leventhal of the Lord Baltimore
Harold Miller and Henry Watterson, all of Theatre and daughter have gone to Miami
Richmond; Joe Rowley, Vincent McAllister,
The Pi-incess, owned by the
Beach . . .
Leonard Turner. Robert L. Stevens and Jasper K-B Amusement Co., one of Wa.shington's
White, Norfolk; Ike Burden and George old landmarks and approximately 65 years
Buckner, Newport News; James Simmons old. was demolished this week to make way
and John Woods, Portsmouth; Emmett Na-
Jake Biben. former
bors. Roanoke; Lorenzo Pels, Lynchberg:
Howard Lucas. Petersburg, and E. L. Lewis,
Baltimore.
Television Is Discussed
By Press at ATS Meet
NEW YORK—Six representatives of the
trade press led a discussion of "What's Wrong
With Television" at the March evening forum
meeting of the American Television Society,
Thursday il8). at the Hotel Victoria. Members
of the ATS and guests questioned the
trade press reporters and publishers at the
close of the session.
Ed Sobol of NBC and chairman of the
evening forum committee was moderator.
Speaking for the trade press on the merits
and drawbacks of television were: Jerry
Pranken, Billboard; Pred Kugel, Television
Magazine; Jim Owens. Radio Daily; Bruce
Robertson. Broadcasting Magazine;; Irwin
Shane, Televisor; Bob Stahl, Variety.
relations.
Seven newsreel photographers, a laboratory
supervisor and three technicians will handle
the newsreel. E. T. Woodruff will direct the
film relations division.
WASHIN GTON Fabian to Renovate
cUstinguLshed audience was invited to the
J^
Warner Theatre Saturday night (20) to
view two films. "Thanks America," produced
by the Italian people as a token of their
appreciation of the Friendship train, and
"Friendship Ti-ain," a dramatic compilation
of Warner Pathe newsreel material shot
from the inception o"f the food train to the
loading on ships at New York. High diplomatic
government and congressional officials
were present. Drew Pearson and Harry
Warner attended as chairmen of the Friendship
train committee.
The Variety Club St. Patrick's party
Wedne.sday night was crowded to capacity.
Wade Pearson. Herman Paris and Gene Ford
put on the affair. A gin rummy tournament
and supper will be given Monday night. The
first prize will be a $600 television set. A
new member is Harry Freedman. president
of District Theatres. Inc. . Barron
and Sam Galanty, co-chairmen of the Variety
Club ways and means committee, were
hosts at a cocktail party given for Sigmund
Romberg composer. A Romberg concert will
be given at Constitution hall May 11 for the
Princess manager, is now serving as relief
manager for the K-B circuit.
Ground was broken for the new Kogod-
Burka development at Piney Branch road
and Georgia avenue, which includes a theatre
and 12 stores . . . Earle Westbrooke,
Fabian city manager in Norfolk, is vacationing
in Texas. Bob Ozmer is handling the
reins in his absence . . .
"Gentleman's Agreement"
was previewed by a large audience.
at the Centre in Baltimore Thursday night.
Betty Wheate. biller at 20th Century-Pox,
was given a bridal shower . Aquilling
and Lelia Poltz are new at Columbia .
Ellen Hull, former hello girl at RKO, is a
new mama . stork is hovering over
the home of Tom Pitts of Pitts circuit . . .
Joe Walsh has been appointed booking and
buying representative for the Martinsville
Drive-In Theatre.
25 Years His Employe
WPIX in N. Y. to Produce
ALBANY — Dayton LaPointe employes a
Negro projectionist. Nelson Jackson, at the
Crandell, Chatham, who probably is the
Television Newsreels
oldest of his race working in a booth anywhere
in the country. LaPointe hired Jack-
NEW YORK—The Daily News television
station WPIX here will have its own newsreel
son 25 years ago when he was only a boy
camera staffs and processing equipment. to rewind film. Jackson has been with Lason
The station is scheduled to start operating Pointe ever since, and in LaPointe's opinion,
June 15. James S. Pollack is manager of the "is as dependable a projectionist as there
anywhere." During World War II, Jackson
Is will supervise local
film department. He
newsreel coverage, newsreel editing and film
served with the armed
forces.
Role as Composer's Wife
Janet Leigh has been chosen for the leading
role in Metro's "Words and Music."
Its Albany Grand
ALBANY— Complete remodeling and beautification
of the 35-year-old Grand Theatre
here are outlined in plans filed with the
city building commission by Sidney Schenker,
architect for Fabian Theatres.
The work, which will cost $290,000, is
scheduled to start in June. It will be done
at night to permit operation on the regular
schedule.
The major renovations: Removal of the
stage and boxes to make room for 360 additional
seats, new porcelain and metal front,
acoustical tile ceiling, relocation of the boxoffice,
and changes in the accessory rooms
and plumbing. The Grand was reseated and
partially recarpeted last year. The name will
be changed to the State.
The Grand is a three-floor house, constructed
in 1913. For years P. F. Procter
played vaudeville there, then went to vaudeville
and pictures. The 1,500-seat house
now is operated by Fabian as a first run under
management of Milton Shosberg.
Deed Prohibiting Theatre
Is Upheld in Richmond
RICHMOND — An agreement prohibiting
the use of property on North Second street
as a theatre for 25 years was upheld in law
and equity court here. The restriction was
written into the deed when the Booker-T
Theatre Corp. conveyed the property and the
building, built as a motion picture house for
use as a skating rink. The case came to
court when Albert E. Landreth and Hyman
Soroko took an option on the property from
the present owner, James M. Bradshaw. They
had asked the court to declare the covenant
unlawful, charging that it was placed in the
deed to stifle competition and create a
monopoly.
In refusing this petition the court declared
that the property was conveyed for "far less
than its actual market value" because of the
restriction.
The Booker-T company and five other
amusement corporations were named as defendants.
UA Shifts Three Overseas
NEW YORK—United Artists has made
three key personnel shifts in overseas jobs.
Michael Green has been named sales supervisor
and auditor for Continental Europe;
Hem-y Ronge is Panama manager, succeeding
Guy C. Smith who will head the Paris
office.
Set Goodall Golf Matches
NEW YORK—The Goodall Co. will hold its
seventh invitational golf tournament at the
Wykagyl Country club. New Rochelle, May
6-9. The event is sponsored by Elmer Ward.
Proceeds will be donated to the New RocheUe
hospital.
Foster Films to Crystal
NEW YORK—Crystal Pictures has acquired
foreign release rights from Admiral Pictures
on a new series of 12 16mm two-reel musical
shorts in Kodachrome. The films are based
on the life and songs of Stephen Foster.
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948 49

BUFFALO
plans are under way to establish a local
chapter of the Film Council of America.
A planning session is slated this month. The
FCA is a national movement to promote the
wider use of visual materials and teaching
equipment and is an outgrowth of the use
of incentive films during the wartime. Its
purpose is to promote better understanding
and goodwill in order to further everj- possible
peace effort. L. Goliber of the Community
Movie circuit of western New York
is handling the publicity.
The first minutes of "Call Northside 777"
are devoted to "authentic" Chicago locale
shots. To illustrate how the Windy city got
its title, the camera shows a blustery intersection
with pedestrians clinging to emergency
rope railings. Those with good eyes
can spot the corner of Franklin and Church
in downtown Buffalo as Chicago's allegedly
windy corner. The shot apparently is a
newsreel picture of a gale here several years
ago.
Bert Kemp of Warner Bros, is the new
president of the front office employes union.
Other officers are Nettie Price, U-I. vicepresident:
Gertrude Wisniewski, 20th-Fox,
recording secretary; Julie Cage, Columbia,
financial .secretary: Gerald Stark, Monogram,
business agent: Mary Gerken, Paramount,
sergeant at arms: Beverly Legman,
EL: Frances White, UA. and Laura Clabeaux.
20th-Fox, trustees.
"The Jolson Story" is making another return
engagement here, this time at the Midtown
Theatre. Manager Lloyd M. Mills, said
is the film being shown this time in response
to more than 300 written requests . .
.
Last Saturday was Universal-International
night at the Variety Club. Lil and Dave
Miller and Milly and Joe Gins were hosts.
The club has discontinued serving of dinners,
except on Mondays, men's nights.
There are new "open hours" at the club:
7 p. m. to 3 a. m. daily except on Monday
when hours are 5 p. m. to 3 a. m. Hours
Sunday are from noon until 3 a. m.
The projectionists union of Buffalo was
among the organizations signing a statement
protesting proposed state legislation requiring
theatre executives in the state to
make payments to local fire department pension
funds in return for the service of fire-
1
men placed on detail at public amusement
houses.
WATERFORD. N. Y.—The new Casino was
A heart attack caused the death of Samuel closed Sunday afternoon 14i by state troopers
they found three exit
after they said Geddis, 72, who claimed to be the city's first
motion picture operator. He operated the doors frozen by snow, floor coverings on the
picture shown here at the stairs insufficiently fastened, drapes and
first full-length
Bijou Dream Theatre, Main and North Division
decorations of inflammable material, and the
booth in "very poor condition." The troop-
streets. He subsequently was
employed
at the Lafayette. 20th Century and
other theatres. For the last eight years he
had worked at the Old Vienna, combination
bingo and motion picture house. He had
been a member of operators union since
1914.
Mary A. Giallela of 20th-Fox has been
re-elected president of Film Exchange Local
B9. officers are Other Anthony Gowinski,
Republic, vice-president: John P. Wilhelm,
20th-Fox, recording secretary; Evelyn Gamham,
20th-Fox, financial secretary; Conrad
Cza, United Artists, sergeant-at-arms, and
John N. Brunner, business agent. Members
of the board of trustees are William Sheridan,
National Screen Service; William H.
Abrams, Columbia; Frances Rubach, RKO,
and Ann Murphy, Eagle Lion.
Greenberg Bill Dies
ALBANY—Tlie Greenberg bill proposing to
increase from $3 to $6 per 1,000 feet for the
original and from $2 to $4 for copies of films
reviewed by the motion picture division of
the State Education department, died in the
senate education conimittee. The motion picture
division did not recommend the increase,
nor did any other state agency or
official. The present rate, in effect for over
25 years, produced more than $300,000 in
revenue last year.
Little RCA Eastern Head
CAMDEN, N. J.—J. R. Little has been
named eastern regional manager for the RCA
Victor division. He had been manager of
the distributed products division of the engineering
products department since he joined
the company two years ago. Before coming
to RCA, Little had served in executive posts
with Montgomery Ward & Co. in Chicago.
Little's territory extends from New England
through Washington, D. C.
HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM
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STREET ADDRESS
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STATE..
State Police Close
Waterford Casino
ers ordered approximately 250 patrons from
the house and arrested Mon-is Koffsky, 40,
of Albany on a charge of violating building
code regulations for places of public assembly.
Koffsky pleaded innocent and was released
on his own recognizance for a hearing
before Justice of the Peace J. E. Burgess
March 22 at 7:30 p. m. Admission money
was refunded to the patrons.
State police headquarters at Troy stated
that several warnings had been given the
management before the troopers acted.
The Casino, a 300-seater, is the only theatre
in Waterford.
ALBANY—Morris Koffsky, manager for
Sam Slotnick of the Casino in Waterford,
went to the Capitol Wednesday night ao)
and protested to Assemblyman Abraham
Schulman of Rochester against the Fino-
Clancy bill for firemen in theatres. Koffsky
is a personal friend of Schulman who
assured the former the bill would be killed.
Koffsky's action was praised by Leonard. L.
Rosenthal, counsel for the Theatre Owners
of the Albany Exchange Area and a moving
spirit in the successful drive against the bill.
"It was personal contacts like that Mr. Koffsky
made which proved all important in our
campaign," Rosenthal said. "The so-called
little exhibitors helped us tremendously.
They really went to work on their senators
and assemblymen. We could see the results."
Educational Film Library
To Open in Rochester
ROCHESTER — The Rochester public
library will establish an educational film
library with funds granted by the board of
trustees of Reynolds Library. The public
library will be given $10,000 a year for a
three-year period. Films will be purchased
on travel, science, sports.
The pictures will not be lent to individuals
for home entertainment or to organizations
for showings to raise money. A service
charge will be made on each film to cover
the cost of insurance, cleaning, repair and
transportation.
Kiddy Price at Art House
ALBANY—The Colonial, home of "art" and
foreign pictm-es. has established a children's
admission price of 25 cents. Originally, no
special consideration was given youngsters because
the pictures are not generally suitable
for a juvenile audience.
Incorporations
ALBANY
R. D. Corp.: Formed to produce motion
pictures: capital stock, 200 shares, no par;
incorporators: Louis de Rochemont, Bordon
Mace, Bernard J. Reis. De Rochemont
is the producer of the March of Time.
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

Coast Economy Seen
As Smallfry Boon
NEW YORK — The current economy drive
in Hollywood may be a break for newcomers,
according to George Stevens, executive producer
of "I Remember Mama." He predicted
that lesser-known writers, stars and directors
may find employment in studios now cutting
down on high priced talent and screen
material.
At the same time he warned against
economies that will hurt the film. Audiences
expect certain stars and certain material
that cannot be eliminated from a film without
serious damage. The producer who
economizes recklessly may find himself
trailing the competition, he added.
Speaking of competition, Stevens said Hollywood
is being challenged by foreign films.
He cited the fact that one New York newspaper
carried ads for 17 foreign films in a
single issue.
Stevens pointed out that the foreign producer
has the Hollywood producer at a disadvantage.
The American filmmaker has the
enormous responsibility of working with a
$2,000,000 production that has to pay its way
at the boxoffice. He cannot afford to take
the chances taken by the foreign producer
who often works on a shoestring. However,
the U.S. producer has to learn not to be intimidated
by the huge investment placed in
his care. Stevens added.
He then discussed the length of pictures.
It was Stevens' contention that a good long
picture has usually had more audience appeal
than a good short picture. He backed this
statement by citing the success of "Gone
With the Wind," "The Best Years of Our
Lives." and "It Happened One Night," which
was one of the longest comedies made up to
1934.
Stevens declared that the. length of a film
should be determined by the preview audience.
It should not be determined by the
desire of the exhibitor to fit a film to his
type of theatre operation. The turnover
policy should not be the deciding factor, he
added.
Ocean City Admission Tax
Up for Vote on April 20
OCEAN CITY, N. J.—Voters of this city
may decide April 20, primary day, whether
to approve a three per cent sales tax on theatre
tickets and other so-called luxuries. An
ordinance is now being prepared by the city
solicitor for approval by the city commission.
This is one of the preliminary moves for a
referendum authorized in fourth class coastal
cities by the 1947 legislature.
Atlantic City has had this tax in effect
since early last sununer and is said to have
netted $1,500,000 on the forms of business to
which it applies.
Other businesses taxable under this law are
cigarets, hotel rooms and liquors. In this
city no liquors are sold.
There are four theatres in Ocean City—the
Moorlyn, Strand, Village and the Surf, the
latter
seasonal.
"Voice of Theatre Speakers"
JOE HORNSTEIN has them!
Foreign Fan Club Formed
NEW YORK—The Foreign Films Movie
Club, Inc.. has been organized here, with a
member.s,hip of more than 10,000. A $2 yearly
membership fee entitles members to copies
of a monthly magazine devoted to British,
French, Italian and Mexican pictures and
players.
To Open N.Y. Story Office
Flames in Glen Burnie, Md.,
Damages Glen Theatre
GLEN BURNIE, MD.—The entire block
in the business district was threatened by
a fire which broke out in the kitchen of a
restaurant. The restaurant, a grocery store
and the Glen Theatre were badly damaged
by the blaze. Fireman from Glen Burnie
and thi-ee neighboring commuiiities fought
NEW YORK — United-California Prod.,
the flames for almost an hour before the
fire was brought under control.
now producing "Let's Live a Little" for Eagle The restaurant, store and theatre are imder
Lion release, will open a story purcha.se office
one roof. Firemen estimated the dam-
age at $45,000. No one was injured. Most
in New York. It will be headed by Mrs.
Messmore Kendall. The branch will be of the damage to the theatre was from smoke
called Discovery, Inc.
and water.
Indoors or out DeVry
For 250-seat to 6,000 seat theatres
and outstandingly for drive-ins with
up to 1,000 car capacity—the trend is
definitely to DeVry "12000" Series
projectors, amplifiers and in-car
speakers.
Typical of DEVRY-equipped outdoor
theatres now being readied for
spring opening is the model Drive-In
at Muncie, Indiana, shown in the airview
shot above. Other DeVry installations
being made for the coming
season are:
CALIFORNIA: Drive-In near San
Diego. GEORGIA: Drive-In Theatres
at Thomasville & Moultrie. INDI-
ANA: Terre Ha
Drive-In. lO'WA:
Drive-In at Sioux
City. OHIO: "Sciota'"
at Portsmouth,
"Triangle" at Wilmington.
Also Drive-Ins at Springfield and St.
Marys. MICHIGAN: Drive-In at
Grand Rapids. NORTH CAROLINA:
Drive-ins at Asheville, Stateville &
Charlotte. PENNSYLVANIA: "Family"
Drive-In at New Kensington.
TEXAS: Drive-In at Midland. 'WEST
VIRGINIA: Drive-In at Elkins and
Meadowbrook. CANADA: Peter
Drive-In, Lansing, Ontario.
// you contemplate modernizing present equipment or building anew, he
sure and see DeVry before you buy.
faction, increased
box office take,
closer approach to
the perfect show
indoors or out —
buy DeVry
•12000 Series"
theatre
projectors
See them at the
DeVry dealer
nearest you.
FOR THE PERFECT SHOW
Indoors or Out
S^* DeVry
NEW YORK -
NEW JERSEY
E. J. Barnes Associates
10 Rockefeller Plaza
New York 20. New York
Telephone: Cir. 5-4SS1
or Cir. 6-1487
WESTERN
VIRGINIA
Perdue Cinema Service
406 First Street. S. W.
Roanoke 11, Virginia
2-8817
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948 50A

. . , The
. . . Dorothy
. . Morton
. . . "Road
. . With
. . Count
. . Mrs.
. . For
. . The
. . The
HARRISBURG
lyTarch has been a headache to Harrisburg
exhibitors. The troubles of the showmen
started with the imposition of the city
amusement tax March 11. This, said the theatremen,
has kept away customers in droves,
despite the fact that the increase was only
a nickel. Coupled with the imposition of
the levy, the Lenten season doesn't do business
any good, and for that reason film
companies are holding out their better pictures.
Just when the local managers feel
they should have topnotch films to counteract
the bad effect of the tax, they are
saddled with pictures which they claim
wouldn't sell even in boom times.
Harrisburg and Philadelphia have been
named as premiere cities for "The Miracle
of the Bells," to open March 25. The local
showing will be at the Senate where Manager
Bob Sidman is planning a big to-do.
The advance exploitation started March 15
with the visit to Harrisburg of Russell Janney,
author of the book from which the picture
was made. Jamiey autographed his
books in a downtown department store, was
a guest of librarians and newspaper folk, and
was entertained royally. Sidman expects
either Claudette Colbert or Frank Sinatra, or
both, for the premiere. The local manager
already has planted stories on various angles,
including fashion notices, music tieups, and
front-page breaks in city newspapers, and is
planning numerous co-ops. Dinners, receptions
and cocktail parties will be scheduled
for
the celebrities.
A box alarm which called out about eight
pieces of fire-fighting apparatus was turned
in last Sunday when a passerby noted smoke
issuing from the Colonial Theatre. Firemen
discovered that the smoke was caused from
the burning of damp paper towels in the
theatre's
incinerator.
Television Seminar Held
By General Electric
S'^RACUSE—Approximately 125 engineering
and management executives of
television
stations and affiliated firms attended a
three-day television seminar at the General
Electric plant here and at the GE television
station 'WRGB in Schenectady, Tuesday
through Wednesday (16-18). Speakers covered
a variety of subjects from selling time
on television programs to technical operations
and maintenance of transmitters.
Guests who addressed the sessions included
J. D. McLean, WPTZ, Philadelphia:
Jack Pegler, Jerry Fairbanks, Inc., New
York. M. P. Mahony. vice-president of
Maxon, Inc.; Paul 'Wittlig, -WCBS, New York.
One of the highlights of the seminar was
a television program, which was relayed from
New York to the Schenectady station.
MPA to Send 30 Children
To Camp During Summer
NEW YORK—Motion Picture Associates
will .send 30 underprivileged children, whose
parents are connected with any branch of
the film bu.slness, to camp during July or
August. The children will be sent to Camp
Moodna, Mountainville, N. Y.
MPA sent 12 children there.
Last year the
THE SCHWARTZES RETVTRN — Sol
Schwartz, vice-president of RKO Theatres,
and his wife, on their arrival by air
in New York from Hollywood.
RICHMOND
T 60 Stern of the Berlo office in Philadelphia
was here inspecting the Berlo candy
stands in the local theatres, and making final
arrangements to install soft drink vendors
Midlothian Drive-In opened March
16. Joe La Prade is back in the booth there.
The Metropolitan Opera Co. will present
"La Traviata" at the Mosque on March 31.
Bookings for the near future at the Mosque
include Gene Autry, Stan Kenton, Eddy
Arnold and "Hollywood on Ice."
The Chesterfield county board of supervisors
cleared the way for construction of a
$50,000 stadium seating of 10,000 just off the
Midlothian pike. The stadium will be used
by Bob Streeter for midget auto races . . .
James Woolridge. Grand, was off duty suffering
from an ear infection.
Jerry Joyner, doorman at the Westhampton,
reports his Ford was battered up again when
sideswiped by another car on his way to work
Hall, cashier there made a quick
trip to Norfolk.
toretta Gordon, wife of Sam Gordon of the
Venus, is about again after a stay in the hospital
. . . George Roberts, co-manager at the
State, is improving rapidly . . . Actor James
Mason and his authoress wife, Pamela Kellino,
had to cancel a scheduled autograph
session in the Miller & Rhoads book department
due to
^^
illness.
Two nationwide broadcasts will originate in
local auditoriums March 21. The Detroit
Symphony will broadcast from the Mosque,
and Horace Heidt will broadcast from Loew's
NEWARK
JJarry Schnitzer, new assistant at the Castle
in Irvington, was recently reley.sed from
the marines. He was connected with the Sanford
in Irvington four years ago. He replaces
Richard Haines . Howard Hall, wife
of the manager of the Savoy, is serving as
cashier at the Court . Court has a new
mailing list. It has started issuing flash
heralds on Saturday matinees.
Cooperating with the fuel conservation
bureau during the oil shortage, the Rex in
Irvington cut out midnight shows on Saturdays
. the backing of the PTA, the
Rex is planning to swing from cartoon shows
on Saturdays to westerns or other types of
films suitable for children . Court has
installed a new automatic popcorn machine
eliminating the need for an attendant.
Cash prizes were awarded to the three
.sisters, ages eight to 28, who were winners in
a contest conducted by Loew's during the
run of "Three Daring Daughters" . . . Ann
Bontempo, publicity head for Loew's, served
as a judge in the "Mr. New Jersey" contest,
a Leap year event in which the state's most
"Shoe-
eligible bachelor was chosen
Shine" was held over at the Little Theatre a
second week . Basie was greeted by
a delegation from his home town of Red
Bank while playing at the Adams Theatre.
William H. Waldron, manager of the Claridge,
Montclair, arranged tieins with local
stationery and book stores for "Ti-easure of
Sierra Madre" . "Body and Soul" he
tied in with a sports ad in the Montclair
Times announcing the championship bout
between Garfield and Dorrell. one of the big
scenes of the drama. As another tiein, the
Dale Co. featured boxing accessories in a
window display along with stills plugging the
film . . . Waldron had an attractive display
in the Montclair library for "Captain From
Castile."
James Mason, British film star, was a
visitor at L. Bamberger's, where he autographed
copies of his wife's novel "Del Palma"
to Rio" was held a third week at
the Paramount.
Men who dated girls named Susan. Susie or
Suzanne got breaks at Proctor's on the opening
day of "If You Knew Susie." They were
required to pay the price of only one admission.
Girls having the name of the title
character were asked to provide written proof.
Trenton-New Brunswick
Has Operating Trio
NEW YORK—A three-man committee to
operate theatres has been appointed by the
board of directors of Ti-enton-New Brunswick
Theatres Co. The operating committee
consists of Sol Schwartz, Walter Reads
. stage G. Thalhimer, head of the
Neighborhood Theatre circuit, attended the
jr. and Fi-ank Hirst. Their directives will
TOA convention in Los Angeles.
be subject to the approval of the directors.
The mad scramble for sevens (marquee Walter Reade jr. has been elected director
numerals) is really on. Howard Rubin, Petersburg
and secretary of the company, replacing Wal-
city manager for Neighborhood, was ter Reade, resigned. Schwartz and Hirst are
here trying to track some down so that he vice-presidents. Malcolm Kingsberg is president.
could properly display "Call Northside 777."
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

. . Dan
. . "Saigon"
. .
. . The
Jacocks & Kilpalrick
Gel Aldon Theatres Veteran Minot in Show Work When
BOSTON—Don Jacocks and Alexander C.
Kilpatrick have sold their interests in B&Q
Associates in New England and have acquired
control of the Aldon Theatres Corp.,
Don Ja«ocks
Alexander Kilpatrick
which operates nine theatres in New Jersey.
The Aldon circuit formerly was the Cocalis
chain until its purchase by B&Q Associates
in April 1947.
Jacocks and Kilpatrick will retain their
interest in one New England theatre, the
Astor, which is not included in the sale.
The Astor. newly rebuilt first run Boston de
luxe theatre, was reopened to the public last
fall. A month later Samuel Goldwyn purchased
a reported 25 per cent interest in
the house for a showcase for his product.
Dan Finn, advertising manager for Warner
Theatres of New England, has acquired
an interest in B&Q Associates and
will succeed Jacocks as general manager.
Kill Bill Aimed at Shows
In Willard Hospital
ALBANY—The assembly codes committee
killed a bill, passed by the senate, which
would have made it a misdemeanor for officers
of a state institution to charge admissions
for motion picture screenings.
Senator H. W. Griffith of Palmyra and Representative
L. W. Van Cleef of Seneca Falls,
sponsors, said the bill had achieved its purpose:
namely, to stop such a practice at
the Willard Mental hospital.
Van Cleef explained that during the war
and gasoline rationing, residents of the villages
of Willard and of Ovid were allowed
to attend films shown for patients and employes
of the hospital, and were charged an
admission. They said the practice continued
after the war. Ovid has a theatre operated
by Francis McCarell, who considered the situation
created unfair competition for him.
The showings were discontinued February 1.
New Albany Madison Chief
ALBANY—Herbert G. Jennings, 30 years in
the motion picture business as a manager for
the Schine, Loew and other circuits and exploiteer
for United Artists and Selznick, is
the new house chief at Warners Madison.
Jim Morgan, who for a time managed both
the Madison and Delaware, returned to the
latter.
Kupferman to Justice Peck
NEW YORK—Theodore R. Kupferman of
the Warners legal staff has accepted an appointment
as law secretary to Justice Peck,
presiding justice of the appellate division of
the supreme court, first department.
f/7ms Shown With Glass of Beer
....NEWARK. N. J.—Charlie Minot. a.ssistant
at the Ormont Theatre. East Orange, exprize
fighter and bird fancier, is one of the
oldest exhibitors in this area, having managed
the local Strand, now Warners' Capitol,
25 years ago. Even before that—so long ago
that Minot does not hazard a guess as to what
year it was—he was operator at Mike Murray's
tavern on Market street, a popular
rendezvous in the era of silent films.
In this age of high living costs and the like
it is a bit staggering to think back on those
happy days when Mike Murray offered free
cinema entertainment to those w-ho dropped
in for a casual glass of beer, in the form of
single reel pictures.
Minot was the second man in New Jersey
to obtain a projectionist license. For a time
he ran his own nickelodeon, known as the
Bandbox, in Vailsburg.
At one time he managed the Strand,' Minot
true perspective of motion picture exhibition
was one of the most important decisions
reached at the recent Los Angeles TOA
board meeting, according to Harry Lament,
temporary chairman of the Albany unit. Lamont
thinks it vitally important that such
a drive be instituted, that it have its "grass
roots" in exchange cities and in towns removed
from Los Angeles and New York.
Finances and other matters were discussed
at a Variety Club meeting Monday night following
a dinner in Keeler's restaurant . . .
Sam Shapin, Warner auditor, is at the local
exchange . Houlihan, 20th-Fox manager,
visited Kallet Theatres headquarters
in Oneida, the Benton circuit offices in Saratoga,
the Conery Theatres in Ravena and
the Warner Theatres upstate offices . . .
The son of Ray Powers, Warner office manager
and head booker, has recovered from
an attack of pneumonia.
Marie Bartley, Strand cashier, battled off
pneumonia but had an ear infection which
kept her from returning to work. Nora Austin
handled the ticket selling during her absence,
with assistance from Manager Al La-
Flamme and assistant Ted Friedman .
Filmrow reports that Bill Smalley will remain
in Florida for the Variety Clubs convention
. is slotted for Easter
week at the Fabian Palace.
Optimism over the quality of Metro pictm-es
scheduled for release in the next six
months was expressed by Herman Ripps, assistant
division manager, at a meeting here
of MGM managers from Boston, Buffalo and
Albany. Ripps was in Hollywood recently to
recalls that there were two burlesque houses
in Newark, the Walman on Market street and
Minor's Theatre, which is now the Empire.
Nickelodeons flourL-ihed on the outskirts of
the city. The Paramount Theatre was across
from the city hall and Keeney's Theatre was
on the site of the present Adams. Proctor's
was running and so was the Goodwin, which
is now the Globe. Another popular theatre
was the Sea Shell on Market street. The
Brandford. Warners' leading hoiuse. was undreamed
of and on its site was a cemetery.
One of Minofs vivid impressions is of
Houdini hanging on a building on Market
street. The magician was likewise at the
Strand, for Minot ran stage attractions in
addition to pictures, bathing beauties rating
one of the chief drawing cards. L. Bamberger
& Co. made a box for the magician and
Houdini with his usual ingenuity wriggled
out of it to the applause of Strand audiences.
look at the product. Ripps left here for a
week in the Boston territory . . . "Welcome
Stranger" is piling up phenomenal grosses in
small situations. Paramount Manager Eddie
Ruff reports. One of these was at the Smalley
Theatre in Johnstown where Manager Harry
Weiner conducted a strong exploitation campaign,
which included a two-page coopera-
ALBANY
tive newspaper advertisement. The first baby
to arrive during the Johnstown engagement
was rewarded with a number of suitable gifts
"Pile publicity campaign which TOA will by the advertisers . . . Anita Colby is due
launch to give critics and the public a here the first week in May on promotion for
"Unconquered."
The Schine circuit reviewing board of
eight, which includes George Lynch, Gus
Lampe, Lou Goldstein and Bill Kraemer,
were very favorably impressed by "Gentleman's
Agreement," "Sitting Pretty," "Miracle
of the Bells" and "I Remember Mama"
. . . Lou Weinberg and Vince Borelli of
Columbia's home office huddled in Gloversville
with George Lynch, chief buyer for the
Schine circuit, and Lou Goldstein, assistant
buyer.
Mrs. Mary Lurian, whose husband manages
the Palace in Troy, has been transferred
by Tri-State Automatic Candy Corp. from
the Ritz to the Strand concession stand.
Sid Deneau, former Fabian buyer here, later
an assistant to Si Fabian in New York and
then an executive of the Schine circuit, is
moving to California with the transfer of
Selznick offices to Hollywood. Deneau is assistant
to Milt Kussell, sales manager for
SRO. Deneau sold his Oldsmobile to Eddie
Susse, new Buffalo salesman for Metro, and
bought a convertible from Fi-ank Wietlng of
the Park, Cobleskill.
Pete Vournaks of the Liberty and Strand
WatertowTi, who attended the dinner for
Dick Hayes here, said that business was
below par with the bad weather as one of
the reasons .
"entertainment-minded"
Variety Club was commended for its enterprise
in bringing "The Glass Menagerie"
here for a benefit performance at the Strand
by Paul Bruce Pettie, WROW show- critic.
Shelton Rejoins A.F.E.
NEW YORK—William Shelton has resigned
as general sales manager for Siritzky
International Pictures and has rejoined the
A.F.E. Corp., headed by Paul Graetz. Shelton
served with A.F.E. for several years before
joining Siritzky about six months ago.
BOXOFFICE March 1948
50C

Ted
O'Shea,
Paramounteers Hear
Product Discussions
NEW YORK—Informal product discussions
featured a luncheon for 55 Paramount
executives and members of the advertising,
publicity and exploitation departments at
the Hotel Astor on Tuesday 1I61.
Austin Keough and Paul Raibourn called
upon those who had just returned from the
coast to talk candidly and extemporaneously
of the pictures they had seen. Rex Taylor
covered "Night Has a Thousand Eyes": Rudy
Montgelas of Buchanan & Co., "My True
Love"; Paul Ackerman, "Sealed Verdict":
Russell Holman. "The Long Gray Line":
Stanley Shuford, "A Foreign Affair," and
Sid Me.sibov, "Whispering Smith."
I
E. K. Hugh Owen, Robert
O'Brien, Robert M. Weitman, Ed Hyman,
Leon Netter and Fred Mohrhardt, members
of the foreign publicity department, and six
representatives of Buchanan & Co. were
present.
NBC Affiliates Hear Plans
On Television Operation
NEW YORK — NBC's future television
plans were discussed by Niles Trammell, president,
and Frank E. Mullen, executive vicepresident,
at a recent meeting of NBC television
station affiliates. Representatives of
22 affiliated stations attended, in addition
to officials of NBC stations in Cleveland,
Chicago and Washington.
William S. Hedges, vice-president in
charge of planning and development for
NBC, and Noran E. Kersta, director of television
operations, also spoke.
Stations represented included WAVE,
Louisville: WDEL, Wilmington: KCPN, Port
Worth: WRTV, New Orleans: WTVT, Toledo:
WBEN-TV, Providence: WSYR, Syracuse:
WTVR. Richmond: -WBZ-TV, Boston:
KSTP-TV, St. Paul: WBAL-TV, Baltimore;
WRGB. Schenectady: WOW, Omaha; WPTZ,
Philadelphia: WLWT, Cincinnati: KST-Tv',
St. Louis: WWJ, Detroit: HAM, Rochester;
WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee; WSB, Atlanta, and
WBAP.
N. Y. Court Denies Motion
Asked by Island Circuit
NEW YORK— Justice Aaron Steuer of the
New York supreme court has denied the motion
for an injunction asked by Island Theatre
Circuit Corp. against Liggett-Stiefel
Booking Service. Island had asked for an
injunction barring Liggett-Stiefel from servicing
its customers on the grounds that the
defendant corporation and employes had conspired
to "steal" Island customers. Norma
Fallenberg and S. E. Weissberger were the
employe defendants.
The suit was filed last August about one
month after Jules E. Liggett had resigned
as Island booker to become a partner in the
Stlefel Booking Service. During that month
31 Island accounts shifted their business to
the ne\4' organization.
Testimony was heard during a three-dav
trial held before Justice Steuer.
William Gold, attorney for Island, .said he
will appeal the decision. Monroe Stein is attorney
for the defendants.
Government Officials See
'Roosevelt' at Du Pont
WASHINGTON — "The Roosevelt
Story"
lUAi was shown at two special screenings
for government officials at the new Du Pont
Theatre here, Thursday (18), before the picture
started its regular run.
The first .showing was attended by Senators
Scott W. Lucas. Olin D. Johnston, Lister Hill,
Brien MacMahon and Elbert D. Thomas, and
Congressmen Paul Brown, Sam Hobb, Albert
Thomas, George D. Sadowski and Francis J.
Myers. Also present were ambassadors from
Colombia. Chile, Brazil. Australia, France.
Yugoslavia, Denmark. Poland, Siam, Dominican
Republic and Honduras and ministers
from Finland, Luxembourg, Lebanon, Syria,
Liberia and the Union of South Africa.
Mrs. John R. Steelman, wife of assistant
to President Ti-uman, was chairman of the
evening showing. Proceeds went to the
Society for Crippled Children.
Film Classics Officials
Hold Lunch for Wheeler
NE-W YORK— Sam Wheeler, recently appointed
executive head of the western division
for Film Classics, was given a testimonial
luncheon March 12 at the Astor hotel.
B. G. Kranze, vice-president and head of
worldwide sales for Film Classics, served as
toastmaster. Joseph Bernhard, president of
the company, spoke of Wheeler's duties and
of the importance of his job to the organization.
The western division includes Los
Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle,
Salt Lake City and Denver territories.
Others who spoke were; Jules K. Chapman,
Al Zimbalist, Ted Birnbaum and Eugene
Arnstein, all of the Film Classics home
office.
Byrd Confers With Kranze
NEW YORK—Rear Admiral Richard E.
Byrd conferred with B. G. Kranze, Film
Classics vice-president in charge of worldwide
sales, on distribution plans for "Discovery."
The picture Is Byrd's filmed account
of his South Pole expedition. Arrangements
have been made for Byrd to make personal
appearances in connection with the opening
of the picture.
lATSE May Represent WTT
BALTIMORE—The right of the lATSE
represent technical workers at DuMont's
to
Wa.shington television station WTTG was upheld
by Ross M. Madden. Baltimore regional
director of the NLRB. He dismissed charges
by the National Ass'n of Broadcast Engineers
and Technicians that the imion was involved
in unfair labor practices. •
Boost 'Sitting Pretty'
NEW YORK—"Sitting Pretty" (20th-Fox)
has been selected as the picture-of-themonth
for March by the New York Subway
Advertising Co. The picture stars Clifton
Webb, Robert Young and Maureen O'Hara.
Buys NBC Newsreel
SCHENECTADY—The electronics department
of General Electric Co. has purchased
the National Broadcasting Co.-produced
television newsreel for sponsorship on Fridays
at 9 p. m. over WRGB, Schenectady.
Industry in Germany
Split by U.S. Decree
BERLIN—Film production, distribution and
exhibition in the U.S. zone of occupation in
Germany have been separated and the industry
has been decentralized since March 8
under the U.S. decartelization order. German
companies have four months to comply with
the order and end existing contracts violating
its provisions. The order was passed a
year ago.
It contains the following provisions:
Production, distribution and exhibition are
completely separated, except that a producer
may distribute his own product directly or
through a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Exhibiting companies are restricted as to
the number of theatres they may own in relation
to the population of a specified political
area. In areas with a population of
100,000 or less exhibitors are pennitted one
theatre. In areas with over 1,000,000 population,
exhibitors may own five theatres. No
exhibitor may own, operate or have a financial
interest in more than ten theatres anywhere.
The order also states that any group of
theatres with a total seating capacity of 750
or less, operating no more than four days
each week is classed as one theatre.
As a special concession for German producers
who have difficulty getting equipment,
the joint export-import agency in Germany
has agreed to pay advance royalties, in the
form of dollar credits up to $10,000 per film,
to producers who can show the probability
of export sale on their pictures. This money
must be used to buy material and equipment
abroad and will be deducted from the total
royalty due the producer.
Columbia Workers Given
Retroactive Wage Hikes
NEW YORK—A total of 298 office workers
at Columbia have been granted wage increases
ranging from $6 to $10 weekly retroactive
to Sept. 27, 1947, by the American
Arbitration Ass'n. Arbitrators in the case
included Sidney A. Wolff, impartial chairman:
Al Shepard, representing the Screen
Office and Pi-ofessional Employes Guild, and
Arthur W. Schwartz, Columbia.
During the week Justice Morris Eder of
the New York supreme court granted Paramount's
request for a stay of arbitration in
a
case involving layoffs of SOPEG employes.
New Broadway Bookings
NEW YORK—The Globe and Rialto theatres
here have booked t\Vo Eagle Lion films
for Easter week. "Adventures of Casanova"
will open at the Globe following the run of
"Body and Soul." "The Smugglers," J. Arthur
Rank production, will open at the Rialto following
the run of "Furia." "The Lost One"
I Coll, produced in Italy, will open at the
Golden Theatre March 29.
Broadcast Ampa Luncheon
NEW YORK—Irene Kuhn. assistant director
of information for NBC, will conduct a
broadcast on the activities of women in advertising
at a luncheon meeting of Ampa,
Thursday, March 25. Station WNBC will
record the proceedings for broadcast. The
luncheon will honor advertising and publicity
women in the motion picture industry.
BOXOFFICE March 20, 1948

miixwPD
NEWS AND VIEWS OF THE PRODUCTION CENTER
(Hollywood Office—Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.: Ivan Spear, Westerri Manager)
Verdict in Cole Suit
Cue to Case of 'Ten'
HOLLYWOOD—A legal ruling which may
set a pattern for disposition of other suits
filed against studios by discharged or suspended
members of the so-called "unfriendly
ten" is expected to be handed down shortly
by U.S. Judge Leon Yankwich in the action
brought against Metro by scenarist Lester
Cole.
Cole, who was suspended after being cited
for alleged contempt of Congress when he
refused to testify as to whether or not he is
a Communist, charges the studio with breach
of contract and alleges that, although suspended,
he cannot obtain other employment
while his Metro ticket is still in force. Metro
contends he was taken off the payroll as per
a clause in the Cole commitment forbidding
him to engage in any activity that would
"shock or offend the community or injure
the film industry."
The "unfriendly ten" as a group recently
filed a $61,108,975 damage action against the
motion picture industry, charging they were
victims of a "conspiracy" and placed on an
illegal "blacklist." In addition, other civil
suits are pending by Ring Lardner jr„ Dalton
Trumbo, Edward Dmytryk and Adrian Scott.
Producers were warned in a letter from
the Guild that the actors' organization takes
the position no filmmaker has the legal right
to "sell or use for television" any picture
made for theatre exhibition. The communication
declared there had been reports in
the press that "certain producers" were about
to sell "certain motion picture film" for telecasting
purposes, and said the Gtuld's stand
was being emphasized "as a matter of fairness
in order that you may consider any
proposed commitments in the light of this
letter."
March 23 was set as the opening date for
negotiations with the Screen Directors Guild
THE WEARIN- OF THE GRIN—There
were plenty of smiles around the Warner
lot when the National Screen Council
voted "My Wild Irish Rose" the best picture
relea-sed during January and those
who participated in its making received
the customary BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon
awards. The cameraman caught up
with, left to right: Ray Heindorf, musical
arranger; Director David Butler; Leo
Forbstein, studio musical director; Producer
William Jacobs; Dennis Morgan,
who had the starring role.
concerning a new basic agreement. The
SDG ticket expired earlier this month.
Returning from Washington, where he
testified before Rep. Carroll Kearns' house
labor subcommittee in its probe of the studio
strike, Herbert K. Sorrell, president of the
Conference of Studio Unions, emphatically
reiterated his earlier denials that the signature,
"Herb Stewart," on a Communist party
card issued in 1937 was in his WTiting. The
card was placed in evidence before the
Kearns committee after FBI experts had
testified Sorrell's handwriting matched the
"Stewart" signature thereon. Sorrell declared
the card a "fake" and said it was
brought into the Washington hearing "to
confuse and obscure the real issue."
A number of business matters, including
pending intervention as an "amicus curiae"
in civil suits -filed by discharged and suspended
writers against studios following their
indictments on charges of contempt of
Congress, will be discussed at a general membership
session of the Screen Writers Guild,
called for March 23.
Lamont Gets Spurs
HOLLYWOOD—Producer Harry Joe Brown
ticketed Charles Lamont to guide "The
Wrangler," which goes before the cameras
shortly with Sonny Tufts and Barbara Britton
in
the leads for Columbia release.
Video and Reissues
In Wage Parleys
HOLLYWOOD — Television, the reissue
question and dwindling studio employment
are among the important topics up for discussion
in negotiations for a new contract
which have gotten under way between the
Screen Actors Guild and the major producers.
The SAG contract expires July 31.
E. J. Mannix, B. B. Kahane and Charles
Boren are producer representatives in the
huddles, while the SAG delegation includes
Ronald Reagan, Louise Beavers, Charles
Bickford, Lee Bowman, George Chandler,
Paul Harvey, William Holden, Gene Kelly,
Cliff Lyons, George Murphy, Walter Pidgeon,
Tyrone Power, Anne Revere, Larry Steers,
Tudor Williams, John Dales jr., Pat Somerset
and Lawrence W. Beilenson.
Concerning reissues, the actors contend
is re-release of old films contributing to the
decrease in new production and employment,
while the producers hold that reissues are
owned entirely by the studios and can be
marketed at their discretion. The SAG also
its seeks revision of contract to ehminate
clauses prohibiting contract players from
making video appearances.
Val Lewton Leaves Para
HOLLYWOOD—Val Lewton wound up his
contract as a Par.-.mount producer and
checked off the lot after an 18-month association.
He did not a:inoimce his future
plans. While with Paramount he produced
"My Own True Love." Pi-eviously he had been
with RKO.
Story Editor 18 Years
HOLLYWOOD—Marking the beginning of
his IBbh year in the post, Julian John.son's
contract as studio story editor was picked up
for another term by 20th Century-Fox.
BOXOmCE :: March 20, 1948
51

was
William
which
with
was
Based
STUDIO PERSONNELITIES
Barnstormers
Columbia
GENE AUTRY is slated to appear in 2} middle west
and eastern cities simultaneously witH the release
of his lirst color picture, "The Strawberry Rocm."
His first appearance will be in Wichita, Kas.,
March 23.
Independent
Film Classics has set ROBERT PAIGE and LESLIE
BROOKS for a personal appearance tour in connection
with "Blonde Ice," m which they star. The
will play nine prerelease engorgements, open-
St. Louis March
Monogram
JIMMY WAKELY begins a personal appearance
junket m Oakland, Calif., April 14. Present plans
call for him to journey through other northern California,
Nevada and Texa^ cities.
RKO
EDDIE CANTOR made personal appearances at
both the Hillstreet and Pontages Hollywood theatres
March 11 in conjunction with showings of his latest
film, "If You Knew Susie."
Blurbers
20th-Fox
JOE WESTON was named publicity chief for the
newly formed Belsam Productions which is prepcrring
three pictures. Producer Sam Baerwitz heads
Briefies
Columbia
Producer Ralph Staub has begun productic
us next Screen Snapshot featurette. The tiln
over a trip through the studios as taken b
Cleffers
Columbia
GEORGE DUNING will write the score lor the
Glen Ford-Terry Moore Technicolor comedy "The
Return of October."
Metro
The musical score for "The Three Godlalhers."
Argosy Productions' film starring John Wayne, will
be composed by RICHARD HAGEMAN.
Paramount
Music Director VICTOR YOUNG'S option was
3ar. marking his 13th
Universal-International
SERGE WALTER was ticketed to write two songs
Meggers
Eagle Lion
STUART HEISLER was inked to direct Walter
Wojiger's "Tulsa," starring Susan Hayward.
RKO
The production reins on "Honored Glory" were
handed to FREDERIC ULLMAN JR. Based on an idea
concerning the "Unknown Soldier" by Henry Grunwald,
the film will topline Cory Grant, Robert
Mitchum and Frank Sinatra.
Republic
YAKIMA CANUTT was assigned to co-direct, with
Fred Brannon, the upcoming l2-episode serial, "The
Adventures ol Frank and Jesse James." Franklin
Adreon is the producer.
reds," which Mel Tucker is producing.
20th-Fox
Drawing the "Yellow
director's post for Skies,'
Troth's production, was WILLIAM WELL-
h??i?'
MAN. Gregory Peck tops the cast.
Options
Warners
DAVID BUTLER
Columbia
Character actor EDGAR BUCHANAN drew a top
featured role in "The Wrangler," starring Sonny
Tufts and Barbara Britton. Charles Lamonl is
directing. WILLIAM BISHOP drew a principal role.
^ "®w.5Sf®i"l"'°'' =°"'fac' was handed to danceractor
MARC PLATT.
Metro
Sot to star in "Sun in the Morning," original yarn
by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, is JEANETTE Mac-
DONALD. She joins Claude Jarman jr. and Lassie
in a cast which is under Richard Thorpe's direction.
Robert Sisk will produce.
DONNA REED won the starring spot opposite Van
Johnson in "The Story of Monty Stratton," playing
the wife of the famous baseball hero. Roy Rowland
will direct for Producer Jack Cummings.
Into "The Three Musketeers" cast goes ARTHUR
HOHL, who joins topliners Lana Turner, Gene Kelly,
Van Heflin and June Allyson under George Sidney's
tions tor a top spot in "Michael O'Halloran." Scotty
Beckett and Allene Roberts head the cast which is
under John Rawlins' direction
"
Paramount
A featured part in "Isn't It Romantic handed
JOHN GARRETT. He joins a cast headed by Veronica
to
Lake, Mary Hatcher and Mono
Freeman,
under Norman McLeod's direction.
Signed for a featured role in "The Tatlock Millions
DAN TOBIN. Charles Brackett " is producing
the comedy.
Role
RKO
CATHY O'DONNELL and FARLEY GRANGER were
set as a romantic team in Samuel Goldwyns "Take
1'hree Tenses." They will join Teresa Wright and
David Niven in the cast under Irving Reis' direction.
Picture will roll in May. British actor PHlLif
FRIEND will be introduced to American audiences
Republic
JIMMY LYDON and LOIS COLLIER won the leads
'
in "Flight From Fury, R. G. Springsteen
will direct for Producer Sidney Picker. RICHAKU
TRAVIS and MARC LAWRENCE are set for featured
roles. The chief villain role goes to ROY BARCROFT.
ANDY DEVINE and BOB NOLAN and THE SONS
OF THE PIONEERS were set to appeal with Roy
"
Rogers in "Eyes of Texas, William Witney
^ "" ' ' ' "
ling for Producer Edward
20th-Fox
RICHARD WIDMARK had his contract extended
for another year and go the Ida Lupino-
will into
Cornel Wilde starrer, "Roadhouse."
Celebrating her 50th year as on actress, EVEL^
BERESFORD drew a supporting role m "Unfaithfully
Yours," Preston Sturges' production.
HELEN FORD will have a supporhng role in
'
'"Apartment for Peggy, Perlbergs production,
which toplines Jeanne Grain.
Additional assignments for Sol M. Wurtzel's
"Fighting Back" went to PIERRE WATKINS, FRED
LIBBY and EULA GUY. Mai Clair directing.
St. is
KURD HATFIELD was inked by Producer Sam
Baerwitz for the role ol a psychopathic in
killer
"The Checkered Coat," Belsam production.
first
Edward L. Cahn is the director.
JEANNE GRAIN has been reticketed for another
year.
United Artists
James Nasser Productions set LOUISE ALLBRITTON
and MIKE ROMANOFF to join Fred MacMurray and
Affair, vhich
Universal-International
Character assignments in "Washington Girl" went
to RAY COLLINS and HUGO HAAS. Deanna Durbm,
Edmond O'Brien and Don Taylor are starred.
Britisher ROBERT NEWTON wins a top-drawer
spot in the Joan Fontaine-Burt Lancaster starrer,
"Kiss the Blood Off My Hands."
After an absence from films of five years. At
NAGEL IS resuming her career with a role in "One
Touch ol Venus," starring Robert Walker, Ava
Gardner and Dick Haymes.
Warners
Michael Curtiz Productions has picked up DORIS,
DAY'S option for another year. --
Joining stars Jane Wyman and David Niven in
"A Kiss in the Dark" is WAYNE MORRIS. Additional
assignments were handed to GRACE HAMP-
DEN, FRANK DAE and WU,LIAM EDMONDS. Comedian
VICTOR MOORE has been secured lor a chief
supporting spot. Broadway character actor JOSEP
BULOFF won a key role. CLAIRE MEADE, character
actress, was ddded to the cast.
The starring spot opposite Bette Davis in "June
Bride" was handed to ROBERT MONTGOMERY- The
comedy will be directed by Bretaigne Windust and
produced by Henry Blanke.
dine Brooks is character "actor WALLACE FORD
LINA ROMAY drew on important role. Felix Jacoves
is directing.
Appearing opposite Bette Davis in "Ethan Frome,"
screen version of Edith 'Wharton's novel, will be
DAVID FARRAR, British actor. Henry Blanke produces
the lilm.
Signed to a long-term acting contract lollowing
her work m Gordon Hollingshead's short subjects
was PHYLLIS COATES.
Dancer RAY BOLGER drew a topline in the lorthcoming
Marilyn Miller biography, "Silver Lining,"
which stars June Haver.
Scripters
the additio the
Columbia
MORTON GRANT was mked to develop an original,
"Night in Havana," as a musical to be produced
by Ted Richmond.
Metro
Enghsh writer JAMES B. WILLIAMS is set to do
the script lor "The Forsythe Saga. " to be directed
by Compton Bennett.
ARTHUR WIMPERIS will script "Vespers in Vienna,"
Bruce Marshall's novel about postwar Vienna, which
Carey Wilson will produce with Victor SaviUe directing.
Monogram
"
W. SCOTT DARLING checked in to write the
screenplay for an upcoming Charlie Chan film, "Bury
Me Not. on George Callahan's original
James S. Burkett produce with Roland
will story,
Winters in the starring spot.
Paramount
LEWIS R. FOSTER was signed for the screenplay
stint on Pine-Thomas' Captain China,"
Universal-International
HUGH WEDLOCK and HOWARD SNYDER were
signed to write an original untitled screenplay lor
Abbott and Costello
Story Buys
'
Columbia
John McPartland's Lile magazine article, "Portrait
of An American Communist," was purchased for a
lop-budget, documentary feature. McPartland and
David Dortort were inked to write the screenplay.
Metro
An original story about a "B-Girl" on Los Angeles'
"skid-row," "Case ol Millie Pearson," was purchased
Irom Author Norman Reilly Raine and placed
on James K. McGuinness' production schedule.
Monogram
The King Bros, purchased Mary Loos' and Richard
Sale's original, "The Grave Scratchers," as a
starring vehicle lor Eddie Albert. The yarn relates
the story of the delivery of a locomotive overland
in 1876.
Paramount
Hal Wallis has purchased Gertrude Schweitzer's
original magazine story, "Obsession," as a probable
Barbara Stanwyck starrer. Against a background
ol present-day rural Maine, the story concerns a
young woman who overcomes a humble background
20th-Fox
Sol M. Wurtzel has placed "Trouble Prelerred,"
an original by Arnold Belgard, on his production
schedule. A comedy, the story stresses the Icfct
that there is more to police work than tracking down
Warners
An original by J. Redmond Prior, "These Many
vehicle lor Ronald Reagan, Eleanor Parker and
Wayne Morris. Anthony Veiller wa's handed the
An original story dealing with modern divorce,
"Marriage '48," was purchased Irom Authors Vera
Caspary and Isadore Goldsmith. Henry Blanke
is slated to produce the iilm.
Technically
Columbia
Dance directors lor Sam Katzman's "Sweetheart
ol the Blues" will be NICO CHARISSE and HAL
BELFER.
MILTON FELDMAN was set as first assistant to
Director Ray Nazarro for "Texas Sandman." REX
WIMPY was named cameraman on the Colbert
Clark action musical. Art director will be GARY
O'DELL.
Metro
RAY JUNE drew the cameraman assignment lor
"The Story ol Monty Stratton."
S'ERGE PETSCHNIKOFF was named unit production
manager for "Sun in the Morning."
Monogram
LARRY CEBALLOS was signed to direct dance
sequences for "The Babe Ruth Story."
Paramount
supervisor lor "The Editorial Tatlock Millions"
will be DOANE HARRISON. CHARLES LANG drew
the assignment as director photography.
of
Four new lilm editors added to the Jerry Fair-
( Continued on Spearheads page)
52 BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

. . . made
He gives the scene its
lieartbeat...
THIS meeting of mother and child is no
make-believe—not to the movie-goers!
To them, it is as real as life itself,
thanks to the director of the picture.
Through his perceptive handling of action,
dialogue, and camera, he has given
the scene its human touch, its heartbeat
the audience feel its warmth, its
mood—and live the moment, one with
the personalities on the screen.
And this achievement is the mark of
his mastery of the dramatic; the gauge of
his creative contribution to the motion
picture art.
But if such artistry is to have full expression,
the director must have the assistance
of film that gives him ample
freedom to achieve the effects he desires.
This freedom he finds in the family of
Eastman motion picture films.
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
ROCHESTER 4, N. Y.
J. E. BRULATOUR, INC., DISTRIBUTORS
FORT LEE . CHICAGO • HOLLYWOOD
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

^

Personnelities
I Continued from preceding page)
and TOM CONLIN
Republic
HOWARD C. LYDECKER, head ol the special elfects
department, has been signed to a new two-year
LEE LUKATHER was named as assistant director
jETTER over-all public relations for the
and lOHN MacBURNIE as cameramati on ' Might motion picture industry and its product
always has been one of film busi-
the Skouras
From Fury."
20th-Fox
manner, they were royally entertained.
At the closing banquet, hosted
Producer Sol M, Wurtiel
ness'
signed GEORGE VAN
crying needs, in the consensus opinion
MARTER as art director on "Fighting Back," of observers of the Hollywood .scene. Now by Skouras, the slight entertainment was
the nation's leading
Universal-International
exhibitors add their supplied by virtually unknown performers.
Choreographer KATHRYN LITTLEFIELD will direct voices to the long-standing plea for such Nary a Hollywood "name" was in evidence,
dcmce sequences tor the Sonja Henie starrer. "The improvement. In fact, the showmen place despite the fact that in the past the cream
Countess ot Monte Cristo."
the necessity therefor in the forefront of of
LEW LEARY was set as unit production manager
filmdom's glamor has been marshalled
and HORACE HOUGH as first assistant director their most pressing current problems, along for the edification and entertainment of
for "Rogues' Regiment "
visiting
bankers, educators, editors and fire-
with television, 16mm competition and
CORSON JOWETT will be sound mixer on Harold
Hecht-Norma Productions' "Kiss the Blood Oil My
amusement taxes.
men, assorted. But then, the exhibitors are
Hands."
At the recent meeting, held in Los Angeles,
of officers and directors of the The-
the film rentals from which come the prince-
only the poor hinterland yokels who pay
FRED FRANK and LES WARNER have been assigned
as assistants to Director Frederick de Cordova
on "Washington Girl."
atre Owners of America it was decided that ly salaries of Hollywood's Thespian and
the nation's showmen will launch and underwrite
a large-scale public relations cam-
Again, the Reeve outfit seems to have been
creative darlings.
Title Changes
caught characteristically napping.
paign to combat the public's "depressive
Columbia
thinking" and to inform it of the great film
THE CHICAGO STORY is the new tag on "Underentertainment
that will reach the screen
Monogram
during the next two years. Ted Gamble,
president of TOA and rapidly-expanding
THE SHANGHAI CHEST was set as the release
title for the Charlie Chan opus filmed as "Murder by
Alphabet."
Paramount
3n" is now known as THE AC-
20th-Fox
"For Fear of Little Men" is now known as LEAVE
IT TO THE IRISH.
United Artists
Claudette Colbert Joins
Independent Company
HOLLY-WOOD—Claudette Colbert is the
latest player to succumb to the lure of independent
production by forming a partnership
with Jack H. Skirball and Bruce Manning in
a new unit. She will star first in "The Soft
Touch," an original comedy by Joseph Fields
and Fred Kohner, the picture to roll in June
for a release now being negotiated. Miss Colbert
starred in 1945 in a Skirball-Manning
production, "Guest "Wife," released by United
Artists. At one time Skirball and Manning
also had an independent setup releasing
through Universal-International.
Stars to Help Merchants
In Fund-Raising Event
HOLLYWOOD — Eddie Cantor, Dinah
Shore, George Jessel and the Andrews Sisters
to form, "probably" is. the right answer. And
wUl be among the film and radio personalities
if they do—and again considering past performances—they're
a cinch to take bows for
on hand when the Merchants club, association
of downtown Los Angeles businessmen,
whatever success befalls the drive.
stages it annual dinner March 22 at the Ambassador
hotel for the Mount Sinai-Duarte
national medical center.
Proceeds from the affair will go toward
building a 700-bed hospital, research laboratories
and a nurses' training school.
New Seats in Oroville
OROVILLE, CALIF.—Airflo chairs have
been installed in the loges of the State
Theatre here. Manager Walter Tooley announced.
circuit operator, will spearhead the drive,
made necessary, he said, to counteract the
impression that the British tax, congressional
investigations and other slightly adverse
circumstances have disheartened Hollywood
to such a degree that upcoming product
is suffering as concerns quality. While
still in its formative stage, the campaign
may include the preparation of special
trailers, tours of the film capital by newspapermen
and commentators for a prerelease
look at new pictures and "motion
a
pictures' greatest year" drive. Gamble said.
Such tentative plans clearly establish that
the TOA's campaign goes deeper than public
relations. Obviously better press relations
are also included.
That the exhibition end of this business
has to undertake a drive to enhance the
dealings of motion pictures with both public
and press is a sad commentary on Hollywood
studios' plush, lushly-paid, stillstrongly-manned
publicity departments—individually
and collectively: and, by inescapable
inference, on the so-called studio
publicity directors' committee, sparkplugged
by Arch (Sancho Panza) Reeve.
Every detail of the TOA's plan is an obvious
part of the job they should have been
doing for lo! these many years.
It will be interesting to note whether or
not the film capital's glorified space-snatchers
will scurry for a place on the band wagon
once the humble theatremen get their campaign
under way. If the blurbers run true
From the aforementioned TOA huddles
stemmed a situation supplying evidence for
another indictment of the film capital. Not
in a single instance did a studio organization
make a gesture toward entertaining or
paying its respects to the delegates, although,
40 in numt)er, they were the constituted
representatives of the largest and
most important exhibitor organization in the
country. The officers and directors held
their meetings at the headquarters of National
Theatres, where they were the guests
of Charles P. Skoura.s, NT president and
TOA treasurer. It follows per se that. In
A bit on the brighter side. 'While the
visiting showmen were discussing the need
for improving motion pictures' public and
press relations, they simultaneously were
accorded an opportunity to observe them
being carried out at their best. Charles
Skouras assigned his press departments to
handle the publicity for the TOA meetings.
Resultantly. the press—both trade and lay
—was given complete and highly efficient
service. Although the theatremen's huddles
were not open to reporters, arrangements
were made for press conferences following
each session, at which intelligent and thorough
information was available.
How much the newsmen appreciated such
excellent service was reflected in the generous
amount of space accorded the meetings,
most strikingly in the metropolitan
dailies which gave the convention and its
findings coverage unusual for a trade gathering.
For which a deep bow is merited by Thornton
Sargent, public relations director of National
Theatres: Seymour Reiser, who functions
similarly for Fox West Coast Theatres:
and their lieutenant. Pete Latsis. They are
the trio responsible for a refreshingly effective
job.
After its having been reviewed—and in
most instances favorably—and released as
"A Miracle Can Happen," United Artists
Producer Benedict Bogeaus changed the
film's title to "Along Came Baby."
He apparently decided that the age of
miracles has passed.
NECK-OUT DEPARTMENT
LOU LIFTON DIVISION
Monogram's publicity department takes a
bow for perfecting a tieup with the American
Gas Ass'n on behalf of Allied Artists'
"Smart Woman,"
Howard Strickling's rover boys rush to inform
that "Metro-Goldw>'n-Mayer, in one
of the most novel promotion stunts in years,
dispatched millions of ants to the nation's
film critics. Hundreds of well-stocked ant
houses are being sent out to make the
critics conscious of "The Bride Goes Wild.' "
As if the harassed celluloid appraisers
didn't already have enough ants in their
BOXOFFICE March 20, 1948 w 55
pants.

FWC Men Move Up
As Ricord Resigns
LOS ANGELES—Realignment of Fox West
Coast managerial personnel following the
resignation of W. C. Ricord. manager of the
valley district in northern California, placed
James Runte in the berth vacated by Ricord.
Runte. who has headed southern California
Painters Local 644 were dismissed when the
labor body ruled the complainants permitted
too much time to elapse between the period
in which the alleged "unfair" acts took place
and filing of charges. The complaint was
brought to NLRB attention last month, nearly
a year and a half after the studio walkout,
which began in September 1946, and in
connection with which the charges were
made.
Joins Metro's FM Staff
HOLLYWOOD—Noel L. Keefer has been
named chief engineer of Metro's projected
new frequency modulation station. KMGM,
which is expected to go on the air in May
from studios and transmitter located in
Beverly Hills. Keefer has been chief installation
and service engineer on the west coast
for General Electric for the past 12 years.
Seek New 'Monty Stratton'
HOLLYWOOD—Metro is seeking a replacement
for Van Johnson in the title role of
"The Story of Monty Stratton," biography
of the former Chicago White Sox pitching
ace. Johnson was forced to bow out under
doctor's orders, the physician having declared
the strenuous role might affect an
old injury to Johnson's head.
Vernon L. Walker Dies
HOLLYWOOD—Vernon L. Walker, 53, head
of RKO Radio's process and camera effects
department, died of a heart attack at his
home in Balboa. He had been ill for several
months. He is survived by his wife, Mrs.
Mary Alice Walker; a daughter. Mrs. Donald
Prickard: a brother, Morris, and two grandchildren.
Cojecd^ilue.
East: Representatives of Paramount's New
York advertising, publicity and exploitation
departments checked out for their eastern
headquarters after a week of meetings with
studio executives analyzing new product and
West; Gradwell Sears, United Artists president,
checked in from New York for financial
and production huddles with UA picture
makers.
West: Ralph Cohn, associated with Charles
"Buddy" Rogers and Mary Pickford in Triangle
Productions, came in from New York
for huddles on the company's next film for
United Ai-tists release, now slated to roll
in June.
East; Karl Herzog, Cinecolor executive,
planed to New York for business huddles
with Joseph Bernhard, president of Film
Classics and Cinecolor official.
West; Nat W. Finston, Allied Artists producer,
returned from Gotham after attending
the New York premiere of "Song of My
Heart," which he made in association with
Benjamin Glazer.
East; Charles Moskowitz. treasm-er of
Loew's, Inc., left for his eastern headquarters
after a short stay at Metro to look at
new product and huddle with studio officials.
East; Howard Strickling, Metro studio pub^
licity chief, left for Gotham to confer with
the home office staff on promotion campaigns
for a number of forthcoming releases.
East; Paul Lazarus jr.. United Artists' advertising-publicity
director, returned to Manhattan
after a two-week stay. While here
he conferred with UA officials and producers
on advertising campaigns for upcoming releases.
West; C. S. Chaplin, Canadian general
manager for United Artists, checked in from
^^iCuueie/U,
Toronto for huddles with UA officials concerning
the possibility of production activity
in Canada by American picture-makers.
West; E. L. Scanlon, SRO board member
planning campaigns for the upcoming releases.
At the final session Henry Ginsberg, Barker, aide to David O. Selznick, returned
and treasurer of Vanguard Films, and Cecil
district No. 2 since March 1943, takes over
the new post immediately, headquartering
studio chief, stressed the teamwork existing from New York after huddles in the east
in Sacramento.
between the New York and Hollywood with Selznick and SRO's foreign sales representatives.
Succeeding Runte in the southern California
spot is Fred Glass
branches of the company.
on upcoming Triangle Pi-oductions activity.
takes over as Pomona chief, with Dave Rudy Montgelas, Paramoimt account executive
with the Buchanan agency; Paul Acker-
Lackey, manager of the Granada in Ontario,
West; Charles Reagan, Paramount distribution
chief, arrived to view newly completed
succeeding Way. New city manager in Santa man, foreign department publicity-advertising
director, and Rex Taylor of the home
Monica is Dudley Winscott, who leaves a
studio product.
similar post in Redondon Beach, to be filled office publicity staff.
by Bob Smith, manager of the Criterion in
Santa Monica. Smith is succeeded by Harold East; To finalize the contract whereby his Dore Schary Presents
Brislin, formerly of the Rosemary, Ocean future product will be released through
Park. Cliff Reid switches from the Venice Metro. Hal Roach planed for Manhattan, Plaque to Lodge Head
to the Rosemary.
where the new distribution agreement HOLLYWOOD— Recipient of numerous
will
Gorman HeimuUer, booker in district No. be inked.
kudos in recent months for his contributions
2. transfers to the San Francisco booking
office and is replaced by Dan Poller.
East: Walter MacEwen, partner of Jesse
L. Lasky in the sharecropping unit releasing
throug'h RKO, heads for London late in April memorating his services as president of the
Painters' Charges Out
to set up sales representation offices and set Beverly Hills lodge of B'nai B'rith. The presentation
was made at a dinner attended by
up plans for the possible production of one
Unfair labor practice charges filed with
or two pictiu-es in England.
members of the organization, of which Schary
the NLRB against major studios by Studio
Here for the conferences were Adolph
with John Klee, Pomona city manager, promoted
to fill Glass' post. Ernest Sturm, president; Stanley Shuford, home office ad-
York representative and member of the
Zukor, board chairman; Paul Raiboum, vice-
West; Sam Dembow, Mary Pickford's New
Santa Monica city manager, is moved up to
vertising manager; Russell Holman, eastern
United Artists directorate, arrived from
a berth as special assistant to George Bowser,
FWC general manager.
including Ben Washer, publicity manager;
Manhattan
for conferences with Miss Pickford,
production head, and other New York officials
Charles "Buddy" Rogers and Ralph Cohn
Sid assistant exploitation chief;
of district No. 5,
Sterling Way, Riverside city manager, Mesibov,
to films, Dore Schary was on the distributing
end when the RKO production chief handed
out a plaque to Judge Stanley Mosk com-
is first vice-president.
Schary also trekked to Oakland during the
week to appear as guest speaker before the
forum committee of Temple Beth Abraham,
where he discussed "Movies as a Social
Force."
Producer George Jessel of 20th Century-
Pox was informed he has been named recipient
of a special humanitarian award by the
Variety Clubs. The citation will be presented
him at the organization's upcoming convention
in Miami next month.
Former commanders of Paramount's studio
American Legion post were honored guests at
a meeting commemorating the tenth anniversary
of its foimding. The entertainment
program was staged by LeRoy Prinz, the
post's first commander, now a dance director
at Warners.
'Fighting Father Dunne'
To Premiere in St. Louis
HOLL'YWOOD-RKO is whipping up a
gala world premiere of "Fighting Father
Dimne," starring Pat O'Brien, to be staged
at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis in mid-May.
Plans for the event include personal appearances
by O'Brien and a newsboys parade
in the downtown streets of that city, where
much of the backgroimd for the picture was
photograjphed.
Cinecolor 16-Week Net Reported
HOLLYWOOD—Unaudited figm-es for the
16-week period ending January 17 as reported
to Cinecolor stockholders by Pi'esident William
T. Crespinel list consolidated earnings
as $282,689.36. Estimated taxes to March 1
amount to $114,807.00, leaving a net estimated
profit of $167,882.36, or $0.2046 per share.
56 BOXOFFICE :; March 1948

Third Video Clinic
Slated by SCTOA
LOS ANGELES—Third in a series of demonstrations
of tlieatre television under auspices
of the Southern California Theatre
Owners Ass'n will be staged March 30 at
the Picfair Theatre, with James Nicholson,
operator of that showcase and chairman of
the SCTOA's video committee, in charge.
Results of the session will be incorporated
into a report on theatre television being
prepared by Nicholson's committee, which
will be forwarded to the Theatre Owners of
America, of w'hich the SCTOA is a unit,
for investigation.
Demonstrations will
include the Tradiovision
system, the Television Relay Co. method,
and RCA's system.
Previously SCTOA investigated the
Colonial video projection device and Nicholson's
own technique, whereby televised
events are photographed on 16mm and run
through an editing process before being
flashed on a theatre screen.
Walking Horses Featured
In New Dudley 16mm Film
Dudley Pictures Corp. will turn out a tworeeler
for the Tennessee 'Walking Horse
Breeders Ass'n, to be shot in 16mm for blowup
to 35mm for theatrical release.
"Film on Television" will be discussed at a
six-man roundtable of radio and film representatives
at a meeting March 29 at the
Hollywood Advertising club. The panel, as
set up by Mai Boyd, chairman of the club's
television committee, includes Larry Finley,
Archie Mayo, Rudy 'Vallee, 'William Bacher,
Don McNamara and Lew Landers.
Jerry Fau'banks Productions booked Capt.
Eddie Rickenbacker, president and general
manager of Eastern Airlines, to appear in
"Power of Flight," industrial subject dealing
with the history and significance of aviation,
Rickenbacker will also narrate the story,
which is being megged by Terry Morse. It Is
being photographed in color.
Form Crestwood Pictures
To Release Through SG
HOLLYWOOD — Fomiation of Crestwood
Pictures as an independent unit producing
for Screen Guild release was completed by
Robert L. Lippert and Carl K. Hittleman,
listed respectively as president and executive
producer. Lippert is also vice-president of
Screen Guild.
The new outfit's first three pictures will
be "Return of Wildfire," "Last of the Wild
Horses" and an untitled dog stoi-y.
Buy Share of Theatre
SAN PEDRO, CALIF.—The half interest of
Richard Quinn in the 450-seat Globe Theatre
here has been purchased by Mr. and Mrs.
Patrick S. Doney. The theatre, built in 1913.
is operated on lease by Morse Rabwin and
Lew Goldberg.
Untitled Outdoor Picture
Ray Shrock has the scripting chore for
the outdoor film which Sig Neufeld is producing
for release by Film Classics.
BOXOFFICE :: March 20,
*^i"t?±' HOLLYWOOD ""f„J:,°!?2^J — A new type ol S" car Sorrell Is Communist,
magazine which permits the use of
1,000-foot
rolls of bipack negative instead of the 400-
foot magazines now in use has been developed
by Cinecolor, which claims greater efficiency
of operation and an expected 60 per cent
reduction in short-ends wastage. The new
magazines, covered by patent applications,
will be made available to Cinecolor customers
shortly.
Virginia Van Upp Quits
HOLLYWOOD — Columbia and Virginia
Van Upp, producer-writer, called their contract
quits by mutual consent after a fiveyear
association. Miss Van Upp announced
no future plans. Her last chore was the
screenplay for "The Loves of Carmen." She
produced, among other films, the Rita Hayworth
starrer, "Gilda."
Boren on UCLA Committee
"Eos ANGELES—Charles Boren, vice-president
in charge of labor relations for the Ass'n
of Motion Picture Producers, has been appointed
to the community advisory committee
of UCLA's institute of industrial relations.
The organization has called a labor-management
forum for March 13, which Boren
will attend along with other studio executives
and film iabci representatives.
Named Video Academy Head
HOLL'YWOOD—Charles Brown was named
president of the Academy of Television Arts
and Sciences for the ensuing year, succeeding
Edgar Bergen, at the organization's annual
election meeting. Among other officers
selected were Harry Lubcke and Don Mc-
Namara, vice-presidents: Jack Strauss, secretary;
Russell Furse, treasurer, and directors
Bergen, Rudy VaDee and Hal Bock.
Monmouth Theatre Recarpeted
PORTLAND—The Theatre Utilities Service
Corp. recently completed recarpeting of the
Ross Theatre in Monmouth, Ore.
IF
FBI Agents Contend
WASHINGTON- BiK Herbert K. Sorrell
looked like a Conununist this week to members
of the house education and labor subcommittee
surveying Hollywood labor troubles.
And the Federal Bureau of Investigation
was convinced, despite a five-day long denial
by Sorrell, who is president of the AFL Conference
of Studio Unions and constantly in
the thick of strike troubles.
The FBI told the committee that the
signatures "Herbert Stewart" on Communist
Party Membership Book No. 60622 and on a
Control Card for the first half of 1937, No.
74282 were written by Sorrell.
Film producers and lATSE officials wondered,
so what? For answers, they have the
current proceedings against the ten Hollywood
writers and directors. The defendants
denied they are Communists. Now, they are
charged with contempt of Congress in the
federal district in court the Capitol. Meanwhile,
a Milwaukee labor leader, Harold
Christoffel, who denied he a Communist,
is
was charged with perjury, and recently sentenced
to jail for two to six years.
Rep. Gerald Landis iR., Ind.i who helped
write the Taft-Hartley act, said the act contains
the seeds of Hollywood labor peace. The
producers should bring action before the National
Labor Relations board, to end any
strikes,
he said.
SAG to Aid Children
HOLLYWOOD—A fund-raising "Crusade
for Children," to be conducted thi-oughout
the U.S. next month by American Overseas
Aid-United Nations Appeal for Children, has
been endorsed by the directorate of the
Screen Actors Guild. Edward Arnold has
been appointed a national director and many
other film stars will participate actively in
the campaign, which has a $60,000,000 goal
for the rehef of the world's millions of
starving
children.
YOUR SPECIAL SHOW
NEEDS "PUNCH" SELLING
*1n4f ^dmGck'4,
SPECIAL
TRAILERS
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Los Angeles Office Now Open
1574 W. WASHINGTON BLVD.

. . Hugh
. . Chick
. . . Sam
DENVER
^harles DuRyk, National Screen Service
manager who toolc a leave in December
on account of his health, is back on the job
looking and feeling fine . . . M, J. Tracy
has sold the Avan. Moorcroft, Wyo., to Frank
B. Burdick . Braly, district manager
for Paramount, was in town last weekend.
Don Davis, RCA field representative. Kansas
City, was in the Denver territory making
a sales trip with Sam Reed. Western Service
and Supply salesman . Kelloff has
closed his La Plaza, Antonito, Colo., so that
Empire Theatre Consultants can rush remodeling
and decorating job.
—
by a Denver cameraman. Gene Dubois, was
up for Academy Award consideration. The
film, for which all arrangements were made
by Dubois, is "Fight of the Wild Stallions"
Gardner, assistant western division
sales manager for Metro, spent some time
here calling on accounts and conferring with
Heni-j' Friedel, branch manager.
Exhibitors from out-of-town seen on Filmrow
included Glen Wittstruck of Meeker,
James Hughes of Yuma. Frank Aydelotte of
Fort Collins, Stan Stanfield of Craig, Mr.
and Mrs. Fred Hall of Akron, Mr. and Mrs.
Ohick Kelloff of Antonito. Sam Cain of
Pueblo and Jack Weiss of Mesilla Park.
A short subject, portions of which were shot John Wolfberg, president of Allied Rocky
Mountain Independent Theatres, has gone to
St. Louis to lay the groundwork for an Allied
unit. He went at the request of several exhibitors
of that territory . . . Cy Lee and Paul
Rothman have bought the drive-in theatre
franchise for Colorado Springs from Emmett
Thm-man. Charles DuRyk and Abel Davis
and will start construction at once on a $100,-
000 650-car drive-in there. The theatre will
be open by June 1 . . . Walter and Gus Ibold
have installed new Super Simplex mechanisms
and Magnarc lamphouses in the booth
at the Comet.
Creative Films Organized
To Handle French Films
LOS ANGELES—Offices
have been established
for Creative Films, newly incorporated
film import company, which will handle U.S.
distribution on six French features during
1948. Officers include A. S. Weiner, Texas
business man, president; Rod E. Geiger, vicepresident;
and Ella M. Weiner, secretary.
First picture to be handled will be "The Fantastic
Night."
I
Washington Press Corps.
To See 'State of Union'
HOLLYWOOD— Political writers and correspondents
in Washington will be guests at
a special press preview of Metro's "State of
the Union" April 7. Producer-Director Frank
Capra will attend the screening. The Spencer
Tracy-Katharine Hepburn starrer will be
shown at Loew's Capitol in that city.
Indoors or out DeVry
For 250-seat to 6,000 seat theatres
and outstandingly for drive-ins with
up to 1,000 car capacity—the trend is
definitely to DeVry "12000" Series
projectors, amplifiers and in-car
speakers.
Typical of DEVRY-equipped outdoor
theatres now being readied for
spring opening is the model Drive-In
at Muncie, Indiana, shown in the airview
shot above. Other DeVry installations
being made for the coming
season are:
CALIFORNIA: Drive-In near San
Diego. GEORGIA: Drive-In Theatres
at Thomasville & Moultrie. INDI-
ANA: Terre Haute
Drive-In. IOWA:
Drive-In at Sioux
City. OHIO: "Sciota"
at Portsmouth,
"Triangle" at Wilmmgton.
Also Drive-ins at Springfield and St.
Marys. MICHIGAN: Drive-In at
Grand Rapids. NORTH CAROLINA:
Drive-Ins at Asheville, Stateville &
Charlotte. PENNSYLVANIA: "Family"
Drive-In at New Kensington.
TEXAS: Drive-In at Midland. WEST
VIRGINIA: Drive-In at Elkins and
Meadowbrook. CANADA: Peter
Drive-In, Lansing, Ontario.
John Washtok of Portland
Sells Alberta Theatre
PORTLAND—John Washtok, an exhibitor
here since 1913, has sold Ws Alberta Theatre
to Alton Conner, a newcomer in the
industry. Washtok acquired the theatre in
1913 and rebuilt it in 1925. The new owner
plans to make several improvements. The
sale was handled by Theatre Exchange Co.
of
Portland.
To Honor James Mulvey
HOLLYWOOD—Honoring James Mulvey,
who participated with Eric Johnston in the
British conferences which led to the compromise
tax agreement, the Society of Independent
Motion Picture Producers slated
a dinner meeting at the Beverly Hills hotel
March 23. Mulvey, president of Samuel
Goldwyn Productions, represented the SIMPP
in the British meetings.
// you contemplate modernizing present equipment or building anew, he
sure and see DeVRY before you buy.
you want — greatfaction.
increased
box office take,
closer approach lo
ihc perfect show
indoors or out —
nJt^* DeVry
SAN FRANCISCO 2. CALIF. SAN DIEGO 1, CALIF.
C. R. Skinner Mfg. Company
Riddels Theatre Supply
292 Turk Street
1543 Fifth Avenue
Telephone: Oriiway 3-6909 Telephone: Franklin 9-5505
FOR THE PERFECT SHOW
Indoors or Out
HOLLYWOOD. CALIF.
DeVry Corporation
562B Hollywood
Telephone: Hollywood 5222
fmp/re Theatrical Consultants
Exclusive
Sons Pri
distrih
Poblocki &
desioiied Theatres, Fronts, Boxoffi
Cases, etc. 323 to 689 seat houses.
construction
Denver, Colo.
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

. Bataan
: Out
1
. . Jack
. . Ted
. . Film
. . Helen
'Naked Cily' Snares
Big Money in L. A.
LOS ANGELES—The late Mark Hellinger's
last film. "The Naked City," paced the first
run field with a resounding 175 per cent take
in its opening stanza in five houses. There
were only two other newcomers, a rei-ssue engagement
of "The Adventures of Robin Hood,"
which snagged 125. and a dualer, "An Ideal
Husband" and "Half Past Midnight," the
latter garnering a 115 per cent rating. Still
holding up strongly in the third week of its
run was "Call Northside 777."
100)
Belmoni, Culver, El Rev, Orpheum, Vogue—
An Ideal Husband (20th-Fox); Hall Post
Midnight (20th-Fox) 115
Carthay, Chinese, Loyola, State, Uptovirn
Call Northside 777 (20th-Fox), Lefs Live
Again (20th-Fox), 3rd wk 125
Guild, Ins, Ritz, Studio City, United Artists—
The Naked Cily (U-I) 175
Downtown, Hollywood Paramounts Saigon
(Para); Mr. Reckless (Para), 2nd wk 100
Egyptian, Los Angeles, Wilshire—Three Daring
Daughters (MGM), 2nd wk. 125
roadshow, 12th
Four Music Halls—Intrigue (UA), 2nd wk
Pontages, HiUstreet— II You Knew Susie (RKO),
Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (RKO), Znd wk. .
Warners, Downtown, Hollywood, Wiltern—
The Adventures of Robin Hood (WB), reissue.
'Turtle' Biggest Moveover
In Portland This Year
PORTLAND—"The Voice of the Turtle"
registered the biggest moveover week yet this
year for local Hamrick-Evergreen theatres,
hitting a sock 175 in its third downtown week
in the Playhouse.
Broadway—Fabulous Texan (Rep), Slippy McGee
(Rep) 80
United Artists—A Double \'-'. Life IMd d. t. wk... 75
Mayfair—A Walk the Sun Fdx); Back in to
(RKO), reis.:.-. 110
Paramount and Or:-:.-^. To the Ends oi the
V.O
Orpheum—Albuquerque
Earth (Col), Woman From Tangier ;.
("20th-Fox
Music Box— Call Northside 777 ,_.::. .-
(RKO), 3rd d t wk
Playhouse—The Voice oi the Turtle (W
the Past (RKO), 3rd d. t. wk
Guild—Sleep. My Love (U-1); Hoppy
(U-I), 3rd d, t, wk
oi
Holiday
'Saigon' Set at Denham
In Denver Three Weeks
DENVER—"Saigon" was big at the Denham
and is holding for at least three weeks.
Moderate weather over w-eekend helped business.
Aladdin—Coll Northside 777 (20th-Fox); Heading
lor Heoven (EL), 3rd d. t. wk
Denham Saigon (Para)
150
175
Denver, Esquire and Webber—To the Ends ol
the Earth (Col); Lefs Live Again (20th-Fox) .
Orpheum—II You Knew Susie (RKO); Frieda
(U-:
i Ideal Husband (20th-Fox
Driltwood (Rep)
Rialto—Black Bart (Ul); Challenge
2nd d. t. wk
Tabor—Invisible Man (Realarti, Invisible Mo
Returns (Realart), reissues
90
125
120
137
Paramount-Nace Deal
PHOENIX—Al R. Taylor, Paramount manager,
closed a deal with Harry Nace jr., for
Arizona release of all Paramount feature
.-horts and news. Deal involves 32 theatres
hioughout state, including all houses in
I'aramount-Nace and Harry L. Nace cir-
PORTLAND
J^rs. J. J. Parker was hostess this week to
Earl Collins, western district manager,
and George Mitchell. Portland branch manager
of Republic, at a luncheon . Matlack
has set "Bill and Coo" into the Mayfair
for Easter . . . Paul Stevens, Oriental manager,
is on vacation. Rumor has it he took
the family skiing . . . Evergreen managers
are back in town after highly successful confabs
with boss Charles Skouras in Seattle
last week.
Filmrow welcomed Fred Conrad from Tacoma,
Wash., as new 82nd St. drive-in theatre
manager. He used to manage the United
Theatres in Kelso and Longview, Wash., before
his Tacoma job . . . Jack Matlack completely
spiked the rumors of his running for
mayor here. He didn't file to run.
Merriman H. Holtz, president of Screen
Adette Corp., is in San Francisco presiding
over NAVED meetings. He is the 16mm organization's
Dorothy
national
Madden will
vice-president
temporarily
.
give
.
up
her Filmrow secretarial job to attend the
spring term at the University of Oregon. She'll
be back this summer, though Gamble's
main office has a new employee Mrs.
Louise Williamson. She is assistant bookkeeper.
She hails from Eureka, Calif.
Filmrow boasted a great many visitors this
week. Greetings piled high as the following
passed through on either business or vacation
travel: George Gessler of the Roxy in
Sweetholm, Ore.; A. B. Stockdale of the Vista
in Enterprise, Ore.; M. W. Bennett and son
Lyle of the Liberty in Kamas, Wash.; Mrs.
George C. Dyer of the Blue River in Blue
River, Ore.; Nate Rhoades of the Woodland
in Woodland, Wash.; John Harvey of the
Bee Gee in Battleground. Wash.; L. E. Bowen
of the Castlerock in Ca.stlerock, Wash., and
Mrs. Linden Curl of the People's in Scio, Ore.
Ted Gamble, president of the Theatre Owners
of America, is on an extended tour which
will include Los Angeles, New York and
Washington. Gamble is scheduled to confer
soon with the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial
committee in New York.
Joanna Mapes of the United Artists exchange
and Helen Frydendall of Republic
spent last weekend skiing and enjoying winter
sports at Timberlane lodge . Mc-
Caul, Jantzen Beach winner, was featured on
the stage of Gamble's Bagdad and Capitol
theatres this week as part of the regular
vaudeville
presentation.
United Artists Theatre Manager Ackerman
reports he will feature occasional "surprise
night" previews . Classic's executive
Kranz left for Denver and points east on a
tour that will end back at his New York office
. . . Ray Kaiser was a Filmrow visitor
from Seattle . . . Seattlites Art Slater and
wife were here on business . . . TUSCO's
McLoed recently returned from a business
trip in central Oregon.
Inspects Libby Project
PORTLAND—Mr. Becker, of the Western
Theatre Equipment Corp., returned from an
inspection trip of the new Libby Theatre his
company is building in Libby, Mont.
New Seats at Cover Theatre
FORT MORGAN, COLO.—New seats have
been installed in the Cover Theatre, John
H. Roberts announced.
Count on UB for Quick ActionI | tlBAI Kb
THEATRE EXCHANGE CO.
M-G-M TRADE SHOWING
PORTLAND, OREGON TERRITORY ONLY
y^i
SUAAAAER
HOLIDAY
TUESDAY, MARCH 30 - 2 P. M,
•
rr
To Build in Ketchum, Ida.
KETCHUM, IDA.—Plans are
materializing
for construction of a motion picture theatre
here by Oral Hicks. It will be operated by
his son Hilliard, now a captain in Pan-
American Airways stationed in Lima, Peru.
B. F. SHEARER'S SCREENING ROOM
1947 N. W. Kearney Street, Portland, Oregon
BOXOFFICE :: March 20. 1948
58A

. . The
. . Sam
. . Alan
. .
SAN FRANCISCO
JT Bradley Fish, owner of the Clovis in
Clovis, reports he is going ahead with
construction of the 750-seat Sierra Theatre.
Plans were made a year ago to build the
new house, and property was purchased for
a site, but because of shortage of materials
the project was deferred.
The local Tivoli, owned and operated by
the Blumenfeld circuit, has been leased by
Ray Spencer, Los Angeles producer, for presentation
of legitimate stage attractions. The
first play will be "Deep Aj-e the Roots,"
early in April . . . Nearly 10,000 school children
were given a preview of the Freedom
train at five local theatres where films on
the historical documents it can-ies were
shown. The San Francisco Theatre circuit
and a local paper sponsored the showings
with a book, new or used, as the price of
admission. The books will be distributed to
local orphanages and child care institutions.
John E. Moore again is the owner of the
Moore Theatre in Wheatland, according to
a deed and bill of sale filed with the Yuba
county recorder. The bill of sale, executed
by Frank O. and Edith Maun, is dated
Nov. 15, 1947.
Charles Holtz sold his Colonial, a 1,000-
seater in Sacramento, to an undisclosed buyer
John Bowles and Jack Hurley, formerly
with Paramount, have opened a booking
service for independent theatres. It is understood
the August Panero circuit and the
Sonora and Uptown theatres in Sonora are
among their clients . . . Gerald Karski of
the Motion Picture Service Co. left for Denver
on business following the birthday celebrations
held at the Variety Club March 12
in honor of his father, A. C. Karski. who
was 70, and his wife.
"Discovery," the Film Classics picture of
Admiral Byrd's last trip to Little America,
was previewed last week and received a
loud "bravo" from local exhibitors. The
^^C E N T U R Y"
THE MODERN PROJECTOR

. . Jack
Skouras Outlines
Evergreen Drive
SEATTLE—With Charles P. Skouras presiding,
the Evergreen division of National
Theatres held a general meeting here March
12 in preparation for the sixth annual Charles
P. Skouras showmanship campaign.
Skom-as and his party of six National
Theatres executives was welcomed by Frank
L. NewTiian sr.. Evergreen division manager.
With Skouras were Harry Cox, treasurer;
E. F. Zabel, film buyer: Irving Epsteen, insurance
department; Andy Krappmann,
merchandise department; Thomas E. Page,
Skouras' executive aide, and Dick Dickson,
Southern California division manager.
Skouras an-ived by plane the night before
the session. A morning meeting of theatre
managers and executives was followed by
lunch and round-table discussion. A cocktail
hour and dinner concluded the gathering.
Skouras and his group left by plane
immediately afterwards to attend a meeting
in Denver. Attending were:
A. M. Ahlskog. Vic Gauntlett, Frank X.
Carl Mahne, Douglas Forbes, Irving
Christie,
Barry, Herbert Sobottka, Lowell Parmentier,
Robert Haase, Willard Elsey, Fred Kreuger,
David Nelson, Bill Story, Jack Hamaker,
Jack Dudman, Chris Casper, Clyde Strout,
Dan Redden, Marvin Fox, Delmo Larison
and Harold Murphy, all of Seattle, and
James O'Connell, James Keefe and Oscar
Nybert, Spokane.
William H. Thedford, Frank L.
Pratt, Robert
H. Anderson, Alton Robbins, Paul L.
Stephens, Emrys P. Evans, Archie Zarewski
and Carl W. Miller, all of Portland; John
Bretz of Aberdeen; Murt Makins and
Roland Rousse of Bremerton; R. J. Monaghan
and LeRoy Kastner of Bellingham;
W. K. Hughes of Vancouver, B. C: Harold
Wyatt of Eugene, and M. G. Nimmer of
Wenatchee.
Plans to Build 300-Seater
From Surplus Building
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CALIF.—Harry
Plymire, Palm Springs, Calif., plans to convert
an army surplus building into a 300-
seat theatre here. He will build a frame and
stucco store addition to the structure. Plans
provide for cement block fire walls, cement
slab floor, acoustical treatment, etc. Cost
is estimated at $50,000.
Bob Dunagan Opens Hub
BLYTHE, CALIF.—Bob Dunagan has
opened his second theatre, a new 820-seater
named the Hub. The three-day opening
benefit program netted more than $5,000 for
a hospital. MGM. Republic and Monogram
furnished films for the three-day opening.
Dunagan built the Rio here ten years ago.
He formerly managed the Lyric in Brewery
Gulch, Ariz.
Would Hike Theatre Fee
ALAMOSA, COLO.—The city council approved
at first reading an ordinance which
would boost theatre fees in Alamosa from
$50 to $250 a year. At the same time, the
council planned to cut the license fee on
bowling alleys from $20 to $10 per lane, and
to impose a 2 per cent tax on cigarets and
tobacco.
LOS ANGELES
Managerial changes in local Fox West Coast
houses included the following: Scott
Brown from the Embassy to the Carmel;
Lloyd Skeelf from the Carmel to the Beverly
in Beverly Hills; Al Schumaker from
the Uptown to the Embassy; Lewis Grimm
from the Beverly to the Carthay Circle;
George Kane from the Carthay Circle to
the Chinese; Richard Flemion from the
United Artists to the Seville, and Bill Lawman
from the Lyric in Huntington Park to
the
United Artists,
.
From San Diego, Ben Hayward of the
Savoy Theatre came in to do some booking
and buying on the Row . . . Charles Regan.
Pacific coast sales manager for Paramount,
came in from New York Keene
of the Hub Theatre passed out cigars for
the usual reason. His son was born March
13 at Good Samaritan hospital.
Harry Marks of FWC's Chinese Theatre
is on sick leave . . . Bill Warner, United
Artists salesman, is recovering after a major
operation . . . Bill Whittsom came up from
San Diego for confabs with his partner,
Arnold Shaak, of the Ramona and Holly
theatres. They plan to build a new showcase
in the Silverlake district, at Silverlake
and Sunset boulevards . . . Les Abbott, sales
manager for the B. F. Shearer Co., went to
San Diego on business . . . Fi-esno theatreowner
Gerald Hardy was a recent Row
visitor.
Playhouse in La Jolla
Opened by John Haring
LA JOLLA, CALIF.—The Playhouse, a theatre
with a style all its own. was opened here
March 2 by Maj. John H. Haring as a memorial
to his parents, who were seasonal
visitors to this city for 20 years.
The theatre is centered over a typical
California patio dotted with palm trees and
sidewalk tables. The building itself is in
colonial style and conservative, both inside
and out, in keeping with the architecture of
other La Jolla structures. Haring said a
chocolate shop will be installed in the patio
as soon as equipment is available.
Among the Playhouse's other features are
a soundproof nursery and a large parking
lot adjacent to the theatre. Seating capacity
is about 650.
Haring announced he would book "the best
pictures available from the standpoint of
appealing to the high intellectual level which
predominates in La Jolla." His first week feature
was "Brief Encounter," preceded by one
day by a sneak preview. For the preview,
attendance at the first evening show was by
invitation, except for a block of seats available
at the boxoffice. A musical program
preceded the show and refreshments were
sei-ved on the patio.
The Playhouse is using single features,
with three shows nightly, beginning at 5
p. m. Doors open daily about an hour ahead
of the show for a free program of serious
music.
Haring is a newcomer in exhibition. He
worked for the Columbia Broadcasting System
in San Francisco before coming here.
Will Produce Own Script
Seton I. Miller will produce "Fighter Squadron"
for Warner Bros. The story of the role
of the air forces in World War II was also authored
by Miller.
Tori Apache' Debul
At Phoenix Mar. 27
PHOENIX- Argosy's "Fort Apache," filmed
in Northern Arizona's Monument Valley, will
have its world premiere March 27 at the
Orpheum here.
The picture, an RKO release starring
Henry Fonda, John Wayne, and Shirley
Temple, was previewed In Phoenix last week
for representatives of the press, radio and
Chamber of Commerce.
"Fort Apache" will be given buildup treatment
for two days prior to its Phoenix debut,
with Paramount-Nace publicity staff joining
forces with RKO and the Chamber of
Commerce flacks in shooting the works.
Harry Nace jr. is working overtime on
the project along with his two assistants,
Vince Murphy and George Aurelius. Current
call plans for stars of "Fort Apache" to attend
the premiere.
Bill McKevitt Planning
New House in Newport
NEWPORT, ORE.—Plans are being drawn
for a new 700-seat theatre here, according
to Bill McKevitt, owner of the Midway. He
said he hoped to have the theatre open by
next year. The Midway is said to be inadequate
for the city's needs. McKevitt also
operates the Lakeside in Oceanlake.
Plan Visalia Drive-In
VISALIA, CALIF.—The Tulare county
planning commission has voted conditional
approval of a new open-air theatre on the
north side of highway 198, opposite the
Visalia Municipal airport, for T&D Jr. Enterprises.
Meanwhile the county board of
supervisors is studying the traffic problem
involved, since the site is at the intersection
of a busy county road. A map was submitted
by the theatrical concern showing
plans for a shopping center, including a
motel, restaurant, store, service station and
market. The study of the traffic angle by
the supervisors is expected before the end of
March.
NOW
VACUUM PACKED IN lO-LB. CANS
FOR
LASTING TOP RESULTS
MANLEY
HYBRID JUMBO POPCORN
H. TURPIE. Western Division Manager
1914 So. Vermont. RE 7528 Los Angeles 7. Calil.
13 a 93 [Q IJ E f 1 E) M S
Better Trailers at Lower Prices
Service • Price • Quality
1977 S. 'Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles 7, California
RE. 2-0621
BOXOFFICE ;: March 20, 1948
58C

—
Collect 14,000 Stamps
In Frisco for Vets
SAN FRANCISCO — More than 14,000
stamps were contributed by the patrons of
San Francisco Theatres. Inc.. to the Stamps
for Vets drive whidi the neighborhood circuit
of six houses conducted during the past month
in conjunction with the American Women's
Voltmtary Services.
With collection jars placed in the lobbies of
the Alexandria, Coliseum, Metro. Harding,
Balboa and Vogue theatres, according to Irving
M. Levin, circuit district manager, the
drive accumulated stamps from 75 different
foreign countries and more than 2,000 domestic
issues. The entire supply was turned over
to the AWVS organization, which sends the
philatelic material to 11 western hospitals for
convalescent veterans.
The Vogue, smallest unit in the circuit,
topped the other houses in number of stamps
contributed by their patrons. The Vogue collected
6.818 issues.
Mrs. Louis Lengfeld, AWVS state director,
in lauding the theatre patrons for their
generous contributions, gave Levin and the
managers of the circuit special commendation
for their active support of the project.
The circuit stressed its successful Stamps
for Vets campaign through a series of news
stories which appeared both on the drama
and womens' pages of the local newspapers,
by striking lobby poster display with bhe collection
jars, and colorful trailer copy urging
the public for contributions.
Store in Extensive Tiein
On 'Mama' Exploitation
LOS ANGELES—An extensive promotional
campaign has been set up by RKO in connection
with the scheduled April 1 opening
of "I Remember Mama" at the Pantages and
Hillstreet theatres. The Broadway, local department
store, will carry the theme of the
film's title in all advertising, including newspapers,
radio, windows and -storewide promotions
for a four-week period begining April
12 and extending beyond Mothers day, May 9.
Tieups include cooperative pages in newspapers
with Irene Dunne's picture, special
art for display and window motifs, candy and
fresh flowers giveaways to mothers on special
days, picture contests in the store's camera
department and cutouts of scenes from
"I Remember Mama" for presentation to
individual mothers.
Faye Honey Will Operate
North Richland Theatre
RICHLAND. WASH. — Faye M. Honey of
Portland. Ore., has been given a contract to
operate the 1,475-seat theatre in the government
center being established in North Richland.
It. is expected that 20,000 persons will
make up the population of the new community.
The theatre is expected to be ready
for operation this spring. Honey is a veteran
of 25 years in the exhibition field.
New Drapes in Condon
PORTLAND — Theatre Utilities Service
Corp. announced the completion of the installation
of new velour drapes in the Liberty
Theatre in Condon, Ore.
Woman's Gift Provides
Theatre tor Cody, Neb.
Denver—The Adamson Theatre, a 250-
seat house, is being opened at Cody, Neb.,
and will replace the makeshift Cody. The
city operated the Cody, which was an old
store building, in the interests of giving
the townspeople films. The new theatre,
which is housed in a building which also
contains a recreation room, was made possible
through the donation of $40,000 by
iVIrs. Adamson, a resident of the town of
300. Mrs. Adamson made the request that
the money be used for a building to provide
entertainment but that it must have
a recreation room. A. R. Bowman, an
employe of the town, manages the theatre.
Louis Dent's Estate
Valued a! $400,000
COLORADO SPRINGS—An estate
valued
at $400,000 was left by Louis L. Dent, president
of Westland Theatres. Inc.. who died
February 7 in Phoenix, a county court petition
filed here disclosed. The petition was
filed by his son Fi-ank L. Dent of Colorado
Springs. The widow and the son are named
legatees of the estate, consisting of cash,
stocks and business interests. Westland circuit
operated theatres in Colorado, Lincohi,
Neb., and Oklahoma City. In the '20s. Dent
controlled about 100 theatres in Texas.
Charles Skouras Begins
Tour of National Chain
LOS ANGELES—To inaugurate plans for
National Theatres' annual spring showmanship
drive. President Charles Skouras
checked out for Seattle as the first stop on
a tour of NT subsidiaries around the country.
After the Seattle meetings with officials of
the Evergreen chain, Skouras and his party
planned similar conferences with toppers of
Fox Intermountaln, Fox Wisconsin and Fox
Midwest. Accompanying Skouras on the junket
are Harry Cox, Ed Zabel, Tom Page, Irving
Epsteen and Dick Dickson.
Temple Theatre Addition
TEMPLE CITY, CALIF.—Plans have been
completed for construction of a 250-seat rear
addition to the Temple Theatre for Edwards
Theatres. Plans call for a new stage and
rearrangement of the .sound and projection
equipment. The addition will be of frame
and stucco construction.
Reopens in Fossil, Ore.
FOSSIL. ORE.—The Fossil Theatre, closed
last summer, has been reopened by LeRojir
Stegner of Maupin. He pm-chased the property
from Arthur Fox. Stegner is operating
four days a week. Fridays tJhrough Mondays.
He also has theatres in Maupin and Grass
Valley.
'Furia' Given Court OK
SAN FRANCISCO—"Furia." Italian film
being released by Film Classics, has been approved
for showing here by city circuit court.
The picture had been withdrawn by the police
commissioner. It opened at the Larkin Theatre
at the weekend.
Big 'Albuquerque'
Debut in Seattle
SEATTLE — "AlbUQuerque" had a great
opening week at the Liberty, running up a
gross of 70 per cent over average. "Saigon"
also was strong in its opener at the Paramount
and "A Double Life" opened well at
the Fifth Avenue. Sustained strength was
shown by "The Voice of the Tm-tle" at the
Orpheum..
Blue Mouse—Call Northside 777 (20lh-Fox);
in (Col), d. t. The Lone Wolf London 3rd wk 110
nflh Avenue—A Double Life (U-I); Dangerous
Years (20th-Fox) 120
Liberty—Albuquerque (Para), The Wreck ol the
Hesperus (Col) IVO
Music Box—Jezebel (WB), A Slight Case ol
Murder (WB), reissues 90
Hall—Intrigue Music (UA) Robin Hood of
Monterey (Mono) 85
Paramount-Saigon (Para); Bury Me Dead (EL)....1M
Orpheum—The Voice of the Turtle i'A'E Always
Together (WB), 2nd wk 135
Palomar—High Wall (MGM); Blackmail (Rep),
2nd wk 100
Roosevelt Tenth Avenue Angel (MGM); Ginge
95
'Bishop's Wife' Captures
Fancy of San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO-"The Bishop's Wife"
took top honors among the first inin pictures
as it opened at the Golden Gate. It was the
first picture to show mider the Gate's new
policy of screen fare only. Second honors
went to the Esquire and Orpheiun theatres
with their opening week of "To the Ends of
the Earth."
Esquire and Orpheum—To the Ends of the Earth
(Col); The Wreck of the Hesperus (Col) 140
Fox and United Notions-Call Northside 777
(20th-Fox); Dangerous Years (20th-Fox), 2nd -wk. 90
Golden Gcrte—The Bishop's Wife (RKO) 175
Paramount—My Girl Tisa (WB); I Became a
Criminal (WB) 90
St. Francis—Saigon (Pata) 115
Slate—Albuquerque (Para! Big Town After Dark
(Para), 3rd d t, v^^k 100
110
Warheld-The Voice of the Turtle -.Vr Always
United Artists—A Double Life .' ;.;>;
Together (WB), 3rd d t -a .k 75
San Diego Approves
Mild Censorship
SAN DIEGO—Action by the city council to
give the social welfare director censorship
powers over motion pictures, stage revues,
dance halls and other places of amusement
evoked little comment from southland exhibitors.
Apparently most showmen agreed with a
spokesman for the state's largest circuit. Fox
West Coast, who admitted that "we don't
but opined that the welfare director's
like it,"
power to inspect and censor films is so
limited that reputable exhibitors have little
or nothing to fear. As approved by a 6-to-l
vote of the city comicil. the welfare director
is given the right to pass on only those films
which do. not bear the MPAA production code
seal or the National Broad of Review registration
number.
Leo Forbstein, Music Chief
For Warners, Is Dead
HOLLYWOOD—A heart ailment claimed
Leo Forbstein, 56. head of Warners' music
department since 1926. Surviving is his wife
and one daughter. Mrs. Mel Dellar. Forbstein,
born in St. Louis, began his career
there as a violinist. In the early 1920s, he
conducted the Newman Theatre orchestra in
Kansas City.
BOXOFFICE March 20. 1948

Court Orders Conners
To Pay $34,000 More
BLUFFTON, IND.—William O. Conners has
been ordered by Judge W. H. Eichhorn of
Wells circuit court to pay the Marion Theatre
Corp. an additional $34,020.95 as profits
earned by the Indiana and Lyric theatres
in Marion during the time he operated the
houses.
Conners has already paid $17,858.01 to a
court-appointed receiver.
In previous findings, the court held that
Conners had been in charge of the Indiana
and Lyric theatres as manager for the Marion
Theatre Corp., and that when he took
over leases of the theatre on July 1, 1946, in
his own name, the leases should have been
taken for the Marion Theatre Corp.. which
had authorized him to procure the leases as
its agent. The court then ruled that the
leases belonged to the corporation and ordered
Conners to make an accounting.
The judge found that Conners, in accounting
to the receiver appointed by the
court and in making payment to the receiver
the sum of $17,858.01, failed to account
for the full amount of profits and that
there is due to the corporation from Conners
the additional sum of $34,020.95. together
with costs of litigation.
William Tamme Stricken
At His Home in St. Louis
ST. LOUIS—William L. Tamme, 73, who
was one of the first motion picture theatre
owners and theatre supply dealers of St. Louis,
Victor Mossotti Drops
His Action Against Two
ST. LOUIS—Victor G. Mossotti, a former
lessee of the Shubert Theatre who filed a
$30,000 antitrust suit in U.S. court here
last November 2 against the Panchon &
Marco Enterprises and St. Louis Amusement
Co. and various distributing companies, has
dismissed the action against PRC Pictures,
Inc., and Eagle Lion Films, Inc., at cost of
self.
Hearing on motions of the St. Louis Ambassador
Theatre, Inc., and Eden Theatre
Co. for dismissal of charges against them
has been set for the next regular motion day
of the federal court.
In the meantime in the $600,000 antitrust
suit filed Dec. 18, 1946 by Martin W. D'Arcy,
another former lessee of the Shubert, against
Fanchon & Marco and various theatre operating
and management companies, individuals
and film distributing companies, the
depositions of Nathan E. Steinberg, St. Louis
manager for Republic, and Maurice Schweitzer,
manager for Paramount Film Distributing
Corp., have been taken on behalf of the
plaintiff.
Dinner for Ben Reingold
At St. Louis on Monday
ST. LOUIS—Friends of Ben B. Reingold.
who retired recently as the manager for 20th
Century-Fox here, will give him a farewell
dinner in the Coronado hotel March 22.
Harry C. Arthur. Fanchon & Marco, is chairman
of the committee on arrangements with
these members: C. D. Hill, Joe Ansell, Fred
Wehrenberg and Tommy James. Reingold
died at his home here last week. He served
will move to California to live.
as recorder of deeds and vice-president and He has been succeeded as local manager
member of the board of aldermen several
by George Halloran, formerly at Des Moines.
terms. He had been under treatment for
heart disease many years.
Back about 1907 he opened the Casino To Redecorate Effingham
Theatre on Market at 17th street. He later EFFINGHAM, ILL.—The interior of the
owned the Palace near the Union station. auditorium and foyer of the 994-seat Effingham,
About 1911 he sold the Casino to John Karzin,
a Frisina theatre, has been redecorated.
who had opened the World's Dream Improvements to the lighting system are also
farther east on Market street in 1906, and planned. Kenneth Rought is the manager.
organized the Amusement Supply Co.
Cold Hobbles Loop;
'McCoy' Best Draw
CHICAGO—Worst weather of an extremely
bad winter again slugged busine.ss in Loop
houses. The coldest March week in history,
accompanied by a snowstorm, made the going
tough for theatre patrons. Such new entrie:
as "I Walk Alone" at the Chicago, "Captain
Boycott" at the RKO Grand and "Albuquerque"
at the Roosevelt all were hurt.
Biggest picture among the holdovers was
"Killer McCoy" at the Oriental, which also
had Yvonne De Carlo and the King Cole
Trio on stage. "Gentleman's Agreement" was
still filling seats going into a 17th week at
the Apollo. "Good News" opened at midweek
at the Monroe.
(Average Is 100)
Apollo Gentleman's Agreement (20th-rox),
17th wk 95
Chicagc^I Walk Alone (Para) 110
Garnck—l^y Wild Irish Rose (WB).
The Prince ol Thieves (Col), 2nd d run 90
Grand—Captain Boycott (U-1) 90
Monroe—Good News (MGM), 3 days 100
Oriental—Killer McCoy (MGM), [.lu,

. . . Wally
. . Rudy
. . Bryn
MILWAUKEE
Toe Klauzer, Fox Wisconsin downtown dis-
trict manager, has left the organization
Heim, RKO publicist, was in from
Chicago for more tub thumping . . . Lew
Berman. Universal manager, was in the territory
contacting exhibitors . . . John McKay
has left Fox Wisconsin. John Brunette, former
Palace manager, is now north district
manager Koutnik, former Modjeska
manager, has shifted to the Garfield
and John Papas has taken over at the
Modjeska. Tom Cornfield now manages the
Palace.
Max Mazur, Film Classics manager,
clicked through the state calling on theatre
operators . Griffiths, former Fox
Wisconsin public relations director, is doing
theatrical publicity . . .John Isley, Strand
pilot, now manages two Fond du Lac houses
for Fox Wisconsin . . . Jesse T. McBride,
Paramount manager, called on exhibitors
around the territory . . . Esther Glowacki
of MGM was caught unawares by the candid
microphone man from WTMJ last w-eek. The
Telenews is slated to show some of that
candid microphone material before long.
Booking on the Row: Barney Sherman,
Douglas. Racine: Lon Husten, Troy. East
Troy; Erv Koenigsreiter, Greendale. Greendale;
Nick Berg, State, Sheboygan; Nick
Johnson, Strand, Manitowoc; Lan-y Kelley,
Majestic, Cudahy; Billy Pierce, Savoy; Frank
PREFERRED EQUIPMENT
for TODAY'S "DRIVE-INS
"
Eckhart, Jefferson, Jefferson; Nick Michael,
Main Street, Racine; W. C. Fischer, Campo,
Campbellsport; Johnny Schuyler and Eddie
Moyle, Delft circuit, Marquette, Mich.
George Langheinrich Dies;
Milwaukee Theatre Owner
MILWAUKEE—George O. Langheinrich,
58, co-owner of the local Burleigh, died here
this week following a heart attack at his
home.
Langheinrich was a native Milwaukeean
and was treasurer of the Independent Theatre
Owners of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan,
past president of the Burleigh Street
Advancement Ass'n and of the motion picture
projectionist Local 164. He al.so was a
member of the Eagles and the mayor's advisory
council.
Survivors are his wife Delia; one son, Orville
P., and his brother Paul who was cooperator
of the Burleigh.
THEATRE OWNERS
Indoors or out DeVry
For 250-seat to 6,000 seat theatres—
and outstandingly for drive-ins with
,000 car capacity—the trend is
definitely to DeVry "12000" Series
projectors, amplifiers and in-car
speakers.
Typical of DEVRY-equipped outdoor
theatres now being readied for
spring opening is the model Drive-In
at Muncie, Indiana, shown in the airview
shot above. Other DeVry installations
being made for the coming
season are:
CALIFORNIA: Drive-In near San
Diego. GEORGIA: Drive-In Theatres
at Thomasville & Moultrie. INDI-
ANA: Terre Haute
Drive-In. IOWA:
Drive-In at Sioux
City. OHIO: "Sciota''
at Portsmouth,
"Triangle" at Wilmington.
Also Drive-ins at Springfield and St.
Marys. MICHIGAN: Drive-In at
Grand Rapids. NORTH CAROLINA:
Drive-Ins at Asheville, Stateville &
Charlotte. PENNSYLVANIA: "Family"
Drive-In at New Kensington.
TEXAS: Drive-In at Midland. WEST
VIRGINIA: Drive-In at Elkins and
Meadowbrook. CANADA: Peter
Drive-In, Lansing, Ontario.
// you contemplate modernizing present equipment or building anew, be
sure and see DeVry before you buy.
For more of what
you want — greater
audience sacisncreascd
box office (ake.
closer approach to
the perfect show
indoors or out —
nS^* DeVry
CANDY JOBBERS, INC
Planning a Drive-In?
Use the
MOONLIGHT
MOVIES
SYSTEM
We furnish your construction plans with
licensure under Patent App. 7179.
FOR THE PERFECT SHOW
CHICAGO 5, ILLINOIS CHICAGO 14. ILLINOIS
Academy Theatre Supply Co.
DeVry Corporation
1312 S. Michioan Avenue
1111 Armitage Avenue
Telephone: Webster 7268
Telephone: Lincoln 5200
EVANSVILLE H, INDIANA
Evansville Theatre Supply
1738 E. Delaware Street
Telephone: 3-75341 or 4-7486
Write or Wire
MOONLIGHT MOVIES SYSTEM
342 Bussey St.
San Bernardino, Calif.
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

. . Word
. .
ST.
LOUIS
.
.
Dert Goldberg, general sales manager for
Herald Pictures. New York, was here a
few days for conferences at Screen Guild,
which distributes Herald product in this area.
He left later for Atlanta. Ga.. and other
Herman Gorelick of
southern cities . .
Screen Guild spent most of last week on
the road. It was George Phillips' turn to
do the traveling this week.
Jimmy Frisina, feature buyer for the
Frisina Amusement Co., eturned from a
r
Florida vacation and was f;een along Pilmrow
comes from Herrin, HI., that
John Harlow has broken ground for his
between Marion.
1.000-car drive-in theatre
111., and the Crab Orchard ordnance plant.
National Theatre Supply in St. Louis is providing
the equipment.
The Aloma Theatre in Stewardson. 111.,
operated by Harlane Renshaw, was damaged
by a fire that did upwards of $50,000 damage
to several buildings. The fire started
from an overheated stove in a grocei-j' and
later spread to a restaurant, an old hotel
building, a residence and the theatre .
The Joy Theatre in Kansas, 111., has been
closed for an indefinite period. Tlie 150-
seater is operated by M. W. Jessup.
NEW ALL-IN-ONE DRINK DISPENSER
MAKES SERVING SOFT DRINKS EASY
IN
MOVIE HOUSES
The bottle bugaboo and the high cost
of installing carbonating units has
caused many theatre operators to
abandon the idea of serving soft drinks
in their houses. 'With the AU-In-One
drink dispenser, this problem is solved
once and for all. It makes soft drink
sales in theatres not only practical but
profitable as well. AU-In-One dispensers
are available as ice cooled or mechanically
refrigerated units. All units feature
famous Multiplex faucets and
Temprite carbonators.
"Citizen Saint' Opens in Chicago
CHICAGO—-Citizen Saint." a film depicting
the life of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
of Chicago, opened at the Studebaker Theatre
last week for an indefinite run. Performances
are continuous. All profits will
be shared by Mercy hospital, which plans to
establish in the heart of Chicago one of the
world's most modern hospitals.
Reg. U. S Pat. Off-
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For Inlormation, Write, Wire or Phone
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. . John
. . Art
. . Aixh
. .
• Strand—Call
. . Claudette
. . The
Laddie
. . Morrie
. . Leo
. . The
CHICAGO Senaior' New Leader INDIANAPOLIS
^Idtimers on the Row were shocked by
the death of the Levy brothers, Harold
and Ralph, in an airplane crash just off
Municipal airport after they took off for
Miami Beach to be at the bedside of their
father, Robert 76. former U.S. marshal in
Chicago. Many years ago he built and operated
one of the first nickelodeons, the
Revelry, and later the Apollo on the south
side, one of the first houses with a filmvaudeville
policy. He also operated the Roseland
and was the first president of the
Chicago Exhibitors Ass'n.
.
Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd Eisenberg are parents
of a baby boy. which makes Ben Eisenberg,
Monogram sales manager, a granddaddy
Semedalus, exhibitor, and
his family have gone to Miami and will
stay there until after the Variety Clubs convention
.
Gould is now operating the
Verdi, Kensington, and New Era. Harvey, 111.
. . . Harry Lustgarten, B&K head booker,
went to Hollywood for a visit.
MGM's "State of the Union" will be previewed
at the Vogue March 25. Bill Bishop,
Metro exploiteer, has invited civic leaders,
city officials and newspapermen to the showing
.. . Harold Abbott, Abbott Theatre Supply,
went to Hot Springs for a holiday .
Sam Levinson, Chicago Used Chair Mart,
is installing new seats at the RKO Orpheum
in
Champaign and at the RKO Palace here.
Irving Mandel, Monogram franchise holder
here, and his brothers Robert and Lee. are
hospitalized at Miami Beach following an
auto crash . Ti-ebow. B&K purchasing
agent, is on loan to the Paramount
home office for several weeks as consultant
on sundry theatre matters.
Ida Rosen, secretary to
Henri Elman, went
to Miami Beach for a two-week vacation . . .
"The Bishop's Wife," after a ten-week run
at the Woods, will bow in March 26 at outlying
houses day and date. "Cass Timber-
In Milwaukee Week
MILWAUKEE—Only one new program
tapped average in the first run houses last
week, "The Senator Was Indiscreet" and
"Louisiana" going slightly over par at the
Riverside. Otherwise the showcases had just
a so-so session. Neight>orhood theatres report
business is good on weekends but rather
sad during the weekdays.
Alhambra—The Voice of the Turtle (WB); Road to
the Big House (SG), 3rd d. t wk 100
Palace—Saigon (Para); Caged Fury (Para) 100
Riverside—The Senator Was Indiscreet (U-I),
Louisiana (Mono) 110
Northside 777 (ZOlh-Fox),
Albuquerque (Para), 3rd d t wk 9b
Towne—lossy (U-1), Captain Boycott (U-I) 9S
Warner—Adventures oi Hobinhood IWB). reissue 110
Wisconsin—Three Daring Daughters (MGM),
Crime Doctor's Gamble (Col) 100
lane" follows "The Bishop's Wife" at the
Woods . Colbert and Mrs.
William Goetz, wife of U-I president, were
stopovers from California en route east . . .
Ditto Jesse Lasky, producer, and his wife.
Edwin Silverman, Essaness circuit president,
and wife celebrated their tenth wedding
anniversary last weekend by leaving on
a California trip . . . Film Exchange Local
B45 was granted a 15 per cent wage increase
by Henri Elman. head of Capitol
Film Exchange ... If Harry Sears in the
B&K booking department persists in answering
the phone saying "This is Sears,"
sooner or later some unconscious lady is
going to ask him for the lingerie department.
But after all he does handle shorts,
doesn't he?
Anton Scibilia, former manager for various
theatres here, is Ohio way sparking his
new midnight chiller-diller. "Dr. Neff's
Madhouse of Mystery" . Woods Theatre
has been all dolled up during the past
month. Manager Jack Belasco is elated since
the lobby has been widened and he has more
room for holdouts and the lines in front of
the popcorn counter.
The Variety Club of Indianapolis moved to
its new quarters in the Hotel Antlers
March 15. Before moving, a farewell party
was given at the old location . . . Trueman
Rembusch, president of the ATO of
Indiana, has gone to Florida and from there
will go to Jamaica by boat . . . Mrs. Peggy
Swing has become secretary to Herbert Boss,
office manager at Eagle Lion.
Charles Rich, district manager of Warner
Bros., spent two days here in conference with
Claude McKean, branch manager . . . Margaret
Miceli of the Columbia office staff
was confined to St. Vincent's hospital by
a minor operation . Cantor of Cantor
Amusements, who was a patient at Kahler
hospital, Rochester, Minn., returned to Indianapolis
and is confined to St. Vincent's
hospital.
.
Ray Thomas, salesman for United Artists,
returned to duty after being confined to his
home three weeks by an attack of virus
pneumonia Orr of New York,
division manager of United Artists, and
Ralph Gamblet, Chicago, visited the local
branch.
Fred Dolle, Fourth Avenue Amusement
Co., and Mrs. Dolle are vacationing in Florida
.. . Hancock, salesman for 20th-
Fox. resumed his duties after a short vacation
in Florida.
The Coronet Theatre m Otterbein, Ind..
has changed its 16mm booth equipment to
the 35mm equipment. The house will be
open Sunday, Wednesday and Saturday for
the
present.
.
On Easter day, "Bill and Coo" will be
shown in Indianapolis. LouisviUe, Connersville
and Columbus Wayne Theatre,
Fort Wayne, reopened March 11 after extensive
remodeling and the addition of 200
seats. The house is operated by the Mailers
circuit and managed by Roger Scherer.
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Shutdowns, Missouts,
Caused by Blizzard
KANSAS CITY—Record cold and snow
for early March and a gas shortage tied up
most foriTLS of travel and amusement in
western Kansas last week. Although this has
been a severe winter throughout the midwest,
the first missouts and shutdowns in western
Kansas were reported after last week's record
blizzard.
Deep snows and blocked highways caused
the worst trucking situation to confront Exhibitors
Film Deliver}' in many years. Virtually
all of the roads in southwestern Kansas
were impassable, said Sam Abend of the
trucking service. "Although we did have two
or three missouts," he said, "no houses in
this area were dark because of lack of film.
I am sure that several did extend t/he runs
of previous pictures by a day or two."
The gas shortage due to severe weather
caased several theatres to close their doors.
Commonwealth Amusement Corp. was forced
to shutter houses in Great Bend. Garden
City and Kinsley last Wednesday and Thursday.
Theatre Enterprises had a missout at
Norton but converted heating plants in order
to prevent shutdowns. Prank PlimiJee of that
circuit reported that schools in this area
closed but their theatres remained open.
'The amount of business we did, however,
.showed that it may have been advisable to
close those two or three days." he added.
In Kansas City the gas shortage caused no
inconvenience to downtown first runs as most
of these houses use city heat or other types
of fuel. However, a power failure early
Wednesday afternoon, which was purely coincidental
with the record-breaking weather,
caused several houses to go dark or switch
to standby emei-gency equipment. The Paramount
and Orpheum switched to auxiliary
equipment and the Roxy, on DC lines, was
not affected. The Midland. Tower and
Esquire were dark. At the Midland refunds
were accepted by about 2 per cent of the
patrons, according to Manager Howard Burkhardt.
Mother of O. F. Sullivan
Dies in Wichita at 86
WICHITA—Mrs. Ida M. Sullivan, 86,
mother of O. F. Sullivan, president of the
Allied Independent Theatre Owners of Kan-
.sa.

. . The
. . Morris
. . Mr.
. .
. . . "Bub"
. . . Zora
. . R.
. . Jim
. . Art
. .
. . Eagle
. . Frank
. .
DBS MOINES
T Remember Mama" was given a special
The Julio Massarinis, owners of the theatre
in Meloher, watched the state boys basketball
tournament with more than usual interest
this week. Mrs. Massarinis' three nephews
were the mainstays of the Ankeny team .
Mr. and Mrs. C. Jamison, owners of the
Amuzu Theatre in Muscatine, were visitors
on
'.
the Row and Mi's. Howard Hill
COMPLETELY NEW
HORKY'S CAFE
Bigger and Better Than Ever
— Featuring 'Delish' Steaks
1202 High St. Des Moines, Iowa
'//here Filmrow Friends Galher'-
Open Daily at 4 p. m.
of the 'Winfield, Iowa, theatre are parents
of a daughter, born on Valentine day .
The stork also recently visited Mr. and Mrs.
Joe Favre of Brooklyn and left a baby
screening at 2 p. m. March 17 at the
Uptown. Invitations were sent out by the
RKO exchange . . . Irvin E. Deer was
speaker at the Newton Kiwanis club last daughter.
week Storm Lake Pilot -Tribuiae had
Dale Juergens, exhibitor in Moulton, Iowa,
this to say last week about the Sioux Center
"case": "Sioux Center voted out movies. How
is now managing the bank in that town in
'Van
addition to his theatre job far is it to the next town that has 'em?
That is where you'll find the Sioux Center Dorin of Moravia reports unusual success
kids and old folks, too, after the Sioux with local talent shows at his theatre. He
Center theatre is closed."
has been having one such show each week
Baltzley, o^wner of the Raola in
The Columbia exchange here is having a Bussey, Iowa, returned from a trip to New
new paint job Relder, Universal Orleans, where he took in the Mardi Gras
salesman, was shedding tears last week over
Finney. Monogram booker, and
a dented fender on his new car . . . Dorothy Helen Clarke, Republic cashier, returned
Keppelman, Universal, fell and hurt her leg from a weekend in Detroit, where they were
and was away from the office for a week. guests of Zora's sister.
Donald Scott has reopened the theatre in
Renwick, Iowa . C. Hoadley, Himieston,
left last week for California to visit his son.
He planned to stop at Randolph field to
visit his daughter, a captain in the army
nurse corps . . . Jim Castle, Paramount exploiteer,
was here last week McCann
resigned as booker and office manager for
20fch-Fox . . . Phyllis "Whistler, MGM, is
wearing a new diamond and will marry Dick
Reynolds in August. Phyllis was the author
of this column two weeks ago while the
Schochs journeyed to Dayton, Ohio, on a short
trip.
. . . Betty Ahrends,
Mabel Magnusson of Coliunbia is happy
these days because her son Ted is home
after his navy discharge
MGM, played in the national girls' basketball
tournament in St. Joseph. Mo. . . . Marie
Butcher, MGM, was sick last week . . . Milton
Overman, Eagle Lion publicity man, visited
the exchange here last week and Clair
Hilgers. new district manager, is expected this
week.
Filmrowers offered sympathy to Jean
Ricketts of Eagle Lion, whose father passed
away last week ... J. Yiannias, co-owner
of the Strand, Avon and Grand theatres in
Dubuque, has added the Tucker agency in
Cedar Rapids and Davenport to his duties.
He will manage the latter with his son .
Mike Lee, Eagle Lion manager, journeyed to
Dubuque and other towns in the eastern part
of the state last week . Peterson,
MGM porter, fell on his way to work last
Monday morning and suffered a shoulder injury
. Lion has a new booking desk,
finally delivered after 15 months of waiting.
Nate Sandler, chief barker of Variety Club,
has received a huge post card in the mail
telling of the glories of Miami, where the
international Variety Club convention will
be held in April.
Drive-In Theatre Begun
At Davenport, Iowa
DAVENPORT, IOWA—Clearing a 15-acre
area on the Mississippi valley fairgrounds
for a drive-in theatre to be constructed at
a cost of $125,000 by the Mississippi Valley
Amusement Park, Inc., is nearing completion.
Contracts for grading will be let and
a contest to select a name for the theatre
will be announced shortly. The theatre will
accommodate 750 cars.
We Have Been Appointed
Iowa Distributors
CRETORS
for
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1121 High Street Phone 3-6520 Des Moines, lo-wa
BOXOFFICE

. . Louise
. . Ted
. .
; OMAHA
K call at Warners Monday broug'ht the comment
that the exchange had been enougli
in the news the past week. A youth who
escaped from a cruiser car taking him to jail
was sihot and killed only a few feet from the
exchange building. The shooting scene pictm-ed
on the front page of the local press
sihowed Warners in the background.
Exhibitors through the territory were taking
a little brighter view this week. With
the return to warmer weather they visioned
the rush of a backlog of patronage held in
check by the long cold and snow period .
Cai-olyn Croft is a new stenographer at Columbia,
replacing Francis Campbell.
The Iowa at Dennison, Iowa, is open, but
April . . .
.
in
G. E. McGlynn, MOM manager,
opening will be celebrated its formal
is taking a vacation. Vincent F. Flynn came
in to pinch-hit Cotter is back
at work as RKO Brandeis publicist after
Ralph Cramblett of Chicago,
new UA district manager, and Morrie
Orr of New York, division manager, were
to aiTive in town during the week ... So
was B. C. Marcus of Kansas City, Colimibia
district manager.
.
William Miskell, Tii-States district manager,
went to Sioux City Monday, was to be
in Des Moines Wednesday for the 30th anniversary
dinner Emerson, Tri-
States publicity chief, arranged a morning
screening of "Gentleman's Agreement" for
the Fellowship committee.
Ralph Falkinburg, Lexington exhibitor, was
confined to his home by a severe cold . . .
Western Theatre Supply Co. has installed
new sound, projection and high intensity
lamps in W. C. White's Rialto at Beatrice.
Buys Argonia Theatre
ARGONIA, KAS.-J, L. Fleming, former
grocer from Anthony, ha.s purchased and remodeled
the Argonian Theatre here. Max
Gallagher was the former owner. New sound,
seats and marquee were among the renova-
Businessmen May Build
INWOOD, lOWA-A group of Sioux Center
businessmen was here last week to inspect
the New Arrow Theatre Bldg. The
men said it was their plan to build a new
theatre in Sioux Center. The city hall at
Sioux Center is now serving as a theatre.
Clearfield Theatre Sold
CLEARFIELD, IOWA—The Princess
Theatre
here has been sold by the Dowells to
a Mr. Fifer of Kellerton.
New Norton Is Opened
By Commonwealth
NORTON. K AS.— Commonwealth Theatres
opened its new 702-seat Norton Theatre
here Saturday. The house is on the site of
the old Norton Auditorium and is new almost
from the ground up.
The top floor of the old three-story
building has been removed and all of the interior
and even part of the old walls were
removed or rebuilt. Total cost of the house
was about $100,000.
The front is tinted stucco and Is graced
by a 60-foot marquee lighted with neon
tubes. The seating capacity of the auditorium
is augmented by a number of 21 -inch
seats in addition to the regulation 19 inchers.
Manager of the house will be Cliff Schroeder,
who also looks after the Cozy.
Better weather broug'ht in more exhibitors
than in recent weeks, including Eugene
Bohnker, Charter Oak, Iowa; Raymond
Brown, Harlan, Iowa; Eddie Kugel, Holstein,
Iowa; A. Burrus and granddaughter,
Crete; Warren Hall, Burwell: Mervin Neeley,
Griswold, Iowa; Phil March, Wayne, back
from a trip to Mexico; Ralph Martin, Moorhead,
Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Noffsinger,
Madison, back from a Florida vacation; Martin
Fetch, Macedonia, Iowa; Cliff Sherron.
Genoa; M. P. King, Shelby, Iowa; E. L.
Bartak, Greeley; Harry Rockwell, Danbiu-y,
Iowa; Howard Brookings, Oakland, Iowa.
Donald Shane, Paramoimt Theatre manager,
succeeded in getting a much publicized
"I Married My Blind Date" contest tied in
with the sihowing of "Tlie 'Voice of the Turtle."
The World-Herald's KOWH staged the
contest. This resulted in daily stories and
several pictures . . . Hazel Anderson, Kemptgen,
MGM office manager, will leave April
30 to join her husband John G. Kemptgen,
Metro manager at Milwaukee . . . Streetcar
fares went up to a straight dime . . . Theatre
managers are expecting a short but severe
boxoffice jolt if this city's 8,500 CIO packinghouse
workers stay out long on strike.
David E. Strom, New York, specialist in
the text-film department of the publishing
firm, visited Omaha to study the audiovisual
program of the University of Omaha
and the Carnegie film project . . . The local
press reports two responsible groups, one
in Denver and one in Kansas City, are considering
sending roadshows into Omaha next
year.
Indoors or out DeVry
For 250-seat to 6,000 seat thi
and outstandingly for drive-ins with
up to 1,000 car capacity—the trend is
definitely to DeVry "12000" Series
projectors, amplifiers and in-car
speakers.
Typical of DEVRV-equipped outdoor
theatres now being readied for
spring opening is the model Drive-In
at Muncie, Indiana, shown in the airview
shot above. Other DeVry installations
being made for the coming
season are:
CALIFORNIA: Drive-In near San
Diego. GEORGIA: Drive-In Theatres
at ThomasviUe & Moultrie. INDI-
ANA: Terre Ha
Drive-In. IOWA:
Drive-In at Sioux
City. OHIO: "Sciota"
at Portsmouth,
"Triangle"
Also Drive-Ins at Springfield and St.
Mary's. MICHIGAN: Drive-In at
Grand Rapids. NORTH CAROLINA:
Drive-Ins at Asheville, Stateville &
Charlotte.
PENNSYLVANIA: "Family"
Drive-In at New Kensington.
TEXAS: Drive-In at Midland. WEST
VIRGINIA: Drive-In at Elkins and
Meadowbrook. CANADA: Peter
Drive-In, Lansing, Ontario.
// you contemplate modernizing present equipment or building
sure and see DeVry before you buy.
increased
box office take,
loser approach to
ndoors or out —
projectors
plifiers.
he
FOR THE PERFECT SHOW
V, he
^-^Slf* DeVry
1804 Wyandotte Street
City 8. Missouri
Grand 0134
OMAHA 2. NEBRASKA
MINNEAPOLIS 4,
Quality Theatre Supply Co.
1515 Davenport Street
Telephone: Atlantic 7253
MINN.
Norm Maintenance
1017 E. Franklin Avenue
Telephone: Bridoeport 4818
After Hours: Dupont 4256
BOXOFFICE March 20, 1948

, . . Bob
. . . Marti
. . . Lewis
. . Jeanette
. . Al
. .
. . Eldridge
I
KANSAS CITY
The troupe from Hollywood that drove from
here to Sedalia last week for the premiere
of -Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!" was escorted
by State Tiooper Hugh Wallace, who owns
an interest in the Topeka Drive-In . . . Theatre
Enterprises hopes to begin construction
of its Chillicothe house in the next two weeks
Hickey, RKO district publicist, was
here working on "I Remember Mama," which
opens at the Orpheum March 31.
Dick Biechele, who just returned from the
TOA directors meeting on the west coast;
Richard Brous of Fox Midwest, and Arthur
Cole of Paramount went to Jefferson City
for a committee hearing on the pending bUl
governing a proposed state fire marshal's
office. Earl Douglas, Commonwealth manager
in Carrollton, and a delegation from the St.
Louis territory also were there.
Tom Gilliam, 20th-Fox district chief from
Chicago, and Jack Lorentz. division manager
_ from the same city.
^^
vere in the local of-
^^^1^ I flee. Gilliam took in
^^^^^ I the local exchange in
1 _ -. r I a realignment of territory
following the retirement
of Ward E.
Scott, former district
chief . . . Beverly Miller,
Eagle Lion district
manager, took a quick
trip to Chicago and
back Monday.
Tom Gilliam Earl Jameson of National
Film Service went to Dallas on behalf
of the Oklahoma City branch of NFS. Jameson
is district manager for the organization
Boyer, Jameson's "righthand man"
Satisfaction — Al-wa-ys
Missouri Theatre Supply Co.
L. I. KIMBRIEL, Manager
Phone GRand 2864
— 115 W. 18th Kansas City 8. Mo. Z
in the office here, was given a surprise birthday
party last week. Two cakes and a flock
of presents were the order of the day .
Jack Stewart, general manager of Kansas-
Missouri Allied, brought Mrs. Stewart here
from Detroit after having found a place to
live.
C. E. "Doc" Cook, KMTA secretary, was
in Chicago on association business . . . Babe
Cohn, manager of the
Paramount, will leave
Monday (22) for a
meeting in New York
. . . C. V. Crocker of
the Grant in Ulysses,
Kas., was on the Row
. . . Albert Dezel Productions
has moved
its local office to the
ground floor at 120
West 18th St. Walter
Lambader is manager
Stein, who
is building a drive-in
Walter Lambader
at Parsons. Kas., was in National Theatre
Supply.
¥NlAWlt^
Tom Wolf of Durwood's Roxy here suffered
bad luck last weekend. His house was
robbed Saturday night. Sunday he and his
wife moved. Sunday night a fire in their
closet at the new place burned all of Mrs.
Wolf's clothes . . . The wife of Leo Hayob
of the Mary Lou in Marshall gave birth to a
boy. their first child, Friday last week. The
baby lived only eight hours.
.
The Colosseum ball has been scheduled
the Muehlebach hotel May Tickets
at
are $2.50 per person
3.
Adler, MOM
manager, went to a district meeting in St.
Louis with Pi-ank Hensler. district chief . .
MGM will hold its invitational screening of
"State of the Union" the evening of March
24 at the Vogue . MacDonald,
.star of "Three Daring Daughters," was in
Wichita Wedne.sday for a concert. A special
screening of her latest picture was arranged
for civic leaders and representatives of the
press by Bernie Evens, area exploiteer.
The El Dorado in that Kansas town
pOPCO^^
staged a Junior Miss fashion revue recently
in connection with "Golden Earrings."
About 30 local girls modeled clothes
of all types . Smith of Marysville,
former manager of the Star there,
married Bertha Carter of Wakefield recently
.. . Civic organizations of Blue Moimd,
Kas., have raised subscriptions totaling
$10,000 which will used to erect a mo-
be
tion picture theatre.
Leo F. Forbstein, musical director of
Warner
Bros, studios who died Tuesday, was a
resident of this city for many years and
conducted a concert orchestra at the Newman
Theatre (now Paramoimti in the early
'20s. He played at the opening of the theatre
June 5, 1919. Many localites attended
the theatre in those days as much to hear
Forbstein's orchestra as to see the pictures.
Forbstein made his radio debut on WDAF
in 1923 and conducted a weekly program
shortly after this first appearance. He left
the Newman in 1926 when the Publix Theatre
Corp. transferred him to Dallas. From
there he went to Hollywood.
TALKING TRAILERS, LOBBY PAPER
AND MATS
Write, Wire or Phone
PENNINGTON POSTER SERVICE
130 West 18th Phone: GRand 8626
Kansas City 8, Mo.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
TRAILERS
IGmm — Motion Pictures — 35iimj
Sound Recording — Talkies
HAL PARKER STUDIOS
1719 Wyandotte — Suite 208
Telephone GR. 53G5 Kansas City, Mc
THEATRE INSURANCE Speo'a/isf
„/TS Gf^AV/TIZED.'
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PROCESSED
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^ Comnl^ Mri^ of ii

Des Moines Variety
Gives to Hospitals
DES MOINES—Nathan Sandler, chief
barker of the Variety Club, announced the
donation of gifts to two local charities.
On March 16, the official dedication of a
waiting room in the obstetrics ward of Mercy
hospital was made by Bishop Bergren. Tlie
room, to be known as the Variety room, has
been completely furnisihed and decorated by
the club.
A gift of $2,000 to the Raymond Blank
Memorial hospital for Children guild was
made last week. The money is to pay t>he
medical expenses and care of children whose
parents cannot afford the necessary treatment.
At a recent meeting, members of the club
voted to send Russ Fraser, Tri-States publicity
man. as their official delegate to the
convention in Miami, Pla., in April. Others
who are planning to attend the meetings are
Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Sandler and Mr. and
Mrs. Joe Jacobson of Davenport.
The group is still working with Arlington
Hall officials in an attempt to determine
whether to add Dhat home to its charities.
Gem Gets Third Owner
BATTLE CREEK, NEB.—The third Change
in a year in ownership of the 155-seat Gem
Theatre has been made. J. H. Ries has
bought out H. L. Sanderson. The theatre
started as a community enterprise.
PDCIIT MPTCDM
STAGE EQUIPMENT COMPANY
.UIILHI IILUILIIII
'Scudda' Troupe Appears
In Kansas City Theatres
KANSAS CITY—Following their snowbound
premiere engagement in Sedalia, Lon
McCalli.ster, Betty Ann Lynn, Coleen Townsend
and Louanne Hogan appeared on the
stages of the Uptown and Tower theatres here
to mark the opening of "Scudda Hoo! Scudda
Hay!" Accompanying them was Anna Rose
Baker of Sedalia, who the day before had
been crowned Queen of the Jeahs in a contest
conducted among teen-aged girls in that
area.
The group made two appearances at each
of the theatres. Accompanied by Bill Winter
of the 20th-Fox studio, they returned to the
coa.st Thursday night. In cliarge of their appearances
here were Rodney Bush, director of
exploitation for 20th-Fox; Sy Freedman, area
publicist, and Senn Lawler of Fox Midwest.
Theatre arrangements were handled by Barney
Joffee at the Tower and Nick Sonday and
Robert Collier at the Uptown.
SELL YOUR THEATRE PRIVATELY
Your Deal Handled Personally
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We Cover the U. S. Market
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3422 Kinmore Dallas 10, Texi
Phone T3-2026
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217 West 18th Street Kansas City 8, Missouri
CARPETS
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Alexander Smith-
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Colors
- Lettering - Designs
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Masland Wilton - Red - Green - Black
R. D. MANN CARPET CO
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Hood Asphalt Tile
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BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

. . Many
. . Harry
. . Burglars
. . Leo
. . RKO's
. . Earl
. .
MINNEAPOLIS
KTorthwest Variety Club increased its
charity
attend. LeRoy J. Miller, chairman of the
committee in charge of ticket sales, hadn't
full returns at this writing, but said the
event had been a financial success. It probably
will be an annual affair, he said.
Tom Novak, owner of the Glencoe, Minn.,
theatre, was host to 15 members of the
Glencoe high school basketball team at the
game . members of the film industry
here accepted the invitation of Don
UNIVERSAL
Theatre Advertising Co.
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Main Office
1312 S. Wabash Ave. Phone WABash 944C
Chicago 5, Illinois
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PHILCO-ARVIN PHONOGRAPH COMBINATION
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WE PREFER
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character of any Premium Concern offering
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on giveaways.
Too bad we have to make this suggestion.
NATIONAL THEATRE ADVERTISING CO.
Max & Joe Berenson
1325 S. Wabash Ave. Chicago 5, 111.
15 Years of Successful Operation
Speed-O-Bikes * Radio Phonograph
Combinations * 3-Pc. Luggage Sets
Bicycles * Hobby Horses and Other
Items at No Cost to the Exhibitor.
It/^ii/e jp^ PaAiicuia^
Buckley to attend the reopening of his newly
remodeled Redwood Theatre in Redwood
Falls, Minn. They complimented him on the
fluid in staging a basketball game between
the professional Minneapolis Lakers
and Flint. The attendance was approximately
many
theatre's beauty and modernity.
5.000 and who bought tickets didn't
Karl Lindstad, veteran manager of the
Paramount Theatre in Austin, Minn., written
up as "a 40-year showman at 50" in the
St. Paul Sunday Pioneer Press, told the reporter
who interviewed him that his greatest
problem has been "parents turning the theatre
into a baby-sitting house." Some mothers,
he said, bring their children to the show
at 1 p. m. Sunday, leaving them in a seat
with a packed lunch and calling for their
offspring at 8 p. m. that night. However,
he admitted, all in all he enjoys himself
sely in the show business.
.
Ralph Maw, MOM district manager, is back
from sales conference in Los Angeles .
Out-of-town exhibitors visiting Filmrow included
Mr. and Mrs. G. Qualley, Lanesboro,
Minn.: Percy King. Adrian. Minn., and his
son from Dell Rapids. S. D. . Sioux
Palls. S. D.. branch is now third nationally
in the Ned
Workman,
Depinet sales
MOM branch
drive . . . W. H.
manager, was in
Chicago for a sales meeting . Perkins,
veteran Warner salesman in southern Minnesota,
suffered another fracture of his
ankle when he slipped on an icy walk and
is laid up at home Who entered
Royal Theatre. St. Paul neighborhood house,
escaped with $45 cash from the office and
an undetermined amount of candy.
Irving Mills, who quit Monogram to join
the Eagle Lion sales staff, will be given a
stag party at the Normandy hotel March
26 by his friends in the industry. The party
prior to his marriage at the Hotel Radisson
is
AprU 4 to Marjorie Kronick
Hoffman. 20th-Fox exploiteer, returned from
a trip through his territory beating the drum
for "Gentleman's Agreement." He visited
Omaha and Des Moines, where the picture
is already set. There's no date for it in the
Twin Cities yet.
Sid Blackmer and Lois Wilson, who have
appeared in many pictures, were here as guest
stars with the Minneapolis Civic Theatre in
"Chicken Every Svmday" . R. Murray,
manager of the Lyceum, legitimate roadshow
house which also plays pictures, reported after
a trip to New York that he has booked "The
Student Prince" for April 4; the Lunts in
"Mistress Mine" for May 25-27, and "Carousel"
for June 14.
Cedric Adams, Minneapolis Star's coliunnist,
complimented the Avalon. Minneapolis neighborhood
house, for having the finest array
of prizes he had ever seen at any showhouse
matinee cooking school. With the temperature
at 27 below zero, the theatre turned many
away at its first cooking school of the sea-j'
son. Bill Porter is bhe manager of this
theatre . Hirsch. veteran showman,
was host to Cornelia Otis Skinner and Emmett
Callahan, who came here with "Lady
Windemere's Fan."
Clyde Cutter, veteran booker and salesman,
recently with United Artists in Minneapolis,
has joined the Minneapolis Allied
Artists-Monogram exchange as booker and
assistant to Manager Morrie Steinman on
city sales. He succeeds Bob O'Rourke, resigned.
'Saigon' Great Guns;
'Verdoux' Is So-So
MINNEAPOLIS—Holdovers were far in the
majority last week, the only major newcomers
being "Saigon" and "Monsiem- 'Verdoux."
"Saigon" came through to smash
business, benefiting, no doubt, from scarcity
of fresh opposition. "'Verdoux" did only moderately
well and bowed out after a single
week. The holdovers, all high-steppers, were
"The Bishop's Wife" and "The 'Voice of the
Turtle" in their- fourth week, and "Cass
Timberlane" and "To the Ends of the Earth"
in their second.
Aste
(SR)
-Blondie's Anniversary (Co Murder Mob
Lyric—The Voice of the Turtle (WB), 4th d. t. -wk.
Radio City—Cass Timberlane (MGM), 2nd wk.. .
RKO Orpheum—To the Ends of the Earth (Col),
Woild—The Bishop's
Wil
Alan Ladd Great Favorite
With Minneapolis Patrons
MINNEAPOLIS—The trade here is sitting
up and taking notice at Alan Ladd's rise to
boxoffice eminence. In Minneapolis, at least,
he is now one of the top draws. His
"Saigon" is doing excellent busine.ss at the
State. Previous to it, his two preceding pictures,
"Calcutta" and "Wild Harvest," also
pulled smash grosses. None of the pictures
garnered any great amount of critical approval,
but the public flocked to see them
just the same.
Building Fowler House
FOWLER. KAS.— S. I. Marsh is building
the Artesia Theatre here following approval
from the office of the housing expediter. The
house will have 350 seats and is being equipped
by National Theatre Supply. Kansas City.
Simplex projection equipment and lamps and
Voice of the Theatre horns will be featured.
Marsh is shooting for an April opening.
Enforce Curfew Law
BEATRICE. NEB.—Mayor Velmer Morris
has invoked a modified curfew here for teenagers.
They must be off the street by 10:30
p. m. unless they are on peaceful, legitimate
business, he ordered. Police Chief Perry
Barker said the curfew will apply only to
"roughneck kids" who have been causing
trouble.
Tot Found in Theatre
MINNEAPOLIS—A 9-year-old girl, missing
more than 24 hours, was found asleep
in a local neighborhood theatre, the American.
She previously had been riding a
streetcar well into the early morning.
New Equipment Installations
OMAHA—New theatre installations include:
By the Ballantyne Co.—New sound, lamps
and projection. Majestic, Oakland, Neb.: new
sound, lamps and projection. Princess, Decatur,
Neb.: recarpeting. Lyric, Hartington,
Neb.
By Western Theatre Supply Co.—New
screen and lenses, Avon, Dubuque. Iowa: new
screen. Strand, Dubuque.
90
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

. . Herman
. . With
. .
Variety Club to Dine
Past Chief Barkers
MINNEAPOLIS—Five past, chief barkers
will be honored by the Northwest Variety
Club at a dinner in the Hotel Nicollet next
Tuesday night (23i. The five are E. R.
Ruben. W. H. Workman. Maitland Frosch.
Johnny Branton and Ben Blotcky. They will
be presented rings in appreciation of their
services. Two other former chief barkers.
Bill Elson and Art Anderson, previously were
presented with rings.
Joe Loeffler, chairman of the entertainment
committee, promised that it will be one
of the club's "finest affairs" and urged
everybody to attend. Doings will start at
6:30 p. m. Gov. L. D. Youngdahl and Mayor
H. H. Humphrey will be the speakers. It
will be a stag affair and the cost will be $5
a plate.
North Central Allied, holding its annual
convention here March 22, 23, called off its
own banquet so that its members could attend
the Variety affair.
Allied Advises Exhibitors
Not to Pay Ascap Fees
MINNEAPOLIS—Continuing its fight
against the Ascap performance fee, North
Central Allied is m-ging exhibitors not to
sign the new license agreement "under any
circumstances" for at least one more month.
The organization also has provided a form
protest notice for those exhibitors who insist
on paying the monthly license fee.
Meanwhile, Judge G. H. Nordbye is considering
the briefs subnutted in the Ascap
federal court suits against Bennie Berger,
North Central AHied president, and Mrs. J.
Jenson, another exhibitor, for nonpayment
of the fees.
Sees St. Paul Tax Defeat
As Good Omen for Others
MINNEAPOLIS—Decisive defeat of the
proposed 5 per cent admission tax at a
referendum in St. Paul will knock the props
from under proponents of similar measures
being considered in other Minnesota communities,
S. D. Kane. North Central Allied
executive director, declares. Kane called
the result "a victory for theatre owners
everywhere." The issue is considered dead
for St. Paul now and "will discourage other
cities that had been planning an admission
tax," according to Kane.
Winfield Businessmen
Stimulate Theatre Trade
WINFIELD, IOWA — Nineteen Winfield
business firms are sponsoring a giveaway of
tickets to the Winfield Theatre here for the
next three weeks. The plan was devised by
the businessmen as a boost for the theatre
to stimulate additional patronage. The ticket
campaign was widely advertised in the Winfield
Beacon.
Cliff Sherron Buys the City
DAVID CITY. NEB.— Cliff Sherron, former
owner of the theatre at Genoa, Neb., has
purchased the 500-seat City Theatre here
from the estate of the late A. F. Jenkins.
Drakes Proud of New Bolivar House;
Local Newsreels Used Regularly
By A.
JULES BENEDIC
BOLIVAR. MO.—Zero weather and the
backlash of the worst Ozark blizzard in 80
years failed to dim the brilliance of the
Drake Theatre's opening here March 11.
And those two sturdy souls, Jerry and
Edith Drake, took a bow along with their
new $75,000 cinema, a 618-seat house under
construction for two years and more, for
here was realization of their dream for half
a decade.
People from little Bolivar (population
2.6361 and from over Polk county braved icy
roads and boot-deep snow, comfortably filling
the stadium-type structure which sprang
from the drawing boards of Robert O. Boiler,
Kansas City architect.
CHAT-LOUNGE IN LOBBY
The foyer and sunken lobby, the latter
tastefully furnished as a smoking and ohatlounge,
were covered with floral tributes,
sent by localites and Kansas City firms.
Twentieth-Fox booked in for prerelease its
"You Were Meant for Me." while Warners
sent a number of new Technicolor shorts,
fine filmfare fleshily enhanced by the presence
of young Bolivar beauties acting as
usherettes in full evening dress.
Ice-covered roads prevented the attendance
of a large delegation from the exchange center.
Among those who did brave the elements,
however, were Charlie Knickerbocker
of 20th-Fox. Harrj' Wheeler of WB, Stan
Warko and D. D. MacDougall of Altec, Paul
McCarty of Shreve Theatre Supply and C.
Ray Green of National Theatre Supply.
Preopening preliminaries did not permit
the showing of the local 16mm newsreel
which is shot monthly in Bolivar and vicinity
by Drake. However, the latter announced
that a 16nim projector would be added to the
two 35mm machines in the booth. Tliis local
newsreel will be shown regularly in the
Drake, as it formerly was in the Ritz, a
smaller theatre that will be operated on
weekends.
PLAN 'INTIMATE' THEATRE
Drake also announced that the Ritz, in
addition to commercial showings, will also
be operated as a photo shop and "intimate"
theatre. This house, in keeping with the
Drake, will project both 35 and 16rrmi film.
In the Ritz building is located a studio where
16min "features" are manufactured locally,
such as high school plays, weddings, conventions
and the like. Some of these "productions,"
like the local newsreels, will be
projected in either one or both of the theatres.
Due to intense interest in anything of
local flavor, big crowds invariably attend
these showings.
Some two years ago this correspondent
wrote in BOXOFFICE of Jerry Drake's unusual
proclivities toward the insertion of
local 16nim newsreels and featm-ettes into
standard 35mm operation. From all parts of
the country since that time, Drake has been
deluged with letters inquiring further into
his project, all the more unusual since he
is an exhibitor in a town smaller than 3,000.
Jerry, in fact, tutored an ex-GI through
the mails so successfully that the former
soldier instituted local newsreel coverage in
a number of New Jersey towns.
Come what may in this country's pre.sently
unsettled economic status. Jerry and his
wife Edith are supremely happy now that the
new Drake Theatre has at long last been
opened. Credit to a city of 75.000. it .should
serve this so much smaller community for
many years to come. Then, too, with two
theatres cari-ying both forms of projection,
their experiments toward welding narrowgaugers
with standard oijeration will be
greatly expanded.
from the BOXOFFICE Files
(Twenty Years Ago)
I^USSELL F. EGNER has succeeded Charles
Gregory as manager of the MGM branch
in Kansas City, according to Harris P. Wolfberg,
district manager. Egner cames from
Salt Lake City . . . Fire
destroyed the Lyric
Theatre in Lebanon, Mo. at a loss of $80,000
...CM. Parkhurst, office manager and
head booker for Pathe in Kansas City, has
been promoted to city representative. Jimmy
Lewis, former assistant booker, succeeds
Parkhurst . . . C. W. Rodebaugh has rejoined
the Independent Film Corp. as Missouri and
city salesman. Rodebaugh has been with
Crescent, Equitable, American, Peacock,
Metro, United Artists, Mutual, Robertson-
Cole, FBO, Educational, Standard, Independent
and Midwest.
H. A. Jones, formerly with Universal at
Moberly and Carthage, is the new manager of
the Orpheum at Parsons. Kas. . . . C. S.
Biles of Kan.sas City has leased the Williams
and Pottorf building in Nevada, Mo.,
and will remodel it for use as a theatre .
The Mary Lou. one of the new theatres in
Marshall, Mo., opened last week, George
Hayob is owner-manager . . . J. E. Teenor
and Emmett Woorley have sold their picture
show business in Union Star. Mo. to C. F.
Dickinson.
Ed Rowland of Texhoma. Okla.. is the
new owner of the Globe Theatre at Mead.
Kas. It was purchased from Mr. and Mrs.
Morton Griggs . Ferguson has
leased the New Lyric in Kennett. Mo., from
L. P. Tatum, owner . the transfer
of J. A. Jeffrees to Independence, Mo.. Lewis
Vaughn succeeds him as manager of the
Booth and Beldorf in Independence. Kas.,
controlled by Glenn W. Dickinson.
fiiSii^.'*AM*
Yes. our New York City Branch
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NEW YORK
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niMACKl
BOXOFFICE March 20, 1948

Operation Economies Will
Take Up
Boxoffice Slack, Skouras Asserts
KANSAS CITY — Fox Midwest managers
and home office officials were told by Charles
Skouras, president, and other executives of
National Theatres, that elimination of waste
items and a closer scrutiny of expenses in all
fields of operation should obviate the necessity
of extensive cutbacks during the current
business recession.
Skouras arrived here for the one-day meeting
accompanied by H. C. Cox, treasurer of
National Theatres; E. F. Zabel, film buyer;
A. J. Ki-appman, who is in charge of concessions
for NT; Irving Epstein of the insurance
division, and Dick Dickson, southern
California division manager.
Skoiu-as sparked the meeting with a talk
and intermittent comments throug^hout the
'Scudda Hoo!' Draws
Kansas City Crowds
KANSAS CITY—The worst opening day for
this time of year in the histoiy of the local
weather bureau hit some grosses pretty hard
last week, but quality product came through
to thoroughly satisfactory totals.
Leader for the stanza was "Scudda Hoo!
Scudda Hay!" at the three Fox Midwest
houses. The premiere festivities the opening
day helped overcome the effects of the
weather and a first-week tally of 185 pushed
it into the near-record category at the threesome.
One of the top two or three films of
the year at these houses, the picture was of
course held over.
"The Voice of the Turtle" opened big at
the Paramount and scored 150 in its initial
period. "Alias a Gentleman" and "Return of
the Whistler" scored par at the Midland as
did the last week of "The Bishop's Wife" at
the Orpheum.
(Average Is 100)
Esquite—Lady in a lam (Realart), The Lady From
Cheyenne (Realart). reissues 70
Midlcmd—Alias a Gentleman (MGM); The Return
of the Whistler (Col) IOC
Orpheum—The Bishop's Wife (RKO). 3rd wk 100
Paramount—The Voice of the Turtle (WB)... 150
Roxy—Butch Minds the Baby (Realart); Tight
Shoos (Rea '°--' - Let Us Live
(Col); She Couldn't Take It
°^^': ^S^^"""'
Fairway—Scudda Hoo! Scud'da
Hayl (20lh-Fox)
MGM. Republic May Find
Selves Without Quarters
MINNEAPOLIS—With expiration of their
leases at the end of this year, MGM and
Republic may have to find other exchange
quarters. They now are housed in the old
Warner Bros, building, which has been sold
to the Graphic Arts Industry. The new
owners will convert it into a trade school.
Warner Bros, itself recently moved into its
newly constructed exchange building, which
it will occupy alone.
Edward Cohen Is Named
EL Manager in Omaha
OMAHA -Edward Cohen has been named
manager for Eagle Lion here. He has been
in the industry for the past 20 years with
Univer.sal and 20th-Fox.
fom--hour business session. Zabel spoke on
forthcoming product and current film-buying
problems. Ki-apipman stressed the importance
of increased concessions sales, and Epstein
told of hopes to expand and increase the
National Theatres pension program. Dickson
talked on the forthcoming Easter drive.
About 150 managers and home office officials
were present. Most came away feeling
that a sense of apprehension had been lifted
and that sound business judgment would
overcome any hurdles on the part of maintaining
and increasing theatre grosses.
A luncheon followed the morning session.
Skouras and his party. Who had come in from
Denver, flew on to Milwaukee Tuesday night.
Placards on Light Poles
Banned in South Omaha
OMAHA—Placards on South Omaha light
poles advertising the motion picture, "Let
There Be Light," were ordered torn down by
Carl Jensen, acting mayor, in a comntunique
to Police Chief Robert F. Munch.
Commissioner Jensen said the placards
carried a picture that was "a sad state of affairs."
It showed a woman lying on a bed,
he said. Bending over the woman was a
man. "She looked very relaxed," commented
the Commissioner.
A letter from a South Omaha merchant
attracted his attention, the acting mayor
said. It read: "We in South Omaha resent
pictures of this kind."
Dewey Hurt, manager of the Roseland
Theatre, said the film, to be shown at his
theatre, contained a lesson for the younger
generation on possible pitfalls. He said it
was no worse than the scenes in many other
pictures being shown. He said officials of
the Epstein circuit had approved the advertising.
Welfare Inspector Thomas Knapp said the
city welfare board will preview the picture in
the South Side theatre, adding; "We invite
any interested civic groups to come to the
preview."
He said he had received more than 40
complaints on the ads. A police officer sent
to tear down the placards reported they had
disappeared; stating; "It looks as if the
wind got there first."
James Ellison Foresees
Role as Film Producer
MINNEAPOLIS — James Ellison, Hollywood
actor, here with the stage play, "Laugh
It Off," says he hopes the attraction will^
launch him on a career as a producer. ThS"
success of the farce, in which he has invested
its entire cost, $30,000, undoubtedly depends
on the reception of the Chicago engagement
which starts at the Blackstone Theatre
March 8. The play stars three Hollywood
personalities, Jackie Cooper, Ann Corio and
Vince Barnett, and also includes in its cast
Bill Henry and some other picture players.
It opened in Oakland February 13 and after
a single night there played a week in Seattle,
one night in Yakima and tour nights in
Minneapolis. It was in Milwaukee this week
just prior to Chicago.
Minnesota Grosses Up,
Tax Collector Says
MINNEAPOLIS—Theatre business in Minnesota,
which recently has run behind that
of the previous year, is reversing its trend.
At least, it turned upward again in February.
The collector of internal revenue reported
that amusement taxes in February 1948
amounted to $599,000. an increase of 17 per
cent over the $513,000 collected in February
1947.
As a whole, federal taxes in the state increased
an average of 15 per cent during
the month. Night club grosses continued to
slip, but not as greatly as in other recent
months, the tax collector reported.
The federal reserve bank's report for the
district, covering February, shows business
improved generally throughout the area.
Bank debits in Minnesota were up 17 per
cent over February 1947.
What Cheer Is Rebuilt
And Renamed Tic-Toe
WHAT CHEER, IOWA—The What Cheer
Tlieatre, destroyed by fire Nov. 6, 1947, has
been rebuilt and modernized and will be reopened
this month. The new house is to be
called the Tic-Toe and will be managed by
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Fritz of Oxford Junction,
son and daughter-in-law of Mrs. Dorothy
Fritz, who operated the theatre for the
last 11 years.
The Tic-Toe has a seating capacity of 300.
Everything is new, including carpeting, seats
and sound equipment. A new feature is a
nursery for small children. The new managers
plan to have three changes a week.
Tri-States Managers Plan
Drive During Easter Week
OMAHA—Plans for a Tri-States Theatres
Easter week drive were made here March 8
when managers met with District Manager
William Miskell. Among those who attended
were L. E. Davidson, city manager; Marving
Graybeal of Capitol, and Robert Shelton of
the Hollywood, all of Sioux City; Wally
Kemp, Grand Island city manager; Jimmie
Pickett, Hastings city manager; Jimmie Redmond.
Falls City city manager, and Ira
Crane, Fairbury city manager.
'Electra' Set in Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS—"Mourning Becomes Electra"
will play for a week at the Lyceum
Theatre here, starting April 4, as a presentation
of the Theatre Guild. It will show
twice daily at $1.80 nights and $1.20 matinees
and all seats reserved. This is the
second picture sponsored by the Theatre
Guild. Under its auspices, "Henry V" ran
two weeks at the Lyceum previously.
H. S. Twedt in 12th Year
MANLY, IOWA—March 7 was the 11th
anniversary for H. S. "Doc" Twedt, as proprietor
of the Lido here.
Paul Ruddick Buys Roxy
NEW FRANKLIN, MO.—Paul Ruddick has
bought the local Roxy from M. C. Hooper.
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

Sam Fineberg Selects
Tent 1 Committees
PITTSBURGH—Sam Fineberg, chief barker
of Variety Club tent 1, has announced
committees for 1948. He also reported that
every Friday night will continue to be family
night. Committees for the new year, listing
the chairman and assistant chairman, respectively,
are:
Tlie bookers (membership^ —John D. Walsh
jr. and Harry Feinstein: privilege men
(housei^Bill Zeilor and Harry Hendel; payoff
(finance and budgets —James H. Alexander
and William J. Blatt; promotion— Tom
Troy and John T. McGreevey; the billers
(publicity)—Ken Hoel and William R. Kelley;
law and by-laws—I. Elmer Ecker and
Walter P. Smart.
Sideshow (entertainment)—Harry Feinstein
and Joe Hiller; family nights—William
Finkel and George Heid: banquet—John H.
Harris, M. A. Silver and John T. McGreevey:
the barker Ft. V. P. Brennan and Prank
Smith; convention—I. Elmer Ecker.
LISTS NEW MEMBERS
Chaplains—The Very Rev. N. R. High
Moor, Father James Garahan and Rabbi
Herman Hailperin; heart of show business
John H. Harris and James G. Balmer: Camp
O'Connell—M. A. Silver and Tom Ti-oy; shows
for shutins—Sam Speranza and Robert Kimelman:
welfare—M. J. Gallagher and Jake
Soltz: Roselia foundling home—Frank
Smith; medical—Dr. L. G. Beinhauer and
Dr. A. I. Wise: city charities contact—John
J. Maloney; Christmas kiddy party—Francis
Guehl and Peter Quiter; golf—Arthur H.
Levy and Tom Birks; Variety American Legion
post 589—Perry S. Nathan and Jerry
Roth.
The club lists the following new members:
Ernest A. Stern, Herbert R. Rosenthal,
Jack William Young, Leonard Litman,
J. Marlin Way, Jack Belman, David M. Pineman,
Robert S. Leiber, Thomas P. Beegle jr.,
William H. Beegle, David Wald, William A.
V. Mack, Sydney L. Stoller, Herbert L. Joseph,
James L. Pilsner, Maurice I. Levy,
Bernard H. Buchheit, Leonard Pearlman
and Robert E. Caskey.
LARGEST ATTENDANCE EXPECTED
The Pittsburgh delegation to the 12th annual
Variety convention, which will be held
in Miami from April 12 to 17, is expected to
be the largest in attendance. I. Elmer Ecker
is making all arrangements and registering
the local delegates and wives.
Serving with Fineberg is the following
crew: Ben Steerman and Bert M. Stearn,
first and second assistant barkers; George
Eby, dough guy; Al Weiblinger, property
master, and directors Peter Dana, Carl Dozer,
I. Elmer Ecker, Sam Speranza, Tom
Troy and John D. Walsh jr.
Officers of the Ladies Theatrical club for
1948 are Mrs. Perry Nathan, president; Mrs.
I. Hmer Ecker and Mrs. Ben Steerman, first
and second vice-presidents; Mrs. Wally Allen,
corresponding secretary ; Mrs. David Hadburg,
recording secretary; Mrs. Archie Pineman,
treasurer, and Mrs. Harry Feinstein,
auditor.
Warners Buy Donora Site
From Evans Estate
DONORA, PA.—Warner Bros. Theatres,
Inc., completed negotiations with the administrator
of the estate of the late J. Ray
Evans and has purchased the McKean avenue
property which now hou.ses the Harris
Theatre, operated by the Warner circuit. The
building which fronts 44 feet on McKean
avenue and extends 100 feet to Cypress Alley,
was purchased for $75,000. In addition
to the theatre, there are living quarters on
the second floor. Alterations and redecorating
are planned for the theatre.
'Wife' Scores High 150;
New Product Sags
CINCINNATI—"The Bishop's Wife" at the
Albee made the top showing of the week with
a 150 mark. It moved over for a second week
at the Grand. Other good showings were
made by holdover pictures, but the new fare
wa,s not too well received. Business generally
indicated a downward trend, no doubt because
of
the Lenten season.
(Average is 100)
Grand—Gentlemom's Agreement (20th-Fox),

. . . Harry
Local Ticket Tax Reaches New High from «he boxoffice Files
In
Proposed West View Ordiance
WEST VIEW, PA.—Proposed here is a 20
per cent community admission tax, highest
10 per cent tax.
James H. Nash of the Gerard appealed
to borough council and protested a double
amusement tax, Frank H. Gollmar, former
judge and sheriff of Allegheny county, also
spoke in behalf of Nash and the public. Fred
J. Herrington, Allied MPTO secretary, said
that such acts would "kill the goose that
laid the golden egg" and that the state legislature
would not renew the "home rule"
act. Herrington also charged that the tax
was confiscatory. Representatives of West
View Park also opposed the new levy.
With a 20 per cent federal tax and a 20
per cent community tax, totaling 40 per
cent, this borough's theatre will collect the
highest amusement tax rate in the commonwealth.
BLAIRSVILLE, PA.—The borough council
dropped its proposed mercantile tax as the
result of strong opposition and has substituted
an increase on the real estate levy,
water rent and an amusement tax. Realty
tax was hiked from 8"2 mills to 9'2 mills
and water rent was jumped 10 cents on
each thousand gallons. Council members also
declared their intention to pass an ordinance
taxing amusements at a flat rate. Theatre
permit fees were raised from $50 to $100.
CLAIRTON, PA.—Final approval was
given a 10 per cent amusement tax which
will include all admissions over 15 cents
except those for students. Also passed by
council was mercantile levy of 1% mills
a
on retail and one mill on wholesale sales.
Real estate taxes were increased one mill
to a total of 16 mills.
local amusement levy yet suggested in the
state. The school district recently enacted WILKINSBURG, PA.—Borough councilmen
a 10 per cent amusement tax and now the
agreed to advertise intention of im-
borough has passed on first and second posing a 10 per cent amusement tax. Discussed
reading an ordinance which calls for another
this week also is the possibility
of
additional property taxes in Wilkinsburg.
TOLEDO—Two more Ohio municipalities
have enacted a local admissions tax. The
village council in Forest passed one, effective
March 1, and Geneva-on-the-Lake also
passed a 3 per cent tax.
LOGAN, OHIO—City Auditor Ward Chase
reported $524 was received from the new city
amusement tax during January and February.
A total of $3,000 anticipated for
is
the year.
CLARION, PA.—Council has approved on
final reading an ordinance which levies a
10 per cent tax on all theatre admissions.
PUNXSUTAWNEY, PA.—Borough
council
has adopted a 10 per cent amusement tax
which will be effective April 1.
DONORA, PA.—Theatregoers here are
paying a 2 per cent community admission
Sues as Result of Fall
BUCYRUS, OHIO—Tlie Crawford Theatre
Co., operator of the Schine Theatre here,
has been named defendant in a $10,000 damage
action brought by Mary Augustine, who
charges that she was permanently crippled
as the result of a fall in the theatre last
September.
(Twenty Years Ago)
JHE HANAPHONE, claimed to be the
simplest and most easily installed talking
movie device on the market, distributed in
Ohio by A. H. and Mayer Fischer, is now
available . . . Dan Stearns is covering the
city trade for Universal in Cleveland . . .
David Davidson, Fox city salesman in Cleveland,
is taking to the road for a change, to
get
a new viewpoint.
Moe Koppelman, Universal office manager
in Cleveland, is in Pittsburgh on sick leave
J. Gell is a student at the Cleveland
Fox exchange. He is preparing for
foreign work.
John Rehklau, former owner at the Reaper
and Dixie theatres at Monroe, Mich., has
acquired the Rivoli in Defiance, Oliio ... Hi
Henry of the Valetine Theatre, Defiance,
Ohio, is remodeling the building of which the
theatre is a part and creating a hotel.
Del Shoniger, formerly with Film Booking
Offices and Universal in Cleveland, is now
with Universal in that territory . . . Harry J.
Gell is a student at Cleveland Fox exchange,
preparatory for foreign sales work . . . William
Seitz, who has the Star Theatre in
Sandusky, let a contract for his new 2,000-
seat picture house.
Farewell Party April 5
For Louis Averbach
PITTSBURGH—Friends will stage a farewell
dinner for Louis Averbach April 5 in
the William Penn hotel. He has been promoted
by Paramount from local city salesman
to assistant mideast division manager
under Earle W. Sweigert. The committee
for the dinner includes Bert M. Stearn, David
Kimelman, David Silverman, Bob Kimelman
and Abe Weiner. William Brooks, former
booking department manager here for
Paramount, succeeded Averbach as salesman.
M-G-M TRADE SHOWING
DETROIT TERRITORY ONLY
SUMMER
HOLIDAY'
THURSDAY, MARCH 25TH - 10:30 A. M.
MAX BLUMENTHAL'S SCREENING ROOM
2310 Cass Avenue, Detroit, Michigan
John B. Murphy Dies
DETROIT—John B. Murphy, head of the
Murphy Theatre Service and general manager
of Metro Theatre Service, died at his
home here March 12. He had engaged in
theatrical advertising and premium service
operations in Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and
California, maintaining headquarters in
Detroit. He was an active member of Variety
Club of Michigan. Murphy is survived by
his wife and one son.
B^ry^r^
Yes, our New York City Branch
o« 245 WEST 55TH STREET
is now in full swing cmd
ready to serve you.
'NEW Send your next special announce-
YORK menl trailer order to Fllmack . .
PHONE ond see why exhibitors oil over
PLAZA the country get their trailers
7-3809 iroa ns.
N£W YORK
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BOXOFFICE ;: March 20, 1948

. . . Gene
. . The
. . The
Detroit Trade Spotty;
'Susie' Is Top Scorer
DETROIT— Business levels have shown
marked ups and downs again, chiefly as a result
of the immediate boxoffice and ejq^loitation
values of current attractions. The average
over-all picture, including neighborhoods,
is not encouraging momentarily.
Adams—Cass Timberlane (MGM), 3id wk UIO
Broadway Capitol—Congorilla (20th-Fox);
(20th-Fox), reissues Borneo
Cinema—Beauty and the Beast (Fiench)
au
120
Downtown—II Winter Comes (MGM), Blondie
in the Dough (Col) b5
Fox—Call Northside 777 (20th-Fox), 2nd wk lUb
Michigan— II You Knew Susie (RKO)
The Main Street Kid (Rep) 120
Palms-State—T-Men (EL); Linda Be Good
2nd wk 100
United Artists—The Voice of the Turtle (WB);
The Flame (Rep), 2nd wk 95
Swan Theatre Shutters
EDMONTON, KY.—The Swan Theatre
here is no more. The building was put on
the auction block last week and M. H. Sparks
and Ray Coleman, who operated rival theatres
previously, are now together in operation
of the Strand. Sale of the Swan did not
include the equipment. The sales contract
provided that the property may be used for
any business but a theatre.
Fire Adds to Flood
JACKSON, KY.—As if it wasn't enough
to have to close the Pastime Theatre here
because of the floods, a fire added to the
worries of Manager Crawford Adkins. The
blaze broke out in an adjacent building the
day the theatre closed and did about $350
damage to the theatre.
Negro Charges Cashier
Refused to Sell Ticket
SPRINGFIELD—Charges have been filed
in municipal court here against Mrs. Margaret
D. McLeod, cashier at the Liberty Theatre,
because of her alleged refusal to sell a
ticket to a member of the Negro race. Mrs.
McLeod denied the charge and was placed
under $50 bond. She was arrested on a warrant
signed by Auburn J. Toliver sr., who
charged she refused to sell him a ticket the
night of February 27.
"Show Boat' to Open Season
PITTSBURGH—Third summer season of
operettas under the stars in the Pitt stadium
will open with "Show Boat" June 3.
No Question on *Sin' Ads
CHARLESTON, W. VA.—The Greenbrier
Theatre here ran "Wages of Sin" on a regular
four-day run recently. Advertising for
the informational picture was run in
the local
Gazette and Mail. J. C. Shanklin of the
Greenbrier reports there never was any
question about the "Wages of Sin" ads.
TOLEDO
•The Variety Club held a box social in its
clubrooms March 10, followed by a card
party . club is now sending suitable
films to the youngsters at the Child Study
Institute twice a month. This is the same
schedule it has in force for the Lott day
school.
"Pickup Girl" played on the Town Hall
stage March 18-20 with Peggy Ami Garner,
20th Century-Fox starlet, in the star role
Autry will visit the Sports arena
April 2 for matinee and evening shows with
his radio troupe . Toledo Film council
was organized here recently to promote
use of educational and documentary films
by civic, social and educational groups.
Indoors or out DeVrys the buy/
For 250-seat to 6,000 seat theatres ANA: Terre Haute
and outstandingly for drive-ins with Drive-In. IOWA:
up to 1,000 car capacity—the trend is Drive-In at Sioux
definitely to DeVry "12000" Series City. OHIO: "Sciota''
at Ports-
projectors, amplifiers and in-car
speakers.
mouth, "Triangle"
Toledo's Sports and Home show attracted
Typical of
record crowds to the Civic auditorium March
DEVRY-equipped outdoor
theatres now being readied for
13-21 . . . Harry Callahan has been named
spring opening is the model Drive-In
assistant to James Nederlander, manager of
at Muncie, Indiana, shown in the airview
shot above. Other DeVry Charlotte.
installations
being made for the coming
season are:
CALIFORNIA: Drive-In near San
Diego. GEORGIA: Drive-In Theatres
at Thomasville & Moultrie. INDIsure
and see DeVry before you buy.
faction, increased
box office take,
closer approach to
the perfect show
indoors or out —
WEST VIRGINIA • PENN.
buy DeVry
"12000 Lovett Series"
& CompanK
theatre projectors 323 W. Pike Street
P. 0. Box 1127
Clarksburo, West Virsinia
See them at the
Phone:
DeVry dealer
6360, After Hrs. 5866
nearest you.
ruling never before had been put to a test
on this particular section of the manual.
LOUISVILLE 2,
The case was brought to light when they
FOR THE PERFECT SHOW
were listed among 136 Ohioans cited on
Indoors or Out
charges of sales tax violations.
BOXOFFICE March :: 20, 1948
the Town Hall Theatre. Callahan is the
brother of Emmett Callahan, general manager
of the firm of Lewis and Young, producers
of "I Remember Mama" and "Lady
Windemere's Fan."
Two policemen. Raymond C. Malicki and
Marvin B. Hauser, who admitted ownership
and operation of the Alan, a neighborhood
house, are awaiting an interpretation of the
police annual regarding the operation of a
private business in violation of police regulations.
The two patrolmen pointed out that
they did not visit the theatre while on duty
and that the business was operated by their
wives and hired employes. The police manual
expressly bans members of the force from
following any other calling or being employed
in any other business. However, a
Imington.
Also Drive-Ins at Springfield and St.
Marys. MICHIGAN: Drive-In at
Grand Rapids. NORTH CAROLINA:
Drive-Ins at Asheville, Stateville &
PENNSYLVANIA: "Family"
Drive-In at New Kensington.
TEXAS: Drive-In at Midland. WEST
VIRGINIA: Drive-In at Elkins and
Meadowbrook. CANADA: Peter
Drive-In, Lansing, Ontario.
// you contemplate modernizing present equipment or building anew, be
nS^* DeVry
1420 Canfield Avenui
Dayton 6. Ohio
Telephone: Taylor 7511
AD 9644
KENTUCKY
73

. . . Mel
. . Nick
. . Ann
York . . . Charles Garner, independent distributor,
received a huge souvenir card from
Monogram, cooked up by Walter Corey and
the gang for his birthday . . . Jack G'Donnell.
Monogram auditor, was a visitor . . .
. . The
ERNIE
FORBES
214 W. Montcalm
Detroit 1, Mich.
Phone CAdillac 1122
DETROIT
Cam Merson has sold the Amsterdam and
will leave shortly on a vacation, but will
return to the theatre field here later. New
owner is Bert Ogus, a reserve air force lieutenant,
who is a newcomer in the field . . .
David Korman, independent circuit owner, is
taking over the Oakland Theatre in Highland
Park from Charles Stepanauckas, and
will rename it the Lenox.
Clair Townsend, Eagle Lion manager, set
"The Smugglers" to open at the Fox March
10 . . . Garnet Dewitt of the Liberty has
moved back to Van Dyke . . . Floyd Akins
reports the Nightingales all set to roll in
the big ABC tournament . Forest of
the Time gets the blame for National Theatre
Supply's losing three games to Altec, even
though NTS kept the lead by two points.
Arthur Sedwick, operator at the Moran.
has moved to Holden avenue . Mack
of the Mack Theatre Service good person
is a
to know when you're picking the ponies
Shaw, director for the Walt Disney
Studios, was in town for the Nan Blakstone
opening at the Bali.
Bob Buermele of General Theatre Service
says his office isn't booking for the late Wesley
Tliiel's Gem at Pigeon . . . Former Inspector
Charles W. Snyder is getting his
basic training in his new post as executive
secretary of Allied Theatres . . . Lawrence
Shubnell has taken over Allied Theatre Service
independently, and is now booking eight
theatres. He is launching a drive for additional
houses.
Maxie Gealer, Associated circuit chief in
Flint, is back from a business trip to New
Looking For Film Ro'w Contacts?
Office
or desk space available.
Telephone — secretarial service —
personal representation.
Box 1005
1009 Fox Bldg., Detroit 1, Mich.
LONG SIGN CO.
MARQUISE SIGNS
MAINTENANCE SERVICE
840 W. Baltimore, Detroit — TR 1-5477
TheatrfSign and Marquee Maintenance
/^n^_ Our Specialty
^tforstma^n

. . Alvin
. . RKO
. . Mrs.
. . The
. . Mr.
. . The
. . Loew's
. .
Princess Remodeling
Is Started in Toledo
TOLEDO— Complete remodeling of the
Princess Theatre, at a cost of approximately
$100,000 has begun. This is in preparation
for placing first run Paramount pictures in
the Princess by July 1, when the Balaban &
Katz lease expires on the 3.400-seat Paramount.
The Pi'incess will remain open during
the remodeling, with construction work
to go on from 7 a. m. to 3:30 p. m., and the
program opening at 4 p. m.
Capacity of the 900-seat house will remain
unchanged, Manager Giles Robb said. Improvements
will include new sound and projection
equipment, modern lighting and
heating plants, a new stone front, larger and
more modern rest rooms, new seats, and
strengthening of the structure, one of the
oldest theatres in the city.
Plans for the proposed new Paramount are
Hearing completion and contracts are expected
be awarded this spring, according
to
to Marvin Harris, manager. The Carl G.
Schwyn circuit. Bowling Green, Ohio, has
leased the present Paramount and will spend
$250,000 on remodeling.
25.000 Jam Springfield
For Car Presentation
SPRINGFIELD—A Crowed estimated at
25,000 persons, the biggest to pack the downtown
district since VJ day, according to the
Chamber of Commerce, turned out the night
of March 11 for the presentation at the State
Theatre of a 1948 Mercury sedan.
All five Chakeres houses, the Regent, State.
Majestic, Ohio and Fairbanks, were sold out
and crowds lined the streets outside the theatres
and extended through the business section.
M. H. Chakeres. city manager of the
theatres, estimated that nearly 20,000 admissions
were sold by his theatres during the
day. Award of the car culminated a threemonth
promotion. The car was obtained by
the theatres without any cost in a direct
promotion with the R. J. States Motors, local
Mercury -Lincoln dealer. In return the dealer
was given screen advertising in trailers.
The crowd was so great for the presentation
that Chakeres was unable to gain admission
to the State. Finally he went to his offices
above the State.
RKO Rolls High Game
In Detroit Pin Loop
DETROIT—Last-place RKO rolled the
high team score in last week's play in the
Film Bowling league. The RKO outfit
turned in a score of 2,633, and a high single
game of 939. Allied holds to its league lead,
with Cooperative in second place. Monogram
third and Republic fourth. Second
high score last week was Republic's 2,574.
Cooperative rolled 2,558. Best individual
scores were J. Pavella's 657, W. Goryl's 617
and K. Anderson's 614. High individual
games were C. Sheran, 246; J. Pavella, 245;
E. Beck, 236; R. Lamb, 201 and 212; D. Fill,
211; C. Baker, 208, and A. Kaskie, 205.
In the Nightingale league. National Theatre
Supply continues to set the pace, with
Altec close behind and McArthur Theatre
Equipment and Lorenzen's Flower Shop
within striking distance. High scores last
week were: Joseph Michel, 201; Jack Colwell,
205, and Francis Light, 210.
PITTSBURGH
J^ C. Burwell of the Burwell in Parkersburg,
W. 'Va., is remodeling and enlarging his
Blenner Hassett hotel there . . . John Panopoulos,
former Belington, W. 'Va., exhibitor,
visited there last week from his home
in Florida . John D. -Walsh, wife of
the local Fulton manager, and her mother
have been vacationing in New York . . . Mrs.
Stanley Dudelson, wife of the RKO salesman,
and son Mark have returned to their
home in Monessen after spending several
weeks in Detroit.
Mr. and Mrs. R. Keith Chambers, exhibitors
of Parsons, -W. -Va., are recuperating
after being hospitalized there .
. . Mrs.
P. M. Thomas of the Parker in Parkersburg,
W. ^Va., is vacationing in Florida . . . Mr.
and Mrs. James H. Alexander of Alexander
Theatre Supply were in Baltimore visiting
their daughter. Alexander's partner, Sam
Fineberg, spent a week in Phoenix, Ariz.,
with his family ... A recent Filmrow visitor
was Louis Isaacs, brother of Leo, Columbia
salesman.
Chester DeMarsh of the Larkfield drivein
near Grove City will be represented on
Filmrow for booking and buying by Lou
Haima . Radio exchange employes
will have a special party the evening of April
12, the hosts being the branch manager, salesmen,
office manager and bookers . . . Lew
Hepinger, Clarion, was a Filmrow shopper
prior to departing on motor tour of the
a
southwest and Mexico.
James H. Rankin, veteran Bridgeville exhibitor,
has recuperated very satisfactorily
at home following an operation . . . Numerous
friends in the industry will extend good
wishes to Lou Averbach at a dinner in the
William Penn hotel the evening of April 5.
Former city salesman for Paramount, Averbach
is this company's newly appointed assistant
mideast division
manager.
All members of the industry are invited
to attend and participate with the Filmrow
Bowhng league in a special roller-skating
party the evening of April 19 at Navarl's
Flamingo roller palace. East Liberty. The
Filmrow party is for Bowling league members
and friends and all members of the industry
Seller's ^Vox in Ligonier will
be closed March 21-23 for spring renova-
Estimates on the city's 10 per cent
amusement tax is that the levy will produce
about $1,500,000 a year. From January 1 to
March 12 the income was approximately
$225,000. Up to Friday last week March had
produced $100,397.
. . . Jules Lapidus
David Silverman, RKO city salesman, has
been elected to the board of directors of
the Irene Kaufmann Center in Squirrel Hill.
The center is a branch of the Irene Kaufmann
and
Settlement
Charles Rich, 'Warners eastern division and
district managers respectively, were here for
several days on business with "Dinty" Moore,
local manager . Bill Pinkels, southside
exhibitors, have returned from vacationing
in Florida.
John J. Maloney, MOM central division
manager, held a meeting here last Friday
with four branch managers: Jack Sogg, Cleveland;
E. M. Booth, Cincinnati; P. J. Downey,
Detroit, and Saal Gottlieb, Pittsburgh
. . . Joe Minsky, Eagle Lion district manager,
was here conferring with James Hendel,
manager . and Mrs. Werner Lund,
circuit exhibitors, flew to Chicago last Friday
to attend the opening of "Citizen
Saint."
.
Vincent J. Corso's Star Distributing
Agency has been named booker-buyer for
J. K. "Jack" Kaupp's Cuppie's Dirive-In Theatre
near Brownsville. Mrs. Betty Wilson,
Kaupp's daughter, will manager the outdoor
theatre this season Penn
sneak previewed "The Bride Goes Wild" . . .
Monongahela City's amusement tax is one
cent on every 25 cents or fraction thereof
of admission. Thus the tax is 2 cents on
adult tickets and 1
cent on children's tickets.
A return engagement of "Gentleman's
Agreement" is dated for the Harris Senator
March 20. It played a prerelease engagement
in the J. P. Harris and the Senator
.. . Jay Williams, Ligonier, who had been
sick, was a Filmrow visitor . . . Phillip B.
Knapp, representative of UA-Theatre Guild,
assisted in having Marion county principals
approve "Henry V" and pupils with tickets
were excused the afternoon of March 3 to
attend a matinee at the New Fairmont, Fairmont,
W. -Va. Don Wermuth, manager of
the theatre, received unsolicited letters of
endorsement of the picture from ministers
and educators Hollywood Grille,
Sharon, presents fom- hours of motion pictures
three nights weekly with "no admission,
no cover charge, no minimum charge,
no tax."
The Altoona Film Art club is presenting a
series of "fine" motion pictures in the Rivoli
for the benefit of the Altoona Civic Symphony
. . . George Carey, electrician in
Loew's Perm, vacationed in Baltimore .
Mary Martin in "Annie Get Your Gun"
opens March 15 for a two-week engagement
in the Nixon, with orchestra seats priced at
$5.20.
"Unconquered" returns to the Penn April
1 at regular admission prices . . . Tex Ritter
is dated for personal appearances in several
Warner theatres in the area . . . ^Vince
Jasack, formerly of Filmrow, who has been
connected with the industry in exhibition on
the west coast for six years or so, has returned
here. He stopped in Phoenix and
visited with Charlie Truran, former Meadville
theatre manager . . . John H. Harris
and George Eby have returned from Hollywood.
Boyd Chamberlain, 17-year-old son of the
Leslie Chamberlains. Johnstown exhibitors,
hospitalized for nearly three months and with
a rare blood disease, has improved and has
been returned to his home. He has been
invited to be a guest of the Pittsburgh
Pirates at the opening game of the season
here. Boyd, Dale high school athlete, received
35 blood transfusions while in the
hospital. is His father recovering at home
from a recent operation at Memorial hospital.
Of all the dozen or more enterprises Johnny
Harris is interested in, hockey remains
his first love, reports Al Abrams, Post-Gazette
sports editor. Harris' popular Hornets
(Continued on next page)
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948
75

. . . Leonard
. .
. .
PITTSBURGH
I
Continued from preceding page)
have only the Pittsburgh Steelers, pro gridders,
to dispute their claim as the best drawing
card here the past two years . . . Jack
Balmer, new manager at the Gardens, celebrates
his birthday every four years, February
29.
Ralph M. Felton, vi*io will open the 500-
car Spotlight drive-in on Route 88 near
Beaver Falls, is an old-timer in the industry.
He was associated with Speer Marousis in
New Castle and years ago with the Regent,
Beaver Falls. In the silent days, he was a
theatre pianist. Alexander Theatre Supply
is equipping the Spotlight and Lou Hanna
will serve as booker and buyer . . . Schoolboy
safety patrol members were guests of the
Butler in Butler last Saturday.
Jake and Ike Silverman, who sold their
Strand and Logan in Altoona to the Fabian
interests, are keeping busy with operation of
the Blair, Hollidaysburg. Jake is removing
his office from the Strand and he hopes to
get started on a vacation. Ike devotes most
of his time to the candy business . . . Jacob
Stefanow, son-in-law of Joseph L. Delisi.
Blatt drive-in, Altoona, which will open in
May.
Ben Wachnansy, former Detroit representative
of the Jacobs Bros.' Sportservice, Inc.,
concessionaires, has replaced Herb Ochs as
supervising manager for the outdoor theatres
and was around Filmi'ow on booking
duties for the drive-in on Route 22, outside
Wilkinsburg.
Newt Williams, National Theatre Supply
manager, visited his dauglhter in Cleveland
Mintz, UA's new branch manager,
and family have moved into a new
apartment on Fifth avenue . . . Professional
bingo has been banned in Pittsburgh by
Mayor David Lawrence . . . Acme-Franklin
employes gave Lou Hanna a wrist watch and
a desk set on his birthday.
Feature Role in "Hollow Triumph'
Benny Rubin gets a featiu-e role in "Hollow
Triumph." Paul Henreid is the star
in this opus now under way for Eagle Lion.
Steve Broidy, Moe Silver
Enjoy Recalling Boyhood
PITTSBURGH—Steve Broidy, president of
Monogram and Allied Artists, and Moe Silver,
Warner circuit zone manager, enjoyed
a reunion here Thui-sday last week when
Broidy visited the city on behalf of "Panhandle."
Silver told guests at a luncheon
of his and Broidy's boyhood days together
and Broidy told of early experiencese as a
film distributor. He asked for exhibitor support
of the various independent producerdistributors.
Among those who attended the luncheon
were Harry Feinstein, Joseph Feldman.
James M. Totman, Ben Steerman, John T.
McGreevey, Bill Zeiler, Morris M. Finkel,
Mannie Greenwald, Lloyd Baker, Joseph Fecheck,
John S. Stahl, Harry Long, James H.
Nash, Russ Zebra and Abe Weiner.
Hillbilly Acts Set Tone
For 'Albuquerque' Date
DETROIT—Opening of "Albuquerque"- at
the Palms-State Theatre is being tied in
with a Hillbilly jamboree, angled to appeal
to Detroit's huge population from the southern
and southwestern states. Event is being
retired ejchibitor who operates a bowling alley
in Ebensburg, has been managing the staged as a midnight session on Saturday
Liberty, Nanty Glo, for several months night, with local hillbilly recording artists
.
Tom Bello jr., son of the Nanty Glo city and radio personalities participating. The
stage show is being used in publicity and
representative for the Blatt circuit, now
managing the circuit's theatre at Roaring advertising to set the tone of appeal for the
picture.
Springs, has been named manager of the
Urges Easter Seal Drive
CLEVELAND— Ernest Schwartz, president
of the Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitors
Ass'n, notified members that the board of
directors approved and urged members to
show on their screen the Easter seal trailer
March 17-28. The trailer runs less than 60
seconds and is furnished by National Screen
Service without charge. The trailer involves
no theatre collection, but reminds patrons
to send campaign contributions to campaign
headquarters.
'Bells' Preview for Miners
PITTSBURGH—An audience of coal miners
will preview Jesse L. Lasky's "The Miracle
of the Bells" at the Park. Library, in connection
with the area premiere of the picture.
Lasky is expected to visit Pittsburgh
along with Russell Janney, author of the
best-seller, and several film personalities.
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Including
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CLEVELAND
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Ward Marsh, photoplay editor of the
Plain Dealer, has gone to the west coast
for firsthand stories on film production and
stars . . . Harry Perse of Capitol Theatre
Supply in New York was an Oliver Film
Harold Dunne, Eagle
Supply visitor . . .
Lion circuit sales manager, was here for
conference with Warner film buyer Tony
Stern . . . J. S. Jossey of Hygienic Productions
has joined the Florida unit of "Mom
and Dad," stopping on the way south in
Forsyth, Ga., to visit his mother.
Word comes from Dunkirk that William
N. Day jr., owner of the Grand there, suffered
a stroke and is now at San Antonio
hospital in nearby Kenton. His condition is
reported to be fair . . . Howard Reiff of the
Scoville, Essick & Reif circuit flew in from
Florida . . . P. E. Essick of the same circuit
and wife left over the weekend for a vacation
in Florida.
Bemie Rubin of Imperial Pictures will
hold an invitational screening of "The Barber
of Seville" at 10 a. m. April 10 at the
University. Guest list includes leading musicals,
faculty members of the Institute of
Music, civic and club leaders. The picture
opens its local first run there April 21.
Gertrude Tracy, manager of the Knickerbocker,
is increasing the importance of her
theatre as a center of activity by means
of neighborhood merchant promotions. She
has promoted an Easter program in which
several merchants are participating and who,
in turn, are given screen credits. Also, it
being spring, she promoted six bicycles to
boost Saturday matinee attendance. It all
helps to fill the Knickerbocker cash box.
First run downtown theatres got off to a
very bad start last Thursday when the city
was in the grip of a blizzard. City transit
officials broadcast a request for people to
stay at home if possible, and also requested
plants to stagger closing times so that the
transit burden could be handled. The snow
and cold set a record for March.
Albert Dezel of Screen Guild was in town
on a one-day visit with Manager Edwin R.
Bergman . . . Jules Lapidus. Warner division
sales manager, stopped off en route to New
York for a routine visit with Charles Rich,
district manager, and Jerry Wechsler, branch
manager . . . Stuart Miller, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Richard Miller, popcorn machine
manufacturer and grandson of W. B. Horwitz,
general manager of the Washington
circuit, was bar mitzvah last week.
A capacity audience turned out last Friday
morning at a preview at the Lower Mall
of "Bill and Coo." Guests included heads of
all PTAs, the clergy, Cinema club and Mo-
tion Picture council members and educa-
Mrs. Herbert
Ochs has returned from Boston where she
visited her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and
Mrs. Peter Hill, and their son Michael. Pete
is finishing his senior year at M.I.T. and
after graduation will take charge of the family's
drive-in theatres in Canada.
The MGM exchange remodeling is completed
and now is a symphony in green with
walnut-like walls reserved for Manager Jack
Sogg and Dorsey Brown, office manager.
BOXOFFICE March 20, 1948

White-Libson Renovates
2 Theatres; Plans More
CINCINNATI — The Maury White-Bud
Libson circuit has completed redecoration
and modernization of two of its Hippodi'omes
in Newport, Ky., and the Hollywood in the
College Hill section here. The circuit plans
to continue this program at other houses
which require it.
The Hippodrome received an entirely different
lighting system and a new front and
renovated marquee. The entire front is of
porcelain. The Hollywood was redecorated
both inside and out. and received new seats,
carpets, hghting, tile washrooms, a new
front, marquee and lobby.
Dawo Co. of Toledo Offers
Water-Resistant Speaker
TOLEDO—A new drive-in theatre in-acar
speaker set has been announced by the
Dawo Co. here. Named the Challenger 7600,
it features cast aluminum cases, Neoprene
coated cables, water-resistant speakers, and
a mounting flange cast on to fit standard
two-Inch pipe with no threading of the pipe.
The cases are finished in bakei-in Hammerloid.
The speakers have been fully .submerged
in water up to 150 times with no effect
on their quality or life.
Blast Damages Theatre
MOUNT UNION. PA.—Several patrons in
the Shapiro here were injured the evening
of March 13 when a boiler in the basement
of an adjoining drug store exploded and
ripped through the theatre auditorium's concrete
floor. Extensive property damage was
not estimated. The theatre, owned by Joseph
C. Shapiro, is being remodeled and repaired
for immediate reopening.
Salesmen Elect Officers
CLEVELAND—Aaron Wayne, Paramount
salesman, was elected president of the local
Salesmen's club at a meeting at the Ifariety
Club. Wayne succeeds Oscar Kantor in the
top spot. Other officers elected: First vicepresident.
Pi-ank Belles, RKO: second vicepresident,
Alex Schimel, U-I; secretary,
Justin Spiegel, Eagle Lion, and treasurer, Nat
Barach. manager of National Screen Service.
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LOUISVILLE
The planning: and zoning commission turned
down the drive-in theatre application of
G. G. Boiling who asked permission to build
on land between two cemeteries. The area
is zoned for single-family dwellings. Neighbors
said traffic problems already were
acute in the area ... At least three of Louisville's
downtown theatres are contemplating
the installation of television equipment.
Listed as interested are the National, Loew's
and Rialto.
Out-of-town visitors in town recently included
Andy Anderson of the Ander.son circuit.
Bowling Green; Robert L. Gastrost, Vine
Grove; J. F. Bobbitt. Stearns: Silver Raley,
Tell City, Ind.: Morris Smith, Taylonsville;
M. H. Sparks, Edmonton: C. O. Humston.
LawTenceburg; John Hicks, Hindman: Bob
Enoch, Eliza bethtown; C. K. Arnold, Bardstown,
and Louis Chowning, New Washington.
Ind.
Arnold and Sisco's new theatre to be built
in Bardstown will be named the Melody,
which seems to be very appropriate, as Bardstown
is the birthplace of Stephen Foster,
the famous songwriter. It is intended that
the decorations of the theatre follow a musical
theme in conformance with the name
. . . Eric Hammel, who resigned some time
ago as resident manager of Chakeres Theatres
in Winchester. Ky.. to enter the clothing
business in New York, has returned to
the theatre business and is scheduled to
take over as manager of the Burley and
Shelby theatres, Shelbyville. also owned by
Chakeres. He will replace Leonard Bale,
who is resigning to enter the grocery business.
A series of old foreign pictures is being
presented by the University of Louisville
humanities division. The first films, shown
last week, were of Swedish origin and will
be followed by Russian, French and German
films . . . John Hicks has announced plans
for the construction of a new theatre in
Hindman, Ky., to replace the Hindman Theatre,
which was destroyed by fire a few
months back.
Eugene N. Diefenbach has been added to
the sales personnel of the Falls City Theatre
Equipment Co. ... A Hillbilly jamboree
was presented on the stage of the Airway,
a Louisville suburban house, after the
regular Saturday night show. For this show
prices were advanced to 50 cents, plus tax,
for adults, and 15 cents for children, tax
included. The Airway is managed by Vernon
Powell.
Changing somewhat from the recent trend
of holdovers and reissues, most of the local
first runs produced new product during the
week. "Tycoon" opened at the Rialto on a
bill, single as did "My Girl Tisa" at the
Mary Anderson. Firing double bills were the
Strand, with "Louisiana" and "Fighting
Mad," and Loew's with "A Double Life"
and "The Chinese Ring." The National continued
its
stage show policy, bringing in
the Ink Spots to go with "Philo Vance Returns"
on the screen.
M. H. Sparks of Edmonton, Ky.. whose
Strand Theatre opened eight months ago to
compete with Ray Coleman's Swan Theatre,
.
purchased the Swan recently and closed
the house soon after. According to Sparks,
the Swan will be remodeled for use in business
other than theatre. With the closing
of the Swan, the new Strand is the only theatre
in operation in Edmonton, However,
due to its large seating capacity, it is entirely
adequate for the town. No immediate plans
were announced by Coleman.
J. T. Kennedy jr., of Winchester, Ky., is
operating a portable theatre in Campton, Ky.
A regular theatre was under construction in
Campton but before it was completed the
building was converted into another type of
structure . . . Joe E. Brown, who starred in
"Harvey" at Memorial Auditorium, was presented
a gold .star by the War Dads of Kentucky.
Brown lo.st a son in the Pacific during
World War II.
A determined drive to put Louisville on
daylight saving time despite refusal of the
general assembly to pass enabling legislation
has been launched by the Junior Chamber of
Commerce. In a letter to more than 500
business firms and organizations, the chamber
asked that offices, factories, stores, banks
and churches voluntarily set their clocks forward
one hour on the last Sunday in April
"or change their hours of operation to begin
and end one hour earlier." The majority of
Louisville theatre owners seem to be definitely
opposed to the daylight saving time.
Gene Lutes, district manager for Chakeres
Theatres, was in town to attend the Southeastern
conference basketball tournament.
Gene is an ardent basketball fan and a staimch
supporter of the University of Kentucky team,
and rarely misses an opportunity to see them
in action. Other visitors on the local scene
included: J. F. Carnahan, Manchester, Ky.;
B. D. Arnold. Bardstown. Ky.
The spirit of goodwill is prevailing at the
Bloom, Bloomfield, Ky. Roland Foster, general
manager of the Sanders Theatres in
Campbellsville, Ky., took time out from his
duties to help another Roland Foster, the
owner of the Bloom, get off to a good start
with the opening of his new theatre. While
they have identical names, they are not related;
in fact, only learned of the existence
of each other recently.
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BOXOFFICE March 20, 1948

. . . Warren
. . . The
. . Ann
. .
CINCINNATI
J^ee Heidlngsfeld, RKO booker, has acquired
a 1948 maroon Studebaker . . . J. L. Wetzel
of the Dayton Film Co., who operates
the V Theatre, and the Skyline Drive-In,
Dayton, will book and buy for the following
new drive-ins to open in May or June: Dixie
at Troy, Moe Potasky, owner: Skyway of
Springfield, Bellnori, Inc., owner: Moonlight,
Chillicothe, and Portsmouth in Portsmouth,
owned by Barton Cook and Ed
Payne; Lancaster, Carlos Crumm and George
Pulliam, owners: Starlite, St. Henry, Frank
Feltz, and associates, owners.
Messrs. Dinkle and LaMasters of Raceland,
Ky., have purchased the Midway Theatre,
Midway, Ky., from Mrs. Lenore B. Hurt
Corbus of the Center and New
Liberty here will leave after Easter with his
wife and his brother-in-law for a 30-day
stay in Florida.
When Mose and Don Reda, London, Ky.,
opened their new Reda Theatre there was
quite a large contingent of local film men
present: namely, Milton Gurrian, Monogram:
Manny Nagle and Robert McNab, 20th-
Fox: Ralph Sayer, Warners: George Gomersall.
U-I: Tommy Fisher and Jim Ware,
Midwest Theatre Supply; Lou Siebert, Eagle
Lion; Manny Trautenberg, United Artists:
Jim Curran, Republic, and Dave Stenger,
Film Classics. Don Reda gave a party for
business associates and friends at his home
after
the opening of the 900-seat deluxer.
Cooperative Theatre Service of Pittsburgh
will handle the buying of film for the Alpine
Southern circuit comprising the Victory,
Spring Hill: LaBelle and Mound, South
Charleston: Eskdale, Eskdale, W. Va.; Alpine
and Trail, East Rainelle; the Alpine
FIRST IN
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UDT's 2,500-seat "Woods" at Grosse
Point Woods, and Vince Laica's 500-seat
"New" at New Baltimore simultaneously
announce the first Mid-East installations
of Heywood-Wakefield's newly introduced
"Encore" line of theatre chairs.
Ned Oglesby, H-W Michigan salesman,
invites exhibitors to inspect the
two installations.
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theatres in Sutton, Gassaway, Ripley and
Ravenswood; Boone, Whitesville; and Cowen,
Cowen, all in West Virginia.
Frank Mandros, Charleston, has sold his
Best Theatre there to Allen Gunter of Pratt,
W. Va. Gunter assumed operation on March
1 . . . Lee Goldberg, Popular Pictures, went
to New York to attend a franchise holders'
meeting of Realart Pictures . . . William
Munsey, Bluefield, W. Va., visited the exchanges
after a long absence. George Frehling,
a nephew of Max Matz who is connected
with the Colonial Theatre, accompanied
him.
Lebanon; Ralph Sacker, Lawrenceburg; Si
James, Eaton; Fred Felwig, Charleston;
F. M. Clemens, Beckley Open Air, Beckley,
W. Va.
The son of Bill Macklin of the Ernst Realty
Co., Covington, Ky., who was stricken with
polio around the Christmas holidays, has
left the Children's hospital, and is recuperating
at home. It is expected his recovery
will be complete with no after-effects of the
sickness . . . Joe Lee, of Covington, Ohio,
spent several days in Michigan the past
week.
O. G. Roaden's new theatre in Middlesboro,
Ky., will be formally opened March 25
new house in Woodbine, Ky., is expected
to open about April 1 . . . Charles
Cassinelli of Mullens and Pineville, W. Va.,
and Lloyd Rogers, Welch, are vacationing in
Hot Springs, Ark.
.
Myrtle Raney, former biller for RKO who
is now Uving in Huntington, W. Va., is the
mother of a baby girl McHugh, now
Mrs. Lawrence Digiovenale, formerly in the
20th-Fox bookkeeping department, gave
birth to a baby daughter.
Arthur Greenblatt, eastern sales manager
for Screen Guild Productions, spent several
days with local Manager Ed Salzberg .
Jack Frisch, head of the Tristate Booking Co.
has employed Vernon Berg, former Warner
publicist, as field contact man. Tristate has
Charles Palmer, veteran film salesman in
the Cincinnati territory, has joined the
Monogram staff. He will continue in the
West Virignia territory where he was assigned
by Columbia many years. He replaces Ezra
Skirball, who resigned to join his brother
in the operation of some drive-in tiheatres^
The Hippodrome in Newport has been extensively
remodeled, Carl Knox, manager,
reported.
COLUMBUS
TTieatremen and film editors were among
the guests at a luncheon at wliich
Adolphe Menjou was guest of honor. Menjou
plugged "State of the Union" during his oneday
visit . . . Robert F. Boda, manager of the
Hartman, and Paul C. Winkhaus, publicity
director of Al C. Haft Enterprises, are the
newest resident members of the Variety
Club. Lester Thai is a new associate member.
Edmund Lowe, starring here in "Mary
Had a Little," was made an honorary member
of the club.
Jack Shea of the Shea circuit was in with
Carroll Lawler of the Shea booking department
in New York. Exhibitors on the Row:
Frank Yassenoff, Columbia; Sante Macci,
Greenville; Floyd Price, Newark; James Denton,
Owingsville, Ky.; John Gregory, Dayton;
Bill Settos, Springfield; Raw Law, first run pictures. The theatre, built 75
Lou Holleb, manager of the Majestic, has
taken a long-term lease on the Imperial in
ZanesviUe and will take over operation May
1. Holleb said he will remodel the theatre
and install new seats before opening with
years ago, was originally known as the
Schultz Opera House. Until recently it was
one of five ZanesviUe theatres operated by
M. L. Shea, Inc., of New York. No successor
to Holleb at the Majestic has been announced.
William O. Queen, nnanager of the Wilmar,
was permitted to retain his vendor's license
after a hearing before the state tax commissioner,
who found "no willful violation" of
the sales tax law. He said he could find no
evidence of willful violation but ordered an
audit of Queen's sales records and ordered
that any deficiency be paid. Queen told the
hearing committee the only taxable item in
his theatre is popcorn. He said he made out
his own tax returns, paid 3 per cent tax on
gross sales twice a year and thought it unnecessary
to tear off tax stamps. The commissioner
warned that in the future Queen
would be required to purchase sales tax
stamps and cancel them with each taxable
sale as required by law.
Mary McGavran, theatre editor of the
Journal, is back at her desk after a brief
illness . . . Cecil Sansbtiry and his wife Aim
are co-editors of the projected new Variety
Club newspaper, which may be called the
Barker, the Playbill or Varietypes.
Avert Serious Deny Fire
DERRY, PA.—Prompt discovery of smoke
pouring from Harry Rachiele's Gem in mid-
added following accounts: Alhambra Theatre, afternoon last Thiu-sday, averted what might
Columbus, and have transferred I. G. Hutchison,
formerly of the Findlay Theatre, to Columbus
have been a bad fire.
the volunteer department
Responding promptly,
extinguished
fire
to manage the Alhambra for the the fire under a stairway leading to the bal-
owner.
cony. Defective wiring was the cause of the
blaze, according to firemen. Damage
amounted to several hundred dollars. Fred
Piper, manager, closed the balcony but was
Reg. U. S Pal. Off
ATTENDANCE BOOSTER
For Inionnation, Write, Wire or Phone
FOTO-PAY-DAY, INC.
161 W. Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee 3. Wi;
permitted to open the Gem that evening.
Repairs were made this week, according to
Harry Rachiele, theatre owner of Derry,
Sharpsburg and Blawnox.
Winners by the Dozens
CLEVELAND—Confusion reigned supreme
at two neighborhood houses one night recently
thi-ough a freak of circumstances over
which no one had any control. At the Hough
79th Street Theatre, the cash giveaway
game resulted in 148 winners instead of the
usual single winner. The management
presented each winner with 50 cents and a
pass. At the Lyceum there were 50 claimants
for the $570 cash award, which was divided
equally.
BOXOFFICE :; March 20, 1948

. . Nathan
. .
W.J. 'Doc' Ryan Dies
Of Heart Attack
WORCESTER—Show circles here were
shocked at word of the death in Los Angeles
of William J. "Doc" Ryan jr., former
manager of three Worcester theatres. He was
42. Death was attributed to a heart attack.
He had been in California since last August,
going there from Newport, R. I., to
manage a drive-in for the Pacific Drive-In
Theatres, owned by Charles A. Caballero.
former operator of the Plymouth here.
Ryan began theatre work at the present
Loew's Poli here in 1929, serving as assistant
to Thomas J. Meehan. Later he managed
the Elm Street while it was still owned by
the late S. Z. Poli. In 1934 he became manager
of the Plymouth, when it was taken
over by Caballero and Fanchon and Marco.
In 1937 he became house manager of the
Roxy in New York. He also was associated
with the New York world's fair.
Returning to Worcester, he managed the
Olympia briefly before joining the USO.
serving mostly in the Rhode Island area.
In 1928 he was graduated from Holy
Cross college, where he was a pitcher on
the varsity baseball squad. Surviving are
his wife, two children, his father and two
sisters.
Hartford Area Drive-ins
To Open After Easter
HARTFORD—George E. Landers, Hartford
division manager for E. M. Loew's Theatres,
announced that the circuit's drive-ins
at Milford and Newington. Conn., will be
reopened "between Easter Sunday and April
15." Manager of the Milford is Carl Halpern.
The Newington is managed by Vincent
O'Brien.
FALL RIVER
John McAvoy, Embassy manager, was an uiterested
spectator at the Southeastern
Massachusetts basketball tourney. McAvoy
is an alumnus of Durfee . Yamins
and his wife, who have been spending several
months in Palm Beach, are due to return
next month. Yamins theatres showed trailers
of Girl Scout programs during the organization's
anniversary observance.
Manager Carl Zeitz of the Academy and
Mrs. Zeitz have returned from New York .
Cashiers and candy girls at the Academy
soon wiU be outfitted in a new costume consisting
of a royal blue smock with the theatre
emblem on the sleeve.
Jacocks, Kilpatrick Quit
B&Q; Dan Finn Moves In
'Ends of Earth' Strong
In Hub First Runs
BOSTON—A moderate week was reported
by first run houses. The weather was milder
but rain hurt somewhat. The standout was
the Keith-Boston, where Stan Kenton's band
drew well. "To the Ends of the Earth" at
the State and Orpheum also was a hit and
was held over. The double bill of "A Woman's
Vengeance" and "An Ideal Hu.sband"
were good at the Memorial. "Call Northside
777" had a better-bhan-average second week
at the Met and moved to the Pa;ramoimt and
Fenway.
(Average Is 100)
Astor—The Bishop's Wile (RKO). 11th wk 85
Boston—Perilous Wtrters (Mono), plus Stan
Kenton's bond MO
Exeter Street—Captain Boycott (U-1) VZi
Kenmor^Panic (Tncolore), 4th v/k 90
Memorial A Woman's Vengeance (U-I);
An Ideal Husband (20th-Fox) 100
Metropolitan—Call Northside 777 (20th-Fox).
2nd wk 110
Paramount a!nd Fenway Saigon (Para); Let's
Live Again (20th-Fox), Znd d t wk 120
State and Orpheum—To the Ends oi the Earth
(Col); Devil Ship (Col) 130
Slow Week in New Haven;
Not a Bill Up to Average
NEW HAVEN—Business was spread thin
among the downtown theatres. "You were
Meant for Me" moved to the College for a
second week. Detail for the week ended
March 10:
Biiou—Adam Had Four Sons (Col); Let Us Live
(Col), reissues 80
College To the Ends of the Earth (Col);
The Son of Rusty (Col), 2nd d t. wk 7b
Loews Poli—You Were Meant for Me (20th-Fox);
Slippy McGee (Rep) 9E
Paramount—The Senator Was Indiscreet (U-I);
Big Town After Dark (Para) 95
Roger Sherman—Body and Soul (UA); Stork
Bites Man (UA), 2nd wk 80
Start Saturday Shows
NORWALK, CONN.—First of a series of
Saturday morning shows for youngsters got
under way last week at Warners' Palace.
The films are approved by the Central PTA
and the Norwalk Motion Picture Council for
Children. H. Merrick Lyon, manager, arranged
for an exhibition of gymnastics and
series of competitive events for children on
the stage preceding the screen program.
BOSTON—Don Jacocks and Akxander C.
Kilpatrick have sold their interests m B

. . Al
. The
. . . Carmen
. . Guy
. . John
. . The
. . Max
. . The
. . Cab
NEW HAVEN
The Variety Club held a luncheon meeting
at the Oneco March 16. Barney Pitkin
presided Pickus, of the Stratford Theatre,
accompanied Herman Levy. .
MPTOA
counsel, to the TOA meeting in Los Angeles.
Pickus stopped in Indiana to visit Mrs.
Pickus' family on the return trip.
Work at the Black Rock, Bridgeport, has
been going on without interruption so that
the facelifting job can be completed as quickly
as possible. But all hands were called off
the job one day so the Black Rock Garden
club could show pictures of the new Holland
bulbs. The event had been publicized for a
radius of 60 miles and every enthusiast in
the area was expected. Actual count: 26 . . .
Harold Dunn, eastern sales manager for Eagle
—
Lion, was in town on the Warner "T-Men"
deal . . . Harry Gibbs, new franchise holder
for the state on Astor Pictures, has his
cheerful dual, "Lady in the Morgue" and
"Black Doll," in the Bijou.
Housewartnings, soon will be in order at
the Dick Cohen home. The Monogram man
signed on the dotted line for a house in West
Haven . Harold Tabackmans, of the
Bostwick, Bridgeport, bought a home in Fairfield
. . . Lou Brown. Loew Poll publicity
chief here, with Shirley and Shirley-Lou,
laden with presents and good wishes, journeyed
to Washington March 13 to help the
W. J. E. Browns, Lou's parents, celebrate their
50th wedding anniversary.
Ernie Emerling, Loew advertising chief.
visited Springfield, Worcester, Hartford,
Meriden and New Haven with Harry Shaw
and saw theatres and press . . . The Bijou will
play the Italian film, "Shoe-Shine," for a
week in April following a try at the French
fUm, "Panic" . . . The Shubert will give the
Palestinian film, "My Father's House," a New
England permiere . expression on
Harry Shaw's face in the Bridgeport Herald
spread on Ferruccio Tagliavini, coming here
in "La Boheme" at the Poll, is one of absolute
amazement. Tagliavini is not singing, but
eating spaghetti.
The Lyric, Bridgeport, used an ItaUan picture,
"Pagliacci," instead of the usual weekend
vaudeville . . . The March 30 presentation
of "La Boheme" at the Poll, New Haven,
has had so successful an advance sale that
the prediction is there will be three or four
operas here next year.
WORCESTER
Tfaskinas Liberty succeeded Mrs. Mary Foley
Moriarty, who resigned as secretary to
manager Harold Maloney of Loew's Poll . . .
Philip Loew, manager of the Family, has
returned after a month's vacation in Florida
Comtois resigned from the
Capitol.
.
Theatres in Whitinsville collected $234.83
for the March of Dimes fund . Art
Mooney orchestra drew only a fair house at
the Auditorium Matthews, manager
of the Warner, attended a district
meeting in Hartford, Conn. . Finn of
Boston, general manager of the E. M. Loew
circuit, was a visitor at the Plymouth.
Indoors or out DeVry
For 250-seat to 6,000 seat theatres
and outstandingly for drive-ins with
up to 1,000 car capacity—the trend is
definitely to DeVry "12000" Series
projectors, amplifiers and in-car
speakers.
Typical of DEVRY-equipped outdoor
theatres now being readied for
spring opening is the model Drive-In
at Muncie, Indiana, shown in the airview
shot above. Other DeVry installations
being made for the coming
season are:
CALIFORNIA: Drive-In near San
Diego. GEORGIA: Drive-In Theatres
at Thomasville & Moultrie. INDI-
ANA: Terre Haute
Drive-In. IOWA:
Drive-In at Sioux
City. OHIO: "Sciniouth,
"Triangle" at Wilmington.
Also Drive-ins at Springfield and St.
Grand Rapids. NORTH CAROLINA:
Mary's. MICHIGAN: Drive-In at
Drive-ins at Asheville, Stateville &
Charlotte. PENNSYLVANIA: Family"
Drive-In at New Kensington.
TEXAS: Drive-In at Midland. WEST
VIRGINIA: Drive-In at Elkins and
Meadowbrook. CANADA: Peter
Drive-In, Lansing, Ontario.
// you contemplate modernizing present equipment or building
sure and see DbVry before you buy.
v. he
Another summer stock company is in prospect
for central Massachusetts. A plan is
afoot to install a professional company in
the Sturbridge town hall, opening a 10-week
season at the end of June, with Michael
Grilikhes directing. The only theatre Sturbridge
ever had before was a brief experiment
with a drive-in.
Owners of two Milford buildings that include
theatres were granted a hearing in
Boston on their appeals from assessments
made by the town. Tlie Stoughton Theatre
Co. owns the Opera House block, which is
assessed for $80,500. and the Milford Realty
Co. owns the State Theatre Bldg.. a.ssessed
for $166,450. Both are in the heart of the
town's business district.
Phil Loew, manager of the Family, was on
the ticket committee for the testimonial
party tendered to the champ Holy Cross college
basketball team . . . Manager Bob Portle
of the Elm Street reports a holdover for
"Gentleman's Agreement."
- great
faction, increased
hox office take,
closer approach to
the perfect show
indoors or out —
buy DeVry
"12000 Series"
thc.icre
projectors
FOR THE PERFECT SHOW
Indoors or Out
nS^* DeVry
DeVry Corporation
52 Vanderbilt Avenue
Telephone: Murray Hill 6-3397
NEW YORK 17, N. Y.
Harold Maloney, manager of Loew's Poll,
has been singing the blues. He lost his assistant
manager, his student a.ssistant and
his secretary, all during the same week. The
first two were promoted and the secretary's
husband returned from overseas . Calloway's
orchestra drew a big attendance at
Lyonhurst in Marlboro.
Loew's Poll got on page one when a dog
lay in the falling snow for three hours outside
the theatre while awaiting his young
master, who was inside watching the performance
. Palmerton announced he
will open the Playhouse in May.
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

. . Two
. . Kezar
. . Ralph
. . Walter
. . Smiley
. . Ernie
Daniel Murphy Names
Committees for lENE
BOSTON— Appointment of members to the
financial, grievance, membership and legislative
committees of the Independent Exhibitors
of New England was announced by
Daniel Murphy, newly elected president, at
the March meeting.
He named the following committees:
Financial— Walter E. Mitchell, chairman;
W. Leslie Bendslev and Leonard Goldberg.
Grievance—Samuel Resnik, chairman;
Francis Peny, Morris Pouzzner Julian Rifkin
and Maurice Safner.
Membership and dues—Ted Rosenblatt,
chairman; Mrs. Katharine Avery, Frank
Bosketti, Norman Glassman and Dominic
Turturro.
Legislative—Francis Lydon, chairman:
Meyer Stanzler and Warren Nichols.
Ray E. Feeley, business manager, reported
on the recent Allied board meeting in Washington
and handed out printed copies of the
report. Caravan was discussed but it was
decided not to take action on this service
until it could be discussed by a larger group
at the convention May 4 and 5. Leslie
Bendslev, co-chairman, reported on plans for
the convention. A contribution to the Red
Cross was approved. The meeting was attended
by 30 members.
NEWHAMPSHIRE
"The Claremont city council is studying a
proposed ordinance to regulate and license
theatres and other amusement establishments.
The scale of fees would include
$25 a month for motion picture theatres.
Claremont already has adopted an amendment
rea.uiring attendants in charge of
places of amusement to be of legal age.
A free Easter costume was offered in a
contest for the women patrons of the Colonial
in Laconia . E. Morris,
manager, did his bit for National Girl Scout
week by showing a trailer at the Colonial
and Gardens, owned by the same management.
He screened a short featuring Celeste
Holm in a di'amatization of Girl Scouting's
need for volunteer help.
The Nugget in Hanover has started a series
of foreign films for the remainder of the
season. Arthur Barwood, manager, is cooperating
with John Finch, acting chairman
of the Hanover League for Better Movies,
in presenting the series which started with
the Italian picture. "To Live in Peace."
Three French films are also on the schedule,
which will run through April and May.
.
During a recent theatre party, the
Couples club of Etna attended a showing
"The Swordsman" at the Opera House in
of
Lebanon Falls, Me., just over
the New Hampshire line, has permitted Sunday
shows. The town meeting vote was 106
to 97 in favor of the plan.
.
Free Saturday morning shows for children
have been started at the Opera House in
Lebanon. Adults may attend by paying a
small admission fee. Boy Scouts serve as
ushers Polish films, "Miracle of
Love" and "Dymsza in the Army," were
shown recently at the Crown in Manchester.
BOXOFFICE :: March 1948
HARTFORD
Jerry Govan, M&P Connecticut district
booker, was in the Bahamas recovering
from an operation Callahan,
former checker for Columbia, was in from
Boston. He's in the amusement park concession
line now . Lloyd has been
getting numerous comments on the newly
installed Allyn marquee. the second
It's
downtown house in recent months to get a
new outside sign, the other being the Strand.
Condolences to Mrs. Pauline Sanborn,
Colonial cashier, on the death in Lancaster,
N. H., of her mother Grecula,
.
assistant general manager of Hartford Theatres,
took the family to Bridgeport on a
day off,
James McCarthy has been named assistant
manager at the Community Theatre, Fairfield,
. . . Al Monty held finals of his weekly
amateur series at the Poli in Meriden last
week . . . Ernie Emerling, director of advertising
and publicity for Loew's Theatres,
was here visiting the Loew hou.ses with
Harry F. Shaw, division manager, and Lou
A. Brown, division publicity-advertising
manager.
Eleventh Annual Dinner Party
MOTION PICTURE
SALESMEN'S CLUB
Sunday Evening, April 4
SOPHIE
Latin Quarter
In Person
TUCKER
$6 Per Person, Tax Included
For Reservatio7is
HARRY F. GOLDSTEIN
RKO Exchange
HAncock 6-0457

. .
. . Robert
. . . Sam
. . Joe
—
; .-. •;
-;)
Irving, who is ;< patient at Cushing General
licist . . .
;
come
BOSTON
Vice-president and general sales manager
of Embassy Pictures Corp. Joseph Levine
YORK
WEST nii;,iiHi five-room apartment or house in the Dorchester-Roxbury
574 WWo.h.
is president. Wolf has been connected with
the industry for 20 years, selling film for
Qenn H. Rosenwald, MGM resident manager, eight years with Warner's before transferring
played host to members of the Stanley Columbia.
to
family at the trade screening of "Summer
Louis Rothenberg flew to Florida in a
Holiday," a musical which features the
"Stanley Steamer" song. Raymond Stanley,
hurry after learning that his wife was ill
who son of the inventor of the car. and members there. His son Stanley, remained in
town, reports that his muther much better
i-:
of his family were delighted with the scenes
showing the stars of the picture going now and that they will return shortly
for
a spin in an authentic Stanley model
Horenstein, New England distributor
of 1906.
for Manley products, flew to Kansas
The car was manufactured in Newton, a
suburb of Boston.
City for conferences with the Manley home
office. Before he left he visited his son
"The Roosevelt Story" opened at the Kenmore
March 17, playing first run. A big campaign
hospital in Framingham.
was put on by George Kraska, man-
ager of the theatre, and Phil Engel, UA pub-
With the acquisition of six new accounts.
Jim Mahoney, general manager of
Affiliated Theatres is now buying and booking
for 62 houses. The latest additions are
the Interstate circuit, went to Clearwater,
Pla., for a vacation. He stopped in Washington
the Town Hall, North Woodstock, Vt., owned
and Atlanta on his way south. He by James Fountain: Milo Theatre, Milo, Me.,
will
return around the first of April.
owned by Mrs. Ella Mills; and the Weymouth
Drive-In theatres in Raynham, Shrewsbury,
Mrs. Mary McCarthy has been moved up Saugus and East Weymouth, owned by
from assistant cashier at 20th-Pox, replacing Demaurra and Guarino.
the late Arthur Fallon . Jacobs is
now the assistant manager at the Bowdoin Ken Prickett, MGM field representative for
Square of the Lavery circuit, after resigning New England, spent last week in Hartford
as assistant at the Astor.
and New Haven with Harry Shaw's division
of the Loew's Poll theatres on the advance
Joseph Wolf, resigned at Columbia to bemMACK
of "Three Daring Daughters" . Mansfield,
EL publicist, has a new office on the
second floor cf the EL exchange.
MAKES National Screen, won the masters pairs
Peter Johnson, one of the poster boys at
regional contract bridge tournament held
here. His partner was Al Jacobson, not in
Yes. our New York Cily Branch the industry, and the couple beat out several
at 245 WEST 55TH STREET topnotch New York teams as well as the
is now in hiU swing and
cream of the local players.
Send your next special announce Lenny Sacks of Standard Theatre Supply
men! IraUer order to Filmack . . will marry Marilyn Waldorf of Dorchester
YORK
PHONE and see why exhibitors oil over
PLAZA
7-3809
the country gel their trailers
troa
in September, but the wedding may be held
up due to a fire which destroyed her family
ns.
house. Lenny is searching frantically for a
area.
STRIfT
ALL RECORDS BROKEN
THE B I G G E ST
INTERNATIONAL
ROAD SHOW OF
THE YEAR .
•
S i X sensational
weeks at the Squire,
New York; Booked
for long runs at the
Thalia, New York;
(J!
Edward J. Fitzpalrick
Is Dead in Waterbury
WATERBURY—Edward J. Fitzpatrick, 52,
manager of the Loew's Poll Theatre here.
o;'
m^
EDWARD J. FITZPATRICK
died the night of March 11 in St. Mary's hospital
here, a day after he was admitted to
the hospital. He had been with the Poll circuit
for many years, managing theatres in
Worcester, Mass., and Meriden and Bridgeport,
Conn., before coming to Waterbury
about 20 years ago. Fitzpatrick was considered
an outstanding showman and had been given
a national award by MGM for exploitation
in 1942. He was one of the originators of
"ghost" basketball. At one time he was manager
of the West Side Speedboys of the Connecticut
basketball league. He also took an
active interest in baseball and golf. Surviving
is a son, Neil, of Waterbury.
Hartford Grosses Pick Up;
'Agreement' Still Leader
HARTFORD—Business has picked up gradually
in this territoiy. Downtown Hartford
had two holdovers, "Gentleman's Agreement"
and "If You Knew Susie."
Allvn—The Fabulous Texan (Rep); lungle Book
(FC)
E M. Loews—To the Ends of the Earth (Col);
Blondie's Reward (Col)
i
Loew's Poll—A Double Life ': The Tender
Years (20th-Fox)
Palace—Gentleman's Agro.menl ;
The Challenge (20th Fx :.
Reaal~If You Knew Susie lhr.'._'i Thunder
Mountain (RKO), 2nd wk
Sl:i;e Angels' Alley (Mono), plus stage show.
Strand—The Senator Was Indiscreet (U-I);
A Woman's Vengeance (U-I)
.100
Studio. P h i 1 a d e 1-
phia; Little, Newark.
Art Cinema, Pitts
burgh; Studio. Chicago;
Mercury. Buffalo;
Clover. Baltim
o r e; Old South
Theatre. Boston.
Sign Broadwa-y Veteran
Mary Young, Broadway veteran, has been
signed for the cast of Paramount's "Abigail,
Dear Heart."
620 NINTH AVENUE .>IOFM|RG NEW YORK 18. N, Y.
BOXOFFICE March 20, 1948
J

'
15lh Theatre Opened
By W&K in Vivian
VIVIAN. LA.—The Wakea Theatre erected
at a cast of $75,000, opened here Wednesday
night (17). Dedication ceremonies were held
at 6:30 p. m. The theatre is the 15th in
the W&K circuit, owned by Lewis Watts and
T. F. Keasler.
Watts entered theatre business in Vivian
in April 1945. when he purchased the State
from W. L. McClendon of Atlanta, Texas.
The new Wakea Theatre is fireproof
throughout. The interior has been richly
decorated. A love seat has been installed. A
balcony for colored patronage seats 150, and
the main floor seats 600 persons.
Mrs. Jewel Burnie, who has been manager
of the State for three years, is manager of
the Wakea.
State Representative Jasper K. Smith was
master of ceremonies at the dedication
exercise. Talks were made by Mayor C. E.
Terry, J. Howell Flournoy, sheriff of
Caddo parish, and Earl William.son, of the
Caddo parish police jury. A platoon of the
Vivian National Guard also participated in
the dedication program.
Basement Parking Looms
As Aid for Elm Street
DALLAS—The parking situation for some
of the Elm Street theatres may be relieved
as a result of a gigantic real estate deal announced
several days ago. The Dunlap-
Swain Co. bought the block fronting on Elm
and one block east of the Majestic. There
is parking space on part of this property but
regardless of improvements to be made the
new owners plan two basements for parking
to extend through most of the block. The
Melba and Tower theatres are also in the
next block.
Shorter Clearance Denied
Henderson in Teague, Tex.
DALLAS—Arbitrator Webster Atwell dismissed
the claim of W. B. Henderson of the
Lee Theatre in Teague against four major
distributors. The arbitrator found no evidence
to show the distributors were unduly
favoring the J. G. Long circuit's Star Theatre
as the Star had been getting its films
on competitive bidding. He declined to make
a division of the product or to shorten 60
days second run clearance for the town as
Henderson had asked.
Theatre Burglar to Ten'
KINGSVILLE, TEX. — An honor student
and part time instructor at Texas A&I college
was sentenced to five years in
the penitentiary
here in connection with two burglaries
of the Rialto Theatre. Approximately
$2,000 in war bonds and $4,000 in cash was
taken in the two burglaries, which took place
Aug. 11, 1947, and Jan. 12, 1948.
Managers Transferred
BILOXI, MISS.—William Goodman, manager
of the Buck Theatre here, has been
transferred to the Ritz, Natchez, Miss., and
J. D. Herring of Mobile, Ala., has become
manager of the Buck. Both are Paramount-
Richards houses.
Supply Houses Loaded
With Equipment Now
Dallas— Scenes in local equipment
houses are in marked contrast to what
they were two or three years ago, when
equipment manufacturers were trying to
distributors
get raw materials and the
were reaching for anything that might
make a sale. Today, however, these distributors
are loaded with any kind of
theatre equipment, in almost grades
all
and qualities, and the exhibitor can
take his pick.
Manufacturers representatives were
strangers for several years but now they
are renewing old acquaintances. At National
Theatre Supply this week were
three visitors from nationally known
companies pushing their wares. They
were E. T. Rummel of the Hertncr Electric
Co., Cleveland; WUIiam Stahl of
Theatre Specialties, Inc., Los Angeles;
and Paul Golden of Premier Studios,
New York.
Fire Wipes Out Azteca,
Latin House in Beeville
BEEVILLE. TEX.—The Azteca, a 400-seat
house in the Latin section a few blocks of
the business section, is no more. Fire a few
days ago burned it to the ground. The theatre
was owned and operated by Agapito
Presa and had been doing rather nice business
for several years by showing Spanish
films to the natives and transient agricultural
workers.
The Azteca opened up in an old Mexican
lodge hall. A house trailer was pulled up
in front to serve as a combination ticket
booth and projection room. As the crowds
became regular, the theatre tacked on an
artificial brick front, including a built-in
booth, and made the house trailer
the all-wooden building.
a part of
RKO Drive in Texas
Honors Sol Sachs
DALLAS—A Sol Sachs drive is on at RKO
as an added influence in the Ned Deplnet
drive. Douglas Desch, office manager, and
otliers of that exchange thought it would be
a fine thing and make Sol feel good if they
could turn in additional business in his honor
as the RKO manager lay In St. Paul's hospital.
It is not a new move, Desch said, as a
drive is held for Sachs every year, but this
time it coincides witth his .serious illness and
may help his morale and recovery.
Ralph B. Williams, manager of the Oklahoma
City branch, was here this week to supervise
smooth running of the Dallas branch
during Sach's absence. He will commute between
the two cities and handle both offices
temporarily. Williams is familiar with the
Texas territory, having served as assistant to
Ned E. Depinet when the latter was Universal
manager in the 1920s.
Latest reports from Sol's bedside is that he
is continuing on the winning side of a long,
uphill
fight.
Look Over San Antonio
For Picture Locations
SAN ANTONIO—John Wayne and a party
of Hollywood motion picture people were in
the Alamo City to look for locations for the
production of "The Three Godfathers," which
will star Harry Carey jr. Included in the
party were Ward Bond, D. L. "Tex" Hill and
Producers John Ford and M. C. Cooper. They
are planning to do a film woven around the
seige of the old Alamo, and its battle and fall,
in which John Wayne will portray the role
of Davie Crockett. It was learned that the
western would be a memorial epic to the late
Harry Carey, who played in the picture many
years ago. He was one of the greatest of
western stars. Production on the film was
expected to be started about April 15.
JOHNNY-ON-THE-SPOT
That's the nick-name that aptly describes each and every one
of Oklahoma Theatre Supply's expert repair and service men.
At that crucial moment wrhen your equipment goes haywire
right in the midst of a performance, you need help and need
it bad.
That's when Oklahoma Theatre Supply's long-time reputation
of dependability and expert craftsmanship can stand you in
good stead.
OKLflHOmfl THEflfRE SUPPLV
J. EUOON PEEK ""^Wm
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

. . Gordon
. . The
. . The
. .
. . Clasa-Mohme
. . Independent
SAN ANTONIO
^omniy Howell has returned to town from
northern Texas and will work out of San
Antonio as a traveling auditor for Interstate
Theatres
. B. Dunlap, manager for
Clasa-Mohme here, is back on duty following
an attack of bronchitis . . . Gidney Talley,
San Antonio and southern Texas theatreman,
pilots his own Aronica plane when he is in
a hurry to get to any one of his four theatre
locations. He has been flying since before
the
war.
.
Henry Lewis Dennis, 81, father of Jdhnny
and W. M. "Bobby" Dennis, theatre projectionists,
passed away here Joy
recently lowered its admission price to 14
cents for adults and 9 cents for chUdren .
The March of Dimes street campaign netted
$25,484. the largest amount that has ever
been totaled here.
John Monroe, manager of the Rialto in
Cuero. announced that present remodeling
work on his house will cost between $5,000
and $6,000. with installation of an air conditioning
unit to run another $10,000 . . .
Ross McCausland, who was in town recently,
is doing special exploitation work for the
appearance of Rin-Tin-Tin in Texas theatres.
LeRoy Handley, former Alamo Art Shop
operator, recently joined the commercial
sales department of radio station KTSA here.
He is a foi-mer Interstate man.
room. Patrons filed out in good order and
there were no casualties reported.
Visiting at the Mexican film exchanges
were Frank Zapata of Sinton, Eddie Joseph
of Austin, Justice William Buffington, erstwhUe
exhibitor of Big Wells, Benito Silvas
of Carrizo Springs and his brother Antonio
Silvas of Asherton, Dave J. Young sr. of
Brownsville and Alfred Pena of Natalia.
Dorothy Fay, former film player and now
the wife of Tex Ritter, was among the recent
visitors . . . Johnny Reynolds, Interstater
here, scored 68 in tying for top place in the
weekly Oak Hills Country club golf sweepstakes
tournament.
Recent visitors: Ed Blumenthal and Lloyd
Rust, Monogram, Dallas; William O'Donnell
and Conrad Brady, Interstates, Dallas,
and Steve Broidy, Allied Artists president.
New York . . Free shows were presented at
.
both the Highland and Woodlawn theatres
Satiu-day morning, spon.sored by Express
Publishing Co. and Interstate.
Limie Stillwell is expected in town soon
from Fort Worth to produce the "Cavalcade
of Stars" for a one-nighter in the Municipal
auditorium theatre April 1 . . . Rex Bowdin
Is shooting those classy looking front photos
for the Nacional Teatro . . . "Panhandle"
went into the Texas for a holdover engagement
last week . . . Ernest Hauser, major-
Five suburban theatres are now playing domo of the Josephine, is back at work after
double bills
.
Guadalupe Theatre a recent ilhiess . . . Red River Dave's latest
held a Saturday morning preview of the U-I musical western is titled "Powder River
church film, "Mission Blanca." Members Gunfire" . here is currently
releasing "La Tres Garcias" (The
of the Catholic clei-gy attended . . . The
Azteca, Beeville, owned by Agapito Presa, Three Garcias> . Film Co.,
burned to the ground Sunday nigOit, March the oldest picture exchange in town, has
7, when fire broke out in the projection some melodramas of the silent cinema days.
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Manley's Premium Popcorn, 100 lbs.
Cocoanut Oil Seasoning, per lb.
Salt, per case of 12 - 2 lb. Boxes
Popcorn Bags, White Hi Pop Printed, % lb., per M.
Popcorn Bags, White Hi Pop, II/2 lb., per M.
Red & White Hi Pop Cartons, l'/2 oz., per M.
Red & White Hi Pop Cartons, 2 oz., per M.
Red & White Hi Pop Cartons (Family Size), per M.
302 So. Harwood
MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
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ALL PRICES — F. O. B. DALLAS, TEXAS
K^ W.
Divisinal
utner
Manager
$17.50
13.00
12.00
.40
1.50
1.50
3.00
8.50
8.50
25.00
Dallas, Texas Prospect 7-1685
The company has been releasing films and
dealing In supplies since 1913.
Gordon B. Dunlap, manager for Clasa-
Mohme here, discussed his 30 years experience
in the importation and distribution of
Mexican-made moving pictures at a meeting
of the information and research committee
of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce.
He recently was elected a member.
The Nacional held a Friday preview of the
Azteca's Spanish talker, "La Otra" (The
Other) . . . Maria Santa Lucchese has been
appointed manager of the new International
Bldg. here, which also will house the new
Alameda Theatre, now under construction.
Her brother Gaetano is head of the International
Amusement Enterprises here . . .
Tom Bridge. Paramount sales manager here
a number of years ago and more recently
with Paramount in Dallas, is now with Paramount,
Memphis, where he is taking Manager
L. W. McClintock's place who is in
California on a leave.
Mary Martin is due here in "Annie Get
Your Gun" for an engagement at the Texas
early in May . . . Janice Jarratt has returned
from a sojourn in Los Angeles and Tucson
. . . Fi-ank Zapata and his son Jose, operators
of the Juarez, Sinton, are changing the
name of their house to the Zapata, effective
April 1. They were recent booking visitors.
Al Reynolds of Underwood & Ezell Drive-
In Tlieatres, Dallas; "Mack" McClain, R&R
city manager, Hillsboro; John H. Rowley,
R&R, Dallas: Jose Garcia jr., Nacional, Asherton;
Paul Poag, R&R city manager, Del
Rio: Alvaro Gonzales, Perez, Sablnal; Gustave
Lavenant, Haydee, Dilley, and Ignacio
Luna, Crystal City, were here to contract
for Spanish pictures.
Satima and her "Hollywood Revue of
1948" went into the Oasis, New Braunfels,
for a one-nighter March 15 at $1.50 top . . .
The Nacional featured a specially selected
double-header last week of "Mission Blanca"
and "Casi un Sueno" . . . "Bowery Buckaroos"
opened Sunday at the Empire to fair business
. . . Beulah Greene, Aztec cashier and
pianist, is in charge of the musical direction
for rehearsals of the Elks minstrel to
be staged in the Municipal auditorium.
A housewarming: was held at the Azteca
exchange by the employes. With the temperature
outside near the freezing mark, hot
refreshments, cakes and sandwiches were
served. Among those who dropped in were
Edward G. Edwards, Clasa-Mohme booking
chief; Franklyn Trevino of the Ideal, Pearsail,
and Joe Guzman, Southern Printing Co.
Recordings were also made and the usual
good time was had by all . . It was learned
.
along the Mexican Filmrow that the fire loss
of the Azteca Theatre, Beeville,
will run well
into $12,000 . . . Gustavo Mohme and his
son John of the Clasa-Mohme general office,
Los Angeles, are expected in San Antonio
for a visit to the local branch office
April 2.
Two Get Featured Roles
Russell Hicks and Tom Dugan have been
given featured roles in "One Sunday Afternoon,"
Warner film starring Dennis Morgan.
Pick Their Cameraman
Henry Freulich is the cameraman selected
for
Columbia's "Winner Take Nothing."
BOXOFFICE March 20, 1948

Theatres Exchanged
By Texas Exhibitors
DALLAS—L. R. Robertson and wife have
sold their Ervay Theatre to P. G. Cameron,
who picked up the building lease, and in turn
they bought the Lucas from Cameron, building,
equipment, parking lot and all. The
Ervay deal was a surprise, but it was known
that Cameron plaimed to sell the Lucas.
The two parties were busy this week taking
over their new properties. Cameron said
he expects to sell the Ervay any day and
"again retire from the business." The Robertsons
are fairly pleased with their new situation
and believe it will be okay, although
they plan to give it lots of w-ork. They recently
bought a half interest with Charles
• -A- •
J\l'OW.
• * •
McDonald and wife in the Pix Theatre in
Fort Worth, which is now being remodeled.
The Robertsons pulled one more piece of
showmanship just before leaving the Ervay.
A much publicized western Texas big game
hunter killed a lot of stuff in Africa and
showed his film at Fair Park auditorium and
split with the A&M club. These shows wenpacked
and newspapers printed numerous
stories. The Robertsons had also hunted in
Africa and made a film. They pulled out
"Through Jungles of British Guiana" and
ran it as a double feature to capture prevailing
publicity, and the Ervay was packed.
Handed Director Post
Robert Sparks' production of "Weep No
More," RKO picture stan-ing Joseph Gotten,
will be directed by William Dieterle.
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You can easily sell yourself on their
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DALLAS. TEXAS
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. . . The
. . Each
. . . H.
. . M.
. .
OKLAHOMA CITY
IJenry S. Griffing;, executive vice-president
of Griffith Theatres, is heading the
theatre division in the Oklahoma county
Red Cross drive. He is being assisted by Bob
Browning, city manager for Griffith. Griffing
recently was renamed a member of the
board of trustees for Casada Hall, a country
day school for junior high school boys and
girls.
Delmar Aday, assistant manager of the
Griffith-owned Midland theatres, is chairman
of the Midland iTex.) Jaycees' project
to raise funds for the battleship Texas shrine
Lindsey in Lubbock, Tex., entertained
wives of the Lions club members from
Ruidoso, N. M. The Lions were in town for
a regional meet.
New pictures in town this week were "Song
of My Heart" at the Midwest, "Saigon" at
the Criterion, "If You Knew Susie" at the
Center, "Christmas Eve" at the State, and
"Bill and Coo" at tihe
Vic.
In two days patrons of the Rialto in Cuero,
Tex., contributed $106.70 for the battleship
Texas shrine. Eight high school girls assisted
in passing the plate . . . John Kniseley,
Griffith manager in Ada, observed his birthday
March 15. Five days later Helen Polley,
film clerk in the Griffith home office, celebrated
. week Roger Rice of Griffith
Theatres mails out birthday greetings
to all the organization's employes whose
birthdays are the next week.
In connection with the showing of "The
Voice of the Turtle," the Midwest conducted
an "I Married My Blind Date" contest. The
grand prize of a $100 Philco radio combination,
courtesy of the Kaybee store located
near the theatre, was offered to the maiTied
couple writing the best letter of 100 words
or less on how and when the question was
popped and the circumstances relating to
the blind date. Additional prizes were 50
tickets to the theatre.
Bob Wilson, Tower manager, resigned to
enter the realty business. His successor is
Rex Ochs, former Plaza manager. Replacing
Ochs at the Plaza is Robert Rainbolt, former
assistant to Dee Fuller, Criterion manager
C. Federer of the Center and State
theatres was back on the job this week after
an extended leave.
The Home Theatre is still advertising to
save and lists its admissions as 45 cents balcony,
60 cents lower floor, 35 cents teenagers
and 10 cents children. The only change
in this second run downtowai house boxoffice
price is the newly adopted balcony and loge
price of 45 cents, which is 15 cents less than
its top admission. There are 900 of these
seats.
Wayne King is returning here for a concert
in the Municipal Auditorium April 3 . . .
The Bank of Knowledge now being conducted
at the Home is being aired over the
city's new station, KTOW, evei-y Sunday at
4 p. m. . D. Brazee and family blew
in from a Florida holiday just in time to
catch the city's worst blizzard in years .
"Song of Norway" wUl play on the Home
stage for two performances, Wednesday and
Thursday nights, April 7, 8.
The C&R circuit is conducting an Easter
gift ticket sale . . . "Harvey" is booked into
the Home Theatre for two days, March 26, 27.
Louis Dent's Estate
Valued at $400,000
COLORADO SPRINGS—An estate valued
at $400,000 was left by Louis L. Dent, president
of Westland Theatres, Inc., who died
February 7 in Phoenix, a county court petition
filed here disclosed. The petition was
filed by his son Frank L. Dent of Colorado
Springs. The widow and the son are named
legatees of the estate, consisting of cash,
stocks and business interests. Westland circuit
operated theatres in Colorado, Lincoln,
Neb., and Oklahoma City. In the '20s, Dent
controlled about 100 theatres in Texas.
Buys Greenwood Palace
DALLAS—Forrest Dunlap has sold the
Palace in Greenwood, Ark., to Charles Nelson,
who comes from Minnesota. He made
the deal thi-ough Arthur Leak, the broker.
Besides being representative of a seating
company, Dunlap operates theatres in Cisco.
Whitney, Cross Plains, Rising Star, and an
open-air house at Port Aransas.
Westerns-Features-Serials
Tower Pictures Co
HAHOLD SCHWARZ
ili^i , S Haiwood St. C— 73S7
DALLAS 1 TEXAS
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BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

. . Buford
, . Fred
. . Members
HOUSTON
Tohn Ellis, manager of the Texan, reports
' that the stage show with Shep Wooley and
the Calumet Indians brought a fair crowd.
A number of recording and radio hillbilly
stars made personal appearances but the
band's clown Freddie brought most audience
response, Ellis said. The show left to open
Wednesday at Mercedes . . . Phil Harris and
Alice Faye will try their fortune again at
Gulf coast wild-catting, it was learned recently.
The operation will be in Harris
county. This is their fourth venture, the
other three proving either dusters or pickle
factories (salt water wells).
Mayor Oscar Holcombe has announced
that the Civic Tlieatre has been placed under
city auspices and will be recognized as
the official theatre for Houston. An anonymous
donor has given $3,000 to the theatre
to help meet theatre expenses for 1948 and
a similar sum has been granted for 1949.
Winnie Mae Crawford has been designated
as director and the first presentation will be
the children's play, "Heidi," May 1.
George Patillo, manager of the Alabama,
gave a big party Monday night in celebration
of his birthday . . . Bernie Cappelli.
Alhambra treasurer, recently become papa of
a baby boy . Happle has been
April 11. under the auspices of the Southwest
Musical Attractions, and "Holiday on Ice,"
which will open a six-day engagement at
the Sam Houston Coliseum April 12 . . .
The Little Theatre's springtime offering will
be George Kelly's "The Fatal Weakness,"
March 10 to April 10.
IS
A capacity audience attended the premiere
of "Cry Out. Cassandra," at the Little Thea-
.
.
The drama was written by Neal Prince
tre.
of Houston Cannata of the Uptown,
with his wife and W. P. Hamblin. spent
three days in Dallas of Local
279 of the Movie Operators union have purchased
a corner location at the southwest
intersection of Walker and Hamilton, on
which they plan to erect a two-story brick
building. The site was purchased for $15,000,
according to W. J. Kunz. secretary-treasurer.
PROJECTION and
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SOUTHWESTERN THEATRE EQUIPMENT CO.
Thirty Broadway performers appeared in
Penthouse Production's operetta version of
"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" Saturday
at the Music Hall. The performance
was sponsored by the Downtown Optimists
Other attractions scheduled are
club . . .
the Wayne King show at the Music Hall
2010 Jackson St.
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DALLAS
Frank D. Wilke, owner of the Boulevard
Theatre in Houston for 25 years, was here
for a few days on business matters. Friends
found him looking healthy and full of pep
and wondered if he had just got back from a
fountain of youth. Wilke had just com-
Q\ V. Jones and John Rowley, of the Robb pleted modernization of his theatre, begun a
& Rowley general office, left in a hurry year ago. New booth equipment, a streamlined
neon and tile front, and new interior
for Muskogee, OkJa., where Hugh Marsh was
reported in critical condition following a decorations and furnishings were included
heart attack. Procter and Marsh, who have in the job. The biggest single outlay was
the theatres there, have been partners with for a 60-ton cooling and heating plant.
the R&R circuit for many years.
Frank doesn't spend much time "at the corner"
Ted Waggoner, owner of the Coolidge Theatre
in Coolidge, branching out. He has
these days but has moved up to the
Variety Club is of Houston. Most of his leism-e
joined the Texas Theatre
time,
Booking Co., which
however, is spent at his fishing camp
has been operated here the
on
past
a
year by Don bayou south of the city, where he re-
Clark and Ed Green, and will sell a boxoffice
stimulator, as well as new accounts in buying
and booking. His headquajters are in
DaUas office.
Bob Warner, whose fishing camp and cottage
at Port Aransas is almost always open
to friends in the industry, is fixing the place
to provide even greater enjoyment to visitors.
For some time now he has had Milt Garrison,
former Oklahoma showman, as caretaker at
the cottage. Garrison, a former manager of
the Oklahoma City Variety Club, knows lots
of Sooner showmen, and is meeting Texas
exhibitors as they come his way. In addition
to the camp, Warner owns a half interest
in the Port Theatre on the island. His
partner in the theatre is Forrest Dunlap.
Dan Hulse of Herber Bros, says he now
realizes he is getting old. Dan jr. reached
his 16th birthday the other day ... A. V.
Wade of Gainesville, who retired after nearly
40 years as an exhibitor, visited the Row
in his chauffeur-driven car to spend a few
hours with friends. For a while he behaved
as though he still owned the Gainesville theatres.
He was checking the exchanges to
see who had what and for how much. Someone
asked him what he was doing and he remembered
he had quit. Wade recently sold
some of his oil leases at Bridgeport.
Mrs. B. G. Herber. wife of the equipment
man, spent a week in the Medical Arts hospital
undergoing treatment for a strep
throat. Penicillin seems to have cleared up
the infection and she is again putting in full
time at the store . . . Robert Helms, traveling
auditor and office manager for Universal
a number of years, has come back to
Dallas and is at work for John Franconi.
W. E. Gafford, who recently opened the
new Roxy in Lipan, near Granbiny, sent in
a subscription to BOXOFFICE. He operates a
general merchandise store and built the new
brick theatre building in that 600-popalation
community
. . . J. P. Harrison, Denton
exhibitor, who is given credit for helping
nearby farmers exterminate crows, has added
interest to that fast-going movement. As
president of the Chamber of Commerce and
of the Pointer and Setter club, sponsors of
the crow killing, Harrison has increased the
prize from $500 to $1,000 for the person bagging
the most crows.
Siebert Worley, representative for the
Bank of Knowledge, left for his Liberty
theatre in Shamrock. He was here for
further sales work among the circuits and
reported the game had recently opened at the
Vernon theatre in Vernon.
cently anchored a new boat. As is his custom,
Wilke called on his old friend, C. W. A.
McCormick, former exhibitor and now of
the Altec office.
J. M. Wilson, exhibitor and equipment installation
man, is trucking equipment sold
recently by Herber Bros, to two theatres
across in Mexico.
Buddy Harris, circuit operator, sportsman,
215 South Pearl St., which houses the Sack
baseball rooter in a box behind the catcher,
framed up a gag on the Rebels new manager
on the first day of spring training.
Buddy donned a new khaki suit, sneakers and
long billed baseball cap and reported with
his 300 pounds to Manager Jimmy Adair as
the new catcher, the other players having
been tipped off to the gag. But after two
minutes of back-stopping, Adair intervened
and said this was too much! Years ago
Buddy, believe it or not, played second base
with the Cincinnati Reds.
Mrs. LucUIe Flanagan will handle public
relations exclusively for the River Oaks Theatre
in the near future. She will work out
new angles to help along the foreign pictures
featured by the River Oaks . . . Manager
Al Adams brought in "Torment" this
week.
The Melba Theatre's biggest mail order advance
is coming in for "Harvey," which plays
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BOXOFFICE March 20, 1948

. . Tom
March 31 through April 4, with Joe E. Brown
in the top role . . . Louis Charninsky is
back on Elm Street as manager of his beloved
Capitol and Rialto theatres as he had
been for a number of years. When Interstate
opened two of its swanky neighborhood
theatres in north Dallas. Louie was sent
out to get them started. He finished up at
the Circle a few days ago and was relieved
by the new manager, Carl CuUum.
Charles E. Darden and wife left on a short
business and pleasure trip to Beaumont,
New Orleans and were to return via Houston
. . . Leonard Duckworth of the Darden office
in New Orleans was here with Joy
Houck who came to look after his Texas
theatre interests . . . Leroy Bickel, MGM
manager, invited city officials, civic and club
leaders, exhibitors and other guests for a
screening Wednesday of "State of the Union"
at the Capitan Theatre.
Don Ameche and wife visited the Ben
Whitakers here for several days. The star
took third place in a skeet shoot at Dallas
Gim club. The Ameches left for a few days
in New Orleans before returning to Hollywood
for radio and pictm-e assignments.
J. B. Underwood, Columbia divisional manager,
returned from Memphis . Vincent,
western Texas representative for Southwestern
Theatre Equipment Co., was forced
back to the office by our last frigid weather,
but left again with portfolio and other samples
. . . Gilbert Soule is getting experience
as a booker in the Eagle Lion exchange. His
father, Frank Soule, is in charge of all EL
exchange operations.
Adelman-Sachs Add Tulsa
Delman
Lii^

I
Dallas Grosses Poor;
'Northside' Is Par
DALLAS—Running true to form, first run
grosses have declined consistently during
Lent as Easter draws nearer. Only one picture,
"Call Northslde 777," reached the average
mark and, according to reports, it would
have gone way over the mark at another
time.
(Av 100)
Capilol—Song ol the Driiler (Mono), For You I
Die (FC), reissue, split with Cossidy of Bar 20
(Para), reissue; Killer Dill (SG) 1
Majestic—You Were Meonl lor Me (20lh-Fox) 1
'
Melba—Christmas Eve (UA)
Palace—Call Northside 777 (M'iMi 11
Rialto—Blondie in the Dough 'J:: Thai's My Gal
(Rep), split with Louisiana (M:n
i. Thunderbolt
(Mono)
Telenews— Nicholas Nickleby (U-l) ;
FCC Sets Video Hearings
DALLAS—The FCC will hold hearings here
April 13-16 on television permit applications
made by the Dallas News, Interstate circuit,
Texas Television and Variety Broadcasting
companies.
Mize Theatre Destroyed
MIZE, MISS—The Regina, owned by L. R.
Mcintosh, recently was destroyed by fire.
mMiSKMAKES
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THEATRE SEAT INSTALLATION |

Ticket Tax Opposed
By Auburn Students
AUBURN. ALA. —Proposals of the city
Atlanta Territory Has h048 Theatres,
Making It One of Largest in Nation
NEW YORK—One of the largest exchange
cities, Atlanta and
council to impose an amusement tax brought
BOXOFFICE March :: 20, 1948
sharp protests from students at Alabama
The area's two largest
Birmingham, contain 63 theatres with a total
areas in the country is that which operates
.seating capacity of 52,242. There are 349 theatres
Polytechnic institute here.
out of Atlanta, according to a report Issued
this week by the Motion Picture Ass'n of
After hearing approximately 25 students
operating in 336 towns of 2,500 people
at a recent meeting, the council deferred America. The territory includes 1,048 theatres
or less, these houses having an average seat-
with an aggregate seating capacity of ing capacity of 358. Circuit-operated out-
action until a later session. Gus Coats and
Alex Taylor joined the students in their
number the noncircuit ones 671 to 401.
protest.
Students said that they opposed the tax on
the basis that it would be discriminatory
and that they would bear the major burden.
Theatre
They also contended that revenue from the
tax would be used to finance services from
which they would not benefit. It had been
suggested that the tax be used for public
schools.
Proponents of the tax pointed out that the
API students are not now required to pay
anything for such city services as police and
fire protection, as well as sewage and garbage
disposal. For this reason, it was .said, the
amusement tax would not be unfair.
Wilby-Kincey Managers
Form Showmen's Club
BIRMINGHAM—More efficient theatre
operations through discussion of mutual
problems is the objective of a Showmen's
club which has been formed by 11 managers
Wilby-Kincey of theatres in Alabama.
The group was organized here March 9
in the office of R. M. Kennedy, W-K district
manager, and plans were made to hold
bimonthly meetinos in various cities of the
circuit. A social gathering, with wives of
the managers as guests, will be held semiannually.
William Deitenbeck. manager of the Druid,
Tuscaloosa, was elected president, and Fred
B. McCallum, manager of the Strand here,
was named secretary-treasurer. The next
meeting will be held March 31 in Montgomery.
Ray Edwards Managing
Memphis Kay Exchange
MEMPHIS — Raymond Edwards, salesman
for Kay Film Exchange in Florida, is the
new branch manager for the company in
Memphis. His promotion was announced by
Ike Katz, Atlanta, president of Kay.
Start Work on Drive-In
LITTLE ROCK, ARK.—D. P. Callahan,
president of the Arkansas Amusement Co.,
announced that construction had started on
a drive-in theatre on Asher avenue. The
new drive-in theatre will cost approximately
$185,000, and will have capacity of 650 automobiles.
Acme Plans Drive-In
WEST HUNTSVILLE. ALA.—A new drivein
theatre will be built here on Whitesburg
drive by Acme Investments, according to
Walton Fleming, president. Acme operates
the Center Theatre here.
Opens Booker T. Theatre
CLEVELAND. MISS.—The Booker T. Theatre
was opened here by Henry D. Furr jr.
owner.

Golden Rule Cited as Best Text
For Leadership in Show Work
MIAMI—Sidney Meyer, co-owner of Wometco.
penned the following editorial for
the organization's house organ:
"Lincoln's Gettysburg address is generally
considered to be the simplest utterance ever
made, but there is a much older pronouncement,
the simplicity of which sets up the
Gettysburg address as complicated as a
thesis on atomic energy. The modernized
'Do unto others as you would have
version is
them do unto you.'
•There, in one sentence, is the greatest
book ever written and it is the main principle
of good management. Why do we ever
need more than this? Why do we use so
much white paper stocii and printers ink to
attempt to explain something so simple?
"Is it because we are stubborn and want
to fashion the rules in our own way? Is it
because we want to rewrite this simple
philosophy and cause it to read, 'Do unto
others what we think ought to be done.'
This
revision opens the door and lets our selfish
motives in. Our judgment becomes warped,
we responi to pressure groups: depressions
may follow and sometimes wars are lost because
of it. This version does not allow us
to abandon pet prejudices, worn-out tradi-
WE PREFER
That you investigate thorougiilY the
character of any Premium Concern offering
to solicit your neighborhood merchants
on giveaways.
Too bad wre have to malce this suggestion.
NATIONAL THEATRE ADVERTISING CO.
Max & Joe Berenson
1325 S. Wabash Ave. Chicago 5, HI.
IS Years of Successful Operation
Speed-O-Bikes * RadioPhonograph
Combinations * 3-Pc. Luggage Sets
Bicycles * Hobby Horses and Other
Items at No Cost to the Exhibitor.
^^u/e /xvi Pa^Uic4da/U.
tions, obsolete practices and valueless timeconsuming
methods.
REQUIRES DOUBLE EFFORT
"This revised version of the Golden Rule
requires the expenditure of double effort,
brings about a neglect of responsibilities,
fosters misunderstandings and jealousies, and
establishes friction and loses time. In other
words we make the simple job a difficult
one. When prejudice and selfishness enter,
reason, justice and simplicity exit.
"A great deal has been written about
ability,' •executive 'administrative talents'
and 'managerial qualifications,' and we still
argue about the fact that leaders are born,
not made, and we come up with the idea that
leadership is the result of some peculiar
psychic power an individual possesses. The
result of all this simply surrounds good
capable potential managers with inferiority
complexes, because many of them begin to
imagine the most simple situation is terribly
complicated.
LEADERSHIP IS NATURAL
"Actually leadership is
a very natural condition
in a world which is divided so casually
into leaders and followers. Opportunity
shall always exist for the leader to manifest
his ability. The usual complication preventing
a man from becoming a leader is the
tact that many of us feel that the future
of the universe is dependent on our individual
act: some of us thmk that if we do
not perform perfectly the world is therefore
doomed. World progress was accomplished
long before our time by other competent people
and we should remember that other
capable people are still unborn.
"Our own contribution to progress, whether
it be in behalf of Wometco Theatres or for
some other purpose, should be made with as
little fuss as possible and in a simple and
natural way. We should not work with any
less forcefulness, but we should remember
is that there not much point in being busy
just for the sake of being busy. Activity
is of value only in terms of attainment.
•'I think any manager or supervisor receives
the greatest individual reward when
those under his direction say they are better
workers, better citizens, and Ijetter producers
because of his sincere, simple leadership.
HANDY SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM
Please enter my subscription to BOXOFFICE, 52 issues per year (13 ol which contain
The MODERN THEATRE Section), including the NEW BOXOFFICE PICTURE
GUIDE. DATE & RECORD BOOK.
D S2.00 FOR 1 YEAR Q S3.S0 FOR 2 YEARS D $500 FOR 3 YEARS
D Remittance Enclosed D Send Invoice
THEATRE
STREET ADDRESS
TOWN
NAME
STATE
POSITION
'Dangerous' Scores
High 125 in Atlanta
ATLANTA—•Dangerous Years" at the Fox
was aided by a stage show and scored the top
figure of 125. "Three Daring Daughters" at
the Grand was next with 101.
(Average Is 100)
Fox—Dangerous Years {20th-Fox), plus stage
show 125
Grand—Three Daring Daughters (MGM) 101
Paramount-Marlt of Zorro (ZOth-Fox); Swamp
Water (20th-Fox), reissues 85
Roxy—The Voice of the Turtle (WB). moveover ._ 91
Showmen Given Cups
For Civic Devotion
From Mideast Edition
PRINCETON, KY.—The Kiwanis club gold
cup, presented annually to the outstanding
citizen in Caldwell county, was given this
year to Thos. J. Simmons, manager of the
Crescent circuit's Capitol Theatre.
The award, generally considered the highest
honor anyone can get for civic enterprise
here, was made at a dinner in the Henrietta
hotel. Simmons was cited specifically for his
successful leadership in a campaign to raise
approximately $300,000 for a war memorial
hospital.
Simmons has been a moving force for community
good since he came to Princeton ten
years ago from Arkansas, where he had managed
theatres in the Malco chain for 12 years.
He has been president of the Kiwanis club,
Forum society and the Tobacco Festival
Corp., chairman of the county salvage committee
and Red Cross, and a member of the
war price and rationing board, county war
bond committee and USO committee, and has
been prominently identified with practically
every worthwhile civic endeavor since coming
here. He joined the Kiwanis club the
same week he reached town.
In making the award of the gold cup, R. S.
Gregory declared that "everyone was in perfect
agreement this year regarding the recipient
of
the cup."
New Berry to Everett
HARTS'VILLE. S. C—Operation of the
new Berry Theatre was taken over March
1 by Everett Enterprises of Charlotte. It
was taken on a lease from H. R. Berry, operator
of theatres in Hartsville since 1918.
J. R. Bennett Buys Center
CLARKTON, N. C, — J. R. Bennett of
Whiteville purchased the Center Theatre
here and took over its management the first
of the month.
Start New Lillington
TilLLINGTON, N. C—Construction has
started here on the new Lillington Theatre.
Manager Robert Morgan reports the new
house will be larger than the present theatre.
New Cast Assignments
Among the new members picked for the
cast of RKO's "The Boy With Green
Hair" are Samuel S. Hinds, veteran character
actor, Kenneth Patterson and Dayle
Robertson. The leading roles will be carried
by Pat O'Brien, Robert Ryan and Dean
Stockwell.
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

Cape Pictures Asks
$330,000 in Suit
MEMPHIS — Charging monopolistic practices
in the release of films in Cape Girardeau,
Mo., a Memphis concern has filed suit
for $330,000 damages in federal court against
a group of motion picture producers, distributors
and exhibitors.
Cape Pictures. Inc.. headed by Barney
Woolner and Harold Roth, brought the suit
in Cape Girardeau against Warner Bros..
Universal. United Artists. 20th-Pox. Republic.
Fox Midwest Amusement Corp.. Fox Cape
Theatre Corp.. National Theatres Corp.:
Glenn Carroll, manager of two theatres at
Cape Girardeau, and Elmer C. Rhoden of
Kansas City, president, and Fred Souttar of
St. Louis, district manager of Pox Midwest.
Cape Pictures operates the Esquire Theatre
in Cape Girardeau. The bill charges the
defendants have conspired to prevent the
Esquire fioni getting first run product and
have assigned pictures, instead, to theatres
operated by Fox Midwest.
In addition to the $330,000. plus court costs
and attorneys' fees, the plaintiff asks that
the defendants be restrained from continuing
"unlawful trade practices." Abe D. Waldauer
and Ben C. Adams jr.. of Memphis, and
Strom and Sprading of Cape Girardeau are
attorneys who filed the suit.
Says Films for Export
Carefully Screened
From Ho;iywood Edition
HOLLYWOOD—America's selection of films
for export to Europe is carefully tailored to
coniribute toward understanding of
the U.S.,
as well as filling the great demand of foreign
peoples for entertainment. That point
was established by Francis S. Harmon, vicepresident
of the MPAA, in a luncheon address
before the Hollywood Advertising club. Harmon
was visiting here from New York.
The choice of export films. Harmon emphasized,
is voluntary, in the "tradi.ion of free
enterprise." Speaking on "The Iron Curtain
and the Silver Screen," the MPAA executive
declared he is in favor of sending things to
Europe "if sending them makes a basic contribution
toward getting Europe back on its
feet and aiding- it in standing up against the
greatest threat to our civilization in modern
history."
People are swarming into theatres behind
the iron curtain to see American films, he
said. He reported that Russia, where U.S.
product has no regular outlet, attempted to
buy three pictures—a "Pancho Villa" film
which could be cited as evidence of American
oppression of Mexico: a Lily Pons musical,
made during the depression, which had a
background of unemployment, and a "Tarzan"
opus, which Harmon opined w^ould be branded
by the Soviet union as "the opiate of escapism"
which is fed the American people.
Harmon outlined methods by which the
Motion Picture Export Ass'n deals collec ively
for nine major companies in those countries
where the native industry is controlled by
government monopoly.
rfark Dupree Moves
LAKELAND. FLA.—Robert S. Anderson
has been named manager for the Florida
State Theatres in Lakeland. He succeeds
Mark Dupree, who has gone to Daytona Beach
to manage the theatres there.
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948
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. . Harry
. . Jack
ATLANTA
Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra take over
the Fox stage for a week beginning March
22 following the seven-day engagement of
Sammy Kaye and his band. Dorsey was in
the city recently to see T. H. Read, general
manager of Georgia Theatres.
Lionel Keene, former manager of Loew's
Grand and southern district manager for
Loew's theatres, is putting on kiddy shows
each Saturday morning in the Rhodes Theatre.
Keene originated kiddy shows at the
Grand many years ago and uncovered the
talents of Dixie Dunbar and Jane Withers,
among others ... A 200-seat theatre is to
be built in Helen, Ga.. by Richard Aiken.
Exhibitors shopping on the Row included
jr., E. D. Martin Johnny Harrell and John
Mauk of Martin Theatres, Columbus; J. E.
Martin, Montezuma, Ga.; J. H. Thompson
of Martin & Thompson Theatres. Hawkins-
UNIVERSAL
Theatre Advertising Co.
Nationtvide Theatre Premiums
Main Office
1312 S. Wabash Ave. Phone WABash 9440
Chicago 5, Illinois
MAURICE B. BENTLEY & THOMAS C. BARATTA
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Our representatives are bonded and rated in
Dun & Bradstreet.
Upon request exhibitors can display our premiums in
their lobbies while campaign is on.
PHILCOAHVIN PHONOGRAPH COMBINATION
Hollywood broilers. Vacuum cleaners.
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ville, Ga.; Torman Rogers, Montgomery,
Ala.; Gault Brown, Madisonville, Tenn.; H.
Green, booker for the Orr circuit in Alabama;
Clyde Sampler, booker for Duncan-
Richards Theatres; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Weis,
Savannah, Ga.; L. A. Stein, Jacksonville,
Fla.; M. T. Varnell, Trion, Ga,
Others were O. C. Lam of Lam Amusement
Co., Rome, Ga.; John Thompson, Viialia,
Ga.; Col. T. E. Orr, Albertsville, Ala.;
J. S. Takersly, Elljay, Ga.; Mrs. M. M. Osman,
Covington, Ga.; Mr. and Mrs. Mowbray,
Blue Ridge, Ga.; Mrs. W. V. Edwards, Monlicello,
Ga.; B. James, Royston, Ga.; C. A.
Drake, Pearson, Ga.; A. L. Sheppard, Waynesboro,
Ga., and Bill Yarbrough, Hartwell, Ga.
Wil-Kin Theatre notes: Johnny Fyre has
been added as a draftsman to the office
force . . . Harry Hartman is back in the
office after a trip to Chicago where he paid
a visit to the Motiograph's factory . . . Ann
Hautman of the sales department has
changed her name to Mrs. Harold P. Mc-
Kelvey.
Tom Branon, one of the oldtimers on the
Row but now a farmer, came in to visit some
of his old cronies . . . Jesse Cox of the
Carver. Rock Hill. S. C. came to town to
visit with Howard Wallace, local manager
for Sack Amusement Enterprises, just before
Wallace's departure for a sales tour of
Tennessee . Desmond, also of the
Sack office, left for Virginia.
John O. Lam, of O. C. Lam. presi-
Phillip Turnipseed
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DEPENDABLE TROUBLEFREE OPERATION
dent of Lam Amusement Co., is engaged
to be married . Elwell, general manager
of Dixie Drive-Ins, has returned from
New York . . . Bonnie Henderson was added
to the Dixie Drive-ins force . . . Walter
Morris, owner of the Pike and Lee in Knoxville.
Tenn., is visiting in California . . . Bill
Cobb and Ralph Reid of Exhibitor Post Exchange,
New Orleans, were Atlanta visitors.
Babe Cohen, Monogram manager, called in
his sales force for a meeting with Steve
. . Ben
Broidy, president of Monogram
Fish, representative of Samuel Goldwyn Productions,
was a visitor ... Ed Stevens, presiient
of Stevens Pictm-es, retui-ned suntanned
from a Miami vacation . . . Emily
Franco returned to her desk at Monogram
after a visit with friel^ds at the University
of Alabama . . . Dorothy Edmonds of the
Monogram office visited a sick grandmother
in Washington, Ga.
Andrew F. Giarelll, sales representative
for the American Theatre Service, New York,
was here working on his giveaway deal . . .
RKO's publicity expert, Charlie Kenny,
checked in from a Florida jaunt . . .
David
Katz of the Kay Exchanges has shaken off
a spell of the flu . . . Ike Katz was in Memphis
installing a new manager.
Appointment of George Nash of Fruitland
Park, Fla., as salesman for northern Florida
was announced here by C. O. Jeffery, general
district manager of Alexander Film Co.
Mrs. Frances Robertson, former owner of
the Roxy Theatre in Tifton, Ga., reports the
sale of her theatre to W. F. Howell. Mr.
Roberston is much better since he went to
Florida.
Wometco Theatres in Bid_
For Juvenile Patronage
MIAMI—Promotional exploits of Wometco
circuit managers in their intensified bid for
juvenile trade were reported last week in
the house organ. Contact.
At the Grove Theatre, Manager Dana
Bradford got 630 youngsters out for a bubblegum
contest, and at the Surf Manager Franklyn
Maui-y was working on a similar promotion.
He effected a tieup with a local newspaper
which printed coupons good for one
free admission to the theatre. Coupons collected
at the boxoffice were redeemed by the
newspaper.
Manager Schaft's magic show for children
at the Strand one Saturday morning was
repeated for adiUts at midweek. A neighborhood
merchant paid for 50 per cent of the
show. For the youngsters. Schaft prepared
candy-coated apples as a giveaway, the apples
having been donated by a merchant
and candy-covered by the theatre.
At the Biltmore, Walter Klements effected
a tiein with a neighborhood Bible class,
gaining goodwill for the theatre among parents
as well as children.
BLEVINS POPCORN CO.
Opens House in Palmetto
PALMETTO, GA.—A new 600-seat theatre
has been put into operation here by Bill
Greene. It is named after the town. The
house is equipped with Simplex E-7 projectors.
Voice of the Theatre horns, an automatic
furnace and washed air cooling. A
pretentious 42-foot marquee covers the front
of the theatre. In the lobby is a modern
candy bar, equipped with a Manley popcorn
machine.
BOXOFFICE March 20, 1948

. . The
. . Mr.
. .
MIAMI
T ocalities await the June release of "On
an Island With You," the Esthei- Williams
. . .
film that was partly made here The
Dixie, an independent, offered "the biggest
entertainment value in town." Sid Franklin's
"Talent Showcase" was the stage feature,
direct from station WKAT, with a complete
radio stage show. Surprise guest stars were
heralded. The show went on at 3 p. m.
Sunday.
The Flamingo, a Brandt theatre, is offering
the first Florida showing of "Panic,"
starring French film star Viviane Romance
... A number of "name" attractions, headed
oy Bonnie Baker, Phil Regan and Bob Eberle,
have been booked into the Olympia for
spring dates by Manager Al Weiss and Harry
Levine, Paramount's national booker, who is
in town. Weiss asserted that the policy of
bringing in big acts will continue through
the spring and summer, along with four acts
to round out most shows, plus the regular
screen show.
.
"The Jolson Story" is getting a return
shov/ing at the Plaza, a Wometco house
George Bourke hears that the story about
the reincarnation of a race horse, which
Jolson related here over a year ago and
which he credited to Swifty Morgan, has
reached the screen under the title "Return
of October," a wliimsical comedy . . . Billy
Rose will be listening in from Boca Raton
when the first Miami Beach presentation of
his new song, "Crying for Joy," is heard.
Harry Williams Improves
CHARLOTTE— Harry M. Williams, salesman
in South Carolina for United Artists before
he became ill last year, is now fully recovered
and planning to return to the territory.
Williams underwent an operation last
July in Memorial hospital here and later flew
with his family to Los Angeles to recuperate.
M. E. Rice to Open March 23
MEMPHIS—M. E. Rice was on Filmrow
with news that his new theatre, now under
construction at Brownsville, Tenn., will be
ready for a grand opening March 23.
Original Purchase by Metro
"Act of Violence." Collier Young original,
has been purchased by Metro from the company
which the late Mark Hellinger headed.
Sunday Show Issue
Moves Up in Senate
JACKSON. MISS.—The senate judiciary
committee has reported favorably, with minor
amendments, the house-approved bill to legalize
Sunday motion picture shows in Mississippi.
The committee-amended bill would permit
20 per cent of qualified electors of a municipality
to request an election to decide the
issue.
Under the proposed legislation, the state's
old blue laws would be amended to permit
the showing of motion pictures and participation
in all games and other athletic contests
between the hours of 1 p. m. and 6 p. m.
Harry Richman, entertainer, plans construction
of a 182-unit, medium-priced apartment
development on his bay-front property
in Miami Beach . and Mrs. Gregory
Peck, accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Leslie
by
Charteris, arrived here from Haiti. On his
return to Hollywood, Peck will make a western,
"The Yellow Sky," in which picture he
says, "This time I get to be a noble character."
.
Film and stage star Prank Morgan spent
some time in this city ... No press, except
photographers and newsreel men, were
present at the recent marriage of Jane Frohman
here Edward N. Claughtons
gave an after-the-show party in honor of
artists taking part in the "Madame Butterfly"
opera.
Open Mountain Home House
MOUNTAIN HOME, ARK.—A new theatre,
the Morgan, opened here March 4. Paul
Morgan and his daughter Pauline are associated
in business.
Lake, Eight Years Old
On 2nd Birthday
Lake Worth, Fla.—The Lake Theatre
invited all persons having February 29
as a birthday to be guests of the management
at a birthday celebration of the
theatre itself. Apparently nobody in
Lake Worth could claim February 29
as date of birth so the theatre celebrated
its second birthday alone. During the
eight years since it was opened the Lake
has had but three managers.
Indoors or out DeVrys the buy/
For 250-seat to 6,000 seat theatres
and outstandingly for drive-ins with
up to 1,000 car capacity—the trend is
definitely to DeVry "12000" Series
projectors, amplifiers and
speakers.
Typical of DnVRY-equipped outdoor
theatres now being readied for
spring opening is the model Drive-In
at Muncie, Indiana, shown in the airview
shot above. Other DeVry installations
being made for the coming
season are:
CALIFORNIA: Drive-In near San
Diego. GEORGIA: Drive-In Theatres
at Thomasville & Moultrie. INDI-
ANA: Terre Ha
Drive-In. IOWA:
Drive-In at Sioux
City. OHIO: "Sciota"
at Portsmouth,
"Triangle" at Wilming
Also Drive-Ins at Springfield and St.
Marys. MICHIGAN: Drive-In at
Grand Rapids. NORTH CAROLINA:
Drive-Ins at Asheville, Stateville &
Charlotte. PENNSYLVANIA: "Family"
Drive-In at New Kensington.
TEXAS: Drive-In at Midland. WEST
VIRGINIA: Drive-In at Elkins and
Meadowbrook. CANADA: Peter
Drive-In, Lansing, Ontario.
// you contemplate modernizing present equipment or building
ifacti

. . Babe
R.
. . . M.
. . . Lyle
. . RKO
. . Kiddy
MEMPHIS
T)avid Flexer, president of Flexer Theatres
who was back from business sessions in
Chicago, took off for New York for conferences
there in connection with plans for a
nationwide chain of drive-ins.
Duane Crow, member of the Press-Scimitar
editorial staff, has resigned to become assistant
manager of Loew's State March 23.
NEW YORK
,
245 WEST
menl trcdler order I
and sec why exhibitors all
<
^ZA the ceantrr 9e< their trtdlen
iriLM
55 jTRirr 11327 S.W

1 20
. . AU
. . "Gone
. .
. . Robert
E.D. Martin Elevaled BJ R M I N G H A M
To Father's Civic Job
PHENIX CITY, ALA.—The Phenix City
Hotel and Development Corp. has elected
E. D. Martin of Martin Theatres. Columbus,
Ga., as its president. He succeeds his father
Roy Martin sr., who was killed in a
plane crash a month ago. The Reconstruction
Finance Corp., according to Mayor
Homer D. Cobb, has agreed to finance 50 per
cent of the cost of consti-uction of a proposed
$50,000 ten-story hotel in downtown
Phenix City.
Court Rules Crescent Co.
Can Remodel Theatre
NASHVILLE — Crescent
TJ M. Kennedy, district manager for Wilby-
Kincey, made another in a series of addresses
which he has been giving to civic
clubs throughout the state when he spoke
to the Birmingham Civitan club in the topic,
"That's My Business." Kennedy's appearance
was arranged by Ollie Haynes, Lyric manager,
who was co-chairman of the Civitan
program committee for the meeting.
The Birmingham Theatre closed Saturday
1 to make alterations preparatory to reopening
April 11 as an all-Negro house. The
present white entrance on Third avenue will
be closed and the Negro entrance on North
17th street used as the main entrance.
Miimie Thomas, the other cashier, became
ill . . . Melba Manager Harry M. Curl booked
"To the Ends of the Earth" as the theatre's
attraction for its second anniversary program
starting March 18 . . . Maurice Mitchell, 20th-
Fox salesman, and Spence Pierce, publicist,
were lunching at the Downtown club.
J. D. Winn, owner of the Ohatchee Theatre
in Ohatchee. Ala., was a visitor . . . Others
seen here included Emery Au.stin, MGM publicist:
Hubert Lyons, RKO branch manager:
Clyde Goodson, Paramount branch manager,
and Nelson Towler, EL. Austin was working
on "Tenth Avenue Angel," "Alias a Gentleman"
and "High Wall," all booked into the
Ritz.
•'Gentleman's Agreement" got some rave
Amusement Co. comments after it had been screened by "Holiday on Ice" drew excellent crowds during
U performances in nine days at Municipal
has authority to remodel and enlarge its Francis S. Falkenburg, Alabama manager,
Ritz Theatre at Alabama City. Ala., at an for a representative group of Birmingham auditorium. Working the spots were four local
estimated cost of $100,000, according to a citizens. The film is slated to open at the projectionists: C. J. Moore, Melba: Harold
ruling in federal court here.
theatre next month . With the Gaston, Galax; John Cason, Binningham,
It was held by Judge Elmer D. Davies that Wind" had its fifth local sihowlng when it and William Tate, Galax . Lane,
a decree he entered in an antitrust case played an engagement at the Birmingham. Delmar projectionist, has resigned and has
against the amusement company in 1945, and Previous showings were at the Ritz and been replaced by T. F. Cooper. Formerly
amended by the U.S. supreme court, does not Strand.
Norwood Theatre booth man. Cooper has
deal with the redress sought in a petition
been replaced by A. W. Gilmore.
Fred B. McCallum, Strand manager, is
filed by the company. It was ruled further
back on duty after a siege of malaria .
that there was nothing to prohibit the remodeling
and enlarging program and that
New Brenkert projection equipment and a
new plastic screen have been installed at Drive-In Opens for Season
the petition was unnecessary.
the Strand. The booth, manager's office and CHATTANOOGA.—The Skyway, drive-in
B. Ward Wright and Dr. R. D. Clark,
other parts of the house have been redecorated
. drapes and stage props at season March 18. Don Shaw is manager of
theatre on Lee highway, opened for the
partners in the Bama Theatre in Alabama
City, resisted the petition brought by the
Wilby-Kincey theatres here have been the theatre, which last season was equipped
company to enlarge and remodel its house.
treated with Wil-Kin "Fire Retarder." Included
are the Alabama, Ritz, Lyric, Strand
with individual car speakers.
and Temple in Birmingham: the Ensley in
Lynn Lovvorn Sells House Ensley, and the Grand and State in Bessemer.
BOWDON. GA. — Open Elaine, Ark., House
Lynn Lovvorn, owneroperator
of the Palace Theatre here for 14
years, has sold the theatre to the Duncanwill
headline the vaudeville program
Richards
... Mrs. F. B. to replace a theatre
interests of Carrollton. Pi-ior to going
into motion picture business, Lovvorn
sooner had Claudine Harmon, Galax cashier, was destroyed by fire. Mr. and Mrs. Watson
returned to work after an illness than Mrs. booked "That Hagen Girl" for the opening.
was postmaster in Bowdon for 14 years. He
has been mayor of the town for three terms.
The Temple Theatre will close for the season
on Easter weekend, when Bonnie Baker
ELAINE, ARK.—The New Theatre opened
No
March 17. The house was built by Mr. and
Watson which
Pass Building Code
FORT PIERCE, FLA.—City
commissioners
have enacted an ordinance which reinstates
requirements relating to the construction of
theatres.
All such structiires must be of fireproof
construction from now on.
Form Memphis 16mm Group
MEMPHIS—Sixty members have joined the
newly formed Shelby County Film council,
organization of folks who use 16mm film. A
meeting will be held April 8 to discuss plans
for setting up a distribution center in Memphis.
A project to catalog all 16mm film here
is being worked out. George Gleaves jr., is
president of the new group. The council was
formed under the auspices of the University
of Tennessee and meets at
University center.
FLErCHER
ANDYKIRK
AMP h'lS BAND
mcminio
Another NEW HIT
ALL
From
AMERICAN
A stage full of Stars in a show full of
fun and f'^olic, with Dusty in the Drivers'
Seat.
FULL LENGTH FEATURE
Ready for April Dates
ASTOR PICTURES Co. of Ga.
163 Walton Street
Main 9845
3rd Floor
ATLANTA
BOXOFFICE :; March 20. 1948

Just a simple idea .
hut see what it does I
From Showmandiser section
of BOXOFFICE of Jan. 17 issue.
Business can be boosted by better showmanship .
Scores of practical ideas are presented to help YOU earn
more profits from your investment.
Read BOXOFFICE- Your Business- Builder Friend
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

Reg
New Theatres Sproul
In Calgary Territory
CALGARY — More new theatres were
erected in the Calgary exchange territory in
the last year than at any time in 15 years.
Vernon Skorey of 20th-Fox told the annual
meeting of the Calgary Film Board of Trade.
He noted, also, that personnel changes in
the industry in this territory were more numerous
than ever before. On the Row, the new
annex to the film exchange building provided
needed additional space for housing exchange
personnel and storing film.
Elected officers at the meeting were William
Guss. president
: Doddridge, vicepresident:
W. O. Kelly, secretary, and W. O.
Kelly, chairman, Robert Radis and V. Skorey,
credit committee.
Foreign Exchange Crisis
To Be Depicted in Film
OTTAWA— Stuart Legge, producer for the
National Film board in the regime of John
Grierson until two years ago, was here briefly
to confer with government officials on Canadian
scenes for a film which is to be made
under the sponsorship of the Motion Picture
Ass'n of America.
Legge said that the pictm-e will deal with
Canada's foreign exchange shortage. He
sought some of the negative material from
the National Film board but said that some
scenes would be shot at border points, including
the Thousand Islands international
bridge on the St. Lawrence river, to show
the operation of Canadian customs requirements.
The picture is scheduled for release
June 1 through Paramount Pictures, he reported.
Fire Damages Theatre
In Quebec Border City
MONTREAL—Heavy damage to the interior
of the Border Theatre in Rock Island. Que.,
was caused March 8 by a fire. Members of
the community fire brigades fought the blaze
but as flames gained headway assistance was
called from Newport, Vt. The fire was extinguished
about two hours after it began.
The theatre had been redecorated only a
few months ago.
To Exploit U.S. Television
OTTAWA—The National Film Board has
prepared to use television in the U.S. this
year to attract toiu-ists. Appearing before
a senate committee, Ross McLean, commissioner,
said the board was producing short
films for television in the States, where he
predicted the television audience would reach
5,000,000 persons this year. He made no reference
to television prospects in Canada
where no commercial imits are in operation
through lack of licenses from the Canadian
Broadcasting Corp.
Magrath Theatre Opens
MAGRATH. ALTA.—The Brewerton
Theatre,
first motion picture house in this community,
opened last week. It is a 255-seater
operated by Gordon Brewerton of Cardston,
Alta.
New Rank Company Will
Sbov/manship and Civic
MIAMI MEETING — Two maritimes
theatremen vacationing in Miami met
Gene Autry, singing western star, at a
party given for him by Wometco Theatres.
In the picture with Autry are J. M.
Franklin (left), and Mitchell Franklin
(right), father and son and president and
secretary-treasurer, respectively, of the
Franklin & Herschorn chain. The festivities
were held in connection with the
opening of Autry's first picture for Columbia.
On the day of the party, one of
Autry's final pictures for Republic was
being shown at the F&H Mayfair in St.
John. The star autographed a newspaper
ad of the bill.
Toronto First Runs
Filled by Holdovers
TORONTO—In spite of a late cold wave,
Lenten observance and plenty of opposition,
programs were held over at no less than five
Toronto first run theatres. "Gentleman's
Agreement" did good business in its third
week at the Egllnton and Tivoli. "A Double
Life" had a second week at the Uptown and
"Cass Timberlane" was at Loew's a second
week, and "Nicholas Nickleby" played a second
session at the Fairlawn.
(Average Is 100)
Capitol and Victoria—The Challenge (ZOth-Fox).
Dangerous Years (20t)i-Fox) 95
Eglmton and Tivoh—Gentlemon's Agreement
(20th-Fox), 3rd wk 100
Fairlawn— Nicholas Nickleby (EL), 2nd wk 95
Imperial—Out ol the Past (RKO) 105
Loew's—Cass Timberlane (MGM), 2nd wk 95
Shea's—Night Song (RKO) _ 110
Uptown—A Double Ute (U-I), 2nd wk 95
Plan 'Art' House
VANCOUVER—Vested Estates, Ltd., has
filed plans with the city building department
for a small downtown theatre to show
"art" pictures. The organization, which is
independent of other theatre interests, will
have a seating capacity of 449 and will be
built across the street from Odeon's Vogue.
Toronto interests are behind the venture.
Stimulate
Activity
TORONTO— Coordination of public relations
and promotional activities of all J.
Arthur Rank companies in Canada, as well as
closer cooperation in other fields, was assured
here last week with the formation of the J.
Arthur Rank Organization of Canada, Ltd.,
under J. Earl Lawson as president.
Lawson immediately announced the appointment
of James A. Cowan as director of
publicity, public relations and advertising for
the entire Rank group, with the operation of
these departments in the individual companies
continuing under present heads as in
the past.
Among the companies affected are Odeon
Theatres of Canada, Eagle Lion of Canada,
Gaumont-Kalee and Hanson 16mm Movies,
Ltd.
"Matters of common interest in the different
Canadian companies which, for operating
efficiency require maximum cooperation
and coordination, will in the future be under
the guidance and direction, as far as general
policy is concerned, of the new company,"
Lawson announced.
One result of the expansion will be to increase
materially the emphasis on special
selling and promotion through theatres of
both American and British films.
Campaigns for the Odeon circuit will be
directed by A. J. Laurie, who was general
manager for Canadian Eagle Lion until last
summer, when he was succeeded by Prank
H. Fisher.
Mayor H. E. McCallum
Asks Sales Tax Split
TORONTO—While his predecessor, R. H.
Saunders, strongly advocated an amusement
tax for municipalities to help finance hospital
and relief costs. H. E. McCallum, recently
appointed mayor of Toronto, has come
out in favor of a federal government subsidy
for institutions and welfare agencies. Mayor
McCallum urged that 2 per cent of the federal
sales tax of 8 per cent on many commodities
should be turned over to the municipalities
for medical care and charity.
Nothing more about his proposed municipal
amusement tax for theatre patrons has been
heard from Saunders since his appointment
as chairman of the Ontario hydroelectric commission
at $10,000 a year.
Organize Kelowna Co-Op
To Build Third Theatre
KELOWNA, B. C—This community of 7,000
people may soon have three motion picture
theatres. Organization of the Kelowna Cooperative
Theatre Ass'n and plans of the company
to build a 900-seat theatre at a cost of
$130,000 were annoimced last week.
The association has taken an option on
downtown property on which to build. BUI
Dynes, local mechant, is head of the association.
Famous Players now operates the Empress
Theatre here and has started construction
of the 900-seat Capitol, on which it
will spend an estimated $200,000.
BOXOFFICE :: March 20, 1948

. . . The
. . . Ross
. . Barbara
. . Graham
. .
I
I
. . The
. . . Albert
. . "Unconquered"
on A\N A
"The parade of premiums contmues among
Ottawa theatres, the latest to join the
procession being the Glebe, which started
March 15 with the offer of silverware for the
first half of each week. This was the third
Odeon unit here to adopt a giveaway policy
Center in Pembroke was robbed
March 13. The office was ransacked and a
small amount of money taken from a desk
drawei.
The Figaro in Hull has been acquired by
France Film and a French-language picture
policy has been adopted. Last weekend the
Figaro program comprises "Le Diamant Noir"
and "Adamai Bandit d'Honneur'." The Figaro
was previously operated independently .
Two Hull theatres, the Laurier and Montcalm,
are holding Foto night one night each week
to bolster attendance .
Ann Scott,
back from Europe where she won the Olympic
figure-skating title, attended the Elgin to see
"Dancing Blades," a short subject in which
she is featured, but she was recognized by
the audience and decided to leave after a
short stay b"rause of the commotion.
In presenting "The Loves of Joanna Godden,"
Manager Prank Gallop of the Glebe
gave a recording or thi-ee-month pass to the
latest newlyweds and the longest-married
couple in the audience ... A rehgious film,
"Golgotha," was billed like a theatre attraction
when it "played" Chalmers church here
March 14. The audience admitted by invitation
ticket. The picture, made in France, was
advertised as "a million dollar production,
with cast of thousands" and it was described
as magnificent, inspiring, lavish and spectacular.
The National Film society staged its fifth
performance of the season at the Glebe
March 14. A large audience saw a program
topped by "Day of Wrath," a picture made in
Denmark during the Nazi occupation. The
society has been conducting these monthly
Sunday shows for 13 years . Mc-
Innes, an executive of the Nitional Film
board, is making a tour of the Canadian west
McLean, commissioner of the NFB,
was guest at the luncheon of the Canadian
Weekly Newspapers Ass'n heie and told them
about a film dealing with small-town weekly
newspapers which the NFB is producing.
Thanks to speedy service by newsreel companies,
the homecoming reception for Barbara
Ann Scott was shown on the screens of
Ottawa theatres on the day following the
rousing event. Win Barron, chief commentator
of Canadian Paramount News, personally
supervised the work of the Paramount
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crew . . . Manager L. Gauthier of the Cartier
in Hull installed a loud speaker in the entrance
to the theatre for the reproduction
of music from the screen Junior
.
Film club staged a Saturday afternoon screen
show March 13 in the Technical School auditorium
in opposition to the juvenile matinee
performances at the licensed theatres.
yiCJORlA
fanager Sheila Bejay of the Rio made
ytgood headway in her campaign to gain
patronage of the select Oak Bay crowd
through the showing of "The Well-Digger's
Daughter." Special invitations were sent to
members of the Alliance Francaise. After
the showing members of the Alliance wrote
letters to newspapers about the picture and
considerable free publicity appeared in the
Victoria newspapers. French teachers and
the principal of Victoria college received special
invitations from Miss Bejay and students
were given a special rate on presentation of
College Council ticket.
Dorothy Lanning, on the staff of Famous
Players in Victoria for
\ H
ten years, and presently
secretary to
Manager John Robeitson
of the Capitol,
was married recently
to George Bone. She
*^'l continue to work
foi Famous Players
. Gordon Jackson,
projectionist at the
Capitol in Port Alberni,
has been elected
secretary of the
Dorothy Lanning pojt Alberni Tyee club.
Jack Fairley, projectionist at the Port Alberni,
was named organizer of salmon derbies
in the district . . . George Riley, projectionist
at the Roxy in Alberni, has purchased
a coffee shop in Port Alberni which
he manages on his off hours.
Capitol in Rouyn, Ont..
Celebrates 10th Year
TORONTO—The celebration by Sam Korman,
an associate of Famous Players Canadian
Corp., of the tenth anniversary of the
Capitol in the northern mining town of Rouyn
was marked by a two-page spread in the
ilouyn-Noranda Press, the receipt of congratulatory
messages from a number of Hollywood
stars and FPC head office officials.
Coincidentally Korman was appointed
supervisor of five theatres in Rouyn, Noranda,
Haileybury and Cobalt. In this group are
the Capitol at Rouyn, as well as the new
Paramount there, which is expected to open
in a few months. The Paramount, a 560-
seater, will cater to the French-CanadiaB?
residents of the district, showing Frenchlanguage
films.
Robert Martino, a veteran of the Canadian
air forces, was named manager of the Rouyn
Capitol, succeeding Korman. Martino joined
the staff of the Capitol in 1939 and became
assistant at the Noranda before he enlisted
for war service. He is man-ied and has one
child.
A feature of the Capitol celebration was
giving away of $50 prizes at Monday night's
performance which opened the week of
festivities.
TORONTO
n fter many delays in construction, Famous
Players Canadian Corp. finally got its
Nortown into operation March 17. The first
FPC postwar theatre here is the last word
in theatre developments with its glass front,
reverse-pitch floor for improved screen vision,
pushback seats, elaborate candy bar and
luxurious fitments. FPC also has reopened
the Palace on Danforth avenue where Charlie
Querrie has been the manager since its
opening 30 years ago. This theatre, too, is
fitted with the slide seats to provide ample
room for movement between rows. It was
dark for three weeks when the interior was
renovated.
Workmen finally have vanished from the
big downtown Imperial where a new front
and lobby have been under construction
since last June. Manager Tom Daley is de-
The International
Cinema, under the management of Mrs. Stephen
Proctor, has held "Man About Town,"
the French feature starring Maurice Chevalier,
for a second week. The dialog is
French.
The Cameo on Pape avenue in the east
end. a 20th Century Theatres unit, has introduced
a silverware giveaway . . . Allen's
Hollywood here premiered "Love on the
Dole." The engagement was restricted to
adults.
Manager Don Baecher of the 20th Century
Glendale on Upper Avenue road has
adopted a cartoon type of theatre display
it advertising to make different from others
Glazer, former famous war pilot
with the air force, is operating an independent
film-processing plant out at Queensway,
just west of Toronto.
The 20th Century Tivoli at Hamilton
played "My Wild Irish Rose" for three weeks
after a similar engagement at the Toronto
Imperial. The Odeon Palace, Hamilton, gave
a one-night performance of the Symphony
orchestra while the Hamilton Savoy
had a two-day stage engagement of the
Dublin Gate Players .
is
to be the Easter attraction at Shea's in
Toronto.
Fire Destroys Vanguard
VANGUARD, SASK.—Fire has destroyed
the Vanguard Theatre, operated by Fred
Heibner, with a loss estimated at $17,500.
The loss was covered by insurance.
To Build at Qualicum Beach
VANCOUVER—Mrs. L. Warren, on behalf
of Warren Theatres. Ltd., has purchased
property in Qualicum Beach, B. C, a summer
resort midway between Alberni and
Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. Construction
of a 350-seat theatre on the property
will start May 1. Harold Warren, partner
of Famous Players in three theatres in the
Alberni district, will handle the theatre.
Mrs. Warren also plans to build a theatre
in ParkvUle, seven miles from Qualicum
Beach, but will not start that project until
the resort town's house is built.
BOXOFFICE March 20, 1948
: :

. .
. .
Rebound at Calgary
As Cold Snap Eases
CALGARY—Continued subzero weather
and snow flurries cut theatre patronage at
beginning of the week but blue skies and big
attractions broug'ht business back to all downtown
houses in the latter half of the week.
Grosses for the period mounted for the first
time since the belated cold snap struck the
prairies. "Captain Prom Castile" did very
well at the Capitol. The Palace gave only
a short run to its double feature and opened
at the weekend with "Call Northside 777."
"Body and Soul" played to very good business
at the Grand.
Capitol Captain From Castile (20th-Fox) Good
Grand—Body and Soul (UA) Good
Palace—That Hagen Girl (WB),
Invisible Wall (20th-rox) Poor
Palace—Call Northside 777 (20th-Fox) Good
Holdovers Crowd Vancouver;
"Castile' Best New Entry
VANCOUVER—Only two new pictures came
to town last week and the surfeit of holdovers
showed up at the boxoffice. Of the new
pictures, "Captain F:-om Castile" was strong
at the Orpheum but "Magic Town" did poorly
at the Captiol. "Quiet Weekend" had a strong
third week at the International Cinema.
Capilol—Magic Town (RKO) .
Dominion—Thunder in the Valley (20th-Fox):
Thief of Bagdad (Indie), 2nd d t wk
..Fair
International Cinema— Quiet Weekend (EL),
3rd wk Good
Orpheum—Coptain From Castile (20lh-Fox) Good
Paradise—Each Dawn I Die (WB); Wild Bill
Hickok Rides (WB), reissues, 2nd wk Moderate
Park and Plaza—Secret Beyond the Door (U-I)
2nd wk Poor
Strand—Big Town Alter Dark (Para);
Deserf Fury (Para), 2nd d. t. wk Average
Vogue Jassy (EL), 3rd wk Fair
VANCOUVER
Jimmy Davie, manager of the local RKO
exchange, will marry Marge Spencer of
the MGM office next summer . . . Jack
Schlaifer, recently appointed to the post of
assistant to the vice-president in charge of
sales for Eagle Lion ( Hollywood i Films, is
well known to oldtimers in show business
in western Canada. He was manager of
Warner Bros, exchanges in Calgary and
Winnipeg about 25 years ago.
Mrs. Sam Custovich, wife of the owner of
the Sam's Theatre in Mailardville, B. C, is
now managing the theatre, succeeding Pat
Paterneau, who resigned . . . Carroll Levis,
ex-Vancouverite who has become one of
Britain's top showmen, is here for a rest
before tackling Hollywood. He arrived in
London in 1935 with a total capital of $750
and in five weeks was getting $5,000 a week
as an entertainer on the BBC. Since then
he's become a picture star, producer, writer,
director, and manager of five traveling
shows in Great Britain.
Leo M. Devaney, general manager of RKO
for the Dominion, addressed the ad and sales
bureau of the Vancouver Board of Tj-ade and
also introduced another speaker, Susan
Fletcher, radio and film commentator. At
the head table as guests were the circuit
heads and film exchange managers. Devaney
flew to Victoria to look over the new Odeon
and also visited the new Odeon in West Vancouver
before leaving for his Toronto headquarters.
Wally Woolridge, projectionist at the
Strand, has moved over to the Capitol, replacing
the late Sam Haigh. Joe Errington
succeeds Woolridge in the Strand booth .
Bill Howell, shipper at Eagle Lion, resigned
and left for London to work in the Arthur
Rank studios as a film cutter. The local
staff gave him a lighter as a parting gift.
Harry Thornton of UA succeeds Howell .
Lyle Kinney, assistant manager of the Odeon
in New Westminster, is taking over as manager
of the Oak Bay Theatre, Victoria, replacing
Russell McTavish, who resigned to
return to his auctioneer business in Victoria.
Coast Films, which handles Artkino and
other foreign films, has opened a Vancouver
exchange and appointed Merwyn Marks as
manager . . . Larry Katze, booker at Empire-
Universal, resigned and is now in the furniture
business. Mable Grant is in charge until a
permanent booker is appointed . . . Odeon's
district office in the Birks Bldg. here is undergoing
considerable face lifting.
Five More Adult Films
TORONTO—The Ontario Board of
Moving
Picture Censors has classified five more features
as adult entertainment. Simultaneously
it was announced that three theatres in
Ontario had been found guilty of violating
provincial regulations that require all advertising
for nonfamily pictures must carry the
designation of adult entertainment. The new
adult features are "Sleep, My Love," "If Winter
Comes," "Woman's Vengeance," "Railroaded"
and "Love on the Dole."
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BOXOFFICE ;: March 20, 1948 101

. . The
. . Roberte
. . "Mourning
. . "Body
ST. JOHN
CJale of books of tickets as birthday and marriage
anniversary §ifts is being promoted
in Sacksville, N. B.. by Denis Murpliy, manager
of tiie Vogue and Imperial theatres . . .
Charlie Staples, owner-manager of the Queen
in St. Stephen, N. B., put on an outstanding
promotional campaign for the short, "Border
Without Bayonets." He aimed his promotional
material at people living on both sides
of the international line, and drew patronage
from both Charlotte county, N. B., and Washington
county, Me. Some of the footage was
shot in St. Stephen and neighboring Calais,
Me.
Theatre attendance in St. John has been hit
by a shutdown of the local dry dock and ship
repair plant. Reduced employment in the
Halifax shipyards, due to the shortage of
steel, has hurt theatre business in that port
city . , . The Famous Family club of Halifax
will sponsor an Eastertide party for boys and
girls in the shelters for orphaned and deserted
children. A penny sale was held to raise
funds for the party. Dorothy Creighton is
president of the club and Mrs. Freeman Skinner
and Miss P. Connors were in charge of
the penny sale. Mrs. Skinner is the wife of
. the Orpheus manager Garrick in
Halifax closed for remodeling.
If a big pulp and newsprint project for
Charlotte county goes through to fruition,
establishment of a motion picture theatre
there is likely to follow. Lepreaux Is said to
have the inside track on the project.
Gazette Finds Tax Deal
'Agreeable Compromise'
MONTREAL—Montreal Gazette comments
as follows on the settlement of the motion
picture issue between the United States and
Britain:
"The United Kingdom government, once
more, has yielded to popular demand over
doctrinaire opinion in withdrawing the highly
controversial 75 per cent duty on U.S. film
earnings in Britain. The tax, imposed last
August, was calculated to save some $68,000,-
000 annually.
"From the first it was generally unpopular.
Pi-otests from film addicts in the U.K. were
loud and long. For Clark Gable and Lana
Turner are no less part of the life of Houndsditch
than of Hoboken, of Leeds than of
Louisville.
"Further, it was an impractical tax. The
Briti.sh film industry has achieved a deserved
reputation for high quality films. Even by
lowering that production standard it was not
possible adequately to supply British cinemas
without U.S. films. Moreover, the tax crippled
both the U.S. and the British film industries.
Hollywood discovered to its surprise
and dismay that its real profits came
from British exhibition of its product, not
the U.S. distribution.
"Both sides, therefore, were early in a
mood to compromise. And by compromise
the strain has now been eased to the mutual
benefit of both. The new agreement, providing
for nomal import of U.S. films to Britain,
is effective from June 14. For the first two
of the four years for which it runs. U.S. producers
may take home $17 millions of their
earnings plus an amount equal to British
film earnings in the U.S."
$225,000 Wage Dividend
Is Distributed by Kodak
MONTREAL—Canadian Kodak Co., Ltd.,
distributed its largest wage dividend last
week. A sum of $225,000 went to 1,280 employes
as compared with $153,000 paid to 1,175
employes a year ago. George Eastman established
this plan in 1912 and since then the
total wage dividend has been $3,000,000, and
in the world at large $89,100,000. Kodak
bases its wage dividend on the- dividends declared
in the preceding year on the common
stock of the parent company, Eastman Kodak
Co. of Rochester, N. Y., and it is calculated
on individual earnings over a five-year pe-
CALGARY
V M. Leach, operator of the Strand and
Variety theatres here as an associate of
the Famous Players circuit, reports that newsound
equipment is due soon for the Strand
Equipment at the Strand will be put in the
Empress Theatre, now dark, in preparation
for its reopening next fall. Leach leaves this
month for the east, where he will call on
theatre seat factories.
Continued heavy snow and dangerous deep
drifts held film salesmen close to home again
last week. A few made train trips to nearby
cities. Railroads, like all other transport
this month, have been off
schedule.
Arthur Silverstone, recently appointed
Canadian manager of 20th-Fox, stopped off
here for two days on his first transcontinental
tour of the Donimion. He said he was
pleasantly sui priced to find on the way west
that business came up to last season. He announced
that Sir Alexander Korda's product,
which 20th-Fox will distribute, will be exhibited
in all units of the Famous Players
circuit.
Another general manager here from
Toronto on a visit was Charlie Chaplin of
United Artists. His chief worry seemed to be
arranging the second run of "Henry V." He
was certain this picture would take some
selling to folk in the prairies.
Alf Shackleford, manager of the Capitol
and Roxy theatres in Lethbridge, is now
on his second year as president of the
Lethbridge and District Exhibition and
Rodeo Ass'n. Shackleford is also on his fifth
term as alderman in Lethbridge.
'Each Dawn I Die' Theme
Causes Youth to Repent
Vancouver—The films' message that
crime does not pay struck a telling blow
here last week. A conscience-stricken '
youth gave away or threw away $670 of
stolen money after seeing "Each Dawn
I Die" at the Paradise Theatre.
He was carrying his loot when he entered
the theatre and after seeing the
picture he dropped $590 of it on the floor.
On leaving the theatre he handed the
other $80 to Johnny Jones, doorman, saying
he had found it in the theatre. Reggie
Trish, janitor, subsequently discovered
the money on the floor and the youth
was arrested by police.
MONTREAL
Qeorge Garetakos, president
and managing
director of United Amusement Corp., left
for a four-week vacation in Florida. A rest
was recommended by his physician . . . Filmrow
extended best wishes to Wilfred Mainville
when he recently opened the Rose in
Ste. Therse . Foucault is leaving
Empire-Universal, where she is French
stenographer, to join the Abbott Laboratories
in St. Laurent.
Exhibitors in town included P. Boumansour
of the Royal, Louiseville, and Adrien
Lapierre of the Capitol, Beauharnois . . . Warner
Bros, has set "My Wild Irish Rose" at the
Capitol Easter week . Becomes
Electra," released through RKO, starts
April 12 at His Majesty's . and
Soul" played thi-ee weeks at the Capitol, first
picture to do so since "The Lost Weekend"
in 1945.
Harry Kaufman, eastern division manager
of Cardinal Films, was in Toronto on his way
to visit western branches . Eloi Cormier,
salesman for Peerless Film, returned from
Moncton, where he attended his father's
funeral . . T. J. Gould of Toronto, general
sales manager of MGM, visited the local office.
Asked if she planned to go to Hollywood,
Barbara Ann Scott, Canada's world champion
figure skater, replied, "I like going to the
movies but I don't know about acting in
them" . . . Prints of the Gaumont-British
one reeler on the royal wedding have been
purchased by the Daughters of the Empire
and will be played on the National Film
board circuit throughout the Dominion.
Maurice Chevalier will be presented in eight
performances at the Plateau hall April 14
to 22 . . . The Mount Royal put on a program
featuring the "Sweet Singers of Israel" and a
Yiddish picture, "Kol Nidre," with English
subtitles . . . "Henry V" had a one-day
presentation at the Verdun Palace. Special
arrangements were made for attendance by
students.
Television to Be Speeded
By Change in Electricity
TORONTO—Television here is "just aroimd
the corner," now that the Ontario government
has decided to switch from 25-cycle to
60-cycle power, according to the chief engineer
of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.
First two centers to benefit will be Montreal
and Toronto.
"We welcome the change," he declared. "It
is a boon to us because we have been forced
to buy special equipment for the 25-cycle centers.
With only a small amount of that
equipment manufactured, cost has been high.
We will now buy standard equipment and
thus cut costs. He said the expense of the
changeover will be only minor as most CBC
outlets are already on 60-cycle power.
He did not think conversion of present
standard television sets would be completely
satisfactory. "It would be much better to
buy new television sets," he said.
Write 'Ice' Music Score
Musical score for Film Classics' "Blonde
Ice" will be written by Juan Duval and Victor
Graniodos.
102 BOXOFTICE :: March 20, 1948

^OXOFFICE BAROMETER • EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY
Feature chart • review digest • shorts chart
SHORTS reviews • FEATURE REVIEWS • EXPLOITIPS BookinGuide
BOXOFFICE
FIRST RUN REPORTS
This chart shows the records made by
pictures in five or more oi the 21 key cities
checked. As new runs are reported, ratings
are added and averages revised.
BAROMETER
TOP HIT OF THE WEEK
Cass Timberlane
Minneapolis .190
Computed in terms oi percentage in
relation to normal grosses. With 100
per cent as "normal," the figures
•how the percentage above or below
that mark.

EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY
ABOUT
PICTURES
Just as the Barometer page shows first run reports on current pictures, this
department is devoted tor the most part to reports on subsequent runs, made by
exiumors themselves. A one-star oontributor is new. two stars mean the extumor
has b!Z writing in for six months or longer, and a three-star contributor
isaVegularoTone year or more, who receives a token of our appreciation. All
exhibitors welcome.
COLUMBIA
Arizona (Col)—Reissue. Jean Arthur, William
Holden, Warren William. A very good
reissue that did for us. business The print
was also good. Ployed Sunday. Weather:
Fair and cold.—D. W. Trisko, Ritz Theatre,
Jerome, Ariz. Mining patronage.
Boston Blackie on Suspicion (Col)—Chester
Morris, Lynn Merrick. It seemed to please the
few that came. I guess my theatre still had
the odor of "They Were Sisters" (U-1) around
and this frightened most of them away^ I
don't blame them—I've played so many bad
English features. Played Fri., Sat. Weather:
Fair.—Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, BivesyiUe^,
W. Va. Rural patronage.
Guilt oi Janet Ames, The (Col)—Rosalind
Russell, Melvyn Douglas, Sid Caesar. No
comment. You wouldn't print the kind of
language I would hove to use in speaking
about this picture. All I want to know is how
an actress of Rosalind Russell's ability allows
herself to play in such a story? Played Sun.,
Mon. Weather: Very cold.—Carl E. Pehlman,
Rio Theatre, Edinburg, 111. Rural and smaU
town patronage.
Redmen, The (Col)—Jon Hall,
Last oi the
Michael O'Shea, Evelyn Ankers. This is a
natural for small towns. We did very well m
view of the extremely cold weather. Played
Fri., Sat.—Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre^,
Tilbury, Ont. Small town patronage. * * *
Swing the Western Way (Col)—lack Leonard,
Mary Dugan, Thurston Hall. About a year
ago the Hocsier Hot Shots meant something
at our boxoffice but evidently the patrons have
seen them do the same thing so often that
they do no more than mediocre business now,
and this has been true of the last three or
four we've played on Sun., Mon. When these
western musicals fall flat in on action house,
it's time for Columbia to start doing a lot to
bolster up these subjects. Our suggestion is
either to get rid of them or put some good
name western star in the lead to help them.
They simply won't stand alone any more, even
with good weather to help them.—Abe H.
Kaufman, Fountain Theatre, Terre Haute, Ind.
Action and family patronage.
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER
Arnelo Affair, The (MGM)—John Hodiak,
George Murphy, Frances Gilford. Very good
melodrama. Usual excellent MGM production.
Stars good and patrons commented
favorably on Miss Gilford's performance. Eve
Arden was good although in a small part.
Business below average. Much competition
and Ash Wednesday. Played Tues., Wed.
Weather: Cold.—Stanley Leay, Stanley Theatre,
Galena, 111. Small town patronage. * * *
Fiesta (MGM)—Esther Williams, Akim Tamiroff,
Ricardo Monfalban. Being a Technicolor
feature, plus Esther Williams in the starring
role, much publicity was not needed to cater
to the teen-agers, and average attendance
held throughout the run. Comments were
good, with a few exceptions. Doubled with
"Love and Learn" (WB). Played Sun. through
Wed. Weather: Mild.—L. C. Utecht, Lake
Theatre, Oak Park, 111. West suburban Chicago
patronage.
*
Hucksters, The (MGM)—Clark Gable, Deborah
Kerr, Sydney Greenstreet. After reading
many adverse comments about this picture
in the EHHS columns recently, I didn't expect
much. However, in my opinion it was a
superb production and I know that all who
saw it left satisfied. There' is no doubt about
the fact thai this is not Gables type of role,
but I certainly don't think he was out oi place,
and he did do a fine job. Played Tues., Wed.
Weather: Cold.—Carl E. Pehlman, Rio Theatre,
Edinburg, 111. /Rural and small town
patronage.
Keep Your Powder Dry (MGM) — Lana
Turner, Laraine Day, Susan Peters. Here is
an oldie that will bring laughs wherever it
It is plays. all about women in the army. It
starts out to be very dull but as soon as they
get off the train at the army base, watch out.
The most of the laughs came when they were
swimming but the rest of it is very funny.
Be sure to play this one. Played Mon., Tues.
Weather: Fine.—George MacKenzie, York
Theatre, Hantsport, N. S. Small town patronage.
Romance of Rosy Ridge (MGM)—Van Johnson,
Thomas Mitchell, Janet Leigh. Great—
if there ever was a picture that carried a
timely message, this is it. Right now with all
this brotherhood campaign it is most timely.
This story is a wonderful lesson in tolerance
and understanding.
right into your heart
It is the kind that creeps
and snuggles up. MGM
deserves everything in the book for this one.
Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Fair.—
Bill Leonard, Leonard Theatre, Cedarvaje^,
Kas.
Small town and rural patronage.
Sea of Grass (MGM) — .Spencer Tracy,.
Katharine Hepburn, Melvyn Douglas. This is
a better than average picture but Hepburn
did not add to it. Why do they insist on making
believe some of these old ladies are yourig
and beautiful? She can act but did not fit
in this picture—also, it was priced too high.
Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Extremely cold.
—E. J. Petersen, Cozy Theatre, Jeffers, Minn^
Rural and small town patronage.
Song of Love (MGM)—Katharine Hepburn,
Paul Henreid, Robert Walker. A very good
classical musical. The music is perfect and
will draw in a situation where good music is
appreciated. We ran this at a start of a four
day fog that held out-of-town attendance to
nothing. Played Mon., Tues. Weather: Uniavorable.—D.
W. Trisko,
Ariz. Mining patronage.
Ritz Theatre, Jerome^
Song of the Thin Man (MGM)—William
Powell, Myrna Loy, Keenan Wynn. A good
picture that got some laughs but it has been
too long between pictures of this series, and
the newer patrons don't know what it is all
about. If you can buy it right (and who can?),
run it, because there ore many pictures a
lot worse than this one. Played Sun., Mon.
Weather: Fine.—Mayme P. Musselman, Roach
Induces Local Minister
To Come to His Show
BOYS' RANCH (MGM) — Jackie"
"Butch" Jenkins, James Craig, Sklppy
Homeier. This is a natural in a small
town and, in spite of cold weather, I did
better than average with this one.
"Butch" Jenkins always pulls them in
here. Why doesn't MGM get on the ball
and give us more of "Butch?" I persuaded
the local minister to attend (that
is a notable event in itself) and he had to
admit the show was splendid. Played
Sun., Mon. Weather: Cold and cloudy.
—I. Roche, Vernon Theatre, Vernon, Fla.
Small town and rural patronage. **
He Likes Action Reissues
Instead oi Sagebrushers
SEA WOLF, THE (WB)—Reissue. Edward
G. Robinson, Ida Lupino, John
Garfield. A top-notch reissue which I
played on Saturday in place of the usual
western and did slightly above average
business. I have tried several reissues
of the action type in the place of westerns
on Saturday ("Last of the Mohicans,"
"Kit Carson") and they have been well
I it is received. believe a welcome rehef
from the Saturday sagebrushers, providing
the desired action, a star cast and low
film rental. Played Saturday. Weather:
Cold.—Carl E. Pehlman, Rio Theatre,
Edinburg, HI. Rural and smaU town
patronage.
itron-
Theatre, Lincoln, Kas. Small town patronage.
^Unfinished Dance, The (MGM)—Margaret
O'Brien, Cyd Charisse, Danny Thomas 1
talked to one exhibitor about this feature before
playing it and he said he did not think
it would be too hot for my situation. I played
it and to my surprise, we had one of the
largest crowds we have ever had for Saturday
night. This is a wonderful picture We
can always depend on mighty Leo. Played
Sat Sun., Mon. Weather: Cold.—O. Fomby,
Paula Theatre, Homer, La. Small town patronage.
^Unfinished Dance, The (MGM)—Margaret
O'Brien, Cyd Charisse, Danny Thomas. Nicely
made but too ritzy for our general patronage.
Too much dancing of a type not appreciated
by the public in general. Played Thrus.
through Fri. Weather: Fair.-M. W. Mattecheck,
Mack and Lark Theatres,
Ore. Local patronage.
PARAMOUNT
McMmnviUe^
Adventure Island (Para)—Rory Calhoun,
Rhonda Fleming, Paul Kelly. Too many features
like this and giveaways will have to be
used to bring the patrons back. Comments
were very poor on this feature. Color was
also wasted, so the patrons say. It doubled
with "Out of the Past" (RKO). Played Sun.
through Tues. Weather: Cold arid clear .-
L. C. Utecht, Lake Theatre, Oak Park, 111. Suburban
patronage.
Dear Ruth (Para)—Joan Caulfield, William
Holden, Mona Freeman. It has been a long
time sincfe my patrons have enjoyed a show
as much as they did this one. You have to sit
through this twice to hear all that s said because
there is so much laughter all the time.
Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Clear.—C. M.
Garrett, Yandell Theatre, EI Paso, Tex. FamUy
patronage.
Desert Fury (Para)—Lizabeth Scott, John
Hodiak, Burt Lancaster. A beautiful Technicolor
film with plenty of outdoor scenes. M
Enough action to keep the audience interested
throughout. Played Mon., Tues.—James C 1
Balkcom jr.. Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. bmalj
town patronage.
I Walk Alone (Para)—Burt Lancaster, Lizabeth
Scott, Kirt Douglas. I was quite surprised
as we figured it was another picture but it
did very nice business. Burt is an up-andcoming
star. Played Sat., Mon. Weather:
Good.—S. N. Holmberg, Regal Theatre, Steven,
Sask. Rural patronage.
Imperfect Lady. The (Para)—Ray Milland,
Teresa Wright, Sir Cedric Hardwicke. Extra
good and too bad so few could see this picture
on account of a blizzard which struck
Saturday and lasted all day Sunday. No one
^.
from the country could get to town. I con-
'^,
sider this one of the best pictures we ever j
had. The English loccde did not bother in this j
one, and all the cast did a fine job of it.
Played Sat., Sun.—W. H. Swan, Auditorium
. Theatre, Roscoe, S. D. Rural patronage. * * *
Imperfect Lady, The (Para)—Ray Milland,
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: March 20, 1948
I

Teresa Wright, Sir Cedric Hardwicke. No
business, several walkouts. A poor type of
production for general release. Stars did their
best with unfavorable material. Pass it for
small town and general audiences. Played
Wed., Thurs.—Stanley Leay, Stanley Theatre,
Galena, 111. Small town patronage. * * *
Perils of Pauline (Para)—Betty Hutton, John
Lund, Constance Collier. We enjoyed better
business on this in our other houses than in
Bothwell—not so good there. The roads were
badly drifted.—Harland Rfiinkin, Rankin Enterprises,
Chatham, Ont. Small town patronage.
* « «
Trouble With Women, The (Para)—Ray
Milland, Teresa Wright, Brian Donlevy. This
was a good comedy that was well taken by
the ones that came to see it. Milland's last
pictures spoiled him at my boxoffice. Played
Sat., Sun. Weather: Very cold.—Otto W.
Chapek, Annex Theatre, Anomoose, N. D.
Rural and small town patronage. * •
Trouble With Women, The (Para)—Ray Milland,
Teresa Wright, Brian Donlevy. Paramount
sure put the bee on us for this one.
It is very ordinary except in price and we
should have bought a dozen for what we paid
for it. Milland and the rest of the Englishmen
can go back home as far as we are concerned.
Our patrons don't want them. Played Wed.,
Thurs. Weather: Fair.—Mayme P. Musselman,
Roach Theatre, Lincoln, Kas. Small town
patronage.
Variety Girl (Para)—Mary Hatcher, Olga
San Juan, DeForrest Kelley. Vacant chairs
so common to this season filled when Hope,
Crosby et al (40 of 'em) played here. Played
Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Clement.—Harold
Hamley, Victor Theatre, Hartland, Wis. Summer
resort patronage in summer, a few friends
in winter.
UWhere There's Life (Para)—Bob Hope,
Signe Hasso, William Bendix. Just another
washout for Bob Hope as far as business is
concerned. By himself he just can't do it, and
Paramount is very proud of him as far as
price is concerned. We didn't do any business
on our best time, so be careful when you
It's dicker for this one. not worth too much.
Played Sun. through Tues. Weather: Fair.-^
Mayme P. Musselman, Roach Theatre, Lincoln,
Kas. Srnall town patronage.
•
* *
RKO RADIO
^Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer, The (RKO)
—Gary Grant, Myrna Loy, Shirley Temple.
Friday the 13th jinxed the weather for us and
as a result the show fell down. Played Fri.,
Sat. Weather: Fog.—D. W. Trisko, Ritz Theatre,
lerome, Ariz. Mining patronage. * *
C-Former's Daughter, The (RKO)—Loretta
Young, Joseph Gotten, Ethel Barrymore. This
is a diUy. A fine story and wonderful cast.
Some of these would-be politicians could get
some pointers. Everyone liked it and that includes
me. Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather:
Cold.—Bill Leonard, Leonard Theatre, Cedarvale,
Kas. Small town and rural patronage.
* • »
Fun and Fancy Free (RKO)—Edgar Bergen,
Dinah Shore, Charlie McCarthy. This is an
entertaining picture and did more business
than 1 expected, as it is mostly cartoon. The
kids came to see Edgar Bergen and Charlie
McCarthy. You won't pack them in but it will
please those who come. Played Sun., Mon.
Weather: Good.—E. M. Freiburger, Paramount
Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage.
* * *
USecret Life of Walter Mitfy, The (RKO)—
Danny Kaye, Virginia Mayo, Boris Karloff.
The biggest snowfall in years hit us and we
still had fair business. This happens every
time I play a good feature during the winter
months. Ploy it. Played Sun., Mon. Weather:
Terrible.—fialph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville,
W. Va. Rural patronage. * *
Trail Street (RKO)—Randolph Scott, Robert
Ryan, Anne Jeffreys. Business was not
up to par but this we can't blame on the
picture—the weather was just too bad, and
roads drifted with snow Played Fri., Sat.—
Borland Rankin, Beau Theatre, Belle River,
Ont. Small town patronage. * * *
Under the Tonto Rim (RKO)—Tim Holt,
Nan Leslie, Richard Martin. A very good
western, with a good cast and well photographed.
Typical Zpne Grey with lots of
shooting and action, and just the right length
for the weekend double which drew average
business or maybe a little better. Weather
was good but the roads full of snow.
Fri., Sat.—Mayme P. Musselman, Roach
Played
Theatre,
Lincoln, Kas. Small town patronage.
• • »
REPUBUC
Angel and the Badman (Rep)—John Wayne,
Gail Russell, Harry Carey. This is an excellent
big scale western. An exceptionally
pleasing story plot with new and wholesome
innovations. Both stars are good, as well as
the rest of the cast. Played Fri., Sat.—Stanley
Leay, Stanley Theatre, Galena, 111. Small
town patronage.
* • •
^
Dark Command (Rep) — Reissue. John
Wayne, Claire Trevor. A terrific cast and a
natural picture for small towns, but had a
brand new print in perfect condition. Wordof-mouth
advertising sent the boxoffice up
for a terrific second night. Played Wed.,
Thurs. Weather: Good.—S. N. Holmberg,
Regal Theatre, Sturgis, Sask. Rural patronage.
*
Grand Ole Opry (Rep)—Reissue. Weaver
Bros, and Elviry. For a rural community, this
old one from Republic can't be beaten. I had
one of those rare combinations one seldom
finds in show business: Warm weather in
As English Assignments
Reissues Do Business
CATHERINE THE GREAT (FC)—Reissue.
Douglas Fairbanks jr., Elisabeth
Bergner. Played as a double feature with
"Henry VIII" and most persons who attended
enjoyed it all over again. The
schools helped push this for assignments
in English, and kept the attendance to
average. Younger generations claimed
the combination was corny, but the adults
approved of the double bill. Played Wed.
through Sat.
—L. C. Utecht,
Weather:
Lake Theatre,
Fair and cold.
Oak Park,
III. West suburban Chicago patronage.
*
winter, a good show, and above all, a good
print and sound. They came from miles
around. Nuf said! Played Sun., Mon. Weather:
Fine. I. Roche, Vernon Theatre, Vernon,
Fla. Small town and rural patronage. * *
20th CENTURY-FOX
Captain From Castile (20th-Fox)—Tyrone
Power, Jean Peters, Cesar Romero. A story
laid in beautiful Mexico. The acting was good
and the story perfect. As we have a 70 per
cent clientele speaking Spanish, business was
above average. Played Fri., Sat. Weather:
Fair.—D. W. Trisko, Ritz Theatre, Jerome,
Ariz. Mining patronage. * *
Crimson Key, The (20th-Fox)—Kent Taylor,
Doris Dowling, Dennis Hoey. This is crime
drama program fare. No loss if it is not played.
Played Fri,, Sat.—Stanley Leay, Stanley Theatre,
Galena, 111. Small town patronage.
* *
Fighting Lady, The (20th-Fox)—Naval documentary.
If your patrons like airplanes or
war pictures, this is one of the best in that
it line for entertainment. All of being true
makes it more interesting. Doubled with
"Spirit of West P9int" (FC) which is not a
bad feature for beginners. The football part
is very good. Played Tues,, Wed,, Thurs.
C. M. Garrett, Yandell Theatre, EI Paso,
Tex. Family patronage. * *
Someone Have a Barrel
Ralph Raspa Can Wear?
THEY WON'T BELIEVE ME (RKO) —
Robert Young, Susan Hayward, Rita
Johnson. RKO "won't believe me" when
I tell them tliLs type of show just doesn't
go. I lost my shirt—and my pants too on
this one. Feature was just fair. Played
Tues., Wed. Weather: Good.—Ralph
Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesvillc, W. Va.
Rural patronage.
'**
Forever Amber (20th-Fox)—Linda Darnell,
Cornel Wilde, Richard Green. 1 wish 1 had
taken you boys' advice about this. It was a
flop here and not worth $1.20 to anyone, but
in my other theatre at Steven, it did terrific
business. At least it made expenses here.
Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Good.—S. N.
Holmberg, Regal Theatre, Sturgis, Sask. Rural
*
patronage.
Homestretch, The (20th-Fox)—Cornel Wilde,
Maureen O'Hara, Glenn Langan. This is as
sweet an entertainment film as you could
wish. Our only regret was the snowbound
patrons could not get out to see it. This is
type that does your theatre good. Played
the
Mon., Tues. Weather: Cold, below zero.—
Harland Rankin, Joy Theatre, Bothwell, Ont.
Small town patronage. * * *
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (20th-Fox)
—Juno Haver, Mark Stevens, Martha Stewart.
A good picture, well liked, but played to below
average because of cold weather. I came
out on top though. Played Sun., Mon. Weather:
Cold and windy.—E. J. Petersen, Cozy Theatre,
Jeffers, Minn. Rural and small town patronage.
Moss Rose (20th-Fox)—Peggy Cummins,
Victor Mature, Ethel Barrymore. This picture
would have been a terrific success here
if it hadn't been for that darned English accent.
We have enough material without England's
help.—J. C. Balkcom jr., Gray Theatre,
Gray, Ga. Small town patronage. • * •
Mother Wore Tights (20th-Fox) — Betty
Grable, Dan Dailey, Mono Freeman. The
best crowd since December—my winter patronage
likes this type. Played Sun., Mon.,
Tues. Weather: Fair to warm.—Harold Hamley,
Victor Theatre, Hartland, Wis. Rural and
*
lake resort patronage.
UNITED ARTISTS
Aventures of Don Coyote (UA)—Richard
Martin, Frances Rafferty, Vol Carlo. This is
a Cinecolor picture and it is the best one we
have had to date—hardly a splice in it.
Richard Martin has the leading role and the
kids left the matinee speechless after his
gun-slinging episodes. The color was very
good, so book it if you like action.
Fri., Sat. Weather: Fine.—George MacKenzie,
Played
York Theatre, Hantsport, N. S. Small town
patronage.
*
Fabulous Dorseys, The (UA)—Tommy Dorsey,
Jimmy Dorsey, Janet Blair. Good, by what
few saw it—a very outstanding musical. The
John Deere implement "free" show in the afternoon
which lasted until opening time put a
"kibosh" on my attendance that same evening.
Ran a 3-Stooge, "Hold That Lion," with
it, one of the best Stooge pictures I ever had.
Played Wednesday. Weather: Cold and snow.
— W. H. Swan, Auditorium Theatre, Roscoe,
S. D. Rural patronage. » » •
Strange Woman, The (UA)—Hedy Lomarr,
George Sanders, Louis Hayward, As a picture
this wasn't too bad, but as a picturization
of the book—all I can say is if a producer
can't film a book without letaining at
least the essential elements of the plot, why
doesn't he leave it alone. Or at least he
could change the title so that people who
have read the book won't expect so much.
Despite the fact that business was only a
little off, I still resent the fact that this picture
was supposed to represent Ben Ames Wil-
( Continued on page 14)
BOXOFHCE BookinGuide :: March 20, 1948

FEATURE chart'

CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES
FEATURE CHART
JULY 26

'
EATURE CHART
CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES
SEPTEMBER 20 SEPTEMBER 27
(S7) My^lc-ry 80
|19]
THE ARNELO AFFAIR
John llixllak
Georye Murphy
Kraiire
n—fc
OCTOBER 4
|7] (68) Mus-Com 827
WHEN A GIRL'S
BEAUTIFUL
Adele Jergens
Marc Piatt
Patrlca White
Stephen Dunne
R—Sept. 27—PG-859
g (72) Draran
(93) Com-Myst 802
Ul
RAILROADED
GREEN FOR DANGER
John Ireland
Sally Gray-Trevor Howard
R—Oct. 18—PG-868 R—Aug. 16—PG-848
[3] (118) Drama 802
(SlUNFINISHED DANCE
Margaret O'Brien
Cyd Charisse
Karln Booth
R—Aug. 9—PO-846
OCTOBER 11
Trudy Marshall
Jimmy Lloyd
R—Sept. 6— PG-854
[n] (87) Comedy 801
OUT OF THE BLUE
Brent-Mayo-Bey
R—Sept. 6—PG-853
[u] (63) Western 755
RETURN OF THE LASH
Al "Lash" La Rue
R—Not. 16—PO-873
\jo\ (118) Drama 804
SONG OF LOVE
Katharine Hepburn
Paul Henreid
Robert Walker
R—July 26—PG-841
OCTOBER 18
\u\ (55) Western 961
BUCKAROO FROM
POWDER RIVER
R_.Not. 15—PG-873
[I|] (07) Comedy 911
BLONDIE IN THE
DOUGH
R—Sent. 27—PO-859
[it] (82) Comedy 805
MERTON OF THE
MOVIES
Red Skelton
Virginia O'Brien
R—July 19—PG-839
OCTOBER 25 NOVEMBER 1
(101) 930
©DOWN TO EARTH
R. Hayworth-L. Parks
R—Aug. 8—PG-844
g
(68) Musical 918
SWEET GENEVIEVE
J. Porter-J. Lydon
R—Sept. 20—PC-85S
(58) Western 530
H] [Is] (68) Drama 1
BURY ME DEAD
.Mark Diuiiels
CHEYENNE
OVER
TAKES
It—Oct. 11—PG-864 Ai "La.sh" La Rue
g (58) Western
[Is] (61) Western 756
FIGHTING VIGILANTES BLACK HILLS
Dean
Al "Lash" La Rue Eddie
R—Not. 29—PG-87
R—Nov.
8—PG-87
[l] (52) Western 758
SrAGE TO
Al U Rue
MESA CITY
R—Jan. 31—PG-896
|I] (91) Drama 807
DESIRE ME
Greer Garson
Robert Mltchum
Richard Hart
R—Sept. 27—PG-8(
NOVEMBER i
(86) Comedy 92
HER HUSBAND'S
AFFAIRS
R—July 2l!—PG-841
(70) Musical 91
[U
TWO BLONDES AND
A REDHEAD
U— Dec. 27— PO-885
Reissues
[F] (110) Drama
MAN IN THE IRON
MASK
(76) Drama 74
[J]
GENTLEMAN AFTER
DARK
I
28—PO-833
It—June
ra (59) Western 673
FLASHING GUNS
li—Jan. 31—PO-895
(92) Drama 4701
WILD HARVEST
Alan Laild
Dorothy Lamour
Rnberl Preston
Llovd Nolan
R—Aug. 9—PO-84S
[T] (53) Western 685
RIDIN' DOWN THE
TRAIL
Jimmy Wakely
"Cannonball"
Beverly Johns
Taylor
[u] (72) Drama 4701
HIGH TIDE
Don Castle
Anabel Shaw
Lee Tracy
Aug. 9—PG-846
Ho]

I
f
CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGE
FEATURE CHART
NOVEMBER 15 NOVEMBER 22 NOVEMBER 29 DECEMBER G
(68) Mystery 917
(ne wolf in
LONDON
lerald Mohr
Janry S.iunders
!—Jiin 17—PO-89a
|27| (6C) Mystery 9
CRIME DOCTOR'S
GAMBLE
irner Baxter
Miclieltae Chelrel
Roger Dann
Steven Geray
Dec. 13—PO-881
(SI8) Comi'dy 93
HAD TO BE YOU
T
-JIneer liosera
Cornel Wlldc
crcy Waram
U—ect. 26—PG-867
DECEMBER 13 DECEMBER 20
[ii] (62) liraiiiii 923
DEVIL SHIP
Itlchard Lane
Louise Campbell
im Bishop
R—Dec. 6—PG-879
i7) Comi'dy
BLONDIE'S
ANNIVERSARY
cniiy
SltiKleton
DECEMBER 27 JANUARY 3
^ (65) Musical 951
ROSE OF SANTA ROSA
Hoosicr Hotshots
122] (62) Drama 8
BLONDE SAVAGE
-Nov. 22— rO-S7f,
ig (81
3VE
STRANGER
PO-873
l.lcf Brlcks»n
(l:ile Sherwood
K-Oot. U— PU-884
:—Dec
6—PG-8H0
John
llulibard
(104) Muslc:il S
THIS TIME FOR
KEEPS
ther Williams
immy Durante
duritz Melcblor
Johnston
4—PG-861
(141 Drai
GREEN DOLPHIN
STREET
Lana Turner
Richard Hart
Van Heflln
Donna Reed
R—Oct. 18—PG-865
[5] (103) Drama 809
KILLER McCOY
Micliey
R—Nov.
Rooney
Donlety
1—PO-870
June Atlyson
Peter Lawford
Joitn McCracken
II—Dec. C—PG-879
(65) Com-Dr 625
PI
BOWERY BUCKAROOS
L. Oorcey-Bowery Boys
Allied Artists
(86) Drama AA3
THE GANGSTER
[K] (68) Drama 6
THE CHINESE RING
Roland VVlnlers
I,uuiso Currie
It—Dec. 20—rO-884
(58) Western
|2ol
GUN TALK
Johnny Mack Brown
Virclnia
Raymotul
Clirlstlne
Hatton
^
Reissue
(66) Drama 4706
BETRAYED
Kim Hunter
I lean JacBer
Robert MItchum.
(68) Drama
[U
SMART POLITICS
June Preisser
li'reddie Stewart
Noel NeUl
Beiita-B.
It—Oct.
Sullivan
4—PO-862
|2ll (80) Comedy 4704
WWHERE THERE'S
LIFE
Bob Hope
SIgne Hasso
ffUliam BendU
R—Oct. 11—PG-864
[g] (69) Drama 4705
BiG TOWN AFTER
DARK
Philip Reed
Hillary Brooke
It—Nov. 22—Pa-S78
ra (101) Comedy 4707
ROAD TO RIO
Bing Crosby
Bob Hope
Dorothy Lamour
R—Nov. 8—PG-871
Group 2
(65) M.vstcry SC
iCK TRACY MEETS
GRUESOME
ailih Byrd
Boris Karloff
Gwynn
R—Oct. 4—PG-861
Group 2
(97) Drama 8
OUT OF THE PAST
Robert MItchum
.lane Greer
R—Nov. 22 -876
(60) Western
PAINTED DESERT
George OBrien
Laralne Day
Ray Whitley
Group 2
(60) Western 808 (128) Drama
WILD HORSE MESA ©TYCOON
R—Nov.
22—PG-!
9] (95) Drama 62
•HE FABULOUS TEXA
rUUam Elliott
ohn Carroll
Jatherlne McLcod
Uhert Dekker
i_NoT. 15—PG-873
(97) Drama 6
THE FLAME
John Carroll
Vera Ralston
Robert Paige
Broderiek Crawford
in. 17—Pa-891
ra (69) Western HC16
SUNSET TRAIL
WUUam Boyd
Gabby Hayes
RusseU Haydeo
|13] (42) Outd'r-Dr 4707
WHERE THE NORTH
BEGINS
RusseU
Jennifer
Hayden
Holt
[is] (65) Mus-West 652
©UNBER COLORADO
SKIES
Dec. 20—PG-883
{^ (59) Western 752
BANDITS OF DAhK
CANYON
-Dec. 13—PO-881
(72) Drama 4706
|27J
ROAD TO THE BIG
HOUSE
John Shelton
lov. 1—PO-869
(T) (64) Com-Dr 7
MAIN STREET KID
[J] (58) Western HC13
PRIDE OF THE WEST
Gabby
Russell
Hayes
Hayden
|7] (1«3) DruM TK [T] (67) M'dTMia i
©SHEPHERD OF THE ROSES ARE RED
VALLEY
Don Castle
Lon McCilllster
Peggy Knudsen
EMmund Gwenn
Patricia Knight
Peggy Ann Garner R—Nov. 8—PG-872
R—June 14—PO-88*
Reissue
(84) Drama
TOBACCO ROAD
Gene
Dana
Tlemey
Andrews
Reissue
(128) Drama 7
GRAPES OF WRATH
Henry Fonda
Jane Darnell
John Carradlne
ra (99) Drama 731
DAISY KENYON
Joan Crawford
Dana Andrews
Henry Fonda
Ruth Warrick
R—Nov. 29—PG-878
(90) Drama
INTRIGUE
(ieorge Raft
.liine Havoc
lt_Jan. 3—PG-887
(97) Dramt
SLEEP. MY LOVE
Claudette Colbert
Robert Cummings
Don Ameche
R^Ian. 17—PG-892
PTURNED GLASS
John
KelUno
(77%) Draini 6
©PIRATES OF
MONTEREY
.\lnrla Monte*
iiod Cameron
Phillip Reed
Giiie Sondergaard
Ii—Nov. 22—PO-878
(88) Drama 6
LOST MOMENT
Susan Hayward
Robert Cmnmings
R—Oct. 18—PG-86n
(91) Drama 62
©BLACK NARCISSUS
Deborah Kerr
llavid Farrar
R-July 12—PG-838
(81) Drama
THE SENATOR WAS
INDISCREET
William Powell
|22| (104) Drama 70S
ESCAPE ME NEVER
Errol Flynn
Eleanor Parker
Ida Luplno
Gig Young
R—Nov. 8—PG-871
(93) Drama 7
JEZEBEL
Bette Davis
|l5] (88) Drama 7
SLIGHT CASE OF
MURDER
Erij.irrt G. Robinson
Reissue
[Is] (116) Drama 71
ANTHONY ADVERSE
Fredrlc March
Olivia de Haviiland
(101) Drama 71
Ip]
U©MY WILD IRISH
ROSE
Dennis Morg.in
.Vndrea King
Arlone D.ihl
R— Dec. 13—PG-882
Nov. (69) Dr.ama 1139 Dec. Dran- 623
TIGHT SHOES
THE INVISIBLE MAN
Broderiek Crawford
Claude Rains
Leo CarrlUo
CHara Stuart
Nov. (77) Comedy 1217 Dec. (81) Drama 1029
BUTCH MINDS THE INVISIBLE MAN
BABY
RETURNS
Virginia Bruce
Vincent Price
Broderiek Crawford
Sir Cedrlc Hardwicke
PITTSBURGH
.Rihn Wayne
Marlene Dietrich
GREEN HELL
Douglas Fairbanks jr.
Joan Bennett
(74) Drama 1266
Jan. (80) Myst-Dr 1295
SON OF DRACULA
Lon Chancy
Louise Allbrltton
Jan. (67) Mvst-Dr 1212
GHOST OF
FRANKENSTEIN
Lon Chaney
Evelyn Anl

I
I
EATURE CHART CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES 1
SIXGUN LAW
S::irri-tl-Biirnotte
R— ,l:in. 10— PG-800
(SI) Drama 932
©THE SWORDSMAN
Drama 809
•Keefe
GLAMOUR GIRL
Virginia Grey
Micliael Duane
Gene Krupa's Orch.
R—Jan. 3— PG-888
(;lenda
Farrell
MARY LOU
[{obert Low ery
Joan Barton
Glenda Farrell
Frankie Carle
R—Jan. 31—PC-895
^
(55) Western 853
CHECK YOUR GUNS
Bddie Dean
F. Tone-J. Blair
R—Feb. 28—PG-905
|3l] (85) Drama 8
©THE SMUGGLERS
Michael Redgrave
R—Jan. 17—PG-8»a
WRECK OF
HESPERUS
Wilhird Parlier
Edgar Biich;inan
Patricia White
R—Feb. 14—PG-899
[7] (83) Drama 812
ADVENTURES OF
CASANOVA
Arturo de Cordova
Turhan Bey
Lucille Bremer
R—Feb. 28—PO-905
TANGIER
Steiilien
Michael
R—Feb.
Dunne
Duane
28—PG-905
(70) Drama 813
OPEN SECRET
.lohn Ireland
Jane Randolph
Roman Bohnen
R—Jan. 24—PG-893
Robert Young
U—Jan. IT—PG-892
(19] (53) Drama 965
PHANTOM VALLEY
Starrett-Bumette
R—Mar. 6—PG-907
^
(56) Drama 854
TORNADO RANGE
Eddie Dean
Roscoe Ates
H—Mar. 6—PG-908
EARTH
Dicli Powell
Signe Hasso
R—Jan. 24—PG-S
|28l
(SO)
TAKE MY 1
Greta Gynt
Hugh Williai
rt—Feb. 14-
V (119) Drama 81
CASS TIMBERLANE
liiuiff Tracy
g
(98) Drama S:
IF WINTER COMES
Waller Pldgeon
Deborah Kerr
.\neela Lansbury
R— Dec. 27—PG-885
(99) Drama 815
U]
HIGH WALL
Robert Taylor
Audrey Totter
Herbert Marshall
R—Dec. 30—PO-88S
g
(74) Drama 816
TENTH AVENUE ANGEL
Margaret O'Brien
George JIurphy
Angela Lansbury
U—Jan. 17—PG-891
[T^ («B) Comedy 4704 [n] (53) Musical 686
JIGGS AND MAGGIE SONG OF THE DRIFTER
IN SOCIETY
Jimmy Wakely
-Feb. 14— PG-900
ra (98) Drama 4708
WALK ALONE
Burt Lancaster
Lizahelh Scott
Wendell Corey
;
Douglas
Dec 20—PG-883
Hi] (58) Western 4751
OVERLAND TRAIL
Johnny Macb Brown
Raymond Hatton
Vireinia Belmont
(Y) (75) Drama 4709
FIGHTING MAD
jr.
Joe Kirkwood
BIyse Knox
Leon Errol
R—Feb. 7—PG-898
(m) (66) Drama 4707
PERILOUS WATERS
Hon Castle
Audrey Long
l'eg;;y Knudson
g
(76) Drama 4705
ROCKY
Roddy McDowal)
Nita Hunter
Gale Sherwood
g
(90) Drama 4709
ALBUQUERQUE
Randolph Scott
Barbara Britton
Gabby Hayes
R—Jan. 24—PG-893
'
|i| (60) Drama
ROSE OF THE RIO
GRANDE
Grouii 2
(114) Drama
SO WELL
REMEMBERED
^
(72) Ould'r-Mus 644
©GAY RANCHERO
Roy lIoKers
R—Jan.
10—PG-889
(102) Dra
NIGHT SONG
Merle Oberon
Dajia Andrews
Ethel Barrymore
R— Nov. 15—PG-874
tl5] (65) Dram,
SLIPPY McGEE
Don Barry
(60) Western 884
LAWLESS VALLEY
irge O'Brien .
Group 3
(91) Comedy 811
IF YOU KNEW SUSIE
Eddie Cantor
Joan Davis
R—Feb. 7—PG-897
m (61) Comedy 703
CAMPUS HONEYMOON
Richard Crane
Lyn Wilde
Ue Wilde
Hal Hackett
R—Feb. 14—Pa-899
(104) Drama 863
THE FUGITIVE
Henry Fonda
Dolores Del Elo
R—Nov. 15—PG-874
Reissue
(70) Drama 892
©BAMBI
(109) Com Dr 8!
HE BISHOP'S WIFE
(59) Western
LAHOMA BADLAl
-Mar. 6—PG-907^
S5I (60) Drama
3NNA OF THEi
SERT
lar. 13— Pn-91i;
[7] (70) Western HC14
•
OLD MEXICO
lam Boyd
Gabby Hayes
Russell HaydeD
,2^ (42> nu.d'
TRAIL OF TH
MOUNTIES
Russell
lennifer
llayden
Hull
d (Neoro)
^ (71) Drami
MIRACLE IN HARLEM
Steiiln Fetchlt
(140) Drama 801
©CAPTAIN FROM
CASTILE
Lee J. Cobb
John Sutton
R— IlfC. 0—
(81) Drama 803
THE TENDER YEARS
Joe E. Brown
Richard Lyon
Noreen Nash
Charles Drake
;—Dec. 6—PO-880
(90) Drama
MAN OF EVIL
James Mason
(91) Musical 202
YOU WERE MEANT
FOR ME
Jeanne Cralii
Dan Dalley
Oscar Levant
R—Jan. 24—PO-894
(62) Drama 804
DANGEROUS YEARS
William Halop
Scotty Beckett
Richard Gaines
CALL NORTHSIDE T
James Stewart
liichard Conle
Helen Walker
II—Jan. 24—PG-894
Phyllis Calvert
K—Feb. 7—PG-898
R—Feb.
r—Pa-898
(93) Drama
CAPTAIN BOYCOTT
Stewart Granger
Kathleen Ryan
Cecil Parker
R—Dec. 6—PO-880
(97) Cnm-Dr.
HOLIDAY CAMP
Flora Robson
s Price
Hazel Court
Jack Warner
R—Mar. 6—PG-910
[h] (96) Drama 634
A WOMAN'S
SECRET BEYOND
-VENGEANCE
THE DOOR
Charles Boyer
loan Bennett
Blyth
.Michael Redgrave
Jessica Tandy
R—Dec. 27—PG-886
|4| (126) Drama
TREASURE OF
SIERRA MADRE
^
(103) Drami 716
VOICE OF THE TURTLE
Ronald Reagan
Eleanor Parker
R—Dec. 27— PO-886
(105) Drama
11 p 8

.
.10-18-47
REVIEW DIGEST
and Alphabetical Picture Guide Index-
Ss
A
905 Adventures of Casanova (83) EL...- 2-28-48 -f
912 Adventures in Silverado Col (..) 3-13-4S ±
B50 Adventure Island (67) Para 8-23-47 +
893 Albuquerque (90) Para 1-24-48 +
Alia! 895 A Gentleman (7S) MGM 1-31-4S -
906 All My Sons (94) U-l 2-28-48 ff
Trail (64) Rep.-. 9-13-47 -f
B55Alono tlie Oreoon
884 Always Together (78) WB 12-20-47 ±
Angels' Alley 894 (67) Mono 1-24-48 ±
April Showers (94) WB
904 Arch of Triumph (119) UA 2-21-48 -f
Arc You With It? (. .) U-l
790Arnelo Affair, The (87) MGM 2-15-47 -f
B
826 Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (95)
RKO 6- 7-47 tt
SSlBanilils of Dark Canyon (59) Rep.. .12-13-47 -f
872 Beware of Pity (102) U-l 11- 8-47 +
903 B. F.'s Dauohter (110) MGM 2-21-48 +
904 Bio Clock, The (93) Para 2-21-48 +
Bio After 875 Town Dark (69) Para 11-22-47 i
887 Bill and Coo (16) Rep 1-3-47 -f
875 Bishop's Wife, The (109) RKO. .. .11-22-47 +f
897 Black Bart (80) U-l 2- 7-48 ±
900 Black Hills (60) EL 2-14-48 ±
833 Black Gold (91) Allied Artists 6-28-47 +
838 Black Narcissus (91) U-l 7-12-47 -f
847 Blackmail (67) Rep 8-16-47 ±
Savage (62) 864 Blonde EL 10-11-47 ±
in the 859Blondie Dough (69) Col 9-27-47 ±
885 Blondie's Anniversary (67) Col 12-27-47 ±
B4S Body and Soul (104) UA 8-16-47 4+
Bowery Buckaroos (66) Mono
905 Bride Goes Wild. The (98) MGM.. 2-28-48 4-
833 Brute Force (98) U-l 6-28-47 +
873 Buckaroo From Powder River (55)
Col 11-15-47 ±
850 Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back (65)
Col 8-23-47 ±
B42 Burning Cross, The (77) SO 7-26-47 +
877 Bush Christmas (76) U-l 11-29-47 -f
B64Bury Me Dead (66) EL 10-11-47 +
C
899 Caged Fury (60) Para 2-14-48 +
894 Call Northsiric 777 (111) 20-Fox... 1-24-48 ff
899 Campus Honeymoon (61) Rep 2-14-48 -f
880Captain Boycott (93) U-l 12-6-47 +
880 Captain From Castile (141) 20-Fox 12- 6-47 -(+
853 Caravan (84) EL 9- 6-47 +
797 Carnegie Hall (136) UA 3-8-47 ±
Casbah (93) U-l
Case of the Baby Sitter (40) SG
872 Cass Timbcrlane (119) MGM U- 8-47 ++
906 Challenge. The (68) 20-Fox 2-28-48 +
877 Check Your Guns (55) EL 11-29-47 +
886 Cheyenne Takes Over (58) EL 12-27-47 -f
884 Chinese Ring, The (67) Mono 12-20-47 ±
872 Christmas Eve (90) UA 11-8-47 +
881 Crime Doctor's Gamble, The (66) Col. 12-13-47 ±
838 Crimson Key (76) 20-Fox 7-12-47 ±
833 Crossfire (86) RKO 6-28-47 »
837 Cry Wolf (83) WB 7-12-47 ±
D
878 Daisy Kenyon (99) 2D-Fox U-29-47 -1+
884 Dangerous Years (62) 20-Fox 12-20-47 -f
B54Dark Passage (106) WB 9- 6-47 +
724 Dear Ruth (95) Para 5-31-47 -f
B43 Deep Valley (106) WB 8- 2-47 4+
844 Desert Fury (95) Para 8- 2-47 +
896 Design for Death (48) RKO 1-31-48 +
860 Desire Me (91) MGM 9-27-47 -f
879Devll Ship (62) Col 12-6-47 tt
861 Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (65) RKO 10- 4-47 +
822 Dick Tracy's .Dilemma (60) RKO.. 5-24-47 H
Docks of New Orleans (70) Mono
887 Double Life, A (103) U-l 1- 3-48 +
844 Down to Earth (101) Col 8- 2-47 ++
838 Dragnet (71) SG 7-12-47 ±
874 Driftwood (90) Rep 11-15-47 ±
E
871 Escape Me Never (104) WB 11-8-47 +
868 Exile, The (92) U-l 10-25-47 +
Exposed (59) Rep 857 9-20-47 —
F
873 Fabulous Texan, The (95) Rep 11-15-47 ++
± ± 7-1- 3-
± ± 9+ 4-
i 5+5-
8+
± ± 5+2-
± i: 7-f
± 5-
4+ 5-
3-f 1-
6+
1-
± ±
1-f
7+3-
9+ 1-
11+
6+ 4-
1+ 2-
8+ 1-
2+ 2-
7+ 2-
+ 8+3-
5+ 3-
5+ 1-
ff 12+
6+ 3-
++ 8+ 2-
+ U+
4+ 4-
++ 11+ 2-
4+ 2-
± 6+6-
± 6+6-
± 5+6-
10+ 1-
5+ 4-
9+ 3-
9+
11+ 1-
7+ 2-
3+ 1-
7+ 4-
± 8+5-
± 1+ 2-
tt 11+
+ 11+
4+ 2-
7+5-
9+ 2-
B+ 1-
2+ 5-
830 Fiesta (104) MGM 6-14-47 +
898 Fiohting Mad (75) Mono 2-7-48 +
«77Fiohting Vigilantes, The (61) EL. .11-29-47 ±
891 Flame. The (97) Rep 1-17-47 +
895 Flashing Guns (59) Mono 1-31-48 ±
911 Fort A.oache (127) RKO 3-13-48 +
885 For You Die (80) FC 12-27-47 ±
866 Forever Amber (140) 20-Fox 10-18-47 ++
859 Foxes of Harrow. The (118) 20-Fox 9-27-47 ft
852 Frieda (98) U-l 8-30-47 +
874 Fugitive. The (104) RKO 11-15-47 H
849 Fun and Fancy Free (72) RKO... 8-23-47 +
G
862 Gangster, The (84) Allied Artists. .10- 4-47 ±
853 Gas House Kids in Hollywood (63) EL 9- 6-47 ±
889 Gay Ranchero, The (72) Rep 1-10-48 ±
876 Gentleman's Agreement (118)
n
20-Fox 11-22-47
845 Ghost Town Renegades (58) EL.... 8-9-47 :t
Girl 8S8Glamour (68) Col 1-3-48 ±
852 Golden Earrings (100) Para 8-30-47 +
879 Good News (95) MGM 12-6-47 +
807 Great Exfiectalions (118) U-l 4- 5-47 +
±
865 Green Dolphin Street (136) MGM
848 Green for Danger (93) EL 8-16-47 +
Gun Talk (59) Mono
830 Gunfighters (87) Col 6-14-47 +
. Hal Roach Comedy Carnival (Curley and
The Fabulous Joe) (112) UA 8-30-
5 Half Past Midnight (69) 20th-Fox 2-21-
. Hawk of Powder River, The (54) EL. 3-13-
; Heading for Heaven (71) EL 12-27-
i Heartaches (71) EL 7-12-
I Heaven Only Knows (96) UA 8- 2-
, Her Husband's Affairs (86) Col.
i High Tide (72) Mono
1 High Wall (99) MGM
) Holiday Camp (97) U-l
. Hoppy's Holiday (60) UA
I Hucksters, The (115) MGM
I Hungry Hill (94) U-l
! Hunted, The (85) Allied Artists.
902 1 Became a Criminal (78) WB. .
. 7-26-'
. 8- 9-.
.12-20-'
. 3- 6-'
. 5-24-.
. 6-28-
.11-15-

8-30-47
and trade press reviews. The plus and minus signs indicate the degree
of favor or disfavor of tlie review. This department serves also as an
ALPHABETICAL INDEX to feature releases. Numeral preceding title is
Picture Guide Review page number. In parentheses alter title is running
.
7 — "-a —•"•-—>'•"> "WAv-rriv.,!, review aate. Listings cover
current reviews. It is brought up to date regularly. The meaning of the
various signs and their combinations is as follows:
't Very Good; ) Good; ± Fair; - Poor; = Very Poor.
In the summary ++ is rated as 2 pluses; = as 2 minuses.
M
792 Mad Wednesday (94) UA 2-22-47 4-
91). Madonna of the Desert (60) Rep... 3-13-4S -\-
Street Kid,
851 -i
893 Main Tin (65) Rep 1-24-48 -
867 Man About Town (89) RKO 10-25-47 +
908 Man From Texas. Tlie (71) EL 3- 6-48 4
of E»il 898 (90) 2- 7-48 Man UA —
839 Marauders, TIte (100) UA 7-19-47 ±
849 Marshall of Cripple Creek (58)... 8-23-47 ±
895 Mary Lou (66) Col 1-31-48 ±
Mating of Millie, The (87) Col
839Merton of the Mo»ies (83) MGM.... 7-19-47 -f
898 Along Came Baby (formerly Miracle
Can Happen. A) (107) UA 2- 7-48 +
907 Miracle of the Bells (120) UA.... 3- 6-48 +
904 Mr. Reckless (66) Para.... 2-21-48 -
813 Monsieur Verdoux (120) UA 4-26-47 ++
852 Mother Wore Tioths (107) 20-Fox. . -f
879 Mournino Becomes Electra (173)
RKO 12- 6-47 +
893 My Girl Tisa (95) WB 1-24-48 +
882 My Wild Irish Rose (101) WB. .. .12-13-47 +f
N
896 Naked City, The (96) U-l 1-31-48 ++
831 News Hounds (68) -Mono 6-21-47 ±
876 Nicholas Nickleby (95) U-l 11-22-47 -f
874 Night Song (102) RKO 11-15-47 +
865 Nightmare Alley (111) 20-Fox 10-18-47 -f
860 North ot the Border (40) SG 9-27-47 ±
819 Northwest Outpost (91) Rep 5-17-47 +
o
907 Oklahoma Badlands (59) Rep 3- 6-48 +
870 On the Old Spanish Trail (75) Rep. 11- 1-47 -f
-893 Open Secret (70) EL 1-24-48 +
821 Oregon Trail Scouts (58) Rep 5-24-47 ±
810 Other Love, The (95) UA 4-12-47 -f
853 Out of the Blue (84) EL 9- 6-47 +
875 Out of the Past (96) RKO 11-22-47 +
P
834 Pacific Adventure (97) Col 6-28-47 ±
895 Panhandle (84) Allied Artists 1-31-48 +
888Paradine Case, The (129) SRO.... 1- 3-48 -H-
903 Pearl. The (79) RKO 2-21-48 —
Perilous Wafers (64) Mono
839 Personal Column (formerly Lured) (102)
UA 7-19-47 H
907 Phantom Valley (53) Col 3-6-48 ±
Philo Vance's Secret Mission (58) EL
897 Piccadilly Incident (87) MGM. ..2-7-48 ±
836 Pioneer Justice (56) 7- EL 5-47 —
876 Pirates of Monterey (78) U-l 11-22-47 ±
825 Possessed (108) WB 6- 7-47 +f
Prairie Express (55) Mono
851 Pretender, The (69) Rep 8-30-47 ±
B79 Prince of Thieves, The (72) Col.... 12- 6-47 +
R
866 Railroaded (72) EL 10-18-47 +
841 Red Stallion, The (81) EL 7-26-47 +t
892 Relentless (92) Col
871 Return of Rin Tin Tin,
1-17-48
11- 8-47
4+
—
The (67) EL
ot the 873 Return Lash (53) EL 11-15-47 ±
of 912 Return the Whistler, The (63) Col. 3-13-48 ±
857 Ride the Pink Horse (101) U-l.... 9-20-47 4+
Riders ot the Lone Star (54) Col
Ridin' Down the Trail (53) Mono
+
829 Riff-Kaff (80) RKO 6-14-47
871 Road to Rio (101) Para 11- 8-47 +
to the Big (74) 869poad House SG 11- 1-47 ±
Robin Hood of Monterey (55) Mono
855 Robin Hood of Texas (71) Rep 9-13-47 -
836 Romance of Rosy Ridge, The
(105) MGM 7- 5-47 -f
837 Roosevelt Story. The (80) UA 7-12-47 ff
of 888 Rose Santa Rosa (65) Col 1- 3-48 ±
872 Roses Are Red (67) 20-Fox 11- 8-47 ±
S97 Saigon (95) Para.

.12-20
SHORTS CHART
title.
.
Colvimbia
Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Rcv'd
ALL-STAR COMEDIES
9401 Brideless Groom (Stooges)
(W/z) 9-U ± 10-18
9431 Rolling Down to Reno
(Von Zell) (16^2) .... 9- 4 ± 10-18
9432 Hectic Honeymoon (Holloway)
(17) 9-18 + 11- e
9421 Wedding Belle (Schilling
& Lane) (17) 10- 9 + 11-29
9402 Sing a Song of Six Pants
(Stooges) (17) 10-30 ± 11-29
9433 Wife to Spare (A. Clyde)
(16) 11-20 ± 12-20
9403 All Gummed Up
(Stooges) (18) 12-11 ± 12-20
9434 Wedlock Deadlock (De Rita)
GOLD MEDAL REPRINTS
(16) 12-18 + 2-14
(Technicolor)
9435 Radio Romeo (Von Zell)
(17!/j) 12-25
W-921 Goldilocks and the Three
9404 Shivering Shcrlocks (Stooges)
Bears (11) 11-22 it
(17) 1-8
W-922The Fishing Bear
9436 Man or Mouse (Holloway)
(8).. 12-20 ±
(IS) 1-15
W-923The Milky Way (8)
9405 Pardon My Clutch
(Stooges) (15) 2-26
9406 Squareheads of the Round
Table (Stooges) (18) . . 3- 4
M-981 Freddy Martin-Keenan
ASSORTED TWO-REEL COMEDIES Wynn (10) 2-14 -H
9422 Should Husbands Marry!
M-9S2 Tex Beneke & Orch. (10) 2-14
(H. Herbert) (17) ... .11-13 +
+
12-27
9423 Silly Billie (Billie Burke)
(IS) 1-29
MINIATURES
9424 Two Nuts in a Rut
(Shilling & Lane) (18). 2-19
M-7S3 Musical Masterpieces
(10) 4-20
9437 Eight-Ball Andy (Clyde)
^
(18) 3-11
M-784 Bikini—The Atom Island
(10) 6-15 +
COLOR FAVORITES
(Re-releases)
NEWS OF THE DAY
9601 Dreams on Ice (6I/2) . . .
.10-30 ±
9602 Novelty Shop (6I/2) (Released
11-20
Twice Weekly)
-H-
9603 Dr. Bluebird (S) 12-18 tt
9604 In My Gondola (71/2) .... 1-22
PASSING PARADE
9605 Animal Cracker Circus (7) 2-19
K-776 0ur Old Car (10).... 5-11 ++
COLOR PHANTASIES
K-S71 A Really Important Person
9701 Kitty Caddy (6) 11-6 +
(10)
9702 Topsy Turkey (ff/z) 2- 5
K-872 Tennis in Rhythm (10)
COLOR RHAPSODIES
8-23
. . K-873 Amazing Mr. Nordill
9501 Swiss Tease (6) 9-11 -f
(10) 8-30
9502 Boston Beany (6) 12-4 ±
K-971 Miracle in a Cornfield
9503 Flora (7) 3-18
(9) 12-20 ff 1-3
COMMUNITY SINGS
K-972 It Can't Be Done (10) . , -f 2-28
8660 No. 10 Managua, Nicaragua
K-973 Goodbye Miss Turlock
(Baker) (91/2) 7-19 ±
(10) 1-24 4+ 2-21
1947-48 SEASOt*
K-974 My Old Town (9) 2-7 ++ 2-21
9651 No. 1 Linda (Leibert)
(10) 9-4 +
9652 No. 2 April Showers (Baker)
PETE SMITH SPECIALTIES
(9)
S-S58 I Love My Wife BUT (9) 4-15 4+ 4-12
3 Peg 0' My Heart
(Leibert) (9) 11- 6 ±
S-S59 Neighbor Pests (9) .... 5- 3 ± 4-26
9654 No. 4 When You Were Sweet
S-860 Pet Peeves (10) 7- 5 ± 7-5
Sixteen (Leibert & Baker)
S-957 My Old Town (9) 3-27
(91/2) 12- 4 ± S-957N0W You See It (9). 3-20
9655 No. 5 Feudin' and Fightin'
(IOI/2) 1-8
1947-48 SEASON
9656 No. 6 Civilization (10)... 2-12
FILM NOVELTIES
S-951 Football Tlirills No. 10
9901 Aren't We All? (Stoopnagle)
(10) 9-10
(IO1/2) 11-27 -f
S-952 Surflioard Rhythm (9).. 10-18 -H- 11-8
S-953What D'Ya Know (9).. 11- 8 + 11-8
S-954 Have You Ever Wondered?
(9) 12-13 -f 1-3
S-955 Bowling Tricks (10) .... 1-10 -f 2-21
S-956 1 Love My Mother-in-Law
BUT (8) 2-7 n 2-14
SPECIAL MUSICAL FEATURETTE
SPECIALS
9451 A Voice Is Born (Miklos
A-802Gi»e Us the Earth (21) 6-21 + 7-5
Grafni) (201/2) 1-15 H 10-25
1947-48 SEASON
A-901 Drunk Driving (21).... 3-27
THRILLS OF MUSIC
9951 Boyd Raeburn & Orch.
A-902 Going to Blazes (..)
(11) 9-18 + 10-25
9952 Claude Thornhill & Orch.
TECHNICOLOR CARTOONS
(11) 10-16 + 11-8 W-S34 Hound Hunters (7) . . . . 4-12 ++ 5-10
9953 Lecuona Cuban Boys
(IOI/2) 11-13 M- 11-29
W-836 Red Hot Rangers (8) . . 5-31 ± 7-5
9954Skitch Henderson & Orch.
W-839 Uncle Tom's Cabana (8) 8-19
(10) 12-11
1947-48 SEASON
9955 Charlie Bamett & Orch.
(10) 1-15
W-931 Slap Happy Lion (7) . . . 9-20 ± 11- 8
9956 Ted Weems & Orch. (101/2) 3-25
W-933 King Size Canary (7) . .12- 6 ± 1-3
WORLD OF SPORTS
W-934The Bear and the Bean
8810 Volley-Oop
(7)
(8) 7-26
1-31
8-30
+ 2-21
9801
5 What Price
Cinderella Cagers (91/2).. 9-25 10-25
Fleadom (..)..
9802 Ski Demons (9) 10-23 12-13
9803 Bowling Kings (10) 11-13 :
9804 Navy Crew Champions
(10) 12-25
9805 Rodeo Thrills and Spills
W-833Part Time Pal (8).... 315 H 5-3
(10) 1-29
W-835 Cat Concerto (7) 4-26 -H- 5-10
9806 Net Marvels (10) 3-11
W-837Dr. Jekyll & Mr. House
SERIALS
(B) 6-14 ± 5-10
9120 The Sea Hound 9-4
W-838 Salt Water Tabby (7) 7-12
.
W-840 Mouse in the House (8) 8-30
SCREEN SNAPSHOTS
9851 Hollywood Cowboys (91/2) 9- 4 ±
9852Laouna. U.S.A. (91/2) .. .10- 9 +
9853 Out of This World Series
(9) 11-27 +
15 Chapters
9140 Brick Bradford 12-18
15 Chaolers
9160 Tex Granger 4- 1
15 Chapters
First date is National release, second the date of review in BOXOFFICE.
Symbol between dates is rating from the BOXOFFICE review: ++ Very Good.
Metro-GoldwYn-MoYer Paramount
RKO Radio
Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating t Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'd Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Ratinf Rev'd
FITZPATRICK TRAVELTALKS GEORGE PAL PUPPETOONS
DISNEY CARTOONS
(Technicolor)
(Technicolor)
(Technicolor)
8-813
U6-2 Tubby the Tuba (10) 7-11
74.102 Clown of the Jungle (7) 6-20 ± 5-10
California (9) 5-17 ±
Around the World in
U6-3 Date With Duke (S) 10-31 1 H- 74.103 Donald's Dilemma (7). 7-11 5-24
-ff
74.104 Crazy With the Heat 8-
U6-4 Rhapsody in Wood (9).. 12-19 12-13
GRANTLAND RICE SPORTLIGHTS
-f
(7) 1
T-814 On the Shores of Nova
74.105 Bootle Beetle (7) 8-22 ....
Scotia (8) 6-28 ff
74.106 Wide Open Spaces (7). 9-12
. R6- 9 Making the Varsity (10) 6-13
T-815 Glimpses of New
74.107 Mickey's Delayed Date
R6-10 Diamond Gals (10) 7-lS
Scotland (9) 8-30
1947-4S SEASON
(7) 1-30 1-24.
74.108 Foul Hunting (7)
74.109 Mail Dog (7)
10-31
11-4 +
-f
9-20
11-1.
R7- 1 Riding the Waves (10) 10- 3 + 11-15
+ Good, ± Fair, — Poor, = Very Poor. Indicates color photography.
1947-48 SEASON
R7- 2 Running the Hounds
1947-48 SEASON
isible Mouse (7) 9-27 -H- 11- 8
8- 2
(11) 10-31 12-13
R7- 3 Five Fathoms of Fun(10)ll-23
R7- 4 Stop, Look an " "
(10) .12- 5
R7- 5 All-American Swing Stars
(10) 1-16
R7- 6 Double Barrelled Sport
(10) 2-20
R7-7 Big Game Angling (..).. 3-26
LITTLE LULU
(Technicolor)
D6-2 Cad and Caddie (8) 7-18
06-3 A Bout With a Trout (8) . 10-10 4+ 11- 1
D6-4 Super Lulu (7)
11-15
D6-5The Baby Sitt (7).
12-13
D6-6 Dog Show Off (7)
-30 1-10
MUSICAL PARADES
(Technicolor)
FF6-3 Smooth Sailing (20) ... 8- 8
FF6-4 Paris in the Spring (19) 9-26 -
FF6-S Midnight Serenade (IS) 11-21 ;
FF6-6 Jingle Jangle Jingle
(19) 1-2
1947-48 SEASON
FF7-1 Samba Mania (18) .... 2-27 :
FF7-2 Footlight Rhythm (..). 4- 9
NOVELTOONS
(Technicolor)
P6-5 Much Ado About Mutton
(..) 4-23
PACEMAKERS
K6-6 Everybody Talks About It
(10) 8-1 ± 9-13
1947-48 SEASON
K7-1 It Could Happen to You
(11) 10-3 11- 1
ff
K7-2 Babies, They're Wonderful
(11) 11-14 + 12-13
K7-3 Bundle From (11) 1- 2 1-24
Brazil -)-
K7-4 Musical Miracle (..)... 3-12
PARAMOUNT NEWS
(Released Twice Weekly)
POPEYE CARTOONS
(Technicolor)
E6-3 Popeye and the Pirates
(8) 9-12 4- 9-20
Royal Four Flusher (6) 9-12 11-15
. .
E6-4
-f
E6-5Wotta Knight (7) 10-24 11-15
E6-6 Safari So Good (7) 11-7
-f
+ 11-29
1947-48 SEASON
E7-1 All's Fair at the Fair
(8) 12-19
E7-2 Olive Oyl for President
(7) 12-12 1-24
ff
E7-3 Wigwam Whoopee (..).. 2-27
E7-4 Pre- Hysterical Man (..) 3-26
POPULAR SCIENCE
(Color)
J6-6 Twentieth Century Vikings
(11) 7-25
1947-48 SEASON
J7-1 Radar Fisherman (10)... 10-17
J7-2 Desert Destroyers (11).. 12-26
J7-3 Streamlined Luxury (10) 2-20
J7-4Fog Fighters (..) 4-2
SCREEN SONGS
^
± 8-2
-f 11-29
± 2-14
(Color)
X7-1 The Circus Comes Clown
to
„, . (7) 12-25 ff 1-10
X7-2 Base 1-23 2-14
Brawl (8) -f
X7-3 Little Brown Jug (..).. 2-20 4- 2-21
X7-4The Golden State (..).. 3-12
X7-5 Winter Draws On (..).. 3-19
SPEAKING OF ANIMALS
Y6-6 As Our Friends (10) 6-27 -f 8-2
1947-4S SEASON
± Dog Crazy (11) 10- 3 11-1
Y7-2 Ain't Nature Grand (10) 11-14 ± 12-13
Y7-3 Monkey Shines (9) 12-12
Home Sweet Home (10) .. 2- 6 ± 2-14
UNUSUAL OCCUPATIONS
(Color)
± L6-5 Arctic Artisan (11).... 7- 4 8-2
L6-6 Film Tot Fairvland (11) 9-5 ± 9-13
1947.48 SEASON
Hula Magic (10) 11-7 11-29
L7.2 Baonine Lassies (11) 1- 2 ± 1-10
L7-3 Modern Pioneers (..)... 2-27
1947-4S SEASON
74.110 Chip an' Dale (7).... 11-28 ff 11-1
74.111 Pluto's Blue Note (7) 12-26 ff 12-27,
74.112 They're Off (7) 1-30 ....
74.113 The Big Wash (7) 2-28 ....-'
84.701 Hawaiian Holiday (reissue) 3
(7) 10-17
Clock 84.702 Cleaners (reissue)
1-245
(7) 12-12 ff
Little (reissue)
84.703 Hiawatha
3-13 '
(9) 2-20 ff
EDGAR KENNEDY COMEDIES 1
± 8- zj
w
(18) 6-20
73.404 Heading for Trouble
73.405 Host to a Ghost (18).. 7-18
73.406 Television Turmoil (18) 8-15
1947-48 SEASON
53.401 Mind Over Mouse (19) 11-21 ±
83.402 Brother Knows Best
(IS) 1-2
83.403 No More Relatives (18) 2- 6 +
FLICKER FLASHBACKS
84.202 No. 2 (8) 12-5
-f
+
84.201 No. 1 (S) 10-24
84.203 No. 3 (9) 1-16
JAMBOREES
(Reissues)
84.401 Enric Madriguera & Orch.
(8) 9-
84.402 It's Tommy Tucker Time
(8) 10-
84.403 Johnny Long & Orch.
(8) 11-
;,407 Dick Stabile & Orch.
(8) 2-20
LEON ERROL COMEDIES
73.705 Blondie's Away (17). .. 7-11 ± 8-30
73,705 The Spook Speaks (17) 12-5
1947-48 SEASON
S3.701 Bet Your Life (IS).. 1-16
MUSICAL FEATURETTES
73.203 Let's Make Rhythm (18) 5-23 ....
73.204 Carle Comes Calling
(16) 9-12 ff 9-20
PATHE SPORTSCOPES
74.310 A Summer's Tale (S) 5-30 ..'..'
74.311 Ski Belles (8) 6-27
74.312 Chasing Rainbows (8) . 7-25 -f 8-30
74.313 Reading and Riding (8) 8-22 9-20
-f
1947-48 SEASON
84.301 Ski Holiday (S) 9-19 11- 1
-f
34.302 Golf Doctor (8) 10-17 10-18
84.303 Quail Pointers (8).... 11-14
-f 11-29.
84.304 Pin Games (8) 12-12 ± 12-27;
84.305 Racing Day (8)
"306
1-9 + 1-31 i
Sports Coverage 2- 6 (8) . . '
RAY WHITLEY WESTERN MUSICALS
83.501 Molly Cures a Cowboy
(19) 9-5 10-11
83.502 Musical Bandit (16).. 10-10 ± 11-8
83.503 Corraling a School Marm
(15) 11-12
Prairie 12-19 83.504 Spooners (13) ± 3-13
SPECIALS
83.201 My Pal (22) 10-31 -f 10-11
83.202 Football Highlights of 1947
(18) 2- 6
THIS IS AMERICA
Am 7-5
73.108 an Alcoholic (18) 5-30 ff I
73.109 Passport to Nowhere
H (19) 6-27 7-12
73.110 Whistle in the Night
ff (19) 7-30 8-2
73.111 Treasure House (16) 8-22 8-30
. .
73.112 The 49th State (16) . . . 9-19
-f
± 10-U
73.113 Smoke Eaters (18) ... .10-24 ff 10-18
1947-48 SEASON
83.101 Border Without Bayonets
(16) 11-14 + 11-29
83.102 Switzerland Today
(18) 12-19 12-27
ff
83.103 Children's Village 1-15 1-24
(18) ff
83.104 Oneration White Tower
(18) 2-6 ff 2-28
Foto 3- 5 ff 3-13
83.105 Fanatics (16) ...
'
12
BOXOFHCE BookinGuida :: March 20, 1948

, . . Enchanted
20th Century-Fox
Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'il
DRIBBLE PUSS PARADE
8901 Album of Animals (S)..U-21 ± 9-27
FEMININE WORLD
8601 Something Old—Something New
(Ilka Chase) (S) Feb. + 2-28
8602 Fashioned for Action
(Ilka Chase) (S) Feb.
MARCH OF TIME
Vol. 13, No. 11 Your Doctors—
1947 (19) 6-13 ++ 6-14
Vol. 13. No. 12 New Trains
for Old? (IS) 7-11 -H 7-lS
Vol. 13, No. 13 Turkey's 100 Million
(ISyi) 8-8 -t-
9-2
1947-4S SEASON
Vol. 14, Is No. 1 Everybody
Listening? (IS) 9-5 + 8-30
Vol. 14, No. 2 T-Men in Action
(IS) 10- 3 4+ 10-11
Vol. 14 No. 3 End of an Empire
+ (IS) 10-31 11- 1
Vol. 14, No. 4 Public Relations
This Means You! (17).. 11-2S ++ 11-29
Vol. 14, No. 5 The Presidential
Year (IS) 12-26
Vol.14, No. 6 The Cold War
(15) 1-24 -H- 1-31
Vol. 14, No. 7 Marriage and Divorce
(16) Feb. -H 2-2S
MOVIETONE ADVENTURES
7256 ©Zululand (S) 6-6 ±
of 7257 (^Gardens the Sea (S) 6-20 ±
7258 ©Romance of the Fjords
(S) 6-27 ±
7203 Harvest of the Sea (9) . . 7- 4 +
1947-4S SEASON
8202 The 3 R's Go Modern (9) 11- 7 ±
8251 ©Holiday in South Africa
(8) 8-22 +
8201 Horizons of Tomorrow (8) 9-12 -f 1
8252 ©Home of the Danes (S) 10-17 +
8253 ©Jungle Closeups (8)... 12-12 4+
8254 ©Copenhagen Pageantry
(S)
8203 Sky Thrill (9).
SPORTS
.Jan.
7303 Tanbark Champions (S) . . 5-23
7304 Wings of the Wind (S) . . 7-18
1947-48 SEASON
8301 Gridiron Greatness (9) . . 8- 1
8315 ©Vacation Magic (S) . . . 9-26
8352 ©Aqua Capers (S) Jan.
8302 Olympic Class (10) Feb.
8353 ©Playtime in Scandinavia
(S)
Apr.
7519 Talking Magpies in the
Intruder (7) 5-9 ff 7-5
7520 Mighty Mouse Meets Deadeye
Dick (7) 5-30 ++ 7-5
1947-48 SEASON
8502 Talking Magpies in Flying
South (7) S-15 ± 9-27
8503 Mighty Mouse in a Date for
Dinner (7) S-29 ± 9-27
8504 Talking Magpies in Fishing
by the Sea (7) 9-19 ± 12-27
8505 Mighty Mouse in the First Snow
(7) 10-10 n 12-20
8506 Talking Magpies in the Super
Salesman (7) 10-24 4+ 12-20
8507 Mighty Mouse in a Fight to
the Finish (7) 11-24 4+ 12-20
8508 The Wolfs Pardon (7)..12-S H 12-20
8509 Mighty Mouse in Swiss Cheese
+ Family Robinson (7).. 12- 19 3-6
8510 Talking Magpies in Hitch
Hikers (7) 12-21
8511 Mighty Mouse in Uzy Little
Beavers (7) 12-26
8512 Felix the Fox (7) Jan.
8513 Talking Magpies in Taming
the Cat (7) Jan
8501 One Note Tony (7) Feb. + 9-27
8514 Mighty Mouse and the Magician
(7) Mar.
8515 Gandy Goose and the Chipper
Chipmunk (7) Mar.
8516 Hounding the Hares (7).. Apr.
8517 Mighty Mouse in the Feudin-
Hillbillies (7) Apr.
Universal-International
frod. NO. Title Rcl. Date Rating Rev'd
ANSWER MAN SERIES
2394 No. 4 Red Fury (S) . . . . 3-24 :!; 5-3
2395 No. 5 Storm Warning (9) 6- 9 7-19
-f-
2396 No. 6 Here's Your Answer
(S) 7-28 -f 8-23
2397 Lights of Broadway (8) . . 8-18
2398 Hoop Skirt, Bustle and Skin
(S) 8-25 + 9-27
1947-48 SEASON
3391 Wind, Curves and Trapdoor
(S) 12-22
3392 Hall of Fame (7) 1-19
JUVENILE JURY SERIES
2362 No. 2 (10) 3-31 + 4-19
2363 No. 3 (11) 5-26 ± 7-12
2364 1 4(11)
LANTZ CARTUNES
(Technicolor)
2324 Smoked Hams (7) 4-28 ±
2325 Coo-Coo Bird (7) 6-9 ±
2326 Overture to William Tell
O) 6-16 tt
2327 Well Oiled (7) 6-30 +
2328 Solid Ivory (7) 8-25 -f
1947-48 SEASON
3321 Woody the Giant Killer
(7) 12-15 i
MUSICAL WESTERNS
3351 Hidden Valley D.nys (27) 2- 5 i:
3352 Powder River Gunfire
(24) 2-26
NAME BAND MUSICALS
2305 Tex Beneke and the Glenn
Miiler Orch. (15).
2306 Melody Maestro (15).
2307 Tommy Tucker & Orch.
(15) 4-9
2308 Charlie Barnett & Orch.
(15) 4-16
2309 Charlie Spivak & Orch.
(15) 5-14
2310 Jitlerumha (15) 6-25
2311 Record Party (15) 7- 2
2312 Tony Pastor & Orch. (15) 8-27
2313 Tex Williams & His Western
Caravan (15) 8-27
1947-48 SEASON
3-26 ff
4- 2 +
3301 Alvino Rcy & Orch. (15) 10-22
3302 Drummer Man (15) 12- 3
3303 Carlos Molina & Orch.
(15) 12-31
3304 Tex Bcneke & Orch. (15) 3- 3
SING AND BE HAPPY SERIES
2383 Let's Sing
(10) ..
College
Song
2384 Let's Sing a Western Song
(10) 5-19
2385 Let's Go Utin (10) 7-21
2386 Kernels of Korn (10) . . . 8-18
2387 Manhattan Memories (10) 8-25
2388 Lamp Post Favorites (9) . 2- 2
SPECIALS
2202 Harnessed Lightning (17) 11-12
2201 Fight of the Wild Stallions
(20) 12-24
5555 ©The Royal Wedding
(31) 11-27
3201 Snow Capers (19) 2-18
UNIVERSAL NEWS
(Released Twice Weekly)
VARIETY VIEWS
2342 Pelican Pranks (9) 2-24
2343 Wild West Chimp (9)... 3-17
2344 Rhumba Holiday (9) 4-21
. . . .
2345 Patio Museum (9) 6-2
2346 Bronco Babes (9) 6-23
2347 Brooklyn U.S.A. (9).... 8- 4
234S Play and Plenty (9) . . . . 8-11
1947-48 SEASON
3341 Tropical Harmony (9)... 9-29
3342 Chimp Aviator (9) 11-17
3343 Brooklyn Makes Capital
(10) 2- 9
SERIALS
5-17
8-16
10-11
11-15
Warner Bros.
Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'd
BLUE RIBBON HIT PARADE
.
(lechnicolor)
3309 The Sneezing Weasel (7) 7-26 4- 8-9
3310 Rhapsody in Rivets (7) . 8-16 H 9-6
3311Snililes Bells the Cat (7) 9-20 10-11
3312 Cagey Canary (7) 10-11
+
^ 11-8
3313 Now That Summer Is Gone
(7) 11-22 + 12-13
1947-48 SEASON
4301 Dangerous Dan McFoo
(7) (reissue) 1-30 + 1-17
4302 Hobo Gadget Band
(7) (reissue) 1-17
4303 Little Pancho Vanilla
(7) (reissue) 3-20
4304 Don't Look Now (7) 4-10
4305 Curious Puppy (7) 4-24
BUGS BUNNY SPECIALS
(Technicolor)
3720 Slick Hare (7) 11-1 + 12-20
3721 Gorilla My Dreams 1- 3
(7)..
3722 A Feather in His Hare (7) 2- 7 ++ 3-6
3723 Rabbit Punch (7) 4-10
JOE McDOAKES COMEDIES
4401 So You Want to Be
+ a Salesman (10) 9-13 10-11
4402 So You Want Hold Your
to
Wife (10) 11-22
So You Want Apartment
4403 an
(10) 1-3
You Gambler
4404 So Want to Be a
(10) 2-14 44 2-28
MELODY MASTERS
4601 Freddy Martin & Orch.
(10) 9-13 44 10-11
4602 Swing Styles (10) 10-25 ± 11-1
4603 Borrah Minevitch & Harmonica
School (10) 12-6 -t- 1-17
4604 Rubinoff and His Violin
(10) 1-10
4605 Artie Shaw & Orch. (10) 2- 7 -f 2-28
MEMORIES OF MELODY LANE
4201 Let's Sing a Song of the
West (10) 9-27 10-11
-f
4202 Let's Sing an Old Time Song
(10) 12-27 + 1-17
Let's Sing the
4203 a Song About
Moonlight (10) 1-24
Let's Sing Granfather's
4204
Favorites (10) 3-13
MERRIE MELODIES
(Color)
3702 Crowing Pains (7) 7-12 8-9
3703 Pest in the Housa (7) . . 8- 2 + 9-6
3704 Foxy Duckling (7) 8-23
3705 House Hunting Mice (7) 9- 6 44 10-11
3706 Little Orphan Airdale (7) 10- 4 4- U- 8
3707 Doggone Cats (7) 10-12 -f 11-1
3708 Mexican Joy Ride (7) . . . .11-29 + 12-20
3709 Catch as Cats Can (7).. 12- 6 44 1-17
3710 Horse Fly Fleas (7).... 12-13 4+ 1-17
3711 Two Gophers From Texas
(7) 1-17
3712 Back Alley Oproar (7) . . 2- 7
3713 What's Brewin' Bruin? (7) 2-28 ± 3-6
3714 What Makes Daffy Duck
(7) 2-14 ± 2-28
3715 Daffy Duck Slept Here
(7) 3-6
3716 A Hick, a Slick and a Chick
(7) 3-13
Taw 4- 3
3717 a Putty Tat (7) ..
3718 Hop, Look and Listen (7) 4-17
SPORTS PARADE
(Technicolor)
+ 3512 Carnival of Sports (10).. 8-23 9-6
3513 Fishing the Florida
Keys (10) 9-27 it 10-11
1947-48 SEASON
4501 Las Vegas, Frontier Town
(10) 11- 1 11-8
4502 Action in Sports (10).. 12-13 ± 1-17
4504 Sun Valley Fun (10) .... 2-14 + 2-28
4505 Trip to Sportland (10).. 3-6
4506 Ride, Ranchero. Ride (10) 3-20
4507 Holiday for Sports (10) 4-17
TECHNICOLOR ADVENTURES
Town 8- 3505 Glamour (10) .... 2 9-6
3506 Branding (10) .... 8-16 Irons ± 9-6
1947-48 SEASON
4801 Land of Romance (10) 9- 6 -f 10-11
.
4S02 Beautiful Bali (10) ... .11-15 rt 12-13
4803 Dad Minds the Baby (10) 12-20 -f 1-17
4804 What's Hatchin'? (10).. 2-28 ± 2-28
4805 Rhythm of a Big City
(10) 3-27
TECHNICOLOR SPECIALS
3006 Hollywood Wonderland
(20) 8-9 44 8-9
3007 Romance and Dance (20) 8-30
1947-48 SEASON
4002 Soap Box Derby (20).- 10-18 44 U- 1
4101 Power Behind the Nation
(20) 10-11 44 9-27
in 3008 Sunset the Pacific (18) 11- 8 + 12-20
1947-48 SEASON
4001 Celebration Days (20)... 1-31
4003 Teddy, the Roughrider
(20) 2-21 -f 3-6
4004 King of the Carnival (20) 4-3
WARNER-PATHE NEWS
(Released Twict Weekly)
SHORTS CHART
Miscellaneous
Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'd
REPUBUC
CARTOON
761 ©It's a Grand Old Nag
H (8) 12-20 12-13
SERIALS
692 Jungle Girl (re-release) . . . 4-19
15 Chapters
694 The Black Widow 6-10
13 Chapters
791 G-Men Never Forget 1-31
12 Chapters
792 Dangers of the Canadian
Mounted 4-24
12 Chapters
793 Dick Tracy Returns
(re-release) 5-15 .-••
15 Chapters
794 Adventures of Frank and
Jess< James
13 Chapters
UNITED ARTISTS
DAFFY DITTIES
Th« Fatal Kiss (7)
. . . . Nov. '47
LANTZ CARTUNES
(Technicolor)
Thi Bandmaster (7) 2-22 4- 12- 6
. .
...The Mad Hatter (7) Feb. ± 2-14
... Banquet Busters (7) Mar. + 2-14
. . . Kiddie Koncert (7) Apr.
LOEW MUSICOLOR
...Engulfed Cathedral (7)... June + 9-20
...Moonlight (7) Sept. -4- 9.20
Uke (7) Nov. -4- 12- 6
. . . Fingal's Cave (10) Mar. ± 2-14
THE WORLD TODAY
. . . Wonder Eye (10) 5-16 H 5-17
INDEPENDENTS
The New North (10) Nat'l Film
Board 4- 3-22
Are Parents or Society Responsible
for Juvenile Delinquency?
(18) Gen. Films ± 4-19
White Safari (10) Can. Film
Board 44 4-19
Science Goes Fishing (10) Can.
Film Board ± 4-19
Bill Bailey and the Four Pillars
(18) Am. Bankers Ass'n... 44 4-19
The Dead Strike Back (10)
Telenews + 4-19
National Air Races (21)
U. S. Rubber Co -f 4-19
The Animals and the Brigands (10)
Prnka-Brandon + 5-3
©Science Spins a Yarn (23)
WMCA MP Bureau 44 5-3
What's on Your Mind (10)
Nat't Film Board 44 5-24
The Biography of the Motion Picture
Camera (20) A. F. Films... 44 5-37
The Toy That Grew Up (20)
A. F. Films 44 5-31
The Bridge (10) Czech Film Co.-
Brandon ± o- 7
Divorce—USA (14) Telenews ± 7-19
Last Night We Attacked (18) Am.
League for a Free Palestine + 8-2
Assignment: Tel Aviv (21) United
Palestine Appeal + 9-20
House in the Desert (30) United
Palestine Appeal ± 9-20
Forgotten Children (IS) Hadassah. . -f 10-25
Make Way for Youth (18)
Nat'l Social Welfare Ass'n.. + 2-28
Children's Republic (24) Carroll
Films ± 3-13
A Matter of Time (20) Carroll Films ± 3-13
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: March 20, 1948
IS

SHORTS REVIEWS
Opinions on the Current Short Subjects-
—
Pardon My Clutch
Columbia (Three Stooges) 15 Mins.
Good. The Three Stooges are up to thenuoual
slapstick antics which provide lots of
ijelly laughs. Moe and Larry play doctor
hen Shemp becomes sick. After nearly
iiiling him, they all decide to go on a camping
trip. They get no farther than the curb
when their antique automobile breaks down.
That finishes the trip and the picture.
Radio Romeo
Columbia (All Star Comedy) I71/2 Mins.
Poor. Harry Von Zell, the radio announcer,
shows up poorly in this weak comedy. He is
cast as an announcer with a lovelorn program.
He takes his duties too seriously and
as a result, gets into trouble with his own
wife and other women's husbands.
mother-in-law. On a turn, he crashes into a
delivery truck carrying a child and its parents
while trying to pass another car. Although
he was not outwardly drunk, the alcohol
had impaired his coordination.
The Milky Way
MGM (Gold Medal Reprint) 8 Mins.
Very Good. This takeoff on the nursery
rhyme, "The Three Little Kittens," is highly
entertaining. After the kittens are sent to
bed without dinner, they dream they float up
to the Milky Way on an improvised balloon.
They find all the milk, cream and butter they
possibly can consume and more than satisfy
their appetites. Dreaming that they are in
danger of falling from the Milky Way, the kittens
awake in their own room. When their
mother offers them milk for dinner, they turn
green.
Silly Billy
Now You See It
Columbia (Billie Burke) 18 Mins. MGM (Pete Smith Specialty) 9 Mins.
Fair. This is the first of a series of shorts
Miss Burke will make for Columbia. It does
not add to her reputation as a comedienne.
There are, however, some laughs in several
slapstick situations. Miss Burke and her
daughter marry a father and son, and, by
mistake, ex-convicts and their molls are invited
to the double wedding ceremony.
Drunk Driving
MGM (Special) 21 Mins.
Good. A hard-hitting two-reeler that dramatically
points up the dangers in drunken
driving. Dick Purcell, Jo Ann Sayers and
Richard Lane are featured in a flashback
presentation of the events that led to a fateful
accident in which three people were killed
and one maimed. Purcell is given a raise and
promotion and decides to celebrate. He has
one cocktail too many and begins speeding
toward a roadside inn with his wife and
Exhibitor Has His Say
(Continued from page 3)
Hams' story, "Strange Woman." Played Sun.,
Mon. Weather: Mild.—Carl E. Pehlman, Rio
Theatre, Edinburg, 111, Rural and small town
patronage. * * *
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL
Bad Man From Red Butte (U-T) — Reissue.
Johnny Mack Brown, Bob Baker, "Fuzzy"
Knight. Today's western can't even compare
with these Mack Browns for action, comedy
and musical background. Play it! Played Fri.,
Sat. Weaths-r: Very good.—Ralph Raspa,
State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. Rural patronage.
* . *
Slave Girl (U-1)—Yvonne De Carlo, George
Brent, Broderick Crawford. A lavish Technicolor
farce with plenty of action and laughs
that should please any type of audience anywhere.
Uriiversal is now delivering the goods.
Every picture I have played recently from
U-I has been very good and also good for
business. Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Cloudy
and cold—Carl E. Pehlman, Rio Theatre,
Edinburg, 111. Rural and small town patronage.
* « »
Vigilantes Ret-um. The (U-D—Jon Hall, Margaret
Lindsay, Paula Drew. A real good western
in Cinecolor. Plenty of action. There isn't
too much sense to it, but who cares as long
as it's what the crowd likes. They like the
big westerns here. Double billed this with
"Adventure Island" (Para), a swell little island
picture filmed in Cinecolor and unusually
good performances of Paul Kelly and Rory
Calhoun. Business was very good. Played
Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold but fair.—A. L.
Interesting. Unusual Technicolor shots of
the birth of a mosquito and the characteristics
of other insects, the hummingbird and
cat are featured in this reel. This is the first
time a theatrical short has used the new
process of micro-cinematography, a system for
magnifying and filming minute objects. While
several sequences are absorbing from a
not partic-
scientific standpoint, the subject is
ularly suited for the distaff side.
What Price Fleadom?
MGM (Technicolor Cartoon) 7 Mins.
Fair. Homer Flea is lured from his mongrel
master by a female flea hiding in the fur of
an aggressive bulldog. When the mongrel
learns the flea has left, he attempts suicide.
He is stopped! by Homer, who informs the
mongrel that he is willing to return to his
former home if his new wife and children may
join him. The mongrel agrees.
Burke jr., Venita Theatre, Herculaneum, Mo.
Small town patronage, * *
WARNER BROS.
Cloak and Dagger (WB)—Gary Cooper,
Lilli Palmer. This is not as good as expected
but we had no bad comments. The acting
was superb and it did fair business. Cooper's
acting, as usual, was teiritic. Played Sat.
Mon. Weather:' Fair.—S. N. Holmberg, Regal
Theatre, Sturgis, Sask. Rural patronage. *-
Deep Valley (WB)—Ida Lupino, Dane Clark,
Wayne Morris. I don't know what to say on
this one. It was good but still something was
lacking. Played Sat., Sun. Weather: Cold.—
Otto W. Chapek, Annex Theatre, Anamoose,
N. D. Rural and small town patronage. * * *
Deep Valley (WB)—Ida Lupino, Dane Clark,
Wayne Morris. A very good picture with expert
acting by Ida Lupino and Dane Clark.
But try as you may, you can't get away from
the fact that most audiences prefer a happ;^
ending. This exhibitor had an unhappy enS"-
ing also—on the second night. Played Tues.,
Wed. Weather: Moderately cold.—Carl E. Pehlman,
Rio Theatre, Edinburg, 111. Rural and
small town patronage. * * *
Unsuspected, The (WB) — Joan Caulfield,
Claude Rains, Audrey Totter. Opened to
above average business but slipped after
opening day. No adverse comment on this
twin bill, as "Last of the Redmen" (Col) was
the co-feature. Children lost interest after a
while but the adults seemed to enjoy all 103
minutes of it. Played Sun. through Wed.
Weather: Snow and cold—L. C. Utecht, Lake
Theatre, Oak Park, 111. West suburban Chicago
*
patronage.
In fhe A/ewsree/s
Movietone News, No. 20: Truman announces
his candidacy; MacArthur will run if nominated;
General DeGauUe asks aid to stop
Reds; Barbara Ann Scott; sailplanes fly over
ocean in glider meet; Golden Gloves at Madison
Square Garden; Bucky Harris drills Yankees;
Boston Braves limber up.
News o£ the Day, No. 254: DeGauUe asks
U.S: aid to stem Red march; Canadian army
train troops for Arctic warfare; De Valera in
U.S.; Truman returns to capital; Canada hails
Olympic heroine; gliders in record-soaring
contest; Chicago White Sox at Pasadena;
Yanks at' St. Petersburg, Fla.; Detroit Tigers
in Lakeland, Fla.; Bradenton, Fla., Boston
Braves; track thriller.
Paramount News, No. 57: Yankees and
Pittsburgh Pirates; Truman, MacArthur will
accept if nominated; Greek army pushes border
offenses; Barbara Ann Scott; Santa Anita
derby.
Universal News, No. 124: Canada ski troops
train in Yukon; king reviews reorganized Greek
army; China receives Jap reparations; former
Irish premier arrives in New York; billiard
champ retains crown: Canada hails Barbara
Ann Scott; New York Yankees; Chicago White
Sox; Chicago Cubs.
Warner Pathe News, No. 59: King and queen
see the home exhibit; Louella Parsons; drunko-meter
trips to tipsy; Santa Anita derby; Yankees
train in Florida.
•
Movietone News, No. 21: President of Chile
visits Antarctic claims staking rush; Miami
plane crash in Chicago; King Michael of
Romania; Jan Masaryk commits suicide; J.
Arthur Rank; De 'Valera gets New York welcome;
Alabama's governor, "Kissing" Jim Folsom,
shows talent; University of California
crew practices; women's curling; Gretchen
Frazer and Dick Button back; Barbara Ann
Scott; baseball.
News of the Day, No. 2S5c Nineteen fortyeight
political pot starts boiling; King Michael
here; Chile claims Antarctic land; spectaculai
fire sweeps Jap capital; Big Jim makes hit;
California cruise; Snoqualmie national ski
meet.
Paramount News, No. 58: Elizabeth brings in
celebrities; Dewey wins first primaries; all
eyes on ice champion; tragedy behind the
iron curtain.
Universal News, No. 125: Chilean expedition
to Antarctic land; celebrities arrive from Europe;
12 dead in Chicago plane crash; government
documents lost in fire; hardware hats
displayed in California; Philadelphia Athletics
limber up; Norse skier wins Snoqualmie meet.
Warner Pathe News, No. 60: British troops
leave Palestine; Jan Masaryk ends life; Chile
claims Antarctic bases; hardware hats hard
to wear; home town welcomes Barbara Ann
Scott; national ski jump; great American,
Jackson.
•
All American News, Vol. 8, No. 282: "Jersey "
Joe Walcott invades midwest; Chicago young-
^
sters participate in annual children's parade
in New Orleans; Carl R. Gray jr., new administrator
of veterans affairs, makes statement;
Wings Flying club plans expansion in
Knoxville, Tenn.; schoolboy from Bryan, Tex.,
looks like coming track star; actor Canada
Lee turns disk jockey; Cuba celebrates its
annual Afro-Cuban carnival.
•
Telenews Digest No. 8: Exclusive—Klan
burns cross in Georgia town; Czech ambassador
quits Red regime; GIs test army starvation
diet; men in hiding on Leap Year day;
Truman returns: new congressman in Washington;
MacArthur campaign opens; new air
force uniforms; first scenes of fighting in
Kashmir; Germany today; U.S. planes cross
guerrilla lines in Greece; Europe's refugees
find new home; golf tournament; billiards
Hoppe
Gloves—A;nateurs
again takes
battle
world
for
crown;
midwest
Golden
titles;
antique automobile show.
14 BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: March 20, 1948

'
Opinions on Current Productions; Exploitips for Selling to the Public
FEATURE REVIEWS
! The Search F ''tir'""
: MGM ( ) 92 Minutes Rel.
: It's unlikely that, in recent years at least, the screen has
: told a story so freighted with the tragedy and heartbreak
: that is the oltermaih of war. This one, the first postwar
• feature to be filmed in the American zone of occupied Ger-
: many, would wring tears from a statue and is certain to
: leave every member of every audience with a lump in his .
: throat. Professional actors, and good ones, head the cast, "
: but the real stars of the film are Europe's displaced children
: —the victims of conflict who were left homeless, hopeless,
starving derelicts. Of melodrama there is none—because
: none was needed. The true story itself is sufficient to de-
: liver with an impact that could not have been equaled by
: any writer's imagination. The film is compellingly authentic,
• vivid in treatment, and e.xceptionally well made. deserv-
It is
: ing of big playing time. Fred Zinneman directed.
: Montgomery Clift. Aline MacMahon, larmila Novotna, Wen-
: dell Corey. Mary Patton, Ivan Jandl, William Rogers.
m
j
—

. . Twelve
EXPLOITIPS Suggestions for Selling; Adlines for Newspaper and Programs
SELLING ANGLES:
"April Showers"
The title song and the 11 other numbers are old-time lavorites.
Tieups can be set with music stores, most of which
carry either recordings of the songs or sheet music. Play
"April Showers" over the public address system at all housebreaks.
Also play tunes over soundtruck press agent system.
Truck should have 24-sheets on sides. Try to work tieups
with local disk jockeys, NBC stations broadcasting the Carson
show Thursday nights at 9:30 p. m., EST., may cooperate. A
dinr
CATCHLINES:
Here's a Story Your Heart Will Sing to . . . The "Hit That's
Flooding the Land With Sunshine ... A Deluge of Joy ... A
Song-Splashed Cloudburst of Happiness . AU-Ttime
Song Hits and a Story You'll Love.
A Tune-Drenched Package of Melody and Mirth ... A
Song-Spangled Screen Treat . . . Rain or Shine You'll Want to
See "April Showers" ... A Star-Studded Cast in a Tune-
Laden Story . . . It's Tops in Entertainment.
t

"
1 /'i
,4,1, c juu ..,iiit;» rebuilt and modernized by
i
1 cushions.
j
„.-
I'-nce,
!
seat
iATES: 10c per word, minimum Sl.OO, cash with copy. Four insertions for price oi three.
CLOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copy and answers to
» Box Numbers to BOXOFFICE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 1, Mo. •
GENERAL EQUIPMENT—USED
tlinii. $139.50:
ni' :::! in.l Stiibilarc generators, panel
iMTji $395; complete rebuilt pro-
J ii luiiimtnis. Powers, Simplex, Moi.riiHii,
Urerikert for all size theatres
-ins. JM1I5 up. New address S.O.S.
Sui.ply Corp., 602 \V. 52nd St., New
iiphuisieriM] t)^icK> for slope floor, eiiition,
$5.50 ea. Immediate delivery.
Sons Co, 2159 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.,
iclor:, metliuds. All work guaranteed. Movements
specialty. Projection Service 4 Supply Co.,
11 Nnrth 11th St., Minneapolis 3, Minn.
Complete booth equipment. Simplex rears,
irenkert Lows, rectifiers, Siiverlite screen. KCA
ound. cabinets, bench, popcorn machine, excondition
Laclede Theatre, Laclede. Mo.
able speed motors. New and used. 3, 5,
and 10 hp. blower, 50,000 to 20,000 cfm,
t%
sed. Modern Craftsmen. Bonner Springs, Kas.
ilex rear shutter machine. Double bearing
?nts. completely nverhauled. Western Elec-
I
liversai base sound system. Modem Craftslen.
Bonner Springs. Kas.
Sale—In fine condition two Perfex rectitwo
lamphoused low intensity and two
lamps for part.s. $250 takes the bargain,
or wire the Luna Theatre, Byesville, Ohio.
2 months. Also, one pair late model Holmes,
le. and 325 American pane! back spring
Lock Box 135, Carmi, 111.
Two Holmes educator portable projector Mazda
mps, overhauled, first class condition. Comlete
with magazines, amplifier, speaker and all
es. $500 cash. Write Thomas H. Piatt, 902
Ave., Parkersburg. W. Va.
arge
lantil
offer Simplex double bearing rear shutter
ebanisms, shcickpronf gears, high serial numis,
late type, perfect condition, $169.50. Thouids
of other bargains in lamphouses, sound
ttems, projectors, etc. Write us your requirents.
SUr Cinema Supply. 459 W. 46th St.,
K Ynrk 19.
51 000
New Irwin chairs.
tre B«iiiipment and
Suiiply Co., 1312
GENERAL EQUIPMENT—NEW
Celebrate with SOS 22nd year. New values for
r new building. New Revere or Natco 16mm
md projectors, $289.50: 8mm and 16mm Camis,
from $64.95; Soundfilm theatre amplifiirs
tfa record player, $124.75: l'. * s.:.
,
eel film cabinets, $3.95 sn'. I:i i
crophones, $12.95; Pyrene '.i
•7.95. Send for sale bulktii, .\.
I.O.S. Cinema Supply Corp.. CnJ w -j i,i si ,
York 19.
'ive-ln Theatre Projection and sound equip-
Brand new; nothing else needed, $2,974.
Hieatre equipment $2,794, and $2,280, complete
Id installed. Ace Camera Supply, 150 N. Irby.
lorence, S. C.
Poster Cases. Stainless steel or extruded alumiim
poster cases, illuminated or non-illuminated.
Ivailable in all sizes. Prompt delivery. Poblocki
' Sons, 2159 South Kinnickinnic .\ve., Mil-
«ukee 7, Wis.
General Electric copper o-xide rectifiers in
packing crates. 130 amp., 27 to 45
il
3 phase 220. One rectifier unconditionally
olt,
uaranteed to handle any tiigh intensity equipped
taitre. Excellent for Drive-ins. Has same
!y as two regular GE copper o.xide rectifiers
osting $1,100. Priced at $275. Main Equipment
"o., 2612 Main St.. Dallas, Tex.
Air Washers, complete for theatres. Also
oinplete package washed-air units. Low priced,
llton Manufacturing Co., 1112 Ross Ave., Dallas,
EQUIPMENT WANTED
apulis 3. .Minn.
March 20, 1948
THEATRES FOR SALE
Build double uarklni: driie-in tbeatrcs under
(rjnchise patenl .No. 2,102.718. reissue No. 22.756
and Improvements, patent pending. Up to 30%
more seating capacity with little additional cost.
Louis Josserand, Architect, 628 .M & .M Bidg.,
Houston, Tex.
We have theatres. Many tbeatr
worth imestigating. Contact us
"Joe" Joseph. 2409 Sunset Aie.
2-7650, Dallas, Texas.
Family theatre Central Texas college town. Over
$13,000 profit 1947. $6,500 spent 1947 remodeling.
Easily operated. $25,000 cash. Leali,
'.422 Kinmore. Dallas. Texas.
500 seats In Ft. Worth, Tex. No near competition.
Good lease. One of nicest colored situations
in state. $25,000 with half down. "Joe"
.loseph, 2409 Sunset Ave., Dallas, Tex.
400-seat quonset hut, suburban action house In
midst of tremendous payroll area in Dallas, Tex.
Property worth more than total price of $22,000
cash. Exclusive with "Joe" Joseph, 2409 Sunset
Ave., Dallas. Tex.
Iowa. Minnesota, Nebraska. Dakotas, Missouri,
Kansas. Up to $50,000 cash. Guar.intecd confidential,
sincere. A-2976. BOXOFFICE.
Montana Tlieatre. The New Ro.\y Theatre,
building, equipment and business in town 2.000
population; rich farming area. Net $10,000 year;
S4o,000 to handle. Yellowstone Amusement Co.,
Livingston, Mont.
Large 900-seat downtown grind house located
on busy street in Denver. Colo. $20,000 buys 14-
sear lease. Cinema Amusements, Inc., 1756
Broadway, Denver 2, Colo.
Theatres—A nice selection, southern Oregon,
eastern Oregon, Washington, Idaho. An outstanding
buy in southern Oregon; two theatres controlling
two towns. $75,000, half cash. Contact
.]. C. Butler, .\BC Brokerage Co., 304 SW 4th
Ave.. Portland. Ore.
Only theatre small northern Oklahoma good
ill.
to»n. Building included. Owner seriously
Neglected. $9,000. Third down. Leak Theatre
Sales, 3422 Kinmore, Dallas. Tex.
Only theatre live southwest Oklahoma town
1.800. Site large state institution, huge new
lake, new 50-room fireproof hotel. Includes good
building with exceptional five-room knotty pine
apartment. Good equipment. Only Sunday town
large area. Highly profitable. $36,300. Half
down. Lake Theatre Sales, 3422 Kinmore, Dallas,
Tex.
Near Lubbock. Texas. Good town 3,500. Super
Simplex. KCA PC 140, Strong highs, 300 upholstered
sc.itj. Super SUr popcorn machine. All
under iwu years old. Brick building included.
Profitable. 40c admission. $19,000. $10,000
down. Leak Theatre Sales, 3422 Kinmore. Dallas,
Tex.
Only theatre New Mexico town 2,000. Nearest
competition forty miles. $10,000 yearly profit
locally ouned. Remote ownership doing nicely.
$20,000. liberal terms. Leak Theatre Sales,
3422 Kinmore, Dallas. Tex.
Southwest uklalioma small town opportunity.
Liie liere and do $10,000 yearly profit per reliable
absentee owner. Nice building, good lease,
new .Manley, good seats. $7,000 profit, 1947.
$17,500. Liberal terms. Leak Theatre Sales,
3422 Kinmore. Dallas, Tex.
Central Iowa only theatre. One of Iowa's finest.
Excellent town just under 2,000. Super Simplex,
4 Star sound, Bodiform seats, latest Manley
popcorn. Delu.xe attached apartment available.
BuUding included or wUl lease $75 month. $22,000
to $30,000 cash required. Private sale. State
your finances, whom you represent. Boxoffice,
A-2986.
Two Virginia theatres showing nice prof
One 300-seat house, the other 460-seat houi
Owner has other business that requires full tin
For details write Grayson Sandy. Callao, Va.
2,500 population town adjoining Denver, large
drawing area. $22,500. 50% down. Terms. This
is a deal for a wise buyer. Look! Rent $75, including
heat. Long lease, new equipment, elaborate
concession stand. Lem Lee, Box 657,
Anada. Colo.
If you want to build a Drive-In theatre, get your
p'ans and license from Moonlight Movies System.
For deUiled information, write or wire Moonlight
Movies System, 842 Bussev St., San Bernardino,
Southwest, 340 seats, building and all equii
ment. Good drawing, prosperous community. Rut
ning two changes per week. Liberty Theatri
Tryon, Okla.
i,000. New booth, Ki.t..,-
Simplex, 4 Star sound, high lamps, 1!" l
m
seats, new Manley. De luxe apartment .nl
$55. heated. One of Iowa's finest, i:
>
leased or sold. $22,000 cash down, or di-i'.
Boxoffice, A-2991.
First run, real show town near 4,000, Oklahoma.
Film evenly divided, no conflict. Super Simplex.
4 Star, high lamps. Very profitable. $22,000
cash. Leak Theatre Sales, 3422 Kinmnre. Dal-
THEATRES WANTED
CLfflRlllG
Sell Your Theatre Privately. Confidential correspondence
Invited. References. Arthur Leak.
Theatres Exclusively, 3422 Kinmore. Dallas. Tex.
Is your theatre for sale? Our cash buyers are
waiting. We get quick results. Will give you a
prompt estimate of your present theatre value.
town theatre In middle
and first year's
Catholic community
preferred. Full details first letter. Boxofflce,
A-2944.
Wanted to buy theatre in town population 2,500
or more. Prefer non competitive situation. North
Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia or
Florida. Full details first letter. Confidential.
Francis Wade, Morehead City, N. C.
Smith, 5624 Plymouth
iiliio, Indiana or Illinois.
Mi.iiion. We have the cash.
Mt? Address all replies to
Third St., Dayton 3, Ohio.
Theatre wanted. Eastern territory. Have $5,000
cash to invest for active interest. Experienced.
State fu'l details. Boxoffic, A-2989.
To lease with option to buy, small theatre,
ferably small middlewest town. Box 311,
Box-
office, 9 Rockefeller Plaza, New York City.
We oet results. List your theatre with tho midwest's
largest exclusive theatre broker. No shoppers,
only financially qualified inspect theatre
with experienced salesman. With five offices to
serve you, we have the coverage. The Savcreides,
701 Leonhardt Bldg. Phone 7-7407, Oklahoma
City, Okla.
Private party wants small theatre, central Missouri.
State price, terms. Strictly confidential.
Jesse Lloyd, 2535 Gillham Road, Kansas City, Mo.
POSITIONS WANTED
Manager v.- i age 30.
,
Know stun:. ;l. type ballyhoo
and theatre tlni ....ii :' i; : :.!icc. photo of self
and last two munlhs b.illylioo on request. Prefer
South or Southwest. Available at once. Write
P. 0. Box 267. Clinton. Tenn^
Projectionist, 10 yea
Want permanent position. Can come in for interview.
Live in North Carolina, want job in North
Carolina. Only highest references. Boxoffice,
A-2992
.„.„-,„, experienced Negro theatre operations,
capable. References. Can go anywhere. Box-
Projectionist, sound serviceman, 36, married.
At present supervisor-instructor in projection
school, desire change. Will consider job as projectionist
or sound and machinest serviceman with
small chain or instructor's job at similar school.
Write Box 793, Marshall, Te.x.
years experience. Simplex,
Desire connection, Refer-
:i!. etc. Dick Bateman, 208
lirefer Iowa. Referen
Tlieatre manager. :iu years experience, past 18 l
;ars with same company. Know theatre throughtt.
Rellahle. sulier. can furnish best of referices.
Aiailalile .May :iO. Boxoffice, A-2!)95.
HELP WANTED
Wanted: Housemanager that knows motion
picture theatre operation, located in Norfolk and
Portsmouth, Virginia. Type answer immediately
if interested. Boxoffice. A-2978.
Young men over twenty-one years of age as
managers, .Must have experience in advertising
and exploitation. Send photo, full details and
reference in first letter. Dunelake Corp., Tivoli
Bldg , Michigan City. Ind.
Wanted; Experienced and reliable projectionists
needed lor twn theatres. Full details, salary desired
and qualifications first letter. Two shows
nightly except Sunday continuous shows beginning
2 p m, Tlieatres Company, P. 0. Box 556
Syracuse. Kas., or P. 0. Box 276. Holly, Colo.
Wanted experienced theatre manager for operations
in West Virginia and Ohio. Reply and give
references in own handwriting. Boxoffice, A-2979-
j
REAL ESTATE
Investigate this. Best offer. Selling Improved
iisiness property 200 ft. by 125 ft. in exclusive
:, I- . , '!< ighborhood. Included specifications for,
fittT. six retail stores, 32 bowling alleys,
Mieatre. References required. Owner,
•.,!. Jr., 14501 Sherman Ave., Posen, HI.
-
THEATRE MARQUEES
Specializing in manufacturing of
quees, attraction boards and neon
.Neon Co., 5828 Swope Parkway,
HflUSf
POPCORN MACHINES
nines for sale. Fully i
150. Consolidated Coi
Chicago 5, 111.
Is national headquarters for popcorn
Silver Stars, Super Surs, Com Cribs.
Old machines taken In
Blevins Popcorn
Bargain prices in used and completely reconditioned
popcorn machhies. Blevins Popcorn Co.,
Na.shville, Tenn
Burch, .Manley, Cretors. Advance, all electric
ench try types. 50 Hollywood type, theatre
veclal electric poppers from $250. Karmelkorn
120 8. Halsted. Chicago 6, 111.
Two ,\ew Manley 1948 machines in original
crates, complete. $200 below list. Lloyd J.
Clark, 1540 Jackson Rd., Albion, Mich.
Popcorn Machines, Good
ably priced. Chas. E. Harden it Co.,
2207, Dallas, Tex.
Limited number new streamlined "Korn King"
machines. Formerly listed, $650; now $295
Prompt delivery. Size 54 high. 44 long,
In. In.
.'!2 in. deep. Write Sam Burton, 1025 West Ninth
St., Cincinnall, Ohio.
POPCORN SUPPLIES
supplie
Grain Co., 020 .\. 2nd St., St. Uuis 2, Mo.
Established 1874.
Bee Hive for '48 Is the best ever! Blevins not
ily gives you best popcorn but saves you money
1 all seasoning, bags, boxes, etc. Blevins Popirn
Co., Nashville, Tenn.
Attractively printed popcorn cartoons for sale;
10c size, $6 M: 25c size, $15.75 M. Fabian
Kontney, 609 N. Ashland, Green Bay, Wis.
Buy direct and
BUSINESS STIMULATORS
Comic books again available as premiums, giveaways
at your kiddy shows. Large variety latest
48-page newsstand editions. Comics Premium Co.,
412B Greenwich St., New York City.
Bingo with more action, $2 75 thousand cards.
Also other games. Novelty Games Co., 1434 Bedford
Ave., Brooklyn 16, N. Y.
Only legal game for theatres. Legal in any
state. Biggest business booster since Bank Night.
"Listen to Win" copyright 1947 by L.tW. Co.
Write today for information. Secure exclusive
rights for your town now. Listen to Win Co., Box
336, Cambridge, Ohio
Bingo die-cut cards, 75 or 100 number, $3 per
M. Screen dial $80. Premium Products, 354 W.
44th St., New York City 18, N. Y.
Ringo, the biggest boxoffice attraction ever produced.
Ringo Amusement Co., 1422 Republic
Bank Bldg. Phone Central 4800, Dallas, Tex.
Theatre Stimulator For Sale: ]
game in country. Every theatre
400% profit. Will pay out in few
righted and advertised.
Sell i
AIR CONDITIONING
Heavy duty blowers, ball-bearing equipped,
15.000 cfm to 50,000 cfm. .\lr washers, all
sizes. Hydraulic drives, two and four speed
motor and controls. Immediate delivery. Dealers
ivanted. National Engineering and Mfg. Co., 519
IVvan.lnttf St,, Kans.as City, Mo
NEW. Still in original crate. U.S. Air
ditinning p.ickage unit. Ideal for 1,000 or
theatre. Large discount. Modern Oaft;
Bonner Springs. Kiis.
MISCELLANEOUS
500-
New (still crated) 5-gal and used 2>4-gal.
(6 months, perfect condition) Mill Master
Freezers for ice cream or Frozen Custard. 5-gal..
25 per cent off; 2i4-gal., 40 per c«nt off today's
FILMS WANTED
MORE CLASSIFIED
ON PAGE 42

men
Ne^v York—The longest-run
record in the entire history of
20th Century-Fox! ^^m.
In
am
Chicago— Boston— Cincinnati-
Cleveland— Philadelphia-
San Francisco
and Los Angeles
Boxoffice Barometer reports that
of the 40 top pictures in current
release it is the industry's No. 1
attraction—topping' the next top hit by 64%!
and... Already Rebooked for
Repeat First-Runs Los Angeles
and Pittsburgh!
CENTURY^OX
359 Ke^gCiT^'Pates Easter Week!