Boxoffice-April.17.1948

PARAMOUNT INTRODUCES FIRST
LARGE-SCREEN VIDEO NEWSREEL
Page 8
VARIETY HUMANITARIAN AWARD
GOES TO GEORGE C.
MARSHALL
Page 9

M G M's TRADE SHOW O
Ihowmen! Look who's "ON AN ISIAND WITH YOU"
ESTHER WILLIAMS
n a sarong . . . thrilling to a new romance . . .
PETER LAWFORD
love . . . caveman fashion . . .
RICARDO MONTALBAN
In
<
n rhumba and romance!
IJIIMMY DURANTE
i . . in-comparable . . . how the ISLAND rocks with laughs!
PiCYDCHARISSE
'
I . . in tango to tom-toms!
ypCAVIER CUGAT... „,s ..CH.S..
XM ... in tropical and topical music!
ffON AN ISLAND WITH YOU
010. .Y TECHNICOLOR
Scrtvn Ploy by Dorothy Kingsley, Dorothy Cooper, Charles Martin and Hans Wilhetm
\^ „ from on Original Story by Chorles Martin ond Hons Wilhelm • A Metro-Goldwyn>Mayer Picture
Directed by RICHARD THORPE • Produced by JOE PASTERNAK
n
Come to the Trade Show and
See M-G-M's Big All-Star
Technicolor Musical Paradise!
AlBANY—MON. 4/26—8 P.M.
20lh-Fax Screen Room, 10S2 Broadway
ATLANTA—MON. 4/26—10 A.M.
20lh-Fa« Screen Room, 197 Wollon SI., N.W.
BOSTON— TUES. 4/27—2 P.M.
M-G-M Screen Room, 46 Church Street
BUFFALO—MON. 4/26—2 P.M.
20lh-Fox Screen Room, 290 Franklin Street
CHARLOTTE—MON. 4/26—1:30 P.M.
20lh-Fox Screen Room, 308 South Church Street
CHICAGO—MON. 4/26—2 P.M.
H. C. Igel's Screen Room, 1301 South Wobash Ave.
CINCINNATI—MON. 4/26—8 P.M.
RKO Screen Room, 16 East Sixth Street
CLEVELAND-MON. 4/26—1 P.M.
20th-Fox Screen Room, 2219 Payne Avenue
DALLAS—MON. 4/26—2:30 P.M.
20th-Fox Screen Room, 1803 Wood Street
DENVER—MON. 4/26—2 P.M.
Paramount Screen Room, 2100 Stout Street
DES MOINES—MON. 4/26—1 P.M.
20lh-Fox Screen Room, 1300 High Street
DETROIT—MON. 4/26—1:30 P.M.
Max Blumenthal's Screen Room, 2310 Cass Ave.
INDIANAPOLIS—MON. 4/26—2 P.M.
20th-Fox Screen Room, 326 North Illinois Street
KANSAS CITV—MON. 4/26— 1:30 P.M.
20th-Fox Screen Room, 1720 Wyandotte St.
LOS ANGELES—MON. 4/26—2 P.M.
20th-Fox Screen Room, 2019 So. Vermont Ave.
MEMPHIS—MON. 4/26—10 A.M.
20th-Fox Screen Room, 151 Vance Avenue
MILWAUKEE—MON. 4/26—1:30 P.M.
Warner Screen Room, 212 W. Wisconsin Ave.
MINNEAPOLIS—MON. 4/26—2 P.M.
20th-Fox Screen Room, 1015 Currie Avenue
NEV/ HAVEN—MON. 4/26—2 P.M.
20th-Fox Screen Room, 40 Whiting Street
NEW ORLEANS—MON. 4/26—1:30 P.M.
20th-Fox Screen Room, 200 South Liberty St.
NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY—MON 4/26—2:30 P.M.
M-G-M Screen Room, 630 Ninth Avenue
OKLAHOMA CITY—MON. 4/26—1 P.M.
20th-Fox Screen Room, 10 North Lee Street
OMAHA—MON. 4/26—1:30 P.M.
20th-Fox Screen Room, 1502 Davenport St.
PHILADELPHIA—MON. 4/26— 11 A.M.
M-G-M Screen Room, 1233 Summer Street
PITTSBURGH—MON. 4/26—2 P.M.
M-G-M Screen Room, 1623 Blvd. of Allies
PORTLAND—MON. 4/26—2 P.M.
B. F. Shearer Screen Room, 1947 N.W. Kearney St.
LOUIS—MON. 4/26—1 P.M.
ST.
S'Renco Art Theatre, 3143 Olive Street
SALT LAKE CITY—MON. 4/26—1 P.M.
20th-Fox Screen Room, 216 East First Street, So.
SAN FRANCISCO—MON. 4/26— 1:30 P.M.
20th-Fox Screen Room, 245 Hyde Street
SEATTLE—MON. 4/26— 1 P.M.
Jewel Box Preview Theatre, 2318 Second Avenue
WASHINGTON-TUES. 4/27— 1
P.M.
20th-Fox Screen Room, 932 New Jersey, N.W.

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—
THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY
PUBLISHID IN NINE SECTIONAL EDITIONS
BEN SHLYEN
Editor-in-Chief and Publisher
JAMES M. IERAULD...._ _ Editor
NATHAN COHEN Jlssociale 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 Oilices: 9 Rockefeller Plaza, New York 20,
N. Y. Raymond Levy, General Manager; lames M.
Jerauld, Editor; Chester Friedman, Editor Showmandiser
Section; A. J. Stocker, Eastern Representative.
Telephone Columbus 5-6370, 5-B371, 5-6372. Cable
address: "BOXOFriCE, Nevir York."
Central Offices: 332 South Michigan Blvd., Chicago
4, 111. J. Harry Toler, Editor Modern Theatre Section.
Telephone WABash 4575.
Western Offices; 6404 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
22, Calif. Ivan Spear, Manager. Telephone GLadstone
1186.
Washington Offices: 302-303 International Bldg., 1319
r St., N. W. Lee L. Garling, Manager. Telephone
NAtional 3482. Filmrow: 932 New Jersey, N. W. Sara
Young.
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 Publications: BOXOFFICE BAROMETER,
published in November as a section ol BOXOFFICE;
THE MODERN THEATRE, published monthly as a
section of BOXOFFICE.
ALBANY—21-23 Walter Ave., M. Berrigan.
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—218 W. 4th, Pauline Gnllith.
CHICAGO—332 S. Michigan, Jonas Perlberg,
WAB-4575.
CINCINNATI— 1634 Centtal Parkway, UUion 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 Theatre Bldg., H. F. Reves
Telephones: RA 1100; Night, UN-4-a219.
HARTFORD— 109 Westborne, Allen Widem
HARRISBURG, PA.—Mechanicsburg, 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. I3th, 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 Carieton
NEW ORLEANS—Mrs. Jock Ausfet, MA-5812.
OKLAHOMA CITY—216 Terminal Bldg., Polly Trindle
OMAHA—Omaha World-Herald Bldg., Lou Gerdes
PHILADELPHIA-4901 Spruce St., J. M Makler
PITTSBURGH-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
SAN FRANCISCO— 25 Taylor St., Gail Lipman
ORdway 3-4S12.
SEATTLE—928 N. 84th St., WiUard Elsey
TOLEDO— 1330 Willys Pkwy., Anna Kline.
IN CANADA
CALGARY—The Alberton, Wm. Campbell.
MONTREAL-4330 Wilson Ave., N. D. G., Roy Carmichael.
Walnut 5519.
ST. JOHN— 116 Prince Edward St., Wm. J. McNufty.
TORONTO— 242 Milwood, Milton Galbraith.
VANCOUVER—411 Lyric Theatre Bldg., lack Droy.
VICTORIA— 938 Island Highway, Alec Merriman.
WINNIPEG—The Tribune, Ben Lepkin.
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations
Entered as Second Class matter at Post Office. Kansas City. Mo.
I
OXOFFICE
LOOKING UP!
^^^ J. tTER so long at looking down, it is cheerinc
to see the change in hue and the change in view that is settinc
this industry once more on the path of salesmanship and showmanship.
We are pleased to call attention to the MGM advertisement
in this issue that starts off phrase "Everything
with the
Looks Rosy!" And, of course, to the oft-quoted truism coined
by Nicholas M. Schenck, "There is nothing wrong with this
industry that good pictures can't cure."
[
The good pictures were sadly among the missing for o
considerable period. But their dearth was not alone the caussi
for some of the blues singing that rendered too many an industry
sour note. Now the turn in the road has been reached
—mainly because product quality is definitely up, perhapsbeyond
the fondest hopes that obtained just a few months ago'
Perhaps the so-called top level has come to realize that on«
of this industry's greatest assets is enthusiasm. That seems to
be coming back, with the return of good pictures in goodly
quantity. And, happily, this change is not confined to any one
company. It appears to be quite general, if one may judge
from the reviews in recent \veeks of product now current
and doing great business—and of other films soon to be released.
This brings to mind a recent letter from Ned Depinet
executive vice-president of RKO, in which he said, "I am starting
on a vacation after several weeks at the studio, where 1
saw many fine RKO pictures. Don't sell the industry short!'
That's a modest way of putting it, but its meaning is clear that
the bars should be taken down and the gates opened once
more to going full steam ahead.
Another sign that the industry's well-known enthusiasir,
has been missed was brought into evidence by the bulletined
statement issued by Sidney E. Samuelson, general managei
of AlHed of Eastern Pennsylvania. Naturally, we like Mr,
Samuelson's statement, "The advertising that producer-distributors
do in the trade journals is vital to arouse the interest
of the exhibitors." And also his further constructive words
"Advertising—directed to the public—is a necessary part oi
the industry's appeal for support of its product. Most impor-.
tant, the advertising that the exhibitor does frequently means
the difference between the success and failure of a lot of pictures."
And, further, "American business builds on the principle
that confidence in a product is usually measured in advertising
support of this product." Truer words were nevei
spoken.
Now, with good—in fact, extra-good—product to sell, everv
branch of this industry can enter upon its projected program
of collective public relations activity with unimpeachable confidence.
It puts heart into the job of telling and selling, when
the goods backs up the claims. If producer^distributors, who
first ran down the curtain, keep it up and keep the "show"
feffl
tiili
Kpoi
It So
fen
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Sectional Edition, $2.00 per year; National Edition, $7.50
Vol. 52 No. 24
APRIL 17, 1948

i
rolling
j
litigation,
i production.
: products.
i
should
I
I
he
I
Reported
ding, and exhibitors do their part at the point-of-sale, everyting
will really be rosy vnlh this business again.
ruly, the Heart
Speaking of public relations, the Variety Club's 12th anlal
convention held at Miami this week serves as a reminder
at this great group of men is rendering the finest kind of
ablic relations in humanitarian services. In its work of aidg
the sick, the lame, the blind and the underprivileged in
.,,j ^ .rtually all regions of the U.S. and now carrying its great work
|£Hito other countries. Variety, through its inspired leadership,
?* deserving of the highest praise. It has well earned its
ascription as "The HEART of the motion picture industry."
I
liay it long continue in its humanitarian endeavors with
"I
[bounding success.
"-f
^gain, Television and Talent
in the news pages of this issue is an interesting
tory of the latest industry step in the direction of harnessing
^levision for use on the theatre screen. The success of the
xperiment points to further developments along this line,
/hile some commercial kinks are being ironed out. As an
ndication of one of the kinks to be encountered, we quote
rom a letter received from John Dales jr., executive secretary
!if the Screen Actors Guild. The letter follows:
"We at the Screen Actors Guild always read with great interest
our editorials in BOXOFFICE. In your comments on Talent and Teleision'
in the issue of April 3, you indicate it would be belter for the
lotion picture industry if films made for theatre exhibition are not used
ii television. With this conclusion we agree heartily, as do the ex-
!iibitors.
"There is one remark in your editorial in question which vre must
|:hallenge. You stated: 'It would seem that when a player is paid for
lis services in a motion picture, all uses of that film are covered.' Do
fou believe that stars and character actors who have been paid to
jnact roles in pictures made for theatre exhibition have thereby sold
right to use their work and their likenesses to advertise commerrial
products on television? Yet that could happen if your statement
s taken at face value. In fact, such use of theatre films already has
Dccurred. The actors feel that such unauthorized use of their names and
Iheir work is outrageous and indefensible. It will be most interesting
lo see what the courts have to say on this question."
To answer Mr. Dales' question: We should not like to see
films made for theatre exhibition put to use on video programs
for the express purpose of advertising commercial
And, as we stated in our editorial of April 3, we
not like to see the industry put "regular" films into
'competition with itself via television. It is our further belief
that such instances where theatre films are being put to comjmercial
television use will disappear once television gets to
on a firm and regular basis. Meanwhile these isolated
cases should not be allowed to involve the industry in more
nor to add to the already high cost of regular film
There's such a thing as "more than the traffic will
) bear."
QlAl C/^if"-^
San Francisco is A-warded
1949 Variety Meeting
At closing session, its also announced that
33 tents pledge a total of $2,020,185 for charity
in 1948; R. J. O'Donnell and slate of officers
reelected.
Foundation Trustees Set
12 for Meeting
May 11.
Two-day session will be held at Hotel Astor,
New York; meetings also scheduled for finance
committee on fund raising, and program
and scope committee on industry relief.
United States Publication
Of Tax Pact Irks British
Harold Wilson, president of the board of
trade in England, tells the house of commons
final form approved by it will be different
from the version printed here.
Two Features Up for Bids
From 20th-Fox in Chicago
"Sitting Pretty" and "Fury at Furnace
Creek" are booked at first run Loop houses
after they are offered for bids under the new
20th-Fox zoning plan for the city.
Bars With Tele, Juke Box
Free of 20 Per Cent Tax
Internal revenue bureau rules taverns and
public places showing films must pay cabaret
tax; those with television sets exempt unless
dancing and entertainment is permitted,
Producers A'wait Actors
For New Pact Parleys
-K
Charles Boren. labor relations liaison executive
and vice-president of MPAA, says no
doors closed and the producers "have not
broken off negotiations" with the actors.
Johnston Reaffirms Stand
On Actors and Politics
MPAA head at Hollywood press interview
stands pat on his previously declared handsoff
policy regarding the rights of film personalities
for the presidential campaign.
Loew's, Inc. 28-Week Net
Shows Big Decrease
Profit of $3,886,745 reported for period ending
March 11 compared to $8,596,779 for
same period previous year; gross revenue.s,
however, were up.
-X
Pictorial Films Acquires
69 Features for 16mm
Eagle Lion sells 35 features, 24 westerns and
10 Edward Small productions for distribution
to nontheatrical situations, starting October
1; also many shorts added.
;/ .

—
Paramount Gets It First:
THEATRE TELE NEWSREEL BOWS, 15
BIG SCREEN, 35mm PROJECTION L
Special Equipment Insures
Exclusive Showings for
Motion Picture Houses
NEW YORK—Paramount showed the
first televised newsreel on a theatre screen
Wednesday night, April 14. This goes on
the records as another historic date in
the film industry.
It may prove to be a milestone as important
as the showing of "Don Juan" in
the Warner Theatre Aug. 16. 1926. That
was the first sound picture, it will be
recalled.
The newsreel showing was so simple and
so close to regular film standards of projection
that the audience probably would
not have known it was seeing something
new if there had not been a moving title
under the Paramount News heading explaining
what was about to happen.
ON THE SCREEN IN 66 SECONDS
Pictures reached the screen 66 seconds
after the cameraman trained his camera on
his subject.
The showing lasted approximately 15 minutes
and began immediately after the stageshow
which ended at 9:45 p. m. The pictures
were on the regular screen 18 feet by
24 feet and were projected by the regular
35mm projectors from the booth.
The showings originated in the navy
YMCA, 167 Sand St., Brooklyn, where the
inter-district boxing finals of the first, third
and fourth naval districts were being held.
The television cameras transmitted the pictures
by 7,000 megacycle microwave frequency
to the top of the Daily News Bldg.
on East 42nd street and from there to the
top of the Paramount Bldg., thence down a
coaxial cable to the booth of the theatre
where they were automatically photographed
from the end of a negative cathode ray tube
in a television receiver and developed, dried
and projected in 66 seconds.
It sounds complicated, but the equipment
doesn't take up much more room than an
ordinary film projector.
At the end of the show the theatre audience
applauded.
REVEALS PARAMOUNT PROGRESS
Where does all this go from there?
Paul Raibourn, Paramount executive who
has been supervising the experimental work
for many months, explained some of the
possibilities with considerable hesitation after
the sliowing.
Among other things, he said that Paramount
has an FCC license for microwave
relays in the city. This also was news. The
television cameras that make the pictures
were made by Paramount. The transmission
through the air is on wave lengths that
cannot be picked up by other television stations
or by home receivers. Programs can
be picked up in the same way in other cities
and transmitted by coaxial cable directly
to the Paramount and other theatres without
PAUL RAIBOURN
Paramount's Video Chief
going on the air. When the equipment has
been made in quantity all Paramount theatres
can have this fast service. The printing
machines and other equipment will not
be for sale until the company has satisfied
its own needs. It is not looking for customers
yet.
Raibourn admitted that the big radio networks
with television stations had refused to
cooperate in the development of the apparatus.
He also admitted that the FCC had
refused to assign wavelengths for broadcasting
television through the air directly to
theatres. He pointed out, however, that at
the time of the application the FCC turned
it down because no facilities existed .for theatre
pickups. A new application might receive
different treatment.
Raibourn also made it clear that the com-
What Paramount's Video
Revealed to Trade
Here is what Paramount revealed at
its introduction of the first televised
newsreel on a theatre screen.
1. Paramount has large screen television
on a regular 18x24-foot screen,
projected by 35nini equipment from the
projection booth.
2. The company has manufactured its
own equipment, and will have it available
for all Paramount theatres when equipment
is available in quantity.
3. Paramount has an FCC license for
microwave relays in New York and programs
it transmits cannot be picked up
by other television stations or home receivers.
pany isn't worrying about how to extend use
of the equipment or how to get special events
for introduction into theatres as boxoffice
stimulants.
The Republican and Democratic national
conventions are coming along.
He was asked specifically whether he hoped
to get the Louls-Wolcott heavyweight fight
in June, in view of the fact that the national
networks have threatened suits againsi
theatres picking up air shows intended for
home receivers.
PROMOTERS HOLD RIGHTS
Raibourn pointed out that all the broadcast
rights to sporting events are owned by
those who stage them. In the case of the
Louis-Wolcott fight the 20th Century Sporting
club (Madison Square Garden) can sell
radio rights, home receiver television rights,
and theatre receiver television rights. He
didn't predict this would be done for this
particular fight, but he pointed out that the
owners of the rights will decide how they
are to be used and at what price.
Promoters decided only a day or two before
this Paramount showing that television is
stimulation and not competition. The Ringling
Bros, circus is being televised daily from
Madison Square Garden for the first time
the
and the management reports business is
best in the history of the circus.
As more theatres are hooked onto this
equipment either by cable or by air it is
certain that bids will be made for theatre
rights to all events which in the past have
proved to be theatre competition on a large
scale.
Where else it will lead in the handling of
all newsreel coverage is a speculative topic
that Paramount will not discuss at the
moment.
Nevertheless, Paramount executives were
so elated over the success of their venture,
and so pleased with audience reaction to the
test that they have decided to go ahead with
experiments in other cities.
It was announced that the printing machines
will be installed in Los Angeles, Chicago,
Boston and Dallas and the first three
cities may get them this year. Paramount's
affiliate, Balaban and Katz, have been
operating a television station in the Chicago
area for some time and is set up better than
any other Paramount situation in the field
of television.
FCC Grants Video Relay
For Football Telecasts
WASHINGTON—The FCC on April 14
authorized either coaxial or cable or microwave
relays to connect Buffalo and Toledo,
Ohio, with terminal facilities at South Bend,
Ind., and Danville, 111., to permit television
broadcasting of football games. The Balaban
and Katz station has been connected
with South Bend (Notre Damei for some
time and has been televising the games.
8 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

ii
the
[
barker,
—
VARIETY HUMANITARIAN AWARD
GOES TO GEORGE C MARSHALL
12th Annual Convention
Attracts
900 Visitors
To Miami Festivities
MIAMI—Variety's
Humanitarian Award
for 1947 went to George C. Marshall, secretary
of state, "with deep appreciation for
his measureless service rendered in behalf
of worldwide peace. "
Robert J. O'Donnell, international chief
made the announcement, as the
news wires crackled with news of the attempted
revolt in Bogota where Secretary
Marshall and other top state officials of
Americas were in conference. Normally,
the name of the recipient of the Humanitarian
Award is kept secret until the
final dinner of the convention of Variety
Clubs, International: but. with Secretary
Marshall being unable to attend the dinner,
O'Donnell released the information
earlier in the convention.
THIRD SECRETARY OF STATE
Marshall is the third secretary of state
to win the award, Cordell Hull and James
F. Byrnes having also been named for the
honor. He will receive a silver plaque and
an honorarium of $1,000.
This 12th annual convention was a sample
of combined showmanship and demonstration
of how Variety is lending its "heart" to improve
conditions of everywhere it exists.
Miami's barkers went all the way in making
this a great convention for entertainment.
There were more than 900 delegates and
guests on hand for the week's festivities, and
the local barkers—lieaded by Mitchell Wolfson,
general convention chairman; George C.
Hoover, Miami's chief barker: and A. J. England,
greeters' chairman, saw to it that there
was something going on all the time. The
barkers came expecting pretty bathing girls
as hostesses, deep sea fishing, horse racing,
jovial stag parties, top drawer hospitality
and they were not disappointed. There was
a south seas party, a fashion show for the
R. J. O'Donnell, international chief
barker, opens the 12th annual convention.
At the dais with him, right to
left, are Marc Wolf, Indianapolis, dough
guy; C. J. Latta, Albany, second assistant
barker (face just showing), and Jack
Beresin, Philadelphia, property master.
ladies, as well as an aloha party, and Miami
bu.sinessmen helped extend the welcome
hand with gifts in great variety.
But it was not all fun. The big business
was the job of reporting on what Variety
tents all across the continent were doing to
expand the humanitarian program of the
organization. Colonel William McCraw of
Dallas, Tex., the executive director, reported
that the 33 tents had contributed $2,000,000
to charitable purposes in the last year.
O'Donnell said that every tent in the U.S.,
Canada and Mexico was represented and he
read greetings from a group of showmen in
London who said they are now engaged in
organizing a tent in that comitry.
At the business sessions, the delegates
adopted the following resolutions:
1. To eliminate subsidiary tents and invite
Houston, now a subsidiary of Dallas, to apply
for its oviTi charter.
2. To instruct tents not to solicit advertising
for their local publications except in
their own business areas.
3. To forbid formation of women's auxiliaries.
4. To allow individual tents to make annual
"heart awards" to local per.sons either
in or out of the organization who have performed
outstanding humanitarian services.
5. To grant the international chief barker
power to appoint the international publicity
chairman, convention chairman, chairman
of the humanitarian award committee
and ceremonial offerer.
6. To provide that tents select as their international
canvasmen or committeemen
immediate past chief barkers and select as
alternates the present chief barkers.
7. To provide that canvasmen represent
their local tents at the organization's annual
midwinter meeting.
Defeated was a resolution providing that
a runner-up award be added to the annual
Humanitarian Award now made.
The various tents began making their charity
pledges late in the week. The first 20
tents pledged themselves to raise $994,000
for charity in 1948. Dallas pledged $150,000:
Detroit. $130,000, and Minneapolis and Philadelphia,
$100,000 each. Dave Bershon of Los
Angeles announced a personal contribution
of $5,000 to the Boston tent cancer clinic.
MPAA Pledges Continuing
Cooperation With TOA
NEW YORK—The advertising and publicity
directors committee of the MPAA voted for
continuing cooperation with the TOA on the
industry public relations program at a luncheon
meeting late in the week. John Joseph,
director of advertising and publicity for Universal
and chairman of the studio pubUcity
directors committee, was the guest of honor.
The group discussed industry problems.
Charles Schlaifer presided at the meeting in
the absence of Maurice Bergman who is ill.
R. J. O'Donnell (L), international
chief barker, greets
(L to R) O. C. Lam, Atlanta;
George Hoover, Miami chief
barker; E. E. Whitaker, Atlanta,
and Colonel William
McCraw, executive director.
In these two photos are snapped a sextet of visitors, at
the opening stag party. Left to right: Delegate Rodney
Collier; Barker Nick Weems, and National Canvasman Bill
Saxton, all of Tent 19, Baltimore; and a trio from three
different tents—Murray Whiteman, of Buffalo; Dick Sachsel,
of the host tent; and Joe Hiller, of Pittsburgh. Sachtel
wears the necktie which distinguished host barkers.
A trio from the Oklahoma
City tent, snapped at the Variety
stag banquet at the Alcazar
hotel. Left to right: Chuck
Freeman, Horace Falls, the
tent's chief barker, and J. C.
Hunter, an official delegate.
BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

—
Tvifo More Antitrust Suits ?°"J*
Asking $1117,000 Filed
Two more antitrust suits, asking a total
of $1,117,000 in damages, were filed by exhibitors
this week against distributors
in an indication that not all exhibitors
with a complaint intend to wait for the
supreme court decision in the industry's
antitrust litigation before taking their case
to the lower courts. Altogether eight suits
for $7,758,000 have been filed since the industry
suit was argued before the supreme
court in February.
This week the suits involved two deluxe
neighborhood theatres in Minneapolis and,
oddly enough, an action instituted by an
exhibitor who until recently was a Paramount
district manager. He is Allen Usher,
who several months ago resigned as Paramount's
Chicago district manager to operate
the Sprague Theatre in Elkhorn, 'Wis.
USHER TOOK OVER JAN. 1
Usher, well known in distribution circles,
took over the Sprague Theatre on January 1.
Prior to that time the house had been
operated by D. F. Kelliher who, as owner of
the building, is joining Usher in the court
action. Named as defendants in the suit are
Warner Bros., 20th Centm-y-Fox, RKO Radio
Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Republic Pictures,
Standard Theatre Co., and L. F. Grand
doing business as Standard Theatres.
The complaint is that distributors are
giving theatres in Lake Geneva and Delavan,
Wis., operated by the Grand circuit, clearance
over the Sprague Theatre. Usher and
Kelliher allege that by forcing the Sprague
to play after Lake Geneva and Delavan, the
defendants arbitrarily control the picture
playing practices in their community. They
ask $282,000 in damages plus an injunction
restraining the defendants from continuing
their practices in clearances as it affects
the Sprague Theatre.
The Minneapolis suit was filed by Sol G.
Lebedoff, who operates two deluxe neighborhoods,
the Brynwood and Homewood theatres.
In his action he charges that a conspiracy
has existed since the early 1930s
between the Minnesota Amusement Co. and
major distributors to establish and control
runs and clearances. Lebedoff contends that
this alleged conspiracy has cost him $15,000
a year in profits since Sept. 1, 1934 at his
Homewood Theatre. The theatres play pictures
56 days after their downtown showing.
The exhibitor claims $76,000 in additional
damages and asks that the amount
be tripled under antitrust law provisions.
He also is asking for a permanent injunction
restraining distributors from continuing
the 56-day clearances. The court also is
asked to provide a jury trial.
OTHER MILL CITY MOVES
In Minneapolis there are other indications
of a desire by exhibitors to resort to the
courts to gain improved clearances. The
W. R. Frank circuit recently made a demand
on several major distributors for a shorter
clearance for two of its theatres in Minneapolis
and St. Paul, but the request was not
granted. Ben Friedman, another circuit
owner, has been considering a suit, too, in
a move to obtain shorter clearances for his
Suit Against Universal
Over First Showing
Indianapolis—Fifth and Walnut, Inc.,
operators of the National Theatre in
Louisville, charged in a civil suit in federal
court here that Universal violated,
federal monopoly laws by refusing National
Theatre first showing of "Naked
City."
The theatre company asked the court
for a temporary restraining order against
Universal and Loew's, Inc. The suit
charged that Universal leased "Naked
City" and three other films to Loew's
Theatres on a nationwide basis, in violation
of the Sherman antitrust act.
The suit alleged that the Louisville
theatre would be forced, to discontinue
business if it is not permitted to bid for
purchase and licensing on Universal pictures.
suburban Edina Theatre, in event the companies
fail to grant his request.
Frank reported he had been turned down
in his clearance request "for the time being"
by 20th Century-Fox which explained that
it is awaiting the supreme court decision in
the antitrust suit before taking action on
such requests.
To date, the Minnesota territory has been
comparatively free of antitrust litigation.
Bennie Berger, president of North Central
Allied, filed a suit involving the Lyceum
Theatre in Duluth. He was reported to have
settled for a cash payment and the privilege
of obtaining second run for the theatre.
Berger instituted the second run policy, but
went back to last runs in a short time when
he discovered the theatre did better on last
run than second.
Connors to Release
Advertising Films
MIAMI BEACH—Tom Connors, former
vice-president in charge of distribution for
20th Century-Fox, is distributing advertising
films. Fox West Coa.st Theatres already
has signed with him. His company, Tom
Connors Associates, Inc., has been incorporated
in New York state.
Connors has closed deals with exhibitors
ranging from $8.50j*to $10 each 1.000 paid
admissions on Louis' De Rochemont's onereel
color ad film, "New Tobacco Land." The
reel is sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarets.
Connors is trying to line up six or seven
advertising shorts annually on various industries.
"New Tobacco Land" was screened
for Variety Club members April 15. The picture
follows the cigaret industry from the
planting of tobacco through cigaret manufacturing.
The Connors firm was chartered with 200
capital shares at no par value.
^*" °!'«"^«
In Contempt Trials
WASHINGTON—Right at the outset, in
the first of the trials involving the so-called
"unfriendly witnesses" in the un-American
activities committee hearings. Judge Curran
of federal court held that the house committee
had the right to ask witnesses whether
they were Communist. Judge Curran stated
his position emphatically. He twice ruled
on the question during the first days of the
trial of John Howard Lawson, screen writer.
With this position clear, the defense then
turned to an effort to show that there was
no infiltration of Communist philosophy
through Lawson's writings for the films.
When the defense put Richard Griffith,
executive director of the National Board of
Review, on the stand to submit testimony
that none of Lawson's films were un-American,
the court disallowed the testimony.
"We are not trying Mr. Lawson for infiltration,
nor are we trying the motion picture
industry. The sole question is whether Lawson
was asked if he is a Communist, and
whether he gave a responsive reply," the
judge said.
Earlier the court threatened a contempt
citation against Ben Margolis, a defense attorney.
It came when Judge Curran asked
J. Parnell Thomas, chairman of the investigating
committee, what the committee had
been investigating Lii the Hollywood hearings
in October. The reply was, "Infiltratron of
Communists in the film industry." Margolis
snapped that this was not a proper question
from the court. "Are you serious about that?"
Judge Curran asked. The attorney said he
was, and the coiu-t snapped back, "As soon
as this trial is over, I'll take up the question
of your being in contempt of court."
With the court ruling that the committee
did have the right to ask whether the witnesses
were members of the Communist party,
and that infiltration was not a question to be
decided, the whole defense strategy may
have to be changed. For. on these grounds it
was that Lawson and his associates in defense
intended to make their stand.
Whatever the final decision, however, the
case will go to the supreme court and will
result in an important decision on the prerogatives
of congressional committees.
Unguarded BoxoHices
Tempt Him to Rob 22
Santa Rosa, Calif.—Royce E. 'White,
34, who confessed 22 theatre robberies in
19 communities in the San Francisco
area between last September and his
arrest in March, told police he got the
idea for robbing theatres while he worked
for them in San Francisco and saw how
unguarded most boxoffices are.
He said he had worked as doorman
and assistant manager at two theatres
and "I learned that usually boxoffices
have considerable money available and
that frequently they are unguarded."
White's procedure was to slip the cashier
a dollar bill and a note ordering her
to turn over the cash, meanwhile holding
his hand in a coat pocket as if gripping
a revolver. He would then make his
getaway on foot. He was driving a
Packard when arrested.
10 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

I' ^p^a^ \
"EVERYTHING LOOKS ROSY! 99
^:
From HOLLYWOOD REPORTER (March 1, 1948)
"A succession of hits from M-G-M or any other company will
change the whole complexion of the industry. And from the
excitement at M-G-M that's just what you can expect."
THE COMPLEXION OF THE
INDUSTRY IS CHANGING!
\ \l

"THERE I S.NOTHING WRONG
WITH tfHSIMBustry that.
URE"
chenck
Every exhibitor who plays M-G-M
product can have confidence in the
forthcoming product. You have already
seen "STATE OF THE UNION" and
HOMECOMING" at trade shows. You
know what such pictures can mean to
the "complexion of the industry .
take this advertisement .
. . not
We
to boast
or blurb... but to inspire the showmanship
that the great pictures announced
here deserve.

;
M-G-M
'
ROBERT
'
M-G-M
I
GLORIA
I
I
Color
I
Holloway
I
ROUBEN
I
HART
''
RFs huhrnRJii
|M^-M presents "B. F.'s DAUGHTER" starring BARBARA
STANWYCK . VAN HEFLIN • CHARLES COBURN • RICHARD
. KEENAN WYNN • A ROBERT Z. LEONARD PROiDUCTION
• Screen Play by Luther Davis • Based on the Novel
I
by John P. Marquand • Directed by ROBERT Z. LEONARD
Produced by EDWIN H. KNOPF- A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture
X
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Liberty Films present SPENCER
TRACY . KATHARINE HEPBURN • VAN JOHNSON
ANGELA LANSBURY • ADOLPHE MENJOU • LEWIS STONE
in FRANK CAPRA'S "STATE OF THE UNION" • Based on the
Play by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse • Screen Play by
Anthony Veiller and Myles Connolly • Associate Producer
ANTHONY VEILLER • Produced and Directed by FRANK
CAPRA • A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture
y^.
^
SUMMER ffOlin
TECHNICOLOR
i
THt; PIRATE J>'
7/
recNMicoioR
I
presents "SUMMER HOLIDAY" • MICKEY ROONEY
DeHAVEN • Walter Huston • Frank Morgan . Butch
Jenkins • Marilyn Maxwell • Agnes Moorehead • Selena Royle
by TECHNICOLOR • Adapted by Irving Brecher and Jean
• From the Screen Play by Frances Goodrich and Albert
Hackett • Based on the Play "Ah, Wilderness!" by Eugene O'Neill
Music by Harry Warren • Lyrics by Ralph Blane • Directed by
MAMOULIAN • Produced by ARTHUR FREED
A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture
M-G-M presents JUDY GARLAND • GENE KELLY in "THE
PIRATE" • WALTER SLEZAK • Gladys Cooper • Reginald
Owen . Songs by COLE PORTER • Color by TECHNICOLOR
Screen Play by Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich • Based on
the Play by S. N. Behrman • Dance Direction by Robert Alton
and Gene Kelly • Directed by
duced by ARTHUR FREED •
VINCENTE MINNELLI • Pro-
A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture
BI& CI
comiN& /\
presents "BIG CITY" starring MARGARET O'BRIEN
PRESTON • DANNY THOMAS • GEORGE MURPHY
KARIN BOOTH • EDWARD ARNOLD • BUTCH JENKINS
and introducing to the screen BETTY GARRETT and LOTTE
LEHMANN • Screen Play by Whitfield Cook and Anne Morrison
Chapin • Additional Dialogue by Aben Kandel • Based on a
1
Story by Miklos Las:lo • As Adapted by Nanette Kutner • Directed
by NORMAN TAUROG • Produced by
j
JOE PASTERNAK
A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture
M-G-M presents CLARK GABLE • LANA TURNER • ANNE
BAXTER . JOHN HODIAK in "HOMECOMING" • Ray
Collins • Gladys Cooper • Cameron Mitchell • A MERVYN
LeROY PRODUCTION • Original Story by Sidney Kingsley
Adaptation by Jan Lustig • Screen Play by Paul Osborn • Directed
by MERVYN LeROY . Produced by SIDNEY FRANKLIN
In association with Gottfried Reinhardt • An M-G-M Picture
WAN
M-G-M presents ESTHER WILLIAMS • PETER LAWFORD
RICARDO MONTALBAN . JIMMY DURANTE • CYD
CHARISSE . XAVIER CUGAT and his orchestra • "ON AN
ISLAND WITH YOU" • Color by TECHNICOLOR • Screen
Play by Dorothy Kingsley, Dorothy Cooper, Charles Martin and
Hans Wilhelm • From an original story bv Charles Martin and
Hans Wilhelm • Directed by RICHARD THORPE • Produced
by JOE PASTERNAK . A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture
M&^M's
EASTER PARADE
TCCHNICOIOR
M-G-M presents IRVING BERLIN'S "EASTER PARADE" starring
JUDY GARLAND • FRED ASTAIRE • PETER LAWFORD
ANN MILLER • Color by TECHNICOLOR • Screen Play by
Sidney Sheldon, Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett • Original
Story by Frances Goodrich and Albert riackett • Lyrics and Music
by Irving Berlin • Musical Numbers Directed bv Robert Alton
Directed by CHARLES WALTERS • Produced by ARTHUR
FREED • A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture
vAOATEWlTHJUDyV
J I COLOa BT
/ / TECHHICOIOR \\
M-G-M presents "A DATE WITH JUDY" starring WALLACE
BEERY . JANE POWELL • ELIZABETH TAYLOR • CARMEN
MIRANDA • XAVIER CUGAT and his orchestra • ROBERT
STACK . Color by TECHNICOLOR • Screen Play by Dorothy
Cooper and Dorothy Kingsley • Based on the characters created
by Aleen Leslie • Directed by RICHARD THORPE • Produced by
JOE PASTERNAK • A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture
tmxk i^lS^EHAVEl
M-G-M presents GREER GARSON • WALTER PIDGEON in
"JULIA MISBEHAVES" -PETER LAWFORD. CESAR ROMERO
ELIZABETH TAYLOR • Lucile Watson • Nigel Bruce • Mary
Boland • Directed by JACK CONWAY • Produced by EVERETT
RISKIN " A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture
(Confhuec/)

•^'ir
YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF TO
SEE M-G-M's TRADE-SHOWS
H
We appreciate the editorial
praise about our coming
pictures, but see them for
yourself.
They are star-
important and
studded,
deserving of the promotion
they will receive and the
word-of-mouth you will
hear from your audiences.
I
M-G-M GREAT rN
'48!
\

MGM SETS TRAINING PROGRAM
TO EXPAND PUBLIC RELATIONS
'Individual Approach' With
Especially Trained Young
Executives Is Adopted
By JAMES M. JERAULD
NEW YORK—Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has
had an individual approach to the public
relations problem in effect for a year
and is so pleased with it that it intends
to continue and expand it by training
young men especially for this service, according
to William F. Rodgers, vice-president
and general sales manager.
It will be a two-way strategy, with speakers
addressing civic organizations and
with specially trained men contacting exhibitors—both
customers and non-customers
of MGM. These men will be selected
on a personality basis and will be
trained in public speaking.
PLAN IS A TESTED ONE
The plan was worked out about a year
ago in conferences between Rodgers. H. M.
Richey, in charge of exhibitor relations, and
Howard Dietz. vice-president in charge of
advertising, publicity and exploitation.
Maurice Wolff, former district manager in
New England, has demonstrated that the
plan is workable and very successful, Rodgers
says.
Wolff demonstrated his talents as a speaker
in the New England territory before the plan
was worked out on a national scale. He is
a member of Rotary and Kiwanis, and while
still engaged in sales activities became so
popular as a speaker that requests for his
appearances kept growing. He didn't completely
neglect mention of MGM product,
but the general tenor of his talks was on
the broader problems of industry public relations.
Rodgers said requests for appearances by
Wolff had been coming in so rapidly and
the audience responses were so satisfactory
that he was convinced the results had
created new patrons and new friends for the
industry.
Since Wolff has been speaking he has appeared
before 120 organizations and it is
estimated that he has addressed more than
12.000 persons.
GET TRAINING IN THE FIELD
Out of this grew the idea for sending
out more trained men. About a year ago.
Rodgers said, three young men were chosen
for special training, one each from Washington,
Cleveland and Pittsburgh. They spent
six weeks in the New York office and sat in
on all kinds of sales conferences from
Nicholas M. Schenck's office down.
"We wanted them to understand all details
of the operations both in MGM and
in the Loew's theatre department." Rodgers
said. "They went out and operated in Denver,
Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Kansas
City and elsewhere for two-week periods.
They talked with exhibitors whether or not
they were customers; they talked with theatre
patrons. Tliey asked for suggestions
and criticisms and reported back.
W. F. Rodgers (left), MGM's sales
chief, discusses the company's public relations
program with James M. Jerauld,
BOXOFFICE editor.
"We are getting closer to the problem with
this different approach: we are making mutually
friendly contacts: we are approaching
a better understanding of problems, and, as
a result, there are fewer differences of
opinion."
As a result of the success of this venture
the company will select from 12 to 18 men
each year on recommendations from the
field. They will be given courses in public
speaking. The test of their success will be
whether an exchange area asks for the return
of the men.
In cultivating exhibitor relations Rodgers
said he intended to continue the company's
.sliding scale policy of selling.
Where exhibitors want to pay percentage
they will be allowed to do so. If they insist
on flat rentals they can buy that way. and.
where an exhibitor .says he can't get product.
he will be allowed to bid for it.
"In many places," Rodgers said, "bidding
lias turned out better than was expected;
in others it has developed problems.
Rodgers .said that only in rare instances
have exhibitors asked adju.stments under the
.sliding scale plan, because they almo.st always
top the minimum terms. In the instances
the minimum terms have not been
met adjustments have been made, he said.
"We are not concerned about the ability of
our pictures to gross." he said. "Two of our
recent productions—'Cass Timberlane' and
'Green Dolphin Street' have out-grossed even
the lush days. The public is there to be
reached if you have the merchandise. MGM
is back where it used to be—in a position of
leadership. We have reached rock bottom on
the economy; we have turned the corner and
we intend to sell our forthcoming product
with all the advertising and promotional
pressure we can put behind it. The time has
come when conservatism is not so necessary.
The future is bright."
Rodgers made a strong plea to exhibitors
to see tradeshows. He called their failure to
do so "disgraceful."
"They owe it to themselves to see pictures
in order to know how to merchandise. them."
Rodgers said there probably will be fewer
reissues, especially of Technicolor films, because
the stock is scarce and is needed for
new product.
In reply to a question he said the company
was still discussing release of 16mm prints
in Canada in situations where these will not
interfere with 35mm houses, but that no
plans for 16mm use are in work for the U.S.
He also said the company had no intention
of providing prints of pictures for television
N. J, Allied Signing Ascap Contracts,
Eastern Penn. Also Planning Deals
use.
NEW YORK—Members of Allied Theatre
Owners of New Jersey are signing Ascap
contracts providing for the new ten-year
rate schedule worked out between Ascap and
TOA. It also is reported that Allied Independent
Theatre Owners of Eastern Pennsylvania
has given Sidney Samuelson, general
manager, the okay to talk business with
local Ascap officials in Philadelphia.
The New Jersey move and the reported
Pennsylvania approval mark a departure from
the policy of National Allied. Advice from
Washington has been not to sign new Ascap
contracts, but to remit checks—monthly or
quarterl.v—paying for performing rights at
the new rate schedule effective March 15.
Along with these checks Allied members were
to send letters of protest explaining their
stand. These letters expressed Allied hopes
for favorable Congressional action on the
proposed Lewis bill to amend the copyright
law so that the producer instead of the distributor
paid the fees. The house judiciary
.subcommittee tabled the bill after hearing
representatives of Ascap plug it and spokesmen
for MPAA and TOA attack it.
The letters also mentioned the pending
Alden-Rochelle antitrust suit filed in the
New York district court on behalf of 157
independent exhibitors. The case was heard
early in March and a decision is expected
by the summer.
The New Jersey Allied unit was one of the
regional groups to follow the procedure suggested
by Washington headquarters. Ascap,
however, refused to accept checks without
a contract.
The Allied unit then decided to sign up
and advised its members to make advance
payments covering three to six-month periods.
The New Jersey members are hoping
for a court decision against Ascap and a
revision of the performing fee system of payment.
BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948
15

v
Field Men Now to Serve in Area of Public Relations:
ADOPT 'NEW LOOK TECHNIQUE'
FOR 20TH-FOX EXPLOITATION
NEW YORK—Twentieth Century-Pox has
put its field forces to work on the industry
public relations program. It has already
begun discussion of improved product of all
companies and the general problem of public
contacts with exhibitors in all exchange
areas.
Charles Schlaifer, director of advertising
and publicity, calls it the "New Look Technique,"
and the way it has already worked
in a number of places has convinced him, he
says, that this is an important approach.
The field staff, he says, is working imder
instructions to exemplify aggressive showmanship
at its best by promoting not only
20th-Fox product, but also by aiding at the
local theatre level in general goodwill for the
industry's high quality product.
FIRST PROPOSAL THE IDEA
It was Schlaifer who more than a year ago
projected the needs for an over-all industry
public relations program.
Schlaifer says the new plan has been
worked out over a period of months on the
theory that good pictures from any source
generate goodwill for the industry. All pictures
must be honestly and cleanly advertised,
publicized and exploited, he says. In
this connection he emphasizes that attention
must be paid to the revised advertising
code.
Four main points in the plan include:
1. Close coordination of the field staff with
the exhibitor in handling campaigns designed
to inform the public of the high caliber industry
product. Redistribution of campaign
ideas will be made throughout the country
for intensified parallel operations, and field
men are already at work on plans to aid
exhibitors to sell product on an over-all basis.
2. Establishment of a home office news
information bureau to service the working
press with statistics and factual data on pictures,
players and technicians. This idea
is a result of a bureau set up last month by
Schlaifer to provide news on the Academy
awards.
3. A weekly news letter presenting showmanship
ideas to exhibitors, reflecting the
thinking and policies of the 20th-Pox advertising
and publicity departments.
4. Advance press sheets on company pictures
to facilitate long-range campaigns on
early prerelease dates, and provide a basis
of operation for full organized campaigns.
Periodical trips to the field will be continued
by Schlaifer and members of his staff
to consult with exhibitors and the field staff
on the operation of the program.
TO CONTINUE TESTED SELLING
Continuation of the tested selling ideas
which proved themselves over the past two
years.
These will include what Schlaifer calls
"scientific screenings" first tried with "Gentleman's
Agreement." "Sitting Pretty" and
"Call Northside 777." Tliese screenings were
attended by opinion-makers in all fields.
Let Us Sell the Industry While
Selling Films, Says Schlaifer
New York
Charles Schlaifer, director of advertising,
publicity and exploitation for 20th
Century-Pox, has directed his field staff
to tie the selling
of pictures into
the i n d u s t r y's
over-all public relations
— including
the boosting o f
good product being
released by competitors.
Here is the line
of attack Schlaifer
has outlined to his
staff, to offset wide
public t h i n ki n g
that ( 1 ) Last year's Charles Schlaifer
and current product is shoddy and inferior:
(2) that the bottom has dropped
out of the boxoffice and the industry is
in a decline; and (3) it is the popular
thing to knock the film industry.
"All in all, 1947 and 1948 have brought
and are bringing to the screen some of
the most mature, the most socially conscious,
the most beautifully photographed,
the most stirring, the most entertaining
pictures in the history of the motion picture
business.
"So don't let anyone walk away unchallenged
if he tells you the product is
in the doldrums. It just isn't so.
"On the second attitude, the reduction
of boxoffice receipts, here too you must
challenge this point of view. Good pictures
that are sold effectively can earn as
much money, if not more, than the top
pictures the year before.
"Poor pictures, or pictures which are
Zion, III.
ZION, ILL.—In this town, where Wilbur
Glenn Voliva once ruled and taught that
the world was flat and tobacco a barrier to
heaven, an effort was made this week to show
the first Sunday motion pictures. With more
than 1,000 prospective patrons lined up outside
Zion Theatres, the show never went on.
The exhibitor. Onnie Bridges, was arrested
on a charge of violating the municipal ordinance
prohibiting Sunday recreation.
Bridges was arrested by Chief Alvin Ruesch,
his brother-in-law, whose two brothers are
partners in the theatre company. Bridges
and Otto Lawrence, a bowling alley owner,
had announced before hand that they would
operate on Sunday in an effort to test the
not merchandised or exploited properly,
are not standing on their own, it is true,
as they did during the boom period.
But business is there if we go after it.
Records are still being broken.
"On my trip around the country, I
found that in those situations where exhibitors
were vigorously merchandising
their features, business was excellent.
Only where the exhibitor had not risen
to challenge these very attitudes about
which I am writing did boxoffice show
visibly poorer.
"The third attitude, general criticism
of our industry, is enjoying a popular
vogue essentially because many people in
our industry, in the guise of setting themselves
up as spokesmen, have put their
foot in it for fair, and have thought it
good strategy to criticize or discredit
their fellow actors, producers, directors
or exhibitors. This has now redounded to
their own discredit as well.
"It is in counteracting this third attitude
particularly that you must be most
active. What hurts any member or
branch of our industry hurts us as well.
"Don't buckle under the pressures.
Keep your eye on the important objectives.
Bring real showmanship into your
campaigns and real public relations into
your contacts with exhibitors, opinionmakers,
the branch employes and everyone
with whom you talk.
"The time is now for exhibitor, producer
and distributor to work together
and to realize that united they comprise
the motion picture industry. We are not
independent, but intra-dependent. And
it is our job to bring this relationship
into its true perspective."
Almost Has Sunday Shows
ordinance. After his arrest, Bridges said he
was considering two moves: (1) a suit for
false arres, and (2) a petition signed by
citizens demanding repeal of the blue law.
Following the arrest, there was a surprise
appearance atop the marquee by the Rev.
Thomas H. Nelson, 86-year-old elder of the
Zion church. The crowd was surprised when
he said he was present to support Sunday
films. "I want to see fair play," he cried.
"The ordinance has been broken by almost
every property owner in town and most of
the business men. You have as much right
to go in here as you have to go to the Passion
Play." Tlie Passion Play shows on Sunday
at an admission price.
16
BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

hum smm
W-fr-M's
ACCLAIMED
BY
REDBOOK
WOMAN'S HOME
COMPANION
LOUELLA PARSONS
WALTER WINCHELL
JIMMY FIDLER
and
Hundreds More
CITY
Bosley Crowther in the
N. Y. Times says:
"It is still a little early to
pick the best film of 1948.
But right now it seems
sublimely wishful to think
that any film this year will
have more to recommend
it than THE SEARCH ."
The nev^^s is travelling fast. Something
new, different, wonderful! Seldom has
|any film received such a send-off as
"TheSearch. "Columnists hail itthrough
national newspaper syndication; radio
commentators talk about it; magazines
are spreading its fame; visitors to
Broadway carry back word of it; audiences
thrilled by its drama become
it$ press agents by the thousands. We
urge every exhibitor to attend the
Trade Show. Here is a picture destined
to
reap fame and fortune throughout
America!
M-G-M presents MONTGOMERY CLIFT
ALINE MacMAHON • JARMILA
NOVOTNA in "THE SEARCH" with
Wendell Corey and Ivan Jandl • Original
Screen Play hy Richard Schweizer • Collaborator
on Screen Play David Wechsler
Additional Dialogue Paul Jarrico • A
Praesens- Film Production • LAZAR
WECHSLER, Producer • Directed by
FRED ZINNEMANN • An M-G-M Picture

i;
Legal, Economic Factors
Reducing Clearances
NEW YORK—The major distributing
companies have been reducing and revising
clearances during the past 12 months. This
trend has been due to two factors, legal
and economic.
The economic explanation has been offered
by spokesmen for Universal-International.
Just about one year ago company
salesmen and lawyers decided that their
stockholders wculd be a lot better off if
product could be liquidated faster. The
field sales force was instructed to reduce
subsequent clearances, running from 55-60
days to a maximum of 30 days after first
run in key situations. The maximum
clearance for smaller communities was
slashed from 65-75 days after first run to
a maximum of 42 days.
U-I
ACCOUNTS STEP AHEAD
Throughout the country "a couple of thousand
U-I accounts" were moved ahead as
a result of this policy. As a result it will
now be possible to liquidate a film in about
16 months instead of the usual 20 months,
a U-I spokesman pointed out.
Rentals are coming in faster and subsequent
run exhibitors are benefiting under
this policy. He added that before this policy
was put into effect subsequent runs often
failed to play films as soon as they became
available. The reasoning behind this was
that the pictures were so old a few more days
or weeks would not make much difference.
Now films are being shown upon availability
because they still are comparatively
"new."
No opposition to reduce clearance for first
runs has developed.
RKO and 20th-Fox have been shifting
clearances with an eye on the antitrust decree
now being reviewed by the supreme
court. The decree prohibits excess clearance
and places the burden of proof upon the distributor
if the clearance is attacked as illegal.
Last September 20th-Pox set up the Cleveland
plan whereby 13 subsequent run theatres
were licensed to play its product day
and date. This plan wiped out the sevenday
clearance formerly enjoyed by one of
these subsequent runs.
SPREADS INTO CINCINNATI
Apparently it has been successful. The
company has introduced it into Cincinnati
for ten subsequent runs. One of these had
held a seven-day clearance over the others.
Both in Cleveland and Cincinnati the dayand-date
theatres are selected according "to
their ability to gross," as one company official
put it. There is no competitive negotiation.
The 20th-Fox sales officials are working
on plans to reduce clearance wherever the
local situation requires it. "We want to be
ahead of the antitrust decree," a sales executive
said.
RKO has been gradually reducing clearances
throughout the country. Complaints
are studied, and when justified, the clearance
is changed. Competitive factors are
taken into consideration.
MGM has been taking action only where
Hal Roach (L) and W. F. Rodgers
MGM-ROACH PACT
NEW YORK^MGM has closed
deal with Hal Roach for delivery of
six of his streamlined features during
a 12-month period, and production
has been started on the first of
these.
Four will be in color and two in
black and white. The first three
titles will be "The Little Circus,"
"Mr. Wilmer" and "Cafe Social."
William F. Rodgers, vice-president
and general sales manager, said he
thought these short features would
be a valuable addition to the MGM
lineup, because of the length to
which some regular features run.
The first will be released some time
in May.
clearances are out of line. In situations
where 60-90 day clearances are still in effect,
and the company thinks they should be reduced
to 30-45 days, these reductions have
been made. This policy was started about
three years ago—before the antitrust decree
was handed down (Dec. 31, 1946 1. Recently
MGM has rezoned some towns and has invited
bids for the top rim in other towns
where the zoning system has been left unchanged.
Warner Bros., Columbia and Monogram
have made very few changes. United Artists'
branch managers and each theatre determine
local policy. New clearances are constantly
being negotiated.
The United Artists branch managers and
each theatre determine local policy. New
clearances are constantly being negotiated.
The Chicago clearance system is regulated
by court decree. Defendants in the Jackson
Park case—RKO, 20th-Fox, Loew's, Warners,
Paramount and Balaban & Katz—are limited
to two-week Loop first runs. Subsequent runs
are limited to one week without any waiting
time. UA, Columbia, Eagle Lion, Monogram
and other non-defendant distributors have
been observing this provision of the decree
along with the defendants.
Two-Reeler on N. Y.
Times
NEW YORK—The This Is America short
release for May will be a two-reeler on the
New York Times.
a
Two L. A. Music Halls
Top Thealre Sales
Important theatre buys were in the news
this week, topped by the sale of two of the
four Music Hall theatres in Los Angeles by
Joe Blumenfeld, veteran circuit operator,
to Sol Lesser and Sherrill Corwin.
In the Minneapolis area, Dave Flexer
and Max Avery of Memphis sold the Bloommgton
drive-in theatre to the recently
established Minnesota Entertainment Enterprises,
a group of independent exhibitors
avowedly organized to keep "invaders" out
of the territory by building and operating
its own drive-in theatres.
Blumenfeld's west coast deal involved the
Los Angeles and Hollywood Music Halls, and
his holdings in the United Artists Theatre in
San Francisco. The Music Halls for some
years have been the local first run outlets
for United Ai-tists product. At the same time
Corwin and Lesser revealed they had acquired
a portion of the United Artists Corp.'s interest
in the Music Halls, which gives the new
operators a majority holding. Pi-ice of the
thi'ee-theatre buy was said to be approximately
$500,000.
Lesser and Corwin plan to take over operation
of the houses immediately. The transaction
will not affect the booking liason between
the Los Angeles and Hollywood imits
and the Hawaii and Beverly Music Halls,
which are operated by Al Galston and Jay
Sutton, and which are not involved in the
sale. The new owners intend to remodel and
enlarge the Hollywood unit as soon as possible,
expanding its patron capacity from
550 to 1,300 seats.
The Flexer-Avery sale was the second
drive-in disposed of by the company in the
last week. Fred Wehrenberg bought the
Flexer drive-in theatre in the St. Louis area
for a price reported upward of $100,000. There
was no indication whether there was to be
any further liquidation of Flexer theatre
holdings.
Six Paramount Pictures
For National Release
NEW YORK—Charles M. Reagan. Paramount
vice-president in charge of production,
has set national release dates on six
productions to carry the company to the end
of the 1947-48 season.
They are: July 2— "The Emperor Waltz,"
Technicolor production starring
Bing Crosby
and Joan Fontaine; July 23—"Dream Girl."
film version of the Elmer Rice stage play
starring Betty Hutton and Macdonald Carey;
July 30— "Big Town Scandal," Pine-Thomas
production with Philip Reed, Hillary Brooke
and Stanley Clements; August 6— "So Evil
My Love," Hal Wallis production starring
Ann Todd, Ray Milland and Geraldine Fitzgerald:
August 20—"A Foreign Affair," starring
Jean Arthur, Marlene Dietrich and John
Lund; September 3— "Beyond Glory," starring
Alan Ladd and Donna Reed.
Minneapolis Federal Tax
Hits Record for March
MINNEAPOLIS—If federal admission tax
receipts are any criterion, sports and the
show business, including films, of course, are
skyrocketing to all-time new highs. Returns
for March show that admission taxes totaled
$570,000, which was $28,000 more than the
corresponding 1947 month.
!i
f
•li
18
BOXOFFICE April 17, 1948

J
'
—
p
Why the Drop in Kid Patronage?
Few Suitable Films
Cause Business Dip
Insufficient product of appeal to cliildren
and the stress of themes luisuited for juvenile
minds are given as reasons for the drop in
juvenile business by important circuit executives
this week.
Tlieir views on the reasons for tlie dip in
junior admissions were given after Ted R.
Gamble, president of Theatre Owners of
America, sounded a warning that childi'en's
business was down considerably and that
steps would have to be taken on a national
scale to offset the trend.
Here are expressions of three executives.
who occupy important posts in circuits controlling
more than 350 theatres in the southwest,
southeast and midwest:
C. F. Motley
Director, Theatre Operations
Griffith Theatres, Oklaho7na City
Children's attendance is slightly off. The
answer is that 70 per cent of all releases are
adult entertainment; even some of the westerns
have psychological themes. Many of
the shorts are strictly adult. There are few
juvenile stars and even Margaret O'Brien is
playing heavy roles.
We have tried and are still running morning
kid shows with fair to poor results.
Parents don't want their children to see murder,
insanity and drunkenness portrayed in
films their youngsters see. We cannot book
a family picture every Saturday. There are
not enough of them. The answer is in
Hollywood.
E. D. Martin
Martin Theatres, Columbus, Ga.
The decrease in children's business is only
slightly more than adults. We feel that this
is due to the season and the opening of ball
parks, outdoor playgrounds, etc. In an effort
to stimulate juvenile attendance, we have
scheduled children's morning shows, using
Film Library pictures and cartoons.
It is our opinion that recent productions
have not carried the normal appeal to children
which is the Paramount reason for the
decrease in juvenile attendance.
Charles Winchell
Assistant to the President
Minnesota Amusement Co., Minneapolis
Children's attendance in our theatres is
running along at the normal rate. Harry B.
French, president of the Minnesota Amusement
Co., instituted a jmiior admission price
in our Twin City theatres last year, a program
which has been the practice in our
out-of-town theatres for several years.
This, plus good children's activities at all
times, has aided in keeping our junior attendance
at a normal figure.
All Newsreels Release
Saving Bond Trailer
New York—All the newsreel companies
released a Treasury Security Bond Drive
trailer witli their April 16 issues. The
trailer was produced at the request of the
MPAA. It features James Stewart.
The TOA has urged its members to
screen the trailer.
More Economy Is Needed,
Says Cecil B. DeMille
NEW YORK—Producers must bring fihn
budgets down a bit lower before Hollywood
can return to normal, according to Cecil
B. DeMille. He believes some actors, directors
and writers still are demanding more in
salaries than they are worth.
DeMille made this statement during a press
conference here. He came east to attend the
annual Gridiron dinner and to appear before
the house education and labor subcommittee
in Washington. The group will reopen its
investigation of the Hollywood jurisdictional
dispute in May. DeMille feels the lush war
years brought production costs "beyond the
range of sanity."
"For a time the industry was in danger of
pricing itself out of existence. That had to
be corrected or we would have had to close
up. After all, there is a limit even to what
a DeMille production can cost," he said.
DeMille admitted that all his pictures have
run into big figures, but he intends to cut
corners wherever possible on his next film,
"Samson and Delilah." The picture wiU start
shooting in September. Some footage may
be filmed in Egypt or Morocco. The picture
hasn't been cast. DeMille said the budget
will be flexible.
He then launched into a defense of "corn,"
which he describes as the basic dramatic
struggle between good and evil. DeMille
maintains all his pictures have a lot of "corn,"
and it is this touch that has made people
go to see them. He claims he isn't "clever
enough" to delve into psychological melodramas.
DeMille said he will appear before the
house subcommittee as a private citizen. He
said the question Congress must decide is
whether a man has the right to work. DeMille
said he doesn't feel a man should be barred
from a job because of his political affiliations,
but he declined to comment on the case
of the ten cited for contempt of Congress.
He said grosses on "Unconquered" in its
current popular price release are running
ahead of the returns on its advanced admission
dates. DeMille believes "Unconquered"
may outgross "Going My Way," Paramount's
current top grosser.
National Allied Top Men
To Be at K. C. Meeting
KANSAS CITY— National AUied's top
brass will come here May 12 and 13 to help
stage the first convention of Allied Independent
Theatre Owners of Kansas and Missouri.
Jack Stewart, the association's general manager,
has prepared an agenda of addresses
which reads like the program of the national
convention.
Accepting invitations to be present are:
William Ainsworth, president of Allied States
Ass'n of Independent Theatre Owners: Jack
Kirsch, past president of the national organization:
Col. Harry Cole, president of Allied
Theatre of Texas: Truman Rembusch,
president of Allied of Indiana: Martin G.
Smith, president of Allied of Ohio: Ray
Branch, president of the Michigan unit:
Henderson Richey, assistant to the general
sales manager of Loew's, Inc.: and AUied's
general counsel and chairman of the board,
Abram F. Myers.
DeMille's
'Crusades'
Slated for Reissue
NEW YORK—Cecil B. DeMille's spectacle
of 1935. "The Cru.sades, " is to be
reissued some time in June, on the basis
of "manifest public interest in the film."
The picture depicts the struggle for possession
of the Holy land and, according
to DeMille, parallels events which today
are centering the world's attention on
that land.
The picture has as its star, Loretta
Young, in her first major acting role
and the fact that Miss Young has just
been voted the year's best actress is another
potent reason for the reissue. The
picture was produced at a cost of $2.000.-
000—then a record budget. It would be
almost a prohibitive film at today's top
level production costs. In the battle scene
alone, DeMille used 5,000 soldiers, 2,000
horses and giant catapults.
In addition to Miss Young, the cast includes
Henry Wilcoxon as Richard the
Lion Hearted, C. Aubrey Smith, Joseph
Schildkraut, Alan Hale, George Barbier,
Montague Love, William Farnum, Hobart
Bosworth, Mischa Auer and Katherine
DeMille.
Friedl, Former Chain Head,
Dies at Home in Texas
MINNEAPOLIS—John J. Friedl is dead.
The president and manager of the Minnesota
Amusement Co. for
15 years prior to his
resignation because of
ill health more than
a year ago suffered a
cerebral hemorrhage
at his home outside of
Mission, Tex., where
he owned and operated
two citrus groves.
He died in Mission
shortly afterwards. He
was 50 years old.
Under the guidance
of Friedl, the Minne- John J. Friedl
sola Amusement Co. was built into one of
the largest and most prosperous of the
Paramount affiliated circuits, comprising 73
theatres.
In the early days of his motion picture
career he handled publicity and advertising
for Fox Films, next exploitation for Paramount,
working out of Des Moines, then
Kansas City. He was manager of the Palace
Theatre, Dallas: district manager for
Publix theatres in Texas. Later he was
transferred to New York as district manager
of Publix Northern Deluxe Division and
shifted to division director of Publix theatres
in the southeastern territory, with headquarters
in New York. He returned to Texas,
and in 1932 to Minneapolis as division manager
of the Publix Northwest theatres, now
the Minnesota Amusement Co.
BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948
19

'
WORipj^REMlERE
NV uA MAYFAIR THEATRE. N» VoH.
CUSSED,
PRAISED AND
HAS BEEN "GENTLEMAN
OFFICE
RETURNS ARE CO
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COUNTRY... FROM EVERY S
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RECORD NUMBER OF AW/
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D^RRYLF.Z^Nl]CK
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GREGORY PECK
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ir

It
FIRST OPENED, THE MOST DIS-
HORED PICTURE IN
THE INDUSTRY
AGREEMENT."
FROM EVERY SECTION OF THE
(THEATRE IN
EVERY SIZE TOWN... THE
15 IT HAS RECEIVED WILL BE EXCEEDED
iOXOFFICE RECORDS IT
HAS BROKEN.
TODA Y'S Ho. 1 A TTRACTION!
CENTURY-FOX
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NOW, THAT THE BOX-

—
fH^tt €Utd Sf^'^^tt^
More Films Coming
JT SEEMED impossible three years ago
but this industry is on its way back to
a plentiful supply of film designed for the
varying types of theatres and audiences
scattered across this broad land. Producers
have stopped insisting all their
product is super "A" intended for top
terms. The subsequent runs and houses
outside the sophisticated population centers
are going to get breaks again.
Twentieth Century-Fox will have 54 features
for 1948. Of these, 29 will come from
independent producers and about 23 will be
"Bs." The tendency has been observable
in other companies for some time, but no
one has been so frank as 20th-Fox.
Years ago all the major companies had
a picture a week. If an exhibitor found
himself with a dud. he knew where to turn
to get a film for a quick shift. If he had
chronic bad business during the middle of
the week or during certain seasons, he
could get films at a price that would cover
the overhead.
Wartime prosperity wrecked all this.
Long runs in the downtown big city houses
where the bulk of the revenue originates
became fashionable and the little fellows
scrambled for product. For the distributors
this was wonderful, for the little fellows
it often was tragic
Critics will not like the return to the
old system, but this need cause no worry.
Critics are not cash customers. If an exhibitor
has a house where the customers
want action films and melodrama, he may
be able to get them hereafter.
More medium-priced films will help the
producers, too. The studio overhead will be
spread thinner. New writers, directors and
players will get a chance,
Clark Has Good Idea
J^TTORNEY GENERAL Tom Clark
suggests that the ticket tax should be
taken off tickets for admissions up to 18
years old. His theory is that this would
increase attendance of youngsters and help
combat juvenile delinquency by making it
easier for youngsters to find wholesome
entertainment. This might mean the
elimination of the tax up to 20 or 25 cents.
It's an excellent idea.
By coincidence. Sir Stafford Cripps suggested
practically the same thing to the
British parliament the day before Clark
spoke. Cripps did not have juvenile delinquency
in mind, however; he was proposing
a way of lightening the burdens
of the poor, especially in rural areas.
Only three weeks ago Ted Gamble, TOA
president, pointed out that juvenile attendance
in this country has fallen off because
of the high cost of tickets at children's
matinees.
At present no tax is imposed on 10-cent
tickets in the United States, but the number
of theatres with admissions scaled as
low as this are definitely limited in communities
of medium or large size because
of increased operating costs.
By JAMES M. JERAULD
Allied Units Opposed
pLANNEFlS of the proposed industry public
relations drive are going to be the
targets of criticism from within the industry.
Allied units are already training
their critical guns on the program.
The latest is the Iowa and Nebraska unit
which uses some strong language, in part
as follows:
"We also think that the need for better
public relations in this industry is a fact
no one can deny. We have sunk to a new
low. and it's later than we think! But the
best public relations—and showmanship
will be wasted if they aren't backed by
better pictures."
Sales executives will discount this as the
usual customer effort to deprecate the
quality of the product in order to keep the
prices down. They can't ignore it, however
Criticism always gets more attention than
praise.
All constructive plans have their detractors.
It seems to be the nature of
things. Because this is so. those who plan
to pchsh the tarnish off the industry's
prestige will have to study all phases of
the problem.
New British Tax
pOREIGN departments of American film
companies are scrambling for details of
Sir Stafford Cripps proposed new taxation
system. If the increased income taxes,
which constitute a capital levy, apply to
corporations as well as individuals, there
will be a lot of pondering before blocked
currency is invested in British enterprises.
Under the present tax plan an individual
with a $200,000 income pays an income
tax and surtax of $180,472. This leaves
him $19,528 for feeding the hounds and
horses and the upkeep of a couple of
castles and a town house. Under the new
plan an extra tax of $96,000 is to be imposed.
This makes it necessary for the
taxpayer to borrow $76,972 or sell securities
to pay his tax. The hounds will have to
go on a diet.
If this kind of taxation should be applied
to corporations, the blocked currency
income could evaporate like a fog under
a hot sun. Instead of a 75 per cent ad
valorem tax. it would be a 12i5 per cent
income tax.
20th-Fox Sets Tradeshows
NEW YORK—"Green Grass of Wyoming,"
a 20th-Fox Technicolor picture starring Peggy
Cummins, Charles Coburn and Robert Arthur,
will be tradeshown April 20 in all exchange
centers except Boston, Buffalo and
Des Moines, It will be screened in these three
cities April 21,
"The Counterfeiters." a Reliance pictuie
being released by 20th-Fox, will be tradeshown
in all exchanges April 20. John Sutton,
Doris Merrick and Hugh Beaumont ai-e
featured.
NEW CINECOLOR CHIEF
HOLLYWOOD—William T. Crespinel's
resignation as president of
Cinecolor Corp. was "regretfully"
accepted by the company's board
of directors, with Joseph Bernhard,
president of Film Classics—a partner
company—designated to succeed
him on May 15.
Crespinel will remain on Cinecolor's
board of directors. He founded
Cinecolor in 1932 and is withdrawing
from the presidency in
favor of semi-retirement. He started
in the film industry in 1907 with the
British Kinemacolor Co. and is regarded
as one of the pioneers in the
development of color on film.
Crespinel is shown congratulating
Bernhard (left) as the new president
of Cinecolor Corp.
Robert J. Rubin Is Named
SIMPP General Counsel
HOLLYWOOD—Robert J.
Rubin, assistant
to Donald M. Nelson while the latter was
president of the Society of Independent Motion
Picture Producers, has been appointed
general counsel of the organization. He was
formerly an aide to Att'y Gen, Tom C. Clark
and was in charge of antitrust prosecutions
on the Pacific coast.
Rubin currently is in New York conferring
with the SIMPP distribution committee,
headed by James Mulvey, on various matters
pertaining to the release of independentlymade
product.
Pete Smith Signs with MGM
HOLLYWOOD—Pete Smith has signed a
new short contract with MGM on the anniversary
of his 23rd year with the studio.
Smith is working on his 200th short. He has
won two Academy awards. Smith has completed
his final subject for 1947-48 release
and now is lining up releases for next season.
TOA to Aid Loan Drive
NEW YORK—Theatre Owners of America
has asked its members across the country to
cooperate on a local level with the Treasury
department Security Loan Drive, according
to Robert W. Coyne, executive director. The
TOA has approved a trailer to be shown for
the drive, Coyne said.
Car Auclions at Drive-In Theatre
MONTGOMERY. ALA.—Car auctions are
being held every Tuesday at the Drive-In
Theatre here. Auctioneer Jack Walden, who
is in charge, operates on a commission fee
of $5. Individuals are invited to bring their
cars, but only dealers can bid.
22
BOXOFFICE :: April 17. 1948

I Para),
ii Harry Cohn Refuses
Five-Year Coniracl
NEW YORK—Harry Cohn, Columbia
president, turned down a five-year employment
contract and stock option agreement
with the company after it had been approved
by 73 per cent of the stockholders. The
proposed contract called for a salary of $3,500
a week and permitted Cohn to purchase
75,000 shares of common stock at $16 per
share up to 1957.
Cohn said: "I understand that at the annual
meeting of the stockholders of Columbia
Pictures Corp. . . . out of a total of 638,-
352 shares of stock of the coiT3oration outstanding,
469,184 or over 73 per cent voted
to approve the contract: 27,199 or slightly
over four per cent voted to disapprove and
149,969 or approximately 22 per cent did
not vote. Despite the overwhelming vote cast
in favor of the contract I am unwilling to
proceed with the consummation of a contract
which may cause even a small minority
of stockholders to feel that their interest
would be better served by some other type of
deal. Accordingly I have withdrawn my offer
embodied in the contract now before
the board of directors." The stockholders and
directors met April 9.
1947 EARNINGS IN DECLINE
A. Schneider, Columbia vice-president, told
the stockholders that the earnings of the
company in the first three months of this
year declined from the same period in 1947.
He said no estimate of the earnings could be
given due to the uncertainties of the British
tax situation. He did say that the tax settlement
agreement should affect future earnings
favorably.
Columbia expects to produce several pictures
in England to invest its blocked currency
there.
The stockholders were told that during the
economy drive following the British film tax
the company cut production costs 30 per cent.
At present Columbia has a record total of
$28,000,000 in picture inventory. This was
attributed to the fact that the antitrust case
decision has reo.uired the company to sell
pictures individually. Columbia now has $9,-
000,000 in bank credits, compared to $6,000,-
000 on June 30, 1947.
No Thoughts of Resigning,
Columbia Official Says
HOLLYWOOD — Harry Cohn has no
thought of resigning and will continue as
president and production chief at Columbia
without a contract, it was disclosed by a reliable
studio spokesman. Cohn himself had
no further comment after informing stockholders
at their annual meeting in New
York that he had rejected a proffered new
five-year contract. Cohn has been without a
contract for the past two years.
Likewise Cohn's action has had no effect
on production activities on the lot and there
have been no indications that the status quo
as concerns his executive guidance of the
studio will be disturbed.
At the same time Cohn scotched reports
that Howard Hughes had made any overtures
toward the possible purchase of Columbia
since the aviation and film magnate's negotiations
with Floyd Odium to buy RKO Radio
had been called off.
BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948
U.S. Films Setting Records
In Foreign Situations
NEW YORK—American films are rolling
up records for extended first rims, attendance
and boxoffice receipts in countries serviced
by the Motion Picture Ass'n, according to the
latest monthly report issued by that organization.
This report included countries of eastern
Europe — Poland, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia,
Hungary—^where American policies are not
very popular at the present. The moviegoers
of these nations apparently pay little
attention to official anti-American propaganda.
A picture-by-picture breakdown for the
MPEA territories is presented below:
•AU Baba and the 40 Thieves" (U-D—At
time of the last report the film had started
its 20th week at the Passage Theatre, P>rague.
Total attendance during the preceding 19
weeks was 232,000. The film also played seven
weeks at the Alfa Theatre, Brno, Czechoslovakia.
It was seen by 102,000 of the 240,000
people living in the city. In Austria, the picture
played to SRO business during its first
two weeks at the Flottenkino, Vienna. It will
be held 12 weeks.
"Random Harvest" (MGM)—This film ran
15 weeks at the Flottenkino, Vienna, and six
weeks at the Alfa in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
Rank Lauds Church Film
Made by U.S. Protestants
NEW YORK—J. Arthur Rank congratulated
the Protestant Film Council on its first
production, "Beyond Our Own," a religious
film which he said the English would run in
their churches, at a luncheon at the Union
League club April 9. "We in England are
progressing rapidly with our religious film
program and these films are going out all
over the world," Rank said.
Rome Betts, president of the Protestant
Film Coimcil, and Don Mitchell, New York
industrialist, were hosts to Rank and a group
of leading industrialists. They included Max
A. Schlesinger, director of African Theatres,
Ltd., of South Africa; Richard W. Lawrence,
chairman of the board, YMCA of New York;
Walter C. Teagle, president of Teagle Foundation,
Inc., and Harry Starr, president,
Lucius N. Littauer Foundation, Inc.
Later, Rank was guest of the board of directors
of the Pi-otestant Film Coimcil at the
American Bible society for further discussion
of the production of rehgious film for nontheatrical
use.
Board of Review Honors
'State of the Union'
NEW YORK—"State of the Union" (MGM)
has been given starred selected features rating,
the top honor of the National Board of
Review, in the weekly guide to selected pictures.
Selected features rating has been awarded
to "Anna Karenina" (20th-Fox), "Hatter's
Castle" (Para), "To the Victor" (WB) and
"River Lady" (U-I).
Short subjects given special mention are:
"Net Marvels" (Col), "Winter Draws On"
"Answer Man No. 4" (U-I) and
"Funny Business," "Pueblo Pluto" and "Teen
Age Tars," all RKO,
It had a 29-day run in the Czech city of
Slovakia.
"Hunchback of Notre Dame" (RKO)—The
black market operators were handling the
tickets for this film as it went into its sixth
week at the FOmbuehne Wien, Berlin. The
picture started its seventh week at the Apollo,
Vienna. The first five weeks were SRO. The
picture is also playing to packed houses in
Munich, Frankfort and Irmsbruck, Germany.
"The Major and the Minor" (Para)—The
picture had a ten-week play at the Gartenbau,
Vienna.
"Song of Bemadette" (20t!h-Poxi —Playing
to overflow crowds throughout Holland. This
goes for Catholic and non-CathoUc situations
alike. Also big in Hungary.
"Tarzan's Secret Treasm-e" (MGM)—Popular
throughout the Netherlands East Indies
and in Warsaw, Poland.
Among the other big grossers reported by
the MPEA were: "Destry Rides Again (U-I>
in Austria and Germany; "Calcutta" (Para)
four capacity weeks at the Kronen, Berlin;
"Madame Curie" (MGMi seven weeks in
Budapest, and "Music for Millions" (MGM),
popular in Bulgaria.
Small Has 16 Features Set
For Release by Majors
NEW YORK—Edward Small Productions
has 16 pictures scheduled for release through
four major companies. Of this group. Reliance
Pictures, Inc., Small subsidiary, is
turning out six program features for 20th-
Fox.
Three pictures are set for Columbia, including
"The Black An-ow" and "The Fuller
Brush Man," already completed, and "F.B.I.
Meets Scotland Yard," starring Louis Hayward
and Dennis O'Keefe, which will go
before the cameras May 3. Two are on the
Eagle Lion slate, "T-Men," now in release,
and "Raw Deal."
United Artists will release three Small
films: "War Path," starring George Montgomery,
which will start filming in May;
"Leatherstocking Tales," also starring Montgomery,
and "Valentino," to start filming
next summer.
Famous Players of Canada
Shows Gain in 1947 Net
TORONTO — Famous Players Canadian
Coi-p- early this week reported a gross income
of $5,875,474 for the 53 weeks ending January
3, which compares with $6,042,699 for 52
weeks in the previous year. The net profit
was higher. However, at $3,156,466 against
$2,834,956 in 1946, largely due to reduced
taxation, although operating expenditures
were higher because of an increased payroll
to enable employes to meet living costs.
President J. J. Fitzgibbons reported that
Famous Players and associated companies
opened ten theatres last year while 18 were
under construction.
Total dividends of $1.45 were paid on each
shore, for which the net profit equaled $1.81
as compared with $1.63 in the previous period
23

.
'
'
Goldwyn's 'The Bishop's Wife^
Wins March Blue Ribbon Award
By VELMA WEST SYKKS
BISHOP'S WIFE LORETTA YOUNG AND
MONTY WOOLLEY CONFER WITH 'ANGEL-
PROFESSOR"
GARY GRANT
CAMUEL GOLDWYN'S best production efforts on Robert Nathan's whimsical novel about
an angel's appearance on earth in answer to a harassed cleric's prayer for help and
guidance, resulted in "The Bishop's Wife" winning the BOXOFFICE Blue Ribbon Award
for March. It was released by RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. and gave Loretta Young, Academy
Award winner for her work in "The Farmer's Daughter," another outstanding role.
Gary Grant and David Niven starred with her in this production which was honored with
a Royal Command Performance at the Ode on Theatre in London before the King and
Queen of England, Princess Margaret Rose, King Michael of Romania, and the Queen
of Denmark. Miss Young and David Niven were present at the performance. The picture
went into general release late in February and has been playing to better than average
crowds all over the country.
From the key cities reporting percentage
figures on films for the Barometer page of
BOXOFFICE, an average of 151 per cent for
this Award winner is recorded. It ran for
15 weeks at the Astor in New York City, 13
weeks in the Boston Astor, nine weeks at the
Woods in Chicago and eight weeks at the
Carthay in Los Angeles. In Los Angeles it
ran as a roadshow. In Boston and in Philadelphia
it hit the 200 mark, or did twice
the average business in its first week for
houses in those two cities.
Gary's Eighth Blue Ribbon
"The Bishop's Wife" is the first RKO release
to win the Blue Ribbon Award in 1948,
but another Goldwyn production, "The
Secret Life of Walter Mitty," won for November
of last year. Of the three principals
in the cast, Gary Grant has been the most
consistent Blue Ribbon winner, this being
his eighth. For both David Niven and Loretta
Young it is the third, as it is for Director
Henry Koster.
BOXOFTICE reviewed the picture November
22 of last year and the reviewer must
have had a premonition it would be selected
as the family choice of the month, for he
said of it: "Wholly delightful! It is something
different—a simple, charming film that
takes the beholder into an intimate family
circle. It is one of those pleasantly surprising
pictures that makes the whole family
glad to be in a theatre." The picture has
an 11-plus rating in the Review Digest.
National Screen Council members who 1
commented on their ballots this month
1
stressed the family aspect of the picture.
"Deft touch, fine acting, smooth direction
make this the best family show," wrote Alan
Owen of Station WMID, Atlantic City . . .
"The best family fare in ages," said Leonard
H. Santwire, Minneapolis film critic ... "I
still take my stand for the so-called escapist i
pictures," contends Mrs. C. H. Ridge of the i
Indianapolis Screen Council. "We see too
i
\
much of life's tragedies as we pass along,
'The Bishop's Wife' was life as we all know
it, with the tragedies muted."
"This is the kind of picture everybody
likes."—W. F. Dagon, Springfield (111.') State '
Journal ... "I was very much impressed
with the subtle manner in which we are
shown that aid to the many is far more important
than a fine building in which only
a few may worship. And three cheers for
David Niven's finest performance to date."
—Miriam Rosenbloom, Chattanooga News-
Free Press . . . "The film reminds me greatly
of 'A Servant in the House.' " —John W. Teed,
Long Beach Press-Telegram.
"I sincerely hope that motion pictures of
1948 will include many more of this type of
entertainment."—Helen Waters, Long Island
Daily Advocate.
The Cast
Dudley
Cary Grant
Julia
Loretta Young
Henry
David Niven
Wutheridge
Monty Woolley
Sylvester
James Gleason
Mrs. Hamilton Gladys Cooper
Matilda
Elsa Lanchester
Mildred Cassaway Sara Haden
Debby Brougham
Maggenti
Mr. Miller
Mrs. Duffy
Miss Trumbull
Mrs. Ward
Mr. Perry
Stevens
Karolyn Grimes
Tito Vitolo
Regis Toomey
Sara Ed-wards
Margaret McWade
Ann O'Neal
Ben Erway
Erville Alderson
Production Staii
Produced by
Samuel Gold-wyn
Directed by
Henry Koster
Screenplay by Robert E. Sherwood
Leonardo Bercovici
From Novel by
Robert Nathan
Director of Photography Gregg Toland
Music by
Hugo Priedhofer
Musical Direction by Emil Newman
Orchestral arrangements by
Jerome Moross
Vocal Direction by Charles Henderson
Costume Designer
Art Directors
Film Editor
Set Decorations by
Makeup by
Hair Stylist
Sound Recorder
Sharaff
George Jenkins
Perry P^rguson
Monica Collingwood
Julia Heron
Robert Stephanoff
Marie Clark
Fred Lau
Special Photographic Effects
John Fulton, A.S.C.
U Thii Awifd is given each montli by the National Screen Councii on the basis of outttandlnj merit
and suitability for family entertainment. Council membership comorises motion picture editors, radio
film commenUtors, and representatives of better film councils, civic and educational oroaniiationi.

to Fxp/oct
AWARD/
PICTURES/
ll4£ It ta OiooAit uoun
'cjx-0|Jlc£ Take . . . on.
3.muel Goldwyn's Top Comedy
'The Bishop's Wife''
Eiue Ribbon
Lyard Winner
f)r
March
Here's the SPECIAL
TRAILER that tells your
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'
*W€t^Ai«t^to«t
THE CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY into Hollywood
communisni erupted in Congress
with a new anti-Communist bill, and the
U.S. district court this week.
In the coui't, the long-delayed trial of
Screenwriter John Howard Lawson finally
got under way before Federal Judge Edward
M. Curran. It's a separate trial, although
Lawson is only one of ten writers, directors
and producers accused of contempt of Congress.
They refused to tell the house un-
American activities committee if they are
Communists. The others are to go on trial
one by one.
The promise of an all-star cast of witnesses
was offered, for defense coimsel Robert
W. Kenny said he would subpoena top
Hollywood producers to testify that there is
little communism in the movies. Louis B.
Mayer was subpoenaed.
* * «
THE CONGRESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
—traceable to the noisy Hollywood hearings
by the committee—consisted of action of the
committee to report out a stiffer law against
Communists. The action was unanimous. Republican
leaders expressed confidence it
would be passed. In the senate, a tougher
fight awaited. The measure would:
1. Subject all recalcitrant Communist party
leaders to criminal prosecution for knowingly
and wilfully advocating the overthrow of
the U.S. government or conspiring to overthrow
it by any means. The present law
applies only to overthrowing the government
by force.
2. Force all Commimist-front organizations
to register with the Department of Justice
and label their publications, broadcasts
and mail propaganda as emanating from a
front organization.
3. Bar all Communists from government
pay rolls and penalize government officials
who knowingly hire them.
4. Refuse passports to Communist party
members.
The first point would eliminate the present
membership of the party, but committee
members said it would not outlaw the party
as such. It would constitute a criminal conspiracy
as it now stands, if the law were
enacted, but it would get its skirts clean if
it renounced allegiance to Moscow and advocacy
of overthrow of the government.
Apparently with its eye on the result of
the probe into Hollywood communism,
the un-American activities unit, in a subcommittee
report by Rep. Richard M. Nixon
(R., Calif.) said: "The record of convictions
in contempt proceedings has been excellent
in recent months."
This was not always so, said the report.
"Although a number of contempt citations
have been voted over the past ten years, a
commentary upon the effectiveness of the
justice department's prosecution of such
cases is that just one month ago Leon Josephson
was the first Communist who began
to serve a jail term as a result of sentence
and conviction on a contempt charge."
There are now two ways to go after Communists,
Nixon said. One is the contempt
procedure. The other is the perjury method.
^efu^
By LEE GARLING
to be invoked when Communists deny they
are party members.
There are laws against Communists on
the books, he said. The Smith act made it a
crime to advocate the overthrow of the government
by force. The McCormack act required
the registration of agents of foreign
principals. The Voorhis act required registration
of organizations which are agents of
foreign governments.
As the new bill hits the floor, there is
one psychological factor making for passage
of it. Members are likely to be afraid to
vote against it. "Are you a sympathizer?"
their constituents will ask them.
* * *
IT'S TIME TO CUT SHORT the guessing
about what the U.S. supreme court will decide
in-_ the big antitrust case, and about
what the Department of Justice would do
under this or that kind of a decision. That's
what Atty. Gen. Tom C. Clark believes.
The department knows no more about what
the high tribunal's decision will be than
anyone else; and it doesn't know what it
would do about carrying it out, or what it
would do about such cases as Crescent,
Schine & Griffith.
If the high tribunal refuses to order divorcement,
there's a good chance that the
department would accept this as a mandate
to be lenient with the independents named
above. The department might even allow a
new trial. This, and other speculation of
the same kind, is just guess work.
If the supreme com-t okays competitive
bidding, the department well might support
the Theatre Owners of America in trying to
bring an end to this. It's too early to say,
however, just what would happen.
Showmanship Winners
NEW YORK—Morris Rochelle of the RKO
Strand, Far Rockaway, and Lawrence Caplane
of the Grand Theatre, Columbus, have
received RKO Theatres Showmanship Certificates
and checks for $25 each for winning
the Maj'ch "Stunt of the Month" competition.
Rochelle won top honors in the New York
metropolitan area, and Caplane led in the
out-of-town group.
20th-Fox Title Changes
NEW YORK—Final titles have been set
on two recently completed 20th-Fox pictures.
"The Law and Martin Rome." starring Victor
Mature and Richard Conte, has been shortened
to "Martin Rome." "The Shamrock
Touch," is the new title for "Leave It to the
Irish," in which Tyrone Power and Anne
Baxter are starred.
Miss Loy UN Film Delegate
SAN FRANCISCO—MjTua Loy -will be the
film delegate to the regional conference of
the U.S. commission for the United Nations
educational, scientific and cultural organization
here, May 13-15. The conference will
be attended by civic leaders, educators and
scientists.
Deny Charge TV Sets
Will Be Obsolete
WASHINGTON—A charge that the pubic
is being "bamboozled" into buying television
receivers which would be obsolete in a few
years was denied by Raymond F. Guy, director
of radio and allocation engineering for
NBC. The charge was made by Senator
Charles W. Tobey of New Hampshire, April
9, during hearings on the Johnson radio bill
before the senate commerce committee.
would limit the power of individual
The bill
stations and require them to share 24 socalled
clear channels. The bill was opposed
by representatives of NBC, CBS, Mutual and
the American Broadcasting Co.
Tobey also charged that NBC and RCA
had "done all they could for years to hamstring,
keep down and subordinate" PM
broadcasting. This was denied by Guy. Tobey
's chief argument on television was that
changes in frequency bands might be made
during the next five years. Guy disagreed.
He said present sets "will be used for many
years—maybe indefinitely."
Tobey contended that some officials of the
FCC "have been in cahoots" with radio industry
leaders. Guy again disagreed.
Guy said NBC is opposed to the Johnson
bill because it would "destroy service of stations,
in large areas of the country" by breaking
down the so-called clear channels. These
channels are shared during the day, but at
night are reserved for use only by 24 high
power stations.
The Johnson bill also would limit the
strength of individual stations to 50,000 watts.
Guy declared a power limitation and limitation
of clear channels would retard improvement
of radio service to millions of rural
people.
Soviet Composers Charge
'Curtain' Score Stolen
HOLLYWOOD—Four leading Soviet composers
have charged Twentieth Century-Fox
with stealing their music for use in "The
Iron Curtain." Dimitry Shostakovich, Serge
Prokofieff, Ai-am Khachatm'ian and Nicholai
Miaskovsky, who recently were criticized by
the Communist party for turning out music
that did not reflect the ideologies of communism,
have demanded that their music be
withdrawn from the fUm. The picture will
be released in May.
Alfred Newman, head of the music department
at the studio, pointed out that 20th-Fox
had paid $10,000 to Leeds Music Co. and its
subsidiary, Am^ Russ for the right to use the
music. The composers' objections were
printed in a letter to Izvestia, official Soviet
newspaper. They said:
"It is known that this film aims at slandering
om- motherland and fanning animosity
and hatred towards the Soviet people in order
to please the enemies of universal peace and
security . . . Needless to say, none of us gave,
or could have given, our consent for any
utilization of our music for the film, 'The
Iron Curtain.' "
WB to Tradeshow 'River'
NEW YORK—"Silver River," Warner Bros.
film starring Errol Flynn and Ann Sheridan,
will be tradeshown nationally May 3. The
picture will be nationally released May 29.
IP
i
26 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

COLUMBIA PICTURES presents
HAYWOKTH
^^
rom 9^)|PINiSHM
with Everett SLOAN[ and Glenn ANDERS
• Screenplay and Production by Orson WELLES

. . Jeffrey
. . . John
'f^^U^tw^ ^e^i4int
Story- Market Shows Gain
With Six Transactions
In healthy condition was the stoiy market
during a period which saw six properties
acquired by as many studios for production.
Eagle Lion added another to its collection
of semidocumentaries with the acquisition of
"Twelve Against the Underworld," factual
tale of the crusade against gang overlords
in Steubenville, Ohio, by a group of church
ministers. It was acquired from Dr. Norman
E. Hygaard, pastor of a church there, who
will serve as technical director when Producer
Aubrey Schenck sends the vehicle before
the cameras
. . . Universal-International
closed a deal with Emily Kimbrough for the
purchase of a group of her New Yorker magazine
short stories, now being compiled for
publication as a book under the title, "It Gives
Me Great Pleasure." The yams concern the
romantic complications of a woman lecturer.
Robert Arthur was assigned to produce, with
Claude Binyon to write the screenplay and
direct . . . Republic went for an original by
Norman S. Hall, "Ghost of Gunsight Pass,"
and will frame it as a starring vehicle for
William EUiott
. . . "The Candy Kid," melodrama
by Michael MacDougall about a nottoo-honest
gambler and his girl in the days
of "Diamond Jim" Brady, went to Warners,
where it will be produced by Anthony Veiller.
David Goodis is writing the script . . .
"Sam
Wynne," a new novel by J. H. Wallis, was
purchased by RKO Radio, to
be produced as
a starring vehicle for Pat O'Brien. Story is
a modern melodrama with New York City
as its background
.
Bernerd was
assigned production reins on "The Tipster,"
acquired by Monogram from Houston Branch.
Sperling's Unit to Make
Four Pictures for WB
Milton Sperling's celluloid contribution to
Warners' 1948-49 program, under the banner
of his United States Pictures, Inc., will embrace
four pictures, for which Sperling has
earmarked an expenditure of some $6,000,000.
First to start shooting will be "Distant
Drums," rolling next month with Joel Mc-
Crea starred. This will be followed by "Sacramento
Sal," comedy drama by John Twist,
an oU story with a South American locale;
"The Gentle Sin" and, as the final subject,
either "Dream Street" or "The Long Way
Home."
Sperling's unit has screen rights to seven
other properties which will be readied for
production during the 1949-50 season.
Lasky-MacEwen in Deal
With SRO for Trilby'
Becoming more and more evident is a trend
on the part of higher-bracket independent
producers to avoid carrying all their celluloid
eggs (the word is not used literally) in one
distribution basket. (Example: Edward Small,
whose product is being channeled through
United Artists, Columbia, 20th-Fox and
Eagle Lion).
Latest to subscribe to this multi-release
policy is the unit headed by Jesse Lasky and
Walter MacEwen, which not only has a releasing
arrangement through RKO Radio, but
has now set a deal for the production of
By
IVAN SPEAR
"Trilby" to be distributed by the Selznick
Releasing Organization. The film version of
the George du Maurier novel will feature two
Selznick stars, Louis Jourdan and Valli, and
is being scripted by Ben Hecht and Charles
MacArthur.
Lasky and MacEwen emphasized that
the
SRO tieup for "Trilby" will in no way affect
their relations vrith RKO Radio, for which
company they last produced "The Miracle
of the Bells" and with which they have a
contract to deliver two more.
Small, incidentally, expanded his UA contract
by adding two high-budget outdoor
yarns, "War Path" and "Leatherstocking
Tales," to his schedule. He has signed George
Montgomery for the topline in both and
plans to put "War Path" in work next month
on location in Arizona and Utah.
Lantz Gets a Head Start
On '49 Cartoons for UA
With his 1948 output already in the cans,
a full six months ahead of schedule, Walter
Lantz is now putting the finishing script
touches on the first six of his projected 12
cartoon shorts for United Artists release during
1949. Prints of his 1948 output, all in
Technicolor, will be delivered to UA by July
1, and Lantz expects to be well under way
with next year's slate by midsummer.
Bebe Daniels Shifts to EL;
Hal Roach Pact Ended
. . .
One of the film colony's few femme producers,
Bebe Daniels, wound up her Hal
Roach contract and shifted over to Eagle Lion,
where her initial assignment will be "Son of
the Red StaUion," sequel to "Red Stalhon"
After a year in the spot, Whitney Bolton
resigned as assistant to David O.
nick. He announced no future plans
Selz-
. . .
Originally set on a one-picture deal to pilot
Deanna Durbin in "Washington Girl," Fred-
HOPE'S NEW GIRL FRIEND—An extensive
search for a child to play the
Little Miss Marker role in Paramount's
new Bob Hope starrer, "Sorrowful Jones,"
ended with the signing of Mary Jayne
Saunders, 5-year-oId screen newcomer.
It's the part that catapulted Shirley
Temple to stardom some years ago.
Pine -Thomas to Start
Action Radio Series
Those sharecropping Paramount Bills,
Pine and Thomas, whose output of action
fare has for the past several years supplied
the company with the bulk of its
mid,dle- bracket program celluloid, are
stepping into a new medium. They have
signed William Gargan to star in a radio
series to be known as "The Action Theatre
of the Air," which Pine and Thomas
will produce and scripts for which will
be adapted from previously filmed P-T
pictures and original stories.
The half-hour show is expected to hit
the networks in the near future under
the aegis of an as-yet unselected sponsor.
Indicative of the vast backlog of P-T
product from which scripts for the show
can be drawn is the fact that "Dynamite,"
the current P-T opus for Paramount, is
the unit's 52nd feature.
erick Cordova has been handed a term directorial
contract by Unive/sal-International
Gordon Edwards swimg over from
Howard Hughes Productions, where he was
production manager, to a similar post with
Champion P:-oductions, the Monogram-Allied
Artists sharecropper headed by John C.
Champion and Blake Edwards.
Remaking 'Alice
Adams'
As Musical at RKO
Task of making a musical out of Booth
Tarkington's "Alice Adams" has been handed
Scenarist Myles Connolly at RKO Radio.
Bert Grant will produce ... At MGM, Producer
Pandro S. Berman was handed
the reins on "The Bride," to co-star Ava
Gardner and Robert Taylor, while Leon
Gordon drew the production assignment on
"Introduction to Sally," in which Peter Lawford
and Elizabeth Taylor will topline . . .
William Keighley will direct Paramount's
"Web of Days" . . . Producer Jan Grippo's
next in the Bowery Boys series at Monogram
will be "Bowery Comeback," now being
scripted by Gerald Schnitzer.
UA. EL to Split Release
'Sword of the Avenger'
A split-release arrangement has been
worked out by United Artists and Eagle Lion
for the distribution of "The Sword of the
Avenger," produced in Hollywood and the
Philippines by United PhiUppines Productions.
Foreign bookings, principally in Latin
America and Europe, will be handled by UA,
while EL will undertake the sales job on the
picture in the U.S. "Avenger" was made in
two versions, English and the Tagalog dialect,
with Sidney Salkow as producer.
Irving Rubine to Assist
Blowitz at Enterprise
Abandoning his
free-lance blurbery, Irving
Rubine moved over to Enterprise as special
assistant to Bill Blowitz, chief drumbeater.
They're now concentrating on the scheduled
May 16 world premiere of Harry Sherman's
. . Columbia
"Wanted" in Santa Fe, N. M. .
signed S.
Sylvan Simon to a long-term ticket
as a producer. He recently secured release
from a directorial contract at MGM.
28
BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

WB Plans 25 Films Independent Producers Entrenched,
Through May 29
NEW YORK—By the end of May Warner
Bros, will have released 25 features slated for
the 1947-48 season. Of this total, seven are
reissues. The most recent for the current
season is "Silver River," with Errol Plynn
and Ann Sheridan, scheduled for May 29.
The final figure for 1947-48 has not been
set. This is now being discussed by sales and
production executives.
All of the films, except one, slated to date
are A's. The exception is the British B picture,
"I Became a Criminal."
Several months ago it was announced that
Warners would resume making B pictures.
Although production has started, no dates
have been set for their release.
Court Denies Gerald Smith
Move to Bar 'Agreement'
TUX.SA—Judge Eben Taylor has denied a
motion filed by Gerald L. K. Smith to restrain
the showing of "Gentleman's Agreement"
(20th-Fox) at the Orpheum Theatre here.
Smith objected to a reference to him in the
dialog of the film.
Andrew W. Smith jr., general sales manager
for 20th-Fox, said the court decision
"reaffirms the American system," and any
other decision would have been a blow against
free expression by any public medium of
communication or entertainment.
According to Frederick Brisson
NEW YORK—Independent producers will
remain a permanent factor in the film industry,
and are giving the major studios "a
much needed shot in the arm," according to
Frederick Brisson, partner with Dudley
Nichols and Rosalind Russell in Independent
Artists. The company has just completed
its first film, "The Velvet Touch," for RKO
release this fall.
Brisson is in New York to work out a revolving
credit for future production with
banking interests here.
He said the majors still are realigning
their production policies as a result of the
recent British tax difficulties and are turning
to outstanding independent producers
"to spark their releasing slates." He pointed
out that most of the major studios have
signed up independents whose product will
figure heavily in the company sales programs.
On the subject of bank financing for independents,
Brisson believes the situation may
ease in about six or eight months. He said
the banks still are not anxious to lend money
to independents who cannot operate on tight
budgets. "The Velvet Touch" cost considerably
less than its estimated $2,000,000
budget, he declared.
Brisson believes the Society of Independent
Motion Picture Producers will name a new
president shortly. He denied reports that
the organization would be inactive. James
Mulvey has been mentioned as a possible
successor to Donald Nelson, Brisson said.
Independent Artists was formed with the
backing of Chicago interests. It started out
in November 1946, with a five-year pre-production
budget. The company will film three
additional pictures for RKO release. Dudley
Nichols now is working on an original
screenplay which will start filming early in
June. This will be followed by "Madly in
Love," comedy by Rosalind Russell. John
Gage will direct. Gage is a newcomer in
the film business. "Velvet Touch" was his
first assignment. Brisson said his company
is anxious to give new talent a start and
eventually a stock interest in the company.
Brisson may leave for Europe to sign a
foreign star for the lead in Nichols' film
story. Future production plans include filming
the life of Barney Barnato in South
Africa. Brisson pointed out the company
could use its blocked British coin In this way.
He also may film the life of Carl Brisson, his
father, in England and Denmark.
To date Independent Artists has four story
properties—Miss Russell's comsdy; "New
Model," by Harry Kurnitz and Collier Young;
"Lucky Penny," by Mindret Lord and Jack
Rubin, and "Vanity II," by Frank Horn and
Milton Merlin. The last three require big
budgets, and Brisson will hold off on these
for a while.
COLUMBIA PICTURES
ANNOUNCES THAT PRINTS OF THE FOLLOWING PICTURES
ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN OUR EXCHANGES FOR SCREENING
TO THE ENDS
OF THE EARTH
starring
DICK POWELL
with LUDWIG DONATH • VUDIIVIIR SOKOLOFF
SIGNE HASSO
• EDGAR BARRIER
and introducing ihe Chinese ocireis IVlnYLIn
Story and screenplay by Jay Richard Kennedy • Directed by ROBERT STEVENSON
A SIDNEY BUCHMAN Production
Associate Producer JAY RICHARD KENNEDY
SUSAN PETERS .
THE SIGN OF THE RAM
co-starring
Alexander KNOX • Phyllis THAXTER • Peggy Ann GARNER
Ron RANDELL- Dame May WHITTY • Allene ROBERTS
Screenplay by Charles Bennett • Based upon the novel by Margaret Ferguson
Directed by JOHN STURGES • Produced by IRVING CUMMINGS, JR.
AN IRVING CUMMINGS PRODUCTION
Robert YOUNG Marguerite CHAPMAN
RELENTLESS
GLENN FORD
EVELYN KEYES
m. CINKOLOR with WILLARD PARKER
• AKIM TAMIROFF
Barton MacLANE • Mike MAZURKI • Robert BARRAT • Clem BEVANS
Screenplay by Winston Miller
Directed by GEORGE SHERMAN • Produced by EUGENE B. RODNEY
with RON RANDELL • WILLARD PARKER
Screenplay by Louella MacFarlane and St. Clair McKelway
Directed by HENRY LEVIN • A CASEY ROBINSON PRODUCTION
BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948 29

,d6Hdo*t ^cfront
THE LABOR UNIONS lost one of their
fights last week when a decision was given
by the Ministry of Labor that their strike
action against Merton Park studios was unfair.
As reported in this column, the union
called a strike when the studio announced
that it was transferring from documentaries
to second feature production, but would continue
to pay the rates of salary laid down
by their agreement with the Ass'n of Cine
Technicians. The ACT claimed that, as they
were making features, they should pay feature
rates and took strike action to enforce
their demand. Now the strike has been
called off and the picture starts work this
week. Just what was gained by the union's
action it is difficult to say.
The ACT also has put forward a preposterous
proposal to the board of trade that
the technicians dismissed from British National
studios should take over the plant and
run it on a cooperative basis and they have
found a member of parliament to bring the
matter up in the house of comm.ons. Just
how such a venture is to be financed they
do not say, but it is certain that the government
will not support such a move. The
latest developments in the British National
shutdown indicate that the studio may be
taken over on a long lease by Associated
British, whose own large studio at Elstree
will not be ready for some months and who
are at present making do with their tiny
plant at Welwyn.
« * *
By JOHN SUUIVAN
Constellation has four films lined up for
early production, the first being "The Small
Voice," which will star Valerie Hobson who
is, in private life, Mrs. Havelock-Allan.
The last picture Havelock-Allan did for
Cineguild was the Technicolor job, "Blanche
Fury," which also starred Valerie Hobson and
is doing very big business at the moment on
general release. It is one of the films which
Universal-International will handle in the
U.S. under the terms of the new distribution
agreement signed by J. Arthur Rank recently.
* * *
OPENING AT THE Leicester Square Odeon
last week was the Gainsborough film,
"Miranda," which was produced by Betty
Box and directed by Kenneth Annakin.
Miranda is a mermaid and she catches a
young doctor who is fishing off the coast of
Cornwall and takes him to her cave under
the sea. She explains that she is lonely and
The cast is particularly well chosen, especially
Glynis Johns who is enchanting as the
mermaid and turns in a delightful comedy
performance. Google Withers, as the doctor's
wife, returns to comedy after far too
long an absence and a very pleasant job is
contributed by a young comedy team, David
Tomlinson and Yvonne Owen, as the chauffeur
and maid. These two made a hit in
another Gainsborough film, "Easy Money,"
and could well be developed into a successful
light comedy team.
• * •
FRANK LAUNDER is back in London from
his Fiji location, nursing a broken arm,
which necessitated a trip to London. He was
full of praise for Eagle Lion's publicity men
whom he claimed as being the best in the
business. Presumably he will not be so happy
now that the deal has been signed which
gives his "Blue Lagoon" and "Dulcimer
Street" to U-I for distribution in the U.S.,
for while he said nothing against the latter
firm it was obvious that his own preference
was for Eagle Lion.
Over the tea table he defended himself
to your correspondent against attacks by the
labor units on the grounds that he took a
MAYBE IT'S THE WEATHER or maybe
it's because we are getting some good pictures
recently; whatever it is, two producers
are happy this week at having set
new records for prerelease business in
London.
At the Empire. MGM's Showcase, Herbert
Wilcox's new picture, "Spring in Park Lane"
(reviewed in this column two weeks ago),
opened just before Easter and broke every
record for holiday business at that house.
Just what that means can best be judged if
you remember that the Empire plays all the
MGM top product, including pictures like
"Gone With the Wind." FYom that opening
record it went on to take more money than
the cinema has taken for several years. There
is no doubt at all that Wilcox has the Midas
touch, for his unerring judgment of public
taste is making boxoffice history here.
Over at the Gaumont, Haymarket and the
Marble Arch Pavilion 20th-Fox also is claiming
records for its Anglo-American production,
"Escape," which William Perlberg produced
here. The first week take exceeded
that of "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,"
which was one of the biggest 20th-Pox musicals.
* * *
SOME MONTHS AGO your correspondent
mentioned here that there was some likelihood
of a split in the Cineguild team which
made "Brief Encoimter," "Great Expectations,"
"Blanche Fury" and many other productions
which rank among Britain's biggest
prestige pictures.
Now the split has been confirmed with the
news that Anthony Havelock-Allan is starting
production this month at Riverside studios
with his own company, known as Constellation
Films, Ltd.
THE 'HUGGETT' FAMILY—Members of the "Huggett" film family photographed
at the first public appearance with John Sullivan, London manager of BOXOFFICE.
The family, now working on the first of a series of films at Gainsborough's Islington
studio, made its first appearance in public at the dance of the Gainsborough Social
club. Left to right: Jim Hanley, Jane Hylton, Sullivan, Fetula Clark, Jack Warner
and Kathleen Harrison.
that although she has caught one or two
young men before, they were very small and
she threw them back. She makes a bargain
with the doctor Who agrees to take her to
London on condition that she will let him
leave her cave. Since the doctor realizes
that a mermaid would excite a certain
amount of comment even in unemotional
London, she travels disguised as an invalid
who has lost the use of her legs. The bulk
of the film consists of the amusing situations
that ensue in a small flat when a mancrazy
mennaid tries her wiles on the three
leading men, only one of whom knows that
she is a mermaid.
There is no doubt at all that this is another
Gainsborough hit, particularly since
the demand in this country is for comedies
this year. This is not a "belly-laugh" picture,
but rather one at which the audience can
giggle and chuckle all the way through, from
Jean Sablon's singing of the opening titles
to the amusing twist at the end.
unit to Fiji at a time when British producers
were being urged to economize in production.
Launder told us that he had come back
with more than half his film in the can,
with only six to eight weeks floor work to
shoot and at a cost far less than if a smaller
unit had been sent and the bulk of the film
shot be back projection in the studio.
One point that he did not make was that
more members of the union may have been
out of work if he had shot the whole film
in the studio, for while he has been away
the floor space which he would have occupied
has been used by another unit.
SIR STAFFORD CRIPPS disappointed exhibitors
looking for a reduction in entertainment
tax when he presented his budget last
week. Although he has tax reductions to
live shows the cinema owner was overlooked
and the present high rate of tax will continue.
30 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

i
•
I
How Would YOU
Ml
Like To Play To
!IS
Than The Entire Population of Your Town
IN 4 DAYS WITH THE SAME ATTRACTION?
At
iTegular
PHce*
GARY
PAULETTE
COOPER -GODDARD
.CECIL BJeMILLE'S
INCONOUERED
Color by TECHNICOLOR
iOWARD DA SUVA • BORIS KARLOFF • CECIL KELLAWAY-WARO BONO
Prodgcid and Directed by CECIL B. DeMILLE
Screenplay by Charles BenneH, Fredric M. Fr
Based on the novel by Neil H. Swanson
nr-
Just a sample of the Regular-Price grosses
that are topping even the sensational
advanced-admission records of this spectacular
entertainment from
Paramount

—
A THOUGHT OR TWO FROM H YGIENIC CORNER
^rADITORIAL
When Hygienic's co-owners Jack Jossey and Kroger Babb
assemble their vast organization for a convention, no time is
lost. The entire "Mom and Dad" personnel known as
"slaves" and "chairwarmers" travel by air, oftentimes using
Viking's chartered service.
The comfort—as well as the speed—of modern air travel
is illustrated in this interior view of one of Hygienic's chartered
DC-3s in flight. Note "slaves" are busy readng newspapers.
Besides learning show business many of Hygienic's personnel
have been "taught" to fly since joining the "Mom
and Dad" distributing organization. In the foreground (left)
is H. P. Inc. attorney Charles Kirk, making his first air trip,
and (right) Everett Adams, head of contract department.
Plane after plane full of "Mom and Dad" unit and office
personnel swooped down out of the clouds for perfect landings
at L. A. Municipal airport recently. In foreground, without
hats, left to right, are co-owners J. S. Jossey and Kroger
Babb. with west coast agent Dick Currier.
ADITORIAL No. 15 of a SERIES
It's
not the work
that kills the man II
HYGIENE BLDG.
WILMINGTON, OHIO. U.S.A.
Almost every exhibitor who plays "Mom and Dad" writes us a nice letter,
after
his engagement. We learn a lot this way. Much more, in fact, than by reading
all the books written by the world's "greatest" showmen.
Almost every exhibitor, in his letter, says something very complimentary
about Hygienic's organization—besides praising the picture, reporting the record
gross and favorable audience reaction. Today, Hygienic's organization numbers
almost 300 "chairwarmers" and "slaves." These folks work hard . . . are long on
action and short on alibis . . . have the "know-how." You probably can't realize
how much work they do—and well.
This is an "age" where the Help expects to do little—for much. To give
less—and demand more. Hygienic's personnel has no such cluckers. Here at H. P.
we are only interested in people who want to knock themselves out—work until
they drop, grab a few winks of sleep, and start all over again! But theoretically
they're working for themselves—vmting their own pay checks. Work is painless,
when it's this way.
Work never killed
any man—but worry has!
Hygienic simply won't have "worry-warts" around.
causing friction.
They ruin an organization,
Worry is a form oi rust. Rust on the blades of your lawn mower will ruin it.
The rust sets up a friction between the grass and the steel blades. It's the friction—not
the millions of revolutions the blade-wheel turns—that ruins the machine.
Worry sets up a friction, too. It's the friction that causes men's health to crack
not the revolutions they put in—nor the hours they work!
The lawn mower, the individual, or the organization without friction will get
a real job done. Worry kills men. We keep Hygienic's organization free of friction.
It works hard—wears well. Hygienic's personnel is happy. They're making
money and begging for the chance to book "Mom and Dad" in your theatre and
cooperate with you in making money, too!
If you haven't booked "Mom and Dad" you're unquestionably worrying about
it. You're worrying whether you are passing up a good picture—a real profitmaker.
Worry kills men. "Mom and Dad" has never even "harmed" any exhibitor.
In 30 minutes, if we had you here in Hygienic's office, we could prove to
you "Mom and Dad" is educational, clean, moral, fine entertainment. We could
prove to you that every exhibitor who plays it is doing a genuine, distinct and
outstanding community service. We could prove to you that over 11,000.000 Americans
have now seen it and not even 11 of them (virho bought tickets) failed to
enjoy "Mom and Dad." All of them learned a powerful lesson from it.
But, we don't know it all! We just made the picture—and distribute it. The
fellows who know more about "Mom and Dad" than anyone alive are the exhibitors—over
4,000 of them—who have played it! Ask them—believe them— and
you'll be wiring for a play-date.
Across the bij Los Angeles Municipal air depot was a 50-
foot fluorescent banner readinj "WELCOME CHILDREN"
Mom and Dad.
32 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

CHESTER FRIEDMAN
EDITOR
OXOffIG
HUGH E. FRAZE
Associate Editor
SECTION
PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR SELLING SEATS BY PRACTICAL SHOWMEN
K)
I lew oLooh
Although spring has been known
to be the cause of many fine inspirations,
we suspect that something else
is responsible for the succession of
terrific newspaper ads which have
been flooding the New York press
lately.
It could be there is a conspiracy
afoot among top advertising executives
to draw large numbers of patrons
to the theatres. That's the
kind of conspiracy the exhibitor will
heartily endorse.
We could drag out all the superlatives
in the book and, still fail to
find the appropriate words to describe
the ad campaigns for pictures
like "The Naked City," "Winter
Meeting," "State of the Union," "Mr.
Blandings Builds His Dream House,"
"All My Sons," "Sitting Pretty" and
some of the other current releases.
In a word, they're good.
The most surprising element is the
fact that the trend is general. Almost
every film company has been
affected. The ads carry more punch,
persuasive copy and striking illustrations
combined into layouts that are
sheer artistry.
It is precisely the type of material
an exhibitor needs to attract the
consumer. Fortunately, most of the
product for which the sales campaigns
are designed is also above
average in production appeal. With
proper exploitation then, the exhibitor
has all the essentials to lift
his receipts from the doldrums which
have been threatening of late.
Theatremen may wish to join this
department in a salute to the industry
advertising and art directors.
The ads with that "New Look" will
make people look, and look again.
If theatremen in the metropolitan
area detect a drop in the juvenile
trade during the next few weeks, we
may have a clue as to the reason.
We had the bite put on us for a tencent
advance on Junior's next week's
allowance so he could watch a television
broadcast of the circus. Nor
did the dime go far for a beer. The
corner soda store now has a television
set.
Cooking School
Demonstrations
Completing the 11th annual cooking school
session at the Avalon Theatre. Minneapolis,
and with a similar promotion almost concluded
at the Boulevard Theatre, Manager
Bill Porter reports 300 per cent business despite
a recent cold spell which brought the
thermometer down to 26 below zero.
The success of the Minneapolis cooking
sessions, according to Porter, depends mainly
upon the theatreman's abihty to interest
shopkeepers in providing merchandise donations
as door prizes, rather than the cooking
demonstrations.
The sessions at the Avalon and Boulevard
are sponsored jointly by the Minneapolis Gas
Light Co. and the local gas appliance dealer.
The utility company furnishes, transports,
connects and removes all equipment necessary
for the cooking demonstrations. The demonstrators
are two attractive female home
economists on the staff of the utility company.
This organization also provides some
of the prizes, consisting mainly of nationally
known brand food products put up in shopping
bags. At least one major prize, usually
a gas range or refrigerator, is supplied by the
appliance dealer.
All other gifts are promoted by the manager
from manufacturers, wholesale dealers
and retail stores, and are obtained in sufficient
quantity to cover the three or four
.sessions.
The cooperative angle works both ways
since the utility company gets its product
before a saleable audience, the merchants
get a 30-day lobby display on their tagged
giveaway articles and the theatre benefits
by being the community go-between whereby
the merchants combine to render an afternoon
wholly devoted to the housewife.
The cooking sessions are handled by Cedric
Adams, a well-established newspaper columnist
and radio commentator. Each week
there is a grand prize giveaway, varying in
price from $150 to $300, with many smaller
gift awards.
The actual cooking demonstrations are accompanied
by a running descriptive talk,
with the audience getting some helpful hints
on how to cook and how to shop.
A film program following the demonstrations
and prize giveaway completes the afternoon's
entertainment. Porter believes that
the annual programs have done much to attract
new patronage to his theatre besides
helping business generally.
-447— 33

Tom Sawyer Contest Wins
Merchant-Press Support
Hundreds See 'Tom Sawyer'
Selected On Stanley Stage
Mornt Ch» Cipli
al CipicitT Audi
N«*d CaiiImI
Dan Duryea, manager of the Stanley Theatre,
Bridgeton, N. J., is keeping the local
merchants of his community promotion conscious.
In conjunction with a pre-Easter matinee
featuring "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,"
not only the businessmen, but the important
Bridgeton Evening News went allout
to help Duryea stage a citywide Tom
Sawyer contest. AH aspirants to the title
were required to present themselves at the
Stanley, where a capacity audience of enthusiastic
youngsters did their own judging
by popular applause.
Model Car Displayed
In Theatre Lounge
A. J. Brown, manager of the Empire in
Cardiff, Wales, treated patrons to a surprise
recently. When they entered the lounge,
they found a new model car on display.
Swing doors and door uprights had to be
removed in order to bring the car into the
building. The display helped to focus attention
on "When the Bough Breaks," as
one of the car models appears in that film.
Brown also hooked up with the Signals
regiment of the Welsh infantry division,
which installed a complete transmitter and
receiver in the theatre lounge, with soldiers
in constant attendance to explain the features
of the display.
Each day a jeep, fitted with receiver and
transmitter and carrying banners, toured the
streets. The stunt was geared to promote
"Blithe Spirit" and the regiment used threesheet
posters throughout the city, with copy:
"Watch Out for the Jeep Which Is in Communication
With Blithe Spirit of the Signals
Regiment at the Empire Theatre."
The Ritz and Regent theatres in Elizabeth,
N. Y., ran a joint kiddy show recently.
WANTED!
STANLEY
THEATRE
W,rfnc.dQ, & Thutidoy. Moich 2d.h t 2S(h
THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER"
Menz Bros,
"li r

c
A
s'
Perfect Model Hunt
Heads Fashion Show
As Easter Tieup
At the Huntington Theatre, Huntington.
N. Y., Dick Ti-etler, manager, put on a fashion
show two nights in a row at no cost to
the theatre.
Highlight of the affair was a 'Most Perfect
Model" contest. Entry blanks were made
available at the theatre weeks in advance.
The Millicent Kalt shop, sponsor of the show,
furished professional manikins and clothes
for the models, in addition to $300 worth of
spring dresses, coats and suits, which were
awarded as prizes to the winners.
Contestants appeared on the stage the first
night of the show and were appraised by two
local judges and Adelaide Hawley, famous
radio commentator. After eliminations, finalists
competed on the second night and
three winners were selected who received the
Easter outfits, with runnersup awarded gold
season passes to the Huntington.
A local florist supplied decorations for the
stage and a corsage for each model, in exchange
for a credit mention at both performances.
A pianist was also promoted at no
cost.
Large newspaper ads were placed in two
local dailies, and advance and foUowup publicity
stories in every Long Island newspaper
were generous.
The affair was so successful that the sponsor
offered to extend his cooperation again if
the theatre wanted to make the fashion show
an annual event.
Sponsor Pays All Costs
Of Radio Amateur Show
Alton Robbins, manager of the Orpheum
in Portland, Ore., presents a weekly amateur
program from the stage through a tieup with
radio station KALE and a local automobile
sponsor who pays for the air time and prize
money. A 16-piece orchestra supports the
program each week.
Winners are selected by judges, an applause
meter and ballots submitted by radio
listeners. Six contestants are presented every
Thursday night. Winners compete in a
monthly elimination and return for quarterly
finals, which offer $500 in cash to talented
contestants.
The auto dealer pays for all advertising
expenses, which include radio spot time and
newspaper ads.
Whoops, an Indian
The unusual spectacle of an Indian,
mounted on horseback in full regalia and
war paint, helped ballyhoo "The Return of
the Mohicans" for Charles Duboff, manager
of the Majestic in Brooklyn. The Indian
covered .schools and playgrounds and attracted
wide attention from crowds in the
shopping section.
Ad Contest Planted
A hidden name classified ad contest In
the Bulletin-Record was promoted for "Three
Daring Daughters" by Joe Boyle, manager of
the Broadway, Norwich, Conn. Boyle capitalized
with music tieups, disk jockey plugs
and connected for co-op newspaper ads with
a jeweler and record shop.
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: April 17, 1948
Spectacular Lobby for
Tarzan Bill
Tops Campaign by Arnold Gates
A campaign embracing all angles of exploitation
was engineered by Arnold Gates,
manager of the Stillman Theatre, Cleveland,
to sell "Tarzan's New York Adventure" and
"Tarzan's Secret Treasure."
Three weeks in advance, a jungle atmosphere
was created in the lobby with a display
covering the entire length of the lobby to
the vestibule. Here a special overdoor display
took up the theme, with papier mache
animals decorating the transom, and an exterior
backdrop with jungle foliage. Life-size
cutouts of the Tarzan family were suspended
from lobby ceiling to floor over paneled mirrors,
with Tarzan himself swinging from a
vine. Artifical palms and ferns were hung
around the marquee and underneath.
Through a tieup with an exclusive men's
wear store, a Tarzan Treasure Chest was displayed
in the window prior to opening in
connection with a contest. Observers were
asked to guess the number of pennies.
Thirty-six inch balloons containing helium,
imprinted with theatre and picture copy,
were used in front of the theatre and were
carried by house employes perambulating
throughout the downtown section. A- papier
mache lion, with a balloon bearing "Tarzan"
copy on its head, was placed on the sidewalk
the day before opening, which happened to
be St. Patrick's day, and was viewed by
thousands of people. A pair of twins dressed
in green Prince Albert coats, green top hats
and ties walked the streets.
Radio station WGAR gave the Tarzan
Bunnies Are Given Away
At Yearly Easter Party
Easter bunnies were awarded as prizes to
12 children at the annual Easter party and
show held on Saturday afternoon at the
Roosevelt Theatre, Flushing, N. Y., under the
direction of Mildred FitzGibbons, manager.
The bunnies were exhibited in the lobby well
in advance and whetted the appetite of all
the kids who saw them. Miss FitzGibbons
was rewarded with an attendance of over
1,800, and each child received a bag of Easter
candies.
Window Tieups Promote
'Wind' in Forest Park
In exploiting "Gone With the Wind," John
Misavice, manager of the Forest Theatre.
Forest Park, 111., tied up with ten merchants
in various busy intersections and obtained
window displays featuring special 22x28s with
stills and prominent theatre credits. Weekly
programs devoted the front cover to "Gone
With the Wind" three weeks in advance.
Misavice also used a 40x60 in the lobby to
publicize "The Fugitive" in addition to 100
window cards.
Nuns See Screening
All priests and nuns in the immediate area
of Jewett City, Conn., were invited to a
screening of "Citizen Saint" by Lou Francoise,
manager, in advance of playdate.
—449—
twin bill
several plugs on the day before the
picture opened, advocating it as "a good treat
for the whole family during the youngsters'
school holiday." Disk jockeys on WJW mentioned
the program once each show for a
week prior to opening.
Ten thousand heralds announcing a Tarzan
coloring contesf were distributed In
schools.
Benefit Show Earns
Town's Gratitude
During the recent cold weather, a fire in
Cornwall, Ont., left 25 families without
.shelter, clothing or cash.
A citizens committee, organized under the
direction of Mayor Lloyd Gallinger set about
to raise funds for the unfortunate families.
G. B. Markell, manager of the Capitol
there, proposed a benefit show and offered the
theatre for this purpose. The show was staged
with talent recruited locally and a preview
of "Dear Ruth" which Markell promoted
from Paramount Pictures at no cost.
Besides paying for advertisements in the
newspapers and using the services of the
theatre and staff, the Capitol arranged for
the appearance of the volunteer artists. The
show produced almost $1,000 for the mayor's
relief fund. The Daily-Standard Freeholder
ran first-page publicity which earned the
theatre the goodwill and appreciation of the
entire community.
Courtesy Sign on Bar
Bob Anderson, enterprising manager of
the Portland, Ore., Newsreel Theatre, recently
installed an attention-getting sign
over his refreshment bar. The sign reads:
"Your purchase free if we fail to say 'thank
you.' " As yet no free purchases have been
reported.
35

and
Hay-Burner Versus Tractor Issue
Kindles Interest in 'Scudda Hoo!'
Taking advantage of an extensive newspaper
advertising campaign for the opening
of "Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!" in Omaha,
Dwight Seymour, manager of the Arbor in
Nebraska City, kept his ad campaign for the
film at a minimum, although the playdates
were prominently in evidence.
Two days prior to opening, 1,000 teaser
cards were distributed to car owners and
employes of all stores. On the following day,
cards were distributed over the same route,
with copy, "Mark 'Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!'
as a must-see picture." A two-column scene
cut and theatre imprint appeared in the
lower portion of the card, and a pencil with
theatre imiprint was affixed to each card.
Seymour distributed the cards and pencils
to 86 members attending a Rotary club meeting
on Wednesday before opening. The fact
that he drew a $2 fine from the president
of the organization was justified, according
to Seymour, because of the comment which
the gag provoked among the membership.
A week prior to opening, all employes of
the Arbor Theatre wore blue .leans, loud
plaid shirts or gingham dresses, and large
straw hats set off by press sheet ads. The
outfits also were worn to classes by parttime
employes who attend school.
For a lobby display, Seymour borrowed a
large hammermill, a harrow in two sections.
Lobby Display and Puppy
Animate Tender Years'
A simply contrived mechanical display
helped focus attention on Manager Jack
Randall's date for "The Tender Years" at
the Strand in Vancouver, B. C,
Randall attached a series of stills to a
regular color wheel. The wheel was placed
behind a display with an aperture through
which the stills appeared as the disk revolved.
With color illumination from behind,
the effect was that of a small screen.
Randall promoted a terrier puppy from a
local pet shop and tied up for a giveaway in
conjunction with the Tillicum club, administered
by Diana Gray in the Vancouver
Daily Province.
The newspaper carried entry blanks for
the contest and instructions for contestants
to deposit their entry forms in the Strand
lobby. On the Saturday of the giveaway, a
record crowd was on hand, necessitating the
opening of the balcony.
Lucky Shoppers Win
Gifts and Passes
A ten-week tieup has been arranged by
Leonard Tuttle, manager of the Lam-elton
Theatre, Laurelton, N. Y., which has been
producing front page publicity in the Reflector,
a suburban weekly newspaper.
Each week the paper publishes a photo of
a group of shoppers in one of the local stores,
with the faces of three circled. Persons thus
singled out receive a pass to the Laurelton,
a years subscription to the Reflector and gifts
,I-\UR
ScuBBAHoaf
I
SmBAHnV
STARTS
motors and many small farm implements,
which he set up in the lobby with tiein copy.
For outside ballyhoo, a Massey-Harris tractor
was placed in the theatre safety zone,
with teaser copy: "Will the tractor replace
the mule on the farm?" Two 40x60s set near
the tractor gave visitors from the stirrounding
farming communities a good laugh and
got the picture extra word-of-mouth advertising.
Net advertising expenses for the exploitation
was held to a low of $17.
donated by the merchant in whose store the
photograph was taken.
Tuttle gets his theatre attractions mentioned
gratis in each story and uses a blowup
of each week's photo in the lobby to attract
extra attention to the tieup.
Holyoke Street Ballyhoo
Is Promoted at No Cost
Paul Kessler, manager of the Suffolk,
Holyoke, Mass., arranged for a no-cost street
ballyhoo to exploit "T-Men."
The Willys dealer provided several jeeps,
one of which was equipped with a public
address system. The cars toured the downtown
business section for several days carrying
banners armouncing the Suffolk playdates
and used a "T-Men" transcription,
providing audible as well as graphic advertising
for the picture.
The car dealer used a large window display,
while the local Treasury department office
and the press cooperated.
Yo-Yo Contest Attracts
Youths to Safety Show
A yo-yo contest staged in conjunction with
a safety campaign in San Pedro, Calif., tested
the capacity of the Strand for Manager Constantine
Papandrew.
Papandrew Introduced the San Pedro police
chief, from the stage, who made a brief talk
on the subject of safety and the need for
obeying traffic rules to a capacity audience of
youngsters. An expert demonstrated a variety
of tricks to the fascinated children, who competed
for honors as the best yo-yo players.
Art Theatre Features
Literature Series of
Features, Shorts
Great classics of literature, documentaries
of bookish interest and poetic featurettes
may sound like stuffy material to the average
exhibitor, but for Irving Levin, district
manager for San Francisco Theatres,
Inc., they comprise the entire program of
a highly successful "Limelighting Literature"
series screened each Wednesday in
February at the Vogue Theatre.
Repeating a formula which he originated
for the presentation of a light opera festival,
a series of famous musical films .shown each
year at the Vogue, Levin launched a new
and unique presentation of classical pictures
from the literature of both book and
screen.
Billing his four attractions as "integrated,
enlightened entertainment for discriminating
students of the motion picture as an art
form," Levin prepared a novel program of
"Crime and Punishment," "The Lower
Depths," "Peter the Great" and "Time in
the Sun." Featurettes included a Shakesperian
reading by Wilfred Lawson and Leo
Genn, interviews with famous authors (Somerset
Maugham. Rebecca West and Julian
I
Huxley pictorial recitations of modern
and classic poetry.
Levin offered reservations to the Vogue
on a season ticket basis. Brochures on tan
book stock, emphasizing the program's literary
quality with a short commentary on the
films, were .sent out to the mailing list of
one of San Francisco's most prominent book
stores as well as to private and public school
teachers and all the literary and drama societies
in the Bay area. The heralds were
made available at book stores and were distributed
in other theatres of the circuit.
While Limelighting Literature was originally
scheduled for matinee performances
only, demand for tickets prompted Levin to
run continuously from 2:30 p. m. each
Wednesday.
Music Score Is Exploited
For 'Albuquerque' Date
For the Detroit opening of "Albuquerque"
at the Palms-State. Ahce Gorham, publicity
director for United Detroit Theatres, obtained
the piano score of the unpublished
song, "Albuquerque," from Paramount's studios
and had it plugged into hit parade
stature via local radio stations. Barber shop
quartets were promoted through a tieup
with the Franmeneth Brewing Co.
The picture was screened for the writers
of the Lone Ranger, popular radio serial,
and a special episode was framed around
the theme of the film for use on the 225-
station network which carried the story.
Picture Plug Dominates
Co-Op 'Avenue Angel'
A three-column, eight-inch co-op ad was
promoted by Eddie DiResta, manager of the
Rialto in Amsterdam, N. Y., to help publicize
"Tenth Avenue Angel." DiResta tied up with
a local children's clothing shop featuring
the Margaret O'Brien brand. In addition
to theatre credits, a large star cut and scene
illumination were incorporated in the ad.
I
36 —450— BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: April 17, 1948

No Footing
During April, theatremen take steps to combat the
lure of the outdoors with promotions calculated to
reach the patron on the highways and byways
the better to call attention to their shows.
I
Above: Publicity director
C. B. Taylor's
timely ballyhoo on
April 1 called altentioti
to current picture,
"April Showers,"
at the Buffalo in Buffalo,
N. Y.
Above: Pedestrians
seem amused at the
antics of "Bride Goes
Wild" ballyhoo used
by Abe L u d a c e r ,
manager of the Valentine,
Toledo. Ludacer
also landed art
breaks on this attraction
in fashion pages
of the Toledo Times.
Below: In Omaha,
Paramount lobby had
a continuous line of
40x60 signs with copy
focused on the next
attraction, "The Voice
of the Turtle." Manager
D on Shane
found the road marker
type of selling un
usually effective in
attracting patrons.
Boston model and cow^girl drove a two-horse stage coach through business and resi
dential areas of that city to exploit "Relentless" at the Orpheum and State theatres.
Stunt was set by publicist Joe DiPesa.
Below: Sol S o r k i n
of the Keith, Flushing,
N. Y., had lobby
exhibit manned by
national guard personnel
in "Fighting
69th" tieup. The regi
ment also furnished
a jeep to ballyhoo
the picture in advance
and during
current showing.
If: J
"(tKSURfe
OF
mtmii a

Keys to Entertainment Also Unlock
Treasure Chest of Gifts in Lobby
The Dundee Theatre In Omaha plays subsequent
run features and foreign pictures exclusively,
reports Manager Norman Shannon.
Every picture he plays calls for special exploitation
and he finds himself relying constantly
on the Showmandiser section for
ideas to stimulate the Dundee boxoffice.
For his recent engagement of "The Swordsman,"
however. Shannon engaged a treasure
chest promotion which indicates that he is
not completely dependent on outside sources
for good exploitation material. Also, the manner
in which he put over the stunt is an indication
that he is an enthusiastic and skillful
exploiteer.
Shannon's treasure chest was patterned
on the lobby idea of a chest, which if opened,
unlocked the store of promoted gifts for the
lucky key holder. Eighteen merchants took
part in the tieup, each contributing a prize
and each assisting in publicizing the stunt
through the distribution to customers of keys
attached to tags, and through display material
exhibited at the stores.
In the lobby, the chest was backed up with
art and photos from the picture with the
tie-in line: "'The Swordsman' guards the
treasure until you claim it. Will your key
unlock the chest?" A list of the prizes was
given. Each cooperating merchant used the
prize he donated as the central theme of a
window display, using title and theatre credits
along with an explanation of the treasm-e
chest.
One of the merchants plugged the promotion
on his weekly broadcast over KOIL.
Word-of-mouth advertising was excellent, according
to the Dundee manager.
BOXOFFICE NUGGETS
Cooperating with the recent world Good-
Turn day, Harold Norris, manager of the
Grand, Macon, Ga., turned a Saturday children's
matinee into a benefit show for the
French people of Normandy. Theatre proceeds
included food, clothing and cash. A
French Boy Scout from Normandy was in
Macon at the time and was featured in newspaper
publicity.
Ten days prior to the opening of "KUroy
Was Here" at the Bradley, Columbus, Ga.
Manager Ted Munson had the title stenciled
on sidewalks in the downtown and neighborhood
business districts. As soon as the
children caught on to the idea, "Kilroy Was
Here" chalk marks began to appear throughout
the entire city.
Ed Smith, manager of the Paramount,
Springfield, Mass., got mentions in the daily
newspapers for his "April Shower of Hollywood
Hits" lobby display.
Concluding a series of Saturday "Crime
Does Not Pay" shows as an attack against
juvenile delinquency, Joseph Geller, manager
of the Hawthorne, Newark, N. J., won
the commendation of crime authorities in
Washington and New Jersey.
Two thousand blotters with copy heralding
the opening of "Adventures of Casanova"
were distributed in schools and libraries by
Tony Capellano, manager of the Regent, Dunkirk,
N. Y. An essay contest on "Why I'd
Like to See 'Casanova' " was used in local
high schools and the State Teachers college
in Fredonia. Best letters were rewarded with
guest tickets.
Mel Ai'onson, manager of the Bellerose,
Bellerose, N. Y., visited the art department
of Eagle Lion's New York office and borrowed
original art layouts on "Green for Danger"
for a lobby exhibit.
Ed Holland, manager of the Rialto, Morrilton.
Ark., used the Life magazine comments
on "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" in an attractive
lobby display to promote interest in
his playdates. He also displayed newspaper
and magazine reviews of the picture under a
large arrow imprinted with copy : "Read these
raves."
To add a personal touch to the advertising
campaign for "Wistful Widow of Wagon
Gap," Mel JoUey, manager of the Marks,
Oshawa, Ont., used a novel one-column ad
with his own endorsement. Except for a
cut of himself, the entire ad was in reverse,
white on black, and stood out on the page
with good effect.
To exploit "Swamp Water" at the Rialto
in Macon, Ga., Grady Cofer, manager, featured
a sidewalk display of baby alligators.
For a perambulating ballyhoo, an usher
walked two of the baby reptiles up and down
the main streets. Leashes were fastened
around the alligators' necks.
Bright New Pennies
Indicate Tax Cut
On Admissions
R. E. Agle, manager of the Appalachian
Theatre in Boone, N. C, keeps his eye constantly
open for institutional ideas and those
which serve to increase goodwill in the community,
while he maintains a steady flow of
exploitation on coming and cm'rent attractions.
Agle supervises the local Pastime Theatre
in addition to the company's houses in
Blowing Rock, jjefferson and Sparta, N. 0.
To impress patrons with the amount of tax
they pay with each theatre admission, Agle
keeps a cara in the boxoffice on which are
pasted bright new pennies indicating just
how much the tax amounts to. The card is
changed for the evening performance when
prices are higher and the tax increases proportionately.
Just prior to the beginning of each month,
Agle selects a big attraction scheduled at the
Appalachian and has special heralds imprinted
with ad cuts and copy. All local and
national holidays, special drives, weeks and
anniversary dates are noted in calendar
form, which many patrons find invaluable
as a reference.
In cooperation with the Lions club recently,
Agle staged a minstrel show for the benefit
of the blind of Watauga county. The
show was presented at two performances and
served to emphasize the theatre's activities
and interest in community welfare.
Agle also has a tieup with Tarheel Togs,
a men's shop, in which the store phones persons
listed in the directory. If the person
called knows the name of the screen attraction
at the Appalachian, he receives a free
theatre pass and an invitation to buy any
suit or coat in the store for only $25. The
store pays the theatre for all passes issued.
Amateur Photographers
Vie in Theatre Contest
An amateur photographers contest was
promoted in cooperation with Oak Leaves, a
local weekly newspaper, and six affiliated
papers in the Chicago area, according to
Len Utecht, manager of the Lake in Oak
Park, 111
The newspaper devoted a three-column full
length page ad, and provided cash awards
plus additional newspaper publicity to build
interest in the contest. Local amatem' photographers
were invited to participate, with
all entries being exhibited at the theatre.
Winners received their awards on the theatre
stage.
The contest was broken down into four
groups for pictures showing local interest,
sports, still hfe and miscellaneous. The stunt
had the support of libraries and schools, and
the Fair Store extended cooperation by providing
a professional model to pose for the
hobbyists.
Makes School Tieup
38 —452— BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: AprU 17, 1948
Tying up with county school officials, Jess
BuUard, manager of the Ritz. Barnesville, Ga.,
arranged a special matinee of "Fun and
Fancy Free" for 400 youngsters. Teachers
collected admission from the children and
school buses transported the kids to the theatre.

. . Northside's
Giveaways of Candy
Sweeten Business
For Easter Show
. . . Tlie
A number of effective promotions emphasized
the spring lineup of big attractions
at the Kenyon Theatre, Pittsburgh, for Manager
Pliil Katz.
To liven up the lobby, pennants were
strung from wall to wall with catchlines:
"The Kenyon Gets the Big Ones
Kenyon Hit Parade . Largest
Family Theatre, etc." Intermixed were pennants
carrying the titles of some of the coming
attractions.
Lobby boards and large cutout standees of
an Easter bunny holding a basket of eggs,
each lettered with the title of a coming hit,
also helped carry out the theme.
For "The Voice of the Turtle" Katz used
a lobby contest. He placed five live turtles in
a display, each of which had one letter
painted on its back to spell out "Voice." Patrons
who found the turtles lined up to spell
the word were given a free guest ticket.
Katz located a candy manufacturer who
was introducing a new candy bar to the public
and persuaded him to give free bars of
the confection to every child who attended
the Easter Monday kiddy show. The manufacturer
was so pleased with the tieup that
he readily agreed to furnish 21 Warner Bros,
theatres in the area with a similar giveaway.
The deal called for 25,000 Cocoanut Mellows
to be distributed, for which the theatres gave
the confection free plugs in the circuit newspaper
directory ad and on its radio show.
This low-cost flash front was built by Clyde
Walker, manager of the Ritz, Lawton, Olcla..
to exploit the return engagement of "The Big
House." Walker also had his casliier and
doorman dressed in prison garb to carry out
the picture's theme.
Free Emblem Oiier
Lou Hartman, manager of the Floral,
Floral Park, N. Y., promoted a quantity of
blouse emblems from a local firm, which were
offered to the first 100 women attending the
opening day matinee. Theatre employes
wore the emblems in advance of playdate. A
30x40 in the lobby announced the giveaway.
'New Look' Show on Stage
Rex Hopkins, manager of the Hollywood
Theatre in Portland, Ore., offered a "new
look" fashion show on the stage of his neighborhood
theatre. Beth Fagan, newspaper
women's fashions editor, acted as narrator
Durango Parents Treat
Children to Birthday
Parties at Theatre
Jack Kramer, city manager for Pox Intermountain
Theatres in Durango, Colo., has a
new switch on the kiddy birthday party which
has helped to increase business notably. Parents
in the community are urged to stage
their own theatre party in honor of their
youngster's natal day in the theatre on Saturdays.
Newspapers give favorable attention
to each party, listing the names of guests,
etc. The popularity of the stunt may be
judged from the fact that recently a group
of high school teen-agers held a "hobo" party
at the theatre, each member attending in
colorful, nondescript costume.
Flash Front Devised
For 'Body' in Whiting
A 24-sheet flash front was prepared for
"Body and Soul" at the Hoosier in Whiting.
Ind., by Louis Nye, manager, in addition to
a special lobby display.
For outdoor ballyhoo, two of the ushers
covered the town, wearing athletic clothes
and skipping the rope. Cards on their backs
told onlookers they were "in training for the
exciting fight scenes in, etc., etc."
Small cards resembling fight tickets were
distributed to students in high schools and
gymnasiums and left in cars all over town.
Copy read: "Good for one ringside seat to
1928
to
1948 20
YEARS
OF PREMIER SERVICE
1928
to
1948
IN
THE PREMIUM FIELD I
Leading theatre circuits attest to the "box office" of our business builders
—Warner Bros., Crescent Amusement, Lucas and Jenkins, Florida
Amusement and many others. Bob Hartman's twenty year success has
been built on quality, service and always living up to every promise.
Our representatives are bonded by U. S. Fidelity & Guaranty Co. . . .
and THEY MEAN BUSINESS!
OUR NEWEST BOX OFFICE ATTRACTION
SPEED-O-KING BICYCLES
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Demonstrated on y°^'^ screen vrilh movie personality
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a sure-fire hit
Write for Particulars Today !
HOLLYWOOD THEATRE SERVICE, Inc.
537 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago 353 W. 44th Street, New York
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser : : April 17, 1948 —453— 39

"
A "NATURAL" FOR
THIS MODERN AGE
STEEL )
all-steel
prefabricated
OUTDOOR
MOTION PICTURE
THEATRE
SUPERSTRUCTURES
• SAFE
• ATTRACTIVE
, • PERMANENT
• EASILY ERECTED -EASILY MOVED
• PRESENTING A DEAUTIFUL APPEARANCE
• IDEAL CONSTRUCTION FOR ENLARGEMENT
RESISTANT TO FIRE AND WEATHER
tt«
Atmosphere Adds Reality
To All-Western Show
Showmanship not only is what you do, but
how you do it counts as much or more. Ray
Johnson, manager of the Redwood, Redwood
City, Calif., recently put on an all-western
week, the feature of which was a Battle of
the Cowboys program. Johnson introduced
every tried and proved idea to punch his idea
across with top theatre receipts.
Not only did the Redwood staff wear traditional
outdoor costumes, Johnson himself
wore levies, boots and a flamboyant open
neck shirt.
An exhibit of western and foreign saddles,
plus other riding gear, was placed in the
theatre lobby. Star cutouts were hung around
in profusion and a false front included a
pair of swinging saloon doors for extra effect.
Johnson also engaged a trick Shetland pony
to put on an exhibition in front of the theatre.
Gets Army Cooperation
For 'Ends of the Earth'
To spui- enlistments in the army and aiiforce,
and indulge in exploitation at the
same time, Sid Kleper, manager of the College,
New Haven, during the showing of "To
the Ends of the Earth" offered applications
at the theatre to persons wanting to enlist.
All enlistees, prior to their departure for
designated points, were guests of the theatre
to see the picture. This fine institutional promotion
received several stories with art in
the New Haven Evening Register.
Boots Laugh Show
Ray Gingell, manager of the Hiser in
Bethseda, Md., booked a cartoon and a
Thi-ee Stooges short with "Out of the Blue"
and soldi the program as an All-Laugh show.
Newspaper ads, a trailer, lobby display and
the house program were used to sell the
show.
Girls Get Free Photos
With 'Frankenstein'
In Lohby Stunt
r.\FltKIIKDKIII||'
Larry Caplane, manager of the Grand, Columbus,
Ohio, pulled all the stops to exploit
his recent double feature program on two
"Frankenstein" reissues.
For one week in advance, a life-size monster
and bride cutout was placed in the lobby.
The bride's head was cut out of the display
and women patrons were invited to have thenphotos
taken with the monster. Caplane
pulled a neat trick by taking motion pictures
of the proceedings which were screened during
the run of the picture. Each girl who
was photographed also received a photo free.
To gain extra newspaper publicity, Caplane
sent autographed pictures of "Frankenstein"
to local critics, colunuiists and radio
commentators. Ten windows were promoted
in outlets owned by the Swan Cleaners. A
"Frankenstein" cocktail, guaranteed to turn
you into a monster, was offered by downtown
bars.
As a special attraction, the appearance of
"Frankenstein" in the person of Herman
Stofle, assistant manager, was advertised
during the current run.
Passes were offered to persons writing letters
on "My Most Terrifying Experience.
AIL STEEL FRAME THE ULTIMATE IN STRENGTH
GEO. L.
II E S k E |{
EVANSVILLE «.
STEEL CORP.
INDIANA
WRITE, TODAY, FOR FULL INFORMATION
40
Sam Gilman. manager oi the Regent. Harris
burg. Pa., came up with another innovation
to help publicize his attractions. Gihnan
located a firm thai manufacturers a type of
scotch-tape upon which can be imprinted the
theatre's message. Cuts can also be used. The
tape is obtainable in wridths of from one-half
to three inches It can be used on cash registers,
rnenus, balloons, outos, phone poles,
or public windows and is removable from
even expensive furniture, without damage.
Gilman is showm plastering the tape in a
prominent spot, with the friendly merchant's
permission, ol course.
—454—
Druggist Advertises
'Shower' of Bargains
Curt Miller, manager of the State, Tampa,
Fla., came up with a terrific co-op ad for
"April Showers," which didn't cost him or
the theatre one penny. Miller sold a drug
concern the idea for a Shower of Bargains.
A three-column, 12-inch display ad on the
film was surrounded by small boxes listing
the store's bargain items. "April Showers"
occupied almost 70 per cent of the total space.
Baby Sitters Co-op
In conjunction with "Sitting Pretty," which
concerns the trials of a baby sitter, Alton
Robbins, manager of the Orpheum, Portland,
Ore., tied up with the Pied Piper Registered
Baby Sitters Co. for a two-column co-op
newspaper ad which advertised the theatre
playdates.
BOXOFFICE Showmandiset :: April 17, 1948

(I
Police Support Plus
Proclamation Aid
'Missing Girls'
Grady Cofer, manager of the Rialto in
Macon, Ga.. exercised his citizenship and
showmanship in behalf of the recent engagement
of "Missing Girls" by persuading Mayor
Lewis Wilson to proclaim Crime Prevention
week.
The mayor and the police chief of Macon
threw their full weight behind the promotion
which netted the picture some worthy publicity.
The Macon Telegraph used a
three-column
cut showing the city officials signing the
proclamation in the presence of Cofer and
other city executives.
The press and radio commentators gave
the stunt plenty of space and news comment.
The police department permitted Cofer to
placard all lamp posts in the city with tiein
copy and the Rialto dates for "Missing Girls."
Bumper strips were used on all police vehicles.
Cofer obtained authentic police files on
missing persons from the local area and displayed
photos and fingerprint charts under
the heading, "Have You Seen These Missing
Persons? If so notify the police."
Cofer distributed several thousand lucky
numbered heralds inviting recepients to check
them against the list of numbers posted in
the theatre lobby. Those whose numbers
matched were given passes.
Dynamite Throwaways
Support 'Timberlane'
To exploit "Cass Timberlane," John Falco.
manager of the Majestic, Beloit, Wis., promoted
the use of a jeep and trailer and
loaded the latter with a huge crate labeled,
"Danger, TNT—Tracy 'n' Turner are Emotional
Dynamite—Saturday at the Majestic,
etc." The vehicles visited factories and office
buildings during the lunch hour. Ushers
passed out novelty giveaways which resembled
a stick of dynamite with theatre imprint,
Uses Umbrella Bally
For street ballyhoo. Bill Reisinger, manager
for Loew's in Dayton, dressed three of
his ushers in girl's clothes and had them
walk around town carrying large umbrellas
imprinted, "Three Daring Daughters, etc."
'Swordsman' Shadow Box
W. Ray McCormack, manager of the Elco
Theatre, Elkhart, Ind., used a special lobby
display to publicize "The Swordsman." It
included a 40x60 in a light shadow box and
24x82s over the doors, in addition to an exhibit
of stills from the film.
For The
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BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :; April 17, 1948 —455— 41

Community Entertains
Crippled Kiddies at
Bugs Bunny Party
One hundred and fifty handicapped children
were special guests at a Bugs Bunny
birthday party given recently at the Strand
in Akron, Ohio. The birthday party was
promoted by Manager Millard Ochs and his
assistant Don Maxwell under the sponsorship
of the Akron Beacon Journal and radio station
WAKR, which also sponsors the Strand's
weekly Quizdown.
Ochs arranged free transportation for the
children with the Junior Chamber of Commerce
and the Akron Transportation Co.
A two-hour cartoon and comedy show was
presented in conjunction with the Quizdown
and eight original Bugs Bunny drawings were
Many outstanding newspaper and radio
obtained from Hollywood as prizes in a special
drawing.
The program received wide publicity in
connection with the annual drive to promote
sales for Crippled Children's Easter seals.
features
were obtained, including special layouts
of the children being entertained at the
Strand.
Each child received a carrot and a candy
bar from Bugs Bunny, who appeared at the
Strand and distributed extra gifts to each
of the handicapped group.
Title Contest Features
Theatre Anniversary
During the 20th anniversary celebration of
the Paramount Theatre, Portland, Ore., Manager
FYank Pratt created unusual interest
in a picture identity contest. Pratt invited
patrons to test their memory by identifying
scenes from pictures produced in the past
20 years. Persons supplying the correct titles
from the exhibit in the Paramount lobby were
given two tickets to see "Gentleman's Agreement."
An anniversary cake and congratulatory
wires and messages from Hollywood luminaries
complemented the display.
Heralds DistTibuted
In exploiting his Fun show, cartoon-comedy
program at the Quentin Theatre, Brooklyn,
Peter Manzione, manager, distributed
2,000 heralds in restaurants, house-to-house
and at the theatre. This was in addition to
a lobby display, special front and trailer.
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28 THEATRES

Raichle
British Withdraw Plans
For State Film Bank
LONEKDN — The British government has
abandoned its plans for a state film bank
because of the difficulty of guaranteeing delivery
of completed product, according to
Harold Wilson, president of the board of
trade. Speaking before the Ass'n of Cinematograph
Technicians, Wilson assured the
group that the British tax settlement specifically
provides that American production
in England shall not go beyond the limits
of fair competition and shall not harm
existing film interests here.
Wilson reported that about $1,000,000 from
British film earnings in the U.S. last year
will be remitted. He said British films earned
$4,000,000 in America, but most of the revenue
was invested in the U.S.
Altliough the film bank has been ruled
out, Wilson intimated that the government
may arrange to provide financial aid for
qualified independent producers. The proposal
for government-owned studios still is
under consideration, he said, but any action
on this would not be taken in the immediate
future, he said.
He advised both management and labor to
avoid "restrictive practices." He told the
group that current unemployment in the industry
is a temporary condition due to the
film tax problem and will be ironed out as
soon as the settlement agreement goes into
effect.
'Arch' Benefit Opening
For Overseas Aid of UN
NEW YORK—A benefit opening of
"Arch
of Triumph" will be held at the Globe Theatre
April 19 for the "Crusade for Children"
of American Overseas Aid-United Nations
Appeal for Children. The benefit, which will
precede public opening April 20, will be the
major event of the New York City campaign
of AOA-UNAC, of which Spyros P. Skouras
is general chairman.
Mrs. Douglas Gibbons is chairman of the
benefit committee and Mrs. Marian Averell
Dougherty, vice-president of the American
Aid to France, Inc., is vice-chairman. Mrs.
Orvil E. Dryfoos is chairman of the junior
committee. Tickets for the benefit will be
priced at $10 and $5.
Richard Collins Is Dead;
Was Veteran at Capitol
NEW YORK—A requiem high mass was
held at St. Agnew church, Monday (12), for
Richard Collins, 55, assistant manager at the
Capitol Theatre. He died after an Illness of
.several weeks. Interment was at the Long
Island National Cemetery. Farmingdale, L. I.
Collins is survived by his wife and two children,
Richard and William.
Collins had been with the Capitol for 26
years. He started in 1922 as an usher. In
1933 he was appointed assistant manager.
French Newsreel for TV
NEW YORK—The French newsreel, "Les
Actualites Prancaises," will be integrated with
American newscasts for television showings
according to A. F. Films, American distributor.
Six video stations have contracted for
the weekly one-reel film, which contains
eight to 12 subjects dealing with current
events In continental Europe and Africa.
Untrue Figures Necessary,
Buffalo Rivoli Head Says
BUFFALO—Tax statements listing
the late
Nicholas J. Basil as vice-president of the
Rivoli Operating Corp. were produced in U.S.
district court here by the corporation's president,
Stanley Kozanowski. Attorney Edward
C. Raferty requested the statements after
Kozanowski had denied that Basil was ever
an officer of the corporation.
The Rivoli Corp., which operates the Rivoli
Theatre, is suing 11 motion picture producers,
distributors and exhibitors for allegedly
conspiring to prevent it from getting
first run pictures on an equal basis with
the Roosevelt, which is operated by Shea
interests.
Kozanowski said that he employed Basil,
operator of "six or eight" neighborhood theatres
in 1934 to book pictures for him. He
said that as an independent he had difficulty
booking pictures in competition with
circuits.
SOME STATEMENTS INCORRECT
On another occasion, Kozanowski admitted
he prepared and submitted false statements
to Paramount Pictures, and Loew's, two of
the defendants in the $3,000,000 damage suit.
The statements, submitted at the request
of the distributors, purported to show the
gross receipts obtained by the Rivoli from
the showing of certain pictures. From this
statement of gross income the amount of
rental paid to the distributor or the amount
of adjustment to which the theatre was entitled
if the picture was not a success was
determined.
Frank G. Raichle, attorney for four of
the defendants, asked Kozanowski on crossexamination:
"When you submitted these false statements,
it was your purpose, wasn't it. to cheat
the distributors out of their rental to which
they were entitled?"
"I had to do it to break even and exist,"
Kozanowski responded.
"Did you submit false statements to all
HONORED—Ingrid Bergman receives
from President Harry Truman the certificate
of achievement awarded her by
the Women's National Press club in
Washington as "Outstanding Actress of
1947." Miss Bergman recently completed
tlie title role in "Joan of Arc" for RKO
release.
of the defendants from time to time or just
"
to some of them? asked.
"Those that treated me decent, I treated
decent," Kozanowski answered.
"Name one of the defendants to whom you
never submitted a false statement."
"I couldn't do that without reference to
the books." Kozanowski said.
Kozanowski also admitted that he reported
$340.45 as his gross income for the showing
of "After Office Hours" May 19 and 20, 1935.
The actual gross, as shown on his books,
was $595.45, he said.
IN WRONG COLUMN
Under direct examination, Kozanowski
testified that he wrote to the major distributors
in April 1939, advising them that
unless the Rivoli obtained some first run
pictures in the neighborhood it would go to
court to protect its rights.
At one time during the trial, Kozanowski
admitted that expenditure for the upkeep of
buildings other than the Rivoli Theatre were
listed in the miscellaneous account of the
Rivoli Operating Corp. He said that such expenditures
were listed "by mistake." He said
also that the upkeep of a cemetery lot was
listed under miscellaneous expenses but that
he did not remember whether legal fees for
title searches on other buildings also were
listed as theatre expense.
Papers and books pertaining to theatre
operation from 1930 to 1935 were burned accidentally
with other papers found in the attic
of the family home after the death of
his mother, he testified. He said pages missing
from a theatre ledger were not burned
at that time but were lost during some family
litigation in surrogate's court.
A false statement of operating expenses
was submitted to the 20th Century-Fox Film
Corp. in 1944, Kozanowski admitted "in hopes
of getting some reduction on pictures.
Kozanowski said actual rent for the theatre,
listed on the operating statement as
$300 a week, was $250. Although the operating
statement listed wages for a stagehand,
the theatre did not employ one, he admitted.
FAVORED ROOSEVELT THEATRE
During the theatrical seasons of 1933
through 1935 when the Roosevelt Theatre
was operated by the Jacob Rosing interests,
the product of six major motion picture distributors
and producers was divided between
the Roosevelt and Rivoli, according to Kozanowski.
However, during the theatrical seasons of
1930 through 1933 and the season of 1935
through 1938, when the Shea interests and
Paramount Pictures operated the Roosevelt,
Kozanowski said the same six companies sold
all of their pictures to the Roosevelt ahead
of the Rivoli.
The six companies named were Paramount,
Loew's, RKO, 20th-Fox. WB and UA.
Two companies, Columbia and Universal,
sold exclusively to the Rivoli during the
entire period covered in testimony, Kozanowski
said. All eight companies, with Buffalo
Theatres, Inc., Warner Bros. Pictures Distributing
Corp. and the Broad-Rose Corp.,
which operates the Roosevelt, are defendants
in the suit.
BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948 N 43

. . Maurice
. . Clayton
Carol Sachson, daughter of Arthur Sachson,
general sales manager of Samuel Goldwyn
Productions, was married April 11 to Marvin
Zuckerman
. Bond sr., Warner
Bros, head film buyer, became a grandfather
for the third time when his son, Clayton
Bond jr., became the father of a baby girl,
named Eugenie.
AT VARIETY CONVENTION—Snapped at the 12th annual Variety International
convention In Miami were, left to right: Abe Lichtman and wife, Washington, and Mrs.
Walter Titus and her husband. New York.
BROADWAY
prank Capra, producer-director of "State of
. . . Ralph W. field
the Union," is in town from the coast and
Washington and -will attend the opening of
the picture at the Radio City Music Hall late
in April . . . Sam Shirley, special MGM sales
representative with headquarters in Los Angeles,
has arrived from the coast for
Maw,
home
office conferences
assistant to Burtus Bishop jr., midwestern
MGM sales manager, has returned to Minneapolis
after a month at the home office . . .
E. O. Wilschke, operating manager of Altec
Service, has returned to New York from
Chicago.
. . . Cecil B. DeMille is in
.
Robert W. Coyne, executive director of
TOA, has returned to New York from Sandusky,
Ohio . Bergman. Universal-
International eastern advertising director,
has left New York to take a short rest . . .
Nate Blumberg, U-I president, and John
Joseph, national advertising and publicity
director, have arrived in New York from
New
Hollywood
York for a week of playgoing to search for
Broadway talent for his forthcoming production
for Paramount, "Samson and Delilah"
. . William J. Heineman, Eagle Lion
vice-president in charge of distribution, returned
to the home office after conferences
with branch officials in San Francisco, Portland
and Seattle.
ALWAYS A JUMP
OR TWO AHEAD!
Gulistan Wilton Theatre Carpet
JOE HORNSTEiN has it!
Phil Reisman, RKO vice-president in
charge of foreign distribution, sailed for Europe
April 14 aboard the S.S. America for a
tour of the company's exchanges in England
and the Continent . . . Ben Henry, London
managing director of Universal Pictures, and
Mrs. Henry an-ived from Europe aboard the
Queen Elizabeth April 12 . . . Gregor Rabinovitch.
producer of "The Lost One" and the
forthcoming "The Eternal Melody," both
made in Italy for Columbia release, has returned
to Europe after a visit here. He will
begin preparations on his next Columbia
film, "Faust," also to be produced in Italy.
Edward L. Hyman, vice-president of Paramount
Theatres Service Corp.. and Joseph
J. Deitch, Paramount Theatres executive, left
New York April 14 for Kansas City to confer
with M. D. Cohn, manager of the Paramount
Theatre there. They will also go to Phoenix.
Ariz,, for talks with Harry L. Nace, Paramount
partner, and to San Francisco and Salt
Lake City before returning to the home office
George Weltner, president of
April 24 . . .
Paramount International, and A. L. Pratchett,
division manager for Latin America, returned
to New York April 14 after a five-week tour
Manny Reiner. Selznick
of South America . . .
managing director for Latin America
and Australasia, left for Cuba to prepare for
the opening of "Duel in the Sun," after which
he will go to Mexico City to begin a campaign
on "The Paradine Case."
. . . William
.
Jesse L. Lasky has returned to Hollywood
following a visit here in connection with the
opening of "The Miracle of the Bells" at the
Roy O. Disney, president of Walt
Rivoli . . .
Disney Productions, is here for conferences
with RKO home office executives on the distribution
of "Melody Time"
Sartori, Continental European representative
for Monogram International, has arrived from
his London office for conferences with Norton
V. Ritchey, president, after which he will
take a vacation Mrs. Samuel Goldwyn
flew to London
. .
April 16 for a three-week
visit with Samuel Goldwyn jr., who recently
produced "Gathering Storm" at St. Martin's
Theatre there . . . Tom Rogers of MGM's
publicity department has returned from
Phoenix, Ariz., after visiting his mother who
Margaret Leczer, secretary
has been ill. . . .
to William F. Rodgers, has returned
Miami vacation.
from a
. . Janet
Jacques Kopfstein, executive vice-president
of Astor Pictures, has returned to the New
York office following a fortnight in San Francisco
and Hollywood where he discussed 16mm
rights with independent producers .
Bing Crosby and his wife. Dixie Lee, will
come to New York April 20 after stopovers
m White Sulphur Springs, Va.. where Bing
will play in a golf tournament and in Cincinnati
to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates, of
which Crosby is vice-president, open the season
playing the Cincinnati Reds . . . Leo
. . .
Genn. co-star with Rosalind Russell in both
"Mourning Becomes Electra" and the forthcoming
"The Velvet Touch," returned from
Glenn Ford,
a Nassua vacation April 16 . . .
Columbia star, has returned to Hollywood
after his first New York visit in seven years
Benny Rubin, who recently completed
"Mickey" for Eagle Lion, is here for conferences
with radio and legitimate producers
. . . Susan Hayward, U-I star, and Joan
Crawford, MGM star, are visiting New York
and Mary Boland and Ian Keith, both of
whom completed MGM pictures also have
arrived from Hollywood.
Eyssell Holds Luncheons
For Rank, Rogers Group
NEW YORK—J. Arthur Rank was guest
of honor at a luncheon given by Gus S.
Eyssell, president and managing director of
Radio City Music Hall, in the theatre studio
apartment April 13.
Other guests at the luncheon were: Hugh
S. Robertson, Barton P. Tmnbull. Thomas
P. Debevoise, Vanderbilt Webb and Frank
Corcoran of Rockefeller Center, Inc., Nate
J. Blumberg. J. Cheever Cowdin. Matthew
Fox, John J. O'Connor and Joseph Seidelman
of Universal-International; Robert
Benjamin and Jock Lawrence of the Rank
Organization and Russell V. Downing of the
Music Hall.
Members of the executive board of the
Will Rogers Memorial hospital were Eyssell's
guests at a luncheon in the studio apartment
April 12 to discuss financial plans for the
film industry hospital at Saranac. Representatives
of the major companies and independent
theatre groups were present.
Judge Reaffirms Decision
On Paramount Employes
NEW YORK—Justice Morris Eder of the
New York supreme court
has reaffirmed his
decision of March 15 that the 1947 layoff of
75 Paramount white collar workers is not
subject to arbitration.
Attorneys for SOPEG—the white collar
workers union—had argued that the arbitration
clause in the union contract covered
such layoff. Paramount lawyers disagreed,
and asked the court for an order restraining
the union from arbitrating the issue. After
Justice Eder granted that order, the union
lawyers reargued the case.
The case will now go to the appellate division.
Cron Leaves Showmen's
NEW YORK—James A. Cron has resigned
as advertising manager of Showmen's Trade
Review. His successor will be named shortly.
Cron fii-st joined the publication in October
1943.
44 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

. . Other
Ned Depinet Accepts
Award for Schary
NEW YORK—Ned E. Depinet, executive
vice-president of RKO. read the address of
acceptance for Dore Schary, vice-president
of RKO production, at the annual award
ceremonies for the Thomas Jefferson prize
at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel April 11. The
J. Waterman Wise, Ned Depinet and
Dr. Henry A. Atliinson.
Jefferson prize for the Advancement of
Democracy by the Council Against Intolerance
in America is given to leaders in the
arts, politics, labor, education, journalism and
literatiu'e.
The citation praised Schary for his pioneering
efforts in the use of motion pictm'es
as a vital medium and singled out "The
Parmer's Daughter." "Till the End of Time"
and "Crossfire" for mention. "I don't think
that the screen should turn out to be a
public foriun. or grow into a pulpit. But I
do believe that there is room in the motion
pictui-e industry for the very program offered
by evei-y other single mediiun of entertainment
and information," the message read.
The illness of Schary's mother prevented
him from accepting the award in person.
Boost Visual Aid Budget,
Film Council Petitions
NEW YORK—The New York Film Council
has petitioned city officials to increase the
visual education budget of the board of education
to $500,000 for 1948-49. The Film
council promised to cooperate in the program
by sending specialists to demonstrate the
uses of visual education material.
The group also decided to appoint a special
committee to study city and state laws
on licensing and censorship of 16mm films.
The Film council petition was signed by
Willard Van Dyke, chairman. It was sent to
Vincent Impellitteri, president of the coimcil;
Lazarus Joseph, controller, and the five
borough presidents.
Drive-In for Newport News
NEWPORT NEWS. VA.—The Green Acres
Drive-In will be opened here about May 15
by Bob Saimders and N. N. Johnson. The
$60,000 drive-in will accommodate 500 cars.
It is being equipped by Theatre Equipment
Co., Toledo, which is also erecting the steel
screen tower.
"Voice ol Theatre Speakers"
JOE HORNSTEIN has them!
Along New York's Film
CAM MANDLEBAUM, manager of the Globe
Theatre, is busy with last-minute preparations
for the opening of "Arch of Triumph"
. . . The film will begin its regular
. .
run April 20. On Monday night, April 19,
there will be a special show for the American
Overseas Aid-United Nations Appeal for Children
. The house expects to take in about
$15,000 for this performance.
Bj WALTER WALDMAN
Sid Falk, manager of the Interboro Circuit
Kismet Theatre, Brooklyn, has just finished
supervising a complete renovation job . . .
The chain also is renovating the De Luxe and
Freeman theatres, the Bronx . . . Jack Hattem.
Interboro film buyer, has returned from
Miami Beach. While on vacation there he
attended the first few days of the Variety
Club convention. Also back from Florida are:
Joe Ingber, film buyer for Brandt: Harry
Friedman, operator of the Academy Theatre,
Newburgh, and Mrs. Fay Savage, boss lady
of the Rivoli Theatre, Hoboken.
Services were held April 13 for A. Gordon
Reid, former division manager for the Fabian
theatres in Brooklyn, who died April 9. He
had been with the circuit 30 years . . . Thomas
McGuiness, a member of the carpenter and
property department of the Capitol Theatre
for the past 15 years, died April 12. He was
buried in the family plot in Joliet, 111., his
birthplace . . . Norma Smith of the Island
circuit will marry Martin Kaplan May 2.
The wedding will take place at the Concom-se
Paradise, the Bronx.
The Park Avenue Theatre is issuing special
student discount tickets for "The Mikado"
which opened there April 15 . . . The tickets
are priced at 50 cents, including tax, Monday
to Friday afternoons and 75 cents, including
tax, Monday to Thursday evenings.
Junior and senior high school students in
New York City and Westchester county and
New Jersey communities are eligible.
From MGM Harry Margolis, booker, is
pushing the short subjects drive in the New
York branch . . . Ralph Pielow, New York
branch manager, and Ben Abner, New Jersey
branch manager, ai'e running a close race
in billing standiiigs . . . Herman Ripps of the
Albany exchange visited his boss, Jack Byrnes,
eastern district manager . . . Other MGM
visitors were: Al MacKenna of the Albermac
Theatre, Pawling; Phil Lewis of the Spring
Valley Theatre, Spring Valley, N. Y., and Mrs.
E. Knickerbocker of th? Dover Theatre,
Dover Plains, N. Y.
. .
The Motion Picture Bookers club will try
to organize a soft ball team at its April 19th
meeting . . . The club is looking forward to
keen competition from other industry organizations.
The members would feel a lot
happier if the players on the other teams
aren't too young . . . Bemie Myerson is the
papa of a baby son, Bemie is a booker for
Fabian Max Cohen of the Rialto and
.
Broadway theatres, Monticello, N. Y., was
seen around Filmrow shopping for product
and equipment. He will reopen the Broadway
late in May for the vacation trade . . . Also in
Row
New York was Ike Levy of the Greenwood
Theatre, Trenton.
WMCA of New York will cooperate with
the Reade theatres in Perth Amboy in a
week-long salute to that town May 3-10. The
main event will feature a broadcast from
the stage of the Majestic Theatre by members
of a committee headed by Mayor John A.
Delaney . New Jersey communities
will be "saluted" in future WMCA-Reade
tieups.
RICHMOND
pioyd Stawls, advertising manager for the
Fabian-Wilmer & Vincent theatres here,
found selling dollar bills for 50 cents was
mere child's play. Floyd .stood out in front of
the Colonial on the opening day of "T-Men"
with 50 crisp new dollar bills and offered
them to passersby for 50 cents. In no time
at all he had disposed of the whole lot. The
net result of the stunt was that he got a lot
more space in the newspapers than he possibly
would have gotten if the sale had been
a little tougher and not so costly.
Tile company of "Annie Get Your Gun"
came perilously close to being stranded here
due to lack of transportation caused by the
coal strike. The passenger agent for the railroad
finally arranged transportation to Cincinnati
by splitting the company in half
here and then splitting the halves again in
Charlottesville . . . Gordon Culley, Bellevue
manager, is pleased with the appearance of
his theatre since the installation of a new
screen and new stage drapes.
Eddie Weaver, organist at Loew's, featured
a song written by 19-year-old Bill Bryan, a
local boy, during the organ interludes when
"The Naked City" played there . . . The
"Voice of the People" column in the Times
Dispatch recently has been filled with brickbats
and bouquets for local amusements.
Which indicates that even if they aren't
going to see all the shows they used to, peo-
interested.
ple at least are still
Tlie Grand Tlieatre felt its first pinch of
the proposed universal military training law.
Nearly half of the floor staff resigned to
enter the navy. Those leaving are Frank
Nichols, doorman: William Gill, popcorn attendant:
and Charles Hayward, candy attendant.
Tlie Tony Pastor concerts at WRVA were
enthusiastically received by both large audiences
and the local critics. Edith Lindemann
in her review in the Times Dispatch remarked
that the lower prices and good music no
doubt brought out the crowds . . Walter
.
Thompson, manager of the Lee, is happy over
the new carpet in his theatre.
CLASS DISTRIBUTION FOB
THE ENTIRE SOUTH — thru
y Q (JOHN) (O. K.)
"O
J ENKINS
OC IDOURGEOIS
ASTOR PICTURES COMPANY
BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948 45

— —
—
—
Several Days of Rain Washes Out
Business at Broadway Houses
NEW YORK—Several days of rain washed
away some of the business along Broadway.
Only four houses reported above average
grosses. Tied for first place were "The Naked
City" at the Capitol in its sixth week and
"All My Sons" at the Criterion in its third
week. Right behind was the newcomer, "Winter
Meeting," at the Warner. "I Remember
Mama" at the Music Hall was fourth.
Among the new arrivals during the week
were "Are You With It?" at the Winter
Garden, "Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!" at the
Roxy, "Here Comes Trouble" at Loew's State
as the second half of a dual bill featui-ing
"Duel in the Sun," "The October Man" at
the Bijou and "To the Victor" at the Strand.
"Gentleman's Agreement" is still relatively
strong at the Mayfair in its 22nd week.
(Average Is 100)
Astor Mr. Blcmdings Builds His Dream House
(SRO), 3rd wk 90
Capitol—The Naked City (U-I), plus stage show,
6th wk 116
Criterion—All My Sons (U-I). 3rd wk 115
Globe—Close Up (EL). 2nd wk 60
Loew's State—B. F.'s Daughter (MGM), 3rd wk '/O
Mayfair—Gentleman's Agreement (20th-Fox), 22nd
wk 90
Palace—The Farmer's Daughter (RKO), revivdl 50
Paramount Saigon (Para), plus stage show, 2nd
wk
8Q
Radio City Music Hall—I Remember Mama (RKO),
plus stage show, 5th wk .. 104
Rialto—The Smugglers (EL). 3rd wk 95
Rivoli—The Miracle of the Bells (RKO), 4th wk 70
Roxy—Sitting Pretty (20lh-rox), plus stage show,
5th wk Bl
Strand April Showers (WB), plus stage show,
3rd wk 79
Sutton—The Pearl (RKO), 8th wk . 78
Victoria—The Search (MGM), 3rd wk 98
Warner Winter Meeting (WB), plus stage show. . 110
Winter Garden—Man of Evil (UA). 3rd wk 50
Philadelphia Grosses Drop;
Holdovers Are Hardest Hit
PHILADELPinA—April
Showers took their
toll this week, making for one of the poorest
returns hereabouts in a long time. Newcomers
got spotty attention and holdovers took
it on the chin. Best of the newcomers were
"The Bride Goes Wild," "The Big Clock" and
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"Black Bart," the last doing weU despite
poor reviews.
Aldine—The Fugitive (RKO), 2nd wk 100
Arcadia—Saigon (Para), 2nd run 55
Boyd—B. F.'s Daughter (MGM) 110
Earle—Miracle of the Bells (UA), 3rd wk 105
Erlanger— I Remember Mama (RKO) 110
Fox—Call Northsido 777 (20th-Fox). 3rd wk 90
Goldman—The Bride Goes Wild (MGM) 130
Karlton—The Big Clock (Para). .
130
Keith—A Double Life (U-1), 2nd run 120
Mastbaum—April Showers (WB), 2nd wk 80
Pix—Garden of Allah (SR), reissue. 7b
Stanley—The Naked City (U-I), 3rd wk 95
Stanton—Black Bart (U-I) 130
"Bride Goes Wild' Leader
In Weaker Buffalo Week
BUFFALO—Weekend business was off,
but
picked up after rain and wind storms. "The
Bride Goes Wild" was the leader at the
Buffalo. "The Big Clock" held up in a
moveover week at the Hippodrome. Also
strong was "The Naked City" in a second
week at the Lafayette. "I Remember Mama"
rounded out a fine three-week stay at the
Century. "To the Victor" was a disappointment
at the Great Lakes.
Buffalc^The Bride Goes Wild (MGM)-
13 Lead Soldiers (20th-Fox) 117
Great Lakes—To the Victor (WB) 88
Hippodrome The Big Clock (Para). Campus
Honeymoon (Rep), 2nd d. t. wk., moveover 100
Lalayette—The Naked City (U-1); Perilous
Waters (Mono), 2nd wk 100
Teck—April Showers (WB), Murder n Reverse
(4 Continents), 2nd d. t- wk., moveover 85
20th-century
I Remember Mama (RKO), 3rd wk._ 82
"City' Continues to Set
Pace in Baltimore
BALTIMORE—In spite of bad weather
"The Naked City" at the Century continued
to garner the bulk of the local business. "To
the Victor" ran second best in its second
week.
Century—The Naked City (U-I). 2nd wk. 122
Hippodrome—The Sign of the Ham (Col), plus
stage show
__ gj
Keith's Unconquered (Para), 3rd wk 91
Mayfair—Mr. Reckless (Para), Bill and Coo
(Rep)
gt,
Stanley—To the Victor (WB), 2nd wk 105
Town— I Remember Mama (RKO), 3rd wk 94
Raises a Protest to Roles
Given Negroes in Films
PHILADELPHIA— Contending the portrayals
of Negroes on the screen "has been
neither sympathetic, dignified nor factual,"
the young Philadelphia artist John Brantley
Wilder is now engaged in getting protest signatures
on a rolled scroll and hopes to get
10,000 of them. When the scroll is completed.
Wilder will deliver it to Eric Johnston,
head of the Motion Picture Ass'n of
America. The petition asks that Johnston
exert his authority to give Negro actors and
actresses "a chance to display their talents."
Upstate N. Y. Building Code
Not Likely Before July
ALBANY—The modernized building code
for upstate places in the public assembly
probably will not become effective before
July. The code, prepared by the advisory
committee including circuit representatives
and projectionists, and subject to public
hearings last June, is being studied thrice
weekly by the board standards and appeals,
and the state Labor department. It will replace
the one adopted in 1925.
H. E. Megowen Dies;
Pioneer at Camden
CAMDEN, N. J.—Funeral services were held
April 9 for Herbert E. Megowen, 86, of Collingswood,
who operated the first motion
picture theatre here. He died Monday.
In 1907 Megowen opened Camden's first
film theatre on the second floor of a building
at Broadway and Chestnut streets, over
a men's furnishings store. Patrons were seated
on wooden folding chairs. One reel was
shown, and the admission price was five
cents. After a few months at this location
Megowen moved his enterprise to 929 Broadway
where he had a first floor location.
The admission price remained at five cents.
Later Megowen operated a third theatre at
Broadway and Clinton and a fourth at 27th
and River. He is survived by his daughter
and a sister.
Arbitrate Salary Boost
Asked by SPG for WB
NEW YORK—Arbitration of the wage increases
asked by the Screen Publicists Guild
for home office employes was resumed here
April 15 for Warner Bros. The American
Arbitration Ass'n is handling the proceedings.
Last month the AAA arbitrators awarded
the 20th-Fox unit of SPG increases ranging
from $5.50 for apprentice publicists to $20
for seniors.
Next week RKO Radio Pictures and Theatres
will start arbitration. Loew's Inc., Paramount
and the other companies will foUow.
Approximately 300 workers will be covered
by these arbitration proceedings. All increases
are retroactive to Sept. 27, 1947, the
day the SPG contracts expired.
Masterpiece Distributor
WASHINGTON—Equities Film Exchange,
Inc., has been named distributor of Masterpiece
Production, Inc., in the Washington
territory by Jules Weill, president of Masterpiece.
Equities Film Exchange is owned
by Bernie Mills and Jack Berkson. Fred
Sanders is manager of the Washington
branch office.
Reg. U. S. Pat. Off.
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46 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

Cinema Lodge Inducts
Glixon President
NEW YORK—More than 500 from the entertainment
industry attended the Cinema
lodge of B'nai B'rith dinner at the Hotel
Astor April 14 to induct S. Arthm- Glixon,
newly elected president. The dinner was a
tribute to Glixon and to Robert M. Weitman,
president.
retiring
Barney Balaban, president of Paramount
Pictures, was presented a gold B'nai B'rith
medallion and a lifetime membership in
Cinema lodge for his devotion to the interests
of the lodge since its inception. In addition,
Weitman presented him a check for
$2,500 representing the lodge's 1948 contribution
to the United Jewish Appeal. Balaban
heads the entertainment industry division
of the drive. Weitman also presented a check
for $100 to Barney Ross for Haganah, the
fighting arm of the Jewish forces in Palestine.
"Our first obligation in our never-ending
fight against bigotry and intolerance is to
understand and respect our neighbors, regardless
of race, color or creed," Glixon told
the diners. Other Cinema lodge officers inducted
were: Leo Jaffe, vice-president and
treasurer: Maui'ice A. Bergman, S. M. Chartock,
Julius M. Collins, Bernard Goodman,
Marvin Kirsch, Martin Levine, Milton Livingston,
Louis A. Novins and Robert K.
Shapiro, vice-presidents; Dr. Hyman Charlock,
secretary; Edward Black, secretary, and
Rabbis Bernard Birstein and Ralph Silverstein,
chaplains.
In addition to Glixon, Weitman, Balaban
and Ross, those seated on the dais were:
Adolph Zukor, Leonard Goldenson; Jack
Cohn, Samuel Rinzler, David Weinstock,
Arthur Mayer, Alfred W. Schwalberg, Adolph
Schimel, Arthur Israel jr., Irving Greenfield,
Jack H. Levin, Albert A. Senft, Max Schneider,
Joseph Paradise and Lawrence White,
representing B'nai B'rith, and Judges Samuel
S. Leibowitz and Ben Shalleck, Ed Sullivan,
James Sauter, Lucy Monroe and Robert Merrill.
Buddy Rich and his orchestra, the
Mills Bros., Dean Mm-phy, Vivian Blaine,
Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Jack Miles
and Merrill provided the entertainment following
the dinner.
Henry Morgan Gets Award
From NY Riding Academy
NEW YORK—Henry Morgan, star of "So
This Is New York," a Screenplays, Inc., production
for United Artists release, received
an "academy" award from the California
Riding Academy at the Tavern-on-the-Green
in Central Park April 14. The award for
Morgan's "fimniest performance" was made
by William Tierney, dean of the hansom cab
drivers of Central Park.
Screenplays, Inc.. also received an award
for making its first picture, called "the
greatest production" in the company's history.
Candy Sales Heavier
When Picture Is Light
Albany—Exhibitors are now booking
pictures with an eye to their effect on
candy and popcorn sales.
Comedies and other light fare, it has
been discovered, are conducive to heavy
purchases. An Abbott and C'ostcllo picture,
which draws large numbers of children,
will send sales to nine or ten cents
per patron, compared with a normal sale
of two or three cents per customer, one
house manager said.
The Palace here found that candy sales
jumped considerably during the run of
"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," but
were down in the low brackets for "Green
Dolphin Street."
N. Y. Censorship Measure
In Hands of Committee
NEW YORK—An ordinance to
impose city
censorship on iilms and plays and their advertising
is now in the hands of the general
welfare committee of the city council. It
was presented April 13 by CouncUman Edward
A. Cunningham of the Bronx.
Foes of the measure—ITOA, MMPTA, Advertising
Advisory Council of MPAA and
legitimate theatre groups—are confident that
it will die in committee.
License Commissioner Benjamin Fielding
who would become chief city censor under
the ordinance, has said he does not want the
authority, and that neither he nor the administration
are behind the ordinance.
A year ago last winter Fielding backed a
bUl in the state legislature to authorize film
advertising censorship. It was defeated.
Paramount Buys 75 Acres
South of Poughkeepsie
NEW YORK—Paramount Pictures Theatres
Corp., which operates theatres in Poughkeepsie,
Peekskill and Newburgh, N. Y., has
bought 75 acres of land near Wappingers
Falls. The property, on Route No. 9 about
seven miles south of Poughkeepsie, is considered
a good site for a drive-in theatre.
MOD Collections Now
Around $400,000
NEW YORK—Reports Irom 1,500 of the
3,000 counties that participated in the 1948
March of Dimes di'ive show that theatre
collections produced between $400,000 and
$450,000. The financial statements do not include
sums raised in the major cities in
which collections were held. These cities
were: Detroit, Philadelplria, Washington,
Chicago, Kansas City, San Francisco, Los
Angeles and New Orleans.
Approximately 5.100 theatres cooperated in
the 1948 drive January 24-30. Last year the
6,000 theatres that held collections raised
about $1,500,000 for the fund.
It will take about another month before
the complete reports are audited.
MOD officials doubt whether the final
1948 theatre take will equal the 1947 figure.
Not only did fewer theatres participate this
year, but those that did were hit by severe
winter storms. These storms kept people
away from the boxoffice and away from the
collection cans.
Brandt Names 2 Children
For AOA-UNAC Drive
NEW YORK—The two childi-en selected
to appear as "Uncle Sam" and "Miss Liberty"
in the children's parade which will
launch the American Overseas Aid-United
Nations druve April 23 were invested with
their costumes at a ceremony at the Statue
of Liberty April 13. Harry Brandt, chairman
of the special events committee of the AOA-
UNAC, gave Donald Storaker, 15, of Brooklyn,
and Judith Moscow, 12, of Manhattan,
their special titles and named Glenn Branford
of Brooklyn to serve as their aide.
The children were selected to head the
parade by the vote of the city's school chUdren,
supervised by the New York City Board
of Education. Thousands of children will
march up Broadway, from 40th to 56th streets
in the cavalcade April 23. Following the parade
there will be an open air show on the
Central Park Mall with stars of the screen,
stage, radio and nightclubs participating.
Plug Levinson Tele Show
WASHINGTON—Television station WNBW,
NBC outlet here, has been running national
ads on a new Television Journal program,
originated and directed by John Levinson,
son of Col. Nathan Levinson, head of the
Warner sound department.
GLAD HAND FOK PERUVIAN PRESIDENT-George Weltner, president of Paramount
International, welcomes the president of Peru (left) to the opening of the new
Paramount Tacna Theatre in Lima, Peru, on April 1. Behind the Peruvian president
is A. L. Prachett, Paramount's Latin American division manager. To the right are
Abe Piatt, Paramount theatre department executive, and Sr. Solas, inspector of shows
in Lima.
BOXOFFICE :: AprU 17, 1948 47

. . Josephine
. . John
WASHINGTON
The Boys club band serenaded the Variety
Club delegates leaving for the convention
of Variety International in Miami. Tent 11
members who attended: Frank Boucher, Nathan
D. Golden, William Janof, Sam Forst,
Leon Makover and his mother, Frank Wolf,
Louis Bress, Philip Bress, Francis Storty,
Robert Philipson, Jake Flax and Harry
Friend.
Mrs. John 0'Lear>- and Mrs. Gene Ford
celebrated birthdays Wednesday . . . The
Pulaski Drive-In, Dublin, Va., owned by G. L.
Faw, opened Wednesday, April 14. It accommodates
175 cars . . . Langford Weiford
is now managing the Grandin Theatre,
Roanoke, Va.
Mike Leventhal has returned from Florida
Warner exchange telephone operator, has
Manager Pi-ed Beiersdorf was
resigned . . .
in Richmond and Norfolk . . . Gene Autry
and his show appeared at Uline's arena . . .
Margaret Stant is back at her desk at United
Artists. At Paramount Hazel Strawderman
Jarosik is back after a honeymoon lasting
several months.
Gloria Comwell was married . . . Frances
Herbst celebrated a birthday on Saturday
(10) ... Lillian Lee entertained office girls
Fi-iday night . Wolford resigned
as clerk typist . . . "The Emperor Waltz" was
screened for the Paramount personnel Tuesday
night . . . Columbia's Sam Galanty is
visiting his Cleveland office.
Sid Zlms is corrunuting back and forth
setting up advertising campaigns on "To the
Ends of the Earth" at the Hippodrome in
Baltimore and the Warner in Washington
. . . District Theatres' Clark Davis and
George Wheeler were on Filmrow . . . Joe
Walsh has been appointed booker and buyer
for the Motley Open Air Theatre, Motley, Va.
John R. Francis, former manager of the
Grandin Theatre, Roanoke, Va., will open
the 600-car Lee-Hi Drive-In on the Lee
highway between Roanoke and Salem, Va.,
Mr. and Mrs. Irving Hanower
about May 1 . . .
are spending a week visiting relatives
and taking in the new shows in New York
Sara Young entertained her sister, Mrs.
. . .
Minna Leavitt of Brookline, Mass. Both spent
the weekend in New York visiting relatives.
Warner Theatres: Bob Peterson, mailing
room, is proud of his sister Marjorie of Paramount
News who represented Iowa as a
princess in the 1948 cherry blossom festival.
Bob celebrated his 20th birthday on April 8
Virginia Summers, contact, went fishing, got
a bite immediately, hauled in a monster fish,
and it didn't get away!
News of the Warner Club Bowling league:
Starting with a vengeance, the Yorks bowled
over the Ambassadors in a 531 first game,
but the momentum ran out and the Ambassadors
took the second . . . The Savoys
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NEW YORK 20, N. Y.
passed up a chance to gain by sharing a
set with the local office. The Savoys had
a 501 game, but slipped in the second . . .
The Kennedys played foUow-the-leader and
split with the Silver team . . . The Metropolitan
team made a bid for futm-e honors
by twice trouncing Warners . . . After dropping
the first in a close score, the Sheridans
tossed a 515 game only to have the Penns
snatch the second for a double win. The
Calvert, which seems to be the only team
that has bowled an equal number of wins
and losses all season, failed to change its
course and split with the Beverlys.
Frank Shaffer, manager of the Dixie,
Staunton, has won plaudits for his work as
general chairman of the Red Cross drive in
liis locality. Staunton and Augusta exceeded
the goal of $13,475.
. . Ellen
Joe Brechcen, RKO manager, visited Baltimore
exhibitors . . . The RKO exchange
now has a new telephone system .
Hull has returned after a leave to the switchboard
Gertrude BriU is in Walter Reed
. . . hospital where she underwent an operation
. . . Lea Jones is Jor Kushner's new secretary
. . . Ruth Soroko resigned.
Earl B. MuUins opened his new MuUins
Drive-In in Wise, Va., which has a population
of 2,000 but no theatre. The theatre
is located in the ball park which has room
for 75 cars and 75 persons in the grandstand
. . Earle Morris, Princess Aruie, Va.,
.
was in on one of his rare visits to Filmi'ow.
Bernie Depkin reports "Scudda Hoc! Scudda
Hay!" broke house records in his Rives
Theatre, Martinsville, Va. . . . Gordon Contee
and John O'Leary, 20th-Fox, visited
Hunter Perry and Jack Katz in Charlottesville
. . . WiUiam Dalke jr. visited Filmrow
Mary Dailey, Albert Landgraf's secretary,
. . .
will celebrate a birthday Sunday
US).
Variety Club barkers who celebrated birthdays
this week were Harold Wood and Viggo
Rambusch . . . Exhibitors on Filmrow: Tom
McCaskey, J. T. Powell, Bernard Brown,
Harry Brown, Julius Levine, Henry Sauber,
"Spud" Query, Frank Stover, Mike Leventhal
and Jack Levine.
In Cumberland, Walter Bucy, projectionist
at the Maryland Theatre, was elected
business agent of Local 258 .. . Franklin
Metz has moved as projectionist at the New
Theatre, South Cumberland, to the Embassy
CeceUa Holly has succeeded Beulah
. . .
Gatton at Jack Fruchtman's New Theatre
in Leonardtown . and Edna Norris,
New Theatre, Leonardtown, christened John
jr., their new son, recently.
The Virginia senate recently paid tribute
to Senator Ben T. Pitts, owner of 26 theatres
in Virginia, for helping provide
schooling for underprivileged boys and girls.
By a standing vote, a resolution was passed
in recognition of his work. Pitts is sending
36 boys and girls thj-ough college at his
expense.
Fabian Applies to FCC
For Television Permit
ALBANY—The Van Curler Broadcasting
Co., Albany, headed by S. H. Fabian, applied
to the Federal Conrmunications commission
for a permit to operate a television station
on one of four channels available in this
area. Van Curler, in which Fabian's brotherin-law,
Samuel Rosen, Mrs. Rosen and Eddie
Fabian are officers, unsuccessfully sought a
license to operate WOKO in 1947.
PHILADELPHIA
The Fox Theatre is planning to capitalize
on political convention excitement by running
two world premieres around convention
time early in the summer. The films are
"Street With No Name" and "Walls of
Jericho."
Television news: Having completed organizational
and buildup work, WFIL went
a step farther by integrating its television
and PM staffs. Kenneth W. Stowman, who
had been television director in the early
phases of the WFIL operations, was named
television sales manager in charge of both
national and local sales. He will work under
John E. Surrick, who is sales manager of
the Philadelphia Inquirer stations, comprising
WFIL-AM, -FM, -TV, and facsimile.
Walter L. Tillman, formerly with RCA Victor
and Warner Brothers, was added to the
WFIL-TV staff as director of films.
Raymond J. Bowley. chief engineer for
the Philco Television Broadcasting Co., will
be in charge of technical arrangements for
cameras and other television facilities for
the film pool which will be set up here for
the political conventions early this siunmer.
Early reports on the technical arrangements
call for about a dozen television cameras to
be set up at vantage points in and around
Convention hall, with studio space allotted
various companies inside the hall. Under
the arrangements of the pool, it will be possible
for video to be on the air as much as
16 hours a day, if necessary.
Vincent Gerolimo is managing Dave Molliver's
Gem Theatre . . . Film star John Garfield
was due in town Friday for the first
local recital by song-dramatist Virginia
Davis at the Barclay . . . Executives of the
Wells Fargo Co. (about which the film deals)
saw a special screening of "Black Bart."
Cops and robbers in two center city first
run theatres! A lady patron of the Boyd
noticed her wallet containing $61 and a
souvenir Dutch coin were missing from her
purse during the show. She informed the
manager of the Boyd that she suspected a
red-haired man who had been sitting two
seats away from her. The theatre manager
notified the police who picked up the suspect
a few minutes later in the lobby of
the Aldine, right across the street from the
Boyd.
That new amusement tax is causing some
trouble up Allentowii way. Smce the tax is
staggered, theatre managers have had some
difficulty in determining just how much tax
should be added to this or that admission.
So the city treasurer's office has prepared
a mimeographed form listing city and federal
taxes applicable to theatre admissions from
25 cents to $1, and has sent them out to
the theatres.
Late flash from Warners: William Rowland,
independent producer of "Women in
the Night" was in town in the interests of
this film, scheduled to open at the Stanley-
Warner Capitol.
After the recent broadcast of the Phil Harris
show, in which Harris bemoaned the fact
that his name never appeared in tradepapers,
several of the trade writers agreed to
carry out the wish of the popular band leader
and radio star.
Id
48 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

ii
i
'
U"
! separate
1 Millerton
Neil Agnew Presides
At SRO Sales Meet
NEW YORK—Neil F. Agnew, Selziiick Releasing
Corp. president, presided at a sales
meeting at the New York Athletic club April
16 to discuss present and future sales policies.
The advertising and publicity plans on
the releases of "Duel in the Sun," "The
Paradine Case" and "Mr. Blandings Builds
His Dream House" were taken up. Particular
emphasis was placed on the Blandings
Dream House promotion, one of the features
of which involves construction of more than
60 dream houses in key cities throughout the
country.
The home office executives wtio attended
the meeting were: Milton Kramer, chairman
of the board: Milton S. Kusell, vice-president
in charge of domestic and Canadian
sales; Sidney Deneau, assistant general sales
manager: Leonard R. Case, assistant treasurer;
Robert M. Gillham, eastern advertising
and publicity director, and Ted Baldwin,
promotion and exploitation director.
The division managers present were: J. E.
Fontaine, eastern: Henry G. Krurrun. southem:
Sam Horowitz, midwest: Charles M.
Weiner, Canadian, and John T. Howard,
western. District managers on hand were:
Thomas F. Duane, Joseph J. Oulahan and
Saul J. Krugman.
Five Distributors File
Suits for Percentages
NEW YORK—Paramount, Warners, "Big
Film Exchange and Coliunbia have filed
percentage suits in the New York
supreme court against Sidney Cohen, Philip
Eisenberg, Rhinehook Theatres, Inc., and
Amusement Corp.
New York theatres involved are the
IBhinebeck;
Starr,
Lyceum, Red Hook; Pine Plains,
Pine Plains: Millerton, Millerton and Stuart,
Lakeville, Conn., in the Eisenberg and Cohen
|i circuits.
Paramount seeks damages of $25,000; Warners
seeks $15,000; Big U., $5,000; Columbia,
$5,000.
Loew's, Inc., and RKO filed actions against
the same defendants in federal court Jan. 30,
1948.
David Home Honor Guest
At Alban-Mestanza Party
NEW YORK—David Home, recently appointed
foreign manager for Film Classics,
was honored at a supper party given by H.
Alban-Mestanza of Foreign Screen Corp.
and Mrs. Mestanza at their home during the
week. Those present in addition to Mrs.
David Home were:
William Home and Mrs. Home, Andre E.
Algazy, Roberto D. Socas and Mrs. Socas,
Alejandro Sux and Mrs. Sux, Robert Downey
and Mrs. Downey, Mme. Eugenie Henno, Miss
Rosita Rios, Miss Virginia Martin, Miss Sally
MacGregor, P. Carcia Ortega, Ignacio Kronenberg,
Everisto Corredor, A. Blumenfeld,
Benito CoUada, Miss Aza Konelsky.
Vacationer Takes Role
Grizelda Hervey, British radio star, who is
vacationing in this country, has been set for
a featured role in Universal's "Kiss the Blood
Off My Hands."
ALBANY
^hris Pope, Schine circuit feature booker for
the Albany territory, and Murray Baker,
his assistant, spent two days on Filmrow
arranging dates for 20-odd theatres. Pope
recently visited New York City with Lou
Hart, Schine zone manager for the Gloversville
area, and called on Chet Friedman,
editor of the BOXOFFICE Showmandiser
section. Pope praised the Showmandiser index
of exploitation campaigns. The two
Schine men also saw the AAA basketball
finale between the Tulsa Oilers and University
of Kentucky.
Smalley's Johnstown theatre ran an ad
for "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" that
read, "Sorry—no ad today. The manager
died laughing at Danny Kaye in 'Secret Life
of Walter Mitty' "... Harry A. Weiner.
manager of the house, has organized and
trained a group of boy ushers for Saturday
morning kiddy shows. Tliey wear special hats
. . . Mrs. John A. May, educational director
of the F\ilton County Cancer society, and
wife of the Schine circuit treasurer spoke
over station WENT, Gloversville, on the
current campaign of the American Cancer
society.
. . .
Kallet's Oneida, Utica, uses the tag.
The
"Utica's most glamorous theatre"
Glove, Gloversville. had special after-school
showings of "Great Expectations" during a
two-day run. The school shows started at
4:30 p. m.
. . .
Exhibitors treking to Filmrow included
Harry Lament of Lamont Theatres; Morris
Slotnick, operating in Waterville, Oriskany
Falls and Utica; Bob Flockhart of Corinth;
George Thornton of Saugerties; Jules Perlmutter
of Schenectady, and Walter Wertime
of Chestertown Charles A. Smakwitz,
assistant zone manager for Warner Theatres,
. . C. J. Latta,
is a member of the Albany county steering
committee of the American Cancer society.
Dick Conners, former trade paper correspondent,
also is on the committee .
zone manager for Warners, in a telephone
conversation with the office from Miami,
reported "beautiful weather." Latta, who is
second assistant national chief barker, went
to the national convention of Variety Clubs.
Harry Lamont, chief barker of Tent 9. flew
down Tuesday.
"Sitting Pretty" drew heavy business at the
Strand over the weekend. Manager Al La
Flamme scheduled four shows Sunday. Three
is the usual number. He reported "Pi-etty"
was the biggest comedy picture at the Strand
in a long time.
Howard Goldstein and Bill Murray have
moved up the ladder a rung. Goldstein assumed
new duties as RKO salesman Monday
after working for a year and a half as head
booker and office manager. Murray, assistant
booker at 20th-Fox befoi-e and since the
war. was named to the head booker's post
in RKO. The changes give Manager Max
Westebbe of RKO two salesman again. Harold
Carlock had been soloing since the fall.
Another Filmrow veteran was promoted
when Harry Aranove. assistant booker for
Warners, was made a salesman. He starts
on the road Monday. His appointment gives
Warners two salesmen. George Goldberg has
been the only salesman since January when
Jimmy Moore was eliminated in the economy
campaign. Moore is now selling for Paramount.
Aranove's po.sition as assistant
booker will be filled by Dorothy O'Sullivan,
secretary to Ray Powers, head booker-office
manager. Aranove began as a shipper with
the old Vitagraph Co. 27 years ago and stayed
on, successively, with First National and Warner
Bros. He bought a new Kaiser this week.
Garry Stevens, singer with the Tex Beneke
band when it made shorts for U-I and Metro,
is now presenting a disk program over station
WROW. His wife is from Albany . . .
George Lofink, at one time connected with
the Palace Theatre and the Fabian division
office, is reported to be serving with the merchant
marine in an officer capacity . . .
Fabian's Leland took extra newspaper space
to announce a new Tuesday policy of Italianmade
pictures. Prices for the foreign films
are 50 cents from 10:30 a. m. to the closing
for adults and 16 cents for children. Paul
Wallen manages the Leland.
William Harrison, who worked for the
E. M. Loew circuit in Massachusetts and who
managed other theatres in that state, has
been placed in charge of the Fabian-Hellman
Ti-i-City Drive-In at Binghamton. The
600-car theatre, damaged recently by flood
waters, was scheduled to open Thursday il5).
Warren Towle, manager of Hellman's Palace
in Ti'oy the last six months, will direct
the Saratoga Drive-In at Lathams Corners,
which will open April 22. Henry Evans, who
was connected with the Fabian-Hellman
drive-ins at North Philadelphia and Albany
last season, is house manager of the Mohawk
this year. Abe Sumberg, formerly with the
Warner circuit and with other Philadelphia
theatres, is managing the Lincoln at North
Philadelphia. The Fabian-Hellman drive-ins
have Neil Hellman as general manager and
Leo Rosen as assistant. George Lourinia is
director of maintenance.
Eddie Diresta, manager of Schlne's Rialto,
Amsterdam, put on a vigorous campaign
among the Polish people of that city for
"Call Northside 777." He sent out a large
number of post cards and distributed window
cards. Bob Baranof, Amsterdam city
manager for Schine, worked with Diresta on
the promotion . . . The Polish angle also was
played by Charles Gordon's Olympic in
Utica. The local Polish paper carried copy
on the picture.
Grading has been started on a drive-in
near Adams in the Watertown territory. It
probably will have a capacity of 400 cars,
salesmen say. The builder is said to be an
. . Another new Ogdensburg man .
Country drive-in is located at Malone.
North
A Mr.
Shaw, who has been connected with Altec
Service, is reported to be the owner.
Sylvan Leff, salesman for Realart in the
Albany and Buffalo districts and operator of
theatres in Utica and Syracuse, reports that
the Fabian, Warner. Schine and Kallet circuits
have purchased his product . . .
Herman
L. Ripps, assistant eastern division manager
for Metro, left Wednesday on a business
trip to New York. He had spent a week in
the Boston territory.
THE IDEAL THEATRE CHAIRS
JOE HORNSTEIN has them
BOXOFFICE :
: AprU
17, 1948
49

1
'
No Pay for Filming
Of Olympic Games
NEW YORK—J. Arthur Rank has recognized
that the American Newsreel Ass'n is
opposed in principle to the practice of paying
for the privilege of filming news events
and has agreed that no charge will be made
for the coverage of the Olympic games in
England this summer.
Rank held a meeting with representatives
of the American Newsreel Ass'n at his suite
at the Sherry-Netherland hotel April 14 to
explain the exact conditions for newsreel
filming of the Olympic games. Those who
attended for the association were: A. J.
Richard, Paramount News, chairman; Thomas
Mead. Universal News; Walton C. Ament,
Warner-Pathe; M. D. Clofine, MGM News
of the Day; Jack Haney, Fox Movietone News,
and E. P. Genock, Paramount News.
New CBS Tele Affiliates
Bring Total to Twelve
NEW YORK—Columbia Broadcasting System
has added nine more affiliates to its
television network, bringing the total of stations
on the hookup to 12. Three stations
in New York. Philadelphia and Baltimore now
are on the air. Four of the new stations are
owned by or affiliated with newspapers.
The nine new stations all have been granted
construction permits by the FCC.
They are:
WFBM-TV, Indianapolis, owned by the CBS
AM station in that city; WHIO-TV, Dayton,
operated by the Dayton Daily News; WKRC-
TV, Cincimiati, owned by the Cincinnati
Times Star; WBT-TV, Charlotte, owned by
the Jefferson Standard Broadcasting Co.:
WHAS-TV, Louisville, affiliated with the Columbus
Dispatch: KRLD-TV, Dallas, affiliated
with the Dallas Times-Herald; WNBF-
TV. Binghamton, owned by Clark Associates,
Inc.; KGDM-TV. Stockton, owned by E. F.
Peffer.
Italian Landmark to Get
$5,000 From the MPAA
NEW YORK—The foreign managers of
MPAA member companies have voted to
contribute 3.000,000 lire, about $5,000, for the
1
restoration of the Campo Santo (Sacred
Cemetery I
of Pisa, Italy. The Campo Santo
includes a nimiber of religious buildings and
a church dating back to the 13th century.
During the war an American shell destroyed
the roof and some of the frescoes inside the
church.
.
The MPAA members voted to contribute
this money as a goodwill gesture toward Italy.
Realart Board Members
Hold Home Office Meet
NEW YORK—The board members of Realart
Pictures Corp. gathered from all parts of
the country for a meeting at the home office
April 14 to discuss sales policies and the
quantity of pictures to be released during
the coming months.
Those who attended were: Paul Broder of
the Broder circuit in Detroit: Jack Broder.
circuit owner from California: Irving Kipnis,
who flew in from Miami; Budd Rogers,
Norman Eisenstein and Joseph Harris, chairman
of the board.
Hollywood Films Tops,
Says R. J. O'Donnell
MIAMI—"Hollywood still makes the
best pictures in the world. Those hifalutin
British pictures are driving our
Texans nuts. They don't understand
them and what they don't understand
they don't like." So R. J. O'Donnell,
Variety's international chief barker
and vice-president and general manager
of the Interstate circuit, said in
an interview published in the Miami
Daily News. O'Donnell was here for
the Variety Club convention.
MPEA Released 92 Films
In Holland Last Year
NEW YORK—The Motion Picture Export
Ass'n released only 92 pictures out of the 400
imported by Holland in 1947, according to
Irving Maas, MPEA vice-president and general
manager. Maas mentioned this figure
to correct an impression that MPEA is monoplizing
American product and playing time
in that country.
In contrast to the MPEA releases, one
Dutch distributor alone released 90 pictures,
of which 46 were the product of American
non-MPEA independent producers, Maas
said. Additional American pictures were released
by other Dutch distributors. The
Dutch independent distributors are handling,
among other films, the backlog and current
product of Goldwyn, Enterprise, Selznick,
Spitz-Goetz, Disney, other United Artists producers
and some Columbia and Universal
product delivered under pre-war commitments.
MPEA has released less than one-third of
the number of pictures which its member
companies combined released in Holland in
the average pre-war year, according to Maas.
"MPEA has adhered scrupulously to a rigid
policy of careful selectivity of product and has
arbitrarily limited its exports to avoid flooding
that market," he said.
MPAA Board Meet April 20
May Map British Split
NEW YORK—The MPAA board of directors
will meet Tuesday, April 20 to elect
officers. It is understood the directors will
discuss plans for dividing British film revenue
under the terms of the tax settlement
agreement. A special committee has been
working on a formula for dividing the pooled
coin for several weeks.
The meeting originally was scheduled for
this past week, but was postponed because
Eric Johnston was unable to retiu-n from
the coast in time. Johnston, Kenneth Clark
and David Palfreyman returned to Washington
from Hollywood April 14.
The directors are expected to take up the
question of investments of blocked currency
in England.
ATS Lining Up Nominees
NEW YORK—The nominating
committee
of the American Television Society is preparing
a Ust of candidates for officers and
directors. Nominees will be selected at the
April 29 meeting of the organization.
Western Electric Co.
Buys in Manhattan
NEW YORK—The Western Electric Co.
has purchased a plot of land covering four
entire city blocks in lower Manhattan for
the erection of a new headquarters building,
according to C. L. Strong, information manager.
The site, which was bought from the
Tishman Realty and Construction Co., represents
a frontage of 440 feet on Varick and!
Hudson streets and 405 feet on Ericsson
Place and Laight street.
"Not only will the new building permit the
consolidation of Western Electric's own headquarters
organization," according to Stanley
Bracken, president, "but it will release muchneeded
space, now rented from the AT&T
'
Co. at 195 Broadway, to our parent company."
No information as to the type or size of the
proposed building is available nor has an
architect Been selected. Bracken said.
The plot was first obtained by the Trinity
Church Corp. Nov. 3, 1705, under grant from
the English governor, 'Viscount Cornbury,
as part of the "Queen's Farm." 'When title
to the historical site passes to the Western
Electric Co., it will mark only the third change
'
in ownership in 243 years. George B. Han- i
ford, president of Hanford and Henderson,
realty brokers, negotiated the transaction
with Reuben Talley, attorney, who acted for
the Tishman company.
RCA Theatre. Recording
Sections Consolidated
CAMDEN, N. J.—RCA has consolidated its !
motion picture activities into a newly created
theatre and recording equipment section with
Barton Kreuzer as manager, according to
Prank M. Polsom, RCA executive vice-president.
Kreuzer, ' who has been manager of
RCA film recording activities for the past
two years, joined RCA in 1928.
The new section consists of the theatre
equipment group, producers and distributors
of sound, projection and other types of
theatre equipment; the film recording group,
which makes the sound recording equipment
used by Hollywood producers and makers of
industrial and documentary films, and the
Brenkert Light Pi-ojection Co.. manufacturers
of Brenkert projectors and arc lamps.
lapan Studio to Remove
All Reds From Payroll
TOKYO—The Toho Motion Picture Co.,
Japan's largest producer, has decided to remove
all Communist employes from the payroll
in a move to cut overhead. Employes
at the company have argued that better
product would solve the deficit problem.
The monthly deficit averages about $100,-
000. Tetsuzo Watanable, president, said
enough workers would be discharged to
balance the books. The management also
refused a demand by the film workers' union
to permit employes to participate in management.
Scholastic Picks 'Search'
NEW YORK—"The Search" (MGM) has
been chosen the "movie of the month" by
the five publications in the Scholastic Magazines
group. The picture was produced in
American occupied Germany by Lazar Wechsler.
1
;lllJ
llFi
50
BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

NEWS AND VIEWS THE PRODUCTION CEMTER
(Hollywood Office— Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.: Ivan Spear, Western Manager)
Legion Cites Republic
For Aid to U.S. Ideals
HOLLYWOOD—In recognition of Republic's
"contribution to Americana" throughout
its 13-year productional history, American
Legion post No. 8 sponsored a "Republic-
Americana" night April 15, at which a plaque
for Herbert J. Yates, Republic headman, was
accepted on his behalf by Producer Franklyn
Adreon. Yates, currently in New York, was
unable to be present.
Edward C. Stodel, post commander, made
the presentation. The plaque cites Yates for
his "proven loyalty as an American citizen
as exemplified by his sponsorship through
the years of motion pictures conceived and
dedicated to the great American story."
Entertainment at the meeting was provived
by Roy Rogers, Foy Willing and the
Riders of the Purple Sage.
* * *
Myrna Loy will be a delegate to the regional
conferences of the U.S. commission
for the United Nations' Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organiatizon in San
Francisco May 13-15. The star will be the
only film delegate to the three-day conference.
* » »
Two new scrolls of honor have been added
to Jack L. Warner's collection. The Warner
Bros, production chief received one from
Carlos Barbe, Uruguayian consul in Los
Angeles, in recognition of his "understanding
of Pan American principles" and his "kindnes
to the people of Uruguay." The second,
an honorary membership in the Italian
League to Control Cancer, was presented by
Dr. Mario Profile, Italian consul here.
Y. Frank Freeman Is Head
Of Academy Foundation
HOLLYWOOD—Y. Fi-ank Freeman was
voted president of the Academy Foundation,
subsidiary of the Academy of Motion Picture
Arts and Sciences, which was founded
in 1945 to acquire financial resources to foster
Academy cultural projects. Other officers
named include Walter Wanger, vice-president;
Mary C. McCall jr., secretary; Farciot
Edouart. treasurer; Margaret Herrick. executive
secretary; and trustees. Freeman, Miss
McCall, Charles Brackett, Edouart, Wanger
and Jean Hersholt.
Owen Crump loins Metro
HOLLYWOOD—Owen Crump, until recently
at Warners, joined Metro in a production
capacity. He has drawn no assignment
as yet.
Producers Remain Ready
For Talks With Actors
HOLLYWOOD—No doors have been closed
and the producers have "not broken off negotiations"
with the Screen Actors Guild relating
to the formulation of a new contract,
it was emphasized by Charles Boren, labor
relations liaison executive and vice-president
of the Motion Picture Ass'n of America.
Boren's statement was made in an answer
to a militant bulletin dispatched to the SAG
membership by the organization's board of
directors, and which contained either a very
formidable strike threat or, in the opinion
of some observers, was designed to launch
a "war of nerves" before the Guild's present
interim contract expires next August 1.
SAG STANDING FIRM
Neither Boren nor any other MPAA spokesman
could or would comment, however, on
the SAG'S charge that the producers had
flatly refused to discuss seven vital points
raised by the actors in their now-terminated
negotiations. It was intimated that the filmmakers
are willing to reopen the discussions
as to a new contract at any time the SAG
negotiators wish to seek an audience.
Meantime the SAG apparently was standing
firm on the statement in its bulletin to
members declaring there is "nothing further
and no further meetings are
to discuss . . .
scheduled." The manifesto hinted strongly
at the possibility of strike action by pointing
out that the guild "cannot strike until expiration
of our present interim contract" on
August 1. The board at the same time expressed
its belief that strike meetings so far
in advance would be "premature," although
emphasizing that "the present situation does
not look favorable for a new contract."
AGREE ON MOST POINTS
The SAG bulletin declared that the "only
important point" on which producers indicated
they would "yield anything at all" was
a guild demand that individual players be
given a contractual guarantee against civil
litigation by his studio in the event of an
actors' strike. The guild negotiators said
they received a flat "no" on seven other
points, including restrictions on reissues, a
temporary stop-gap clause to preclude use of
feature films in television, a "no-loanout"
policy without an actor's consent, reduction
in length of term contracts, reform of the
option system, right of the actor to accept
radio and television engagements and retain
fees paid him, and a ban against pressuring
a contract player by "forcing" him into
"obviously inferior" roles.
The SAG negotiating committe includes
Ronald Reagan, chairman; Louise Beavers,
Charles Bickford, Lee Bowman, George
Chandler, Paul Harvey, William Holden,
Gene Kelly, Cliff Lyons, George Murphy,
Walter Pidgeon, Tj'rone Power, Anne Revere,
Larry Steers, Tudor Williams, John Dales
jr., Pat Somerset and Lawrence W. Beilenson
Announced at the same time was the appointment
of George Chandler as SAG treasurer,
replacing Olivia de Havilland, who resigned.
Meantime a considerably more harmonious
atmosphere prevailed anent the status of contract
negotiations between major producers
and the Screen Directors Guild. Boren and
SDG President George Stevens announced
jointly that a preliminary meeting had already
been held and that further sessions
were scheduled during the next two weeks.
The SDG's basic agreement expired last
March, with its terms continuing in effect by
mutual agreement until a new pact has been
worked out. The SDG is demanding a 100
per cent Guild shop, new minimimi wage
scales for free-lance meggers and other conditions.
Producer for Columbia
HOLLYWOOD—Columbia signed S.
Sylvan
Simon to a long-term ticket as a producer.
He recently completed "The Fuller Brush
Man," Red Skelton comedy, made in association
with Edward Small for Columbia release.
Simon formerly was at Metro as a
director.
•
Fashion Designer Signed
HOLLYWOOD—Travis Banton has been
signed on a three-year ticket as head fashion
designer for Independent Artists, the sharecropping
unit headed by Rosalind Russell and
Frederick Brisson. He designed Miss Russell's
wardrobe for "The Velvet Touch."
Get Public Prosecutor Roles
HOLLYWOOD—Roles in Jerrj' Fairbanks'
Public Pi'osecutor film television series for
NBC went to Phiroze Nazir, Milburn Stone
and William Wright, with Nazir to appear in
"The Swarthy Man," 11th in the series, and
Stone and Wright cast in "The Body Beautiful,"
fourth in the group. Character actress
Beulah Bondi was signed for a role in
"The Family Affair," eighth in the series.
BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948 51

high-budget
'.
STUDIO PERSONNELITIES
Barnstormers
Monogram
JIMMY WAKELY, singing cowboy star, opened a
personal appearance tour in San Francisco with an
itinerary calling for stopovers throughout northern
California, New Mexico and Texas, returning here
May 3.
Blurbers
Enterprise
IRVING RUBINE has joined the publicity department
as a special assistant to Bill Blowitz. He and
Blowitz left immediately for Samta Fe to set details
for the May 16 world premiere there of "Wanted,"
the Harry Sherman production starring Joel McCrea.
Film Classics
Don Hix, publicity chief for Philip N, Krasne's
Falcon Productions, planed for New York for huddles
with Al Zimbalist, FC publicity director, on the
exploitation campaign for Krasne's "Devil's Cargo,"
starring John Calvert.
Briefies
Paramount
Ken Carpenter is doing the narrolion for "Feather
Finery," latest in the Unusual Occupations shorts
being produced by Jerry Fairbanks.
Cleffers
Columbia
ALLAN ROBERTA and LESTER LEE completed an
original score and title song for the Harry Romm
production, "Ladies of the Chorus."
Metro
HARRY WARREN will team with Ralph Blane on
writing new tunes for the Michael Curtiz production,
"My Dream Is Yours."
Paramount
__
HARRY LUBIN will compose and conduct the
"Disaster" score for Pine-Thomas Productions.
HARRY LUBIN is conducting his own original score
for the Pine-Thomas production, "Waterfront at
Midnight."
Loanouts
RKO
Borrowed from Metro, SPRING BYINGTON draws
one of the character toplines in the forthcoming
Joseph Cotten-Valli starrer, "Weep No More." Robert
Stevenson will direct for Producer Robert Sparks.
Warners
Borrowed from 20th-Fox, BETTY ANN LYNN draws
the second femme lead in the new Bette Davis
comedy, "June Bride."
Meggers
Metro
PANDRO S. BERMAN draws production 'reins on
^_
"The Bride," story of graft in war surplus dealings,
to star Robert Taylor and Ava Gardner. It is based
on cj maga2ine story by Marguerite Roberts.
"Introduction to Sally," romantic comedy by the
English playwright, Geoffrey Kerr, goes on LEON
GORDON'S production slate as a Vehicle lor Peter
Lawford and Elizabeth Taylor.
Monogram
KPRT NEUMANN vrill direct the next King Bros,
production for Allied Artists, "Last of the Badmen,"
which will star Barry Sullivan.
"The Mystery of the Golden Eye," new Charlie
Chan adventure, will be piloted by WILLIAM BEAU-
DINE.
"Trigger Man," new Johnny Mack Brown sagebrusher,
is being piloted for Producer Barney
Sarecky by HOWARD BRETHERTON.
RKO
SID ROGELL has been handed the production
reins on "Sam Wynne" and Lillie Hayward will
script the forthcoming Pat O'Brien starrer.
Republic
"Marshals of the Old West," serial on the
1948-49 program, will be produced by FRANKL'
ADREON.
Universal-International
FREDERICK DE CORDOVA, currenty piloting
^^
"Washington Girl," has been signed to a new term
contract.
Producer and director, respectively, of "It Gives
Me Great Pleasure" will be ROBERT ARTHUR and
CLAUDE BINYON, with Binyon also drawing the
screenplay assignment. The yatn is an original by
Emily Kimbrough.
NUNNALLY JOHNSON is readying "The Purple
Mask," period comedy-drama dated prior to the
Napoleonic era in Paris, as his next production.
The story was authored by Paul Armont and Jean
Manoussi.
Options
Columbia
WILLIAM HOLDEN will head the cctet of "The
Walking Hills," adventure melodrama with a Mexican
locale, to be produced by Harry Joe
megged by John Sturges.
Brown and
NANA BRYANT goes into the cast of "Ladies of
the Chorus." Phil Karlson is directing the Harry
Romm production, Male lecfd goes to RAND BROOKS.
Character role in "The Wrangler," Harry Joe
Brown western starring Sonny Tufts, was handed
RUSSELL SIMPSON. Role of a comic bartender was
handed SID SAYLOR. Sonny Tufts and Barbartf
Britton are co-starred.
Film Classics
Featured spot in the Sig Neufeld production,
"Miraculous Journey," went to CAROLE DONNE.
Monogram
JOHN SULLIVAN, 7-year-old son on Barry Sullivan,
was set by the King Bros, for a role in his father's
next starring film, "La's! of the Badmen."
AGAPITO MARTINEZ, ARTHUR SMITH and DO)
WESTON, singing trio, joined the "Arizona Sunset"
cast.
Paramount
MARY JAYNE SAUNDERS, 5-year-old screen newcomer,
has been cast as "Little Miss Marker"
posite Bob Hope in "Sorrowiul Jones."
op-
Added to the cast of the Hal Walhs
Accused," was SARA ALLGOOD.
opus, "The
LAURA ELLIOTT, former model and screen newcomer,
goes into "Special Agent," upcoming Pine-
Thomas vehicle, as her first assignment under a
new long-term contract. CAROLE MATHEWS handed
a
role.
Cast as the head of a crooked gambling ring
in the Bob Hope comedy, "Sorrowful Jones," was
BRUCE CABOT. Sidney Lanfield megs the Robert
Welch production. Lined up for roles were Wl-
LIAM DEMAREST, CHARLEY COOLEY and TOM
PEDI.
WILLIAM HOLDEN, MACDONALD CAREY. WIL-
LIAM BENDIX and MONA FREEMAN will topline
m "Streets of Laredo," Technicolor sagebrusher
being scripted by Charles Matquis Warren. Robert
Fellows will produce, with
under way in May.
camera work to get
LISA GOLM was ticketed for a supporting spot
in "The Great Gatsby," Richard Maibaum production
starring Alan Ladd, Betty Field and Ruth
Hussey.
RKO
JACK PAAR, radio comic, will make his camera
debut in "Weep No More," the Joseph Cotten-
Valli starrer.
Republic
Femme lead in the 12-chapter serial, "Adventures
Scripters
of Frank and Jesse James," will be NOEL NEILL
T U ' 11
ALLAN "ROCKY" LANE, cowboy hero, was op- 1 GCJUllCQlly
tioned for another year. His next chore is "Marshal
of Amarillo."
One of the toplines in "The Far Outpost," to be
produced and directed by Joe Kane, was handed
ADELE MARA. Previousy set were Hod Cameron.
Ilona Massey and Forrest Tucker.
20th-Fox
Producer Sol M. 'Wurtzel booked CHARLES RUS-
SELL and VIRGINIA CHRISTINE lor the romantic
leads in "Big Dan," story of a detrained parotroop
dog. JOHN RIDGELY, KONSTANTIN SHAYNE, JAML:
BURKE, WILLIAM BAKE'WELL and WILLIAM BENE-
DICT were signed for parts.
United Artists
A comedy topline in the James Nasser production.
"An Innocent Affair," was handed ALAN MO>
BRAY. Lloyd Bacon directs ttie Fred MacMurray-
Madeleine Carroll vehicle.
Universal-International
DEANNA DURBIN and CHARLES COBURN will be
"
starred in "The Western Story, sagebrusher.
William Bowers, who wrote the original
screenplay, will also co-produce with Robert Arthur,
and Frederick de Cordova was handed the directorial
reins. The film is slated for a midsummer
start.
Here on vacation, GRI2ELDA HERVEY, British
Broadcasting Co. star, was set lor a featured role
in "Kiss the Blood Off My Hands." Cast additions
include HAROLD GOODWIN, REGINALD SHEFFIELD
and TOM DILLON.
EDDIE ALBERT goes into "You Gotta Stay Happy,"
upcoming Rampart production to star Joan Fontaine
and James Stewart. H. C. Potter will direct.
STEPHEN McNALLY and MARTIN GARRALAGA
were set for "Rogues' Regiment," the Robert Buckner
production.
Skating star MICHAEL KIRBY will have the male
lead in the new Sonja: Henie film, "The Countess
of Monte Cristo."
Added to the "Larceny" company was DAN
O'HERLIHY, British film player. DOROTHY HART
joined the cast. The Leonard Goldstein production
features John Payne, Joan Caulfield and Dan Duryea.
Warners
Supporting roles in "Smart Money" were hcOided
DOROTHY MALONE and HELEN WESTCOTT. Set
for the toplines, with Richard Bare megging, are
Zachary Scott and Virginia Mayo,
Stage actor RAYMOND GREENLEAF is booked
for "A Kiss in the Dark," starring Jane Wyman
and David Niven, which Delmer Daves is directing.
SELENA ROYLE has been cast in Michael Curtiz
Productions' "My Dream Is Yours."
JAMES HOLDEN, Broadway actor, has been signed
to a one-picture commitment. He was a member
of the "Command Decision" cast in New York.
Metro
"Day Before
production,
Spring,"
is being
upcoming Arthur
written by GEORGE
Hornblow
OPPEN-
jr.
HEIMER.
ANDREW SOLT is
River" for production
adapting "House
by Sam Zimbalist.
Above the
RKO
A musical version of Booth Tarkington's "Alice
Adorns" is being written by MYLES CONNOLLY for
Producer Bert Gronet.
United Artists
Producer James Nasser signed LOU BRESLOW and
JOSEPH HOFFMAN to develop a* comedy-drama, as
yet untitled, as a Fred MacMurray-Madeleine Carroll
vehicle. Breslow and Hoffman authored the
current Nasser opus, "An Innocent Affair," in
which MacMurraY and Miss Carroll have the toplines.
Story Buys
Monogram
"The Tipster," by Houston Branch, acquired for
Jeffrey Bernerd's production slate. It is tentatively
set to go before the cameras in May.
RKO
Pot O'Brien will have the title role in the newly
purchased "Sam Wynne," a novel by J. H. Wallis.
The modern melodrama has a New York background.
Republic
James Edward Grant sold an original, "Bayou,"
a romantic adventure yarn about the Mississippi
river country in the 1800s.
"The Betrayal," a western adventure by Winston
Miller, purchased for production by William Jacobs,
with Raoul Walsh set to direct. It has an Arizona
locale.
"The Candy Kid," story of a gambler in the era
of "Diamond Jim" Brady, was acquired from Michael
MacDougall and placed on Anthony Veiller's production
slate. David Goodis is doing the screenplay.
Columbia
"
"The Wrangler will be edited by JERRY THOMS.
Eagle Lion
EDWARD ILOU is set as the art director on "29
Clues."
Enterprise
SOL POLITO will lens "Tucker's People," upcoming
John Garfield starrer.
Metro
PRESTON AMES is set as art director on "Neptune's
Daughter."
Paramount
Assistant to Producer-Director Cecil B. DeMille on
"Samson and Delilah" is EDDIE SALVEN.
Dialog director on the Hal Wallis production,
"The Accused," will be RUTH ROBERTS.
LEN HENDRY is the dialog director on "Sorrowful
Jones."
RKO
Lensing assignment
HARRY WILD.
on "Weep No More" goes to
Universal-International
The new Sonja Heme starrer, "The Countess of
Monte Cristo," will be photographed by TONY
GAUDIO. Skating sequences will be staged by
I
52 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

I
L.
,
network
'
j
I
I
HOLLYWOOD—Dedication
I
to
'
choreographer KATHERINE LITTLEFIELD.
Art director on "Criss Cross" will be BORIS
LEVEN.
Warners
Crew assignments on "Silver Lining" include
PHIL QUINN, assistant director; LOU BAUM. unit
manager; JOHN HUGHES, art director, and IRENt
MORRA, lilm editor.
LOU BAUM vfas set as unit manager on "June
Bride."
ROBERT HAAS is designing the sets lor "Happy
Times," comedy to star Danny Kaye.
Title Changes
Monogram
"Bury Me Not," upcoming Charlie Chan mystery,
was refilled THE MYSTERY OF THE GOLDl.,
EYE.
Screen Guild
POLICE REPORTER is the new handle for "Shoot
to Kill." It is currently m release.
20th-Fox
"The Law and Martin Rome" has been shortened
MARTIN ROME.
THE SHAMROCK TOUCH is the new handle for
"Leave It to the Irish."
United Artists
ON OUR MERRY WAY is the new handle for "A
Miracle Can Happen," also knowrr previously as
"Along Came Baby." The Benedict Bogeous production
is currently in release.
Universal-International
"The Saxon Charm" switches to THE CHARMING
MATT SAXON.
Country Hospital Opening
Marks MPRF's 25th Year
Starts 'Variety Time'
HOLLYWOOD—Using footage from its
April 18 of
the new Motion Picture Country hospital, an
adjunct to the Motion Picture Country House
in Calabasas, will mark the silver anniversary
of the organization of the Motion
Picture Relief fund, under whose sponsorship
the hospital was erected.
Ceremonies attending the formal opening
will find more than 1,000 guests on hand,
among them Jean Hersholt, MPRF president,
who will appear on a 15-minute CBS
salute. With Hersholt on the broadcast
will be Dinah Shore, Robert Montgomery,
Ronald Reagan. Shirley Temple and the
King's Men.
The new hospital was designed by William
Pereira. Dr. Francis E. Brown is head of
the medical unit and Dr. Balfour D. Straith
is chief of the dental unit. The building
cost $1,350,000, the funds being raised via
the Screen Guild Players air show and
voluntary pay roll deductions.
recent
musical subjects, both of the featurelength
and short variety, as the nucleus, RKO
has begun camera work on "Variety Time,"
a seven-reeler combining specialty acts and
comedy playlets. Jack Parr, screen and radio
comic, serves as star and master of ceremonies
tying the acts together. The subject
is being produced by George Bilson and
piloted by Richard Fleischer from continuity
supplied by Paar, Leo Solomon and Joe
Quillan.
'Burning Cross' Retitled
HOLLYWOOD— Since exhibitors in some
territories have registered objections to "The
Burning Cross" as the title of the Screen
Guild expose of Ku KIux Klan operations,
on the theory that it implies a religious
theme, SG is making the picture available
in those areas under a new handle, "They
Ride by Night."
New advertising accessories,
trailers and ads are being prepared.
ONTRACUAL effects on screen
credits have long been the cause of bewilderment
of hinterland movie fans
and the butt of many a jibe concocted by
those who delight in turning a disparaging
line at the expense of Cinemania. Such influences
manifest themselves not only in
overlong main titles, but in virtually every
form of advertising devoted to feature pictures.
In Hollywood and its immediate environs,
the prominent and repetitious heralding of
who produced, directed, designed, photographed,
wrote, adapted, dialogued, etc., a
given film undoubtedly is of considerable
importance to the individuals who made such
respective contributions to the offering's
worth—or unworthlness. Their vanity—and
often their bodies—literally live on screen
credits. That's why they or their agents concentrate
as much on what they consider deserved
billing as on the financial phases of
a contract or assignment. Outside of Hollywood's
glamorous immediate orbit, the performance
tallies in most instances mean
nothing to ticket buyers, among whom rare
indeed is the individual who can name more
than a half-dozen producers, directors and /or
writers.
The necessary listing of the creative
credits, as per provisions of various contracts,
in newspaper, magazine and billboard
advertising does comparatively little harm.
They usually are tucked away in relatively
small type in an obscure corner of the advertisement,
where the worst that can be
said about them is that they clutter the copy
and waste printers' ink. Nevertheless, those
who read as they run can still receive the
advertisement's only effectual and interesting
message, to wit, the feature's name, its
stars and a line anent its character. The
prospective customers can take or leave alone
the extraneous material—and in a preponderant
number of instances he leaves it alone.
Unfortunately, the same does not obtain
as concerns radio spot announcements, a
comparatively new form of point-of-sale advertising
being employed in ever-increasing
volume by film exploiteers. There the alloted
space—in the form of air time—is definitely
limited, usually to 15, 30 or 60 seconds.
There it is impossible to relegate uninteresting
credits to obscurity. There the
prospect must attend the entire message or
none of it.
Consequently the penetration of the message
is considerably lessened through the
inclusion of anything other than extolment
of the picture, its stars, its Thespian and
dramatic excellence.
A current case in kind—and it is not exceptional—are
the radio spot announcements
being widely employed on behalf of RKO
Radio's thoroughly-excellent, record-challenging
"I Remember Mama." Copy therefor
informs one and sundry that "Dore
Schary presents the George Stevens production,"
which intelligence is broadcast to the
listening public in equal prominence and
with equal enthusiasm as is the necessarily
limited information anent the picture, its
literary source and its topliners.
Now, everyone in HoUyw'ood is well aware
that Messrs. Schary and Stevens occupy enviable
and well-deserved niches in the uppermost
production brackets. It is doubted,
however, that broadcasting—most especially
farther away than the Hollywood hills—the
fact that "Mama" is a Schary presentation
and a Stevens production will sell a single
additional ticket to the picture.
As a part of their hysterical-in-somephases
economy programs, producers and
distributors have materially pared their advertising
appropriations. Which makes it
doubly important that every ounce of manpower,
every inch of advertising space and
every second of air time be used as effectively
as possible to sell pictures.
Intelligent executive, production and creative
personnel will readily realize that the
most flattering sop to their vanity and the
strongest insurance for their continued success
lies in highly-profitable grosses for
their efforts. Resultantly they should be
eager to forego advertising credits, and regardless
of contract terms, where the time
or space can be more advantageously used
to sell tickets.
Columbia's Chief Campanologist Lou Smith
keeps alive his department's long-standing
propensity toward matters zoological with a
yarn to the effect that Producer Harry Joe
Brown is scouring the countryside for a special
breed of bull, one of the Brahma variety
with a hump, and with a ferocious nature,
to be used as the animal star in "The Wrangler."
One such animal, declares Blurber
Smith, was offered Brown by Claude Binyon,
who wants in return the loan of a Columbia
star sometime next year at regular loanout
rates "minus Sl.OOO - per - week handling
charges for the bull."
The $l,000-per-week handling charge can
be considered something of a victory for the
Screen Publicist Guild.
Other current zoological notes—and they
follow a well-prescribed pattern by increasing
in reverse proportion to the availability
of newsworthy items anent picture-making:
Pi-oducer Sol Lesser, who recently purchased
the Selig zoo. reportedly plans to restock
the venture and is hunting for virtually
every kind of animal—except seals.
Enterprise's energetic entrepreneurs put
their neck out with a tidbit anent an alleged
talent search in the waters off the rocky
coast of Maine for a "photogenic" lobster
which will have a role in "No Minor 'Vices."
Looks like an unemployed actor should
answer "Yes" to Der Bingle's popular tuneful
inquiry, "Or would you rather be a mule?"
World premiere of "Oklahoma Blues,"
Monogram oater starring Jimmy Wakely. was
scheduled to be held late in April at Clovis,
N. Mex.
Which makes Oklahoma City a natural for
the next picture localed in New Mexico.
BOXOFFICE :
: April 17, 1948 53

Johnston Insists He Cannot Make 'Wanted' lo Premiere
Political Eunuchs Out of Actors
HOLLYWOOD—Eric Johnston is standing
pat on his previously declared hands-off policy
anent the rights of motion picture personalities
to enlist their names and talents
with either of the major political parties in
this year's presidential campaigns. As to
Communists — that's something different
again.
The Motion Picture Ass'n of America head
made that an emphatic part of the information
he revealed at a press conference he
staged during his recent visit to the film
capital. Johnston earlier had exposed a frigid
shoulder to a request from executives of the
Pacific Coast Conference of Independent
Theatre OwTiers that screen luminaries be
restrained from active participation in politics
which might jeopardize their boxoffice
potentialities.
AIVIPLIFIES
ON ATTITUDE
Amplifying on his attitude. Johnston said,
"I do not propose to make political emiuchs
out of Hollywood personalities. I understand
that both major parties have approached
stars and proposed using them in shorts
which will be widely exhibited at political
meetings, etc. The MPAA couldn't stop this
even if it wanted to, as such interference
would be illegal. Furthermore, interfering
with the political beliefs or activities of individuals
in the industry any attempt to
limit their freedom of expression would not
be in keeping with our democratic processes."
Asked if such declaration of policy wasn't
slightly inconsistent in view of the industry's
doctrine of refusing work to members of the
Communist party, Johnston countered with,
"No, the Communist party is not a political
party, but the agent of a foreign power."
Johnston saw the possibility of an early
increase in production activities in the fact,
revealed for the first time, that the Pi-oduction
Code authority currently is being asked
to pass on nearly twice as many completed
scripts as were being submitted at this time
last year.
STRESSES FOREIGN MARKETS
He devoted the major part of his remarks
to the foreign market and its present and
probable future status, amplifying on the
details of the recently signed agreement with
the British abolishing the ad valorem tax.
In this connection, the MPAA chief again
stressed the importance of foreign markets,
declaring that it is impossible under existing
conditions for a picture to show a profit from
domestic grosses alone. While he declared
that, country by country, the foreign problem
is "tough," he spoke optimistically about
the possibilities of Increased dollar revenues
from abroad as agreements are worked out
with various nations.
To illustrate to what lengths the American
industry is going in an effort to increase
dollar remittances from abroad, he told of
how a deal had been worked out throug'h
which blocked Italian credits had been released
through the purchase of wood pulp in
Sweden, which commodity was then exported
to Italy in exchange for rayon, half of which
was permitted to be turned into dollars for
remittance to the American distributors participating
in the deal.
Analyzing distribution problems in many
countries, Johnston emphasized that it is of
primary importance to continue bookings in
markets even where the exhibition of U.S.
films loses rather than makes money. Such
policy should be pursued, he opined, so that
American pictures will be in demand when
these now unfavorable markets have again
opened up. Cost of distribution in those
countries to the industry is better than $500.-
000 annually, the MPAA president declared,
adding that American film companies cannot
continue to underwrite such a loss indefinitely.
Therefore motion pictures have joined
with radio, newspaper and magazine executives
to urge the speedy passage of the Smith-
Mundt bill, under which the government
would appropriate funds with which to buy
blocked currency in those areas.
Johnston .said that the estimated film revenue
from England during the coming year
under terms of the compromise tax agreement
will be approximately $30,000,000. This
includes the basic $17,000,0000 which England
will pay regardless of the fluctuation
of the pound: $8,000,000 which British pictures
are expected to gross In their U.S.
playdates: and $5,000,000 from American film
companies' investments abroad. Prom the
rest of the world, the MPAA chieftain said,
another $24,000,000 can be expected, so that
the total revenue from all foreign distribution
should reach about $54,000,000.
Heavy Radio Plugs
For Morgan Picture
HOLLYWOOD—Opening guns have been
fired in an intensive exploitation barrage set
by United Artists and Screenplays, Inc., for
"So This Is New York," comedy starring
Henry Morgan, which will
go into release in
early summer.
A deal has been set with ABC for spot
announcements on 225 stations in return for
a short trailer plugging the network in theatres.
In addition, Morgan is undertaking an
extended series of consecutive plugs on his
own ABC show. Displays and merchandising
tieups have been worked out with Rayve
Shampoo, Morgan's sponsor, and Morgan will
broadcast his show from the theatre stage
at the premiere of "So This Is New York,"
either in Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago
or Boston.
Havre Theatre Is Opened
By Golder, DonTigny
HAVRE. MONT.—The New Havre Theatre,
a 468-seat house, was put into operation here
Easter Sunday by Clarence Golder and Emil
DonTigny. The opening night program featured
winners of the Great Falls, Mont.,
talent search and "The Farmer's Daughter."
During the first week the theatre also had
Jimmy Wakely, western star, on its stage,
together with a Wakely picture, and showed
"The Best Years of Our Lives." Golder also
owns the Civic Center Theatre in Great Palls.
Booked in Television Role
HOLLYWOOD—Lina Romay was booked
for a major role in "The Comic Strip Murder,"
14th in the Public Prosecutor television
series, which Jerry Fau'banks is producing
for NBC.
In Sanla Fe May 16
opus produced by Harry Sherman will
HOLLYWOOD—Sparked by a world premiere
at the Gibraltar Theatre in Santa Fe,
N. Mex., May 16, "Wanted," the new Enterprise
open simultaneously in 100 situations
throughout the mountain states on that date.
Bookings have been set for showcases in Colorado,
Arizona. New Mexico, Utah, Nevada,
Wyoming and Montana. Gov. Thomas W.
Mabry of New Mexico will declare a threeday
state holiday to note the occasion. Participating
in the Santa Fe festivities will be
Joel McCrea, Frances Dee and Charles Bickford,
of the "Wanted" cast; Producer Sherman,
Director Al Green and W. E. Calloway,
western sales chief for UA, which is releasing
the picture,
* * *
"Smart Woman," Allied Artists-Monogram
feature starring Constance Bennett and
Brian Aherne, was given its world premiere
at the four Music Hall Theatres here April 16.
* * *
RKO is lining up simultaneous bookings
in 375 New England theatres, starting May
5, for "Berlin Express," to be followed by
similar mass engagements in upstate New
York and other spots around the country.
Plans are being formulated for a crosscountry
junket from Hollywood, with studio executives
and stars to participate.
Trinity Lines Up 'Harvest'
HOLLYWOOD—"If
This Be My Harvest,"
a novel about the San Joaquin grape country
by Margaret Lee and Violet Atkins, has been
lined up by William Bacher as the first
property to be filmed by his recently organized
Trinity Productions. Associated with
him in the company is James Nasser, who
also heads his own independent unit producing
for United Artists release. No distribution
arrangements have been made as
yet for Ti-inity.
Aids Children's Fund
HOLLYWOOD—Aiding the current United
Nations campaign on behalf of needy children
overseas, Roddy McDowall, Monogram
star, checked out to make a series of personal
appearances, his itinerary including
San Jose, Portland, Seattle. Boise and Salt
Lake City. McDowall is due in late this
month to start preparations for his next
starring picture.
Lines Up Foreign Films
LOS ANGELES—A program of 12 French,
Italian and Swedish features is being lined
up by the International Alliance Films Co.,
import-export firm just organized by George
Leasim. He is the son of the late Harry
Leasim, one-time RKO Radio general manager
in Europe and the Near East.
Joins Champion Productions
HOLLYWOOD—John Gordon Edwards
joined Champion Productions as production
manager, the post which he had been holding
with Howard Hughes Productions. Champion,
headed by John C, Champion and
Blake Edwards, produces for release through
Monogram-Allied Artists.
•'i
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54 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

Film by UA May Use
Australian Funds
HOLLYWOOD—A solution to the problem
of blocked credits with which American film
companies are confronted in many foreign
countries—and which MPAA President Eric
Johnston recently labeled a serious economic
situation—may shortly be worked out by one
distribution company, United Artists, as concerns
frozen UA funds in Australia.
Producer Samuel Bischoff and Director
Andre DeToth were slated to take off at
weekend for Honolulu, where they were to
meet Bischoff's attorney, Herbert T. Sllverberg,
and proceed to Sydney, Australia. There
they will confer with government officials
concerning the proposed making of a film
there, which would be financed at least
partially through the use of UA's blocked
funds.
The project, if successful, would be the
first move by a U.S. company to liquidate
its frozen Australian credits since that country
imposed its plan under which American
filmmakers receive only 50 per cent of their
revenue, the remaining half being blocked
in Australia for ten years.
Bischoff has an option on a story with an
Australian locale. While down under he and
DeToth will scout location sites, planning to
return here with Silverberg in about a month,
at which time an American cast will be
recruited.
-——-~^—
1
Emmett Lavery Libel Suit
Goes to Federal Court
HOLLYWOOD—At the request of the
American Broadcasting Co., which is one of
the defendants, the $800,000 slander and libel
suit filed by scenarist Emmett Lavery was
transferred from superior to federal court,
where it was assigned to Judge Ben Harrison.
Lavery brought suit against ABC, Lela
Rogers, Town Hall, Inc., and others on the
grounds he was erroneously labeled a Communist
on a Town Meeting of the Air program
emanating from ABC last fall.
• • *
Superior court gave American Eagle Films,
independent producing and distributing company,
20 days in which to file an amended
complaint in its $6,000,000 damage action
against Jack Broder, exhibitor and distributor.
American Eagle is suing over the reissue
rights to 400 old Universal pictures and
40 old United Artists releases, charging that
Broder consummated a deal on his own behalf
after the negotiations had been instituted
by the plaintiff. Broder had filed a
demurrer charging American Eagle's suit
failed to state a cause of action.
Four Shorts Free From SG
PORTLAND—Screen Guild Productions is
offering four single reel shorts free to exhibitors,
in one color. One of the pictures,
"Crimes of Carlessness," will be shown at
all Evergreen theatres in cooperation with
the current statewide safety campaign. The
other films are "Going Places," "Another
First for Mr. Washington" and the color
print of "Magic Wand."

U. S. Picture Imports to Australia
Drop to 888, British Total Rises
By WILLIAM BEECHAM
Australian Bureau, Boxoffice
PERTH, W. A.—Last year imports of films
into Australia from the U.S. dropped by 127
to a total of 888. while imports from the
United Kingdom increased by 310 to a total
of 816, J. O. Alexander, chief film censor,
reports. During 1947 no horror-type films
were imported, and gangster films showed a
marked decrease, he reported "with pleasure."
* «
The Australasian Exhibitor reports that
certain Australian interests are approaching
federal politicians with a plan to prevent
U.S. distributors from purchasing an interest
in. or buying outright, Australian film
organizations, such as processing laboratories,
etc., with frozen earnings. These interests
are pointing out that "it would be unwise
to permit such organizations to be dominated
by American capital."
» * *
Norman B. Rydge of Greater Union Theatres,
speaking in Sydney recently, said that
the people of Australia receive the entire
resources of the motion picture industry for
no more than $7.20 per head of population
per year. "What other industry offers so
much for so little?" he asked. Approximately
3,000,000 people a week pay to see film programs
in Australia, he continued, and a
breakdown of admission figures showed that
27 per cent of admissions were 25 cents, 32
per cent were 25 to 35 cents, 24 per cent were
35 to 50 cents, 12 per cent were at 50 to 65
cents, and 5 per cent were over 65 cents.
Rydge added
: "I have mentioned these
figures for a particular reason. In many
quarters it is considered that our business
is a luxury trade, but this is entirely wrong.
Motion picture entertainment is a necessity
of life, rendering to millions of working
people very often their sole form of entertainm.ent."
* •
J. E. Graham, secretary of the Federal
Cinema Exhibitors council of Australia, has
been informed by Prime Minister Chifley
that there can be no hope of any immediate
relief from the entertainment tax. "I regret
to advise that it will not be possible for the
government to grant any rehef in this regard
for the present," writes the prime minister.
"Substantial reductions have been
made in the rates of income tax for the
current financial year, and several other
taxes which were imposed during the war
years have been reduced or abolished."
...
I
Prominent Australian film executives point
out that the drop in film business of late
is around 40 per cent. Yet the legitimate
theatre is flourishing and had no difficulty
whatever in selling seats at $5 each for a
visiting British company. The Australian
public is definitely shopping for its cinema
entertainment, and low-grade films are not
attracting business.
At the recent annual general meeting of
the South Australian Motion Picture Exhibitors
Ass'n the following officers were
elected: President, E. Waterman; vice-presidents,
W. V. Benbow and D. Harris; committee,
F. Klenner, R. C. Williams and A.
Harrison; auditor, B. W. Cunnew.
* • •
T. Hill and W. Ryan have been appointed
to the Queensland Films commission, filling
two vacancies caused recently by the resignation
of E. Waller and the appointment of
R. Carter as chief crown prosecutor.
...
The Western Australian director of education
reports that a 16mm Auricon sound
on film recording outfit has been received
from the U.S., and this will be installed in
the laboratories of the government instructional
films division at Perth for production
of color sound films.
* * *
Complaints are continually being heard
from exhibitors in all parts regarding the
poor quality of many of the British stills,
and it is said that efforts are now being
made to have these improved. Even many of
the B grade U.S. releases carry stills of
much better quality than many of the leading
British features.
* * *
Maj. R. P. Baker of Ealing studios, who
is at present visiting this country, was recently
entertained by the Victorian Independent
Exhibitors Ass'n.
* *
E. J. Tait, director of J. C. Williamson
Theatres, who died in Sydney last July, left
an estate valued for probate at $216,043. The
bulk goes to his wife and daughter.
Alexander Sends Martens
To Oakland Headquarters
LOS ANGELES—R. G. Martens, for many
years a representative of the Alexander Film
Co. on the west coast, has been transferred
to the California sales organization headed
by Colin Dexter, general district manager.
Martens will headquarter in Oakland, with
territory ranging from the San Francisco bay
district south to Fresno.
AT APACHE- DEBUT-At the recent premiere of RKOs "Fort Apache" in the
Orpheum and Palms theatres in Phoenix, Ariz., were, top photo, left to right: Ned E
Dep.net. IVIrs. Perry Lieber. Mrs. James Thorn, Mrs. J. H. Maclntyre. Mrs. Depinet
and Maclntyre. Bottom photo, seated: Irene Rich, Mrs. Lawrence Green. AI Hanson.
Mrs. Wayne Hanson. Mrs. J. H. Maclntyre, Mrs. Al Hanson, Harry Nace. Standing:
Wayne Hanson and Maclntyre.
L500 Bring Bottle Caps
SPOKANE. WASH.—About 1,500 children
packed the Post Theatre on Saturday to see
six color cartoons and a western. The show
was sponsored by the Nehi-Royal Crown Bottling
Co. and was the second in a series.
Admittance was by six bottle caps. Because
of the crowd, it was necessary to call in
ushers from both the Post and Granada
theatres. Policemen and firemen were also
on hand.
56
BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

. .
. .
. . . Mary
. . Screen
. . MGM's
DENVER
HI Dezel and Jules Weill of Masterpiece
Pictures, along with Joe Nercesian, who
has the franchise for Denver and Salt Lake
City, were here contacting theatres after selling
the Paramount group in Salt Lake City.
Robert Patrick is remodeling the Avalon.
which he recently bought, by adding on the
rear, putting in about 100 more seats along
with new booth equipment. He is spending
about $10,000. When the theatre reopens it
will be known as the Navajo. Patrick has
the walls up on his new 500-seat Grand, and
men are now working on the interior.
. . .
Cy Lee of Poppers Supply was in Albuquerque,
where he has established a popcorn
warehouse, and will later make supplies
and candy available from there
Lon T. Fidler. Monogram franchise owner,
went to Salt Lake City to visit his exchange
RKO exchange, headed by
there The . . .
Joe Emerson, copped third place in the
"Best Years of Our Lives" selling contest,
selling more than half of the possibihties.
. . Betty Jayne
. . .
Every time his phone rings. Paul Allmeyer.
Paramount booker, reaches for his hat. He
is about to become a father .
Lane is a new clerk at Universal . . . Martin
Winant, Columbia auditor, is on one of his
The
periodic visits to the local branch
Universal Theatre. Hagerman. N. M.. owned
by Walter Watson, bui-ned. He plans to obtain
another building for use temporarily.
Earl Collins, district manager for Republic,
was here for a few days, calling on accounts,
conferring with Gene Gerbase. local
manager, and visiting with his son. who is
a student at the University of Colorado .
J. R. Smith, partner in the Chief, Steamboat
Springs, Colo., and the Rio, Oak Creek,
Colo., was elected mayor of Steamboat
Springs in an election that was preceded by
no campaign. Seems neither of the candidates
wanted the job.
Jack Wodell, assistant manager of the
Paramount, and Virginia Madison were married
Leona Lee. Rialto cashier, and
. . . Edward F. Rodak of St. Louis also are newlyweds
... A front-page photo in the Wyoming
Eagle showed Jack McGee. city manager for
Fox Intermountain Theatres, receiving the
civic service award from the Order of Eagles
for his outstanding work as chairman of the
Cheyenne, Wyo., Fi-iendsliip Train campaign
and the University War Memorial drive.
Bob Letito, Webber manager, has been
elected chairman of the board of directors
of the Lambda Chi Alpha house corporation
at the University of Denver where he is a
student . . . Out-of-town exhibitors seen on
Filmrow included Robert Spahn, Mitchell,
Neb.; Harry McDonald, Torrington, Wyo.:
Joe Novak, Pueblo, Colo.: Charles Klein,
Deadwood, S. D,; Gordon Cary. Minatare,
Neb., and Fred Anderson, Eaton. Colo.
MONTANA SPEAKER—Harold
Chesler,
delegate from Montana, snapped
while speaking at the convention of the
PCCITO at San Francisco recently.
From the BOXOFFICE Files
• • •
(Twenty Years Ago)
T^ENVER'S downtown theatre property has
a valuation, according to records in the
assessor's office, of $5,968,834. Taking into
consideration the usual 60 per cent of the
true value, it would mean that over $8,000,000
is invested in the city for the amusement
of the people.
George Blakeslee is planning to build a
theatre m Lander, Wyo., seating 600 on the
site of the old Lander hotel. Blakeslee is
owner and manager of the Grand, now operating
in Lander.
* * •
I. C. Floersheim, owner and manager of
the Pastime in Springer, N. M., was reelected
mayor recently . . . Harry E. Huffman
took over the management of the American
in Denver. Vitaphone and Movietone equipment
are to be installed soon. Gerald Whitney
is assisting Huffman.
. . .
.
.
The theatre scrip offered in Salt Lake City
by the Louis Marcus Enterprises is also being
used at the Marcus houses in Twin Falls.
Ida., and at Provo and Ogden, Utah
W. E. Gordon, First National manager in
Salt Lake, has been in Montana recently.
Pete Stewart and Claude Hawkes. salesmen,
are working in Montana and Idaho
George A. Allen of the Idaho Theatres Co.,
Nampa. Ida., and the Majestic Amusement
Co., Boise, Ida., was in Salt Lake .
Smith, manager of the Thorley
.
at
A. W.
Cedar
City. Utah, installed a new Robert Morton
pipe organ.
1' PORTLAND
. . .
f^harles Stewart, partner in the local Theatre
Utilities Service Corp., reports the
Oak in Oak Ridge, Ore., will be furnished
and equipped for opening soon. The Oak
will replace the old Hiway Theatre that
burned down several months ago. Randall
Clark is owner of the 415-seat house
Visitors on Filmrow included C. M. Gilmore
of Sandy. Ore., Bob Van Ne.ss of Mill City,
L. E. Bowen of Castle Rock, Les Thornton,
manager of the Iris in Independence, Ore.,
Lloyd Moore, owner of various out-state theatres,
and Mr. and Mi-s. Cleo Morlock of Cottage
Grove.
Blue Mouse owner Forsythe is giving his
Frank Pratt, manager
house a facelifting . . .
of the Paramount, presented the ninth
annual spring concert of the University of
Portland's Glee club from the stage last Sunday.
The shows were in addition to the
regular screen attractions and packed the
house both times.
Jean Cochran, new manager of the Gamble
Enterprises' downtown Century, stepped fast
to start the cleansweep radio-stage FYiday
night show the same week as the Orpheum
stage attraction, "Take the Air," folded for
the season. Cleansweep prizes are headed by
a new car and $500 diamond ring, the premiiun
list is long and is to be "cleanswept"
winner-take-all in a guess-it, take-it-home
type of contest.
Jack Matlack invited local newsboys to a
preview of "The Naked City" at the United
Artists . . . All of the Warner sales force
were on the road, led by Mel Keller . . .
Screen Adette's Holtz got back from his Los
Angeles business trip . . . B. F. Shearer boss
Holland trekked to San Francisco for the
Shearer convention . J. T. Warren
was still a pretty sick guy. but slowly improving.
. . EL's Peg
Eagle Lion's vice-president W. J. Heineman
was in town from New York .
Mattison went to Bend. Ore., to visit her
mother . star Eugene Palette passed
through on the way to his eastern Oregon
Edward Arnold remained a few
ranch . . .
extra days to help celebrate the opening of
KEX's new power boost.
Eugene
William Thedford left town on business
Duerst of Film Classics attended
the Jantzen Beach park opening .
Siegel, partner, announced the
. .
local Dane
Distributing Co. moved to new quarters at
530 Southwest Fourth Ave. The company is
mail-order dealer in advertising slides, posters,
Mort Bramson. local Screen
etc. . . . Guild chief, was in and out of town again
in his shuttle job of bossing both the local
SG and Seattle SG offices.
Herbert Wheldon to Rebuild
ROSALIA. WASH. — Herbert Wheldon,
owner, is planning to rebuild the Family
Theatre here, which was destroyed by fire
last month.
f
yE 8041
RCA Sound Systems
Brenkert Projection Equipment
USAIBCo. Cooling Equipment
Blowers and Exhausters
WESTERN SERVICE

. . Rod
. . The
. . The
. .
SAN FRANCISCO
Cpecial arrangements are being worked out
by the new Guild Theatre in Menlo Park
with the foreign languages department of
Stanford university to permit students to attend
special afternoon performances at the
Guild . Cameron. Cathy Downs, Gail
Storm and Max Terhune will make a personal
appearance at the Paramount April 23 for
the opening of "Panhandle."
Improvements are being made in a number
.
of theatres in the territory. The Crest in
Daly City has new projection equipment,
seats, ventilating and heating equipment, and
decorations Tivoli here has improved
its acoustics and seating ... In Los
Gatos, the front of the Los Gatos Theatre
was being rebuilt, eliminating upstairs windows
and moving the office to a downstairs
location.
The Del Mar Theatre here was held up
and robbed of $90 . B. F. Shearer office
was entered during the night, and so was
National Screen Service. Some cash was
taken in each place . . , Dan Anderson, organist
at the Orpheum Saturday nights for
the sing-time sessions, is reported to have
tripled business at that house Saturday
nights.
George Brand has been promoted by the
Blumenfeld circuit from treasurer at the Orpheum
to assistant manager at the United
Artists . . . Dave Cantor, west coast exploiteer
for RKO, passed out cigars in announcing
the birth of a daughter, Jean
Louise, March 29 . . . The window tieup
on "I Remember Mama" in a local depart-
We
have the
dlMf^.
WC Count on US for Quick ActionI
for
YOUB
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THEATRE EXCHANGE CO.
201 F

'
10
Bakersfield
Judge
Prepares Decision
BAKERSFIELD, CALIF.—The court action
to test the constitutionality of the city
per cent tax on admissions above 15
cents, was closed for the time being when
Judge Pat Parker took imder submission the
evidence which had been placed before him.
The plaintiffs were the Bakersfield Fox
Theatre Corp. and the Fox Paradise Theatre
Corp., subsidiaries of Fox West Coast Theatres.
They testified that attendance at their
four theatres, the California, Fox, Kern and
Rex, had dropped an average of 2,134 persons
weekly after the tax was put into effect.
James Vizzard, one of the city's attorneys,
argued that one reason for the tax was to
collect from the thousands of persons who
live outside Bakersfield proper, but come
into the city for amusement, called attention
to testimony by the city's witnesses who contended
that the average daily attendance in
all Bakersfield theatres, had increased by
2.6 per cent since the tax was Imposed.
The city cannot use the money thus far
collected, which amounts to $45,000. It has
been set aside, awaiting a decision in the
legal contest.
The city has maintained all along that the
theatres have no reason to protest the levy
because it is passed along to the theatregoer;
but the exhibitors pound away at the contention
that it hurts business and that there
is a point in taxation that brings about diminishing
returns.
The theatres contend that the old tax was
all right. It collected one cent on each
ticket. The theatres didn't fight that tax.
They are agreeable to a fair, decent tax.
The Fox theatres have been handing each
theatregoer a coupon with the admission
ticket, explaining the tax and also explaining
that if the tax is defeated in the courts,
the amount of tax paid by the patron, as
confirmed by the coupon in hand, will be refunded
by the theatre.
Mrs. Genoulis Gets Back
The Vista in San Diego
SAN DIEGO—Mrs. 'Virginia Genoulis has
taken back the 'Vista Theatre here and is
giving it a complete overhauling and installing
new equipment. The house will be
managed by Al Landry, who has until recent
weeks been managing the Seville in Chula
Vista. He formerly owned theatres here and
in this area.
FWC Renews Leases
LOS ANGELES—Fox 'West Coast's real
estate department has renewed long-term
leases on five theatre properties operated
by the circuit, four in California and one in
Nevada. Two of them, the Nevada in Reno
and the Hippodrome in Sacramento, are earmarked
for extensive remodeling. Both will
be renamed the Crest. Lease extensions
were also seciu-ed on the Rex, Bakersfield;
the Granada, Ontario, and the Egyptian,
San Diego.
New F, S and I Drive
PORTLAND—Mort Bramson, local Screen
Guild chief, has annotmced a new sales and
booking drive which includes the secret letters
P, S and I, which will be plugged extensively
throughout local northwest area.
Theatres Sprout in Los Angeles Area
As Building Controls Are Removed
PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIF. — So-Cal
Theatres has started building a 1,500-seat
theatre here, to be known as the Bay. The
project also will include a supermarket and
other stores. So-Cal, headed by J. D. Chaffin,
also is building a 500-seat theatre in
Palmdale and plans to start next month on
a 1,200-seater in Sepulveda City. S. Charles
Lee of Los Angeles is architect for the thi-ee
projects.
LOS ANGELES—Ground has been
broken
preliminary to construction of a 1,500-seat
theatre at Centinela avenue and LaTijera
boulevard in Westchester. The theatre will
be built and operated by William J. Kupper
jr. of New York and will be part of a new
business development, according to E. Allan
Walter of Marlow-Burns Development Co.,
pioneer developers of Windsor Hills and
Westchester. The theatre will have a fouracre
parking lot and it is proposed to have
attendants park the cars after patrons alight
under a porte-cochere at the side of the theatre.
S. Charles Lee is the architect.
LONG BEACH, CALIF.—A seven-milUondoUar
shopping district covering about 30
acres of land is under construction at Bellflower
boulevard and Stearns street, and will
have a theatre in operation by the end of
the year, the builders announced. The Home
Investment and L. S. Whaley companies said
the theatre will be part of a shopping district,
laid out in the shape of a large Y, which
will include at least a score of business enterprises.
The section is designed to serve the
mushrooming Los Altos community, which
will have 3,000 homes when current development
plans are completed.
FONTANA, CALIF.—Construction of the
800-seat Arrow Theatre was scheduled to
start here this week. The house is being
built by I. H. Harris of Fontana for operation
on a long-term lease by Bob Smith, former
New York theatre manager. The building
will be of reinforced concrete columns, with
eight-inch concrete block filler walls. Arizona
flagstone will be used in the floor of
the outer lobby. A 35-foot tower is one of
the striking features of the front. Howard
E. Jones, San Bernardino, is the architect.
LOS ANGELES—Contract has been awarded
for alterations and improvements at the
drive-in theatre at Olympic boulevard and
Bundy drive. West Los Angeles, and at the
Orange Drive-In Theatre in Orange county,
for California Drive-In Theatres, Inc. The
work includes altering the snack bars and
enlarging the screen buildings. Cost is estimated
at $30,000.
CUCAMONGA, CALIF.—R. L. Ton-es of
Cucamonga has obtained a building permit
for a 500-seat theatre here. Torres plans to
show Mexican and American pictures. Dressing
rooms will be provided so local stage productions
can be presented. The building,
designed by architect Byron Crowley, will
be of reinforced concrete block and will cost
about $32,060.
SANTA MONICA, CALIF. — W e st e rn
Amusement Co. has broken groimd for a
1,450-seat de luxe house here. Not yet named,
the new showcase is the first of two to be
built by the firm, the other to be constructed
in Lone Pine, Calif.
FRESNO, CALIF. — Bids were submitted
April 2 to Carl Moeller, architect for Fox
West Coast Theatres, Los Angeles, for construction
of a 1.200-seat stadiimi-type theatre
building at Broadway and Fresno street
here. Parts of an existing brick building
will be incorporated into the new structiure.
BELLFLOWER, CALIF.—John Grubb, operator
of the Bellflower Theatre, is planning
to spend about $150,000 enlarging and modernizing
the place. He said a balcony will
be added to increase capacity, the lobby will
be widened, and the front will be dressed up
with a 60-foot tower and new marquee.
EL CERRITO, CALIF.—The city council
has approved rezoning of the south side of
Fairmont avenue, where the Fairmont Development
Co. plans to put in a 250-car
drive-in theatre and several business buildings.
club.
The site was once the El Cerrito Kennel
DOWNEY, CALIF.—Evert R. Cummings,
owner of the Meralta Theatre, annotmced
that bids are being called for an extensive
remodeling program estimated to cost $100,-
000. The entire building will be modernized
and the seating capacity increased.
TEMPLE CITY, CALIF.—Plans have been
prepared by 'Vernon W. Houghton, Los Angeles
architect, for an addition to the Temple
City Theatre which will increase its capacity
by 250 seats. Bids on the work have
been solicited.
RICHMOND, CALIF.-The Fairmont Development
Co. has received permission of the
El Cerrito city council to erect a drive-in
theatre west of here. The theatre, to be biult
on a fomier trailer-court site, will have facilities
for 500 cars.
PICO, CALIF.—Plans are being prepared
by architect Clarence J. Smale, Los Angeles,
for construction of a theatre, to seat 996 persons,
on Whittier Blvd. in Pico. Bruen Whittier
Theatres, Inc., is the builder.
ARTESIA, CALIF.—Changes in architectural
plans have delayed the start of construction
on the theatre to be built here by
J. E. Poynter and Terry McDaniel. They expect
to get the work started in a few weeks.
FALLBROOK, CALIF.—A building permit
has been issued for construction of a frame
and masonry theatre building on Main street
for Curtis A. Donath of Fallbrook. It will
cost $30,000.
Starring Spot in 'Fatima'
Frances Rafferty has been awarded a starring
spot in the Film Classics picture
"Fatima" which Sig Nuefeld is producing.
Adapted from a novel by Douglas Carter, the
film has a carnival background.
BOXOFFICE :
: AprU
17, 1948
S8A

'
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PHOENIX
Dodeo week provided plenty of hoopla here,
the townsfolk dressing for the occasion
in western garb and generally having a good
time. Despite the three-day diversion, downtown
first runs suffered no diminution in
grosses, all theatres being primed w^ith solid
attractions. The Pox showed "The Bishop's
Wife," the Vista offered "Intrigue" and the
Orpheum played "Unconquered." Latter was
making the rounds again after roadshow engagement
last December at the Palms. As
George Aurelius of the Orpheum pointed
out, "It doesn't make any difference what the
competition is as long as you have a good
picture to offer."
TTi^
The Palms was the scene last week of the
sneak preview of Sierra Pictures' "Joan of
Arc," Technicolor film starring Ingrid Bergman.
Producer Walter Wanger was on hand
for the occasion, along with director Victor
Fleming and Alfred Vaughan of RKO. Ned
Depinet, executive vice-president of RKO,
also caught the picture, which will be released
by RKO. Audience reaction was impressibly
favorable. Newspaper ads in local
sheets carefully masked title of film, but a
tip that Ingrid Bergman was the star drew
long lines of fans. Maurice Pyle, manager
of the Palms, estimates he could have filled
the house three times over.
Both Eddie Cantor and Bob Hope are
scheduled to visit Phoenix this month. Cantor
will be on hand April 18 as principal
speaker at the kickoff dinner for the United
Jewish Welfare fimd drive. The dinner will
be held at the Shrine Tenuple. Bob Hope's
radio show will originate from the auditorium
of Phoenix college April 20. Proceeds of all
tickets sold for the broadcast will go to the
American Cancer society. Following the
riLMACK
special
trailers
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with
showmen
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EXT TIM
ORDER
FILMACK
tnif'Jf/h
TRAILERS
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THE BRIGHT SPOT
OF ANY CAMPAIGN
NEW YORK
245 WtST
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i
DDEEEHU
Loi Angelei
n574 WWosh.,
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l!3 gl irj O «J_e T £31 IM) @
Trailers in Color
At a Price You Can Pay
1977 S. Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles 7, California
RE. 2-0621

— —
—
—
reissues
reissue
—
—
—
—
—
—
. . Bob
—
. . Ralph
. . James
'Unconquered' Sets
Los Angeles Pace
LOS ANGELES—"Unconquered" packed in
more first run patrons than any other local
offering during the first stanza of its daydate
booking on a regular-admission policy
in two houses. Knocking off a healthy 165
per cent rating, the Paramount release was
well out in front of the place-money winner,
"Sitting- Pretty," which rated 140 per cent
in its second week. Business in other situations
was definitely not on the lush side.
{Average is 100}
Belmont, Culver, El Rey, Orpheum. Vogue-
Old Los Angeles (Rep): The Inside Story (RepMOO
Carlhay—Gentleman's Agreement (20th-Fox),
4lh wk - '00
Chinese Loyola, State, Uptown—Sitting Pretty
(20lh-Fox): The Challenge (20th-Fox), 2nd wk 140
Guild Ins, Ritz, Studio City, United Artists—
The Naked City (U-I), 5th wrk 90
Downtown, Hollywood ParaUiounts tJnconquered
(Para) -..
^ , '65
Eavplian, Wilshire, Los Angeles—The Bnde
Goes Wild (MGM), 3 days oi 3rd wk 100
Tour Music Halls
Lost Horizon (Col); Adam
Had Four Sons (Col), reissues 110
Four Star. Fox Palace—The Fugitive (RKO),
3rd wk 110
Pantages, Hillstreet-1 Remember Mama (RKO),
2nd wk 125
Warners Downtown, Hollywood, Wiltern
To the Victor (WB) 125
"Sitting Pretty' Jumps to 200
In Third Frisco Week
SAN FRANCISCO—"Sitting Pretty," in its
third week at the United Nations, jumped
from 140 per cent m its second week to 200
in its third. Part of reason ma^ be that in
its second week it played day and date with
another first run house here. "The Naked
City," in its third week at the Esquire, rated
10 per cent higher than its second week reading
there. "I Remember Mama" at the
Golden Gate opened to a pleasant 175 per
cent.
Esquire—The Naked City (U-I); Discovery (FC),
3rd wk 150
Fox—Alias a Gentleman (MGM); Tenth Avenue
Angel (MGM) 110
Golden Gate I Rememter Mama (RKO) 175
Orpheum The Mating oi Millie (Col); Return
of the Whistler (Col) 140
Paramount—April Showers (Para), 2nd wk 100
St. Francis—The Big Clock (Para), 2nd wk 145
Slate Africa Speaks (SR); Goona-Goona
(SR) 105
,
United Artists-Man of Evil (UA) 100
United Notions-Sitting Pretty (20th-Fox),
2nd d. t. wk,; The Tender Years {20th-Fox) 200
Warlield Three Daring Daughters (MGM);
Rocky (Mono) 140
'Daughters' Gross Increases
In 2nd Portland Week
PORTLAND — "Three Daring Daughters"
took a ten-point jump in its second week
here, registering a sensational 190. This
week was the first in many months in which
every first run house reported more than 100
per cent.
Broadway April Showers (WB); Captain
Boycott (UI) 100
United Artists Three Daring Daughters (MGM)
2nd d. t, wk 190
Mayfair Jungle Book (FC); The Tender years
(20th-Fox) , .^.
110
Guild—Black Bart (U-I); Bill and Coo (He'll),
2nd d t, wk _ 110
Paramount and Oriental—The Bishops Wife (RKO). .115
Orpheum—Sitting Pretty (20lh-Fox), 2nd d. t, wk 115
Music Box Gentleman's Agreement (20th-Fox);
The Senator Was Indiscreet (U-I), 3rd d. t. wk 150
Playhouse—The Good Old Days (SR); Bull
Fighters (20th-Fox), reissue 105
'Sitting Pretty' and 'Years'
Cop Best Denver Money
DENVER—"Sitting Pretty" along with
"The Tender Years," showing at three houses,
copped the best percentage along with the
most money. Snow Sunday slowed business
some.
Aladdin—A Double Life (U-I), 3rd d. t. wk 130
Fox Intermountain Gives
Present to Gov. Mabry
Santa Fe, N. M.—In appreciation of his
interest in the motion picture indiLstry,
Gov. Thomas J. Mabry of New Mexico
was given a hand-tooled belt pouch by
Frank H. Ricketson jr., president of Fox
Intermountain Theatres. The gift was
presented by Michael F. Zalcsny, Fox
Intermountain manager in Las Vegas,
who also gave the governor a copy of the
resolution, passed at the recent Fox convention
in Denver, thanking him for his
interest in the industry. The belt pouch
was made expressly for the governor by
Arturo Bustos, student at New Mexico
Highlands university. Las Vegas, and
goes into the governor's already extensive
western wardrobe.
Denham Unconquered (Pcrra), 3rd wk 90
Denver, Esquire and Webber Sitting Pretty
(20th-Fox); The Tender Years (20th-Fox) 162
Orpheum—I Remember Mama (RKO), 2nd wk 100
Paramount
The Sign of the Rom (Col); Return
of the Whistler (Col) 130
Rialto Gentleman's Agreement (20th-Fox) , 5th
d. t. wk - 90
Tabor Women in the Night (EC); Flame of
New Orleans (FC), reissue 150
"Daring Daughters' Leads
Week's Trade in Seattle
SEATTLE — With 160. "Three Daring
Daughters" led the new'comers and the town.
Close behind was "The Naked City" at the
Orpheum with 150. "Sitting Pi'etty" rose
from 110 in its first week at the Paramount
to 140 in a second, indicating terrific wordof-mouth
buildup.
Blue Mouse The Corsican Brothers (FC);
South of Pago Pago (FC), reissues 60
Fifth Avenue Gentleman's Agreement (20th-
Fox), 3rd wk 150
Liberty Three Daring Daughters (MGM) 160
Music Box April Showers (WB); Railroaded
(EL), 2-nd d. t. wk 70
Paramount—Sitting Pretty (20th-Fox);
Whispering City (EL), 2nd wk 140
Orpheum—The Naked City (U-1); Caged Fury
(Para) 150
Palomar—Elephant Boy (FC); Trail oi the
Vigilantes (FC) reissues '75
SEATTLE
nmong those attending the PCCITO convention
in San Francisco were Mr. and
Mrs. E. S. Olson, Port Blakely: Mr. and Mrs.
B. C. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. L. O. Lukan,
Mr. and Mrs. James Hone and Jack Neville:
Walter Graham, Shelton, and Mr. and Mrs.
Clyde Strout,
Mike Barovic, Puyallup . . .
manager of the Coliseum, and Mrs, Strout
were operated on for appendicitis within a
week of each other.
. . Hamrick-Evergreen Theatres
.
Cecilia Schultz has signed a new year's
lease on the Moore Theatre, long noted here
for its concerts .
ran an inch slug with the copy, "Free-
dom is everybody's job," over its ads for
American Heritage week. All seven houses
also played the short, "Our American Heritage,"
during the period Amacher,
Portland salesman for EL. was in during
the week.
Harvey Kelly has resigned as eastern Washington
salesman for WB . Keefe,
manager of the Orpheum. Spokane, is 111
with the mumps, which he caught from his
son .
Woolson, former theatre page
editor for the folded Star, has accepted a
position with a local advertising agency.
Movietone Television
Bows Over KTLA
LOS ANGELES—The Fox Movietone television
newsreel bowed on the coast Monday
(121 over Paramount's KTLA under the
sponsorship of the Leo J. Meyberg Co., RCA
distributors here. The newsreel will be telecast
five evenings a week on .seven stations.
It is being shown in the ea.st over the NBC
eastern hookup in New York, Philadelphia,
and in St. Louis over KSD-TV, NBC affiliate.
Bandit Makes Rich Haul
At Hollywood Theatre
LOS ANGELES—A holdup man wearing
aviator's goggles entered Warner Hollywood
Theatre while Herbert F. Rick, assistant
manager, and Alice Pratt, cashier, were
transferring $6,644 to the manager's office
on the night of April 11. The bandit flourished
a gim and took the money. He then
ran into the theatre's parking lot and robbed
two patrons, George Nicolls and Lynne F.
Durling, as they were entering their car. He
escaped with an additional $2,500 in jewelry
and cash from Nicolls, and $1,500 in jewelry
from Miss Durling.
Eugene Theatres Add Tax
EUGENE. ORE.—Theatre admission prices
in Eugene advanced from 1 cent to 5 cents
this week when the city's new admission
price tax went into effect.
Eugene is the first Oregon city to pass a
local admission tax, although 47 other Oregon
towns have seat taxes and occupational
taxes affecting entertainment offerings.
Start San Carlos Laurel
SAN CARLOS—Ground has been broken
for the 1,000-seat Laurel Theatre, being built
here by Ray R. Knight, who owms the State
in Petaluma. The theatre will be part of a
$300,000 building development that will include
six store units. Knight said the theatre
would have stadium-type seating and
would be completed for opening in October.
Deny Drive-In Petition
SANTA BARBARA. CALIF.—The petition
of Sam Kramer and others to build a drive-in
theatre here has been denied by the board
of supervisors, but the issue is not dead.
Edward Schramm, attorney for Kramer, arrived
at the meeting after the board refused
to reverse itself but In-yited another petition.
New Marquee at Mayfair
PORTLAND—The Theatre Utilities Service
Corp. recently completed the installation
of a new front with Adler three-dimensional
plastic letters at the Mayfair in Redmond.
charge of
Charles Stewart of TUSCO was in
the
job.
Sterling Buys Longview
LONGVIEW. WASH.—The Longview Theatre
Bldg.. built seven years ago for operation
by Everett Cunmiings and operated in the
last few years by the Sterling circuit, has
been sold outright to Sterling.
BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948 58C

. . Lon
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TEI Circuit to Build
Carlsbad Theatre
CARLSBAD, N. M.—Theatre Enterprises,
Inc., is readying plans for construction of a
theatre in Carlsbad's western section. It will
be a 600-seat theatre, according to Bill Bartlett,
local manager. Action by the federal
government is awaited before construction
starts.
Tito Guizar in Nogales
For Roxy Anniversary
NOGALES, ARIZ.—The Roxy Theatre celebrated
its first anniversary recently with a
special stage show. The 800-seat house was
built by Cost Varela and M. J. Martinez.
Louis Bilbao is the manager. Tito Guizar, a
native of Guadalajara, and Red Nichols and
his band appeared on the anniversary program.
Bids Taken for Erection
Of Theatre in San Jose
SAN JOSE, CALIF.—Bids were closed April
13 for a theatre of 1.100-seat capacity to be
built on Lincoln avenue by the San Jose
Theatre Corp. Officers of the corporation
are James B. Lima, Walter Preddy and Ben
Levin.
Renovate in Hawthorne
HAWTHORNE, CALIF.—The Ritz Theatre
here is due for large-scale renovation, according
to Manager Dick Heeg. He said
$70,000 would be spent on a new facade, new
seats and redecoration.
On Home Town Stage
SPOKANE, WASH.—Jack Gregson, Spokane
boy who made good with his own show
in radio, was to make a personal appearance
at the Fox Theatre April 10 at 9 a. m. to
broadcast his regular show.
Robert Garrett to Carlsbad
GALLUP, N. M.—Robert Garrett, assistant
manager of Gallup theatres of TEI, has been
transferred to Carlsbad as assistant city
manager, Boyd Scott, top man in the circuit
here, reported.
SECURITY]
LOAN.
BUY BONDS TODAY!
SALT LAKE CITY
Jesse W. Chinick, who has been associated
with the buying and booking department
of International Theatres, Inc., has been
promoted to buyer and booker for Northio
Theatres, with headquarters in Cincinnati.
Jesse left this weekend for his new post,
which he will take over May 1.
He has been
in Salt Lake City one and one-half years.
At Cincinnati, he succeeds Bill Borack, former
buyer and booker for Intermountain
Theatres in Salt Lake.
The annual theatre party for oldsters over
70 years of age in the Salt Lake area attracted
a gathering of 1,500 to the Utah
Theatre last week. "Fort Apache" was exhibited
before its regular run through the
courtesy of Manager Charles M. Pincus and
Giff Davison, manager for RKO here. Announcements
were made in some of the Latter-day
Saint ward houses the Sunday before
the attraction by the ward bishops that
"through the courtesy of Brother Charles
Pincus," the show was offered, which has
those in the city who know Charles really
laughing.
Hall Baetz, district manager of Fox Intermountain,
returned from another trip into
the territory to announce that John Denman
has been named city manager of Pox Theatres
in Pocatello, succeeding Bob Anderson,
who has been transferred to Montana. Denman
formerly was at the Mayan in Denver.
The new Fox in Caldwell, Ida., will open
May 4, with Irving Simpson, city manager, in
charge. The 600-seat, one-floor house will
piu-sue a policy of first run single bill pictures
and have a top evening price of 65
cents ... A new marquee has been installed
at the Majestic, Pox house at Nampa. Remodeling
also is going on there.
Visitors on Filmrow: Hi Knudsen, Livingston,
Mont.: Jack Suckstorff, Sidney, Mont.,
and Clarence Severson of Wolf Point, who
had been attending the PCCITO meeting.
Returning with them were Sam Gillette of
Tooele, Utah, and Harold Chesler of Bingham,
Utah's rpresentative on the national
board . T. Fidler, franchise holder for
Monogram-Allied Artists in this area, made
a routine inspection trip to the local office,
managed by Don V. Tibbs. Al Kolitz, RKO
district manager, conferred with Giff Davison,
branch manager, after his arrival from
Denver.
Fire Hits Universal
HAGERMAN. N. M.—Film caught fire at
the Universal Theatre one Sunday afternoon
recently and the machines and all booth
equipment were destroyed. No one was injured.
Walter Watson is the theatre's owner.
$1 Takes Whole Family
To Virginia City Show
Virginia City, Nev.—Family nights are
being held each Friday at the Virginia
City Theatre, a $1 ticket being good for
the entire family. Otherwise the price is
65 cents for adults and 25 cents for children.
Sail Lake Roundup
Set For June 1618
SALT LAKE CITY—The annual Motion
Picture club exhibitors-distributors roundup
will be held here June 16-18, Giff Davison,
general chairman, announced this week. The
affair will open with a cocktail party at the
Hotel Utah, after which the Calcutta and
dinner will be held. The golf tournament
will be held at Bonneville golf cour.se, beginning
at 8:30 a. m., June 17, and the Victory
dance, at which the winner of the tournament
will be announced, will be held the
evening of June 18.
Activities of the affair, which in the past
has attracted more than 300 exhibitors and
distributors and their wives, will include
screenings of major productions at parties'
and teas for women guests. The latter will'
be under the supervision of the Women's Mo-
tion Picture club.
Among prominent screen figures expected
to attend the roundup is Charles "Buddy"
Rogers, who during a visit here in February,
said he most certainly would make every effort
to attend again this year.
:
Lee Frakes and Wife Buy
Two Washington Houses
PRIEST RIVER, IDA.—Mr. and Mrs. Lee
Frakes, owners of the Priest River Theatre,
have completed a deal for purchase of the'
theatres in Palouse and Garfield, Wash.
Sale in Mitchell, Ore.
MITCHELL, ORE. — Vincent and Estella
Helms, owner-operators of the Ochoco Thea-
;
tre. have sold out to Robert and Irene Wood-
,
'
ley, show business newcomers, effective
June 1. The sale was set by Allen Bert of
the Theatre Exchange Corp., Portland.
i
Resume Work in Chinook
CHINOOK, MONT.—Construction has resumed
on the new theatre being built in
Chinook by Dave Hiebert. The project was
delayed several months because of the cold
weather. The house will be larger than the
present Orpheum here.
Drive-In Permit Asked
SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco
Drive-In Theatre Corp. has asked the city
council for permission to construct a drive-in
theatre on South Canal street, east of Mayfair
village, in South San Francisco. It will
be of 880-car capacity.
St. Francis Is Renovated
SAN FRANCISCO-Renovation of Paramount's
St. Francis Theatre on Market street
has been completed. The house was given a
new hardwood floor, improved ventilating
system and push-back seats.
Sights on May 15 Debut
MARSING, IDAHO—This community's new
theatre,
the Owyhee, replacing one that was
destroyed by fire in 1941, will be opened May
15 by J. M. and Charles Ereno. It will have
a capacity of 400 seats.
)
;i[lll
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58D
BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

"
'Father Dunne' Debut
In St. Louis May 11
ST. LOUIS—The world premiere of RKO's
"Fighting Father Dunne" will be staged at
Franchon & Marco's 5,000-seat Fox Theatre
here May 11. The film is scheduled for national
release in June.
The film, which stars Pat O'Brien, is based
on the life of the late Father Peter Dunne
who founded the Newsboys' Home at 3010
Washington Ave. here. Many St. Louisians
know the story of Father Dunne's work on
behalf of underprivileged and homeless boys:
how when an assistant priest in St. Rose of
Lima parish he got the idea for founding the
Newsboys' Home when he learned that the
little boy from whom he bought newspapers
didn't have any parents or a home to call his
own.
Archbishop Joseph E. Ritter, Gov. Phil M.
Donnelly of Missouri and Mayor Aloys P.
Kaufmann are expected to attend the premiere.
Live Programs Started
At Madison Eastwood
MADISON — Smiley Burnette, film and
radio cowboy, made a personal appearance
at the Eastwood Theatre here April 8, inaugurating
a new policy of live programs at
the East Side house. The theatre has been
leased by Standard Theatres of Milwaukee.
Home talent nights, in addition to the appearance
of other film, stage and radio stars,
are being planned.
Republic Names Fischer
Acting Chicago Manager
CHICAGO—Abe Fischer has been appointed
acting branch manager for the Republic
Pictures exchange, succeeding 'William
Baker, who has been seriously ill for the past
two months and will go to Arizona to recuperate.
Fischer was formerly with the local
IJnited Artists sales department.
250-Seat House Opened
By J. Harding in Shoals
SHOALS, IND.—J. Harding has opened the
new Shoals Theatre here. The theatre, with
250 seats, is the first in the town. Citizens of
the community packed the house at the formal
opening April 3.
Rockford Council Passes
3 Per Cent Ticket Tax
ROCKFORD, ILL.—The city council approved,
11 to 8. a 3 per cent tax on amusements
in an effort to meet budget deficits.
The ordinance had been defeated last week
but was reinstated.
Marjory Weil Keeps Busy
GREENFIELD, IND.—Marjory 'WeU of the
Weil Theatre here will take complete charge
of the theatre at the close of the semester
at Indiana university, where she is studying
law. During the winter she did all the buying
and booking in addition to her studies at the
imiversity.
STAR HELPS IN EXPLOITATION—
Robert Alda, who was in St. Louis to
appear in a stage play with Gloria Swanson,
dropped in at the Fox Theatre to
give Manager Tony Peluso a hand in
exploiting "April Showers," in which he
has a featured role. They are shown here
as Alda made a personal appearance on
the Fox stage. Peluso's exploitation also
included a street ballyhoo in which girls
attired in transparent raincoats and carrying
plastic-covered umbrellas, appropriately
lettered, passed out cards during
rush hours reading, "Rain or shine, it's
clear to see I'm on my way to see 'April
Showers.'
Kenneth L. Sink, 58, Dies;
Owned Indiana Houses
MUNCIE, IND.—Kenneth L. Sink. 58 years
old, who operated the Miami and Grand theatres
in Union City, Ind., and the Strand in
Angola, died April 6 at his home following
a heart attack. Surviving are his wife, a
stepson and a brother. He was a member of
the Masonic lodge, the Christian church, the
Chamber of Commerce and Rotary club.
George Lefko Transferred
To Detroit as FC Pilot
DETROIT—George Lefko, Indianapolis
manager for Film Classics, has been transferred
to the Detroit exchange in the same
capacity. He succeeds Fred Bonnem, resigned.
Sam Abrams, salesman, will take
over Lefko's Indianapolis post. Abrams will
be succeeded by Ray Thomas.
Albert C. Fuller Dies
CHICAGO—Albert C. Fuller, advertising
man long Identified with the theatrical and
sports worlds, died April 5 in Michael Reese
hospial. He was 44. Fuller was advertising
and publicity director of the Drake hotel at
the time of his death. After a career as a
newspaper reporter. Fuller joined the publicity
staff of Shubert theatres. He was coauthor
of the stage play and motion picture.
"Remote Control," in 1929 and at one time
served as personal representative of Al Jolson.
Mrs. J. B. Stein Dies
TERRE HAUTE. IND.—The wife of J. B.
Stein, operator of the Garfield, died Friday
last week at her home. Stein and his wife
had just returned from Florida, where they
spent an extended vacation.
'Apache' Tops Loop
After Big Premiere
CHICAGO—Big noi.se of the week was
"Fort Apache" which got a solid start at
RKO Palace with the personal appearance of
Shirley Temple and John Agar for the premiere
festivities. Bu.siness was terrific all
through the week. The State-Lake had a nice
week with "The Noose Hangs High," plus a
stage .show headed by Skitch Hender.son and
band, and Alan Carney. "The Adventures of
Robin Hood," Warner reissue, was very good
at the Roosevelt and "Saigon" did okay at
the Chicago. "Cass Timberlane" continued
big at the Woods and "Gentleman's Agreement"
was still strong in a 21st week at
Apollo.
(Average Is 100)
Apollo—Gentleman's Agreement (20th-Fox),
21st wk
110
Chicago—Saigon (Para)
100
Garrick—Call Northside 777 (20th-Fox), 2nd d
wk.: Fight of the Wild Stallions (U-I) 90
Grand—Tarzan and the Mermaids (RKO), plus
Cartoon Festival, 2nd wk 90
Monroe—Good News (MOM), 5th wk 90
Oriental—This Time for Keeps (MGM), plus stage
show, 2nd wk 100
Palac^Fort Apache (RKO) - 160
Roosevelt—The Adventures of Bobin Hood (WB),
reissue 120
State- Lake—^The Noose Hangs High (EL), plus
stage show 110
United Artists—The Smugglers (EL), 2nd wk 90
Woods—Cass Timberlane (MGM), 4th wk 130
World Playhouse—Torment (Oxford) 110
Third Week of 'Bells'
Again Milwaukee Leader
MILWAUKEE—"Miracle of the Bells," in
a third week holdover at the Riverside,
again clicked top business. "Bill and Coo"
at the Towne attracted good patronage following
heavy preselling. "B.F.'s Daughter"
at the Wisconsin scored average, though more
was expected from this one. "The Bride Goes
Wild" in a Palace holdover garnered average.
"To the Victor" at the Warner angled par
take. "Gentleman's Agreement" in a third
chorus downtown on a Strand moveover registered
average. Mild weather with some
rain was on tap most of the week.
Alhambra—The Adventures of Robin Hood (WB),
reissue; Three on a Ticket (EL) 100
Palace—The Bride Goes Wild (MGM); The
Wreck of the Hesperus (Col). 2nd wk 100
Riverside—Miracle of the Bells (RKO). 3rd wk 125
Strand—Gentleman's Agreement (20th-Fox);
The Tender Years (20lh-Fox), 3rd d. t. wk 100
.100
Towne—Bill and Coo (Rep); Inside Story (Rep)...
Warner—To the Victor (WB): Madonna of the
Desert (Rep) _ -
Wisconsin—B. F.'s Daughter (MGM); My Dog
100
Rusty (Col) .....100
Big Indianapolis Money Goes
To Three 20th-Fox Pictures
INDIANAPOLIS — Three top productions
of 20th-Fox took most of the money in the
first run houses here last week, though all
the downtown! showcases did well. Top picture
was the Academy award winner,, "Gentleman's
Agreement," which was good for
160 per cent at the Indiana. "Call Northside
777" did 130 at the Circle and "Sitting
Pretty" 125 at Keith's, where it had been
moved after an opening week at the Indiana.
Circle—Call Northside 777 (20th-Fox); Compus
Honeymoon (Rep) 130
Indiana—Gentleman's Agreement (20th-Fox) 160
Keith's—Sitting Pretty (20th-Fox), 2nd d. t. wrk 125
Loews—The Sign of the Ram (Col); The Return of
the Whistler (Col) 105
Lyric—The Prince of Thieves (Col); A Lady
Surrenders (U-1) - 100
Radio Company Chartered
CLA'STON, MO.—Maplewood Broadcasters,
Inc., Clayton, has been incorporated by J. 'V.
Toler, D. E. 'Volas, M. R. Toler and H. M.
Volas.
BOXOFFICE :
: April 17, 1948 59

. . Beatrice
. . . Rudy
. .
. . Gilbert
. . The
MILWAUKEE
.
John P. Adler, Marshfield, was back from
his Florida vacation Schleif
of the Independent Theatres office will be
married May 1 . . . Charley Wellnitz, RKO
shipper, returned after an extended illness
. . . Reve Spooner, SRO secretary, was clipped
with the flu bug ... Ed White, RKO cashier,
attended his mother's funeral in the east . . .
Bill Young, SRO manager, was around the
territory contacting exhibitors.
Eddie Vollendorf of Theatre Service is
Benny Benjamin,
vacationing in Florida . . .
Screen Guild manager, gave the golf clubs
a workout and says this will be his greatest
year on the links . . Irv Wirthamer,
.
Paramount office manager, is slated for
a post as assistant divisional manager at the
Chicago headquarters.
Bill Koster, former Fox Wisconsin executive,
is currently assisting Roy Pierce in
management of the Riverside. Pierce has
been vacationing . . . Bob Zens, manager of
the Park, Waukesha, garnered solid business
with a double horror show promotion . . .
Jack Stamaton, former Pox Wisconsin staffer,
breezed around town before returning
to the west coast . . . Albert Manheimer,
superintendent of branch operations for Film
Classics, conferred with Max Ma2air, local
manager.
Exhibitors on the Row: H. H. Otto, Clinton;
Ray Lenz, Pastime, Horicon; Lon Husten,
Troy, East Troy; Sid Margoles, Regal,
Milwaukee; J. Juell, Garden, South Milwaukee;
Barney and Dave Sherman, Douglas,
Racine; Walter Baier, Fort, Fort Atkinson;
Bob Guiterman, Mikado, Manitowoc;
Erv Koenigsreiter, Greendale; Johnny Schuyler
and Eddie Moyle, Delft circuit, Marquette;
Nick Berg, State, Sheboygan.
. . .
Dale Fox is back as the head of the Fox
Wisconsin vending department . . . Just for
the record, Mae Dalton is with Republic
inspection department W. C. Fischer,
Campo, Campbellsport, was around town . . .
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The wise boys have it that George Gonis
of the Liberty is negotiating for the Rainbow
and Climax . . . W. Compston of Crandon,
Laona, Wabena and Peshtigo, was
around town.
. . .
Ruth Schwentner, former 20th-Fox employe
back from the coast, was in for hellos
Alma Morstead, secretary to Harry Olshan,
Columbia manager, was snowed in
during a recent visit at her home in Marquette
. . . Isabelle Matecki, Film Classics
cashier, spent a weekend at Peshtigo where
her father ran for mayor of the town.
John Erickson, Rex, Kingsford, was a caller
. . . Inez Gore, secretary to Joe Woodward,
20th-Pox manager, is competing in the national
women's bowling tourney at Dallas . . .
Ann Buffington, secretary to Lou Elman,
RKO manager, has another new hairdo .
Robert Neu, Warner Theatre doorman, added
20 tunes to his hot disk collection . . . Robert
Alda, who played George Gershwin in the
films and Gloria Swanson, former picture
star, appeared at the Davidson in "There
Goes the Bride."
Charley Olson, Varsity manager, was in
Chicago for a day . . . The Milwaukee Warner
club bowlers concluded the current season
with a wingding back stage at the Alhambra.
Acts from the Riverside provided
live entertainment . . . Otto Ti-ampe, business
agent of the projectionists local, reports
the annual election will be April 21
Koutnik, now managing the Garfield,
is doing a swell job in building merchant
public relations contacts for the theatre.
Tom Cornfield, Palace manager, wowed
them in a pitch on "The Bride Goes WOd,"
by having staff members Marion Greinet
dressed as a bride, chase Donald Cowling,
the groom, across the Palace stage, down the
aisles and into the lobby, much to the delight
of patrons.
Sonny McDonald, Warner manager, angled
a top drawer take by replacing "April Showers"
with "Black Bart," using a new film
to compete with holdovers of "A Double Life,"
"Gentleman's Agreement" and "Miracle of
the Bells" . . . Frankie Laine, current crooning
favorite, lost friends by going way "upstage"
in a recent appearance at George
Devines' Million Dollar ballroom . . . WTMJ
television last week, featured "The San Diego
Zoo" and "Symphony In Stone" in addition
to "Diving Fundamentals."
. . .
Elizabeth Taylor of the films will spend
some time at Lake Minocqua this summer
Milwaukeean Pat O'Brien of Hollywood
plans to participate in the Wisconsin
centennial festivities . . . "Big as Life," the
University of Wisconsin Haresfoot club show,
is slated for the Pabst April 23, 24 . . . Joe
Malits, Eighth Street, called at the exchanges.
Walter Blaney, RKO office manager, wears
his shoes thin, moving that Pontiac station
wagon continuously, to avert parking tickets
. . . Jim Gallagher, president of Gallagher
Films, reports the firm is modernizing its
offices and headquarters store . . . Louis
Machat is now engaged in distribution of
films produced in Germany.
Vivian Maltis treated the MGM gang on
her birthday with baked goods . . . Harriet
Sires, former MGM staffer, reports the
arrival of a baby boy . . . D. W. Hulbert now
owns and operates the house at Augusta,
Wis., formerly operated by Earl Warner who
left the industry.
INDIANAPOLIS
Toe Million is building an outdoor theatre on
Road 41 near Veedersburg, Ind., and will
be ready for the formal opening by May 1
. . . Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Haney, operators
of the Milan Theatre, Milan, Ind., returned
from a brief vacation in Florida. While in
the south, Mrs. Haney was confined indoors
because of illness . . . Thelma Smith, secretary
to Ted Mendelssohn, manager of U-I,
was ill last week.
. . .
Edwin Brauer, Republic manager, was in
Nashville, Tenn., and also planned to visit
exhibitors in the southern territory, including
Louisville. Before returning to the city
Verne Gorrell,
he wUl visit New York City . . .
operator of the Isis Theatre, Winamac,
Ind., who has been seriously ill, is on the
mend Betty Riemsnyder is the new
stenographer at RKO.
. .
The Bennett circuit has moved its headquarters
from Fort Branch, Ind., to Calhoim,
Ky. . . . Jesse Fine of the Pioneer circuit,
Evansville, passed through the city on his
way to Chicago . . . Claude McKean, Warner
Bros, manager, left for a district meeting in
Pittsburgh . The Brownie Theatre, Brownsburg,
Ind.. had a special performance for
Coatsville tornado sufferers. Warner Bros,
provided the picture and Manager Max Paige
directed the show.
Norman Moray, head of Warners short subjects
sales department, visited the local
branch . . . Al Borkenstein, operator of the
Wells Theatre, Fort Wayne, spent the week
at Lake Wawasee preparing his summer lodge
for the season . May of the Dream
was on Filmrow booking and buying . . .
George T. Landis. manager of 20th-Fox, was
in New York on business . . . The Diana
Theatre, entirely new after being destroyed
by fire, will be reopened April 25 by Nick
Paikos.
The American Theatre, formerly the
Ladoga, in Ladoga. Ind.. has been taken over
by E. W. Creekbaum . Ebony Theatre,
Claysburg, Ind., has been acquired by J. E.
Hayes. The house formerly was known as
the Dixie . . . M. H. Sparks has reopened the
Swan in Edmonton, Ky. The old Edmonton
has been dismantled.
Charles Acton, Republic salesman, and
Genevieve Ardington, formerly secretary to
Edwin Brauer, manager of Republic, were
married AprU 1 in Louisville. A formal reception
was held at the Kentucky hotel and
practically all Louisville exhibitors were present.
Acton is well known in Louisville, since
he calls on exhibitors there.
Hearst Seeks Video Permit
MILWAUKEE—The Hearst Radio Corp.,
owner and operator of radio station WISN,
has filed an application with the Federal
Communications commission for a television
permit recently.
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BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948 61

. . .
Al
. . Leon
CHICAGO
^rs. Joseph Chesser, president, reports Better
Films Council of Chicagoland's annual
spring meeting April 21 in the Civic
Opera House will have representatives of the
motion picture Industry as special guests and
Maurice N. Wolf, public relations representative
of Loew's, Inc., as speaker. The MGM
film, "State of the Union," will be screened
Dezel and Jules Weill, general sales
manager of Masterpiece Pi-oductions, were in
from the coast for a confab with Sol Cohen,
local Dezel Productions manager. Weill left
for New York and Dezel went to his Detroit
offices.
. . Milt Officer
Walter Woods, assistant manager of the
Lamar, Oak Park, has been transferred to
the Embassy as assistant
to Bill Cole
. . . Col. Joseph Goetz,
who was assistant to
RKO regional manager,
has been recalled
by the air corps motion
picture service . . .
Nat Holt, 20th-Fox
producer, passed
through on his way to
Montreal to plan
"Canadian Pacific," a
motion Col. Joseph picture
H. Goetz
about
the famous railroad
system . . . Jack Schwartz, former sales
manager for Eagle Lion Pictures, is spending
about five weeks in Miami, including
the Variety Convention
.
reports
that the Cine Theatre has two pictures
about a girdle manufacturer, "The Man Who
Could Work Miracles." "The Shape of Things
to Come" . . . Mort Rosenthal, formerly of
the B&K Admiral, has replaced Louis Udwin
as swing assistant in the northwest district.
Udwin is at Lakeside replacing Charles
Walsh, who became secretary to Dave Balaban.
Marshall Napshin is acting as assistant
at the State-Lake.
Anita Colby, executive assistant with Paramount,
was here in behalf of "The Emperor
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Waltz" . . . Disk jockeys about town are
sportin' Be Bop caps, gifts from M&K's adlad
Jackson Garber to herald the Regal theatre
appearance of the bandsman-clothier,
Jimmy Dale, known to his reet-pleat customers
as Hal Fox. Hal originated the
Be Bop cap at his Roosevelt road shop .
"The Outlaw," which had a record run at
two Loop houses, is now playing ten neighborhood
houses day and date.
Harry Balaban of H&E Balaban circuit has
returned from his Florida vacation .
Mayer, Meyer, Austrian & Piatt has resigned
as 20th Century-Fox attorneys in local antitrust
cases and Mathews & Springger has
The Surfs opening of
taken over . . .
"Nicholas Nickleby" was attended by members
of the Charles Dickens Fellowship club
in commemoration of the 132th anniversary
of the birth of the famous author.
Madeleine Carroll, who gave up her career
at the beginning of the war to work in European
hospitals, vrill receive the 1948 American
Brotherhood Ai-ts Citation for outstanding
contribution to better human relations and
welfare at a luncheon in the Stevens hotel
May 18.
Nicholas Butera, assistant manager of the
Southern in Oak Park, has been appointed
entertainment chairman of special events
for the Southern District Men's Ass'n. Len
Utecht, manager of the Lake, is publicity
and promotion chairman, and Jimmy Smith,
assistant at the Lake, is working along with
Len as cameraman for the association. Len
and Jimmy are also working with the Chamber
of Commerce of Oak Park and the local
paper. Oak Leaves, on publicity and promotion,
all of which mean greater tieups with
the Lake Theatre on special events.
Joe Kausal, TJvoli Theatre electrician,
Ben Katz, U-I exploiteer,
died April 8 . . .
is vacationing in Miami . Brandt,
EL publicist, was in Milwaukee to spark
Frank Soule, EL manager of
"Ruthless" . . .
branch operations, was here and In Milwaukee
... Si Greiver will book for the new
outdoor theatre which will open in South
Bend May 1.
. . .
Kayline Co., distributors of candy and popcorn
supplies to the trade, will move to
1112 South Michigan Ave. May 1 . . . Ralph
Smitha, Essaness head booker. Is vacationing
in Palm Springs . . . Jack Belasco, Woods
manager, planed to Miami for a vacation,
but will be back in time for the premiere
of "State of the Union" Oscar Morgan,
head of Paramount short subjects department,
was at the local exchange
riLMACK
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•very- f
where <
NtW YORK
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ORDER
FILMACK
TRAILERS
^
THE BRIGHT SPOT
OF ANY campaign'
I 55 STKIIT itmnaiTniiiMEna
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i
ST. LOUIS
^n appropriation of $1,000 to help finance
the Freedom train exhibition here June
12, 13 has been approved by the city. W. E.
Burtelow, chairman of a group that is campaigning
to raise $50,000 for the American
Heritage Foundation, sponsor of the train's
tour, wrote that the city would be reimbursed.
The train will be in East St. Louis September
14 . . . The drive-in operated at Des
Peres by Midwest Drive-In Theatre Corp.,
has opened for the season.
Fred Wehrenberg, who recently purchased
the 66 Park-In Theatre, on U.S. 66 from
Flexer Theatres of Memphis, was to open
the airer this weekend. He is pushing the
construction of his 1,000-car Ronnie's Drive-
In on Lindbergh Boulevard for an early
opening. A 1.000-car drive-in is being built
on Highway 99 by Wehrenberg and Clarence
and Frances Laimann.
George Bowser, John Healy, John Hodges
and Paul Scherer of the Fox West Coast organization
were to attend a conference of
executives and managers of the Fox Midwest
circuit here this weekend (15-18) . . . James
McCann has succeeded the late Charles Conrad
as Monogram and Allied salesman under
Barney Rosenthal. He came here from 20th-
Fox in the Des Moines territory.
A. B. Jefferis, owner of the Jefferis Theatre,
Piedmont, Mo., has as a hobby the history
of motion picture projection equipment, especially
that used in the pioneer theatres. He
recalls, for instance, that the old Central
Theatre operated by the late Ed Koeln and
associates at the northeast corner of Sixth
and Market streets here used Powers projectors,
as did the Gem on Sixth, south of
Market on the site of the present York hotel.
The Globe, the first film house in St. Louis on
Franklin avenue had an Edison machine as
did the original Plaza at Clara and Etzel
avenues, the Dixie on South Broadway, Fred
Wehrenberg's Best Theatre on Cherokee
street and the St. Charles on St. Charles
near Sixth. Oldtimers should write Jefferis,
telling the kind of equipment they used and
some of their amusing early experiences and
the trying ones, as well. He would appreciate
that. It would help complete his history of
early
theatres.
John Rees, pioneer exhibitor of Wellsville,
Mo., is vacationing in Hot Springs . . . The
new theatre in Fteeburg, 111., opened April 10.
Basil Clark is the owner . . . Dan Cupid has
been shooting darts at RKO. Edis Knoll,
booker secretary, was married to William E.
Brown, a deputy city marshal of St. Louis,
while Mollie Fredlick was married to Richard
Rosenfeld, a draftsman.
. .
Justus Girard, owner of theatres in Dallas
City, Carthage and Warsaw, 111., was on
Pilmrow . The 194-seat Avon, Medora, 111.,
has been purchased by Samuel Lowe, former
Fredericktown, Mo., night club operator,
from James A. Walker of Payetteville, Ark.
Cliff Mantle, booker-salesman for Film
Classics, brought the principals together.
Reg. U. S. Pot. 0(f.
ATTENDANCE BOOSTER
For Information, Write, Wire or Phone
FOTO-PAY-DAY, INC.
161 W. Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee 3, Wis.
BOXOFFICE :: AprU 17, 1948

'Twin Cily' Clearances
Are Being Realigned
MINNEAPOLIS—Branch iiinnageis here
have advised W. R. Frank, circuit owner and
Hollywood producer, that they are working
out a new clearance schedule to meet his and
other Twin city independent exhibitors' complaints.
They expect to have the new schedule
ready within a fortnight.
Frank wants clearance substantially reduced
for his Boulevard, Minneapolis neighborhood
house, and West Twins, St. Paul
suburban theatre. Ben Friedman also wishes
a reduced clearance for his Edina, Minneapolis
suburban de luxe house, and Sol Lebedoff
has brought suit to compel the distributors
to reduce clearance at his Homewood
Theatre here and for damages allegedly
sustained in consequence of the present 56-
day clearance.
Hostesses Selected
For Colosseum Ball
KANSAS CITY—At a general meeting of
salesmen Monday (12) in the Paramount
screening room, plans were completed for
the Colosseum ball May 3 at the Muehlebach
hotel. Hostesses for this occasion, where
there will be 15 tables, each seating ten, as
well as "stand-up" space, have been selected
and are busily conferring with each other on
that momentous question—what to wear.
They are:
Lois Cramer, Columbia; Gladyce Penrod,
KMTA; Myrtle Cane, MGM; Betty Caruso,
Monogram: Florence Marvin, Paramount:
Joan Putthoff, Eagle Lion: Frances Zentner,
RKO: Ruby Pasley, Republic: Grace Roberts,
20th Century-Fox: Irene Hunsicker,
United Artists: Dorothie Warneke, Universal:
Mary Heueisen, Warner Bros.: June Medcalf.
R. R. Biechele: Virginia Gaylord, SRO.
Robert Huston Resigns
CRESCO, IOWA—Robert Huston is resigning
as manager of the Cresco Theatre
here to go into a new field of business. He
is building three drive-in stands in Albia,
Chariton and Ottumwa and will open them
early in May. He is also planning to go into
the popcorn business and will package three
kinds of popcorn to be sold in southern Iowa.
William Puffer, assistant manager of the
Cresco, will accompany Huston to Albia and
will serve as salesman of the packaged popcorn.
Succeeding Huston as manager of the
Cresco is Robert Malmquist, present manager
of the Gem in Charles City.
Luncheon for Mayor Kemp
KANSAS CITY—Motion picture representatives
in this area have received invitations
from Arthur Cole to attend a limcheon for
recently re-elected Mayor Kemp on April 26.
The luncheon will be held in the Phillips
hotel at 12:15 p. m. and Mayor Kemp will be
the guest of others in attendance. Cole assures
everyone there "will be no lengthy
speeches—just a nice get-together."
Morgan, Minn., Businessmen to Build
MORGAN, MINN.—A group of businessmen
here has organized a company to build
a theatre. The town is now without films.
w'Li
COLBY TOURS MIDWEST—Anita
Colby, executive assistant to Henry Ginsberg,
who is in ciiarge of Paramount studios,
met exhibitors and newspaper people
in Kansas City and Omaha on her
nationwide exploitation tour in behalf
of "The Emperor Waltz." In the top picture
she is shown in Omaha with Frank
Roberts, left, controller of the Cooper
Theatres in Lincoln, Neb., and Ted Butterfield,
city publicity and advertising
manager of the Lincoln houses; in the
center photo she's shown chatting with
Ralph Blank of Tri-States and Sam Epstein,
owner of several theatres in Omaha,
and below she is showTi with Paramount
branch employes in Kansas City.
In the picture, left to right, are J. H.
States, booking manager; R. C. LiBeau,
branch manager; Arthur Cole, industrjrepresentative;
Clay Wine, student booker;
Al Morris, booker; Walter Clark,
booker; Frank V. Thomas, salesman, and
A. H. Chaffee, office manager.
Film Salesman Buys Plane
MINNEAPOLIS—Milt Lipsner, RKO salesman,
has bought his own airplane and flies
it himself. When practical he uses it, instead
of the usual automobile, to cover his
territory. He handles western Wisconsin and
northeastern Minnesota.
Sunday Show Ban Loses
STROMSBURG, NEB.—Voters of this town
of 1,500 have turned down by a 2-to-l vote
a proposed ban on Sunday motion pictures.
The Citizens party pushed the proposal in
the city elections.
Tri-States Signs for Reissues
DES MOINES—Jules Weill and Albert
Dezel of Masterpiece Productions, Chicago,
have concluded an arrangement with Ti-i-
States Theatre Corp. for the booking of two
blocks of reissue pictures. The two men announced
Tri-States had taken a block of
24 United Artists films and 13 Hopalong
Cassidy pictures for showing in the circuit.
Iowa, Nebraska Allied
Meet in Des Moines
DES MOINES— Abram F.
Myers, chairman
of the board and general counsel of national
Allied, will return to his native Iowa
to be a speaker at the convention of the
Allied Independent Theatre Owners of Iowa
and Nebraska in Des Moines Monday and
Tuesday, May 10 and 11.
The convention will be held at Hotel Fort
Des Moines.
The meeting here will be the only convention
of the organization, Leo F. Wolcott,
chairman of the board, announced. It
had previously been reported in BOXOF-
FICE that separate meetings would be held
tor Nebraska members in Omaha and Iowa
members in Des Moines. The meeting here
will be for Allied members of both states,
Wolcott said.
Business sessions will be held daily from
1 to 5 p. m. The convention will wind up
with an all-industry banquet and party at
7 p. m. May 11.
Speakers besides Abrams will
include Gov.
Robert D. Blue of Iowa and Sidney E. Samuelson.
Philadelphia, chairman of national
Allied's Caravan. Abrams is scheduled to talk
on the government antitrust suit and the
Ascap situation, and Samuelson will di.scuss
sales policies.
Wolcott urged that exhibitors planning to
attend send reservations immediately to Tim
Evans at the Lyons Theatre. Clinton, Iowa,
pointing out that hotel space is always scarce
in Des Moines.
Walter Hagedone Elected
Mayor of Cozad, Neb.
COZAD. NEB.—Walter J. Hagedone, owner
of the Rialto. is the new mayor of this town
of 3,000 persons. His election was almost
unanimous.
He joins Mons Thompson, St. Paul exhibitor,
as one of the film men in the territory
who heads city governments. Roy Bott of
Hooper, Neb., who sold his theatre several
years ago, also was a mayor. Now he is running
for re-election as a member of the
Omaha public power district.
C. V. Scholfield Dies
LANSING, IOWA—C. V. Scholfield, 57,
owmer and operator of the Blackhawk Theatre
here, a member of the board of education
and a former school teacher, died here last
week. After teaching in various communities
for 22 years, Mr. Schofield came to Lansing
in 1933 and opened a theatre. In 1946
he built a new theatre building. All stores
and the public school in town were closed
during the funeral services.
Drive-In Firm Formed
LINCOLN—The Starview Amusement Corp.
has been incorporated here to operate a
drive-in theatre. Capitalization was set at
$25,000. Incorporators were Mannie Burdie
and Sidney Schermer, both of St. Louis.
Corn to Fred Grumbell
EVERLY, IOWA—Fred Grumbell is the
new ouTier of the Corn Theatre here. W. R.
Arndt is the seller.
BOXOFFICE :
: April 17, 1948 MW
63

. . Juanita
. . Gus
KANSAS CITY
Cuperstitioiis, as well as just normally cautious,
folk on Filmrow are carefully refraining
these days from walking under the
ladders holding window-cleaners busily giving
a sparkle to the outside windows of several
With Bob Coplin on vacation
buildings . . . in New York, this substitute reporter
incorrectly referred to Jimmie Foster, manager
of the Orpheum Theatre at St. Joseph,
as city manager of the Dui'wood Theatres
And in reporting the approaching
there . . .
wedding of Virginia Ribic of Theatre Enterprises,
Inc., the last part of the groom's
name was lopped off. Virginia's new title
PDCHMPTCDM
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505 Delaware Street
KANSAS CITY 8. MO.
after June 12 will be IVLrs. Lew Wallace
Purinton.
MGM's Pep club, of which Harvey Cole is
president, has a picnic planned for April 19.
The office will close around 4 o'clock and
employes will go to Swope park where food
and other refreshments will be served and
general outdoor entertainment has' been
planned by a committee assisting Cole.
When those who had worked with Ward
Scott at 20th Century-Fox made up a purse
to give him a going-away present, Rita
Divorak, contract clerk, composed a poem
which was published on a card that accompanied
the gift and was signed by everyone
in the office. The poem personalized the
best wishes from Scott's fellow workers.
.
Cupid seems to be making a spring drive
on the Row. Latest announcement of intentions
comes from Dorotha Bartlett, biller at
Warner Bros., who will be married May 7
to Donald Smith of Olathe, Kas. Anna Jean
Owens of the same office will be her attendant
. . Sally Eileen Norris arrived
March 26 at St. Luke's hospital, the second
daughter for Mr. and Mrs. Frank Non'is . . .
Bookers at 20th Century-Fox happily report
collecting a bonus on the recent drive for
Terry Toon bookings . . . Thieves broke into
the safe at the Shreve Theatre Supply Co.
Tuesday night (6). No money is kept in the
safe and the loss was negligible.
. . Mrs. Al Tanner is
Away from their Filmrow desks the past
week due to illness were Dorothie Warneke,
in St. Luke's hospital with three ulcerated
teeth requiring surgical attention, and
Frances Black Zentner, office employe at
RKO, ill at her home .
much improved so that Tanner could return
to his desk at 20th Century-Fox . . . Helen
Pyles, secretary to Russell Borg, is now at
home recovering from a major operation.
Kansas exhibitors seen the past week on
the Row included Ralph Larned of the Paramount
Theatre at La Crosse and the Ness
at Ness City; J. L. Musgrave of the Cozy at
Girard, and Earl Shutt of the Plaza at Clyde.
. . Frank
Among the new faces on the Row is that of
Louise Cunningham, just out of school and
taking as her first job that of booker's stenographer
Mrs. Mary Lou
at Eagle Lion . . . Clark is now secretary for the George Baker
Enterprises. Mrs. Clark was formerly with
the Missouri Theatre Supply Co. and is the
wife of Walt Clark at Paramount .
Soule. supervisor of EL exchanges. New York,
was here several days on a routine tour . . .
H. J. Griffith, president of Theatre Enterprises,
Inc., was here from the Dallas home
office . . . "Rube" Melcher, Popper's Supply
Co., left for a week's business trip in the
territory.
Missouri exhibitors making the round of exchanges
the past week included Bernie
Shaner, Dixie Theatre, Odessa; Virgil Krager,
Roxy at Cainsville; Gene Michaels, Michlo at
Braymer; Frank Wheary, Farris at Richmond;
L. P. Larsen, Civic at Webb City; Bob
Robinson, Grant at Grant; R. R. Frazier,
Lathrop at Lathrop; Leo Walker, CB at
Bucklin; J. E. Hastings, Liberty at Marysville;
Charles Fisk, Fisk at Butler, and Floyd
Hill, Drexel roadshow at Drexel.
. . .
William E. Tniog, district manager for
United Artists, is on a business trip to Tulsa
Gene Sichelman, Columbia home office,
will be in town several weeks
Page, assistant manager of
. . . Sidney
the Fox Theatre
at McCook, Neb., accompanied A. J. Speak,
RCA engineer from McCook, on a two-day
visit to the Kansas City office Monday and
Tuesday . Watson, secretary for
the RCA Service Co., spent the weekend
visiting relatives in Chariton, Iowa . . . Ralph
Ohlson, Universal salesman, left St. Mary's
hospital Monday for convalescence at home.
That bent-over look which some of the
Filmrow men are affecting these days is not
because they are keeping their ears to the
groimd, as it were, more assiduously than
ever. Warner salesman Harry Wheeler's affliction
comes from a weekend spent building
a barbecue oven out at his place and Tommy
Thompson, SRO manager, got that way from
working with his lawn . Kubitzki of
20th Century-Fox confides that he is receiving
much pro-and-con advice on what to
do with that extra radish plant, since both
came up when the missus dropped two seeds
in the one hole. About half of his gardening
friends are for rooting one out to give
more room for the other to grow—but the
other half insists he should let the twins
stay put and grow up together.
Oscar Morgan, Paramount shorts sales
manager, spent Tuesday and Wednesday here
on business . . . Louise Crane has returned
to her desk at the Paramomit exchange after
a recent fall . . . Mrs. Eleanore Walton, city
censor, is getting about her home after her
fall but is not yet getting down to the
screenings.
Satisfaction — Always
Missouri Theatre Supply Co.
L. I. EIMBRIEL. Manager
Phone GRand 2864
— lis W. 18lh Kansas City 8, Mo. ^
^
Grand
Ball
KANSAS CITY COLOSSEUM OF MOTION PICTURE SALESMEN
Monday, May 3, 1948 • 8:30 to 12:30 • Hotel Muehlebach Ballroom
$2.50 Per Person
64 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

I
•
,
'Agreement' Earns
Holdover Showing
KANSAS CITY — "Gentleman's Agreement"
turned in almost double the normal business
at the three Fox first run houses and was
held. "Sitting Pretty" was moved over to
the Esquire where it did fair business.
The Orpheum's "I Remember Mama" held
up well enough to be scheduled for a third
week, but at the Midland ''The Mating of
Millie" and "Adventures in Silverado" did
not show much strength, so "Duel in the
Sun" was opened Thm'sday at popular prices.
It played the Midland last June at advanced
admission scales.
(Average Is 100)
Tower, Uptown, Fairwcry—Gentleman's Agreement
(2[)thTo.x) 195
Esquire—Sitting Pretty (20th-Fox), 3rd d. t. wk 8b
Midland—The Mating of Millie (Col); Adventures
in Silverado (Col) 105
Paramount—Unconquered (Para), 2nd wk 90
Orpheum— I Remember Mama (RKO) 120
Roxy—Catherine the Great (FC); Privole Liie ol
Don Juan (FC) „
-.100
Competition Hurts Theatre
Business at Des Moines
DES MOINES— Several attractions in various
parts of the city kept attendance from
its high mark of last week. A professional
basketball game. Little Theatre production,
national radio broadcast of Ladies Be Seated,
Sports and Vacation show, and several attractions
at the KRNT Radio Theatre, all
drew from the regular movie attendance,
"I Remember Mama," in its second week
at the Orpheum, did just average business.
It was a single bill. "Unconquered," showing
at the Des Moines, also did 100 and the
double bill at the Paramoimt, "Three Daring
Daughters" and "Mr. Reckless," fell slightly
below par.
Des Momes—Unconquered (Para) 100
Orpheum—I Remember Mama (RKO), 2nd wk 100
Paramount—Three Daring Daughters (MGM);
Mr. Reckess (Para) _ „ 95
'Agreement' and 'Life' Pile
Up Big Twin City Scores
MINNEAPOLIS—Two Academy award topnotchers,
"Gentleman's Agreement" and "A
Double Life," entered the local boxoffice
scene simultaneously and smashed through
to big grosses. They were the only prominent
newcomers, but the holdover list was imfintonHJoniS
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in their second.
Aster—Butch Minds Baby (SR); Tight Shoes
(SR), reissues 80
Century—Unconquered (Para), 3rd d. t. wk.
regular pnzez .
100
Gopher-Badlands ol Dakota (SR); TroU of
Vigilante (SR), reissues 85
Lyric— Call Northside 777 (20th-Fox), 3rd d. t.
wk 100
Radio City—Gentleman's Agreement (20th-Fox)....200
RKO-Orpheum— 1 Remember Mama (RKO),
2nd wk 120
RKO-Pan—Fighting 69th (WB); Valley of
Giants (WB), reissues 100
State—A Double Lite (U-I) _ _ 140
World—The Fugitive (RKO), 2nd d. t. wk 80
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BOXOFFICE :
: AprU 17, 1948 65

i
LEAK
. . Don
. . Sam
of
. . Seen
OMAHA
Q
. . .
.
Ralph Branton, general manager of Tri-
States Theatres, was in the city a few
days H. O. Qualsett, exhibitor in Tekamah,
w-as called to St. Paul, Neb., due to
illness of his father Henry, Sutherland,
Iowa, exhibitor, has a gun repair shop
in his basement. A recent visit to the Minneapolis
sports show gave some new ideas.
. . .
The Chief Theatre in South Omaha passes
its first birthday this month. The house,
owned by Ralph Blank, is the city's newest
Carl Bailey, owner of the Pawnee Theatre
in Pawnee City, is recuperating from
an operation. Lifting of a heavy film container
caused the injury that forced the
operation.
Byron Hopkins' new theatre in Bellevue,
Neb., which was opened some time ago, now
has a name—the Elk. It is named for an
historic hill in Nebraska's oldest town. The
theatre is Bellevue's first . . . Dick Kehrberg,
owner of the Iowa Theatre in Sheldon, Iowa,
is heading the fund drive for a new community
hospital . . . "Unconquered" is only
the fourth picture ever to be held over at the
Orpheum Theatre, the city's largest.
Wally Johnson, Friend, Neb., exhibitor, is
back at his theatre after a honeymoon trip
to Honolulu . . . W. H. Heath, Republic Pictures
salesman, suffered a badly cut finger
on the road. His auto ran out of fuel and
bringing back a tin of gasoline he injured
Eleanor Horwich, Columbia
the finger . . .
cashier, says she has an announcement, too,
along with all the other girls displaying
sparklers. Her boy friend got married
Ernie Meyers, husband of Ruth Meyers,
. .
UA
.
inspector, entered a hospital for a serious
operation.
Anita Colby, Paramount "ambassador,"
held up a train. Due to a change in signals,
she missed her train here and it was held
for her in Council Bluffs imtil a United
Airlines limousine could rush her there.
Visitors along Filmrow included Cliff Sherron,
David City: Fobert Bertram, Schleswig,
Iowa; Eddie Kugel, Holstein, Iowa; 'Wally
Johnson, Friend; F. 'W. Nulteus. Mapleton,
Iowa; Tom Sandberg, Ravemia; Richard Mc-
Tague, Iowa Theatre, Dennison; Don Henry,
Sutherland, Iowa; Byron Hopkins, Sidney,
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John Fisher, Valley; Harold Dunn, Valentine,
and Mrs. M. D. Lyhane, Wood River.
Harry Waliier, who worked for nearly 50
years at Fifteenth and Harney streets, is in
Clarkson hospital. He collapsed while talking
with friends. Walker started with the old
Creighton Tlieatre, stayed on when it was
taken over by the Orpheum, was still there
when it became the Keith-Albee-Orpheum,
the Radio-Keith-Orpheum, and finally just
plain Orpheum. He is probably the oldest
active theatreman in town.
Manager Will Singer had a direct wire
from radio station KOIL so he could give
patrons results of the Nebraska primaries
during the regular programs . . . Appearance
of the three top Republican presidential candidates
off and on in the city last week, plus
other campaign fever activity, took away
some theatre patrons.
Tri-States Theatres has a unique anniversary
celebration coming up for the Omaha
Theatre . . . Don't be surprised if the missing
Oscar that Jack Benny talks about shows
up in Omaha . . . Sol Reif, new Film Classics
branch manager, learned that his mother
suffered a slight stroke ... Ed Kugel reports
his new house in Holstein, Iowa is well
under construction . . . Sioux City's Uptown
now is scheduled to open April 29 ... A
year of work was ended with the opening
of the new 200-seat Majestic in Oakland.
. .
All North Platte theatres suffered a temporary
blackout when power lines failed. Exhibitors
refunded admissions . Max Shoemaker,
Tabor, Iowa, exhibitor, joined the list
of new car owners . . . C. E. Paulson has put
in new sound, screen and projection in the
Strand, Wakefield, Neb.
Chief Barker F. A. Van Husan, Western
Theatre Supply owner, and Mrs. Van Husen,
headed the Omaha delegation to the Variety
Club international meeting in Miami. Others
were Meyer Stern, local secretary, and Mr.
and Mrs. Walter Creal, owners of the Beacon
and North Star theatres.
First Sioux City Drive-In
Is Under Construction
SIOUX CITY, IOWA—The first outdoor
motion picture theatre in Sioux City is scheduled
to open between May 15 and June 1,
depending on the weather, at 2900 Highway
75. A permit was issued last week to the
Sioux City Drive-In The-atre for a $3,000 steel
screen tower and a $1,500 projection room
with rest rooms.
John Kampmeyer, president of the firm,
said the foundation of the tower already has
been laid and work on the booth is nearly
finished. Grading will begin this week. The
area will accommodate 700 automobiles and
each car will be provided its own speaker.
The tower will be 56 feet high and the screen
will be about 46 feet square. There will be a
refreshment stand behind the projection
room.
Dickinson Drive-In
Open at Pittsburg
KANSAS CITY—Invitations were received
by all exchanges on Filmrow to attend the
opening Thursday (15
1 the Dickinson
Operating Co.'s 69 Drive-In Theatre one
mile south of the city hmits of Pittsburg,
Kas. Many drove down from Kansas City
to see the theatre, which covers 13 acres,
accommodates approximately 600 cars on its
ramps, and in
addition seats 200 on benches
in front of the screen. The screen is 52x48
feet and is covered with transite, making it
weather resistant.
Individual speakers are used. Heavy duty
projectors throw images on the screen 240
feet.
A playgroimd for children, in front of
the screen but below the audience line of
vision, is equipped with teeter-totters, slides
and swings. A platform will be built back
of this later to accommodate amateur night
programs.
Manager A. C. MacKinney has announced
that shows will begin each night at dusk,
regardless of the weather.
Glen W. Dickinson revealed that land has
been purchased at Salina, Kas., and construction
will start immediately on a 600-car
drive-in there, with a tentative opening date
set for July 4. Art Perry, construction engineer
for the Dickinson Co. and who built
the Pittsburg Drive-In, has been placed in
charge of the one at Salina.
From the BOXOFFICE Files
• •
(T-wenty Years Ago)
n RTHUR A. COLE has resigned as manager
of the Kansas City Paramoimt
branch, after 12 years of service with the
organization. Cole gave ill health and a
nervous condition as his reason for his
resignation, but it is understood that Paramount
executives will not let him leave the
company and that after a vacation and rest,
he will return to the office in another capacity.
* * *
J. L. Waybill has again become the owner
the Royal in Carrolton, Mo. . . . The Star
of
at Cole Camp, Mo., has opened for business
under the management of C. P. Junge . . .
J. H. Campbell of Baldwin, Kas., has bought
the Crystal in Ottawa.
* * *
. . .
. . Walter
. .
A foot of snow fell in northern Iowa last
week and many film salesmen had to leave
their cars over the weekend . on Des
Moines Filmrow: Wesley Mansfield, Tama;
W. A. Graham, Knoxville and Mr. Washburn,
Mount Vernon Naster of Kansas
City is
.
now managing the Lake in Omaha
Nathan Dax has taken over the Hipp
in Sioux City from Morris Smith .
Renz, formerly with National Theatre Supply
in Minneapolis, joined the NSS sales staff
in Omaha . W. A. Burke, formerly of Kansas
City, will assume the south Platte territory
for Paramount, replacing T. M. Tardy.
i\
STEBBINS THEATRE Equipment Co.
TJ^
KANSAS CITr a. MO-
A. B. Krumm Buys Sibley
WINTHROP, MINN.—The Sibley Theatre
has changed hands. A. B. Krumm is the new
owner.
Omar Nelson Leases Soldier
SOLDIER. IOWA—Omar Nelson has leased
the Soldier Theatre here from Conrad Evenson.
He took possession April 1, and is operating
the machines himself.
66 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

Ted Gamble to Speak
Ai Omaha Conclave
OMAHA—Robert Livingston of Lincoln,
regional vice-president of Theatre Owners
of America, has scheduled a luncheon meeting
Tuesday (27i for the Nebraska Theatremen's
Ass'n in Hotel Fontenelle.
Discussion of the legislative problems of
Nebraska will be held following the luncheon.
Ted Gamble, president of Theatre Owners of
America, will be the main speaker.
Every showman of Nebraska is invited to
attend the luncheon and afternoon meeting.
Reservations may be made by post card addressed
to William Miskell. Orpheum Theatre
Bldg., Omaha.
Wheel-Chair Vets Interest
Hollywood in Their Case
MINNEAPOLIS—Three Minneapolis war
veterans who went to Hollywood to interest
film people in making a picture built around
war-crippled, wheel-chair veterans, said they
received assurances that the project will be
undertaken. The picture, in fact, already has
been tentatively titled "Let's Go On From
Here," they assert.
The veterans are Ralph Elliott, L. K. Swanson
and Woody Hawkinson. Many of the
background shots will be made at the veteran's
hospital here, and at least two top
stars will be sent to Minneapolis for them,
according to Elliott.
One of the early scenes will show a wheelchair-confined
veteran totally bewildered by
the maze of steps all about him. The picture
will have its climax when the wheel-chair
veterans move into a ramp-equipped "dream
village" built for them by public donations.
Elliott
says.
A. £. Garansson Leases
WAMEGO. KAS.—A. E. Garansson, owner
and operator of the Garansson Theatre here,
has leased his house to Lynn E. and Ruth
Kay Alexander of Council Grove, Kas. The
Alexanders will take over operation May 1.
They are experienced theatre operators and
now manage a large Council Grove theatre.
The 600-seat Garansson, built last summer
at a cost of $100,000, is one of two theatres
in this city.
Film Delivery Rate Cut
Scheduled for May 15
Better Films Seen as Cure
To Poor Public Relations
DES MOINES—Better public relations for
the industry depend on better pictures from
Hollywood, Leo Wolcott, chairman of the
board of Allied Independent Theatre Owners
of Iowa and Nebraska, says.
"The need for better public relations is a
fact no one can deny," he observed in the
latest bulletin of the organization. "We've
sunk to a new low, and it's later than we
think. But the best public relations—and
showmanship— will be wasted if they aren't
backed by better pictures.
"The kindest thing that could be said for
the sad pictures we have been getting from
Hollywood these last two years is to call
them 'borderline' pictui-es. Hollywood can
make better pictures; they proved that during
the 20 per cent cancellation days. And
they better do it again."
16mm Film Group Formed
MANHATTAN, KAS.—A group of civic, religious
and educational leaders in this community
have just formed the Manhattan
Film council. The organization, it is understood,
will confine its interest entirely to
the 16mni field to stimulate the use of fUms
in group discussions and educational work
and to act as a clearing house in aiding organizations
in selecting and obtaining the
proper film for their purposes. At a forthcoming
meeting of the council five films
will be previewed.
'Bells' Sneaked at Brandeis
OMAHA—The Brandeis broke a precedent
this week. For the first time in the theatre's
history Manager Will Singer scheduled
a sneak preview. The picture was "The
Miracle of the Bells."
KANSAS CITY— Contingent on approval
by the Interstate Commerce commission,
film delivery truck rates in this exchange
territory will be reduced May 15.
This date was set by the Exhibitors Film
Delivery & Service Co. in an application it
forwarded last week to the ICC in Washington
for permission to reduce rates to a point
approximately 50 per cent of the current
Railway Express charges. Specifically Exhibitors
Film Delivery proposes to eliminate
lot shipment delivery charges and re-establi.sh
the 50 per cent return rate.
E. E. Jameson, in a letter addressed "to all
exhibitors," listed several examples of the
round trip cost under the proposed changes
compared to Railway Express charges. For
such towns in western Kansas as Hugoton,
Johnson, Liberal and Ulysses, the new Exhibitors
Film Delivery charge would be $7.35 on
a 100-pound round trip basis, as compared to
$13.08 by express. Federal tax would be added
to both.
Belief that the ICC will approve the ratereduction
was expressed by Jack Stewart,
general manager of Allied Independent Theatre
Owners of Kansas and Missouri, who
also is a member of a committee consisting of
Vancil Stamm and Ben Adams appointed on
the delivery rate question.
If the ICC does not approve the reduction,
the Allied organization will immediately proceed
with its plans to set up a cooperative
film delivery company, the committee said.
Promoted at Cedar Rapids
CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA — Piomotion of
Reed Jeffrey, chief of service at the Paramount
here, to assistant manager of the
State, has been announced by Francis C. Gil-
Ion, city manager for Tri-States Theatres.
Jeffrey succeeds Charles F. Mittlestadt, who
resigned from the State job.
Matis Doing Advertising
OMAHA—It was reported incorrectly recently
that John Matis had succeeded Eddie
Shafton, who resigned as counsel for the R.
D. Goldberg Theatres. Matis did join the
Goldberg circuit, but will serve only in the
advertising department.
Harold McCracken to Creston
CRESTON, IOWA—Harold McCracken of
Rockport, Mo., has been named assistant to
Robert H. Spencer, manager of the Strand
and Uptown theatres here. He will have
direct charge of the Uptown. McCracken
has been associated with the Commonwealth
Theatre organization for years.
Held in Theatre Candy Theft
FORT MADISON, IOWA—Dennis M. Murphy,
24, of Fort Madison, has been bound
over to the grand jury on a charge of breaking
into the Iowa Theatre Bldg., and stealing
a box containing candy bars and mint rolls.
YOUNG STAR ON TOUR—Between personal appearances on the stage of
Loew's Midland Theatre in Kansas City, Marshall Thompson, young MOM star,
was introduced to exhibitors and newspaper and radio representatives at a luncheon
in the Muehlebach hotel. Shown here, left to right, are Leon Robertson and Edd
Haas, district managers of Fox Midwest Theatres; Al L. Adler. resident manager
of the MOM exchange; John Meinardi, assistant film buyer for Fox Midwest; D. L.
Hartley, motion picture editor of the Star; Howard Burkhardt, manager of Loew's
Midland; Bernie Evens, MOM exploiteer; Bill Lyon, MGM studio representative; Mori
Greiner, editor of Swing; Rosemary Howard of WHB; Thompson, and Senn Lawler,
Fox Midwest publicist.
BOXOFFICE :
: April 17, 1948 G7

'
Leatha
. . Milt
D E S
MOINES
. . Eagle
pearl Milleson jr., son of Marie Milleson of
Clarinda, has been advanced from assistant
manager of the Cabrillo Theatre at San
Pedro, Calif., to manager of the Venice,Venice,
Cahf. Pearl started his theatre career as a
projectionist at the Clarinda for Herman
Fields . . . The Penton, Fenton, has completed
installation of a new screen .
Lion presented a sneak preview of "The
Noose Hangs High" at the Paramount last
week.
The accompanying photo is that of H. J.
King jr., who has entered King Enterprises as
a partner with his
^_^^^^
4^^B^k . . . Oscar Morgan,
'^^^^w head of the short sub-
'
father, H. Julian King
I .1 jects sales department
*^°'"
1 — 40'^ T^-
Paramount, was
^
'
here two days . . .
David Nelson, Republic
manager, attended a
meeting in St. Louis
^^
^^^ .
^^^^ Marrow,
^^V ijl
^^^^^ RKO s t e n o grapher,
mK^/me^^tl^t^ ^^^ bruised in an auto
accident which occured
H. J. "Hal" King while she was returning
to Des Moines from a weekend in Center-
COMPLETELY NEW
HORKY'S CAFE
Bigger and Better Than Ever
— Featuring 'Delish' Steaks
I2Q2 High St. Des Moines. Iowa
"Where Filmrow Friends Gather"
Open Daily at 4 p. m.
Mrs. H. V. Mulllns opened her new
ville . . .
Reo Theatre in Mitchellville Friday last week.
She also has the houses at Ankeny,
Pleasantville and Carlisle.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Jenner of Garwin,
Iowa, are the parents of
. . . Jim McCami, former
a
MGM
son named Steve
salesman and
20th Century-Fox booker, has accepted a
position as salesman for Monogram in St.
Louis ... It is rumored that Mr. and Mrs.
Harold Lyons (salesman for 20th Century-
Fox i are expecting the stork early in June.
New booker at U-I is Harold Van Sickle
. . .
. . . Lou Levy's secretary, Helene
Dorothy Koppleman has resigned at
Universal
Jacobs, spent a busy weekend entertaining
her sister and her husband's brother and
sister-in-law . . . Billie Caplan of 'Waterloo
was a visitor on the Row.
Dick Bruce, Columbia shipper, is doing
double duty these days while his wife recuperates
from an operation . Feinberg,
NSS manager, spent several days in
the Omaha office ... Jo Coffman and Myrtle
Bechtal of 'Warners are happy with their
new bookkeeping machine which arrived on
Monday . . . Charlotte Johnson, former
Warner inspector, expects to undergo a major
operation soon.
Buys Iris in Clifton, Kas.
CLIFTON, KAS.—Frank H. Reising of Hays
is the new owner of the Iris Theatre here,
having purchased it last month from Fred
Eberwein. Reising is a World War II veteran.
Palace in Waterloo
Ends 34-Year Span
'WATERLOO, IOWA
After 34 years, the
Palace Theatre here, oldest in the city, has
closed its doors. It was the last of the pre-
World War I houses. The Palace opened
April 1, 1914 with "Cleopatra." Original managers
were A. J. Diebold and W. C. Morris.
Mrs. Beatrice R. Diebold was listed as manager
up until 1947.
Owners were Diebold and Michael Ford,
operating as the Palace Tlieatre Co. Mrs.
Diebold, who lives in Cedar Rapids, sold the
Palace building to the late David Cutler and
four associates last August for $80,000. The
Palace Theatre Co. still owns the Strand Theatre
Bldg. here, but the original partners are
dead and the Strand itself is owned and operated
by the Tri-States Theatre Corp.
The Cutler heirs and their associates decided
last week to abandon plans for remodeling
and to close the theatre. No other plans
have been made.
Redecorate in Higginsville
HIGGINSVILLE, MO.—Redecorating and
remodeling of the Davis Theatre here has
been completed. In addition to complete interior
redecorating, new indirect neon lighting
will be installed.
Joe E. Brown's 'Son' Sentenced
MINNEAPOLIS—Frederick Milton Roe, 34
years old, who posed hereabouts as the son
of Joe E. Brown, film and stage star, was
sentenced in federal court to a five-year
prison term, plus a $500 fine, for interstate
transportation of a stolen car.
We Have Been Appointed
Iowa Distributors
CRETORS
ior
POPCORN MACHINES
"Super-Sixty" Hollywood Model No. 48 Giant Model No. 41 Cadet Model
Prices Quoted on Request
We Sell Popcorn Supplies
CORN — BAGS — BOXES — SALT — KETTLE CLEANER
LIQUID AND SOLID COCOANUT SEASONING
DES MOINES THEATRE SUPPLY CO
1121 High Street Phone 3-G520
ij
68 BOXOFFICE :: AprU 17, 1948

j
TXTayne
:
May
. . . Universal-International's
I
MINNEAPOLIS
Bill Elson is chief barker of the Minneapolis
Ted Bolnick, Bennie Bei-ger circuit
these days.
tent . . .
general manager, also attended the convention.
Bill Crystal, erstwhile stationed here but
now at Atlanta for the theatre division of
U.S. Air Conditioning Co., reports he's working
hard and business is good . . . Marvel
Mann is supervising the redecorating job at
a second week, one of the few times this has
the Northtown. local neighborhood house.
ever occurred at those houses, too.
Conrad Kriedberg, SRO manager, is launching
his cruiser
Jack Conway, Hollywood director and
Connie
former
Minnesotan, was the subject of a feature
Oscar-winning
K at Lake Minnetonka
"Black Narcissus" finally is
story in the Minneapolis Sunday Tribune.
getting its Twin
City first
It told of his outstanding
run at
position in the
the World here . . . E. G.
Fitzgibbons,
ranks of film directors and related he can
Paramount exploiteer, was in
lay claim to an
from
unusual
Chicago.
distinction, even in
Hollywood. He has the only farm, 300 acres
near Sunset boulevard, right within the city
'Mama' and
limits.
'Me' Leaders
Bennie Berger, North Central
In Nice
Allied president,
is plenty happy these days. His Minne-
OMAHA—Despite the absence of new prod-
Omaha Week
apolis Lakers professional league basketball uct, first run theatres enjoyed an excellent
team won the professional championship in week. The only new bills, "I Remember
a tournament in Chicago and will meet Mama" at the RKO Brandeis and "You Were
Rochester, champions of the eastern division, Meant for Me" at the Paramount, had a
for its own league's championship.
sm.all edge over the holdovers.
The Minnesota Amusement Co. has an
(Average
Omaha—Gentleman's
Is 100)
Agreement (20th-Fox),
elaborate manual for its May-June eightweek
New Business spring drive, starting Paramount—You Were Meant lor Me (Para) 125
2nd d. t. wk.; Alias Mr. Twilight (Col) 110
Orpheum—Unconquered (Para), 2nd wk 110
May 4 and continuing through June 26. the RKO-Brandeis—I Remember Mama (RKO) ... . 125
State—Cass Timberlane (MGM); The Hat
work of Ev Seibel, advertising department
Box
Mystery (SO), 2nd wk _ 105
head. It says: "The spring drive is the keynote
of the circuit's yearly success, this year
Town—Blondie in the Dough (Col), 2nd run
The Son oi Rusty (Col), 2nd run; The Colorado
Kid (Rep), reissue; split with Little
more than before because many situations Miss Broadway (Col), 2nd run; Follow That
have been hard hit by the severe weather. Blonde (Col) 100
Lost ground must be regained by beating last
year's drive profits." The captains: Downtown
Minneapolis, Charles Zinn; downtown Bernard Dudgeon Named
St. Paul, John Read: suburban Minneapolis,
Omaha Drive-In Pilot
Francis Wiggins; suburban St. Paul, 'Verne
Cummings; southern Minnesota district, Karl OMAHA—Bernard Dudgeon will manage
Lindstaedt, Floyd Nutting, Clifford Knoll, Omaha's first drive-in theatre scheduled for
Harry Salisbui-y, Ralph Phillips and Al opening soon. Tri-States Theatres, partner
Smith; South Dakota district, Mike Guttmann,
Marion Walker, Hayward Drury, Har-
manager of the Oil City Theatre at Falls
in the new venture, has promoted him from
old Stone, Joe Ryan and Albert FYitz; northern
City, Neb. He is now in Detroit spending
district, Dan Hudson, Eddie Kraus, Lee three weeks studying the operation of open
Mischnick, Art Molstad, Burr Cline, Howell air houses there.
Kadrie, Harvey Buchanan and Don Fredrickson.
William Wenz, assistant manager of the
There is $2,120 in cash prizes for man-
Rivoli at Falls City, will be upped to man-
agers who make the best showings.
ager of the Oil City.
George Jacoby, RKO auditor, was here . . .
Martin G. Lebedoff, who operates two Minneapolis
Open House in Eddyville
neighborhood houses, the Brynwood EDDYVILLE. IOWA—Mr. and Mrs. Carl
and Homewood, for his father Saul, who now Singer have leased the Den Hartog Bldg. east
owns a neighborhood theatre in California,
of the post office and have opened a motion
where he makes his home, is building a
picture theatre. The new owners, from Fairfield,
operate a chain of theatres in small
drive-in theatre at Colorado Springs.
Dolores
towns in this part of the state, playing one
Larson, secretary to "Hy" Chapman,
Columbia manager,
night in each town with portable equipment.
celebrated her 21st
birthday . . . Joe Wolf, former
This
Paramount
town had a theatre in the Torrey building
Twin City salesman and later Film
but the structure was not redecorated
Classics
branch manager, after
has opened a new the June floods and
drive-in
the town has been
in San Antonio, Texas. He sent an
without
invitation
a theatre ever since.
to Lowell Kaplan, general manager of Independent
Theatres buying combine, and others
here
To Operate in Lovilia, Iowa
to attend the opening.
LO'VILIA, IOWA — Mr. and Mrs. Ray
Harry Levy, 20th-Fox Twin City salesman, Nichols, owners of the Villa here, have resumed
is a granddaddy. His daughter gave birth to
operation of the theatre. They bought
a baby girl named Marcia Diane ... At the the house from Harold Sieverding. Booth
nth hour Gilbert Nathanson, independent equipment has been overhauled and present
circuit owner, decided to attend the convention
plans call for three changes of program a
of "Variety Clubs International at Miami week. Matinees will be held Saturdays and
and drove there with his wife . . . His partner Sundays. Two evening shows will be held on
King will appear at the Orpheum
19 at $3 top. including tax ... An
ordinance has been introduced into city council
providing for a 1-cent tax on every daily
newspaper sold . . . "Gentleman's Agreement"
held over for a second week at the St. Paul
Paramount and the Minneapolis Radio City.
The St. Paul Orpheum and the Minneapolis
Orpheum also held ever "I Remember Mama"
UNIVERSAL
Theatre Advertising Co.
Nationwide Theatre Premiums
Main Office
1312 S, Wabash Ave, Phone WABash 9440
Chicago 5, Illinois
MAURICE B. BENTLEY & THOMAS C. BARATTA
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WE SERVE THE ENTIRE COUNTRY
Rated in Dun & Bradstreet.
Our representatives are bonded.
Uiroti request extiibitors can display our premiums in
their lobbies while campaiyn is on.
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2-Piece Luggage Sets, Monarch Rocket Bikes
52-Piece Service for 8, Narcissus Pattern
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ALL PREMIUMS AT NO COST TO
THE THEATRE
In states where drawings are prohibited, we substitute
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BOXOFFICE :
: April 17, 1948 69

~:
Pretty Dolls Passe as Film Recruits
MINNEAPOLIS—Anita Colby, Paramount
assistant executive and former screen and
model personality, here in the interest of
"The Emperor Waltz." told reporters here
that the "pretty doll" working in the corner
drug store is no longer a potential Hollywood
star. Neither is "handsome Dan" who
can thrill the girls with his features, but
leaves them cold on talent, she said.
Rich veins of talent are now being tapped,
not in Hollywood, but in the nation's drama
schools, summer stock theatres, the stage
and the "strawhat circuit," and looks has
taken a backseat to intelligence and ability,
according to Miss Colby.
Theatregoers have had their fill of naught
but beauty, asserted Miss Colby.
"Paramount has devised a new scheme to
. . . Tire era of the 'star over
develop budding Thespians," said Miss Colby.
"When a potential dramatic artist is found,
he is sent to New York and allowed a retaining
fee while subjected to a stiff training
course
night' and the success of the blond with the
'baby blue eyes' has vanished."
Paul Light, St. Paul Pioneer Press columnist,
was one of those who had lunch
with Miss Colby. He found her to be "a
$l,000-a-week career woman," dynamic, intelligent
and beautiful to look at, and possessor
of a good technical knowledge of motion
pictures. He wrote he couldn't see any
newspaper man turning her down if she
asked for publicity and he could well imagine
her current trip across the continent adding
hundreds of thousands of dollars to "Tlie
Emperor Waltz" grosses.
Elma, Iowa, Citizens Join
To Build New Theatre
ELMA. IOWA—Steps have been taken here
to form a corporation to sell stock in a new
theatre building for Elma. The former theatre
building was destroyed by fire last
month. Stock value has been set at $100 a
share with one vote per share in the election
of a board' of directors. It has been decided,
also, that groups could combine to buy
shares and that any sums could be accepted
as donations.
Approximately 125 citizens of the community
agreed at a meeting last week to incorporate
for $20,000 under the name of the
Elma Building Corp. The group elected J. F.
Beecher to act as chairman. Officers were
named by Beecher to act in temporary capacity
until a regular meeting can be held to
elect the permanent officers. It was made
clear that shareholders would draw dividends
on their shares in proportion to the profit
the building would show once it was in operation
and that in case the subscription fell
short of the necessary amount, all money
collected would be returned to the purchasers.
Charles Jones, who operated the Elma Theatre
before the fire destroyed it, expressed
his desire to lease and equip the building as
soon as it is ready for occupancy.
Council at Sioux Center
Renews Theatre Permit
SIOUX CENTER. IOWA—The residents of
this town of 2.000 persons can go on seeing
motion pictures for at least another year. By
a vote of 4 to 1, the newly elected city coun-

1 1 Dies
I
Saul Korman to Build
1500-Seater in Detroit
DETROIT— Saul Korman of Korman Theatres
announced that plans are being made
by his organization to commence the construction
of a theatre at Holbrook and Oakland,
Detroit-
Theodore Rogvoy, Detroit arcliitect, is completing
the plans, sketches and drawings for
this theatre and beginning the early part of
May, the theatre will go into construction.
It will be a 1.500-seat theatre and is to be
equipped w'ith video and ultramodern equipment,
Korman said. He plans to build an
extraordinary large stage in order to cope
with all futiu'e developments in the industry.
Korman Theatres operate the Grant, Apollo
and Oakland in the same section of the
as the proposed new one.
city
'Charity' Lottery Game
Case to Ohio Top Court
COLUMBUS—Question of whether bingo,
keno and other games of chance when operated
"not for profit" are contrary to the
constitutional ban against gambling has been
admitted for review by the Ohio supreme
court. The case involves Murray S. Parker,
former state senator from Akron. He was
charged with operating keno games for profit.
He claimed immunity from the gambling
laws, however, under provisions of an amendment
which permits the operation of lotteries
for charity.
The Summit county common pleas court
held that Parker's operations did not constitute
a circumvention of the constitution
and that there was no' offense mider the
existing law. The court of appeals upheld
the
lower court.
Mother of Alice Gorham.
UDT Exploiteer, Dies
DETROIT—Mrs. Edith Wilson, 70. died
here March 27 after several months illness.
She was the mother of Mrs. Alice Gorham,
exploitation manager of United Detroit Theatres,
who for a quarter century has been the
recognized feminine "dean" of Detroit press
agents. She is sm-vived by her husband,
A. H. Wilson, who is well known as a singer,
and five children.
C. B. Hall, Early Exhibitor,
in Parkersburg at 80
PARKERSBURG, W. VA.—C. B. "Dad"
Hall. 80, veteran exhibitor, died here last
week. Operator of the old Virginia here, he
opened the present Virginia more than a
score of years ago. He retired in 1940 when
he transferred the theatre to Lou Padolf.
Surviving are his wife and two daughters.
George Lefko Transferred
To Detroit as FC Pilot
DETROIT—George Lefko, Indianapolis
manager for Film Classics, has been transferred
to the Detroit exchange in the same
capacity. He succeeds Fred Bonnem, resigned.
Sam Abrams, salesman, will take
over Lefko's Indianapolis post. Abrams will
be succeeded by Ray Thomas.
Pittsburgh Variety to Hold
Golf Tournament July 30
PITTSBURGH—The annual Variety Club
golf tournament will be held Friday, July
30, Arthur H. Levy, Columbia manager and
tourney chairman, announced. The committee
selected the Highland Country club for
this summer's contest. Ladies are invited
to participate and enjoy the afternoon at
the same time the men are competing in
their own groups. Tliere will be a mixed
cocktail party, dimier and dance. Max Shulgold,
Crowai Film manager, is in charge of
tickets; Tom Birks, Sun-Telegraph, is in
charge of contests, and James H. Nash, West
View exhibitor, is chairman of the prize
committee.
Theatres in Altoona
Hit for 10 Per Cent
ALTOONA, PA.—City council, by authority
granted by the new stat« law, has passed a
10 per cent amusement tax to be collected
at all theatres: a two-mill gross sales merchandise
and services at retail tax; a twomill
tax on services rendered, this levy to
be known as a "professional tax," and a $20-
a-day tax on transient photographers.
Additionally, taxicab licenses have been
boosted from $10 to $25 annually and a tax
of $50 is imposed on each bus operating for
a minimum of five days on city streets each
month. The amusement taxes were effective
April 15. There are ten theatres in Altoona,
the first run houses being controlled by the
Altoona-Publix circuit and the Wilmer &
Vincent-Fabian enterprises circuit.
EAST PITTSBURGH—School board here
postponed action on a proposed 10 per cent
amusement tax Friday last week when opposition
was registered by F. E. Hasley and
Anthony Antonoplos, theatre owners, and
Fred J. Herrington, secretaiy of the Allied
MPTO of Western Pennsylvania. The proposal
will come before the board of education
at the May meeting. The council has
imposed a mercantile tax on a seven-month
trial
basis.
PATTON, PA.—The school board has levied
a 10 per cent tax on amusements, theatres,
dances and public affairs not sponsored by
the school. A tax of $100 a year was placed
on all coin-operated amusement machines
and $1 per month was levied on all juke
boxes. The school directors retained the tax
rate at 30 mills and the per capita tax at $5.
Patton's only theatre, the Grand, is operated
by the Blatt Bros. Theatres.
EAST PALESTINE. OHIO—School officials
have decided to ask for a ruling on the right
of the city to levy a 3 per cent amusement
tax on school entertainments and athletic
contests. The city early this year levied the
tax on all public entertainments.
DUBOIS, PA.—The board of education has
imposed a 10 per cent amusement tax. effective
July 5.
STRUTHERS, OHIO—A 3 per cent amusements
tax ordinance is being considered by
the city council.
Notables at Funeral
For John D.Kalafat
CLEVELAND—Every member of the motion
picture industry who could joined civic
leaders and his host of friends at the funeral
last week of John D. Kalafat, 65, who died
suddenly April 5 while undergoing a physical
examination.
Judge Samuel H. Silbert spoke a few
touching words of eulogy at the Deutsch
funeral home, which was packed to capacity.
Honorary pallbearers were Federal Judge
Emerich B. Freed, Common Pleas Judge
George P. Baer, Common Pleas Judge Samuel
H. Silbert, Judge Arthur H Day, Meyer
Fine, John Urbansky, Henry Hellriegel,
Frank Co.st, Sam Geraci, Harry Fisher, Samuel
H. Deutsch, Howard Reif, I. J. Schmertz,
Ed F. Bang, Nicholas Copanos, Nicholas
Nichols, M. B. Horwitz, Carl Kreinheder.
Ernest Schwartz, William Finnegan, Edward
Flanigon, Harland Holmden, Urban Anderson,
Martin G. Smith, P. J. Wood, Mayor
Roland Reichert of Parma and B. W. Reuben,
New York.
AN OHIO PIONEER
Services at the Greek Orthodox church of
the Annunciation followed those at the funeral
home. Interment was in Lakeview
cemetery.
Kalafat was one of the first motion picture
theatre owners in Cleveland, having opened
his first house almost 40 years ago. He has
been a member of the board of directors of
the Independent Theatre Owners of Ohio
ever since Its formation and has been a
dominating influence in the Cleveland Motion
Picture Exhibitors Ass'n. During the
war he was head of the local Greek Relief
drive and up to the time of his death was
an ardent worker for the relief of distressed
people both here and abroad.
Kalafat got into show business in 1904
when he had a tent show as part of the St.
Louis Exposition. He opened the third motion
picture theatre to exist in Chicago after
that, and in 1913 moved to Cleveland.
STRONG FATHER-SON BOND
A deep bond existed between Kalafat and
his son James, based on present and past
activities. As a youth, Kalafat spent several
years in the navy and as an oiler on lake
freighters. In World War IT, his son was
a naval officer and saw fighting in the Pacific.
He assisted his father in the operation
of the 11 theatres in which he was interested.
Tribute to Kalafat was paid by P. J. Wood,
executive secretary of the ITO of Ohio, in
a bulletin last week. "John was Intensely
Interested in industry organization for nearly
40 years, and at no time did he ever refuse
an assignment to work for the betterment
of the industry and the Interests of his
fellow theatre owners," Woods said. "It is going
to be extremely difficult to fill the place
he vacates."
Clarence Nuhfer to Add
125 Seats in Marienville
MARIENVTLLE. PA.—The Marien Theatre
will be closed during July and Augtist
for extensive remodeling and repairs, according
to Clarence Nuhfer. proprietor. The
community fire truck, kept in part of the
theatre building, will be moved to another
building and this space will be utilized In
enlarging the theatre.
BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948 ME 71

—
. . . Albert
. . Doris
. . Bob
. . Fred
. . Don
. .
—
^^^!^^t
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Phone CAdillac 1122
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Phone: TEmple 2-3948 Detroit 1, Mich.
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DETROIT
^harlle Snyder has taken over as chief
barker of Variety, replacing Bob Dunbar,
who resigned because of ill health. Sam
Seplowin of Republic has been promoted to
canvasman , Raskins, Monogram,
has succumbed to his own salesmanship
anent the glories of acting. He's the romantic
lead in "Dear Ruth," put on by the
Dearborn Civic Players . Fill is back
on the job. His operation was complicated
by a war injury . Bonnem, manager
for Film Classics, is scheduled for a
gall bladder operation soon.
Mrs. Marie Jeffress, former manager of
the Lancaster, has joined Midwest as manager
of the Garden. Her husband, James J. Jeffress,
manages the Majestic in the next block.
She replaces Saul Saxon . . . Eddie "97" Loye
of RKO has passed on his honors as bowling
tutor to his star pupil. Ralph "HookbaU"
Forman, w*ho scored a high of 91 . . Charles
.
Collins, former Broder circuit manager who
received severe head injuries when his car
was wrecked in Canada after he had a heart
attack while driving, was a visitor to Filmrow.
His mouth will be wired up for some
time so he cannot speak.
. . .
Russell Thomas, operator at the Bagley,
manages to get sick at the very thought of
having to go to a wedding next day
Robert C. Moesta, operator at the Stratford,
is tired of being on Ernie Forbes' last posi-
. . . Gertrude
tion team in the bowling league, and so is
his charming young Missus
and Bernadette Schneider have taken over
operation of the Stratford following the
death of William J. Staley.
Ray Gag:non, projectionist at the Cinderella,
who has been living in Saint Clair
Shores, moved back to Mount Clemens .
G. W. Green of Pontiac has moved to Oriole
Henry C. Bocinski, operator at
street . . .
the Clawson, moved back on Lonyo road . . .
The East Side Drive-In Theatre Co. has been
dissolved.
Gilbert E. Barge, D. D. DeForge, L. E. Martin
and Arnold F. Martin are incorporating
the United Theatre Camera and Supply Co.
to take over the United Theatre Supply business
. Moss of the Adams and Downtown,
who handled publicity for the Norman
Granz jazz at midnight special, says that
bomb scare definitely was not a press agent's
idea.
Herbert Brown, former MGM booker who
is now in the meat business in Roxbury,
Mass., post cards regards to the local Filmrow
Dezel is en route to Salt Lake
City, Denver, Omaha. Des Moines and Chicago
to set up test runs on some of his
Floyd Akins advises the Nightingales
films . . .
will have their annual blowout May 10
at the Labor temple—at midnight.
Victor Lopez Hererra, who opened the
Aztec over a year ago, is planning to make
it a real Spanish language institution.
George Hickox, Aztec operator, is taking his
job so seriously that he is studying Spanish
in his spare time—can read it, but not talk
it yet. His son George Hickox jr. is returning
to Grand Rapids, where he will go in as
swing operator at several theatres.
Off on Two-Week Trek
In connection with openings of Eagle Lion's
"The Noose Hangs High," Bud Abbott and
Lou Costello have checked out on a two-week
personal appearance trek.
12 Detroit Theatres
Book Kiddy Shows
DETROIT—Children's programs supported
by the Greater Detroit Motion Picture council
will begin in a dozen theatres here next
month.
The organization has arranged to have pictures
from the Children's Film Library shown
Saturdays, from 1 to 3 p. m., at four theatres
in each of three sections of the city. Eighteen
pictures are being selected to play at each
of the theatres.
In the fall, the council will seek to make
the program citywide.
Mrs. 'Wayne Mohr has been re-elected
president of the council for a third successive
term. Other officers, all re-elected, are Mrs.
Roy R. Riddle, first vice-president: Mrs.
C. P. Lundy, second vice-president; Mrs.
Francis C. Van Deusen, recording secretary;
Mrs. Clifford W. Reynolds, corresponding
secretary; Mrs. L. W. Forrester, treasurer,
and Mrs. John F. Seifert, parliamentarian.
Republic, National Lead
Detroit Bowling Loops
DETROIT—Republic is still leading in the
Film Bowling league, with Cooperative a
close second. Allied is third and Monogram
and UA are tied for fourth. High scores last
week were: High 3, team—RKO, 2,633: Republic,
2,574, and Cooperative, 2,570; high 1,
team—Theatrical, 968: Cooperative, 939, and
RKO, 939; high 3, individual—J. Pavella,
657; W. Goryl, 617, and K. Anderson, 614;
high 1, individual—C. Sheran, 246; J. Pavella,
245, and E. Beck, 236. Games of 200
or better also were rolled by H. Trombley,
R. Lamb, E. England, E. Clarry and B.
Holmes.
National Theatre Supply leads by eight
games in the Nightingale club bowling league.
Altec Sound Service and National Carbon
Co. are tied for second.
High scores were rolled by Roy Light, 202;
Herb Klein, 205: Roy Thompson, 204, and
John Lindenthal, 199 and 198.
Magazine Subscriptions
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72 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

—
—
—
—
Cleveland Is Lusty
As Weather Warms
CLEVELAND—Fine weather had opposite
effects on downtown and neighborhood theatres.
The downtown first run attendance
soared over the weekend, all houses reporting
capacity business Friday, Saturday and
Sunday. The weather enticed many into the
country on Sujiday, how-ever, and subsequents
state they suffered accordingly.
Downtown, the biggest attractions were
"The Naked City" and "I Remember Mama."
They tied for first place, each hitting 140
per cent. Two holdovers also made fine
records, "The Bride Goes Wild" doing 150
in its second week, and "T-Men" turning in
115 per cent. "Monsieur Verdoux" held to
a good 105 per cent in its second week at
the Mall.
(Average Is 100)
Allen— I Hemember Mama (RKO) 140
Hippodrome—April Showers (WB) 100
Lake—T-Men (EL), 2nd d. t. wk 115
Lower Mall Monsieur Verdoux (UA), 2nd wk 105
Ohio—The Bride Goes Wild (MGM), 2nd d. t. wk...l5a
Palace—Mating of MUUe (Col) 100
State—The Naited City (U-I) 140
Stillman—Albuquerque (Para), 2nd wk 115
'City' and 'Bells' Leaders
In Pittsburgh Marathon
PITTSBURGH—"The Naked City" and
"Miracle of the Bells" were leaders here in
the Harris and Warner, respectively, and
were continued on view. A dual bill of
"Tarzan" reissues made a good showing in
Loew's Penn; "Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!"
marked up a holdover in the Pulton, and the
Stanley hit to a holdover with "April Showers."
Pulton—Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hayl (20th-Fox) 100
Hams—The Nolced City (U-I) 150
Penn Tarzan's Secret Treasure (MGM);
Tarzan's New York Adventure (MGM), reissues,
6 days 90
Ritz—Alias a Gentleman (MGM). 2nd d. t. wk....- 80
Senator Gentleman's Agreement (20th-Fox),
2nd wk of return engagement 135
Stanley—April Showers (WB) 105
Warner-Miracle of the Bells (RKO) 150
Detroit Business Back
On Normal Levels
DETROIT—The General business level was
back to normal, with a marked spread between
the highs and the lows the most
noticeable characteristic. Detail for week
ended April 8:
Adams—Tenth Avenue Angel (MGM);
Louisiana (Mono) 75
Broadway Capitol Became I a Criminal (WB);
Adventures oi Robin Hood (WB), reissue,
2nd wk 80
Cinema Mourning Becomes Electro (RKO) 150
Downtown Three Daring Daughters (MGM);
Jiggs and Maggie in Society (Mono), 2nd wk 80
Fox—Sitting Pretty (20th-Fox); The Challenge
(20th-Fox), 2nd wk 100
Michigan—My Girl Tisa (WB); April Showers
(WB) 110
Palms-Slate Unconquered (Para), 2nd wk 100
Paradise Bells of San Fernando (SG), plus
Lionel Hampton orchestra on stage 120
United Artists—A Double Life (UI); The Wreck
oi the Hesperus (Col), 2nd wk 100
Nice Week in Cincinnati;
'Mama' and 'Naked City' Lead
CINCINNATI—New product, headed by "I
Remember Mama" and "The Naked City," enjoyed
a nice week at the first run houses but
two of the three holdovers slipped badly,
Albee I Hemember Mama (RKO) 160
Capitol—B. F.'s Daughter (MGM) 110
Grand—The Adventures of Robin Hood (WB),
reissue, 2nd wk ., . .
80
Keith's—The Naked City (U-I) 140
Lyric—Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! (20th-Fox),
2nd d- t v/.k 90
Palace—April Showers (WB) 120
Shubert—Silting Pretty (20th-Fox), 2nd d. t. wk 130
TOLEDO
lyfitch Woodbury, theatre editor of the
Blade, has left on his annual junket to
James Nederlander,
the Hollywood studios . . .
manager of Town Hall Theatre, has
recovered from the flu, which prevented him
from attending the "Winged Victory" reunion
in New York City.
Abe Ludacer, manager of Loew's Valentine,
is spending his spare time working in
Members
the
garden of his suburban home of Variety Tent 30
. . .
who went to Miami
for the convention include Jack Lykes, manager
of the Colony, and his family; Marvin
Harris, manager of the Paramount, and his
family; Jack Armstrong, general manager of
the Schwyn circuit, and his family; Bert
Schoonmaker, World Theatre; Milt Tarloff,
Toledo Sports and Home show; Lou Brimo,
Tianon ballroom, and Gordon Taylor, associate
barker. Lykes is national canvasman,
and Harris and Armstrong are delegates.
Ed Bush, manager of the State, has replaced
Jack Armstrong as doughguy for the
Variety Club. Howard Feigley, manager of
the Rivoli, has become property master, replacing
Jim Dempsey of the Telegraph
Drive-In.
Gene Autry and his troupe broke the previous
attendance record set by Spike Jones
in the Toledo Sports arena. Virgil A. Gladieux
reported more than 15,000 persons
jammed the indoor bowl to leave $22,500 at
the boxoffice for the afternoon and evening
shows. Spike Jones has been booked for a
return show April 28, with Sammy Kaye and
Milton Berle appearing in a double attraction
May 1; Horace Heidt and his orchestra.
May 2; Wayne King and orchestra. May
7, and Sigmund Romberg and orchestra.
May 9.
Howard Feigley, manager of the Rivoli, invited
the members of Trinity church choir to
be his guests at a performance of "The Bishop's
Wife" to hear the Robert Mitchell
choir of Hollywood, which appears in the
film.
Warner Men Confer
PITTSBURGH—Central district
representatives
of Warner Bros, met here April 9 at
the William Penn hotel for discussion of
product and release schedules. Charles Rich,
Cleveland, district manager, was in charge
of the sessions, and branch managers in
attendance were Paul Kriunenacker, Pittsburgh;
Jerry Wechsler, Cleveland; C. W. Mc-
Kean, Indianapolis, and J. S. Abrose, Cincinnati.
Two-for-One Stimulants
FAIRMONT, W. VA.—Two-for-one admissions
have been inaugurated by the independent
theatres, Lee and Eastland. SpeciaJ
guest passes published in newspapers are
accepted on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Warners' two Fairmont theatres have been
double-billing top A films.
Exploits 'Revival' Week
MEADVILLE, PA.—Movie Revival week was
featured at the Park during Holy week, with
a complete change of program daily. Revivals
were given a special advertising campaign by
Lee M. Conrad, manager.
Catholic Newspaper Hails
Proposed Divorcement
DETROIT—The Michigan Catholic, organ
of the Detroit archdiocese, hails the proposed
divorce of first run theatres in Detroit
from producer operations as a major
step in "better picture offerings." An editorial
in the current issue states that with
competition restored, "Maybe managers with
local autonomy can put on better shows for
the high prices they ask."
New Altec Sound in Oakland
DETROIT—According to F. C. Dickely, district
manager for Altec Service Corp., an
A-30 sound system has been installed at the
Oakland.
A«'
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DRIVE-IN
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GRAND RAPIDS 2, MICH.
on
BOXOFFICE :
: April 17. 1948 73

. . Bert
. . Paul
. . Roger
1
CLEVELAND
geymour Weiss, for the past several years
manager of the East Side and West Side
drive-ins of Cleveland, owned by Phil Smith
of Boston, has been transferred to Chicago to
manage a new Phil Smith outdoor theatre.
Ezra Skirball, who used to be film salesnian
in this area and has been living in
Charleston, W. Va., of recent years, will manage
the new Skirball Bros, drive-in now
under construction near Massilon. It is expected
to be ready the first of May
Justin Knoph of the Portage Theatre, Oak
Harbor, was a Filmrow visitor.
Among those here for John Kalafafs funeral
last Thursday included J, E. Fontaine,
SRO division manager; Jack Schlaifer,
E-L general sales manager; A. G. Constant,
president of the Constant circuit; John
Himmelein, Paramount Detroit exchange; Ed
and Bill Biggio. Steubenville theatre owners;
Martin G. Smith, ITOO president, and P. J.
Wood, ITOO secretary, and Mrs. Wood.
Zip-O
Edward Richardson, manager of Loew's
Granada, and Mrs. Richardson are vacation-
.
. . . Ernest Schwartz, president
ing in New York Gusdanovic of
the Gusdanovic circuit is back from a winter
in Florida
of the Cleveland Motion Picture Exing
hibitors Ass'n, is passing out cigars, the occasion
being the arrival of a second grandson,
John Hays, born recently to his daughter,
Mrs. Louis Eckhouse of Chicago.
John Joseph Patrick Thomas Houlihan,
Republic manager, is busy these days supervising
the remodeling of the exchange. When
completed it will have the newest look along
the Row, with booking compartments, new
lighting, new flooring and all the trimmings.
In the light of the success of Manager
Houlihan's recent birthday party, it has been
suggested that he plan a house warming
party to celebrate the "new look."
Charles Rich, Warner district manager,
and Jerry Wechsler, local manager, were in
Pittsburgh Friday to attend a district meeting
presided over by Jules Lapidus, eastern
division sales manager. Branch managers
from Cincinnati and Indianapolis also attended
. Goldberg of Herald Pictures
Zip-O
IT STOOD THE TEST FOR
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A PROVED KIDDIE CONTEST
(Copyright 1947 — Patent Pending)
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Arouses the Enthusiasm of the
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Also 10% of Your Juvenile Audience
Will Get Prizes Worth 10c to $1.00.
BUILD A BIG KIDDIE ATTENDANCE — HOTTEST THING OUT!
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BOXOFTICE:
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^^?^^\f^^-^l.^7 52 issues per year (13 of which conl^l^rrl
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D $2.00 FOR 1 YEAR Q $3.50 FOR 2 YEARS O S5.00 FOR 3 YEARS
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THEATRE
was in town. He and Edwin Bergman, local
Screen Guild manager, screened "Miracle in
Harlem," which SG is distributing for special
groups ... A capacity crowd turned out
Saturday morning to attend an invitational
screening of "The Barber of Seville" at the
University Theatre. The picture is booked
into the University Theatre for an extended
run starting next week.
"Whitey" Moore has made it
from baseball
to pictures in one leap. The former pitching
ace for the Cincinnati Reds and the St.
Louis Cardinals, is now assistant to Urban
Anderson, general manager of the Tuscarawas
Amusement Co., operating theatres in
Uhrichsville and Dermison.
Mrs. Nezera Zegiob celebrated the opening
of her rebuilt Dreamland Theatre, Lorain,
last Thursday evening with a party
at her home. Many Cleveland film folk attended,
including Frank Masek and Earl King
of National Theatre Supply Co.; Margaret
Macsay, Republic head booker: Marie Roessel,
U-I cashier: Hazel Mack of NSS, and
many others. The Dreamland was destroyed
by fire last year and has been entirely rebuilt.
Milton A. Mooney, Variety Club chief barker,
and Mrs. Mooney flew to the Variety
convention in Miami. Mr. and Mrs. Irwin
Shenker of Berlo Vending Co. drove . . . Max
Jacobs, owner of the Marvel Theatre, and
Mrs. Jacobs are among the Variety members
now in Miami.
The League of Showmen's Wives, which
is the official name for the ladies of the Va-
.
riety Club, held the second of a series of
luncheon parties last Tuesday in the Variety
Club. Hostesses were Mrs. Milton Cohen and
Mrs. William S. Shartin. Attendance was
large and enthusiastic . . Harry H. Goldstein,
.
Paramount district manager, and Mrs.
Goldstein are in Atlantic City for a couple
of weeks Albright, director of
educational services of the Motion Picture
Ass'n, will be the guest speaker at the May
20 meeting of the Motion Picture Council of
Greater Cleveland.
Police-Theatre Owners
Get Clean Toledo Bill
TOLEDO—Ownership of the Alan Theatre,
neighborhood house, by Patrolmen Raymond
C. Malicki and Marvin B. Hauser is not a
violation of the service section of the city
police manual requiring policemen to devote
their full time to their duties, according to a
ruling by William Christensen, city law director.
The case was referred to Christensen after
the patrolmen were listed among 136 Ohioans
cited by the state tax commissioner on
charges of sales tax violations. At a hearing,
they pointed out that they did not visit the
theatre while on duty, and that the business
was operated by their wives and hired employes.
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2300 Payne Ave. Phone Main 9173
Cleveland, Ohio
74
BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

. . . Showmen
. . Donald
Italian Films Score
In Akron Theatre
AKRON—The three-mouth-old policy of
the Liberty of showing the best foreign films
has proved successful so far. Capacity
crowds, once in a while full houses, have
been drawn by such films as "Shoe-Shine,"
"Mayerling" and "Carmen." Another film
which did exceptionally well was the Swedish-made
"Torment." Italian films with
English titles have done best since the new
policy started.
But English films have done poorly, it was
said. The much-acclaimed "Brief Encounter"
flopped, as did "Dear Octopus," "A Lady
Surrenders" and "The Magic Bow." The
British double bill, "The Tawny Pipit" and
"I Know Where I'm Going," also proved
disappointing, and were replaced with Hollywood's
"Golden Earrings."
The English importations will be booked
for only four days rather than a week
henceforth.
Hearing Set on Ordinance
To Compel Booth Toilets
PITTSBURGH—Hearing on a proposed
ordinance to compel motion picture theatres
to install toUet facilities for persons employed
in projection rooms will be held in city council
chamber Monday afternoon, April 19. The
bill was introduced by Frederic G. Weir,
chairman of the committee on health and
sanitation, who reported that 25 of the 77 motion
picture theatres in Pittsburgh have no
such facilities. Members of the projection
operators union asked that the bill be introduced,
according to Thomas J. Gallagher, a
member of council. He stated that the big
downtown theatres have fine accommodations
but the trouble is in some of the smaller
neighborhood theatres. The ordinance provides
that toilet facilities must be installed
in the projection room or in an adjoining
fireproof compartment.
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Upon request exhibitors can display our premiums in
their lobbies while campaign is on.
PHILCO-ABVIN PHONOGRAPH COMBINATION
Hollywood broilers. Vacuum cleaners.
2-Piece Luggage Sets, Monarch Rocket Bikes
52-Piece Service lor 8. Narcissus Pattern
Silverware Sets, AA Plus Sterling Silverplate
ALX
PREMIUMS AT NO COST TO
THE THEATRE
In slatts where drawings are proliibited. we substitute
Quiz program. We are the originators ;tjid
copyright holders of The Cavalcade of Gifts
SPARK YOUR BOXOFFICE WITH A DIFFERENT
GIFT EACH WEEK
WHITE FOR PARTICULARS NOW !
COLUMBUS
Mational Auto Theatre, West Broad street, is
the third local drive-in to open for the
season. The National, operated by Academy
Theatres, is open daily in the late afternoon
so that patrons can come early and
enjoy picnic and playgroimd facilities. A
bottle-warming service is available for the
youngest patrons. The Riverside and Eastside,
operated by Frank Yassenoff and Harold
Schwartz, were the first two drive-ins
to open.
Edward Andrews, Broadway actor, has
been signed by Robert F. Boda, Beverley,
Kelley and Albert Johnson to become leading
man of the newly formed Columbia
Theatre Co., stock company opening a tenweek
season April 20 at the Hartman. Erin
O'Brien-Moore previously had been signed
as leading lady . Cook, Tallulah
Bankhead's leading man in "Private Lives,"
which played the Hartman last week, renewed
old local acquaintances along the
Rialto. He was known as Donn Cook in his
stock company days here two decades ago.
Harold Goodin, student assistant at Loew's
Ohio, is recovering following an appendectomy
... "I Remember Mama" and "Gentleman's
Agreement" earned second weeks at
the Grand and Broad after first weeks of
extra good business at the Palace and Ohio
here are chuckling about the
"trailer" that the Palace and Grand gave
"Gentleman's Agreement." The "20 Years of
Academy Awards" short which played the
RKO theatres at the time the Academy
award feature was playing the Loew houses
included a "Gentleman's Agreement" scene.
Roy D, Hay of Projection Advertising Co.
has installed a 6x7 translucent .screen with
automatic slide projector in a storeroom at
142 North High St., which is available for
theatre advertising.
DRIVE-IN and THEATRE
EQUIPMENT
Drawings, specifications, blueprints to fit any expenditure
for the simplest to the most complex theatre.
(Drive-In Theatre construction done by the
HOSDIT CONSTRUCTION CO..
an aiiiliato oi SHELDON THEATRE SUPPLIES)
*The NEW "12,000" DeVry Projectors and
Amplifiers
* DeVRY "In-A-Car" Speakers
* ALTEC LANSING Amplifiers and Speakers
* STRONG Rectifiers * NATIONAL Carbons
* NEUMADE Accessories GOLDE Supplies
* TIFFIN Draperies and Scenery
* mWIN Seats * STABILARC Generators
GENERAL Register Machines
"Before You Buy, See arid Hear DeVry"
Complete Booking Service • Complete Factory Service
SHELDON THEATRE SUPPLIES
Office Phone: ADams 9644 — Nights and Sundays: TAylor 7511
1420 CANFIELD AVE. DAYTON, OHIO
BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948
75

. . Applications
. . Jake
. Grafton,
. . Saul
. . Tom
. . Saal
. . Jim
PITTSBURGH
jyjrs. Thomas Schrader, wife of the Beaver
Falls showman, is recuperating in Allegheny
General hospital where she underwent
an operation. The Schraders reside in Dormont
. were filed in Johnstown
for circus permits by Ringling Bros.-
Barnum & Bailey for June 3 and by Cole
Bros., for June 5 . . . Route 88 from Freedom
to Baden was closed two weeks ago,
seriously affecting business at the new Baden
Theatre, Marty Rothenstein reports. The
road will not be open until next fall.
Cleve Adams, sales manager for All American
News, called at the Franklin-Acme office.
Adams was an RKO district manager
in this area a number of years ago. His
company produces Negro features and a
newsreel . Smith, pioneer exhibitor
in Barnesboro, Pa., who was believed to have
retired several years ago, isn't retired, after
all. He and his daughter are operating a
theatre at Windsor. Mo.
. . S. Innocenti,
Vince Josack, who returned here from
California after six years in San Diego managing
a theatre, didn't make a connection
here and departed for Phoenix. He was accompanied
by Bob Dunbar, Warner branch
manager in Detroit, who is on a leave of
absence due to illness, and Bob's son
"Johnny" of Howe Military academy who
is recuperating from an operation .
operator of the 'Verdi in Belle Ver-
now, was at Syria Mosque when Perruccio
Burco, Italy's child prodigy, conducted an
80-piece symphony orchestra.
Tex Ritter appeared in person last Friday
(9 1 at the Majestic, Johnstown . . . The 'Victor
Theatre, New Castle, exploited "another
Victor hit" in opening Warner's "To the
Ronnie F^neberg served as bat
Victor" . . .
boy for the Pirates at two games in Phoenix,
the arrangements having been made by
FIRST I N
MID -EAST
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 installacions
of Heywood-Wakefield's newly introduced
"Encore" line of theatre chairs.
New Oglesby, H-W Michigan salesman,
invites exhibitors to inspect the
two installations.
Reg. U. S. Pat. Oft.
ATTENDANCE BOOSTER
For Infonnotion, Write, Wire or Phone
FOTO-PAY-DAY, INC.
161 W. Wiflconein Ave. Milwaukee 3. Wis.
Jim Alexander
Sctm Fineberg
1705 Blvd. of the Allies;
PmSBUHGH 19, PA,
Phone ATIanlic 6156
H. Roy Ramey, Rosie Rowswell and the
boy's father. Sam Fineberg, local theatre
supply dealer. Ronnie's big brother Jay was
official base duster.
Dave Bamholtz, a partner with the Mervis
brothers in the operation of the Roosevelt
and uptown Rialto, is visiting here from
California. A former film salesman here, he
has resided in the Golden State for several
Numerous lATSE delegates will
years . . .
be in Pittsburgh for the five-day convention
of the Pennsylvania Federation of Labor,
opening May 2. More than 30 counties in
Pennsylvania have hiked 1948 tax rates.
. . .
Anita Colby will visit here to beat the
drums for Bing Crosby's "The Emperor
Waltz" The South Park drive-in on
route 88, newly painted and with new lighting
system, was scheduled to reopen the
Mai Katz, manager
evening of April 16 . . .
of Warners Model, has been confined to 'Veterans
hospital, and Jack Keiffer, first assistant
manager at the Stanley, has been
pinch-hitting for him.
.
Bill Stich, representative of the Motion
Picture Advertising Service Co., was a visitor
in company with Al Goodyear, district manager
W. 'Va., has turned thumbs
down on daylight saving time
"Twenty Years of Academy
. . . RKO's
Awards" was
booked to play with the reissue of Walt Disney's
"Bambi" at the Warner . Bragin,
Warner circuit booker, has been vacationing
in Florida.
Promotion of Frank Silverman by Columbia
Pictures from sliipping head to a sales
post is pleasing to members of the local celluloid
colony. Frank, a brother of Dave Silverman,
RKO city representative, has been
assigned to the West 'Virginia area, formerly
covered by Sid Goldberg, who resigned to
enter the pajama business in New York.
Harry Witmer is the new head shipper here
for Columbia.
Len T. Houghton and Paul V. McKay of
the Kayton theatrical enterprises at Franklin
have acquired the drive-in being completed
at Cranberry, several miles out of
Franklin, from the Dr. R. B. Herrick enterprises.
Ray Woodard, son-in-law of Len
Houghton, will manage and serve as bookerbuyer.
Woodard also will be film buyerbooker
for the new Rainbow Garden Drive-In
at McKeesport, owned by L. R. Ti-avis.
Mrs. Ira H. Cohn, second wife of the late
local film executive, died in Buffalo last Saturday,
her son James P. Coffee notified
friends here. Burial was in Fort Wayne, Ind.,
at the cemetery where Cohn is buried . . .
The Sunset Beach Drive-In at Claysville,
owned by C. M. Ducray, was scheduled to
reopen April 17 . . . Three MGM inspectors
are smelling orange blossoms. Helen Lacko
has announced a May 22 wedding date with
Othmar Miller; Marion Heerman is engaged
to Edward Baldauf, and 'Vera 'Van Landingham
has accepted a ring from Tony Faccenda.
. . . Bill Nes-
Bill Scott, former UA salesman for more
than a score of years, has returned from an
extended vacation in Florida
bitt. Eagle Lion salesman, is back on the job
after several weeks illness . . . Russ Zebra,
Monogram booker, was laid up with the flu
. . . Bill Plnkel, southside for five days
hibitor, is having a lot of fun with a
ex-
new
wire recorder .
Gottlieb, MGM manager,
has a new De Soto and MGM salesman
Eddie Moriarty has a new Plymouth.
. . Mannie
.
C. C. Kellenberg, 20th-Fox sales manager
and American Legion's past county commander,
announced his support of Gen.
Douglas McArthur for president .
Greenwald, Barry manager, is listed as a
Eddie Reith, formerly with
Wallace fan . . .
the Warner exchange, has joined Columbia
as shipper. He is a brother of Paul Reith,
RKO office manager . . . Agatha Donohue,
MGM contract clerk, has been awarded a
ten-year loyalty emblem 'Vazzana
and family enjoyed a few days vacationing
in Washington, D. C. Jim is the Atlas Theatre
Supply salesman.
Bob LjTich, Warner salesman and Lions
club member in Harrisville, called on John
Barr, Emlenton exhibitor, to entertain at
the Lions charter night, and Barr presented
a 20-mlnute magic act . . . Robert W. Spang,
who recently observed his 85th birthday anniversary,
is awaiting the good old summer
time at Cochranton where he makes his
home with son Harry Spang, veteran lA
member and former NTS mechanic. Dad
Spang recently retired from theatre duties
as doorman at Warners Kenyon.
. . . E. C.
The Suterville council is expected to enact
a 10 per cent admission tax May 4 . . . Three
sons of Eddie Mackins, MGM head booker,
are recuperating from chickenpox
Wilson's Crown, Crown, W. Va., which
changed from 16mm to 35mm operation last
year, again is in the 16mm columns.
Leo Isaacs, Columbia salesman, was unable
to get around for several days after
falling on steps at Kalman Erdeky's Wilmington,
New Wilmington. An ankle was
sprained and John Muller, Sharon exhibitor,
drove him to his home in Pittsburgh. Leo
City exhibitors met
is back on the job . . .
at Allied headquarters Wednesday noon to
discuss the new Pittsburgh theatre toilet
facilities
bill.
The FCC hearing on television licenses
applications has been postponed to June 14
. . Jack Cohen, former film salesman, sent
a post card from Phoenix, Ariz., where he is
vacationing and visiting his son, asking to
. . .
be remembered to oldtime friends in the
industry The J. T., the J. A., and the
P. J. Donahoes were hosts at the 'Variety
club April 16.
School board at State College, Pa., is considering
an amusement tax and levy on
merchandise sold and services . . .
ling Bros.-Barnum & Bailey circus will
Ring-
show
Pool and Billiard
at Altoona June 4 . . .
tables, juke boxes, pin ball machines and
all other mechanical amusement devices in
Sharon now are operated under a $20 license
fee . . . Philippi, W. 'Va., will remain
on standard time ... A sales or mercantile
tax has been proposed at Union City, Pa.
Joe Palermo of the Temple, Springdale, has
a new truck . Fordham, Warner circuit
district manager at Erie, is seriously ill
again . . . Bill Satori, European manager for
Monogram and former local Universal salesman,
is expected to visit here this week after
two years on the continent . . . Hari-y Long
of the local Co-op booking office was in
Cincinnati investigating that area.
Milton Antonoplos, East Pittsburgh, and
Theodore Grance, Everett, were vacationing
76 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

;
ting
I
such
j
Ralph
j
Spotlight
j
I
1
per
1
"Henry
. . Lew
. . John
. . Pihru-ow
. . Holis
. . Tex
. . Pat
. .
. . Edmund
. . With
. . . Mr.
in Miami Beach and attending the Variety
convention MuUer. Sharon, is occupying
.
his new residence there
and Mrs. M. E. Sperling, Moundsville, W. Va..
have returned from a long vacation . . . The
Manos, Blairsville, has a new boxoffice and
front fixtures and new carpets.
Frank Ray, veteran RKO shipper, catered
the dinner which the exchange staff relished
Monday evening at the office as guests of the
manager, salesmen, bookers and the office
manager . Hepinger, Clarion, whose
two sisters died recently, is taking a ten-day
Gable Sharon, has been renovated
rest . . .
. . .
.
Carl Eidenmuller, NTS clerk, now is
north area salesman L. Hayes,
Llnesville. has a new Buick.
Theodore Mikolowsky, Masontown, has
completed work on new rest rooms and has
installed carpets at the Rex, and his Liberty
has been housecleaned and new carpets
Norm Chussitt of
have been installed . . .
the Regent, McKees Rocks, is vacationing in
Florida, and his brother Barney, Who owns
several drug stores and has the theatre interest,
has been managing the Regent.
. . .
John S. Stahl, Homestead, has purchased
a candy factory at Jeannette . Notarianni,
Knox, has been suffering back pains
Lee M. Conrad visited at his son's home
in Johnstown where the Meadville showman's
wife's broken arm is mending.
. . . Bill Nesbitt, Eagle Lion
.
Grace Niederberger, secretary to Arthur H.
Levy. Columbia manager, is back after a
Lew Lefton, former
seven-week leave . . .
local film man now residing in Albuquerque,
is selling clothing to stores in New Mexico
and Arizona
salesman, ill for several weeks, is expected
Leo Wayne, who
to resume duties April 19 . . .
resigned as Monogram salesman because of
health, and wife Mary are on a motor tour
ill
of the south is going skating
the evening of April 19 at Navari's Flamingo
roller rink in East Liberty. The Filmrow
Bowling league is sponsoring the party and
exhibitors and all members of the industry
are invited to attend.
. . . Lige
Roy Michel, in recent years with Bill Finkel
theatres on the south side, is awaiting a new
charter as a private detective . . . Mike Serventi
has been removed from the Butler
hospital to his home in Chicora
Brien, eastern exploitation manager for Eagle
Lion and a former local Warner theatre
manager, was here to attend the graduation
.
of his brother from the University of Pittsburgh
William Finn is a
medical school . . . new assistant manager at the Stanley
The Cannonsburg council has imposed a 1
per cent wage tax.
M. Felton, who is opening the new
88 Drive-In near Beaver Falls, was
Considerable opposition
a Filmrow visitor . . .
to the Tyrone borough council taking
any advantage of the new .state law permitmunicipalities
to impose additional taxes
as amusements, licenses, etc., developed
at last week's council session . . McKees-
.
port school board will drop its proposed 10
cent am.usement tax in favor of a $5 per
capital levy.
. . .
V" played a very successful one-day
roadshow engagement at the Cambria, Johnstown,
and on April 20 it will be on view at
the 'Victor, McKeesport . Ritter was
New
at the Majestic, Butler. April 12
Fairmont. Fairmont, featured Hal Mclntyre's
orchestra AprU 8 and the same day Woody
Herman's orchestra was on the stage of the
Capitol. Wheeling.
LOUISVILLE
palls City Showtime, a weekly publication
covering the amusement field in Loui.sville
and the area, made its debut March 29 . . .
Harold Lane of the State Theatre, Crothersville,
Ind., went to Birmingham to undergo
an operation April 16. Lane expects to be
off the job for several weeks.
Out-of-town visitors here included Col.
L. B. Fuqua, Eddyville, Ky.; Dr. and Mrs.
Oscar Thompson, Pikeville, Ky; Morris
Smith and Clark Bennett, Taylorsville, Ky.;
Mr. and Mrs, G. M. May, Corydon, Ind.:
Mrs, R. L. Harned, Sellersburg, Ind.; M. H.
Sparks and Ray Coleman, Edmonton, Ky.;
Harold Lane, Crothersville, Ind., and D. G.
Steinkamp, French Lick, Ind.
With the adjournment of the Kentucky
legislature, Guthrie Crowe, president of the
Kentucky Ass'n of Theatre Owners, has returned
to Ijis offices in Louisville. During
the meeting of the legislature he maintained
offices in Frankfort.
While several holdovers and reissues dotted
the first run theatres, new product dominated
the scene. Headlining the new product
was "The Naked City," which opened at
Loew's on a double bill with "Here Comes
Trouble." "Monsieur Verdoux" was brought
to the National and "The Adventures of
Robin Hood" opened at the Mary Anderson.
Following a week's run at the Rialto "Scudda
Hoo! Scudda Hay!" was moved to the Brown
for a second week, with the former bringing
in "Saigon." "Bell Starr" and "Frontier
Marshal" were returned to Louisville by way
of the Strand, and "Carnegie Hall." which
recently played at the National, was returned
for a second run at the Scoop.
Coming out of winter quarters here the
Cole Bros, circus scheduled four days performances
in a preview for the "home folk"
starting April 15 ... J. T. Kennedy jr. of
Winchester reported his purchase of the
Stanton Theatre. Stanton, Ky.. from Chester
Steadam and Clay Bowen. He plans to close
the theatre briefly for minor remodeling and
installation of new projection and .sound
equipment.
Louisville got its first peek at simulated
television at the recent Kentuckian home
show. The starting date for regular television
broadcasts are expected to start around
the middle of August or the first of September
. Lowe starred in three
performances of "Mary Had a Little" at
the Memorial Auditorium . the opening
of the Dixie Drive-In April 7, four
drive-in theatres were in operation in the
Loui.sville
area.
A permanent order prohibiting members
of the projectionists union from picketing
the Armory home show was issued by Circuit
Judge Scott Miller. It replaced a temporary
ban which had been issued previously. The
dispute arose when the union in.sisted it,
and not the Radio Broadcast Technicians
union, should run a projector televising a
basketball film. Edwin C. Willis, attorney
for the operators, .said he would appeal the
order.
A lengthy article in the Record, official
publication of the Catholic archdiocese of
Louisville, told about Louis An-u's Skyway
Drive-In Theatre and said Arru was planning
to show only pictures approved by the
Legion of Decency.
To Fast Time April 25
PITTSBURGH—Many communities will
adopt daylight saving time April 25. Committed
to fast time are Ambridge. Apollo,
Beaver, Beaver Falls. Carnegie. Charleroi,
Clearfield, Corry, Coudersport. Ellwood City,
Erie, Farrell. Greensburg, Grove City, Harrisburg,
Huntingdon, Indiana, Lewistown,
Ligonier, Lock Haven, Midland, Monessen,
New Kensington, Pittsburgh, McKees Rocks,
Sewlckley, Sharon, Tarentum, Turtle Creek,
Tyrone, Union City, Uniontown, Washington,
Waynesburg. Wilkinsburg and Zelienople.
Open April 16 in Altoona
ALTOONA, PA.—The Blatt Bros, circuit
opened the new Altoona drive-in theatre April
16, Charles R. Blatt announced. In-car
speakers are provided for 784 cars. Thomas
A Bello jr.. son of the Nanty-Glo manager
for the circuit, will manage the drive-in.
Special
/Vnnounccmc nt
fimiKAHgH
IDDTIOnPICTDRI SERVICE [.
12S HYDE

Gene Autry Entertains
Dayton Veterans Home
DAYTON—When Gene Autry, cowboy star,
visited the Veterans administration center
here March 31, it was like old times for
Vernon Oiler, a patient at Brown hospital.
Oiler, a veteran of the navy air force, had
known Autry when he visited the Caroline
Islands in 1946. Autry made two appearances
at the Veterans home, one at Barney
community center and played two shows at
Memorial Hall. He sang for several hundred
veterans at the home's auditorium, then
toured the wards, shaking hands and singing
requests. With him was his guitaristaccompanist,
lanky Columbia Pictures player
Johnny Bond. Autry's Dayton stop was part
of a 32-day tour which began in Wichita on
March 22 and will end in Baltimore April 27.
Autry left Dayton for Columbus in his own
Beechcraft twinmotor plane. His horse
Champion followed in a special bus.
. . Motion
Can Bernardino, Calif. other houses in northwestern Ohio,
from the BOXOFFICE Files
• • •
(Twenty Years Ago)
J^LBERT A. MILLMAN, organizer of the
International Film exchange of New
York, has opened an office in Cleveland at
203 Film Exchange Bldg. This is the first
link of a national distribution organization
headed by John McKay, former general manager
of Mayflower Pictures Corp. which made
"The Miracle Man" for Paramount .
picture theatres can operate on Sun-
days in Shaker Heights, exclusive residential
suburb of Cleveland, so far as city officials
are concerned. There is no local legislation
against Sunday operation, but prior to
construction of a new theatre at Kinsman
and Lee roads, the council was asked as
to their attitude on Sunday shows. They
agreed to pass no adverse legislation.
* «
HARRISBURG—Gene Autry, who uses an
air-borne saddle The new
for Loop
his opened gittin'
at
along, landed
Cass and Michigan
his twin-engine Beechcraft
avenues in Detroit
in New
a
Alexandria
Wednesday last week
few months ago
by Alex Schreiber, and
after
has a
discovering
beautiful electric
that Johnstown's sign, a
municipal
creation of the
airport was
McNamara Sign
"socked in" with
Co. of Detroit . . .
overcast. He made Ray Colvin,
his Johnstown
appearances
Detroit manager
of
and took
the
a bus
National Theatre
to Harrisburg.
Gene
Supply Co. in
Detroit,
is a veteran
says
of
business is
three years
a little
of
slow because
so
service with the air transport command
many new houses have been completed
and
and has about 4,000 hours in
opened.
the air. Thieves
The sales staff of NSS
looted the Autry troupe's bus
comprises
at Johnstown.
Ernie Forbes and Glei-m Brady
in Detroit and J. B. Schuyler in the state,
with headquarters in Grand Rapids.
Grosses Down 1 1 Per Cent,
Ohio Tax Returns Show
COLUMBUS—Picture business in Ohio is
down approximately 11 per cent as reflected
in the admission tax collections for January
and February 1948. The collection for the
USED SEATS
first two months of 1948 was $54,099,193 as
HOO spring-bottom veneer back theatre seats compared with $60,589,890 for the same period
Virginia.
A-1 condition; J3 each, F, O. B, Wheeling
West of 1947.
Contact
JACK McGRATH
1046 Broadway 5-5055 Albany, N. Y, Ritz, Ford to Allegheny
FORD CITY, PA.—Ritz and Ford here
have been transferred by Allegheny Theatre
PLANNING
Enterprises to Leo Galonis, who assumed
operation April 11, Andy Gibson, head of the
former exhibiting setup, was affiliated with
the Nick Dipson theatre enterprises. The
theatres will be represented by Cooperative
A
Theatre Service for film buying and booking.
DRIVE-IN?
Build Under the
Variety Gives 16mm Outfit
CLEVELAND—Cleveland Variety Tent 6
has presented Marine hospital of this city
with a complete 16mm soimd equipment as
Moonlight
well as a library of films. This is part of
the club's heart project, which includes free
I Movies
film service to some 32 institutions for
shut-ins.
SYstem
Named Barnesboro Pilot
We furnish your construction plans by BARNESBORO, PA.—Ernest Lieberman
a licensed engineer and license under has named Dom Valerie manager of Smith's
Patent App. 7179.
Theatre here. Valerie Is a local boy.
Write or Wire
Jack Armstrong Renamed
MOONLIGHT MOVIES SYSTEM
BO'WLING GREEN, OHIO—Jack Armstrong,
general manager of the Schwyn circuit
which operates the State in Toledo and
842 Bussey St.
has been re-elected president of the Bowling
Green Chamber of Commerce.
New AA Heads at Brockway
BROCKWAY, PA.—Joseph Kosco's Brockway
has been modernized with installation
of new Motiograph AA heads, purchased from
Atlas Theatre Supply, Pittsburgh.
2,500 Television Sets
In Cleveland Area
CLE'VELAND-Although Cleveland's only
television station, WEWS, has been in operation
only since December 17, 2,500 television
sets have already been installed in
the Cleveland area. Eighty per cent are home
installations, according to Jack R. Schmunk,
WEWS sales manager.
The station is geared to a 40-mile transmission,
covering Cuyahoga and Lake counties,
but the programs are picked up as much
as 150 miles away.
Schmunk does not think that television,
after it has passed the novelty stage, will
prove serious competition to motion pictures.
He believes that people are gregarious—that
they like to enjoy their entertainment in
groups or crowds and for this reason will
continue to attend the theatres. "I do think,
however," he said, "that theatres can utilize
television greatly to their own advantage.
One way is to televise trailers of forthcoming
pictures and Whet the appetite of the
home users to see the picture.
The only local theatre incorporating television
into its program is the Telenews. Manager
Charles Burris, who has always broadcast
radio programs in its downtown lounge,
is now featuring television programs.
If negotiations to televise the Indians' baseball
games materialize. It is expected that the
sale of television
sets will be greatly boosted.
To date Manager Bill Veeck has made no
decision.
Drop Sunday Show Ban
To Allow 'Citizen Saint'
BUTLER, PA.—Sunday motion picture exhibitions
are not legal here but permission
was granted for the showing of "Citizen
Saint" at the Notopoulos-Paramount theatres,
the Penn and Capitol, opening Sunday,
April 18. Catholic church leaders, who recently
staged a campaign against Sunday
shows, endorsed the special showing.
Harris to Lose Theatre
PITTSBURGH — The Family in East
Liberty will be lost to the Harris circuit May
1 when the property lease is transferred to a
five and ten cent store. The Harris A house
in East Liberty, the Liberty, continues in
operation.
TIME lA/aU3
FOR NO ONE
Wh«n ron n*»d a apsciaj
tralUr and wont 11 on time,
ploT *cd«.
a«t TOnr ipcdol irallcr*
from rUmock I
78 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

Outline Drive to Tell
Public About Films
NEW HAVEN—Development of this territory
of the industry public relations program
set up by the Theatre Owners of America
was discussed at a meeting in the Loew
Poli conference room April 7. Harry Browning,
advertising director of the McfeP Theatres,
Boston, and a member of the TOA publicity
committee, was guest speaker.
Plans were made to use news stories and
special trailers to sell the public on the outstanding
productions coming from Hollywood.
Further meetings on the program are
planned.
Attending the meeting were Harry F.
Shaw, Loew Poli division manager; Lou
Brown, publicity chief of the Loew's Poli
circuit: John Hesse, zone advertising manager
of Warner Theatres; Jim Darby, Paramount
Theatre manager; Dr. J. B. Flshman,
general manager of the Fishman Theatres;
Fi-anklin Ferguson, representing the Bailey
interests; Ai-thur Greenfield, Universal manager;
Frank Meadow, UA manager; Ben
Simon, 20th-Fox manager; Edward Smith,
Western Massachusetts Theatres; Max Birnbaum,
Warner salesman; Morton Katz, Metro
salesman; Walter Kramer, Columbia salesman;
Hugh Maguire, RKO office manager;
Jack Brown, Paramount salesman, and Morris
Mendlesohn, Loew Poli attorney.
Arbitrator Hears Dispute
On Bridgeport Clearance
NEW HAVEN—A two-day hearing of the
clearance complaint of the West Side Amusement
Corp. of Bridgeport, seeking elimination
of the 30-day clearance of the 840-seat Hippodrome
over the 608-seat Barnum Theatre
has been completed before Herbert S. Mac-
Donald, arbiter. He made a personal tour of
the theatres and area involved.
Lou Anger, operator of the Barnum, testified
that the two theatres were not in competition.
Morris Jacobson, speaking for the
Strand Amusement Co., pointed out that the
two houses are nine-tenths of a mile apart
by auto and are in competion. It was brought
out that the neighborhood of the Barnum
had been improved in recent years by a government
project. Success Park. It was also
brought out that Strand Amusement's American,
Rialto, Capitol and Astor play day and
date. There is no clearance in the contracts
of these theatres over the Barnum. Between
the Barnum and Hippodrome are main
thoroughfares with heavy residential areas
to either side.
George S. Ryan of Boston appeared for the
complainant and Herman Levy for the intervenor.
Strand Amusement Co., while managers
Carl Goe, Barney Pitkin, and Henry
Germaine appeared for Warner Bros., RKO
and Paramount, respectively.
Paul Amadeo Appointed
Manager of E. M. Loew's
HARTFORD—Paul Amadeo. floor manager
at the E. M. Loew's, has been promoted to
house manager, and George Hudak, chief of
service, has been named assistant manager.
E, M. Loew's division manager, George E.
Landers, reported Carl Halpern has resumed
duties as manager of Milford Drive-In.
EL
MEN GET TOGETHER—William
Heinetnan, vice-president in charge of
distribution for Eagle Lion, is pictured
(center) as he stopped off in Boston on
his tour of key cities. With him are Tom
Donaldson (left). New England district
manag:er, and Harry Segal, Boston branch
manager.
$23,891 Raised in R. I.
By March of Dimes
PRGVIDENCE—A total of $23,891.69 was
contributed to the March of Dimes campaign
fund by audiences in Rhode Island's
theatres. It was announced at the close of
the drive recently. A check for that amount
was presented to Gov. John O. Pastore, state
chairman of the Rhode Island Infantile Paralysis
Ass'n, by Edward M. Pay, March of
Dimes chairman, and Meyer Stanzler, representing
the Independent Theatre Owners
of Rhode Island.
It was announced that the entire amount
of contributions will remain in Rhode Island
for use in the cities and towns.
Collections in Pi'ovidence theatres were
announced as follows: RKO Albee, $2,223.63
Avon, $100.60; Capitol, $86.40; Carlton, $959.10
Castle. $134.12; Empire, $268.41; Fays
$1,321.50: Hope. $255.01; Liberty, $153.34
Loew's State, $2,229.46; Majestic, $1,818.22
Metropolitan, $1,086.65; Strand, $2,266.06
Uptown, $269.66, and Victory, $256.14.
Pawtucket audiences contributed to the
fund as follows: Broadway, $152.06; Darlton,
$359.32: Fairlawn. $102.11; Leroy, $1,494.43.
and Strand, $903.20.
In Woonsocket, the following amounts were
contributed; Bijou, $501.11; Laurier, $288.97;
New Park, $753.70; Olympia, $128; Rialto,
$128.63. Cranston audiences added the following
amounts to the fund: Palace, $530.10;
Park, $442.07; Rainbo, $56.62. The Opera
House in Newport collected $630.96, and the
Paramount in the same city turned in a
total of $204.61.
Collections in other theatres in the state
were as follows: Pastime, Bristol. $182.50:
Community, Centredale, $302.50; Marget's
Bellevue, Central Falls, $196.35; Lafayette,
Central Falls, $254.82; Greenwich. East
Greenwich. $123.90; Kent, East Greenwich,
$140.03: Hollywood, East Pi'ovidence, $216.75;
Palace, Johnston, $35.45; Johnston, Johnston,
$68.70; Central. Manville, $67.25; Midway,
Oakland Beach, $81; Olympia, Olneyville,
$99.22.
New England Rushes
Season for Drive-ins
BOSTON—Although a late spring prevails,
owners of drive-in theatres in this territory
are getting their houses into operation.
The drive-ins operated by the Weymouth
Drive-In Corp. at Weymouth, Saugus,
Shrewsbury and Raynham reopened April 10.
The company has sites for construction of
new theatres under consideration. The Riverside
Park Drive-In in Agawam, operated by
Edward Carroll, which also includes an
amusement park, started April 1. The drivein
in Seeconk, Mass., near the East Providence
line, also reopened on that date. It
is owned by the Romano brothers.
OPEN MOSTLY IN APRIL
Wilfred Bernard was set to reopen his open
air theatre in Sutton April 16. The Dartmouth
Auto Theatre in North Dartmouth,
Interstate's only drive-in, reopened April 15.
Fred Parker has readied his Bellingham Auto
Theatre on the Woonsocket line for an April
reopening. In May the Dalton Open Air,
operated by Edgar Briggs, will reopen. The
Salisbury Drive-In, owned by the William
Laveny circuit, is set for a Decoration day
reopening.
The E. M. Loew circuit operates eight
drive-ins throughout the country. All opening
dates are set for some time in April, with
the exception of the Miami Drive-In, which
is open the year around. The Washington
Theatre is already open and the Baltimore
spot, which was set to reopen at the same
time but was damaged by fire, is rapidly
being prepared to operate. The New England
spots include Lynn, Methuen, Providence.
Newington and Milford. Other sites are under
consideration.
New drive-ins are mushrooming throughout
the sector, to be ready for business later
in the season. A second drive-in is being constructed
in Newington. to be called the Parkway,
by the Turnpike Theatre Corp. One of
the first of the new ones, to be opened on
Decoration day, is the Parkway Drive-In in
Wilbraham, owned by David Willig of Albany.
SEVERAL UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Another airer under construction is the
Sundown Drive-In, owned by Owen Holmes
of Springfield, which is being built on the
main road between Westfield and Holyoke.
Michael Redstone has started work on his
Dedham drive-in on Route 128 and he has
also received a permit to construct another
in Revere on the main boulevard. The
new Berkshire Drive-In, managed by Harry
Lazarus, is all set for the opening in Pittsfield.
In Haverhill, on Route 110, S. Arakelian
expects to open on Decoration day. Maine's
only open air theatre in Saco has been sold
to Eugene Boargine of New "Vork City and
is due for an April reopening.
The Sunset Drive-In in Burlington, Vt.,
will be ready by May 15. It is owned by John
Gardner and George Brown. In Cranston,
R. I., Meyer Stanzler is constructing a 700-
car drive-in for opening around the first of
June.
Pearce Parkhurst in Ohio
HARTFORD—Pearce Parkhurst, formerly
a manager in this territory, is now manager
of the Yorktown Theatre in Cleveland.
BOXOFFICE :
: April 17, 1948 NE 79

. . Ray
. . . Ken
. .
BOSTON
f^harles Repec has returned to the sales staff
of MGM following his resignation from
B&Q Associates. He had been employed for
25 years by MGM before joining the B&Q
outfit last summer . E. Feeley, business
manager of Independent Exhibitors,
Inc., has been elected president of the Parent-Teachers
Ass'n of the Plympton school
. . .
district of Walpole. The Feeley family, including
three children, Paul 9, Barbara 7
and Guy 3, moved to Walpole last summer
Nathan Yamins of the Yamins circuit
has returned from a winter's vacation at
Palm Beach.
Arnold Eisen, office manager for B&Q
Associates, spent a week in Elizabeth, N. J.,
setting up office routine for the nine theatres
of the Aldon Theatres Corp. Heretofore
the billings and booking for this
group had been handled by the B&Q office
at 100 Boylston St. With the sale by Don
Jacocks and Alexander KUpatrick of the
B&Q to a New Haven group, the office work
of the Aldon Corp. was transferred to the
home office at Elizabeth, N. J.
Mayor Curley has announced that he is
prepared to ask for a tax on each television
set in commercial use in theatres, local hotels
and other public places. He also revealed
that he will approve a $30 tax on pinball
machines if the city council passes the
measm-e.
A frequent visitor to Filmrow has been Al
Lourie, new owner of the Adams, Dorchester.
Al had been with the M&P circuit for
20 years, most recently as manager of the
Oriental, Mattapan. Several weeks ago he
purchased the Adams and now does his own
buying and booking as well as managing.
Recent visitors to Independent Exhibitors
office here: George Reil, Grant Square, Manchester,
N. H.; Joe Carrolo, Midway, Oakland
Beach, R. I.; Marshall Carleton, Yarmouth,
Yarmouth, Me.; Edward Fideli, Ri-
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Stocked With All
Necessary Repair
and Replacement
Parts for Any
Sound System.
"Ask any
exhibitor using
our service"
alto, Worcester; Marie Brimo, Empire, Manchester,
N. H.; Frank Perry, Orpheum, Foxboro,
and Ernie Zuretti, Lexington, Lexington,
who reported that his uncle, Bill Viano,
owner of the theatre, is home from a long
stay at the hospital and is on the road to
recovery.
. .
.
John Goode, booker at Paramount seven
years, has been transferred to the Buffalo
exchange where he will go on the road .
The wife of Charles Israelson, former exhibitor
from Wells Beach, Me., is in Beth
Israel hospital following an operation
Seen at the Colonial Theatre opening of
"The Cup of Ti-embling." an interesting play
about a woman alcoholic starring Elizabeth
Bergner, were A. Viola Berlin, Exeter Street
Theatre manager; Toby Tabachnick and Sylvia
Steinman of U-I and a large group from
the local Alcoholics Anonymous.
William Dodd has been transferred from
the Strand, New Bedford, to the Strand,
Boston, as manager. Both houses are operated
by E. M. Loew. Dodd replaced Juhan
Eaton who resigned to move to Washington
Mayer, U-I salesman, flew to Washington
to usher at the wedding of a college
friend from Syracuse imiversity . . . Al
Vonck, Beach Theatre, York Beach, Me., is
planning to reopen May 1 for the summer
season. This date is three weeks earlier
than previous years.
More than 10,000 persons attended the
electrical show at Mechanics Bldg. Sunday,
the second day of the week-long show, and
saw the Red Sox-Braves baseball game televised
from Sarasota, Fla. via telephonic controls.
At least 80 television sets were in
operation throughout the building. Network
programs are being provided via microwaves
from sending points in New York.
Massachusetts Theatre Equipment, the first
Boston motion picture supply house to be
granted a franchise for General Electric
television receivers, had a display booth at
the show, demonstrating the receivers and
also the Centm-y sound projector complete
with the Suprex C 70 Ashcraft lamp.
. . .
Stephen McConley, a newcomer to the industry,
has been appointed assistant manager
to George Kraska at the Kenmore. He
replaces Bill Harrington who resigned to rejoin
Following the threeweek
the air coi-ps . . . rim of "Beauty and the Beast," the
Kenmore's next bill is made up of two Italian
films, "Tlie Great Dawn" and "The
King's Jester," the latter based on the opera
"Rigoletto" Tony Martin appeared at
\*/a avoid e^ccedAiaie 6^l4Hce. cUa'ii(f>ei.
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HAROLD DAVIDSON
12 Winchester Street.
Bosinn 16. Massachusetts
Now
Expanding
with Additional
personnel to cover
a Larger Service
Area.
Many theatres
under our
maintenance
the RKO Boston for the world premiere of
"Casbah," in which he plays the leading
male role . George Marchev, sales manager
. .
of the Gordos Corp. of Newark, N. J.,
called on supply houses in this district in
behalf of the Gordos line of rectifier bulbs.
. . .
Two houses of the E. M. Loew chain are
undergoing extensive alterations. The Puritan,
Roxbury, is being entirely redecorated
and refurnished and is expected to reopen
April 23. The Capitol, Pawtucket, has closed
for remodeling with on opening date set . . .
The Copley reopened April 12 for a week's
engagement of the Itahan film, "Lucia di
Lammermoor," showing continuously from
12:30 to 11 p. m. under the sponsorship of
Thomas Nazzaro The Beacon booked
the popular Italian film, "Shoe-Shine," following
the successful seven-week run of the
film at the Kenmore.
Charlie Cifre and Eddie Comi have returned
from New York, where they investigated television
installations. They are handling the
General Electric television and radio lines for
Massachusetts Theatre Equipment . . . Betty
Carroll is John Dervin's new secretary, replacing
Cynthia Gradone, who was with TJA
six years. She resigned recently.
Drive-In Bid Rejected
BOSTON—Members of the board of selectmen
of Saugus voted April 5 not to grant
the petition of Saugus Turnpike Club, Inc.,
for an open air theatre, skating rink and
entertainment project to be located opposite
the present di'ive-in theatre on the Newburyport
turnpike. Thomas Demaura, head
of the Weymouth Drive-In Corp., W'hich includes
among its subsidiaries the Saugus
The
Turnpike Club, Inc., was the petitioner.
proposed development as opposed by a number
of residents of the Oaklandvale section.
Several meetings were held on the controversial
issue before the petition was denied.
Work on Plans to Remodel
City Theatre in Brockton
BROCKTON, MASS.—Architects have been
busy for some time on plans for the renovation
of the City Theatre, which recently was
purchased by a group of Boston theatremen
headed by HaiTy Bergson. The house has
never been used for motion pictures. Plans
call for renovation of the interior and extension
of the rear wall 25 feet further into
the lot at the rear. A three-story building,
the block has eight office tenants who have
been a.sked to find other quarters.
Ad Rates Up 15 Per Cent
PITTSFIELD, MASS.—A 15 per cent increase
in advertising rates has been made
by the Berkshire Eagle.
Jack B. Rabiner, advertising manager, in
a letter to theatre owners and managers,
said expenses have gone up more than 40 per
cent since the last increase was made in
November 1945.
B6tQ Resume Building
BRIDGEPORT—B&Q circuit
has resumed
construction of its new theatre on the city
line between Bridgeport and Stratford and
a September opening is in prospect. The
house will seat 1,200 to 1,300.
80 BOXOFFICE April 17, 1948

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. . New
. .
. . . Joe
HARTFORD
"Carl Hannah, assistant manager at the
Strand, Thompsonville, and relief manager
for the Perakos theatres In East Hartford
and New Britain, left last week for
. . .
Arizona on a month's leave due to illness
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Perakos of the
Perakos circuit will observe their 42nd wedding
anniversary in June with a family reunion.
Brook LeWitt reports staffs at the Arch
Street, New Britain, and Strand, Plainville,
are sportmg new uniforms . . . Ralph Carenze,
New Britain Strand assistant manager who
was a patient at tha Newington hospital several
months ago, was back for more treatments.
. . .
Some 200 children from the Charter Oak
avenue sector saw "Unconquered" last week
at the Allyn as guests of Manager Walter
B. Lloyd. The party was arranged by Anthony
J. Maradie, honorary president of
the Allyn club, local boys' organization
Sperie Perakos will represent Perakos Theatres
at the Allied regional convention in Boston
May 4, 5 ... I. J. Hoffman, Jim Bracken
and Cy O'Toole of Warner zone office visited
Joe Borenstein of the Strand and Joe
Miklos, Embassy in New Britain.
Around New Britain:
Celia Bucherri, State
cashier, is home from a Miami vacation . . .
Harry Gibbs, Connecticut Films, visited local
showTnen . dial phones have been installed
in all downtown theatres .
Lowe, Hartford district sound engineer for
Warner Theatres, was in on business .
Swen Swanson, projectionist at the Embassy,
is quite a fan of Norwegian pickled herring
Borenstein borrowed a combination
radio-phonograph from Birnbaum's furniture
store to play "Carnegie HaU" tunes in
the Strand lobby . . . Walter Wisk is the
new usher at Palace, New Britain.
Lou Cohen and wife, manager of Loew's
Poll, Hartford, visited their son, daughterin-law
and grandchild in Waterbury last
Ernie Grecula of Hartford Theatres
week . . .
was in Bridgeport on a day off . . . Prank
Ramsey, former manager of several neighborhood
theatres here for the Warner circuit,
dropped a line to Estelle O'Toole, secretary
to Henry Needles, division manager ... Ed
Carroll has opened his Riverside Drive-In at
Agawam, Mass.
. . Al
. . .
Paul Purdy, manager of the Kounaris-
Tolin Newington Theatre, and family are
home from a New Hampshire trip . . . 'Vincent
Youmatz will open the Peoples' Forest
Drive-In on Route 44 in a few weeks .
Schuman of Hartford Theatres and his wife
were in New Haven for "The Pirate" screening
. . . Isabelle Jacobs, Colonial cashier, is
Colonial installed a new
in the hospital . . .
screen Ernie Grecula supervised installation
of new display frames at the Lyric.
A man paid a $10 fine in New London
police court last week for speaking harshly
to a man and boy who "interfered with his
view." He was picked up at the M&P Capitol
. .
. . .
for using abusive language and charged with
breach of peace . Morris Jacobson, general
manager of the Strand Amusement Co., retui-ned
from Detroit, where he spent a week
visiting his brother Charles The writer
of a letter appearing in the Hartford Times
last week complained of the lack of air conditioning
in most of the local theatres . . .
The Darien Theatre Co. has filed a certificate
of preliminary dissolution with the secretary
of
state.
New lobby display frames have been in-
stalled at the Colonial . . . Jim Wynn, formerly
at the Bushnell, has replaced Jack
Yacavone as Colonial stage manager
Paul Treske, University of Connecticut
junior, was a weekend visitor and gave a
helping hand to his mother, Kate Treske,
Lenox manager .
. . Al Schuman and Ernie
Grecula of Hartford Theatres were in New
Haven on business.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Portsmouth has welcomed the news that
Eileen Wood, former local girl, has been
chosen for the role of Cinderella in a coming
Walt Disney film. During the war she
sang with the all-soldier show, "Keep Mum,
Chum," in various northern New England
theatres, and lately has been featured songstress
on the Jack Carson-Eve Arden radio
show in Hollywood.
Matinees were omitted March 27-April 4
at the Nugget in Hanover. The British film,
"The Upturned Glass," was shown there recently
... A recent feature story in the
Manchester Union stressed the importance
of motion pictures in Orford, a small community
with a population of about 700. The
recreational council there has voted to purchase
a projector and sound equipment,
which will provide community film shows
as well as educational films for the village
school.
BANKNIGHT
GOODWILL
The only proven and legal cash award
theatre business builder!
Both are copyrighted advertising plans which we have always protected
and will continue to protect
Moii'y theatres are using these
advertising plans again with the same large
crowds as before. Now is the time for YOU to get started again before the
summer slump in business. It takes one week to print the materials, and two
weeks for registration. Act now!
GOODWILL ADVERTISING COMPANY
22 Church Street Liberty 2-9305 Boston, Massachusetts
82 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

j
I
. . Hazel
. . William
DeRochemont Sets Up
Screen Writing Fund
DURHAM, N. H.—The University of New
Hampshire here has received a gift of $1,200
from Louis DeRocliemont, motion picture
producer, who has a home in nearby Newington,
to promote interest in screen writing,
it has been announced by Dean Laui'en E.
Seeley, executive office of the university.
The gift by DeRochemont, originator of
March of Time, will establish a four-year
program of film writing awards to UNH undergraduates,
begmning this year. A first
award of $200 and second award of $100 will
be given annually through 1951.
The producer's donation is made up of the
$1,000 American Design award which he received
last year from Lord & Taylor of
New York for authority and realism injected
into the DeRochemont films, plus the accumulated
interest.
DeRochemont, now a producer for MGM,
as weU as United World Films, which is turning
out a 72-reel series on "Htmian Geography,"
designed exclusively for classroom
use, said his gift to UNH was to encourage
fm'ther experimentation and achievement in
screen writing. This year's competition for
the awards will remain open until June 15
and the material submitted must have a
New England background, past or present,
actual or fictional, and must be in the form
of stories.
Judging will be done "with particular emphasis
on original treatment of actual and
fictional story material in such manner and
with such excellence as to warrant consideration
for actual motion picture production."
DeRochemont received an honorary degree
of Doctor of Humane Letters from the University
of New Hampshire in 1944.
Hartford Kellehers Begin
Renovation of Princess
HARTFORD—The Princess Theatre Corp.
has started extensive renovations of the
27-year-old building on State street, Hartford.
A new angular-sliaped marquee with a 12-
foot front expanse already has been erected.
Four rows of three-foot neon letters spell
out the name "Princess" on the angled sides.
Other alterations will include back structual
glass on the front exterior, entrance oak
doors with semicircle sections of glass, solid
glass boxoffice front, and redecoration of the
entire interior. According to Edward J. Kelleher,
vice-president and assistant theatre
manager, some 700 new seats and new carpeting
will be installed in niidsimimer.
The theatre was originally a bank. In 1921
Martin Kelleher and I. J. Hoffman, owners
of the Strand Theatre at that time, opened
the Pi-incess. Martin is president of the Princess
Theatre Corp. and manager of the Pi'incess.
Connecticut Variety Helps
To Feed Needy Students
NEW HAVEN~The Variety Club will hold
its biweekly meeting and luncheon April 13
in the Oneco restaurant, with Barney Pitkin,
chief barker, presiding. The club has sent
a generous contribution to the Winchester
school to assist in the school's Imich program
for underprivileged children. Other charitable
projects are still under consideration.
The Connecticut tent now meets the second
and fourth Tuesday of each month.
FALL RIVER
Admissions at
the Embassy, a Yamins oper-
. . .
ated house, have been cut from 55 to 40
cents on evening and Sundays and from 40
to 30 cents for matinees. Children are admitted
The
for 20 cents at all times Strand, another Yamins house, will close
May 1 for about three months for major
alterations.
.
Mr. and Mrs. Nathan M. Yamins have returned
from Palm Beach following their annual
winter vacation O'Donnell
replaces James Audet as assistant at the
Center . . . Prominent residents of this city
were the guests of Manager Paul Slayer at
a recent sneak preview of "Sitting Pretty"
at the Durfee ... A huge tower for radio
station WFCI-FM is being erected on top
of the Durfee Theatre.
. . William
.
. . . Ahce
Ushers
Mr. and Mrs. William S. Canning visited
their son Lloyd and his family at Poughkeepsie.
N. Y John M. Cavoy, Embassy manager,
spoke at a recent meeting of the Henry
Lord Junior High School PTA .
S. Canning, a director, presented the trophy
to the winning Fall River Boys club basketball
team at a luncheon held in honor of the
hoopsters Petrin replaces Ann
Roark as cashier at the Capitol
Azar is new relief at the Capitol . . .
at the Academy have donned their new uniforms—blue
trousers with red double-breasted
jacket.
Three of the original costumes worn by
Jane Powell and her companions in "Three
Daring Daughters" were exhibited in the
midst of a photo arrangement at Adaskin's
Co. for the opening at the Academy. An extensive
campaign was conducted by Manager
Carl Zeitz and assistant Claude Shaw. There
was also a tiein with Kaplan's recording shop
where, in another elaborate display, Dickie
Bird records were shown and played.
The Search for Talent being conducted at
the Empire is attracting large crowds. Winners
at each contest conducted on Monday
night for a period of six weeks receive cash
awards and the series winner, a two-week
engagement in a prominent local night spot.
The winner of the second series, besides receiving
gifts of money, wearing apparel and
jewelry, will contest with the winner of the
first week for a trip to New York and an
audition to be conducted by Chamberlain
Brown.
Which is more important, a man's supper
or a pleasing evening at the Empu'e? Recently,
a woman w'ho sought to witness at
least one Search for Talent program, tried
vainly for a period of four consecutive Mondays
to gain admittance to the Empire. A
packed house each time forced her to be
turned back. Last Monday, however, the
woman left home early after leaving her
husband's supper on the table and succeeded
in obtaining a ticket. Her husband, however,
displeased at her absence, raised merry cain
and assaulted her. Police had to intervene.
New Newington Drive-In
HARTFORD—The Turnpike Theatre Corp.
has started erection of a new drive-in in suburban
Newington, The town already has one
drive-in operated by E. M. Loew. Robert
Gloth, Philip Simon and Louis B. Rogow
head the new company.
New Haven May Get
Television by May 1
NEW HAVEN—Radio station WNHC, which
is awaiting an FCC okay to increase power
from 500 to 5,000 watts, is reported "ready to
go" on television by May 1, making WNHC
the pioneer television station in New England,
with Boston probably following soon afterwards.
Pi-ograms will be relayed from New York,
particularly from Du Mont laboratories,
WABD, and also, it is expected from WNBC.
According to the most recent estimate, 1,000
homes and 100 public places are equipped
with television receiving sets in the 50 mile
radius which would be served by New Haven,
including Bridgeport and Hartford. The
highest proportion of sets now is in Bridgeport,
which is within the New York telecast
area.
Stations WDRC, WTIC and -WTHT, Hartford,
all have applications in for power increases
with a view to television hookups,
but Bridgeport has been deleted and it is
believed will have no station for some time.
Milne reports the relay system in process
of installation and everything m complete
readiness to put up transmitter and antenna
when the FCC gives its okay. For the summer,
at least, it is planned to have only network
programs.
Maine's Only Drive-In Sold
To Eugene Boragine of N. Y.
PORTLAND—The Saco Diive-In, Saco,
Me., which has the distinction of being the
Pine Tree state's only open air theatre, has
been sold to Eugene Boragine of New York
City. George O'Neill, who operated the theatre
since it was built, returned it to its
original owner last month, and he, in turn,
sold it to Boragine. Included in the sale,
which consists of 54 acres, is a hotel and
restaurant. The new owner plans to operate
the entire property, although the theatre
buying and booking will be handled by Herbert
Higgins. Boragine is in the interior
decorating business in New York but he will
spend the summer months on his new project.
He is not a newcomer to the industry as 30
years ago he was the manager of a theatre
in Providence for Martin Toohey, who
brought his friend into the district to introduce
him to the exchanges.
Crown in Hartford Leased
To Henry Opper Firm
HARTFORD — The Crown Management
Corp.. headed by Henry Opper. has taken
over operation of the 800-seat Crown Theatre
here, on a long-term lease from the
Chauncy B. Thompson estate. The lease is
for the theatre equipment solely.
The theatre has been in operation for the
past 30 years, many of them under Charles
L. Repass, manager for the estate who died
in 1947. The Crown Corp. has named Eddie
Selet of Boston as manager.
Too Much Glamor and Shooting
HARTFORD—John Anatharaz of Madras,
India, in the U.S. on a year's study of governmental,
industrial and social conditions, deplored
the effect on Hindus of American motion
pictures "with their emphasis on
gangsterism and glamorous girls."
BOXOFFICE :
: April 17, 1948 83

—
—
——
—
—
. . . The
. . Manager
. .
. . Louis
. . Harold
'Naked City' Is Week's
Standout in Boston
BOSTON—"The Naked City" at LoeWs
State and Orpheum was the standout in a
generally good week, with Horace Heidt's
band at the Keith Boston also a great draw.
In its second stanza at the Memorial, "I
Remember Mama" nearly equaled its first
week's grosses and it remained a third. The
Copley, dark since the end of the run of
"Stairway to Heaven" last winter, reopened
Monday (12) with the Italian film "Lucia di
Lammermoor" on a continuous basis. At the
Kenmore, "Beauty and the Beast" was replaced
by two Italian films, "The Great
Dawn" and "The King's Jester."
(Average Is 100)
Astor—Mourning Becomes Electro (RKO), 2nd wk. .130
Boston Blonde Savage (EL), plus stage show 190
Exeter Street—An Ideal Husband (20lh-Fox),
2nd run 100
Kenmore Beauty and the Beast (Lopert),
2nd wk 110
Memorial I Remember Mama (RKO), 2nd wk 135
Metropolitan April Shovrers (WB); The Inside
Story (Rep) 100
Paramount and Fenway Sitting Pretty (20th-Fox);
Docks of New Orleans (Mono), 2nd d. t. wk 130
State and Orpheum—The Naked City (U-I);
Hal Roach Comedy Carnival (Col) 200
'Naked City' Becomes Rare
Holdover at Hartford Poli
HARTFORD—For the first
week in several
years, Loew's Poli held a pictui'e for two
weeks, namely, "The Naked City." Other
holdovers included "Three Daring Daughters"
and "April Showers."
Allyn Monsieur Verdoux (UA); Mr. Reckless
(Para) 110
E. M. Loew's The Sign of the Ram (Col); Wreck
of the Hesperus (Col), 2nd wk 140
Poli—The Naked City (U-I), Lightnin' in the
Forest (Rep), 2nd wk 160
Palace Three Daring Daughters (MGM); Western
Heritage (RKO), 3rd wk 90
Regal—April Showers (WB); Take My Life (EL),
2nd wk 80
State Perilous Adventure (Mono), plus stage
show 130
Strand—The Fugitive (RKO) 100
New Haven in Dumps;
"Daughters' Hold for 3rd
NEW HAVEN—Second week of "Three
Daring Daughters" at the College was the
only bright spot in a dull week downtown.
The bill held over at the same theatre for
a third week. Detail for the week ended
April 7:
Bijou
Alias a Gentleman (MGM); Philo Vance's
Gamble (EL) 58
College—Three Daring Daughters (MGM); The
Return of the Whistler (Col), 2nd d. t. wk 115
Loew-Poli—Relentless (Col); The Woman From
Tangier (Col) 85
Paramount Unconquered (Para), 2nd wk 65
Roger Sherman—April Showers (WB); High Tide
(Mono) 90
Loew's Poli May Build
1,400-Seater in Norwich
HARTFORD—Construction of the proposed
1,400-seat Loew's Poli house in Norwich,
may get under way soon, according to trade
sources. The project has been pending for
three years.
Shovionan Sells Asthma Medicine
MANCHESTER, CONN. — Jack Sanson,
manager of the State here has placed his
asthma medicine on sale at several of the
city's drug stores. About a year ago, a corporation
with capital stock of $25,000 was
organized by Sanson for the pui'pose of manufacturing
and selling of the medicine.
WORCESTER
JJenry Cummings, manager of the Green-
. . , The
dale, reports instances where sets of
dishes given away by his theatre have been
taken to England and Scotland by guests
The two-night stay of
in this country . . .
"The Red Mill" at the Auditorium drew
fine houses , . . Leo Lajoie, manager of the
Capitol, called up his car dealer the other
day to remind him that three years on a
buyers' waiting list is a long time
Strand in Southbridge dropped its film policy
for one night, making way for the final
community concert of the season with James
Pease singing,
, . . Ferruccio
An ant village was set up in the lobby of
Loew's Poli by Manager Harold Maloney to
exploit "The Bride Goes Wild"
Burco, 8-year-old prodigy conductor,
was booked to lead, a symphony orchestra at
the Auditorium April 19 . . . The Marlboro
in that city is conducting cooking school
sessions at its Monday matinees, tying up
with the electric company.
Bob Portle, m.anager of the Elm Street, recalls
that he was in the first vaudeville show
that ever played at Fort Devens in Ayer.
That was in 1917 . . . The Rialto Leominster
was the scene of a roadshow, "Kiss and Tell,"
for one night . Harold Maloney
was host to Helen Walker's sisters when
her latest picture, "Call Northside 777" was
screened at Loew's Poli,
.
Sigmund Romberg will come to the Auditorium
next month for a concert sponsored
by an industrial concern for its employes
Modern in Marlboro has begun a
giveaway of ovenware on Friday nights
Letters to the editor of the daily papers
have been critical of the theatres. One signed
by "Disgruntled Usher" complained of theatre
pay, and another commented adversely
of the overflow sometimes kept on mezzanines
for long periods, unable to see the
show.
Mrs. Frederick H. Madden, widow of the
CRITICS IN PADDY WAGON—Boston
newspaper reviewers being carted
away by the police after attending a
screening of "The Naked City." The "arrest"
was made by Capt. Louis A. Di Sessa
of the Boston police department, center,
as a result of a complaint sworn out by
Charles E. Kurtzman, northeastern division
manager for Loew's, left. Patrolman
Edward McFeeley, right, assisted.
The critics were later taken to the
Town House for lunch. Loew's has booked
the picture for its New England theatres.
late manager of the Hudson in that town,
has been appointed to succeed him. He died
recently. Mrs. Madden had been his assistant
. Pi-ima, the orchestra leader,
was in town . . . Playing "Black Bart," Manager
John Matthews of the Warner emphasized
the fact that its Jeffrey Lynn is a
local
boy.
Fire broke out in the projection booth at
the Town Hall, Barre, during a Sunday evening
performance, causing damage of $3,000.
The projection machine and two reels of film
were destroyed. Flames and smoke from the
booth were seen by the audience but Alan
Clough, the operator, pacified them and suggested
they leave quietly and orderly. The
theatre, operated by the Champ Amusement
Corp. of Worcester, was closed several
days.
The automatic soft-drink dispenser in the
in the Plymouth that discriminates against
Manager Nate Goldberg got newspaper notice.
He claims that when the machine pours the
drink, it goes everywhere except into his cup
.... Bernie Satz, manager of the Casino in
Ware, has bought a new house trailer that
he is installing as a home.
. . .
The Westboro midget automobile track,
which last summer did a terrific business,
will get competition this year from a Lunenburg
track that will seat 8,000. Worchester
theatres felt the drain in 1947 . . The Lyric
.
in Fitchburg gave away live Easter bunnies
Allan Meltzer, New York theatr.'; publicist
and Aubrey Finn, Hollywood scriptist, were
visitors in town.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph M. Anstead of Hollywood
announce the recent marriage of their
daughter, Marcia Anstead, to James W. Talbot,
in Hollywood. The bride has been in
films. Her father formerly was manager of
the Elm Street here.
Frank Decelle, operator at the Casino in
Ware, is on a six months' leave of absence,
and plans to visit on the west coast with his
family . . . Another effort is being made to
get horse racing and pari-mutuel betting at
the Oxford fairgrounds . W. Hall,
manager of the Orpheum in Gardner, donated
the use of the house to the Gardner
Council of Churches for services,
. .
H. Cummings jr. of the Greendale Theatre
reports spring redecoration is under way
and that a new Coke machine has been installed
in the foyer. The foyer also has new
Marilyn Aiken, Greendale
ceiling lights . . .
candy girl, is still disappointed. Her name
was called at a recent charity circus drawing
but she was not present and missed
winning a new car . . Bruce Parent of the
.
Greendale staff will join the navy upon
graduation from liigh school . Gordon Robie
of the same theatre is learning radio work
at one of the local stations . . Edward
.
McCann, another member of the staff, is
studying cabinet making.
The Evening Gazette used a story on the
ant villages that Ernie Emerllng of Loew's
has been sending to critics and columnists.
"It's so fascinating," said the Gazette writer,
"that perhaps a fellow wouldn't want to
leave it long enough to see the film it advertises."
J'
84 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

: ual"
I
are
I
cation
I
meet
!
Bob
I
I
Carl
'
out
. . Thelma
, ALWAYS
NEW HAVEN
Mext wedding bells to be heard in the film
district will be for Alice Brodner of
Warners when she weds Morse Ginsburg. He
is a brother of Hannah Ginsburg, secretary to
j
Goe ... All the 20th-Fox staff turned
for the wedding of Sal Papolizio to Anne
Laudano and the reception which followed at
the Lighthouse inn. The newlyweds are seeing
the nation's capital.
Among: those at the wedding reception for
Anthony Masella and his bride were the
Harry Shaws, Lou Browns, Bill Browns, Morris
Rosenthals. Sidney Klepers. Harry Rosenblatts,
Harry Roses, Mrs. Ida Shaw, Charles
Gaudjno, the William Sitzers, Norman Lev-
enson, Bob Ritzert and Jack Brassil.
Encamped at the Roney Plaza, Miami
Beach, where Variety pitched its convention
tent this week, were Barney Pitkin. Connecticut
chief barker: Ben Simon, delegate, and
Bob Eliano of Walnut Beach and his son
jr. Mrs. Pitkin was there ahead of Barney.
This makes trip No. 2 for Bob Eliano.
Mrs. Eliano took over at the theatre.
The Harry Fishmans of Fishman Theatres
back from Miami after an extended va-
. . . Pi-ior to his departure on a "cas-
Carribean trip April 24, Harry Shaw will
in various circuit towns with all managers,
assistants, students and chiefs of service.
The meetings also will be attended by
Lou Brown, publicity chief. Following meetings
in New Haven and Waterbury (including
Merideni, similar get-togethers for general
discussion will be held in Worcester,
Norwich and Hartford.
In spite of the cold winds, all the open-air
theatres are operating again . . . A. F. Cummings,
in charge of Metro exchange operations,
was a visitor, as well as Metro auditor
Arthur Sklaar . . . P. D. Moore, new Warner
district manager, was in from Boston. Also
Sam Shapin, home office representative.
The Lyric, Bridgeport, has gone Al Monty's
Amateur and Uproar night Saturday nights.
Prizes are given to contestants and to members
of the audience . . . "The Red Mill"
played at this house April 12, 13 and "The
Inspector Calls" is booked for April 19. House
is rented May 1 for Barber Shop Quartet and
May 17, 18 for Holy Rosary, with summer
closing date still uncertain.
. . . Personnel of the
. .
Bob Kaufman, idea-a-minute-man for the
New Haven and Albany 20th-Fox offices for
the past 15 months, has been promoted to a
new publicity position at the home office.
Bob has been missing the bright lights . . .
As a result of a special town meeting, the
Newington Theatre now has a full-time policeman
on its pay roll, "for the safety and
protection of patrons"
Strand Amusement, Bridgeport circuit, was
shocked by the sudden death of Morris Fink,
company accountant for the past 27 years,
after a heart attack . Ruth Smelter, of the
Strand Amusement office, is recuperating at
Bridgeport hospital after minor surgery.
Around the street this w'eek were George
Wilkinson of Wallingford, Paul Tolls and
Paul Purdy of Newington, Harold Tabackman
of Bridgeport, Andrew Murphy of Broadbrook
and Donat Blaine of Baltic . . . Faye
Spadoni of the 20th-Pox office was hostess
to the distaff side of the office force Tuesday
BOXOFFICE :
FALCON MEETS E.
M. LOEW—John
Calvert, who plays the part of Falcon in
Film Classics' "Devil's Cargo," pauses lor
a snapshot with E. M. Loew, circuit owner,
at a recent Variety Club affair in Boston.
Calvert was appearing on the stage of the
RKO Boston.
night . Jaffe, new aunt of a baby
boy, now owes Mickey Katatnick two lobster
dinners . . . "At War With the Army," student-written
and produced at Yale school of
drama, has been sold for Broadway production.
The Forest Theatre, Allingtown, is negotiating
for air conditioning, and has put in
a new 30-week glassware giveaway for twicea-week
distribution beginning in May . . .
Warners Rialto in South Norwalk is negotiating
for a new five-week dish deal . . .
I. J. Hoffman, head of Warner Theatres
in this zone, is making a tour of the entire
New England circuit. He conducted a zone
meeting in the local offices for managers
in this area.
. . . Nancy
Bill Brown of the Bijou lined up Italian
societies, the public library, book stores and
shoe and shoe repair shops on the coming
Italian picture, "Shoe-Shine"
S. Jacocks, daughter of Irving "Ted" Jacocks
of the Branford Theatre, participated in a
recent spring dance festival and concert at
Wheaton college, where she is a sophomore
. . . Eugene B. Rodney, new vice-president
of Cavalier Pi'oductions, which produced
"Relentless," rated a big story and art in the
New Haven press, which recalled his managership
of the Poll here in 1934. and the
fact that he was a son-in-law of the late
Louis M. Sagal of the circuit.
Sid Kleper and Norman Levenson, even
more daring than usual, .sent out three girls
in bathing suits covered with transparent oil
skin coats to ballyhoo the holdover of "Three
Daring Daughters."
'TiwifiTT^nriTr
CANDY CO.
62 COMMERCE ST..NEWHAVEN,CONN.
•'WE KEEP
THE MOVIES
SWEET"
Berkmans Launch
Norwich Project
HARTFORD—Creighton & McGuire, architects,
will call for bids soon for a long planned
theatre project at Norwich.
The project was announced about three
years ago, but federal restrictions prevented
the Berkman Bros., owners, from going
ahead.
The 1,400-seat theatre building will be
erected at Cliff and Main streets in Norwich.
The estimated cost is between $300,000 and
$400,000.
Failure to Label Reissue
Condemned by Ad Critic
FALL RIVER—Failure of theatres to state
in their advertising that their program consists
of rei.ssues was called a fraud on the
public in a letter appearing recently in the
Public Opinion column of a local paper.
Recalling a recent ad, the letter WTiter
said, "I defy anyone to point out one shred
of evidence indicating that the two advertised
pictures are old, dusted-off films.
"In fact, use of the term 'first time together'
is more apt to create the impression
that they are new. This is a widely practiced
fraud among theatres today and an obvious
attempt to delude the public. I believe it is
the responsibility of someone to insist on
an admission that these picture are revivals,
reissues, or some such informative term. This
was accepted practice years ago."
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: April 17, 1948 85

ill
Just a simple idea
hut see what it does I
From Showmandiser section
of BOXOFFICE of Jan. 17 issue.
re
Business can be boosted by better showmanship .
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Scores of practical
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Read BOXOFFICE- Your Business- Builder Friend
86 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

i
'
little
'
1
picture
!
He
I HOUSTON—Glenn
Oil Millionaire Into
Film Production
,
H. McCarthy, millionaire
Houston oil man, has entered motion
production.
has set up Glenn McCarthy Pi'oductions,
Inc., and announced that his first film
would be "Land o' Plenty," the story of a
girl who attains independence through
4-H club work. McCarthy said production
would begin in July and the picture would
be ready for release in the fall.
The story was written by Monty F. Collins
of Hollywood. Robert Paige, veteran
Hollywood actor, has been assigned to one
of the roles. Both Collms and Paige are
listed as vice-presidents of the company and
Paige also is assistant treasurer. McCarthy
is president. Other officers are A. G. Mc-
Neese jr., head of the McCarthy legal department,
secretary-treasurer, and James L.
Pardue, another lawyer, assistant secretary.
McCarthy thus joins another wealthy Houstonian,
Howard Hughes, in motion picture
production.
McCarthy said he has been considering
going into the motion picture field for some
time. "This story." he said, "particularly appealed
to me because of its widespread interest.
In its simplicity it depicts the true
American way of life."
McCarthy did not say how many pictures
his company will make. He will maintain
the home office here but will do the actual
filming in Hollywood, where Paige and Collins
are now trying to line up studio space.
Rival Theatre in Teague
Purchased by J. G. Long
TEAGUE, TEX.—J. G. Long of Bay City
has purchased the Lee Theatre from R. H.
and W. B. Henderson, taking the operation
over last Sunday. Long owns and operates
the Star Theatre here of which Floyd Faubion
has been local manager for several
years.
The Hendersons modernized and reequipped
a closed theatre here over a year
ago. W. B. Henderson, the active manager,
then filed an arbitration case in Dallas
asking earlier second run availability and
asking a division of first run product between
the Star and the Lee. Both complaints
were denied.
Linda White, 19 Months.
Wins Baby Show Oscar
DALLAS—Little Linda Kay White, daughter
of the F. B. Whites, co-owners of the
Maple Theatre, is in show business at 19
months. She made a personal appearance
at the Veterans of Foreign Wars baby show
for one and two years olds, and walked off
stage with the Junior Queen ribbon. Linda
was decreed by judges to be tops in health,
beauty and friendship. They also gave her
a 15-inch Oscar at about the time those
smaller mementos were presented in Hollywood
to Academy winners. The affair, which
attracted 2,500 people and several hundred
babies, was held in Fair Park auditorium.
The Whites also own and operate Ind-Ex
Booking Service.
"Sepia Cinderella' in Alamo City
SAN ANTONIO—Manager Pinkie Smith
of the Cameo Theatre, East Commerce street
house, presented "Sepia Cinderella" for a
one-day showing Monday. This is the only
house in town that shows all-colored talking
productions from time to time.
'Mr. Blandings' House
To Oklahoma City
OKLAHOMA CITY—The Steve Pennington
Construction Co. has been commissioned
by the Selznick Releasing Organization to
build a duplicate of the dream house that
appears in "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream
House." RKO film to be released by SRO.
The home will be duplicated in 100 cities.
The "Blandings" home already has been
started at 2803 Northwe.st 32nd Place. The
estimated cost is $25,000. It will be completed
early this .summer, when it will be opened
to the public "as a consulting laboratory" for
at least one month. The interior also will
duplicate the motion picture home. It will
be furnished by local stores.
The builder promises that there will be
both construction and interior decoration experts
in attendance to offer free consultation
to home .seekers and home planners during
the public showing of the model home.
Tulsa Theatre to Resume
21-Year-Old Promotion
TULSA—"Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!" has
been chosen by a committee of Tulsa Central
high school seniors as the attraction for the
21st annual Ritz week, opening April 29 at
the Ritz Theatre.
The seniors, who supplement the program
with selected acts from the annual school
revue on Friday and Saturday, share in the
proceeds from the week's bill. Their share
goes into the class fund for a graduation
gift to the school.
The Ritz week tradition was begun in
1928 by Ralph Talbot of the Talbot Theatres
and the then senior sponsor. Last year's
choice was "It's a Wonderful Life."
Three Play 'Outpost'
DALLAS—Because of renewed popularity
here for Nelson Eddy following his recent
concert in Fair Park auditorium, three neighborhood
theatres opened Satirrday with a
first run showing of his last picture, "Northwest
Outpost." The picture was released last
summer. The theatres are the Delman.
Capitan and Arcadia, each separately owned.
Extra ad space w'as taken and paid for
jointly. The same theatres ran a top reissue
under similar arrangement and reported
better results than anticipated.
Remodeling of the Amusu
Starts in Corpus Christi
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEX.—In closing for
remodeling and redecorating April 1, the
Amusu Theatre announced it will be closed
until about June 1. New Bodiform seats
and air conditioning will be installed and
many architectural changes made. The theatre
will be completely redecorated.
J. Wood Fain Is Elected
Woodville, Tex.. Mayor
WOODVILLE, TEX.—J. Wood Fain, owner
of the Fain Theatre here, has been elected
mayor by a substantial majority. The new
mayor operates three theatres, is chairman
of several civic and church organizations
and is active in youth work.
BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948
REOPEN DALLAS VARIETY QUARTERS—These men were in charge when
the Variety Club of Texas reopened its newly decorated and newly furnished quarters
in Dallas. The clubrooms were closed several days while the work was done. Left to
right are Kendal Way, member of the house committee in charge of redecoration;
Harold Schwarz, chairman of the finance committee; Fred Hoenscheidt, first assistant
chief barker, and Julius Schepps, chief barker.
SW 87

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Jimmy Lederer, Universal newsreel cameraman,
Austin, is very cheerful over the
Headliners club designation of his pictures
of the Texas City disaster as "the year's
best newsreel coverage of a news event" . . .
Bill Elliott and his "Bar-Bar-A Ranch Rodeo
Revue" chalked up a big week at the Texas
Theatre, with his horse "Thunder," Doye
O'Dell and the Sunshine Girls on the stage.
"Wyoming." his new western, was on the
screen.
The Empire brought back "How Green
Was My Valley" to nice business . . . The
operators of the newly opened San Pedro
Outdoor theatre have a new wi-inkle in offering
patrons baby bottle warmers .
Rosemary Morris, a local lovely, has been
cast as leading lady in Sam Park's forthcoming
"Peg o' My Heart," dramatic stage
hit to go on the boards hereabouts.
Jotin
Nance Garner, former vice-president
of the U.S. and at one time interested in
theatre operations in Uvalde, was here to
act as honorary pallbearer at the Ralph
Morrison funeral.
Don Suave and his troup have moved into
the Zaragoza for a return stand
Monroe. New York musical
. . .
comedy
Lucy
star,
canceled her tour of veterans hospitals in
Texas due to other commitments in the
east.
. . . Dorothy
The Monte Carlo trio, Latin-American
act, played the Zapata Theatre in Sinton
with good business reported
Lewis, Republic film star, is appearing at
the Rocking M dude ranch, downtown nitery,
as "Queen of the Ice" . . . Joe E. Brown
presented prizes to the 18 winners in the
Fiesta costume contest held in the Municipal
auditorium. Brown was here in "Harvey" at
the Texas.
Louis Hess, who hails from New Jersey,
has been appointed assistant manager at the
Clasa-Mohme exchange here . . . Jose Carabaza,
head of the film exchange that bears
his name, was in from Laredo to call on the
Azteca office here and at several independent
theatres . . Joe E. Chamoim, owner of
.
the Casino, Ybor City, and the Royal, West
Tampa, Fla., and L. S. Arnold, Rio in Bishop
and the
ping for
Odem in
Latin-American
Odem,
pictures
were here
. . . Sammy
shop-
Katz. Mexico City, was in town.
. . The
Mark Holstein, U-I salesman here, returned
from a flying trip to Dallas .
REMODELING-DECORATING
Drapes — Frames — Lighting Fixtures
LOWEST PRICES
LUPE ROMERO
4222 Laiayette DALUS 4, TEX. T-OOSO
Arcadia, Kerrville, closed for a complete remodeling
and redecorating job. Hall Industries,
Beeville, own and operate the house.
Morris E. Rosenblum was in Austin recently
on a business mission. He operates
the Flamingo here and also the Kerry-Rose
Amusement Enterprises . in
the Wind" blew into the Laurel for a first
run exhibition here . drive-in theatres,
namely, the new San Pedro, Trail and
one on the Fredericksburg road, are presenting
midnight shows every Saturday
. .
Happy returns to Rose Yvonne Stein, who
is celebrating another milestone.
Leon D. Glasscock is another southern
Texas exhibitor who now pilots an airplane.
Glasscock and his father, W. D. Glasscock,
own and operate the Blanco in Blanco, the
Plaza in Boerne, and are soon to have the
new Leon in Pleasanton ready for opening.
This will give Pleasanton two houses, the
other being the Plestex, a Talley Enterprise
theatre.
Fernando Obledo, chief booker for Azteca
here, says he can average around "300" when
it comes to golfing. Incidentally, Azteca
Manager Jay Truex is the best golfer around
the film offices who can turn in a low, winning
score on the local greens . . . Kendall
Way of Interstate's engineering staff, Dallas,
was in town recently to install new candy
and popcorn machines in the theatres . . .
According to recent reports some city governments
are asking the Texas legislature
in Austin to amend the law to allow municipalities
more leeway in levying taxes.
Edward Brady, Interstate valley theatre
manager, finished as semifinalist in the
championship flight at the Tampico, Mexico,
international amateur golf tournament held
there Easter Sunday . daily admission
price at the Obrero, independent house, is
12 cents for adults . . . For has put in a new
line of the Revere 16mm sound projectors.
Jack R. Burke, 69, former manager for the
Grand Opera House and Queen here after
World War I, died in Brooke General hospital
Newsreel and television
March 30 . . . cameramen will be here on April 24 to record
the Artists ball during the Fiesta de San
Jacinto.
David Chenault of the Empire last week
offered "Four Shades of Rhythm," musical
stage show attraction, for three days at 44
cents top. "Gas House Kids in Hollywood"
was on the screen.
Joe Estes, the materials handling equipment
matiager who has been getting in some
Sunday fishing, reports that they are biting
right now . . . Charlie Berlanga of the city
police department used to work for the theatres
before donning the badge and gim . . .
Eugene Barron, whose brother is connected
with Griffith Theatres in southern Texas,
is now making his home in the Alamo city
. . . Henry Morris, Columbia exploitation
ENKiHS&DOURGEOtS
ASTOR PICTURES COMPANY
HAHWOOD fi JACKSON STS.
OAUAS 1 "nrntm 1S3

. . G.
. . Milton
chief, Dallas, was around to sing the praises
of "Relentless," which showed at the Aztec
here.
The Joy staged a Saturday morning show,
free for all children under 12 . . . Leon D.
Glasscock of San Antonio, was in Miami attending
the annual conference on federal
taxation conducted by the University of
Miami and the University of New York.
.
Griffith of the
Jose T. Ramirez of the Iris Theatre, Kingsville,
was in to contract for Latin-American
product B, Dunlap, Clasa-Mohme
manager, has returned from a business trip
to Brownsville
Griffith
. . . L.
Amusement Co.,
C.
Oklahoma City, is
recovering from a stroke which he suffered
over a year ago. The theatre executive now
lives in the northern section of town here.
Mrs. Griffith recently received a nice writeup
and photo in the Sunday Light about her
vast tulip garden at her home. Gardening
is one of her prime hobbies.
Al Wolf, Charles Albert and Joe Wolf
opened their new San Pedro Drive-In April
6 . . . Interstate Theatres here has added
new style counter popcorn machines to many
lobbies. They are of a very attractive champagne
color and also the last word in streamlined
design DeBose of the Majestic,
.
CotuUa, is building a new residence.
Variety Golf Event
On May 10 at Dallas
DALLAS—The 13th amiual spring golf
tournament of the Variety Club will be held
May 10 at the Lakewood Country club. The
event will start on the previous Saturday

]
DALLAS
HI Mertz, manager of the Astor exchange,
said there'll be a short crop of vegetables
on his five-acre home place at Irving unless it
rains soon. Al has been interested in truck
farming many years. He came from Detroit
in 1935 as manager of the Grand National
exchange and it wasn't long before he found
and moved on to his little truck farm. He
says Astor in the daytime and those five
acres in the evening hours are a combination
hard to beat.
IN THEATRES .
. . 7 out 10 are
. . Ship-
Mickey Schwarz. his wife and 19-monthold
daughter arrived from Hollywood, and he
has started in to learn the business at Tower
Pictures from the ground up. He is a brother
of Harold Schwarz, Tower owner .
man Bullard, of the Savage Theatre in Durant
was here on a regular trade visit and
planned to look at a couple of theatres in
Louisiana.
Watts, partner with
Jo Maree Ford of Paramount was married
to Guy Marble . . . Al King has been employed
in Bob 'Warner's Manley office here,
succeeding Max Koch, who was transferred
to Memphis . . . L. W.
Frank Keasler in the 'W&K circuit with headquarters
in Oil City, La., was here on a regular
trade trip after the opening of the new
Wakea Theatre in 'Vivian, La. It is the circuit's
15th theatre.
Ezigle Lion District Manager Clair E. Hil-
MANLEY POPCORN MACHINES
YOU TOO CAN LEARN THE afMl's OF PROFITABLE POPCORN MERCHANDISING
Manley M M erchandlse Manley M ethods
302 So. Harwood
achines
Manley
Write without obligation for copy of
free booklet.
•HOW TO MAKE BIG PROHTS FROM
POPCORN"
a Wcarner
Divisiiial
Manager
Dallas, Texas Prospect 7-1685
COOLING
Washed Air Systems
Refrigeration Systems
Air Washers - Pumps - Mats
Blowers - V-Beh Drives - Motors
Switches -
Deflectors
'^P'W^
gers was back in headquarters here after
visiting exchanges in Des Moines, Omaha, St.
Louis and Oklahoma City . . . L. C. Tidball,
Isis, Fort 'Worth: John Stiles. Plaza and
Grand in Ennis; Karl Lybrand, Majestic and
Ritz, 'Wills Point; C. H. Cox jr.. Crystal and
Strand, Gilmer; Mitchell Lewis, operator of
five Negro theatres in Houston, and A. H.
White, manager of the National and Palace
theatres, were among the week's visiting exhibitors.
Milton Kussell of New York, general sales
manager of Selznick Releasing Organization,
and Henry G. Krumm of Atlanta, southern
division manager, were here for a two-day
sales meeting. Alfred Delcambre. southwestern
district manager, called in his four Texas
salesmen for the meetings. They are S. B.
Zimmerman, Stanley 'Wilbur, Luford Titts
and C. L. "Babe" Rounsabill. Office manager
Bill Slaughter also attended the sessions.
Krumm is well known to Texas exhibitors,
having been a salesman for MGM
and 'Warners here for a number of years. He
was promoted to branch manager in Memphis
and later in Atlanta.
Mary Spears, manager of the State Theatre
in Shermian, and Lester Dollison, the
owner, were here buying and booking. Dollison
is building a drive-in theatre near Denton
which he hopes to open in 30 days . . .
Pat Howell has been employed as secretary
in the office of L. N. Childress, theatre chair
The Metropolitan Opera Co.,
distributor . . .
in four performances in Fair Park auditorium,
drew 16,343 patrons.
Rufe Davis, who played in vaudeville with
'Weaver Bros, and who was the top artist
with Grand Old Opera in Fair Park auditorium
last fall, will appear late this month
on the stage of three Phil Isley theatres, the
Avenue, Major and Crest. Davis has been
comedian in 20 western pictures. He imitates
trains, animals and birds, picks a guitar and
his celluloid collar flops up and down automatically.
. . 'William
Kenny Baker will sing in two operettas at
Fair Park Casino this summer .
Elliott and his Bar-Bar-A ranch rodeo will
appear on the Rialto stage April 21-27 with
his horse Thunder. The star and' his horse
were here two summers ago on the Melba
stage in connection with "In Old Sacramento."
Lew Bray, district manager in the Rio
Grande 'Valley, and Jack King, city manager
in Amarillo, both with Texas Consolidated
Theatres, were among exhibitors headed for
the Variety convention.
J. B. Thompson of the Texas in Throckmorton
was in town for a few hours, booked
several pictures, bought a new popcorn machine
at Herber Bros., and left in time to
arrive home almost by show time . . . Raymond
F. Cornes, who has two theatres at
Farmersville, his wife and son Raymond jr.,
were on their way to Miami this week for
the 'Variety convention and planned to see
some of the old south en route. They have a
L
HERBER
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"Fair Treatment and Adequate Service for 25 Years"
408 S. HARWOOD DALLAS 1, TEXAS
SELL YOUR THEATRE PRIVATELY
Your Deal Handled Personally
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We Cover the U. S. Market
Arthur Leak
Theatre Sales Exclusively
3422 Kininore Dallas 10, Texas
Phone T3-2026 L
90 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

I
new camera outfit with which they will make
a record of the trip. Cornes was a photographer
on a Dallas daily before turning
exhibitor.
A 30-ycar-old group photograph in E. P.
Herber's office has been getting attention
of callers for many years. It is of the senior
class in business administration at Texas
university. Standing wing-tip collars were
the mark of distinction and Herber was wearing
one. A white bull terrier, the class mascot,
stands at attention. Several men in this
group have come into state and national influence.
Claude McCaiin, millionaire rancher
and oil man of Victoria, is the most recent
example. His picture was on the front pages
of newspapers the other day after he advised
the government on how to check hoof and
mouth disease in Mexico.
Film salesmen say Harold Werner's hardware
and furniture store at Trinity is one
of the show places among mercantile establishments
in towns of that size. The store
accents sporting goods, especially artificial
bait and fishing rods of the kind Harold
used when he was catching big bass out of
eastern Texas streams and lakes. During all
that time he was not only operating the
store but also the Queen Theatre, which
some of the silent day exhibitors will vouch
for. Things are some different now with
Harold's son-in-law, Philip Bryan, operating
the show and doing the buying and booking.
Game fishing might again be coming back
into its own for the veteran showman.
Comic in Debut
Jack Paar, radio comic, will make his screen
debut in "Weep No More," an RKO release.
Brooklyn Dodgers Guests
Of Dallas Variety Club
DALLAS—Leo Durocher's Brooklyn Dodgers,
with eastern newspaper photographers
and reporters, some 50 in all, were guests
of the Variety Club recently at a dinner
in the Adolphus hotel Palm Garden.
It was the monthly business meeting for
April. The Bums were in town to play the
Rebels.
The speakers table was across one end of
the garden. The Dodgers were seated at
tables directily in front of the head table,
where Chief Barker Julius Schepps presided.
At one table was a group of eight Negroes,
four of them Dodgers, including the famous
Jackie Robinson. The others were reporters.
Dm'ocher recited a brief history of each
player who in turn stood as his name was
called. Schepps told the players about Variety
charity and they seemed impressed.
IS
YOUR THEATRE FOR SALE?
We Have Buyers With Cash
"JOE" JOSEPH
THEATERS
Let "Joe" Sell Your Show
Theatres bought—sold—equipped—fire
inventories—consultant and equipment.
2409 Sunset Dallas, Tex.
Phone Yale 2-7650
l^e On
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SUPPLY CO.
714 So. Hampton Rd., Dallas, Tex.
All Kilnds of Theatre Equipment.
Parts for All Makes of Projectors.
BASES
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• * •. *
• * • •
The Cretors "Hollywood Model"
Popper gets the "lobby Oscar" as
the outstanding, all-time hit!
EQUIPMENT DISPLAY AND SALES
MR. CECIL DAVIS MR. L. C. DUCKWORTH
4020 M

OKLAHOMA CITY
pjenry Busse and his band will play a onenight
stand April 24 in the Municipal auditorium
under the auspices of Boyle and
Cravens . . . Horace Palls, chief barlier of
Variety Tent 22, and Dave Hunt, Republic
manager, were pictured on the cover of the
April 10-17 issue of Oklahoma City This
Week with Monty Hale, Republic western
player, who is in town making personal appearances
at the Liberty Theatre. Hale plans
UP-TO-DATE THEATRES
MAKE GREATER PROFITS
Looking to the future . . . keeping your theatre in tip-top
running condition . . . today, tomorrow, always . . . builds
prestige . . . promotes goodwill . . . and keeps patrons
coming back again and again.
Make your theatre the real show^place of your neighborhood
... by keeping it up-to-date and modem ... a
step ahead of fashion.
OKLflHOmn THEflfRE SUPPLV
J. ELDON PEEK
Telephone 7-K91
628 West Grand Avenue
Oklahoma City 2, Oklahoma
. .
to ride in the Capitol Hill '89er parade April
22 . . . The weekly magazine, published in
capsule size, Oklahoma City This Week, carried
a picture of O. F. Sullivan, owner of the
NW Drive-In. Sullivan also operates in
Wichita, Kas. . The Men's Dinner club has
elected Hem'y S. Grifflng, executive vicepresident
of Griffith Theatres, to the executive
committee.
The Liberty staged a new kind of preview
Saturday (10). Starting at 11:30 a. m. was
an all Bugs Bunny cartoon carnival, featuring
ten of the best Bugs Bunny cartoons ever
made, according to the management. It was
advertised "For All Grownup Kids!"
Roger Rice of the film merchandising and
advertising department for Griffith Theatres
and Fern Williams, secretary to Claude
F. Motley, Griffith executive, were married
Saturday (3i. Following a wedding trip to
New Orleans, the couple established a home
at 1121 Woodlawn Place. Mrs. Rice is continuing
with her work.
"Unconquered" returned to the Criterion
at regular prices on Friday (16). The Vic,
a C&R house, started Simday with a weeklong
screen program, tagged the "Paramount
Encore Week." Each day, the movie house
offered a new screen attraction, including
"Kitty," "Lost Weekend," "To Each His Own,"
"Stork Club," "The Bride Wore Boots," "The
Plainsman" and "Blue Dahlia" . . . Starting
Wednesday at the Warner was "Scudda
Hoo! Scudda Hay!" . . . Tallulah Bankhead
will appear in "Private Lives" on the stage
of the Home May 5, 6.
The Vic Theatre will become a church . . .
The newly organized Baptist Temple has
\
leased the Vic for services, efl
from Regal Theatres, Denver.
ATTENTION, MR. EXHIBITOR!
Let us fill
install
those empty seats. A SURE FIRE Boxoffice stimulator that we
in your theatre at no cost whatsoever to you.
This giveaway campaign consists of Console Radio Phonographs,
Westinghouse Roaster Ovens, & Vacuum Cleaners, Philco Radios, Monark
Super De Luxe Bicycles,
and other valuable gifts.
Write at once. Have our representative call and explain our plan, without
any obligation.
SOUTHWEST THEATRE ADVERTISERS
1910 Commerce St. Dallas, Texas
92 BOXOFFICE :: AprU 17, 1948

New Look of Majestic
Proclaimed in Paper
BOWIE, TEX.—Completion of a remodeling
program at the Majestic Theatre here,
including installation of new equipment, was
proclaimed by a two-column page one story
and a two-page advertisement in the Bowie
News. The story's headline read, "Have you
seen the Majestic's new look?" and described
the improvements completed under supervision
of Manager Frank Benson.
The big ad heading repeated the new look
line. Each item of improvement was displayed
in a separate box. The ad conveyed
a message of thanks to the theatre's patrons
and was signed by the owners, Frank Benson.
Mrs. Benson, L. D. Lutzer and J. H.
Lutzer. A concluding line read: "Our loyal
and efficient staff say thank you, too.
(Signed* Ellis Butler, Hal Sadler, Dale Ratliff,
Mrs. Ratliff, Betty Ward and T. J.
O'Neal."
Fort Worth Negro House
Purchased by Chicagoan
FORT WORTH. TEX.—C. Crockett has
sold the Como Theatre, Negro-patronage
house, to T. Pritzker of Chicago. The new
owner has moved here and has taken charge.
"Joe" Joseph, Dallas theatre broker, negotiated
the deal.
Booked in 100 Southwest Theatres
SAN ANTONIO—Azteca here has booked
"Juan Charrasquedo" into over 100 theatres
in Texas. It is Spanish talking western-type
picture.
At Oklahoma City Governair Parley
Kepresentatives from NTS branches in three states, exhibitors from four states
and representatives of the Governair company a.ssembled in Oklahoma City for a
tliree-day training institute, a total of 30 delegates registered. Front row, left to
right: J. H. McDowell. St. Louis; Hai Moore. NTS, Dallas; Dick Logan. American
Theatre. Charleston. Mo.; Ollie Bland and B. R. Bugbee, NTS, Memphis; S. M.
Berry. NTS. Dallas. Second row: A. M. Keyser. Oklahoma City; Pete Medley, Malone
Theatre, Sikeston, Mo.; Gordon Hutchins, State. Corning, Ark.; Conrad Bach and
Chuck Sumner, NTS, Memphis; Jim Dohrman, NTS, Dallas; Paul Maxey, Honey,
Indianola. Miss.; R. L. Bostick. NTS. Memphis. Third row: Hugh B. Ginn, W. E.
"Red" Storey and Howard Wortham. all of NTS. Oklahoma City; Lyle Richmond.
Richmond Theatre. Senath. Mo.; Jake VVatkins. NTS, Oklahoma City; H. Smith.
Imperial Theatre. Pocahontas. Ark.; Dutch Koneman, NTS, Dallas; Buster Quinti,
Oklahoma City. Fourth row: Ted Wilson, Joy Theatre, Hoyte, Mo.; R. M. Hamilton.
New, Dewltt, Ark.; Felson Osborne. Rialto, Eldorado, Ark.; Lloyd Crites, Richmond,
Senath, Mo.; George Hale, NTS, Memphis; John Wilson, Princess, Lexington, Tenn.;
Bill Segar, Eureka, Batesville, Miss.; Burris Smith, Imperial. Pocahontas, Ark.
Order now while we can make delivery
installation and be ready for next summer with
and we can take care of
. S. Alio RffRIGtfiflllOfI tQUIPmtOT
Made in Package Sizes from 5 to
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AIR WASHERS — FANS — HYDRAULIC CONTROLS — MOTORS — REFLECTORS
Distributed
jte^so..^ MODERN THEATRE EQUIPMENT COMPANY
214 so. ST. PAUL ST. Phone R-5009 DALLAS. TEXAS
by
BOXOFFICE :
: April 17, 1948 93

1
1
. . Harrison
. . John
. . Jack
HOUSTON
J^ay Hay, manager of the Kirby and his wife
have been at the Variety Club convention
and expect to leave Miami on the 18th. Kirby
is a Houston delegate . . . Jack Groves, manager
of the Queen, and Jack Roach, owner
of a Ford agency here, are all set for their
big game hunting expedition in Africa. Their
cameras and hunting equipment have been
sent ahead and they expect to be on their
way some time in July.
Homer McCallon, manager of Loew's State,
UNIVERSAL
Theatre Advertising Co.
Nationwide Theatre Premiums
Main Office
1312 S. Wabash Ave. Phone WABash 9440
Chicago 5, Illinois
MAURICE B. BENTLEY & THOMAS C. BARATTA
Vet World War 1
Vet World War 1
U. S. Army (J. S. Air Force
WE SERVE THE ENTIRE COUNTRY
Rated in Dun & Bradstrcct.
Our representatives are bonded.
Upon request exhibitors can display our premiums in
their lobbies while campaign is on.
PHILCO-ARVIN PHONOGRAPH COMBINATION
Hollywood broilers. Vacuum cleaners.
2-Piece Luggage Sets, Monarch Rocket Bikes
52-Piece Service for 8. Narcissus Pattern
Silverware Sets. AA Plus Sterling Silverplate
ALL PREMIUMS AT NO COST TO
THE THEATRE
In stales where drawings are prohibited, we substitute
Quiz program. Vie are the originators and
copyright holders of The Cavalcade of Gifts.
SPARK YOUn BOXOFFICE W^ITH A DIFFERENT
GIFT EACH WEEK
WRITE FOR PARTICULARS NOW.'
. . . Bill
returned from a one-week vacation
Johnson, local publicity director for Interstate,
left last week for a vacation in New
York, his home town . C. Ledford
of Webster, a former vaudeville star, got a
nice bit of publicity recently as a result of
hobby he learned while in the army air
force. He's found a novel method of repairing
musicians' in.strument cases.
Raymond Willie, assistant general manager
of Interstate, and Al Lever, city manager,
entertained actor Joe E. Brown at the
famous Pier 21 Restaurant. Brown went over
big with Houston audiences in his recent
"Harvey" performance . Paul Goodwin,
chief barker for the Houston Variety
Club, left for New York on a business trip.
For "The Naked City," Homer McCallon,
manager of Loew's State, got cooperation
from the Houston Post for a "sleuthing" contest.
The Post ran pictures of two of the
picture's four suspects and readers were instructed
to cut out the one they believed to
have murdered the Parker girl and mail the
picture along with their reasons for choosing
the suspect to Loew's. Cash prizes and
guest tickets were awarded to the winners.
Robert Shelton to Josephine
SAN ANTONIO —Robert Shelton recently
succeeded Ernest Hauser as manager of the
Josephine Theatre.
Custom Viade
to Your Order
iraileS^
IRS
5 HYDE ST.
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GALVESTON
J^
E. Oldfield, manager of the Martini, has
returned from a visit with his parents in
Clinton, Mo. . . . Weeder Nichols, better
known as "the colonel" of San Antonio, real
estate manager for Interstate, was a recent
The Queen, Tremont and Key
visitor . . .
have been given a facelifting.
The picture, "The Freak," with its live
oddity lobby show, left the Texan in Houston
to open Sunday at the Queen. The lobby
John Browning, Interstate
show is free . . .
city manager, is looking forward to attending
the Lions' international convention in
New York City next month . Kivch,
engineer for Interstate, joined the league of
married men April 13. His bride is the daughter
of Galveston's famous sleuth. Detective
Reifel. They are honeymooning in New
Orleans.
Small Shop Will Adjoin
New Theatre in Spring
SPRING, TEX.—A. W. Kleb and Billy
Vasser, who opened the first theatre in
Spring, the Cascade, recently, plan to
build an adjoining barber shop within a
month. Their quonset-type building already
contains an ice cream stand. Kleb said the
barber shop would have a permastone front
similar to the one on the theatre. The 350-
seat Cascade was built at a cost of $60,000.
It was equipped by Delta Theatre Supply
with Wenzel projectors, RCA sound and an
air-cooling system. American Desk furnished
the seats. The house contains a balcony for
colored trade.
New Three Rivers Theatre
THREE RIVERS, TEX,—Hall Industries
expect to open its new theatre here within
the next few weeks.
Headquarters for ...
New or Rebuilt Equipment
(Retail or Wholesale at Terms to Suit)
COMPLETE CENTURY EQUIPMENT
Projectors - Sound Systems - Pedestals - Magazines
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ADLER Third Dimensional LETTERS
BALLANTYNE SOUND SYSTEMS
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Are you planning a Theatre or Drive-In? Then write, wire or call
HARDIN THEATRE SUPPLY CO.
714 S. Hampton Road M-2235 Dallas, Texas
94 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 194a

MORE THAN 7,000 DELEGATES
ATTEND VARIETY CONVENTION
Miami Entertains Leaders
Of Show Business of
Three Nations
MIAMI—Variety Clubs International demonstrated
Sunday, preconvention opening day,
in a small but significant way that "the
heart of show business" is not limited to the
theatre. A group of delegates to this 12th
annual convention were speeding to Miami
Beach with a motorcycle escort.
At a main intersection one of the motorcycle
riders, R. R. Hedemark, was involved
in a collision with an automobile. Damage
was negligible—about $40, but Variety insisted
that the organization pay the bill. It was
a fitting prelude to the convention opening,
which brought here approximately a thousand
members from 33 clubs in the U.S.,
Mexico and Canada. They arrived on special
trains from New England and Texas.
Others came by plane and still others by
automobile.
Pretty girls in cowboy outfits, bathing suits,
silk hats, and shorts, boarded trains bringing
delegates to Miami. The girls coronet models,
and members of the local tent welcomed
the visitors with orange juice, grapefruit
juice and other refreshments which are native
to Florida. One of the pretty models,
Shirley Modell, was so enthusiastic in her
greeting assignment that she boarded the
wrong train in Hollywood, a town a short
distance north of Miami where delegates
were met by the advance local guard.
* * *
Tom Connors was greeted right and left
when he appeared at the Roney Plaza, which
was entirely taken over for the convention.
Conners, former 20th-Fox sales chief, was in
Miami to interest Variety Club members in
the showing of advertising reels which he is
handling as a new enterprise.
Part of Wednesday morning's business session
in the Surf room was devoted to a showing
of "Tobacco Land." This film, the first
of the group, is a Chesterfield cigaret short
subject which is currently playing in Fox
West Coast and National Theatres houses.
Under the plan, theatres playing the subject
receive $10 per thousand tickets sold. All
the revenue, or a percentage, may go into
the treasuries of the local Variety tents.
Connors expects to handle six or more advertising
reels a year.
« * *
At Variety International initial dinner in
the Alcazar hotel headquarters of the host
tent. Mayor Robert L. Floyd, of Miami, lauded
the local tent for its recent contribution of
$50,000 for children's charities. The mayor
was introduced by Mitchell Wolfson, general
chairman. Marcie Leiberman, mayor of
Miami Beach, also spoke briefly. The reception
was held in honor of international officers,
canvasmen, and chief barkers from
the 33 tents represented at the convention.
* * *
Tuesday's top billing for wives of delegates
was the luncheon-fashion show in the garden
of the Roney Plaza at the edge of the ocean.
It was put on by Hartley's, a Miami house.
At Oklahoma City Govern air Parley
Kepre.sentatives from NTS branches in three states, exhibitors from four states
and representatives of the Governair compaJiy assembled in Oklahoma City for a
three-day training institute, a total of 30 delegates registered. Front row, left to
right: J. H. McDowell, St. Louis; HeI Moore, NTS, Dallas; Dick Logan, American
Theatre, Charleston, Mo.; OUie Bland and B. R. Bugbee, NTS, Memphis; S. M.
Berry, NTS. Dallas. Second row: A. M. Keyser, Oklahoma City; Pete Medley, Malone
Theatre, Sikeston, Mo.; Gordon Hutchins, State, Coming, Ark.; Conrad Bach and
Chuck Sumner, NTS, Memphis; Jim Dohrman, NTS, Dallas; Paul Maxey, Honey,
Indianola, Miss.; R. L. Bostick, NTS, Memphis. Third row: Hugh B. Ginn, W. E.
"Red" Storey and Howard VVortham, all of NTS, Oklahoma City; Lyie Richmond,
Richmond Theatre, Senath, Mo.; Jake Watkins, NTS, Oklahoma City; H. Smith,
Imperial Theatre. Pocahontas, Ark.; Dutch Koneman, NTS, Dallas; Buster Quinn.
Oklahoma City. Fourth row: Ted Wilson. Joy Theatre, Hoyte, Mo.; R. M. Hamilton,
New, Dewitt, Ark.; Felson Osborne, Rialto, Eldorado, Ark.; Lloyd Crites, Richmond,
Senath. Mo.; George Hale, NTS, Memphis; John Wilson, Princess, Lexington, Tenn.;
Bill Segar, Eureka. Batesville, Miss.; Burris Smith, Imperial, Pocahontas, Ark.
and was coordinated by Jeanne Davis, stylist.
The wives were able to do their sun tanning
while enjoying the entertainment given in
their honor.
On display to the delighted gathering were
all types of resort wear from bathing suits,
through afternoon clothes, and ending with
a spectacular wedding scene. Ensembles were
selected that would be just as appropriate in
other states as they are now in Miami. Due
to the warm, sunny weather, and the setting
of the show, most of the women attending the
show looked with envious eye at the sunbacks
and beach togs.
$50,000 Damages Asked
As Result of 'False Arrest'
MEMPHIS—Charging "malicious and false
arrest," L. E. Ragland, 51, filed suit for $50,-
000 damages against J. C. Alexander jr., individually,
and as a partner of Dixie Film
Service, and J. C. Alexander sr., and H. O.
Powell jr., doing business as Dixie Film Serv-
Ragland charges he was arrested April 3
and released April 5 with the apologies of
police when Alexander sr., refused to sign a
warrant to support "his original and false
accusations that Ragland had embezzled
funds from Dixie Film Service."
Greenville Strong
Against Show Tax
GREENVILLE, S. C—Amusement activities
are not an appropriate field for local city
taxation, the local newspaper stated in a
recent editorial approving the rejection by
the city council of a proposed levy on theatres
and other forms of recreation. The
editorial:
"The Greenville city council, we think, has
acted with sound wisdom in its rejection by
an overwhelming vote of the proposal to
levy a city tax on admissions to amusements
and recreational events. This is a field of
taxation which has already been very thoroughly
occupied by both the federal and state
governments. An attempt at municipal taxation
of such enteiTDrises and activities would
place a further unjust burden upon these
events, probably force the suspension of some
of them and perhaps cause the removal of
some commercial amusement activities beyond
the city limits. This seems very clearly
not an appropriate field for local city taxation."
BOXOFFICE :
: AprU 17, 1948 SE 95

. . Bud
. .
. . The
. . Frank
. . The
N. Y. DAILY NEWS Says:
mil Appeal
Over The Country l"
ATLANTA
IJats off to E. E. Whitaker, general manager
of Georgia Theatres, for his instruction
to all circuit houses to collect all waste corn
and leavings from the catch-all trays in the
popcorn machines, and forward them to Atlanta
for feeding to hogs at the Jolley Home
for Children. This is a good idea for all
theatres . . . Mrs. Alma King, veteran Brunswick,
Ga., exhibitor, arranged with the new
local Coastal Georgian to publish a weekly
motion picture page.
Dusty Rhodes, head booker for Georgia
Theatres, is praising circuit managers for
their showing on "The Egg and I" . . . Tom
Eubanks. the controller who handles the
figures for Georgia Theatres, waited until
the last day to file his federal income tax
returns . Henderson and Manager
E. H. Morrow of the Columbus Rialto gave
"Night Train to Memphis" a fine sendoff
with giveaways of novel train tickets reading,
"Catch the 'Night Train to Memphis' . . .
Good for One Continuous Ti'ip of Fun and
Laughter on the 'Night Train to Mem.phis.' "
A. C. Bromberg of Monogram, on a recent
\isit to McMinnville, Term., was taken by
friend Cowan Oldham to see the Rodney
kennel, breeder of fox hounds, which Oldham
operates as a hobby. Bromberg was so
impre.ssed with the beauty of these animals,
he ordered two shipped to his friend Jimmie
Hobbs, local manager of Republic, who is a
devotee of fox hunting.
On the Row were Leon Robbins, Leon Theatre,
Gainesville, Fla., and Mose Lebowitz.
the Grand Amusement Co., Chattanooga .
Mrs. Loneta Holbrooks has joined the Astor
staff . . . J. B. Waters, general manager, and
Dan Waters and Fritz May of the Waters
Theatres of Birmingham were here briefly.
Charles Flowers and Robert Sims hope to
have their new War Eagle Theatre in Auburn,
Ala., open about July 1. The theatre,
seating 800, will cost about $150,000 . . .
. . R. B. Alexander, owner
Walter Titus, southern district manager for
Republic, and wife stopped here on their way
to Miami .
Franklin Theatre in Franklin,
of
Ga.,
the
has
acquired the theatre in Grantsville from the
Lam Amusement Co. of Rome, Ga.
M. C. Horton, owner of theatres in Lewlsville
and other Alabama towns, and Sam
Raine. Frolic, Bessemer, Ala., were in booking
Mrs. C. Mason has been added to
, . . the Republic staff.
. .
U-I News: Ed Bledsoe has resigned and
joined Stevens Pictures . . . L. W. Hooper
has left the MGM booking department and
joined U-I Jene is leaving as
office
.
manager to move to his Orange in
Marie Carlwell is the new
Orlando, Fla. . . .
secretary to Jim Partlow, manager
Maudia Chester, booking department,
.
was
married.
Irma Marsall of Eagle Lion and Mrs. Ray
Collins, Film Classics, returned from Dothan.
Ala., where they visited Bess and Jimmy
Reeves . mother of Charles Durmeyer,
president Southern Automatic Candy Co..
was visiting from New Orleans . . . John
Fulton, manager WGST here, was elected
president of the Georgia Ass'n of Broadcasters.
John K. Jenkins of Astor Pictures, Dallas,
conferred with his partner here, William
Richardson . Film Classics office has
been remodeled at a cost of $10,000 . . .
R. L. McCoy, FC manager, reports Benton
Bros. Film Forwarding Co. will take over
FC shipping.
The funeral of Enoch J. Rutledge. 20, head
of the shipping department at Monogram
here, was held in Gwinnitt county. He is
survived by his wife and a son.
. . .
Clyde Sampler, booker for the Richard &
Duncan circuit in Georgia, was on the Row
Kate Wright of Monogram left for New
lanm
i^ri?
Atlanta - ASTOR - W. M. Richardson
Charlotte - ASTOR - Robert F. Pinson

;
Fla.,
;
publicity
'
'
I
back
. . Emily
York for a few weeks Franco, sec-
.
retary to O. S. Barnett, office manager, came
from a pleasure trip to Brooklyn.
Georgia Theatres news: Manager H. D.
Dowdy of the Bijou in Brunswick used a
casket with a skeleton in it to ballyhoo "The
Corpse Came C.O.D." . . . Margaret Wellborn,
office, appeared in the Theatre
Guild's "Our Town" . . . Evelyn Snow resigned
because of the illness of her mother .
Marguerite
Curtis was in the hospital . . .
. .
Fred
. . .
Story and F. C. Bickerstaff performed stellar
work in the Red Cross drive . . .
Edith Fleming
was added to the booking department
Holt Gwinner was ill several days
Nat Heard, Elberton, reports his mother's
broken arm mending satisfactorily . . .
John
is
Cumiingham reports the Odeon Theatre there
will be renamed the State after remodeling
Price Noncrief, student manager at Athens,
has moved up to manager of the Strand
. 'W. K. Jenkins and E. E. 'Whitaker
there . .
enjoyed a steak supper at Athens as guests
of District Manager Dan Hill.
Emily Franco of Monogram has as her
guests Mrs. Sarah Treves and daughter of
Rio de Janeiro and S. A. and Ralph Gaon
of Bombay, India . . . M. Tidwell has closed
his theatres in 'Wauchula and Myakka City.
because of very poor business
G. A. Gaines of the 'Variety
. . . Dr.
Children's home
near Conyers, stopped at Charlie Durmeyer's
office to tell him how much the kiddies at
the home loved the members of the club.
750Seat Roda Is Opened
In Atlantic Beach, N. C.
ATLANTIC BEACH, N. C—The 700-seat
Roda Theatre, built at a cost of $175,000, was
opened here April 4 by Alfred B. Cooper,
controlling owner of Atlantic Beach Corp.
The theatre is named for his wife. The house
is individually owned by Cooper and has no
connection with the Atlantic Beach Corp.
enterprises.
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EOXOFFICE :: AprU 17, 1948
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Charlotte Center Ahead;
Other Theatre Activity
CHARLOTTE—The theatre construction
program of H. B. Meiselman moved forward
again immediately following the withdrawal
of government restrictions against amusement
buildings.
Ultimately six new theatres will toe added
to the local scene under projects Meiselman
has announced.
Work was resumed on the Center Theatre
in the shopping center Meiselman is constructing
on East Morehead street between
Baldwin avenue and Henley Place. The front
wall, projection room and lobby were up when
work was abandoned last fall.
The Center will seat 900, contain cry and
smoking rooms, feature a wide aisle seating
system and luxui-ious appointments with its
modernistic design. The Goode Construction
Co. hopes to complete the project this summer.
Construction will begin in 30 to 60 days on
the Meiselman center on Selwyn near
Brandywine avenue. It will contain a theatre
to be named the Club Colony.
Meiselman also plans to erect a theatreshopping
center on the Thrift road.
He also plans to construct a theatre for
Negroes to be named the Ritz, then two theatres
on South Tyron street.
Floyd Ready to Work
On Dade City House
DADE CITY, FLA.—Construction will be
started this month on the Pasco Theatre at
South Seventh and East Church. The Floyd
circuit said the Pasco will be patterned after
the Hardee, which the company recently
opened in Wauchula, and will toe built by
Himrod and Bostick, Wauchula general contractors,
who also built the Hardee. It is
hoped to have the theatre ready for use in
about three months.
The building will be of concrete and steel
construction. The front, which will face on
Seventh street, will have a facade of orangecolored
tile. This color was chosen in accent
of the orange industry of Dade City. Opening
off the foyer will be a snack bar and the
manager's office on one side, and opposite
will toe lounges for men and women. There
will be a sound proof, glass enclosed cry room
for mothers with babies.
Johnny Jones, manager of the Crescent
Theatre, another unit of the Floyd circuit,
will manage the new theatre. Once the
Pasco opens, the Crescent will be used only
for special occasions.
Florida State to Start Work
On 1,000-Seater in
Tampa
TAMPA—The lifting of the toan toy
federal
authorities on construction of theatre buildings
has opened the way for immediate construction
of a 1,000-seat suburban theatre on
Grand Central avenue here by Florida State
Theatres.
The site for the house was acquired some
years ago but government restrictions delayed
construction. Plans have been completed
by Kemp, Bunch & Jackson, architects
of Jacksonville.
The theatre will be air conditioned and
furnished with the newest in equipment. A
parking lot adjacent to the theatre will accommodate
700 cars. R. M. Daugherty Is city
manager of Florida State Theatres.
Architects Draw Plans
For Russellville House
RUSSELLVILLE, ALA.—Plans are being
drawn by Speight and Hibbs, architects, for a
1,000-seat theatre to be constructed here by
Hartselle Theatre Corp. of Nashville.
W. R. Holder, president of the circuit, said
the theatre will surpass any other in Alabama
for beauty and comfort. Holder was
here to complete details for razing the old
building on the site of the theatre.
The Hartselle corporation owns the present
Lyric Theatre here, which is managed
by Lee Gault.
Partners Great Grandsons
Unite to Build Drive-In
TALLAHASSEE—Back in the 19th century.
General William Bailey and B. C. Lewis
organized the Lewis State bank here. Today
their great grandsons. Bill Bailey and Frank
D. Lewis, are partners in a new venture.
They are building the $50,000 Capital Drivein
Theatre on Woodville highway, about three
miles south of Tallahassee, and expect to
have it completed by early May. The theatre
will have a capacity of 350 cars and will have
in-car speakers.
Claughton Leases Land
For North Miami House
NORTH MIAMI, FLA.—Claughton
New Theatre in Dallas, Ga.,
Will Double Size of Old
DALLAS, GA. — Reconstruction of the
burned out Strai\d Theatre here on a scale
double that of the old house is planned toy
Weldell Welch, owner. He said he is now
arranging with architects and supply dealers
for construction as soon as possible of an
850-seat theatre that will toe lavishly outfitted.
Enterprises
has signed a 99-year lease with Edward
Taigman, mayor of North Miami, for
a theatre to be built next to a building owned
by the mayor. Rental over the 99-year period
will total $231,000. Plans for the theatre,
which will cost approximately $75,000 exclusive
of furnishings and equipment, are
being prepared by architect Charles P. Nieder
of Miami.
Chattanooga Man Builds
'Blandings Dream House'
CHATTANOOGA — A "Mr. Blandings
Dream House" is under construction here.
It is being built by Creed W. Maynard,
realtor and home builder, who explained that
would be completed in June and would be
it
ready for a 30-day public showing toeginning
in July. The house will be a duplicate of
that used in the RKO production, "Mr.
Blandings Builds His Dream House."
'Sitting Pretty' Leads
General Atlanta Rise
ATLANTA—"Sitting Pretty" was sitting
pretty at the Pox last week, giving the house
one of its best first week grosses in recent
months. "The Naked City" remained strong
in its second session at Loew's Grand and
business generally was good in all showcases.
(Average is 100)
Fox—Sitting Pretty (20th-Fox) 102
Loew's Grand—The Naked City (U-I), 2nd wk 102
Paramount—April Showers (WB) _ 100
Roxy—The Miracle of the Bells (RKO),
2nd d- t, wk _ 99
Hillbilly Party at Variety;
Golf Tourney on Monday
CHARLOTTE—Hillbilly entertainment was
to feature the Variety Club party Saturday
night (10» sponsored by the Warner Bros.
The annual Variety golf tournament will
be held at the Carolina Golf club course
Monday. It will be followed by a dinner and
dance in the El Morocco club here.
Theatre Gets Official OK
GREENVILLE, MISS.—L. E. Bonner's new
theatre for Negroes here has toeen given city
council approval although it fails to meet
specifications. Fire Chief A. Z. Lokey told
the council that the theatre lacked half an
inch on aisle space of coming within the
city code. He pointed out the small seating
capacity of the theatre, stating that in his
opinion and in the opinion of the National
Board of Fire Underwriters, the theatre was
perfectly safe.
Resume Sunday Shows
PICAYUNE, MISS.—With the repeal of
the piu-itan statute, the Dixie Theatre
resumed Sunday shows April 4. The
Dixie and the Ritz were billed in circuit court
following a grand jury action, and the Dixie
ceased Sunday showing recently, but the Ritz
has been showing Sunday evenings and nights
for several months.
Booth Man in Politics
STUART, FLA.—C. A. Christopher, chief
operator at the Lyric Theatre, has entered
local politics as a candidate for constable.
Before coming to Florida 16 years ago from
Pittsburgh, he was a member of the plain
clothes detail of the police department.
Premiere 'King of Carnival'
TAMPA—The new Warner picture, "King
Charles Sisk Managing
New House in Sylvania
SYLVANIA, ALA.—Charles Sisk has been
named manager of 350-seat Sylvia Theatre,
built here by R. D. Word of Word Theatres,
Scottsboro, Ala. Word owns five other theatres.
of the Carnival," featuring Royal American
Shows which winter in Tampa, had its Florida
premiere at the State Theatre April 15.
Stage Actor in 'The Dark'
Raymond Greenleaf, stage actor. Is booked
for "A Kiss in the Dark," a Warners picture.
ii.
98 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

. . Home
. . Mr.
CHARLOTTE
jjtr. and Mrs. C. A. Dandelake ishe is the
former Jane Paradis) have taken over
management of their Colonial and Majestic
theatres in Tarboro, N. C. The theatres had
been managed by A. E. Miller, who is no
longer connected with them .
and
Mrs. Ben L. Strozier of the Stevenson, Rock
Hill, spent several days in Eustis. Fla.
Everett Enterprises, T. A. Little and P. H.
Beddingfield. have purchased the Lyric in
Bishopville, S. C, from C. B. Andrews. Andrews,
who has already started construction
of a new 600-seat theatre in the town, will
lease the new house to Everett Enterprises
. . . J. C. Long, lawyer and exhibitor of
Charleston and a director of the Theatre
Owners of North and South Carolina, has
bought a "land cruiser" as a solution to the
problem of getting hotel reservations when
he travels. The vehicle has the general appearance
of a bus. but the luxurious interior
compares favorably with a seagoing yacht.
Its designer, A. R. Perkins of Loudonville,
Ohio, said the cost was "upwards of $30,000."
Mr. and Mrs. Morris Llttman, Sylvan
Rutherfordton, have retiuned from a vacation
in New York. While on the Row he
practically sang praises of Ingrid Bergman.
He related that they stopped at the same
hotel and just happened to meet Miss Bergman—that
she gave them so much time,
was so sweet and .
adjectives. The
. .
Littmans also met Adolph
Menjou and liked him, too.
The secretary of state in Raleigh has issued
a certificate of incorp)oration to Stanley
Theatre, Inc., of Stanley, to sell motion picture
films, with authorized capital stock 1.000
shares subscribed by Lewis Ballard jr.. Sue
Ballard, both of Stanley, and to Charles Lowe
of Charlotte . . . Hank Hearn, head of Exhibitors
Service, has taken over operation of the
New in Black Moimtain from Albert J.
Terrell.
RKO news: BUI Prager planed in from
Washington to set up advertising campaigns
for "Fort Apache," "If You Knew Susie" and
"Tarzan and the Mermaids" in Charlotte,
Greensboro, Durham, Raleigh, Winston Salem
and Columbia, and put the finishing touches
on the campaign for "The Miracle of the
Bells," which opens at the Carolina here
April 25 . . . Mr. and Mrs. Milton Yeoman are
enjoying a new- Chrysler automobile. Mrs.
Yeoman drove the car down from New York
and joined her husband who is assisting in
auditing the office records . office
representative Frank Duffy is still in the
Charlotte office, and will be here for several
weeks yet.
RKO Manager Rovy Branon's young son
Frost and three other schoolmates came down
with mumps on the same day. All of them
got ready to go back to school at the same
time only to find that the teacher's face was
all swollen up. The kids are enjoying a nice
long vacation ... In the home stretch of
the Ned Depinet drive, which will end May 6,
the Charlotte office is holding on to third
place in the nation.
Screen Rights to Wallis
Screen rights to Henry Handel Richardson's
novel, "Maurice Guest," have been acquired
by Hal Wallis. The picture will be
produced for Paramount.
PREPARE NEW URIVE-INS—J. B.
Waters, left, and Fritz May, both of Waters
Theatres, Birmingham, are shown on
a recent visit to the Atlanta Drive-In.
They inspected the Atlanta installation
preparatory to the opening of two
$100,000 drive-ins in the Birmingham
area.
May will manage one of the driveins.
The manager of the other will be
Don Waters, who also made the Atlanta
trip.
Muscle Shoals Resumes
Work at Tuscumbia, Ala.
TUSCUMBIA, ALA.—With the lifting of
restrictions on amusement construction, work
has been resimied on the new $200,000 theatre
to be built here by Muscle Shoals Theatres.
Louis Rosenbaum, manager of the circuit,
said that steel for the 900-seat house is expected
to arrive in 90 days. The foundation
and excavation have already been completed.
Daniel Construction Co., Birmingham, is
contractor. Marr and Holman, Nashville, are
architects. The theatre will be air con-
Mississippi House Okays
Tax Rebate to Cities
JACKSON, MISS.—The house has
passed
a bill which would retui-n five-sixths of the
state amusement tax back to cities for the
next two years. It would give theatres an
estimated $1,500,000 during the two years,
tax commission experts having estimated the
take during the two fiscal years starting July
1 at $1,800,000.
ditioned.
The rebate would amount to approximately
$50,000 each for such cities as Jackson,
Vicksburg and Meridian.
Hundreds Enter Contest
MEMPHIS—A contest tor teen-age boys and
girls— telling in 50 words or less what they
would like to have in the way of a miracleis
being conducted by the Pi-ess-Scimitar
and Loew's Palace in connection with the
showing of "The Bishop's Wife," which opens
April 19. The contest has brought in hundreds
of letters. Fred Ford, Memphis and
New Orleans publicity man for RKO, arranged
the promotion. A portable typewriter
goes to the winner.
BIRMINGHAM
The Birmingha.m Theatre reopened April 11
as an all-Negro house with ceremonies
conducted by the Greater Birmingham Negro
Bu.siness league. Appearing on the program
were A. H. Borisky, operator of the house:
Harry W. Roberts, manager, and R. W. Mallory,
who will assLst Roberts. Borisky said the
house will operate on a single feature policy,
with stage acts booked from time to time. The
Golden Gate quartet has been signed for
April 28.
. .
Frank V. Merritt, head of Acme Theatres;
Paul A. Engler, head of the Jefferson Amusement
Co., and Harry M. Curl, Melba manager,
represented the city at the Variety convention
in Miami . Before leaving for the
convention. Merritt and Curl, together with
J. R. Jackson, Empire manager, were busy
working on the Shrine directors convention,
which drew approximately 6,000 for the fourday
meeting.
H. M. Addison, EL publicist, and Emery
Austin, MGM, were among the visitors in
town. Addison was campaigning for "The
Noose Hangs High," which is booked for the
Melba, while Austin was drumming "State
the Union," which opens a two-week run
of
at the Ritz April 29.
Clyde Goodson, Paramount branch manager,
and two salesmen, Tom Miller, of Columbia,
and Bob Langer, National Screen, also
dropped in . . . Mrs. Mildred Geiger, secretary
to Frank V. Merritt, went to Newark,
N. J., where her husband, John W. Geiger,
will undergo hospital treatment. She expects
to be gone several weeks.
Mack Lewis, owner of Bessemer's two theatres,
was called to Jacksonville, Fla., after
the slaying of his sister-in-law, Mrs. Fred W.
Lewis, resident nurse at Bolles Military
school there. Mrs. Lewis had been killed by
a blunt instrument, authorities said after
her body was found on the floor of her bedroom
in her infirmary quarters at the school.
"Sitting Pretty" rated a third downtown
week. It moved to the Strand after a week
each at the Alabama and Lyric. "The Bishop's
Wife" went into a second week at the
Empire, while "Treasure of Sierra Madre"
moved to the Lyric after a week at the Alabama
. . . "Mom and Dad," which was prohibited
from showing in Birmingham by
edict of the censor. Police Chief Floyd Eddins,
had a two-day run at the Central Theatre,
Graysville, Ala., 10 miles north of the
city.
New Front in Jonesboro
JONESBORO. ARK.—A structural glass
front and a large marquee will be installed
at the Strand Theatre here by Malco Theatres.
The company's Liberty and Palace
theatres here also will be modernized soon.
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BOXOFFICE :
: April 17, 1948 99

1
Talking Man' Stunt
Adapted to Theatre
CHATTANOOGA—A 'talking man" contest
has been started by the Park Theatre
here.
Entrants must sign then- names on cards
provided in the stores of participating business
firms and these cards must be di'opped
in a box at the Park. In a drawing each
Tuesday night, entrants will be given a
chance to identify the "talking man." They
must be present.
There will be a drawing each week until
a person present gives the correct answer.
Additional clues will be given each week and
more gifts added.
Jay Sadow of Independent Theatres announced
that all prizes would go to the person
making the correct identification. The
prize list includes: an FM radio, diamond
ring, wire recorder, combination radio-phonograph,
vacuum cleaner, complete ladies' outfit,
registered cocker spaniel, set of golf
clubs and bag, movie camera, men's suit, a
Bendix de luxe washing machine, a $175 portrait
in color, a $150 fur coat and two floor
lamps valued at $100.
"Talking man" contests are scheduled later
at two other Independent Theatres houses,
the Riviera in North Chattanooga and the
Ritz in Rossville, Ga.
UNIVERSAL
Theatre Advertising Co.
Nationwide Theatre Premiums
Main Ofiice
1312 S. Wabash Ave. Phone WflBash 9440
Chicago 5, Illinois
MAURICE B. BENTLEY & THOMAS C. BARATTA
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Vet World War II
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WE SERVE THE ENTIRE COUNTRY
Rated in Dun & Bradstreet.
Our representatives are bonded.
Ufon reduest exhibitors can display our premiums in
their lobbies while campaign is on.
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In states where drawing'; are prohibited, we substitute
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copyright holders of The Cavalcade of Gifts.
SPARK YOUR BOXOFFICE WITH A DIFFERENT
GIFT EACH WEEK
WRITE FOR PARTICULARS NOW I
Delegates Are Greeted
In Gold-Plated Car
Miami—The day after an item appeared
in tlie Miami Daily News, by-lined by
Grace Wing, about a gold lawnmower on
display in a store here, a member of the
Variety Club drove over to call on Miss
Wing, to show her the gold automobile
in which he was riding. The low-slung,
Oldsmobile, gilded by local dealers, was
done in celebration of the manufacturer's
golden anniversary year. It was lent to
Variety for use to meet trains and planes
on which Variety International delegates
arrived for the convention.
"It's 24-carat," the Variety member
said. A New York decorator came down
to do the gilding job which took three
days to complete. It is estimated the
whole job, burnishing and all, cost about
$800, and it should last for years. Convention
visitors had a wonderful time
getting themselves photographed in gold.
After considerable discussion as to how
out-of-town delegates would be able at
once to spot home-town Variety members,
it was agreed that the home-towners
should adopt as the badge of their identification
the loudest ties in town. They
bought up a batch of solid color ties and
had put on them the head of a barker,
underneath which appears the legend,
"Tent 33."
Virginia Crowley Acquires
Morris at Charlotte
CHARLOTTE—The Morris Theatre at the
Douglas airport, which has been closed since
January, had been purchased and reopened
by Mrs. Virginia Crowley, who formerly was
associated in the Fausett Realty Co. of
Little Rock, Ark. Red Erskine, owner of the
Dixie Theatre Supply Co., had owned the
Morris.
Mrs. Crowley will present two programs
nightly, opening at 7, with approximately
four changes a week. She is planning extensive
promotion aimed at both children and
adult patronage.
During the war Mrs. Crowley managed a
large military housing project at Texas
City, Tex.
Two New Theatres Open
In Memphis Territory
MEMPHIS—Two new theatres are open for
business in the Memphis territory.
The Rex Theatre, a 700-seat house, opened
April U in Greenville, Miss. L. E. Bonner,
owner, reports a fine opening. The Joy Theatre,
Bald Knob, Ark., was opened April 5 by
J. K. Jamerson, Who also owns Ritz in Bald
Knob.
Closed some time ago for repairs, the Holland
Theatre, Holland, Mo., has been reopened
by a partnership. Brooks and Hall.
The reopening was April 3.
Open Six Days a Week
STARK, FLA.—The Ritz Theatre announced
a new schedule. The theatre will
operate every day except Monday, opening
at 3:30 p. m. on weekdays and at 1 p. m.
on Saturday and Sunday. A double feature
will be shown daily.
City Councilman Out
To Reform Nashville
NASHVILLE—Prohibition of "bank nights"
and Sunday nights shows, and establishment
of a new censor board in Nashville are the
objectives of a bill which City Councilman
Pat Doyle said he would introduce at the
next coimcil meeting.
"Several ministers have complained that
Sunday night movies are drawing crowds
away from their churches," Doyle said. He
said his bill would force theatres to close
between the hours of 7 p. m. and 9 p. m.
every Sunday during religious services. "I
don't believe picture shows should be in competition
with church services," he declared.
Doyle said bank nights will be phobited
by his bill because they are "practically the
same as a lottery" and "lotteries are against
the law."
Bank nights were okayed as not being lotteries
in a chancery court decision in Columbia,
Tenn., in 1936. An attempt was made in
that case to enjoin the Princess Theatre
there from holding bank nights.
A new board of censors is needed in the
city, Doyle said. He said he "understood"
the present board has not been active regularly
in censoring shows.
Sam Davis Bell, censor board chairman,
said the board had been "very active" for
many years and had seen every picture which
has been questioned in other cities.
"Just because we don't go in for hoop-la
and publicity doesen't mean we haven't been
doing our job," he declared. "We receive advance
lists of all movies to be shown here
and whenever they are questioned we go to
see them."
A recent booking at the Rex was banned
because its character was questionable. Bell
said.
Fined $50 for Building
Theatre Without Permit
MEMPHIS—M. L. Phillips. Frayser. Tenn.,
was fined $50 by General Sessions Judge W.
J. Bacon on a charge of violating the zoning
laws in connection with a motion picture
theatre he is building at Frayser.
County Attorney Lake Hays told the court
Phillips is building a theatre without a permit,
though he was warned he must have
a permit. Hays charged that the county
issued an official "stop order" but Phillips
ignored it. "Citizens are complaining that
the $50,000 building will not be safe but they
cannot keep their children from the show
once it opens," Lake said.
Through his attorney, Phillips admitted
he was wrong and said he would try to show
the planning commission through an engineer
and architect that the building is safe.
He will not move another brick until this is
done, he said.
C. W. Woodall Starts Work
On Guntersville House
GUNTERSVILLE, ALA.—Work has been
started on the new theatre being buDt here
by C. W. Woodall, who expects completion
next November. The building, of brick construction,
will seat approximately 900, or
about twice as many as the Palace and Ritz,
also owned by Woodall.
100 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

MEM PHIS
(-* W. Goff, owner of Rustic Theatre, Parsons,
Tenn., a frequent visitor to Filmrow,
entered Baptist hospital here for treatment
of a fractured collar bone received in a
fall Pete Dawson, branch manager of
. .
U-I, has been on a business tour of Mississippi
Mrs. Edith Jensen, head inspector
. . .
at 20th-Fox, is back on the job
after
a brief
illness.
The Dyess Theatre, Dyess, Ark., which was
closed following a fire about two months
ago, is open again. Mrs. O. G. Lee was on
Filmrow booking for Dyess again. Other exhibitors
booking on the Row included Bill
Kroger, Portageville: Warren Moxley, Blytheville;
Fred Burns, Friar's Point: J. F. Wofford,
Eupora; Whyte Bedford, Hamilton;
Amelia Ellis, Mason; R. B. Cox, Batesville;
W. F. Sonneman. Fayetteville; Bim Jackson,
Ruleville; Mrs. Valerie Biuke, Benoit; Mrs.
C. H. Collier. Drew; C. J. Collier, Shaw; S. D.
McRee, Coffeeville, and Paul Myers, Mc-
Crory.
Also John Staples, Piggott; Eugene Fleeman,
Manila; Carry Axley, England; Floyd
Peek, who operates a new theatre, the Garland,
in Little Rock; Frank Fisher, Como;
R. R. Clemmons, Adamsville; W. F. Ruffin
sr. of Ruffin circuit, Covington; J. A. Owen,
Amory; Jack Watson, Tunica; Roy Bolick,
Kaiser; Louise Mask, Bolivar; J. J. Sharum,
Walnut Ridge; W. E. Malin and Jesse Moore,
Crenshaw; J. F. Adams, Coldwater; C. H.
McAlister, Grand Junction, and Cliff Peck,
Covington.
Ben Y. Canunack of Dallas, southern division
manager, was a visitor at RKO . . .
Edith Montedonico, who is engaged to be
married to John Fox at St. Peter's Catholic
chiu-ch April 17. was given a shower by employes
of RKO and was presented with a
table lamp . . . Norman Moray, head of the
short subjects sales department of Warner
Herman Chrisman,
Bros., was a visitor . . .
branch manager at Columbia, was in Little
Rock on business.
Oscar Neu, president of Neu-Made Products,
New 'Vork, was a visitor at National
Theatre Supply Co. . . . Also there on business
was W. C. Stover of General Register
Corp. . . . C. A. McGowan, who recently
bought the Palace Theatre, Moorehead, Miss.,
from E. F. Van Blake, was on the Row booking
and reports business is fine.
"Gentleman's Agreement" was held for a
second week at Loew's Palace . . . Dr. H. W.
Ettelson, rabbi of Temple Israel, took "Gentelman's
Agreement" as the topic for his
sermon last weekend . . . First run attendance
at Memphis theatres is improved. Loew's
State had a good week with "The Naked
City." The Malco, with "The Exile," and the
Warner, showing "To the Victor," also reported
good business.
The Memphis Open Air Theatre will open
its 11th season June 28 in Overton Park's
shell. Victor Morley will be producer and
Alfred C. Evans, musical director. Shows,
which run one week each, will be; "The
Great Waltz," "No, No, Nannette." "Rio Rita,"
"Bittersweet," "The Bat," "The Merry
Widow," "Roberta" and "Rose Marie."
The Better Films Council, which has four
Memphis theatres presenting its councilapproved
pictui'es at kiddy matinees, may
add other theatres soon.
Many Memphians Attend
Variety Meel in Florida
MEMPHIS—Among those who went from
Memphis and this territory to the Variety
convention being held this week in Miami
Beach are Mr. and Mrs. Orris Collins, Paragould.
Ark.; Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Flexer,
Waverly, Tenn.; Mr. and Mrs. W. H. "Bill"
Ramsey, Memphis; Mr. and Mrs. Bill Malin,
Augusta, Ark.; Mr. and Mrs. Herb Kohn, Memphis;
Mr. and Mrs. David Flexer, Memphis;
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Shea, Memphis; Tom
O'Ryan, Tom Baldridge; Mr. and Mrs. Raymond
Goodman, Starkville, Miss.; Mrs. Ed
Kuykendall, Starkville. Special car loads of
delegates from the west crossed the Mississippi
river at Memphis and a Variety Club
special
train was made up here.
Bolivar House Closes
MEMPHIS—The Grand Theatre, Bolivar,
Tenn., owned by Robert Wilson, has been
closed. The building will be converted into
a mechanics school.
BLEVDi

MIAMI
gill Robinson, the famous Negro dancing
star, who coached Shirley Temple through
her earlier pictures, happened to see Madonna
Jeffrey dance while he was here some
time ago doing benefit performances. Madonna
is the 9-year-old daughter of the P. W.
Jeffreys of this city. Impressed by the child's
dancing, "Bojangles" taught her some of Shirley's
routines. Since then her pictures have
been inspected by a number of producers
who have written her parents about screen
tests.
Jesse Lasky, Hollywood film mogul here
on vacation, has offered Carlyle. a dancer
appearing locally, a choreographer's role for
the remake of "Svengali" which is tentatively
titled "Ti-ilby." While a dinner guest
at the club where Carlyle is entertaining,
Lasky told Carlyle he could handle the Latin
Quarter dance sequences for the film.
Sid White, dean of booking agents here,
will soon round out his 30th year in show
business. He has played many times at the
Olympia when he used to tread the boards
himself . . . Al 'Weiss had an SOS in the
SPECIAL
SPICY and
RISQUE
But
GOOD
newspapers trying to locate the Fredarry
trio, a dance act which he wanted to add to
his April 7 lineup . . . 'Winners of a contest
in connection with Sid Franklin's "Talent
Showcase" stage presentation at the Dixie
Theatre, receive a week's engagement at a
Miami club.
Actor Ed Begley, of "Sitting Pretty" which
premiered here with such success, is due to
arrive for a Florida vacation . . . Maybe it's
the effect of spring, or maybe it's the effect
of all the barkers in town for 'Variety International's
convention, but spring circus fever
has hit the Olympia. Manager Al 'Weiss has
booked a bill with every act straight novelty
except singer Jan Bart.
The amusement industry has just enriched
the Dade County Cancer society by $50,000
. . . "The program laid out for the visiting
Barkers and their wives," said Jack Kofoed,
apropos of 'Variety International convention
now in session here, "represents a real wingding."
Devoting most of his Sunday column
in the Herald to 'Variety's visitors, he stated
in part, "Great performers like Morton
Downey, Henny Youngman, the Vagabonds,
Zarco and Beryl, Alzira, Carmago, and perhaps
Abbott and Costello, will add to the entertainment.
'We can be proud of this convention."
Wometco's Sunday ad header read: "Showmen
— of America, Canada and Mexico 'Welcome
to Greater Miami for Your 12th Annual
Variety Club International Convention!"
Paramount's header read: "Paramount Theatres
Extend a Hearty 'Welcome to the Variety
Clubs International" . . . Tom Ferris,
who used to steer all the newsreel cameramen
to the Miami Beach points of interest,
is quitting the public relations field and will
do a syndicated column.
Elaine Alpert, who has appeared on the
"Green Homet" and "Lone Ranger" air programs,
will emcee the 'Variety auxiliary "O,
Rube" game party slated for the Roney Plaza
on the 17bh.
EXPLOITATION
DOUBLE BILL
Attractive
Lobby
Boards
Trailers
Ne'w Prints
and
Accessories
Miracle Contract
Is Let by Wometco
MIAMI — Mitchell 'Wolfson. co-owner of
Wometco Theatres, reports the contract for
construction of the Miracle in Coral Gables
has been let to Deigaard & Preston. 'Work
is to start immediately.
"'We have had a major part of the material
necessary for this house for almost a year,"
'Wolfson said, "much of it on the site, but
we put off actual construction to comply with
the law. Restrictions have now been lifted
and we are going ahead with the theatre,
which will be the third largest in Florida."
Cost of the new structure was not announced,
but plans include a cafeteria, two
apartments, and the theatre which will seat
more than 1,600. William H. Lee of Philadelphia,
is the architect and Robert E. Collins
of Miami his associate.
The architectural style is to be modern,
and this will be the pattern for equipment.
The auditorium will be situated diagonally
on the plot which will result in its being narrow
toward the stage and wide at the rear,
thus virtually eliminating side-front seats.
New pushback seats have foam rubber cushioning.
Earphones for the hard-of-hearing
will be provided.
Air conditioning, plumbing and electrical
engineering contracts have been awarded to
Maurice H. Connell and Associates. The air
conditioning equipment will be installed by
Winters-Becker Corp.
Remodeled DeSoto Theatre
Reopens in Nicholls, Ga.
NICHOLLS, GA.—The 200-seat DeSoto
Theatre, operated by the Alma Amusement
Co., has gone into operation here after complete
remodeling. It was closed three weeks
while the work was in progress. Reopening
activities were broadcast by station 'WDMG.
New equipment was installed and improvments
made at a total cost of $10,000. The
house is supervised by James E. Smith, who
also has charge of the Bacon Theatre in
Alma, Ga. Eddie M. Turner is resident
manager.
Give Away Cedar Chest
GADSDEN, ALA.—In a tieup with Moss
Furniture Co., during the run of "Treasure
of Sierra Madre," the Pittman Theatre
awarded a cedar chest from its stage Thursday
(15).
Prices Right
POPCORN -
High Quality
SEASONING
SALT - BOXES - BAGS
•
Available at
ASTOR PICTURES CO. of GA., INC.
163 Walton St
Main 9845
Atlanta
THE QUEEN FEATURE SERVICE, INC.
19121/2 Morris Avenue
Birmingham, Alabama
Serving the Southern Exhibitor for 35 Years
102 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

1
BOXOFFICE
!
hibitor
\
tax
! Vancouver
i
British
;
oppose
,
lumbia,
MANITOBA, BRITISH COLUMBIA
TO ABSORB 20 PER CENT TAX
Levies Would Be Added
To Ticket Taxes Now
Imposed by Them
OTTAWA—Three provinces have given
notice that they will impose a 20 per cent
amusement tax once the Dominion government
repeals its 20 per cent levy.
Two of them, Manitoba and British Coalready
impose a ticket tax. Spokesmen
in both provinces indicated the 20 per
cent charge will be in addition to that. Ontario,
the third province planning a ticket
tax, did not have such an impost during
the war.
Manitoba's intentions were announced by
Premier Garson in his budget speech last
week. The province now taxes admissions
about 10 per cent and since 1941 the Dominion
has been levying an additional 20
per cent. When the federal government repeals
its tax, Garson said, Manitoba will impose
a 25 per cent amusement tax on admissions
of 25 cents and more. Admission
tickets costing less than 25 cents will be tax
free. These are now subject to the Dominion
tax but are not subject to the provincial tax.
Garson estimated the 25 per cent rate would
raise about $250,000 a year.
British Columbia now collects a 5 per cent
tax on admissions and Finance Minister Anscomb
has indicated he will ask that an additional
20 per cent be charged once the
federal levy ends. It is estimated this would
bring in to the provincial government about
$1,250,000 above the $400,000 now realized
each year from theatre admissions.
The Ontario government already has
adopted a 20 per cent tax to take effect
when the federal levy is repealed. This may
come next month, when the federal budget
will be announced.
Showmen to Fight
Columbia Proposal
VANCOUVER—Theatre operators here will
any move by the provincial government
to grab the 20 per cent amusement
when Ottawa drops it.
"We told the Dominion government that
if it removes its tax we will pass the saving
along to the public," one prominent exsaid.
"That is still our intention and
if the province plans to reimpose it we will
certainly raise a protest."
The assurance of exhibitors all through
j
the Dominion that they would pass along
the
I
saving to the public is believed to have
influenced the federal government in its intention
to drop the tax.
Strong editorial support for the showmen
has come from Vancouver newspapers.
"The wartime amusements tax was never
justified on the grounds of fairness," the
Sun said. "The intent was to drain off
spending power. With the return of more
normal conditions, the question of diminishing
returns has to be considered. Theatres
and other amusements already are experiencing
a business 'recession' and if it continues,
the amount of the tax collected will
likewise be diminished."
ODEON PUBLICIST—A. J. Laurie,
above, veteran executive of the Canadian
film industry in both exhibition and distribution,
lieads the new publicity and
public relations branch of Odeon Theatres
of Canada.
Tax Fight Is Useless,
Arch H. Jolley Says
TORONTO—An order to cease fire has
gone out from the executive of the Motion
Picture Theatres Ass'n of Ontario m connection
with the campaign against the 20
per cent amusement tax which has been enacted
by the provincial government to take
effect when the Dominion relinquishes the
20 per cent war excise tax.
Arch H. Jolley, executive secretary of the
association issued the order, following an
executive meeting at wMch it was found
"that, because this has been tagged as a
tax exclusively for hospitals, there was great
apathy on the part of the public to resist
such a tax." The statement added: "Nor
were we able to disprove the theory that
the public was willing and could pay the tax."
The association, however, was able to secure
the amendment of several objectionable
clauses in the act after conferring with L. M.
Frost, provincial treasm'er. Assurance was
given that the board "will never change their
attitude that it is unfair to tax one industry
for the support of hospitals and, secondly,
that a tax of 20 per cent is exorbitant and
in excess of the requirements for which the
tax is designed."
Gives Discount to Clergy
O'LEARY, P. E. I.—A 10 per cent discount
on admissions is given by the Green Oak,
only theatre here, to clergymen of all denominations,
secretarian schools and colleges,
Sunday schools, churches and institutions.
Rise in Profit Shown
By United Corp.
MONTREAL—United Amusement Corp.
reports net profit of $262,511, equal to $3.25
per share on each of the 80,829 shares outstanding,
in the fiscal period ended Jan. 3,
1948. This compares with net of $254,899
or $3.15 per share for the year ended Dec.
31. 1946. Gro.ss income was $1,494,384, compared
with $1,535,098.
Dividends of $1.50 per .share were paid during
1947, compared with $1.25 in 1946. Earned
surplus now stands at $737,330 against $327,-
764 in 1945.
In presenting the report. President George
Ganetakos said that in the past year the
company made expenditures on account of
the new Van Home Theatre, purchased the
Belmont Theatre property on Mount Royal
avenue and made additional investments in
associated companies. The mortgage on the
Francais Theatre property, amounting to
$75,000, for which the company was guarantor,
was paid off by Le Theatre Fi-ancais,
leaving this property clear of any indebtedness.
The new Lairet Theatre in
Limoilou, Que.,
in which the company has an interest, is
under construction and is expected to be
opened in the near future.
Net of $131,665 Is Reported
By Consolidated Theatres
MONTREAL—Net profit of $131,665 is reported
by Consolidated Theatres, Ltd., Montreal,
and subsidiary companies for the fiscal
year ended Dec. 31, 1947. In the previous
year net profit was $121,606. Per share earnings
on the basis of old capitalization totaled
$1.62 compared with $1.49 per share
in 1946. On the basis of new capitalization,
effective Dec. 13, 1947, earnings per share
amounted to 37 cents on class B, after allowing
for preferred requirements, as against
33 cents per share in the previous year.
Operating profit for the year totaled $304,087
compared with $299,298 in 1946.
Consolidated owns His Majesty's Theatre
and, in conjunction with other interests,
operates a number of other theatres, including
Loew's, the Palace, the Capitol and the
Imperial.
Lo'wer Earnings Shown
By Theatre Properties
HAMILTON, ONT.—Net earnings of Theatre
Properties of Hamilton for the 53 weeks
ended Jan. 3, 1948, are reported at $33,655,
equal to 34.7 cents per share, compared
with $39,222, or 40.5 cents a share for the 52
weeks ended Dec. 28, 1946. Net operating
profits totaled $118,253, while $40,198 was
provided for depreciation, $23,810 for bond
interest, etc., and $20,590 for income and excess
profits taxes. Earned surplus at end of
1947 amounted to $116,057.
W
:: April 17, 1948 K
103

. . During
"
ST. JOHN
^^hen the new Avon is opened in Bridgewater,
N. S., Art Fielding will have two
theatres in that town of 4,000. He has moved
both his home and office to Bridgewater.
He resided for about 15 years in East Riverside,
eight miles east of St. John, and maintained
an office here. With him at Bridgewater
are his wife and two sons, Ron and
Ray. Ron has been manager of the Capitol
in Bridgewater for about three years,
and also handled that assignment prior to
service in the air force. The new Fielding
office is in the Avon Bldg. Also owned and
operated by Fielding is the Capitol, Digby.
N. S. Fielding was with the Spencer chain
for about 31 years, including about ten as
general manager.
Syd Wyman, managing the Community in
Yarmouth, has been sending out letters in
which he discusses pictures coming to the
Community. In a recent P.S. he added. "Good
heavens, I nearly forgot to tell you 'Mother
Wore Tights' plays April 8, 9 and 10. We
had to wait for warmer weather" . . . Kiwanis
clubs have been using theatres in
promoting mass singing, with Dave Thomson,
St. John, as leader. For several years he
was song starter at the Capitol.
The film exchang:es here are getting back
into the Softball lineup, and about 20 candidates
for a team have been assembled.
About 20 years ago the Movie Men represented
the exchanges in a St. John league. Managers
with Softball experience include Mickey
Komar of Warners, Harry Cohen of RKO and
Lou Simon of Columbia. Exchanges will finance
purchase of equipment, uniforms, etc.,
with the players sweaters and shirts bearing
the names of exchanges paying the
freight
and an
. . Les Kerr, shipper at 20th-Fox
ex-Movie Men pitcher, has been
.
feeling under par physically. His blood pressure
is high.
A boycott of the Imperial and Vogue in
Sackville, N. B., was declared by the Students
union of Mount Allison university
because the Walker circuit would not reduce
prices for students. Denis Murphy manages
both theatres ... At the Casino, Halifax,
Odeon is cutting down the stage to allow
for additional seats and setting back
the screen. The whole auditorium will be
reseated. A coin machine for carbonated beverages
will be installed in connection with
a new and ornamental candy and soda bar
in the lobby .
remodeling of the
Odeon Garrick in Halifax, Henry Deveau
has been assistant manager at the Casino
and relief manager of the Roseland and
Academy in New Glasgow. When he returns
FOR SALE: THEATRE CHAffiS
We now have a very large stock of excellent
reconditioned (as new) Theatre Chairs
Quantities up to 1200 of a kind
IMMEDIATE DELIVERY
NOW — New all-steel construction springedge.
highest quality theatre chairs available.
7500 yards of Imported carnet direct from
Enoland and Scotland
Inquiries Respectfully Solicited
LA SALLE RECREATIONS LTD.
(Theatre Sealing and Carpet Division)
S. A. LECHTZIER, Pies.
945 Granville St. Vancouver, B. C.
to the Garrick as manager, he will be succeeded
at the Casino by Lloyd Conrad, who
was manager of the Kent in Moncton before
it was destroyed by fire.
A 34-piece set of silver is being offered at
the Armview, Halifax. Large cards have been
placed in store windows and about 20 circulars
were distributed by mail and door to
door.
Ernie Hatfield, manager of the Capitol in
Yarmouth, is waging a one-man war against
wildcats, which have been destroying deer in
wholesale numbers throughout the maritime
provinces. An expert with the rifle, shotgun
and revolver, Hatfield has been out in
the woods frequently hunting the cats. His
predecessor at the Capitol, the late Hal
Parker, also was an avid hunter and protector
of game.
May Opening Is Scheduled
For Toronto Variety Club
TORONTO—The spacious and elaborate
clubrooms of Toronto Variety tent 28 are approaching
completion in the Prince George
hotel. The quarters are expected to be opened
early in May with appropriate ceremony.
Meanwhile the club is busy in the work of
providing free film shows in the homes of
shut-ins, the activity being under the direction
of J. A. Troyer.
Sale of War Projectors Hit
OTTAWA—The Canadian government has
been criticized for permitting the sale to the
general public, through War Assets Corp., of
surplus 35mm projection equipment formerly
used by the armed forces.
Private purchasers
have been able to secure old 35mm films
which are being used with the projectors in
unauthorized places, thus creating a hazard,
it is claimed. One fire has already occurred
because of an inexperienced operator, it is
stated.
Odeon Gift Book Prize Winners
TORONTO—Odeon Theatres announce the
award for the greatest sale of Christmas gift
tickets over quota in 1947 was won by Neil
Main of the Regent Theatre, Sturgeon Falls.
Winner of the second prize was Brent Kelly
of the Oak, Burnaby, and third position was
attained by Elliott Brown of the Odeon, West
Vancouver. An extra cash award, for the
largest sale to an individual purchaser, went
to Sam Binder of the Avenue, Edmonton.
Mike Mandell Joins International
TORONTO—David Griesdorf, president
and general manager of International Film
Distributors, reports the appointment of Mike
Mandell as Winnipeg salesman. He formerly
was associated with Columbia in Winnipeg
and Calgary. Phil Geller is manager for
International in Winnipeg.
Theatre Ads on Building Walls
VANCOUVER—A new form of theatre outdoor
advertising was approved here recently.
Permission was granted to Charles A. Jones
& Co. to project advertisements on to the
north walls of the Paradise and Vogue theatres
from adjacent buildings. The signs will
change every ten seconds.
VANCOUVER
Qeorge Nickerson, Walter Scott and associates
have purchased property in Prince
Rupert, in northern British Columbia, on
which they plan to build a 900-seat theatre
and two-story business block. Famous Players
operates the town's only theatre, the 750-
seat Capitol. Population of the town is 7,000,
with many new industries moving in . .
.'
Both Associated Screen News and the British
Columbia travel bureau will cover the William
Lake stampede in June.
Honeymoon Bay, on Vancouver Island, has
completed one of the province's finest community
halls at a cost of $89,000. Facilities
are available for motion pictures, sports *
events and bowling . . . Norman Duncan,
manager of the International Cinema, and
his family are now settled in their new
home in the Cypress district of West Vancouver.
Duncan formerly lived in Chilliwack,
B. C. . . . The International Cinema has completed
a record seven-week run of "Quiet
Weekend."
Publicity heads of major distributors and
circuit chiefs are making a concerted effort
to obtain better cooperation from the
Vancouver press where spot-news space is
concerned. They believe more space is going
to night clubs, fly-by-night outfits and legitimate
shows, in spite of the fact film advertising
exceeds that for all other forms of entertainment.
It's hard to get readers from
the local newspapers.
Lome Newton has resigned from Theatre
Candy and Confections, a subsidiary of Famous
Players Theatres . . . Barbara Shearer tpx
left the Capitol to become a telephone oper- I jM
ator . . . Pacific Publishers Agencies, headed i iif
by Lome Lougheed, has been organized here
to handle theatre programs and other publicity.
AI Moss resigned as assistant to Manager
Bob Eraser of the Paradise to take a DVA
course under the veterans act. He was succeeded
by John Katch, former doorman . . .
Jimmy McAllister, former Odeon Theatres
manager, is advance man again this season
for Royal Canadian Shows, covering British
Columbia and Alberta . . . The J. Arthur
Rank pictures which have been split between
two distributors in the U.S. will all be released
in Canada through Eagle Lion.
Theatres are having plenty of competition
from night clubs and other nighttime activities
here. Louis Jordon and his orchestra
played a one-night stand at Exhibition
Gardens to capacity. The Ink Spots, Delta
Rhytlim Boys and Lena Home, MGM star,
are headlining night club programs here.
Hockey finals are another headache to the
Hymie Singer's State Theatre
theatres . . .
had an excellent week's business on "Hitler's
Al Goodwin, manager of
Slaves" . . . the Olympia, is doing capacity business on
his radio shows, which play each Saturday
morning.
. . .
During 1947 the B. C. regional office of the
National Film board gave 9,800 nontheatrical
film showings to 901,585 persons, Charles
Marshall, regional supervisor, reported
Basil Horsfall, a Canadian Picture Pioneer
member, will again be in charge of the seven
weeks of musical comedy at Stanley Park,
Vancouver, as musical director.
J SI
Ki'i
Is
Vm
ilG
SB
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104
BOXOFFICE :: April 17. 1948

. . Roly
.
. . Jack
. . The
TORONTO Quebec Productions MONTREAL
IWTrs. Stephen Proctor, manager of the In-
. . .
ternational Cinema, had a problem in
connection with the playing of "Song of My
Heart." Music students demanded pass-out
checks so they could go to a nearby coffee
shop for a sandwich, then return to
Hardly
the
theatre for the evening shows
had he taken over the management of the
Midtown but John Kurk had a police case
on his hands. Early Sunday morning a
gang of thieves beat a retreat out the rear
door as police arrived at the front. Kurk's
office was ransacked.
Al Perly, former Midtown manager, now
in charge of the Biltmore, was host with Ben
Okun, proprietor, at a preopening reception
Wednesday night, April 14, for hundreds of
invited guests and public officials. There
were cocktails at 8 and a special show at
Manager Al Sedgwick of the
10 p. m. . . .
Palace, St. Catharines, staged a Parents'
day in comiection with the Odeon Movie club
Saturday morning. Mothers and dads were
admitted free "when accompanied by their
children," thus reversing the usual arrangement.
"Whispering City," the Canadian-made
feature released by J. Arthur Rank, was given
a radio presentation April 14 in the Buckingham
Theatre Curtain Time program
of the Canadian network .
Young,
Toronto Globe and Mail critic, says: "I fear
that there was more than a shade of racial
consciousness in 'Gentleman's Agreement' insofar
as winning the Oscar is concerned, but
it must be admitted that it was a better
picture in a year that was undistinguished
for even good pictures."
Harry A. Kaufman, sales manager of Cardinal
Films, has appointed Ted Atkinson as
branch manager for Quebec and Dave Brazer
as manager at St. John. Kaufman is now on
Keith Wilson is back in
a western trip . . .
Brampton as the manager of the Odeon,
which has been opened after a delay
The Canadian
caused by a spring flood . . .
Picture Pioneers staged a benefit smoker at
the King Edward hotel. Boxing bouts were
put on by members of the Police Kiwanis
club. The latter is sponsored by Tom Daley,
manager of the Imperial.
'Whispering City' Opens
At Gotham on Broadway
NEW YORK—"Whispering City," Cana*-
dian-made dramatic romance starring Helmut
Dantine, Mary Anderson and Paul Lukas,
was scheduled to open its Broadway run at
the Gotham Theatre Saturday, April 17.
Eagle Lion Films is distributing the film.
The picture was produced by Quebec Productions
and is the English-language version of
"La Forteresse."
Karloff Film Banned
SASKATOON, SASK.—A reissue of the
Boris Karloff starrer, "The Man They
Couldn't Hang." has been banned from the
province by the Saskatchewan censor board.
The ban followed by two weeks a ban on
"Brute Force." The province is considered
to have the toughest censor board in the
country.
Buys 'Man and Sin'
MONTREAL—Quebec Productions has purchased
the screen rights to "Un Homme et
lA Man and His Sim, and will
Son Peehe"
produce it as a French-language film, with
subtitles in English. Outdoor shots will be
taken in St. Adele, in the Laurentians, locale
of the story, and the rest of the picture will
be made in the company's studios in St.
Hyacinthe.
Claude Henri Grignon, author of the book
which won the Pi-ovince of Quebec literary
prize ten years ago, is mayor of St. Adele.
A radio serial based on the book has been
broadcast five nights a week by the Canadian
Broadcasting Corp. almost since the
book was published.
Grignon will do the scenario for the picture.
Production is expected to start in June.
The cast has not been selected.
Perkins Gets More Space
MONTREAL—Perkins Electric
Co. has acquired
new quarters at 2400 Bleury St. which
provides greatly enlarged facilities for repair
of equipment and warehousing. The company
now has three repair sections, covering repair
to all types of projectors, arc lamps,
rectifiers and sound systems, according to R.
R. Kroetch, assistant manager.
FORT WILLIAM
pemale help here is very hard to find as far
as the theatres are concerned. After having
an ad in the local newspapers and contacting
selective service, one of the theatres
received only one reply from each source.
Apparently, girls do not hke night work . . .
After two or three days of real spring
weather, the Lakehead had a heavy fall of
snow, which does not help business, although
business has picked up a little here.
Easter week was very good at all the theatres.
The Royal and Lake had cartoon
shows on Easter Monday morning and did
sellout business. The suburban Fort had its
first cartoon show and also sold out . . .
The
Capitol held over "My Wild Irish Rose" for
an extra two days, playing
The Fort did very nicely
it a full week . .
on "Mother Wore
Tights."
Business locations are at a premium here,
even office space being hard to get. If all
the firms start building on the properties
they have purchased during the last couple
of years. Fort William vrill really have its
face lifted. Such concerns as Eatons and
Zellers are anticipating building here. This
building, if it should come to pass, will be
of great help to all business.
Hollywood Producers Plan
Two Pictures in Alberta
CALGARY—"Shadow of
Time," which Albert
Rogell will produce in Canada, was to
start lensing in the Jasper park last week.
"Mrs. Mike," to be made by Edward Gross
and Sam Bischoff, also will be produced in
Alberta and British Columbia. Twentieth-
Fox plans a mounted police picture to be
filmed in western Canada this summer.
. . "Gentleman's
. . . "Frieda," a J. Arthur
n Soviet film, "Russian Ballerina," was
shown at His Majesty's and brought
praise of the superb dancing shown, though
critics thought the story weak .
Agreement" is in its second week at
Rank
the Palace
production, had its first Montreal showing
at the Snowdon.
According to the Gallup poll, 25 per cent
of Canadian film fans prefer pictures made
by British studios . . United Amusement has
.
opened the Lairet Theatre in Limoilou, Quebec
. . . Irving Sourkes of Confidential Reports
has returned from an inspection trip
to Ottawa and surroundings . Kiely
is back from St. Johns, N. B., where he inspected
his theatres.
H. M. Masters, Canadian general manager
of Warner Bros., visited the local office . . .
Ted Atkinson has been promoted to branch
manager of Cardinal Films.
Exhibitors who visited Filmrow include
Armand 'Veilleux of the St. George's and
Royal theatres, St. Georges de Beauce; A.
Sicard of the Acton, Acton Vale: Georges
Champagne of the Auditorium, Cartier and
Roxy, Shawinigan Falls, and J. Beaudry and
his partner, J. P. Sansregret, owners of the
Adele Greene, cashier at
Arena, Joliette . . .
RKO, spent the weekend in the Laurentias.
Sam Kunitsky of St. John, N. B., manager
of United Artists, is in Neurological
hospital here for a checkup . Montreal
office of Cardinal Film is awaiting a
visit from Harry Kaufman, general supervisor
and sales manager.
. . Nicole
S. IMorgan-Powell, veteran film and dramatic
critic of Montreal Star, devoted a
lengthy review to some of the short films produced
by the Rank organization and handled
by Eagle Lion Films of Canada .
Germain, the French-Canadian star in the
film, "La Forteresse," gave a lively account
of film production and the work of those w^ho
took part in it at the weekly luncheon of the
St. Lawrence Kiwanis club. Canada, Miss
Germain said, was probably the only coimtry
in which a film actress could make her first
appearance as a star. This, at any rate, was
her experience, in "La Forteresse," w'hich was
the first full-length French-Canadian film.
Three American stars were chosen to play in
"Whispering City," the English-language version,
but the actors and actresses in "La
Forteresse" were all French-Canadians, most
of them with little or no previous experience
Report Barbara Ann Plans
For Professional Career
OTTAWA—Barbara Ann Scott, world and
Olympic women's figure skating champion,
has received an offer for a Hollywood picture
and North American ice tour, reportedly at
$2,500 a w-eek, starring with Fred Astaire.
according to Ottawa Journal. The paper
gave Leroy Prinz. producer in charge of musical
revues at Warner Bros., as its authority.
The Toronto Globe and Mail said definitely
that Barbara Ann intends to turn pro.
Cover Girl Draws Acting Ticket
A term acting ticket and a femme lead in
Columbia's "Ladies of the Chorus" has been
given to Marilyn Mom-oe, magazine cover
girl.
BOXOFFICE :
: April 17, 1948 105

. . Shots
. . James
—
—
—
reissues
WINNIPEG
Pddie Newman screened "Gentleman's
Agreement" for ^n invited audience at the
Tivoli prior to the opening of the Academy
Award winning picture at his Metropolitan
this week . of Donna Grescoe, local
violin prodigy who recently made her debut
at Town Hall in New York, earned Bill Novak
special press stories for the Paramount Newsreel
he is currently showing.
Somen James opened Alliance Films' showings
here of foreign pictures with "St. Francis
of Assisi" at the Furby. James has lined up
strong church support for the picture, a
Mexican production with English subtitles.
The Furby premiere also included "Advenventures
of Chico," a Mexican short in
which the boy hero does the commentary
in English . put on a special screening
for invited musicians of his forthcoming
offering, "Barber of Seville." He also has
booked "Shoe-Shine."
. . .
"Ice Cycles of 1948" is playing a week at the
Amphitheatre. Local interest in the big musical
ice show is increased by the fact that
four former Winnipegers appear in it. Proceeds
of opening night went to the Lions
club for work in behalf of blind people
Harry Gray is playing a revival of "'Wings
of the Morning," which first appeared on
local screens some 11 years ago, and is plugging
the picture in fine style as though it
were a new one. Gray is stressing the local
house records set by the picture when it first
played here, and the singing of John Mc-
Cormaek, who is in it.
The Shrine circus makes its annual visit
to town when it plays the auditorium for
a week beginning on May 8 . . . Ruth Draper,
famed for her solo dramatic sketches, made
a one-night stand at the Playhouse.
Sees Video as Business
Valued at 50 Millions
MONTREAL—Canada will be able to support
a television system in the same ratio to
television in the U.S. as now obtains between
the two countries in connection with their respective
broadcasting systems, Frank R.
Deakins, president of RCA 'Victor Co., told
the Montreal Rotary club.
When it comes, television will be a $50,-
000,000 business in Canada, he claimed. He
said the cost will be high at first, but as with
radio, the price of sets will eventually reach
a level where they will induce a greater number
of buyers to buy.
He referred briefly to the development that
is now taking place in connection with Ultrafax,
a combination of television, radio relay
and photography. This development gives
definite promise of being able to handle documents,
letters, printed pages and messages
at the rate of a million words a minute and
transmit photographs, maps and other illustrations
at the rate of 30 pages a second, he
said.
Fire in Moncton Star
MONCTON, N. B.—The Star Theatre near
here suffered $50,000 damage in a fire recently.
The Star, built last year, was owned
by Jake Mark and was operated by Nathan
Fielder.
Only Two New Films
On Toronto Screens
TORONTO—Only two of the nine first
run theatres played a new feature last week.
The new attractions were "The Bishop's
Wife" at the Imperial and "The Barber of
Seville" at the Fairlawn. "Sitting Pretty"
was retained at the Nortown and Victoria
for a fourth week, while the programs at
Shea's, Loew's and the Uptown were in their
third week.
(Average Is 100)
Eglmton and Tivoli Where There's Life (Para)
^ 2nd wk
.
100
Fairlawn—The Barber of Seville (Alliance) 120
Imperial—The Bishop's Wife (RKO) 120
Loews—Three Daring Daughters (MGM), 3rd wk 95
Nortown and Victoria—Sitting Pretty (20th-Fox),
4th wk '
g5
Shea's—Unconauered (Para), 3rd wk 95
Uptown—The Naked City (U-I), 3rd wk 90
Vancouver Honors Taken
B-y "Unconquered' Again
VANCOUVER—"Unconquered," in its second
week at the Orpheum, was the top picture
in town. Business in general was spotty.
"Alins a Gentleman" and "Killer McCoy,"
twin billed at the Strand, did above average
business. The seventh and final week of
"Quiet Weekend" at the International was
fine.
Capitol Gentleman's Agreement (20th-Fox) Fair
International-Cinema Quiet Weekend (Int'l)
„^'h w'^-
-„
-
.'...Good
Orpheum—Unconquered (Para), 2nd wk. Excellent
Park and Plaza—Black Bart (U-1), 2nd wk Fair
Paradise 'young in Heart (Alliance); Moonlight
Sonata (Alliance)
,
Poor
State Hitler's Slaves (Artkino) Average
Strond—Alias a Gentleman (MGM)-
Killer McCoy (MGM) Good
Vogue—October Man (EL)
fair
Return of Winter Weather
Aids Boxoffice in Calgary
CALGARY—Belated winter weather had
no adverse effect on theatre attendance in
the city. In fact, with the closing of the
hockey and other winter activities, the present
spell of weather has been slightly beneficial.
"Unconquered" kept up splendidly in
its second week at the Capitol. Both downtown
and suburban theatres played to average
or above par business.
Capitol—Unconquered (Para) Very good
Grand—Christmas Eve (UA) Good
Palace—Tycoon (RKO) l^^Good
Toronto Company Formed
To Make Religious Films
TORONTO—Beacon Productions, a new
Toronto company, has announced plans for
production of 30 religious films of one and
two reels in the next five years at Queensway
.studios. Veina de Vesci, of the Ealing
studios in England, is preparing the script
for the first picture. Sydney Banks of
Cinema (Canada") Pictures, which will handle
the production work, said Canadian talent
would be used exclusively. He said a fulllength
feature will be produced eventually.
Honor to D. C. Coleman
OTTAWA—D. C. Coleman, former president
of the Canadian Pacific railway and a member
of the directorate of Odeon Theatre of
Canada, was invested as commander of the
Order of St, Michael and St. George iC.B.E.1
in a ceremony at Government House. He was
installed by Viscount Alexander of Tunis,
officiating as the vice-regal representative
in Canada for King George VI.
CALGARY
^ennis Watson replaced Les Litch as manager
of the subm-ban theatres, the Plaza
and the Crescent. 'Watson came from the
Odeon circuit in Vancouver to take over this
position. These suburban houses, previously
units of Odeon, are now operated by two local
companies.
E. A. Zorn, director of Famous Players
units on the prairies, paid a return visit to
Calgary with the intention of attending a
wage conciliation meeting. Representatives
of the provincial government and the projectionists
union will attend. This meeting was
called when the FPC and the union failed
to come to an agreement last month.
Continuous snow on the prairies caused
much hardship to farmers and stock owners,
caught unprepared for the wintry spring.'
Five small town theatres have closed in
Saskatchewan for April because impassable
roadways kept farmers from reaching town.
Exterior shots for the Hollywood film tentatively
called "Shadow of Time" were taken
at Banff and the Sunshine ski lodge last
week. The backgrounds will be used for a
picture being made in Hollywood by Alfred
S. Rogell. Skiers assisting in the outdoor
shots included Toni Matt, chief instructor
at Sun Valley, Ida.; Herbert and Hertha
Schneider; Gene Gillies, Bend, Ore., of the
U.S. Olympic ski team, and Harvey Clifford,
Ottawa, of the Canadian Olympic ski team.
OTTAWA
Y
Ray Tubman, eastern Ontario district
manager for Famous Players, conferred in
the head office in Toronto with the circuit
chiefs before President J. J. Fitzgibbons,
Division Manager Morris Stein and others
proceeded to Miami, Fla., for the convention
of the International Variety Clubs during
the week of April 12.
Ault-Kinney & Co. has announced the
sale of a 16-acre site at Britannia Beach,
west of here, to the Park Drive-In Theatres,
Ltd., Toronto, for an outdoor theatre to accommodate
900 cars. The equipment will include
individual speakers for the automobiles.
The estimated cost of the project is
$100,000 . . . Sales visitors were Vic Seattle
from Eagle Lion Films of Canada and AI
Iscove, representing United Artists Corp.
Mrs. Donn B. Stapleton, wife of the Centre
Theatre proprietor, has returned to Ottawa
from a show and concert tour in New York
. . . The dual Elgin is extending the air
conditioning system to the auxiliary auditorium
which was opened last Christmas.
The annex has been named the Little Elgin.
Premier W. L. M. King told the house of
commons that a proposal for the appointment
of a special parliamentary committee
to study the operations of the National Film
board was being considered. The matter was
brought to the floor of the house by M. J.
Coldwell, a member of the opposition . . .
The Linden and Elmdale, two independent
suburban theatres, have a tiein with Dave
Rubin for an attendance contest with three
prizes, combination radio, electric stove and
washing machine. Rubin, proprietor of three
house-furnishings stores, was an exhibitor in
Ottawa and Hamilton before the war.
106 BOXOFFICE :: April 17, 1948

30XOFFICE BAROMETER • EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY
BookinGuide
TIATURE CHART • REVIEW DIGEST • SHORTS CHART
SHORTS REVIEWS • FEATURE REVIEWS • EXPLOITIPS
I
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 overages revised.
BAROMETER
The Naked City-
Boston 200
Seattle 150
Pittsburgh 150
Computed in terms oi percentage in
relation to normal grosses. With 100
per cent as "normal," the figures
show 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 for the most part to reports on subsequent runs, made by
exhibitors themselves. A one-star contributor is new, two stars mean the exhibitor
has been writing in for six months or longer, and a three-star contributor
is a regular of one year or more, who receives a token of our appreciation. All
exhibitors welcome.
COLUMBIA
Arizona (Col)—Reissue. Jean Arthur, William
Holden. A great picture and a reissue
which did more business than most of the new
pictures do for me. Played Wed., Thurs.
Weather: Good.—E. M. Freiburger, Paramount
Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patron-
* * *
age.
Gunlighters (Col)^Randolph Scott, Barbara
Britton, Dorothy Hart. A Zone Grey
super-western in color that has everything to
please everyone. Our patrons liked it—so did
I. Played Sun., Mon. Weather; Fair.—R. W.
Burgess, Roxy Theatre, McClusky, N. D. Rural
and small town patronage. * *
Law of the Canyon (Col)—Charles Storrett,
Smiley Burnette, Nancy Saunders. Doubled
with "Blind Spot." The kids liked "Canyon"
However,
best but adults liked "Blind Spot."
country roads are still not passable—only
over the fields or horseback travel, so this
drew fair business only because of that condition.
It should pay out in the end but we
can't close just on account of such, which only
happens about once in 50 years. Both pictures
very good and the
comedy, "Mr. Noisy"
brought so much laughter—you could hear
them through the booth walls. I never saw
anything more comical. You have to hand it
to Columbia for good shorts.—W. H. Swan,
Auditorium Theatre, Roscoe, S. D. Rural patronage.
* * «
EAGLE LION
Bury Me Dead (EL)—Cathy O'Donnell, June
Lockhart, Hugh Beaumont. Rivesville is dead.
Here is a swell murder mystery, a big cast,
good co-feature, no competition, pay day, and
still no business. Unless something is done
about the film rental asked for these features,
I'll soon be ready to throw in the towel.
Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Good.—Ralph
Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. 'Va. Small
town patronage. * * *
Devil on Wheels (EL)—Noreen Nash, Darryl
Hickman, Jan Ford. Many complimented this
picture and asked for more like it. It teaches
a lesson and the patrons loved it. But—business
is off and pictures such as this go by unnoticed.
Worth your playing time. Played
Fri., Sat. Weather: Rained one night.—Ralph
Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va.
Small town patronage. * * *
METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER
Anchors Aweigh (MGM) — Frank Sinatra,
Kathryn Grayson, Gene Kelly. We had the
best crowds since last year to this oldie. They
don't make them this good any more. This
one kept up the tradition of "The Harvey
Girls" with good music, a great cast and a
good story. The comments were all favorable.
It takes Metro to give out with the good
ones. Played Mon., Tues. Weather: Fine.
George Mackenzie, York Theatre, Hantsport,
N.S. Small town patronage. *
Living in a Big Way (MGM)—Gene Kelly,
Marie McDonald, Charles Winninger. A swell
light comedy. At show time it was 15 degrees
below zero, so the crowd was held way down.
Should do better than average business.
Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Cold.—E. J.
Petersen, Cozy Theatre, Jeifers, Minn. Rural
and small town patronage. * *
—
Mighty McGurk, The (MGM)—Wallace
Beery, Dean Stockwell, Aline MacMahon. This
feature pleased a fairly good turnout of patrons.
Every small town exhibitor should
make it a point to show it. Definitely a crowdpuller
in a rural area. Played Sat., Sun.
Weather: Fair.—E. P. Amundson, Colton Theatre,
Colton, S. D. Small town and rural patronage.
*
Song of Love (MGM)—Katharine Hepburn,
Paul Henried, Robert Walker. This is a wonderful
production, although some of my patrons
did not like it as much as some of the
pictures we have had. It was just a bit above
their heads. We did a little above average
business with this picture. It looks as if
MGM will be great in 1948. Played Sat., Sun.,
Mon. Weather: Warm and pleasant.—O.
Fomby, Paula Theatre, Homer, La. Small
*
town patronage.
Song of the Thin Man (MGM) — William
Powell, Myrna Loy, Keenan Wynn. My patrons
remarked: "About the only thing slim
about the thin man any more is his wife" and
I might add—the profits! Played Sun., Mon.
Weather: Cold.—R. E. Halstead, Tri-Town Theatre,
Lindstrom, Minn. Rural and small town
*
patronage.
MONOGRAM
Ginger (Mono)—Frank Albertson, Barbara
Reed, Johnny Calkins. Doubled with "Big
Town" (Para) and both pictures well received
and had average attendance. It hardly pays
to double them, though. You give more but
Manager Can Face Crowd
When Show Is Over
ROMANCE OF ROSY RIDGE,
THE
(MGM)—Van Johnson, Thomas Mitchell,
Janet Leigh. Excellent for my town. This
is the type of picture that really pleases
the small town and rural patronage. Good
comments aU around and this is a picture
where the manager can face his customers
when they leave, knowing that
they thoroughly enjoyed the show. 'With
all the junk that Hollywood has deluged
us with now for some time, it's a relief
to have a picture like this. Played Sun.,
Mon., Tues. Weather: Fair.—W. D. Rasmussen.
Star Theatre, Anthon, Iowa.
Small town patronage.
•
you don't receive any more, so that explains
it. Played Wednesday. Weather: Cool.
W. H. Swan, Auditorium Theatre, Roscoe, S. D.
Rural patronage.
• * »
King of the Bandits (Mono)—Gilbert Roland,
Chris-Pin Martin, Angela Greene. Best
of the Cisco Kid series so far but my customers
will be happy to see a good substitute for
this series. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather;
Stormy and cold.—Terry Axley, New Theatre,
England, Ark. Rural and small town patronage.
* * •
PARAMOUNT
I Cover Big Town (Para)—Philip Reed, Hillary
Brooke, Robert Lowery. Just another
picture that was oversold because of the
radio show. It drew the poorest weekend
business we've had—even the blizzard didn't
keep so many away as this and "Under Colorado
Skies." Just two pictures that people
didn't want to buy or could smell. Played
Fri., Sat. Weather: Fine.—Mayme P. Musselman,
Roach Theatre, Lincoln, Kas.
Small town
patronage. * * •
Ladies' Man (Para)—Eddie Bracken, Cass
—
——
Western Not Only Film
Which Needs Action
DISHONORED LADY (UA)—Hedy Lamarr,
Dennis O'Keefe, John Loder.
Nothing outstanding. Poor acting as usual
by Miss Lamarr. Not enough action to
keep you awake. No, I don't mean by
action that it has to have western action.
Any picture has to have action to keep
your interest. Played Sunday only.
James C. Balkcom jr., Gray Theatre,
Gray, Ga. Small town patronage. * * •
Daley, 'Virginia Welles. Don't pass this one
up. It's a riot from beginning to end, and the
patrons loved it. Packed them in Sun., Mon.,
and Tues. was average. Weather: Fair.
Mrs. Ira Haaven, States Theatre, East Grand
Forks, Minn. Small town and rural patronage.
*
Perils of Pauline, The (Para)—Betty Hutton,
John Lund, Billy De Wolfe. A swell action
picture in color, which is just what the
small town show needs. Played Fri., Sat.
Weather: Good.—E. M. Freiburger, Paramount
Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage.
* * «
Trouble With Women, The (Para)—Ray Milland,
Teresa Wright, Brian Donlevy. This
comedy feature was well received by those
who attended. We were able to buy it at
a price which allowed us to make a little
profit. Played Sat., Sun. Weather: Cold.
E. P. Amundson, Colton Theatre, Colton S. D.
*
Small town and rural patronage.
yWelcome Stranger (Para)—Bing Crosby,
Barry Fitzgerald, Joan Caulfield. Great! This
is 100 per cent entertainment. Barry Fitzgerald
has redeemed himself in this community.
He and Bing make a great twosome.
Average attendance but this was no fault
of the drawing power. The weather had
something to do with it. Played Saturday.
Weather: Cold—30 degrees with a wind.—
E. Rougeau, Club Theatre, Seven Sisters
J.
Falls, Man. Small town and rural patronage.
RKO RADIO
Banjo (RKO)—Sharyn Moffett, Jacqueline
White, Walter Reed. Entertaining, interesting,
and the kids loved it. Good acting by Sharyn
Moffett and two little colored boys. A natural
for us and should be for any small town.
Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Stormy.—R. W.
Burgess, Roxy Theatre, McClusky, N. D. Rural
and small town patronage. * *
Banjo (RKO)—Sharyn Moffett, Jacqueline
White, Walter Reed. This is another good
dog story. Everyone liked Sharyn Moffett
and Banjo. The crowds were small because
of the basketball tournament here. Sorry
more of my patrons could not see it. Played
Wed., Thurs. Weather: Cold.—T. M. Patton,
Scenic Theatre, Lexington, 111. Small town
patronage.
*
Dilemma (RKO)—Ralph Byrd,
Dick Tracy's
Lyle Latell, Kay Christopher. Tracy is always
good here. The new character of Tracy done
by Byrd didn't hurt the series any. Did okay
on this with a double bill, playing it with
"Desperate" on a Wednesday night. Weather:
No good.—D. W. Trisko, Ritz Theatre^
Jerome, Ariz. Mining patronage.
Make Mine Music (RKO)—Talents of Nelson
Eddy, Dinah Shore, Benny Goodman.
RKO made us buy "Make Mine Music" in
order to get "Song of the South" so we double
billed them on a Sun., Mon. Guess how many
walkouts on "Make Mine Music"—42 in all,
which is more walkouts than we've ever had
in our entire two years of theatre business.
Can anyone top this?—Mrs. Lewis Hickok,
Dream Theatre, Effingham, Kas. Small town
patronage.
Night Song (RKO)—Dana Andrews, Merle
Oberon, Ethel Barrymore. A very good picture
but rather dull fare for this town. It has
its good moments but Hoagy Carmichael and
Ethel Barrymore provide the best moments of
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: April 17, 1948
I

—
——
—
the picture. Played Sun., Mon. Weather:
Poor.—E. J.
Petersen, Cozy Theatre, Jeffers,
Minn. Rural and small town patronage. * *
Sinbad the Sailor (RKO)—Douglas Fair-
|{ banks jr., Maureen O'Hara, Walter Slezak.
B A Technicolor picture with lots of action and
entertaining all the way. However, it failed
ll
K to go over here. If you can buy it right, it's
• cfgood deal. Played Friday the 13th—maybe
it was just that kind of luck with ... us.—Charles
US.—Charles
Osborne, USDOrne, Presidio ritJtjiuiu Theatre, inckauc. Presidio, Tex.
Small border town patronage.
Trail Street (RKO)—Randolph Scott, Robert
Ryan, Anne Jeffreys. Here is another one of
those super-westerns and the people really
went for it, especially the kids at the matinee.
Randolph Scott is a great favorite here and
this one brought him more followers. If your
patrons like action-packed westerns, here is
one that you'll never forget. Played Fri., Sat.
Weather: Fine.—George Mackenzie, York
liieatre, Hantsport, N. S. Small town patronage.
REPUBLIC
Angel and the Badman (Rep)—John Wayn3,
Gail Russell, Harry Carey. We had this one
booked a long while ago and it was booked
again and am I ever glad it was. A good
crowd and folks enjoyed the show very
much. The rental was too high for the picture
but it pleased everybody and I guess
that's what counts. Played Wed., Thurs.
Weather: Fine.—George Mackenzie, York
Theatre, Hantsport, N. S. Small town patronage.
*
Fabulous Texan, The (Rep)—William Elliott,
John Carroll, Catherine McLeod. The
best picture that Bill Elliott and John Carroll
ever made. Comments were very good. It
should easily win as one of the 12 best pictures
of the year. Played Sat., Sun. Weather:
Cool.—I. Brazil jr., New Theatre, Bearden,
Ark. Small town patronage. « * *
That's My Gal (Rep)—Lynne Roberts, Donald
Barry. This film arrived uninspected and
unrewound. That's bad enough to start with,
but it just kept getting worse. Roberts and
Barry read lines like high school sophomores,
Trucolor was jaundiced, story and dialog
fantastically bad. Business our second night
was only 50 per cent of the first. Played
Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fine.—Don Risch,
Reno Theatre, Appleton, Minn. Village and
rural
*
patronage.
Trail to San Anfone (Rep)—Gene Autry,
Peggy Stewart, Sterling Holloway. Gene does
not take as well as he did before the war
something is missing. This is the first Autry
here for a long time and I expected above
average attendance but it fell below. Played
Fri., Sat. Weather: Good.—E. J. Petersen,
Cozy Theatre, Jeffers, Minn. Rural and small
town patronage. * *
SRO
Duel in the Sun (SRO)—Gregory Peck, Jennifer
Jones, Joseph Gotten. Well, we got a
very good print on this one and SRO is a
swell company to do business with, but boy,
what a picture! We had 79 people in all
and about half of these walked out before it
was half through, and the other half said
they wished they hadn't come. Played Thursday.
Weather: Very nice.—Orin J. Sears,
*
Apache Theatre, Elida, N. M.
20th CENTURY-FOX
How Green Was My Valley (20lh-Fox)—
Reissue. Walter Pidgeon, Maureen O'Hara,
Donald Crisp. This is a good picture but I
didn't go overboard for it as I had expected.
The photography was very dark. It's just
a good all-around picture that pleased average
attendance. Played Saturday. Weather:
Good.—J. E. Rougeau, Club Theatre, Seven
Sisters Falls, Man. Small town and rural patronage.
* * *
Swamp Water (20th-Fox)—Reissue. Walter
Brennan, Walter Huston, Anne Baxter. Another
oldie that did okay despite the fact
it was the Wednesday of Holy week. The
prints are good and we found lot^; that
hadn't seen it and some that came back to
see it over again. Played Wednesday.
Weather: Good— D. W. Trisko, Ritz Theatre,
Jerome, Ariz. Mining patronage. * *
Three Little Girls in Blue (20th-Fox)—June
Haver, George Montgomery, Vivian Blaine.
Fox has come through again with another
good musical. Everyone enjoyed this tremendously
and all we heard for days afterward
was everyone humming "The Boardwalks
of Atlantic City." They also had the
orchestra play it repeatedly at the dance a
week later. Played Wedi,, Thurs. Weather:
Fair.—E. N. Holmberg, Regal Theatre, Sturgis,
*
Sask. Rural patronage
UNITED ARTISTS
Angel on My Shoulder (UA)—Paul Muni,
Anne Baxter, Claude Rains. Struck a bad
night, with a heavy storm two hours before
the show started, which kept everyone from
the country away, and a few from town did
come, but not enough to warrant showing the
picture. Nothing wrong with the picture
plenty good for weekend and the film extra
good, sound perfect, and Muni and Baxter
superb. Played Wednesday. Weather: Bad,"
—W. H. Swan, Auditorium Theatre, Roscoe,
S. D. Rural patronage. * *
Copacabana (UA)—Groucho Marx, Carmen
Miranda, Steve Cochran. We only ran this
one day and am I glad! Any more than one
day and we would have been bankrupt.
There is only one word for this—rotten.
Groucho Marx needs his brothers and the
/ Want More 'Stinkers/
Says Russell Wright
HOLLYWOOD B.\RN DANCE (SG) —
Ernest Tubb, Lori Talbott,
Helen Boyce.
Every review says this is a punk show,
including: the one in BOXOFFICE, but
don't you believe it. If your theaXre is
located, in a rural area, it's great. They
love it and come in droves, even though
business is bad and everyone is on relief.
Ernest Tubb is a big drawing card and
don't yOu forget it. Actually, it is not
a bad show and for hUlbiUy music, it is
the best we've ever seen. Yes, we want
more of these "stinkers." Lots more!
Russell Wright, Rancho Theatre, Farmersville,
Calif. Small town and rural patronage.
*
whole show should be put away and forgotten.
If you want to please your crowds, stay
away from this one. Played Saturday.
Weather: Rain.—George Mackenzie, York
Theatre, Hantsport, N. S. Small town patronage.
*
Stork Bites Man (UA)—Jackie Coogan, Gene
Roberts, Sarah Selby. This is a good program
comedy that drew 200 per cent of
normal for the winter months. This is the
first midweek of good weather we have had.
How nice that winter has fled! Played Wed.,
Thurs. Weather: Perfect.—E. J. Petersen, Cozy
Theatre, Jeffers, Minn. Rural and small town
patronage. * *
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL
I'll Be Yours (U-I)—Deanna Durbin, William
Bendix, Tom Drake. This is our first show
with Deanna Durbin in it and we had average
crowds. Why don't film companies put
her in some good musicals and not the second
class kind? None of the actors had
good ports and people thought the show
was ruined because of that. Come on. Universal.
Let's have better parts for your better
actors. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fine.
George Mackenzie, York Theatre, Hantsport,
*
N. S. Small town patronage.
Something in the Wind (U-I)—Deanna Durbin,
Donald O'Connor, John Dall. My com-
Leise Says Public Begs
For More Family Films
SCUDDA HOO: SCUDDA HAY! (20th-
Fox)—June Haver, Lon McCallister, Anne
Revere. A swell picture that everyone
liked—simple, wholesome, and, acceptable
for anyone. What a relief from the
heavy, sordid dramas and murder stories
which the public is sick of, as the boxoffice
always shows. The public is hungry
and begs for more family pictures
and good comedies. Played Sun, Mon.,
Tues. Weather: Fair.—Leonard J. Leise,
Rand Theatre, Randolph, Neb. Rural
and small town patronage. * * *
petitor had a super-western, the weather was
against me, and Durbin was in the picture
therefore, no business. It's a very enjertaining
picture for the whole family, especially
with O'Connor. Played Sun., Mon. Weather:
Bad,.—Ralph Raspa, State Theatre, Rivesville,
W. Va. Rural patronage.
WARNER BROS.
Always Together (WB)—Robert Hutton,
Joyce Reynolds, Cecil Kellaway. Business
was very poor for an Easter playdate. People
thought the feature cute. Easter usually
meant plenty of money to me before but with
film rental so high, it's impossible. Played
Sun., Mon. Weather: Good.—Ralph Raspa,
State Theatre, Rivesville, W. Va. Small town
patronage.
Cry WoH (WB)—Errol Flynn, Barbara Stanwyck,
Richard Basehart. Excellent heavy
drama that controls your interest from beginning
to end. You really get more out of
this feature than any I have seen in a long
time. Played Fri., Sat., Sun.—C. M. Garrett,
Yandell Theatre, El Paso, Tex. Family poj
tronage.
Doggone Cats (WB)—Short. I'm taking
time out now to congratulate Warner Bros,
on their Cinecolor. All my Cinecolor shows
have been poor and many break but if all
the Cinecolor shows were as good as this
short, I wouldn't hcrve any kick coming. Why
don't you other film companies get a few
pointers from Warner Bros.? Played Fri., Sat.
Weather: Fine.—George Mackenzie, York
Theatre, Hantsport, N. S. Small town patronage.
MISCELLANEOUS
Let There Be Light (SR)—Cheryl Walker.
And boy, there was light—in the old boxoffice,
way past the usual hours. Weary of
watching our competitors draw our customers
with this type of picture while we played
. to empty seats and upheld our dignity, we
'
took this one on and proved conclusively that
folks will still venture past the boxoffice if
you have what they want to see. I was
surprised to see them pour out of "them thor
hills." True, they were not the same people
we bend over backwards trying to please
most of the time, but they used the same
kind of money. I read) the distributors had
some trouble or other in Omaha with the
censors (those "Holier-than-thou" people who
see everything free that you shouldn't see at
any price). Of course this sounds faintly like
the old 'banned-in-Boston ballyhoo that I
have used at times myself to put over a
doubtful one, but this little B picture has a
good moral lesson and we had customers
bring their young folks out to see it the second
night, when we held it over by popular
request.
If this picture would demoralize the good
people of Omaha, their morals must be tottering
on the brink, as it shows to adults only.
The censors up in Omaha should see some
of the cartoons that we have shown recently
that are supposed to be made for children!
J. Bye Coverston, Cherokee Theatre, Southwest
City, Mo. Rural and small town patronage.
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: April 17, 1948

FEATURE CHART
Feature productions, listed by company, in order of release. Number in souarei^BBHMr
release date. Production number is at right. Number in parentheses ia running tima]]
furnished by home oiiice oi distributor: checkup with local exchanges is recommend
R—is review date. PG— ip Picture Guide page number. Symbol W indicates BOXOFIJ
Blue Ribbon Award Winner. Symbol ® indicates color photography.
r JUNE 21
JUNE 28
Reissue
1^ (71) Comedy 704
(84) Drama 736
gH HEARTACHES
SOUTH OF PAGO PAGO C. WUls-S. Ryan
Victor McLagleo R—July 12—PG-838
JooHall
1^ (56) Outdr-Dr 753
Frances Farmer
PIONEER JUSTICE
B—July 5—PG-836
^
[19] (69) Musical 815 (68) Drama 811 (56) Western 869
U]
LITTLE MISS
SPORT OF KINGS STRANGER FROM
BROADWAY B—June 21—PG-832 PONCA CITY
Jean Porter
|6j (66) West-Mus 853 Clurles Starrett
John SbeltOD
Smiley Burnette
Butta DoaoeUy
SWiNG THE WESTERN
Virginia Hunter
WAY
B—July 6—Pa-835
^
(103) Mus-Com 725
LIVING IN A BIG WAY
Gene Kelly
Marie McDonald
Charles VVlnnlnger
B—June r—PO-826
ll]
(83) Drama 620
HIGH CONQUEST
Gilbert Buland
Anna Lee
Warren Douglajj
R—Mar. 22— PO-804
M (66) M'drama 4623
DANGER STREET
Jane Withers
Kobert Lowery
B—Mar. 1—PO-I98
Hoosler Uolsbot^
B—July 6—PO-835
g
(S3) Western 677
CODE OF THE SADDLE
Johnny Mack BrowTl
Kay Morley
Haymond Hattou
^
JULY 5
(80) Rom -Com 4614
[4] (96) Com-Dr 4615
THE TROUBLE WITH ©PERILS OF PAULINE
WOMEN
Belty HultoD
lUy Milland
.lohn Lund
Teresa Wright
Brian Donievy
R—May 17—PO-819
[T| (98) Drama 726
CYNTHIA
Elizabeth Taylor
.Mary Aslor
George Murphy
B— May 17—P«-819
Reissues
[5] (70) Drama 402
DILLINGER
Lawrence Tlerney
[5] (83) Drama 3803
MUTINY IN THE BIG
HOUSE
Charles Blckford
William Demarest
R—May 24—PO-822
JULY 12
\w\ (68) Drama 803
KEEPER OF THE BEES
Micliael Duane
Gloria Henry
Harry Davenport
R—July 6—PG-835
IT2] (64) Comedy 711
GAS HOUSE
WEST
KIDS GO
ChUl Williams
Gas House Kids
William Wright
B—July 6—PO-841
JULY 19
(87) Drama 838
©GUNFIGHTERS
Randolph Scott
Barbara Britton
Bruce Cabot
R—June 14—PG-830
[I8] (104) Mus-Dr 727
©FIESTA
Esther WUUams
Iticardo Montalban
.Mary Astor
Cyd Charlsse
B^lune 14—PO-830
m (88) Comedy 621
KILROY WAS HERE
Jackie Cooper
Jackie C)oogan
Wanda McKay
B-^uly 5—PO-836
^
(96) Corned; 4616
DEAR RUTH
Joan Caulfleld
William Holden
Edward Arnold
Billy De Wolfe
B—May 31—PO-824
JULY 26
M (58) Western 754
GHOST TOWN RENE-
GADES
R—Aug. 9—PG-845
^ (86) Drama 106
CARAVAN
Stewart Granger
R—Sept. 6—PO-853
g
Reprint
(103) Musical 723
THE GREAT WALTZ
Lulse BaUier
Fernand Gravel
M (42) Docum 666
©THUNDERBOLT
James Stewart
(63) Drama 4624
ncOVER BIG TOWN
Philip Reed
Hillary Brooke
Robert Lowery
R—Mar. 1—PG-795
AUGUST 2
^
(77) Drama 837
©LAST OF THE
REDMEN
Jon Hall
Michael O'Shea
EveU'o Ankers
R—Aug. 2—PO-844
(115) Drama 728
THE HUCKSTERS
Clark Gable
Deborah Kerr
Keenan Wyno
Sydney Greenstreet
R—June 28—PQ-843
AUGUST3
[7] (69) Drtm (
THE SON OF Rt)4
Ted Honaldaoa
Stephen Dunne
Ann Doran
R—Aug. 16—PQ-i
(106) Droa
ROMANCE OF H
RIDGE
Van Johnson
Janet Leigh
Ihomas Mitchell
R—July 5—PQ-t
(106) Drama m
OWELCOMESTRfSQ
Bing Crosby
Barry Fitzgerald
Joan Caulfleld
R—April 26— P(l^(,_,
I
Group 6
(71) Drama 727
WOMAN ON THE
BEACH
Joan Bennett
Charles BIcliford
Robert Ryan
R—May 17—PG-820
|i6| (72) Western 684
SADDLE PALS
Gene Autry
Lynne Roberta
B-^une 21— PG-831
gg (72) Mus-C!om 4701
HOLLYWOOD BARN
DANCE
Ernest Tubb
Lorl Talbott
Earl Hodglns
R—June 7—PO-827
^
(91) Drama 615
NORTHWEST OUTPOST
Nelson Eddy
Ilona Massey
R—Maj 17—PG-819
Group 6
(73) Drama 728
DESPERATE
Steve Brodie
Audrey Long
R—May 17—PO-820
m (58) Western 666
RUSTLERS OF DEVIL'S
CANYON
Allan Laiie
R—July 12—PO-837
[3] (71) Drama 619
THE TRESPASSER
B—July 12—PO-837
[12] (44) Mys-Com 4617
HAT BOX MYSTERY
Tom Neal
Allen Jenbuis
Pamela Blake
R—Jan. 3—PG-888
Group 6
Group 6
Group 6
(60) Drama 729 (60) Western 730 (95) Mys-Dr 726
DICK TRACY'S THUNDER MOUNTAIN THEY WON'T BELIEVE
DILEMMA
Tim Holt
ME
Ralph Byrd
.Martha Hyer
Robert Young
Kay (Srlstopher
Richard Martin
Susan Hayward
laii Keith
R—May 24—PG-822 Jane Greer
B—May 24—Pa-822
BIta Johnson
B—May 17—PG-820
[l6| (75) Western 646 g (67) Drama 617 \T] (84) 8utd'r-Dr 618
©SPRINGTIME IN THE BLACKMAIL
WYOMING
SIERRAS
William Marshall
Vera Balston
Roy Rogers-Jane Frazee Adele Mara
fflUlara Elliott
B—Aug. 2—PG-843 B—Aug. 16—PO-847 John Carroll
[I|] (71) Western 685
R—Aug. 2—PO-84S
ROBINHOOD OF TEXAS
R—Sept. 13—PG-855
Reissue
[19] (65) Western HC12
BAR 20 JUSTICE
William Boyd
Russell Haj'den
George Hayes
|e| (40) Mys-Com 4618
CASE OF THE BABY
SITTER
Tom Neal
Allen Jenkins
Pamela Blake
[g (71) Com-Dr 4702
KILLER DILL
Stuart Erwln
Anne Gwynne
Frank Albertson
B—May 17—PQ-819
Group 1
(80) Drama
RIFF-RAFF
Put O'Brien
Anne Jeffreys
R—June 14—PO-I
im
Re-release
(95) Drama
WESTERN UNION
Robert Young
Randolph Scott
Dean Jagger
Virginia Gllmore
John C^rradlne
71S
(99) Drama 721
MEET ME AT DAWN
WlUiom Eythe
Hazel Court
Margaret Rutherford
(76) Drama 722
THE CRIMSON KEY
Kent Taylor
Doris DowUng
Dennis Hoey
Louise Currle
B—July 12—PG-838
(104) Musical 723
©I WONDER WHO'S
KISSING HER NOW
June Haver
Mark Stevens
Martha Stewart
Reginald Gardiner
R—June 21—PO-832
(72) Comedy
STORK BITES MAN
Jackie Cooper
Gene Roberts
R—Aug. 23—PG-849
[19] (96) Drama
THE OTHER LOVE
Barbara Stanwyck
David Nlven
R—Apr. 12—PO-810
m (60) Western
HOPPY'S HOLIDAY
William Boyd
Andy Clsdt
R—May 24—PG-821
(133) Musletl
HALL
in
(JARNEGIE
Willhim Prince
M.irshn Hunt
Concert etar»
R—Mar. 8—PO-
(99) Drama 616
IVY
Joan Fontalnt
Patric Knowles
R—June 14—PG-8S9
(67) Outd'r-Dr 618
©VIGILANTES RETURN
Jon Hall
Margaret Llndsajr
B—June 7—PO-827
(118) Drama 619
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
John Mills
Valerie Hobson
B—AprU S—PG-807
(98) Drama 620
( 30) Drama
BRUTE FORCE ©SLAVE GIRL
Burt Lancaster
Yvonne De Carl*
Hume Oonyn
George Brent
B—June 28—PO-833 R—July 26—PO-8
(98) Drama Reissue
CHEERS FOR MISS
BISHOP
Martha 8u>tt
(64) Westefti New Bel
DEADLINE
Sunset Carson
Pat Btuilag
[|] (108) Druu 623
THE UNFAITHFUL
Ann Sheridan
Zachary Scott
L«w AjTes
B—May 31—PO-834
(62) Western New Rel
FIGHTING MUSTANG
Sunset Carson
Pat Stirling
(70) Com Reissue
IT PAYS TO BE FUNNY
Bob Hope
Milton Berle
(70) Comedy Reissue
LI'L ABNER
Hartlia O'Drlscoll
Edgar Kennedy
(67) Musical Reissue
ROAD TO HOLLYWOOD
Blng Crosby
R—Mar. 1—PO-796
(86) Mu9-Dr Reissue
SECOND CHORUS
Paulette Goddard
Fred Astalre
(60) Western New Bel
WESTERN TERROR
Dave "Tei" OBrleu
Buzzy Henry
(108) Drama 624
HJ
POSSESSED
Joan Crawford
Van Heflhi
Raymond Massey
Geraldlne Brooks
B—June 7—PG-825
(69) Western Belssue
GHOST TOWN
Harry Carey
(89) Mus-Ckim Belssue
JIMMY STEPS OUT
James Stewart
Paulette Goddard
Reissues
^ (81)
Drutt
MARKED WOMikNB

w
CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES FEATURE CHART
SGUST 16
[{,) Western 870 nil
(67) Mus-West 851
OF THE SMOKY RIVER
STAR
SERENADE
plwrett
Hoosier Holshota
||lumette
Taul Campbell
I Hunter
Ruth Terry
II— Aiic. 23— rG-850
1) Drama 107
jrALLION
jPlige
HNash
26— l'G-841
m
AUGUST 23
(63) Comedy 71;
GAS HOUSE KIDS IN
HOLLYWOOD
Carl •Alfalfa" Swltzer
Benny Bartlett
Rudy Wlssler
Tommy Bond
R—Sept. 6— PO-883
^
AUGUST 30
(68) Mystery 709
PHILO VANCE'S
SECRET MISSION
Alan Curtis
Sheila Ryan
||'r;ink Jenks
R—Mar. 27—PG-»1(S
SEPTEMBER 8
(65) Mystery 821
U]
BULLDOG DRUMWOND
STRIKES BACK
Ron RandeU
Gloria Henry
II—Aug. 23—PG-850
SEPTEMBER 13
SEPTEMBER 20
SEPTEMBER 27
^
(68) Mus-Com 825
WHEN A GIRL'S
BEAUTIFUL
Adele Jergeofl
Marc Piatt
I'utrlca White
Stephen Dunne
R—Sept. 27—PG-859
(72) Drama 710
f§ AILROADEO
John Ireland
II—Oct 18— P0-8e
OCTOBER 4~|
m (931 Com-Myst 802
GREEN FOR DANGER
Sally Gray-Trevor Howard
R—Aug 16—PO-848
m
[T] ((86) Comedy 801
SONGG OF THE THIN
MAN
William Powell
Myrna Loy
Keenan Wynn
R— AUB. 2—PG-S44
m (87) MysUry 803
THE ARNELO AFFAIR
John Hodlak
George Murphy
Frances Glfford
R—Feb. 15— PO-790
[T| (118) Drama 802
©UNFINISHED DANCE
.Margaret O'Brien
Cyd Charlsse
Karln Booth
R—Aug. 9—PG-846
I,i1 16) Drams 4617
'^D ERT FURY
I' h Scott
odiak
ncaster
i. 2—ro-844
g
(67) M'draraa 4625 (93) Musical
JUNGLE FLIGHT VARIETY GIRL
Robert Lowery
Paramount stars
Ann Savage
Mary Hatcher
R—Mar. 1—PO-795 Olga San Juan
R—July 19—PG-840
4618
fe] (65; Drama
ROBIN HOOD OF
MOtJTEREY
Gilbert Roland
Evelyn Brent
Chrls-Pln Martin
623
(I^ (68) Drama 622
NEWS HOUNDS
Leo Gurcey
Oilr.stine Mclntyre
Bowery Boys
R—June 21—PO-831
Allied Artists
(le) (89) Outd'r-Dr AA2
[7] (53) Western 685
RIOIN'
BLACK GOLD
DOWN THE
Anthony Quinn
TRAIL
R—June 28—PG-833
Jimmy Wakely
"Cannonball" Taylor
^ (59) Western 673
Beverly Johns
FLASHING GUNS
R—Jan. 31—PQ-898
g (82) Drama 4701
WILD HARVEST
Alan Ladd
Dorothy Lamour
Robert Preston
Lloyd Nolan
R—Aug. 9—PG-845
(jroi 1
( 1 Western 805
UNIR THE TONTO
nin'olt
Niti eslte
H-ine 14-Pa-S29
58) Western 667
jTahal of cripple
(lEK
til Urie-Bobby Bl.ike
;. 23—rG-849
9) Drama 620
.(.PRETENDER
K-Hij. 30—PG-851
Group 1
(68) Drama
SEVEN KEYS TO
BALDPATE
Phillip Terry
Ciiiire Trevor
II—June 7—PG 826
Group 1
804 (36) Dram.1 802
CROSSFIRE
Robert Young
Robert Mltchum
Itobert Ryan
Gloria Grahame
Sam Levene
R^Iune 28—PG-833
13^ (64) Western 651
©ALONG THE OREGON
TRAIL
Monte Hale
Adrain Booth
It—Sept 13—PQ-855
Group 1
(96) Comedy 801
UBACHELOR AND THE
BOBBY-SOXER
Ciirv Grant
Alyrna Loy
Shirley Temple
I!—.lune 7— PG-826
(107) JIuslcal 7;
SMOTHER WORE
TIGHTS
Betty Grahle
Dan Dalley
Mona Freeman
R—Aug 30—Pa-852
Special
(97) Drama
THE LONG NIGHT
Henry l''onda
Barbara Bel Geddes
Ann Dvorak
Vincent Price
R—June 7—PG-826
861
Ul (69) Drama 629 ^ (90) Drama 621
EXPOSED
DRIFTWOOD
.\dele Mara
Ruth Warrick
Robert Scott
Walter Brennao
R—Sept 20— P0.8S7 Dean Jagger
R—Nov. 15—PO-784
Reissues
Herald (Neoro)
[l3l (55) Drama S-1
g (69) Mus-Com X-2
RACKETEES
BOY, WHAT A GIRL'
Preston Foster
Tim Moore
MehwTi Doaglas
Elwood Smith
[13] (74) Drama S-2 Sheila Guyse
CALL IT MURDER
Humphrey Bogart
Duke William
R—Feb. 15—PG-TOn
Richard Whorf
Special
(106) Comedy 851
OQSECRET LIFE OF
WALTER MITTY
Danny Kaye
Virginia Mayo
R—July 19—PG-840
(99) Drama 725 Reissue
Reissue
KISS OF DEATH
(1181 Drama 727 (90) Drama
Victor Mature HOW GREEN WAS MY SWAMP WATER
Brian Donlevy
VALLEY
Walter Brennan
Coleen Gray
Walter Pidgeon
Walter Huston
R—Aug, 16—PG-847 (62) Drama 726 Anne Baxter
SECOND CHANCE Dana Andrews
R^uly 26—rO-842
jT] (59) Western 751
THE WILD FRONTIER
Allan "Rocky" Lane
Eddie Waller
Jack Holt
R—Oct. 11—Pa-863
jT] (1191 Drama 729
728 FOXES OF HARROW
Re\ Harrison
Maureen O'Hara
Richard Haydn
Victor McLa^len
Vanessa Brown
R—Sept 27—PG-859
(112) Comedies
H^
©COMEDY CARNIVAL
Walter Abel
Margot Grahame
R—Aug 30—PG-851
(102)
[U
Drama
PERSONAL COLUMN
(formerly LURED)
George Sanders
Lucille Ball
Charles Cobum
R—July 19—PQ-839
(in (93) Comedy
HEAVEN ONLY KNOWS
Robert Cummlngs
Brian Donlevy
Marjorle Reynolds
R—Aug 2—P()-84S
(89) Comedy
MAD WEDNESDAY
Harold Lloyd
Frances Ramsden
R—Feb. 22—P(^702
(89) Musical 621
SOMETHING IN THE
WIND
Deanna Durbin
John Dall
Donald O'(?onnor
R—,luly 26—PG-842
(79) Drama 622
SINGAPORE
I'red MacMurray
.\va Gardner
Richard Haydn
R—Aug 16—PO-848
(98) Drama 624
FRIEDA
David Farrar
Glynls Johns
Flora Robson
R—Aug. 30—PO-862
(101) Drama 625
RI()E THE PINK HORSE
Robert Montgomery
Wanda Hendrli
B—Sept. 20—PO-887
(H) Drama 625
WOLF
Plyno
B

|
FEATURE CHART
J
OCTOBER 11
OCTOBER 18
^
OCTOBER 25
(67) Drama 905 (55) Wesnw 961 (1011 -Musical 930 (77) Western 981
[U
KEY WITNESS BUCKAROO FROM ©DOWN TO EARTH LAST ROUNDUP
IJ.
John Beal
POWDER RIVER
Havwortli-L, Parks Cene Autry
Trudy Marshall
li—Nov. 15— l'li-873 U—Aug. 8— l'G-844 "Champion"
.llmmy Lloyd
[i|] (67) Comedy 911
^ (68) Musical 918 .lean Heather
R—Sept. 6—PG-854 BLONDIE IN THE SWEET
it—Oct.
GENEVIEVE H—PG-863
DOUGH
J. Porter-J. Lydon
I!—Sept. 27—PO-859 H—Sept. 20— Pa-868
[it] (82) Comedy 805
(118) Drama 804
(lo]
SONG OF LOVE MERTON OF THE
Katharine Hepburn MOVIES
Paul Henreid
Red Skelton
Virginia O'Brien
Robert Walker
R—July
R—July 26—PQ-841
19—PG-839
^
[n] (72) Drama 470) (72) Comedy 4702 S5] (55) Drama 678
HIGH TIDE
JOE PALOOKA IN THE PRAIRIE EXPRESS
Don Ca.'itle
KNOCKOUT
.loiirmy Mack Brown
Anabel Shaw
Virginia Beimont
.loe KIrkffood jr
I>ee Tracy
Elyse Knox
liayuiond Ilatlon
R— Auk, 9—Pa-845 Leon Errol
R—Aug. 30—rG-851
NOVEMBER 1
[il] (87) Comedy 801
|Ts| (68) Drama 803 gs) (5S) Western 530 [I] (67) Outd'r-Dr 804
OUT OF THE BLUE BURY me DEAD CHEYENNE TAKES 0RETURN OF RIN TIN
Brent-Mayo-Bey
Mark Daniels
OVER
TIN
Ft—Sept. 6—PG-853 li—Oct. 11— PG-8G4 Al "La.sh" La Rue R—Nov. 8—PG-871
[u] (S3) Western 755 |I8] (61) Western 756
^ (58) Western 851 [T) (52) Western 758
RETURN OF THE LASH FIGHTING VIGILANTES BLACK HILLS
STAGE TO MESA CITY
Al "Lash" La Rue
Al "La.-ih" La liire Eddie Dean
Al La Rue
R— Nov. 15—PG-873 It— .Nov. 29— PG-877
R—Jan. 31—PG-896
(91) Drama 807
Hg
DESIRE ME
(liier Garson
lloberl Mltchum
Rlcliard Hart
R—Sept. 27—PG-880
\T\ (85) Drama 4703
LOUISIANA
Guv. Jimrnle Davis
.Margaret Lindsay
R—Aug. 16—PG-847
CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES
NOVEMBER 8
1S6) Comedy 929 [n] (68) Mjstcry 917
HER HUSBANDS LONE WOLF IN
AFFAIRS
LONDON
R—July 26— PG-841 Gerald Mohr
[g] (TO) Musical 919 Nancy Saunders
TWO BLONDES AND
R—Jan. 17—PG-892
A REDHEAD
l;— Dec. 27— PG-885
Reissues
\a] (110) Drama 735
MAN IN THE IRON
MASK
[g] (76) Drama 740
GENTLEMAN AFTER
DARK
;8j (66) Drama 624
KING OF THE
BANDITS'
Gilbert Roland
Angela Greene
Martin
Chris-Pin
NOVEMBER 15 NOVEMBER 22 NOVEMBERS
^ (56) Western 964 Ht] (66) Mysteryi
LAST DAYS OF BOOT
HILL
Charles Starrett
Smiley Burnette
li—Feb. 14—PG-900
[Ts] (89) Drama 805
|22] (62) Drama 807 g (58) Western
WHISPERING CITY BLONDE SAVAGE SHADOW VALLEY
i'aul Lukas
Lief Erickson
Eddie Dean
R—Nov. 22—PG-876 Gale Sherwood
It—Dec. 6—PQ.88i
R—Oct.
[j5] (81) Drama 806 11—PG-864
LOVE FROM A
STRANGER
R—Nov. 15—PG-873
^
(104) Musical 808 |2T] (141) Drama 811
©THIS TIME FOR GREEN DOLPHIN
KEEPS
STREET
Esther Williams
Lana Turner
Jimmy Durante
Richard Hart
Lauritz Melchior
Van Heflin
Johnnie Johnston
Donna Reed
It—Oct. 4—PG-861 R—Oct. 18—PG-865
|22| (65) Com-Dr_ 625
BOWERY BUCKAROOS
L. Gorcey-Bowery Boys
Allied Artists
(86) Drama AA3
THE GANGSTER
Belita-B. Sullivan
R—Oct. 4—PG-862
CRIME DOCTOR'S
GAMBLE
Warner Baxter
Micheline Oieirel
Roger Dann
Steven Ceray
R—Dec. 13— PG-8S
'
[To] (67) M'drama 4702
©ADVENTURE ISLAND
Itory Calhoun
Rhonda Fleming
Paul Kelly
R—Aug. 23—Pa-850
|l] (95) Drama 470?
GOLDEN EARRINGS
Ray Milland
Marlene Dietrich
R—Aug. 30—PG-852
|2l] (80) Comedy 4704
ii^WHERE THERE'S
LIFE
Bob Hope
Signe Hasso
William Bendix
R—Oct. 11—PG-864
Special
(73) Comedy 891
©FUN AND FANCY
FREE
Kdgar Bergen
Dinah Shore
Luana Patten
II—Aug. 23—PO-849
Special
(1113) Comedy
867
MAGIC TOWN
lames Slewart
Jane Wjman
R—Aug. 30—Pa-851
Special
(89) Comedy 864
MAN
ABOUT TOWN
.Maurice Chevalier
Francois Perler
Vlarcelle Derrien
R—Oct. 25—PG-867
Group 2
(65) Mystery
DICK TRACY
GRUESOME
MEF
Ralph Byrd
Burls Karloff
Ann Gwynn
R—Oct. 4—po-sei
(75) Outd'r-Mus 648
15J
©ON THE OLD SPAN
ISH TRAIL
Roy Rogers
Tito Guizar
Jane Frazee
Vndy Dcvlne
R—Nov, 1—PG-87D
[n] (78) Drama 4704 Herald (Negro)
THE BURNING CROSS [Tsl (70) Musical X-1
Hank Daniels
SEPIA CINDERELLA
Virginia Fatten
lillly Daniels
H—July 26—PQ-842 Sheila Guyse
Tondftlayo
Ruble Blikey
R—Aug. 0—PG-84B
g
(71) Mys-Dr 4703
DRAGNET
Henry WUcoxon
Mary Brian
Vtrlgnla Dale
Douglass Dumbrllle
R—July 12—PG-838
Reissue
[§] (77) Western HC15
THE FRONTIERSMAN
William Boyd
Gahby Hayes
Russell Htyden
[9] (95) Drama 624
THE FABULOUS TEXAN
William Elliott
John Carroll
Catiierine McLeod
Albert Dekker
R—Nov. 15—PG-873
^ (97) Drama
THE FLAME
.hilm Carroll
Vera Ralston
Robert Paige
Broderick Crawford
R—Jan. 17—PG-891
Reissue
(69) Western I
ID
SUNSET TRAIL
William Boyd
Gabby Hayes
Russell Hayden
Reissues
|lo] (93) Drama 740
THE MARK OF ZORRO
Po\ter-Darnel]
|lo] (103) Drama 741
DRUMS ALONG THE
MOHAWK
Claudette Colbert
(123) Comedy
MONSIEUR VERDOUX
Charles Chaplin
Martha Raye
R—Apr. 26—Pa-813
[15] (73) Drama 732 Special
THE INVISIBLE WALL g (140) Drama 733
R—Oct. 16—PG-865 ©FOREVER AMBER
[li] (111) Drama 730 Linda Darnell
NIGHTMARE ALLEY Cornel Wilde
TjTone Power
Richard Greene
Joan Biondell
George Sanders
R—Oct. 18—PG-SC5 R—Oct. IS—PC-SC6
(90) Drama
CHRISTMAS EVE
Onrge Raft
Georce Brent
Jo.111 Blnndell
Randolph Scott
R—Oov. 8— PO-8T3
(104) Dnma
BODY AND SOUL
Jolin Garfield
Lllll Palmer
R—Aug. 16—PG-848
,(80) Drania-Docura
THE ROOSEVELT
STORY
Kenneth Lynch
Ed Begley
Canada Lee
R—July 12—PO-837
|7] (103) Drama !l
©SHEPHERD OFTh.
VALLEY
Lon McCallister
Edmund Gwenn
I'egpy Ann Garner
R—June 14—PO-83(
(78) Comedy 628
WISTFUL WIDOW OF
WAGON GAP
Abbott 4 Costelln
Marjnrie Main
Audrey Young
R—Oct. 4—PO-8fi2
(92) Drama 630
THE EXILE
Douglas Fairbanks ]r.
Maria Montez
i'auie Croset
R—Oct. 25—PO-868
(86) Drama 631
THE UPTURNED GLASS
James Mason
Rosamund John
Pamela Kellino
Ann Stephens
R—Nov. 1—PG-869
\n\ (103) Drama 706
THE UNSUSPECTED
Joan Caulfleld
Claude Rains
Audrey Totter
Hurd H.atfleld
R—Sept. 20— PO-858
(T] (83) Drama 707
THAT HAGEN GIRL
Ronald Reagan
Shirley Temple
Uory Calhoun
R—Oct. 25—PG-g68
|22] (101) Drama 70S
ESCAPE ME NEVER
Errol Flynn
Eleanor Parker
Ida Luplno
Gig Young
R—Nov. 8—PG-871
(140) Drama
_ ©DUEL IN THE SUN
\J Jennifer Jones
K Gregory Peck
W Joseph Cotten
Lionel Biirrvmnre
R—Jan, 11— PG-780
CQ
(48) Drama
lU'll Pict, Corp,
GIRL ON THE CANAL
R— Nov, 20- Pr,-877
(68) Donim-Dr
Eng, Films
SCHOOL FOR DANGER
R— Nov, 29- PG-S78
(61) Docum-Dr
Erg, Films
CHILDREN ON TRIAL
R—Nov, 29— PG-878
(80) Musical
Four Continents
SPRINGTIME
R—Feb, 14— PG-902
u
to
(85) Drama
Jewish Nafl Fund
MY FATHER'S HOUSE
R—Oct. 4—PG-861
(70) Alexander Drama
THE FIGHT NEVER
ENDS
R—M.ar. 6—PG-909
PS
a
Sept. (85) Western 1208
LADY IN A JAM
Irene Dunne
Ralph Bellamy
Sept. (89) Western 1121
LADY FROM CHEYENNE
Loretta Young
Robert Preston
Oct. (71) Myst-Dr ll
BLACK FRIDAY
Boris Karloff
Bela Lugost
Oct. (72) Myst-Dr II
THE BLACK CAT
Alan Ladd
Basil Rathlmne
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: April 17, 1948j

CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGE
FEATURE CHART

I
FEATURE CHART
CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES
I
JANUARY 31
(94) Drama 934
LOVE TROUBLE
F. Tonc-J. Blair
R—Feb. 28—PC-905
(72) Drama 933
©PRINCE OF
J. Hall—P. Morlson
R—Dec. (!—PO-878
(85) Drama 811
|3il [7] (83) Drama 812 [H] (70) Drama 813 |2i| (56) Western 854 (80) Drama 814 [e] (71) Drama 815
©THE SMUGGLERS ADVENTURES OF OPEN SECRET TORNADO RANGE TAKE MY LIFE MAN FROM TEXAS
Michael Redgrave
CASANOVA
John Ireland
Eddie Dean
Greta Gj-nt
James Craig
U—Jan. 17—PG-892 .\rturo de Cordova Jane Randolph
Roscoe Ates
Hugh Williams
Lynn Barl
Turban Bey
Roman Bohnen R—Mar. 9—PG-008 it—Feb. 14—PG-901 Johnnie Johnston
Lucille Bremer R—Jan. 24—PO-893
R—Mar. 6—PG-908
R—Feb. 28—PO-906
^
FEBRUARY 7
[T] (68) Drama 802
WRECK OF THE
HESPERUS
Willard Parker
Edgar Buchanan
THIEVES Patricia White
R—Feb. 14—PG-899
[i] (99) Drama 815
HIGH WALL
Robert Taylor
Audrey Totter
Herbert Marshall
R—Dec. 20—Pa-883
FEBRUARY 14
g
(58) Western 4751
[7] (76) Drama 4709 ly] (66) Drama 4707
OVERLAND TRAIL FIGHTING MAD PERILOUS WATERS
.lohnny Mack Brown Joe Klrkwood Jr.
Don Castle
Raymond Halton
Elyse Knox
Audrey Long
Virginia Belmont
Leon Brrol
Peggy Knudson
R—F«b. 7—PO-898
FEBRUARY 21
(661 Drama 910 (931 West-Dr 937 (109) Drama 935
WOMAN FROM ©RELENTLESS
TO THE ENDS OF THE
TANGIER
Robert Young
EARTH
Adele Jergens R—Jan. 17—PO-892 Dick PovveU
Signe Hasso
Stephen Dunne
|l9| (53) Western 965
R—Jan.
Michael Duane
24—PO-894
PHANTOM VALLEY
R—Feb. 28—PO-905
Starrett-Burnette
R—Mar. 6—PG-907
_
(74) Drama 816
TENTH AVENUE ANGEL
Margaret O'Brien
George Murphy
Angela Lansbury
R—Jan. 17—PO-891
FEBRUARY 28
^
MARCH 6
[T] (115) Musical 817
©THREE DARING
DAUGHTERS
Jeanette MacDonald
Jose Iturbl
Jane Powell
Edward Arnold
R—Feb. 14—PO-9nO
MARCH 13
MARCH 20 •
(63)
m^ Drama (
RETURN OF THE
WHISTLER
.Michael Duane
Lenore Aubert
Richard Lane
R—Mar. 13—Pa91
|l3) (68) Western 855 ^ (77) Drams 7}
WESTWARD TRAIL ©ENCHANTED VAL^I
Gddle Dean
.\llan Curtis—Ann Gg|J
R—Mar. 27—PG.91|i(
^ (85) Drama
OCTOBER MAN
John Mills
R—Mar. 20—PO-918|
|i9] (76) Comedy
ALIAS A GENTLEM/L
Wallace Beery ^B^
Tom Drake '
Dorothy Patrick
B—Jan. 31—PQ-SISl
[v] (76) Drama 4705 Reissue
ROCKY ^ (60) Drams 4
Roddy McDowall ROSE OF THE RID
Nita Hunter
GRANDE
Gale Sherwood
Movlts
John (^rroU
M (90) Drama 4709
ALBUQUERQUE
Randolph Scott
Barbara Britlon
Gabby Hayes ,
R—Jan. 24—PG-893
(61) Drama 4711
[U [12] (94) Drama 4710
CAGED FURY
SAIGON
Buster Crabbe
Alan Ladd
Richard Denning
Veronica Lake
Mary Beth Hughes R—Feb. 7—PO-897
Group 3
Special
(91) Comedy 811 (104) Drama 863
IF YOU KNEW SUSIE THE FUGITIVE
Eddie Cantor
Henry Fonda
Joan Davis
Dolores Del Rio
R_Feb. 7—PG-897 R—Nov. 15—PC-874
m (61) Comedy 703
CAMPUS HONEYMOON
Richard Crane
L Wilde
Lee Wilde
FM H.ickett
R—Feb. 14—Pn-899
Reissue
[t] (70) Western HC14
IN OLD MEXICO
William Boyd
Cabby Hayes
Russell Hayden
Reissue
(70) Drama 892
©BAMBI
Special
(109) Com-nr 852
THE BISHOP'S WIFE
Cary Grant
Loretta Young
David Niven
R—Nov. 22—PO-87B
g
(59) Western 753
OKLAHOMA BADLANDS
Allan "Rocky" Lane
R—Mar. 6-PG-907
(60) Drama 704
|23|
MADONNA OF THE
DESERT
R—Mar. 13—PG-911
Group 3
(61) Western 812
WESTERN HERITAGE
Tim Holt
Nan Leslie
Richard Martin
It—Feb. 14—PG-899
ra (43) Outd'r-Dr 4708 Herald (Negro)
Reissue
[13] (76) Drama
TRAIL OF THE
ra (71) Drama X-3 m (71) Western HC17
THE PRAIRIE
MOUNTIES
MIRACLE IN HARLEM SILVER ON THE SAGE Lenore Aubert
Russell Hayden
Stepin Fetchit
William Boyd
Alan Baxter
4705
Jennifef Holt
Gabby Hayes
Russell Hayden
[H] (87) Drsns
INSIDE STORY
Marsha Hunt
William Lundigan
(diaries Wlnnlnger
GaU Patrick
Gene Lockhart
R—Apr. 3—P0-J18
(91) Musical 802
YOU WERE MEANT
FOR ME
Jeanne Crain
Dan DalJey
Oscar Levant
R—.Ian. 24—PO-894
(62) Drams 804
DANGEROUS YEARS
William Halop
Scotty Beckett
Richard Gaines
(111) Drama 805
CALL NORTHSIDE 777
James Stewart
Richard Conte
Helen Walker
R—Jan. 24—PG-894
806 (68) Mystery 807
(69) Mystery il
THE CHALLENGE HALF PAST MIDHIG'
Tom Conway
Kent Taylor
Gregory Peck
June Vincent
Peggy Knudseo
Dorothy McGuire R—Feb 28—PG-906 R—Feb. 21—PO-903
John Garfield
Celeste Holm
R—Nov. 22—PO-876
(118) Drama
GENTLEMAN'S
AGREEMENT
(90) Drams
MAN OF EVIL
James Mason
Phyllis Calvert
R—Feb. r—PG-898
(107) Comedy
ALONG CAME BABY
(formerly A MIRACLE
CAN HAPPEN)
AU-8Ur Cast
B—Feb. 7—PQ-898
Special
(119) Drama
ARCH OF TRIUMPH
Ingrid Bergman
Charles Boyer
B—Feb. 21—PG-904
(97) Com-Dr
HOLIDAY CAMP
Plora Robson
Dennis Price
Hazel Court
lack Warner
R—Mar. 6—PO-910
[T) (95) Drama 715
MY GIRL TISA
Lllll Palmer
Sam Wanamaker
R—Jan. 24—PC-893
[m] (96) Drama 634
A WOMAN'S
VENGEANCE
Boyer
Charles
Ann BIyth
Jessica Tandy
R—Dec. 27—PO-8S6
|2l] (99) Drama 627
SECRET BEYOND
THE DOOR
Joan Bennett
Michael Redgrave
Natalie Schafer
R—Jan. 10—PG-889
^
(103) Drama 716
VOICE OF THE TURTLE
Ronald Reagan
Eleanor Parker
B—Dec. 27—PG-886
(96) Drama 654 (104) Drams (I
©JASSY
A DOUBLE LIFE ^m~
Margaret Lockwood Ronald Colman
^IVi
Patricia Roc
^*"
Signe Hasso
Dennis Price
Edmund O'Brien
R—Feb. 14—PO-902 R^lan. 3—PG-88T
[g (78) Drama 717 Reissue
I BECAME A.CRIMINAL |u| (102) Drama 718
Sally Gray
ADVENTURES OF
Trevor Howard
ROBIN HOOD
Griffith Jonei
Errol Flynn
B—Feb. 14-PG-902 Ollvis de Havilland
WL.
0)
d
3
^
(105) Drama
Superfllm
THE DEVIL'S ENVOYS
Arletty
R-—Sept. 20—PG-858
(101) Drama
Film Rts. Infl
MARCO VISCONTI
R—Sppt. 20— PO-858
(93) Comedy
Azteca
NO BASTA SER
CHARRO
R—Sept. 27—PG-860
(105) Drama
Azteca
RAYANDO EL SOL
R—Oct. 4—PO-8R2
(95) Drama
Film DIst Co.
SCHOOLGIRL DIARY
R—Oct 11—PG-8n4
(100) Mus-Dr
Satumia
FAREWELL. MY
BEAUTIFUL NAPLES
R—Oct 18—ro-sfifi
(90) Drama
Film Cla.sslcs
FURIA
R—Oct, 18—PO-865
(91) Drama
Leo Cohn
THE BLUE VEIL
R—Oct, 25—PG-8S8
(97) Comedy
(^asa-Mohme
QUE VERDE ERA Ml
PADRE!
R—Oct. 25—PG-868
(85) Drama
Film Rts. Tnt'l
ELIXIR OF LOVE
R— Nov. 1—PG-869
(90) Drama
Times Films
TO LIVE IN PEACE
R— Dec. 13—PG-882
(67) Drama
Distinguished
REVENGE
R— Dec. 13—PG-882
(108) Opera
Grand!
LUCIA 01
LAMMERMOOR
R— lire 13—PG-88J|
(90) Myst-Dr
Weslport Bt'S
THE RAVEN
R—Apr. 3—PG-91T
BOXOFFICE BookinGuJde :: April 17, 1948

I
Drama
I
Western
CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES
FEATURE CHART
^'mCH 27
APRIL 3
APRIL 10
902 3^ (84) Drama 936 (67) Drama 914 [i|] (69) Drama
(87) Comedy 940 [e] I ) Drama
[U
SIGN OF THE RAM MY DOG RUSTY PORT SAID
MATING OF MILLIE BEST MAN WINS
URES IN
(Jlenn Ford
Susan l*etefs
Ted Donaldson
(Jloria Henry
Edcar Buchanan
RADO
Evelyn Keyes
Mexander Knox
John Lltel
Wmiam Bishop
Anna Lee
13—PG-912
R—Feb. 21— PG-904
Ron Randell
.\nn Doran
Steven Oeray
Robert Shayne
966 ra (66) Mus-Coin 952
R— Mar. 20— Pa-914
11$ OF SONORA SONG OF IDAHO
;,rt -Burnett
lloosler Hoishots
_y 27—PO-916 K—Mar. 27—PQ-9ie
m (104) Drama 816 |To] (54) Western 856 [it] (85) Comedy 819
^ (62) Drama 820
THE COBRA STRIKES
% tl Drama 849 RUTHLESS
HAWK OF POWDER THE NOOSE HANGS
Sheila Ryan
RS GOLD
Zachary Scott
RIVER
HICH
Richard Fraser
Arnold
Louis Hayward
Eddie Dean
Bud Abbott
Leslie Brooks
; ) Drama 848 R—Mar. 27—PG-915 R—Mir. 13—Pe-9U Lou CosteUo
Cathy Downs
SINNERS
R—Apr. 10—PO-920
Dietrich
yne
s) Comedy 819 [3] (115) Drama 820
(92) Drama 821 Reissues
(124) Drama 824 (102) Musical
©SUMMER HOLIDAY
GOES WILD
B. F.'s DAUGHTER
^ (81) Outd'r-Dr 822 STATE OF THE UNION ©THE PIRATE
Mickey Rooney
Barbara Stanwyck
TARZANS SECRET Katharine Hepburn Judy Garland
inson
Gloria De Haven
TREASURE
Spencer Tracy
Gene Kelly
Van Benin
.Hyson
Walter Huston
WelssmuUer-O'Sullivan Van Johnson R— Apr. 3—PG-918
Charles Cobum
Hun Cronyn
B—Mar. 13—PG-912
R—Feb. 21—PG-903
jo] (70) Comedy 823 R—Mar. 27—PG-916
But* Jeoktns
TARZAN'S NEW YORK
R_5, 23—PG-905
ADVENTURE
Drama
ALLEY
rcey
ra (56) Western 4761 (TO) Drama
|j]
OKLAHOMA BLUES DOCKS OF NEW
.liraray Wakely
ORLEANS
~ -) 4708
S'
Gray
Virginia Belmont
Roland Winters
iJcii,
Bo«- Boys
It_i 24—PO-884
4712
APRIL 17
[u) (53) Drama 4752
CROSSED TRAILS
Johnny Mack Brown
Lynne Carver
^
APRIL 24
MAY 1
(66) Myst-Com 4713 (64) Comedy 4714
H]
CAMPUS SLEUTH FRENCH LEAVE
Freddie Stewart
Jackie Cooper
June Prelsser
Jackie Coogan
MAY 8
MAY 15
[l3j (67) Drama
TRAPPED BY BOSTON
BLACKIE
Cliestcr Morris
June Vincent
Richard Lane
4712
.^,.: 6) Dram*
Uk IECKLESS
fVil n Bythe
Bina Brltton
E-'b. 21—FG-904
[9] (95) Drama 4713
THE BIG CLOCK
Ray MUland
Charles Laugbton
Maureen O'Sulllvan
B—Feb. 21—PG-»«4
{3^ (89) Drama 4714
THE 'SAINTED'
SISTERS
Veronica Lake
Joan Caulfleld
Barry Fitzgerald
R—Mar. 6—PG-908
$9« I
4) Corned; 86S
I
(1
^/lEMBER MAMA
Iro^ Dunne
RMr.-a Bel Geddes
Homolka
['om
13—PG-911
j3) M'drama 706
LTtiFNlN' IN THE
Irest
i.n
Roberts
. Douglas
|23] (61) Noielty 728
ISiBILL AND COO
George Burton's Birds
B-^an. 3—PO-S87
m (63) Mus-West 654
©CALIFORNIA FIRE.
BRAND
Mnnte Hale
Adrian Booth
Special
(120) Drama 869
MIRACLE OF THE
BELLS
Fred MacMurray
Valll
Frank Sinatra
R—Mar. 6—PO-907
Reissue
1^ (60) Western HC18
RENEGADE TRAIL
WUliam Boyd
Gabby Hayes
Hayden
Russell
(63) Western 814 Special
ARIZONA RANGER
(127) West Dr 870
"Hra Holt
FORT APACHE
Jack Holt
Henry Fonda
lohnny WeissmuIIer
Nan Lesley
Shirley Temple R—Apr. 3—PO-917
R—Apr. 3—PO-917 John Wayne
R—Mar. 13—PG-911
(68) Drama
TARZAN AND THE
MERMAIDS
Iit] (60) Western 754
|4] (60) M'drama 707
(87) Dutd'r-Dr 708
BOLD FRONTIERSMAN HEART OF VIRGINIA
OLD LOS ANGELES
Allan "Rocky" Lane Janet Martin
William Elliot
Eddy Waller
Robert Lowery
R—Apr. 17—PG-921
Paul Hurst
(60) M'drama
HU
KING OF GAMBLERS
Janet Martin
William Wright
g
'6) Drama 809
il IDEAL HUSBAND
„Jaltte Ooddard
lUliel WUding
I Dill Wynyard
e^.utirey Smith
B-iin. 17—PG-891
0) Drama
AUNTIS
Jei Pierre Aumont
IM 1 Monta
D

REVIEW DIGEST
and Alphabetical Picture Guide Index-
A
I Adventure Island (67) Para g-23-47 + ± +
! Adventures in Silverado (75) Col 3-13-48 ± zt
i Adventures of Casanova (83) El 2-28-48 +
! Albuquerque (90) Para 1-24-48
i Alias a Gentleman (78) MGM 1-31-48
+
—
906 All My Sons (94) U-l 2-28-48 +f
898 Along Came Baby (formerly Miracle
Can Happen, A) (107) UA 2- 7-48 +
855 Along the Oregon Trail (64) Rep... 9-13-47 +
884 Always Together (78) WB 12-20-47 ±
894 Angels' Alley (67) Mono 1-24-48 ±
913 April Showers (94) WB 3-20-48 +
904 Arch of Triumph (119) UA 2-21-48 -f
913 Are You With It? (90) U-l 3-20-48 +
917 Arizona Ranger. The (63) RKO 4-3-48 -f
790Arnelo Affair, The (87) MGM 2-15-47 +
Arthur Takes Over (..) 20-Fox ±
B
903 B. F.'s Daughter (110) MGM 2-21-48 + ±
826 Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (95)
RKO 6- 7-47 tt +
881 Bandits of Dark Canyon (59) Rep.. .12-13-47 +
919 Berlin Express (86) RKO 4-10-48 4+ +
872 Beware of Pity (102) U-l 11-8-47 -f ±
/ 915 Big City (111) MGM 3-27-48 + +
887 Bill and Coo (16) Rep 1- 3-47 + ±
875 Big Town After Dark (69) Para 11-22-47 ± ±
887 Bill and Coo (61) Rep 1- 3-47 + ±
875 Bishop's Wife, The (109) RKO 11-22-47 ++ +
897 Black Bart (80) U-l 2-7-48 ± ±
833 Black Gold (91) Allied Artists.... 6-28-47 + -f
900 Black Hills (60) EL 2-14-48 ±l
838 Black Narcissus (91) U-l 7-12-47 -f +
864 Blonde Savage (62) EL 10-11-47 ± ±
859 Blondie in the Dough (69) Col 9-27-47 ± ±
885 Blondie's Anniversary (67) Col 12-27-47 ± ±
848 Body and Soul (104) UA 8-16-47 ++ +
Bowery Buckaroos (66) Mono
905 Bride Goes Wild, The (98) MGM.. 2-28-48 + +
873 Buckaroo From Powder River (55)
Col 11-15-47 ±
850 Bulldog Drummon Strikes Back (65)
Col 8-23-47 ±
842Burnino Cross, The (77) SG 7-26-47 +
864 Bury Me Dead (66) EL 10-11-47 -f-
877 Bush Christmas (76) U-l 11-29-47 -f
c
899 Caged Fury (60) Para 2-14-48 -f
California Firebrand (63) Rep
894 Call Northside 777 (111) 20-Fox... 1-24-48 ff
899 Campus Honeymoon (61) Rep 2-14-48 +
883 Captain Boycott (93) U-l 12-6-47 +
880 Captain From Castile (141) 20-Fox 12- 6-47 ff
++
Casbah (93) U-l ±
Case of the Baby Sitter (40) SG
72 Cass Timberlane (119) MGM U- 8-47 ff -f
r906 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 +
884 Chinese Ring, The (67) Mono 12-20-47 ± ±
872 Christmas Eve (90) UA 11- 8-47 -f ±
Close-Up (..) EL
881 Crime Doctor's Gamble. The (66) Col. 12-13-47 ± —
I tB3 Crossfire (86) RKO 6-28-47 ff -f
D
878 Daisy Kenyon (99) 20-Fox 11-29-47 ff +
884 Dangerous Years (62) 20-Fox 12-20-47 + ±
854 Dark Passage (106) WB 9-6-47 + ±
843 Deep Valley (106) WB 8-2-47 ff -f
896 Design for Death (48) RKO 1-31-48 -f
860 Desire Me (91) MGM 9-27-47 -f ±
S79 Devil Ship (62) Col 12-6-47 ± -
920 Devil's Cargo (61) FC 4-10-48 ±i
861 Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (65) RKO 10- 4-47 -f ±;
Discovery (74) FC
Docks of New Orleans (70) Mono —
887 Double Life, A (103) U-l 1- 3-48 + ff
844 Down to Earth (101) Col 8-2-47 ff +
l83g Dragnet (71) SG 7-12-47 it
[ 874 Driftwood (90) Rep 11-15-47 ± ±
E
d:
915 Enchanted Valley, The (77) El 3-27-48 -f —
Escape ( .
. ) 20-Fox
871 Escape Me Never (104) WB U- 8-47 + ±
868 Exile, The (92) U-l 10-25-47 + ±
> I ii

1
2
7 Ride the Pink Horse (101) U-l 9-20-47
-H-
Ridin' Down the Trail (53) Mono
Road to Rio (101) Para 11- 8-47
i9 Road to the Big House (74) SG 11- 1-47
+
±
j
1
: Sainted'
,
favor
1
interpretative analysis of opinions deducted from the language of lay
d trade press reviews. The plus and minus signs indicate the degree
or disfavor of the review. This department serves also as an
PHABETICAL INDEX to feature releases. Numeral preceding title is
) lure Guide Review page number. In parentheses after title is running
.
Magic Town (103) RKO- . 8-30 47
Mad Wednesday (94) UA. . 2-22 47
Madonna of the
M
Desert (60) Rep.. 3-13 4S
Main Street Kid, The (65) Rep 1-24. 48
Man About Town (89) RKO 10-25 47
Man From Texas, The (71) EL.-. 3- 6 •48
Man of Evil (90) UA 2- 7- 48
Marauders, The (100) UA 7-19 47
Mary Lou (66) Col 1-31 48
Matino of Millie. The (87) Col 3-20 48
Meet Me at Dawn (81) 20-Fox 3-20 48
Merton of the Movies (83) MGM 7-19 47
Miracle of the Bells (120) UA 3-6
-48
Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House
(94) SRO 4-3 4S
!.Mr. Reckless (66) Para 2-21 48

9-12
SHORTS CHART
Short subjects, listed by Company, in order of release. Running time ioUowi
title. First date is National release, second the date of review in BOXOFFICE.
Symbol between dates is rating from the BOXOFFICE review: ++ Very Good.
+ Good, — Fair. — Poor, = Very Poor. O Indicates color photography.
Columbia
Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'd
ASSORTED COMEDIES
9432 Hectic Honeymoon (Holloway)
9-18 + 11- 8
(17)
9421 Wedding BeMe (Schilling
& Lane) (17) 10-9 + 11-29
Husbands
(H. Herbert) (17) 11-13 + X2-27
9422 Should Marry?
9433 Wife to Sparc (A. Clyde)
(16) 11-20 ± 12-20
9434 Wedlock Deadlocl( (De Rita)
(16) 12-18 -f 2-14
9435 Radio Romeo (Von Zell)
(171/2) 12-25 - 3-20
9436 Man or Mouse (Holloway)
(18) 1-15
9423 Silly Billy (Billie Burke)
(18) 1-29 ± 3-20
9424 Two Nuts in a Rut
(Shilling & Lane) (18). 2-19
9437 Eight-Ball Andy (Clyde)
(I71/2) 3-U
9425 Tall, Dark and Gruesome
(H. Herbert) (..).... 4-15
9438 Jitter Bughouse (J. DeRita)
.(..) 4-29
COLOR FAVORITES
(Re-releases)
9601 Dreams on Ice (6i/j) 10-30 ± 11- 8
9602 Novelty Shop (6'/2) ... .11-20 4+ 12-27
9603 Dr. Bluebird (8) 1218 ff 12-20
9604 In My Gondola (V/2) 1-22
9605 Animal Cracker Circus (7) 2-19
9606 Bon Bon Parade (8I/2) . 4-8
COLOR PHANTASIES
9701 Kitty Caddy (6) 11-6 -|- U-29
9702 Topsy Turkey (6i/a) 2-5
. . ....
COLOR RHAPSODIES
9501 Swiss Tease (6) 9-11 + 10-18
9502 Boston Beany (6) 12-4 ± 12-20
9503 Flora (7) 3-18
COMMUNITY SINGS
9652 No. 2 April Showers (Baker)
(9) 10- 2 -f 11- 1
9653 No. 3 Peg 0' My Heart
(Leibert) 11- 6 ± 2-14
(9)
9654 No. 4 When You Were Sweet
Sixteen (Leibert & Baker)
(91/2) 12- 4 ± 2-U
and
(IOI/2)
2-U
9655 No. 5 Feudin' Fightin'
...1-8
9656 No. 6 Civilization (10) .
FILM NOVELTIES
9901 Aren't We All? (Stoopnagle)
(IOI/2) 11-27 -f 2-14
9657 No. 7 I'm Looking Over a
Four-Leaf Clover (..). 4-8
SCREEN SNAPSHOTS
9g52Lasuna, U.S.A. (9/2) •• 10- 9 + 12-27
9853 Out of This World Scries
(9) 11-27 + 1-3
9854 Off the Air (10) 12-18 + 2-14
9855 Hawaii in Hollywood (10) 1-22
9856 Photoplay's Gold Medal
Awards (. .) 3-18
9857 Smiles and Styles (..).. 4- 1
SPECIAL MUSICAL FEATURETTE
9451 A Voice Is Born (Miklos
Grafni) (20"/2) 1-15 ++ 10-25
STOOGE COMEDIES
9401 Bridelcss Groom (161/2) . 9-11 ± 10-18
9402 Sing a Song of Six Pants
(17) 10-30 ± 11-29
9403 All Gummed Up (18) . 12-11 ± 12-20
9404 Shivering Sherlocks (17) 1-8
9405 Pardon My Clutch (15).. 2-26 -|- 3-20
9406 Squareheads of the Round
Table (18) 3-4
THRILLS OF MUSIC
9951 Boyd Raeburn & Orth.
(11) 9-18 + 10-25
9952 Claude Thornhill & Orth.
(11) 10-30 -f 11-8
9953 Lecuona Cuban Boys
(IOI/2) 11-13 tt 11-29
9954 Skitch Henderson & Oreh.
(10) 12-11
9955 Charlie Barnct & Orch.
(IO1/2) 1-15
9956 Ted Weems & Orch, (10

1 MARCH
'
'
Fashioned
—
SHORTS CHART
20th
Century-Fox
p, No. Title Rel. Date Rating Rcv'tl
DRIBBLE PUSS PARADE
8< Album o( Animals (8).. 11-21 i 9-27
FEMININE WORLD
K
K(
'
Somethinn Old—Somethlim New
(Ilka Chase) (8) Feb. +
for Action
(Ilka Chase) (8) Apr.
OF TIME
V 13. No. 11 Your Doctors
1947 (19) 6-13 W
V
13, No. 12 New Trains
tor Old? (18) 7-11 ++
V 13, No. 13 Turkey's 100 Million
(IS'/a) 8-8 +
1947-48 SEASON
V 14, No. 1 Is Everybody
Listening? (18) 9-5 +
2-28
6-14
7-lS
8- 2
8-30
ll 14, No. 2 T-Men in Action
(IB) 10- 3 H 10-11
i 14 No. 3 End of an Empire
"
(]«) 10-31 + 11- 1
I 14, No. 4 Public Relations
This Means You! (17). 11-28 H U-29
14, No. 5 The Presidential
Year (IS) 12-26
I 14, No. 6 The Cold War
(18) 1-24 tt 1-31
14, No. 7 Marriage and Divorce
I
'
(16) Feb. ++ _2-28
il4, No. 8 Crisis in Italy
(..) Mar. ....
MOVIETONE ADVENTUHES
5i

SHORTS REVIEWS Opinions on the Current Short Subjects -
s
—
The Bored Cuckoo
Paramount (Noveltoon) 8 Mins.
Excellent. An imaginative and highly entertaining
short on the adventures of Cadmus
Cuckoo, who gets out of his rut in the cuckoo
clock. The animation is excellent. Cadmus
escapes from the boring routine of cuckooing
all day and arrives in Birdville. He is a mechanical
bird, and his clumsiness amuses the
real birds. He meets a "lush thrush," a beautiful
blond bird who signs in a nightclub.
They fall in love, but she leaves for Florida
when the Birdville inhabitants head south.
Cadmus can't fly, so he returns to his clock.
There he finds the thrush, who has changed
her mind about flying south, and they set up
housekeeping. Cadmus is happy, because he
produces three little cuckoos who carry on
like clockwork for him.
Fog Fighters
Paramount (PoDular Science 17-4) 10 Mins.
Interesting. The complex fog-fighting equipment
a: Areata, Calif., is shown. New equipment
constantly is being developed to permit
planes to make safe landings through dense
fogs. Fido, a new system for dispersing fog
over landing fields is shown. Radar also is
used. The film also features the tool and die
plant at Eskilstuna, Sweden, which turns out
the Johansen gauge blocks. In the final
scene, a modern barber shop in Westwood
Village, Calif., is shown.
Pre-Hysterical Man
Paramount (Popeye Cartoon) 7 Mins.
Very good. Popeye and Olive Oyl start on
an archaeological expedition. Olive falls
into a canyon and runs into a caveman who
decides she is the perfect mate. For a time
Olive is highly impressed with the caveman's
agressive manner. Popeye finds Olive and
tangles with the "pre-hysterical" man. With
the aid of spinach, he not only subdues the
caveman, but knocks a dinosaur silly.
Riding Habits
(Grontland Rice Sportlight)
Paramount 10 Mins.
Good. The riding habits referred to in this
short are not riding costumes. Pat North and
her horse. Rex, put on a dancing exhibition.
Rex does both the Cakewalk and' the rumba.
Audrey Scott, Hollywood trick rider, performs
several hair-raising stunts while riding sidesaddle.
The Lucas girls are shown in slow
motion doing trick stunts on and off the saddle.
Fern Sawyer, America's top cowgirl, is
shown in the closing scene. She demonstrates
roping and riding in real western style.
'Taint So
Paramount (Speaking of Animals) 10 Mins.
Amusing. Several old theories about animals
and their habits aie disproved, with
the animals in question making appropriately
humorous comments. The short shows that
the lion, supposedly the king of beasts, is
henpecked at home; the buffalo is really a
bison; the fox winds up as a fur neckpiece,
despite his cleverness; barking dogs do bite;
the jackass doesn't deserve his name, because
he does nothing all day.
Fashioned for Action
20th-Fox (Feminine World) 8 Mins.
Entertaining. Despite Ilka Chase's amateurish
delivery of the commentary, the film
has considerable appeal for the ladies. The
latest in swimming, sunning, golfing and
tennis fashions are displayed by beautiful
models in Cypress Gardens, Florida. There
are some under-water swimming shots. A
group of models are shown chasing alligators.
Felix the Fox
20th-Fox (Terrytoon) 7 Mins.
Amusing. Paul Terry introduces a nev/
character, Felix, a cunning fox. Felix outsmarts
a dim-witted hound in a mad chase
through the forest. Disguising himself as
Groucho Marx, Felix persuades the hound that
he can catch a fox only by disguising himself
as a vixen. The hound agrees and winds
up in a mirthful love scene with Felix.
Lazy Little Beaver
MthFox (Terrytoon) 7 Mins.
Good. Junior Beaver is a lethargic fellow
who can't seem to get up enough energy to
help the family build a dam. After his father
spanks him, Junior runs away. He is attacked
by a wolf in the forest and is about to be
made into a beaver coat when Mighty Mouse,
defender of the weak, rescues him. Junior is
returned to his family, and he resolves to be
the best dam builder in the forest.
Kiddy Concert
United Artists (Lantz Cartune) 7 Mins.
Very good. Wolly Walrus conducts the
In the N ew s r e e I
Movietone Nev7s, No. 28: U.S. and Britain
force Reds to back down on Berlin blockade;
President signs historic foreign assistance
plan; Mountbatten returns to Burma; Air
Force Commander General Spatz returns;
columnist loses his bet and eats his hat;
speaker of house, Joe Martin, talks in house;
tax reduction; Mrs. Roosevelt in England;
Princess Ann gets trousseau for wedding to
King Michael; Eisenhower meets grandson;
women's national AAU swim meet at Daytona
Beach.
News of the Day, No. 262: U.S. army calls
Reds' bluff in Berlin; foreign aid bill signed
by Truman; navy honors Hearst, noted publisher;
war veterans rally for free Palestine;
regal trousseau for Princess Ann; General
Eisenhower becomes a grandpa; championship
aquatics Olympic preview.
Paramount News, No. G5: Foreign aid
rushed under new law; ex-dishwasher buys
a town; Canada, U.S. amity hailed at Williamsburg;
Mrs. Roosevelt; now it's Grandpa
"Ike"; trousseau for Princess Ann; Mountbatten
visits Burma.
Universal News, No. 132: Truman signs
European recovery bill; honorary degree conferred
on Canadian officials; Finnish ministers
await Russian pact; Mountbatten in Burma;
"Ike" meets grandson at West Point; hurricane
winds smash Spanish coast; one-legged
skiers compete in Austria meet; French gymnasts
display strength and muscular control,
Warner Pathe News, No. 87: Italy's armies
warn Reds; Women's National swim meet;
Paris shows spring fashions; President Truman
signs foreign aid bill; U.S. flies supplies
to Berlin; Aussies are top in chop.
•
Movietone News. No. 21: Stassen sweeps
GOP primary in Wisconsin; western hemisphere
nations meet in Bogota; military parade
in Rome to warn Communism; Paul G.
Hoffman; Mrs. Roosevelt; Prince Regent
Charles of Belgium; baby elephant decides
not to be dumb bunny; Australia's 91,000
turf fans see running of Sidney cup; water
ski meet at Cypress Gardens in Florida.
News of the Day, No. 263: Eisenhower dramatic
in plea for strong U.S.; patriotic spectacle
stirs nation's capital; Stassen's victory
livens up GOP Presidential race; Paul Hoffman
named head of recovery plan; Americans
unite in anti-Red front; the new look for
summer; water ski champs sets new records.
Paramount News. No. 68: Water classics;
school orchestra in a concert. The orchestra
is composed of chickens, penguins, pigs,
turtles, seals, a bloodhound and" a skunk,
who plays a trumpet outside the window.
All the performances are novel. A centipede
plays five violins, while the dog drummer
beats out the rhythm with a pair of knitting
needles. A pig trumpet player runs into trouble
when he attempts to chew bubblegum
and play his instrument at the same time.
The musical score is excellent.
Pixie Picnic
United Artists (Lantz Cartune) 7 Mins.
Excellent. This easily is one of the best
cartoon shorts Walter Lantz has turned out
to date. A band of forest pixies play the
La Gazza Ladra overture by Rossini. The
animation and musical background are topnotch.
The pixies play on improvised instruments,
using flowers for trumpets. One of the
high spots of the reel is a scene in which a
pixie accidentally falls into the cider well and
emerges pixilated. He weaves his way to a
bowling green, but can't score a strike. He
finally shoots himself and the bowling ball
from a cannon, but hits a storage bin full
of pumpkins.
Hoffman heads ERP; Marshall leads U.S. at
parley of the Americas; Stassen victor in
Wisconsin; first pictures of Soviet British plane
crash in Berlin.
Universal News, No. 133: Stassen tops Wisconsin
primary; Truman reviews Washington's
Amy Day parade; U.S. warships visit
Greece; international conference opens at
Bogota; Belgium's regent visits capital; Hoffman
named to head aid program; 51 dead
in Jap railroad wreck; royal family greets
Eleanor Roosevelt; bird migration blackens
sky; water ski turney.
Warner Pathe News, No. 68: Stassen wins
in Wisconsin primary; plans crash creates
attention; Flag of War back at capital; Bogota
conference begins; wrestlers in molasses;
water skiing contest; Great Americans
Thomas Jefferson.
•
AH American News, No. 288: Religious leaders
gather in New Orleans for annual national
Baptist convention; Jackson, Miss.,
Negro citizens go over quota in hospital fund
drive; Alexandria, La., inventor develops
safety device for disabled aircraft; Memphis
Red Sox baseball squad starts training; 100,-
000 Negro Hebrews practice their religion in
synagogues; usually busy Chicago stockyards
quiet as workers strike.
Telenews Digest, No. 14: Wall Street riot;
Dewey and Stassen warm to Presidential battle;
wheat pit starts second century; army
patients design hats; divers train at navy
school; south arranges temporary truce with
President; Prince, Regent Charles of Belgium
walks off municipal airport in huff; a picket
line wedding takes place in Atlanta; artists
from 3 to 12 years old receive awards at the
New York Art Directors club; food convoy
runs Arab blockade; Pakistan delegate speaks
on Kashmir; a new jet breaks all altitude
records; German war orphans board a plane
bound for America; clown at Viennese ice
revue brings house down; a "reading" pencil
passed over a line of type enables blind to
"hear" written word; French model parades
Paris fashions to publicize Aid to France
drive; long-haired dog sheds enough hair to
permit owner to weave saleable novelties;
drivers run over dirt track at Reading auto
races; the first mile race to take place on a
straight track brings crowds to Atlantic City
boardwalk.
14
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide : : April 17, 19«!f
1

tpittions on Current Productions; Exploitips for Selling to the Public FEATURE REVIEWS
Letters from an Unknown Woman F """"

. . . Who
. . And
. . the
. . With
—
. .
'
. . . Wait
. . Arthur
. . Youthful
, . Arthur
. . With
. . Watch
. . For
EXPLOITIPS Suggestions for Selling; Adiines for Newspaper and Program.
SELLING ANGLES: "Here Comes Trouble"
SELLING ANGLES:
"Letters from an Unknown Woman"
Give the billing to William Tracy, who has made several
previous pictures in the role of "Dorian Doubleday." Doubleday's
amazing photographic memory could be tied into a
search for your community's outstanding "mental wizard,
via contest in which the finals might be held on the stage of
your theatre. Use the title in tieups with service stations and
garages, warning motorists of impending trouble if they
are driving on thin tires, wornout brakes and bad headlights.
CATCHLINES:
He's in Again, Folks . , . We Mean Dodo Doubleday . . .
The Amazing Young Man With the Photographic Memory
Knows All There Is to Know About Everything . . .
Except Who Killed the Burlesque Queen . Why
Everybody Was Trying to Pin the Rap on Him.
'^y
It;
ytoc
In addition to Joan Fontaine, another strong name is Louis
Jourdan, who was one of the stars of "The Paradine Case,"
and who should be sold as a new romantic lead. Use heads
of Jourdan in a frame with other favorites such as Clark
Gable, Cornel Wilde, Robert Taylor and, if possible, John
Gilbert and Valentino, all great lovers. Make a tieup wiih
a dress shop for displays of new gowns similar to the 1890
costumes worn by Miss Fontaine in the film.
CATCHLINES:
Romantic Letters Are Winging Their Way to You .
Jourdan, the Screen's Newest Heart-Throb, in a
. .
Romantic
Drama of the Gaslight Era . . . She Worshipped Him from
Afar Except for One Ecstatic Night Alone With Him.
It's a Mad, Rollicking Scramble of a Comedy ... As a
Mysterious Killer Knocks Off the Queen of the Runway . . .
And Dorian Doubleday, the Mental Giant, Turns Detective
Long Enough to Make Himself the Chief Suspect.
Lovely Joan Fontaine and Handsome Louis Jourdan in a
Romantic Drama of Old Vienna ... A Letter \AAhich Arrived
Too Late From the Unknown Woman Who Loved Him
from Afar.
SELLING ANGLES:
"Old Los Angeles"
SELLING ANGLES: "Arthur Takes Over"
Capture an early California atmosphere in lobby decorations,
using Mexican shawls, pottery and baskelwork, and
playing gay Spanish tunes over your house public address
system. Dress the cashier as a senorita. Using life-sized
cutouts of Elliott and Carroll, with guns in their hands, plant
them in the foyer with a placard reading; "Danger: Watch
Out for Flying Lead." Stills of gold-mining scenes could be
planted with local banks, tied into a message to "start your
savings account here."
Plugged as the perfect family picture, this easily should
carry the top half of a midweek dual. You may count on
favorable word-of-mouth advertising. Homeier has gained
popularity through his outstanding role in "Tomorrow, the
World." This is the kind of film women's groups recommend
lor youngsters. You may invite PTA heads for a special
showing. Admit free the first ten Arthurs who report
at the boxoffice.
CATCHLINES:
Out of the Bullet-Blazing Past . . . Comes the Sweeping
Saga of an Exciting Era ... A Mighty Adventure Spectacle
of the Dangerous Days When California Was Young . . . And
When Renegades Took the Law Into Their Hands . . . Looting,
Murdering, Destroying.
CATCHLINES:
Parents, Could You Cope With Arthur . . . He's the Kind
of Kid You Love—to Spank . Takes Over in a Big
Way ... A Film the Family Will Love . . . Have You an
Arthur in Your Home?
A Thundering Avenger Sweeps Into the Golden State . . .
To Quell the Flaming Fury of Men Gone Mad With Power
. . . Here's the West's Mightiest Entertainment Spectacle
... A Story That Will Never Die.
If You Think Your Children Are Problems, Wait Till "Arthur
Takes Over" . Takes Over and Cupid Bows Out
Until You See Arthur in Action . Arthur's
Romantic Antic . Mixup of Love and Laughter.
SELLING ANGLES:
"The Lady From Shanghai'
vete'
rally
Prir
SELLING ANGLES:
"Shaggy"
The Rita Hayworth-Orson Welles combination should carry
enough weight for the marquee and the advertising credits.
Dress up the lobby and theatre front with life-sized cutouts
of Miss Hayworlh in her role as "Mrs. Bannister." Snipe the
neighborhood with tackcard teasers reading: "The Notorious
Mrs. Bannister Is Coming to Town. Reach Her at (theatre
phone)." Stills aboard a boat and with Chinese backgrounds
should be planted with travel agencies.
CATCHLINES:
Effective as street ballyhoo would be a "pet parade" in
which juveniles with dogs, cats or other pets would participate.
The parade could conclude with a pet show on the
stage. Conduct a contest among school children on "Why
I Like My Dog Best." Stencil sidewalks leading to the theatre
with giant dog tracks. Don't neglect window displays
and other commercial tieups with kennels, pet shops, grocers
on dog foods and other items. Plug the picture via special
spot announcements in conjunction with radio programs designed
for juvenile consumption.
You'll Forget There Ever Was a Woman Like Gilda .
When You Meet the Glamorous Mrs. Bannister . Lady
From Shanghai Who Becomes the Quarry in the Most Exciting
Round-the-World Chase Ever Filmed . Rita
Hayworth in Her Most Bewitching Role.
There's Fateful Fascination and Bold Intrigue . . . When
the Notorious Mrs. Bannister Meets an Adventurous Man of
the World ... in the Boldest Masquerade Two Lovers Ever
Dared.
. . . It's High-Spiriled . . . Designed
CATCHLINES:
The Way to a Boys Heart Is Through His Dog . . . And
This Picture Is Just What the Doctor Ordered . a Boy's
Adventure Growing Pains
for Kids of All
Ages.
It's a Dog's Life ... But
When
You'll Love It . . . You'll Cheer
.
Through Your Tears a Boy's Shaggy-Haired Pal . .
Fights Against Man's Prejudice ... In a Story That Will Stir
the Hearts of Kids Everywhere.
SELLING ANGLES:
"Close-Up"
SELLING ANGLES: "Hatter's Castle"
Stress the fact that "Close-Up" is the first picture in ten
years to be filmed completely in New York by using frames
of stills showing the New York City backgrounds. In key
cities, Alan Baxter, who was featured in "The Voice of the
Turtle" stage play, will be a selling name as will Richard
KoUmar, who is "Boston Blackie" in the radio network and
appears daily on the "Dorothy and Dick" program. Make
a tieup with a photographic shop for displays of enlargements
or "close-ups."
Although they are not toplined, build your campaign
around James Mason and Deborah Kerr, both well-known to
U.S. picturegoers. Give theatre front a "gay nineties" atmosphere
and dress your attendants in costumes reminding of
that era. Because the principal character in the film is a
hatter, tieups are indicated with hat shops on special window
displays and cooperative advertising campaigns. Distribute
snipers or heralds in the shape of top hats. Secure library
and bookstore tieups on the A. J. Cronin novel.
CATCHLINES:
CATCHLINES:
A Newsreel Cameraman Accidentally Takes a Close-Up
of a Murderer . . . Completely Filmed Against a Background
of Manhattan's World-Renowned Streets and Landmarks .
One Little Strip of Newsreel Sought After by a Gang of
International Killers.
Double-Crossed by the Girl He Had Learned to Love and
Trust ... A Story About Manhattan Filmed on Its Crowded
Streets, on Its Ferries and in Its Palatial Buildings.
, ne^
inti-F
/fCO\
(pnt;
the Story
With Breathless, Unrelenting Impact . . . Comes
of a Man Who Sought to Rule ... Or Ruin ... By His Own
Arrogance ... A Man With Hate in His Heart . . . Who
Dragged His Family to the Depths of Despair.
.
.
Meet the Screen's Most Unforgettable
Man Whose Very Touch Was Tainted . .
Character
It's the Compelling
... A
Screen Version of a Great Novel the Year's Most
Impressive
Cast.

;
these
I
$100
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ijOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copy and answers to
Box Numbers to BOXOFHCE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 1, Mo. •
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GENERAL EQUIPMENT—USED
rop in driif-iri buyers. We'll Kiuip jou 'or
l4 DtVrj 11 I. a/Moraid

I TO
I
.
.
file ifexf Important Event • • •
In The 20th Century-Fox Showmanship
Tradition That Is Mal€ing Boxofflce
History Throughout The Industry!
THE 500-THEATRE NATION
WIDE WORLD PREMIERE
WEEK OF MAY lOih!
a^^
wimt ^u/i/alft...
THE MOST LOOKED-TO MOTION PICTURE EVENT OF "THE DAY !
SEE IT IS TO KNOW ITS STARTLING FACTS .
the remarkable personal disclosures of Igor Gouzenko. former
Code Clerk, USSR Embassy. Ottawa, Canada. ..the true tieadlme
revelations of the atom bomb spy plot that stunned the world.
ITO SEE IT IS TO FEEL ITS LIVING DRAMA...
made with the same force and vitality that brought acclaim to
"The House On 92nd Street," "Boomerang!" and "Call Northside 777"
TO SEE IT IS TO SHARE A GREAT SCREEN EXPERIENCE
, made unforgettable by the star performances of Dana Andrews
as Igor, Gene Tierney as Anna and a distinguished supporting cast.
SIGNATURE
DANUNOPSHIIM!
THE IRON
CURTAIN
.,. JUNE HAVOC
BERRY KROEGER EDNA BEST
-
CtNTURV-FOX
CINTURY-FOX