Boxoffice-December.25.1948
hmnLawwA'namhu Ian. 1—Ne Feb. 12—Linc( Bii Feb. 14—Valei Dc Feb. 22—Was! Bii Mar. 2—Ash W Mar. 17—St. F RED rt\ETTE r's Day Apr Apr 10—Palm 14, IS—Pi Ap. 15—Good Apr 17—East 8—Moth MaJ 30—Mei lun^ U—Flag I Runt 19—Father 1—Indepen Day OOKING C DA TB^ Se] t. S -Labor Day Se]t. 7 I. 25—Rosh Hashonah 3- -Yom Kippur Oc\J3 -Columbus Day Oct. 31 -Halloween Nov. 8- -Election Day No J 11- Annistice Day No^ 2j —Thanksgiving Deer's—Christmas JANUARY
- Page 2 and 3: S. BERMAN • A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Page 4: Appy > WA RNE^ *« t » or 3 • ,
- Page 7 and 8: i 'PuUc ^C€it4 Johnston 'No' to A
- Page 9 and 10: Antitrust Hearing [Cont.] (Continue
- Page 11 and 12: New Antitrust Cases Ask Total of $8
- Page 13 and 14: \ ^-Bo'^fm"' w^. f Wa/t till / / Cr
- Page 15 and 16: Amu AS A SENSHIONAL BOXOFFICE PERFO
- Page 17 and 18: "Top Entertainment" Daily Variety "
- Page 19 and 20: J 'My Own True Love' is because: T
- Page 21 and 22: Claude Robinson Dies; A Veteran Sho
- Page 23 and 24: i COLOR BY CINECOLOR ilil»|tlilWil
- Page 25 and 26: The company that leads the industry
- Page 27 and 28: CHESTER FRIEDMAN EDITOR HUGH E. FRA
- Page 29 and 30: ' TdTi'-'- fl '*"*«*«: f^ese^ 'iJ
- Page 31 and 32: Question and Answer Tieup Nets 32 S
- Page 33 and 34: o Tribute to Babe Ruth Marks Film O
- Page 35 and 36: •*Sr-.- IE COWBOYS U^METER POLL!
- Page 37 and 38: i w§i^] In the watery darkness of
- Page 39 and 40: ft DOUBLE THRILL BILL RIGHT NUMBER
- Page 41 and 42: I948WINNERS WORLD'S GREATEST SHOWME
- Page 43 and 44: . . The Exhibitors Alerted To Taxat
- Page 45 and 46: . . Eddie . . This . Bv . . There .
- Page 47 and 48: Jim McConnell to Build Drive-In at
- Page 49 and 50: . . The . . Albany Variety Publicit
- Page 51 and 52: NEWS AND VIEWS THE PRODUCTION CENTE
hmnLawwA'namhu<br />
Ian. 1—Ne<br />
Feb. 12—Linc(<br />
Bii<br />
Feb. 14—Valei<br />
Dc<br />
Feb. 22—Was!<br />
Bii<br />
Mar. 2—Ash W<br />
Mar. 17—St. F<br />
RED rt\ETTE<br />
r's Day<br />
Apr<br />
Apr<br />
10—Palm<br />
14, IS—Pi<br />
Ap. 15—Good<br />
Apr 17—East<br />
8—Moth<br />
MaJ 30—Mei<br />
lun^ U—Flag I<br />
Runt<br />
19—Father<br />
1—Indepen<br />
Day<br />
OOKING C<br />
DA TB^<br />
Se] t. S -Labor Day<br />
Se]t. 7 I. 25—Rosh<br />
Hashonah<br />
3- -Yom Kippur<br />
Oc\J3 -Columbus Day<br />
Oct. 31 -Halloween<br />
Nov. 8- -Election Day<br />
No J 11- Annistice Day<br />
No^ 2j —Thanksgiving<br />
Deer's—Christmas<br />
JANUARY
S. BERMAN • A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture. Cj^^<br />
SOCK!<br />
Oh how the folks love<br />
its thrills and romance!<br />
In its first<br />
150 engagements<br />
it<br />
joins ''Easter<br />
Parade," ''Cass Timberlane,"<br />
and "Green<br />
Dolphin Street"among<br />
M-G-M's ALL-TIME<br />
GREAT!<br />
[<br />
M-G-M presents Alexandre Dun^as' THE THREE MUSKETEERS" S.arring LANA TURf^R .GENE ^^^LY- JUNE ALLYSON. VAN<br />
HEFLIN ANGELA LANSBURY FRANK MORGAN VINCENT PRICE KEENAN WYNN JOHN SUTTON . • • • • ' GJG YOUNG<br />
ROBERT COOTE • Color by TECHNICOLOR<br />
• Screen Play by Robert Ardrey • Directed by GEORGE SIDNEY • Produced by PANDRO
SOCK!<br />
The Biggest Musical<br />
is<br />
sensational at Radio<br />
City Music Hall. From<br />
the company that gives<br />
the industry its<br />
top<br />
musicals now comes a<br />
new bonanza to ring<br />
in a bright New Year<br />
across the nation!<br />
M-G-M presents "WORDS AND MUSIC" Starring JUNE ALLYSON • PERRY COMO • JUDY GARLAND -LENA HORNE • GENE KELLY<br />
MICKEY ROONEY ANN SOTHERN • • With Torn Drake • Cyd Charisse • Betty Garrett • Janet Leigh • Marshall Thompson • Mel ^orme • Vera-tllen<br />
Color by TECHNICOLOR • Based on the Lives and Music of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart • Screen Play by Fred Fjnklehoffe • 5>tory by<br />
Guy Bolton and Jean Holloway<br />
• Adaptation by Ben Feiner, Jr. • Musical Numbers by Robert Alton • Directed by NORMAN TAUROG • Produced<br />
by ARTHUR FREED • A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture.
Appy<br />
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WA RNE^<br />
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THE NATIONAL FILM WEEKLY<br />
PDBLISHED IN<br />
NINE SECTIONAL EDITIONS<br />
BEN SHLYEN<br />
Editor-in-Chief and Publisher<br />
lAMES M. lERAULD Editor<br />
NATHAN COHEN Associate Editor<br />
lESSE SHLYEN Managing Editor<br />
IVAN SPEAR Western Editor<br />
FLOYD M. MIX Equipment Editor<br />
RAYMOND LEVY General Manager<br />
Published Every Saturday by<br />
ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS<br />
Western Oifices: 6404 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood<br />
28, Calif. Ivan Spear, Manager. Telephone GLadstone<br />
1186.<br />
Wasbingloa Oliices: 6417 Dahlonega Road, Alan Herbert,<br />
Manager. Telephone, Wisconsin 3271. Filmrow:<br />
932 New Jersey, N. W. Sara Young.<br />
London Ollices: 136 Wffrdour St., John Sullivan, Manager.<br />
Telephone Gerrard 3934-5-6.<br />
Publication Ollices: 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City<br />
1, Mo. Nathan Cohen, Associate Editor; Jesse Shlyen,<br />
Managing Editor; Morris Schlozman, Business Manager.<br />
J. Herbert Roush, Manager Advertising Sales<br />
and Service. Telephone CHestnut 7777-78.<br />
Other Publications: BOXOFFICE BAROMETER,<br />
published in November as a section oi BOXOFFICE;<br />
THE MODERN THEATRE, published monthly as a<br />
section ol BOXOFFICE.<br />
ALBANY—21-23 Walter Ave., M. Berrigan.<br />
ATLANTA— 163 Walton, N. W., P. H. Savin.<br />
BIRMINGHAM—The News, Eddie Badger.<br />
BOSTON—Frances W. Harding, Ub. 2-9305.<br />
Audubon Drive, Snyder, Jim Schroder.<br />
BUFFALO— 157<br />
CHARLOTTE—216 W. 4th, Pauline Grillith.<br />
CINCINNATI— 1634 Central Parkway, Lallian Seltzer,<br />
CLEVELAND—Elsie Loeb, Fairmount 0046.<br />
DALLAS—1525 Holland, V. W. Crisp, J8-976Q.<br />
DENVER- 1645 Lalayelle, Jack Rose, TA 8517.<br />
DES MOINES—Register & Tribune Bldg., Russ Schooh.<br />
DETROIT— 1009 Fox Theatre Bldg., H. F. Reves.<br />
Telephones: RA 1100; Night, UN-4-0219.<br />
HARTFORD— 109 Westborne, Allen Widem.<br />
HARRISBURG, PA.—Mechanicsburg, Lois Fegan.<br />
INDIANAPOLIS— Rt. 8, Rox 770, Howard M. Hudeaux.<br />
MIAMI—66 S. Hibiscus Island, Mrs. Manton E. Harwood.<br />
2952 Merrick Rd., Elizabeth Sudlow.<br />
MEMPHIS—707 Spring St., Null Adams, Tel. 48-5462.<br />
MILWAUKEE—529 N. 13th, J. R. Gahagan, MA-0297.<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—29 Washington Ave. So., Les Rees.<br />
NEW HAVEN—42 Church St., Gertrude Lander.<br />
NEWARK, N. J.—207 Sumner, Sara Carleton.<br />
NEW ORLEANS—Frances Jackson, 218 So. Uberty.<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY—216 Terminal Bldg.,<br />
OMAHA—Omaha World-Herald Bldg., Lou Gerdes.<br />
PHILADELPHIA—4901 Spruce St., J. M. Makler.<br />
Polly Trindle.<br />
PITTSBURGH—86 Van Braam St., R. F. Klingensmith.<br />
PORTLAND, ORE —David Kahn, 7722 N. Interstate.<br />
RICHMOND—Grand Theatre, Sam PuUiam.<br />
ST. LOUIS—5149 Rosa, David Barrett, FL-3727.<br />
SALT LAKE CITY—Deseret News, Howard Pearson.<br />
SAN ANTONIO—309 Blum St., San Antonio 2, L. J. B.<br />
Ketner.<br />
iAN FRANCISCO—25 Taylor St., Gail Upman,<br />
ORdway 3-4812.<br />
SEATTLE—928 N. E4th St., Willard Elsey.<br />
TOLEDO—4330 Willys Pkwy., Anna Kline, LA 7176.<br />
IN CANADA<br />
CALGARY—The Albertan, Wm. Campbell.<br />
MONTREAI^-4330 Wilson Ave., N. D. G., Roy Car<br />
michael. Walnut 5519.<br />
ST. JOHN— 116 Prince Edward St., Wm. J. McNulty.<br />
TORONTO—R. R. No. 1, York Mills, Milton Galbraith.<br />
VANCOUVER-^11 Lyric Theatre Bldg., Jack Droy.<br />
VICTORIA—938 Island Highway, Alec Merriman.<br />
WINNIPEG—The Tribune, Sen Lepkin.<br />
Member Audit Bureau of Circulations<br />
OXOFFICE<br />
POINT FOR ORDER<br />
•^^ HE RETORT perfect came from Eric Johnston<br />
in response to Ellis Arnall's challenge for a pubhc debate<br />
on the issues of improving American films and the industry's<br />
alleged monopolistic practices. Said Mr. Johnston:<br />
"Turning the industry into a debating society will not produce<br />
better pictures. The way to get better pictures and to<br />
solve our worldwide industry problems is for all of us to work<br />
together.<br />
I welcome Mr. Amall into the industry and invite his<br />
cooperation to strengthen the industry."<br />
Of course it would not have gotten as much publicity, but<br />
Mr. Amall's entry into the business would have come with<br />
better taste and spirit, if it had not been accompanied by the<br />
chip-on-the-shoulder attitude that he so publicly displayed.<br />
For one who so openly admitted that he had some half-dozen<br />
other interests and that his new film job was to be of a parttime<br />
nature, it would have been appropriate that he first leam<br />
something about the motion picture business before making<br />
such threatening statements as came from him in both Hollywood<br />
and New York.<br />
The four-point program that the new Society of Independent<br />
Motion Picture Producers president armounced on the<br />
coast did contain reference to cooperation with other industry<br />
segments "in the furtherance of constructive aims." But this<br />
was considerably negated by his "declaration of war" against<br />
"monopolistic restraints" which he charged interfere with the<br />
quality of films. We'd call that speaking out of both sides of<br />
the mouth at the same time. Especially when part of the<br />
"plan" is to get on a radio network program and tell the public<br />
how poor are the films it is being offered because the alleged<br />
monopolists won't permit the good ones to be shown.<br />
And if Mr. Amall goes through with his promise, let us<br />
say, to introduce restrictive legislation he will be further tearing<br />
down the house which he allegedly has been hired to save.<br />
One of the greatest causes of the troubles with which this<br />
industry is beset is that some of its so-called leaders talk too<br />
much—negatively. Whether sincere or not, it's about time<br />
that the lesson was learned that we don't have to put ourselves<br />
into the goldfish bowl in which the motion picture industry<br />
allegedly is living; we don't have to make a public brawl<br />
out of family differences; we don't have to wash one another's<br />
Entered as Second Class matter at Post Office, Kansas City, Mo.<br />
Sectional Edition, $3.00 per year; National Edition, $7.50<br />
Vol. 54<br />
DE CEMBER<br />
No. 8<br />
2 5, 19 4 8
i<br />
'PuUc ^C€it4<br />
Johnston 'No' to Arnall<br />
Is a Definite One<br />
Joyce O'Hara, MPAA executive, says proposed<br />
debate will not be held; heckling and<br />
feuding okay for electioneering, but not for<br />
boxoffice, he answers new SIMPP president.<br />
dirty linen over the airwaves or on the front pages of newspapers.<br />
Nor are we assured betterment of conditions by putting<br />
our private necks into legislative nooses.<br />
There already<br />
are enough laws on the statute books to take care of every ill<br />
of which the industry has ever had cause for complaint—laws<br />
that apply to others as well. But, if there is caused to be enacted<br />
special legislation that will put this industry under the<br />
rule of some governmental commission, it will bring a sad<br />
awakening.<br />
The current government case may not settle all of the<br />
intra-industry disputes. It may even be the spawning ground<br />
for new ones. But it will settle some of the problems. Those<br />
remaining, it is to be hoped, can be settled vdthin the industry's<br />
own house and by and among its own people. The growing<br />
acceptance of the conciliation program which has been<br />
advanced in the industry would seem to be proof that this is<br />
the most desirable way to resolve trade differences. Failing<br />
in this manner and through these efforts, there still vnW be<br />
recourse through the courts. But, looking back over the more<br />
than ten years that the industry has been in the courts, it<br />
would seem the better part of wisdom to stay out of them<br />
as much as possible.<br />
A meeting of production, distribution and exhibition factors<br />
is expected to take place in Hollywood within the next few<br />
weeks. This conference affords opportunity for round-table<br />
discussions which could lead to the setting up of a constructive,<br />
cooperative program looking to advancement of the industry<br />
on all fronts.<br />
In the three-point plan which Eric Johnston announced<br />
soon after he assumed the presidency of the Motion Picture<br />
Producers Ass'n, he projected the idea of a Motion Picture Institute<br />
which would be a sort of unifying body incorporating<br />
all of the industry's various segments. Recent developments<br />
and present conditions as well as the foreseeable future emphasize<br />
the need for such a setup.<br />
To properly organize it and to put the machinery into successful<br />
operation, the various components would have to submerge<br />
self,-interest and take the broader view of industry-wide<br />
welfare. If that hurdle can be maneuvered, the industry will<br />
be on solid ground in a live-together, work-together era that<br />
will be marked with continuing progress.<br />
\j€-u^<br />
UA May Start Financing<br />
Independent Producers<br />
Plan under discussion among directors and<br />
Mary Pickford and Charles Chaplin as result<br />
of guarantees against losses sought by<br />
some banks.<br />
-K<br />
Projectionist Files Action<br />
Against Theatre, Union<br />
Louis G. Havens of Detroit seeks to get his<br />
job back at the Pine Arts Theatre and to<br />
force lATSE Local 199 to admit him to membership.<br />
Sullivan, Lachman Named<br />
Brotherhood Co-Chairmen<br />
Ned E. Depinet picks TOA and New Jersey<br />
Allied executives to head national exhibitors'<br />
committee for annual weekly observance<br />
in February.<br />
Pessimists Overplay Hands,<br />
Says Wall Street Writer<br />
C. F. Morgan, in Wall Streei magazine,<br />
says heavy writeoffs of inventories in 1948<br />
probably will improve stock prices and the<br />
outlook for 1949.<br />
+<br />
Mayor of Binghamton Vetoes<br />
5 Per Cent Amusement Tax<br />
The measure, recently passed by the city<br />
council, represents the first move by a state<br />
municipality to take advantage of ticket tax<br />
provision at last session of Albany legislature.<br />
*<br />
AMPP and Screen Extras<br />
Agree on New Contract<br />
Five-year pact announced jointly by the<br />
Screen Extras Guild and the Ass'n of Motion<br />
Picture Producers provides for keeping present<br />
basic daily rates of $15.56 and $22.23.<br />
Sons of Liberty Withdra'ws<br />
Boycott of British Films<br />
Action taken after letter from N. J.<br />
Blumberg,<br />
U-I president, clarifying fact that funds<br />
earned by British films in the U.S. are retained<br />
by American film industry here.<br />
"Best Years of Our Lives'<br />
Voted Top British Hit<br />
Samuel Goldwyn's production picked as<br />
best of U.S. films by English exhibitors in<br />
1948; "Courtneys of Curzon Street" voted<br />
best British film.
Paramount,<br />
Fireman's,<br />
Lynn<br />
Strand,<br />
,<br />
Mass.;<br />
MAJORS OFFER TO THE COURT:<br />
,<br />
DROP 796, KEEP 2J40 THEATRES<br />
Some Deals Are Already<br />
Okayed; See a Final<br />
Decfee June 30<br />
NEW YORK—After six weeks of negotiations,<br />
the four remaining theatre-owning<br />
defendants in the so-called Paramount<br />
antitrust case this week submitted proposals<br />
for giving up a total of 796 theatres<br />
and for retention of 2,140 theatres.<br />
They also hope to be able to keep some<br />
of those they expressed a willingness to<br />
dispose of through stock transfers.<br />
PROPOSALS SUMMARIZED<br />
Robert L. Wright, assistant attorney general,<br />
however, is still insisting on total divorcement,<br />
despite the fact that the Department<br />
of Justice has given its okay to a<br />
number of the settlements. The court, which<br />
has had the case for a couple of years, indicated<br />
a lack of sympathy for Wright's<br />
stand.<br />
In a general way this is what the majors<br />
have proposed as a settlement to the divorcement<br />
controversy:<br />
1 Paramount is definitely willing to give<br />
up m theatres, "tentatively willing to<br />
give up" another 498 of which it hopes to<br />
keep about half, wants to retain 368 jointlyowned<br />
properties, and acquire eight of 13<br />
Buffalo theatres now jointly-owned.<br />
O Twentieth Century-Pox wants to retain<br />
437 of 587 theatres. An agreement<br />
to this effect was signed on December<br />
17 by the Department of Justice and attorneys<br />
for the company. Summarized, the<br />
company wants to retain 337 wholly-owned<br />
theatres and about 100 of 250 theatres<br />
operated as partnership subsidiaries.<br />
O Warner Bros., which operates 467 theatres<br />
through its circuit management<br />
corporation, hopes to retain 452 theatres and<br />
is willing to give up 15 of 26 jointly-operated<br />
houses. The Department of Justice has<br />
agreed to the splitting of the jointly-operated<br />
theatres.<br />
A Loew's Inc. hopes to keep 126 theatres<br />
and give up 17 theatres. Loew's has<br />
115 wholly-owned theatres, which it wants<br />
to keep. The company also jointly owns 13<br />
theatres with Paramount; eight with United<br />
Artists Theatre circuit; one each with Warner<br />
and RKO; five with independents. The<br />
company wants to keep five operated with<br />
Paramount, four with UA and two with independents,<br />
for a total of 11 jointly owned<br />
properties.<br />
TO END TEXAS HOLDINGS<br />
(Continued on page 9)<br />
Theatre Partnerships Paramount Is Willing to Drop;<br />
{Corporations listed alphabetically)<br />
Theatre Corp.: Alger, Detroit, Mich.<br />
Allied<br />
Allied Theatres ol Bangor: Bijou, Opera House,<br />
Pork, Bcmgor, Me<br />
; Orono, Me.<br />
Arkansas Amusement Corp.: Arkansas. Capitol,<br />
Heights, Lee, New Prospect, Pulaski, Roxy, Royal,<br />
Asher, Uttle Rock, Ark.<br />
Augusta Amusements. Inc.: Imperial, Miller, Modjeska,<br />
Rialto, Augusta, Me.<br />
Birmingham Theatre Operdting Corp.: Alabama,<br />
Lyric, Ritz, Strgnd, Temple, Birmingham, Ala.; Ensley<br />
and Franklin, Ensiey, Ala.<br />
Central States Theatre Corp.: Call and Iowa, Algona,<br />
la.; Boone, Princess and Rialto, Boone, la.;<br />
Capitol, Palace and Zephyr, Burlington, la.; Majestic<br />
arid Ritz, Centreville, la,; Ritz and State, Chariton,<br />
la,; Charles and Gem, Charles City, la,; Clarion,<br />
Clarion, la.; Capitol, Rialto cmd Strand, Clinton, la,;<br />
Lake and Park, Clear Lake, la.; Cresco, Cresco, la,;<br />
Princess, Eagle Grove, la,; Grand, EstherviUe, la.;<br />
Forest, Forest City, la.; Iowa, Rialto and Strand,<br />
Fort Dodge, la.; Iowa and Strand, Grinnell, la.;<br />
Englert, Strand arid Varsity, Iowa City, la,; Cecil,<br />
Palace and Strand, Mason City, la.; Grand and Ritz,<br />
Oelwem, la ; New Hampton, la,<br />
Darlington Theatres, Inc.: Liberty, Darlington, S. C.<br />
Drive-In Theatres of Alabama. Inc.: Roebuck,<br />
Birmingham, Ala<br />
Drive-In Theatres of So. Carolina: Drive-In, Co-<br />
Anderson, S. C; Drive-In,<br />
Gr< ilk s. c.<br />
Essex Amusement Corp.: Adams and Paramount,<br />
Eton Amusement Corp.: Bonnie Kate and Ritz, Elizabethton,<br />
Newark, N, J ; U.S., Paterson, N. J.<br />
Tenn<br />
Fairmont Theatre Co.: Nicholas and Strand, Foir-<br />
Mmn<br />
:iont,<br />
Florence Theatr Inc.: Carolina and Colonial,<br />
Fulton Enterprises, Inc.: Avon and State, New York.<br />
Gale Theatre Co.: Colonial, Galesburg, 111.<br />
Goryona Amusement Corp.: Grand, Gary, Ind.<br />
Greenwood Theatres, Inc.: Carolina, Ritz and<br />
Slate. Greenwood, S, C.<br />
Interstate Circuit, Inc.: Aggie and Texan, Arlington,<br />
Tex , Queen, State, Austin, Capitol,<br />
Texas and Varsity, Austin, Tex ; Capitol, Dalsec,<br />
Fair, Forest, Majestic, Melba, Palace, Rialto, Tower,<br />
White, Circle, Inwood, Esquire and Telenews, Knox<br />
Street, Lakewood, Lawn, Varsity, Village, Wilshire<br />
and Dnve-ln, Dallas; Bowie, Gateway. Hollywood,<br />
Majestic, Palace, Parkway, River Oaks, Worth, 7th<br />
Street, Tower, Varsity. Drive-lii (Bowie Blvd.) and<br />
Dnve-ln (operated by Halton Drive-ln Corp.), Fort<br />
Worth; Key, Martini, Queen, State, Tremont and<br />
Broadway, Galveston; Alabama. Alameda, Bluebonnet,<br />
Eastwood, Kirby, Majestic, Metropolitan,<br />
Fulton, North Main, River Oak, Tower, Santa Rosa,<br />
Village, Wayside, Yale, Broadway, Garden Oaks,<br />
Drive-In (operated by Shepherd). Dnve-ln (operated<br />
by South Main) and Dnve-ln (operated by<br />
Winkler). Houston; Aztec, Empire, Majestic, Texas.<br />
Broadway. Laurel, State, Sunset and Woodlawn,<br />
San Antonio; Hayes, Palace and Plaza, San Marcos<br />
Jefferson Amusement Co.: Rig, Anahuac, Tex.; Rex,<br />
Arp, Tex.; Arcadia and Bay, Baytown, Tex.: Gem,<br />
Jelierson, Lamarr, Liberty, Star, Tivoli, Peoples,<br />
Circle Dnve-ln, Beaumont, Tex Sanja. Channelview,<br />
Tex.; Cnghton and<br />
;<br />
Liberty, Conroe, Tex.;<br />
Cole, Eagle Lake, Tex.; Cozy, Gregg and Palace,<br />
Gladewater; Palace and Texan. Goose Creek, Tex.;<br />
Colonial, Rialto and Texan, Greenville, Tex.; Lyric,<br />
Groves, Tex,; Cole, Halletsville, Tex.; Palace and<br />
Strand, Henderson, Tex.; Jackson, Palace and Rialto,<br />
Jacksonville, Tex.; Crim, Strand and Texan, Kilgore,<br />
Tex,; Port, La Porte, Tex,; Lynn, Pines and<br />
Texan, Luikin, Tex.; Arlyne. Rembert and Rita,<br />
Longview, Tex ;<br />
and Paramount, Marshall,<br />
Tex.; Rita, Stonelort and Texan, Nacogdoches, Tex.;<br />
Rio. Nederland, Tex,; Cole, Needville, Tex.; Bengal,<br />
Gem, Royal and Strand, Orange. Tex,; Gem and<br />
Strand, Overton, Tex.; Alamo, Pelly, Tex.; Majestic,<br />
Pearce, Peoples, Port, Sabine, Strand and Surl<br />
Dnve-ln, Port Arthur, Tex,; Lynn and Neches, Port<br />
Neches, Tex.; Lamar, Richmond, Tex.; Cole and<br />
Stale, Rosenberg, Tex.; Cherokee, Rusk, Tex.; Pines,<br />
Silsbee, Tex.; Grand, Yoakum, Tex.; Cole, Wallis,<br />
Paramount's divestiture will include its big<br />
Tex<br />
LSP Theatres, Inc: La Salle and Majestic, La Salle,<br />
Texas holdings, where it has 50 per cent 111 ; Peru and Star. Peru, 111.<br />
Malco Theatres. Inc.: Rialto, Ritz and Strand, Camden,<br />
Ark.; Joy and Strand, Clarksville, Ark.; Con-<br />
ownership in the Interstate circuit and the<br />
Texas Consolidated Theatres circuit, and 50 way and Grand. Conway, Ark.; Joy, Dardenelle,<br />
Ark ; Ozark, Palace, Royal and U-Ark, FayetteviUe.<br />
per cent in the Jefferson Amusement Co.,<br />
Ark ; Hoyts. Joie, New, Plaza, Temple and Uptown.<br />
which It operates with Julius M. Gordon. Fort Smith, Ark,; Central, Malco Paramount and<br />
Victory, Hot Springs, Ark.; Liberty, Palace and<br />
It also is willing to break up its association<br />
Strand, Jonesboro, Ark.; Ritz, McGehee, Ark.; Rialto,<br />
Mornlton, Ark.; Capitol and Strand, Newport, Ark.;<br />
Ritz, Russellville, Ark.; Joy, Smackover, A^k.; Majestic<br />
and Strand, Stuttgart, Ark.; Bob Burns and Rio,<br />
Van Buren, Ark.; Fulton, Orpheum and Strand, Fulton,<br />
Ky.; Kentucky and Kraver, Henderson, Ky.;<br />
Seville and Strand, Owensboro, Ky.; Paramount,<br />
State, Met and Met-N-Moy, Jackson, Tenn.; Malco<br />
and Strand, Memphis, Tenn.<br />
Massachusetts Operating Co., Inc.: Ball Square,<br />
Capitol and Central, Somerville, Mass.<br />
Menmor Theatre Co.: Ada, Boise, Granada and<br />
Pinney, Boise, Idaho.<br />
Newton Amusement Corp.: Newton, West Newton,<br />
Oak Park Amusement Co.: Lake Oak Park, 111.<br />
Theatre Co.: Orpheui<br />
Ogden<br />
Faro<br />
Hollyv<br />
lunt Hollyvrood Theatre Corp.: Paramount,<br />
d, Calif.<br />
Theatre Corp.: Capitol and Penn, Butler,<br />
P.<br />
Pa<br />
Ṗennware Theatre Corp.: State, Strand, Rialto and<br />
Temple, Aliquippa, Pa.; State, Ambridge, Pa.<br />
Phoenix Drive-In Theatre, Inc.: Phoenix Drive-In<br />
and Indian Head Dnve-ln, Phoenix, Ariz.<br />
Publix Bomford Theatres, Inc.: Imperial, Isis, Palace,<br />
Paramount. Plaza and State, AsheviUe, N. C;<br />
Colonial and Strand, Canton, N. C.<br />
Publix Lucas Theatres, Inc.: Georgia, Morton, Palace,<br />
Ritz and Strand, Athens, Ga.; Bijou, Ritz and<br />
Roxy, Brunswick, Ga.: Allen and Colonial, Buford,<br />
Ga.; Elbert, Elberton, Ga,; Ritz, Roxy, Royal and<br />
State, Gainesville, Ga Lex, Lexington, Ga.; Capitol.<br />
East Macon<br />
;<br />
and Rialto, Macon, Ga,; Colquitt and<br />
Moultrie, Moultrie, Ga.<br />
Publix Netco Theatres Corp.: Capitol, New London,<br />
Conn., Maine and State. Portland, Me,; Bayside,<br />
AUerton, Mass.; Capitol. Arlington, Mass.;<br />
Washington St., Esquire, Modern, Boston, Mass,;<br />
Allston and Capitol, Allston, Mass.; Circle and<br />
Egyptian, Brighton, Mass.; Franklin Park, Liberty<br />
and Morton St., Dorchester, Mass<br />
;<br />
Jamaica, Jamaica<br />
Plains, Mass.; Oriental, Matapan, Mass.; Bellevue<br />
and Rialto, Roslindale, Mass.; Humboldt, Roxie, War-<br />
Eggleston, Roxbury,<br />
Rivoli,<br />
Mass.; Elizabeth and aouth, Falmouth, Mass.;<br />
Marlboro, Marlboro, Mc Colonial, Natick, Mass.;<br />
Community, North Altlel<br />
Regent, Quincy,<br />
Mass.; Wollaston, Wollc<br />
" al Square,<br />
Embassy, Waldorf and Waltham, Waltha<br />
Publix Wheeling Theatre Corp.: Rex, Wheeling,<br />
W. Va.<br />
Quincy Theatres Operating Co.: Orpheum and<br />
Washington, Quincy, 111.<br />
Rockford Enterprises, Inc.: Coronado, Midway and<br />
Palace, Rockford, 111.<br />
Rockford Theatre Corp.: Times, Rockford, 111,<br />
Rockland Amusement Co.: Park and Strand, Rockland,<br />
Me.<br />
Royal Theatre Co.: Royal, Detroit, Mich.<br />
State Amusement Corp.: State. Gary, Ind.<br />
Straham Theatres Corp.: Parkhill, Yonkers, N. Y.<br />
Studio Theatre, Inc.: Studio. Phoenix, Ariz.<br />
Taunton Operating Co., Inc.: State, Taunton, Mass.<br />
Taunton Theatres, Inc.: Park, Taunton. Mass.<br />
Texas Consolidated Theatres, Inc.: Chief, Kimo,<br />
Lobo. Mesa, Mission, Rio, Sunshine, Yucca, Cactus<br />
Drive-ln, Albuquerque, N. M.; Majestic, Palace,<br />
Paramount, Queen. Abilene, Tex.; Capitol, Paramount,<br />
Rialto, State and Esquire, Amarillo, Tex,; National<br />
and Palace. Breckenridge, Tex.; Capitol and<br />
Queen, Brownsville, Tex.; Bowie, Lyric and Gem,<br />
Brownwood, Tex.; Grand, Ideal, Palace and Rio,<br />
Corsicana, Tex.; Rialto, Rio, Star, Dreamland, Palace<br />
and Texas, Denton, Tex.; Plaza, Donna, Tex.;<br />
Majestic and Lyric, Eastland, Tex.; EUanay, Palace,<br />
Pershing, Plaza, Texas, Grand and Wigwam, El<br />
Paso, Tex.; Arcadia, Grand, Rialto and Strand,<br />
Horlmgen, Tex.; Azteca, Palace, Queen and Elrey,<br />
McAllen, Tex.; Rex, Rio and State, Mercedes, Tex.;<br />
Grand, Main, North Star, Plaza and Rex, Paris, Tex.;<br />
Dnve-ln, Pharr, Tex.; Arcadia, Bell, Gem, Rio and<br />
Texas, Temple, Tex.; Arcadia, Liberty, Majestic and<br />
Tyler, Tyler, Tex.; Pictorium and Vernon. Vernon,<br />
Tex.; Orpheum, 25th Street, Texas, Waco and Drive-<br />
In, Waco, Tex,; Gem and Ritz, Weslaco, Tex,; Majestic,<br />
Stale, Strand and Wichita, Wichita Falls, Tex,<br />
United Theatre Enterprises: Ritz, Barnesville, Ga.;<br />
Rialto, Royal, Springer, Village, Bradley and<br />
Georgia, Columbus. Ga.; Grand and Ritz, Macon,<br />
Ga.; Casino, St. Simmons Is., Ga.; Carver, Lyric<br />
Waycross, Ga.<br />
and Ritz,<br />
Ute Theatre Co.: Colonial, Ogden, Utah.<br />
Wellworth Theatres of Wisconsin, Inc.: Fifth Avenue<br />
and Hollywood, LaCrosse, Wis.<br />
West Suburban Amusement Co.: North Center<br />
Chicago: Lamar, Oak Park, 111.<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948<br />
I.
Antitrust Hearing [Cont.]<br />
(Continued from page 8)<br />
with the 49-theatre Malco circuit, In which<br />
it has a 50 per cent interest; with the 38-<br />
theatre Central States Theatre Corp. in which<br />
it shares a 50 per cent interest with A. H.<br />
Blank. However, the association with Blank<br />
in the extensive Ti-i-States circuit in Iowa<br />
is not to be disturbed under the proposals.<br />
The company also is willing to divest itself<br />
of 36 theatres in the Netco circuit in New<br />
England which involves its relationship with<br />
the Mullin and Pinanski chain.<br />
CIRCUITS NOT INCHIDED<br />
A number of important jointly-owned circuits<br />
are not included in the properties submitted<br />
for divestiture. These include the 17<br />
theatres in the Florida Inland circuit, which<br />
it has with Frank Rogers and others; 30<br />
theatres in the Maine and New Hampshire<br />
circuit in which it has a 50 per cent interest;<br />
20 theatres in the Western Massachusetts<br />
Theatres circuit, held with Samuel Goldstein;<br />
80 theatres in Pennsylvania and New<br />
York, operated with the Commerford-J. J.<br />
O'Leary interests; nor the 80 theatres operated<br />
with E. V. Richards jr. in the New<br />
Orleans area.<br />
BREAKUP IN SOUTHEAST<br />
Paramount proposed to break up some of<br />
its relationships in the southeast. While the<br />
plan does not propose divestiture of the<br />
Wilby-Kincey Service Corp., which services<br />
50 jointly-owned theatres in the Carolinas,<br />
or the operating company itself, it proposed<br />
an end to associations with six corporations<br />
operating 17 theatres in which it has a joint<br />
interest with Wilby-Kincey.<br />
Paramount divided its theatre holdings<br />
into five groups in presenting its arguments<br />
for retention and disposition of theatres.<br />
These were:<br />
List of jointly-owned theatre interests<br />
which Paramount is prepared to terminate<br />
498 theatres.<br />
List of theatres owned jointly wdth investors.<br />
(It will argue for retention of these)<br />
—37 theatres.<br />
List of jointly-owned theatre interests<br />
which arose as the fortuitous result of bankruptcies.<br />
(It wUl argue for retention of these)<br />
— 237 theatres.<br />
List of jointly-owned theatre interests in<br />
which the alleged "actual or potential operator"<br />
owns 5 per cent or less of the capital<br />
stock. (It will argue for retention or these)<br />
—94 theatres.<br />
List of theatres interests owned by:<br />
Buffalo Theatres, Inc., 13 theatres, in which<br />
Paramount has 43^3 per cent (Paramount<br />
will keep eight and Loew's Inc., five).<br />
90 BUTTERFIELD THEATRES<br />
Butterfield Michigan Theatres Co., 21 theatres,<br />
in which Paramount has 33 Vb per cent,<br />
and W. S. Butterfield Theatres, Inc., 90 theatres<br />
in which Paramount has 25 per cent.<br />
(Paramount- will sell out to Butterfield).<br />
Suirmiarized. this means that Paramount<br />
is:<br />
Definitely willing to give up.... Ill theatres<br />
Tentatively willing to give up 498 theatres<br />
Wants to retain<br />
368 theatres<br />
WOl keep in Buffalo<br />
8 theatres<br />
Paramount hopes to keep about half the<br />
498 theatres listed as "tentatively willing to<br />
give up," so that if its hopes are fulfilled it<br />
will retain about 625 theatres, plus 500<br />
(Continued on page 10)<br />
Here Are the Details<br />
Of 20th-Fox Settlement:<br />
NEW YORK—The agreement between<br />
the Department of Justice and National<br />
Theatres Corp. for giving up a number of<br />
theatres and rearranging the holdings of<br />
others was signed by Robert L. Wright and<br />
Dwight. Harris. Koegel & Caskey on December<br />
17.<br />
Most of the theatres involved are in California,<br />
with 23 in the state of Washington<br />
and two in Oregon, three in Montana, two<br />
in Wisconsin and two in Iowa.<br />
The big regional units. Fox Wisconsin, Fox<br />
Midwest and Pox Intermountain, are left<br />
practically undisturbed.<br />
The splitups are divided into three groups.<br />
Group A<br />
National Theatres Corp. agrees to sell or<br />
dispose of its stock in one year in these corporations<br />
to persons not affiliated with any<br />
defendant in the case, or to divide the assets:<br />
Rubidoux Theatre Corp.: De Anza Theatre—Riverside,<br />
Calif.<br />
Sacramento Theatres, Inc.: Senator, Capitol,<br />
Rio—Sacramento, Calif.<br />
Principal Theatres, Inc.: Banning—Banning,<br />
Calif.; Brawley and Circle—Brawley.<br />
Calif.; Molino, Monache and Crystal—Porterville,<br />
Calif; El Rey—Alhambra, Calif. (In the<br />
Principal group National owns 51 per cent<br />
and the other owners are Mike Rosenberg,<br />
Sol Lesser and others').<br />
For Western Montana Theatre Corp.:<br />
American, Rialto, Fox. Montana and Park<br />
Butte, Mont.<br />
Theatres Holding Co.: Lessee of Hollywood<br />
Theatre. Los Angeles, with National owning<br />
33 'i per cent and David Bershon and Earl<br />
Sinks owning the remaining 66-i per cent.<br />
San Luis Obispo Theatres, Inc.: Fremont,<br />
Elmo and Obispo—San Luis Obispo, Calif.<br />
National owns 51 per cent.<br />
Group B<br />
National Theatres Corp. agrees to dispose<br />
of stock within a year to persons not defendants<br />
in the case or to teiTninate joint<br />
ownerships, but in the division of the assets<br />
National may, with the approval of the court,<br />
keep up to one-third of the total, not to exceed<br />
one theatre in each community where<br />
the corporations have theatres:<br />
Anaheim Theatres, Inc.: Fox and Anaheim—Anaheim.<br />
Calif., and through control<br />
of Fullerton Theatre Corp.—Fox—Fullerton,<br />
Calif. National owns 51 per cent.<br />
Broadway Theatre Co. of Santa Ana:<br />
Broadway—Santa Ana, Calif. National owns<br />
51 per cent.<br />
West Coast- Santa Ana Theatre Corp.: West<br />
Coast—Santa Ana, Calif. National owtis 51<br />
per cent.<br />
Fullerton Building Corp.: Pox—Fullerton,<br />
Calif. National owns 51 per cent.<br />
West Coast- Wilmington Co.: Granada and<br />
Avalon—Wilmington, CaUf. National owns<br />
77.3332 per cent.<br />
Valley Theatres Corp.: Grand and Wasau—<br />
Wasau. Wis.<br />
Muscatine Amusement Co.: Palace and Uptown—Muscatine,<br />
Iowa.<br />
West Coast-Compton Theatre Corp.: Tower<br />
and Compton—Compton, Calif.<br />
Group C<br />
This section provides for a rearrangement<br />
of stock interests with various circuits now<br />
affiliated with National Theatres on the<br />
coast, all to be done within one year.<br />
National agrees to dispose of its interests<br />
in United West Coast Theatres Corp. and to<br />
end its joint interest with United Artists<br />
Theatre Circuit, Inc. The theatres involved<br />
in the joint operation wall revert to the individual<br />
owners.<br />
National will give up its interest in the<br />
Egyptian, Hollywood, which is owned by a<br />
subsidiary of United Artists Theatre Circuit,<br />
Inc., and will acquire the Chinese Theatre in<br />
Hollywood from the UA circuit.<br />
Under the agreement National will split<br />
the assets of Golden State Theatre & Realty<br />
Co. and T&D Jr. Enterprises, retaining a<br />
proportion of theatres equivalent to its present<br />
stockholdings in the two groups. National<br />
owns 75 per cent of Golden State. These two<br />
companies operate 103 California theatres in<br />
and around San Francisco, down the coast as<br />
far as Paso Robles and across the San<br />
Joachim Valley to Visalia. Five Reno, Nev.,<br />
houses also are included.<br />
The existing joint ownership of Golden<br />
State and T&D will be terminated, as wiU the<br />
joint ownership of Fresno Theatres, Inc., a<br />
subsidiary. National owns 31.77 per cent of<br />
T&D.<br />
National also will dispose of its interests<br />
in Cascade Theatres Corp., or will terminate<br />
its joint interest with John Hamrick and the<br />
stock will revert to the owners or lessees in<br />
the individual houses of the circuit which<br />
operates in Washington and Oregon.<br />
Operations of Evergreen State Amusement<br />
Coi-p.. which has interests in 34 theatres, 23<br />
of which are in Washintgon and two in<br />
Oregon, are not to be disturbed.<br />
Cascade is a subsidiary of Evergreen and<br />
in tm-n has two subsidiaries of its own<br />
Multonomah Theatres Corp. and Rainier<br />
Theatres Corp.<br />
Evergreen State owns 60 per cent of Cascade<br />
and John Hamrick owns 40 per cent.<br />
The theatres covered in this group are Portland—Music<br />
Box. Playhouse, Hollywood,<br />
Oriental, Liberty, Orpheuni and Rivoli; Seattle—Fifth<br />
Avenue, Paramount. Coliseum, Blue<br />
Mouse, Music Box, Music Hall and Orpheum.<br />
Because the stock of seven National subsidiaries<br />
is not jointly owned the company<br />
will retain ownership of the following; Fox<br />
Salina Theatres, Ltd., Gateway Theatre Co.,<br />
Marstrand Theatres Corp., Pico Theatres<br />
Corp., Transbay Theatres, Inc., West Coast<br />
Hollywood Theatres, Carlton-Rivoli Theatres.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: December 25, 1948
Antitrust Hearing (Cont)<br />
wholly-owned theatres—a total of 1,125 theatres.<br />
The hearings began Monday, December 20,<br />
and closed early Tuesday afternoon, December<br />
21.<br />
A mass of documents and some verbal testimony<br />
were submitted and the court instructed<br />
plaintiff and defendants to exchange<br />
proposed decrees and have them in<br />
court in March so that oral arguments can<br />
be held March 30. A final decree probably<br />
will be handed down before the court adjourns<br />
June 30.<br />
ARBITRATION IN 10 DAYS<br />
All fom- of the remaining theatre-owning<br />
defendants and the so-called Little Three<br />
UA, Columbia and Universal-International<br />
submitted detailed reports on correction of<br />
trade practices outlawed by the Supreme<br />
Court.<br />
The Little Three repeated its contentions<br />
for roadshows, modified price-fixing, moveovers,<br />
franchises to independents, and a welldefined<br />
system of clearance.<br />
A full proposal for a new arbitration system<br />
wUl be presented to the court in about<br />
ten days.<br />
The major developments Monday covered<br />
Paramount and 20th Century-Fox.<br />
During the morning session Albert C. Bickford.<br />
Paramount attorney, reported that<br />
Paramount was negotiating for the breakup<br />
of partnerships operating more than 600<br />
theatres. He said the government agreed<br />
to give Paramount until Nov. 8, 1949, to sell<br />
its 33% per cent interest in the Butterfield<br />
Michigan Theatres Co. and its 25.8 per cent<br />
interest in the W. S. Butterfield Theatres,<br />
Inc., which together operate approximately<br />
111 theatres. The deal was originally supposed<br />
to have gone through by Dec. 31, 1948.<br />
He also said that Paramount and Loew's<br />
had been granted until Feb. 28, 1949, to split<br />
the ownership of the 13 Buffalo Theatres,<br />
Inc., between them. Paramount is to get<br />
eight and Loew's five. Vincent McPaul, the<br />
minority stockholder, will work for Loew's.<br />
In the case of 500 other jointly-operated<br />
theatres. Paramount agreed with the Department<br />
of Justice that they are being operated<br />
with potential competitors. Therefore the<br />
company is wOling to end these partnerships.<br />
A three-point plan was proposed:<br />
1. Paramount will dispose of its Interests<br />
in some theatres to its partners.<br />
2. It will split the assets with its partners<br />
in other theatres.<br />
3. It will buy out its partners in the remaining<br />
theatres.<br />
HOPES TO KEEP ABOUT 250<br />
It was later reported that Paramount hopes<br />
to retain approximately 250 of these 500<br />
theatres.<br />
Bickford said that Paramount will defend<br />
the right to retain 400 additional jointly<br />
owned theatres plus its 500 wholly owned<br />
houses.<br />
The 400 jointly owned theatres are those<br />
shared with investors, and with partners who<br />
bought into the corporations during the depression<br />
and bankruptcy proceedings of the<br />
early 1930s. There also are a few theatres<br />
Court Calendar<br />
January 31—Defendants will present<br />
proposed decrees to Department<br />
of Justice.<br />
March 1—Department of Justice<br />
will present its proposed decree<br />
to defendants.<br />
March 30—Oral arguments on proposed<br />
decrees before threejudge<br />
court.<br />
Before June 30—Final decree by<br />
court.<br />
in which outsiders own less than five per<br />
cent. Paramount wants permission to buy<br />
out these stockholders.<br />
Bickford indicated that Paramount will<br />
fight against the U.S. drive to force the<br />
company out of many so-called closed towns.<br />
He challenged the government's figure that<br />
Paramount operates in 156 closed towns. He<br />
stated that there are 81 closed situations<br />
in which Paramount operates with partners<br />
and only 16 in which it has wholly-owned<br />
theatres.<br />
The big 20th Century-Fox news was announced<br />
by John Caskey, attorney. He said<br />
that Attorney General Tom Clark had approved<br />
a plan for the termination of approximately<br />
28 corporations operating approximately<br />
250 theatres. This plan was<br />
signed by Wright, and later in the day the<br />
judges signed a special order of approval.<br />
The 20th-Fox subsidiary. National Theatres,<br />
will be able to acquire complete control of<br />
approximately 100 of these houses.<br />
The 20th-Fox and Paramount arguments<br />
in favor of retaining the bulk of their theatres<br />
included some recent statistics on theatre<br />
acquisitions. These were introduced to<br />
show that the major defendants do not<br />
possess the monopolies attributed to them<br />
by the government.<br />
2,800 NEW INDEPENDENTS<br />
Bickford said that 2,300 new, imaffiliated<br />
theatres and 729 independent drive-in theatres<br />
have come into existence since 1946.<br />
He asserted the new theatres have added<br />
1,649,000 seats. Most new houses are being<br />
built in the suburbs away from downtown<br />
areas, he added.<br />
Paramount also was shown to have disposed<br />
of its interests in approximately 106<br />
theatres since Dec. 31, 1946, the date of the<br />
original antitrust decree.<br />
This information was contained, along with<br />
lists of other theatres to be sold and corporations<br />
to be split, in a joint affidavit and<br />
collection of exhibits submitted by Charles<br />
M. Reagan and Leonard H. Goldenson, Paramount<br />
distribution and theatre chiefs respectively.<br />
Additional affidavits were submitted by<br />
Samuel Goldstein of Western Massachusetts<br />
Theatres, A. H. Blank of Tri-States and<br />
Austin Keough, general counsel.<br />
The 20th-Pox position was defended in<br />
additional arguments by James F. Byrnes,<br />
special counsel, and in an affidavit by Dan<br />
Mlchalove, vice-president of National Theatres.<br />
Byrnes used this information to point out<br />
that 20th-Fox and National Theatres have<br />
been accused of monopoly in only 28 of 432<br />
cities with populations between 25,000 and<br />
100,000. In Philadelphia and Detroit it only<br />
operates one theatre, according to Michalove.<br />
Counsel for both companies also cited the<br />
end of pools and franchises as additional<br />
evidence showing that monopoly has been<br />
vu-tually eliminated in theatre operations<br />
since the decree of 1946. Paramount's lawyer<br />
cited the suit it filed against the Fanchon<br />
& Marco circuit in CaUfornia, when that<br />
company refused to accept the cancellation<br />
of its franchise by Paramount.<br />
A good portion of Monday's testimony also<br />
covered the changes that have taken place<br />
in trade practices since the original antitrust<br />
decision of June 11, 1946, and the decree<br />
of Dec. 31, 1946.<br />
Paramount and 20th-Fox attorneys introduced<br />
considerable testimony to prove that<br />
the trade practices and restraints in force<br />
during the last two years, plus arbitration,<br />
would be adequate to cope with the antitrust<br />
complaints of the Department of Justice.<br />
PRAISES BIDDING RESULTS<br />
Byrnes praised the competitive bidding<br />
proposal of the New York court and said<br />
he still thinks highly of bidding despite the<br />
fact the Supreme Court eliminated it.<br />
He cited figures to prove that affiliated<br />
and large independent circuits have not misused<br />
their superior bargaining power to outbid<br />
smaller chains or operators. For example,<br />
he mentioned that Fox West Coast has to<br />
date considered formal bids on 1,126 features.<br />
Of these. Fox submitted offers on<br />
793 pictures of which 405 were accepted by<br />
the distributors. The distributors rejected<br />
388 Fox offers.<br />
As to competitive negotiation, FWC bid on<br />
1,098 films, of which 339 were accepted and<br />
759 were rejected.<br />
At this point attorneys for the Little<br />
Three—Edward C. Raftery, UA; Louis D.<br />
Frohlich, Columbia, and Cyril Landau, U-I<br />
asked the court for special consideration<br />
with respect to trade practice bans.<br />
Raftery placed Paul Lazarus sr. and Paul<br />
Lazarus jr. on the stand to defend roadshows,<br />
moveovers, and modified price-fixing. Lazarus<br />
sr., contract chief, who has been with<br />
UA since it was formed in 1919, traced the<br />
history of UA roadshows, beginning with<br />
"Way Down East" and the original "Three<br />
Musketeers." Lazarus jr., who is now assistant<br />
to Gradwell Sears, president, told of<br />
the special exploitation and selling job done<br />
on quality pictures like "Henry V."<br />
CITES NEED FOR EXTENDED RUNS<br />
Abe Montague, Columbia sales head, testified<br />
as to the need for extended runs and<br />
moveovers. He also described the present<br />
Columbia sales practice of permitting exhibitors<br />
20 per cent cancellation privilege on<br />
blocks of pictures that are not tradeshown.<br />
The Little Three lawyers defended uniformity<br />
in clearance. They said that uniformity<br />
was desired by exhibitors and there<br />
was nothing illegal about it.<br />
Landau defended franchises to independents.<br />
He said they were approved by the<br />
Supreme Court.<br />
All three attorneys asked the court to reject<br />
U.S. proposals that would curtail nondiscriminatory,<br />
competitive trade practices.<br />
10 BOXOFTICE December 25, 1948
New Antitrust Cases<br />
Ask Total of $800,000<br />
DETROIT—Another chapter in the tangled<br />
history of Michigan's theatrical litigation<br />
was opened last week with the filing of<br />
a lawsuit in federal district court in Detroit<br />
by Jack Loeks Enterprises Inc., operating<br />
the Powers Foto-News Theatre, a 1,012-<br />
seat house, located in Grand Rapids,<br />
Mich. The suit names as defendants the<br />
Butterfield circuit and specifically the affUiated<br />
B and J Theatres, and five majors<br />
RKO, Paramount, Loew's, 20th-Fox and Warner<br />
Bros.<br />
Violation of both the Sherman and Clayton<br />
antitrust acts, and the existence of a<br />
"conspiracy" detrimental to the Foto-News<br />
are charged in the complaint. The Foto-<br />
News, originally opened as a newsreel type<br />
of house, has changed its policy and, according<br />
to the complaint, has experienced<br />
difficulty in getting pictures considered suitable<br />
for the house, soon enough after release.<br />
With a claim for $600,000 damages, the<br />
suit is of marked interest to local filmites.<br />
as the latest step in the series of lawsuits<br />
and arbitration cases that have involved<br />
major distributors here.<br />
Plaintiff has operated this theatre since<br />
Nov. 1, 1944, and alleges that "producers and<br />
distributors are engaged in a conspiracy together,<br />
to illegally maintain, in Detroit, a<br />
system of releasing motion picture film for<br />
exhibition in Grand Rapids in such a manner<br />
that theatres owned, leased and operated<br />
by any of them or by subsidiaries are given<br />
preference and priority over independent exhibitors,<br />
and undue prior runs of desirable<br />
pictures, and undue clearance over competing<br />
theatres not controlled by fthemi,"<br />
Loeks claims that RKO or Butterfield<br />
houses are given first, second and third runs<br />
on all "first run" pictures produced by the<br />
defendant producers, that no picture can be<br />
shown until 42 days after completion of the<br />
first run, and that this is unreasonable clearance.<br />
Further, he contends that any de-<br />
, sirable run prior to "reissue" is granted to<br />
theatres owned and controlled by one or<br />
more of the defendants.<br />
"Independent theatres are prevented from<br />
competing on equal terms of price with the<br />
affiliated theatres, for the right to exhibit,<br />
and the plaintiff is unable to obtain the<br />
release of film from any of the defendant<br />
distributors until 'reissue' time, approximately<br />
one year or more."<br />
Pittsburgh Exhibitor<br />
Sues for $200,000<br />
PITTSBURGH—Rudolph and Samuel Navari,<br />
operating as the Eastwood Theatre<br />
Corp., filed an antitrust suit in local federal<br />
court Monday against ten film distributors.<br />
Warner Bros. Management Corp., and Loew's,<br />
Inc., operating Loew's Penn. The Navari<br />
brothers, also operators of the New Penn in<br />
Universal, Pa., opened the Eastwood on<br />
Frankstown road, Route 80, in June 1947.<br />
They had negotiated for some time for first<br />
run product but were unsuccessful in their<br />
efforts, accepting a "last run" while continuing<br />
negotiations.<br />
The civil action, said to have been in preparation<br />
for a long period, and filed December<br />
20, petitions for first run in the Eastwood's<br />
respective district immediately following first<br />
run downtown Pittsburgh.<br />
Lester Cole Ordered Reinstafed<br />
Court Rules for Writer;<br />
See Other Suits Settled<br />
HOLLYWOOD—A strong possibility that<br />
out-of-court settlements may be sought in<br />
four similar suits against major studios was<br />
foreseen as a result of the verdict handed<br />
down in U.S. district court wherein Scenarist<br />
Lester Cole was ordered reinstated to his<br />
MGM wi'iting berth and the company was<br />
instructed to pay him some $75,000 in back<br />
salary.<br />
The ruling by Judge Leon R. Yankwich,<br />
handed down after a jury had ruled in Cole's<br />
favor in his suit for reinstatement, was hailed<br />
as a sweeping victory for the scripter, one<br />
of the so-called "unfriendly 10." He was suspended<br />
from his studio contract more than<br />
a year ago on the grounds he had violated<br />
the morals clause in his commitment by refusing<br />
to tell the J. Parnell Thomas house<br />
un-American activities committee whether<br />
he was or ever had been a member of the<br />
Commimist party.<br />
Also strongly indicated was the probability<br />
that Metro would appeal the ruling. Attorney<br />
Irving Walker, representing the defendants,<br />
said after Judge Yankwich had ruled<br />
on the case that the question of an appeal<br />
would be discussed when Louis B. Mayer,<br />
studio chief, returns from a ciurent trip to<br />
New York.<br />
Judge Yankwich excoriated Eric Johnston,<br />
president of the MPAA, during a review of<br />
the action taken by the major companies<br />
against the "unfriendly 10." He termed the<br />
MPAA chieftain "dogmatic, a doctrinaire, an<br />
absolutist" because of the part played by<br />
No 'High<br />
Johnston in determining the major companies'<br />
action against the ten writers, directors<br />
and producers who were indicted for<br />
contempt of Congress after they had testified<br />
at the Thomas hearing.<br />
At the same time the jurist complimented<br />
Mayer for his conduct toward Cole during<br />
the proceedings prior to Cole's suspension<br />
on Dec. 2, 1947, and for Mayer's "forthright<br />
and truthful testimony" in the writer's suit.<br />
Cole, said Judge Yankwich, "owes a debt of<br />
gratitude" to the studio chief.<br />
"It was obvious " he added, "that no studio<br />
executives felt that Cole had done anything<br />
wrong."<br />
Mayer had testified that, in a private conversation<br />
with Cole after the writer appeared<br />
before the Thomas group, the scripter<br />
had assured him he was not a Communist.<br />
Major points in Judge Yankwich's ruling<br />
included:<br />
1. The studio's order suspending Cole is<br />
null and void.<br />
2. The acts on which the order was based<br />
were not sufficient to have caused termination<br />
of the contract.<br />
3. The studio must pay Cole his back salary<br />
to December 2, 1947, and reinstate him to<br />
his job.<br />
4. An injunction is being issued preventing<br />
the continuance of the suspension notice<br />
and directing the board of directors of<br />
Metro's parent company, Loew's, Inc., to<br />
spread on their minutes an order cancelling<br />
the suspension.<br />
Pressure' Methods Used,<br />
Johnston Answer to Judge<br />
WASHINGTON— Eric Johnston, president<br />
of the MPAA. has denied he used<br />
"high pressure methods" in persuading<br />
motion picture producers not to employ<br />
persons whom the public thought to be<br />
Communists, as stated by Federal Judge<br />
Leon Yankwich in rendering his decision<br />
in the Lester Cole case in Hollywood.<br />
In a statement issued December 21,<br />
Johnston said: "I want to repeat what I<br />
have said many times, i would not employ<br />
a known Communist in a responsible<br />
position. If that decision makes me<br />
dogmatic, doctrinaire and absolutist, I<br />
plead guilty on all three counts. In this<br />
attitude I find myself in reputable company.<br />
The government of the United<br />
States will not employ Communists. Our<br />
national labor unions are purging Communists<br />
from positions of leadership."<br />
Judge Yankwich's denunciation of<br />
Johnston was made in ordering reinstatement<br />
of screen writer Lester Cole by<br />
MGM. Cole was one of ten Hollywood<br />
writers suspended for refusing to say<br />
whether he was a Communist while testifying<br />
before the house un-American<br />
activities committee.<br />
Johnston replied: "I presented the producers<br />
with two alternatives: either they<br />
could employ persons thought by the<br />
public to be Communists and defend their<br />
employment, or they could dismiss them.<br />
The choice was up to the producers and<br />
I told them it was up to them to fish or<br />
cut bait. The decision was entirely theirs.<br />
They made it unanimously."<br />
Ned E. Depinet. executive vice-president<br />
of RKO, defended Johnston by saying<br />
that the company decision to terminate<br />
the services of Edward Dmytryk<br />
and Adrian Scott was made "not by reason<br />
of any lu-ging by Mr. Johnston, but<br />
after a full review of the facts by our<br />
directors and officers."<br />
Spyros P. Skouras, president of 20th<br />
Century-Fox, also denied high-pressuring<br />
by Johnston by saying "The action in<br />
regard to the so-called Hollywood ten<br />
was taken by the directors of 20th Centm-y-Fox<br />
Film Corp. independently and<br />
on their own initiative."<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25. 1948 II
^<br />
"Si'^^^e<br />
uef^ (^/^r<br />
I<br />
^<br />
\Ji<br />
^<br />
^^^ "Hope 'Hope really hits a bull's eye this time. His funniest picture in quite a<br />
'^<br />
^\^^ spell. His writers have poured it on him right out of a bushel<br />
spell. His writers have poured it on him right out of a bushel<br />
N basket ... an unusually heavy burden of laughter bulging his<br />
saddle bags. Picture has all the trimmings a western fan would<br />
like. Audiences at the Paramount will be mighty pleased folks."<br />
—Alton Cook, World-Telegram<br />
"A double natural— one of the funniest pictures of the year. You<br />
laugh so much your sides ache. Everything you've imagined<br />
'Buttons and Bows' to be when listening to the radio is there,<br />
plus more. La Russell clicks. Hope's never been as eflFective."<br />
— Lee Mortimery Daily Mirror<br />
I<br />
I<br />
"There<br />
seasoi<br />
hasH<br />
asreg<br />
"Hie to the Paramount and enjoy yourself. 'The Paleface' will'<br />
do much to brighten Broadway and add to the general<br />
4 merry holiday spirit. Hope sings 'Buttons and Bows',<br />
/<br />
the number that reached the top of the Hit Parade<br />
before the picture was released."<br />
^"^<br />
^^'<br />
— Kate CameroTi, Daily News<br />
)^<br />
"Adults can chuckle and so can their youngsters which is important this<br />
holiday season. Done in the best Hope manner."<br />
^-^<br />
— Eileen Creelman, Sun<br />
"Paramount has struck pay dirt with 'The Paleface'.<br />
Hope in top form. His<br />
^rendition of 'Buttons and Bows' beats 'em all."<br />
— Russell Rhodes, Journal of Commerce<br />
\<br />
"One of the best comedies to hit the screen this year *<br />
. . . and we won't take that back, not even at ^<br />
*<br />
the point of a gun." — Seventeen Maga-zitie<br />
\{)\<br />
"Calculated to bring the house down.<br />
Splash and color and fast gags."<br />
— Leo Mishkifi, Morning-Tele.<br />
J<br />
tor all<br />
GOI
\<br />
^-Bo'^fm"'<br />
w^.<br />
f<br />
Wa/t till<br />
/ / Crosby reads<br />
these raves/<br />
"There could scarcely be a more joyful show for the Yule<br />
season. A delight... a triumphant travesty. Rarely<br />
has Hope been so funny. A picture exciting as well<br />
as regaling." — Howafd Barnes, Hej-ald Tribune<br />
-W-<br />
"Whoop-de-do gag fest.<br />
Deserves a marker as the<br />
^ birthplace of 'Buttons and Bows'. . . which . . .<br />
is now the all-time all-time hit."<br />
— Bosky Croivther, N. Y. Times<br />
"One of the funniest comedies of the season. A slick vehicle<br />
for Hope's quips and clowning. You'll find it fun."<br />
"<br />
M — Rose Pelswick, Journal-American<br />
"You will laugh yourself red in the face<br />
when you see it."<br />
— Jimmy Fidler, Mutual Network<br />
His<br />
ft'tV«<br />
Boxof^ces everywhere will put on<br />
Buttons and Bows to get ready<br />
for all<br />
those wonderful shows in<br />
Faramonnt's<br />
.................................................. ^<br />
•^^<br />
f^ace<br />
"The<br />
Color br Technicolor<br />
v;recitd by HORmH ZMLEOQ<br />
Original Screenplay by Edmund Hartmann and<br />
Frank Tashlin • Additional Dialogue by Jack Rose<br />
Songs by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans
Unchanged, Says Rodgers<br />
Of MGM Sales Policies<br />
NEW YORK—No changes in MGM's sales<br />
policies have been made or are contemplated,<br />
asserts William F. Rodgers, vice-president and<br />
general sales manager. Sliding scales are to<br />
be retained and special consideration will be<br />
extended to small operators who find it difficult<br />
to play MGM pictures on a percentage<br />
basis.<br />
Rodgers had this to say on the subject:<br />
•Reports to the contrary notwithstanding,<br />
Loew's, Inc., has not abandoned the sliding<br />
scale policy as a basis of rental terms for the<br />
use of MGM product. As a policy it has been<br />
considered by us and by thousands of our<br />
customers to be eminently fair.<br />
"Having faith in our product and the future<br />
of this business, we intend to aggressively<br />
solicit even a greater number of our<br />
customers to play even a greater number of<br />
our pictures on this proven method of fair<br />
merchandising.<br />
"We have not adopted a policy of specific<br />
percentage terms except where we are unable<br />
to mutually agree upon a basis to govern a<br />
sliding scale arrangement.<br />
"Loew's, Inc., has not changed its sales<br />
policies except that we are prepared to even<br />
expand, if necessary, our existing policy of<br />
special consideration for some small operations<br />
which find it difficult and sometimes<br />
impractical to play our pictures at the present<br />
time on a participating arrangement."<br />
Rodgers will hold a large meeting of sales<br />
executives on the coast early in February, so<br />
that the staff can see as much forthcoming<br />
product as possible in preparation for the<br />
25th anniversary year— 1949.<br />
A general observance of the anniversary<br />
extending throughout the year is planned.<br />
During the 2Dth anniversary five years ago<br />
the company set out to conduct a concentrated<br />
drive to get MGM pictures into every<br />
theatre in the United States during a fixed<br />
period, and succeeded in doing this. Rodgers<br />
hopes all theatres will be represented with<br />
MGM product at some time during the course<br />
of this anniversary campaign. He is aiming<br />
for a new domestic sales record.<br />
"There never has been a time when the<br />
industry has been more in need of good pictures,"<br />
he declared, "and we intend to try<br />
to supply them."<br />
Rodgers admitted that in recent months<br />
some first run grosses have been spotty, but<br />
he said that subsequent run grosses were<br />
holding up well. He described the market as<br />
"unsettled," and refused to venture a guess<br />
on whether the United States income could<br />
be made to support the industry without income<br />
from the foreign market.<br />
"We have not skimped on quality," he said.<br />
"Our pictures are costly, with the story, casting<br />
and production values tops. We think<br />
they will pay off, both for exhibitors and for<br />
the company."<br />
Eagle Lion to Release 16 Films<br />
Through April, With 6 in Color<br />
NEW YORK—Eagle Lion will release 16<br />
features, Including six in color, by the end<br />
of April, according to William J. Heineman,<br />
vice-president in charge of distribution. Two<br />
of these are Walter Wanger productions and<br />
two are J. Arthur Rank productions.<br />
The December releases are: "He Walked by<br />
Night," starring Richard Basehart and Scott<br />
Brady; "Parole, Inc.," starring Michael<br />
O'Shea, Turhan Bey and Evelyn Ankers, and<br />
"The Strange Mrs. Crane," with Marjorie<br />
Lord, Robert Shayne and Pierre Watkin.<br />
The January releases will be: "Red Stallion<br />
in the Rockies," in Cinecolor, starring<br />
Arthur Franz, Jean Heather and James<br />
Davis; "An Old-Fashioned Girl," starring<br />
Gloria Jean, Jimmy Lydon, John Hubbard<br />
and Frances Rafferty, and "Ride, Ryder<br />
Ride," first of a new series of action films<br />
in Cinecolor, starring Jim Bannon with<br />
Peggy Stewart and Emmett Lynn.<br />
For February, the releases will be: "Alice<br />
in Wonderland," Ansco color feature combining<br />
live-action and three-dimensional puppets,<br />
produced by Lou Bunin; Walter Wanger's<br />
"Reign of Terror," starring Robert<br />
Cummings, Arlene Dahl and Richard Basehart;<br />
"Shamrock HiU," Equity Rctures' production<br />
with Peggy Ryan, Ray MacDonald<br />
and John Litel, and "Roll, Thunder, Roll,"<br />
second in the Red Ryder series.<br />
The second Wanger production, "Tulsa,"<br />
will be released in March. This is in Technicolor<br />
and stars Susan Hayward, Robert<br />
Preston and Pedro Ai'mendariz. The other<br />
March releases will be the J. Arthur Rank<br />
production, "Miranda," with Glynis Johns,<br />
Google Withers and Griffith Jones, and "Alimony,"<br />
another Equity production.<br />
The April releases wiU be: "The Big Cat,"<br />
in Technicolor, starring Lon McCallister,<br />
Peggy Ann Garner and Preston Foster; "Scott<br />
of the Antarctic." a J. Arthur Rank production<br />
in Technicolor, starring John Mills, and<br />
"Silver Streak."<br />
UA Sets Distribution<br />
For 2 New Pictures<br />
NEW YORK—The United Ai'tists<br />
board of<br />
directors has ratified distribution deals for<br />
two new independent pictures, "Jigsaw," a<br />
Danziger-Tower production starring Franchot<br />
Tone, and "Under the Roman Sun," a foreign-made<br />
on which fui'ther details are not<br />
available. "Jigsaw," which was filmed in<br />
New York by Fletcher Markle, director of<br />
the radio program, "Studio One," is scheduled<br />
to be released in January. Neil Agnew<br />
will act as producers' representative for<br />
"Jigsaw."<br />
Gradwell L. Sears, UA president, gave a<br />
report to the board meeting December 21<br />
on the present status of the Hughes-Nasser<br />
deal and said that fmids are still available<br />
for suitable story properties. The board also<br />
held a lengthy discussion on the financial<br />
problems of its independent producers.<br />
20th-Fox Loss on 18<br />
Totals $5,556,200<br />
NEW YORK— Up to Nov. 8,<br />
1948, 20th Century-Fox<br />
showed a loss of $5,556,200 on 18<br />
features produced during 1947. This figure<br />
was included in the written testimony submitted<br />
to the thi-ee-judge court by Donald<br />
A. Henderson, treasurer, during the two-day<br />
hearings December 20 and 21.<br />
He said the 18 features had been produced<br />
at a total cost of $41,914,100, or at an<br />
average of $2,328,500 each. The cumulative<br />
1948 domestic revenue, mcluding Canada,<br />
from these films was $36,375,900. Henderson<br />
added that little additional revenue from<br />
these pictures will be received.<br />
By way of contrast, he pointed out that<br />
the average cost of a 20th-Fox picture during<br />
1944-45 was $1,350,000. He also said the<br />
total domestic revenue, excluding Canada,<br />
from all features, shorts and accessories during<br />
1947 was $53,618,400.<br />
Of this amount 18.761.387, or 36.8 per cent,<br />
came from the five affiliated circuits.<br />
The circuit breakdown follows:<br />
Paramount $7,128,215<br />
National Theatres 6,224,993<br />
RKO 3,190,028<br />
Warners 1,862,054<br />
Loew's 1,356.397<br />
In addition, 20th-Fox received $1,408,994 in<br />
rentals from its Roxy Theatre, New York.<br />
New TOA Unit Is Formed<br />
In Denver Territory<br />
DENVER—A new theatre owners association<br />
to be known as the Colorado Ass'n of<br />
Theatre Owners (CATO), and to become affiliated<br />
with TOA, has been organized. The<br />
TOA thereby moves into the territory which<br />
heretofore has had only an Allied unit.<br />
Incorporators of the new group are B. D.<br />
Cockrill, managing director of the Denham<br />
Theatre, who is president; Pat McGee, general<br />
manager of the Cooper Foundation Theatres,<br />
vice-president; Charles Gilmour. president<br />
Gibraltar Enterprises, secretary; William<br />
Agren, booker. Fox Intermountain; A. P.<br />
Archer, president. Civic Theatres; Dave Davis,<br />
general manager. Atlas Theatres, all of Denver,<br />
and Larry Starsmore, president. Westland<br />
Theatres, Colorado Springs, board members.<br />
The first convention has been called for<br />
February 1, 2. Ted Gamble, chairman of the<br />
board of TOA; R. J. O'Donnell, chief barker<br />
of Variety International, and George Murphy,<br />
film star, will be guests.<br />
Rathvon Officially Ends<br />
RKO Affiliation Jan. 3<br />
HOLL'YWOOD-Last vestige of the old<br />
Floyd Odium regime at RKO Radio was wiped<br />
out with the disclosure that N. Peter Rathvon,<br />
former president, will officially terminate<br />
all connections with the company as of<br />
Jan. 3, 1949. The RKO Radio board of directors<br />
some months ago selected Ned E. Depinet,<br />
distribution chief, to succeed Rathvon<br />
as president of the company which now is<br />
controlled by Howard Hughes.<br />
At a recent board meeting in New York<br />
approval was given to a plan whereby, in<br />
settlement of the balance of his contract,<br />
Rathvon receives $60,000, payable at the rate<br />
of $2,000 weekly.<br />
14 BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948
Amu AS A SENSHIONAL<br />
BOXOFFICE PERFORMANCE<br />
In spite of opening pre-release and in the midst of the<br />
pre -Christmas lull, it topped all but two of the nonholiday<br />
openings in the past six months at the Hollywood<br />
Paramount— and bettered current business of a<br />
ago by nearly fifty<br />
year<br />
percent— backed by Paramount's<br />
unique "Everything-Points-To-The-Accused" campaign!<br />
LORETTA YOUNG ROBERT CUMMINGS m'THE ACCUSED<br />
A HAL WALLIS production with Wendell Corey<br />
Sam Jaffe Douglas Dick • Directed by William Dieterle Screenplay by Ketti Frings jt
Wx*^ ^KCC St^'CHt^^<br />
New Ticket Tax Moves<br />
JJ'OT much is known in this industry<br />
about the political power of the American<br />
Municipal Ass'n which met in Washington<br />
last week. Apparently it has connections<br />
with Leagues of Municipalities<br />
and other state groups interested in tax<br />
problems and intends to engineer a national<br />
movement to get the federal government<br />
to give up admission taxes so<br />
they can be taken over by municipalities.<br />
There is sharply divided sentiment on<br />
the wisdom of this among exhibitor leaders.<br />
In many places local ticket taxes are<br />
ah-eady levied on top of federal taxes and<br />
there is no way of telling to what lengths<br />
some governing authorities might go.<br />
If the new association really goes to<br />
work, there will be a lot of agitation in<br />
exhibitor circles before 44 state legislatures<br />
adjourn three or four months hence.<br />
To Fight Checking Suits<br />
^HE last two paragraphs of a resolution<br />
recently passed by the Iowa-Nebraska<br />
Allied unit read:<br />
"The employment of 'auditors' of a single<br />
firm of alleged 'copyright attorneys' by<br />
the seven or more film companies raises<br />
the extremely important question of possible<br />
exchange of properly secret theatre<br />
information as to rentals paid and business<br />
enjoyed by theatres audited by and<br />
between the several film companies. As<br />
American citizens, independent exhibitors<br />
have certain inalienable rights, and it is<br />
our opinion that this collective, if not<br />
collusive, action violates one or more of<br />
these fundamental rights.<br />
"Recent court decisions have held that<br />
the contracts the film companies are now<br />
attempting to audit are illegal, and that<br />
these contracts will not therefore be recognized<br />
by any court in the land."<br />
Tele Networks Possible<br />
fHE FCC ruling last week that Paramount<br />
controls the DuMont company<br />
and its theatre partnerships which, in effect,<br />
limited this group of companies to<br />
five television stations may be obsolete<br />
soon. If divorcement goes through with<br />
the approval of the Department of Justice,<br />
as it is expected to do within the<br />
next few weeks, any circuit will be entitled<br />
to file an application for a television<br />
station permit with the expectation<br />
that it will get one.<br />
This will apply to the other theatreowning<br />
majors whose circuits are cut<br />
adrift.<br />
RKO Report<br />
^HE RKO report showing a net loss of<br />
$2,257,887.78 for the 13 weeks ending<br />
October 2 and a $356,024.04 net loss for<br />
the 39 weeks ending on that date came as<br />
a shock to many, but it may be the temporary<br />
effect of a reorganization brought<br />
on by a change in management.<br />
Production activities are sensitive to<br />
turnovers. When Howard Hughes acquired<br />
fly JAMES M. JERAULD<br />
control the company was in the middle of<br />
a studio slowdown, with one picture in<br />
work.<br />
Since Hughes took over, the company<br />
has made some moderate-budget films,<br />
including "The Clay Pigeon" and "Follow<br />
Me Quietly." Some larger-budget pictures<br />
were started recently, including "Sam<br />
Wynne" and "It's Only Money." Another<br />
slowdown is now in effect, but in January<br />
the company will start "The Big Steal,"<br />
with George Raft.<br />
A turn for the better can be expected<br />
shortly, because it is not expected that the<br />
stock splitup scheduled as a result of the<br />
consent decree will have much effect on<br />
production and distribution.<br />
Arnall Talkative<br />
JF ELLIS G. ARNALL, president of the<br />
Society of Independent Motion Picture<br />
Producers, does only a small percentage<br />
of the things he is talking of doing he will<br />
stir up plenty of excitement in this business.<br />
Al Steffes and Bennie Berger in their<br />
palmiest days were never more positive in<br />
their expressions on all kinds of industry<br />
problems.<br />
Among other things he is in favor of<br />
more litigation, if he deems it necessary,<br />
and complete divorcement of all distributor-owned<br />
theatres.<br />
Apparently the SIMPP members are convinced<br />
that this is the way to get higher<br />
rentals for pictures.<br />
Rembusch Gets Data<br />
^LL the regional Allied units are urging<br />
their members to submit suggestions to<br />
Trueman Rembusch on pictures and other<br />
problems for submission to the coast meeting<br />
of producers. He will have a full portfolio<br />
when he arrives in Hollywood.<br />
This probably will be the first time in<br />
many years that producers will come into<br />
face-to-face contact with a man representing<br />
their sharpest critics. It's a new<br />
approach and something constructive may<br />
come of it.<br />
This Man's a Producer,<br />
Not an Exhibitor<br />
DENVER— Cy Lee of Poppers Supply Co.,<br />
theatre candy and popcorn broker, recently<br />
sold a 100-pound sack of popcorn to a very<br />
small town in Colorado. Lee said a farmer<br />
came into his office and asked the price.<br />
Lee asked where his town was. On being<br />
told Lee said, "Why, that town is too small<br />
for a popper, isn't it?"<br />
"Oh," replied the farmer, "it isn't for<br />
public consumption. I have 11 children, and<br />
my sister and brother each have nine children<br />
in their families. When we get together,<br />
the popcorn really disappears. Now<br />
it appears I will soon be a grandfather, so. I<br />
suppose that in a few years I'll be getting<br />
200 pounds each year."<br />
Wants This Performance<br />
Without Sound<br />
Brownsville, Tex.—What's the legal<br />
amount of noise you can make in building<br />
a theatre? Builders of the new downtown<br />
Interstate circuit theatre here didn't<br />
know it was against the law to make<br />
noise in construction until they ran up<br />
against an irate federal court judge,<br />
Allan B. Hannay.<br />
H. F. Pettigrew, contractor for the<br />
$300,000 theatre, recently moved in a<br />
power saw to speed the work. Across the<br />
street, Judge Hannay was holding<br />
court. 'When the saw buzzed, the court<br />
held, it disturbed legal procedure. The<br />
judge also fined the job superintendent<br />
$100 and 10 days in jail, but suspended<br />
sentence when the noise abated.<br />
But it took Frank Strickland, Interstate<br />
lawyer, the contractor, and the<br />
coui-t to determine just how much noise<br />
a builder can legitimately make before he<br />
runs afoul of the law. The parties agreed<br />
to tone down the noise, and the court<br />
allowed the project to proceed.<br />
George Bonwick Elected<br />
To Pictorial Films Post<br />
NEW YORK—George J. Bonwick. who has<br />
been associated with various Robert R. Young<br />
entei-prises since 1930, has been elected president<br />
of Pictorial Films, Inc., a wholly-owned<br />
subsidiary of Pathe Industries, Inc.<br />
Pictorial<br />
handles the 16mm distribution of all featui-es<br />
produced and distributed by Eagle Lion<br />
Films, also a wholly-owned subsidiary of<br />
Pathe.<br />
Before taking his new post, Bonwick has<br />
successively been: office manager. Young,<br />
Kolbe & Co., brokers; president, Atina Corp.,<br />
security holding company; president, Jersey<br />
Management Corp., securities; assistant<br />
chairman, Alleghany Corp., railroad holding<br />
company; assistant chairman, Chesapeake &<br />
Ohio Railway Co.; executive vice-president<br />
and treasurer, Pathe Film Corp.; executive<br />
vice-president and treasurer, Pathe Laboratories,<br />
Inc.. and executive vice-president<br />
and treasurer, Pi-oducers Releasing Corp.<br />
Earle Hammons Gets ABC<br />
Tele Tieup for Lion<br />
NEW YORK—Earle Hammons, president<br />
of the newly organized Lion Television Pictures,<br />
has been appointed film television consultant<br />
of the American Broadcasting Co.,<br />
according to Paul Mowrey, national television<br />
director of the network.<br />
Tlie appointment provides the new Lion<br />
company with an immediate outlet for the<br />
films which it is now accumulating for television<br />
use.<br />
Cowan Buys More Drive-Ins<br />
TORONTO—The Sunset Drive-In Theatres<br />
at Brantford and Peston have been<br />
taken over by A. C. Cowan of Toronto who<br />
acquired five units a short time ago from<br />
Park Drive-In Theatres operated by Herb J.<br />
Ochs of Cleveland. The latter includes Ottawa,<br />
Peterboro, Oshawa and two at Toronto.<br />
16<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948
"Top Entertainment"<br />
Daily Variety<br />
"Marquee Dynamite"<br />
<strong>Boxoffice</strong><br />
"Certain <strong>Boxoffice</strong> Hit"<br />
Hollywood Reporter<br />
"One of 1 949's First Hits"<br />
Look Magazine<br />
"Higli-Grade<br />
IVIelodrama"<br />
Variety<br />
"Anotlier Wallis Click"<br />
Los Angeles Examiner<br />
"SM IMelodramatics"<br />
—Los Angeles Daily News<br />
"Grade A Tliriller"<br />
Los Angeles Herald-Express<br />
"One of<br />
Best IVIeJodramas"<br />
Seventeen
'^^am<br />
^BStspp^^'^^[\wms<br />
TfTRUST DECISION<br />
^ TO DIVORCEMENT ANTITRUST SUIT,<br />
The Big Case was<br />
Big News during the<br />
entire year, reaching<br />
the Supreme Court<br />
and going back to<br />
the lower court for<br />
further<br />
study.<br />
TELEVISION:<br />
Large sere<br />
mount Theatre, N. Y.,<br />
presenting the premiere<br />
video performcree<br />
deflating<br />
Ascap's right to exhibitor<br />
fees was the<br />
high spot in a year<br />
Ascap headlines.<br />
of<br />
MONOPOLY.
J<br />
'My Own True Love' is<br />
because: T .<br />
EVERYBODY *<br />
WINS THE ENTERTAINMENT PRIZE IVHEN<br />
THE EXPERTS COMPLETE THIS SENTENCE:<br />
9 . 1<br />
a truly great motion picture<br />
It s a truly<br />
great story"<br />
says<br />
M. D. (Babe) COHN<br />
Ma7iager^ Paramount Theatre<br />
Kansas City, Missouri<br />
Father and son — rivals<br />
or the love of the same<br />
)evvitching beauty. What<br />
I situation to shock-sell!<br />
ifou'U go right along with<br />
3abe Cohn — it's a "great<br />
Jtory" as it turns a hot<br />
»pot- light on today's vvarlardened<br />
morals.<br />
Number 1 of a Series<br />
,«^^'* ^"ecessot<br />
:s--'<br />
to<br />
love<br />
A Paramount Picture Starring<br />
PHYLLIS CALVERT<br />
MELVYN DOUGLAS<br />
with<br />
WANDA HENDRIX PHILIP FRIEND<br />
-<br />
BINNIE BARNES<br />
Produced by VAL LEWTON<br />
Directed by COMPTON BENNETT<br />
Screenplay by Theodore Strauss and Josef Mischel<br />
Adaptation by Arthur Kober<br />
Based on a Novel by<br />
Yolanda Foldes
J<br />
r<br />
National Board Picks<br />
Best Films of 1948<br />
NEW YORK—Seven American-made pictures,<br />
two British and one produced in Europe,<br />
have been chosen by the National<br />
Board of Review as the ten best 1948 on the<br />
basis of entertainment. The pictures are:<br />
"Gentleman's Agreement." "Sitting Pretty"<br />
and "The Snake Pit" (20th-Foxi, "Joan of<br />
Arc." "Tlie Bishop's 'Wife" and "I Remember<br />
Mama" iRKOi. "Johnny Belinda" I'WBi,<br />
"Hamlet," J. Arthur Rank film released by<br />
U-I. "The Red Shoes," Rank film released<br />
by EL. and "Tlie Search," produced in Europe<br />
and released by MGM.<br />
The 300 members of the National Board<br />
selected the ten for the organization's 23rd<br />
annual choice.<br />
"Paisan," Italian-made film released in<br />
this country by Mayer-Burstyn, was chosen<br />
by the National Board committee on exceptional<br />
films as the best picture of 1948 on<br />
the basis of artistic merit and importance.<br />
The nine other best films chosen by the<br />
committee in order of preference are: "Day<br />
of 'Wrath," Danish-made picture released by<br />
George J. Schaefer Associates; "The Search."<br />
"Treasure of the Sierra Madre" CWBi;<br />
"Louisiana Story," Robert J. Flaherty documentary<br />
released by Lopert Films: "Hamlet,"<br />
"The Snake Pit," "Johnny Belinda," "Joan<br />
of Aic" and "The Red Shoes."<br />
The committee also selected Roberto Rosselini<br />
as best director of the year for "Paisan";<br />
Olivia de Havilland. star of "The Snake<br />
Pit," for the best performance of the year<br />
as an actress; 'Walter Huston, featured in<br />
"Treasure of the Sierra Madre," for the best<br />
performance of the year as an actor, and<br />
John Huston, for the best screenplay of the<br />
year on the basis of the same picture.<br />
Allied Artists to Release British Film<br />
HOLLVWOOD—"My Brother Jonathan,"<br />
Associated British film being released in the<br />
U.S. by Allied Artists, will go into distribution<br />
March 15. The film toplines Michael<br />
Denison, Dulcie Gray and Ronald Howard.<br />
^'^<br />
Hoblitzelle Gives<br />
$50,000 to Texas<br />
DALLAS — Karl Hoblitzelle, president<br />
of Interstate Theatres and prominent<br />
philanthropist, has<br />
given a Christmas<br />
present to the<br />
state of Texas, a<br />
$50,000 additional<br />
donation to the<br />
Texas Research<br />
Foundation, which<br />
e s t a b 1 i shed an<br />
agricultural and<br />
soil experiment<br />
station two years<br />
ago at Renner<br />
Karl HobUtzelle<br />
near here.<br />
Hoblitzelle previously<br />
has offered to give $600,000 to finance<br />
activities leading to increased agricultural<br />
yields in Texas if other state leaders will<br />
provide an equal amount. Hoblitzelle was<br />
chiefly instrumental in establishing the research<br />
foundation at Renner, and its success<br />
in the last two years encouraged the<br />
new $50,000 gift.<br />
MGM Sets Two Reprints<br />
For Release in 1949<br />
NEW YORK—MGM, which had four reprints<br />
on its 1948 release schedule and experimented<br />
with key city engagements of<br />
several others, has set at least two more for<br />
release during 1949, according to William B.<br />
Zoellner, in charge of short subjects and reprints.<br />
'The Wizard of Oz," a Technicolor feature<br />
starring Judy Garland, Ray Bolger and Bert<br />
Lahr, originally released in 1939, will be<br />
generally released in Januai-y and "Blossoms<br />
in the Dust," in Technicolor, starring Greer<br />
Garson and Walter Pidgeon, originally released<br />
in 1941, will be released later.<br />
with<br />
Paramount's<br />
Full-Scale Television<br />
Planned by Roach<br />
HOLLYWOOD—First major film producer<br />
to announce plans to devote himself entirely<br />
to video is Hal Roach, veteran picture-maker,<br />
who has terminated his production<br />
commitment with MGM and henceforth<br />
will confine his activities exclusively to the<br />
television field. Under the banner of Hal<br />
Roach Television Corp., he has already<br />
gunned the first film in a projected series<br />
of six scheduled for immediate filming.<br />
Roach's full-scale entry into the new medium<br />
was the result, the producer said, of<br />
his conviction that "the insatiable desire to<br />
be entertaiiied will find its greatest satisfaction<br />
through television."<br />
His kickoff subject, "Sadie and Sally," is<br />
a half-hour comedy show being megged by<br />
Les Goodwins and featuring Joy Lansing<br />
and Lois Hall. It will be followed by "The<br />
Brown Family," "Botsford's Beanery," "Foo<br />
Yung," "Puddle Patch Club" and "Oirr Main<br />
Street." All will be 30-minute films in the<br />
comedy niche.<br />
In addition to producing his own video<br />
shows. Roach is making the facilities of his<br />
Culver City studio available to advertisers<br />
and agencies for all television production<br />
requirements. The William Morris agency<br />
has been designated to represent Roach in<br />
all of his television activities.<br />
To date the projected Roach video output<br />
has not been channeled as to release.<br />
Memphis Censorship Case<br />
May Go to Supreme Court<br />
MIAMI—The film industry, through United<br />
Artists and Hal Roach, this week challenged<br />
the constitutionality of the action of the<br />
Memphis censor board—and possibly set the<br />
stage for Supreme Court action on the whole<br />
question of the freedom of the screen,<br />
A two-day hearing was held before Judge<br />
Floyd Henderson of circuit court. The judge<br />
took the case under advisement.<br />
Industry lawyers argued that the constitutional<br />
rights of freedom of speech, freedom<br />
of press and freedom of dissemination<br />
of information had been violated when the<br />
Memphis board informed United Artists that<br />
the Roach comedy, "Curley," could not be<br />
shown in Memphis because it showed white<br />
and Negro children playing together.<br />
On the other hand, city attorneys raised<br />
these questions: Did United Artists and Hal<br />
Roach have a legal right to bring suit against<br />
the censors? They contended that they did<br />
not because, if they were bringing suit as<br />
producers and distributors engaged in interstate<br />
commerce, they were not within the<br />
jurisdiction of the board and had no right<br />
to sue. Second, the attorneys argued that<br />
if the plaintiffs were acting as exhibitors<br />
they were doing so illegally and had, therefore,<br />
no legal right to sue.<br />
United Ai-tists and Roach have asked the<br />
court to see the picture. They have asked<br />
damages. They have asked an injunction.<br />
They have asked relief for future pictures,<br />
petitioning the court to define the powers of<br />
the board of censors.<br />
The case, by agreement of both sides, was<br />
transferred from chancery to circuit court.<br />
A fight to the Supreme Court of the United<br />
States has been discussed by industry attorneys.<br />
Qau<br />
20 BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948
Claude Robinson Dies;<br />
A Veteran Showman<br />
CLARKSBURG, W. VA.—One of the Mideast's<br />
most noted showmen and an era of<br />
showmanship passed<br />
into history with the<br />
death of Claude Robinson<br />
at his home December<br />
20. A showman<br />
and gentleman of "the<br />
old school," Robinson<br />
Claude Robinson<br />
[jqj-, j^gi-g<br />
Sir C. Aubrey Smith Dies;<br />
virtually devoted his<br />
life to theatre business.<br />
He was associated<br />
with Klaw and<br />
Erlanger for 20 years<br />
before he started in<br />
motion picture exhibi-<br />
Film Actor 33 Years<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Death claimed Sir C.<br />
Aubrey Smith, 85, ai his Beverly Hills home,<br />
ending a motion picture career which began<br />
in 1915. Born in London in 1863, Smith went<br />
on the stage in 1892. He is survived by his<br />
wife, a daughter and two grandchildren.<br />
Recent films in which he appeared included<br />
"Luxury Liner" and "Unconquered."<br />
Bertel Budtz, 46, Dies;<br />
WE Caribbean Head<br />
PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD — Bertel K.<br />
W. Budtz, 46. manager of activities in the<br />
southeastern section of the Caribbean area<br />
for the Western Electric Co. ( Caribbean i,<br />
died suddenly at his home here December 14.<br />
He was in New York in November to attend<br />
the managers' conference held by the Westrex<br />
Corp.<br />
MPAA Hollywood Parleys<br />
Facing Postponement<br />
NEW YORK—Postponement is considered<br />
Lkely for the meetmgs of high company<br />
executives called by Eric Johnston, MPAA<br />
president, for January 26-28 in Hollywood.<br />
It had been planned to give all problems affecting<br />
the industry a thorough going-over,<br />
including exhibitor relations, unfortunate<br />
publicity emanating from the studios and a<br />
closer liaison between west coast producers<br />
and home office heads here.<br />
This may be the second postponement.<br />
Originally the meetings were scheduled for<br />
the middle of December, but Johnston has<br />
been testifying in the suit of Lester Cole<br />
against MGM. The reason for another postponement,<br />
if it takes place, it is said, will<br />
be that several company heads and other<br />
key executives in the industry will be unable<br />
to attend.<br />
Releases Negro Features<br />
NEW YORK—Jack Goldberg, producer of<br />
Herald Pictures, has signed a distribution<br />
contract with National Film Distributors for<br />
three all-Negro features. "Boy. What a Girl,"<br />
"Sepia Cinderella" and "Miracle in Harlem."<br />
Herald is making a series of shorts in Florida<br />
and plans to start on another feature in<br />
January.<br />
Ti^a^Aiti^toit<br />
J^AST WEEK'S decision by the Federal Communications<br />
Commission that Paramount<br />
does control DuMont Television came as no<br />
surprise here. It had long been expected,<br />
and the only thing which caused any surprise<br />
was the fact that it took six weeks for<br />
the commission to adopt the recommended<br />
decision of Examiner Jack P. Blume. Result<br />
is that Paramount and DuMont applications<br />
for television stations in half a dozen cities<br />
will simply die on the vine.<br />
Paramount has asked for a rehearing, with<br />
a stay on enforcement of the FCC ruling in<br />
the meantime.<br />
The big question the FCC must face remains<br />
unanswered—how much weight shall<br />
be given the antitrust records of film companies<br />
as they try to get into television?<br />
That issue was raised with considerable<br />
urgency just a few weeks ago, when it appeared<br />
that 20th Century-Fox might try to<br />
buy the ABC network, but that deal fell<br />
through and the pressure on the FCC relaxed.<br />
In the meantime, the possibility of congressional<br />
study of the problem looms. Chalrman-to-be<br />
Ed Johnson of the senate interstate<br />
commerce committee, a Coloradan with<br />
the traditional western distrust for bigness<br />
and industry, has become interested in the<br />
problem. He insists he has not made up his<br />
mind to proceed with an investigation of the<br />
Interrelationship among radio, broadcasters<br />
and television—but he says there is a fair<br />
chance he may do so.<br />
ALTHOUGH LESTER COLE won his reinstatement<br />
suit in Hollywood last week,<br />
establishing his right to his $1,200 weekly<br />
screen wTiter job with MGM, Cole and nine<br />
others cited for contempt of the house un-<br />
to spend heavily for programs on which it<br />
cooperates vrith the states, it will not give<br />
up any tax revenue to the states or mimici-<br />
American activities committee suffered a<br />
minor setback here. The Supreme Court held,<br />
although by a 5-4 decision, that a jiu-y composed<br />
entirely of federal employes was quite<br />
legal as it upheld a lower court conviction<br />
palities.<br />
in another unrelated case. The predominance<br />
of federal employes on the juries in the trials<br />
of John Howard Lawson and Dalton Trumbo<br />
is one of the points their lawyers point to<br />
in their appeals.<br />
The Cole decision, we are told here, will be<br />
appealed. It would be news if it were not<br />
REPORTS ON U-I DRIVE—Joseph H.<br />
Seidelman, left, Universal-International<br />
vice-president and foreign distribution<br />
head, reports to N. J. Blumberg, president,<br />
on the progress in the Blumberg<br />
Victorj' Sales Drive, now at the half-way<br />
mark.<br />
^efiont<br />
By ALAN HERBERT<br />
appealed, since just about every coiu-t decision<br />
involving any part of the film industry<br />
goes into appeal.<br />
(Cole, incidentally, did teU MGM studio<br />
boss Louis B. Mayer he was no Conununist,<br />
but refused to tell the house committee what<br />
his politics were. Company witnesses in the<br />
Los Angeles com-t were generally friendly to<br />
Cole, with responsibility for the blacklist laid<br />
squarely at the door of the company presidents<br />
who met in New York a few weeks after<br />
the hearings. I<br />
ALTHOUGH JOHN SNYDER, secretary of<br />
the Ti-easury, invited the American Municipal<br />
Ass'n last week to send representatives<br />
to talk to him about realignment of the tax<br />
structure to leave the admissions and other<br />
levies for municipal collection only, don't hold<br />
your breath until something comes of it.<br />
Snyder is always willing to talk about such<br />
things—especiaUy since there are a good deal<br />
of votes represented in such a group as AMA.<br />
But there is a good deal of difference between<br />
talk and action.<br />
There is no reason to expect the federal<br />
government to give up any tax income this<br />
year, or for several years to come even if<br />
there should be an agreement in principle<br />
that the boxoffice tax should be abandoned<br />
to the cities. That is not alone the attitude<br />
on Capitol Hill—it is very much the thinking<br />
within the administration. If there is any<br />
doubt about that, the speech given by Budget<br />
Director James Webb in Detroit before the<br />
general assembly of the states early this<br />
month should clinch the argument. Webb,<br />
who is probably more influential on these<br />
matters than Snyder, not only saw no falling<br />
off in federal spending but also delivered a<br />
lengthy defense of the policy of giving grantsin-aid<br />
to the states. You can be sure that<br />
so long as the federal government continues<br />
CASH DIVIDEND PAYMENTS by film<br />
companies fell to their usual November low<br />
last month, the Department of Commerce<br />
reported, with the total hitting only $224,000.<br />
This figure, however, was $7,000 better than<br />
the November 1947 tally. November and February<br />
are customarily the months when dividend<br />
payments drop out of sight. More significant<br />
is the fact that payments for the<br />
three-month period ending in November were<br />
only $10,402,000—compared with $13,387,000 a<br />
year earlier.<br />
THE FREEZE ON TELEVISION stations<br />
doesn't seem to bother the manufacturers of<br />
home receivers. Their weekly production rate<br />
jumped another 28 per cent last month—with<br />
nearly 125,000 sets turned out during November.<br />
That brings the 1948 production to<br />
over 700,000.<br />
The Department of Commerce statisticians<br />
told us this week that television production<br />
in October showed the greatest rise reported<br />
for any industry surveyed. At the<br />
other end of the list were the figures for<br />
radio production, with October's total only<br />
about 65 per cent of the October 1947 total.<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948<br />
21
LAND<br />
TO BE<br />
CONQUERED<br />
A LOVE TO<br />
BE WON!<br />
•^<br />
/<br />
/
i<br />
COLOR BY CINECOLOR<br />
ilil»|tlilWiliillyi<br />
VICTOR JORY'.JL, NANCY OLSON<br />
Produced by NAT HOLT' Directed by EDWIN L. MARIN<br />
Screenplay by Kenneth Garnet and Jack OeWitI • Original stc. :,,<br />
Jagk, DeWitt • A Nat Holt ProducHoft • Released by 20th Cerrtur,-':;
. . Warners<br />
. . . Roy<br />
. . Screen<br />
. . Forrest<br />
. . Teamed<br />
. . On<br />
. . Albert<br />
rf<br />
^
The company that leads the industry on Motion Picture<br />
Herald's list of <strong>Boxoffice</strong> Champions and on Variety's<br />
Scoreboard of Hits also LEADS THE INDUSTRY<br />
WITH THESE 3 ON FILM DAILY'S 10 BEST POLL!<br />
• ••and your DEST current and coming attractions!<br />
a<br />
the<br />
Snake 'IRt<br />
feyl?/*r |\ HOUSE<br />
From the company of champions / O]
. . . "Rimiors<br />
RKO RADIO PICTURES, inc.<br />
TRADE SH0WIN6S<br />
OF SAMUEL GOLDWYN'S<br />
"ENCHANTMENT"<br />
ALBANY, Fox Screening Room, 1052 Broadway,<br />
Tues., Jon. II, 8:00 P.M.<br />
ATLANTA, RKO Screening Room, i95 Luclcie St.,<br />
N.W., Tues., Jon. 11, 2:30 P.M.<br />
BOSTON, RKO Screening Room, 122 Arlington<br />
Ave., Tues., Jon. H, 10:30 A.M.<br />
BUFFALO, Mo. Pic. Operators Screening Room,<br />
498 Pearl St., Tues., Jan. 11, 2:00 P.M.<br />
CHARLOTTE, Fox Screening Room, 308 So. Church<br />
St., Tues., Jan. 11, 2:00 P.M.<br />
CHICAGO, RKO Screening Room, 1300 So.<br />
Wobosh Ave., Tues., Jan. 11, 1:00 P.M.<br />
CINCINNATI, RKO Screening Room, 12 East<br />
Sixth St., Tues., Jon. 11, 8:00 P.M.<br />
CLEVELAND, Fox Screening Room, 2219 Payne<br />
Ave., Tues., Jon. 11, 2:30 P.M.<br />
DALLAS, Paromount Screening Room, 412 South<br />
Harwood St., Tues., Jan. II, 2:30 P.M.<br />
DENVER, Paramount Screening<br />
St., Tues., Jon. 11, 2:00 P.M.<br />
Rooi<br />
DES MOINES, Fox Screening Roorr<br />
St., Tues., Jan. 11, 2:30 P.M.<br />
,2100 Stout<br />
1300 High<br />
DETROIT, Blumenlhol Screening Roon 1,2310 Cass<br />
Ave., Tues., Jon. II, 2:30 P.M.<br />
INDIANAPOLIS, Universal Screening Room, 517<br />
N. Illinois St., Tues., Jon. 11,1:00 P.M.<br />
KANSAS CITY, Paramount Screening Room, 1 800<br />
Wyandote, Tues., Jon. 11, 2:00 P.M.<br />
LOS ANGELES, RKO Screening Room, 1980 S.<br />
Vermont Ave.. Wed., Dec. 29. ID:30 A.M.<br />
MEMPHIS, Fox- Screening Room, 151 Vance<br />
Ave., Tues., Jon. 11, 2:30 P.M.<br />
MILWAUKEE, Worner Screening Room, 212 W.<br />
Wisconsin Ave., Tues., Jar. 11, 2KD0 P.M.<br />
MINNEAPOLIS, Fox Screening Room, I0I5 Currie<br />
Ave., Tues., Jon. 11, 2:30 P.M.<br />
NEW/ HAVEN, Fox Screening Room, 40 V/hiting<br />
St., Tues., Jon. 11, 2:30 P.M.<br />
NEW ORLEANS, Fox Screening Room, 200 S.<br />
St., Liberty Tues., Jon. II, 10:30 A.M.<br />
NEW YORK, Normondie Theatre, 53rd St. &<br />
Pork Ave., Tues., Jan. II, 10:30 A.M.<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY, Fox Screening Room, 10<br />
North Lee St., Tues., Jon. 11, 10:30 A.M.<br />
OMAHA, Fox Screening Room, 1502 Dovenport<br />
St., Tues., Jan. 11, 1:00 P.M.<br />
PHILADELPHIA, RKO Screening Room, 250 N.<br />
13th St., Tues., Jan. 11, 10:30 A.M.<br />
26<br />
PITTSBURGH, RKO Screening Room, 1809-13<br />
Blvd. of Allies, Tues., Jon. 11, 1:30 P.M.<br />
PORTLAND, Star Screening Room, 925 N.W.<br />
1 9th Ave., Tues., Jon. 11, 2:30 P.M.<br />
ST. LOUIS, RKO Screening Room, 3143 Olive<br />
St., Tues., Jon. 11, 11:30 A.M.<br />
SALT LAKE CITY, Fox Screening<br />
Room, 216 East<br />
First South St., Tues., Jon. 11, 1:00 P.M.<br />
SAN FRANCISCO, RKO Screening Room, 251<br />
Hyde St., Tues., Jan. 11, 2:00 P.M.<br />
SEATTLE, Jewel Box Screening Room, 2318<br />
Second Ave., Tues., Jan. 11, 2:30 P.M.<br />
SIOUX FALLS, Hollywood Theatre, 212 North<br />
Philips Ave., Tues., Jan. 11, 10:00 A.M.<br />
WASHINGTON, Fo Screening Room, 932 New<br />
:., Jon. 11, 10:30 A.M.<br />
FROM THE FILES OF<br />
TN RECENT MONTHS, says Ben Shlyen,<br />
publisher of Associated Publications, practically<br />
every producing and distributing organization<br />
has been involved in some kind of<br />
merger rumor. This scourge of nunors has<br />
affected the whole industry. Contracts have<br />
been signed for certain product, then mergers<br />
were made or production plans changed radically,<br />
so booking contracts were not fulfilled<br />
may be choice bits for the<br />
curious, but they do not help an exhibitor<br />
to make a profit out of the product ... In<br />
the future, these publications will not give<br />
space to the reporting of events before they<br />
are facts."<br />
Robert Benchley, dramatic critic, humorist<br />
and actor, has arrived in Hollywood to write<br />
Movietone subjects for Fox. He has already<br />
appeared in two talking comedies, "The<br />
Treasurer's Report" and "The Spellbinder."<br />
Ben Grimm has been appointed assistant<br />
advertising manager of Universal, succeeding<br />
Milton Silver, who recently was named advertising<br />
manager. Fred Eichorn takes the place<br />
of Grimm as editor of the Gold Mine, house<br />
organ of the company.<br />
« * «<br />
Columbia Pictures definitely launched its<br />
talking picture plans this week by announcing<br />
that six productions of the current program<br />
will be synchronized with music, sound<br />
effects and talking sequences . . . Paramount<br />
will have 22 all-talkers in its season's releases<br />
Fredric March, Belasco stage<br />
. . . actor, who was signed to a Paramount contract<br />
recently, will be Clara Bow's leading<br />
man in her first all-talking picture, "The<br />
Wild Party."<br />
Theatre Jackpot Contest<br />
Will Combat Giveaways<br />
NEW YORK—Attendance Builders, a Chicago<br />
corporation headed by Phil Regan, singing<br />
star of radio, nightclubs and films, reports<br />
that more than 500 theatres have been booked<br />
to participate in a $100,000 jackpot contest<br />
designed to combat the competition of radio<br />
giveaways. The contest, which will be titled<br />
"Jingle Jamborees," will get under way January<br />
3 and the payoff will be two weeks<br />
later on January 17-20.<br />
Attendance Builders is offering the contest<br />
to theatres as a package deal to include staging,<br />
promotion and advertising, as well as the<br />
awards. In addition to the regular weekly<br />
prizes, any patron who can prove that attendance<br />
in a theatre resulted in the loss of<br />
a radio prize will be awarded double the<br />
amount he would have won, up to a maximum<br />
of $10,000.<br />
Dezel and Astor Sign Up<br />
NEW YORK—Albert Dezel Productions has<br />
signed with John Jenkins of Astor Pictures,<br />
Dallas, for the distribution of its all-Negro<br />
picture, "Girl in Room 20," in Chicago, Indianapolis,<br />
Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland<br />
and Cincinnati.<br />
DATE CHANGE!<br />
RKO RADIO PICTURES, inc.<br />
TRADE SHOWINGS OF<br />
"TARZAN'S<br />
MAGIC FOUNTAIN"<br />
ALBANY, Fox Screening Room, 1052 Broadway,<br />
Tues., Jan. 18, 10:30 A.M.<br />
ATLANTA, RKO Screening<br />
N.V/., Tues, Jan. 18, 2:30 P.M.<br />
Room, 195 Luckie St.,<br />
BOSTON, RKO Screening Room, 1 22-28 Arlington<br />
St., Tues., Jon. 18, 10:30 A.M.<br />
BUFFALO, Mo. Pic. Operotors Screening Room,<br />
498 Pearl St., Tues., Jon. 18, 10:30 A.M.<br />
CHARLOTTE, Fox Screening Room, 308 S. Church<br />
St., Tues., Jon. 18, 2:00 P.M.<br />
CHICAGO, RKO Screening Room, 1300 So.<br />
Wobosh Ave., Tues., Jon. 18, 10:30 A.M.<br />
CINCINNATI, RKO Screening Room, 12 East<br />
6th St., Tues., Jon. 18, 8:00 P.M.<br />
CLEVELAND, Fox Screening Room, 2219 Payne<br />
Ave., Tues., Jan. 18, 10:30 A.M.<br />
DALLAS, Paramount Screening Room, 412 South<br />
Harwood St., Tues., Jon. 18, 10:30 A.M.<br />
DENVER, Poromount Screening Room, 2100 Stout<br />
St., Tues., Jon. 18, 2:00 P.M.<br />
DES MOINES, Fox Screening Room, 1300 High<br />
St., Tues., Jon. 18, 10:30 A.M.<br />
DETROIT, Blumenthol Screening Room, 2310 Coss<br />
Ave., Tues., Jon. 18, 10:30 A.M.<br />
INDIANAPOLIS, Universal Screening Room, 517<br />
N. Illinois St., Tues., Jan. 18, 1:00 P.M.<br />
KANSAS CITY, Paromount Screening Room, 1800<br />
V^yondote, Tues., Jon. 18, 10:30 A.M.<br />
LOS ANGELES, RKO Screening Room, 1980 So.<br />
Vermont Ave., Tues., Jon. 18, 10:30 A.M.<br />
MEMPHIS, Fox Screening Room, 151 Vance<br />
Ave., Tues., Jon. 18, 2:30 P.M.<br />
MILWAUKEE, Warner Screening Room, 212 W.<br />
Wisconsin Ave., Tues., Jan. 18, 10:30 A.M.<br />
MINNEAPOLIS, Fox Screening Room, 1015 Currie<br />
Ave., Tues., Jon. 18, 10:30 A.M.<br />
NEW HAVEN, Fox Screening Room, 40 Whiting<br />
St., Tues., Jon. 18, 10:30 A.M.<br />
NEW ORLEANS, Fox Screening Room, 200 S.<br />
St., Liberty Tues., Jon. 18, 10:30 A.M.<br />
NEW YORK, RKO Screening Room, 630 Ninth<br />
Ave., Tues., Jan. 18, 2:30 P.M.<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY, Fox Screening Room, 10<br />
North Lee St., Tues., Jon. 18, 10:30 A.M.<br />
OMAHA, Fox Screening Room, 1502 Davenport<br />
St., Tues., Jon. 18, 10:30 A.M.<br />
PHILADELPHIA, RKO Screening Room, 250 N.<br />
St., 13th Tues., Jon. 18, 10:30 A.M.<br />
PITTSBURGH, RKO Screening Room, 18091<br />
Blvd. of Allies, Tues., Jon. 18, 1:30 P.M.<br />
PORTLAND, Star Screening Room, 925 N.W.<br />
I9th Ave., Tues., Jon. 18, 10:30 A.M.<br />
ST. LOUIS, RKO Screening Room, 3143 Olive<br />
St., Tues., Jon. 18, 11:30 A.M.<br />
SALT LAKE CITY, Fox Screening Room, 216 E.<br />
1st South St., Tues., Jan. 18, 1:30 P.M.<br />
SAN FRANCISCO, RKO Screening Room, 251<br />
Hyde St., Tues., Jan. 18, 10:30 A.M.<br />
SEATTLE, Jewel Box Screening Room, 2318<br />
Second Ave., Tues., Jan. 18, 10:30 A.M.<br />
SIOUX FALLS, Hollywood Theotre, 212 North<br />
Phillips Ave., Tues., Jon. 18, 10:00 A.M.<br />
WASHINGTON, Fox Screening Room, 932 New<br />
Jersey Ave., Tues., Jon. 18, 10:30 A.M.<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948
CHESTER FRIEDMAN<br />
EDITOR<br />
HUGH E. FRAZE<br />
Associate Editor<br />
SECTION<br />
PRACTICAL IDEAS FOR SELLING SEATS BY PRACTICAL SHOWMEN<br />
J> ncenlwei f til<br />
Twice each year, five outstanding<br />
Century circuit showmen are<br />
guests of Fred Schwartz, vice-president,<br />
at his Timberdoodle lodge.<br />
Lake Placid, N. Y. In the winter<br />
pilgrimag:e last week were Schwartz,<br />
Joe Springer, general manager; Bill<br />
Applegate, district manager; Mike<br />
Siegel, publicity director, and Charlie<br />
Call, L. W. McEachern, Bill Mc-<br />
Devitt, Fred Brunelle and Dick Tretler,<br />
theatre managers.<br />
IVIr. Schwartz made the mistake<br />
of inviting us to be in the company<br />
of these distinguished showmen. We<br />
accepted. That was our mistake.<br />
There's a fall guy on every trip.<br />
If you think we were brought<br />
along just for laughs, you're right.<br />
We expected to break an arm or a<br />
leg during our first try at skiing and<br />
other winter sports. But we never<br />
anticipated the misfortunes which<br />
befell the other portions of our anatomy<br />
d.uring such harmless indoor<br />
sports as eating and sleeping.<br />
Aside from the horseplay, Timberdoodle<br />
lodge is fabulous. The food,<br />
the modern conveniences, the natural<br />
beauty of the place, isolated in<br />
the woods, and the graciousness of<br />
the host combine to give every visitor<br />
a feeling of rare privilege. The<br />
feeling is intensified, when one returns<br />
to the humdrum routine of<br />
daily livelihood.<br />
No doubt it is the desire to be<br />
among the fortunate group elected<br />
for the next Timberdoodle excursion<br />
which motivates Century theatremen<br />
in their efforts throughout the<br />
year. The high standards of showmanship,<br />
the high morale and. the<br />
low turnover among Century managers<br />
during the past decade are<br />
undoubtedly due in great measure<br />
to Timberdoodle.<br />
Whatever other incentive inspires<br />
that extra individual effort stems<br />
from the fact that Schwartz and<br />
Springer and, one presumes, the<br />
other Century executives, are simply<br />
members of one big family. There<br />
are other circuits which operate<br />
along similar lines. They, too, benefit<br />
at the buxoffice from such a relationship.<br />
At the moment, we are filled with<br />
impressions and memories of Tim-<br />
( Continued on next news page)<br />
Variety Promotion Technique Sells<br />
Variety Vaudeville at RKO Albee<br />
Sandwiched in between the campaigns for<br />
three picture houses in Cincinnati are some<br />
excellent tieups which Nate Wise, publicity<br />
manager for RKO in the city, puts over regularly<br />
to sell headline variety shows at the<br />
Albee Theatre.<br />
Wise, whose exploits are well known to<br />
readers of this section, produces a wealth of<br />
free publicity via various media to keep his<br />
shows out front. They provide valuable data<br />
for every exhibitor, particularly those who<br />
play live talent either regularly or on special<br />
dates.<br />
The King Cole-Penny Edwards combination<br />
recently gave Wise an opportunity to demonstrate<br />
how radio and the recording companies<br />
can be utilized with excellent results.<br />
Before the show opened, every disk jockey in<br />
town was playing King Cole Trio recordings<br />
and giving the Albee dates prominent notice.<br />
Through the cooperation of the Capitol records<br />
distributor, 5,000 stuffers were distributed<br />
by music and record shops throughout the<br />
city. Some 300 cards were placed on juke<br />
boxes after Wise had the operators put the<br />
Trio records in every machine.<br />
When Penny Edwards arrived in town,<br />
Wise set up interviews and guest appearances<br />
on WKRC, WSAI and WCKY. The<br />
Enquirer went for an interview with Miss<br />
Edwards as did the Times-Star. All three<br />
dailies used special art layouts.<br />
For incidental ballyhoo, Wise put a juke<br />
box in the Albee lobby in advance and<br />
plugged King Cole records continuously. Spot<br />
announcements were used on all radio out-<br />
—779—<br />
lets and a flash front helped the current<br />
showing.<br />
The Dick Haymes show received a heavy<br />
selling job which was topped by breaks in<br />
44 small town newspapers in Ohio and Kentucky.<br />
Each paper received a scene star mat<br />
of Haymes, special photos and stories and,<br />
exclusive of the metropolitan papers, reached<br />
a mass circulation of 125,000.<br />
Two stunts were cooked up by Wise, one<br />
with the Times Star, the other with the Post.<br />
The former sponsored a mass high school<br />
editor interview with Haymes. The stunt<br />
rated a gigantic pictorial spread and an<br />
eight-column streamer. The Post tieup was<br />
keyed to an annual football banquet with<br />
Haymes pictured posing with some of the<br />
stars and the paper's personnel.<br />
Three free broadcasts were promoted from<br />
WKRC, WSAI and WCPO via backstage interviews<br />
with Haymes. Disk jockeys plugged<br />
his recordings and Jenny's, Cincinnati specialty<br />
store, featured a large cut of the star<br />
in a newspaper co-op ad which included<br />
theatre mention.<br />
27
ON U-ls $4500<br />
UNITY DRIVE CAMPAIGN CONTES<br />
Here's a prize-winning tip^<br />
boys, that'll<br />
help you pocket some of that $4500 in<br />
U-I's Unity Drive Campaign Contest.<br />
Don't overlook that gold mine of<br />
pretested,<br />
down-to-earth exploitation ideas<br />
you will find in every U-l pressbook.<br />
U-l always gives you really<br />
workable promotion<br />
ideas. I know, because I've seen them get<br />
results every time!<br />
So take a tip from U-l and boost your campaigns...<br />
and your box-office, too! .^<br />
M^l<br />
.<br />
m campaigns on ony U-J<br />
^^^Vou con senajn ^^^ ^^ ., 30,<br />
*^*^ October<br />
31,<br />
ouTbetween<br />
oictore you P»aV °<br />
. .<br />
y (incloae a go<br />
^<br />
.r first entry m to^^^ ^<br />
.nmoaigns on<br />
,949. Get your ^^^.^^ ^.^r compo g<br />
c*.\f<br />
o\easel) and keep .^^<br />
of yourseW, P»<br />
^V,e Drive P<br />
every U4 picture you Plov
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TdTi'-'- fl<br />
'*"*«*«:<br />
f^ese^<br />
'iJthou,<br />
"""^i^^lman<br />
ROGUES' REGIMENT<br />
CITY?<br />
-GOOO ni:-^<br />
P "^^Te SOU*' ex=f-;it°;oux Pic^u^,<br />
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LARC£HY<br />
of She<br />
City) .<br />
Mexico s<br />
Mexico? ®i<<br />
ingl<br />
8_Naine<br />
„„e toinous<br />
sfucr<br />
l_Name the mosi I °«' '<br />
one o,<br />
CWSS CROSS<br />
^^^^^ ^^. \schoo(s, ^°^'' your '"'-'<br />
/,<br />
'oco/<br />
AcapuVc°^<br />
Mexican-bor"<br />
CONTEST<br />
lores del B^f .,„., most populoi a»<br />
—'n voider ordi to make a sucrpsc „f<br />
many r^.i";""?' °^<br />
fo sacrifirp c„.<br />
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evvs<br />
canhistor? r^ , capital citY oi<br />
6_V/bat .s the c P ^^^^^ ^^^^,.<br />
°' ^°d,o ,-,,:""'''<br />
national spo<br />
Mexico's<br />
pe/Ze<br />
Mexican tood.<br />
who<br />
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THE RULES ^rm^fmrimmmnT'mM<br />
THE PRIZES<br />
The U-l Unity Sales Drive Campaign Contest<br />
is open to managers and theatre publicity<br />
men in the United States.<br />
Entries will be judged on the basis of originality,<br />
initiative and promotional skill, vt^ith<br />
consideration for the theatre advertising<br />
budget and available facilities.<br />
Each entry should consist of a brief summary<br />
listing all activities, substantiated by documentary<br />
proof-photos or snapshots, newspaper<br />
tearsheets, circulars, etc.<br />
Campaigns should not be accumulated. They<br />
should be forwarded as soon as possible<br />
after playdates.<br />
Exhibitors may enter a campaign on one<br />
or as many Universal-International pictures<br />
as they desire during the period of the<br />
competition.<br />
Campaigns must reach the judges no later<br />
than May 15, 1949, to be eligible.<br />
RIDE HIGH WITH UNITY!<br />
$4500 in cash prizes will be distributed to<br />
theatremen who submit the best promotion<br />
campaigns on any Universal-International<br />
picture played during the company's Unity<br />
Sales Drive starting October 31, 1948 and<br />
concluding April 30, 1949.<br />
These prizes will be divided equally in U-i's<br />
three sales divisions— Eastern, Western,<br />
Southern. Prizes in each division will total<br />
$1500.<br />
Theatres in each division will be classified<br />
in three distinct groups—affiliated circuits,<br />
independent circuits, unaffiliated theatres.<br />
In each Division, there will be identical first,<br />
second and third place prizes in each of the<br />
three different theatre groups. Best campaigns<br />
will be awarded $250; second best,<br />
$150, and next best, $100. Thus, there will<br />
be 27 major cash awards.<br />
THE JUDGES<br />
EASTERN DIVISION SOUTHERN DIVISION WESTERN DIVISION<br />
(Albany, Boston, Buffalo, Cleveland,<br />
New Haven, New York, Philadelphia,<br />
Pittsburgh, Washington, D. C.)<br />
Division Manager Fred<br />
Meyers . . . District Managers<br />
John J. Scully, Dave Miller,<br />
P. T. Dana, D. A. Levy<br />
(Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Dallas,<br />
Indianapolis, Memphis, New<br />
Orleans, Oklahoma City, St. Louis)<br />
Division Manager F. J. A.<br />
McCarthy. .District Managers<br />
P. F. Rosian, J. E. Garrison<br />
(Chicago, Denver, Des Moines, Detroit,<br />
Kansas City, Los Angeles, Milwaukee,<br />
Minneapolis, Omaha, Portland,<br />
Salt Lake City, San Francisco,<br />
Seattle)<br />
Division Manager C. J. Feldman<br />
. . . District Managers<br />
M. M.Gottlieb, Foster Blake,<br />
Barney Rose<br />
3'<br />
and, acting together with each of the Divisions,<br />
Chester Friedman, Editor of the Showmandiser Section, <strong>Boxoffice</strong>.<br />
All entries become the property of Universal-international. In case of ties, duplicate prizes will be awarded.<br />
All entries should be addressed: U-l Contest Judges, V. BOXOFFICE, 9 Rockefeller Plaza, New York 20, N. Y.
Question and Answer<br />
Tieup Nets 32 Spots<br />
For 'Kiss Blood'<br />
Radio and newsstands were the principal<br />
media of exploitation used to promote "Kiss<br />
the Blood Off My Hands" by Herb Gordon,<br />
manager of the St. James Theatre, Asbury<br />
Park, N. J. A tieup was made with radio<br />
station WCAP on a question-and-answer contest,<br />
with theatre passes as prizes. The picture<br />
and playdate received 32 credit mentions<br />
and a special plug via the Burt Lancaster<br />
five-minute record interview.<br />
Gordon promoted 100 books based on the<br />
film adaptation from Dell Publishing Co.,<br />
which were given away as door prizes.. The<br />
American News Co. placed posters on 50<br />
newsstands throughout the city and used<br />
truck banners.<br />
For the engagement of the double featiu'e,<br />
"Walk a Crooked Mile" and "Variety Time,"<br />
Gordon made a special easel display from<br />
the front pages of local newspapers which<br />
were over-printed with copy: "Hot as Today's<br />
Headlines." Additional displays were<br />
placed at ten newsstands. Three local music<br />
shops featured Frankie Carle records in special<br />
window displays built around posters<br />
plugging "Variety Time." Radio station<br />
WCAP also cooperated with gratis plugs on<br />
another quiz contest.<br />
Kiddy Show Series Sold<br />
As Gifts for Christmas<br />
Christmas Gift Books for a series of five<br />
kiddy shows starting in January have been<br />
promoted by Bierney Feld, manager of the<br />
Oxford, Plainfield, N. J. The selling campaign<br />
is being directed mainly at schools,<br />
with heralds being placed on bulletin boards<br />
through arrangements with the principals.<br />
PTA and women's groups are also being<br />
canvassed, with the proposal that they buy<br />
blocks of books as Christmas present for<br />
children.<br />
The gift books measure 2V2x5'/2 inches are<br />
on green stock with black ink, and fold so<br />
that five strip tickets can be inserted. Each<br />
set of five admission tickets is being sold at<br />
reduced prices.<br />
The special programs will include fUms<br />
selected from the Children's Library and are<br />
being advertised as such.<br />
J ncentiuei/<br />
i^Continued from preceding news page)<br />
berdoodle—pleasant ones filled with the scent<br />
of fresh air and mountain tops, delicious<br />
food and camaraderie. And others—which<br />
force us to pound this out in our most comfortable<br />
position right now—which is standing:<br />
up.<br />
We can't think of a more appropriate day<br />
to extend warm cordial greetings for the season<br />
to every reader of this section from all<br />
of us here at the Showmandiser.<br />
CUedia* ^tiecbtMM<br />
^^T' vs?m^?::'mw^<br />
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Dec. 25, 1948<br />
Promoting the Drive-In Theatre<br />
HOW TO PARK YOUR CAR<br />
Apartment Exchange<br />
Publicizes 'Peggy'<br />
New Chairs Publicized<br />
The installation of new chairs at the<br />
Strand in Clarksville, Ark., gave Manager<br />
Edward Holland an opportunity for some special<br />
publicity. A lobby display was set up<br />
with one of the new chairs located near the<br />
entrance where it could be seen by passersby.<br />
A story planted with the local newspaper<br />
about the remodeling of the theatre<br />
and the installation of the new chairs broke<br />
on pag« one and was the main topic of conversation<br />
among the people in Clarksville.<br />
—783—<br />
/ottrtstiaf /aftrmttitn<br />
SniKk Bar<br />
FranlL Nolan, former Schine circuit<br />
district manager in Ohio, has two driveins<br />
under construction in that state.<br />
Several montlis ago he became interested<br />
in a common problem of drive-in operators—a<br />
dearth of advertising and promotion<br />
material. Since then he has developed<br />
a "package service" for these exhibitors,<br />
which includes ad mats, progi.inib,<br />
novelty advertising ideas and suggestions<br />
for merchandising drive-ins.<br />
Special events nights are included in the<br />
package service. Illustrated above are<br />
some of the ad mats devised by Nolan,<br />
and the inside spread of an "opening"<br />
program. The front cover features special<br />
art and space for feature listing.<br />
'Buttons' Completition<br />
Builds Up 'Paleface'<br />
A contest inspired by the song hit, "Buttons<br />
and Bows," was conducted by John Mc-<br />
Inerney, publicity director for the Paramount<br />
To promote interest in "Apartment for<br />
Peggy," Howard Cohn, manager of the Midwood<br />
Theatre, Brooklyn, N. Y., had his patrons<br />
using the theatre as headquarters for Theatre, New York, as advance ballyhoo for<br />
a "swap or lease an apartment" exchange. "The Paleface."<br />
A display in the lobby invited patrons who Recordings of "Buttons and Bows" sung by<br />
had an apartment to lease, or those in need Dinah Shore were offered as prizes to patrons<br />
wearing the most unique buttons-and-<br />
of a larger apartment or a smaller one and<br />
wished to make an exchange, to leave pertinent<br />
information at the theatre, and the grand lobby of the theatre before opening,<br />
bows costumes. Judging took place in the<br />
various parties interested would be brought with Bermy Goodman, star of the Paramount<br />
together. The stunt created considerable stage show, presiding as official judge.<br />
word-of-mouth publicity.<br />
Fifty winners were selected who received<br />
free records as well as costume jewelry and<br />
scarfs.<br />
Small Fry Giveaway<br />
Clarence Shafer, manager of the Miami in<br />
Piqua, Ohio, has a tieup with a local toy<br />
store to attract the small fry every Saturday<br />
until Christmas. The store gives coupons<br />
with each purchase. Merchandise awards<br />
are given out at each Saturday show. If<br />
prizes are unclaimed they are held over until<br />
the next week and the amount increased<br />
accordingly.<br />
31
ilie<br />
u ABUNDANCE OF INGREDIENTS WHICH<br />
SPELL BOXOFFICE SUCCESS"<br />
"STORY WILL<br />
PROBABLY HIT<br />
ACADEMY<br />
CONSIDERATION<br />
SHOWMEN'S<br />
TRADE REVIEW<br />
Irib<br />
piesenlal<br />
RiithSK<br />
neiisec<br />
^CHNICOLOR^ y<br />
San<br />
advmise<br />
''
o<br />
Tribute to Babe Ruth<br />
Marks Film Opening<br />
In Staten Island<br />
A fine exploitation campaign was completed<br />
recently for the engagement of "The<br />
Babe Ruth Story" at the Paramount Theatre.<br />
Staten Island, N. Y.<br />
The campaign was conceived by George<br />
Kemp, manager of the Paramount, and was<br />
carried out by Bill Stillman, relief manager,<br />
and Elias Schlenger, Fabian Theatres publicist.<br />
Kemp tied up with a local sporting goods<br />
store which footed all expenses. Five thousand<br />
tabloid heralds were imprinted with a<br />
large two-column pressbook ad. theatre, playdate<br />
and sponsor. These were inserted in<br />
Sunday newspapers and the balance were<br />
distributed at the theatre in advance.<br />
On the night before opening, in conjunction<br />
with the Paramount's weekly vaudeville<br />
show, the theatre presented "Staten Island's<br />
Tribute to Babe Ruth." Karl Drews, a Staten<br />
Island boy and pitcher for the St. Louis<br />
Browns, appeared in person and told of his<br />
acquaintanceship with Ruth. Drews then introduced<br />
the winners of the Staten Island<br />
semipro baseball championship and presented<br />
each member with a Babe Ruth Memorial<br />
trophy.<br />
The event was plugged for two weeks in<br />
advance in the Paramount lobby and on the<br />
screen. Publicity was planted in the local<br />
paper's gossip column and in the sports columns.<br />
A two-column picture of the trophy<br />
presentation, posed in front of the "Babe<br />
Ruth Story" 40x60, broke opening day in the<br />
news section.<br />
Babe Ruth memorial medallions and<br />
photos were given to the first 1,000 men on<br />
opening night and to the first 1,000 boys at<br />
the Saturday matinee. The giveaway was<br />
advertised one week in advance in the paper,<br />
lobby and on the screen.<br />
The day before opening, the cooperating<br />
sports shop ran a Babe Ruth coloring contest<br />
in the newspaper for kids. Fifty-eight<br />
prizes including Babe Ruth books, bats and<br />
belts were offered to contest winners.<br />
Prison Front Exploits<br />
'Canon City' Showing<br />
A specially built prison front covered the<br />
entire boxoffice of the RKO Capitol, Trenton,<br />
N. J., for "Canon City." The doormen<br />
were dressed in authentic warden uniforms<br />
and armed with rifles. Handbills on persons<br />
wanted by the law were obtained from the local<br />
police department and posted on a 40x60<br />
in front of the theatre. The stimts were<br />
executed by Henry Scholl, manager, and Max<br />
Miller. Eagle Lion field exploiteer.<br />
Baby Watching Service<br />
Offered by Theatre<br />
A baby-sitter service instituted at the<br />
Maplewood (N.J.i Theatre by Manager<br />
Sturgis Perry has won the approbation of<br />
mothers and baby sitters alike. Sitters who<br />
want to be employed register at the theatre,<br />
and a lobby 40x60 invites patrons to call the<br />
theatre when in need of someone to care<br />
for their offspring. This unique type of community<br />
service is proving a grand exploitation<br />
stunt.<br />
BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Dec. 25, 1948<br />
Connecticut Exhibitor Uses Ads<br />
Of 33 Years Ago on Anniversary<br />
Salvatore Adorno sr. observed his 33id<br />
anniversary as owner-manager of the<br />
Palace in Middleton, Conn., on Thanksgiving<br />
day.<br />
Adorno used a unique display ad to<br />
higlil ght the anniversary date. The tilis<br />
of the Middletown Press produced the<br />
original newspaper ad used on Thanltsrgiving<br />
in 1915 for both the Grand Thea.re<br />
and the Crescent, which also were<br />
oper.-.ted by Adorno. The old. newspaper<br />
clipping was incorporated as part of a<br />
four-column display ad which attracted<br />
wide attention.<br />
Orphans Attend Show<br />
As Theatre Guests<br />
John C. Musclow, manager of the Capitol,<br />
Kitchener. Ont., earned the thanks of 75<br />
orphan children of the St. Agatha and K-W<br />
orphanages by inviting thein to be his guests<br />
at a three-hour program of Disney cartoons.<br />
The gesture was also responsible for many<br />
letters of commendation received from civic<br />
groups and prominent citizens.<br />
Musclow tied up with the Kiwanis club<br />
which provided free transportation for the<br />
youngsters. He also conacted the St. Mary's<br />
Christian Mothers society which served sandwiches<br />
and soft drinks to the children.<br />
On the way out, each guest received a<br />
chocolate bar from Musclow. who reports that<br />
the event is held several times each year, and<br />
each time earns the appreciation of the pre.s.s<br />
and officials of the commimity.<br />
Spook Voice From Coffin<br />
Speaks for 'Ghost' Show<br />
Edmond Anthony, manager of the Bradley,<br />
Coliunbus, Ga., staged a strong campaign for<br />
a midnight showing of "The Mummy's<br />
Ghost."<br />
In addition to special newspaper ads, radio<br />
plugs, posting and billing, he featured a<br />
casket in the lobby. A store dummy wrapped<br />
in gauze was placed in the casket and hooked<br />
up with a public address system and microphone<br />
located in another part of the theatre.<br />
Patrons entering the theatre were addressed<br />
by a "spook voice " which helped to<br />
stimulate strong word-of-mouth publicity for<br />
the show.<br />
Edible Dates Passed Out<br />
For 'Judy' in the Bronx<br />
Publicist Sam Horwitz and Sylvia Scharfman,<br />
manager of Loew's Post Road Theatre,<br />
Bronx, N. Y.. put over an effective tieup in<br />
behalf of "A Date 'With Judy." A neighborhood<br />
children's wear shop paid for 1,000<br />
envelopes and edible dates. The envelopes<br />
were imprinted, "Have a date, etc." The<br />
sweets were enclosed and usherettes distributed<br />
the envelopes to pedestrians. A credit<br />
line for the sponsor on the envelopes squared<br />
the deal.<br />
—785—<br />
In 1915, the Grand Theatre listed three<br />
feature acts of vaudeville and, as the<br />
s?ieen attraction, Theda Bara in "The<br />
Two Orphans." iVIatince admission prices<br />
were 5 and 10 cents, and for the evening<br />
the balcony was 10 cents and the main<br />
floor 20 cents. .\t the same t me the Crescent<br />
Theatre offered Bryant Washburn<br />
and Ec'.ia Mayo in "The Blindness of Virtue."<br />
The Press also ran a long story covering<br />
Adorno's activitiesr as an exhibitor during<br />
the past 33 years.<br />
Flowers to Secretaries<br />
For 'Dear Secretary'<br />
The first 26 secretaries to purchase tickets<br />
"<br />
for "My Dear Secretary at the Lake Theatre,<br />
Oak Park, 111., were presented floral corsages<br />
through a tieup arranged by Manager<br />
Leonard Utecht. Tlie deal was set with an<br />
Oak Park florist, and Utecht arranged for<br />
the local paper to run photos and advance<br />
publicity on the stunt.<br />
Poster and window card displays were set<br />
with more than 40 merchants. Advance<br />
lobby displays and an attractive front helped<br />
to promote the playdate.<br />
In conjunction with Flower week, Utecht<br />
had an attractive floral display in the lobby<br />
of the Lake, with additional decorations<br />
placed at the candy counter and boxoffice.<br />
Show Time Guide Sells<br />
Acton. Ont., Roxy Shows<br />
G. E. Robinson, manager of the Roxy m<br />
Acton, Ont., publishes a monthly Show Time<br />
guide which he considers the strongest advertising<br />
medium and a great boxoffice attractor.<br />
Show Time is a 16-page pamphlet, 9x12<br />
inches, and contains advance stories, art and<br />
display ads on all coming hits at the Roxy.<br />
A special women's page is included and local<br />
merchants take ads which cover the costs of<br />
printing and mailing to 4.000 residents in a<br />
15 mile radius.<br />
Robinson reports that the program gets<br />
people in the area movie minded. Promotionally<br />
and typographically, Show Time is<br />
very professional in appearance.<br />
Walt Chenoweth Entries<br />
National U-I Contest<br />
Walter Chenoweth, manager of the Alexandria,<br />
San Francisco, fired his opening gun<br />
in the Universal-International national promotion<br />
contest by launching a special campaign<br />
for "Tap Roots."<br />
Chenoweth employed additional newspaper<br />
space, released special stories to the local<br />
press and placed colorful 40x60 posters in<br />
the lobby two weeks before opening. Special<br />
trailer copy was composed and cross plug<br />
trailers were used at affiliated theatres.<br />
Personal letters from Chenoweth were<br />
mailed to history teachers in district schools<br />
emphasizing the historical value and background<br />
of the Civil war story.<br />
33
REPUBLIC'S<br />
AGAIN NO. 1 KING OF Ie<br />
IN THE BOXOFFICE BA<br />
Big Roy Rogers Hits Now In Release<br />
UNDER CALIFORNIA STARS • EYES OF TEXAS<br />
NIGHHIME IN NEVADA • GRAND CANYON TRAII<br />
1<br />
5-Ss^;
•*Sr-.-<br />
IE<br />
COWBOYS<br />
U^METER POLL!<br />
^-^<br />
^a^mu^<br />
^>a<br />
r>^<br />
:^:<br />
-r^- ' -r<br />
AFETY FILM<br />
*^; t'<br />
This Big One's Comin<<br />
THE FAR FRONTIER<br />
*K.v.
BOXOFFICE NUGGETS<br />
A book tieup with the Dell Publishing Co.<br />
for the exploitation of "Kiss the Blood Off<br />
My Hands" provided extensive promotion for<br />
the picture's opening at the Mayfair Theatre,<br />
Portland, Ore. All trucks of the Oregon<br />
News Co. carried posters. Book stores featured<br />
displays for the picture, built around<br />
the book, with prominent theatre credits.<br />
As part of the advance campaign for "The<br />
Countess of Monte Cristo" at the Orpheum<br />
Theatre in San Francisco, more than 300 special<br />
window cards were prepared by the<br />
M.J.B. coffee distributors for placement in<br />
local stores. The cards featured a shot of<br />
Sonja Henie, star of the film production, and<br />
playdate credits for the theatre.<br />
The entire front of the Lyric in Salt Lake<br />
City was converted into a huge still montage<br />
for the cm-rent engagement of "The Thi-ee<br />
Musketeers." The idea is credited to Warren<br />
Butler, manager of the Lyric, and the<br />
stunt was good enough to stop traffic.<br />
Bob Carney, manager of the Poll, Waterbury,<br />
Conn., reports growing interest in his<br />
theatre since an organist has been added to<br />
the regular program. Featuring Tiny day,<br />
specialist at the Hammond organ whose modern<br />
presentations set a new style in entertainment,<br />
business has steadily increased<br />
dm-ing the first five weeks of this innovation.<br />
Jack Lykes, manager of the Colony, Toledo,<br />
tied up with Hurley's furniture store in<br />
Puppy Giveaway Draws<br />
For Kartoon Karnival<br />
Arnold Gates, manager of the Stillman<br />
in Cleveland, promoted two cocker spaniel<br />
puppies at no cost for a giveaway at a Saturday<br />
morning Kartoon Karnival for children.<br />
Announced in advance through a lobby<br />
40x60, the offer proved a great inducement<br />
and stirred up more than the usual interest<br />
in such a program.<br />
The first 400 youngsters who bought tickets<br />
for the show were presented 8x10 photos<br />
of Tom and Jerry, cartoon characters. Gates<br />
tied up with 12 schools in Cleveland to announce<br />
the program and the awards.<br />
Theatre Auction Benefits<br />
P.A.L. Fund in Woodside<br />
Tlie Police Athletic league, sponsored by<br />
the New York police department, was enriched<br />
by $250 recently, as a result of a public<br />
auction held by Manager Bernie Seiden on<br />
the stage of the Sunnyside Theatre, Woodside,<br />
N. Y. In cooperation with the captain of the<br />
local precinct and an executive of the local<br />
coordinating council. Seiden promoted gifts<br />
from neighborhood businessmen, the items<br />
being auctioned off among theatre patrons.<br />
Hypnotist Is Billed<br />
As a business stimulant for a Saturday<br />
night performance, MoUie Stickles, manager<br />
of the Palace, Meriden, Conn., booked a<br />
hypnotist show as a special attraction. Tire<br />
presentation was backed by extensive newspaper<br />
and radio advertising in addition to<br />
advance lobby displays and window tieups.<br />
36<br />
town to help promote "Johnny Belinda." In<br />
return for a display of furniture in the theatre<br />
lobby, cost-free co-op ads were run in<br />
the Toledo Times, Blade, Sunday Blade and<br />
Chronicle. All included plugs for the picture<br />
and star.<br />
Jack Mitchell, manager of the Russell Theatre,<br />
Maysville, Ky., greeted his patrons with<br />
poster cutouts of Greer Garson in tights,<br />
pasted on the entrance doors to exploit "Julia<br />
Misbehaves." A large cutout was also used<br />
in the lobby and moved outdoors for the current<br />
showing.<br />
Lyle Prue, manager of the Milford (Del.i<br />
Theatre, promoted gratis spot announcements<br />
for "Triple Threat" following every<br />
newscast and sportscast on tlie local radio<br />
station for five days prior to opening. The<br />
high school football team was invited as<br />
guests of the management on the opening<br />
day and this was announced at all school assemblies.<br />
Pi-ue recently sold the back page of<br />
his house program on a full year contract to<br />
cover complete printing and shipping costs.<br />
A completely furnished trailer was parked<br />
outside the Paramount Theatre, Long<br />
Branch, N. J., as a ballyhoo for "Apartment<br />
for Peggy." John Balmer, manager of the<br />
Paramount, tied up with a trailer sales company<br />
for the exhibit which was open for inspection<br />
to the public. Stunt was used three<br />
days before opening and during the current<br />
run of the picture.<br />
Plane Drops Heralds<br />
For Theatre Opening<br />
The grand opening of the Manos in Monessen,<br />
Pa., was ballyhooed by Ken Woodward,<br />
manager of the new enterprise, with several<br />
thousand circulars which were dropped<br />
throughout the Monongahela valley from an<br />
airplane. The heralds were headed, "A message<br />
from the skies," and carried news of the<br />
theatre opening and the program. They were<br />
printed on colored stock, and anyone getting<br />
a lucky-color announcement was admitted<br />
free on opening night.<br />
The back page of the herald carried a large<br />
co-op ad on the new type seats installed at<br />
the theatre, which helped to underwrite the<br />
cost of the stunt.<br />
On opening night. Woodward interviewed<br />
patrons in the theatre lobby as they were<br />
leaving and made a special transcription of<br />
the interviews. These were then broadcast<br />
over .station WMBS. Uniontown; WMCK,<br />
McKeesport; WESA. Charleroy, and WEDO,<br />
McKeesport.<br />
Transparent Blowups<br />
Are Used on Marquee<br />
Ervin Clumb, advertising manager for th*"<br />
Towne in Milwaukee, used transparent blowups<br />
of the four stars in "The Three Musketeers"<br />
on both sides of the attraction sign<br />
A false front was used showing action blowups<br />
and star heads, the over-all effect being<br />
a colorful flash which attracted wide attention.<br />
—788—<br />
EAGLE LION'S<br />
SMASH<br />
SUaESSOR<br />
10 'CANON CITY'!<br />
and 'Canon City'!"<br />
"Ranking with the best;<br />
this year's product!"<br />
"Has everyth<br />
"Spine-tingling ...<br />
hunt!"<br />
"Will rank with 'T-Men'<br />
and 'Canon City'!"<br />
"Masterf ""<br />
^<br />
lotlywood Reporter<br />
"Stands<br />
—Film Daily<br />
"Basehart's "<br />
definitely d.<br />
bid!"<br />
"Superior! Thorou'<br />
I
i<br />
w§i^]<br />
In the watery darkness of the massive sewers<br />
that wind tortuously beneath Los Angeles a<br />
man flees for his Ufe. Now he stops - waiting,<br />
listening, his finger tense about the trigger of<br />
his gun. Suddenly -he whirls -fires blindly<br />
into the blackness!<br />
Savage, brutal -this is the killer who has<br />
struck again and again -the killer the poHce<br />
have hunted, patiently, skillfully,<br />
courageously<br />
- relentlessly tying each tiny clue, every<br />
shred and strand of evidence into an evertightening<br />
net.<br />
Now it's closing . . . they have him cornered<br />
again, fighting desperately for his life . .<br />
.<br />
deadly, defiant, unafraid!<br />
V<br />
SPOf Nt\^S!<br />
n9 o9« ^QUGHT THRILUNGLY TO LIFE BY THE MAKERS OF "CANON CITY"<br />
BY N IGHT<br />
RIPHARn RASFHART SCOTT "CANON CITY" BRADY ... Roy Roberts Whlt Biss<br />
^i'vjvw.T&'Sifyj.vsa
Business<br />
Builders<br />
DANNY KAYL<br />
^^«RGINIAMAYO<br />
IK i\:i liiiik<br />
i<br />
Window tieups continue to occupy a prominent role in theatre merchandising.<br />
Above, Sears. Roebuck display arranged by Billy<br />
Wilson, manager oi the Beacham, Orlando, Fla. Below, "Secret<br />
Land" date at the Poli, Hartford, Conn., gets downtown plug<br />
arranged by Manager Lou Cohen.<br />
Manager Al<br />
At right.<br />
Kelly's campaign ior<br />
"Will It Happen<br />
Again?" at the Capitol<br />
Theatre, Macon,<br />
Ga., included this colorful<br />
front, cross plugs<br />
on screen and in the<br />
lobby of associated<br />
theatres, distribution<br />
of special circulars<br />
and standee cards in<br />
restaurants and drug<br />
stores.<br />
yglatch-rorTA/^<br />
lohn Mitckes. a proi<br />
e c i o n i s t at the<br />
t<br />
Apollo, Belvidere, 111.,<br />
took up art and display<br />
work to keep<br />
himself busy during<br />
slack periods. At left<br />
is one of his latest<br />
creations, a changeable<br />
board with permanent<br />
utility.<br />
Typical of Thanksgiving<br />
tieups by showmen<br />
throughout the<br />
nation, turkey and<br />
food giveaways on<br />
the stage of the Fond<br />
du Lac (Wis.) Theatre<br />
was promoted by<br />
Manager Joe Goldberg.<br />
Gibson's store, opposite<br />
the city hall in<br />
Providence, R. I., honors<br />
the observance of<br />
the 32nd anniversary<br />
of Fay's Theatre with<br />
this colorful window<br />
exhibit. Publicist Ed<br />
Kelly arranged the<br />
tieup.<br />
Flushing. N. Y., citizens<br />
had an opportunity<br />
to kiss a "blarney<br />
stone" provided<br />
by Sol Sorkin, manager<br />
of the RKO<br />
Keith, as part of his<br />
campaign on "Luck<br />
of the Irish." Stunt<br />
was used outdoors on<br />
clear days.<br />
38 —790—
ft<br />
DOUBLE THRILL BILL<br />
RIGHT<br />
NUMBER<br />
AND<br />
WHAT<br />
A<br />
NUMBER!<br />
Producer HUNT STROMBERG'<br />
sure-fire success team!<br />
MflSifi^"<br />
^0"'" be spellbound<br />
'<br />
^ianiing story of a<br />
f-eaut/foig/riiv/th<br />
sf^ange neurof/c desires<br />
$ce<br />
to destroy those iv/io<br />
foveber...<br />
^^•"n ^fte<br />
famous<br />
Sroadivaysfage/,/t;<br />
J0t^.<br />
GCBST J\ TOP<br />
HOUSE *<br />
"orrin^<br />
.CTi<br />
starring<br />
i^<br />
BARBARA STANWYCK<br />
-MICHAEL O'SHEA<br />
Re ptesenled Ihru United »rti»
J<br />
fl<br />
$OCCESSWJ<br />
MA^ 022:1<br />
Thrilling<br />
Adventure of a boy<br />
and his dog in a<br />
heart-warming story<br />
the whole family will<br />
Puzzle Quiz, Radio Plugs<br />
Produce on 'Man-Eater'<br />
A special campaign put on by Eldon Coffman,<br />
manager of the Joy, Dardanelle, Ark.,<br />
brought good returns on "Man-Eater of Kumaon."<br />
Coffman promoted a puzzle contest gratis<br />
from the local daily, offering passes for the<br />
best solution submitted by readers. The radio<br />
station gave the picture 20 free spot announcements.<br />
500 heralds and 100 perfume<br />
giveaway cards were distributed.<br />
For outside ballyhoo, two men armed with<br />
rifles guarded a cage which was supposed to<br />
hold the "Man-Eater."<br />
Hillbilly Show on Stage<br />
And Screen Is Big Draw<br />
Jimmie Robertson, manager of the National<br />
Theatre, Louisville, Ky., booked a special<br />
stage and screen show to combat the<br />
customary slump in December grosses. A<br />
combination of the stage and film versions<br />
of the barn dance was used, with the Renfro<br />
Valley Folks as the stage attraction and<br />
"Hollywood Barn Dance" on -the screen. The<br />
show played to capacity audiences throughout<br />
its run.<br />
Letters by Cashiers<br />
Assist 'Bill and Coo'<br />
Jack Hamilton, manager of the Variety<br />
Theatre, Miami Beach, Fla., promoted two<br />
love birds for a lobby display on "Bill and<br />
Coo." Over the cage was a sign reading,<br />
"Introducing 'Bill and Coo.' Come and see<br />
us in our first picture playing here ."<br />
. .<br />
The stunt had patrons spending a little time<br />
with the birds and caused considerable comment.<br />
Also in advance of playdate, Hamilton had<br />
his cashiers write personal handwritten<br />
notes, giving one to each person buying a<br />
ticket. The letter began: "Dear Patron:<br />
Although I am not the publicist for the<br />
theatre, I feel that I would be doing you an<br />
injustice if I didn't remind you that 'Bill<br />
and Coo' will open here, etc., etc."<br />
This was followed by a short blurb for the<br />
pictui-e and was signed by the cashier. Hamilton<br />
reports that the personal touch in<br />
this stunt seemed to register favorably with<br />
patrons.<br />
Three Musketeers'<br />
Heralds Reach 600<br />
At Hotel Dance<br />
More than 600 persons who attended a<br />
dance at the Taft hotel in New Haven received<br />
special heralds as program inserts to<br />
help Morris Rosenthal, manager of Loew's<br />
Poli Theatre, sell his engagement of "The<br />
Three Musketeers." The Yale radio station<br />
plugged the theatre program for a week in<br />
advance, gratis.<br />
An original Lana Turner costume used<br />
during the production of the picture was displayed<br />
by a local women's shop. Cards were<br />
placed in downtown hotels and the bus station<br />
advertising the film. Blowup stills and<br />
theatre signs were placed in leading downtown<br />
stores and restaurants.<br />
Photos of the five stars of the picture were<br />
distributed by the Grant store. Customers<br />
collecting complete sets of the photos were<br />
given a theatre pass. All counters and store<br />
windows carried special announcements of<br />
the photo stunt with full theatre credit.<br />
Rosenthal planted a three-day coloring<br />
contest with the Journal Courier with guest<br />
tickets as prizes. The paper also broke a<br />
three-column star layout day before opening.<br />
Radio station 'WNHC ran a guessing contest<br />
which offered listeners a chance to win<br />
free theatre tickets and helped to publicize<br />
the playdates. WELI used a 15-minute transcription<br />
with full theatre credits in return<br />
for a lobby announcement.<br />
Costume Display Sells<br />
'Three Musketeers'<br />
Two of the original costumes worn during<br />
the production of "The Three Musketeers"<br />
were used effectively by John DiBeneddtta,<br />
assistant manager of the Poli, Bridgeport,<br />
Conn., to exploit an advance showing of the<br />
picture. The costumes were placed on display<br />
in Bridgeport's leading department store,<br />
surrounded by posters and accessories, with<br />
theatre playdates.<br />
I948WINNERS<br />
WORLD'S<br />
GREATEST<br />
SHOWMEN<br />
Mom and Dad'<br />
Prize Winners of<br />
(5)'.<br />
50.00 I'JilV- Juli'uV''Dn^"i''''w' P'"'-'" Theotre, Soufh Bend I A ^^<br />
(8.)<br />
(9.)<br />
no.)<br />
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*'5'-_^'?N-.M„K .e<br />
"iKtCMioge^SaSS<br />
HyglEWI C PRODUCTIONS<br />
PRODUCERS and DISIRI6UI0RS oi niiM «yn nun' . ^ttt;— -^^^^^^^<br />
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BOXOFFICE ;: December 25, I94s<br />
'CHASM Of SPASMS'<br />
'NC.<br />
WILMINGTON. OHIO<br />
And in Production, 'ONf TOO MANY'<br />
39 ofhers participated<br />
in cash awards<br />
amounting to $1,000<br />
during 1948.<br />
41
'<br />
CLEARING HOUSE<br />
(Continaeil from Inside back cover)<br />
THEATRE SEATING<br />
Seat yourself as others scat you—422 Stafford<br />
fully upholstered padded back boxspring<br />
all seats, red plush, excellent, $4.95; 350 American<br />
panelback boxspring seats, newly reupholstered,<br />
$5.25: 239 Heywood panelback boxspring seats.<br />
newly reupholstered, $5.95; 200 Andrews fully<br />
padded backs, boxspring seats, newly reupholstered.<br />
$6.50. Plenty others. Get Chair Bulletin 15.<br />
Dcpt. C, S.O.S. Cinema Supply Corp.. 603 VV.<br />
52nd St, New York 19.<br />
Parts for all chairs. Send sample for quotation.<br />
Fensin Seating Co., Chicago 5.<br />
Used chairs, guaranteed good. Advise quanlity<br />
wanted. Photographs mailed with quotation. Fensin<br />
Seating Co.. Chicago 5.<br />
American and Heywood upholstered back, spring<br />
cushions. $3 each. All chairs guaranteed. Special<br />
prices will be offered for lots of 500 chairs.<br />
Convenient terms can be offered. Write, wire or<br />
call Jack McGrath. 1946 Broadway, Albany, N. Y.<br />
Theatre Chairs, 3,000 in stock. $1.50 each up.<br />
Used spring cushioned part full upholstered bacK<br />
and part insert panel back with spring edge and<br />
box spring cushions. 1,000 veneer chairs, 800<br />
good backs, 500 spring cushions and hinges.<br />
Write for prices and photographs. Immediate delivery:<br />
advise how many you need. We export<br />
chairs anywhere. Jesse Cole, 2565 McClellan Ave.,<br />
Valley 23445, Detroit, Mich.<br />
Artificial leather. All colors, 50 in. wide,<br />
at $1.25 yd. Samples on request. Commercialeather,<br />
116 Merrimac St.. Boston, Mass.<br />
Many years in the seating business Is your<br />
guarantee. Good used chairs are not too plentiful<br />
but we have the pick. Full upholstered, panel<br />
back and many other styles. We furnish proper<br />
slope or level standards to fit your floor. All<br />
size 18x21-lnch chairs. Our prices are the lowest.<br />
Write for exact photo and price. We furnish parts<br />
for all makes. Send sample. Good quality plastic<br />
coated leatherette 25x26-Inch. all colors, 55c ea.<br />
Chicago Used Chair Mart, 829 South State St.,<br />
Chicago 5. HI.<br />
Several thousand used opera chairs now in stock.<br />
Can furnish any amount you request. Full upholstered<br />
back, insert panelback. boxspring. and<br />
spring edge seat. Write for photo and state<br />
amount and Incline. We also manufacture new<br />
chairs. General Chair Co., 1308-22 Elston Ave.,<br />
Chicago 22. 111.<br />
No more torn seats: Repair with the original<br />
Patch-A-Seat. Complete kit $6. General Chair<br />
Co.. Chicago 22, 111.<br />
Chair Parts: We furnish most any part you require.<br />
Send sample for price, brackets, backs<br />
and seats. General Chair Co., 1308 Elston Ave..<br />
Chicago 22, 111.<br />
Theatre chairs, projector:<br />
veneers on cushion chairs.<br />
Dallas,<br />
Texas.<br />
For Sale: 1,500 American theatre seats, upholstered<br />
backs, spring bottoms. Can be seen<br />
full<br />
Criterion Theatre, Oklahoma City. Can deliver<br />
around January 9. Call or write Jess Bollman,<br />
Criterion Theatre. Phone 3-8381.<br />
200 theatre chairs, mostly cushion bottoms,<br />
good condition. No storeroom. First $500 takes.<br />
Ynu load and haul. W. E. Sandefur, Vandervoort,<br />
THEATRE TICKETS<br />
Full Page Co-Op Heralds<br />
Return of Vaudeville<br />
With the return of vaudeville to the Avon<br />
Theatre, Watertown, N. Y., after an absence<br />
of 15 years, Lou Hart, Schine zone manager,<br />
promoted a full page of cooperative advertising<br />
from leading merchants. The page<br />
was headed, "Welcome Back, Vaudeville," and<br />
teh copy in each individual ad was slanted<br />
to the same idea.<br />
Hart tied up with radio station WWNY<br />
and had them make transcriptions of audience<br />
comments on the return of vaudeville<br />
to the Avon. These were later played over<br />
the air with plugs for the stage show, the<br />
featured picture, "One Touch of Venus," and<br />
playdates.<br />
Two 'Stranger<br />
Banners<br />
Ten days In advance of playing "Rachel<br />
and the Stranger" at the Heilig Theatre,<br />
Eugene, Ore., Arthur Turner, manager, had<br />
two 21-foot banners hung across the inner<br />
lobby of the theatre, in addition to displaying<br />
a standee tmder a 150-watt spotlight.<br />
Over 5,000 handblDs were mailed out to the<br />
rural route and surrounding small town box<br />
holders. A teaser trailer was used three<br />
weeks in advance of opening, and was replaced<br />
a week later by a regular trailer which<br />
also ran at the affiliated Mayflower Theatre.<br />
Liie Cover Is Featured<br />
Ansel Winston, manager of the Coliseum<br />
Theatre, New York, hooked up with the distributor<br />
of Red Cross Shoes and obtained<br />
a window display in its retail store located<br />
on a prominent corner in the neighborhood.<br />
The exhibit centered around a reproduction<br />
of the Life magazine cover featuring Loretta<br />
Young, augmented with scene stills.<br />
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Americanism Speaker<br />
Brought to Theatre<br />
In Tieup With Elks<br />
Francis DeZengremel, manager of the Seneca<br />
Theatre, Salamanca, N. Y., really connected<br />
for an excellent tieup which could<br />
be duplicated by theatremen in either large<br />
or small communities.<br />
The national organization of Elks has urged<br />
each lodge to sponsor some local activity<br />
for young men and women in which the<br />
youngsters were to be told of the virtues<br />
of Americanism as compared with other forms<br />
of government. DeZengremel sold the Seneca<br />
chapter of the Elks on the idea of giving<br />
the boys and girls of the community<br />
a theatre party, with a prominent speaker<br />
to make an address on the subject of Americanism.<br />
The Elks agreed to rent the Seneca<br />
Theatre and DeZengremel booked "Stablemates"<br />
as the main feature, with four cartoons<br />
and a two-reel western added to the<br />
program.<br />
The Elks club had tickets printed, and<br />
distributed them through the schools to all<br />
children above the second grade. Between<br />
the short subjects and the feature, the mayor<br />
of Salamanca addressed the audience. Newspaper<br />
publicity for the show, both in advance<br />
and during the current engagement,<br />
was excellent.<br />
DeZengremel has also been successful recently<br />
in getting the Kiwanis club to sponsor<br />
a benefit show for the youth activities fund.<br />
As a Christmas promotion, the Salamanca<br />
community chorus presented Christmas carols<br />
on the theatre stage before a large audience<br />
attracted by special newspaper publicity.<br />
'Drumsticks' Stage Event<br />
Marks Turkey Giveaway<br />
A "drumsticks" beauty contest was staged<br />
by Elmer Hecht, manager of the Park Theatre,<br />
Tampa, Fla., a few days prior to Christmas,<br />
in cormection with a turkey giveaway.<br />
A banner drawn across the stage hid the<br />
faces and upper portions of the contestants,<br />
leaving only the lower extremities on exhibition<br />
for judging. One pair of legs on view<br />
belonged to a man, thrown in strictly for<br />
laughs.<br />
The winner was selected by audience applause<br />
and runnersup also received prizes.<br />
The gifts, including a complete lady's outfit,<br />
a radio, a strand of pearls and a handbag,<br />
were all promoted from local merchants.<br />
Uses Italian Program<br />
To advertise an all-Italian screen show at<br />
the Eureka, Hackensack, N. J., manager Tom<br />
Arrants made up a special program for distribution<br />
in the Italian residential section of<br />
the community and at all high schools. The<br />
program was imprinted in Italian.<br />
Prompt service. Special printed roll tickets.<br />
42<br />
100.000, $23.95; 10,000, $6.86: 2,000, $4.46.<br />
Each change In admission price. Including change<br />
In color, $3.00 extra. Double numbering extra.<br />
Shipping charges paid to 500 miles. Cash with<br />
order. Kansas City Ticket Co., Dept. 9, 1816<br />
Cwitral, Kansas Cliy, Mo.<br />
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BOXOFFICE Showmandiser :: Dec. 18. 1948
. . The<br />
Exhibitors Alerted<br />
To Taxation Threat<br />
ALBANY—A warning for "all exhibitors<br />
to be on the alert" against "any proposed<br />
tax legislation" in their communities and to<br />
become acquainted with their senators and<br />
assemblymen as a protective step on bills<br />
which may be introduced at the 1949 session<br />
of the legislature, was sounded in a<br />
bulletin mailed by Leonard L. Rosenthal,<br />
executive director of the Albany area TOA.<br />
Rosenthal cited the recent 5 per cent sales<br />
tax imposed at Binghamton as an instance<br />
of what can happen.<br />
After discussing "permissive taxes" and<br />
possible additional measure to be submitted<br />
to the legislature in January, Rosenthal<br />
wrote, "Your organization plans to follow<br />
the proceedings of the legislature very closely.<br />
It is cooperating with theatre organizations<br />
from the Buffalo and New York exchange<br />
areas."<br />
FIREMEN'S BILL SURVIVES<br />
The firemen's bill, which theatre interests<br />
defeated in the closing days of the 1948<br />
legislature, "is stiU on the program for legislative<br />
consideration," according to the bulletin.<br />
"Private interests will have their pet projects,"<br />
Rosenthal continued. "There is no<br />
telling how many more proposed laws, affecting<br />
theatres, will be recommended for<br />
legislative consideration . governor<br />
already has proposed an ambiguous program.<br />
There promises to be a great deal of spending.<br />
Taxation is the one source of revenue.<br />
The various subdivisions of the state can<br />
be expected to request aid to help finance<br />
their expanding budgets. It is certain that<br />
it will be necessary to raise a good deal of<br />
money for the coming year."<br />
PRESS FOR TAX ENABLING ACT<br />
Rosenthal traced the history of permissive<br />
tax legislation and cited instances of the<br />
special tax in Buffalo and Syracuse, adding,<br />
"with constant demands for Increased<br />
budgets reported from all communities in the<br />
state, there can be little doubt that pressure<br />
will be exerted from other quarters to use<br />
the provision of this law to find additional<br />
burdens. The New York Conference of<br />
Mayors is pressing for an extension of the<br />
enabling act to include all cities and towns<br />
in the state. The pressure is on. The dike<br />
can break open without too much effort."<br />
Exhibitors were asked to notify the Albany<br />
TOA office of any proposed local tax legislation<br />
affecting the theatres. The bulletin<br />
warned, "It is best to follow any such proposals<br />
at the earliest stages. Keep alerted<br />
and advise this office of any developments.<br />
Your local manager should be put on guard."<br />
Universal Heads Named<br />
In Stockholder Suit<br />
NEW YORK—J. Cheever Cowdin, Nate J.<br />
Blumberg, J. Arthur Rank, Matthew Pox.<br />
D. M. Schaeffer, William German, Paul G.<br />
Brown and Ottavio, Prochet, all directors of<br />
Universal Pictures in 1944, are named as defendants<br />
in an action filed by Florence R.<br />
Long, minority stockholder, in U.S. district<br />
court December 20.<br />
The complainant charges that the Universal<br />
executives, who were holders of options<br />
to purchase company stock at $10 per<br />
share, made a profit of $1,200,000 between<br />
Round-the-Clock Radio Appeal Helps<br />
Albany Variefy Denial<br />
ALBANY—Local radio history was<br />
stepped up considerably when the Albany<br />
Variety Club and leading civic officials<br />
cooperated with WOKO and the Times-<br />
Union in an around-the-clock radio appeal<br />
for the Variety-Albany Boys club<br />
summer camp Denial day drive.<br />
Twenty brother barkers took on hourlong<br />
assignments at the WOKO microphones,<br />
pleading for Denial day contributions,<br />
conducting musical, news and<br />
women's programs, reading commercials<br />
and handling other chores.<br />
It was the biggest stunt of its kind ever<br />
staged here and raised a total of $2,800<br />
for the Boys club camp.<br />
The idea was the joint product of James<br />
T. Healey, president and general manager<br />
of WOKO; Al Kellert, sales manager for<br />
the station and a member of Tent 9; Saul<br />
J. Ullman, new chief barker; George O.<br />
Williams, managing editor of the Times-<br />
Union and an active Variety Club member,<br />
and Dick Lewis, feature writer assigned<br />
to the Denial day drive story.<br />
All took part in the broadcasting along<br />
with such notables as Fred I. Archibald,<br />
publisher of the Times-Union and a Variety<br />
Club member; James C. Hagerty.<br />
press secretary to Gov. Thomas E. Dewey;<br />
John J. Mun-ay, president of the common<br />
council; Con Heffeman. city editor of<br />
the Union; Charles Padula and Hugh<br />
Tuohey of the news staff; Agatha C.<br />
1943 and 1947 by signing a U.S. government<br />
waiver of personal taxes in favor of capital<br />
gains taxes. Miss Long's complaint charges<br />
that Universal suffered a loss of $700,000 under<br />
the waiver and she asks for an accounting<br />
of profits.<br />
Virginia Exhibitor Removes<br />
Vandalism in Theatre<br />
KANSAS CITY—William Stempil, owner of<br />
the Palm Theatre, Alexandria, Va., and a<br />
partner in the Hurley Theatre. Hurley, Va.,<br />
has eliminated vandalism in his theatre.<br />
Here is how he did it: He became actively<br />
interested in and a contributor to the Del<br />
Ray Boys' club which was started by the<br />
First Christian church of that city. Volunteering<br />
to give the club 50 per cent of each<br />
Monday's proceeds, he continued this arrangement<br />
for three months. And the boys<br />
attending the Palm behaved themselves.<br />
Next spring the theatre is to become the<br />
headquarters for the club on Saturday mornings<br />
with special shows, lectures and<br />
guests in sports, educational and other fields<br />
participating.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Stempil are visiting Mrs.<br />
Stempil's family in Kansas City.<br />
Annual Ampa Xmas Party<br />
NEW YORK—Associated Motion Picture<br />
Advertisers annual Christmas luncheon party<br />
will be held December 23 in the downstairs<br />
grill of the Brass Rail restaurant, 745 Seventh<br />
Ave.<br />
Day Drive<br />
Neill, Archibald's secretary; attorney W. A.<br />
Saunders; Leo W. O'Brien, chief of the<br />
International News Service here, and former<br />
Chief Barkers Harry Lamont and<br />
Charles Smakwitz.<br />
Those who took on shifts at the microphone<br />
were Arthur Horn, Bennett Goldstein,<br />
Harry Alexander, Larry Cowen, Milt<br />
Shosberg, Jerry Atkin, George Seed, Dr.<br />
Sam Kalison, Vedder Peters, Sam Rosenblatt,<br />
Jules Perlmutter, Leonard Simon,<br />
Herb Newman and Jim Faughnan Edgar<br />
S. Van Olinda, film and music critic for<br />
the Times-Union, announced a transcribed<br />
symphony hour and read a spot<br />
for the Yale Whiffenpoof choir, which<br />
sang at Livmgston high school the same<br />
night.<br />
Irwin Ullman, son of Saul Ullman and<br />
former assistant manager of Fabian houses<br />
in Schenectady, broadcast one of the news<br />
periods. Ullman sr., after a frank discussion<br />
of the Variety Club's five-year<br />
efforts to rehabilitate the summer camp,<br />
asked listeners to "Deny yourself a dollar<br />
for Denial day."<br />
He came on later for an uproarious<br />
plug on behalf of a local diaper service<br />
company, one of WOKO's regular accounts.<br />
Rosenblatt and Perlmutter did<br />
Betty Campbell's noontime program for<br />
women. Hagerty quoted from a letter by<br />
Governor Dewey urging the "fullest possible<br />
participation in the Denial day campaign."<br />
Added Humor Provided<br />
As Giant Draws Numbers<br />
ALBANY—A novel and humorous touch<br />
was added by Strand Manager Al La Flamme<br />
to recent drawings for the Warner Christmas<br />
jackpot, when he persuaded Gilbert<br />
Reichert, seven-foot-six-inch player with the<br />
Cleveland Clowns basketball team, to come<br />
on stage and pick the numbers from a drum.<br />
Reichert was spotted coming into the<br />
Strand by an usher who rushed backstage<br />
to inform La Flamme that a man "eight<br />
feet tall just walked in and handed a ticket"<br />
to doorman Ed Foley.<br />
La Flamme, who emceed the event, announced<br />
that an unusually big man was in<br />
the audience and that he would like the<br />
patron to "reach long arms into the drum."<br />
La Flamme, who stands 5 feet 10 inches tall,<br />
stood on a chair to make himself "even"<br />
with Reichert and reports on the added event<br />
were relayed by telephone to the audiences<br />
at the Ritz, Madison and Delaware. Later,<br />
La Flamme invited Reichert and other members<br />
of the Clowns to attend a performance<br />
at any Warner house during their stay here.<br />
Mrs. Herbert J. White<br />
LYNBROOK, L. I.—Services were held here<br />
December 17 for Mrs. Herbert J. White, 82,<br />
mother of Madeleine White, Monogram publicist,<br />
and H. Edward White of Eastman<br />
Kodak. Mrs. White died at her home here<br />
December 16.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: December 25, 1948<br />
N 43
. . Howard<br />
. . William<br />
. , Paul<br />
. . Irene<br />
. . Mervyn<br />
. . Charles<br />
. .<br />
BROADWA'i<br />
•Phe MGM prot'.i.iction unit on "Edward.<br />
My Son" returned to the coast. Those<br />
leaving were Edwin Knopf, producer; George<br />
Cukor. director; Deborah Kerr, star; Jay<br />
Marchant. unit manager; William Horing. art<br />
director; Ray June, cameraman, and Tom<br />
Held, cutter . . . Tom Waller. New York MPAA<br />
information director, and Arch Reeve, a<br />
member of the MPAA west coast office, have<br />
been named east and west coast coordinators,<br />
respectively, of the all-industry film series<br />
by the Industry Film Project committee.<br />
. . . Maxwell<br />
Glenn Langan, star of the American-made<br />
film, "Rapture," recently completed in Rome,<br />
arrived on the Queen Mary<br />
Shane, Universal-International producer-director,<br />
is here looking for vaudeville and<br />
video acts for his next film, "Sing Your Way<br />
Out" . . . Bob Roberts, producer of "Force of<br />
Evil" for Enterprise, and David Raksin, com-<br />
. . . Teri-y Moore. Columbia<br />
poser, arrived for the opening of the film at<br />
Loew's State<br />
teen-age star, is here after a two-months<br />
personal appearance tour of the country.<br />
Carroll Puciato, Realart general manager<br />
returned from a two-week vacation in Bermuda<br />
. Strickling. MGM studio<br />
publicity director, left for the coast . . . Leon<br />
Brandt, Eagle Lion exploitation manager, left<br />
to cover the openings of "The Red Shoes" at<br />
the Esquire in Cleveland on Christmas day<br />
and the Selwyn Theatre in Chicago on December<br />
24. Jerry Pickman. assistant to Max<br />
E. Youngstein. EL vice-president in charge<br />
of advertising, publicity and exploitation, is<br />
completing plans for Christmas day openings<br />
of the film in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Atlanta<br />
and Miami.<br />
Fred Barovick was the principal speaker<br />
at a Cinema Stamp Collectors club meeting<br />
December 22. He showed his prize-winning<br />
collection of souvenir sheets of the world . . .<br />
David Farrar, J. Arthur Rank star, arrived<br />
from Nassau and sailed on the Queen Elizabeth<br />
for London . F. Rodgers,<br />
MGM vice-president and general sales manager,<br />
is on a Miami vacation . Valentine<br />
has returned to Hollywood to appear in<br />
"Love Happy" for United Artists . . . Xavier<br />
Cugat and Mrs. Cugat came here from Hollywood.<br />
NEW MIRROPHONIC SOUND<br />
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After conferences with John P. Byrne, eastern<br />
MGM sales manager, the following district<br />
and branch managers left for their posts;<br />
Herman Ripps and Jack Goldberg to Albany.<br />
Robert Lynch and Lou Formato to Philadelphia.<br />
Jack Mundstuk to Buffalo. Ben Rosenwald<br />
to Boston and Harry Rosenblatt to New<br />
Haven. Also attending the sessions were Paul<br />
Richrath. home office assistant to Byrne;<br />
Jack Bowen. metropolitan New York district<br />
manager; Ralph Pielow. New York manager,<br />
and Lou Allerhand. New Jersey manager.<br />
Robert Hill, Australian commercial manager<br />
of the Western Electric Co., and W. E.<br />
KoUmyer, manager for China, are en route<br />
to their posts. They attended the recent<br />
Westrex Corp. managers meetings here. Hill<br />
. is stopping off in Chicago and Hollywood<br />
Ilona Massey has left to spend Christmas in<br />
Hollywood with her family.<br />
William R. Ferguson, MGM exploitation<br />
head, returned from Kansas City . . . Maria<br />
Montez is here from Paris. She was met at<br />
the airport by her husband. Jean Pierre Aumont.<br />
and their 2^2 -year-old daughter Maria<br />
Christine, both of whom returned from Paris<br />
the previous week.<br />
Bill Blowitz, Enterprise publicity director,<br />
returned to Hollywood after three weeks here<br />
in comiection with the "Force of Evil" opening<br />
at Loew's State . Laughton<br />
and Micheline Presle, French star, arrived<br />
from London . LeRoy. producerdirector;<br />
Arthur Freed, producer, and Gene<br />
Kelly, star, all associated with MGM, have<br />
returned to the coast . . . WiUiam Dieterle.<br />
director, is here en route to England.<br />
Louis B. Mayer, MGM production head, has<br />
returned to the coast . . . H. M. Richey, MGM<br />
exhibitor relations head, will leave in a few<br />
days for a Bermuda vacation. Maurice N.<br />
Wolf, Richey's assistant, left to spend the<br />
holiday weekend with his family in Boston<br />
. . . Gloria Swanson. who has been conducting<br />
a video program on WPIX. underwent<br />
an emergency appendectomy operation December<br />
20 at Doctors hospital. She was reported<br />
as showing steady improvement afterwards.<br />
Ab Weisbord of the MGM advertising department<br />
won first prize for his collage<br />
at the exhibition of the Art Directors club of<br />
New York .<br />
Gibbons, executive fashion<br />
designer at the MGM studio, is expected<br />
here over the weekend for a vacation.<br />
President Arthur H, Lockwood and General<br />
Counsel Herman M. Levy of the TOA were<br />
made honorary colonels on the staff of the<br />
governor of Oklahoma at the Oklahoma TOA<br />
convention . . . Tom Waller, MPAA New<br />
York director of information, visited the<br />
Washington office recently . . . Hunt Stromberg<br />
sr. is here from the coast . . . Jeffrey<br />
Bernard, Monogram producer, returned from<br />
a European vacation and left for Hollywood.<br />
Starr Joins Film Center<br />
PRINCETON, N. J.—Cecile Starr, formerly<br />
of the March of Time Forum Edition, has<br />
joined the publicity and promotion department<br />
of the Princeton Film Center.<br />
TOA Board Requests<br />
Written Grievances<br />
ALBANY—Harry Lamont, temporary chairman<br />
of the Albany exchange district conciliation<br />
board, established under TOA auspices,<br />
recently emphasized that complaints<br />
filed with the board must be in writing.<br />
Lamont said several oral complaints had<br />
been made, but exhibitors were told to send<br />
them in letter form, giving the facts and<br />
the reasons for their grievances. Complaints.<br />
Lamont said, .should be forwarded to the<br />
Secretary. Conciliation Board, 59 Columbia<br />
St., Albany 1.<br />
Mrs. Mary Flynn of the Upstate Theatres<br />
staff is secretary of the board while Leonard<br />
L. Rosenthal, executive director of Albany<br />
TOA, is serving as legal adviser. It<br />
is thought Ukely that the board will meet<br />
on any Tuesday following the filing of a<br />
complaint.<br />
Sid Dwore of the Cameo and Johnny<br />
Gardner of the Colony, both in Schenectady,<br />
are serving with Lamont on the conciliation<br />
panel.<br />
Reade Plans Drive-In<br />
For Kingston Area<br />
NEW YORK—The Walter Reade Theatres<br />
will build its second drive-in. The new one<br />
will be five miles from Kingston, N. Y. The<br />
first was completed by the circuit at Woodbridge,<br />
N. J., last fall. Reade has plans for<br />
additional drive-ins.<br />
The new theatre is scheduled to be open<br />
about the end of May on a 15-acre site. It<br />
will accommodate 850 automobiles. The cost<br />
has been estimated in excess of $200,000.<br />
Leon M. Einhorn is the architect.<br />
The theatre will be operated in conjunction<br />
with the Walter Reade Theatres of Kingston—the<br />
Broadway and Kingston. Robert<br />
W. Case, city manager for the area, will<br />
supervise it. It will be called the Kingston<br />
Drive-In Theatre.<br />
Einhorn has planned basketball courts,<br />
horseshoe pitching courts, shuffle board, a<br />
dance floor and flower beds for the theatre.<br />
There also will be a supervised playground<br />
for children which will be open during the<br />
day gratis.<br />
Joseph Doughney, 56, Dies;<br />
Was in Para Home Office<br />
NEW YORK—Funeral services for Joseph<br />
J. Doughney. 56, an executive in the general<br />
budgets and statistics department of Paramount<br />
under Paul Raibourn, were held at St.<br />
Angela Catholic church December 21. Doughney<br />
died of a heart attack December 17.<br />
Doughney joined Paramount Aug. 13. 1920<br />
and was a charter member of the Paramount<br />
25-Yeaj' club. He is survived by his wife<br />
Grace and four children. Mrs. Peter McKeon<br />
Joseph. Virginia and Anthony Doughney.<br />
Screen Plays Signs Beck<br />
NEW YORK — Screen Plays. Inc., has<br />
signed a long-term contract with Myer P.<br />
Beck to take charge of advertising and publicity<br />
for the firm. The deal was signed by<br />
Stanley Kramer and George Glass for the<br />
company.<br />
44 BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948
. . Eddie<br />
. . This<br />
. Bv<br />
. . There<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
. . Julian<br />
New Television Plan<br />
Cuts Interference<br />
NEW YORK—A new method of extending<br />
television coverage by reducing interference<br />
between stations on the same channel has<br />
been put in operation betw'een the New York<br />
and Washington stations of NBC, according<br />
to David Sarnoff, president and chairman<br />
of the board of the RCA.<br />
Known as television carrier synchronization,<br />
it is said to permit closer spacing of<br />
stations on the same channel and to enlarge<br />
the service area, reaching rural sections<br />
not now well covered.<br />
Reduction of interference became an objective<br />
of engineers after the Federal Communications<br />
Commission "froze" processing<br />
of applications for new stations in September.<br />
Chairman Wayne Coy of the FCC has<br />
been given the details on the method.<br />
Theatre Tele Screen Can<br />
Show Some Exclusives<br />
NEW YORK—If exhibitors with large theatre<br />
television screens want to show local<br />
events piped to them exclusively over local<br />
telephone coaxial cables, the Federal Communications<br />
Commission will not object<br />
though the program will not be available to<br />
home screens.<br />
That is what Wayne Coy, FCC chairman,<br />
has told Mitchell Wolfson, co-chairman of<br />
the TOA television committee. In other words,<br />
local programs not carried over the air do<br />
not interest the FCC and the exhibitor may<br />
arrange for exclusive rights to them without<br />
fear of government disapproval.<br />
Both the American Telephone & Telegraph<br />
Co. and the New York Telephone Co. said<br />
they have not heard of any such programs<br />
to date. They said such programs could be<br />
easily worked out on a local basis.<br />
Musical Films for Tele<br />
NEW YORK—Teleconcert, Inc., has been<br />
formed to produce and distribute musical<br />
fUms for television, film theatres and 16mm<br />
use in the home. Leopold Stokowski. conductor<br />
of the New York Philharmonic orchestra,<br />
will select the music, conduct the orchestra<br />
and appear on the screen. Henri Leiser.<br />
music publisher, Is executive vice-president.<br />
Offices are at Steinway Hall.<br />
Skouras to Discuss Tele<br />
NEW YORK—Spyros P. Skouras. president<br />
of 20th Century-Fox, will be the principal<br />
speaker at the third television seminar of<br />
the Radio Executives club December 30 in<br />
the Hendrik Hudson room of the Hotel Roosevelt.<br />
His topic will be "What the movies<br />
can do for television, and what television<br />
can do for the movies." Richard W. Hubbell<br />
will be moderator.<br />
'Champion' to Buchanan<br />
NEW YORK—Buchanan & Co. will<br />
handle<br />
the advertising on "Champion," to be released<br />
by United Artists. The film is being<br />
produced by Stanley Kramer and George<br />
Glass of Screen Plays, Inc.. and is based on<br />
the short story by Ring Lardner. Kirk Douglas<br />
and Marilyn Maxwell star.<br />
Along New York's Film<br />
T OCAL theatre men are wondering about<br />
George Skouras' recent trip to North<br />
Carolina . Lachman will become a<br />
familiar personality to the several million<br />
readers of the January 2 issue of Parade<br />
magazine, which is distributed as a Sunday<br />
supplement by 25 newspapers throughout the<br />
country . issue will devote three<br />
pages of text and photographs under the<br />
general heading of "Movie-House Man," subtitled:<br />
"To the independent exhibitor, each<br />
movie represents a new gamble for profit."<br />
The story highlights Lachman's activities<br />
as operator of the 1,020-seat State Theatre,<br />
Boonton, N. J., and also his work as president<br />
of Allied Tlieatre Owners of New Jersey .<br />
Photographs were taken of Lashman at the<br />
State and also as he was making his Filmrow<br />
rounds. Shown with him in some of the pictures<br />
will be Sam Rifkin, UA salesman; Lou<br />
Kutinsky. PhU Hodes, Charles Dacey and<br />
Charles Penser, sitting with Lachman in the<br />
RKO screening room, and Virginia Aarons,<br />
New Jersey booker for MGM . also<br />
will be shots of Lachman at home with his<br />
wife and three children, and as a local business<br />
man and Boonton booster.<br />
This has been a week of Christmas parties:<br />
The 20th-Fox exchange held its annual<br />
.<br />
affair Wednesday, and Ray Moon, eastern<br />
division manager, came down from the home<br />
office to help celebrate . . . Seymour Florin,<br />
branch manager, was the host. Herb Gillis assisted<br />
. . . Florin was proud of the new desk<br />
Among<br />
clock he received as a present<br />
the guests were: Irving<br />
.<br />
Kaplan<br />
.<br />
of Randforce,<br />
Nat Harris of the Island circuit and<br />
Irving DoHinger of Independent Theatre<br />
Service.<br />
. . . Seymour<br />
Skouras Theatres had a more formal celebration<br />
at the Hotel Astor . . . There were<br />
place cards and a Itmcheon in addition to the<br />
traditional Christmas liquor and melody .<br />
William A. White and Nick J. Matsoukas<br />
were on the reception committee . . . The<br />
Eagle Lion Family club held its annual shindig<br />
at the Hotel Warwick Friday<br />
Schussel and Bob Finkel headed the<br />
exchange delegation.<br />
The New York committee for the Will Rogers<br />
Memorial Hospital drive has set January<br />
20 as the date for prize drawings. The<br />
date had been moved back from December<br />
15 to allow additional time for fund raising<br />
Clarence Eiseman, Nat Cohn and Nat Furst<br />
are members of the committee.<br />
Joe Felder and Moe Kerman of Astor Film<br />
Exchange have been busy traveling. Felder<br />
returned from California December 18 and<br />
left for Detroit December 23. Kerman left<br />
for Palm Beach December 23 for a winter<br />
vacation . . . Bernard Goldfluss of the United<br />
Artists Theatre circuit legal department is<br />
vacationing at Miami Beach. So is Walter<br />
Reade sr.<br />
James Bradley has been appointed manager<br />
of the Park Plaza. He was formerly<br />
manager of the Valentine. Both houses are<br />
in the Bronx. Russ Banks has replaced<br />
WALTER WALDMAN .<br />
Row<br />
Bradley at the Valentine . Bass of<br />
the Donahue & Coe theatre department is<br />
abel to compare television with film entertainment,<br />
now that he has become a video<br />
set owner.<br />
Sol A. Schwartz is scheduled to be in<br />
Hollywood soon ... He will also visit RKO<br />
theatres in San Francisco and Los Angeles<br />
while he is on the coast . . Best Wishes<br />
.<br />
for a Happy Holiday and Prosperous New-<br />
Year.<br />
NCCJ Luncheon to Mark<br />
20th Birthday Feb. 4.<br />
NEW YORK—The National Conference o:<br />
Christians and Jews will celebrate its 20th<br />
anniversary February 4 with a luncheon at<br />
the Waldorf-Astoria.<br />
Approximately 1,000 persons will attend.<br />
Awards will be made for the outstanding<br />
contributions in the fight against bigotry.<br />
Louis Nizer is chairman of the luncheon<br />
committee.<br />
UA District Manager<br />
NEW YORK—Jack Ellis,<br />
New York district<br />
manager for United Artists since 1946, has<br />
resigned, effective January 1. No successor<br />
has been selected as yet, according to Gradwell<br />
L. Sears, president. Before taking his<br />
present post, Ellis was New York manager for<br />
UA for three years. He was with RKO in<br />
New York for 20 years previous to that. He<br />
has been a four-term president of the Motion<br />
Picture Associates and was recently<br />
elected president of the Film Board of Trade.<br />
Ellis will make no announcement of his<br />
plans until after the first of the year, he<br />
said.<br />
Debate Realism of Films<br />
NEW YORK—Frederick Lewis Allen, editor<br />
of Harper's magazine, criticized film interpretations<br />
of American life and Francis<br />
S. Harmon, MPAA vice-president, and Walter<br />
Abel, actor, defended in a television program<br />
Thursday evening (9) over WJZ-TV<br />
and the eastern video network of ABC. John<br />
Mason Brown was moderator. The program<br />
was "Critic-at-Large."<br />
Commonwealth Expands<br />
NEW YORK—Commonwealth Pictui-es<br />
Corp., distributors of 16mm films, will take<br />
over the entire second floor of 723 Seventh<br />
Ave. shortly after January 1, according to<br />
Sam Goldstein, president. Tire company was<br />
formed 15 years ago and now has a television<br />
department under the supervision of<br />
Jerry Hyams. general sales manager.<br />
f SX CLASS DISTRIBUTION FOR<br />
* THE ENTIRE SOUTH — thru<br />
ATLANTA: Astor, W. M. Richardson<br />
(3) 163 Walton St.. NW<br />
DALLAS: Jenkins & Bourgeois, Astor<br />
(1) Harwood & Jackson Streets<br />
NEW ORLEANS: Dixie, R. A. (Bob) Kelly<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948 45
A
Jim McConnell to Build<br />
Drive-In at Syracuse<br />
SYRACUSE—Construction of a 1,000-car<br />
drive-in, just outside thie city limits, will be<br />
started this spring by James McConnell, a<br />
newcomer to show business. Leon Einhorn,<br />
Albany architect specializing in drive-ins,<br />
has drawn the plans for the new ozoner,<br />
which will be located across the city from<br />
the Kallet Syracuse Drive-In, opened in 1946.<br />
Einhorn has designed 22 drive-ins, including<br />
the Saratoga, Mohawk and Philadelphia<br />
airers, the Pittsfield, Mass., situation owned<br />
by Harry Lazarus and the drive-in now under<br />
construction at the Empire Raceway on the<br />
Albany-Troy road.<br />
Empire State Will Build<br />
$150,000 Airer at Olean<br />
OLEAN, N. Y.—The Empire State Drive-In<br />
Theatre Corp. of Buffalo will construct a<br />
500-car drive-in, the first in this area, on<br />
a ten-acre tract west of Allegany, according<br />
to H. R. Martin of Watkins Glen,<br />
general contractor. Cost of the project is<br />
estimated at $150,000 and the ozoner is expected<br />
to be ready for a May 30 opening. A<br />
bulldozer has started operations on the site.<br />
Bennett Russell Builds<br />
Theatre at Mooers. N. Y.<br />
MOOERS, N. Y.—Owner of the new theatre<br />
under construction in this Canadian<br />
border city is Bennett Russell of Plattsburgh.<br />
according to information available in local<br />
circles. The house, of cinder block construction,<br />
has been roofed and should be<br />
ready for opening in the spring. It will seat<br />
300 persons and will be the only theatre here.<br />
'Eagle' to Open Dec. 29<br />
NEW YORK — Jean Cocteau's new film,<br />
"The Eagle With Two Heads," will open at<br />
the Little CineMet Theatre December 29.<br />
Cocteau wiU come here from Paris for the<br />
opening. The film is based on his play,<br />
which ran on Broadway last year.<br />
Mrs. John Roberts Dies<br />
SCRANTON, PA.—Funeral services for Mrs.<br />
Florence Roberts, wife of John Roberts, executive<br />
of Comerford Publix Theatres Corp.,<br />
were held from the Snoden Funeral Home<br />
December 21. Mrs. Roberts died at her home<br />
here December 17.<br />
Selected for Its Laughs<br />
NEW YORK—Comedy World, trade journal<br />
published by the National Laugh Foundation,<br />
has selected "The Paleface" (Para) as<br />
the "laugh picture of December."<br />
Binney Named President<br />
NEW YORK—Josh Binney has been named<br />
president of the newly formed Tele-Talent<br />
Pictures Corp., 1650 Broadway. He has directed<br />
pictures both here and abroad.<br />
THE IDEAL THEATRE CHAIRS<br />
JOE HORNSTEIN has them<br />
Broadway First Run Theatres Dealt<br />
Blow by Heavy Weekend Snowstorm<br />
NEW YORK—The heavy weekend snowstorm,<br />
coupled with the expected pre-<br />
Christmas lull in pictm-e-going, resulted in<br />
mild to poor business at the majority of<br />
Broadway showcases. Nine of the 18 first<br />
run houses were just marking time before<br />
bringing in new films for Christmas week.<br />
The exceptions to the slump were two new<br />
films, "The Paleface," coupled with a Benny<br />
Goodman band show at the Paramount, and<br />
Rogues' Regiment" at the Criterion as well<br />
as the second week of "Words and Music,"<br />
at the Radio City Music Hall, where the<br />
annual "Nativity" stage spectacle invariably<br />
draws out-of-town visitors. "Hamlet," in its<br />
12th week at the Park Avenue, and "The<br />
Red Shoes," in its ninth week at the Bijou,<br />
were both protected by advance sales for the<br />
reserved seats but a third two-a-day film,<br />
"Joan of Arc," was far from a sellout in its<br />
second week at the Fulton.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Ambassador—Street Corner (Wilshire), 3rd wk 50<br />
Astor—A Song Is Born (RKO), 9th wk 50<br />
Bijou—The Red Shoes (EL), 9th wk 110<br />
Capitol—Let's Live a Little (EL), plus stage show,<br />
2nd wk 65<br />
Criterion—Rogues' Regiment (U-I) - 120<br />
Fulton—loan of Arc (RKO), 2nd wk. of two-a-day.. 75<br />
Globe—Northwest Stampede (EL), 2nd wk 60<br />
Gotham Dark Command (Rep); Fighting Seabees<br />
(Rep), reissues 85<br />
Loews Stale—The Three Musketeers (MGM), 9th<br />
wk - -<br />
Maylair—Road House (20th-Fox), 7th wk<br />
85<br />
75<br />
Paramount The Paleiace (Para), plus stage<br />
show 105<br />
Park A -Hamlet (U-I). 12th wk. of two-aday<br />
Radio City Music Hall—Words and Music (MGM),<br />
plus stage show, 2nd wk<br />
Rialto—Harpoon (SG); S.O.S. Submarine (SG),<br />
2nd wk<br />
Rivoli—The Snake Pit (20th-Fox), 7th wk<br />
Roxy—When My Baby Smiles at Me (20th-Fox),<br />
plus stage show, 4th wk<br />
Strand-The Decision of Christopher Blake (WB).<br />
plus stage show, 2nd wk<br />
Sutton—Blanche Fury (EL), 4th wk<br />
Victoria-Joan of Arc (RKO), 6th wk. of continuous<br />
Philadelphia Grosses Drop;<br />
'Opera' Reissue Is Leader<br />
PHILADELPHIA—A combination of Christmas<br />
shopping, snowstorms and long run hold-<br />
VISITS HER BOSS — Evohn Keyes,<br />
Little Theatre star from Texas, drops in<br />
on E. M. "Bob" Savini, president of Astor<br />
Pictures Corp., whose company recently<br />
starred her in the fourth Sunset Carson<br />
feature, "Rio Grande." Miss Keyes will<br />
return to Texas for the next picture after<br />
the holidays, which she will spend in the<br />
east.<br />
overs contributed to a downward trend in<br />
grosses at Quaker City first run theatres. A<br />
reissue of "A Night at the Opera" at Keith's<br />
headed the parade.<br />
Arcadia—June Bride (WB), 2nd run, 2nd wk 8C<br />
Boyd—No Minor Vices (MGM), 2nd wk 65<br />
Earle—The Countess of Monte Crislo (U-I) 90<br />
Fox—Uniailhiully Yours (20th-Fox) 75<br />
Goldman—The Three Musketeers (MGM), 4th wk.-llO<br />
Karlton—Rogues' Regiment (U-I), 4th wk 70<br />
Keith—A Night at the Opera (MGM), reissue 125<br />
Mastbaum— Hatters Castle (Para) 80<br />
Fix—Wuthering Heights (UA), reissue 80<br />
Stanley—Blood on the Moon (RKO), 3rd wk 90<br />
Stanton—Belle Starr's Daughter (20th-Fox), 2nd<br />
..100<br />
'Road House' Continues<br />
Good in Buffalo<br />
BUFFALO—It was an under-par week as<br />
Christmas poked its head around the corner.<br />
"Road House" continued good in a moveover.<br />
The snow is here and it looks like a white<br />
Christmas.<br />
Bulfalo—Sealed Verdict (Para); Disaster (Para)-. 90<br />
Great Lakes—Hills of Home (MGM). Racing Luck<br />
(Col) - 90<br />
Hippodrome—Road House (20th-Fox); Trouble Preferred<br />
(20th-Fox), 2nd d. wk., moveover 100<br />
Lafayette<br />
t.<br />
Raw Deal (EL); Adventures of Gallant<br />
Bess (EL) - 90<br />
Teck—Fighter Squadron (WB); Blondie's Secret<br />
(Col), 2nd d t. wk., moveover 95<br />
Century—Blood on the Moon (RKO); Winner<br />
20th<br />
Take All (Mono), split with There Goes My<br />
Heart (UA); 39 Steps (GB) - 100<br />
Baltimore Business<br />
In Seasonal Slump<br />
BALTIMORE—The theatre business was<br />
way off due to the holidays. "The Three<br />
Musketeers" at the Valencia held extremely<br />
well in its fourth week.<br />
Century—Hills of Home (MGM) 85<br />
Stanley—The Decision of Christopher Blake (WB)., 90<br />
Hippodrome—Return ol Wildfire (Col) 80<br />
Town—Last Days of Pompeii (RKO); She (RKO),<br />
s— Unknown Island [fChZl 80<br />
Ke'itlf-<br />
New—The Miracle on 34lh Street (20th-Fox) 90<br />
Mayfair—They Drive by Night (WB) 82<br />
Valencia—The Three Musketeers (MGM), 4th wk...l05<br />
Cummings to Hold Meeting<br />
For MGM Field Auditors<br />
NEW YORK—Alan F. Cummings, in<br />
charge of MGM exchange operations, and<br />
his assistant Harold Postman will conduct<br />
a four-day meeting of field auditors at the<br />
Astor hotel starting January 4. Every phase<br />
of branch work will be analyzed for possible<br />
improvement in efficiency, according to Cummings.<br />
Those who will attend include<br />
Charles Fogle, roving maintenance supervisor,<br />
and seven auditors, John Ash, Charles<br />
Bell, Oliver Broughton, Carl Gentzel, Willard<br />
Gillilan, Edward Urschel and Harry<br />
Simons.<br />
Arthur Guy Mayger Dies<br />
NEW YORK—Arthur Guy Mayger, 58, an<br />
architect who designed several motion picture<br />
theatres, died of a heart attack while<br />
shopping in New York City December 10.<br />
Mayger, who lived in Scarsdale, N, Y., designed<br />
RKO and Keith-Albee theatres in<br />
the midwest and south while an independent<br />
architect in Chicago. At the time of his<br />
death, he was associated with George F,<br />
Driscoll Co. in New York.<br />
BOXOFHCE December 25, 1948 47
. . Rumors<br />
. . . Seymour<br />
zf<br />
PHILADELPHIA<br />
lyrore than 1,800 youngsters who are being<br />
aided by Community Chest agencies here<br />
were guests of radio station WFIL at a pre-<br />
Christmas broadcast originating from the<br />
stage of the Uptown Theatre. Warner Theatres<br />
donated use of the Uptown . . . Jimmy<br />
Dykes, who will resume his coaching job with<br />
the Philadelphia Athletics baseball team next<br />
spring, has a featured role in MGM's "Tlie<br />
Stratton Story." Jimmy plays himself, manager<br />
of the White Sox, during Stratton's<br />
pitching days. MGM officials wanted him<br />
for more films.<br />
Opening of "The Red Shoes" at the Translux,<br />
followed four days later by the opening<br />
of "High Button Shoes" at the Shubert, resulted<br />
in many gags around town . . . Local<br />
columnists were singing the praises of<br />
"Paisan," which was to open Christmas day<br />
at the Princess. One colurmiist describes the<br />
picture as "the most stirring and powerful<br />
film ever made" . . . Burglars broke into the<br />
Howard Theatre and escaped with an undetermined<br />
amount of money. Lobby vending<br />
machines were rifled, and the ticket window<br />
was robbed . were heard that the<br />
Victoria Theatre, subsequent run house owned<br />
by the Warner chain, was to be sold to a<br />
midwest firm. There was no confirmation<br />
by local Warner officials, however.<br />
With the opening of "The Red Shoes<br />
slated for the Translux soon-to-be-established<br />
first run policy, the local Eagle Lion<br />
office is running itself ragged. The screening<br />
section scheduled a number of special<br />
screenings before the film opens, among<br />
them one for the radio and local and trade<br />
press. The difficulty was that the print<br />
had been frozen, except for publicity purposes,<br />
so fewer screenings than usual could<br />
be held. The press-radio screening was to<br />
be held in the Translux, and the theatre<br />
Is undergoing extensive repainting and redecorating<br />
prior to its debut as a first run,<br />
Peter Bayes, EL special representative for<br />
"The Red Shoes," came to town from Cleveland<br />
to be here until the end of the run.<br />
An interesting note in the change of the<br />
Ti-anslux is that the theatre has always<br />
been proud of its rear projection—the image<br />
cast from behind the screen. For "The Red<br />
Shoes," the same type projection, with new<br />
and improved equipment, will be u.sed.<br />
Theatre Manager Robert Suits of the Overbrook<br />
Theatre was held up and robbed of<br />
$258 when thieves took both money and a<br />
deposit slip from him in front of a bank<br />
Police captured thi-ee suspects within about<br />
48 hours and recovered $160 of the money<br />
Players on Frankford<br />
and the bank slip . . .<br />
high's championship football team w-ere on<br />
the stage as recent guests of honor at the<br />
The American Guild of<br />
Circle Theatre . . .<br />
Variety Artists reportedly has clamped down<br />
on free appearances of its members on TV<br />
programs. The way it works now, the TV<br />
station pays the AGVA a minimum of $25<br />
for a performance, and AGVA, in turn, pays<br />
the artist. However, the local TV stations<br />
are set to fight the ruling in court if necessary.<br />
"Voice of Theatre Speakers"<br />
JOE HORNSTEIN has them !<br />
NAVY CERTIFICATE TO CLUB—<br />
Frank M. Boucher, chief barker of Tent<br />
H, Variety Club of Washington, is pictured<br />
above accepting a certificate of<br />
achievement from the U.S. navy in recognition<br />
of cooperation and services rendered<br />
to the medical department of the<br />
navy during World War II. Left to right:<br />
Boucher, Capt. B. W. Hogan and James<br />
Sandford, all of Tent 11.<br />
A brace of cuties from filmland's Jacques<br />
Path, Paris clothes designer, were in town<br />
and told this one on screen star Maria<br />
Montez. When she was in France to make<br />
the film "Hans the Sailor," she called on<br />
him to make the costumes for her. Fath<br />
read the script, and ransacked Paris for<br />
the cheapest dress materials available. When<br />
Maria asked why so cheap, Fath told her,<br />
"You're playing the part of a shady lady<br />
Why should you be well dressed?"<br />
Star Tony Martin, now doing a night club<br />
show here, was booked for a personal appearance<br />
in the record department of a<br />
leading department store. Following directions,<br />
Tony went to Eighth and Market<br />
and, without checking too closely, walked<br />
into a store. Tlrere he was recognized and<br />
mobbed by fans. A floor-walker finally whispered<br />
discreetly, "Mr. Martin, you're in the<br />
wrong store. This is Gimbel's and you're<br />
supposed to be across the street at Lit's."<br />
The stores are diagonally across the street<br />
and are rival establishments.<br />
Roy Edwards Named Head<br />
Of Cameramen's Local<br />
NEW YORK—Roy Edwards has been<br />
elected president of International Photographers<br />
of the Motion Picture Industry, Local<br />
644, lATSE. Other officers elected are: Fred<br />
Fordham, vice-president; John Visconti, secretary;<br />
Jay Rescher, treasurer; Walter A.<br />
Lang, business representative; Frank Landi,<br />
sergeant-at-arms, and Edgar Hatrick, trustee<br />
The officers wiU be installed January 4.<br />
Pincus to Head Caravel<br />
NEW YORK—David I. Pincus, treasurer of<br />
Caravel Films, Inc., producer of commercial<br />
pictures, will succeed the late Robert C.<br />
McKean as president. McKean. who died<br />
recently, had been inactive for the last two<br />
years, during which time Pincus had been<br />
operating the business.<br />
ALBANY<br />
Diehard Manning Westebbe, son of RKO<br />
Manager Max Westebbe. was married recently<br />
to Barbara Coleen Mari Liebst of St.<br />
Paul, Kas., at the Unitarian church in Washington.<br />
Young Westebbe, a former serviceman,<br />
is attending Georgetown university<br />
there . . . MGM employes held their Christmas<br />
dinner at Keeler's restaurant and followed<br />
it with a party at the Variety Club.<br />
Herman L. Ripps, assistant eastei-n division<br />
manager, and Jack Goldberg, branch manager,<br />
returned home from office meetings in<br />
New York for the affair. Salesmen Arthur<br />
Horn and Ralph Ripps; Bennett Goldstein,<br />
head booker-office manager; booker Frank<br />
Carroll and Floyd Fitzsimmons, exploiteer,<br />
assisted in the arrangements.<br />
George Reif has been named new U-I<br />
salesman in the Albany territory, succeeding<br />
Johnny Rubach, who resigned. Associated<br />
with U-I for three years, Reif had been<br />
selling in the New Haven area. Rubach formerly<br />
was with RKO and United Artists.<br />
He had been with U-I since last spring . . .<br />
Frank O'Keefe, a.ssistant to Bill Scully, U-I<br />
general sales manager, and Dave Miller, eastern<br />
district manager, stopped here to confer<br />
with Gene Vogel, branch manager. They<br />
lunched with Charles A. Smakwitz, Warner<br />
zone manager.<br />
The four Warner Albany houses expected<br />
to pull big crowds for the final event in the<br />
$4,500 Christmas jackpot. A Ford, refrigerator,<br />
washer, four tires and other valuable<br />
prizes were to be awarded. Promotion, arranged<br />
to combat the holiday slump, was tied<br />
in with Gateway Motors and McCoy-Owens<br />
General Tire Co.<br />
Charles A. Smakwitz, Warner zone chief,<br />
left for Buffalo and a meeting with Ralph<br />
Crabill, western district manager. The two<br />
were to make an inspection trip . . One or<br />
.<br />
two personnel exchanges were to be announced<br />
upon Smakwitz's return to Albany<br />
L. Morris, director of exploitation<br />
for Schine, and commander Larry Cowen,<br />
manager of Proctor's Troy, were among the<br />
first to send Christmas greetings. Cowen<br />
has Introduced a new closing signature for<br />
letters mailed as chairman of Variety Club<br />
publicity. It's "Sincerely for Variety."<br />
Two area managers who found particular<br />
delight in the promotion of Andy Roy to<br />
the city managership of Warner Utica theatres<br />
were Milt Shosberg of the Grand, Albany,<br />
and Larry Cowen of Proctor's Troy.<br />
As students in the Paramount managers'<br />
school, they served under Roy at the Rialto<br />
in New York in 1926. Roy then was assistant<br />
manager.<br />
What benefit will exhibitors derive from<br />
the establishment of a TOA three-man conciliation<br />
committee in this district? Sam<br />
Rosenblatt, operator of the Grand and Strand<br />
in Watervliet, owner of the Lawe in Lake<br />
George and cuiTent builder of a 650-seat<br />
house in Catskill, replied that he expected<br />
conciliation machinery would generally prove<br />
helpful and inexpensive to independent exhibitors.<br />
Rosenblatt added that it would be<br />
impossible to say how much until the system<br />
had been tried. An independent exhibitor<br />
said; "When an independent gets something,<br />
he pays for it. I think this will be true of<br />
conciliation."<br />
48 BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948
. . The<br />
. .<br />
Albany Variety Publicity<br />
Headed by Larry Cowen<br />
ALBANY—Larry Cowen. resident manager<br />
of Proctor's Troy and upstate director<br />
of publicity for Fabian Theatres, has been<br />
named chairman of pubUcity for the Albany<br />
Variety Club. Chief Barker Saul J. Ullman<br />
said serving with Cowen. would be Alex<br />
Sayles, manager of the Palace, Albany;<br />
Frank Bonomo, theatre artist; Jerry Atkin,<br />
Warner Theatres advertising and exploitation<br />
zone director; Louis Allemann jr.. promotion<br />
manager for the Times-Union and<br />
former RKO exploiteer in Albany. Charlotte.<br />
Salt Lake City and Detroit; Clif Bradt, film<br />
reviewer for the Knickerbocker Press, and<br />
Edgar S. Van Olind, motion picture critic<br />
for the Times-Union.<br />
Showing of 'Red Shoes'<br />
Is Benefit for Blind<br />
PHILADELPHIA—The Philadelphia Lighthouse<br />
for the Blind was the beneficiary at<br />
a special pi-eview showing of "The Red<br />
Shoes," Eagle Lion Technicolor production.<br />
Thursday night (23i at the Ti-anslux Theatre<br />
here.<br />
prominent women col-<br />
A group of socially<br />
laborated with Lighthouse officials in arranging<br />
detaUs cf the benefit showing of the<br />
film, and all proceeds will go to the organization,<br />
which is non-racial and non-sectarian.<br />
Eagle Lion Films donated the use of the<br />
picture, while the Translux Corp. provided<br />
all necessary theatre facilities and personnel<br />
for the benefit showmg.<br />
EL Lawyer Sees State Dept.<br />
On French Quota Tangle<br />
WASHINGTON—Governor-elect Frank<br />
Lausche of Ohio, representing Eagle Lion,<br />
called on the U.S. State Department December<br />
10 in connection with the EL complaint<br />
that film quotas set up with the French by<br />
the MPAA with State department consent<br />
work to the disadvantage of the independents.<br />
The French deal, as finally worked out,<br />
allotted only 11 films to the independents,<br />
with two being allowed three each, leaving<br />
only five to be divided between EL and the<br />
others.<br />
January Opening Planned<br />
For Willsboro, N. Y„ Park<br />
WILLSBORO, N. Y.—The Park Theatre,<br />
which Geraldine Van Ornum and her father<br />
Charles E. Van Ornum are building here, is<br />
scheduled for opening in January. The Van<br />
Ornums now operate Grange Hall in the<br />
Adirondack Mountain town and the Essex<br />
in Essex. Miss Van Ornum had a hand in<br />
designing the new house which will have<br />
an estimated capacity of 350.<br />
Ampa's Christmas Cheer<br />
NEW YORK—The annual Ampa Christmas<br />
party December 23 was a "sell-out." Max E.<br />
Youngstein, president, presided over the<br />
luncheon held in the Sea Grill of the Brass<br />
Rail restaurant, and Diana Barrymore, Robert<br />
Wilcox and Benny Rubin were among the<br />
stars who attended. Door prizes were distributed.<br />
NEWARK<br />
T V. Stark, manager of the Regent, entertained<br />
employes and their families at an<br />
after-hours Christmas party recently. Maria<br />
Jeritza, opera star, was present as well as<br />
other celebrities. Employes also participated<br />
in the program. The party is the second<br />
of its kind to be given by Stark. The first<br />
was last year at the Hawthorne. It made such<br />
a hit with employes he decided to try another<br />
at the Regent.<br />
Emanuel Adams, son of A. A. Adams, owner<br />
of the Adams and Paramount theatres, is<br />
engaged to Toula Pappas of Plainfield.<br />
Young Adams is a graduate of the University<br />
of Pennsylvania and is now employed<br />
as manager of the Paramount. Miss Pappas<br />
attended Rutgers university. The wedding<br />
will take place January 15 . . Dorothy<br />
.<br />
O'Keefe has replaced Catherine Petrone as<br />
secretary to A. A. Adams and Ben Griefer.<br />
Dave Palace, who succeeds Thomas Arrants<br />
as manager of the Lincoln, Ai'lington, arranged<br />
a merchants tiein to provide gifts<br />
for children at a kiddy matinee December 24.<br />
Five cartoons were included on the program.<br />
The theatre, unlike others hereabouts, closed<br />
Christmas eve to give employes a chance<br />
to be with their famiUes. Palace was former<br />
assistant at the Rivoli. Rutherford. Arrants<br />
making his headquarters at the State Theatre,<br />
is<br />
Denver, since his departure for<br />
Colorado.<br />
Rumor has it that Jerry Long, local youth<br />
who wrote and filmed "Dash Dailey," is arranging<br />
to have the play screened a second<br />
time at the Maplewood Theatre, Maplewood,<br />
around the fu-st of the year. Taken<br />
on 16mm films which were blown to 35mm<br />
size, the play had its first showing at the<br />
theatre some weeks ago and helped boost<br />
business. It was billed as a featurette in<br />
addition to regular attractions. Long is at<br />
work on a second number.<br />
Entry blanks were given out one day only<br />
at Loew's for a mystery star contest which<br />
was concluded December 24. A trailer pictured<br />
several mystery stars. The contest is<br />
similar to one running in a number of Loew's<br />
houses in New Jersey, New York and Westchester.<br />
Awards were furnished by the<br />
Evans Co., manufacturers of cigaret lighters.<br />
Items were displayed in a showcase in the<br />
lobby in advance and during the contest.<br />
Exhibitors might get a few tips from Al<br />
Rosen, manager of the Montclair Theatre,<br />
Montclair, who is showing Broadway .some<br />
tricks. It was his idea to have Mae West<br />
return to stage shows and he sold $30,000<br />
in advance tickets without advertising or<br />
promotion. Having his players put their<br />
footprints in the cement outside the theatre<br />
calls the crowds to watch and boosts the<br />
attractions.<br />
.<br />
L. Kaltman & Co.. dealers in motion picture<br />
equipment, reports that stocks are back<br />
to normal with complete supplies available<br />
The Bellevue, Upper Montclair,<br />
in all lines . . .<br />
loaned the theatre to the Upper Mont-<br />
clair Business Men's Ass'n for its annual<br />
Christmas party for children. Ogden H.<br />
Yereance, manager, served on the committee<br />
in charge Bellevue ran a special<br />
kiddy show featuring Gene Autry December<br />
24.<br />
The Liberty, Elizabeth, assisted the Exchange<br />
club of that city by running a benefit<br />
matinee to which patrons brought canned<br />
goods for distribution to needy families . . .<br />
The Three Stooges, along with Buddy Rich's<br />
band, is billed at the Adams December 30.<br />
marking the return of stage shows .<br />
Ann Bontempo, home office contact for<br />
Loew's, has been vacationing at Miami Beach.<br />
. . .<br />
The Hawthorne Theatre came out first<br />
among 14 Warner houses in Essex county in<br />
Warner Bros.' quarterly drive for business.<br />
The Roosevelt held second place . . . Ruby<br />
Koukidas is new relief cashier at the Hawthorne<br />
"The<br />
replacing Gertrude Jaffe Mark of Zorro" and "Bill and Coo" are billed<br />
as a junior matinee at the theatre December<br />
31 . . . Walter Reade is dickering with a group<br />
of Broadwalk concessionaires in the sale of<br />
the Monte Carlo Pool, Asbury Park.<br />
Due to many requests from patrons, the<br />
Hawthorne is the only theatre in the state<br />
to run a Jewish show on New Year's. A<br />
40x60 lobby announcement with an Illustrated<br />
blowup of the feature "I Want to<br />
Be a Mother" is advertising the event. The<br />
theatre ran a trailer and an advance reader<br />
with announcement of the film was given<br />
space in the Jewish News. The world-famous<br />
hymn "Hallelujah" is billed the same evening.<br />
International Previews<br />
'Eve'; Sets Jan. Run<br />
NEW YORK—International Pictures, Inc.,<br />
Paterson, N. J., previewed the documentary<br />
feature "Because of Eve" here recently.<br />
It is actually three medical shorts tied together<br />
in a story enacted by Joseph Creehan,<br />
Wanda McKay, John Parker and Robert<br />
Leaver.<br />
The first short deals with the causes, effects<br />
and cures of venereal disease. The second<br />
concerns the human reproductive processes<br />
and organs. The third is a camera<br />
study of birth. Sam Baiter and Hy Averback<br />
handle the narration.<br />
International will open the film on a roadshow<br />
basis at the Flamingo Theatre, Miami<br />
Beach, January 15. Screenings will be segregated,<br />
matinees for women and evenings for<br />
men.<br />
The Women's Research Guild, an organization<br />
of professional workers, is sponsoring<br />
the picture.<br />
New Hampshire Theatres<br />
'Lax in Safety Measures'<br />
CONCORD—state Fire Marshal Aubrey<br />
Robinson reported '-hat not a single New<br />
Hampshire motion picture theatre visited by<br />
representatives of his department in a recent<br />
survey was complying 100 per cent with fire<br />
safety regulations.<br />
The violations, in most cases undoubtedly<br />
unintentional, were pointed out to the managers,<br />
and another inspection will be made to<br />
make certain that conditions have been improved.<br />
Gulistan Wilton Theatre Carpet<br />
JOE HORNSTEIN has it!<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948 49
l<br />
Film Aid Abroad Ask<br />
By Bernard Kreisler<br />
WASHINGTON—Government aid, perhaps<br />
with dollars, to open the booths of the theatres<br />
of the world for American films was<br />
called for last week by Bernard Kreisler on<br />
his return from a 13-month survey of the European<br />
motion picture situation. Kreisler<br />
will turn in a detailed reort on his findings<br />
to the Harvard Business school, for which he<br />
made the study. He is a former exchange<br />
official of Paramount and Universal, and was<br />
also an executive of Lester Cowan Productions.<br />
Kreisler's feeling that government aid is<br />
necessary sprang from his conviction that it<br />
is important to world peace and progress that<br />
the rest of the world see American films. The<br />
producers of just about every other country<br />
of Importance, however, receive valuable aid<br />
from their governments, he found, and where<br />
a government seeics to build up its own production<br />
industry it is usually at the expense<br />
of American industry.<br />
The British film industry, more or less of<br />
a fly-by-night affair before the war, is today<br />
stabilized and exhibitors can be assured of<br />
a flow of product, Kreisler said. He foresees<br />
continued strengthening of the British industry.<br />
But Hollywood films are likely to retain<br />
their number one position in the hearts of<br />
most European audiences, he believes, even<br />
though they are out of favor with the film<br />
critics and others of the intelligentsia.<br />
Brazzi, Neal Nominated<br />
Best Screen Prospects<br />
NEW YORK—The December 21 issue of<br />
Look magazine has selected Patricia Neal<br />
and Rossano Brazzi as candidates for "bigtime<br />
success" in the motion picture field<br />
during 1949.<br />
The 22-year-old Miss Neal will co-star with<br />
Gary Cooper in "The Fountainhead" and<br />
with Ronald Reagan in "John Loves Mary,"<br />
both WB productions. She was a hit in the<br />
Broadway production of "Another Part of<br />
the Forest" two years ago.<br />
Brazzi, a 31-year-old Italian actor, was<br />
brought to this country by David O. Selznick.<br />
He will be seen in "Little Women" (MGM)<br />
and as the title rolist in Edward Small's "The<br />
Life of Valentino." He was recently seen<br />
here in the Italian picture "Furia."<br />
Others slated for successful careers during<br />
the next 12 months were: Milton Berle, television;<br />
Lucille Ball, radio; AUyn Ann Mc-<br />
Lerie, theatre, and Benny Goodman, music.<br />
Eddie Cantor was applauded for his entertainment<br />
and philanthropic work during<br />
1948.<br />
MGM to Handle 3 Pictures<br />
For SRO in South Africa<br />
NEW YORK—The Selznick Releasing Organization<br />
has made a deal with MGM for<br />
the distribution and exhibition of three SRO<br />
films in South Africa, according to Leonard<br />
R. Case, SRO treasurer. The three films,<br />
"Duel in the Sun," "The Paradine Case" and<br />
"Portrait of Jennie," will go into release in<br />
South Africa early in 1949 and play the<br />
Metro Theatre in Johannesburg and the<br />
Metro in Durban, both first runs.<br />
Paramount and Fairbanks<br />
May End Association<br />
NEW YORK—Probabilities are that when<br />
the current contract for Paramount distribution<br />
of the Jerry Fairbanks short subjects<br />
ends shortly, it will not be renewed, a spokesman<br />
for the Fairbanks office said this week.<br />
He expected that some other major company<br />
will handle the distribution, but said 'hat<br />
because of television and commercial film<br />
commitments, no nev/ contract may be signed<br />
for several months. He emphasized that there<br />
has been a "very pleasant relationship" with<br />
Paramount.<br />
Fairbanks has supplied Paramount with 18<br />
shorts annually since 1941. They have been<br />
the "Popular Science," "Unusual Occupations"<br />
and "Speaking of Animals" subjects.<br />
Fairbanks does not intend to stop theatrical<br />
production altogether, but right now is busy<br />
with 20 commercial clients, including Standard<br />
Oil of Indiana, and the television companies.<br />
He also is promoting a new tele<br />
camera seven-inch lens which is said to be<br />
16 times faster than any other tele lens and<br />
to pick up pictures of only one candlepower.<br />
ABC will u.se it Christmas eve at the midnight<br />
mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral.<br />
National Board Honors<br />
'Fighting O'Flynn'<br />
NEW YORK—"The Fighting O'Flynn"<br />
(U-I), reviewed under its original title, "The<br />
O'Flynn," has been given starred selected<br />
features rating, the top honor of the National<br />
Board of Review, in the weekly guide to<br />
selected pictures. "Whispering Smith" (Parai<br />
and "Words and Music" (MGM) were given<br />
selected features rating.<br />
Short subjects given special mention are:<br />
"Champagne Music," "Clap Your Hands" and<br />
"Hits of the Nineties" i20th-Fox) and "The<br />
Little Cut-Up" (Para I.<br />
Scophony, Ltd., Acquires<br />
Baird Television System<br />
LONDON—Scophcny, Ltd.. has acquired<br />
the Baird television system through a transfer<br />
of stock to John Logie Bair, Ltd., and its<br />
associate, W. Andrew Bryce and Co., Ltd., engineers<br />
and manufacturers of transformers<br />
and component parts. Jack Buchanan, screen<br />
and stage actor-manager and managing director<br />
and principal .stockholder of the two<br />
companies, has joined the board of Scophony.<br />
Australia Now Has 1,674<br />
Theatres in Operation<br />
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA—The 13th edition<br />
of the Motion Picture Directory, issued by<br />
Film Weekly, shows there are 1,674 theatres<br />
in Australia, Of these, 118 are wholly owned<br />
or operated by Greater Union and 155 by<br />
Hoyt's. There are 50 touring showmen, and<br />
40 who are exhibiting 16nmn films.<br />
Technicolor Ups Dividend<br />
NEW YORK—The board of directors of<br />
Technicolor, Inc., has declared a quarterly<br />
dividend of 50 cents per share on the common<br />
stock, payable December 31 to stockholders<br />
of record December 22, according to<br />
Dr. Herbert T. Kalmus, president. Dividend<br />
for the previous quarter was 25 cents per<br />
.share.<br />
U-I Executives Take<br />
Salary Cuts in '49<br />
NEW YORK—The top administrative executives<br />
of Universal-International will take<br />
voluntary salary cuts during 1949 because<br />
of current fiscal problems, according to home<br />
office officials here. Among those who pay<br />
will be reduced from 20 to 40 per cent are:<br />
J. Cheever Cowdin, chairman of the board,<br />
Nate J. Blumberg, president; William A.<br />
Scully, general sales manager; Charles D.<br />
Prutzman, J. H. Seidelman, Leo Spitz, William<br />
Goetz, J. J. O'Connor, Matthew Fox<br />
and Samuel Machnovltch.<br />
The same executives are expected to receive<br />
less in 1948 than in 1947, without salary<br />
cuts, because their contracts call for participation<br />
in profits. With the company facing<br />
a loss for its fiscal year ended Nov. 1,<br />
1948, according to financial circles, this will<br />
not be forthcoming. The 1948 financial report<br />
is due in late January. A year ago,<br />
Universal-International reported a net profit<br />
of $3,230,017.<br />
The voluntary salary cuts were agreed upon<br />
by U-I executives last August and were to<br />
start with the beginning of the new fiscal<br />
year. The date for the start of the salary<br />
cuts was later postponed to January 1. The<br />
salaries of contract producers, directors and<br />
stars will not be affected by the cuts, it is<br />
said.<br />
Siegel and Markley Split<br />
Gowthorpe's Para Duties<br />
NEW YORK—Simon B. Siegel, assistant to<br />
Montague F. Gowthorpe, treasurer of Paramount<br />
Theatres Service Corp., and Sidney<br />
M. Markley, who has handled legal matters<br />
for the company, will take over the treasurer's<br />
duties when Gowthorpe leaves the post<br />
January 1. Gowthorpe is resigning to become<br />
president and general manager of W. S.<br />
Butterfield Theatres, Inc., in Detroit.<br />
Leonard Goldenson, vice-president in charge<br />
of theatres for Paramoimt. was toastmaster<br />
at a farewell luncheon for Gowthorpe at the<br />
Hotel Astor December 17. Barney Balaban,<br />
Adolph Zukor, E. V. Richards jr. and Robert<br />
O'Donnell paid tribute to Gowthorpe. and 60<br />
other Paramount executives and theatre<br />
partners attended. He received a solid silver<br />
set and a testimonial book signed by all per-<br />
.sons present at the luncheon.<br />
Crown in Goldwyn Post<br />
NEW YORK—Alfred Crown, foreign sales<br />
manager of Samuel Goldwyn F>i-oductions,<br />
has been elected a vice-president of the<br />
company. Before joining the Goldwyn organization<br />
three years ago. Crown was in<br />
the armed services for two years and, before<br />
that, he was with the coordinator of<br />
international affairs (the so-called Nelson<br />
Rockefeller Committee).<br />
Columbia Loss $23,000<br />
NEW YORK—Columbia Pictures Corp. reports<br />
a net loss of S23,O00 for the 13-week<br />
period ending Sept. 25, 1948. For the same<br />
period in 1947 the oompany had a net profit<br />
of $370,000. The figuies are estimated and<br />
on a con.solidated basis.<br />
50 BOXOFFICE December 25. 1948
NEWS AND VIEWS THE PRODUCTION CENTER<br />
(Hollywood Office— Suite 219 at 6404 Hollywood Blvd.: Ivan Svear. Western Manager)<br />
Academy's Ballots<br />
In Mails on Jan. 20<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Preliminaries to the film<br />
colony's big annual glamorfest, the Oscars<br />
sweepstakes, will get under way January 20<br />
when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts<br />
and Sciences will mail out nominations ballots.<br />
The polls will close January 29 "and<br />
the awards nominees will be announced<br />
February 14.<br />
Thereafter the nominated pictures will be<br />
screened from February 21 through March 13<br />
at the Academy Award Theatre. Final ballots<br />
wUl be mailed March 1 and the polls<br />
will close March 15.<br />
The Academy's board of governors voted<br />
to make the presentations in ceremonies to<br />
be held on a sound stage at the Warner<br />
Bros, studios in Burbank March 24. It will<br />
be a closed affair, with no general public<br />
admission. This is a departure from the<br />
policy established during the past several<br />
years, when the Awards function was held<br />
at the Shrine auditorium and the public was<br />
permitted to purchase admission tickets.<br />
Stars Present Xmas Show<br />
For Veterans Hospital<br />
HOLLYWOOD—A star-studded array of<br />
Hollywood talent helped make Christmas a<br />
merrier one for patients at the veterans' administration<br />
Birmingham hospital in Sawtelle<br />
through presentation of a variety program<br />
emceed by Johnnie Johnston, singing<br />
star. Participating in skits were Kay Thompson<br />
and the Williams Brothers, Kathryn<br />
Grayson. Betty Garrett, Larry Parks, Hedda<br />
Hopper. Andre Previn. Eddie Bracken, Esther<br />
Williams, Richard Beavers, Mary Jane Smith<br />
and Sandra Bordova.<br />
Irene Dunne was notified by the National<br />
Conference of Christians and Jews that that<br />
organization had voted her the person who<br />
has "done most to promote better understanding<br />
among peoples of all faiths during<br />
1948." The actress will journey to New York<br />
early in February to accept the award, which<br />
last year went to Eleanor Roosevelt.<br />
20th-Fox Official Weds<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Honeymooning at Palm<br />
Springs following their recent marriage were<br />
Fred S. Meyer, director of personnel and<br />
industrial relations at 20th Century-Fox, and<br />
Molly May Weber. The quiet home ceremony<br />
was performed by Rabbi Max Nussbaimi.<br />
The bride and groom were both bereft<br />
of their mates about two years ago.<br />
Producers and Guild<br />
Plan Wage Parley<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Representatives of the major<br />
and independent producers are expected<br />
to begin parleys next month with the executive<br />
committee of the Screen Directors<br />
Guild, which has requested a hearing to submit<br />
new requests for wage increases, thus<br />
reopening the eight-year contract on which<br />
producers and the SDG reached agreement<br />
last siunmer. No salary boosts were granted<br />
at that time.<br />
Negotiators for the SDG include President<br />
George Marshall, Joseph Mankiewicz, Raoul<br />
Walsh, Albert S. Rogell and Lesley Selander.<br />
Participating in the huddles wiU be Charles<br />
Boren, labor liaison executive for the MPAA,<br />
and Anthony O'Rourke of the Society of Independent<br />
Motion Picture Producers.<br />
The new basic pact drafted last July called<br />
for a 100 per cent guild shop and certain<br />
improvements in clauses covering layoffs and<br />
directors' rights to supervise cutting of their<br />
pictures. At that time, however, the SDG<br />
withdrew a demand for salarj' hikes.<br />
Following refusal by the local National Relations<br />
Board to process the charges, the<br />
Screen Publicists Guild has withdrawn from<br />
the case in which it had filed unfair labor<br />
practice charges against Maury Foladare,<br />
freelance publicist. The SPG contended in<br />
its NLRB complaint that Foladare had refused<br />
to bargain for a guild shop for his<br />
employes and also was guilty of intimidating<br />
his workers who had expressed an interest<br />
in an SPG affiliation. Further, the SPG<br />
contended, Foladare granted wage increases<br />
to his employes in an effort to nullify the<br />
Sign Over Safe Ignored<br />
In Futile Robbery Try<br />
Phoenix—Phoenix gunmen either can't<br />
read or don't believe in signs. Three of<br />
them bound and gagged the night janitor<br />
of the Aero Theatre recently, and while<br />
one of them stood over him with a gun<br />
the other two spent 35 futile minutes<br />
trying to crack the house safe.<br />
The sign over the safe read: "<strong>Boxoffice</strong><br />
receipts are deposited daily. No<br />
money is kept in the safe over night."<br />
The gunmen left before finding out the<br />
sign wasn't kidding.<br />
guild's efforts to secure a bargaining agreement.<br />
Foladare has been placed on the SPG's "do<br />
not patronize" list, however, and the organization<br />
has also requested the AFL's central<br />
labor coimcil to place the publicist on its<br />
"do not patronize" list. This request has<br />
been referred to the CLC's executive board.<br />
After the SPG's NLRB complaint had been<br />
filed. Foladare requested that an election be<br />
held to determine whether a majority of his<br />
employes desired SPG affiliation. No such<br />
election will be .staged, however, since the<br />
NLRB tossed out the SPG's charges against<br />
the blurber as being "without merit."<br />
With negotiations for a new contract "proceeding<br />
satisfactorily," but with additional<br />
time needed to settle all the points, the<br />
Screen Actors Guild and Artists Managers<br />
Guild have extended their contract to May<br />
1, 1949. The pact originally had been due to<br />
expire January 1. 1949. Extension of the<br />
agreement was announced in a joint statement<br />
by John Dales jr., of the SAG and<br />
Adrian McCalman of the talent agents' organization.<br />
Successful conclusion of negotiations for a<br />
new union shop collective bargaining contract<br />
was disclosed by the major producers<br />
and the Screen Extras Guild. The new ticket<br />
covers a five-year period and may be reopened<br />
at stipulated dates in 1949 and 1951.<br />
It replaces the present contract which has<br />
been in effect since November 1, 1946.<br />
Unanimously okayed by the SEG's board<br />
of directors, the agreement is subject to ratification<br />
by the SEG membership and the<br />
directorates of the producing companies. The<br />
new ticket provides for retention of present<br />
basic daily rates of .$15.56 and $22.23, and calls<br />
for continued negotiations concerning the<br />
disputed $9.45 daily rate for "mob" scenes.<br />
"Preferential employment" of extras is to<br />
continue for players presently registered with<br />
Central Casting.<br />
Al Jolson Gives House<br />
HOLLYWOOD—An estate in the Hollywood<br />
foothills valued at $75,000 was presented to<br />
the Cedars of Lebanon hospital by Al Jolson,<br />
radio, screen and stage entertainer. Jolson<br />
said the institution may use the 14-room<br />
home and property for "whatever purpose it<br />
sees fit."<br />
BOXOFnCE December 25, 194« 51
: six-week<br />
, in<br />
original<br />
STUDIO PERSONNEUTIES<br />
Barnstormers<br />
Paramount<br />
DICK FORAN, co-star of Pine-Thomas' "El Paso,"<br />
left<br />
eastern personal appearance<br />
Leaving Hollywood on January 5 on c cross-country<br />
tour for his new comedy, "Easy D .es It," BOB<br />
HOPE will make personal appearance 25 towns<br />
in as many nights.<br />
Warner Bros.<br />
:<br />
JANIS PAIGE deports shortly for or<br />
sonal appearance tour whi<br />
show Cleveland for the<br />
ance on a benefit<br />
Rogers Memorial hospital<br />
for theatre bookings in Boston<br />
Blurbers<br />
RKO Radio<br />
Succeeding George Nichols, ROY CRAFT htfs joined<br />
the publicity staif to take charge of national and<br />
fan magazines. Nichols is moving over to Metr<br />
a member of Howard Strickling's drum-beating staff.<br />
Cleffers<br />
Monogram<br />
EDWARD I. KAY has been set to<br />
Roddy McDowall statrer, "Tuna<br />
Walter Mirisch's production, "Bom<br />
Boy," toplining John Sheffield.<br />
Paramount<br />
Pine-Thomas engaged composer-condu<br />
HELL CALKER to score and conduct ths<br />
lor the John Payne-Gail Russell topliner,<br />
which Lewis R. Foster directed.<br />
Meggers<br />
Columbia<br />
NORMAN FOSTER was set to direct the Rosalind<br />
Russell-starring comedy, "My Next Husband," with<br />
Buddy Adler producing.<br />
Second assignment on ALEX GOTTLIEB'S new producing<br />
contract wall be "It's a Man's World."<br />
Paramount<br />
WILLIAM DIETERLE's next megging assignment for<br />
Hal Wallis Productions will be "Rope of Sand."<br />
RKO Radio<br />
First assignment for NICHOLAS RAY under his new<br />
director's contract will be "I Married a Communist,"<br />
to 'be produced by Jack Gross.<br />
Republic<br />
PHIL FORD was handed directorial reins on the<br />
Monte Hale western, "Prince of the Plains," with<br />
Mel Tucker assigned as associate producer.<br />
Screen Guild<br />
B. REEVES EASON megs "Rimfire," being produced<br />
by Ron Ormond and featuring James Millican,<br />
Reed Hadley, Mary Beth Hughes and Henry Hull.<br />
United Artists<br />
JOHN BRAHM has been set to direct the remake<br />
of "M" for Producer Seymour Nebenzal.<br />
Options<br />
Columbia<br />
Czechoslovakian actress FLORENCE MARLY will<br />
make her second Americcm appearance in the<br />
Santana production, "Tokyo Joe," opposite Humphrey<br />
Bogart.<br />
IVAN TRIESAULT and WALTER RODE were inked<br />
to enact two spies in the George Rait starrer,<br />
"Hounded," with Ted Tetzlaif directing and Irving<br />
Starr producing.<br />
Film Classics<br />
Producer-director Jack Bernhard signed ALBERT<br />
DEKKER to co-star with John Calvert in an upcoming<br />
Falcon production, as yet untitled.<br />
PAUL FIERRO, FRANK LACKTEEN, LESTER ETHARPE.<br />
Z. YOCONELLI and JULIAN RIVERO were signed<br />
for Agay Productions' "Amazon Quest."<br />
Metro<br />
AGNES MOOREHEAD was set for an important<br />
in spot Gottfried Reinhardt's production, "The Great<br />
Sinner," toplining Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner.<br />
Robert Siodmak directs.<br />
Top role in Joe Pasternak's musical, "That Midnight<br />
Kiss," goes to ETHEL BARRYMORE. Norman<br />
Taurog directs the film starring Kathryn Grayson<br />
and lose Iturbi.<br />
52<br />
Monogram<br />
Additions to the cast of the Johnny Mack Brown<br />
starrer, "Outlaw Marshal," are BOB WOODWARD,<br />
JAMES HARRISON, BUD OSBORNE, MARSHALL<br />
REED, RILEY HILL, KENNE DUNCAN, STEVE CLARK,<br />
BILL KENNEDY. JACK INGRAM and EDDIE PARKER.<br />
Ray Taylor directs<br />
Paramount<br />
RAYMOND ROE was signed fo top spot in<br />
be di-<br />
sequel to "Dear Ruth,'<br />
"Dearreeled<br />
Wife,"<br />
by Richard Haydn for Produc Richard<br />
Maibaum.<br />
JOHN McINTYRE draws the role of a police<br />
spector in the Bing Crosby starrer, "Top o'<br />
Morning." Silent screen player TUDOR O'WEN<br />
signed for an important role. David Mille directs<br />
for Producer Robert Welch.<br />
Pine-Thomas has signed Chinese actor KEYE LUKE<br />
for the patt of a laundry owner in the Dorothy<br />
Lamour, Sterling Hayden and Dan Duryea co-starrer,<br />
"Manhandled," with Lewis Foster directing.<br />
Republic<br />
A comedy part in the Elliot-McGowan production,<br />
"Hellfire " will be played by ESTHER HOWARD.<br />
OLIN HOWARD also was inked for a comedy role<br />
in the film. Other additions include EVA NOVAK,<br />
HARRY WOODS, TREVOR BARDETTE, HARRY TYLER,<br />
DENVER PYLE, CRANE WHITLEY and EMORY<br />
PARNELL.<br />
20th Century-Fox<br />
Songwriter MACK GORDON is set to portray himself<br />
in "Oh, You Beautiful Doll," the musical being<br />
produced by George Jessel. Added to the cast in<br />
supporting roles were HUGO HAAS, S. Z. SAKALL<br />
and CHARLOTTE GREENWOOD.<br />
Supporting roles were handed to REGIS TOOMEY<br />
and HENRI LETONDAL in Sam Engel's production,<br />
"Come to the Stable," to star Loretta Young. A<br />
featured role was set for DOROTHY PATRICK.<br />
J. FARRELL MACDONALD plays a cop in the Dan<br />
Dailey-June HcTver co-starrer, "You're My Everything."<br />
Added to the cast of "The East Side Story," the<br />
Edward G. Robinson starrer, were DEBRA PAGET<br />
and TITO VUOLO.<br />
Universal-International<br />
A top supporting part in "Illegal Entry" was<br />
handed RICHARD ROBER, stage player. TOM<br />
TULLY, PAUL STEWART, DAVE CLARK and TONY<br />
CARUSO were inked for supporting parts.<br />
Beauty contest winners JUNE FULTON and<br />
PATRICIA HALL will play college co-eds in the<br />
Donald O'Connor starrer, "And Baby Makes Three."<br />
Featured role in the film, which George Sherman<br />
directs and Leonard<br />
PATRICIA ALPHIN.<br />
Goldstein produces,<br />
BARBARA BROWN was<br />
goes to<br />
signed<br />
for a top featured role JIM DAVIS, JIM BROWN,<br />
HAL FEBERLING and MICHAEL DUGAN were signed<br />
to portray Donald O'Connor's football-playing pals.<br />
The role of a Las Vegas pawnbroker in the Barbara<br />
Stanwyck<br />
playd by<br />
vehicle,<br />
HOUSELEY<br />
"The Lady Gambles,"<br />
STEVENSON. Added<br />
will<br />
to<br />
be<br />
the<br />
GEORGE<br />
PETER<br />
CARLTON,<br />
LEADS. LEIF<br />
cast were WATSON DOWNS, FRANK McFARLAND,<br />
PARKE MACGREGOR and<br />
ERICKSON draws a featured<br />
role under the direction of Michael Gordon for<br />
Producer Michel Kraike.<br />
DOROTHY HART was set to ploy William Powell's<br />
wife in "Take One False Step," with Chester<br />
Erskine producing.<br />
Warner Bros.<br />
JANIS PAIGE joins Virginia Mayo, Gordon Mac-<br />
Rae and Dorothy Malone in the stctrring lineup of<br />
Jerry Wald's production, ""Rise Above It."<br />
Scripters<br />
Columbia<br />
Scripting assignment on ""My Next Husband," toplining<br />
Rosalind Russell, was drawn by ALLAN SCOTT.<br />
Eagle Lion<br />
HARRY ESSEX is penning an untitled documentary<br />
concerned with the government's pure food and<br />
drugs administration.<br />
Paramount<br />
RICHARD L. BREEN has been reoptioned for his<br />
third year ds a writer at the studio.<br />
Writers MELVILLE SHAVELSON and JACK ROSE<br />
were signed to screenplay the new Frank Capra<br />
production to star Binq Crosby, ""Broadway Bill."<br />
Film is based on the Mark Hellinger story of the<br />
same name.<br />
Republic<br />
JOHN K. BUTLER was assigned to screenplay the<br />
Roy Rogers topliner, "Down Dakota Way," to be<br />
produced by Edward I. White.<br />
Universal -International<br />
CRANE WILBUR was inked to write and direct<br />
original<br />
produ<br />
story Buys<br />
Independent<br />
vhich Aaron Rosenberg<br />
Flight to Portabella," siory by Hugo Butle<br />
en purchased by Roberts Productions.<br />
Monogram<br />
by Harold D. Qu<br />
I Di(<br />
purchased by Pi lucer Paul Short as<br />
ring vehicle for Audie ^udie Murphy.<br />
King Bros, has purch<br />
by Ogden J. Wertelle,<br />
beauty who inherits a<br />
ised ""Ramie," original story<br />
concerning an East Indian<br />
steamship company.<br />
Paramount<br />
Producers William Pine cfnd William Thomas acquired<br />
screen rights to "'Mission for General Houston,"<br />
a historical novel by Jess Arnold.<br />
RKO Radio<br />
by Warren Duff and<br />
"<br />
Story, "Bail<br />
Marty<br />
Bond<br />
Rackin, was purchased and assigned to<br />
Robert Sparks for production.<br />
Republic<br />
"Fort Dodge Stampede," On original by Norman<br />
Hall, was purchased as a Monte Hale starrer and<br />
assigned to Mel Tucker for production.<br />
"Tucson Trigger Man," original screenplay by Al<br />
Demond, was purchased and Assigned to Gordon<br />
Kay for production as an Allan "Rocky" Lane<br />
Universal-International<br />
Acquired for production as a semidocumentary by<br />
Jerry Bresler was an untitled yarn by Irwin Gielgud,<br />
dealing with the baby-ddoption racket.<br />
Warner Bros.<br />
Acquisition was announced of "Gay Deception,"<br />
romantic comedy about a New York working girl,<br />
authored by Jules Furthman and John Klorer.<br />
Technically<br />
Metro<br />
ROBERT PLANCK was assigned as cinematographer<br />
on Pandro S. Berman's production, "Madame<br />
Bovary."<br />
RKO Radio<br />
BILLY DANIELS was set by Samuel Goldwyn to<br />
supervise the square dancing in "Roseanna McCoy.<br />
Universal-International<br />
COL. WILLIAM A. CARMICHAEL, director of the<br />
I6th district, department of immigration and naturalization,<br />
checked in to serve as technical adviser to<br />
Producer Jules Schermer and Director Frederick de<br />
Cordova on ""Illegal Entry."<br />
Producer Leonard Goldstein completed his production<br />
staff for ""And Baby Makes Three," which<br />
includes GILBERT KURLAND, unit production manager-<br />
IRVING GLASSBERG, cameraman,- TED KENT,<br />
film ' editor- JOHN DECUIR, art director; JESSE<br />
HIBBS and TOMMY SHAW, assistant directors, and<br />
GLEN ANDERSON, sound technician.<br />
Title Changes<br />
Metro<br />
"Greyfriar's Bobby," featuring Lassie, has been<br />
retagged HIGHLAND LASSIE.<br />
Universal-International<br />
THE FIGHTING O'FLYNN<br />
elease tag<br />
starrer filmed as "The<br />
for the Douglas Fairbanks jr<br />
O'Flynn."<br />
Title of Leonard Goldstein's production, "Calamity<br />
Jane and Sam Bass," has been changed to CALAM-<br />
ITY JANE<br />
Academy Board Approves<br />
23 as New Members<br />
HOLLYWOOD — The Academy of IVIotion<br />
Picture Arts and Sciences closed its membership<br />
ranlcs for 1948 with 23 new names<br />
approved by the board of governors.<br />
New members include actors Larry Parks<br />
Glenn Ford, 'Wendell Corey and Jacqueline<br />
de Wit; executives Hal E. Chester, I. G. Goldsmith<br />
and David Johnston; film editor<br />
Ai-thur H. Nadel: musician Joseph Myrow:<br />
public relations group, Sonia 'Wolfson and<br />
Peggy IVTcNaught; writers Henry Ephron,<br />
Phoebe Ephron, IVTrs. Leslie Bush-Fekete,<br />
Richard L. Breen, Leslie Bush-Fekete, Paul<br />
Jarrico and IVlarguerite Roberts; members-atlarge<br />
Sherrill Corwin. Jason Lindsay. Fred<br />
D. Brown, Herbert S. Nusbaum and Jerome<br />
Schnur.<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948<br />
t<br />
i
'Goldwyn Girl' Is Added<br />
To '49 Production List<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Added to Samuel Goldwyn's<br />
1949 production slate was "The Goldwyn<br />
Girl," a Technicolor musical which will<br />
glorify the group of chorines used by the<br />
producer in every musical he has made since<br />
"Whoopee," filmed 18 years ago.<br />
Noted stars who began their careers as<br />
"Goldwyn Girls" include Betty Grable, Lucille<br />
Ball, Paulette Goddard, Virginia Bruce, Laraine<br />
Day. Jinx Palkenburg and Virginia<br />
Mayo.<br />
The film will be for RKO release.<br />
Lee Kirby Nominated<br />
BOTHELL, WASH.—Lee Kirby, co-owner<br />
of the Avon Theatre here, was nominated as<br />
a candidate for mayor of Monroe, his home<br />
town.<br />
East: Director WUliam Dieterle checked out<br />
for an extended stay in England and France,<br />
during which he will pilot a picture to be<br />
produced in Paris. Just signed to a new nonexclusive<br />
contract by Producer Hal Wallis,<br />
Dieterle also will devote some time to scouting<br />
European talent.<br />
West: Arthur Hornblow jr., Metro producer,<br />
checked in at the Culver City studio<br />
after a trip to England and the continent.<br />
His next picture may be filmed in Italy.<br />
East: Warners' eastern executives including<br />
Albert Warner, Ben Kalmenson, Samuel<br />
Schneider and Norman Moray returned to<br />
their New York headquarters after studio<br />
conferences concerning production plans for<br />
1949. The parleys were held with Jack L.<br />
and Harry M. Warner.<br />
West: Howard Strickling, Metro studio<br />
publicity chief, returned from Manhattan<br />
after a two-week stay, during which he huddled<br />
with Loew's, Inc., toppers about advertising<br />
and exploitation campaigns being<br />
formulated for upcoming releases.<br />
West: Col. William McCraw, executive director<br />
of Variety Clubs International,<br />
checked in at Monogram for huddles with<br />
President Steve Broidy and Pi'oducer Paul<br />
Short, concerning "Bad Boy," which Short<br />
produced under Variety Club sponsorship.<br />
West: James R. Grainger, Republic sales<br />
and distribution head, planed in after a<br />
country-wide tour of the company's exchanges.<br />
He planned to remain here over<br />
the holidays.<br />
West: Nat Cohen, British representative for<br />
Producer Edward Small, arrived from London<br />
for conferences with the independent<br />
picture-maker concerning plans for launching<br />
a new picture in England next March.<br />
East: R. B. Roberts, independent producer<br />
who recently made "Force of Evil" for Enterprise,<br />
planed for New York to attend the<br />
eastern opening of the John Garfield starrer,<br />
which is being distributed by Metro.<br />
MT<br />
ALL started as a gag, this business of<br />
referring to the president of Screen Guild<br />
Productions as "Orson Lippert." But the<br />
ever-expand'ng activities of that gentleman<br />
whose first name is Robert, as is well known<br />
by anyone who reads film tradepapers—are<br />
rapidly divorcing the nickname from the<br />
category of ribs.<br />
Lippert can now lay claim to more designations<br />
and accomplishments than were boasted<br />
by Orson Welles at the peak of that wonderboy's<br />
mercurial career; witness: Exhibitor,<br />
distribution executive, distribution franchise<br />
holder, producer, director and promoter.<br />
Enough has been printed, here and elsewhere,<br />
about Lippert's impressive operations<br />
in the f .rst four of those classifications, their<br />
genesis and their co-relationship, to make<br />
further comment unnecessary. It is with the<br />
latter pair that these paragraphs concern<br />
themselves.<br />
"Last of the Wild Horses," a current SGP<br />
release, demonstrates the company head's<br />
ability to apply the same versatOity and effectiveness<br />
to those facets of the film business<br />
as he already had manifested in his<br />
other varied chores.<br />
The picture was filmed almost in its entirety<br />
on location in the Rogue river valley<br />
outside of Medford, Ore., in which northern<br />
municipality Lippert owns and operates all of<br />
the motion picture theatres. And it was<br />
there that he established his status as a<br />
promoter par excellence. Medford. like most<br />
of the west's communities, has and is proud<br />
of its sheriff's posse, a riding organization<br />
made up of local business and professional<br />
men who own their own horses. Producer<br />
Lippert enlisted the services—and for free<br />
of this group of horsemen as riding extras<br />
in the picture. Day after day, they brought<br />
their own horses, their own equipment and<br />
themselves to the outdoor location to ride<br />
thataway with the heavies or in pursuit<br />
thereof.<br />
But that was only the beginning. Near<br />
Medford is a smaller community, Jacksonville,<br />
once a thriving center of Oregon's<br />
goldmining and caltle-raising country but<br />
now virtually a ghost town. Through generous<br />
publicity in the local newspapers, Lippert<br />
interested the citizens of Jacksonville in<br />
digging into their attics and trunks for clothes<br />
of the period portrayed by the film and then<br />
appearing in street and courtroom scenes as<br />
atmosphere extras. Hundreds of them turned<br />
out and made a holiday of the shooting of<br />
those sequences, which were' filmed in and<br />
on the quaint buildings and streets of Jacksonville,<br />
which have changed but little since<br />
their heyday in the '70s and '80s.<br />
Resultantly, the picture is endowed with<br />
production values which transcend by countless<br />
thousands of dollars its budgetry classification.<br />
Not being satisfied with having promoted<br />
a setup which any producer and/or director<br />
would have cherished as a Utopia for<br />
top film-making at comparatively limited<br />
cost, Lippert elected to direct the picture<br />
himself—he was also its executive producer<br />
—his f.rst try at that tricky and important<br />
assignment. Here, too, he chalked up a<br />
credit of which any of Hollywood's more experienced<br />
megaphonists could and would be<br />
justifiably proud.<br />
What is to be concluded from this enumeration<br />
of Lippert's apparently limitless accomplishments<br />
and versatility is rather selfevident.<br />
His work on "Wild Hor-ses," the<br />
tradepaper critical acclaim accorded the offering<br />
and the profitable bookings it is fulfilling<br />
establish that with ingenuity and<br />
level-headed business tactics, it is still possible<br />
to turn out sound, acceptable film entertainment<br />
at reasonable costs. With most<br />
film-makers and production companies<br />
frightened to near-hysteria by rising costs<br />
and faltering grosses, that's a demonstration<br />
from which the entire industry can borrow<br />
courage as concerns the future of motion pictures.<br />
Twentieth Centurj-Fox's "The SnaJie Pit"<br />
is set for New Year's eve openings in San<br />
Francisco, Boston and Oakland.<br />
Elsewhere imbibing celebrants will have to<br />
resort to the more time-honored method of<br />
seeing their New Year's eve snakes.<br />
Arthur P. Jacobs, a comparative newcomer<br />
to the ranks of catch-as-catch-can spacesnatchers,<br />
distributes a far-afield item about<br />
one cf his clients, Johnny Green, composer<br />
and musician. It seems that Green has been<br />
commissioned by the Abbott Laboratories<br />
apparently a pharmaceutical house—to write<br />
an original, serious musical work for their<br />
annual publication, "What's New."<br />
Green's opus, a piano suite, is titled "Materia<br />
Medica," and is divided into three parts<br />
— "Narcotic," "Hypnotic" and "Stimulant."<br />
The divisions of "Materia Medica" should<br />
open many film-making doors to Music-<br />
Maker Green. Many the ciUTent feature<br />
whose score could logically avail Itself of the<br />
"Narcotic" and "Hypnotic" passages, even<br />
though there are few, unfortunately, for<br />
which the "Stimulant" might be considered<br />
appropriate.<br />
Too bad he didn't include a few bars dedicated<br />
to "Nux Vomica"—then he couldn't<br />
miss.<br />
From the Paramount blurbery of George<br />
Brown a touch of humor, in itself something<br />
of an innovation, as well as a courageous<br />
or is it foolhardy"?—exhibition of lese-majesty.<br />
Note<br />
"Remark of the day: Cecil B. DeMille was<br />
rirting the camera boom 25 feet in the air<br />
on the 'Samson and Delilah' sret at Paramount<br />
when one of the players looked up and remarked:<br />
'God's in his heaven, all's right with<br />
the world.'<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948<br />
53
iJIP<br />
WB g^ mMi^UUm ^^ r^<br />
PREPARE FOR DRIVE—Photo taken during the visit to Denver of Harry Gittleson,<br />
assistant to the RKO western division manager, when he named AI Kolitz,<br />
district manager, to be drive captain for the Denver and Salt Lake City territories<br />
for the forthcoming Ned Depinet drive. Kolitz is seated. Standing, left to right:<br />
Marvin GoU^.^arb, Gittleson, Sam Appelman, Dan Wagner and Joe Emerson, branch<br />
manager. Wagner has just been promoted from booker to salesman.<br />
LOS ANGELES<br />
V E. Simmons, former manager of the Congress<br />
Theatre, a unit in the Vinnicof circuit,<br />
has gone into a new venture. He's<br />
circulation manager for the Shafter Press<br />
in Shafter, heart of California's potato and<br />
cotton country . . . George Hicliey, Metro's<br />
western sales chief, pulled out for San Francisco<br />
for huddles at the Bay city branch<br />
office.<br />
F. A. Bateman, general sales manager for<br />
Screen Guild, planed in from Oklahoma City<br />
after conducting a sales meeting there . . .<br />
Topping the entertainment list for Fox West<br />
Coast's annual Christmas banquet Thursday<br />
(23) was Danny Thomas, film and radio<br />
comic. The affair was at the Ambassador<br />
hotel.<br />
An East Los Angeles theatre was robbed<br />
of $1,000 in cash recently when a bandit<br />
flourished a gun at Walter Brust, assistant<br />
manager, just as he opened the theatre safe<br />
to count the weel^end receipts. Brust was<br />
forced into a car after handing over the<br />
money and taken to East Seventh and<br />
Fresno streets where he was shoved from the<br />
vehicle, police reported.<br />
Exeter Vetoes Zoning Change<br />
EXETER, CALIF.—Climaxing weeks of discussion,<br />
the city council voted four to one to<br />
uphold the action of the city planning commission<br />
in denying a variance in the city<br />
zoning ordinance to permit Mr. and<br />
Mrs. C. E. Pease to build a theatre facing<br />
Pine street, east of C street.<br />
The main contention of those who opposed<br />
the building idea was that it would create<br />
another business block of buildings with no<br />
rear access. Those in favor declared Pine<br />
street should continue to be the main business<br />
street although the lots run the other<br />
way.<br />
Sign Installed at Lind<br />
LIND, WASH.—A large neon sign has been<br />
Installed above the entrance to the new Empire<br />
Theatre under construction here and<br />
scheduled for completion next year.<br />
Nevin McCord to Manage<br />
Capitol at Salt Lake<br />
SALT LAKE CITY—Nevin McCord, manager<br />
of the Ada and Boise theatres in Boise,<br />
Ida., has been transferred here to manage<br />
the Capitol Theatre. All are affiliated with<br />
Intermountain Theatres, Inc.<br />
Robert E. Workman, former Capitol manager,<br />
was transferred to Boise to handle affairs<br />
at the two houses. McCord's post here<br />
actually is a return for him. since he managed<br />
the Capitol prior to World War II. He<br />
and Mrs. McCord and their 7-year-old daughter<br />
Susan will make their home in Salt<br />
Lake, while Workman and his family will<br />
move to Boise.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. William Jury<br />
Buy Vogue at Littleton<br />
LITTLETON, COLO.—Mr. and Mrs. Wil-<br />
have purchased<br />
Vogue Theatre here from Mr. and Mrs.<br />
liam B. Jury of Freeport, 111.,<br />
the<br />
H. L. Montgomery jr. Jury formerly was<br />
with the Patio Theatre of Freeport for nearly<br />
18 years. Mrs. Jury will act as cashier at<br />
the theatre.<br />
Prize for Theatre Name<br />
HAYWARD, CALIF.—Walt Deininger,<br />
Hayward manager for Golden States Theatres,<br />
Inc., has offered a $25 fii-st prize in<br />
a contest to name the new Castro street<br />
theatre here. Deadline in the contest is<br />
January 1. The projected 950-seat showcase<br />
is scheduled for completion early next spring.<br />
It was designed by Ned Topham, Golden<br />
State architect.<br />
Robert H. Allen Dead<br />
TRACY, CALIF.—Robert H. Allen, ownermanager<br />
of the Arlon Theatre and manager<br />
of the Grand Theatre, died here following<br />
a heart attack suffered at his home. He had<br />
managed the Grand Theatre since 1925 when<br />
the Principal Theatres Co. bought it. He<br />
established the Arlon in 1943. He is survived<br />
by his wife, three daughters and a son. Interment<br />
was in Ti'acy cemetery.<br />
Los Angeles Yearns<br />
For Tax on Tickets<br />
LOS ANGELES—Councilmen of this city<br />
are looking longingly toward a $30,000,000<br />
additional income which could be obtained<br />
from the 20 per cent amusement tax now<br />
going to the federal treasury.<br />
Although unavailable now, Council President<br />
Harold A. Henry estimated the tax<br />
would take care of all pressing demands for<br />
new revenue locally. Henry sponsored a resolution<br />
which was adopted unanimously, urging<br />
the American Municipal Ass'n meeting<br />
in Washington to go on record in favor of<br />
federal relinquishment of the taxes within<br />
corporate boundaries.<br />
Mayor Bowron and several members of<br />
the city council attended the convention and<br />
they were urged in the resolution to put<br />
other delegates on record if possible.<br />
Henry, who piloted a resolution favoring<br />
the amusement tax switch thi-ough the council<br />
some months ago, said dispatches from<br />
Washington indicated that similar sentiment<br />
was prevalent at the convention where hundreds<br />
of American cities were represented.<br />
Member<br />
Milas Hurley Is<br />
Of Picture Pioneering<br />
TUCUMCARI, N. M.—Milas L. Hurley,<br />
owner of the Hm-ley Theatres here, recently<br />
was admitted to full membership in<br />
Picture Pioneering, an organization of theatre<br />
owners who have been in the profession<br />
for 25 years or more. Hurley operates<br />
the Princess and Odeon theatres here and<br />
has been in exhibition for more than 30<br />
years.<br />
SCG Contract Extended<br />
HOLLYWOOD— greement has<br />
been<br />
reached between the Screen Cartoonists<br />
Guild and the five major cartoon production<br />
units calling for extension of the SCO's present<br />
pact, unchanged, for another year. Signatories<br />
to the renewed contract include<br />
Metro, Walt Disney, Warners, George Pal<br />
and Walter Lantz.<br />
Work at The Dalles Houses<br />
THE DALLES. ORE.—Construction work<br />
was under way here on modernization projects<br />
at both the Granada and Columbia theatres.<br />
Manager Maynard Culver said snack<br />
bars would be installed at both situations<br />
and other improvements at the Granada<br />
would include a new marquee and display<br />
boards, newly carpeted foyer and new auditorium<br />
doors.<br />
Christmas Party for Davis<br />
DAVIS, CALIF.—Leonard Smith, manager<br />
of the Varsity, plans to have a new theatre<br />
next year; a theatre big enough to accommodate<br />
all the children from kindergarten<br />
through high school and parents too. This<br />
announcement followed a Christmas party<br />
at the Varsity sponsored by the Sacramento<br />
Bee and radio station KPBK in cooperation<br />
with Smith. Fom- hundred children attended<br />
the free Christmas program, which opened<br />
with Santa greeting the elementary school<br />
children and closed with the distribution of<br />
gifts.<br />
54<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948
eissues<br />
'Unknown' Scores 135<br />
In First Frisco Week<br />
SAN FRANCISCO—Top honors in a week<br />
that didn't fare so well went to the Paramount<br />
with the opening of "Unknown Island"<br />
rating 135 per cent. Second spot honors with<br />
125 per cent, went to the Orpheum with the<br />
opening of "The Countess of Monte Cristo."<br />
and third place was awarded to the third<br />
week of "The Three Musketeers" at the Warfield.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Esquire The Killers (U-I); Canyon Passage<br />
(U-I) 100<br />
..<br />
Fox—Fighter Squadron (WB); Smart Girls Don't<br />
Talk (WB), 2nd wk 100<br />
Golden Gate A Song Is Bora (RKO); Guns ol<br />
Hate (RKO), 3rd wk 100<br />
Orpheum—The Countess of Monte Cristo (U-I),<br />
Manhattan Angel 125<br />
Paramount Unknown Island (FC); Appointment<br />
With Murder (FC) 135<br />
St. Francis The Lives of a Bengal Lancer<br />
(Paia), reissue 95<br />
Stale—He Walked by Night (EL), Million Dollar<br />
Weekend (EL), 2nd wk 115<br />
United Artists—Red River (UA), 9th wk 110<br />
United Nations June Bride (WB) Homicide<br />
for Three (Rep), 5th wk 110<br />
Warfield—The Three Musketeers (MGM), 3rd wk...l20<br />
'Don't Trust Your Husband'<br />
Bows In at Seattle at 120<br />
SEATTLE—"Don't Trust Your- Husband"<br />
bowed into the Fifth Avenue and "Road<br />
House" took over at the Coliseum, with both<br />
getting 120 to top the newcomers. "The Best<br />
Years of Our Lives" was best of all in the city<br />
with 130 at the Liberty. The Christmas pinch<br />
was just beginning to show in most situations.<br />
Blue Mouse—When My Baby Smiles at Me<br />
{20th-Fox); Escape (20th-Fox), 4th d.t. wk 80<br />
Coliseum Road House (20th-Fox),- Joe Palooka in<br />
Winner Take AU (Mono) 120<br />
Fifth Avenue—Don't Trust Your Husband (UA);<br />
Bodyguard (RKO) ,120<br />
Liberty—The Best Yeors of Our Lives (RKO),<br />
2nd wk 130<br />
Music Box—Fighter Squadron (WB), Smart Girls<br />
Don't Talk (WB), 3rd d.t wk 75<br />
Music Hall—The Three Musketeers (MGM),<br />
The Spiritualist (EL), 3rd wk<br />
Orpheum—Belle Starr's Daughter (20th-Fox);<br />
125<br />
Smuggler's Cove (Mono) 90<br />
Paramount—Red River (UA), 3rd wk 125<br />
Los Angeles Grosses<br />
Spiral Downward<br />
LOS ANGELES—The pre-Christmas slump<br />
found most first run takes plummeting downward<br />
as a heavy rainstorm and the shopping<br />
rush combined to keep potential customers<br />
away from the theatres. Best mark of the<br />
week was scored by "Unfaithfully Yours,"<br />
hitting a 125 per cent average in its first<br />
stanza at five houses.<br />
Belmont, El Rey. Orpheum, Vogue—Jungle Jim<br />
(Col); Loaded Pistols (Col) 100<br />
Carthay, Chinese, State, UptoviOi, Loyola Unfaithfully<br />
Yours (20th-Fox) 125<br />
Culver, Guild, Iris, Ritz, Studio City, United<br />
Artists Canyon Passage (U-1); Frontier Gal<br />
(U-I) 100<br />
,<br />
Downtown, Hollywood Paramounls The Accused<br />
(Para): Harpoon (SG), 2nd wk 60<br />
Egyptian, Los Angeles, Wilshire—The Hills of<br />
Home (MGM) 115<br />
Four Music Halls—The Time of Your Life (UA).,..110<br />
Four Star—Hamlet (U-I), roadshow, 8th wk 90<br />
Pontages, Hillstreet—She (RKO); The Last Days<br />
of Pompeii (RKO), reissues, 2nd wk 100<br />
Warners Downtown, Hollywood, Wiltern—The<br />
Decision of Christopher Blake (WB); Smart<br />
Girls Don't Talk (WB) 90<br />
Richard A. Buck Rites<br />
LOS ANGELES—Funeral services were<br />
conducted at the Church of the Recessional<br />
here for Richard A. Buck, 39, motion picture<br />
actor. Buck is survived by his widow Marjorie,<br />
a daughter Julie, a sister, Mrs. Julia<br />
Reisinger, and a brother Edward J. Hustler.<br />
Northwest ITO Renames<br />
James Hone 28th Time<br />
, i-r^-\ n<br />
SEATTLE—All officers and trustees of the<br />
Independent Theatre Owners of Washington,<br />
Northern Idaho and<br />
Alaska were re-elected<br />
at the annual meeting<br />
in the New Washington<br />
hotel here. James<br />
Hone, executive secretary,<br />
was re-elected for<br />
his 28th year.<br />
The session opened<br />
with a luncheon, also<br />
attended by 25 members<br />
of the state legislature.<br />
At the head<br />
table were L. O.<br />
James Hone Lukan, who presided;<br />
Hone; Earl Coe, Washington's secretary of<br />
state; Jack Neville, auditor; Robert Graham,<br />
attorney, and Judge William J, Wilkins,<br />
counsel for the organization. Coe thanked<br />
the exhibitors for using trailers on "registration"<br />
and "vote early" before the recent<br />
election, declaring he believed they had a<br />
lot to do with the record balloting and terrific<br />
early voting.<br />
In a business session later, the election<br />
was held and plans set up to discourage<br />
any move to increase admission, taxes during<br />
the coming session of the state legislatm'e.<br />
The 15 members of the board of directors<br />
re-elected were Lukan, Walter Coy, B. F.<br />
Shearer, Jack Neville ( auditor i, and Leroy<br />
Johnson (treasurer! of Seattle; Mildred<br />
Bishop Wall, Lewiston, Idaho; Mary A. St.<br />
John. Chehalis; L. A, Gillespie, Okanogan;<br />
East at Stockton, Calif.,<br />
Opened by Westland Co.<br />
STOCKTON. CALIF.—The $150,000 East<br />
Theatre here was opened recently by Westland<br />
Theatres, operators of the 850-seat<br />
house. Rodda Harvey, vice-president of<br />
Westland, said innovation at the East was<br />
a complete soda fountain inside the theatre,<br />
arranged, however, so that it is accessible<br />
from the street. Harvey said Westland now<br />
operates 21 theatres in California and that<br />
the firm might consider building still another<br />
house in Stockton if the new East<br />
"lives up to expectations."<br />
FWC Fine Arts to Open<br />
LOS ANGELES—Completely redecorated,<br />
including new carpeting, seats, lighting fixtures<br />
and marquee, plus new sound and<br />
projection equipment, Fox West Coast's Fine<br />
Arts Theatre, Wilshire boulevard showcase,<br />
will open December 28. Formerly the second<br />
run Regina, the Fine Arts will operate<br />
on a de luxe policy, playing films of "distinguished<br />
merit."<br />
Opening bill will be "The Red Shoes," a<br />
J. Arthur Rank film being released by Eagle<br />
Lion. The Fine Arts has a 700-seat capacity.<br />
Santa Fe El Paseo Opens<br />
SANTA FE—The El Paseo Theatre, built<br />
Lionel Brown, Edmonds; W. B. McDonald,<br />
Olympia; Ed Halberg, Port Angeles; Erwin<br />
Fey, Renton; Joe Rosenfield, Spokane; Chester<br />
Nilsson, Tacoma, and Fi'ed Mercy jr.,<br />
Yakima.<br />
Rename Rotus Harvey<br />
California ITO Head<br />
SAN FRANCISCO—Rotus Harvey was reelected<br />
president of the ITO of Northern<br />
California in a recent directors meeting<br />
here, despite his plea that inasmuch as he<br />
had been president or secretary of the organization<br />
for the last 18 years he felt that<br />
for the good of the group a new president<br />
should be elected.<br />
Harvey made his statement to the directors<br />
prior to the election but directors overrode<br />
his plea and elected him to serve another<br />
year. Ben Levin was re-elected vice-president<br />
and Harry Franklin was renamed secretary-treasurer.<br />
Levin and Harvey also were re-elected to<br />
serve as trustees to the PCCITO and Homer<br />
Tegtmeier was named first alternate trustee<br />
with Harry Franklin as second alternate<br />
trustee.<br />
Two days prior to the election of officers<br />
the 11 member board of directors for 1949<br />
was named. They include Lee Dibble, Harry<br />
Franklin, Rotus Harvey, Carol Nathan, Ray<br />
Syufy, Sid Weisbaum, Ray Knight, Sol Lesser.<br />
Ben Levin. Dave Richards and Homer<br />
Tegtmeier.<br />
here on the site of the old Paris Theatre, was<br />
opened formally recently by Salmon & Greer,<br />
Inc., builders and owners of the showcase.<br />
The 672-seat situation includes a 202-seat<br />
balcony and was built of steel and concrete.<br />
Truman Mathews was architect for the building<br />
and Arnold and Savage, Denver decorators,<br />
designed the interior in Indian and<br />
Spanish motifs. Salmon & Greer is affiliated<br />
with Gibraltar Enterprises of Denver.<br />
Don Beers Opens Santa Fe<br />
SANTA FE—The new 877-seat Santa Fe<br />
Theatre has been opened formally here by<br />
owner Don Beers. Ben Williams was named<br />
manager of the house, the fifth theatre here<br />
and the only independent.<br />
The Santa Fe measures 146x60 feet and<br />
is built of concrete block, steel and veneer<br />
brick. Construction was supervised by Lupe<br />
Sanchez and Jolin Fairchild of Santa Fe,<br />
while Gordon Ferguson of Albuquerque was<br />
the architect.<br />
'Rope' Okayed for Kids<br />
HELENA—Leaders of childi'en's organizations<br />
here when questioned as to whether<br />
or not "Rope" should be shown to juvenile<br />
audiences, were agreed, that although the<br />
picture could not be recommended for children,<br />
it is no worse than many gangster<br />
films which they see and enjoy.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: December 25, ld4« 55
. . . Also<br />
. . Arthur<br />
. . Benny<br />
. . Johnny<br />
. . Bob<br />
SAN FRANCISCO<br />
•There's been a shift of managers in the<br />
Blumenfeld ch-cuit, according to East Bay<br />
district chief Alan Warshauer. Warren G.<br />
Pechner again is making his headquarters<br />
at the Esquire, where he also is handling advertising<br />
and publicity for two other Blumenfeld<br />
houses, the T&D and Roxie. Pechner<br />
succeeds Edward Gates who leaves to take<br />
over as manager of the El Camino in San<br />
Rafael. Hugh O. Jones has stepped from<br />
the Roxie to Pechner's old spot at the T&D,<br />
while William E. Chamberlain has left the<br />
Berkeley to direct the Roxie. Ai-vid A. Erickson<br />
has been moved from the Cerrito in El<br />
Cerrito to the Berkeley, George DeWees from<br />
the Vista in El Cerrito to the Cerrito and<br />
Sid Klein, well known in San Francisco and<br />
Riverside theatre circles, is a newcomer to<br />
the Blumenfeld organization and is in charge<br />
of the Vista.<br />
Robert H. AUen, theatre operator in Tracy,<br />
The largest television<br />
died recently . . .<br />
screen here will be installed on the mezzanine<br />
floor of the Coliseum Theatre. The<br />
Screen, one of 100 made by RCA, measures<br />
5x7 feet and will keep entertained patrons<br />
who are waiting for the next feature to start.<br />
Frank Capra was up from Hollywood<br />
looking around San Pi-ancisco for a suitable<br />
location for his next picture, "Broadway<br />
Four hundred children attended<br />
Bill" . . .<br />
the free Christmas program sponsored in<br />
Sacramento by a local paper and radio station<br />
in cooperation with Leonard Smith,<br />
manager of the Varsity Theatre ... A Christ-<br />
ATTRACTIVE POPCORN BOXES<br />
Printed in Red and White<br />
$7.50 per thousand<br />
Complete Popcorn Supplies<br />
ARTHUR UNGER CO., INC.<br />
105 Golden Gate Ave. San Francisco 2, Cal.<br />
THE MODERN PROIECTOH<br />
^J^^^^Mf^/<br />
Your choice will then be<br />
the technically,<br />
mechanically and economically<br />
superior lamp .<br />
ASHCRAFT SUPREX C70<br />
. . the<br />
Pacific Coost Distributors<br />
B. F. SHEARER COMPANY<br />
LOS ANGELES: 1164 SMIk Vii<br />
SAN FRANCISCO: Z«3 taKii<br />
f I14S<br />
• PORTLAND: ll«T «. w.<br />
Iirkill Mill • SEATTLE: 2311 Sii<br />
mas celebration featuring Singleton's Kiddy<br />
revue was held at the Alhambra Theatre<br />
here for the children.<br />
Children of Benicia, their parents and<br />
friends were invited to the Victory Theatre<br />
for a Christmas party. Two feature pictures<br />
with cartoons and comedies were secured<br />
by the management for the occasion<br />
and everything was free! . . . The Donner<br />
Theatre in Truckee was host at a free Chi-istmas<br />
party for youngsters in the area. V. C.<br />
Shattuck is manager.<br />
K. B. Richetts from Babbitt Theatre, Babbitt,<br />
was on the Row . Reese, Orpheum<br />
in Lakeport, saw friends on the Row<br />
in town was W. G. Allen from the<br />
Sunset in Riverdale. Milton Samis' two<br />
sons and George Dolfin were here from their<br />
Hester Theatre in San Jose . . . Tony Heinsbergen,<br />
architect for the Golden Gate Theatre,<br />
was in town giving the final touches<br />
to the beautiful house. The Golden Gate<br />
was to be formally reopened Christmas day<br />
despite the fact that it was never closed<br />
during alterations.<br />
Fox West Coast Theatres was to have its<br />
gala Cln-istmas party Thursday i23) at the<br />
Variety Club .<br />
Unger, local popcorn<br />
man, was off to the popcorn convention<br />
in Chicago and from there to New York,<br />
Washington, Philadelphia and points east.<br />
Nettie, his wife, accompanied him . . . Fred<br />
Williams, ConsoUdated Amusement, and his<br />
wife will go to Honolulu after the fu-st of the<br />
year for a business trip.<br />
The Saratoga Theatre in Saratoga, being<br />
built and operated by Mason Shaw, will open<br />
around January 10 . . . Agnes Cannon, bookkeeper<br />
at Monogram, was upset over the<br />
loss of a fountain pen, a gift from Aggie.<br />
A substantial reward is offered.<br />
. . . Walter Bell,<br />
.<br />
R. B. Smith, Chowchilla Theatre, Chowchilla,<br />
Maribel<br />
was here<br />
in Weott, also was in town . . . Willard Wagner<br />
from the Stam in Antioch was along<br />
the Row Judell, Jam-Handy<br />
.<br />
organization, was on his way to Seattle and<br />
Portland Dolezal was in from<br />
Howard Butler,<br />
the Niles Theatre, Altura . . .<br />
Monogram sales representative, toured<br />
southern Oregon on business.<br />
Hal Flanagan, formerly with Eagle Lion<br />
as booker, is now with Favorite Films here<br />
in the same capacity . . . Buck Smith, who<br />
returned from Japan after a brief stay, is<br />
now with Eagle Lion.<br />
4B/llTr<br />
ORGANIZAT/ON<br />
EXPfRlfNCE<br />
Jimmy O'Neal Elected<br />
Tent 32 Chief Barker<br />
SAN FRANCISCO—Jimmy O'Neal, theatre<br />
concessioner, has been elected chief barker<br />
of Tent 32, Variety Club of Northern California,<br />
to succeed Abe Blumenfeld, chief<br />
barker since the organization's founding in<br />
May 1947.<br />
Other officers, elected at a recent meeting<br />
of the 11 canvasmen, were Ellis Levy,<br />
first assistant chief barker; Nate Blumenfeld,<br />
second assistant chief barker; Jerry<br />
Zigmond, property master, and Al Grubstick,<br />
dough guy.<br />
The local Variety tent also tendered a testimonial<br />
dinner for Abe Blumenfeld in recognition<br />
of his outstanding service to the<br />
club which he helped found locally. In addition<br />
to the more than 200 club members<br />
attending the dinner, Charles P. Skouras,<br />
president of National Theatres, and representatives<br />
of the Variety Club of Los Angeles<br />
were in attendance.<br />
Mesa Owner Wayne Phelps<br />
Files Antitrust Suit<br />
PHOENIX—A $144,000 suit against the<br />
Harry L. Nace Theatres, Inc., and several<br />
motion picture distributors has been filed in<br />
federal court here by Wayne Phelps, owner<br />
of the Times Theatre in nearby Mesa.<br />
The suit charges the defendants have violated<br />
antitrust laws in "preventing the<br />
plaintiff from showing first run films."<br />
Phelps seeks triple damages, figuring actual<br />
damages have been $48,300 during the last<br />
16 months from loss of trade suffered through<br />
an inability to secm-e first run films.<br />
Named defendants besides Paramount<br />
Nace, Inc., and Harry L. Nace were RKO,<br />
Warner Bros. Distributing Corp., 20th Century-Fox,<br />
Columbia, Universal, Loew's, Inc.,<br />
United Artists, Republic and Eagle Lion.<br />
Old Tokay Theatre Sold<br />
SOUTH BEND, WASH.—The old Tokay<br />
Theatre building here has been sold to Harley<br />
Webber, who said he would completely<br />
remodel and renovate the building to accommodate<br />
a new city hall and a recreational<br />
center to include a bowling alley and<br />
swimming pool. The building was erected<br />
about 1920 by the late George Reizner and,<br />
since his death, has been operated by A. G.<br />
Basil.<br />
Buys Hanford Victory<br />
HANFORD, CALIF.—Gordon L. Shirley<br />
has purchased the Victoi-y Theatre here<br />
from William Knabhan of Alameda and will<br />
take over active management of the house.<br />
Shirley formerly was employed for seven<br />
years by Westside Theatre, Inc.<br />
Install Video Equipment<br />
SAN FRANCISCO—The Telenews Theatre<br />
has installed television receiving equipment<br />
in its new television lounge, said to<br />
be the first completed theatrical video installation<br />
in the Bay area.<br />
Sell to Erwin Kanovitz<br />
LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Union<br />
Theatre has been sold to Erwin Kanovitz.<br />
No information as to price was available.<br />
56<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948
. . Fred<br />
. . Warner<br />
. . "Red<br />
. . Fay<br />
. .<br />
DENVER<br />
"The Rocky Mountain Screen club will hold<br />
a New Year's eve party at the newly<br />
remodeled clubrooms. All members are invited,<br />
and are asked to bring friends . . .<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Weiner, who recently<br />
moved to California, were seriously injured<br />
when they were struck by a car while they<br />
waited in a safety zone in Los Angeles.<br />
They spent four weeks in a hospital. Weiner<br />
formerly was auditor for Fox Intermountain<br />
in Denver.<br />
A suit which involves the payment of<br />
$18,591.41 was filed against the Motorena<br />
Drive-In, Greeley, by a number of firms *hat<br />
participated in the building. The suit asks<br />
that the property be sold to satisfy the<br />
claims . Lind, owner of theatres at<br />
Rifle, was brought to Mercy hospital from<br />
New Orleans, where he suffered a heart<br />
attack while attending the Allied convention.<br />
He will be taken to Rifle as soon as<br />
his condition permits.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Glen Wittstruck of the Rio,<br />
Meeker, will take an extended vacation as<br />
soon as they decide where to go—Honolulu<br />
or Nassau ... Ed Herschel, Metro auditor,<br />
is at the local branch . Brown and<br />
Mary Anderson are new clyerks at U-I .<br />
Mel Snapp. head shipper at Paramount, is<br />
daddy of a baby girl born at St. Luke's,<br />
named Judith.<br />
Christmas vacationers over the holiday<br />
include Irene Gardner, cashier, and Norma<br />
Tomlin, biller, to Kansas: Edna Vessa, clerk,<br />
to Chicago: Pauline Hall, manager's secretary,<br />
to Phoenix, and Jim Ricketts, booker,<br />
to Des Moines . River" broke several<br />
records in its rim at the Broadway.<br />
Among them were that it ran longer first<br />
run than any other film in Denver, and<br />
it also played to more people first run than<br />
any other film. It ran nine weeks.<br />
.<br />
Harry Thomas, producer, stopped a few<br />
hours to confer with M. R. Austin, manager<br />
for Eagle Lion . . . Sol Francis of the home<br />
office and Lon T. Fidler, Monogram franchise<br />
owner, went to Colorado Springs on<br />
a sales trip Bros, exchange held<br />
its Christmas party at the Yucca, Metro<br />
at the Rocky Mountain Screen club: Western<br />
Service & Supply at the Park Lane, and<br />
Paramount at the "Branch-o."<br />
Theatre folk on Filmrow: Neal Beezley,<br />
Burlington: John Steele, Limon: Mrs. Fred<br />
Lind, Rifle: Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hall, Akron:<br />
Frank Aydelotte, Fort Collins: Lloyd Greve,<br />
Eagle: Leon Coulter, Loveland: C. E. Mc-<br />
Laughlin, Las Animas: John Cabot. Frederick:<br />
Elden Menagh, Fort Lupton: Glen<br />
Wittstruck, Meeker: R. D. Ervin, Kremmling:<br />
Dave Warnock, Johnstown: George Nescher,<br />
Springfield: W. F. Davis, Idaho Springs:<br />
Lynn Zorn, Julesburg: Herbert Gumper,<br />
Ceter, and Sam Reed, Fairplay.
New Colorado ATO Five-Point Program<br />
DENVER—A five-point program has<br />
been set up for the newly organized Colorado<br />
Ass'n of Theatre owners, which will<br />
hold its first convention here February<br />
1. 2. Ted Gamble, president of ATOA, and<br />
R. J. O'Donnell. president of Variety Clubs<br />
International, are among the speakers<br />
slated. George Murphy, film star, will act<br />
as master of ceremonies at the banquet<br />
following the convention.<br />
According to the incorporators the aims<br />
of the group will be:<br />
(11 To promote the general welfare of<br />
all motion picture theatre owners and<br />
operators in Colorado by providing a medium<br />
thi-ough which their common problems<br />
may be met and in which they may<br />
unite for their common mutual benefit,<br />
protection and improvement.<br />
(2) To foster and cultivate the highest<br />
possible standards in motion picture exhibition<br />
and theatre mana'gement, in trade<br />
relations and business conduct.<br />
(31 To encourage among the members<br />
closer acquaintance and a friendly spirit<br />
of mutual cooperation.<br />
(41 To initiate, institute, conduct, carry<br />
on and promote or in any further manner<br />
add to or assist in publicity campaigns for<br />
the furtherance and betterment of the interests<br />
of the members, and the promotion<br />
of amicable relations between the members<br />
and other groups, and the public at large.<br />
(51 To examine, analyze, discuss and<br />
disseminate information concerning the<br />
general welfare and prosperity of theatre<br />
owners and operators, and to improve by<br />
all lawful and honorable means their status<br />
and condition.<br />
Testing Gadget Being<br />
Extended to Video<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Preferences and reactions<br />
of television audiences were discussed by Jack<br />
Sayers of Audience Research, Inc., at a meeting<br />
of the Academy of Television Arts and<br />
Sciences. Sayers reported on "pilot" studies<br />
done by his organization in Los Angeles and<br />
in the east, and also demonstrated how the<br />
Hopkins "televote" machine, which measures<br />
audience reactions to motion pictures, is being<br />
adapted to video programs.<br />
Reports that the newly organized Television<br />
Film Producers Ass'n might merge<br />
with other video groups were denied by Hal<br />
Roach jr., president of the group, who characterized<br />
the rumors as "well-intentioned<br />
but erroneous." Roach emphasized that<br />
TFPA plans to cooperate fully with other<br />
organizations but added that in such a large<br />
field there is room for a number of such<br />
groups, "each with its separate goals and<br />
functions."<br />
'Bad Boy' Premieres<br />
In 50 Variety Cities<br />
HOLLYWOOD—Simultaneous world premieres<br />
on February 22. Washington's birthday,<br />
are being set up in 43 cities where Variety<br />
Club tents are located for "Bad Boy,"<br />
produced by Paul Short for Allied Artists,<br />
under sponsorship of Variety Clubs International.<br />
The openings will include Dallas, Los<br />
Angeles, San Francisco and other key centers.<br />
On the following day the vehicle, starring<br />
Audie Murphy, Jane Wyatt and Lloya<br />
Nolan, will open day-date in 500 situations.<br />
With premiere admissions to range from<br />
$1.50 to $10, local tents will participate in<br />
the grosses on a sliding scale.<br />
Meantime Short is setting up a special advance<br />
screening on January 3 in Dallas for<br />
For Quick Results in Sale of Your Theatre<br />
PHONE<br />
Over 650 Celebrate<br />
6lh Allied Birthday<br />
CHICAGO—The sixth anniversary of the<br />
Allied Buying & Booking Organization of<br />
Illinois was celebrated at a recent dinnerdance<br />
held at Chicago's swank Chez Paree.<br />
The occasion also honored Jack Kirsch,<br />
leader and president of Allied, on his birthday.<br />
Over 650 persons attended the affair,<br />
including Mayor Kennelly, judges, civic leaders,<br />
union officials, exhibitors and exchange<br />
heads, columnists and the press.<br />
Van A. Nomikos, circuit head, was toastmaster<br />
and introduced the celebrities. Nomikos<br />
said the Allied association was formed<br />
to serve the interests of the many independent<br />
theatre owners in and around Chicago<br />
in the purchase of motion pictures and<br />
to discuss many important matters in theatre<br />
operation.<br />
Kirsch said the annual gatherings were designed<br />
to spread a feeling of friendship within<br />
the framework of the local motion pictiu-e<br />
industry and thanked everyone for being present<br />
and joining in the spirit of the occasion.<br />
The highlight of the occasion was the cutting<br />
of a huge birthday cake by Mrs. Jack<br />
Kirsch. Many radio, stage and night club<br />
stars took part in the festivities which included<br />
the Chez Paree revue, headed by Gracie<br />
Barry and Harvey Thomas, with dancing to<br />
music by Cee Davidson and his band.<br />
Personalized Date Strips<br />
Is Offered by Filmack<br />
CHICAGO—Filmack Trailers has designed<br />
a new series of personalized date strips and<br />
presentation headers for theatre use. Harold<br />
Perlman, Filmack Advertising head, says exhibitors<br />
prefer to have the theatre name on<br />
all date strips because it serves as an added<br />
reminder.<br />
Canton and Springfield<br />
Theatre Improvements<br />
CANTON, ILL.—A new marquee and porcelain<br />
front will be installed on the Capitol<br />
Theatre here by the C. Bendsen Co. of Decatur.<br />
The Bendsen firm also is erecting a<br />
new vertical on the Great States Orpheum<br />
Theatre in Springfield, 111.<br />
ATOI Directors Meet<br />
INDIANAPOLIS—At a recent monthly<br />
luncheon and business meeting, the board of<br />
directors of Allied of Indiana voted unanimously<br />
in favor of the Allied States twin<br />
resolutions pertaining to the disciplining of<br />
stars, as proposed by Joe Finneran and Syd<br />
Samuelson.<br />
$70,000 Damage to Bell<br />
CHICAGO—Fire damage to the Bell Theatre<br />
here has been estimated by Leon Kaplan,<br />
part owner of the house, at $70,000, $35,-<br />
000 each to the building and its contents.<br />
Cause of the fire was undetermined.<br />
Build Waukegon Airer<br />
WAUKEGON, ILL.—Construction work is<br />
under way on the Keno Family Drive-In,<br />
being built here by C. J. Papas, S. J. Papas<br />
and Andrew M. Spheeris of Kenosha. Tentative<br />
opening date is set for next May.<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 194«<br />
ITOW Board Urges Rein<br />
On Pictures for Video<br />
MILWAUKEE—Directors of the Independent<br />
Theatre Owners of Wisconsin, at a<br />
meeting in its offices Jiere, unanimously<br />
voted to submit to all motion picture producers<br />
and distributors a request that film.s<br />
should not be released for use in television<br />
until they are at least five years old. If<br />
pictures are being reissued, the directors urge<br />
that a still longer period elapse before they<br />
are made available for video.<br />
Board members passed a resolution confirming<br />
the stand of the national Allied organization<br />
against forced percentage deals<br />
on pictures. Local trace practices are to be<br />
Hudson Circuit to Rebuild<br />
Strand at Angola, Ind.<br />
ANGOLA, IND.—Robert Hudson, head of<br />
the Hudson circuit, Richmond, Ind., is planning<br />
a $150,000 remodeling program at the<br />
Strand here. The present building is of the<br />
old opera house type.<br />
Hudson plans to remove the entire interior<br />
of the house, leaving only the four walls<br />
standing. Plans are now being made and<br />
work wiD begin as soon as possible. The entire<br />
front of the building wiU be modernized.<br />
New sound and projection equipment, seating<br />
and air conditioning will be installed.<br />
Eddie Kay Scores 'Tuna Clipper'<br />
Producer Lindsley Parsons has set Eddie<br />
Kay to score "Tuna Clipper" for Monogram.<br />
NEW RKO DIVISION MANAGER—<br />
Jerry Shinbach (right) talks things over<br />
with Sol A. Schwartz, vice-president and<br />
general manager of RKO, in their first<br />
conference since Shinbach's recent appointment<br />
a s RKO Theatres division<br />
manager. The new division manager<br />
succeeds Frank Smith, who was Chicago<br />
representative for labor relations for<br />
RKO. Shinback's headquarters will be<br />
in Chicago and he will have charge of<br />
the Palace and Grand in Chicago, Orpheum<br />
in Kansas City, Virginia and Orpheum<br />
in Champaign, Orpheum and Liberty<br />
in New Orleans, Keith's and Regent<br />
in Grand Rapids, Uptown in Detroit and<br />
Brandeis in Omaha.<br />
scrutinized more completely by members of<br />
the ITOW board.<br />
Cooperation in the observance of American<br />
Brotherhood week, February 20-27, was<br />
urged by the group.<br />
Members of the board attending the meeting<br />
included Mrs. Helen Hanke, Charles<br />
Trampe and Edward Johnson, all of Milwaukee:<br />
Ainold Brumm, North Milwaukee;<br />
L. V. Bergtold, Westby; George Panka,<br />
Prairie du Chien; F. J. McWilliams, Madison;<br />
John Hanus, Antigo; Sigmund Goldberg,<br />
Wausau; Floyd Albert, Mount Horeb; Russell<br />
Leddy, Green Bay, and John P. Adler.<br />
Show at St. Louis Adds<br />
$1,000 to Heart Fund<br />
ST. LOUIS—Tommy James, chief barker<br />
of the Variety Club, gave a report at a luncheon<br />
meeting Tuesday on the recent testimonial<br />
dinner given for Bob O'Donnell, head<br />
of Variety Clubs International, at the Baker<br />
hotel in Dallas, which James attended along<br />
with representatives of all the other 32 tents.<br />
He reported also the Heart fund will net<br />
$1,000 from the recent Variety-sponsored<br />
Horace Heidt show staged at the Municipal<br />
auditorium. The union sta'^ehands who<br />
worked at that show had Jonated their<br />
$108.96 in wages to the Heart fund.<br />
Chief Barker James also read a letter he<br />
received from L. L. Tate, director of health<br />
and hygiene, and Martin Kouri, his assistant.<br />
It follows;<br />
"We want to take this opportunity before<br />
the yuletide season to thank you, and aU the<br />
officers and members of the Variety Club, for<br />
the splendid contributions you have made<br />
in helping to save the vision of our public<br />
school children. You would be more than<br />
gratified if you could witness the relief and<br />
pleasm-e shown by these children when they<br />
realize the ease with which they can carry<br />
on their work by the aid of the glasses."<br />
The Heart fund during the past year has<br />
provided eye glasses free of cost to a number<br />
of school children whose parents were unable<br />
to buy these needed purchases.<br />
A $3 contribution for the Heart fund was<br />
made by Bob Edele. manager for Film Classics,<br />
in memory of the late Johanna Kaufman,<br />
aunt of Maury Davis, manager of the<br />
Will Rogers Theatre, who died a few days<br />
previously at the age of 76.<br />
Barker James also appealed to exhibitors<br />
who haven't already done so to show the<br />
short subject. "Tobaccoland," handled<br />
through National Screen. Those who exhibit<br />
this picture receive a fee that goes into the<br />
Heart fund.<br />
Terre Haute Amusement<br />
Buys Orpheum Theatre<br />
TERRE HAUTE, IND.—Tlie Terre Haute<br />
Amusement, Inc., has filed a warranty deed<br />
for the purchase of the Orpheum Theatre<br />
here from the Rose Foundation Corp. Revenue<br />
stamps attached to the deed indicate the<br />
purchase price was nearly $100,000.<br />
59
. . Jack<br />
. . Edward<br />
. . The<br />
. . . Eddie<br />
. . . Marge<br />
. . Jack<br />
. . Don<br />
. .<br />
Gallant<br />
MILWAUKEE<br />
A I<br />
. . Albert<br />
.<br />
Burns, who recently purchased the Pastime.<br />
Horicon. was in town .<br />
Mannheimer. New York, director of exchange<br />
operations for Film Classics, huddled with<br />
Matt Sullivan, local manager new<br />
Film Classics exchange building is slated for<br />
finishing touches by January 1 and moving<br />
day from the old quarters is set.<br />
Carl Doty, Wisconsin manager, finally located<br />
a home. He will bring his family from<br />
Chicago . Sullivan of the Carl Thelin<br />
firm is now known as "Gramp" . . . Russell<br />
Leddy. Orpheum, Green Bay, and Sig Goldberg,<br />
Hollywood, Wausau, were wearing burly<br />
storm coats when here recently . . . Roy<br />
Johnson of National Screen was in a local<br />
hospital for an operation and is on the mend.<br />
Herb Greenblatt, Chicago, RKO district<br />
manager, was in for conferences with Lou<br />
Elman, Milw'aukee manager. The boys talked<br />
with circuit heads about the 1949 Ned Depinet<br />
drive product . . . Al Bondi of General Electric<br />
Film department, en route from the<br />
coast, was in for sessions with Winnie De-<br />
Lorenzo of Independent exchange, GE film<br />
representative . . . Al Sickles, Film Service<br />
dispatcher, is back at his desk after a nineweek<br />
stay at home due to illness . . . Jack<br />
Frackman, Republic manager, and family<br />
shoved off for Buffalo, N. Y., for the holidays.<br />
This is the first vacation for the Republic<br />
manager in 15 years.<br />
Just about everybody in the industry<br />
dropped in at the annual Christmas party<br />
sponsored by Charley Trampe, Monogram<br />
manager . . . Helen Harsh, RKO inspector,<br />
walknig on one foot after dropping a film<br />
is<br />
Harry Riskin. 20th-Fox shipper, and<br />
can . . .<br />
family are spending the holidays in Los<br />
The new dumb waiter at RKO,<br />
Angeles . . .<br />
built to increase film handling in the shipping<br />
department, was finished in time for<br />
extra duties at the Christmas party.<br />
Twentieth-Fox held its annual Christmas<br />
party at the exchange . White,<br />
RKO cashier, provided cake for the visiting<br />
exhibitors and office gang, while celebrating<br />
his birthday . . . Sally RoUman, secretary<br />
I ^easion'si Greetings! |<br />
.......<br />
I<br />
Illusion?<br />
I<br />
The Miracle Picture! %,<br />
"CITIZEN SAINT"<br />
I<br />
and %<br />
"ROMAN VATICAN<br />
CHOIRS"<br />
I<br />
Good Will and Good Box-office a<br />
CLYDE ELLIOTT<br />
ATTRACTIONS<br />
% 230 East Ohio St. Chicago, 111, |<br />
5 Phone Superior 7-1269 S<br />
I<br />
I<br />
I<br />
to John G. Kemptgen, MGM resident manager,<br />
was another birthday celebrant . . . The<br />
Warner exchange staff held its annual Christmas<br />
party at the exchange . Deakin,<br />
Dells, Wisconsin Dells, was in for heUos . . .<br />
The U-I Christmas party was voted the best<br />
in history. The entertainment committee arranged<br />
talent acts that highlighted the event.<br />
Things are pretty rough for Film Service<br />
drivers who ply the highways delivering and<br />
calling for film at the theatres. Recent rains<br />
turning to sleet made skating rinks of the<br />
roads and Walter Puddy, veteran Film Service<br />
driver, was hauled out of ditches four<br />
times while making the Marinette run.<br />
Joe Imhof, Eagle Lion manager, and the<br />
staff are all steamed up over the Jack<br />
Schlaifer Testimonial drive. Exhibitors have<br />
a chance to win a New York or Hollywood<br />
trip by placing a number in the slotted film<br />
can at the Eagle Lion office . . . The Eagle<br />
Lion office is well decorated with drive material<br />
and posters . . . Merchandising and<br />
Supurdisplay held its annual Christmas party<br />
Solomon, Chicago, 20th-Fox exploiteer,<br />
was beating his drums around town<br />
on new product . . . Elsie Seidl, Metro contract<br />
clerk, will be married February 5.<br />
Metro's Christinas party at Hotel Wisconsin<br />
saw John G. Kemptgen, resident manager,<br />
handling the Santa chores. There was dinner,<br />
dancing, exchanging of humorous gifts and<br />
plenty of cheer. Some of the gang demonstrated<br />
solo dancmg prowess. Hildegarde<br />
Albrecht furnished the records and record<br />
player.<br />
Carl TheUn in addition to doing several<br />
outdoor Christmas display jobs for exhibitors,<br />
distributed some very attractive calendars<br />
Kennedy, formerly with National<br />
Screen, writes she's spending her free time<br />
in Texas, viewing all the new pictures . . .<br />
Bob Gross, manager of the drive-in on the<br />
Blue Mound road, was struck by a heart attack<br />
while driving. Rushed to the hospital,<br />
he recovered but again entered the hospital<br />
for further treatment and checking.<br />
Most of the film salesmen were off on vacation<br />
trips over the holidays . . . Harry Olshan,<br />
Columbia manager, and famUy departed for<br />
a New Orleans and Florida vacation, returning<br />
January 3 . . . S. Chapman, Columbia<br />
salesman, also is spending the holidays in<br />
Florida . . Betty Lipschutz joined the Co-<br />
.<br />
Umibia office staff as biller and telephone<br />
operator Lenehan, Paramount<br />
.<br />
booker, and Office Manager Ken Siem were<br />
in Chicago attending a district meeting .<br />
James R. Grainger, Hollywood, executive vicepresident<br />
for Republic, huddled with Jack<br />
Frackman, local manager. Grainger returns<br />
to the west coast shortly.<br />
GIVES<br />
YOU THE<br />
BEST VALUE IN<br />
SPECIAL<br />
TRAILERS<br />
THREE<br />
hQUIPPED PLANTS<br />
1327 S WABASH AVE<br />
COMPLETELY B^^~;^^^^^Sh1<br />
mm<br />
Holiday Slump Fell<br />
In Chicago Grosses<br />
CHICAGO—Chicagoans were so busy buying<br />
things to go into yule stockings, they had<br />
little time to buy tickets to Loop theatres and<br />
the pre-holiday slimip was on in a big way.<br />
The only exception was the Oriental, which<br />
had a nice week with "The Girl From Manhattan"<br />
on screen and a stage show headed<br />
by the King Cole Trio. "Hills of Home" had<br />
a fair week at the United Artists and "Live<br />
Today for Tomorrow" did average at the<br />
RKO Palace. Other Loop houses, playing<br />
holdovers, were way off, except the Rialto,<br />
which had a banner week with a second<br />
downtown rim of "Ravaged Earth." "Hamlet"<br />
at the Apollo on a two-a-day reserved seat<br />
policy had a very good third week.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Apollo Hamlet (U-I), 3rd wk. reserved<br />
seats -<br />
Very good<br />
Chicago An Innocent Aifair (UA), plus stage<br />
show. 2nd vjV 95<br />
Garrick—The Snake Pit (20th-Fox), 5th wk 95<br />
Grand—Unknown Island (FC); Bodyguard (RKO),<br />
2nd wk 90<br />
Oriental—The Girl From Manhattan (UA), plus<br />
stage<br />
-Uve Today for Tomorrow (U-I)<br />
Rialto—Ravaged Earth (Elliott), 2rjd d. t. run<br />
Roosevelt—The Plunderers (Rep); Angel on th<br />
Amazon (Rep). 2nd v.-k<br />
State-Lake—Decision of Christopher Blake (WB)..<br />
Studio—Lysistrata (Dist); Fric Frac (Oxford), 4t:<br />
wk<br />
Home (MGM) U: Artists-mils of<br />
Woods—A Song Is Born (RKO), 8th wk<br />
90<br />
90<br />
World Playhouse—The Lost One (Col), 5th wk lOb<br />
Milwaukee Grosses Spotty;<br />
"Venus' Is Tops With 115<br />
MILWAUKEE — Last - minute<br />
Christmas<br />
shopping dented grosses at the first runs considerably.<br />
It was evident that most patrons<br />
had their minds on holiday subjects, and<br />
attendance generally was spotty. "One Touch<br />
of Venus," showing with "Kidnapped" at the<br />
Warner, topped the newcomers.<br />
Alhambra—Fighter Squadron (WB); Angel in Exile<br />
(Rep), 3rd d t. wk 100<br />
Palace—Johnny Apollo (20th-Fox); Show Them No<br />
Mercy (20th-Fox) _ 95<br />
Riverside—Rachel and the Stranger (RKO),- Winner.<br />
Take All (Mono) 110<br />
Strand—When My Baby Smiles at Me (20th-Fox),<br />
3rd d. t. wk<br />
; Blade (Col), 2nd wk 98<br />
Towni^-So This Is New York (UA); Kings of the<br />
Olympics (SR) 100<br />
Wisconsin—Time of Your Life (UA); Take My Life<br />
(EL) 95<br />
Warner—One Touch of Venus (WB); Kidnapped<br />
(Mono) _ 115<br />
Big Range in Grosses<br />
Reported in Indianapolis<br />
INDIANAPOLIS—Grosses at first run theatres<br />
the past week ran all the way from poor<br />
to fairly good with business falling off in the<br />
neighborhood theatres as well as over the<br />
state where grosses hit new lows in several<br />
spots.<br />
Circle For the Love of Mary (U-1); Moonrise<br />
(Rep) 60<br />
Indiana—Fighter Squadron (WB); Million Dollar<br />
Weekend (EL) 103<br />
Keith's—Road House (20th-Fox); Trouble Preferred<br />
(20th-rox), 2nd d. wk<br />
Loews—lulio<br />
t,<br />
Misbehaves (MGM); The Search<br />
(MGM) , 8 days 130<br />
Lyric—Drums (FC); Four Feothers (FC), reissues.. 90<br />
Theatre Party Given for Kids<br />
VIROQUA, WIS.—Children, 3 to 13, were<br />
guests at a free theatre party at the Temple<br />
Theatre here December 24 at 2 p. m. The<br />
party was sponsored by B. C. Brown, veteran<br />
theatre operator, and the Viroqua<br />
Eagles. Treats were distributed to the kids<br />
after the show.<br />
60 BOXOFFICE :: December 25, 1948
. . Sympathy<br />
. . Harry<br />
. .<br />
Sex Education Picture<br />
Is Okayed in Madison<br />
MADISON—A sex education film,<br />
"Human<br />
Growth," has been given almost unanimous<br />
approval by more than 400 parents and teachers<br />
here, with only nine parents objecting<br />
that children see it, according to the public<br />
school department of health education.<br />
The film was loaned to local schools by the<br />
state board of health, and was shown to parents<br />
and teachers representing 12 elementary<br />
and two high schools.<br />
"While the movie demonstrates the fact<br />
that children feel a little embarrassed, they<br />
quickly recover because of the fine attitude<br />
of the teacher shown in the film," the school<br />
department reported.<br />
A large majority of both parents and teachers<br />
indicated they felt that the film was<br />
best suited for the age group of 10 to 12<br />
years. Nearly all parents said the film helped<br />
them answer children's questions about sex,<br />
and it was suggested that parents be given<br />
an opportimity to .see the movie before their<br />
children do, so that the children's discussion<br />
of the picture at home will not catch them<br />
unawares.<br />
Medaryville Harper Open<br />
MEDARYVILLE, IND.—The new Harper<br />
Theatre was opened formally recently after<br />
final approval of the structure by the state<br />
engineering department.<br />
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CHICAGO<br />
fl n elderly visitor popped into the B&K's ad<br />
chief's office, but Bill Hollander couldn't<br />
place him. Nate Piatt entered. He couldn't<br />
identify the visitor and neither could Ed<br />
Seguin. Finally, the visitor said, "I'm Paul<br />
Ash." Twenty years have passed since Paul<br />
was made the toast of the town by Hollander<br />
and his gang ... J. Arthur Rank is negotiating<br />
for property on the near north side, where<br />
he plans to erect a theatre to feature his<br />
own film^,<br />
Dave Balaban, B&K executive, will go to<br />
Miami with his family for the winter . . .<br />
James R. Grainger, Republic executive,<br />
stopped over en route to Los Angeles for<br />
Christmas ... Dr. Herbert Kalmus, Hollywood,<br />
head of Technicolor, was a visitor en<br />
route to New York ... At an election of<br />
officers of Chicago loge of the Colosseum of<br />
Motion Picture Salesmen, Robert Funk, U-I,<br />
was elected president; Jack Eckhardt, 20th-<br />
Fox, treasurer, and Simon Lax, Columbia,<br />
secretary.<br />
Fete Jimmy Savage week was observed in<br />
Chicago when Jimmy moved from B&K publicity<br />
over to his new columning desk at the<br />
Chicago Tribune. The ad lads and the front<br />
office executives toasted Jimmy at the<br />
Standard club luncheon. B&Kers, press and<br />
Filmrow friends cocktailed with Jimmy at a<br />
Shangri-La party. Christmas eve he was<br />
toasted again at the B&K office party . . .<br />
Ray Lumsden, Des Moines distributor, accompanied<br />
by Dwain Esper, Hollywood producer,<br />
were guests of Henri Elman at a<br />
Variety Club luncheon. Esper's production,<br />
"Freak," cm-rently showing at the RKO<br />
Grand, is released by Henri Elman Enterprises<br />
in this area.<br />
Doug Fairbanks jr., just back from his trip<br />
to Europe on behalf of CARE, paused here<br />
to visit his mother, Mrs. Jack Whiting .<br />
Att'y Miles Seeley, representing eight major<br />
film companies, and Sam Block, representing<br />
Paramount and Balaban & Katz Corp., were<br />
in New York for a conference . . . "Fedora,"<br />
starring Luisa Fedia, Italian star, entered a<br />
second week at the Annex Theatre, doing<br />
record business, reports owner Charles Lindau<br />
. to Dan Pegan, State-Lake<br />
Theatre electrician, whose wife Frances died<br />
recently.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Burndahl announced the<br />
engagement of their daughter Marilyn Joy<br />
to Quentin Gustin. Burndahl is controller<br />
for Balaban & Katz . Thomas, EL<br />
executive, came in from New York for a confab<br />
and left for Los Angeles ... A salute to<br />
Morris Silver, talent agent, and Frank Smith,<br />
RKO official, for their aid in promoting<br />
shows for the veterans at both Hines and<br />
Vaughan hospitals . . . Bill Galligan, manager<br />
of the Esquire, is known for his sense of<br />
humor. He recently featured Barbara Stanwyck's<br />
"Sorry, Wrong Number," because Miss<br />
Stanwyck long has been a favorite of his<br />
patrons. For some reason the film failed to<br />
draw and Galligan withdrew it after two<br />
days. He then placed a sign in the lobby:<br />
" 'Sorry, Wrong Number' no longer playing<br />
here. Sorry, Wrong Picture!"<br />
Lee Kokena, in charge of con'cessions for<br />
RKO Theatres, came in from New York to<br />
look over theatres in this area . . . The twin<br />
bill, "Last Days of Pompeii" and "She," which<br />
did record business at the RKO Grand in the<br />
Loop, opened very strong at the Empress<br />
Theatre on the far south side. The Empress,<br />
a Chicago landmark, recently was remodeled<br />
completely by operator Van A. Nomikos.<br />
The yule party for youngsters held in the<br />
Variety Club rooms was a gala affair. About<br />
150 children, sons and daughters of Variety<br />
Club members and their friends, arrived at<br />
noon and enjoyed the festivities which included<br />
refreshments, gifts, prizes and entertainment.<br />
All of the children brought gifts<br />
which were sent out to the invalid kiddies<br />
at LaRabida Jackson Park sanitarium, the pet<br />
charity of Variety Club of Illinois. Chuck<br />
Moses of Goldblatt's department store sent<br />
over Santa Claus and Sparkle, the reindeer,<br />
to entertain the children. Jack Irving, head<br />
of the Vaudeville Artists Ass'n, sent over<br />
Frankie Little, midget, H. & I. Confection<br />
Co., Manuel Smerling, Irving Davis and<br />
Maurice Salkin gave generous gifts of bags<br />
and boxes of candy which were distributed<br />
to the children.<br />
Department stores and camera shops report<br />
record sales of projectors for showing of 8mm<br />
and 16mm films for home use. Projectors<br />
can be bought as low as $19.95, $2 down, $1<br />
weekly payments. They also have a huge<br />
choice of films such as cartoons, comedies,<br />
adventures, pictorials, travels and sports<br />
events priced at $2.75, or on a weekly rental<br />
basis.<br />
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Write for free literature<br />
Theatre Equipment Co.<br />
AL BOUDOURIS. Manager<br />
109 Michigan St., Toledo 2. Ohio<br />
ADoms 8107<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948 61
. . . George<br />
. . Salesmen<br />
. .<br />
SPRINGFIELD<br />
pmployes of the Fox Lincoln were guests of<br />
the management at a Christmas dinner<br />
party held at the Farm Monday (20) . . .<br />
The Morrell Packing Co., Ottumwa, Iowa,<br />
worked out a cooperative deal with John<br />
Kerasotes at the Senate Theatre here on the<br />
showing of the new Lassie pictm-e, "Hills of<br />
Home." The company markets Red Heart<br />
dog food and sponsors Lassie's NBC radio<br />
show. The tieup included a lobby display,<br />
grocery store displays, free pictures of Lassie,<br />
identification tags free to cliildren at Saturday<br />
matinee, a free case of dog food to every<br />
person adopting a dog from the local humane<br />
society shelter, display ads in local papers<br />
and radio announcements.<br />
To point out the authentic story of "Canon<br />
City," Howard Yomig, manager of the Capitol,<br />
Canton, offered free admission to everyone<br />
bringing in the issue of the local paper<br />
that carried the story of the actual prison<br />
break last December. This caused a rush<br />
at the "back issue counter" of the Canton<br />
Daily Ledger, but it was to no avail as the<br />
newspaper charges 50 cents for back issues<br />
and the admission to the theatre is 48 cents.<br />
The Springfield Theatre Ass'n is sponsoring<br />
its annual Ten Best Films contest with<br />
GEB^^AR<br />
THE55>rRE EQUIPMENT<br />
442 NORTH ILLINOIS STREET<br />
INDIANAPOLIS<br />
INDIANA<br />
^.^i3mimsmms^^s^^fm.m^M€mi^mf:t<br />
JSetD Hear<br />
IR.D.VONENGELN<br />
hKan\e'i Representative<br />
13138 Olive NE. 7644<br />
ST. LOUIS 3, MO.<br />
season passes for the best local guesses. This<br />
is an annual event conducted in cooperation<br />
with the Illinois State Journal-Register with<br />
additional coupons distributed in the theatre<br />
lobbies.<br />
Harry Hershey, Taylorville, attorney for and<br />
associate of the Frisina Amusement Co., was<br />
the downstate campaign manager for the<br />
newly elected governor of Illinois Adlai<br />
Stevenson. It is reported that he may be the<br />
new attorney general for the state of Illinois<br />
. . . Tlie traveling display of studio costumes<br />
from "The Three Musketeers" will be<br />
on exhibit in Peoria and Springfield late in<br />
December in cooperation with the showing of<br />
the MGM special in these cities.<br />
Visitors to Springfield recently included<br />
Dave Ross of Eagle Lion, Chicago; Sam StoU<br />
of Paramount, Chicago, and Herman Gorelich<br />
of Screen Guild, St. Louis . . . John<br />
Balban and Dave Wallerstein, Chicago B&K<br />
heads, were in Springfield recently on an<br />
inspection trip. They were met at the Orpheum<br />
Theatre by Izzy Wienshienk, district<br />
manager for southern Illinois.<br />
ST.<br />
LOUIS<br />
Johanna Kaufman, aunt of Maury Davis,<br />
' manager of the Will Rogers Theatre, died<br />
recently at the age of 76 . . . Robert Good,<br />
former Benton, 111., restaurant owner, has<br />
succeeded Harry CruU as eastern Missouri<br />
salesman for National Screen. CruU will<br />
enter theatre business in the east. Good is a<br />
brother-in-law of H. M. "Gilley" Buniet*,<br />
city manager in Mount Vernon, 111., for Fox<br />
Midwest.<br />
The young son of Hugh Houston, Melba<br />
Theatre, Houston, Mo., is recovering from<br />
measles . . Thi-ee south St. Louis youths<br />
have<br />
.<br />
been arrested for entering the new<br />
Shenandoah Theatre the night of December<br />
12 and carrying off 128 candy bars and<br />
$1.04 in change. They said they were strolling<br />
by the theatre about 12:30 a. m. when a<br />
woman outside the theatre door told them<br />
her young son was locked inside. They decided<br />
to help and told the boy how to open<br />
a side door, which lie did. Later, after the<br />
ycutlis went home, they returned to the theatre<br />
"because the temptation of that open<br />
door proved too much." They were nabbed<br />
a short distance from the theatre by patrolman<br />
Stanley Cunningham who investigated<br />
the contents of a quilt in which they were<br />
carrying the candy bars.<br />
Military Funeral Held<br />
SPRINGFIELD, ILL. — Miltary funeral<br />
services were held recently for flight officer<br />
James B. Crawley, former manager for Kerasotes<br />
theatres in Chillicothe, 111. He was<br />
killed while flying paratroops over Holland<br />
Sept. 20, 1944.<br />
/ una<br />
ujuasmM<br />
IDDTIOII PICTURE SERVICE C".<br />
125 HYDE ST. * S
Theatre Licensing<br />
Repeal Is Upheld<br />
TOPEKA—That the city of Topeka acted<br />
within its legal right in repealing an ordinance<br />
licensing theatres, and that Topeka's<br />
theatres, therefore, are within their legal<br />
rights in<br />
•<br />
denying admittance to Negroes,<br />
were rulings of the Kansas supreme court.<br />
In a decision written by Justice Parker, the<br />
court unanimously affirmed action of Judge<br />
Magaw of the Shawnee county district court<br />
in sustaining a demurrer to a petition by<br />
Arthur Lee and Ava Louise Stovall seeking<br />
to force admittance of Negroes to local motion<br />
picture theatres.<br />
Under a Kansas law, any city which provides<br />
a licensing system for theatres is barred<br />
from restricting admittance of patrons because<br />
of race, color or creed.<br />
The city of Topeka repealed its theatre<br />
licensing ordinance several years ago. Recently<br />
the Stovalls were denied admittance<br />
to a theatre. In the absence of a licensing<br />
system, the supreme court decision declared,<br />
the theatre in question was within its rights<br />
in refusing admittance to the couple.<br />
Abolition of the ordinance by the city of<br />
Topeka gives theatres there, and in view of<br />
the supreme court decision those in other<br />
cities similarly situated, the right to define<br />
their own rules and pohcies regarding admittance<br />
of patrons.<br />
Another Obstacle Faces<br />
Betty Secrest License<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—Another obstacle has<br />
been placed in the path of Mrs. Betty Secrest,<br />
former exhibitor, who has been trying for<br />
more than a half-year to obtain a license.<br />
This time the council roads and bridges<br />
committee voted to recommend the Secrest<br />
license, but conditioned its issuance on the<br />
question of whether the proposed site would<br />
create a traffic hazard in connection with<br />
the route of a new highway to be built in<br />
the vicinity. This has the effect of holding<br />
up the license for another minimum of 90<br />
days.<br />
The alderman agreed that after the highway<br />
route is decided upon Mrs. Secrest is<br />
to have first preference for a theatre license,<br />
with the showhouse location, however,<br />
to be subject to approval of traffic<br />
engineers, the city planning commission and<br />
other regulations.<br />
S. D. Kane, North Central Allied executive<br />
director, appeared before the council<br />
committee to oppose the Secrest license.<br />
Allied is fighting all new theatre construction<br />
here.<br />
Plan 6-Week Season<br />
MINNEAPOLIS — A six-week dramatic<br />
stock season has been underwritten by civicminded<br />
Minneapolitans and will start January<br />
10 with "The Front Page," offered by<br />
a cast including many local newspaper people<br />
and the Hennepin county sheriff playing<br />
their prototypes in the comedy drama. The<br />
venture has been promoted by Don Stoltz<br />
who operates the Old Log. strawhatter where<br />
"The Front Page" was presented similarly<br />
last summer to great success. Plays will be<br />
presented at the Lyceum, legitimate roadshow<br />
theatre, but not on consecutive weeks. Stoltz<br />
plans an equity company and guest stars.<br />
Fightin' Mayor and Circuit Schedule<br />
Peace Parley in<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—Minnesota Amusement<br />
Co. officials will meet with Mayor G. A.<br />
Gilbert of Watertown, S. D., and town<br />
council members in an effort to end the<br />
feud that has caused the council, ostensibly<br />
at the mayor's instigation, to refuse to<br />
renew the circuit's licenses for the Lyric<br />
and Plaza theatres.<br />
The feud is due to the circuit's refusal<br />
to reopen the Metropolitan Theatre at<br />
the mayor's request. Circuit officials contend<br />
the house is too dilapidated and the<br />
location is poor. They are remodeUng the<br />
Colonial, which will be called the Plaza,<br />
and they do not believe the town could<br />
support three theatres. The Lyric is the<br />
only theatre novv in operation.<br />
Before the meeting. Mayor GUbert declared<br />
that he still would insist on the<br />
reopening of the Metropolitan. The MAC<br />
now controls the town, but the mayor<br />
threatened that if the circuit fails to act.<br />
Bill Elson Will Be Guest<br />
At Variety Club Dinner<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—Northwest Variety Club<br />
will give a party next month for Bill Elson,<br />
retiring chief barker. Elson, who has held<br />
the post three nonconsecutive terms, also is<br />
retiring as a director so that both Harold<br />
Kaplan and Sol Torodor, who were tied in<br />
the voting on new directors, may both become<br />
board members. At its next dinner the<br />
club will show pictures of last season's Minnesota<br />
football games.<br />
New Arc Lamps at Tama<br />
TAMA, IOWA—New arc lamps have been<br />
installed in the projectors at the Mills Theatre<br />
here.<br />
Feud Over Theatre<br />
he will reopen and operate the Metropolitan.<br />
•With only one theatre in operation during<br />
recent months, city officials have<br />
charged that the MAC is depriving the<br />
town of "adequate motion picture entertainment."<br />
They accuse circuit officials of<br />
"stalling" in getting the Colonial remodeled<br />
and opened. On their part, circuit<br />
officials explain the delay has been caused<br />
by difficulties in obtaining building materials.<br />
The Watertown Public Opinion, daily<br />
newspaper, has come to the Minnesota<br />
Amusement Co.'s defense and lambasted<br />
the city officials for what it calls "a badly<br />
timed move that has put the city on a spot<br />
from which it will have to retreat in disorder."<br />
It points out that the license refusal<br />
action was taken at a star chamber<br />
council session and accuses the aldermen<br />
of acting under the mayor's orders.<br />
W. R. Frank to Minneapolis<br />
To Sell 19-Theatre Chain<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—W. R. Frank has returned<br />
here from Hollywood to sell the 19-theatre<br />
circuit, the territoi-y's largest independent<br />
chain, which he heads. Nine of the theatres<br />
are in the Twin cities.<br />
Frank says he already has a $3,400,000 offer<br />
among several dozen others, and is hopeful<br />
a deal will be closed before the first of<br />
the new year. While he'll devote himself<br />
largely to film production at Hollywood after<br />
the sale of his circuit, Prank said he still<br />
would retain his holdings in several drive-ins<br />
in the territory and probably will build more<br />
such theatres.<br />
Frank's "The Great Dan Patch" is now in<br />
production in Hollywood. It will be released<br />
through United Artists.<br />
NEW REFRESHMENT SERVICE LAUNCHED—Publicized by special newspaper<br />
advertising which referred to the event as a "world premiere," a new refreshment<br />
counter was opened December 15 at the Paramount Theatre, Kansas City, Mo. Shown<br />
left to right, in the accompanying picture taken during the "premiere" are M. D.<br />
"Babe" Cohn, Paramount Theatre manager; Ben Rittmaster, Manncraft Display Co.;<br />
James B. Killian jr., sales engineer. National Theatre Supply Co.: Ray Green, office<br />
manager. National Theatre Supply Co.; D. L. "Doc" Hartley, motion picture editor,<br />
Kansas City Star, and Tommy Gialde and C. W. Moore, Commercial Candy Co.<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 194« MW 63
. . . Morris<br />
. . . LawTence<br />
. . Missouri<br />
. .<br />
KANSAS<br />
rom Edwards and Frank L. Plumlee, partners<br />
in the Edwards & Plumlee circuit,<br />
. . . Dick<br />
Farmlngton. Mo., were visitors on Filmrow<br />
Schweitzer, formerly Paramount<br />
Pictures branch manager in St. Louis, visited<br />
friends and acquaintances here<br />
Orear, Commonwealth Theatres purchasing<br />
agent, and Mrs. Orear were at the Mayo<br />
clinic, Rochester, Minn.<br />
Mrs. R. K. Biechele, wife of the Kansas<br />
City, Kas., theatre operator and KMTA legislative<br />
chairman, was convalescing after a<br />
recent illness . . . Maurene Kupperman. formerly<br />
at the local U-I exchange, joined the<br />
Film Classics office staff . . . Mrs. J. R.<br />
Stowers, a member of the Kansas State<br />
Board of Review, had recovered from influenza<br />
at her home in Kansas City, Kas.<br />
Cooperating in the local campaign to reduce<br />
traffic fatalities, the Dui-wood-operated<br />
Roxy Theatre was showing the MGM short,<br />
"Drunk Driving," following a special screening<br />
for police and safety council officials<br />
Satisfaction — Always<br />
Missouri Theatre Supply Co.<br />
L. I. KIMBRIEL. Manager<br />
Phone GRand 2864<br />
^ 115 W. 18lh Kansas City 8, Mo. ^<br />
PDCIIT MfCPTCDM<br />
STAGE EQUIPMENT COMPANY<br />
SELL YOUR THEATRE PRIVATELY<br />
We Cover the U. S. Market<br />
A diiierent service ot long<br />
experience and reputation<br />
ARTHUR LEAK THEATRE SALES<br />
CITY<br />
Lehman, Orpheum Theatre<br />
manager, was host to staff members at a<br />
Christmas party following the final show at<br />
the house last Thursday night i23i.<br />
Larry Biechele, booker at Film Classics for<br />
nearly two years, will shift to selling in eastern<br />
Kansas and western Missouri territory<br />
Don "Hi Pi" Davis, RCA-<br />
after January 1 . . .<br />
Victor district manager, was expected back<br />
from Denver and other Colorado points . . .<br />
Arthur de Stefano, National Theatre Supply<br />
Co. branch manager, was host to his staff<br />
at a Christmas party last Thursday (23i.<br />
Eighty-five applicants for the position of<br />
municipal film censor to succeed Mrs. Eleanore<br />
C. Walton, who will retire February 1,<br />
will take an examination for the post next<br />
Thursday at the city hall . . The Gauntier<br />
.<br />
and Home theatres, Kansas City, Kas., entertained<br />
kiddies at free Christmas shows<br />
Friday (24), with a neighborhood bank acting<br />
as the host for the two fetes.<br />
The theatre being erected by Russell Harris<br />
at Hugoton, Kas., has been named the<br />
Rusada, the coined word being a combination<br />
of letters from the first names of the<br />
operator and his wife ... A new canopy<br />
and heating system have been installed at<br />
the New Baxter, Baxter Springs, Kas. .<br />
The new Iris Theatre being- built by Albert<br />
Orear at Bonner Springs, Kas., is nearing<br />
completion.<br />
Among Kansas operators seen on Filmrow<br />
were Kenneth E3iret, Star, Clay Center; R. R.<br />
Winship. Majestic, Phillipsburg; G. R.<br />
Crocker, Rialto, Lyndon: Lynne E. Alexander,<br />
Garanson, Wamego, and Ray Miner, Miner,<br />
Moran . theatremen glimpsed<br />
included Fred Wilcox, Cozy, Lockwood;<br />
Frank Weary, Farris, Richmond; John Courter,<br />
Courter, Gallatin, and Francis E. Meyers,<br />
Civic,<br />
Brookfield.<br />
.?»• 2/tuiA SeAMice Situx fS99<br />
STEBBINS THEATRE<br />
Equipment Co.<br />
V>^ > ^<br />
KMTA Board Session<br />
Set for January 18<br />
KANSAS CITY—The initial 1949 meeting<br />
of the Kansas-Missouri Theatre Ass'n board<br />
of directors is being planned for January 18<br />
at the Phillips hotel here, conforming with<br />
a motion changing its monthly session from<br />
the third Thursday to the third Tuesday<br />
adopted by its members during its final 1948<br />
gathering December 16.<br />
Since the motion changing the date of the<br />
monthly board meeting specified that the<br />
change is to be temporary, the sessions will<br />
be held according to the new schedule only<br />
for two or three months, Elmer Bills. KMTA<br />
president, said after the December 16 session.<br />
Subjects to be introduced for discussion<br />
during the January 18 meeting are expected<br />
to include additional appointments to the<br />
legislative committee recently established by<br />
the KMTA, a proposal to replace the annual<br />
fall convention of the organization with semiannual<br />
gatherings of its membership, and<br />
plans for intensive efforts to foster more<br />
effective public relations for the motion picture<br />
industry.<br />
Various district members of the new legislative<br />
committee, of which R. R. Biechele<br />
is chairman, are expected to be special guests<br />
at the January 18 meeting. Homer F. Strowig,<br />
Abilene, is co-chairman for Kansas, and C. E.<br />
"Doc" Cook, Maryville, is co-chairman for<br />
Missouri.<br />
Among legislative committee members from<br />
Kansas districts present at the December 16<br />
session were Ed Dorrell, Emporia, foiu-th, and<br />
Huston Sterrett, Kinsley, fifth. Members from<br />
Missouri districts in attendance were Dick<br />
Brous, Kansas City, fifth, and Charles Borg,<br />
Osceola, sixth.<br />
Members of the new KMTA grievance committee<br />
at the December 16 meeting were H,<br />
B. Doering, Garnett, and Marcus Landau,<br />
Horton, Kas.<br />
C. A. Morris Is Manager<br />
MORGAN, MINN.—C. A. Morris is manager<br />
of the new Morgan Theatre here, a fire<br />
proof, 360-seat situation. Equipment for the<br />
new house includes Century projectors. Voice<br />
of the Theatre sound, radiant heat and coil<br />
type air conditioning.<br />
Esther Howard in<br />
'Hellfire'<br />
Esther Howard has been assigned a comedy<br />
part in the Republic picture, "Hellfire."<br />
iii^'<br />
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64 BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948
. . . There<br />
. . . Lionel<br />
. . Manager<br />
. . Morris<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
. . . H.<br />
'Pompeii' Duo Resists<br />
Seasonal Doldrums<br />
DES MOINES—With the exception of the<br />
Orpheum, which had two reissues on a split<br />
run, theatre business here continued below<br />
normal- last week. The attendance slump<br />
has been pretty general during the entire<br />
month. There has been a variety of weather,<br />
from unseasonally warm to bitter cold and<br />
from rain to snow, but none of which appeared<br />
to have any effect one way or another<br />
on theatre business. Retail stores, on<br />
the other hand, were crowded and seemed to<br />
be enjoying a brisk trade.<br />
The pictures at the Orpheum which proved<br />
the exception to the rule were the "Last<br />
days of Pompeii and "She."<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Des Moines—Hills of Home (MGM)<br />
Orpheum—Last Days oi Pompeii (RKO); She<br />
80<br />
(RKO), reissues - 160<br />
Paramouril Rose oi Washington Square (20th-<br />
Fox); Privates Buck (U-I), reissues 90<br />
Strand—Cry ol the City (20th-Fox) 85<br />
"Road House' Touches 100<br />
For Minneapolis Lead<br />
MINNEAPOLIS—Business the past week<br />
was in the usual pre-Christmas slough of<br />
despond. The only major newcomers were<br />
"An Innocent Affair," "Raw Deal" and<br />
"Smart Girls Don't Talk." and all suffered<br />
from the seasonal slump. Holdovers were<br />
"When My Baby Smiles at Me" and "Road<br />
House" in their fourth and third weeks, respectively,<br />
and "Rogues' Regiment" and<br />
"Elysia" in their second.<br />
Aster—The Goy Intruders (20th-Fox); Whispering<br />
City (EL)<br />
- - 90<br />
Century—Smart Girls Don't Talk (WB) 80<br />
Gopher—Flirting With Fate (MGM), Great Guns<br />
(20th-Fox), reissues 90<br />
Lyric—Road House (20th-Fox), 3rd d. t. wk 100<br />
Pix—When My Baby Smiles at Me (20th-Fox),<br />
4th d t. wk 100<br />
Radio City—An Innocent Affair (UA) 90<br />
RKO Orpheum—Angels With Dirty Faces (WB);<br />
They Drive by Night (WB), reissues 90<br />
RKO Pan—Rogues' Regiment (U-1), 2nd d. t. wk 95<br />
Stale—Raw Deal (EL) 90<br />
World—Elysia (SR), Znd wk 90<br />
Grosses Near Average<br />
In Omaha Film Parade<br />
OMAHA—Local grosses couldn't get over<br />
the average mark as Christmas attractions<br />
and a couple of days of unfavorable weather<br />
held the boxoffice take down.<br />
Omaha—So EvU. My Love (Para)<br />
Orpheum—Road House (20lh-Fox); Music Man<br />
90<br />
(Mono) 100<br />
Paramount—Julia Misbehaves (MGM) 85<br />
RKO Brandeis—The Return of October (Col);<br />
Leather Gloves (Col) 90<br />
Stale— Let's Live a Little (EL): Million Dollar<br />
Weekend (EL) 100<br />
Town—Sinister Journey (UA); Her Husband's Affairs<br />
(Col); Killer at Large (EL); split with The<br />
Black Arrow (Col); Montana Mike (Mono) 100<br />
OMAHA<br />
pilm salesmen thankfully pulled in for the<br />
holidays after one of their worst stretches<br />
on the road. Ice made travel a constant<br />
worry. Murray Greenbaum wrecked his auto<br />
near Brainard, Neb., and suffered a slight<br />
knee injury . . . Leon Mendelson and William<br />
Wink, Warner salesmen, are on vacation.<br />
Leon's daughter. Elaine, will be home from<br />
the University of Missouri for the holidays<br />
. . . Carl Johnson, Red Oak, Iowa, exhibitor,<br />
went to Rochester for a routine checkup .<br />
A. Myric, president of the Iowa-Nebraska<br />
Independent Theatre Owners, took his wife<br />
to the same spot.<br />
Rolland Swanson, Columbus, Neb., is the<br />
new assistant U-I booker. He succeeds William<br />
Laird who became a salesman recently<br />
. . . Bill Miskell, Tri-States district manager,<br />
went to Des Moines at midweek for a sales<br />
meeting . Larry Caplane of the<br />
RKO Brandeis passed out bonuses of one<br />
week's salary to all members of the staff<br />
who had been on the job at least six months.<br />
The same evening the staff gathered for a<br />
party at the theatre.<br />
Omaha and Orpheum employes held their<br />
Christmas party at the Orpheum, Paramount<br />
employes at the Paramount . Smead,<br />
Council Bluffs exhibitor, left on his annual<br />
extended winter trip to California, which will<br />
include as always seeing the Rose Bowl game<br />
were two .surprises at the 20th-Fox<br />
Christmas party. The appearance of salesman<br />
Hymie Novitsky who recently underwent<br />
an operation and that of Harold Beecroft,<br />
assistant to the division manager,<br />
Elmer Svendsen, Alta, Iowa, exhibitor, also<br />
drives a consolidated school bus . . . Mary<br />
Pahls, Eagle Lion secretary, is spending<br />
Christmas with her parents in Kansas .<br />
RKO held its Christmas party at the office<br />
. . . J. S. Sanders, owner of the F>rincess,<br />
Sanborn, Iowa, is down with the flu.<br />
Joe Jacobs, Columbia manager who collects<br />
neckties, now is getting a kick out of wearing<br />
a special tie with the Columbia emblem<br />
Grosses Drop Belo'w Par<br />
on it . . . Walter Hoffman, 20th-Fox exploiteer<br />
from Minneapolis, was in the city<br />
At Kansas City Houses<br />
KANSAS CITY—Grosses at the local first<br />
Wasson, former manager of the<br />
run houses continued to spiral downward as Paramount Theatre, is back in the city . . .<br />
Christmas shopping reached its climax. All Silent films of the 1920s again are being<br />
de luxe theatres reported trade under par. shown at Joslyn Memorial . . . Stan Blackburn,<br />
Two reissues dualed at the Midland. "San<br />
Paramount Theatre manager, has put<br />
Francisco" and "A Night at the Opera," registered<br />
the highest total for the week.<br />
Midland—San Francisco at the<br />
Opera (MGM), reissues<br />
- 90<br />
Orpheum—Angels With Dirty Faces (WB); They<br />
Esquire—How Green Was My Valley (20th-Fox),<br />
reissue; Arthur Takes Over (20th-Fox) 55<br />
(MGM); A Night<br />
PURE VEGETABLE OIL<br />
POPCORN SEASONING<br />
Drive by Night (WB), reissues 70<br />
Paramount—The Decision of Christopher Blake<br />
(WB), 9 days 50<br />
Disaster Roxy—Isn't It Romantic? (Para); (Para) 55<br />
Tower, Uptown, Fairway—Kiss the Blood Off<br />
My Hands (U-1) 60<br />
out a local call for a cigar .store Indian for<br />
exploitation purposes,<br />
Ed Gannon closed his old theatre at<br />
Schuyler with the opening of the new Sky<br />
S. Spindler of Crawford, Neb., has<br />
purchased the theatre at Culbertson . . . Given<br />
the assurance by the local musicians that<br />
there will be no more trouble, Tri-States<br />
Theatres has gone ahead and booked three<br />
stage shows for 1949.<br />
Visitors along Filmrow: Don Campbell,<br />
Central City; Carl Johnson, Red Oak, Iowa;<br />
Ben Jureck, Cedar Rapids, Neb,; Wesley<br />
Mansfield, Ida Grove. Iowa; Edward Kugel,<br />
Holstein; F. W. Nalteus, Holstein, Iowa; Otto<br />
Schneider, Osceola; Raymond Brown, Harlan,<br />
Iowa; Frank Cook, David City; John<br />
Fisher, Valley; H. O. Qualsett, Tekameh; D,<br />
H. Heyne, Hooper; Mort Ives, Shelby, Iowa;<br />
Frank Good, Red Oak, Iowa; George Baughman,<br />
Cambridge; Eugene Bohnker, Charter<br />
Oak. Iowa; Walter Jancke, Lincoln; Wally<br />
Johnson, Friend.<br />
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BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
December 25, 1948<br />
65
. . Jerry<br />
. . The<br />
. .<br />
21 1 that<br />
18 1 and<br />
DES MOINES<br />
M'ews from former Filmrowers arrives each<br />
Christmas season and this year is no exception.<br />
Donnie Snow, former Warner<br />
stenographer, addressed her Christmas card<br />
from Cherry Point. N. C. where she now<br />
lives. She wrote she would travel to Norfolk,<br />
Va.. for the holidays to be with Pat Manchester,<br />
former Monogram and Warner employe,<br />
whose husband is stationed there.<br />
Maxine Shepherd, also a former Warner<br />
employe, writes that she is the mother of<br />
two children . . . Gail Carris Hancock, former<br />
Warner biller, sent greetings from herself,<br />
her husband and their two children Dana<br />
and Danny. The Hancocks now live in Missouri.<br />
.<br />
. . . Ludy Bosten of the<br />
. . . The<br />
R. L. Long, Warner traveling auditor, left<br />
here in time to get home to Virginia for<br />
Christmas . Russell, Columbia manager's<br />
secretary, drove with her parents to<br />
Hiawatha, Kas.. for Christmas day<br />
Esther Needham and her husband spent the<br />
holidays in Oilman where Esther anticipated<br />
a joyous time with her mother and five<br />
sisters, all together for the first time in a<br />
number of years<br />
Uptown and Palace theatres in Muscatine,<br />
had his annual illuminated Christmas display<br />
at his home. It attracts visitors from<br />
miles around.<br />
RKO held its Christmas party in the office<br />
where a buffet supper was served<br />
girls at MGM held their annual Christmas<br />
dinner and gift exchange at the Chesterfield<br />
club. The party for the entire office force<br />
was set for December 29 at Club 100 .. .<br />
Clara Epping, MGM contract clerk, spent<br />
Christmas in Oscaloosa . girls at Republic<br />
had dinner together recently at<br />
Tony's. Included in the affair were two former<br />
employes, Betty Cheetham and Nora<br />
Johnson.<br />
Xmas Carols at Theatre<br />
LOGAN, IOWA—Christmas carols are being<br />
heard daily from the Logan Theatre<br />
here. An amplifier has been set up in the<br />
theatre lobby and phonograph records played<br />
over it.<br />
'LEAK THiATRE SALES<br />
A New Proven Method Baaed on<br />
Reputation and Experience. We ^^>.<br />
* cover the U. S. Market Privately.
Labor Delegates Ask<br />
Repeal of Tax Law<br />
HARRISBURG— Six hundred delegates to<br />
the Penhsylvania Federation of Labor conference<br />
voted almost unanimously for repeal<br />
of the 1947 local "tax anything" law. The<br />
much abused law permits municipalities and<br />
school boards to tax anything not taxed by<br />
the state of Pennsylvania.<br />
A state tax on fuel oil and natural gas was<br />
proposed by the United Mine Workers as a<br />
substitute for the "tax anything" law.<br />
Opponents of daylight saving time in<br />
Pennsylvania will fight a determined battle<br />
in the 1949 general assembly to wipe out fast<br />
time.<br />
New Castle, Pa., has joined 78 towns levying<br />
a wage tax. To offset the proposed tax of 1<br />
per cent on income at Altoona, Pa., Logan<br />
township, Martinsburg. Bellwood, Antis<br />
township and other political subdivisions near<br />
Altoona, will enact their own wage tax. Export,<br />
Pa., on January 10 will determine<br />
whether a wage and salary tax will be enacted.<br />
Butler, Pa., operating with a special<br />
license tax, now is faced with a business<br />
privilege tax.<br />
More than 100 political subdivisions have<br />
enacted local admission taxes.<br />
Governor Duff is opposed to a state sales<br />
tax. He has proposed another 2 cents a gallon<br />
tax on gasoline which would bring the<br />
state tax on it to 6 cents a gallon.<br />
The general assembly convenes here within<br />
two weeks, and from all indications the 1949<br />
session will be one of the most bitter and<br />
hard-fought in the history of the commonwealth.<br />
Mark Goldman Appointed<br />
As Monogram Salesman<br />
CLEVELAND—Nate Schultz, Monogram<br />
franchise owner for northern Ohio, has<br />
named Mark Goldman as salesman to handle<br />
circuits. Prior to joining Monogram, Goldman<br />
was local Eagle Lion manager.<br />
Appointment of Goldman to the newly<br />
created post is another milestone in Schultz's<br />
expansion program. Starting out about 25<br />
years ago as a shipper for Harry Lande's independent<br />
exchange, he advanced to where<br />
he finally operated his own exchange. He<br />
gradually absorbed practically all of the<br />
other small independent exchanges here and<br />
wound up as owner of the Monogram franchise.<br />
In addition to his exchange operations,<br />
Schultz is head of a circuit of seven theatres<br />
in Cleveland, Lorain, Lima and Marion. Goldman<br />
will relieve him of much of the sales<br />
burden which, until now, he has carried with<br />
the help of only one salesman.<br />
Exhibitors Hold Keys in New EL Drive<br />
EL PRESENTS KEY—.Maurice White of the White-Libson circuit in Cincinnati,<br />
fourth from left, is shown above receiving a key from Manager Harris Dudelson of<br />
EL to open the container holding the number wliich will entitle some exhibitor to<br />
a two-week trip to the west coast, all expenses paid, as part of the current Jack<br />
Schlaifer testimonial drive. Others pictured, left to right: Jack Desmond, office manager;<br />
Ralph Morley, salesman; Marty Warshauer, salesman; Maurice White; Dave<br />
Litto, salesman; Sterling Wilson, salesman; Dick Breslin, booker, and Harris Dudelson.<br />
Eagle Lion film exchanges in Cleveland<br />
and Cincinnati recently opened the Jack<br />
Schlaifer Sales drive in their respective territories<br />
by urging exhibitors to participate<br />
in the drive, purported to be the first such<br />
occasion in which the exhibitor is invited to<br />
share the prizes.<br />
In both cities the EL exchanges formally<br />
presented keys to exhibitor representatives for<br />
Cc(i«af'3»l« Waaaaer<br />
Jack Essick of Essick & Reif circuit is<br />
shown here receiving the key to the<br />
Jack Schlaifer film case from Robert<br />
Richardson, Cleveland EL manager.<br />
a large, locked film case in which numbered<br />
coupons are placed. Cleveland Manager Robert<br />
Richardson, on presenting the key to the<br />
case in that exchange to Jack Essick of the<br />
Essick & Reif circuit, explained that in each<br />
film case sent out of an EL exchange a<br />
numbered coupon would be placed.<br />
Stubs with corresponding numbers go into<br />
the film cases in the exchanges. Then on<br />
June 3, in the presence of three exhibitors<br />
and the usual company officials, the winning<br />
numbers of each of the 31 EL exchanges will<br />
be tossed into a hopper in the home office<br />
from which the grand prize will be drawn.<br />
Richardson urged exhibitors to keep the<br />
coupons from the film cases sent to them<br />
and, in a letter to exhibitors in his territory,<br />
explained that every exhibitor had an<br />
equal opportunity to win the grand prize,<br />
a two-week all expenses paid vacation trip<br />
for two to either New York or Hollywood as<br />
guests of Eagle Lion.<br />
In the letter Richardson pointed out that<br />
inasmuch as a numbered coupon was sent out<br />
with each shipment, it was obvious that the<br />
exhibitor with the most numbers had the<br />
best chance of winning the grand prize.<br />
Mrs. Mary Laskey Buried;<br />
Wife of Pa. Exhibitor<br />
CLARKSBURG, W. VA.—Mis. Mary Kaites<br />
Laskey, 28. wife of George Laskey, Uniontown,<br />
Pa., exhibitor, died recently following<br />
a short illness. She was a sister-in-law of<br />
Ted and John Laskey, indoor and outdoor<br />
theatre owners of the Uniontown-BrownsvDle<br />
area. Surviving in addition to her husband<br />
George, as her parents, brothers Jolm and<br />
Peter and sister Jean of Clarksburg. Mrs.<br />
Laskey was a member of the Greek Orthodox<br />
church where services were held Sunday (19).<br />
To Design New Playhouse<br />
PITTSBURGH—Jo Mielziner, theatre designer,<br />
has been contracted to contribute<br />
plans for the new million dollar theatre<br />
which the Playhouse will build in the Oakland<br />
district. Chairman of the architect's<br />
committee of the American National Theatre<br />
& Academy. Mielziner will collaborate with<br />
Charles N. and Edward Stotz, architect and<br />
engineer. He will assist in the design of interior<br />
plans, decorations, color schemes, etc.<br />
Marty Shearn New Pilot<br />
Of Warner Fairmount<br />
FAIRMONT, W. VA.—Marty Shearn has<br />
replaced Arthur Pearce as manager of Warner's<br />
Fairmont. Pearce is taking a leave of<br />
absence because of ill health and probably<br />
will be with the New York circuit office on<br />
his return. Shearn has been with the circuit<br />
for 19 years, the last ten at Tarenton, Pa.<br />
Formerly he managed one of the Warner<br />
houses in East Liberty.<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1946 ME 67
. . . John<br />
. . . Max<br />
. . Floyd<br />
. . Edward<br />
. . Dewitt,<br />
. . Mel<br />
. . Mrs.<br />
. . Jack<br />
. . Henry<br />
. . Floyd<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
. .<br />
...j'<br />
DETROIT<br />
prank Jones of RKO has moved out on<br />
Faust road . . . Eddie Potash, formerly with<br />
U-I here as booker, has moved to Washington<br />
. . . Bennett & Straight, theatrical architects,<br />
are in their new quarters at 15624<br />
Michigan Ave. . . . L. J. Boulet of RCA is<br />
.<br />
busy making nightly rounds of different<br />
booths around town . . Casper J. Bondy.<br />
army projectionist, was due home for the<br />
Christmas holidays, and was to be married.<br />
Ed Long- of Long 'Sign Co. left for a quick<br />
'<br />
trip to California to join his wife, who will<br />
return with him after a. vacation . . . Sol<br />
Krim is starting general remodeling at the<br />
newly acquired Belmont and will change the<br />
DELUXE<br />
THEATRE EQUIPMENT<br />
* BRENKERT PROJECTORS<br />
* RCA SOUND SYSTEMS<br />
*RCA RECTIFIERS<br />
* RCA SOUND SCREENS<br />
* BRENKERT LAMPS<br />
INTERNATIONAL CHAIRS<br />
MOHAWK CARPET<br />
HORSTMAN MARQUEES<br />
*ADLER LETTERS<br />
CENTRY GENERATORS<br />
KOLDRINK BARS<br />
STAR POPCORN MACHINES<br />
NEUMADE PRODUCTS<br />
COINOMETER CHANGERS<br />
STAGE EQUIPMENT<br />
DRIVE-IN THEATRES OUR<br />
SPECIALTY<br />
ERNIE FORBES<br />
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Film Bldg., Detroit 1, Mich.<br />
Days<br />
WO 1-1122<br />
WO 1-1123<br />
Nights<br />
WE 4-9080<br />
name, probably to the Guild . William<br />
Crowley, who has been on the sick list for<br />
several months, is improving . Zapp<br />
is chairman of arrangements for the big Variety<br />
New Year's eve affair . . . Charles<br />
Shafer. general manager of the Shafer Theatre<br />
Co., operating the Wayne and Garden<br />
City houses, has been elected president of<br />
the Wayne Board of Commerce.<br />
C. J. Feldman, U-I western sales manager,<br />
was rumored due here for a visit . . . Bill<br />
Thulin. in charge of the print department<br />
at Jam Handy, is the father of a new son<br />
Robert . Salzberg, Cincinnati chief<br />
for Dezel Pi'oductions, was here for a sales<br />
conference at the home office . . . Norman<br />
Neal, manager of the Victory, is staging a<br />
special Saturday children's show.<br />
Franklin Woodling, son of Earl Woodling,<br />
who was back for a visit recently, is the new<br />
operator at the Victoi-y, replacing Edward<br />
Nielson, who moved to Chicago . . Eddie<br />
.<br />
Albert was here for a conference with Jam<br />
Handy and Marshall Templeton . . . Al Boudoris<br />
has closed the Detroit office of the<br />
Theatre Equipment Co. of Toledo, formerly<br />
in the Charlevoix building . Goldhar<br />
and Ben Zimmer, formerly with UA, were<br />
hosts at a big party for west side youngsters<br />
that took over both the Royal and Varsity.<br />
Frank J. Downey, MGM manager, headed<br />
for Pittsburgh for a sales meeting . . . Jack<br />
Morgan. MGM sales manager, left for his<br />
sister's farm near Tampa for several weeks'<br />
convalescence following a recent heart attack<br />
. Chrysler is pinch-hitting for<br />
Morgan . Mich., has a new mystery<br />
theatre. Exchanges are shipping out prints,<br />
but nobody knows who runs it or even the<br />
name of the house around Filmrow.<br />
Mr. and Mrs. George Haskin celebrated<br />
their silver anniversary December 22 with<br />
a party at home . Donlon ordered<br />
a round of hot dogs for the whole gang .<br />
G. M. "Power-Saw" Studebaker is the newest<br />
member of the Nightingales, and is going<br />
to try out his nickname on the alley<br />
Yellich of the Stanley is anohter<br />
bowler . . . Gilbert Light managed to<br />
new<br />
show up late for his own meeting. Roy<br />
Thompson did most of the talking at the<br />
session, ably a.ssisted by Charles MacFarlane<br />
and Donald Lewis.<br />
Past president Ed Douville and the Mrs.<br />
iBea Vester) had a nice visit at the old<br />
Colony with Earl Woodling . Akins<br />
reports the Cleveland projectionists league<br />
is cooking up a home and home match game<br />
with the Nightingales for early next year .<br />
Matt Haskin got a nice hand for his 6-10-7<br />
split, with son Ralph Haskin in the gallery<br />
Lindenthal managed to become a<br />
cheering section for the opposing team, while<br />
his own lost four points . . . Cecil Cox of the<br />
Colony scored his first missout<br />
Douville is sporting a new pair of shoes to<br />
pep up her bowling with the Nightingale<br />
girls.<br />
Jack Colien, National Screen Service chief,<br />
engineered a Christmas party for the staff<br />
at the Fort Wayne hotel . . . Mrs. Frances<br />
Tucar and Thelma Wetzel handled arrangements<br />
for the Warner Chri.stmas party .<br />
Clive R. Waxman. upstate independent<br />
booker, was a visitor . . . Two formerly theatreless<br />
towns now have new houses. Harley<br />
Ennest opened the Posen at Posen, and Chester<br />
Mates opened the new 340-seat Hopkins<br />
at Hopkins. Frank R. Spangler is opening<br />
the new 1.000-seat DeLux at Utica the first<br />
week in January and will keep the old 532-<br />
seat Capitol open weekends only.<br />
. . . Alex Schreiber of Associated<br />
John Penrod, manager of the Sheridan, sent<br />
the first of the season's greetings . . . Jack<br />
and Gladys Smukler sent a classic shepherds'<br />
scene<br />
reminisces over the old-fashioned<br />
sleigh rides . . . Projectionists Local 199 and<br />
Stagehands Local 38 both sent out traditional<br />
greetings.<br />
New Roof ior Oil City Drake<br />
OIL CITY, PA.—The Drake Theatre building<br />
is to have a new roof. The city has approved<br />
a building permit for the new roof<br />
placement.<br />
Your Heywood - Wakefield<br />
Seating Representative.<br />
14021<br />
Detroit 23, Mich.<br />
Phone: VEnnont 7-316S<br />
FILM EXCHANGE DRUGS<br />
The Showmen 's Drug Store<br />
Drugs * Cosmetics * Prescriptions<br />
Personal Service from Two Showmen<br />
MAX BERNBAim lACE GALLAGHER<br />
Pharmacist<br />
Manager<br />
Phone CLifford 1527. CUfiord 3694<br />
MICHDGAN SPORTSERVICE, Inc.<br />
Operating Concessions in Theatres, Boll Parks<br />
and Arenas for over 50 years.<br />
1. EISEN, Mgr.<br />
5047 Chene St. Detroit 11. hfich.<br />
Phone: Off. 'WAlnut 1-5524 Res.: TYler 5-9002<br />
TheatrfSign and Marquee Maintenance<br />
/^^^ Our Specialty<br />
^<br />
WJtforstman 4 Co,<br />
WOodard i-4050<br />
2821 Brooklyn<br />
EQUIPMENT<br />
MeARTHUR THEATRE<br />
COMPANY<br />
454 COLUMBfA ST WEST - DETROIT I. M ICH<br />
IDEAL SLIDE BACK CHAIRS<br />
Phone: CAdiUac 5524<br />
LONG SIGN CO.<br />
MARQUISE SIGNS<br />
MAINTENANCE SERVICE<br />
840 W. Baltimore. Detroit — TR 1-5477<br />
68 BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948
: December<br />
McARTHUR-DETROIT<br />
MICHIGAN INDEPENDENT OVER 24 YEARS<br />
THEATRE EQUIPMENT<br />
IDEAL SLIDE BACK CHAIRS<br />
CENTURY PROJECTORS 6l<br />
sound<br />
STRONG LAMPS &L<br />
RECTIFIERS<br />
NATIONAL PROJECTOR carbons<br />
HOLMES 16MM- PROJECTORS €l<br />
SOUND<br />
LEEDOM THEATRE CARPET<br />
McARTHUR ll<br />
454 WEST COLUMBIA • DETROIT 1, MICH.<br />
CADILLAC 5524-5524<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
:<br />
25, 1946 69
w<br />
Detroit Variety Committees for '49<br />
DETROIT — Chief Barker H. Edward<br />
Stuckey of the Variety Club of Michigan has<br />
announced the following committee for 1949:<br />
House committee—Lew Mitchell, chairman;<br />
Jack Zide, vice-chairman; Joseph Busic, Irving<br />
Belinsky. Carl Buermele. Sidney Bowman.<br />
Fred C. Dickely and Leonard Brooks.<br />
Membership committee—Ben Rosen, chairman;<br />
Harold Brown, vice-chairman; Floyd<br />
Chrysler. Fred DeLodder. Ted Levy, Edward<br />
C. Murphy. George W. Sampson and Milton<br />
Zimmerman.<br />
Exhibition section—David Flayer, vicechairman;<br />
Art Koskie, Irving Katcher, Henry<br />
Zapp, Harold Sandelman and Arthur Leazenby.<br />
Allied industries section—Larry C. Becker,<br />
vice-chairman; Norman Birnkrant, Charles<br />
Costello, Mike Falk, Ross Mulholland, John<br />
Slagle and James G. Riddell.<br />
Finance committee—George Berger, chairman;<br />
Charles Perry, vice-chairman; Frank<br />
Wetsman, Barney Kilbride, Adolph Goldberg<br />
and Del Ritter.<br />
Publicity—Bill Hendricks, chairman; Arvid<br />
Kantor. Charles Dietz and Lee Johnson.<br />
Welfare—Charles Garner, chairman;<br />
Charles Snyder and Al Ackerman.<br />
Football game committee—Joe Busic, chairman;<br />
James F. Sharkey, Harry Gilbert and<br />
Joseph Lenahan.<br />
Cancer fund committee—H. E. Stuckey,<br />
chairman; E. J. Hudson. M. H. Gowthorpe,<br />
Lew Wisper, B. Kilbride, Charles Komer and<br />
David M. Idzal.<br />
Entertainment committee—Jack Zide, general<br />
chairman; Joe Busic, general vice-chairman.<br />
This committee is being set up in 12<br />
monthly project subcommittees, outlining the<br />
year's activity program as follows, with the<br />
first named as chairman in each case;<br />
January—Installation on banquet—Charles<br />
W. Snyder. Charles Perry, Jack Goldhar.<br />
February — Valentine<br />
party — Ben Robins,<br />
Ralph Raskin and Art Koskie.<br />
March — Pioneer party — Frank Hensler,<br />
Lew Wisper and Fred Bonnem.<br />
April — Baseball party — Leonard Brooks,<br />
Joseph Lee and Joseph Lenahan.<br />
May — Outstanding merit awards — Henry<br />
Zapp, Arthur Robinson and James Olsen.<br />
June—Variety cruise—Floyd Chrysler, Irving<br />
Goldberg and Barry Cohen.<br />
July—Golf tournament—James G. Riddell,<br />
Lew Mitchell and Harold Sandelman.<br />
August—Football party—Oscar Gorelick, H.<br />
E. Stuckey and Mort Winston.<br />
September—Welfare fund games party<br />
Irving Belinsky. Del Ritter and Don Fill.<br />
October—Theatre party—Harry Lush, Jack<br />
Zide and Eddie Loy.<br />
November—Lew Halbert, Sam Seplowin and<br />
Bernard Brooks.<br />
December—New Year's Eve party—Harry<br />
Gilbert, Alex Schreiber and Ben Rosen.<br />
John L. Barcroft Elected<br />
Columbus Chief Barker<br />
COLUMBUS—John L. Barcroft, publicity<br />
manager of the RKO Palace and Grand, is<br />
the newly elected chief barker of Tent 2,<br />
Columbus Variety Club. Other officers for<br />
1949 are Ralph I. Shiflet, first assistant<br />
chief barker; Ben Co well, second assistant<br />
chief barker; Arthur Robinson, secretary,<br />
and Milton Staub, treasurer. Members of the<br />
board chosen include Virgil Jackson, Leo<br />
Yassenoff, William Pullin jr., Leo Kessel and<br />
U. G. Hazelton.<br />
August DeFere Re-Elected<br />
lATSE Local 578 Chief<br />
FARIMONT. W. VA.—August DePere has<br />
been re-elected president of lATSE Local<br />
578. Other officers: Richard D. Herstine, vicepresident;<br />
H. D. Kelley. secretary-treasurer,<br />
and C. P. DeFere. business agent. Hamilton<br />
Zehrbach, Ord Weaver and Alex Christy were<br />
named trustees.<br />
The Super Heavy Duty Cleaner<br />
especially designed for theatre cleaning<br />
CLEANS QUICKLY — EASILY — THOROUGHLY<br />
Hi up Tube permits cleaning 15 feet up—extra sections are available for<br />
greater heights—drapes, box fronts, lamp house, screen, upholstered furniture,<br />
carpets, bare floors and ornamentation—clean them all with the same<br />
Super. The Super Blowrer boosts debris and popcorn boxes out from under<br />
seats, down front to be disposed of easily. The Super Spotlight enables<br />
the operator to see readily into dark places, saves house lights. The Super<br />
Screen Brush gives longer life to your screen—keeps it clean and bright,<br />
sound holes clear.<br />
24-Hour Projection and Sound Service<br />
RINGOLD THEATRE EQUIPMENT COMPANY<br />
106 Michigan St., N. W., Grand Rapids 2, Mich.<br />
Telephone GLendale 4-8852 Njghts and Sundays 3-2413<br />
Lane Theatre Opens<br />
In Columbus Center<br />
COLUMBUS—The newest neighborhood<br />
theatre here is the Lane, which was opened<br />
December 16 in the new West Lane shopping<br />
center as the tenth addition to the Academy<br />
circuit. The house is of Colonial design,<br />
built of natural local limestone and white<br />
painted brick, with Indiana limestone coping.<br />
The green tile roof has a cupola topped<br />
with a weather vane. Green shutters trim<br />
the attraction panels on the stone lower portion<br />
of the theatre front. Six bone-white<br />
entrance doors also carry out the early American<br />
architectural style.<br />
Soft delicate coloring distinguishes the<br />
main auditorium, with shimmering blue and<br />
silver spun glass fabric covering the back<br />
wall. Wainscoting is of drak gray, and sidespun<br />
glass. Sidewalls are further decorated<br />
by four large panels of a similar fabric in<br />
a rose leaf pattern.<br />
LOUISVILLE<br />
fxr E. Carrell, president of the Falls City<br />
Theatre Equipment Co., was in Chicago<br />
attending the NAPM convention at the Sherman<br />
hotel, and contacting various theatre<br />
equipment and supply companies in the Chicago<br />
area . . . J. M. Ingram. Kentucky theatre<br />
architect, moved his offices from the<br />
Citizens Bldg. to 419 West Main St. in downtown<br />
Louisville.<br />
A. Edward Campbell's new Lyric Theatre<br />
. . .<br />
in Lexington, Ky., was opened December 14.<br />
Campbell is a showman of long standing,<br />
having operated four theatres in Louisville<br />
during recent years. He also owns interests<br />
in drive-ins in Kentucky and Indiana<br />
Mrs. Gratia Locke, co-owner of the Savoy<br />
here, was back in town after a visit in New<br />
York. While there Mrs. Locke was the guest<br />
of Leon J. Bamberger of RKO at a Music<br />
Hall show, and she also made a sightseeing<br />
torn' of the big theatre.<br />
"Gone With the Wind" again was being<br />
shown in theatres throughout the state at<br />
nominal admission prices. According to reports<br />
of exhibitors, the masterpiece still retains<br />
Mr. and Mrs.<br />
its drawing power . . . George Jaeggers were visiting In Indianapolis.<br />
Jaeggers manages the Elks Theatre in New<br />
Albany . . . Remodeling of the first run<br />
National Theatre is being planned. Jimmie<br />
Robertson is manager of the house, which<br />
is said to be owned by I. Jerome Riker,<br />
Brooklyn, N. Y.<br />
James F. Willard, service engineer for the<br />
Strong Electric Corp., Toledo, spent several<br />
days at the Palls City Theatre Equipment<br />
Co., checking on recent installations in the<br />
territory . . Out-of-town exhibitors seen<br />
.<br />
on the row recently included: Mrs. Frances<br />
Wessell, Royal, Carrollton: George Lindsay,<br />
Lindsay, Brownsville: C. K. Arnold, Arco and<br />
Melody theatres, Bardstown: Jack Story,<br />
Mary Agnes, Jamestown: Ed Campbell, Lyric,<br />
Lexington, Ky.; A. N. Miles, Eminence, Eminence;;<br />
R. L. Gastrost, Victory, Vine Grove,<br />
and Edwin St. Clair, St. Clair, Lebanon Junction,<br />
Ky.; Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Ornstein,<br />
Rialto, Marengo; Homer Wirth, Crane, Crane,<br />
and G. M. May, Dream, Corydon, Ind.<br />
70 BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948
„<br />
roadshow<br />
. . Wade<br />
. . Ray<br />
<strong>Boxoffice</strong> Lag Felt<br />
In Christmas Whirl<br />
DETROIT—A slow downward trend was<br />
apparent in local boxotfices, but exhibitors<br />
generally were not discouraged, blaming the<br />
lag on the usual holiday celebrations. Individually,<br />
"Hamiet" led the town grossing 125<br />
per cent in its third week. Others clung near<br />
the average mark.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Adcrms—Kiss the Blood Oil My Hands (U-I), The<br />
Strange Mrs. Crane (EL) ^ 95<br />
Cinema—Hamlet (U-I), 3rd wk 12b<br />
Downtown—San Francisco (MGM), A Night at the<br />
Opera (MGM), reissues, 2nd wk 80<br />
Fox—Sofia (FC),- Belle Starr's Daughter (20th-Fox) 95<br />
Madison Moonrise (Rep); Angel on the Amazon<br />
(Rep) 85<br />
Michigan—Johnny Belinda (WB); Adventures of<br />
Gallant Bess (EL), 3rd wk - 90<br />
Palms-Slate-Red Hiver (UA), 3rd wk 100<br />
United Artists—For the Love of Mary (U-I): The<br />
Saxon Charm (U-I) 105<br />
'Road House' Gets 130<br />
To Lead Cleveland<br />
CLEVELAND—Theatre business took second<br />
place in public interest here while Santa<br />
Claus ruled the entertainment waves. However,<br />
"Road House" broke the jinx by hitting<br />
a high 130 per cent at the Allen where it<br />
was held a second week. Third week of<br />
"The Three Musketeers" on a moveover to<br />
the Stillman, topped the house average by<br />
10 per cent, "Fighter Squadron" was just<br />
over average at the Hippodrome and other<br />
downtown houses got by with fair records.<br />
CLEVELAND<br />
. . . Mrs. Louis<br />
l^at Wolf, Warner zone manager, held his<br />
annual midwinter managers meeting, an<br />
all-day session which culminated in a banquet<br />
at the Statler hotel . . . Alex Schimel,<br />
U-I salesman, has been transferred to the<br />
New Haven office, only a short distance from<br />
New York, his hometown<br />
Seltzer, former president of the Cleveland<br />
Federation of Women's clubs and wife of the<br />
editor of the Press, on behalf of Crile General<br />
hospital, accepted a piano from the local Variety<br />
Club as a Christmas gift.<br />
Bob Blxler, Warner salesman, is spending<br />
his holiday vacation at home in Texas . . .<br />
Bill Lissner, Columbia salesman, is utilizing<br />
his time off collecting a Florida suntan . . .<br />
Jack Sogg, MGM manager, was in Pittsburgh<br />
for a division meeting called by J. J. Maloney<br />
. . . Morris Lefko, RKO district manager and<br />
division captain of the Ned Depinet drive, returned<br />
after three-day sessions in Cincinnati,<br />
Indianapolis and Detroit. First of the series<br />
of meetings was held here.<br />
There's going to be a big New Year's eve<br />
shindig at the Variety Club if the members<br />
have anything to do about it. At the last<br />
board of directors meeting the following committee<br />
was named by Chief Barker Milton<br />
Mooney to work out the details: Irwin Shenker,<br />
chairman; Nat Barach, Manny Stutz,<br />
Ray Schmertz and Milton Grant . . . Shep<br />
Allen—Road House ( 20th-Fox) 130 Bloom, 20th-Fox salesman, and Oscar Bloom,<br />
Esquir^High Fury ( UA) - - 105<br />
Hippodrome—Fighter Squadron (WB) salesman for Warner Bros., are spending the<br />
..._ 105<br />
Lower Mall Jenny Lamour (Vog); Lucrezia<br />
holidays in New York . M. Carr, district<br />
Borgia (Vog), 2nd wk 90<br />
Ohio—Hamlet (U-I), Vih wk. of roadshow manager for Manley, Inc., reports he<br />
engagement<br />
100 has completed a twin Manley installation In<br />
Palace—The Return of October (Col) 80<br />
State—Night Has a Thousand Eyes<br />
the Center-Mayfield Theatre which has jtist<br />
(Para) 75<br />
Stillman—The Three Musketeers (MGM), 3rd d. remodeled the lobby to allow for a concession<br />
wk. ..110<br />
room.<br />
Trade Slackens in Pittsburgh; Bill Gross, Columbia city salesman, drove<br />
'Musketeers' Continues Lead to South Bend, Ind., to pick up his Notre<br />
PITTSBURGH -Grosses slacked off at<br />
Dame freshman son George who is spenddowntown<br />
theatres. "The Three Musketeers" ^"5 ^^ Christmas vacation at home Rube<br />
. . .<br />
was out in front in its second week at Loew's Jackter, Columbia sales manager, and Sam<br />
Galanty, district manager, were here to talk<br />
pgjjj^<br />
_,.'<br />
. „ .MiiiTj with local Manager Oscar Ruby ... J. Stuart<br />
1, I',<br />
Fulton—Rogues Regiment (U-I), 2nd wk 75 °<br />
^ r^ ,. ,„j..,«<br />
Harris—When My Baby Smiles at Me (20th-rox), Cangney. sales manager for Theatrecraft Mfg.<br />
2nd wk,<br />
.<br />
„ , , Vv/V-ui 9„;i" 19S Corp., was in Charlotte and Greensboro,<br />
Penn—The Three Musketeers (MGM), znd wk IZD ^<br />
, ....<br />
Ritz—Hamlet (U-I), 5th wk , 95 N. C, recently in response to inquiries on<br />
Senator—Commandos Strike at Davm (Col); The<br />
jjjg company's new combination Mobiltone<br />
, . , ,<br />
the (RKO) 110 heater-speaker, now in demand<br />
Warner-Fighter Squadron (WB), 2nd d. t. wk 90<br />
j-Qund drive-in operation.<br />
Invaders<br />
Stanley—Blood<br />
(Col),<br />
on<br />
reissues<br />
Moon<br />
9U ,<br />
for year-<br />
ager, was here on a routine visit with city<br />
Manager Max Mink . . . Ernest Schwartz,<br />
president of the Cleveland Motion Picture<br />
Exhibitors Ass'n, and his wife went to Chicago<br />
to spend the holidays with their son and<br />
daughter . Allison, manager of the<br />
Shaker Theatre, de luxe neighborhood house,<br />
held his annual special children's Christmas<br />
party. In addition to a specially selected<br />
program, Allison provided door prizes.<br />
Ted Minsky, Warner fUm buyer, and Nat<br />
Wolf, Ohio zone manager, were back from a<br />
home office seasonal meeting . . . Harry<br />
Weiss, 20th-Fox exploiteer, is holding a series<br />
of "The Snake Pit" screenings for groups of<br />
doctors, psychiatrists, social workers and civic<br />
leaders prior to its local release in January<br />
. . . "Hamlet" folded after a record eightweek<br />
engagement at Loew's Ohio, during<br />
which it grossed an estimated $110,000. Robert<br />
Wile, roadshow manager of the local run,<br />
is now in Cincinnati supervising the opening<br />
of the picture at the Guild Theatre.<br />
Saul Frifield, Paramount manager, is back<br />
from a four-week vacation in Florida . . .<br />
Associated circuit heads, following their annual<br />
custom, entertained all of their managers<br />
at a Christmas dinner party held at the<br />
Statler hotel . . . Visitors included Bill Twigg,<br />
head booker for the Peter Wellman circuit;<br />
Chuck Meyer of the Carolyn Theatre, New<br />
London; George Foley of Mount Pelier and<br />
Jesse Chinich, Northio booker from Cincinnati.<br />
^<br />
Holdovers Perform Well<br />
In Pre-Xmas Quiet<br />
CINCINNATI — Pre - Christmas activities<br />
still were paramount and boxoffice figures<br />
were good evidence of it, although holdover<br />
pictures gave a very good account of themselves.<br />
.<br />
Albee—Pitfall (UA) 90<br />
Capitol—When My Baby Smiles at Mo (2Qth-Fox),<br />
3rd wk _ 100<br />
Grand—Northwest Stampede (EL) 90<br />
Keiths—The Three Musketeers (MGM), 3rd wk 100<br />
Lyric—In the Navy (U-I); Who Done It? (U-I),<br />
reissues -. 120<br />
ooked MUe (Col)... _ 110<br />
he Moon (RKO), 2nd d. t. wk._ 80<br />
Crowd for 'Juan' Premiere<br />
PITTSBURGH—A crowd of 2,000 filled the<br />
Warner recently for the Press Old Newsboys'<br />
world premiere of Warners "Adventures<br />
of Don Juan." The special performance was<br />
the highlight event of the 1948 campaign for<br />
funds to help crippled, sick and ailing children<br />
of the Pittsburgh district.<br />
Jack Gertz of Theatrical Enterprises went<br />
deer hunting but failed to bring home any<br />
evidence of his prowess . . . Gerry Shartln,<br />
who deals in rubber floorings, reports that<br />
her dad Bill, who manages the Film Classics<br />
exchange in Seattle, gave her mother a pedigreed<br />
riding horse for Christmas . . . The<br />
U-I Christmas party was staged at Grosse's.<br />
popular west side eating place, with exchange<br />
of presents in the exchange before<br />
the party dinner.<br />
Emit Groth, RKO Theatres division man-<br />
CANDY SALES, INC.<br />
CONCESSIONAIRES and<br />
CONCESSIONAIRE SUPPLIES<br />
Sidney Garfield<br />
1400 E. 105th St. Phone: GAriield 5458-5459<br />
Cleveland. Ohio
. . . Tony<br />
. . Lawrence<br />
. . The<br />
. . UA's<br />
. . The<br />
. . Jim<br />
. . Pete<br />
. . Louis<br />
. . . Jack<br />
. . . Harry<br />
. . Several<br />
PITTSBURGH<br />
'rbe 20th anniversary banquet of Local 211,<br />
AFL Newspaper, Magazine and Film Delivery<br />
Drivers, Helpers and Handlers, attracted<br />
750 guests . . . Rube Jackter and Sam Galanty,<br />
Columbia executives, were here conferring<br />
with Art Levy, branch manager, whose "My<br />
Drive" is progressing very satisfactorily . . .<br />
Pat Kennedy of Exhibitors Service Co. and<br />
a network tenor a decade ago, was at the<br />
MacFadden physical culture resort in Dansville,<br />
N. Y.<br />
A son was born at Magee hospital to the<br />
Paul Bechsteins. Bechstein manages the Avenue<br />
on uptown Fifth avenue, and he is a<br />
brother of Mrs. Paul Bronder . theatre<br />
partnership of John Allison Gribble and<br />
Nick Notopoulos has terminated. Gribble, a<br />
former local film salesman, will operate the<br />
theatres at Greencastle and Shippensburg,<br />
and Notopoulos takes over operation of the<br />
BeUwood and Osceola Mills theatres . . . BUI<br />
Blowitz, Hollywood publicity agent who is<br />
working on Enterprise's "Forces of Evil," visited<br />
recently with his parents, the Joe<br />
Blowitzes. His father is manager at the Warner<br />
Manor in Squirrel Hill.<br />
Some form of mercantile and amusement<br />
taxes may replace the income tax at Monessen<br />
. . . Henry Schmitt's Imperial at Imperial<br />
has been extensively remodeled and<br />
renovated . . . Max Cohen. Universal branch<br />
manager here several years ago, made his<br />
initial visit as Film Classic's new eastern<br />
sales manager . Herbert, son of<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Jules Lapidus, and Lois Elaine<br />
Liff, were married in New York recently.<br />
Jules, former local exhibitor and film salesman<br />
and manager, is Warner eastern and<br />
Canadian division manager.<br />
QUICK, FRIENDLY SERVICE?<br />
QUALITY<br />
Andy Battiston had some ui-gent business<br />
in New York City the other day and Jen-y<br />
Castelli, Library exhibitor, flew him there<br />
Pastor's band was at the new<br />
Manos in Monessen, and Johnny Long's<br />
orchestra appeared at the Capitol in Wheel-<br />
.<br />
ing . "This Is New York" was playing<br />
some theatres in the area under the<br />
title of "The City Slicker" . . Altoona's<br />
revenue from the city amusement tax in<br />
November was $13,455.47 ... A 1 per cent wage<br />
and income tax has been proposed at Bradford<br />
. . . Bill Smith, who handles the Sun-<br />
Telegraph amusement accounts, is appearing<br />
in the Playhouse production of "She Loves<br />
Me Not." He's cast as a newspaperman.<br />
Guy Oglietti, Leechburg exhibitor, is active<br />
in Lions club activities . . . Milt Young. Columbia<br />
exploiteer. was here working on "The<br />
Return of October" . Quiter, U-I office<br />
manager turned salesman, and his branch<br />
manager, Francis Guehl, were in charge of<br />
the annual Christmas party at the Variety<br />
Club . Lindsay, formerly with the<br />
Harris circuit and recreation director for<br />
Allegheny county parks, now is coordinator<br />
of education at Carnegie Institute, which<br />
will present a Sunday afternoon series of<br />
old silent motion pictures patterned after<br />
those exhibited in the New York Museum of<br />
Art.<br />
.<br />
Charles Dortic, former film salesman now<br />
representing Columbia in upper New York,<br />
was a visitor . . . Bill Walker of Crafton and<br />
Henry Schmitt of Imperial were at Berkley<br />
The Saxton borough<br />
Springs, W. Va. . . .<br />
council was considering a wage and Income<br />
tax Columtous Symphony orchestra<br />
was heard in concert at the Robinson Grand,<br />
Clarksburg, W. Va. . Michael, veteran<br />
local exhibitor, was hospitalized for treatment<br />
of a heart condition. Several weeks ago<br />
his brother Chris, pioneer exhibitor associated<br />
with the southside Rex, was hospitalized<br />
following a heart attack but he has returned<br />
home.<br />
John J. Maloney, MGM central sales manager,<br />
held a meeting here December 16, 17<br />
with Branch Managers Saal Gottlieb, Pittsburgh:<br />
Edwin M. Booth, Cincinnati; Frank<br />
J. Downey, Detroit, and Jack Sogg, Cleve-<br />
PRODUCTS?<br />
LOWER FREIGHT<br />
Then order your BEE-HIVE Hybrid popcorn<br />
and supplies direct from Blevins' Ohio processing<br />
plant at Arcanum, near Dayton. Offering<br />
superb BEE-HIVE<br />
at $10.25 per cwt.<br />
("5<br />
-bog lots and standing orders)<br />
BLEVINS POPCORN CO.,<br />
Popcorn Square<br />
Popcorn Village<br />
Arcanum, Ohio<br />
Nashville,<br />
Tenn.<br />
RATES?<br />
Inc.<br />
Stocks in Dixie Warehouse, 11 th and Main Streets, Louisville, Ky., and Lawson Warehouse,<br />
425 Campbell Ave., E., Roanoke, Va.<br />
land . . . Howard Minsky, former Warner<br />
salesman here and now a 20th-Pox home<br />
office executive, was convalescing at home<br />
following a leg operation at Johns Hopkins<br />
hospital.<br />
Minnie Steinberg and her children will go<br />
to California by automobile. She purchased<br />
a car, and with her son Fred will drive to the<br />
west coast to make their home in Los Angeles.<br />
She has been employed by Film Classics<br />
since the death of her husband, Mannie<br />
Steinberg . independent theatre<br />
owners here will install television sets in<br />
their theatre lobbies . . . Lou Harma held<br />
an open house Christmas party at the Acme-<br />
Pranklin-Hanna quarters, and Gordon Gibson<br />
was host at the Atlas Theatre Supply<br />
Cohen, former film salesman, is<br />
clerking at the state liquor store in East<br />
Liberty.<br />
Sam Fineberg, theatre supply dealer, has<br />
been in Phoenix visiting his family, and he<br />
will not return here until after January 1<br />
Rees, UA salesman, was back on<br />
the job after a brief illness . . . Raymond<br />
"Bud" AlUson of the Rivoli and Hollywood<br />
circuits suffered a painful injury diu-ing a<br />
hunting trip when he dropped into a clump<br />
of bushes and a twig punctured his left eye.<br />
The injury has responded to treatment and<br />
there wiU be no permanent impairment of<br />
his vision.<br />
Al Wheeler, new UA salesman who returned<br />
here after 20 years in the industry in Boston,<br />
located an apartment in Squirrel Hill<br />
and he has been joined by his wife Ella and<br />
. . . Bill Leibovitz, Mount<br />
daughter Viola<br />
Pleasant exhibitor, has been visiting a sister<br />
who is hospitalized here.<br />
Flash floods stopped several film salesmen<br />
around Clarksburg and Weston, and there<br />
was water damage at several theatres. At<br />
Mannington, Dr. C. P. Church had to pump<br />
water from the basement of a theatre.<br />
TOLEDO<br />
Tnstead of having a banquet in January, officers<br />
of Toledo Variety Club were installed<br />
recently for the coming year with little fanfare.<br />
Jack Lykes, chief barker, announced<br />
that Marvin Harris, manager of the Paramount,<br />
was named chairman for shut-ins<br />
committee.<br />
One of the most unusual holiday decorations<br />
in all Toledo was put up in the Colony<br />
Theatre, de luxe neighborhood house, where<br />
two real poinsettia trees with large flowers<br />
in bloom were set up on each side of the<br />
lobby. Since many Toledoians had never seen<br />
a real poinsettia tree, the decorations have<br />
been attracting much comment.<br />
"Hamlet" is booked for the Palace for a<br />
week beginning January 12, with a two-a-day<br />
roadshow policy . . . Sports Arena has booked<br />
the Gene Autry troupe for two shows on<br />
Friday. February 4. Autry attracted two capacity<br />
audiences in the Arena last March.<br />
Bob Hope may also appear on Sunday, January<br />
23, although no contracts have been<br />
signed yet, according to Virgil Gladieux of<br />
the Arena.<br />
Bridget Carr, native of Toledo whose life<br />
was reviewed on the Ralph Edwards' "This<br />
Is Your Life" radio program over the NBC<br />
network December 14, received a contract<br />
from MGM studio for a part in "Midnight<br />
Kiss," which goes into production January 10.<br />
f<br />
72 BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948
. . Ground<br />
. . Ben<br />
. . Marie<br />
COLUMBUS<br />
T ocal theatremen are watching developments<br />
in a proposal to build a million dollar<br />
spdrts arena on city property to be operated<br />
by private interests. Mayor Rhodes has<br />
declared that the city needs such an arena<br />
and will do "everything we can to get it." He<br />
said the arena would be patterned after<br />
those in Toledo, Indianapolis and Cincinnati.<br />
The arena, with a minim.um of 7,500 seats,<br />
could be used for sports events and would<br />
be in addition to the 8,500-plus capacity convention<br />
hall to be erected as part of the<br />
Franklin County Veterans' memorial on the<br />
Scioto riverfront.<br />
Theatremen also are interested in a proposal<br />
by Traffic Engineer Harry H. Turner<br />
suggesting that the city set up a 2,500-car<br />
downtown parking lot, cut into streets with<br />
parking meters, on a 18-acre site near the<br />
proposed new veterans' memorial. Turner<br />
cited Cincinnati and Cleveland as cities in<br />
which this system has been employed.<br />
Friends of Larry Caplane, former manager<br />
of the RKO Grand, are congratulating him<br />
on the birth of a daughter Ronnie GaU. Larry<br />
and his wife are now living in Omaha, Neb.,<br />
where he is manager of the RKO Brandeis<br />
. . . Phil Cochran, former local resident, will<br />
be technical adviser with Bieirne Lay jr. in<br />
preparation of the screenplay for RKO's "Jet<br />
Pilot." Colonel Cochran, inspiration for Flip<br />
Corkin in "Terry and the Pirates," attended<br />
Ohio Stat-e university and was the commanding<br />
officer of the air commandos in Btu'ma<br />
during World War II. Howard Hughes has<br />
set "Jet Pilot" as one of the most important<br />
pictures on the 1949 schedule at RKO.<br />
Harold Goodin, former student assistant at<br />
Loew's Ohio, stopped off here on the way<br />
from a training center in San Antonio to<br />
Boiling Field, Washington, where he will be<br />
stationed . . . Tom Gleba, WCOL staff announcer,<br />
succeeded Bill Burt as Inquiring Reporter<br />
on the WCOL program broadcast dally<br />
from under the Loew's Ohio marquee . . .<br />
Winter vacations were enjoyed recently by<br />
John Barcroft. Harry Simons and B. L. Mc-<br />
Graner of downtown houses.<br />
Committee members who helped make the<br />
Variety Club's Kiddies Christmas Karnlval a<br />
success Included Floyd Gooding, rides; Ben<br />
Cowall, arrangements: John Barcroft, entertainment<br />
and special events; John Hardgrove,<br />
decorations; Leo Yassenoff. executive committee;<br />
Leo Haenlein, operations; John Murphy<br />
and Sandy Hallock. gifts and giveaways;<br />
Paul Winkhaus, publicity; Sidney Katz, children's<br />
committee; Gene Hazelton. transportation;<br />
Kenneth Agee. control; Art Robinson,<br />
safety, and Oscar Little, grounds. Cecil Sansbury<br />
of the club and Ramon Cram, Columbus<br />
Dispatch promotion manager, were co-chairmen<br />
of the four-day event.<br />
P. J. Wood wants to know if Ohio exhibitors<br />
are getting bad prtjits. The Cincinnati Exhibitors'<br />
Ass'n complained to distributors about<br />
the bad condition of prints plus insufficient<br />
number . has been broken for the<br />
new Bucyrus drive-in and incorporation<br />
papers have been issued. Incorporators include<br />
Baird Johnson. Margaret Mayer, Roberta<br />
Vevenka and the firm of McConnell,<br />
Blackmore, Corey & Burke. The corporation<br />
was authorized to issue 1,700 shares of common<br />
stock with $1 par value per share and<br />
750 shares of preferred stock at $1 per share.<br />
The project will be completed in the spring.<br />
NTS Retains Leadership<br />
In Detroit Booth Play<br />
DETROIT—National Theatre Supply retained<br />
the lead in the Nightingale Club Bowling<br />
league by a close margin. Team standings;<br />
Wo<br />
National Theatre Supply<br />
National Carbon Co.<br />
Projectionists Local 199<br />
Lorenzens Flower Shop<br />
Altec Sound Service<br />
Brenkert Projectors<br />
McArthur Theatre Equipment<br />
Ernie Forbes Theatre Supply<br />
200 scores were rolled by; Ralph Haskin,<br />
235; Roy Thompson, 213; Jack Colwell, 231,<br />
and Edgar Douville, 201.<br />
Scharun's retained the lead in the FUm<br />
Bowling league with Alhed and Monogram<br />
tying for a close second place. Team standings;<br />
24<br />
Won<br />
27<br />
Lost<br />
Scharun's<br />
25<br />
31<br />
Allied<br />
Monogram<br />
Republic<br />
Theatrical<br />
RKO<br />
Co-operative<br />
26<br />
UA 21 35<br />
High 3 team—Monogram, 2,547; Republic,<br />
2.542, and UA, 2,532.<br />
High 1 team; RKO, 974; Republic, 901, and<br />
Theatrical, 892.<br />
High 3 individual: C. Sheran, 635; E. England,<br />
626, and R. Forman, 620.<br />
High 1 individual: C. Sheran, 265; E. Eng-<br />
245, and W. Goryl, 244.<br />
"200 club": C. Sheran, 210; D. Fill, 201 and<br />
208; D. Kaplan, 205, and R. Forman, 204.<br />
Alhambra Leads League<br />
Of Cleveland Bowlers<br />
CLEVELAND—Following is the latest score<br />
of the Movie Operators' Bowling league which<br />
meets weekly at the Alhambra alleys, as announced<br />
by Secretary Tom Fitzgerald:<br />
Alhambra Theatre 20 9<br />
Union Federated Insurance 18 11<br />
National Theatre Supply 18 12<br />
Auto Voice Speakers IG 14<br />
R.C.A. Service Co. 15 15<br />
Oliver Theatre Supply 12 18<br />
Ohio Theatre Supply 11 19<br />
Mobiltone In-Car Speaker 9 21<br />
The Alhambra Theatre squad stepped out<br />
and made the Union Federated team bite the<br />
dust in two of three encounters and tied one<br />
game up at 952 to take over the league leadership.<br />
The tie game point will be rolled off<br />
in the first game next week. The Alhambra<br />
boys moved into second high team threegame<br />
total and third high game team score<br />
with the 2,971 and 1,030 results. Responsible<br />
for this change in standings were "Emmy"<br />
Fitzgerald, Bill Riter, Red Hillegas, Bert<br />
Williams and Capt. Paul Collins.<br />
A clean sweep of all three games by the<br />
RCA Service Co. quintet from the MobUtone<br />
Speaker team was due to the nice scores contributed<br />
by Millard Ogle's 200-523, Ralph<br />
Gertz' 177-474, George Donelan's 187-417 and<br />
"Buzz" Buzek's 455.<br />
To Distribute 'Room 20'<br />
DETROIT—Albert Dezel, representing Albert<br />
Dezel Productions, Inc., has completed<br />
negotiations with John Jenkins of Astor Pictures<br />
Co. of Dallas, to distribute Astor's new<br />
all-Negro picture, "Girl in Room 20," in<br />
Chicago, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Detroit,<br />
Cleveland and Cincinnati.<br />
SPRINGFIELD<br />
fhakeres Theatres, Inc., managers attended<br />
an annual holiday meeting at the Bancroft<br />
hotel. Forty out-of-town managers of<br />
the circuit were present at the all-day affair.<br />
The managers were guests at a cocktail<br />
party following the meeting, and then<br />
they and other theatre personnel attended<br />
a Christmas dinner given by the company.<br />
Gifts from the company were presented to<br />
managers and employes.<br />
Michael H. Chakeres, David Sawyer and<br />
L. F. Weinsz of the Regent-State Corp. attended<br />
the annual Warner Bros, meeting<br />
and Christmas party in Cleveland . . .<br />
Woody Owens, manager of the Majestic,<br />
launched the new Superman serial with a<br />
drawing for kiddies, giving away watches<br />
and other prizes ... All Springfield theatres<br />
have gala decorations denoting the holiday<br />
season.<br />
Art Longbrake, manager of Chakeres'<br />
Frances Theatre m Mechanicsburg, was on<br />
a leave of absence because of illness. Substituting<br />
for him is Dwight East, assistant<br />
manager of the Pi-incess Theatre in Springfield<br />
Ed Paul, manager of the Logan<br />
, . .<br />
Theatre in Logan, was on the sick list and<br />
the house was being managed by his assistant.<br />
Dale Brooks . Wilkm, manager<br />
of the Cliftona Theatre m Circleville,<br />
was spending a vacation In Florida. Al<br />
Spare was acting manager during her absence<br />
. Hathaway has been appointed<br />
assistant manager of the Chakeres Capitol<br />
Theatre in Frankfort, Ky.<br />
AKRON<br />
Juvenile authorities are seeking six youths<br />
who tried to crash into the Orpheum December<br />
16 and succeeded only in crashing a<br />
plate glass window in an adjoining store.<br />
Claud Self, the doorman, said the boys tried<br />
to enter the show and engaged in a scuffle<br />
on the street, where one of the youths fell<br />
through the store window. The youths disappeared<br />
before police arrived.<br />
The Palace pulled out "Berlin Express" and<br />
replaced it on Friday (17) with "The Plunderers"<br />
. . . This Christmas weekend the<br />
Liberty showed a British musical, "The Great<br />
Mr. Handel."<br />
Two free Christmas parties for children<br />
were held Saturday
. . . "Catherine,"<br />
. . . Picture<br />
. . The<br />
. . Sam<br />
. . Dave<br />
. . Harold<br />
. . The<br />
. . Colleen<br />
. . The<br />
. . The<br />
Variety of Cleveland Reaches Peak<br />
Of Activity During Xmas Season<br />
CLEVELAND — This was Variety Club's<br />
busy week, beginning with the big Christmas<br />
party for some 200 needy and underprivileged<br />
children, which included a fuU course dinner<br />
and entertainment, after which each child<br />
received a warm article of clothing and a<br />
basket of food to take home.<br />
Then came the gala screen and stage show<br />
in behalf of the Will Rogers Memorial hospital<br />
drive. Nat Wolf, general chairman of<br />
the event, featured a long list of popular<br />
entertainers including Janis Paige, Warner<br />
star, who flew in from Hollywood to add<br />
glamor to the event; Bobby Breen, Emmett<br />
Kelly, baUadeer Peter Higgins, the Dancing<br />
Beaucaires, Dave Apollon & Co., composer<br />
Harry Carroll with Polly Baker, Lindsay's<br />
Adorables and Lindsay's Lovely Ladies, the<br />
Arthur MuiTay dancers and these four orchestras—Sammy<br />
Watkins of the Hollenden<br />
Vogue room, Joe Baldi of the Continental,<br />
Pittsburgh<br />
Farnkie Strasek of the Alpine Village and<br />
Carl DeMarco of the Palace Theatre.<br />
All actors, musicians, stagehands and motion<br />
picture operators gave their services<br />
free. Big moment of the evening was the<br />
awarding of a 1949 Cadillac, a mink coat,<br />
television set and a dozen other valuables.<br />
At another event, the children and grandchildren<br />
of members were guests of Variety<br />
Club at the annual holiday party. The ladies<br />
who comprise the League of Showmen's<br />
Wives came into the picture later with a<br />
dinner-dance in the clubrooms with their<br />
husbands as their guests. A big Christmas<br />
tree was surrounded with gag prizes for the<br />
guests which were distributed after the dinner.<br />
Dancing and games completed the entertainment<br />
arranged by the entertainment<br />
committee consisting of Annette Shenker,<br />
Alice Gottlieb, Edna Sunshine, Selma Leavitt<br />
and Mollie Weiss.<br />
Filmrow 20 Years Ago<br />
Pittsburgh<br />
The Christmas spirit captured Pittsburgh's<br />
A number of our Christmas advertisers of<br />
a score of years ago are actively engaged in<br />
Filmrow in 1928, our files show, and even the motion picture industry as they were in<br />
Hari-y Rees. UA, did an Apache war dance December 1928. Among those extending holiday<br />
Mort England<br />
greetings on these pages 20 years ago<br />
at the P&the holiday party . . .<br />
and Fred Solomon furnished Phototone were:<br />
music for Filmrow and set up special units William Kupper and his Fox Film Corp.<br />
in the exchanges Silverman of staff at the Pittsburgh exchange; Allan S.<br />
.<br />
Pathe was expected to announce his wedding Moritz, manager, Tiffany-StaW Productions;<br />
date . Pete Aldermans welcomed a Roy H. Haines, First National Pictures;<br />
daughter and the Abe Schnitzers, FBO, announced<br />
the birth of a son.<br />
Price, George Collins, Jack Graham, Pathe;<br />
Arthur Goldsmith, Mannie Steinberg, Harry<br />
Construction on the Latonia in Oil City M. S. England and Fred Solomon, Phototone;<br />
was progressing . Dyggert and Harry F. Grelle and Lee McGovern, Supreme<br />
Larry Jacobs, publicity heads for the Stanley- Film Co.; James H. Alexander, Sam Fineberg,<br />
Hymen Wheeler, Andy Cherry and<br />
Davis-Clerk Co., were taking bows for their<br />
boxoffice record-breaking campaign on Al Meyer Goldstein, Columbia Film Service;<br />
Jolson's "Singing Fool" . Davis was Joseph P. Lefko. World Wide Pictures.<br />
on the great two-a-day vaudeville schedule Harry Milstein. Francis J. Guehl, Leo<br />
at $1.50 top . . . Theodore Roberts, "grand Wayne, Charles L. Dortic, Harry Rupp, A. C.<br />
old man of the screen," died . Moore Gammon, Lou Padolf, Bill Lebarton and<br />
and Gary Cooper in "Lilac Time" were breaking<br />
records . Askenase and Hermoine Smythe. Theatre Premiums; James F. Shar-<br />
C. W. Dickinson, Universal; Harry K.<br />
Greenberger were engaged.<br />
key, Ed Elder, Sam Jacobson, Lou Engel ^nd<br />
The holidays were interrupted for Bill Kupper<br />
who was promoted from Fox's local Stearn, United Artists; Steve Forrest, Theat-<br />
Bill Liebler, Columbia Pictures; Bert M.<br />
branch to special duties at the home office, rical Exchange.<br />
with Ira H. Cohn coming here from Cincinnati<br />
. . . Jim Balmer was named manager Lapidus, Abe Eskin, Bob Haughton, George<br />
John J. Maloney, J. Allison Gribble, Jules<br />
of the Enright which opened December 28 Bernet, A. E. Rohlfs, Tommy Skelton, Red<br />
1-month-old baby recently Caldwell, Esther Mayer, MGM.<br />
abandoned in the Sheridan Square, was Other Pittsburgh names in the news on<br />
adopted by the Variety Club of Pittsburgh these pages 20 years ago:<br />
of the week was Richard Barthelmess<br />
in "Scarlet Seas."<br />
Charlie Mergen<br />
Ernie Dock<br />
Harry Flarity<br />
Anthony P. Jim<br />
Harry Mrs- Mary J. Laskey<br />
E. Reilf<br />
Ben Shlyen's Christmas edition editorial in Calherine Bohn<br />
Ralph M. Lutes<br />
Stanley Elkins<br />
BOXOFFICE a score of years ago saluted George Lenahan<br />
M. A. Sybert<br />
Bill Gratier<br />
Abram F. Myers, who had been signed to<br />
O. J. Sybert<br />
lack Maloy<br />
Joseph S. Skirboll<br />
head Allied States Ass'n of Motion Picture Ben Engelberg<br />
C. B. Pascoe<br />
Exhibitors, The editorial was titled "A Big Ben Nadler<br />
Ann Cohen<br />
John H- Harris<br />
Joe Davidson<br />
Man for a Big Job." A photo showed the Hayes Garbarino<br />
Harry Latide<br />
Allied organizers and Myers signing the James H. Nash<br />
Mrs. F. C. McGinley<br />
George Olte<br />
George Dawson<br />
agreement. Several weeks ago Allied celebrated<br />
its 20th anniversary at the New Ted ToUey<br />
Bernard Armstrong<br />
Tred J. Herrington Teddy Joyce<br />
Veronica Flynn<br />
Mc I Wie<br />
Orleans convention and issued a 42-page loseoh I. Scnnitzer<br />
Helen Brogar<br />
brochure "Twenty Glorious Years" which featured<br />
Art Morrono<br />
Jack Cohen<br />
the photograph.<br />
David A. Victor<br />
Isaac Victor<br />
S. S. Crangi<br />
W. M. Wear,<br />
CINCINNATI<br />
pilmrow employes enjoyed annual Christmas<br />
parties, some in the exchanges and others<br />
at various hotels. RKO had a dinner party<br />
at the Kemper Lane hotel. Salesmen in for<br />
the affair included Jack Furrer and his<br />
wife from West Virginia and Joe McKnight<br />
and wife from Kentucky . Paramount<br />
gang had their get-together at the Alms<br />
hotel and the U-I party was held in the<br />
office with Peter Rosien, district manager,<br />
whose headquarters are in Cincinnati, among<br />
those present.<br />
Marion Conley, cashier at Paramount, was<br />
to spend Christmas weekend at her home<br />
in Portland, Me. . Cincinnati Warner<br />
office holds second place in the current drive,<br />
being exceeded by a very few points by the<br />
Dallas exchange. Jim Abrose's gang is pulling<br />
hard for victory.<br />
. . . Bill<br />
IMrs. Louise Vinson, Paramount ledger clerk,<br />
was saddened by the recent death of her<br />
father. Visitors on the Row were Charlie<br />
Behlen and his manager, L, Costillo, of Lexington,<br />
Ky.; A. J. Sexton jr.' and Mrs, Pon<br />
Sexton, Ashland, Ky.; R. Prill, Warsaw, Ky.;<br />
William Thomas, E. Bernstadt, Ky., and<br />
Louis Shore, Williamson, W. Va.<br />
Garner of Logan, W. Va., visited the local<br />
exchanges and left for Atlanta, where he<br />
will handle booking details for theatres recently<br />
acquired in Oak Ridge, Tenn.<br />
Fanny Voss, head inspector at Paramount,<br />
IVIrs.<br />
and the girls of her department,<br />
celebrated the holiday season with a dinner<br />
The State The-<br />
at the Latin Quarter . . .<br />
atre, Middletown. Ohio, formerly owned by<br />
Mitchell Blachschleger, now the property of<br />
the Elks Lodge, was taken back by them and<br />
will be converted into a bar and clubroom<br />
for members of the Elks.<br />
Rex Carr, general manager of Theatre<br />
Owners Corp., and his wife attended the<br />
national Allied convention in New Orleans.<br />
On Carr's return home, he suffered a mild<br />
attack of flu but has recovered. The Realart<br />
combination of Abbott and Costello, "In the<br />
Navy" and "Who Done It?" recently did<br />
terrific business at the Lyric Theatre here.<br />
rating additional playing time.<br />
Lee Goldberg, Popular Pictures, has set the<br />
Abbott and Costello combination at Loew's<br />
Broad, Columbus; RKO State, Dayton, and<br />
Loew's Majestic, Evansville, Ind. ... A large<br />
number of key city bookings have been set<br />
for "All Baba and the 40 Thieves" and<br />
"Phantom of the Opera."<br />
D. "Dinty" Moore<br />
Sam Fineberg<br />
1705 Blvd. of the Allies<br />
PITTSBURGH 19, PA.<br />
Phone EXpress 0777<br />
NATIONALIY ADVERTISED BRANDS CANDY<br />
82c per 24—5c bars. Peanuts 70c. Gum—^Oc.<br />
MINIMUM PREPAID SHIPMENTS 1.200 bars of any<br />
manufacturer's products. Smaller shipments f.o.b. our<br />
warehouse.<br />
UNIVERSAL SOUND MOVIE CO.<br />
Calhoun. Kentucky<br />
We are distrihutors for Nationally Advertised brands.<br />
74 BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948
Three New Theatres<br />
In Hartford District<br />
HARTFORD—As the New Year opens<br />
three major theatre construction jobs are<br />
well under way in the Hartford territory,<br />
one in East Hartford, another at Norwich,<br />
Conn., and the third at Meriden, Conn.<br />
The East Hartford situation, an 800-seat<br />
theatre located at 582 Burnside Ave., is being<br />
constructed by Morris Keppner, owner of the<br />
Glastonbury Theatre at Glastonbm-y, Conn.,<br />
and president of the Burnside Theatre, Inc.,<br />
the firm which will operate the new house.<br />
Completion date on the $200,000 structiu-e<br />
is expected by March 1949. Being erected in<br />
the traditional Connecticut colonial design,<br />
the theatre is of masonry construction with<br />
red brick and white trim. The building<br />
measures 131x60 feet. Herbert Gibson of<br />
Hartford is architect for the house with Morris<br />
Rothenberg of New York as associate<br />
architect.<br />
NO COMPLETION DATE<br />
Construction has been under way for several<br />
months on the 1,400-seat theatre at<br />
Norwich, Conn., but completion date has not<br />
been set. Bergman Bros, of Norwich is handling<br />
the construction job. The new house<br />
will be operated by Loew's Poll New England<br />
Theatres, Inc., which also operates the<br />
Broadway Theatre in Norw^ich. Harry Shaw<br />
is division manager for the Poli interests.<br />
A late winter completion date has been set<br />
for the 1,000-seat theatre being constructed<br />
in Meriden, Conn., for Nick Kounaris and<br />
Paul Tolls, partners in the Newington Theatre,<br />
Newington, Conn., and George Ulyssis,<br />
a New Britain, Conn., businessman. The entire<br />
building will contain all steel and brick<br />
with only a little wood being utilized for<br />
decorative lobby finishing.<br />
Paul Purdy, manager of the circuit's Newington<br />
Theatre, said advertising would stress<br />
the seating capacity. Another feature will<br />
be the theatre's adaptability to television.<br />
Purdy said adequate space would be allowed<br />
in the booth to permit immediate installation,<br />
if necessary, of the latest television<br />
equipment.<br />
LOT FOR 600 CARS<br />
Provisions are being made for a 600-car<br />
parking lot adjoining the theatre and an<br />
ice cream parlor will be situated in the same<br />
building with the theatre.<br />
Nick Kounaris has been associated with<br />
exhibition in the Hartford territory since<br />
1940, when he took over the Rialto Theatre<br />
in New Britain. Conn., with Nick Marlames,<br />
now living in Florida. Kounaris and Tolls<br />
acquired the Newington Theatre in 1943.<br />
Tolls has been in fUm business in this area<br />
for the last 25 years. Purdy, who is manager<br />
and booker for the Newington, started<br />
in the trade in 1932 as service staff aide at<br />
the Granada Theatre, Maiden, Mass.<br />
Angelo Sette Hosts Staff<br />
SPRINGFIELD—Manager Angelo A.<br />
Sette<br />
of the Capitol Theatre grabbed himself some<br />
good page one publicity in the local newspapers<br />
when he invited the public information<br />
staff at Westover air and members of<br />
the 131st Fighter squadron of the Massachusetts<br />
national guard to attend the opening<br />
of Warners' "Fighter Squadron." produced<br />
in cooperation with the air force.<br />
New Perakos Elm Theatre Is Nucleus<br />
For Hartford Suburb Development<br />
Pictured above are executives of the Perakos Theatre interests talking with the<br />
architect of the new Elm Theatre at West Hartford, Conn., newest link in the Perakos<br />
circuit. Left to right: Peter Perakos, circuit head; Steve Pei-akos, one of his sons;<br />
C. A. Bullock, theatre architect, and Sperie Perakos. general manager for the circuit.<br />
HARTFORD—The Perakos interests, in the<br />
motion picture industry in this territory for<br />
the last 25 years, have opened metropolitan<br />
Hartford's first postwar theatre, the Elm,<br />
a 1,000-seater situated in suburban Elmwood.<br />
The theatre is a part of an eight-store<br />
shopping center, with a canopy extension<br />
forming a roof overhang connecting the entire<br />
front length of the theatre and stores.<br />
"All refinements of postwar theatre building<br />
have been used in the construction," according<br />
to Sperie Perakos. district manager<br />
for the circuit, which has its headquarters<br />
in the Palace Theatre Bldg. at New Britain.<br />
The Elm is being operated by the Elmwood<br />
Theatre Corp., of which Peter G. Perakos<br />
is president and Sperie is general manager.<br />
The corporation has 17 theatres, with 13<br />
in Boston, and the Eastwood. East Hartford:<br />
State. Jewett City: Strand, Thompsonville,<br />
and Palace. New Britain, all in Connecticut.<br />
Two additional theatres are under<br />
construction in Bridgeport, one to be knowfn<br />
as the Beverly and the other the Highway.<br />
The Elm was designed by E. C. A. Bullock,<br />
New York architect, and built by the B.<br />
Stein Building Co. of New Britain, the concern<br />
which also erected the stores at the<br />
center, plans for which were drawn by<br />
Irving W. Rutherford, local architect.<br />
The theatre building has a semicircular<br />
front, abutting at a 45 degree angle to the<br />
shopping center. An innovation in the center<br />
is the Kawmeer metal molding canopy<br />
extending all along the store fronts. Patrons<br />
may alight from automobiles directly under<br />
the protective canopy. The entire structure<br />
sets well back from the street, allowing adequate<br />
parking space in front of the stores<br />
and the theatre.<br />
The theatre exterior is built of brick, glass<br />
block, red rubino marble imported from<br />
Italy, plate glass wth alumilite trim and<br />
Indiana limestone laid up in ashlar or irregular<br />
pattern. Solid glass doors lead to<br />
the lobby.<br />
The lobby and common lounge of the theatre<br />
have been paneled in matched Zebra<br />
wood, African mahogany and prim avera.<br />
The panel extends to the outer exits. A<br />
V-shaped marquee is situated above the wide<br />
overhang of the outer lobby, and recessed<br />
in the underside or soffit part of the overhang<br />
above the theatre front are lights which<br />
carry into the lobby and give a feeling of<br />
depth and length.<br />
Lobby flooring consists of black and red<br />
terrazzo. Wall-to-wall carpeting covers the<br />
concrete flooring. The lobby includes a refreshment<br />
bar and a checking service. The<br />
manager's office is connected directly with<br />
the boxoffice on the ground floor.<br />
Auditorium features blue walls, a high<br />
white ceiling and coral-colored Kroehler<br />
push-back seats. It is rounded in front, for<br />
better acoustics. The standee rail in the auditorium<br />
has birch trim and indirect lighting<br />
from below.<br />
An artesian well provides 325 gallons of<br />
water a minute for air cooling. The seating<br />
capacity is 1,070, including 250 seats in the<br />
balcony. A stairway, winding to the mezzanine,<br />
has an aluminum curved handrail,<br />
and walls along it are covered with flexglass<br />
and African mahogany panels oS wood.<br />
The lounge, just off the main lobby, has<br />
built-in furniture to conform with the wood<br />
decorative treatment of the lobby.<br />
The stage curtains are tangerine hue and<br />
full drape.<br />
Vincent Capuano, former manager of the<br />
Warner circuit's Capitol in Danbury, Coim.,<br />
has been appointed manager.<br />
Initial newspaper advertising for the theatre<br />
stressed the availability of parking<br />
space.<br />
William Riseman Associates, Boston, were<br />
the interior decorators while National Theatre<br />
Supply provided booth and sound<br />
equipment.<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948 NE 75
. . Dave<br />
. . Plans<br />
EL)<br />
. . Walter<br />
. . Stamford<br />
. . Leo<br />
. . George<br />
. . John<br />
. . Jim<br />
. . Election<br />
NEW HAVEN<br />
•The State, New Britain, recently taken over<br />
by Otto L. Teffs from Howard Richardson,<br />
retained Amalgamated for its booking<br />
and buying service. Richardson will remain<br />
at the house as projectionist temporarily before<br />
shifting to other endeavors . for<br />
construction of a 600-car drive-in at Montville<br />
were said to be under consideration by<br />
the E. M. Loew circuit.<br />
. . .<br />
Allied members declared they will not join<br />
with TOA in the formation of a conciliation<br />
board to hear industry complaints here . . .<br />
Prudential was planning remodeling of the<br />
Playhouse at New Canaan ... A safe at the<br />
Newington Theatre was robbed of $150 . . .<br />
Columbia, 20th-Fox and Republic employes<br />
The<br />
had Christmas parties at Donat's<br />
Columbia staff presented Walt Silverman,<br />
branch manager, with an electric mixer.<br />
More than 100 persons attended the Warner<br />
theatre and exchange yuletide party at<br />
Racebrook Country club . . Carl Goe, Warner<br />
.<br />
exchange manager, was in New York<br />
several days for a sales meeting . . The new<br />
.<br />
Burnside Theatre being erected by Morris<br />
Keppner in West Hartford is expected to be<br />
ready for opening in March . Skvirsky,<br />
20th-Pox salesman, had his name<br />
changed legally to Dave Squires. His engagement<br />
to Ellean Weltman of Springfield<br />
recently was announced.<br />
Variety Club has most of its furnishings<br />
and plans an open house in December and<br />
installation of new officers in January. Several<br />
new members and associates have enrolled<br />
and it is expected the membership will<br />
increase greatly now that attractive clubrooms<br />
are available ... By special arrangement<br />
with Jim Darby of the Paramount,<br />
the New Haven weekly "Glimpse" announced<br />
a Xmas celebration December 23.<br />
For Theatre Premiums<br />
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In PreXmas Week<br />
BOSTON—Trade at the first run houses<br />
was off considerably because of Christmas<br />
.shopping, with most of them reporting belowaverage<br />
figures. "Rogues' Regiment," paired<br />
with "Indian Agent" at the Memorial, led<br />
the field. "Hamlet" wound up a five-week<br />
run at the Beacon Hill following 12 weeks<br />
at the Astor. "The Red Shoes" continued to<br />
show strength at the Majestic.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Astor—A Song Is Born (RKO); In This Comer<br />
(EL), 5th wk 85<br />
Beacon Hill—Hamlet (U-I), 5th d. t. wk 80<br />
Boston— Live Today ior Tomorrow (U-I); Nanook<br />
of the North (RKO), reissue 100<br />
Exeter Street—The Paradine Case (SRO), 2nd run 85<br />
Majestic—The Red Shoes (EL), 4th wk 100<br />
Memorial Rogues' Regiment (U-I); Indian Agent<br />
(RKO) 125<br />
Metropolitan—The Black Arrowr (Col); Lulu Belle<br />
90<br />
(Col)<br />
Paramount and Fenway—Road House (20th-Fox);<br />
Miraculou3 Journey (FC), 2nd wk 95<br />
State and Orpheum—Walk a Crooked Mile (Col);<br />
Racing Luck (Col) 90<br />
Yule Shopping Hits Trade<br />
At New Haven First Runs<br />
NEW HAVEN—Trade at local first runs<br />
was hit hard by Christmas shopping. "Don't<br />
Trust Your Husband," paired with "Million<br />
Dollar Weekend" at the Roger Sherman, was<br />
the best of the newcomers.<br />
Bijou—Frankenstein (U-I); The Ghost of Frankenstein<br />
(U-I), reissues 50<br />
College—Road House (20th-Fox); Blondie's Secret<br />
(Col), 2nd wk 80<br />
Loew Poll—Good Sam (RKO); Docks of New<br />
Orleans (Mono) 77<br />
Paramount—The Velvet Touch (RKO); S.O.S.<br />
Submarine (SG) 60<br />
Roaer Sherman—Don't Trust Your Husband (UA);<br />
Million Dollar Weekend I<br />
80<br />
'Kiss the Blood' Grosses 110,<br />
High in Hartford<br />
HARTFORD—Business was only fair here<br />
as several of the first runs featured revivals.<br />
Other downtowners did only average.<br />
Allyn—Hold That Ghost (Realart); Hired Wife<br />
(Realart), reissues 60<br />
M Loews—Men E. of Texas (Realart); Mutiny<br />
on the Blackhowk (Realart), reissues 75<br />
Loews Poll—Kiss the Blood OH My Hands (U-I);<br />
Anna Karenina (U-I) -HO<br />
Palace—Rogues' Regiment (U-I); Bodyguard<br />
(RKO), 2nd wk 80<br />
Reool—The Velvet Touch (RKO); Indian Agent<br />
(RKO), 2nd wk 55<br />
Stale—Betrayed (Mono), plus stage show 90<br />
Strand—One Touch of Venus (U-I); Thunder in the<br />
Pines (SG) -100<br />
NEW BRITAIN<br />
/^ommander and Mrs, Herman Miller were<br />
due in from the naval air station at Key<br />
West, Fla,. to visit the Perakos family. Mrs.<br />
Miller is the former Artemis Perakos, daughter<br />
of the circuit chief.<br />
The New Britain Herald, this city's only<br />
afternoon daily, ft'ill increase amusement ad<br />
rates from the present $1.25 an inch to $1.40,<br />
Howard Oakley,<br />
effective February 1 . . .<br />
formerly projectioni-st at the Stuart. Lakeville,<br />
is new projectionist at the Newington.<br />
Stanley Cuddy, former Newington projectionist,<br />
has re-enlisted in the army and has<br />
been assigned to projectionist duties,<br />
. . . Mrs.<br />
Eileen Noriss and Eleanor Atwell are the<br />
new aides at the Newington, according to<br />
Manager Paul Purdy. Purdy's three sons all<br />
have recovered from pneumonia<br />
Purdy designed the new usherette uniform<br />
for the staff at the theatre.<br />
H ARTFORD<br />
n number of Connecticut theatremen have<br />
dropped in on Vince Capuano, manager<br />
of the Perakos Elm, West Hartford, during<br />
the last month or so to look over the<br />
new 1,000-seater. Charlie Atamian of the<br />
Strand and Jim Cotia of the Regal, both<br />
local showmen, were among those visiting<br />
Capuano . Myotka, projectionist<br />
at the Eastwood. East Hartford, has shifted<br />
to the booth at the Strand, Thompsonville,<br />
succeeding George Goodrow, resigned. Peter<br />
Gillespie replaced Myotka in East Hartford.<br />
I. J. Hoffman, zone manager; Cy O'Toole,<br />
zone engineer, and Jim Bracken, contact office,<br />
Warner cii'cuit, were visitors at the<br />
Warner Hartford theatres . of<br />
lATSE Local 84 officers will be held in<br />
January with installation slated for some<br />
time in February . O'Niel is the<br />
new usher and Jean Urban cashier at the<br />
E. M. Loew's.<br />
. . . Bobe Hope<br />
Paul W. Amadeo, manager of E. M. Loew's<br />
Hartford Drive-In, was in New York for a<br />
few days. He saw the musical. "Inside<br />
George E. Landers. Hartford<br />
U.S.A.!" . . .<br />
division manager for E. M. Loew's Theatres,<br />
was in Boston on business<br />
is coming east on a cross-country tour of<br />
one-night stands in January, and the trade<br />
is wondering if Connecticut will be included<br />
in the bookings this time. Several years<br />
ago, Hope's announced tours included Hartford,<br />
but was later changed.<br />
Tradename was filed with city clerk's of-<br />
. . . Mike Piccirillo.<br />
fice by Community Amusement Corp. for<br />
Star Theatre, the new name of the circuit's<br />
1.800-seater on North Main<br />
Center manager, says he has oooked<br />
a series of weekly amateur shows with Al<br />
Monty starting January 6 to run for an indefinite<br />
period. Before getting into radio<br />
and stage shows, Monty managed theatres<br />
in New Britain and Waterbury.<br />
W. E. Gilson of Altec called on Manager<br />
Joe Giobbia of -the Crown . McCarthy,<br />
Warner Strand manager, made a quick trip<br />
into New York . Benway is the<br />
new manager of the Interstate Saybrook,<br />
Saybrook .<br />
Theatre, Stamford,<br />
gave away free dog-training books to kiddies<br />
attending the showings of "Hills of Home."<br />
Elsie Jardin, Loew's Poll cashier, ill for<br />
some time, has resumed her duties at the<br />
theatre . . . Lee Pi'uden, Poll cashier, has<br />
resigned . Young, formerly with a<br />
number of New England theatre circuits, is<br />
understood to be doing exploitation work<br />
out of St. Louis for RKO Radio.<br />
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76 BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948
Two Bay Stale Bills<br />
Request Censorship<br />
BOSTON—Two censorship bills have been<br />
filed in the state house of representatives,<br />
one calling for a state censorship committee<br />
and the other asking a committee to<br />
censor comic books and motion pictures for<br />
minors.<br />
The first bill would provide for a board of<br />
five members chosen by the governor to<br />
serve without compensation on the state<br />
censorship committee. The members would<br />
elect a chairman who would receive a salary<br />
of $5,000 a year. Under the provisions of<br />
the bill the committee would be called upon<br />
to censor a film upon complaint by any five<br />
citizens. If. in the opinion of the majority<br />
of the committee the film is objectionable,<br />
the board may prohibit exhibition throughout<br />
the state. A fine of not more than $5,000<br />
or imprisonment of not more than two years<br />
or both would be the penalty for violation<br />
of the board's decree.<br />
tTnder the provisions of the second bill<br />
the commissioner of public safety would be<br />
the chairman with the Boston police commissioner<br />
as clerk and other members such<br />
as the superintendent of schools, a Catholic<br />
priest, a Protestanc minister and a Jewish<br />
rabbi. Each member would serve three years<br />
without compensation but with an expense<br />
account to be approved by the governor and<br />
his coimcil. All motion pictures and comic<br />
books would be passed by this committee<br />
and any violation of its dictates would be<br />
punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000.<br />
The present state censorship board consists<br />
of three members from the department<br />
of public safety who approves films for Sunday<br />
showing only.<br />
Educational Film Group<br />
Is Organized in Boston<br />
BOSTON—The nucleus of a Boston film<br />
council which will serve as a clearing house<br />
to help promote the use of educational films<br />
in this sector was formed when more than<br />
100 representatives of church, school, college,<br />
social welfare and other groups interested<br />
in the use of audio-visual aids to education<br />
met at the public library here. The meeting<br />
was sponsored by the library, Boston<br />
university, the community recreation centers<br />
of Boston and the public relations department<br />
of the New England Telephone & Telegraph<br />
Co. Those attending heard Glen Burch,<br />
executive director of the Film Council of<br />
America, outline the work being done by<br />
similar councils now organized in more than<br />
100 cities and towns in all parts of the<br />
country. Dr. Abraham Krasker, director of<br />
the bureau of teaching aids at Boston university,<br />
presided at the meeting.<br />
Sam Schubouf Substitutes<br />
HARTFORD—Sam Schubouf.<br />
manager of<br />
Loew's Poll Lyric, Bridgeport, Conn., has<br />
been shifted temporarily to Loew's Poll,<br />
Springfield, Mass., as assistant manager,<br />
pending appointment of a permanent assistant<br />
for the house.<br />
Holly Sweeney, Loew's<br />
Poll, Springfield, assistant, has resigned to<br />
enter the meat business. He was previously<br />
with the Loew Theatres in 'Waterbury, Conn.,<br />
and Hartford.<br />
Arthur Lockwood Dinner<br />
At Boston January 11<br />
BOSTON—A testimonial dinner honoring<br />
Arthur Lockwood of Lockwood & Gordon<br />
Enterprises, who recently was named presi-<br />
J<br />
F"<br />
M dfk<br />
Arthur Lockwood Sam Pinanski<br />
dent of TOA, will be held at the Copley-<br />
Plaza hotel's main ballroom at 6:30 p. m.,<br />
January 11.<br />
A stag affair, the dinner is sponsored by<br />
the 'Variety Club of New England, of which<br />
Joseph Giobbia Manages<br />
Crown Theatre, Hartford<br />
HARTFORD—Joseph Giobbia, a veteran<br />
of 25 years in the film industry, has been<br />
appointed manager of the Crown Management<br />
Corp.'s Crown Theatre here, replacing<br />
Joseph B. La'Vista. who resigned to enter<br />
the vending business.<br />
Giobbia, whose home town is Brooklyn,<br />
comes here from the Happy Hour Theatre,<br />
Brooklyn, a P>i-esident Amusement Corp. situation.<br />
Giobbia formerly was assistant manager<br />
at the Metro. Los Angeles.<br />
The new manager tied up with 11 area<br />
merchants to sponsor giveaway of two children's<br />
bicycles on Saturday afternoons, with<br />
youngsters asked to secure "lucky numbered"<br />
coupons from merchants with each purchase.<br />
New policy of giving away free candy and<br />
toys to kids attending Saturday matinee<br />
performances has been instituted. New personnel<br />
includes Patricia Stevens, candy girl,<br />
and Sara Nelson, cashier.<br />
Maxwell Alderman Gives<br />
Report on Convention<br />
NE'W HA'VEN—Alhed Theatre Owners of<br />
Connecticut met for a Towne House luncheon<br />
recently to hear Maxwell Alderman, executive<br />
secretary, report on the recent national<br />
Allied convention in New Orleans. The Connecticut<br />
group approved and endorsed all<br />
resolutions passed at the southern meeting,<br />
including those opposing percentage pictures,<br />
opposing voluntary arbitration of grievances<br />
under the consent decree ruling and opposing<br />
joining with TOA in conciliation boards.<br />
The membership voted 100 per cent cooperation<br />
with and all possible assistance to<br />
the celebration of Brotherhood week. In addition<br />
to Alderman, who flew to and from<br />
New Orleans, Al Bookspan of the Fishman<br />
circuit drove to the Allied conference and<br />
appeared as a delegate.<br />
Lockwood has long been an active officer.<br />
Tickets at $10 each may be obtained from<br />
E. Harold Stoneman, chief barker, at Interstate<br />
Theatres, 260 Ti-emont St., or from<br />
Bill Koster, 'Variety Club's director at the<br />
Hotel Statler.<br />
Samuel Pinanski is the general chairman<br />
and working closely with him is a large committee<br />
consisting of E. Harold Stoneman,<br />
Joe Cifre, Martin Mullin, Murray 'Weiss,<br />
Harry Browning, Ted Fleisher, Louis Richmond.<br />
Samuel Marshall, John Dervin, Ben<br />
'Williams, Max Levenson, Stanley Rothenberg,<br />
Louis Gordon, Phil Smith, Herman<br />
Levy. Al Kane, 'Walter Brown, Al Clark, John<br />
Ford, Steve Broidy, Phil Marget, Arnold<br />
Van Leer and Abe Yarchin.<br />
A large group of out-of-towners is invited<br />
to attend, and 'Variety Club officials<br />
say that the list will include important names<br />
from the "'Who's Who" of the industry. The<br />
toastmaster and emcee will be announced<br />
shortly.<br />
New England Allied<br />
Sets May Conclave<br />
BOSTON—Plans for the 1949 convention<br />
of Independent Exhibitors of New England,<br />
Inc., to be held May 25, 26 at the Copley-<br />
Plaza hotel here, were among subjects discussed<br />
at its December meeting following<br />
a luncheon and directors meeting here. Daniel<br />
Murphy, president, called the meeting to<br />
order.<br />
_<br />
Because of many requests that it be made<br />
a permanent part of services rendered by the<br />
organization, continuation of 'the Caravan<br />
was unanimously voted by members. The<br />
unit also voted to participate in Brotherhood<br />
week in cooperation with the national committee<br />
established for the observance, with<br />
Nathan Yamins as New England representative.<br />
Leslie Bendslev and 'Walter Mitchell, cochairmen<br />
of preparations for the annual<br />
convention, outlined plans for the two-day<br />
convention. The membership was informed<br />
of details relating to the proposed 2 per cent<br />
sales tax, and of the introduction of two<br />
proposed censorship bills.<br />
Following a discussion, members voted<br />
imanimously to combat any violations of the<br />
recent court decree against forced selling.<br />
mnsTER moTion picturEc<br />
I<br />
so PIEDMOnT ST. • BOSTOn IE MH55.<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948 77
. . Judge<br />
Treasurer Confesses<br />
Fake $5,000 Holdups<br />
PROVIDENCE—Two supposed robberies<br />
at the RKO Albee Theatre here, involving<br />
loot totaling more than $5,000, were solved<br />
when Russell Mowry. 34-year-old, $46-aweek<br />
treasurer at the house, broke down<br />
under persistent questioning by Providence<br />
and insurance detectives and admitted that<br />
his stories of the "holdup" last week when<br />
$3,429 in cash was taken from the theatre's<br />
safe, and of a similar "robbery" last August<br />
when $1,638 was lost under similar circumstances,<br />
were faked to cover up his own embezzlements.<br />
After making the admission, Mowry took<br />
detectives to a basement storage vault in<br />
the theatre building, climbed a stepladder<br />
and brought out from behind a pile of old<br />
theatre records two paper bags containing<br />
$3,150, all that remained of the money stolen<br />
in the two incidents.<br />
He told police he took the money to repay<br />
loans and to "live well," finding his $46<br />
salary not enough to do that and support his<br />
wife and 4-year-old daughter. He said he<br />
explained his sudden wealth to his wife by<br />
telling her that he had been lucky in<br />
gambling.<br />
Mowry's original story to police after the<br />
most recent defalcation was that he was<br />
attacked by two hatless bandits, hit on<br />
the head with a revolver butt and forced<br />
to open a safe in the treasurer's office containing<br />
the cash. He finally admitted that<br />
he hit himself on the head with a metal<br />
money sealing machine.<br />
BOS T ON<br />
.<br />
Julian Casineli, Playhouse, Bartlett, N. H.,<br />
who said he will take over the Town<br />
Hall, Jackson, N. H., for one night a week<br />
shows, was a visitor. The two theatres are<br />
16 miles apart Pike, Playhouse,<br />
Lisbon, N. H., and his assistant, Miss Beryl<br />
Aldrich, were here for the December meeting<br />
of Independent Exhibitors . . . Ralph<br />
Roberts, Powers, Caribou, Me., spent a day<br />
in the district as did Arch Lade who operates<br />
theatres in Kingfield and Phillips, Me.<br />
There is a, gay and festive air around the<br />
Warner exchange this holiday season and no<br />
wonder. The Boston office finished third<br />
in the nationwide annual playdate drive<br />
which means a nice prize of $250 for each<br />
booker and salesman. Jack McCarthy, western<br />
Massachusetts and Rhode Island salesman,<br />
finished eighth in the country in the<br />
newsreel contest, receiving an extra prize<br />
of $350 . . Bill Horan has moved upstairs<br />
.<br />
to his new office as district manager, while<br />
Al Daytz, newly appointed branch manager<br />
succeeding Horan, takes over in the main<br />
office downstairs. Al has returned from<br />
Florida where he and his wife enjoyed a<br />
two-week vacation.<br />
Saul Levin of Eagle Lion is the chairman<br />
for the second annual children's party of the<br />
Motion Picture Salesmen's club which was<br />
held at the Variety Club rooms in the Hotel<br />
Statler. About 30 children enjoyed refreshments,<br />
gifts from Santa Claus, motion pictures<br />
and a professional magician.<br />
Fay and Stanzler Head<br />
R. I. March of Dimes<br />
PROVIDENCE—Gov. John O. Pastore appealed<br />
to Rhode Island theatre managers and<br />
owners at a luncheon meeting here to support<br />
the 1949 March of Dimes drive with<br />
audience collections, which have been so successful<br />
in the last few years. More than 30<br />
theatres were represented at the meeting.<br />
Governor Pastore pointed out that theatres<br />
made the largest single contribution<br />
to the March of Dimes in past years, and<br />
this proved that the public is not adverse to<br />
audience collections. His request was unanimously<br />
endorsed by the meeting.<br />
Edward Fay, Providence exhibitor, was appointed<br />
chairman of the state drive and<br />
Mever Stanzler was named theatre chairman.<br />
Mortensen Feted<br />
Bill<br />
HARTFORD— Bill Mortensen, managing<br />
director of the Bushnell Memorial, downtown<br />
theatre, and former mayor of Hartford<br />
was given the Jewish War Veterans<br />
1948 Hartford Citizens award for his part in<br />
promoting interfaitli activities in the city.<br />
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78 BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948
Real Christmas Spirit Infuses<br />
Dallas Row<br />
Parties Less Lavish This Year But Feeling of the Season Is More Evident<br />
DALLAS—Harrison C. Gunter, owner of<br />
the Buckhorn Drive-In at Alice, played Santa<br />
Claus in plain clothes to everyone on Filmrow.<br />
He had good luck on a deer hunt in<br />
the southwest cattle country and shared it<br />
with the many Filmrow workers who served<br />
his drive-in during the last year. Gunter<br />
brought the deer 500 miles in his car and<br />
had Mitchell's barbecue shop prepare it.<br />
Then he walked all over the Row asking<br />
guests to come and get it later that day.<br />
Buddy Harris was to be at the door to<br />
admit only film employes but he had made<br />
other commitments so Truman Hendrix filled<br />
in at the job. The 168-pound buck was pronounced<br />
ready and the crowd began forming.<br />
Gunter personally got behind the counter<br />
to help Mitchell supply the himgry line.<br />
For several hours the two sliced all the<br />
venison that could be eaten and many tasted<br />
it for the first time. They said here that<br />
Gunter's Christmas token ranked with the<br />
best in recent years.<br />
Gunter's home is in Celins. Buddy Harris,<br />
who operates the Ritz there, said Gunter<br />
worked behind the drug store soda foimtain<br />
before the war. He joined the marines as<br />
a private and came out a captain. He used<br />
some of his army training to build his drivein<br />
for 350 cars and he equipped it with incar<br />
speakers and other modern services. Because<br />
he had picked off quite a few Japs<br />
under worse conditions, Gunter found it easy<br />
to go out one afternoon and bag the two<br />
deer before starting the night show.<br />
J. A. Prichard, district and branch manager<br />
for Monogram, has had the exchange<br />
torn up from front to back, but it will come<br />
out with a new look for the New Year. Everything<br />
is being made all new. His office will<br />
be the former cashier's department. Booking,<br />
shipping and other facilities are being<br />
streamlined to meet comparison along the<br />
Row, which boasts several top streamlined<br />
offices in one block, particularly National<br />
Theatre Supply, Universal and R&R Theatres.<br />
Although In the throes of remodeling,<br />
the ustial Christmas cheer was observed by<br />
Prichard and his staff.<br />
The Columbia exchange personnel had its<br />
yule party at Roth's restaurant on the Fort<br />
Worth cutoff, with dinner, dancing and the<br />
usual refreshments. A tree and exchange of<br />
gifts at the exchange preceded the dinner.<br />
Paramount Pep club reserved Casa Linda Log<br />
Cabin, a nite spot, for a chuck wagon turkey<br />
dinner and dance.<br />
The Robb & Rowley Theatres booking department<br />
held an informal party for film<br />
men, but the Friday before Christmas was<br />
reserved for the R&R family. This event<br />
was quite an affair when the late H. B.<br />
Robb would don his ermine trimmed Santa<br />
Claus suit and hand out gifts from an overladen<br />
tree. This time, however, Christmas<br />
was to be observed in a quieter tone as in<br />
the last several years, but there were to be<br />
many gifts, food and refreshments. It was<br />
to be the first Christmas in the newly remodeled<br />
general office. E. H. Rowley left<br />
earlier to spend the season in California,<br />
Uncle Joe Improved<br />
As Is W. W. Spruce<br />
Dallas—The good news which came from<br />
the sick rooms of J. E. Luckett and \V.<br />
VV. Spruce was<br />
welcomed for the<br />
Christmas season.<br />
The former, who<br />
is manager of the<br />
White Theatre<br />
here, suffered a<br />
heart attack after<br />
returning from a<br />
visit to Chicago.<br />
He will remain at<br />
home with his wife<br />
in the Sanger hotel<br />
for the next<br />
J. E. Luckett<br />
few weeks and<br />
hopes then to return to his job. A former<br />
film exchange manager for many<br />
years. Uncle Joe, as he is widely known,<br />
recently celebrated his 78th birthday, and<br />
was still going strong.<br />
Spruce, MGM office manager, was<br />
resting easier in Veterans hospital at<br />
McKinney, where he was taken recently.<br />
He underwent a leg amputation in a<br />
Dallas hospital previously. LeRoy Whitington<br />
said, he visited Spruce the other<br />
day and that his morale is picking up.<br />
Friends who wouold like to send Spruce<br />
a card may reach him in Ward 60 at the<br />
hospital.<br />
partly on business, but offered his greetings<br />
to film men and to his employes before departure.<br />
Eagle Lion had its family party with presents<br />
and a tree Thursday afternoon. The<br />
Warner club had its Friday night party in<br />
Pappy's Showland. J. D. Hillhouse, manager<br />
of the Maple Theatre, scheduled a free<br />
kid show with A Christmas Carol as the<br />
main attraction. There were to be cartoons<br />
and Christmas songs by the audience. Candy,<br />
nuts and fruit were to be distributed. The<br />
Maple is owned by Forrest White and M. K.<br />
McDaniel. Jimmy Cain, manager of the<br />
Lakewood, had a similar program there. Admission<br />
was by an old toy which could be<br />
repaired for other kids. Each child received<br />
a gift donated by merchants of the neighborhood.<br />
The Lakewood is an Interstate<br />
theatre.<br />
Don Douglas did the unusual again in<br />
getting up the Robb & Rowley Christmas<br />
card. It was a miniature souvenir cover of<br />
the 24 Sheeter, with a modernized Texas<br />
theatre sketch, the circuit using that name<br />
generally. Inside are pictures of the home<br />
office executives Frank Dowd, C. V. Jones,<br />
Deacon Bell, H. B. Robb jr., E. H. Rowley,<br />
John Rowley, Ray Elkins and Douglas. Pictures<br />
of the top feminine stars are between<br />
the R&R men's photos.<br />
Christmas cheer was spread abundantly<br />
at the four Filmrow equipment houses. Berber<br />
Bros.. National Theatre Supply. Modern<br />
Theatre Equipment Co., and Southwestern<br />
Theatre Equipment Co., each had special<br />
departments arranged for the refreshments<br />
and nicknacks. Each house passed out presents<br />
or souvenirs to customers.<br />
The MGM club gave a turkey dimier and<br />
dance in the Danish room of the Adolphus<br />
hotel. National Screen Service had its turkey<br />
dinner and tree in the office a few days<br />
earlier. Republic ordered the caterer's best<br />
turkey dinner served in the exchange and<br />
plenty of eggnog was there. It was Manager<br />
John J. Houlihan's first Chi-istmas on<br />
the Dallas Filmrow, he having been transferred<br />
here last summer from Memphis.<br />
Carl Craig, the little hunchback of Filmrow,<br />
probably didn't realize just how much<br />
the exchanges and circuit offices appreciated<br />
his services during the year. Nearly all<br />
offices took up collections for him, which<br />
amounted to over $50. Carl is well in his<br />
teens, although the deformity diminished his<br />
size. He fell out of a tree when much<br />
younger and injured his back. He was smart<br />
in school and now it's shoving telegrams for<br />
show business with him. Carl and his customers<br />
are pleased with each other.<br />
As usual, very few exhibitors were in during<br />
the week as compared to other years<br />
when they came by scores, especially to make<br />
all houses on the Row for lavish yuletide<br />
entertainment. It is some different now but<br />
the Christmas spirit is perhaps more fully<br />
realized during these times than it was then.<br />
Seen along the Row were Joe Hackney of<br />
Canton, S. G. Fry, Tyler; T. L. Richey, Linden;<br />
L. A. Allen, Crawford, and Ernest<br />
Rockett and Ben Knoch, Itasca. Others<br />
dropped in as the week closed but nearly all<br />
remained close by their homes and theatres.<br />
Louise Jones, film actress, arrived from<br />
Hollywood with her 9-year-old son George<br />
for a holiday visit with C. 'V. Jones, her<br />
father. She had parts in "This Time for<br />
Keeps" and "The Razor's Edge." George<br />
soon may be in pictures, too. He was given<br />
a screen test recently, chosen from 200 applicants.<br />
P. G. Cameron, who moved to Los Angeles<br />
last summer, read in BOXOFFICE<br />
two weeks ago that he was planning to<br />
move back to Dallas. This week he was<br />
back, hoping to complete a sale of three<br />
theatres here to the J. G. Long circuit which<br />
has operated them the last two years. He<br />
said his son Guy and son-in-law Claude<br />
Kennell want to come back anyway. All<br />
have been in the motel business in Los<br />
Angeles.<br />
The opening of Alfred Sach's foreignlanguage<br />
Coronet Theatre December 28 will<br />
be one of the more prominent Christmas<br />
week festivities here. The initial attfaction<br />
is "The Barber of Seville" with Tagliavini.<br />
The Dallas Symphony orchestra members<br />
will attend a special showing the night before<br />
opening.<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948 sw 79
DALLAS<br />
IJerbert Stroud got in one last booking trip<br />
in 1948 for his two theatres at Hamilton,<br />
in 1948 for his two theatres at Hamillon.<br />
Jack Arthur of Crosbyton. an exhibitor and<br />
furniture store owner, was doing likewise.<br />
Sam Lewis of the new Ward Theatre in<br />
Monahans stopped a few hours on his way<br />
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home from Oklahoma City where he told<br />
federal court how pictures were played by his<br />
theatre and two others operated by Theatre<br />
Enterprises.<br />
Jake Webb of the Bantex Theatre in Bandera<br />
said he brought Tuesday's welcome rain<br />
to this city. It wasn't raining when he left<br />
but later radio reports said precipitation was<br />
nearly general over the state before the end<br />
of the day. M. J. Birdwell was here from<br />
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George Josephs, assistant to Abe Montague<br />
TICKETS<br />
ROLL<br />
in the Columbia home office, has arrived for<br />
a visit to the local exchange. His mission is<br />
to check on availabilities for various theatres.<br />
All film salesmen are taking a customary<br />
two-week Christmas vacation from December<br />
18 to Jan. 3. Exhibitors do not usually buy<br />
during this period anyway, which was the<br />
reason the yuletide holiday was established<br />
a number of years ago.<br />
H. L. Holzendorf, who has served the Manley<br />
organization for several years, particularly<br />
in Florida and more recently with Herb<br />
Turpie in Colorado, has been transferred to<br />
New Orleans to sell in the Crescent City<br />
territory. Holzendorf spent a few hours in<br />
Dallas visiting the local office en route to<br />
his new assignment.<br />
The National Screen Service Christmas observance<br />
was for Friday, too, but at noon and<br />
for employes only. A. program of songs and<br />
recitations was carded. A real Santa Claus<br />
was booked to distribute gifts and then a<br />
big turkey dinner as the windup. Other<br />
Christmas affairs were to be plentiful along<br />
the Row but most of them were to be staged<br />
in the coming week.<br />
The Warner club was all set for a big<br />
Westerns-Featyres-Serials<br />
Tower Pictures Co.<br />
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80 BOXOFTICE :: December 25, 1948
. . Plans<br />
Christmas blowout Friday night in Pappy's<br />
Showlanfl. A tree, refreshments, dinner, gifts<br />
and dancing were on the agenda. Over 50<br />
employes and some of their family members<br />
were there. Bob Willies, Warner booker, has<br />
been on the sick list with a stomach ailment<br />
and remained at home for two weeks. His<br />
case was not serious, however. Bob is a son<br />
of the late Leslie Wilkes, a veteran and popular<br />
film man for many years.<br />
A. W. Smith, 20th-Fox general sales manager;<br />
Herman Robbins and George Dambow,<br />
heads of National Screen Service; Oscar<br />
Neu, Neumade Products. New York, and<br />
Oscar Oldknow, National Theatre Supply of<br />
Los Angeles were other notables who came<br />
down on the Row before going to the O'Donnell<br />
dinner.<br />
On the sadder side for this Christmas was<br />
the death at his home in Fort Worth of<br />
former publicist Leon Friedman. He had<br />
worked for Ziegfeld, Will Rogers, Marilyn<br />
Miller and Al Jolson.<br />
From the BOXOFFICE Files<br />
(Twenty Years Ago)<br />
^ILLIAM McILHERAN, one of the oldest<br />
exhibitors in Texas and the first Dallas<br />
exhibitor, died recently at the age of 78 . . .<br />
Fire destroyed the booth and caused con-<br />
.siderable damage to the Mutual Theatre,<br />
Hamlin, Tex., recently . for rebuilding<br />
the Crawford in El Paso, Tex., have<br />
been announced.<br />
Harry Burke, former manager of the Palace<br />
in Dallas, has been made district manager<br />
of the Publix theatres in Texas and Kansas<br />
City, succeeding John J. Friedl, who is said<br />
to be transferred to New York . . . Tlie new<br />
Circle, built by A. B. Momand in an ideal<br />
location in Capitol Hill district of Oklahoma<br />
City, was opened recently. Capitol Hill adjoins<br />
the new oil field discovered a few days<br />
ago. Manager E. C. Robinson was almost<br />
overwhelmed with compliments at the opening.<br />
Aulry Show to Return<br />
DALLAS—Gene Autry will bring his show<br />
back to Fair Park auditorium in February.<br />
It will include performers familiar to film<br />
and radio audiences. A one-day stand last<br />
fall played to SRO, both matinee and night.<br />
The colored boys at the Variety Club do<br />
things in concerted action and their Christmas<br />
card to members was a novel example.<br />
A simple and attractive greeting bore the<br />
names of Edgar, Nash, Billups. John Henry,<br />
Leaman, Chance and Albert. Only last<br />
month the same boys acted in unison on<br />
another proposition, also thought to be<br />
imusual. They voted the Democratic ticket<br />
straight.<br />
Adreon to Produce 'Rocket Man'<br />
Franklin Adreon has be'en assigned to produce<br />
"Adventures of the Rocket Man," for<br />
Republic.<br />
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BOXOFFICE December 25, 1946 81
. . . Dick<br />
. . . Ronnie<br />
. . Another<br />
SAN ANTONIO<br />
T eon Glasscock, owner and manager of several<br />
south Texas theatres, is constructing<br />
a new class B house in Luling, where<br />
he now has the New Tower, a first run situation.<br />
The new cinema will seat 875 . . .<br />
Theatre business has been spotty downtown<br />
but the drive-ins and suburbans are enjoying<br />
an increased volume of trade. The<br />
Christmas rush packed them into downtown<br />
and neighborhood stores.<br />
Eph Charninsky, head of Southern Theatres<br />
here, never smokes a cigar, but chews<br />
them down to a wad.<br />
.<br />
Commonwealth Pictures, New York City,<br />
is shooting scenes hereabouts for a forthcoming<br />
production crew headed<br />
by Lee Orr, Fox Movietone cameraman, is<br />
making aerial shots at a local army flying<br />
field for release next year. It is rumored<br />
that two other companies will be in town<br />
within a fortnight to produce films.<br />
the New Eagle, Eagle Pass. Located across<br />
from the post office, the new house will be<br />
owned by Butler Bros, and will seat aroimd<br />
700. It will cost about $125,000. Spillman &<br />
Spillman are the general architects and<br />
engineers for the project.<br />
James Herman SoUack, who has been<br />
managing the Uptown, has been appointed<br />
house manager of the Prince, a Southern<br />
theatre. He replaces Mary Grimes, who resigned<br />
to enter a private business . . . Henry<br />
Bergman, former actor and now manager of<br />
the Empire, returned to duty following an<br />
attack of intestinal flu.<br />
Lou Emerson, actor, singer, guitarist and<br />
former minstrel man now he&rd regularly<br />
over WOAI, played Santa Glaus at a party<br />
December 24 at the community house.<br />
6<br />
6<br />
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USTER<br />
CRABBE<br />
BILLY THE KID SERIES<br />
WITH AL (aiZZY) ST. JOHN<br />
GEORGE<br />
HOUSTON<br />
THE LOtE RIDER SERIES<br />
WITH AL (njZZY) ST. JOHN<br />
BILL (SirjGING)<br />
COWBOY RAfi«LER SERIES<br />
WITH ART DAVIS<br />
BOB<br />
STEELE<br />
ADVENTURES OF<br />
BILLY THE KID SERIES<br />
GEORGE<br />
ADVENTURES OF THE<br />
LOr£ RIDER SERIES<br />
BOYD<br />
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TIM M C COY<br />
ADVENTURES OF THE<br />
WESTERN OUTLAW SERIES<br />
Louis Landy, head of the visual aids training<br />
department at Kelly Field, has had eight<br />
of his pictures approved by the government<br />
for telecast release over several north Texas<br />
television stations. Lou is also a news commentator<br />
for KCOR, bilingual station, and<br />
KYFM, a frequency modulation station<br />
owned and operated by the Express and<br />
News Publishing Co. here.<br />
Thomas Hart, first cousin to the late twogun<br />
Bill Hart, is the grandfather of Diane<br />
Hart, now visiting friends and relatives here.<br />
Miss Hart has a trained horse named "Silver"<br />
which she has ridden for seven months. He<br />
is one of the few dancing horses in these<br />
parts.<br />
Leo H. Kidd, known professionally as Claude<br />
Powers, now is residing here. He has been<br />
in show business for over 40 years. Kidd<br />
made and worked in some of the first talking<br />
pictures produced in St. Louis many<br />
years ago under the supervision of O. T.<br />
Crawford, producer, director and former theatre<br />
manager and owner, who controlled the<br />
Shamrock Pictures Co. of Missouri.<br />
Austin Squibs: The screen of the Eddie Joseph<br />
Drive-In can be seen from the highway<br />
Dropping into Caruso's for a late<br />
. . . breakfast, we learned that Pete is a cousin<br />
of the late Enrique Caruso ... It really<br />
takes Bill Heliums, manager of the State, to<br />
pick a winner in more ways than one . . .<br />
They say that Buster Novy, manager of the<br />
Capitol and son of Interstate City Manager<br />
Louis Novy, soon will go into the candy business<br />
and make Buster's Clusters and Novy's<br />
Nugats.<br />
San Antonio sidelines: Dorothy Andricks<br />
is the new cashier in the Aztec boxoffice.<br />
She has an ambition to become a vocalist<br />
Wick, former Palace employe, goes<br />
to the Harlandale as skipper come February<br />
Perkins, secretary to Karl Hoblitzelle,<br />
Dallas, was in the Alamo city. The<br />
Interstate chief was en route to the valley<br />
on his annual holiday vacation.<br />
Gordon Dyer, Southern Theatres projectionist,<br />
has taken over as the new president<br />
of the operators Local 4P7 . . . Mary Palafox<br />
is back at the Empire following a stay in<br />
the hills of Idaho . . . Plans are completed<br />
and construction will start inmiediately on<br />
AZTECA FILMS<br />
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Head Office:<br />
1907 S. Vermont Ave.,<br />
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ALBERTO SALAS PORRAS.<br />
President<br />
RUBEN A. CALDERON.<br />
Secretary-Treasurer<br />
\A^ITE — PHONE OR WmE<br />
907 S. Alamo St. Garfield 2882<br />
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS<br />
J. TRUEX, Branch Manager<br />
i-!Sr«?Sr«?*«??**??»''?**?ft'*?^^^<br />
Season's Greetings<br />
u.<br />
Spillman & Spillman<br />
Architects & Engineers<br />
Members A. I. A.<br />
10-11 Chandler Bldg.<br />
San Antonio, Texas<br />
Garfield 7063<br />
|<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948
. . Fred<br />
. .<br />
fort. Tex. Every third child attending was<br />
admitted free of charge, according to Manager<br />
Prank Zimmermann. who owns the hill<br />
country theatre.<br />
William Keeler, local projectionist, was<br />
elected business manager of local union 4P7<br />
at a recent meeting. He will serve for a sixmonth<br />
period . McGahey now is<br />
editor of the San Antonio Evenings News .<br />
Al Kaufman, public relations director for the<br />
Alameda Teatro, said that the new Mexican<br />
house will be opened January 22.<br />
Ed Cruz of this city reported to police that<br />
he was held up at knife point and robbed of<br />
a silver saddle ring valued at $5 by two imknown<br />
Mexicans while at the State Theatre<br />
. . . Visitors along Filmrow included Jose<br />
Guerra. manager of a new Mexican theatre,<br />
Los Angeles; Dutch Cammer, Screen Guild<br />
and Realart. Dallas, and Irving Dreher, new<br />
south Texas film salesman for Sack Amusement<br />
Enterprises, Dallas.<br />
T. L. Richey Will Construct<br />
Theatre in Linden, Tex.<br />
LINDEN. TEX.—T. L. Richey, owner of the<br />
Ritz, will start construction on a 600-seat<br />
theatre soon after the first of the year. He<br />
has retained Ray S. Smith, Dallas theatre<br />
architect, to do the job. He also owns the<br />
Joy in Mount Vernon, and before the war<br />
owned the Texas at St. Jo. Richey lives in<br />
Atlanta where his family is engaged in the<br />
lumber industry. His buying and booking<br />
problems are handled by the Ind-Ex Booking<br />
Service at Dallas.<br />
Miss Musgrave<br />
Jerry Musgrave Named<br />
JB Exchange Cashier<br />
DALLAS—Jerry Musgrave. who has served<br />
in the office of Sack Amusement Enterprises<br />
for C. C. Bounds when<br />
he had four theatres<br />
the last five years,<br />
has been employed as<br />
cashier in the Jenkins<br />
& Bourgeois exchange.<br />
Miss Musgrave had<br />
several years actual<br />
theatre experience before<br />
moving to Dallas.<br />
She formerly lived in<br />
Texarkana and worked<br />
in the vicinity. Her<br />
duties were buying,<br />
booking and often full<br />
operation of those houses. Her duties on<br />
Filmrow have included regular exchange<br />
booking.<br />
Miss Musgrave has always been partial to<br />
canaries and likes to hear them sing after<br />
a heavy day at the office. Sunshine, her pet,<br />
is an all yellow Hartz Mountain bird with<br />
one tiny black spot on a wing. She has<br />
taught the warbler several tricks, one being<br />
to perch on her head at command. He is the<br />
best singer she has ever owned.<br />
House Destroyed by Fire<br />
AMHERST. TEX.—The Majestic, owned by<br />
O. M. Cosby jr., was destroyed by fire during<br />
the week. Some of the booth equipment,<br />
however, may be salvaged. It is believed<br />
Cosby will rebuild.<br />
Rain Over Texas Ends<br />
Severe Dry Period<br />
DALLAS—Glorious ran fell five hours Tuesday<br />
morning (14). breaking the worst drouth<br />
this territory has experienced in 30 years.<br />
Radio reports said the rain was almost general<br />
over the state. Exhibitors in small towns<br />
had begim to feel the pinch of the drouth<br />
as stock tanks and shallow wells at farm<br />
homes dried up and farm patronage slowed<br />
down.<br />
Around Wichita Falls the wheatlands didn't<br />
raise a green blade and cattle had begun to<br />
starve. A bad winter might yet wipe them<br />
out. Much of this picture was similar over<br />
most of Texas. Agricultural and business<br />
authorities had started saying things might<br />
soon be desperate. That gloomy picture is<br />
believed changing now. It wiU take ten inches<br />
to restore the rainfall to normal.<br />
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BOXOFFICE :: December 25, 194« 83
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USE BOXOFFICE ADS FOR RESULTS<br />
Oklahoma Exhibitors<br />
Buy 2 Texas Houses<br />
HENRIETTA, TEX.—Claud Thorp of Ryan,<br />
Okla., and Aaron Burns of Grandfleld, Okla..<br />
have purchased the Dorothy and Royal theatres<br />
here from C. C. Hamm. The deal was<br />
consumated through Joe Joseph, Dallas theatre<br />
broker.<br />
Thorp, a veteran of over 26 years in show<br />
business and at one time a rodeo headliner,<br />
owns three or four theatres in his section of<br />
Oklahoma. He and Burns plan to build a<br />
circuit in north Texas.<br />
Hamm has owned and operated the Majestic<br />
in Vernon, Tex., for many years. He<br />
resides in Vernon.<br />
Willis Davis Asks Caution<br />
On Tax-Aided Amusement<br />
From Southeast Edition<br />
ATLANTA—Pointing out the power of the<br />
screen as a propaganda medium, Willis J.<br />
Davis, executive of the Georgia Theatre Co.,<br />
warned against encroachment by the government<br />
on commercial recreation in a recent<br />
address before the Georgia Citizens council<br />
here.<br />
Davis discussed "The Place of Commercial<br />
Recreation in Community Programs" at the<br />
council's annual conference of the council,<br />
which was established by the state assembly<br />
in 1945 to promote greater opportunities for<br />
physical, mental, emotional and moral development<br />
of the state's future citizens.<br />
"Should the screens of the nation's motion<br />
picture houses become propaganda media<br />
under a central governmental agency supported<br />
by tax money, they would lend themselves<br />
readily to government encroachment<br />
on individual liberty," said Davis,<br />
Cecil Vogel's Father Dies<br />
MEMPHIS—Col. Cecil Vogel, manager of<br />
Loew's Palace Theatre here, was caUed to<br />
Owensboro, Ky., by the death of his father,<br />
Charles Ernest Vogel. Vogel was a former<br />
newspaperman and large landowner and had<br />
visited Memphis frequently.<br />
84<br />
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As always, the 1949 program of the tuberculosis<br />
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BOXOFFICE<br />
I<br />
SEASON'S GREETINGS<br />
§ From<br />
I Monogram Pictures<br />
Allied Artists<br />
I<br />
i Milt Lipsner<br />
S Don Cole<br />
g<br />
Marcheta Pickney<br />
| Wilma Barnes<br />
I J. L. (Joke) Guiles<br />
I<br />
Iim Pnchard, Dist. Mgr.<br />
BOXOFFICE :: December 25, 1948
New Year's Big Day<br />
For TV Programs<br />
DALLAS—Television stations all over the<br />
nation and. particularly in this area, will<br />
enter the new year with a football bang and<br />
exhibitors here believe their theatres will feel<br />
the competition, perhaps for several days.<br />
The four major networks will telecast seven<br />
bowl games on New Year's day and many<br />
theatre patrons are expected to gather around<br />
home television sets for the events. Programs<br />
will start at 10 in the morning and last until<br />
late in the afternoon.<br />
Columbia Broadcasting System's TV channels<br />
will handle the Rose Bowl game on the<br />
west coast and the Orange Bowl fracas in<br />
Miami. Fla. NBC will send out the Gator<br />
Bowl in Jacksonville. Fla.. and the Harbor<br />
Bowl in San Diego, Calif. Mutual will televise<br />
the Cotton Bowl game here and the<br />
East-West all stars in San Francisco, and<br />
ABC will transmit the Sugar Bowl game in<br />
New Orleans.<br />
Aside from the competition of television at<br />
least 70.000 potential theatre patrons are expected<br />
to view the Cotton Bowl game here in<br />
person.<br />
Video film will 'oe made of all the games<br />
for later use by outlying stations such as<br />
WBAP-TV in Fort Worth, and it is expected<br />
that football on television may last for several<br />
days after January 1. However, after<br />
football cames the video play for patrons on<br />
January 20 when President Truman will be<br />
inaugurated.<br />
A few theatres in the Dallas-Fort Worth<br />
area have been using TV sets in their lobbies<br />
and more are expected to use them for the<br />
January 20 event.<br />
SELL YOUR THEATRE PRIVATELY<br />
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'Henry V College Tieup<br />
Profitable for Theatre<br />
FORT DAVIS, TEX.—L. E. Wolcott, owner<br />
of the Apache Theatre, had a profitable run<br />
recently of "Henry V," prompted mainly by<br />
authorities at nearby Sul Ross State College<br />
at Alpine. On learning from the theatre<br />
manager in Alpine that the picture would<br />
not be shown there, the school man came<br />
to Walcott. .some 12 miles distant and made<br />
the tieup.<br />
Walcott had Ind-Ex Booking Service at<br />
Dallas buy and book the picture. An increased<br />
film rental was paid and the admission<br />
price raised. Business for two nights<br />
was profitable. Walcott plans to show on<br />
the same basis several other pictures the<br />
school wants its students to see.<br />
We Can Supply<br />
Everything • • •<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY<br />
(^ B. "BroBTiie" Akers, who headed Senatorelect<br />
Bob Kerr's campaign sotim. was<br />
one of the speakers at the recent TOO parley.<br />
. . .<br />
He talked on legislative problems More parley flashbacks include the talk by<br />
Johnny Giffin of Miami who spoke to the<br />
exhibitors on the Enabling act, proposed by<br />
the Municipal League of Oklahoma. This<br />
act proposes to levy taxes for benefit of<br />
city governments where the governments require<br />
it. He said it was a threat of additional<br />
ticket taxes, and that it should be opposed<br />
vigorously in case it comes out in the legislative<br />
hopper. Giffin, mayor of Miami and<br />
a leading showman of the town, lives in a<br />
city that is practically tax free because<br />
of municipal owniership of various services.<br />
The operator will find in our showrooms everything<br />
needed to equip a modern theatre . . . and also everything<br />
except film to operate it profitably! In addition,<br />
we maintain a complete stock of parts, and a competent<br />
staff of service men who are ready to answer your call<br />
any time! Pay us a visit soon!<br />
RCA-Victor Distributor<br />
OKLRHOmn THEflfRE SUPPLV<br />
J. ELDON PEEK Telephone 7-8691<br />
Avenue<br />
628 West Grand<br />
OKLAHOMA CITY 2, OKLA.<br />
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lOth n.. 2nd Unit, Santa Fe Bldg. BUFFALO ENGINEERING CO., INC. Dallas, Tex.<br />
HANDY
Shreveport Theatre<br />
Back to Don George<br />
SHREVEPORT—Don George, owner of the<br />
Don theatres in Shreveport and Alexandria,<br />
and the Davis in Bossier City, across Red<br />
river from Shreveport, says that the Glenwood<br />
Theatre is again a member of his<br />
chain. Since July 1, the Glenwood has been<br />
under the management of M. Trelles, New<br />
Orleans business man who leas-ed the theatre.<br />
Trelles is returning to New Orleans,<br />
according to M. V. McAfee, manager of the<br />
Don.<br />
The Glenwood will strive to bring to<br />
Shreveport largely first run films, George<br />
.said. The first feature will be "Letter From<br />
an Unknown Woman." The Glenwood will<br />
be managed by James Lowry, formerly with<br />
the Shreveport Recreation department.<br />
Bill<br />
Shaw Sells Cedar<br />
CEDAR HILL, TEX.—Bill Shaw has sold<br />
the Cedar Theatre to Pat Murphree, successful<br />
theatreman and road show operator, who<br />
formerly was a manager for Phil Isley Theatres.<br />
Shaw is a booker for Eagle Lion and<br />
conrunuted some 15 miles between his theatre<br />
and job.<br />
Frels Theatres Charter<br />
VICTORIA, TEX.—A 50-year charter of<br />
incorporation has been granted to Frels Theatres<br />
listing as incorporators: Majorie Steele<br />
Frels, Rubin Frels and Sam Cowden. Authorized<br />
capital stock is $150,000.<br />
SEATING<br />
Complains Print Shortage<br />
Misused by Distributors<br />
From Midwest Edition<br />
OMAHA—The Allied<br />
Independent Theatre<br />
Owners of Iowa and Nebraska meeting here<br />
passed a resolution asking that a complaint<br />
on the shortage of prints be put on the agenda<br />
for the board of the national Allied States<br />
Ass'n. The resolution was passed after a<br />
Nebraska exhibitor asserted that the shortage<br />
of prints, under the disguise of economy,<br />
is nothing more than a method of setting<br />
up illegal clearance.<br />
More than a hundred attended the oneday<br />
meeting here, which was preceded by<br />
a board session. Bill Ainsworth, Allied national<br />
president, telegraphed his regrets at<br />
not being able to appear due to iDness, and<br />
said, "we are proud of the success of your<br />
unit which has now become one of the<br />
largest, strongest and most aggressive units<br />
in national Allied."<br />
Other subjects discussed and actions taken<br />
include:<br />
Conduct of stars—Talked at length, but<br />
no direct action to be taken until it comes<br />
before national boai'd.<br />
Advertising accessories—Resolution passed<br />
urging members to see that all advertising,<br />
11x14s, one-sheets, 30x40s, etc., are returned<br />
promptly to the seurce in good shape, using<br />
care in wrapping, to aid exhibitor who uses<br />
the material the following time.<br />
Print damage—Members urged to use care<br />
in handling prints and check machines regularly.<br />
The tension on a rewind can cause<br />
a print to be slipped so it becomes "rainy,"<br />
it was pointed out.<br />
Allied Caravan—Its use was gone into<br />
thoroughly and it was suggested by one<br />
member that a universal 100 figure he worked<br />
out for each theatre to simplify the interpretations.<br />
Organization activity—President Myrick<br />
gave an account of this year's activity, pointing<br />
out that the Allied of Iowa and Nebraska<br />
is the most active exhibitor unit in<br />
the country. Fourteen meetings have been<br />
held this year, membership is at an all-time<br />
high, many local problems members have<br />
had with distributors have been worked out<br />
with the film companies who have shown<br />
a willingness to cooperate.<br />
The Smith plan—It was decided so long<br />
as 20th-Pox insists on forcing percentage<br />
pictures, CRI checkers, etc., it was not interested<br />
in any kind of a plan.<br />
Tailor-made trailers—An Iowa member<br />
suggested that all film companies be urged<br />
to make two trailers on pictures that have<br />
appeals for both class and action houses.<br />
For- example a picture that has high class<br />
music would have a trailer for key runs that<br />
would show this music, and for the action<br />
and small town houses scenes that whet the<br />
appetite of that type patronage—comedy<br />
angles, etc. It also was suggested that many<br />
trailers are too long.<br />
Elk City, Okla., Airer<br />
Started by Griffith<br />
ELK CITY, OKLA.—Construction work is<br />
under way on a new 400-car drive-in on<br />
highway 66 two miles west of here. Griffith<br />
Consolidated Theatres, Inc., is builder of the<br />
ozoner, which is scheduled for completion<br />
about March 1.<br />
'Enchantment' Will Open<br />
At Boston Astor on Xmas<br />
BOSTON—Lynn Farnol, director of advertising<br />
and publicity for Samuel Goldwyn<br />
Productions, was here to set plans with Dan<br />
Finn, Newell Stepp and Al Margolian of the<br />
Astor Theatre, and Ralph Banghart, New<br />
England field representative for RKO, to set<br />
plans for the premiere of Goldwyn's "Enchantment,"<br />
which will open at the Astor<br />
here on Christmas day and date with the<br />
Astor in New York. One of the biggest newspaper,<br />
radio and posting campaigns will<br />
launch the feature.<br />
R&R Men Hit Oil<br />
DALLAS—E. H. Rowley, C. V. Jones and<br />
L. M. Rice of Robb & Rowley Theatres have<br />
hit an oil well on a lease they own on Copano<br />
bay near Rockport. The oil is of high quality<br />
but the amount of production has not been<br />
determined, although a good producer seems<br />
sure. These men own a lot more acreage in<br />
the vicinity. Ed Rowley jr. has been staying<br />
with the weU. He studied geology when attending<br />
the University of Texas several years<br />
ago.<br />
Luling, Tex., Tower Opens<br />
LULING, TEX.—Gidney Talley of San Antonio<br />
has opened the Tower Theatre, which<br />
he remade from the old Princess. He is in<br />
competition with W. D. Glasscock, who is<br />
completing an all new $100,000 theatre to<br />
open within a few weeks. Glasscock also<br />
operates in other Talley towns.<br />
Annual Free Show Given<br />
WASHBURN, ILL.—A free show in both<br />
the afternoon and evening was given at the<br />
Washburn Theatre here by Clifford W.<br />
Cordes, owner of the Washburn Oil Co. The<br />
event is an annual custom.<br />
THEATRE SEAT INSTALLATION<br />
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Behon, Texas<br />
L. L. Barrow Reopens Eutex<br />
EUSTACE, TEX.—L. L. Barrow of Dallas<br />
has reopened the Eutex Theatre. Until recently<br />
he was projectionist in a neighborhood<br />
theatre there and owns and operates<br />
the Martha Washington candy store in the<br />
Highland Park shopping village in that city.<br />
Eustace is an inland village between Athens<br />
and Mabank.<br />
4JUJk<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948
RESTORATION OF TICKET TAX<br />
THREATENED IN N. CAROLINA<br />
State's Showmen Also Fear<br />
Move to Authorize City<br />
Theatre Levies<br />
RALEIGH, N. C—The forthcoming session<br />
of the North Carolina general assembly, which<br />
convenes January 6, has Tar Heel state exhibitors<br />
expressing apprehension over the fate<br />
of the present motion picture theatre tax<br />
structure, which almost got the ax from the<br />
1947 legislative term.<br />
On top of whopping demands from all<br />
state-supported institutions, pay raises for<br />
state employes and school teachers are a certainty,<br />
with the popular good health program<br />
coming in for a large slice of funds. To top<br />
off these appropriations. Gov. W. Kerr Scott,<br />
whose inaugm-ation will take place prior to<br />
the assembly meeting, was elected on a<br />
program that promised hard-surfaced rural<br />
roads. Scott, an Alamance county dairy<br />
farmer and former state commissioner of<br />
agriculture, is a fighter and speaks his mind<br />
regardless of the consequences. There is little<br />
doubt but that the legislature will give him<br />
his road program.<br />
It is also practically certain that attempts<br />
will be made to put the 3 per cent general<br />
sales tax back on theatre admissions. The<br />
theatre sales tax was repealed during the<br />
1943 session and replaced with a flat sliding<br />
scale state licensing plan. Theatre operators<br />
also fear that the North Carolina League of<br />
Municipalities will attempt to put through<br />
a bill that will allow towns to tax theatre<br />
admissions. Municipal bodies are at present<br />
prevented by state law from taxing admissions<br />
and have other financial restraints from<br />
the legislature. A proposed constitutional<br />
amendment that would greatly liberalize municipal<br />
bond issues was defeated in the November<br />
elections. Many town governments<br />
are reported as desperate for new revenues<br />
to support expansion programs and increased<br />
administrative costs.<br />
Even the legislators admit that the 1949<br />
session will be one of the "toughest" in history.<br />
Santa Claus Featured<br />
In 2 Memphis Lobbies<br />
MEMPHIS—Santa Claus did his stuff at<br />
the Rosemary and Luciann theatres here.<br />
All this week, jolly old St. Nick was on duty<br />
in the lobby of both theatres, passing out<br />
free comic books and talking to the kiddies.<br />
December 23 a free show—in fact, two free<br />
shows—were presented at Rosemary for children.<br />
"A Christmas Carol" was shown at<br />
12:30 p. m. and again at 2:30. Both shows<br />
were free, said owner Augustine Cianciola.<br />
Henry Tarbes Is Dead<br />
MIAMI BEACH—Henry Tarbes died suddenly<br />
at his home here. He was a member<br />
of the Miami Showmen's Ass'n. He is survived<br />
by his widow Beatrice and one daughter,<br />
Mrs. Estelle Belle. Interment was in<br />
New York City.<br />
State Theatre Lobby in<br />
Tallahassee<br />
Boasts Rotating Christmas Tree<br />
TALLAHASSEE, FLA.—For 14 years<br />
Perry and Giles Neel have been cooking up<br />
ideas for unusual Christmas trees in the<br />
lobby of their State Theatre on College<br />
avenue. This year the Neel brothers combined<br />
their ingenuity, experience and a few<br />
steel stays from a corset to produce a tree<br />
that rotates.<br />
In 1935 the Neels introduced the first aUsilver<br />
tree to the city. The year after, "the<br />
silver trees appeared in almost every show<br />
window and in many homes," recalled<br />
Perry.<br />
Perry does most of the "idea phase" for<br />
brother G. B., in the production of the unusual<br />
trees, and the electrical work. The<br />
actual construction is by G. B.<br />
The first tree appeared in the State's<br />
lobby 13 years ago; it was the silver tree.<br />
Since then they've appeared regularly,<br />
about two to three weeks before the visit<br />
of St. Nick.<br />
The second year tree was an all-cellophane<br />
tree ; the third was a spruce painted<br />
with blue gun metal paint; the fourth was<br />
snow white; fifth, a red tree and the sixth<br />
was a natural colored evergreen with novelty<br />
trimmings, each gaily lighted.<br />
Diu'ing the war years, the Neels had<br />
sightly trees but they had to throttle their<br />
"gay trimmings," because of shortages resulting<br />
from war-time scarcities.<br />
In 1947 the 13th tree was really a<br />
whiz.<br />
The tree was painted in stroblite fluorescent<br />
colors, had no bulbs but the ornaments<br />
were in the stroblite and the utilization<br />
of black light produced one of the<br />
most unusual yule season trees ever seen<br />
in Tallahassee.<br />
This season's tree is an evergreen.<br />
First it was treated in white lacquer and<br />
silver glass was sprinkled on before the<br />
lacquer dried.<br />
The large wreath that circles it is made<br />
of wallboard. There are more than 3,000<br />
individually cut-out green foil leaves which<br />
were glued on the weath.<br />
Toys for Admission<br />
FORT LAUDERDALE—Cln-istmas toys<br />
for<br />
every needy child in the county was the<br />
goal of the Warner Theatre when it staged<br />
its tenth annual Christmas party In conjunction<br />
with the local Salvation Army. Admission<br />
for either adults or children was<br />
one or more toys per person. Last year more<br />
than 1,000 usable toys were collected. The<br />
program lasts from 10 a. m. till noon. Bill<br />
Russell is manager of the Warner.<br />
The rotating Christmas tree in the<br />
State Theatre, Tallahassee, Fla., is admired<br />
by Peggy Ann Neel, daughter of<br />
Perry Neel who, with his brother Giles,<br />
manages the theatre.<br />
The tree rotates and that is where the<br />
steel corset stays come in.<br />
Power for the motion of the tree is<br />
furnished by a little motor used in show<br />
window display, loaned by Moon's Jewelry,<br />
and the flashing circuit was loaned by<br />
Culpepper sign company.<br />
Breaker points— to switch on the tiny<br />
bulbs around the inner circle of the wreath<br />
—at the base of the tree are made of the<br />
steel corset stays.<br />
Perry said he encountered a bit of trouble<br />
trying to find steel stays. The new<br />
fangled "shape helpers" have plastic or<br />
bone stays. They wouldn't do. After a<br />
search, a corset with steel stays was purchased<br />
at Mendelson's.<br />
What's new for 1949?<br />
"Heck, that's a year away, a lot of ideas<br />
can be produced before then," chimed the<br />
Neels.<br />
F. E. Hall to Fort Myers<br />
As Circuit City Manager<br />
FORT MYERS, FLA.—Floyd E. Hall, manager<br />
of the Sunset Theatre in Fort Lauderdale,<br />
has been transferred here by Florida<br />
State Theatres to assume the post of city<br />
manager for the chain. He has been active<br />
in many civic organizations since his return<br />
from active service in World War II, and<br />
is past president of the Exchange club of<br />
Fort Lauderdale.<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1946 SE 87
. . Guy<br />
MIAMI<br />
The slogan, "Wometco Theatres ... All<br />
Over Town," is being stressed in the circuit's<br />
advertising. Wometco admission books<br />
of coupons are being called "Books of Happiness"<br />
. . . Freddie Stewart, appearing here,<br />
names 12 picture titles under which his name<br />
has appeared in the last three months; but<br />
all belong to the same picture, which finally<br />
was named "The Music Man."<br />
Brandt's Flamingo on Lincoln road is giving<br />
wide publicity to the Florida premiere<br />
of "The Red Shoes" there on Christmas day.<br />
Seats are being reserved for the two evening<br />
shows, and the matinee. A five-day run<br />
has been scheduled. Daily advertising in<br />
newspapers, publicity stories giving interesting<br />
sidelights on the film, and a large sign<br />
above the marquee herald the event . . .<br />
ABC Television, Warner Bros., Pathe and<br />
MGM are scheduled to give national publicity<br />
to a water show and ballet featuring<br />
a number of aquatic stars, held recently at<br />
an ocean-front hotel.<br />
Wometco's new Miracle Theatre sent out<br />
"Free for Nothin' " invitations to youngsters<br />
of Coral Gables and southwest Miami. For<br />
its first Saturday of operation the Miracle's<br />
management introduced its policy of special<br />
shows for children with a free matinee, starting<br />
at 12:45 p. m. A western feature was<br />
shown and children received gifts of bubble<br />
gum . Rennie, entertainer from the<br />
Bar of Music, did the exterior emceeing for<br />
the Miracle's premiere.<br />
A! Brandt of the Flamingo received a complaint<br />
from a patron for not labeling British<br />
pictures as "foreign." Brandt naturally<br />
disclaims any intention of using misleading<br />
advertising, but is of the opinion that the<br />
name of the producer is obvious enough.<br />
The incident, however, seems to point up<br />
the conviction of many theatremen who<br />
find that people seldom take notice of the<br />
producer of a picture, only the actors.<br />
When Joyce Voelker, Miami Daily News<br />
fashion editor, arrived to interview Terry<br />
Moore, star of "Return of October," in her<br />
Miami Beach hotel, she found ten news<br />
and radio representatives there for the same<br />
purpose. The star solved everybody's problem<br />
by making a recording, answering questions,<br />
and posing in various costumes for<br />
everybody at the same time. And she had<br />
energy left over to ask reporters more questions<br />
than they asked her.<br />
George Bonrke tipped off Miami Beach<br />
night club operators to see the current Capitol<br />
Theatre show If they wanted to audition<br />
numerous big variety and cafe stars en<br />
masse. The double bill Included "Hellzapoppln"<br />
and "Argentine Nights" ... A recent<br />
ad for Claughton's Embassy and Variety<br />
carried this amusing line: "We threw<br />
away the fancy ads and give It to you<br />
straight . . It's not just another murder<br />
.<br />
story—it's strong, stark realism at its best."<br />
The feature was "The "Velvet Touch." Claughton<br />
advertising has been attracting notice<br />
designs.<br />
for the originality and variety of its<br />
Babs Beckwith Noble, daughter of the J.<br />
Holden Beckwiths of Miami Beach, is In Los<br />
Angeles with RKO. She assists future stars<br />
to become acclimated to their new life, helps<br />
them buy the proper clothes, coaches them<br />
on hair-styling and makeup, and even etiquette<br />
when necessary.<br />
Bernstein Rushing<br />
Two Miami Houses<br />
MIAMI — Robert O. Bernstein, executive<br />
vice-president of Bernstein Theatres, is rushing<br />
work on the Little River Theatre here,<br />
due to open in a few weeks with many celebrities<br />
attending. Initial boxoffice receipts will<br />
go to the Optimist club for furnishing the<br />
Youth Center.<br />
Construction has begun on the circuit's<br />
LeJuene Park Theatre in the business section.<br />
This outdoor house will have Australian<br />
pines in double rows instead of a fence, a<br />
large concession building and a walk-in seating<br />
arrangement in the shape of a ship's<br />
deck. It will open in March. Joe Hornstein,<br />
supply dealer, has the contract for both<br />
houses.<br />
Building Work Is Started<br />
On Jacksonville House<br />
JACKSONVILLE—Work has been started<br />
on an 800-seat motion picture theatre at<br />
932 Edgewood Ave. in the Murray Hill district.<br />
The theatre is being built for B. J.<br />
Phillips, real estate dealer, who plans to<br />
lease the plant to other interests for operation.<br />
The building will be of modern design and<br />
of fireproof construction. It will be air conditioned.<br />
In addition to the main floor there<br />
will be a mezzanine where the manager's<br />
office, projection booth and restrooms will<br />
be located.<br />
William H. Marshall is the architect, and<br />
H. S. Brownett, contractor. The structure is<br />
part of a building started several years ago,<br />
but delayed because of government regulations.<br />
It is expected the entire project will<br />
be completed within five months.<br />
Lack of Interest Halts<br />
Saturday Morning Show<br />
JACKSONVILLE—When Manager Jack<br />
Futch offered a morning matinee for children<br />
at the Beach Theatre, he felt he was<br />
being good to both parents and youngsters.<br />
The matinee was planned for Saturday morning,<br />
at a time when mothers might feel free<br />
to park the kiddies in the theatre while<br />
they went shopping. However, because of lack<br />
of interest and consequent slim attendance,<br />
the matinees have been called off. Futch<br />
has not altogether given up the idea of<br />
having such a performance and is announcing<br />
that at some future date the matinees may<br />
be resumed.<br />
Free Matinee for Kids<br />
GAINSVILLE, FLA.—Ushering in the<br />
Christmas holiday shopping season was the<br />
offer of a free motion picture for boys and<br />
girls on Saturday morning at the Florida<br />
Theatre. All children whose parents wanted<br />
to shop during the morning hours were welcomed.<br />
This was a tiein with local merchants<br />
in promoting early morning shopping<br />
hours.<br />
Gaston Corp. Gets Charter<br />
RALEIGH, N. C—The secretary of state<br />
has issued a charter to Gaston Drive-In<br />
Corp. of Charlotte allowing the corporation<br />
to operate theatres. Authorized capital stock<br />
is $100,000 with $300 stock subscribed by A. B.<br />
Graver, P. E. Young and T. M. Chisholm, all<br />
of Charlotte.<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948
Glitter and Festivity in Miracle Opening<br />
Some 6,000 Attend Coral Gables Ceremonies, Including Star Terry Moore<br />
MIAMI—Revised estimates of the number<br />
of people who jammed the streets in front<br />
of the Miracle Theatre, unveiled by Wometco<br />
on the evening of December 7, run close<br />
to 6,000. Bleachers, which had been erected<br />
in the streets to accommodate the overflow,<br />
held only a fraction of the crowd.<br />
All of Coral Gables seemed thoroughly to<br />
enjoy itself at this tumultuous affair, and<br />
traffic officers had almost more than they<br />
could cope with trying to keep any open<br />
space for the arrival of celebrities and other<br />
honored guests. Some of the guests who were<br />
to appear on the stage had to be spirited in<br />
the rear entrance in order to get them there<br />
in time.<br />
ENTHUSIASTIC<br />
OVER TERRY<br />
Terry Moore, star of the pictui'e, was practically<br />
borne, car and all, on the shoulders of<br />
the enthusiastic crowd to the theatre entrance.<br />
Nearly overcome by her reception,<br />
she nevertheless did her very best to let as<br />
many people as possible get a good look. It<br />
was an event the like of which has never<br />
before been seen in this municipality.<br />
Even the fact that the Miracle's interior<br />
was still in the finishing stage did not<br />
dampen the gaiety of the evening. Wometco's<br />
staff, as a matter of fact, turned this to advantage.<br />
Sprightly signs were placed here<br />
and there indicating what would eventually<br />
go where.<br />
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall; w^hy is it you're<br />
not here at all?" was followed by the explanation,<br />
"You'll be able to see yourself here<br />
when the mirror goes up."<br />
"We carped at the carpenters," said another<br />
sign in another place, "but we stUl<br />
haven't got the time. A clock goes here, one<br />
of these days."<br />
On the powder room wall one read, "Hang<br />
it all, the paperhanger was supposed to have<br />
finished this wall but he didn't, and we'd<br />
like to hang him."<br />
WOMETCO COMPLIMENTED<br />
The public apparently appreciated this<br />
astute touch of showmanship, and Wometco<br />
is receiving many comments from patrons<br />
who were highly amused.<br />
Many prominent Coral Gables citizens attended<br />
the premiere. Evening gowns, fur<br />
wraps, and the glitter of sequins were set<br />
off by the white dinner jackets of their<br />
escorts. Dr. BowTnan P. Ashe, president of<br />
the University of Miami, dedicated the theatre.<br />
He was accompanied by Mrs. Ashe and<br />
their daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs.<br />
Edward Dunn. Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Meyer<br />
were acconapanied by their attractive daughter.<br />
Mrs. Roy Schecter, and were in a party<br />
with Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Wolfson. Wolfson<br />
and Meyer head the chain.<br />
Noted in the lobby also were Mr. and Mrs.<br />
Van E. Huff and Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Patton.<br />
Mrs. Huff was gowned in black velvet<br />
and Mrs. Patton wore a print evening gown<br />
topped with a fur cape.<br />
Among early arrivals were Dr. and Mrs.<br />
P. E. Kitchens. Mrs. Kitchens wore a blue<br />
gown and long mink coat. Mrs. Carl<br />
Kowaty's gown of red crepe was topped with<br />
a mink wrap. Mrs. R. W. Apte wore black,<br />
also with a mink wrap.<br />
Traffic was routed one way down Miracle<br />
Seen in the top photo is W. Keith Phillips, Coral Gables mayor, presenting<br />
the key to the city to star Terry Moore. At bottom the crowd in front of the new<br />
Miracle Theatre on opening night, with the Ponce de Leon High School band.<br />
Mile for opening night, but was halted entirely<br />
during the band concerts.<br />
Jimmy Burns, Herald sports editor, in<br />
writing of the feature race at Tropical park,<br />
named in honor of the occasion, said: "Terry<br />
Moore's here for the gala premiere of her<br />
picture. "Return of October," at the new<br />
Miracle Theatre. The theme of the movie<br />
involves horse racing and Columbia is to be<br />
congratulated for building the film around<br />
Florida State. Inc., Buys<br />
St. Petersburg La Plaza<br />
ST. PETERSBURG—After nearly two<br />
years of negotiation the La Plaza Theatre<br />
block has been sold to Prank Rogers, president<br />
of Florida State Theatres, Inc., and<br />
George Gandy. Purchase price was not disclosed.<br />
Rogers announced that the company<br />
has made no plans for changes in the<br />
property.<br />
The theatre was built in 1912 by George<br />
a sentimental angle, rather than the usual<br />
sordid ones. People who like horse racing<br />
and redheads will go all out for the picture,<br />
which is better than good entertainment, and<br />
the actual horse racing scenes are terrific."<br />
"Return of October" played to excellent<br />
business during its run at the Miracle. After<br />
the premiere the film opened at the Miami<br />
and the Lincoln theatres, and wUl be shown<br />
at neighborhood houses soon.<br />
S. Gandy sr. and has been in use ever since.<br />
Since 1920 it has been operated under the<br />
management of the Florida State Theatres.<br />
Florida State owns a number of other theatres<br />
in St. Petersburg, including the Florida<br />
Theatre Bldg., the Roxy, the drive-in building<br />
and property, the Ninth Street Theatre<br />
Bldg., and property recently purchased on<br />
22nd street as a future site for the Carver<br />
Theatre.<br />
Dallas, Ga., Theatre Open<br />
DALLAS, GA.—Mr. and Mrs. Price Kincaid<br />
have been named managers of the new<br />
Dallas Theatre, opened here recently by<br />
Wendell Welch to replace the old Strand<br />
which was destroyed by fire last spring. The<br />
new theatre, seating 800 patrons, is nearly<br />
twice as large as the Strand.<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948 89
. . The<br />
. . Rome,<br />
C H A R L<br />
O T T E<br />
/Columbia held the first Christmas party of<br />
the season December 10 at the exchange<br />
on West Fourth street. Hank Hearn, head<br />
of Exhibitors Service, gave a party for employes<br />
and friends at the Variety Club in<br />
the Charlotte hotel. U-I held its annual party<br />
for employes at the New China restaurant,<br />
UA at the El Morocco club, Warner Bros,<br />
at the Variety Club, Republic at the exchange<br />
and 20th-Fox at the exchange Monday<br />
night. RKO postponed its party because<br />
so many employes were going out of town,<br />
but last week Christmas bonus checks were<br />
distributed. MGM held open house for its<br />
employes at the exchange Thursday afternoon.<br />
Eagle Lion held open house Pi-iday<br />
afternoon.<br />
The Variety Club held its annual kiddys<br />
Christmas party in the clubrooms Thursday<br />
(23).<br />
Col. J. B. Harvey of the Carolina at Clover,<br />
. . . Mrs.<br />
S. C, left to go bird hunting on J. C.<br />
Long's plantation in Charleston. R. B. Hildebrand,<br />
York lawyer, and Senator W. Lewis<br />
Wallace, York, accompanied him<br />
Ben L. Strozier, Stevenson, Rock Hill, was<br />
re-elected to the city council of Ebenezer,<br />
a suburb of Rock Hill.<br />
George Sandore, RCA service manager for<br />
this district, and Ralph Heacock, RCA sales,<br />
Camden, N. J., were here conferring with<br />
Manager W. P. White of Southeastern Theatre<br />
Equipment Co. . . . Mr. and Mrs. John<br />
H. Vickers of Carolina Delivery Service have<br />
announced the engagement of their daughter<br />
Margaret to Louis G. Ratcliffe jr. The<br />
wedding will take place in February.<br />
The case of W. G. Driver, salesman for<br />
Screen Guild, against Carolina Coach Co. in<br />
civil superior court has ended with an outof-com-t<br />
settlement. The plaintiff was<br />
awarded $7,500. He had alleged that he was<br />
injured' in Rocky Mount in September 1946,<br />
when hit by a bus of the defendant concern.<br />
The trial was virtually concluded when the<br />
settlement was arranged.<br />
Roy P. Rosser, Sanford Theatre owner,<br />
Sanford, N. C, was guest speaker at the<br />
regular weekly dinner meeting of the San-<br />
ENLARGEMENTS<br />
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MIAMI, FLORIDA<br />
ford Lions club recently. Rosser discussed<br />
the motion pictm-e industry.<br />
Horace Heidt and his talent show, now<br />
touring the nation, will perform here January<br />
30 at 10:30 p. m. under the auspices<br />
of the Charlotte Junior Chamber of Commerce.<br />
The show will be broadcast from the<br />
Armory-Auditorium over WSOC.<br />
Drive-In Ass'n to Meet<br />
Jan. 30 at Charlotte<br />
CHARLOTTE—The Drive-In Theatre<br />
Owners Ass'n, Inc., at its regular meeting<br />
here recently decided to hold the first annual<br />
meeting of 1949 on January 30, the date<br />
on which the Theatre Owners of North and<br />
South Carolina begins its 37th annual convention.<br />
President R. O. Jeffress presided at the<br />
meeting, held in the Selwyn hotel, and later<br />
gave an account of his contracts with distributors<br />
regarding equitable film rental for<br />
drive-ins remaining open during the winter.<br />
Among subjects discussed at the meeting<br />
were advisability of hability insurance coverage,<br />
the connection of theatres who donate<br />
to the litigation fund, services available to<br />
the members by the association, progress of<br />
law suits in connection with Park-In Theatres,<br />
Inc., inadvisability of closing for the<br />
winter and the lack of objection to increasing<br />
admissions.<br />
From the BOXOFFICE Files<br />
(Twenty Years Ago)<br />
a NEW THEATRE, costing $1,500,000, will<br />
be built in Birmingham by the Interstate<br />
Amusement Co. as soon as that city sees fit to<br />
allow the showing of motion pictures on Sunday,<br />
according to Robert J. O'Donnell, general<br />
manager. Interstate owns and operates<br />
the Ritz and Trianon and owns property on<br />
Fifth avenue and 19th street, where the proposed<br />
theatre will be erected when a more<br />
tolerant and liberal view is dominant in<br />
Birmingham. Plans call for 4,000 seats. "It's<br />
up to Birmingham now," says O'Donnell.<br />
Fire destroyed the Lyric Theatre and contents<br />
in Jasper, Ga. . Ga., is to have<br />
a new theatre to cost approximately $75,000,<br />
the house to be constructed by a group of<br />
business men, including John M. Graham,<br />
W. B. Broach, and Fred R. Johnson, for the<br />
Lam Amu.sement Co., operators of several<br />
theatres in Rome. Present plans call for a<br />
location on Broad street, between Fifth and<br />
Sixth avenues. Seating capacity will be approximately<br />
1,500.<br />
The new Lyceum Theatre at Monroe, La.,<br />
is now under construction and will cost approximately<br />
$100,000. Its seating capacity<br />
will be 1,100. It is owned and will be operated<br />
by the Saenger Amusement Co. of<br />
New Orleans . Capitol at Shreveport,<br />
La., is now under the management of Saenger<br />
Theatres, Inc. Edward L. Conroy is<br />
manager.<br />
Alabama Managers<br />
Give Benefit Shows<br />
BIRMINGHAM — Alabama theatre managers<br />
"went all out" again this year in giving<br />
pre-Christmas benefit shows for the needy<br />
and free matinees for kiddy patrons.<br />
The Alabama Theatre here held its annual<br />
Christmas party on Tuesday (21). Admission<br />
was two cans or more of food. Cosponsors<br />
of the program were station WSGN,<br />
the News-Age-Herald and local merchants.<br />
Prizes were awarded to the youngsters who<br />
brought the most cans of food for the city's<br />
poor families.<br />
Another main benefit was the midnight<br />
show at the Pittman, Gadsden, for the benefit<br />
of the city's Goodfellow fund. Charles S.<br />
Pittsman, owner, and John Teague, manager,<br />
donated use of the house for the show and<br />
provided the pictures.<br />
HELPS 50 FAMILIES<br />
A usable toy or a can of food was the<br />
price of admission to the Capitol Theatre-<br />
Salvation Army matinee in Decatur. Paul<br />
Stroud, Capitol manager, said the matinee<br />
helped provide Christmas for about 30 families<br />
in Decatur and 20 more in the surrounding<br />
area. The same admission scheme<br />
prevailed for the Marengo Theatre at Demopolis<br />
on Wednesday (22), when Manager Henry<br />
Webb helped collect gifts to be distributed by<br />
the department of public welfare.<br />
Te the Elba Theatre, where Dozier Roberts<br />
is manager, the matinee collected toys to be<br />
given to the needy families of Coffee county<br />
after they were repaired by the Elba fire<br />
department.<br />
BOY SCOUTS HELPED<br />
The Ritz at Scottsboro helped the local<br />
Boy Scout troop collect items of food, clothing,<br />
fruit and candy to be distributed to unfortunate<br />
families.<br />
A bring-a-toy show was held at the Heflin<br />
Theatre in Heflin with Lloyd's bakery of<br />
Anniston cooperating in offering a bicycle,<br />
two pairs of skates and two Christmas cakes.<br />
The donated toys, of course, went to needy<br />
children. The Progressive Mothers club of<br />
Marion collected toys, food and clothing at<br />
Lester Neely's Neely Theatre in Marion when<br />
an hour's program of cartoons was shown.<br />
Virtually every theatre in the Martin circuit<br />
in Alabama gave a free show for kiddy<br />
patrons with "Bill and Coo" as the screen<br />
attraction. Some of these included: Fix,<br />
Evergreen, C. E. Moses, manager; Strand,<br />
Florala, J. B. Shuman, manager; Ritz, Greenville,<br />
Sam Carr, manager, and Ritz, Brewton,<br />
Howard Schad, manager.<br />
'Shoes' Opens Long Run<br />
In Atlanta Art Theatre<br />
ATLANTA—"The Red Shoes," Britishmade<br />
film based on the Hans Christian<br />
Anderson story, opened a ten-week run at<br />
the Peachtree Art Theatre here Christmas<br />
day, and Manager Mel Brown predicted the<br />
film would outdraw "Hamlet," which set a<br />
six-week record at the same house.<br />
Brown said he based his prediction on<br />
the success of the film in eastern cities.<br />
Negotiations for the picture were concluded<br />
with Joe Sugar, manager of EL, and Grover<br />
Parsons, southern district manager for the<br />
company.<br />
I<br />
90<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948
. . . Bob<br />
. . Ann<br />
Seek Amusement Tax A T L A N T A<br />
At Montgomery, Ala.<br />
MONTGOMERY—Faced with a revenue<br />
deficit of $440,(>00 in 1949, the city of Montgomery<br />
is studying new sources of revenue.<br />
A report just issued by the city commission<br />
suggests several possible new taxes, including<br />
an amtisement tax, about which the<br />
report said:<br />
"Many cities in the country, including a<br />
number in Alabama, have turned to this<br />
means of augmenting their revenue. It is<br />
estimated that a 10 per cent rate would produce<br />
approximately $100,000 per year. This<br />
would be placed on all forms of entertainments<br />
and amusements operated for a profit,<br />
except strictly amateur athletic events and<br />
performances, and those where the proceeds<br />
are dedicated to purely charitable and religious<br />
purposes."<br />
Other forms for raising revenue included<br />
parking meters (.already contracted for), an<br />
increase in city water rates, garbage collection<br />
service charge, a new license schedule,<br />
and a 1 per cent city sales tax. The state<br />
already collects a 2 per cent sales tax.<br />
At a recent meeting of the city commission<br />
and representative citizens, the city<br />
sales tax seemed to be favored. However,<br />
there is sonre opposition among merchants.<br />
The new licensing schedule already has<br />
been adopted, and includes the following<br />
provision: "For giving theatrical performances,<br />
balls or other entertainments, except<br />
when the entire proceeds are to be used for<br />
recognized charitable purposes, a license or<br />
privilege tax of $10 for each performance<br />
or sum equal to 1 per cent of the gross receipts<br />
of each performance, whichever is<br />
greater."<br />
Christmas Gift Offer<br />
CORAL GABLES—At the Miracle Theatre,<br />
a Wometco unit, and the Coral and Gables<br />
theatres of the Paramount Enterprises chain,<br />
"Books of Happiness" are being offered as<br />
Christmas gifts. The books are available at<br />
prices ranging from one dollar to five, and<br />
are redeemable at any theatre in the circuit<br />
from which it is purchased.<br />
To Begin New Drive-In<br />
MEMPHIS, TENN.—Construction of the<br />
new Park Avenue Drive-In will get imder<br />
way immediately. The corporation building<br />
the drive-in is headed by H.H. Roth.<br />
START NOW<br />
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BIRMINGHAM 3. ALABAMA<br />
TWTrs. Sara Smith, head of the accounting<br />
department at U-I, was confined to the<br />
hospital because of illness . . . John Lawrence,<br />
manager of the Dalton Tlieatre, Dalton,<br />
Ga., has returned to his post after a<br />
ten-week illness . . . Katie Evans and Betty<br />
Howell of Screen Guild celebrated birthdays.<br />
Charlie Durmeyer, president of Southern<br />
Automatic Candy Co., checked in at his office<br />
after a Florida trip . . . Local holdovers were<br />
"June Bride" at the Roxy, a reissue bill at<br />
the Rialto and "A Song Is Born" at the<br />
Peachtree Art following five weeks at the<br />
Rialto.<br />
Mrs. B. A. Barlette jr., daughter of J. E.<br />
McLeory, salesman for Monogram in Charlotte,<br />
was ill in an Atlanta hospital . . . All<br />
exchanges held Christmas parties on Christmas<br />
eve . . . Miller Richardson, son of W. M.<br />
Richardson, Astor Pictures, retm-ned to New<br />
York . . . Harvey Smith, manager of the<br />
Tower Theatre, and his wife have a new<br />
jeep.<br />
Dick Brown, star of Stop the Music, appeared<br />
here December 22 . . . Jimmy Hobbs<br />
called his sales force in for the hoUdays and<br />
Jimmy Campbell and Ben Jordan will enjoy<br />
Christmas at home this year ... At the<br />
Astor Christmas party, William Richardson<br />
gave employes two weeks pay and many<br />
presents.<br />
.<br />
Leaving Film Classics was Mrs. Gloria<br />
Carlisle. Taking her place is Marian Brafford<br />
. . Alice Williams was added to the<br />
booking department at Republic . . Not<br />
.<br />
only was a Christmas opening planned for<br />
the new drive-in at Eustis, Fla.. being constructed<br />
by Golden Triangle Enterprises, but<br />
also there will be a Launderette on the premises<br />
for the convenience of customers.<br />
On the Row visiting were J. E. Edge, Mar<br />
Theatre, Fayette, Ga.: A. L. Sheppard, Grand,<br />
Waynesboro. Ga.: R. E. Hook, Hooks in<br />
Alabama; C. N. Green, Broadway, Ybor City,<br />
Fla.; H. Keeter, EL manager in Charlotte;<br />
J. M. Miller, Dixie, Cordova, Ala.; Mose<br />
Lebowitz, Grand Amusement Co., Chattanooga,<br />
Tenn.; Roy Mitchell, Stone Mount<br />
Theatre, Stone Mount. Ga.; E. Martin, Grand,<br />
Montezuma, Ga.; C. S. Pitman, Pitman, Gads-<br />
Ala.; Ward Wright, Coosa, Gadsden, Ala., and<br />
Jay Solomon, the showman from Chattanooga,<br />
Tenn.<br />
Other exhibitors visiting here were Gault<br />
Brown, Hollywood, Madisonville, Tenn.; Mrs.<br />
V. M. Edwards, Wrens, Ga., Dixie Theatre;<br />
E. P. Clay, Woodbury, Ga.; Nat Williams,<br />
Interstate Enterprises, Thomasville, Ga.; W.<br />
E. Griffin, Vienna, Vieima, Ga.; Mr. and<br />
Mrs. Fred Weis, Weis theatres, Macon and<br />
Savannah, Ga.; J. S. Tankersley, Royal, Summerville,<br />
Ga.; W. L. McDaniel, Senoia,<br />
Senoia, Ga.; O. C. Lam, Lam Amusement<br />
Co., Rome, Ga.; R. H. Brannon, Roswell,<br />
Roswell, Ga., and Mr. and Mrs. Shingler,<br />
Buena Vista, Buena Vista, Ga.<br />
Ginger Prince, daughter of Hugh P>rince of<br />
the Coed Theatres in Atlanta, has returned<br />
to the film capital from Lawton, Okla.. where<br />
she has completed "The Lawton Story." FYom<br />
Hollywood, she and her mother were to come<br />
home to spend the Christmas holidays with<br />
the family . Mayo has resigned as<br />
head of the accounting department at U-I<br />
Hope has signed with the Georgia<br />
Theatres to bring his show to the Fox Theatre<br />
for a week in January. This will be his<br />
third trip to Atlanta.<br />
Morristown, Tenn., Ritz<br />
Reopens After Repairs<br />
MORRISTOWN, TENN.—The Ritz Theatre<br />
here has been reopened after repairs of<br />
damages incurred when a flash fire struck<br />
at the building. The theatre, operated by<br />
the Crescent Amusement Co., installed a new<br />
Western Electric sound system and projection<br />
equipment.<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948 91
MEMPHIS<br />
Tom Robertson has bought out his partner<br />
Ralph Prichart in Peerless Printing Co.,<br />
and Poppers Supply Co., and has become the<br />
sole owTier of the two Filmi-ow business establishments<br />
here . . . W. E. Loader, regional<br />
manager of army motion picture service in<br />
Dallas, was a visitor ... A triple occasion<br />
was celebrated at Paramount along with the<br />
exchange's recent Christmas party. L. W.<br />
McClintock, manager, who had been on leave<br />
for several months due to his health, was<br />
back on the job; Tom Bridge of Dallas, acting<br />
branch manager, returned to Dallas for Paramount,<br />
and Travis Carr, office manager, returned<br />
from a business trip to Dallas.<br />
N. B. Blount, manager of Monarch Theatre<br />
Supply Co., made business trips to Nashville<br />
and Little Rock . . . Col. Cecil Vogel,<br />
manager of Loew's Palace, returned from<br />
Owensboro, Ky., where he was called by the<br />
death of his father.<br />
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A midnight show was held at Loew's State<br />
to raise money to provide Christmas baskets<br />
for needy families. Manager Bill Kemp of<br />
the State, Manager Vogel of Loew's Palace,<br />
and Louis C. Ingram, MGM branch manager,<br />
worked together to stage the show. Proceeds<br />
went to the Commercial Appeal-American<br />
Legion basket fund . . . Bob Hope and<br />
his troupe will be presented January 15 at<br />
Ellis Auditorium by Earl Maxwell Associates.<br />
Ike Katz, Atlanta, was a visitor at the<br />
Kay exchange . . . Jerry Lubin, New York<br />
home office, and Jack Lutzet, division manager,<br />
were visitors at Film Classics . . . Arthur<br />
Greenblatt, New York, eastern general<br />
manager. Screen Guild, was a visitor at the<br />
Mempliis exchange . . . Charles Jones, former<br />
assistant manager at Malco, went to<br />
work as an apprentice booker at Columbia<br />
and has been replaced at Malco by Jack<br />
Alexander.<br />
David Flexer, head of Flexer Theatres, Inc.,<br />
was on a business trip to New York . . . Kay<br />
Starr, Memphis songbird, whose career led<br />
to big time radio and screen appearances,<br />
was married iJi Hollywood last week to Harold<br />
Stanley. The couple then flew here to<br />
be married again to please the bride's parents,<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Starks of Memphis.<br />
Many local youngsters received a unique<br />
Christmas present from their parents. The<br />
presents were "Books of Happiness," containing<br />
coupons which may be used for<br />
admission tickets to the Rosemary and Luciann<br />
theatres. Owner of the theatres, Augustine<br />
Cianciola advertised the books as<br />
Christmas presents to children and sales were<br />
better than expected . . . "Voice of the Deep,"<br />
a religious film intended to show the hand<br />
of God in nature, will be shown January 24,<br />
25 at the Bellevue Baptist church.<br />
Midsouth exhibitors shopping on Filmrow<br />
recently included M. E. Rice, Rice, Brownsville:<br />
Amelia Ellis, Mason, Mason; Cleo<br />
Spence, Times, Decaturville, and W. H.<br />
Gray, Rutherford, Ruthford, all from Ten-<br />
Arkansas exhiWtors included Douglas<br />
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villa; J. T. James, James, Cotton Plant;<br />
E. E. Reeves, Palace, Oil Trough; John<br />
Staples, Carolyn, Piggott; Henley Smith, Imperial,<br />
Pocahontas, and Gene Higginbotham,<br />
Melody, Leachville.<br />
From Mississippi came J. W. Green, Green,<br />
Jonestown; J. A. Owen, Amory; Jackson<br />
Watson, Palace, Tunica, and J. C. Bonds, Von,<br />
From Missouri were: James<br />
Hernando . . .<br />
W. Seay, Grand, Cardwell, and C. A. Gilliland,<br />
Cooter at Cooler and Semo at Steele.<br />
Mrs. Jolly Wright, office manager's secretary<br />
at U-I, has returned to her job after<br />
her recent marriage and a honeymoon trip.<br />
Weather, Late Hours<br />
Up Atlanta Grosses<br />
ATLANTA—Local grosses climbed over the<br />
average mark as Christmas shopping, late<br />
store hours and clear, warm weather brought<br />
patrons downtown. High spot of the week<br />
was "Kiss the Blood Off My Hands" at<br />
Loew's Grand with 110 per cent.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Fox—Road House (20th-Fox) _ 105<br />
Loews Grand—Kiss the Blood OH My Hands (U-I)..110<br />
Paramount Blood and Sand (20lh-Fox), reissue....l04<br />
Roxy—Apartment lor Peggy (20th-Fox), 2nd d. t.<br />
wk 101<br />
Tower Mummy's Ghost (U-I); Mummy's Tomb<br />
(U-I) , re'issues - 105<br />
Amusement Tax Proposed<br />
To Finance City Parks<br />
BRE'WTON, ALA.—A 10 per cent tax on<br />
"profit-making" amusements has been proposed<br />
by the city planning commission to<br />
finance a park and recreation program here.<br />
Broox G. Garrett, secretary of the planning<br />
board, forwarded the recommendations to<br />
the city council, which tabled them for<br />
study and possible future action. The board<br />
plans call for general parks and play areas<br />
for schools and neighborhoods throughout<br />
the city.<br />
Toys for Admission<br />
CORAL GABLES—Youngsters with toys<br />
to spare have an opportunity to trade them<br />
off for admission at a special 10 a. m. matinee<br />
at the Coral Theatre, a unit of the<br />
Paramount chain. Toys thus collected will<br />
be distributed to needy children by the<br />
'29ers" of the Scottish Rite Masonic order.<br />
In Hialeah the same program will be carried<br />
out, with toys to be distributed by a<br />
civic group.<br />
Osceola Assistant Dies<br />
OSCEOLA, ARK.—John W. Cox,<br />
59-yearold<br />
assistant manager of the Joy and Gem<br />
theatres, died at a Memphis hospital recently.<br />
He was a native of Am-ora, Ind.<br />
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92 BOXOFFICE :: December 25, 1948
. . W.<br />
Dixie Drive-In to Open<br />
At Lake Worth, Fla.<br />
LAKE WORTH, FLA.—A Clii-istmas week<br />
opening has been set tentatively for the ultra<br />
modern theatre and restaurant bemg built<br />
by Harroldson & Cook. It will be known<br />
as the Dixie Drive-In and is located between<br />
West Palm Beach and Lake Worth.<br />
The restaurant, which is being built next<br />
to the highway, will not be ready for use<br />
by the first of the year, but a concession<br />
stand to serve theatre patrons will be ready<br />
by the time the drive-in opens.<br />
The restaurant, when completed, will include<br />
parking space for 125 cars in addition<br />
to the 600 cars provided for at the airer.<br />
In-car speakers will be provided and a section<br />
of seats for those who prefer to view<br />
the picture from outside theh car will be<br />
near the screen.<br />
Special parking facilities have been provided<br />
for buses, station wagons and cars<br />
with visored windshields. Buses will be<br />
parked parallel to the screen to allow<br />
full vision for all occupants. A specially built<br />
parking ramp is being provided for station<br />
wagons and vehicles with long windshield<br />
visors.<br />
There will be a fully equipped playground<br />
for children and only first run pictures will<br />
be shown.<br />
Rod Cameron Gives Party<br />
For Charlotte Orphans<br />
CHARLOTTE — Eighty-six orphans from<br />
the Thompson Home were happy youngsters<br />
this Christmas, all because film star Rod<br />
Cameron went out of his way to fulfill a promise<br />
to return, made last spring on a visit<br />
here. At that time Cameron met the orphans,<br />
gave them a party and bought each<br />
of them a pair of blue jeans.<br />
This Christmas, Cameron flew to Charlotte<br />
from Oklahoma City, where he had been appearing<br />
in connection with the showing of<br />
"Strike It Rich," to give a Christmas party<br />
for the family of 86 orphans which he more<br />
or less adopted.<br />
The tall, lanky star stopped at a Charlotte<br />
store for the kids' Christmas presents—bright<br />
cowboy shirts—and had each individually<br />
wrapped with the child's name and the words<br />
"Prom Rod" on the cards.<br />
He was practically mobbed by the youngsters,<br />
who climbed all over him fighting for<br />
the honor of holding his hand. And, it was<br />
a moot question as to who had more fun at<br />
the party, the orphans or the film star.<br />
"What a party!" Cameron said later. "You<br />
never saw anything like it. I wouldn't take<br />
a million dollars for the experience."<br />
Cameron was a dinner guest at the orphanage<br />
and after the diimer visited throughout<br />
the cottages and the orphanage grounds.<br />
Later in the day he arranged for a screening<br />
of "The Plunderers" in a local high school<br />
auditorium especially for the orphans.<br />
Repair Judgment Given<br />
ATLANTA—Judge Walter C. Hendrix of<br />
superior court recently ruled that a landlord<br />
is not responsible for repairs to a building<br />
which is under long-term lease to another<br />
person or corporation. The decision<br />
was made in the $40,000 suit brought by the<br />
Evans Theatre Corp., operator of Loew's<br />
Grand.<br />
NEW ORLEANS<br />
As is the case each year, holiday business<br />
in downtown houses was off and suburban<br />
houses reported an even greater decrease.<br />
The Saenger featured "Belle Starr's<br />
Daughter" while "Larceny" was at Loew's<br />
State, "Sealed Verdict" opened at RKO's<br />
Orpheum and "Miss Tatlock's Millions"<br />
moved to the Liberty for a second downtown<br />
week. "The Loves of Carmen" was the Center<br />
offering, the Tudor was showing "Road<br />
House" for its second downtown week and<br />
the Globe featured "Johnny Belinda." "Four<br />
Faces West" was at the Joy, "The Private<br />
Life of Henry VIII" opened at the Poche and<br />
"40,000 Horsemen" and "Ti-ailing Double<br />
Trouble" was the Rio's double bill. The<br />
Strand doubled "Jungle Princess" and "Desperadoes<br />
of Dodge City."<br />
Ed Ganucheau, Theatres Service booker,<br />
is able to return to his post after being confined<br />
to a local hospital for some time . . .<br />
Maurice Josephs of Lazarus Theatres was<br />
confined to his home for a few days by illness<br />
. . . Mrs. Henry Lazarus, Lazarus Theatres<br />
head, motored to Los Angeles for the<br />
maiTiage of a nephew.<br />
.<br />
Funeral services for KalU Sliman, father<br />
of PhiUip Sliman, former PRC franchise<br />
holder and present operator of the Evangeline<br />
Theatre, New Iberia, La., were held at<br />
New Iberia recently. The elder Sliman was<br />
a native of Daher Safra, Syria, coming to<br />
this country at the age of 25. At the time<br />
of his death, Sliman had retired, having<br />
turned the Evangeline Theatre over to his<br />
son . . Employes of Dixie Films clerical<br />
and inspection departments were the recipients<br />
of an extra week's salai-y as a Christmas<br />
gift.<br />
.<br />
Herbert Schlessinger, who recently transferred<br />
from Independent Booking Co. to U-I<br />
as office manager, has relinquished that position<br />
for one as salesman for U-I. Herb is<br />
replaced in the office by Eddie Stevens, former<br />
Warner Bros, booker . . U-I held its<br />
Christmas party Wednesday (22) . . . Fox's<br />
Christmas party was held early this year,<br />
on Friday (17 1. A number of other exchanges<br />
made merry during the week at pre-Christmas<br />
celebrations.<br />
Leonard Duckworth, who several months<br />
ago affiliated himself with the local Manley,<br />
Inc., office after having been the local representative<br />
of Charles Darden Popcorn Co.,<br />
has been transferred to Dallas, where he will<br />
handle special work in the supply phase of<br />
the business, traveling throughout the Dallas<br />
district for Manley. He will be replaced locally<br />
by H. L. "Bud" Holtzendorf of Los Angeles.<br />
Holtzendorf has been associated with Manley<br />
in the west coast branch for the last 18<br />
months and was in Atlanta prior to that.<br />
Dan Brandon, Transway general manager,<br />
was the recipient of two pieces of airplane<br />
luggage, a Christmas gift from employes of<br />
his company. Dan and his wife flew to Philadelphia<br />
for the holidays which they spent<br />
with her family . . . Frances Jackson, Kay<br />
Films, flew to Memphis for the holiday . . .<br />
Mrs. Annie Boyer, mother of Rene Boyer,<br />
died at her home here recently. Rene, known<br />
as Tom Mix, has been a general handy man<br />
on the Row for the past ten or more years.<br />
Lillie Blanchett, Dixie Films clerical employe,<br />
was married recently to Eddie Mac-<br />
Millan and honeymooned in Biloxi, Miss. . . .<br />
Ike and Harry Katz, Kay Film Exchange executives,<br />
were here from Atlanta for several<br />
days at the local office.<br />
Ametia Neidemeier is the new bookkeeper<br />
for Joy Theatres, replacing Jennie Posey<br />
Acosta who has accepted a position with a<br />
local baking firm . . . Joyce Pascio, former<br />
Exhibitors Poster Service employe, has transferred<br />
to a local cordage company . A.<br />
Miramon, former Manley, Inc., manager in<br />
this territory, has accepted a position with<br />
National Theatre Supply Co. as salesman.<br />
Visitors included Wilbur Jolet, Smyles Theatre,<br />
Weeks, La.; Sam Pasqua, who owns several<br />
theatres in and around Gonzales, La.;<br />
Tanos Josephs, Tech and Opera House, Franklin,<br />
La.; Dr. A. C. DiBartolo, Classic, Hackberry,<br />
La.; E. I. Hawkins, Delhi, Delhi, La.,<br />
Lathan, Flora. Miss., and Hawkins, Newellton,<br />
La.; A. Molzon and daughter Annie, Royal<br />
theatres, Labadieville, La., Norco, La., and<br />
Paincourtville, La.; Ira Phillips, Joy theatres,<br />
Bordelonville and Moreauville, La.<br />
Legalized Sunday Shows<br />
Asked in Piedmont. Ala.<br />
PIEDMONT, ALA.—A petition for the<br />
legalization of Sunday shows is being circulated<br />
here. The movement is a renewal<br />
of one which started about a year ago when<br />
a committee appeared before the former<br />
mayor and city council. Now the citizens<br />
are requesting the Sabbath shows "provided<br />
they do not run during church services."<br />
There is no ordinance at present which prohibits<br />
Sunday shows. However, theatre owners<br />
here have indicated that they will not be<br />
shown until there is a law legalizing them.<br />
The matter is up to the mayor and council<br />
Vaudeville Actress Dies<br />
NORTH MIAMI—Beatrice V. Appelt, 46,<br />
former vaudeville actress who appeared under<br />
the name of Verena Carvet, died recently<br />
at her home here. Interment was at Southern<br />
Memorial park. She is survived by her<br />
husband, F. Martib Appelt, and one son,<br />
Paul R.<br />
New Sprinkler System<br />
VIDALIA, GA.—A new sprinkler system<br />
was to be installed in the Pal Theatre building<br />
here, which recently was remodeled inside<br />
and out. The building houses the theatre,<br />
a bank and drug store on the first floor<br />
and office and storage space on the second<br />
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BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948 93
Colorful Ceremony Marks<br />
Opening at Zephyrhills<br />
ZEPHYRHILLS, FLA.—A colorful and interesting<br />
ceremony marked the opening of<br />
the new $50,000 Home Theatre, built here<br />
by I. A. Ki-usen. The stage was banked<br />
with floral offerings, and many prominent<br />
citizens were in attendance. The ceremonies<br />
were opened with an invocation by the Rev.<br />
E. R. Meader, pastor of the Zephyrhills First<br />
Methodist church. A number of mayors from<br />
neighboring cities made brief congratulatory<br />
addresses. The local high school band furnished<br />
music. Ushers for the opening performance<br />
were attractive young ladies in<br />
evening gowns. Flowers and cigars were given<br />
away.<br />
W. Samuel Buys Laundry<br />
COVINGTON, TENN.—W. S. Samuel, active<br />
for nearly 20 years in various phases of<br />
show business, has purchased the Covington<br />
laundry and dry cleaning plant here.<br />
Formerly a manager of theatres for the<br />
Malco, Ruffin and Chickasaw circuits, Samuel<br />
later traveled in the various southeastern<br />
states for Manley, Inc. He plans to enter<br />
the drive-in field in the near future.<br />
and Coo' Free<br />
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PIEDMONT, ALA.—"Bill and Coo" was the<br />
screen attraction when the kiddies of Piedmont<br />
and the surrounding community were<br />
entertained with a free show at the Allison<br />
Theatre Saturday (18). Manager of the Pied-<br />
Olin Atkinson.<br />
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Don Theatre Contest<br />
Promotes 'Venus'<br />
SHREVEPORT, LA.—Edna Alexander, employe<br />
of the Continental-American bank, won<br />
the title of Miss Venus in the contest staged<br />
by the Don Theatre in connection with the<br />
opening of the Ava Gardner film, "One<br />
Touch of Venus." Odessa McNaughton was<br />
runnerup.<br />
The two young women, members of the<br />
Beta Sigma Phi, business girls sorority, were<br />
chosen winners in the elimination contest<br />
staged at the Don on a Monday night, with<br />
the finals held the following Wednesday.<br />
Fourteen sorority girls competed.<br />
Miss Alexander was presented a complete<br />
wardrobe by the Palais Royal department<br />
store here. Miss McNaughton was given a<br />
cosmetic case by Kidd-Russ Luggage Co.<br />
The Grecian goddess costume worn by Miss<br />
Gardner in the picture was on display at the<br />
Palais Royal department store through the<br />
run of the film.<br />
David Kent of radio station KTBS was master<br />
of ceremonies and read congratulatory<br />
telegrams to both Miss Alexander and Miss<br />
McNaughton from the stars of the film. Miss<br />
Gardner, Dick Haymes and Eve Arden.<br />
The contest was conducted by M. V. Mc-<br />
Afee, manager of the Don. The judges were<br />
Anita Mary Steinau, Bob Manasco and<br />
Arthur Morgan.<br />
Fred Hoenscheidt Wins<br />
Blevins Popcorn Prize<br />
NASHVILLE—Fred P. Hoenscheidt of<br />
Theatre Enterprises, Inc., Dallas, has been<br />
named a $100 winner for November in the<br />
"better popcorn business" ideas contest sponsored<br />
by the Blevins Popcorn Co. here.<br />
Hoenscheidt advanced a comprehensive fivepoint<br />
popcorn merchandising program to<br />
win the prize. The winning entry is published<br />
in Blevins' Pointers to Poppers for<br />
December.<br />
Honorable mention and $25 went to A. S.<br />
Dett of Calhoun Falls, S. C who doubled<br />
his popcorn business by including free prizes<br />
in every ten-cent bag of popcorn.<br />
The contest, which will run for another<br />
two months, offers $100 for the best idea for<br />
increasing popcorn sales and profits.<br />
Joins 'AH King's Men'<br />
Raymond Greenleaf has been added to the<br />
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94 BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948
Taxation Bill Fight<br />
Urged in Maritimes<br />
ST. JOHN—The public relations committee<br />
of the Maritime Allied Exhibitors Ass'n<br />
recently advised New Brunswick exhibitors<br />
to urge each member of the provincial assembly<br />
to fight proposed bills aimed at giving<br />
town and city councils authority to impose<br />
a special tax on theatre tickets. The<br />
legislature at Fredericton will open its annual<br />
session in Febiuary and already Sackville<br />
and Fredericton are seeking the right<br />
to establish such a tax.<br />
The MAEA committee also has suggested<br />
that theatremen contact local merchants and<br />
labor unions to ask support in opposing the<br />
levy. The committee claims that the tax is<br />
discriminatory, inasmuch as it is directed<br />
against one kind of business. It points out<br />
that now, when boxoffices are affected by<br />
high living costs, another increase in theatre<br />
prices necessitated by local tax«s, would<br />
react unfavorably at the boxoffice.<br />
It is maintained that theatres are paying<br />
more in taxes than any other form of business<br />
and each exhibitor is urged to show the<br />
assemblyman from his respective district just<br />
how much the individual theatre owner paid<br />
for the year in income, provincial, civic and<br />
municipal taxes.<br />
Mrs. Fred G. Spencer Dies<br />
In St. John Suddenly<br />
ST. JOHN—Mrs. Helen Spencer, wife of<br />
Fred G. Spencer, founder and president of<br />
the F. G. Spencer Co., died at her home<br />
here. Surviving besides the husband are two<br />
sons, six grandchildren and one sister. The<br />
sons are P. Gordon, general manager of the<br />
Spencer chain, and Gerald, manager of the<br />
Strand. Mrs. Spencer had not been ill and<br />
death came suddenly.<br />
She had been active as a concert and choir<br />
singer for many years. She was a member of<br />
Centenary United church and a member of<br />
the choir there. At her summer home at<br />
Westfield about 17 miles from St. John, she<br />
was engaged in flower and fruit growing each<br />
season. The Spencers were married 52 years<br />
ago here.<br />
Paramount Smoking Ban<br />
Hearing Is Postponed<br />
ST. JOHN—A one-week postponement was<br />
given in county court here on a hearing of an<br />
appeal against a smoking ban placed on the<br />
new Paramount Theatre by the provincial<br />
fire marshal. Affidavits will be presented by<br />
both sides arguing the interpretation of the<br />
law under which the ban was imposed.<br />
One versions of the act is that a county<br />
court judge alone can affirm or deny the<br />
action of the marshal and that appeal to the<br />
provincial and dominion courts is not provided<br />
for. The outlook is that judgment will<br />
not be given until some time after the end<br />
of the hearing.<br />
Frank Marshall Cited<br />
VANCOUVER—Frank Marshall, manager<br />
of the Marpole, is making a name for himself<br />
as a community booster in his district<br />
for his work with youngsters. He has a topflight<br />
girls basketball team as well as a<br />
junior soccer team.<br />
Montreal Bars Owl Shows<br />
On Big Year-End Holiday<br />
BARBARA IN NEW YORK—Barbara<br />
Ann Scott, Canada's triple crown skating<br />
champion, is shown above with motion<br />
picture executives on the eve of<br />
starting her professional career at the<br />
Roxy in New York. With Miss Scott are<br />
A. J. Balaban (left), managing director<br />
of the Roxy, and Charles Schlaifer, retiring<br />
advertising and publicity director<br />
for 20th Century-Fox.<br />
Increased Capac Tariffs<br />
Into Effect January 1<br />
TORONTO— Subject to the approval of the<br />
copyright appeal board of the Dominion government,<br />
the new performing rights tariff<br />
for Canadian theatres of the Composers,<br />
Authors and Publishers Ass'n of Canada,<br />
Ltd., will go into effect January 1 for a<br />
period of three years.<br />
The schedule calls for increases in different<br />
theatre groups, the rates scaling from<br />
10 cents a seat yearly for theatres with 499<br />
seats or less, to 20 cents per seat for houses<br />
with a capacity of 1,600 or over.<br />
Paul L. Nathanson Buys<br />
Into National Drug Co.<br />
TORONTO—Paul L. Nathanson, prominent<br />
in film circles here, is reported to have<br />
purchased a substantial block of common<br />
stock of the National Drug & Chemical Co.<br />
of Canada. The amount of stock bought<br />
does not represent control of the company<br />
and is said to be regarded as a straight investment.<br />
Nathanson's film interests include<br />
Theatre Properties of Hamilton, Empire-Universal<br />
Fihns and General Theatre<br />
Investment Co.<br />
Cuts to Four Nights a Week<br />
TORONTO—Manager Dewey McCourt has<br />
announced that the Brock at Niagara-on-the-<br />
Lake is operating four nights each week for<br />
the winter, the shows on Tuesday and Thursday<br />
having been eliminated because of the<br />
reduced local population during the cold<br />
weather.<br />
MONTREAL—Midnight shows and other<br />
theatrical offerings were bamied for Christmas<br />
eve and New Year's eve by local pohce<br />
authorities. Director J. Albert Langlois of<br />
the city police force notified district inspectors<br />
to tell managers and owners of theatres<br />
and other show places that the 25-<br />
year-old bylaw, closing amusement centers<br />
at midnight every night, will be put into<br />
effect.<br />
Despite the police department edict. Consolidated<br />
Theatres, owner and operator of<br />
first run houses on St. Catharine street,<br />
revealed that it planned bigger and better<br />
New Year's eve celebrations. At Loew's, the<br />
Palace, Capitol, Princess, Orpheum and Imperial,<br />
arrangements are under way for the<br />
big celebration. In addition to a specially<br />
selected feature, there will be community<br />
singing and favors at all theatres.<br />
This police action, however, will affect a<br />
large number of east and west end theatres<br />
which already have made arrangements for<br />
midnight shows on the holidays. One west<br />
end chain is reported to have signed contracts<br />
with a theatrical agency and to have<br />
purchased streamers and other holidays decorations<br />
for the occasion.<br />
A north end theatre was reported to have<br />
sold 1,000 tickets for a midnight show on<br />
New Year's eve, which the management will<br />
have to reclaim. The move by city police<br />
authorities has no connection with the curtailments<br />
imposed by Premier Maurice Duplessis<br />
on liquor selling establishments, which<br />
have been warned to stop serving liquor at<br />
11 o'clock on Christmas eve and at 2 o'clock<br />
on New Year's morning.<br />
The city bylaw brought in play warns<br />
that any manager or owner of a showplace<br />
who does not conform to the law is liable<br />
to a $200 fine and court costs. An unofficial<br />
source said that theatres stand to<br />
lose $25,000 on the unexpected reapplication<br />
of the bylaw. The money is lost in theatre<br />
tickets printed and the booking of acts for<br />
shows.<br />
Arthur Gottlieb Marries<br />
Gladys Glad at Ottawa<br />
OTTA'WA—Arthur Gottlieb, film industry<br />
executive here and at New York, was married<br />
at a private ceremony here to Gladys Glad,<br />
former Ziegfeld Follies star and widow of<br />
Mark Hellinger, the writer.<br />
Miss Glad became Mrs. Gottlieb at a midnight<br />
ceremony at the residence of Dr. and<br />
Mrs. Charles E. Shapiro, 221 O'Connor St..<br />
at the expiration of the waiting-out period<br />
prescribed by Ontario law following their<br />
application for a marriage license at the<br />
Ottawa city hall. The bride was given in<br />
marriage by Dr. Shapiro and she was attended<br />
by Mrs. Shapiro, with Miss Lee<br />
Baughman, social secretary to Miss Glad, also<br />
in attendance. Following a reception, Mr.<br />
and Mrs. Gottlieb left on a wedding trip<br />
to California.<br />
Gottlieb is the president of Audio Pictures,<br />
Ltd., and Film Laboratories of Canada,<br />
Ltd., both of which are located in a<br />
new studio plant at Toronto.<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 194« K 95
. . . Jack<br />
. . The<br />
MONTREAL Cold Wave Freezes<br />
jyfferry Christmas to all BOXOFFICE news<br />
contacts, from Ray Carmichael, correspondent,<br />
and his assistant Helena Boulerice<br />
. . . Calling on Filmrow distributors<br />
were Leopold Doyon, manager of the Marquette<br />
Theatre, St. Joseph-de-Beauce; Art<br />
Keane of the Clarke City Theatre, Clarke<br />
City; Romeo Couillard of the Cinema Tache,<br />
Montmagny; Ai-mand Gingras of the Canada.<br />
Levis: Mr. and Mrs. A. Chouinard of<br />
the Princess, Quebec, and Lucien Major of<br />
the Bellerive, Valleyfield.<br />
Calgary Grosses<br />
ness which was bad even for<br />
Duals Tried in Toronto<br />
Week Before Christmas<br />
borne out by the fact<br />
(Rep)<br />
State—We Will Come Back (Artkino)<br />
Compliments<br />
of the<br />
vious year.<br />
Season<br />
There were fewer juvenile<br />
I<br />
I LA SALLE<br />
I<br />
RECREATIONS LTD. I<br />
'i (Theatre Seating and Carpet Division) -.if<br />
1 S. A. LECHTZIER, Pres.<br />
|<br />
§, 945 Granville St. 'Vancouver. B. C. |,<br />
Armand Champagne of the Asbestos Theatre,<br />
Asbestos, Que., is building a new theatre<br />
in Sherbrooke to open January 15. A<br />
contest will be held to name the theatre .<br />
. .<br />
M. Isman, Canada assistant general sales<br />
manager for Empire-Universal, was here from<br />
Toronto to confer with Owen Lightstone.<br />
Montreal district manager.<br />
Among those holding pre-Christmas<br />
parties are Mort Prevost. manager of Quebec<br />
Cinema Booking, who recently entertained<br />
for managers, bookers and salesmen.<br />
Gerry Chernoff. manager of International<br />
Films, who entertained December 23; George<br />
Ganetakos, president of United Amusement<br />
Corp., who held his usual managers' party<br />
December 22, and Eagle Lion who gave a<br />
Columbia Kctures<br />
party December 20 , . .<br />
managers' play-date drive which started November<br />
19 is scheduled to end February 15.<br />
"Un Homme et Son Peche" (A Man and<br />
His Sin I, second film produced by Quebec<br />
Productions, will be shown simultaneously<br />
in five Quebec province theatres starting<br />
January 29. It will be premiered at the<br />
St. Denis, Montreal. January 28, for the benefit<br />
of La Ligue de la Jeunesse Feminine . . .<br />
John Levitt, salesman for Columbia, has returned<br />
from a selling trip to Lake St. John<br />
mimicipalities.<br />
Eloi Cormier, salesman for Peerless Films,<br />
is back from a business tour of the Laurentians<br />
Edgar Hamel has returned from<br />
. . . La Tuque where he opened a Foto Nite at<br />
the Lyric Theatre, owned by Dr. Thibeault<br />
Roher, president of Peerless Films,<br />
was here conferring with Arthur Larente,<br />
Montreal manager.<br />
$780 for Jewish Fund<br />
MONTREAL—Three showings of the Palestine<br />
film, "My Father's House" at the Adath<br />
Israel synagogue here netted $780 which has<br />
been donated to the Jewish national fund.<br />
The presentation was under the auspices of<br />
the Sons of Zion club, with Leon Mintzberg<br />
and Irwin Light acting as joint chairmen.<br />
CALGARY — Subzero temperatures, ranging<br />
from 16 to 30 below, coupled with high<br />
winds, kept folks huddled up with ear muffs,<br />
fur coats and warm footgear. 'Women shoppers<br />
braved the weather but theatre attendance<br />
dropped with the thermometers to busi-<br />
the pre-Christmas<br />
season.<br />
Capitol—Escape (20th-Fox) Fan<br />
Grand—Lulu Belle (Col), One Night With You<br />
(EL)<br />
Pool<br />
Palace—Old Los Angeles (Rep), While the Sun<br />
Shines (EFD) Pool<br />
TORONTO—As an inducement for business<br />
during the week before Christmas some of<br />
the leading theatres added a second feature<br />
to programs, a dual bill being presented by<br />
Shea's for the first time in probably years,<br />
for instance.<br />
That patronage was spotty was<br />
that "Johnny Belinda"<br />
was held for a third week at the Imperial,<br />
and the engagement of "Miss Tatlock's Millions"<br />
also continued for a third week at two<br />
theatres. The weather was more seasonal<br />
but not too rough.<br />
(Average Is 100)<br />
Biltmore—The Angel in Exile (Rep), The Pretender<br />
(Rep) - _ 85<br />
Danforth and Fairlawn—Master of Bankdom (EL).... 85<br />
EgUnton and Tivoli—Miss Tatlock's Millions (Para),<br />
3rd wk 80<br />
Imperial—Johnny Belinda (WB), 3rd wk 85<br />
Loews—San Francisco (MGM); A Night at the<br />
Opera (MOM), reissues, 2nd wk 80<br />
Norlown and Victoria-1 Became a Criminal (WB):<br />
Night Wind (20th-Fox) 85<br />
Odeon Toronto—Moonrise (Rep) 85<br />
Sheas—Bungalow 13 (20th-Fox); Bill and Coo<br />
(Rep) 90<br />
Uptown—The Countess of Monte Cristo (U-I); Sons<br />
of Adventure (Rep) 85<br />
Holidays Force Grosses Do'wn<br />
In Vancouver First Runs<br />
'VANCOU'VER-First run business was<br />
light here as the holiday season kept patrons<br />
away from theatres. "Johnny Belinda" was<br />
best locally at the Orpheimi while "Henry<br />
V" in its second week at the 'Vogue also made<br />
good. Others ranged from fair to average.<br />
Capitol—Julia Misbehaves (MGM), 2nd wk Fair<br />
Cinema—Lulu Belle (Col); Coroner Creek<br />
(Col)<br />
Average<br />
Orpheum-Johnny Belinda (WB) Good<br />
Plaza-The Spiritualist (EL); Train to Alcatraz<br />
Fair<br />
Moderate<br />
Strand—Life With Father (WB), 2nd wk Average<br />
Vogue—Henry V (UA) _ Very good<br />
Juvenile Delinquency<br />
Shows Drop in Canada<br />
OTTA'WA-Moral reformers appear to<br />
have been shooting at the wrong target in<br />
their claims that the great increase in juvenile<br />
delinquency is due to the influence of<br />
the moving picture. The fact is that juvenile<br />
crime has continued a downward trend in<br />
Canada, according to a government report,<br />
the number of court cases in 1947 being 8,265<br />
compared with the total of 8,707 in the pre-<br />
delinquents before<br />
the courts in 1947 than at any time<br />
since 1924, it was officially reported. Last<br />
year's convictions also dropped from 7,956 to<br />
7,545 in the past two years, the number of<br />
major offenses having declined from 4,949<br />
in 1946 to 4,683 in 1947. These figures are<br />
important to theatre men because of the<br />
recurring complaints that films are leading<br />
the youngsters astray in increasing number.<br />
OTTAWA<br />
Construction ivill go ahead on the third<br />
theatre of the Palace Amusement Co. in<br />
Cornwall. The affiliate of Famous Players<br />
Canadian Corp. already operates the Palace<br />
and Capitol there. The former underdent<br />
extensive improvements this year. Tenders<br />
are being considered for the latest<br />
project, the site of which is on Pitt street.<br />
H. G. Duerr of Toronto is the architect.<br />
A visitor was R. G. Lindstrom of Buffalo,<br />
representing the Sportservice Corp., which<br />
operates refreshment concessions in many<br />
amusement places in the States. During the<br />
past year the company had the candy bars<br />
in the Skyway drive-ins at 'Windsor, London<br />
and Hamilton, which were acquired by<br />
Famous Players late in the season . . . There<br />
were no Christmas eve midnight shows here<br />
but practically all of the local theatres had<br />
midnighters in conjunction with Boxing day<br />
1<br />
27 1.<br />
With the Odeon Ottawa approaching its<br />
final form after many months of construction,<br />
C. J. Appel, eastern division manager<br />
for Odeon Theatres, was here from the Toronto<br />
head office for a personal inspection.<br />
Also making the theatre rounds was Paul<br />
Douglas, public relations manager of Eagle<br />
Lion of Canada . FPC Capitol was<br />
the scene of a special presentation of Handel's<br />
"Messiah" by the Ottawa Choral Union<br />
as a Christmas concert, the 2,400 seats of the<br />
theatre being filled.<br />
Max M. King, Hollywood producer and a<br />
native of St. John, N, B., was here to make<br />
preliminary arrangements for the making of<br />
"Scarlet and Gold," a story of the Moimted<br />
Police, with shooting to start in the spring.<br />
Tlie script is being prepared by Art Arthur,<br />
a former resident of Toronto and now in<br />
Hollywood . . . Charles 'W. Lawson of Langley.<br />
B. C, visited National Film Board members<br />
and also conferred with the National<br />
Film Society to discuss community film<br />
activities. A retired railwayman, Lawson has<br />
busied himself with a film council program<br />
as a hobby.<br />
Graeme Fraser, sales manager of Crawley<br />
Films, has announced that his company has<br />
produced its first television picture which<br />
is being marketed in the United States.<br />
. . . Although<br />
The Famous Players Capitol here turned<br />
over its large foyer for school exhibits which<br />
were arranged by the local committee for<br />
Canadian Education week<br />
Ottawa is in semidarkness because of power<br />
restrictions in Ontario, the sister city of Hull<br />
on the Quebec side of the Ottawa river continues<br />
to be ablaze with light. Therefore the<br />
newly installed sign and special marquee<br />
lighting on Donat Paquin's Laurier in Hull<br />
has attracted wide attention.<br />
Vancouver Arena Cost Up<br />
VANCOUVER—Total cost of the unfinished<br />
Victoria Memorial Arena, under construction<br />
here, neared the $1,000,000 mark<br />
as city taxpayers authorized civic fathers to<br />
appropi-iate an additional $265,000 to complete<br />
the barrel-roofed edifice. The Arena,<br />
when completed, will seat 4,500 persons. The<br />
$1,000,000 cost will include ice equipment and<br />
seats.<br />
96<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 19'48
. . . The<br />
Two More Theatres<br />
Launched by Odeon<br />
TORONTO—Odeoii Theatres opened two<br />
new units just prior to Christmas, the Odeon<br />
at Brantford and another at St. Thomas,<br />
both in western Ontario. The launching of<br />
these attractive urban theatres completed<br />
the 1948 schedule of expansion, the next<br />
to follow in the new year being the Humber<br />
in the Toronto west end and the Odeon at<br />
Ottawa.<br />
The Odeon at London, Ont., opened October<br />
22, has introduced pipeorgan entertainment<br />
as a stage attraction, the staff organist<br />
being Max Magee who conducted a<br />
request week in conjunction with the engagement<br />
of "Frieda." Patrons were invited<br />
to wi'ite their requests for musical numbers<br />
at designated performances.<br />
Something new in the way of a theatre<br />
feature was arranged by Manager W. C.<br />
Tyers at the Odeon Toronto, ace house of<br />
the chain, when the public was invited to<br />
make reservations for a dinner for Christmas<br />
or New Year's in the theatre's fullfledged<br />
restaurant, special menus being prepared.<br />
Incidentally, the trade gossip is that<br />
various theatre managers are having their<br />
meals at the Odeon Toronto so they can<br />
check on its theatre patronage.<br />
The head office advertising department of<br />
Odeon. under the direction of Larry Graburn.<br />
has been transferred from temporary<br />
quarters at 431 Yonge St., to the Odeon<br />
Toronto Bldg. at 22 Carlton St. The office<br />
section of the theatre is not yet finished<br />
and workmen may be kept busy for another<br />
six weeks, after which more head office employes<br />
will move in.<br />
F. G. Spencer Acclaims<br />
'Garnegie Hall' in Ads<br />
ST. JOHN—For the second time in his approximately<br />
35 years as an exhibitor, F. G.<br />
Spencer, head of the Spencer circuit, personally<br />
endorsed a motion picture, namely,<br />
"Carnegie Hall," booked at the Strand, base<br />
house of the chain.<br />
In ads appearing in local dailies Spencer<br />
emphasized that if the "Carnegie Hall" artists<br />
were brought to St. John from New York,<br />
the cost would not be less than $250,000. The<br />
testimonial was captioned. "P. G. Spencer Endorses<br />
'Carnegie Hall,' " and was addressed<br />
to "St. John Theatre Patrons."<br />
A preview was presented in the Strand, for<br />
the Ladies' Morning Musical club. Backgrounding<br />
the booking was the Spencer experience<br />
as a musical entrepreneur when he<br />
promoted tours of noted vocalists and instrumentalists<br />
through the maritimes before<br />
and since becoming a film exhibitor. Also<br />
his wife was active as a concert and choir<br />
singer.<br />
Buys Rights for 'Magic'<br />
TORONTO—President H. J. Allen of Cardinal<br />
Films. Ltd., announced completion of<br />
negotiations with Morris Safier for the Canadian<br />
distribution rights for "Concert<br />
Magic," a musical feature which stars Yehudi<br />
Menuhin, Jakob Gimpel and Eula Bealx<br />
in the the rendition of classic compositions.<br />
Allen said that the picture would also be<br />
available in 16mm form for presentation in<br />
concert halls.<br />
TORONTO CBC Head Sees Video<br />
P<br />
A. Ranicar of Warner Bros, has been appointed<br />
liaison officer for the Manitoba<br />
sub-committee of the film industry public<br />
relations committee, sponsored by the motion<br />
picture section of the Toronto board of<br />
trade. The regional committee in Winnipeg<br />
comprises Harold Bishop, manager of the<br />
Capitol; H. Gray and I. W. Blankstein, whose<br />
duty it is to cooperate in the promotion of<br />
goodwill for all theatres.<br />
"Joan of Arc" is scheduled to be the opening<br />
attraction at the new FPC University<br />
Theatre, which is expected to be completed<br />
in January. Terry Tm-ner of the RKO New<br />
York office was here to discuss details . . .<br />
"Paleface" was given a sneak preview at<br />
the suburban Capitol, then it became the<br />
Christmas attraction at the Imperial. For<br />
the regular sneak shows at the northend<br />
Capitol Thursday nights, printed cards are<br />
distributed to patrons for theii- comments.<br />
If cards are signed, it signifies that the<br />
amateur critics are willing to have their<br />
comments quoted in newspaper advertising<br />
or on the air.<br />
After recovering from a long illness, Harry<br />
A. Kaufman, general sales manager of Cardinal<br />
Films, completed a trip to Montreal<br />
and St. John, N. B. In the latter city he<br />
conferred with Lew McKenzie, new manager<br />
of the branch . . . President Harry J. Allen<br />
of Cardinal Films announced the appointment<br />
of Lew Miles as Winnipeg branch manager,<br />
succeeding Martin Schwartz. A former<br />
theatre manager and member of a veteran<br />
theatrical family. Miles also has gained<br />
fame as a star football player with the Winnipeg<br />
Blue Bombers.<br />
The Centre at Windsor added to its promotion<br />
of sales of Christmas gift books of<br />
admission tickets with a delivery service<br />
anywhere in greater Windsor. Phone orders<br />
were invited from patrons and the ticket<br />
books were delivered COD ... A new facility<br />
has been provided in the recently<br />
opened Paramount in Peterboro, Ont. This<br />
FPC house has a special screening room<br />
which has been made available for private<br />
parties on a rental basis for film showings<br />
sneak preview idea has been adopted<br />
by the Century in Hamilton, where new<br />
pictures are screened without advance advertising<br />
on Thursday nights. The stunt has<br />
made a hit among theatregoers in various<br />
Toronto and Ottawa theatres.<br />
As Top Social Force<br />
MONTREAL—When television becomes<br />
well established in Canada, it will be basically<br />
Canadian and probably the most important<br />
single social force in the country, A. Davidson<br />
Dunton, chairman of the Canadian<br />
Broadcasting Corp.. declared in an address<br />
at a meeting of the Press and Radio branch<br />
of the Canadian Legion here.<br />
"Surely it is worth while for us to wait<br />
weeks or even months to insure that our<br />
first steps set a pattern for futiu-e development<br />
which will be in the best interests of<br />
our country," the speaker declared.<br />
"I think the time has come for Canada<br />
to start in television but if the CBC had recommended<br />
that licenses be granted to the<br />
six parties requesting them at its last meeting,"<br />
he said, "the stations would have to<br />
rely heavily on American material, and we<br />
want television in Canada to be basically<br />
Canadian."<br />
Dunton said that Canada's great distances<br />
includes several time zones, and her two official<br />
languages make government subsidies<br />
necessary if Canada is to have a national<br />
network in television. If this is not done,<br />
Canadian stations would bring in many programs<br />
from the U.S. because they could not<br />
afford to produce their own. Yet television<br />
would require even more programs than<br />
radio, he said, because each program costs<br />
from five to ten times more, and television<br />
beams do not travel as far as radio beams.<br />
"There are only 12 television channels<br />
available for use with present sets, and since<br />
this would make television broadcasting monopolistic,<br />
its development must for this<br />
reason be controlled in the public interest,"<br />
he said.<br />
He added that experiments were being carried<br />
on in the United States to determine<br />
how far apart stations of the same wave<br />
length should be to prevent interference.<br />
The ideal to which television in Canada<br />
should look toward, according to Dunton,<br />
was "the greatest possible amount of Canadian<br />
material and talent, sei-ving the greatest<br />
possible number of Canadians."<br />
Odeon Plans New Theatre<br />
VANCOUVER—The new $80,000 theatre<br />
planned for the Praser district will replace<br />
the present Odeon circuit theatre here. The<br />
house is expected to be ready for occupancy<br />
in August 1949. It will be of all-concrete<br />
construction and will seat about 900 persons.<br />
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COMPLETE SOUND SYSTEMS<br />
An Expert Repair Department<br />
BOXOFFICE :: December 25, 1948 97
. . Jack<br />
. . King<br />
. . Offices<br />
VANCOUVER Children's Library ST. JOHN<br />
•Two projectionists who have worked together<br />
at the Strand for the last seven years<br />
have been in motion picture business for<br />
over 40 years. They are Wally Woolridge<br />
and George Gerrard who have come from the<br />
days of hand-cranked silents and song slides<br />
to official posts in unions and on labor<br />
boards in British Columbia and Vancouver.<br />
They are members of lATSE Local 348.<br />
The Cascades Drive-In on Vaucouver's outskirts,<br />
operated by the Steel-Johnson interests,<br />
called it a day for the season. The<br />
Cascades, the only drive-in west of Toronto,<br />
will have competition next year in<br />
two new ozoners being readied near here.<br />
The two major circuits also are showing interest<br />
in the drive-in business.<br />
.<br />
Pat Smith is a new member of the Strand<br />
John Cooshek, assistant<br />
Theatre staff . . .<br />
manager of the Odeon Plaza, is back on the<br />
job after a delayed vacation . . . Al Jenkins,<br />
Plaza manager, will holiday south of the<br />
border after the holidays Hughes,<br />
chief provincial censor, wishes to correct a<br />
news item which appeared in the tradepress<br />
about Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein."<br />
The picture, after a turndown by<br />
both the censors and the appeal board, was<br />
finally reconstructed and passed by the censors,<br />
NOT by the attorney general of the<br />
province, as reported.<br />
A planned Sunday concert, sponsored by<br />
the Canadian Legion in aid of Shaughnessy<br />
hospital, has been canceled at the Orpheum<br />
after Lord's Day Alliance heads refused to<br />
approve it. A letter stating the Alliance<br />
would not institute prosecution if the concert<br />
was held was necessary before Famous<br />
Players would denote the theatre.<br />
. . .<br />
With the drop in lumber sales to Great<br />
Britain, British Columbia centers which depend<br />
on lumber pay rolls say that amusement<br />
dollars are being hoarded and that<br />
theatre business is off, according to Harold<br />
Warren, who operates three theatres in the<br />
Alberni district of Vancouver Island<br />
The Rev. Gerald Switzer of the Canadian<br />
Memorial chapel, Vancouver, after seeing<br />
"Apartment for Peggy." wrote a letter praising<br />
it to Jack Randall, Strand manager. He<br />
referred to the film in his radio sermon.<br />
One of Vancouver's largest department<br />
itores, Spencer, has been sold to the<br />
T. Eaton Co. of Toronto for a reported $17,-<br />
000,000. This deal may change plans for<br />
Eaton's to demolish the old Vancouver hotel,<br />
situated next to the Cinema here.<br />
Jack Pechet, head of Canadian Screen<br />
Publicity, was here from Toronto looking up<br />
circuit heads and exhibitors. Pachet reports<br />
that his screen advertising shorts are proving<br />
popular across the Dominion and he is<br />
placing sponsored films in 900 theatres.<br />
New FPC Theatre<br />
TORONTO—Work on the new University,<br />
a Famous Players miit at 102-6 Bloor St.<br />
West, is approaching completion and will<br />
be the first new theatre here for the New<br />
Year. The University will have a handsome<br />
facade of natural stone. The architects are<br />
Eric W. Hounsom and A. G. Facey and the<br />
general contractor is the Dickie Construction<br />
Co.<br />
Is Ready in Canada<br />
TORONTO—The motion picture section<br />
of<br />
the Toronto Board of Trade, of which Mon-is<br />
Stein, eastern division manager for Famous<br />
Players, is chairman, announced that the<br />
Children's Film Library movement would<br />
start in Canada in January when prints of<br />
18 features will be available at Toronto,<br />
Winnipeg and Vancouver. These pictures<br />
have been approved by a reviewing group<br />
of the Children's Film Library committee of<br />
Canada which is made up of representatives<br />
of many women's, commimity and educational<br />
organizations.<br />
The plan, which was described to 31 representatives<br />
of the film industry at the Board<br />
of Ti-ade meeting, is patterned after the<br />
juvenile library of the Motion Picture Ass'n<br />
of America, New York, and its preliminarj'<br />
organization in Canada was sponsored by<br />
the National Film society.<br />
CALGARY<br />
"The last of the film salesmen got home as<br />
subzero weather hurried the stragglers.<br />
They reported intense cold and some wind,<br />
but few delaying sncw drifts. The late ones<br />
came spinning down the frozen highways<br />
from the Rockies, the prairies and the mining<br />
districts, thankful roads were fau-ly clear.<br />
As they headed for home, conscious of a job<br />
well done, thoughts of the Yuletide fireside<br />
hastened them on the way.<br />
One of the most prominent staff cocktail<br />
parties of the festive season again took place<br />
this year at the Palliser hotel where the<br />
snacks and beverages were supplied by head<br />
office executives.<br />
Leo Maher, managing the FPC Roxy and<br />
Monarch at Medicine Hat, underwent a<br />
minor nasal operation from which he has<br />
successfully recovered. He returned to duty<br />
this weekend.<br />
Dropped dm'ing the war years, the Christmas<br />
night previews are being revived in the<br />
principal FPC units in Alberta this season,<br />
as well as the usual New Year's eve frolic.<br />
Preview will be held on the Boxing day night.<br />
New Year's eve previews also will be held<br />
at the Monarch in Medicine Hat, the Capitol<br />
and the Roxy at Lethbridge and the<br />
Capitol at Red Deer.<br />
. . .<br />
XJirtually a full house attended a Sunday<br />
night showing of "My Brother's House"<br />
at the Mayfair Theatre here, imder the auspices<br />
of the local Hadassah . . . Joshua "Joe"<br />
Lieberman was re-elected president<br />
Emmanuel<br />
of the<br />
Shaari Zedek synagogue<br />
Ruault-Cazier. owner of the Renaissance<br />
Theatre at St. Pierre, was reported to be recovering<br />
satisfactorily following a recent<br />
operation. He has resumed management of<br />
the theatre and the adjoining rink.<br />
Indications were that Halifax will be the<br />
first Canadian city to produce television sets.<br />
The Cossar Co., an English firm, has been<br />
preparing to start production, and the first<br />
sets manufactured will be distributed in Ontario.<br />
Workers at the plant came from England,<br />
from which financing also has been<br />
handled . Calder, who appeared with<br />
the Carroll Players in stock at the Majestic,<br />
Halifax, now is in the cast of "Bravo," playing<br />
at the Lyceum, New York City.<br />
Deer Islanders now find it unnecessary to<br />
cross the channel to Campobello Island or<br />
to St. Andrews for screen entertainment,<br />
now that Ira Butler is showing films at the<br />
Mayfair on Deer Island . of Abe<br />
Garson now are in a building owned by him<br />
in the financial zone. Lionel April, his sonin-law<br />
and maritime supervisor for Odeon,<br />
and Bob Irving, booker, also are in the same<br />
building. A starting date for construction<br />
of the new theatre to be built by Odeon as<br />
a showcase for J. Arthur Rank filnxs has<br />
not yet been disclosed.<br />
Howard Binns, recently appointed manager<br />
of the Garrick, Halifax, is not the only<br />
former air force officer from Ontario to be<br />
a theatre manager in the maritimes. Jimmy<br />
Mitchell, recently transferred to the Capitol<br />
here, preceded Binns to the maritimes, having<br />
been situated at the Moncton Imperial<br />
before succeeding Harrison Howe, who moved<br />
across King Square to direct the new Paramount<br />
for FPC.<br />
Police were called at Amherst, N. S., when<br />
the payoff of an $18 consolation jackpot was<br />
disputed by the promoter. James Smith, one<br />
of the persons concerned, has written to the<br />
provincial attorney general seeking an investigation<br />
of such enterprises ... St. John<br />
exhibitors and distributors are cooperating in<br />
sponsoring an annual dinner dance and entertainment<br />
December 22 at a local hotel. A<br />
similar party last year cost approximately<br />
$500.<br />
Tent 28 Lays School Conerstone<br />
TORONTO—The cornerstone of the Toronto<br />
Vocational Guidance school, chief<br />
project of Variety Tent 28 here, was laid<br />
December 21 by George A. Drew, former<br />
premier of Ontario and minister of education.<br />
Chief Barker J. J. Fitzgibbons was<br />
master of ceremonies for the occasion, which<br />
included presentation of the silver trowel to<br />
Drew, who recently became the national<br />
Pi-ogressive Conservative leader in the federal<br />
political field.<br />
Variety club members and their friends<br />
met at the site of the school in suburban<br />
Toronto for the ceremonial program, arranged<br />
by a special committee headed by<br />
Morris Stein.<br />
Speakers included Premier T. L. Kennedy<br />
of Ontario, Hon. George H. Doucett, minister<br />
of highways, and A. P. Permy, representing<br />
the Ontario Society for Crippled<br />
Children.<br />
Among those who took part were a Catholic<br />
priest, a Protestant clergyman and a<br />
Rabbi, all of whom participated in the dedication<br />
of the institution. Appropriate band<br />
music was provided during the ceremony.<br />
Members of the Variety committee in<br />
charge of arrangements included Morris<br />
Stein, chairman; Aixh H. Jolley, secretary;<br />
James R. Nairn, Larry Graburn, Hye Bossin,<br />
James Cameron, Ben Geldsaler, Jules<br />
Wolfe, Lome Green and Jack Chlsholm,<br />
representing all branches of the amusement<br />
industry.<br />
98 BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948
BOXOFFICE BAROMETER • EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY<br />
FEATURE CHART • REVIEW DIGEST • SHORTS CHART<br />
SHORTS REVIEWS • FEATURE REVIEWS • EXPLOITfPS BookinGuide<br />
BOXOFFICE<br />
FIRST RUN REPORTS<br />
This chart shows the records made by<br />
pictures in iive or more of the 21 key cities<br />
checked. As new runs are reported, ratings<br />
are added and averages revised.<br />
BAROMETER<br />
TOP HIT OF THE WEEK<br />
Blood on the Moon<br />
Denver 160<br />
Computed in terms of percentage in<br />
relation to normal grosses. With 100<br />
per cent as "normal," the figures<br />
show the percentage above or below<br />
that mark.
EXHIBITOR HAS HIS SAY<br />
ABOUT<br />
PICTURES<br />
Just as the Barometer page shows first run reports on current pictures, this<br />
department is devoted for the most part to reports on subsequent runs, made<br />
by exhibitors themselves. A one-star contributor is new, two stars mean the exhibitor<br />
has been writing in for six months or longer, arid a three-star contributor<br />
is a regular of one year or more, who receives a token of our appreciation. All<br />
exhibitors welcome.<br />
COLUMBIA<br />
Adventures in Silverado (Col)—William<br />
Bishop, Gloria Henry, Edgar Buchanan. This<br />
is a good picture that they liked here. We<br />
Straw^berry Roan (Col)—Gene Autry, Gloria<br />
Henry, Jack Holt. We tried this western three<br />
days, including Thanksgiving, and were rewarded<br />
with happy patrons all three nights.<br />
It has nice scenery plus usual rows, fights,<br />
doubled billed with "Case of the Baby Sitter"<br />
songs and galloping horses. Played Fri., Sat.<br />
(SG) and got by in good shape. Played Fri.,<br />
Weather: Good.—R. E. Halstead, Tri-Town<br />
Sat. Weather: Cold.—Harland Rankin, Plaza<br />
Theatre, Lindstrom, Minn. Rural and small<br />
Theatre, Tilbury, Ont. General patron^<br />
town patronage.<br />
age.<br />
Triple Threat (Col)—Richard Crane, Gloria<br />
Arkansas Svring, The (Col)—Gloria Henry,<br />
Stuart Hart, June Vincent. The title was misleading<br />
and those who expected a hot hill-<br />
Henry, Mary Stuart. Amateurish acting and<br />
of little appeal except to football addicts. We<br />
billy show were disappointed. However, had a few walkouts and poor business. Played<br />
it<br />
Fri.,<br />
was average entertainment and no one complained.<br />
Business was average. Played Tues-<br />
Custer, S. D. Small town patronage.<br />
Sat.—Hobart H. Gates, Garlock Theatre^,<br />
day. Weather: Good.—E. M. Freiburger, Paramount<br />
Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town patronage.<br />
EAGLE UON<br />
Canon City (EL)—Ecott Brady, Jeff Corey,<br />
Blondie's Anniversary (Col) — Penny Singleton,<br />
Arthur Lake, Larry Simms. Ho, huml the younger set, which was my chief worry.<br />
Stanley Clements. This wasn't too brutal for<br />
What a waste of time, celluloid and talent The picture drew fairly well and satisfied the<br />
(?). They should have left this in the original<br />
can for good. I almost forgot the dogs. Garlock Theatre, Custer, S. D. Small town<br />
crowd. Played Sun., Mon.—Hobart H. Gates,<br />
They stole the show. Played Tues., Wed.— patronage.<br />
Frank Sabin, Majestic Theatre, Eureka, Mont.<br />
Small town patronage.<br />
Lady at Midnight (ED—Richard Denning,<br />
Frances Rafferty, Lora Lee Michel. This is a<br />
Coroner Creek (Col)—Randolph Scott,<br />
good little programmer as the girl is very<br />
Marguerite Chapman, George Macready. This<br />
amusing. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: Cold.<br />
is a very good action and western picture in<br />
—Hobart H. Gates, Garlock Theatre, Custer,<br />
Cinecolor. Some of the action is overly<br />
S. D. Small town patronage.<br />
rough, but it is just the kind of picture a<br />
small town wants, so don't miss it. Played<br />
Sun., Mon. Weather: Good.—E. M. Freiburger, METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER<br />
Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small town<br />
patronage.<br />
Big City, The (MGM)—Margaret O'Brien,<br />
Robert Preston, Dariny Thomas. This pleased<br />
Framed (Col)—Glenn Ford, Janis Carter,<br />
our audience and it is fine for children as<br />
Barry Sullivan. This was very good—better<br />
well as for adults. Good moral in it and I<br />
than almost anyone would think it would<br />
believe it will please in the average small<br />
be as the title fooled many, but it fit the<br />
town theatre.—Mrs. Joe Stallman, Wyo-Lin<br />
story perfectly. So was the ending. Pictures<br />
Theatre, Lingle, Wyo. Small town patronage.<br />
like this are what we need more of! A grand<br />
job of acting. Played Sat-., Sun. Weather:<br />
Good.—W. H. Swan, Auditorium Theatre, Roscoe,<br />
S. D. Rural patronage.<br />
Lana Turner, Zachary Scott. The exhibitor's<br />
OCass Timberlane (MGM)—Spencer Tracy,<br />
dream—a well-filled house and something on<br />
Lady From Shanghai. The (Col)—Rita Hayworth,<br />
Orson Wellez, Everett Sloan. This is<br />
the screen to please them all. This is what<br />
occurred here when we showed it on a Saturday<br />
playdate. Weather: Rainy.—I. E. Rou-<br />
a fair mystery picture which did only average<br />
business. No complaints and no compliments.<br />
Played Wed., Thurs. Weather; Good.—E. M.<br />
geau, Club Theatre, Seven Sisters Falls, Man^<br />
Small town and rural patronage.<br />
Freiburger, Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla.<br />
Small town patronage.<br />
On An Island With You (MGM)—Esther<br />
Lady From Shanghai, The (Col)—Rita Hayworth,<br />
Orson Welles, -Everett Sloan. I didn't Here is a swell musical show in Technicolor<br />
Williams, Peter Lawford, Ricardo Montalban.<br />
intend to have any bad comments to make<br />
but 1 just couldn't help expressing my opinion<br />
on this one. It is a clinker and I think Columbia<br />
did Rita Hayworth plenty of harm in casting<br />
her in this picture. She is one of my<br />
Happy to Contribute<br />
favorites and most of Columbia's pictures are $25 to JIM MOTE FUND<br />
just right for the small town exhibitor, but<br />
not this one.—E. C. Holt, Freeburn Theatre<br />
Among the theatre circuits which are<br />
Co., Freeburn, Ky. Mining and small town<br />
swelling the JIM MOTE FUND with<br />
patronage.<br />
contributions is that of the William<br />
Goldman Theatres, Inc. of Philadelphia.<br />
Song of Idaho (Col)—Kirby Grant, June<br />
Vincent, Tommy Ivo. The story was nil, but This comment accompanies a nice check:<br />
the music was very good and saved the "We are very happy to enclose our<br />
darned thing. Okay for a double bill. Played check in the amount of S25 as a contribution<br />
toward the JIM MOTE FUND<br />
Tues., Wed—Frank Sabin, Majestic Theatre.<br />
Eureka, Mont. Small town patronage.<br />
from the ten theatres which we operate.<br />
Sport of Kings (Col)—Paul Campbell, Gloria "Congratulations on your sponsorship<br />
Henry, Harry Davenport. A horse picture always<br />
draws swell here and with a Three<br />
of this very worthy project. We are glad<br />
to<br />
Stooge comedy, this made a fine program<br />
be able to help this small exhibitor<br />
for<br />
Thanksgiving. Played Wed., Thurs. Weather: get back in business again."—William<br />
Good.—W. H. Swan, Auditorium Theatre, Roscoe,<br />
S. D. Rural patronage. * *<br />
Goldman.<br />
*<br />
Edwards and Plumlee in<br />
On Exhibitor Project<br />
'LJearts are big down in the heart of<br />
the Ozarks, so F. L. Plumlee writes<br />
from Farmington, Mo., site of the home<br />
office of Edwards and Plumlee Theatres:<br />
"Tom and I .are heartily in accord<br />
with this good gesture of American exhibitors<br />
in connection with the JIM<br />
MOTE FUND. Mr. W. H. Hoffman is to<br />
be commended for his plan of generosity,<br />
and we just want to be counted among<br />
the contributors. Attached is our check<br />
for $10 and we wish this movement every<br />
success."<br />
and it pleased all who came in this small<br />
town. Play it and advertise it properly and<br />
you will do a nice business on it. Played<br />
Wed., Thurs. Weather: Good.-E. M. Freiburger,<br />
Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla.<br />
Small town patronage.<br />
Search, The (MGM) — Montgomery Clift,<br />
Aline MacMahon, Jarmila Novotna. This picture<br />
gave us an insight into the conditions<br />
in Europe and was played here at a most<br />
opportune time, when solicitations for C.R.O.P.<br />
were being made. A good picture of its<br />
kind and it had a happy ending. Played<br />
Sat., Sun. Weather: Good.—T. M. Patton,<br />
Scenic Theatre, Lexington, 111. Small town<br />
patronage.<br />
Summer Holiday (MGM)—Mickey Rooney,<br />
Gloria DeHaven, Walter Huston. This is a<br />
pretty good show. The majority liked it.<br />
Average attendance at a Wednesday showing.<br />
Weather: Cool.—J. E. Rougeau, Club<br />
Theatre, Seven Sisters Falls, Man. Small town<br />
and rural patronage.<br />
MONOGRAM<br />
iiBabe Ruth Story, The (Mono-AA)—William<br />
Bendix, Claire Trevor, Charles Bickford.<br />
Many were disappointed in this picture. However,<br />
1 think baseball fans enjoyed it. Played<br />
Sal., Sun. Weather: Good.—T. M. Patton,<br />
Scenic Theatre, Lexington, 111. Small town<br />
patronage.<br />
Jinx Money (Mono)—Leo Gorcey, Huntz<br />
Hall, Billy Benedict. This is not as good as<br />
"Angels' Alley," but okay for the middle of<br />
the week. I ran this with a good short, "Jungle<br />
Man Killers" in color. Comments and draw<br />
were good. Played Mon., Tues.—L. Brazil jr.,<br />
New Theatre, Bearden, Ark. Small town patronage.<br />
Panhandle (Mono) — Rod Cameron, Cathy<br />
Downs, Reed Hadley. Brother, you sure aire<br />
missing a good picture if you don't play this<br />
as this is the story of Johnny Sands, the fastest<br />
trigger man in the good old west. We can<br />
play a Rogers or an Autry and cannot fill<br />
the house, but get a frontier picture with<br />
Cameron and the boxoffice really soars. You<br />
don't have to worry about hiding around a<br />
corner when you have played this feature.<br />
Played Sat., Mon. Weather: Very cold.—Sam<br />
Holmberg, Regal Theatre, Sturgis, Sask. Ruraj<br />
patronage.<br />
PARAMOUNT<br />
Calcutta (Para)—Alan Ladd, Gail Russell,<br />
William Bendix. This oldie from Paramount<br />
had an airplane in it, so it had some appeal<br />
for the youngsters; also, there was quite a<br />
bit of action and suspense, and a surprise<br />
ending as no one really suspected beautiful<br />
Gail Russell of being the culprit. This is okay<br />
for small towns. Played Wed., Thurs. Weath-<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide Dec. 25, 1948
er; Fair.—I. Roche, Vernon Theatre, Vernon,<br />
Fla. Small town and rural patronage. * * *<br />
I Walk Alone (Para)—Burt Lancaster, Lizabeth<br />
Scott, Kirk Douglas. The trailer on this<br />
picture didn't do it justice and kept the<br />
cu.stomers away. Those that did see the picture<br />
were as surprised as I was and went<br />
away well satisfied. It sure fell flat at the<br />
boxoffice but 1 insist that was no fault of<br />
the picture. Played Tues., Wed. Weather:<br />
Fine.—E. C. Holt, Freeburri Theatre Co., Freeburn,<br />
Ky. Mining and small town patronage.<br />
* * *<br />
Road to Rio (Para)—Bmg Crosby, Bob Hope,<br />
Dorothy Lam^r. Many fine comments on this<br />
one. I can use all that Paramount can make<br />
like this. Nothing but praise and look what<br />
a cast—Hope, Crosby, Lamourl Played Sat.,<br />
Sun. Weather: Good.—W. H. Swan, Auditorium<br />
Theatre, Roscoe, S. D, Rural patronage.<br />
Sorry, Wrong Number (Para)—Barbara<br />
Stanwyck, Burt Lancaster, Ann Richards. Ano;her<br />
feature that makes the average small<br />
town exhibitor wonder where everyone is.<br />
Stories like this might click on the radio, but<br />
for me it really was "sorry, wrong number."<br />
Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Rained Sun., fair<br />
Mon.—John N. Allison, New Vivian Theatre,<br />
Carlisle, Ind. Small town and rural patronage.<br />
*<br />
Sorry, Wrong Number (Para)—Barbara<br />
Stanwyck, Burt Lancaster, Ann Richards. Sorry,<br />
but this certainly was the wrong number<br />
here. Receipts at the boxoffice barely paid<br />
the film rental and other expenses. How do<br />
I get my bread and butter? We had a<br />
number of walkouts and many who stayed<br />
said they were worn to a frazzle. Stanwyck<br />
did some good acting, however. Played Sat.,<br />
Sun. Weather: Good.—T. M. Patton, Scenic<br />
Theatre, Lexington, 111. Small town patronage.<br />
* *<br />
iiWhere There's Life (Para)—Bob Hope,<br />
Signe Hasso, William Bendix. Very good and<br />
all enjoyed it very much. Bob Hope is a<br />
good comedian and did exceptionally fine<br />
work in this one. Many laughs throughout.<br />
Average attendance. Played Sat., Sun.<br />
Weather: Good.—W. H. Swan, Auditorium<br />
Theatre, Roscoe, S. D. 'Rural patronage. * * *<br />
RKO RADIO<br />
Fighting Father Dunne (RKO)—Pat O'Brien,<br />
Darryl Hickman, Charles Kempner. This is<br />
what we were needing for a Catholic town.<br />
We gave it extra exploitation and business<br />
was good. Playe.d Mon., Tues. Weather: Cold.<br />
—Harland Rankin, Beau Theatre, Belle River,<br />
Ont. General patronage. * * *<br />
Fugitive. The (RKO)—Henry Fonda, Dolores<br />
Del Rio, Pedro Armendariz. If "Fort Apache"<br />
was the best play here this year, then "The<br />
Fugitive" was absolutely the worst. There is<br />
nothing about it that will appeal to these<br />
farmers and rural folk. Any small town exhibitor<br />
who plays this one should be run<br />
through a long, long belt line! Played Mon<br />
,<br />
Tues. Weather: Fair.—I. Roche, Vernon Theatre,<br />
Vernon, Fla. Small town and rural patronage.<br />
* * *<br />
01 Remember .Mama (RKO)—Irene Dunne,<br />
Barbara Bel Geddes, Oscar Homolka. Well<br />
liked by all the Scandinavians. It doubled<br />
our midweek business and showed a profit,<br />
for a change. I saw the stage play a year<br />
ago. The picture followed the play very<br />
closely and was almost as good as the play.<br />
The only picture I could truthfully recommend<br />
as excellent entertainment that I have playe.d<br />
this year, and then only to Scandinavian<br />
communities. Played Tues., Wed., Thurs.<br />
Weather: Fair.—G. B. White, Almo Theatre,<br />
Poulsbo, Wash. Small town and rural patronage.<br />
*<br />
Rachel and the Stranger (RKO)—Loretta<br />
Young, William Holden, Robert Mitchum.<br />
Personally I have never' cared for Robert<br />
Mitchum but this show was excellent and I<br />
will give Mitchum credit for turning in a fine<br />
performance. Loretta Young should be given<br />
praise for peforming in a picture which<br />
doesn't enhance her beauty. Played Fri., Sat.<br />
—Hobart H. Gates, Garlock Theatre, Custer,<br />
C. D. Small town patronage. * * *<br />
Tycoon (RKO)—John Wayne, Laraine Day,<br />
Sir Cedric Hordwicke. John Wayne is a great<br />
favorite here, and this is one of his best pictures.<br />
Good color, lots of action and romance,<br />
and just enough comedy. Very fine attendance<br />
and plenty of compliments. It's a small<br />
town natural il you advertise it right. The<br />
title fools em. Playe.d Sun., Mon. Weather:<br />
Fair.—Mrs. Pat W. Murphy, Queen Theatre,<br />
Holliday, Tex. Oil field worker patronage. * *<br />
Under the Tonto Rim (RKO)—Tim Holt, Nan<br />
Leslie, Richard Martin. One of the best westerns<br />
we ever had. Tim Holt is always good.<br />
He looks the same on the screen as when<br />
I saw him last summer making "Indian Agent"<br />
ai the studio in Hollywood. Would have liked<br />
to shake hands with Tim, but he was too<br />
busy carrying the baby that didn't want to<br />
The basketball<br />
cry right in the scene . . .<br />
headliner was plenty good, too. It is right<br />
in line with the season now. Played Wednesday.<br />
Weather: Good.—W. H. Swan, Auditorium<br />
Theatre, Roscoe, S. D. Rural patronage.<br />
* * *<br />
REPUBLIC<br />
Fabulous Texan, The (Rep)—William Elliott,<br />
John Carroll, Catherine McLeod. This<br />
failed us miserably. No business. Played extra<br />
time and as time went on, we felt worse.<br />
Played Mon., Tues., Wed. Weather: Cold.<br />
Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont.<br />
General patronage. * * *<br />
Nighttime in Nevada (Rep)—Roy Rogers,<br />
Andy Devine, Adele Mara. Another good<br />
Roy Rogers musical western in color. The<br />
new girl is okay—better than average draw.<br />
Played Fri., Sat.—L. Brazil jr.. New Theatre,<br />
Bearden, Ark. Small town patronage. * * *<br />
Under California Stars (Rep)—Roy Rogers,<br />
Jane Frazee, Andy Devine. Roy is up to his<br />
usual antics in this fine western in which<br />
Trigger gets kidnapped. There is an unusually<br />
good plot to this western that is a little different<br />
from the usual run-of-the-mill westerns.<br />
You can't go wrong on it! Played Fri., Sat.<br />
Grass Roots' Standards<br />
Not Same as in Cities<br />
TYCOON (RKO)—John Wayne, Laraine<br />
Day, Sir Cedric Hardwicke. I can't<br />
figure it out. This gets 8-pIus, 5 minus<br />
in Review Digest and deserves a much<br />
better rating, according to exhibitor reports.<br />
Many pictures which click in small<br />
towns get lousy ratings in Review Digest,<br />
and some of its top ratings are prime<br />
stinkers, so far as I am concerned. EX-<br />
HIBITOR HAS HIS SAY gives us a truer<br />
picture of what to expect but reports are<br />
few and a day's job to locate.<br />
Columbia, Republic and RKO make<br />
good, entertaining, plausible 60/90-minnte<br />
dramas, comedies and westerns, and what<br />
do they rate in Review Digest? Usually<br />
5-plus, 4-minus. That's all your lay and<br />
trade reviewers know. New York, Boston,<br />
Hollywood are loaded with jaded soupand-fish<br />
critics whose reviews are poison<br />
to small town exhibitors. Can't you figure<br />
out some method of assembling reliable<br />
reports from the grass roots section?<br />
Frank Sabin, Majestic Theatre, Eureka,<br />
Mont.<br />
No one methodi seems to please everyone.<br />
That's why we use several and leave<br />
it to the exhibitor to find the one which<br />
fits his situation.<br />
Congratulations Oliered<br />
E. C. Holt, Freeburn. Ky,<br />
pxhibitors seem to be pretty normal<br />
folk in that most of them get married<br />
and seem to live as happily ever after<br />
as the old fairy stories contended one<br />
should. One of the latest of our contributors<br />
to take a life partner is E. C.<br />
Holt, manager for the Freeburn Theatre<br />
Co. at Freeburn, Ky. Holt writes in:<br />
".'\s I took three weeks off to get married<br />
and take a vacation, I haven't been<br />
having my say in BOXOFFICE for some<br />
time."<br />
It's a temptation to tell him this may<br />
be the only place he can have his say<br />
from now on, but we won't. We believe<br />
in encouraging romantic illusions!<br />
Weather: Fair.—I. Roche, Vernon Theatre, Vernon,<br />
Fla. Small town and rural patronage.<br />
* * *<br />
SCREEN GUILD<br />
Case of the Baby Sitter, The (SG)—Tom<br />
Neal, Allen Jenkins, Pamela Blake. This did<br />
okay with "Adventures in Silverado" (Col),<br />
with which we doubled it and which they<br />
seemed to like. They also liked this one<br />
Screen Guild seems to make a lot of small<br />
town hits. Played Fri., Sat. Weather: Cold.<br />
Harland Rankin, Plaza Theatre, Tilbury, Ont.<br />
General patronage. * * *<br />
20th<br />
CENTURY-FOX<br />
Kiss of Death (20th-Fox) — Victor Mature.<br />
Brian Donlevy, Coleen Gray. A very good<br />
picture, according to comments by those who<br />
saw it—and they were quite numerous. Above<br />
average attendance for midweek. Played<br />
Wednesday. Weather: Rainy.—J. E. Rougeau,<br />
Club Theatre, Seven Sisters Falls, Man. Small<br />
town and rural patronage. * * *<br />
UNITED ARTISTS<br />
Angry God, The (UA)—Alicia Parla, Casimiro<br />
Ortega, Mario Forastieri. I want to warn<br />
exhibitdrs about this feature. For both your<br />
patrons' sake and that of United Artists, don't<br />
use this terrible feature. Lock up first.<br />
Evert Holsel, El Rancho Theatre, Culver, Ind.<br />
*<br />
Small town patronage.<br />
On Our Merry Way (UA)—Paulette Goddard.<br />
Burgess Meredith, James Stewart. (Formerly<br />
"A Miracle Can Happen"). This is a<br />
strong cast but the story is weak. Business<br />
was average but I had some walkouts and<br />
complaints. Cast also includes Henry Fonda,<br />
Fred MacMurray and Dorothy Lamour. Played<br />
Sun., Mon. Weather: Good.—E. M. Freiburger,<br />
Paramount Theatre, Dewey, Okla. Small<br />
town patronage. * * *<br />
UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL<br />
Another Part of the Forest (U-I)—Frederic<br />
March, Dan Duryea, Edmond O'Brien. Universal<br />
seems to have a habit of making pictures<br />
with a very fine cast, all of whom turn in a<br />
great performance, and waste it on a story<br />
which has no general appeal. This is one of<br />
them. This strange family, ruled by hatred and<br />
greed, is very realistically portrayed by the<br />
stars but my patrons don't enjoy a fine performance.<br />
They want a fine story—or at least<br />
one they can understand. This did very poor<br />
business and received not one compliment,<br />
but plenty of unflattering remarks. Played<br />
Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair.-Mrs. Pat W.<br />
Murphy, Queen Theatre, Holliday, Tex. Oil<br />
field worker patronage. * *<br />
Red Ingle and His Natural Seven (U-I)<br />
Short. This two-reeler drew good comments<br />
so I thought I would pass it along to some<br />
of the boys. It's as crazy as anything you<br />
would ever want to play, but stuff that the<br />
(Continued on page 14)<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuido :: Dec. 25, 1948
'<br />
.<br />
'<br />
'<br />
I<br />
FEATURE CHART<br />
release<br />
dtrte. Production number is at right Number in parentheses is running time, as<br />
lurnished by home office of distributor; checkup with local exchanges is recommended<br />
^°^^' '^'^—^ Picture<br />
Di~"J?JZ®'"<br />
Guide page number. Symbol U indicates BOXOFF'""<br />
Blue Hibbon Award Winner. Symbol © indicates color photography.<br />
FEBRUARY 21<br />
(93) West-Dr 937 (109) Drama 935<br />
©RELENTLESS<br />
TO THE ENDS OF THE<br />
liobert Young<br />
EARTH<br />
R—Jan. 17—PO-892 Dick Powell<br />
^ (53) Western 965 Slgne Hasso<br />
PHANTOM<br />
R^an.<br />
VALLEY<br />
24—PQ-SM<br />
Starrett-Burnette<br />
R—Mar. 6—P0-8(W<br />
(56) Western 854<br />
H]]<br />
TORNADO RANGE<br />
Eddie Dean<br />
Roscoe Ates<br />
R—Mar. 6—PO-808<br />
^<br />
(74) Drama 816<br />
TENTH AVENUE ANGEL<br />
Margaret O'Brien<br />
George Murphy<br />
Angela Lansbury<br />
R—Jan. 17—PO-891<br />
g<br />
(90) Drama 4709<br />
©ALBUQUERQUE<br />
Randolph Scott<br />
Barbara Brltton<br />
Gabby Hayes<br />
B-^an. 24—Pa-g«3<br />
g<br />
FEBRUARY 28<br />
(80) Drama 8:<br />
TAKE MY LIFE<br />
Greta Gynt<br />
Hugb WUliams<br />
R—Feb. 14—PO-901<br />
|2| (84) Drama A/<br />
PANHANDLE<br />
Rod Cameron<br />
Cathy Downs<br />
R—Jan. 31—pa-son<br />
MARCH 6<br />
[e] (71) Drama 815<br />
MAN FROM TEXAS<br />
James Craig<br />
Lynn Barl<br />
Johnnie Johnston<br />
R—Mar. 6—PO-908<br />
[s] (115) Musical 817<br />
OTHREE DARING<br />
DAUGHTERS<br />
Jeanette MacDooald<br />
Jose Iturbi<br />
Jane Powell<br />
Edward Arnold<br />
R—Feb. 14—PG-900<br />
MARCH 20<br />
MARCH 13<br />
^ (58) Western 855 [g<br />
RETURN OF THE<br />
WHISTLER<br />
Michael Duane<br />
Lenore Aabert<br />
Richard Lane<br />
R—Mar. 13—Pa-912<br />
MARCH 27<br />
(63) Drama 920 §6) (75) Drama 902 (84) Drama 936 [J| (67) Drama<br />
ADVENTURES IN SIGN OF THE RAM MY DOG RUSTY<br />
SILVERADO<br />
Susan Peters<br />
Ted Donaldson<br />
R—Mar. 13—PG-912<br />
R—Feb. 21—PO-904 John Litel<br />
§^ (66) Mus-Com 952<br />
1—PQ-l<br />
Starrett-Burnette SONG OF IDAHO<br />
|s] (55)<br />
WEST OF<br />
Western<br />
SONORA<br />
966<br />
Ann Doran<br />
R—May<br />
R—Mar. 27—Pa-916<br />
Hoosler<br />
R—Mar.<br />
Hotsbots<br />
27—PO-916<br />
|27] (77) Drama 817 Reissues<br />
©ENCHANTED VALLEY ^ (93) Drama<br />
SUTTER'S GOLD<br />
Alan Curtis-Ann Gwenn<br />
R—Mar. 27—PG-915<br />
(85) Drama<br />
Edward Arnold<br />
Drama<br />
818 (86) lo]<br />
OCTOBER HAN<br />
I?]<br />
SEVEN SINNERS<br />
John Mills<br />
Marlene Dietrich<br />
R—Mar. 20—PO-913 John Wayne<br />
^<br />
^<br />
APRIL 3<br />
(76) Comedy 818 (98) Comedy 81B<br />
ALIAS A GENTLEMAN BRIDE GOES WILD d] (108) DrasM 820<br />
B. F.'s DAUGHTER<br />
Wallace Beery<br />
Van Johnson<br />
Barbara Stanwyck<br />
Tom Drake<br />
June Allyson<br />
Van HefUn<br />
Dorothy Patrick Hume Cronyn<br />
CSiarles Cobum<br />
R—Jan. 31—Pa-896 Butch Jenkins<br />
R—Feb. SI—PO-90S<br />
E—Feb. 28—Pa-906<br />
^<br />
APRIL 1<br />
(102) Drama 816 (54) Western<br />
[3]<br />
RUTHLESS<br />
[10]<br />
HAWK OF POWDER<br />
RIVER<br />
Zacbary Scott<br />
Louis Hayward<br />
Eddie Dean<br />
B—Mar. 27—P(^916 R—Mar. 13—PO-OU<br />
[t] (76) Drama 4705 Reissue<br />
|2i| (67) Drama 4708 28] (56) Western 4761 (70) Drama<br />
\J\<br />
ROCKY ^ (60) Drama 4710<br />
ANGELS' ALLEY OKLAHOMA BLUES DOCKS OF NEW '" .<br />
Roddy McDowaU ROSE OF THE RIO Leo Gorcey<br />
Jimmy Wakeiy<br />
ORLEANS<br />
Nita HunUr<br />
GRANDE<br />
Geneva Gray<br />
Virginia Belmont R—Aug, -21—PQ-9J1<br />
Gale Shervood<br />
Movlta<br />
Bowery Boys<br />
[7] (85) Drama A,<br />
R—Ang. 14—PO-959 John (^rroll<br />
R—Jan. 24—PG-894<br />
THE HUNTED<br />
Preston Foster<br />
R—Feb. 7—PG-89g<br />
I<br />
[|]<br />
(81) Drama 47U [i^ (94) Drama 4170<br />
^ (67) Drama 4712 [2] (146) Drama 4725<br />
|T] (95) Drama Ml<br />
CAGED FURY<br />
SAIGON<br />
MR. RECKLESS ©UNCONQUERED THE BIG CLOCK ^1<br />
Buster Crabbe<br />
Alan Ladd<br />
William Eythe<br />
Gary Cooper<br />
Ray Milland<br />
Richard Denning<br />
Veronica Late<br />
Barbara Brltton<br />
Paulette Goddard<br />
Charles Laughton<br />
Mary Beth Hughes R—Fet). 7—Pa-89r<br />
R—Feb. 21—PG-904 Boris Karloff<br />
Maureen O'SulUvan<br />
1—Feb. 14—PO-S99<br />
Howard daSllva<br />
R—Feb. 21—PO-90i<br />
R—Oct. 4—PG-862<br />
|2]] (42) tutd'r-Dr 4708<br />
TRAIL OF THE<br />
MOUNTIES<br />
Russell Hayden<br />
Jennifer Holt<br />
g<br />
Special<br />
Reissua<br />
(109) Coni-Dr 852<br />
[|] (60) Western 885<br />
UTHE BISHOP'S WIFE TROUBLE IN SUNDOWN<br />
Gary Grant<br />
Loretta Young<br />
David NIven<br />
R—Nov. aa—Po-MJ<br />
^<br />
(59) Western 753<br />
OKLAHOMA BADLANDS<br />
Allan "Rocky" Lane<br />
R—Mar. 6—PQ-907<br />
g (60) Drama 704<br />
MADONNA OF THE<br />
DESERT<br />
B—Mar. 13—PO-Ml<br />
Reissue<br />
(71) [U<br />
Western HC17<br />
SILVER ON THE SAGE<br />
William Boyd<br />
Gabby Hayes<br />
Russell Hayden<br />
Special<br />
(134) Comedy 866<br />
ll<br />
Ul REMEMBER MAHA<br />
Irene Dunne<br />
Barbara Bel Geddes<br />
Oscar Homolka<br />
Philip Dorn<br />
B—Mar. IS—Pa-911<br />
^ (87) Drama 705<br />
INSIDE STORY<br />
Marsha Hunt<br />
William<br />
(Charles<br />
Lundlgan<br />
Winninger<br />
Oail Patrick<br />
Gene Lockhart<br />
R—Apr. S—PG-818<br />
(58) M'drama 706<br />
Is]<br />
LIGHTNIN' IN THE<br />
FOREST<br />
Lynne Roberts<br />
Warren Douglas<br />
R—Apr. 24—Pa-924<br />
Special<br />
[3] (120) Drama I<br />
MIRACLE OF THE<br />
BELLS<br />
Pred MacMurra;<br />
Valll<br />
Frank<br />
Sinatra<br />
R—Mar. 6^0-991<br />
[T] (61) Novelty 728<br />
©BILL AND COO<br />
George Burton's Birds<br />
R—Jan. 3—PO-887<br />
(63) Mus-West 654<br />
U]<br />
©CALIFORNIA FIRE'<br />
BRAND<br />
R—May 8—Pa-928<br />
Reissue<br />
(10] (60) Westeml<br />
RENEGADE TRAII<br />
William Boyd<br />
Gabby Hayes<br />
Russell Hayden<br />
(Tffli<br />
I<br />
iBi-n<br />
ll»C«E<br />
FIllTIEtSI<br />
i'IIkT'Io<br />
J i-tm<br />
(111) Drama 805<br />
CALL NORTHSIDE 777<br />
James Stewart<br />
Richard Conte<br />
Helen Walker<br />
R-^an. 24—Pa-894<br />
(118) Drama Bl<br />
GENTLEMAN'S<br />
AGREEMENT<br />
Gregory Peck<br />
Dorothy McGulre<br />
John Garfield<br />
Celeste Holm<br />
B—Nov. 22—PO-876<br />
(68) Mystery 8(<br />
THE CHALLENGE<br />
Tom Conway<br />
June Vincent<br />
R—Feb. 28-PG-906<br />
(69) Mystery 808<br />
Drama 809 (84) Comedy<br />
»6)<br />
HALF PAST MIDNIGHT ©AN IDEAL HUSBAND SITTING PRETTY<br />
Kent<br />
Goddard<br />
Young<br />
Taylor<br />
Robert<br />
lette<br />
Knudsen<br />
Maureen O'Hara<br />
Peggy<br />
Michael Wielding<br />
R—Feb. 21—PO-903<br />
Wynyard<br />
Webb<br />
Diana<br />
Clifton<br />
Sir Aubrey ^mitta<br />
Haydn<br />
Richard<br />
R—Jan. 17—PG-891 Louise Allbrltton<br />
Feb. 28—PO-91<br />
(95) Drama<br />
©SCUDDA HOOI<br />
SCUDDA HAYl<br />
June Haver<br />
Lon McCallister<br />
Walter Brennan<br />
Anne Revere<br />
Natalie Wood<br />
R—Mar. 6—PG-9(<br />
0*4<br />
MIIE<br />
^<br />
(99) Drama 627<br />
SECRET BEYOND<br />
THE DOOR<br />
Joan Bennett<br />
^Vlichael Redgrave<br />
Natalie Schafer<br />
B-^an. 10—PO-88e<br />
(96) Drama 6!<br />
©JASSY<br />
Margaret Lockwood<br />
Patricia Roe<br />
Dennis Price<br />
B—Feb. 14—PO-902<br />
(104) Drama<br />
DOUBLE LIFE<br />
Ronald Colman<br />
Slgne Hasso<br />
Edmond O'Brien<br />
R—Jan. 3—PG-887<br />
(96) Drama 6i<br />
NAKED CITY<br />
Barry Fitzgerald<br />
Dorothy Hart<br />
Howard Duff<br />
R^an. 31—PO-896<br />
(80) Drama<br />
©BUCK BART<br />
Yvonne De Carlo<br />
Duryea<br />
Jeffrey Lynn<br />
—Feb. 31—Pa-9:<br />
(94) Muslct<br />
CASBAH<br />
Tony Martin<br />
Yvonne De Carlo "j<br />
Marta Toren<br />
R—May<br />
15—PG<br />
BOFIHE^<br />
Mom<br />
(103) Drama 716<br />
VOICE OF THE TURTLE<br />
Ronald Reagan<br />
Eleanor Parker<br />
B— Dec. 27—PO-881<br />
(78) [D Drama 717 Reissue<br />
BECAME A CRIMINAL ^ (102) Drama<br />
Sally Gray<br />
ADVENTURE OF<br />
Trevor Howard<br />
ROBIN HOOD<br />
Griffith Jones<br />
Errol Flynn<br />
Feb. 14—Pa-802 Olivia de Havllland<br />
]27] (94) Comedy 719<br />
APRIL SHOWERS<br />
Jack Carson<br />
Ann Sothern<br />
Robert Alda<br />
R—Mar. 20—Pa-913<br />
jlo] (101) Dr;<br />
TO THE VICTOR<br />
Dennis Morgan<br />
Viveca LIndfors<br />
R—Apr. 3—PG-91I<br />
--- PS<br />
(64) Western New Bel<br />
DEADLINE<br />
Sunset Carson<br />
Pat Btirllnt<br />
(62) Western New Bel<br />
FIGHTING MUSTAIG<br />
Bunset Carson<br />
Pat BUrllnc<br />
(70) Comedy reissue<br />
LI'L ABNER<br />
Martha O'DrlaeoU<br />
Edgar Kennedy<br />
(57) Musical Reissue<br />
ROAD TO HOLLYWOOD<br />
Blng Crosby<br />
B—Uir. 1—PG-T9«<br />
(86) liuE-Dr Belann<br />
SECOND CHORUS<br />
Ptulette Goddard<br />
rred Istilre<br />
(60) Westeni New Bel<br />
WESTERN TERROR<br />
Dave "Tei" O'Brloi<br />
Buoy Henry<br />
(64) Western Reissue<br />
WILD MUSTANG<br />
Harry Carey<br />
(60) Western Reissue<br />
THE LAW COMES TO<br />
TEXAS<br />
"Wild BUI" ElUott<br />
(67) Mus-Com New Bel<br />
LOOK OUT SISTER<br />
Louis Jordan<br />
(66) Western New Bel<br />
SUNSET CARSON RIDES<br />
AGAIN<br />
Sunset Carson<br />
(62) Western Rita<br />
RETURN OF DANIEt<br />
BOONE . W.<br />
WUd Bill" Elliott<br />
( . ) Western RetastC<br />
LONE STAR PIONEERh<br />
"WUd BlU" niloU<br />
BOXOFFICE BooIdnGuide<br />
Dec. 25, 1948<br />
-JOfTB
'f:<br />
"'-^<br />
3 If li
FEATURE CHART<br />
CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES<br />
R—Apr.<br />
JUNE 12<br />
17—POMl<br />
JUNE 19<br />
(76) Drama 824 [it] (54) Western 858<br />
[9]<br />
CLOSE-UP<br />
.\Jan Baxter<br />
THE TIOGA<br />
Eddie Dean<br />
KID<br />
Virginia Roscoe Ates<br />
Gllmore<br />
Kollmar R—Mar. 20—PG-913<br />
Richard<br />
g<br />
JUNE 26<br />
JULY 3<br />
(87) Drama 825 |30| (83) Drama 826<br />
©MICKEY<br />
CANON CITY<br />
Lois Butler<br />
Scott Brady<br />
Bin Goodwin<br />
Charles Russell<br />
John Sutton<br />
DePorest Kelly<br />
Hattle McDanlel R—June 26—Pa-944<br />
R—June 26—PG-944<br />
^<br />
JULY 10<br />
(93) Comedy 928 [s] (77) Drama 904<br />
FULLER BRUSH MAN THUNDERHOOF<br />
Red Skeltoa<br />
R—May IS—PG-932 Mary<br />
Preston Foster<br />
Stuart<br />
Bishop<br />
[T| (65) Western<br />
William<br />
968<br />
R—July<br />
BLAZING ACROSS THE<br />
10—PG-949<br />
PECOS<br />
R—July 17—PG-9B1<br />
JULY 17<br />
JULY 24<br />
(7«) Drama S29<br />
SHED NO TEARS<br />
Wallace Ford<br />
June VUiceot<br />
Robert Scott<br />
B—Aug. 14—PG-»e«<br />
JULY 31<br />
(90) S'Western<br />
ig<br />
©CORONER CREEK<br />
Randolpk Scott<br />
B—June B—P(}-94*<br />
@<br />
(«B) Hoalul S<br />
ARKANSAS SWING<br />
Hooaier Hotabots<br />
R—July 24—PG-8SJ)<br />
i||IIII«US'<br />
,1 i»m<br />
(102) Miuleal 825<br />
©THE PIRATE<br />
Jud; Garland<br />
Gene Kelly<br />
Walter Slraak<br />
R—Apr. 3—PO-918<br />
(107) Comedy 828<br />
©ON AN ISLAND WITH<br />
YOU<br />
Esther VVUUams<br />
Jimmy Durante<br />
Peter Lawford<br />
Cyd Charlsse<br />
R—May 1—PG-92e<br />
(64) Western 4766 |l3] (71) Drama 4715 (56) Western 4752<br />
[U<br />
RANGE RENEGADES STAGE STRUCK TRIGGERMAN<br />
Jimmy Wakely<br />
Kane Richmond<br />
Johnny Mack Brown<br />
"Cannonball" Taylor Audrey Long<br />
Virginia Carroll<br />
R—Aug. 14—PO-959 K—May 22—PG-93B Raymond Hatton<br />
[n] (72) Drama 4717<br />
1^ (101) Drama 4719 |5] (64) Drama 4719 (106) Musical 4720<br />
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©SHAGGY<br />
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Brenda Joyce<br />
James Mason<br />
MIDNIGHT<br />
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Robert Shayne<br />
Deborah Kerr<br />
William Gargan<br />
Btag Crosby<br />
R—Apr. 17—PG-922 R—Apr. 17—PG-922 Mary Beth Hughes loan Fontaine<br />
R—May 8—PG-927 Richard Haydn<br />
Lucile Watson<br />
R—May 8—PO-928<br />
Western 819<br />
Group 5<br />
1^ (93)<br />
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GUNS OF HATE<br />
Drama 816<br />
FIGHTING FATHER Tim Holt<br />
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Nan Leslie<br />
Pat O'Brien R-May 16—PG-931<br />
Darryl Hickman<br />
Myma Dell<br />
R—May 16—PG-931<br />
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(67) Mus-West 656<br />
©THE TIMBER TRAIL<br />
Monte Hale<br />
Lynne Roberts<br />
R—July 3—PO-947<br />
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(103) Musical 829<br />
0®EASTER PARADE<br />
Fred Astaire<br />
Judy Garland<br />
Peter Lawford<br />
Ann MUler<br />
R—May 29—PO-938<br />
(69) Drama 4717<br />
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COWBOY CAVALIER<br />
Leo Gorcey<br />
Jimmy Wakely<br />
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R—May 22—PG-93B<br />
Taylor<br />
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(172) Com-Dr 904<br />
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Fredrlc March<br />
Myma Loy<br />
Dana Andrews<br />
R—Dec. 7—PO-769<br />
(60) M'drama 712<br />
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Don Barry<br />
Janet Martin<br />
R—July 17—PO-952<br />
Reissue<br />
(126) Dr R7-3508<br />
[9]<br />
THE CRUSADES<br />
Loretta Young<br />
Henry WUcozon<br />
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Jane Powell<br />
Elizabeth<br />
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R—June<br />
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(66) Mystery 4718<br />
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Roland Whitcrs<br />
Manton Moreland<br />
Group 5<br />
[n] (90) Western 817<br />
RETURN OF THE<br />
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Patric Knowles<br />
Darryl Hickman<br />
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R—May 8—PQ-QIT R—May 22—PO-938<br />
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R—May 22—PO-0S4<br />
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Savannah Churchill<br />
B—Aug. 14—Pa-959<br />
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Reissue<br />
(70) Western HC21<br />
SANTA FE MARSHAL<br />
WilUam Boyd<br />
Russell Haydeo<br />
Marjorle Bambeau<br />
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Reissue<br />
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(66) (89) Drama S-4 (71) Comedy S-3<br />
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Adolphe Menjou<br />
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Barbara Stanwyck<br />
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William Boyd<br />
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Russell Hayden<br />
Robert<br />
Dolores Costello<br />
(89) Musical 827 (73) Drama 819 Reissue<br />
(91) Drama 823 (102) Drama 824 (85) Drama<br />
©GIVE MY REGARDS THE COUNTERFEITERS (87) Dram. 830 STREET WITH NO MINE OWN<br />
DEEP WATERS<br />
TO BROADWAY John Sutton<br />
BELLE STARR<br />
NAME, THE<br />
EXECUTIONER Dana Andrews<br />
Dan Dalley<br />
Doris Merrick<br />
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Mark Stevens<br />
Burgess Meredith<br />
Cesar Romero<br />
Charles Winnlnger Hugh<br />
Lloyd Nolan<br />
R—June 19—PG-944 Jean Peters<br />
Beaumont<br />
(71) Drama 831<br />
Barbara Lawrence<br />
Dean Stoctwell<br />
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FROSTIER MARSHAL<br />
R—July 3—PG-94<br />
R—July<br />
R—May<br />
10—PG-950<br />
29—PO-937<br />
Randolph Scott<br />
Nancy Kelly<br />
(67) Drama 825 Reissues<br />
THE CHECKERED COAT (86) Musical 'IS II<br />
Tom Conway<br />
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Noreen Nash<br />
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Hurd Hatfield<br />
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SLAVE SHIP<br />
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7^0-898 R—May IB—Pa-93a<br />
[9] (89) Drama<br />
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Frances Dee<br />
Charles Blckford<br />
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(98) (109) Com.<br />
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James Cagney<br />
William Be'ndtz<br />
WajTie MorrlK<br />
Jeanne Cagney<br />
R—May 22-PG-9S8<br />
(78) Drama<br />
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Yvonne De Carlo<br />
Rod Cameron<br />
Dan Duryea<br />
R—May 16—P0-(<br />
(90) Drama<br />
ANOTHER PART OF<br />
(107) Drama 660 (87) Musical 662<br />
UP IN CENTRAL PARK BAD SISTER<br />
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Deanna Durbin<br />
Margaret Lockwood<br />
March<br />
Dick Haymes<br />
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R—June<br />
Price<br />
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R—June<br />
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R—April 24—PG-924<br />
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ABBOTT & COSTELLO MAN-EATER OF<br />
MEET FRANKEN- KUMAON<br />
STEIN<br />
Abbott & Costello<br />
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Joanne Page<br />
Wendell Corey<br />
Lon Chaney<br />
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R—July 3—PG-947<br />
R—June 26—PG-945<br />
(78) Mus-Com 665 (80) Drama<br />
FEUDIN', FUSSIN' THE END OF THE<br />
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Donald O'Connor<br />
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Torin Thatcher<br />
R-^une 26—PG-945<br />
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Robert Hutton<br />
Joyce Reynolds<br />
Janls Paige<br />
R—May 22—PG-934<br />
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Wayne Morris<br />
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R—May 29—PG-937 Don DeFore<br />
R-^une 12—PG-942<br />
Reissues<br />
[it] (82) Drama 730<br />
FLOWING GOLD<br />
G,arfIeld-0'Brlen<br />
(71) Drama 729<br />
[17]<br />
GOD'S COUNTRY AND<br />
THE WOMAN<br />
George Brent<br />
1^ (101) Drama 7<br />
KEY LARGO<br />
Humphrey Bogart<br />
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Lauren Bacall<br />
Lionel Barrymore<br />
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(131) Drama 103<br />
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B-^an. 11—PG-780<br />
(61) Doeum-Dr<br />
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CHILDREN ON TRIAL<br />
R—Nov. 29—PQ-878<br />
(30) Musical<br />
Four Continents<br />
SPRINGTIME<br />
R—Feb. 14—PG-002<br />
(89) Drama<br />
Eng. FUms<br />
SHOWTIME<br />
B—June 12—PG-942<br />
(72) Musical<br />
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CHAMPAGNE CHARLIE<br />
B—Aug. 14—PO-OeO<br />
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R—July 24—PQ-98<<br />
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CHECK RUNNING TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES<br />
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AUGUST 7<br />
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(19) Drama 827 (61) Drama 831<br />
SPIRITUALIST LADY AT WIDNIGHT<br />
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Rlcbard Denning<br />
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R—July 24—PO-9S4<br />
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AUGUST 21<br />
AUGUST 28<br />
Reissue<br />
Reissue<br />
(86) Comedy 847 )6) Comedy<br />
HOLD THAT GHOST HIRED WIFE<br />
Bud Abbott<br />
Rosalind Russell<br />
L«u Coitello<br />
Brian Abeme<br />
Srelyo Ankers<br />
Joan DaTls<br />
SEPTEMBER 4 SEPTEMBER 11 SEPTEMBER 18 SEPTEMBER 25<br />
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[^ (64) WatBU 967 (87) Drama 94<br />
|27] (76) Adv-Drama 942 (79) Western 982 (68) Drama 916 [la] (76) Western 903 (91) Drama ]<br />
LULU BELLE<br />
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THE BLACK ARROW ©THE STRAWBERRY GENTLEMAN FROM BLACK EAGLE, THE WALK A CROOKED<br />
Dorothy Lamour<br />
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Louis Hayward<br />
ROAN<br />
NOWHERE<br />
STORY OF A HORSE MILE<br />
George Montgomery<br />
Dennis O'Keefe<br />
SmUey Buraette<br />
Blair<br />
Gene Autry<br />
Warner Baxter<br />
WUIlam Blsbop<br />
Albert Dekker<br />
R—Sept. 11—PQ-96S<br />
Jim Bannon<br />
George Macready<br />
Champion<br />
Fay Baker<br />
Virginia Patton<br />
Otto Kruger<br />
Viriinia Maiey<br />
Edgar Buchanan<br />
Gloria Henry<br />
Luis Van Rooteo<br />
Gordon Jones<br />
B—June 19—PO-94S<br />
g (62) Act-Mus 954<br />
B-^ul7 17—PQ-951<br />
Rhys Williams<br />
Jack Holt<br />
B—Oct. 2—PG-973 R—Sept. 4—PO-985<br />
SINGIN' SPURS<br />
R-^uly 10—P(3-949 R—Mar. 6—Pa-907<br />
Hoosier Hotshots<br />
(79) Outd'r-Dr<br />
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Joan Leslie<br />
James Craig<br />
Jack Oaltle<br />
Cbill Wills<br />
R—July 10—PG-950<br />
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©OLYMPIC GAMES<br />
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Ted Husing<br />
R—Sept. 25—Pa-971<br />
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IN THIS CORNER<br />
Scott Brady<br />
Annabel Bbaw<br />
Jimmy MilUcan<br />
R—Sept. 4—PO-966<br />
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liar. 20—PO-914<br />
(10» Drama 4723<br />
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(79) Drama 4719 (53) Western 4753<br />
[U J5]<br />
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Scotty Beckett<br />
Jotinny Mack BrortTl<br />
AUene Roberts<br />
Raymond Hatton<br />
Tommy Cook<br />
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R-^une 19—PG-944<br />
(lltl) Drama 4724<br />
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Don McQulre<br />
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R—Dec. 11—PQ-9a3<br />
Reissues<br />
(83) M'drama 904<br />
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(102) Mystery 734 HOLLOW TRIUMPH<br />
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K—Aug. 21—PG-96<br />
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B—Aug. 14—PO-980<br />
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(73) Drama 832<br />
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R—July 31—Pa-956<br />
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(69) Outd'r-Dr 111<br />
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B—Oct. 16—PG-97r<br />
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Eddie Albert<br />
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E—May 1—PCl-928<br />
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B—Aug. 21—PO-98a<br />
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Lucille Bremer<br />
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Robert Taylor<br />
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(57) Western 4764<br />
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Jimmy Wakely<br />
Christine Larsoi<br />
NOVEMBER 6 NOVEMBER 13 NOVEMBE<br />
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R—July 31—PO-OBB<br />
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Ray Mllland<br />
Florence Marly<br />
Broderlck Crawford<br />
John Bolt<br />
R—Sept. 11—PO-967<br />
[u) (75) Drama 119 [is] (66) Drama]<br />
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Cameron Mitchell<br />
Gloria Henry<br />
Virginia Grey<br />
Stanley Clementi<br />
Jane Nigb<br />
Uaild Bruce<br />
Sam Levene R—Nov. 6—PO-98<br />
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B—Oct.<br />
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Johnny Mack Brown<br />
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Evelyn Flnley<br />
Robert Newton<br />
Raymond HattOD<br />
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Robert Mltcbum<br />
;—Aug. 7—PG-958<br />
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(92) Outd'r-Dr 906 (110) Mus-Com 952<br />
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Dick Powell<br />
Uanny Kaye<br />
Jane Greer<br />
Virginia Mayo<br />
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Steve Ck)chran<br />
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Esther Dale<br />
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R—Sept. 18—PO-970<br />
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WUllam Boyd<br />
Russell Hayden<br />
(60) M'drama 713<br />
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B—Sept. 18—PO-970<br />
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[12] (84) Western 4806<br />
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lane Frazee<br />
Mary Beth Hughes<br />
n—Dec. 18—PG-995<br />
[ig (67) Outd'r-Mui<br />
©GRAND CANYON<br />
TRAIL<br />
Roy Rogers<br />
Jane Fraze*<br />
Nov. 27—PG-91<br />
Isn<br />
|IOl<br />
ma OF<br />
!H<br />
(68) Come<br />
(128) Drama<br />
Slrltzky Int'<br />
MARIUS<br />
R-^une 19—PO-944<br />
(100) Drama<br />
Best Fllma<br />
JEALOUSY<br />
B—June 19—PO-943<br />
(130) Drama<br />
Siritzky-Int'l<br />
THEY ARE NOT<br />
ANGELS<br />
R—June 36—PG-946<br />
(100) Drama<br />
Schaefer<br />
DAY OF WRATH<br />
B—June 26—PO-04B<br />
(92) Com-Drama<br />
Oxford Films<br />
FRIC-FRAC<br />
B—July 3—PG-948<br />
(105) Drama<br />
Blrltiky-Iot'I<br />
NAIS<br />
B—July 3—PO-947<br />
(75) Documentary<br />
Mayer-Burystyn<br />
THE ILLEGALS<br />
B—July 17—PO-952<br />
(88) Drama<br />
nisdna Int'l<br />
BLIND DESIRE<br />
R—July 17—PO-86J<br />
(90) Comedy<br />
(06) Drama (108) Drama<br />
Sirltzky-Intn<br />
Artklno r'Ums I"<br />
PORTRAIT OF MURDERERS AMONG SYMPHONIE PASl<br />
INNOCENCE<br />
US R—Sept. 25—P(^<br />
R—July 24—PO-954 (106) Drama<br />
(81) Drama<br />
Azteca Films (77) Document)<br />
Creative<br />
FRANCOIS VILLON<br />
R— Aug u—PO-960<br />
LA MORENA DE Ml Lopert __„<br />
COPLA LOUISIANA STORy; S,<br />
B— AMI! 38—PO-ORS B—Oct. 2—PO-974"^<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuido Dec. 25, 1948
I<br />
CHECK RUNIWNG TIME WITH LOCAL EXCHANGES<br />
FEATURE CHART<br />
B2B OVEMBER 27<br />
(89) Corn-Fantasy 131<br />
THE RETURN OF<br />
OCTOBER<br />
ain Ford<br />
-Oct. 23—PO-979<br />
(81) Mdrama 132<br />
», HE GALLANT BUDE<br />
ry Parks<br />
-Oct. 23—Pa-979<br />
DECEMBER 4<br />
[2] (54) Western<br />
QUICK ON THE<br />
TRIGGER<br />
Charles Starrelt<br />
Stnllcy Burnette<br />
Helen Parrlsb<br />
•* (80) Drama 910 (73) Act-Dr 908<br />
.WALKED BY NIGHT MILLION DOLLAR<br />
bard Basebart WEEKEND<br />
>tt Brady<br />
Gene Raymond<br />
1 Roberts<br />
Stephanie Paull<br />
It BlsaeU<br />
Frances Lederer<br />
-No?. 13—Pa-98i Patricia Shay<br />
B—Oct. 16—Pa-977<br />
[3] (60) Drama 4806<br />
DISASTER<br />
Richard Denning<br />
Trudy Marshall<br />
WUl Wright<br />
Jack Lambert<br />
B—Oct. 23—PG-980<br />
DECEMBER 11<br />
DECEMBER 18<br />
(68) Comedy 107<br />
(%'i) Drama 133<br />
Outd'r-Dr<br />
.<br />
©THE MAN FROM<br />
(<br />
JUNGLE . ) JIM<br />
(23l<br />
BLONDIE'S SECRET<br />
COLORADO<br />
Johnny<br />
Penny<br />
Welssmuller<br />
Singleton<br />
n Ford<br />
Virginia Grey<br />
\rthur Lake<br />
Uolden<br />
It—Dec. 4—PG-991<br />
William<br />
[le] (61) Mus-West 151<br />
Ellen Drew<br />
K—Nov. 20—PO-98!<br />
SMOKY MOUNTAIN<br />
MELODY<br />
Roy A cuff<br />
(82) Com-Dr 912<br />
AN OLD-FASHIONED<br />
GIRL<br />
oria Jean<br />
Jimmy Lydon<br />
Fr.mces Rafferty<br />
John Hubbard<br />
R—Dec. 18—rG-996<br />
DECEMBER 25<br />
4| (91) Comedy 4807<br />
THE PALEFACE<br />
Bob Hope<br />
Jane Russell<br />
Robert Armstrong<br />
John Utel<br />
R—Oct. 23—PO-980<br />
JANUARY 1 JANUARY 8<br />
(60) Drama 9<br />
THE STRANGE<br />
MRS. CRANE<br />
.Marjorle Lord<br />
Kobert Shayne<br />
liutbe Brady<br />
Pierre Watkln<br />
R—Oct. 30—Pa-981<br />
(100) Musical<br />
©THE KISSING<br />
BANDIT<br />
Frank Sinatra<br />
Kathryn Grayson<br />
Cyd Charlsse<br />
J. Carrol Nalsh<br />
R—Nov. 20—PG-!<br />
JANUARY 15<br />
[n] (106) Drama<br />
©THREE GODFATHERS<br />
uhn Wayne<br />
Harry Carey jr.<br />
Pedro Armendarlz<br />
Ward Bond<br />
R—Dec. 4—pa-992<br />
[m] (100) Drama 4808<br />
THE ACCUSED<br />
Loretta Young<br />
Robert C^jmmlngs<br />
Wendell Corey<br />
Sam Jafte<br />
R—Nov. 20—Pa-98T<br />
(87) Outdr-Dr 721<br />
[T] (60) Mys-Dr 801 Reissue<br />
(60) Western 862<br />
4EGADES OF ©THE PLUNDERERS<br />
[|]<br />
HOMICIDE FOR THREE<br />
ONORA<br />
Cameron<br />
Long<br />
Itod<br />
\udry<br />
(..) Mus-West<br />
OLD CALIENTE<br />
[I5|<br />
IN<br />
ji "Rocky" Lane llona<br />
Warren<br />
sue<br />
B—Nov. 6—PG-982 Grant<br />
(72) Corned; 8601 Reissue<br />
Dec.<br />
Massey<br />
Douglas<br />
Withers<br />
4—PG-992<br />
Koy Rogers<br />
Mary Hart<br />
George "Gabby" Hayes<br />
TTERBRAIN<br />
(68) Comedy 8602<br />
Canora<br />
YOKEL BOY<br />
I<br />
(60) Western<br />
RK OF THE LASH<br />
1 LaRue<br />
ly St. Jokn<br />
^ (62) Outd'r-Dr<br />
SHEP COMES HOME<br />
Itobert Lowery<br />
.Margla Dean<br />
(85) Comedy 908<br />
EVERY GIRL SHOULD<br />
BE MARRIED<br />
Cary Grant<br />
Franchot Tone<br />
Betsy Drake<br />
Diana Lynn<br />
Alan Mowbray<br />
R—Nov. 20—PG-987<br />
[it] (..) Western<br />
FRONTIER REVENGE<br />
Lash LaRue<br />
Fuzzy St. Jobs<br />
(62) Act-Dr<br />
jI<br />
THUNDER IN THE<br />
PINES<br />
George Beevee<br />
Ralph Byrd<br />
(T) (82) Fantasy<br />
©THE BOY WITH<br />
GREEN HAIR<br />
Pat O'Brien<br />
Robert Ryan<br />
Barbara Hale<br />
Dean Stockwell<br />
R—Nov. 20—PU-98I<br />
j9] (67) Outd'r-Mus 841<br />
©THE FAR FRONTIER<br />
Koy Rogers<br />
Andy Devloe<br />
1^ (..) Western<br />
OUTLAW COUNTRY<br />
Lash LaBue<br />
Fuzzy St. John<br />
(82) Comedy 992<br />
©SO DEAR TO MY<br />
HEART<br />
Burl Ives<br />
Beulab Bondi<br />
Bobby Driscoll<br />
Luana Patten<br />
R—Dec. 11—PG-993<br />
87) . Western<br />
,LE STARR'S<br />
AUGHTER<br />
Cameron<br />
Oct. 30—PO-9<br />
Dranu<br />
-
REVIEW DIGEST<br />
and Alphabetical Picture Guide Index-<br />
A<br />
947 Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein<br />
(S3) U-l 7- 3-4S +<br />
9S7 Accused, The (100) Para 11-20-48 ff<br />
997 Act of Violence (83) MGM 12-25-4S +<br />
99S Adventures of Don Juan (113) WB..12-25-4S ++<br />
956 Adventures of Gallant Bess (73) EL 7-31-48 ±<br />
906 All Nly Sons (94) U-l 2-28-48 ++<br />
Angel Exile (90) Rep<br />
in<br />
99S Angel on the Amazon (86) Rep 12-25-48<br />
982 Angry God. The (57) UA 10-30-4S<br />
±<br />
=<br />
925 Anna Karenina (111) 20-Fox 5- 1-48 +<br />
924 Another Part of the Forest (107) U-l 4-24-48 ++<br />
969 Apartment for Peogy (96) 20-Fox.. 9-18-48 ff<br />
978 Appointment With Murder (67) FC. .10-16-48 ±<br />
904 Arch of Triumph (120) UA 2-21-48 +<br />
913 Are You With It? (90) U-l 3-20-48 +<br />
923Aroyle Secrets, The (63) FC 4-24-48 +<br />
917 Arizona Ranger, The (63) RKO 4- 3-48 +<br />
953 Arkansas Swing (65) Col 7-24-48 ±<br />
922 Arthur Takes Over (63) 20-Fox 4-17-48 +<br />
929 Assigned to Danger (65) EL 5-8-48 ±<br />
B<br />
955 Babe Ruth Story, The (107) Mono... 7-31-48 +f<br />
Back Trail (54) Mono<br />
995 Badmen of Tombstone (75) Mono. .<br />
.12-18-48<br />
942 Bad Sister (90) U-l 6-12-48<br />
+<br />
±<br />
969 Behind Locked Doors (61) EL 9-18-48<br />
982 Belle Starr's Daughter (87) 20-Fox. 10-30-48<br />
+<br />
±<br />
919 Berlin Express (S6) RKO 4-10-48 +f<br />
929 Best Man Wins (75) Col 5-8-48 +<br />
964 The (183) Astor 8-28-48 ±<br />
944 Beyond Glory (82) Para<br />
Betrayal,<br />
6-19-48 ±<br />
915 Big City (111) MGM 3-27-48 +<br />
937 Big Punch, The (80) WB 5-29-48 ±<br />
933 Big Town Scandal (62) Para 5-22-48 ±<br />
949 Black Arrow, The (76) Col 7-10-48 +<br />
965 Black Eagle, the Story of a Horse<br />
(76) Col 9- 4-48 +<br />
969 Blanche Fury (93) EL 9-18-48 —<br />
the Col. . . 951 Blazing Across Pecos (55) 7-17-48 ±<br />
935 Blonde Ice (73) FC 5-22-48 ±<br />
941 Blondie's Reward (67) Col 6-12-48 d:<br />
991 Blondie's Secret (68) Col 12- 4-48 ±<br />
985 Blood on the Moon (87) RKO 11-13-48 (+<br />
965 Bodyguard (62) RKO 9- 4-48 +<br />
Borrowed Trouble (..) UA<br />
897 Boy With the Green Hair (82) RKO. 11-20-48 ±<br />
936 Brothers, The (90) U-l 5-22-48 +<br />
Bungalow 13 (65) 20-Fox<br />
c<br />
946 Canon City (83) EL 6-26-48 ++<br />
939 Carson City Raiders (60) Rep 6- 5-48 +<br />
957 Checkered Coat. The (67) 20-Fox.. 8-7-48 ±<br />
996 Chicken Every Sunday (91) 20-Fox. .12-18-48<br />
921 Close-Uo (76) EL 4-17-48<br />
970 Code of Scotland Yard (60) Rep 9-18-48<br />
++<br />
±<br />
+<br />
997 Command Decision (..) MGM 12-25-48 ++<br />
940 Coroner Creek (90) Col 6- 5-48 -H-<br />
943 Corridor of Mirrors (96) U-l 6-19-48 —<br />
Counterfeiters, The (73) 20-Fox<br />
984 Countess of Monte Cristo, The<br />
±<br />
(77) U-l 11-6-48<br />
Creeper. The (63) 20-Fox<br />
972 Cry of the City (95) 20-Fox 9-25-48 ±<br />
D<br />
955 Daredevils of the Clouds (60) Rep... 7-31-48 +<br />
946 Date With Judy, A (113) MGM.... 6-26-48 ++<br />
Dead Don't Dream, The {•) UA<br />
945 Dear Murderer (90) U-l 5-22-48 ±<br />
992 Decision of Christopher Blake<br />
(75) WB 12- 4-48 —<br />
948 Deep Waters (85) 20-Fox 7-3-48 +f<br />
Denver Kid, The (60) Rep<br />
896 Design for Death (48) RKO 1-31-48 +<br />
968 Desperadoes of Dodge City (60) Rep.. 9-11-48 +<br />
926 Devil's Cargo (61) FC 4-10-48 ±<br />
980 Disaster (60) Para 10-23-48 ±<br />
927 Dream Girl (86) Para 5-8-48 +<br />
926 Dude Goes West, The (87) Mono... 5- 1-48 +<br />
986 Dulcimer Street (112) U-l 11-13-48 ±<br />
988 Dynamite (67) Para 11-20-48 ±<br />
E<br />
928 Easter Parade (103) MGM 5-29-48 ff<br />
993 El Dorado Pass (56) Col 12-11-48 ±<br />
955 Emhraceable You (SO) WB 8-31-48 ±<br />
928 Emperor Waltz, The (106) Para 5- 8-48 -H<br />
1 ll -s ° I- -is >^<br />
CO ^oc > iZ ZGca.£zo<br />
+
An interpretative analysis of opinions deducted from «>«<br />
.'"^^"f °L!,°^<br />
TOd trade press reviews. The plus and minus signs indicate the degree<br />
]avor or disfavor of the review. This dep^ent serves also as
-<br />
. ngiiiijii<br />
'<br />
I<br />
SHORTS CHART<br />
Short subjects, listed by company, in order of release. Running tune follows<br />
title. First date is national release, second the date of review in BOXOFFICE.<br />
Symbol between dates is rating from the BOXOFFICE review: tt Very Good.<br />
+ Good, — Fair, — Poor, = Very Poor. © Indicates color photography.<br />
>]^<br />
Columbia<br />
Pr«i). N*. Title del. Date Rating Rn'd<br />
ASSORTED COMEDIES<br />
9427 Pardon My Umb Chop<br />
(17)<br />
9440 Flat Feat (ITVi)<br />
6-10<br />
6-24<br />
+<br />
±<br />
6-26<br />
7-31<br />
194S-49 SEASON<br />
1421 Billie Gets Her Man (17) 9- 9 -)- 9-18<br />
1422 Go Chase Yourtelf (17) -I-<br />
1431 A Pinch in Time (16).. 11-11 ± 12-11<br />
10-14 10-16<br />
1423 Parlor, Bedroom and Wrath<br />
(16) 12-16<br />
1433 Miss in a Mess (..) 1-13<br />
1432 He's in Aoain (..) 1-20<br />
CAN YOU TOP THIS?<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
14U Can You Top This? (13) .11-18<br />
COLOR FAVORITES<br />
9608 The Untrained Seal (71/2) 7-15 ±<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
7-31<br />
1601 The Stork Takes a Holiday<br />
9-9<br />
(8)<br />
1602 Swing Monkey Swing (8). 10-14 + 10-16<br />
1603 The Little Match Girl<br />
(S1/2) 11-25 ± 12-U<br />
1604 Glee Worms (TVa) 12-16<br />
1605 A Boy and His Dog (7) .. 1- 6<br />
COLOR PHANTASIES<br />
9703 Short Snorts on Sports<br />
(61/2) 6-3 ± 7- S<br />
COLOR RHAPSODIES<br />
1948-49<br />
1501 Pickled Puss (O/s)<br />
SEASON<br />
9-2 ± 9-18<br />
1502 Lo, the Poor BuffaJ<br />
., . ^ „ ,<br />
(61/2) 11- 4 * 11- 6<br />
COMEDY FAVORITES<br />
1441 Pest From the West<br />
(ISI/2) 9-30 -f 10- 2<br />
1442 Ay Tank Ay Go (16).. 10-21 ± 12-11<br />
1443 Static in the Attic (19). 12-23<br />
COMMUNITY SINGS<br />
9658 No. 8 Manana (IOI/2)... 6- 3 -(- 6-26<br />
9659 No. 9 California Here I Come<br />
(9) 8-12 4- 9-4<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
1651 No. 1 Baby Face (9) 9-16 . . . . -t- 1?- J<br />
1652 No. 2 My Happiness (9). .10-21 -|- 11- 6<br />
1653N0. 3lfs Magic (10)... 12- 9<br />
5657 No. 7 Series 8 Christmas<br />
Carols (12) Reissue. .<br />
.12- 9<br />
FILM NOVELTIES<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
1901 Rhapsody on Ice (9)... 12-23<br />
FOX AND CROW<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
1701 Robin Hoodlum (7) 12-23<br />
ONE-REEL SPECIAL<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
1551 Candid Microphone (11) 10-21<br />
.<br />
SCREEN SNAPSHOTS<br />
9860 Friarf<br />
9858 Hollywood Honors Hersholt __<br />
(8) 5-6 + 5-22<br />
9859 Hollywood Party (9) 6-10 H 6-26<br />
Hollywood Honor George<br />
Jesse! (91/2) 7-8 )+ 7-31<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
1851 Hollywood Holiday (9) . • 9- 2 -I- 10-16<br />
1852 A Day at CBS. (91/2). 10- 7<br />
1853 Stars lo Remember (91/2) 11-18<br />
1855 A Rainy Day in Hollywood<br />
(..) 1-27<br />
1854 Hollywood's Santa Claus Lane<br />
(9/2) 11-23<br />
STOOGE COMEDIES<br />
9408 The Hot Scots (17).... 7- 8 -(- 7-31<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
Daze (I6I/2) . . 9- 1401 Heavenly 2 -|- 9-18<br />
1402 I'm a Monkey's Uncle<br />
(16) 10- 7<br />
1403 Mummy's Dummies (16). 11- 4<br />
-I- 10-16<br />
+ 11-6<br />
1404 Crime on Their Hands<br />
(171/2) 12-9<br />
THRILLS OF MUSIC<br />
9957 Gene Krupa & Orch. (10) 6-10<br />
9958 Tony Pastor & Orch. (10) 7-23<br />
±<br />
+<br />
6-26<br />
9-4<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
1951 Elliott Lawretin & Orch.<br />
(10) 9-23<br />
f 9-18<br />
1952 Ray Eberle & Orch. (10). 11- 4 -f U- 6<br />
1953 Louis Prima & Orch (..). 12-10<br />
1954 Buddy Rich & Orch. (..) 1-20<br />
VERA VAGUE LAFF TOURS<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
1751 A Lass In Alaska (101/2)10-28 + 10-16<br />
WORLD OF SPORTS<br />
9B08 80 Rolds Barred (9) . . . 6-17 tt 7-3<br />
9809 Agua Zanies (9) 7-15 + 7-31<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
1801 Diving Champions (10).. 9-23 ID- 2<br />
1802 Acrobatic Babies O/j) . .10-14 + 10-16<br />
1803 Babe Didrikson, Queen of<br />
Sports (..) 11-25<br />
SERIALS<br />
9180 fcperman (Special) .... 7-15 + 7-17<br />
15 Chapters<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
1120 Congo Bill 10-28<br />
15 Chapters<br />
12<br />
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer<br />
Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'd<br />
CARTOONS<br />
W-934 The Bear and the Bean<br />
(7) 1-31 2-21<br />
W-936 Make IWine Freedom (6) 3-10<br />
-I-<br />
-|- 5-15<br />
W-935 What Price Fleadom<br />
(7) 3-20 ± 3-20<br />
W-938 Little 'Tinker (8) 5-15 H 7-10<br />
W-939The Bear and the Hare<br />
(7) 6-26 7-lB<br />
-I-<br />
W-941 Half-Pint Pygmy (7)... 8- 7 -I- 10-9<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
W-32 Lucky Ducky (8) 10- 9<br />
FITZPATRICK<br />
TRAVELTALKS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
T-913 Cape Breton Island (9) 5- 8 -t- 7-10<br />
T-914 Chicago, the Beautiful<br />
(10) 7-17 -f 8-14<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
T-U Wandering<br />
(9)<br />
Through Wales<br />
10-16 + 11-27<br />
T-12 Night Life in Chicago (9). 11-27 -f 12-18<br />
GOLD MEDAL REPRINTS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
W-923 The Milky Way (8)<br />
. . . . 2-14 4+ J-20<br />
W-924 The Midnight Snack (9) 3-27 + 5-15<br />
W-925 Puss 'n Toots (7) 4-24 + 5-15<br />
W-926The Bowllni Alley Cat<br />
(8) 6-12 -I- 7-10<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
W-21 The Little Goldfish (8).. 11-20 -|- 11-27<br />
W-22 Fine Feathered Friends<br />
(..)<br />
W-23The Blue Danube (..)<br />
W-24 Sufferin' Cats ( . ) .<br />
MARTIN BLOCK'S MUSICAL<br />
MERRY-GO-ROUND<br />
M-981 Freddy Martln-Keenan<br />
Wynn (10) 2-14 H 3-6<br />
M-9S2Tex Beneke & Orch. (10) 4-24 -f 3-6<br />
M-9S3 Ray Noble-Buddy Clark<br />
(11) 6-26 + 7-10<br />
M-984 Les Brown-Virginia O'Brien<br />
(10) 7-17 ± 8-14<br />
M-9S5 Frankie Carle & Orch.<br />
(10) 8-28 -I- 10- 9<br />
M-986 Art Lund, Les Brown,<br />
+ Tex Beneke (10) 8-3 10-9<br />
NEWS OF THE DAY<br />
(Released Twice Weekly)<br />
PASSING PARADE<br />
K-973 Goodbye Miss Turlock<br />
(10) 1-24 H 2-21<br />
K-974 My Old Town (9) .... 2- 7 4+ 2-21<br />
K-975 Souvenirs of Death<br />
(10) 6-19 + 7-10<br />
K-976The Fabulous Fraud<br />
(11) 8-28 + 10- 9<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
K-71The City of Little Men<br />
(10) 11-20 -f 11-27<br />
PETE SMITH SPECIAL'HES<br />
956 1 Love My Mother-ln-Law<br />
BUT (8) 2- 7 +f 2-14<br />
957 Now You See It (9) 3-20 ± 3-20<br />
958 ©You Can't Win (9) . . 5-29 + 5-15<br />
959 Just Suppose (9) 7-17 ± 8-14<br />
_ 960 Football Thrills No. 11<br />
(9) 8-21 + 8-14<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
S-51Why Is It? (9) 9-11 -f 10-16<br />
S-52 Pigskin Skill (9) 9-18 + 10- 9<br />
S-53lce Aces (9) 11-16 + 11-27<br />
SPECIALS<br />
A-901 Drunk Driving (21) 5-27 + 3-20<br />
A-902 Going to Blaies (21).. 4-24 tt 5-15<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
A-1 Mighty Manhattan (..)<br />
TOM & JERRY CARTOONS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
W-937 Kitty Foiled (7) 5-1 +<br />
W-940 The Truce Hurts (8)... 7-17 -f<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
W-31 Old Roekin' Chair Tom<br />
(7) 9-18 -1-<br />
W-33 Professor Tom (8) 10-30<br />
W-34The Cat That Hated People<br />
(7)<br />
W-35 Mouse Cleaning (7) 12-11<br />
+<br />
Paramount<br />
Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'd<br />
GRANTLAND RICE SPOHTLIGHTS<br />
.<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
Climbers (reissue)<br />
4-2<br />
84.704 Alpine<br />
R7- 5 Ail-American Swing Stars<br />
7-3<br />
6-5<br />
(10) +f 1-16 2-14<br />
(10) -I-<br />
74.116 Daddy Outk (7) 4-16 -f-<br />
±<br />
R7- 6 Double Barrelled Sport<br />
(10) 2-20 + 2-21 74.117 Bone Bandit (7) 4-30 ....<br />
84.705 Woodland Cafe (reissue)<br />
.<br />
4-30<br />
(10) - 3-26 ±<br />
4-17<br />
4-3<br />
R7- 7 Big Game Angling<br />
7. (8) 5-14 + 3<br />
R7- 8 Riding Habits (10) -f-<br />
74.118 Donald's Dream Voice<br />
R7- 9 Big League Glory (10) . . 6-11<br />
R7-10 Her Favorite Pools (10) 7-30<br />
-f<br />
+<br />
6-26<br />
8-7<br />
(6) 5-21 ++ 7. 3<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
84.706 Three Little Pigs (9).. 9- 2<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
R8-1 Hot Rod Speedsters (10). 11- 5 -f 11- 6<br />
RS-2 Acrobatic mini (10) 12-10<br />
94.101 Pluto's Purchase (7) . 7- 9 ± 8-28<br />
Trial of 94.102 Donald Duck<br />
MUSICAL PARADES<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
FF7-1 Samba Mania (18) 2-27<br />
FF7-2 Footlight Rhythm (19).. 4- 9<br />
FF7-3 Gypsy Holiday (18)... 6-25<br />
FF7-4 Tropical<br />
Masquerade<br />
(16) 8-6<br />
FF7-5Big Sister Blues (14).. 10- 1<br />
FF7-6CaUlina Interlude (18). 11-19<br />
NOVELTOONS<br />
(Color)<br />
P7-2Cat-0'-Nine Ails (8) 1- 9<br />
P7-3Flip Flap (8) 2-13<br />
in P7-4 We're the Honey (8) 3-19<br />
. . P7-5 The Bored Cuckoo (8) 4- 9<br />
P7-6 There's Good Boo's Tonight<br />
(9) 4-23<br />
P7-7 Land of the Lost (7) . . . . 5-7<br />
P7-8 Butter Scotch and Soda<br />
(8) 6-4<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
P8-lThe Mite Makes Right<br />
(8) 10-15<br />
P8-2 Hector's Hectic Lite (7). 11-19<br />
P8-3 0ld Shell Game (10) 12-24<br />
PACEMAKERS<br />
K7-3 Bundle From Brajil (11) 1- 2<br />
K7-4 Musical Miracle (11)... 3-12<br />
K7-5A Model Is Born (7)... 5-28<br />
K7-6 Neighbor to the North<br />
(13) 7-23<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
K8-1 Appointment With Baby<br />
(11) 10- 8<br />
K8-2 Mr. Groundling Takes the Air<br />
(11) 12- 3<br />
PARAMOUNT NEWS<br />
(Released Twice Weekly)<br />
POPEYE CARTOONS<br />
(Color)<br />
8-21<br />
10- 9<br />
U- 6<br />
1-24<br />
4- 3<br />
4-10<br />
4-17<br />
-1- 4-10<br />
11- 6<br />
12-25<br />
E8-2 Symphony In Spinach ( . . ) 12-31 . • - •<br />
POPULAR SCIENCE<br />
(Magnacolor)<br />
J7-3 Streamlined Luxury (10) 2-20 ± 2-14<br />
J7-4 Fog Fighters (10) 4-2 ± 4-17<br />
J7-5The Big Eye (10) 5-21 + 7-3<br />
J7-6 Flying Wing (10) 8-6<br />
J8-1 Solar Secrets (10) 12-24<br />
SCREEN SONGS<br />
(Color)<br />
. .<br />
X7-2Base Brawl (8) 1-23 + 2-14<br />
X7-3 Little Brown Jug (8) . 2-20 -|- 2-21<br />
X7-4 The Golden State (8) . . . 3-12 + 4-3<br />
X7-5 Winter Draws On (7)... 3-19 -R 4-10<br />
X7-6Sing or Swim (8) 6-14 -H 6-26<br />
X7-7 Camptown Races (8) - - . 7-16 -|- 8-7<br />
X7-8Th« Lone Star State (9) 8-20 ± 8-21<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
X8-1 Readin', Rltin' and<br />
10-22 10- 9<br />
Rhythmetic (7) -ff<br />
SPEAKING OF ANIMALS<br />
Y7-4 Home Sweet Hone (10) . . 2- 6 * 2-14<br />
Y7-5 'Taint So (10) 4-16 ± 4-17<br />
Y7-6 Headllners (10) 6-18 + 6-26<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
Y8-1 The Gnu Look (10) 10-29 -|- 10- 9<br />
UNUSUAL OCCUPATIONS<br />
L7-2 Bagpipe Lassies<br />
(Magnacolor)<br />
(11) 1-2 * 1-10<br />
L7-3 Modem Pioneers (11)... 2-13 -|- 4-3<br />
L7-4 Nimrod Artists (10) 4-16 ±. 4-10<br />
L7-5 Feather Finery (10) 5-14 + 6-26<br />
L7-6 Aerial Hot Rods (10).- 8-13 - 8-21<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
L8-1 The Glass Orchestra (10). 11-26 -I- U-<br />
RKO Radio<br />
Prod. No. Title Rel. Date Rating Rev'd<br />
DISNEY CARTOONS<br />
Inferior Decorator 8-27 (7). 10-16<br />
94.104<br />
94.105 Fledgling (7).. 9-10<br />
-H 10-30<br />
Pluto's<br />
94.105 Soup's On (7) 10-15 + 11-27<br />
94.701 Goofy and Wilbur (7)<br />
(Reissue) 10-1 -f U-13<br />
94.107 Three for Breakfast<br />
(7) 11- 5 + 12-25<br />
94.108 Mickey and the Seal<br />
(7) 12-3<br />
94.702 Wynken, BIynken and<br />
Nod (7), reissue 11-19<br />
EDGAR KENNEDY COMEDIES<br />
83.404 How to Clean House<br />
(18) 5-14 6-5<br />
83.405 Dig That Gold (17)... 6-25 ± 8-7<br />
83.406 Home Canning (16).. 8-6-1- 8-28<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
93,401 Contest Crazy (17).... 10- 1 + 11-27<br />
FLICKER FLASHBACKS<br />
84.205 No. 5 (8) 4-19 db 5-8<br />
84.206 No. 6 (9) 5-21 -|- 8-7<br />
84.207 No. 7 (8) 7-2 -f 8-28<br />
LEON ERROL COMEDIES<br />
83.702 Don't Fool Your Wife _<br />
(18) 3-5 3-27<br />
83.703 Secretary Trouble (17) 4- 9 ± 6-5<br />
83.704 Bachelor Blues (17) . . 9-17 -f- 10- 9<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
93.701 Uninvited Blonde (17). 11-12<br />
93.702 Backstage Follies (19). 12-24 ....<br />
MY PAL SERIES<br />
6-11 + 10-30<br />
.<br />
83.202 Pal's Adventure<br />
.<br />
(20)<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
Return (19) 93,201 Pal's 11-26<br />
PATHE SPORTSCOPES<br />
Tars (8) -f- Teen-Age 3-5 54.307 3-27<br />
84.308 Doggone Clever (8) 4- 2 5- B<br />
...<br />
84.309 Big Mouth Bass (8)... 4-30<br />
-t-<br />
+ 8-7<br />
(Reissues)<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
93,501 Keep Shooting (16) - . . 9-10 ± 11-27<br />
93 "^02 Range Rhythm (17)... 10-15<br />
93,503 Cactus Capers (17) 11-19<br />
SCREEN LINER<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
94.201 Jan August and Piano<br />
,_ _<br />
Magic (7) 10-29 -f-<br />
U-2T<br />
94.202 Block Party (7) 11-26<br />
94.203 It Pays to Be Ignorant<br />
(..) 12-24<br />
SPECIALS<br />
83,601 Twenty Years of Academy _ _<br />
Awards (19) 4-2 +f 4-3<br />
Basketball Headlines 83,801 of 1948 ^<br />
(18) 4-23 4+<br />
80,842 Louis-Walcott Fight No. 2<br />
(18) 6-25<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
Headliners of 93,901 Football 1948<br />
(16) 12-10<br />
THIS IS AMERICA<br />
83.105 Photo Frenzy (16) - - . 3- 5 -ft<br />
83.106 Funny Business<br />
4-1 (18) -t-<br />
Democracy's 4+ 4-30 83.107 Diary (16)<br />
83.109 Letter to i Rebel (17) 6-25 44<br />
83.110 Sports Golden Age (17) 7-23 +<br />
83.111 Glamour Street (16).. 8-20 44<br />
83.112 Friend of the Family<br />
(16) 9-17 44<br />
83.113 Who's Delinquent?<br />
(17) 10-15 -f<br />
1948-49 SEASON<br />
Fair (17) ... .11-12 93.101 County 44<br />
Girls In 93.102 White (17).. 12-10 44<br />
BOXOFFICE BookinGuide Dec. 25, 1948<br />
li<br />
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111(11) if,<br />
imr<br />
ISUMi It,<br />
'KUTilli;) t,<br />
.. ""W<br />
Mt» lid<br />
^BUHint, it<br />
11*1 li<br />
Lu ''lii<br />
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SHORTS CHAIV]<br />
20th Century-Fox<br />
EDE<br />
in<br />
IM<br />
- ^!I<br />
- u<br />
- n<br />
- M<br />
- n<br />
- «!<br />
- l«l<br />
,U<br />
Prod. No. Titis Rel. Date Rating R<br />
DRIBBLE PUSS PARADE<br />
8902 Dying to Live (9) May + 6-5<br />
FEMININE WORLD<br />
B601 Something Old—Something New<br />
(lllQ Chase) (S) Feb. + 2-2S<br />
8602 Fashioned for Action<br />
(llita Chase) (8) Apr. ± 4-17<br />
MARCH OF TIME<br />
Vol. 14, No. 5 The Presidential<br />
Year (18) 12-2S<br />
Vol. 14, No. 6 The Cold War<br />
(18) 1-24 -H 1-31<br />
Vol. 14, No. 7 Marriage and Divorce<br />
(17) Feb...H 2-28<br />
Vol. 14, No. S Crisis In Italy<br />
(17) Mar. -|- 4-10<br />
Vol. 14, No. 9 Life With Junior<br />
(18) Apr.<br />
Vol. 14, No. 10 Battle for Greece<br />
(IS) May 5-15<br />
-I-<br />
Vol. 14, No. 11 The Fight Game<br />
(18) June -f 6-12<br />
Vol. 14, No. 12 The Case of Mrs.<br />
Conrad (18) July +f 7-10<br />
Vol.14, No. 13 White Collar Girls<br />
(17) Aug. + 8-7<br />
Vol. 14, No. 14 Ufe With Grandpa<br />
H (19) Sept. 9-18<br />
Vol. 14, No. 15 Battle for<br />
Germany Oct. +| 10-16<br />
Vol. 14, No. 16 America's New Air<br />
Power (. .) Not.<br />
MOVIETONE ADVENTURES<br />
8254 (^Copenhagen Pageantry<br />
(8) Jan. + 4-10<br />
8203 Sky Thrills (9) Mar. + 4-10<br />
8255 0Scenic Sweden (8) June + 6-5<br />
8204 Majesty of Yellowstone<br />
(9) July tt 6-5<br />
8256® Riddle of Rhodesia (8) ..July + 8-14<br />
8257 ©Bermuda (8) Aug. + 8-14<br />
8258 @Desert Lights (8) Aug. + 8-14<br />
8259 ©Portrait of the West (S) . Oct.<br />
8260 ©Way of the Padres (8) Dec.<br />
. .<br />
MOVIETONE SPECIALTY<br />
8801 Synpluny of a City (11). Sept + 10-23<br />
MOVIETONE NEWS<br />
(Released<br />
Twiu WeelUy<br />
SPOHTS<br />
839E QAqin Cupers (8) Jan.<br />
8602 Olympic Class (10) Fek.<br />
aBS3 ©Playtime in Scandinavia<br />
(8) Apr.<br />
Everglades May<br />
8303 Adventure (9) . .<br />
8304 Football Finesse (10) Sept.<br />
8305 Olympic Water Wizards<br />
(9) Nov.<br />
B306 Yankee Ski-Doodle (9) Dec.<br />
TERRYTOONS<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
8510 Talking Magpies in Hitch<br />
Hikers (7) 12-a<br />
8511 Mighty Mouse in Lazy Little<br />
Beaver (7) 12-26<br />
8512 Felix the Fok (7) Jan.<br />
8513 Talking Magpies In Taming<br />
the Cat (7) Jan.<br />
8501 One Note Tony (7) Feb.<br />
8514 Mighty Mouse and the Magician<br />
(7) Mar.<br />
8515 Gandy Goose and the Chipper<br />
Chipmunk (7) .Mar.<br />
8516 Hounding the Hares (7).. Apr.<br />
8517 Mighty Mouse and the Feudin'<br />
Hillbillies (7) Apr.<br />
8518 Mystery in the Moonlight<br />
(7) May<br />
8531 The BuUher of Seville<br />
(7), reissue May<br />
8532 Mighty Mouse in the<br />
Green Line (7), reissue.. May<br />
8520 Talking Magpies in Sleepless<br />
Night (7) June<br />
8521 Mighty Mouse in the Witch's Cat<br />
(7) July<br />
8522 The Talking Magpies in Magpie<br />
Madness (7) July<br />
8523 Mighty Mouse in Love's Labor<br />
Won (7) Aug.<br />
8524 The Hard Boiled Egg (7). Sept.<br />
8525 Mighty Mouse and the MysterJous<br />
Stranger (7) Oct<br />
8526 The Talking Magpies In Free<br />
Enterorlse (7) Oct<br />
8527 Mighty Mouse in Triple<br />
Trouble (7) Nov.<br />
8528 Talking Magpies in Out Again<br />
in Again (7) Nov.<br />
8529 Mighty Mouse in the Magic<br />
Slippers (7) Dec.<br />
+<br />
4-24<br />
2-28<br />
8-14<br />
jtf
SHORTS REVIEWS Opinions on tlie Current Short Subjetts- I<br />
Mr. Groundling Takes<br />
the Air<br />
Paramount (Pacemaker) 11 Mins.<br />
Good. An amusing short which is bound<br />
to make many people forget their fears about<br />
air travel. Tom Ewell, star of the Broadway<br />
revue, "Small Wonder," is a perfect type for<br />
an everyday citizen, John Groundling, who<br />
goes through the anguish of his first ride in<br />
a plane. He goes into the plane quaking<br />
with fear and not caring whether he lives or<br />
dies. When he lands after a smooth and<br />
uneventful ride, he is ready to bolster the<br />
courage of another first-timer.<br />
The Old Shell Game<br />
Paramount (Noveltoon) 7 Mins.<br />
Good. Willie the Wolf is the star of this<br />
amusing Technicolor cartoon but the wily<br />
Teddy Turtle gets most of the laughs. Willie<br />
IS so hungry that even the thought of a turtle<br />
steak makes his mouth water. But Teddy is a<br />
wary opponent and almost cooks Willie in<br />
his own fire. The frustrated wolf finally gives<br />
up and chases after a worm steak.<br />
Solar Secrets<br />
Paramount (Popular Science) 10 Mins.<br />
Good. Latest developments in the study of<br />
the sun for the benefit of mankind are shown<br />
in this interest-holding short. High up in the<br />
Colorado mountains, scientists are using the<br />
coronagraph to reveal vast chemical eruptions<br />
from the sun's fiery rim. Other subjects<br />
shown are a new electric range which<br />
can cook a turkey in 15 seconds and a type of<br />
hobby horse used by Fred MacMurray in<br />
keeping fit.<br />
Frozen Fun<br />
RKO (Pathe Sportscope) 8 Mins.<br />
Fair. Similar to other shorts released during<br />
the winter season, this has some well-photographed<br />
shots of the ski enthusiasts and the<br />
places where they gather following the [irst<br />
snowfall. At the Chateau Frontenac, 'ski<br />
trains make regular schedules to take care of<br />
the legion of sports fans. The novices are<br />
shown attending a ski class and then<br />
Gretchen Fraser, only woman to ever win the<br />
Olympic skiing title, demonstrates her rare<br />
form.<br />
Exhibitor Has His Say<br />
(Continued from page 3)<br />
patrons love and it will make them laugh.<br />
Sam- Holmberg, Regal Theatre, Sturgis, Sosk.<br />
Rural patronage. * * *<br />
River Lady (U-I)—Yvonne DeCarlo, Dan<br />
Duryea, Rod Cameron. While Universal may<br />
not make as many good pictures for small<br />
towns as Republic, this does well and is well<br />
received. It did above average business. The<br />
only criticism was the lack of songs. The<br />
one song in the beginning of the picture was<br />
well received. Played Sun., Mon., Tues.<br />
Weather: Snow.—Agnes Fraker, Congress<br />
Theatre, Palouse, Wash. Small town patronage.<br />
*<br />
River Lady (U-I)—Yvonne DeCorlo, Dan<br />
Duryea, Rod Cameron. This is a very good<br />
action picture for the weekend, in color, with<br />
a good cast, and the picture moves right<br />
along. Ployed with a western and had a<br />
very good double bill that drew better than<br />
average. This is not too long, with a short<br />
western and cartoon. Played Fri., Sat. Weather:<br />
Fair.—Mayme P. Musselman, Roach Theatre,<br />
Lincoln, Kas. Small town patronage. * * *<br />
Tap Roots (U-I)—^Van Heflin, Susan Hayward,<br />
Boris Karloff. The best picture that<br />
RKO<br />
Girls in White<br />
(This Is America) 16 Mins.<br />
Very good. An extremely interesting, as<br />
well as inspirational, story of one of the most<br />
needed professions m the world—nursing.<br />
The picture follows all the steps in the nursing<br />
career of an average girl, from the time she<br />
registers for her training. After many months<br />
of pre-clinical work, she gets her nurse's cap<br />
and enters hospital service. Eventually, she<br />
either becomes a surgeon's assistant, or specializes<br />
in obstetrics or public health.<br />
Three for Breakfast<br />
RKO (Walt Disney Cartoon) 7 Mins.<br />
Good. Donald Duck again mixes up with<br />
two happy little chipmunks, Chip and Dale,<br />
in this lively cartoon. The chipmunks interrupt<br />
Donald while he is making pancakes<br />
and his breakfast disappears before his very<br />
eyes. In order to get even, Donald starts<br />
making them out of rubber cement but the<br />
gag backfires qxid his house becomes a<br />
shambles.<br />
The Talking Magpies in<br />
Goony Golfers<br />
20th Century-Fox (Terrytoon) 7 Mins.<br />
Good. The two noisy and meddlesome magpies.<br />
Heckle and Jeckle, go through another<br />
mad and merry cartoon adventure. The mischief<br />
loving birds are interrupted while playing<br />
cards in the branches of a tree by a flying<br />
golf ball. They decide to discourage golfing<br />
by caddying for a tough dog. They torture<br />
him at every hole and finally present him<br />
with a trophy which blows up in his face.<br />
Yankee Ski Doodle<br />
20th Century-Fox (Sports) 9 Mins.<br />
Good. A splendidly phoiogrophed review of<br />
skiing in New England Two decades ago at<br />
Woodstock, Vt., the first two rope in America<br />
was built. Nowadays, four lifts carry 16,900<br />
passengers in a single day. The camera also<br />
catches leading exponents of French and<br />
Swiss ski-art as they speed down the snow<br />
slopes. Some of the experts even try a Viennese<br />
waltz and a polka on skis.<br />
Universal has ever made. I think that Susan<br />
Hayward should be one of this year's Academy<br />
award nominees for her fine performance.<br />
I think she would have been a great<br />
Scarlet O'Hara in GWTW. By all means play<br />
this picture. Played Sun., Mon., Tues.—James<br />
C. Balkcom jr.. Gray Theatre, Gray, Ga. Small<br />
town patronage.<br />
WARNER BROS.<br />
Life With Father (WB)—William Powell,<br />
Irene Dunne, Elizabeth Taylor. Our patrons<br />
liked this picture and it Was the first time<br />
we had played it. We are not going for the<br />
"advanced price" deal. With normal times<br />
we would have done plenty of business on<br />
it, because this is the type of picture that our<br />
patrons like. It is worth a date on your best<br />
time and will do you good. Played Tues.,<br />
selman. Roach Theatre, Lincoln, Kas. Small<br />
Wed., Thurs. Weather: Fair.—Mayme P. Mustown<br />
patronage.<br />
My Girl Tisa (WB)—Lilli Palmer, Sam<br />
Wanamaker, Akim Tamiroff. I liked this<br />
wholesome human story of young people<br />
but apparently the public didn't see it that<br />
way, as crowds were below average and<br />
there were several walkouts—an unusual<br />
thing here. Played Thurs., Fri., Sat. Weather:<br />
Fair.—R. W. Burgess, Roxy Theatre, McClus-<br />
In the Newsreels<br />
Movietone News, No. 100: President Truman;<br />
Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt; President Prio<br />
greeted in New York; Russian airmen flee from<br />
curtain; new type helicopter; water show;<br />
horse racing—Citation wins $50,000 Tanforan<br />
handicap; spirit of Christmas.<br />
News of the Day. No. 230: Aviation's newest<br />
marvel; Israel's president visits Jerusalem;<br />
President Truman gets Christmas turkey; first<br />
films of the new WACS; lighter side of the<br />
news; pro-football playoff; wonder horse wins<br />
again; new desert paradise.<br />
Paramount News, No. 33: Helicopter magic;<br />
women in uniform make news; Quebec welcomes<br />
a favorite son; Newfoundland signs<br />
to join Canada; preholiday visit with the<br />
President; Palm Desert, Calif.—Wasteland to<br />
wonderland.<br />
Universal News, No. 204: Weizman in Jerusalem—Arabs<br />
get aid; helicopter spectacle test<br />
given new type; aluminum shoes; Perry<br />
Brown's homecoming; San a Heim; football.<br />
Warner Pathe News, No. 35: Racing—Citation<br />
wins again; football—Bills vs. Colts; Pathe<br />
News records Christmas spirit around the<br />
world.<br />
•<br />
Movietone News, No. 101: Thousands of<br />
lives lost in sinking of Chinese vessel; endurance<br />
flyers; airlift training; fog fails to<br />
halt Berlin airlift; season's greetings—New<br />
York, Washington, Florida; boxing; bike racing.<br />
News of the Day, No. 231: UN assembly ends<br />
stormy Paris session; hundreds die in Chinese<br />
ship disaster; baby gorilla enjoys modern zoo<br />
life; deep sea "santa"; battling bambinos<br />
make leather fly; bike marathon is bloody<br />
affair; holiday greetings from embassy kiddies.<br />
Paramount News, No. 34: Gloves in bloom;<br />
zoo news; China ship disaster; UN ends Paris<br />
session; charity at yule time.<br />
Universal News, No. 205: UN adjourns Paris<br />
session; thousands lose lives in Chinese shipwreck;<br />
return of prisoners; baby gorilla; boxing<br />
kids; season's greetings from Spellman<br />
and embassy youngsters.<br />
Warner Pathe News, No. 36: UN closing;<br />
Pan-American trouble; Chinese disaster; endurance<br />
flyers; kiddies at Christmas; color<br />
fashions; Great Events—Washington crossing<br />
the Delaware.<br />
•<br />
Telenews Digest, No. 50: Violence in Costa<br />
Rica; Mexico—Anniversary of revolution; Germany;<br />
France; England; Austria; the spy case;<br />
Klan tries comeback; helicopter "flivver"; Virginia;<br />
Washington: San Francisco; New York;<br />
Citation wins $50,000 race; Buffalo wins football<br />
title.<br />
key, N. D. Rural and small town patronage.<br />
* *<br />
Romance on the High Seas (WB)—Jack Carson,<br />
Janis Paige, Don DeFore. An excellent<br />
Technicolor musical. It did over average business<br />
here. Business was off due to sickness.<br />
Played Sun., Mon. Weather: Okay.—D. W.<br />
Trisko, Ritz Theatre, Jerome, Ariz. Mining patronage.<br />
Treasure of Sierra Madre (WB)—Humphrey<br />
Bogart, Walter Huston, Tim Holt. This is a bit<br />
rough in spots, but a good story with wonderful<br />
acting by the stars. Apparently this isn't<br />
the type of show for us as our crowds were<br />
below average. I figured it would draw better.<br />
Played Sun., Mon., Tues. Weather: Cold<br />
and damp.—R. W. Burgess, Roxy Theatre, Mc-<br />
Cluskey, N. D. Rural and small town patronage.<br />
14 BOXOFFICE BookinGuide :: Dec. 25, 1948
Opinions on Current Productions; Exploifips for Selling to the Public<br />
FEATURE REVIEWS<br />
Adventures of Don Juan<br />
Warner Bros. (812)<br />
113 Minutes<br />
F<br />
Melodrama<br />
(Technicolor)<br />
Rel. Jan. 29, '49<br />
Command Decision<br />
MGM ( ) 113 Minutes Rel.<br />
F<br />
War<br />
Drama<br />
Herein Errol Flynn reverts to the type of role which first<br />
won him fame and fortune. The yarn of the swashbuckler<br />
of easy virtues was bench-tailored for the considerable<br />
Flynnian talents along those lines and resultantly the picture<br />
looks like money in the bank for any show house in<br />
which it is booked. Wisely the amorous passages of the<br />
offering are written, directed and delineated with a very<br />
obvious tongue-in-cheek approach, which phase will delight<br />
the more sophisticated spectators. But the redoubtable Don's<br />
toying with the tender passion merely serves as a hook<br />
upon which is hung a good, old-fashioned cloak-and-dagger<br />
melodrama, replete with spectacle, chases, fights, intrigue,<br />
sword-play and other elements to warm the hearts of the<br />
action devotees. Handsomely produced, the picture is lush<br />
throughout. Directed by Vincent Sherman.<br />
Errol Flynn, Viveca Lindfors, Robert Douglas, Alan Hale,<br />
Romney Brent, Ann Rutherford, Robert Warwick.<br />
Whiplash<br />
Warner Bros. (811) 91 Minutes Rel. Jan. 15, '49<br />
While in some phases the story tries to be so hard-boiled<br />
that it challenges realism, the over-all effect of this highspeed<br />
drama is one that will greatly appeal to the average<br />
ticket-buyer, which endows the film with great promise as a<br />
top-bracket grosser. The prizefight game is the backbone of<br />
the yarn, but blended therewith is a torrid romance, a dash<br />
of gangsterism and a garnishment of idealism. There's an<br />
explosive climax which alone justifies the price of admission<br />
and the fight sequences are sufficiently gory and convincing<br />
to satisfy the devotees of legalized mayhem. Performances<br />
are generally acceptable, most especially those contributed<br />
by Dane Clark, possibly his best to date, and the characteristically<br />
brittle comedy relief supplied by Eve Arden. Production<br />
accoutrements reflect d generous budget and Lew<br />
Seller's direction gives the offering its needed tempo.<br />
Dane Clark, Alexis Smith, Zachary Scott, Eve Arden, Jeffrey<br />
Lynn, S. Z. Sakall, Alan Hale, Douglas Kennedy.<br />
If for no other reason than the marquee magnetism of its<br />
striking lineup of male stars this should prove to be something<br />
of a bonanza in any theatre into which it is booked.<br />
And to assure its success, the film generously fulfills the<br />
promise of its impressive cast. Different from earlier war<br />
dramas built around the heroic activities of the army air corps<br />
during the closing days of World V/ar II, there isn't a single<br />
foot of air combat film. Rather, the story deals with the work<br />
of the general officers who directed the brave lads who fought<br />
the battles. Nor does it pull any punches in exposing some of<br />
the mistakes, politics and foibles in such higher echelon.<br />
Almost documentary in its approach and apparently unusually<br />
authentic as to technical details, the film is thoroughly<br />
engrossing while performances, of course, are excellent.<br />
Directed by Sam Wood.<br />
Clark Gable, Walter Pidgeon, 'Van Johnson, Brian Donlevy,<br />
Charles Bickiord, John Hodiak, Edward Arnold.<br />
Act of Violence<br />
MGM ( ) 83 Minutes Rel. Feb. 11, '49<br />
An intensive manhunt as the main theme of a motion picture<br />
has proven its effectiveness in countless screen offerings.<br />
Herein it is again employed with all of the suspense, grimness<br />
and excitement inherent to the subject and bolstered by<br />
a new story twist which generates considerable additional<br />
entertainment worth. With such basically sound plot ingredients<br />
entrusted to a star-dotted, hard-working, ablydirected<br />
cast, the result is an above-average dramatic feature<br />
which should score solidly in both critical reactions and<br />
general patronage. Van Heflin is the hunted, Robert Ryan<br />
the hunter, and they split a substantial jackpot of acting<br />
honors, which is no meager accomplishment in view of the<br />
strength and contribution of a name-heavy supporting cast.<br />
Ryan, obsessed with a desire for vengeance, goes gunning<br />
for Heflin, his former army captain who sold out his comrades<br />
in a German prison camp. Directed by Fred Zinnemann.<br />
Van Heflin, Robert Ryan, Janet Leigh, Mary Astor, Phyllis<br />
Thaxter, Berry Eroeger, Taylor Holmes, Harry Antrim.<br />
F<br />
Angel on the Amazon Mr, Perrin and Mr. Traill F<br />
Republic (720)<br />
86 Minutes Rel. Nov. 1, '48<br />
Starting out as a saga of high adventure in the jungles,<br />
this winds up as a study in psychiatry in staid Pasadena,<br />
Calif. And while covering that chunk of geography, it charts<br />
a comparably wide range of literary license; so wide, in fact,<br />
that spectators may find unbelievable the story premise<br />
which has Vera Ralston in the title role as sort of a modern<br />
"She" who stays just as young as her 20-year-old daughter.<br />
Vera portrays both, of course. The picture's best bet is found<br />
in the strong and effective co-starring lineup and in impressive<br />
production mountings. Much of the motivation takes<br />
place in Rio and through the adroit use of process shots, that<br />
romantic city furnishes backgrounds and atmosphere which<br />
give the film considerable of a boost in entertainment values.<br />
For those productional assets and good direction credit goes<br />
to John H. Auer.<br />
George Brent, Vera Ralston, Brian Aheme, Constance Bermeit,<br />
Fortunio Bonanova, Alfonso Bedoya, Gus Schilling.<br />
Eagle Lion ( ) 91 Minutes Rel.<br />
A splendid character study of life in a staid British school<br />
for boys, this Rank picture concentrates on the personal problems<br />
of the faculty rather than the students. David Farrar<br />
has some following with feminine patrons, but the unfortunate<br />
choice of title will hurt the picture's boxoffice draw<br />
generally. It will cause favorable comment and do good business<br />
in art houses and a few metropolitan spots. From a slow<br />
beginning, which shows the dull, day-by-day life of a group<br />
of frustrated professors, the story builds steadily up to a<br />
gripping, suspenseful climax. The romantic angle is introduced<br />
logically and the film is filled with amusing human<br />
interest touches. David Farrar is excellent as Traill, a<br />
young teacher who resents the deadly routine imposed by his<br />
middle-aged colleague, Perrin. Marius Goring manages to<br />
win sympathy in his portrayal. Lawrence Huntington directed.<br />
David Farrar, Greta Gynt, Marius Goring, Raymond Huntley,<br />
Finlay Currie, Edward Chapman, Mary Jerrold.<br />
Siren of Atlantis<br />
Jungle Jim<br />
United Artists (574) Rel. Dae. 17, '48 Columbia (134)<br />
Exotic stuff, this. So exotic, in fact, that some spectators<br />
may encounter difficulty in trying to determine what it's all<br />
about. The picture's first and best chance for commercial<br />
success lies in its considerable exploitation quotient, which<br />
exploitation can stress sex and adventure, the offering's<br />
principal literary assets. Fitting into those elements, and<br />
doing her level best to read drama into her over-accented<br />
seductiveness, Maria Montez portrays the ageless queen of a<br />
lost empire which periodically is rediscovered by hardy<br />
hombres who go expeditioning. Those intrepid investigators<br />
are, of course, always young and desirable—to the queen,<br />
that is. So she enslaves them and toys with their love and<br />
emotions until she tires thereof or a new victim stumbles in.<br />
Producer Seymour Nebenzal mounted the vehicle to give<br />
it an aura of productional opulence, which, too, will aid<br />
in its merchandising. Directed by Gregg Tallas.<br />
998<br />
73 Minutes<br />
F<br />
Outdoor<br />
Drama<br />
ReL Dec. '48<br />
Action drama without the appeal of Tarzan, since Johnny<br />
WeissmuUer wears traditional tropic trousers and swings<br />
from no trees. A number of jungle life closeups will appeal<br />
to many, though some of the scenes are a bit terrifying for<br />
young children, such as the battle with the lion. A woman<br />
scientist heads a scientific expedition to find the drug which<br />
paralyzes, used on native arrows, but which also has curative<br />
powers for paralysis in small doses. This also results<br />
in a treasure hunt, a renegade photographer attaching himself<br />
to the safari. Finding a temple full of jewels and gold,<br />
the white adventurers escape being sacrificed to an idol<br />
in that old nick of time—all but the renegade villain who is<br />
shown falling into a fiery pit. Some half-hearted romancing<br />
but the best parts of the picture are the really good jungle<br />
shots. William Berke directed.<br />
Johnny WeissmuUer, Virginia Grey, George Reeves, Lita<br />
Baron, Rick Vallin, Holmes Herbert, Tex Mooney.<br />
BOXOFFICE December 25, 1948 997
. . . Mad<br />
. . . Men<br />
. . She<br />
. . Unexplainable<br />
. . Where<br />
. . Romance<br />
PLOITIPS<br />
Suggestions for Selling; Adlines for Newspaper and Programs<br />
SELLING ANGLES:<br />
"Command Decision"<br />
In addition to plastering Clark Gable's name all over the<br />
marquee, lobby easels and advertising, emphasize this is the<br />
film version of one of Broadway's greatest recent hit plays.<br />
Tie in with local U.S. air force recruiting stations—perhaps a<br />
"branch" station could be set up in theatre lobby during the<br />
picture's run. Check newspaper files for names of air force<br />
pilots in your community and set up interviews. Invite them<br />
and their families to attend the first-night showing as your<br />
guests.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
The Most Adventure-Crammed Story the Screen Has Ever<br />
Shown ... A Saga of Glory in the Air . . . Speeding to You<br />
Out of the Blue . . . Reaching New Ceilings as Red-Blooded,<br />
Power-Packed Dramatic Entertairunent.<br />
There's a New Thrill in the Entertainment Sky . . . The<br />
Compelling, Unforgettable Film Version of Broadway's Greatest<br />
Hit . . . The Story of a Heroic Struggle for Supremacy . . .<br />
In the Air Over Europe . . . During the Last War.<br />
SELLING ANGLES:<br />
"The Adventures of Don Juan"<br />
Don Juan has been renowned through history for his<br />
amorous exploitation.<br />
prowess—an angle not to be overlooked in<br />
Secure nev/spaper and/or radio backing for a con-<br />
test in which women vote for or against Don Juan as "the<br />
man of my dreams." Best entries pro or con win prizes.<br />
Tieups with men's stores are indicated along the lines:<br />
"Want to be a modern 'Don Juan'? Wear Blank suits," etc.<br />
A life-sized cutout of Flynn, brandishing his sword, could<br />
be used as lobby centerpiece.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
Flaming Love and Flaming Swords . . . The Most Famous<br />
of All Romantic Adventurers Sweeps Across the Screen . . .<br />
It's Errol Flynn as Don Juan . . . Dashing Soldier and<br />
Audacious Lover . . . Entangled in a Web of Intrigue ... In<br />
the Picture You'll Never Forget.<br />
Adventure the World Has Thrilled to for Centuries ... In<br />
a Picture It Will Never Forget ... As the King of Romance<br />
Crosses Swords With Danger . . . Risking His Life for Love<br />
and Glory.<br />
SELLING ANGLES: "Act oi Violence" SELLING ANGLES: "WTiiplash"<br />
Van Heflin's role as a hunted man could be incorporated<br />
into a variation of the time-tried "identification" stunt. After<br />
a suitable advance buildup, spot a man resembling Heflin<br />
in prominent localities around town, with guest tickets going<br />
to the first dozen people identifying him. Use the title in a<br />
tieup on a safe-driving "crusade," with copy such as: "Don't<br />
commit an 'Act of Violence'—your car can be a murder<br />
weapon—drive safely 1" Use life-sized cutouts of Heflin and<br />
Robert Ryan, as his pursuer, for your lobby centerpiece.<br />
The picture's prizering atmosphere suggests many mutually<br />
cooperative tieups with sporting goods dealers, including<br />
window and counter displays. Distribute throwsheets at all<br />
local sporting events. Arrange a special invitational showing<br />
for newspaper and radio sports editors and members<br />
of a local boxing team representing a high school or college.<br />
Stuff special heralds in pulp sports magazines. Dress a<br />
husky lad in boxing togs, including a sweatshirt with picture<br />
and theatre billing, for street ballyhoo "roadwork."<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
You'll Never Forget the Fury of Its Adventure . . . The<br />
Suspense of Its Story . . . The Impact of Its Romance . . It's<br />
.<br />
the Picture That's Destined to Pursue Your Emotions Endlessly<br />
. . . Relentlessly.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
It's the Drama-Packed Story of a Guy . . . Who Kissed His<br />
Way Into Trouble . . . And Had to Fight His Way Out . . .<br />
The Sock Sensation of the Year . . . With Scene After Scene<br />
of Smashing Ring Thrills.<br />
Never Has the Screen Searched So Deeply . . . Into the<br />
Love, Fear and Passion . . . That Lie Hidden in the Human<br />
Heart . . . Here's More Excitement and Suspense . . . Than<br />
Any Picture You've Seen in All Your Life.<br />
Action That Rocks the Screen .... Like an Uppercut to the<br />
Jaw . . . The Story of a Born Fighter Who Tamed Them All<br />
With His Fists . . . Women With His Kisses ... A<br />
Knockout of a Romantic Action Drama.<br />
SELLING ANGLES: "Mr. Perrin onS Mr. Traill"<br />
The title has no selling value except tor possible book<br />
store displays of the novel by Hugh Walpole. Play up the<br />
romantic angle by a frame of stills of David Farrar, who<br />
attracted feminine attention here in "Black Narcissus" and<br />
"Frieda," and of Greta Gynt, who also played in "Dear Murderer."<br />
Mention that Marius Goring has the male lead in<br />
"The Red Shoes." Another prominent British player is Finlay<br />
Currie, who scored in "Great Expectations."<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
A Breath of Vigorous Life Comes into a Staid, Stuffy Classroom<br />
. . . Love Blossoms Even in Dark and Dingy Places . . .<br />
The Realistic Novel by Hugh Walpole Leaps to 'Thrilling Life<br />
on the Screen.<br />
David Farrar, Star of "Black Narcissus," in Another Great<br />
Romantic Role ... Hopelessly in Love With One Woman<br />
While Tied to the Apron-Strings of Another . . . The Stars of<br />
"Black Narcissus" and "The Red Shoes" Unite in a Colorful<br />
Tale of Students and Their Teachers.<br />
in a<br />
s, ic<br />
e da<br />
SELLING ANGLES:<br />
"Angel on the Amazon"<br />
Vera Ralston's portrayal of a woman who cannot grow old<br />
suggests tieups with beauty parlors and with drugstores on<br />
displays of cosmetics. Make a "jungle" front for the theatre,<br />
using papier-mache tree trunks, bamboos and vines. Have<br />
a girl dressed in shorts and pith helmet walk around town<br />
with a hunting rifle. Using a stencil and whitewash, paint<br />
"panther" tracks along the sidewalks leading to your theatre.<br />
Stage a "beauty contest" for women over 60, enlisting a<br />
newspaper or radio station to cooperate.<br />
. . Fearless<br />
. . . Yet at the Simple Notes<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
The Strange Story of a Strange<br />
Trembling<br />
Woman .<br />
Against the Jungle<br />
of a Long-Forgotten<br />
Untouchable .<br />
No Fear .<br />
Melody . . . She Was Unknowable . . .<br />
... A Woman Who Knew<br />
Was Desirable . . . Mysterious . . . And<br />
Beautiful.<br />
A Moment of Terror Led to a Lifetime of Strangeness . . .<br />
It's Thrilling and Unforgettable ... A New and Triumphant<br />
Screen Experience . and Terror Blaze Together<br />
in the Story of a Strange Curse.<br />
SELLING ANGLES: "Jungle Jim" SELLING ANGLES: "Siren of Atlantis"<br />
Since this is based on the newspaper comic feature, make<br />
a tieup with the paper locally which carries it and with comic<br />
book distributors. Play up the "strong man" roles in which<br />
Johnny Weissmuller plays and use stills of him in the lobby.<br />
Also use jungle shots of animals in the lobby and stage a<br />
jungle quiz for the youngsters in the audience. Or a contest<br />
of the different wrestling holds shown in the film.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
Star of Tarzan Fame in His Most Exciting Role . . . Hunting<br />
a Long-Lost Treasure Hoard Through Africa's Deadliest Jungles<br />
. . . The Tarzan Star in a Great New Role as the Far-<br />
Famed Jungle Daredevil.<br />
The Jungle's Greatest Soldier of Fortune at His Thrill-<br />
Tingling Best on the Screenl . . . The Adventure Idol of<br />
Millions on the Screen at Last . . . An Action Roaring Safari<br />
Elephants on a Death-Dealing Rampage . . . Handto-Hand<br />
Struggle With a Mon-Eoting Lionl<br />
In the picture Maria Montez, as "Queen Antinea," is both<br />
ageless and beautiful. Based on this idea, organize a "Favorite<br />
Age" contest for women, tieing in with a beauty salon<br />
for beauty treatments or merchandise for the best answers.<br />
In cooperation with a local travel bureau arrange a tieup<br />
pegged on copy such as: "Let us help you find your modern<br />
Atlantis—paradise on earth." Check with your local UA<br />
exchange on the numerous commercial tieups effected for<br />
Miss Montez, including jewelry, cosmetics and radios.<br />
CATCHLINES:<br />
Strange . . . Stirring . . . Spectacular . . . The Story of the<br />
Fabulous Queen of a Lost Continent . . . Who Wrote Her<br />
Own Laws of Love . . . Never Was There an Empress Like<br />
Antinea . . . The Wicked, Wondrous Ruler of History's Most<br />
Fabled Land . Each Man Found What He Wanted.<br />
Come With Beauteous Antinea ... To the Fabled Continent<br />
of Atlantis . . . Where You'll Find Your Paradise on Earth<br />
... A Land of Endless Wonders . . . Untold Dangers . . .<br />
Living Evil . . . Unforgettable Thrills.
]<br />
; Acme<br />
I New<br />
'<br />
games.<br />
, must<br />
IIVTES: 10c per word, minimum $1.00. cash with copy. Four insertions ior price of three.<br />
ILOSING DATE: Monday noon preceding publication date. Send copy and answers to<br />
Box Numbers to BOXOFFICE, 825 Van Brunt Blvd., Kansas City 1, Mo. •<br />
GENERAL EQUIPMENT—USED<br />
Small town exhibitors! We make your limited<br />
9itAl go a long way I Complete C>'clex equipnt,<br />
rebuilt, J49S: KCA soundheads, belt drives,<br />
itors, rebuilt, $150 pair; Simplex magazines,<br />
.95; DeVry XD projectors at very special price.<br />
ite us. Weber portable outfit, complete, excelit,<br />
$395; Strong suprex lamphouses, rebuilt,<br />
Ir, $375; Powers mechanisms, rebuilt, $114.50.<br />
lat r do you need? Star Cinema Supply, 459<br />
' -• 4(ith St., New York 19.<br />
Yes; SOS Sells for Less and good stuff.<br />
Nothing leaves here unless it's absolutely<br />
;ht. 50,000 customers the world over built SOS<br />
i keep buying here since 1926 because SOS<br />
Is for less. 1949 catalog ready. Dept. C,<br />
S. Cinema Supply Corp., 602 W. 52nd St.,<br />
York 19.<br />
Dual Holmes Educator Portable projectors with<br />
ge magazines: lens; lOOOW lamp; amplifier;<br />
eaker; rebuilt, $667.50; Dual DeVry XD Transrtables<br />
complete, rebuilt, $595; RCA low freency<br />
folded baffles, worth $300, $99.75; Dual<br />
Arc Sound Projector outfit, com-<br />
51,295; Simplex Rear Shutter Mechanisms,<br />
lellent, $195; other Slmplexes from $69.50.<br />
ready. C, 49 catalog Dept S.O.S. Cinema Sup-<br />
Corp.. 602 W. 52nd St., New Y'ork 19.<br />
Complete booth equipment small drive-In. Used<br />
tils, 1 pair Strong IKW high intensity<br />
nps and rectifiers like new. Cash or terms.<br />
ban Amusements. Inc., 1014 Broadway, Colum-<br />
1. Phone 2-7337.<br />
500 veneer chairs; arc lamps; generator sets; RCA<br />
nd system; rectifiers; amplifiers; speakers.<br />
any other items. Stebbins. 1804 Wyandotte,<br />
insas City. Mo.<br />
1 Pair Cyclex lamps complete with transmer.<br />
generator, etc., in fine running condition,<br />
a real bargain. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, A-3271.<br />
THEATRES WANTED<br />
Louis 3, Mo.<br />
Sell your th«atre privately. Confidential coripondence<br />
Invited. Leak Theatre Sales, 3422<br />
nmore, Dallas. 1109 Orchard Lane, Des<br />
lines,<br />
Iowa.<br />
Is your theatre for sale? Our cash buyers are<br />
iting. We get quick results. Will give you a<br />
ampt estimate of your present theatre value.<br />
Ite us today. "Joe" Joseph. 3409 Sunset Ave.<br />
one Yale 2-7650, Dallas, Texas.<br />
Is your theatre for sale? I have buyers with<br />
;h for established theatres. Claude Crockett,<br />
First 05 National Bank Bldg.. Dallas, Tex.<br />
lephone R-9230.<br />
Want to buy or lease theatre,<br />
licago. Have ample cash. E.<br />
Anaheim, Calif.<br />
anywhere west of<br />
II. Seekins. Box<br />
Wanted to buy or lease theatre in Delaware or<br />
iryland. Please state size, price, population, etc.<br />
first letter. All answers confidential. Bosioe,<br />
A-3252.<br />
Theatre owner,<br />
25 years experience, wants to buy<br />
lease good theatre in Texas. 700 seats or<br />
tter. Might consider partnership. Give com-<br />
3te details. Must be good deal. Boxoffiee,<br />
3253.<br />
Wanted to buy theatres in Alabama and East<br />
ississippi and Southern Tennessee. Confidential,<br />
ffice. A-3254.<br />
McCloughan. 125<br />
Wanted to buy or lease theatre. Town 2,000<br />
pulallon or more. All Information first letter,<br />
nfidential. Prefer Virginia, North or South<br />
irolina. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, A-3266.<br />
Couple want to lease small town theatre anjlere.<br />
Have owned and managed such theatres<br />
ven years. Need month to dispose of present<br />
erests. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, A-3272.<br />
iRrVE-m OR OUTDOOR THEATRE<br />
EQUIPMENT<br />
Time deals to drive-ins. Order now. Skip paynts<br />
until opening. Complete sound projection<br />
tfits. $1,595 up; new 500-watt Western Elec-<br />
Booster Amplifiers, $650; new Dual in-car<br />
kers with junction box and transformer, $16.75;<br />
driveway entrance and exit signs. Illuminated,<br />
2.50; burial cable, 6c ft.; Super SnapUte fl.<br />
lenses increase light 25%. from $150. Send<br />
Time Deal Pl.in. Dept. C, S.O.S. (Snema Sup-<br />
Corp.. 602 W. 52nd St., New York 19.<br />
In-a-car speakers. No. 7600, waterproof, cast<br />
limlnum cases. $16.75 per set. DaWo Co., 145<br />
Erie St.. Toledo. Ohio.<br />
PXOFFICE December 25, 1948<br />
GENERAL EQUIPMENT—NEW<br />
In-a-Car speakers. No. 7600, waterproof, cast<br />
aluminum cases. $16.75 per set. DaWo Co.. 145<br />
N. Erie St.. Toledo. Ohio.<br />
Projection bulbs. General Electric, 1,000-watt.<br />
T.20 Mogul Pre-focus, C13D. Government surplus,<br />
new, original packages. List $6.25 our price $1.25<br />
each (minimum order one dozen) limited offer.<br />
check, Send otherwise C.O.D. Jules Epstein, 601<br />
Pelham Parkway. Bronx 67. N. Y.<br />
Ask yo<br />
STUDIO AND PRODUCTION<br />
EQUIPMENT<br />
thea-<br />
Contemplating picture making? SOS has it.<br />
Blimped 35mni Askania studio camera, lenses<br />
3<br />
magazines, synchronous motor, rebuilt, $995;<br />
4<br />
Neumade combination 16/35 mm Automatic Film<br />
Cleaner, $350 value. $194.50; Giant Spotlite<br />
ft. Tripods 8 high, $9.95; Belhowell 16mm Filmscoring<br />
Viewers, government cost $300, $59.50;<br />
lor Unit Eye shuttle Belhowell, $650; Bardwell<br />
McAlister 5000W floodlights, $111.75; Dlnkie<br />
Inkios. $11.95; Baby Keglites, $54.75; Baby<br />
Boomlites, $114.50; 2000W Junior Spots,<br />
$129.50; Double Broads. $114.65; 1/12 HP<br />
IlOV Synchronous Motors, new, $57.50; B. Maurer<br />
Variable Density Recording Outfit, $2,375; 35mm<br />
threeway Sound Moviola, rebuilt, $895. Send for<br />
Sturelab Catalog Supplement. Dept. C. S.O.S.<br />
Supply Corp., St.. Cinema 602 W. 52nd New<br />
York 19.<br />
HELP WANTED<br />
Wanted: Projectionists and theatre managers to<br />
teach all phases of motion picture projection and<br />
theatre management. High school education required,<br />
college education preferred. Send summary<br />
education, training, experience, refer-<br />
of<br />
ences, marital status, age and state when available.<br />
Excellent opportunity for men seeking a<br />
for secure future with opportunity advancement.<br />
Institute. Address National Theatre P.O. Box<br />
5769, Dallas, Tex.<br />
Projectionist, general maintenance, Strawn, Tex.,<br />
small town, ni^ts, Saturday, Sunday matinee.<br />
Texas Theatre, Stanton, Texas.<br />
Manager: Large neighborhood Deluxe. Only the<br />
best apply. Must have personality and be good<br />
house manager. E.xploitation. live wire willing to<br />
work. Honest, reliable, sober. Send photo and<br />
In first letter. experience All correspondence<br />
confidential. Cleveland area. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>. A-3275.<br />
Young, single assistant manager with plenty of<br />
ambition. Deluxe San Diego neighborhood house.<br />
Starting salary $35. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>. 3276.<br />
POSITIONS WANTED<br />
Veteran, 26, energetic, ambitious, 10 years in<br />
small towns as owners-managers. Know all phases<br />
operation. Would lease, or take the.ctre on percentage<br />
or accept managerial position. Prefer<br />
S. Southwest Midwest. Carl Hall, 103 South<br />
or<br />
Whitaker. Pryor. Okla.<br />
Projectionist, age 45, family man. Sober, capable,<br />
experienced. No drifter. Desires change and<br />
permanent connection. $50 week. Available Jan.<br />
1, 1949. References. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>. A-3246.<br />
Manager available, over 20 years experience, all<br />
phases theatre operation. Go anywhere. Oean<br />
cut, sober, relable, best of references from the<br />
top men in the business. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, A-3256.<br />
House manager, advertiser, exploiteer. projectionist<br />
experience. Married, sober, reliable,<br />
fer Virginia. North Carolina. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>. A-3258.<br />
Go-getter, now assistant to general manager,<br />
midwest circuit, must relocate immediately due<br />
to wife's health: prefer California. Oregon. Washington.<br />
Top man, 20 years all phases entertainment,<br />
heavy on public relations. No reasonable<br />
position, salary refused. Exchange complete details<br />
first letter. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, A-3267.<br />
Certified Public Accountant desires executive<br />
position with motion picture exhibitor. Experi<br />
in enced circuit accounting and financing. Tei<br />
years public accounting and tax experience. Avail<br />
,ible immediately. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, A-3268.<br />
Positions wanted for Negro projectionists thoroughly<br />
trained and qualified in our colored school<br />
of projection. Write Placement Dept., National<br />
Theatre Institute. P. 0. Box 5769. Dallas. Texas.<br />
Purchasing Agent, six years experience. Large<br />
chain background. Available now. Paul Kliebert<br />
1817 N. 35th St.. Milwaukee. Wis.<br />
MISCELLANEOUS<br />
Complete 24-hour theatre service, new and used<br />
pil"inment. plus film bookings. Globe Theatre<br />
Service and Supply Co., MA 3971 or OL 3971,<br />
Dayton. Ohio.<br />
THEATRES FOR SALE<br />
Theatres for sale. Texas and southwest. Licensed<br />
broker with long theatre backjround. Claude<br />
Crockett, 1505 First N.ilional Bank Bids., Dallas,<br />
Tex. Telephone K-92:i0.<br />
Tlieatres for sale. Selected listings In Oregon<br />
and Washington now available. Write for list<br />
Theatre Exchange Co.. Fine Arts Bldg.. Portland.<br />
Ore.<br />
Large 900-5eat downtown plnd house, located<br />
In busy street Denver, Colo. $20,000 buys<br />
on<br />
14-year lease. Cinema Amusements. Inc., 1756<br />
Broadway. Denver. Colo.<br />
Downtown Tulsa. Okla., 320-seat grind house.<br />
Union booth. Buy direct from owner for approximately<br />
one-half 1948 gross. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, A-3247.<br />
Southern California l)rlve-ln. Moneymakei<br />
Stand Investigation. Excellent condition. Bo!<br />
office. A-3250.<br />
375-seat theatre and building, $16,000. located<br />
Southwest Virginia. Will pay for Itself in three<br />
years. T. D. Field, Tazewell, Va.<br />
270-seat theatre centrally located California<br />
tov of 1,200 population. Deal Includes complete<br />
equipment, brick building and property. Selling<br />
for approximate 1948 gross, $25,000. No dealers.<br />
<strong>Boxoffice</strong>. A-3251.<br />
Theatre. 360 seats, Mattoon, Illinois, newly<br />
Lot 50x50, building 32x90. Parking.<br />
constructed.<br />
RCA. Floatingcumfort seats, new. Two Simplex<br />
machines. RCA sound. New draperies, air conditioned,<br />
new automatic oil heat. Price complete<br />
$37,500. Ontinental Investment System, 3740<br />
Lindell. St. Louis 8. Mo.<br />
Unusual combination 412-scat lovely theatre,<br />
modern complete ball room, two sub-rentals, fine<br />
seven-room apartment, 1,000 capacity checking<br />
and concessions. Includes all buildings covering<br />
quarter block. Controls big area. Any part readily<br />
sub-leased. Ballroom operating part time, owner<br />
away Show-dance minded midwest. Showing good<br />
profit. $71,500. $24,500 down. Private sale.<br />
Arthur Leak. 1109 Orchardlane, Des Moines, Iowa.<br />
3422 Kinmore, Dallas.<br />
Family death sells central Missouri only theatre<br />
good town 1,200. Building, nice apartment,<br />
equipment. $11,000 down. Leak. 3422 Kinmore.<br />
Dallas Also northern Missouri highly profitable<br />
family theatre, fine college town. $12.500 down.<br />
Near Enid, Okla., rich oil-wheat center, 1,300.<br />
Brick building, good equipment. $8,500 down.<br />
Leak, 3422 Kinmore. Dallas. Also near Tulsa.<br />
Includes building, five apartments. Nice. $12,000<br />
down.<br />
Northwest Iowa, rich town 1,400. Building included.<br />
$11,500 down. Leak, 1109 Orchardlane<br />
Des Moines, ALSO complete amusement combination,<br />
including 400-seat theatre. Real opportunity<br />
$25,000 down.<br />
North Texas progressive town 2,000. Moderr<br />
building included. Photographs. $15,000 down<br />
Leak, 3422 Kinmore, D.illas.<br />
Small circuit; three theatres. Business good<br />
Must sell due to ill health. Possession immedi<br />
ateiv, <strong>Boxoffice</strong>, A-3263.<br />
Theatre, grossed nearly $4,000 in seven months<br />
250 ^eals. Inexperience forces sale. $5,000.<br />
Rent $20, Near Springfield. Mo. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>.<br />
A-32li4-<br />
A beautiful theatre in central Wisconsin,<br />
up-to-date equipment. Doing good business,<br />
direct ^*itll owner. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>. A-3265-<br />
250-seat theatre, small town 20 miles southeast<br />
Decatur. III. Population 1,200. Building<br />
included. $18,000. Doing good business. Reason<br />
for selling, owner prosperous, moving on to larger<br />
one. <strong>Boxoffice</strong>. A-3274.<br />
Theatre For Sale. Pennsylvania city, population<br />
75.000. within 90 miles New York. 800 scats.<br />
O.vner retiring from theatre business. Will sell at<br />
attractive price. L. A. Farmer. 31 N. M,iin St..<br />
Creensburg, Pa<br />
For Sale: Theatre. 450 seats, within 200 miles<br />
Pittsburgh, Theatre will net $14,000 per ye.ar.<br />
L A Farmer. 31 N. Main St.. Greensburg. Pa.<br />
Two Florida outdoor theatres, excellent business<br />
Wilson and Moore Enterprises, Inc., P. 0.<br />
Box 2034. Atlanta. Oa,<br />
THEATRES FOR RENT<br />
CLEflRlflG HOUSE<br />
Rent: Theatre over 600 seats, located<br />
York, wonderful opportunity. Bo<br />
A-3273.<br />
AIR<br />
CONDITIONING<br />
Heavy duty blowers, ball-bearing equipped,<br />
15,000 cfm to 50.000 cfm. Air washers, all<br />
sizes. Hydraulic drives, two and four speed<br />
motor and controls. Immediate delivery. Dealirs<br />
wanted. National Engineering and Mfg. Co.. 519<br />
St.. Wyandotte Kansas City. Mo<br />
Complete air conditioning equipment; variable<br />
hp motor. 25,000 SFC fan; air washer, spray<br />
5<br />
type, complete with recirculating pump: reasonable.<br />
<strong>Boxoffice</strong>. A-3088<br />
POPCORN MACHINES<br />
Rebuilt Popcorn Machines for sale. Fully guar<br />
anleed. Price Irom $150. Consolidated Conlections.<br />
1314 S. Wabash. Chicago 5, llL<br />
Blevins Is national beadguarlers for popcorn<br />
Silver machines. Stars, Super Stars, Corn Olbs.<br />
ui Old machines taken trade. Blevins Popcorn<br />
Co., Nashville, Tenn.<br />
Bargain prices in used and completely reconditioned<br />
popcorn machUies. Blevins Popcorn Co..<br />
Nashville. Tenn.<br />
Burch, Manley, Crelors, Advance, all electric<br />
trench fry types. 50 Hollywood type, theatre<br />
special electric poppers irom $250. Karmelkorn<br />
Equipment, 120 S. llalsted. Chic.igo 6. 111.<br />
Rebuilt popcorn machines, half price. Write<br />
list. Drive-in poppers, bargain. Poppers Sup-<br />
for<br />
Box 838. Atlanta. Oa.<br />
POPCORN MACHINES<br />
Home of "Rush Hour" popcorn and popcorn<br />
supplies. for price list. Send Prunty Seed L<br />
Grain Co.. 620 N. 2nd Si.. St. Louis 2. .Mo.<br />
Established 1874.<br />
Bee Hive for '48 Is the best everl Blevins not<br />
only gives you best popcorn but saves jou money<br />
on all seasoning, bags, boxes, etc. Blevins Popcorn<br />
Co.. Nashville. Tenru<br />
Attractively printed jjopcorn cartons tor<br />
I<br />
10c size. $6 M; 25c size. $17.50 M.<br />
Kontney. 609 N. Ashland. Green Bay. Wis<br />
Sno-Flake white hulless popcorn. Give your customers<br />
the best. Write us for your sample and<br />
quotations. Sno-Wlte Popcorn Co.. Montlcello. la.<br />
sell, $800 Manley popcorn manonths<br />
old. $400 Snow Cone machine,<br />
iimmer. $235 popcorn auto vendor. All<br />
D or make offer. Ralph Davis, Shelley.<br />
For Sale: Almost<br />
Super Star model. V<br />
sissippi St., Floydada.<br />
SCHOOLS<br />
Prepare now for ,i better .job at higher pay and<br />
a fascinating career in the .Motion Picture industry.<br />
Choose your obeclive and act now! Motion Picture<br />
Operator; Motion Picture Equipment Technician;<br />
Motion Picture Sound Technician; Motion<br />
Picture Television Technician; Motion Picture Theare<br />
Manager, Residence and correspondence<br />
courses. Part time employment and housing available.<br />
Free iilacement service. Approved for Veter.in<br />
bill. training under GI Earn up to $290<br />
per month while attending school if you are a<br />
veteran. Act today. Don't delay. Write for<br />
illustrated brochure and application blank. National<br />
Theatre Institute, P.O. Box 5769, 1105<br />
Camp St.. Dallas, Tex.<br />
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES<br />
Investigate this. Bxchisive Chicago neighborhood.<br />
Selling lot 200x125 ft. Included are complete<br />
plans for recreation center {bowling alleys,<br />
theatre, etc.) Owner. Tony .Sheftic. 14501 Sherm,in<br />
Ave.. Posen, III.<br />
BUSINESS STIMULATORS<br />
Comic books again available as premiums, giveaways<br />
.'It your kiddy shows. Large variety latest<br />
48-nage newsstand editions. Comics Premium Co..<br />
412B Greenwich St.. New York City.<br />
(itii more action. $2.75 thoi<br />
Novelty Games Co..<br />
Brooklm, N. Y.<br />
Only legal game for theatres. Legal in any<br />
state. Biggest business booster since Bank Night.<br />
"Listen to Win" copyright 1947 by L.T.W. Co.<br />
Write today for information. Secure exclusive<br />
rights for voiir town now. Listen to Win Co.. Box<br />
336. Cambridge. Ohio.<br />
Bingo die-cut cards. 75 i<br />
M. Screen dial $20, Pn<br />
44th St.. New York 18. N.<br />
100<br />
Comic books obtainable from world's largest<br />
and oldest theatre distributor. Best titles and<br />
latest Issues in stock. Price 3c each. Sidney<br />
Ross. 334 W. 44th St., New York City.<br />
Easy Way to Paint Signs. Use letter patterns.<br />
Avoid sloppy work and wasted time. No experience<br />
needed for expert work. Write for free samples,<br />
John Rahn, B-1329. Central Ave., Chicago<br />
MORE CLASSIFIED<br />
ON PAGE 42
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