Boxoffice-December.25.1948

Over 650 Celebrate
6lh Allied Birthday
CHICAGO—The sixth anniversary of the
Allied Buying & Booking Organization of
Illinois was celebrated at a recent dinnerdance
held at Chicago's swank Chez Paree.
The occasion also honored Jack Kirsch,
leader and president of Allied, on his birthday.
Over 650 persons attended the affair,
including Mayor Kennelly, judges, civic leaders,
union officials, exhibitors and exchange
heads, columnists and the press.
Van A. Nomikos, circuit head, was toastmaster
and introduced the celebrities. Nomikos
said the Allied association was formed
to serve the interests of the many independent
theatre owners in and around Chicago
in the purchase of motion pictures and
to discuss many important matters in theatre
operation.
Kirsch said the annual gatherings were designed
to spread a feeling of friendship within
the framework of the local motion pictiu-e
industry and thanked everyone for being present
and joining in the spirit of the occasion.
The highlight of the occasion was the cutting
of a huge birthday cake by Mrs. Jack
Kirsch. Many radio, stage and night club
stars took part in the festivities which included
the Chez Paree revue, headed by Gracie
Barry and Harvey Thomas, with dancing to
music by Cee Davidson and his band.
Personalized Date Strips
Is Offered by Filmack
CHICAGO—Filmack Trailers has designed
a new series of personalized date strips and
presentation headers for theatre use. Harold
Perlman, Filmack Advertising head, says exhibitors
prefer to have the theatre name on
all date strips because it serves as an added
reminder.
Canton and Springfield
Theatre Improvements
CANTON, ILL.—A new marquee and porcelain
front will be installed on the Capitol
Theatre here by the C. Bendsen Co. of Decatur.
The Bendsen firm also is erecting a
new vertical on the Great States Orpheum
Theatre in Springfield, 111.
ATOI Directors Meet
INDIANAPOLIS—At a recent monthly
luncheon and business meeting, the board of
directors of Allied of Indiana voted unanimously
in favor of the Allied States twin
resolutions pertaining to the disciplining of
stars, as proposed by Joe Finneran and Syd
Samuelson.
$70,000 Damage to Bell
CHICAGO—Fire damage to the Bell Theatre
here has been estimated by Leon Kaplan,
part owner of the house, at $70,000, $35,-
000 each to the building and its contents.
Cause of the fire was undetermined.
Build Waukegon Airer
WAUKEGON, ILL.—Construction work is
under way on the Keno Family Drive-In,
being built here by C. J. Papas, S. J. Papas
and Andrew M. Spheeris of Kenosha. Tentative
opening date is set for next May.
BOXOFFICE December 25, 194«
ITOW Board Urges Rein
On Pictures for Video
MILWAUKEE—Directors of the Independent
Theatre Owners of Wisconsin, at a
meeting in its offices Jiere, unanimously
voted to submit to all motion picture producers
and distributors a request that film.s
should not be released for use in television
until they are at least five years old. If
pictures are being reissued, the directors urge
that a still longer period elapse before they
are made available for video.
Board members passed a resolution confirming
the stand of the national Allied organization
against forced percentage deals
on pictures. Local trace practices are to be
Hudson Circuit to Rebuild
Strand at Angola, Ind.
ANGOLA, IND.—Robert Hudson, head of
the Hudson circuit, Richmond, Ind., is planning
a $150,000 remodeling program at the
Strand here. The present building is of the
old opera house type.
Hudson plans to remove the entire interior
of the house, leaving only the four walls
standing. Plans are now being made and
work wiD begin as soon as possible. The entire
front of the building wiU be modernized.
New sound and projection equipment, seating
and air conditioning will be installed.
Eddie Kay Scores 'Tuna Clipper'
Producer Lindsley Parsons has set Eddie
Kay to score "Tuna Clipper" for Monogram.
NEW RKO DIVISION MANAGER—
Jerry Shinbach (right) talks things over
with Sol A. Schwartz, vice-president and
general manager of RKO, in their first
conference since Shinbach's recent appointment
a s RKO Theatres division
manager. The new division manager
succeeds Frank Smith, who was Chicago
representative for labor relations for
RKO. Shinback's headquarters will be
in Chicago and he will have charge of
the Palace and Grand in Chicago, Orpheum
in Kansas City, Virginia and Orpheum
in Champaign, Orpheum and Liberty
in New Orleans, Keith's and Regent
in Grand Rapids, Uptown in Detroit and
Brandeis in Omaha.
scrutinized more completely by members of
the ITOW board.
Cooperation in the observance of American
Brotherhood week, February 20-27, was
urged by the group.
Members of the board attending the meeting
included Mrs. Helen Hanke, Charles
Trampe and Edward Johnson, all of Milwaukee:
Ainold Brumm, North Milwaukee;
L. V. Bergtold, Westby; George Panka,
Prairie du Chien; F. J. McWilliams, Madison;
John Hanus, Antigo; Sigmund Goldberg,
Wausau; Floyd Albert, Mount Horeb; Russell
Leddy, Green Bay, and John P. Adler.
Show at St. Louis Adds
$1,000 to Heart Fund
ST. LOUIS—Tommy James, chief barker
of the Variety Club, gave a report at a luncheon
meeting Tuesday on the recent testimonial
dinner given for Bob O'Donnell, head
of Variety Clubs International, at the Baker
hotel in Dallas, which James attended along
with representatives of all the other 32 tents.
He reported also the Heart fund will net
$1,000 from the recent Variety-sponsored
Horace Heidt show staged at the Municipal
auditorium. The union sta'^ehands who
worked at that show had Jonated their
$108.96 in wages to the Heart fund.
Chief Barker James also read a letter he
received from L. L. Tate, director of health
and hygiene, and Martin Kouri, his assistant.
It follows;
"We want to take this opportunity before
the yuletide season to thank you, and aU the
officers and members of the Variety Club, for
the splendid contributions you have made
in helping to save the vision of our public
school children. You would be more than
gratified if you could witness the relief and
pleasm-e shown by these children when they
realize the ease with which they can carry
on their work by the aid of the glasses."
The Heart fund during the past year has
provided eye glasses free of cost to a number
of school children whose parents were unable
to buy these needed purchases.
A $3 contribution for the Heart fund was
made by Bob Edele. manager for Film Classics,
in memory of the late Johanna Kaufman,
aunt of Maury Davis, manager of the
Will Rogers Theatre, who died a few days
previously at the age of 76.
Barker James also appealed to exhibitors
who haven't already done so to show the
short subject. "Tobaccoland," handled
through National Screen. Those who exhibit
this picture receive a fee that goes into the
Heart fund.
Terre Haute Amusement
Buys Orpheum Theatre
TERRE HAUTE, IND.—Tlie Terre Haute
Amusement, Inc., has filed a warranty deed
for the purchase of the Orpheum Theatre
here from the Rose Foundation Corp. Revenue
stamps attached to the deed indicate the
purchase price was nearly $100,000.
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